Thai e-visa & foodie heavens | Issue #0020

A little late to the party, but Happy New Year nomads!

Judging by our poll last week, most of you were having an early one on NYE, to start afresh in 2025. That should mean many of you were raring to go for the new year, so you’re just about ready for some news and useful stuff from us!

We’re kicking off 2025 with…

📚 You aren’t getting clients or customers without a good story
🔮 Nostradamus’s predictions for the year…or at least some of them
🍝 Where to nomad for the best feeding frenzy
📰 One city’s residents fell for fake NYE news - literally 1000s of them!
📱 Meet nomads in your next spot, before you even arrive

Let’s get to it!

NEWS
A rite of passage is closing for visitors to Thailand

Part of the experience when planning a visit to Thailand used to be queueing at a consulate somewhere, submitting your docs and waiting for a few days before you knew if you would get in.

That changed some time ago for some countries when Thailand launched a limited e-visa process, but it wasn’t available everywhere.

We mentioned this last week while many of you were O.O.O., but since the 1st of January, e-visas can be applied for from anywhere in the world. This includes the popular DTV (and if you’ve not got one yet, then sooner the better we hear - especially if you’re not going for a soft power version).

Read more from TAT here, but say goodbye to those consulate visits in random countries!

WHAT ELSE…

👩‍💼 AI is taking jobs. Fact. No surprise that Fintech is leading this particular charge maybe, but Klarna has shed over 1000 jobs in the last year in favour of AI.

🥾 An actually interesting list of places to go That is no mean feat given the huge number of 2024/5 lists over recent weeks. Some of these are literally only just becoming possible to see or do this year.

👨‍💻 Not what a lot of nomads wanted to hear Notably ones who’d paid for a Remote Year program, and are yet to hear what happens next. A very abrupt shutdown of the most visible remote working program.

🇻🇳 A big selling point shut off Da Nang is firmly on the nomad map now, but a big section of its famously long beach succumbed to the weather last week.

🤬 Not the New Year 1000s expected! Fake news left a LOT of people disappointed in one major city on NYE. 

POLL

STORYTIME
If you’re not telling a story, you’re not getting clients

This isn’t just marketing speak. Serial writer, speaker, podcaster, and marketer, Nir Zavaro, is taking a little break from constant travel to settle into some routine for a couple of months in Chiang Mai.

We got to sit with him and hear why any story will do…

How did nomadding start for you?
While I was writing F*** the Slides I got asked to speak about it all over the world. It got to the point where I was on the road so much I gave up my apartment. My team stayed in the office running my agency and I went remote.

So, the book - it’s about storytelling in essence?
Yes. Storytelling might sound like just another buzzword, but it’s something we do all day, every day, yet don’t practice it. It’s not a soft skill; it’s a must-have skill. The essence is how to create and measure a winning pitch - a short, impactful story.

Where did the book come from?
While working with tech founders I noticed how much they relied on their decks. But when it came to their story, they improvised. Take their slides away, they wouldn’t know what to say or, more importantly, how to make their audience feel. As I started traveling the world and speaking I realized this wasn’t unique to one place - it was the same everywhere.

Who should read the book?
Anyone who wants to pitch their idea, sell more, craft a better message. Digital nomads especially as most of them have or need clients, customers, or are in businesses that do. Building brands - even personal brands - requires storytelling.

What next?
I’m always open to asking audiences - in person or those reading my work - to make me accountable to do the next thing. And that is to keep inspiring others to not wait until tomorrow to do the thing. I’m already well into the next book, The Business Catcher, and this period of nomadism is having a big influence on it.

Got a favorite spot on your travels over the last couple of years?
Something clicked when I got to Chiang Mai. I’ve written these two books across 20 different countries, but I’ve written more here than anywhere else. It feels like a village in a way, and I’ve found a lot of focus here.

You can get F*** the Slides on Amazon, visit Nir’s website, sign up to his weekly newsletter - 1M Storytellers, and find him on LinkedIn several times a day! That’s if he’s not out finding coffee or wild motorcycle routes around north Thailand before he moves onto his next destination.

NOMAD SUMMIT 2025

After a 5 year hiatus Nomad Summit returns to Chiang Mai. It kicks off next week - 17th January - with two packed days hearing, meeting, and connecting with leading minds in digital nomadism and other nomads like you.

Immediately following the conference (though it’s not a conference in the boring, traditional sense!) is Nomad Week. There’ll be talks, workshops and meetups all over Chiang Mai, mostly be open to all to book to attend but free for ticket holders.

Tickets are still available on the Nomad Summit website.

DESTINATIONS
The route to any digital nomad’s heart

It is probably the route to many “normal” people’s heart too, but food often features when you are choosing a new destination. Luckily, TasteAtlas have released their 100 Best Food Cities for some guidance as to where you might strike lucky.

Italy features frequently unsurprisingly - good news if you’re on their digital nomad visa launched last year - though we’d argue Asia is somewhat underrepresented!

In terms of some cities digital nomads should probably take note of, these rank highest:

Check out the top 100 list here.

SPREAD THE WORD

Have you been forwarded The Digital Nomad by a friend? If so, make sure you don’t miss out on future issues and sign up to get it every Tuesday.

Or do you have friends who are digital nomads, or are planning to be? If you think they could use a quick weekly fix of what’s happening in their world, then share this link or simply share it on your socials - links are at the top of this newsletter.

BRAIN FOOD
In The Digital Nomad inbox this week

Book - If New Year isn’t a catalyst for some healthy living, then when is? Good Energy from Casey Means MD might help you understand where to start.

App - On the move soon? Punta connects you with nomads in your next destination.

Podcast - An hour that might just shape your 2025.

Music - Perhaps the most covered rock song in your local music bar, but this version is truly magical.

Funny - Is your New Year water-cooler chat like this?

Drop us an email at [email protected] if you have any recommendations we should share!

CONNECT TO CHIANG MAI
Fill your social calendar in Chiang Mai

Steve’s Email A weekly resource and email for events around the city.

Digital Nomad WhatsApp A long-standing group that spawned a range of sub-groups for almost any niche and interest in the city.

For up-to-date events in the city, join the Activities/Events WhatsApp group.

Chiang Mai Fit WhatsApp: If you want to do something active (trust us, being fit isn’t a prerequisite!) then find wholesome activities throughout the week here.

Yellow Coworking Telegram. For more about what is happening at Yellow and to be part of their conversation, join in here.

…and remember to sign up for the gratitude and planning workshop digital nomad Maria Hansen is running this Thursday!

COWORKING IN CHIANG MAI

If you are in the city, or heading over soon, then check out the current packages - from day passes to monthly or annual memberships - here.

Or, just get in touch with Mickey or the team at Yellow Coworking at [email protected].

MAKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD LIFE EASIER
Resources for digital nomads everywhere

What we’ve accumulated from previous issues - from fellow nomads, interviews with thought leaders, great deals from partners, and some local heroes in Chiang Mai too:

• SafetyWing, who also offers digital nomad insurance, also started running community events in various locations around the world. A few participants in a Chiang Mai one even won a meal out at a top restaurant in the city!

• Genki also does worldwide digital nomad insurance.

• Remote Rebellion. Start or re-ignite your remote working journey with Michelle - a career coach specialising in remote roles and nailing them down.

• Connect with other digital nomads and build your network with Digital Nomad Adventures.

• Learn copywriting and how to turn it into a business with CCA.

• Contact Liselle for a LinkedIn or resume revamp.

• If decision-making is not your forte, get in touch with Hannah Wang - a decision-making coach for entrepreneurs, business owners and big corporates.

• Stay safe online (and get TV from any country!) using NordVPN. They’ve got a festive deal on with up to 74% off and 3 free months.

• Simo - we featured these guys and their hotspots last week, but it turns out they’ve got an even BETTER deal on now. 35% off hotspots up until 23rd.

• Airalo - a marketplace for eSIM data packs for more than 200 countries. Get 15% off if you are new and use this link and the code NEWTOAIRALO15, or 10% off if you are an existing user using AIRALOESIM10.

If you’re in Chiang Mai, these are some of the nomad favorites:

• Healthy Junk is the go-to for healthy food when you are in Chiang Mai. Dine in, out, or get it delivered.

• Grab a locally sourced coffee a few steps from Yellow at Toffee Roasters. Go say hi to Tem, the owner, who is also opening up a sandwich joint next door in the coming weeks.

• Get your meal prep from Chef Fuji. Healthy, macro-focused food, delivered across Chiang Mai.

QUIZ
What will 2025 bring?
Which one of these is NOT a Nostradamus prediction for 2025:

1. The end of an exhausting war. Which one is the burning question!

2. Western influence will cede somewhat to new world powers.

3. New natural energy sources will show themselves.

4. A mysterious leader will emerge to create a new Aquatic Empire.

5. A catastrophic plague will emerge, possibly in the UK.

6. None of these are really that concerning as, by the end of the year, a firey asteroid will have taken us all out.

Answer below.

COMMUNITY
Get seen by digital nomads everywhere

We would love to hear from you if you have some valuable knowledge, products or services, information, or just a fun or crazy digital nomad story.

This is an opportunity to get some extra eyes on your thing, or if you just like to write or provide information to other nomads.

Drop us an email at [email protected] if you:

• have a product or service that could help other digital nomads

• operate a travel blog, channel or platform that we can spotlight

• took a photo we could feature along with your portfolio or IG

• …just have a great digital nomad story!

WHAT DID YOU MISS?

If you are new to The Digital Nomad - or just want to go back and read a previous issue - then you can find them all here.

ANSWER

Sadly, the prediction of a new Aquatic World was not put in there to throw you off! Nostradamus did not predict that we’ll see a new natural energy source in 2025.