Letters to the Travel Editor
Golden but not Platinum
I always look forward to the Travel magazine and have picked up some great tips over the years.
Next year, my husband and I (both 70s, but active) are thinking of flying to Houston and self-driving to New Orleans and back. I wondered if other readers would have tips for this.
I do, however, have a gripe — one that you have no doubt heard before. We have always used our ASB platinum insurance for previous trips but now understand the company has changed providers and excludes over 75s. My husband has now reached that illustrious age.
In this changing world there are many like us with no health issues who are very annoyed that we are now excluded.
Keep up the good work.
Cheryl Johnston
The Travel Editor replies: New Orleans is one of my favourite places in America. Enjoy!
Boeing, Boeing... gone!
I noticed that in your Travel magazine for September 11 in the “Flight Check Omnibus” you wrote “Boeing A350-900”, I believe you meant “Airbus A350-900”. That is unacceptable.
Yours sincerely,
Samuel Reeves
Remuera Intermediate School
The Travel Editor replies: Good spot, Samuel. It was a mistake in the editing.
Of fond, and long, memories
I read with much interest the article by Gavin Tollman (“Animal kingdom’s silent kings”, Travel, August 14) which brought back very fond memories of my family’s first trip to a game park in 1972 when we were living in what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). We drove some 50km down a track to Mana Pools where we were allowed to camp beside This way up to New Orleans’ French Quarter. the Zambesi. On the drive in, while crossing a dryish river bed, we saw our first herd of elephants. At the camp and in the park there were no restrictions and we were able to observe all the animals from close quarters — particularly the elephants who would swim across the Zambezi (to Zambia), trunk-to-tail in the evenings. We have wonderful memories of seeing them, buffalo and hippo in their natural environment.
In subsequent years, a local friend, Norman Travers, developed his own game park (Imire) and we were able to visit and photograph many animals at close quarters. One of his pet elephants would happily allow a student to ride bareback on its neck, when it tired of the game it would trot along under a low-hanging branch, forcing the rider to leap for safety.
Norman and his family were closely involved in rescuing many rhino — particularly abandoned calves. They also had a pet hippo which lived in their dam and would come to be fed when called. The great memory of an elephant is a commonly held belief (and the point of my story), and when Norman died, his elephants came and stood in a circle of homage around his grave.
Kind regards,
Ian Walker
The Travel Editor replies: I love a good elephant yarn!