OCTOBER 16, 2000 VOL. 156 NO. 15

TRAVEL WATCH Check Into the Past at One of Asia's Grand Hotels There's something to be said about a hotel that perfectly captures a bygone era, while providing modern creature comforts Hot Deals Zegrahm Expeditions is offering something a bit wilder Hot Spot Bintan Island is officially part of Indonesia, but you can also think of it as Singapore's backyard playground Kitsch Report A captured mountain hideout of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf as a tourist attraction? Web Crawling This website is a good guide for travelers who need information about Japan's traditional inns, or ryokan Detour One of the most extensive collections of Nepal's architectural heritage Travel Watch Archive: Browse hundreds of Asian travel tips

Web Crawling

Japan Ryokan Association
(www.ryokan.or.jp/english)

Inn Demand This website is a good guide for travelers who need information about Japan's traditional inns, or ryokan. Simply laid out and easy to navigate, the site includes details on how to check in and out, where to eat and—for those who aren't sure if they're allowed to cannon ball into the shared bath—how to behave appropriately. The site has a searchable database of member ryokans' homepages, so you can pick the place that best suits your needs.

Go Ski
(www.goski.com)

Icy Breaks If you're planning to go skiing or snowboarding this winter, this is the site, to use a cool analogy, to ski to. Its global listings provide trail maps, reports on current conditions, accommodation details and reviews of resorts. It's a must-read for anyone planning a ski vacation in Japan, South Korea or any other snowy spot in the region. The site is weak on Pakistan and India, though that's partly due to unrest in disputed Kashmir.

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