for three courses Lunch for two, including drinks, came to £11. The only pricey part of the menu is the wine list, as Costa Rica relies on expensive imports: an indifferent Malbec from Argentina cost £18.Roca Bruja, Ocotal Resort, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (00 506 670 0321; ). Thanks to the debate on global warming, we're all familiar with the name Kyoto. But what's the city beneath the hot air actually like? Beautiful, says Derek Guthrie Japan's ancient capital was spared intensive American bombing in the Second World War, so the original grid system of the old city largely remains, with narrow little streets lined by old wooden homes - plus some of the country's most dazzling temples. TOUCH DOWN Kyoto is best served by Osaka's Kansai Airport, Italian architect Renzo Piano's model of modernity and beautiful efficiency.
THE PLATE Costa Rica isn't known for its flashy cuisine - staple fare consists largely of rice and beans. But once you reach the Pacific, more fish appears on the menu, as you would expect. El Ocotal is one of the best resorts along this northern stretch of coast, and this is reflected in the food - although not in the prices. A three-course meal including Caesar salad and whole lobster came to £8. Freshness and simplicity are key: a seafood salad will have just-caught prawns, mussels, crab and the subtlest of dressings. Then there is the digital solution - radio stations and separate television "choices" for different constituencies - which is leading to needless fragmentation.But by far the biggest problem is that the present system is grossly unaccountable.
Newspapers get daily responses from their readers; they correct and apologise, sometimes even explain. The BBC has ponderous systems with complaints procedures and internet viewpoints, but an open discussion where producers are really challenged does not yet exist And it should. Feedback and Points of View are too tame, and the makers of programmes merely justify what they do. We need live discussions every Sunday on two or three of the programmes most questioned that week on radio and television.So the message to the BBC is: we will fight for you against this onslaught from those who wish you weak or dead; but you must listen to our concerns and make absolutely sure that you truly are the voice of modern Britain, whatever that Ludovic chap says.y.alibhai-brown independent.co.uk More from Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. President Bush's poll-ratings have slipped, not as badly as his father's did in 1991, but far enough to give the Democrats hope This has also given them a number of dilemmas. This has also given them a number of dilemmas. Most Democratic activists are still so angry about the 2000 result that they cannot think straight.
