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Thai boxing matches at the Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium in Bangkok
Back in 2018 (6 years ago already!), I got to attend an evening of Thai boxing matches in Chiang Mai. Back in Thailand, I considered attending a fight night on Koh Phangan before realizing I’d have time to do it in Bangkok just before leaving the country. I noticed there are events at the Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium. My brother Bruno, who practices Thai boxing in France, confirmed it’s an iconic venue. I’m not sure if it’s like this all year, but in June/July, there are events every night. How to book tickets for the Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium? To book, you have three options: Since I didn’t feel like…
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Snorkeling in Koh Tao (Thailand)
After our trip to Bhutan, we fly again to Bangkok then take a night bus + speedboat to Koh Tao, where we stay for a week. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Transport Bangkok – Koh Tao JB books the tickets on 12go asia (link) but he picks the wrong category. There are two categories for the bus leaving at 9pm and you need to take the more expensive one at 1550THB, it’s the VIP bus with twice as much space as a regular bus. JB made a mistake and bought the regular bus tickets, and it took five massages afterwards to get my bones…
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[review] VIE Mgallery in Bangkok (Thailand)
Since JB has the status Gold at Accor, we always try to stay at an Accor hotel when we need an early check-in or a late check-out. Our bus to Koh Tao leaves at 9 PM, so we’re thrilled to have a late check-out until 5 PM at VIE Mgallery Bangkok. There are two MGallery hotels in Bangkok, and my gut tells me this one is better. And the suite will prove me right, as we’ll be at the other one a few weeks later, and it’s not the same standard. At this Mgallery, we were upgraded two categories + welcome drinks + early check-in + late check-out. In short,…
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A Week in Bhutan, the Land of Happiness: Part 2/4
After two nights in Thimphu, we’re eager to explore the Bhutanese countryside, far from the “big” cities. This post is part of a 3-part series on Bhutan. If you haven’t read the first part yet, check it out here Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal We’re supposed to have breakfast at 8am, but our hotel is surprised that “everyone arrives at the same time,” despite a very detailed order they had us make at 10pm the night before. We’re about to leave with empty stomachs when the waiter runs after us with a bag full of fruit. Our guide and driver are quite embarrassed by…
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Our rental investment in Nice. We did it again!
A few years ago, we became owners of a two-bedroom apartment in La Rochelle, we told you about it here. Six years later, we’ve just picked up the keys to another apartment in Nice. We bought it two years earlier while we were on the other side of the world. Once again, this article is a feedback post, not advice. This time, we went through the same financial advisor, who offered us three off-plan apartments: one in Saint-Étienne, one in Reims, and one in Nice. The purchase prices and estimated rents were different. For various reasons, we chose Nice because it seemed like the most dynamic city and the rent-to-buy…
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[Reflection] #13: Seizing Opportunities
According to the I Ching, an ancient Chinese book, success depends on you but also on the RIGHT TIME and the RIGHT PLACE. In my case, having a scholarship to study in Australia completely changed my life. Later, my English level set me apart from other candidates and I always managed to get the job. But a year later, I would never have studied in Australia because scholarships are only given every two years. I was able to seize the opportunity at the right time. According to numerology, everyone has at least 4 major opportunities in life. But the difficulty is daring to seize them. Because sometimes, opportunities come when…
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How to recover your Google Business listing (disabled or suspended)
During my travels, I occasionally coach my favorite local businesses for free to help them get more visibility, because I’m a “Local Guide Level 7” on Google Maps and my reviews carry much more weight than others. Among my favorite businesses is an absolutely adorable jeweler who loves to learn and keeps me updated on his business’s progress. For several weeks, he hasn’t been able to add photos/videos/his phone number to his Google Maps listing. I stop by his shop, he hands me his computer, and I improve the description of his listing. We chat happily. Two minutes later, we go back to Google Maps and it says “listing suspended.”…
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Scooter rental in Koh Tao (Thailand): address & prices
Disclaimer: be careful! You’ll have no trouble renting a scooter in Koh Tao (or anywhere else in Thailand). If you don’t have a motorbike license, it’s still illegal. It can expose you to fines (very unlikely on Koh Tao), but above all: you won’t be covered by your insurance in case of an accident. Moreover, it’s easy to get overconfident on Koh Tao. It’s a little paradise; you see foreigners riding without helmets, bare-chested and barefoot… It’s quite exhilarating, that feeling of freedom. It’s still dangerous: you drive on the left, there are steep ups and downs, there can be sandy areas, and during monsoon season, you can find yourself…
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A Week in Bhutan, the Land of Happiness: Part 1/4
We’re taking advantage of being in Asia to fulfill one of our dreams: visiting Bhutan, the country whose people are said to be the happiest in the world, to understand their recipe for happiness. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Choosing the Agency Although the cost of living is very low, visiting Bhutan requires a well-stocked wallet, because you have to: Since we’re at the start of the monsoon season (late May – early June), there are few tourists (except the Indian neighbors who are on vacation), and we have a private tour for a week. The agency we chose is called Bhutan Best Inbound…
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Prepaid SIM/eSIM in Bhutan: How much does it cost? Where to buy one? (2024)
Buying an eSIM valid in Bhutan If you want to keep things simple and have a compatible phone, you can buy an eSIM valid in Bhutan. Since Bhutan is a tiny country, there don’t seem to be many options available for it. Airalo offers one at an attractive price (USD 9.50), but with little data (1 GB). So it’s not necessarily a great deal. Buying a SIM card at the airport At Paro International Airport, you’ll find two counters selling SIM cards: You can’t miss them; the airport is tiny! The offers are pretty much the same. For a week with unlimited internet, it’ll cost you 1,100 ngultrums, or about…
