So where are they and what are they doing? (page 13 of 33)

Hello,

I’ve been a VFer at heart since 2008 and I still am. I’m not into social networks and I’ve always found here the essential elements for my trips, the ideas to keep in mind. I’ve always found "colleagues" to exchange with, in both directions, and that suited me just fine. I’ve always shared my experiences—not from the other side of the world where I don’t go—but in Europe or nearby, during my long-distance hikes.

I did try to stick with FV, but personally, I didn’t find any enjoyment in it.

Today, by chance, I clicked on the site again, and oh, surprise—it’s working! I didn’t know before, but it doesn’t matter; I don’t like controversy. We’ve all gotten older, we’ve gathered information elsewhere, creating new habits, that’s for sure. Maybe we’ve also traveled less.

But as far as I’m concerned, I’ll start looking things up on VF again and give others time to come back.

Just like we were informed about the site’s suspension, could there be an announcement about its return? I have no doubt many would be thrilled.

Signed: a convinced VFer.

Thanks, like many others, for shedding some light on my questions. The answer to your question is a bit further upstream. Apart from those who changed their email address in the meantime and couldn’t be notified, there are internet providers like Orange that didn’t let the messages through.

As for the rest, only time will tell...

Hope you're coming back here—is this goodbye, though?

Thailand and serenity aren’t exactly stopping me from tapping away on the keyboard for a few minutes, posting a photo or two, helping someone out, or even throwing in a random aside now and then.

I definitely don’t think I have much left to do here or on other forums.

Hi, I’ll admit I don’t really understand the main point of the disagreement. Are you upset with some people on this forum? For example, with guys like Jojoone or Zorba, who you shared a room with while traveling and who snored too loudly at night? 😛

I wish you a good return here or is this goodbye?

What do you want me to say? Have you reached the point where you can no longer read words, you who sometimes handle them so well?

And besides, there’s no such thing as goodbye—just see-you-laters... they can just sometimes be eternal.

Thailand and serenity aren’t obstacles for me when it comes to tapping on the keyboard for a few minutes, posting one or two pictures, giving someone info, or even making a few side notes.

Where did you see me write or say that? Still, there are plenty of other obstacles—some of which are scattered across the 12 pages before this. I’ll let you find them.

A friendly hello to the one who shares your life and prefers capturing light through her lenses rather than being exposed to it.

With digital, I’d already given up my lenses—it’s all just continuity... that’s life, isn’t it?

Best regards,

Partirdeloin

hello, I must admit I don’t quite get the main point of the disagreement.

Hi,

Given your prose, I think it might be better if you continued not to understand...

But please, don’t let me stop you from carrying on—it would be such a shame for humanity and your stats on VF.

Maybe VF 2.0 hands out a few badges... hope springs eternal, or so they say.

Best regards,

Partirdeloin

Maybe VF 2.0 is handing out a few medals... hope springs eternal, or so they say.

I don’t get why you’re talking about medals—I couldn’t care less about them. What really matters to me in life is hiking in the Carpathian foothills, kayaking in Masuria, visiting the tribes of Borneo, and so much more...

My dear Mathews, Your second-to-last message puts me in an extremely awkward position: you’ve revealed to our community that I snore! How am I supposed to find my soulmate on VF after that bombshell? As compensation for the very real damage done, I propose that you introduce me to 12 ladies from the Masurian Lakes—just don’t tell them I snore.

But the worst part is something else: your writing has upset "Partirdeloin," and he might leave the Forum because of you—but to my extreme delight (who cares what I think, anyway). I don’t know what you wrote, but it must’ve been bad! Either way, the damage is done; "Partirdeloin" is probably right!! So, much to my dismay (again, who cares what I think), try to convince him to stay. He might leave for good, as his name suggests. Reassure him that he can "carpe diem" instead of "carpe nocte" and that this won’t happen again. Can we really do without his valuable contributions?

Are you on bad terms with some people on this forum?

Just 1,299,999—almost nothing.

How do you expect me to find my soulmate on VF after this revelation!

Hi Zorba, sorry for shocking you and for being a bit provocative.

You're welcome, I like a bit of banter too.

You're welcome, I like provocation too.

Ladies and gentlemen of the censors and fair-weather friends, we salute you! 😉

Are you on bad terms with some people on this forum?

Just 1,299,999, practically nothing.

Plus the other 2,000 😛

Hi everyone, I just stumbled upon this discussion a bit by chance, since I don’t come to the forum much anymore. I was on another planet in Thailand, and I’m having a hard time coming back to reality. I’m struggling to "find myself" in India. It’s tough to let go of all my emotional and cultural ties. I still have a long way to go in another life to reach "Enlightenment."

I devoured all 13 pages in one go, like a book you can’t put down. You often made me smile with your discussions and your certainties—everyone mixed together—and I even laughed out loud a few times. It was really interesting to read everything at once because you could see personalities and character traits emerge as the pages went by.

I almost jumped in several times but decided to hold back so I wouldn’t interrupt my reading. Mostly, I didn’t want to take part in the debate. I was watching from the outside, like you might watch what’s happening in the street from your window without intervening. A bit like how I looked at my past life and the last moments I lived when an anesthesiologist coldly told me to prepare my will and final wishes if I had any, because I had a strong chance of not waking up. It’s a strange feeling when a doctor tells you flat-out: you’ll most likely be dead in a few days. You’re living your last days... It changes a person. And once you do wake up, you end up with a whole new philosophy on life—and on the stupid, pointless arguments with this or that person.

Still, I wanted to share my experience since the topic came up several times in this discussion. I now live with three little tubes in my coronary arteries, and one part of the network is too fragile to be protected any other way than medically. Arteries 90% blocked. “We’re amazed you’re not dead...” Three doctors said the same thing to me. Three cardiologists out of five, including two Indian ones, and two French general practitioners acknowledged it was a side effect of the “famous” vaccine. I won’t say more to avoid reigniting the debate here, but I wanted to share my story anyway.

I had planned to talk about my experiences with hospitalizations and surgeries in an Indian hospital. Because I’ve never seen that kind of story here on VF. I wanted to talk about the hesitation from my insurance company, which almost left me to die on the spot. I thought it could be an interesting account for travelers in similar situations.

Then my ban from the forum in November, and the weeks that followed, killed any desire I had to share it once I was “rehabilitated.” I’ve taken a bit of distance from VF, even if I can’t bring myself to leave completely. Kola once wrote to me: “It seems obvious to me, as I’ve often said: Voyage Forum is a diabolical forum.”

Still, I’m addicted to VF and will probably write again, but I need to find the "drive" to do it. I have so little time left to live with a sword of Damocles hanging over my head, and I don’t want to waste my energy on stupid, pointless arguments in real life or in the “vir...tual” one.

For the tips, don’t worry, they’re solid! I’ve had one for 18 years—it’s never been replaced. 🙂

For the tips, don’t worry, they’re solid! I’ve had one for 18 years—it’s never been replaced.🙂

Thanks Agnès, yeah, I know. Normally, that’d be fine, but my situation’s a bit special—I won’t go into details here... But now I’m doing great, full of energy, and ready to travel, hike, and do all sorts of things in life

Oh yeah, Joël... We see the same thing on all travel forums and ESPECIALLY on those that have deactivated. It makes sense 😅 Plus, we have to admit that COVID really messed everything up across all sectors. Those who hung on and stayed active online are suffering the least (I think). Tropical greetings from Salvador, @ivanbahiaguide

... Yet, to my great surprise, I see fewer travel journals, way fewer messages, and way fewer questions. I don’t see many new members logging in, and I see a number of connected members who don’t participate or no longer participate.

Something escapes me because, in my opinion, VF is attractive, and I don’t see which other sites could compete.

Was there a real break between pre- and post-COVID? Does it still take time for some to discover the site or learn that it’s active again? Do people now prefer a form of quick consumption on sites like FB or others I don’t know? Where have the old-timers of the site gone, and what are they doing with their time now? What’s really going on?

Good evening, The economic newspaper *Les Échos* titled "the week of all dangers" with Trump’s antics and the consequences—I wonder if this isn’t going to affect international tourism in the long run. Just for people wanting to travel to the U.S., there’s already a drop in visitor arrivals.

Every week feels like a risk, especially when you run into the wrong people on a forum 🤪