Travel Reads - December 1, 2017 Edition
A weekly newsletter of great travel reads and news by James Clark from Nomadic Notes.
Where I’m At: December, 2017 – Hanoi edition
Where I’m At: December, 2017 – Hanoi edition; a monthly update of what I’ve been up to, site news, and where I’m going next.
[Where I’m At; a monthly update of what I’ve been up to, site news, and where I’m going next.]
Greetings from Hanoi! It’s been a month bookended by conferences in two different fields. I average about one conference a year, so two in a month is unusual for me. I try to mix it up by going to a new one every year. It’s a good way to meet new people, and to travel.
Here is where I’ve been over the last month.
Chiang Mai
The month began at Chiang Mai, where I had spent about 2 weeks. I was in Chiang Mai for a conference, which happened to be the same day at Loy Krathong. I didn’t think I needed to see it again, but it was much better than I remembered it to be (and I remembered it to be great). It is a magical to be in Thailand, and particularly in Chiang Mai, so if you are looking to see a special festival then time your travel for Oct/Nov in Thailand.
The last time I went I did the lantern release at the university grounds. If you don’t go to that there is a big congregation of lantern releasers by the river near the Night Bazaar.
Bangkok
Even though I’m writing about trains in Southeast Asia, I didn’t have time to get the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. I had a day in Bangkok on the way back to Saigon. I was there mainly for shopping, and because any chance to hang out in Bangkok should be taken.
Saigon
I spent most of the month back in Saigon, where I was working on a map project for the new Saigon metro.
This month I caught up with Wandering Earl who was visiting Saigon. We were housemates in Playa del Carmen in 2011, and this is now the fourth country we’ve crossed paths in.
[Earl and James in Saigon.]
I first met him in Chiang Mai in 2010 and we realised we have similar travel trajectories. Earl has been on the road since 1999, starting out by working on cruise ships. I started digital nomading in 2003 and – like Earl – I started my life of travel with a non-digital travel job by doing the working holiday visa in the UK in 1999.
Hanoi
I didn’t know I was going to be in Hanoi at the start of the month so it’s a bonus to be here. I’m visiting for the Greater Mekong Subregion Rail Expansion Summit, which is related to my current and proposed railways of Southeast Asia project. The conference features speakers from the rail bodies of the railways of mainland Southeast Asia.
[At the Greater Mekong Subregion Rail Expansion Summit.]
The conference is in West Hanoi, which is a part of Hanoi I’ve never visited. It’s about 10km’s from the old town, yet another world away. It feels more like a modern Chinese city with big straight roads and skyscrapers. The current tallest tower in Vietnam is out here, which I’ve never seen from the old town (even on a clear day).
As I have only stayed in central Hanoi on my previous visits I got to see how bad traffic in Hanoi is. Like Saigon they are also building a new metro system, which is also delayed and over budget.
I got a Grab Bike, which is the Uber of ASEAN. I use this in Saigon and it was so convenient to have this available in Hanoi. It seemed appropriate that I was riding out to this rail conference while seeing the new metro being built and getting stuck in traffic.
[The view of West Hanoi behind the distinctive green Grab helmet.]
Latest posts from Nomadic Notes
An updated map of the future Saigon Metro
A map of the proposed Ho Chi Minh City Metro which is under construction. 6 metro lines, 1 light rail, and 2 monorails will make up this new Saigon transit system.
An updated map of the future Saigon Metro.
Travel Reads
Sorry, But This is What Iran in 2017 is Really Like
“Touring through Iran is not like visiting Disneyland, but it’s definitely safer.”
What Was Backpacking in Southeast Asia Like in the 1970s?
“Journeying on the Roof of Local Buses, Smoking Ganja while Airborne: Fascinating Q&A with Ian Hunt, who Backpacked Southeast Asia in the "Good ‘Ol Days”.“
Baghdad cafe marks 100 years as intellectual hub
“BAGHDAD: Seated at tables with glasses of tea in the heart of Baghdad’s bookshop district, the customers of Shabandar cafe have watched 100 years of Iraq’s tumultuous history pass by.”
A Social Media Guide To Taking Ethical Selfies In Low-Income Countries
“You may think it’s a noble idea to photograph yourself helping poor children in a faraway country. A new campaign has a different perspective.”
17 Amazing Aerial Photos of Animals
“Aerial photographs reveal the beauty of wildlife in their natural habitat.”
A Photo Trip Along the Ancient Silk Road
“A journey along the historic Silk Road, traveling from east to west, from Xi’an, China, to Tyre, Lebanon.”
Mr. Money Mustache, UBER Driver
“Mr. Money Mustache decided to go deep undercover in September 2016, and sign up as a driver for both Uber and Lyft services.”
Airbus partners with Rolls-Royce and Siemens to build an electric airplane
“Battery technology improvements are expected to soon enable electric flight and companies in the field are preparing their powertrain technology to support it.”
Why TripAdvisor can shove their Certificate Of Excellence up their hole
“Apart from the fact that I believe people who leave reviews must be suffering from some form of psychological derangement, here are the reasons why I will never recognise TripAdvisor.”
Paul Allen’s Stratolauncher, the Biggest Airplane Ever, Gets Ready for Takeoff
“Microsoft’s co-founder jumps into the billionaire space race with a plane to launch rockets. It’s not just ego: There’s a lucrative new industry up there.”
Southeast Asia Railways
Battambang's famous bamboo railway
“A farewell to Battambang’s famous bamboo railway in Cambodia.”
China seeks green light to get rolling on Thai ‘train to nowhere’
“Belt and road project has been dogged by delays and mistrust on the Thai side”
Pho on the streets of Hanoi.
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