Dusty Boots Journal

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Dusty Boots Journal

Stories of authentic journeys and hidden paths around the world.

31/05/2026

A town of dust, flickering neon, and no-man's-land. 🇰🇭🇹🇭🎲

In our latest Dusty Boots Journal dispatch, we aren’t visiting a pristine beach or an ancient temple. Instead, we take a look at Poipet - the notorious border town between Thailand and Cambodia.

Most travelers rush through Poipet as fast as they can. But if you stop, breathe in the dust, and look past the huge casinos that dominate the border strip, you find a fascinating, lawless anomaly that refuses to be ignored.

Inside the Poipet dispatch:
🎰 The Neutral Zone: Exploring the surreal strip of casinos trapped between two immigration checkpoints.
🌪️ Life in the Dust: Witnessing the daily hustle of a town built on transit, trade, and tenacity.
🛑 Navigating the Gauntlet: The raw reality of a closed overland border crossing.
🥾 The Approachable Wanderer: Why the places that make you uncomfortable are often the ones that teach you the most.

Have a read! To go straight to the article, follow the link in the first comment.👇

29/05/2026

An architectural, cultural and culinary highlight of Penang. 🍰🎨🇲🇾

Mark Jeanes takes us inside one of the most famous, labyrinthine spaces in Malaysia: ChinaHouse Penang.

Occupying three converted 19th-century shophouses in the heart of UNESCO-listed George Town, ChinaHouse is a stretch of pure imagination. Part heritage archive, part contemporary art gallery, part live jazz bar, and home to a legendary counter displaying over 30 varieties of homemade cakes—it is an unscripted world of its own.

Inside Mark's Penang dispatch:
📐 Tax-Evading Architecture: The history behind George Town's incredibly deep, narrow long-houses.
🎂 The 30-Cake Gauntlet: Navigating what could be the most famous dessert table in Southeast Asia.
🎺 Courtyards & Culture: How a colonial ruin transformed into a thriving hub for local artists and musicians.

Read Mark’s experience of ChinaHouse in the journal! 👇

23/05/2026

A gallery with no ceiling, no walls, and an infinite horizon. 🌊🎨

In our latest Dusty Boots Journal visual dispatch, Muz takes us along Sydney's most spectacular coastline for Sculpture by the Sea.

Stretching along the iconic cliffs from Bondi to Tamarama, this exhibition takes contemporary art out of the stuffy indoor galleries and throws it directly into the salt spray, the wind, and the brilliant Australian sunshine. It’s an unscripted sensory overload where human imagination matches the drama of the Pacific Ocean.

Ready for a walk on the creative side? Step onto the trail and explore Muz's stunning photo gallery! 👇

19/05/2026

Where stories don’t just live… they breathe.🐎🇦🇺

Mark Cooper takes us deep into the Victorian High Country for the Man from Snowy River Festival at Corryong, where a town of 1,300 is transformed into a sea of Akubras, campfires, and the thundering hooves of brumbies. From bush poetry to the iconic re-enactment of the "c**t from Old Regret," it’s a weekend where Australian folklore is etched back into the dust.

Inside the High Country dispatch:
🏔️ Clancy Country: Why the drive into the foothills changes your pace.
🤠 The Transformation: Seeing a quiet township swell with 6,000 festival-goers.
🖋️ Literature in Motion: The power of Banjo Paterson’s words echoing across the showgrounds.

Grab a cuppa and step into the legend. Read Mark’s full journey to Corryong at the link in our bio/comments! 👇

To go directly to the article, follow the link in the first comment.

14/05/2026

The water is gone, but the recovery is lengthy. 🇹🇭🛶

In our latest Dusty Boots Journal dispatch, we’ve arrived in Hat Yai. We didn't find the usual neon-lit markets and bustling border-town energy; instead, we found a city in the quiet, determined aftermath of a major flood.

It’s an unscripted look at what happens when the cameras leave and the locals are left with the mud. But in true Thai fashion, people are making do, and the spirit of the city is rising faster than the water ever did.

Inside the Hat Yai report:
🌊 The High Water Mark: Seeing the physical scars left by the deluge on the city's architecture.
💪 The Art of the Recovery: How Hat Yai’s merchants turn disaster into business as usual with admirable speed.
🥾 The Approachable Wanderer: Why visiting during the aftermath is a lesson in the human side of travel.

For a direct link to the article, see the first comment.

10/05/2026

A Rusty Reminder of a Forgotten Conflict 🇰🇭⛓️

In our latest Dusty Boots Journal dispatch, we step away from the ancient stone of the temples and visit the rusting reality of the Siem Reap War Museum. This isn't a museum of glass cases and silent plaques. It’s a field of heavy machinery - tanks, helicopters, and artillery—reclaimed from the jungle.

It’s a reminder that beauty and tragedy often share the same soil.

To go directly to the article, follow the link in the first comment.

04/05/2026

Cool marble floors and the scent of salt air. 🌊🧘‍♂️

In our latest Dusty Boots Journal dispatch, we’re embarking on a new project: Buddhas by the Beach.

There is a unique kind of peace found where the ancient stories of a man who rejected opulence meet the infinite horizon of the sea. From hilltops that require a steady climb to quiet coastal sanctuaries, we’re building a living gallery of Buddha's most spectacular spots.

Inside the photo essay:
👣 The Soothing Escape: Why kicking off your shoes is the best part of any temple visit.
✨ Nirvana & Nature: Reflecting on the simple tale of the Buddha against the backdrop of the coast.
📸 A Growing Gallery: The first look at a collection of beachside icons we'll be adding to as we go.

Explore the gallery at the link in our bio/comments! 👇

For a direct link tot he article, go to the first Comment.

02/05/2026

The Bus from Kuala Lumpur to Penang...Better than Business Class... for only $25! 🚌🥢

We skipped the airport security lines and took the Aeroline from KL to Penang.

Most travelers instinctively book a flight, but you have a choice. Think hot meals, reclining seats, and watching the palm oil plantations roll by - all for a fraction of the cost of a budget airline ticket.

Consider:
💸 The sums: The bus saves you over $100 and eliminates airport hassle.
🍵 Service: Hot tea, blankets, and a steward? (Yes, on a bus).
🛣️ The highway: You get to see stuff from a bus.
🥾 General ease: Get yourself to TRX Metro and the rest looks after itself.

Is the bus the way to conquer the peninsula? We think so.

Read the full breakdown and see the business class seats at the article. 👇

For a direct link to the article, see the first comment below.

01/05/2026

Beyond the city lights of Chiang Mai lies Doi Saket and the home of the Youth Charity Foundation. 🇹🇭🌿

In a moving new piece for the Dusty Boots Journal, Lone takes us into the hills of northern Thailand to visit the YCF and share her experiences as a volunteer. In a world of fast-paced tourism, this is a lesson in travel with a soul.

Lone shares some background on the facility, and the dedication and determination of its founder. We see how YCF puts disadvantaged young people on a pathway they could not even dream about. And we see how lessons in craft and commerce create a sense of business and enterprise for the youngsters. This is the side of Thailand that doesn't make it into the glossy brochures.

Read the full story from Doi Saket in the Journal.

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