When I was looking for a flight from Bangkok to London I kept seeing deals with Air Astana with a stopover in Almaty and Astana. With the flight being as much as a direct flight it seemed like a good opportunity to visit a new country. Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, and I happened […]
Notes on Osaka – A city break dedicated to eating and urban wandering
My first visit to Osaka in 1999 was as a stopover en route to the USA. I was there for less than a day, so it barely counts as a visit. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the first day of my expat life. I was on my way the the […]
The case for direct Hanoi to Havana flights
[Vietnam Airlines A350 at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport.] Wherever I travel I read the local news to get a feel of what’s going on in the land. While you’re not going to get hard-hitting political analysis from state-controlled media, it’s good for finding out about current affairs and development news. And then there are […]
Notes on Luang Prabang: Soups, trains, bad bikes, and sad waterfalls
The last time I visited Luang Prabang I remember leaving sooner than I would have preferred. It might just be the most charming town in Southeast Asia. Since that trip in 2010 I’ve often thought about if it would be a good base to stay for a while. It ticks the boxes of having plenty […]
Laos Railways – Information on every planned railway
Laos currently has no railway services, apart from one station near the border that is served by Thai State Railways. This is set to change once the Boten – Vientiane line is opens in 2021. There are also some other lines that have been proposed, which would connect Laos to ports in Vietnam, and maybe […]
The best cafes in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage city that is filled with cool cafes in beautiful old buildings. It’s an ideal place to stay and work, or recombobulate after roughing it through provincial Laos. I was there for a week so I got to visit most of the cafes. These were the highlights of my […]
The re-emergence of Bangkok Chinatown – get there before the metro does
Bangkok Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, and it’s as old as the city itself. Chinatown is at the bottom of Rattanakosin Island, which is the historic part of the city by the Chao Phraya River. Even without the Chinese-themed stores there is a distinct feel to this area compared to […]
Flight 1 – The most prestigious airline flight number
Flight 1 is the most prestigious flight number assigned by airlines. It’s used to denote a historic route, or one that an airline regards as their flagship service. For example Qantas designate QF1 on the historic Kangaroo Route from Sydney to London. This service began in 1947, where it would hop (like a proverbial kangaroo) […]
Notes on Quy Nhon – the pleasant provincial city by the sea
Quy Nhon is a coastal city in central Vietnam, roughly halfway between Nha Trang and Da Nang. It’s not big on the international travel radar, but it’s starting to get more attention. There is a burgeoning backpacker scene south of the city, as development in the aforementioned cities have pushed out budget travellers. For my […]
Buu Long Pagoda – A beautiful Buddhist temple hidden away in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City has a wide variety of monuments representing different religions spread out across the city. Most visitors will be content to see those around District 1 and District 5. If you have a bit more time on your hand then a visit to the Buu Long Pagoda (Chùa Bửu Long) will take […]
Hi, I’m James - welcome to Nomadic Notes. I've been a long-term traveller/digital nomad since 2003. Nomadic Notes is a travel resource featuring travel guides and notes from my travels. 
