"The Journals of the farway lands" that are in the hands of readers is Trinh Quang Phu’s latest work at his “rare” matured age, but his pen is still strong, and his flow of writing is still powerful. Journal is his forte. His writing is simply natural, yet thoroughly and deeply. We see the glimpse of Paustovsky when the writer describes the beautiful scenery of Moscow in the golden autumn then the birch forest was in its changing season “a bright yellow 3-dimensional space as if to lift up the human soul ", or the scene”. And the beauty of Mount Fuji of the land of cherry blossoms is as if in the painting of Levitan, appearing in front of the reader.” (The writer NGUYEN TRUONG Director, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Publishing House)

The book probes and examines traditional sources of royal power and control, as well as indigenous socio-political systems in the Malay world. It is focused on the north-western Malaysian Sultanate of Kedah which is acknowledged as the oldest unbroken independent kingship line in the 'Malay and Islamic world' with 1,000 years of history. Little scholarly attention has been paid to its pre-modern history, society, religion, system of government and unique geographic situation, potentially controlling both land and sea lines of communication into the remainder of Southeast Asia. It will thus provide the first comprehensive treatment in English, or other languages, on Kedah's pre-modern and nineteenth century historiography and can provide a foundation for comparative studies of the various Malay states which is presently lacking. The proposed book also sheds much needed light on a range of important topics in Malay history including: Kedah and the northern Melaka Straits history, colonial expansion and rivalry, Southeast Asian history and politics, interregional migration and the influence of the sea peoples or orang laut, traditional Malay socio-political and economic life, Islamic influences and the course of Thai-Malay relations. The book attempts to offer a new understanding, not only of Kedah, but of the political and cultural development of the entire Malay world and of its relationships with the broader forces in both its continental and maritime settings. It argues that Kedah does not seem to follow, and in fact, often seems to contradict what has been commonly been accepted as the "typical model" of the traditional Malay state. Thus it concludes that the ruling dynasty has historically exploited a wide range of unique environmental conditions, local traditions, global spiritual trends and economic forces to preserve and strengthen its political position.

Globally the hospitality and tourism industry is evolving and undergoing radical changes. The past practices are now advancing through the rapid development of knowledge and skills acquired to adapt and create innovations in various ways. Hence, it is imperative that we have an understanding of the present issues so that we are able to remedy problems on the horizon. Current Issues in Hospitality and Tourism: Research and Innovations is a complilation of research in the broad realm of hospitality and tourism. This book is divided into eight sections covering the following broad themes: – Training and education (hospitality students learning); – Organization and management (practical issues and current trends in the hotel, catering and tourism industry); – Product and food innovation; – Marketing; – Islamic hospitality and tourism issues; – Gastronomy; – Current trends; – Tourism The contributions, from different parts of the globe, present a new outlook for future research, including theoretical revelations and innovations, environmental and cultural exploration aspects, tourist destinations and other recreation and ecotourism aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry. Current Issues in Hospitality and Tourism: Research and Innovations will be useful as a reference for academics, industry practitioners and policy makers, and for those with research interests in the fields of hotels, tourism, catering and gastronomy.

This volume provides a key analysis of Asian children’s literature and film and creates a dialogue between East and West and between the cultures from which they emerge, within the complex symbiosis of their local, national and transnational frameworks. In terms of location and content the book embraces a broad scope, including contributions related to the Asian-American diaspora, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Individually and collectively, these essays broach crucial questions: What elements of Asian literature and film make them distinctive, both within their own specific culture and within the broader Asian area? What aspects link them to these genres in other parts of the world? How have they represented and shaped the societies and cultures they inhabit? What moral codes do they address, underpin, or contest? The volume provides further voice to the increasingly diverse and fascinating output of the region and emphasises the importance of Asian art forms as depictions of specific cultures but also of their connection to broader themes in children’s texts, and scholarship within this field.