A list of the largest islands in Thailand ranked by size. What are the largest islands in Thailand? This is a harder question to answer than I thought. Usually Wikipedia would have a list, but the Wiki list of islands of Thailand doesn’t show sizes. There are other lists online, but there are discrepancies between […]
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 […]
Notes on Udon Thani
Udon Thani is the capital of Udon Thani Province in Northeast Thailand. It is one of the “big four of Isan” alongside Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, and Khon Kaen. I visited Udon Thani as part of a railway infrastructure tour of Isaan. Udon Thani is currently served by the Northeast Line from Bangkok to Nong […]
Ornamental street signs of Thailand
In Thailand there are many cities that decorate their street signs with icons associated with the city. Here are some that I have seen over the years in my travels in Thailand. Patong Beach, Phuket Patong Beach in Phuket with a dolphin street sign. Krabi Town Krabi Town with a sword-wielding elephant. Of course. Maeklong […]
Notes on Nakhon Phanom: Down by the river, and hanging out at Uncle Ho’s House
Nakhon Phanom is the capital city of Nakhon Phanom Province in northeastern Thailand (Isaan). The city is on the Mekong River above Mukdahan Province, which is where I travelled from. There is a highway near the river that connects Mukdahan to Nakhon Phanom, though you rarely get a glimpse of the water along the way. […]
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh by bus
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is 240 km apart by road, and getting the bus is the cheapest way to travel between the two cities. Despite the relatively close distance and flat terrain, the roads are congested and not built for highway cruising. Google Maps says the trip can be done in 5 […]
