Bangkok’s bar of legend

My first and only visit to the famed heritage hotel Mandarin Oriental,Bangkok,was in 1981 (Traveller,April 23). My corner room was more modest,yet high up with a 45-degree panoramic view of the Chao Phraya river. One more for the bucket list,an ambition fulfilled. My purpose was to meet up with the intrepid Australian combat cameraman,Neil Davis. This we did in one of the Oriental’s bars. Sadly,he was killed by tank-fire while covering a Thai mini-coup in 1985,proving the adage for many war photographers – they can be young and bold,but never old. His luck ran out.
Mike Fogarty,Weston,ACT

Booking scams continue

Regarding “Scam Warning” from Lynette Moore (Traveller Letters,May 18) we,too,received email “advice” via Booking.com that our reservations for our Malta Hotel were not confirmed and we needed to reconfirm immediately. All three couples travelling received the same email. The emails contained all our details including our booking numbers. A phone call to Malta ensured all was well and they advised the email had come via Booking.com and that their system had been compromised. Complaints to Booking.com went nowhere. Lo and behold we received the same email several months later,same story,same result. Booking.com flatly refused to believe their system had been hacked – it’s time they came clean.
Wayne Kedward,Kellyville,NSW

Walked that way

I wanted to thank Catherine Marshall for her article about walking in Japan (Traveller,October 28,2023). It prompted my husband and I to book the six-day self-guided Shikoku Wayfarer walk with the same company. Walk Japan provided us with a comprehensive guide,booked us into excellent traditional inns and made sure our bags followed us each night. Elements of the tour were combined with local train and bus routes as we made our way from temple to temple. The company was fantastic to deal with;we cannot recommend this tour highly enough. It was well-thought-out,the scenery was beautiful and the walk was so very peaceful.
Nichola Harris,Hampton,Vic

Ninja thrills

Your article on Kanazawa,Japan (Traveller,May 11) was spot on – there are lots of lovely things to see and do. But a visit to Kanazawa would not be complete without seeing the Myoryuji (Ninjadera,or “Ninja Temple”). Although it’s not really associated with Ninja,it is so named because of its many deceptive defences,such as hidden tunnels,secret rooms and traps. These were built into the temple to give its defenders a chance of avoiding attack,and alerting the castle of invasions by using its many convenient escape routes. There are tours of the temple so you can be immersed in the Ninja atmosphere.
Margot Pope,Lewisham,NSW

Walkways this way

The village of Spoleto in Umbria,Italy has a unique public transport system called the Mobilita Alternativa system. These walkways consist of three underground lines of travelators and escalators that connect pedestrians to the entire town and tourist attractions with stops along the way. This makes getting around this hilly town very accessible for everyone and pedestrian friendly,too.
Dianne French,Aspendale Gardens,Vic

Knife and pork

Travelling through remote villages near the border of Vietnam and China,we walked past a stall selling meat,which was laid out on a table. The woman behind the table pointed to me and then to the slab of pork with her knife and laughed with our guide/driver,who kindly translated that I was “white,like pig fat”. As this is entirely true,I offered my arm for a closer,fascinated inspection and there were laughs all round.
Aeron Rice,Heathmont,Vic

Super-size sake

While walking the glorious autumn hills of Kyoto some years back,a friend and I came across a stand selling warm sake. We ordered two “super cups” and as we walked away,the proprietor said to her other customers,“I thought one would be enough for them.” My friend,a fluent Japanese speaker,immediately interjected with a joke about drinking. The customers laughed and the poor proprietor turned bright red and admitted she didn’t think we would understand her.
Stephen Spencer,Hackett,ACT

Labneh splendour

I’ve enjoyed many breakfast buffets in different countries but Swissotel Al Murooj in Dubai ticked the box most recently. Aside from the Asian and Western breakfasts,the Middle Eastern options were a standout. Voluptuous bowls of labneh sprinkled with fresh herbs,mounds of soft feta cheese,hummus drizzled with crisp chickpeas,and glistening olive oil and the moutabal – which tastes even better than smoky baba ghanoush. Tomato and fresh kale salads accompany the dips. Zaatar croissants crumble and melt with spicy flakiness;crispy lavosh and soft flat breads topped with sumac and thyme serve as bases for the dips. My favourite was kaak bread,shaped like a handbag,a circle with a hole in the middle. The bread is hung from wooden pegs on an upright stand,like a mug stand. Broken open,it’s soft,chewy and savoury. Who needs fried eggs when there’s this Arabian splendour on offer?
Julie-Anne Justus,Box Hill South,Victoria

Greek feaster

Minos Palace at Agios Nikolaos in Crete takes first place for the buffet breakfast. My husband and I would go to breakfast about 7am and enjoy the wonderful buffet. At 8am,our daughters would emerge,and we would start on the coffee. An hour later,we would drag ourselves away. Overlooking the blue sea with vibrant bougainvillea next to the table,it was a great way to start the day.
Margaret Zarifeh,Nunawading,Vic

Fit for a king

After spending the Anzac Day centenary dawn service at Gallipoli,with next to no food and very little sleep,we arrived back in Istanbul about midnight and checked into the Ciragan Palace Kempinski on the Bosphorus. The next morning,we went straight to the buffet expecting the standard five-star fare. The buffet,however,was that and so much more,starting with a choice of three different French champagnes. Then there was every food station you could imagine;oysters and seafood,cheese,every bread and pastry that could be baked,fruits from all over the world,pancakes and waffles and eggs. And then there was the tea and coffee of any type,all with white tablecloth service while overlooking the amazing Bosphorus. It was an out of this world experience.
David Butler,Drummoyne,NSW

The Letter of the Week writer wins three Hardie Grant travel books. Seehardiegrant.com

The Tip of the Week writer wins a set of three Lonely Planet travel books. Seeshop.lonelyplanet.com