MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS
I can only disagree with Matt Long (Traveller Letters, November 15) when he can't understand why boardshorts are prohibited at public baths in France. The photograph accompanying his letter clearly shows why this is so.
Boardshorts with their very loose legs can reveal far more of a person than Tony Abbott ever has when a person is prostrate. That is why boardriders always wore budgies or "scungies" under their boardies.
- Warren Devrell
It is not just the Piscine du Rhone that bans boardshorts. Matt Lang will find that just about all piscines in France will not allow you into the pool wearing boardies. This applies even to pools in campgrounds, where it might be okay for buxom wenches to frolic topless.
But just you try and enter the piscine with your boardies, and you will find the surveillant de baignade just about blowing the pea out of his whistle. Budgie smugglers are much easier to pack anyway.
- Carl Clifford
I suspect the requirement for men not to wear boardshorts in a Lyon swimming pool applies throughout France. When we were living in Paris some years ago, only budgie-smuggler costumes were acceptable for men in local pools. And both men and women had to wear bathing caps at all times.
- Joan Edison
IDENTITY CRISIS
At a central Melbourne hotel recently I was requested to provide not just the usual credit card swipe but also a copy of my driver's licence, which was photocopied and put on file. When I asked why they did this they said it was in case of police checks. When I checked out of the hotel I asked for the photocopy of my driver's licence as they were not able to satisfy my concerns that my ID was going to be kept securely or shredded. I am used to giving ID overseas but is there a new rule here in Australia? How do we know our information is secure?
- Megan Tattersall
IT'S A DATE
Just returned from Oman and totally agree with Fiona Weily (Traveller Letter, November 1). Oman is a hidden secret with such a rich culture, happy, friendly and helpful Omanis who are extremely proud of their heritage and country.
We felt safe and visited many historic sites, both in Muscat and Nizwa. The twilight dhow cruise along the coast with Omani coffee and dates was fabulous. A country both my wife and I will return to soon.
- John Boydell
SOFIA, SO GOOD
The case of Jock Palfreeman would seem on the surface to have an unjust outcome as described by Rosemary Sheehan (Taveller Letters, November 15). But do we really know the details of the case? I don't see that boycotting countries that have a so-called unjust legal system achieves anything either for those countries or the traveller.
I returned from a tour of Bulgaria and Romania some weeks ago. This private tour, conducted by Easy Bulgaria Travel, far exceeded expectations. The Bulgarian and Romanian guides and service providers were very professional and welcoming, and citizens friendly and happy.
They appreciate our tourist dollars as the basic wage is very low. I would not have missed being there. Not at any time did I feel threatened, including after dark, in the streets of Sofia.
- Beverley Marshall
I agree with Rosemary Sheehan that "Australians should not give their tourist dollars to repressive regimes". Unfortunately, such regimes are not always identified. Martin Flanagan recently wrote in a Fairfax Media article that the Sri Lankan government stands accused by leading human rights organisations. And yet articles in Traveller regularly commend travel to Sri Lanka without stating that many tourist operations are owned by government or military officials.
- Georgina Arnott
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Michael Gebicki's piece on Stalin's museum in Gori, Georgia is quite misleading if it aims to represent the views of contemporary Georgians.
A visit to the Museum of the Soviet Occupation on the popular tourist promenade of Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, gives a clear indication of how Georgians feel about the Russian occupation and the struggle of the pro-independence movement. The museum is chilling in its detail but a proud and moving documentation of this struggle.
The future of Stalin's museum in Gori is still under discussion. Based on our own visit, the collection is a grim reminder of the cult Stalin created for himself, providing an astonishing representation of one of the most evil dictators of all time.
Georgians we spoke to on our two recent visits were disdainful of anything Russian but pragmatic about the need to trade and work with a difficult and often aggressive neighbour.
Georgia is a wonderful tourist destination with great food and fabulous wine, a range of UNESCO sites, hiking and more. Travel costs are very low and tourists haven't yet overwhelmed the highlighted sites. The people we met were proud Georgians with a clear sense of their region and its complexities, past and present.
- John & Freda Forbes
