Skip to main content

Part 3: OUR NEXT AROUND THE WORLD ODYSSEY

Before I get into my third, and final, part of this cruise series, let me start with some more newsworthy topics.  Thursday was my pandemic day for years.  Thus, every so often I return to bring you up to date on the latest developments.  All these subvariants derived from that Omicron variant, and each quickly became dominant, with slightly different symptoms.  One of these will shock you.

  • There has been a significant decline in the lost of taste and smell.  From two-thirds of early patients to now only 10-20% show these symptoms.
  • JN.1, now the dominant subvariant, results in mostly mild symptoms.
  • However, once JN.1 infects some, there seem to be longer-lasting symptoms.
  • Clearly, the latest booster helps prevent contracting Covid.
  • A competing subvariant, BA.2.86,  also known as Pirola, a month ago made a run, but JN.1 prevailed.
  • No variant in particular, but research has shown that some of you will begin to lose hair for several months.  This is caused by stress more than anything else.  It appears, though, that most regain the loss.

I got the latest issue of Time magazine yesterday with Taylor Swift on the cover.  There are several cover photos, and mine was the one on the left.

Athlete of the Year was Lionel Messi:

Time also selected its top ten photos of the year.  Each has a story worthy of your reading.

So on to our next adventure in the spring.
  • We fly on March 19 to Tokyo, and will stay at the Tokyo Westin for five nights.
  • Next, on to Singapore's Marriott Tang Plaza, then Bangkok to the Sheraton Grande Sukhamvit.  I plan to make my final set of vests during this stay.
  • A year ago we caught this fabulous Emirates first class flight from Bangkok to Dubai.  So we thought, why not do this again, and double it.  So we will, from Bangkok to Dubai, then spend a couple of layover hours in the Emirates Lounge, then another Emirates first class to Munich.  Serves unlimited caviar.
  • A couple of days in Germany, then on to Copenhagen, Denmark.  
    • Certainly, a visit to Tivoli Gardens, and perhaps a world-class dinner.  
    • I wonder if it will be possible to dine at Noma, the #1 restaurant in the world? 
      • However, it will close later next year, and getting a reservation I hear is impossible.  Maybe Chef Rene will remember me (he is to my left).  There is Alchemist (#5 in the 2022 World's Best Restaurants).
      • Incidentally.
        • Tokyo has #37 Sézanne, #27 Florilège and #21 Den.
        • Bangkok has #17 Gaggan Anand (Gaggan to my left) and #15 Le Du
        • Singapore has #14 Odette.
  • Fly to Amsterdam on April 6, and stay at the Amsterdam Marriott.
  • April 7, board the Tauck MS Spirit on an 8-day Tulip River Cruise to Brussels, via Keukenhof Gardens, Kinderdijk's windmills, Hague and Antwerp.
  • Fly to Barcelona to stay at the Cotton House Hotel.
  • April 16, board the Regent Seven Seas Voyager for a 10-day Mediterranean cruise, with stops in Rome, Sorrento, Santorini, Izmir, Istanbul, Mykonos and Athens.
  • Fly to London, and on April 28 board the Queen Mary 2 for a week to New York City.
  • Stay at the Marriott Marquise near Times Square for 6 nights.
    • Yankees baseball?
    • Broadway shows?
    • In the 50 Best list are the only U.S. restaurants:  #8 Atomix and #44 Le Bernardin.
  • Fly back to Honolulu on May 11.  Below, a photo on my return after a Circle Pacific Adventure in 2016.

-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

THE ENIGMATIC PHIL SPECTOR

The first presidential debate of Donald Trump and Joe Biden ended up in a near tie.  Both lost.  However, it was an unmitigated disaster for Biden, who just might be too old to win this re-election. For Trump, it was a reinforcement of what he does all the the time, lie.   There will be significant calls for the Democratic Party to work out "something" to replace Biden as their presidential candidate.  Suddenly, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and Michelle Obama are added to the spotlight.  But what can "legally" occur at the August Democratic Convention? The situation is different on the Republican side, as Trump is the Republican Party, and no matter if he gets 4 years at his felony sentencing on July 9, or even if the Supreme Court determines he is not immune next week or later, he will be the presidential candidate. Trump is a damned boastful liar and convicted felon, but that is the only option for Republicans.  His vice-presidential choice now become...

ON THE MATTER OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Hawaii today celebrates King Kamehameha the First Day as a public holiday.  Next Monday, June 19, or  Juneteenth,  is a Federal holiday.  However, 22 states, including Hawaii, do not recognize this as a public holiday.  Four of these will begin to honor this day next year, not Hawaii.  Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery.  Here are the Hawaii holidays, and note three that only we have: New Year’s Day: 1st day in January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day: 3rd Monday in February Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day: 26th day in March Good Friday: Friday before Easter Easter:   Calculating Easter Memorial Day: Last Monday in May King Kamehameha I Day: 11th day in June Independence Day: 4th day in July Statehood Day: 3rd Friday in August Labor Day: 1st Monday in September Veterans’ Day: 11th day in November Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November Christmas: 25th day in December There are  11 paid Fede...

THE TRUMP ENERGY PROGRAM

From  Time  magazine, I begin with a slew of Trump topics.  You can read the details. The unpopular Big Beautiful Bill is now in the House . The only truly effective anti-Trump person:  Elon Musk. The Trump Gaza ceasefire proposal . The July 4th Free American Anti-Trump Protest planned across the USA . This site began as a renewable energy and environment blog, and has evolved to just about any subject.  I try to keep Wednesdays for sci-tech, with perhaps a monthly focus on energy.  More recently, I've drawn from the  Energy Matters  info sent to me by the American Energy Society.  I'm inserting direct quotes this time to eliminate my predilections for more credibility. This service starts with some broad topics. - Fossil fuels: Helium is locked in a supply crunch, and prices are surging. - Renewables: Congress will probably pass new renewable fuel standards for 2026 and 2027. - Policy: President Trump is now focused on Califor...