I must admit, I still like to read the older books from time to time, and I enjoy them, too.
Thanks HH, I thought that the Tamuls must be based on the Asian/Chinese type culture, too - although I did wonder what kind of race the Styrics were based on, or whether Eddings created one.
Getting back to the Belgariad, I wondered whether the Arends were based on any real culture/country, too.