N'est ce pas que tout autant que nous sommes, nous restons de pauvres petits baroudeurs en quête de l'esprit du voyage, celui qui n'est pas fait pour qu'on s'amuse ou qu'on bronze ou qu'on fasse du shopping ......On finit par noiricir au fur et a mesure une mappemonde et on n'est plus alors qu'un pauvre colectionneur toujours à la recherche .....et on finit alors par ne plus que s'amuser, bronzer ou faire du shopping!! L'emotion de la collection pathologique, celle qui motive la majorité de nos voyages, s'évapore aussitôt que notre passeport tamponné.... Ouiiiiiiiii je l'ai fait! Bravo mais quoi d'autre, qu'est ce que nous cherchons tous à travers nos voyages de pacotille, que recherchons nous en traversant la moitie de la planète? Le danger, ou plus simplement accroitre les probabilités d'une mise en situation dangereuse. Eloignons nous un peu de la philosophie et redevenons des êtres cartesiens....vous savez nos doubles inconscients: Sortir de chez soi, prendre le bus, la voiture, le train et à fortiori l'avion c'est prendre des risques....oui des risques de se retrouver à la morgue, il est normal qu'on court plus de risques dehors que dedans nos confortables maisons domotiquées. D'autant plus risquées, ces petites virées, que si elles ont lieu dans des pays lointains, incertains, bizzares peuplés de gens qui ne parlent pas comme nous, ne mangent pas comme nous et ne nous ressemblent pas....le comble du risque. Nos risques restent cependant illusoires car dans nos voyages nous transportons notre sédentarité pathétique ne serait ce que dans un sac à dos, elle existe et persiste, c'est une garantie de confort qui se met en portafaux avec notre quête initiale....nous ne mourrons pas.....Nous en rendons nous compte? Absolument pas, ca nous arrange, car ca nous fait rappeler à la nostalgie de l'origine même de notre voyage, les temps premiers, le temps ou nous etions tous nomades!!! Mais la similitude s'arrete la, car si nous voyageons aujourd hui pour prendre des risques, hier on nomadisaient pour reduire ce risque, on voyageait dans cet ailleurs pour trouver le mieux et le meilleur pour nous, on sauvegardait notre existence en cherchant un meilleur paturage ou un gibier plus abondant voire un savoir plus illustre. Voila dans quel état se trouve le voyage aujourd hui!!! Ce calcul de risques qui en quelques temps, tout relatif, s'est completement corrompu, me fait par ailleurs penser à ces autres voyageurs qui eux restent fideles à la notion premiere du mouvement, celle vers le mieux et non vers le pire. Par milliers ils franchissent des mers dechainées, ils traversent aussi des frontieres sans papiers et comble du comble arrivent meme à mourrir........ Oui ils arrivent à accomplir le but ultime de nos propres voyages. La prochaine fois que vous deciderez d'aller voir ailleurs, pensez à eux, car eux ils arrivent vraiment à faire vivre le voyage dans toute sa beauté tragique!
A mon avis, le voyage est une chose et l'immigration en est une autre.
Le voyage rime avec luxe ou au minimum confort, il va justement à l'encontre de l'ex vie des nomades qui cherchait comme tu l'as signalé une vie meilleure.
L'immigration est une fuge des gens désepréré chez eux et une utopie d'une vie meilleure ailleurs: je crois personnellement qu'une vie meilleure ne peut exister dans l'illégalité.
Et pour revenir au voyage, il est pour moi une tentation pacifiste en nous qui cherche à anéantiser ces frontières qui devaient être virtuelles mais réelles en l'occurence. Le voyageur en faisant un pas vers autrui est entrain de tenter de s'approcher de lui et lui dire que nos différences ne sont que superficielles et que nous restons tous humains. Je parle bien sûr ici des voyages à risque et pas celles qui comportent des formules de relaxation dans les hotels.
THE MIND IS LIKE A PARACHUTE, IT WORKS BEST WHEN IT'S OPENED.
Je te conseil vivement de lire Eldorado de laurent Gaudé
Ce livre traite justement de l'immigration illegale et Gaude y est très bienveillant avec ses personnages, non seulement il montre à quel point il est douloureux pour ces gens de quitter leur racines et d'abandonner leur proches pour un ailleur inconnu mais aussi il denonce notre affreux systeme en pointant du doigt les douaniers qui vont à la fois sauver ces âmes perdues sur des embarcations de fortune et aussi les ramener à la frontière
Enfin, n'oublions pas non plus ce que nous detruisons sur notre passage en voyageant...
Nous partons à la decouverte de differences et amenons l'uniformisation là où nous passons en suscitant l'envie...
Pourquoi n'emigrons nous pas plus facilement vers ces contrées qui nous fascinent ?
Notre petit confort serait il mis en danger, l'exotisme oui mais pour les vacances! est ce notre egoisme typiquement occidental qui nous empêche d'emigrer definitivement vers les pays les plus pauvres pour leur permettre de se developper selon leur PROPRE culture ?
Voyager c'est bien s'engager c'est mieux !!!
C'était mon p'tit coup de gueule de la journée, bonne route à tous
ton apport est d'une grande qualité et d'une clarté irreprochable mais c'est fort dommage que notre égoïsme nous empêche d'y répondre car c'est l'évidence même!!!on assiste à une socièté du spectacle, où malheureusement c'est toujours les mêmes qui fixent les règles, "LA MONDIALISATION" quelle utopie!!!!!
Notre egoisme typiquement occidental...qu'est ce que c'est saoulant de lire ça...La couverture universelle c'est de l'égoisme ? le RMI, l'assurance sociale c'est de l'égoisme ?
Et je voudrais bien savoir ce que tu comptes faire pour ne plus uniformiser parce que l'on "suscite l'envie". Merde, faut il donc interdire le développement de certaines économies ?
Restez dans vos campagnes à cultiver du riz pendant qu'on fait de la recherche developement ? Tu vas en faire rêver des générations de jeunes avec des projets comme ça...
Finalement n'est ce pas toi qui veut leur imposer une certaine culture que tu supposes être la leur ?
Garde ton animosité pour toi et remet les choses dans leur contexte s'il te plait
Je n'ai en aucun cas utilisé cette expression d'egoisme occidentale pour denoncer notre systeme, que par ailleur j'execre, mais pour mettre en lumiere notre insouciance de voyageur qui pouvons sans problème aucun obtenir un visa ou economiser pour se payer un billet d'avion ou même pour sejourner longtemps dans un pays etranger tout en ecrasant les peuples rencontrés par notre materialisme imperialiste.
D'autre part je trouve injuste notre despotisme occidentale pour un soi disant progres qui ne fait qu'affaiblir l'Humanité, sinon affaiblir, au moins faire perdre son essence à l'HUMAIN
Ton agressivité spontanée en est la preuve vivante, je ne t'accuse de rien je te demande seulement si pour preserver l'authenticité d'un peuple ou même d'une personne ne devrions nous pas arriver vierge de tout, innocent et sans a priori aucun et se fondre, se confondre à la masse sans pour autant mimetiser bêtement
Tu parle des aides gouvernementales dont nous beneficions en France, certe elles existent, mais quelles sont leur valeurs si tu les met en relation avec le niveau de vie du pays?
J'ai dernierement parlé avec un indien du penjab qui vit depuis 5 ans en france et pour lui la France est loin d'être un Eldorado, en effet il m'expliquait qu'en Inde il ne beneficiait certe pas de la Secu mais pouvait garder ce qu'il gagnait et que les soins etaient abordables...(Je parle de la classe moyenne indienne evidemment...) Aussi j'ai vu en Inde plusieurs boutique voir le jour en quelques heure, parce que l'administration y est moin compexe et l'entraide plus presente, ce systeme qui semble archaique a l'occident fonctionne et bien
Encore une chose au sujet du materialisme et du repect des cultures j'ai entendue plusieurs personnes de retour de Chine me raconter que les tibetains vivant en Chine étaient très heureux d'être chinois, donne un portable et du confort à quelqu'un qui vit une vie rude dans le respect des traditions, de la famille de sa culture elle aura vite fait d'oublier que l'on a massacrer son peuple brulé ses livres sacrés et enfermé ses hauts dignitaires
Encore une chose au sujet du materialisme et du repect des cultures j'ai entendue plusieurs personnes de retour de Chine me raconter que les tibetains vivant en Chine étaient très heureux d'être chinois, donne un portable et du confort à quelqu'un qui vit une vie rude dans le respect des traditions, de la famille de sa culture elle aura vite fait d'oublier que l'on a massacrer son peuple brulé ses livres sacrés et enfermé ses hauts dignitaires
Tu as l'air d'ignorer que des milliers de tibétains ont fui la Chine au risque de leur vie, justement pour vivre dans leur tradition et dans leur culture. Et surement pas pour plus de confort ou plus de biens de consommation.
Bon, je ne suis pas sûr que cela vaille la peine de discuter, car nous avons clairement des opinions très éloignées et assez difficile à rapprocher...mais bon rien n'est noir & blanc et j'entends bienn certains de tes points...
Mais bon;
Je n'ai en aucun cas utilisé cette expression d'egoisme occidentale pour denoncer notre systeme, que par ailleur j'execre, mais pour mettre en lumiere notre insouciance de voyageur qui pouvons sans problème aucun obtenir un visa ou economiser pour se payer un billet d'avion ou même pour sejourner longtemps dans un pays etranger tout en ecrasant les peuples rencontrés par notre materialisme imperialiste.
Tu as quand même une vision super manichéene, je ne pense pas qu'on puisse aujourd'hui opposer l'occident et le reste du monde. Je suis peut être plus proche d'un habitant (bon de la classe aisée) de Jakarta que je ne le suis d'un montagnard de Savoie.
Sur notre côté matérialiste...Bon c'est pas forcément sur ce forum que tu vas trouver les gens les plus matérialistes, on est quand même assez nombreux ici à voyager "léger" au sens où l'on voyage plus pour vivre quelque chose, que pour consommer bêtement....D'ailleurs pas mal de locaux ne le comprenne pas forcément. Quand aux autres occidentaux, consuméristes forcenés, je doute qu'ils se mélangent énormément aux populations locales, ils n'imposent donc que moyennement leur "matérialisme imperialiste". Et ne vas pas leur repprocher après de ne pas se m"langer aux "vraies gens" en restant dans leurs camps de vacances ou leurs hotels de luxe.
D'autre part je trouve injuste notre despotisme occidentale pour un soi disant progres qui ne fait qu'affaiblir l'Humanité, sinon affaiblir, au moins faire perdre son essence à l'HUMAIN
Affirmation sans fondement, laissé à l'appréciation de chacun 😉
Ton agressivité spontanée en est la preuve vivante, je ne t'accuse de rien je te demande seulement si pour preserver l'authenticité d'un peuple ou même d'une personne ne devrions nous pas arriver vierge de tout, innocent et sans a priori aucun et se fondre, se confondre à la masse sans pour autant mimetiser bêtement
Donc ta conception de la vie c'est de tout conserver tel quel, de rester dans le statut quo ?
L'authenticité d'un peuple c'est quoi ? Ne serait ce pas d'évoluer pour s'adapter à son environnement, comme toute forme de vie sur Terre ?
J'ai dernierement parlé avec un indien du penjab qui vit depuis 5 ans en france et pour lui la France est loin d'être un Eldorado, en effet il m'expliquait qu'en Inde il ne beneficiait certe pas de la Secu mais pouvait garder ce qu'il gagnait et que les soins etaient abordables...(Je parle de la classe moyenne indienne evidemment...) Aussi j'ai vu en Inde plusieurs boutique voir le jour en quelques heure, parce que l'administration y est moin compexe et l'entraide plus presente, ce systeme qui semble archaique a l'occident fonctionne et bien
Encore une fois tu as une analyse un peu vieillote qui oppose occident/Reste du monde. Bien sur que dans de nombreux pays une classe moyenne existe et vit souvent relativement bien. C'est évident. Par contre compare la situation des pauvres dans ces pays et ici, c'est quand même un peu différent. Mais là n'est pas la question, mon point était plutôt de souligner que c'est un peu ridicule de dire
"Regardez comme ils sont sympas, ils s'entraident entre eux, si la récolte n'est pas bonne, ils feront pot commun, alors que nous occidentaux sommes de profonds egoistes"
Alors certes, je ne partage pas mon salaire avec celui du voisin du dessous si celui ci à des difficulté, mais nous avons mis en place à l'échelle du pays, un système qui est finalement assez semblable non ?
A te croire on dirait qu'on impose un système aux autres. j'en suis moyennement convaincu. D'ailleurs tu reconnais toi même que le consumérisme attire.
Simplement qu'est ce que tu veux qu'on fasse ? Qui est tu pour pouvoir décider ce qui est bon ou pas pour tel peuple ?
Laisse les individus choisir leurs destins, et malheureusement ou heureusement, ce n'est pas à nous d'en juger, ils ont plutôt tendance à perdre leurs racines...C'est une évolution naturelle.
C'est incroyable, voila deux personnes à la suite qui ne reflechisse pas avant de me repondre
Lisez avant de reagir au quart de tour !!!
Justement je suis allée à Dharamsala et suis allée chez ces tibetains que tu evoque et je partage leur peine.
J'ai aussi beaucoup lu sur le sujet et respecte grandement ceux qui aux risque de leur vie ont suivi leur maitre spirituel monsieur le Dalai lama
Je parlai seulement des voyageurs qui reviennent de Chine et assure que les tibetains sont heureux d'être devenus chinois et de leur manque de reflexion sur le sujet
Je revendique chaque fois qu'il m'est possible la liberté du Tibet et reflechis au parrainage d'un enfant tibetain parce que je respecte et admire leur culture...
Petite précision...Dans mon cas je ne parle absolument pas des tibétains, dont la situation est particulière.
Mais il y a une différence entre les cultures écrasées par la volonté d'un gouvernement (on peut également parler de certains peuples d'indonésie...) qui constituent des cas particuliers et à une échelle relativement petite, et la tendance qu'ont les humains à se diriger vers un mode de vie urbain et peut être un peu plus standardisé par la mondialisation...
Elle avait les lèvres pincées
En anus de gallinacée
Moi j' rangeais ma gratte, mes affaires
A la fin d'un concert
L'est v'nue m' parler d'une d' mes chansons
Où j'avais dû dire "bite" et "con"
Peut-être même "couille", enfin des mots
Qu'on trouve dans les dicos
J' pense qu'elle s'était d'ailleurs
Trompée d'endroit et d'soir
Les gonzesses en tailleur
Ça vient rar'ment me voir
Bref elle m'a dit ceci
Comme si j'avais été
Une crotte sur son tapis
Un ch'veu gras dans son thé:
"Dans vos couplets sommaires
Vous visez au plus bas
Monsieur vous êtes vulgaire
Je ne vous salue pas"
L' a tourné les talons
Toute fière et tout' seule
Moi j' l'ai rapp'lée: "Ah non
Tu t' fous d' ma gueule!
Dire "foutre" et "cul" c'est p't-être osé
Tout c' que tu veux leste, salé
Mais la vulgarité ça n'a
Rien à voir avec ça
C'est par exemple mettre sans broncher
Mille ouvriers sur le pavé
Tandis qu'en bourse tes actions montent
Et n' pas en avoir honte
C'est comme à Managua
N'offrir aux filles haves
En zone franche là-bas
Qu'un salaire d'esclave
C'est réduire à plus rien
L'aide minable déjà
Qu' la vieille qui tend la main
Espère chaque mois
C'est limer les crédits
De l'école publique
Et tant pis pour qui vit
Dans des quartiers merdiques
C'est dire comme certains
Qu' c'lui qu' est dans la misère
C't au fond qu'il le veut bien
Ça c'est vulgaire
Vulgaire tu vois pour moi c'est pas
Bouffer ses nouilles avec ses doigts
Péter au bal de la duchesse
Ou t' foutre la main aux fesses
Mais c'est répandre l'idée abjecte
Qu' la méd'cine ça s' vend, ça s'achète
Qu' y en a donc une pour les rupins
Puis une autre pour les chiens
C'est polluer les têtes
D' nos rejetons mignons
Avec une culture faite
Pour piquer leur pognon
C'est leur faire croire aux p'tits
Sans défense et tout beaux
Qu'le bonheur c'est Barbie
Coca, Mickey, Mac Do
Vulgaire c'est m'imposer
Sous couvert de commerce
D' la barbaque bourrée
D' hormones les plus diverses
C'est breveter la vie
Prendre l'eau bientôt l'air
Pour en tirer profit
Ça c'est vulgaire
Vulgaire c'est titrer à la une
Sur le mariage ou la fortune
Des stars, dents blanches et peau bronzée
Dans leurs ghettos dorés
Puis c'est affirmer haut et dur
Qu' ce monde conduit par des ordures
Est l' seul possible désormais
Et qu' j'ai qu'à m'écraser
C'est la raison d'état
Pinochet libéré
L'Afrique qui se noie
Le Tibet sacrifié
C' sont les maffias qui rient
De toutes leurs dents en or
Et c'est la barbarie
De la peine de mort
C' sont les enfants d'Irak
De Gaza de Timor
Qu'on étouffe et qu'on traque
Depuis dix mille aurores
C'est enfin commencer
Ce joyeux millénaire
Avec nos mains tachées
En acceptant la guerre
Et l'homme tel qu'il est
Sans refus sans colère
Sans l'envie de gerber
Ça c'est vulgaire!
J'ai dernierement parlé avec un indien du penjab qui vit depuis 5 ans en france et pour lui la France est loin d'être un Eldorado, en effet il m'expliquait qu'en Inde il ne beneficiait certe pas de la Secu mais pouvait garder ce qu'il gagnait et que les soins etaient abordables...(Je parle de la classe moyenne indienne evidemment...) Aussi j'ai vu en Inde plusieurs boutique voir le jour en quelques heure, parce que l'administration y est moin compexe et l'entraide plus presente, ce systeme qui semble archaique a l'occident fonctionne et bien
Ce système a un nom chez nous: c'est le libéralisme. De quoi te plains-tu au juste? tu exècres notre système
et en même temps tu portes au pinacle les vertus de sociétés où le social se conjuge avec vide ou "bon vouloir éventuels des uns" et la politique avec castes ou dictature.
As-tu demandé exactement à ton indien du Penjab quel intérêt il avait de continuer à vivre en France?
Son argent il aimerait le garder tout pour lui et la bureaucratie lui est insupportable! Je m'étonne chaque jour d'entendre des témoignages comme celui-là.
Il semblerait que nos sociétés occidentales exercent un effet d'aimantation sans véritables raisons!
Et en plus il faudrait nous auto-flageller et endosser la robe de bure lorsque en tant que méchants impérialistes
nous décidons de voyager dans ces pays!
La position de Murakami est d'autant plus marrante que l'exemple qui semble est au centre de son discours, le Tibet, n'est pas vraiment victime de l'impérialisme capitaliste occidental...
Et qu'au final pas mal de défenseurs de la culture tibétaine se trouvent en occident.
Mais justement j'ai lu attentivement ton message, même plusieurs fois.
Honnêtement je n'ai trouvé -et ne trouve toujours pas- dans ton texte une quelconque prise de distance de ta part par rapport à l'opinion des voyageurs que tu citais.
Et pour être honnête, j'ai trouvé ton message extrèmement confus.
Il m'a semblé (à tort je l'admet maintenant à la lecture de ton nouveau message) que tu la partageais ou au moins lui trouvais un intérêt. D'où ma réaction.
La mondialisation quelle utopie !
C'est exactement ce que je disais à mon ami Christophe Colomb, l'autre jour ! Et lui de me rétorquer : non, c'est une réalité, reste si tu veux dans le monde merveilleux de "L'île aux enfants", moi j'ai une caravelle qui m'attends !
Voyager c'est découvrir que tout le monde a tort.
Aldous Huxley
La position de Murakami est d'autant plus marrante que l'exemple qui semble est au centre de son discours, le Tibet, n'est pas vraiment victime de l'impérialisme capitaliste occidental...
Et qu'au final pas mal de défenseurs de la culture tibétaine se trouvent en occident.
Enfin bon...
Exact!
et puis quelle tarte à la crème ce Tibet pour les bonnes consciences. Ce pays n'en serait pas là où il est aujourd'hui si les autorités monastiques qui l'ont dirigé n'avaient pas refusé systématiquement toutes tentatives d'ouverture et de modernisation avant l'intervention chinoise.
Concernant l'indien du Penjab qui se plaint de la bureaucratie française et de ne pas pouvoir garder tout son argent pour lui, il doit s'y prendre très mal! Pas mal de ses compatriotes ont ouvert boutiques dans le quartier textile du Sentier à Paris. Ouvertures le plus souvent illicites et éphémères, personnels payés avec un lance pierre et non déclarées. Pas de charges, pas d'impôts enfin un vrai rêve économique pour garder tout pour soi😠 et en plus il faudrait recevoir des leçons culturelles et rester humbles!
Consternant!
il est decevant de constater qu il n y a pas de limite a l agressivité et qu'elle est repandue chez des voyageurs... ca s est vulgaire et une chanson magnifique qui parle de ce que nous voyons en voyage dans le monde merci a murakami pour cette reference..
comment peut on dire des choses comme le tibet aurait du se moderniser avant l invasion chinoise!peut on excuser un crime un holaucauste!Le TIBET est une vieille civilisation tres riche!astronomie medecine philosophie mathematique astrologie t est tu renseigné ? modernité certe mais doit elle impliquer le prix du sang ?tarte a la creme ou egoisme ? murakami s exprime sur un sujet tres interressant il est dommage d'en devié pour tomber dans de petit coup bas sans interet.
revenons a nos moutons l'immigration illégale, j'ai rencontré il y a 3 ans un africain qui aujouird'hui vit en FRANCE ila traversé le desert pour fuir la guerre dans son pays, il a vécu et vu le génocide de son peuple
(toutsi outou) il m'a raconté son périple, ils étaient 5 et traversaient le desert pour la FRANCE, seul lui a survécu à la traversée aujourd'hui en France il subit le racisme, l'intolérance l'incomprehension presque la haine
et oui il est bon de penser à eux...
J'ai connu bon nombre de sans papiers qui ont fuit la misère, la faim, la mort, la maltraitance ...
Le discours que certains d'entre vous tiennnent au sujet du TIBET est inadmissible
JE Remercie (je ne me souviens plus de ton nom) celui qui a lancé ce sujet et tiens juste à cloturer avec ceci :
LA TERRE EST A TOUS LE MONDE
"le Tibet est une vieille et riche civilisation"...
Oui, mais on ne dirige pas un pays comme on régente un monastère.
Et si les chinois ont décidé à un moment de leur histoire d'occuper pour des raisons stratégiques le Tibet force est de constater que les dirigeants tibétains leur ont grandement préparé le terrain.
Historiquement au XXe siècle le Tibet a eu à 2 reprises la possibilité de s'ouvrir à la modernité. A chaque fois les moines ont refusés pour conserver leurs privilèges.
D'autre part, arrêtons d'idéaliser ce pays. La civilisation tibétaine n'est pas un aquarium folklorique, elle a aussi une histoire avec sa part d'expansion, de domination sur une grande partie de l'Asie avec sa cohorte de crimes et de tragédies.
Je trouve que les propos de Yop ci-dessus sont plein de bon sens. On ne peut pas refuser la modernité aux autres sous prétexte de vouloir conserver notre part de rêve! c'est à ce prix que nous éviterons des drames sordides comme ceux que tu as évoqué concernant les clandestins.
oui la terre est à tous le monde et le droit au progrès et au développement aussi!
ps
Concernant la chanson "c'est vulgaire" je la trouve puérile et dégoulinante de moralisme à 2 balles. Seul l'auteur de ces lignes sort exempt de tous reproches. C'est un texte qui peut tout juste séduire un ado de classe de quatrième se grattant le nombril. Peut être que s'il n'avait pas été éconduit par la jeune fille"au cul de gallinacée" il aurait vu les choses plus calmement...😊
😉 La modernisation le progré la technologie... tout à fait d accord MAIS HeLAS PAS DAnS DE TELLE CONDITIONS.historiquement et politiquement il est vrai que le Tibet a ces tort, certes mais le non du refus de l industrialisation ou toutes autres formes de devellopement économique ne justifie en rien les actes atroces que ce peuple a subit.les cathares ont donc aussi dans ce cas preparés leurs perte.contine pour ados oui sujets facil oui mais pourtant vrai enfin selon moi.j ai rencontré des tibetains en inde crois moi leurs vécu fait changer d avis. anecdote qui ma fait mal une mere a vue son fils qui etait moine coucher avec son frere devant elle et la tué tous trois etait encerclés par des militaires armées la mere a couché avec un mioche et la tué aujourd'hui elle vie dans une casse en toile et en tolle a dharamsala... le refus de la modernité escuse telle ou justifie telle ces atrocité?je comprend ton point de vue mais la verité politique et historique et differente de la réalite.
Ce matin, en prenant mon p'tit déj (un bon munster fermier), je repense au temps passé... A cette époque, il y avait sur la table la fameuse boîte en carton…
Hola!! Quand on voyage un peu partout en Europe, on s'est plus ou moins habitué aux étalages "sauvages" déballés à la sauvette sur les trottoirs. A Barcelone,…
Oui je sais, long time no see... Je vous écris aujourd'hui pour partager avec vous des réflexions qui me traverse l'esprit vu ce que je vis en ce moment...…
Ce titre accrocheur et quelque peu mystérieux résulte de plusieurs questions que je me pose. VF a rouvert depuis un nombre raisonnable de semaines et de mois.…
Réflexions de voyageurs › Grande-Bretagne · 35 replies
Je viens de lire cet article au sujet des guides touristiques publiés principalement en Angleterre et je le soumets à votre réflexion: www.slate.fr/story/...…
Hello everyone on this forum!
I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it?
Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples:
- - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"!
- - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country???
- - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc.
Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo.
I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.
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
This is my 15,000th post, and it's a message I would have preferred never to write.
Patrick—Yangguizi—won’t be returning from his trek in Uganda. His health betrayed him in the mountains.
Like many of you, I laughed until I couldn’t anymore at his travel stories. I met him in Shanghai, then in Istanbul... We scoured restaurants—he was an incredible expert on world cuisines. We relived Korea, China. Always brilliant, so sharp, so funny, so down-to-earth. Being even a little bit his friend was something to be proud of. I think I envied him.
Patrick is still out there, of course...
He found his happiness running across the world. He’s on his path. He never doubted that "the traveler doesn’t even know if he’ll return one day."
Not sure this would’ve suited him, but his departure devastates me.
Alright,
Farewell, you foreign devil. Safe travels.
hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...
I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.")
Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either.
But here’s the thing—I had photos...
So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand.
It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not...
It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.)
Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate.
And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries.
Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story.
Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023.
This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers.
As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart.
Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library.
I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott.
After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel.
My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*.
This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year!
This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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