After visiting Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, and Poland in recent years, I’ve fallen in love with Eastern European countries. I adore the Slavic soul, its Austro-Hungarian villages, the gentle landscapes, the Carpathian mountains, and that slightly mysterious atmosphere.
Slovakia evokes a certain imagination with its deep forests, medieval castles, and cobbled villages.
The last travel journal about Turkmenistan was from 2019. So here’s a quick update on this vast desert country, which is now a bit easier to visit than before.
In 5 days, I saw 2 Hongkongers, a few Germans, and a Chilean at the crater, 10 Chinese people in a capital bazaar, and that’s it!
I’d already spent 3 days in Tokyo a few years ago on a business trip, which left me with a great impression. Y, my Thai partner, had never been there. That’s why we opted for a pretty classic itinerary, including a few castles and Kyoto among other things.
In the summer of 2026, we packed our backpacks again to wander around Jotunheimen National Park in Norway.
We hadn’t heard of this park just a few months earlier—we discovered it by following threads online.
Described as the most mountainous in the country, it really appealed to us after scrapping our initial plan further north.
When talking about the Caribbean island of Saint-Martin, it’s customary to praise its coastline and dreamy beaches—they truly deserve it.
But in this story, I’d like to highlight other memories, aspects, and impressions for a slightly different kind of change of scenery.
My first trip to Morocco was in the early 90s.
Four more followed...
I had never been further north than Casablanca, Volubilis, or Fez—it was time to fix that oversight!
In the end, we wanted to go to Flores for its lush nature (and also because it’s reputed to be the most breathtaking), to São Jorge for its natural/rural vibe, and to Terceira for its cultural side and its *impérios*.
Dreaming of exploring Argentina? For a departure on January 17, 2027, the specialist AmériGo still has 3 spots available on its guided tour "Land of Contrasts," with an exclusive 200 € discount per person reserved for VoyageForum readers.
Having your own car to escape for a weekend in Marseille offers unbeatable freedom. You can already picture driving along the magnificent Corniche Kennedy, admiring the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, or enjoying a wild getaway to the Calanques. However, Marseille’s traffic and its reputation for traffic jams might make visitors think twice.
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Africa has been calling me, so a year ago, with our usual travel companions, we decided to return to the continent we love so much.
Where to go?
Uganda quickly caught our attention—wildlife we’re used to, plus gorillas and the shoebill we missed in Zambia.
We got in touch with Paul, who’s been mentioned several times on the forum in September, booked our flight tickets, secured the gorilla permits, and by early October, the most important parts were done.
I love staying a long time in the places I visit, giving myself time to discover the spots and meet locals. So no island-hopping this time—just the south. But when I say "just," it’s not limiting at all, since this island is so rich in landscapes, little encounters, and magical moments.
No wild adventures, no risks, no sleeping under the stars, no self-drive, no venturing off the beaten path, no incidents, and not even any delays in the pre-planned itinerary...
But don’t think we’re disappointed!
The whole family (there were six of us) came home with big smiles and memories of some really great moments spent together.
I want to go to Pathra, the temple town, this afternoon. The boss knows a taxi driver who can get here really quickly. The distance isn’t too far, but we’re moving slowly behind lots of trucks that keep stopping.
The temples of Pathra are right by the road, out in the countryside, surrounded by rice fields.
This trip had been on my mind for about fifteen years. But the discomfort of overnight stays, the difficulty of communication, and the prices of the few car rentals kept making me postpone the project.
Then, things finally started to fall into place—I told myself, now’s the time!
The preparations took longer than usual; the destination is still far from mainstream.
No hotels booked (well, just the first one), no visits planned, just a flight ticket bought three weeks earlier. No guidebook, no app—just the urge to explore southern Turkey and Cappadocia, whose images and the chance to stretch my legs had really caught my eye.
The deep worries from the day before quickly faded after the first few kilometers, starting from Vézelay. With, as always at the beginning of a long-distance hike, that strange feeling of being like a child learning to walk.
When you're prepping for a trek in Scotland, the Norwegian fjords, or the Icelandic highlands, you often spend hours hunting for the best jacket. It’s a logical reflex, but once you're out there, you quickly realize your upper body isn’t the whole story.
This autumn 2025, I’m off on my 11th trip to Japan. I’ve neglected the south for too long, so like last year, it’s my main destination.
After the 2017 and 2024 travel journals, I’m heading to the Japan most tourists don’t see—all by public transport, of course.
After a pretty disastrous weather-wise stay in Gran Canaria, we’re hoping this time the sun will show up in Puglia.
It’s not a sure thing since the weather’s been pretty rough across Europe in early May.
After the summer of 2022 left me with a sense of unfinished business, here I am back in Swedish Lapland for the summer of 2024, ready to attempt the Sarek crossing again—and this time, to tackle part of the Kungsleden as well.
Otherwise, what’s the deal with the American West in February?... A gamble. Let’s just say it’s Russian roulette since we’re not arriving during peak weather season. That’s why we pushed our transportation and accommodation to hook up and give birth to a little camper van—so we can stay ultra-flexible against any weather whims. We’ll be roaming around in Kara the van with our only motto: "Follow the sun!"
It's hard not to be charmed. The historic center is compact, so you can wander around, get lost (well, sort of—it's on a grid layout ;)), all on foot or by bike. There's plenty to keep you busy for several days if you want to take your time and slow down a bit.
Hi there!
I’m sharing a sketched-out stroll—completely subjective, absolutely non-exhaustive, and totally personal since it’s based on my own drawings. I put this travel journal together after I got back at the end of 2024, mostly with felt-tip pens and pencils, plus a few collages.
My girlfriend Christelle and I have chosen South Africa for our first trip to Southern Africa, focusing on safaris. We hesitated for a long time between this and a Cape Town/Kruger combo.
On this forum, I shared my first trip to Tunisia from mid-February to early March (voyageforum.com/...en-direct-d11460662/), a trip I enjoyed so much that six weeks later, I’m back in Tunisia for a full 15 days.
Slovak travel journal
14-Day Road Trip in Slovakia
Croatia, Montenegro – two victims of overtourism?
The Island of Pelops
Three weeks in Albania with two older teens
A Few Days in Turkmenistan from Uzbekistan
14 Days in Japan – September-October 2026
Hiking in Norway: Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell, you’ll adapt to the rain...
), a trip I enjoyed so much that six weeks later, I’m back in Tunisia for a full 15 days.