Koh Kradan is an island in the Andaman Sea off the coast of southern Thailand. Out of all the islands I’ve visited in Thailand, Kradan might be the most idyllic. Of course, there is no such thing as the perfect island, but Kradan ticks a lot of boxes for what would make a tropical island […]
Jewel Changi Airport review – An architectural marvel at the world’s best airport
In March 2019 Singapore Changi was crowned the best airport in the world for the seventh year in a row. That was just before Jewel Changi Airport opened. After previewing this architectural marvel I can’t see how any other airport is going to take this title in the foreseeable future. Jewel Changi is a mixed […]
Cu Chi Tunnels – Historic Vietnam War site near Saigon
The Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of tunnels to the northwest of Saigon built by communist guerrilla troops (Viet Cong). They were originally built during the resistance against French colonialists, and then expanded during the fight against American and South Vietnamese forces. The tunnel network is now a popular tourist attraction, being one of […]
Best cafes in Da Nang
Danang is growing in stature as it positions itself as the third city of Vietnam. Located roughly half way between Hanoi and Saigon, this coastal city is becoming a popular destination for business and leisure travellers, and there is a growing digital nomad scene here as well. The cafe scene is also growing here, with […]
Where I’m At: March, 2019 – Da Nang edition
Greetings from Danang and another edition of Where I’m At – my monthly summary of where I’ve been and other site news. Where I’ve Been Penang View this post on Instagram A post shared by James Clark ✈️ (@nomadicnotes) on Feb 4, 2019 at 6:58pm PST The month began in Kuala Lumpur and from there […]
The Brooklyn of Penang – Seven Streets Precinct / South George Town
I’ve been a frequent visitor to Penang over the last decade, being one of the few places I visit on an annual basis. I spend most of my time wandering the streets of the UNESCO World Heritage area of Georgetown, as it’s undisputedly the main attraction. In the last few years though I’ve been lured […]
The rebirth of Ipoh Old Town
Ipoh is a city on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia and the capital of the state of Perak. Ipoh experienced a tin mining boom in the early 19th century, and today there are many remnants of the colonial era. The train station at Ipoh’s old town, known locally as the “Taj Mahal of Ipoh”, […]
Notes on Pattaya: The beach of Bangkok, and thoughts on retirement
I’m usually immune to click-bait listicles, especially when they just arbitrarily rank cities. One list that I will always stop to read though is Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index. For the 2018 list Bangkok was number one again, which was not a surprise. What was a surprise was to see Pattaya checking in at #18. […]
View Bangkok from the King Power MahaNakhon Tower
King Power MahaNakhon is one of the most visually distinctive buildings in Southeast Asia. Up close it looks like a jumbled mess with pieces of the building missing. From a distance though it all makes sense. The missing pieces resemble pixels that are spiralling around the building. The building was completed in December 2016, and […]
The remote mountain magic of Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son is in the far northwest of Thailand. So far northwest that it’s just a few kilometres from the Myanmar border. There’s no way to get to Myanmar from here, and it’s not on the way to anywhere. It is though on the way through to somewhere via the Mae Hong Son Loop. […]










