Travelfish #508: The Not Fancy Pants Edition

This week I’m leading with not so much a great read as a great listen—two hundred of them in fact. The South East Asia Travel Show released their 200th episode last week, and, as with just about all of their episodes, it’s well worth a listen. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Return to the Travelfish homepage](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/4eqlC5xIhK9MUSfdFulmmxlvGeQ=362) [alt_text] [Travelfish #508: The Not Fancy Pants Edition](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F508/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/7svkM1MClYvEHBt2kQ2ryXx3hPo=362) Published: 26th February, 2024 Hi all, This week I’m leading with not so much a great read as a great listen—two hundred of them in fact. The South East Asia Travel Show released their 200th episode last week, and, as with just about all of their episodes, it’s well worth a listen. Congrats to Hannah and Gary for all their efforts—and thanks for having me on the show more than a coupla times—has been fun. You can find the shows through their website (linked below) along with on all the typical podcast thingies As I wrote last week, the Couchfish move from Substack is done. There’s still some kinks to iron out, but all the heavy lefting is done. I released two issues last week—one on some brief thoughts and opinions on [what the “real” Bangkok is](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-this-is-the-real-bangkok/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/vplPq395NxzNrBGouKkCPUZOEyY=362), and then a piece on [a couple of food experiences in Bangkok and Chanthaburi](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcouchfish%2Fnews%2Fcouchfish-dont-come-the-raw-prawn/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/wOEKoI95T-wuaOnab76qKj2gkbs=362). Both are free to read for all. Paid subscribers will be getting their first piece this week. I was a bit stuck for a theme this week, but as this issue includes pieces from three fancy-pants publications on coffee and food in Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, I figured I’d go with that, making this the Not Fancy Pants Edition. See you next week! Stuart [[READ ONLINE](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fnewsletter%2Fnews%2F508/2/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/h45HOntMS4iSA67iACYqUXgNrFo=362)] [[UNSUBSCRIBE]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This week’s sponsor [Ling Monkey.](%2F%2Fling-app.com%2F%3Freferrer=travelfish%26data1=tfnewsletter%26data2=blurb/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/JZ7mgbJ8CWHZcA501Tz7BZgV3EM=362) [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/2/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/OSJJRTgh6P-UHeC95-eywrH0L9E=362) --------------------------------------------------------------- Cambodia Not Fancy Pants [Market coffee time in Phnom Penh.] Market coffee time in Phnom Penh. Photo: Stuart McDonald. --------------------------------------------------------------- ⭐️ Story of the week - [Reflecting on 4 Years & 200 Episodes of The South East Aisa Travel Show](%2F%2Fpodcast.theseasiatravelshow.com%2Fe%2Freflecting-on-4-years-200-episodes-of-the-south-east-asia-travel-show%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/iXhOnEjGM-WlshPjalKUGqHhYlo=362) from The South East Asia Travel Show 📚 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/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/vn1fdZ-dq6uKpg72_wB9lxgEm6E=362) 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/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/2I_X0I3nelLOagh3arKBSYnQNew=362) from Frontier Myanmar ($) - [New Battlefront Emerging In Western Myanmar](%2F%2Ffulcrum.sg%2Fnew-battlefront-emerging-in-western-myanmar%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/S7CvWO4edWU0bZ-oFBWNjTrWIHc=362) from Fulcrum 🇰🇭 Cambodia - [In Phnom Penh, Slurping Noodles And Tasting Home Again](%2F%2Fwww.cntraveler.com%2Fstory%2Fslow-noodles-chantha-nguon/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/Ka2LwXxCaQFeCqc_NWDyQnPNUzU=362) from Condé Nast Traveler - [Not My Kind Of Pride](%2F%2Fkiripost.com%2Fstories%2Fnot-my-kind-of-pride/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/54EiTRiO9C_-_WLWd5FfWBGyQ4Q=362) from Kiri Post - [Phnom Kulen Park Destined For Green Tourism](%2F%2Fwww.khmertimeskh.com%2F501442520%2Fphnom-kulen-park-destined-for-green-tourism%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/wiE6pMG0hjflLQ7dXRQzQH56XvA=362) from Khmer Times - [Cambodia To Import Tigers From India As Part Of Plan To Restore Population](%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fworld%2Fcambodia-aims-restore-tiger-population-installing-hundreds-wildlife-cameras/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/qPdfBAgL5N0xq47AzUWIjS8bLwY=362) from Fox News - [Q&A: How Cambodia’s Chinese-Backed Funan Techo Canal Risks Destabilizing The Lower Mekong Delta](%2F%2Fchinaglobalsouth.com%2Fanalysis%2Fqa-how-cambodias-chinese-backed-funan-techo-canal-risks-destabilizing-the-lower-mekong-delta%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/ywDYE8Cyptaf61kpJYSQcso1Rqs=362) from China Global South Project - [China’s Naval Base In Cambodia Undergoes Rapid Construction; Can Host An Aircraft Carrier – Satellite Images Reveal](%2F%2Fwww.eurasiantimes.com%2Fchinas-naval-base-in-cambodia-undergoes-rapid%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/wde3AToz4GbATzeakQaS1bEr6Qk=362) from The Eurasian Times - [Cambodia’s Airport Dreams Stall As Chinese Money Dries Up](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FBusiness%2FTransportation%2FCambodia-s-airport-dreams-stall-as-Chinese-money-dries-up/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/HQI0-b69aXMnf1VYowa7aXxfEPw=362) from NikkeiAsia ($) --------------------------------------------------------------- Did you order a beach view? [Salad hut.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/xRv-568ml6w1zZayi3ylxzYf4d4=362) [Ad: Salad Hut on Ko Pha Ngan’s beautiful west coast, from US$118 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fsaladhut/2/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/M_VCI9ExwOnOdYmwctJ5GhiOhVI=362) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🌴 Environment - [Greenwashing In Tourism In 2024](%2F%2Fwww.responsibletravel.com%2Fcopy%2Fresponsible-tourism-greenwashing/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/t9lqjnfHKaH5-vXAN26VRfpeKDs=362) from Responsible Travel - [The Women Documenting Russia’s Eco-Crimes](%2F%2Fatmos.earth%2Fthe-women-documenting-russias-ecocide-crimes%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/-eLj7V_A9EGJSxbCMqiG_pGIDOU=362) from Atmos - [B Corp-Certified Bottled Water Brand Aqua Tops Audit Of Indonesia’s Biggest Plastic Polluters](%2F%2Fwww.eco-business.com%2Fnews%2Fb-corp-certified-bottled-water-brand-aqua-tops-audit-of-indonesias-biggest-plastic-polluters%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/kR0K78awNxEEvxPNms2YLeYlZ5I=362) from Eco Business 🇮🇩 Indonesia - [Can Ecotourism Protect Raja Ampat, The ‘Crown Jewel’ Of New Guinea?](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F02%2Fcan-ecotourism-protect-raja-ampat-the-crown-jewel-of-new-guinea%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/j5aLyyVFf9I1oFuTtCAs2Z-HQIk=362) from Mongabay (Podcast) - [20 Years After The Tsunami: Aceh, Indonesia’s Strict Muslim Province, Is Opening Up To The World, With Arty Cafes And Atms That Take Visa, Mastercard](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fmagazines%2Fpost-magazine%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2F3252840%2F20-years-after-tsunami-aceh-indonesias-strict-muslim-province-opening-world-arty-cafes-and-atms-take/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/_MGNJ7NcCGR7pcBsxeeE6tanRaA=362) from SCMP ($) - [With Drop In Illegal Fishing Comes Rise In Piracy, Study In Indonesia Finds](%2F%2Fnews.mongabay.com%2F2024%2F02%2Findonesia-illegal-fishing-maritime-piracy-study%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/c1hrrdej7aktUxSlvmcn-aPtq4o=362) from Mongabay - [Rock Drawings And Residential Caves Record Traces Of Ancestral Culture](%2F%2Fwww.kompas.id%2Fbaca%2Fenglish%2F2024%2F01%2F25%2Fen-gambar-cadas-dan-gua-hunian-merekam-jejak-kebudayaan-nenek-moyang/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/TSzOVP5DUWA7HiHZfz3c1lGzegw=362) from Kompas ($) 🇱🇦 Laos - [Three Days Away: Luang Prabang Pt.3](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fthekateadventure%2Fp%2Fthree-days-away-luang-prabang-pt3%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/gWzCBpnK8XB0Wh5tQV0X_knwi6A=362) from Around The World In 80 Scrapes ($) 🇲🇾 Malaysia - [Ringgit Threatens To Pierce 1998 Record](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fdarimulut%2Fp%2Fringgit-threatens-to-pierce-1998%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/KET3NMpi2SZy2idrJhNffx_pS-g=362) from Dari Mulut Ke Mulut ($) - [The Godfather Of Sarawak - Time To Investigate His Legacy](%2F%2Fwww.sarawakreport.org%2F2024%2F02%2Fthe-godfather-of-sarawak-time-to-investigate-his-legacy%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/i984hcMSKuPd54JuPxO7iipzwnM=362) from Sarawak Report - [Malaysia Urged By Swiss Ngo To Freeze Late Sarawak Governor Taib Mahmud’s Assets](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fweek-asia%2Fpolitics%2Farticle%2F3252874%2Fmalaysia-urged-swiss-ngo-freeze-late-sarawak-governor-taib-mahmuds-wealth/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/dta246BmFIea0BCmBS7pYQO2H40=362) from SCMP ($) - [Corruption In Malaysia: The No Shame Game](%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2024%2F02%2Fcorruption-in-malaysia-the-no-shame-game%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/ID5-aGFhSA8_5S5h8hh6EmKpXio=362) from The Diplomat 🇸🇬 Singapore - [Cycling Route Between Pasir Ris Park And East Coast Park Opens, 18km Eastern Corridor Completed](%2F%2Fwww.straitstimes.com%2Fsingapore%2Fcycling-route-between-pasir-ris-park-and-east-coast-park-opens-completing-18km-eastern-corridor/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/hCa0q1apYER118zCMdh2zrJV_Vc=362) from The Straits Times ($) 🇹🇭 Thailand - [Thai Environmental Film Festival Goes International](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FLife-Arts%2FArts%2FThai-environmental-film-festival-goes-international/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/qEjReeigBrJ8_C7Gd1awyUdX7_A=362) from NikkeiAsia ($) - [The Ultimate Product Placement: Thailand On ‘The White Lotus’](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F23%2Ftravel%2Fthailand-white-lotus-hotels.html/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/K6cErkZB9Dlhr0Xab53UOkfPLnw=362) from The New York Times ($) - [Bangkok Faces Uphill Task Of Removing Street Food Stalls From Sidewalks](%2F%2Fwww.benarnews.org%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Fthai%2Fstreet-food-02222024085116.html/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/KgttMh-Nr299onPyGr-UdNu0z1s=362) from Benar News - [Elephant Pants Have Thailand Debating Soft Power And Copyrights](%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FBusiness%2FTravel-Leisure%2FElephant-pants-have-Thailand-debating-soft-power-and-copyrights/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/DcyaFGyXtM8jQyNP4oXb-uhbzgQ=362) from NikkeiAsia ($) - [Thailand Says Ban On Recreational Cannabis Will ‘Kick In Like A Bang’ By Year-End](%2F%2Fwww.scmp.com%2Fnews%2Fasia%2Fsoutheast-asia%2Farticle%2F3252659%2Fthailand-says-ban-recreational-cannabis-will-kick-bang-year-end/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/_agXfKdfdWLMthVK5jPvG6syZxg=362) from SCMP ($) - [A Passing Moment In Soi Song Phra](%2F%2Fwww.thisissoutheastasia.com%2Fa-passing-moment-in-soi-song-phra%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/eQZbtDsfCU88LH4adJsi1xT3n8s=362) from This Is Southeast Asia --------------------------------------------------------------- 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/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/m88u9Q2j9pyggTVJr6t_cg4GblM=362) [Ad: Campbell House in Georgetown, Penang from US$72 per night. Click here for the details.](%2F%2Fwww.travelfish.org%2Fcampbellhouse/2/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/ojkxPQ7Pj1r2QgJhg44M5nEGNck=362) --------------------------------------------------------------- 🇻🇳 Vietnam - [A Guide To Ho Chi Minh City: Where To Explore, Indulge, Rest, And Enjoy In The Heart Of Vietnam](%2F%2Fguide.michelin.com%2Fvn%2Fen%2Farticle%2Ftravel%2Fbest-guide-to-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/yF77aKmINLNquTsjS5XbpykbaIM=362) from Michelin Guide - [Finding Great Coffee In Ho Chi Minh City](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F23%2Ftravel%2Fsaigon-coffee-cafes.html/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/sdlqv4sNJ-9hTOipRgqvShxA3w8=362) from The New York Times ($) - [Meet 90-Year-Old Huỳnh Văn Ba, The Father Of Hội An's Foldable Lanterns](%2F%2Fsaigoneer.com%2Fsaigon-culture%2F26818-meet-90-year-old-hu%25E1%25BB%25B3nh-v%25C4%2583n-ba,-the-father-of-h%25E1%25BB%2599i-an-s-foldable-lanterns/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/cH2N6ghnWfxk97dqVW2FkxBq1Bs=362) from Saigoneer - [Wild Camping | Ninh Thuan Province](%2F%2Fwww.vietnamcoracle.com%2Fwild-camping-ninh-thuan-province%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/nhwwD50XmSJvCxnNFuz9Z5w-sTQ=362) from Vietnam Coracle Random other stuff - [The Ring Of Fire](%2F%2Fopen.substack.com%2Fpub%2Fcosmographia%2Fp%2Fthe-ring-of-fire%3Fr=5fap%26utm_campaign=post%26utm_medium=web/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/28YYlE38mgQa_UVtxaiYMW3w4sI=362) from Cosmographia - [A Loophole Got Him A Free New York Hotel Stay For Five Years. Then He Claimed To Own The Building](%2F%2Fapnews.com%2Farticle%2Fnew-yorker-hotel-fraud-free-room-loophole-6505cb6df084002401aab9f6eaecf452/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/7SOZkzM4NROvYcV_ydEToOobUvk=362) from AP - [In Southeast Asia, The US Should Talk Loudly About Immigration](%2F%2Fthediplomat.com%2F2024%2F02%2Fin-southeast-asia-the-us-should-talk-loudly-about-immigration%2F/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/DfUTbMEln-DutmsekzAqGWcIs5s=362) from The Diplomat - [I’m Midlife – But That Doesn’t Mean I Want A ‘Mature’ Or ‘Senior’ Holiday](%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Finews-lifestyle%2Ftravel%2Fmidlife-mature-senior-holiday-adventure-2920896/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/ZDNROxhkLD6jflUCFnRx3_ty0vc=362) from iNews ($) - [Toddlers To Teens](%2F%2Fwww.iantaylor.ca%2Fgrowing-up/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/SwQHSSyxaUoOG_8b2qidjWL7rb4=362) from Ian Taylor Photography - [Journey Of A Digital Nomad: Vietnamese Traveler’s Reflection On 50 Countries](%2F%2Fe.vnexpress.net%2Fnews%2Ftravel%2Fjourney-of-a-digital-nomad-vietnamese-traveler-s-reflection-on-50-countries-4703794.html/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/MV9dcaJ9EhO092F-Tux03nNf0Ao=362) from VNExpress - [Help! My London Rental Apartment Vanished And I’m Out $3,100.](%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F02%2F22%2Ftravel%2Fbooking-scam-rentals.html/1/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/aBO1nwJEY_5dHN40FITaCo96vD8=362) from The New York Times ($) Vietnam Not Fancy Pants [This is how you eat seafood in Ho Chi Minh City.] This is how you eat seafood in Ho Chi Minh City. 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%2F508/3/0100018de31ac5e7-2a4b32cb-5831-476f-aeb0-8bf1d8aa0b9e-000000/r3-BNjM846gG1dr6mOTF1abB4iA=362). This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you are subscribed to the Travelfish newsletter. 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