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Aqaba, Red Sea, Madaba (Jordan)
We feel revived after leaving Wadi Rum. At the camp, we met a Korean tourist and, to save him the taxi fare, we give him a ride to the Israeli border at Aqaba. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Aqaba If the Wadi-Aqaba drive is smooth, things get complicated upon arriving in Aqaba. JB asks me to test my phone because his GPS (on his phone) stops working while we’re on the highway. He says he read news that Israel is jamming GPS near its border. The Korean and I have the same issue, proof that it’s indeed jamming. So it’s the old-fashioned way, following…
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Jadia Skin Review: False Advertising – Turmeric Cosmetics
A follower sent me a screenshot of a Jadia ad for their turmeric mask, and surprise! They illegally used my photo before/after published here even though I’ve never used their product in my life!! They obviously never asked for my opinion or consent. Using my photo to illustrate an article, why not, but using it to prove the effectiveness of their product, which I’ve never used, in an advertisement, I’m speechless!!! It says a lot about how serious this company is. Plus, my before/after photo shows progress over 6 months. Getting that result in 7 days is simply impossible because skin has a minimum 28-day cycle. The ad is false…
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[Reflection] #18 What Craftsmanship Taught Me: Life Lessons on Discipline, Quality, and the Value of Time
After 20 years of working alongside French and Vietnamese artisans in a variety of trades (jewelry, sewing, leatherworking…), here are some reflections and lessons I’ve learned. Craftsmanship teaches discipline I’m someone who likes to use my time and money wisely, so when I choose a teacher, I want THE best, the most meticulous, the most demanding, to learn as much as possible, but I also suffer a lot from it. Before meeting them, I thought I was a perfectionist, but after getting to know them, I realize I’m still light-years away from perfectionism. What’s funny is that when you walk into their workshop, you don’t necessarily think they are, because…
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How to Find a Rare Book or an Out-of-Stock Book?
People read so little nowadays that print runs are shrinking. It’s becoming more and more common for books to go out of stock despite demand. So what can you do? Where can you buy them without paying a fortune? Here are my tips. I’m not sponsored; all the sites mentioned are ones I use myself. I know many people just check a few retailer sites and quickly conclude ‘it’s out of stock.’ But even with their massive warehouses, Amazon and Fnac don’t have every book in the world. An out-of-stock notice on those sites doesn’t mean much. The simplest solution is to check out https://www.chasse-aux-livres.fr/, a book price comparison site…
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How to order from US websites and get delivery in France
Have you ever drooled over Sephora USA or Amazon USA, wondering why they don’t sell in Europe? Today, I’m going to share my tips for ordering from US websites and getting delivery in France. This article is not sponsored and is only intended to help you find what you need. The US market is huge, which is why many US websites and sellers prefer to sell only in the US rather than dealing with international shipping (with customs and currency issues). However: How to order from a US website that doesn’t ship to Europe/France? There are services that receive all your orders for you in the US. By signing up,…
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Two nights in Wadi Rum with a tour agency (Jordan)
We often travel without an agency, but in Wadi Rum, it’s impossible to travel without a guide. Whenever I have to choose an agency, I open Tripadvisor and pick one of the top 3. This time, we went with Wadi Rum Nomads, ranked #3 on Tripadvisor. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal A little annoyance The day starts with bad news. As I get ready to leave my hotel, I take out the cash from my wallet to set aside the 300JOD I owe the agency. And then, surprise: my wallet only has 400JOD, out of the 500JOD I left there a few days ago.…
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[Review] Memories Aicha Luxury Camp in Wadi Rum: Luxury Hotel with Dome Tents (Jordan)
My hotel choices have been heavily influenced by my girlfriend H., who loves beautiful things, luxury, and watches Instagram reels of beautiful hotels. She recommended Our Habitas in Hegra, and now Memories Aicha Luxury Camp (Booking link) for our stay in Wadi Rum. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal After seeing this photo taken by a drone, I’m very interested. Sure, there are many dome tent hotels in Wadi Rum, but after looking closely at the photos, I get the impression that the tents at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp are built differently. They seem more “custom-made” than tents that you buy ready-made, or worse, completely…
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[Reflection] #17 Old Money, Quiet Luxury & New Money
I’m discovering this “Old Money” clothing trend very late, and I even think “quiet luxury” is no longer in style. I only hear about it now because I’m looking to refresh my winter wardrobe, and since I no longer go to stores, I’m only finding out now. A friend told me that the “Old Money” trend started with Sofia Richie’s wedding, while others mention the series “Succession” and its “quiet luxury” aesthetic. Add to that recent scandals where consumers discover that Dior sells bags for $2,800 that cost only $57 to produce under horrible working conditions (Armani is also implicated). More troubling still, the prestigious “Made in Italy” hides a…
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Visiting Petra (Jordan): the 7th new wonder of the world
In 2001, a private organization began reaching out to countries around the world to have them and their residents vote for the 7 new wonders of the world. In over 8 years of travel, it took us 5 years to visit the first 6 new wonders, but Petra in Jordan resisted us because we are rarely in the region. This time, we decided to visit the last new wonder on the list: Petra. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Saudi – Jordan The flight from Medina to Amman went wonderfully well because each passenger had at least 5 seats to themselves. Since the war in…
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Visiting Medina and the Prophet’s Mosque as non-Muslims (Saudi Arabia): Travel Diary
Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Day 8 (road trip continued) It takes us a little over 3 hours to drive from‘Al Ula to Medina. We decide to dress in traditional clothing in Medina. Before coming, we researched the dress code, and YouTubers all say you can come in loose, well-covered clothing. No need to veil. However, reading the comments, I found that some people are very reluctant to have tourists in Medina (which happens to be the second holiest site in Islam, after Mecca). Some sarcastically say “ahh, we must thank our prince for inviting these tourists”, and others say “please, we are pilgrims…
