OFFBEAT IN ASIA

A personal and often amusing account of one English couple's journey along the ""underbelly"" of the Soviet bear, from the Istambul Hilton to Afghanistan, and back. Roaring through the mideast in their Land Rover, they gather sights, impressions and anecdotes from Ankara, Trabzon, Teheran and a host of other not-so-mysterious Islamic places. Constant scrapes with suspicious police and soldiery meetings with all types of humanity, pepper the proceedings. Views of Americans are particularly amusing, seen through cool British eyes. Superficial, but written with a light touch some will appreciate.