Travel Tidbits

One evening in Helsinki, Finland, I went to Stockmann, the big department store, and bought Finnish glassware and cutlery. I was glad I shopped there, because when I went on to Russia later I bought the usual souvenirs but did not find the same quality of products to give for Christmas and birthday gifts. — MARY K. TAYLOR, Rockport, TX

What unusual attractions does a trip to Korea offer? How about bullfights in Cheongdo — where the bulls fight each other! Or the Soju (distilled rice liquor) and Rice Cake Festival? You can find out about other events at www.lifeinkorea.com or www.tour2korea.com. The tour2korea site also offers useful publications, including a superbly organized booklet explaining Korean food. — SARA LEIBER McKINNEY, Los Angeles, CA

From Stechelberg in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland, we caught the Postal Bus to Trümmelbach Falls. This is actually a waterfall inside a mountain, and it has to be one of the most wondrous sights we have ever seen. We spent several hours walking up and down and outside, trying to see all of this natural marvel. — MARVIN PRIMACK, Stockton, CA

On our tour of Thailand with Overseas Adventure Travel (Cambridge, MA; 800/955-1925) in March ’04, our guide, Anya, would give us a few words or phrases of Thai to learn each day. In Uthai Thani we each were given a word for an item on her grocery list, and at a local street market we had to ask for our item. We took our purchases to a rice barge, where they were prepared and served to us for lunch as we slowly cruised down the river. For “dessert,” Anya gave us some bread to feed the fish, which came in swarms to our boat. — PAULA HEBARD & NANCY FRY, Roseburg, OR