Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java is richly illustrated with color plates of the finest antique and contemporary batik from thirty museums and private collections around the world.From the royal courts of Yogyakarta and Cirebon to the coastal towns of Pekalongan, Surabaya and Lasem, Inger McCabe Elliot takes the reader on a spellbinding tour of Java's north coast examining the customs, cultures and craftsmanship that distinguishes its magic cloth.Bat...

Throughout history, precious stones have inspired passions and poetry, quests and curses, sacred writings and unsacred actions. In this scintillating book, journalist Victoria Finlay embarks on her own globe-circling search for the real stories behind some of the gems we prize most. Blending adventure travel, geology, exciting new research, and her own irresistible charm, Finlay has fashioned a treasure hunt for some of the most valuable, glamorous, and mysterious substances on earth....

National Geographic pairs gripping and gruesome stories of shark attacks with cutting edge research to illuminate a fascinating underwater world that few truly understand. Sharks are the world's most fascinating predators—capable of detecting a single drop of blood in 25 million drops of ocean and sensing electricity emitted by their prey. This ebook short takes readers deep into the realm of the very latest shark science, including new insights into the nature of shark attacks around the ...

WINNER OF THE 2017 NASW SCIENCE IN SOCIETY JOURNALISM AWARDA FINALIST FOR THE 2017 PEN/E. O. WILSON LITERARY SCIENCE WRITING AWARDLONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCEA LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR“[A] curiously edifying book.” —The New York Times Book Review“With the taut suspense of a spy no...

Welcome to a carnival unlike anything that you have ever read about, visited, or even imagined before. Here, before your very eyes, you will encounter bizarre, anomalous creatures of every conceivable (and inconceivable!) kind—a veritable menagerie of cryptozoological mysteries to dazzle and delight, tantalize and terrify. For this is Mirabilis—a realm of marvels, wonders, miracles...and monsters! Peer through the shadows and see what you may. Was that scuttling horror a spider the...

Learn the essentials of Asian gemstones with this useful and portable reference book.Gemstones, both mythical and real, are deeply embedded in the arts, religions and cultures of Asia. This handy pocket guide provides an excellent introduction to the full range of superb gemstones mined and processed in the region, their physical characteristics, historical importance and countries of origin. Stunning color photographs and informative text by noted writer on gemsto...

Journey to the Stone AgeIn one of the last untamed places on Earth, Indonesian New Guinea’s snowcapped peaks tower above steaming rainforests and huge crocodiles stalk in thick mangroves ringing the island. Whether you lounge on the white beaches of Biak, or trek around Wamena, Indonesian New Guinea offers the adventure of a lifetime.The ultimate adventure guideThis is the most complete guide to Indonesian New Guinea ever produced. ...

The African Safari Journal & Field Guide is the perfect book to take on safari because it is a wildlife guide, trip organizer, phrase book, safari diary, map directory and wildlife checklist, all in one! And because many safariers have strict baggage limits, this 7-BOOKS-IN-ONE journal becomes even more valuable because it features all the information a traveler to Africa is going to need. It puts key safari information at the reader's fingertips and allows them to record unforgettable mem...

Supporting STEM-based learning, this fact-filled book for animal lovers ages 6-9 is the ultimate guide to all sorts of amazing creatures from across the globe, entertaining and educating young readers through a combination of close-up images, quirky trivia facts, quiz questions, and fascinating tidbits on everything from tigers to tardigrades.How many hearts does an octopus have? Which is the most poisonous animal alive? Why could a penguin never live in a hot dese...

Keoladeo National Park or more popularly called as Bharatpur Bird Park is a World Heritage Site. It boasts of a total of 375 plus bird species, in addition to a healthy number of mammal, reptile and insect species, and all easily accessible in a 27 square kilometres walkable jungle.The park has a number of winged visitors in winter as it lies on the migratory highway. Thousands of birds rest, breed and regain strength before travelling further south.Due to the protected sta...

This book provides a general introduction to the natural history of Bali, looking at each of the major ecosystems in turn and highlighting their most salient and interesting features. Watercolor panoramas and illustrations of typical or otherwise significant plants and animals from each type of habitat complement the text and provide the reader with a visual reference for some of the sights he or she is most likely to see during a visit to the island.

My Big Book of Birds - An excellent book incorporating beautiful images in vibrant colours with simple to read text that encourages children to learn about animals. More than 60 birds are mentioned in this book. This book is a part of big book series having 15 books on different topics.