Three of our grandchildren came to spend the last weekend of the holidays at our house.
With her driver’s license just in hand, the oldest took her sister and a cousin along.
I was talking about VoyageForum, and the conversation turned to AI, which finds writing travel journals a breeze—churning out amazing ads for this or that country and even nudging tourists to visit one place over another.
Jules: "It’s crazy, you can plan and organize everything, then just add your photos and the AI’s text, and boom—you’ve got something great."
Héloïse: "What a cheat for yourself and for others." (She’s so wise!)
Gaïané: "Ugh, no more surprises. It even picks the restaurants—so lame."
I had this idea to stay on the theme of travel journals:
I found an excerpt from a book (I’ll let you guess the title and author—of course, the kids figured it out in two seconds with their phones), then I wrote my own version, and finally, the AI generated its own using a few keywords.
Here they are:
"We walked at dusk through the thick, dark forest.
Sometimes, a clearing would reveal a dreamlike landscape. A magical world, far from humans. A world of frozen waterfalls, stiff fir trees, and sharp peaks slicing through the blinding whiteness of the air.
We gazed, dazzled, at the spectacle, imagining we’d left the human world behind and joined that of the spirits."
"For days, we walked through the half-darkness of dense, untouched forests, then suddenly, a clearing would unveil landscapes you only see in dreams. Sharp peaks piercing the sky, icy torrents, giant waterfalls—an entire fantastical world, blindingly white, rising above the dark line traced by the giant fir trees.
We stared at this extraordinary sight, speechless, awestruck, ready to believe we’d reached the limits of the human world and stood at the threshold of the spirits’ realm."
"We walked through the mountain, wild and unyielding, its sharp peaks tearing the sky like honed blades. Giant waterfalls roared and foamed, as if the earth’s hidden forces were pouring out. Higher still, the blinding whiteness belonged to the world of spirits—capricious beings whispering to lost travelers.
Faced with this silent vastness, we felt tiny, uninvited guests meditating on the invisible that dwells in these forbidden peaks."
And, amazingly, they unanimously agreed that the author’s excerpt was a thousand times more poetic.
Héloïse, my history buff, said: "Nothing replaces the real travel experience."
Jules said: "Yeah, but it does the job. Even if the excerpt is cool."
And our oldest added: "It makes you want to go there—not at all like the other two versions. Sorry, Mamido."
And then, miracle—Jules asks: "Do you have the book? Can I borrow it?"
I’m so relieved—young people aren’t completely devoured by technology yet.
And the forum will keep its charm and usefulness for a long time. Phew!
Kudos for taking the plunge! It was high time someone tackled the topic of travel and AI.
In your post, I notice two things: the style and the way you delve into the realm of genius. So, the question arises: Can AI produce an identical style, or any style at all? Is AI capable of metaphors? I don’t know since I haven’t tried it yet.
As for your stroll among the geniuses, that’s the result of your imagination and sensitivity. Maybe AI could also talk about genius if it encounters a similar situation in the billions of references that feed it.
The forum will keep its charm and usefulness because it already lets us chat away.
It’s true, it’s frustrating to dive in and flop!
It’s brave of you to respond to a post that flopped.
You’re my lifeline. 😎
Did you notice there were three short texts?
Only one comes from an extraordinary author—did you spot which one? The others are from AI and me.
AI works with keywords you provide.
These past two days with the kids helped me better understand the stakes of AI in our lives—manipulation, plagiarism, misinformation, etc.
My grandson even made a video: it’s his face, it’s his voice… and it’s not him.
Terrifying! !
It’s true, you were in a room and said: "Is anybody there?"
I was just passing by and was happy to reply. Besides, I got hooked because I find the topic really interesting. I’ll study the three texts and keep wading through the weeds.
With AI, I managed to generate a book cover in just two clicks. Before, you had to search the web for supposedly free graphic elements, only to get charged in the end.
I wonder if it’ll be possible for our students and schoolchildren to receive AI-generated texts to complete a writing assignment. What will teachers do? And journalists?!
Students could already buy theses for very low prices.
Your post raises the issue of keeping the section lively and fostering discussion. As for me, I have two topics I care deeply about, but I won’t bring them up for discussion because they’ve become politically incorrect—especially with censorship lurking.
By the way, I think the "old" VF members are keeping to themselves these days.
As for me, I have two topics that are very close to my heart; I won’t bring them up for discussion because they’ve become politically incorrect—especially since censorship is lurking around.
Please send them to me in a PM. Now you’ve really piqued my curiosity! 🙂
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
With the internet, computers, and smartphones, we're already drowning in the virtual world.
With AI, we’ll also get stuck in false appearances and illusions.
Soon, we’ll just implant all of this into our brains.
*Homo digitalus, machina ex deus.*
The ultimate stage: instead of traveling, you’ll experience everything in your head, feeling like you’re really there. Good for the planet, I guess.
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
Some explosive topics, no doubt about it, but not my usual travel destinations.
Let’s talk about the Covid vaccine and the far left instead. No, just kidding. 😎
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
Here’s a really interesting topic, Pondy—one that I think affects all of us, whether we like it or not!
I have some pretty strong biases against AI, which I’m sure will end up in the wrong hands, and unfortunately, that’s already happening!
I’ve seen friends—usually pretty smart people—swallow deepfake videos whole without questioning them. These videos look incredibly realistic but make anyone say anything. Honestly, it’s terrifying when you think about how it could manipulate "the masses," fuel populism, and spread some really ugly ideas that aren’t even hiding anymore!
But here’s the thing: I’ve been traveling in Indonesia for a few days, and a friend introduced me to a ChatGPT alternative just before I left… and I’m honestly blown away. We spent 2 days in Singapore, a city I knew nothing about, and it felt like I was walking around with a traveler who knew the city inside out and had answers to all my questions!
Like:
"Where’s the entrance to a 100-hectare park?"—it sends you straight to the right spot on Google Maps.
"How do I get from point A to point B using public transport?"
"What time does this attraction open?"
Or even:"Why are there multiple prisons in Singapore when there’s so little crime?" The answer was fascinating and well-reasoned (zero tolerance, easier incarceration than in other countries, and the death penalty is applied 😱—I had no idea).
Anyway, after Google Maps and Booking.com, I think this is going to be another tool that revolutionizes how I travel and even makes me a little smarter too 😄. The danger is trusting it too much, though, so I’ll try to keep a critical eye and double-check some info elsewhere.
At the end of the day, I’m trying to focus on the positive side since we’ll have to live with it one way or another!
Christelle
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
You’re absolutely right, Christelle, to bring up this side of the topic—I’d only spoken about the dark side.
It’ll definitely be a huge help for those planning trips or needing urgent info on the spot.
An online tourist office—we’ve dreamed of that! Just wondering how long it’ll stay free...
Would be great if you could specify which AI you’re talking about? I’m trying to get up to speed 🙂
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
I'm happy, Djalma, you played along, and yes, it was Alexandra David-Néel I was talking about.
Did you also find the text that matches what the AI provided?
Aoreora, good try—you and Djalma were the only ones who looked, that’s sweet.
Solène, always so fun and cheerful on the forum—are you going to travel with Gemini now? I only have Jiminy Cricket perched on my shoulder, and he often makes me take a different direction than the one I choose.
Jojoone, no, no, no fighting, no boxing—no jabs left or right, no!
Zorba, why not talk about Russia?
Our Russian friends often write via Telegram, and while it’s true we avoid the topics of war and government with each other, we share our traditions, holidays, the weather in Gelendzhik by the Black Sea and in Novosibirsk in Siberia. Spring for one, and snow that’s holding on for the other.
By the way, recently, March 8th was their Women’s Day—a celebration of femininity, beauty, kindness, etc. Olga sent a photo of her husband’s gifts: flowers, chocolates, and a poetry collection by Rimbaud. Here, March 8th is something else entirely...
Anyway, all this to say we *can* talk about Russia.
The same goes for Israel. It seems important to me to distinguish between the people and their representatives.
And if things get heated, who cares? There’ll be a lock, and we’ll stop talking about it.
I didn’t install ChatGPT 4 like my grandson wanted, but I’d love to know the AI’s answer to: *What do you think of Russia? What do you think of Israel?*
Just ask Pondy to my new friend 😄. It's to show you an example of what it looks like.
"Israel is a country in the Middle East with a complex history and situation. Here are some key points to consider:
**History and founding:**
* Israel was established in 1948, following a United Nations vote on the partition of Palestine.
* The creation of Israel was a major event for the Jewish people, after centuries of diaspora and the Holocaust.
* However, it also led to the displacement and dispossession of many Palestinians, which sparked the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
**Israeli-Palestinian conflict:**
* The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a prolonged and complex dispute involving territorial claims, security issues, and Palestinian rights.
* There are differing views on the root causes of the conflict and possible solutions.
* The conflict has been marked by periods of violence, negotiations, and peace attempts.
**Political and social aspects:**
* Israel is a parliamentary democracy with a diverse population, including Jews, Arabs, and other groups.
* The country has a developed economy and a dynamic tech sector.
* There are internal debates in Israel on issues such as the relationship between the state and religion, social inequalities, and the future of the occupied territories.
**International relations:**
* Israel's relations with other Middle Eastern countries and the international community are complex and varied.
* Some countries have close diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, while others are critical of its policies.
* The conflict with Hamas in October 2023 has exacerbated tensions in the region.
It’s important to note that the topic of Israel often sparks passionate debates, and there are many differing perspectives on these issues."
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
I’m glad, Djalma, you played along, and yes, it was Alexandra David-Neel I was talking about.
For a long time, I’ve been interested in everything surrounding the Himalayas and, to some extent, Tibetan culture, which these days thrives more in the neighboring small states than in Tibet itself. Michel Peissel (especially) and Alexandra David-Neel have been part of my reading list.
Did you also find the text corresponding to what the AI provided?
I didn’t bother looking; my interest in AI is practically nonexistent.
That’s not to say I think it’s not worth exploring—quite the opposite. I believe it will greatly accelerate scientific research. However, in the "world" where I find myself, it has no place. When I wake up every morning and open my window to see the Grand Veymont, that’s enough to make me happy for the rest of the day. I’m content with the little things... When I strike up a conversation with my farmer neighbor, I prefer his down-to-earth wisdom over the talk of war from our politicians or the nonsense from influencers online.
When AI starts creating life from molecules in a test tube or discovers that our thoughts aren’t produced by the brain—or, in other words, solves the mystery of the relationship between matter and mind—then maybe I’ll take a closer look.
The same goes for Israel. It seems important to distinguish between the people and their representatives.
Absolutely. The day when we no longer lump an entire people or all the inhabitants of a country into the same basket hasn’t arrived yet. 😕
Alexandra David-Néel travels, recounts, explores.
She married late for the time, to Philippe Néel de Saint Sauveur, aptly named since for months, even years, without seeing his wife, he funded all her travels.
She was a feminist, an anarchist, drunk on independence and freedom, and set off again for India a third time, leaving her husband for very long months, even years.
She only became Buddhist later in life and insisted on being both a scholar and a woman of letters.
Her travel companion Aphur Yongden became her adopted son.
She died at nearly 100 years old in the south of France.
She was an incredible woman, a renowned orientalist, a free and rebellious spirit, a bit mystical, whom I greatly admired because she... walked
There you go, a bit of a ramble, what I found online!
It was great that Solène asked your virtual assistant.
When I read the response, though, it just feels like a plagiarized version of the *Petit Robert* or Wikipedia.
I do think AI can be a highly effective tool—especially in medicine. It’s already being used to analyze scans, MRIs, and radiologists are happy with it. In that sense, AI can solve problems and provide excellent interpretations.
But what about travel? What does it do that Google Maps or Google Photos (which tells you the date and location of a photo) can’t already do?
Either way, I feel for screenwriters—and I understand their strike—when AI can churn out a series that’s perfectly on-trend. And by extension, that goes for writers… and travel journal artists too.
But what about travel? What does it do that Google Maps or Google Photos doesn’t—like telling you the date and location of a photo?
.
Hi there,
Just sharing my recent experience using AI for travel planning:
I’m organizing a week-long trip to Marrakech in May for a group of friends.
ChatGPT took just 15 seconds to generate a full day-by-day itinerary, with costs included, and it actually made sense! The AI even tweaked the plan as I gave more details.
Mind-blowing.
"Le véritable voyage de découverte ne consiste pas à chercher de nouveaux paysages, mais à avoir de nouveaux yeux."
Marcel Proust
With one Google click, you can find your beer and your drink. For the latter, it’s all in English with no translation option—bummer for me, too lazy for that.
Did you know that sarsaparilla is a plant with useful benefits? It boosts vitality, fights impotence, and venereal diseases.
Consider yourself warned!😛
For school info, it was trickier to find, but I managed.
In primary schools, *Sekolah Dasar* (SD), classes only last 4 hours.
After primary, it’s *Sekolah Menengah Pertama* (SMP),
then *SMA*, and finally, the equivalent of the baccalaureate is *UMPTN*.
Gemini can tell you what those initials stand for—Google gave me the answer without any trouble.
Let me tell you, I’m gonna feel a lot smarter from now on too, Pondy 😄.
I’d never even heard of sarsaparilla, for example. But Gemini described its benefits for me. And yeah, it *does* taste like "sweet medicine" 😆.
The big difference from Google is how fast it responds. You don’t have to search for anything—just say, "Tell me about Bandak cola," and it spills all the details!
It’s like having a local with you to answer every question 😮.
Though I did manage to stump it by asking, "Where’s the market on Samosir Island on Fridays?" All it did was point me to the tourist trap nearby that’s open every day. Useless 😄.
Le monde est comme un miroir, si tu lui souris, il te sourit aussi!
You’re telling us about Russia, and it’s always really nice to hear.
Now it’s my turn, though a bit timidly: first, I’m hopeful that in a few years, the situation will normalize, that the endless, frantic search for raw materials will shift and, unfortunately, devastate another continent, and that Russia will reclaim its natural role in the European landscape—and maybe even heat our homes affordably.
I had two friendly young friends in the Moscow region, but we lost touch.
I have a friend, my guide Irina, who lives in the Kursk region. I tried to reach her, but the message didn’t go through. Since she lives in a "hot" region, I’m thinking of her and her family.
I’d mentioned that to start our visit to the battlefields, we "bonded" by eating *shashka* (a local dish) from the same plate in a restaurant—a nod to the sacrifice of the Red Army soldiers. Like an idiot, I didn’t play along well because I can’t stand *shashka*. I kick myself for showing such foolishness. Friendship is worth a plate of *shashka*.
Irina must be heartbroken by the current situation, as she was a national leader and activist in a peace movement. She used to sing the praises of the French aviators of the "Normandie-Niémen" squadron, whose commitment captivated the Russians.
It feels like I’m talking about a world that’s gone, but I hope it becomes tomorrow’s world again. I miss Russia because its people make you feel like you’re part of the family.
Speaking of Israel?
I wanted to write a little travel journal in response to Unamilanese’s to explore the perspective of a believer. Here are a few thoughts:
Jerusalem is a wonderful Eastern city that you need to take your time exploring. I stayed at the Sisters of Zion convent and enjoyed a breathtaking view of the Dome of the Rock. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is ugly—its interior is ugly. I felt no emotion stepping into the site of Christ’s Passion, too distracted by the over-the-top ornamentation, the religious circus, and the idolatry.
Fortunately, I had hired a guide. She showed me a bare tomb carved into the rock in a side chapel—this tomb *could* have been Christ’s.
We should talk more on VoyageForum about the importance of hiring a guide for the day. Mine showed me essential things and gave me tons of explanations.
In all these places, you can question the authenticity. In the case of the Holy Sepulchre, the Romans had tried to erase the memories of the crucifixion by building a temple with a statue right over the site of the cross and another over the tomb.
What’s more, the founder of "my convent" had the idea to dig out the "Via Dolorosa" on the convent grounds and uncover a pavement called *Lithostratos*, which Christ might have walked on while being judged nearby. You can even see a game carved by Roman soldiers.
Otherwise, I explored the rather somber Galilee and the very imposing Masada.
May the broken thread of Yitzhak Rabin’s work be mended one day!
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
Like you, I love Russia infinitely, but especially Siberia.
One of our friends lives in the Krasnodar Krai, right next to Putin’s palace by the Black Sea.
She never talks about the president at all, and while I know she was in the Komsomol as a youth—like almost all young people back then—I also know she’s horrified by the current situation.
Our other dear friend is even more silent about the current state of things, feeling safe in her vast Siberia.
(Her grandfather had been deported to Omsk for stealing a bag of buckwheat.) With her, we visited Iskitim to see an old gulag.
It was overwhelming. In memory, there’s a church built next to the site.
She told us that one morning at school, when she was 8, they were given a red scarf, and the children learned a Bolshevik revolutionary song. They had to sing it every morning.
She spoke in a whisper, as if passersby could hear—it was eerie.
You mentioned the "Normandie-Niemen" squadron, and I remember that at the gymnasium (number 14 or 34, I can’t recall) in Novosibirsk, students had set up a museum in honor of those pilots.
Russians have always loved France, our language, and our culture.
We don’t know when we’ll see each other again, and this conflict feels endless.
You say *shaka* and I say *kasha*—are they the same thing? A porridge made of oats, millet, or buckwheat?
With lots of sugar, I could eat it every morning.
For Israel, it might be a good idea to make a travel journal out of it.
I don’t know anything about that country, though...
You see, François, AI will never be able to capture the emotions, the raptures and disgusts, the joys, the disappointments, and all those moments of happiness that sweep us away during our travels.
PS: I would’ve preferred thumbnails—I don’t know how to do that. And the quality, hmmm!
Sh'ma Yisroel Adonaï elohenou, Adonaï ehad...
Alright, here's a little joke...
A young CNN journalist had heard about a very, very old Jewish man who had been going to pray at the Wailing Wall twice a day for as long as anyone could remember. Thinking she had a great story, she went there and saw the very old man slowly walking toward the wall. After three-quarters of an hour of prayer, as he slowly walked away, leaning on his cane, she approached him for an interview.
– Excuse me, sir, I’m Rebecca Smith from CNN. How long have you been coming here to pray?
– Over 60 years, the tired-looking old man replied.
– 60 years! That’s incredible! And what do you pray for?
– I pray for peace between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. I pray for an end to all wars and hatred. I pray for our children to grow up safely and become responsible adults who love and respect their neighbors.
– And how do you feel after 60 years of praying?
– I really feel like I’m talking to a wall...
You’re telling us about Russia [....] Talking about Israel?
Where Mont Haut-Folin (Pondy, why have you forsaken me? ) rubs shoulders with Golgotha and the Urals.
May your wishes come true!
De Gaulle’s vision of a “Europe (of nations) from the Atlantic to the Urals” contrasts with Rima’s “from the Jordan to the sea,” which blocks Yitzhak’s project.
I’ve finished my travel journal and can finally chime in on this thread, which nearly turned into a "flop"—or, in verlan,
plof
—which seems fitting...
I’d already read your first message and
Jules: “It’s crazy, you can plan and organize everything, then you add your photos and the AI text and boom—you’ve got something great.”
left me baffled.
What purpose does Jules see in a travel journal, or in writing in general?
Is it just a pretty, quick way to jot down memories? A way to show off or share?
That’s not how I see it. Because the effort of writing, the flow that comes—or the words that don’t—is a way of processing, of making the trip your own, or not. It’s a deeply personal, reflective experience. I couldn’t care less about the text, no matter how brilliant or polished, that Lia could spit out.
That said, I’ve only had one encounter with Lia Chatjaipété, and by my second question, she’d completely short-circuited. She kept repeating the same sentence over and over until I uninstalled her, and I thought, whoever she is, she really needs a therapist.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
I wanted to write a little travel journal in response to Unamilanese’s to explore the believer’s perspective.
I’d read it with great interest.
Jerusalem is a city where I didn’t sense the slightest spirituality or transcendence—just the assertion of identity within a chosen religion, or, more likely, an inherited one, and its rigid territorial boundaries. A divided and divisive city.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
J'ai suivi avec attention le périple de Pinacolada. Je préparais à ce moment mon voyage sur le Maroc.Quand je vois toutes les explications données, je me…
Ce titre accrocheur et quelque peu mystérieux résulte de plusieurs questions que je me pose. VF a rouvert depuis un nombre raisonnable de semaines et de mois.…
C’est le temps des vacances Vacance et silence Silence et absence Absence et latence Latence et silence Silence et vacance Vacance et absence C’est le temps…
J'espère que je n'ai pas posté mon message au mauvais endroit, je ne savais pas quelle rubrique serait la plus appropriée. Je me permets de parler de ma…
Je lis souvent sur ce forum ou ailleurs (ou oralement) des voyageurs qui veulent que de l'authentique.. mais j'aimerais mieux comprendre quel est cette quête…
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
Hi there, I’ve been traveling for 18 years now, at least 6 months a year, and as the years go by, I actually enjoy coming back to France more and more—a feeling I struggled with at first. I mean, we always think the grass is greener elsewhere.
But in the end, I find meaning in that saying about how there’s no place like home. I still love traveling just as much, but now my trips are shorter, and I enjoy spending more time in our beautiful country, even though I don’t hesitate to criticize it.
How about you? How do you handle coming back from your travels?
A few years ago, I went with a group of friends to lend a hand at a small rural school near Thiès, Senegal.
It was a relaxed but hardworking atmosphere—hands in the mortar, laughter, exchanges, and everything that a COOPERATION project can bring.
Today, the little project is flying on its own.
Wanting to explore Senegal’s riches, we set off for some tourism in the Siné Saloum. One girl in our group fell ill (a malaria attack), and we decided to take her to see a doctor at a large tourist complex nearby. Despite her condition, we had to "show our credentials" (if I may say so) just to get in. She was treated and has been fine since.
This "stop" at a Club Med-style resort with a Teutonic twist—resembling Le Grau-du-Roi but fancier—was a horror show for us: pools, massive artificial basins dyed blue, pink, or green (!!!!), animators shouting around wet T-shirt contests or coconut tree climbing, and sunburned (or sun-pinked) *toubabs*.
The entire hotel was surrounded by a huge wall, behind which a small souvenir-seller slum had sprung up, worthy of Dakar’s outer neighborhoods.
On leaving, we saw a minibus of guests returning from an "excursion," loaded with masks, fabrics, and djembés—African souvenirs?
Maybe those will be *theirs*?
What impression did the kids clustered at the hotel gates get?
What about the Black servers in "traditional African costumes," serving cocktails and ice cream nonstop?
For me, who experienced Africa very young and in the bush, this remains a haunting image.
On VF, this kind of vacation doesn’t seem to be the norm among users, and that’s exactly why I signed up.
Have you ever experienced this kind of interstellar travel?
Do you understand the Martians?
Are their motivations peaceful?
I’ve been wondering: Is it still reasonable to rent a car in the U.S.?
Apparently, since early January 2025—and very quietly—the most important insurance coverage, namely the driver’s civil liability, has seen its coverage amount drop from $1 million to just $300,000. This coverage is supposed to protect us from damages we might be responsible for while driving. We can go decades without a single scrape (especially if it’s our fault), but anything can happen in a split second. A motorcycle appearing out of nowhere, a misjudgment at one of those huge intersections with staggered traffic lights, and suddenly we could be deemed at fault for the accident. We’d then have to pay out of pocket for the other party’s medical expenses. Given what hospitals charge... it can easily exceed $300,000 and turn into a nightmare in no time!!! Plus, anyone who’s driven on American roads has seen those billboards for lawyers offering their services to accident victims. So on top of the sky-high medical bill, the lawyer will demand compensation worthy of a Hollywood movie!!!! So, is it even worth getting behind the wheel in America anymore? Well... that’s just my take! And on top of that, I haven’t found any insurance company that offers such high civil liability coverage. Chapka and others do offer coverage in the millions, but motor vehicles are excluded.... So here’s the thing... Unless I’ve "missed something," I’ve come to this conclusion: Renting a car in the U.S. is like playing Russian roulette! But maybe I’m being too pessimistic? What do you think?
My two bullfighting traditions when I'm back home in Camargue (France) and in Colombia (Caribbean) every time I return. 🤠
Details:
Bullfights (corridas) aren’t part of my two bullfighting traditions, but I respect those who attend them!!!
In these two ancestral bullfighting traditions—which aren’t bullfights—the Bulls and Toros aren’t killed or tortured, as some might think.
These are bull games where the animals return to their pastures afterward and only come back to the Arenas 2–3 times a year at most.
They spend 15 minutes in the ring for the Camarguais and 5 minutes for the Toros in the Colombian Corralejas.
They’re cared for and pampered. They’ll die of old age in miles of open fields.
The young people who face them are professionals, risking their lives to support their families and live their Passion for the Toro!!! 😄
https://youtu.be/yYKQer42HoQ
Colombian Corraleja in the link below (hope it works) 🤪
https://fb.watch/BMfmuCgQpG/
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