Christopher Reynolds

In his Jan. 8 Travel Insider column ("Boycotts Request Travelers to Add Politics to the Itinerary"), Christopher Reynolds said that travelers can "ignore the campaigns and visit anyway, as most individual vacationers do." I was reminded of a sentiment often attributed to British statesman Sir Edmund Burke: "It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph." It is tragic that the majority of people cannot do something so simple as travel to another destination to help stop atrocities that go on in this world.

Ten lashes of a croupier stick for Christopher Reynolds' bad-mouthing of Las Vegas ("The Perpetual Tourist," Jan. 1). Obviously he has never been farther than a Strip hotel, or he would have found out that Las Vegas has as much cultural and intellectual activity as any city its size. We have a fine ballet company, a symphony orchestra, a top-rated university and at least three excellent little-theater groups. Even the road show companies that come through Las Vegas are first rate and have gone on to Los Angeles.

Reading "The Perpetual Tourist" (Jan. 1), I was concerned that your readers may hesitate to travel to China since Christopher Reynolds mentioned it as the place he encountered the worst language problem of 1994. My journey to China last April was the best experience of my life! I visited six cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Guangzhou) without a tour group, and I do not speak Chinese. There was no one to meet me in any city because I did not know a soul in China.

What great timing for "In the Belly of the Beast" by Christopher Reynolds (Feb. 20). I was just getting ready to write and suggest an article on Las Vegas, and here it is. This story and "Glutton's Paradise" by Anthony Curtis make me feel like going to Las Vegas right now! Congratulations on a job well done. I hope you do some follow-up articles. SAM ALVIN GARE Los Angeles

Regarding "From Mao to Now" by Christopher Reynolds (Nov. 21): Reynolds states: "The air is so thick with coal dust that some parents outfit their children with tiny surgeon's masks . . . ." This is untrue. I am a Chinese immigrant. I was born and lived in China for 18 years, and spent most of the time in Shanghai. The reason we wore "surgeon masks" in the winter is very simple. The weather in Shanghai in the wintertime is very cold and windy. The wind-chill factor makes your face very cold.

I just finished reading Christopher Reynolds' piece on spectacular Yosemite waterfalls ("Year of the Waterfall," May 9). I enjoyed reading it, but that is the nearest I will ever get to Yosemite unless you can recommend a videotape, as I am physically handicapped. BENJAMIN J. WILLIAMS Belchertown, Mass. Christopher Reynolds replies: The Ansel Adams Gallery (P.O. Box 455, Yosemite National Park, Calif. 95389, telephone 209-372-4413) in Yosemite Valley carries several videos, including "Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven" (58 minutes; $19.95)

As a wholesale tour operator to Costa Rica, I must compliment Christopher Reynolds on his article. It is one of the few reports of the many I have read on this delightful country that was completely accurate. EVELYN M. BENTLEY Bentley Tours Los Angeles