CURRENT MISSION

Develop responsible tourism in the Basque Country through its traditional festivals and culture. https://ethnotravels.com/en

ABOUT ME

My friends would certainly say : "If it would be possible to explore the Moon, she would certainly be one of the firsts to go !" And I would answer : "I don't want to go on Moon cause there's so many amazing traditions, culture and people to discover here, so many things to share with others, that my life won't be long enough to encounter."

visited 25 states (11.1%)Create your own visited map of The World or another interesting project

PHILOSOPHY

https://www.youtube.com/user/Haidaloup
Discover more and more things and people.
Work for the preservation of the traditional cultures.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm ready to make you discover the places I love here. When I travel abroad, I'm very lucky cause people always make me discover their country and culture. I do the same for foreigners. That's my way to thank people and life. So, if you want someone to drive you to the most beautiful places, traditional restaurants in the bask country, I'm here !

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I met some lovely hosts who were very happy and enthusiastic to discover the bask traditions.
I was hosted by Amar in Vizag. It was really great to spend time with him and his friends in his wonderful flat.
But I also had a bad experience in Jaipur, with a family who invited me though I had no plan to visit Rajasthan (a family using Couchsurfing to attract foreigners and try to make business) and in Colombo Sri Lanka (the guy made me wait for several hours in the street and when he arrived he took me to a place where I had to pay and the owner was drunk).

Interests

Travelling in Asia and promoting the traditional cultures and festivals of the Asian and Basque autochthonous people.
I'm fond of Asian culture and people. That's why I always read books on Asia, listen to Tibetan or Bollywood music. I also spend a lot of time writing my trip narratives on my blog: https://ethnotravels.com/en

• culture
• writing
• books
• dining
• traveling
• blogging
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite film : Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
The singer I always listen again and again : Kunga (from an ancient tibetan province).
The book I loved the most and read quickly despites of the weight of its two parts : Râmâyana, the original edition from Vâlmîki, Bibliothèque de La Pléiade.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Wow, so many things to share...
The cremation of the leader of a buddhist monastery in Mae Sot / Thailand. They kept his body in a glass box for... 6 years ! They were 7 days and nights of festivities. As I was the only tourist at the beginning, I was welcome by the burmese monks of the monastery as if I was one of them.
In Cambodia, I was invited for a very rich wedding. I was taking some pics and the family invited me for the wedding ceremony and lunch. During the afternoon, they also invited me for the wedding party at night. The girls gave me a very beautiful traditional dress, shoes and offered me the hair dresser / make-up. We spent the next days travelling together in their two big cars around Cambodia.
I was lucky enough to enjoy Bastar Dussehra in Jagdalpur. So wonderful to see tribal people singing, dancing, playing music,... That was the experience of a life !!! https://ethnotravels.com/en/bastar-dussehra/
Dandari Tribal Festival in Telangana.
Some traditions really leave me awestruck, as tibetan celestial funerals (I saw a place in Gansu / China where they still do it). I really try to understand more about their real signification.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach about the places I live, show or give information on the most beautiful places here.
Share thoughts about travel, Asia, traditions...

My favourite restaurant around the place where I live is in Spain, in the Jaizquibel mountain close to Errenteria, changed of owner. The name is Aldura, but it's actually in the San Marcos fortress. The food was delicious, but not nowadays. But it's very beautiful inside and outside with a marvellous view of San Sebastian's bay and Pyrenees mountains. It's possible, when it's hot, to eat on the terrace and after eating to walk on the ramparts. But I think it's better now just to have a drink.

My favourite walk here is the long trail along the ocean between Bidart and Hendaye. The view of the ocean, wild nature, bask mountains, beautiful towns and villages is wonderful. If you don't have a car to go, it's possible to join it easily from these railway station : Guethary, Saint Jean-de-Luz, les deux Jumeaux Hondaraitz and Hendaye. If you don't want to walk but only enjoy the sceneries, take a bus from Hendaye railway station and ask the driver if he'll take the "corniche road" (there's two lines to go to Saint Jean de Luz) and stop in Saint jean de Luz railway station, enjoy the beautiful harbour and ocean border, then catch a train to Bayonne. Don't forget to look at the beautiful view in Guéthary railway station.
If you have a car, the trails on the Jaizquibel mountain are wonderful.

My favourite restaurant along the beach is "Bahia Beach" in Bidart, very close to Biarritz. Very nice place with an amazing view...

My favourite drive in Spain : I drive my car along the ocean (corniche) to Fontarabie (a few kilometers after Irun / spanish border). Before entering Fontarabie, I follow the sign "Jaizquibel". This is a mountain when the view is wonderful (France, Spain, ocean...), then I have a walk in Pasaia Donibane which is the village down to Jaizquibel, on the right. This typical bask village doesn't accept cars inside. This is also a part of the road to Compostelle, through the ocean path (less famous, less people...).

What I Can Share with Hosts

Depending on my availability, I can take you around. If there's a traditional festival, I'll be very happy to take you there.
I'm ready to host you for a longer period if you can also help me with my house - repairing things, gardening.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France