Where I’m At: May, 2018 – Saigon edition
A weekly newsletter of great travel reads and news by James Clark from Nomadic Notes.
Where I’m At: May, 2018 – Saigon edition
Greetings from Saigon and another edition of Where I’m At; a monthly update of what I’ve been up to and general site news.
Where I’ve Been
Melbourne
After transiting through Kuala Lumpur I started the month in Melbourne, my old home city. In case you didn’t already know, Melbourne is one cool city. If I hadn’t already spent a large proportion of my life living here I would consider living here for a while. For now though I am sated with a yearly visit.
My trip is timed to be there in Autumn, though I missed the leaves turning by a few weeks so next year it will be a bit later.
Here are all the things I noticed on my annual visit – 2018 Edition.
Castlemaine
Something that’s on my mind when I visit Melbourne every year is that I need to make time to see more of my homeland. Last year I flew back to Melbourne from Bali, via Darwin. I still haven’t been to Tasmania, and I’ve only been to Perth so it doesn’t feel right to say I’ve been to Western Australia. In Victoria there is lots to see, and I had the chance to visit Castlemaine which is a short train trip from Melbourne. More travel in the Goldfields region will be next.
Here is my full trip report: Castlemaine – the gold-rush era city in the goldfields region of Victoria
Saigon
After my visit to Australia I returned to my current home base. My plan was to do some travel in Vietnam but time and work got away from me. As with my “do more travel in Australia” resolution, I also need to do more travel in Vietnam. It’s a comfortable home base here and when I get into a rhythm I’m not in a hurry to leave. I did book nine new flights for the coming months though, so more travels are coming up in the next few months.
As always I make the most of my time in Saigon. I like wandering around far-flung districts, looking for new cafes and places to eat. I’ve been using construction projects as a target to visit an area, and then go exploring from there.
April 30 is Independence Day in Vietnam, and in the week before the holiday you start seeing the propaganda posters going up.
It’s a double holiday as May Day is the next day, and this year they fell on a Monday and Tuesday, so it was an extra long weekend holiday. If you haven’t already left then I would advise against travel as the roads and airports are busier than usual. The streets were deserted over the holiday which makes for a surreal site to see the streets so quiet.
Nomadic Notes Around The Web
10 reasons you need to drop it all and work while travelling
I was interviewed on the Red Bull blog along with best-selling author Chris Guillebeau and travel journalist Anna Hart.
Saigoneer Podcast: Unique Hobbies, Mental Health and Nomadic Notes
I joined the Saigoneer podcast to talk about heritage architecture in Southeast Asia and transportation projects.
Travel Reads
Inside the Controversial World of Slum Tourism
“People have toured the world’s most marginalized, impoverished districts for over a century.”
The Forgotten Remains of Spain's Housing Crisis
“We need to remember these places, what we did here and what we should learn for the future,” says photographer Markel Redondo. “We need to know that these buildings are still there.”
North / South
“Growing up in the United States, Will Nguyen’s knowledge of Vietnamese language and history had come from a firmly South Vietnamese perspective. His research has led him to interrogate the north/south divide in his journey to uncover multiple perspectives and truths.”
How a massive influx of Chinese migrants has changed Myanmar’s second-largest city Mandalay
“The makeover of Mandalay reflects a Chinese footprint across Southeast Asia that has grown alongside Beijing’s economic and military clout.”
Another week, another China in Southeast Asia story.
The Sad Tale Of Berlin Brandenburg Airport
“In 2006 the German government announced the commencement of construction of a new airport to replace Tegel, named Willy Brandt Berlin Brandenburg Airport. When construction commenced the opening date was tentatively set for October 2011. This airport is still yet to open more than 6 years after this date.”
No schadenfreude from me, as I am deeply embarrassed for Berlin and the reputation of efficient Germany.
DPM Teo Chee Hean hopped on a train & travelled Central Asia’s Silk Road route over 2 weeks
Teo Chee Hean, a Singaporean minister, “spent the last two weeks on an epic train ride through Central Asia’s Silk Road route — traipsing through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and ending 320km from the Chinese border.”
A refreshing story of a government minister doing some real-world travel.
Kyoto has many things to celebrate, but losing its trams isn't one of them
“In the 1970s, both Kyoto and Melbourne made fateful decisions about their transport networks. Melbourne today enjoys the benefits of trams, while Kyoto lives with the consequences of losing them.”
Jacinda Ardern asks why New Zealand is left off world maps in new tourism campaign
“Video shows the prime minister and NZ comedian Rhys Darby questioning why the nation has been omitted from so many maps.”
I have Kiwi friends who have been saying this for years, so seeing the NZ PM make a joke about it is wonderful.
Photography
The Horrors Of Tokyo Rush Hour Commute Captured By Michael Wolf
“Tokyo-based German photographer Michael Wolf invites you to take a look at the Japanese capital through the eyes of the city’s daily commuter.”
How’s your commute?
Southeast Asia Railways
Cambodia reinstates Sisophon – Battambang railway
“The reopening of a further 69 km of main line railway was celebrated on April 29 when an inaugural train ran from Sisophon to Battambang.”
Work is continuing on the track that will eventually connect Bangkok to Phnom Penh.
Longest bridge in China-Laos railway project under construction
“Nam Khone super major bridge is the longest bridge in the China-Laos railway project, with a length of about 7506 metres.”
This bridge (or elevated railway) is near Vientiane,
Instagram
The evening light in Saigon.
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