Take-off

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 28, 2006

Cold comfort

I recently travelled to Russia, staying mostly with friends in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. I travelled Singapore Airlines via Singapore and then on to Korea. From Korea I joined Siberian Airways; the flight was smooth and the food excellent. I travelled 1000 kilometres by ordinary long-distance train (not Trans-Siberian) from Novosibirsk to Krasnoyarsk.

Staying with friends in their apartments gave me a good perspective of everyday life, work, school, etc. Siberia is truly beautiful, with wide rivers, forests and lakes. The larger cities are much more Westernised now. Excellent restaurants and food, and great nightlife, from jazz and rock clubs to strip clubs.

FM stations play loads of Western pop, and there are many great rock and jazz bands. There are five television stations in Krasnoyarsk and a number of radio stations. Being in the media, I visited two TV stations and was interviewed on one, and visited four FM radio stations and was interviewed on two.

I would warn travellers that there are relatively few English signs at railways airports or on public transport, so it helps to know some language and the written word.

The amount of green areas, parks and forests around cities is terrific. One large park in Krasnoyarsk is original forest surrounded by high rise and left in its natural state for walks. There are five live theatres and a most fantastic regional museum built in the ancient Egyptian style.

The out-of-city areas are beautiful and interesting. There are excellent trips along the river and in summer there are many wonderful outdoor restaurants as well.

There is a great deal of chaotic traffic, and it's not unusual to be bumper-to-bumper at 9pm. Supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. It was great to leave a nightclub at 2.30am and go shopping, even down to the hot chicken bar.

Winter is harsh for foreigners, as it gets down to minus 40 degrees.

A word of warning if travelling by rail: all trains leave your city not at the time shown on local clocks but at Moscow time, which is three hours different.

Having made so many friends in Russia, I intend to return next year.

Trevar Langlands, Campbelltown.

Join the club

I recently returned from my first trip to the Whitsundays, visiting relatives and holidaying at Club Med on Lindeman Island and Airlie Beach. This whole area is beautiful, dotted with scenic islands and blue green waters full of colourful sealife.

Club Med is a great destination, an all-inclusive resort, which offers fun and a relaxing place to unwind and enjoy the picturesque surroundings. There is a long list of activities, from water sports to tennis, golf, physical fitness and even a circus school for children, teenagers and the young at heart. Each morning the children take off to Mini Med, with their back-packs, hats and sunscreen, and by dinnertime are either ready for bed or the entertainment of Showtime, performed by the staff.

The manager (who seems to be in 10 places at once) and his team, work hard to make the guests' visit a happy one. A night there is always entertainment and the team succeeds in obtaining total audience participation. If that is not your scene, then you may listen to the soothing music of the resident musicians, playing in the bar area or in Nicholson's restaurant.

There are Australian and overseas guests, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. You can be busy all day, or just relax at the second pool in the "quiet area", a secluded spot away from the activities. There are bushwalks, and beaches where you will not see a soul all day. Island-hopping and a visit to Whitehaven Beach, with its soft powder-like sand, are other options.

The other problem is deciding what to eat from the vast buffet, which caters to all tastes. There are about 10 varieties of breads and delicous French pastries, all freshly baked daily, and at dinnertime there is a buzz, with guests discussing the day's happenings.

Club Med on Lindeman Island is an enjoyable resort for all ages. The weather is good, it has an international flavour, and it's right on our doorstep.

Millie Marinkovich, Strathfield.

Praise the 'Link I

We recently travelled to Coffs Harbour on the Casino XPT and booked our luggage through from Central. Unfortunately, when we looked for our luggage, it had been carried on to Grafton.

The station staff took our details and contacted Grafton, and the luggage was returned to Coffs Harbour on the next train, arriving about 10.15pm. From the station it was delivered by taxi to our motel, Country Comfort, Coffs Harbour. The motel moved us to a front room to facilitate the delivery.

The motel receptionist had earlier rung the taxi company, only to find the taxi already booked by CountryLink's Coffs Harbour staff.

An unfortunate situation was made easier by the assistance of the station staff, and the motel receptionist was also very helpful.

A big thank you to all those concerned.

Marj Bissaker, Gerringong.

Praise the 'Link II

Having made my third annual trip from Sydney to Armidale by CountryLink train, I would love to publicly congratulate the service.

I arrived at the end of an eight-hour journey feeling happy to have been attended to by very courteous and professional staff, fed from an excellent cafeteria and having been able to view the Hunter Valley and New England tablelands from a perspective other than the highway. One feels different at the end of a plane flight of this duration.

Philip Hazzard, Mittagong.

Cottage industry

For accommodation in the UK, it is well worth considering self-catering cottages, which give you a great deal of flexibility and relaxed comfort.

We can highly recommend Morton Stables, just outside Owestry, Shropshire (www.mortonstables .co.uk) and Owl's Reach, near Bodmin, Cornwall (www.owlsreach.co.uk).

Both were excellent bases from which to explore the surrounding areas, although you would need your own transport to do so. Both had friendly, helpful but not obtrusive hosts.

UK Tourist Information Centres are worth seeking out; they have a

wealth of information and services, delivered by knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Graham and Ann Williams, Winmalee.

Changing times

Having been to Fiji 65 times in the past 30 years, I feel I must write about the departure times from Sydney to Nadi and return on Qantas/Air Pacific these days.

The plane from Sydney doesn't leave till nearly 2pm, arriving in Nadi too late to go on to one's destination. The return flight leaves at 8.30am, which means the people who are down the coast have to be up at dawn and the rest are forced to stay another night in Nadi, wasting another day of one's holiday.

Virgin Blue leaves Sydney at 7.10am and one is in Nadi by 1pm. I was swimming in Mana by 2.20pm and the return flight was just as convenient. I got in at noon on the Blue Lagoon Cruise taxi to Nadi and on the 1.55pm plane; no time wasted.

The price of the fare is not the issue; it is the convenience. I feel Qantas/Air Pacific should look into their departure times if they don't want to lose customers.

Audrey Cook, Wollstonecraft.

Uncommon courtesy

I echo the commendation by Garth Clarke (Travel, November 19-20) of the unfailing politeness of the Japanese. While noting generally the country's manner of politeness during a tour of Japan some years ago, I was particularly impressed by an incident (recalled with appreciation and a smile) when, while walking along a busy street in Tokyo in early morning, a sudden heavy rain shower de-scended, leaving me unprotected from the downpour.

In a wink, a well-dressed Japanese man, perhaps on his way to the office, fell in alongside me and, without a word, covered me with half of his large black umbrella. In silence we continued along our common route until, on nearing my own destination, I briefly thanked my protector; he in turn soberly gave a slight inclination of the head, and we both went our separate ways.

Kathleen O'Driscoll, Summer Hill.

Moving testimony

I attach my own favourite travel passage, which has become a mantra:

"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." (Robert Louis Stevenson.)

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla, ACT.

Snapped

The Djemma el-Fna, Marrakech's main square, is a wonderful place filled with snake charmers, acrobats, fortune tellers, witch doctors and seemingly underqualified dentists by day, and delicious food stalls by night.

David Skowronski, Bellevue Hill.

For your chance to win a $50 voucher from Dymocks, the travellers' bookshop, send your best travel photo to Snapped, SMH Travel, GPO Box 506, Sydney 2001,

or email in jpeg form at least 15cm wide and 200dpi to snapped@smh.com.au. The Herald regrets that it is unable to return individual snapshots.

Readers recommend

During our recent trip to London, we came across a great deal in Parsons Green (London SW6; off the Kings Road between Chelsea and Fulham). We had a complete floor of a house comprising bedroom with ensuite, lounge room and kitchen for #60 ($142) a night for a 10-day stay. Rates for shorter stays are slightly more.

The owners, Frank and Moira, live in the house and were extremely helpful. The house is in a quiet suburban street just a few minutes walk from Parsons Green tube, Fulham and Chelsea football grounds, and a couple of excellent pubs. Contact them on frankmoira@btinternet.com.

Kevin Forge and Jeni Caffin, Noosa, Qld.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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