Ahoy, friends of Japan and rail! We have something rather funny: not your normal post. But, given that our author today, Tanner, is always off to something new. He's young, funny and always ready for an adventure, just like us. You would expect that a thrusting young adventurer like him…
Sustainability
. . . . from around the world. 25 of them. And there are surely more. Let's get going! Watch the video below.
The world of transport is filled with systems that defy conventional engineering logic, often born out of geographical necessity or historical quirk. For a "Maturing" traveler looking for experiences that…
As Europe's rail giants scrapped their sleeper cars, one tiny country went all‑in. Austria's ÖBB has built the continent's largest night train network, carrying millions across borders while everyone else hit the brakes. Here's how Austria quietly conquered the night. So why is this important? Night trains evoke a sense of romantic isolation,…
Vietnam is currently in the middle of a massive, multi-decade transformation of its rail network. For a long time, the system was a charming but aging relic of the French colonial era; now, it’s being repositioned as the backbone of the country's economic future and a premier "slow travel" destination. As of April 2026,…
For almost as many years that we've been operating Matouring, we've relied on our affiliate partners, OMIO. With their depth and breadth of travel solutions, it's no wonder that so many other travel companies have partnered with them, or rely on their services, as well. If you know about OMIO, they mostly make…
Despite endless warnings and worldwide condemnation, we humans still persist in taking the easy way out when it comes to travel, and of course, the easy way out is the lazy way out. Flying can be one of the biggest culprits, despite heroic efforts by jet manufacturers like Airbus. Going flight-free is…
“The engine is the heart of an airplane, but the pilot is its soul.”
“The best way to teach your kids about taxes is by eating 30% of their ice cream.” — Bill Murray
A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.”
“We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment” by Margaret Mead, and “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now,”
Regular readers will know that we are zealots when it comes to using trains rather than cars. Why is that? No Driving Stress: You don't have to worry about navigating, traffic jams, road rage, finding parking, or dealing with unexpected road closures. Someone else is doing the driving! Time for Yourself: Instead of focusing…
Relax en trip? Pay less? Save the planet? Ferry interesting!
I don’t think anyone would look at Colombia today and say that it is failing. This positive outcome is an example of the effective application of smart power – it is succeeding.
Whooossshhhhh. What was that? That was 300 kph!
We're always super-excited when we have a chance to big-up the virtues and benefits of rail travel. In so many advanced countries around the world, it's just an everyday kind of thing. But, if you're awake, you'll know that rail is making huge strides as a form of transport elsewhere, as the world…
You’ve gotta walk it like you talk it.
Duty now for the future, with style.
Ferries are not just a good idea, but are a vital component of transportation worldwide. They’re so much more. Try them!
Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul.
Our next Battle of Trafalgar? Sustainability. It’s up to us.