When our Jetstar flight from the Gold Coast to Cairns in August landed, the usual passenger rush to stand in the aisles and retrieve baggage from overhead lockers occurred.
asserted
rush → land → lockers
In this mad scramble, a passenger somewhere behind us grabbed his bag from a locker above us, lost control of it and dropped it on my still-seated husband.
asserted
passenger → grab → husband
The passenger did not stop, just said “sorry”, grabbed the bag and exited.
asserted
passenger → stop → bag
My husband was left with bruising to his arm and injury to his neck and shoulder, which has resulted in the need for physiotherapy and chiropractic sessions.
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which → leave → physiotherapy
We reported it to a flight attendant and ground staff who took details of the incident.
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who → report → incident
Our trip through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia made food travel exciting.
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travel → make → Vietnam
In Vietnam, we ate pho, with broth, noodles, herbs and meat.
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we → eat → broth
In Laos, larb was spicy meat with lime, herbs, chilli and toasted rice powder.
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larb → toast → lime
In Cambodia, it was creamy fish curry, gently spiced and steamed in banana leaves.
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it → spice → leaves
Markets smelled, stalls sizzled and families shared food.
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families → smell → food
Every meal became an adventure.
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meal → become → ?
We watched food being cooked and tried new things.
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food → watch → things
Whenever you taste these dishes, you will be there.
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you → taste → dishes
Readers will be aware that the UK now requires an electronic form (ETA) to be lodged ahead of arrival, for which one pays almost $40.
asserted
one → require → 40
But they may not be aware of the number of dodgy operators who have cottoned on to this as a way of charging fees, and caution is advised when searching for the appropriate site online.
uncertain
caution → cotton → site
Use only gov.uk/eta – and be prepared for frustration, as their requirements for a photo of your face are taxing.
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requirements → use → face
I was on the verge of cancelling two lectures in the UK when my neighbour came to my rescue and was able to take a photograph that apparently satisfied whichever bot was considering my application.
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bot → cancel → application
Dennis Altman, Clifton Hill, Vic
Bad form
Visit Japan Web is a service that speeds up clearance times at major airports like Haneda, replacing the paper forms for immigration and customs.
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that → speed → immigration
But be warned: there are similar sites that provide this service where, at the last step, you are guided to “easy payment” – a fee of about $60.
asserted
you → warn → 60
Only use the real Visit Japan website (www.vjw.digital.go.jp), which is free.
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which → use → website
It’s an easy mistake to make.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s only about $60, but that’s nearly ¥7000 you could be using on your trip.
uncertain
you → ’ → trip
As the two preceding letters indicate, scam sites that charge fees for immigration entry forms that are actually free are rife.
asserted
that → precede → forms
Be sure you are using the official sites, usually identifiable by .gov addresses.
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you → use → addresses
Your article on the $100 million renovation of Jasper Park Lodge, in Canada, mentions the devastating 2024 fires.
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article → mention → fires
My son was working at the lodge at the time of those wildfires, which resulted in the sudden evacuation of the town of Jasper.
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which → work → Jasper
As a parent in Australia, I was impressed and comforted by the care given to my son and fellow Fairmont staff after their evacuation.
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I → impress → evacuation
The communication, accommodation, food and care provided to all staff during those many weeks of displacement and uncertainty were impressive.
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communication → provide → displacement
Over the 40 years I have been travelling to New Zealand, I have watched prices rise and everyday items and meals become more expensive.
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items → travel → Zealand
On a recent trip there, I noticed prices were very reasonable and with an attractive current exchange rate, you could do worse than enjoy the magnificent offerings this beautiful country has.
uncertain
country → notice → offerings
Michael Gebicki’s advice about using the pay-to-access IGA Lounge at Istanbul Airport was spot-on.
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advice → use → Airport
We recently had nearly six hours to wait at the airport and used this lounge.
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We → have → lounge
An added bonus is that the $185 entry fee is half price for those over 65.
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fee → add → 65
We especially enjoyed the musical quartet, the delicious buffet and the refreshing gin and tonics.
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We → enjoy → quartet
Sally Ferguson, North Sydney, NSW
Take a Bath
I’m surprised that Bath didn’t make the listing of the top UK cities.
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Bath → take → cities
Surrounded by beautiful countryside and built in honey-coloured Bath stone, the city’s ancient Roman history and Georgian architecture should give it a high score.
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history → surround → score
I’m only a little bit biased, having come from there, but it’s chockers with bookstores and fabulous restaurants, bars, theatres, museums and a stunning 1000-year-old abbey.
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it → ’m → bookstores
You can swim on the rooftop at Thermae Bath Spa next to the Roman Baths, join the best comedy walk in the UK, Bizarre Bath, or steep yourself in Jane Austen’s world at the Royal Crescent.
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You → swim → Crescent
We’ve received quite a bit of correspondence about which cities should or shouldn’t have been included in that story, but it’s worth pointing out that for the purposes of the list, the writer looked at only the 20 biggest cities in the UK and ranked those in order, rather than including every city in his assessment.
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writer → receive → assessment
I collected a hire car from Europcar at Milan’s Malpensa Airport in Italy.
asserted
I → collect → Italy
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
