Pourquoi vouloir comparer la France avec les pays du golfe....ou autres pays d'Asie ou d'Afrique.... La France était réputée terre d'accueil, mon grand père quand il est arrivé d'Italie était un clandestin qui avait tout lâché pour quitté les chemises noires, et à l'époque cela n'avait pas semblé poser un problème insurmontable.
Arrête de nous rebattre les oreilles avec l'incivisme des "mémères à chien" la plupart sont respectueuses et ramassent leurs crottes de chiens (cela vaut pour les pépères à chien aussi)
Les tagueurs, bonne nouvelle les tags font l'objet d'une expo au grand Palais et Basquiat a mis du temps avant d'être reconnu artiste comme la plupart des artistes dont les bobos s'arrachent les toiles.
Je fais une sacré différence entre l'acceptation des règles de vie commune et le regain de pétainisme....l'appel à la délation et la prison pour tout et n'importe quoi (sauf les délits financiers bien entendu...) ne me paraissent pas la solution à l'acceptation des règles.
Oui je voyage dans le métro, tous les jours je croise des visages qui m'évoquent des terres lointaines, de longues traversées, ...
Merci pour les conseils de voyage, mais t'inquiète j'y ai déjà pensé
Les vraies révolutions ont un caractère irréversible car elles sont faites, voulues et vécues par la base dans sa globalité ou sa diversité.
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Errare humanum est
Faudrait justement arrêter avec cette réputation...la France ne peut plus accueillir ses propres ressortissants ! Combien dans les rues sont des travailleurs pauvres nés Français et qui vivent dans la rue parce qu'ils ne sont pas prioritaires pour accéder au logement social ?
"Faudrait justement arrêter avec cette réputation...la France ne peut plus accueillir ses propres ressortissants ! Combien dans les rues sont des travailleurs pauvres nés Français et qui vivent dans la rue parce qu'ils ne sont pas prioritaires pour accéder au logement social ?"
Tu es bien belge devenu français, je ne me trompe pas ?
(Je te précise qu'on ne naît pas français, on est ou on n'est pas, mais ce n'est pas un caractère génétique)
Immigration ? Ca vous dit quelque chose l'Europe ?
L'Espagne, la Belgique, l'Italie, la Roumanie, ... c'est l'Europe ! Pas le Mali ou la Chine.
C'est au nom de ce principe que la Belgique forme les vétérinaires et infirmières dont la France a besoin ! Et c'est toujours au nom de ce principe que de nombreux autistes et handicapés Français sont accueillis en Belgique !
En échange, je vaux bien un autiste, non ?
Surtout que les prestations sociales, en France, jen'en connais que les taxes et impôts.
Et puis, n'oubliez pas, en devenant Français, j'ai renoncé à la nationalité belge. Si j'avais été Marocain ou Sénégalais, on ne l'aurait pas exigé. Nous sommes plus sévères envers nous-mêmes !
"Immigration ? Ca vous dit quelque chose l'Europe ?
L'Espagne, la Belgique, l'Italie, la Roumanie, ... c'est l'Europe ! Pas le Mali ou la Chine. "
Tu es gonflé, quand même... 🙂
L'immigré, en gros, c'est un type qui vient de plus loin que là d'où je viens moi.
"Et puis, n'oubliez pas, en devenant Français, j'ai renoncé à la nationalité belge. Si j'avais été Marocain ou Sénégalais, on ne l'aurait pas exigé. Nous sommes plus sévères envers nous-mêmes ! "
Vous ne pouvez nous en prendre qu'à vous. Et si tu avais été sénégalais .... Et bien tu le serais encore, sénégalais. Et seulement sénagalais.
en réponse à "Tu devrais t'informer un peu.... Santé, éducation, condition de la femme.
Entre la Russie tsariste des paysans illettrés, soumis à la religion et aux maîtres, sans droits, sans soins, sans aides, et l'URSS des années 60 où des femmes venues du peuple deviennent médecins ou techniciennes, tu ne vois pas de révolution ? "
Si certaines avancées sont indéniables, il n'en reste pas moins que de bout en bout de son existence l'URSS est resté un grand pays du tiers-monde. C'était une nasse d'improductivité autoritaire. Certains pays sont sortis plus efficacement et plus rapidement de la féodalité en empruntant un autre chemin (ex Japon). D'autre part, les inégalités y étaient criantes et aucune révolution des moeurs, culturelle ou artistique n'a pu s'y développer et devenir une référence pour le reste de la planète. Concernant la condition des femmes je ne sais pas si tu as pu lire la correspondance entre Lénine et Clara Zetkin (révolutionnaire allemande) sur la condition des femmes dans le socialisme... à côté Benoît XVI est un sacré libertin😏!!!
Mais bon je ne crois pas qu'Alex nous demande quel est le pays "disparu" qui nous a plus déçu", ni de nous prononcer sur l'inanité de thèses unanimement rejetées.
Si on doit comparer la France des années 50 et l'URSS des années 50, le tiers monde, c'était la France. 🙂
Et je ne suis pas certain que le Japon soit sorti de la féodalité...
"L'URSS de Staline semble un modèle pour Tatra..."
Un petit peu moins de calomnie, un petit peu plus de réflexion... Et même pas réflexion, juste de connaissances historiques sur les années 50. Aujourd'hui, que le modèle américain soit préférable au modèle URSS, ça te paraît évident, mais dans les années 50 les Américains étaient les premiers à ne pas en être sûrs du tout... D'ailleurs sur plein de plans ils étaient distancés !...
Marrant... tu demandes moins de calomnie et plus de réflexions...
C'est après que ça se gâte... de prohibition en Guantanamo, de Maccartysme en Vietman.
Et dans le même sujet, tu nous parles de Maccartysme et des bienfaits de l'URSS des années 50... Staline est mort en 1953 et la démocratie américaine a déchu Mac Carthy en 1953... c'est la seule similitude... Mac Carthy a fiché quelques dizaines de milliers d'Américains quand Staline a "purgé" des millions de Soviétiques...
Si la France des années 50, c'était le tiers-monde, l'URSS c'était le retour de la féodalité !
Fais quelques recherches, informe-toi...
C'est facile de dire, avec le recul, que le modèle US était supérieur, mais dans les années 50 l'industrie soviétique impressionnait, elle allait dominer l'espace, l'armement était à la pointe, les femmes, libres et indépendantes, accédaient aux professions d'élite, l'éducation et la santé étaient sans conteste au-dessus de la réalité européenne.
A l'époque, les Etats-Unis n'en menaient pas large face à ces progrès de leur adversaire.
Tu es prisonnier des évidences d'aujourd'hui, cela t'interdit d'analyser.
mais dans les années 50 l'industrie soviétique impressionnait ... Tu es prisonnier des évidences d'aujourd'hui, cela t'interdit d'analyser.
Et tu es prisonnier des impressions d'hier.
Quand le rideau de fer s'est écroulé, le monde a découvert le bilan écologique catastrophique qu'avait généré cette impression d'avance des Soviétiques dans certains domaines !
Quant à mon analyse, comme mon père (leader syndical) et mon oncle (député communiste), j'avais à 18 ans ma carte du PC et c'est à cette époque que j'étais dans l'incapacité d'analyser.
"Quand le rideau de fer s'est écroulé, le monde a découvert le bilan écologique catastrophique qu'avait généré cette impression d'avance des Soviétiques dans certains domaines !"
De quoi me parles-tu ?
Je te parle des années 50, et de la société : culture, éducation, santé.
"j'avais à 18 ans ma carte du PC et c'est à cette époque que j'étais dans l'incapacité d'analyser."
Promis, je ne le dirai pas à tes futurs employeurs. 🙂
Nous n'avions plus 18 ans, nous pouvons analyser en nous sortant des manichéismes.
en réponse à "D'ailleurs sur plein de plans ils étaient distancés !... "
Michel, je crois que c'est toi qui est distancé sur ce coup😏. Il y a quelque chose de pathétique à t'entendre désespérément chanter les louanges du cadavre, alors que tous les invités ont quitté le cimetière depuis longtemps. Mais comme je n'ai pas pour habitude de tirer sur une ambulance, je vais te répondre sérieusement.
Eh bien oui tu as raison sur un point : Auréolée par sa victoire de la seconde Guerre Mondiale, l'URSS était devenue dans les années 50 le moteur des luttes coloniales. Elle était sur tous les fronts, et pour le camp d'en face la victoire du socialisme semblait inéluctable. La seule chose qu'il restait à faire c'était de retarder le plus possible l'échéance. Mais cette prééminence était seulement militaire. Le pays en lui-même était corseté de toute part et n'en avait pas terminé avec le goulag... c'est seulement à partir des années 60 que les témoignages et les preuves se sont multipliés et que certains intellectuels ont commencé à ouvrir les yeux.
Michel maintenant tu sors du cimetière tu vas attraper froid😉
En matière de santé, l'URSS a progressé par rapport à la Russie mais était en retard par rapport aux USA. Education, idem. Culture, elle ne servait qu'à la propagande.
La révolution russe était pleinement justifiée tant la situation de la population était d'une autre époque. Mais rapidement, comme toute révolution, les libérateurs ont remplacé les despotes d'hier. Les USA, démocratiquement, étaient bien au dessus de l'URSS... Seuls l'armement et la course aux étoiles étaient des domaines dans lesquels l'URSS dominait les USA dans les années 50.
l'URSS était devenue dans les années 50 le moteur des luttes coloniales. Elle était sur tous les fronts, et pour le camp d'en face la victoire du socialisme semblait inéluctable.
Des fois, on s'étonne de la raison humaine... dans les années 50, les leaders de ces luttes anti coloniales voulaient croire au modèle soviétique (et Cubain à la fin des années 50) mais ne trouvaient rien à redire aux massacres de 50 000 Hongrois et à la fuite de 300 000 autres parce que le peuple Hongrois avait refusé en 1956 la botte soviétique !
😉 c est vrai que j'ai du mal à dire avoir été déçu par un voyage où meme un pays ....
Pas un seul voyage sans revenir enchanté d'avoir fait de nouvelles découvertes !
Mais puisque il y a question je vais quand meme y répondre : le Luxembourg ...pas vraiment de bon souvenirs ...rien qui m'y ferais retourner
mes coups de coeur : Yemen, Ethiopie, Bolivie, Phillipines ....
" Les USA, démocratiquement, étaient bien au dessus de l'URSS..."
Si tu veux dire que dans la première on votait - peu- pour choisir entre deux candidats proches et que dans la seconde on votait - beaucoup - pour en chosiir un seul, tu as raison? Mais il n'y a pas de quoi en faire un éléments déterminant du bonheur des peuples.
"En matière de santé, l'URSS a progressé par rapport à la Russie mais était en retard par rapport aux USA. Education, idem. Culture, elle ne servait qu'à la propagande."
Mais l'URSS de l'époque était même en matière de santé et d'éucation au-dessus des Etats-Unis d'aujourd'hui, Gilles !
Les gens étaient éduqués, tous et gratuitement, et les soins étaient gratuits pour tous.
Etre bon en matière de santé, ce n'est pas soigner certains, c'est accorder des soins corrects à tous, avoir une santé publique. Sans doute les Etats-Unis étaient-ils mieux situés dans ce domaine avant la catastrophique dégringolade de l'ère Reagan, mais ils n'ont jamais été très bons.
"Des fois, on s'étonne de la raison humaine... dans les années 50, les leaders de ces luttes anti coloniales voulaient croire au modèle soviétique (et Cubain à la fin des années 50) mais ne trouvaient rien à redire aux massacres de 50 000 Hongrois et à la fuite de 300 000 autres parce que le peuple Hongrois avait refusé en 1956 la botte soviétique !"
Avec ce genre de principe, on est tristement amené à compter les cadavres, ceux de Dresde, ceux du Vietnam, les centaines de milliers de morts de l'Irak, avant, pendant, et après la guerre. Donc je reprends :
"Des fois, on s'étonne de la raison humaine... dans les années 40 à 2000, les thuriféraires du libéralisme débridé voulaient croire au modèle US (et Anglais à la fin des années 90) mais ne trouvaient rien à redire aux massacres de ..."
en réponse à "Avec ce genre de principe, on est tristement amené à compter les cadavres, ceux de Dresde, ceux du Vietnam, les centaines de milliers de morts de l'Irak, avant, pendant, et après la guerre. Donc je reprends"
oui il n'est jamais bon d'établir des hits parade de la mort... mais la différence est de taille ceux que tu cites sont des guerres frontales de bloc à bloc. Alors que les massacres du goulag, les répressions féroces en Allemagne de l'Est, Hongrie, Tchécoslovaquie etc... le sont à l'intérieur d'une même famille...
"Alors que les massacres du goulag, les répressions féroces en Allemagne de l'Est, Hongrie, Tchécoslovaquie etc... le sont à l'intérieur d'une même famille..."
N'importe quoi.... 🤪
On est obligés de faire définitivement dériver cette discussion de son sujet initial ?
"... ta réaction montre que tu as encore de beaux restes de stalinisme en toi!"
Et bien tu iras, toi, dire aux polonais et aux tchèques qu'ils sont "de la même famille" que les russes. 😏
Tu sembles prêt à écrire n'importe quoi du moment que ça entretient une petite polémique ; je n'ai pas trop le temps aujourd'hui. Essaie avec Anassa... 🤪
ne te défile pas. Tu sais bien ce que je veux dire par "même famille", il s'agissait de répressions au sein de la famille "idéologique communiste" pour les polonais, les tchèques etc... ou pacte de Varsovie si tu préfères... que je sache les B52 US n'ont pas fondu sur la France lorsque de Gaulle s'est retiré de l'OTAN? D'autre part pour les millions de morts du goulag là il s'agissait de la famille russe proprement dite!!!
Je ne me défile pas. Ta vision est naïve, volontairement j'espère.
De toutes façons je ne vois pas en quoi les crimes familiaux surpasseraient les non familiaux.
Un pays qui m'a déçu et qui me déçoit c l'Espagne. Sincérement ils sont pas accueillants du tout surtout en Andalousie. Je pense que ça vient du fait que se soit une région touristique... mais la Catalogne ou les Pays Basque je préfères.
Les Pays-Bas aussi pas terrible.
La Russie ; accueil terrible ! quand on dit qu'on est mal accueilli en France !!!
L'Inde ; pénible, anormalement sale, anormalement bruyant ; les gens sont très gentils, l'expérience vaut le coup une fois... mais franchement, c'est pas des vacances...
La Suisse ; très beau pays mais tout le monde est flic dans sa tête... effrayant !
La Russie ; accueil terrible ! quand on dit qu'on est mal accueilli en France !!!
C'est vrai qu'au début ca fait un choc quand on demande quelque chose à un commercant et qu'il nous envoie limite chier, à coté les fonctionnaires des impots sont des anges. Et la tete des caissière quand en bon francais j'attendais qu'elles répondent à mon bonjour avant de demander ce que je voulais 😏
Mais en meme temps j'ai trouvé très facilement des personnes pour m'héberger sur hospitalityclub surement plus facilement que dans beaucoup d'autres pays. Sans compter les invitations des gens dans les trains. Surtout en allant vers l'Est en Sibérie les gens sont bien plus accueillant qu'en france : essayez un peu de demander à quelqu'un de vous preter son téléphone portable pour appeller quelqu'un, à Paris vous risquez d'attendre longtemps, en russie ca m'est arrivé plusieurs fois.
J'ai des amis Russes. Ce sont des gens exceptionnels. Vraiment ! Charmants, drôles, sympas, toujours prêts à rendre services. Ça, c'est vrai.
Mais ce sont les amis. Les contacts "commerciaux" sont détestables : dans les magasins, les restos, les musées... et jusqu'au comptoir d'embarquement pour reprendre l'avion, je n'ai vraiment vu ça nulle part ailleurs ! On se fait vraiment traiter comme des chiens. Et je pense que la majorité des gens qui vont en Russie n'ont pas d'amis pour contre balancer cette impression...
Dans le fond, cette discussion vient à la question des gens les plus accueillants et les moins accueillants. Comme un sujet que j'avais déjà partie et il y a encore du monde des fois qui y réponde. Ça doit bien faire au moins 4 ans de ça. 🙂
Malte, sans aucun doute .
La campagne est d'une laideur difficile à décrire.
Le littoral présente peu d'intérêt . Bétonné de clapiers pour héberger les comités d'entreprise anglais : un vrai massacre.
Le patrimoine historique est très limité : moins de chose à voir qu'une journée à Chartres ou à Bourges.
Gozo, c'est moins pire car plus difficile d'accès.
Les maltais, par contre sont charmants . De toute manière après une semaine à Paris, on trouve tout le monde charmant.
J'ai séjourné 15 mois à Anjouan dans les années 90.
Il ne s'agit pas d'une destination touristique . L'absence de toute infrastructure rend difficile le découverte du pays.
Le logement chez l'habitant est inexistant.
Il s'agit plus d'un pays ressemblant plus à la Somalie qu'à l'île Maurice si on mesure le développement en regardant les routes, les hôpitaux, les écoles.
Voici un aperçu qui date de 17 ans :
Bon, très bien...
La France n'a jamais été au siècle des Lumières, elle n'a jamais connu l'humanisme, n'a pas fait la Révolution et n'a promu les Droits de l'Homme que par vil intérêt.
Elle est quoi alors ?
Si ses mythes fondateurs ne sont plus, si ses valeurs sont reniées, si ses idéaux sont vendus aux enchères sur Ebay ou échangés contre des Rollex, elle n'existe plus. Ou elle est ce qu'elle est en train de devenir, une nation banale et médiocre, sans ambition ni projet. Même plus une nation, donc. D'ici peu on pourra y jouer Ubu.
Vous parlez de siècle des Lumières et d'humanisme comme un idéal...
Quand on sait que les Lumières ont mené à la Révolution et à la Terreur et l'humanisme au colonialisme...
Si on doit comparer la France des années 50 et l'URSS des années 50, le tiers monde, c'était la France. 🙂
Et je ne suis pas certain que le Japon soit sorti de la féodalité...
Vous m'excuserez, mais dans les années 50, j'aurais préféré cent mille fois vivre dans la France de la IVème République ou le Japon "féodal" que dans l'URSS de Staline...
Savez-vous en outre qu'en URSS, surtout à cette époque-là et dans les années 30, il y a eu des famines?
On peut avoir vécu dans un pays communiste et savoir faire la différence entre le mode de société mis en place et l'épisode stalinien.
Je ne défends pas le communisme ! Je dis certaines choses, banales, mais contestées par personne, sur la culture, la santé, l'éducation gratuites et de bonne qualité dans les années 60.
Quand vous lisez communisme vous comprenez implicitement stalinisme ; un peu de distanciation, que diable !
Le communisme ne se limite pas à Staline et à URSS. Dans ce pays, les bolcheviks ne l'ont d'ailleurs pas attendu pour instaurer une politique de terreur. Lénine était déjà une "pointure" dans ce domaine: massacres et gazages de masse, destructions, déportations en camps de concentration. De par son caractère fanatique et hystérique, Lénine est d'ailleurs le criminel qui se rapproche le plus de Hitler. De plus, bien après Staline, les dénonciations et déportations en camp allaient toujours bon train, même si elles ne revêtaient plus le caractère massif des prériodes Lénine et Staline.
En dehors de l'URSS, il y a eu Mao, Pol Pot, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara (qui est responsable de massacres de populations africaines et sud-américaines, dont des Amérindiens, lors d'expéditions punitives dans la cambrouse...), Henver Hoxha, Kim Il Sung... Partout le communisme a été synonyme de répression et de corruption.
Un pòble non pòu viure, escurcit encadenat, en lo pantais d'un autre... (Lo Mago d'en Casteu).
Depuis décembre 2006, j'ai passé plus d'une année en Inde. Mon dernier séjour (avant celui-ci) remonte à décembre 2010. Que de changements depuis! Je ne me…
J'aimerais savoir si vous avez déjà été déçu (e) d'un voyage, par rapport à ce que vous en attiendiez, ce que vous aviez lu ou de ce qu'on vous avait dit avant…
Réflexions de voyageurs › États-Unis · 329 replies
Que répondez vous à vos proches quand ils vous posent cette question qu'on a tous dû avoir... " Tu vas encore aux Etats Unis, t'en as pas marre?" Lachez vous!
Hallo les voyageurs! J'ai une question pour vous qui vous baladez de par le vaste monde. Est-ce que vous prenez en considération le régime politique d'un pays…
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
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