voilà le résumé de mon épopée dans l'Afrique de l'ouest, avec quelque photo, bien plus si vous aimez.
le 24 janvier, une proportion de près du 3/4 de mon sablier interne va s’être écoulé en atteignent 8 mois sur 12 d’aventure, en ayant dans le crâne les souvenirs de la magie de chaque grain tombé tel un flocon de neige si gentiment déposé sur le nez rougis de ta tendre moitié en une douce journée de décembre sur l’anneau de glace du quartier ( ouf j’ai été la chercher loin celle là )
Voilà que je me suis baladé en duo, en trio, en solo, avec de meilleurs amis, avec des connaissances, avec des pocailles, à dos de moto, de voitures, de trois roues, de train, de métro, de bus, de bus surabondé, de dromadaire, d’avion, de vélo, à pied, en pirogue, en bateau, avec l’âne, à travers vents et marrées, en Europe et en Afrique, Amsterdam, Allemagne, Espagne, République islamique de la Mauritanie, Sénégal, Bénin, Burkina Faso, fait Noël, Tabaski, Halloween, la St-Jean et fait le ramadan, j’ai été super gourment, manger 5-6 repas par jour et manger uniquement orange et biscuit sablé pendant 2 jours, vu chutes, cascades, bassins d’eaux, lacs, fleuves, rivières, océans, criques à mardes, oasis, vu montagnes, plaines, vallées, marigots, terres apocalyptiques, terres bouetteuses, terres rouges, brunes, jaunes, blanches, dorés, bu de la bière local, du thé, du jus d’orange/ d’ananas / mangue fraîchement pressé sous mes yeux, bu jus de maïs, de patate, jus de fruits que je ne savais même pas l’existence, juste de noix de coco, lait caillé, alcool de canne à sucre alcoolisé et moins alcoolisé, alcool de renier alcoolisé et moins alcoolisé, alcool de mil, alcool de fruits que je ne savais même pas qu’il pouvait donner de l’alcool, vu des ruines anciennes, des dunes, des villages dans l’eau, des villages de 20 personnes, des villages de pigmé, des villages de nomades et de touareg, des villes de millions d’habitants, dépensé moins de 3 dollars logé/nourrit/bordé par jour et claquer 100 piaces pour une soirée, eu des amis qui avait la table de couture en guise de lit et d’autres ayant de la difficulté a choisir dans quel chambres poser sa tête, dormit à l’ hôtel, à l’auberge, à l’auberge jeunesse, dans des des chambres de passe, chez des amis, dans notre appartement, chez des inconnus, à même le sol, sur une natte, dans le désert, sur le divan, sur banc de bois, sur plage, dans la forêt, avec lit simple, double , triple, avec douche froide ou très froide, avec paumeau et surtout avec sceaux, ou parfois pas de douche du tout, goûter épices, soupe de tête de coq, boyaux de coq, boyaux de bœuf, salade de chenille, cerveau de mouton, vu toréador, vu sacrifice de poules et de chèvre, vu homme frapper âne, homme frappé homme, homme frappé enfant pour un oui ou pour un non ou pour avoir répondu 5 à la question 2x2, j’ai vu femme se promener sein nue et des femmes voilées/semi voilées/pleinement voilées, des églises et des mosqués tellement pleines que les gens prient jusqu’à deux rues plus loin, vu des femmes pleurer parce que devaient montrer ses oreilles pour photo d’identité, gars chier en pleine rue no stress, l’autobus arrêter 3-4 fois pendant la ride, parce que le chauffeur était piss minutes, vu taxi arrêter pour aller prier même si on était pressé, je me suis fait appeler Alibaba, Benladen, Terroriste, Bocoaram, Jésus, Moïse, Père Noël, Chinois, Russe, Allemand, Espagnol, Michel, Toubab, Yovo, Nassara, Toubabou, la blanche, le blanc, mon ami, mon frère, patron, chef, j’ai parler Arab, wolof, diola, morré, fon, je me suis fait arnaquer et arnaquer les arnaqueurs, donner des pots de vin à des policiers pour me sortir de certaines situations, entendu l’expression ‘’mamamilla’’ dans une vrai conversation ou encore ‘’Jésus Christ de Nazareth’’ pour exprimer de l’étonnement, vu plantation de canne a sucre, de coton, d’acajous, de noix de Karité, de mangue, d’olive, de dattes, j’ai senti des odeurs qui peuvent faire rêver les plus grand parfumiers, et d’autre à mettre un arrière goût dans yeul pour toute une journée, je me suis fait invité à manger par des inconnus sur le côté de la route, partager un bout de pain en 4 pour que tout le monde puisse manger, manger 8 autour d’un bol à même la main, même si c’est du spaghattie ou des patates piller, je me suis fait inviter à dormir chez quelqu’un rencontré dans le bus, partagé des vrais amitié grâce à ma barbe, fait un documentaire sur la barbe, fait pleurer nombres d’enfant grâces à ma barbe, fait rigoler nombre d’enfant, porter le même habit pendant 1 semaine et me faire donner 1 habit à tout les jours, j’ai été plus marocain que les marocain, plus sénégalais que les sénégalais, plus béninois que les béninois, mais certainement pas plus Mauritanien que les Mauritanien, j’ai vu des couchés de soleil embrassant la mer plus que le client en demande, vu le levé du soleil ( … peut-être deux fois . ), vu des orages époustouflante et des canicule étouffantes, des 50 degrés à l’ombre, vu des pluies qui se faisait attendre depuis 2 ans, une tempête de sable, écouté tamtam, djembé, balafon, guitare et autres que je ne sais même pas le nom, eu des amis fervent chrétien, fervent islamique, fervent animiste, fervent athée, lu le coran et crier Jésus, pleurer de joie, de colère et de tristesse, rit au éclat et lâcher une coupe d’osti d’criss de tabarnak, vécu des hospitalité légendaire et des douces hostilité sur la couleur de ma peau,
haaaa le voyage
Ps : j’ai taquiner les douanier en mettant la robe marocaine et le foulard arabe rouge haha
Ps 2 : en sandale pi en robe à -20 c’est frette en Jésus-Christ de Nazareth.
et bien plus si vous aimez !! ( oublie pas de regarder les images héhé )
Ouaouh ! On sent qu'il ya du vécu dans ce concentré de récit de voyage qui, pour ce qui me concerne, ravive plein d'images, sons, odeurs de mes séjours africains passés ! Je demande plus de photos ...
haha, sans problème l'ami, mais le tout est un concept, avec un rythme voulu dans la lecture, les mots sont bien choisi et la ponctuation aussi selon l'âme que je voulais octroyer au texte.
Comme tout les goûts sont dans la nature c'est bien que tu n'aimes pas, faut pas me prendre pour un attardé pour autant.
Je ne m'expliquerais pas plus, parce que anyway tu va lire en diagonale ;) :P : )
Petite tranche de vie.
Tragédie Pipi caca dans l’autobus
Prêt pour affronter les 20 heures de route que me réservait le trajet Cotonou / Ouagadougou, j’arrive un heure d’avance à la gare routière, comme prévu. Sans grande surprise que le départ est retardé.Toute un meli mélo pour faire assoir les gens, puisque les bancs ne sont pas numéroté, ou devrai-je dire seulement 5 bancs sur 40 le sont, et sur le billet on a clairement des numéro, ce qui fait qu’un groupe veut respecter l’ordre et l’autre s’en calisse, résultat des courses, tout le monde se cri dessus. Une fois tout le monde assis, nouvelle constatation : y’a trop de monde et surtout trop de bagage , les gens sont dans le milieu de l’allée, avec des marchandises à n’en plus en finir, impossible de circuler. Moi, assis avec mon banc doublement coussiné, les coussinets étant les énormes cuisse de ma partenaires, j’étais quand même cosy. Deuxième constatation, sur le déplient il était marqué “climatisé”, ce qui est une petite erreur de langue, il voulait dire “fenêtre” et quand il on dit confortable il voulait plutôt dire manque de confort. Jsuis capable d’en prendre , j’ai déjà fais pire au Maroc avec une ride moins longue, mais assis dans les marches.
Bon ceux qui n’aime pas l’humour pipi caca, pas la peine de lire la suite du texte, jvous le jure . Mais le titre est tout de même accrocheur n’est-ce pas, surtout quand tu as lis le début hehe, quel piège.
Pour ma part, je récupérais d’une petite diarrhée timide et j’étais en constipation, parfait pour un long voyage , croyais-je. En fais je n’avais pas calculé les fameux gaz, que mes amis connaissent très bien, puisqu’ils peuvent être destructeur. Bon mon ratio était 1 ti pet à tous les 5 minutes, ceux ci presque inodore pour un nez qui s’en soucis peu. J’avais la chance d’être dans un cars surbondé, donc toutes sortes d’effluves s’en dégageaient, ça camouflait mes petites fiouzes minutes. Le problème était qu’une fois à tout les heures j’en larguait un capable. Lui, je suis sûr que même les nez bouché pouvais le renifler, mais pour les premières heures je me disais, impossible de découvrir que c’est moi, je fessais des feintes de dormir quand je sentais les pires arrivés, l’alibi parfaite. Bon c’était comme un jeux pour moi, la problématique était quand les petites caisses minutes se transformèrent en pet nauséabonde, là j’ai voulu remédier à la situation, puisque je me sentais mal pour ma coussinneuse. Lors de l’arrivé à la frontière, je cherchais les toilettes m’attendant au pire, ayant vu les chiotes de la frontière Maroc/Mauritanie qui était sans doute les pires chiotes de l’histoire de l’humanité. Bon je trouva mon saint graal, et fis ma sal besogne dans un confort turque. Étrangement, des gaz à faire jalouser le plus gros lion d’Afrique résonnaient dans le tout le périmètre, pas de temps pour les complexes, faisant mes plus sincères excuses au jeune qui était préposer pour laver la turque . J’étais bloqué bin dure, y’a fallu je force l’affaire pour que sa sorte et une fois terminé j’étais pas totalement satisfait. Mais je dois accélérer, l’autobus attend après moi, j’remonte les pantalons et va faire les formalités frontalière. En marchant, je sens des gargouillies inquiétants, je me dis au merde, une fois la valve ouverte, tu ne peux plus la refermer à ta guise, et là y’a du gigaloo tout l’tour donc sa ouvre et sa ferme un peu n’importe quand. Avant de remonter dans l’autobus je prends le temps d’y aller une deuxième fois, juste au cas. Content de ma shot, je m’assois dans le cars. Alors me disant, qu’il reste moins de 2h à toffer, je vais attendre d’être à ouaga pour fignoler mon ouvrage. Erreur, je voit clairement que je ne peux pas toffer 2 heures , des gargouillis à tout les 2 minutes, on dirait littéralement de l’eau qui bouille ou le bruit du boulier que tourne la vieille dame au bingo. Je connais ces gargouilli, ça l’annonce quelque chose de terrible, mais le cars ne doit plus s’arrêter pour un bon bout. Je pensais à quoi faire quand je vais me chier dans les short, parce que ce n’était même plus un “si” je me chie dessus, ça allait arriver. Par chance, y’a deux coter à une frontière et j’avais oublié qu’il restait les formalités burkinabé. Aussi tôt l’autobus arrêté, un heure plus tard j’accours vers les chiotes et fait mon truc, revient faire la queue pour donner mon passeport, quitte la queue pour aller tirer de la mitrailleuse, revient faire la fils, mais les tabarnak me lâche pas, toujours des gargouilli plus intense et je vois nul part mon riz de ce midi , ce qui veut dire qui reste des enfants à aller porter à la piscine, assurément. Si j’embarque maintenant dans le bus, jsuis foutu. Le bus arrive pour partir, et je maudit mon corps et la soupe à la tête de poulet que j’ai manger la veille, mais comme par magie un autre bus se brise en mile morceaux tout juste à côté de nous, intriguée tous vont voir, moi ça me donne quelques minutes pour aller proche d’un arbre pour voir si mon riz basmatie est prêt. Dieu est grand me dis je . Tout est fait, je grimpe pour affronter les 2 dernières heures, un gros maximum que je serais capable de supporter sans voir le bole. J’entends les autres murmurer sur la lenteur du chauffeur et un habituer confirme qu’il reste bien 6 heures sans plus aucune arrêt de prévu. Les larmes montaient en moi, parce que impossible de me retenir tout ce temps. J’essayais de me convaincre que y’avait rien là de faire arrêter le bus en pleine nuit pour chier ou encore de lancer mes bobettes plein marde par la fenêtre, je faisais le dure, mais ça m’attristait vraiment de devoir faire une de ses deux options. Chaque bosse, chaque secousse que recevait mon anus était un coup de bélier sur une porte en paille. Comme y’a les coupeur de route, c’est pas trop prudent de s’arrêter comme ça, donc mon option était vraiment de lancer par la fenêtre le tissu victime de mon courroux. Bon comme le bus est surbondé, je ne peux pas murmurer en catimini au chauffeur de s’arrêter, je dois enjambé plein de chose pour aller le voir, le comble si je tapisse le stock des autres avec mon beurre de karité, donc il ne reste plus que de façon assumé à me lever et dire ” mesdames mesieurs, j’me suis chier dessus, arrêter l’autobus que je me change de bobette” . Je me convainquait que j’était capable. Le coup de gogne n’avait pas encore sonner, ce n’est qu’anticipation. J’espère que le chauffeur s’arrête pour une dernière fois, de tout mon cœur, de tout mon ego. En faite, la triste réalité c’est que j’ai reporter depuis des mois un travail que je jugeait inoffensif depuis lors, qui est de m’acheter des bobettes, ce qui fait que si je fouare ceux la, j’ai rien d’autre et quand ça va frapper, c’est un Barry Bond qui va être au bat, donc assurer mes pantalons vont avoir des dommages collatéraux de caramilk fondu. Tout ceci signifie qu’il faut ouvrir la sout, trouver mon pack etc. J’suis tellement en osti que j’ai le goût de pleurer. J’sens mon cœur battre sur mon ognion ring… Je souffre. Par la grâce de dieu le car s’arrête, les gens sorte un contrôle policier, tels un barrage surprise pour l’alcool au volant pour les fêtes. Avec ma démarche pingouin, je vide les derniers décilitres de redhot qui restait, non loin des gendarmes. Maintenant jsuis sûre que même si y’a gargouilli, le garde mangé est vide. Ça me donne le courage nécessaire pour poursuivre et de nouveau le sourire au lèvre, je continue le périple qui aurait pu être une tragédie, qui est maintenant une histoire cocasse à raconter.
deuxième post,
Première photo : quartier de Ouagadougou Burkina
Deuxième photo : Enfant qui joue à Sindou, Burkina Faso
Troisième photo : Coton, route entre Banfora et Sindou, Burkina Faso
Quatrième Photo : Quartier Central de Tanger, Maroc
Cinquième Photo : Couché de soleil à Kafountine, Casamance, Sénégal
sixième photo : Un des nombreux party à Kafountine, Casamance, Sénégal
septième Photo : vu du haut du village de pigmé, petit village burkina faso dans les environ de Banfora
Premier post :
Première photo: La brousse au Bénin, au sud, dans la deuxième plus grande vallée de l'Afrique de l'ouest
Deuxième Photo : Chute d'eau, Burkina Faso
Troisième photo : Pic de Sindou, Burkina Faso
Quatrième Photo :Village dans l'eau, Bénin
Cinquième Photo : Brousse du Bénin, même que 1.
Sixième photo : Sindou, Burkina Faso
Septième : Déchet à Kaolack, Sénégal
Huitième : Enfant de bobo, Burkina
si vous voulez que j'inscrive le lieu des photo, pas obligé de passer par du simili sarcasme, vous avez juste a demander, c'est beaucoup plus simple, plus polie.
Pour le texte à vrai dire je le trouve navrant et affligeant , un pavé difficile à lire , les histoires scatos j'aime bien pourtant ...
Vous avez de l'humour , des choses à dire , mais la forme est rebutante .
Je ne considère pas être impolie , juste critique . Il me semble que vous pourriez tirer quelques chose d’intéressant . Mais c'est votre choix et c'est le mien de vous dire ce que j'en pense .
Merci Antoine
Malgré l'écriture peu conventionnelle, Je me suis éclatée😏😄
J'imaginais l’ambiance, ton angoisse, la scène est bien décrite et très colorée😉
Il ne manquait que les odeurs😎
Depuis 2011 nous ne sommes pas retournés en Afrique de l'Ouest.
Ça nous manque...
bonjour,
c très réaliste comme récit, et en + c drole, ça change !!! par rapport à certains !!!
continue de t'éclater, et racontes nous !! lol
quand tu reviens passes chez moi en casamance !!
@+
patrick
Bonjour,
Pour ma part, suis bien plus fan des photos que du texte. Le scato, pas trop mon truc et le texte avant, j adore pas. Mais comme vous dites, vous avez prévenu, on aime ou on aime pas et je n ai pas trouvé cela affligeant, juste un style que je n adore pas spécialement pour un récit de voyage. Mais voilà, j ai quand même pris plaisir cet écrit-parlé québécois assez direct et imagé, vraiment sympa pour le coup.
Sur la photo de cascade au Burkina Faso, pour ceusses que cela intéresse, c est à Karfiguela, juste à côté de Banfora. Spot très touristique en particulier le WE. Si on veut être plus tranquille, il faut aller tout en haut et même plus. Là très peu de monde.
La poursuite scientifique dans la brousse africaine Partie 1
La genèse : assis à mes côtés dans le plus grand et renommé campus universitaire du bénin, le docteur George, scientifique, en pleine discussion avec moi pour fignoler les derniers préparatifs pour une opportunité qui va s’avérer hors du commun.
1.1. Sous-titre : l’arrivé :
Je chevauche le zemidjan, moto béninoise, avec deux de mes coéquipiers et mon gros sac à dos, pour aller à Togbota, un nom qui m’est inconnu, pour aller accomplir une mission qui est encore flou pour moi. À trois sur la moto en pleine vitesse, la gravité joue son rôle et j’ai peine à garder mon équilibre entre la route cadavérique et les 50 livres de charge qui me balance d’un côté comme de l’autre. J’espère qu’on a pas long à faire, puisque déjà, je navigue entre différentes positons pour alléger l’inconfort de ma posture. On prend un premier tournant, on quitte le goudrons pour emprunter une voie sablonneuse. Après une trentaine de minute, on bifurque vers une plus petite voie, me disant en moi même qu’on allait arriver bientôt. Sur le chemin, mon partenaire Joao m’explique qu’on va commencer à quitter la civilisation pour s’enfoncer dans la brousse, pas n’importe quelle brousse, la deuxième plus grande vallée de toute le continent africains. À ma gauche, des plantations d’ananas, à droite ceux des cocotiers, on m’explique qu’en brousse toute est plus naturelle, plus goûteux, plus juteux, plus savoureux. On interrompe la conversation pour pénétrer à l’intérieur d’un chemin invisible à l’œil de touriste, chemin qui peut seulement aceuillir une moto à la fois. Je commence à réaliser que sans m’en rendre compte, j’ai maintenant l’opportunité de vivre la vrai brousse, je fabule en écoutant de la voix de mon partenaire raconté des histoires, les légendes et les caractéristiques de l’immense vallée que mes yeux salut pour la premier fois. Chaque village passant devant nous était, je croyais, celui a qu’on allait s’arrêter. Maintenant trop fasciné pour me souvenir du mal d’épaule, dos, cuisse , coup, j’attendais avec impatience quand on allait stopper notre engin. Finalement, le vélo s’arrête, heureux, je débarque en vitesse et lance mon sac par terre avec soulagement tel fredon avec l’anneau du haut du volcan. On rigole un peu de moi m’expliquant qu’il reste une petite marche et un voyage de pirogue avant d’arriver à notre village. Tu sais que ton trip trou le cul quand tu dois obligatoirement t’y rendre en pirogue.
1.1.2 L’exploration jour 1 : la mâtiné.
habillé en explorateur avec ma chemise bigbill déboutonné, le chaggie caressant le vent, nous progressons dans la brousse au petit matin pour voir les singes à ventre rouge en activité. Ce que je ne savais pas, c’est que se sont des singes rares et que les scientifiques de partout dans le monde viennent au bénin, spécialement à Togbota, pour venir les étudiées. Moi, nowhere, travailleur social à la retraite, je suis à la même place qu’eux. Une des caractéristiques de ces singes c’est qu’ils ne se laissent pas approcher par les humains, donc ils devient difficile de les observer, il faut donc jouer les fins stratèges. Le brouillard mélangé avec la rosé nous empêches de bien voir devant nous. On avance à tâtons, en essayant d’identifier des arbres qui se font aller de gauche à droite de façon animal. Pour la première fois mes pieds marche dans la brousse africaine, elle qui est si sauvage et même voir farouche avec les inconnu. Quand ce n’est pas la boue qui veut extirpé tes bottes, c’est les lianes qui te font un croque en jambe . Immobile on observe avec les jumelles, mais en vain, définitivement trop de brouillard, on doit pénétrer au cœur de cette épaisse brousse pour peut être pouvoir apercevoir quelque chose. Mon partenaire Joao sait la où il va, mais les chemins sont invisible pour moi, les papillons coupent mon passage, ils s’amusent de nous voir, ils nous font les premières salutations. Les oiseaux de toutes sortes nous chante la bienvenue et des bestioles de couleurs vive sont en quantité phénoménale, j’ai mon appareille en main, tout est gage de cliché à gagner des concours. La rosé de l’étroit chemin mouille nos habits dans un temps record, je trouve que ça fait encore plus aventurier si je suis trempé à lavette. La brousse se referme derrière nous, j’ai l’impression qu’on va nul part, Joao regarde à gauche et va à droite, regarde à droite et va à gauche, il scrute les horizons de façon méticuleuses, moi j’imite ces mouvements essayant d’être complémentaire, soudain il s’arrête brusquement, comme dans l’Armer, avec le langage des signes , il me dit de m’assoir au sol, les arbres grouillent juste devant nous, on entend des cris, j’entends en sourdine : c’est eux, l’excitation monte, on reste accroupi , en silence, les arbres se secoue une dernière fois en s’éloignant. Les singes nous observait depuis belle lurette, on ait dans leurs cours de jeux, eux nous analyse mais nous on ne les voit pas. Ils nous on lancé un signale qui signifiait qu’on ai venu trop proche d’eux et que si on croyait les voir d’aussi près , on se mettais le doigt dans l’œil . On attend le reste de la mâtiné à cette endroit voir s’il vont revenir , sans résultat. Sur le chemin du retour on m’explique à quel point les animaux en brousse se dissimule bien et qu’on peut passer juste à côté d’eux, même les regarder sans les voir, Thomas comme je suis, j’en prend pi j’en laisse. Joao s’arrête et dit tu voit pas?
- heu non
-mais oui juste la
- non je t’assure je vois rien
- là là là, ( presque en colère ou pour me démontrer mon incompétence )
Je plisse les yeux tels un chinois et j’aperçois un énorme porc dissimulé dans la boue, juste devant moi, je pouvais le toucher avec ma main, il épousait parfaitement la nature, fessant qu’un avec elle. Maintenant je comprends.
Pour les photo "
1. Lézard du Burkina à banfora
2. marchande ambulantes, cotonou, bénin
3. Vu du haut de l'auberge, Chefchaouen Maroc.
4. Désert dune de Chigaga, Maroc
5. Hippo, Lac aux hippo, Burkina
6. Fumoir de poisson, Kafountine, Casamance, Sénégal
7. Le village que je parle dans mon récit, Togbota, Bénin sud.
Quelques photos sympa, d'autres fort banales... Quant aux textes, j'avoue ne pas avoir pu aller au-delà des quelques premières lignes: ces énormes pavés, truffés de fautes, sans ponctuation, et faisant appel à un vocabulaire quelque peu étrange, sont trop rebutants pour être lus.
Curieux cette manière de critiquer les publications des autres ! Quel intérêt ?! Je pensais qu'un forum de ce type avait pour but d'échanger des impressions, des infos sur les voyages de façon positive ....
Curieux cette manière de critiquer les publications des autres ! Quel intérêt ?!
C'est un phénomène dont tu constateras souvent la récurrence dans ces lieux, certes étranges, et qu'aujourd'hui on appelle des forums (ou fora) internet... Très couramment, des choses sont publiées, c'est-à-dire proposées au regard des autres... Les autres en question regardent, et donnent leur avis. C'est très normal, n'est-ce pas, dans un tel cas, de remercier et de féliciter quand on a apprécié? Oui. Et c'est tout aussi normal, cela va sans dire (sinon, ce serait de l'hypocrisie) de le dire lorsqu'on n'a pas apprécié, ou qu'une langue incompréhensible nous a empêchés d'aller au-delà des premiers mots...
Il n'y a rien de "curieux" là-dedans, c'est au contraire tout ce qu'il y a de plus normal.
En effet, tout à fait normal que cela ne plait pas à tous et avec plaisir
Faut bien venir de France pour se penser centre du monde de la francophonie,
Au lieu de dire :vocabulaire étrange, ou langue incompréhensible,
On peut dire : mot et expression que je ne connais pas.
Un brin pathétique, mais c'est vrai que quand un français ne connait pas quelque chose, ce que cela n'existe pas ;) :P
Truffé de fautes je m'en excuse, pour obtenir mon bac et mon université j'ai du triché !
''Nouakchoc''
Après un périple de plus de 1170 kilomètres en Mercedes (plus vieille que moi et plus de 700 000 kms au compteur, qui m’a démoli l’coccyx avec sa banquette défoncée ) entre Dakhla et Nouakchott. Je suis en train de réaliser que je vis mon véritable premier CHOC CULTUREL.
"Poooooov ti gars" j’vous entend dire sarcastiquement.
Merci, mais non merci.
J’suis venu pour ça. Mais j’avais oublié que j’étais venu pour ça après trois mois de “vie facile” au Maroc.
Multiples complications, multiples “Hen ouin”
Genre. Le 3 kilomètres de “No-mans land” entre la frontière du Maroc et de la Mauritanie est un cimetière de pneus, de téléviseurs cathodiques (va savoir pourquoi) et de carcasses de voitures.
Les carcasses de voitures…
C’est des véhicules vendus dans le terrain neutre, démontés pour les pièces et à la fin il reste juste le frame.
Y’à deux type de frames.
Les beau frames.
Pis les frames noirs.
J’apprend plus tard, que les squelettes de voitures noircis style brûlé, c’est des gens, qui n’avaient pas les papiers pour traverser la frontière.
Ils ont rencontrés une mine.
Après plusieurs heures à déconner à la frontière parce que Xavier n’a pas son visa Mauritanien, on reprend la route. Juste avant d’embarquer dans la voiture un haut-gradé (trois bananes surmontées d’une étoile comme épaulettes) s’approche de moi. Il me saisit fermement par le bras (pas de panique les bonhommes se parlent de même ici, c’est l’équivalent du “r’garde moé din yeux quand j’te parle”). Il me dit que je dois ABSOLUMENT lui donner une paire de lunette de soleil…
J’prend ma tronche de gars sérieux et je lui répond que je ferai tout de mon possible pour lui donner l’outil de prédilection dont il a besoin pour survivre.
On embarque dans la voiture.
C’est un purgatoire. Y’a rien. Du désert pas tant beau. Mais sinon.
Rien.
Rien.
Rerien.
À part les points de contrôle de la garde national, de la sécurité routière et de d’autres entités avec des uniformes et des badges qui zèle.
Rien pendant 10 heures.
Un cristi de beau d’couché de soleil en revanche.
On est arrivé de nuit, dans le gros ghetto de Nouakchott.
Je vois pas grand chose, mais j’en ressens beaucoup. Un peu trop.
L’odeur de merde transportée dans l’humidité ambiante, la bouette qui fait office d’asphalte, les silhouettes noires vêtus de couleurs éclatantes sur fond noir qui pointent leurs grandes billes blanches comme l’ivoire en notre direction. On débarque de la voiture.
Chien dans un jeu d’quilles.
Alien.
Malaise de 6 pieds 2 avec sac gargantuesque sur le dos.
"I think we are in the wroooooong neighborhood"
Dis-je pour la première fois, sans que ce sois une blague.
On arrive à l’hôtel.
La chambre… Imaginez-vous une pièce qui aurait pu servir de lieu de tournage pour le film “Décadence”.
Globe fluorescent qui donne se jolie teint verdâtre-cadavre, peinture collante beige crasse, pas de dit “lit”. C’est un amas de couvertes à même le sol. Y fait chaud. Y fait collant. J’sens l’ciboire. J’veux une douche bouillante pour faire fondre ma crasse.
L’électricité de l’hôtel au complet prend un break quand notre hôte bien vaillant veut allumer le ventilo. Le maître d’hôtel est aussi électricien. Il prend une paire de pince pas isolée et commence à jouer avec des fils pis du tape. J’vois des sparks. J’vois l’gars s’prendre du jus à 2-3 reprises pendant que je l’éclaire avec ma spotlight. Une couples de soupirs en “Allaaaah…..” Deux fils se touchent, Il se prend un bon gros choc, il tient le coup, il prend le dessus sur le courant, twist les deux fils (toujours avec du 120 dans l’sang) lâche le tout. L’électricité revient.
Douche.
20 sceaux d’eau tiède plus tard. Mon odeur revient à “tolérable”
Je veux sortir.
On me dit “Non”
Je dis: Pourquoi?
On me dit “Danger”
Je dis: “Okay. L’épicerie est où?”
Je sors quand même, juste question d’aller m’dégourdir les pattes.
J’veux de l’eau pis des fruits.
J’me fais littéralement décapité du regard.
J’reviens à l’hôtel, j’m’assomme avec deux Lenoltec parce je ne me sens plus du tout fatigué même si ça fait 48 heures que j’ai pas dormi.
Demain Sénégal.
Inch Allah
C'est bien mieux de même avec un paragraphe par phrase, j'ai des textes pour tous les goûts
Photo 1. La chaux, ChefChaouen, Maroc
Photo 2. Ombre d'un arbre, route entre Banfora et Sindou, Burkina
Photo 3. Maître potier, route entre banfora et sindou, Burkina
Photo 4. scène classique Ziguinchor, Casamance, Sénégal
Photo 5. Couché de soleil, St-Louis, Sénégal
Photo 6. Chute Akchour, près de Chefchaouen, Maroc
Photo 7. Soupe à la tête de coq, un peu partout au Burkina, miam.
ENCORE merci
ne te laisse pas abattre par les facheux
j'arrive d'inde et vais partir en iran et je retrouve ici la france de...s raleurs, mécontents....triste
continue
Je suis journaliste pour une nouvelle série documentaire diffusée sur la chaîne de télévision Voyage, et je recherche des témoignages de mésaventures de voyage... (vol, galère de papiers ou transports, catastrophe naturelle, maladie, accident, arnaques...) qui aient été filmées (ou avec beaucoup de photos).
Je suis sûre que vous regorgez d'anecdotes de voyages... Peut-être êtes-vous intéressé par les raconter en interview à télévision?
Il s'agit d'une interview en studio, ou vous nous raconterez vos mésaventures, qui seront illustrées par votre film de voyage.
Si vous êtes intéressés, n'hésitez pas à me contacter à camille.zedprod@gmail.com
Je vous remercie.
Bien cordialement,
Camille
PS : Vos jolis souvenirs y auront aussi leur place !
Lol! Ne parlons pas de ce qui va bien, mais essentiellement de ce qui va mal, les (rares) trains qui arrivent en retard sont toujours plus intéressants (pour l'audience) que les (très nombreux) qui sont à l'heure.
Désolé, mais en ce qui me concerne, mes voyages se sont toujours bien passés, donc aucune mésaventure à monter en mayonnaise... 😎 😇
merci de m'avoir répondu, même par la négative! Je vous rassure, l'émission ne sera en rien alarmiste, et nous sommes soucieux de ne choisir que des mésaventures qui se terminent bien, et qui laissent d'excellents souvenirs aux voyageurs!
la galère fait partie du voyage, autant que les moments de grâce!
La galère des stagiaires "journalistes" pourrait faire un bon sujet n'est ce pas ?
Pas de fric pour les déplacements , alors on demande les vidéos et les photos , pleins de photos n'est ce pas et avec ça on essaie de monter un sujet de bric et de broc , de toute façon ce genre d'émission se moque des téléspectateurs , alors pourquoi s'en faire .
Bonjour, félicitations pour votre périple. J'étais au Mali en 2011 puis j'ai continué vers le togo via le burkina ou j'ai pris un bus. Mais j'ai toujours refusé ces longs voyages et préferais les petites haltes avant d'arriver a la capitale togolaise. Mon voyage a en tout cas été un régal pour moi.
Mais ce n'est pas le suijet de ma question. Mes parents souhaitent se rendre au bénin et notamment dans la penjari. J'ai lu quelques posts qui déconseillaient la zone actuelle par rapport a la présence de boko haram au nigeria. Je sais qu'il y a plein d'autres choses a faire, mais ils voulaient surtout voir la grande faune et je ne sais pas s'il y a de la faune ailleurs au Bénin sinon au parc du W mais plus risqué encore. Au togo il n'y a malheureusement plus de grande faune sinon dans des réserves mais ce n'est pas l'idéal et elles sont tres cheres. Au burkina ca ne court pas les rues non plus. Ils voulaient éviter d'aller en Afrique de l'Est ou du Sud pour économiser davantage et partir plus longtemps.
Qu'en pensez-vous? Quelle est la sécurité au Bénin notamment par rapport aux derniers évènements. Il n'y a aucun post a ce sujet. La situation s'est-elle tres degradée par rapport a 2011?
Je sais qu'il ne faut pas laisser place a la désinformation mais je m'interroge. Ils n'ont pas trop l'habitude de voyager en mode sac a dos et voulaient plutôt prendre des agences réceptives avec un vol simple. Il y aurait juste alors les trajets entre cotonou et le parc et bien sur le sejour. Ils ne comptent faire qu'un pays en 15 jours a 3 semaines max.
Que pouvez-vous conseiller? Une agence peut etre? Quelle compagnie de bus?
Je sais qu'il y a eco benin et benin culture et biodiversité qui réalisent des excursions dans le pays mais je ne les connais pas personnellement. Les connaissez-vous? En avez-vous d'autres a conseiller?
Puis dernière question, le visa est passé a 50 €? Il était de 15 € quand j'y suis allée en 2011 car j'ai pris mon vol retour de cotonou, mais j'avais passé la frontiere terrestre avec le togo.
Merci de vos réponses et bons voyages....
Je voyage énormément depuis plus de 20 ans, j'ai surtt des bons souvenirs et je n'aime guère parler des rares mésaventures qui font le lit du racisme alors je ne pense pas vous intéresser et surtt je n'en ai pas de photos !!!qd on est agressé ce n(est pas la priorité
ou se passent les interwiews ? Paris
cdlmt
sinon recontactez moi
Fort heureusement, les interviews se dérouleront sur un ton léger, et nous ne choisissons que les les histoires qui se terminent bien, et dont le voyageur garde un très bon souvenir! il ne s'agira en AUCUN cas de stigmatiser un pays, un peuple, ou une coutûme.
Il s'agit de la chaîne Voyage, et ce serait se tirer une balle dans le pied que de faire peur aux gens...
Les interviews se déroulent à paris, mais nous défrayons bien sur le transport et repas.
N'hésitez pas à faire passer ce message autour de vous!
Bien cordialement,
Camille
vous mettez le même post dans plusieurs discussions ?
Pourquoi dites-vous que le parc W est dangereux ? Y êtes vous allée récemment ?
Ce n'est pas parce que Boko Haram fait des vagues, qu'il faut faire peur à toute personne désirant d'aller au Bénin par exemple !
moi j'y fais des périodes de 3 mois actuellement et je dois dire que c'est calme et la sécurité est là aussi !
Concernant Boko Haram, il est au nord est du Nigéria, au nord du Cameroun ayant frontière avec lui, il aurait attaqué le sud niger où il a pris une raclée par l'armée nigérienne ! (= de 100 morts dans son camp !), il serait aussi rentré ou tenté de rentrer au Tchad où il a trouvé aussi l'armée tchadienne et les français !
En ce qui concerne le Bénin, il devrait traverser le nord du Nigéria pour y arriver et je pense que les armées de la région ne le laisseront pas avancer si loin de son petit coin !
Il faut arrête d'alarmer comme ça ! Nous qui vivons dans le pays, somme plus tranquille qu'ici en France ou en Europe actuellement où actuellement il y a des attentats non prévisibles par des individus inconnus mais qui sont surveillés par certains services de police et qui là encore ratent l'occasion d'avoir arrêté ces gens avant leurs forfaits !
Donc arrêtons de stigmatiser l'Afrique de l'Ouest avec Ebola ou Boko Haram !
Il est évident que nous faisons attention mais nous ne stigmatisons pas tout !
ouaouh! ton talent est proportionnel à ton envie de chier!!
je crois que c'est contagieux.... excuses moi, j'y vais!!!
nota: en fait, je répondais au deuxième chapitre du roman: "pipi cacca dans l'autobus"!
Je sais, le message a un mois, mais bon, il est trop drôle...
Truffé de fautes je m'en excuse
C'est inutile, on se doute que ce n'est pas volontaire.
pour obtenir mon bac et mon université j'ai du triché !
Bon, là, problème. Les deux fautes de cette phrase sont-elles volontaires ou non ?
Ironie ou ignorance ? Difficile à dire...
En plus, obtenir une université, ça veut dire quoi ? Et surtout quel rapport avec l'orthographe ?
Du coup, je reviens sur le texte dénué de la moindre respiration. L'attrape-coeur dont on peut penser (?) qu'il emprunte le style, est parfaitement lisible. Là, ce n'est pas le cas. C'est dommage (et je suis sincère) car la partie mauritanienne, elle, se lit très bien...
Pour obtenir mon diplôme universitaire. Le mot diplôme est manquant, tout comme pour obtenir mon bac, le mot diplôme est manquant.
Tout comme on dit, j'ai réussis mon université, et non j'ai réussis mes examens d'université. ce qui fait, qu'effectivement, obtenir une université ne veut strictement rien dire. À moins que ton père t'achète une université pour ta fête...
Et si on crois à la tendance populaire, plus une personne est diplômé, plus elle va maîtrisé l'orthographe, puisqu'il y a des standards au niveau de la qualité du français à respecté, plus tu montes, plus c'est difficile. À moins que tu triche, ou encore que cela soit madame Papineau qui corrige t'es fautes avant que tu remettre le rapport au professeur. Genre que mon docteur fait moins de fautes que ma petite soeur du secondaire 4. (15 ans). ou que Mon ami Avocat est meilleurs au scrable que mon ami électricien. mais bon, peut-être c'est deux exceptions.
Un texte dénudé de respiration, pour un voyage qui ne m'a pas laissé le temps de souffler!!
Quel figure de style !!
:)
j'ai une autre brique de fromage pour vous
un petit résumé des trois tentative de vole à mon égard ( bien entendu sans aucune ponctuation )
Retour en arrière, il y a 6 mois, continent africain, premier pays , l’hospitalité marocaine, deuxième ville, à la gare d’autobus. J’attends, tout bonnement que l’autobus arrive. Je suis debout et je contemple le spectacle chaotique des préposés aux autobus criant dans tout les sens les noms des destinations pour insister les gens à venir dans leurs villes. Vestimentairement parlant j’arbore mes pantalons jaune baggy, poche large, avec mes effets personnels soigneusement déposés dans la poche avec bouton. Parle parle, jase jase, en admirant la scène... quand je me tourne et vois une main, qui n'est pas la mienne, dans ma poche. Je sursaute ” qu’est-ce que tu fais la tabarnak” le marocain me regarde avec un air idiot et prend fuite.
Technique foulard : porter un long foulard qui tombe presqu’au sol, avec son bras, suit méticuleusement le foulard pour faire un écran, agilement déboutonne le pantalon et hop. Le genre de gars qui n’a pas trop de difficulté avec les brassières féminines, lui dans le noir, avec deux doigt le tour est joué.
J’vous recule maintenant il y a 3 mois, au pays de la terrenga sénégalaise. Marchant en plein rue, la nuit, dans un quartier mal famé de Dakar, moi et mon ami sommes à la recherche de fataya pas cher. Ayant un fou swag, j’ai l’habitude que les gens m’interpellent et me complimentent sur mon accoutrement. Un gars vient me voir pour me dire que j’ai des beau pantalons ( ceux jaune baggy de la première histoire). Maintenant le bouton n’est plus, il a tomber au combat, mais mes effets personnel y sont toujours. Donc le gars me charge pour prendre mes pantalons à deux main, les secouer vivement en disant avec une face de cabochon qu’il aime mes pantalons et 5 secondes plus tard quitte l’autre côté de la rue. Trouvant son agissement quelque peu étrange, je fais un ti check-up de mes truc et mon porte feuille n’est plus. Criant au voleur et pointant le gars du doigt, mon ami accours vers le gars tels un mastodonte. Le gars reste là, niant les faits, on commence à le pousser et l’insulter. Il prend fuite, ni une, ni deux, , mon ami décide de pratiquer son sprint et accours vers lui dans l’optique de le BigHit. Le gars trop furtif réussit à se faufiler dans les ruelles les plus sombres, l'ami arrête sa course laissant les dizaines de sénégalais révoltés continuer à courir après le voleur.
Heureusement, le voleur avait laisser tomber le porte feuille au sol quand il a vu la grande charpente de mon ami lui courir dessus. Tout est bien qui fini bien.
Technique ” hey ta du beau linge, j’peu tu y touché” probablement la pire technique que j’ai vu.
Tout ceci m’amène à maintenant, Burkina, pays des hommes intègres, Ouagadougou , veille de Noël, église pleine à craqué, moi habillée propre avec mon pagne béninois, assiste à une cérémonie d'eucharistie pour la première fois en prêt de 15 ans. Les gens danse, les gens chantes avec les choristes et l’orchestre, les gens lèvent les bras très haut au ciel criant Jésus. Moi même me laissant prendre au Jeu chante à tue-tête les anges dans nos campagnes, gloooooooo-ooooooooooooooooo-ooooooooooooooooo-ooooooooooooooooooooooo-rrrrrriiiiia, criant Jésus, allélouya amen, faisant un peu tout croche le signe de prière et n’osant même pas essayer de récité le notre père sachant que j’allais le saboté comme pas possible. Petite parenthèse ( j’ai vu un osti de gros osti, presque deux pieds de diamètre ). Deux heures et demi plus tard, la messe termine et les gens sortent. Vers la sortie je sens une légèreté dans ma poche, constate que mon téléphone n’est plus, scrute en vitesse, le pocailles est à porté de main, le prend par le collet et lui ordonne de me redonner mon cell. Niant le tout, me dit de le fouiller , je continue de l’accuser, jsuis pas con, j’sais que c’est lui qu’il l’a. 3 autres personnes ont mon back up, je décide de tâté les poches du gars .. Rien .. Je garde mon rôle et lui le sien, il dit qu’il est avec sa vieille mère LOL. Un, deux, trois policiers arrivent et fouille le gars , le téléphone était dans ses bobettes, le gars niant encore que c’est lui, ... “c’qu’il sont cons ces drogués” .
Technique de la foule, il te coince subtilement, avec deux doigt extirpe ce qu’il veut de la poche et aussitôt le tout din bobette.
Next time, une trappe a souris dans les poche avec un beau billet de 10 000 CFA en guise de fromage
Je viens de lire ton récit sans respirer, une chance pour moi à cause de la 2ème partie !!!.
J'ai aimé MAIS je comprends mes anciens compatriotes français de ne pas suivre .... Il faut quelques années de Québec pour en comprendre certaines expressions et subtilités. Quant aux fautes d'orthographe (fessons pour faisons) ce n'est pas la peine d'en rajouter ... on perd en compréhension alors déjà que certains ont du mal à suivre à cause du manque de ponctuation (perso j'ai aimé ce rythme) là tu les perds et pour un récit c'est platte tu avoueras !!!.
Le 2ème, j'ai souri et bien aimé. Très imagé ton récit .... Je connais ces problèmes d'intestin ... ça m'est arrivé en septembre 2014 en voyage au USA .... guère le temps de respirer, il faut courrrrrrrrrrrir se cacher et courir à 67 ans et pas en forme tu vois le genre !!!!.
Tout ça pour dire que les français ne critiquent pas systématiquement pour critiquer mais ils aimeraient comprendre TOUT ton récit et non seulement des bouts (et non des bouttes !!!).
Fait un effort sur le français et tu vas avoir de nombreux fans de partout, car tu sais raconter une histoire.
"Obtenir mon université", perso ça ne me choque pas .
Et puis faire un effort en français pour obtenir plus de fans n'est peut être pas le but, et puis il est québécois et son français c'est aussi son style, sa langue à lui. Vive le Québec libre😎 !
il est québécois et son français c'est aussi son style, sa langue à lui. Vive le Québec libre😎 !
nullement représentatif de la plupart des ses concitoyens.
Il est tout à fait possible d'écrire en Québécois en utilisant le vocabulaire, les expressions ainsi que la syntaxe qui nous est propre, sans toutefois truffer son texte de fautes d'orthographe ! 😠
Je ne connais personne qui a obtenu son université !
Je ne parle pas des fautes d'orthographe et autres car je ne connais pas l'origine de son soucis à ce propos et donc je m'abstiens de juger là dessus.
Par contre, j'aurais dû dire "façon de parler" au lieu de "langue". Veuillez m'excuser donc de vous avoir heurté ce que je peux donc comprendre.
Le style est une affaire de goût, mais personnellement il ne me choque pas car à le lire on est vraiment dans l'action dans les rues ou les marchés. Sans chipoter cependant, et personnellement, oui j'avais bien compris ce qu'il voulait dire par "obtenir mon université".
Et pour lui je rajoute que j'ai pris plaisir à le lire...: anecdotes et souvenirs! La technique de la foule et de l'embouteillage de foule dans les marchés est assez classique, dernièrement en date ça m'est arrivé à Grand Marché à Pointe Noire (mais sans réussite).
je crois assez fermement que même si monsieur René ne connait personne qui à obtenu son université, il sait vigoureusement les enjeux que cache cette phrase malhabile, ou habilement mal construite.
et que si on lui demande en court martial : Sous serment monsieur René, quel est le plus haut niveau de scolarité que Monsieur QuebecAfriqu à obtenue durant sa triste existence ??
Alors Monsieur René sera obligé de dire que Monsieur QuebecAfriqu à réussit son niveau académique universitaire.
Ce qui fait que, oui c'est mal dit, et oui c'est compréhensible. et la compréhension est ici ce qui est mise en relief,
tout comme quand j'écoute les chansons de france à titre d'exemple, je dois parfois faire des recherches intellectuelles pour déchiffrer certain mots, taff, C.R.S, re-lou,
Alors que ce qui fait la beauté de la chose est cette originalité et authenticité qui n'est pas accessible à la première écoute.
J'étais en train d'écrire que j'étais plutôt d'accord avec ton message précédent, mais bon, tu l'as supprimé.
Pas grave.
je ne connais pas de monsieur René non plus !
Pour un français, René, ou plutôt, R'né, c'est le mari de votre chanteuse nationale.
Pour le reste, je trouve tes arguments sans queue ni tête !
Le côté positif de son écriture quasi-phonétique, c'est que c'est assez drôle, notamment le court martial : ce doit être un terrain de tennis réservé aux militaires...
C'est assez drôle l'agacement de certains.
No comment*, bonne continuation et merci de cette petite virée chez les west afs, zut, chez les africains de l'Ouest 😉
*en anglais dans le texte.
le seul bout intéressant de ma diarrhée verbale c'est quand je dis que l'important c'est de comprendre là oû je veux en venir, et que j'aime bien quand il faut se creuser le ouistiti pour comprendre mes nuances
:) au plaisir de rigoler ensemble,
Ps: court martial c'est l'endroit oû les gens de petites taille font l'art martiaux
Bonjour,
je n'ai pas mon université... je n'y ai jamais mis un pied d'ailleurs!
Mais j'ai pris plaisir à lire vos posts, et je dois même dire que cela m'a fait beaucoup rire....
Et pour cela je vous en remercie.... c'est tellement rare en ces temps tristounets!
Geneviève
''Une personne commence à mourrir losrqu'elle arrête de rêver'' Brian Williams
je réponds à ton message concernant la Mauritanie, que j'ai bien aimé :
je me suis bien retrouvée lorsque tu parles de choc culturel, surtout après le Maroc ...
le Maroc, quand on est allé en Afrique de l'ouest, c'est l'Europe 😉
arrivée à Nouaddibou (en novembre 2014) et d'ailleurs aussi à Nouakchott : on change de planète.
Je m'étais figuré la Mauritanie comme un mix d’Afrique noire (enfin celle que je connaissais jusque là) et le Maroc : pas du tout. du tout. du tout.
la Mauritanie ne ressemble qu'à ... la Mauritanie !
vous me direz que chaque pays ne ressemble qu'à lui-même ....
je peux dire que lorsque, 3 semaines plus tard, je suis arrivée à Bamako, j'ai mieux respiré.
Pourtant, j'ai de super souvenirs, fait de belles rencontres !
merci pour tes apports très sympa sur l'Afrique de l'Ouest, moi j'aime bien te lire ....😉
Carnets de voyage › Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre · 2 replies
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This trip had been on my mind for about fifteen years.
But the discomfort of overnight stays, the difficulty of communication, and the prices of the few car rentals kept making me postpone the project.
And then, everything fell into place—I told myself, now’s the time!
Preparations took longer than usual; the destination is still far from mainstream.
A bit of Kazakhstan?
Not in the end.
The south or not?
Yes, in the end.
Pre-book or play it by ear?
Only two stops were a leap into the unknown.
To help me find the ideal route, I made great use of this forum (thanks to everyone for patiently answering my questions!), pored over travel journals and blogs (Christian, Jeff), zoomed in on Google Maps and Yandex, and bought the guide published by OunTravela on this destination (the guide has been updated since).
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You’ve got your passport, international driver’s license, bank cards, and euros?
Off we go to Lyon—just one night left before our early morning flight.
Tomorrow night, we’ll be sleeping in Bishkek!
(‘Beefsteak’ for my partner’s mischievous nephews...)
Hazaribagh
I’ve got a meet-up with Adam Iman, a guide and painter. He picks me up from the hotel at 10 AM. Another traveler from Bangalore is supposed to join us, but while we wait for him to arrive, Adam takes me to see the paintings his mother and sister created at Hazaribagh station.
The town became famous thanks to these murals, which can also be found in several surrounding villages. This art form has earned recognition and is now protected, a sign of its cultural importance.
Once the visit is over, we go to pick up the other traveler and then head to our first village: Belwara, where Sohrai art is practiced. At the entrance, a sign proudly announces that we’re entering an artists’ village, where this art is created by women organized into micro-enterprises. Some even offer workshops for those who’d like to learn this tradition.
Sohrai art is tied to the harvest season, from October to mid-November. The motifs, in natural colors, celebrate fertility and abundance. The artists use pigments from the earth: red oxides, ochre, white kaolin, and black manganese. On the walls, you’ll see animals, fish, birds—all symbols of life and prosperity.
As I look closer at the murals, I start to realize that each motif tells a story. Large animals like cows or bulls often take center stage. Their bodies are filled with intricate, almost hypnotic patterns. They symbolize wealth and prosperity for the household, as well as the deep respect for cattle, which are essential to daily life. On some facades, elephants stand out—massive and decorated with the same precision. They evoke quiet strength and protection.
But it’s when I stop in front of one of the houses that I really take the time to look. The wall, a soft ochre, is entirely covered in murals. Two large animals stretch out on either side of the door, their elongated bodies fitting the length of the wall. Their silhouettes are filled with geometric patterns and incredibly fine curved lines, as if every space was patiently filled. Around them, stylized plants, flowers, and small decorative elements fill every gap. The door, dark and worn, becomes almost the silent center of the composition, framed by these living, protective forms. To the right, a more colorful motif catches the eye—a flower or a stylized lamp—like a touch of light on the earth. The whole thing gives an impression of perfect balance, between the rigor of the patterns and the freedom of the gesture.
Elsewhere, birds and freer forms bring movement. Peacocks, recognizable by their stylized silhouettes, embody beauty and vitality, while fish symbolize water, fertility, and the continuity of life.
On some paintings, the scenes become almost narrative: you can make out figures, everyday gestures, like a memory of the village inscribed in the walls. The decorative frames around the doors aren’t left to chance either—they symbolically protect the house, like a boundary between the inside and the outside world.
During the Sohrai festival, cattle are led into the jungle in the morning. Meanwhile, the women finish the *aripans*—these floor paintings—and continue the wall murals. Around noon, the animals return to the village, and the bulls’ horns are anointed with oil and vermilion in a gesture of gratitude, amid the vibrant colors adorning the houses.
We visit several artists, including Parvat Devi, a well-known woman who has received many awards. Her arms are adorned with intriguing tattoos, which I’ll talk about in more detail later.
On another wall, the style changes completely. Here, no massive animals—just birds occupying the space, light and graceful, as if caught in mid-movement. Two silhouettes face each other, their long necks arched almost like mirrors, while their outstretched wings seem to vibrate with the patterns that compose them.
The design is more graphic, almost airy. The lines are smoother, more fluid, as if drawn in one confident stroke. The birds’ bodies aren’t solid—they’re filled with repetitive motifs like scales, stylized feathers, and spirals, giving a sense of continuous movement. Around them, everything comes to life: flowers burst open, arabesques swirl, and even the simplest shapes seem alive.
What strikes me here is the sense of lightness. Where the large animals evoked stability and grounding, these birds bring something freer, almost joyful. They seem to embody movement, the circulation of life, like a breath flowing through the village.
The colors remain the same—deep reds, intense blacks, and chalky white—but the rhythm is different. Faster, more spontaneous. As if each wall had its own personality, while still speaking the same language.
That’s probably why I’m so moved. I’d heard about these paintings from my friend Raja, and last year, I saw an exhibition in a village near my home. That first encounter made me want to come here. But seeing them in person is a whole different experience.
These paintings are unique. This ancient art is passed down from mother to daughter, or mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, in a quiet, deeply living continuity. At first glance, it might seem almost childlike in its simplicity and pared-down forms. And yet, everything is thought out, balanced, mastered. Nothing is left to chance.
That apparent simplicity, combined with such rich symbolism, touches me deeply. There’s something sincere and essential in these walls—and that’s what moves me.
We all have two lives. And the second one kicks off the day you realize you only have one, with the determination to spend the time you have left on what truly adds sparkle to your life, Kevin! I like to elegantly introduce a trip with a philosophical quote. First, it gives you the illusion that I’m some kind of deep thinker, and second, it lets me fill up the first few lines of my blank page when I don’t know how to tell you I’m diving back into what really lights up my life: another adventure beyond the horizon! And nearly every other year, like a toxic relationship, my horizon tends to take shape in Uncle Sam’s backyard. And this, despite his cousin Donald calling the shots. Speaking of which, it was partly that impulsive guy who pushed us to be just as impulsive and snag our four flight tickets at a ridiculously low price—a direct result of foreign tourism taking a hit from BetaMax’s repeated antics... Four tickets? Who are the other lucky ones? In this case, our lucky ones are actually lucky ladies: My Flo, always up for exploring the world with me on foot, camelback, or scooter, is obviously in on the fun. The other two seats went to our daughters, Sasha and Luna, both thrilled to be part of this new American adventure...
But what’s the American West like in February?... A gamble. Let’s call it Russian roulette since we’re not landing during peak weather season. That’s why we encouraged our transportation and accommodation to get cozy and produce a little camper van, so we can stay ultra-flexible in the face of any weather tantrums. We’ll be roaming in Kara the van with the motto "Follow the sun!" Bad weather? We bolt. Snow? We speed up. Sunny? We act like it was the plan all along and soak it up.
"Okay, but why keep coming back to the same corner of the globe? After ten American adventures, you must be tired of seeing the same things, right?" But I’m not crazy, you know!... The American West is like making love to your gorgeous wife over and over, always enjoying it just as much. And contrary to what you might think, the American West isn’t just the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas, and Bryce Canyon. Proof is, after ten trips to the U.S., my retinas are still untouched by three-quarters of the places I scribbled on a napkin for this adventure... Oh, and add to that my wife, who I’ve easily converted to my religion, and boom... relapse is even easier! Because yes, we’ve landed in Los Angeles after a sunny flight over Greenland, still under Danish flag for now. And we’re already heading east through the XXL traffic of L.A.’s eight-lane highways, eager to dive into our first discoveries. But first, night is taking over the sky, and second, we’ve been officially awake for 24 hours, so I suggest wrapping up this intro. I’ll tell you more tomorrow morning. Sound good?
March 2nd — Departure by bus from Latour at 6:50 AM. The journey isn’t direct: we pass through Elne then Corneilla. In Perpignan, I switch to a BlablaBus heading to Barcelona’s northern bus station. Before reaching Le Perthus, French police stop us to check IDs. Several people aren’t in order, but after about fifteen minutes, we’re on our way again. We’re checked again at La Jonquera: this time, the wait lasts almost forty-five minutes while police identify those in violation and wait for a vehicle to pick them up. The driver then tries to make up for lost time; we finally arrive at our destination half an hour late.
I quickly head to the Arc de Triomphe metro station, located 200 meters away: you have to cross the bridge along the bus parking lot, then walk through a large garden; the station is on the right before the garden entrance. The trip to the airport isn’t direct: I have to change at Tomasso and take the line to the airport, where I arrive at 1 PM.
At the Emirates counter, I learn my flight was just canceled due to the war in Iran; they offer me another flight for the next day. I have to wait at the airport until 7 PM before being taken to a hotel; the next morning, I’ll take a flight to Vienna (with an 8-hour layover), then an Air India flight to Delhi, and finally a flight to Kolkata. I agree: I don’t know Vienna, so it’ll be an unexpected discovery.
At 7 PM, a small group is taken to the hotel, 35 minutes from the airport, where we’re served a light dinner upon arrival.
March 3rd — A taxi picks me up at 6:30 AM; the flight to Vienna takes off at 9:30 AM and arrives at noon. I’m free until 7 PM; the metro is direct to the city center. The weather is pleasant and not too cold, luckily, since my clothes are light.
When I exit the metro, I spot the St. Stephen’s Cathedral tower in the distance and approach it: the roof, made of glazed tiles, is remarkable.
Entry is free, and the interior, a mix of Gothic and Baroque styles in the center, is stunning.
Not far from there is St. Anne’s Church
, also Baroque, adorned with beautiful frescoes
—a music concert adds an enchanting atmosphere to the visit.
I continue my walk at random through the pedestrian streets lined with magnificent buildings: I’m charmed by the city.
Before heading back to the airport, I stop at a lovely tea salon. My flight will eventually leave with a delay.
Wednesday, March 4th — Delhi and a little luggage scare
We arrive in Delhi shortly after noon. Immigration is quick, and good news: my bag was checked through from Barcelona to Kolkata. I head to the connecting terminal and arrive half an hour before boarding: the flight goes smoothly. Upon arrival, the luggage comes out quickly… except mine. After filing a report, I’m told my bag is in Delhi—I have to retrieve it before taking another flight. I didn’t know (or had forgotten): with the delays, I wouldn’t have had time to pick it up and make the connection.
I take a taxi to the Ichamati Hotel. The welcome is warm, and the room is clean but very small. Without my bag, I feel a bit lost—I have nothing to change into.
Tonight, I’m dining with Raja and his friends at a beautiful restaurant, an old colonial house turned into a hotel.
We’re happy to see each other and have a comforting evening together.
Hi everyone, I’m Patrick, 67 years old, a seasoned traveler (already 22 trips outside Europe).
In autumn 2025, I took my first 3-week trip to Japan, with stops in Tokyo, Kamakura, Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Koyasan, Tokyo again, and Nikko.
I wanted to go back in May 2026 and explore some lesser-known places to complement my first trip.
Last year, there were four of us traveling together to discover Japan (a fairly classic itinerary). This time, I’ll be traveling solo for part of the trip and with a couple of French friends for the rest.
The weather was gorgeous in May, averaging around 25°C, with two very hot days in Kyoto and only two rainy days.
As usual, I organized everything myself, gathering plenty of information from various sites, including this one.
Transportation:
An ICOCA card is essential.
I got a 5-day Kansai-Hiroshima pass because I took the shinkansen between Hiroshima and Osaka three times, and it paid for itself quickly.
Accommodations:
Mostly through Booking. No issues at all. Average cost was 46 € per night.
Meals:
For breakfast, I alternated between buying food at a konbini to eat in my room or on the train and grabbing something at local cafés.
For lunch and dinner, I tried to vary my meals as much as possible—lots of sashimi, sushi, and ramen.
Okonomiyaki in Osaka and Hiroshima.
Oysters in every form (raw, grilled, fried) in Onomichi and Hiroshima.
A variety of seafood (shrimp, shellfish) in Hiroshima and Matsumoto.
Fish whose names often escaped me, but notably mackerel and eel (unagi).
Tempura and gyoza.
Chicken skewers (yakitori) and one teppanyaki meal.
One omakase meal (9 different dishes).
In the end, not much meat aside from a few yakitori skewers. No splurges on super expensive wagyu or Kobe beef.
Average dinner cost: 4,800 yen, drinks included.
The Itinerary:
Day 1: Departure from Brussels
Day 2: Arrival in Osaka
Day 3: To Himeji, then Kurashiki
Day 4: To Fukuyama, then Tomo no Ura, then Onomichi
Day 5: Cycling the Shimanami Kaido
Day 6: To Takahara, then Hiroshima
Day 7: To Kyoto to attend the Aoi Matsuri parade
Day 8: To Miyajima
Day 9: Hiroshima, then Kyoto
Day 10: Southern Kyoto
Day 11: Northern Kyoto
Day 12: Final day in Kyoto, then to Nagatsugawa
Day 13: Start of the Nakasendo Trail (Magome to Tsumago)
Day 14: Second day of the trail (Kiso Fukushima)
Day 15: Third day of the trail (Narai), then Matsumoto
Day 16: To Mt. Fuji (Kawaguchiko)
Day 17: To Tokyo
Day 18: Excursion to Enoshima and Kamakura
Day 19: Flight home, with a 10-hour layover in Hong Kong
Day 20: Arrival in Brussels
I'm starting my first travel journal since VF reopened!
This will mostly be to share my impressions and some photos, with a few days' delay, but I'm starting this journal while I'm still here.
First, I'd like to thank those who helped me prepare for this trip.
I was able to organize this stay in one of the most expensive countries in the world thanks to the home-exchange principle. Not necessarily a direct swap, but through a points system, which is more practical for choosing where you want to go without it having to be a reciprocal exchange.
For this trip, there will already be two different accommodations. We'll see how it goes after that.
The first place is near Yverdon-les-Bains, close to Lake Neuchâtel.
So, we're going to explore this area!
We arrived under capricious weather that won’t leave us for the next few days!
We had dinner at a pizzeria recommended by *Le Routard* in Yverdon, then took a little nighttime stroll through the town center before heading inland to settle into our accommodation.
We discovered a very large, quiet house—and especially the cat that stayed behind! Funny for a couple of mice! He’ll be sleeping with us 😹
If you're looking for great tips and offbeat spots, if you love exploring uncharted parts of a country, if the exotic is your adrenaline, then move along!
Our 15 days in early May in this part of Turkey (a country I first discovered during a city trip to Istanbul in 2017) will only tread well-worn paths and revisit popular routes. Simply because I kept hoping until the very end that our flight to Jordan wouldn’t be canceled. Events in the Gulf proved me wrong, so we left with:
Zero preparation.
Not a single hotel booked (well, except the first one), no visits planned, just a flight ticket bought three weeks earlier. No guidebook, no app—just the desire to explore southern Turkey and Cappadocia, whose images and the chance to stretch our legs had caught my eye.
Oh, wait—I did bring along a new guide: Gemini! Yes, my friends, generative AI was my chief advisor throughout the trip for sites to visit, accommodations, routes, and even restaurants! An experiment I wanted to try to form my own opinion on using this new technology. And what better way to test it than a Turkish getaway?
The verdict? You’ll have to wait for the trip recap to find out!
The main idea of the trip is also relaxation.
So, the plan is Antalya for a few days, the Turkish Riviera for a few more, Cappadocia as the highlight, and a return via Antalya to wrap up the trip. And it was all planned by AI!
So, if you're ready, fasten your seatbelts—cabin crew, doors to automatic and cross check—boarding for Turkey now!
We did the Langtang trek (hike) from September 10th to 17th, with the first and last days being the trip from Kathmandu and back—so 6 days of actual walking. It’s a fairly well-known trek but certainly not as famous or crowded as those in the Annapurna or Everest regions, which is why we chose it.
In theory, it’s mandatory to have a guide for this trek. In reality, it seems there are ways to bypass the regulations: we met at least two people hiking without a guide—a South Korean, a New Zealander, and possibly also a couple of English women and an American couple, though we’re not sure if they had a guide.
The agency we booked with had told us it was an affordable trek for relatively older people in good shape—which is our case (I’m 72 myself). I have to say upfront that we found it quite challenging, maybe because we didn’t have good weather—it was the end of the monsoon season. To be clear, no matter your fitness level, I’d say doing this trek in the middle of the monsoon season would be suicidal.
Day 1 – Journey from Kathmandu to Syapru Besi
On Monday, September 8th, there had been violent protests in Kathmandu against the government, which had, among other things, blocked access to social media and been accused of nepotism and corruption. There were 19 deaths. The situation was very tense on the day of our departure, Wednesday the 10th. The agency warned us that public transport was very unreliable. So, we decided to take a jeep, at an additional cost of $100 ($160 minus what was already budgeted for the bus).
We left a little before 7 a.m. and it took us a good hour just to reach the outskirts of Kathmandu. Along the way, we saw several houses and vehicles set on fire by protesters.
The road to Syapru Besi is only 120 km, but it’s frankly awful. It’s always narrow, winds through endless mountains, and the shoulders range from bad to confusing to nonexistent. Several sections are just dirt tracks. We didn’t regret opting for the jeep, as we could stop several times at our convenience—if only to let Y (my Thai partner) throw up everything she had. She’d taken her usual motion sickness medication, but the constant turns, accelerations, and braking eventually made her terribly carsick.
In Nuwakot, we stopped for breakfast at a nice little restaurant, Jimbu. It was around 8:30 a.m., and we’d barely covered 60 km. The restaurant has a lovely garden overlooking the Trishuli Ganga, the river flowing down from Syapru Besi. First photo: the river in the bottom right corner, mist and clouds over the mountain on the other side.
An hour later, my second photo: the hills along the Trishuli Ganga. You can see the different crops—lush green rice paddies in the lower right and corn, already yellowed and likely harvested, in the foreground on the left. And of course, the mist and clouds through which you can glimpse the mountain on the other side of the river.
Summer 2022 left me with a sense of unfinished business, so here I am back in Swedish Lapland for summer 2024, ready to attempt the Sarek crossing again—and this time, tackle part of the Kungsleden too.
After much hesitation, my partner Jean Marie and I decided to start with the Kungsleden, which is, from what we’ve read, stunning but very busy (and it really is!!), and finish with the wilder option: SAREK! This park is known as Europe’s last true wilderness—sounds like a dream, right?!
The downside of this plan is that there’s no way to resupply in Sarek, and the Kungsleden isn’t exactly set up for long-distance trekking either, so we’ll have to carry a lot of food for the first part of the trip with Sarek in mind. Oh well, we’re motivated!
Our plan is to start in Abisko (the classic route), head to Vakkotavare (also classic, but with some variations to avoid the official trail and the crowds), then continue the Kungsleden from Saltoluokta. Before reaching Aktse, we’ll set off on an east-to-west crossing of Sarek (weather-dependent, since aside from the Skarja hut in the center of the park, there’s no shelter if conditions turn bad).
At least we’ll be on the right side of the park to climb Skierfe and enjoy the jaw-dropping view of Rappaladen if we have to bail on Sarek.
All in all, that’s 17 days of trekking, including 1 rest day and 1 buffer day for weather delays.
So if you’re interested, I invite you to follow our fully packed backpacks!
08/03 - Abisko – 5km before Abiskojaure
Some info (guides we used for prep, SFT map, sending food to Saltoluokta)
08/04 – 5km before Abiskojaure - on the east shore of Lake Alisjavri
08/05 – East shore of Lake Alisjavri – just before Tjaktja
08/06 – Just before Tjaktja – above the Salka hut via Nallo
08/07 - Salka – just past Singi + side trip to Djalson Lake
08/08 - Singi – Teusajaure
08/09 - Teusajaure - Vakkotavare (end of the first section of the Kungsleden)
08/10 – rest day in Saltoluokta + round trip to the Sámi village of Pietjaure
08/11 – Saltoluokta – Sitojaure
08/12 - Sitojaure - Skierfe - Sarek or no Sarek?
08/13 – Skierfe – somewhere above Rapadalen
08/14 – Somewhere above Rapadalen – above the Skarki hut
08/15 – Above the Skarki hut - Skarja
08/16 – Camping at Skarja
08/17 – Ruohtesvagge
08/18 – Ruohtesvagge - Padjelantaleden
08/19 – Padjelantaleden - Ritsem – End of the trek
08/20–24 - End of the trip (Lullea - Stockholm)
And of course, the recap
June 2024.
While hiking with my brother on the GR 36 Tour du Morvan, I catch sight now and then of strange rectangular markers fixed to tree trunks. Against a bright orange background, a deep black Greek tau topped with a white dove. My first encounter with the Assisi Way.
The Way of St. Francis: a pilgrimage route linking Vézelay in Burgundy to Assisi in Italy, covering nearly 1,800 km.
It felt like an obvious next step—I immediately knew I’d take it on, attempt the adventure solo.
In the months that followed, I talked about my project to everyone—family, friends, my partner. An avalanche of comments, more or less the same but varying depending on each person’s character and life experiences. But deep down, it all boiled down to one legitimate question: why?
And the answers?
Hesitant, awkward, partial, even confused. I quickly realized they weren’t so easy to find. It was as if my project seemed more like a whim, a kind of intimate caprice, rather than a well-thought-out plan.
Of course, I knew the reasons that pushed me to leave—you always have to give some. Loved ones need to understand to feel reassured, and that’s understandable.
But I fear that when I list them, they’ll sound like the same old checklist anyone embarking on this kind of journey might give.
Of all the reasons I could mention, I’ll highlight just one here: the call of the road, the solo adventure that brings a powerful sense of freedom.
A bit like Monsieur Seguin’s goat, who from her comfortable pen gazes longingly at the unconstrained horizon of the mountain.
But if I’m being honest, I think I didn’t really know what I was looking for—or, more importantly, what I’d find. Deep down, when I reflect on it, one word keeps coming up that explains nothing and everything at once: desire.
Now well past sixty, I know that when I ask myself who I am or where I’m going, two things bring me fully back to myself: hiking and writing.
And my intention was also to anchor this adventure through words, day by day. Writing down my feelings, emotions, discoveries, and reflections each evening. The famous travel journal that grounds the daily experience in reality.
When I discovered the app "Polarstep," which was initially just meant to keep my loved ones updated and reassured, inform them of my progress, and maintain a connection, I found an opportunity to do it a little differently than usual.
No retrospective notes polished up after returning, but spontaneous writing—recounting everything that crossed my mind during the day and publishing it immediately. A journey lived in real time.
This text is the exact transcription of my daily writings. Rereading them, I didn’t change a thing—just corrected a few mistakes and tweaked some awkward phrasing here and there. Short texts, fitting the format imposed by this kind of app. Writing as if addressing others.
Now, all that was left was to walk.
April 18, 2026 – Vézelay.
This travel journal is therefore intended solely for my photos, to present a consistent style.
All the shots were taken with a simple Samsung Galaxy smartphone and with whatever was at hand.
All stays combined, I’ve spent the equivalent of a year at most in Thailand, and I’m no great expert.
However, after many trips, lots of reading on VoyageForum and other sites, and conversations with many locals as well as expats, my view of the country is becoming clearer, though it’s constantly evolving. You never stop discovering and learning.
I guess I wanted to deliver a puzzle, mainly for those who want to get an idea of the country here and for those who feel nostalgic about it.
I don’t know if this minimalist sharing will interest anyone, but it’ll do me good to put it together. After so many months without traveling and then these other long months with VF closed, there’s plenty of material available.
There’ll be a mix of places, periods, and subjects, but it might well be intentional.
I suspect many Thais have dogs because they make excellent guardians for the home. Nothing better to deter burglars or to signal the presence of a snake. You’ll often see Thais tapping the top of their dog’s head, but don’t be fooled: it’s a sign of affection from them. Judging by the dogs’ reactions, they’re used to it.
Thailand is one of the countries on the planet where rabies is still present, so keep that in mind. It’s not just bites that can be dangerous, so don’t let just any dog lick you. Especially on a wound, of course.
Even though dogs often fear humans—this dangerous and unpredictable predator—we still need to stay cautious.
Be careful when walking into alleys because the dog will defend its master’s big yard. Be careful at night, and be careful when they’re in packs.
It sometimes crosses our minds that Thailand isn’t all that made for walking around, and dogs are one of the reasons.
That said, it’s not uncommon to see them chasing bikes or scooters. Cars, though? Much rarer—they’re too big.
It seems Thais prefer to give their dogs freedom by not locking them behind gates. Though sometimes the gate is closed, the little side door is wide open. Oh, and sometimes there’s no gate in front of the property, or it’s been full of holes for years.
You’ll often see dogs sleeping on the roadside, sometimes right on the road. When you approach, they move aside nonchalantly—or not at all. It’s less funny when they suddenly appear from thick vegetation, reminding visitors not to drive too fast. As a result, you’ll notice that dogs with injuries or missing legs aren’t that rare.
Since they believe in reincarnation and respect for all forms of life, they don’t chase dog packs away too much, and they don’t sterilize them enough. When you see a small pack roaming freely in the countryside, you think twice about running into them at the edge of a field.
A darker side of this is that euthanasia isn’t often practiced. Twice, we saw dogs at death’s door in temples, enduring terrible suffering with no one to help. The image (and the smell) of one of them, agonizing and exuding the stench of death, still comes back to me sometimes.
Some of you may have seen the YouTube vlog of a French woman living in Phuket who was given a little pig by her Thai friends. The animal, well-fed, quickly became a happy and enormous beast with its own garden. Yet it didn’t take long for it to fall seriously ill and become incurable. In her video, the French woman described how difficult it was to find a vet willing to perform euthanasia.
You’ll often see bowls by the side of the road. Thais leave food and water there for stray cats and dogs. Overall, they have a big heart for animals.
If you ever pop into a shopping mall, you might see people pushing their small dogs in strollers. It’s not just for fun—these strollers are provided for customers to put their pets in, otherwise you can’t bring them inside. It looks a bit odd when you expect to see a baby.
This travel journal summarizes a trip I took in March to Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. It starts in El Calafate and ends in Ushuaia. During my planning, I considered looking into the Australis cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, as well as the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park. In both cases, I was put off by the prices. Instead of the cruise, I found two interesting wildlife excursions from Punta Arenas: whale watching in the Strait of Magellan and observing king penguins in Tierra del Fuego. The journey to Ushuaia was by bus. For Torres del Paine, things were a bit confusing, so I reached out to two agencies. In the end, I went with a rental car option, overnight stays on-site, and day hikes. I shared my full itinerary with the agency and ended up being taken care of by a local Argentine agency and a Chilean one.
So, here we go...
From Southern Shikoku, between land and sea, to the blue waters of Miyakojima and finally Tokyo’s megacity
Hi everyone,
I have to admit, I really hesitated before deciding to write this travel journal... Writing one takes a lot of time and energy, and since this is my 4th trip, I wondered if it would even interest anyone other than myself (both for the discovery and the writing). But after a few people asked, "Are you going to write a journal?" and especially after rediscovering the joy of reading other travelers’ journals about Japan or elsewhere on this forum, I’ve decided to share my 4th installment in the Land of the Rising Sun here.
The itinerary:
27 full days, from late May to late June 2025, right in the middle of the rainy season, including:
-->13 days in Shikoku, from Kochi (Kochi Prefecture) to Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture)
-->7 days in Miyakojima (Okinawa Prefecture)
-->7 days in Tokyo
The trip was decided on fairly last-minute again this year.
Since I regularly check flight prices to track fluctuations for this destination even without concrete plans, stumbling upon a slightly cheaper direct flight (900 €) than what I’d seen in previous months (around 1,200–1,400 € on average) for a Paris-Tokyo route with Japanese airline ANA was too tempting to resist the urge to return to this enchanting country. After much hesitation between exploring the San’in region (Matsue, Tottori, Yamaguchi) and Southern Shikoku, the decision was made—I took the plunge! The ticket is booked: Paris to Kochi with a layover in Tokyo, all with ANA, the airline I’d been dreaming of... for 1,120 € per person. Okay, it’s not cheap, but it’s better than in 2023.
Departure in 2 weeks! Now I just have to get everything ready!
Intense prep work over these next 2 weeks to:
finalize a more precise itinerary and reach an agreement—yep, because even though we both love Japan, our preferences differ slightly, and we have to choose between exploring new places or revisiting beloved spots...
decide how much time to spend in each area without rushing while still exploring
research places that might interest us and watch videos about Japan
book accommodations: yes, it’s possible to do this on the spot, but last year, we realized that last-minute options were pretty expensive, so we’re booking ahead—though we’ll keep a few options open in case better deals pop up later
reserve rental cars
order yen
check the weather regularly and wonder if choosing the *tsuyu* (rainy season) was really a good idea—are we going to be drenched the whole time???
"What hard work," you might say! Going to Japan for a month—what a tough life!
Despite this being my 4th trip, the excitement is just as intense as the first time.
The only small downside is that when we booked the flight, there weren’t many seats left, so we’re only sitting together on the international return flight. Plus, on the way there, we have middle seats.
Another lingering question: what French-language films will be available? According to the internet, the selection seems limited.
Oh well, these are just minor details—it’s already time to fly!
PS: I’ll be posting slowly and irregularly... so for those interested, be patient, and maybe set an alert...
Kattegat isn’t just the name of the village in the TV series *Vikings*—it’s also the stretch of water separating Denmark from Sweden... the sea, basically! And further north, you’ve got Norway and its fjords!
Originally, I’d planned to just do a loop around Kattegat, with the *Under* restaurant in Lindesnes as our anniversary treat... but along the way, we thought, why not "push" a little further north, keeping an eye on the budget since we’d chosen to travel by car in June 2025 through Scandinavia.
Why by car when most travelers opt for a camper van, while others prefer the comfort of cruises?
Well, because we don’t own a camper van, renting one is pricey, and then you’ve got to add fuel costs (those things guzzle gas!), ferry fees, and other "tolls." All things considered, we went for mostly rentals—especially since there were four of us at the start of the trip.
We spent the first week in Denmark with our daughter and son-in-law. Then they flew back to Belgium, and we continued our adventure as a couple.
For accommodation, we mainly booked Airbnb apartments, which helped keep costs down and, most importantly, let us prepare our own meals (diet, diet!).
In this travel journal, you’ll discover (or rediscover, for those who followed my older ones) our unbridled love for theme parks, museums, unique experiences, and—especially in Denmark—Legos!
Unfortunately, we didn’t do any hikes this year because the unpredictable weather had made the trails slippery, and since I’d already taken three tumbles during the trip, I didn’t want to risk another!
In the end, we traveled for 32 days, covered 6,200 km, and most importantly, discovered the charming country of Denmark, marveled at Norway’s breathtaking fjords—all without suffering the heatwave that hit France and Belgium that June!
If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Here’s our account of our trip to Malaysia from September 11th to 27th.
I hope our tips can help others as much as this forum has helped us!
Day 0:
Departure from Nantes with a transfer in Amsterdam via KLM (720 €).
Day 1:
We arrive at KLIA1 in the early afternoon.
First challenge: figuring out where to pick up our luggage. Turns out the answer is right under our noses—we need to take the airport’s internal metro!
Once we’ve got our bags, we withdraw some cash from a Maybank ATM right there.
Next up: SIM card! Just outside the arrivals hall, several kiosks offer them. We go for a Celcom 5 GB card (70 RM).
Then it’s taxi time to get to KL, in the Bukit Bintang area—about 85 RM in a slightly old taxi with weak air conditioning.
We check into our Airbnb apartment, which is clean, more spacious than a hotel room, and—best of all—has a charming balcony with a gorgeous nighttime view!
We end up hanging out on that balcony, reviewing our plans for the next day. After dark, we take the monorail just a short walk away to enjoy our first evening on a rooftop at the 34th floor: Hélipad (Raja Chulan station—you have to enter the Menara Tower at the base of the station) with a panoramic view of the city and its iconic towers.
Finally, we head to Jalan Alor to grab a bite in this super busy street.
Big sleep ahead! 😴
After a pretty disastrous weather-wise trip to Gran Canaria, we’re hoping this time the sun will shine in Puglia.
It’s not a sure thing, though—the weather’s been awful all over Europe in early May.
For those who’d like to (re)read the story without the digressions, it’s here.
Saturday, May 16:
This time we’re flying out of Charleroi (Brussels South): the ticket prices, flight times, and proximity all worked for us.
The airport (Ryanair) was recently renovated... but it’s still not very well organized. There are hardly any seats in the boarding areas, and... the restrooms cost money!!!
The flight goes smoothly, though, and we land in Bari a little late.
We quickly pick up our rental car, a very local-looking Pandina (even more so than the Fiat 500 in this region), and hit the Italian roads... and their unique driving quirks (like the fact that the countless road signs along the streets and in towns are purely decorative 😏, and that Italian cars don’t have turn signals 😮... except for rental cars).
About an hour later, we arrive at our first accommodation, right in the middle of the countryside near Monopoli.
The owner isn’t there, but they’ve left us a ton of info via messages and even turned on the space heater, which is a nice touch.
We explore the property:
And the next morning before breakfast, its immediate surroundings:
Sunday, May 17:
After our "seaside" experience in Gran Canaria last weekend (packed with people and locals), we decide to start inland.
After a hearty breakfast,
we head toward Alberobello, a super touristy village famous for its trulli—those stone houses with conical roofs.
We easily find a free parking spot on a street near the Aia Piccola district, where some trulli are still lived in year-round.
We almost immediately come across the Trullo Sovrano (the only two-story one), which you can visit (but we skip it—it’s opening time, and there’s already a line).
From there, we head down toward the Basilica of Cosma e Damiano... but we don’t go in because there’s a mass.
Now we’re on the main Piazza del Popolo, which connects the two districts of Alberobello: Rione Aia Piccola and Rione Monti, the more touristy one.
Come along, I'm taking you to this country where it's so nice to wander and slow down...
This trip was in 2023, but when I wanted to write my travel journal, VF was still closed to contributions...
So, now that I've just finished my Japan travel journal here, I figured it was high time to honor this destination we came back from so enchanted.
Disclaimer 1: This is a written travel journal. There’ll be text! Too much, for some!
Disclaimer 2: This is an illustrated travel journal. There’ll be photos! Too many, for some!
I have to say, every time I try to discipline myself, to keep it shorter, to include fewer photos... I end up adding more. It feels like my dear Aunt Nicole, who exhausted us with her slide-show evenings in the 70s/80s, decided to take her revenge. The upside for you, readers, is that you can slip away anytime without offending Aunt Nicole. I won’t even notice!
Anyway, since I love maps, here’s one to give you an idea of where I’m taking you. As you can see, we only saw a tiny part of Laos (the areas circled in red); we only had 3 weeks for ourselves (my husband’s newly retired, I still work), and we prefer taking our time over rushing around like crazy.
In broad strokes, it was very classic:
First, we “settled in” at Luang Prabang (8 days), because we wanted and needed to.
From there, we took three days to venture a little further north—not far in kilometers, but as we know, distances aren’t just about km!
Then we flew south to Paksé, letting ourselves drift down to the 4,000 Islands while stopping by the pre-Angkorian archaeological sites.
We wrapped up with the Bolaven Plateau.
A few practical notes: We arrived via Bangkok, then took a Bangkok-Luang Prabang flight, having picked up our luggage in Bangkok to check it in for Luang Prabang. No issues—the Bangkok airport, which many of you know, is very well organized.
We got our visas on arrival in Luang Prabang. Quick, but to be fair, we were on a “small” plane, and the big flights had arrived earlier, so we weren’t too crowded in line!
At the end of our trip, we didn’t fly out of Paksé but from the nearby airport in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani (a 2.5-hour drive from Paksé), then Bangkok and Paris.
You’ll notice we skipped Vientiane to stay longer in Luang Prabang. That said, there’s now a high-speed train between Vientiane and Luang Prabang—good to know—and soon the (Chinese) train will go all the way to Bangkok and even Kuala Lumpur!
With that intro out of the way, let’s dive into the heart of the matter.
To be continued: Slowing down the pace... in Luang Prabang
Here’s a little story about my first trip to Japan with my partner.
We went for our first visit from October 29 to November 13, 2024.
I had planned this entire trip back in November 2020, but given the health situation at the time, I had to cancel...
Here’s the classic route we took:
We booked everything ourselves and got a regional pass for the area from Kyoto to Hiroshima.
The hotels were reserved 3 months in advance on Book... and Agod... (1030 € for 2 people for 13 nights = 80 €/night).
For the flight, we chose a Qatar Airways flight with a layover to break up the long journey (950 € per person).
We also got a pass on the same site (Japan-Experience) to take the train connecting Narita Airport to Shibuya Station (the N'EX Narita Express).
Since the airport is 75 km from central Tokyo, we opted for this mode of transport, even though there are cheaper alternatives.
After reading various posts on VoyageForum, I understood how important it was to have a Welcome Suica card to pay for public transport (subway, tram, bus, boat throughout the country), and we were able to buy one at Narita Airport.
It turned out to be super useful!
After a long but smooth journey, we found ourselves at Narita Airport in the evening.
Even though we had a pass for the Narita Express, we had to go to a counter to make a reservation for the train (mandatory).
Then, once we arrived at Shibuya Station, we took the subway for 2 stops and finally reached our hotel, exhausted (Hotel Asia Center of Japan – 270 € for 3 nights with breakfast included).
I’m inviting you on a stroll through my drawings—a completely subjective, far from exhaustive, and totally personal take, since it’s based on my own sketches. I put this travel journal together after returning in late 2024, mostly using felt-tip pens and pencils, with a few collages thrown in. I worked from our personal photos.
Let’s start with the shotengai...
Our first "wow" moment came as we stepped out of the subway in Asakusa, the Tokyo neighborhood where we’d booked our hotel for our first five nights. Exhausted after our long flight, we finally arrived and took an exit that led straight into a shotengai—one of those covered shopping streets that pop up in city centers and flourished between the 1950s and 1980s.
It was an instant aesthetic shock, like a close encounter of the third kind between the modern city, a typical Asian market with its street stalls, the vintage vibe of the arcade, the sheer abundance of goods, and the bustling crowd—a mix of tourists, pilgrims (thanks to nearby Senso-ji Temple), and locals (it’s a very working-class area).
In the end, it set the tone for a feeling we’d experience throughout the trip. Wherever we went, shotengai turned out to be fantastic spots for finding little restaurants, shops, or even fresh produce. Some are like real mazes, like in Kyoto, where we spent ages trying to relocate a restaurant we’d loved ;-)
In Kanazawa, the Omicho Market:
And in Kyoto, Nishiki Market:
With my girlfriend Christelle, we’ve chosen South Africa for our first trip to Southern Africa, focusing on safaris—after a long debate with a Cape Town/Kruger combo.
But that would’ve meant cutting out St Lucia, which would’ve been harder to fit into another trip.
And St Lucia—thanks to Michel and all those travel journals—we really wanted to go there.
So our 11-night itinerary ended up like this, mostly shaped by school holidays:
- 3 nights in St Lucia
- 1 night in Hluhluwe
- 1 night at Mkhaya Game Reserve (Eswatini)
- 1 night at Hlane Royal National Park (Eswatini)
- 3 nights in Kruger (Berg en Dal / Satara / Tamboti)
- 1 night at Shindzela Tented Camp in the Timbavati private reserve
- 1 final night in Kruger at Lower Sabie
All of this in the off-season and rainy season, just a month after catastrophic floods that killed over 150 people and seriously damaged Kruger’s infrastructure.
I’ll jump straight to St Lucia and skip the loooong journey to get there (with a layover in Frankfurt, landing in Johannesburg, a domestic flight to Durban, and the rest by rental SUV—First Car Rental, perfect, no complaints).
To motivate readers—especially some familiar faces here—I’ll drop in a first photo.
We went to Albania in August 2025.
Our itinerary included adventure (sporty activities, site visits), naps on the beach interspersed with swims, incredible natural sites, and a bit of culture.
I booked all our accommodations on Booking.com. Note: almost all places ask to be paid in cash!! You can obviously withdraw from banks, but the fees are pretty high. Luckily, we had plenty of cash, and the country is very safe. You can pay in euros most of the time, which avoids exchange fees.
We started in Tirana. I’d read a really interesting post about Albania’s bunkers (link in my profile). We chose to visit Bunk’Art with a guide from the agency that wrote the post. It was fascinating—not only to better understand the country’s history but also because her grandfather was repressed by the regime, and she shared her family’s experience with us.
Bunkers are everywhere! In Tirana, Bunk’Art is the most interesting and largest. You’ll see the dictator Enver Hoxha’s office, where he would’ve taken refuge in case of an attack on the country. Bring a sweater—it’s really cold in the underground tunnels and their huge corridors.
You can visit other bunkers around the country, in Tirana and elsewhere. Almost all are just abandoned.
The cable car up Mount Dajti is right next to Bunk’Art. The view is stunning—you realize Tirana is so close to the mountains and the sea... But otherwise, it’s not that exciting for older teens (17 and 19) and their parents.
We picked up a rental car in Tirana—it’d be ours for the next three weeks. We used Goalbania’s agency to avoid any hassles. First, there aren’t many cars available in Albania in summer. Second, French credit cards can be a nightmare abroad. So we preferred to sort that out in advance.
After Tirana, we headed to Permet. Just a heads-up: the roads are in great condition except in the mountains. And Albanian drivers aren’t stressful to deal with. Though you might suddenly encounter a herd of goats crossing the road—haha—but if you’re not going too fast, it’s fine.
In Permet, I’d been dreaming of rafting on the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last wild rivers. And we did it with a local agency! It’s beautiful, accessible to everyone, not too physical but still a bit lively—just how we like it. You can even jump into the river in some spots.
In Permet, we also hiked through a canyon and visited a lovely little church.
And we took a workshop to make their local culinary pride: gliko. It’s a jam with whole fruits inside. We’d seen it on Goalbania’s site, and it was really fun. We were with a family where the secret to making gliko has been passed down for generations...
Next, we headed to Gjirokastër. A city we loved: its old traditional houses (Skendulli and Zekate), its grand castle, the Ali Pasha Bridge. Along the way, we stopped for artisanal ice cream at a little shop run by a grandmother who’s been making it herself for ages.
One afternoon, my husband *had* to go to the coast in the south, to Ksamil (he’d read it was better than Sarandë). Verdict: we didn’t like it. Parking is a nightmare, the beaches are super noisy and crowded. The sea is packed with jet skis, boats, pedalos, and ropes. Avoid it.
On the other hand, we really liked Himarë, where we went next. We stayed at a campsite where we rented tents with mattresses and sheets inside. Right by the sea, on a low cliff (about 2 meters high). You can hear the waves at night... Magical!! To swim, you either jump straight into the sea (almost from the tent) or climb down a ladder, which you’ll need to climb back up to get out.
I was a little worried the campsite wouldn’t be very comfortable, so afterward, I’d booked a small place in Gjilek. Turns out, the place was really tiny (one room for four, no kitchen) and pretty expensive (over 100 € a night). We’d drive to the beach or restaurants—it’s on a steep slope, so not very accessible. Parking near the sea is tricky. But the (private) beaches were nice—we’d rent an umbrella not too close to the music and spend the day there. We also went to a wilder beach, harder to reach, via a long path. Behind the beach, there’s an amazing canyon where we’d sometimes climb using ropes (already in place, no need to bring your own) over big boulders rolled around by the stream, which must swell a lot in spring.
So, the sea in Albania: it’s nice if you like swimming and relaxing, but it’s not the most interesting part of the country. There are so many other amazing things to see and discover—so many stunning sites! Maybe an agency could’ve helped us find more practical accommodations and avoid Ksamil and its surroundings.
We left the coast to head to the beautiful city of Berat and its "thousand windows." We explored the city, its fortress, and its icon museum.
Then we discovered the Osum Canyon—it’s incredible. The view from the top is breathtaking. And at the bottom, it’s magical. There’s little water in summer, so rafting isn’t an option. We weren’t tempted by the big-tube descent offered by an agency—it looked fun, but the group had 40 people. We preferred hiking on our own as a family of four. We scouted the area on Google Maps... and found where to descend. We walked in the water, then it rose to our waists, then our shoulders... We weren’t moving fast. And how to get back up?? Eventually, we followed a group with a guide—the path was hard to find.
After that unforgettable hike, we visited the Bogovë Waterfalls. It’s pretty, and we swam, but the water was *really* cold.
We passed through Tirana again and then headed to Shkodër. We explored a bit—its charming little streets, the Rozafa Fortress. There’s a tiny museum where you can see *huge* Ottoman stone cannonballs. And they tell you the (charming) story of the young woman who was walled alive in the castle’s foundations to ensure its strength...
Shkodër is mostly a stopover to head into the mountains and discover Theth. Our goal: hiking in the Valbona Valley, from Valbona to Theth. We organized the trip ourselves, without an agency, but it took some time to figure everything out. So I’ll save you the trouble—haha. Book your tickets on the Komanilakeferry website. The ticket includes:
🙂 minibus transfer from downtown Shkodër to Koman
🙂 ferry ticket from Koman to Fierze. This ferry ride is *gorgeous*—between mountain slopes covered in pine trees, and sometimes a little house with a few fields...
🙂 minibus ticket from Fierze to Valbona. Now you’re in the mountains! The minibus drops you off near your accommodation—pick one as close as possible to the start of the hike (if that’s your goal!). The ones at the far end of the village add up to 1.5 hours of walking. Our choice: Guesthouse Dioni. The host is really lovely, it’s in the woods, and it’s basic but great.
After a day of hiking, we arrived in Theth. What beautiful mountains! Then we explored Theth and the surrounding area. It’s pretty busy, but you can still enjoy the Blue Eye of Theth and its swim. It’s *so* cold! But so beautiful!
🙂 minibus ticket from Theth back to Shkodër.
After a night in Shkodër, we drove to Kepi i Rodonit. A guidebook (I forget which one) raved about its beauty. And it *is* beautiful!
But the view is ruined by plastic bottles and other trash in the bushes, along the paths, and of course on the beaches. The only peaceful spot: the private beach at Kepi i Rodonit, which is cleaned. You can rent an umbrella and have lunch there. That’s where we spent our last few days—very relaxing.
In short... Albania turned out to be perfect for us and our teens!
I’m diving into a recap of our loop—pretty classic, really—Denver-Yellowstone-Denver this past summer, from July 24 to August 17. Given the sheer number of trip reports already out there (or in the works), and since I don’t have the writing chops or the photography skills of many of you, I’ll keep it practical—well, I’ll try, at least—to share our take on some of the less-visited parks and spots.
First off, a huge thank you to everyone whose trip reports, blogs, websites, comments, and more helped us put together this itinerary. Looking back, it could’ve been even better optimized: a few disappointments when we missed out on some great discoveries, often because we were short on time. Plenty of reasons to come back to the area!
We’re traveling with our four (almost) teens—18, 16, 14, and nearly 12 years old. To keep the trip enjoyable for everyone, we had to make compromises on both sides: cutting a visit short to spend more time swimming, waking up at dawn, and so on. But logistics also played a big role—things like laundry, grocery shopping, and keeping luggage organized could’ve quickly become time-consuming without a little planning.
And honestly, I think we visited every Walmart along the way! Blame it on the lack of fridges in some accommodations and, more importantly, the *very* limited space in the car, which made it impossible to bring a proper cooler. I’ll come back to the car saga later.
For accommodations, this year we alternated between basic cabins in KOA campgrounds and Yellowstone (when staying more than one night in the same place) and hotels. Always with a pool (except in Yellowstone, of course), which let the kids burn off energy—because they always have reserves, even after packed days!—and, let’s be honest, gave us a chance to relax. No Wi-Fi issues either; we all had plans with 25 GB of data (a big thanks to Gilles for the amazing deal at 0.99 €). It worked perfectly, even for texts and calls between phones—no extra charges.
Now, onto our route: as I mentioned, a classic Denver-Yellowstone-Denver loop. To avoid rushing through the parks or spending all our time on the road, we prioritized staying as close to them as possible, with at least two nights in each place. And I’ve got to say, it’s really nice to settle in, even if it’s just for two nights. It also helped us deal with the weather, which wasn’t always great during this trip. The trade-off? With vacation time being limited, some driving days ended up being long. We knew that going in, but since we kept a relaxed pace with no time constraints (don’t ask me for timings—I don’t keep track of the clock on vacation, except in the morning to get everyone up before noon!), we sometimes ended up with marathon days.
With that said, I’ll dive into the trip itself in the next post.
And we still haven’t seen everything!
Before setting off for new horizons at the end of this year, it’s time for me to share my trip to Cape Verde this summer 2025.
I particularly love these spontaneous trips, and our stay in Cape Verde is one of those because it was only at the beginning of April that we decided on this getaway, which had been catching our eye for a while, given our love for the mountains.
As always—well, when it’s open—I turned to VF, and I want to immediately thank Marie, aka ptitortue, who helped me a lot in planning this trip through her travel journals and our exchanges!
Because Cape Verde is both small and vast! We decided not to rush from one airport to another, to enjoy the places and the people, but also to relax, since the work backlog from being stuck in May (see my previous travel journal 😅) had to be caught up on in June.
So, 4 islands will be our winners from 06/28 to 07/19:
Santiago first for logistical reasons, as round-trip flights from the capital Praia were the cheapest (650 €/person from Lyon via Lisbon with TAP, still!)
São Vicente, because it’s the gateway to the next one but ultimately more than that...
Santo Antão, pretty much the main goal of the trip since Marie (and the photos) had really sold it to me.
And finally, Sal Island, for some rest—a non-negotiable condition for my other half—and we’ll see that I should’ve listened to Marie...
That said, what a chatterbox I am—buckle up, flight attendants at the doors, off we go on new beautiful escapes! (Thanks to Sophie for the easy loan)
Last note for my eager fan club 😏: yes, there will be alcohol—how could there not be in the land of grogue!
Hello,
Since I enjoy not only the countryside but also everything related to rail travel, I’m starting this photo thread dedicated to trains in Thailand (I’d guess most of us have taken one at some point...).
Feel free to post your pictures here as long as they fit the theme: rolling stock**, stations**, platforms, tracks (even without a train on them), technical equipment, engineering structures (bridges, viaducts), etc.—all in Thailand.
For each photo, I’ll (or you can) note the station or line where it was taken.
Comments and questions are welcome.
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I inherited my love of travel from my parents and some of my grandparents. A strong passion, but one that was unfortunately limited by our family’s modest resources. Back then, living in northern Alsace, a simple trip to the southern part of the region—with the Wine Route as our destination—felt like an extraordinary journey to a land of plenty for the little boy I was in the late 60s and early 70s.
Everything seemed so huge when you were still just a kid.
Back then, I was overwhelmed by countless sensations—I was already highly sensitive, with a keen mind and a nose and taste buds that were developing like a pro’s. Which, as I’d later realize, wasn’t always an advantage.
Those magical days always began with a gentle late-spring or midsummer morning. The interior of the white Peugeot 404, license plate 210 LZ 67, had already soaked up the sun before the engine purred to life, and the cabin gave off a scent I could still recognize today—a fragrance I found so pleasant. Back then, I had no idea it was just the smell of warm plastic from the car’s interior.
Yes, the scents of the 404 on sunny days became my madeleine de Proust...
What’s more, the whole family was unusually cheerful because those moments of relaxation and leisure were rare. Everyone worked, and no one had an easy job or was well paid. Without the *Trente Glorieuses*, these experiences might never have happened.
Once we crossed the canton’s borders, I felt like I was light-years away from my everyday surroundings, and every kilometer plunged me deeper into *terra incognita*. It was thrilling. Far from my so-called "medium-sized" town, wheat fields, cornfields, and cabbage patches stretched out, punctuated by tall poles connected by long wires and topped with vegetation—like giant clotheslines without laundry, where magical beanstalks might grow to touch the sky. Back then, I was still far from tasting their product, which was simply beer. At the time, there was still a significant local hop production. Fun fact: it wasn’t until 2002 that Anglo-Saxon scientists proved hops and cannabis belong to the same biological family.
After the fields, the landscape took another step up as it rolled past the little boy’s eyes, often glued to the windows. First came modest hills, then a succession of rolling slopes that soon formed an unbroken chain. Their 700 meters in altitude felt like Himalayan peaks to me—impressive, inert giants, a whole new world. Gazing at them, an intense emotion welled up somewhere between my stomach and lungs, nearly taking my breath away. What mysteries, what treasures did these heights hold?
And then there were the cherries on top—the crowning touch that made the scene even more magical: proud, majestic castles perched on the summits like impassive sentinels. Monuments from the past, yet firmly rooted in the present on their rocky spurs.
The little boy’s eyes sparkled—he’d been given a castle for Christmas, complete with battlements, towers, a drawbridge, and fully armed knights. He’d watched and lived *Ivanhoe* on the only French TV channel that existed back then.
Only once did my paternal grandfather join us on one of these trips. A tall, intelligent man with a face that could shift from stern to mischievous, clearly full of humor and charisma. Sadly, his relationship with alcohol had taken a toll on his life and, by extension, those of his loved ones. He had a strong personality—if his boss crossed the line, he wouldn’t hesitate to punch him, which meant he went through a lot of different jobs. Back then, you could quit one job and easily find another. It was quite something to see him in his final stages, hallucinating pink elephants and even drinking perfume when he had nothing else left. The last time I saw him, he’d slipped away from the doctors and nurses while hospitalized in pretty bad shape—at least, I assume his liver was the issue. We were sitting down for a family lunch when the door burst open, and there he stood in his pajamas, eyes twinkling with mischief, clearly pleased with the dramatic entrance. That theatrical moment didn’t spare us from burying him a few months later at the age of 71. One day, my mother told me the family doctor had quietly remarked that it was a shame—with his robust constitution, he could’ve lived to be a hundred. Yes, the family doctor—this was the man who’d come treat you any day, at almost any hour, just for a phone call. It really existed, it’s not a myth!
That day, his wife—my paternal grandmother—was also along for the ride. Everyone agreed that Jeannette was a good woman. She worked as a waitress at *Le Tigre*, the biggest brasserie in town, right in the center. Most customers preferred to be served by her, including local dignitaries and even the mayor. As a kid, I didn’t find her very fun, open, or warm—she seemed a bit stern. Back then, women in their fifties already had the face and build of grandmothers. Same went for men, don’t get me wrong. I had no idea about the struggles she faced because of her husband. I didn’t know that 30 years earlier, she’d had to flee Alsace while pregnant, under threat from Nazi fighter-bombers. I didn’t know she’d had several miscarriages, and that my father—her only surviving child, born prematurely in March 1940 at the other end of France—weighed less than a kilo at birth and was so tiny he could fit in a shoebox. Hard to imagine he’d grow into a strapping man nearly 1.80 meters tall, tipping the scales at 100 kilos.
When you come back from summer camp in early August and ask why she didn’t pick you up with your parents, and they gently tell you she’s "in heaven," you don’t realize she passed away at 54 after suffering greatly from stomach cancer that had spread.
Back to that family outing, that enchanted parenthesis. I even remembered where we’d had lunch when I passed through Dambach-la-Ville decades later. One of those charming, flower-filled towns Alsace produces in abundance—and preserves so well. This one sits high on a hill, and I was a bit stunned on the parking lot because the view stretched far, revealing the Alsace plain below—its fields, villages, hills, and forests. The world seemed so vast and enticing that day, even though I was only glimpsing a tiny fraction of it.
The region was already very touristy, but I wouldn’t notice the downsides until much later. That Sunday noon, I discovered a large restaurant filled with diners. I can still see the enormous piece of meat they served me, decorated with a little wooden skewer topped with a flag. I kept that one for a long time. Those were the golden days of rich, flowing, thick sauces—so flavorful—and the era of the world’s best fries, made on the spot with the best potatoes. To top it off, I was *exceptionally* allowed a small bottle of apple juice, Orangina, or—even better if possible—Sinalco. Yes, Sinalco—like Orangina, but better. A brand that must’ve disappeared in the 70s, but why, and what a shame! Since then, Orangina’s little bubbles have taken the brand to the other side of the planet—it’s now Japanese.
Year after year, I’d eagerly await that ecstatic moment when the most beautiful castle in Alsace, the Haut-Koenigsbourg, appeared in my field of vision. The perfect model, the archetype that blended into the landscape at the height of a child’s dreams.
The trip home always felt like a reality check—less jarring than an alarm clock, but more diffuse and melancholic. From then on, there was only one wish: *When do we leave again?*
Hi there,
Here’s a recap of a trek through the Balkans covering three countries: Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. I was with a friend, and we didn’t do the full route (only one day in Kosovo).
It was a wonderful trek through snow-capped mountains and vast flower-filled meadows, meeting incredibly welcoming people.
At the end of the travel journal, I’ll share what I loved and what I liked less.
Day 1: Flight from Paris-Beauvais to Tirana with Wizz Air.
Since Albania isn’t part of Europe when it comes to phone service (at least not yet! :-)), we had to buy a physical SIM card—otherwise, the bill would’ve been sky-high if we’d used our French plan! We got one from Vodafone AL at the airport. You can buy online before leaving with a virtual SIM (e-SIM) for compatible phones, so you don’t have to swap cards. But given the uncertainty about choosing a plan online, we preferred buying one directly at Tirana Airport. Cost: 31 € for 100 GB. That’s way too much—100 GB is overkill. For 40 GB, it’s 27 €, and the plan lasts 21 days. The price difference isn’t huge, and it was cheaper than online. This plan covers all the countries along the Balkan range.
Money tip: All guesthouses and accommodations accept euros. The local currency in Albania is the LEK. In Montenegro, it’s the euro. Bank fees for withdrawing money from an ATM in Albania are pretty steep: 8 € for a withdrawal of 600–700 LEK (about 200 €)! So it’s better to withdraw cash (euros) in France. Oh, and we booked all our accommodations before leaving, but payment is always in cash. Budget around 400–500 € for 9 days of trekking.
Then, a transfer the same day to Shköder, about a 2-hour bus ride. Cost: 10 € per person. Tickets bought directly on the bus. We spent the night in Shköder at a very clean guesthouse, Open Doors B&B. It had a small balcony overlooking the city.
I really liked Shköder, especially its pedestrian street lined with restaurants and lit up at night. It’s a great place to stroll and eat. The food isn’t expensive—two big salads and two beers: 14 € :-) . Fruit prices are also very reasonable: 3 € for a kilo of cherries, compared to 9–10 € in France.
Religions coexist peacefully in these countries—Catholics and Muslims. From our balcony, my friend heard the call to prayer for the first time, coming from one of the city’s mosques.
Day 2: Bus ride to Theth, about 1,100 meters in elevation gain, the starting point for our hike the next day.
The trip took 2 hours and 40 minutes with a break in the middle. The bus was affordable, but taxis also make the trip—though they’re very expensive.
We slept in the heights of Theth at a new guesthouse, "Mountain Vista Shkafi," with an amazing view.
The family was adorable. The husband is a handyman and built almost everything himself. Their baby is named "Sky"—such a cute name, right? :-) Throughout the trek, I found the guesthouses very clean, and the hosts think of everything—no need to bring soap or shampoo; they provide it.
Lunch in Theth at a traditional restaurant on the main road. We tried "Tave Dheu," an Albanian dish with beef, cabbage (very common), and cottage cheese. Delicious but not quite filling enough. For dessert, a honey cake that was perfectly moist—such a treat! Desserts like this are rare; sometimes they serve watermelon instead.
We took a small private bus for 5 € to the "Blue Eye" parking lot, then walked for about 45 minutes to reach a stunning natural site—a kind of lagoon with incredibly blue water. The bravest can swim, but the water’s freezing!
That evening, we dined at "La Montagne Blanche"—excellent! A delightful mix of grilled meats with potatoes and grilled peppers. Some watermelon slices (which I’m not a fan of) and the famous Raki, a brandy served in Turkey and the Balkans! It was my first time drinking brandy "bottoms up." 😉
I’d like to share my family trip to Colombia with kids aged 8. After spending hours browsing the forum and only having two weeks there, we decided to focus on two regions: the Coffee Zone for one week and the Caribbean coast for another. We traveled from August 8 to 23.
Day 1 – First stop: Bogotá
We arrived in Bogotá in the evening on an Air France flight—nothing to complain about, decent service, comfortable, and on time. However, the first night was a miss. We’d booked a hotel near the airport (Abitel Prime) for convenience, but the soundproofing was almost nonexistent; we heard planes as if we were on the runway. Luckily, exhaustion helped us sleep well anyway.
Day 2 – Off to the Coffee Zone and Salento
The next morning, we headed to the airport for a domestic flight to Pereira with LATAM. No issues: punctual and efficient, and in 30 minutes, we landed in Pereira. The landing already set a different mood: lush valleys, endless plantations, and humid air.
We picked up our rental car from Localiza. Unfortunately, the experience wasn’t smooth—the paperwork took forever, and the wait tested our patience. Finally free, we hit the road to Salento, one of Quindío’s gems.
We arrived in the late afternoon and discovered a colorful village bustling with artisan shops and cafés. Our first stroll helped us soak in the atmosphere before dinner at Bambú restaurant—a great surprise with careful cooking and local flavors. We spent the night at Casa Serafín, a charming little hotel, nicely decorated and well-located… but unfortunately very noisy.
Day 3 – The magic of Cocora Valley
This was one of the trip’s highlights. We set off early for Cocora Valley, famous for its giant wax palms, Colombia’s emblem. We chose the 12 km loop recommended by the *Routard*. The landscapes were spectacular: towering palms, rivers, suspension bridges. It felt like walking through a postcard. The weather was perfect.
That evening, we dined at Barnabé restaurant—pleasant setting, decent food, but the bill was a bit steep for what it was. Back to Casa Serafín.
Day 4 – Coffee and panoramic views
The plan was a visit to Finca El Ocaso. For 1.5 hours, we followed a passionate guide who explained the entire coffee process, from harvest to cup. Very educational, accessible for both kids and adults, all in a stunning setting. The tour was in English for us, and we translated for our kids, who aren’t bilingual yet.
In the afternoon, we climbed to Salento’s viewpoint. The valley view was superb. That evening, we ate at Veggie Garden, a simple and pleasant spot that was a nice change from the heavier meals of previous days.
Day 5 – Horseback ride to Santa Rita Waterfall
We booked a horseback ride with Cocora Magic. It was a real success: calm horses, a beautiful trail, mountain and meadow landscapes, and finally the refreshing and wild Santa Rita Waterfall. Without a doubt, one of the best moments of our time in the region. We even got a bonus ride up a 300-meter hill.
We then headed to Filandia, less known than Salento but just as charming. We spent the late afternoon enjoying the pool at MuchoSur Filandia. The hotel is beautiful, in an idyllic setting. However, we also had soundproofing issues and could hear our neighbors.
Day 6 – Rainy detour through Filandia and Manizales
Rain caught up with us in the early morning: torrents of water made it impossible to go out. We stayed at the hotel, reading quietly. By noon, the rain let up: a quick walk in Filandia, a quick lunch, then off to Manizales. We chose to stay at El Otoño hot springs. Great choice: as soon as we arrived, we plunged into the hot pools, perfect after hours on the road.
Day 7 – Hiking and hot springs
In the morning, we hiked the Camino de Super Coco (found somewhat randomly on Google). A pleasant trail with mountain views and a peaceful atmosphere. The afternoon was spent in the hotel’s thermal pools, with a short marked hike down to the river. Dinner on-site at the hot springs’ restaurant. A simple but very relaxing day.
Day 8 – Rain, jacuzzi, and games
We continued to Finca Los Alpes. The rain greeted us again, but this time it turned into an asset: nothing like a steaming jacuzzi with a view of the misty mountains. The kids enjoyed the facilities too: mini-golf, ping-pong, billiards. Dinner and night at the hotel, cozy vibes.
Day 9 – Off to the Caribbean coast
Back to the airport to return the car (still a bit long). Flight to Cartagena with Avianca: punctual and comfortable. Upon arrival, we picked up another car and headed straight to the Hyatt Regency, a modern hotel with a pool. That evening, we dined at the hotel—practical after a travel day.
Day 10 – Colonial Cartagena
We set off to explore Cartagena’s old town. It was enchanting: colorful facades, flowered balconies, colonial charm—just magical. However, the heat was stifling and very humid. Afternoon relaxation by the pool. Dinner at Gestlani, a good restaurant in town.
Day 11 – Road to Barú
A hearty breakfast, then one last swim in the pool before heading to Barú. We checked into Las Islas Hotel. The setting was enchanting: wooden cabins nestled in the vegetation, a private beach, turquoise sea, impeccable service. Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.
Day 12 – Beach and relaxation
A full beach day in Barú. Warm water, white sand, coconut trees, peace and quiet. A real postcard scene with iguanas and birds.
Day 13 – On to Santa Marta
Another morning at the beach before hitting the road to Santa Marta. The drive was a bit long (6 hours), especially with traffic jams in Barranquilla. It was the longest car ride of the trip. We spent the night at Villa María Tayrona, a beautiful place near the park.
Day 14 – Tayrona Park
We left early for Tayrona Park. We entered through **El Zaino**, parked the car, and set off on a hike to La Piscina (about 2 hours). We stopped along the way at Playa Arenilla, a stunning little beach, to rest. Lunch on-site, a swim, then back by 4 PM. The hike was a bit tiring, but the nature was spectacular: dense jungle, the sound of waves, and even a monkey encounter along the way. Evening and dinner at the hotel.
Day 15 – Last swim and return flight to Bogotá
Our last morning was split between the pool and the beach (the hotel has direct access via a 7-minute trail through vegetation and flowers)—hard to leave this paradise. We drove to Santa Marta’s airport to return the car, then flew back to Bogotá. We spent the night at Casa Dann Carlton, a comfortable hotel. We simply ordered room service, arriving too late to go out.
Day 16 – Bogotá and the end of the trip
Our last day in Colombia. After a good breakfast, we explored La Candelaria. Its cobbled streets and colorful houses were worth the visit. We visited the Botero Museum (free) and the Gold Museum, both fascinating. Back to the airport for our 11:55 PM Air France flight.
That’s a wrap on a varied trip—lush mountains, colorful villages, dream beaches, and tropical jungle.
The pace was pretty relaxed, well-suited for our kids. They absolutely loved the trip to Colombia.
Driving in Colombia was very easy, and we didn’t regret renting a car at all—it gave us more freedom to get around.
If I were to do it again, here’s what I’d change:
- I’d spend less time in the Coffee Zone to stay a bit longer on the Caribbean coast, which was more relaxing for the kids. Or I’d head to Medellín, but I didn’t think the city was very kid-friendly.
- Bogotá is a city that deserves a day’s visit, but it’s not a must-see. Maybe I’d have taken the KLM flight from Cartagena to Amsterdam instead.
Since I didn’t have time to write a proper travel journal, I thought I’d share a few photos of Bologna—a really lovely city I discovered in 2017 while stopping on my way to Tuscany.
Around Piazza Maggiore, which was packed with a stage and chairs for a show, stands the Basilica of San Petronio, massive and Gothic in style, with an unfinished façade (a common sight in Italy).
Another building near the square:
But Bologna’s real charm lies in its porticoes, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021: 62 km of arcades running along buildings, letting you walk sheltered from the sun or rain. Back in 1288, the city required houses to include private arcades for public use. In the city center, you can stroll under 32 km of porticoes in all sorts of styles—some plain, some ornate—with a strong presence of red tones.