Your guide to the lastest guidebooks

By COLIN MOORE

OMAN AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

By Gordon Robinson and Lou Callan
- Buy Online @ Flying Pig

BAHRAIN, KUWAIT AND QATAR

By Gordon Robinson and Paul Greenway
- Buy Online @ Flying Pig

MIDDLE EAST

By Andrew Humphreys and others - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

DUBAI

By Lou Callan, (Lonely Planet, $30 to $47.50)- Buy Online @ FlyingPig

When in the Middle East, do as the Arabs do. That's the advice of author Gordon Robinson, whose suggestions include: "Upon entering a room shake hands with everyone, touching your heart with the palm of the right hand after each handshake." When you've done that, these will help you to find your way around the Middle East without getting into trouble. Middle East is in its third edition, the others are new.

SOUTH AMERICAN HANDBOOK 2000

By Ben Box (Footprint, $53.20)- Buy Online @ FlyingPig

After 75 annual editions, this veteran travel guide publisher should just about have it right. The first South American handbook, written by W. Koebel and published in 1924, was intended for businessmen wanting to export to South America. Now the export, or import, is in leisure travellers and this volume offers lots of useful information.

INDIA

By Christine Niven and others - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

INDIAN HIMALAYA

By Bradley Mayhew and others - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

RAJASTHAN

By Sarina Singh and Michelle Coxall - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

KERALA

By Teresa Cannon and Peter Davis - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

MUMBAI (BOMBAY)

By David Collins - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

DELHI

By Richard Plunket and Hugh Finlay (Lonely Planet, $30 to $39.95).

Buy Online @ FlyingPig

All you need to know about the sub-continent in several new editions (the eighth for India) and two new guides (Kerala and Mumbai). Read and digest or you'll need a bigger suitcase.

INDEPENDENT TRAVELLER'S AUSTRALIA 2000

By Gareth Powell (Thomas Cook, $44.95) - Buy Online @ FlyingPig

A budget guide that the backpacking set may find handy. Not a word on expensive things to do or buy but heaps on public transport and B&Bs. Read your mate's and make notes.