Interesting take on this topic about "people who tell their travel stories...".
Your opinion is spot-on—it’s true that through these stories, we learn a lot about the traveler/teller’s interests and their way of traveling. The story reflects their perspective and, ultimately, their personality.
Good evening,
Oh, travel journals...
They really do reveal a lot about their authors—you're absolutely right!
No problem when they stay in the private sphere, but it's a different story on a public site like Voyage Forum. "Posting" your travel journal means publishing, and "publishing" means "public."
And in that regard, some (actually, most) of these travel journals are pretty staggering. I’m especially thinking of those that recount family trips with tons of photos of their kids...
The risks are the same as on social media. Isn’t Voyage Forum itself a genuine social network, after all?
And, no doubt, the motivations for flaunting one’s life like this are the same.
I read in the comments above how some users take satisfaction in counting the number of visits to their site, and it’s clear that many travel journal authors get a kick out of it too.
What’s more intoxicating (and illusory) than imagining yourself as one of the last explorers, believing you’re sharing your adventures with the whole world?
So when a VoyageForum member asks a question about a destination, the knee-jerk reaction of the "explorer" and author of the latest "bestseller" is to remind them about their travel journal with the perfect link—rather than simply answering the question.
And when another member starts sharing their own trip, they’ll jump in just as quickly to say, "Me too, I’ve been there!" ("Me, me, me... and check out my photos...")
This leads to bragging contests, especially about far-off or somewhat mythical destinations, where the pitiful side of it all completely escapes the participants.
But this isn’t new. Those who lived through the last century and the era of slide shows have all met (or been) those "great travelers" who thought photo labs were pirating their pictures...
Personally, of course, I keep travel journals. But only for myself or a close circle. And when I comment on a post, it’s usually either to provide info about places I know (knowing a place isn’t just having been there once...) or to get info about places I’m planning to discover—not to recount my own adventures.
Oh, one last thing: obviously, no one’s forcing anyone to read Tartempion’s travel journals. It’s like a ringing phone—no one’s obligated to pick up... and yet!
Don’t take this to mean I hate travel journals. I loved those by Chateaubriand, Jack London, Alexandra David-Néel, and more recently Nicolas Bouvier or Sylvain Tesson... to name just a few.
Maybe one day we’ll discover that a great travel writer was born on Voyage Forum, and I’ll have missed it.
I accept the criticism. It’s probably justified, and I’ll likely face a barrage of responses...
But I’d rather be seen this way than respond with bland, overly sweet comments like "thanks for sharing and those amazing photos"—stuff I’ve read too often at the end of poorly written travel journals, with no real interest and/or mediocre photos. If I did that, maybe I wouldn’t do any better. That’s another reason I hold back.
Still, I should mention: I *have* read some that were very well written and illustrated.
But honesty forces me to say they’re rare.
You can still read it. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available.
I saw it, thanks for the link. But what do you mean? It’s no longer... at all?
Is it no longer on VF? Where was it published (other than on a forum...)?
And you too, Cheechako, dear fellow traveler, why do you list that long litany of trips in your profile?
Isn’t that also a way of showing off?
You could’ve been less verbose—just saying you often visit our British neighbors, like I do, and that you know Alaska well since you go there regularly.
Why that list sprawling like trophies on a mantelpiece?
Aren’t we all, those of us who frequent these public forums, just sad (or happy) exhibitionists seeking, consciously or not, our fleeting moment of glory?
Is the travel journal, which has the big drawback of requiring a lot of work, the only way to achieve that?
Travel journals can be a valuable resource and are packed with useful information—I’ve used them many times without regret.
I’ve enjoyed reading many of them, and some have even inspired me to visit places I hadn’t considered, like Southern Africa, which I now struggle to leave.
Attila’s right—your comment is condescending.
But *yec'hed mad* anyway! 🙂
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
reply with soothing and terribly "sappy" comments
like thank you for sharing and those amazing photos
What can you do, the "École des Fans" of Jacques Martin shaped the childhood of many of us!😄
After that, I think the travel journals you prefer aren’t necessarily the ones I prefer or that... prefers.
And a travel journal might interest you at a specific time because you find information you were looking for, whereas you wouldn’t have even glanced at it another day.
None of these travel journals harm anyone, and even if some seem simplistic, repetitive, or poorly put together, is it really that big a deal?
If the only problem on Earth were VF travel journals, we’d be back in the Garden of Eden, so to speak.🙂
I don’t find Cheechako’s comments condescending—I find them realistic.
That said, it’s true there are worse things than VoyageForum travel journals...!😎
I encourage you all to read: "The Art of Boring People by Telling Your Travel Stories" by Matthias Debureaux
(a small book published in 2006 and unfortunately out of print; it was 6 € in 2006, and now sells for too much secondhand online...)
"Travel is mostly about annoying others once you’re back"😎
Sacha Guitry
I’m once again encouraging everyone to read: "The Art of Boring People by Talking About Your Travels" by Matthias Debureaux
Perfect book to start a fireplace 🙂.... sorry, I despise self-righteousness and snobbery...
This journalist is to travel what Éric Zemmour is to intellectual stupidity?
I welcome criticism—I haven’t read the book—but once again, I hate self-righteous books. It’s so typically French in mentality...
"Travel is mostly useful for annoying people once you’re back"😎
Sacha Guitry
Exactly! Everyone just stays in their corner—might as well become autistic! 😛
Everyone at home and no one talks anymore...
Then we’ll say we live in a society of individualists...
I suppose Mattias Debureaux would have been thrilled to have so many readers
I wasn’t specifically talking about the travel journal you recommend and that I don’t know (and I’ll check it out since you’re recommending it).
That said, on V.F., even the smallest discussions on topics like "Will it rain in three months in..., the week of...?" get hundreds of views and dozens of replies, so it makes sense to me that a quality travel journal would be just as successful—and that’s a good thing.
Still, I encourage you😎 to read Matthias Debureaux’s book, which, by the way, has had, I think, a respectable success, given how relevant and funny his writing is.
And while I’m at it, I’d like to say—but to all the forum participants, not just you—that more and more often, contradictory exchanges on V.F. quickly take on a polemical, unpleasant, even aggressive tone (not cool, really!😎)
I’m leaving this discussion after replying to Mattews; best of luck to everyone and have a great evening.
I once again encourage everyone to read: "The Art of Boring People by Sharing Your Travels" by Matthias Debureaux
A perfect book to light a fireplace with 🙂.... Sorry, I despise self-righteousness and snobbery...
Is this journalist to travel what E. Zemmour is to intellectual stupidity?
I accept criticism—I haven’t read this book—but once again, I hate self-righteous books. That mentality is so typically French...
"Traveling is mostly useful for annoying others once you’re back"😎
Sacha Guitry
Yeah, totally! Everyone should just stay in their corner, and we might as well become autistic! 😛
Each to their own, and then no one talks anymore...
After that, they’ll say we live in a society of individualists...
Hi Mattews,
First off, I find you quite aggressive...! (Let’s not even talk about the book burning in your fireplace—it’s true, it’s starting to get chilly !😎)
Sorry, but it’s obvious you haven’t read this book...😎
And then you say:
"I haven’t read this book, but once again, I hate self-righteous books": Wow, that’s bold !😎 So I won’t add anything more !😎
As for Guitry’s quote, it’s a humorous line from a comedian—no need to read too much into it. Lighten up, Mattews, every now and then !😎
To finish, I don’t think Mr. Debureaux has much in common with Eric Zemmour (at least I don’t have much in common with Zemmour, I confirm😎)
As far as I’m concerned, no hard feelings (or at least not excessive ones😎),
but I’m bowing out of this discussion no matter how it turns out.
Have a great evening, everyone, and keep it cheerful!
"Those who’ve traveled the world can stretch their conversation for an extra fifteen minutes."
Jules Renard
Well, well, well... so according to you, there’s some brand-new feature on VF? 😮
That, from the very first login of the day... would force everyone to automatically go check out the section dedicated to "travel journals"! 😕 And no one’s said a word to me yet?! 🤪
They do indeed reveal a lot about their authors, you’re right!
No problem when they stay in the private sphere, but it’s a different story on a public site like Voyage Forum, for example. "Posting" your travel journal means publishing, and in "publishing," there’s "public."
And in that regard, some (actually, most) of these travel journals are pretty staggering. I’m thinking especially of those that recount family trips with tons of photos of their kids...
The risks are the same as on social media. Besides, isn’t Voyage Forum itself a genuine social network?
Yes, I think we can absolutely consider VF to be what’s called a "social network"!
So... where’s the problem?! 😮
Everyone should be free to express themselves however they want! 😉
That is, in a highly expansive way, sometimes without much restraint when it comes to intimate life details (in full-on extrovert mode) for some!
Or in extreme discretion (introvert mode) for others!
All while being aware that there’s a huge range of possibilities between these two ways of doing things!
Actually, I think an important detail seems to have escaped you...
If VF is supposed to be a forum bringing together people with a deep passion for travel, it’s still true that this passion is expressed in a strictly "amateur" setting, not a "professional" one! We’re neither in a travel agency nor on a site for professional writers (other specialized sites exist for those interested)! 😛
And believe me, I’m "completely free" in writing this, because I don’t post (and never will) any travel journals, let alone personal photos on this forum!
Not because I’m not capable, but because I consider (and it’s a purely personal choice) that these things are intimate and should absolutely stay within the private sphere.
That doesn’t stop me from thinking that everyone should be able to act—and thus express themselves—as they see fit! The main thing is to try to please others while also pleasing yourself!
I see absolutely no harm in that?!
And if I sometimes have a critical mind about certain things written here, I can assure you I’d personally never have the indecency to criticize someone’s travel journal!
Because even if some might seem "dull" as you more or less seem to think, I believe we should at least have great respect for the immense work often done by these amateur travel journal writers! 🙂
If only by trying to imagine...
The significant research and synthesis work required among the many documents some bring back from their trips, the real effort of memory to highlight the emotional moments that may have marked the narrator to captivate future readers, the touch of humor to add to make it engaging, not to mention the layout and writing style most people try to present in the most pleasant way possible, plus spelling and grammar (I’ve never read a travel journal written in that awful SMS language), the sometimes impressive volume of photos to sort through before choosing the nicest or most meaningful ones to express what they wanted to convey in their story, etc., etc.
Yes, all that takes some serious work, even for a seasoned amateur! 😉
So if it’s only reading works written by professionals that interests you...
I think you’re in the wrong place, my Breton traveler friend! 🙂
The title of this post asked a question: "are we boring..."
I could’ve just given my answer: YES, for the most part.
Sorry for adding a contribution that’s just as "dull" as the posts it was referring to...
I’m replying to the latest post, not specifically to Dennis, and I haven’t read everything.
It’s obvious that we can be a drag if we bring thousands of photos with comments. I’ve found myself held hostage by someone who had thousands of photos to go through.
Even if we love traveling, too much is too much.
On a forum, I don’t see a problem: those who want to read and look at everything can keep going, while others can stop.
But in private circles... I usually pick around a hundred photos per trip, and even then, I sometimes see that it’s already too much—or just about the limit of my audience’s patience.
Photos and stories mostly interest those who are planning the same trip or want to learn about the country, and those who’ve been there and are happy to revisit places where they had meaningful experiences.
"La vie est un voyage qui se vit au présent ou jamais ...."
I’m responding to the latest post, not Dennis in particular, and I haven’t read everything.
It’s obvious we’re boring if we bring thousands of photos with comments to go with them.
I’ve found myself held hostage like that by someone who had thousands of photos to comment on.
Even if we love traveling, too much is too much.
On a forum, I don’t see a problem: those who want to read and look everything over keep going, the others stop.
But in private circles... I usually pick about a hundred photos per trip, and sometimes I see that’s already too much—or just barely within the listener’s tolerance.
Photos and stories mostly interest those who are planning the same trip or want to learn about the country, and those who’ve been there and are happy to revisit places where they experienced something.
Yeah, it’s a no-brainer, and the book mentioned at the start of this thread probably says it too (I haven’t read it yet).
The annoying travelers are the ones who insist on telling their trip to their friends and family, who listen politely without daring to interrupt and have to sit through hundreds of photos they couldn’t care less about—something the traveler just can’t understand.
You might find Maasai culture, the Great Wall of China, lions and elephants, sharks and whales, or even bears in Alaska boring!
Go figure...
I gave up telling my trips to my loved ones a long time ago.
I make photo books for us; if my friends or family ask, I hand them the book, and if they want comments, they can ask questions.
The pathetically low demand for reading those books and the number of questions about them hovering dangerously close to zero led to an immeasurable frustration.
My friends are idiots, too bad for them—they can rot in their miserable routine of dinner parties and fiestas without me ruining their meal with my uninteresting stories!
No, I won’t serve them this caviar anymore; I’m saving it for the elite: VF readers who enjoy my travel journals!
There you go!
(And anyone who doesn’t like reading them is an idiot...)
🙂
Erwan
La vie est belle ! La vie est belle ! Je me tue à vous le dire disait la fleur. Et elle meurt ( J.Prévert)
My friends are idiots, too bad for them—they can rot in their pathetic daily grind, eating and partying without me while I ruin their meals with my uninteresting stories!
No, I won’t serve them this caviar anymore; I’m saving it for the elite: VF readers who love my travel journals!
There!
(And anyone who doesn’t like reading them is an idiot...)
🙂
😉 Feeling better now?
"La vie est un voyage qui se vit au présent ou jamais ...."
...oh, right, that’s why I haven’t had any since... actually, I meet new ones every time I travel. It’s a constant renewal that forces me to keep moving... otherwise, I end up talking to myself, and that’s just sad....
I loved reading travel blogs, but for the past few months, they haven’t interested me anymore. I’ve reached saturation. I keep traveling and take lots of photos that, in the end, very few people care about. When I used to show my travel films (before the Internet), my family and friends *seemed* interested. Now, I feel like I’m boring them, and that’s it—no more videos, no more photos, not even talking about my trips. I write all my travel stories and carefully store them away. After I’m gone, they’ll read them or not. Honestly, I think we become "bores" by writing everything online.
True, I think we do become "boring" when we write everything online.
The tone matters a lot in travel stories too.
Nothing’s more tedious than polished, characterless accounts where you feel like you’re in a Care Bears world when that’s not the case at all. Just "work" on the person a bit, and they’ll spill the negative parts of the trip. As if it’s not okay to say it for fear people will think you paid for a mediocre vacation.
When it comes to photos and videos, let’s be honest—many people have a knack for producing uninteresting content due to lack of attention when shooting. Between redundant photos, poorly framed shots, no composition at all, and completely botched white balance, it’s easy to quickly annoy viewers with our photos/videos.
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
Hi Mattews,
On one hand, I find you at least aggressive...! (let’s not even talk about the book burning in your fireplace—it’s true that it’s starting to get chilly !😎)
Hey Jean-Luc38, you’re right, but the term "provocative" fits better 🙂
That said, I don’t like the self-righteousness of journalists—I won’t budge on that. They format minds too much.
When it comes to photos and videos, you have to admit that a lot of people have a knack for producing uninteresting stuff due to lack of attention when shooting. Between redundant photos, poorly framed shots, no composition at all, and white balance completely off, it’s easy to quickly annoy viewers with our photos/videos.
Okay, fair enough, but let’s not exaggerate either—we’re on an amateur forum, not a professional one. The members here aren’t photography or journalism students; they just want to share their travels...
Alright, fair enough, but let’s not exaggerate either—we’re on an amateur forum, not a professional one... the members here aren’t photography or journalism students; they just want to share their travels...
My point was more about those "forced" stories on family. When it comes to stories online, it doesn’t really matter—readers can always leave the page. It’s harder to walk away from Aunt Julie’s 100cm flat-screen slideshow at home, showing off her trip with zero artistic sense.
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
But as I wrote in another thread, you might as well stay home and not visit Aunt Julie... that way everyone’s happy...
I really don’t agree with "skipping" other people’s photo sessions or travel stories.
1—It shows a closed mind and a total lack of openness and curiosity toward others.
I’m the opposite—I watch, I listen, and I sort of filter through it.
2—According to my first point, listening to someone else talk about their travel story is also a way to discover different facets of other cultures, even if it’s filtered through the person telling it. It’s still a way.
What I criticize about most tourists is that they don’t try to understand the local cultures of the countries they visit, and globalization isn’t helping.
3—If we say travel stories are boring, then the whole point of Travel with a capital T isn’t very interesting, and traveling in 2014 just leads to boredom...
To provide a relevant answer to the original question, I must share that it would have seemed particularly unfair not to let forum members benefit from our travel stories. Indeed, we’ve rarely seen such a perfect blend of eloquence in the writing and quality in the photography. If I may say so with some modesty, aren’t these stories sincere, timely, vivid, and poetic in turn? And how can one deny the near-perfection of the photos taken by my charming partner—where realism meets the magical, the funny, and the captivating, almost like something out of a *Géomagazine*?
So much so that we’re probably the first readers and re-readers of our own work. Maybe, I’ll admit, it’s not just because of their excellence but also because we relive our vacations through them, because they remind us of little details, because they ease the frustration of being far from our next departure...
The other contributors also failed to answer Mr. Jémaflor’s question: Sir, not only do your stories not bore us, but the quality of your photos and writing not only makes them truly interesting but also sparks an irresistible urge to pack our bags and visit the same places.
For those who want to be sure, you’ll find at the start of each of our stories the motivation behind sharing them. And for those curious about where we stand in this process, the end of our latest story includes the doubts we’re currently facing and the reactions they’ve provoked.
On another note, if anyone could tell us what the weather will be like in Bangkok next July and recommend some high-quality, affordable, authentic restaurants with friendly, smiling staff and quick service, we’d be very grateful. And of course, you can count on us not to spill the beans...
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
I read all of Jojoone’s travel stories with great pleasure—thanks to him for those reading moments and to his wife for the beautiful photos.
I love travel stories, I love travelers who passionately share what they’ve seen and experienced...
I just can’t focus when some random person pulls out their tablet to show me their Google itinerary, their beach photos, hotel shots, or palm trees...
I don’t often share my own travels, but I can talk endlessly with other travelers who share the same idea of travel as me. Because telling a story is also reliving a trip—I think we’ve all annoyed someone at some point, but you can all tell me about your travels, I love reading them and dreaming...
Hello,
I came back to this post out of curiosity. Good thing I did!
I’ve just discovered a masterpiece. No, I’m not talking about your travel journal, but your message here.
je vous révèle qu'il nous aurait paru particulièrement injuste de ne pas faire bénéficier les membres du forum de nos récits de voyage. En effet, on aura rarement égalé une telle alliance de verve dans le verbe et de qualité dans les prises de vue.
Wait, you’re talking about your *own* travel stories?
De même, comment nier aux photos réalisées par ma charmante équipière des qualités de quasi perfection géomagazinesques, où le réalisme côtoie le magique, le drôle et l'envoûtant ?
Bravo, I love the sarcasm, but I could never pull it off with such virtuosity!
This *is* sarcasm, right?
I checked the beginning and the end, but I’m still not sure if I really found your motivations—or your doubts...
Anyway, take it from someone who doesn’t like *most* (and I do mean *most*) of the travel stories posted here, and who had the nerve to say so... I think yours is excellent, very rich (especially for details like: "Mrs. gets up, goes out on the balcony, then goes back to bed" or comments about airplane food we’ve never read before), packed with info for anyone willing to notice.
The photos are good for the most part, even great. And that huge yellow copyright—*so* classy!
Seriously though, no, I don’t find your story "boring."
Yes, it’s well-written, yes, the photos are good, but no, that copyright.....
The contributors also all failed to respond to Mr. Jémaflor: Sir, not only do your stories not bore us, but the quality of your photos and texts not only gives them a certain appeal but also sparks an irresistible urge to pack our bags and visit the same places.
..
Thank you so much, all these compliments are really nice...
After such praise—and at the risk of "boring" some (you can always skip!), but hoping to interest others (there are lots of photos!)—I’m adding a link to my latest story about "Walks in the Royannais region, between lighthouses and fishing huts."
Personally, it’s true—I’m so passionate about traveling, and now that it’s not my only goal in life (yes, I admit it, the other aspects of ordinary life interest me less... well, travel is a condensed version of everything I love, so I do have other interests in daily life, but no other passions), I love talking about it! Not necessarily recounting my trip in detail, but sharing the things I saw, my impressions, etc.
It’s clear that not everyone is interested! So I started my own blog (where, again, I don’t recount every trip in detail—I think people don’t care about which day I did this or that), but it lets me relive the experience! Between trips, it keeps me going and gives me a new purpose!
But it’s true that now I can afford to choose who I spend time with (I don’t have coworkers and my family is small), so people I have nothing in common with, I don’t keep around for long!
Then there’s my childhood friend, who doesn’t travel but loves hearing about my destinations—exotic to her (yes, Wrocław or Plovdiv, she had no idea where they were... exotic isn’t always halfway across the world). But since she lives far away and we don’t call each other every day, I don’t overwhelm her, phew!
When I first started traveling, it was the only thing that gave meaning to my life, and I really enjoyed sharing my anecdotes. At least, with those who were interested.
A few years later, I don’t really travel anymore, but I’m an expat living a pretty "exotic" lifestyle. As a result, my circle still shows some interest in my daily life, but my convictions have kind of distanced me over time.
I no longer live in the same comfort, and I don’t have the same concerns. The break happened naturally without me even noticing.
I’ve made other friends, I stay in touch with those who want to, but overall, I don’t hang out with the same people as before at all.
Besides, other people’s stories don’t interest me anymore. I’ve already traveled a bit as a tourist, but I’ve moved on to something else now, so people who claim to be discovering life just because they left their home country with a backpack bore me. They remind me of myself a few years ago.
"Mais il n'y a plus pauvreté si il y a contentement. Ce n'est pas parce que l'on possède peu que l'on est pauvre, c'est parce que l'on désire plus." Sénèque
Reading an excerpt from "The Art of Boring People with Your Travel Stories" by Matthias Debureaux first made me smile, then got me thinking... Are we "travel-bores" with our travel stories?
FYI for VF members who’d like to check out this gem: Matthias Debureaux’s book, which was out of print, is being reissued in November 2015... 🙂
A read that might empty the "Travel Journals" section of this forum?
Hi there,
Not at all—it’s a really funny book (written by a traveler and full of insightful observations) that I’d recommend to anyone who travels a little or a lot.
... time, time, Voyou, I need a good, peaceful free evening to write another stage of a travel journal, and for a while now, I’ve been spending my time on other things... especially preparing my next trips. 😎
Oh well, no! Okay, I admit that sometimes people get tired of hearing about our trips, so I tell an anecdote now and then and save the rest for my blog. Strangely enough, it goes over better on the blog—I try to add info that can be useful to everyone so it’s not just a story, and generally, people seem to like it... I think. And deep down, it’s mostly a pleasure to relive my adventures by writing about them and posting photos, so I’ll keep doing it, even if I *am* a bore. Oh well, oh well! xx
Hi,
Thanks for your post—I hadn’t heard of that book, and now I really want to read it...
The great thing about sharing our travel stories online is that we’re not boring anyone... and we still get to keep "a record" of our experiences... it’s a win-win, really!
I discovered the book recently with its latest edition.
As you said, the advantage of the web is that if we're not interested, we can just leave the site or video—it's much easier than telling someone their travel stories are boring! ^^ 😉
It’s actually really funny, and some parts are hilarious. But even though it’s short, it feels a bit long ^^
The ending is more rushed and less amusing...
When I started this thread, the book was impossible to find (out of print), and it was based on a quote that I’d kicked off the discussion with... Now, though, I’ve been able to read the whole book thanks to this recent reissue, and I’m not disappointed!
It’s funny and really insightful! In this text, the author gives us a long list of details not to forget... to make the story truly original (in the eyes of the person telling it!) and often as boring as possible (for those listening or reading...).
Here’s a read I’d recommend to anyone who loves sharing their travel stories... they’ll appreciate it, but only if they’ve got a sense of humor!
Happy reading.
Jean
With a smile, I’ll share my latest story: Mauritius: http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7307776;#7307776
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Hello everyone on this forum!
I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it?
Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples:
- - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"!
- - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country???
- - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc.
Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo.
I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
This is my 15,000th post, and it's a message I would have preferred never to write.
Patrick—Yangguizi—won’t be returning from his trek in Uganda. His health betrayed him in the mountains.
Like many of you, I laughed until I couldn’t anymore at his travel stories. I met him in Shanghai, then in Istanbul... We scoured restaurants—he was an incredible expert on world cuisines. We relived Korea, China. Always brilliant, so sharp, so funny, so down-to-earth. Being even a little bit his friend was something to be proud of. I think I envied him.
Patrick is still out there, of course...
He found his happiness running across the world. He’s on his path. He never doubted that "the traveler doesn’t even know if he’ll return one day."
Not sure this would’ve suited him, but his departure devastates me.
Alright,
Farewell, you foreign devil. Safe travels.
hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...
I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.")
Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either.
But here’s the thing—I had photos...
So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand.
It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not...
It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.)
Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate.
And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries.
Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story.
Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023.
This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers.
As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart.
Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library.
I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott.
After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel.
My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*.
This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year!
This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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