an invitation that cannot be refused
There are two trails that allow you to do a sort of loop around the island where I am. The distances are short, thankfully, because this circuit proved to be exhausting. The heat and humidity (humidity factor 35°C) add to the already challenging terrain. The trail is rudimentary but stands out well from the lush jungle once you find the access point. Luckily, AllTrails exists because signage isn't Malaysians' strong suit; you can even get lost in airports. I ventured out alon
The Pekingese in the rain
A light shower interrupts my stroll through the vast botanical garden. Luckily, a gazebo appears; I walk towards it, and there's a man inside. We strike up a conversation. He's a slender Chinese man, dressed casually or perhaps sportily, who knows? He lives in Beijing and turns out to be very talkative and expressive. His English has a strong accent that I have trouble following. After each comment, he bursts out laughing. He's here for the julienne fruit season; I have no id
The reader
I was taking a rehydration break, a bit longer than the ones I saw during the World Cup, comfortably seated on a promontory in the modern sculpture section of the Kuala Lumpur Botanical Garden. A welcome break after walking in the sweltering, humid heat. Lower down in the shade, comfortably seated on a backless bench, a young woman from the Middle East was, unusually, reading a book. She was settled in, her bag on one side, a water bottle on the other, book in hand, head bent
Traveling is meeting people
Traveling is also about meeting other travelers, connecting with people from faraway places who bring us closer to the inaccessible. In the small group visiting the Maori village, there was an asian woman with her two teenagers who were not particularly exotic, uninterested in the guided tour, they retreated to their car, glued to their phones. Sound familiar. So I found myself alone with their mother, not being part of any subgroup. We exchanged a few glances, and gradually
Kindness, goodness…
Some have it, others don't, but this gift is a welcome one. I arrived a little too early to catch my bus, as is my slow traveler habit, but this time I'd gone too far, arriving 90 minutes before departure with a small convenience store. as the only place to grab a bite and offering only pre-packaged sandwiches, but an espresso machine and very ordinary chairs and tables to enjoy it all. The tenant is Malaysian, I'll learn later, invites me to sit down while she prepares my mo
Tewwakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao
I took part in a guided tour of the village with the incredible name: Tewwakarewarewatangaoteopetauaawahiao. In my group, an Indigenous man from British Columbia was proudly displaying his Canucks colors. At the end, I asked him to do a video interview where he opened up and even thanked me for listening. I was thrilled; I thought it would be one of the highlights of my trip. When I went to watch it again later, I realized I hadn't recorded it. I always try to be quick and di
Nous étions guerriers, once were warriors
While Brel inspired my first destination on this world tour, the film *Were Once Warriors* inspired my second stop. This New Zealand film made a deep impression on me when it was released and has remained etched in my memory like few others. I rewatched it, and its power moved me deeply once again—a real Hoka moment. It illustrates, with a wide range of emotions, the downfall of an Indigenous people, the Maori, following the loss of their territory, their ancestral homes, and
Travel: escape, discovery
I love to travel. I have a long history of travel interspersed with studies, a career managing social organizations, and shared custody of my son, who is now also on his own. I have to say, I'm a child of the traveling world. My parents got married in Paris after a long motorcycle trip from Paris to Morocco. Their happiness is evident in the photos from those moments. They decided to get married in Paris, and I was born in Montreal eight months later. That's where things go
My Uber upon arrival in New Zealand
No matter what anyone says, Uber is incredibly convenient when it's available, especially when arriving in a new country. Which was my case yesterday: no worries about the price, being ripped off, safety, or waiting—it's like being at home. Whether by taxi or Uber, one of the joys of this mode of transport is finding a chatty and interesting driver. I was particularly lucky yesterday. A gentleman with a beard and a thick, white, but neatly trimmed head of hair, handsome, dr
Celebrating Mother's Day in the Marquesas Islands
This was undoubtedly the most moving moment of my stay in Polynesia. It's difficult to capture in a video the atmosphere of this magnificent place, so full of color, with people in reverence singing melodies… I'm speechless. Listen for yourself, trying to get good sound and picture quality; perhaps the magic will work.
Let's not kill the beauty of the world
Reflecting on and researching the plight of young Tahitian women also means discovering, through this journey around the world, new variations on the ways in which men dominate women. Everywhere, men have effectively capitalized on their physical dominance to subjugate women and girls into a state of economic, psychological, and sexual subjugation. A kaleidoscope of horrors that is slowly killing the beauty of the world. And for once I will contradict Brel: "And I'm not sur
Tahiti, the France at the end of the world?
I thought I'd find myself in a faraway France in the South Pacific, but no, this is Polynesia, French Polynesia certainly, but first and foremost Polynesia with its indigenous population from Asia who still speak their language, part of a large family spread across the Pacific. They have their own president and their own laws. While everyone, except for a few elderly people, speaks French, they don't have a Parisian or Radio-Canada accent. More so than in Quebec, the informal
Fishing in Polynesia…
It's not like in the Gaspé Peninsula
Tattooing at the heart of culture
Tattooing is to Polynesia what maple syrup is to Quebec: a pillar of cultural identity. Almost everyone here has a tattoo. The word "tattoo" comes from the local language and is related to Rome… So I took the opportunity to get my first tattoo: a turtle. A powerful symbol in their mythology, it represents for me slow travel, traveling at a human pace. My tattoo artist, Félix, speaks to us with passion about his profession.
Jean-Marie the sculptor
I interview people I meet, the collaboration is exceptional, a great experience.
Reading in the Marquesas
I wanted to leave my mark on the land of Brel and Gauguin without losing my life, so I donated my "Pommes de route" to the village library. This led to a meeting with a passionate book lover.
Around the world, around oneself
The world is a vast mirror that reflects us back to ourselves; running away is not an option.
Hymn to the Marquesas
Brel's song drew me here and I made a music video for it
Gauguin, the mischievous painter
That's what the priests of his time called him, a polite term to describe this artist who left his mark on the history of painting. It's worth reflecting on…