For Patrick-Yangguizi (page 1 of 19)

Good evening everyone,

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.

Michel

Our friend Yangguizi is no more...

He was a great traveler. He lived as he wished—free, independent—and his rebellious spirit, tinged with irresistible humor, has now soared to the peaks of a cruel mountain.

Alas, I’ll no longer read his adventure stories or his hilariously brilliant words.

His passing is so sudden and brutal—I’m shocked and devastated. Patrick was a VoyageForum icon, universally loved and respected. His travel journals, full of originality, wit, and humor, delighted countless readers. My thoughts are with his parents and his partner.

VoyageForum is overwhelmed with profound sadness tonight... And it will linger for a long, long time...

Dolma

Devastated by Patrick’s departure for the Big Journey—a big personality in the little world of VF is leaving us.

All my thoughts are with his parents and his partner.

Sandrine

Such sad news. Such deep sadness. We could only appreciate Patrick—the quality of his thoughtful contributions, his humor, and the beauty of his writing. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family and close friends.

"Those who have died are not dead... The dead are not beneath the earth. They are in the trembling tree. They are in the flowing water. They are in the still water. They are in the hut, they are in the crowd. The dead are not dead." Birago Diop

Frédérique

Such sad news 🙁, for all his loved ones and VoyageForum, which has lost one of its key members. I often re-read his post about North Korea. Farewell Yangguizi, safe travels.

What a shock!

This tragedy is a sad reminder that it can happen to anyone, even to us.

And traveling to the far corners of the world multiplies the risks. But we all know that before we leave, and we accept it.

It’s our way of life.

I didn’t know Yangguizi personally, but I’ve often chatted with him over the years.

I hope François will share a few words of tribute here for Patrick.

I’m really afraid this isn’t an April Fool’s joke—or even an August one—Yangguizi-style...

Do we have to resign ourselves to this devastating news?

Dismay.

To think that, like so many others, I was looking forward to his travel journal on Uganda... We’re left with so little—just words on a forum.

I didn’t know Patrick personally... but I’d watch the bright, witty trails he left across VoyageForum’s blue pages.

Playful as he was, let’s reassure ourselves—he’s surely outsmarting death right now.

Farewell, Yangguizi.

Yangguizi, this is the first time I’ve got a complaint for you. A really harsh one—I told you your travel journal had to be here today...

Danielle

Oh damn, that’s a shock. Latcho drom Yangguizi... Thinking of your loved ones.

I’m really sad, like all of you,

It was partly thanks to him that I discovered VF when I was searching about North Korea, and I never missed any of his posts on this forum.

His talent as a writer, his humor, and his courtesy will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his loved ones and all the forum members who had the chance to meet him.

So it was you, that new shining star! Is this really all you could come up with to leave us down here? You know you’ve left us all stunned, shaken, shocked—but most of all, sad, so sad... All our thoughts are with you and your loved ones.

I join you all... I loved his words, his life... He’s no doubt still traveling.

On the road again, Yangguizi!😕

Bad news, I'm really sad about this.

A true globetrotter, this man—one of a kind. I read and reread his travel journals with passion, especially the one about North Korea.

Too young at 32, life isn’t always fair. Goodbye, Patrick—your writings will always remain on VF. We’ll never forget you, my friend, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your passion for travel through your stories.

My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Hi everyone,

Like everyone else, I was really shocked by this sad news. I also discovered VoyageForum through his travel journal about North Korea. I remember his stories—always fascinating and often full of humor. I also appreciated his amazing contributions to the geography puzzles or how he managed to avoid celebrating the New Year (worth re-reading)!!

In short, we’ll miss his posts. My deepest condolences to his loved ones.

Astrid

One of the brightest VF members I’ve ever read... and no travel journals on Uganda!!!!

A painful loss for our virtual community!! Thoughts for his loved ones and friends, who must have been so many!!

what a short life, even if it was full. I’ll always remember "my stomach made a stopover in Munich"—it made me laugh so hard.... sincere condolences to his loved ones and everyone who cared about him. claire