DELHI BELLYACHE
I’m penning this within the Irish House, a pub in Delhi International Airport. I’d fairly not be right here as I’d fairly be within the Qantas lounge, as I anticipated. Qantas neither knowledgeable us that their lounge was closed nor did they be sure that clients had been inconvenienced as little as potential by providing an applicable different. The menu is minimal and tea will not be on it which is all I wished.
Patti Bradbury, Melbourne, Vic Melbourne
PASS MARK
Due to pandemic border restrictions after which falling pregnant with my first little one, I needed to cancel a number of Qantas flights to go to household in Melbourne in 2021. I used to be then issued a “Qantas pass” of $400 to make use of earlier than December 2023. After studying folks’s complaints about Qantas in Traveller Letters, I used to be pleasantly stunned that it was really easy to rebook flights for April this yr for my bub and I. All I wanted was the e-mail with the cross particulars upon cost and pay any distinction. Maybe Qantas has been listening to suggestions.
Elly Howse, Narara, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
CORE CONCERN
On vacation, I’m staying at two great resorts in Queensland. Both supply yoga at 7am, like many others I’ve visited. I repeat, I’m on vacation. Why would I stand up at 7am? Everyone, please transfer yoga to noon, if indoors and midsummer, or round 10 am or 4 pm. You will most likely improve attendance 10-fold.
Michele Sharp, Queens Park, NSW
DEAR MUM
Like Judith Rostron (Traveller Letters, March 18), I additionally wrote newsy aerograms to my mother and father each week that I used to be on the opposite aspect of the world in the course of the 70s. When I used to be clearing out my mom’s desk, I discovered that she had saved each letter and now I’ve an in depth account of my travels in my very own phrases. A good thing about gradual communication days.
Janet Oxwell, Canberra, ACT
LONG DARK CLOUD
Your author enthused “God Bless New Zealand” (Traveller Letters, March 18) once they had been capable of change plans because of the cyclone, however we had been disillusioned by our New Zealand tour firm. Cyclone Gabrielle meant our cycle tour was cancelled on the second day, however we got no different rides and even options, simply ferried again to the beginning and dumped in a resort for one evening. We managed to conjure up some plans and even did a day tour with a distinct firm alongside one of many trails we would missed out on. To add salt to our wounds, we discovered our tour information and driver from the cancelled tour having fun with the path too, and utilizing the bikes we had paid for.
Natalie Cleary, Gymea Bay, NSW
GLASS ACTS
In response to your cowl story, “Raising the bars” (Traveller, March 18), my favorite bar is the rooftop Sugar Bar on the East Hotel in Hong Kong. Views throughout Victoria Harbour at sundown because the lights come on and all of the ships ply their commerce make the completely satisfied hour cocktails much more satisfying than simply having a drink.
Jim McAlpine, Moss Vale, NSW
My favorite bar is the Beer Bazaar in Tel Aviv, in the course of the Carmel Market on Yishkon Street. During the day the bar is a small gap within the wall room for about six folks with a spread of six wonderful craft beers. It’s a refreshing retreat from the surrounding noise and warmth of the Arab fruit and vegetable stalls and positively the place to cease for a fast one. At evening the markets are closed, the beer crates are upturned to turn out to be tables and chairs and unfold across the neighbouring space. Young {couples} with their canines benefit from the cooler night and the bar is a haven of peace and reflection.
Michael Barker, Annandale, NSW
MIXED RESPONSE
Any rooftop bar is my favorite no matter what you drink or which metropolis you go to. Non- alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails are definitely the newest fad however have unexpected penalties for the standard wine drinker. On a current Princess cruise, a wait of half-hour was common to be served a glass of wine because of the massive variety of cocktails being ordered and the additional time required to make them. Cocktails, on cruise ships, are actually on par in value with a glass of wine and subsequently are the popular possibility. Gender stereotyping can also be alive and properly within the espresso space. I at all times order an extended black, my male accomplice a cappuccino, with the cappuccino at all times served to me.
Barbara Tregear, Ashfield, NSW
LOCKER SHOCKER
I discuss with Lee Tulloch’s column, “Let’s carry on carrying-on” (Traveller, March 18). Carry-on baggage is ok, nevertheless it’s what appears to be outsized baggage that takes up greater than its justifiable share of the overhead locker that’s significantly annoying. I get offended when requested to place my half-filled small backpack at my toes and make my flight uncomfortable as a result of the overhead locker area is taken up by massive carry-ons and I can not even get any area in any respect. The remark within the article, “it’s a frantic race to get on first and claim that precious space above your seat” typifies the selfishness of a few of these with carry-ons, particularly the outsized gadgets. The airways aren’t considering guaranteeing compliance with carry-on dimensions and weight necessities, maybe as a result of it is one much less merchandise of luggage they should deal with elsewhere.
Trevor Street, Park Orchards, Vic
BANK ON IT
I too travelled all through Europe with my Europe on $5 a Day guidebook (Traveller Letters, March 18) within the Sixties and did all the pieces Brian Payne did. On prime of that, due to the price of sending mail from Europe, we bought a stack of aerograms in London and my buddies and I wrote house as soon as every week, mailed them to the Bank of NSW, Sackville Street, London and somebody there posted them for us.
Doug Johnson, Bellevue Hill, NSW
FAIL FOR PASS
Arriving in Japan after a 3 yr absence, just a few issues stand out. Since the nation reopened, persons are busting to get again and it seems to be like this yr’s barely early cherry blossoms will encourage even larger crowds. The queue for folks exchanging their Japan Rail Pass (jrailpass.com) vouchers for the precise cross was monumental right now, snaking all the way in which out of the JR workplace in Tokyo Station. When my flip got here, I used to be horrified to see that the brand new JR Pass is now solely the identical measurement as a standard practice ticket – about 6cm by 4cm. The implications of how straightforward it could be to lose are too scary and as soon as it is misplaced, they will not change it. Gone is the massive vibrant fold-out card they used to provide; maybe it’s a cost-cutting measure. Guard it along with your life.
Margot Pope, Lewisham, NSW
WORLD RECORD
I even have many diaries (Tipometer, March 26) from my travels each in Australia and abroad. They are an effective way to recollect travels as you usually crowd a lot right into a day that it’s arduous to recollect precisely what you could have achieved. I even glue entry tickets, playing cards or dockets into the diary as souvenirs. Television packages or information gadgets will spark a reminiscence, so out comes the diary. Diaries have additionally been identified to settle arguments.
Vicki McDowell, Maroubra, NSW
SWISS MISS
My two sons misplaced their baggage on a Qantas-American Airlines codeshare flight from Dallas to Los Angeles and on to Sydney. We phoned American Airlines who took no accountability, so I phoned Qantas twice a day for 3 days, accomplished paperwork and despatched images of the bags. On the fourth day we returned to Sydney International Airport and searched anyplace there was baggage. We discovered rooms with rows of bags and finally discovered the Qantas misplaced baggage workplace with unattended baggage sitting outdoors trying prefer it had been deserted. There was an indication with a cell phone quantity to name, however there was no reply. Eventually an worker arrived and walked us over to the Swissport workplace and there, within the entry space, was my two sons’ baggage. I encourage anybody who can return to Sydney’s International Airport to go to arrivals on degree one and search for the Swissport workplace .
Kate Leahy, Strathfield, NSW
TOUR AND TASTE
I extremely suggest the all-day Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Indigenous tour (budjbim.com.au) in Victoria and benefit from the scrumptious tasting plate lunch at Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre. You will see and study a lot extra about how Gunditjmara folks lived, see the stays of stone homes, the eel traps and ponds and listen to tales of life there than is feasible in a brief tour. It is certainly price having time to spend two nights in Portland, on Victoria’s south-west coast, or close by, so as to benefit from the full-day tour and have go searching.
Annie Keely, Fairfield, Vic
BED BUGGED
Your reader Peter Surgenor (Traveller Letters, March 18) feedback on the Malaysian mattress tax on foreigners. The tax is small at 10 ringgit ($3.40) an evening and most locations I’ve stayed will present a receipt for those who ask. Compared with the quickly to be launched 300 baht ($13.19) vacationer tax in Thailand (for travellers arriving in Thailand by air) it is a small value to pay.
Stephen Trevarrow, New Farm, Qld
I SAW THE LIGHT
I purchased a brand new light-weight carry-on weighing in at 1.9 kg. The garments, joggers, lingerie, socks, hat, rest room bag all weighed. So far, the bag and garments are six kilos, which permits for final minute extras. By taking a carry-on bag, my garments and wishes will likely be with me on a regular basis and straightforward to tug alongside. Go mild weight!
Judith Bond, Campbelltown, NSW
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give choice to letters of 100 phrases or much less they usually could also be edited for area, authorized or different causes. Please use full sentences, do not use textspeak and do not embrace attachments. Email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, embrace your identify, handle and telephone quantity.
The Letter of the Week author wins three Hardie Grant journey books. See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week author wins a set of three Lonely Planet journey books. See shop.lonelyplanet.com
