Hello fellow travel enthusiasts! 🌍
As a traveler and blogger, I’ve often been struck by the huge inequalities tied to freedom of movement. While some cross borders with ease, others face major obstacles due to their nationality, background, or the restrictive policies of certain countries.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, I wrote an article reflecting on this issue:
📖 Travelers' Rights: A Reflection on Freedom of Movement and Global Inequalities
In this article, I cover topics like:
Inequalities between passports ("strong" vs. "weak" passports).
The specific challenges faced by travelers from marginalized communities.
How to take action to promote more inclusive and equitable travel.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊 Have you ever experienced these inequalities while traveling? How do you think we could raise more awareness about this issue?
Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in this thread. I can’t wait to discuss this with you!
Travel is also about building bridges between cultures. So let’s make sure it becomes a reality for everyone. ✈️🌎 Thanks for reading, and I look forward to exchanging ideas with you!
Voyager Autrement est Possible
Un Voyage à votre image
Voyages en immersion et éco-responsables
This reflection on the challenges of moving around—depending on your passport, origin, or skin color—does it focus only on travel as a leisure activity, or does it also extend to other reasons people have for wanting to leave home?
Interesting topic.... I haven't read your article yet, but just the title already gives me a lot to think about.
Freedom of movement—you only have to look back at 2020 to answer whether we’ve ever faced this kind of travel difficulty before. And back then, some countries quickly banned travelers based on their nationality.
Can we raise awareness about this issue?... In my opinion, 90% of people couldn’t care less, including those with a supposedly "humanist" mindset who showed during Covid that their humanism was just on paper.
Besides, I don’t really see how we can raise awareness about nationality and passport power... Take action, apart from signing petitions or writing to embassies...
Same goes for the idea that traveling is about "building bridges between cultures"—that deserves its own topic, but here again, traveling shows that the cultural side only interests a small minority of travelers. Plus, social media and smartphones are contributing to the erasure of cultures and the creation of a global "culture" based on selfies, stories, etc....
I can’t remember which American politician said: "All human beings are equal in rights at birth, and that’s pretty much the last time."
Otherwise, there’s also Jean Yanne: "Men are born free and equal in rights. After that, they’re on their own."
« 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
As long as different countries don’t have the same standard of living, the same level of freedom, or the same acceptance of differences, travel won’t be easy for everyone...
At the opposite end, the least powerful passports belong to countries like Afghanistan, Syria, or the DRC, where traveling becomes a real obstacle course.
That makes sense for the first two... (I don’t know enough about the DRC’s situation to comment on it.)
Then there’s also the question of unequal rights to leave one’s own country.
I don’t think a North Korean citizen could travel freely even if every other country in the world accepted them without a visa...
A person can be blocked just as much at departure as at arrival...
Finally, while many more countries are accessible to some nationals, it doesn’t change the fact that, for example, French citizens are also subject to rules when traveling to numerous countries—and the cost of visas and how easy they are to obtain weigh heavily when choosing a destination.
Some countries also opt for reciprocity: if you demand this from my citizens, I’ll demand the same from yours.
Global powers have often built their freedom on the exploitation of other nations.
Yes. Every nation on every continent has exploited its own population as well as its neighbors.
The wheel turns, and yesterday’s exploited become tomorrow’s exploiters, only to become the exploited again the day after.
We can’t stay stuck in the past. If we do, the future will remain just as blocked...
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
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How do you manage to align your desire for more inclusive and equitable travel with your ecological concerns and your fight against overtourism?
« 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
Have you ever felt these inequalities during your travels? How do you think we could raise more awareness about this issue?
well yeah, there are obviously a lot of inequalities around the world.
The risk with this discussion topic is stating the obvious, and we’re not going to change the world here.
There are still tons of people living in slums, and social benefits like social protection or reduced working hours—many countries don’t have those.
Oh, and your blog isn’t working.
You probably didn’t miss today’s article in *Le Figaro* about the impact of tourism on greenhouse gases.
If you did, here’s the end of the article: "A simple reduction in tourism volume (for example, if all countries reduced tourist demand by 5%) is 'not an ideal approach,' according to this *Nature Communications* study, as it isn’t 'fair and equitable' across countries. While efforts are being made in transport electrification and technology, aviation remains the Achilles’ heel of global tourism emissions. Limiting the growth in demand for air travel, particularly long-haul international flights, 'would yield desirable results from both a climate and social perspective,' suggests the international team behind the study.
'The inequality in carbon emissions from travel stems from the gap between those who can and those who cannot afford to travel abroad,' the authors note. 'Focusing on limiting the continued growth of international air travel rather than domestic tourism would offer a more socially equitable approach,' they argue."
As a climate skeptic, I don’t buy it for a second, of course.
« 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
Instead of targeting long-haul flights, wouldn’t it be better to curb short-term trips?
Going to Rome for 2 days, Tenerife for 4, or Cancun for 6 seems like an aberration to me.
A tax of 500 € for a same-day round trip, 300 € for a weekend, 200 € for a week, and 100 € for a fortnight would greatly reduce global tourism and, therefore, carbon emissions from air travel.
This would also solve the problem of the proliferation of Airbnbs in certain cities where residents now struggle to find housing (not to mention the nuisances).
Sure, that would spell the end for Ryanair and other low-cost airlines, but personally, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it...
Short-term tourism would refocus on local travel. Restaurateurs, hoteliers, and shopkeepers wouldn’t suffer for it.
As a climate skeptic, I don’t believe in this for a second, of course.
Air travel also causes noise pollution.
Overtourism does too, by the way (plus rising prices, housing shortages, waste management issues, etc.).
When it comes to the climate, I can only note the changes over the past 55 years. And especially the disruption!
I don’t know the causes, but it seems hard to deny that things are evolving.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Your arguments are understandable, but I doubt we’re grasping the full picture. Whether it’s cars or planes, other fuels have been possible for a long time, but...
Regardless, flights departing from European airports will be powered by at least 20% sustainable fuels by 2035, with a target of 70% by 2050.
When it comes to weather, reasoning on a human lifespan scale doesn’t make sense. Besides, all the planets in the solar system are currently warming, and it’s not because of the flights we take.
And those alpine lakes in northern Italy that formed when massive glaciers melted 10,000 to 15,000 years ago—our cars didn’t cause that.
Studying history shows we’ve experienced warmer periods a thousand, two thousand, three thousand years ago. These periods are called climatic optimums because they provided excellent conditions—warmth and humidity—for agriculture.
The Roman climatic optimum lasted from the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century CE and coincided with the peak of Rome, and it also affected... China, during the Han Empire.
The "Beautiful Middle Ages" corresponds to the medieval climatic optimum, from the 10th to the 14th century, which also impacted Song Dynasty China.
Historically, it was the cold periods, like the Little Ice Age from the 14th to the 19th century, that were... catastrophic.
18,000 years ago, the sea level was 120 meters lower.
To better monitor rising sea levels, Al Gore (the man behind *An Inconvenient Truth*) built himself a multi-dozen-room villa by the sea. Now *that’s* standing by your convictions.
The most comprehensive measurement records are maintained by the PSMSL (Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level), founded in 1933 and based in Liverpool. This organization tracks around 2,900 observatories worldwide. The major ports of the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean show no perceptible acceleration in sea level rise.
With some uncertainty, there appear to be long cycles of warm and cold periods roughly every 12,000 or 16,000 years. The start of the last warm cycle enabled the rise of humanity. We’ve got about 3,000 to 4,000 years left. After that, as has happened many times before, the ice will return as far as the Mediterranean.
By then, let’s hope our successors have a "Mars Exploration" section open on VoyageForum...
« 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
About a year ago, I saw a really interesting documentary on Arte, complete with maps, about the reasons behind the changing borders of the Roman Empire.
After its peak, there was a sharp decline, then a period when it almost fully rebuilt itself, and finally, the definitive fall.
The investigation concluded that the empire’s expansion and contraction strictly matched periods of favorable or unfavorable climate.
The same pattern held true for Pre-Columbian civilizations and many others.
« 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
Hey Jojoone, if the Roman Empire collapsed, it was mainly because the empire was vast—too vast to administer.
And the central state, centralized in Rome, was too spendthrift. To maintain the communication routes, it was forced to levy heavy taxes.
So France must be way bigger than I thought, given how much we pay in taxes there.
« 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
We often say that the French flag flies over all the oceans, but when you see what's happening in New Caledonia, the French West Indies, and the social unrest that follows...
you wonder if the French Empire isn't starting to wobble.
Not to mention the African countries doing everything they can to expel French nationals from their soil.
All that's left is for the Bretons, Basques, and Corsicans to demand their autonomy 😛
Yes, it's certainly a question.
But the Chinese bring in massive cash through investments in Africa, something the French state seems to have been unable to do.
Investments help finance the local economy.
However, it's not just a political issue but also a financial one, as local populations and governments risk becoming too indebted.
That was the case for Sri Lanka at one point—the country struggled to honor a debt owed to China.
.
On a brighter note, the project to build a "barrier" against desertification in the Sahel seems to be taking shape by developing a green belt.
Maybe one day we’ll be able to regreen the Sahel, so you see, it’s better to see the glass as half full rather than half empty 🙂
If you don’t consume (VAT), you’re not a property owner (property tax), and you use tax loopholes (income tax), your taxes end up being significantly reduced...
On top of that, if you only receive a pension of around 1,000 € per month, you avoid CSG, CRDS, and CASA while seeing your pension automatically adjusted according to the inflation rate!
Pure bliss...
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
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C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
In parts of Africa, locals have already had enough of the Chinese.
Sure, a lot of infrastructure has been built, but sometimes those who were hoping to get jobs only saw Chinese workers show up.
« 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
Wondering on social media, during virtual interactions, if we're living in an illusion would send us into a multi-layered philosophical reflection. Coming from the "France d'en-bas," I wouldn’t have the inclination to engage in that kind of discussion.
What’s more, since *The Matrix*, we already have the answer. I’m putting my sunglasses back on. 😎
« 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
Lionel is a messiah like the others
(Jesus, Donald, Vladimir, Mohammed, the dollar, ecology, communism, socialism, anarchism, conspiracy theorists, ...)
A bit run-down, though!
Okay, he at least avoided selling himself to a petro-monarchy for money he doesn’t need.
Maybe he still deserves his name a little....
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Coming from the "France d'en-bas," I wouldn’t have the taste for dialogue in that sense.
What’s more, since *The Matrix*, we have the answer. I’m putting my sunglasses back on. 😎
Why deny ourselves the right to philosophize? Philosophizing isn’t an approach reserved for any particular social class.
But it’s true that the Wachowskis’ film formalizes a lot of things 🙂
To continue, I recommend this book here
As my mom used to say: Being stupid isn’t good, but being too smart isn’t great either.
« 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
This reflection on the difficulties of moving around based on one's passport, origin, or skin color—does it focus only on travel as leisure, or does it also extend to other reasons people have for wanting to leave home?
Yes, I think the reflection covers all types of travel because it touches on the fundamental right to move around our planet.
Voyager Autrement est Possible
Un Voyage à votre image
Voyages en immersion et éco-responsables
Yes, I think this reflection applies to all types of travel because it touches on the fundamental right to move around our planet.
I’m not really getting this line of questioning: who fundamentally stops people from traveling? Unless you want to visit a country that requires a visa (like Russia, for example) and your visa gets denied.
Otherwise, I don’t quite get it.
For instance, if I want to go to Peru, who’s going to stop me from going to Peru?
Well, maybe my bank if traveling costs too much and I’m overdrawn :)
The Chinese are the biggest capitalists that could exist.
Plus, they’re no joke...
When the bill comes due, it’s gonna hurt...
One way or another, we’re already paying the price, haha, with the trade balance being in deficit. Not to mention the recent bankruptcies of French companies.
Yes, I think this reflection applies to all types of travel because it touches on the fundamental right to move around our planet.
It’s never really been forbidden, except episodically.
« 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
And in what marble would this 'fundamental right to move around our planet' be engraved?
The "marble" is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, which states in Article 13:
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including their own, and to return to their country.
I hear you, Michel—no need to get into history to know that. But the author’s claim in the article, which is much broader, has never been and still isn’t reflected in the medium that would suit you, nor is it likely to be anytime soon.
So we finally have a participant who cleverly slips their professional offers into VF through a thread that leads to a blog showcasing their commercial proposals?
« 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
We finally have a participant who cleverly slips in their professional offers on VF through a thread that leads to a blog presenting their commercial proposals?
No one’s fooled, but couldn’t there initially be the benefit of the doubt?
After that, a thread proposed for reflection doesn’t belong to the person who started it—especially if they don’t rise to the level of the issue they’ve raised.
The discussion could take off by leaving the young woman to her carelessness and her possibly questionable intentions... we’ve seen this before.
Only, there are already plenty of similar discussions, and maybe not as much goodwill or available spirit to rekindle the sacred flame.
No one is fooled, but at the outset, can’t there be the benefit of the doubt?
Hence the question mark...
Then, a topic proposed for reflection doesn’t belong to the person who started it—especially if they don’t rise to the level of the issue they’ve raised.
The discussion could take flight while leaving the young lady to her carelessness and possibly questionable intentions... this has been seen before.
Sure, with miss Atila, we’re competing in enthusiasm to contribute to topics and, without going so far as to tie the knot, we’re taking off together. Unfortunately, part of the squadron is missing...
« 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
So we finally have a participant who cleverly slips in their professional offers on VF through a thread that leads to a blog showcasing their commercial proposals?
I hadn’t even noticed it was an ad for the thread creator’s blog until you pointed it out 🙂
Sure, with miss Atila we’re competing in enthusiasm to contribute to the topics and, without going so far as to tie the knot, we take off together. Unfortunately, part of the squadron is missing...
The espadrille’s rope is worn out...
And then
In this post, I discuss topics like:
The inequalities between passports ("strong" vs. "weak" passports).
The specific challenges faced by travelers from marginalized communities.
How to take action to promote more inclusive and equitable travel.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! 😊 Have you ever felt these inequalities during your travels?
And then... having a "strong passport", maybe for a little while longer, belonging to a marginalized group (females over 180 cm) that indeed faces a number of challenges but hasn’t yet formed a "community", I do have some ideas for promoting more "inclusive and equitable" travel (reducing the number of seat rows in economy class on planes, standardizing 2-meter-long beds in accommodations, etc.), but I have a feeling this isn’t the kind of participation that’s expected.
Cat
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Going to Rome for 2 days, Tenerife for 4, Cancun for 6 seems absurd to me.
A tax of 500 euros for a same-day round trip, 300 for the weekend, 200 for the week, and 100 for a fortnight would greatly curb global tourism and thus carbon emissions from air travel.
Okay, that would spell the end for Ryanair and other low-cost airlines, but personally, I wouldn’t shed a tear...
They’re right to say that environmentalists are primarily characterized by their tax rage!
Taxing travel like you suggest mainly means only the rich will be able to travel as they please.
That’s the second hallmark of environmentalism—it benefits the wealthy. The poor stay home and make way for the rich. Damn the poor!
Obviously, the demise of Ryanair wouldn’t upset those who only travel business class—when there’s no first class...
I didn’t read Attila’s message as dismissive of bank accounts. More like pointing out that the low cost of air travel, which shrinks distances, reduces travel to just another consumer product: "Well, Saturday, should I buy a nice sweater or sip whisky in Glasgow?"
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
I hadn't even noticed it was an ad for the creator of this thread's blog, not until you pointed it out :)
And even then, I rarely click on links shared by other members, figuring that if they're posting here, they could just as well share the main points or their travel journals directly on VF.
The message wasn't clear enough, so I wanted to know more, but the travel agency vibe really jumped out at me.
« 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
I didn’t read Attila’s message as a disdain for bank accounts. More like the fact that the low cost of air travel, which shrinks distances, reduces travel to just another consumer product: "Let’s see, Saturday—should I buy a nice sweater or sip whisky in Glasgow?"
Thanks in part to low-cost carriers, travel has risen (not fallen) to the level of an everyday consumer product—and there’s no reason to be ashamed of that. On the contrary, I think we should celebrate it.
I remember the pre-deregulation era, when flight tickets were exorbitantly priced—and I had to give up a lot to travel. Now, young people and those with modest means can fly without having to sacrifice too much elsewhere, and that’s a great thing. They should make the most of it—it might not last forever...
Herb Kelleher (Southwest), Michael O’Leary (Ryanair), Stelios Haji-Ioannou (easyJet), and József Váradi (Wizz Air) are benefactors of humanity. We should erect statues in their honor.
PS: Between a nice sweater and a trip to Glasgow, I don’t hesitate for a second—like most regulars on this forum, I imagine—but for me, it’ll be a beer over whisky.
Thanks in part to low-cost carriers, travel has risen (not fallen) to the rank of an everyday consumer product—and there’s no reason to be ashamed of that. On the contrary, we should celebrate it, in my opinion.
A desire immediately fulfilled only offers mediocre satisfaction, at least for those who also lived before these poor *anthropoi* were reduced to mere consumers. The ease of travel, for those who do it effortlessly, devalues these frantic little hops.
I remember the pre-deregulation era, when flight tickets were exorbitantly priced—and I had to go without so many things just to travel.
Now, young people and those with modest means can fly without having to sacrifice too much else, and that’s a great thing. They should make the most of it—it might not last forever....
Same here. It made the hierarchy of my values crystal clear, always having to choose.
And back then, with little money, I traveled mostly by train, to my great delight, on routes that low-cost airlines have since killed off, leaving us with the choice between flying or driving (maybe the bus... but that’s not my thing).
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
I don’t see the connection between what I said and class struggle.
Whether you earn 1,500 € or 1,500,000 €, it doesn’t change the fact that taking a weekend flight is nonsense.
Ecologically, maybe, but not just that...
I don’t get the point of collecting cities like Panini stickers.
Heavily taxing round-trip flights over a short period would significantly reduce this compulsive—even bulimic—tourism, which would help ease the impacts of overtourism.
That said, I was a bit stingy with my tax amounts.
5,000,000 € for a day, 500,000 € for a weekend, 50,000 € for a week, and 50 € for two weeks would be fairer.
99.99% of the planet would then be affected, instead of just 90% of the French with my initial figures.
Instead of taking 6 two-day trips, people would travel once for 15 days.
It wouldn’t cost them any more...
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
So, we have to accept giving up small pleasures that cost us some financial sacrifices after reading things like:
Gabriel Attal’s plane made a 7-minute flight between Rochefort and La Rochelle to visit... an eco-district.
Source: "La Dépêche"
In just four months, the Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, took a private jet eleven times for domestic flights. All done very discreetly.
Source: "Reporterre.net"
For their back-to-school trip to Liffré, Gabriel Attal and Élisabeth Borne chose a 38-minute flight on the presidential jet over a 1h30 TGV to Rennes.
Source: "Le Soir"
A 52-minute flight, 800 kg of fuel consumed. It was aboard a Dassault Falcon 7X that Prime Minister François Bayrou traveled this Monday, December 16, to Pau to preside over the city’s municipal council, despite numerous criticisms from the opposition.
Source: "BFM"
It’s true that it all comes down to perspective.
And when have the sacrifices of the middle class ever served as an example for the wealthy and ultra-wealthy to follow?
At the very least, I can much better understand why Leonardo DiCaprio chooses to take a private jet for his trips instead of a long-haul flight—he knows full well that you’d take the opportunity to swoon all over him.
Oh, it’s not just you—you wouldn’t be the only one! 😛
« 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
A little objectivity is necessary.
It’s not just frenetic tourists on those low-cost flights.
When I went to Vietnam in 2019 and Bulgaria in 2023, both on the way there and back, there were a lot of people from those two countries on the plane. What do we do in that case—tax them to the max or give them special treatment?
There are also a lot of people on planes who take them for a day or two for work. Do we tax work too?
It’s not all that simple.
A desire immediately fulfilled offers only mediocre satisfaction, at least for those who also lived before these poor *anthropoi* were reduced to mere consumers. The ease of travel, for those who do it effortlessly, devalues these frantic hops
I totally agree with you on this.
I remember the time before deregulation, when flight tickets were exorbitantly priced—and I had to go without many things to be able to travel.
Now, young people and those with modest means can fly without having to sacrifice too much elsewhere, and that’s a great thing. They should make the most of it—it might not last...
Same here. It made the hierarchy of my values crystal clear, always having to choose.
Exactly.
For my part, I had my best trips with very little money.
@B737 If flight tickets were expensive, the cost of living in most visited countries was very low. With one month’s minimum wage, you could live for 3 months in South or Southeast Asia! That’s far from the case today🙁
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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...)
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?
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