A guide for the original bamboo railway in Battambang and the new bamboo tourist train in Banon. The bamboo railway in Battambang is a lightweight trolley (known as a norry) that was originally used to transport goods and passengers along the old railway. This makeshift trolley railway served a functional purpose when there was no […]
Welcome to Nomadic Notes
A travel blog featuring transport and accommodation guides in Southeast Asia
I’m James Clark. I'm a digital nomad and I take notes of my travels, thus the name Nomadic Notes.
I've been travelling the world since 2003 while running a publishing business. I'm currently based in Southeast Asia, and I write about transport and urban development issues at Future Southeast Asia.
I post trip reports on my travels around the world in the "Notes on..." series. I write guides on train travel and where to stay in Southeast Asia. Find out more about me and Nomadic Notes.
Latest Posts
Where to stay in Nha Trang – best areas near the beach
A guide to the best beach areas in the coastal resort city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. Nha Trang is a beach city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The city is a popular destination for those wanting a beach break with the comforts of city lifestyle. The good thing about Nha Trang is […]
Notes on Lubuk Linggau – At the end of the line in South Sumatra
Lubuk Linggau (or Lubuklinggau) is a city in South Sumatra, Indonesia. A train goes from Palembang to Lubuk Linggau, so that was the only excuse I needed to visit. I didn’t want to backtrack to Palembang, so I decided to stay in Lubuk Linggau and then find other transport to Bengkulu on the coast. The […]
Chiang Mai burning season: News and information about air pollution in Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai burning season refers to the time of year when the air in Northern Thailand is filled with haze from forest fires and the burning of crop waste. Even though this is a problem across Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has become the focus of the pollution crisis. The city has made international headlines for […]
The Japanese train in Cambodia: Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville on the KiHa train from Hokkaido
A review of the Japanese KiHa 183 series train that operates between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. In 2024 the Royal Railway of Cambodia acquired 11 KiHa 183 series train carriages from JR Hokkaido in Japan. The trains were converted from 1067mm gauge to metre gauge, and a test service began on the Phnom Penh to […]
Where To Stay
Where to stay in Nha Trang – best areas near the beach
A guide to the best beach areas in the coastal resort city of Nha Trang, Vietnam. Nha Trang is a beach city in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The city is a popular destination for those wanting a beach break with the comforts of city lifestyle. The good thing about Nha Trang is […]
