Travelfish #514: The History Matters Edition

This week I’m leading with a great video and story on Bali and tourism. It’s probably one of the best videos I’ve seen on the topic, and if you’re interested in the island, it is well worth a watch. This week I’m leading with a great video and story on Bali and tourism. It’s probably one of the best videos I’ve seen on the topic, and if you’re interested in the island, it is well worth a watch. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Return to the Travelfish homepage](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/xHOOHWf_0K9bPNJchhScjDFvfXM=369) [alt_text] [Travelfish #514: The History Matters Edition](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F514/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/olKN4fbLdz90U9e2a4VrpZtuix0=369) Published: 16th April, 2024 Hi all, This week I’m leading with a terrific story + video looking at Bali and tourism. It is far from the usual “here are some tourists doing dumb/offensive stuff in Bali” style piece and instead takes a deeper look at the history of the island and underlying challenges it faces. If you’re interested in Bali, the video is definitely worth 45 minutes of your time to watch. The video also gives the newsletter its theme—history matters. To illustrate a tiny slice of history in the context of the above video, I took two screenshots from Google Maps of the road outside where I live in Bali. In the early photo, if you know where to look, you can see my roof—it’s near the big tree at the end of the road (our house was built in 2000 if I remember correctly, when the landlord subdivided the block that had his house on it). Over the span of not even a decade, you can see the rice fields vanish—as they continue to do right across the southern reaches of the island. The speed of change further west, around Seseh and Pererenan, has been even faster—it is absolutely staggering. Over on Couchfish, I published two pieces. The first, [Couchfish: A Line On A Map](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-ai-trip-planning/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/jCKnLhiDhwobNLlBbh8QpoBTawk=369), is a bit of a deep dive into trying to use AI to build an itinerary for a trip to Sumbawa—spoiler, it didn’t do much of a job. For paid subscribers, I had [That’ll Teach Me To Open Google Maps](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-mekaki/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/INZEvd8dVt5_zzjX2G6SzeT8f6s=369) looking at a beautiful beach that looks to be finally falling to the developers. Lastly, You might notice there’s a plug this week [for two yoga retreats](%2F%2Fsamsyogaletter.substack.com%2Fp%2Fjiwa-to-jeda-retreat/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/N3rvvYZoIQ5o2I4ZFu4HAFYKekQ=369) in Pemuteran, West Bali, Indonesia. The retreats are being led by Sam (that would perhaps be Ms Travelfish to you), and the price is great, the location greater, and the teachers are greater still! No, I am not biased at all. If you’re interested, please do get in touch fast—and be sure to do some diving between your downward facing dogs—Eel Point near Menjangan Island is a fabulous dive site. See you next week. Stuart [[READ ONLINE](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F514/2/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/vYbGR9whnAet3JxrWLuyFeIY05U=369)] [[UNSUBSCRIBE]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Retreat And Recharge [Time to relax](%2F%2Fsamsyogaletter.substack.com%2Fp%2Fjiwa-to-jeda-retreat/2/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/fm6_V7Pg4tUl39lmIGiYqPMUiqU=369) [Ad: Join us for 3 days & nights of Bikram + Yin Yoga in Pemuteran, Bali, Indonesia. May 10-13 & Sep 19-22. 4.8m rupiah per person twin share.](%2F%2Fsamsyogaletter.substack.com%2Fp%2Fjiwa-to-jeda-retreat/3/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/KWLpQexIL_xEG6eXrZqcQ7DMzGk=369) --------------------------------------------------------------- June 2013 [The grey roof at the end of the road is the first stage of Nook, a cafe that kicked it all off.] The grey roof at the end of the road is the first stage of Nook, a cafe that kicked it all off. Photo: Stuart McDonald. --------------------------------------------------------------- ⭐️ Story of the week - [Not Quite The Bali It Used To Be? This Is What Overtourism Is Doing To The Island](%2F%2Fwww.channelnewsasia.com%2Fcna-insider%2Fovertourism-bali-paradise-lost-canggu-world-heritage-site-culture-4260606/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/xUGC5FNj0c7o_K0UDufkkNFyZfg=369) from CNA (Story + video) 📚 What I’m reading - [Filterworld](%2F%2Fwww.kylechayka.com%2Ffilterworld/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/i7EEVishvIMrV7D8in1p6zFvRy0=369) by Kyle Chayka 🇲🇲 Burma - [‘Really Puzzling’: Myanmar’s Uranium Mystery](%2F%2Fwww.frontiermyanmar.net%2Fen%2Freally-puzzling-myanmars-uranium-mystery%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/GU9AT0x42pR-uQb57kYq-NDIz08=369) from Frontier Myanmar ($) - [‘A Living Death’: Camp Conditions Push Rohingya To The High Seas](%2F%2Fwww.frontiermyanmar.net%2Fen%2Fa-living-death-camp-conditions-push-rohingya-to-the-high-seas%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/JiaJ-zWgSSCwpCqwS60gWPzUz2k=369) from Frontier Myanmar ($) 🇰🇭 Cambodia - [Industry Divided Over Offering Lifetime Cambodia Tourist Visas](%2F%2Fwww.khmertimeskh.com%2F501466071%2Findustry-divided-over-offering-lifetime-tourist-visas%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/SxowHFyNgIjMJSSxmo8R-j6KD7E=369) from Khmer Times - [Cambodia’s Hun Sen Hits Back At Criticism About Funan Techo Canal](%2F%2Fwww.rfa.org%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Fcambodia%2Fcambodia-canal-04112024035247.html/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/FT-fAIATYT8hwF13BPOjyAMqbrQ=369) from RFA - [‘We Found 700 Different Species’: Astonishing Array Of Wildlife Discovered In Cambodia Mangroves](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2024%2Fapr%2F14%2Fcambodia-mangroves-wildlife-diversity/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/uUm2xL5KrxvexHW25MCWHkOFLlI=369) from The Guardian - [Pros And Cons Of A Visit To Phnom Penh: Colonial Buildings And Khmer Relics, But Crime And Harrowing Reminders Of Past](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fmagazines%2Fpost-magazine%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2F3257807%2Fpros-and-cons-visit-phnom-penh-colonial-buildings-and-khmer-relics-crime-and-harrowing-reminders/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/T-jrrQDASPkfy5iEcvpg-ET1RVE=369) from SCMP ($) --------------------------------------------------------------- Did you order a beach view? [Salad hut.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/1kzbYUkdSChJVLeuV2sZWHmRWFg=369) [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/2/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/KT5nFv9zRyi8eP_1FzTEeJKkibg=369) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌴 Environment - [Searing Heat Is Back Across Southeast Asia And It’s Not Going Away Anytime Soon](%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2024%2F04%2F10%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia-extreme-heat-climate-intl-hnk%2Findex.html/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/W9AIPFFWeqtlieRordgRFuYR2Ng=369) from CNN - [Elephant Tourism Often Involves Cruelty – Here Are Steps Toward More Humane, Animal-Friendly Excursions](%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Felephant-tourism-often-involves-cruelty-here-are-steps-toward-more-humane-animal-friendly-excursions-219792/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/EHNFJNWfAykRhYitY3ePxwv0WLY=369) from The Conversation - [Are Emissions From Global Air Transport Significantly Underestimated?](%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1080%2F13683500.2024.2337281/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/zZfT1sO8tGuVnu6GcdCtOQiQ9Ms=369) from Current Issues In Tourism - [Climate Change’s Greatest Victims Are Women And Girls](%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org%2Frosa%2Fblog%2Fclimate-changes-greatest-victims-are-women-and-girls/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/htWuagTMoWeQRirfBnoX_glBorQ=369) from UNICEF - [India’s Electric Rickshaws Are Leaving Evs In The Dust](%2F%2Frestofworld.org%2F2024%2Fe-rickshaw-yc-electric-india%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/aIv3EZvrQ6FR2Qj41H9mocZDcQQ=369) from Rest Of World - [On The Trail Of Borneo’s Bay Cat, One Of The World’s Most Mysterious Felines](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F04%2Fon-the-trail-of-borneos-bay-cat-one-of-the-worlds-most-mysterious-felines%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/a2_qPVskTNbuUwRsoshJWmOHoD0=369) from Monga Bay - [Cheap Coal, Cheap Workers, Chinese Money: Indonesia’s Nickel Success Comes At A Price](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2024%2Fapr%2F11%2Fcheap-coal-cheap-workers-chinese-money-indonesias-nickel-success-comes-at-a-price/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/-WgD-DToo9c5rqu0JY37zKVItvA=369) from The Guardian 🇮🇩 Indonesia - [Indonesia Aims For Tighter Curbs On Import Practice Known As “Jastip”](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FBusiness%2FBusiness-trends%2FIndonesia-aims-for-tighter-curbs-on-import-practice-known-as-jastip/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/39arEhyr-7bKAZ7QPDDNuSRcLJI=369) from NikkeiAsia ($) - [Indonesians Call For Climate Action Through Music](%2F%2Fwww.insideindonesia.org%2Farchive%2Farticles%2Findonesians-call-for-climate-action-through-music/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/h7YGIh3iArNUAczf3_seg-w1bLk=369) from Inside Indonesia - [‘Taste Of Indonesia,’ Rendang, Reigns Supreme On Eid Al-Fitr](%2F%2Fwww.arabnews.com%2Fnode%2F2490946%2Fworld/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/ja6YrD26mKODqAvdxKdFWO7ed-Y=369) from Arab News - [Rewilding Program Ships Eggs Around The World To Restore Raja Ampat Zebra Sharks](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F04%2Frewilding-program-ships-eggs-around-the-world-to-restore-raja-ampat-zebra-sharks%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/HJOsydN_-pgt6aO8BikXHZZAWYQ=369) from Mongabay 🇱🇦 Laos - [The Land-Locked Thinking Of Laotians](%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2024%2F04%2Fthe-land-locked-thinking-of-laotians%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/colD3oLp8VxNZznK7qZl8UcoE1A=369) from The Diplomat 🇲🇾 Malaysia - [Malaysia’s Sabah Water Crisis: Don’t Blame The Weather, Time For Politicians To Live Up To Promises](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fweek-asia%2Fopinion%2Farticle%2F3258643%2Fmalaysias-sabah-water-crisis-dont-blame-weather-time-politicians-live-promises/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/4_yZ8phEFFKUNtBY5g20h79_rf4=369) from SCMP ($) - [The Hidden Potential For Bamboo As A Sustainable Construction Material, According To An Impact Entrepreneur](%2F%2Fwww.tatlerasia.com%2Fgen-t%2Fleadership%2Fwhat-is-hidden-potential-for-bamboo-as-a-sustainable-construction-material/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/3msyq-lWTTHCxfJJ1RqWfPBTtkE=369) from Tatler Asia - [Malaysian Firm Removes Shoes From Sale Over Religious Complaints](%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2024%2F04%2Fmalaysian-firm-removes-shoes-from-sale-over-religious-complaints%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/a0ifOG02KI7ZpXgX3_IHenHE15o=369) from The Diplomat - [How Food Crosses Malaysia’s Ethno-Religious Boundaries](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FEditor-s-Picks%2FTea-Leaves%2FHow-food-crosses-Malaysia-s-ethno-religious-boundaries/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/fiJrpFjDFfZutdPw03g0tfNksEU=369) from Nikkei Asia ($) 🇸🇬 Singapore - [Going Wong After A Loong Time](%2F%2Fwww.wethecitizens.net%2Fhere-comes-the-wong-administration%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/ea22KYcZVPg-wnK2LeDNttkx_rE=369) from We, The Citizens - [In Memoriam: Our Makan Places Lost To Time](%2F%2Fwww.ricemedia.co%2Fin-memoriam-our-makan-places-food-singapore%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/bRFyCn2InGWXtZBfC6rkQFANXhI=369) from Rice Media - [Bamboo Bats, Coral Reefs And The Country’s Only Village – Discovering The Wild Side Of Singapore](%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Ftravel%2Fasia%2Fsingapore%2Fsingapore-holiday-islands-pulau-ubin-lazarus-b2513440.html/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/QUvHYWzPEI4Sz_Hjpsfr9yMBGX8=369) from The Independent 🇹🇭 Thailand - [Three Days Away: Bangkok Pt.2](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fthekateadventure%2Fp%2Fthree-days-away-bangkok-pt2%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/OSocSHE9Ii-La4NEhtfO1f3Uut0=369) from Around The World In 80 Scrapes ($) - [The Heart Of Thailand's Coconut Culture](%2F%2Fwww.koktailmagazine.com%2Fcontent-detail%2FCoconut%2BCulture/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/5nf830n7KYt5R-Wq1Qywxyv55R8=369) from Koktail - [‘A New Era Of Slaves’: Thailand’s Plan To Loosen Fisheries Laws Renews Fears Of Illegal Fishing, Forced Labour](%2F%2Fwww.channelnewsasia.com%2Fasia%2Fthailand-fisheries-law-illegal-iuu-fishing-forced-labour-4261446/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/OQkiCKf5Wguc4z7ZuV5Z_eZcpr4=369) from CNA - [Thailand’s Extended Songkran Festival Sees Millions Celebrate](%2F%2Fwww.voanews.com%2Fa%2Fthailand-s-extended-songkran-festival-sees-millions-celebrate%2F7569611.html/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/w2p8FqnNvcZ9NqEKLkb3078k0uw=369) from VOA News - [Can An AI Travel Planner Put Together A Holiday Itinerary For Bangkok?](%2F%2Fwww.straitstimes.com%2Flife%2Fcan-an-ai-travel-planner-put-together-a-holiday-itinerary-for-bangkok/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/u7z0BiRa_JHUBiOSydjzkFISi-Q=369) from The Straits Times --------------------------------------------------------------- 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/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/Ke5u-D4qSBPw0qrP4jttwP_CSME=369) [Ad: Campbell House in Georgetown, Penang from US$72 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcampbellhouse/2/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/kz4YhUKrSMJ-tqjHztXD5ESG8v4=369) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🇻🇳 Vietnam - [Thailand: Court Ruling Could Subvert Democratic Rule](%2F%2Fwww.hrw.org%2Fnews%2F2024%2F04%2F10%2Fthailand-court-ruling-could-subvert-democratic-rule/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/3vz__23NTjuxaJ0EbePZBd71A4k=369) from Human Rights Watch - [12th-Century Ancient Road Unearthed At My Son Sanctuary](%2F%2Fen.vietnamplus.vn%2F12thcentury-ancient-road-unearthed-at-my-son-sanctuary%2F284219.vnp/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/RBpBqde6A-HozTyETeL243-mQhU=369) from Vietnam+ - [Death For Trương Mỹ Lan](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fvietnamweekly%2Fp%2Fmass-metro-confusion%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/egK7TQbimdRc6mF8ch_xjoy7YMM=369) from Vietnam Weekly Random other stuff - [Traveling At The Speed Of The Soul](%2F%2Fwww.noemamag.com%2Ftraveling-at-the-speed-of-the-soul%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/E3qVGGy0ioHwOwpiY-q7HAX1SRI=369) from Noema - [Google On Gemini AI, Trip Planning And Recommending Things To Do](%2F%2Farival.travel%2Farticle%2Fgoogle-on-gemini-ai-and-trip-planning%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/DDSgHCJ_lJvh9mxkjJHYgIMGMg8=369) from Arrival (Video) - [Amid Tourism Surge, Oaxaca Residents Resist ‘Disneylandization’](%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2F2024-04-10%2Fin-oaxaca-some-residents-are-fighting-back-against-gentrification/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/ImJF1n_G0Vhxi_opUEgiJe_LVZ0=369) from Bloomberg - [Stuart From Travelfish Talks How (And How Not) To Help Tourism Recover Sustainably](%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpodcast.com%2Fstuart-from-travelfish-talks-how-and-how-not-to-help-tourism-recover-sustainably-s7e14%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/eIlNNn17D8G6YWhdn0_YtiF2Bz4=369) from Bangkok Podcast (Podcast) - [Airbnb Is Coming For Our Rural Communities. Is That A Good Thing?](%2F%2Fadventure.com%2Fairbnb-expands-rural-communities%2F/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/04dRCuVYjj-kzS8oktSJrXVFIUM=369) from Adventure - [Interview with Valeria Minghetti](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Ftourismshorizon938%2Fp%2Finterview-with-valeria-minghetti%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/DFxYKp9arGXnoLEIZNua8SMmKvg=369) from Tourism’s Horizon August 2022 [The vege patch on left is now a construction site, the rice field on right about to go.] The vege patch on left is now a construction site, the rice field on right about to go. 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%2F514/3/0100018ee6017756-0e87764d-86ad-48bf-96e7-116668f9ef2a-000000/7tO13vGC_tPcofHbG-kxrKvKCYA=369). 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.