une petite question metaphysique pour la route!....😉
je remarque ici et ailleurs que souvent, la population de la planete reve d'un ailleurs ideal et que le chez soit actuel parait tjs vide, sans interet et difficile a vivre!...que cela soit ds les iles paradisiaques ou ds des pays qui font rever, ses habitants revent d'un autre espace!...
l'espace n'est malheureusement pas le seul pb, le temps aussi, semble passe trop vite, vers un avenir de plus en plus noir!....ne dit on pas svt!.."c'etait mieux avt!..."
pourquoi vouloir chercher un eldorado qui n'existe pas ??(pourtant voltaire nous la prouve), et pourquoi vivre continuellement en se retournant sur son passe??!...pourquoi n'arrivons nous pas a vivre le moment present en etant satisfait de ce que l'on a !???
je vous pose cette question car je fais a moitie parti de cette population planetaire!..😉
Si je te comprends bien, vénérable maître, les humains rêvent depuis la nuit des temps (voire plus) d'être ailleurs et demain (ou hier) mais pas ici et maintenant. C'est ça? Mais aimeraient-ils être plus hier (ou demain ) et ici (ou là à la rigueur) qu'ailleurs et maintenant?
L'impatient voudrait être à demain
Le nostalgique voudrait être à hier
L'insatisfait voudrait être nulle part
Le rêveur voudrait être ailleurs
Il me semble que nous sommes bien souvent tour à tour -ou tout à la fois- impatient, nostalgique, insatisfait et rêveur...
Dommage, pour apprécier l'instant présent, où que l'on soit et quoi que l'on fasse, il suffit tout simplement de prendre le temps de regarder autour de soi et de savoir trouver le petit truc qui fera se dire que demain, hier, nulle part et ailleurs ne valent pas "maintenant".
En ce qui me concerne je suis une impatiente rêveuse mais qui sait aussi apprécier le moment présent 🙂...
et qui fait de son mieux pour s'en sortir en étant comme ça !
Dolma
un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...
Moi je suis bien dans mon époque actuelle, pas de regard derrière ..... aucun regard devant par contre, mais juste là sur les chemins du présent, peut être juste dire que c'est mon chemin à moi ..... celui que mes rêves m'ont fabriqué et dans lequel je me " move " idéalement ( enfin j'essaye ... 🤪 ) ....... et bizaremment, c'est vrai que j'y rencontre pas grand monde, ou plutôt pas beaucoup de personnes qui pensent à ma façon ......
Mais c'est peut être celà le prix d'une liberté temporo-spatiale ....... 🙂
"Essaie de faire aujourd'hui les choix qui ont des chances de ne pas te donner de regrets dans un moment" me dit fort sagement une amie.
C'est à la fois vivre le présent et se projeter dans l'avenir, tout en ayant conscience du passé. Non?😉
L'ailleurs idéal me semble une projection non seulement puérile et paresseuse, mais également bancale et offrant prise aux marchands de tous les temples.
L'ailleurs comme un champ de découvertes... oh oui!
"C'était mieux avant"?🤪 Avant quoi? "Avant", j'étais jeune et bête, j'avais sans doute plus de temps devant moi mais j'en gaspillais tellement car je savais si peu de choses, et aujourd'hui je sais que je n'aurai pas le temps de tout, alors je savooouuuure, je construis en sachant que tout peut se casser la figure en un quart de seconde et que si c'est le cas, eh bien je trouverai encore une raison de construire à nouveau, simplement parce que.... regarde... regarde la touffe d'herbe si fragile que le vent et la pluie la rabattent mais si puissante qu'elle crève le bitume! Je sais que la vie sait être plus belle que le plus fou de tes rêves mais qu'en même temps elle ne te doit rien, et cela précisément fait la richesse du champ des possibles. Cocagne!
Le côté "métaphysique" des tes questions est peut-être un simple habillage. Et si tu te déshabillais?🤪😉😊
"le silence des pantoufles est plus terrifiant que le bruit des bottes"
Pour l'évocation d'une autre époque cela fonctionne comme les mythes. A l'instar d'une religion ils aident à mieux vivre le présent. C'est flagrant pour l'"âge d'or" cette évocation d'une époque idéalisé car inconnue. C'est un des 4 mythes répertoriés par Raoul Girardet dans son ouvrage Mythe et mythologie politique (avec le sauveur, le complot, l'unité).
L'évocation d'un autre lieu est de mon point de vue la recherche d'exotisme une façon de s'évader de son quotidien. Les plages paradisiaques, l'évocation d'une autre culture participent de la volonté de connaître radicalement autre chose.
En même temps passer sa vie sur une île paradisiaque je vois pas ce qui pourrait être pire !!! Tourner en rond, rien à faire, manger des noix de coco toute sa vie, vivre en permanence avec les mêmes personnes, etc...ca ressembple plus à un cauchemar.
Ca se saurait si vivre au soleil sur une île apportait le bonheur. Tout le monde l'aurait fait !! Pour moi ma ville francaise est bien plus proche de mon petit paradis que n'importe quelle île tropicale !!!
et bien ca confirme ma pensee sur les voyageurs!..ce sont des philosophes en puissance, !..tjs en quete de savoir et de decouverte!...😎
merci a tous!...
moi en fait je suis un adepte du carpe diem!...car la vie est vraiment trop courte!...par contre il est vrai que je reve d'un ailleurs!....pas forcement d'une ile paradisiaque mais de mon eldorado!...un endroit calme avec bp d'espace, qui me permetrait de rever, de profiter des gens que j'aime et qui me laisserait le temps de vivre pleinement de ma passion!...
il est clair qu'il faut vivre la vie comme elle vient et a 100%!...mais est ce qu'il serait plus agreable de vivre a 100% une vie que l'on a choisi!...???l'eldorado peut il AIDER a vivre cette vie choisie???
mais comme tu le disais forest!..la vie c'est comme une boite de chocolat, on ne sait jamais sur quoi on va tomber!..
me suis je assez denude pataugas???😊sinon on se voit en prive!..😉
Taratata ! Si tu choisis un bon chocolatier, tu auras de bons chocolats !!!
Ton rêve ne sera toujours... qu'un rêve : tu sais bien que l'idéal n'existe pas ! Et heureusement, parce que s'il existait nous ne pourrions plus rêver... et que la vie serait triste alors 😮 !
Je vous salue bien monsieur le rêveur d'ailleurs 🙂
Dolma
un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...
Exactement Dolme, et le rêve c'est ce qui fait avancer pas mal de gens sur cette Terre, du moins moi la première !
Alors rêvons d'un idéal, d'un eldorado si cela plait mais n'oublie pas la vie actuelle, tel qu'elle est car c'est elle qui te donne matière à rêver, à esperer
KArine
On dit que la nature en nous donnant 2 yeux, 2 oreilles mais qu'une seule bouche a voulu nous obliger à moins parler pour mieux voir et entendre.
Hello Karine,
J'ai dit un peu plus haut que je suis une impatiente rêveuse mais que je sais apprécier l'instant présent...
Il me semble que c'est un bon compromis 🙂 !!
Dolma
un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...
juste un petit truc, pour controler le temps, rien de plus facile (en theorie): tue la routine...
maintenant que faire si le voyage devient une routine ?
se poser un instant en attendant que s'installe une autre routine pour a nouveau repartir?
Le carpe Diem, c'est bien beau, j'essai bien souvent d'en faire ma philosophie mais c'est presque impossible, pour moi, de poursuivre cette ideologie jusqu'au bout ... sinon, il y a bien longtemps que je ne serais plus la ou je suis...mais je fais de l'investissement (je donne de mon temps contre de la connaissance) pour un futur pourtant inconnu...(la le Carpe diem en prend un coup !)
L'eldorado existe, j'ai rencontre pas mal de personnes qui ont trouve le leur...j'y crois, continue a chercher !
Mais l'eldorado n'est pas simplement un endroit, mais plutot ce que l'on en fait de cet endroit...une famille, des amis, des activites...
c'est juste blate!..on ne peut pas vivre de cette philosophie tout le temps!..car ds la vie il y a svt des choix a faire!..et a ce moment la tu dois faire intervenir le passe et le futur pour agir correctement ds le present!..et cela ds un seul but : aller de l'avant afin d'atteindre le but que tu t'es fixe!...et c'est vrai comme le disait une des philosophes du forum!..il faut rever pour avancer!...
alors une autre question se pose alors!..cette philosophie du carpe diem empeche t'elle d'avoir des reves ???de se fixer des objectifs?? faut il manier et utiliser ces philosophies en fonction de ce que l'on vit???car savoir si le mieux est "de profiter du jour present"ou de "calculer son futur afin d'atteindre ses objectifs"?? le choix est difficile non???
Par principe l'ailleurs est là où on est pas, comme demain d'ailleurs. Pour résumer, on situe toujours l'Eldorado là où on est pas. Et si on l'avait en nous? Avec nous? Quand on "trouve" ce lieu mythique, c'est notre présence qui en fait un endroit magique (pour vous car pour moi...). Alors pourquoi chercher si loin? Arrêtez de chercher et qui sait, peut-être le trouverez-vous au coin d'une rue, d'un sourire ou d'une case.
MAis qui demande de choisir entre "profiter du jour présent" ou "calculer son futur afin d'atteindre ses objectifs" comme tu écris ? les autres, l'entourage, le qui dira ton?
je suis persuadée que de nombreuses personnes arrivent à faire les 2, un compromis en fait sans se prendre la tête dans des questionnements sans fin. Seulement je ne sais pas si il y a des recettes miracles à cela, je pense qu'elles doivent être propres à chaque personne.
ah... je suis au boulot et le patron arrive, je reviens sur ce poste plus tard si je peux... mince !!!
karine
On dit que la nature en nous donnant 2 yeux, 2 oreilles mais qu'une seule bouche a voulu nous obliger à moins parler pour mieux voir et entendre.
le compromis c'est d'arriver a gerer son present en pensant au futur, ou alors, sacrifier un temps son bonheur present pour preparer son bonheur futur ...mais tout ca reste de l'incertitude...car penser au futur, c'est rever...????
mais alors, si je comprends bien, nous parlons de la recherche du bonheur...!
Un "Carpe Diemeur" qui recherche le bonheur n'en est pas un...
le vrai, lui, l'a trouve, il est devant ses yeux.
donc, jusqu'a ce que tu aies trouve ton bonheur, la philosophie du Carpe Diem ne peut fonctionner plainement.
?
pfffff heureux les simples d'esprits ...
heureux les borgnes prives de ce mauvais oeil....
Salut
une seule réponse : parce que on ne se connait pas soi même.
On n'appréciera la vie de tous les jours, si on essaye de se comprendre intérieurement. Et cela ne sa fait pas en une journée. Faut commencer à penser positif. Et ensuite à voir ceux qui nous entoure avec le coeur. Quand je me rends compte maintenant de la beauté des endroits où je passais presque tous les jours, je suis conscient de ce que j'ai raté.
On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. Saint Exupéry
Ce qui nous entoure est très beau, il suffit de savoir regarder.
Comme j'habite à Dakar depuis ma naissance, les seules fois ou je partais à l''ile de Gorée, dont l'embarquadère est à 5 minutes de marche de chez moi, c'étais pour aller nager.
Ensuite j'ai découvert que cette ile, ce n'est pas seulement une plage pour aller se baigner les dimanches. C'est aussi un endroit agréable ou il m'arrive d'y aller en fin de journée, pour décompresser.
Donc on a tous notre petit bonheur chez soi, il suffit de le trouver, avec le coeur.
cordialement
dexxa
On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. Saint Exupéry
en tout cas comme dirait gandhi si justement "la vie est un mystere qu'il faut vivre et non un pb a resoudre!.."le principal c'est de la vivre plainement en faisant les bons choix, et si le nirvana est atteind!..tant mieux pour nous!..mais ce nirvana doit rester un but a atteindre!..
Je ne suis pas tout à fait d'accord cher disciple. Si tu passes ton temps à vouloir atteindre le nirvana, tu passeras à côté de ta vie (sauf chez un disquaire). L'important est plus dans le chemin que dans le but à atteindre. Or, ta vie est le chemin!
l'un n'empeche pas l'autre!...tu peux te promener tranquillement sur ce chemin en profitant plainement des odeurs parfumees, du doux paysage printanier, de la saveur de la vie, de la texture des matieres!...tout en gardant a l'esprit qu'au bout, tu toucheras ton objectif si precieux pour ce qu'il represente et stt pour les souvenirs qu'il t'a procure!..
Souvent le doigt cache la lune, petit padawan!
"Tu ouvres les yeux et il y a la lune, tu écoutes et il y a le vent pur... mais combien viennent ici se pencher au balcon?" (Tiré de ma mémoire et d'un poème intitulé "Le dragon bleu", peut-être...)
il est clair qu'il faut vivre la vie comme elle vient et a 100%!...mais est ce qu'il serait plus agreable de vivre a 100% une vie que l'on a choisi!...????
Mmmmhhh... Je pense que malheureusement cette question resteras sans réponse parce qu'on ne choisit pas sa vie!!! On ne contrôle pas les éléments, on ne les as jamais contrôlé et on ne le fera jamais!! Et pourtant, on ( et je m'inclu dans ce on) passe une grande partie de notre vie à essayer de tout contrôler!! C'est pathétique non?? On ne choisit pas le chemin, mais on choisi par contre le regard que l'on porte et en ce sens on peut dire que chaque instant de notre vit est fait de choix, le choix du regard, toujours.
Je crois que le voyage a quelquechose d'ironique et d'insensé : on se projette dans l'avenir et l'ailleurs pour mieux vivre le moment présent. Désolé, ici je généralise mais pour moi, c'est un peu ça. Je crois tout simplement qu'autour de nous, dans notre chez soi, peu importe où il est, on nous a élevé d'une certaine manière, enseigné des choses précises, et tout ça forme plusieurs étiquettes qu'on nous colle au dos. Et se sont ces étiquettes qui nous étoufent, non le lieux. Mais évidemment, il est plus facile de les oublier loin de ces gens et de cet endroit où tout le monde ( y compris nous) croit savoir qui on est!! ALors on part, on s'oublie, et soudain tout devient possible, on est libre des autres, libres des jugements, libre de vivre, libre de ce qu'on "est" et alors on découvre qu'être, c'est de vivre chaque moment avec des yeux nouveaux, comme si chaque fois, c'était un autre moi qui regardait, pas celui d'hier ou d'il y a dix ans, pas celui qu'on a appelé génie ou trouillard, pas l'ingénieur ou l'éboueur ni le père, ou l'ado ou le riche ou le pauvre. Seulement et simplement moi, ici, maintenant, dépouillé de tout étiquette. Et ici maintenant, j'ai la possibilité de choisir qui je veux être......
Il faut rajouter de la vie aux années...et non des années à la vie.
🙂je crois tout simplement que d'avoir la faculté de raisonner nous fait poser toutes ces questions qui sont la vie même!
A chacun sa réponse et toutes différentes, heureusement!
Que c'est agréable de lire le matin🙂tous ces messages
tout a fait.
j'ais reve pendant des annees de vivre a la montagne alors que j'etais dans ma banlieu.
maintenant j'y suis 🙂 les paysages sont de toutes beaute, la vie me laisse le temps de le prendre (le temps!) mais evidement maintenant je vois egalement les inconveniants ( cela dit je ne me plaint pas!)
et surtout j'ais mes projets, mes nouveaux reves!!!
bon reves a tous😉
C'est vrai que l'on est façonné de par la façon dont nos parents nous ont éduqués, ce qu'ils nous ont appris du bon et du méchant, des choses à faire et à ne pas faire ...... et puis là dessus, la tv est arrivé avec la course au sensationnel et surtout une façon sournoise de nous distiller un composant non connu à l'intérieur de notre cerveau, mais qui a pour effet de encore nous influençer à l'heure de certains choix ......
Je pense, et j'en reviens à ma petite personne, qu'il faut se rappeller de notre enfance et des jeux que nous pratiquions, de ces buissons qui nous semblaient des forêts impénétrables, de ces plages en vacances ou l'on jouait au Robinson entouré de mille campeurs, mais peu importe ..... de ces animaux au détour d'un rocher, et puis de notre regard au delà des mers à se demander ce qu'il pouvait bien y avoir tout là bas comme tribus de mangeurs d'hommes, et cette soif de découverte que l'on avait alors ......
Si on arrive à transposer cette somme d'aventures dans notre présent, et qu'elle que soit l'âge, on peut de nouveau se croire transporter dans des aventures à la portée non définie et qui peuvent nous enmener là ou nos rêves voulaient nous guider ..... bien évidemment, il y a quelques facteurs dont il faut tenir compte pour vivre ou survivre, mais je pense que la connection avec notre enfance peut de nouveau s'accomplir afin de mieux nous aider à affronter les adversités de notre époque actuelle .......
Il faut arriver à se déconnecter de notre climat social actuel, ce qui revient certes à prendre une grande part d'égoisme au plus profond de nous mêmes, mais je pense que c'est là la clef pour pouvoir se sentir tout autre et mieux se sentir libéré des contraintes et des jugements de nos contemporains ..... et le lieu ou que l'on soit n'a rien à voir avec celà, c'est simplement un état d'esprit à posséder, et je me suis rendu au fil des années, moi qui rêvait sans cesse de partir vivre sur le terrain de mes aventures d'enfance ou de mes rêves les plus profonds, que finalement dés lors que mon esprit a bien intégré cette faculté à me libérer des contraintes tant sociales que politiques, je pouvais tout à loisir transposer dans ma vie de tous les jours cette impression de " vivre sur une autre planète ", et je me trouve fort bien pour celà dans mon environnement actuel ....... je m'y complais de mieux en mieux, mais je le répéte au prix d'un certain égoisme vis à vis du monde qui m'entoure, ce qui ne veut pas dire que je ne me préoccupe pas de mes amis qui pourraient avoir besoin d'aide .....
C'est ma fonctionnalité d'esprit que de vouloir vivre au travers de mes rêves et de m'y sentir finalement tout autre ....... et grâce à celà je ne me retourne quasiment jamais sur le passé, je n'en posséde d'ailleurs rien, et je n'ai pas de projection sur l'avenir, seul le présent m'intéresse car c'est là le terrain de mes aventures actuelles ....... et c'est vrai de dire que les voyages m'y ont aidé car ils m'ont démontré que mes rêves d'aventure avaient des images et que celles ci m'aidaient ensuite à supporter ma " dure condition d'homme " ...... 😉
Choix de vie ...... peut être, mais je préfére parler d'adaptation de nos rêves au monde qui nous entoure ..... et pour celà, il faut avoir un petit grain au fond du cerveau, c'est la seule chose dont je sois conscient ....... 🙂
Choix de vie ...... peut être, mais je préfére parler d'adaptation de nos rêves au monde qui nous entoure ..... et pour celà, il faut avoir un petit grain au fond du cerveau, c'est la seule chose dont je sois conscient .......
Et l'arroser, et en prendre soin.... je suis bien d'accord avec toi!😉
"le silence des pantoufles est plus terrifiant que le bruit des bottes"
Le chemin de notre vie mène vers des endroits et des moments différents parfois souhaités, parfois non.
Un but à atteindre? Certains se contentent d'un seul, d'autres de plusieurs, ...
Le garder à l'esprit tout au long du chemin en s'efforçant de gouter les bonheurs qui nous croisent....
Voic ce que j'ai appris de cette discussion
Merci et continuez
J'ai les yeux grands ouverts!
Phinetta
......Tous les moments de la vie sont bons a vivre même ceux pendant lesquels on a rien et qu'on attend d'avoir....
Moi aussi je pense qu'il faut faire sa route sans perdre de vue ses reves ou ses buts, aux carrefours il y a parfois des signes et suivre son propre instinct est souvent ce qu'il y a de mieux à faire... Le bon choix c'est finalement celui qui nous convient le mieux et pas forcément aux autres ... ça me fais penser au livre de Paulo Coelho:"l'alchimiste", à prescrire en cas d'insatisfaction chronique!
C'est vrai qu'on vit dans une société ou les gens sont de + en + insatisfaits! Mais pourquoi? Est on trop gatés, assistés, encadrés, médiatisés, sommes nous trop matérialistes???
Et pourquoi ce serait mieux ailleurs? Il suffit parfois d'aller voir pour se rendre compte que ce que l'on possède ou ce qui nous entoure finalement n'est pas si mal!
Pour ce qui est du temps, perso je préfère savourer le présent qd il me plait et penser au futur qd ça me lasse! Le passé ma fois sert à se construire mais reste le passé, c'est finit et puis voilà!
Bon voilà mon avis sur la question qu'on se pose toujours tous un jour ou l'autre!!
La liberté est de pouvoir dire non plutôt que oui. Je veux dire que pouvoir renoncer (sans regret et en toute connaissance de cause) est la véritable liberté.
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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!
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
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
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.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
mais qui sait aussi apprécier le moment présent 🙂...
et qui fait de son mieux pour s'en sortir en étant comme ça !
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