Six years ago, I was thinking about moving to Costa Rica. Arenal volcano, Costa Rica In fact, it was more than just a dream, as I had sold my house and everything in it. And then... the pandemic arrived and, partly due to health regulations, my mother's health declined rapidly. So my plans were delayed by a few... years. During this delay, I continued to dream and search for the location of my next adventure. Even though I couldn't move abroad, I could travel. I crisscrossed

Today, I received a priceless gift. The island of Koh Tao decided to affirm its love for me and offered me a perfect dive. credit: KohTaocompleteguide.com It started with the diving conditions. Tanote Bay was my first love two years ago, but since my arrival, I hadn't been able to fully appreciate it. Too much wind, too many waves, poor visibility, rain, downpours... Today, when I arrive at Tanote, the conditions are perfect and visibility is at least 20 meters. The first mom

Just for fun, I decided to tell you about the differences between Thailand and Canada. When you think about visiting a foreign country, you expect to speak another language, but it's much more trivial details that create the real change of scenery. The sun and the moon The first difference is the behavior of the sun and the moon. Yes, yes, here they don't act the same way. Who would have thought. Let's start with the sun... which sets faster. In half an hour, it's over, the s

I tried to resist... I swear... but the call of paradise was stronger than anything. Two years ago, when I arrived in Koh Tao (Turtle Island) by... accident, it was a wonder from beginning to end. For those who don't remember, I was supposed to spend three months in Vietnam but, after five weeks, I decided to take a little trip to Thailand. In fact, it's all thanks to my partner who has a knack for creating and maintaining connections with people he meets on the road. When we

Luang Prabang When I get off the boat, I take a few days to visit the city before continuing my journey. Despite the fact that Luang Prabang is listed as a World Heritage Site for its pre-colonial and colonial heritage, despite the fact that it was the capital of Laos for a long time, despite... all the efforts I make to find it beautiful and interesting, I don't succeed. Luang Prabang seems to me to be tasteless, without flavor. And yet, I have always found something interes

ຫ້ວຍຊາຍ - Houei Sai - Huay-Xai One of the highlights of my trip is looming ahead of me, a cruise on the Mekong from Huay-Xai to Luang Prabang. All this requires a bit of organization but the magic of the internet accompanies me in my efforts. Obtain my visa to cross to Laos Find transportation to the border Find a hotel in the village where the cruise leaves, another halfway in Pak Beng and a last one in Luang Prabang Choose the company and the type of cruise I want and give

A snack? Leaving Tha Ton I head towards the Mae Hong Son loop. On the way, I stop at a small cafe, like there are thousands in Thailand. The lady serves us a drink but what catches my attention is what is placed on the table. Bamboo sticks and small banana leaf packages. I examine everything carefully, trying to guess what it is. No use… The lady, seeing my perplexity, comes over and explains that these are snacks. The bamboo stick can be peeled like a banana and, inside, the

Today I am heading to the Golden Triangle. This place located at the confluence of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, has played a very special role over the centuries. The Golden Triangle refers to the region where opium was intensively cultivated. Yellow gold was used as currency for black gold (opium). Given the huge amount of gold that passed through the region, it was proclaimed "The Golden Triangle". The opium poppy grows well at altitudes above 3000 meters above sea level. Th

Since I arrived in Chiang Mai five weeks ago, I've been taking it easy. Life is a long, quiet river that is shared between long walks in the city, culinary discoveries and... foot massages. But this morning I'm leaving for a journey that will take me I don't know where. We've rented two motorcycles and we'll let the wind take us. Only my first stop is known, Chiang Rai, located further north, very close to the Burmese border. I chose it because someone is waiting for me there

Today I'm going on an adventure. Since my destination is quite far from Chiang Mai and I'm renting a motorbike for just one day, I decided to "treat myself" and rent a nice little 400cc Triumph. I get on my bike and leave Chiang Mai heading south towards the roof of Thailand, Doi Inthanon. This mountain is part of the foothills of the Himalayas and is the highest mountain in Thailand. 2565 meters Crédit: landscapesUHD Let's take a walk in the woods... Doi Inthanon Park is luc

When you travel a bit, you notice that people are the same everywhere. Be polite and smile and... you will get smiles and kindness. Even today, I met an old lady in an alley in Chiang Mai. I saw her, she smiled at me, I did the same... the connection was created. Even though she spoke very little English, she still told me that she came from Cambodia, that she was now Thai and that she was 82 years old. For my part, I told her that I came from Canada and that I found her coun

In Chiang Mai, a city of over a million inhabitants, it is very easy to get around. You can easily rent a car, motorbike or scooter at a very good price but it doesn't stop there. There are the Songthaew. These are "shared taxis". They wander the streets looking for customers. If there is no one in the cabin, they will take you wherever you want. If there are people... well it is to be discussed according to the destinations already requested. The price is fixed at $1.20. The

Tonight is Christmas Eve. It’s always a bit sad to be so far away from my family and friends but fortunately, my partner and his unfailing love are there. We decided to attend Christmas mass to meditate, celebrate the birth of Christ and… feel a bit like home. We are lucky. Our home is very close to the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Chiang Mai and Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana is presiding tonight. So it is well surrounded that we accompany the Christmas carols that we

I saw an elephant… my first elephant. Well, it was far away and it was a domestic elephant but still… it was impressive. So, back at my accommodation, I read to learn more. Emblematic animal of Thailand The elephant is the emblem of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is represented everywhere, really everywhere. Sculptures, paintings, literature, national emblems, paper money,... It is everywhere, as much in temples as on the street or in parks. It is known to bring peace, success a

Eating... You must repeat this gesture 3 times a day. At home, it’s simple. I open the refrigerator or the cupboard… and I choose from a multitude of foods that I have known since my childhood. When traveling, in a foreign country with an unknown language and alphabet, it’s something entirely different. Just buying coffee is an adventure. In front of the supermarket coffee display, I wonder. Well, I know it's coffee, but still... Espresso coffee, normal coffee, whole beans, i

I'm leaving, once again. Over the past 5 years, I have visited about ten countries (Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, United States, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Colombia, Costa Rica, Portugal) and the taste for adventure continues to inhabit me. My memories are more and more abundant and my luggage lighter and lighter... The part that stresses me out the most, the plane trip and the visas, is now behind me. It must be said that each time it is a new adventure because each count

My departure to Thailand whit Air Canada

It all began ... 215 million years ago when an immense meteorite (5 km in diameter) crashed into the earth. The impact forms a crater, the 5th largest crater in the world (100 km in diameter). A hole... a very big hole that fills with water. 215 million years later, visionary Quebecers decided to use this water hole by filling it even more. To fill it... nothing better than creating a dam, but not just any dam, the largest multiple-arch buttress dam in the world (1,324 meters

To end my trip, I decided to "take it easy" and settle in the Algarve, more precisely in Armação de Pêra. It's a small village that explodes with tourists in the summer and... it's the main reason I visit Portugal in the spring. The hordes of tourists have the same effect on me as the hordes of Mongols... they make me want to run away. After settling into a cute apartment, I set off in search of deserted beaches... and pirate caves. Portuguese pirates wreaked havoc on all sea

As a Quebecer, I know a little about the history of France and England, where my ancestors come from, but Portugal had passed under my radar. Well, I know that it has a common border with Spain and that the capital is Lisbon, but it's little, very little, and I like to understand a country before approaching it. When I decide this is my next trip, I remember a few facts and learn several others. Vasco da Gama, a great Portuguese navigator, was the first European to reach the