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Discovering foil surfing / electric surfing in Koh Phangan
While we were comfortably settled in our favorite French restaurant on Chaloklum Beach in Koh Phangan, we were surprised to see a surfer above the water! The chef explained that it was foil surfing (which seems to translate as electric surfing in English). A “foil” is “a wing positioned and shaped to generate, through its movement in water, a lift force that affects its speed and stability” (thanks Wikipedia). The first time I heard about it was when some boats in the Vendée Globe used this innovation to push speed limits even further. But I had never heard of electric surfing, which integrates a foil into a surfboard along with…
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Scooter rental in Koh Samui
Disclaimer : While renting a scooter in Thailand is very easy, it remains illegal if you don’t have a motorcycle license. You’re not only risking potential fines but also the non-coverage of your insurance in case of an accident. I talk about it in this article. Tonton Samui When we spend a few days in Koh Samui, we use Anthony, who was recommended to us by French friends. He operates under the name “Tonton Samui”. Anthony is easily reachable on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tontonsamui/ The scooters are new (it’s the first time I had a scooter with a keyless ignition) and in impeccable condition. Another big advantage of going through Tonton Samui…
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Scooter rental on Koh Phangan with Phangan Wheels
Disclaimer : While renting a scooter in Thailand is very easy, it remains illegal if you don’t have a motorcycle license. You’re not only risking potential fines but also the non-coverage of your insurance in case of an accident. I talk about it in this article. There are plenty of scooter rental shops on Koh Phangan. We didn’t do a very thorough market study and picked one of the best-rated on Google Maps: Phangan Wheels. Phangan Wheels is run by a Russian guy you can contact in English on WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc., and he’s very responsive to messages. This scooter rental agency isn’t suited for very short stays as…
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My Current Favorites [September 2021] Biographies & investigations: Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Holmes
After several years of reading mostly spiritual books, I decided to take a break and get more interested in true stories. Whether it’s history books, autobiographies, or real events. I chose to start with books about Silicon Valley. Elon Musk The reading was so enjoyable that I finished it in 24 hours. I got very little sleep to finish this book, but there are so many twists and turns, so many “how is he going to get out of this one?” moments, to see how Elon Musk, a South African from an adventurous family, ends up becoming the man who revolutionized the automotive, space, and energy industries all at once.…
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How to buy / add an eSIM for use abroad – Holafly Review & Test
Recently, I received an eSIM from Holafly (link)to use in Thailand. I was really excited because it’s the first time I’ve had an eSIM, now that I have a compatible smartphone (an iPhone 12 Mini). Holafly gave us a promo code promo code that will save you 5%. You can use it at checkout: TOURDUMONDE5CONTINENTS CeThis article is not not sponsored! Holafly sent us the card free of charge for testing, but I’m free to give my own opinion. So, first of all, you receive a small email with a QR code for the SIM card (the SIM number if the QR code doesn’t work) along with the instructions, etc.…
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Test & Review: Bangkok Hospital on Koh Phangan (Thailand)
A few days ago, I wasn’t feeling well and the pain kept me from sleeping. I watched a series almost all night to forget the discomfort. JB and I decided to get up as early as possible and head to Bangkok Hospital, a private hospital with branches all over Thailand. We were recommended this hospital because they have another one on Koh Samui. In case of emergency, Bangkok Hospital even has a speedboat to transfer patients to the larger Bangkok Hospital Koh Samui. This is the second time I’ve “tested” the Thai healthcare system. The first time was during a food poisoning in Krabi 5-6 years ago. We’re the only…
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How to enter Thailand with the Samui Plus Sandbox, no quarantine needed?
Starting October 1, 2021, visitors who are fully vaccinated under the “Sandbox” program in Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao are invited to stay in the destination for seven days, then can continue their journey to other parts of Thailand. *** If tourists stay less than 7 nights in the Samui+ program, they must leave Thailand via Samui airport only. If they depart via Phuket airport, they can only do so after staying in Samui+ for at least 7 nights. Conditions DAY 0-1 DAY 1-7 Which visa(s) to choose CoE: Certificate of Entry However, even with a visa exemption, you need to apply for what is called a “Certificate…
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Vietnamese spring rolls at Koh Phangan – at Beach Garden restaurant
A few months ago, I told you about the Beach Garden restaurant which I really love. We go there once or twice a week because not only is the food good, but the ingredients are top-notch and simply the best in the world. The big boss, Jérémie, always picks the best possible ingredients: pepper from Cambodia, olive oil from Greece… nothing is left to chance. Over time, we became friends, and when I started complaining about the lack of Vietnamese restaurants on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, I had an idea: what if I gave him the recipe for Vietnamese spring rolls? It came from a very selfish desire: that…
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How to charge the reMarkable 2?
As you’ve gathered from our articles, we’re big fans of the reMarkable 2. That doesn’t mean it’s a perfect product without flaws. Among these weaknesses, there’s a certain fragility, especially when it comes to the battery. You need to be especially careful about how you charge the reMarkable or you risk frying its battery. The batteries on these kinds of devices are very thin. If you charge too fast, the battery can swell and look like this (photo taken on a Kindle) – the famous battery swelling. And if that happens, the screen will crack like this (photo taken from Facebook): Of course, customer service might replace it, but it’s…
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[Test & Review] Foreo UFO 2, a home spa that weighs 146g
Get ready to pull out your credit card! Today, we’re talking about facial devices, and more specifically the FOREO UFO 2 When I showed the product photo on Instagram, everyone asked me what it was. What it was for, what gadget I’d bought this time. I admit it! This year is the year of gadgets, I treated myself to some truly unique products like the reMarkable, Insta360 go 2 and now Foreo UFO 2 As usual, this post is NOT sponsored Foreo Foreo is a Swedish brand, specializing in “beauty” devices for the general public. Their main technology is T-sonic: sonic vibrations. They started by releasing facial cleansing devices (like…
