Intro Ever since I returned to Taiwan in March of this year to take refuge, I have been eating nearly nonstop. From new and old favorite street stalls and hole in the walls. To attempting to eat at most of the new haute/ tasting/ creative type restaurants that have popped up in the last 4-5…
Review: Lunch at El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
In March 2020, precariously right before COVID-19 hit Europe and the Americas real hard, I ventured to Barcelona, Spain. Why Barcelona when Spain’s cases were on the rise? Well, at the time the recorded official cases were around 500-600 centered around Madrid and most importantly I figured it was worth the risk because….upon calling, I…
Review: The American Bar and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
In early February I decided to go for a weekend to revisit London. I had visited once before in 2010 and at the time I recall I felt the stereotype that London lacks good food was true. But I noticed in the years since the London food scene seems to have changed, the city itself…
Weekend in County Cork, Ireland with Jameson Distiller’s Apprentice Tour
Over the three day President’s Day Weekend in February I opted to head to Ireland for the first time. But I opted to got Cork instead of the usual Dublin. Did not regret my decision at all. Now, despite arriving at the tail end of Storm Dennis, I still thoroughly enjoyed Cork and all the…
Exuma, Bahamas: Not so eco-friendly mass tourism
Over the three day Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Weekend in January 2020 my friend and I ventured to Exuma Island in the Bahamas. This was my first time in the Bahamas. Exuma is home to the famed swimming pigs, excellent dive sites, and unfortunately, the now infamous Fyre Festival debacle. I was excited as…
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class CX806 HKG – ORD
Intro In January 2020, which feels like it as a different lifetime ago now, I made a quick trip back to Asia. For my return back to the states I found some last minute award bookings for Cathay Pacific First Class on a few Hong Kong to North America routes. Cathay Pacific first class has…
Review: Cathay Pacific The Pier and The Wing First Class Lounges
Let me start by saying Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge is hands down the best airline lounge I have so far experienced. In January 2020, which today feels like it was multiple years ago, I took a short trip back to Asia. For my return, I booked Cathay Pacific First Class from Hong…
Review: Turkish Airlines 787-9 Business Class IST-ATL with 737 SKD-IST
As usual, all menu pictures will be at the end of the post Intro For my return journey following my Christmas 2019 following my 6 day trip through Uzbekistan I opted to book a confirmed ticket from Samarkand to Atlanta via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. I used points and miles to confirm into business class,…
Review: Uzbekistan Airways A320 Tashkent to Bukhara domestic flight
In the planning process for my trip to Uzbekistan with MIR Corporation in December 2019, I insisted that a portion of my journey involved a domestic flight with Uzbekistan Airways. I knew I was flying Turkish Airlines into Uzbekistan but given the cheap domestic fares and opportunity to fly on a rare airline, I simply…
Bread, Cognac, and Plov On the Silk Road: Discovering Uzbekistan
In times like these where we are mostly locked indoors and confined to our homes, for me catching up on my blogging and revisiting recent trips has been quite therapeutic. Hopefully this gives you a small dose to cure any wanderlust itch you may be feeling and maybe inspire your post-COVID19 travels, if travel is…
Review: Dinner at Raan Jay Fai, Bangkok
Background Following my trip to Nepal, I had an overnight layover in Bangkok. When I booked my stay at the fantastic Rosewood Bangkok I had asked the concierge to assist in booking at table at Raan Jay Fai, the now world famous Michelin-starred, goggle wearing Thai street food queen. The restaurant opens reservation 2 months…
Discovering Nepal with Beyul Experiences and Happy House
Note: This post is longer and more descriptive/detailed than my usual posts. For general Nepal travel tips, scroll to the bottom. “Most foreigners are familiar with the Sherpas only through their fame as load bearers and guides for mountaineering expeditions, yet such work is a recent and superficial aspect of their culture. When we put…
TheGastronomicTraveler 