I don’t want to write an obituary for VF here; I hope it’s just a rough patch and that we can keep exchanging. But I do want to list all the great things this Forum has given me:
-Some amazing travel stories from Yangguizi, one of which led me to North Korea. Just look at the power of storytelling! And Looping, Mariecurry, Michant... Pondi will see me in the Altai one day.
-Meeting a really friendly travel companion, which gave me the confidence to explore the Russian Far North. Where else could I have found a travel buddy for such a unique trip?
-Meeting people on the Forum who encouraged me to write and gave me confidence. I even found my Quebecois translator and Breton translator for a few lines here on VF. A big thank you to them.
-A wealth of information from reading travel journals, plus the chance to ask specific questions to prepare for a trip. Reading these journals also inspired me to visit new destinations.
And then, Voyage Forum is like a big family made up of so many different personalities. Anonymity breaks down all barriers and inhibitions. Sure, some people can be a pain and might’ve needed some help, there are the lost souls; others are all kindness and warmth; some stand out for their beautiful French; that’s not something to dismiss in these times of language impoverishment; some intellectuals share ideas that often go over my head; there are the ruthless commentators on others’ writing and thoughts. Ego battles flare up—it’s all part of the game. I can’t imagine the work it takes to manage all this.
Rarely, a historical discussion takes hold with knowledgeable contributors. How cool is that! It’s fascinating and educational. Unfortunately, political correctness often shuts it down quickly. The trolls are watching!
Thank you, VF. And thank you all who owe it to yourselves. What are the most original contributions?
Wow, there’s so much I owe to VF. If I look back at the years on the road with men and women who have the tenacity of steel—friends for life, brothers and sisters of adventure. Through my job, I have brothers in arms, and through my first passion, mountaineering, I have brothers of the great walls. VF fits into this trilogy with the multitude of people it’s allowed me to meet:
Jean, Alain, Gérard, Yves, André, Evelyne, Brigitte, Patricia, Flora, and so many others… Without VF, I don’t know how I would’ve met these crazy folks who only come alive when they’re caught up in crazy adventures.
It all started with Jean, to whom I gave some info about Albania since I’d lived there. And just like that, the gears started turning—first with him, a warm-up trip. I didn’t even bike back then: a tour of Corsica and Sardinia. We clicked, and right after, we crossed Europe, then the Andes the following year. He became my wife’s public enemy number one. Mountaineering scared her, but at least it never lasted four months.
The best memories of the last ten years, I owe to VF. They say true friends are those from your youth. Sure, as I’ve already said, the army and mountaineering gave me strong friendships when I was young.
At 50, a new youth—baptized in the flow of VF—and other brothers and sisters were gifted to me. I feel like I’ve known them forever, so deeply have these years on the road with them imprinted on me. Despite a hectic professional and sporting life, VF, through the discovery of bike travel—where you live 24/7 together for months—taught me to know myself even better. To always adapt more when things go south, because it’s not always others’ fault.
And then there are the writings, the people you only know through the keyboard—stories beautifully written. Yes, Pondy, whose work I’ve been a fan of from the start, Dolma, whose pen wanders lightly with the nostalgia of time passing, and others in hard or soft adventure tales. There are so many; several names come to mind, but many others have made me dream.
And of course, the advice I’ve received, especially for committed trips like crossing great deserts self-sufficiently.
Of course, there are a few wasps, just like in real life, and I’m ashamed of how I’ve sometimes let myself get dragged into responding to them in, let’s say, crude ways. Thanks to VF for not banning me for those slip-ups. Travel should teach you to put things into perspective and let them slide.
On top of that, this complementary experience has allowed me, for the past 28 months, to host a monthly travel segment on a Vosges radio station. It’s let me join the editorial team of the *CCI* magazine, bringing in contributions from VF travelers. It’s let me write bike travel pieces for the *École de l’Air* alumni magazine *Le Piège*, seeing my text sandwiched between a technical article on Rafale onboard equipment and one by an astronaut from the same school—wow, thank you VF. It’s also let me write two books. Though breaking into publishing is tough, I’ve had a lot of positive feedback (a little ego boost!!!).
And in my latest travel report, I start with a tribute to VF:
https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10328211;#10328211
There you go—in 20 minutes, I’ve just poured out what this question about gratitude inspires in me.
YES, François, an ENORMOUS and GIGANTIC THANK YOU to VF.
Luc
We came within a whisker of a message from an old traveler mellowed by journeys.
Yeah, it's frustrating because suddenly a great discussion starts with contributors who have real expertise; we learn things, see the problem from a different angle—basically, it's fascinating. And then—bam! The thought police step in and shut it down under the pretext that we're not mature enough to weigh the issues.
With the way political correctness is going these days, it's better to stick strictly to travel topics... and even then, stay cautious.
Like many of us, I’ve been logging on almost every day for 15 years. There have been periods of abstinence, frenzies, disagreements, discoveries, sharing—so much sharing. I’ve met some of you in person, some I know virtually, and others I feel like I know. In short, VF is like real life, but with travel on top.
François (from Quebec), you’ve explained the challenges of keeping VF going—we’re ready to roll up our sleeves or open our wallets...
My message doesn’t add much, but it makes me sad to think this space that brings us together, sometimes daily around travel, might disappear.
In short, VF is like real life, but with travel on top... This phase of questioning we’ve seen in the closed thread is ultimately logical, sped up by the financial difficulties linked to the pandemic. That’s the issue we’ll need to solve... How? I don’t know—unity around this tough question certainly won’t be enough.
But like many others, I love VF, and I’m putting it out there...
Well, I see that this thread is about settling scores—François, you’re explaining the challenges of keeping VF going, and people are offering to roll up their sleeves or open their wallets...
Good evening,
I’m François from France, just a regular visitor.
The François from Quebec is probably reading this. Even if he’s facing temporary difficulties, I think our support must warm his heart, and he must realize he’s created something wonderful with this forum.
As for settling scores, that’s over—I’ve let go of all my past frustrations. The people on this forum are actually really friendly.
Yes, sorry François from France—I’d written that little post to publish in the thread that’s now closed. So the sentence didn’t make sense anymore. I’ve edited it :)
You seem like someone who really likes their goulash spicy, huh? 😉
VoyageForum is a legendary meet-up site (I see you getting all excited, but it doesn’t always end in an adventure). Paradoxically, it’s also a place to learn about real life (you’re not just among your own kind here). And finally, it’s a playground that makes me miss being ten years old (even if things can get personal sometimes and there are a few bad apples).
It’s buzzing, it’s vibrant, and it crackles with energy—but watch out for the teacher! 😇
A post without Voyajou is like a Martini without a cherry!
Nope, I don’t eat goulash anymore—I’ve switched to crêpes Suzette with orange blossom; the "Politruk" (political commissar) can sleep easy. We won’t see lively discussions like the ones about the Spanish Republic and Francoism again. Besides, how do you even have a conversation without risk these days, when values shift, when you have to weigh every sentence before saying it, when a word loses its meaning overnight or suddenly becomes taboo?
Otherwise, I wasn’t exactly thrilled in northern Russia—I was looking for adventure, not *an* adventure.
As for the teacher, she hasn’t failed me yet. Tabernacle! !
Thanks also to VF for existing. And after having frequented various other forums, I can say this one has nothing to be ashamed of in terms of management or atmosphere, which is generally quite good and friendly (at least before the COVID era).
It’s such a pleasure to talk about our passion and reconnect with familiar usernames, even if we don’t always share the same ideas!
I also hope this forum will survive. I’d be sad if it had to close :/
Forums are sadly dying out in favor of social media, but personally, I can’t bring myself to join Facebook groups, for example—I don’t like the layout, and I think I’m still very much "old-school internet."
My encouragement to François especially, who’s doing his best for us all!
Voyage Forum has been with me for 15 years now... seeing it disappear would be such a sadness...
This site, by far the best for travel, deserves to live on. Without it, where will we find such a goldmine of information and inspiration for our future trips? Because there *will* be future trips—this dark period will eventually fade away.
I’ve met extraordinary people here virtually, laughed and cried when learning about the passing of some contributors. I didn’t know them, and yet, it broke my heart. I’ve discovered countries, adventures... escaped through remarkable travel journals, and admired so many beautiful photos...
Yes, thank you Voyage Forum for existing.
As for original contributions, I’m not sure if, as a "traveler," mine were all that original—but it’s thanks to VF and its travel journals that I went to Colombia, Ecuador... that I planned my trips in the countries I visited...
Preparing for my travels always involves reading the travel journals on the country I’m considering. In the end, I owe VF the success of my trips, the sweet memories they’ve left me—and that’s no small thing.
VF is my virtual encounters with contributors I appreciate, who make me laugh, who make me think, who make me dream, who I try to imagine in their real lives.
VF gave me confidence in my words and, even with my spelling and syntax gaps, allowed me to write all my ramblings. It gave me the push to take part in all sorts of small literary contests and bigger ones, to win prizes, and to be published in short story collections. To twist my ankles on stage because they were swelling—but mostly because I’ve never known how to walk in heels.
VF is my “secret garden,” known only to a few, and where even my son, who used to be a participant, didn’t know I was there.
VF is my embarrassment at never being able to help with any destination because, while I remember situations and conversations from my travels, I never remember cities, addresses, or things to see.
VF is a lot of smiles, alone in front of my screen.
VF is real sadness for those who’ve disappeared forever and whom I used to read with such appetite and joy.
VF is irritation, it’s anger that wells up in the face of intolerance and meanness. And I close the window.
VF isn’t real life, as I’ve read, because in real life, I’m a shy person who doesn’t speak up.
I don’t want to write an obituary for VF here; I hope it’s just a rough patch and that we can keep exchanging. But I do want to list all the good things I owe to this Forum:
And I totally agree with everything said later in this post.
Concretely, how can we support the long-term technical survival of this forum? That’s the question: an online fundraiser, crowdfunding... but only after estimating the operating costs, which I personally have no idea how to assess.
Georges G.
(Mes commentaires et mes photos sont issus de mon vécu réel,
mes peintures, elles, de mes souvenirs fantasmés)
No other travel site is as interactive and rich in my opinion.
In networks that also practice and encourage insularity, it’s also incredibly valuable to virtually meet people who don’t agree and have different opinions—and that alone is priceless.
When it comes to travel, no guides or anything like that—the forum offers so much more, and I hope I’ve been able to help with the destinations I know and contributed to.
And, on a side note, it’s where I spend a lot of my free time when work gives me a break...
Yes, long live VoyageForum!!!!!!
I won’t repeat—less eloquently—what’s already been said so well before.
VF is my daily fix, a fix that sparks dreams and warms the heart.
A discussion about Place de la République where people come to leave a little note, memories, a tear, a small flame... and everyone would hold their breath so as not to make it flicker.
A discussion like a dreamcatcher to keep at bay the inevitable that many fear.
A discussion of A Thousand and One Nights where each person, like Scheherazade, would tell a bit of their story here.
(Then the sultan would yield and the story would have no end...)
Over time and through gnashing of teeth, the forum has changed, grown richer, become more structured, shed some weight, sharpened itself... while preserving that incredibly precious quality in a virtual world: its soul.
Into which of our tiny cracks did this soul slip to take hold, take root, and grow so much that its removal—whether chosen or endured—would be such a blast in our lives...
VoyageForum, a metaphor for the world as it is, for life as it goes, for people as they are, a fabulous setting for talented writers, gentle dreamers, and incorrigible dreamers, stories from elsewhere—not always far away—with disorienting words and luminous images.
VoyageForum, a community of travelers and a sum of individuals who cross paths as much on public walkways as in private shadows...
A force that exists, a force we should be able to rely on.
I’m joining in too... my turn to say: thanks VF!
And a special shout-out to all the Africa fans (rotsaka, papy et mamie, and so many others), the hiking, biking, and motorbike gurus... Djalma, Luc Bertrand, and so many more.
To everyone who’s inspired me and helped me have amazing trips!
Long live VF—I’m also ready to contribute if needed.
herve
I’m a travel enthusiast, but not one for "traveler thoughts and reflections"-type discussions—though this time, the topic hits too close to home for me not to chime in:
Given how many messages I’ve posted, it’s clear how much space VF takes up in my schedule... and my life 😉
I’ve made some wonderful "virtual" connections here, some of which have turned into "IRL" meet-ups with people who’ve become friends and travel companions. In fact, I owe VF my biggest thanks for that. 🙂
I’m not a regular in this section, but I also wanted to weigh in on the thread about VF being in danger—only it’s closed now... too bad.
Here’s what I wanted to say:
I wasn’t part of the original core group, but I’ve still been on the forum for quite a while.
About ten years ago, there was already a crisis, which led to debates between supporters of a paid forum and François, who preferred funding it through ads. Since he’s the boss, ads won out, and that meant the appearance of the ad banner on the right and the departure of several major contributors who didn’t agree with this model.
Surprisingly, François was never a fan of those big contributors... he must have his reasons, but what’s certain is that they’re the ones who bring the knowledge. After all, newbies, trip after trip, become contributors themselves. 😉
These "big contributors" get "criticized" for having strong opinions and sometimes responding a bit sharply. But honestly, how could it be any other way when a discussion starts with "I want to go to the American West for 2 weeks—what’s there to see?"—with no politeness, no thanks when someone answers, and no prior research!!!.
That’s why some passionate members get tired of receiving unpleasant comments and go silent... while others respond vehemently. 😮
Back to VF’s survival: when ads were introduced, there was a proposal to pay to remove them, but it was rejected. Yet that’s exactly the business model for smartphone apps—you use it for free, you get ads; you pay, you don’t.
To me, that seems better than a voluntary contribution because there’s a tangible benefit, which is much healthier. That’s one way to increase revenue.
The other side is expenses—apparently, server costs are exorbitant. The solution here is technical: maybe lighter photos, fewer photos, or partnering with another provider, like separating the forum from the travel journal section... but since I don’t know the business model, I can’t say much more.
Whatever happens, it’s by discussing things that we find, if not the solution, at least a path forward 😉
I don’t know if I should chime in on this discussion, given that I’m a newbie of less than 3 years on VF. Compared to all the 10-plus-year veterans here, I don’t quite measure up... but I’m going to dive in anyway, because I can’t even imagine the impact closing VF would have on those of us—*veteran* survivors—who’ve spent 10, even 15 years browsing this site daily.
For me, it would be a shock—so for you, the veterans, I really can’t even begin to picture it...
Three years were enough to get me hooked on visiting this site multiple times a day, digging through the various sections, though rarely the "Reflections and Thoughts for Travelers" one—it’s where all the tension crystallizes, despite the remarkable voices that post there, some of whom have already spoken up here.
Three years were enough for me to grow attached, through reading countless travel stories, to many people you initially think you only know virtually—but end up knowing better than some folks in your real life. Why? Simply because, through reading travel journals, you feel their passion, their fears, their happiness, their disappointments during what’s a huge part of their lives. Because yes, travel *is* a huge part of our lives! VF might only interest travelers, but for us, it’s essential—thanks to its rich content, its journals, its photos that inspire us to travel again and again, and the generosity of its long-time contributors who are still around.
Three years were enough for me to form a special bond with certain members I chat with regularly outside the forum (via social media, yep 😕), talking about travel, sure, but not just that. I hope the real world will take over from the virtual one someday—I’d love to meet them or share a trip together. All the wonderful people in this community would obviously be missed; the others, a little less. And no other forum could recreate this vibe.
Three years were enough that when I told my wife about VF’s temporary financial struggles, she asked with a smirk if I’d survive, what I’d do without the forum, and how I’d spend my evenings if I wasn’t glued to my computer screen. When I shot back that I’d finally reclaim the TV remote, her expression changed, and she simply wished me... *Long live VoyageForum!* Such a hypocrite, I know, but hey—it’s the thought that counts, right? 😛
So, three years were enough for me to say a big THANK YOU to VoyageForum.
PS: Two little asides I was writing in the other now-closed discussion when I hit publish.
The Southern Africa section is really feeling the loss of one of its Big Five—a member whose experience never stopped them from generously sharing tailored advice with newbies like me. Let’s just hope the other Big Five members still around (and who’ll recognize themselves) don’t let themselves fade away. Future travelers will struggle to find anything as detailed in their paper guidebooks—Lonely Planet or Rough Guides—about nearly every reserve in South Africa. If they find even a tenth of what VF offered, they’ll be lucky. But of course, they won’t know what they missed 😕.
It’s too bad VF isn’t adopting the system used by streaming giants (Deezer, Spotify, or Amazon Music) or many smartphone apps—a system that’s proven effective. If you pay a monthly subscription or a fixed fee for Premium access, you’re ad-free. Conversely, since free doesn’t exist, if you refuse to pay, you get bombarded with ads... and often end up switching to Premium. And that doesn’t stop them from setting usage rules and enforcing them for all members, whether they’ve paid or not (this overlaps with Jef’s post, but I’ll leave it as I wrote it Sunday).
I’m grateful for:
- all the travel info I used to plan my trips;
- the amazing travel journals I enjoyed reading and the photos that made me want to visit certain places;
- the humor of some members that really made me laugh;
- the insightful messages from Jean-Paul ("Cochize").
I’ve met people who became friends 😉 😉
As you said: "I’d obviously miss all the wonderful people in this community, the others a little less, and no other forum could recreate this vibe."
And I enjoy helping people who ask questions about future trips.
Just a little message to thank you warmly for your kind words, touching testimonials, support, encouragement, and positive comments. It really means a lot to read them! 🙂
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you, on behalf of the whole team, for your participation on the site. We provide the structure and the platform, but you, of course, create the content! 🙂 Without members and their contributions, VoyageForum wouldn’t exist either. So, a huge thank you to all of you for participating and continually enriching the site! 🙂
Rest assured that we’ll do everything possible to keep VoyageForum online. 🙂
A big thank you for your kind words on VoyageForum! 🙂 However, I’d like to clarify a few things about what you mentioned regarding me in your post.
About ten years ago, there was already a crisis that led to discussions between supporters of a paid forum and François, who preferred to fund the forum through advertising. Since he’s the boss, advertising won out, which resulted in the appearance of the ad banner on the right and the departure of a number of major contributors who didn’t agree with this model.
There has always been advertising displayed on VoyageForum—always, from its very first day—and the site has always been funded by ads/sponsors. So I’m not sure which "crisis" or loss of major contributors you’re referring to, since ads have always been on the site (more for visitors and much less for members)... 😕
Also, I’ve never really made a choice about VoyageForum’s funding model in the sense that advertising has always been the only viable way to fund a site where the users (hundreds of thousands of them) create and generate the content. The only exception on the internet—I’m still only talking about sites where all the users provide the content—is Wikipedia, but it’s one of the biggest sites in the world (across all languages and topics) and is funded by major donors like Google and Amazon. Otherwise, the history of the internet has always shown that charging those who contribute content to the site (very different from, say, media sites where content is provided by the site’s team, like journalists) through subscriptions or voluntary contributions has never been enough to cover the costs of a site as large as VoyageForum (including the salaries of the team that runs it). Try to find a single example to prove me wrong... 😛
Surprisingly, François was never a fan of those major contributors...
What are you talking about? I’m sorry, but regarding me, you seem to be off the mark on several points. 😕
Back to VF’s survival: at the time the ads appeared, it was suggested to pay to remove them, but that was refused.
It wasn’t a refusal as such—it’s just that the idea, while it may seem good and appealing, isn’t viable for the business when you consider everything it entails technically and in terms of staffing.
And regarding the apps you mentioned where you can remove ads in exchange for payment (buying the app), know that none of them generate enough monthly revenue—far from it—to host and run a site as large as VoyageForum. Plus, we all know that today, with those infamous ad blockers, paying to avoid ads on a site is practically useless (ad blockers that, by the way, literally kill sites like VoyageForum).
The other aspect is expenses—apparently, the cost of servers is exorbitant. The solution is technical: maybe lighter photos or fewer photos, or partnering with another provider, for example by separating the forum from the travel journal section, etc.
I’ve been designing and hosting websites from A to Z for over 20 years (servers, programming all the features, even the site’s design), so I have some experience in this area. Believe me, unless we decide to delete everything on the site from before, say, 2015 (discussions, public and private messages, profiles, photos, etc.), there aren’t really any places left where we can cut hosting costs. Yes, hosting a site as large as VoyageForum is expensive (a few thousand euros per month, including security systems, CDN servers worldwide, backup servers, renting different databases, etc.), but to be honest, this expense is small compared to the amount needed to pay the salaries of the entire team (which should normally be at least ten people).
--
I’d like to take this opportunity to announce to everyone that I’ll be stepping back from public appearances for a while to focus entirely on programming systems (thousands of lines of code to write) that will hopefully help VoyageForum pull through (all of this, of course, depends on the travel market recovering to some extent). Staying focused on complex programming while making public appearances, which involve responding to many members, has become impossible for me. I have to choose one or the other, and since VoyageForum can’t survive without its technical development and I’m the only programmer at VoyageForum right now, the choice is pretty obvious.
My colleague will handle public appearances as VoyageForum when necessary. But be warned—he’s much more direct, strict, and impatient than I am...! 😏😛😉
Once again, I sincerely thank everyone who has shared suggestions. I see a deep desire to help VoyageForum succeed, and I’m truly and extremely grateful for that.
And thank you again for your thanks, testimonials, encouragement, and kind comments! 🙂 Feel free to continue this discussion by sharing your thoughts about VoyageForum. We read them all very carefully, as they help give deeper meaning to our work. Thanks again! 🙂
Oh NO, I REFUSE to even entertain the idea of this forum disappearing—it’s helped me plan amazing trips, meet awesome people on the ground, exchange passionate emails, share laughs online, and dream and reflect through fellow travelers’ stories, and so much more! 🙂
So THANK YOU to VF (and to all of you), and long live VoyageForum! 😇
It’s simple: my first trip was my honeymoon, which made us realize 13 years ago that in just a few hours by plane, we could completely change our environment, culture, and landscapes... It gave us a taste for discovery.
And the following year, we decided to go again, alone, and planning that first (well, second😉) trip (Thailand) was when I signed up for VF—a community I’ve never left since. I’ve enriched my profile with all the destinations—I mean *all*—that I’ve prepared using my Lonely Planet and VoyageForum, and in return, I’ve shared my experiences within my limits, not as a regular contributor but by joining discussions when I thought I could add value.
VF is my traveler’s life. Since I have no plans to stop traveling, VF must go on 😛
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
I don’t have anything new to add since I relate to pretty much everything that’s been written since your first post.
I just wanted to thank you for starting this discussion and to add my modest presence to it.
Long live VF!
I rarely post on this forum, but today I just can’t stay silent—VoyageForum feels too precious to all adventurous hearts...
VF is a forum that lets our dreams wander freely, one that, with every read, fills me with the wild urge to pack my bags and offers every lucky traveler the chance to feel more alive than ever.
VF breathes the spirit of the open road into us.
A huge thank you to VF and all its contributors!!
"Voyager, c'est donner un sens à sa vie, voyager, c'est donner de la vie à ses sens"
We’re all addicted to VF, and ultimately, we appreciate it because we’d miss it if it were gone. For me, the idea is that, in a way, VF is a public utility site.
If it’s facing a temporary difficulty and if the creator wished it, why not all sign a petition—we’re so many—to obtain a subsidy in Quebec or France? After all, subsidies often go to organizations with rather silly purposes. VF is a bridge between France and Canada and a site with quality content. So, I think our real strength lies in our large numbers and our potential mobilization if François needs it. But maybe he’ll manage on his own, and travel will pick up again.
I’m sure some members have significant influence due to their social status; they could help.
I’m very attached to VF’s survival and don’t want some silly Anglo-Saxon site to take over the niche and dumb us down even more.
As a cost-saving measure, I suggest limiting Tatra to 200 messages per day.
It’s been ten years since I signed up for VF.
At first, it was just so I could read quietly, but after a year and a half, I started participating.
I find this forum really rich.
Few forums cover as many topics. Other travel forums seem pretty basic compared to this one.
Since it’s so rich, it attracts a lot of people—both the best and the worst.
On some topics, I think, "Wow, they’re so mean!!"
On others, "Awesome! What a great idea!"
All in all, if I had to sum it up, it’d be positive—even *very* positive.
There have been times when I logged in every day, and others when I checked in much less.
The "Travelers’ Thoughts and Reflections" section, which was so lively at first, has turned into a bit of a venting space. But you can still share your thoughts politely without getting mobbed (most of the time).
I hope VF has many more great years ahead. Going through a tough period makes you stronger—true in life and for a forum too.
Good luck to those trying to save the site. I’m rooting for them wholeheartedly.
"La vie est un voyage qui se vit au présent ou jamais ...."
Yes, long live VoyageForum!!!!!!
I won’t repeat—less eloquently—what’s already been said so well before.
VF is my daily fix, a fix that makes you dream and warms the heart.
So, how about warming our hearts by coming back? 🙂
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
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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...)
Hi there, I’ve been traveling for 18 years now, at least 6 months a year, and as the years go by, I actually enjoy coming back to France more and more—a feeling I struggled with at first. I mean, we always think the grass is greener elsewhere.
But in the end, I find meaning in that saying about how there’s no place like home. I still love traveling just as much, but now my trips are shorter, and I enjoy spending more time in our beautiful country, even though I don’t hesitate to criticize it.
How about you? How do you handle coming back from your travels?
A few years ago, I went with a group of friends to lend a hand at a small rural school near Thiès, Senegal.
It was a relaxed but hardworking atmosphere—hands in the mortar, laughter, exchanges, and everything that a COOPERATION project can bring.
Today, the little project is flying on its own.
Wanting to explore Senegal’s riches, we set off for some tourism in the Siné Saloum. One girl in our group fell ill (a malaria attack), and we decided to take her to see a doctor at a large tourist complex nearby. Despite her condition, we had to "show our credentials" (if I may say so) just to get in. She was treated and has been fine since.
This "stop" at a Club Med-style resort with a Teutonic twist—resembling Le Grau-du-Roi but fancier—was a horror show for us: pools, massive artificial basins dyed blue, pink, or green (!!!!), animators shouting around wet T-shirt contests or coconut tree climbing, and sunburned (or sun-pinked) *toubabs*.
The entire hotel was surrounded by a huge wall, behind which a small souvenir-seller slum had sprung up, worthy of Dakar’s outer neighborhoods.
On leaving, we saw a minibus of guests returning from an "excursion," loaded with masks, fabrics, and djembés—African souvenirs?
Maybe those will be *theirs*?
What impression did the kids clustered at the hotel gates get?
What about the Black servers in "traditional African costumes," serving cocktails and ice cream nonstop?
For me, who experienced Africa very young and in the bush, this remains a haunting image.
On VF, this kind of vacation doesn’t seem to be the norm among users, and that’s exactly why I signed up.
Have you ever experienced this kind of interstellar travel?
Do you understand the Martians?
Are their motivations peaceful?
I’ve been wondering: Is it still reasonable to rent a car in the U.S.?
Apparently, since early January 2025—and very quietly—the most important insurance coverage, namely the driver’s civil liability, has seen its coverage amount drop from $1 million to just $300,000. This coverage is supposed to protect us from damages we might be responsible for while driving. We can go decades without a single scrape (especially if it’s our fault), but anything can happen in a split second. A motorcycle appearing out of nowhere, a misjudgment at one of those huge intersections with staggered traffic lights, and suddenly we could be deemed at fault for the accident. We’d then have to pay out of pocket for the other party’s medical expenses. Given what hospitals charge... it can easily exceed $300,000 and turn into a nightmare in no time!!! Plus, anyone who’s driven on American roads has seen those billboards for lawyers offering their services to accident victims. So on top of the sky-high medical bill, the lawyer will demand compensation worthy of a Hollywood movie!!!! So, is it even worth getting behind the wheel in America anymore? Well... that’s just my take! And on top of that, I haven’t found any insurance company that offers such high civil liability coverage. Chapka and others do offer coverage in the millions, but motor vehicles are excluded.... So here’s the thing... Unless I’ve "missed something," I’ve come to this conclusion: Renting a car in the U.S. is like playing Russian roulette! But maybe I’m being too pessimistic? What do you think?
My two bullfighting traditions when I'm back home in Camargue (France) and in Colombia (Caribbean) every time I return. 🤠
Details:
Bullfights (corridas) aren’t part of my two bullfighting traditions, but I respect those who attend them!!!
In these two ancestral bullfighting traditions—which aren’t bullfights—the Bulls and Toros aren’t killed or tortured, as some might think.
These are bull games where the animals return to their pastures afterward and only come back to the Arenas 2–3 times a year at most.
They spend 15 minutes in the ring for the Camarguais and 5 minutes for the Toros in the Colombian Corralejas.
They’re cared for and pampered. They’ll die of old age in miles of open fields.
The young people who face them are professionals, risking their lives to support their families and live their Passion for the Toro!!! 😄
https://youtu.be/yYKQer42HoQ
Colombian Corraleja in the link below (hope it works) 🤪
https://fb.watch/BMfmuCgQpG/
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