De retour d'un petit voyage dans une région de Chine, je voudrai partager avec vous ce carnet de voyage, j'espère qu'il vous plaira. Il vous permettra aussi d'avoir
Quelques jours dans le Nord-Ouest de la Chine, dans la minuscule région du Ningxia traversée par le Fleuve Jaune, sur les traces des civilisations de la Route de la Soie, et surtout à la découverte d’un condensé de majestueux paysages arides : désert de sable, grasslands verdoyantes, montagnes ocres. Une région pas très connue en dehors de Chine, voici une carte pour vous permettre de situer cette petite région (en rouge):
Après avoir réceptionné notre véhicule, outil indispensable pour ce road trip de 600 kilomètres seulement (l'avantage de visiter la plus petite province de cet immense pays), un SUV de Buick plutôt maigre en terme d'équipement, nous commençons notre exploration par la ville de Yinchuan, capitale de la province autonome du Ningxia. Yinchuan n’a pas l’allure des grandes capitales provinciales du pays, elle semble vide et si petite. On y roule plutôt facilement sur les grandes avenues et on se gare sans difficulté.
Cette région qui a la particularité d’être administrée par la minorité musulmane Hui, a une histoire assez originale, la région autonome du Ningxia a été fondée en 1959 seulement. C'est une des régions qui est tout en bas des classements du pays, en terme de richesse, de PIB ou de population... Mais qui est devenu un grand centre de production de vin ! Sur les contreforts des Montagnes de Helan Shan, on voit défiler les panneaux indiquant les domaines viticoles qui se visitent. Pour ce premier jour, on part donc logiquement d’abord à la visite des bâtiments caractéristiques de la ville, tout d’abord la mosquée de Nanguan.
Tout autour de la mosquée, des vendeurs de moutons hallal.
Pour continuer notre découverte de Yinchuan et de la culture Hui, nous nous rendons en sortie de la ville, au Hui Minority cultural center, qui est un ensemble de bâtiments (pas encore finis) dont une très belle mosquée encore.
L'intérieur est très joli.
On y voit fortement l’influence de la route de la soie.
Après ce premier aperçu culturel de la région du Ningxia, nous mangeons un repas local composé de mouton bien sûr et accompagné d’une salade de pousses de Goji. La baie de Goji est la première spécialité de la région du Ningxia, un super fruit réputé pour contenir pleins de micronutriments.
L’après midi est consacré aux mausolées royaux de la dynastie Xixia. Cette dynastie a régné sur cette région de Chine il y a 5000 ans et leur sépulture est considérée comme un trésor archéologique. Les tombes en forme de grande butte de terre séchée entourés de murailles ont été stratégiquement placées selon les principes du Fengshui, entre les montagnes de Helan Shan et le Fleuve Jaune.
La dynastie Xixia est une dynastie qui a régné sur une partie de la route de la soie avant d'être finalement vaincue par les Mongols au XIIIe siècle. Le site est grandiose avec cette plaine aride au pied de la chaine de montagne de Helan.
Le site étant immense, il faut prendre d’abord une navette pour en faire le tour puis ensuite on peut louer des vélos pour rejoindre les dernières tombes. Le problème est qu’il est déjà tard et il n’est plus possible de louer de vélos, on part donc en exploration à pieds pour aller s’approcher le plus près, mais on sait que l’on n’aura pas le temps de les atteindre, 5 kilomètres de distance.
Néanmoins, le site prend une autre dimension à pieds, sous cette chaleur écrasante et le soleil parfois caché par les nuages ajoute une touche grandiose à ce site qui semble si vide et immense. On aperçoit la ville de Yinchuan au fond, avec ses grands bâtiments modernes et les cheminées des usines chimiques, deux mondes qui se contemplent avec 1000 ans de différence.
En rentrant en ville, on fait un détour par South Square où se trouve une version miniature de Tian An Men Square.
La nuit tombe tard à Yinchuan par rapport à Hangzhou qui se trouve à 2000 kilomètres à l’Est de Hangzhou. Ce qui nous donne l’occasion de rentrer tranquillement en ville et de visiter le quartier d’affaire de Yinchuan.
Puis on grimple regarder le soleil se coucher depuis une esplanade qui est parfaitement orientée plein Ouest pour terminer cette première journée dans le Ningxia.
A suivre...
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Jour 2 : De Yinchuan à Zhongwei en passant par Wuzhong
Aujourd’hui nous quittons Yinchuan pour rouler plein Sud en remontant le Fleuve Jaune en direction de Zhongwei à l’extrême Ouest du Ningxia.
Pour couper la route en deux étapes, nous nous arrêtons à Wuzhong pour visiter le site des 108 stupas et les gorges du Fleuve Jaune. Après deux heures de route sur une des autoroutes chinoises toutes neuves, nous arrivons sur ce site qui est très touristique. Il faut d’abord traverser le site du barrage de Wuzhong, construit dans les années 1960 dans des conditions rudimentaires, les photos sur le chemin témoignant de l’ampleur du chantier.
Puis nous embarquons pour sur l’autre rive où se trouvent les 108 stupas.
Il ne faut pas s’imaginer visiter un site avec une grande histoire, tout cet ensemble nous semble bien contemporain heureusement que l’environnement en lui-même est magnifique.
En effet, nous remarquerons que de nombreux sites touristiques du Ningxia ont été développés au maximum pour transformer la culture et le paysage local en business.
On ne peut pas blâmer ces initiatives locales qui sont clairement soutenues par l’administration centrale comme une manne financière à optimiser pour le développement de la région, et élever son économie à la suite des régions prospères de l’Est.
Nous ferons une pause face au site des 108 stupas, édifié dans la roche aride des montagnes qui bordent le fleuve jaune. C’est seulement sur les rives que la végétation arrive à survivre à ce climat extrême.
Pour la suite de la visite du site, nous embarquons dans un speed bateau pour remonter le fleuve Jaune jusqu’aux gorges. Le tour en bateau non seulement permet de contempler ce site magnifique mais aussi d’avoir des sensations fortes avec la vitesse.
Cette excursion en speed boat est vraiment l’activité la plus intéressante de ce site à Wuzhong, sans cela je ne peux pas recommander de faire halte ici. Et encore, le prix du ticket d’entrée est vraiment élevé.
En milieu d’après-midi, nous reprenons la route pour Zhongwei. On enfile un repas sur une aire d’autoroute, composé d’un grand plat de poulet et pommes de terre dans un restaurant à la décoration dépassée.
Nous arrivons à 16h à Shapotou, aux confins de la province du Ningxia, c’est ici que l’on peut entrer dans le désert de Tengger et s’immerger dans l’ambiance de la route de la soie. Mais alors qu’on arrive presque au but, la route est coupée et un policier nous dit de faire demi-tour. En fait, l’accès au désert est fermé aux véhicules privés et il faut s’acquitter d’un ticket d’entrée alors que le site de Shapotou ferme à 19h. On se dit que l’on tente quand même et si besoin on reviendra une deuxième fois le lendemain au même endroit. On prend donc la navette qui elle a le droit de rentrer dans la zone de Shapotou et nous dépose dans une zone du désert ou de nombreuses activités sont offertes aux touristes… Pas vraiment ce que l’on imagine de la route de la soie et la solitude du désert. Le site est en soi vraiment grandiose avec de grandes dunes jusqu’à l’horizon, un sable fin jaune. Le pire c’est que la navette a roulé un bon moment avant d’arriver à cette zone touristique planté au milieu des dunes, on aurait pu s’arrêter ou on veut et faire un petit tour mais non.
En même temps, en toute honnêteté, on imaginait bien que cela ressemblerait à un parc d’attraction dans le désert. J’en rajoute une dernière, le site est fermé par un grillage pour éviter que les touristes ne s’aventurent seuls dans les dunes ! On essaye de voir le positif et on profite quand même de ce petit carré de bac à sable propre et sécurisé pour en faire le tour, on a une belle vue vers le vaste désert de Tengger, le quatrième plus grand désert de Chine.
De l’autre côté, on aperçoit la ville de Zhongwei. Comme toutes les villes du Ningxia, ce ne sont pas les grands batiments qui s’élèvent dans le ciel, mais les cheminées des usines chimiques et pétrolières, la région étant spécialisée dans ce type d’industries.
Après avoir profité de notre petit bout de désert, on reprend la navette pour rejoindre la zone ou le désert de sable rencontre le Fleuve Jaune.
Pour cela, on roule sur une belle route dans les dunes.
Cette dune qui borde le Fleuve Jaune est immense. On a l’impression que l’on pourrait tomber dans le fleuve tellement elle est abrupte.
Ici aussi le site a des allures de parc d’attraction.
On se prend au jeu et on s’accorde un tour en tyrolienne au-dessus du fleuve, sensation forte garantie et franchement ça vaut vraiment le coup. Puisqu’on joue le jeu à fond, on remonte même tout en haut de la dune en télésiège !
Le site est censé fermer à 19h, il n’y a quasiment plus personne maintenant que le soleil se couche, dommage il est caché par les nuages. On profite de cette vue dans la quasi solitude.
C’est seulement après 19h30 que la dernière navette vient récupérer les quatre derniers touristes qui restent là. On imaginait bien qu’en Chine, on ne nous laisserait pas tomber dans le désert et quelqu’un viendrait nous avertir du dernier départ, et que ce départ serait bien plus tard que l’heure annoncée.
Nous dinerons dans le marché de nuit de Zhongwei, qui est particulièrement animé, avec des tables installées dehors pour accueillir les touristes affamés après cette journée sous le dur soleil du Nord-Ouest en quête de leur ration de brochettes de mouton.
La ville de Zhongwei abrite aussi un magnifique temple très bien éclairé la nuit.
Le temple de Gao Miao se trouve au centre d’un très beau parc parfait pour une balade digestive.
A suivre...
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
En début de matinée, nous partons pour un road trip à l’américaine, version Nord-Ouest chinois. Nous allons remonter le Fleuve Jaune sur une route au paysage minéral qui rappelle l’Ouest américain. Pour cela, on sort de l’autoroute à la sortie après Shapotou et tout de suite on prend une petite route sur la droite qui passe sous l’autoroute et s’enfonce dans les montagnes en direction du village de Beichangtan.
Les différents points de vue depuis la route qui se trouve derrière ce virage va nous éblouir. Tout d’abord on borde le fleuve Jaune.
Les montagnes sont abruptes et les rives cultivées ajoutent une touche de végétation à ce paysage désertique.
On rencontrera quasiment personne de toute la journée et l’asphalte file entre les montagnes aux couleurs ocre.
Le désert avance jusqu’ici.
Un magnifique road trip qui rappelle tellement les USA, seul le panneau en caractère chinois nous confirme que l'on est bien en Chine.
Ici le Fleuve Jaune fait un grand virage, avec les dunes de sable qui le touche presque.
Si vous venez ici en fin de journée, je pense que le point de vue au dessus de la route devrait être incroyable, mais avec la température actuellement, on ne sent pas en sécurité à monter dans ce pierrier.
Pour le midi, on s’arrête à Beichangtan en bordure du fleuve dans un petit hôtel restaurant monté par des villageois.
Le village est constitué de petites maisons de paysans qui vivent d'élevage et de culture. Les grands mères proposent leurs récoltes aux quelques voitures qui passent.
On fait une sieste au bord de l’eau à l’heure la plus chaude de la journée. Aujourd’hui le thermomètre monte à 35°C, même dans la voiture c’est étouffant, une dernière photo de ce village en plein paysage de désert.
Après cette pause fraiche, on reprend la route jusqu’au dernier village. En bas de la route, le fleuve n'est même plus jaune ici, il a viré à l'orange...
Quelques cultures juste avant les gorges.
Puis la route s’arrête, on ne peut pas aller plus loin.
Ce petit village est le dernier accessible par la route.
La suite de la route est interdite, peut être une mine plus loin.
Pour ceux qui serait intéressé par ce coin du Ningxia, il faut savoir qu'avec une journée de plus il est possible d'aller sur la rive opposée pour visiter le village de Nanchangtan. La route est censée être moins belle, mais le village est selon les photos incroyablement magnifique. Selon un chauffeur de taxi avec qui on discutera, il faut 3 heures pour faire le parcours sur une route en très mauvais état, donc il faut consacrer une journée pour y aller.
On revient sur nos pas en s’arrêtant à différents points de vue.
On trouve une petite oasis au creux d'une petite vallée avec une petite rivière rafraichissante.
Un superbe arbre mort.
On ne s'en lasse pas...
A suivre...
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Bonjour Damien
Merci pour ce carnet informatif qui m'interpelle car je ne pensais pas si facile un road trip en autonomie en Chine.
Vous avez donc simplement loué une voiture comme on le ferait aux US par exemple?
On circule comme ça où on veut comme on veut en Chine? Excuse la naïveté de ma question, je ne connais rien de la Chine mais je pense qu'il y a plein de paysages incroyables à découvrir.
A ce sujet, y a-t-il moyen d'éviter ce que tu décris comme des "parcs d'attraction"? Je suppose que l'immensité du pays fait que tous les beaux coins ne sont pas encore "organisés" pour le tourisme?
Ça se fait de camper "sauvagement" (j'entends dans un coin perdu sans personne)?
Peut-on utiliser maps.me par exemple pour s'orienter?
Je suppose que pas grand monde parle anglais?
Je crois que c'est compliqué d'avoir un accès internet en Chine non?
Des cartes papier à recommander?
Merci d'avance pour tes réponses!
Marie
Merci pour ton message. Effectivement le pays recèle de paysages magiques qui ne sont pas encore très connus en dehors de Chine, néanmoins en interne il y a déjà beaucoup de voyageurs locaux qui fournissent pleins d'information sur les applications mobiles type "mafengwo". En tout cas je vais répondre à tes questions les unes après les autres mais j'ai peur de t'annoncer quelques mauvaises nouvelles:
1. Vous avez donc simplement loué une voiture comme on le ferait aux US par exemple?
J'ai réservé le véhicule sur l'application shenzhou zuche ou yihai, environ 30e par jour, il faut fournir son passeport et un permis de conduire chinois. Un accord de réciprocité pour que le permis français soit utilisable en Chine a été signé avec la France mais il me semble que les loueurs ne l'acceptent pas. De plus la conduite est assez originale en Chine, il faut non seulement faire gaffe aux autres usagers car personne n'a réellement capté le concept de priorité, mais surtout il y a moyen de perdre tous ses 12 points en 10 minutes tellement il y a de radars automatiques (feux, vitesse, voies réservées, passages piétons, bande d'arrêt d'urgence, etc.), heureusement avec une application Baidu ou Gaode, on est prévenu en avance pour ne pas se faire avoir et on roule sans stress.
2. On circule comme ça où on veut comme on veut en Chine? Excuse la naïveté de ma question, je ne connais rien de la Chine mais je pense qu'il y a plein de paysages incroyables à découvrir.
On peut aller quasiment partout en dehors des endroits marqués interdits ou clairement off road pour les étrangers, le Tibet et certaines parties du Xinjiang. Pour info au Ningxia, mis à part à Yinchuan le premier jour au petit déjeuner de l'hôtel, on n'a pas croisé un seul étranger, ce que j'ai trouvé vraiment étonnant.
3. A ce sujet, y a-t-il moyen d'éviter ce que tu décris comme des "parcs d'attraction"? Je suppose que l'immensité du pays fait que tous les beaux coins ne sont pas encore "organisés" pour le tourisme?
Notre dernière journée a été presque que hors parcs d'attraction, mais le problème est vraiment que le gouvernement pousse dans cette direction de monétiser le tourisme et aussi de le rendre accessible à tous (ce qui a un côté positif pour enfants et handicapés) avec des infrastructures modernes, propres, avec des bâtiments d'entrée grandiose avec écrans géants, musique, voiturettes électriques, etc. Beaucoup de panneaux rappelaient la citation du président chinois à l'administration du Ningxia en terme de business du tourisme : "la direction est bonne, il faut continuer" ; c'est donc clair, le mouvement est en marche... Après on a vu qu'il existe une possibilité d'intégrer des groupes de trek dans des endroits plus reculés, mais il faut plus de temps et on est encadré.
Par contre ce que je trouve le plus inquiétant en Chine, c'est que bientôt le cout du tourisme dans ce pays sera vraiment trop cher.
4. Ça se fait de camper "sauvagement" (j'entends dans un coin perdu sans personne)?
Je connais des gens qui le font mais il me semble que cela vient à l'encontre de la loi qui indique d'un étranger doit enregistrer l'endroit où il dort tous les jours (c'est pourquoi l'hotel prend le passeport, visa et tampon d'entrée et rempli un formulaire au check-in). Au vu de l'offre hôtelière en Chine, à mon avis ça vaut pas le coup de tenter le camping sauvage. Par contre on peut partir avec un guide (mais s'assurer qu'il peut prendre en charge des étrangers, même remarque à propos des hôtels je pose toujours la question avant au cas où, on peut se faire refouler en arrivant au check-in si on a pas demandé avant, de plus en plus rare néanmoins).
5. Peut-on utiliser maps.me par exemple pour s'orienter?
Maps me marche bien, mais Baidu est vraiment mieux, avec l'état des routes mis à jour, ce qui est utile dans ce pays qui construit des infrastructures à tour de bras.
6. Je suppose que pas grand monde parle anglais?
Je ne pense pas effectivement et une partie des panneaux de la route sont en chinois exclusivement (pas tous).
Je crois que c'est compliqué d'avoir un accès internet en Chine non?
Un cauchemar je dirai... Avant de partir je conseille de souscrire à un abonnement à Express VPN pour être tranquille (achat d'un VPN impossible après avoir mis son pied ici par contre) pour garder contact avec la famille qui utilise des apps US, mais attention même avec un VPN ils arrivent parfois à détecter le VPN et dans ce cas on perd la connexion. Sinon télécharger wechat et le faire télécharger aux amis/famille pour garder le contact sans souci.
Des cartes papier à recommander?
Euh je ne sais pas mais Baidu maps suffit amplement.
En conclusion, je pense que c'est quand même difficile de visiter la Chine en autonomie avec une location de voiture sans permis chinois et maitrise de la langue ce qui est très dommage car le pays en soi cache de très beaux paysages (et l'essence qui coute pas cher) et on peut ainsi visiter à son rythme sans être dépendant d'un transport ou guide. Surtout les chinois trouvent cela toujours étonnant de voir un "laowai" au volant et cela facilite pas mal les discussions.
Pour finir je tiens à te dire que j'ai suivi tous tes carnets sur ton blog depuis très longtemps je les lis avec plaisir entre superbes photos et magnifiques textes, c'est une très belle source d'inspiration.
Damien
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Grand merci pour ta réponse très complète (et aussi pour les fleurs!)
Je me disais aussi...ça a l'air trop simple!
A vrai dire je ne prendrais pas le risque d'être border line avec les lois en Chine (pour le camping sauvage par exemple)
Espérons que les choses progressent pour faciliter le tourisme "étranger" en Chine mais pas sûre que le gouvernement soit très motivé pour ça compte-tenu de l'importance du marché "intérieur" et peut-être d'un reste d'espionnite paranoïde.
Je vais continuer de suivre sagement ton carnet de mon douillet canapé!
Juste pour info, l'appli de cartographie dont tu parles est en ideogrammes ou en caractères latins?
A+
Marie
On gare la voiture et on part sur une butte pour prendre encore quelques photos, cette partie de la route est vraiment la plus grandiose.
Sympa la borne kilométrique avec les caractères chinois
La vue depuis la butte
Pour la deuxième partie de la journée, on retourne à la sortie d’autoroute car on avait vu qu'il y avait un panneau routier qui indiquait aussi les destinations d’intérêt touristiques de la région autour de Zhongwei (oui ça fait un peu bas de gamme comme guide de voyage, mais je n'ai pas racheté le Lonely Planet Chine depuis 2011 donc tout est assez daté dedans, je ne m'en sers plus pour mes voyages, seulement quelques lectures sur Mafengwo). Il y a plusieurs possibilités mais on doit faire un choix car ce soir nous devons rendre la voiture à Yinchuan à 3 heures de route d’ici.
On aurait voulu aller à Nanchangtan, sur la rive opposée à Beichangtan, un magnifique village conservé, mais selon un chauffeur à qui on pose la question, il faut compter au moins trois heures de route par une route difficile. Une autre solution serait de retourner vers Yinchuan et de visiter le site montagnard de Sikou (ça a l'air super), mais finalement on fait le choix de partir vers les grasslands de Tonghai, à 35 kilomètres. Finalement ce sera un choix parfait !
On traverse à nouveau Shapotou par la nationale et on en profite pour s’arrêter à proximité de la dune qui fait face au fleuve jaune, la route passant juste à côté.
Ca peut être un bon plan pour ceux qui veulent voir la dune de Shapotou sans nécessairement rentrer dans la zone touristique comme un stop photo par exemple. J'ai aussi l'impression quand venant de cette direction, on peut entrer dans le site avec son propre véhicule et se garer face à la dune, à vérifier.
On est surpris et en même temps excité de voir que pour aller aux grasslands il faut changer de région, on quitte donc la région du Ningxia pour entrer en Mongolie Intérieure. Ici les panneaux sont bilingues chinois mongol (bon je vous ai mis le seul panneau que j'ai qui n'est pas en double langue🤪). Nous entrons dans la ville qui a un nom très étonnant : Ligue d’Alxa (ou Alashan en traduction du chinois), visiblement le mot "ligue" équivaut à "ville" ou "district" ici. C'est une première pour moi d'entrer dans cette province autonome.
A suivre...
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Etonnante Chine !
En voyant tes photos du désert , on se croirait dans une autre partie du globe.
Et tes belles photos de la route du J3 me rappellent un peu les USA
Très intéressant ce compte-rendu d'un voyage dans une province chinoise où apparemment on ne rencontre toujours aucun touriste étranger 😮
Mais comme tu indiques :
.. on quitte donc la région du Ningxia pour entrer en Mongolie Intérieure. (...) C'est une première pour moi d'entrer dans cette province autonome.
A suivre...
je me dis qu'il doit y avoir une suite, non ?
Le suspens est à son comble 😛
Que va-t-il arriver à notre téméraire voyageur ? 😮
Le saurons-nous un jour ? 😮
Restez branché sur VoyageForum, rubrique "Chine" 😏
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
Merci pour ton message ! Je rentre à peine de Nanjing où j'ai passé une semaine pour le boulot et profité du week-end pour découvrir des nouveaux coins de cette ville, je n'ai pas eu le temps de me connecter à VF. Je vais me remettre au carnet de voyage très rapidement car oui il y a une petit suite et fin qui arrive avec ce détour imprévu dans un tout petit coin de Mongolie Intérieure...
Damien
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Suite du jour 3 : Incursion en Mongolie Intérieure
Incroyable, sitôt passée la frontière provinciale, on a l'impression d'avoir un peu changé de pays. Le désert de sable s'étend à perte de vue avec un superbe contraste.
Une immense station électrique a été construite sur le sable. On passe à proximité d’un immense champ de panneaux solaires, tout à coup apparait le grand plateau vert. On arrive aux grasslands.
Des chameaux paissent tranquillement dans la prairie.
La route passe au milieu d'un lac salé asseché, on croirait presque que cette photo est en noir et blanc.
Certaines parties du lac prend des couleurs rosées.
Un peu plus loin ce sont des chevaux qui paissent dans la prairie, avec une belle usine au fond de l'image.
Le site des grasslands de Tonghai est malheureusement développé de la même manière que son cousin Shapotou, avec un ticket d’entrée, un parking et une navette et toutes les activités associées au désert.
Ici le thème, c’est la culture mongole. Autour de ce parc d’attraction, le paysage est déjà magnifique.
On se dit qu’étant arrivé jusqu’ici on va quand même entrer avec un but, louer une Jeep et faire un tour dans les dunes, comme tout le monde. Le tour en Jeep est vraiment sympa, après avoir conduit une partie nous-même, on rend le volant à notre guide qui nous fait la frayeur de notre vie en roulant comme un dingue dans les dunes, c’est vraiment impressionnant, car quand on arrive en haut d’une dune on ne sait pas ce qu’il y a de l’autre côté et la Jeep fonce à toute vitesse dans ce sable mou.
Après avoir fait un tour, la Jeep s’arrête au milieu de nulle part pour nous laisser profiter du désert sans grillages ni la foule. Le vent souffle très fort.
Les nuages ajoutent de belles ombres sur les dunes.
Un océan de sable, c’est l’impression que nous donne le désert de Tengger.
En fin de journée, nous retournons à la voiture sans faire quelques dernières photos du désert.
Cet environnement me fascine tellement, même si c'est vraiment mis en scène pour la belle photo.
Pour rentrer sur Yinchuan, le GPS nous propose une route alternative à l’autoroute de Zhongwei, en passant par la route qui traverse Alashan jusqu’à Wuzhong. C’est beaucoup plus direct mais un peu plus long. Nous décidons de prendre cette route pour changer. Quelle bonne décision nous avons pris. Cette route, entre Alashan et Wuzhong est incroyable.
Après quelques kilomètres dans un parc industriel, nous entrons sur une voie rapide qui coupe le désert de dunes, on roule carrément au milieu de cet océan de dune.
Puis nous arrivons dans un futur parc industriel avec des usines de gaz naturel. Après cela, on retrouve le désert avec de petites dunes, et puis la route s’enfonce dans la steppe mongole.
Un immense plateau avec quelques bosquets. On est vraiment comblé. Quelle heureux hasard d’avoir pris cette route, pour nous c’est vraiment une scenic road, mais personne n’en parle nulle part.
Sur cet immense plateau, des troupeaux de chameaux par ci par là. Puis des ânes, des moutons. On ressent vraiment cette immensité de la Mongolie, de la steppe. Un beau nuage blanc.
Même si ce n’est qu’un aperçu, que la Mongolie doit donner encore plus cet impression de vide.
Pour nous c’est une telle chance car on n’imaginait pas passer par ce type d’environnement pendant ce voyage, après les montagnes arides, le fleuve jaune, le désert, les grasslands, c’est une journée incroyable ! Clairement cet aperçu de la Mongolie m’a donné une envie furieuse d’aller découvrir cette région de plus près une prochaine fois.
La minuscule province du Ningxia sans oublier un morceau de Mongolie à Alashan nous a vraiment ébloui par la grandeur de ses paysages arides traversés par le majestueux fleuve Jaune, fleuve qui a été comme un fil rouge à notre séjour dans ce tout petit coin de Chine. C’est le minéral domine ici, ce qui fait comme un choc quand on vient de la luxuriante Hangzhou. Et c’est ce que l’on vient chercher ici, avec quelques ressemblances avec l’Ouest Américain ou la Turquie. Les distances courtes nous ont permis de profiter complétement de ces trois jours sur place, même si on se disait qu’un 4e jour aurait été nécessaire pour visiter la chaine de montagne de Helan Shan autour de Yinchuan.
Comme je l'ai mentionné plusieurs fois, la monétisation des sites touristiques, naturels et historiques de l'Ouest de la Chine est dommageable car cela transforme la nature en Disney Land mais c'est une tendance sur laquelle on ne peut rien faire, si ce n'est alterner les visites "cadrées" et la liberté offerte par la voiture.
J'espère que ce petit voyage de voyage dans le Ningxia vous aura plu, si vous avez des questions n'hésitez pas !
Damien
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Bravo, superbe carnet et superbes photos on en redemande!! 🙂
Décidément la Chine recèle bien des surprises, je ne m'attendais pas à voir ce genre de paysages dans cette partie du pays! Et oui j'avais noté aussi la monétisation du tourisme qui se met en place en Chine: tout est rénové à neuf, très encadré, dirigé et surtout payant... Est-ce un bien, un mal? Je n'en sais rien...
Lors de mon passage en Chine, j'avais vraiment eu l'impression que les autorités ne cherchaient pas à attirer des touristes étrangers, le tourisme intérieur paraissait amplement suffisant, il faut dire qu'il y a de la réserve!!
Sinon, oui tes photos de la Mongolie intérieure annoncent les immensités de la Mongolie! 🙂
En Septembre 2011 j'ai traversé la province de Ningxia du Nord au Sud.
Je venais en bus depuis Yulin dans la province voisine du Shaanxi.
L'autoroute à destination de Yinchuan, la capitale, longe le tracé de la Grande Muraille dont il ne subsiste pratiquement rien si ce n'est quelques monticules de pierres.
Dans la ville-même de Yinchuan, la pagode Haibao de 9 étages
Deux sites importants à visiter :
- au Sud de la ville, le Musée et la Mosquée du Parc de la Culture des Hui de Chine
- à l'Ouest, la Nécropole des Xia
et comme toujours en Chine la vie locale dans la ville
la place Nanmen vue depuis ma chambre d'hôtel
et au hasard de rencontres dans les rues de la ville
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
Ensuite je suis allé à Zhongwei, au centre de la province
Impossible d'y manquer le Gao Miao, toute la ville s'articule autour de lui
un accueil très sympathique, le moine assis m'a même offert une banane en cadeau de bienvenue 😉
une statuaire toujours très sophistiquée
les 500 arhats toujours présents au poste
de jolies fresques
beaucoup de musique à Zhongwei, fanfare dans la rue ...
.. musiciens accompagnant chanteurs et chanteuses sous un kiosque dans le parc
Le style/look Mao/Zhou toujours de mise pour certain
et le "grand timonier" ne vacille pas sous les coups de vent
amitié sino-cubaine ?
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
Ma troisième et dernière étape au Ningxia fut Guyuan, au Sud
Vue depuis ma chambre d'hôtel 😮
Dans la rue, sortie de la mosquée
Un petit tour chez le boucher installé à même la rue 😮
La raison principale de mon séjour Guyuan c'était d'aller visiter les Grottes du Xumishan et son Bouddha géant.
Pas facile d'accès, il faut emprunter plusieurs modes de transport. Heureusement que dans le premier bus j'ai rencontré 3 filles et un garçon qui rentraient chez eux et qui parlaient anglais. Ils furent intéressés par la visite de ce lieu qu'ils n'avaient pas encore vu et ils décidèrent de m'accompagner. Ce fut tout à fait bénéfique car à 5 nous avons pu "faire" démarrer le premier minivan pour le second trajet et négocier un bon prix pour le "taxi" du dernier tronçon. Ils m'aidèrent également pour le retour. Nous nous quittâmes une fois revenu sur la grand route, eux continuaient vers le Nord et moi je repris un bus vers le Sud et la ville de Guyuan. Merci à eux et aux très sympathiques Chinois que l'on croise souvent.
L'approche des grottes s'effectue en remontant des gorges et
des paysages de montagnes escarpées
soudain le grand Bouddha apparaît
mes compagnes d'aventure
à l'arrière c'est toute la montagnes qui est percée de nombreuses grottes
d'autres grandes statues à l'intérieur des grottes dont la plus intéressante, la N° 51 (ou N° 5 ! Mes notes sont mal écrites 🤪)
Le lendemain je prévoyais de visiter le Kongtong Shan à la frontière avec la province du Gansu mais il tombait des cordes et je décidais de prendre la route pour Tianshui (Gansu)
Chemin faisant j'aperçus deux panneaux en carrelage de céramique; une de mes passions chinoises puisque j'en ai fait un album photo : goo.gl/...os/Je8QpUf4SN8pXvG1A
quelques visions des conditions météorologiques du trajet en bus
on traverse un "village"
on se croise avec peine
des chantiers nous obligent à emprunter des chemins de terre
mais j'ai fini par arriver à Tianshui où d'autres aventures m'attendaient 🤪
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
aller visiter le Yumishan et son Bouddha géant. (...) soudain le grand Bouddha apparaît
Désormais, l'accès au site de Xūmíshān (= le Mont Suméru) est contrôlé bien avant d'arriver à proximité du Bouddha géant. A tel point qu'est proposée une navette pour dépose au pied du Bouddha. Mais j'ai préféré remonter à pied la gorge qui offre de beaux points-de-vue.
Le site dispose maintenant en rive droite (opposé au Grand Bouddha) d'un musée de qualité. Compense la fermeture de la plupart des grottes d'intérêt.
Site visité en septembre 2018, en chemin entre Tongxin (intéressante mosquée de style temple chinois) et Guyan (où je prenais un train de nuit à destination de Xi'an).
Depuis Tongxin, j'ai pris un autocar pour Guyang, et me suis fait déposer au niveau du péage de Sanying (18 RMB). Ensuite, taxi négocié à 30 RMB (vs demande initiale de 200 RMB) pour dépose à Xumishan.
Billet Xumishan à 60 RMB, hors navette.
Après visite, en auto-stop (à défaut d'un transport collectif), un automobiliste m'a déposé à Heicheng d'où un minibus dessert Guyan pour 8 RMB. Mais cela aurait été possible depuis Sanying par lequel le minibus est passé.
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
J'me disais bien que c'était bizarre de ne pas avoir de liens sur Google en tapant Yumi 😇
Maintenant je sais où il y a des hôtels à proximité de "Xumi" 😉
L'article de Wikipedia est relativement succinct
Et j'ai corrigé dans mon message précédent.
Par contre, si je peux me le permettre, je te renvois l'ascenseur en te signalant qu'il s'agit de "Guyuan" et non pas "Guyan" 😛
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
Quelque soit la partition, nous avons une multitude d'informations sur un coin de Chine qui semble bien peu connu des étrangers et c'est très intéressant !
Merci donc pour ces voyages-reportages 🙂
Dolma
un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...
Par contre, si je peux me le permettre, je te renvois l'ascenseur en te signalant qu'il s'agit de "Guyuan" et non pas "Guyan" 😛
Pan sur le bec, et tu as bien raison.
Du fait d'une prononciation initiale incorrecte, j'ai toujours du mal avec le nom de cette ville. Inexcusable ici, car tu avais correctement orthographié la dite ville.
L'article de Wikipedia est relativement succinct.
Exact pour les versions francophone et anglophone. Par contre, c'est assez développé en version sinophone, au moins par ce que m'en montre la traduction automatique.
Sur le site lui-même, je n'ai pas croisé grand monde, beaucoup moins qu'à Bing Ling Si (Gansu), qui n'était déjà pas saturé. Pourtant des sites bouddhiques de grand intérêt le long de la Route de la Soie.
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
Super tes photos de Guyuan, c'est vrai que Xumishan doit être sympa à visiter, même si il est possible que cet endroit est maintenant devenu aussi développé que les autres sites du Ningxia.
Concernant ta passion pour les panneaux carrelés, ça me fait penser à mon intérêt pour tous ces innombrables panneaux de propagande rouge disséminés partout dans la Chine moderne, mais alors dans le Ningxia la concentration est maximale, avec toujours des slogans chocs (mais souvent répétitifs quand même). Au début je me suis dit qu'il faudrait que je fasse une petite collection de photos de panneaux de propagandes insolites, mais c'est seulement le dernier jour que j'y ai pensé, quand on voit des grands panneaux type publicitaires au milieu de nulle part dans la steppe, le désert, dans les villes, dans les bâtiments, dans les mosquées, temples.
Dernièrement il y a quand même une forte poussée du panneau rouge dans la campagne... ;-)
Damien
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Voilà malheureusement tout se développe un peu vite, ce qui est bien pour les familles et les personnes à mobilité réduite, c'est sur qu'il faut penser à eux ; mais d'un autre côté il est vrai que ça enlève le côté aventure des voyages en Chine si on va dans les "jingdian" (sites touristiques) avec "men piao" (ticket d'entrée)...
Damien
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Voilà malheureusement tout se développe un peu vite, ce qui est bien pour les familles et les personnes à mobilité réduite, c'est sur qu'il faut penser à eux ; mais d'un autre côté il est vrai que ça enlève le côté aventure des voyages en Chine si on va dans les "jingdian" (sites touristiques) avec "men piao" (ticket d'entrée)...
Cela ne m'a aucunement gêné à Xumishan. Le centre d'accueil est vaste, mais il est loin du site lui-même et ne dépareille donc pas.
Pour ceux qui ne sont pas rebutés par la marche, un sentier bien tracé descend dans la gorge, remonte le cours de la rivière sur un ponton en bois, avant de conduire soit au musée en rive droite, soit au site archéologique en rive gauche. Rien n'offense l'oeil. Je n'y ai croisé personne.
Pendant mon exploration des grottes, je n'ai croisé qu'un unique visiteur. Il est vrai que ces grottes sont dispersées à flanc de montagne et que c'est parfois un peu abrupt. Il n'y a que devant le Grand Bouddha qu'il y avait un peu de passage. Mais vraiment pas envahissant ce jour-là. Peut-être 2 familles en une 1/2 h.
Dans le Musée du site, je n'ai croisé que quelques surveillants.
Comme Xumishan est à l'écart des grandes voies de communication et est dénué de sens géopolitique (cf. Jiaohe et Gaochang près de Turpan, Xinjiang), il est possible que ce site reste peu couru pour ces 5 prochaines années. Les chinois ont déjà tant de sites à découvrir par ailleurs...
Même le site de Binglingsi (Gansu), l'un de mes coups de coeur, reste ignoré des chinois. Pourtant aisé d'accès depuis Lanzhou.
Aucun rapport avec la fréquentation de la nécropole des Xia occidentaux à Yinchuan. Lequel est néanmoins un havre de paix comparé aux sites vedette (par ex. Huashan).
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
Bonjour Claude,
Pour passer le permis de conduire, cela m'a pris deux semaines dont dix jours de révision du code, mais je pense que c'est un long investissement pour un court séjour en Chine car il faut :
1. Passeport + visa >6mois (c'est le point critique) + certificat de résidence (le papier donné lorsque l'on loge quelque part en Chine car c'est cette adresse qui sera sur le permis
2. Permis étranger à traduire
3. Visite médicale + photos
4. Passer le code en anglais
Pour louer un véhicule, le mieux est de passer par une des applications téléphone comme shenzhou zuche ou yihai zuche.
Il n'empeche cela sera un peu compliqué pour un court séjour. Avec l'application "didi" on peut trouver un chauffeur dans beaucoup d'endroits, ou voir avec l'hotel.
Bon voyage,
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Merci beaucoup Dany, c'est vrai que ce n'est pas une des premières régions que l'on visite en Chine, moi aussi après si longtemps je n'y avais jamais mis les pieds avant.
Bon voyage
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Merci beaucoup pour cet excellent carnet de voyage.
J'ai moi-même parcouru le Ningxia jusqu'à Alashan mais je ne me souviens pas du tout avoir vu vos océans de dunes.
Je ne trouve aucun repère sur les grasslands de Tonghai. Faut-il partir de la ville et mettre le cap à l'ouest ?
Je serai de nouveau dans le coin au printemps alors je me renseigne 😛
Je pense avoir trouvé...
Desert Tianhu, à une 30aine de kilomètres de Bayanhot (Alashan) ?
Si le parc a ouvert en 2009 c'est pour ça que je n'en avais pas entendu parler... Tout va tellement vite en Chine. Et ça a l'air encore plus impressionnant que Shapotou - qui n'était pas clôturé à l'époque 😛
Pour aller à dans les dunes il y a une route qui part depuis la sortie d'Autoroute après Zhongwei, prendre la direction des grasslands (indiqué sur le panneau sitôt sorti du péage), à droite suivre la route sur 30 km environ. Au moment de passer la frontière de région Ningxia / Mongolie Intérieure, sur la gauche on voit les dunes au dessus d'un peu de végétation. A cet endroit, c'est un immense champs de panneaux solaires qui est posé sur les dunes. Ensuite, soit on prend la direction de Tonghai, à gauche, et on va passer sur le lac salé avant d'arriver à l'entrée de la zone touristique, cette zone se situe pile à l'entrée du désert de dunes, à la limite avec les grasslands. De là le désert semblait immense, à vue d'oeil on en voyait pas le bout. Soit de Tonghai, en direction de Alashan, la route est droite et traverse une autre zone désertique, la route passe au milieu des dunes avant d'arriver de l'autre côté dans une future zone industrielle déjà quadrillées par des routes larges et des lots pour installer un jour des usines, puis on passe dans la zone de Gobi jusqu'à l'embranchement avec la route de Yinchuan.
J'espère que cela a pu t'aider.
Damien
Carnets de voyage sur la Chine et Asie sur mon blog
Je l'ai ! "Derrière" Shapotou donc...
Merci beaucoup Damien pour ses explications très précises. Ça me donne vraiment envie mais ça impliquer de repasser par Zhongwei... On va voir...
Je rêve du jour où je pourrai louer une voiture en Chine 😉
Intéressant récit de voyage sur une région peu souvent évoquée de l'immense Chine, bravo, pour le texte et les illustrations, des photos de qualité.
J'ai bien apprécié (entre autre, bien sûr !) le parcours près du « fleuve jaune » et les paysages de désert avec ces étendues de sable et toutes ces dunes. Amusante l'évocation des dunes dont la visite est encadrée et limitée comme dans un parc d'attraction … le désert on l'imagine pourtant sans limite même pour les visiteurs, bon, c'est ainsi et le récit presque ironique est plaisant à lire.
Superbes aussi les dunes de Mongolie avec ces balades en véhicules tout-terrain où l'on se fait secouer à toute allure … histoire de faire peur aux visiteurs embarqués. Cela m'a évoqué des souvenirs de visite dans le désert omanais où là également j'avais été bringuebalé plein pot dans les dunes, quand on n'a pas l'habitude, cela surprend et finalement amuse !
Bravo pour ce passionnant récit de voyage.
Bon, celà fait deux mois que nous sommes rentrés, deux mois que je vis avec des souvenirs pleins la tête, deux mois que je me dis qu'il faudrait tout raconter,…
Un carnet de voyage en Chine ... vous vous attendez probablement à un récit évoquant soit une randonnée sur l'impressionnante Grande Muraille ou un parcours…
Carnets de voyage › Corée du Nord / Chine · 30 replies
Partant du principe que tous les pays méritent d’être visités (au moins une fois!), je n’avais donc pas de raison pour ne pas aller en... Corée du Nord. Quand…
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Alright, this year, we're heading back to South America!
The initial plan was to retrace the route we imagined in the summer of 2020: a trip to northern Argentina starting from Córdoba.
Unfortunately, the flight to Córdoba no longer exists, and airfares to Javier Milei’s country are both outrageously priced and involve multiple layovers.
So, I tweaked Google Flights every which way and finally found a flight within my budget—departing from Clermont-Ferrand!
Not to Argentina, though...
Our transatlantic flight will cross the snow-capped Andes, landing in Santiago, Chile, with a return from Lima!
In between, two domestic flights and a big road trip loop starting from the coastal city of Arica to explore the treasures of northern Chile.
Our mode of transport: a pseudo 4x4 that won’t take us through sand dunes or devilish tracks but will let us tackle the entire secondary network, including unpaved main roads, while still being insured.
Is the suitcase packed with all-season clothes?
Are the driver’s license and passport ready?
Bank cards and a few euros too?
Off we go for just over 3 weeks of southern wanderings!
--/--
To keep all my esteemed readers on track, here are a few maps outlining the Arica-Arica loop!
1- From Arica to San Pedro de Atacama via Pica and the Salar de Huasco
2- Around San Pedro
3- From San Pedro to Cariquima
4- From Cariquima to Putre
5 - From Putre to Arica
Gas stations in this part of Chile are located in Arica, Iquique, Pozo Almonte, Pica, Calama, and San Pedro de Atacama.
I hope this travel journal might interest some people, but since we were completely self-sufficient (tent, sleeping bag, pot, cooking over a wood fire…) almost every day, I don’t have many hotel addresses or great restaurant tips to share! Sorry!
We used the Maio map at 1:50,000 scale. It’s part of the Boa Vista/Sal/Maio map. Bought on Amazon, but currently unavailable as of the latest news.
The people of Maio are extremely welcoming and warm, and we were always more than well received in the villages where we pitched our tent!
We’re usually big hikers, but since Maio is a beach island (gorgeous ones, at that!), we alternated a few hours of walking in the morning with some relaxation in the afternoon: beach, reading, fishing, resting…
1 euro = 110 escudos
Day 1 (Friday) Transfers by plane: Fogo-Praia-Maio
We opted for the plane to save some time on transfers, as the boat connections between Fogo and Praia take a while, and those between Praia and Maio are almost nonexistent.
You should budget around 40-50 euros per flight per person.
There are 2 flights per week between Praia and Maio—on Tuesdays and Fridays when we were there (January 2016), but currently on Mondays and Fridays.
A bit of a delay leaving Praia, but we arrived on Maio without any problems around 4 PM.
We took an *aluguer* (shared transport, 200 escudos per person) to the center of Vila do Maio, but it’s totally doable on foot with a backpack.
Since it was already a bit late, for this first night, we dropped our bags at Big Game Maio. A standard European-style hotel run by a very nice Italian family. It’s a bit pricey for us (5500 escudos for 2 people with breakfast), but after our 2 weeks in a tent on Fogo, we were happy to find a little comfort. And the breakfast is ultra-generous, with fresh products (cured ham, fruit, cheese, bread) and top quality. The hotel restaurant offers dishes that are a clever mix of Italian and Cape Verdean cuisine. Excellent!
Little tip: We didn’t try it, but Big Game Maio offers big-game fishing trips, diving, and quad rentals.
The hotel is 2 minutes from Vila’s beautiful beach, and we went for a dip at sunset and took a stroll around town. They’re redeveloping the waterfront with pretty sidewalks and light stone walls.
Vila beach
Sunset behind Santiago
Day 2 (Saturday): rest day + fishing
After 2 weeks of hiking and since Vila is such a peaceful place where it’s nice to take your time, we decided to spend an extra day there. We took the path heading south along the coast to reach Ponta Preta beach in 20 minutes. The path isn’t very pretty because there’s quite a bit of construction going on, which prevents you from really walking along the shore. Lots of real estate agencies, especially Italian ones, have taken over the land. But Ponta Preta beach is a stunning black-sand beach where we had the whole place to ourselves. We decided to go fishing from the rocks.
At 1 PM, the sun was blazing, so we headed back to Vila and dried the fish for the following days.
At 6 PM, we went fishing again, but this time at night from the rocks at the end of Vila beach.
8:30 PM: back to shower and eat at the restaurant.
The rocks and sea at Ponta Preta
Day 3 (Sunday): from Vila do Maio to Calheta de Baixo, via Monte Batalha (path 101) Hiking time: 5h
Since there aren’t many “summits” on Maio, we decided to head to Calheta de Baixo but via Monte Batalha. We left at 8:20 AM and somehow made it to Monte Batalha by 11 AM (2h40 of hiking). But the path is really hard to find in the middle of the dry grass and acacia trees. We kind of cut through randomly, aiming for the summit. Even though it’s not very high (around 300 m), the view is amazing—you can see all of Maio at 360°!
Short 30-minute break. The descent through the “forest” of acacias is even worse for finding your way. We oriented ourselves a bit by the sun to find the road connecting Vila to Calheta. We arrived around 1:30 PM at Calheta de Baixo. A very pretty little seaside village with colorful houses. An idyllic beach, a newly renovated square, and super-friendly people. We pitched our tent facing the sea on the terrace of an abandoned house (after asking the locals for permission).
We cooked some of the dried fish we’d caught the day before, along with fresh beans we’d brought from Fogo (and were still carrying!).
At the summit of Monte Batalha
Calheta
Calheta de Baixo
Day 4 (Monday): From Calheta de Baixo to Morrinho on foot. Hiking time: 3h. Then hitching a bus to Cascabulho, and a car to Pedro Vaz.
We left around 9:30 AM heading north (path 201), following the coastline where the beaches just keep coming—each one wilder and more beautiful than the last: Praia de Soca, Calheta Braca, Ponta de Pau Seco, Calhetina. We reached the dunes of Baia de Santana. There’s no real path, so you have to follow the coast, then go around the dunes, and when you spot the 3 coconut trees, head east toward them to find the track leading to Morrinho. Again, we discovered a village with a Wild West vibe, with colorful houses lined up on either side of a paved road. Just enough time to accept a drink offered by a local before jumping onto the passing school bus that took us to Cascabulho. There, we waited for a ride. A political delegation of 10 cars drove right past us without stopping. Luckily, one of the cars had a flat tire and came by 30 minutes later—and that one, thankfully, gave us a lift! They were heading to the inauguration of a water pump in Pedro Vaz. So that’s where we stopped too. After getting permission from the school principal, we pitched our tent in front of the village school… and became the attraction for all the kids who kept us company until nightfall! A woman gave us 2 jugs of water, but with all that company, it was tough to take a peaceful shower!!
Dinner: pasta with beans.
We were woken up by rain during the night and had to rush to bring all our stuff inside the tent!
The beaches just keep coming...
The dunes
The 3 coconut trees, a landmark to find the track
Day 5 (Tuesday): Rest day and fishing at Boca da Ribeira beach
We packed up at 8 AM because the kids had school. We filled the 2 water jugs that the woman lent us and headed down to camp at Boca da Ribeira beach, which is a bit further east of Pedro Vaz. It took less than an hour to get there. This time, we really were alone in the world! We pitched the tent and spent the day fishing, reading, playing, and swimming regularly because the sun was beating down hard!!! We caught a nice fish that we grilled over the fire in the evening. With the crabs and shellfish we gathered, we made a seafood rice! Yum! What a feast!
That night, once the tent was zipped up, we felt something like rain on the tent fabric. I decided to go out and gather our things, and then—shock!!! It wasn’t raindrops we were feeling and hearing, but bugs attracted by the light!! Not just a few bugs—a huge swarm of them!!! Thousands of bugs covering the whole tent, the ropes, slipping into the seams and hems! Everywhere! The blue tent had turned green!!! After that, it was a real struggle to get back inside without letting any in! A real challenge, and there were always 3 or 4 that managed to sneak in anyway. Total war!!!
Boca da Ribeira beach
Day 6 (Wednesday): From Boca da Ribeira to Ribeira Dom João. Hiking time: 3h30
We woke up leisurely and waited for the sun to dry our things, damp from the dew. A man passed by, and we gave him the water jugs we’d borrowed, which saved us a trip back to Pedro Vaz to return them to the woman.
We left around 10 AM. We followed the sea to Alcatraz, then headed toward Pilão Cão. The path runs alongside the small hills on our right, and we passed above Lagoa Cimidor. The terrain is arid, and the path is hard to find among the many goat tracks.
After 3h30 of hiking, we reached Ribeira Dom João with 2 young people we’d met along the way.
Since it was a public holiday in Cape Verde, the kids didn’t have school, and with the principal’s permission, we pitched our tent in the kindergarten. She even kindly opened the school toilets for us. The neighbor gave us the water we needed to wash up and cook. We cooked beef steaks on charcoal. A nice change from fish!! Charcoal is a widespread artisanal product on the island. People almost never cook directly over wood but always with these big chunks of charcoal.
The hills on our right
Ribeira Dom João
Day 7 (Thursday): From Ribeira Dom João to Vila do Maio. Hiking time: 3h30
We woke up at 6:30 AM to clear out of the school by 8 AM. The neighbor made us coffee to save time. It took us 2 hours to reach Barreiro, another Wild West-style town! Since we didn’t want to walk on the road, we took the old track and reached Vila do Maio in 1h30.
Last night before taking the plane back to Praia the next day.
Barreiro
The old track
The church in Vila do Maio
That’s where this trip ends!
Maio is truly a magical island! A remote, isolated place with incredible, wild beaches and villages with a Wild West feel—colorful houses on either side of well-paved, well-maintained, and decorated streets. And the locals are so warm and welcoming.
Even for hikers like us, it was a great discovery, and we were able to alternate hiking and relaxation with great pleasure! Too bad the area around Vila do Maio is being overrun by real estate construction—ongoing, unfinished, abandoned…
When we started looking for a summer destination a few months ago, our first criterion was to avoid extreme heat and heatwaves. We had already been to Norway two years ago and are considering going back in the future for other occasions. So, we had some fun asking ChatGPT which destinations enjoyed a mild climate during the summer without going too far. Among the list provided by the AI were the Canary Islands... The idea of a place we wouldn’t have thought of first, both not too far away and exotic enough, appealed to us: “Hmm, why not?”
This destination had never really attracted me, though Magali was a bit more interested. Five years earlier, COVID had caused a short break in my professional activity, and I had planned a trip because the flight price was attractive, and I was looking for a destination different from what usually appeals to me, more than out of deep interest. From a distance and with a social judgment I acknowledge (it’s not great, but it’s not completely wrong), I had the image of a destination for party-goers enjoying the sun without the slightest interest in local culture, with concrete coastlines and denatured landscapes—everything I detest the most. Still, I had done some quick research on the different islands and spotted Lanzarote for its beautiful volcanic landscapes, hiking trails, beaches, and the impression of a good balance between activity and fewer crowds than Tenerife or Gran Canaria. Then I dropped the idea of going, without ever reconsidering traveling to the Canaries...
Until now! Because we started researching the different islands of the archipelago to see which ones might appeal to us the most. It was La Gomera, the third smallest island of the archipelago, more praised for its hiking trails and preserved nature than for its beaches, away from mass tourism (fifty times fewer tourists than Tenerife) but still a bit more developed than its wild neighbor El Hierro, that caught our attention. Contrary to what might be suggested later, I’m not at all addicted to AI, but I use it from time to time to synthesize quick research or simply for experimentation. Since ChatGPT had started anticipating my tastes lately as if it had become my buddy (often successfully, sometimes off the mark), I asked which Canary Island would suit me best for a trip with my family. The tool answered first with... La Gomera. So, I tested it and teased it a bit to see if this suggestion was well-founded, as the method sometimes makes it contradict itself. But no luck: “You’d appreciate the wild nature of El Hierro, but with family, you’ll find little activity for the kids. You won’t like the touristy vibe of the big islands like Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. You could consider La Palma, but it’s really La Gomera that will suit you best, based on your interests and the criteria given.” So, we dug deeper into our research and were convinced without a shadow of a doubt that this island was the one waiting for us.
Without knowing it, we had Canarians in our circle who revealed their origins when they heard about our travel plans. One from Tenerife insisted we’d be better off choosing Tenerife (obviously...) because it also has preserved spots and that La Gomera, “you can explore it in two or three days, you’ll get bored quickly...” The other, a colleague from Gran Canaria who had never visited La Gomera, still recommended it without hesitation because it turned out her parents had just gone there on vacation: they loved it and had encountered few tourists. She also tended to think this destination was usually the subject of short stays, but according to what her parents told her, taking your time there was also a great idea. However, in our research, the idea that La Gomera is an island you can explore in three or four days max kept coming up. So, we considered combining its visit with La Palma or El Hierro, the other two that caught our eye. But hopping between islands by ferry represents a significant budget for non-Canarians, even more so for a family of four. Then, scrutinizing Google Maps, it seemed obvious that two weeks were too short to discover two islands as they deserve, and that there seemed to be plenty to see in La Gomera, given its very unique culture. After all, we read that some people spend several months a year there, others never even leave... Finally, these landscapes and this atmosphere, which seemed to us a mix of Europe, North Africa, and Latin America, tempted us. So, it would be two weeks in La Gomera, deal!
La Gomera is therefore the second... well, the third smallest island of the Canaries since La Graciosa was recently recognized as a fully inhabited island. It has the shape of a rough circle about 20 to 25 kilometers in diameter and has just over 20,000 inhabitants, half of them in its capital, San Sebastián de la Gomera, the only real town. Like its Canarian sisters, La Gomera is a volcanic formation that rose about 10 million years ago. The island is very mountainous and rugged, covered with red and black rocky landscapes. Geological activity has shaped, between the sprawling massifs that end in steep cliffs in the ocean, six coastal valleys with tropical vegetation that have favored human settlement. They divide the island like slices of a cake; from the north clockwise: the agricultural Vallehermoso, the rustic Agulo, the green, humid, and fertile Hermigua, the sunny capital San Sebastián de la Gomera, the southern and isolated Alajeró-Santiago, and the seaside Valle Gran Rey. They constitute the six municipalities (more like cantons to our French understanding) of the territory.
The large solidified magma massifs that shape the heart of the island have created a large depression more protected from the sun at its center, allowing the growth of a vast laurel forest, today grouped within the Garajonay National Park, La Gomera’s green lung, which has earned it the status of a World Biosphere Reserve. Its completely European appearance contrasts sharply with the rocky and tropical landscapes of the rest of the island. Thus, the climate varies greatly from one point to another on the island: in summer, you can quickly go from a dry and sunny valley at 35°C to a humid forest area at altitude at 18°C.
La Gomera was populated late. As with the rest of the Canaries, human presence is thought to have begun about 2,000 years ago. Groups of animist Berbers, probably fleeing persecution, gradually populated the archipelago, especially the western islands and La Gomera, becoming its small aboriginal population: the Guanches (or later Gomeros). The animist and pastoral civilization of the Guanches thrived until the Spanish takeover in the 15th century, which, after a short period of harmony and mixing with the indigenous people, suddenly ended in bloodshed... La Gomera later became the “Columbus Island” after Christopher Columbus’s stopover, increasing the blending of populations. In the 20th century, many Gomeros emigrated to Cuba and other Latin American countries in search of a better life, bringing back a mix of cultures and traits quite palpable in today’s Gomeran culture. It is, however, in La Gomera that the vestiges of Guanche culture seem to have left the most traces, in the language, gastronomy, social practices... Moreover, most Gomeros, especially in remote villages, have a particular identifiable type and proudly claim their ancestral roots, even making La Gomera a bit exotic in the eyes of other Canarians.
Perhaps that’s why it has never really wanted to develop its tourist infrastructure too much. If we set aside the tourists who visit for the day by bus or boat from Tenerife on a marked itinerary (and whom we ultimately rarely encounter), La Gomera has remained a hidden gem, a destination focused on nature discovery that attracts hikers, nature-loving divers, and scientists for its fauna and flora, and to a lesser extent, beachgoers who don’t seek overly developed coastlines. Tourist activity is therefore limited. Roughly speaking, you’ll find a majority of Spaniards, including a substantial number of residents from other Canary Islands, many Germans who have a particular fondness for La Gomera and spend long stays there or own second homes, to the point that the German cultural footprint is clearly noticeable in some places (it’s said to be Angela Merkel’s favorite holiday spot), and still quite a few French. The presence of other nationalities seemed negligible to us. Most travelers come mainly for hiking, but it’s also a prime spot for whale watching. Additionally, the seaside resorts of La Gomera—San Sebastián, Santiago, and especially Valle Gran Rey—are well-known destinations for hippies, especially German ones, ranging from chic boho hippies to old-school hippies who’ve been there for decades, quite similar to those you’d meet in India in Goa, Rishikesh, or Paharganj. Thus, practices like naturism, vegetarianism, and local organic production are quite well established in some areas.
Some practical info:
- The round-trip flight from Paris to Tenerife cost us 365 € per person (outbound with Transavia, return with EasyJet), including checked luggage and three seats reserved side by side.
- We chose two bases to explore the island: one week in Valle Gran Rey, reputed to be the most pleasant of the three seaside resorts, and one week in Hermigua, more mountainous and close to the natural park. We booked two houses with balconies and views: the first at 120 € per night, the second at 99 €.
- The round-trip ferry between Tenerife and La Gomera cost us 270 € with the company Baleària Canarias, including discounts for children aged 4 and 12, but I don’t have the exact details. It was a bit cheaper than with the other company, Fred Olsen.
- Finally, we rented a car through the agency Cicar for 360 € for 16 days, which comes to 22.50 € per day.
- Apart from that, we didn’t plan anything and decided the day before or even the morning of what we wanted to do. We didn’t invest in any paper guide on the Canaries, as information on La Gomera was scarce, but we used the very comprehensive site La Gomera Travel, a travel guide published by the Canary Islands Tourism Council, a real goldmine of almost exhaustive information on the island.
Alright, off we go for 16 days of adventure discovering La Gomera!
If I close my eyes and think of the Sultanate of Oman, I first smell a light scent of incense, feel the warmth of a sunbeam on my skin, before sand slips through my fingers. I taste the sweetness of a date, a real candy, then the flavor of coffee with a hint of cardamom and rosewater... I hear the desert wind whistling in my ears, the distant call of a muezzin, then the murmur of water. I open my eyes to see smiles, welcoming gestures, a turquoise sea, rocks ranging from ochre to purple, deep wadis where torrents burst forth, orange dunes, white sandy beaches where tiny crabs scurry at full speed. I see incredible oases emerging between arid mountains. I see abandoned villages that I’d dream were full of life, imposing fortresses overlooking valleys, and lively souks where offers are delicate and negotiation is a mutual courtesy.
All that, and so much more.
This is what I tried to capture in my illustrated travel journal, which I’ll fill in here and there with photos.
I drew this journal “cold,” after my return (actually, I made it this summer, while our trip was last winter). It’s a pretty special format—I bought it in Japan without really knowing what I’d do with it. Well, it found its purpose! Below is a photo of this accordion-style journal: here, it’s only partially open, because when fully unfolded, it’s 5 meters long!
For drawing enthusiasts: The accordion format is both a constraint (each sheet is 9 cm x 27 cm) and a freedom (you can create a fresco). The paper is also a bit special: it doesn’t allow for fine lines, but it takes ink well (liner pen). However, everything has to be done almost in one go (with a very light pencil sketch) because it erases poorly. It absorbs too much water for coloring with markers or watercolors (unless you avoid soaking it), but it works well with oil pastels and their use with a brush and solvent. Since it’s yellowish, it allowed me to create contrasts even with white pastel.
On the right, the "welcome marker"—those dates offered everywhere as a sign of hospitality. On the left, a tribute to those stunning doors worn by time, admired all over the old quarters, including the abandoned ones.
Oman is one of the world’s largest producers of frankincense resin. Incense burners are everywhere, from the simplest clay ones to the most precious handcrafted silver ones...
Hospitality will often lead you to accept a small coffee, an "Omani coffee," very light, subtly flavored with cardamom, maybe a touch of saffron, and occasionally rosewater.
Here, I’ve depicted a man in the common everyday attire of Omanis: the dishdasha, mostly white (during the week and daytime; colors are more common in the evening or on Fridays and Saturdays). While you’ll see some men dressed in Western clothes, they’re very few. The white dishdasha is truly the shared attire of all men. The dishdasha, which has no hood, is distinguished by a small pom-pom attached to the collar, the furakha, which is soaked in perfume. And believe me, Omanis go overboard with it! "It smells like the pom-pom" is an expression that’s now part of our shared language, my husband and I.
Another must of men’s attire is the kuma, a small round head covering, usually white with brightly colored patterns. The keffiyeh is also worn (but without the cord called an agal in Arab countries), and it’s mostly worn by those with roots in the desert, from what I understood.
And what about the women, you might ask? Some are veiled, some in full black (but not a burka—more like a chador + abaya), due to the influence of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whereas the traditional outfit used to be a layering of very colorful dresses. Most of the women we saw wore neutral clothing, a plain veil over their hair, but with their faces uncovered. We also saw many saris and colorful veils—don’t forget that 40% of the population consists of Indian, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi immigrants, who work a lot in tourism, hospitality, restaurants, services, and construction.
Just to clarify, as a tourist, there’s no pressure to wear a veil, and never any disapproving looks. Of course, you’ll save the mini shorts, plunging necklines, bare shoulders, and midriffs for the hotel terrace—but I’d say that’s the same for men and women, and with the sun being strong, it’s better for your skin too.
Here’s the introduction! In the next post, I’ll tell you about my itinerary, and we can dive in!
Hi everyone, I’m Patrick, 67 years old, a seasoned traveler (already 22 trips outside Europe).
In autumn 2025, I took my first 3-week trip to Japan, with stops in Tokyo, Kamakura, Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Koyasan, Tokyo again, and Nikko.
I wanted to go back in May 2026 and explore some lesser-known places to complement my first trip.
Last year, there were four of us traveling together to discover Japan (a fairly classic itinerary). This time, I’ll be traveling solo for part of the trip and with a couple of French friends for the rest.
The weather was gorgeous in May, averaging around 25°C, with two very hot days in Kyoto and only two rainy days.
As usual, I organized everything myself, gathering plenty of information from various sites, including this one.
Transportation:
An ICOCA card is essential.
I got a 5-day Kansai-Hiroshima pass because I took the shinkansen between Hiroshima and Osaka three times, and it paid for itself quickly.
Accommodations:
Mostly through Booking. No issues at all. Average cost was 46 € per night.
Meals:
For breakfast, I alternated between buying food at a konbini to eat in my room or on the train and grabbing something at local cafés.
For lunch and dinner, I tried to vary my meals as much as possible—lots of sashimi, sushi, and ramen.
Okonomiyaki in Osaka and Hiroshima.
Oysters in every form (raw, grilled, fried) in Onomichi and Hiroshima.
A variety of seafood (shrimp, shellfish) in Hiroshima and Matsumoto.
Fish whose names often escaped me, but notably mackerel and eel (unagi).
Tempura and gyoza.
Chicken skewers (yakitori) and one teppanyaki meal.
One omakase meal (9 different dishes).
In the end, not much meat aside from a few yakitori skewers. No splurges on super expensive wagyu or Kobe beef.
Average dinner cost: 4,800 yen, drinks included.
The Itinerary:
Day 1: Departure from Brussels
Day 2: Arrival in Osaka
Day 3: To Himeji, then Kurashiki
Day 4: To Fukuyama, then Tomo no Ura, then Onomichi
Day 5: Cycling the Shimanami Kaido
Day 6: To Takahara, then Hiroshima
Day 7: To Kyoto to attend the Aoi Matsuri parade
Day 8: To Miyajima
Day 9: Hiroshima, then Kyoto
Day 10: Southern Kyoto
Day 11: Northern Kyoto
Day 12: Final day in Kyoto, then to Nagatsugawa
Day 13: Start of the Nakasendo Trail (Magome to Tsumago)
Day 14: Second day of the trail (Kiso Fukushima)
Day 15: Third day of the trail (Narai), then Matsumoto
Day 16: To Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko)
Day 17: To Tokyo
Day 18: Excursion to Enoshima and Kamakura
Day 19: Flight home, with a 10-hour layover in Hong Kong
Day 20: Arrival in Brussels
My buddy Christian and I (Patrick) are off for 28 days in Argentina in March.
We’ve already shared several trips as a duo (Bolivia Peru, Namibia, Laos, Costa Rica).
Since we’re starting from the idea that at our age (65) we won’t be coming back here—there are just too many other corners of the world to discover—we did the "grand tour" of Argentina, with 6 domestic flights to make the most of our 28 days.
Here are our stops:
1) Departure from Brussels to Buenos Aires via Madrid
2) Arrival and first contact with Buenos Aires
3) Early morning flight to Ushuaia. Boat trip on the Beagle Channel
4) Ushuaia: hikes in Tierra del Fuego National Park
5) Ushuaia: last hike and flight to El Calafate
6) El Calafate to El Chaltén by bus. First hike
7) El Chaltén: hike
8) El Chaltén: hike
9) El Chaltén: hike and bus back to El Calafate
10) El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier
11) Flight to Bariloche. Car rental and surrounding areas
12) Seven Lakes Region
13) Nahuel Huapi National Park region
14) Flight to Salta. Car rental
15) To Tilcara
16) To Humahuaca
17) To Purmamarca
18) To Jujuy via the salt flats
19) To Cafayate
20) Around Cafayate
21) To Cachi
22) Back to Salta
23) Flight to Iguazu
24) Waterfalls on the Argentine side
25) Waterfalls on the Brazilian side and flight to Buenos Aires
26) Buenos Aires
27) Return flight
28) Morning arrival
Happy reading!..
Hi everyone, we're back from a DIY USA road trip we organized from July 31, 2026, to August 26, 2026.
The destination: The Southwest USA, including Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Roughly 7,000 kilometers covered.
The car: A Chevrolet Equinox for two, rented through BSP Auto and Avis. Inside, we had 2 suitcases, a travel bag, two carry-on bags, a Walmart cooler, photo gear, and water bottles (a 40-pack).
The route: Dallas DFW, Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Alpine, El Paso, Tucson, Sedona, Albuquerque, Amarillo, and back to Dallas to finish with a departure from DFW.
The travelers: Two seniors well advanced in years (73 and 75) but still active (nothing too physically demanding—to stay alive and fund our trips), fully independent physically, though a bit less so mentally. Big USA fans, a country where anything is possible. More walkers than hikers, preferring 3-star hotels over roadside motels, Italian restaurants over US food, frequent stops for photos, museums over nothing, naps over forced marches. Not too whiny, just enough to stay French in the land of the "great Satan," as they say.
Not great with languages—street English (but handy), and my Spanish is non-existent except for: "Hola! Una cerveza por favor!" That’s about it. My wife understands everything but refuses to speak.
The cost of the road trip: Around 12,000 €, including AF flights, the car, gas, gifts, visits, and everything else. Well managed, since we’d budgeted 13,500 € initially.
The positive side: A delight, with those endless open roads. Museums to discover. The realization of the Hispanic presence and its important history in this part of America. Lovely locals. Tourists who were more or less friendly. A terrible Texan accent that was hard to understand. Gas stations that were like real stores, with prepared food, alcohol sold in Arizona and New Mexico, and employees who were always up for a laugh!
The negative side: The heat throughout the trip... 43°C in Dallas at the end. Impossible to walk the streets. Lots of homeless people in downtown Dallas. Hotel breakfasts that were always the same. You get used to it.
So, it was positive overall, but the concept is starting to wear us out. We might rethink the DIY road trip model for next time. If the man upstairs grants us more time.
Next up, we’ll wait for the first batch of sorted photos to go through the wringer.
We landed in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and headed straight to Kasane in Botswana to pick up our car.
Our vehicle is a 4x4 because in Zambia, it's practically impossible to use anything else, especially in the national parks. I’ve already had the pleasure of visiting South Luangwa National Park—it’s one of the reasons for this trip, the main one being to travel in Africa with one of my sons.
First stop: Livingstone on the banks of the Zambezi River. Along the way, we discovered a lovely restaurant at Socrates with a super-friendly owner (we’ll actually stop there again on our way back). We spent our first night in the rooftop tent after a stunning sunset, accompanied by the grunting of hippos in the river.
The next day, we set off early, heading to Kafue NP. In fact, we’ll always leave early—waking up between 5:00 and 5:30 AM and hitting the road an hour later. Kafue is a lesser-known park, mostly forested, and the animals are skittish because they’re not used to human presence. We crossed the park from south to north and came across various antelopes. Near Lake Itezhi-Tezhi, there are plains where wildlife is easier to spot.
After Kafue, we headed to South Luangwa. This journey requires stops in Mumbwa and Petauke. Two pleasant stops where we found lodges (a nice change from the rooftop tent) at affordable prices and met welcoming people.
For me, South Luangwa is Zambia’s most beautiful park—the river is stunning, the landscapes are gorgeous, and there’s a wide variety of wildlife, including, of course, big cats. A tip for those, like us, who aren’t with a guide: if you’re staying near the park for several days, don’t hesitate to do a "game drive" to scout out where the animals are so you can return the next day with your own vehicle. Of course, in the dry season, you’ll want to focus on waterholes to see the animals—and you’ll need a bit of luck too. The elephant population is growing, and we were lucky enough to see around sixty elephants crossing the Luangwa at dawn, spread across several groups. South Luangwa is the westernmost point of our trip, and we’re now heading east to Lower Zambezi.
Lower Zambezi is Zambia’s side of Mana Pools on the Zimbabwe side. We took a boat ride on the Zambezi to see elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a multitude of birds living along the water and on the river’s islands. The sunset there is also magnificent.
To explore the park, we followed the waterways parallel to the Zambezi, mostly on the western side (see our route). Lower Zambezi is the last park we visit, and the final leg of our trip will be Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls—or Mosi-Oa-Tunya ("The Smoke That Thunders")—are truly impressive, even during the dry season. We saw the falls from both countries: in Zambia for the overall view and the bridge that serves as the border, and in Zimbabwe to get as close as possible to the most spectacular parts of the falls.
This marks the end of our trip, which, despite a blown tire on the road, went off without any major issues. Zambia is a beautiful country that immerses you in wild, still-preserved nature.
"So, my little wanderers, back at the decks? What’s this mystery destination you’ve got in store for us at the start of the year?"
Yes, the schoolyard bell’s ringing again! We’re hitting the road... or rather, the skies! At first glance, our destination might surprise more than a few. First off, simply because I was here exactly twenty years ago, and I don’t usually like retracing my own footsteps. Secondly, because the name of this place screams mass tourism—basically the opposite of what Flo and I look for.
Despite that, in this land of backsheesh, I’d promised myself I’d come back one day to experience it my way. And since Flo told me, during our wanderer chats, that this destination straddling Africa and the Middle East was in her top 2 travel dreams, the stars aligned for this roots-style trip to quickly make it onto our pharaonic festivities program! Unless you’re totally clueless in general knowledge, you’ve probably guessed by now—we’re off to Egypt! Of course, a few classics will be on our itinerary, but above all, we want to soak up a culture that can’t be appreciated in four-star resorts or on a Nile cruise boat. And let’s be clear, these next two weeks won’t be a walk in the park—neither for our two daughters who are joining us, nor for our bodies!
And that’s clear from the get-go: after our first flight, eight hours of trying (and failing) to sleep on Milan airport’s metal seats, our second flight, landing, passport stamps, our Uber ride, and our first Cairo kilometers, we finally drop our exhaustion at the little guesthouse we booked in Giza. Doesn’t all that energy deserve a little reward?
Oh, absolutely! And here it is: a full-on slap in the face for everyone! But just look at this view from our hotel terrace? For 20 € a night for four, even with this incredible view, I figured the room must be pretty shabby, right? Nope... Is the staff rude, then? Nope... Okay, so what’s the catch? You’re gonna tell me breakfast is included too? Well, yes! Honestly, this Egypt trip is off to a great start.
And the rest of the afternoon, spent rubbing shoulders with locals, only confirmed this vibe. After digesting our pyramid view, we dove into the hustle and bustle of our neighborhood with the goal of exchanging money, eating at street stalls, and testing the hospitality of the locals. Ten out of ten!
Eight little sun breads with baba ganoush and falafel? 80 pounds, or 1.5 €. A dozen Middle Eastern pastries? Same! 80 pounds! Two hawawshis, those little pita breads stuffed with meat and spices? 10 pounds each, or about twenty cents! Not to mention all those smiles and free "welcomes" left and right!!!
What a welcome! We end this first day with a sunset over the three sisters of Giza—where we’ll obviously be gawking tomorrow...
The latest travel journal about Turkmenistan dates back to 2019. Here’s a quick update on this vast desert country, which is now a bit easier to visit than before.
This is my first travel journal. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. The country is slowly opening up, but it’s still possible to visit sites where you’ll be completely alone. In five days, I saw two Hongkongers, a few Germans, and a Chilean at the crater, ten Chinese people in a capital bazaar, and that’s it!
It’s possible to visit Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan. The easiest and most economical way is to take a taxi to the border from Bukhara. The trip takes a little over an hour.
Crossing the border takes quite a while because many Turkmen bring back items bought in Uzbekistan to resell in Turkmenistan. For example, diapers, baby products, or beauty products.
It took me over 2.5 hours to cross the border. To visit Turkmenistan, it’s mandatory to have a guide and go through a travel agency. British agencies often offer three-, five-, or seven-day trips for over 1,500 or 2,000 €.
But if your budget is more limited, you can contact a few Turkmen agencies directly by email, and they’ll make you an offer between 700 and 1,300 € for three to seven days. I took a five-day trip from Turkmenabat in the northeast of the country to Dashoguz in the north. The goal was to visit the main UNESCO-listed sites, including Merv, and archaeological sites like Nisa or Gonur Tepe.
Your guide will also be your driver. They’ll pick you up at the border. The formalities are very long because customs officers have to stamp multiple documents, and obtaining the visa you previously requested from your travel agency requires several checks. But the process goes relatively smoothly, even if each step takes a while.
Once on the other side, the first surprise is the brand-new highway all the way to Turkmenabat. A very long line of trucks stretches for several kilometers on the Turkmen side to cross the border into Uzbekistan. According to my guide, Turkmen trucks transport gas and cotton (though not this season, since the harvest is in September), but they mainly fill up their tanks because fuel is much cheaper in Turkmenistan. A full tank for a car costs about 3 €, which is unbeatable.
From the Farap border post, the goal is to reach the city of Mary, which is home to the UNESCO-listed site of Merv in its suburbs, about thirty kilometers away. This city is known as a foundation by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC under the name Alexandria of Margiana. Several fortresses are visible.
After more than three hours on the road, we have lunch at a Turkish restaurant called Aladdin. Several quotes from the president are visible along the highway, but the road is in good condition, and we move along easily. This will be by far the best road in the country—things will get much worse later.
Roundabouts are particularly interesting because they feature emblems of Turkmen culture, like the dog, a carpet, the Ahal Teke horse, or Muslim symbols, even though the presence of Islamic artifacts is quite limited.
I’m sharing a little recap of this new 4-week trip to China—nothing fancy, just my experience.
We’re taking advantage of the extended visa exemption to return to China for the 4th time. I loved last summer’s trip so much that I’m a bit worried about being disappointed this year. Plus, I’ve had a few hiccups before this departure: my WeChat account got blocked, and I couldn’t recover it (luckily, Alipay still works fine); I couldn’t verify my 12306 account for weeks; Trip.com failed to book our second train; and I’ve got an injury that’ll slow me down during the trip... Ugh, I hate starting a trip with these kinds of issues. Then, oh surprise! Just before leaving, my 12306 account got verified! Super easy to use from that point on—I could book a few train tickets without fees.
We’re sticking with Free’s e-SIMs, which work great in China.
August 2–3
Anyway, on the morning of August 2nd, we took the RER to CDG. As usual, we couldn’t check in online. It’s always a bit frustrating, especially since we didn’t have any checked luggage. We flew with Air China. We arrived at the check-in counter at 9:50 AM, 2 hours and 40 minutes before the flight. The line for our check-in stretched 300 meters across the airport in both directions. What a joke!! We spent 1 hour and 45 minutes in that line just to reach the counter and get our boarding passes. By then, it was 11:35 AM, and boarding had already started at 11:20 AM. The screens showed a 25-minute walk to our gate—on the other side of the airport, of course—plus we had to go through passport control and security... Long story short, the plane didn’t leave without us 🙂 We boarded among the last passengers, and we took off at 12:30 PM. We’d flown Air China four times before, but this time, it felt *really* low-cost. The check-in chaos, the cramped seats (12 seats per row), no music by artists known outside China, mediocre food, and a boarding area at Beijing Airport with only 10 seats—worthy of Ryanair or EasyJet. And yet, the price was sky-high. Again, D.’s vacation requests were denied outside of July and August, so we’re traveling from August 2nd to 30th. We couldn’t have picked a worse time for inflated prices, and with the situation in Iran, we got hit with a 390 € fuel surcharge. I’ve never paid so much for flights—I felt like I’d bought business class, but nope, far from it!!
We landed in Beijing around 4:15 AM. It was 28°C with thick fog. We drove and drove and drove for 20 minutes, as usual in Beijing. Then we went through a first check, a second check, a third check, and waited for our connecting flight at 6:40 AM. A small Airbus A320, but way more space than in the Boeing 777 from the first flight. We landed in Kunming, Yunnan, around 10:15 AM in the rain.
We headed to the subway. You can’t pay at the machines with Alipay here either, so we set up the transport QR code directly in Alipay to scan at the subway gates. The process is a bit long the first time if you haven’t entered your info before, but once it’s done, it’s *so* much easier! We took Line 6 to the terminus for 6 yuan each.
We’d booked a hotel nearby, on the 16th floor. It’s actually studios on different floors of a huge residential building. The view’s pretty nice from here. We settled in quickly—back to those wooden beds, or rather, mattresses as hard as wood, which we *hadn’t* missed...
Then we went out for our first bowl of noodles of the trip and wandered through the shopping streets of the old town.
It was crowded, and the weather was cool—around 19–20°C. We tried a local specialty: milk skin, thick, dried, then grilled with rose jam. Yeah... we won’t be having that again. The taste and texture of the milk skin... no thanks.
We saw a lot of wild mushroom hotpot too. It’s on our list for later. We also passed through the Jinma and Biji gates, where I played with reflections in puddles. I *love* doing that 🙂
At the end of the day, we headed to a temple advertised as open 24/7 on Amap. Of course, when we got there, it was closed. We’ll go back tomorrow. That was the first of many disappointments with Amap this trip—I hadn’t had that issue on previous visits.
We were exhausted after that sleepless flight. Night was falling, and we decided to grab a quick bite without much appetite. We shared a delicious vegetable fried rice for 12 yuan—we even left half of it. The portions are *huge*.
After a couple of small purchases, we headed back at 9 PM, wiped out, after walking 17 km between the airports and these first steps in Kunming. I expected to see quite a few Western travelers here, but we didn’t spot a single one. Instead, we met lots of curious Chinese people, many of them super friendly and helpful—almost *too* eager, like when they’d run to serve us as fast as possible. It’s a bit much, but it’s great to be back!
After as many weeks as I have fingers on my right hand, we're hitting the road again, fully recovered from our pharaonic adventure. Back in France to drop off our daughters (sorry, girls!), this time it's just the two of us, ready to be welcomed by a new destination. They say it offers one of the richest cultural heritages in the world for those willing to put in the effort. It's the land of the ancient Silk Road, where we'll follow a journey steeped in history and discoveries straight out of *One Thousand and One Nights*. A former Soviet bloc region independent only since 1991, we'll be walking in the footsteps of Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Alexander the Great, Marco Polo...
Another fun fact about this country: it's strictly forbidden to import porn on your phone. True story. The same goes for painkillers! Unless it's about sodomy—though the two don’t seem connected, that’s just how it is. Don’t ask me why! Anyway, I’m getting off track. Here’s the big question: Where do you think we’ve just landed?... To give you a hint, the locals are known for being incredibly welcoming. No sooner said than done—our first taxi driver, proud to transport French travelers, refused to let us pay for the ride. Great vibes for these two weeks ahead. So, any guesses?
Uzbekistan!!!
"How about a Christmas market this year, huh? A little romantic weekend getaway...
- Yes! That’d be cool! Strasbourg? Colmar?
- Feels a bit déjà vu, doesn’t it? Plus, slim chance of snow there... And I’d love something a bit more exotic with a touch of originality..."
"Okay, Google, give me the list of the five most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe.
- In fifth place, the Christmas market in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
- Save your breath! Lithuania, here we come!"
We wanted cold, and cold is exactly what we got the moment we set foot in this new, unknown land. As for landscapes, forests and lakes stretch as far as the eye can see across this vast plain, its vegetation scorched by the frost of a winter that’s clearly already well underway here.
Lakes, in fact, set the scene for our first visit to Trakai Castle, whose brick-red towers and walls rise proudly against the azure sky of our first day. Lakes, because this castle was built on an island and is only accessible on foot via a series of walkways spanning half-frozen lake offshoots. I couldn’t have picked a better spot to build my castle! Translation: We’re totally sold! Proof is we spend two hours hiking around the area, alternating between forests, reeds, and cozy houses tastefully decorated for Christmas.
This time, I landed in Monastir on a direct flight from Nice, again with Tunisair. We left about ten minutes late, and the flight lasted around 1 hour 30 minutes. A meal was served on board (cucumber salad with Edam-like cheese, carrots, and two small portions of dishes I couldn’t identify—semolina with peppers, olives, and parsley, two small rolls, a square of processed cheese, and a chocolate cake). It’s worth noting because it’s not common on flights this short.
In February, France and Tunisia were in the same time zone, but now Tunisia is one hour behind. This time difference and the flight duration work perfectly for a short 15-day trip since it takes me a few days to adjust to jet lag.
Luckily, I’d asked my hotel about the taxi fare from the airport because the drivers (there were several around me) didn’t hesitate to quote outrageous prices. The actual fare is 20 dinars, but one asked for 120 dinars. I refused, and another offered 60 dinars. I replied, "That’s too expensive—I’ll take the metro!" (Having tried the Tunis metro, I had no desire to repeat the experience in Monastir with a suitcase!). I started walking toward the metro, and one of the drivers caught up with me, saying, "20 dinars is fine!" I’ll skip the details, but the negotiation took a little while.
When I arrived at the hotel, I told the receptionist someone had asked for 120 dinars. He put his hands to his head and said, "They’re awful!" He remembered our phone call two days earlier when I’d booked (he’s the one who told me I could take the metro).
The Mezri Hotel isn’t expensive. I got a sea-view room for 75 dinars (22 €). (I’d booked a balcony room for 90 dinars but wouldn’t have had time to enjoy it.) It’s well-located but noisy because there’s no double glazing.
The receptionist is a very kind older gentleman. He called a friend whose wife is from Tozeur to find out if I should take a bus or a *louage* tomorrow and what time.
I arrived at the hotel around 7:00 PM and had time to stroll along the corniche to the ribat. Despite some run-down buildings, the seaside seemed livelier and cheerier than Sousse’s.
Monastir is the hometown of former president Bourguiba. I passed his mausoleum by taxi. There are Tunisian flags along the avenue by the sea because every year on April 6—the anniversary of Habib Bourguiba’s death—the president of the Republic visits the Bourguiba Mausoleum in Monastir to pay respects.
The taxi driver mentioned other Tunisian presidents. He complained about rising prices and insecurity, blaming President Kaïs Saïed (I’d already heard that security was better under Ben Ali).
At the end of my stay, I’ll take time to explore Monastir, but tomorrow morning, I’m off to Tozeur—a long bus ride awaits me.
With my girlfriend Christelle, we’ve chosen South Africa for our first trip to Southern Africa, focusing on safaris—after a long debate with a Cape Town/Kruger combo.
But that would’ve meant cutting out St Lucia, which would’ve been harder to fit into another trip.
And St Lucia—thanks to Michel and all those travel journals—we really wanted to go there.
So our 11-night itinerary ended up like this, mostly shaped by school holidays:
- 3 nights in St Lucia
- 1 night in Hluhluwe
- 1 night at Mkhaya Game Reserve (Eswatini)
- 1 night at Hlane Royal National Park (Eswatini)
- 3 nights in Kruger (Berg en Dal / Satara / Tamboti)
- 1 night at Shindzela Tented Camp in the Timbavati private reserve
- 1 final night in Kruger at Lower Sabie
All of this in the off-season and rainy season, just a month after catastrophic floods that killed over 150 people and seriously damaged Kruger’s infrastructure.
I’ll jump straight to St Lucia and skip the loooong journey to get there (with a layover in Frankfurt, landing in Johannesburg, a domestic flight to Durban, and the rest by rental SUV—First Car Rental, perfect, no complaints).
To motivate readers—especially some familiar faces here—I’ll drop in a first photo.
Here we go!!!
I left home at 4 AM on October 31st and headed to Barcelona. Driving through Barcelona on the ring road stresses me out a bit, but at 6 AM the traffic is smooth, and I arrive at the airport without any issues. I call the valet, who quickly comes to pick up my car. He takes photos of it from all angles before letting me go.
Baggage check-in hasn’t started yet, and there are already several of us waiting.
Once free, everything happens very quickly. The flight to Abu Dhabi is on time and goes smoothly. I’ve never had any problems with this airline, which I’ve been using for several years.
The flight to Bangkok arrives at 7 AM as scheduled. This is my first time in Thailand and Bangkok. I’m used to traveling in India, and I notice that everything here is well organized—the customs process is quick, and the luggage is already on the carousel.
I booked a taxi on Booking. All I have to do is find the right exit and door based on the agency’s instructions. A large sign with the names of people who booked is posted on a wall. A hostess greets me and calls the taxi, which arrives 5 minutes later. I booked one night at the Lost Inn BKK hotel in the Phra Nakhon district, and we arrive at 9 AM. The welcome isn’t warm, and I have to wait until noon, sitting on a chair, before I can check into my room. I’m exhausted, and sleeping sitting up isn’t ideal. Noon finally arrives—the room is small but clean, which is fine for one night. I quickly take a shower to wake up because I plan to spend the afternoon visiting the Grand Palace. First, I need to exchange some money, and the banks are all close together on the same street, which is very convenient. When I enter one, a hostess gives me a ticket and invites me to sit down. There are about twenty counters, and I wait quietly until my number is called. The exchange is quick, so I can head out to find the Royal Palace. It’s actually very easy, and the walk is pleasant.
Entry to the Royal Palace (500 baht).
It’s magnificent and grand, and there are quite a few of us visiting. The sky is gray, it’s very humid, and a shower interrupts the visit. It’s a vast complex of temples and palaces. The buildings are colorful and sparkling, with a great sense of serenity (without the tourists, of course). I quietly enjoy the place and try to take photos without tourists, which isn’t easy.
Very close to the Grand Palace is Wat Pho, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the capital.
It’s very famous for its 46-meter-long reclining Buddha statue.
Walking around the temple, you can see different representations of Buddha, all covered in gold leaf.
Inside the temple, on one side, monks recite their prayers, while the other side is reserved for tourists who come to meditate in silence.
Before returning to the hotel, I have dinner at an Indian restaurant. I go to bed early because tomorrow’s wake-up call will be very early again.
Saturday, November 2nd
Wake-up at 4 AM, departure from the hotel at 4:30 AM. The taxi I booked via Booking is waiting for me and takes me to the airport. The trip is fairly quick—he takes small roads, and at this hour, there’s no traffic.
The flight to Phnom Penh is on time. Before boarding, I realize I left my fleece jacket on the carousel, but it’s too late to go back for it.
The flight goes well, and customs is quick.
At the exit, I take a tuk-tuk to Julieka’s GH near the museum. The welcome is friendly. I won’t be able to check into my room until noon, so I take the opportunity to exchange some euros on the market street. The street is lined with restaurants, and I’ll have my first meal there.
The museum is right across the street, so I don’t waste any time visiting it.
The representations of Hindu deities are very different from those in India, and I don’t recognize them. Many beautiful Buddhas are on display.
The museum is very pleasant, and there aren’t too many people, which is a plus.
At the exit, I return to the GH, settle into my room—which is decent and clean.
The Royal Palace is 1 km away. I walk along a garden, and at the end of the street is the Tonlé Sap, but I turn right. I arrive at a large esplanade and see the buildings with tiered roofs and glazed tiles. The entrance to the palace is a little further away.
At the entrance, I notice there isn’t the same crowd as at the one in BKK.
Khmer architecture is magnificent. The complex consists of gardens, palaces, pagodas with golden roofs, and slender spires.
The Silver Pagoda houses the small Emerald Buddha, which is actually made of jade. The silver flooring is covered with carpets. Photos are not allowed.
The walls surrounding the pagoda are covered with frescoes depicting scenes from the Ramayana.
My partner and I traveled from Sunday, July 5, 2026, to Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
We spent a long time debating whether to rent a car or use public transportation. In the end, after reading so many posts about travelers getting scammed by police or rental companies—even those recommended by blogs and reviews—we decided to stick with public transport. It worked out really well. Sure, we had a little less freedom to go where we wanted, but it was way less stressful for us.
Sunday, July 5:
Arrived at Cancun Airport. Withdrew cash from the ATM in the terminal just before exiting. The ADO bus counter (they pronounce it "A-Jee-O") is right behind you when you're facing the ATM. Bus to downtown Cancun cost 145 pesos per person.
Stayed at "Rose 5," booked on Booking. The studio was super clean and perfect for one night. The owner’s instructions for accessing the place were very precise, with photos included. Check-in was self-service with a code. The ADO bus terminal isn’t far, and there are shops and restaurants nearby. We really appreciated that the AC was already on when we arrived. By the way, I’d recommend always booking places with AC—it’s *really* hot in Mexico.
Monday, July 6:
Bought a SIM card with data from a TELCEL store. My partner, who’s on Free Mobile, was able to use her regular plan. Just so you know, I found the network pretty unstable. As soon as we left the cities, neither of us—me with TELCEL or her with Free—had any signal.
Another thing to watch out for: roaming charges. I had to turn my SIM back on for less than 30 seconds to get a bank SMS code, and my phone apparently connected to the internet—resulting in an 8-euro roaming fee.
Left on an ADO bus to Chiquila for 278 pesos per person. During our trip, ADO buses were always on time, comfortable, and clean. The AC is *cranked* though, so bring something to cover up with—it gets cold. Some routes were fully booked even in the low season, so try to reserve 1 or 2 days in advance either via the app (when it works) or at the counter.
When we arrived at the ADO terminal in Chiquila, the ferry company counters were right next to it. Ferries leave every 30 minutes, alternating between companies, so no need to book ahead. Just take whichever one is leaving next (330 pesos per person).
When we got to Holbox (pronounced "Hol-bosh"), we’d booked a place via Booking called "Casa de Nana." It was a huge studio with a fridge, cooking plate, and utensils. The best part? The *location*. It was 100 meters from the beach and 200 meters from a Chedraui supermarket. They provided bath towels and beach towels, and the AC worked perfectly. There’s a key box so you can leave your keys inside when you go out. The only downside was that no one was there to let us in when we arrived, so we had to wait a while. The Wi-Fi was good, which was lucky because during our 4-day stay in Holbox, the phone network *never* worked. According to locals, that’s pretty common in Holbox, along with water outages.
Luckily, I’d had the good idea to download an offline map, which helped us find our way back to the place more easily. You can walk there from the dock.
The restaurant next to our place (La Barracuda) was great if you like seafood—I’d recommend their octopus dishes.
Tuesday, July 7:
We did a kayak tour in Holbox’s mangroves at 6 AM. We were looking for a sunrise kayak tour with a French-speaking guide. That’s exactly what we got with "Kayaking Holbox," where Diego, the owner, speaks English and French. He was joined by Gustavo, another guide.
We’d booked for a group tour, but we were the only ones. Diego still went ahead with it instead of canceling due to lack of participants, so we got a private tour at the group rate—really professional of him. They showed us this amazing ecosystem for over 3 hours. We saw all kinds of birds: pink flamingos, pelicans, egrets, frigatebirds... rays, a horseshoe crab, and a little crocodile that was *so* well hidden. Diego and Gustavo have a real eye for spotting animals—I could’ve passed by the crocodile 100 times and never seen it, it blended in so well. Their explanations about the flora and fauna were super interesting. We also got a little break where we tasted mangoes and bananas that taste *nothing* like the ones in France. A real treat—those little Mexican yellow mangoes! I’d definitely recommend Diego and his agency for a French-language kayak tour (1000 pesos per person).
In the evening, we walked to Punta Coco to see the bioluminescence. No need for a guided tour—if you really don’t want to walk, you can take a taxi. At Punta Coco, you have to pass the beach bar/restaurant and then go left into a kind of inlet that forms a lagoon. You have to wiggle your feet or move your hands in the water to create movement, which makes the light appear. Just don’t expect the kind of photos you’ve seen online—they’re all edited! It’s fun to see, but you won’t be dazzled by the light...
Wednesday, July 8:
Whale shark tour with "My Holbox Tours." Why recommend this agency over others for swimming with whale sharks? Simply because Valérie surrounds herself with top professionals to make your experience unforgettable. We were with Captain Fernando, who does everything to position the boat perfectly and make your swim easier. In the water, we were with Humberto, who also goes above and beyond to make sure you have an incredible time. He doesn’t just "supervise" like some guides from other companies who leave you on your own. No, Humberto reads the whale shark’s trajectory and guides you—all you have to do is follow him. He really puts in the effort, even holding your hand to guide you through this quick but intense encounter. Humberto also films the moment and will offer to show you the videos and sell them to you. His footage is really high quality.
Fernando and Humberto also prepared food for us. Special mention for their guacamole! Valérie is there to make sure everything goes smoothly on the boat and to answer your questions in French, English, or Spanish about these animals. If you choose My Holbox Tours, you can be sure you’ll get a top-notch experience.
About the tour itself: before you go, you should know that the sharks can be *really* far away. The day we went, it took 3.5 hours by boat to reach them. The boats are small, and let me tell you—on the way there, when we weren’t going with the waves, it was *rough*. Out of 9 passengers, 4 got seasick. But once you’re face-to-face with the shark, you forget all about that. Even if swimming with a whale shark isn’t exactly a walk in the park—they swim pretty fast, so you need some endurance to keep up. You’ll usually get 2 turns. Our first swim lasted a little over 4 minutes, and the second about 2 minutes because the shark was moving fast and we were still tired from the first swim. It might seem short, but when you’re swimming, it feels *long*. Either way, it’s an experience you *have* to do—but choose your company wisely. On the way back, there’s a stop at Cabo Catoche. Honestly, the snorkeling is pretty disappointing if you’ve done it elsewhere in the world. But the lunch stop at Cabo Catoche is really nice for relaxing (white sand and hammocks).
Thursday, July 9:
Short morning walk to Punta Mosquito at 6 AM. Really nice.
Ferry to Chiquila (330 pesos per person) + ADO bus to Valladolid (300 pesos per person).
In Valladolid, we booked "Casa Lucia" via Booking. The hotel is gorgeous, with a colonial style, and very close to the ADO bus terminal and downtown. It’s super quiet and clean. There’s a shared kitchen you can use with a fridge, microwave, and water dispenser, plus a big table by the pool and a nice indoor terrace. Breakfast was simple but included. The only small downsides were the tiny room and bathroom, no mirror in the room, and a noisy fan.
Friday, July 10:
Not far from the ADO bus terminal is the colectivo station for Chichen Itza. They offer a round-trip to Chichen Itza with an option to stop at Ik Kil cenote on the way back and then drop you off in Valladolid for 370 pesos per person (Ik Kil entrance included).
For the Chichen Itza visit, we’d booked a tour with a guide often mentioned in groups—his name is Juan Pat. He’s a Maya who lives near the site and speaks excellent French. He reserves spots in advance for you and queues up to be the first on-site. It cost 500 pesos per person + entrance fees. His tour lasts 2 hours and focuses mainly on the main pyramid and the ball court. He’s passionate and fascinating, even if some of his claims, as a Maya, might be a little biased. I think it’s *really* important to have a guide—otherwise, you’ll miss so much. You can contact Juan Pat on WhatsApp at +52 985 121 2381.
Afterward, we went to Ik Kil cenote (showers and life jackets mandatory, lockers available). It’s *very* crowded, but still really beautiful with its lush vegetation.
Saturday, July 11:
Since we didn’t have a car but still wanted to visit other cenotes that seemed hard to reach by public transport, we decided to book a taxi for the day. We agreed on 1200 pesos to take us to 3 different cenotes and wait for us at each one. (To find taxis, just look where they park near the ADO bus station.)
He picked us up at Zaci cenote, which we’d walked to. We got there at opening time and were the first ones there—had the place to ourselves for a while! 150 pesos per person. A pretty cenote in the city center with lush vegetation. It’s a bit like Ik Kil but without the deep cylindrical effect.
Cenote Xcanahaltun: the most beautiful cenote we visited. Entry 250 pesos per person. It’s a closed cenote with a hole that lets light in—a cave-like setting. You can kayak inside. There are little fish at the edge that nibble dead skin off your feet. Since it’s closed, the water is *freezing*!
Cenote Palomitas: entry 250 pesos per person. Another stunning closed cenote, even more enclosed than Xcanahaltun. The hole in the ceiling is smaller, so it was pretty dark when we arrived—kind of an eerie vibe. But when the staff turned on the lights, it looked like a "Gothic cathedral" full of bright stalactites.
Cenote Sac Aua: entry 290 pesos per person. The ticket includes a guided cave tour (tip-based). This cenote is really unique with its central island and way less crowded than Suytun. Just so you know, the water is *really* cold in cenotes. In these three, in July, we had the place to ourselves for a while and never saw more than 2 families at once—so peaceful!
Sunday, July 12:
ADO bus to Bacalar (536 pesos per person).
In Bacalar, we stayed via Airbnb with a host named Luli, who offers several rooms with shared bathroom and kitchen.
The room is nicely decorated in a pleasant setting. It’s ideally located near the lagoon and downtown. The shared kitchen is handy. The mosquito net over the bed is useful because there are *a lot* of mosquitoes in Bacalar. Luli provides a water jug, which is really nice. The only big downside is the lack of water pressure in the shower—we had to rinse off by filling a bucket. Also, there’s no real door separating the room from the bathroom. We never met Luli in person, but she was very responsive via messages. The terrace in the middle of the vegetation is lovely.
From the ADO terminal to the place, we took a taxi for 40 pesos. Since this driver was honest about the price (we’d checked beforehand), we decided to use him every time we needed a taxi in Bacalar. Here’s his WhatsApp: +52 983 184 3585.
Monday, July 13:
We did a boat tour on the lagoon with "Bacalar Francophone Activities." Since we were just the two of us, it cost 3500 pesos. If we’d managed to be 4 people, it would’ve been 1000 pesos per person.
We had a private 4-hour tour on the lagoon with Steeve and his very comfortable boat. He’s from Quebec, so his French is perfect. During those 4 hours, Steeve showed us the lagoon’s iconic spots *and* places other boats don’t go. He told us about the lagoon’s history and gave great tips on where to go and where to eat. As a little bonus, he gave us a video taken with his drone during our swimming break.
Tuesday, July 14:
We went to Los Rapidos by taxi (400 pesos round trip) and entry was 225 pesos per person. It’s *very* touristy but really beautiful. You can eat there (expensive), relax, and go down the "rapids" as many times as you want. It’s worth it if you spend a few hours there. You can’t bring in food or drinks—you leave them at the entrance and pick them up on the way out.
Wednesday, July 15:
On Wednesdays, navigation is banned on Bacalar Lagoon, so we’d planned another excursion.
Visit to Calakmul from Bacalar with ABCtours (WhatsApp +52 983 319 8359).
This agency organized a trip from Bacalar to Calakmul with a French-speaking guide. Communication beforehand via WhatsApp was smooth. Mr. Checo, the driver, and Fernando, the guide (who spoke great French), picked us up on the day. Mr. Checo drove very carefully on the long road and always made sure we were comfortable. Fernando is passionate about flora and fauna—he’s a biologist with a degree in ornithology, so he knows *everything* about animals. The slightest sound or song, and he knows what it is. He’s got an eye for spotting them, from the biggest to the smallest.
During the trip, we stopped at km 27 for a short forest walk, then went to see the two main pyramids on the site. On the way back, we stopped at the bat cave for the magical spectacle of millions of bats flying out at dusk. In the end, we saw or glimpsed (some briefly) spider monkeys, howler monkeys, a toucan, 2 tapirs, turkeys, 2 deer, and lots of birds. If, like us, you’re more into flora and fauna than archaeology, I’d *highly* recommend this agency and tour with Fernando.
It’s not cheap, but the road between Bacalar and the site is *long* (3.5 hours). Price: 3900 pesos per person for 2 (3500 for 3, 3200 for 4).
Thursday, July 16:
ADO bus to Playa del Carmen (614 pesos per person).
In Playa del Carmen, we stayed in an Airbnb. The building is on the town hall square, next to the casino.
The best thing about this place is the *location*—super close to Fifth Avenue (La Quinta). The kitchen is pretty basic, but the fridge works well. There are supermarkets nearby. The rooftop pool is really nice. The two big downsides, though, are the soundproofing (you can *hear* the neighbor’s alarm and all the events on the square) and the *total* lack of water pressure in the shower. We had to fill a trash can with water to pour over ourselves. When we told the owner, he said it wasn’t normal and someone would come fix it, but we never heard back. Based on previous reviews, this seems to be a known issue that never gets resolved.
Playa del Carmen is *very* touristy on Fifth Avenue, but in a fun, musical vibe—we never felt unsafe. There are *tons* of little souvenir shops for tourists on this street. There’s a beautiful monumental sculpture on the beach (the two figures meeting in the air), next to which you can see the Voladores show (men climbing a pole, tying themselves with ropes, and descending headfirst while "flying" around the pole). The show is tip-based and happens several times a day. In our opinion, Calle 38 is prettier than Fifth Avenue—it’s lush, green, and quieter, with the sea at the end. Great for an early evening stroll. We had really good meals at great prices at "El Tio Noy" tacos, just a few meters from Fifth Avenue in a side street.
For souvenirs, we’d recommend going to Walmart instead of Fifth Avenue—you’ll find skulls, tequila, mezcal, keychains, mugs, glasses... at good, fixed prices.
Friday, July 17:
We did the excursion to Isla Contoy. Isla Contoy is an uninhabited, highly protected island. Only 200 people are allowed to land per day on a rotating basis, so only a few companies have permission to dock there. Most agencies subcontract the day to a third-party company.
We booked through VRM (Viviendo Riviera Maya), but it was Ocean Tours Mexico that handled the tour. Contoy is a little paradise. We were accompanied by multilingual guides, including French speakers, throughout the day. Steffy gave us info about the island during a short walk on the marked trails, and Leño Tlatemoa kept the mood up on the boat rides with music and dancing. Isla Contoy is *truly* stunning, and the lunch was delicious: grilled fish and chicken, guacamole and tortilla chips, rice, fruit, drinks (everything is brought and taken back by the guides). The snorkeling part was pretty disappointing if you’ve done it in Cozumel, though. The stop at Isla Mujeres isn’t very interesting either—it’s too short to explore, and the island is *extremely* touristy. Still, the excursion was very well organized, and we had a great day (2970 pesos per person).
Saturday, July 18:
We wanted to go snorkeling in Cozumel but thought the prices from French-speaking agencies were too high. Plus, for snorkeling, we figured we didn’t *need* a French-speaking guide.
So we found a much cheaper solution by taking the ferry from Playa del Carmen ourselves and choosing an agency in Playa. The round-trip ferry cost 663.50 pesos per person. Then we took a taxi to the snorkeling boat (100 pesos). The agency we chose is called Mystic Snorkel—they don’t have a physical office. The tour cost 1400 pesos per person. It was a small boat, but that day we were the only ones, so we got a private tour at the group rate. We stopped at 4 different sites, all very different and beautiful. We saw all kinds of fish, corals, a nurse shark, and turtles. El Cielo, with its huge starfish, is *exceptional*. If you’re going snorkeling in the Yucatan Peninsula, this is *the* tour to do—the other sites are pretty "poor" in comparison.
Sunday, July 19:
Morning dive with Triton Diving. I chose the Cozumel dive option. Great experience.
Booking via WhatsApp was easy. On the day of the dive, Selene, who speaks French, was our guide. She’s *very* attentive to the group’s safety. The briefings are clear and precise. In Cozumel, we did 2 very different sites: the first was a drift dive with lots of life—beautiful corals and fish. The second was a wreck, the C53, a 56-meter boat you can enter. Not much marine life, but a beautiful wreck intentionally sunk for divers—still in great condition. An unforgettable moment. Selene even took videos during the dive, which the club sends you for free afterward. I’d *highly* recommend this club.
Just so you know, in Playa del Carmen, the beaches were full of sargassum during our stay, despite barriers and daily cleanup. Locals told us the problem is getting worse and the sargassum is arriving earlier in the season. Tourism has taken a *big* hit this summer, and they’re wondering if tourism can even survive the sargassum season anymore. A lot of tourists are heading to the islands—Isla Mujeres and Cozumel—to enjoy the beaches, as the west side of those islands is sargassum-free.
Monday, July 20:
Colectivo to Puerto Morelos. First, a colectivo toward Cancun that drops you off between Puerto Morelos town and Puerto Morelos beach (40 pesos per person), then another from that junction to the beach (10 pesos per person).
In Puerto Morelos, we’d booked a room via Airbnb at "Piedra del Caribe." *Best* place we stayed in Mexico. It’s an aparthotel. Our room was ready before check-in, so they let us in early. The place matched the description—spacious, with a comfortable king-size bed. The shower had *great* pressure, which isn’t a given in Mexico. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. They let us use the pool, restrooms, and rooftop shower after check-out while we waited for our ride to Cancun Airport. They even kept our luggage. I *highly* recommend this place.
In Puerto Morelos, there was *way* less sargassum than in Playa del Carmen—it was actually swimmable.
We did the snorkeling tour with the fishermen’s cooperative for 450 pesos per person for 2 hours. The reef is close to the beach (you’re not allowed to swim there), so the boat ride is short. It’s not as pretty as Cozumel, but it’s nice and affordable. On Puerto Morelos’s page, you can also access a small, not-very-well-preserved reef. There’s also a cenote in the sea where fresh water mixes with saltwater—the water is murky there. We had a great dinner and excellent cocktails at "La Choza del Puerto."
Tuesday, July 21:
Wandered around Puerto Morelos (check out the church and read everything—it’s entertaining!), relaxed by the hotel pool, and left for Cancun Airport by taxi (400 pesos) booked via InDrive to head back to France.
Our highlights:
- Holbox
- The whale shark tour
- The cenotes
- The local flora and fauna (so present!)
- Isla Contoy
- Cabo Catoche (except for the snorkeling)
What we liked least:
- The bioluminescence (barely visible despite good conditions)
- The food—we found it not very diverse in taquerias
- The constant tipping
- The lack of water pressure in showers (fixed, wall-mounted, no hose or showerhead)
Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions while it’s still fresh in our minds.
Traveling with just one spare pair of underwear, considering a hot shower a miracle, never staying in the same place too long by sleeping wherever night catches us, taking whatever local, improbable, and rickety transport we can find—this is the DNA of us wanderers. Except this time, the script for our movie is going to be a whole different genre. On paper, the destination doesn’t exactly scream epic adventure: Réunion! And what’s more... we won’t be two, or four, or even ten. We’ll be a solid thirty. All from the same family. Yes, thirty. At this point, it’s not just a trip—it’s a summer camp on the move! Why inflict this on such a peaceful island? Because my brother decided to get married there with his lovely bride. A great idea, you might say... especially when it involves relocating the equivalent of a small Ardennes village 10,000 kilometers from home for three weeks! So who’s stepping up to be the guide and wave the little flag?
So, for an exceptional trip, exceptional stories! Don’t worry, the debates at the supermarket over whether to choose plain chips or roast chicken chips, the beach picnics washed down with ti’ punch, and other rougail sausages to digest by the pool will only make it into the family archives. Here, I’ll stick to the tales of our beautiful escapes, the ones where we explore the wild corners of this little volcanic rock planted in the middle of the Indian Ocean. So where exactly are we headed?
For the first week—the subject of this first installment—we’re taking it easy. We’ll start by rediscovering the coastline, from the Souffleur in Saint-Leu to the Hermitage lagoon, before a little trip to the Cirque de Cilaos and its legendary road with 400 turns, just to get our legs warmed up.
This travel journal is therefore intended solely for my photos, to present a consistent style.
All the shots were taken with a simple Samsung Galaxy smartphone and with whatever was at hand.
All stays combined, I’ve spent the equivalent of three years at most in Thailand, and I’m not a big expert on the country.
However, after many trips, lots of reading on VoyageForum and other sites, and conversations with many locals as well as expats, my view of the country is becoming clearer, though it’s constantly evolving. You never stop discovering and learning.
I guess I wanted to piece together a puzzle, mainly for those who want to get an idea of the country here and for those who miss it.
I don’t know if this minimalist sharing will interest anyone, but it’ll do me good to put it together. After so many months without traveling and then these other long months with VF closed, there’s plenty of material available.
There’ll be a mix of places, periods, and subjects, but it might well be intentional.
I suspect many Thais have dogs because they make excellent guards for the home. Nothing better to deter burglars or to signal the presence of a snake. You’ll often see Thais tapping the top of their dog’s head, but don’t be fooled: it’s a sign of affection from them. Judging by the dogs’ reactions, they’re used to it.
Thailand is one of the countries on the planet where rabies is still present, so keep that in mind. It’s not just bites that can be dangerous, so don’t let just any dog lick you. Especially on a wound, of course.
Even though dogs often fear humans—this dangerous and unpredictable predator—we still need to stay cautious.
Be careful when walking into alleys because the dog will defend its master’s big property, be careful at night, and be careful when they’re in packs.
It sometimes crosses our minds that Thailand isn’t really made for walking around, and dogs are one of the reasons.
That said, it’s not uncommon to see them chasing bikes or scooters. Cars, though, are much rarer—they’re too big.
It seems Thais prefer to give their dogs freedom by not locking them behind gates. Though sometimes the gate is closed, the little side door is wide open. Oh, and sometimes there’s no gate in front of the property, or it’s been broken for years.
You’ll often see dogs sleeping on the side of the road, sometimes right on the road. When you arrive, they move aside nonchalantly—or not at all. It’s less funny when they suddenly appear from thick vegetation, which reminds visitors not to drive too fast. As a result, you’ll notice that dogs with injuries or missing legs aren’t that rare.
Since they believe in reincarnation and respect for all forms of life, they don’t chase dog packs away too much, and they don’t sterilize them enough. Seeing a small pack roaming freely in the countryside, you might think it’s best not to cross paths with them at the edge of a field.
A darker side of this is that euthanasia isn’t often practiced. Twice, we saw dogs at temples on the brink of death, enduring terrible suffering. No one did anything about it. The image (and the smell) of one of them, dying and emitting the stench of death, still comes back to me sometimes.
Some of you may have seen the YouTube vlog of a French woman living in Phuket who was given a little pig by her Thai friends. The well-fed animal quickly became a happy, enormous beast with its own garden. Yet, it didn’t take long for it to fall seriously ill and become incurable. In her video, the French woman described how difficult it was to find a vet willing to perform euthanasia.
You’ll often see bowls by the side of the road. Thais leave food and water in them for stray cats and dogs. Overall, they have a big heart for animals.
If you ever pop into a shopping mall, you might see people pushing their small dogs in strollers. It’s not a gimmick—it’s just that these strollers are provided for customers to put their pets in, otherwise you can’t bring them inside. It looks a bit odd when you expect to see a baby.
It was winter, a winter with beautiful weather,
A season that only exists in the southwest of America,
I remember very well what I told you that morning
A month ago... A century ago, an eternity ago...
We’ll go... wherever you want, whenever you want...
Well, yeah, back from our adventure in our enchanting American West just a month ago, we’re already taking a bite out of one of its lesser-known competitors. "Flo, if you had to pick just one reason to justify your love for the U.S., what would it be?" The greasy, dripping burgers? No, I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying it’d be the wide-open spaces... And that’s exactly what our new quest is taking us to—a land on the other side of the globe where the horizon also seems endless, where silence tastes like salty wind and sand, where freedom is measured in kilometers of desert tracks, where the GPS is mostly there to confirm you’re lost in the middle of nowhere... Add to that magic formula the fact that you’ll see more zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and elephants than people per square kilometer, and you can imagine us setting foot in Southern Africa for the first time, more precisely at the small airport in Windhoek, capital of... of...? Brush up on your geography, damn it! We’re landing in Namibia!!!
To be honest, Namibian landscapes have been flirting with me for ages. So how did I resist this island of temptation for so long? First, the budget. Let’s just say that for the same amount of effort (and kidneys), the bank lets you choose two other adventures almost anywhere else on the planet. Then there were my girls. Yeah, back then, they were too little to dose up on Malarone, the only malaria remedy at the time... Long story short, ten years later, all the planets have aligned. First, I won the Euromillions! Well, almost... Let’s just say my girls are now old enough... not to take Malarone, but to stop following me on all my adventures! Jackpot! "Flo, how about a little two-person caprice, just the two of us, tackling the Namibian tracks?"
As we landed on the runway, first wow effect: The horizon is immense. It’s flat as can be, incredibly flat... So much flat space! Did I mention it was flat?... Looking into the distance, it feels like your gaze could circle the Earth without hitting a single obstacle—until you end up staring at your own backside. "Oh, what a nice view!" Well, it’s the first time I’ve seen my butt from this angle! Touching moment... Sorry, I’m rambling—must be the exhaustion from the three-flight marathon we just powered through via Ethiopia and South Africa... And yet, no time to philosophize about my anatomy. As usual, we want to rack up our first kilometers to be front and center at dawn tomorrow. After wrapping up the tedious Namibian immigration formalities and meeting the 4x4 that’ll be our companion day and night for the next fifteen days, we’re off! We’re not exactly fresh, but we’re ready to tackle the next five hundred kilometers in night mode, cruise control set due south! Just outside Windhoek, the local wildlife—a jackal—welcomes us with a smile: "Welcome to Namibia!" That’s what it said! Honest... Okay, first endless straight road, first flaming sunset, first corrugated dirt track, first Milky Way with zero light pollution... You get it—it’s definitely the day of firsts... First night camping, too, in the big trunk of our Toyota Fortuner parked by the side of the track... The real adventure, the kind that smells under the arms, can finally begin...
Here we go—finally, the big day has arrived! A trip the whole family (my two kids, my husband, and me) had been looking forward to for so long.
To keep it short, we left from Nice, arrived in Namibia on June 25, 2025, and left again on the 21st—four weeks later.
We used an agency for all the camping reservations, activities, and the car rental. At least that side of things was taken care of. Michaël was our contact throughout the planning and the trip itself.
We spent our first night at Londiningi BB. A bit out of the city center but very quiet. The rooms were spacious and clean, and we could eat on-site that evening. Perfect for recovering from the flight.
This travel journal is our second on VoyageForum, following last year’s where we recounted our four weeks in Vietnam.
The goal remains the same: since some members on this site share tips, experiences, and great deals that help us prepare for our trips, we do the same after returning—both to give back a little and in the hope that our experiences might be useful to others in some way.
Our route was as follows: Bangkok, Siem Reap, Krabi, Suratthani, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Chumphon, Bang Saphan, Prachuab Khiri Khan, Sam Roi Yod, Hua Hin, Phetchaburi, Bangkok.
Beyond rediscovering Bangkok, our objectives were the long-held dream of seeing Angkor and exploring southern Thailand, much of which isn’t overly touristy.
A quick big thank-you to Barbot, who took the time to answer several of our questions.
12/07/2013
The cheapest flight we found earlier this year was a Paris-Bangkok route with a layover in Moscow for 1440 €, total for two people.
So, this time we tried Aeroflot. Airbus A318 for the first leg, A330 for the second. Nothing particularly annoying to report—the passengers were very calm, the cabin temperature was comfortable, and we had enough legroom.
That said, the quality of the meal trays was pretty mediocre, and the flight attendants weren’t exactly comedians.
We’d like to remind everyone that it’s best to exchange as little money as possible at the airport upon arrival, since the rate is about 5% worse than at city banks.
Of course, we made sure to take the airport exit where you can catch official taxis to avoid getting scammed. So, we queued up, a little lady gave us the ticket, and off we went with the driver.
Generally, this system works well because these drivers are registered, know their duties, and the risks they face if they break the rules. Except that day, right off the bat, we got the scammer of the day. His first move was to snatch the ticket from my wife’s hands—the one you’re supposed to keep in case of a complaint. My husband saw it, but after a full day of travel, we were a bit out of it, and honestly, there was no reason to be suspicious. But once we started driving, the guy refused to turn on the meter. We insisted more and more firmly, but nothing. So, I used the famous method of opening the door and starting to step out of the car. At 40 km/h, that scares the driver more than the passenger. He finally turned on the meter, but that didn’t calm him down—quite the opposite. For the next half-hour, he ruined the ride by demanding extra fees here and there. Having dealt with several scam attempts last year in Vietnam, this wasn’t exactly new, and we were proud of ourselves for staying pretty zen. Still, this guy was a little scary—he was completely wired and aggressive. Honestly, it was hard not to think he was on something. He’d be perfect for a *Scarface* remake. When we finally arrived at the hotel, he followed us to the entrance. We paid the two tolls (25 and 45 baht), gave him the usual 100 baht extra for the ride, and stayed polite but firm. So, meter: 245 baht + 100 baht + 25 and 45 baht for tolls—we paid the exact amount, no way we were tipping this guy. He left furious, but he was already like that before picking us up... Anyway, avoid Mr. Chartree Chidchen, number 089 826 7308, car E2663!
We were so relieved to finally settle in at Feung Nakorn Balcony hotel in the temple district. 42 € per night, great reception, all the staff is friendly. The AC works fine, the bed seemed hard at first but turned out to be comfortable. The hotel is quiet, away from the nightlife, but at this time of year, many places are less crowded than in high season. Even with a nice fish pond and outdoor breakfast area, it’s a decent hotel, though we felt we could’ve found something better.
After a night on the plane, the first afternoon is always a bit of a slog. We napped for a few hours, and when we woke up—guess what—we were starving. We visited a temple across from the hotel (nothing special) and then decided to take the Chao Phraya Express, the river shuttle that serves many piers along the river. It was a really enjoyable experience. The steel gangway wobbles when you board and disembark, the boat sits low in the water, and sometimes you get splashed. During peak times, you’re packed in like sardines, but most of all, there’s that exotic urban landscape passing by, especially the temple rooftops.
At that exact moment, the boat was packed. We didn’t see a ticket booth at the pier, and we tried in vain to pay the few baht for the ride. The cashier on the boat was too busy, and another employee we called didn’t have time to help us. Oh well, we weren’t going to force the issue. Still, this mode of transport is super practical for avoiding traffic, and at the piers, the lines with station names are clearly marked, with colors matching the flags on the boats. Combined with a map like the *Routard* guide, it’s easy to navigate.
We easily made it to the restaurant *Harmonique*, located near one of these piers. It’s a unanimous favorite on this forum, and let us tell you—it’s well-deserved. What a wonderful experience that evening! We only saw the outdoor gazebo because there was no way we were dining inside. It’s not flashy, so those looking for a luxurious setting should look elsewhere.
That night, the staff was a bit slow, and we had to track them down several times to move things along. But oh, my friends—what a feast on the plate! Start with the appetizer platter for two at 250 baht, featuring four specialties, each more tempting than the last, followed by their famous crab curry for 200 baht. There’s *so much* crab in there! The dish is so delicious and rich that when you finish, you feel—how to put it—like it was almost *too* good, to the point where you’re almost put off eating for days. And also, oh yes, we *will* be back. Their satay chicken is just as amazing, and it would be a crime not to mention their generous dessert with ice cream, warm banana, and chocolate, plus their *excellent* almond milkshake.
Later, we took a taxi to Kao San Road, mainly to book a Ko Tao-Chumphon trip for 600 baht per person at the Lomprayah counter. In hindsight, we should’ve booked all three of our trips there right away.
Kao San Road is *ultra*-touristy—better for younger crowds, but it’s still worth seeing. There’s rock ‘n’ roll, hippies, and crowds everywhere.
We walked back to the hotel, and when we got a little lost near a canal, a really nice older Thai man spontaneously appeared out of the night to kindly point us in the right direction.
Finally, a real long night of sleep ahead—we cranked up the AC. Sweet, the vacation has begun!
Hi there,
I just got back from a trip to Sri Lanka from December 18th to January 1st with 2 adults and 2 kids (12 years old).
If it helps, here’s my itinerary.
We left on December 18th from Madrid with Qatar Airways. No complaints. I booked my tickets back in March for 800 € per person. (I flew from Madrid because I live near the Spanish border and was too worried about strikes in France.)
We arrived on December 19th at 4 PM (local time). Before leaving France, I’d booked a taxi through MyTransfer for 59 € to Sigiriya. A van was waiting for us at the airport exit.
A never-ending 3-hour drive to Sigiriya. We stayed at Samana Guesthouse—very simple, clean, with a pool and an excellent Sri Lankan breakfast. Shower and straight to bed.
Friday, December 20th: Beautiful weather, but very humid and hot. We visited Lion Rock (36 € for adults) and then Pidurangala.
I loved both sites—they’re a must-do in my opinion.
Spent the late afternoon by the pool.
Saturday, December 21st: Another gorgeous day. The guesthouse manager offered us a free 2-hour tuk-tuk tour. We first visited a lake, rice fields, the temple, and the Sigiriya market, plus the usual tourist trap—the botanical garden (no pressure to buy anything at the end).
Then we took a tuk-tuk to Dambulla Temple, the Golden Buddha, and the wholesale market.
Sunday, December 22nd: Still beautiful weather. I’d booked a taxi for 8 AM. We did all the long trips by taxi to save time. I’d ask for prices from 2 or 3 WhatsApp taxi agencies 2 days or the day before—super responsive, always got replies within 5 minutes. We headed to Ella (4-hour drive) for 22,000 LKR.
Arrived in the afternoon at Rest Full Homestay—a small, family-run guesthouse. Clean, cozy, and an amazing Sri Lankan breakfast.
In the afternoon, we went to Nine Arches Bridge. It was a Sunday, a Sri Lankan holiday, so it was *packed*—mostly locals and very few white tourists! Even though it was crowded, it was cool because it was all Sri Lankans. We waited an hour for the train. It’s worth seeing, but honestly, I didn’t think it was that amazing.
Then we headed to the station to check if we needed to book tickets for the train to Haputale—turns out, no.
Monday, December 23rd: Beautiful weather. We hiked Ella Rock—a gorgeous trek. The final stretch is steep but shaded, so it wasn’t as tough as I’d read. The whole hike is stunning from start to finish. We saw the train pass twice (one blue, one red) and lots of women picking tea.
After that, we did Little Adam’s Peak. It’s not hard, but it was *packed* with tourists—meh. Luckily, at the top, you can walk a bit farther (down one side and back up) to get some space to yourself.
What I *didn’t* like was the commercial vibe at the big café/restaurant with a pool at the entrance of Little Adam’s Peak. Loud music, all that money being made right next to little souvenir stands run by Sri Lankans or tea-picking women. Felt off.
Ended the day buying souvenirs at one of the few shops we found during the trip.
Tuesday, December 24th: Beautiful weather. Took the train to Haputale. We got to the station 30 minutes before the 9:30 AM train. We could’ve taken 2nd or 3rd class—I went with 2nd (160 LKR per person).
It was crowded, but we managed to get seats—first 2, then 3. Only a 1-hour ride, but I *loved* it—windows and doors open the whole time.
Arrived in Haputale around 11 AM, and the mist was already rolling in.
We walked to our guesthouse, The Mist Holiday Bungalow. Simple but clean, with a great view of the tea plantations. The owner’s wife is Vietnamese and used to work for French tour operators, so her French is still pretty good—helpful for us since our English is terrible. They booked us a tuk-tuk for 4:45 AM the next day (2,000 LKR) to Lipton’s Seat.
Spent the afternoon wandering around Haputale. Not much charm, but there’s a nice fruit and veggie market and a short walk through the tea plantations.
Wednesday, December 25th: Beautiful weather. The tuk-tuk was on time to take us to Lipton’s Seat. We were the first ones there—the sky was just starting to turn pink. In the end, only about ten of us watched the sunrise. The guesthouse had packed us breakfast, and we walked back down (half on the road, half through the plantations). Didn’t see any tea picking since it was Christmas, but the walk was still incredible. We took detours through villages full of kids.
After that, we visited the tea factory. The tour was really interesting, and we took the bus back down to Haputale. Such a great moment—whole families were heading to mass, dressed up and made up. All so beautiful.
At noon, we left for Udawalawe National Park. Taxi for 14,000 LKR. Stayed at River Inn Safari Cottage. *Warning*: It’s the same place as Eagle Safari Cottage. I don’t recommend it. We’d always stayed with families before, but here it was just staff—totally different vibe. The pool was nice but not very clean (water was murky). The bungalow was big and fine, but it was brand new—so new the asphalt floor wasn’t fully dry. It’s in the middle of nowhere, so we had to eat on-site. Couldn’t leave a review on Booking because they never confirmed we’d stayed, and they canceled our reservation the next day.
Thursday, December 26th: Beautiful weather. I’d booked a safari through the hotel for 5:30–10 AM for 54 USD. Honestly, yes, there are a lot of jeeps, but it was great. The kids loved it—we saw everything there was to see.
Left by taxi at 11:30 AM for Welligama (12,000 LKR).
We didn’t stay in Welligama city but at Coconut Beach, between Welligama and Midigama. *Total crush* on the guesthouse: Sky Mountain Café with View. Such a lovely family. The mom makes amazing meals at reasonable prices. The view from the hill over the sea is unreal.
Spent the afternoon walking along the beach.
Friday, December 27th: Beautiful weather. My kids are surfers. Unfortunately, there weren’t any boards their size to rent at Coconut, so we took a tuk-tuk to Welligama Bay (1,000 LKR). They surfed from 8 AM to 5 PM—rental was 5,000 LKR for the day. Meanwhile, we walked the beach and swam. Water was 29°C.
Saturday, December 28th: Beautiful weather, rain from 4 PM until midnight. Same surf day. They were so well-behaved the whole trip, so this was their reward.
Sunday, December 29th: Beautiful weather. Beach day at Coconut. *Warning*: It’s a reef break. For surfers, there are three spots (Coconut Left, Middle, and Right). The boys bodysurfed (with fins) all morning, and at 1 PM, we took the bus to Hikkaduwa.
Stayed at Hotel Universal Beach. Nothing special—right on the water, but the rooms were dark even though they were clean. The manager was super nice, but the rest was meh, and breakfast was mediocre compared to what we’d had before (2 eggs and 3 slices of toast). Plus, it was late—8 AM.
First impression of Hikkaduwa wasn’t great—way too many Russians for our taste.
Monday, December 30th: Beautiful weather. Spent the whole day exploring. Turtle Beach, then the other side of the beach (toward Galle) near the fishing port. The beach there is much wider, with scattered hotels and super quiet. It’s beautiful—I should’ve booked somewhere in that area. Ended up having a great day away from the crowds.
Tuesday, December 31st: Overcast, then beautiful, rain at 4 PM. Had to end the year (and the trip) with some surf. Rented boards for the kids (3,000 LKR per board for the day). Bad luck—the waves were on a reef break but small. Not great for them, but no big deal. They still got out of the water by 2 PM. Walked the beach (which is gorgeous), had a juice, and went for a swim. Then back to surfing in the rain at 4 PM.
Wednesday, January 1st: Left by taxi at 5 AM (18,000 LKR). Flight at 10 AM. Arrived in Madrid at 8 PM.
I could have titled my travel journal like Carmen: "Some trips are born twice." Indeed, we had considered this destination back in February 2020. However, an honest tour operator advised us against traveling at that time due to the climate. So, we gave up and opted for Guatemala instead (see "On the Mayan Lands" on this site).
So, why this title? When I was in primary school, over 65 years ago, the illustrations in my history books (Machu Picchu) and geography books (Lake Titicaca) made me dream, and those images stayed in my mind. It took until 2026 to finally make this dream come true!
We prepared our trip with Tout Pérou, a French-speaking "agency." Everything was handled via email and WhatsApp exchanges with our contact: Laurent, who was both competent, friendly, and full of good advice.
For 200 €, Tout Pérou provided us with drivers and guides whenever we wanted, helped us buy our domestic flights (cheaper when purchased in Peru), booked shuttles between airports and hotels, and got us a discount on the train ride to Aguas Calientes, as well as on the buses between Chivay and Puno and between Puno and Cusco. In short, Laurent took care of all the logistics and the Machu Picchu tickets. It was up to us to book our hotels. Tout Pérou provided a list, but we weren’t obliged to follow it. Another advantage of the package: we didn’t have to pay in advance; we paid the service providers directly day by day.
We didn’t meet Laurent in person because he was on vacation in Europe. Before his departure, he gave us a briefing, provided a summary table with the entire program, the service providers, their phone numbers, their fees, the schedules, and gave us plenty of advice (money, exchange, safety, etc.). After returning at the end of our stay, he kept checking in on us.
Lastly, we had also gathered information from Arnaud Lagadec, who runs a hotel in Cusco and offers tours of the region. He gave us a lot of useful information. Another contact: Thomas Montaigne, very friendly, who runs an agency in Arequipa (Agence Pérou Exclusif).
Day 1 – Paris to Lima
Foreword
I’ll share our trip without any pretension—I don’t have the talent of some contributors on this forum—and I’ll illustrate it with a few photos (taken with an ordinary smartphone). My comments are personal and only reflect my own views. So, please be kind! Feel free to comment on my story as you like, but let’s avoid pointless debates.
Even though we live in the south of the Paris region, true to our habits when the flight is in the morning, we chose to spend the night before our departure in a hotel near CDG and parked our car in a parking lot in Garches. This way, we avoid the stress that often comes with traveling around Paris (accidents, roadworks, traffic jams, etc.).
Check-in and border control went smoothly on that Sunday morning. Our Air France flight was uneventful. In Lima, border control took a particularly long time, and for the first time, we didn’t get an entry visa stamped in our passports.
As planned, a driver took us to the Miraflores district, where our hotel was located. We were surprised by the numerous signs about possible tsunamis, having forgotten that Peru is prone to such events and regularly experiences earthquakes. We’d see the consequences of these during our journey.
Exhausted from the early wake-up, the 13-hour flight, and the 7-hour time difference, we had dinner at the hotel before a restful night.
Note that this day was Peru’s presidential election day. As a result, we weren’t served beer—the sale of alcohol was banned that Sunday.
We did the Langtang trek (hike) from September 10th to 17th, with the first and last days being the trip from Kathmandu and back—so 6 days of actual walking. It’s a fairly well-known trek but certainly not as famous or crowded as those in the Annapurna or Everest regions, which is why we chose it.
In theory, it’s mandatory to have a guide for this trek. In reality, it seems there are ways to bypass the regulations: we met at least two people hiking without a guide—a South Korean, a New Zealander, and possibly also a couple of English women and an American couple, though we’re not sure if they had a guide.
The agency we booked with had told us it was an affordable trek for relatively older people in good shape—which is our case (I’m 72 myself). I have to say upfront that we found it quite challenging, maybe because we didn’t have good weather—it was the end of the monsoon season. To be clear, no matter your fitness level, I’d say doing this trek in the middle of the monsoon season would be suicidal.
Day 1 – Journey from Kathmandu to Syapru Besi
On Monday, September 8th, there had been violent protests in Kathmandu against the government, which had, among other things, blocked access to social media and been accused of nepotism and corruption. There were 19 deaths. The situation was very tense on the day of our departure, Wednesday the 10th. The agency warned us that public transport was very unreliable. So, we decided to take a jeep, at an additional cost of $100 ($160 minus what was already budgeted for the bus).
We left a little before 7 a.m. and it took us a good hour just to reach the outskirts of Kathmandu. Along the way, we saw several houses and vehicles set on fire by protesters.
The road to Syapru Besi is only 120 km, but it’s frankly awful. It’s always narrow, winds through endless mountains, and the shoulders range from bad to confusing to nonexistent. Several sections are just dirt tracks. We didn’t regret opting for the jeep, as we could stop several times at our convenience—if only to let Y (my Thai partner) throw up everything she had. She’d taken her usual motion sickness medication, but the constant turns, accelerations, and braking eventually made her terribly carsick.
In Nuwakot, we stopped for breakfast at a nice little restaurant, Jimbu. It was around 8:30 a.m., and we’d barely covered 60 km. The restaurant has a lovely garden overlooking the Trishuli Ganga, the river flowing down from Syapru Besi. First photo: the river in the bottom right corner, mist and clouds over the mountain on the other side.
An hour later, my second photo: the hills along the Trishuli Ganga. You can see the different crops—lush green rice paddies in the lower right and corn, already yellowed and likely harvested, in the foreground on the left. And of course, the mist and clouds through which you can glimpse the mountain on the other side of the river.
Last October, we landed in Marrakech to spend a few days with family exploring Morocco’s roads.
Transport: a rented Dacia.
Accommodations: small guesthouses.
Our first stop was just a few kilometers from Marrakech, at a lovely house perfect for relaxing and recharging before continuing. It’s called Bleu House, a little paradise on the outskirts of Marrakech. The welcome was very warm, with a beautiful pool and a lovely garden.
Next, we headed toward the Tichka Pass. The road has really improved in recent years—it’s much easier to drive now. No more getting stuck behind trucks, and today, the construction is practically finished.
Morocco has turned green after the recent rains. It’s a joy for the herds and shepherds.
I hesitated about writing this travel journal...
This summer, we only did the classics (the 3 northern parks and Zanzibar) and let a local agency take care of everything from start to finish.
No craziness, no risks, no sleeping under the stars, no self-drive, no venturing off the beaten path, no incidents, and not even any delays in the pre-planned itinerary...
But don’t think we were disappointed!
The whole family (there were 6 of us) came back with smiles and memories of great moments spent together.
So, if you're looking for a "classic" way to discover Tanzania, this is the place to be.
Our 2-week itinerary:
- Arusha (1 night upon arrival)
- Tarangire (1 night)
- Ngorongoro (2 nights in Karatu then Irmisigiyo)
- Serengeti (3 nights in Robanda, Togoro Plains, and Seronera)
- Zanzibar Stone Town (1 night)
- Zanzibar Matemwe (3 nights)
- Zanzibar Jambiani (3 nights)
Come along, I'm taking you to this country where it's so nice to wander and slow down...
This trip was in 2023, but when I wanted to write my travel journal, VF was still closed to contributions...
So, now that I've just finished my Japan travel journal here, I figured it was high time to honor this destination we came back from so enchanted.
Disclaimer 1: This is a written travel journal. There’ll be text! Too much, for some!
Disclaimer 2: This is an illustrated travel journal. There’ll be photos! Too many, for some!
I have to say, every time I try to discipline myself, to keep it shorter, to include fewer photos... I end up adding more. It feels like my dear Aunt Nicole, who exhausted us with her slide-show evenings in the 70s/80s, decided to take her revenge. The upside for you, readers, is that you can slip away anytime without offending Aunt Nicole. I won’t even notice!
Anyway, since I love maps, here’s one to give you an idea of where I’m taking you. As you can see, we only saw a tiny part of Laos (the areas circled in red); we only had 3 weeks for ourselves (my husband’s newly retired, I still work), and we prefer taking our time over rushing around like crazy.
In broad strokes, it was very classic:
First, we “settled in” at Luang Prabang (8 days), because we wanted and needed to.
From there, we took three days to venture a little further north—not far in kilometers, but as we know, distances aren’t just about km!
Then we flew south to Paksé, letting ourselves drift down to the 4,000 Islands while stopping by the pre-Angkorian archaeological sites.
We wrapped up with the Bolaven Plateau.
A few practical notes: We arrived via Bangkok, then took a Bangkok-Luang Prabang flight, having picked up our luggage in Bangkok to check it in for Luang Prabang. No issues—the Bangkok airport, which many of you know, is very well organized.
We got our visas on arrival in Luang Prabang. Quick, but to be fair, we were on a “small” plane, and the big flights had arrived earlier, so we weren’t too crowded in line!
At the end of our trip, we didn’t fly out of Paksé but from the nearby airport in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani (a 2.5-hour drive from Paksé), then Bangkok and Paris.
You’ll notice we skipped Vientiane to stay longer in Luang Prabang. That said, there’s now a high-speed train between Vientiane and Luang Prabang—good to know—and soon the (Chinese) train will go all the way to Bangkok and even Kuala Lumpur!
With that intro out of the way, let’s dive into the heart of the matter.
To be continued: Slowing down the pace... in Luang Prabang
It’s an ancient city that breathes, a living spring.
Here, no kitschy signs like “I miss you in Fengyu,” nor mass-produced fake antiques.
The century-old houses still bear the marks of wind and rain; in the morning, you hear roosters crowing, and at dusk, smoke gently rises from the kitchens.
This city doesn’t try to please anyone—like the spring water flowing through it, it simply keeps living at its own pace.
Located in Eryuan County, in the Dali Prefecture of Yunnan, the ancient town of Fengyu is a nationally designated historical and cultural city. It’s nicknamed the “land of scholars and ink”—during the Qing Dynasty, the Fengxiang Academy produced four *jinshi* and eleven *juren* in the imperial examinations. The Bai families made studying and farming a true legacy. Even on market days, you’ll find stalls of calligraphy and paintings, while lintels and screen walls are covered with family mottos.
Fengyu was also an important stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road. It preserves the second-largest Bai architectural complex in China, just after Xizhou. The famous traveler Xu Xiake spent seven days here and compared it to the “peach blossom paradise.”
I’m inviting you on a stroll through my drawings—a completely subjective, far from exhaustive, and totally personal take, since it’s based on my own sketches. I put this travel journal together after returning in late 2024, mostly using felt-tip pens and pencils, with a few collages thrown in. I worked from our personal photos.
Let’s start with the shotengai...
Our first "wow" moment came as we stepped out of the subway in Asakusa, the Tokyo neighborhood where we’d booked our hotel for our first five nights. Exhausted after our long flight, we finally arrived and took an exit that led straight into a shotengai—one of those covered shopping streets that pop up in city centers and flourished between the 1950s and 1980s.
It was an instant aesthetic shock, like a close encounter of the third kind between the modern city, a typical Asian market with its street stalls, the vintage vibe of the arcade, the sheer abundance of goods, and the bustling crowd—a mix of tourists, pilgrims (thanks to nearby Senso-ji Temple), and locals (it’s a very working-class area).
In the end, it set the tone for a feeling we’d experience throughout the trip. Wherever we went, shotengai turned out to be fantastic spots for finding little restaurants, shops, or even fresh produce. Some are like real mazes, like in Kyoto, where we spent ages trying to relocate a restaurant we’d loved ;-)
In Kanazawa, the Omicho Market:
And in Kyoto, Nishiki Market:
Après avoir réceptionné notre véhicule, outil indispensable pour ce road trip de 600 kilomètres seulement (l'avantage de visiter la plus petite province de cet immense pays), un SUV de Buick plutôt maigre en terme d'équipement, nous commençons notre exploration par la ville de Yinchuan, capitale de la province autonome du Ningxia. Yinchuan n’a pas l’allure des grandes capitales provinciales du pays, elle semble vide et si petite. On y roule plutôt facilement sur les grandes avenues et on se gare sans difficulté.
Cette région qui a la particularité d’être administrée par la minorité musulmane Hui, a une histoire assez originale, la région autonome du Ningxia a été fondée en 1959 seulement. C'est une des régions qui est tout en bas des classements du pays, en terme de richesse, de PIB ou de population... Mais qui est devenu un grand centre de production de vin ! Sur les contreforts des Montagnes de Helan Shan, on voit défiler les panneaux indiquant les domaines viticoles qui se visitent. Pour ce premier jour, on part donc logiquement d’abord à la visite des bâtiments caractéristiques de la ville, tout d’abord la mosquée de Nanguan.
Tout autour de la mosquée, des vendeurs de moutons hallal.
Pour continuer notre découverte de Yinchuan et de la culture Hui, nous nous rendons en sortie de la ville, au Hui Minority cultural center, qui est un ensemble de bâtiments (pas encore finis) dont une très belle mosquée encore.
L'intérieur est très joli.
On y voit fortement l’influence de la route de la soie.
Après ce premier aperçu culturel de la région du Ningxia, nous mangeons un repas local composé de mouton bien sûr et accompagné d’une salade de pousses de Goji. La baie de Goji est la première spécialité de la région du Ningxia, un super fruit réputé pour contenir pleins de micronutriments.
La dynastie Xixia est une dynastie qui a régné sur une partie de la route de la soie avant d'être finalement vaincue par les Mongols au XIIIe siècle. Le site est grandiose avec cette plaine aride au pied de la chaine de montagne de Helan.
Le site étant immense, il faut prendre d’abord une navette pour en faire le tour puis ensuite on peut louer des vélos pour rejoindre les dernières tombes. Le problème est qu’il est déjà tard et il n’est plus possible de louer de vélos, on part donc en exploration à pieds pour aller s’approcher le plus près, mais on sait que l’on n’aura pas le temps de les atteindre, 5 kilomètres de distance.
Néanmoins, le site prend une autre dimension à pieds, sous cette chaleur écrasante et le soleil parfois caché par les nuages ajoute une touche grandiose à ce site qui semble si vide et immense. On aperçoit la ville de Yinchuan au fond, avec ses grands bâtiments modernes et les cheminées des usines chimiques, deux mondes qui se contemplent avec 1000 ans de différence.
En rentrant en ville, on fait un détour par South Square où se trouve une version miniature de Tian An Men Square.
La nuit tombe tard à Yinchuan par rapport à Hangzhou qui se trouve à 2000 kilomètres à l’Est de Hangzhou. Ce qui nous donne l’occasion de rentrer tranquillement en ville et de visiter le quartier d’affaire de Yinchuan.
Puis on grimple regarder le soleil se coucher depuis une esplanade qui est parfaitement orientée plein Ouest pour terminer cette première journée dans le Ningxia.
Puis nous embarquons pour sur l’autre rive où se trouvent les 108 stupas.
Il ne faut pas s’imaginer visiter un site avec une grande histoire, tout cet ensemble nous semble bien contemporain heureusement que l’environnement en lui-même est magnifique.
En effet, nous remarquerons que de nombreux sites touristiques du Ningxia ont été développés au maximum pour transformer la culture et le paysage local en business.
On ne peut pas blâmer ces initiatives locales qui sont clairement soutenues par l’administration centrale comme une manne financière à optimiser pour le développement de la région, et élever son économie à la suite des régions prospères de l’Est.
Nous ferons une pause face au site des 108 stupas, édifié dans la roche aride des montagnes qui bordent le fleuve jaune. C’est seulement sur les rives que la végétation arrive à survivre à ce climat extrême.
Pour la suite de la visite du site, nous embarquons dans un speed bateau pour remonter le fleuve Jaune jusqu’aux gorges. Le tour en bateau non seulement permet de contempler ce site magnifique mais aussi d’avoir des sensations fortes avec la vitesse.
Cette excursion en speed boat est vraiment l’activité la plus intéressante de ce site à Wuzhong, sans cela je ne peux pas recommander de faire halte ici. Et encore, le prix du ticket d’entrée est vraiment élevé.
En milieu d’après-midi, nous reprenons la route pour Zhongwei. On enfile un repas sur une aire d’autoroute, composé d’un grand plat de poulet et pommes de terre dans un restaurant à la décoration dépassée.
Nous arrivons à 16h à Shapotou, aux confins de la province du Ningxia, c’est ici que l’on peut entrer dans le désert de Tengger et s’immerger dans l’ambiance de la route de la soie. Mais alors qu’on arrive presque au but, la route est coupée et un policier nous dit de faire demi-tour. En fait, l’accès au désert est fermé aux véhicules privés et il faut s’acquitter d’un ticket d’entrée alors que le site de Shapotou ferme à 19h. On se dit que l’on tente quand même et si besoin on reviendra une deuxième fois le lendemain au même endroit. On prend donc la navette qui elle a le droit de rentrer dans la zone de Shapotou et nous dépose dans une zone du désert ou de nombreuses activités sont offertes aux touristes… Pas vraiment ce que l’on imagine de la route de la soie et la solitude du désert. Le site est en soi vraiment grandiose avec de grandes dunes jusqu’à l’horizon, un sable fin jaune. Le pire c’est que la navette a roulé un bon moment avant d’arriver à cette zone touristique planté au milieu des dunes, on aurait pu s’arrêter ou on veut et faire un petit tour mais non.
En même temps, en toute honnêteté, on imaginait bien que cela ressemblerait à un parc d’attraction dans le désert. J’en rajoute une dernière, le site est fermé par un grillage pour éviter que les touristes ne s’aventurent seuls dans les dunes ! On essaye de voir le positif et on profite quand même de ce petit carré de bac à sable propre et sécurisé pour en faire le tour, on a une belle vue vers le vaste désert de Tengger, le quatrième plus grand désert de Chine.
De l’autre côté, on aperçoit la ville de Zhongwei. Comme toutes les villes du Ningxia, ce ne sont pas les grands batiments qui s’élèvent dans le ciel, mais les cheminées des usines chimiques et pétrolières, la région étant spécialisée dans ce type d’industries.
Pour cela, on roule sur une belle route dans les dunes.
Cette dune qui borde le Fleuve Jaune est immense. On a l’impression que l’on pourrait tomber dans le fleuve tellement elle est abrupte.
Ici aussi le site a des allures de parc d’attraction.
On se prend au jeu et on s’accorde un tour en tyrolienne au-dessus du fleuve, sensation forte garantie et franchement ça vaut vraiment le coup. Puisqu’on joue le jeu à fond, on remonte même tout en haut de la dune en télésiège !
Le site est censé fermer à 19h, il n’y a quasiment plus personne maintenant que le soleil se couche, dommage il est caché par les nuages. On profite de cette vue dans la quasi solitude.
C’est seulement après 19h30 que la dernière navette vient récupérer les quatre derniers touristes qui restent là. On imaginait bien qu’en Chine, on ne nous laisserait pas tomber dans le désert et quelqu’un viendrait nous avertir du dernier départ, et que ce départ serait bien plus tard que l’heure annoncée.
La ville de Zhongwei abrite aussi un magnifique temple très bien éclairé la nuit.
Le temple de Gao Miao se trouve au centre d’un très beau parc parfait pour une balade digestive.
Les différents points de vue depuis la route qui se trouve derrière ce virage va nous éblouir. Tout d’abord on borde le fleuve Jaune.
Les montagnes sont abruptes et les rives cultivées ajoutent une touche de végétation à ce paysage désertique.
On rencontrera quasiment personne de toute la journée et l’asphalte file entre les montagnes aux couleurs ocre.
Le désert avance jusqu’ici.
Un magnifique road trip qui rappelle tellement les USA, seul le panneau en caractère chinois nous confirme que l'on est bien en Chine.
Ici le Fleuve Jaune fait un grand virage, avec les dunes de sable qui le touche presque.
Si vous venez ici en fin de journée, je pense que le point de vue au dessus de la route devrait être incroyable, mais avec la température actuellement, on ne sent pas en sécurité à monter dans ce pierrier.
Pour le midi, on s’arrête à Beichangtan en bordure du fleuve dans un petit hôtel restaurant monté par des villageois.
Le village est constitué de petites maisons de paysans qui vivent d'élevage et de culture. Les grands mères proposent leurs récoltes aux quelques voitures qui passent.
On fait une sieste au bord de l’eau à l’heure la plus chaude de la journée. Aujourd’hui le thermomètre monte à 35°C, même dans la voiture c’est étouffant, une dernière photo de ce village en plein paysage de désert.
Après cette pause fraiche, on reprend la route jusqu’au dernier village. En bas de la route, le fleuve n'est même plus jaune ici, il a viré à l'orange...
Quelques cultures juste avant les gorges.
Puis la route s’arrête, on ne peut pas aller plus loin.
Ce petit village est le dernier accessible par la route.
La suite de la route est interdite, peut être une mine plus loin.
Pour ceux qui serait intéressé par ce coin du Ningxia, il faut savoir qu'avec une journée de plus il est possible d'aller sur la rive opposée pour visiter le village de Nanchangtan. La route est censée être moins belle, mais le village est selon les photos incroyablement magnifique. Selon un chauffeur de taxi avec qui on discutera, il faut 3 heures pour faire le parcours sur une route en très mauvais état, donc il faut consacrer une journée pour y aller.
On trouve une petite oasis au creux d'une petite vallée avec une petite rivière rafraichissante.
Un superbe arbre mort.
On ne s'en lasse pas...
A suivre...
Sympa la borne kilométrique avec les caractères chinois
La vue depuis la butte
On traverse à nouveau Shapotou par la nationale et on en profite pour s’arrêter à proximité de la dune qui fait face au fleuve jaune, la route passant juste à côté.
Ca peut être un bon plan pour ceux qui veulent voir la dune de Shapotou sans nécessairement rentrer dans la zone touristique comme un stop photo par exemple. J'ai aussi l'impression quand venant de cette direction, on peut entrer dans le site avec son propre véhicule et se garer face à la dune, à vérifier.
On est surpris et en même temps excité de voir que pour aller aux grasslands il faut changer de région, on quitte donc la région du Ningxia pour entrer en Mongolie Intérieure. Ici les panneaux sont bilingues chinois mongol (bon je vous ai mis le seul panneau que j'ai qui n'est pas en double langue🤪). Nous entrons dans la ville qui a un nom très étonnant : Ligue d’Alxa (ou Alashan en traduction du chinois), visiblement le mot "ligue" équivaut à "ville" ou "district" ici. C'est une première pour moi d'entrer dans cette province autonome.
Une immense station électrique a été construite sur le sable. On passe à proximité d’un immense champ de panneaux solaires, tout à coup apparait le grand plateau vert. On arrive aux grasslands.
Des chameaux paissent tranquillement dans la prairie.
La route passe au milieu d'un lac salé asseché, on croirait presque que cette photo est en noir et blanc.
Certaines parties du lac prend des couleurs rosées.
Un peu plus loin ce sont des chevaux qui paissent dans la prairie, avec une belle usine au fond de l'image.
Le site des grasslands de Tonghai est malheureusement développé de la même manière que son cousin Shapotou, avec un ticket d’entrée, un parking et une navette et toutes les activités associées au désert.
Ici le thème, c’est la culture mongole. Autour de ce parc d’attraction, le paysage est déjà magnifique.
On se dit qu’étant arrivé jusqu’ici on va quand même entrer avec un but, louer une Jeep et faire un tour dans les dunes, comme tout le monde. Le tour en Jeep est vraiment sympa, après avoir conduit une partie nous-même, on rend le volant à notre guide qui nous fait la frayeur de notre vie en roulant comme un dingue dans les dunes, c’est vraiment impressionnant, car quand on arrive en haut d’une dune on ne sait pas ce qu’il y a de l’autre côté et la Jeep fonce à toute vitesse dans ce sable mou.
Après avoir fait un tour, la Jeep s’arrête au milieu de nulle part pour nous laisser profiter du désert sans grillages ni la foule. Le vent souffle très fort.
Les nuages ajoutent de belles ombres sur les dunes.
Un océan de sable, c’est l’impression que nous donne le désert de Tengger.
En fin de journée, nous retournons à la voiture sans faire quelques dernières photos du désert.
Cet environnement me fascine tellement, même si c'est vraiment mis en scène pour la belle photo.
Pour rentrer sur Yinchuan, le GPS nous propose une route alternative à l’autoroute de Zhongwei, en passant par la route qui traverse Alashan jusqu’à Wuzhong. C’est beaucoup plus direct mais un peu plus long. Nous décidons de prendre cette route pour changer. Quelle bonne décision nous avons pris. Cette route, entre Alashan et Wuzhong est incroyable.
Après quelques kilomètres dans un parc industriel, nous entrons sur une voie rapide qui coupe le désert de dunes, on roule carrément au milieu de cet océan de dune.
Puis nous arrivons dans un futur parc industriel avec des usines de gaz naturel. Après cela, on retrouve le désert avec de petites dunes, et puis la route s’enfonce dans la steppe mongole.
Un immense plateau avec quelques bosquets. On est vraiment comblé. Quelle heureux hasard d’avoir pris cette route, pour nous c’est vraiment une scenic road, mais personne n’en parle nulle part.
Sur cet immense plateau, des troupeaux de chameaux par ci par là. Puis des ânes, des moutons. On ressent vraiment cette immensité de la Mongolie, de la steppe. Un beau nuage blanc.
Même si ce n’est qu’un aperçu, que la Mongolie doit donner encore plus cet impression de vide.
Pour nous c’est une telle chance car on n’imaginait pas passer par ce type d’environnement pendant ce voyage, après les montagnes arides, le fleuve jaune, le désert, les grasslands, c’est une journée incroyable ! Clairement cet aperçu de la Mongolie m’a donné une envie furieuse d’aller découvrir cette région de plus près une prochaine fois.
La minuscule province du Ningxia sans oublier un morceau de Mongolie à Alashan nous a vraiment ébloui par la grandeur de ses paysages arides traversés par le majestueux fleuve Jaune, fleuve qui a été comme un fil rouge à notre séjour dans ce tout petit coin de Chine. C’est le minéral domine ici, ce qui fait comme un choc quand on vient de la luxuriante Hangzhou. Et c’est ce que l’on vient chercher ici, avec quelques ressemblances avec l’Ouest Américain ou la Turquie. Les distances courtes nous ont permis de profiter complétement de ces trois jours sur place, même si on se disait qu’un 4e jour aurait été nécessaire pour visiter la chaine de montagne de Helan Shan autour de Yinchuan.
.. musiciens accompagnant chanteurs et chanteuses sous un kiosque dans le parc
2- Around San Pedro
Vila beach
Sunset behind Santiago
The rocks and sea at Ponta Preta
At the summit of Monte Batalha
Calheta
Calheta de Baixo
The beaches just keep coming...
The dunes
The 3 coconut trees, a landmark to find the track
Boca da Ribeira beach
The hills on our right
Ribeira Dom João
Barreiro
The old track
The church in Vila do Maio
The large solidified magma massifs that shape the heart of the island have created a large depression more protected from the sun at its center, allowing the growth of a vast laurel forest, today grouped within the Garajonay National Park, La Gomera’s green lung, which has earned it the status of a World Biosphere Reserve. Its completely European appearance contrasts sharply with the rocky and tropical landscapes of the rest of the island. Thus, the climate varies greatly from one point to another on the island: in summer, you can quickly go from a dry and sunny valley at 35°C to a humid forest area at altitude at 18°C.
On the right, the "welcome marker"—those dates offered everywhere as a sign of hospitality. On the left, a tribute to those stunning doors worn by time, admired all over the old quarters, including the abandoned ones.
Hospitality will often lead you to accept a small coffee, an "Omani coffee," very light, subtly flavored with cardamom, maybe a touch of saffron, and occasionally rosewater.
Here, I’ve depicted a man in the common everyday attire of Omanis: the dishdasha, mostly white (during the week and daytime; colors are more common in the evening or on Fridays and Saturdays). While you’ll see some men dressed in Western clothes, they’re very few. The white dishdasha is truly the shared attire of all men. The dishdasha, which has no hood, is distinguished by a small pom-pom attached to the collar, the furakha, which is soaked in perfume. And believe me, Omanis go overboard with it! "It smells like the pom-pom" is an expression that’s now part of our shared language, my husband and I.
Another must of men’s attire is the kuma, a small round head covering, usually white with brightly colored patterns. The keffiyeh is also worn (but without the cord called an agal in Arab countries), and it’s mostly worn by those with roots in the desert, from what I understood.
And what about the women, you might ask? Some are veiled, some in full black (but not a burka—more like a chador + abaya), due to the influence of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whereas the traditional outfit used to be a layering of very colorful dresses. Most of the women we saw wore neutral clothing, a plain veil over their hair, but with their faces uncovered. We also saw many saris and colorful veils—don’t forget that 40% of the population consists of Indian, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi immigrants, who work a lot in tourism, hospitality, restaurants, services, and construction.
Just to clarify, as a tourist, there’s no pressure to wear a veil, and never any disapproving looks. Of course, you’ll save the mini shorts, plunging necklines, bare shoulders, and midriffs for the hotel terrace—but I’d say that’s the same for men and women, and with the sun being strong, it’s better for your skin too.
Here’s the introduction! In the next post, I’ll tell you about my itinerary, and we can dive in!
Roundabouts are particularly interesting because they feature emblems of Turkmen culture, like the dog, a carpet, the Ahal Teke horse, or Muslim symbols, even though the presence of Islamic artifacts is quite limited.
Last October, we landed in Marrakech to spend a few days with family exploring Morocco’s roads.
Transport: a rented Dacia.
Accommodations: small guesthouses.
Come along, I'm taking you to this country where it's so nice to wander and slow down...
I’m inviting you on a stroll through my drawings—a completely subjective, far from exhaustive, and totally personal take, since it’s based on my own sketches. I put this travel journal together after returning in late 2024, mostly using felt-tip pens and pencils, with a few collages thrown in. I worked from our personal photos.
And in Kyoto, Nishiki Market:
