Jean

This author has written 81 articles
L’Arc de Septième Sévère au Forum Romain

Italy – The Roman Forum and the Pantheon in Rome

The Roman Forum is the symbol of the Republic of Rome, the Pantheon its soul. Two representative places of this beautiful city of Rome that owe their preservation only to the chance of history. The visit of the Colosseum was the highlight of the guided tour. We continued our tour towards the very famous Roman Forum with our guide Giorgia Romanelli, where we met a lot of Indians selling mostly "selfie sticks" - the new fashion globalized by the smartphone - shouting "who wants selfies? Selfies. Selfies". It seems that they have succeeded in dethroning the Africans for the sale on the sly. The Roman Forum was the political heart of Rome, and the center of its gigantic republic, which ended in the first century BC to give way to the Empire. A center of power and decision making with…

Le Colisée de Nuit

Italy – Visit the Colosseum in Rome

The magnificence of the Roman Colosseum sits proudly in the ancient capital of the Roman Empire. Who would come to Rome without visiting the most famous monument of the city, and the symbol of an entire empire. H e is in the middle of the arena. All around him, the crowd of more than fifty thousand people in delirium has eyes and ears only for the spectacle. Some cheered and encouraged him, others booed him and demanded his death. Creatures that have not been seen for a long time (or ever) in these lands - bears, elephants and lions - or more common - bulls and boars - face him. The gladiator's life is at stake, which unfortunately also depends on the emperor's mood. All over the arena the crowd is jubilant, the people of Rome are feasting and wine is…

1-Altitude à Singapour

Singapore – Marina Bay Sands and 1-Altittude

The Marina Bay Sands, its ship-like hotel and its infinity pool are known worldwide. The most famous hotel in Singapore is also an important cultural center where a multitude of events are organized every year.   O n the way back from the Garden By The Bay is the landmark of Singapore: the Marina Bay Sands, the famous boat balanced on three buildings. The swimming pool with its splendid view on Singapore is unfortunately reserved for the visitors of the hotel. In the afternoon, we decide to go to the shopping center at the foot of the building before going to the city center by subway. Hypnotized by the boats sailing in a reproduction of the famous canals of Venice - Asians love to reproduce European cities -, a Buddhist nun stares at us strangely and approaches us: "Come with…

Garden by the Bay à Singapour

Singapore – Arab Street and Garden by the Bay

A true melting pot and meeting point of several large ethnic and religious groups, Singapore can pride itself on being a multi-ethnic and forward-looking society. Arab Street is a perfect example of this, to the point where one would almost forget to be in the small city-state. T he cab drives at full speed, a little before sunset. Outside, the landscape passes by and the streetlights illuminate the cockpit with an almost hypnotic frequency. The taxi, driving on the left, weaves its way between beautiful German and Japanese cars as well as small vans filled with workers in the back, undoubtedly those left behind by the growth. One thing catches our attention as we get closer to the city center: it's clean. Maybe too much so. Everything is straight, in its place, without superfluous, well aligned. As if someone had…

La Mosquée Nationale à Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia – National Mosque and Central Market

Malaysia is an important Muslim country in Southeast Asia and Sunni Islam is the state religion. The National Mosque in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is an important place for all Malaysian Muslims and a delight of modernism and architecture for tourists. Pekeliling bus station, early afternoon. The bus finally arrives, the engine snoring and spitting out all the smoke possible. At the front of the bus, the small sign indicates a multitude of stops, including, in small, "Jerantut". We ask for confirmation to the cashier of the bus agency, who hides behind his counter, and returns us a positive nod. It is indeed the bus to the famous Taman Negara national park and its thousand-year-old forest, the next step of this trip in Malaysia, but without really knowing what awaits us when we arrive in the park. The religious…

Tour KL à Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia – KL Tower and Batu Caves

Although the state religion of Malaysia is Islam, the Batu Caves north of Kuala Lumpur form the largest Hindu temple outside India, guarded by the majestic statue of Murugan, god of the divine army in the Hindu religion. W hen the doors open, the city suddenly appears, as far as the eye can see. This one is very quickly buried under the mist and the clouds, as if they announced the end of the world. Rolls of dark clouds melt over the chain of buildings and houses that make up the city of Kuala Lumpur and it would take nothing to be swept away by torrents of rain. It's as if it were nightfall, even though it's barely three in the afternoon. "Hello, leave your bags here, please". After a few seconds of elevator ride to the top of the…

Taiwan Koxinga

Taiwan – Koxinga, the national hero of Taiwan

Tainan was for centuries the capital of Taiwan. 400 years ago, there was a change of dynasty in China. Koxinga, affiliated with the Mings, took refuge there with the idea of reconquering China. Ironically, the same situation would occur after World War II. H e is enthroned in the middle of the room, with two of his guards at his side. All around him is calm and silence. There is almost a heavy, almost heavy atmosphere here. And for good reason, there are no people in the temple, in this month of August and in the middle of the day. "The irony of Taiwan's history is that the situation that the island is currently experiencing is not a first. Tanguy Le Pesant, a French teacher and lecturer at National Central University in Jhongli, explains how Koxinga has become an important…

Vue de Kuala Tahan, près de Taman Negara

Malaysia – Taman Negara National Park

Taman Negara National Park is located in the heart of Malaysia and is the green lung of the country. Considered one of the oldest tropical forests in the world, with more than 130 million years, it has become the last refuge of countless plants and animals. O ver thirty degrees under the shade of the trees, which are probably older than most who can see them. The humidity is also present, so much so that the simplest of movements becomes difficult. "You have to drink a lot," Matleon warns us. Two liters of water per day, that's what is advised in these conditions, still it is necessary to carry them. In front of us, a small river which flows peacefully. It is one o'clock in the afternoon. A small break is necessary after more than three hours of walk in…

Vue de la piscine sur Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia – Chinatown and Sri Mahamariamman

Indians and Chinese are the two largest minorities in Malaysia. In general, the two communities live in separate neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur. But the Hindu temple of Sri Mahamariamman is an exception, being located in the heart of the Chinese district. T he clouds are coming in full force. The humidity is overwhelming and the sun starts to disappear little by little. It is only a round and transparent ball. The sky becomes dangerous, but how can we leave the refreshing pool when the temperature is over thirty degrees? Also, this has to be one of the best pools in Kuala Lumpur for its breathtaking view: located at more than forty floors, it offers a direct view of the Petronas Towers, which are among the tallest towers in the world and are a real economic showcase for Malaysia, of the…

Plage sur les îles Perhentians

Malaysia – The paradise islands of Perhentian

Off the coast of the Malay Peninsula lies a string of islands called the Perhentian Islands. A small paradise on earth, the clear waters and white sand of the Perhentian Islands are the perfect place to learn to dive. The sound of small waves crashing on the white sandy beach at a constant pace, again and again. The sun that caresses every part of the body. The warm wind that sweeps over the skin, giving a pleasant feeling of well-being.  After a while, we wake up slowly from our sleep. We look to the left, the beach of fine sand, with coconut palms. Same idyllic spectacle on the right. Right in front is offered the panorama of a turquoise blue sea, that even the posters of the Clubmed (to quote only them) cannot compete. The only thing to do is…

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