Antibes, France.
STRANGER DANGER
My fiance and I left the Plage de la Jetee restaurant on Avenue Guy de Maupassant in Antibes, France at midnight. We were about 150 metres beyond the restaurant, walking towards our hotel, when we were both attacked by five thugs.
I was taken to hospital and received 15 stitches in my head after being hit on the head with a bottle. My fiance received wounds to his hands from trying to fend off our attackers.
My fiance returned to the restaurant the next day and spoke to the owners, who admitted this was a fairly regular occurrence – and one of their staff had also been attacked.
However they did not warn us of this danger. If they had we would have taken a taxi. The police who came to the scene said there was nothing they could do to stop these attacks.
My advice is to avoid this area. Reports were made to the Australian Embassy as well as the police about the incident.
Amber Teagle, Balmain, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Reading Traveller's Asia Issue (August 11), I looked for articles about Taiwan and found none, which led me to write to you.
From the National Palace Museum to Chung Tai Chan Monastery and from Sun Moon Lake to Taroke Gorge, our holiday to Taiwan last year exceeded expectations.
Smaller than Tasmania and with the same population as Australia, there is so much to do and see such as a cooking class in Puli (Chinese cuisine) to watching the changing of the guard at the Martyrs' Shrine in Taipei.
Sitting astride the Tropic of Cancer, Taiwan was aptly described as "ilha Formosa" – beautiful island – by the Portuguese. What a surprise it is.
Robert Alves, Wattle Glen, VIC
MEMORY LANE
Like Joyce Morgan in her cover story, "Heart of the Silk Road beats anew", I was inspired to visit Samarkand after reading Golden Journey to Samarkand.
I answered an ad in the paper for volunteers to join a team from Sydney University to work on a 2000-year-old dig site in Kazakli-yarkan, Uzbekistan for two weeks, followed by another two weeks along the Silk Road – the icing on the cake.
We worked on tessellated pavements, towers and arrow slits, while also unearthing huge storage urns and washing hundreds of pottery sherds.
Along the Silk Road we stopped at Urgench, the home of astronomer Ulugh-Beg, then visited the walled museum city of Khiva. A wild drive across the Kizil-kum Desert took us to Bukhara, which is famous for its carpets.
Samarkand greeted us with its turquoise domes and stunning architecture, some being restored by UNESCO.
Charmain Williams, Forster, NSW
NAKED TRUTH
I am amused that Joyce Morgan was led "buck naked" into a women's baths. Surely, as a woman, she would have been "doe naked"
Peter Wotton, Pyrmont, NSW
BAD MISS
Qatar Airways' business class was recently reviewed by Traveller and awarded five out of five. Our own Qatar flights in June support that score.
Unfortunately, upon arrival at the Doha business class lounge to wait for the next leg to Dublin, we were not told it would take at least 40 minutes to get to the departure gate for our next flight – a trek that included negotiating escalators, a train and bus to access the plane.
We missed the flight and had to wait 15 hours and pay $US900 each for new tickets. My wife required a chair to get to the departure gate and a lift to the aircraft.
All attempts to gain a refund have been refused and the blame has fallen entirely on us.
Lawrence Smith, Mosman, NSW
SECRET BUSINESS
I have just finished reading your Asia issue (Traveller, August 11) and shhhhh, please,Traveller.
I fear that you have extolled the virtues of home stays with local nomads and the romance of the Silk Road in Central Asia and Mongolia far too much.
I would like to re-visit without the hordes, thanks.
Vicki Copping, Oatley, NSW
LATE SHOW
I too had an issue with Melbourne airport parking (Rants & raves, July 28). Last November I bought an online parking saver ticket but due to delays, I arrived after the allocated booking time.
Upon entry I was charged an additional $19. I emailed the airport saying I had been charged twice. They acknowledged my contact and asked me to fill out a form explaining what had happened.
I did this and have since sent several emails and have had no response from them. I have given up hope of ever hearing a response.
Jodie Weerasekera, South Kingsville, VIC
ABOVE ALL
I want to correct a statement I read in your Asia issue (Traveller, August 11) that the only viable way to explore Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia is by expedition cruise ship.
Luckily for people like me who cannot abide cruises, it is perfectly possible to fly to the capital Petropavlovsk via Seoul and Vladivostok (a fantastic destination in its own right).
From the capital you can arrange helicopter trips to see the incredible scenery of volcanoes and active thermal areas, and in season helicopter into beautiful valleys to see bears.
You can also go on boat trips or drive and hike through the untouched wilderness. I was on a tour, which made it easy, and I even met some young backpackers hiking and using buses.
Elizabeth Foster, Blackburn, VIC
INDUSTRIAL INACTION
We had a very different experience with credit card travel insurance through QBE to Maureen Cooney (Traveller letters, August 11).
On a holiday in Europe we were unable to catch a pre-paid flight from Paris to Lisbon because of a train strike in France. Sorry cobber, transport strikes not covered.
Then my sister who lived in Holland died unexpectedly and we had to abandon our holiday arrangements. Sorry mate, your sister was too old so you are not covered.
Our travel insurance was worthless, making it an expensive non-holiday.
Andrew Grennan, Killcare, NSW
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