Another week down, another bunch of new subscribers and hopefully even more feet itching.
This is a regular weekly thread, wrapping on how Couchfish is doing. Keeping score? You can read the previous wraps here: Week one, week two and week three.
So in the past week Couchfish went from 442 to 539 free and paid subscribers. This is better than last week, in part (I think!) because we were plugged in Jon Russell and Erin Cook’s newsletters. Thank you! Also Couchfish was the “featured newsletter” on the Substack homepage for a day. A win for bragging rights!
There are a few ways to make my morning. This is one of them.
One last thing. I’m looking forward to being able to let you all know about a new and very cool newsletter coming out this week (no, not by me!). If you’re a beach bum, you’ll want to keep your eyes out for this one. More in Tuesday’s free edition—be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!
I will keep this week brief, pointing you to the the most read this week and then a question for you all. No surprise here, but the two most popular reads were the two free–to–read ones:
Your stories are reminding me a lot of the first years I lived in Thailand. I’m missing getting in the truck and exploring the edges of the country (being a kiwi land borders have always fascinated me). Can’t wait to get back up to Nan!
I miss being in the park at 6:30AM in Nakhon Sawan (Central Thailand), to do tai chi with the locals for 2 to 3 hours and then heading to Ran Kwethiaw Ce San, a small cheap place well known to the locals, do a wai to the old lady, with a smile because I am happy to be there, say good morning how are you, sit down at a stainless table in the dead end alley, and get a Kwe Thiaw Pla for breakfast. And this comes with the sincere heartfelt welcoming smile of all these places in Thailand where tourism hasn't transformed the society; and of those places there are SO many. Which is why I am enjoying following you every night (for me) in exactly those places and find out what I missed when I passed by; well what do you know....I'll have to go back. Thanks a lot Stuart, your daily stories never miss putting a smile on my face. Especially now.
I virtually always fly in and out of Bangkok. What I miss is getting in the taxi and being driven to my hotel and pondering the weeks ahead and where i'll be travelling
We were meant to be back in Thailand & Cambodia in March / April. It was to be my 11 year olds first foray into backpacking around SE Asia. I miss that I won’t get to see his awe at a culture so vastly different to ours. To watch him play street football with some local kids in Bangkok. Won’t get to see him take his first underwater breaths in the same crystal clear gulf waters that I did 20+ odd years ago. I’ll miss getting to see his excitement at being able to jump in the back of a Ute, on an island, and be driven to our destination. I miss not being able to see him practice talking Thai to the locals & learning about their culture. Ahhh, so many things. But when this is all over, Thailand will still be there. And we’ll be back. I just hope he hasn’t entered the mopey teenager phase by then!
I miss the heat and smell and colour and chaos. I miss dodging motorbikes as I walk through food markets. I miss the weird contrasts- incredibly beautiful gold temple with the big ugly digital click on the wall; the horror of a stall of pigs bits next to a stall of beautiful mystery fruit.
And I also miss the community life, people out on streets in the evenings, socialising and working. I love watching everyone doing their exercises in the early morning and evening. I find it weirdly heart-warming. I don’t even know why.
People, people, people and the people! Kindness, humour, support networks, focus on family and community, life stories, resilience and mouth watering cuisine permeates through everything and everyone. Asia simplified our life and personal philosophy many years ago. Forever grateful.
We visited Myanmar in December, already feels like a lifetime ago 😣 . I think what we really miss about Myanmar and the whole of S.E.A. is the genuine friendliness and warmth of its people ❤❤❤❤
Your stories are reminding me a lot of the first years I lived in Thailand. I’m missing getting in the truck and exploring the edges of the country (being a kiwi land borders have always fascinated me). Can’t wait to get back up to Nan!
Cheers mate! You’ll love Monday and Tuesdays coming entries - up in the hills on two wheels. 👍🏻
Nothing beats a rural Cambodian "hello" ambush
Out of the way sites. After Preah Vihear using the eastern steps in 2019, I was planning Phou Pha Ti/LS 85 for 2020. Now, who knows when?
Ok, ok. Privileged whining. Video https://youtu.be/OIzpHRTqglo
Wow that video!
I miss being in the park at 6:30AM in Nakhon Sawan (Central Thailand), to do tai chi with the locals for 2 to 3 hours and then heading to Ran Kwethiaw Ce San, a small cheap place well known to the locals, do a wai to the old lady, with a smile because I am happy to be there, say good morning how are you, sit down at a stainless table in the dead end alley, and get a Kwe Thiaw Pla for breakfast. And this comes with the sincere heartfelt welcoming smile of all these places in Thailand where tourism hasn't transformed the society; and of those places there are SO many. Which is why I am enjoying following you every night (for me) in exactly those places and find out what I missed when I passed by; well what do you know....I'll have to go back. Thanks a lot Stuart, your daily stories never miss putting a smile on my face. Especially now.
Thanks Richard! Glad you’re enjoying it. Will hit Nakhon Sawan later in the trip. 😀
I virtually always fly in and out of Bangkok. What I miss is getting in the taxi and being driven to my hotel and pondering the weeks ahead and where i'll be travelling
Yeah there is something about that cab ride upon arrival... wrote about it on the very first Couchfish post! https://couchfish.substack.com/p/couchfish-day-1-hello-bangkok
We were meant to be back in Thailand & Cambodia in March / April. It was to be my 11 year olds first foray into backpacking around SE Asia. I miss that I won’t get to see his awe at a culture so vastly different to ours. To watch him play street football with some local kids in Bangkok. Won’t get to see him take his first underwater breaths in the same crystal clear gulf waters that I did 20+ odd years ago. I’ll miss getting to see his excitement at being able to jump in the back of a Ute, on an island, and be driven to our destination. I miss not being able to see him practice talking Thai to the locals & learning about their culture. Ahhh, so many things. But when this is all over, Thailand will still be there. And we’ll be back. I just hope he hasn’t entered the mopey teenager phase by then!
Hi Mel, yup it will still be there! Even a mopey teenager will love it!
I miss sitting on a plastic stool, eating a bowl of spicy noodles, sipping ice coffee.....engrossed in watching everything magical about Thailand..
I miss the heat and smell and colour and chaos. I miss dodging motorbikes as I walk through food markets. I miss the weird contrasts- incredibly beautiful gold temple with the big ugly digital click on the wall; the horror of a stall of pigs bits next to a stall of beautiful mystery fruit.
And I also miss the community life, people out on streets in the evenings, socialising and working. I love watching everyone doing their exercises in the early morning and evening. I find it weirdly heart-warming. I don’t even know why.
People, people, people and the people! Kindness, humour, support networks, focus on family and community, life stories, resilience and mouth watering cuisine permeates through everything and everyone. Asia simplified our life and personal philosophy many years ago. Forever grateful.
June flights cancelled for our next 6 mth sojourn so Couchfish has reduced the sadness and madness! Cheers!
Thanks Lindy!
We visited Myanmar in December, already feels like a lifetime ago 😣 . I think what we really miss about Myanmar and the whole of S.E.A. is the genuine friendliness and warmth of its people ❤❤❤❤
stay safe .
lindsay
Thanks Lindsay, you too!
You said one but I’ve five.
Cheap beer.
Great beaches.
Cool people.
Amazing food.
Tears when I leave. Every time.
Franz I said one!!!! But yes, agree with all five. 👍🏻🤣