Treetop Pharmacy
Your Questions: The obsessive traveller Children in Goa
We are travelling to Goa with our two sons, aged 11 and 13. Our children are unenthusiastic about the trip. Are there any activities you would particularly recommend for them?
Tricia Hansen
Lymington
Kate Calvert replies:
Day trips are rather limited. There is a wildlife sanctuary called Cotigao, near Palolem, with monkeys, wild boar and a huge treetop watchtower over a waterhole, but it is hard to get to. Instead, perhaps giving your sons a stronger sense of what they will see is your best bet.
Take the architecture, for example. Why not ask them to pick out what they think is more Indian than Portuguese - like the cashew-nut designs on the pulpit of the church of St Cajetan? If they have been to Portugal they may be able to make comparisons with buildings they have seen there.
Or you could get out some library books on the different foods and handicrafts. Once there, your boys could try to spot things they recognise in, say, the Anjuna flea market, which sells goods from all over India. At the Margao Bazaar, a covered labyrinth which sells everything from fresh spices to plastic toys from Taiwan, you could get everyone hunting for a souvenir. Finally, you may be able to offer the odd treat such as jet skis and banana rides. These are available at Candolim at the south of Calangute beach.
Kate Calvert edits `Family Travel', the subscription-only publication for parents. Call for more details (tel: 0171-272 7441) or visit www.family- travel.co.uk
Healthy flying
In the past four years, after short-haul flights, I have suffered from acute bronchitis lasting eight to 12 days. I know carriers reduce the number of air changes to reduce fuel consumption but can re-circulated air cause medical problems?
R W Wilkinson
Weymouth
Dr Larry Goodyer replies:
There have been some concerns recently regarding a rumoured policy by airlines of not fully pressurising cabins, but I have heard that this practice is less widespread due to the adverse publicity. It is unlikely that poor circulation of air is responsible for the spread of infections, particularly after take-off when the ventilation system is fully active.
Close proximity of other travellers could increase the chance of infection. There have been reports of people contracting measles or flu in this way. It is possible that exposure to infections carried by others on a long-haul flight could present a greater risk. The dangers of contracting TB during a flight have led to the World Health Organisation issuing guidelines to handling infected travellers.
It is difficult to relate such a regular occurrence of chest infections to short-haul flights. It would be unlikely that you are catching them from passengers or that poor air circulation is responsible. Maybe the dry air is irritating your air passages. Observe simple "flight hygiene": avoid alcohol, take soft drinks and sleep on long-haul flights.
Dr Larry Goodyer is a lecturer in clinical pharmacy at King's College, London. Contact the Nomad Travel health helpline (tel: 0891 633414; calls cost 60p per minute).
Starstruck
I have always wanted to travel to the stars but I suspect this is not possible. What can I do about this?
Jonathan Scott
Cheltenham
The Travel Editor replies:
One consolation for not being able to travel to the stars is that you can have a star officially named after you. There are agencies that can arrange this - one of which is the Activity Superstore (tel: 01799 526526). It costs pounds 44 for a star to be named after you. You can pick your favourite constellation and name a date on which you want your star to be seen. There is no guarantee the name will be recognised in other parts of the universe.
Correction
In last week's letters page, we printed an incorrect number for Scotts Castle Holidays. The correct number is 0131-446 9717.
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