As a West Papuan tribal leader living in exile in the UK, I want to welcome Michael Behar to visit my people again. (Wish you weren't here. Escape, last week).

Since our ancestors' time, my people have a tradition of welcoming travellers.

But maybe it is difficult for Europeans to understand that the forest is our home, just like your houses are your homes. I think that you would be upset if a tourist came into your home to look at you. It is the same with us Papuans. We do not like to be stared at like animals in a zoo, but we will welcome you if you come to meet us as fellow human beings.

So please do come to West Papua to visit my people. Spend time with us and get to know us. We'll be as interested to find out about you and your life as you'll be to find out about ours... But also, please ask us about our suffering under the rule of Indonesia, how our land has been stolen from us, our villages burnt and our loved ones disappeared, tortured, raped and killed.

And when you go back home, tell everyone that above anything else, we Papuans long for freedom... and need the outside world's help.
Benny Wenda
Oxford

·Free West Papua Campaign (www.freewestpapua.org

I am going on a six-week scientific expedition to Trinidad with my university. I have always wanted to see South America, and I'd be grateful for details of a ferry that runs between Trinidad and Venezuela. Would you please suggest what we could see in Venezuela in a weekend.
Neil Costigan
Dundee

A fast passenger boat runs between Guairia in Venezuela and Chaguaramas, near Port of Spain in Trinidad. However, the service is only weekly, so weekend jaunts are not feasible by sea.

The boat costs roughly £40 one-way or about £70 return. The journey takes three-and-a-half hours. Windward Lines runs the service but has no website. You can book in Trinidad.

Venezuela is more easily accessible from Trinidad by air. You'll pay around £110 for a return flight between Caracas and Port of Spain, operated by Aeropostal or BWIA.

There's a lot to see in Venezuela, and two days won't do it justice. A weekend in Caracas would be a lively affair, as the city has a spectacular valley setting, is home to the continent's best art gallery and boasts an exciting nightlife in Las Mercedes and La Castellana.

If you ever have more time, Venezuela is an excellent country to explore. Seewww.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_america/venezuela.

In an attempt to cut the clutter I take on planes, I've thought about buying a mobile phone which stores and plays music. However, airlines ban the use of phones in flight. Would the ban include listening to music stored on a phone?
Caroline McGlaughlin
Nottingham

You won't be able to use a phone while a plane's engines are running: transmissions from mobiles on board may interfere with the plane's communications equipment.

British Airways advises that, among other things, CD players, iPods and any other MP3 players (often tiny) can be used. The Civil Aviation Authority; 020 7379 7311, publishes details of items you cannot take on a plane in the safety regulation part of its website.

We aim to travel in Malaysia and Thailand in August, taking the train from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, but are worried about the Butterworth to Bangkok leg of the journey due to terrorist bomb attacks in southern Thailand. Also, do you know how we can check and book the ferry from Penang to Langkawi?
Leanne Thompson
by email

The disruption only affects the little-visited south-eastern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, which have few attractions for travellers. While the train from Butterworth does pass through Songkhla (pausing at Hat Yai station for five minutes), you would be extremely unfortunate to suffer disruption on the short section of the journey that is in an affected province.

This train journey is well-travelled. Keep an eye on what's happening when you're travelling, stay in touch with Foreign Office advice and make a final decision when you are out there.

As far as I know, flights between Malaysia and Thailand are safe. The Penang to Langkawi ferry is run by the Langkawi Ferry company. There's no need to book.

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