Je voulais avoir des avis sur le fait de voyager à l'étranger, en ne maitrisant ni la langue du pays, ni l'anglais.
Si des personnes ont voyagées en étant dans ces cas, ça me plairait qu'elles me parlent de leurs experiences et des galéres qu'elles ont pu rencontrer.
Merci par avance
Il me semble que le Routard vient de sortir un guide intitulé "G'Palémo", où il y a plein d'images que tu montre à tes interlocuteurs pour te faire comprendre. En tout cas le concept c'est de pouvoir communiquer sans rien connaître de la langue locale...
En plus en voyage ya pas beaucoup de phrase indispensable, et elles s'apprennent rapidement (sur place, en galérant au début)...
Tu pars ou? C'est l'occasion d'apprendre! Suivant ou tu pars tu peux aussi t'acheter l'assimil(l'anglais ou la langue du pays de destination) et le commencer 1 mois avant de partir, ainsi tu auras les bases et une fois sur place tu sauras certainement tres motivé a intensifier l'apprentissage!
😉je suis dans le même cas que toi.
j'ai appris l'Espagnol avec le livre l'Espagnol en 40 leçons, et çà a bien marché, je comprenais et parlais pour l'essentiel.
Devant aussi aller sur un bateau où on ne parlera que l'anglais durant quatre mois, pour un tour du monde, j'ai acheté le livre pocket, langue pour tous, 40 leçons pour parler Anglais, la méthode tout en un.
Génial je l'ai trouvé en librairie Charlemagne.
WWWpocket.fr
bonnes études, mais sûr, il faut s'y mettre, intéressant cer tu as surtout les dialogues et vie pratique.
Je dois dire qu'assez fainéant en ces jours d'été, je ne fais que survoler le livre.
Mais tout de même, je vais secouer ma flemme.
chiche, on fait un concours, celà va nous stimuler.
how are-you ou Watt do you do? comment allez vous.
Very well thank you.très bien merci.
Et à la fin du livre, tu as un petit dictionnaire de mots courants.
bon courage, pour toi, et pour moi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lLOL
Je suis entièrement d'accord, si on n'est pas anglophone ou qu'on ne connaît pas la langue locale, le voyage peut être très pénible.
C'est pour éviter tout problème de ce genre que je pars toujours en voyage organisé avec un guide francophone. Et ainsi je n'ai jamais eu de galère. Mais ce n'est pas du routard évidemment.
salut,
Merci pour tes conseils.En fait j'ai acheté un petit livre de la collection lonely planete:guide de conversation anglais, apparament il y aurait les bases avec la phonétique pour la prononciation, je vais me mettre à le potasser, j'espére que ce sera suffisant.
Salut,
je compte partir pour plusieurs mois en asie et plus particuliérement au Népal, j'y suis allé 2 fois, mais à chaque fois, j'étais avec des personnes maitrisant l'anglais.Là j'aimerais me débrouillé seul.Je vais faire en sorte d'avoir un minimum de base d'anglais, en me mettant à le bosser et pour le cas ou je me rende dans des vallées loin du tourisme où les locaux ne parleront pas l'anglais, bah, ça se fera façon débrouille(mime, dessin etc).
Il y a des millions de personnes qui parcourent le monde sans nécessairement parler la langue du cru. Elles sont la preuve vivante que c’est tout à fait possible de le faire sans devoir être " entre les mains " de TO et autres encadrements ou de devoir renoncer à son projet.
Pour l’anglais, même si je veux bien concéder que sa connaissance est un plus, il faut bien garder en tête qu’il y a aussi énormément de personnes qui ne le pratique pas.
En clair, c’est peut-être un plus de parler anglais mais si c’est pour vous retrouver face à un chinois, un kirghize ou un éthiopien qui ne le parle pas, vous n’êtes pas très avancé…
Le mime (parfois), le dessin, les gestes et le basique de la langue du pays (que l’on retrouve dans tous les guides papiers) sont amplement suffisants.
L’appréhension (justifiée) de certains se verrait atténuer s’ils osaient même une fois y aller par eux-mêmes.
Que l’on circule à Lille ou à Addis, en Syrie ou en Camargue, le principe est le même. Il n’y a pas de raisons objectives de renoncer à y aller alors que vous visitez bien des villes ou régions " inconnues " (même si c’est votre langue qui y est parlée !)
Il ne faut pas être McGyver ou Rambo pour voyager par soi-même.
Pour l’anglais, même si je veux bien concéder que sa connaissance est un plus, il faut bien garder en tête qu’il y a aussi énormément de personnes qui ne le pratique pas.
En clair, c’est peut-être un plus de parler anglais mais si c’est pour vous retrouver face à un chinois, un kirghize ou un éthiopien qui ne le parle pas, vous n’êtes pas très avancé…
C'est vrai. Mais si on se retrouve face à 50 chinois, 47 kirghizes, ou 39 éthiopiens, on aura peut être une chance de tomber sur quelqu'un qui a au moins des rudiments. Et avec des rudiments, on peut déjà débloquer certaines situations.
Vous avez raison pour la France (ou les pays occidentaux) mais la tolérance "hors Europe" pour les gens qui parlent "petit nègre" est bien plus grande que chez nous...
Michel
Tout à fait raison mais nous nous sommes déjà tous retrouvés dans une situation où l’on ne parle pas la même langue et nous avons " malgré tout réussi à nous tirer d’affaire "
Même si la " conversation " est à des années lumières d’une véritable discussion.
Sur le fond, c’est plutôt un problème d’oser le faire.
C’est du moins mon sentiment.
Ecoute, quand je suis allé en Grèce, Finlande, j'étais avec ma classe, mais mon niveau d'anglais est pire que nul. Et je ne parle ni le grec ni le finnois. Le truc tout bête, c'est de montrer ce que tu veux, et le faire comprendre et tu répéte. Exemple, en Finlande, j'ai commencé par demandé la phrase typique: Je m'appelle..., je t'avouerais que j'ai galèré pour leur faire comprendre. "Mina olen Arthuri". Et donc ensuite, je leur ai demandé, de décliner le verbe etre "olen"... A la fin du séjour, une semaine, je sais dire, non écrire, bonjours, au revoir, salut (language jeune), les chiffres jusqu'à 10, les jours de la semaine, à tes souhaits, merci, de rien, bonne nuit, décliner verbe "etre" et "avoir".
D'accord, je sais c'est naze, mais bon la famille était contente, et moi aussi.
Pour la grèce, j'avais un papire avec les mots standards, mais c'est toujours agréable, quand les habitants t'entendent dire, baragouiner quelques mots de leur langue, ils en sont fièrs, et te le font savoir. En grèce, par exemple, la femme du musée, à Ahtènes sur l'acropole, était sévère, stricte, et à chaque fois gueuler. Quand on lui a demandé ou était athéna le victorieuse (en grec: "pou iné aféna vikè"), elle a été plus calme, et a fait venir une collègue pour que je répéte, et à la fin de la visite, elles m'ont demandé si je l'avais trouvé... Sympa les grecques... ^^
Enfin, dans le guide vert... tu as qq mots standards, utilise les, et après voilà quoi, l'aventure... Et puis la vie se n'est pas que de l'organisation, des fois il faut aller de l'avant, et même si on se trompe, il n'y a rien de grave, car tu progresseras plus rapidement, qu'une personne qui ne dit rien.
Merci de m'avoir fait partager ton expérience, merci aussi à tout ceux qui ont répondus à mon message.Ma confiance en moi grandit au fil des réponses que je reçois.Bon pour cette année, je vais me contenter, de faire déjà un voyage tout seul façon routard dans un endroit ou on parle le français, c'est à dire la réunion.Mais je compte bien m'initier au créole, histoire de faire marrer les locaux.
Ensuite, je me préparerais un ptit périple en Asie pour 2009, en étant un maximum autonome au niveau de la langue.
moi perso cela ne ma jamais posé aucuns problemes 😎😎😎 et pourtant je ne pars jamais en voyages organisé et puis quoi encore lol, alors ne t'inquiete pas tu te feras toujours comprendre, bon c'st vrai par moment cela un peu long mais tu en rigoleras encore plus a la fin et au moins cela te fera un souvenir en plus 😉
si la musique est trop forte c'est que tu es trop vieux..
salute, je me suis plusieurs fois posé la même question que toi. Je me suis remis à l'anglais depuis peu grâce à une méthode orale que je te conseille fortement plutot qu'une écrite qui est a mon gout moins efficace car ont la laisse plus facilement tomber même avec de la bonne volonté.
Je t'en conseillerais 2, la méthode Pimsleur 30 leçons de 30 minutes et Harrap's.
Il suffit de s'imaginer un anglophone visitant la France et on voit tout de suite les galères dans lesquelles il pourrait se retrouver. 😉
Comment font donc les quelque 80 millions de touristes étrangers qui visitent la France tous les ans? Ils sont loin de tous parler français.
Un touriste étranger peut très bien se débrouiller en France avec l'anglais. Ce n'était peut-être pas vrai il y a 20 ans mais aujourd'hui la plupart des serveurs de cafés, par exemple, connaissent les mots de la profession et peuvent prendre une commande en anglais. Pareil pour les hôteliers et les autres professions du tourisme.
On en est même à ce que maintenant certains hôtels parisiens vous répondent spontanément en anglais au téléphone avant éventuellement de passer au français. Ca m'est arrivé deux fois récemment, et ce n'était pas des hôtels de luxe.
“I'm sure tourists would leave Somalia alive and I'm hopeful they wouldn't be kidnapped. At least, we would try to make sure they were not kidnapped, although it can happen.”
Somalia's minister of tourism Abdi Jimale Osman.
Je suis d'accord avec toi askar, mais tu vois, je trouve dommage, que l'on ne puisse pas se débrouiller ou "baragouiner" un petit mot par ci, par là dans la lanue du pays que l'on visite... L'anglais, oui est internationale, et il faut la maîtriser, mais cela fait toujours plaisirs que de dire ne serait ce un "hallo, hello, Hyvää Päivää, Kaliméra, Strazvitché, Buenos Dias, ..." dans le pays que l'on visite...
Salut
Tu a tout à fait raison.
Je ne parle aucune langue étrangère mais je me suis toujours débrouillé pour me faire comprendre.
Mon truc à moi : J'ai toujours un petit carnet, de quoi écrire et le sourire avec moi.
Un petit dessin et on se comprend.
Ecrire un mot ou le faire écrire aide à bien le saisir.
Aborder les gens avec le sourire et monter que l'on fait l'effort de comprendre, ils le feront aussi.
Michel
Je cherche la meilleure façon de faire des appels en voyage (à peu de frais). Je pars pour 6 mois et j'aimerais appeler au Canada environ 1 fois par semaine.…
Depuis 12 ans nous sommes clients THOMAS COOK par l'intermédiaire de "Cap 5" en FRANCE cette année nous sommes arrivés a la limite du supportable avec un…
Hello everyone! 🙂🙂,
A BIG thank you to all the travelers who sent us postcards this year—my students are becoming real geography whizzes!!!!!!!! I’m renewing my call for your kindness this year! We’re also working on food, so if your postcards can make our mouths water with local dishes, traditional meals, or typical recipes, that’d be amazing!!
Here’s a quick recap of the project:
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globetrotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse, working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m starting a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of the journal will focus on opening up to the world, diversity, travel, countries, culture...
I’m launching a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a little postcard (from France or anywhere in the world!) to take us on a journey and help us discover new places, countries, and horizons—much more fun and exciting than a regular geography textbook! One section of our journal could be called "We received mail from " and would be an opportunity to research that location and share what we learn with our readers (a super enriching activity in class).
The project starts in September 2025 but has no real end date, as this journal and world discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in my ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! (The kids will find them when they return.)
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow traveler friends. Make us dream, take us on a journey!!!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!!
Thank you in advance for your participation(s)! Below is our address. Feel free to leave your own address on a corner of the postcard if you’d like us to write back! 😊
The ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and see you soon, I hope! 😁
Julien
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
Densha Otaku - Lesser-Known Regions
Two weeks under the Puglia sun
Back to Swedish Lapland: Trekking the Kungsleden and Crossing Sarek
Off on a winter adventure in the American West!
3 weeks in Laos, stress-free
Draw Me Your Japan...
South Africa in safari mode: February/March 2026
Back in Tunisia (live account)
