Least helpful receptionists on Ko Racha Yai.
05.03.2026 10:34
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Least helpful receptionists on Ko Racha Yai.
Welp Thailand, guess it's time for the Anutin years. Not great for reforming public education, among other things, but should bring lasting political stability. Seems the border war w/ Cambodia was top of mind for many voters.
www.thaipbs.or.th/election69/r...
Thing about extremism is it always doubles down, in this case to the point that it's bleeding support and likely getting crushed in the midterms. The courage and resolve that exists in opposition to this bumbling incompetent extremism is like an immovable wall.
www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n...
The current US administration is a bunch of incompetent ass-clowns who are bleeding public support w/ their extremism. If they try to mess w/ midterm elections, they will fail. A huge wall of dissidence is growing to oppose them. So many Americans are done being scared of these ass-clowns.
Caught up w/ an old friend in Trang who's been working at a travel shop for 20+ years. She lamented how so many travelers are now buying tickets and transfers online for double or triple what she charges. Does my head in too.
Damn. My wife's doing a tour in Ubon starting tomorrow and 2 of her customers are on the train that departed soon after the one that crashed today. Their train was rerouted, now 4 hrs late. Close call for them, so sad about #21.
Bangkok nails the 3 spot in this year's "52 Places" from The NY Times. Also on the list from SE Asia are Penang, Vietnam, and Camiguin in the Philippines.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Yes and the AI detection tools are rubbish so you never really know.
So weird how as a matter of reputation writers now consciously write in ways that don't sound AI-generated. It's changing the craft and prompting a prioritisation of something I never thought I'd need to affirm: a human voice.
please make it stop
First sundown of 26 in the bag
My wish for 2026 is lasting peace on the Thai-Cambodian border and a reopening of all border crossings and trade. Time to end the fighting and get the economy sailing again.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Fascinating look at the economics of sugarcane farming in Thailand: prachataienglish.com/node/11724
Tallied up all the Thai islands I've been to since my first (Samui) in 2007, and it's up to 96. Knew it was over 80 but didn't realise I'm so close to 100. Obv. there are sailors who've been to more, but not too shabby for not having my own boat. Should hit 100 next month!
A scoop of the mood in the far south of Ko Chang right now. As seen at Bang Bao Delight, a long-running favorite cafe on the pier.
Never ceases to amaze how many tourists motorbike around Ko Chang's steep challenging roads w/ no helmet. Been here a bunch of times and, without fail, I always see at least one skidded out bleeding on the roadside, if not worse.
At Khlong Prao beach I was about to hang my bag on this branch to go for a swim and then whoa sorry to disturb you lil fella
Thailand is more expensive than a few years ago but you can still rent a banged up car for 450 baht ($14 USD) on Ko Chang.
Some thoughts for anyone thinking of visting the Ko Chang Archipelago while Thailand and Cambodia battle over a border located less than 50 km away.
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/should-you...
Yes for years there was talk of moving it but last I heard it's staying put as are the other two stations. Ekkamai is being renovated tho, entire central area is gutted w/ ticket sellers clustered out front.
Heading to Ko Chang and Chanthaburi for Christmas. Just bought bus tix at Ekkamai station with its perpetual and always delightful soundtrack of "You! Pattaya! Go now go now!"
From a tourist on Reddit calling Thailand a "war-torn country" with "mass refugee flows" to a so-called analyst on Xwitter asserting that Thailand is following Russia's playbook to seize territory, the amount of total nonsense about the Thai-Cambodian conflict now pouring online is surreal.
Stowaways detected
Nakhon Phanom, home to Thailand's best riverfront imo, has added a ferris wheel.
www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/gen...
Forget Miss Universe and Michelin Guide. The awards I care about are Outstanding Public Toilets of Thailand. Great to see the Rama 2 Rd PTT gas station just made it at #13. Congratulations to all winners.
www.nationthailand.com/news/general...
Wrote an article mentioning 130 of Thailand's alternative destinations. Be warned, though, that once you fall down the alternative travel rabbit hole, it has no end.
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/to-make-th...
Done my best to summarise a tragic situation:
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/special-re...
Woke up at 04:45 to neighboring building ablaze here in Pinklao. Flames 7-10 metres from the wood house we're renting. Sprayed garden hose at it while wife called fire brigade, who arrived lightning fast and were amazing. No one hurt, our house undamaged. (Pics taken after fire crew took over.)
Foreign tourism in Thailand is trending towards predictable trips to established hotspots w/ all bookings online. Reinforced by chatbots, online echo chambers and govt requiring more info from travelers. More spontaneous travel is losing steam, as are small travel shops and others that rely on it.
"Cybercrime thrives because it serves political interests at home and because the global financial system enables it abroad." <- Excellent detailed explanation of the online scam industry.
thediplomat.com/2025/11/crac...