Il y a eu la phase des emplois délocalisés en Asie qui ont donné du travail sur place. Maintenant des gens de pays peu développés se relocalisent tous seuls pour travailler en Europe: les vendeurs à la sauvette.
Dans tous les cas on peut dire qu'ils prennent le boulot d'européens.
C'est difficile d'être cohérent et d'être soit contre les 2 cas, soit pour.
(Hambourg m'a toujours fait rêver, à cause d'une chanson des "Demoiselles de Rochefort"🙂)
Je ne sais pas pour vous...mais ce nouveau venu a une façon d'écrire me rappelant un certain Paladin, ....le même ? son clône ? l'un ��tait au Japon en volant, lui (ou elle d'ailleurs) à Hambourg....🤪
En effet, très intéressant.
On apprend que le cout de la main d'oeuvre représente 1 %.
J'imagine, d'après le graphique, que c'est ce que Nike verse à l'employeur sous-traitant. Alors l'ouvrier gagne, semble-t-il, une partie seulement de ces 1 % (combien ?).
La marge de Nike est de 16 %.
Nike déménage sa production dès que les salaires augmentent un peu.
Et ne parlons pas des distributeurs !
Et le consommateur dans tout ça, quelle part de responsabilité ?
Bonjour
Dans mon entourage le salaire minimum est de +/- 8000 baht, sur la base de 24 jours travaillés.
Je clos sur ce message pour ne pas indisposer les allergiques (oui ça existe) au hors sujet
Cordialement
il faut aussi dire que Nike verse 50 millions d'euros par an à la Fédération Française de Football pour équiper l'équipe de France et afficher son logo. Donc il faut vendre beaucoup beaucoup de maillots et de chaussures et avec une bonne marge pour rentabiliser cet investissement..
Voyager est déjà un choix... qui, si l'on souhaite se montrer économiquement responsable, est hors de portée des individus aux revenus modestes, non issus de milieux aisés qui pourraient compenser.
Ai-je correctement, afin de la rendre tout à fait explicite, achevé ta phrase ?
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Si on commence à lister ce qui n’est pas à la portée des plus modestes, on n’a pas fini.
Par exemple, avoir une résidence secondaire, piloter son avion, rouler en Porsche, c’est comme voyager, avoir un cheval ou se baigner dans la mer, ce n’est pas vital, pour reprendre l’expression d’Attila.
Avoir un toit, et de quoi se nourrir, si.
On peut aussi rajouter avoir les moyens de se soigner, etc.
Mais pas voyager.
Tu peux voyager avec un petit revenu tout en essayant de te montrer économiquement responsable.(essayant est un mot essentiel, comme en sport, l'important c'est de participer)
Le vélo, la randonnée restent des moyens de transport gratuit.
La tente, les amis, les auberges de jeunesse sont abordables.
La nourriture qu'on soit chez soi ou ailleurs ne coûte généralement pas plus cher.
ce n’est pas vital, pour reprendre l’expression d’Attila.
Vital pour qui ? 🙂
Vous proposez de passer du "pain et jeux" au "pain sans jeux" ? Moi je veux bien, hein, mais je crains que cela n'ait quelques conséquences sur les vies des individus qui sont en mesure de se les offrir et se permettent de donner des leçons aux autres.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Le vélo, la randonnée restent des moyens de transport gratuit.
La tente, les amis, les auberges de jeunesse sont abordables.
Le vélo et la randonnée demandent quand même énormément de temps si on veut s'éloigner un peu de son lieu de résidence.
Et puis, le vélo, la tente ont été fabriqués par des ouvriers avec des conditions professionnelles meilleures que celles des employés de Ryan Air ? La question vaut également pour les employés des campings ou des auberges de jeunesse.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Tu peux voyager avec un petit revenu tout en essayant de te montrer économiquement responsable.(essayant est un mot essentiel, comme en sport, l'important c'est de participer)
Le vélo, la randonnée restent des moyens de transport gratuit.
La tente, les amis, les auberges de jeunesse sont abordables.
La nourriture qu'on soit chez soi ou ailleurs ne coûte généralement pas plus cher.
C'est sûr, on va aller au bout du monde à pied. Prévoyez de bonnes chaussures !
Vous proposez de passer du "pain et jeux" au "pain sans jeux" ?
Oui, en gros, c’est un peu ça.
Le pain, c’est pour nourrir le ventre, et les jeux, pour endormir la tête. Ils ne sont donc vitaux que pour ceux qui dirigent.
Le vélo, la randonnée restent des moyens de transport gratuit.
La tente, les amis, les auberges de jeunesse sont abordables.
Le vélo et la randonnée demandent quand même énormément de temps si on veut s'éloigner un peu de son lieu de résidence.
Et puis, le vélo, la tente ont été fabriqués par des ouvriers avec des conditions professionnelles meilleures que celles des employés de Ryan Air ? La question vaut également pour les employés des campings ou des auberges de jeunesse.
Catherine
Bonsoir,
Ryanair, Liddl, sont des exemples, il ne faut pas se focaliser dessus.
Mais en général, les employés de camping et auberges de jeunesse le sont sous le droit du pays où il bossent.
Je ne vois pas le discours de Attila comme condescendant vis à vis des gens les moins friqués.
Elle ne fait qu'énoncer une réalité de cet esprit "low-cost", l'économie moderne, qui entraine tout le monde dans le plus pur individualisme..."je me fait plaisir, le reste je m'en fout".
Ou met-on le curseur de la "pauvreté" ?
Beaucoup le mettent juste au dessus d'eux dès qu'il s'agit de s'affranchir d'un quelconque sentiment de culpabilité.
Evidemment que le degré de responsabilité à exploiter les autres est proportionnel aux moyens que l'on a à ne pas le faire.
Mais je trouve que c'est une manière d'évacuer le problème de fond, et de légitimer cette économie très agressive, que de dire "finalement c'est bien pour les pauvres, ils ont bien le droit de voyager etc..." La réalité est que "les pauvres" se font plus avoir encore par cette "ubérisation de la société", que ceux qui ont les moyens.
Si on part du principe qu'il y aurait une sorte de caste de gens qui n'ont pas les moyens et devraient se sentir totalement dégagé de toute responsabilité sociale, je rappelle que les gens dominés gagnent leur liberté en général en transformant eux même la société.
Jouer le jeu de "l'ubérisation", c'est tout le contraire.
Je suppose que les trois quart des gens de ce forum qui eux ont les moyens, ne tiennent pas du tout à ce qu'on dénonce ce système des compagnie low-cost, qui leur permet de faire des économies, eux aussi (j'habite en Auvergne, je sais qu'un chou est un chou).
Il y a eu la phase des emplois délocalisés en Asie qui ont donné du travail sur place. Maintenant des gens de pays peu développés se relocalisent tous seuls pour travailler en Europe: les vendeurs à la sauvette.
Dans tous les cas on peut dire qu'ils prennent le boulot d'européens.
C'est difficile d'être cohérent et d'être soit contre les 2 cas, soit pour.
Alors pourquoi tu légitimise ces grandes entreprises (Cf le début du topic), mais dénonce les vendeurs à la sauvette ?
Et puis, à Barcelone, je n'ai pas vu beaucoup de thaïlandais vendeur à la sauvette.
Tu peux voyager avec un petit revenu tout en essayant de te montrer économiquement responsable.(essayant est un mot essentiel, comme en sport, l'important c'est de participer)
Le vélo, la randonnée restent des moyens de transport gratuit.
La tente, les amis, les auberges de jeunesse sont abordables.
La nourriture qu'on soit chez soi ou ailleurs ne coûte généralement pas plus cher.
C'est sûr, on va aller au bout du monde à pied. Prévoyez de bonnes chaussures !
Cette nouvelle mode, pour tout le monde, de devoir absolument aller au bout du monde, est une catastrophe, pour tout le monde.
La révolution aurait tout de même plus de panache en ruinant le propriétaire de Ryanair qu'en ruinant celui du camping deux étoiles de Palavas-les-Flots.😄
Ce matin parti de Hambourg, halte à Kiel Rien à voir bcp de travaux puis j'ai rate la sortie d'autoroute sur Flensbourg donc direction Kording (DK) HORRIBLE, puis
Odense idem rien à voir, formidable pont autoroute payant 35 euros et le caissier m'a rendu 12 kr, C'est comme si je l'avais payé en chocolat et qu'il m'avait rendu des pois chiches eh beh Kobenhaven c'est sans plus et impossible de trouver un stationnement gratuuit et les bureaux de change fement tot donc DAB mon plan initial m'emmenait jusqu'à Goteborg en Suède mais je pense retourner en Allemagne faire tout l'est de l'Allemagne jusqu'en Baviere puis revenir en France via Fribourg et Colmar, Mulhouse.et le 1o août un nouveau road trip tout le sud ouest puis tt le Nord de l'Espagne et de la Corogne vers l'Andalousie puis je mangerai la méditerranée jusqu'à Perpignan et voilà il est 20h57 et pas un chat dans les rues......Bonne soirée.
J'attends le grand soir avec intérêt mais je crains qu'il n'ait pas lieu de mon vivant...
Ah bon... Il me semblait avoir lu sous ta plume une certaine nervosité teintée d'inquiétude devant le second tour des présidentielles francaises.
La majorité, qui a déjà le pain, veut des jeux. Et le jeu actuel c'est de consommer tout et n'importe quoi, voyages compris. Elle se trouvera de quelconques boucs émissaires pour cristalliser ses frustrations.
Catherine
PS : ta vidéo ne passe pas dans mon pays.
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
-de gagner la bataille du rail et ainsi défaire le dernier statut protecteur issu du Programme National de la Résistance. Si les Cheminots perdent, c'est la porte ouverte chez nous aux "small jobs" d'Allemagne ou de Grande Bretagne. Le fantasme absolu du patronat étant le concept du bol de riz du travailleur Chinois.
-Faire les poches des handicapés (C'est en cours), des retraités (C'est déjà fait mais on peut trouver un autre biais pour les saigner encore), et les futurs retraités (Par exemple mettre un taux plein à 70 ans pour des gens qui s'arrêtent bien avant à cause du chomage).
-Privatiser à bas prix les sociétés qui ont mis des générations à être construites, p.e. EDF, SNCF.
Le fantasme absolu, la bave aux lèvres, c'est privatiser le système d'Assurance Santé. Jackpot! Axa en rêve.
Pour le reste la France dispose d'un fantastique bas de laine; il serait possible de mettre la panique aux propriétaires de résidences secondaires par une bonne taxe d'habitation et rendre leur situation intenable. Ca s'est vu ailleurs. Et racheter à bon compte tout cet immobilier.
C'est pourquoi je trouve qu'on se bagarre sur ce Forum sur des sujets, des bricoles, des os que nous Gouvernants nous ont jetés; mais l'essentiel c'est de dépecer le pays en silence. "Le Fou voit le doigt, mais le Sage voit la Lune".
Je trouve qu'une oligarchie ultra minoritaire qui nous gouverne fait un travail magnifique en dépouillant en douce 60 Millions de personnes.
pfff, encore ces vieilles idées dépassées/stéréotypées/caricaturales/fausses avec des tournures de phrase d'il y a au moins 60 ans...
Je rappelle juste un des mes premiers messages de cette file de discussion:
"Ensuite, non le système (capitaliste) n’est pas non plus tout pourri.
Par exemple le nombre de très pauvres dans le monde a baissé alors que de plus en pays ont basculé dans le capitalisme et la mondialisation :
« En l'espace de 31 ans, le ratio de la population pauvre dans le monde disposant de moins de 1,90 dollar par jour est passé de 44,3% à 12,73%. »
www.franceculture.fr/...recule-dans-le-monde"
Mais à part ça, allez-y faites vous plaisir racontez ce que vous voulez, c'est l'amertume de la défaite qui semble toujours si injuste et imméritée, un peu comme les commentaires des équipes de foot vaincues à la Coupe du Monde.
Mais tous ces systèmes politiques très (trop) à gauche n'ont jamais marché dans le monde réel ni en URSS, ni au Vénézuela, ni à Cuba, ni en Chine (passé à l'économie capitaliste), ...
Juste pour être clair sur les objectifs ultimes, moi aussi je suis pour que tout le monde soit heureux, riche, en bonne santé, et qu'il ne pleuve jamais le dimanche.
Tu peux voyager avec un petit revenu tout en essayant de te montrer économiquement responsable.(essayant est un mot essentiel, comme en sport, l'important c'est de participer)
Le vélo, la randonnée restent des moyens de transport gratuit.
La tente, les amis, les auberges de jeunesse sont abordables.
La nourriture qu'on soit chez soi ou ailleurs ne coûte généralement pas plus cher.
C'est sûr, on va aller au bout du monde à pied. Prévoyez de bonnes chaussures !
Cette nouvelle mode, pour tout le monde, de devoir absolument aller au bout du monde, est une catastrophe, pour tout le monde.
Je ne vais pas encore au bout du monde. Mais même la Russie à pied, ma sciatique ne va pas apprécier 😕
cette absence de hiérarchisation des responsabiltés dans le discours d'Attila q
Disons plutôt que j'essaie de remettre nos choix comme élément important dans le déroulement de nos vies.
Nous ne sommes pas responsable de notre naissance et pas toujours de notre mort.
Mais entre les deux nos choix qu'ils soient individuels ou collectifs font nos vies.
L'actionnaire, le politique ne sont rien.
Juste des personnes qui accompagnent ou abusent de nos choix.
Ryanair et d'autres sont fragiles. Il suffit de les boycotter pour qu'ils s' effondrent .
Le pouvoir c'est le consommateur et l'électeur qui le possède.
Il lui suffirait de le prendre.
Les migrants eux viennent du bout du monde , sans Low cost, sans confort , avec des morts qui jalonnent leurs parcours .
un peu de décence sur ce sujet ne ferait pas de mal
une certaine nervosité teintée d'inquiétude devant le second tour des présidentielles francaises.
Le grand bond en arrière n'a rien de révolutionnaire ou de nouveau.
Ce n'est pas pour moi qu'il m'inquiète .
J'ai un revenu assez correct pour me permettre d'en perdre une partie à cause de choix économiques désastreux, je ne risque plus d'avoir besoin d'une ivg, je suis gauloise avec quelques touches européennes, j'ai un âge avancé.
Au pire, je pourrais tenter ma chance ailleurs.
Ryanair et d'autres sont fragiles. Il suffit de les boycotter pour qu'ils s' effondrent .
Mais Ryanair et les autres ne risquent pas d'être boycottés, ils sont au contraire plébiscités.
Un exemple : le personnel de cabine de Ryanair fait grève aujourd'hui et demain en Belgique : on ne parle que de cela dans les journaux, papier, net et télé, c'est un drame national, et les incendies mortels en Grèce passent bien après.
Preuve que Ryanair - et les autres - on y a pris goût et ne peut plus s'en passer.
Oui le voyage n'est pas gratuit , bien plus cher que nos Low cost en fric et en perte de vies humaines .
Quand on a traversé des déserts à pieds , lä Méditerranée sur des barcasses immondes on doit avoir l'impression de venir du bout du monde non ?
Ca vous dit les contrats zéro heure en Grande Bretagne, et les "small jobs" initiés par Schroeder en Allemagne avec la formation d'une nouvelle pauvreté?
On en reparlera quand ça viendra en France.
Je pense que la bataille des cheminots est le dernier rempart avant l'exploitation sans complexe de la population. Mais chacun a le droit d'avoir son avis, comme vous dites.
@ tous
un peu de décence sur ce sujet ne ferait pas de mal
Ce rappel à l'ordre général par une intervenante qui dès la première réponse atteignait le point Godwin (« Dans cette Europe ou lä peste brune se répand ») me semble pour le moins déplacé.
Un peu de décence, en effet.
Par ailleurs, j'ai souri -mais jaune- à cette version bien planante de Zorba: « Si je pousse le raisonnement en atteignant le point Goodwing... ». (mess.186)
Allez, une petite histoire en léger différé (dédiée à celle qui se bat comme une lionne):
Omar: Cherif?
Cherif: Omar?
Omar: Savais-tu que nous faisons la Une d'un média en France?
Cherif: L'apatride des doigts de l'ohm?
Omar: Celle-là même. Il semble que ses habitants subissent une exploitation identique à la notre.
Cherif: Nous sommes exploités?
Omar: Oui, mais guère plus qu'eux à ce qu'ils disent. Et pourtant, il s'agirait des mêmes mafias.
Pas besoin de citer ä toutes les sauces le fameux point Godwin .
La réalité de la présence de l'extrême droite dans plusieurs gouvernements européens ne saurait être remise en cause Helas '
De la décence et on arrête avec les blagues de mauvais goûts
Voyajou,
Je ne lis même pas ta blague pour savoir si elle est de mauvais gout ou pas.
Si tu n'es pas capable de voir la montée des extrêmes droite en Europe, où si tu penses que ce n'est pas grave (que par exemple l'Italie refuse le sauvetage des naufragés), ta blague n'est probablement pas risible et en effet, dans le contexte de cette conversation, est indécente.
Je ne pense pas mériter de leçons d'altérité de ta part ni de celle d'Hannah (la voix de ton maître, au point de ne pas lire complètement mon message?). Et encore moins d'humour ou d'ironie (en l'occurence, tu es en transparence dans ma saynète).
Je suis engagé de longue date en Afrique -y compris sur deniers personnels- et ce que vous appelez blague est un dialogue que je pourrais transposer sur le port de Lomé ou dans la petite ville sud-africaine où j'ai mes habitudes (et là, croyez-moi, on sait de quoi on parle)
Pour le reste, je reviendrai... ou pas.
C'est bizarre cette manière de concevoir les conversations ici, en termes de "leçons".
Tu donnes bien des leçon toi aussi, dans ce cas.
La "voix de mon maître" ? Quel maître ?
On ne te demande pas ton CV.
J'ai eu un jour à méditer quelque temps sur une intervention d'un participant qui pensait que ceux qui défendent avec tant d'acharnement les réfugiés économiques le font parce qu'en fait ils n'aiment pas leurs compatriotes.
J'ai trouvé cette pensée étrange, mais plusieurs réactions ici donnent vraiment l'impression que c'est loin d'être faux.
C'est curieux cette manière de considérer comme immondes, abjects ou brun-pestiférés ceux qui ne sont pas en train de scier la branche sur laquelle ils sont assis.
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
Les migrants eux viennent du bout du monde , sans Low cost, sans confort , avec des morts qui jalonnent leurs parcours .
un peu de décence sur ce sujet ne ferait pas de mal
On parle de voyage là.
On ne peut vraiment plus rien dire, ça en devient lassant.
Donc clairement non, je ne m'empêcherai pas de voyager parce que j'ai pas les moyens de payer Air France à chaque voyage.
Quant à aller au bout du monde, il n'y a pas encore de low-cost, l'honneur est sauf, les pauvres n'iront pas !
Oui, certains sont littéralement obsédés par la résurgence de la "bête immonde" et traquent les intervenants pour voir s'ils sont idéologiquement sains. Ils feront si nécessaire un procès en sorcellerie au déviant. Ils ont l'obsession d'un vieux gateux qui fait des calembours honteux et nuls et de sa fille bourge. Ces deux épouvantails sont proposés par la classe dominante et leur rôle d'épouvantail fonctionne toujours bien au bout de tant d'années! Pour preuve ils ont servi l'an dernier de marche pied pour élire celui qui nous sert de Président.
Cela me fait penser aux courses de lévriers ou les lévriers doivent courir après un lapin en carton.
Plus sérieusement quelqu'un peut il raisonnablement penser que l'on peut accueillir en Europe des millions de migrants sans faire éclater nos structures. On voit déjà dans quel état est la Médecine Générale et l'Hopital, je m'attends à ce que la Police et Gendarmerie craquent bientôt.
Les pays de l'Est de la Communauté de l'Europe refusent d'accepter des migrants, ils sont immédiatement stigmatisés. Godwin prend un coup de chaud.
Stigmatise t on le Japon qui est fermé à l'immigration, l'Australie, l'Arabie saoudite et le Qatar qui n'ont pas accueilli un seul immigrant Syrien et enfin Israel qui prépare l'expulsion de ses immigrants Africains vers l'Europe?
Enfin personne n'a parlé de la meilleure solution, de la solution la plus humaine: Aider nos Amis Africains à rester sur les terres qu'ils habitent et qu'ils cultivent depuis des milliers d'années. Ils garderaient leurs cultures, et leurs Cultures, leurs familles, leur environnement plutôt que de devenir des parias en Europe, en devenant par exemple des vendeurs à la sauvette soumis à la mafia des grossistes. Et que penser de la misère sexuels de ces migrants qui sont en majorité des hommes.(NB Si la majorité était féminine le problème serait le même, que l'on ne me tombe pas dessus encore!)
Ce serait mieux de les aider à rester chez eux. Encore faut il que la Communauté Européenne ne déverse pas ses excédents agricole ou la Chine et concurrencent les paysans africains (Exemple de la tomate au Sénégal). On pourrait peut être partager plus équitablement les richesses minières, laisser la démocratie locale s'exprimer sans interférence, et à terme retirer nos troupes. Quel est le regard porté par un Africain (Ca peut être un Afghan...) en voyant des troupes étrangères patrouiller son Pays? Quand ce n'est en vivant sous les bombes http://lesakerfrancophone.fr/larmee-etasunienne-lache-une-bombe-toutes-les-12-minutes-et-personne-nen-parle).
Je vous salue tous et n'interviendrai à l'avenir que dans les rubriques voyage pour donner des informations et en donner.
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"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?
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
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
This catchy and somewhat mysterious title comes from several questions I’ve been asking myself.
VF has been back open for a reasonable number of weeks and months now.
The number of visitors overall matches past averages, but the number of members online in the last 24 hours seems relatively lower than what we used to see.
Yet, to my surprise, I’m seeing fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions.
I don’t see many new registered users online, and I notice a number of members who are logged in but either aren’t participating or have stopped participating.
Something’s not adding up for me because, in my opinion, VF is still appealing, and I don’t see which other sites could really compete.
Was there a real break between pre- and post-Covid?
Does it just take more time for some people to discover the site or learn that it’s active again?
Do people now prefer quick consumption on sites like FB or others I’m not familiar with?
Where have the site’s old-timers gone, and what are they doing with their time now?
What’s really going on here?
This isn’t exactly a traveler’s question... I’d like to know who handles the technical side of this forum?
I run a similar forum on a different topic (unrecognized children), and we’re dealing with a few technical issues that are slowly killing our forum... so I’d have one or two questions to ask 😊.
Also, I was wondering who created this forum... who the administrators or moderators are, etc.
I think this forum is great. Much better than Facebook, which I’ve been using since it shut down (so I’m happy to see it’s working again...)
Hi there, I’ve been traveling for 18 years now, at least 6 months a year, and as the years go by, I actually enjoy coming back to France more and more—a feeling I struggled with at first. I mean, we always think the grass is greener elsewhere.
But in the end, I find meaning in that saying about how there’s no place like home. I still love traveling just as much, but now my trips are shorter, and I enjoy spending more time in our beautiful country, even though I don’t hesitate to criticize it.
How about you? How do you handle coming back from your travels?
A few years ago, I went with a group of friends to lend a hand at a small rural school near Thiès, Senegal.
It was a relaxed but hardworking atmosphere—hands in the mortar, laughter, exchanges, and everything that a COOPERATION project can bring.
Today, the little project is flying on its own.
Wanting to explore Senegal’s riches, we set off for some tourism in the Siné Saloum. One girl in our group fell ill (a malaria attack), and we decided to take her to see a doctor at a large tourist complex nearby. Despite her condition, we had to "show our credentials" (if I may say so) just to get in. She was treated and has been fine since.
This "stop" at a Club Med-style resort with a Teutonic twist—resembling Le Grau-du-Roi but fancier—was a horror show for us: pools, massive artificial basins dyed blue, pink, or green (!!!!), animators shouting around wet T-shirt contests or coconut tree climbing, and sunburned (or sun-pinked) *toubabs*.
The entire hotel was surrounded by a huge wall, behind which a small souvenir-seller slum had sprung up, worthy of Dakar’s outer neighborhoods.
On leaving, we saw a minibus of guests returning from an "excursion," loaded with masks, fabrics, and djembés—African souvenirs?
Maybe those will be *theirs*?
What impression did the kids clustered at the hotel gates get?
What about the Black servers in "traditional African costumes," serving cocktails and ice cream nonstop?
For me, who experienced Africa very young and in the bush, this remains a haunting image.
On VF, this kind of vacation doesn’t seem to be the norm among users, and that’s exactly why I signed up.
Have you ever experienced this kind of interstellar travel?
Do you understand the Martians?
Are their motivations peaceful?
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