Travel Newsletter: 28 October 2022
Where I’m At: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Latest Post: Notes on Khon Kaen. Travel Reads: Australian micronations, the Indonesian nomad visa that isn't really for nomads, free train travel in Italy...
Latest posts at Nomadic Notes
After visiting Ko Mook I wrapped up my island hopping in the Andaman and headed back to Bangkok to extend my visa. It was now time to turn my attention inland, to the region known as Isaan. My plan was to visit some places that are in the path of a new railway. Isaan doesn’t feature on most tourism itineraries. I wanted to see what these cities have to offer, and if a new railway will change the fortunes of these inland cities of the Northeast.
Notes on Khon Kaen – The Isan city with big ambitions
Travel reads
• To get to know Portugal, explore its Azulejo tilework
“Since the 13th century, artists have been reinventing the art form that covers churches, palaces and train stations.”
• What it’s like to walk a trail in the beautiful Himalayas
• How to travel, by Chris Arnade walks the world
• Raising the drawbridge: why are so many Australians creating their own countries?
“By some estimations, Australia hosts around a third of the world’s self-declared micronations. There are three good reasons why.”
If you are running out of countries to visit, then it is time to move onto micronations.
• Traveling at the end of the world: A tour of Canada’s Gaspé Peninsula
“The St. Lawrence River was once a North American superhighway. Today, following its path takes you along a coastline best described as otherworldly.”
• ‘Icon of the Seas’: World’s largest cruise ship unveiled
Digital nomads
• Bali launches 10-year second home visa for entrepreneurs, retirees, and high earners
“Indonesia has announced the launch of a new 10-year second home visa. The new visa category will allow foreigners with over $130,000 in the bank to apply for a 10-year temporary residency permit for Bali and other popular destinations.”
This is the fabled digital nomad visa that Indonesia has been promising for months. At 10 years you are more of an immigrant than a digital nomad, but anyway I place it here for the record if you want to move to Bali.
If you want to be a digital nomad in Bali (like spend 6 months there) then just get the Socio-Cultural Visa that is already available.
• 'I have worked from home in 78 different countries'
• Why the #$!@%! would anyone become a nomad?
“Actually, there are some pretty good reasons.”
🚆Train travel
• I published Europe Rail News this week, so if you are interested in European rail travel, then subscribe here. One of the reasons I curate this newsletter is so I can personally keep on top of infrastructure developments in Europe, and if I see something of interest to travel readers then I post it. One news story that caught my attention is that Cyprus is considering building a new railway. When I visited Cyprus I imagined what the island would be like if there was a cross-island railway.
• This Italian region will pay for your train ticket to visit
Friuli Venezia Giulia in northern Italy is offering to refund visitors who visit the region by train, and the offer is valid from now until May 31 2023.
• A luxurious train journey to the world's largest Buddhist temple
• Victoria's ghost railway stations, culled for low patronage, a drawcard for explorers
✈️ Air travel
• Couchfish: The Petro-bourgeoisie
“Some thoughts on flying, carbon and tourism boards.”
• Your chance to win a prize, just for sitting in the middle
I got this offer sent to me from Virgin Australia. I would probably take more points over a chance to win something.
• Amsterdam Schiphol’s painful descent to become one of the most feared European airports
What a bummer. I used to love going to Schiphol with its train station under the airport and normal ticket prices to go with it.
• Volaris sends all-female crew to take delivery of its 115th aircraft
• Everglades Jetport: The 'world's greatest airport' that never was
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