Travelfish #511: The Islands You May Not Have Heard Of Edition

This week I’m leading with a super-interesting piece on Thailand’s slowly vanishing beaches, and the sometimes bone-headed approaches taken to arrest the loss. This week I’m leading with a super-interesting piece on Thailand’s slowly vanishing beaches, and the sometimes bone-headed approaches taken to arrest the loss. It should come as no surprise the issue is more complicated than you might think, with many different parties with many different opinions on what should be done. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Return to the Travelfish homepage](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/_JgB0Ln-5L9zeeHXPwRfjf_5uDU=366) [alt_text] [Travelfish #511: The Islands You May Not Have Heard Of Edition](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F511/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/6XdibyCMfhrSsp3hBxsr-zSzrfw=366) Published: 25th March, 2024 Hi all, This week I’m leading with a super-interesting piece on Thailand’s slowly vanishing beaches, and the sometimes bone-headed approaches taken to arrest the loss. It should come as no surprise the issue is more complicated than you might think, with many different parties with many different opinions on what should be done. Over on Couchfish, I published two pieces — one for free subscribers considering some steps governments could take [to better understand who is visiting and why](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-visas-who-are-you-again/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/lZfDoA2PP2kou-S7ky_5VEiHk_s=366), and then a piece for paid subscribers on one of Lombok’s many [“secret islands.”](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-lombok-secret-islands/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/I-fk9MW7bqB1UaogHAvB_lAHPG8=366) As I’ve got a few more Lombok island pieces on the way, this week’s theme is on them, sort of. See you next week. Stuart [[READ ONLINE](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F511/2/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/sngEFnvG8NUkXlEo21-j9Gv7u4s=366)] [[UNSUBSCRIBE]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This week’s sponsor [Ling Monkey.](%2F%2Fling-app.com%2F%3Freferrer=travelfish%26data1=tfnewsletter%26data2=blurb/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/MCsVxp6DnNzh_2PxMFk4t705T6M=366) [Ad: This week’s newsletter is supported by Ling. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fling-app.com%2F%3Freferrer=travelfish%26data1=tfnewsletter%26data2=blurb/2/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/FIUJnbzARA8gPq8AiEKUgfTLOqU=366) --------------------------------------------------------------- Two boats? Ruined. [Nothing stays secret forever.] Nothing stays secret forever. Photo: Stuart McDonald. --------------------------------------------------------------- ⭐️ Story of the week - [Changing Sand For Concrete: Will Thailand’s Gamble On Coastal Erosion Pay Off?](%2F%2Fhardstories.org%2Fstories%2Fenvironmental-justice%2Fwhy-thailands-beaches-are-being-replaced-with-concrete/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/srjT7VM8Pyh3rcxjNrMeQNK22h0=366) from Hard Stories 📚 What I’m reading - [Filterworld](%2F%2Fwww.kylechayka.com%2Ffilterworld/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/NqiVsGVeQe7xdmQ5C1GBHwqMrYI=366) by Kyle Chayka 🇲🇲 Burma - [Myanmar’s Failed Auction Of Suu Kyi's Home Creates Conundrum](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FSpotlight%2FMyanmar-Crisis%2FMyanmar-s-failed-auction-of-Suu-Kyi-s-home-creates-conundrum/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/e0dzB9zZgCrDnryAqT_Z8U4ho38=366) from NikkeiAsia ($) 🇰🇭 Cambodia - [In War-Torn Cambodia, The Golf Course Was A No Fire Zone](%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fbeyond-the-scoreboard%2Fin-war-torn-cambodia-the-golf-course-was-a-no-fire-zone-5986090c039d/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/QTd6AD3ir7fFg5M5SKpiwnCdRzs=366) from Beyond The Scoreboard - [Astonishing ‘Explosion Of Life’ Coral Spawning In Cambodia Stuns Scientists](%2F%2Fwww.discoverwildlife.com%2Fnews%2Fcoral-reef-spawning-in-cambodia/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/IXP6VcA65GpN7YZUS0Wm5UAc1H8=366) from Discover Wildlife - [10,000 Witness Spring Equinox Sunrise At Angkor Wat](%2F%2Fwww.khmertimeskh.com%2F501460350%2F10000-witness-spring-equinox-sunrise-at-angkor-wat%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/jY30qYY_NtZ63O5lNuasI8ymgVM=366) from Khmer Times - [Cambodian Prime Minister Bans Musical Vehicle Horns To Deter Dancing](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2024%2Fmar%2F19%2Fcambodian-prime-minister-hun-manet-bans-musical-vehicle-horns-to-deter-dancing/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/PcGebUngmhkgyYVU0dsb6oHqcQE=366) from The Guardian --------------------------------------------------------------- Did you order a beach view? [Salad hut.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/mfvXCNltWz1U2_S9TM05b52D9ww=366) [Ad: Salad Hut on Ko Pha Ngan’s beautiful west coast, from US$118 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/2/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/vAjb4gL6n4V2s1An_wWVrOlJy_0=366) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌴 Environment - [‘Tourists Ask A Lot Of Questions’: Great Barrier Reef Guides Face Up To Bleaching Tragedy](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2024%2Fmar%2F23%2Fgreat-barrier-reef-coral-bleaching-tourism-impact/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/RGwSq_4ZAsF_d_Ou0f-A_XeJjbs=366) from The Guardian - [What If Protecting Coral Reefs Means Growing Them On Land?](%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Fvideo%2Fcoral-vita-reefs-land-farm-bahamas-restoring/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/gyAwk-wU9Oy8lRoWfKPRvTMjjUQ=366) from Mashable - [The Water Is Eating The Island](%2F%2Fhakaimagazine.com%2Fvideos-visuals%2Fthe-water-is-eating-the-island%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/ptzWcjEoWnEebJlsUMunvzm5fdk=366) from Hakai - [Coffee’s In Danger: Can Vietnam’s Robusta Save It From Climate Change?](%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Ffeatures%2F2024%2F3%2F17%2Fas-climate-change-threatens-arabica-beans-can-quality-robusta-save-coffee/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/ysu3l_hcB0NdOomPf79edWsQOds=366) from Aljazeera - [Culture Of Harassment Persists For Women In Southeast Asia’s Conservation Space](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F03%2Fculture-of-harassment-persists-for-women-in-southeast-asias-conservation-space%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/oH9dBcAddARbpSJAyS0akAS5H_4=366) from Mongabay - [How Asia’s Development Push Is Driving Migratory Birds To Extinction](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fcomment%2Fasia-opinion%2Farticle%2F3255954%2Fhow-asias-development-push-driving-migratory-birds-extinction/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/nDuAUMSxCe2UdnDZJUPRhq954Q0=366) from SCMP ($) - [How Google Is Empowering Sustainable Travel Choices Through Technology And Collaboration](%2F%2Fgreen.simpliflying.com%2Fp%2Fsebnem-erzan-travel-sustainability-google/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/aP6jHc3PpgAVG7d5resK51L0tcA=366) from Sustainability In The Air (Podcast) 🇮🇩 Indonesia - [Suspended Between Life And Death](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Flombokdiaries%2Fp%2Fsuspended-between-life-and-death%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/d0Lu9pWK4YAL2vOH9ar-4WblU1I=366) from The Lombok Diaries - [Indonesian Artists Seek To Amplify Southeast Asian Aesthetics At Art Dubai](%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnode%2F2468846%2Fworld/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/jR45gaY5GLYWP4L41dCrpCzhDJY=366) from Arab News - [Project Stop 2023 Impact](%2F%2Fwww.stopoceanplastics.com%2Fen_gb%2Fproject-stop-2023-impact%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/FwwbSpuEt3m-WW3GPmrn7BtyBvM=366) from Stop Waste Go Circular - [Indonesia Village Grapples With Trash Brought In By Tides](%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2Fworld%2F2761118%2Findonesia-fishing-village-grapples-with-piles-of-trash-brought-in-by-tides/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/BubsBUIBfRrPkVh0azw8a5VT7Dw=366) from Bangkok Post - [Indonesia’s Problem Of ‘Proper’ Masculinity](%2F%2Fwww.newmandala.org%2Findonesias-problem-of-proper-masculinity%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/_q1M-A796VwBm5wK-1lCJj-oEJs=366) from New Mandala - [In Raja Ampat, Pearl Farming Balances Business And Ecological Sustainability](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F03%2Fpearl-farming-raja-ampat-indonesia-marine-fisheries-pacific-business-sustainability%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/mi_qtjQ4mXo3uKf2xc4FkOUKNso=366) from Mongabay - [Indonesia’s E-bike Shops Are Building Their Own Batteries](%2F%2Frestofworld.org%2F2024%2Fhomemade-ebike-battery-indonesia%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/H0u_Fodbpzc9y-MFjm69UXWQCtI=366) from Rest Of World 🇱🇦 Laos - [Sixteen Bear Cubs Rescued From Home In Laos](%2F%2Fwww.msn.com%2Fen-us%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fsixteen-bear-cubs-rescued-from-home-in-laos%2Far-BB1kqzA6/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/g0PlW9OSYcKlHlMNor75GJYleY8=366) from AFP - [Houaphan Authorities Investigate Chemical Leak From Mining Company](%2F%2Flaotiantimes.com%2F2024%2F03%2F22%2Fhouaphan-authorities-investigate-chemical-leak-from-mining-company%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/WMQF3uLhuC95pCczZDfDP4-KDw4=366) from The Laotian Times 🇲🇾 Malaysia - [New Blow For Commonwealth Games As Malaysia Rejects Offer To Host In 2026](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsport%2F2024%2Fmar%2F22%2Fcommonwealth-games-2026-malaysia-rejects-offer-to-host/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/xfY3D3dniMMODqntrsz_z0xfK_w=366) from The Guardian - [Malaysia Drops Controversial Citizenship Plan After Backlash: ‘Abhorrent And Regressive’](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fnews%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Farticle%2F3256401%2Fmalaysia-drops-controversial-citizenship-plan-after-backlash-abhorrent-and-regressive/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/WRuNPSbMf4NbQ0pkO-Ue3CL-8J8=366) from SCMP ($) 🇸🇬 Singapore - [To Hell With Ang Bao Market Rate Guides](%2F%2Fwww.ricemedia.co%2Fto-hell-with-the-ang-bao-market-rate-guides%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/uZsE1PIBhimIH31SO8j-CTGyZKw=366) from Rice Media - [In Defence Of Expensive, Unnecessarily Quirky Ramadan Bazaar Food](%2F%2Fwww.ricemedia.co%2Fin-defence-of-expensive-ramadan-bazaar-food%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/TPAHWnqdivzJ9G_2UPdjOC0nriY=366) from Rice Media - [Singapore Starts QR Code Clearance At Busy Crossing To Malaysia](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FEconomy%2FSingapore-starts-QR-code-clearance-at-busy-crossing-to-Malaysia/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/-W0n4tAbQjwpnv_jjJLMn0FdEJU=366) from Nikkei Asia 🇹🇭 Thailand - [How To Spend The Ultimate Holiday In Bangkok](%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ftravel%2Fdestinations%2Fasia%2Fthailand%2Fbangkok%2Farticles%2Fbangkok-travel-guide%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/-zs8IDjp_Yh1UfPasV_oI7wk62E=366) from The Telegraph ($) - [‘The White Lotus’ Thailand Is Next. These Hotels Do It On A Budget.](%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Ftravel%2Ftips%2Fwhite-lotus-season-3-thailand-hotel%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/RZ3CJ4FRoEase2-vkFFrwqTo12o=366) from The Washington Post ($) - [Compensation Set As Monkey Attacks Climb In Lop Buri](%2F%2Fwww.thephuketnews.com%2Fcompensation-set-as-monkey-attacks-climb-in-lop-buri-91718.php/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/65R4mLt74kB_MCTxdosqc0wf5OA=366) from The Phuket News --------------------------------------------------------------- Looking for somewhere special in Penang? [Ad: Campbell House in Georgetown, Penang from US$72 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcampbellhouse/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/SYzb51NKV_Tlpwo3otQdVvFASyg=366) [Ad: Campbell House in Georgetown, Penang from US$72 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcampbellhouse/2/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/Q46G6F46IEAwx58Irb2tCljNEyA=366) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🇻🇳 Vietnam - [An American Who Has Helped Clear 815,000 Bombs From Vietnam](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F03%2F15%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fvietnam-demining-chuck-searcy.html/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/2OywFgKa2BATFtXOKVuxiYZ-3h4=366) from The New York Times ($) - [Tourists Turn Away As Ha Long Bay Full Of Plastic Waste](%2F%2Fe.vnexpress.net%2Fnews%2Fplaces%2Ftourists-turn-away-as-ha-long-bay-full-of-plastic-waste-4725414.html/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/nvMNQNWTrPCYr5g9vu1iE7-YOw4=366) from Vietnam Express - [5 Hideaway Bars In Saigon](%2F%2Fwww.vietnamcoracle.com%2F5-hideaway-bars-in-saigon%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/OjSSXBq3r62UvW-HJQX8Rp44g18=366) from Vietnam Coracle - [On A Boat Ride Through Nhiêu Lộc Canal, A Fish’s-Eye View Of Saigon](%2F%2Fsaigoneer.com%2Fin-plain-sight%2F26876-on-a-boat-ride-through-nhi%25C3%25AAu-l%25E1%25BB%2599c-canal,-a-fish-s-eye-view-of-saigon/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/BonWBifZBcpZ3qyS92SjtA-DVKo=366) from Saigoneer - [Poor Air Quality, Humidity Driving Residents To Flee Hanoi](%2F%2Fe.vnexpress.net%2Fnews%2Ftrend%2Fpoor-air-quality-humidity-driving-residents-to-flee-hanoi-4723663.html/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/-cLllXEuJsrHSWs95ixixxh8mRk=366) from Vietnam Express - [What Exactly Happened To Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong?](%2F%2Fwww.rfa.org%2Fenglish%2Fcommentaries%2Fvietnam-politics-03222024150312.html/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/lAZzup9A1ytjfFRmAyx-wIq5usI=366) from RFA Random other stuff - [The Tour Groups Empowering Muslim Women Travelers—and Fostering Community](%2F%2Fwww.cntraveler.com%2Fstory%2Fthe-tour-operators-empowering-muslim-women-travelers/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/53KO8WSinJd2tlX3Avte87aGaS8=366) from Condé Nast Traveler - [Hawaii Is Rethinking Tourism. Here’s What That Means For You](%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2F2021-12-30%2Fhawaii-is-rethinking-tourism-here-s-what-that-means-for-you/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/6AzN3v2SOeZIjJHXzVI8n6pjvsw=366) from Bloomberg - [‘Quiet Luxury’ Was Once All About Fashion — But Now It Describes How The Top 1% Travel Too](%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2024%2F03%2F22%2Fquiet-luxury-vacations-where-and-how-the-wealthy-travel-is-changing-.html/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/PMkCU8XtkNRozvPiI_NnN6BQGYk=366) from CNBC - [Have We Reached Peak AI?](%2F%2Fwww.wheresyoured.at%2Fpeakai%2F/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/f-SWg_189zr_2BiavqFBPX-Q9d0=366) from Where's Your Ed At - [It’s Complicated: The Uneasy Relationship Between OTAs And Tour & Activity Operators — Five Key Perspectives](%2F%2Fwww.travelmassive.com%2Fposts%2Fits-complicated-the-uneasy-relationship-between-otas-and-tour-activity-operators-588198153/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/mt1ICvoJhe99c1APu9w3lXHZ8wk=366) from Travel Massive - [Hidden Cameras: What Travelers Need To Know](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F03%2F21%2Ftravel%2Fhidden-cameras-airbnb-hotel.html/1/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/ppuV2LsySn-zGpmfV7d1pf_iK3w=366) from The New York Times ($) But what is out of shot? [This is more like it.] This is more like it. Photo: Stuart McDonald. --------------------------------------------------------------- So that’s the wrap. I hope you are all in good health, and thanks for reading. Cheers! Stuart --------------------------------------------------------------- If you’d like to view this newsletter online, you can [do so here](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F511/3/0100018e7423eb23-cac5d979-0541-4031-995a-88c9eac89cc2-000000/oENT1ednz5K8qS59KtTfcuRgrnI=366). This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you are subscribed to the Travelfish newsletter. If you no longer want to receive these emails, [you can unsubscribe at any time here](. Travelfish.org Bali, Indonesia & Sydney, Australia Copyright ©️ 2024 Travelfish.org. All rights reserved.