Travelfish #507: The Couchfish Edition

This week I’m leading with a solid piece on Bali, its people, and the role tourism has in a groundswell of changes. This week I’m leading with a solid piece on Bali, its people, and the role tourism has in a groundswell of changes. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Return to the Travelfish homepage](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/kznDxIVj-Y_iimT1y1_1jAlA1aw=361) [alt_text] [Travelfish #507: The Couchfish Edition](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F507/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/-VKXOxwnbqHF3mon_A0AaXHY-2k=361) Published: 20th February, 2024 Hi all, This week I’m leading with a solid piece on Bali, its people, and the role tourism has in a groundswell of changes. It’s an interesting piece, with some local angle getting a bit of play. The thing is, while the story is focussed on Bali, it could easily be about so many other destinations in the region—or the planet. Well worth a read. Couchfish is back—finally. I ran a piece yesterday [explaining the change and how things will work going forward](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-were-back-almost/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/dASZAFsvo5DUDQxC2OggpeTZ3v0=361). If you think it is complicated to read—try writing it! Anyways, I’m very much looking forward to getting back to travel writing, and the first piece will be out tomorrow. So happy I am that the move is largely done, I dedicated this week’s newsletter theme to it. The pics though, have nothing to do with Couchfish, they’re just of a couple of far away places—from one end of the region to the other—you may want to take a peak at on your next trip to the region. See you next week! Stuart [[READ ONLINE](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F507/2/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/KGKPnEZqIQD5XGr7Odn0aJfsxtE=361)] [[UNSUBSCRIBE]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This week’s sponsor [Ling Monkey.](%2F%2Fling-app.com%2F%3Freferrer=travelfish%26data1=tfnewsletter%26data2=blurb/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/me-ysgN3CEvWvyBc42YcYl_Yy5U=361) [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/2/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/x5HHGGZHw21cAnXBJiq8CwDRQu0=361) --------------------------------------------------------------- Into the hills [On the way to Hin Taek in far northern Thailand.] On the way to Hin Taek in far northern Thailand. Photo: Mark Ord. --------------------------------------------------------------- ⭐️ Story of the week - [Old Ways Survive In Bali Despite Mass Tourism, But For How Long?](%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Fnews%2F2024%2F2%2F17%2Fold-ways-survive-in-bali-despite-mass-tourism-but-for-how-long/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/Hmows3BUV1CR_XkevkbquFdLFFA=361) from Aljazeera 📚 What I’m reading - [Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, And The Making Of A Crisis](%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F145624514-everyone-who-is-gone-is-here/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/OQALGSLM9YXsC4bRng4YKZ2YZsE=361) by Jonathan Blitzer 🇲🇲 Burma - [Plundering Paradise: The Underwater Lead Mines Of Myanmar’s Deep South](%2F%2Fwww.frontiermyanmar.net%2Fen%2Fplundering-paradise-the-underwater-lead-mines-of-myanmars-deep-south%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/s9138EPCaB-e6TtTMMzA7OWcec4=361) from Frontier Myanmar ($) - [New Battlefront Emerging In Western Myanmar](%2F%2Ffulcrum.sg%2Fnew-battlefront-emerging-in-western-myanmar%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/lntBK-V62g7e12i3Fyhw4xJBiWE=361) from Fulcrum 🇰🇭 Cambodia - [Cambodia To Install Wildlife Cameras In Effort To Restore Its Tiger Population](%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FInternational%2FwireStory%2Fcambodia-install-hundreds-wildlife-cameras-effort-restore-tiger-107288233/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/ZzKvWVCGkPEW52XztK8NvtpkCFc=361) from ABC News - [Cambodia’s Indigenous Communities Renounce Communal Land Titles For Microloans](%2F%2Fpulitzercenter.org%2Fstories%2Fcambodias-indigenous-communities-renounce-communal-land-titles-microloans/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/CPlfbOoihYaAD6DN4rI9MyiFoVM=361) from Pulitzer Center - [Torture, Forced Labor Alleged At Prince Group-linked Compound](%2F%2Fwww.rfa.org%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Fcambodia%2Fprince-group-investigation-02122024143012.html/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/JdfeC_Db0kTYHM2hBTh9aS_kpVU=361) from RFA - [William Beecher, Who Revealed Secret Cambodia Bombing, Dies At 90](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F18%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia%2Fwilliam-beecher-dead.html/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/-XTvy0yTrBgiKCR6Z-N0ccU3ZTY=361) from The New York Times ($) - [Cambodian Court Sentences Taiwanese Youtuber To Jail For Faking His Kidnapping](%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Fchen-nengchuan-cambodia-taiwanese-youtuber-b2497838.html/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/kdzp-3m2cDpYIJgmRXVPqOIUfhI=361) from The Independent --------------------------------------------------------------- Did you order a beach view? [Salad hut.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/8p0j7KIpjNmw4K9GMkUN0XSNFsA=361) [Ad: Salad Hut on Ko Pha Ngan’s beautiful west coast, from US$118 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/2/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/blp6oQJ1mwQZfMLuB7iEx2AlJQ0=361) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌴 Environment - [Should You Visit Antarctica? Is Polar Tourism Doing More Harm Than Good?](%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Ftravel%2Fshould-you-visit-antarctica-is-polar-tourism-doing-more-harm-than-good%2FB4O7FDRHZRAYVEXWXRVTLAVDAA%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/QTPmtcPUt4_26lcfmT4OIB9moZc=361) from NZ Herald - [Corporates Face Greenwashing Concerns Over Misaligned Trade Association Memberships](%2F%2Fwww.edie.net%2Fcorporates-face-greenwashing-concerns-over-misaligned-trade-association-memberships%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/elXvofG0o8fSA0u9NgEEe1ZIvXA=361) from edie - [Save Southeast Asia’s Mangrove Forests Or Risk Environmental Devastation](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fcomment%2Fopinion%2Fasia%2Farticle%2F3252048%2Fsave-southeast-asias-mangrove-forests-or-risk-environmental-devastation%3Futm_source=rss_feed/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/KkNTcGllyCyyUkki86nnsLQqu1U=361) from SCMP ($) 🇮🇩 Indonesia - [Maybe We Need To Rethink Our Democracy](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fsheanyyas%2Fp%2Fmaybe-we-need-to-rethink-our-democracy%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/-7PM04mmiDoUV2pVgC0w3I2P2jM=361) from write it down. - [Impact Report 2023](%2F%2Fwww.canva.com%2Fdesign%2FDAF6GTqlzhs%2FRwjfzonUGjswQ2dlU5RV2g%2Fview%3Futm_content=DAF6GTqlzhs%26utm_campaign=designshare%26utm_medium=link%26utm_source=editor/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/sg5RB8gCmqHc_YdFLcFo0sgLSBw=361) from Sungai Watch - [Democracy, Interrupted In Indonesia](%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fopinion%2Farticles%2F2024-02-14%2Findonesia-election-prabowo-victory-means-democracy-interrupted/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/YudV2AssVRpPoMvMAK7IWC2wK7E=361) from Bloomberg 🇱🇦 Laos - [Efforts Underway To Enhance Tourism Standards In Laos](%2F%2Flaotiantimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F19%2Fefforts-underway-to-enhance-tourism-standards-in-laos%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/z-HDhGKA2ED52a6WKks8W8MY6dY=361) from The Laotian Times - [Air Pollution Reaches Unhealthy Levels In Laos, Affecting Three Main Provinces](%2F%2Flaotiantimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F19%2Fair-pollution-reaches-unhealthy-levels-in-laos-affecting-three-main-provinces%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/9VWxfDJ9B1qiBvKBFdZ7J9bwIuM=361) from The Laotian Times - [Three Days Away: Luang Prabang Pt.2](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fthekateadventure%2Fp%2Fthree-days-away-luang-prabang-pt2%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/bXYzOuHo7YjFmJDlZKPC3G9fwsM=361) from Around The World In 80 Scrapes ($) 🇲🇾 Malaysia - [Nik Nazmi: Three Wetlands In Sabah, Sarawak Being Nominated As New Ramsar Sites](%2F%2Fwww.malaymail.com%2Fnews%2Fmalaysia%2F2024%2F02%2F19%2Fnik-nazmi-three-wetlands-in-sabah-sarawak-being-nominated-as-new-ramsar-sites%2F118827/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/Q2uW5IttQyF7CFtuRAyTWIGB1Rg=361) from MalayMail - [Malaysia’s Ringgit Slides Towards New All-time Low On Lacklustre Growth](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fnews%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Farticle%2F3252384%2Fmalaysias-ringgit-slides-towards-new-all-time-low-lacklustre-growth/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/Gd6L3OTZn4nFfcVYqZ6C8jz4Jbg=361) from SCMP ($) 🇸🇬 Singapore - [Leadership Transition: A Curious Moment In Singapore’s Politics](%2F%2Fwww.9dashline.com%2Farticle%2Fleadership-transition-a-curious-moment-in-singapores-politics/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/Ji1wlvbDiq1-K4G34eUMWyth-9s=361) from 9 Dashline - [Singapore Airfares Set To Rise As Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy Looms: ‘There Will Be A Cost’](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fnews%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Farticle%2F3252375%2Fsingapore-airfares-set-rise-sustainable-aviation-fuel-levy-there-will-be-cost/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/9LNI703aM45ScVHDxgtFFwocuZI=361) from SCMP ($) - [Singapore To Allow All Foreigners To Enter Via Automated Lanes](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FBusiness%2FTravel-Leisure%2FSingapore-to-allow-all-foreigners-to-enter-via-automated-lanes/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/um1B65GnhEFmy67FnTy9kPyNwKU=361) from NikkeiAsia ($) 🇹🇭 Thailand - [First Time In Thailand – Bangkok Mosques To Conduct Open House Tours](%2F%2Fwww.travel-impact-newswire.com%2F2024%2F02%2Ffirst-time-in-thailand-bangkok-mosques-to-conduct-open-house-tours%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/xdsaAZSsh0YfRn2nlIZTrPZaM9I=361) from Travel Impact Newswire - [Notes On Koh Lipe: The Beachiest Holiday Island In Thailand](%2F%2Fwww.nomadicnotes.com%2Fnotes-on-koh-lipe%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/LyZWLSC3fXMhzGL-tuAll_E00pc=361) from Nomadic Notes - [DNA Probe Uncovers Threatened Shark Species In Thailand’s Markets](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F01%2Fdna-probe-uncovers-threatened-shark-species-in-thailands-markets%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/ZOFFmBjK1H9jw-FtqNYDC3urbVI=361) from Mongabay - [Thailand Sees Chinese Tourism Soar As Visa Requirement Dropped](%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Fnews%2F2024%2F2%2F16%2Fthailand-sees-chinese-tourism-soar-as-visa-requirement-dropped/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/7_HK2cU9nJEs77MLh0xzawaNJTY=361) from Aljazeera - [Thailand To Offer US$14,000 In Medical Coverage For Tourists: ‘Everyone Will Be Under Good Care’](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fnews%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Farticle%2F3252101%2Fsafe-thailand-offer-us14000-medical-coverage-tourists-everyone-will-be-under-good-care/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/KnPspKjKIpe_WcxotOX83okqMb0=361) from SCMP ($) - [In The Golden Triangle, Long-dead Drug Warlords Hold Visitors In Thrall](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FEditor-s-Picks%2FTea-Leaves%2FIn-the-Golden-Triangle-long-dead-drug-warlords-hold-visitors-in-thrall/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/wIxRagEvRdQyQziOaI2GLxNtQzw=361) from NikkeiAsia ($) --------------------------------------------------------------- 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/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/lpG5j9Ac5e-OZh3y-ALMGo4JG1k=361) [Ad: Campbell House in Georgetown, Penang from US$72 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcampbellhouse/2/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/x1Q7FZXUiOOJtsNGrbPosUXhrHs=361) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🇻🇳 Vietnam - [A House Of Many Hues](%2F%2Fhiddencompass.net%2Fstory%2Fa-house-of-many-hues%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/yVV1J4PpeLJkKbMThleaOZ13GI0=361) from Hidden Compass - [Núi Đá Bia | Mountain Hike](%2F%2Fwww.vietnamcoracle.com%2Fnui-da-bia-mountain-hike%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/LR4jguYX5LPynbD7351PjGeuo4E=361) from Vietnam Coracle - [The Rise Of Scam Compounds In Southeast Asia](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fvietnamweekly%2Fp%2Fthe-rise-of-scam-compounds-in-southeast%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/d551WQV7IhSHI1_3Ik4w99N0gtA=361) from Vietnam Weekly (Podcast) - [Confiscated Motorbikes Pile Up As Vietnam Goes After Drunken Driving](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F14%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fvietnam-ho-chi-minh-city-motorbikes.html/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/JQbp-qC_jce-_5N3CI6vgm2QeZw=361) from The New York Times ($) Random other stuff - [Facial Recognition: Coming Soon To An Airport Near You](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F18%2Ftravel%2Ffacial-recognition-airports-biometrics.html/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/xgORT8iFyGjZpSnZ4AiZad0FXTg=361) from The New York Times ($) - [War Crimes And The Meaning Of Genocide](%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2024%2F02%2Fwar-crimes-and-the-meaning-of-genocide%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/t39puBaWyJzX1FYTv3PGUlFZXSA=361) from The Diplomat - [Nothing Says Status Like A Hotel Bathrobe](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F14%2Ftravel%2Fhotel-merch-bathrobe-luxury.html/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/lDasIfSq6FtyEL4d1ojCij6oye8=361) from The New York Times ($) - [How Travelers Can Find Sustainable Travel Experiences](%2F%2Fwww.glpfilms.com%2Fnews%2Fhow-travelers-can-find-sustainable-travel-experiences/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/xnrf_XCykhv2W-Fla4WL68E815A=361) from GLP Films - [8 Memorable Learning Opportunities In Southeast Asia For Kids](%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Ftravel%2F9-memorable-learning-opportunities-in-southeast-asia-for-kids%2FWRQEGUNGBRH5NKOR33GZSBEFFU%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/YaKAUBZEUJm8mfniPYOFq65SRMk=361) from NZ Herald - [The Return Of The (Robot) Travel Agent](%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F24065179%2Fai-travel-agent-honeymoon-planning-chatgpt/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/pwhRofTshuzYK4vfiOBTa0OX8Ys=361) from The Verge - [The AI Industry Is Stuck On One Very Specific Way To Use A Chatbot](%2F%2Fwww.theatlantic.com%2Ftechnology%2Farchive%2F2024%2F02%2Fchatbots-marketing-plan-your-next-trip%2F677481%2F/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/sSelmF0FlTJwPOkf5h3Ladz7fRs=361) from The Atlantic ($) - [Building A Global Community With Travel Massive Founder, Ian Cumming](%2F%2Fwww.traveltrendspodcast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fian-cumming-founder-travel-massive/1/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/IQL7D1JLmXfP70ZRjjAYKK2129A=361) from Travel Trends (Podcast) No horizon pool, no problem [Pantar’s “famous” three-coloured beach has not a horizon pool in sight.] Pantar’s “famous” three-coloured beach has not a horizon pool in sight. 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%2F507/3/0100018dc42b6fc8-11298da9-178b-4ccc-a93e-3b7eee1c2c8b-000000/iYoGNor9PJm2rTPGBa2KD3txI2M=361). 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.