[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site":3,"article-blog-songkran-2024-how-to-celebrate-the-thai-new-year":236,"footer-latest":297},{"chrome":4,"settings":147,"website":234},{"siteHeader":5,"siteMenu":43,"siteFooter":66,"pageTransition":124,"notFoundScreen":127},{"key":6,"section_template":6,"values":7,"source":42},"siteHeader",{"logo":8,"name":10,"tagline":12,"brandAriaLabel":13,"navAriaLabel":14,"navItems":15,"showStatus":36,"statusText":37,"ctaButton":38,"menuOpenLabel":41,"showProgress":36},{"url":9,"alt":10,"width":11,"height":11},"\u002Fbrand\u002Fa-mark-current.svg","Jesther Bas",120,"Digital · Photo · Code · Road","Jesther Bas, home","Primary",[16,20,24,28,32],{"label":17,"url":18,"number":19},"About","\u002Fabout","01",{"label":21,"url":22,"number":23},"Journal","\u002Fjournal","02",{"label":25,"url":26,"number":27},"Editorial","\u002Fnews","03",{"label":29,"url":30,"number":31},"Digital Services","\u002Fwork","04",{"label":33,"url":34,"number":35},"Contact Us","\u002Fcontact","05",true,"Open for projects",{"label":39,"url":34,"newTab":40},"Let's talk",false,"Open menu","template",{"key":44,"section_template":44,"values":45,"source":42},"siteMenu",{"dialogLabel":46,"closeLabel":47,"navAriaLabel":48,"navItems":49,"showEmail":36,"showSocials":36},"Site menu","Close menu","Mobile",[50,54,56,59,60,62,63],{"label":51,"url":52,"number":53},"Home","\u002F","00",{"label":55,"url":30,"number":19},"Work",{"label":57,"url":58,"number":23},"Photos","\u002Fphotos",{"label":21,"url":22,"number":27},{"label":61,"url":26,"number":31},"News",{"label":17,"url":18,"number":35},{"label":64,"url":34,"number":65},"Contact","06",{"key":67,"section_template":67,"values":68,"source":42},"siteFooter",{"ctaIndexLabel":69,"ctaEyebrow":70,"ctaTitle":71,"ctaUrl":34,"copyLabel":72,"copyMessage":73,"blurb":74,"clockLabel":75,"clockTimezone":76,"clockOffsetLabel":77,"exploreTitle":78,"exploreLinks":79,"latestTitle":92,"latestSource":93,"latestFallback":97,"socialsTitle":110,"copyright":111,"legalAriaLabel":112,"legalLinks":113,"backToTopLabel":122,"wordmark":123},"(Next)","Have an idea, a trip or a system in mind?","Let's build something worth remembering.","Copy","Email copied","Full-stack engineer, photographer and slow traveler. Building systems by day, chasing light the rest of the time.","Local time","Asia\u002FManila","· GMT+8","Explore",[80,82,84,86,88,90],{"link":81},{"label":55,"url":30,"newTab":40},{"link":83},{"label":57,"url":58,"newTab":40},{"link":85},{"label":21,"url":22,"newTab":40},{"link":87},{"label":61,"url":26,"newTab":40},{"link":89},{"label":17,"url":18,"newTab":40},{"link":91},{"label":64,"url":34,"newTab":40},"Latest stories",{"source":94,"category":95,"limit":96},"blog","",3,[98,102,106],{"link":99},{"label":100,"url":101,"newTab":40},"Mae Hong Son Loop, 8 days","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-mae-hong-son-loop-in-8-days",{"link":103},{"label":104,"url":105,"newTab":40},"Slow boat on the Mekong","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-taste-of-the-mekong-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slow-boat-in-laos",{"link":107},{"label":108,"url":109,"newTab":40},"Egypt visa guide","\u002Fjournal\u002Fpharaohs-permit-your-essential-guide-to-the-egypt-visa","Elsewhere","Jesther Digital. All rights reserved.","Legal",[114,118],{"link":115},{"label":116,"url":117,"newTab":40},"Privacy policy","\u002Fprivacy",{"link":119},{"label":120,"url":121,"newTab":40},"Terms","\u002Fterms","Back to top ↑","Jesther",{"key":125,"section_template":125,"values":126,"source":42},"pageTransition",{"enabled":36},{"key":128,"section_template":128,"values":129,"source":42},"notFoundScreen",{"backgroundImage":130,"indexLabel":135,"eyebrow":136,"title":137,"lead":138,"primaryButton":139,"secondaryButton":141,"errorIndexLabel":143,"errorEyebrow":144,"errorTitle":145,"errorLead":146,"hideFooter":36},{"url":131,"alt":132,"width":133,"height":134},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F15\u002F90412a611b4846de90c771b21e418dd0_20260112_012224.jpg","Flags at a border checkpoint",4000,2252,"(404)","Wrong turn","Off the map.","This page doesn't exist, or it moved. Even good travelers get lost sometimes.",{"label":140,"url":52,"newTab":40},"Back home",{"label":142,"url":22,"newTab":40},"Read the journal","({code})","Something broke","Not your fault.","This page ran into a problem on my side. Try again in a moment, or head back home.",{"profile":148,"seo":167,"ui":177,"articleSettings":183},{"email":149,"socials":150},"hello@jestherbas.com",[151,155,159,163],{"network":152,"url":153,"icon":154},"Facebook","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fjestherdigital\u002F","facebook",{"network":156,"url":157,"icon":158},"Instagram","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fjestherthen","instagram",{"network":160,"url":161,"icon":162},"LinkedIn","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjesther-bas","linkedin",{"network":164,"url":165,"icon":166},"X (Twitter)","https:\u002F\u002Fx.com\u002Fjestherthen","x",{"siteName":10,"titleTemplate":168,"defaultDescription":169,"defaultOgImage":170,"twitterHandle":172,"personName":10,"jobTitle":173,"organizationName":174,"locale":175,"themeColor":176},"%s — Jesther Bas","Professional web developer and designer offering remote, high-quality digital solutions worldwide. Reliable, efficient, and location-independent services.",{"url":171,"alt":95},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fwebsite-og-images\u002F1\u002Ff5a0117217dd4268952c1306a25edb4c_20251221_144724.jpg","@jestherthen","Full-stack engineer","Jesther Digital","en","#0a0a0a",{"skipLinkLabel":178,"breadcrumbAriaLabel":179,"copiedMessage":180,"copyFailedMessage":181,"emailCopiedMessage":73,"linkCopiedMessage":182},"Skip to content","Breadcrumb","Copied to clipboard","Press Ctrl+C to copy","Link copied",{"breadcrumbHomeLabel":51,"breadcrumbJournalLabel":21,"breadcrumbNewsLabel":61,"breadcrumbAriaLabel":179,"authorName":10,"publishedLabel":184,"byLabel":185,"showReadingTime":40,"readingTimeLabel":186,"progressLabel":187,"tocTitle":188,"shareLabel":189,"shareFacebookLabel":190,"shareXLabel":191,"shareLinkedinLabel":192,"copyLinkLabel":193,"copyLinkToast":182,"factboxIcon":194,"authorCardLabel":195,"authorCardTitle":196,"authorBio":197,"authorAvatar":198,"authorLink":200,"postNavLabel":202,"previousLabel":203,"nextLabel":204,"commentsTitle":205,"commentsIntro":206,"commentNameLabel":207,"commentNameError":208,"commentEmailLabel":209,"commentEmailHint":210,"commentEmailError":211,"commentBodyLabel":212,"commentBodyError":213,"commentButton":214,"commentSendingLabel":215,"commentSuccess":216,"commentErrorMessage":217,"relatedIndexLabel":218,"relatedEyebrow":219,"relatedTitle":220,"relatedLink":221,"inShortTitle":223,"sourcesTitle":224,"staleNotice":225,"staleAfterDays":226,"newsNavLabel":227,"olderLabel":228,"newerLabel":229,"moreNewsIndexLabel":218,"moreNewsEyebrow":230,"moreNewsTitle":231,"moreNewsLink":232},"Published","By","{minutes} min read","Reading progress","On this page","Share","Share on Facebook","Share on X","Share on LinkedIn","Copy link","map","About the author","Written by Jesther Bas","Full-stack engineer and photographer who works from wherever the Wi-Fi holds up. Writes about slow travel, visas and building things.",{"url":95,"alt":95,"width":199,"height":199},0,{"label":201,"url":18,"newTab":40},"More about me","More stories","Previous","Next","Comments","Have a tip or a question? Leave a comment.","Name","Please enter your name.","Email","Never shown publicly.","Enter a valid email address.","Comment","Please write a comment.","Post comment","Sending…","Thanks! Your comment is awaiting approval.","Something went wrong. Please try again.","(More)","Keep reading","More from {location}.",{"label":222,"url":22,"newTab":40},"All stories","In short","Sources","This update is from {date}. Details may have changed since.",90,"More news","Older","Newer","Other updates","Recent news.",{"label":233,"url":26,"newTab":40},"All news",{"customScripts":95,"primaryColor":235},"#921709",{"source":237,"article":238,"previous":254,"next":257,"related":260,"commentCount":199},"fixtures",{"type":94,"slug":239,"url":240,"title":241,"excerpt":242,"category":243,"categorySlug":244,"date":245,"image":246,"cardImageAlt":249,"featured":40,"id":250,"lead":95,"location":95,"author":95,"authorAvatar":95,"coverImage":251,"coverCaption":95,"toc":252,"body":95,"tags":253,"commentsIntro":95,"relatedTitle":95,"staleNotice":95,"seoTitle":95,"seoDescription":242,"canonical":95,"ogImage":247,"updated":245,"allowComments":36},"songkran-2024-how-to-celebrate-the-thai-new-year","\u002Fjournal\u002Fsongkran-2024-how-to-celebrate-the-thai-new-year","Songkran 2024: how to celebrate the Thai New Year","What to prepare, where to go and how to survive the biggest water fight on the planet.","Festivals","festivals","2024-03-22",{"url":247,"alt":241,"width":248,"height":133},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F14\u002Fc09344b25b034248b07127b816759d50_20260112_011734.jpg",6000,"Songkran water fight",null,{"url":247,"alt":241,"width":248,"height":133},[],[],{"title":255,"url":256},"Hanoi coffee shops for remote workers","\u002Fjournal\u002Fhanoi-coffee-shops-for-remote-workers",{"title":258,"url":259},"Things you need to know about a Vietnam visa run","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthings-you-need-to-know-about-a-vietnam-visa-run",[261,272,285],{"type":94,"slug":262,"url":263,"title":264,"excerpt":265,"category":243,"categorySlug":244,"date":266,"image":267,"cardImageAlt":271,"featured":40},"the-joyful-traditions-of-songkran-2023-in-thailand","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-joyful-traditions-of-songkran-2023-in-thailand","The joyful traditions of Songkran 2023 in Thailand","Thai New Year traditions, preparation tips and where to celebrate the epic water festival.","2023-07-24",{"url":268,"alt":264,"width":269,"height":270},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F11\u002Fd9491661dd4641bda2f8f09eb231b615_20260112_000142.jpg",5536,3418,"Friends laughing at Songkran",{"type":94,"slug":273,"url":105,"title":274,"excerpt":275,"shortExcerpt":276,"category":277,"categorySlug":278,"date":279,"image":280,"teaserImageAlt":284,"featured":36},"the-taste-of-the-mekong-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slow-boat-in-laos","The taste of the Mekong: slow life, slow time on a slow boat in Laos","How to take the scenic slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, with local insights and the tips I wish I'd had before boarding.","How to take the scenic slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, with local insights and the tips I wish I'd had.","Travel guide","guides","2025-02-08",{"url":281,"alt":282,"width":248,"height":283},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F19\u002Ff6d2dbb19c6f452c8293e79283f0c748_20260112_013709.jpg","Traveler watching the Mekong from a slow boat",3376,"Traveler gazing at the Mekong from a slow boat",{"type":94,"slug":286,"url":109,"title":287,"excerpt":288,"category":289,"categorySlug":290,"date":291,"image":292,"teaserImageAlt":296,"featured":40},"pharaohs-permit-your-essential-guide-to-the-egypt-visa","Pharaoh's permit: your essential guide to the Egypt visa","Visa on arrival, e-visa eligibility and embassy requirements: everything you need before the Pyramids.","Visa & permits","visa","2025-02-06",{"url":293,"alt":287,"width":294,"height":295},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F18\u002F3bfc22c1d2e64008b9d7343518cd7f7e_20260112_013406.jpg",1560,878,"Passport page with an Egypt visa",{"source":298,"total":299,"items":300},"cms",13,[301,309,314],{"type":94,"slug":302,"url":303,"title":304,"excerpt":305,"category":306,"categorySlug":307,"date":279,"image":308,"featured":40},"the-taste-of-mekong-river-from-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slowboat-in-laos","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-taste-of-mekong-river-from-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slowboat-in-laos","The Taste of Mekong River from Slow life slow time on a slowboat in Laos","Experience slow travel on Laos' Mekong River. Discover how to take the scenic slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang with local insights and travel tips.","Travel and Guide","travel-and-guide",{"url":281,"alt":304},{"type":94,"slug":286,"url":109,"title":310,"excerpt":311,"category":312,"categorySlug":290,"date":291,"image":313,"featured":40},"Pharaoh Permit Your Essential Guide to the Egypt Visa","Complete guide to Egypt tourist visas: visa on arrival countries, e-visa eligibility, embassy requirements. Get your visa for the Pyramids today!","Visa",{"url":293,"alt":310},{"type":94,"slug":315,"url":316,"title":317,"excerpt":318,"category":319,"categorySlug":320,"date":321,"image":322,"featured":40},"unlocking-china-what-every-traveler-should-be-aware-of","\u002Fjournal\u002Funlocking-china-what-every-traveler-should-be-aware-of","Unlocking China What Every Traveler Should Be Aware Of","Discover essential China travel tips: SIM cards, VPN access, payment apps, and regional insights. Plan your adventure with our expert guide. Start exploring!","China Travels","china-travels","2024-09-24",{"url":323,"alt":317},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F16\u002F35359db786d448eaa0af5dccb14871cd_20260112_012633.jpg"]