Background Over Memorial Day weekend 2022 I visited Bulgaria. In my 4 days there I explored the capital, Sofia, the second largest city, Plovdiv (via a private full day tour), and visited a winery. But by far the biggest highlight and what I think makes a trip to Bulgaria worth it, is visiting and staying…
Review: Lunch at Odette Restaurant, Singapore
During my short visit to Singapore in May 2022, I had booked a lunch reservation at Odette. A fantastic French restaurant housed in the National Gallery in Singapore helmed by French Chef, Julien Royer. It has garnered quite of list of recognitions including #8 World’s 50 Best 2021, #8 Asia’s 50 Best 2022, and 3 Michelin…
Review: Finnair Non-reclining “Air Lounge” Business Class Seats AY132 SIN-HEL + HEL-AMS
Background In February of this year, Finnair announced and unveiled their new cabin offerings and revamped soft products for long-haul flights which officially launched on May 11, though by my experience the full soft product offerings are slowly being rolled out. In addition to introducing premium economy, the airline unveiled a brand new business class…
Review: Starlux Airlines Business Class JX 731 TPE-SIN; Taiwan’s Best Airline?
Background Ever since Starlux Airlines commenced operations in January 2020, I had wanted to try them out. Many have raved about their service and offerings despite a limited network and small footprint compared to the 2 Taiwanese giants of China Airlines and EVA Air. With the onset of the Pandemic, unfortunate timing to start an…
Review: World’s Longest Flight on Singapore Airlines SQ23 JFK-SIN in Business Class
Intro In May 2022 I finally experienced the world’s longest flight aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ23 New York’s JFK to Singapore SIN. This is by a technicality, the true longest flight in the world. It is a couple of miles longer and about 5-10 minutes on average longer flying time than Newark EWR to SIN….
24 Hours in St. Barths (St. Barthelemy)
Following my quick but wonderful stay in Anguilla, I ventured to St. Barths. This is not at all the Caribbean I am used to. St. Barths is basically Europe, and France to be specific. No “island time” here, everything is run more on a laidback European time. Euros is the currency and French is the…
Review: Coolest Airbnb in Anguilla
Anguilla, a relatively flat and long Caribbean island a few miles off the coast of its larger neighbor Saint Martin. It is known for its soft white sand beaches, voted among the best in the world, handful of upscale resorts including a Belmond property, and supposedly its food too. I did not really now about…
24 Hours in Athens, Greece with Culinary Backstreets
At the end of March 2022, I decided to take advantage of shoulder season pricing and nice spring weather and headed to Athens, Greece for a weekend. It was my first time in both Athens and Greece. Athens has long been on my travel list since I was a child, largely due to a phase…
Diving and Swimming with Whales in Salt Cay, Turks and Caicos with Salt Cay Divers
I had been wanting to visit Turks and Caicos for quite a few years now, especially after I learned that it is well known for its diving. At the end of February and into March 2022, I finally had the chance to go. I did a lot of research on possibly dive adventures in Turks…
Weekend in Bermuda
In March 2022 I decided to fly out to Bermuda for a weekend to check it out. The island has been on my radar for a while. In part for the association with the Bermuda triangle but also because its geographic location in a sort of odd mid-Atlantic zone. Some consider it Caribbean, others do…
24 Hours in Barbados
My first international trip in 2022 took my to the recently fully independent Caribbean island nation of Barbados. All I really knew about Barbados was that it is the birthplace of Rihanna and that it was a British colony. But I learned that it was a crucial island for sugar production and has a thriving…
Review: Emirates “Game Changer” First Class Suite on EK 231 DXB to IAD
As mentioned in my prior post covering the Gulf Air Falcon Gold Business Class experience, for Christmas 2021 I managed to secure a last minute award booking on the Emirates “Game Changer” fully enclosed First Class suite, unlocking yet another aviation bucket-list item. So began my whirlwind Christmas journey to Dubai. Worth it? Live up…
TheGastronomicTraveler 