OUR FUTURE TRAVEL ADVENTURES

First, some latest news:

• The war in Iran got a bit muddied yesterday, for there was a minor skirmish at Bandar Abbas, but the ceasefire is supposedly still holding.  Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the peace deal is only a few words away from settlement, and President Donald Trump continues to send mixed signals about a deal, so the world awaits.

• 
  Apparently, there are 1,500 ships stranded in the Persian Gulf, now for three months, and before this war, only 130 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz/day.  Plus, there will be the matter of cleaning up the strait of mines, so you can expect high gasoline prices to the end of the summer.
• In the meantime, considering the drop in support from voters, rebuff from the Congress, worsening economy and gasoline prices, continuation of those two wars, and looming Epstein consequences, the troubled mind of Trump is worsening.  However, a "perfect" physical exam at Walter Reed yesterday is his personal diagnosis.

• 
  Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton in the Texas primary runoff for the seat held by John Corning, significantly helped the Attorney General over the four-term senator.  I would not be surprised if Paxton wins by 10% or more today.  So Trump will continue to show influence.

On to my topic of the day.  I get my most viewership while on travel, so I'll alert readers on our next few trips into most of next year.

• The Total Solar Eclipse of 2026.
• August 8:  Depart Honolulu on a flight to Seattle, then the next day catch a flight to Reykjavik, Iceland.  Have long wanted to visit this country since I was on a geothermal energy project more than half a century ago.
• I wondered why I was paying so much for a hotel room, and here is how Google AI responded:

Hotel rooms in Reykjavík are expensive primarily due to severe supply and demand imbalances, extremely high local operating costs, and the heavy tax structure of an island nation. [1, 2]

• Those above high rates can be doubled during the peak summer season, and August is about the worst time to go there.  
• Add the rare solar eclipse, and the result was a massive global demand.
• 
  August 8:  Board the Azamara Journey.  Watch a video touring the ship, with a review.
• The Journey arrives in Montreal, where we will stay for almost a week, then on to Vancouver to catch the Silversea Silver Whisper back to Hawaii.  Never been on Silversea before.  A tour of the Whisper.  Sit back and enjoy.

In mid-December, we fly to Hanoi, Vietnam to board a Sjourney Luxury Train on a 10-day rail journey, first around the Hanoi region, then on to Ho Chi Minh City, former known as Saigon.  While those Canadian trains had no true opulence, this one does, and with WiFi.  

• 
  Watch a long video of this train.  That was too long, so here is a one-minute version.
• A special treat will be a week at the Vinpearl Landmark 81.  Read this.

Hotels don’t get much higher in Ho Chi Minh City than Vinpearl Landmark 81, Autograph Collection. The sleek hotel sits in Landmark 81, the tallest building complex in Vietnam, and its 223 rooms start from the dizzying heights of the 49th floor, all with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the views. 

• 
  This trip continues on a Viking cruise up the Mekong River back to Hanoi.
• That's not all, for we return through Seoul for a few days, then a flight back to Honolulu.

Since Crystal Cruises went bankrupt a few years ago, we've been wanting to get back to them, and as the word is that they remain excellent, we found a two-part cruise on the Crystal Serenity.  We took the Symphony from Japan to Hawaii more than a decade ago.  

• Fly to Bali to board the Serenity, which takes us to Laem Chabang, Thailand, where we go on to the Mandarin Oriental hotel, still perhaps the #1 hotel in the world.  Says Google AI:

Yes, the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is universally celebrated as not just a top hotel, but frequently ranked as the absolute best in the world. Often referred to as Bangkok's "La Grande Dame," the historic 148-year-old property offers a masterclass in classic elegance and unparalleled service. [1]

• 
  We then make a side trip to Chiang Mai and back to Bangkok.
• One of our favorite hotels in the Sheraton Sukhamvit, so we'll also stay there, close by my tailor, for me to make a few more shirt vests.

• 
  We fly first class Emirates on their Airbus 380, the one that serves unlimited caviar to Hong Kong, to stay at the Peninsula Hotel.
• Then board the Crystal Serenity from Hong Kong to Tokyo.
• A couple of days later, fly back to Honolulu.

We are also contemplating another adventure in the USA for the Fall of 2027, escorted by Non-Stop Travel:

2027 HIGHLIGHTS OF ROUTE 66 WITH MOTHER ROAD & ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA 15 Nights / 17 Days Land Tour • Escorted From Honolulu September 22 – October 08, 2027 • Tour Manager: Wally Mau Featuring: Chicago, Pontiac, Springfield, International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, St. Louis, Joplin, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Elk City, Amarillo, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Gallup, Winslow, Williams, Excursion to Grand Canyon National Park, Seligman, Las Vegas, Victorville & Los Angeles Get your kicks on Route 66 and help celebrate “The Mother Road’s” 100th anniversary with a legendary trip across America. This historic route, which was called the “Main Street of America” for more than 30 years before the advent of the US Interstate system, begins in Chicago, travels through eight states, and ends in Los Angeles. Take a trip down memory lane while traveling along much of Route 66, stopping in small towns and major cities, visiting Route 66 museums, and stepping back to a time when the journey truly was the destination! Experience twice the fun with the two very special events included on your tour — the 25th Annual Mother Road Festival and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! The annual Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Illinois, brings automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts with hot cars, cool trucks, and vintage bikes together to salute Route 66 and the tradition of the open road. Enjoy classic cars, live entertainment, and other scheduled activities. Then, hit the road for St. Louis for amazing views of the city and the Mississippi River from atop the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch. Visit the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City to view antique cars and historic documents that evoke the feeling of traveling this historic road in years gone by. Then time to look up at the International Balloon Fiesta where a colorful spectacle of hundreds of hot-air balloons rise into the sky above Albuquerque. On to Williams Arizona, listed in the National Register for Historic Places, where you’ll see neon signs of the preserved circa 1940s “Motel Row.” Take a detour from Route 66 to see breathtaking scenery at one of the Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon! Then hit Las Vegas to explore The Strip, take an optional trip to see the engineering marvel, Hoover Dam, or just relax by the pool. Visit the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville which reminisces with exhibits including a 50’s diner, VW Love Bus, and a 1917 Model T Ford. Arrive in Los Angeles and visit Santa Monica and the “End of the Trail” sign denoting the end point of Route 66. Then enjoy a tour of famous landmarks like Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. So, sit back, relax, and let Cosmos handle the driving and details while you enjoy the ride during this special centennial year of Route 66! Your Escorted Highlights of Route 66 Land Tour.

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