Author & founder

Mike

TerraLenses · Travel writer · France

About

I'm a French traveller in my thirties. Over the past fifteen years I've visited roughly thirty countries across five continents — long overland trips in Southeast Asia and South America, shorter forays through the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, and a steady circuit of European destinations closer to home.

I started TerraLenses in 2024 because the country reference I wanted didn't exist online — something that would pair decent data with honest long-form writing and actually cover the full world rather than just the Lonely-Planet greatest hits. The site has grown from a handful of pages to a full interactive atlas covering 198 countries, with 20+ "flagship" country profiles written as proper 2,000-word pieces.

Writing on TerraLenses is mine; the methodology page explains how I collect and verify the underlying data. If you find an error or want to suggest a correction, send me an email — I read everything.

Expertise and interests

  • Geographic focus: every continent, with particular depth on Europe (lived), Southeast Asia (extensive travel), and West/North Africa (research focus).
  • Editorial interests: country-level history and geography, cultural context, food traditions, travel practicalities, comparative geography.
  • Research approach: primary sources first (UNESCO, World Bank, national statistics agencies), supplemented by reputable editorial sources (Encyclopaedia Britannica, established travel journalism).
  • Tools: OpenStreetMap and Mapbox for mapping; the Astro framework for the site itself; plain research and writing.

Country profiles (72)

Enriched long-form country pages I've written or edited. Each is a 1,500-2,500 word piece with sources cited at the bottom.

🇩🇿 Algeria Africa 🇦🇷 Argentina Americas 🇦🇺 Australia Oceania 🇦🇹 Austria Europe 🇧🇩 Bangladesh Asia 🇧🇪 Belgium Europe 🇧🇴 Bolivia Americas 🇧🇷 Brazil Americas 🇰🇭 Cambodia Asia 🇨🇦 Canada Americas 🇨🇱 Chile Americas 🇨🇳 China Asia 🇨🇴 Colombia Americas 🇨🇷 Costa Rica Americas 🇭🇷 Croatia Europe 🇨🇺 Cuba Americas 🇨🇿 Czech Republic Europe 🇩🇰 Denmark Europe 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Americas 🇪🇨 Ecuador Americas 🇪🇬 Egypt Africa 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England Europe 🇪🇹 Ethiopia Africa 🇫🇮 Finland Europe 🇫🇷 France Europe 🇩🇪 Germany Europe 🇬🇭 Ghana Africa 🇬🇷 Greece Europe 🇭🇺 Hungary Europe 🇮🇸 Iceland Europe 🇮🇳 India Asia 🇮🇩 Indonesia Asia 🇮🇷 Iran Asia 🇮🇪 Ireland Europe 🇮🇱 Israel Asia 🇮🇹 Italy Europe 🇯🇵 Japan Asia 🇯🇴 Jordan Asia 🇰🇪 Kenya Africa 🇲🇬 Madagascar Africa 🇲🇾 Malaysia Asia 🇲🇽 Mexico Americas 🇲🇦 Morocco Africa 🇳🇵 Nepal Asia 🇳🇱 Netherlands Europe 🇳🇿 New Zealand Oceania 🇳🇬 Nigeria Africa 🇳🇴 Norway Europe 🇵🇰 Pakistan Asia 🇵🇦 Panama Americas 🇵🇪 Peru Americas 🇵🇭 Philippines Asia 🇵🇱 Poland Europe 🇵🇹 Portugal Europe 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Asia 🇸🇳 Senegal Africa 🇸🇬 Singapore Asia 🇿🇦 South Africa Africa 🇰🇷 South Korea Asia 🇪🇸 Spain Europe 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Asia 🇸🇪 Sweden Europe 🇨🇭 Switzerland Europe 🇹🇿 Tanzania Africa 🇹🇭 Thailand Asia 🇹🇳 Tunisia Africa 🇹🇷 Turkey Asia 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates Asia 🇺🇸 United States of America Americas 🇻🇦 Vatican City Europe 🇻🇪 Venezuela Americas 🇻🇳 Vietnam Asia

Blog articles

Mar 20, 2025 Germany vs Austria: Cultural, Historical and Travel Differences Explained Germany and Austria share a language but offer surprisingly different travel experiences. We compare cities, culture, landscapes, food, and what makes each country unique. Mar 18, 2025 Portugal vs Spain for Expats: Where Should You Move in 2025? Considering a move to the Iberian Peninsula? We compare Portugal and Spain on cost of living, visas, climate, healthcare, language, and quality of life for expats. Mar 15, 2025 Australia vs New Zealand: Which Country to Visit First? Australia or New Zealand — two of the world's most breathtaking destinations. We compare nature, wildlife, cities, adventure, and costs to help you decide. Mar 12, 2025 Thailand vs Vietnam for Backpackers: A Complete 2025 Guide Thailand or Vietnam for your Southeast Asia backpacking trip? We compare costs, beaches, culture, food, and the backpacker experience in both countries. Mar 10, 2025 Italy vs Greece for Summer: Which Mediterranean Holiday Wins? Italy or Greece for your Mediterranean summer? We compare beaches, food, ancient ruins, costs, and island life to help you pick the perfect destination. Mar 8, 2025 Japan vs South Korea: Which Asian Destination Is Right for You? Japan and South Korea are two of Asia's most popular destinations. We compare culture, food, costs, and practicalities to help you choose — or plan both in one trip. Mar 5, 2025 USA vs Canada: Key Differences Every Traveler Should Know The United States and Canada share a border but offer very different travel experiences. We compare culture, nature, cost, and cities to help you plan your North American trip. Mar 1, 2025 France vs Spain: Which Country Should You Visit? Torn between France and Spain? We compare culture, food, costs, and top cities to help you decide which European destination suits your travel style best.

Get in touch

Email: [email protected]
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