Traveller letters: Baiyun Airport in Guangzhou overpriced food and drinks

Suddenly I heard the approaching sound of the carriage behind us and turned as the horse whinnied, reared up and started bolting towards us, dragging its load of startled tourists behind as the driver struggled to regain control.

Trying to stay calm, I hastened towards my only means of escape, a "biergarten" on the corner, packed with people at tables, and swung the stroller through the gate just as the horse careered onto the pavement outside.

The frantic driver gained control at the last minute and got the horse back on the road, while the patrons stared at me open-mouthed. I recovered enough to turn and walk out to my dumbfounded husband across the road, who had witnessed the whole crazy scene.

Penny Medianik, Glenbrook, NSW

DRAWING A LINE

What is it about Italy and queues? After a month in Rome and southern Italy it seems queue-jumping is a national sport. Travelling by planes, buses, trains and ferries and visiting major attractions, our experience was much the same.

Despite an obvious line the smart money was to simply ignore the queue and sidle as far forward as possible and/or just push and jostle when a gate or door opened. At locations where there were staff there was no effort to control the situation.

Great trip, though, in a great country despite this frustration.

Ben Hall, Cabarita, NSW

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL

Your writer, Alison Stewart, recently reported on her trip on Rovos Rail (Traveller, June 25), and while we would agree with her on the luxurious "look and feel" of the train, we experienced some major shortcomings on our recent trip from Pretoria to Victoria Falls.

Service was excellent, and the public spaces very comfortable, but to spend most nights lying awake due to the constant screeching of the rails and the occasional major crashing impact of a new locomotive being attached was not what we expected.

We were advised that the train would stop at night, but this was only the case for short periods on one or two of the four nights. Delays contributed somewhat to this, but we even travelled through the night on the first night out of Pretoria.

Your writer clearly did not travel in a seven-square-metre Pullman Suite. It is too small for a comfortable journey and not value for money. The only way one could exit the double bed was to climb over your partner; to pack, one of us had to stand in the bathroom or exit the suite.

Food and wine were good, though nowhere near cruise ship standards, and note that the four-course dinner does not provide for a choice of mains. Overall this was an expensive and interesting journey, but one with some serious downsides.

Peter Cohen, Sanctuary Cove, QLD

MURPHY'S LORE

I would like to remind readers of the wonderful travel books by Irish writer Dervla Murphy. Full of insight, entertainment and information, Murphy's books tell of the adventures of one of the most intrepid of travellers. Relying on her bicycle and when that fails, shanks' pony, local buses and trains, Murphy has explored the world for more than 40 years.

The joy of her books comes from her habit of boarding with, eating with, sharing what-she-has with, the local people, in an astonishing number of countries. Their lives and cultures are made vivid and memorable by Murphy's openness to new experiences. Her writing is engaging and one of the most interesting of her books is Muddling Through In Madagascar.

Murphy is now in her 80s but what a life and what delight she's already shared with so many of us. She really puts flesh on the old adage of "going slowly and taking in the local colour.''

Glenda Harvey, Carlton North, NSW

STAR RATING

Bouquets for Qantas and Jetstar. Over many years we have used Qantas Frequent Flyer Points to fly business, premium economy and economy to many parts of the world, without any hassle apart from booking when the tickets first become available, a little under a year before the desired flight.

Due to a recent knee replacement, I needed a wheelchair then a lift into the plane at Newcastle and reverse at Melbourne and on the same for my return flight. The efficiency, attention and care of the Jetstar crew was first rate.

Juliet Maher, Adamstown Heights, NSW

WE WELCOME YOUR TRAVEL-RELATED OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCES

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