Another short flight today, from Copenhagen to Amsterdam on KLM.  By the way, for those planning on a European trip, keep in mind that they don't all use Euros.  The exceptions are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Denmark, where it is about 7 Danish Kroner to the U.S. dollar.  Also keep in mind that Norway is not a member of the EU and it is nearly 11 Norwegian Kroner to the U.S. dollar.  Sweden and Iceland use the Krona. The airline lounge was okay, with hard liquor, wines and beers available in the morning.  Neither our Munich nor Copenhagen hotel executive clubs, for example, offered any kind of spirits beyond wine and beer.  We were the only one there for a long while. As we approached Amsterdam, saw tulip fields. One of the advantages of living in Scandinavia is the lack of severe natural disasters.  Sure, a few hurricanes have managed to survive all the up to this far north causing some damage.  Take tsunamis, for example. Only a 2% chance of a

We're in the Plumeria Lounge of Hawaiian Airlines. Next stop, Haneda Airport.   It's alway so exciting to anticipate the coming of a global adventure.   Now, I want these trips to be as secure and comfortable as possible.  Thus, we are traveling business class, except for the Bangkok to Dubai to Munich leg being on Emirates first class.   I never asked, but I assume they don't practice Ramadan on their flights and airport lounge. In  2022 we caught an Emirates first class from Bangkok to Duba i.  Unlimited caviar, with showers on the plane.  Fabulous experience.   So we thought we'd double the pleasure.  It is 3000 miles from Bangkok to Dubai, but 3700 miles from Dubai to Munich. And a big plus.   Washington D.C. is reaching peak cherry blossom blooms now.   They said it's due to climate change.  Tokyo and D.C. are very similar in terms of weather.  Certainly, too, our first few days then will feature a surprisingly early Sakura season. So here is our entire around

Partly due to this current pandemic, my eating habits have dramatically changed.  First, no going out to Michelin 3-stars restaurants, as I haven't traveled in 2.5 years and there isn't even one 1-star in Hawaii.  Second, I am mostly consuming vegetables, and almost totally avoiding rice and bread.  However, the sensational result is that I have lost perhaps a dozen pounds. I do have a trip planned for this coming fall, and if that falls apart because of COVID, certainly next year.  In the meantime the  World's 50 Best Restaurants just announced their honorees for 2022 .  A change recently occurred, and a #1 restaurant cannot repeat anymore.  Noma of Copenhagen was the Best last year.  About this restaurant: I was in Copenhagen in  2010 and ate at Chef Rene Redzepi's restaurant .  He was at that time #3 to El Bulli of Spain and Fat Duck near London. Seven years ago  I stopped by again.  Denmark is very cold in the winter.  He had been #1 four of the past six years.  In