Travelfish #432:What goes up must come down
On a cosmonaut and other stuff
Hi all,
What goes up must come down right? Even cosmonauts. So with that in mind, the photos this week are of a sunrise and a sunset. Do let me know if you can figure out where.
Three things stand out in this week’s collection of stuff worth a look, see or listen to. First and foremost is the new Netflix documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing—if you fly (or used to!) it is close to a must-watch. Also in my new “Random other stuff” section, is a podcast interview with an author who has penned a new book on Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. It is surprisingly funny in places and plain whacky in others, but, well, the first man in space qualifies him for inclusion in a travel newsletter I reckon! Last but not least, the top-lining story this week, is an interview with the trainman—aka the Man in Seat 51. Oh, and don’t miss the old pics from Cambodia! Enjoy.
Cheers
Stuart
Sunrise
Photo: Stuart McDonald
Vaccinations snapshot
The following chart is per capita—not total numbers. The dark green bar is the one that matters—it represents the percentage of the eligible population that are fully vaccinated. You can see a full-size and interactive version of the chart here.
Source: Our World in Data
Travel summary
So where is open and where is closed? This chart by Hannah Pearson at Pear Anderson summarises the state of play in the region as of Sunday, February 20, 2021. If you’re after a detailed weekly report on the region, Hannah’s report is the absolute business.
To receive Hannah’s report in your email mailbox every Sunday you can sign up here (it is free!). This is my go-to reportfor where things are at in the region. If you have any queries or suggestions about how the chart could be improved, please drop her a line via the Pear Anderson website here.
Source: The Impact of Covid-19 on the Southeast Asian Tourism Industry (PDF)
⭐️ Story of the week
The Man Who Knows the Way From Anywhere to Everywhere by Train from 5 Media
🇲🇲 Burma
An NGO Worker’s Perspective: Fighting for Human Rights as Democracy Dies from Tea Circle
Omicron Wave Threatens to Overwhelm Myanmar’s Health System from Frontier Myanmar
🇰🇭 Cambodia
Cambodia in 1989 from John Vink
Last Irrawaddy Dolphin in Northeastern Cambodia Dies from Radio Free Asia
Victims Allege Sihanoukville Precincts With Ties to Major Businesses Are Sites of Scams, Torture, Detention from VOD English
Environment
Dam Reservoir Releases Could Raise Mekong River Water Levels from SEA Globe
No More Plastics in Southeast Asia Paradise from Le Monde Diplomatique (May 2021)
Red Seas and No Fish: Nickel Mining Takes Its Toll on Indonesia’s Spice Islands from MongaBay
That Organic Cotton T-shirt May Not Be as Organic as You Think from The New York Times
‘We Are Afraid’: Erin Brockovich Pollutant Linked to Global Electric Car Boom from The Guardian
🇮🇩 Indonesia
A New Indonesian Capital City: Conflict Pending from New Mandala
Bali, Where Are You Heading? from Inside Indonesia
Dutch PM Apologizes for Atrocities Committed During Indonesian Independence War from The Diplomat
Morning of the Earth Was Once Seen as a Gamble from ABC News
The Island for the Dogs from Inside Indonesia
🇱🇦 Laos
Bats in Laos Host Closest Relative to Covid Virus from The Laotian Times
Lao Authorities Rescue Women Trapped in Chinese-run Economic Zone from Radio Free Asia
🇲🇾 Malaysia
History and Progress Face Off in a Malaysian Square from SEA Globe
🇸🇬 Singapore
From Underground Gangster to Healer of Bodies from Rice Media (Video)
Lift-less in Singapore: To Move or Not to Move, That Is the Question from Rice Media
🇹🇭 Thailand
‘Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok)’ Is the Best/Worst Thing to Happen from Coconuts Bangkok
Sri Panwa Owner Threatens Negative Reviewer With Legal Action, Lese Majeste Law from Thai Enquirer
The Hidden Tale of a 3-legged Tiger from The Bangkok Post
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Girl’s Fatal Beating Spotlights Child Abuse in Vietnam from SEA Globe
Phan Xích Long là ai? from Connla Stokes
Tasting the Future of Coffee in Vietnam from NikkeiAsia
We Are Stripping Vietnam of Its '‘Hidden Charms’ from VNExpress
Random other stuff
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing from Netflix
What Was the TED Talk? from The Drift Mag
Yuri Gagarin, Cold War Cosmonaut from ABC Conversations
Couchfish (Free-to-read, from the week before last)
Couchfish (Paid subscribers only)
Sunset
Photo: Stuart McDonald
See you next week!
So that’s the wrap. I hope you are all in good health and weathering Covid19 as well as possible.
See you next week,
Stuart
Man at seat 61 a really useful site. Used to work with Mark back in the last century