Je viens d'arriver sur ce chaleureux forum, ceci est mon premier post... Je vais d'abord me présenter rapidement! (:
Je m'appelle Maïté, j'ai 18 ans, j'habite dans le Pas de Calais et je prépare la première année d'un DUT Services et Réseaux de Communication. En dehors de tout ça, j'aime pardessus tout la musique, je fais de la guitare, je chante, j'écris des chansons. J'écris aussi des histoires, je suis une rêveuse en herbe! *-*
Si je me suis inscrite sur Voyage Forum, c'est parce que j'aspire au voyage et j'ai un projet en tête depuis quelques temps.
Je suis dépassée par beaucoup de choses - mes préoccupations scolaires et professionnelles, la société consommatrice, les gens décevants -, et pour dire vrai je n'ai qu'une envie : partir.
Certains appelleront ça une fuite, moi non. Je n'ai rien à fuir. J'ai des proches extraordinaires, une vie normale, de nombreuses choses positives m'entourent. Mais j'ai le sentiment de me lasser d'une routine. Le futur me fait peur et j'ai l'impression de perdre mon temps, dans mon Nord paumé. J'ai le sentiment que les gens vivent sans but, sans envie particulière. Je n'ai pas envie de vivre comme ça...
Le projet dont j'aimerais vous parler est le suivant :
J'envisage de partir en voyage dans un an et demi, ou deux ans. Où? Je ne sais pas encore très bien. Le Japon, le Canada ou l'Australie. J'ai besoin de m'évader, de découvrir de nouveaux horizons. Ces trois pays m'inspirent d'autres façons de vivre, tellement de choses à voir. Je veux pouvoir respirer. J'aimerais vraiment discuter avec des personnes qui ont visité ces pays. Je ne les connais pas en long, en large et en travers et j'ai besoin de vos avis, de vos impressions quant à ces pays.
Le problème c'est que j'ai 18 ans, que je n'ai travaillé qu'un mois en centre aéré l'année dernière, et que je n'ai donc pas énormément d'argent pour financer ce voyage.
Cet été, je travaillerai à nouveau en centre aéré. Je ne suis pas un panier percé, j'économise énormément parce que je veux que l'argent que j'ai serve à quelque chose. A ce voyage. J'y tiens vraiment.
J'envisage de travailler à côté des cours pendant ma deuxième année de DUT. Même si c'est une petit job le samedi, c'est toujours une rentrée d'argent...
Et je ne veux pas que l'argent soit un problème pour mon voyage. Si ça ne tenait qu'à moi, je vivrais sans argent, je partirais avec ma guitare sur le dos, mais je crois que la société finirait par gagner... Je dois me plier à ce fait. Cependant, je compte vivre simplement, avec le minimum vital, pendant mon voyage. Je ne compte pas dépenser et dépenser. Tout ce qui compte, c'est le régal de mes yeux et de mon coeur.
Voilà le fond de ma pensée, mes idées un peu en fouillis. J'ai besoin d'aide dans la mesure où je n'ai pas beaucoup voyagé, où j'ai peut-être un esprit trop rêveur, où peu de personnes de mon entourage comprennent mes désirs. Je ne sais pas ce que j'ignore, j'aimerais pouvoir discuter avec des personnes plus matures, qui ont déjà réalisé un voyage de ce type. Je fais appel à tous ceux qui comprennent ce que je ressens, ce dont j'ai besoin.
J'aimerais d'abord pouvoir parler avec vous du côté philosophique de la chose. Je voudrais savoir comment vous avez vécu votre voyage, s'il vous a permis de ressentir ce que vous vouliez. Je m'adresse à tous les voyageurs, mais si certains ont visité le Canada, le Japon ou l'Australie, je serais d'autant plus intéressée.
En tous cas je vous remercie sincèrement de m'avoir lue, en espérant recevoir des réponses.
Bonne soirée! (:
Ce que je trouve de plus positif chez toi, c'est que ton envie de partir n'est pas une envie de fuir ! Alors si ton désir est fort, tout se mettra en place d'ici deux ans , tu trouveras l'énergie et les moyens de te préparer et tu pourras vivre une belle expérience. Continue ! (ps, le Nord n'est pas si terrible que ça quand même, ce n'est pas la Sibérie non plus, même si on dit que ceux qui y vivent on dû tuer père et mère dans une autre vie et y font pénitence 😉)
ça fait d bien de te lire pour constater combien le système dans lequel nous sommes enferrés devient insupportable à ceux qui souhaitent vivre à l'échelle humaine et non monétaire !
C'est bien notre désaccord qui nous a menés sur d'autres chemins pour nous permettre notre épanouissement personnel avec pour leitmotiv : vivre au maximum avec le minimum.
ça passe bien sûr par notre système de consommation voire de production des produits alimentaires sains, et d'affirmation de nos choix de vie : ouverture aux autres et respect mutuel, partage des connaissances et expériences, et oser tenter ce qui paraît même utopique parfois.
Ce n'est pas refuser le "progrès" mais l'utiliser au mieux en limitant ses effets "indésirables".
Je dis à mes enfants et aux jeunes qui nous côtoient, en terme de choix professionnel de ne pas confondre "bien gagner sa vie" et "bien vivre sa vie". Certes, ça implique de renoncer à certains conforts superflus que le consumérisme parvient si facilement à faire passer pour des besoins qu'il nous crée à travers publicités et multimédia de tout poil !
A nous de ne pas tomber dans le piège. il en va de même du système bancaire qu'au prétexte de nous faciliter la vie à travers paiements différés par carte bleue, prêt ... nous rendent dépendants et nous endettent en nous "prêtant" disent-ils l'argent qui nous manque. Ce qu'ils ne disent pas c'est qu'en fait ils nous vendent de l'argent... qui ne leur appartient pas !
Mon principe est donc de n'accepter aucun crédit, quitte à attendre de rassembler des fonds nécessaires à l'achat de ce qui me parait utile, je veux décider moi-même aussi bien de l😉a gestion de mon porte-monnaie que de mon mode alimentaire , donc de ma santé.
ça demande de s'informer constamment en questionnant les sources, en rencontrant du monde, et du coup d'apprendre en permanence, ce qui est loin de me déplaire.
Belle journée à tout le monde,
Cordialement
Geli 😉
bonjour
quand on a le désir de voyager, on y arrive toujours.
contrairement à ce que beaucoup de gens pensent ce n'ai pas une question de moyens (financier) mais de volonté, d'organisation et de choix de voyage. certes de l'argent il en faut quand meme un peu, d'abord pour l'avion si tu désires aller à l'autre bout de la planete. ensuite pour vivre. cependant tu peux minimiser les frais de voyage, d'abord en choisissant une destination ou le niveau de vie est abordable. ton budget ne sera pas le meme à calcutta qu'a new york ou buenos aires. ensuite le mode de voyage est important pour le budget, en choississant de s'adapter au mode de vie local on minimise le cout sans rien enlever a la qualité du voyage, au contraire, mais cela est directement lié à ta conception du voyage. on peut choisir de survoler le machu pichu au lieu d'y aller à pied à travers la montagne, ou choisir un trip de reve sur un house boat de luxe dans la baie d'halong ou partager le pont d'un bateau de peche.ce ne sont que des exemples mais tu auras compris que les deux options offrent des charmes différents mais sont aussi d'un cout différent. pour voyager longtemps il faut soit posséder beaucoup d'argent, soit le faire durer longtemps. crois moi il est possible de voyager avec peu mais ce n'ai pas toujours des vacances mais tout le temps des expériences inoubliables.ton feeling fera le reste.
bon voyage
Bonjour
Votre IUT a-t-il des accords avec des centres à l'étranger?
Si vous pouviez découvrir d'autres façons de vivre et en plus améliorer vos compétences, ce serait idéal, non?
Tout d'abord merci à vous pour m'avoir lue et répondu, vos conseils et vos encouragement me donnent vraiment envie de poursuivre mon projet! :) Vous m'avez fait comprendre que ce que je voulais n'était pas impossible, mais aussi qu'il fallait pas mal d'organisation prévue à l'avance, et surtout de la motivation! Je suis contente de ne voir que d'autres personnes pensent dans le même sens que moi. :)
Mais je suis intéressée par une chose : pourriez-vous tous me dire où vous avez déjà voyagé? Est-ce que votre voyage vous a ouvert les yeux, vous a permis de respirer un nouvel air?
Pour vous répondre, Platypus14, oui, l'IUT propose des échanges avec des pays européens mais aussi avec le Canada et le Japon. J'avais envisagé en début d'année d'exercer mon stage pratique de deuxième année (qui durera 2 mois) dans le cadre de cet échange, parce que j'avais vraiment envie de partir. Mais je me suis rendue compte que si je veux partir, ce n'est pas dans l'univers de mes études... Partir pour travailler et continuer à voir les mêmes choses qu'ici ne m'intéresse pas. Je veux vraiment découvrir le pays où je vais aller, et me détacher pendant un certain temps de cette routine scolaire, et du monde professionnel. Je pense que si j'avais tant été attachée à mes études, un stage à l'étranger aurait été vraiment intéressant! J'aurais pu le faire, mais ce n'est pas encore ce que je recherche.
En tous cas je vous remercie de votre réponse! :)
Partir pour travailler et continuer à voir les mêmes choses qu'ici ne m'intéresse pas.
Vous ne verrez pas les mêmes choses ! Vous rencontrerez au travail des gens différents, avec qui vous sympathiserez, qui vous parlerons de leur vie, qui vous la ferons découvrir ou partager... Approcher un pays par cette voie est beaucoup plus authentique que tout ce que vous trouverez comme "touriste"!
Si vous avez cette possibilité, foncez!
Et puis, personne ne vous empêche de revenir après y retrouver les copains 😉
Voire de vous y installer ... C'est fréquent.
Mais je suis intéressée par une chose : pourriez-vous tous me dire où vous avez déjà voyagé? Est-ce que votre voyage vous a ouvert les yeux, vous a permis de respirer un nouvel air?
BONSOIR
comme beaucoup de "vieux voyageurs" si nous avons continué de voyager c'est que le voyage a changé notre vie. tout comme toi j'avais ce désir permanent de partir, de changer de vie, d'aller voir le monde, et ce tres jeune. à l'époque nous ne disposions pas des memes moyens qu'aujourd'hui mais la passion l'a emporté. ensuite ma vie ne s'est organisée qu'en fonction de mes voyages.
le voyage m'a apporté la conaissance de diverses cultures, de multiples amitiés, des expériences formidables. cela n'a pas toujours été facile, il a fallu composer avec les exigences du monde moderne, néanmoins j'ai réussi à concilier ma vie de voyageur avec une vie professionnelle et familiale et j'ai transmis le virus aux trois quart de ma famille. l'essentiel est d'etre heureux
bon voyage.
au fait je pensais à une experience qui peut etre t'interesserait: celle de l'humanitaire. j'ai souvent donné de mon temps dans des écoles en inde et en afrique, ils nous le rendent bien.
Après avoir découvert la Thaïlande, Le Vietnam, Le Rajasthan, le Mexique, Cuba, Corse, Italie, Martinique, nous aimerions partir 15 jours fin Novembre décembre…
Dans ce sentier de jungle, j'aimerais bien m'aventurer. On m'a dit qu'il y a des serpents et notemment des cobras... Avez-vous quelques recommandations afin…
Je me présente je suis un garçon de 17 ans vivant à Paris. J'écris ce billet car avec des amis à moi nous avons le projet de partir faire la fete cet été…
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
After an engine failure in mid-2016 on a long-haul flight from BRISBANE to LYON, I developed a persistent aviophobia that I’m struggling to shake off. It’s becoming more and more of a hindrance.
Up until now, I’ve been using an avoidance strategy (for example, avoiding destinations that would require any other mode of transport than a car or train), but lately, it’s become really limiting.
I’m looking for a therapist—either in-person or via video call—who could help me get past this hurdle.
First and foremost, I hope this topic won’t just focus on my region—the South of France—and that those of you who enjoy exchanging ideas will share what makes your own regions special.
Personally, I’ve often wanted to push back when people call us vulgar (though I’ll admit I sometimes play it up). At heart, we pure-blooded Southerners just have our own way of expressing ourselves, which differs from other regions. We also get heated in conversations pretty easily (some researchers say it’s the influence of the sun and climate in general).
What some perceive as vulgar, we don’t see that way at all.
Do you want a uniform world with no differences? If so, how do you handle traveling to places with cultures completely different from your own?
In the travel community, the word "authenticity" comes up a lot, and it often takes priority in people’s searches.
In my specific case, speaking a purely regional language without having gone to school for it doesn’t help with understanding on this forum. That’s what creates what you call controversies—and what I call passionate exchanges.
It left me speechless and ended the conversation because, for him, that’s just how he sees things, and he refuses to debate it, sticking to his position. I’ll quote him, hoping he won’t hold it against me:
"For me, things like bullfighting, boxing, football, and MMA are just tangible proof that human evolution is still at a primitive stage."
For him, our Latin-origin bullfights are barbaric customs. For us *taurins*, we need to see men face wild beasts (bulls and *toros*) at the risk of their lives every day. Does that make us barbarians?
We’ve always had this need to confront death—it’s in our genes.
Take the example he gave about football: fans of the sport would be considered mentally underdeveloped. But what about a kid who’s passionate about the game and has that drive to be a winner, just like a boxer or athletes in other violent sports?
As a traveler myself, passionate about old stones and beautiful historic buildings, I’ve visited Rome but couldn’t fully appreciate it. Religion is everywhere, and I felt like I had a lead weight on my head realizing that millions of people worldwide have believed in a god for millennia.
I’ve also judged believers for basing their faith on archaic texts that don’t prove a god (or gods) ever existed—I still think that, but I’m open to being proven wrong so I can say, "You’ve convinced me I was mistaken."
- If everyone clings to their own ideas and positions, no discussion is possible, and that’s a shame.
I’ll take away two things from my forum interactions: some accuse me of being omnipresent when I just love exchanging ideas. My way of speaking is misunderstood (regional differences), even if I’ll admit I sometimes turn up the heat—or rather, the *aïoli* —which for me is just lively debates 🔥 (a regional specialty).
And my "mocking" side, which I really need to work on.
This topic isn’t just about me—I hope other forum members will share their own regional "specialties" . For example, in Alsace, some older folks switch to their local language when they don’t want outsiders to understand, and I still don’t know if it’s German or something else.
