Welcome to Nomadic Notes

A travel blog featuring transport and accommodation guides in Southeast Asia

James Clark from Nomadic Notes

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 .

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Latest Posts

Soekarno–Hatta Line: Jakarta airport railway and station guide

A guide to the Soekarno–Hatta Line – the Jakarta airport train. Travel information, tickets, and which stations are best for visitors. The Soekarno–Hatta Airport Commuter Line (formerly the Soekarno–Hatta Airport Rail Link) is the airport railway connecting Soekarno–Hatta International Airport to Central Jakarta. The Soekarno–Hatta Line was built with the combination of a new railway […]

Padang Besar Station: crossing the Malaysia-Thailand border by train

A guide to the Padang Besar Railway Station border crossing between Malaysia and Thailand. Padang Besar is an international railway station in Malaysia on the Thailand border. There is also a separate Padang Besar station in Thailand in Tambon Padangbesa. If you are getting the train between Thailand and Malaysia, you will be going through […]

Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau by ferry

A guide for getting the ferry from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau, including how to buy tickets, port locations, and what to expect onboard. Vung Tau is the closest beach to Ho Chi Minh City, so it’s a popular city escape for Saigonese. The easiest way to get there is by the fast […]

How to buy tickets for the Laos-China Railway

How to buy Laos-China Railway tickets, including buying tickets online, by mobile phone app, ticket offices, and travel agents. The Laos-China Railway is a modern and efficient semi-high-speed railway system, but buying tickets isn’t as smooth as the train ride. The official website at www.lcrc.ltd doesn’t sell tickets, and there are rules and time restrictions […]

Laos-China Railway travel guide

A guide to the Laos-China Railway from Vientiane to Boten, including tickets, train types, station guides, onboard amenities, and transport to stations. The Laos-China Railway is a semi-high-speed railway in Laos that operates from Vientiane to Boten, with main stations in Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and Muang Xai. Here everything you need to know about […]

Where To Stay

Where to stay in Vung Tau: Best Front Beach and Back Beach hotels

This guide on where to stay in Vung Tau lists the best hotels in the Front Beach and Back Beach areas of Vung Tau. Vung Tau is a coastal city in Southeast Vietnam. It’s the closest beach city to Ho Chi Minh City, so it sees many visitors on the weekend. While it’s not the […]

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