Traveller letters: Airbus A380 superjumbo's toilets out of order on a long-haul flight

To your list I'd like to add "The Silent People of Kainuu", an installation in the middle of an open field in central Finland. I came across it travelling south from Kirkenes to Helsinki and it took my breath away.

It consists of almost a thousand straw and wood figures created by artist Reijo Kela. The local people in this part of Finland change the clothes on the figures throughout the year to reflect the seasons.

David Parker, Geelong, Vic

ALARM BELLS

A photograph in your Check-In section (Traveller, December 15) shows a woman administering an EpiPen with her thumb placed over the top of the device. As a mother of an anaphylactic child, this picture has alarm bells ringing. You must not put your thumb over the top as the needle will not come out or it could break, meaning the pen no longer works, with potentially fatal consequences. I hope no readers think this is the correct way of administering an EpiPen.

Jodie Weerasekera, South Kingsville, Vic

HOW IT HERTZ

Three weeks ago I was involved in a serious head-on collision in a Hertz hire car. I was injured and the car was deemed to be a total loss. I was not at fault and had driven just 57 kilometres in the car. Two weeks after the accident, Hertz charged my credit card $99 for petrol, as I did not return the car to them with a full tank. No warning given. Thanks, Hertz.

Shannon Staub, Watsonia, Vic

PILGRIMS' REGRESS

A total lack of respect for other people's beliefs and places of pilgrimage (Traveller letters, December 15) is rife. On my second trip to Bhutan recently I climbed to the Takishang (Tiger's Nest) Monastery near Paro; it is a sacred site all Buddhists hope to visit once in their lifetime.

Along the way, a group of noisy tourists with music blaring strode past us to the first vantage point. With typical Bhutanese calmness, my guide restrained himself from asking them to turn down the music. Red robed monks cast their eyes down.

The tourists totally missed the reverence, the pristine beauty, the birdsong, breezes rustling though the colourful prayer flags and the silence. If tourists can't cope without their accompanying noise, they could at least wear ear buds.

Charmain Williams, Forster, NSW

JET NOT SET

Thank heavens for Rants & raves so I can get my absolute fury regarding Jetstar off my chest. Having booked a Jetsar flight in October to go to Hobart on December 19, just before leaving for the airport I received a text to say the flight had been cancelled. We were then booked on a 10.40am flight for the following day, but in the queue for that, we were told that flight had been delayed. At the counter, I was told the plane was full. I asked a Jetsar staff-member if the bumped passengers had priority, but the answer was "no".

The team leader offered a full refund, but no compensation for the lost day of holidays or the airport parking fees. My sympathies were for the staff taking on the enraged public. As we needed to be in Tasmania, we were forced to pay $495 each for a 2pm Virgin flight. We are an elderly couple, but I felt for all the families with babies and young children.

Caroll Casey, North Ryde, NSW

LUCCA TO A BRICK

I enjoyed Brian Johnston's "Three Minute Guide" to Lucca, Italy (Traveller, December 15) and its coverage but it was disappointing that he ignored the huge walls encircling the old part of the city, except to say that the road on top was now a pedestrian-only area. These walls are an incredible example of centuries-old brick-laying skills. We have been there and walked all over and through the walls via a tortuous passage and steps and came away marvelling at the skills of the bricklayers, in placing so many bricks and at such heights. I did also spare a thought for the labourers who mixed the lime mortar - dirty stuff at any time - and in such volumes. We also visited Sienna where there are similar massive brick walls, maybe up to 15-20 metres high.

James Wilson, Knoxfield, Vic

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