Hi, I’m not sure if this belongs here.
The videos aren’t mine—they’re from a YouTuber.
I find his trip mind-blowing and totally different from what we see on TV!
So far, two 1-hour-12-minute videos have been released, but there’ll be at least one more!
Some French journalists and politicians have been tearing him apart lately. At the same time, the guy put in insane work without any funding...
Personally, I’m really impressed by what he’s done...
Here are the links.
Sorry if this feels like an ad, but I genuinely think his trip is great—and most importantly, judgment-free.
The only other thing I’d seen from him was his trip to Transnistria.
Hey, just two quick questions: how many women do you see him chatting freely with? And how many women do you see in the streets?
I only skimmed one of the videos—his trip is definitely super interesting, but saying he’s judgment-free isn’t true. Staying neutral in certain situations *is* taking a stance.
This is as old as *Persian Letters*.
Wisdom—certain wisdom—paired with an awareness of cultural relativity, suggests that staying neutral and impartial, accepting others for who they are, is good practice.
The viewer can judge if they want, but they owe that privilege to the videographer’s neutrality.
Staying neutral while visiting Afghanistan, expecting the same neutrality in return, also means understanding that our values aren’t universal.
]Hey, just two simple questions: how many women do you see him freely talking to? How many women do you see in the streets?
I only skimmed one of the videos—his trip is definitely interesting, no doubt, but saying he’s judgment-free isn’t true. Staying neutral in certain situations is already taking a stance.
Well, you actually have to *watch* it, not just skim.
He explains why he can’t talk to women... he asks the Taliban those questions instead.
That said, he does talk to young girls and even an adult woman who’s a dentist in her office.
Otherwise, I thought they were all covered in full burqas, not just wearing a simple headscarf.
So you think it's normal that he can't talk to half the population just because they're women?
If everyone in Afghanistan shared the Taliban's ideas, there wouldn’t have been any problem—they would’ve been in power forever.
We shouldn’t forget that after the Soviets withdrew, there was a battle for Kabul between different movements, including the People’s Mujahideen, who "won."
The Taliban then arrived from Pakistan to fight the Mujahideen led by Massoud.
Hello
I’m sure you, the adventurous one, would be warmly welcomed by Putin. Why not go and do a little report for us? 😉
Hey, I don’t like the cold, and I’ve already had my fill of war zones—I never make videos either. Plus, with my Latin culture, I’ve got zero interest in going there.
That said, I just quickly watched one of Tibi Jones’ two videos, and there’s a little white lie when he says he’s traveling with a guy who runs a travel agency in Afghanistan. In reality, he’s riding in an unmarked police car (or "cops’ car" for the purists) 😂
Hi there!
I’m sure you, the adventurous traveler, would be warmly welcomed by Putin. Why not go and do a little report for us? 😉
Hey, I’m not a fan of the cold, and I’ve already had my fill of war zones. Plus, I never make videos. Also, being from a Latin culture, I have zero interest in going there.
I did notice, though, that in one of the two videos by Tibi Jones I just skimmed, there’s a little white lie when he says he’s accompanied by a guy running a travel agency in Afghanistan. In reality, he’s traveling in a cop car (or "flics" for the purists) 😄
Yeah, the guy with him organizes trips to Afghanistan.
And yeah, he’s in a Taliban police 4x4—so what?
The guy’s him if you have doubts...
Asadullah - YouTube
Too bad that a country that doesn’t live like you do is automatically a "bad" country.
The Soviets, British, US, and other NATO folks went there uninvited, after all...
If you watch the two videos without skimming, it might change your perspective.
But when you’re lobotomized by our journalists, I guess it’s inevitable.
I didn’t want to start a debate—just show a different side of the country than what we’re always shown...
Edit:
Meanwhile, in France, we live in a country where prostitution doesn’t seem to shock anyone... A country where a woman who files multiple complaints against her violent husband will end up dead if he wants her to...
A country with daily rapes and sexual assaults... Sure, we’ve got lessons to teach!
In a country where guys do drugs in front of schools and sell their crap on every street corner... yeah, we’ve definitely got lessons to give!
Then in a country where you can steal with almost total impunity or wait five years for a trial...
We should really be giving them lessons!
The country is what it is.
But at least if something of mine gets stolen, there’s justice behind it!
But when you’ve got prejudices and a 100% Western mindset...
When you see everything they eat—let alone the prices... No processed products, 100% natural...
In France, you buy organic and still end up with who-knows-how-many dangerous additives inside.
Hey there,
I’m sure you, the adventurous traveler, would be warmly welcomed by Putin. Why not go there and do a little report for us? 😉
Hi, I don’t like the cold, I’ve already been to war zones, and I never make videos. Plus, being from a Latin culture, I have zero interest in going there.
I did notice, though, in one of Tibi Jones’ videos that I just skimmed, a little white lie when he says he’s accompanied by a guy who runs a travel agency in Afghanistan—he’s actually traveling in a cop car (or "flics" for the purists) 😄
Yeah, the guy with him organizes trips to Afghanistan.
And yeah, he’s in a Taliban police 4x4, so what?
That guy is him if you have any doubts...
Asadullah - YouTube
Too bad that a country that doesn’t live like you is automatically a "bad" country.
The Soviets, the British, the US, and other NATO countries went there without being invited, but whatever...
If you watch both videos without skimming, it might change your perspective.
But when you’re lobotomized by our journalists, of course.
I didn’t want to start a debate, just show a different side of this country than what we’re always shown...
Edit:
Meanwhile, in France, we live in a country where prostitution doesn’t seem to shock anyone... A country where a woman filing multiple complaints against her violent husband will end up dead if he wants her to...
A country with multiple daily rapes and sexual assaults... Sure, we’ve got lessons to teach!
In a country where guys do drugs in front of schools and sell their crap on every street corner... yeah, we’ve definitely got lessons to give!
Then in a country where you can steal with almost total impunity or wait 5 years for a trial...
We should definitely be giving them lessons!
This country is what it is.
But at least if something of mine gets stolen, there’s justice behind it!
But when you’ve got prejudices and a 100% Western mindset...
When you see everything they eat, not to mention the prices... No processed products, 100% natural...
In France, you buy organic and still end up with who knows how many dangerous ingredients inside.
Hey.
First off, tone it down a bit 😄 and tell me when exactly I said this country was bad?? Thanks for looking carefully, because I absolutely don’t think that—I don’t know this country at all.
And personally, the burka would be handy on days when I’ve got four errands to run (and can’t be bothered to do my long hair) 😄
It's a shame that a country that doesn't live like you is automatically considered a "bad" country.
Soviet, British, US, and other NATO forces went there without being invited, after all...
If you watch the two videos without skimming through them, it might change your perspective.
But when you're lobotomized by our journalists, of course.
I didn’t want to start a debate—just to show a different side of this country than what we’re always shown...
Edit:
Meanwhile, in France, we live in a country where prostitution doesn’t seem to shock anyone... A country where a woman who files multiple complaints against her violent husband will end up dead if he wishes it...
A country with countless daily rapes and sexual assaults... Sure, we’ve got lessons to teach!
In a country where guys do drugs in front of schools and sell their crap on every street corner... we’ve definitely got lessons to give, right!
Then in a country where you can steal with almost total impunity or be judged five years later...
We should really be giving them lessons!
This country is what it is.
But at least if something of mine gets stolen, there’s justice behind it!
But when you’ve got prejudices and a 100% Western mentality...
When you see everything they eat—let alone the prices... No processed products, 100% natural...
In France, you buy organic and still end up with who-knows-how-many dangerous chemicals inside.
So, all those tens of thousands of Afghans who fled their country for France are idiots—they left paradise to come to hell. You’ll be the first to do the opposite, bravo 👏👏👏
Anyway, since Afghanistan interests some people, feel free to check out the videos on YT by this German cyclist @MaxRoving
So Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia too—it's hell?
No, because we can't just talk about the tens of thousands who fled to us... 🙂
Besides, working in Qatar for the thousands and thousands of Bangladeshis who left their country shows that Qatar is paradise for these workers!
Anyway, this was my last message—I see that showing another side of this country bothers people.
The fact that a few students with limited means managed to repel invaders like the USSR, the US, France, and others personally fascinates me, I’ll admit. It must skew the image I have of them.
While also fighting against Daesh and other terrorist groups.
A bit like the Chechens.
Good luck to all of you—I’ll read the replies, but I won’t respond.
The fact that some students with limited means are pushed back by invaders like the USSR, US, France, and others fascinates me a bit, I must admit. It must skew the image I have of them.
While fighting against Daesh and other terrorist groups.
A bit like the Chechens.
Actually, your thing is raw, violent guys who lock up their women and deny education to their daughters. A strange concept... but they eat 100% natural 😂😂
Good evening,
It takes a good dose of ignorance to dare say that the Taliban regime is preferable to France’s!
We won’t hold it against you, though...
For your info, I spent about fifteen days crossing Afghanistan in 1972 on my way to India and then Nepal. This was before the Soviet invasion...
I really liked the country for what I saw of it because the change of scenery was total. As a man, I was well received everywhere and even invited twice. That doesn’t mean I would’ve wanted to spend my life there. I think in terms of freedoms, the country, like Iran, has regressed considerably. Right now, I wouldn’t want to go back...
PS: They eat 100% natural! I love it!
As for weed, at least in France, we can’t hold a candle to them... unless the Taliban have brought some order to daily consumption 😄
He did an insane amount of work without any grants??
Your take on this guy I’ve been following for a while seems a little naive, no?
In all his videos, he really highlights the food in every country (here he’s invited for free and his meals cost around 3 €).
1,500,000 views in 14 days and over 500,000 subscribers to his channel.
He’s raking it in (and you’d want him to get grants?) 😄
To me, these are naive but enjoyable videos—some make me want to travel (but saying he’s doing an insane amount of work is a stretch).
There’s a proverb that says, "Hurry to understand before you judge."
Afghan society is very conservative when it comes to its traditions, which can often shock Westerners.
We can’t expect a deeply regressive, tribal, and theocratic society to transform into a modern one overnight, can we?
It’s a more complex society than it seems, and liberalizing it takes time.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
I haven’t watched those two videos yet, but the very critical comments in the Western style above already make me want to watch them with my mind wide open to the world, and avoid retreating into my own cultural references.
Thanks in advance.
It’s a more complex society than it appears, and so it takes time to make it more liberal.
Just stating it that way betrays a certain ethnocentrism.
We always assume that the course of history follows the path we took in the West—but really, what do we know?
It seems to me that the criticism here isn’t about Afghan society and its age-old traditions, but rather about a particular politico-religious regime that maintains itself by force—one that’s responsible for stalling the country’s progress and causing a massive exodus of its people.
If I may dare a comparison, during World War II, our country, led by a certain marshal, wasn’t exactly representative of the France of human rights or its motto *Liberty, Equality, Fraternity*. Criticizing such a regime doesn’t necessarily mean attacking French society or Western traditions.
If we dare to draw a comparison, during the Second World War, our country led by a certain marshal wasn’t exactly representative of France’s human rights or its motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."
I don’t know how you can make such a connection.
Countries like Afghanistan and Iran took the path they did mainly in reaction to Western and American influence during the 1950s–80s, which had disrupted their traditions and identities.
Regarding that motto, there’s a lot to say and many misunderstandings: the "liberty" in question is anything but individual freedom, "equality" is a rough compromise between egalitarianism and fairness, and as for "fraternity," I admit I’ve never quite understood what it clearly means.
The whole thing remains pretty unclear.
Countries like Afghanistan and Iran took their own path mainly in reaction to Western and American influence during the 1950s-80s, which had disrupted their traditions and identities.
Afghans, like Iranians, aren’t a monolith.
The tradition and identity of one group...
And another group thought they could use that group to gain power against a third group.
Bad strategy.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
If you watch the two videos without skimming through them, it would change your perspective.
But when we’re lobotomized by our journalists, of course.
I didn’t want to start a debate, just show this country differently from how it’s portrayed everywhere...
Edit:
After all, in France, we live in a country where prostitution doesn’t seem to shock anyone... A country where a woman filing multiple complaints against her violent husband will end up dead if he wishes...
A country with multiple daily rapes and sexual assaults... Sure, we’ve got lessons to give!
Hey, you refuse the debate and you only want to show this country through what Tibi Jones wanted to show you (and the Taliban only showed him what they wanted him to see, not the rest). I watched both of Tibi Jones’ videos and the two by the German guy in full. Apart from a few unfortunate trees, all I saw were rocks. To each their own if you like rocks
Do you even know that little girls are sold for a dowry paid upfront for an upcoming marriage at the age of 6 months? Do you know that other girls are forced to marry old men at the age of 6? And they have kids so they can work for free for them long before they turn 6 (they say it themselves in the video).
Sure, we’re all lobotomized by journalists as you say, even if some tell the truth about this country, especially regarding women, girls, and young children.
But you—aren’t you lobotomized?
Apparently, prostitution in France shocks you. What do you know about the lives of these girls who rent out their bodies? Nothing! I first thought you were a kid because you’re so naive, until I saw in your other posts that you’re married and probably a certain age.
So okay, you’ve decided not to reply after spouting your nonsense. Too bad, because it’s also through exchanges that we sometimes change our minds (but changing your mind, you clearly don’t want to, probably out of pride).
I wasn’t even 12 years old when I was forced into prostitution until I was 15, and I don’t make a drama out of it compared to these Afghan girls forced into marriage at 6 (this country you like so much).
So keep deluding yourself with doctored videos (yes, doctored because they were seen by the Taliban before he left the country with their permission)—that was their deal, for sure (and you’re the naive one).
The Taliban will fall one day, just like the mullahs and the current gods.
But when?
You see them falling from the balcony of a Western universalist ideology that is, even if it hasn’t realized it yet, in deep trouble today.
The world of tomorrow is being built elsewhere, on different foundations, and when the Taliban or mullahs you rightly despise fall, it might well be into another pocket—especially Iran.
Afghanistan and Iran actually have very little in common.
I must say I find your analysis rather naive and very France-centered.
Of course, the official ideology in France is that, but you’re reading it as destiny when it’s really just a catechism.
Your upcoming trip to Kazakhstan might enlighten you—provided, of course, it’s not just the usual backpacker circus tour. I hope we can discuss it further when the time comes.
if they end up with Putin, the circle will be complete...😇
After that, I get the feeling that many peoples don’t like being independent.
We’re still heading toward a new and different polarization of the world, and the bloc that’s slipping away from us—China, Russia, more or less India, Iran, certain South American states, possibly the entire sphere of influence around Turkey—is gaining momentum against an aging and sluggish Europe.
I don’t see any substantial difference in terms of independence.
You’ll realize it in Kazakhstan; in that country, as a Frenchwoman carrying the values you so proudly display, you’re nothing at all—those values aren’t envied or even appreciated. That doesn’t mean you can’t travel there, but keep a low profile.
"with a low profile" is still worrying—it means you’ve gotta keep your head down.
You’re discouraging. Might as well stay home. That’s what I’m gathering between the lines.
"with a low profile" is still worrying—it means you have to keep a low profile.
You’re so discouraging. Might as well stay home. That’s what I gather if I read between the lines.
I’m not talking about keeping a low profile, but about being aware that the values we naively display as universal aren’t always appreciated.
The first taxi driver you come across will make it clear—if you manage to communicate—that "Republican values," the universalism of human rights, and EU-style progressivism aren’t his concern.
He’ll look at you with more pity than envy, actually.
I really wonder what the point would be in having that kind of discussion with a taxi driver—I’d just ask him to drop me off at my address, that’s it. Sure, there’d be a language barrier, so no conversation at all.
You know, if he looks at me with pity because I’m from a certain culture, it wouldn’t bother me. It’d take a lot more to make me feel put down.
Thank you for sharing this.
I haven’t watched these two videos yet, but the very critical comments in the typical Western style above already make me want to watch them with my mind wide open to the world, and without clinging to my own cultural references.
Thanks in advance.
Murielle
don’t worry, you won’t see women being extremely oppressed in these videos.
No more than babies sold at 6 months old for money.
Or little girls married off at 5 to old pigs, all for money (you won’t see that in these videos either).
But of course, these are just Western inventions
I really wonder what the point would be in having this kind of discussion with a taxi driver
But talking to taxi drivers is a major piece in understanding a country... 🙂
Typically, the driver will ask where you're from, and there’ll be a reaction—on their face, and sometimes a comment.
A comment about the country...
In Egypt, 20 years ago, we didn’t even pay for the ride because the praise for Chirac was so glowing.
I’ve had drivers in Kazakhstan and other "stans" who’ve given me a disapproving look—something like, "It’s probably a beautiful country, but what you’re doing isn’t right"—usually referring to things like wearing a veil or same-sex marriage.
These things just don’t "go over well" in a huge part of the world.
You know, if he looks at me with pity because I’m from a certain culture, it wouldn’t bother me—I’d need a lot more to feel put down.
No, but it still delivers a pretty hard reality check to universalist pretensions.
If you had followed the discussion about my trip to the Stans to the end, you’d know I decided to focus solely on Kyrgyzstan...
What I’m explaining is the same thing.
Besides, I really like that look of perplexity that lights up in people’s eyes when they discover there’s a world different from theirs.
They’re not discovering anything at all—your world, they know it, they just don’t care about it, except for a certain elite steeped in luxury and trends; and even then.
I don’t know if the Kazakhs would be thrilled to learn you consider them dangerous...
They couldn’t care less; once again, you’re making it all about yourself.
The Stans trade and interact heavily with China, are within Turkey’s sphere of influence, and are populated by Russian speakers.
Their interests lie elsewhere.
You’ll realize it in Kazakhstan; in that country, as a Frenchwoman embodying the values you flaunt so much, you’re nothing at all—those values aren’t envied or even appreciated. That doesn’t mean you can’t travel there, but you’ll need to keep a low profile.
😂😂😂 My God, what nonsense—better to laugh about it 😂😂😂
I’ve been to Kazakhstan several times, from west to east and north to south, by train, bus, or other means, and I’ve never kept a low profile. I’ve never even felt like I *had* to. The people are friendly, welcoming, and curious. Young people there are way more interested in going to Europe or the U.S. than to your trendy countries. China, maybe, but your beloved Putin’s Russia? No way 🙃
This thread brought out the usual Westerners who think everything’s better outside the West. We’re having a good laugh—keep it coming!
It reminds me of another thread about Iran where the same people were saying it was safer than Paris and that you should go there with your eyes closed, ignoring the French Foreign Ministry’s advice. Two months later, war broke out. Three months later, the poor French-German cyclist who also ignored the Ministry’s warnings was arrested.
Young people are far more eager to go to Europe or the United States than to your trendy countries. China, maybe, but they definitely don’t want anything to do with your beloved Putin’s Russia 🤷♂️
I’ve never met a Kazakh who had the slightest interest in Europe.
As I mentioned earlier, if you hang out with a small fashion elite, you might hear that, but it’s just for show—definitely not for the values or culture.
SCAT Airlines is starting to open flights to Europe; I think they’ve chosen Budapest, Belgrade, and Prague.
This topic brought out the usual Westerners who think everything’s better outside the West. We’re having a good laugh—keep it up!
No, that wasn’t the point.
For the U.S., though, you’re right—it’s the first question they ask. They really look up to the States.
Still these knee-jerk responses without thinking... feels like we're in a primary school playground.
I did indeed call you out on how you address users here. As a fellow user on this forum who reads your (public) messages, I feel entitled to share my opinion on how you talk to us.
I’ve never told you how to behave in your private life (like how to watch a documentary, for example).
I don’t think you’ve grasped yet that we don’t interact on this site the way we do on FB, where disrespect has no limits. It almost seems like you’re really testing how far you can push disrespect toward your fellow forum members.
Speak for yourself and stop saying "we" as if you're speaking for everyone else!!!
And if there’s any disrespect on my part, it’s always in response to disrespect toward me.
I’ve only been here for 2 months, and every time someone’s come at me, I’ve just responded in the same tone.
It’s not up to you or anyone else to decide how we should talk on a forum versus a social network.
I was recently the admin and moderator of a large group with a lot of members, so I don’t need lessons from you about how to communicate!!!
Some young people who came from a "stan" country
I met some in Bulgaria, Europe, so they were there for professional reasons, and they weren’t snubbing customers from countries with a Western mentality at all.
So your generalizations are way off base.
Speak for yourself and stop saying "we" as if you're speaking for everyone else!!!
And if there’s any disrespect on my part, it’s always in response to disrespect toward me.
I’ve only been here for 2 months, and every time someone’s come at me, I’ve just responded in kind.
It’s not up to you or anyone else to decide how we should talk on a forum versus a social network.
I was recently the admin and moderator of a large group with a lot of members, so I don’t need lessons from you about how to communicate!!!
I’m speaking strictly for myself.
I say "we" when I’m talking about all the users on this forum. I’m not here alone with you, am I...
Everyone here is subject to the terms of use—I don’t make the rules.
We know you were an amazing admin on a Facebook group, with tons of people who adored and admired you. A victim of your own success, you closed the group.
I’m done responding to your messages—it’s hopelessly pointless.
No problem, I’m not forcing you to believe me.
It’s funny you brought up Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is an EU country, but when it comes to values, morals, and culture, it’s closer to Kazakhstan than to proud France and its universalism.
There are actually quite a few similarities between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan—strong Turkish influence, Orthodoxy, straddling the Slavic and Ottoman worlds.
That was before I got kicked out 😂 (so I’ve only been here for 2 months), and some of the stuff here reminds me of what my hairdresser told me the day before yesterday: "Back in the day, psychiatrists treated women’s hysteria by masturbating them"—and it worked really well, even if those poor docs must’ve been exhausted by the end of the day 😂.
Anyway, thanks to you, the concierge 🧚, for that link to my old username—I’d totally forgotten about it.
Some of you here can check my old posts and see that when people aren’t getting on my nerves, I’m actually super chill 😂.
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.
A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
