I find myself being drawn to travel books - especially the ones where the author has a personal experience. Somehow it brings the culture of the place into focus along with all the 'places to see' and 'things to do'.
Have just finished reading 'Last Seen In Lhasa' by Claire Scobi. Interwoven in her travels in Tibet, is the search for herself, and her extraordinary friendship with a nun. Her description of the places she journeys through makes you see them - you feel you are there with her and her group, and the people she meets and talks about especially Ani, the nun, come alive and you see them within the framework of their country - so, good, bad, beautiful, ugly - it's a whole experience.....