Georgetown is a former colonial city on the island of Penang in Malaysia. The old town is lined with colonial-era buildings and and the entire inner city is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traditional cafes here are kopi tiam style, which offer a simple food menu and a place to chat with friends. They […]
Aussie-style cafes in Paris
December 29, 2014 By 4 Comments
For a country that has a reputation for its cafes I was surprised at how average coffee in France was when I first arrived. Sure, the cafes are great for people watching, with rows of chairs lined up in theatre-style so you can watch the world go by. As far as the actual coffee goes […]
Cafes to work from in Taipei
October 9, 2014 By 17 Comments
If you are looking for a city in Asia to base yourself as a writer or digital nomad then add Taipei to your consideration list. With 90 day visa on arrival for most western countries and unadulterated internet in Taiwan, Taipei is a good base for location independent types. Taipei is well known for its […]
Cafes in Bali for writers and digital nomads
June 17, 2014 By 19 Comments
Bali has long been a popular destination for creative types, but for us reliant on the internet its reputation of poor internet connectivity precedes it. I was a bit sceptical to come back myself. Last time I was here (4 years ago) I had a hard time finding accommodation with wifi, and there wasn’t much […]
Phnom Penh Cafes
November 5, 2013 By 13 Comments
Phnom Penh has a special place in my heart as it was the first city in Southeast Asia I visited, back in 2005. I remember paying $2USD for a motorbike taxi from the airport, which may have been a dollar more than I was supposed to pay (I’m sure some wiseass backpacker pointed that out […]
Cafes in Hanoi for writers and digital nomads
September 12, 2013 By 30 Comments
Following up on my guide to cafes in Ho Chi Minh City I now present my guide to cafes in Hanoi. In my previous cafe reports I have usually had at least a month to try out the cafes of each city. My trip to Hanoi was for one week, so this meant I had […]
Kopi Joss – The charcoal coffee of Yogyakarta
May 5, 2013 By 22 Comments
When I’m on the road I’m always on the lookout for interesting cafes and new coffee experiences. On my trip to Yogyakarta I found an unusual brew called Jopi Joss: charcoal coffee. [Kopi Joss – it tastes better than it looks.] Kopi Joss preparation starts off in the usual Javanese style, with loose coffee grinds […]
Cafes in Bangkok to work from
December 4, 2012 By 51 Comments
Last updated 16 October, 2015 Bangkok Cafes Map Bangkok Cafes Map foursquare.com Bangkok Cafes Cafe Locations Sukhumvit – Along Sukhumvit Rd from Ploen Chit Siam/Chit Lom – Sound Siam, Chit Lom, Ratchadamri, National Stadium, and Ratchathewi. Phaya Thai – Along Sukhumvit line from Phaya Thai to Ari. Silom/Sathorn Chinatown Old Town – Khao San Rd […]
The incredible cafe scene of Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam
October 16, 2012 By 101 Comments
After my article about the cafe scene in Chiang Mai I was alerted to the fact that Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) has a healthy cafe scene going on as well. I know a number of location independent workers who have set up shop there and extoll the virtues of the good coffee and fast, […]
Cafes to work from in Chiang Mai
May 3, 2012 By 94 Comments
A month of cafes in Chiang Mai – Thailand When in need of downtime to get projects done in Asia, Chiang Mai has been my home base of choice. I realised when I first started coming here that this city is a cafe wonderland. With so many cafes with wifi, it is an easy place […]
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. 
