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A day on Nusa Penida from Denpasar, Bali (Indonesia)
A bit let down by the “mass tourism” side of Bali, we decide to give it one more chance by heading to the small island next door: Nusa Penida, whose photos had us dreaming. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal From Bukti near Lovinawe take a taxi to Denpasar. We could have hopped on a boat straight away for Nusa Penida but since we have bulky luggage, we’d rather leave it at the hotel in Denpasar and do the round trip to Nusa Penida in a day, hands-free. Good call—you’ll see later why it’s better to go without luggage. This kind of tour is offered…
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Bukti: a lovely village for digital nomads in Bali (Indonesia)
Accommodation in Bali has become so expensive that it’s better to avoid tourist spots. As we got closer to Lovina (to see the dolphins), we discovered a small village, Bukti, 30 minutes from Lovina and 20 minutes from a shopping town. There are 2 restaurants with local prices (that’s a relief). Here, the dogs are docile; no dog attacks us when we ride our scooter as can happen in Ubud. You can tell the road is mainly used by trucks, not tourists. On the scooter, we’re alone in the world. And at our hotel too. There are rarely other tourists. We opt for a private villa within a family-run hotel,…
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Where to See and Swim with Dolphins in Bali (Indonesia): Lovina Beach
When I learned that you could not only see dolphins but also swim with them, I could barely contain my excitement. We quickly packed our bags and hired a private car to take us to Bukti, near Lovina, in northern Bali. Along the way, we stopped to visit (see our travel diary here). Having a private driver is reassuring because he keeps our bags during our visits, and we can plan as many stops as we want. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Since we work, we decide to stay in a small hotel in a small village called Bukti, 30 minutes from Lovina. But…
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3.5 days in Paris with girlfriends (France) – 2023
Passing through Paris in express mode, I suggested my girlfriend S. join me. To my great joy, she accepted the invitation. I picked her up at Orly and we spent 3 and a half wonderful days in Paris, as girlfriends. My girlfriend has been to Paris several times for business, but she’s never had time to see the city (except Montmartre). You could say it’s her first time visiting Paris. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Day 1: Accommodation in Paris has been sky-high since tourism picked up post-Covid. I opted for an Airbnb in zone 4, which means an hour of commuting every day…
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[Review] Bookbinding & Linocut Workshop with Funbooker in Paris
When I recently visited France, I tried out more fun things for you: I took a Japanese bookbinding + linocut workshop. I booked the class on Funbooker. Note: this post is not sponsored, I paid with my own money It’s a site that offers all kinds of activities. In the “DIY” category, it connects artisans with people wanting to discover a specific craft (bookbinding, painting, leathercraft, etc.). Booking is super easy—you pay online, the artisan confirms by email, and you get an address and time, so you can show up empty-handed (almost). My teacher Apolline did ask us to bring a small 10x10cm design for the linocut. I’ve wanted to…
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Visit to the Plantin Moretus Printing Museum in Antwerp (Belgium)
During my solo road trip Belgium – Germany in 2020, I was fascinated by two printing museums and decided to visit them again in 2023 with JB. These are my two favorite museums in the world! Today, I’m going to talk about the Plantin Moretus Museum in Antwerp (Belgium). This article is for those who will never go there, a more concise description without spoilers is available here for those who will visit it someday. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Practical info The Plantin Moretus Museum is in the city center, and overlooks a green and very pleasant square. It used to be a…
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Our First Trip to Amsterdam (Netherlands): Travel Diary
After thoroughly enjoying the tulip festival, JB and I decide to spend a long weekend (3 days) in Amsterdam. It’s our first time visiting this city. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Accommodation Because of the very high prices of hotels and Airbnbs in Amsterdam, we stay away from the city center but right next to a metro station. That way, we can get to the center in just 15 minutes. Here’s the Booking link for our hotel. Expect to pay €200/night in high season and €167 the rest of the time. The hotel’s common areas are very beautiful; I often go there to read.…
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Prepaid SIM / eSIM in Reunion: How to Buy a 4G Internet SIM Card?
Roaming fees When traveling abroad, understanding roaming fees is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises. If you are a French traveler heading to Reunion, it’s important to know how these fees apply. Reunion, like Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, is an overseas department of France and part of the outermost regions of the European Union. However, the ‘Roam Like at Home’ policy introduced by the EU in 2017 does not always apply to overseas departments. This means that even though you’re staying within French territory, using your mobile phone in Reunion could incur additional roaming charges, depending on your carrier and plan. However, several French carriers include overseas departments in their…
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Prepaid SIM/eSIM in Martinique: How to Buy a 4G Internet SIM
Roaming fees When traveling outside mainland France, understanding roaming charges is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises on your phone bill. If you’re a French traveler heading to Martinique, it’s important to understand how these charges may apply. Martinique, like Guadeloupe and French Guiana, is an overseas department of France and therefore an outermost region of the European Union. However, the “roaming like at home” policy implemented by the EU in 2017 does not automatically apply to overseas departments. This means that even though you’re staying in French territory, using your mobile phone in Martinique could incur additional roaming charges, depending on your carrier and plan. However, many French carriers include…
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Prepaid SIM / eSIM in Guadeloupe: How to Buy a 4G Internet SIM Card?
Roaming fees Traveling outside mainland France can raise questions about using your mobile phone, especially when it comes to roaming charges. If you’re a French traveler heading to Guadeloupe, it’s essential to understand how these charges may apply. Guadeloupe, like French Guiana, is a French overseas department and thus an outermost region of the European Union. However, the “Roam Like at Home” rule implemented by the EU in 2017 doesn’t always automatically apply to overseas departments. This means that using your mobile phone in Guadeloupe could incur additional roaming fees, depending on your carrier and plan. That said, many French carriers include overseas departments in their plans, meaning you can…
