Writers’ Block

Those mean treats

Nancy Richards’ article, “Following Four-legs”, in the Travel Weekly of July 7 refers.

What a wonderful hike with a canine “guide”! It reminded me of that plaintive Western number, I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no

name. Here we had a Rhodesian (Zimbabwean?) Ridgeback with no name and unconcerned/un-named owners. Did “Fido” ever get back home?

What is of more concern is that the hikers fed “Fido” chocolate! Never give a dog that stuff — its digestive system cannot handle it.

Sure, answering a primal call, as we humans do too, dogs will snarf down chocolate but it is not good for them. (It’s not that good for us either.) —

Alan Campbell

Love and terror

Cheryl’s Hunter’s “Love in Exile” in Travel Weekly of July 7 offered a brief respite from the negative news we consume daily.

It made for such an interesting read that it prompted me to trawl the web to get an idea of where Dharamsala is. Instead, I came across a story that, far from the uplifting encounter shared by Hunter, declared that security at the official palace of the Dalai Lama and nearby Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamsala had had to be stepped up.

According to news reports, nine blasts rocked Bodh Gaya town in Bihar on Sunday, including at one of the holiest Buddhist shrines, the Mahabodhi Temple. No group has claimed responsibility, but two monks were injured in the blasts.

As a precaution, tourists are not allowed to use their cameras or phones in the Dalai Lama temple.

I can only hope that calm will return to the area and that the Tibetan spiritual leader will emerge unscathed.

— Jozi Taylor