Another side of my trip to Thailand: Villages, nature, countryside, mountains...

I've been struggling for over an hour now trying to post my new article, and it keeps glitching out almost at the last moment. I must've tried at least ten times already 😡😡😡

Really interesting travel journal—it’s a whole different side of the country!

Today’s surprise, March 1st, with the driver: He takes me to Mae Suai in Doi Chang, up in the mountains—a stunning spot. I’m loving taking tons of photos and videos. First, at lunchtime, he brings me to a very unusual restaurant where sheep compete for space with the customers. I’d never seen anything like it!



It’s a very touristy place, sure, but it’s the perfect example of a tourist spot that’s still friendly and pleasant—wild and bucolic at the same time. There aren’t thousands of visitors, they respect nature, and you almost feel like you’re there with family—though it’s a big family. Above all, it’s a Thai tourist spot, not overrun by thousands of Westerners. A place where you can share the joy of this space with others who appreciate it. I don’t have the words to explain it.



This restaurant is set up in a “model farm” dedicated to raising sheep. Though clearly well-kept and treated like pets, the sheep still have their freedom—their sheep lives—in a vast space where they can choose to mingle with humans or stay in the pastures, living their sheep lives. I can’t help but think of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, who played shepherdess in her little rustic hamlet in the lavish gardens of Versailles.

The icing on the cake? If these sociable sheep enjoy sharing space with humans, they also let us share theirs—through the hills where you can admire the magnificent panorama.





A fantastic example of a tourist attraction done right.

A great idea—both interesting for visitors and financially smart for the owner—is to give access to the restaurant via a small “rural museum” tour. Unfortunately, nothing’s ever perfect, and they thought it was essential to blast modern Western music both inside the restaurant and outside in the fields and pastures. We could’ve done without that. Another downside: the prices for the dishes are way too high compared to what’s served. It’s a nice place, but the clientele is selected by money, just like at Terracotta Garden in Chiang Mai (if you still remember it by the end of this travel journal). The difference is that at Terracotta Garden, the dishes were distinctly Thai and... absolutely divine.

After this not-so-gourmet but oh-so-rustic and refreshing break, Phajon takes me on a long drive through the mountains along the Doi Chang road.



He’s even more surprised than at Doi Mae Salong when I ask him to drop me off for a long hike of several kilometers.



The views are breathtaking, alternating between mountains, rivers, and even a beautiful blue lake—definitely a reservoir.



Then he announces another surprise: He’s taking me to a water sports base on the river. This time, I *feel* like I’m in Thailand! It’s exactly the kind of place I love—where I can mix with the locals.



Here, no “beach,” but a long string of little bungalow terraces set by the water—or even *over* the water on small stilts—where people are packed in, talking, laughing, eating...



Of course, today’s Saturday, and Thais love getting out on weekends. I can’t tell if these waterside spaces are private properties or public spots rented out by the day...

One thing’s for sure: This year, during my long stay in Chiang Rai, I won’t miss the chance to spend some time here—maybe even a whole day, like the Thais do. But I’ll test it out on a weekday first.



The day is now well underway. When we hit the road again, I think we’re heading back. But no—today, Phajon has decided to go all out to make up for my frustrations from the previous days. And he takes me... to a temple!!! Wat Hauy Sai Kao.

Ouch! I’d said: *no more temples* for the rest of the trip. But this one’s completely atypical. I feel like I’m at Disneyland—there are so many stupas shaped like little bells, fantastical animals, and characters from *One Thousand and One Nights*. The colors are explosive! It’s the height of kitsch. Truly Thai-style Disneyland.

I can’t add any more photos here, but you can always check out https://temple-thai.com/chiang-rai/wat-sai-khao/ even if my photos would’ve given you an even better look at Thailand’s most extravagant temple. 🤪 🤪 🤪

As if he’d guessed I’d need his services again next year, Phajon makes it a point to satisfy me these last two days—to make me forget my past frustrations. And he succeeds so well that it’s thanks to these last two days that I’ll forget the previous mishaps and head back to India and then France with the memory of a beautiful stay in Chiang Rai—and in Thailand overall. I have plenty of flaws, but I’m not one to hold a grudge, and I’m told I have a phenomenal ability to forgive... I forgive, but as Maria Callas said, I don’t forget...

When we arrive, he tells me he doesn’t know where the waterfall I want to see tomorrow—my last day and our last outing—is located: - But I’ll take you to see another one, very beautiful, and then back into the mountains, to a spot with an amazing view where you can walk and take lots of photos....

Really interesting travel journal: it’s a whole different take on the country!

Thanks so much, that’s encouraging me to finish it... before my next trip in 8 days

I hope you have a pleasant stay right from the start; let’s bet it’ll complement your previous one and show you different sides of this country of a thousand faces and smiles.

I was struck by your thoughts on places that play this current music with very specific traits: juvenile voices lacking character, choruses with no depth, a total lack of talent in the composition. It’s pure mush—you feel like you’re hearing the same annoying track over and over.

Back in the 60s, we had the explosion of real pop with an astronomical number of beautiful songs, with The Beatles leading the way. The 70s gave us the best of reggae and high-quality psychedelic albums. The 80s brought another pop explosion with loads of well-crafted songs. The 90s offered the inventiveness of acid jazz and the best of techno—I’m thinking especially of trance. Finally, the 2000s marked the revival of Britpop, with many talented bands emerging, as well as a wave of new jazz singers.

Most French people aren’t familiar with any of this—they’re always lagging behind in Europe on this front, happily settling for pop music and the least qualitative styles. For the past fifteen years or so, aside from rare exceptions, it’s been a total void. I’ve noticed that music is always directly tied to its era, to the point where you wonder which came first. It seems we’re now in the era of emptiness...

Sorry for the digression, but it feels good to get it off my chest. When I’m deep in Thailand, I shiver with pleasure in typical places, surrounded by typical faces, and the ultimate is when the background music is traditional—say, from the 60s to the 90s—the kind that evokes buffaloes, rice fields, and mist rising over the hills.

Now, the disease is spreading. All too often, you hear this sanitized, globalized, flavorless music. The worst part? They think they’re doing you a favor. They see you coming and—bam—they put on the background music they’re sure will please a foreigner. I’ve noticed this more than once. Don’t hesitate to tell them: *Mè mi thai music?* and you might see their faces light up and get what you want.

I wish you an enjoyable stay already; let's hope it complements the last one and shows you different sides of this country of a thousand faces and smiles.

I’m going to let you in on a secret, but… shh! Don’t tell anyone. With exactly 8 days left before my departure, I really don’t feel like leaving India or going to Thailand. I have to leave India because of their strict regulations, but after reading everything on this forum about Thailand, I don’t feel like going at all… But I promised myself I’d give it another try, and since I keep my promises… Though I’m really not super enthusiastic. I need to reread my notes from last year about arriving at Bangkok airport. The exchange, the SIM card, the taxi, the different levels where these services are located… I’ve forgotten it all…

On this musical digression, Thailand, like almost all the countries in the region, is under the influence of K-pop... which, admittedly for old-timers like us, can seem a bit sanitized.

But don’t forget it’s also one of the countries with the most live music: it’s crazy how many guitar singers perform every night in bars and restaurants. Thais have a real culture of music played by real musicians, with lots of catchy tunes everyone joins in on.

In the north and Isan, you could see groups dressed like in the '60s—ballroom bands in colorful satin with bell-bottoms, like... I don’t know if they’re still around.

On the other hand, molam still exists—those songs that tell endless stories with that countryside sound.

Thai people have a real culture of music played by a real musician....

Schoolgirl outfit, guitar, cajon, hi-hat, Roland, Harley-Davidson, Che Guevara... and a lot of talent—20 baht notes were raining down.

At KC Market, Khlong Sam Wa, Bangkok:

If a single comma buried in long texts suddenly sparks so much interest, I think it’s time to put a... final period on this travel journal.

Today, March 2nd, is my last outing and last day in Chiang Rai since I’m leaving tomorrow for Bangkok, which I’ve already covered enough in the first part of this journal not to revisit. It’ll just be a two-day decompression stop before diving back into the hustle of India.

We set off early this final morning for Pu Kaeng Waterfall. It takes us nearly two hours to get there because Phajon remembers going with Joël and his wife but can’t recall how to get there. He’s pulled this kind of thing on me two or three times before, and sometimes even within the same day, he forgets things he’s said or done. I’m starting to wonder if he might have a neurological issue.

When we arrive at the waterfall, I’m pretty disappointed because it feels like we’ve landed in a big tourist accommodation spot—like a holiday resort or a luxury campsite. And on top of that, we have to pay an entrance fee. This is the first time I’ve ever had to pay to see a waterfall. So, without much enthusiasm, I still agree to check it out. First, because the place reminds me of a tropical forest, which I love exploring. Second, because I don’t want to ruin my last day.

After walking a few dozen meters, big signs announce that the waterfall spans nine tiers. They indicate the distance from the starting point to each tier. The last one is about 1 km from the sign. At first, I’m disappointed because there isn’t much water in what should be a raging torrent. But I keep going because, once again, it feels like I’m in the heart of a tropical forest I love exploring, and the walk becomes more enjoyable. However, as I progress, the terrain gets trickier. Even with good shoes on, it’s extremely slippery. The path isn’t really a path anymore—it’s more like steps roughly carved into the clay. Between the heavy rain and probably thousands of visitors’ footsteps, these steps aren’t steps at all anymore. They’ve rounded out into vague "bumps" that almost blend into the steep terrain. It’s even worse than what I saw at the previous waterfall. The whole thing feels like it’s covered not in moss but in soap.



Luckily, I spot a cement railing on the right, designed to look like a tree branch or vine to blend into the landscape. It’s meant to help visitors climb, but as soon as I place my hand on it, I feel hundreds of stings on my hands and arms. And I realize they’re not stings—it’s bites from thousands of ants.

This "helpful" railing is completely covered in millions of tiny but fiercely aggressive ants... I immediately let go of the fake vine, struggling to shake off the ants crawling all over my body after leaving my hands and arms.



But my desire to see the waterfall is stronger because as I climb, I see more and more water in the torrent bed. So I really want to reach the top. Especially after seeing stunning photos online of cascades flowing down successive tiers. I’m determined to keep going—without holding the railing. Whenever I really need support, I only use two or three fingers. I think even younger people would have to keep holding the railing because the ground has become like a bar of soap. It’s getting more and more impassable—and even dangerous. It’s really essential to hold onto the railing, but it’s completely overrun by ants. What to do? I try to move forward without holding on, using my two- or three-finger technique and immediately shaking my hand, but it’s a real struggle. I’m pretty annoyed because the waterfall is getting really interesting as I climb, but I’m starting to question whether continuing is extremely dangerous without a stick or anything to keep my balance. I’ve already slipped several times, and if I fell, I could tumble down the slope and break a foot, leg, or vertebra. Especially since I’m absolutely alone today, again.



I’ll take a moment to say I really enjoyed my stay in Chiang Rai because I never encountered crowds anywhere. Very often, I was alone—completely alone. And that’s the case today, too. I take my time and snap lots of photos.

I feel pretty frustrated if I have to give up. Then suddenly, I hear shouts through the forest. I wonder who’s yelling and realize it’s Phajon, shouting at the top of his lungs: - Go back! Go back! He’s standing below me, a good fifty meters away. He’s asking me to come back down. I think he believes I’m taking too long on my visit again. So I shout back that I want to keep going. He yells even louder that I left without a water bottle and that he came to bring me one, so I need to come down and get it.



I decide to go back down, and the descent is even more perilous than the climb. Oddly, I notice he doesn’t have a water bottle—neither in his hands nor in a bag. He sees I’m annoyed and making a weird face, so he tells me I can keep going but must be very careful because it’s really dangerous. It’s super slippery. I reply that I had enough trouble coming back down to him and don’t have the energy to climb back up and then go even higher, even though I can tell the tiers are getting closer together.

Since I was determined to keep going despite the danger, I think my guardian angel sent Phajon to make me come back down.

In the end, this waterfall is indeed the one I’d planned to visit, so he wants to follow through on his idea of taking me somewhere he thinks I’ll really love. It’s completely in the opposite direction from where we are, so we head back on the road, passing close to my accommodation to go the other way.

He takes me to Doi Tung, which, under the initiative of the Queen Mother, was transformed into a sustainable development project—a famous area for its tourist and ecological attractions, including palaces, gardens, and temples. One of these is Mae Fah Luang, a stunning floral park.

As a senior, I get a 50% discount to visit the park. A great deal, even though the entrance fee isn’t excessive. But as the rich say, there’s no such thing as small profits. When I go to buy my ticket, the woman asks for my passport. But once again, I’ve left my bag in the pickup. - I don’t have it on me; I left it in my vehicle. But you can see from my face that I’m old enough to qualify for the discount. - I need your passport! I always struggle with stupid, narrow-minded people—especially those who apply rules rigidly to the letter... we saw plenty of that everywhere during the Covid period. - Why do you need my passport? - To verify your age. - If that’s all, you can see just by looking at me that I’m old and above the age limit for the 50% discount. - I must see your passport! Every time, her tone is sharp! Instead of asking her to use common sense, I try to appeal to her sympathy: - My vehicle is parked far away, it’s really hot, I’m tired, and I need to sit down and rest for a bit. Maybe the driver went for a walk while waiting for me instead of staying in a vehicle in the blazing sun... I think I’m dealing with a robot: - Without seeing your passport, you can enter but at full price. In moments like these, I feel like slapping someone...

I’m about to head back to the pickup and tell Phajon I can’t stand stupidity and that I’m leaving without visiting. Then I suddenly realize I have a copy of my passport on my phone. I go back to the counter and show her my passport, not without telling her she’s completely narrow-minded. (I don’t know if she understands.) No wonder Thais accept so many things without reacting or complaining. They’re well-conditioned!



The floral park is absolutely magnificent, but at the same time, it’s not at all the kind of place I prefer. It’s like the rest of Thailand—or rather, the "Thailand spirit"—everything neat, orderly, well-maintained, with not a leaf or flower out of place...

Here, too, I’m the only non-Asian tourist. Of course, I take some nice photos, but I much prefer the ones I took yesterday in the mountains.

After this visit, Phajon takes me on a little detour through Doi Tung, where I can reconnect with the simplicity of nature. I much prefer these stunning landscapes to the perfectly arranged flower beds.



Here, I discover not a sophisticated Skywalk but a small walkway above the void

on a floor not of glass but of interwoven bamboo, just as wobbly and unstable—or even more so in the current situation—but it offers an exceptional view,

without the crowds rushing to it, and I bravely step onto it.





March 3rd Here I am at the departure point. My bus leaves at 4 PM, and Phajon is picking me up at 3 PM because he’s worried about traffic and doesn’t want me to miss my bus. Like the other days, he’s early, whereas I’m used to Indian drivers who almost always arrive late. Before leaving me, he hands me a piece of paper with his name, address, and phone number written by hand and asks me to recommend him to other tourists—without realizing that with such basic info on a scrap of paper, it’s a lost cause. Who’s going to write to a driver at his postal address to ask for details and consider hiring him? Joël rightly pointed out that I’d gotten a great deal with his rock-bottom rates. Sure, I replied, but it was a good deal for him too, because it wasn’t a car but an everyday service vehicle, non-air-conditioned, and above all, all profit—undeclared, no tax, no professional insurance, etc. I’m happy, he’s happy. We’re both winners.

I’ll be traveling all night to Bangkok. I’ll stay there on the 4th and 5th and fly to India on the 6th. There are only two tourists on the bus, and I don’t know where the rest are, but it’s filling up with Thai passengers...

Just in case, I press my phone against the window and snap photos all along the road until nightfall... And then it’s the real Thailand—the natural Thailand, the rural Thailand, the Thailand of small towns unknown to tourists, the Thailand I didn’t visit, scrolling past my eyes through hundreds of photos that will make me feel like I’ve seen Thailand and, above all, that I haven’t just "done Thailand" like many travelers claim to have "done" because they spent two weeks on beaches, in beds, in arms, or in big tourist centers...

I didn’t think my phone was so advanced to take such great photos while moving. I don’t close my eyes all night, arriving at 4 AM instead of 5 AM, with my accommodation not opening until 10 AM and the heat unbearable. Check-in isn’t until noon. I barely make it to my room, exhausted—a shower and straight to bed for a good nap.

Here I am in the final stretch. My last 24 hours in Thailand. Yesterday, I didn’t leave my room all day—I needed to rest. I just went to drink my usual favorite fruit juices at the night market and buy one last shirt. I got back around 7:30–8 PM at the latest.

Today, I need to buy some crystals for my family and myself. I discover a real Ali Baba’s cave where the prices after negotiation are more than interesting. But I have to be very pragmatic about packing to avoid paying for extra kilos.

I’ll wrap up by saying I would’ve loved to extend my trip, but at the same time, I’m not unhappy to be going home. Even if you enjoy it, a long trip is tiring at my age... I’m already thinking about my next trip to the Himalayas in April. Because I still have about 700 € left from my Thailand budget.

There, I’ve just packed my two suitcases—I’m on target. The checked luggage weighs 19 kg out of the 20 allowed, and the carry-on is 7.3 kg. In the end, I managed my purchases well in terms of weight. And expenses too 😊

Writing this journal is a pleasure as I look through some of the 13,000 photos I took and need to select and delete. Sometimes in photography, for certain subjects, you have to take 100 or 200 shots to hope for one or two really great ones.

Unfortunately, I have to close this journal on a very unpleasant incident.

"It’s the stubborn, obtuse, conditioned side of Thais, shaped by religious and political power for millennia, that completely prevents them from thinking and behaving intelligently in a given situation." That’s how I read somewhere that they let one of their queens drown after she fell from a boat because you’re not supposed to touch the queen. To me, that’s idiotic. These behaviors in daily life can be really annoying. I’ve always struggled, even as a child, with inconsistencies and lack of thought and logic. Maybe that’s why I was a rebellious kid... and still am.

Well, here’s the last anecdote: At security, everything goes smoothly because they have good detection equipment. But at the last minute, in my backpack, there’s a 100 ml perfume bottle that’s almost empty. There must be 10 or 15 ml left, and I run into a nasty woman who I think wanted to keep the perfume for herself. She barks at me: - What’s this? - Well, it’s toilet water... It’s perfume... She looks at the bottle... - It doesn’t say that on it... She opens it, smells it... And... - You should’ve put it in checked luggage... - I’m not putting it in the checked bag because with altitude and pressure, it’ll overflow and make a mess in the suitcase or evaporate... The woman keeps aggressing me: - Liquids over 100 ml are not allowed in the cabin! - It’s a 100 ml bottle, and it’s almost empty. - It doesn’t say it’s 100 ml on it. - But you can see it’s almost empty! - You can’t keep it... And me, like an idiot, I’m not sticking up for myself because I tell her: - It’s an extremely expensive perfume; I can’t leave it.

I should never have said that because I think she’d already guessed when she opened the bottle and sniffed what was inside. - If you really want to take it, you have to go back downstairs to check-in, buy a bag, put the perfume in the bag, and check it in. - I’m not buying a bag just for that... Or going back down or waiting in line... No, I’m not going back... But come on, you can see the bottle is almost empty. - You go back down, or you leave the bottle. Then I get angry and tell her: - Before leaving it, I want to empty it, and I show her the container for liquids to discard. Since I can’t go behind her counter, I ask her to empty the bottle in front of me. As she does it, she gives me such a hateful look that I feel like she’s punching me in the face. And I ask her to give it back (the bottle, not the punch). - What? You want the empty bottle? - Yes, I want the empty bottle—it’s a spray bottle I bought specially...

The whole scene happened very quickly. There was no shouting, I didn’t raise my voice. Didn’t want things to escalate... But it ruined my departure.

It’s a perfume I paid 180 € for, and since I didn’t want it to evaporate in flight, I’d only taken a small amount in this travel bottle...

Thanks for these super personal stories… they must take you ages… and they really bring those moments back to life!

Well, what a thoroughly packed travel journal in every sense of the word, Jean.Marie. I’ve just caught up on my reading, and you’ve reinforced my opinion of Thailand—the only country in all of Southeast Asia that I didn’t enjoy. And that was 15 years ago, so I can only imagine what it’s like today! It’s perfect for paradise-like vacations, but for someone who loves total cultural immersion, there are a few too many *farangs* for my taste, honestly 😄. I’ve no doubt there are still some stunning, untouched spots, but they’re not easy to find without local connections. Anyway, I hope you find what you’re looking for on this next trip! 😊

Hello

For my part, the somewhat perverse jubilation I would’ve felt seeing that customs officer’s face twisted with hatred would’ve quickly made me forget the loss of a few mL of perfume—even if it was expensive—and I’d have been whistling as I boarded the plane.

Already finished this travel journal? Luckily, another one will follow in a few weeks...

Have a great stay!

A huge thank you to Denis, Christelle, and Alain for following along and for liking this travel journal. No, Alain, I’m sorry. No more travel journals from me here on VF. The repeated bugs, the difficulty uploading photos—you have to try several times. It wastes so much time... And my perfectionism takes way too much of it too. I’ve neglected my personal blog for far too long. I’ll need to dust it off and start publishing my articles again with no photo limits... If you’re interested, you can always check it out for upcoming posts on India or Thailand...

Jean-Marie, don’t forget to bring a small travel journal where you’ll jot down your notes every evening—it’ll make it easier to remember names, visits, and anecdotes. In case you change your mind about a hypothetical future journal...😉

Don’t forget to bring a small travel journal where you can jot down your notes every evening—it’ll help you remember names, visits, and anecdotes. In case you change your mind about that hypothetical future journal...😉

🤗🤗🤗

No more travel journal from me here on VF. The repeated bugs, the difficulty uploading photos. You have to try several times. It wastes so much time...

For my part, it’s not so much the bugs or the long photo uploads (though they’re definitely a problem) that are pushing me toward the same decision as you. I’m starting to think that travel forums and traditional travel journals are going out of style. It’s clear that VF’s traffic is nowhere near what it was before COVID. I was happy when VF reopened, but I’m starting to feel disappointed. Many people have left in the meantime, and there’s no renewal because, in the age of travel vlogs on social media, younger generations aren’t drawn to this format. As a result, there’s less and less interaction in discussions, and if it weren’t for the participation of a handful of people who support each other by reading each other’s journals or a few practical information requests, not much would be happening anymore. That’s just how it is...

Marien, thank you for having the courage to finish this journal, which I really enjoyed, as always, for its lively and subjective style—even if I’m not a Thailand aficionado.

For my part, it’s not so much the bugs or the length of photo uploads (though they’re definitely problematic) that are starting to push me toward the same decision as you. I’ve come to think that travel forums and traditional travel journals are going out of style. It’s clear that VF’s traffic is nowhere near what it was before COVID. I was thrilled when VF reopened, but I’m starting to feel disillusioned. A lot of people have left in the meantime, and there’s no new blood (...) As a result, there’s less and less interaction in discussions, and if it weren’t for a handful of people who support each other by reading each other’s travel journals or a few practical info requests, not much would be happening anymore.

That’s my main reason too, but ever since I was labeled a “drama queen,” I’ve been avoiding saying what I really think about the activity and interaction on travel journals. Aside from a few rare, kind nostalgics for the old VF—back when it was alive and buzzing—who still follow our adventures, there’s no interaction on travel journals anymore, just aggressive, harassing, dismissive comments and “snarky” remarks. So drama queen or not, no, I don’t see the point in putting in so much effort and continuing to write travel journals, except for my “Logbook” in Kerala.

At the age of travel vlogs on social media, younger generations aren’t drawn to this format.

Vlog—I didn’t know what that was. 🤔 I had to look it up. Since people can’t speak properly anymore, let alone write, they make videos. Even if I’m an old fart (it always goes together: when you’re old, you’re automatically an idiot. My grandson said that recently without realizing who he was talking to. 😢🤔), I remain a photography enthusiast—it’s an art form. Even if people have forgotten that with smartphones (before art completely disappears) and artists (the real ones, the ones who actually have talent).

That said, everything you find on Facebook and the like is far from satisfactory.

But with IQs dropping and the lure of convenience, it seems that the search for quality is no longer a priority...

When I look at the stats, there aren’t fewer visitors at all. Only, people no longer participate.

Jean Marie, I’m an old-timer from the VF days when the forum was buzzing. Just so you know, I’ve always read your posts but never replied so I wouldn’t spoil your stories. It’s your meticulous descriptions and all the little details that thrill me—they give your writing a truthfulness that makes me want to read more... but writing takes so much time, and with age, it feels heavier than before. Let your pen flow when it wants to tell us more, but don’t force it.

I appreciate reading more than photos, even though I’m a demanding photographer with a heavy Nikon that now stays at the bottom of my bag.

Major health issues have kept me in France for the past 5 years, and my only trip will be going to a spa like an old lady... far from home and in a milder climate than Saint-Étienne’s.

Anyway, good luck exploring Thailand further and discovering unusual spots. When you come back, you might appreciate the Indians and their new habits a little more—those that drive you crazy in your Kerala village.

I’ve also been to India many times since 1974, often alone, and everything related to that country interests me. Carassou, Françoise

I completely agree with your thoughts. In these travel vlogs, almost everything is oversimplified, full of clichés, sensationalism, and the vlogger’s narcissism... It’s really quite shallow, yet this is the format that generations interested in travel favor because they’re immersed in a culture of images and instant gratification. Just look at the millions of views these vlogs get. It’s sad, but that’s how it is...

My reasoning was that there’s no renewal in VF because these young people are put off by having to read long texts they don’t fully understand. But this partly contributes to forums like VF becoming echo chambers: not enough engagement, and mostly insular discussions (I don’t use that term in a purely negative way). As a result, the lack of dynamism eventually creates a kind of apathy that gradually discourages participants.

I’m still treading carefully here, because I’m not attaching any negative connotation to what I’m about to say, but the consequence is that VF is becoming a forum for retirees and older adults, and naturally, many won’t relate to the discussions or ways of traveling. This doesn’t help diversify perspectives.

Marien, I can already hear you coming back with your "old farts" comment! But as someone who’s somewhere in between, I feel much more aligned with the approach of a forum like VF, and the travel journals you can read here are often high quality. That said, a greater diversity of profiles, ages, and ways of traveling would really benefit the revitalization of this site. It was still somewhat the case in the years before the forum closed, but things clearly changed after the COVID period.

Hello

It’s all been said, and said well.

Voyage Forum reflects today’s society—immediate and superficial... (I won’t elaborate)

The 20/80 rule is becoming more and more relevant.

Calaf

Hi there,

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly replacing forums too—with AI, you get an answer in just a few minutes, no need to wait hours or days for someone to reply.

And these days, a lot of people treat forums like they’re just consumers. They sign up only to get info and don’t give any back. Some don’t even say thanks, and obviously, they don’t come back to share how their trip went.

Not to mention those who treat forums like a travel agency. They don’t do any research and just write: *I’m going to country, any ideas for things to see?*

Hi Françoise, What a warm and friendly message! Thank you so much. It really touched my heart. But I see that this forum now only seems to interest older people, even very old ones. It’s not pejorative, it’s not a value judgment if I say it feels like a retirees’ club, to put it mildly. Especially since many of us (based on public and private exchanges) are dealing with serious health issues... But personally, I’m really happy to make the best of it and still have enough energy and drive to travel.

I’m still walking on eggshells when I say this, but I’m not putting any negative spin on what I’m about to say—it’s just that VF is turning into a forum for retirees and older folks, and naturally, a lot of people won’t relate to the discussions or ways of traveling. That doesn’t exactly help with diverse perspectives.

Well, I just replied to Carassou along those lines... I have no shame or guilt about being more than just "mature" (what an understatement!)

Not to mention those who treat forums like a travel agency—they don’t do any research and just write: "I’m going to country, any visit ideas?"

How many times have I responded to requests like that, only to be sharply put in my place by the forum’s Trissotins and other self-righteous do-gooders...

But I see that this forum really only interests older people, even very old ones. It's not pejorative, it's not a value judgment if I say it feels like a retirement club, not to put too fine a point on it.

That was exactly the spirit of what I meant.

But I’m really happy to go with the flow and keep enough energy and drive to travel.

Yes, it’s amazing that you can travel like that at your age, and I hope I’ll be able to do the same when I get there!

I’ve been on this forum since 2005, and I must say I still enjoy reading everyone’s stories—I see you all as old friends. Some are no longer around, others have moved on, but those who remain bring me a bit of the joy that animated me 20 years ago... Hang in there, old-timers, we love and appreciate you, even the grumpy ones and the dreamers

even the grumps and the eccentrics

And even both at once? You’re a saint...

Don’t forget to bring a small travel journal where you can jot down your notes every evening—it’ll help you remember names, visits, and anecdotes. In case you change your mind about a hypothetical future journal...😉

Hi Joël, In your list of things not to forget, you reminded me that I had to fill out the arrival form for Thailand. I’ve forgotten the name... and which website I need to go to for that. Sorry for being so clueless, but it’s true—I’d forgotten about this formality, and now that I want to take care of it, I can’t find the link... Have a great day!

https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home

Here you go

https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home

There you go

Thanks a lot Dennis

Not yet! I'm working on it 😉