Yet that’s its primary function—to create a sense of belonging to a group governed by defined and identifiable rules. Much like those absurdities called nations, with a few sizeable nuances, of course.
Because the alternative, unless you fall under the third major contemporary pole (the hypnotized frenzied consumers), isn’t really the freedom Agnès refers to—it’s loneliness. And its fragility. I can see how that might be dizzying.
Alright! This isn’t the kind of conversation for 5-line messages! It’s too heavy, and I need to take care of my Greek ferries, light and stony lands, original language.
Take care 🙂
Cat
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
You see things through your own Western filter of self-discovery.
? Not at all.
What I wrote wasn’t understood.
I was talking about traditional societies.
It’s obvious that when you stay in three-star hotels, you don’t see what makes up the common people 😉
My first trip to Peru, I was in Cabañaconde—the person hosting me was a very poor farmer from the Altiplano, and the place where he lived was in deplorable conditions.
And I’ve been to plenty of places like that, I’d say.
And when travelers are on the road, they don’t see behind the scenes.
Of course, in a three-star hotel, the rooms are clean, there’s a spa, all-you-can-eat breakfast, the staff is attentive...
Which is what most people on this forum do 😉
Oh really?
And what about Iran? The Arab Spring? All those men and women who fled Afghanistan?
Is life better in the West? Since society is so individualistic, what do we really have in the end?
People overconsuming tranquilizers and medications, homeless people under the influence of fentanyl in the streets of San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Traditional societies have kept their family foundations.
Good evening Agnès,
Okay, just a reply without going into too much detail...
They are mostly free. What a terrible misfortune it is to be free...
Free?
The freedom we were told in 2020 wasn’t the norm or a right, but a temporary situation, preferably in line with collective standards?
Who still doesn’t get it? 🤪
Young French people are among the least free in Europe, and it’s not because of too much religion.
Apparently not in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, etc.
The Iranians seem partly ready.
What’s terrible, reading you, is that you’re justifying a radical stance, an ideological rejection of identities and beliefs by once again bringing up Afghanistan.
If the Taliban’s country is really the only counterexample you have to support your point, I find that a bit weak.
Syria? Did you visit Assad’s Syria in its heyday, on the ruins of Hama crushed multiple times in the name of Ba'athism?
Iran? Are you really sure you’re not clouded by a press that wants to show you Iranians as something they’re hardly at all?
It’ll be complicated to discuss all this—you have an ideological axis, and ironically, a rather religious one in its own way. And we can only fear the woman of one book.
Just because some French people are overwhelmed by their freedom doesn’t mean it’s worthless.
It’s pretty tough to have a discussion with you.
You’ve got an ideological stance (well, do you even have one?) that’s all over the place, mainly focused on controversy and contrarianism.
But whatever.
Feel free to prefer Afghanistan over France.
I’ll leave you to exile yourself there with my blessing.😛
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Isn’t it alone, facing himself, that man is supposed to meet God?
And if he’s facing himself during that encounter, doesn’t that mean man is God?
No idea what he’s supposed to meet. But these days, under our skies, I get the feeling he’s meeting what we call *psicofarmaci* here (the chemical molecules that smooth out the psyche, giving him social acceptability).
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Just because some French people are overwhelmed by their freedom doesn’t mean it’s worthless.
It’s astonishing to hear such a thing.
You always bring up Taliban Afghanistan as if France should define and position itself in relation to the most extreme example—a kind of reductio ad Hitlerum.
What I see, personally, is a country where the State, ironically, fills the role of religion:
In France, the State meddles in everything—from the spelling of your first name to how you raise your children, from the relationship you’re supposed to have with your body to the many resulting regulations, from the Caillavet law to vaccine mandates, from your health (to the point of now forcing you to have mutual insurance) to pestering you with screening campaigns, from the color of your house’s facade to what you’re allowed to say, almost to what you’re allowed to think in silence, from your freedom to move around to soon dictating what you can wear in the "public space".
This State, which barely hides its project to control online expression, eliminate anonymity, increase surveillance, and police opinions by misrepresenting them, you see as an asset against religions.
I disagree—and I think what belongs to religion should be left to religion.
It’s astonishing to say such a thing.
You always bring up Taliban-era Afghanistan, as if France should define and position itself in relation to the most extreme example—a sort of reductio ad Hitlerum.
What I see, for my part, is a country where the State, ironically, fills the role of religion:
In France, the State meddles in everything—from the spelling of your first name, to how you raise your children, to the relationship you’re supposed to have with your body, resulting in countless regulations, from the Caillavet law to vaccine mandates, to your health (now even forcing you into a mutual insurance plan), to pestering you with screening campaigns, to the color of your house’s facade, to what you’re allowed to say, almost to what you’re allowed to think in silence, to your freedom to move around, and soon to what you wear in the "public space".
This State, which barely hides its project to control online expression, eliminate anonymity, increase surveillance, and police opinions by misrepresenting them, you see as an asset against religions.
I disagree—and I think what falls under religion should be left to religion.
The fact is, if you claim that people live by religion, you’ll have to admit that in its absence, something must replace it and serve the same purpose. In France, the State, as the guarantor of secularism, underpins what you call the "living together" pact. Once that pact is destroyed, there’s no objective reason to live with those who annoy you.
Since I’m replying here:
And just because you or I might be capable of it doesn’t mean we should wish it for everyone.
I don’t wish it (indifference to various gods, national nonsense, and consumerist ideologies) for everyone. I just observe a rigidity in my fellow citizens who cling to obtuse, often fanatical groups to escape despair. And I’m glad that a few individuals—whose growing rarity makes them dear to me—escape these movements.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
It’s mind-blowing to read such prose. 🙂
I’ll let you pontificate from the comfort of your slippers in a country where you risk nothing by spouting your writings—France. 😉
How about doing the same from North Korea, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam, Iran, China, Myanmar, Cuba, or Venezuela… 😛
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
The fact is, if you claim that men live by religion, you’ll have to agree that in its absence, it’s essential that something replace it and serve the same purpose.
It’s easier to free oneself from a religion than from a State that serves as one.
I’m happy to discuss French secularism—I know you’ve been away for a long time—but the concept currently being pushed has little in common with the secularism I was raised with. A shift in the early 2000s toward something far less liberal may have escaped your notice. We used to talk about state neutrality and the guarantee of freedoms, in line with the 1905 law, but now we’ve gone much further in controlling public and private life, as well as social and moral action.
I’ll let you ramble away in your slippers from a country where you risk nothing spouting your writings, France.😉
I’m not in France right now.
It’s funny to see how programmed you are. On the points I’m raising, you could try comparing them with dozens of other countries. But you’d rather stay blind.
Anyway, let’s drop it—we won’t get anywhere on this topic. You’ve never made the effort to accept, or even listen to, François’s positions in the past, which were similar on these moral and societal issues.
In France, the state meddles in everything—from the spelling of your first name to how you raise your children, the relationship with your body that you're supposed to have, and the resulting numerous regulations, from the Caillavet law to vaccine mandates, your health (to the point of now forcing you to have supplementary insurance), pestering you with screening campaigns, the color of your house’s facade, what you're allowed to say, almost what you're allowed to think in silence, your freedom to move around, and soon what you wear in the "public space".
Mr. Tatra, in your hodgepodge of "freedom-killing" laws and regulations, you forgot the Évin law of January 19, 1991. I’m glad it exists because I’m relieved I no longer have to breathe in smoke during my meetings or be called intolerant when I complained.
On the other hand, my friend Gérard, a great athlete, mountaineer, and non-smoker, wasn’t so lucky to benefit from this "freedom-killing" law since his colleagues who shared his office had the freedom to fill the place with smoke until 1991. My friend Gérard, who had just retired, and I had many mountain projects together. Unfortunately, you see, Mr. Tatra, he couldn’t enjoy them because he died prematurely from lung cancer due to secondhand smoke...
For centuries, religion was used to lead people by "the nose," and then science came along with explanations, so it lost some of its power.
But I think religion is a topic to avoid, like a few others, because it’s explosive.
But I think the topic of religions should be avoided, like some others, because it’s explosive.
I’d even say it’s a ticking time bomb.
« 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
Here we go again, a little Tatra-punching session!
Yep. We’re ganging up on the scapegoat. Not great, all this...
It seems Tatra is becoming the punching bag for some, even to the point of attributing statements to him that aren’t even his:
One example among many:
Feel free to prefer Afghanistan to France
(Where did Tatra ever say he preferred Afghanistan to France?)
You might not agree with his ideas—though he often shows common sense, at least in my opinion—but the responses he gets are so aggressive and sometimes so bad-faith that it’s becoming uncomfortable.
I’d like to come back to the title: so where are they and what are they doing?
Personally, I’m here, like many others, and until now, I’ve mostly just been reading the posts in this section without chiming in too much.
But how to put it... I’m getting tired of it. So many biting remarks, yet when VF reopened, everyone was participating with tact, testing the waters a bit.
Old habits die hard...
There’s also not much info on destinations anymore. But the reasons for that have already been explained.
On the other hand, some members post to contribute and are simply ignored by the big names in the discussions, which makes them feel out of their depth. So they give up.
It feels like an insiders’ club now. 😕
This is just my take, of course, but since the discussion is turning into another controversy, I wanted to respond to the original topic.
It’s easier to free oneself from a religion than from a State that acts as one.
I don’t think the difficulty is tied to the nature of the pressure, but rather to its degree of fanaticism.
I’m happy to discuss French secularism, and I know you’ve been away for a long time, but the concept currently being pushed has little to do with the secularism I was raised with. A shift in the early 2000s toward something far less liberal may have escaped your notice. We used to talk about state neutrality and guaranteed freedoms, in line with the 1905 law, but now we’ve gone much further in controlling public and private life, as well as social and moral action.
The last thing I saw in France were the 9/11 attacks. I left a few months later. So, as far as France is concerned, I’m fossilized in the late 20th century (which suits me just fine). I have to admit I don’t understand much of what’s going on anymore. The impression I get is that the path chosen is a mix of isolation and pride—a besieged stance that defends itself by legislating more and more, on everything, with every small group wanting its particularities recognized, leading to collective suffocation. I’ve had strange experiences there, like having an -e tacked onto my academic title without being asked (still not sure why something neutral suddenly had to be overtly gendered. I must’ve missed too many episodes). I find it amusing that "yes" or "with pleasure" have lately been replaced by "no problem" (you hear it *everywhere*!), in a people (are they still one?) so tense.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
But I think the topic of religions should be avoided, like some others, because it’s explosive.
If the alternative to an explosion is an implosion, I’m not sure we’d gain anything from it.
Regular, moderate explosions (in terms of intensity, not censored) are healthier (by releasing pressure) than anything else—even if we end up with our hair looking like fireworks 😛
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
I’d even say the loop is closed since the members of this forum will have nothing left to say to each other...😉
Here we are, not much further ahead. So you don’t like opinion-makers, those who stir things up, people who reinvent the world?
Since these discussions are causing weariness, what would you consider a relevant discussion, then?
A discussion where small talk matters?
It seems Tatra is becoming a punching bag for some again
I haven’t read anything like that.
Tatra writes a message, he gets replies.
They don’t always agree with him, which is a good thing for diverse opinions.
Where did Tatra say he preferred Afghanistan to France?)
I’m not telling anyone anything new by saying Tatra does a lot of France-bashing all over the forum.
He’s way less critical when it comes to other countries.
Maybe the U.S. and Spanish-speaking countries...
Anyway, he gives the impression that France is hell compared to other countries that are actually ranked at the bottom of many lists.
It’s up to him to correct the image some of us (including me) have of him based on his posts. 🙂
If that image is wrong, that is.
Tatra is a mystery. Is he for real or just trolling? I’ve never been able to tell.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Hi.
Things are going downhill fast—explosion, implosion, we're in the negative.
Moderation helps, but it can spiral quickly, especially with topics like money, religion, and politics.
I’m not in the mood to stand out with crazy hair.
If you don’t get the metaphors, too bad! It’s not me who used the term "punching bag."
would there be a decent line to follow?
Yes, a code of conduct!
When I read in this message: "It’s shocking to say such a thing," I find that it’s not very respectful. And I find the rest of their message disturbing. Everything’s attacked: the Caillavet law, which helped save lives, as well as screening campaigns. Are we serious here?
A tip: if he gets on your nerves, just skip it and let others read it.
Great advice, thanks! Besides, it’s not just him, and I’m simply going to skip VF altogether. Won’t be a big loss!
Happy reading! 😛
But if no one engages with them, they’ll get bored.
And if only those who share their real or imagined views reply, the forum’s gonna get boring...
Might as well just add a like button and send little hearts.
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
And if only those who share his real or imagined positions respond to him, the forum is going to get boring...
But you’re not stating any position—just a kind of aggressive disbelief.
What I’m presenting is a liberal philosophy, classically rooted in the humanist concept of "natural rights," in its Anglo-Saxon evolution—Hayek, Nozick, Ruwen Ogien. Apparently, that’s enough to knock you off your chair.
Michel
PS: I’m in favor of donation, even organ sales, but against the state’s appropriation of bodies, indeed. Nothing so extraordinary. It’s not me who proposed the Avia law or who files bills to remove online anonymity in France.
For the rest, ask in a PM—I’ll provide sources if you can’t find them.
I’m hardly likely to fall off my chair reading you.
As I mentioned before, I see you through your posts as some kind of histrionic actor.
And even if you weren’t, it wouldn’t change a thing. 🙂
Ponts du monde : concours de photos amical de juillet 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
I’m hardly likely to fall off my chair reading you.
As I’ve said before, I see you through your posts as a bit of a histrionic, an actor.
And even if you weren’t, it wouldn’t change a thing.🙂
Some people just can’t ever think outside their own certainties.
Oh well.
Have a good evening.
On the other hand, some members join in to participate and are simply ignored by the big names in the discussions, which makes them feel out of their depth. So they give up.
It seems like an insider’s club.😕
I share this observation.
I’d add this: experts (the big names) on a destination or topic often welcome new message authors—and sometimes it’s their very first post—with condescension, if not outright contempt and sarcasm. That shuts people down.
I agree 😇, but in the *Mille Bornes* game, you’re way behind your conversation partner!
Still, you’ve got support:
"Thinking against oneself, says the philosopher. Yes, of course. As if the rest of the world weren’t already doing that. Thinking against yourself, being ruthless with your own certainties: fine. But this mental gymnastics still strikes me as intellectual vanity dressed up as modesty—it’s gratifying to imagine you’re thinking against yourself, and saying so lets you wrap your smugness in the guise of humility."
There are people like that who can never think against their own certainties.
That was clearly a self-portrait.
@Herodotos
Yes, a principle to live by!
When I read in this message: "It’s shocking to say such a thing," I don’t think it’s very respectful. And I find the rest of their message disturbing.
That’s the whole difference between us, Jean Luc; I don’t pass moral judgment on viewpoints that aren’t my own.
Should I refrain from expressing—let alone referencing—viewpoints just because they ruffle your feathers? Nah.
Agnès is heading to Central Asia soon, and it’s going to be a game-changer for her. Right now, at least one new flight route opens every week between the Stans/Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Central Asia is clearly turning toward a certain world—one that’s nothing like European progressivism.
[ Central Asia is clearly turning toward a certain world, one that is not at all that of European progressivism.
Michel
With those people, we’re clearly progressivizing our way toward the abyss.
Denial of self, of one’s culture, even of one’s civilization.
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
I’m starting to reach an age where it’s not really reasonable to post pictures anymore 😉
Let’s just say the kind of travel this person suggests doesn’t meet my standards, which have always been pretty high. I also doubt we’ll ever see them in the "Hiking" section unless they get into outdoor sports.
I’ll stop there—it’s easy to dive into the unfathomable 😉
« 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
Currently, at least one new airline route opens every week between the Stans/Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Central Asia is clearly turning toward a certain world—one that’s not at all aligned with European progressivism.
Hey there, mysterious one (even though I don’t find you mysterious at all)
Isn’t that kind of normal?
A region of "strong" men (what a strange idea of strength), long tightly tied (or even shackled?) to Russia within the USSR. Now, it’s dealing with the return of religion—in this case, Islam—and its spiritual-political offensive.
The West, with its material comfort/Prozac combo, isn’t exactly appealing in this context.
Cat
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Ce poste va déranger, j'en suis sûr... Je ne suis pas le créateur de l'article et je l'ai trouvé sur un autre site internet de voyage (ouais, je sais, j'ai…
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Une fois n’est pas coutume, je vais parler de mon propre pays, la France, où j’ai fait récemment un voyage assez court à partir de Bangkok (où je vis). Je…
Voyager pourquoi? 1- Pour quitter ce pays Pour ma part, je commence vraiment à prendre la France et les francais en grippe...En effet, ce pays me gonfle de…
Je trouve un peu dommage que bon nombre de membres de ce forum critique le tourisme de masse qu'il faut à tout prix éviter pour des raisons qui ne sont pas…
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)"
J'ai gardé comme habitude, de me moucher à l'évier, et de me laver ensuite les mains, coutume ramenée d'Inde, parfois, ca choque certains non voyageurs quand je suis prise en flagrand délit...
Aussi, quand je tombe en panne de pq, ca ne me dérange pas, sauf si j'ai de la visite... 🤪
Maintenant je reviens d'avoir baladé le chien (d'un copain en vacance), portant djellabah et bottine tibétaine... 😏😏😏 Ah pour sur si j'avais croisé des locaux, sans doute aurais je choqué?😏
Enfin, tant que je ne suis pas à cracher par terre au resto et à m'accroupir sur le bord d'une autoroute bouteille d'eau en main...
Et vous, vous ramenez des coutumes au pays?
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.
en parcourant le forum pour glaner des infos pour mon prochain voyage en thailande, je vois souvent les mots "voyageur, grand voyageur" mais aussi "touriste" donc pour vous quelle est la nuance?
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?
Vraiment déçu du Costa Rica ! Pura vida ? L'arnaque du siècle !
( Costa frica pure vide ).
Le pays où les animaux sont en liberté et les hommes en cage .
3 semaines en décembre dans ce pays et bien plus jamais. . Imaginez la bande annonce d'un film qui paraît intéressant, et en allant le voir vous vous apercevez que c'est un ''nanard'' et que les meilleurs moments tenaient dans la bande annonce.
Et bien c'est ce que l'on a ressenti avec le Costa frica pure vide .
Nous avons ma femme et moi pas mal voyagé et nous ne nous attendions pas à nous tromper a ce point.
Dans les grands axes nous avons fait :
Sant José
Alaiela
Limon cahuita Porto viejo manzalino ( côté caraïbe)
Jaco quepos manuel Antonio ( côté Pacific)
Et d'autres courts passages dans les villes intermédiaires.
Notre mécontentement c'est fait crescendo de la sorte:
Arrivés à l'hôtel le taxi nous dépose dans une petite rue devant un portail métallique blanc avec les fenêtres du RDC entravé par des barreaux. Nous le regardons dubitatif mais l'enseigne correspondait .
Il s'approche du portail appuie sur la sonnette le buzzer retentit et la porte s'entrouvre .Hôtel pas trop mal pour le prix , à 10 minutes à pied du centre ville, mais avec effet " Fleury merogis" garantie.
Jusqu'ici tout va bien .
Après la douche et après avoir repris nos esprits, nous partons faire un tour au centre ville.
Ce qui a commencé à nous interpeller sur le trajet c'est de voir quelques maisons avec barreaux aux fenêtres au RDC et même au premier étage.
Sur le coup nous nous sommes dit que le quartier de l'hôtel ne devait pas être trop top .
Le centre ville de san José :
C'est une ville quelconque pas dépaysante avec une rue piétonne et un petit mercado où vous pourrez manger local sans artifice. Très peu de touriste pour ne pas dire pas du tout ce qui vous permettra de vous noyer dans la population . Nous déjeunons et avons des difficultés à nous faire comprendre car hormis un ou deux magasins l'anglais n'est pas parlé.
Sur le trajet du retour à l'hôtel nous empruntons un autre chemin et en papotant et flânant ma femme me fait remarquer une belle maison blanche à étage complètement barricadé façon fort Nox.
Dès cet Instant on s'est mis a regarder les façades des maisons et des immeubles et lá , glauque de chez glauque, la plupart des façades ressemblent à des prisons avec barbelés pour certaines.
Bien que refroidi nous nous sommes dit que c'était peut être l'effet grande ville et que tout le pays ne devait pas être comme ça .
Jusqu'ici tout va bien.
On se pose un peut a l'hôtel on prend un verre au bar de celui ci. La nuit tombe tôt vers 17h30 . Sur les coups de 19h30 on repart pour le centre pour dîner . Un peu flippant le soir pour une capitale, le centre était quasi désert et hormis les chaines de fast food , trés peu de restos ouverts et pas grand monde dans les rues .
Des bars avec agent de sécurité devant .
Je ne dirai pas ce soir là que nous nous sommes senti en insécurité mais la nuit tombée on s'est dit que les barreaux aux fenêtres n'étaient pas la pour rien . Premier jour sur place un peu mitigé.
Le lendemain journée ville et environ , et sentiments inchangés .
Jusqu'ici tout va bien.
Direction cahuita par bus ,4 h de trajet
Paysages très vert , mais vite lassant la route longe la forêt et traverse quelques villes où villages et à la campagne aussi autant de maisons prisons .
Le bus nous dépose à la station terminus de cahuita, nous sommes 4 a descendre . C'est un village, que dis-je un bourg , c'est simple cahuita c'est une ligne droite et une perpendiculaire et franchement la le doute commençait à s'installer sur nos visages . Quelques restos qui appliquent 13 % de taxes et 10 % de service soit 23% .on pose les affaires a l'hôtel , et on part visiter ce lieu . En 20 minutes on en fait le tour , on déjeune et devions aller jeter un œil a ce fameux parc .
L'entrée est sur donation , enfin l'entrée c'est comique , il y a un chemin en bord de forêt qui longe la mer et voilà le tour et joué.
Jusqu'ici rien ne va plus .
Là on s'est dit que c'était une belle fumisterie mais n'ayant pas été très loin nous décidons de revenir demain pour approfondir.
On rentre a l'hôtel , on se pose, et sur les coups de 20h00 on sort dîner . Et bien , 2 restos ouverts et rues désertes .
Flippant !
Le lendemain on approfondit la visite du Pseudo parc et là vraiment on a compris.
Chemin qui longe la forêt en longeant la mer , 2h de parcours aller et idem retour où vous croisez les animaux qui veulent bien montrer leur museaux
Une belle connerie " tout ça pour ça "
Plage avec plein de morceaux de bois et de cadavres de noix de coco . on s'est demandé si les photos sur le net n'étaient pas retouchées , car la mer trés agitée n'est pas du tout bleue azur
Mais oser appeler ça un parc c'est comique et ressemble à un nouveau concept..
Quand on repense aux avis émis sur le net , on a commencé à se dire que des professionnels ayant des intérêts dans ce pays épiés et contrecarrer tous avis qui risquerait de nuire a leur business.
Dommage que nous n'avons pas pensé a regarder les avis négatifs avant , nous l'avons fait pendant et je dois dire que cela nous bien aidé, car nous nous sommes demandé si nous n'étions pas devenu trop exigeant grâce où a cause nos nombreux voyages, mais non quand c'est pourri c'est pourri .
le parc de manzalino est encore plus comique il y a un début de chemin qui longe la mer mais que sur 500 mètres et ensuite plus rien vous devez escalader dans la boue et vous frayer un passage dans la foret . nous avons fini pieds nues car la boue nous arrivé aux mi- mollets . tout ca pour croiser un raton laveur et un survol de perroquets
On s'attendait pas a voir l'Arche de Noé mais on a vu plus d'animaux a bali au Mexique en thailande en allant voir les temples ou en baladant que dans ces soi disant parcs !
puerto vierjo non loin de cahuita et apparemment plus vivant et bien oui ça pouvait pas être pire !
sur le lonely planet il était question d'ambiance caribéenne et de soirées endiablées et bien peut etre que cette époque a eu bien lieu mais ce n est plus le cas et le très bon son reggae diffusé un peu partout n'y suffit pas .
le soir a puerto viejo un peu plus vivant que cahuita mais ça c'est pas difficile ; pas enormément de touristes voir trés peu, pas de marché de nuit mais 2 à 3 boutiques ouvertes avec leurs t shirts à 20 dollars et même constat qu' a san jose.
Pas grave on a profité de la plage et du soleil qui lui était fidèle au rendez vous.Notre programme devait inclure le parc de tortuguero mais après avoir échangé avec d'autres touristes qui en revenaient nous nous sommes ravisés sachant que nous devions faire côté pacifique le parc de manuel Antonio.
Pour repartir côté pacifique vous êtes obligés de reprendre le bus et passer par sans José . 5 h cette fois ci et ensuite il faut changer de terminal de bus et c'est reparti pour 4h30 pour arriver à quepos .
Ville étape qui permet de se rendre a manuel antonio plage et parc !
ville à l'image de ce que nous avons pu voir jusqu'à present c'est à dire : qui se dérsertifie dés le
coucher du soleil sachant que la journée il n y a pas foule ! ( mais ou sont les touristes ?, )
toujours autant de barreaux aux fenêtres et cette sensation de s'être trompé d endroit
7 km plus loin ; manuel antonio plage et parc
la plage est très belle et assez vaste mais ne vous attendez pas à avoir une mer bleue turquoise car les vagues font remonter le sable en surface et donnent une couleur marron a l'eau ;
le long de la plage boutiques et restos sur 300 mètres et plus rien ; quand au soir après le coucher du soleil la ville se couche aussi .
parc de manuel antonio assez vanté pour la richesse de sa faune nous l'attendions de pieds ferme car quand vous exprimez votre mécontentement concernant les parcs de cahuitat et manzalino , la mode est de vous dire
''mais non il faut faire le parc de monteverde ou manuel antonio '' en fait quoi que vous fassiez ou disiez on vous dira '' mais tu aurais dû aller là bas ou ici
revenons à notre fameux parc ; entrée 16 dollars de mémoire et contrairement à ce que l'on a pu nous dire on ne s'y bouscule pas !
des guides a l entrée équipés de longue vue vous proposent leurs services moyennant une trentaine de dollars
le parc ; un chemin planchéié ou pas dans la forêt qui longe par moment de magnifiques criques et plages .
Dès notre entrée dans le parc , un attroupement qui prenait en photo une biche qui mangeait des feuilles,
un peu plus loin un guide accompagné d'un groupe de 5 personnes marquent l'arrêt, le guide vient de lever le bras et pose sa longue vue ! il leur montre à un centaine de mètres niché sur une branche : un colibri mais oui vous avez bien entendu un colibri! certains en regardant à travers la longue vue s'exclamaient:" oh my good ! amazing ! incredible"
on a cru un moment qu'ils avaient découvert une licorne ou qu'ils étaient à jurassic park et qu'ils venaient de croiser la route d un tyranosor rex !
le concept est comique; regarder un oiseau ou un autre animal à travers une longue vue ! car trop loin ! idem qu'à la télé non ?
pour notre part on a croisés des singes , des fourmis, un tatou, un iguane et le cul d un paresseux qui montait à l'arbre ! amazing incredible !
nous sommes restés quelques jours à manuel antonio pour profiter de la plage en changeant souvent d'hôtel car les prix variés du simple au double du jour au lendemain pour des prestations honteuses ; en plus ils vous annoncent un prix en dollars pour le convertir à leur guise ! des voleurs!.
Alajuela ville proche de l'aéroport avec un mall sur deux étages et marché local au centre ville ! sans interêt si ce n'est la proximité avec l'aéroport !
Ce que nous avons appreciés :
Le climat et la ville de san jose qui avec le recul est la ville la plus authentique que nous avons traversés .
Ce que nous n'avons pas appreçiés en plus de ce que nous venons de citer :
Les costaricains qui ne sont pas très avenants ni communicants , l' anglais qui n' est pratiquement pas parlé , même pas par les medecins de l'hôpital de Quepos où ma femme victime d'une intoxication alimentaire y ait passé, ( merci Google translate) , l'obésité omniprésente des Costaricains qui s'alimentent à l'Américaine, l'insécurité, les bobos ecolos qui quittent leur lodge à 150 dollars en mini-van avec guide pour visiter les parcs et autres sites puis reviennent se barricader dans leur forteresse la nuit tomb��e (oh my god amazing incredible), le panneau bleu à l'entrée des villes qui acceptent ce mode de paiement ; "acceptamos american express" les parkings devenus payants par la seule présence d'un gars qui surveille vos voitures , les prix affichés en dollars , le coût de la vie (hotels rerstos taxes ), les paysages trop verts et pas assez fleuris , les plages rien d exceptionnelles , la pollution dans les villes où les gros camions trucks américain sont rois , les eaux usées rejetées directement à la mer . Hormis la jungle il n'y à rien a visiter, aucun vestiges , ruines , monuments , digne de ce nom .
Bref , nous pensons ma femme et moi que la publicité faite pour ce pays soi disant ecolo est surfaite , mais que c est un peu le pays à la mode du moment ! Il y a beaucoup mieux , moins cher , et plus authentique .
Avec le recul nous gardons que les bons moments et nos belles photos , mais si c'était à refaire .............
Avant de vous quitter petit message à tous ceux qui n'aiment pas que l'on puisse avoir un avis divergent du leurs :
Et bien certaines choses ne se discutent pas , et á ceux qui voudraient nous faire croire qu'en 3 semaines on n'a pas le droit de critiquer un pays ou d exprimer un ressenti , et bien comment pouvez vous l'encencer en si peu de temps. Belle supercherie, Costa frica pompe à fric , pura vida , pure vide sidéral.
Si vous aimez passer vos soirées barricadé dans votre douillé hôtel le soir tombé , et bien ce pays est pour vous .
Pour les autres : fuyezzzzzzzzz !
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 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?
Il y a quelque années, j'étais parti avec un groupe d'amis donner un coup de main dans une petite école rurale à côté de Thiès, au Sénégal.
Ambiance détendue mais travailleuse, avec les mains dans le mortier, la rigolade, les échanges, et tout ce qu'une COOPERATION peut engendrer.
Aujourd'hui, le petit projet vole de ses propres ailes.
Voulant profiter des richesses du Sénégal, on est parti faire un peu de tourisme dans le Siné Saloum. Une fille de notre groupe est tombée malade (crise de paludisme) et on a décider de l'emener voir un médecin dans un grand complexe touristique juste à coté. Malgré son état, il a fallu montrer patte blanche (si j'ose dire) pour entrer. Elle a été soignée et va bien depuis.
Cette "étape" dans ce centre style Club Méditerranée à la sauce teutonne, ressemblant au Grau du Roy en plus chic à été pour nous une vision d'horreur : Piscines, immenses bassins artificiels teintés de bleu, de rose ou de vert (!!!!), animateur hurlant autour d'un concours de teeshirt mouillés ou d'escalade de cocotiers, et toubabs rotis, ou rosés.
L'ensemble de l'hotel était ceinturé d'un immense mur derrière lequel s'était constitué un petit bidonville de marchands de souvenirs digne des derniers faubourgs de Dakar
En repartant, on a vu un minibus de clients de retour "d'excursion", avec masques, tissus et djembés - Souvenirs d'Afrique ?
Ce sera peut être le leur ?
Quel sera l'impression des gamins agglutinés devant les grilles de l'hotel ?
Quel sera l'impression des serveurs noirs en "costumes traditionnels africains", servant à tour de bras cocktails et glaces ?
Pour moi, qui ai connu l'Afrique très jeune, et dans la brousse, cela reste une vision d'horreur, gravée en moi.
Sur V.F. ce genre de vacances ne semble pas être le lot commun des internautes, et c'est bien la raison de mon inscription.
Avez vous aussi connu ce genre de voyage intersidéral ?
Comprennez vous les martiens ?
Leurs motivations sont elles pacifistes ?
I’ve been wondering: Is it still reasonable to rent a car in the U.S.?
Apparently, since early January 2025—and very quietly—the most important insurance coverage, namely the driver’s civil liability, has seen its coverage amount drop from $1 million to just $300,000. This coverage is supposed to protect us from damages we might be responsible for while driving. We can go decades without a single scrape (especially if it’s our fault), but anything can happen in a split second. A motorcycle appearing out of nowhere, a misjudgment at one of those huge intersections with staggered traffic lights, and suddenly we could be deemed at fault for the accident. We’d then have to pay out of pocket for the other party’s medical expenses. Given what hospitals charge... it can easily exceed $300,000 and turn into a nightmare in no time!!! Plus, anyone who’s driven on American roads has seen those billboards for lawyers offering their services to accident victims. So on top of the sky-high medical bill, the lawyer will demand compensation worthy of a Hollywood movie!!!! So, is it even worth getting behind the wheel in America anymore? Well... that’s just my take! And on top of that, I haven’t found any insurance company that offers such high civil liability coverage. Chapka and others do offer coverage in the millions, but motor vehicles are excluded.... So here’s the thing... Unless I’ve "missed something," I’ve come to this conclusion: Renting a car in the U.S. is like playing Russian roulette! But maybe I’m being too pessimistic? What do you think?
My two bullfighting traditions when I'm back home in Camargue (France) and in Colombia (Caribbean) every time I return. 🤠
Details:
Bullfights (corridas) aren’t part of my two bullfighting traditions, but I respect those who attend them!!!
In these two ancestral bullfighting traditions—which aren’t bullfights—the Bulls and Toros aren’t killed or tortured, as some might think.
These are bull games where the animals return to their pastures afterward and only come back to the Arenas 2–3 times a year at most.
They spend 15 minutes in the ring for the Camarguais and 5 minutes for the Toros in the Colombian Corralejas.
They’re cared for and pampered. They’ll die of old age in miles of open fields.
The young people who face them are professionals, risking their lives to support their families and live their Passion for the Toro!!! 😄
https://youtu.be/yYKQer42HoQ
Colombian Corraleja in the link below (hope it works) 🤪
https://fb.watch/BMfmuCgQpG/
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