Travelfish newsletter Issue 333 : A positive take! + 3 Interesting but little visited destinations
Hi all,
Sometimes putting this newsletter together can be a bit of a grind. You know, those weeks where it seems all the news is blood, gore, pain and suffering, beaches washing away, overtourism, tourists behaving badly, locals behaving worse, cats eating dogs and so on. Unfortunately this year has been a over–performer on these stakes, and we’ve received an increasingly amount of feedback from our dear readers suggesting some (any!) good news would be appreciated.
So, while reorganising the political make-up and outlook of ASEAN is a bit out of our control, we have worked hard this week to try and concentrate on the upbeat side of the news, and so we have our theme—a positive take.
We’ll return to abject pain and suffering next week ... just kidding.
On the site, we have a revamped Phnom Penh transport section (pics to come) and we’re currently working through a reworking of all the attractions in Luang Prabang (also photos still to come).
Coming this week, Hue (yes finally), and a welcome back to David who has returned from a very snowy North America and will be defrosting on southern Thai islands shortly. Because, well, someone has to do it.
Good travels,
Stuart, Sam and the Travelfish crew
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Soapbox
A positive take
The other day my parents arrived in Bali from Australia, for a few days stopover en route to Singapore. Due to a mix-up (we’re blaming similar coloured notes ok?), my mother paid the fare in Singapore dollars rather than Indonesian rupiah—handing over S$250 rather than the agreed 200,000 rupiah. (the extra $50 was thought to have been a 50,000 rupiah tip...).
The error wasn’t realised till well after, when we were all sitting around in their hotel room.
It turned out the driver wasn’t familiar with the exchange rate to Singapore dollars and had just assumed it was an equivalent amount. It wasn’t till, after dropping off the parents, he went to the exchange office and realised that he had received a rather substantial tip.
What did he do? He tracked us down and returned the money—and received a generous tip (and a thank you) in the process.
Travel, and especially social networks are awash with stories of ripoffs and drivers doing the wrong thing, so, sticking to theme and all, I thought this was a good story to relate. Not all drivers are there to rip you off—most are in fact just normal people doing their job—just like you.
Good travels,
Stuart
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Featured
Three interesting yet little visited destinations
Indonesia: Malang
We say “With its attractive wide tree-lined boulevards, colonial architecture and easy-going atmosphere, Malang, a small city in the tropical highlands of East Java some 90 kilometres south of Surabaya, feels somewhat European and more “middle-class” than many of Indonesia’s cities.”
The best way to explore Malang. Photo: Sally Arnold
Indonesia generally isn’t loved for its cities. With a few exceptions they are not great walking destinations (our preferred way to explore), pollution can often be an issue, and the traffic can, well, be challenging. In Malang we found an attractive city, with sane traffic, relatively clean air and, a layout so walkable one of our favourite attractions there was in fact a walking tour!
The accommodation is excellent, the food varied and affordable and there is plenty to see and do, both in town and out in the surrounds. For the Java–overland traveller, Malang makes for an excellent stopover for a day or two, before or after visiting Gunung Bromo, one of the highlights of East Java.
Vietnam: Ly Son Island
We say “Located off the coast of Quang Ngai province, small Ly Son Island (also known as Cu Lao Re) is a growing holiday spot for Vietnamese tourists yet somehow it has eluded the foreign travellers radar. A ferry from the mainland takes about an hour and Ly Son can be an interesting little getaway for fresh cheap seafood, photo ops and cultural insight.”
Crystal waters off of Ly Son. Photo: Cindy Fan
When people think “Vietnam” and “islands” their mind most often drifts to Con Dao or Phu Quoc in the south of the country, or the many tiny islands which make up Ha Long Bay in the north. However geographically roughly halfway between these clusters lies Ly Son Island, a little visited island that delivers on some decent ocean views, an interesting local tourism scene, and, on nearby An Binh island, some good stretches of sand (just don’t mention the trash!).
Hit Ly Son (and An Binh) for their low key vibe, where visiting a garlic farm or climbing to a viewpoint is about as exciting as it gets, but do keep in mind the trash issues—an already massive problem across the region (aarrgghhh we’re trying to stay positive here!)
Laos: Muang Sing
We say “The small town and district of Muang Sing sits nestled in a wide-open valley ringed by a fortress of green hills and mountains, just 58 kilometres northwest of Luang Nam Tha. It has all the makings of a star destination: gorgeous scenery, relaxed atmosphere and an astonishing number of ethnic minority villages living side by side.”
Even more pretty. Photo: Cindy Fan
Muang Sing is one of those small villages which seemed to have had its fifteen minutes of fame about 15 years ago and has since then slowly slipped back into obscurity. Every time we’ve been there over the last decade we’ve scratched our head wondering why more foreign travellers are not there. Yes, for all but the more intrepid travellers, it is along a dead–end road, but that is a part of the appeal (at least in our book).
Arguably of more appeal is the town as a trekking and exploring centre, with plenty of outlying villages which can be visited relatively easily by bicycle (or in some cases on foot), and it is also well situated for explorations further afield. Don’t feel like exploring? That’s OK, a visit to the market should be plenty enough to keep you interested for a morning or two there. Just a couple of hours from Luang Nam Tha in the north of the country, set aside a couple of days (or more) for a poke around.
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News from the region
BURMA: Myanmar’s social media romances
“SIM cards were a rare luxury until internet carriers dropped their prices in 2014. SIM cards now go for MMK1,500 (USD1), and the Facebook app comes preloaded on to each smartphone—although much has been said about the dangers of hate speech and misinformation, it’s also marked a huge shift in the way people connect, and even how they fall in love.”
INDONESIA I: Indonesia tsunami: “It’s an absolute miracle” my child survived
“Sartini's daughter saw the picture and thought it bore a striking resemblance to the child her mother was looking after.”
INDONESIA II: AirAsia team up to open Lombok-Perth route
“In regard to AirAsia’s new Lombok-Perth route, Zulkieflimansyah explained that the aircraft would have a capacity of 180 passengers, mentioning that the local administration and airline had a block seat agreement, meaning that half of the seats would be covered by the provincial government.”
INDONESIA III: Are the Gili Islands ready for tourists?
“When I wanted companionship, I found it in the yoga studios, dive shops, freediving schools, and with the friendly faces who stand in front of every warung.”
INDONESIA IV: Prepare to pay US$500 to visit Komodo National Park
LAOS: US bombs continue to kill in Laos 50 years after Vietnam War
“Now, some 80 million unexploded bombs and air-dropped cluster munitions left over continue to maim and kill Laotian men, women and children.”
THAILAND I: Thai cave famous for football team rescue now a tourist hotspot
“For 17 days this name was associated with fear and anxiety. Now Tham Luang has the opportunity to become a place of joy and opportunity.”
THAILAND II: TAT puts together action plan to promote 55 secondary cities
“The promotion is in line with the government’s policy to promote and strengthen the tourism sector with inspiring attractions, strengthen the foundations of tourism, and make it a major source of progress in the secondary destinations nationwide.” Smart.
THAILAND III: Thais celebrate the prospect of same-sex unions as a leap forward
“Why is Thailand acting now? Tourism officials have spoken of their wish to be “open to every shade under the rainbow” by embracing LGBT visitors. Some government critics suspect the junta is seeking an easy public relations win on an issue that is uncontroversial to most Thais.”
Travel writing
DRONES: The drone—A symbol of heavy–handed self–centred tourism
“Treading lightly has long been one of the best values of travel. And travel is best when you are among people and places - not above them.”
HAGGLING: To haggle or not to haggle: What do the vendors say?
“Some tourists get extremely upset about this so-called ‘tourist tax’, but it seems only fair that locals can maximize their income by setting prices based on what a buyer can afford. Why should someone earning $3 a day pay the same as someone who can afford to travel the world for leisure?”
INDONESIA: The remote Kei Islands see potential in tourism
“On Wab Beach, an exquisite stretch of waterfront, a local man was busy hammering and sawing under the shade of a grove of coconut trees. He was constructing a warung, a simple restaurant, as part of a community effort to attract visitors to the area. Nearby, other stalls were being put together, hammocks stretched between trunks and a social media-ready swing framed by the shimmering waters was ready to be snapped.”
MAKING FRIENDS AND INFLUENCING PEOPLE: Offline maps: Can they make you smarter and friendlier?
“One of the most basic connections a human being can make with another is to ask for directions. It’s a staple technique for breaking the ice when you travel. (“Excuse me — where am I on here?”) And it’s harder to do that with a digital map — not that you would, of course, because a digital map will probably tell you exactly where you are. And in doing so, it’ll prevent you making new friends. No fun at all.”
MISSING PLANES: Six tips for getting what you want from an airline
“Also, don’t be surprised if you experience backlash from your rant by people who see your problem as petty or privileged.”
SPICY: How the chile pepper took over the world
“My mouth pulsed with incalculable voltage.” Yeeessssssss!
Interesting site
Deztreks
Headed to the Philippines? Start here.
Travel shot
A good reason to work up an appetite. Photo: Cindy Fan
Till next time
That’s it from us for now. As usual, enjoy the site’s new additions and drop us a line if there’s something in particular you’d like us to cover in Southeast Asia.
Travel light!
Stuart, Sam & the Travelfish team
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