Travel Tips

I guess many would have thought of me being fond of travelling. No ? Indeed I love travelling, esp. for the sake of tripping. The physical move from point A to point B is a joy for me. And I like to make some halts along my route to "smell the rose". From there comes my preference for roadtrips, for them allowing me to stop where I like to, without really worrying about departure time, the train to catch, the connection not to miss.

Now about the travelling style. Hehe, no mystery: I am not a backpacker and I guess, I will never be. No, I am not a snob but youth hostels are just not my cup of tea. I may travel on budget but I love comfort. On the other hand, I may not value 5* hotels as usual pied-à-terre (and I'm far from being rich to stay in those areas). B&Bs & 3* hotels seem to be the thing.

I love discovering new cultures through, first, the local food; second, the people. Just getting aware that the "VT correctness" would have listed the people first but hey, it is my style to discover the new food. I value culinary trips. If they could be combined with some cozy accomodations, breathtaking views to live magical moments with the right person(s), even better !

Talking about travel companions, I use to have some, be it friends, family. I've never travelled alone. I may end up travelling alone though. Sometimes, it is just too tricky to stick to a common plan. Interests can differ, even among travellers (or tourists) !

I love the great strolls to discover the areas, to talk to locals (I even consider merchants as locals !). Areas can be rural, remote places. Those are superb for outdoorsy activities.

About outdoorsy activities, my taste for them is developing. Mind you, my two daily walks in my rural surroundings have contributed into this ! I came to vary my itinerary during my walks and well, I saw new spots where to find the wild ducks, noticed new houses, talked to people I haven't talked to for years. Ah! and only for outdoorsy activities, I would accept to backpack and probably use a tent for camping. One day, I will dream of a campfire. Well, I used to but only when resting in a seaside area. However, I still stick to this "No urban backpacking for me !"

So far, the best rural places are in Madagascar Highlands and in Woodlands of Belgium (in both Brabants and Ardennes). About woods, I absolutely love them ! They don't have to have specific animals. Their fragrant trees and shrubs, their secret corners to spot squirrels (in Europe) and lemurs (in Madagascar) suffice. Both walking in ricefields and in woodlands, I am not afraid of mud ! Without being a NP die-hard, I love nature: the wild flowers, the woods, rivers, hills and plains, vast lands, sands, the birds, the butterflies. I have fondest memories about the Belgian coastal Zwin.

I love walking for health reasons too. The flat dams and dikes are good for your heart. The flat but uneven paths in ricefields plains (on picture) are good for toning. I use to walk everyday for some hours. So, when I decided lately to have some of the walks in the ricefields, little I knew my legs and thighs would undergo some serious toning. For who hates aerobic and cardio in large but smelly-sweating-crammed rooms, strolls, light jogging on those surfaces, with this pure air is a great opportunity to reconcile oneself with fit physical conditions. And yeah! it's great. My Columbia Rockaway sandals were dealing with the mud in a terrific way. I'm thinking about having another pair of the same.

And, another great reason to my exercise, sport renders me euphoric. I just love the feeling after some time sweating over a ball, a path or doing the laps in a swimming pool.

I love urban areas too. They make up the vast majority of my travels.

Ahhh! La Rochelle! Ahhh! Paris! Ahhh! Gent!

Trying to justify my craze for those places:

La Rochelle & greeny Ile de Ré: I said once I could retire there... but that is outside Madagascar of course ! My first visit there left a great impression on me. I would like to return to the area to discover the whole area (incl. Rochefort, La Roche-sur-Yon, etc...). Outside Belgium & Madagascar, La Rochelle & Ile de Ré offered some of the best treats ever !
Ile de Ré was a very relaxing green spot.

Paris: Great shopping, Expensive shopping, Amazing shopping ! Culture, A nice destination for kids (no joking!)
First trips abroad were to Paris. First cultural shocks in the first European city I visited as a 10yo girl in the 80s.
I know I will return there many other times!

Yes, one of my favourite travel experiences is to return to the same place but doing something different, seeing unknown quarters of a city... and why not, redo the superb experiences of the previous visit.

Gent! Why Gent ?

Because of its beauty, its elegance. Those towers, the cathedral ! I am fascinated by their location within the city. More than once, I used to be struck by the superb views on them while standing on one of the bridges.

Because of the serenity in its abbey courtyards :-) Even if you do not like beer, you could sit there and immerse in some chatting during a quiet and lazy afternoon. Oh boy!

It happens to be my favourite city in Belgium (outside Brussels). Brussels was not a destinaion, for me. For 15 years, it had been my second homeplace (first being Malaza, Antananarivo, Madagascar).

Do not miss this one if you visit Belgium. And look, I even advertize about it since I strongly believe the elegant city would not turn itself in any massive tourist trap. Gent will be always Gent.

Oh! and if you have some time, indulge in the Belgian favourite sport-cum-transportation to discover the outer Gent: cycling. You could skirt the river and probably stumble upon cosy villas in the suburbs. Then, if the cold is there, have a thick warm chocolate whose recipe is only known by Belgians.

The beach scene...

The best are in the southern hemisphere.
I do not like beach per se. I love the sea and, above all, I enjoy seclusion.

Most secluded was Ambila-Lemaitso back in the 80s. It just started to be the hip thing. Nowadays, still a nice landscape but has become a Easter hotspot. Well, I guess if one can have its own share of tranquility along Lakan'Ampanalana, everything would be all right.

Both Amborovy and Mahambo were nice too. Less secluded though, with a preference for the Mahambo curved bank.

Ile de R? was a great scenery. Both the seaside, the vineyards, the marshes allowed relaxing, interesting and superb runs through the tiny island. The green shutters on the white facades were so picturesque.

One thing is sure, I would not turn down an offer to nip over Ile de R? again... but in Spring. End September was a bit chilly for bathing but perfect for sightseeing.

Good food and... have their caramels made from local salt ! I would never imagine that an apple caramel would be edible, at lesser extent, delicious and quite addicitive !

Well, those are so far, the most impressive places I've seen. For most of them, I would like to return there... and well, that is absolutely me: renew the nice experiences with some changes. Just make them better and better, no matter the destination: brand new or known.