This was published 1 year ago
Traveller letters: Why haven't Australian tourists returned to this popular destination?
Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Credit: Javier Dall/iStock
OCKER SHOCKER
We have recently returned from four weeks in Asia, travelling with our eyes open to the changes that COVID-19 has brought. Our main focus was Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, and the effect was much greater there than in Bangkok, as expected. Westerners are returning with increasing numbers - and that's great. But where are the Aussies? We didn't hear another Australian accent in our whole two weeks in Chiang Mai. American, northern European and a few UK tones, yes, but ours were absent. I can only guess that Australians' travel priority is now Europe, breaking the journey in these hubs. I hope eventually osmosis draws us up to Chiang Mai - its cafes and shops need a few more of us.
Sally Pope, Five Dock, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
GOING BACK, GIVING BACK
My husband and I travelled to Bali recently for the first time post the COVID-19 border restrictions. The people we met were even gentler and sweeter than we remembered. Everywhere we went, from the hotel reception to the restaurant staff to the taxi drivers, we were thanked profusely for coming back to Bali. One by one, they told us how they had been forced to return to the family farms as they had no work and no money. One by one, they told us how grateful they were that we had come to Bali for our holiday and, in so doing, had given them their lives back.
Leonie Jarrett, Hawthorn East, Vic
REMOVING MOMENTS
Travelling interstate from Melbourne recently I was told in a monotone voice by a security officer that there was "no need to take your laptops out of your bag" at security screening. Travelling onward internationally from Sydney the instruction was, "Please take your laptop out of the bag". Gotcha and I got it wrong both times. Are laptops less dangerous on domestic routes? If so, how does the laptop know? International flights cost more, could it be a value-add enhanced-user security experience? Or are the scanners at our international terminals of lower quality? Surely there's enough data by now to know which laptop inspection method provides the benchmark highest level of protection. Otherwise it looks like theatre, or the left hand not knowing what the right hand does, as we trust these folk with our safety.
Murray MacLachlan, Altona Meadows, Vic
EDITOR'S NOTE We're sure our readers will respond but it looks like a case of one airport possessing newer and more advanced security scanner than the other. And, yes, a coordinated approach to passenger screening across Australia's major airports would certainly be more flyer-friendly.
NEW YORK WITH THE LOT
Lee Tulloch's column, "When Christmas is far from home" (Traveller, December 17), brought back memories of waking up on Christmas Day in New York City where my partner and I thought a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge would be quiet given the day. We caught a cab to Dumbo so we could walk back into the city, only to be met by a crowd that was possibly larger than on any other day. It was still a memorable stroll, finishing with pizza at a small brasserie in Little Italy. Certainly one Christmas that isn't forgotten (New Year's Eve was also memorable but not in a good way).
Jon Zabiegala, Bannockburn, Vic
SNACK ATTACK
Reviewing airline food is a favourite sport for short trip hoppers and long haul travellers alike. I give Air Vanuatu (the Port Vila to Sydney leg) a mile high hat for its onboard selection of locally baked goods, fruit, coffee and juices. It was a hard choice between a Lapita cocoa nib cookie and the ENAF chew bar (with its social kickback for kids' medical programs). Both were baked in Vila using locally sourced ingredients.
Richard Dowling, Blackburn, Vic
ON(SEN) THE MONEY
Early last year, your writer, Brian Johnston, in his Traveller cover story on best escorted journeys for 2022, recommended the "Golden Alpine Trails " walking tour with Riki's Tours Japan. We completed this magnificent trip, followed four days later by "Deep North Autumn Walks", which was absolutely stunning. Scenery, culture, local food, walks through stunning natural environments, staying at hotels, ryokans (Japanese style hotels), Minshuku (local inns), and onsen hotels with hot spring baths. All this accompanied by Riki with warmth and professionalism outstanding. Brian was correct: it was one of the best holidays ever.
Pam Pateman, Armidale, NSW
COMIC TIMING
Robert Pallister's letter "Going Greene" (Traveller letters, December 3) about Graham Greene's Our Man in Havana, reminded me about the time six of us British teachers working in Nassau spent Christmas in Haiti. In preparation for the trip, I re-read Greene's 1966 book The Comedians, set in that impoverished country. Whilst having a drink in a Port-au-Prince hotel, imagine my surprise to see a character from the book called "Petit Pierre", appear in person, nattily dressed and just as the author had described him. Then, on Christmas morning, the staff of the notorious Haitian president, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier threw 20 cent bank notes from the upper level of the white Presidential Palace and watched as the wind took them out past the high locked gates with the locals scrabbling to catch as many bills as they could.
Tony Davies, Berwick, Vic
CHAIN REACTION
Katrina Lobley provided a most readable account of her trip via XPT to Brisbane (Traveller, December 10). The rules for bicycles on NSW TrainLink are strangling interstate and regional bicycle tourism. Bikes have to be disassembled, boxed and weigh no more than 20 kilograms, almost impossible for an e-bike. Roll-on bikes will boost lucrative cycling tourism and enhance low carbon options. Great for weekends and school holidays.
Tim Coen, Summer Hill, NSW
CHOW MEAN
Your letter of the week (Traveller letters, December 3) reminded me of a restaurant we went to in Hong Kong years ago which was recommended to me by a visiting Chinese medical researcher before we left. When we eventually found said restaurant we were surprised that several dishes at a table near us were not on the English menu. We were told that as Westerners we would not like that kind of food and that it was only available on the Chinese menu. We were most put out.
Merri Sheppard, Mount Ousley, NSW
SINGLE MINDED
We have travelled many times with both Intrepid and Explore in small groups up to 16 people, and found two thirds of the group were single people. These companies may suit Jan Macpherson (Traveller letters, November 26) if she is prepared for budget travel in comfortable but not luxury accommodation. It is only a problem if single people do not wish to share a room.
Ainslie Morris, South Durras, NSW
TIP OF THE WEEK
GRAND DESIGNS
I refer to Rob McFarland's passion for the Grand Canyon, as featured in your "A time of gifts" cover story (Traveller on Sunday, December 18). May I add what has to be one of the most awesome (in the true sense of the word) journeys you can do. That is, rafting down the Colorado River through the mighty chasm of the Grand Canyon and camping under vast skies on its banks at night. The scale is incomprehensible. You can choose from several multi-day rafting trips selecting which has the level of whitewater rapids you would like – some are mild, others not so. The peace is totally restorative and the crew provides amazing meals from supplies carried on the raft. I've travelled a lot but this has to be the best trip I've ever done.
Judy Hungerford, North Curl Curl, NSW
ZURICH REWARDS
Oh Brian Johnston, thank you for your evocative, poignant piece about Switzerland (Traveller on Sunday, December 18). It brought back precious memories. I first visited Geneva and Berne in 1977 from Israel and then my husband and I enjoyed many Christmas and New Year holidays starting in 2009. We visited Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne, Interlaken, Lausanne, Zermatt, Leukerbad, Grindelwald, Montreax and Arosa. A magical country to which we hope to return one day.
Rhoda Silber, Manly, NSW
FALLING FOR TASSIE
While in Tasmania, we hired a car and travelled to Beaumaris, situated on the north-east coast of the island, and stayed at the excellent Beaumaris Beach Guest House (bbgh.com.au). This was the ideal base for visiting Freycinet, Bicheno and St Helens as well as another gem, St Columba Falls, which the BBGH hosts recommended we visit. These falls are Tasmania's highest and are reached via a walking track which leads to a viewing platform at their base. The drive from our accommodation was only a little over half an hour. For those who have not seen a rotary dairy and its rotary milking system in action, a bonus is that there is one on the way to the falls.
Michael Afaras, Henley, NSW
LET THERE BE LIGHTS
When travelling to Singapore, make sure to see the free nightly light and sound show at Gardens by the Bay (gardensbythebay.com.sg). Bring a ground sheet or picnic rug and lay on your back and watch the overhead spectacle of light and sound. Get there early to secure a central spot.
Claude Ferrarese, Preston, Vic
STAMP OF APPROVAL
With so many passports having been stored since 2019 due to the pandemic, I wanted to check the electronics were working well before travelling. I rang the Passport Office helpline and was directed to a post office – which was unable to check electronics. I then popped into the Passport Office at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. With a scanner in the waiting area, I scanned the passports, confirmed the electronics were working and even printed a receipt to that effect. This only works if you are in a capital city where branches of the Passport Offices are located but it is a very useful service.
Stephen Cassidy, Hackett, ACT
SWITCHED ON
Upon a recent stay at the relatively new Swissotel Clark (swissotel.com) in The Philippines, we encountered an amazing room with wonderful use of technology. Unlike the complaints that many Traveller on Sunday readers have had about hard to understand bedside switches, they had a great new tech item which was a screen which showed what each item was to turn on or off. To maintain the cool air in the room there were movement sensors to close and open the curtains when the room was empty for lengthy periods.
Daniel de Vries, Bendigo, Vic
SWELL SHELLS
Michael Afaras (Tipometer, December 18) enjoyed visiting the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (tmag.tas.gov.au) near the Hobart waterfront. What he didn't mention was the collection of First Nations shell jewellery on display which is truly exquisite. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world.
Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights, NSW
HOW TO WRITE TO US
We give preference to letters of 100 words or fewer and they may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Please use full sentences, don't use textspeak and don't include attachments. Email us at travellerletters@traveller.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.
The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100. For November, that includes Ultimate Food and Drink Australia; Ultimate Caravan Trips Australia; and Neighbourhood Guide to Cycling Naarm-Melbourne.
See hardiegrant.com
The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three great Lonely Planet travel books.
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