Travel views: March 30 to April 5, 2013 When I was a little girl at a loose end, asking what could I do, my uncle Dougie always used to say, "Bath an elephant." Thanks to that gentle mahout, I did. Gillian Williamson wins two return easyJet flights from Stansted to Sharm el-Sheikh More feedback from readers Brazilian adventures Chris Moss's country guide ("Brazil for beginners") resulted in me reminiscing about a fabulous holiday my son and I experienced four years ago. It was our first trip to South America and we travelled independently. Here are some suggestions for the more adventurous traveller. It is not always cheaper to buy an air pass, and airlines are quite happy to reserve flights until you arrive. Visit the Amazon for the experience of being in the rainforest, but stay as far from Manaus as possible. Go canoeing and piranha fishing, visit local communities and camp out for a night in a hammock. In Manaus, go to a concert in the Teatro Amazonas. If time allows, visit the north and the south Pantanal. We saw several jaguars and stayed at the Jaguar Ecological Reserve. If venturing to Iguaçú Falls, do stay in Puerto Iguaçú - and once back in Rio, if you have the nerve, pick up a car, head to Paraty and take a schooner trip to one of the many beautiful islands in the bay to relax before heading home. Don't forget the locals Go to Brazil now before it becomes the "in" place to visit. Get out in the countryside and meet the wonderful Brazilian people who will welcome you with warmth and hospitality. Bangkok by water As Caroline Shearing found ("Backwater Bangkok"), travelling around Bangkok by water can be a cheap and interesting way to see the city. Stops on the canal boats are clearly marked and there is no traffic congestion. The boats pull up at each stop but don't tie up so we had to jump from the bank on to the boat with fingers crossed we wouldn't fall into the murky water. Every boat was packed with locals and we never saw another tourist. It was great fun chugging along, watching the local colour and the changing scenery. We noticed monitor lizards swimming, plus several species of bird, and observed with interest local women washing clothes in the none-too-clean water. At one point the boat pulled alongside a "fish market" where several passengers bartered for their dinner. We were sorry when we reached our destination and had to leap, once again, for the shore. Railway reminiscences Stephen McClarence's article ("The slow trains that Beeching failed to halt") took me back to childhood holidays spent with my dad's family, "up North." My favourite was always a trip on the Esk Valley Railway from Middlesbrough to Whitby for a day on the beach, whatever the weather, and fish and chips. Last year we were "up North" again for a special occasion and once more it was the highlight of our holiday when we celebrated as a family on one of the delightful Esk Valley Railway Music and Ale Trains that run on Friday evenings during the summer. We spent the lively journey listening to and joining in with the musicians, who, along with the refreshments and scenery, made this a wonderfully entertaining way to visit the charming pubs and villages along the line. Details are on the Esk Valley website (eskvalleyrailway.co.uk). Increasingly we find that travelling by rail makes the journey just as pleasurable and interesting as the destination, even if it is without music and ale. Aim high in Sicily The next time Sophie Campbell is in Taormina, she should make time to walk up to Castelmola ("Between seaside and cinder"). The extra height reveals a new vista; the jagged coast, blue sea and, silently signalling its dominant presence with a steady stream of lazy smoke, Etna. Afterwards you can enjoy lunch in the village square: it is well worth the climb. Win flights to Spain The UK's largest airline, easyJet, is providing Telegraph readers with the chance to win a pair of return flights from London Stansted to Malaga, for an affordable escape to the sun. The airline operates daily flights on the route, with fares from £24.99 (one-way, including taxes, based on two people travelling together). The gateway to the Costa del Sol, Malaga offers a combination of sunshine and culture, from the bistros and bars of the old city to the Picasso Museum, displaying works by the city's most famous artist, and the Paseo del Parque with its banana trees and fountains. EasyJet flies to more than 600 destinations across 29 countries. For more information, or to book, visit easyJet.com. How to enter To enter the competition, email relevant feedback to travelviews@telegraph.co.uk, or write to Travel Views, Travel Desk, The Daily Telegraph, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT. Click here for full terms and conditions. Please keep submissions to 200 words or fewer, and include contact details. The deadline for the next competition is midnight on April 9. Here are some recent articles on which you may wish to comment Plane loos to shrink Samoa to charge passsengers by weight Korea crisis piques tourists' interest Beirut was built on miracles Trip of a Lifetime: Grand Canyon