Travelfish #503: The Bangkok Bowls Editions

Welcome to the new (and Substack-free) Travelfish newsletter! A big thank you to those who volunteered to take a look at the near final version, much appreciated. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Return to the Travelfish homepage](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/DYL2_jOcOSeobZcYqAFhLxo_Rx4=358) [alt_text] [Travelfish #503: The Bangkok Bowls Editions](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F503/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/57Mq1MBjochOXLJYwgOr4lg1hX4=358) Published: 22nd January, 2024 Hi! Welcome to the new (and Substack-free) Travelfish newsletter! A big thank you to those who volunteered to take a look at the near final version, much appreciated. The newsletter (hopefully) won’t look too different to the old version, the big change is there is no means to “like” or comment on an issue as you could with the old version, but I’m looking at adding that back in down the road. If you have any display problems with this issue, please let me know. Thank you. This week I’m leading with another think piece on travel and where it falls short. If you’re new to some of the conversations around this topic, the piece is a good, easy-to-read primer. In personal news, after booking a flight to the wrong airport, then, after leaving booking a hotel till the last minute and finding my faves all full, booking a fall-back ... for the wrong nights, I’m kinda missing the days where you didn’t book anything. Anyways, I’m in Bangkok for a short spell, even though I’m supposed to be in Laos. Confused? Me too. Anyways, I caught up with David Luekens the other day for a lazy graze through Khao San Road, and it seems a good time to give his [Thai Island Quest newsletter](%2F%2Fthaiislandquest.substack.com%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/MdvER88qjqaYfrFqxHGrkFQprLw=358) a plug—if beaches and islands in Thailand are your thing, his newsletter belongs on your must-read list. Aside from catching up with David, I’ve been busy stuffing face, so Bangkok bowls seemed to be as good a theme as any. See you next week! Stuart [[READ ONLINE](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F503/2/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/sBgSMD-xNvkaz9K-_O_4uWPsgcY=358)] [[UNSUBSCRIBE]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This week’s sponsor [Ling Monkey.](%2F%2Fling-app.com%2F%3Freferrer=travelfish%26data1=tfnewsletter%26data2=blurb/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/R9ACtbsQePlZ-7gT0Z-hmQnNGwg=358) [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/2/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/GiSXr56KN_H_PHRuWNmGYelbxJ8=358) --------------------------------------------------------------- Grazing [Who said you can’t get decent Thai food on Khao San Road?] Who said you can’t get decent Thai food on Khao San Road? Photo: Stuart McDonald. --------------------------------------------------------------- ⭐️ Story of the week - [There Is A Crisis Of Equity In Tourism. So, What Now?](%2F%2Fwww.muchbetteradventures.com%2Fmagazine%2Ftourism-equity-crisis-leakage%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/xCLoOzo0Ki9Vx_ktJVkiATwR7qE=358) from Much Better Adventures 📚 What I’m reading - [Questions Of Travel](%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F15790884-questions-of-travel/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/tWiy0wdMc1rIXSFMESqlG6Ojl1I=358) by Michelle de Kretser 🇲🇲 Burma - [Memories Of Meiktila](%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Ff3c468c656e6%2Fmemories-of-meiktila/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/1iOSII_g0cDnIYbcji8sGxmaSx8=358) from Sampan Travel - [Children With HIV Still Facing Discrimination In Myanmar](%2F%2Fwww.frontiermyanmar.net%2Fen%2Fchildren-with-hiv-still-facing-discrimination-in-myanmar%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/bbq3Ev6ACNZQefenV57UrRDgN5E=358) from Frontier Myanmar ($) 🇰🇭 Cambodia - [Cambodian Tycoon Companies Starting Approval Process For Dam Projects, Documents Say](%2F%2Fwww.voanews.com%2Fa%2Fcambodian-tycoon-companies-starting-approval-process-for-dam-projects-documents-say-%2F7439227.html/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/qh2pWN5bBD2MILa-P-nLUn1vqDM=358) from VOA - [Looking For The Unspoilt Thai Islands Of The 90s? Head To Cambodia](%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ftravel%2Fdestinations%2Fasia%2Fcambodia%2Funspoilt-islands-koh-rong-cambodia%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/wTF8IuiZvkAy1cTUSU-UBzRsMrI=358) from The Telegraph ($) - [Livelihoods Dry Up Due To Pollution In Tonle Sap Lake](%2F%2Fwww.mekongeye.com%2F2024%2F01%2F22%2Fpollution-tonle-sap%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/udjnka5ksOrgDz23W_oICcd1Oro=358) from Mekong Eye - [Industry Hails Angkor 3d Museum Project Prospects](%2F%2Fwww.khmertimeskh.com%2F501426589%2Findustry-hails-angkor-3d-museum-project-prospects%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/2rENYKLKoh7pg044Fch6Ly6PgiU=358) from Khmer Times - [Translating Atrocity At The Khmer Rouge Tribunal](%2F%2Fwww.newmandala.org%2Ftranslating-atrocity-at-the-khmer-rouge-tribunal%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/xsrsgz-8LwkbbBnO2_bIC7a5LBw=358) from New Mandala - [Centuries-old Rituals Are Slowly Fading Away In Cambodia](%2F%2Fwww.ipsnews.net%2F2024%2F01%2Fcenturies-old-rituals-slowly-fading-away-cambodia%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/1q3NWJZ_tVqJB_a3_HgV9y9jywo=358) from Inter Press Service --------------------------------------------------------------- Did you order a beach view? [Salad hut.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Galnyp0RmEiDxweGWDY35Mz6pm4=358) [Ad: Salad Hut on Ko Pha Ngan’s beautiful west coast, from US$118 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/2/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/c1OMp5YLwmEEShKyWPRv1ouEt_I=358) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌴 Environment - [Scientists Say Worse To Come As Himalayan Snow Ceases](%2F%2Fwww.thethirdpole.net%2Fen%2Fclimate%2Fscientists-say-worse-to-come-as-himalayan-snow-ceases%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/l0IWj3TteJkamPD9hppSTU740-g=358) from Hakai - [EU Bans ‘Misleading’ Environmental Claims That Rely On Offsetting](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2024%2Fjan%2F17%2Feu-bans-misleading-environmental-claims-that-rely-on-offsetting/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/SijVcXnVt7IyFXymE1dRqFWVkX4=358) from The Guardian - [The US Environmental Group Behind Palau’s Plan To Shrink Its Massive Marine Sanctuary](%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Ffeatures%2F2024-01-18%2Fthe-environmental-ngo-behind-palau-s-plan-to-shrink-its-ocean-reserve/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/19QmapRP7OdjTt9L_hnCQ96deVQ=358) from Bloomberg ($) 🇮🇩 Indonesia - [Despite Recent Tragedies, Indonesia's Volcano Tourism Continues To Grow In Popularity](%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2024-01-17%2Findonesia-volcano-tourism-growth-despite-tragedy%2F103359318/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/OqULdVy7Ulu7Ui6sw5DwAEvi_mo=358) from ABC - [‘It Gets Your Stomach Churning’: The Team Wading Through Nappies To Clean Up Bali’s Waterways](%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2024%2Fjan%2F17%2Fstomach-churning-team-wading-through-nappies-to-clean-up-bali-waterways/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/WSEIZXY26AWadMokqG_Ul5tssH8=358) from The Guardian 🇱🇦 Laos - [Lao Sex Trafficking Victims Plead For Freedom In Myanmar’s Mongla](%2F%2Fwww.rfa.org%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Flaos%2Fvictims-01222024093321.html/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/lGfwnTwjo_dDv1b6Kst07_fxjiU=358) from RFA 🇲🇾 Malaysia - [Protect Sarawak Natives From The Carbon Conmen And 'Green Energy' Merchants](%2F%2Fwww.sarawakreport.org%2F2024%2F01%2Fprotect-sarawak-natives-from-the-carbon-conmen-and-green-energy-merchants%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/l5FjLRgX5hcdn7QEqyClfxGyABw=358) from Sarawak Report - [How To Make Johor Bahru An International Metropolis Of Southeast Asia](%2F%2Ffuturesoutheastasia.com%2Fhow-to-make-johor-bahru-an-international-metropolis-of-southeast-asia%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/8XD_CsAxiuaIeTWbz6Wv5IdR-ws=358) from Future Southeast Asia - [How Street Art Hunts In Malaysia’s George Town Reveal Penang’s Rich History](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Flifestyle%2Ftravel-leisure%2Farticle%2F3248908%2Fhow-street-art-hunts-malaysias-george-town-reveal-penangs-rich-history/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Lqj_p3CJzeliffpiJhjXEAYaTd0=358) from SCMP ($) 🇸🇬 Singapore - [An Embarrassment Of Riches. Emphasis On “Embarrassment”.](%2F%2Fwww.wethecitizens.net%2Fan-embarrassment-of-riches-emphasis-on-embarrassment%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/-iCokMUJSNRwuAA99sULNGG0Bw8=358) from We, The Citizens - [The Kaleidoscope Of Kinship: An Intimate Look At Singapore’s Diverse Family Make-ups](%2F%2Fwww.ricemedia.co%2Fthe-kaleidoscope-of-family-kinship%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/uk3ExHb1f4P_0NyJOgCunOy9_Wk=358) from Rice Media - [A Warmer Singapore Could Spell Trouble For Its Tourism Industry, Say Experts](%2F%2Fwww.channelnewsasia.com%2Fsingapore%2Fsg-tourists-climate-change-heat-sea-level-rise-warmer-weather-ecotourism-green-4050806/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/35rMYeDvRtdD2hjDEncTR3ngM8Y=358) from CNA 🇹🇭 Thailand - [Notes On Koh Larn: A Lovely Little Island Cursed By Its Location](%2F%2Fwww.nomadicnotes.com%2Fnotes-on-koh-larn%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/QY22v7qe3vs3mGQyVUVPCklr7QQ=358) from Nomadic Notes - [Phuket Booms As Wealthy Russians Seek A New Home](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FBusiness%2FBusiness-Spotlight%2FPhuket-booms-as-wealthy-Russians-seek-a-new-home/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/zA4sdeypBQ-28JtGS1vwweQqBts=358) from Nikkei Asia ($) - [Thailand Imposes Longest-Ever Sentence For Criticizing Royalty](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F01%2F19%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fthailand-sentence-royalty-defamation.html/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Vx1QM14Chc0tSw4Dh9jqbJ6du6I=358) from The New York Times ($) - [Thai AirAsia Passengers Find Live Snake In Overhead Bin On Bangkok-Phuket Flight](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fnews%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Farticle%2F3248847%2Fthai-airasia-passengers-find-live-snake-overhead-bin-bangkok-phuket-flight/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Gcic8cKfG2H9AIdy5-INgL3fFgE=358) from SCMP ($) - [The Kra Land Bridge: Thailand’s White Elephant Comes Charging Back](%2F%2Ffulcrum.sg%2Fthe-kra-land-bridge-thailands-white-elephant-comes-charging-back%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/M-id4s-_ZSN0py4XU7U7dwBxuuk=358) from Fulcrum --------------------------------------------------------------- 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/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Eu5C7u6fKaWNSZdNZ4OoMd3Dhq0=358) [Ad: Campbell House in Georgetown, Penang from US$72 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcampbellhouse/2/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/MUxfuFkmOgNUL3hKznwuM92p9Qw=358) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🇻🇳 Vietnam - [The Air Pollution Struggle](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fvietnamweekly%2Fp%2Fthe-air-pollution-struggle%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Blu3S8BOKVUIyd85jIJwypn4cxU=358) from Vietnam Weekly - [48 Hours In Any Southeast Asian City, Other Than The One You (An Expat) Live In….](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fconnla%2Fp%2F48-hours-in-any-southeast-asian-city%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/SLItJYiGRqynLb-A_UZ8La8cEBU=358) from A Story From Connla - [In 1992 Vietnam, The Streets Were Brimming With Love And Life](%2F%2Fsaigoneer.com%2Fvietnam-heritage%2F26753-in-1992-vietnam,-the-streets-were-brimming-with-love-and-life/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/Wx-f036GAKFYdFS1B_sWBMwRErg=358) from Saigoneer - [The Outlook For Travel & Tourism In Vietnam With Mike Tatarski](%2F%2Fpodcast.theseasiatravelshow.com%2Fe%2Fthe-outlook-for-travel-tourism-in-vietnam-with-mike-tatarski-vietnam-weekly%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/_7IjTxijQXXSUEdAsxwKdwcq08E=358) from The Southeast Asia Travel Show (Podcast) - [12 Of The Best Places To Visit In Vietnam](%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Ftravel%2Fdestinations%2Fasia%2Fvietnam%2Fbest-places-to-visit-in-vietnam/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/U_QVnylVuma-5z7P4BNdnxzi3-c=358) from The Times ($) - [Hiking In Vietnam An Expert Guide To The Best Treks & Hikes In Vietnam](%2F%2Fhorizonguides.com%2Fguides%2Fhiking-in-vietnam/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/d5n5EjWQ46PEVA3hGdOWCPGltFI=358) from Horizon Guides Random other stuff - [Would We Behave Better In Nature If Trails Were Better Designed?](%2F%2Fadventure.com%2Fdesire-lines-trails-urban-planning-conservation-news%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/ifYGfp26J9YwxCh4MzGOY90nRq8=358) from Adventure - [The Contentious Issue Of Charging Foreigners More Than Locals](%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ftravel%2Fnews%2Fthe-contentious-issue-of-charging-foreigners-more%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/yRjG5-mzSLFgMS7KV4rGBbPn76A=358) from The Telegraph ($) - [Truth In Travel Writing: A Conversation With Tim Hannigan](%2F%2Fintrepidtimes.com%2F2024%2F01%2Ftruth-in-travel-writing-a-conversation-with-tim-hannigan%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/qXFCD65GlTLubLsqKw-1mk1sZpQ=358) from Intrepid Times (Podcast) - [Escaping The Tourism Trap](%2F%2Fnovaramedia.com%2F2024%2F01%2F11%2Fnovara-fm-escaping-the-tourism-trap-dean-maccannell%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/prBLfUwHojbsHXp8TO2jIB5RGGc=358) from Novara Media (Podcast) - [Adventure Travel Is A Growth Industry Thanks To Women Over 40](%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fbusiness%2F2024%2F01%2F16%2Fwomen-adventure-travel%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/i0K8f2FnWioFYsuEuzJYtH7izAA=358) from The Washington Post ($) - [Seeking Sustainable Options When Travelers Aren’t As Green As They Say](%2F%2Fwww.phocuswire.com%2FPhocuswright-sustainability-report-traveler-attitudes-versus-behavior/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/C5cVkqaFDpU_ioXap1G5pIjAjYg=358) from PhocusWire - [The Travel Industry Is Undergoing A Fake Review Storm](%2F%2Ftnmt.com%2Ffake-reviews%2F/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/dzzmWvEIlS7Um2fPleI71w5kZPM=358) from TNMT - [Inside Southeast Asia’s Casinoland: The ‘Underground Bank’ At The Centre Of Transnational Crime](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fweek-asia%2Feconomics%2Farticle%2F3249121%2Finside-southeast-asias-casinoland-underground-bank-centre-transnational-crime/1/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/CDvdDjcfmtadXT-7K6Ecpubqzw4=358) from SCMP ($) More spicy? [A quick Chinatown bowl.] A quick Chinatown bowl. 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%2F503/3/0100018d3735f4b2-926d6348-0cc9-4ed4-a6b4-da3ea55b894a-000000/EJZmVMUMEh-XfAb0O_5RoYvEoYc=358). 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.