Nomadic Notes

Notes on Vientiane: Riding the new railway and the gravitational pull of China

I visited Vientiane not long after the borders reopened in May 2022. I was there to ride the new Laos-China Railway, which had been running since December 2021. The last time I was in Vientiane was via train from Bangkok, and the next time I visit will probably be when the line from Thailand is […]

Best and worst border crossings in Southeast Asia (in my experience)

Southeast Asia comprises 11 countries, and there are land borders with China, India, Bangladesh, and Papua New Guinea. With so many land, sea, and air gates, there is a variety of border-crossing experiences to be had. I was thinking about border crossings while on the beach in Koh Lipe in Thailand, waiting for a ferry […]

How to go from Koh Lipe to Langkawi by boat

Koh Lipe is the southernmost island in Thailand, and it’s the closest inhabited island to Langkawi in Malaysia. It is possible to travel by boat between the two islands, making it one of the more memorable international border crossings in Southeast Asia. Here is how to go from Koh Lipe to Langkawi by boat. Koh […]

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal: A guide to Bangkok main train station (AKA Bang Sue Grand Station)

Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (also known as Bang Sue Grand Station) is the new central railway station of Bangkok, replacing the existing Bangkok Station (Hua Lamphong). The station is located next to Bang Sue Junction Station in the north of Bangkok. [Bang Sue Junction next to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.] The station began […]

Notes on Hua Hin: The beach city near Bangkok that appeals to retirees and remote workers

Hua Hin is a beachside city on the upper Gulf of Thailand. This is where the Bay of Bangkok ends and the Gulf of Thailand begins. Outside of the bay is where the beaches start getting better. While it’s not the best beach on the Gulf Coast, it’s the best mainland beach near Bangkok. Hua […]