Trois touristes français ont été condamnés hier à une peine de six mois de prison avec sursis et une amende de 1 500 roupies (11 dollars) au Sri Lanka. La raison ? Leurs photos de vacances semblaient montrer une des personnes embrassant une statue de Bouddha sur la bouche.
De plus, l’homme qui accompagnait les deux femmes a imité la pose de la statue de Bouddha, des gestes considérés comme blessants par la communauté bouddhiste. Les agents ont été alertés de l’incident après que les visiteurs ont voulu faire tirer leurs photos.
L’employé du studio a vu les images et a alerté la police de Galle.
Savez-vous que grâce à des gens irrespectueux comme ceux qui ont embrassé un bouddha... (et ceux qui font des commentaires aussi déplacés que ceux qui suivent le commentaire de mushu 23), dans certains temples sri lankais on n'a plus le droit d'approcher les statues... elles sont maintenant entourées de barrières de protection?
Un exemple de plus du manque de savoir-voyager, de savoir-vivre et même d'éducation de certains touristes ...
C'est grâce à ce genre d'abrutis que tout le monde paie (cf statues protégées ou la réputation des touristes occidentaux par exemple).
Chez vous comme en voyage, respectez la nature, elle nous le rend bien.
Pour info, à destination de ceux qui partent visiter des temples bouddhistes au Sri Lanka ou ailleurs : on ne pose jamais en photo en tournant le dos à Bouddha. C'est également une offense (dans certains temples c'est précisé, mais dans d'autres non donc c'est bon à savoir :) ).
Aller dans un pays, c'est également y respecter sa culture et ses traditions. Les 3 français de l'article n'ont pas été très malins, le bouddhisme est une religion, on se doute donc qu'il y a un respect à avoir pour ce et ceux qui la représentent...
Bonne soirée
Tous mes conseils pour voyager au Sri Lanka sur mon blog Tongs et Sri Lanka !
Y a un remède contre les cons ?
Ce matin près de Paris , un automobiliste en empêchant ma fille de se remettre sur la bonne file a failli l' envoyer dans le décor !
Mais, on va pas mettre des barrières pour empêcher de prendre les voitures.
Punir les cons, si on peut, c est déjà bien.
Ah si seulement !!! Et le labo qui fabriquerait ce remède serait rapidement débordé, mais vite très riche aussi !
Bien sûr qu'on ne peut pas mettre des interdits partout, mais c'est vraiment dommage d'en arriver là.
Je comprends ce que tu dis pour ta fille, je roule en moto quasi tous les jours.
Chez vous comme en voyage, respectez la nature, elle nous le rend bien.
Je me permets d'intervenir à nouveau...
Ninakopel et Genevois semblent ne pas faire de différence entre "con" et "irrespectueux"...
Des cons, il y en a partout, il y en a toujours eu et il y en aura toujours. On ne peut rien y faire. Mais tous les cons ne sont pas en même temps totalement irrespectueux comme ces touristes condamnés (et pas assez lourdement à mon goût!), et puis aussi memphre, boumbastic, GranSage et d'autres encore!
Si on voyage, c'est parce qu'on en a envie... et donc on respecte les traditions du pays que l'on visite, quelles qu'elles soient! Si on ne se sent pas capables de ce respect, soit on reste chez soi, soit on trouve un pays aux coutumes plus proches des nôtres.
Mais comme toujours, tout le monde est sanctionné à cause de quelques "individus" sans éducation, sans valeur morale ou religieuse (je suis athée mais cela ne m'empêche pas de respecter toutes les croyances), irrespectueux de tout et tout le monde.
C'est vraiment navrant!
Tomcel
Évidemment !
Con, irrespectueux et tout ce que tu veux!
Sauf que celui qui est morveux ne se mouche pas et pire encore ne sait même pas qu'il a le nez qui coule!!!
L 'intelligence , c 'est de savoir composer avec.
Si je ne connais pas la solution et je veux bien aller chez mon épicier lui demander un remède pour être moins con( mais , c est mon pote), je suis sûre que les solutions ne viennent pas par la censure .
Mais tous les cons ne sont pas en même temps totalement irrespectueux comme ces touristes condamnés (et pas assez lourdement à mon goût!), et puis aussi memphre, boumbastic, GranSage et d'autres encore!
Tu veux faire condamner Memphre, Boumbastic et GranSage ?
Effectivement, "con" est un mot assez général, applicable à plein de comportements, dont l'irrespect. En voyant un touriste monter sur un Buddha pour l'embrasser, mon premier réflexe serait de dire "quel con celui-là !", bien qu'il s'agisse en réalité d'irrespect au sens propre du terme. Ceci dit des irrespectueux, il y en a partout aussi et dans tous les domaines (la circulation, la politesse, les règles du savoir-vivre, les aînés, la religion, etc...).
Par contre, pour le reste de ton message, je suis entièrement d'accord avec toi, cette forme d'irrespect, c'est ce que j'appelle le manque de savoir-voyager. Je le dénonce fréquemment dans les messages ou carnets de voyage que je poste sur ce forum. Vang Vieng au Laos est l'exemple qui me vient directement à l'esprit, avec l'abus d'alcool, les tenues indécentes, etc...
Nous sommes donc sur la même longueur d'onde, sauf sur le choix et l'interprétation du mot "con" que j'utilise dans son sens général...
J'ai pas trop compris par contre ce que tu voulais dire au sujet de certains membres de ce forum.
Chez vous comme en voyage, respectez la nature, elle nous le rend bien.
La parenthèse se trouve après les "touristes condamnés"... pas après memphre, boumbastic, GranSage... bien qu'apparemment, ils ne valent pas beaucoup mieux!
Ma réponse s'adresse aux 3 derniers intervenants...
@ Lepiaf: ma phrase est tout à fait correcte.. analyse la grammaticalement et tu verras!😛
@ Genevois: évidemment; c'est cela un forum d'échange... on dit ce que l'on pense, donc je dis ce que je pense et je l'assume totalement!🙂
@ Ninakopel: à méditer 😉
@ aux "3": je dois interrompre cette discussion parce que je suis au bureau et que le travail m'appelle... mais je vous répondrai ce soir avec grand plaisir si vous continuez ces échanges!
Bonne journée à tous
Tomcel
Ce qui est le plus navrant c'est surtout le manque d'humour et de tout prendre au 1er degré, cela reste incompréhensible pour moi 😕 mais bon les gens ont le droit de voyager tristement, c'est leur problème 😛
Grrr
L info, elle vs paraît pas spéciale?
QUI fait développer ses photos direct?
Le sri lanka n est pas le pays des cyber cafés ou cyber développements
Et en plus, les cingalais si gentils et tolérants avec les touristes et paf, y en a un qui va dénoncer des touristes!!!!!
J'ai pas trés bien compris non plus pourquoi ils ont fait développer leurs photos là bas ...
De toute façon c'est bien fait pour eux, la prochaine fois ils réfléchiront. Combien j'en vois se prendre en photo avec des bouddhas comme s'ils étaient à Disneyland. Ca ne leur viendrait pas à l'esprit de le faire avec le Christ sur la croix pourtant !
Je pense que beaucoup d'occidentaux, n’imaginent pas la profondeur du sentiment religieux en Asie. Ici la foi est partie intégrante de l'individu est est toujours présente, dans tous les actes de la vie. De là, à ce qu'un peuple, si gentil avec les touristes dise stop, vous avez dépassés les limites de notre tolérance peut vous étonner. Je remarque que le verdict est bien en ligne avec l'esprit Bouddhique; il ne s'agit pas de châtier un délinquant, mais de d'essayer de le faire prendre continence de ses actes. 9 euros et une peine avec sursis, sans expulsion ni black listage, c'est très léger et ne porte pas à conséquences, mais la sanction prononcée dans un décors impressionnant (tribunal) marque la réprobation envers de tels comportements. Respecter les gens et leurs croyances, il ne vous demandent pas plus, pour continuer à vous accueillir avec gentillesse et vous faire découvrir leurs pays.
Cordialement
L info, elle vs paraît pas spéciale?
QUI fait développer ses photos direct?
Le sri lanka n est pas le pays des cyber cafés ou cyber développements
Et en plus, les cingalais si gentils et tolérants avec les touristes et paf, y en a un qui va dénoncer des touristes!!!!!
Je ne crois pas que l'info soit fausse ou manipulée, on en parle dans de nombreux médias étrangers, par exemple ici dans un journal sri lankais ou là dans un journal indonésien.
Les faits sont avérés.
Faire tirer des photos sur papier avant de rentrer est courant pour payer moins cher que chez soi, nous l'avons nous-même fait souvent.
Un photographe qui dénonce des actes qu'il pense être criminels, ce n'est pas la première fois, plusieurs délinquants se sont déjà fait pincer comme cela, y compris en France.
Bref, je ne vois pas où tu veux en venir.
Pour ma part, je pense que ces trois personnes ont été irrespectueuses et totalement inconscientes que ce qu'ils avaient fait soit sacrilège pour les Sri Lankais. Ils n'ont visiblement pas remarqué la foi puissante qui anime la majorité des sri lankais, quelque soit leur religion. Personnellement, j'ai été frappé par cette foi.
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.