conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me a description for a book titled Insight Guides about Langenscheidt, American, Publishing with the genre: Travel, Asia.. Start with the sentence 'Since 2000'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Since 2000. Hammond, American Map, Langenscheidt Dictionaries, the author Travel Guides, Delorme the famous names in the Langenscheidt family. These represent the most authoritative, up-to-date, and extensive travel and reference products available. In January 2003, the renowned Berlitz Publishing became part of the Langenscheidt Group. The Langenscheidt Publishing Group, the premier group of map and travel companies, offers over 4,000 North American and international street maps, road maps, atlases, language-learning, bilingual dictionaries, and travel-related products covering countries, cities, and languages in every continent.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first four paragraphs for this book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  The 17-week siege of the city ended in victory for the Christian forces, and was much celebrated. Much later it became the subject of a poem by William Mickle, the 18th-century translator of Luís de Camões (for more information, click here), who is considered Portugal's greatest poet:
  The Portuguese themselves had less happy memories of the crusaders from the north, whom they considered a loud and drunken lot, given more to piracy than to piety. But the English, with their superior numbers and martial skills, would long feel a condescending pride in their Portuguese achievement, expecting gratitude and deference from their southern allies.
  Kingdoms were there for the taking. In 1371, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, hoped to ensure one for himself by marrying the ex-Infanta Constance, the elder of two surviving daughters of the murdered King Pedro the Cruel of Castile. Gaunt then firmly believed himself to be the rightful king of Castile. To double the family's claim, his brother married Constance's younger sister. But there remained one problem: the incumbent king of Castile needed to be convinced. John of Gaunt enlisted the help of Fernando of Portugal, and after rounds of courtship, lavish entertaining and the bestowal of favours, an alliance was signed in 1373 by which the two nations agreed to help one another against all enemies.
  In 1385, the youthful Dom João ascended the Portuguese throne with English help, and John of Gaunt felt the time was right to go to Castile to establish his royal claims. Along with his wife Constance and two daughters – 26-year-old Philippa from his first marriage, and Katherine – a couple of his illegitimate children and an army, John of Gaunt set up court in the north, in Santiago de Compostela. He met the king and the earlier alliance was formalised as the Treaty of Windsor. In return King João was offered the hand of the devout and virtuous Philippa. They married in Porto and the city celebrated lavishly.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Nazaré, named after a statue of the Virgin that a 4th-century monk brought to the town from Nazareth, lives literally on two levels. In the lower part of town, small, white-walled fishermen's cottages line the narrow alleyways. High above on the cliff that towers 109 metres (360ft) over the old town is the quarter known as Sítio. Reached by a funicular that climbs the tallest cliffside in Portugal, Sítio is dominated by a large square, and on its edge a tiny chapel, built to commemorate a miracle in 1182, when the Virgin saved the local lord by stopping his horse plunging off the cliff as he pursued a deer.
  The 17th-century Nossa Senhora da Nazaré on the other side of the square is the focus of festivities during the second week of September that include processions and bullfights in the Sítio bullring. The steep, narrow pathway and steps from the lighthouse west of the church afford stirring views of Atlantic breakers.
  The abundance of tourists vitiates some of Nazaré's charm, but it also assures that all the visitor's desires will be catered to. But the life of the hardy fishermen goes on.
  Because they had no natural harbour, the fishermen used to launch their boats from the beach. They managed this by pushing their craft down log rollers into the sea then clambering aboard and rowing furiously till they overrode the incoming breakers. When they arrived home again, the boats were winched ashore by oxen and later by tractors. The building of a modern anchorage to the south of the beach has relieved the Nazaré fishermen of this arduous task.
  The Nazaré fisherfolk's traditional dress is today seen more in souvenir shops than on the street. Some women still wear coloured petticoats under a wide black or coloured skirt and cover their heads with a black scarf; the men still favour woollen shirts in traditional plaids, but few wear the distinctive black stocking bonnets.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about Pleasant.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Nazaré, named after a statue of the Virgin that a 4th-century monk brought to the town from Nazareth, lives literally on two levels. In the lower part of town, small, white-walled fishermen's cottages line the narrow alleyways. High above on the cliff that towers 109 metres (360ft) over the old town is the quarter known as Sítio. Reached by a funicular that climbs the tallest cliffside in Portugal, Sítio is dominated by a large square, and on its edge a tiny chapel, built to commemorate a miracle in 1182, when the Virgin saved the local lord by stopping his horse plunging off the cliff as he pursued a deer. 
  The 17th-century Nossa Senhora da Nazaré on the other side of the square is the focus of festivities during the second week of September that include processions and bullfights in the Sítio bullring. The steep, narrow pathway and steps from the lighthouse west of the church afford stirring views of Atlantic breakers. 
  The abundance of tourists vitiates some of Nazaré's charm, but it also assures that all the visitor's desires will be catered to. Pleasant seafood restaurants and small hotels line the sandy bay; esplanade cafés, bars and souvenir shops abound. But the life of the hardy fishermen goes on. 
  Because they had no natural harbour, the fishermen used to launch their boats from the beach. They managed this by pushing their craft down log rollers into the sea then clambering aboard and rowing furiously till they overrode the incoming breakers. When they arrived home again, the boats were winched ashore by oxen and later by tractors. The building of a modern anchorage to the south of the beach has relieved the Nazaré fishermen of this arduous task. 
  The Nazaré fisherfolk's traditional dress is today seen more in souvenir shops than on the street. Some women still wear coloured petticoats under a wide black or coloured skirt and cover their heads with a black scarf; the men still favour woollen shirts in traditional plaids, but few wear the distinctive black stocking bonnets.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Republican Portugal, a Political History 1910–1926 by Douglas L. Wheeler. A fascinating account of the period between monarchy and dictatorship when Portugal endured 45 successive governments.
  Hunting Midnight by Richard Zimler. After the success of The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon (see above), Zimler has set this fictional tale of bigotry and betrayal in 18th- and 19th-century Porto.
  The Migrant Painter of Birds by Lidia Jorge. A beautifully crafted poetic novel by this feminist novelist about a girl from a Portuguese farming family and her absent father.
  More than 120 and Insight City Guides cover every continent, providing information on culture and all the top sights, as well as superb photography and detailed maps. In addition, Insight Fleximaps highlight all the main tourist sights and provide essential facts about the destination, while being printed on durable paper with a laminated finish – write on the map with a non-permanent marker pen and wipe it off later.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Republican Portugal, a Political History 1910–1926 by Douglas L. Wheeler. A fascinating account of the period between monarchy and dictatorship when Portugal endured 45 successive governments.
  Hunting Midnight by Richard Zimler. After the success of The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon (see above), Zimler has set this fictional tale of bigotry and betrayal in 18th- and 19th-century Porto.
  The Migrant Painter of Birds by Lidia Jorge. A beautifully crafted poetic novel by this feminist novelist about a girl from a Portuguese farming family and her absent father.
  More than 120 and Insight City Guides cover every continent, providing information on culture and all the top sights, as well as superb photography and detailed maps.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first five paragraphs for this book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Television and radio. State broadcaster NHK offers NHK on channel 1, NHK Educational on channel 3 and the new NHK World channel (www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld). The other main Tokyo channels are Nihon TV (channel 4), TBS (6), Fuji TV (8), TV Asahi (10) and TV Tokyo (12).
  Radio Japan (www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld) offers programmes in 18 different languages. Inter FM (76.1MHz; www.interfm.co.jp) has some English-language news, and you can also hear a small amount of English programming on J-WAVE (81.3MHz).
  You can dial the police number (110) from any public phone, free of charge. Chances are, you won't have to walk more than a few blocks to find a local police box (koban).
  Post offices are open Mon–Fri 9am–5pm; some are also open Sat 9am–3pm. For English-language information about postal services, including postal fees, call 0570-046 111 or go to www.post.japanpost.jp. Tokyo Central Post Office (2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku; tel: 3284 9539) is currently closed for reconstruction; try the nearby Tokyo International Post Office (2-3-3 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku), which is open daily 24 hours.
  Shinto is Japan's indigenous religion, an animist faith that involves the worship of spirits, or kami. Shinto shrines (indicated by the suffix -jinja, -jingu or -gu) are generally un-flamboyant in design, the most notable feature being the simple wooden torii gate, which symbolises a door between the earthly realm and that of the kami. In contrast, Buddhist temples (-tera, -dera, -ji or -in), such as Asakusa's Senso-ji, are more extravagant, with imposing entry gates flanked by fearsome statues of celestial guardians, or Nio.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Fares are regulated on a station-to-station basis, so if you cannot determine the fare required, just purchase the cheapest ticket available (¥160 for Tokyo Metro lines, ¥180 for Toei lines) at the ticket machine. Fare correction can be done on arrival.
  Pasmo magnetic smart cards (www.pasmo.co.jp), good on any public transport line in Tokyo, can be bought at subway stations (¥500 deposit) and recharged when depleted. These are simply passed over sensors of the automated ticket gates as you enter, with the fare deducted at your destination. JR's Suica cards act in exactly the same way, and both can be used on subways, trains and buses.
  Trains. Above ground, Japan Railways (JR) operate a service as efficient as the subway, with equivalent frequency and operating hours (5am–1am) on commuter lines. Like the subways, the lines are colour-coded.
  The Yamanote line (green) makes a 35km (20-mile) oval loop around central Tokyo, with JR and private lines branching out to the suburbs. Also useful is the Chuo line (orange) that runs east–west, connecting Tokyo Station with Shinjuku Station and beyond. JR fares start at ¥130. Prepaid, chargeable Suica cards can be used instead of cash at ticket machines. A one-day Tokunai Pass (¥730) is good for unlimited JR train travel in central Tokyo.
  Buses. There are no English signs on Tokyo buses, but imminent stops are announced by a recorded voice. Passengers pay on entry, dropping the flat fare (¥200) into a box located next to the driver; there's a machine in the box for changing notes if you don't have the coins. Tourist information centres and hotels can give you bus maps with the major routes marked. Buses generally run 5.30am–midnight.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Fares are regulated on a station-to-station basis, so if you cannot determine the fare required, just purchase the cheapest ticket available (¥160 for Tokyo Metro lines, ¥180 for Toei lines) at the ticket machine. Fare correction can be done on arrival.
  Pasmo magnetic smart cards (www.pasmo.co.jp), good on any public transport line in Tokyo, can be bought at subway stations (¥500 deposit) and recharged when depleted. These are simply passed over sensors of the automated ticket gates as you enter, with the fare deducted at your destination. JR's Suica cards act in exactly the same way, and both can be used on subways, trains and buses.
  Trains. Above ground, Japan Railways (JR) operate a service as efficient as the subway, with equivalent frequency and operating hours (5am–1am) on commuter lines. Like the subways, the lines are colour-coded.
  The Yamanote line (green) makes a 35km (20-mile) oval loop around central Tokyo, with JR and private lines branching out to the suburbs. Also useful is the Chuo line (orange) that runs east–west, connecting Tokyo Station with Shinjuku Station and beyond. JR fares start at ¥130. Prepaid, chargeable Suica cards can be used instead of cash at ticket machines. A one-day Tokunai Pass (¥730) is good for unlimited JR train travel in central Tokyo.
  Buses. There are no English signs on Tokyo buses, but imminent stops are announced by a recorded voice. Passengers pay on entry, dropping the flat fare (¥200) into a box located next to the driver; there's a machine in the box for changing notes if you don't have the coins. Tourist information centres and hotels can give you bus maps with the major routes marked. Buses generally run 5.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Battle Royale (2000). Kinji Fukasaku's last film stars Takeshi Kitano as a boy dealing with the death of his father who is forced to compete in a game where students must kill each other to win.
  Spirited Away (2001). Hayao Miyazaki's portrait of children who enter a Japanese netherworld was the country's highest-grossing film of all time, and won a 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
  Lost In Translation (2003). Sofia Coppola dramatises the closeness that develops between two Americans who find themselves adrift in Tokyo.
  Like Father, Like Son (2013). Hirokazu Koreeda's depiction of the bonding between two families whose sons are switched at birth won the director a Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Reverse the sentences.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Hirokazu Koreeda's depiction of the bonding between two families whose sons are switched at birth won the director a Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival..
  Like Father, Like Son (2013). Sofia Coppola dramatises the closeness that develops between two Americans who find themselves adrift in Tokyo.
  Lost In Translation (2003). Hayao Miyazaki's portrait of children who enter a Japanese netherworld was the country's highest-grossing film of all time, and won a 2003 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
  Spirited Away (2001). Kinji Fukasaku's last film stars Takeshi Kitano as a boy dealing with the death of his father who is forced to compete in a game where students must kill each other to win.Battle Royale (2000)
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first five paragraphs for this book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Diving and snorkelling at Ang Thong are usually best experienced at the northern tip, around the islet of Ko Yippon. Although visibility isn't crystal-clear, the shallow depths make it easy to view the colourful coral beds, which are inhabited by sea snakes, fusiliers and stingrays. There are also shallow caves and archways to swim through.
  Ko Phangan has long been known for its wild beach parties. Despite official disapproval, the money they generate has guaranteed their survival.
  An essential stop on any backpacker's tour of Southeast Asia, the Full Moon Party is dubbed the "world's biggest beach party", and, despite the Thai government's intermittent calls for the event to be scrapped, this Ko Phangan cash cow is too vital for the tourism industry to stop milking. The party takes place on Hat Rin Nok, or Sunrise Beach, with the focal point of the all-night rave at the southern end of the beach in front of Paradise Resort.
  The event itself builds in momentum from sunset to sunrise, and Paradise Resort is regarded as the main hub of this no-holds-barred party. This is where the party circuit's most popular DJs spin, although there are DJs vying for attention at the main bars all along the beach. Each bar leans towards a different groove, and the dance hotspots shift periodically, depending on who is spinning what, where and when – or on the inclinations of the hell-bent-on-partying crowd in that particular year.
  For those who desire distance from the monthly mayhem, transport from other beaches to the party is plentiful. And if you prefer to nurse a post-party hangover within the confines of a luxury hotel in Ko Samui, numerous boats make the night-time crossing between the two islands.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.. End with the sentence ' The southeastern branch goes via Pattani and Yala to the Thai border opposite the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu.'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Another major carrier is Bangkok Airways, which has several daily flights from Bangkok to Ko Samui. It also operates from Bangkok to places including Chiang Mai, Krabi, Lampang, Phuket, Sukhothai and Trat. From Ko Samui, destinations include Krabi, Pattaya and Phuket.
  Low-cost domestic and international carriers are increasing in number. AirAsia has the widest portfolio, connecting Bangkok with various overseas and domestic destinations, including Hat Yai, Narathiwat and Surat Thani. Nok Air, partly owned by THAI, and its subsidiary SGA Airlines, or Nok Mini, serves major tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai and Phuket, but is also a good option for more remote landings at places including Chumphon, Loei, Mae Sot, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Nan. Orient Thai operates flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket. Thai Smile, launched in 2011 and also owned by THAI, expects to quickly expand its domestic and regional schedule.
  The State Railways of Thailand (tel: 0-2222 0175, hotline 1690; www.railway.co.th) operates five principal routes from Bangkok's Hualamphong Railway Station at Thanon Rama IV.
  The upper northeastern line passes through Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and terminates at Nong Khai. The lower northeastern line branches east at Nakhon Ratchasima and passes through Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and terminates at Ubon Ratchathani.
  The southern line crosses the Rama VI bridge and stops at Nakhon Pathom, Phetchaburi, Hua Hin and Chumphon. It splits at Hat Yai; one branch runs southwest through Betong and continues to the western coast of Malaysia to Singapore. The southeastern branch goes via Pattani and Yala to the Thai border opposite the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last three paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guide to Thailand's Beaches and Islands picks the very best of the country's coastal locations with insightful text and stunning photography.
  Insight Explore: Bangkok (to be published in 2014) offers a range of easy-to-follow walking tours of the city and its surroundings.
  Insight Fleximap Thailand is a handy map with a weatherproof laminated finish, with clear mapping and useful travel information.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first two paragraphs for the book.. Start with the sentence 'Insight Guides
  Quakers from Nantucket Island settled here between 1785 and 1792 following the American Revolution'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Quakers from Nantucket Island settled here between 1785 and 1792 following the American Revolution. They made Dartmouth the headquarters of a whaling company whose operations were centered at what is now the Dartmouth Shipyards. They also left behind a number of homes. These simple structures, with their front doors placed off-center, were built to endure; a stroll down Ochterloney Street shows several, including the historic Quaker House, probably the oldest house in Dartmouth (June–Aug Tue–Sun 10am–1pm, 2–5pm).
  On Dartmouth's Main Street, the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (Mon–Fri 10am–4pm) offers a powerful perspective on a little-known part of the region's history – the black immigrants, who first arrived in here in significant numbers almost a century before Canadian Confederation in 1867.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Explore Brandon on foot and discover its most notable historic buildings with the help of a walking tour brochure distributed by the Chamber of Commerce.
  Approaching the park from this direction, the usual reaction is: Where's the mountain? Patience will be rewarded on reaching the edge of the park, where the "mountain" rises abruptly, 450 meters (1,500ft) above a patchwork of crops: yellow rapeseed, brown squares of oats and barley, and rolling green and gold wheat fields.
  Getting to the polar bear capital of the world is a challenge (there are no roads in, so air and rail are the only options), but Churchill offers spectacular nature tourism. During May through July, over 200 species of migratory birds pass through the area.
  Summer brings more than 3,000 beluga whales to the mouth of the Churchill river to feed. Polar bear tours take place in October and November. The aurora borealis is visible throughout the year, but is most spectacular January through March. There isn't much else to do during the long winter nights, but a visit to the Eskimo Museum (Mon–Sat; donation requested) will shed light on Inuit culture and its 4,000-year history.
  The long sunny days of summer lend themselves to exploring what is perhaps Canada's last uncharted frontier.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last paragraph.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: There is also a Insight Fleximap, with clear cartography, travel information, and a laminated finish, available for Toronto.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first four paragraphs for this book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the surrounding desert (now a National Park) are returned to Aboriginal control.
  The Australian film Crocodile Dundee, starring Paul Hogan, grosses $116 million in the United States.
  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologises to the Stolen Generation (Aboriginal children forcibly taken from their families to be raised by whites).
  Heatwave causes more devastating bushfires across Victoria and New South Wales. Syndey records its hottest day on record – 45.8ºC (114ºF).
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Uluru, Kata Tjuta and the surrounding desert (now a National Park) are returned to Aboriginal control.
  The Australian film Crocodile Dundee, starring Paul Hogan, grosses $116 million in the United States.
  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologises to the Stolen Generation (Aboriginal children forcibly taken from their families to be raised by whites).
  Heatwave causes more devastating bushfires across Victoria and New South Wales. Syndey records its hottest day on record – 45.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Severe damage was caused by extended hot spells in 1997–8 and again in 2002, and most marine scientists believe that global warming not only exists but has a direct bearing on these incidents. The Australian government finally signed the Kyoto Protocol in December 2007 after the long-serving coalition government of John Howard was defeated at the ballot box.
  There are other dangers, too. Human traffic can cause significant damage to coral, whether through chains and anchors from boats, or by snorkellers and divers who brush against polyps and damage or kill them. The Reef is also under pressure from the effects of poor water quality, which is often caused by soil and fertiliser runoff from the shore, and is not helped by the wash from cyclones. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in the 1970s to protect this magnificent resource; the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority monitors the effects of tourism and fishing with research.
  While only a few are literally coral islands, the 20 or so resort islands inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park offer many attractions. Lodging varies from five-star resorts to backpacker hostels and campsites. Some islands are dry, barren and windy; others are lush and covered with rainforest.
  Every morning dozens of boats head out to various pre-selected sites. About an hour later, you'll be moored by the gorgeous coral.
  The easiest way to visit the Reef is not to stay on an offshore island but to take a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas. You can also take Reef trips from Cape Tribulation. Trips from some of the island resorts or coastal towns further south, such as Townsville, tend to be less commercialised and sophisticated and, indeed, less frenetic.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last five paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: The True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. The Kelly story in Ned's own words from "newly discovered" letters.
  The Vivisector by Patrick White. Sydney Nolan was the model for this dissection of an Australian artist.
  Insight Guide Australia is a top-selling title in the series, with superb photography and in-depth background reading on the history and culture of the Land Down Under. In addition, Insight's regional series includes Insight Guide Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef to show you the larger picture of one of Australia's great regions.
  Insight Smart Guides pack a huge amount of information into an easy-to-access A–Z format, with stylish photography and an atlas section. Titles in the Smart Guide series include Smart Guide Perth.
  Insight Step by Step Guides provide illuminating walks and tours around a destination, showing you the smartest way to link the sights and taking you beyond the beaten tourist track. Titles in the Step by Step series include Step by Step Sydney, Step by Step Melbourne and Step by Step Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Reverse the sentences.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Titles in the Step by Step series include Step by Step Sydney, Step by Step Melbourne and Step by Step Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef..
  Insight Step by Step Guides provide illuminating walks and tours around a destination, showing you the smartest way to link the sights and taking you beyond the beaten tourist track. Titles in the Smart Guide series include Smart Guide Perth.
  Insight Smart Guides pack a huge amount of information into an easy-to-access A–Z format, with stylish photography and an atlas section. In addition, Insight's regional series includes Insight Guide Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef to show you the larger picture of one of Australia's great regions.
  Insight Guide Australia is a top-selling title in the series, with superb photography and in-depth background reading on the history and culture of the Land Down Under. Sydney Nolan was the model for this dissection of an Australian artist.
  The Vivisector by Patrick White. The Kelly story in Ned's own words from "newly discovered" letters.The True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first five paragraphs for the book.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Then, towards the end of the 16th century, the Dutch emerged as the great seafaring and trading nation of the central and western Pacific. They set up a major administrative and trading centre at Batavia (now Jakarta) in Java early in the 17th century, an operation dominated by the Dutch East India Company. For the ensuing 200 years the Dutch were a major power in the region, though for most of that period the voyages of exploration were incidental to the activities of trade.
  The Dutch ships eventually found that by staying south after rounding the tip of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope and catching the consistent westerlies almost as far as the western coast of Australia, they could make the journey to Java more quickly than by adopting the traditional route – sailing up the east coast of Africa and then catching seasonal winds for the journey eastwards. As a result, islands off the west coast of Australia and stretches of the coast of the unknown continent itself began to be noted on charts.
  A drawing by Abel Tasman's artist of the skirmish between the Dutch explorers and Maori people at Golden Bay.
  An ambitious governor of Batavia, Anthony van Diemen, showed a more imaginative interest in discovering new lands for trade than most of his predecessors. In 1642 he chose Abel Tasman to lead an expedition south, to be accompanied by a highly competent navigator, Frans Visscher. The proposed voyage would take them first to Mauritius, then southwest to between 50° and 55°S in search of the great southern continent, Terra Australis Incognita. The expedition, aboard the vessels Heemskerck and Zeehaen, was then to travel eastwards if no land had been found to impede their progress and to sail across to investigate a shorter route to Chile, a rich trading area and the preserve of the Spanish. As it turned out, the expedition ventured only as far as 49°S before turning eastwards, whereupon it made two great South Pacific discoveries – Tasmania (or Van Diemen's Land, as he named it at the time) and New Zealand (which he called Staten Landt).
  Tasman's first and only encounter with the Maori was nothing short of disastrous. When a canoe rammed a boat that was travelling between the Zeehaen and the Heemskerck, fighting broke out and there was loss of life on both sides. Tasman called the place Massacre Bay and continued his journey northwards. He did not land again. What Tasman failed to realise was that he had actually been inside the western entrance to the stretch of water separating North and South islands, now known as Cook Strait. A voyage eastwards of only a few kilometres would have revealed this to him, and perhaps it might be known today as the Tasman Strait.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Delete the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Then, towards the end of the 16th century, the Dutch emerged as the great seafaring and trading nation of the central and western Pacific. They set up a major administrative and trading centre at Batavia (now Jakarta) in Java early in the 17th century, an operation dominated by the Dutch East India Company. For the ensuing 200 years the Dutch were a major power in the region, though for most of that period the voyages of exploration were incidental to the activities of trade.
  The Dutch ships eventually found that by staying south after rounding the tip of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope and catching the consistent westerlies almost as far as the western coast of Australia, they could make the journey to Java more quickly than by adopting the traditional route – sailing up the east coast of Africa and then catching seasonal winds for the journey eastwards. As a result, islands off the west coast of Australia and stretches of the coast of the unknown continent itself began to be noted on charts.
  A drawing by Abel Tasman's artist of the skirmish between the Dutch explorers and Maori people at Golden Bay.
  An ambitious governor of Batavia, Anthony van Diemen, showed a more imaginative interest in discovering new lands for trade than most of his predecessors. In 1642 he chose Abel Tasman to lead an expedition south, to be accompanied by a highly competent navigator, Frans Visscher. The proposed voyage would take them first to Mauritius, then southwest to between 50° and 55°S in search of the great southern continent, Terra Australis Incognita. The expedition, aboard the vessels Heemskerck and Zeehaen, was then to travel eastwards if no land had been found to impede their progress and to sail across to investigate a shorter route to Chile, a rich trading area and the preserve of the Spanish. As it turned out, the expedition ventured only as far as 49°S before turning eastwards, whereupon it made two great South Pacific discoveries – Tasmania (or Van Diemen's Land, as he named it at the time) and New Zealand (which he called Staten Landt).
  Tasman's first and only encounter with the Maori was nothing short of disastrous. When a canoe rammed a boat that was travelling between the Zeehaen and the Heemskerck, fighting broke out and there was loss of life on both sides. Tasman called the place Massacre Bay and continued his journey northwards. He did not land again. What Tasman failed to realise was that he had actually been inside the western entrance to the stretch of water separating North and South islands, now known as Cook Strait.
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conversations.value: A stone's throw away, also on Park Road, is Lido Aquatic Centre (tel: 06-357 2684; www.lidoaquaticcentre.co.nz; Mon–Thu 6am–8pm, Fri 6am–9pm, Sat–Sun 8am–8pm), a water park replete with slides and chutes. Native bush reserves are close by.
  A short drive south of Palmerston North on SH57 is Tokomaru › [map], and its creative Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum (tel: 06-329 8867; www.tokomarusteam.com; by appointment only). A railway track circles the grounds, and there are various contraptions on display, from steamrollers to sewing machines.
  SH56 heads west to beaches at Tangimoana, Himatangi and Foxton, well patronised by locals and linked by bracing coastal walks. Take a NZ$10 insider tour of the yards and auctions on a Feilding Stock Saleyard Tour (tel: 06-323 3318; www.feilding.co.nz/saleyardtours.htm; Fri 11am). The Feilding Stock Saleyard has the capacity to hold 35,000 sheep, and with a total turnover of around 1.2 to 1.3 million animals per week, these yards do more business than any other in the Southern Hemisphere. Bookings are essential.
  The Feilding Farmers' Market held every Friday morning in the town square is a must-see, a showcase of local produce, from handmade pate, to bread, preserves and chocolates; from meat, through to fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about Feilding, Palmerston, North, motor-racing.
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conversations.value: A stone's throw away, also on Park Road, is Lido Aquatic Centre (tel: 06-357 2684; www. lidoaquaticcentre. co. nz; Mon–Thu 6am–8pm, Fri 6am–9pm, Sat–Sun 8am–8pm), a water park replete with slides and chutes. Native bush reserves are close by. 
  A short drive south of Palmerston North on SH57 is Tokomaru › [map], and its creative Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum (tel: 06-329 8867; www. tokomarusteam. com; by appointment only). A railway track circles the grounds, and there are various contraptions on display, from steamrollers to sewing machines. 
  SH56 heads west to beaches at Tangimoana, Himatangi and Foxton, well patronised by locals and linked by bracing coastal walks. Feilding, 20 minutes north of Palmerston North on SH54, is a large town which boasts two squares, a motor-racing track and racecourse, and a stock sale on Friday mornings. Take a NZ$10 insider tour of the yards and auctions on a Feilding Stock Saleyard Tour (tel: 06-323 3318; www. feilding. co. nz/saleyardtours. htm; Fri 11am). The Feilding Stock Saleyard has the capacity to hold 35,000 sheep, and with a total turnover of around 1. 2 to 1. 3 million animals per week, these yards do more business than any other in the Southern Hemisphere. Bookings are essential. 
  The Feilding Farmers' Market held every Friday morning in the town square is a must-see, a showcase of local produce, from handmade pate, to bread, preserves and chocolates; from meat, through to fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables.
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conversations.value: Free Range in the City by Annabel Langbein. New Zealand culinary superstar Annabel Langbein invites you into her home to share how her free-range cooking style can help you create a sustainable lifestyle no matter where you live. More than 220 recipes for living well in today's busy world.
  Mana Pounamu – New Zealand Jade by Russell Beck. New Zealand jade has always played an important role in New Zealand, being pivotal to the development of Maori culture, traditionally serving as tool, weapon, adornment and currency.
  Classic Kiwiana: an Essential Guide to New Zealand Popular Culture by Stephen Barnett and Richard Wolfe. A unique collection of images, which draws together Kiwis' national character.
  Insight Explore: New Zealand offers eighteen tailor-made itineraries to guide you around the country.
  Insight Fleximap: New Zealand, a durable and practical laminated map, with a list of recommended sights.
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conversations.value: Free Range in the City by Annabel Langbein. New Zealand culinary superstar Annabel Langbein invites you into her home to share how her free-range cooking style can help you create a sustainable lifestyle no matter where you live. More than 220 recipes for living well in today's busy world.
  Mana Pounamu – New Zealand Jade by Russell Beck. New Zealand jade has always played an important role in New Zealand, being pivotal to the development of Maori culture, traditionally serving as tool, weapon, adornment and currency.
  Classic Kiwiana: an Essential Guide to New Zealand Popular Culture by Stephen Barnett and Richard Wolfe. A unique collection of images, which draws together Kiwis' national character.
  Insight Explore: New Zealand offers eighteen tailor-made itineraries to guide you around the country.
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conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Major international magazines such as Time and Newsweek are readily available on newsstands in the capital, major cities, and the big resort areas, but are scarce elsewhere. Sanborn's restaurant branches generally have a newsstand with a selection of the foreign press.
  In many tourist areas, inland and especially around the coasts, there is at least one local free magazine published in English, such as Baja Times in Baja, Tourister in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Yucatán Today in Mérida and Cancún Tips and several others on the Riviera Maya. They are distributed in hotels, tourist offices, restaurants, and other venues, and while they are advertising-led they are handy to pick up, since as well as basic maps they also contain other useful information (such as current taxi rates).
  Except for those in really remote areas, or boutique retreats that deliberately avoid it, nearly every Mexican hotel has TV, and a great many, even in lower price ranges, now have cable or satellite systems offering a variety of channels. These will include a great many Mexican ones with their favorite mix of soap operas (telenovelas), entertainment spectaculars, chat shows, sensationalist news, classic Mexican movies, and soccer, and a choice of channels in English. In addition, US and British TV shows and movies are often shown even on Mexican channels in English with Spanish subtitles. Anyone with some knowledge of Spanish can also get insights into local life by flicking around the many small-scale local channels.
  There is an even bigger number of radio stations, most of them broadcasting Mexico's own music, of different kinds.
  Mexico's currency, the peso, comes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 peso bills, and there are coins for 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 pesos, as well as flimsy coins of 10, 20, and 50 centavos of a peso. Since the global financial crisis of 2007–8 the peso has generally stood at around 12–14 pesos to the US dollar.
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conversations.value: Andale... Mexico, www.andalemexico.com. Based in Mexico City and Queretaro, this Internet tour agency with international offices offers a much broader than average range of trips and other services around Mexico.
  Authentic Copper Canyon, tel (US): 217-369 9897, http://authenticcoppercanyon.com. Tailor-made trips to Copper Canyon and locations across Northern Mexico, including visits to the indigenous Tarahumara people.
  Cathy Matos Mexican Tours, tel (UK): 020-8492 0000, www.mextours.co.uk. The foremost UK Mexico specialist, with expert knowledge and tailor-made and ready-made itineraries. Also the UK agents for Mexicana.
  Go... with Jo, tel (US and Canada): 1-800 999 1446, www.gowithjo.com. Texas-based company with range of trips around Mexico, and run with a personal touch.
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conversations.value: Southern Mexico Traveller's Wildlife Guide Les Beletsky. Handy one-volume guide covering birds and land and undersea life.
  The Food and Life of Oaxaca Zarela Martínez. Perceptive, intimate account of the role of food in the life of Oaxaca, also with usable recipes.
  Tequila! A Natural and Cultural History Ana Valenzuela-Zapata and Gary Paul Nabhan. The lowdown on the culture surrounding Mexico's most famous lubricant.
  Insight Guide Guatemala, Belize and Yucatán provides in-depth coverage of this beautiful area, with revealing features and stunning photography.
  Smart Guide: Cancún will satisfy independent travelers looking for comprehensive listings presented in a snappy, easy-to-find way.
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conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Tickets for many Athens and Thssaloníki concerts are advance-sold mainly (or only) through the website www.ticketservices.gr (English option available), though after purchase, you must go to their physical premises in the stoa at Panepistimiou 39, or at the event box-office, to retrieve the actual tickets.
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conversations.value: Supermarkets, both large and small, are the only shops guaranteed to be open all day (Mon–Fri 8.30am–9pm, Sat 8.30am–8pm). Especially on resort islands, there will be at least one open short hours on Sunday too (typically 10am–4pm).
  You'll soon learn that schedules are very flexible in Greece (both in business and personal affairs). To avoid disappointment, allow ample time when shopping and doing business. That way, you may also enter into the Greek spirit of negotiation, in which a good chat can be as important as the matter of business itself.
  Although Greece is a photographer's paradise, taking photographs at will is not recommended. Cameras are permitted in museums, but to be used without tripod or flash. You may have to pay a fee to use your camcorder at archaeological sites. Watch out for signs showing a bellows camera with a red "X" through it, and do not point your camera at anything in or near airports – most of which double as military bases.
  Memory chips for most digital cameras are widely available; photo shops will also happily print from chips, or empty their contents onto a CD for a nominal fee (assume €5).
  Most local post offices are open weekdays from 7.30am until 2pm. However, the main post offices in central Athens (on Eólou near Omónia Square and on Sýndagma Square at the corner of Mitropóleos Street) are open longer hours on weekdays, as well as for a few hours on Saturday.
conversations.from: human
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conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Supermarkets, both large and small, are the only shops guaranteed to be open all day (Mon–Fri 8.30am–9pm, Sat 8.30am–8pm). Especially on resort islands, there will be at least one open short hours on Sunday too (typically 10am–4pm).
  You'll soon learn that schedules are very flexible in Greece (both in business and personal affairs). To avoid disappointment, allow ample time when shopping and doing business. That way, you may also enter into the Greek spirit of negotiation, in which a good chat can be as important as the matter of business itself.
  Although Greece is a photographer's paradise, taking photographs at will is not recommended. Cameras are permitted in museums, but to be used without tripod or flash. You may have to pay a fee to use your camcorder at archaeological sites. Watch out for signs showing a bellows camera with a red "X" through it, and do not point your camera at anything in or near airports – most of which double as military bases.
  Memory chips for most digital cameras are widely available; photo shops will also happily print from chips, or empty their contents onto a CD for a nominal fee (assume €5).
  Most local post offices are open weekdays from 7.30am until 2pm.
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conversations.value: The Mountains of Greece: Trekking in the Pindhos Mountains, by Tim Salmon. The best routes on the northern mainland (including Zagóri, and isolated Mt Ólymbos), with schematic maps and some GPS data.
  The High Mountains of Crete: White Mountains, Psiloritis & Lassithi Ranges, by Lorraine Wilson. The best of several guides to the island, with nearly 100 hikes of all levels, described by the most experienced foreign trek leader. Sketch maps are minimal – you'll need an additional commercial product from Anavasi Publications.
  Greek Wildflowers and Plant Lore in Ancient Greece, by Helmut Baumann. As the title says; lots of interesting ethnobotanical trivia, useful photos.
  Flowers of Greece and the Aegean, by Anthony Huxley and William Taylor. The only volume dedicated to both islands and mainland, with good photos, though taxonomy is now a bit obsolete.
  Flowers of the Mediterranean, by Oleg Polunin and Anthony Huxley. Lots of colour plates to aid in identification, and includes flowering shrubs; recent printings have a table of taxonomic changes.
conversations.from: human
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conversations.value: Insight Guides
  The last eruption of Askja began at the end of October 1961 and lasted for just over three months. The lava flowed from five craters, now named Vikraborgir, covering a great part of Öskjuop, the entrance to the caldera. When in Askja, be sure to visit the nearby Holuhraun lava field. Formed during an eruption of the Bardarbunga volcano that lasted from August 2014 to February 2015, the Holuhraun lava field covers a huge area of 85 sq km (33 sq miles).
  From the route between Herðubreiðarlindir and Askja there is a signposted side track (F910, then the F902) to the magnificent Kverkfjöll @ [map] ("Nook Mountains") at the northern edge of Vatnajökull. Close to the centre of the range is the second-highest volcano in Iceland, rising to 1,860 metres (6,102ft). It is split from north to south by a steep and rugged glacier named Kverkjökull, which has burrowed out a deep valley, leading to an almost entirely ice-filled caldera. Kverkfjöll has erupted several times in recorded history, although it is less notable for its volcanic activity than for its geothermal nature. A valley named Hveradalur ("hot spring valley") cuts southwestwards into the mountains at a height of 1,600 metres (5,250ft). The traveller who hikes into the valley will be rewarded with the entire spectrum of yellow, red and green nuances that characterise solfatara areas. Vapours rise everywhere from fumaroles and bubbling mud pits, and in the northeast where the valley is at its narrowest, it is almost blocked off by vapours from the largest vent. The valley is more than half-way surrounded by a brilliant white névé glacier, and at its southwest end there is an oval lake with greenish-blue ice walls. On a clear day, there is a magnificent view over Ódáðahraun wasteland to the mountains rising up above the high plateau. Beautiful ice caves have been discovered in the area above the Sigurðaskáli hut – ask the warden there for directions; however, the caves are dangerous to enter due to frequent ice falls.
  In July and early August, the bus company SBA-Norðurleið (www.sba.is) runs a three-day tour from Akureyri and Lake Mývatn that stops to visit Herðubreiðarlindir, the Askja caldera, Holuhraun lava field, Víti crater, and the Kverkfjöll ice caves, leaving on Mondays. You need to bring your own food and sleeping bag, and be a good walker. Super-jeep tours are another popular way to visit Askja – ask at the tourist offices in Akureyri or Lake Mývatn.
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conversations.value: Icelandic electrical plugs are of the European two-pin type, so UK visitors and those from outside Europe will require a plug adapter for their electrical devices.
  Australia: Australian Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, tel: (+45) 70 26 36 76, www.denmark.embassy.gov.au.
  Ireland: Honorary Consul in Reykjavík, Mr David Thorsteinsson, tel: 554 2355, email: davidcsh@islandia.is.
  UK: Laufásvegur 31, tel: 550 5100, www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-reykjavik.
  The Icelandic Foreign Ministry has a full list of diplomatic representatives on its website: www.mfa.is.
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  Australia: Australian Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, tel: (+45) 70 26 36 76, www.denmark.embassy.gov.au.
  Ireland: Honorary Consul in Reykjavík, Mr David Thorsteinsson, tel: 554 2355, email: davidcsh@islandia.is.
  UK: Laufásvegur 31, tel: 550 5100, www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-reykjavik.
  The Icelandic Foreign Ministry has a full list of diplomatic representatives on its website: www.mfa.Icelandic electrical plugs are of the European two-pin type, so UK visitors and those from outside Europe will require a plug adapter for their electrical devices.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.
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conversations.value: The Sagas of the Icelanders, translated by Robert Kellogg and also published by Penguin Classics, includes 10 sagas and seven shorter Old Norse tales.
  Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent. A poignant novel based on the true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last person to be executed in Iceland. covering this region include Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Scandinavia.
  In addition, the pocket-sized Insight Explore Guides give you the best routes around the world's most exciting cities and countries.
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conversations.value: The Sagas of the Icelanders, translated by Robert Kellogg and also published by Penguin Classics, includes 10 sagas and seven shorter Old Norse tales. 
  Burial Rites, by Hannah Kent. A poignant novel based on the true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last person to be executed in Iceland. 
  More than 120 and Insight City Guides cover every continent, providing information on culture and all the top sights, as well as superb photography and detailed maps.  covering this region include Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Scandinavia. 
  In addition, the pocket-sized Insight Explore Guides give you the best routes around the world's most exciting cities and countries.
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conversations.value: Insight Guides
  You may want to buy a local paper to find out what's on in town. Besides the musical shows, there are always numerous foreign movies showing in the original language with Portuguese subtitles. Entertainment listings appear under the headings of cinema, show, dança, música, teatro, televisão, exposicões, etc. Crianças means "children." It is not diffficult to understand the listings, even if you speak no Portuguese.
  Brazilian television mostly features light entertainment programs, like quiz shows, comedies, and soaps. It is big business, with Brazil exporting programs around the world. There are a staggering 180 million viewers in the country.
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conversations.value: Another option, if you plan phoning much within Brazil, is to buy a prepaid phone and keep charging it up. Phones can be purchased in shopping centers and larger supermarkets. There is a national register of prepaid cell phones, to try to prevent use by criminals, so be prepared to show your passport. Credits can be bought in many places – the ubiquitous lottery shops are a favorite, also gas stations and news-stands.
  Email dominates communications, but a fax can be sent from some post offices, and most hotels have telex and fax services for their guests. Fax services are also available at travel agents, office-services bureaux, and many other outlets. The prices charged for sending and receiving faxes vary widely.
  Two hours behind gmt: The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, 350km (220 miles) off the Atlantic coast.
  Three hours behind gmt: The western extension of Brazil's main time zone – in which 50 percent of the country lies – is a north–south line from the mouth of the Amazon river, going west to include the northern state of Amapá and the entire southern region. Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belém, and Brasília are all located in this zone.
  Daylight-saving time has been used in recent years, with clocks being set ahead in October and back to standard time in February or March. This, confusingly, means that time differences do not remain the same. Daylight-saving is only used in certain parts of Brazil, and takes place in the other half of the year in the northern hemisphere. Therefore, the time in Rio de Janeiro, for example, is often only two hours behind gmt, and the time difference between São Paulo and Rio and most of continental Europe can swing from three to five hours.
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conversations.value: Give me the last four paragraphs.. Start with the sentence 'Tropical Truth, by Caetano Veloso'.
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conversations.value: Tropical Truth, by Caetano Veloso. Bloomsbury, 2003. Singer/songwriter tells how Tropicalismo revolutionized Brazilian culture as well as its politics.
  Travelers' Tales Brazil, by Annette Haddad and Scott Doggett. Travelers' Tales Inc., 1997. Fifty essays on the country's commingling of cultures.
  Benedita da Silva, by Medea Benjamin and Maisa Mendonça. lab, 1998. An Afro-Brazilian woman's story of politics and love.
  We will acknowledge all contributions, and we'll offer an Insight Guide to the best letters received.
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  The Wai'anae Coast is perhaps the most misunderstood and maligned area of Oahu. It is true that this 20-mile (32km) coastline is hotter, dustier, and drier than the rest of the island. And with the exception of the Ko 'Olina Resort (http://koolina.com) at the southern end, it lacks the usual tourist attractions. But dig deep, and you'll find that West Oahu has considerable natural and cultural beauty to offer a respectful and adventurous traveler.
  Question any long-time resident of Nanakuli, Ma'ili, Wai'anae, or Makaha about the West Side, and they may just spend hours explaining why it's paradise: "It's the closest thing to an unspoiled Hawaiian place on this island," says a truck driver from Lualualei. A Nanakuli elder states flatly that "You've never been to a real lu'au until you've been to a big one on this side." Indeed, wedding or first-birthday lu'aus (for more information, click here) on this side of the island are legendary, remembered by participants by the number of kalua pigs and kegs of beer consumed.
  Just over 35,000 people live along Wai'anae's jagged shorelines and dry mountain slopes. Before the arrival of Captain Cook, the west coast of Oahu was a major center of Hawaiian civilization, probably because of the rich fishing grounds in the clear offshore waters between Nanakuli and Ka'ena Point. It was here, according to oral traditions, that the demigod Maui lived and first learned to make fire after he arrived in Hawaii. Also along this coast, several myths refer to the infamous man-pig Kamapua'a, renowned throughout Hawaii as a god who both charmed and harassed mortal worshipers with his capricious antics.
  Just past Pearl City and a quick dash off the H-1 Freeway, lies the town of Waipahu § [map], which is over a century old. Until the mid-1970s, it was devoted to growing sugar cane, but today employment is provided by other industries, such as tourism and leisure.
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conversations.value: There's more to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park than watching an active volcano do its thing; there also are great hikes and a crash-course in Earth Science.
  The best sights to see on the Big Island are nature at its most awesome, a spectacle that unfolds daily inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park r [map] (tel: 985-6000; www.nps.gov/havo; daily). The main attraction is Kilauea, an active volcano that has erupted consistently since 1983. Getting to the part of the park where you can see molton lava takes time; most visitors spend a full day. Other parts of the park to explore are canopied, misty rainforests filled with giant tree ferns; dried lava flows from yesteryear; the windswept deserts of Ka'u; and interpretive exhibits at park visitor centers. There also are great hikes up to the top of Mauna Loa. The park is so big, you could visit every day for a week and still miss more than half the park.
  On Mauna Loa's slopes is a rift zone, where lava that sometimes feeds the summit crater oozes from cracks lower on the mountain. This is the Big Island's biggest draw, along with the beaches of Kohala and Kona. All of the current activity is from Kilauea t [map], the youngest of Hawaii's volcanic mountains, which has erupted steadily since 1983, the longest continuously erupting volcano in the world. Like all Hawaiian volcanoes, Kilauea is a dome-like shield volcano with deceptively gentle slopes. It rises southeast of Mauna Loa, more than 20,000ft (6,000 meters) above its base on the ocean floor.
conversations.from: human
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conversations.value: The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The novel that inspired the motion picture of the same name; about death, family bonding, and land ownership in Hawaii.
  Fluke: Or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore. This laugh-out-loud novel is based on humpback whale researchers who still conduct work off the coast of Maui every winter.
  From Here to Eternity by James Jones. The novel that spawned a movie (and, in 2013, a musical); tells the story of military life on Oahu leading up to D-Day in 1941.
  The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter. A history of an Amish girl who travels to Hawaii and is spellbound by the beauty of its landscape and people.
conversations.from: human
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conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: A history of an Amish girl who travels to Hawaii and is spellbound by the beauty of its landscape and people. The novel that inspired the motion picture of the same name; about death, family bonding, and land ownership in Hawaii.
  Fluke: Or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore. This laugh-out-loud novel is based on humpback whale researchers who still conduct work off the coast of Maui every winter.
  From Here to Eternity by James Jones. The novel that spawned a movie (and, in 2013, a musical); tells the story of military life on Oahu leading up to D-Day in 1941.
  The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter.The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings.
conversations.from: human
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conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Out of Steppe by Daniel Metcalfe, Arrow Books (2010). A vivid travelogue combined with a sensitive discussion of Central Asia's declining minorities.
  Silk Dreams, Troubled Road by Jonny Bealby, Arrow Books (2003). A fascinating account of an epic journey along the Silk Road on horseback.
  The Lost Heart of Asia by Colin Thubron, Vintage (2004). The inimitable travel writer's account of his journey through Central Asia in the early 1990s.
  In Search of Kazakhstan: The Land That Disappeared by Christopher Robbins, Profile Books (2007). A fascinating insight into this vast and varied country.
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conversations.value: Traditional music is played in some local restaurants and teahouses in Iran. There are Iranian pop bands, but these are not appreciated by Iranian youth who prefer more famous international musicians. There are occasional classical and operatic performances at the Vahdat Concert Hall and Rudaki Hall in Tehran, but these and other cultural events are strictly monitored by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The Tehran Symphony Orchestra plays at official engagements. Plays by national and foreign writers are sometimes performed at the Sangalaj Hall in Tehran, on Behesht Street, opposite Shahr Park.
  The Dar al-Assad Theatre with its new opera house is Syria's most recent attempt to boost its arts and culture scene and bring international performances into the country.
  The Al-Qabbani Theatre is one of the oldest in the city, presenting serious shows of world literature, while local plays and musicals are performed by Syrian folk groups at the Workers Union Theatre. Information on cultural events can be found at www.opera-syria.org.
  Lebanon was a centre for Arab drama, dance and music through the 1960s, and despite the recent problems, art groups try to offer regular performances. Details of events can be found at www.lebweb.com.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last five paragraphs.
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conversations.value: Adventures in Persia by Reginald Teague-Jones, Gollancz (1990). Amazing account of a car journey through Persia in 1926.
  The Valleys of the Assassins: And Other Persian Travels by Freya Stark, John Murray (1940). Wonderful descriptions of all the major sites as seen in the early 1930s.
  The Hills of Adonis by Colin Thubron, William Heinemann (1968). The famous travel writer witnesses the Lebanon of the 1960s.
  A Fez of the Heart by Jeremy Seal, Picador (1996). Travels around Turkey in search of a real fez, the red felt hat banned in 1925; a perceptive, alternative view of modern Turkey.
  Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk, Faber (2006). An evocative biography of the city, drawing upon Pamuk's own childhood and a rich understanding of its history.
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conversations.value: Give me the first paragraph for this book.
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conversations.value: Insight Guides
  Indonesia's national currency, the rupiah, comes in banknote denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins come in 1,000 (rare), 500, 200, 100, and 50 (rare) rupiah. At the time of going to press, there were 11,356 rupiah to the US dollar.
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conversations.value: Give me five more paragraphs.
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conversations.value: Ballet Philippines is the country's foremost company, followed by the Philippine Ballet Theater. The Bayanihan National Dance Company and Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group excel in cultural and folk dancing.
  The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Philippine Madrigal Singers and UST Symphony Orchestra perform regularly at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP, tel: 02-832 1125, www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). Call for information on open-air concerts held around the city.
  Cinemas are a great respite from the heat and chaos of Manila. Hollywood movies are very popular and widely available, while local Filipino films are coming into their own, particularly in the horror genre.
  With the opening of Mall of Asia, the Philippines has its first IMAX movie theatre, with an eight-storey screen and bone-shaking sound. For tickets, call 02-556 IMAX.
  For information about movies at the various Robinsons Malls around the country, check out www.robinsonsmovieworld.com. For movies at SM Malls, check out www.smcinema.com.
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conversations.value: Give me the last paragraph.
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conversations.value: Visitors who wish to extend their stay to 59 days should contact the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, by Jones Bridge (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm). Longer visas can also be applied for at Philippine embassies.