Traveller letters: Think twice about visiting America if you don't want the 'Mem Fox' treatment

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This was published 7 years ago

Traveller letters: Think twice about visiting America if you don't want the 'Mem Fox' treatment

Passengers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago wait to be screened by the Transportation Security Administration.

Passengers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago wait to be screened by the Transportation Security Administration.Credit: Getty Images

STARS AND GRIPES

My wife and I recently entered Los Angeles in transit to Canada and were given the "Mem Fox" treatment. Despite travelling there the year before on the same passport my wife was arbitrarily taken, with others, to a room by customs officers.

My efforts to accompany her were ignored and when I enquired an hour and a half later about her situation was advised it was confidential.

Some 20 minutes after that my wife appeared both shaken and stirred. She was told nothing and when her name was called asked where she was staying in America. On telling them "nowhere" as she was in transit to Canada, her passport was returned and she was told to leave.

The attitude directed at us both was appalling and we still have no idea what her detention was all about.

Message. Think twice about visiting America in the current environment. Air Canada fly direct from Brisbane and Sydney to Vancouver.....our preferred carrier Virgin, please note.

Jeff Linden, Byron Bay

See also: How Trump travel ban will hit tourism and Aussie travellers

IDENTITY CRISIS

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I have been a supporter of Airbnb for years and used their services three times on three continents. On each occasion my host gave me glowing references, which are on the website for all to see and I was welcomed back any time. Recently, while trying to find accommodation in Noosa, I discovered Airbnb has changed its rules of engagement. Before being able to inquire about even the availability of a place, Airbnb requires me to one, put up an image of myself, two, give them an image of either my driving licence or passport and three, give evidence of an additional online presence such as Facebook or LinkedIn.

I might be prepared to let my host have an image so he or she knows who is to be welcomed, but images of government IDs smacks of potential identity theft.

I am of an age where I'm unlikely to be having wild parties – that should be enough. Although disguised in terms of "Airbnb community", this is no more than a cynical data-trawling exercise.

I found very nice accommodation through Stayz.

Anne Buckley, Lewisham, NSW

AIR TIME

Paul Byrne's piece on how airlines entertain their passengers (Traveller, March 4) really leant itself to a short film in its own right. That aside, it would appear that while all airlines have an obligation to provide factual safety information and instructions, they need to ensure the novel and so called "entertaining" way they go about it does not detract from the serious nature of the message. Like TV commercials, safety videos have a limited life. Having gone down the flight path of entertainment the biggest challenge they face is how to come up with something new each time.

Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook, NSW

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

I nominate Sicily as one of the seven wonders of the world of travel (Traveller, February 18). From the great Greek temples of Agrigento and Segesta to the Roman mosaics of Piazza Armerina to the magnificent Baroque city of Noto, there is history at every turn. Then there's the Roman theatre at Taormina, the historic city of Siracusa, and let's not forget Mount Etna. And for an evening of non-stop hilarity, the famed puppet theatres of Palermo are hard to beat with their melodramatic battles between Christian knights and Moorish infidels (very non-PC but very funny).

Lee Palmer, Albert Park, VIC

I'm so glad Ute Junker chose the Alhambra as the No. 1 building in the world, and not the Taj Mahal which usually gets the gong.

The Alhambra is the most enchanting building I've ever seen. The Taj is a bit depressing as it's a mausoleum and the architect was murdered by the widower, but I still think it should be in the top 10. And what about Chartres Cathedral and its sublime stained-glass windows? Almost enough to convert an agnostic like me.

Geoff C. Carne, Moonee Ponds, VIC

Some places carry the weight of history as well as compelling beauty: I am thinking of the Orthodox churches and cathedrals of Moscow, St Basil's especially.

Jon Morley

Thanks for a great read in "Wonderlust", your writers' list of seven wonders of the world of travel. Here's a list of things that made me go "ahhh".

For nature, sunset over Halong Bay in Vietnam has to be up there and way up there in northern England, the Yorkshire Dales; while for journeys, I agree wholeheartedly that two-day slow boat from the Thai/Laos border to Luang Prabang is a treasure.

For architecture, San Gimignano in Tuscany made me swoon, or in Asia, Mae Aw near the Thai-Burmese border, with its old Chinese mud houses.

For food, how could Terry Durack omit Vietnamese street food? A fragrant bowl of pho or a simple plate of stir-fried goat in lemon grass, to be wrapped in rice paper with zingy green herbs.

For transport, a long-tail boat, spluttering around the islands in the Andaman Sea and for culture the temples of Luang Prabang in Laos, or being bowled over by the grandeur of the ruins of Sukhothai in central Thailand – magnificent ruins among wide open green spaces and no crowds.

There's more, and it's so hard to narrow it down. I guess that's the beauty of these lists – they're subjective and one can discuss them endlessly.

Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW

STAMP OF APPROVAL

Aside from its natural beauty and black-necked cranes (Traveller, February 18) Bhutan is also renowned for its philately. What's more, all 15 cards I posted made it to their respective destinations all over the world, not just Australia.

Gillian Scoular, Annandale, NSW

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Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Preference will be given to letters of 50-100 words or less. Email us at travellerletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.

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