French adventurers who travelled the world flight-free, by hitchhiking
Making our way through Southeast Asia, we entered Cambodia with the only expectation to visit the famous Angkor temples. And if this long awaited visit did not disappoint us at all, Cambodia knew how to reserve us many other surprises, good and bad, unforeseen events and memorable encounters. Between beauty and horror, fascination and frustration, Cambodia did not leave us indifferent!
When we finally crossed Thailand border, we knew that the next step of our trip was going to be much harder: we soon had to find a boat to continue our hitchhiking adventure, a sailboat on which we could learn how to sail; while crossing the oceans to reach other continents… With zero experience and a bit of nerve, we finally got on board to hitchsail for the first time!
Despite the extreme popularity and relatively high cost of the entrance ticket, we were pretty much determined to visit the must-see Angkor temples. With our small budget, we decided to choose the most economical (and ecological!) option: visiting the temples by bicycle, with a one-day ticket valid on the whole site. As a result, our day was full of wonderful discoveries but also… of intense fatigue! If you are wondering how to visit Angkor temples by bicycle during the day without getting too tired and avoiding crowds, then you are at the right place!
Read More »Angkor Temples: a visit on one-day ticket and a bicycle – Cambodia
Between our two stays in Vietnam (the first one, visa-free, and the second one with a e-visa), we decided to visit Laos – a choice motivated by the need to slow down, to rest, in a quiet place, in the heart of a country renowned for its lush nature and gigantic caves. And while the spectacular natural scenery was there, Laos had surprised us in many other ways – surprises that didn’t make our road-trip so chill: few challenges, a little bit of corruption, a lot of waiting time on the road side and dust swallowed along the dirt roads!
When we left our Parisian life back in 2016, we also said “goodbye” to our routine of eco-friendly city dwellers – a shame, you tell us, when we often went on flying trips . We admit it: we didn’t question ourselves about our flights impact and then, as we read somewhere “driving cars pollute more than flying”, or “we pollute less by flying once a year than our neighbor who takes his car every day”. Fake news, truths?… After two years on the road, we wanted this time to be sure: studies reports, calculators, calculation methodologies… We screened all the data found to make them speak – and tell you why we stopped flying!
We already knew it, and this experience confirms it: holding a French passport is a big advantage, because it is possible for us to enter the Vietnamese land visa free for 15 days or with a one-month visa for Vietnam that we got by simply applying for it on Internet (e-visa or electronic visa). Very simplified procedures, to better take advantage of it!
Read More »Visa for Vietnam (e-visa and visa free entry) & border crossings at Lao Cai and Cha Lo
“Are you traveling around the world?” “Yes, we are!” “So, are you also planning to go to America?” “No, not at the moment…” “So you’re not really going on a round-the-world trip…” But what does it mean exactly, to really going on a round-the-world tour? Is it necessary to travel in a certain way? To visit all the continents? To visit a minimum number of countries? From these exchanges and questions a deep reflection was born, on the definition given to the words “round-the-world trip” – an expression commonly used to describe a long journey. So, round-the-world or not round-the-world?
Karakol. This small Kyrgyz country town eventually made a name for itself among travelers who, in their haste to venture into the mountains and hike to Lake Ala-Kul, missed out on all that Karakol has to offer. Perfectly integrated into the local life, we stayed more than two months in Karakol – without ever getting tired of its charm, its heritage, its local bazaar and the peaceful atmosphere that reigns in this welcoming land…
When we went to Laos by land with our French passports, we hadn’t taken any steps to make our visa for Laos in advance: indeed, it is quite possible to get your visa directly at the border – which is a big saving in time, energy and paperwork!
Read More »Visa for Laos on the spot & border crossing at Na Meo
Kyrgyzstan, or the flagship country of Central Asia, did not disappoint us at all: in the midst of its magnificent mountainous landscapes, where horses and sheep graze in harmony, we discovered generous people with strong and well-established traditions, borrowed from the nomadic culture and the Soviet Empire. A great breath of fresh air and unique experiences, to enjoy as much as you like!
If there is one Uzbek ancient city that we are not ready to forget, it’s indeed Bukhara! Mythical city, located on the Silk Road, Bukhara with its hundred-year-old monuments and intriguing Madrasa has enchanted us as much as a tale of a thousand and one nights…
Read More »Bukhara, the ancient city of a thousand and one Madrasa – Uzbekistan
In 2018, we celebrated our two years anniversary on the road: two years on the road, to raise our thumbs up and write signs in all languages… And as you know, who says “anniversary” says “yearly overview”! It’s the perfect time, since we left our country and made our first assessment, so many things happened… So what better than to relive with you this second year in photos?
Read More »Two years overview in travel stories, figures and photos