Discussions Smagghe took part in

Hi there,

I’m looking for half-day hikes near Karakol (not Jety-Oguz, since I’ll be heading there separately—max 30 minutes’ drive to the trailhead).

I can find longer treks, but nothing for a short outing!

So, if you’ve got any ideas...

Thanks! :)

Hi there, We’re planning to explore Uzbekistan this summer (with the weather constraints that come with it). Our itinerary includes the three classic cities plus a few side trips here and there. We still have one week left that we’d like to dedicate to hiking. We were thinking of heading to Kyrgyzstan, but I’m open to other suggestions if we stay in Uzbekistan. Thanks!

Hello,

New year, new questions...😛

Since the Chinese highway isn’t finished yet (opening postponed year after year), I’m wondering what condition this track is in come June?

I’m a bit worried that the snowmelt might completely soak the track—or even that the snow might still be clinging to the mountainside near the pass...

Thanks 🙂

Hi there! We’re leaving in early November for a month. Here’s our itinerary: Arrival in Takhmau, then heading to: Kampong Cham Kratie – 2 days Mondolkiri – 3 days Ratanakiri – 3 days Stung Treng – 1 day Siem Reap – 4 days Battambang – 1 day Kampong Chhnang – 3 days Kampot – 2 days Islands (WE’RE HESITATING WHICH ONE?) – 4 DAYS Phnom Penh – 2 days That’s it! 😊 We’re backpacking… and we love spots that aren’t too touristy. If you’ve got any tips, we’re all ears! Thanks

Good evening,

Our family trip (2 kids, boys aged 6 and 9) is coming up fast, and I have a few questions. I’ve seen that quite a few people on this forum are active about Thailand, so I hope you can help me out :-)

- I have a Free mobile plan with a good amount of data abroad (35GB). Do you know if the Bolt or Grab apps work well with a French SIM? I’ve read that the app might not work if the SIM isn’t Thai, but I’ve also seen French travelers using their SIMs in Thailand, so I’m not sure what to think.

- What tips do you have to avoid traveler’s diarrhea (especially for our 6- and 9-year-olds)? I’m already preparing them to wash their hands often and not put their hands in their mouths or brush their teeth with tap water (they’re still little and might not control the water well in their mouths). Are there certain dishes or food stands to avoid? Are ice cubes really off-limits too?

- We arrive in Bangkok at 9 AM, and we have a French-speaking guided tour scheduled for the next morning (all day). The itinerary isn’t finalized yet with the guide—I need to get back in touch soon. What do you recommend doing on that first day, which might be tiring after the long flight and jet lag? Our hotel has a nice pool, but I’d love for us to get out and explore a bit :-)

- Is the Grand Palace really best visited early in the morning to avoid crowds?

- I’d love to visit a night or floating market, but they’re all on weekends. Unfortunately, we’re in Bangkok from Wednesday to Saturday morning (then we take the train to Ayutthaya in the morning). Is there a market on Friday night? I saw Chatuchak, but Friday night doesn’t seem like the best time—is it still worth going?

I’ve looked for answers to these questions, but I’m either not finding a definitive answer or I’m overwhelmed by all the things to do/see in Bangkok. So, I’m hoping your advice or experiences can help me out!

Thanks in advance, and have a great evening! :-)

Hi there,

When landing in Warsaw (WAW) in the middle of the day, is it possible to reach Bialowieza by public transport before nightfall? Or is it better to spend the night in Warsaw or Bialystok?

In August, is it easy to find accommodation/homestays in Bialowieza without booking in advance? What about the other parks in the area?

Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hi there, During our Thailand trip, we're planning to arrive in Bangkok and then head up to Chiang Mai. So far, so good. But after that, we'd like to go to the islands—either Krabi or Koh Samui. However, the flights listed on 12go.asia seem complicated, with a layover of about 1 hour in Bangkok where we'd have to collect our luggage and check in for the second flight. That feels way too tight.

So, I'd love to hear about your experiences with this route and any tips you might have. Thanks everyone!

Hello,

I’ve been dreaming about the Silk Road for a long time and hope to visit Uzbekistan next year with my husband and son (11 years old). Late April to early May.

I’m planning a very classic itinerary: Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara - Khiva - Tashkent.

I checked the Uzbekistan Railways website, but it seems you can only book tickets three months in advance?

Otherwise, I’ve seen some people in other discussions suggest booking through Uzrailway. Are these the apps below? Are they reliable?

I really don’t want to go through a travel agency—I’d prefer to organize everything myself—and it seems the only hurdle is booking the trains. I was thinking of taking the train from Tashkent to Samarkand, then to Bukhara, and finally to Khiva, before flying back from Urgench to Tashkent with Uzbekistan Airways (is that a bad idea?🤪). What do you think?

Since we’re traveling with a child, I’d rather book and organize everything in advance to avoid any potential hassles. I tend to plan my trips much more now than I used to😏.

Would you have any great accommodation recommendations (not luxury, but not a youth hostel either)? We prefer places with charm, friendly owners, and a nice setting...

Also, I speak several languages but not Uzbek or Russian🤪... Is English widely spoken these days?

Thanks everyone 🙂

Hi! If anyone has been to Georgia recently and could tell me if it's feasible to travel around the country using public transport. My itinerary would be Kutaisi (my arrival airport), Tbilisi, Mestia, Ushguli, Batumi, and back to Kutaisi (departure airport) in ten days. My flight arrives late at night, around 1 AM—would it be possible to take a taxi to get to the city center?

Any advice is welcome, and regarding the language, can you get by with English? Thanks in advance.

Hi,

If you take the bus from Bangkok Ekkamai to Pattaya, foreigners will be asked to pay an extra 20k for checked baggage, even though it’s already been paid for and listed on the ticket. They don’t even weigh it—a woman just demands you pay again, and if you refuse, she goes to get security colleagues who yell at you and threaten not to let you board. We later found out at the hotel that this is a well-known organized scam. The company is ROONG REUANG COACH, and we were about fifteen people—all foreign tourists—in the same situation. For Thai passengers, they didn’t ask for anything.

Then in Pattaya, violence and corruption rule. The next day, we learned the city is classified as "scarlet" (high-risk). A hotel guest was attacked with a knife by four Thais on a scooter—they stole his bag with his bank card and cash inside, luckily not his passport. A large hotel near ours was just shut down administratively for pedophilia. On Apple Maps, many reviews warn about how dangerous the city is. I’ve been coming to Thailand regularly for over 30 years, but I barely recognize the country since COVID. The "Land of Smiles" is turning into the "Land of Scowls," and a form of racism is emerging. For us, this will be the last time—next stop, Vietnam, and even China, which pleasantly surprised us.

Finally, China and the U.S. are advising their citizens against traveling to Thailand due to violence. Right now, most tourists here are Indians and Russians—together, they make up the majority—along with some from the Gulf (Qatar, Dubai, Oman).

Hi, We’re thinking of going to Albania at the end of May, early June 2025. We’re a bit hesitant because the timeline feels tight for planning this trip. We’re considering about ten days there. Does that seem like enough time for a first-time visit? Thanks.

Hello, We’re heading to Laos in December 2025, and we want to do a multi-day trek—maybe even a week—to really take our time and make stops in villages since we’ll have our 3-year-old daughter with us.

We’re torn between the Luang Namtha region or Phongsaly for our big trek. We’re looking for the least touristy spot possible, we love mountains, so we’d like an area with varied landscapes, including rice paddies, and a chance to really connect with local ethnic groups. We’re after authenticity and only want to stay with locals. Which of the two should we prioritize? Any advice would be welcome to help us decide—it’s tough when you don’t know the area! Maybe there are other spots in the north worth considering for a beautiful week-long trek.

Thanks, fellow travelers

Hi there, Big travel year in Asia for me. I’m heading to Southeast Asia for a month in mid-July. The dates aren’t flexible since I’m going primarily for a wedding (Laos). So, I’ll start my trip in Laos for 4 days, then head off... where?

I’ve already done a trip exclusively in Laos a few years ago. I also visited Vietnam for the second time last year, so I’d love to explore something new. I was thinking of Cambodia (but only for Angkor) and northern Thailand, which I haven’t seen yet (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, Pa Hin Ngam National Park), and wrapping up with a few nights in Koh Samui. My question is about the weather. From what I’ve seen, Koh Samui seems to be spared during this period. But for Angkor and northern Thailand, I’m not so sure—it feels like a gamble. And I’m really not in the mood for rainy vacations, since I already get enough gray skies where I live 😅.

So, I had another idea: after Laos, I could head to Bali (or another Indonesian island) where it’s supposedly the right season. The flight ticket price is exactly the same, including a one-way to Bali and the return from Bali (with a layover in Bangkok). For those who’ve traveled in July, what do you think? Is there a big risk in trying northern Thailand and Angkor?

Thanks in advance!

Bonjour,

Êtes-vous allés à Berlin très récemment? les clubs et autres lieux confinés sont bien-sûr fermés mais quid des musées? Est-ce que malgré les mesures sanitaires, on les visite facilement/sans réservation préalable, du fait de la baisse de fréquentation?

Merci d'avance.

Bonjour à tous. Nous devions faire cet été la Pamir Highway en vélo....et le Covid19 a fait sont apparition..... Nous sommes le 15 juin, et je constate que les pays d'Asie Central ont encore tous leur frontières fermées (Ouzbekistan-Tadjikistan-Kirghizstan) . Avez vous des informations précises sur leur prochaine ouverture ? et le passage entre chaque pays ? Merci d'avance pour vos informations ! Cordialement Ben270602

Bonjour,

Le sujet a sûrement été évoqué ici mais je n'ai pas réussi à retrouver l'info...

Ma carte d'identité a un peu plus de 10 ans et je m'apprête à la faire renouveler, mais je viens de lire sur le site du ministère de l'intérieur que "Depuis le 1er janvier 2014, la durée de validité des cartes nationales d'identité (CNI) délivrées aux personnes majeures est passée de 10 à 15 ans. Pour les cartes délivrées entre le 2 janvier 2004 et le 31 décembre 2013, la date d'expiration ne correspond pas à la date qui est inscrite sur la carte."

Cela se complique quand je lis que certains pays européens (Allemagne, Espagne, Irlande, Italie...) "n'ont pas officiellement transmis leur position quant à l'acceptation de la carte d'identité dont la validité est prolongée de 5 ans".

Qu'en est-il pratiquement?

Est-ce nécessaire de maintenir le rdv en mairie pour me faire dire qu'on ne me renouvellera pas la CNI avant 5 ans?

Est-ce que je prends un risque en prenant un avion pour Berlin avec une CNI de plus de 10 ans?

Merci d'avance pour vos réponses!

Bonjour,

Je viens de voir le dernier film de Kiyoshi Kurosawa "Au bout du monde", où il est question d'une petite équipe de TV japonaise qui vient tourner un documentaire sur l'Ouzbekistan.

C'est un pays que j'envisage de visiter, et je me demandais si ce qu'on voit de l'Ouzebkistan dans le film donne un bon aperçu du pays, ou si Kiyoshi Kurosawa est passé complètement à côté...c'est en tout cas un film plaisant (un très bon K. Kurosawa à mon humble avis), une réflexion sur la rencontre des cultures.

Celles et ceux qui connaissent ce pays auront peut-être du plaisir à voir ce film 🙂

Nous revenons d'un voyage de deux semaines en Géorgie, pays qui nous a vraiment enchanté. Seul petit bémol : le taxi à l'aéroport de Tbilissi. En effet, dans le bâtiment de l'aéroport, juste avant la sortie, un chauffeur de taxi nous accoste et nous propose ses services pour un montant de 120 laris. Selon mes informations le prix pour se rendre jusqu'à la vieille ville devait se situer entre 25 et 30 laris, nous avons donc refusé sa proposition et comme il nous fallait un peu de devise locale, nous nous sommes rendus à la banque de l'aéroport. Après avoir effectué le change, le chauffeur est revenu à la charge nous proposant le trajet pour 90 laris. Je lui répondis que c'était encore trop cher et que le prix normal se situait entre 25 et 30 laris. A cela, il insista en nous disant que ce n'est plus le bon prix et qu'il suffisait de demander le vrai prix à n'importe quel chauffeur de taxi stationné à l'extérieur du bâtiment. Ce que nous fîmes, et évidemment tous les chauffeurs en place nous répondirent que le prix c'est : 120 laris ! La situation se compliquant, tous fatigués du voyage (vol de nuit avec un stop de 4h à Istambul), j'ai finalement cédé sachant déjà qu'il y avait anguille sous roche. Par conséquent, pour tous ceux qui désirent prendre un taxi à l'aéroport deTbilissi, et pour éviter toute surprise, je leur conseille soit d'en faire réserver un via leur hébergement, soit via les compagnies qu'on trouve sur internet.

Bonjour, Je cherche à rejoindre Kazbegi depuis l’ouest du pays et je voudrais éviter de repasser par Tbilissi : est-il possible de récupérer un minibus à Mtskheta? Ça semble possible en regardant la carte mais je n’arrive pas à savoir si les minibus en provenance de Tbilissi s’y arrêtent. D’avance merci beaucoup !

Bonjour, Je prépare mon prochain voyage en Arménie/Géorgie, et je cherche des infos sur le train de nuit Erevan/Tbilissi, apparemment quotidien en été.

Quelqu’un connaîtrait-il les horaires ? Peut-on se pointer une heure avant à la gare de Erevan pour acheter un billet ou est-il préférable de réserver à l’avance ?

Merci d’avance !