Get ready for the Year of the Cat (really!)
Latest post: Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh by bus. Travel reads; European islands, and 2023 travel articles that aren't all listicles
The last days of the Tiger lunar year are upon us, and Sunday will begin the Year of the Rabbit. In Vietnam though it’s the Year of the Cat. There is no solid explanation why it is the Year of the Cat, not the Rabbit, but I am cool with that.
It’s been great walking around seeing so many cat pictures everywhere. One of the main streets of Saigon is transformed into a flower garden for Tet, and around the country each city puts on their own lunar animal display. There are some good ones here, and my favourite is the jacked Maneki-neko in Ben Tre for extra luck.
Wishing you a happy Year of the Cat/Rabbit!
Latest and updated posts at Nomadic Notes
• NEW: Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh by bus
I posted my bus experience in case anyone is wondering how the international border crossing works.
• UPDATED: Bangkok Mass Transit System
I’m keeping an archive of independent metro maps for Bangkok’s mass transit system. I found another one that is done in the style of a Japanese metro map.
Two new monorail lines are expected to open in Bangkok this year, so I will be watching to see which maps are updated.
• UPDATED: The Acropolis and the saga of the Parthenon Marbles
Added this link to my Parthenon Marbles article:
Stop dithering, British Museum – give the Elgin Marbles back
Travel reads
• I post a lot of Southeast Asia island links, so here are two European island links:
Hydra: The Greek island that banned wheels
The best islands in Europe for getting away from almost everyone
• Couchfish: Stay Another Day, Huế edition by
It amazes me that Hue isn’t a more popular destination. It has a moated old town area, which made me wonder in 2019 if Hue could be the next Chiang Mai.
• Can Cambodia become Southeast Asia’s sustainable travel capital?
• Also in Cambodia: $300M int’l airport to be built on Koh Rong Island
I visited Koh Rong around this time last year, and change on this sleepy island was imminent.
• A new start after 60: ‘I was such a chicken – until I spent seven weeks travelling alone’
• Train station's opening in Bangkok ushers in new travel era
Most trains from Bangkok will now leave from the new station, replacing Hualamphong. There have been problems at the new station, so I will check it out in March when they have worked out operating procedures.
• Here’s a cute little border crossing between Laos and Thailand.
• Abandoned boeing turns into a luxury villa with hanging terraces over bali's coast
Travel in 2023
It’s January, and my news feed is filled with “best places to go” listicles, and they are becoming more meaningless every year. This is a good time to repost this classic by Robert Reid: Top 2015 travel destinations: "I don't know"
Here are some other 2023-related posts.
Every year Tynan puts out a gear post, and it might be the original packing list article (at least in the digital nomad world). The original is listed under 2008 in the digital nomad history article.
• The top travel trends for 2023
• Why 2023 is the year to travel somewhere you’ve never heard of
Good advice in case that Dalai Lami quote escaped your attention.
• Five amazing new train trips opening up in 2023
• OK I can’t resist, here is the NY Times 52 places to go in 2023. Among the chosen destinations is Ha Giang in Vietnam.
The Nomadic Notes Travel Newsletter is a weekly newsletter of the best travel reads and interesting travel news from around the web, and random ramblings by the editor.
- James Clark
Never knew they substituted cat for rabbit, but I like it! Gong xi fa cai, James!