The last of the old pier guesthouses in Hua Hin
Greetings from Saigon! Here are this weeks best travel and world interest reads from around the web.
~ James
Latest posts from Nomadic Notes
Sirima Guesthouse - the last of the old pier guesthouses in Hua Hin, Thailand
Review of the Sirima Guesthouse in Hua Hin. This guesthouse is on a pier in the old part of Hua Hin, Thailand.
Worldly Reads
The Lunatic Express: how Kenya’s colonial railway compares to new China-built line
“The Victorian-era Nairobi-to-Mombasa line offered a chance to see Kenya at a leisurely, if unreliable, pace.”
Meet the Man Who Has Lived Alone on This Island for 28 Years
“Mauro Morandi’s failing catamaran was carried to Budelli Island nearly three decades ago by chance. He never left.”
Aerial photos of slums of Manila
“German photographer Bernhard Lang set out to capture the overpopulation crisis from above. The images show the residents’ living conditions as they are rarely seen.”
The Ghost Air Force Bases of Greenland
“Bluie East Two has been closed for seven decades—but the remnants of a once-mighty air base remain.”
The Omnipresence of Dust in Kathmandu
“Each time the electricity powers off in Kathmandu, thousands of diesel generators rumble to life, spewing noxious particulate matter, or PM2.5.”
Taiwan is sick and tired of competing as "Chinese Taipei" in global sporting events
“Taiwan is using the name "Chinese Taipei” for the Summer Universiade, despite being the host.“
How India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were formed | India-Pakistan Partition
“This animated map shows how the borders of the Indian subcontinent have evolved since partition.”
The tiny island in New York City that nobody is allowed to visit
“It’s more than just a pile of rocks.”
The rise of luxury pet hotels
“China’s new middle class is increasingly falling for felines and finding comfort in canines.”
How To Travel
How to pack for world travel with just a carry-on bag
Pieter Levels from Nomad List on how he travels with a carry-on only.
How Startups Should Travel
“Managing business travel is tough, especially as you raise money, build out your team and travel more frequently. In this post we explain all of the lessons, tips and tricks we’ve learned managing travel for more than 1,000 companies.”
Electric Bikes
How to turn the Honda Cub into an electric motorcycle
“China is tackling pollution by shifting the market towards electric motorcycles, and the small number of local custom builders are adapting fast.”
Why electric bikes are making France’s Vercors Massif even more fun
“Mountain bikes with batteries may not look hip but they bring wondrous landscapes within reach of many, and this region next to Grenoble is a great place to try them.”
Southeast Asia Railways
News related to future Southeast railways.
East Coast Rail Link: Malaysia touts rail trade route as rival to Singapore
“Malaysia has hailed an upcoming railway linking its east coast to Port Klang on the west coast as an "alternative trade route”, claiming that a projected 53 million tonnes of cargo will bypass Singapore annually by 2030.“
This is one of the biggest new railway announcements of the year, though it is still only an announcement. We will wait to see when shovels hit the ground.
A good morning to be cruising the Saigon River.