Jeff Greenwald's classic travelogue follows his quest for the ""perfect"" Buddha statue. At turns hilarious and moving, his quest features a cast of amazing characters - from a passionate palmist to a flying lama -who provide unforgettable glimpses into the daily life and culture of the former kingdom (including a wild ride on Kathmandu's very first escalator). Greenwald doesn't shy away from Shangri-la's darker side. Along with colorful descriptions of Hindu and Buddhist mythology, the book tells of the rampant corruption, art smuggling, assassination attempts and human right abuses that.