David Luekens
@dluek.bsky.social
Thailand-focused travel writer (Travelfish, CNN) now featuring 1,200+ islands and 350+ coastal areas at thaiislandquest.substack.com.
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...
www.npr.org/2026/02/05/n...
Poll: Two-thirds of Americans say ICE has 'gone too far' in immigration enforcement
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds a jump in disapproval of the agency among Democrats and independents, but Republicans are standing by ICE and the president.
www.npr.org
February 5, 2026 at 11:38 AM
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...
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.
February 4, 2026 at 5:34 AM
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.
January 20, 2026 at 6:24 AM
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.
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/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
2026 Travel Destinations: 52 Places to Go This Year
Our list for the new year features an eclipse, a revolution and a tiger reserve. What’s on yours?
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:41 AM
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/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
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.
January 5, 2026 at 9:06 AM
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.
First sundown of 26 in the bag
January 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
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...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers held since July
The release is part of a new ceasefire deal after weeks of deadly clashes along the Thai-Cambodia border.
www.bbc.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:14 AM
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...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Fascinating look at the economics of sugarcane farming in Thailand: prachataienglish.com/node/11724
Sugarcane farmers and PM 2.5 pollution: Is it really their fault?
Sugarcane farmers, often targeted as a major source of PM2.5 pollution, have significantly reduced field burning practices to comply with government regulatory measures. Despite the consequences they ...
prachataienglish.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:04 AM
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!
December 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
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.
December 23, 2025 at 5:43 AM
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.
December 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
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
December 20, 2025 at 9:02 AM
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.
December 20, 2025 at 5:23 AM
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...
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/should-you...
Should you go to Ko Chang, Ko Mak or Ko Kood right now?
A question on many travelers' minds due to the Thai-Cambodian conflict.
thaiislandquest.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:07 AM
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...
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/should-you...
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!"
December 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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.
December 11, 2025 at 5:21 AM
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.
Nakhon Phanom, home to Thailand's best riverfront imo, has added a ferris wheel.
www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/gen...
www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/gen...
Mekong River Eye a new landmark in Isan
50-metre high riverside ferris wheel scheduled to open on Dec 15 in Nakhon Phanom
www.bangkokpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Nakhon Phanom, home to Thailand's best riverfront imo, has added a ferris wheel.
www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/gen...
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...
www.nationthailand.com/news/general...
Thailand names 13 outstanding public toilets; 90% meet standard
Top 13 outstanding public toilets of 2025 announced. Two categories fell short of standards. Thailand needs 0.2 % better access to reach 2030 clean toilet goal.
www.nationthailand.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:50 AM
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...
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...
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/to-make-th...
November 30, 2025 at 8:25 AM
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...
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/to-make-th...
Done my best to summarise a tragic situation:
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/special-re...
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/special-re...
Special report: Floods devastate Hat Yai and other parts of Southern Thailand
The flood situation in Southern Thailand's largest city and several other districts has become desperate after a week of nearly nonstop rain.
thaiislandquest.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Done my best to summarise a tragic situation:
thaiislandquest.substack.com/p/special-re...
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.)
November 23, 2025 at 11:46 PM
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.
November 23, 2025 at 9:30 AM
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...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/crac...
Cracking Southeast Asia’s Scam Economy
Washington and London’s recent unprecedented actions showed what global coordination can achieve – and what remains to be done.
thediplomat.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:11 AM
"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...
thediplomat.com/2025/11/crac...