Every time I return to Chiang Mai (which has been often) I marvel at how hard this inland provincial city punches above its weight. After thinking about this I looked at a map of Asia, and I can’t think of a non-capital city (and not a port/coastal city) that has as much to offer as […]
Best new banks for travellers, expats, and nomads
January 23, 2018 By 12 Comments
A guide to new world of banking and finance – direct banks, international transfers, mobile wallets, crypto exchanges, and other online investing platforms I often grumble about the high fees associated with international banking when travelling abroad (especially with Australian banks), so I’ve been looking around at banking alternatives. Changing bank accounts is not something […]
Best cafes in Georgetown, Penang
May 24, 2017 By 29 Comments
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 […]
IDrive: Online data backup for your laptop and mobile phone
June 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment
[Special Offer: 75% off ($14.88 for the first year) for Nomadic Notes Readers!] Travel insurance for your data Everyone knows the importance of taking out travel insurance when we travel, but what about insuring your data? Travel insurance policies have the option of insuring laptops and mobile phones, but even if you lose your laptop […]
Accommodation for long-term travellers and digital nomads
May 28, 2015 By 6 Comments
I often get asked how I go about finding accommodation for longer stays so I have compiled this list of accomodation resources. For short stays (anything up to a week) I usually use Agoda or Airbnb. The purpose of this article is for short-term apartment rentals (1 to 3 months) suitable for slow-travelling long-term travellers […]
Packing List – My travel life in two bags
September 9, 2014 By 26 Comments
Whenever I’m about to leave a place I’ve been for a while I like to take stock of my gear and assess what I need and discard what I don’t. I’ve never documented a packing list so when a friend posted what’s in his bags I thought I should do my own. I travel with […]
Is there a better phrase than “digital nomad”?
August 19, 2014 By 33 Comments
I call myself a digital nomad for want of a better term. I run a business that doesn’t require me to be at a fixed address so I take advantage of that by working in locations around the world. In my travels I have met many others who are living a similar life, yet they […]
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 […]
Saturday Night’s Alright (For Writing)
March 19, 2014 By 24 Comments
When you work for yourself you soon find what hours are the most productive for you. I was reflecting on this when I found myself in a Hanoi-style cafe in Saigon on a saturday night. I usually walk around everywhere with my laptop, but this night I only had my notepad and pen at hand. […]
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 […]
