Passer trois heures sur une aire d'autoroute en Allemagne à faire du stop, Manger un sandwich au maquereau sur le bord d’une nationale en Ardèche, Attendre trois heures à la frontière roumaine, Faire 1000 km et trois états en une journée au US, galérer une semaine à cause d'un ennui mécanique en Hongrie, Manger du poulet et du riz tous les jours au Mexique, Attendre un bus improbable en plein cagnard en Équateur, Se réveiller stressé dans un bus de nuit la main sur son portefeuille en Colombie, Se faire offrir des pommes fripés par une mémé édentées au Portugal, Se faire contrôler trois fois dans la même journée par la guardia civil en Espagne, Se faire inviter pour la rupture du Jeune en Turquie, attendre le ventre creux son mandat Western Union en Equateur, Manger du poisson au milieu d’un nuage de mouches en Roumanie, Défoncer sa voiture sur les topes au Mexique, Évincer un vendeur de lunettes de soleil alors qu’on en porte sur le nez au Maroc, Ramasser des roches volcaniques en Sicile, Manger du Gouda en Hollande, ou alors lire un roman dans un Hamac en face du Pacifique. Pour tout ça et tant d’autres raisons, voila pourquoi j’aime voyager.
ET VOUS?
C'est un peu ça...........(A part le stop sur une aire d'autoroute !) 😕
Les exemples que tu donnes, on pourrait tous les complèter avec des exemples similaires.....
C'est avant tout un état d'esprit.
Ce qui crée le voyage, c'est tous ces petits moments parfois insolites, ces petites galères que l'on prend avec le sourire et qui feront partie de nos souvenirs, ces moments et ces rencontres improbables.
C'est se sentir bien au milieu de nulle-part. Se réjouir de chaque moment.
C'est une façon de rompre notre quotidien, d'oublier nos repères, notre confort, se débrouiller, aller vers les autres.
- Vivre mille choses en une journée, avoir l'impression que le temps n'existe pas.
- Avec mal aux machoires à force de sourire.
- Se doucher en Indonésie avec un bac et une casserole.
- Se contenter d'un thermos d'eau bouillie pour se rincer dans un village de montagne où il fait froid.
- Manger du poisson tout juste pêché au petit déj. pour faire honneur à nos hôtes alors qu'on rêve d'une tartine beurrée.
- Préfèrer les longues heures passées dans un bus qui n'a pas d'âge, sur des petites routes poussiéreuses, au contact des locaux, avec un gamin à moitié sur les genoux, des paniers du marché qui s'entassent dans l'allée, des Papis ou des Mamies qui nous parlent dans leur langue comme si on comprenait, et crever 3 fois.
Ces moments parfois très simples, parfois insolites ou cocasses, faits de petites galères et de fatigue, d'émerveillement et d'excitation, d'émotion et de rencontres, c'est ce qui donne du piment à notre voyage.
(Ça n'exclut pas des moments de détente au bord d'une plage, ni quelques bons repas...)
Je ne sais pas...
C'est donc qu'il s'agit d'un plein, profond, enveloppant et non réductible, propre à l'essentiel, aux essentiels, qui ne se décortique pas, qui ne s'accommode pas d'explications ni de justifications, ni même de mots ; qui ne peut pas répondre à la question "pourquoi ?" . Un bout de vide dans les tripes quand il n'est pas.
ou alors lire un roman dans un Hamac en face du Pacifique.
ça ok, mais tout le reste dénote un certain goût pour le masochisme, non ? 🤪🏴☠️
ou alors tu voulais juste nous énumérer la liste des pays que tu as "fait"...😏
Passer trois heures sur une aire d'autoroute
Manger un sandwich au maquereau sur le bord d’une nationale
Attendre trois heures à la frontière roumaine
Faire 1000 km et trois états en une journée au US
galérer une semaine
Manger du poulet et du riz tous les jours,
Attendre un bus improbable en plein cagnard
Se réveiller stressé
Se faire offrir des pommes fripés
Se faire contrôler trois fois dans la même journée
attendre le ventre creux
Manger du poisson au milieu d’un nuage de mouches
Défoncer sa voiture
Et si Freepouilles avait demandé : "Qu'est-ce que vous aimez dans les voyages ?"........😉
Est-ce que ce n'était plutôt pas ça la question ?
Ah... Peut-être...
Je ne suis pas sûre que la nuance changerait fondamentalement ma réponse.
Spontanément, une rapide liste - puisque la réponse semble s'entendre sous forme de liste - de ce j'aime (et de ce que je n'aime pas), me ferait dire qu'elle n'est pas vraiment spécifique au voyage, ou alors dans une acception très large du voyage, qu'elle n'est pas forcément valable pour tous les voyages ni pour tous les temps du voyage....
Ladite liste serait par ailleurs qu'une maigre partie, insuffisante, l'exprimable. Elle manque sévèrement de sens, au point qu'elle s'est auto-détruite le temps de rédiger cette réponse.
Alors, pourquoi j'aime les voyages ou ce que j'aime dans les voyages ? Cette part d'indicible, d'émotions et de sensations, non démont(r)ables.
Et la boucle est bouclée...😉
Et bien je crois que tout comme Kelessuf, je n'en sais fichtrement rien !
C'est en moi, c'est tout ! Comme un virus que j'aurais attrapé il y a bien longtemps et..................Gardé à vie !!!
Aussi loin que ma mémoire remonte dans le temps, j'ai toujours me semble-t-il, voulu savoir ce qu'il y avait "de l'autre coté de la colline" !
Peut-être ai-je gardé dans mes gènes, les traces ancestrales d'un très lointain passé de nomade ?
Une des seules choses que je peux arriver à définir avec des mots, est que le "mouvement" est la composante du voyage que j'apprécie le plus ! 😏
Partir à l'autre bout du monde pour se reconstituer en quelque sorte une "vie de sédentaire" en restant par exemple plusieurs semaines au même endroit ne m'intéresse absolument pas, même si jusqu'à présent je n'ai malheureusement pas eu l'occasion de partir pour de très longues périodes.
Oui, j'avoue beaucoup aimer les "déplacements" et sans prétention aucune, je crois pouvoir affirmer que j'ai au cours de mes voyages, utilisé "presque" tous les moyens de transport possibles et imaginables qui puissent exister !
En tout premier lieu, bien entendu mes "pieds", moyen de transport ô combien essentiel dans la vie d'un voyageur !
Mais encore (et pêle-mêle): avions (de la plus petite à la plus grande capacité !), hélicoptères, trains, bateaux (petits et grands), voiliers, vélos,
cyclo-pousses, motos, scooters, mobylettes, taxis, métros, tramways, voitures, camions, chevaux, pirogues, canoës, planeurs, ULM, airboats...
Cette préférence pour la notion de mouvement, qui me motive (avec toujours la même excitation) à partir jusqu'à l'autre bout du monde, me sert également à apprécier le voyage de retour vers mon pays d'origine !
Aurais-je réussi à inventer le mouvement perpétuel !!! 😉
🙂Voyager c'est casser la routine, c'est un petit coup d'adrénaline , c'est voir " physiquement" ce qu'on a vu en images ! c'est oublier les tracas quotidiens............enfin c'est vivre tout simplement sans trop se poser de questions..........et puis à l'étranger , on est étranger donc digne de curiosité et d’intérêt.........hélas de plus en plus financier !
On n'est plus invisible ..........on fuit l'indifférence !
je suis une femme d'un certain age ! et on me regarde curieusement ; j'ai , en fait, dépassé la moyenne d'âge des pays d'Asie! ! Et comme il y a beaucoup de respect pour les anciens ..................voilà un nouveau petit bonheur !
Voyager , c'est participer à notre planète .........non pas du point de vue éco.......mais connaitre les autres peuples....c'est l'ouverture ! Je voyage lentement , préférant les séjours aux déambulations !
🙁Je ne suis pas tout à fait d'accord avec les sages bouddhistes qui prétendent qu'on peut voyager sans bouger .🤪.....ok, cela développe l'imagination mais favorise les erreurs de jugements !
Et je ne suis pas sage.................appréciez le voyage , vivez le voyage ..................voilà tout!
Et comme je suis vieux, je fais ce que je veux.........................
Chan
J'aime voyager parce que j'aime être désorientée, j'aime cette sensation d'inconnu, d'être étranger dans un lieu, de perdre ses repères quotidiens. J'aime surtout le fait que de se sentir plus léger, plus "libre", sans toutes ces contraintes et tracas qui font nos vies. En voyage j'ai l'impression d'avancer mieux, de vivre mieux.
être étranger et bader, le nez au vent, regarder la vie qui passe....comme ci par ici, comme ça par là !
et puis voir que de toute situation difficile, on s'en sort toujours !
serait-ce un défi avec la mort ??? ou une éternelle conversation ?
Pourquoi j'aime voyager ? Je n'en sais rien... C'est un appel, un besoin et parfois même une nécessité impérieuse, j'allais dire une contrainte. J'aime voyager parce que c'est une rupture dans la vie quotidienne, une sortie de la routine, une façon de vivre intensément et librement l'instant présent, et en même temps un moyen de se retrouver et de prendre du recul. Et aussi et peut-être surtout, parce qu'est le meilleur moyen de comprendre le monde, de rejeter les préjugés et les idées toutes faites, et de mesurer les enjeux de notre planète.
Avec le recul, je m'aperçois que ma vie d'homme a commencé à 18 ans, par une sorte de voyage initiatique à l'autre bout du monde : j'y ai davantage appris sur la vie en deux mois que durant les 18 années qui avaient précédé !
Par la suite, toutes les étapes et les décisions importantes de ma vie ont été "accompagnées" d'un voyage. C'est devenu mon mode de fonctionnement.
Alors, ce n'est pas telle ou telle anecdote de voyage qui m'incite à partir, ni même la destination (même si j'ai évidemment mes préférences et mes coups de cœur). Non, c'est avant tout la magie d'être "ailleurs", de rencontrer d'autres personnes, de voir d'autres choses, et d'éprouver cette sensation de liberté si grisante que génèrent les voyages. 😉
Passer trois heures sur une aire d'autoroute en Allemagne à faire du stop, Manger un sandwich au maquereau sur le bord d’une nationale en Ardèche, Attendre trois heures à la frontière roumaine, Faire 1000 km et trois états en une journée au US, galérer une semaine à cause d'un ennui mécanique en Hongrie, Manger du poulet et du riz tous les jours au Mexique, Attendre un bus improbable en plein cagnard en Équateur, Se réveiller stressé dans un bus de nuit la main sur son portefeuille en Colombie, Se faire offrir des pommes fripés par une mémé édentées au Portugal, Se faire contrôler trois fois dans la même journée par la guardia civil en Espagne, Se faire inviter pour la rupture du Jeune en Turquie, attendre le ventre creux son mandat Western Union en Equateur, Manger du poisson au milieu d’un nuage de mouches en Roumanie, Défoncer sa voiture sur les topes au Mexique, Évincer un vendeur de lunettes de soleil alors qu’on en porte sur le nez au Maroc, Ramasser des roches volcaniques en Sicile, Manger du Gouda en Hollande, ou alors lire un roman dans un Hamac en face du Pacifique. Pour tout ça et tant d’autres raisons, voila pourquoi j’aime voyager.
ET VOUS?
Hum.... je crois alors que je n'aime pas voyager. En tout cas y'a pas grand chose dans ce que tu racontes qui me parle. 😕
Ca me semble terrible tes voyages.
Je n'aimerais pas attendre 3 heures sur le bord d'une autoroute à faire du stop. Certainement pas. Je préfère louer une voiture.
Pas non plus envie de manger un sandwich sur le bord d'un autoroute.... les sandwichs j'aime les manger en pique-nique dans un superbe paysage. Mes bons souvenirs de sandwichs... lors de randos en canot.
3 heures à la frontière.... rien non plus de très palpitant pour moi🤪. On a bien dû attendre à un moment deux heures à la frontière avec les Etats-Unis......... et on a jamais su pourquoi, parfois les Etats-Uniens exagèrent.
Faire 1000 km et trois états en une journée au US : bof.... qu'est-ce que cela a de si sympa ? passer une journée dans la voiture...
galérer une semaine à cause d'un ennui mécanique en Hongrie : t'aimes les ennuis mécaniques ???
Manger du poulet et du riz tous les jours au Mexique : pourtant y'a bien autre chose que du poulet et du riz au Mexique ?
Attendre un bus improbable en plein cagnard en Équateur Pourquoi attendre un bus improbable ??? faut pas l'attendre s'il est improbable.
Vraiment tout ca.... ce n'est pas pour moi. Et je ne comprends pas pourquoi tu n'aimes que les ennuis ? On peut faire des voyages et que ce soit agréable non ?
Pourquoi ne pas par exemple au Mexique faire une chouette randonnée en bateau dans la lagune avec un gentil pêcheur qui nous emmène voir des flamands roses......... et pas d'ennuis hein ? pas de panne de bateau et personne ne tombe à l'eau... les sandwichs au homard sont délicieux, les flamands roses sont au rendez-vous et on en a plein la vue. On voit aussi beaucoup d'autres oiseaux.... on est seul au monde. Tout le monde est content. Bref.... un moment magique.
Non, non décidemment je ne veux pas d'ennuis... juste faire et voir des choses que j'aime.
"I go to Paris. I go to London. I go to Rome, and I always say: "There's no place like New York." That's the way it is. That's it."
(Robert De Niro)
Hola,
Je rejoins assez le point de vue de Gilesb et Mousseline,
à savoir que ce que j'aime dans 'le voyage', c'est avant tout, découvrir de nouveaux paysages, faune, flore préservés et (encore) assez sauvage; Ensuite découvrir des cultures traditionnelles interessantes (qui se font parfois rares...aussi) et aussi pour le 'mode de voyage' qui m'apporte une certaine liberté ou une liberté certaine, donc voyager au maximum par moi-même et en autonomie, que ce soit à pied, à vélo, en voiture perso ou de location, (avion, bateau quand c'est necessaire) etc; Par contre, je ne suis pas vraiment fan (pour ne pas dire que je déteste ;)) les transports en communs, que ce soit le bus, train, essentiellement, pour diverses raisons : contrairement au voyage par 'ses propres moyens individuel, on est vraiment dependant des horaires, des itineraires, on est 'entassé' avec d'autres dans des bus pendant des heures, généralement on ne fait qu'aller d'une ville à une autre, d'une gare à une autre (je déteste les gares 😄 qui ne sont pour moi que des lieux sinistres et rouillés, surement aussi de mauvais souvenirs en train) on ne peut même pas choisir de s'arreter ici ou là, de suivre ce sentier désert pour savoir où il mène, ni souvent de bivouaquer dans le lieu de nature magnifique, etc, etc, et quand on nous dépose en un lieu, on se retrouve à nouveau 'bloqué' et dependant des autres pour bouger, à moins de marcher
Et aussi, je n'aime pas voyager pour voir des villes, je n'ai pas de passion pour les "pierres et les architectures", ni le béton, ni les lieux trop bondés ou surpeuplés; Des gens je peux en voir partout, donc voilà je ne voyage pas specialement pour voir du monde, mais pour voir le monde, les animaux, la nature, le mode de déplacement et le plaisir de se déplacer, mais aussi les peuples "naturels' ou personnes 'differentes', ou simplement échanger avec un(e) inconnu(e) interessante et sympathique sur les rives d'un fleuve ou ailleurs;
«Si tu ne trouves pas d'ami sage, prêt à cheminer avec toi, résolu, constant, marche seul, comme un roi après une conquête ou un éléphant dans la forêt.» Bouddha
Peut-être que je me trompe, mais les exemples de freepouille, je crois qu'il faut les prendre un peu au 2nd degré........
C'est une façon de dire que les voyages ce n'est pas forcément du repos, ce n'est pas toujours facile, mais c'est aussi ça qui est bien !
Ce n'est pas du masochisme, c'est aimer une certaine forme de voyage qui ressemble à l'aventure.
Un voyage plein d'anecdotes, où les petites galères n'ont pas d'importance et feront partie des souvenirs, un voyage fait de moments simples ou intenses, d'un peu d'adrénaline.
Un voyage loin des circuits aseptisés.
Tout ça n'exclut pas de passer des moments agréables. (D'ailleurs freepouilles parle aussi de lire un roman dans un hamac au bord du Pacifique.....)
T'as bien expliqué mon point de vue, ces petits moments de galères sont pour moi des souvenirs savoureux, beaucoup plus par exemple qu'une visite de musée ou de site archéologique, qui me laisseront des souvenirs beaucoup plus vague.
Après j'aurai pu faire une autre type de liste axé sur les moments partagés avec les personnes rencontrés sur la route, comme partager la rupture du jeune avec un couple de vieux turques pendant le ramadan ou manger du poisson fraichement pêché offerts par des camping caristes belges. Ou sur les moyens de transports amusants, il y a plein d'exemple.
C'est juste que tout ces petits moments m'apporte beaucoup plus de plaisir que la visite des sites touristiques. J'ai du mal à m'extasier devant les vitraux d'une cathédrale, je préfère me retrouver dans un petit café en Sicile à la sortie de la messe envahi par de vieux siciliens endimanché.
De même que les quelques voyages trop planifiés m'ont paru toujours bien fade, c'est pour ça que je ne planifie plus grand chose, et est de moins en moins recours au guide de voyage, préférant construire mon itinéraire au fur et à mesure en fonction des avis des personnes rencontré. Ca donne des itinéraires pas toujours très sensé, et je passe souvent à côté de site touristique à voir absolument, mais bon, tant pis, une autre fois.
Vu les réponses lues sur les forums, je ne suis sûrement pas le seul à avoir ce style de voyage.
Pourquoi j'aime voyager ?
C'est avant tout pour voir en vrai ce dont je rêve.
Ce rêve se construit par rapport à mes lectures, mes passions... et petit à petit je réalise tous mes mini-rêves...
Dès fois je suis déçu (Fontaine de Trevi avec son bassin que je voyais super grand ou la Mosquée de Cordoue pas aussi majestueuse que je le pensais), surpris (Cadiz qui m'a beaucoup plu)...
Je suis heureux quand je suis sur un lieu rêvé ou même fantasmé, ça me donne des émotions intenses comme devant Big Ben ou le Dôme de Milan... j'adore ça !
Maintenant, plus qu'à vaincre ma peur de l'avion pour aller plus loin !!!!!!
J'ai retrouvé un discours de mon ancien professeur de géographie, Léon Vasseur, grand voyageur et je ne peux résister au plaisir de vous livrer quelques unes de ses réflexions, toujours d'actualité.
[...]
Le rêve a pris corps, vous êtes arrivés : l'imagination fait place à la curiosité…
Un voyage, c'est alors un jaillissement de pourquoi
Pourquoi ces monts et ces vallées, ce village ici et pas là, ces forêts, ces pâturages, ces cultures, ce caillou et cet insecte, ce château et ces taudis,
pourquoi Versailles est-il en pierre et Bruges en brique, pourquoi ces petits ports bretons, ces viaducs, ces eaux thermales,
ce paysan qui bêche et cet autre juché sur le dernier modèle de moissonneuse batteuse,
pourquoi cette courbe dans la voûte d'une cathédrale,
et pourquoi le journal local annonce-t-il la mort du petit train poussif qui ahane sur ses rails usés -
Vous voyez, par cette énumération volontairement touffue, que vous avez de quoi faire. si vous voulez comprendre la vie d'un lieu.
Apportez-y la patience d'un opérateur de Walt Disney.
Et n'oubliez pas surtout d'interroger autour de vous : tout homme sera éloquent, si vous savez le faire parier de ce qu'i1 sait, de ce qu'il fait, de ce qu'il aime.
Il vous appartient d'adapter le ton, les questions, la manière : après quoi écoutez, tout simplement,
ouvrant toutes grandes les portes de votre cœur et les fenêtres de votre esprit, afin que rien d'humain ne vous soit étranger.
[...]
Et pour compléter ces pensées, je dirai Apprivoiser le pays et ses habitants pour qu'au détour d'une image d'un film ou d'un reportage, le Brooklyn Bridge, le Grand Canyon, le Colisée ou la Petite Sirène nous semblent maintenant tout proches et moins irréels qu'auparavant.
Ils font maintenant parti de votre vécu.
Changer de point de vue, oh oui! Une chose est de se douter vaguement que notre vision occidentale du monde n'est pas la seule qui vaille; une autre est de l'éprouver chaque jour le temps du voyage, de renoncer à comprendre ce qu'on a devant les yeux avec nos standards à nous, de se laisser aller à sentir plus qu'à déduire. Sans doute pour ça que j'aime autant l'Asie. Parce que c'est l'altérité la plus considérable, même si on y va depuis longtemps, je n'y comprends toujours rien et j'aime ça, rien que tous ces panneaux à l'arrivée écrits dans une langue qu'on ne comprend pas, le bus bondé pour aller en ville, assis sur un tabouret qui glisse vers la porte ouverte, seule "clim" possible. J'ai beau partir le surlendemain de mon dernier jour de boulot (faut que j'aille à Paris, quand même!), donc passablement crevée, le saut dans l'inconnu me repose d'entrée, eh oui, je suis en roue libre et je savoure jusqu'au dernier jour.
Et puis, les rencontres, les paysages à tomber par terre (mais ça, on en a aussi chez nous), les tentatives de dialogues à coups de sourires, manger des choses inconnues et difficilement identifiables, les odeurs des marchés... Bon, j'arrête, c'est que dans 15 jours le départ, je suis trop en manque.
Voilà, je voyage parce que j'ai besoin de ma dose. Toxico. Et vous?
Je suis curieuse, j'aime apprendre alors j'aime voyager. Mes moyens financiers m'ont très peu permis de le faire mais qu'importe, je me trouve chanceuse d'avoir fait 'mes' voyages. J'aime connaître les us et coutumes de chacun et je trouve les européens super chanceux d'avoir tant de pays à la portée de la main, vous pouvez traverser tout l'Europe en une journée alors que je me rends à peine en cinq jours à l'autre bout du Canada. Qu'importe l'âge, lorsque notre corps ne nous permet plus de voyager de longs parcours, on peut toujours rêver et s'instruire par les livres, la toile, etc.
Pourquoi j'aime voyager ?
L'inconnu, le connu mais jamais vu de mes yeux
Prendre une douche glacé par pas d'eau chaude ou parce qu'il fait si chaud que c'est un moment de bonheur
Parce que j'adore l'Italie et que c'est la destination qui me vient à l'esprit dès que j'ai 3 jours
Pour boire un Prosecco ou manger une gelato 😇 dire grazie et entendre prego 😉
Parce que j'ai la trouille une semaine avant car je voyage seul
Pour ne pas regarder ma montre
J'adore le décollage surtout à l'allée 😛
Bref dès que je rentre j'ai qu'une hâte: repartir
c'est grave ? 😎
exactement comme moi , sauf que moins courageux , je voyage en voiture ; pour moi , le voyage , ce n'est pas une destination , mais un parcours ; la destination sans le parcours et avec des horaires contraints , ça ne m'intéresse pas
Personnellement, ce que je n'aime pas en voyage: Les villes en général (c'est souvent moche, du béton, surpeuplé!, pollué bien souvent, bruyant et "agressif"…
Je sais bien que je risque de passer pour un troubleur de fete mais j aimerai vivement vous faire partager certaines reflexions que j ai pu avoir en voyageant.…
D'après une enquête réalisée par un groupement d'assurances, 55% des Français n'ont pas envie d'aventure pour leurs vacances (62% jugent même les voyages…
Deux questions qui me turlupinent... J'ai toujours pensé que les voyages rendent plus tolérants. Je me disais avant, qu'à force de partir et de m'interresser à…
Hello everyone on this forum!
I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it?
Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples:
- - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"!
- - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country???
- - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc.
Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo.
I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
This is my 15,000th post, and it's a message I would have preferred never to write.
Patrick—Yangguizi—won’t be returning from his trek in Uganda. His health betrayed him in the mountains.
Like many of you, I laughed until I couldn’t anymore at his travel stories. I met him in Shanghai, then in Istanbul... We scoured restaurants—he was an incredible expert on world cuisines. We relived Korea, China. Always brilliant, so sharp, so funny, so down-to-earth. Being even a little bit his friend was something to be proud of. I think I envied him.
Patrick is still out there, of course...
He found his happiness running across the world. He’s on his path. He never doubted that "the traveler doesn’t even know if he’ll return one day."
Not sure this would’ve suited him, but his departure devastates me.
Alright,
Farewell, you foreign devil. Safe travels.
hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...
I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.")
Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either.
But here’s the thing—I had photos...
So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand.
It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not...
It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.)
Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate.
And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries.
Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story.
Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023.
This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers.
As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart.
Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library.
I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott.
After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel.
My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*.
This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year!
This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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