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Today’s PrideNomad™ Quiz:

In Today’s Email:

Update: World Love Week invitation

Travel Ethics: Why we go…

Nomad Hacks: Eat better

Destinations: Living well for less (Part 2)

UPDATE:

🌍 World Love Week — a year-end invitation.

Last week, I told you about something I’ve been building.

It’s called World Love Week. February 8–15, 2026.

A global activation built around one simple act:

Show someone they matter.

We’re calling it a Hug Drop.

It might be a handwritten note. A message of appreciation. A moment of acknowledgment. Something small — but unmistakably human.

The goal is simple and serious:

To counter the rising tide of hate — antisemitism, anti-LGBTQ violence, and the quiet erosion of safety so many of us feel just existing in the world.

Not with speeches. Not with slogans.

But with visible acts of love, shared around the world, in real time.

The response last week made one thing clear:

People want this.

They’re tired of feeling invisible. Tired of wondering if the world still has space for them. Tired of watching hate spread while love stays quiet.

So we’re building this. Together.

And now I want to be transparent about what that takes.

If World Love Week is going to be done well — safely, thoughtfully, and at scale — it requires real infrastructure.

Moderation. Translation. Accessibility. Coordination.

The ability to respond quickly if things go sideways.

None of that happens on good intentions alone.

A number of you have already asked how you can support this financially, so I want to open that door clearly — especially as we close out the year.

If you’re looking for a meaningful year-end contribution, one that helps make the world safer and more human, The SeenWithLove Foundation would be honored to steward that support toward World Love Week.

We’re opening a small number of founding benefactor conversations right now.

Not a public campaign. Not a mass ask.

Just thoughtful, aligned support from people who want to help make this real.

And yes — I’ll name the timing plainly.

Today is December 30th. If you’re considering a tax-deductible contribution for 2025, the window closes on TOMORROW.

No pressure. No pitch deck.

If this feels aligned — or if you know someone who may want to be part of this at a deeper level — just reply and say:

“Let’s talk.”

That’s it.

However this lands for you, thank you for being part of this moment.

World Love Week is already being built — carefully, imperfectly, and together.

With gratitude, Ken 🌈

P.S. Donations to The SeenWithLove Foundation are tax-deductible. P.P.S. If you want to see what we’re building, the site is live here: 👉 https://worldloveweek.com

TRAVEL TRENDS:

🤖 When AI Actually Makes Travel Better

A small moment at sea that changed my mind

I’ve complained plenty on my recent NCL Taipei-Singapore cruise — and fairly so.

But something happened on Day One that’s worth pausing on, because it shows what AI can do when it’s used right.

Like most people, I’ve always assumed suggestion boxes are emotional black holes.
You vent. You type. Nothing happens.

On this ship, there’s a QR code on every table asking for feedbackI used it — mostly out of frustration — after a truly tragic mac and cheese experience.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

That feedback didn’t disappear.
It went into their system, was scanned by AI, and flagged as something needing attention.

The next night, when we checked into the main dining room, they already had our room number and table assignment logged.

And the restaurant manager came directly to our table.

He explained that every night at midnight, he gets a report of issues the system believes require follow-up.

He’d read my note.
He apologized.

And he told me he would personally make sure the mac and cheese was done properly going forward.

Now, let’s be clear: I still don’t love this cruise line’s policies.
They’ve likely lost me as a repeat customer for other reasons.

But this moment?
This was AI used for good.

In the old days, that feedback would’ve gone nowhere.
Now, technology closed the loop — fast, human, and respectfully.

And that’s why I wanted to share this here.

So many people — especially digital nomads — worry AI will replace us, undercut us, erase opportunity.

But this is the other side of the story.

AI doesn’t have to remove humanity.
Used correctly, it amplifies it.

It helps people listen.
It helps problems get seen.
It helps businesses respond instead of ignore.

As we head into 2026, this is the version of AI I’m watching closely — not the hype, not the fear, but the quiet systems that make experiences better for real humans in real moments.

That’s the future I’m rooting for.

NOMAD HACK:

Use this to make your travel life a bit easier.

The Lunch = Main Meal Hack

Want cheaper restaurant meals?

Make lunch your main meal and do a light dinner.
Same dishes, smaller bill, less “why did we spend THAT?” regret.

Also, look for apps that can save you money—for instance, Eatigo in Southeast Asia has been one of my favorites. You can get discounts for up to 50% on their listed restaurants at off-peak hours.

DESTINATIONS:

Living Well on Less: 9 Places Where Your Money (and Life) Go Further—

Where $50–$75 a Day Still Buys a Damn Good Life

Part 2: Southeast Asia, Done Gently

Laos · Cambodia · Northern Thailand

This part of the world has long been sold as “cheap paradise.”

That framing misses the point.

The real gift of Southeast Asia — when done right — isn’t just affordability.

It’s permission to slow down, live more simply, and stop fighting your own nervous system.

These three destinations reward travelers who want ease, warmth, and humanity, not chaos or constant stimulation.

🇱🇦Laos

Why It’s Affordable

Laos remains one of Southeast Asia’s best values because it has never rushed to commodify itself.

• Guesthouses: $10–$15/night

• Boutique hotels: rarely above $40–$50

• Meals: inexpensive, filling, comforting

The biggest savings come from staying put. Transportation adds up fast if you hop cities — Laos rewards commitment to place.

LGBTQ+ Reality Check

• Low visibility, low friction

• No vibrant queer scene — but also little direct hostility

• Best suited for travelers comfortable being private

This is a place where you’re treated as a human first, labels second.

Nomad / Lifestyle Notes

• Luang Prabang is the calm anchor

• Internet is reliable enough for normal work, not heavy uploads

• Bicycles over scooters; mornings over nights

This is nervous-system travel.

Best For

✔️ Burned-out professionals
✔️ Retirees
✔️ Writers, thinkers, decompressors
✖️ Party seekers, content grinders

Slow, soulful, and refreshingly untouched

• Not a Pride hotspot

• Sarajevo is quietly tolerant and culturally rich

• You’ll feel more human than celebrated — and that’s okay

This is a place for emotional maturity, not performative queerness.

🇰🇭Cambodia

Profound history, real warmth, extraordinary value.

Why It’s Affordable

Cambodia consistently undercuts its neighbors on price — without cutting soul.

• Siem Reap stays: very reasonable

• Tuk-tuk drivers for temples: $15–$20/day

• Meals: cheap, fresh, plentiful

The country runs on USD, which simplifies budgeting and removes mental friction.

PrideNomad Reality Check

• Quietly tolerant

• Phnom Penh has a small but real queer presence

• You’re unlikely to face overt hostility

Cambodia’s recent history has shaped a culture focused more on survival, rebuilding, and kindness than policing identity.

Nomad / Lifestyle Notes

• Siem Reap works well for short-to-medium stays (It’s magical..truly!)

• Phnom Penh is chaotic but educational

• Excellent place for slow mornings + cultural depth

This is not light travel — but it’s meaningful.

Best For

✔️ History lovers
✔️ Emotionally curious travelers
✔️ People who want to feel somewhere, not just consume it

🇹🇭Thailand (Northern Thailand)

Northern Thailand — especially Chiang Mai — remains one of the easiest places on Earth to live well for less.

• Street food: $1–$2

• Apartments: abundant and affordable

• Massages, coffee, transport: all inexpensive

It’s very hard to overspend here unless you’re trying.

LGBTQ+ Reality Check

• Thailand is culturally tolerant and socially relaxed

• Chiang Mai is safe, open, and easy for queer travelers

• Visibility is normalized, not politicized

You don’t feel like a symbol here.
You feel like a person.

Nomad / Lifestyle Notes

• Excellent Wi-Fi everywhere

• Established remote-work ecosystem

• Easy routines, gentle days, repeatable joy

This is where many people accidentally stay longer than planned (I ended up making Bangkok my home base for nearly 10 years!).

Best For

✔️ First-time long stays abroad
✔️ Remote employees
✔️ Anyone craving ease without isolation

A note on Bangkok:

Most travelers will pass through Bangkok — and you should. It’s one of the most electric cities in Asia, with unmatched food, a visible LGBTQ+ scene, and endless cultural layers.

But for most people looking to live well on less, Bangkok works best as a short-term immersion, not a long-term base. After a few days, many find themselves craving quieter mornings, lower costs, and a slower rhythm — which is exactly why Northern Thailand becomes the natural next step.

That said, I just got back from BKK (Bangkok’s international airport code) with PrideNomad mom, and I’ve got to admit that it still feels like home.

P.S. If today’s issue hit you in a good way, hit reply and just say ‘yes’ — I love knowing you’re out there

Answer to Today’s Quiz

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