When I travel I'm usually going to Europe for several weeks and have to drag my own cases, so the lighter the better. And it's usually in spring/summer, so any advice about wearing black doesn't apply.

My secret is silk, especially silk georgette. It looks gorgeous, weighs nothing, folds up very small and will hang out or only needs a touch-up with the iron.

You can get a silk dress into a handbag and any number of tops, slacks and even light jackets into the same space as a few cotton items.

Easy to wash and dry in a hotel room, too.

Caroline Miley, Heidelberg, NSW

TIP OF THE WEEK

On a recent trip to Tasmania, we originally planned to travel from Stanley to Strahan via Cradle Mountain. Then we picked up a brochure about the Tarkine wilderness area and changed our plans.

We drove via Marrawah, Arthur River and then on the Western Explorer Highway down to Corinna. A large part of the road was unsealed. A long, blindingly white stretch is referred to as the "silica road" due to the gravel's high silica content.

We didn't see another car for two hours. The scenery was spectacular. Wild and rugged along the coast and wilderness touched by fire further inland. It was a discovery indeed.

Kirsten Walla, Vaucluse, NSW

GOODWILL HUNTING

As third time visitors to Japan, we found the city of Kanakawa a fascinating place to visit. Having escaped destruction during World War II, many of the ancient buildings –  including the famous Kanakawa Castle – are original, as are the magnificent parks and gardens.

The free guide service offered by Kanakawa Goodwill Guide Network is excellent. Manned by English-speaking volunteers, these people are not only pleasant but are virtually walking encyclopedias.

Visit the website to get full particulars and to complete (online) the appropriate application form. This enables the committee to select a suitable guide probably based on age, gender and places to be visited.

Our cities could well follow the example of this wonderful service.

Kevin Nicol, Lennox Head, NSW

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOCKED

Regarding your cover story "What a difference a day can make" (Traveller on Sunday, January 8), thank you to Ben Groundwater for not suggesting that couples place a so-called "love lock" on one of the beautiful bridges in Paris to mark Valentine's Day.

These locks are not a symbol of enduring love but an act of vandalism and a scourge the world over. Lovers, please leave your locks at home.

Judith Manion, Strathfield, NSW

REFLECTIONS ON CAMBODIA

I'd like to recommend the quirky and arty Reflections Art Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. All of its public spaces and rooms have been designed and decorated by a variety of artists. It's cheap, friendly and conveniently-located to the town and its sights.

There's also a free tuk-tuk pickup and drop-off airport service. I hired their tuk-tuk driver, Thun, on each day of my stay and he took me to Angkor Wat and its associated sights for just $US20 ($AUD26) a day.

Alan Lloyd, Coogee, NSW

ON THE HOP

On a recent short Pacific island cruise my husband and I were undecided about disembarking in Noumea.

We did in the end, and bought a "hop-on, hop-off" bus pass at the terminal, which took us around a coastal road, stopping at markets and points of interest as well. I swam in the sea on the ocean front and washed off in outdoor shower. A great decision!

Snokelling in the warm tropical waters of Lifou and at Mare (both part of French New Caledonia), unspoiled islands with crystal clear waters safe for families and those less sure of their capabilites in the ocean, was especially enjoyable.

Alison Watts, Haywards Bay, NSW