The new train in Sulawesi

[Travel Newsletter: 12 July 2024] Lisa in Chinatown, the Java Rail Pass, Indonesia’s Gili Asahan, the island with more koalas than humans, and more reads.

Welcome to the Nomadic Notes Travel Newsletter, where I curate the best travel reads of the week.

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I noticed that my Thailand social media feed was filled with many mentions of Lisa's new song. For those who came in late, Lisa (of Blackpink fame) is from Thailand, so she's kind of a big deal here. Even if her music isn't your jam, her face is everywhere here advertising numerous products.

[Welcome to the Land Of Smiles. Lisa at BKK Airport.]

She's not just big in Thailand. Lisa is the most-followed K-pop artist on Instagram (which I just discovered when looking up her Wiki page).

I am giving this little K-pop 101 lesson because I also noticed a spike in mentions about Bangkok's Chinatown. It turns out her latest song, Rockstar, was filmed in Chinatown. The government is ramping up safety measures after a surge of visitors.

After reading this I had to watch the video (watch it here). Here is a snapshot of views the video has had in 2 weeks.

[Over 100 million views in 2 weeks!]

I immediately knew the street in this film clip. This is already a crazy street on the weekend, so it's going to get crazier now.

Thailand is no stranger to destinations receiving pop culture boosts. The Beach is a classic example, and Chiang Mai received a mega boost from a Chinese comedy film.

Lisa is also set to star in The White Lotus, which has given its previous settings a spike in visitor numbers. Is Koh Samui ready for a Lisa/White Lotus boost? Koh Samui Airport (an airport that looks like a resort) is owned by Bangkok Air. Shareholders were delighted by the news that the airport is going to be expanded.

Latest posts at Nomadic Notes

I’ve nearly finished my Indonesian railway reviews, so I will resume destination articles soon. This train trip in Sulawesi was one I was looking forward to seeing in person.

• Makassar–Parepare railway: the first section of the Trans-Sulawesi railway

The Makassar–Parepare railway is a railway line in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This railway will eventually form part of the Trans-Sulawesi Railway from Makassar to Manado, and other lines are planned around the island.

Travel reads

• Java Rail Pass proposal: putting Java train travel on the world tourism map

I posted this article at Future Southeast Asia, but it could have been posted on Nomadic Notes. The Java Rail Pass is my proposed tourist rail pass to promote train travel in Java and diversify tourism beyond Bali.

• What cultural legacies have the Olympic Games left its host cities?

• Indonesia’s Gili Asahan, Lombok’s best-kept secret: island as peaceful as it is beautiful (archive}

• Competition or camaraderie? Inside the tight-knit community of Siem Reap’s tuk-tuk drivers

• Istanbul's plan to save its cultural soul

• How many countries are there in the World?

"The debate as to how many countries are there in the world, what constitutes a country or territory goes on and so does the criteria for saying you've been there."

• This island is inhabited by more koalas than humans

• Future uncertain for iconic floating market in Vietnam's Mekong Delta

I try not to overuse the phrase “see it before it’s gone”, but it seems appropriate here. I visited Cai Rang in 2013, and it’s an amazing site. With new roads and improved warehousing, it makes sense that these floating markets will eventually disappear. So yeah, see it before it’s gone.

• Riding the roof of the world: an epic Nepal-Tibet bike tour

• Riding the Cablebús over Mexico City

“A new gondola system has been a game-changer for marginalized neighborhoods. Will tourism ruin it?”

🚆Train travel

• All the adventure, a fraction of the cost: the D.I.Y. Orient Express (archive)

“The luxury version of this classic train journey costs almost $50,000, but for $1,000 or less, you can book the rail trip from Paris to Istanbul yourself.”

✈️ Air travel

• Turbulence is getting more frequent and more severe. An aviation and climate expert explains why.

Featured travel sites

• Kiwi.com creates combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offers them in a single itinerary. Kiwi.com is offering users 20 EUR off for purchases over 270 EUR made on the Kiwi.com site.

Promo code: SUMMER2024KIWI

This promo code is valid from July 1 to July 31, or until the inventory is exhausted.

• GetYourGuide: Save up to 30% on Summer Experiences

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James Clark – Chiang Mai, Thailand.