La mama est alitée depuis plus de quatre mois.
Étendue sur son lit, elle ne bouge pas.
Il y a deux semaines, se sentant mourir,
elle a demandé la présence de toute sa famille. Tous sont venus la voir.
Hier, une invitation a été lancée pour une cérémonie religieuse.
Ses quatre fils, ses deux filles, les gendres, les brus, les neveux, les nièces,
les petits-enfants, tous étaient là. Une vingtaine de personnes.
Assis par terre ou agenouillés au pied du lit de la mama, ils ont fait une prière à haute voix.
Puis, chacun, à tour de rôle, est venu laver les pieds de la mama.
Avec une petite louche, on verse de l’eau sur ses pieds tout en les massant légèrement.
J’avoue que j’étais très ému quand j’ai posé le geste.
Cela me rappelait la cérémonie du lavement des pieds
que le Pape fait une fois par année, le Jeudi saint.
Cette cérémonie se rapproche du sacrement de l’extrême-onction, pratiqué autrefois.
La nièce m’expliquait que cette coutume avait pour but de donner un regain de vie à la mama
ou bien de lui donner un coup de pouce pour le grand départ.
Tout le long de la cérémonie, la mama avait les mains jointes comme dans une prière.
Elle était bien consciente.
Au départ, quand je l’ai saluée, elle m’a fait un grand sourire.
Je lui rends visite tous les jours. On s’aime bien tous les deux.
Je marche si souvent dans les rues de Bangkok
Que mes pauvres pieds sont couverts de cloques
Et comme je dis tout le temps sawadee krap
Même ma douce langue petit à petit se rape
Ecoute mon frère
Ecoute ma prière
Je sors du ghetto
Et c'est pas rigolo
Heureusement je vais à Koh Phagan
Où mes palmes me vont comme un gant
Puis je me la joue à Phuket
Où sur la chicha je tète
« 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
Intéressant, culturellement parlant. Selon mes sources, cette cérémonie serait plutôt locale (Nord? Extrême Nord-Est?) car par exemple dans l'Issan que je fréquente, on lave les pieds des personnes âgées alitées simplement parce qu'elles ne peuvent plus le faire elles-mêmes.
Et "mama" est plutôt utilisé dans les familles sino-thaïs (je n'évoque pas les "mama-sans").
Le geste se retrouve aussi avant un mariage traditionnel: laver les pieds des futurs conjoints leur garantirait un mariage heureux.
C'est aussi en référence à la croyance que les pieds sont les moins nobles parties du corps: le "laveur" se trouve alors en position d'humilité et de respect par rapport au "lavé".
Dans le même ordre d'idée, tendre son pied vers une personne ne se fait pas ( a fortiori si c'est un moine), ni l'enjamber.
intéressant, culturellement parlant.
Selon mes sources, cette cérémonie serait plutôt locale (Nord? Extrême Nord-Est?) car par exemple dans l'Issan que je fréquente,
on lave les pieds des personnes âgées alitées simplement parce qu'elles ne peuvent plus le faire elles-mêmes.
Je m’étais promis de ne plus intervenir,
Mais le sujet est fortement intéressant culturellement et humainement pour les lecteurs
Et pour répondre a vos interrogations
Il s'agit d'une cérémonie (assez courante chez les bouddhistes) de purification et d'accompagnement de la part de la famille
Et il me fait remonter des émotions
J'en avait fait un billet sur mon blog en hommage a mon beau-père
Un homme juste ( Mars 2012)
En 6 ans je ne t’ai jamais entendu dire une parole blessante ni méchante sur qui que ce soit,
Tu as toujours eu un regard doux, avec l’impression de ne pas être concerné par toutes les horreurs de ce monde.
Tu savais depuis quelques mois que tes jours étaient comptés et, malgré cela tu n’as pas changé d’une virgule,
La seule fois où je t’ai vu craquer (pas le seul d’ailleurs) c’est le 20 mars,
Quand tu as reçu la visite de ta sœur et ta nièce qui habitent Chonburi.
3 ans que vous ne vous étiez vu.
Toi, eux, nous, savions que c’était votre dernière rencontre,
A la fin de la cérémonie de purification, tu t’es tourné et, pour la 1° fois que je te connais,
j’ai vu tes épaules secouées par les sanglots.
Mise a jour après son départ:
Tu as toujours eu aussi des traits d’humour que j’appréciais,
Mais là j’avoue que tu as fait fort de décider de me (nous) quitter le jour de mon anniversaire.
youtu.be/k24Nw6dxxT4
C'est aussi en référence à la croyance que les pieds sont les moins nobles parties du corps:
le "laveur" se trouve alors en position d'humilité et de respect par rapport au "lavé"
C'est en effet une partie très émouvante du rituel
On en ressort + humble, et resserre les liens du farang avec sa belle-famille
Et la vie continue avec ses mariages, ses naissances et fêtes diverses
Pourrait-on préciser les lieux (provinces) où ces cérémonies se déroulent?
Digression. Contrairement à ce que semble souvent constater le touriste de passage (quoique ça puisse concerner aussi les expatriés que la culture locale intéresse peu), ce pays recèle de fortes disparités régionales. Voire "ethniques".
Bien évidemment, il existe un "terreau" commun (je conseille toujours de lire en 1er lieu l'ouvrage "Ces liens qui unissent les Thaïs", de Mme Pornpimol Senawong, ce sera parfois plus "utile" qu'un guide de voyage) mais par exemple, les individus ont des origines beaucoup plus mélangées qu'on ne le pense. De nombreux Thaïs ont des racines très diverses, Viet, Khmer, Birmane, Malaisienne, voire plus loin. Que les morphotypes se rejoignent souvent les fait apparaître comme très homogènes(*). Or, ce n'est pas le cas.
Ce qui agit sur les croyances, les modes de vie, la cuisine, les relations, les langues locales (ces dernières fortement implantées dans le Nord-Est, à comparer par exemple à la langue bretonne en France).
Entre un Sino-thaï de la HISO bangkokiane et un Issanais petit planteur de riz, les disparités sont parfois surprenantes. A commencer par leurs petits déjeuners.🙂
(*) et inversement, je ne connais pas de Thaï arrivant à Paris pour la 1ère fois qui ne s'exclame sur la grande hétérogénéité physique de ses habitants.
Merci de cette précision.
Ca me rappelle aussi les derniers mois du grand-père de ma compagne. Je l'avais vu sur Skype quelques mois plus tôt, en pleurs, refusant sa fin proche.
Lorsque je vins le voir quelques mois plus tard, il souriait, de ce petit sourire triste qui accompagne l'acceptation de l'inéluctable.
Il avait alors tenu à ce que je le prenne en photo, en famille. Chez lui. Une grande maison en bordure des rizières.
N'étant déjà plus qu'un sac d'os, j'avais craint qu'il ne se brise en mille morceaux quand je le pris dans mes bras pour le rasseoir sur sa couche.
Une bonne chose, c'est que dans les petits villages de l'Issan, on meurt souvent parmi ses proches.
Pas sur un lit d'hôpital ou dans un mouroir, en compagnie d'étrangers en blouse blanche, certes dévoués, mais pour lesquels vous ne faites que passer.
Et pour ceux qui liraient ces lignes, ou celles de Tanakhon, ou celles de Tokara, et les trouveraient larmoyantes, voire indécentes, n'oubliez pas ce qu'est la mort pour un Bouddhiste. Un passage.
A la crémation, on mange des glaces, on allume des feux d'artifice, et une sono tonitruante déverse des kilowatts pendant que les pétards accompagnent le corbillard.
Tout le monde a de la peine, mais la mort, ici, c'est aussi la vie.
Même si désormais la veuve trouve sa grande maison bien trop vide, et bien trop grande.
Mais le sujet est fortement intéressant culturellement et humainement pour les lecteurs
Siamlife :
Et pour ceux qui liraient ces lignes, ou celles de Tanakhon, ou celles de Tokara, et les trouveraient larmoyantes, voire indécentes, n'oubliez pas ce qu'est la mort pour un Bouddhiste. Un passage.
Merci, messieurs, pour cet échange très interessant.
C'est enrichissant de connaitre les nuances des ceremonies de purification à travers chaque pays de l'ASE.
Une autre anecdote, avec un autre sourire: la grand-mère de ma compagne (l'autre, du côté maternel) a dans les 84 ans. Elle continue de tisser sur son métier, et sans lunettes. Je ne sais pas si vous vous êtes approché d'un métier à tisser, mais je n'arrive pas à distinguer les uns des autres les centaines de fils noirs qui en forment la trame.
Quand le soleil commence à descendre, les ombres s'étendent, la chaleur devient un peu moins accablante. Les enfants sont rentrés de l'école, suivis par les paysans qui ont quitté les champs.
C'est le moment où nous nous réunissons, sous l'auvent de sa maison, située à 200 mètres des rizières.
La grand-mère sourit, et raconte:
"Cet après-midi, je suis partie à la rizière pour aider, mais au moment de revenir, je ne me rappelais plus le chemin pour retourner chez moi".
Elle se met à rire, et tout le monde rit avec elle.
Petits instants charmants.🙂
Une autre anecdote, avec un autre sourire: la grand-mère de ma compagne (l'autre, du côté maternel) a dans les 84 ans. Elle continue de tisser sur son métier, et sans lunettes. Je ne sais pas si vous vous êtes approché d'un métier à tisser, mais je n'arrive pas à distinguer les uns des autres les centaines de fils noirs qui en forment la trame
Un point commun
Ma "belle mama", n'y voit presque plus mais se fait un point d'honneur a faire les nouvelles rabanes pour toute la famille
e ne sais pas si vous vous êtes approché d'un métier à tisser, mais je n'arrive pas à distinguer les uns des autres les centaines de fils noirs qui en forment la trame
Moins de fils mais tout aussi contraignant pour la vue
surtout pour le rognage des bordures, (photo) et, visible en fin de vidéo
j'ai passé 8 heures sous le sala, à regarder la confection d'un tapis, fascinant !
Et bien pour moi ces 8 heures ont durées le temps de la vidéo: 10 minutes
pour les curieux, visible ici:
Issan: La théorie de la relativité du temps confirmée:
voyageurasie-soleillevant.blogspot.com/...a-the...
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.
Hi everyone, fellow travelers!
I’m looking for anyone who’s in Kyoto or planning to visit Nishiki Market! Here’s the thing: during our trip there in April, we discovered a jewelry artisan (highly recommended!) on the left when exiting through the west exit of Nishiki Market (which is a long covered east-west street). I bought a piece of jewelry for my daughter there, but she lost it. I’d love to buy her another one! In the photo, it’s the shop with the yellow awning to the right of the restaurant with the blue awning, "Sushi Sakai." Would any kind soul be willing to get the shop’s name, email, or phone number for me? Despite my Google/AI searches, it’s nowhere to be found. A thousand thanks to whoever can help me out! Wishing you all great vacations!
Sabrina
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
Regarding the amount of tobacco you can buy during a trip in the European Union and bring back to France, we can't really talk about a "duty-free allowance," because the rules around how much tobacco you can bring back to France aren't straightforward at all under French law.
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.
Hi everyone, fellow travelers!
I’m looking for anyone who’s in Kyoto or planning to visit Nishiki Market! Here’s the thing: during our trip there in April, we discovered a jewelry artisan (highly recommended!) on the left when exiting through the west exit of Nishiki Market (which is a long covered east-west street). I bought a piece of jewelry for my daughter there, but she lost it. I’d love to buy her another one! In the photo, it’s the shop with the yellow awning to the right of the restaurant with the blue awning, "Sushi Sakai." Would any kind soul be willing to get the shop’s name, email, or phone number for me? Despite my Google/AI searches, it’s nowhere to be found. A thousand thanks to whoever can help me out! Wishing you all great vacations!
Sabrina
