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Expéditions anglaises overland en camion pour l'Afrique australe English translation pending
by Nadouchka · 2005-03-13 · 13 replies
bonjour,

quelqu'un a t-il déjà effectué un voyage en camion avec un tour operator anglais ? je pars avec dragoman pour 14 semaines en afrique australe et aimerais bien avoir des retours sur ce type d'expéditions.

merci
Hôtel Flamenco Punta Cana English translation pending
by Samarie14 · 2005-01-30 · 8 replies
Salut😛 Je viens de réserver en dernière minute 1 semaine du 12 au 19 février à l'hotel Flamenco. J'aimerais avoir votre avis sur cet hotel (piscine, plage, resto, chambre, ambiance...) et si possible quelques conseils, astuces et pièges à éviter pour passer une bonne semaine. C'est mon premier voyage et je flippe un peu!!!😕 Pouvez vous m'aider????

J'attend avec impatience vos réponses et merci d'avance

PS: si vous avez quelques photos pour que je me fasse une idée de l'hotel encore mille merci

A plus
Hôtel Rhodos Maris Rhodes Grèce English translation pending
by Malain · 2005-01-06 · 4 replies
Bonjour,

Je pense me rendre à cet hôtel en juin prochain.

Qui y est allé?

Merci pour vos infos sur cet hôtel.
Tryp Cayo Coco English translation pending
by Blayan · 2004-11-23 · 1 reply
je voudrais savoir, si le v.i.p. est vraiment essentiel au point de vue resto a la carte ou si tu peux y allé en standard et payer un petit surplus en dessous de la table.pour les prises de courant faut-il se procurer un adapteur ou tout est standard comme ici au quebec
Co-voiturage en Espagne English translation pending
by Vt · 2004-11-13 · 4 replies
Bonjour.

Quelqu'un connaît-il des sites de covoiturage en Espagne, ou des lieux où trouver des annonces à La Corogne. Merci.
Holguin Playa Pesquero English translation pending
by Waterloo · 2004-11-02 · 14 replies
bonjour je pars a cuba au mois de mars et probablement que je coucherai au playa pesquero a holguin je voudrais savoir si il ya qu el qun qui y a séjournée au cours des derniers mois; comment était le service, les chambres, le personnel, activités a proximité etc...merci
Casa Marina Bay - Samana - Las Galeras English translation pending
by Griboille · 2004-09-25 · 27 replies
😐 CASA MARINA BAY Départ le 29/09 pour Puerto Plata. Direction Samana "en bus???????" Qu'en est-il des dernière nouvelles de l'hôtel et des environs? Le TO ne nous donne toujours aucune réponse 🤪 tandis que le ministère des affaires étrangères multiplie les mises en garde!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merci, à tous
Sécurité au Vénézuela English translation pending
by Fanavoyage · 2004-09-21 · 36 replies
Bonjour à tous

En février prochain nous souhaitons partir au vénézuela, mais j'ai très peu quant aux problèmes de sécurité, y aurait t il qqn qui pourrait me rassurer

Nous souhaitons aller aux Llanos, parc de Mochima, Delta de l'Orénoque et los Roques. en 4 semaines par bus, c faisable?

Si vous avez des bons plans, n'hésitez pas à me contacter

vraiment merci d'avance à tous pour vos précieux renseignements

Sandrine
Apprendre l'arabe autour de Marseille English translation pending
by Hassina · 2004-07-12 · 10 replies
bonjour à tous

je cherche des cours d'arabe adulte débutant (en ligne, à domicile, dans des asso, etc.) autour de Marseille. merci pour vos tuyaux

Hassina
Art martial et autres pratiques sportives en Inde? English translation pending
by Neil · 2004-04-11 · 15 replies
bonjour tout le monde,

voila je voudrais savoir s'il est possible d'assister à des combats d'art martial indien dans le sud? et si oui pouvez vous me donner des adresses? je connais absolument pas cette pratique d'où mon message, à savoir si quelqu'un peut m'en parler et me renseigner.

de plus si vous avez à me conseiller de voir d'autres pratiques sportives ou autres que l'on ne trouve pas dans les guides......c'est avec plaisir de lire vos connaissances et adresses!!!

merci d'avance pour vos réponses et connaissances!!

béné🙂
Transports et logement en Sibérie English translation pending
by Dorje06 · 2004-03-26 · 4 replies
coucou a tous... je prepare tout doucement notre voyage a deux en asie et il me manque quelques infos ...tout d'abord sur la siberie..loopkin pourras tu m'aider ? 😉

est ce que quelqu'un connait des hebergements sympas sur irkoutsk, port baikal, liousvanska, kultuk et oulan oude ? merci merci deja davance..🙂 peu dadresses dans les lonely planets ! et pis ya til souvent des bus la bas ou peu et ou peut on avoir ces infos avant de partir ? et pis.. oui j'sais, suis ch...mais quelqu'un a til fait le trekking entre Kiren et Archan (sources chaudes).. aucune agence le propose.. selon trekmag!

merci a tous

marrotte
Voyager à petit prix à Djerba en Tunisie English translation pending
by Pinkysugar06 · 2004-03-20 · 3 replies
Bonjour. Femme seule Je compte partir du 1er Juillet au 15 Juillet 2004 en Tunisie. J'aimerai avoir des renseignements sur comment y aller au moindre coût possible avec location de maison ou appartement a djerba. Bateau ? Avion ? Je précise que je rejoins quelqu'un là bas donc pas de soucis. Merci pour tous vos renseignements !!! 😎 Pinkysugar.
Sites incontournables d'Indonésie? English translation pending
by Khnouna · 2004-02-17 · 13 replies
Salut,

Je pars 3 grosses semaines en Indonésie, j'arriverais sur l'île de Sumatra sur Medan pour m'en aller sur l'île de Java, puis Bali...........

Quels sont les endroits les plus intéressants à visiter d'après vous ?

Je souhaite effectuer des stages de plongées (niveau I voir II si temps nécessaire), sur quel île dois je me rendre pour cela ?, quelqu'un aurrait il un ordre de prix à me communiquer ?

Je vous remercie..........
Courrier rapide de France pour l'Inde English translation pending
by Akarienne · 2004-01-21 · 5 replies
Mon fils a acheté des travellers chèques avant de partir et je dois les lui envoyer régulièrement.

Quel est le meilleur moyen, la vitesse et le coût?

Si qq'un a déjà utilisé ce moyen, merci d'avance pour vos réponses

Akarienne
Volontaire pour le Sénégal English translation pending
by Chrystelle · 2003-08-01 · 3 replies
bonjour,

je reviens du sénégal où j'ai passé 7 mois comme bénévole dans une école primaire à mboro et je compte repartir d'ici 6-7 mois, j'aimerai être utile donc si vous avez les coordonnées d'une association qui recherche des volontaires...

a+

chrystelle
Aide humanitaire comme infirmière English translation pending
by Guérisseuse · 2003-04-14 · 1 reply
😎 bonjour . je termine mon D.E.C. pour eter infirmiere, mi novembre 2003. mais mon test à l'ordre des infirmiere se fait qu'en février 2004. alors, entre ces 2 dates, j'aimerais bien travailler dans l, humanitaire, les missions etc. ma seules condition : pas trop d'encadrement et pas dans des hopitaux ou institutions. j, aimerais mieux la brousse ou dasn des écoles par exemple. Je me débrouille en anglais mais j, aimerais l, améliorer donc.. message lancé 😏.

Au plaisir

valérie du Québec (vale19ry@hotmail.com)
Cycling in Algeria: Saharan routes, water, bivouacking, and safety — seeking firsthand experience
by Frenchhumour · 2025-11-12 · 3 replies
Hi everyone,

I’m planning a cycling trip in Algeria and looking for concrete firsthand accounts from cyclists who’ve recently traveled there (or residents who know the terrain well). My goal is to map out a realistic 2–4 week itinerary that prioritizes discovery, safety, and solid water/bivouac management.

My profile and gear

Semi-bivouac autonomous cyclist (light tent + sleeping bag + stove), with the option of simple accommodations in towns.

All-road/gravel bike with a rear rack, 40–45 mm tires (I can go up to 47–50 mm if needed).

Compact drivetrain with a small gear range for climbing while loaded.

Modular water capacity of 4–7 liters (soft flasks + bottles), plus a filter and purification tablets as backup.

Navigation via offline maps + GPS, GPX tracks if available.

Planned period

Late winter/early spring (timing to be refined based on your feedback about weather, wind, and day/night temperature swings). I’d love a seasonal breakdown: which areas are more pleasant/rideable during this time? Are there zones to avoid while others become ideal?

Preferred itinerary style

High plateaus and accessible Saharan fringes for a loaded bike, alternating between secondary roads and rideable tracks.

Moderate pace (60–90 km/day depending on terrain and wind), with stops in resource towns to restock, shower, and rest.

Safety and logistics (water/supplies) take priority over pure athletic performance.

My specific questions for those who’ve cycled in Algeria 1) Routes and areas

Which roads/tracks did you enjoy for their scenery and interest without being too rough for a loaded gravel bike?

If you’ve ridden the high plateaus: which connections do you recommend to avoid traffic and stick to small roads?

Saharan fringes: which sections are realistic for partial autonomy (reasonably spaced water points, rideable tracks, not too much soft sand)?

Areas to avoid by bike (recently) due to security, road conditions, katabatic winds, construction, etc.?

2) Water and supplies

How frequent were water points on your routes: reliable wells? taps? sources in towns/villages?

In “desert” sections, how many liters did you carry between secure points? Does a 6–7 L capacity seem comfortable, or should I aim for more on certain stretches?

Food: small shops, markets, availability of basics (semolina, sardines, dates, biscuits, powdered milk, etc.) — how often can you reasonably restock?

Filtration: did a filter + tablets suffice? Are there areas where you’d advise against filtering from unprotected wells?

3) Bivouacking and accommodations

Tolerance for discreet bivouacking (far from dwellings, leave-no-trace): recent experiences?

Simple alternatives: guesthouses, small hotels/hostels, campgrounds (if any), municipal lodgings?

Practical stopover towns for restocking, resting, and securing your bike overnight: reliable spots or neighborhoods to prioritize/avoid?

4) Roads, tracks, and weather

Road surface quality on secondary routes: generally decent or highly variable?

Tracks: rideable (compact gravel, laterite) or sometimes sand/washboard? At what tire width would you recommend switching (45 vs. 50 mm)?

Prevailing winds this season: direction, strength, most exposed hours; do you adjust your departures to ride “before the wind” in the morning?

Temperatures: day/night range; sun protection (long gloves, buff, sunscreen, sunglasses), managing nighttime cold at altitude or in the open desert.

5) Safety, formalities, and connectivity

Recently discouraged zones (please note the date if possible).

Roadside checks: which documents to keep handy; are there specific registrations or declarations required upon arrival or when moving between wilayas?

Local SIM/data: which operators work well on the routes you took; tips for recharging/buying credit.

Useful apps/maps on the ground (and reliable offline maps) for locating water, grocery stores, garages, accommodations, rideable segments, etc.

Bike security: how did you handle anti-theft and parking during errands/overnight stays?

6) Gear and adjustments

Recommended minimum gearing for loaded climbs on local roads/tracks.

Ideal tire width and casing (puncture resistance on gravel and rocks).

“Sweet spot” water capacity based on your experience (and tips: frame bags, extra bottles on the fork, bladders in frame bags, etc.).

Maintenance: dust/sand — greases/seals, drivetrain cleaning frequency, breathable filters, protective socks for zipped panniers.

Sample itinerary outline (to validate with your feedback)

Week 1: Arrival, adjustments, high plateaus, linking resource towns to get into the rhythm, test supplies and water.

Week 2: Accessible Saharan fringes, alternating road/track, nights in discreet bivouac when possible + simple accommodations every 3–4 days.

Week 3–4 (optional): Extend toward a second Saharan area or head back to a more temperate zone depending on weather/wind, prioritizing routes known to cyclists.

If you have GPX tracks (even partial), waypoints (water, grocery stores, accommodations), or a travel journal with dates, I’d love to see them. Dated info (year/month) will help me weigh what may have changed recently.

What I can share in return

After the trip, I’ll publish a detailed report with:

Final itinerary + cleaned GPX tracks,

List of confirmed water points and open supply spots,

Gear review (tires, gearing, water capacity),

Notes on bivouacking/accommodations and safety,

Budget and daily distances, to help future travelers.

Thanks in advance for your tips, warnings, good addresses, and updated feedback. Your experience is invaluable for planning a safe, smooth, and enjoyable cycling route in Algeria. Happy trails! 🚴
My TOP 3 countries visited
by Evajules · 2025-09-20 · 12 replies
Hi everyone, I feel like I’ve been lucky enough over the past few years to travel—a lot of that’s thanks to retirement... (see my profile!) So, aside from my beautiful country, France, here’s my totally subjective top 3: 1 – Antarctica 2 – Greenland 3 – Yellowstone Park

Of course, this is just my opinion—human, architectural, cultural, and gastronomic treasures are everywhere on our unique planet, Earth. Have a great day, everyone!
Trip to Israel / Holy Land in 2022
by Zorba · 2025-09-16 · 21 replies
For once, given the destination, the author can’t set aside their religious beliefs, which inevitably shape this kind of journey.

The Trip

Early in the morning at Orly Airport, in the departure lounge for Tel Aviv, a group of about forty young men arrives, all looking identical! The same neatly trimmed beards, the same identical haircuts, the same outfits with a touch of whimsy… The effect of seeing these forty “clones” is striking and raises questions! Why such perfect uniformity among this group of guys? Do they belong to the same family, sports club, cultural association, or religious group? A mystery! At the same time, the waiting area fills up with men who are more expected, given our destination: they wear large felt hats and dress in black suits with white shirts—Hassidim? The ones I’ve glimpsed fleetingly in Paris or New York, who have always been a mystery to me. More discreet-looking women accompany them.

I’m already in Israel without even setting foot there! Plus, I witness the preparations for an improvised show.

The “clones” start a flash mob at seven in the morning in a Paris airport departure lounge! Some pull out musical instruments, others begin singing and dancing. A music with strange, unfamiliar sounds enchants the waiting passengers.

The flight crew finally arrives, cutting through the flash mob, bringing us back to the reality of the moment: waiting to take off soon for this so troubling and mysterious Middle East. We go through passport control, presenting our faces to the scanners that operate the exit gate. The group of “identical” young men gets held up by the system: logically, a scanner let the first one through but blocked the second because of his perfect resemblance to the first. To the machine, the same person shouldn’t be able to cross the border twice? But eventually, the whole group makes it through the glass doors, leaving the Republic behind. My simplistic explanation is left looking ridiculous.

At every new destination, I ask myself countless questions, revealing a certain anxiety tied to the unknown: fear of attacks (one just happened at a bus station in Jerusalem), possible police pressure, unexpected events. Israel isn’t known for being a relaxing destination. In reality, if I did face a serious difficulty in this country, it wasn’t one I had anticipated—and it wasn’t particularly tied to Israel!

I take my seat by the window, which is already occupied by a little girl. Her father, a Hassidic man, politely asks if I’d be willing to give up my seat for his daughter. I tell him I’d be happy to make her happy. Seeing me masked, he asks if I’d like him and his daughter to wear masks too. In response, I take off my mask so as not to impose any constraints on them and wish them a good flight.

It was the first time I’d approached and spoken to a Hassidic man. He didn’t speak the way I might have expected after watching *Rabbi Jacob* with Louis de Funès; he spoke perfectly without an accent, just like you and me! Beware of stereotypes! Throughout the flight, I sneak glances at my strange neighbor: he prayed silently without stopping for a minute. His daughter, as good as gold, never interrupted him. He used several religious accessories during his three-hour continuous prayer: a kippa, a prayer shawl, and a rosary?… I left that plane deeply impressed, me, who has a very distant relationship with my Creator and only prays now and then.
Travel Journal - 28 Days in China in August 2025
by Vilabel · 2025-09-06 · 116 replies
Hi everyone! I’m sharing a modest travel journal from my trip to China in August 2025.

There wasn’t much room for improvisation on this trip—everything was planned in advance. Since August is peak season, I decided to book train tickets early, and once that was set, I reserved all the accommodations too. I got everything on Trip.com.

I bought the flight tickets back in March from Hainan Airlines. They were super expensive, but with these travel dates, I couldn’t exactly dream of a bargain!

I picked up e-SIMs valid for a month from Free just before departure: 10 € for the e-SIM + 19.90 € for a one-month plan with 35 GB of data abroad.

No need for a VPN with these e-SIMs, but D. still got one—a multi-device plan for 5 € with a discount from Let’s VPN, valid for a month. It was for evenings at the hotel on Wi-Fi to avoid burning through the 35 GB with video.

I downloaded Alipay, WeChat, Amap (Baidu Maps), and Trip.com. We also have Google Translate and Maps.me—absolute must-haves.

We’re ready to go!

I’ve been waiting for this day for nearly 15 years!! I travel a lot, but this one—this is MY TRIP 🙂 It’s been postponed so many times: because I wanted to do it with the right person, because I have a Turkish stamp in my passport and heard they don’t issue visas with that, because of COVID... and then China introduced a 30-day visa exemption, and that was the green light! Ugh, they forced us to take our vacation in August this year—far from ideal—but no more delays. Saturday, August 2, 2025: it’s finally the big day!

Days 1 and 2: We got dropped off at Charles de Gaulle at 9:30 AM. I supposedly checked in online, but only for the first flight and without getting the boarding pass... Might as well scrap online check-in in that case. So, we spent over an hour in line at the counter to get them. We didn’t have any checked luggage—just our backpacks as carry-ons—so this was a step we’d never had to deal with before, but whatever, it’s done. No wait at passport control, 5 minutes through security, a quick walk around the terminal, 10 minutes in the boarding area, and it was already time to board. Departure around 12:45 PM, arrival in Chongqing at 4:50 AM. We had a few hours of layover before our next flight. Went through immigration, connecting flight control, and security. Pro tip: check your next flight’s boarding gate right after immigration. We never saw it displayed again anywhere in the terminal.

The Free e-SIMs work—phew!

Took off at 9:30 AM, arrived in Guangzhou (Canton) at 11:20 AM in the rain. I love how Chongqing is translated as "Tchoung King" on the screens in the plane—very French!



During my first two trips to China, we paid for everything in cash, but this time, we’re going all-in on Alipay and WeChat. I still brought the leftover change from previous trips—it might come in handy. At the metro station, they showed us a QR code to buy tickets via WeChat. There were probably machines and even a ticket counter, but we didn’t see them, and buying via WeChat was pretty simple. 8 yuan to Changshu Lu, which is 22 stops. So far, so good. Then, we had to find the hotel, which wasn’t on Google Maps, Maps.me, or Amap... Easy 😎! We found it without too much hassle, though. Dropped off our stuff and went out to eat. 55 yuan for two claypots with fish/eel, rice, cabbage, and purple eggplant. When we left, it was pouring. We grabbed our umbrellas and set off to explore the neighborhood: Enning Road (we’ll come back later to check out a specific spot), Shangxiajiu (the pedestrian shopping street), Baohua Road... The area is pretty diverse—one street to the next, it’s like stepping into a different world.





There weren’t many people around, probably because of the rain. We grabbed a quick street food dinner and went to bed—we were exhausted. We struggled to stay awake until 11 PM to adjust to the time change as quickly as possible. There’s a 6-hour time difference.
Trip report: Our South Africa journey in July
by 6cha38 · 2025-08-14 · 80 replies
Hi there,

We’re back from our 3-week trip to South Africa in July. It was a family trip with our four grown-up kids (ages 18 to 25).

First off, I’d like to thank everyone on this forum for their great tips—they really helped us plan this trip!

The trip: We spent 15 days between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, then a week around Kruger (including Blyde River Canyon). We found South Africans to be welcoming and always ready to help. We never felt unsafe (just followed basic safety rules). The police are very visible, especially on the roads.

Logistics: We’d booked our accommodations in advance but made a few changes on the spot based on how we felt at the time. We rented two vehicles from Firefly (Hertz). No complaints—recent cars, quick returns, and the deposit wasn’t charged. We’d gotten our international driver’s permits... which stayed in France! Luckily, no one asked for them. Driving on the left wasn’t an issue (it wasn’t our first time). The roads we took were in good, even great, condition. Only a few tracks to lodges or parks were rough and required extra caution. Lots of pedestrians on the sides of roads, even highways. And plenty of very slow trucks. But they pull over to let you pass. It’s also common for cars to cross into the opposite lane to overtake, even with white lines. We took two domestic flights: one early in the morning (Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth) and one in the late afternoon (Cape Town to Johannesburg) to save time.

We had some highlights and a few disappointments—all part of the journey! More details coming soon.

Trip to the south of Agadir
by Boyacoco · 2025-01-28 · 11 replies
Hi there, I'm currently planning our trip to Morocco for next May. We're looking to explore a part of the country we haven't visited yet, and I'd love to get some opinions or tips for my itinerary. We'll have a rental Duster to get around. -1- Marrakech to the Paradise Valley, arriving in the late afternoon. 2 nights there so we can explore the next day. -2- From Paradise Valley to Tafraout. Along the way, we'd like to visit some agadirs (Ikounka, Imeghguiguilne, Ighir, Tizourgane). I'm wondering if we'll have time to see them all, if we should visit all of them or skip some? Or if there are other suggestions? -3- I plan to stay 3 nights in Tafraout. Night 1 we might arrive late. The following days to visit the village of Tagdicht, the Blue Rocks, and the Ait Mansour Valley. Doable? Road or track conditions? Too much or too little time? Anything else to see? -4- I was thinking of taking the road to visit the underground village of Icht. Then heading to Tata to visit the Tollé and/or Messalites caves. Same questions as before (road conditions, time, anything else)? -5- Road to Tissint for a walk. Road to Taliouine to visit the Glaoui kasbah. Spend the night around there. Same questions? -6- Road and visit to the Ifri granary. Then head to a part of Morocco we already know :-)

Anyway, quite a few questions...

Since we've been to Morocco several times before, I know there won't be any issues once we're there. It's just that I'm trying to plan ahead a bit so we don't miss what there is to see in the area, without rushing too much ;-)
A long journey around Australia
by Jlcro · 2024-12-09 · 85 replies
Sunday, October 1st, 2023 Mulhouse-London We dumped our trash on our neighbors. We hugged, overflowing with emotion. Then Léa from Taxis S showed up. She knows us well. For ages, she’s been our driver. She was practically the official taxiwoman for the trips of the company where Dom and I met. She knew us when we were single! Almost teenagers! She knows everyone and fills in the biographies of people we’d forgotten. Across the street, while we loaded the luggage, S., perched in his window frame, waved a handkerchief. This wasn’t just any trip. Then things got tricky. It’s funny how fate sinks its teeth into our happy moments—there’s this whole intermediate phase where the poison seeps in unnoticed because you’re still in the dark... First, there was a delay on our flight to London. Dom immediately went on high alert, while I stayed calm. In my mind, we had two hours. I knew we had to go from Terminal 5 to Terminal 4, but two hours—come on, that’s plenty, right?

Bad calculation! Because those two hours were between the first flight’s landing and the second’s takeoff. But flights close at least half an hour before departure. Getting from one terminal to another means taking a shuttle bus. We waited for the one going to Terminal 4... until a young guy paid to direct people (who hadn’t seen us) informed us it was no longer possible to access Terminal 4 without going through Terminal 2 first for a connection! That really cranked up the pressure. We started installing a mental countdown with a programmed explosion at the end—guaranteed stress with added beads of sweat. The terminal bus was driven by a young Pakistani guy. We were *so* tense we bombarded him with our frantic, repetitive questions. “So? When are we getting there? What’s happening? Why aren’t we moving?” Our eyes were glued to our watches. The poor guy knew. Perfectly. Because it was obvious—no way around it. We weren’t going to make it. It was impossible. But Dom and I stubbornly refused to believe it. Then the kid stopped the bus. Me, hysterical: “What are you doing? What’s going on? Our plane takes off in... in... 4 minutes!!!! We’re gonna miss iiiiiit!” He wasn’t calm either. “You’ve already missed it!” He explained we had to cross a zone that required an escort car to clear a path through the runways. Impossible to do without. It’s forbidden. We had to WAIT (!!!). Then he got a radio call—he had to rush to Terminal 3 to pick up a passenger who was *super* tight on time. “Amir!!!! It’s RIGHT NOW!” they yelled in his already-red ears, thanks to the complaints of two hysterical Frenchies. Dom and I were in overdrive, hallucinating! We wanted to stop him, maybe even hit him to prevent him from turning around. He picked up the girl, whom we instantly hated like the most despicable witch. I turned on my data, searched for Malaysia Airlines’ number at Terminal 4, called, and actually got someone—quite a feat. A woman cut off my frantic rambling with a blunt “It’s over, the check-in is closed, the plane is about to take off.” I heard her but refused to accept it. I yelled, “We’re coming!” She shot back her monolithic “It’s over.” Finally at the doors of that damn Terminal 4, we ran—*really* ran—a marathon, Gate 6, security checks, pat-downs, “Take off your belts,” we asked questions, everyone seemed confident, we ran with one hand holding up our pants, the other clutching our belt, Gate 6—the room was empty. A girl was sitting there, calmly on the phone. We pounced on her. She calmed us down. Little by little, the light came back. Our brains rebooted. We finally understood it was over. We’d have to start crafting a new plan with the new reality. It started with a return to Terminal 5 to talk to British Airways, which took a good hour. With the same driver as before. We were alone with him. He took the time to apologize, to assure us it wasn’t his fault, that our problem had no solution, that nothing could’ve changed the outcome. At BA, we were exhausted. We were greeted by a handsome young man in a navy-blue uniform with gold stripes everywhere. We could’ve made a scene, but we were just relieved to find someone who’d take charge of our story. It was a minimal response, but it was *a* response. I suppose we could’ve demanded a business-class upgrade or a free trip, but we were just happy with a few vouchers for food, a hotel room with breakfast, and a little bag with plastic toys, a razor, toothbrush, hygiene products, and a T-shirt... Trinkets... But we were fine with it all—we said thank you eagerly because the essential was assured. He found us seats on flights tomorrow. *Tomorrow.* We were afraid to hope! We had the exact same flights but a day later. The same crappy times, but it was all good. We felt saved from the shipwreck, like survivors. - And what about the luggage? - .... !!!!

Monday, October 2nd, 2023 London - Kuala Lumpur

It wasn’t the Ritz, but with exhaustion on our side, we slept well. The continental breakfast was way better than we’d expected from an Ibis Budget. Still, it wasn’t enough to restore my joy for life. The course correction had turned into an arduous obstacle course. I scoured the car rental site every which way. Couldn’t reschedule the car. I’d done it before, but this time... Not to mention the laptop battery was complaining—the Brits have this quirk of making their power outlets incompatible with our chargers. Frustrated, I called them but ended up with a girl who declared herself incompetent and offered to have someone from Avis in Perth call me back—someone who’d supposedly handle rentals better. I decided to wait while taking a bath. Barely settled in, the phone rang. I was soaking wet, of course, and asked Dom to answer. Unfortunately, she’s known for disliking my phone, and in a clumsy move, she hung up. We got annoyed. She put dry towels on the edge of the bathtub, but—another false move—they fell in the water. The phone rang again... I completely redid the plans for the next two days, then transferred the files to my phone to consult them later offline. I plugged in my USB cable... *Plop!* The battery died abruptly—my PC shut down without any of the usual polite warnings! I looked around, hoping to find someone to strangle... Long story short, you can tell the day started under the worst omens. I was in a foul mood and spread my bad vibes to Dominique, who was initially in much better spirits... I called Mastercard, hoping to get a refund for the non-refundable night in Perth we’d already paid for. Same old song: “We’ll call you back”... Then... I’ll cut it short—buses, trains, lots of waiting... We rushed to reach the infamous Terminal 4.



We tried new options and convinced ourselves that a delayed departure flight is unrecoverable, no matter the scenario. We were furious that BA hadn’t bothered to tell us, leaving us to run around like rats in a burning house.

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023 Kuala Lumpur-Perth

The flight was pretty nice. 13 hours, though. Dom and I were facing each other across the aisle. We could get up easily whenever we wanted without bothering anyone and chat when we felt like it. Besides, their chicken was amazing. They were kind enough to offer Dom a truly remarkable glass of rum. Good movies too, including the excellent *Prisoners* by Denis Villeneuve. At KL, during boarding, we developed a nagging worry about our luggage. We checked with some Malaysian Airlines staff. I sensed their hesitation. They made calls. Then changed their minds, giving us smiles and thumbs up...

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023 Perth

*Happy is the man who, like Ulysses, has had a fine voyage.* Well, for us, it wasn’t that. Finally arrived, we experienced the loneliness of tourists watching the baggage carousel spin, emptying of its precious containers one by one, until only a handful of travelers were left, staring at each other in disbelief. Without luggage, you’re kinda screwed. Not even a change of socks—our feet had been swimming in the same shoes for 3 days. No adapter, so no laptop. No toiletries. We could’ve cried! The lost luggage guy played his part. If you want compensation, fill out the disclaimer on the website made for that. And then, “Don’t worry, your luggage will arrive tomorrow!” “Don’t worry?!” From the start of the trip, we’ve been jerked around, fed lies. Tomorrow is the *absolute* last chance to get them back. Beyond that, we’d have to scramble a whole new trip. And lose a lot in the process! I have no idea how to go about it. Tomorrow... OMG... Tomorrow... We landed at 1 AM. Avis, the car rental place, opens at 6:30. Luckily, we found some decent breakfast. It cheered us up and gave us a second wind. Incorrigible, we started believing again! Well, then we just killed time. What else was there to do?



In front of Avis’s little shack, we were freezing. We’d been there since dawn. The girl who showed up, a Latina, immediately saw us as a nuisance who’d ruin her hopes of a peaceful start. Her face and tone were as unwelcoming as possible. You know us—it ended with hugs. She gave us a gorgeous, brand-new car! A hybrid with ultra-sophisticated features, all buttons you shouldn’t touch if you want to drive this thing without causing irreparable damage! We’re off! Driving on the left is easy at first. You think about it constantly. It’s counterintuitive, it takes effort. It’s later, when you get used to it and confidence sets in, that it becomes dangerous—old reflexes can send you into a wall. Anyway, the car and I immediately clicked.

In Perth, underground parking next to the hotel, friendly welcome—we ended up forgetting all the morning’s mishaps. Should we go sightseeing?

https://voyageforum.com/images/posts/small/1733767537-5Nwk6t3DsBZNOzf.jpg
Faire Compostelle avec un enfant, est-ce réaliste selon vous? English translation pending
by Fablilly29 · 2020-09-22 · 3 replies
Bonjour à tous,

Nous sommes Fab et Lilly, deux passionnés de randonnée et jeunes parents d'une petite fille de 2 ans. Après avoir fait le Chemin de Stevenson il y a 3 ans, nous souhaitons faire le chemin de Compostelle. Mais étant désormais des parents responsables 😉, nous souhaitons organiser ce voyage de la manière la plus réaliste possible et tout en respectant le confort de notre fille, quitte à le faire plus tard si vraiment c'est impossible.

Nous avons vu récemment l'histoire d'une famille qui est partie avec leurs 2 enfants (ils en ont fait un livre d'ailleurs) et on se prend vite à rêver d'un départ prochain... mais on aimerait avoir des retours d'expériences. Donc voici quelques questions :

- Est-ce que certains d'entres-vous marchent avec leurs enfants ? Vous avez commencé à quel age ? - Comment vous y prenez vous ? Combien de kilomètres faites vous par jour par exemple ? Comment rendez-vous la marche ludique ? Avez vous du matériel à conseiller (porte-bébé de randonnée, chariots, etc.) - Le Camino del Norte nous attire beaucoup mais il est réputé plus physique et escarpé. Est-ce que certains d'entres vous l'on fait ? Est-ce que cela vous semble réaliste de le faire en famille ? ou le Camino Francés est il plus approprié ?

Si vous avez des témoignages à nous partager ça serait top également. Merci encore à tous !
Visas pour un an en Asie en camping-car English translation pending
by Davau38 · 2020-08-31 · 10 replies
Bonjour, je voudrai savoir comment cela se passe pour les visas pour les pays qui les demande. j'aimerai partir au moins 1 an en Asie en camping car : faut-il tout prévoir à l'avance ou peut-on prendre les visas au fur et à mesure lorsqu'on on change de pays ? et si oui ou faut-il se renseigner ?Merci d'avance pour vos réponses..cdt
Voyage avec 3 enfants: 23 jours au Pérou pour débuter notre tour du monde en juillet 2019 English translation pending
by Milou06 · 2020-07-31 · 19 replies
Nous sommes rentrés il y a quelques mois d'un tour du monde en famille avec nos 3 enfants et j'ai enfin pris le temps de rédiger au propre nos carnets de voyage. Voici pour commencer le récit de nos 23 jours au Pérou en juillet 2019.

Jour 1 Après un départ chaotique, une correspndance loupée à Madrid, une courte dans la capitale espagnole, un 2ème vol non prévu pour Amsterdam, nous décollons enfin pour Lima. 12h de vol plus tard, nous y voilà. Même s'il n'est que 18h là-bas quand nous arrivons, il est 1h du matin en France. On trouve nos bagages et un bus rapidement mais les enfants sont crevés et s'écroulent dans le bus. La ville est bien embouteillée et il nous faut 1h pour rejoindre notre quartier. Les 500 mètres à faire à pied sont compliqués, ça râle dans tous les sens ! Il faut dire qu’il fait nuit, il bruine, ça fait 10 fois qu’on réveille les enfants pendant leur sommeil, mais on n’a pas le choix ! Nous prenons rapidement nos chambres, pas le top du confort cette 1ère auberge mais ça fera l'affaire pour une nuit. Il est presque 21h, tout le monde dors.

Jour 2

Malgré la fatigue, le décalage horaire nous fait réveiller assez tôt. On en profite pour réserver notre bus pour le soir.

Après une petite discussion avec le gérant de l'auberge pour quelques conseils, on part à la recherche d'un endroit où prendre un petit déjeuner. On trouve un café local qui nous parait pas mal, de bons jus de fruits frais et quelques sandwichs. Nous ne sommes encore pas très à l'aise avec l'espagnol et comme la personne ne parle pas du tout anglais, on prend plusieurs choses au hasard et on se retrouve avec un sandwich au fromage, à l'œuf et à l'avocat. Surprenant mais très bon !



Nous n'avons pas beaucoup de temps à consacrer à Lima alors on se contente de se promener dans notre quartier, Miraflores. On va jusqu'à l'océan, on y trouve une aire de jeux pour les enfants.



Retour à l’auberge, on saute dans un taxi direction la gare routière. On apprend que le repas du soir ainsi que le petit déjeuner sont servis à bord. On avait prévu quelques courses, tant pis ou tant mieux ! Nous embarquons donc pour Arequipa, notre prochaine étape, 19h de bus plus loin.



Jour 3

Nous nous réveillons en douceur dans le bus qui roule toujours. Les paysages qui défilent sont plutôt désertiques. On sait que la route est encore longue mais ça se passe bien. On nous sert un petit déjeuner basique mais appréciable. La grisaille laisse place peu à peu à un joli ciel bleu.

Il est midi lorsque nous arrivons à Arequipa. Un coup de taxi plus tard, nous découvrons notre hôtel pour les 3 prochaines nuits, une grande chambre confortable qui donne sur une jolie terrasse.

L’ambiance change complètement ici, il fait un grand soleil et une douce chaleur. Nous découvrons une ville plutôt calme avec des rues pavées et des bâtiments dans un style coloniale. C’est super sympa, on sent qu’on va s’y plaire ! Après avoir grignoté un morceau on part découvrir le centre-ville, on flâne, on boit du jus de fruit frais.



Le soir, on dîne dans un bar/restaurant qui diffuse la demi-finale de la Copa America, le Pérou joue contre le Chili, il y a de l’ambiance… Et c’est le Pérou qui se qualifie pour la finale 3-0 ! Déjà que les péruviens klaxonnent à longueur de journée, alors là c’était une symphonie !



Jour 4

On découvre le copieux petit déjeuner de notre hôtel, on se régale et on prend des forces !

On part ensuite visiter le monastère Santa Catalina. C’était le lieu de résidences de religieuse jusqu’en 1969. Il est très bien préservé, ses murs sont colorés et l’endroit est très fleuri. C’est vraiment très beau. Les enfants ont aimé se perdre dans les nombreuses pièces qui communiquent entre-elles, jouer avec le grand lavoir ou encore se promener dans les étroites allées de ce beau monastère. On a bien pu se rendre compte de leurs conditions de vie.



Pour le déjeuner, nous testons une adresse qui nous a été recommandé par d’autres voyageurs, le restaurant Ratatouille. Ils font de la cuisine française et les murs sont couverts de vieilles affiches de la côte d’Azur. On y mange très bien pour pas très cher. On reviendra !



Les enfants fatiguent et on décide de rentrer pour une sieste. C’est l’occasion d’avancer les carnets de bord de chacun et pour d’autre de jouer avec le drone. On repart ensuite à la découverte des marchés couverts de souvenirs, un lieu de torture pour les enfants car ils voudraient tout acheter mais on ne peut plus rien mettre dans les sacs.

Jour 5

Nouveau petit déjeuner au calme sur notre terrasse. On se sent bien ici ! Ce matin, on décide de partir à la découverte d’un autre quartier d’Arequipa. On sort de la vieille ville. L’ambiance n’est pas la même, ça grouille de véhicules en tous genres, c’est bruyant et ça sent la pollution comme dirait Baptiste. On se dirige vers le quartier de Yanahueva qui a la particularité d’avoir une jolie petite place mais aussi un mirador avec une belle vue dégagée sur les volcans de la région. On confirme que la vue est superbe !



Puis les après-midis se suivent et se ressemblent, Julia fait la sieste, les garçons jouent aux cartes, on traîne et ça fait du bien après les semaines un peu speed d’avant le départ. On ressort ensuite se balader, cette ville est vraiment agréable, on découvre de nouveaux passages, on visite l’église de la Plaza de Armas.



Puis il est temps de rentrer faire nos sacs, demain nous reprenons le bus pour une nouvelle destination : Yanque (dans un prochain article) !

Pour plus d'infos sur nos adresses et infos technique ICI.
Déréclusion! English translation pending
by Pondy · 2020-05-11 · 396 replies
Déréclusion !

Je ne suis pas à un néologisme près.

Parce que j’me demande : Suis-je libre ? En liberté surveillée ? Contrainte ? Coercition sanitaire et salubrité publique... J’crois que secouer les peurs est mille fois plus efficace qu’un bracelet électronique. Voir le monde entier en pause, je ne pensais pas le vivre. Je comprends aujourd’hui avec quelle rapidité pourrait s’installer une dictature.

J’me demande pourquoi je ne ressens aucune crainte, pourquoi je me sens à mille lieux des peurs dont j’entends parler. Suis-je normale ? Suis-je inconsciente ? J’ai vu des gens avec un masque en voiture, mettre des gants pour tenir un chariot de magasin, où s’arrête le bon sens ? C’est quand même horripilant de se sentir infantilisé. Quand j’entends toutes ces sommités parler, j’ai l’impression qu’elles s’adressent à une population de mômes.

Parait que certains sont porteurs sains et transmettent le virus, paraît que certains ont eu la maladie sans s’en apercevoir et ont des anticorps, paraît que certains ont été malades et ont développé des anticorps, paraît que certains n’ont jamais été en contact et ne seront jamais malades, paraît qu’il faut qu’il y ait 60 % au moins de gens avec des anticorps pour l’immunité collective. Ca s’appelle RO lala.

Et beaucoup sont morts et au regard de l’humanité sur nos plus de 7 milliards, c’est une goutte. Une goutte d’acide et de chagrin pour les familles et amis des décédés, c’est certain. Des cataractes de panique pour des millions d’autres qui tremblent d’entendre un reniflement ou un éternuement. J’me demande aussi combien sont morts de faim et de maladie dans le même temps et aussi combien vont mourir des dégâts induits par le monde à l’arrêt.

Combien de pandémies ont-elles eu lieu sans que le monde occidental ne bouge un cil ? Un virus à la volette et qui disparaîtra comme tous les virus avant qu’un autre ne prenne le relais. C’est ainsi depuis toujours.

Ma solution : je respecte les peurs et angoisses des autres. Je respecte les consignes assenées à longueur de temps. Mais dans l’absolu, au fond de ma p’tite tête, j’pense tout autre chose et me tiens coite.
Dans quel pays aimeriez-vous vous expatrier? English translation pending
by Junolu · 2020-05-01 · 351 replies
Je saisis au vol cette remarque d'Attila (que je partage!)

Franchement, je serais le gouvernement, je demanderais l'asile en ...?... et dirais aux français, démerdez vous.

et cette autre :

On fait le coucou dans les discussions mais jamais on n'en entame une...

pour proposer un nouveau post sur un mode très différent de voyager.

Où aimeriez-vous partir vivre?

Bien sûr vous choisissez votre pays ou région d'accueil, on part du principe que ce n'est pas une obligation que l'on vous fait.

Et vous avez besoin de vous éloigner momentanément de votre lieu de vie habituel, pour quelque raison que ce soit.

Quels seraient les atouts locaux importants pour vous de cette nouvelle installation : population, climat, paysages, archéologie, autres .... ?

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