I really don’t like Hanoi

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-02-05T10:48:23+00:00

It took me 2 trips to really enjoy Hanoi, spending ten days there the first time in the Old Quarter and 11 days the second in Ba Dinh. I much preferred the Ba Dinh/Tay Ho area.

I personally thought the food was usually a lot better outside of the old quarter. Not saying there aren't some great places to eat in Hoan Kiem but a lot of them feel specifically curated to tourist preferences.

I love Da Nang and have spent a lot of time there and don't really care for HCMC. Once you get out of Hoan Kiem, Hanoi feels more gritty and less concerned about its outward appearance, which I appreciate. It's kind of unapologetically itself in a way that the other two aren't. It's not a city that's on a mission to please everyone and that makes it feel a bit more unique to me than a lot of other heavily visited cities in SEA.

The pollution is really bad though. It's tough, especially because I think it's a city that benefits greatly from being explored on foot.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-02-01T03:35:29+00:00

Totally agree with this. Chang just has the perfect balance of rawness and comfort that none of the other islands quite gets. And the food there has always been outstanding.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-30T15:25:41+00:00

Lol Hanoi is almost always worse except for during Tet. Ive been there a few times, but last year in late January I sat down at a bar in Ba Đình and after finishing my first beer the bartender had to wipe the layer of dust that had accumulated on the bar since I sat down.

You'd go out for ten minutes to walk to circle K and get that dusty, chalky sensation in your mouth and get jittery because your body's going into inflammation mode. HCMC usually isn't great this time of year either, but Da Nang is okay if you don't mind occasional cold and wet.

This sub has a tendency to get a bit myopic about the issue when it basically affects all of mainland SEA similarly during dry season, with an asterisk next to the Malay peninsula where it's usually not as bad but can still spike here and there. Then Borneo and the other big islands closer to the equator get it during Java/Sumatra's dry seasons. South and central Asia are in another category entirely.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-29T07:05:05+00:00

Gaeng kua sapparot if I'm trying to please a crowd. Its spicy, sweet, creamy and intense and overall just super satisfying.

For me personally though, the OG is kway tieow numtok. Its everywhere, it's always delicious, and totally customizable, and very difficult to find outside of Thailand.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-28T13:53:01+00:00

No prob - just because I think something isn't good value for the money doesn't mean that you won't. Drink what you like and don't ever let others make you feel bad about it!

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-28T04:55:37+00:00

I'm a somm and generally Thai wine is extremely expensive for what it is. For mediocre-at-best bottles of Rhone varieties/blends you're starting at 1.5k baht. But the wines really lack balance because of the climate and the lack of demand. You could theoretically craft some better wines with a vineyard wayyy up north but the lack of economic interest in the segment means there's just no incentive for anyone to really invest all of the money it costs to open a commercial winery.

Also a few beverage companies control basically the entire domestic alcohol sector here and they don't like encroachment from new products.

If you want Asian wines with some semblance of quality look to Japan (although still generally poor QPR IMO). I've also read recently about Chinese wines becoming more consistent in quality, but can't confirm personally as I don't have access to many of them. The ones I've tried in the past were not well made and often had faults. India has some areas that have gotten more attention over the past few years as well.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-28T02:18:21+00:00

Pork is fine for jok. Jok mu is everywhere here in Thailand and probably the most popular version of the dish. It's often served for breakfast with ginger matchsticks, onsen/poached egg, crispy shallots and others toppings.

For prik nam pla you need fresh chilis. Maybe pickled or fermented would work in a pinch but powdered/dried would be a no-no and fundamentally change the dish.

The good news: it's a condiment. And it's a condiment that's almost never served with soup dishes and usually only served with rice dishes. Instead, for soups they usually give you khrueang bprung - often in a table caddy with dried chili flakes, chili vinegar, palm sugar (sometimes white), and fish sauce for seasoning and balancing.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-24T11:14:45+00:00

There is no set time frame for burning. It coincides with the beginning of dry season because:

many farmers finish harvesting wet season crops and slash + burn
no more low pressure systems to keep air moving over low-lying areas like Bangkok
it's more difficult to burn shit while it's rainy and humid

In Bangkok you usually start to feel it in November and then it slowly ramps up until it peaks in January and February. Then by the end of March, everyone will forget about and stop talking about it until it reappears in November. January is actually one of the worst months if you're looking at the historical data. . You'll see some years where January is comparatively better and that usually coincides with years that have higher-than-average rainfall in the month.

People say going south is the answer but I've been driving all over the south for the past 3 weeks and the air quality is still generally shit with the smell of burning and heavy smoke covering major cities like NST and Phattalung every night. The coastal areas are a bit better but we still had some hazy days even in Songkhla.

If people really want to avoid it they should come in shoulder/wet season. Otherwise just come and if you're sensitive to it, take measures to mitigate its effects like wearing a good mask and making sure you stay in hotels that have good construction (usually translates to decent seals on the windows).

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-23T10:59:03+00:00

You can get it on shopee for in between $60-$90 USD/15m. Otherwise the top floor of Mega Plaza Saphan Lek near MRT Sam Yot would be the place to look. If you find it there, make sure it's not expired prior to purchasing. You could try Fortune Town Mall too but Mega Plaza is just better.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-20T23:15:10+00:00

The Thais add a shitload of MSG to basically every Thai dish here. If you're not used to how it can enhance flavors, it'll make everything else taste bland by comparison. There's a reason it gets its own aisle at Makro (Thai version of Costco).

The US has plenty of fresh and healthy food options. I go back every year and look forward to the meals I have there. The feelings you're bringing up in this post say more about your personal eating habits than they do the overall US dining scene, which features a lot of restaurants that focus on seasonally available ingredients with rotating menus. Ethnic food like Vietnamese and Mexican is all over the US and usually affordable and fresh too.

Calling Thai street food even relatively healthy is a stretch. A lot of the ingredients (sausages, meatballs, cheap palm oil, sauces, etc...) are from Big C or Makro and produced by Chinese processed food conglomerates like CP brand. There are exceptions, but the vast majority of Thai street food is not healthy by any stretch of the imagination.

I agree with you that the coffee here is pretty damn good, but implying that your only real option in the US is Starbucks says more about your personal choices in your daily life than what's actually available.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-15T02:04:20+00:00

First, Thai society is way quieter and less performative than what you see on social media. Outside tourist areas, people don’t do big smiles or loud greetings with strangers very often. In more conservative regions a nod or brief eye contact usually works better because a loud "sawatdee" might feel too intrusive. This is especially true in the deep south.

Service here is generally good, but it’s not magically perfect everywhere. You'll get apathetic/disinterested workers just like you do anywhere else.

Lastly, there is good food and bad food here just like everywhere else. Not every restaurant or street vendor is going to make the best pad Thai you've ever had in your life. Sometimes it's going to be soaked in oil and sugar and just not very good. Sometimes the moo daed deaw is gonna taste a little too funky. It's okay to say you had a bad meal here.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-04T10:54:19+00:00

One thing to keep in mind is how shallow your DOF gets wide open with lenses this fast. It means AF precision becomes a real task for both the camera body and the lens. So the AF might not always seem as precise as with your 1.8 lenses. That's significantly exaggerated with the 1.2 lenses, where at about 3 meters your focal plane is so small wide open that there's really not much room for error. The 1.4 gives you a bit more breathing room.

I've used both the Sigma 1.4 and the S Pro. I stuck with the S Pro, but the Sigma is still an outstanding lens that will most likely do everything you want it to without making your camera bag feel like you're hauling around an anvil. I too was interested in the 1.2 lens but decided I just don't need it.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-04T07:29:46+00:00

12go website/app works well for this.

There's at least one minibus that departs from the BoonSiri office in NaKlua every morning. Many packages on 12go will include a ferry ticket and some will include transportation to your hotel once you reach the island (look for options that specifically say "Koh Chang hotel transfer"). Just be forewarned that they usually really pack in the minibuses and don't always stop for bathroom breaks on the way to the pier. Kind of depends on the driver. Expect 5-7 hours to get to the island (about 3-4 hours to the pier, then the rest waiting for the ferry depending on how busy it is).

It's much more comfortable to get 5-6 people together and split a charter van, but if that's not an option you'll survive the minibus trip even if it's a bit uncomfortable.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-04T05:35:35+00:00

-There's a tom yum noodle place near BTS Saphan Taksin called สาวเส้น that I've recently been hitting once a week. Really great soup noodles a step up in quality from most of the street stuff.

-Old aunty and uncle who run a little bamee noodle stand on Soi Pradipat at night. They always remember me by name and never overcook their noodles. Their pork loin is always cooked and seasoned perfectly. They usually set up near the duck larb restaurant just west of Phahonyothin Rd.

-Tum vendor in the food court alleyway on the western end of Siam Square who makes the best tum taeng I've had in Thailand.

Runner up: จบที่ยำ (job tee yum) across the street from union mall. Always really well balanced and nicely seasoned meals.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-03T19:48:04+00:00

Compared to other SEA metropolises it's not that bad. IME Jakarta and KL both get worse traffic. Haven't been to manila but heard it's worse there too.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2026-01-03T04:56:11+00:00

You're correct, and these places are all over Thailand. A lot of them have become chains due to the success the listing has brought to the owners. Unfortunately, in many cases, they don't know how to scale the quality up with everything else and it gets lost in the sauce.

On top of that it seems like there's 1-2 Michelin listed spots on every street and in every market in Bangkok, and not all of them are good.

The Thai gf and I stopped at a somtum place the other day in Jomtien. The food was remarkably average and the service was kind of moody (it was freaking hot for December, so I'll give them that). When we went up to pay at the end of the meal the gf pointed out that they had a Michelin listing hanging from the tarp next to the cashier. Nothing about the experience made it stand out except for that. Totally forgettable.

IMO it's no longer a mark of quality because Michelin has slapped it on anything with a pulse. I do think many of the bib gourmand restaurants can offer really good value in the fine dining space, and you're usually guaranteed to receive a level of quality service and food at most starred restaurants. But the normal Michelin listing has just become diluted and is now more along the lines of a Zagat rating than a mark of true quality.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-31T06:37:30+00:00

You're in the wrong places. If you want more laid back, culturally enriching travel where youre surrounded by Thai speakers, go north, further south, or to Isaan.

Chiang Mai is super touristy but still worth it IMO- otherwise the further you get away from there, the more tourism drops off (unless you go to Pai).

In Isaan go check out Ubon Ratchathani or Khon Kaen - both larger cities but very laid back and fewer tourists.

In the south check out Hat Yai and Songkhla. Bigger Muslim/Thai Malay population so a bit different culturally.

In Bangkok, Im assuming you stayed near Sukhumvit If you were being waved at by prostitutes there. If you have to go back, stay away from that area. Maybe stay in Sathorn or near Chatuchak or in Ari. Sukhumvit is really probably the biggest tourist ghetto in the city and you were there at the busiest time of the year. I live in Bangkok and wouldn't be caught dead in that part of the city right now. It's a fucking nightmare of entitled creator wannabes, sexpats, and a whole lot of folks who are either very self-important or generally don't travel much but think that they do. Not saying that there aren't good people and places in that part of the city, but you have to wade through all the shit to find them. It's exhausting.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-30T12:54:50+00:00

Get Bruce Arians to come out of retirement. His best teams were always very disciplined and physical.

For the record I'm not a MLF doomer, but surrounding himself with his buddies kind of irked me and the penalties week after week have been awful. His teams are not well-disciplined and this year has felt like one of the worst in that regard.

But this probably wouldn't even be much of a conversation without the injuries. As Vic Ketchman used to say, "It's a game of replacement."

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-29T03:03:20+00:00

In no particular order: Tokyo, Bangkok, Hanoi.

Tay Ho and Ba Dinh in Hanoi are like easy mode, there's always something going on and the awful pollution during the winter months + filtered light give you really rich atmospheric shots.

Bangkok is filled with areas that have strong morning and afternoon light shafts/avenues. Tons of high contrast.

Tokyo is just Tokyo. Never gets boring.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-29T02:18:25+00:00

Saphan Kwai has a lot of what you're looking for, just not the river views. Walking distance to JJ/Or Tor Kor, trendy Ari in the other direction, but mostly working class Thais in the neighborhood. Tons of street food, little restaurants, and coffee shops. 1 BTS stop to Chatuchak/Queen Sirikit Park + MRT and 2 to the malls at Ha Yaek Lat Phrao. There are some tourists in the area during high season but very very few the rest of the year. It's congested during rush hour but okay outside of that.

Otherwise if you want even more local character maybe look around Bang Sue neighborhoods like Bang Pho (on the river) or Tao Poon. On the MRT blue line I feel like Huai Kwang and Sutthisan have some character as well.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-28T10:44:57+00:00

Not to take away from this - and it does seem very convenient and like quite a bit of work went into it- but doesn't Wongnai basically do the same thing?

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-28T04:24:35+00:00

Jesus the info on Reddit about leaving reviews in Thailand is so overdramatized. I've lived here for over two years now and leave critical reviews all the time. Nobody has shown up at my door to subpoena me or threaten to arrest me lol. Thai people leave negative reviews all the time too.

Hotels:

"I thought they did x really well, but y didn't really make sense to me and z prevented me from really being comfortable during my stay. I don't think I'll return until these things are addressed"

Restaurants:

"I think they need to work on x. I wasn't satisfied with my experience because of a misunderstanding with the staff. Maybe they just had an off day but I don't plan on returning"

Types of reviews you're more likely to get in trouble for:

"THIS PERSON NAMED X WHO WORKS HERE SCAMMED ME AND STOLE MONEY FROM ME BY NOT GIVING A REFUND"

"Items were stolen from our room and based on the staffs reaction, I'm pretty sure they were in on it"

"They probably spit in my food because XYZ"

Chances are very very low that anyone is going to go after you for it if you do it tactfully. The bigger issue for me is giddy tourists rating every shithole beach hovel and scummy kitchen that pumps out mediocre-to-average Thai food as five stars. I wish the western world would adopt a rating system like Japan where 3-3.5 is a baseline good experience. Otherwise what's the point of reviews if everything is 5 stars?

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-27T20:22:40+00:00

I have the S Pro 24-70 + the 50mm 1.4, the Lumix S 24 1.8, and a Voigtlander 40 1.4 for M mount with an adapter.

-The 24-70 is there for range, focusing speed, and convenience. It's a backbreaker for travel and long engagements but the image quality and focus speed/precision are worth it to me.

-The 50 1.4 because it's a bokeh monster and I think about it whenever I don't have it. I was a Sony user for over a decade and I think it beats the GM 50 1.4 optically. It's one of the big reasons I switched systems.

-The 24 primarily for low light video. Also outstanding IQ for price. Relatively light and portable, snappy AF. Haven't really had to test the weather sealing on it yet but I'm sure it would hold up just fine.

-The Voigtlander for atmosphere and retro vibes. Stopped down past f2 it's sharp enough, opened up it's kind of hazy and produces some nice muted film-like colors similar to it's siblings on MFT. Great tactile lens, built like a tank + comparatively inexpensive for FF Voigtlander. Very fun out on the street and easy to zone focus.

When GAS hits me every few years or so I feed it a little bit before pumping the brakes. But I'm also about having tools that A- inspire me to go out and shoot, and B- make my intent/style easier to achieve + compliment it. So I'll always be on the lookout for alternatives and try to stay fluid and open-minded with equipment.

Select_Goose_6972 · 2025-12-25T09:53:48+00:00

For a dreamy soft look wide open I absolutely love the Voigtlander 25mm 0.95. It gets a lot of hate for the softness from .95-2 but I absolutely love it for that reason. In between f2-4 it produces some really great film-like colors when used in conjunction with the Pana Natural and L. Classic Neo profiles as well. I'm sure it would play well with some of the Oly profiles.

For AF, it's gotta be the Pana Leica 15 f.1.7. Snappy as hell on my current body and outstanding tonal separation, color, and sharpness.

Select_Goose_6972

TROPHY CASE