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...
Do you bring back customs from your travels?
Fainéanter dans un monde neuf est la plus absorbante des occupations... (N.Bouvier)
It surprises people or makes them smile. But it’s clear that it’s rare here to ask for something with the polite word that goes with it where we come from.
The other day, our baker asked my fiancé why we always said *Lütfen* ("please") when asking for bread. He told us that no one ever says that. We later noticed he was right. My fiancé then explained it was out of politeness. Every time we go for bread, we make them smile. It makes them happy. Plus, it’s always followed by a "thank you" and a "have a nice day."
For us, it goes without saying, and I’ll never drop those polite phrases.
Nil
Zen Attitude!
"Rester, c’est exister : mais voyager, c’est vivre!''
It’s the same in China. I also make a point of using polite phrases all the time. Actually, no—I don’t force myself; it comes naturally. When you’ve used them your whole life, they just slip out, even if no one around you does the same.
What I don’t get—and what really annoys me—are Westerners who, after spending some time in China, pick up the habit and stop using polite phrases.
It's funny how these polite phrases can sometimes feel out of place elsewhere...
I also tend to say "thank you" when someone hands me something, no matter what—pen, lighter...
At one point, I was moving around a lot. In Thailand, after coming back from Japan, I’d often bow my head several times to say "oki oki" or... "thank you." How many times did I not join my hands in the Asian way to say thanks or sorry...
Or after spending a long time in India, I can’t help but shake my head from side to side for just about anything...
Or after more than a year in Egypt, I’d replace "all right" with "Yasalaam"😏
Also, when you get on a bus in Cairns, Australia, it’s not polite *not* to say hello to the bus driver. But in the Belgian capital, if you say hello to the bus driver, you might get mistaken for a flirt...
Fainéanter dans un monde neuf est la plus absorbante des occupations... (N.Bouvier)
Yeah, same here—whether I'm speaking French or English, I always slip in Turkish expressions. It’s pretty funny when I’m on the phone with my parents and I let out an *öyle mi?*
Or an *Allah Allah* in a particular situation....
Zen Attitude!
"Rester, c’est exister : mais voyager, c’est vivre!''
Long before I left for India, I’d sometimes eat with my fingers depending on the dish, and after going there, I’ve kept that habit wholeheartedly! 😉
It was in Ireland that I started drinking... Even though my region is near Belgium and we’re spoiled with Belgian beers here, I’d never really been tempted by them... Until I went to the Emerald Isle and happily drank a good cherry Kriek in the bars .
In Vietnam last October, there’s one gesture I’ve kept: turning your hand back and forth means "I don’t know" or "Yes and no" depending on the context...
When it comes to language, some words or expressions have now become part of my vocabulary, like "shanti shanti", "sláinte" ("cheers" in Irish Gaelic), and my favorite, which I can’t forget because it slips out unintentionally... "Excuse to me" from the Kashmiri guy I really hit it off with in Mamallapuram... At first, it was just a little joke, but looking back, when I remember our serious conversations and how rigorously he’d politely contradict me, Abbas would lightly touch my arm and say "excuse to me" to argue his point... If only I could’ve held back my laughter in those moments... My smile, on the other hand, was all over my face...
Now, whenever I use his expression, I feel a lot of joyful nostalgia 🙂
I’ve been wondering a lot of things, like for example whether you learned to speak Turkish and if it was easy to pick up, how you handle shopping or asking locals for information, extract ext....
Seeing as I’ve been in İstanbul for 3 months now and I’m still struggling to learn a bit of the language—just through contact, no courses—and I can’t really understand what people say or respond to them except for a few words that are the same in Arabic. Anyway, I’ve got time to learn properly (another 6 months before heading back to Dubai) because I really need it—I want to do import-export between Turkey and Dubai since they’re the two big commercial hubs for textiles and electronics (Turkey for Europe and Dubai for Arab countries). These two economic powerhouses are now booming in financing.
In France, I sometimes come off as a bit odd when I say "Bonjour" when entering a shop and "Au revoir" when leaving. It’s a custom I picked up from my childhood country, one that seems to have fallen out of fashion here, but I still hold onto it 🙂
Catherine
" La lucidité est la blessure la plus proche du soleil" René Char
Everything evolves, everything changes. I also say hello when entering shops, and if no one answers, I repeat it a little louder, and then, well, a few people respond, a bit embarrassed... It's pretty systematic. I spent a few years in Ghana, and the indifference of people here weighs on me... Actually, they’ve forgotten how to communicate, and that’s why we easily adopt other customs if they’re friendly... (I’m not talking about the ones Parvat adopted ;-))))))
As you know, I’ve kept the cuisine from my trips to Southeast Asia as the main food at home.
From India, we (just between us, of course) use the head-nodding agreement—it still makes us laugh.
We had an intensive 2-month course, three evenings a week. 9 hours per week. It was just the basic rules. But it helped us understand the concept of sentence structure and verbs.
Learning the language was really tough. The advantage with vocabulary is that there are a lot of French words. And since we had no choice but to communicate, we picked it up quickly. The help from our amazing neighbors played a huge part in my ability to express myself. Since they only speak Turkish and we spend a lot of time with them, we learn a lot.
But I’ll admit that going grocery shopping wasn’t easy and was often frustrating. Not being able to express what you’re looking for. You really shouldn’t be afraid of looking silly—using gestures, acting out what you want... looking like an idiot. But it works, it makes people smile, and they’re usually nice and try to understand you.
Now, it’s much easier. I can express myself and clearly explain a problem or what I want. Of course, sometimes I have to say my Turkish is "Tarzan-level" when people don’t realize and start talking a mile a minute. Either they slow down, keep going at the same pace, or just speak louder...
I don’t understand the language well—I’m not deaf!!!! 🤪
But now, I can follow a conversation. I can tell jokes in Turkish, watch TV and understand what’s going on (the big picture). I also learn by listening to Turkish music. I find the lyrics online and read along. And when I don’t understand something, I use a dictionary—it’s our best friend, after all.
Life is so much simpler now.
Another thing I brought back with me—and my students are "contaminated" by it, lol—is my way of answering questions. Like, "Ben non!" (Well, no!), "Ben oui!" (Well, yes!), and when something is done: "Voilà!"
Now my students say those too, with a thick accent that’s hilarious. They always ask for more about French. Turks loooove the language. For them, French is synonymous with culture and education—thanks to Atatürk, who adored everything French.
So now, "ben oui," "ben non," "voilà," and "Monsieur," "Madame" are flying around the school... 😄
Nil
Zen Attitude!
"Rester, c’est exister : mais voyager, c’est vivre!''
Another thing we’ve adopted from here is responding negatively with a tongue click.
When my fiancé arrived here, a month after me, I’d already picked that up. It drove him crazy!!!!!! Because where we’re from, it’s really, really not polite.
And now, he does it too! 😄
And another thing I do that’s really not polite... when I’m on the phone with my parents or friends and I don’t want them to understand, I speak Turkish. It infuriates my mom....😎 But it’s so funny....
Okay, I know it’s not polite at all, but sometimes it’s just so practical....
On the other hand, something that drives me nuts is that after speaking Turkish and English every day, I’ve started making horrible mistakes in French..... And I used to be so good at it....
So please forgive me, Lütfen!
Görüşürüz,
Nil à la Turka!
Zen Attitude!
"Rester, c’est exister : mais voyager, c’est vivre!''
The most glaring ones:
the Inshallah!! Oh well, nothing to be done, it’s hopeless I’ll always keep it.
The head nod I picked up in India. Sometimes it makes me look like a crazy person, along with the "Atchaaaa!!" (= more or less "oh really?" or "okay") that also slips out all the time (way more awkward than the Inshallah since no one seems to understand what I just did: talk, sneeze, mumble... 🤪)
But also:
eating with my hands whenever I can,
saying no the Malagasy way (meaning without saying a word, just making a nasal sound with a specific intonation—hard to explain, but those who’ve been there get it),
oh yeah, and with a friend, we communicate in French but using the Hindi alphabet (we even improved it by inventing new signs for French sounds).
It’s become our code. It’s completely useless except for making us laugh and bringing a little magic and India into our correspondence. 😄
Aaah Piaf, your cooking... it makes my mouth water hehehe...
Yes, yes, I had the pleasure of tasting a few little dishes, yum. When are you coming to say hi? 😉
Ren, a cherry kriek—kriek means cherry... 😉
I don’t remember the hand-turning thing in Vietnam...
I heard that in some parts of Africa, people file their teeth into points??? Has anyone ever been tempted?😏
The thing I can’t help but laugh at is in India when someone asks me, "What is your good name?" I love it.
Saying no to the *magache*—I’m curious... *Bokra incha'Allah*...
Fainéanter dans un monde neuf est la plus absorbante des occupations... (N.Bouvier)
😉 Now here's a post that deserves everyone's attention—you should never forget politeness.
And it's the same on the phone—lots of people forget their manners.
Thanks for reminding us! 😏😏😏
Il est bon de voyager quelque fois; cela étend les idées et rabat l'amour propre
Me too with the "inch'allah"! But also chorizo all the time, eating with my fingers, a more relaxed driving style, speed bumps are still called "topes," and the food. I’m sure I’m forgetting stuff, but that’s what comes to mind right now.
I used to—and still do—say "excuse me" when passing in front of someone in a supermarket aisle. But lately, I’ve realized that the classic Australian "that's ok" or "you're right" ("no problem") is replaced in France by bovine silence. I mean, we’re not exactly used to someone apologizing for reaching past us to grab the soap on the shelf either.
So when politeness meets politeness, it’s almost an event! You almost feel like swapping good tips on the spot!
That little wave when passing another car on the road... only happens in the outback. In more populated areas, or around tourist-heavy Alice Springs, people look at you like you’re an alien if you wave...
So in France, 😄😄😄 I didn’t keep up that habit! Uh... except in the countryside, where a little "bonjour" is still appreciated, even if half the time you don’t get a response. Statistically, it’s still better than in supermarket aisles! (Those places depress me!)
"le silence des pantoufles est plus terrifiant que le bruit des bottes"
Back in '98 during my trip to Peru, I brought back a ritual that Peruvians use every time they cross a mountain pass. They pick up a stone, place it on a pile of rocks that isn’t a cairn, and pour a little water on the ground. It’s a belief to thank Mother Earth for keeping them safe so far—Pacha Mama.
I’ve been doing the same thing everywhere I go since then 🙂
- From my many trips, I’ve kept:
the wrist flick from left to right (pretty universal!!!) that means: "what do you want, what are we doing?"
sleeping in a sleeping bag on the couch or in the garden under the stars (in summer) even though I have a bedroom and a bed!!
expressions like: ya allah, fucking asshole, yok, la.
the habit of taking my bike instead of the car for short trips.
using "tu" instead of "vous"!!!! or the big culture shock in France!!! (I have to say, it’s really hard for me to control, and I even end up using "tu" with people in job interviews!!! Not good!!!).
Otherwise, I also say "bonjour" and "au revoir" in shops!! I don’t feel like that’s a lost habit! !
la vie est comme un livre, celui qui n'a pas voyagé n'en connais que la 1ere page.
I 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 have visitors... 🤪
Well, I didn’t know I was copying an Indian custom too! Welcome to the club of those who forget to buy tissues 😏
From India, I brought back their head nod... When something doesn’t quite sit right with me, I shake my head like a "plastic dog in the back window of an R18." I don’t know how to describe how they do it, but I love it too!
I also say "hello, goodbye, please ma'am" in shops... but that seems like the least I can do in terms of manners!
Otherwise, I have tons of spices—garam masala, ras el hanout, turmeric—well, I put them everywhere and kind of randomly instead of plain salt... Mmm, and real harissa with the grains! Eating with chopsticks, what a delicacy!
I always say "Yamas" for cheers, and I use "tt" (short for *tout*) all the time—I picked up the expression in the south of France, but it doesn’t exist here!!!
I’m a huge fan of Morocco, and I have to admit that when I return to France, I keep the magic alive. I’m pretty good at cooking various tagines, and spices are almost part of my daily life. As for decor, I have my "Moroccan living room" from Richbond because it was too complicated to bring it back from there.
And when it comes to outfits, at home it’s all "made in Morocco"—beauty products like argan soap and oil, rose cream. I’ll stop because the list is long...
Oh! I don’t wear a veil, and I still don’t walk behind my husband. On the other hand, we’ve decided that in 3 or 4 years, we’ll settle down there to live among Moroccans and the Moroccan way. Inshallah!
for me, it’s not really a custom, but in Israel, Iran, etc., people play shesh besh all the time. when I was in Israel, I learned it and fell in love with it—I played it constantly. I still play it often, especially with my Persian/Iranian friends, and I’ve taught a few people in my neighborhood too.
I also keep phrases... I studied in Helsinki one summer with a friend from my university, and when we got back to California, we’d randomly say things like, "joo" (yeah), "liisa lyolya!" (a sauna phrase), "makkara!" (sausage). We missed Helsinki. From Israel, I keep phrases like, "shtock yamaniac!" (shut up), "matomeret!!" (what are you saying?!), "mayniyanim" (how’s it going?).
In Taiwan, I learned how to haggle. It’s a super useful skill.
Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.
Hi there,
I’m surprised by what you’re saying because for me, this is just part of my upbringing—I didn’t need to bring it back from any trips. I think it’s really important and a sign of respect toward others. Here in Belgium, that’s how people recognize us—we always say "please" when we give something...
Otherwise, what I’ve brought back from my travels are more like culinary specialties or drinks...
Of course, I didn’t bring these polite phrases back in my suitcases. I just wanted to compare the warm relationships you find in Africa (for example...) with the indifference that often prevails here. That said, I realize I wasn’t actually answering the question that was asked 🙁
hi, re-reading my response, I realize it came off a bit aggressive when that wasn’t the intention—so sorry, and I also spotted a few mistakes, sorry again 😊
have a great day
sonia
Little language quirks, words—things that make my daily speech an increasingly eclectic mix.
From Germany, I picked up punctuality and respect for speed limits. It made me smile the last time I was in France; I was starting to develop different driving reflexes, even waiting for the little pedestrian signal to turn green before crossing! 😇
From Morocco, expressions, especially "Salam Aleikoum," which has become such a reflex that I sometimes catch myself just in time when entering a shop (and trust me, you say "hello" even less in a German shop than in France!!)
Clothing habits too—I even adapted a couple of djellabas into a "European" style so I could wear them as coats on the street.
From the cuisine, tons of spices I bring back every time... it’s "professional" since I teach Moroccan cooking classes and sell saffron :lol: but I enjoy them for myself first! Especially saffron tea :)
From Belgium, at one point, I brought back the accent, but I’ve lost it since.
Yesterday, I got a notice from Hydro-Québec explaining why that HUGE generator was installed on my street—an important cable had been accidentally cut. There might be frequent power outages... but "normal" should be back soon.
First outage... I’m enjoying the summer heat, Italy just beat Ukraine, and my neighborhood is buzzing (I literally live two steps from Little Italy in Montreal). My neighbors are grumbling and cursing the blackout... Me? I’m thinking like I did in Santo Domingo: No problem! *La vida es buena!* and *¡Qué calor!* 😛
Maybe I’ll start grumbling too... especially at the next outage when it’s -40! 😛
"Impose ta Chance, serre ton Bonheur contre ton Coeur et va vers ton Risque..."
From my life in the forests when I was younger, or from my stays/hikes in nature (mountains, forests, ocean, etc.), in France and mostly around Europe, I’ve kept the habit of sitting cross-legged "Indian-style" (not from India) very often—at least once a day, sometimes more—because "Western" chairs never felt natural to me. When I was in high school or university, they used to "break my back." So now, whenever I can, I sit on the grass, sand, or the floor, cross-legged or in half-lotus (which also comes from meditation).
In the end, I like sitting on chairs or similar things less and less. The same goes for sleeping—I prefer lying on the grass, the floor, a futon, or something like that. I find it more natural.
From Japan, for example, I’ve kept a few kimonos, some basic expressions, and I also often sit *seiza* (on my knees, for the same reasons, haha). I’d already used kimonos and *seiza* a bit when I practiced martial arts in France, but apart from the top of a *judogi*, I can’t see myself wearing one everywhere… lol. Some people probably already think I’m a bit weird—I don’t want to provoke them even more by wearing a kimono, a sword, etc. ;)
If I go somewhere else one of these days, it’d probably be Polynesia or Asia (but more likely the Southeast, less "urban" than Japan). After that, I don’t know all the other traditions or habits—I just take the ones I like.
« L'amour c'est d'abord respecter la liberté des autres êtres, là où il y a désir personnel, il n'y a pas d'amour. La terre n'appartient pas à l'homme, l'homme appartient à la terre »
Hey!
For my part, I’ve definitely kept the hands-together gesture like in Southeast Asia to say thanks or apologize—but not all the time, it just comes out naturally when I’m really expressing deep feeling...
Blowing my nose into my hands at the sink or while hiking...
After coming back from South America, I drank *tons* of mate and, above all, I always wore my Bolivian hat outside. People thought it was hilarious, but I love my hat...
That’s about it, I think, apart from that it’s not really culture anymore—just a few expressions here and there and some word-order issues in French copied from English, like "definitely," "to be honest," "I’m sorry" every other second... but hey, that’s just linguistics!
ailleurs merite qu on s y attarde
"christian, nomade attitude"
It's crazy how our minds and bodies can absorb influences from others. At home, the traditions we keep are all about spices—we eat a lot of Asian, Indian, African food... I notice it when my kids invite friends over, and they look at their plates with skepticism 😕. We have a hammock and a little mattress for the baby’s bed, plus a ton of cushions in the living room so we can be close to the floor—to eat, watch TV, have drinks, take a nap, or meditate. The only ones who use the couch are guests and grandparents. Mint tea is still a staple. Pitching a tent in the mountains and sleeping under the stars is another one. And don’t even get me started on clothes—they think we’re total weirdos, especially now with our African-inspired outfits (it’s hot out). When we’re out shopping and my kids see people who aren’t smiling all the time (unlike their parents’ goofy faces), they say, "Hey, he’s not happy—why’s that lady looking grumpy?" Sometimes we even get *the look* in return! But at 4 years old, they just say it like it is, and honestly, they’re not wrong. I also think saying hello is becoming a lost art. We live near the French-Swiss border, and we’ve picked up some habits there... Now when we go back south to visit family, we find people rushed, disrespectful (like ignoring crosswalks), and the place just feels dirtier. Before, it never bothered us...
The worst part, I think, is the pace—I’m completely incapable of rushing or running to be on time. Everyone thinks I’m *way* too laid-back, even the Swiss (and that’s saying something). But at least I’m not stressing myself into an ulcer, and honestly, it’s so much more relaxing. 😏
I’m also a French teacher in Turkey, and I really relate to what you’re saying.
I think you’re right—there are moments when we’re thrown off by everyday situations (things we’d consider "impolite"), and your bakery example is so spot-on!
It’s happened to me a million times, too!!! Using "lütfen" the way I’d use "s’il vous plaît" in my native language... and it’s often not quite right.
Their polite phrases can be so hard to memorize—actually, I don’t even know the exact one: "alabiyi miyim?" 🤪 (when asking for water or something at a restaurant).
I’d love to ask you some questions about the differences between Canadian and Turkish culture, since it interests me and I’m writing my Master’s thesis on French-Turkish interculturality.
😎
Looking forward to reading you! !
Oh yes, the Indian head wobble! I love it!!😛
And "chello!" when there's a car stuck in front of me or too much of a crowd!
And a little Tibetan expression that’s too cute: "djo!" = let’s go!
From the Middle East, we kept the habit of smoking shisha during family meals or with friends😉
Of speaking Arabic among ourselves 😛 when we share secrets😉, of eating Lebanese food.
From Africa, we brought back expressions that aren’t used in France.
Thinking about it (thanks Parvat😉), we brought back different languages that we mix depending on the situation😏
and we left our hearts in every country.😊
"Si tu tues le coq au village, et la perdrix dans la forêt,
qui est-ce qui t'indiquera le lever du jour ?
From several Middle Eastern and Asian countries: the great habit of taking off my shoes when I get home (I’ve mentioned this elsewhere—shoes and the unconscious way Westerners behave with their feet around others is, to me, a nasty habit).
From India and Thailand: a bit more dental hygiene. The good habit of brushing my teeth after every meal (India) or using a toothpick (Thailand).
I’m generally shocked by how unclean Westerners are: clothes not washed often, hair that smells bad—you wonder how many people go days and days without washing!
Oh no, Lea! But I’ve reinforced my good habits after my travels. I see around me: almost none of my colleagues (from multiple nationalities) brush their teeth after lunch.
For years, we’ve had foldable toothbrushes in pharmacies for people coming back from the canteen... or restaurants.
Otherwise, among the habits I’ve brought back from abroad: Spanish schedules! Oh no, lunch at seven in the evening is over for me!
The "no pasa nada!" mindset—an essential filter.
Spanish humor isn’t always well received here, but hey... it’s my way of refusing to conform to gloominess and overdone propriety.
Léa.
Another habit (though not travel-related) when it comes to hygiene is washing the other end of the digestive tract. Sometimes, it takes some effort to maintain that minimum level of hygiene. Luckily, I’m a naturist—it helps! 😄
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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
"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)"
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.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
Hi there, I’ve been traveling for 18 years now, at least 6 months a year, and as the years go by, I actually enjoy coming back to France more and more—a feeling I struggled with at first. I mean, we always think the grass is greener elsewhere.
But in the end, I find meaning in that saying about how there’s no place like home. I still love traveling just as much, but now my trips are shorter, and I enjoy spending more time in our beautiful country, even though I don’t hesitate to criticize it.
How about you? How do you handle coming back from your travels?
A few years ago, I went with a group of friends to lend a hand at a small rural school near Thiès, Senegal.
It was a relaxed but hardworking atmosphere—hands in the mortar, laughter, exchanges, and everything that a COOPERATION project can bring.
Today, the little project is flying on its own.
Wanting to explore Senegal’s riches, we set off for some tourism in the Siné Saloum. One girl in our group fell ill (a malaria attack), and we decided to take her to see a doctor at a large tourist complex nearby. Despite her condition, we had to "show our credentials" (if I may say so) just to get in. She was treated and has been fine since.
This "stop" at a Club Med-style resort with a Teutonic twist—resembling Le Grau-du-Roi but fancier—was a horror show for us: pools, massive artificial basins dyed blue, pink, or green (!!!!), animators shouting around wet T-shirt contests or coconut tree climbing, and sunburned (or sun-pinked) *toubabs*.
The entire hotel was surrounded by a huge wall, behind which a small souvenir-seller slum had sprung up, worthy of Dakar’s outer neighborhoods.
On leaving, we saw a minibus of guests returning from an "excursion," loaded with masks, fabrics, and djembés—African souvenirs?
Maybe those will be *theirs*?
What impression did the kids clustered at the hotel gates get?
What about the Black servers in "traditional African costumes," serving cocktails and ice cream nonstop?
For me, who experienced Africa very young and in the bush, this remains a haunting image.
On VF, this kind of vacation doesn’t seem to be the norm among users, and that’s exactly why I signed up.
Have you ever experienced this kind of interstellar travel?
Do you understand the Martians?
Are their motivations peaceful?
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