Greetings from Saigon, where we are back to social distancing for two weeks. It’s been brewing for the last month, so I have been mentally prepared for this to happen again. Even though the numbers are small compared to other places, this new outbreak has been making news headlines around the world.

Here are the latest updates on Nomadic Notes, and other great travel reads from around the web.

Latest posts at Nomadic Notes

Where I’m At: June 2021 – Saigon lockdown 2 edition

Europe Rail News – The new newsletter for train travel in Europe

I introduced my new Europe rail newsletter in last week’s newsletter, and here are more details in blog form.

COVID-19 and travel (or lack thereof)

How I spent my pandemic year in a camper van

Workers deal with snakes while maintaining stored Qantas A380s

The pandemic is getting worse, even when it seems like it’s getting better

New sobering UNWTO data suggests full tourism recovery won’t arrive until 2024

Those last two articles are a grim read, especially if you work in tourism in Asia, so here are some lemurs and meerkats relaxing to music in Thailand.

Reuters @Reuters

As the number of visitors fell at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, 11-year-old Seenlada Supat played music for the animals to give them company and help them relax reut.rs/3oW9PjM

9:40 AM ∙ May 27, 2021

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Assorted travel reads

Anthony Bourdain documentary Roadrunner gets first trailer: watch

United becomes first U.S. airline to sign aircraft purchase agreement with Boom Supersonic

Mozambique mints a new national park — and surveys its riches

“In the wake of wars, natural disasters and insurgencies, Mozambique is experiencing an environmental renaissance. One of the results is a new and stunningly beautiful national park.”

Could Phong Nha be one of Vietnam's top sustainable travel destinations?

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan: How I learnt the true meaning of a 'Do not travel' warning

Nuku Hiva: This paradise island is one of the remotest places on the planet

How the 1964 Olympic Games changed Tokyo forever

“Officials seized their chance to turn a war-scarred city into a modern metropolis.”

Lithuania and Poland built a ‘portal’ connecting two of their cities and people are loving it

He walked the length of India’s Ganges river and was shocked at what he found

“Siddharth Agarwal spent two years trekking along the nation’s holiest river and everywhere he went he saw the impact of climate change and human interference.”

Meet the digital nomad who's been living in Airbnbs for the last four years

Lee Cook @LeeCook_Images

It's pretty rare to get an aurora in the Southern Hemisphere of this magnitude, even rarer to capture it with New Zealand's highest mountain in frame. Bucket list shot ticked off for sure!

7:51 PM ∙ May 27, 2021

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The Nomadic Notes Travel Newsletter is a weekly newsletter of the best travel reads and interesting travel news from around the web, and random ramblings by the editor.

- James Clark