LONELY Planet has published new editions of guide books for travellers in this region. They are Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, The Philippines, and Hong Kong, Macau and Canton.
Other books new to the market from Odyssey Illustrated Guides are The Yangzi River; Guizhou; Khajuraho, an introduction to the erotic temples; The Kathmandu Valley; Cuba and Iran.
NOW what sport would you expect the Swiss resort town of St Moritz to be offering this winter? Well yes, there is skiing, but how about horse-racing in the snow? Three days of horse-racing are planned for February. The race track is the highest in the world. For information on winter packages, phone GeoTraveller, Hong Kong 840-9182.
And if you travel first class, by February Swissair will have introduced espresso coffee machines on all its long-haul flights.
THE Black Holocaust Museum, located in a dilapidated former boxing club in downtown Milwaukee, pulls no punches. Among the exhibits are ropes from a Ku Klux Klan robe, a ceremonial KKK rifle that spits fire instead of bullets, letters describing lynchings, and photographs of black men being lynched.
The man behind the museum is James Cameron, 80, who himself was saved at the last minute from a lynching 64 years ago. A photo of the attempt is among the exhibits in what Cameron calls his 'Chamber of Horrors.' AIR New Zealand has introduced 13 extra flights over the holiday season to alleviate overcrowding. Christmas is also New Zealand's summer. THE 235-room Pan Pacific Hotel, Bangkok, opens today, and is offering 50 per cent discount until February 28. Phone Hong Kong 366-2688 for details. COLD comfort. People actually pay to visit Mount Washington in the United States, renowned as 'the home of the world's worst weather.' Each winter the Mount Washington Observatory offers a series of EduTrips that include an overnight stay on top of New England's highest mountain. The weekends include indoor classroom time on topics related to the mountain environment, including photography, meteorology and there's even time outdoors to experience the rugged weather. EduTrippers are provided transportation to the top in snow tractors.