C'est en pensant à Yangguizi, que nous avons fait ces deux photos d'un avion Dakota Américain estampillé de l'étoile rouge en pensant qu'elles pourraient trouver une place dans ta collection.
Svidnik est une petite ville moderne, ( et pour cause ) construite sur les ruines de Viychny et des Nichny Svidnik qui ont été détruites lors d'un des combats les plus terribles de la fin de la seconde guerre mondiale en novembre 1944, la bataille de Dukla du nom du col aprement défendu. Les Allemands, savaient que si les Russes réussissaient à ouvrir une brèche à cet endroit là dans leurs défenses, ils pourraient s'engouffer vers le sud. Dans tous les villages environnant Svidnik, on voit des cimetières militaires et à Svidnik, ce musée en plein air et un monument commémoratif dédié à l'armé soviétique au dessus de la fosse commune où ont été ensevellis 9000 soldats Russes .
Ces frontières douloureuses, me font penser à des plaques tectoniques entre les "blocs", lieux hautement névralgiques de tous les séismes ...
Catherine
" La lucidité est la blessure la plus proche du soleil" René Char
Pas étonnant de le retrouver là avec tout ce que les Américains ont envoyé aux Russes avec la loi Prêt-Bail; dont des millions de bottes et d'uniformes, des Sherman ( ' cercueil pour cinq camarades', selon les 'utilisateurs' ), des Jeep..etc...
Je dois avoir le tracteur d'artillerie dans ma doc.
Michel
"L'Angleterre est une île, c'est là son unique défaut." attribué à Napoléon
🙂, Cette information, m'a obligée à aller mettre le nez dans le " Dictionnaire de la seconde guerre mondiale " en deux volumes de Larousse, cadeau de mon père que je n'ai jamais guère feuilleté !
Et je lis dans le grand chapitre Aviation, à la fin de l'encart Aviation Soviétique du à Madeline Astorka :
" Durant sa lutte pour la libération du territoire, l'URSS, malgré ses énormes capacités de production, ( en matière aéronautique ) avait du faire appel aux matériels étrangers pour poursuivre les combats. Entre le 1er octobre 1941 et le 15 février 1943, la Grande Bretagne lui livra 3000 appareils; les Etats Unis, eux, fournirent entre 1941 et 1944, 7800 avions en majorité des chasseurs " Airacobra " P-39 et des avions de transport " Dakota". "
Voili, voilou comment ce que j'avais pris pour une curiosité, devient finalement assez banal 🙂
Catherine
" La lucidité est la blessure la plus proche du soleil" René Char
Je sors un peu du sujet, mais au vietnam, au musée de la guerre à Dien Bien. Les carcasses de Dakota de l'armée Française étaient tous estampé USAF. Comme quoi entre ce qui est vrai et ce que l'on lit tout change. :-)
Le plus grand voyageur est celui qui a su faire une fois le tour de lui-même
L'aide alliée à l'Union Soviétique a été largement occultée par les Russes après guerre pour des raisons de propagande.
Elle a pourtant été capitale pour permettre une motorisation partielle de l'Armée Rouge notamment à le fin de la guerre, grâce aux camions, halftracks, Jeeps fournis. De plus les Russes ont mangé des rations US, été chaussés de bottes US, habillés de 'draps' US...
voir aussi:
American aircraft were delivered to the USSR over three routes: by flight to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they were taken onward by Soviet pilots; by ship to Archangel and Murmansk, while those beleaguered ports were practicable for convoys; and by flight and ship to the Persian Gulf, the only all-year route. Of the 14, 834 American aircraft made available to the Soviet Union under lend-lease, slightly less than one third, or 4, 874, were delivered via the Persian Gulf, of which 995 were flown in and 3, 879 were shipped.2 Upon arrival these aircraft required refitting or assembly, as well as test flights. The variety of types and models, the complexity of aircraft construction, the need for skilled technical personnel, were special problems increasing the normal difficulties of the Russian-aid program in the Corridor
7800 avions livrés par les USA à l'URSS (moi, j'ai le chiffre de 14 000, mais des avions ont été abattus au cours des livraisons), c'est une goutte d'eau dans la production durant cette période. La production US entre 1939 et 1945 a été de 250 000 avions.
Pendant cette même période, les Russes en produisaient 150 000
Si tu as d'autres photos du même genre, je suis également preneur.
Bonsoir,
🙂, non, je n'en ai pas d'autres, j'ai pris celles-ci juste pour faire un clin d'oeil à Yanguizzi, mais je suis totalement ignorante dans ce domaine .
Par contre, je trouve très intéressant que chacun apporte sa part de connaissances, même si le sujet est loin de mes centre d'intérêts habituels. C'est de l'histoire et cette histoire nous concerne .
Catherine
" La lucidité est la blessure la plus proche du soleil" René Char
7800 avions livrés par les USA à l'URSS (moi, j'ai le chiffre de 14 000, mais des avions ont été abattus au cours des livraisons), c'est une goutte d'eau dans la production durant cette période. La production US entre 1939 et 1945 a été de 250 000 avions.
Pendant cette même période, les Russes en produisaient 150 000
Je ne sais pas mon ignorance dans ce domaine ne me permet pas de contester ou de valider les chiffres donnés par ma seule source qui est celle que j'ai citée .
Catherine
" La lucidité est la blessure la plus proche du soleil" René Char
Je ne pensais pas qu'un tel sujet intéresserait tant de monde !
Je croyais être le seul !
Je vais apporter une petite contribution : le "cercueil pour 5 camarades" n'est pas le sherman (char utile, le premier char soviétique entré à Vienne en avril 1945 était un sherman) mais un char US ayant deux canons, un petit dans la tourelle et un gros (75 mm) dans la cassemate, sur le principe du B1 bis français de 1940. Le nom, vous le trouverez vous-même, j'ai un troup de mémoire 🤪
Le matériel purement offensif livré par les US aux soviétiques était souvent démodé : chasseurs aircobras (l'as des as soviétiques remporta pourtant plusieurs de ses 62 victoires sur ce type de chasseur), tank des années 1940/42 (périmés dès 1943, mais utiles contre l'infanterie)... Les Anglais firent souvent de même.
J'ai entendu parler de a bataille du col de Dukla, entre la slovaquie et la Pologne, mais j'ignorais qu'il y avait autant de monuments commémoratifs sur place. J'irai sur place dans quelques années, c'est certain !
Si Catherine y avait pris des photos de chars, ça m'intéresserait beaucoup...
Moi-même, j'ai une photo d'un char T-34 avec le l'aigle égyptien peint sur ses flancs. Pourquoi, à votre avis ?
Merci pour le lien, officiellement les Américains étaient seulement formateur des pilotes Français.
D'ailleur officielement les vietnamiens n'étaient pas supporté par l'URSS et la Chine, alors que sur le terrain
les cadres étaient chinois, une partie de la main d'oeuvre logistique également, le matériel perfectionné Soviet.
Les alliances se font et se defont, pour l'URSS et les US, les américains et Anglais ont équipé
en grande partie l'URSS lors de la 2nd, en passant par une voie vers le cercle arctique.
"Selon Raymond Cartier et John Keegan, entre octobre 1941 et juin 1942, les Américains livrent 1 285 avions, 2 249 chars, 81 287 mitrailleuses, 56 500 téléphones de campagne, 380 000 milles de fil téléphonique. En 1943, 427 000 des 665 000 camions de l’Armée rouge viennent d’outre-Pacifique. L'Amérique fournit aussi 13 millions de bottes, 5 millions de tonnes de vivres, ou encore 2 000 locomotives, 11 000 wagons, 54 000 tonnes de rail. ¾ du cuivre russe vient des USA, mais aussi une grande partie du pétrole de haute teneur sans lequel le carburant pour avion n’est pas faisable"
Tiens l'image d'une aile a DBP mais elle est pas dans le même état que ton Dakota😛
Le plus grand voyageur est celui qui a su faire une fois le tour de lui-même
Voilà, c'est tout ce que j'ai fait comme photos dans ce musée commémoratif de la bataille de Dukla à Svidnik...... Et la dernière image 😉 ...... qui me semble bien plus représentative du génie humain, prise sur la colline en face ....
😛 en outre des dakota "pret_bail", l appareil avait ete copie par les russes et produit sous le nom de Lisunov Li-2 en grande quantite jusqu apres la guerre (la forme de la porte arriere, non visible sur ta photo est habituellement un bon detrompeur pour reconnaitre cette version). Pour les volumes de production ou plus de details, lancer Google avec "Lisunov Li-2".
En plus des P39 /P63, les russes se sont notoirement fait livrer des curtiss P-40, des hawker Hurribomber, des Avro Lancaster, des NA B-25, des douglas A20 HAVOC, etc...
Les CURTISS en question, je crois que ce sont ceux que le gouvernement français avait commandés début 1940 et qui n'ont finalement pas eu le temps d'être livrés avant l'armistice de juin 40. Les USA les ont donc donnés à l'URSS
En mai, l'Armée de l'air française, à la recherche de chasseurs, passe commande de 140 Curtiss Hawk 81A1, la version d'exportation, qui se distinguait du P-40 américain par son instrumentation en système métrique, ses quatre mitrailleuses d'aile FN-Browning en calibre 7, 5 mm et les manettes de gaz inversées à la mode française. La commande américaine est différée après 200 exemplaires pour accélérer la livraison de ces machines, mais elles ne seront pas prêtes avant l'armistice de juin 1940, le premier volant seulement le 6 juin. La RAF britannique décide alors de reprendre ces avions sous la désignation de Tomahawk I et le premier arrive en Angleterre en septembre, les mitrailleuses sont remplacées par des Browning de 7, 7 mm, mais beaucoup, du fait de la précipitation, sont encore équipés d'instruments métriques et des marquages en français
"L'Angleterre est une île, c'est là son unique défaut." attribué à Napoléon
On aperçoit notamment un sdkfz allemand (c'est vraiment le nom, abrégé, je n'ai pas tapé au hasard 😉), les allemands adoraient les abréviations. Par exemple char se dit panzer, abréviation de panzerkampfswagen, ce qui veut dire à peu près véhicule de combat tout terrain...en un seul mot ! Ce véhicule est rare, je n'ai jamais vu un seul exemlaire d'origine dans un film de guerre. Ils utilisent tout le temps des half-track américain repeints ! tricheurs !
Ensuite, on reconnait, côté soviétique, un katioucha (orgue de staline), le camion avec des rails de lancement ; un char du génie ; puis un T-34, 76mm (c'est le calibre du canon) ou 85 mm, on voit mal ; enfin un canon d'assaut SU 100, redoutable chasseur de char, sur châssis de T-34, qui pouvait même détruire des chars lourds allemands.
Le SU 100 a été rencontré par les paras français à Suez en 1956. Le T-34 a servi jusqu'en yougo en 1991-1995 et en irak en 1991, et sans doute en ...2003 ! le premier modèle étant sorti en ...1940 !
Hello everyone! 🙂🙂,
A BIG thank you to all the travelers who sent us postcards this year—my students are becoming real geography whizzes!!!!!!!! I’m renewing my call for your kindness this year! We’re also working on food, so if your postcards can make our mouths water with local dishes, traditional meals, or typical recipes, that’d be amazing!!
Here’s a quick recap of the project:
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globetrotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse, working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m starting a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of the journal will focus on opening up to the world, diversity, travel, countries, culture...
I’m launching a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a little postcard (from France or anywhere in the world!) to take us on a journey and help us discover new places, countries, and horizons—much more fun and exciting than a regular geography textbook! One section of our journal could be called "We received mail from " and would be an opportunity to research that location and share what we learn with our readers (a super enriching activity in class).
The project starts in September 2025 but has no real end date, as this journal and world discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in my ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! (The kids will find them when they return.)
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow traveler friends. Make us dream, take us on a journey!!!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!!
Thank you in advance for your participation(s)! Below is our address. Feel free to leave your own address on a corner of the postcard if you’d like us to write back! 😊
The ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and see you soon, I hope! 😁
Julien
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
