500 Places to See Before They Disappearby Holly Hughes with Larry West
Book Publishing Company :
Wiley Publishing Inc. Download Now ____________________________________________________________________________________ Nailing Jell-O to a wall—that’s what writing this book felt like at times. I have been haunted by that fact that, between the time this book was being written and the time it would appear in stores—let alone by the time you finally read it—any of these threatened des-tinations could have radically changed. That came with the territory, so to speak—you can’t call a book 500 Places to See Before They Disappear without assuming that the places you’re going to write about are on the brink of extinction. I became afraid to open the newspaper in the morning. The 2008 one-two punch of the cyclone in Myanmar and the Sichuan earthquake in China is a perfect example of how perilous the fate of our planet seems these days. If you’ve bought this book, you don’t need me to tell you that. Those of us concerned about earth’s survival already hear the warning alarms around us on a daily basis. But when all is said and done, this book is, above all, meant to be a travel guide, not a scientific treatise or an eco-sermon. What you’ll find in these pages is a carefully chosen list of destinations for travelers to enjoy. That verb “enjoy” is crucial—for in the process of cherishing these natural and cultural wonders, we renew our commitment to preserving them. Naturally, as travelers we don’t want to visit only ruins and devastation—so whenever possible, I’ve steered you to those spots where now-rare species are surviving, where special landscapes are still intact, where unique cultural artifacts have been preserved. (Who wants to devote a week’s precious vacation to dive at a dying coral reef, when there are still healthy ones to glory over?) And as you visit these places, hopefully my suggestions will help you do so with sustainable travel habits—choosing nonpolluting, fuel-efficient transportation, supporting local suppliers, and leaving as few traces as possible on the land.
