THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… AROUND THE WORLD
Follow us on our 8-month journey around the world. We will regularly update this article as we travel.
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
Since August 18th: Paris
After spending several months thousands of kilometers from home, we’re finally back. We’re exhausted from constantly rushing from one temple to another, from plane to plane, and from kangaroos to proboscis monkeys. Despite it all, we return with the thought, “We did it!” Our minds are filled with wonderful memories that will stay with us for many years to come. Now, all that’s left is to start thinking about our next journey.
August 15th and 16th: Bogota
Our first impressions: a noisy city where the smell of urine mingles with the scent of cannabis. We were pleasantly surprised: after La Paz, Bogotá feels very modern. Unfortunately, the country’s history of violence makes us feel uneasy walking through the city’s streets. Fortunately, the museums save the day, offering a safe haven for tourists and providing a very enjoyable experience.
August 17th: We’re back in Paris after traveling around the globe! It’s the end of nearly 8 months of exploring diverse landscapes and immersing ourselves in cultures that are all remarkably different from one another.
July 31st to August 14th: Bolivia
July 31st to August 2nd: Sud Lípez and Uyuni Salt Flat. Our first impressions: a region with simply stunning landscapes. Some sites, like Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde, are unforgettable. The salt flat is a place out of time. You feel so small in this vast white expanse. It’s also the perfect place to take amazing photos.
August 3-4: Uyuni. Our first impressions: the gateway to the salt desert. The town itself holds little tourist interest. It is not particularly beautiful either.
August 5-6: Potosi. Our first impressions: a charming, typical South American town. There are churches everywhere, colorful buildings, and vendors selling popcorn and ice cream. Strolling through the streets is pleasant, even though the altitude sometimes leaves us short of breath.
August 7-8: Sucre. Our first impressions: Sucre is the most beautiful city we have seen since our arrival in South America. Its nickname “the white city” suits it perfectly: the buildings in the city center sparkle under the sun. Numerous cafes and restaurants create a friendly and pleasant atmosphere.
August 9-10: La Paz. Our first impressions: the highest capital in the world, La Paz offers very little tourist interest. The country’s poverty is evident: dirty streets, buildings in poor condition or abandoned mid-construction, beggars everywhere, and children selling trinkets.
August 11-12: Copacabana (Lake Titicaca). Our first impressions: as is often the case in Bolivia, the landscapes are stunning, but the cities fall short. In the low season, Copacabana feels like an abandoned seaside resort.
August 13-14: La Paz. Back in the city to catch our flight, we stayed in the tourist areas and took a stroll through the Witches’ Market, where we saw mummified llama fetuses.
August 15th: Departure for our last destination!
July 14th to 30th: Chile & Easter Island
July 14-16: Santiago. Our first impressions: the snow-capped Andes are magnificent and add charm to an otherwise dull city with little tourist interest. We are fortunate to come across festivities: music, dance, and lots of colors are on display.
July 17-22: Easter Island. Our first impressions: the moai are impressive and simply magnificent. We also found the Polynesia we missed. Tattoos, dances, deified statues, and even a bit of French where the r’s are rolled.
July 23rd: Santiago. A one-day stop before heading north of the country. We are visiting new neighborhoods.
July 24-30: San Pedro de Atacama. Our first impressions: a charming village packed with tour agencies, souvenir shops, and restaurants. If you drive more than 100 km, you’ll encounter extraordinary landscapes made up of mountains, rocks, salt, water, and ice.
July 31st: Departure for the next destination!
July 11th to 14th: Auckland
Our first impressions: a somewhat “quiet” city, even though it is the metropolis of New Zealand. The lack of real public transportation makes getting around more difficult. Nevertheless, the city is pretty, and Maori culture is well represented.
July 14th: Departure for the next destination!
June 10th to July 10th: Australia
June 10th: Darwin (Top End, Northern Territory). Our first impressions: as an introduction to northern Australia, we visit the Museum of the Northern Territory. The exhibits cover both the nature and history of this Australian province. A rewarding (and free) visit.
June 11-13: Litchfield National Park. Our first impressions: a very beautiful park with stunning waterfalls. We were able to swim in the few places that crocodiles do not frequent.
June 13-16: Katherine. Our first impressions: a quiet little town where Aboriginal art is well represented. The nearby parks are also splendid and very pleasant, offering charming places to swim.
June 16-18: Kakadu. Our first impressions: an overrated park with overly enthusiastic online reviews. Despite this, the experience is rather disappointing. Even though the landscapes are sometimes pretty and it contains interesting rock paintings, the park holds no real interest.
June 19th: Cairns (Queensland). We land there and take a car for the next leg of our journey. We don’t spend enough time in the city to form an opinion about it.
June 20-22: Daintree Forest. Our first impressions: a rainforest without the heat or humidity of Borneo. The wildlife is difficult to spot, but the scenery is stunning.
June 23rd: Atherton. Our first impressions: a truly charming small town located in an agricultural area. Not far from the town, we are fortunate to befriend some friendly wallabies.
June 24th: Mission Beach. Our first impressions: a small coastal town with a very beautiful beach. The main point of interest is the presence of cassowaries in the town and surrounding parks. They are difficult to spot, but majestic and colorful when they do appear.
June 25th: Townsville. Our first impressions: we are here because we were supposed to visit Magnetic Island just offshore. Continuous rain changed our plans. So, we stayed in town before the rain arrived. However, we did get to enjoy some excellent fish and chips.
June 26-28: Airlie Beach. Our first impressions: a very pretty seaside town. Unfortunately, due to the gray weather, we couldn’t fully enjoy the colors it offers. The crystal-clear blue water is home to the famous coral reef not far away.
June 29th: Sydney. One-night stopover.
June 30th: Uluru (Red Centre, Northern Territory). We pick up the car and head straight to our campsite near Kings Canyon. We will return to Uluru in a few days.
July 1-2: Kings Canyon. Our first impressions: simply magnificent! The hiking trails offered allow for perfect exploration of the site. We especially loved the one that goes around the crater: it offers splendid viewpoints.
July 3-5: Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Our first impressions: a mythical site of Australia. What might initially appear as just a big rock in the middle of the desert is actually a remarkable site. However, a downside is that the offered hiking trails do not live up to the site’s grandeur.
July 6-9: Sydney (New South Wales). Our first impressions: a very nice city, green, lively, with an architecture that combines both modern high-rises and early 20th-century houses. Strolling around Sydney is a real pleasure.
July 10th: Departure for the next destination!
May 14th to June 10th: Indonesia
May 14-17: Yogyakarta (Java). Our first impressions: the city doesn’t have much tourist interest. However, it is located just a few kilometers from the most beautiful temples of Java: the Prambanan complex and Borobudur temple.
May 17-18: Surabaya. We are only stopping over on our way to Bromo. Therefore, we are not visiting the city.
May 18-20: Bromo. Our first impressions: Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is truly stunning. The view of its volcanoes, some of which are still active, is breathtaking.
May 20-21: Banyuwangi. We are only stopping over on our way to Bali. Therefore, we are not visiting the city.
May 21-23: Munduk (Bali). Our first impressions: here we are in Bali! It’s greener (much more so) and the volcanoes have given way to rice fields and lush forests.
May 23-28: Ubud. Our first impressions: it’s the cultural center (a bit like the Kyoto of Bali). Hindu temples are everywhere. Macaques overrun the town (including our hotel). The streets are clogged with cars and two-wheelers, creating constant and indescribable noise. Resting here is not so easy.
May 28 to June 7: Kuta. Our first impressions: a quintessential seaside town… with all the drawbacks that come with it. Too many people, too much noise, too many tourist traps, and, on top of that, the beach is disappointing and the sea is too rough for swimming.
May 31st to June 5th: Tana Toraja (Sulawesi). Our stay in Sulawesi unfortunately had to be canceled. Symptoms of dengue appeared the day before our departure. The diagnosis was confirmed a few days later. So we stayed in Kuta to rest.
June 7-10: Amed. Our first impressions: A small seaside town. We find a bit more peace and quiet. The town is known for its black sand beach and diving and snorkeling spots. Unfortunately, the beach is overflowing with trash. There is also a lot of plastic in the sea. Clearly, environment and Indonesia are not synonymous.
June 10th (late evening): Departure for the next destination!
Find all our articles on Indonesia:
May 6th to 13th: Malaysia
May 6-10: Kuching (Borneo Island). Our first impressions: We are surprised by the modernity of the city. Kuching is a pleasant, colorful city, and its inhabitants are genuinely kind. It’s also a city that celebrates the different ethnicities of the island. Kuching also gives us the opportunity to get up close with nature and some of the endemic species that inhabit Borneo.
May 10-13: Kuala Lumpur. Our first impressions: we are light-years away from Kuching! The capital is noisy, chaotic, and without any real interest. We quickly go around and get bored there quickly too. Fortunately, this allows us to recharge our batteries for what’s to come.
May 14th: Departure for the next destination!
Find all our articles on Malaysia:
May 2nd to 6th: Singapore
May 2-6: Singapore. Our first impressions: Singapore is an excellent surprise! We found a dynamic city with a soul, just as we like it. Singapore is a successful blend of modern architecture (with stylish skyscrapers), colonial charm (with colorful shophouses), and greenery. In Singapore, vegetation harmoniously coexists with concrete, forming a true oasis despite the challenging heat and humidity.
May 6th (evening): Departure for the next destination!
Find all our articles on Singapore:
April 10th to May 1st: Japan
April 10-12: Hiroshima. Our first impressions: a city with a sad past, Hiroshima has managed to bounce back from the disaster that struck it. Without being an extraordinary city, it offers a calm and serene atmosphere conducive to contemplation. It has established tasteful and sober memorials so that no one forgets August 6, 1945.
April 13-17: Osaka. Our first impressions: Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan. The downtown area offers a vibrant atmosphere at night. It’s also where you’ll find Universal Studios Japan and… its Super Nintendo World!
April 18-23: Kyoto. Our first impressions: while Kyoto remains a city with unflattering architecture and lacking dynamism, it houses magnificent sites and holds significant cultural interest.
April 24th to May 1st: Tokyo. Our first impressions: a huge city with numerous and diverse neighborhoods. From the peaceful atmosphere of the Imperial Palace gardens to the bustling nightlife of Shinjuku, and through the luxury boutiques of Ginza, Tokyo has something for everyone.
May 2nd: Departure to the next destination!
Find all our articles on Japan:
March 15th to April 9th: China
March 15-18: Kunming. Our first impressions: a very pleasant, green, calm, and modern city. We are delighted to discover Chinese cuisine there.
March 19-21: Dali. Our first impressions: we continue our discovery of Yunnan with the beautiful old town of Dali and its magnificent Three Pagodas Temple.
March 22-25: Lijiang. Our first impressions: a very touristy city with architecture and ambiance different from Dali. The various canals that run through it give it an undeniable charm. The view of the mountains is magnificent.
March 26-29: Shangri-la. Our first impressions: it’s cold! The city IS located at more than 3100 metres above sea level. We quickly run out of breath and the wind is cool. On the other hand, once again, the architecture completely changes from what we have seen so far. The Tibetan influences are very present… and the yaks too!
March 29th to April 2nd: Chengdu. Our first impressions: a big Chinese city without much interest. Huge towers and lots of people. Fortunately, a giant panda research base and a giant Buddha (found near Chengdu) save the day.
April 3-5: Xi’an. Our first impressions: a city filled with shopping malls where the tourist district is crowded, noisy, and dirty. This stage won’t be the most memorable part of our journey in China. However, our visit to the Terracotta Army will surely provide us with a unique experience.
April 6-9: Beijing. Our first impressions: Beijing is arguably the least modern city of our trip. The metro and architecture seem outdated. The city lacks interesting neighborhoods to explore. Fortunately, it can rely on the fame of iconic sites such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall to attract Western tourists (who are actually a bit more prevalent here than elsewhere!).
April 10: Departure to the next destination!
Find all our articles on China:
March 11th to 15th: Hong Kong and Macau
March 11-13: Hong Kong. Our first impressions: a new cultural shock. We discover the jungle of a city with 4000 skyscrapers. We are far from the beach landscapes and crystal-clear waters of the Philippines.
March 14th: Macau. Our first impressions: we are far from Hong Kong! On one side, skyscrapers have given way to a mixture of Portuguese colonial-era buildings, and on the other, we find ourselves in the Chinese paradise of casinos. A little journey through European cities is in order.
March 15th: Hong Kong (in the morning) and departure for a new destination at the end of the day!
Find all our articles on Hong Kong and Macau:
February 26th to March 10th: the Philippines
February 26-27: Manila. Our first impressions: the calm and order of Taiwan have vanished. Here we are back in the noise and… traffic jams. The architecture, the bustling city center, and the omnipresent American fast-food chains bring us closer to Latin America than Asian culture.
February 28th to March 2nd: Coron. Our first impressions: very beautiful. Coron offers postcard-worthy landscapes that are dreamy. However, the city itself lacks much interest.
March 3-7: El Nido. Our first impressions: very nice. Unlike Coron, El Nido offers a beach where you can relax and enjoy the scenery and sunset. However, the organization of boat tours leaves much to be desired and seems much more amateurish than in Coron.
March 8-10: Cebu. Our first impressions: the beaches and magnificent landscapes are over. We are in a colonial city that presents rather little architectural interest. The omnipresent cars and two-wheelers create a very urban sound atmosphere.
March 11: Departure to the next destination!
Find all our articles on the Philippines:
February 12th to 26th: Taiwan
February 12th: Taipei. Our first impressions: we spend only one day in Taipei at the beginning of our journey and will spend more time at the end. The city is more reminiscent of Seoul or Tokyo than Phnom Penh, and you can feel that you are in a wealthier Asian country.
February 13-15: Hualien. Our first impressions: strolling through the streets near our hotel, Hualien gives us the impression of being a somewhat quiet town. We will quickly realize, to our delight, that in the evening, the center comes to life!
February 16-18: Kaohsiung. Our first impressions: as soon as we exit the subway, we know we are dealing with a big city. The streets are wide, noisy, filled with cars, and scooters. Some tall towers punctuate the landscape. However, the city is not as charming as those we have seen so far. A big city doesn’t necessarily mean an interesting one.
February 19-21: Tainan. Our first impressions: Tainan is the Kyoto of Taiwan, albeit on a smaller scale. Many Taoist temples and lively streets await us. Here, as elsewhere on the island, the Taiwanese people exhibit exemplary kindness.
February 22-25: Taipei.
February 26th: Departure to the next destination!
Find all our articles on Taiwan:
February 4th to 11th: Cambodia
February 4-7: Siem Reap. Our first impressions: we come to Siem Reap to admire the incredible Angkor site. Armed with our 3-day pass and bicycles, we spend our days exploring the temples, each more beautiful than the last. The perfect place to feel like an archaeologist or an adventurer, following in the footsteps of Lara Croft. The heat is overwhelming, but it’s the price to pay to enjoy a unique site in the world.
February 8-11: Phnom Penh. Our first impressions: the capital of Cambodia has the reputation of being a city of little interest. However, we discovered a dynamic city with various points of interest, reflecting the country’s sometimes tragic, sometimes glorious past. The streets are adorned with the colors of the Chinese New Year.
February 12th: Departure to the next destination!
Find all our articles on Cambodia:
February 2nd & 3rd: Bangkok
Our first impressions: We make a two-night stop in Bangkok, twice as long as Murray Head. The climate shock is intense: we leave Delhi under thick pollution haze and 8°C, and 4 hours later, we arrive in Bangkok with a clear sky and humid 34°C. After three weeks in India, the modernity and cleanliness of Bangkok are incredibly refreshing!
Find our articles on our layover in Bangkok:
From January 14th to February 1st: India
January 14th and 15th: Delhi. Our first impressions: we have never seen anything like it. The contrast with the United Arab Emirates is immense!
January 16-17: Agra. Our first impressions: the city is far from a small romantic or pleasant town and offers only one real attraction (but a significant one): the Taj Mahal.
January 18-21: Jaipur. Our first impressions: the city, nicknamed the Paris of India, shares the same characteristics as other cities in Northern India: noisy, dirty, overcrowded… We hope the palaces and monuments will live up to expectations.
January 22nd to 24th: Udaipur. Our first impressions: a smaller, cleaner, colorful, and airy city. Plus, we arrive during a Hindu festival: the atmosphere is fantastic, and we feel good here.
January 25th to 27th: Jodhpur. Our first impressions: the city, nicknamed the Blue City, is not a quiet little town. We encounter the hustle and bustle of large Indian cities. The fort, overlooking the city, is majestic.
January 28th to 31st: Jaisalmer. Our first impressions: Jaisalmer is an inhabited fortified city. The narrow streets host magnificent residences with intricately carved facades. Of course, one must overlook the noise and dirt. The number of animals in the streets is impressive.
February 1st: Delhi. While we initially favored Delhi upon our arrival in India, this time we spend the day in New Delhi, a cleaner and quieter city than its counterpart.
February 2nd: Departure to the next destination!
Find all our articles on Rajasthan:
From January 2nd to 13th: the United Arab Emirates
January 2nd to 8th: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Our first impressions: a slightly disorienting initial destination. The city of Abu Dhabi is extremely vast, its architecture is both very modern and dated, its atmosphere is a mix of Arabic, Indian, and American influences. Geographically close to Oman, yet far from the authenticity and more traditional charm of that country, which we had visited a few years ago.
January 7th and 8th: Al Ain. Our first impressions: a city bordering Oman, amidst desert landscapes. Birthplace of the founder of the United Arab Emirates, Al Ain is quieter, more provincial than Abu Dhabi, and offers some interesting cultural sites.
January 9th: Fujairah. Our first impressions: an surprising city that seems to have sprung up in just a few years, where the race towards the sky with skyscrapers is only rivaled by the height of the minarets of the magnificent mosque, dating back to 2015.
January 10th: Ras Al Khaimah. Our first impressions: a city at the end of the United Arab Emirates, surrounded by mountains, but it doesn’t offer any specific cultural interest.
January 11th to 13th: Sharjah and Dubai. Our first impressions: Sharjah is a pleasant surprise with a nice corniche. Dubai is a sprawling city that appears as artificial as they say.
January 14th: Departure for Delhi.
Find all our articles on the United Arab Emirates:
