Off to China, LP, BKK, Tokyo
 

My plane ticket sez I would leave on Feb 14, and the weatherman sez Blizzard. Not a good combination. So I'm off tonight instead, which means I'll have to spend a whole nother day on vacation. Pity.

After a brief stop in Stockholm to pick up my round-the-world ticket, it'll be a few days in Berlin (film festival), then a flight to Bangkok. Overnight at the Marriott resort to find out what Bob keeps yapping about, then off to Luang Prabang and the Maison Souvannaphoum. Back to Bangkok for a few days at the Peninsula, then to the Banyan Tree resort in Lijiang (China). Finally Tokyo for some sushi, then back home to work & my cat. Maybe they'll have cleared all the snow by then.

Unreliable and unpredictable reports are promised.

Aloha rizzuto have a wonderful trip!!!

Sounds like a great trip! Have a wonderful time and tell us all about it.

have fun....hope you like the marriott, but it is not the penn as you know...

tell us about what kind of deal you got this time on the round the world ticket?? sweeden??

make sure to eat at L'elephant in LP---don't confuse it with 3 elephants on the main st.....L'E is on a cross street

have fun

I'll keep those restos in mind, Bob. I'm looking forward to staying by the river in Krung Thep, as I usually stay around Sukhumvit/Ploenchit.

Star Alliance had a pretty good deal on round-the-world tix starting in Sweden. $5100 in business class, starting in Stockholm and stopping in Berlin, Bangkok, Kunming, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and back to Boston. Then in August I'll continue the RTW to Paris, Zurich, Nairobi (for a safari in the Masai Mara), and then back to Stockholm to complete the RTW. I'm using a frequent flyer ticket to get between Boston and Stockholm. The $5k is a lot more expensive than economy, but my very ample butt is far happier with room to stretch out and sleep.

Off for some fun!

Don, have a fabulous time. Too bad HT, Karanosuke, Eric and I will miss you in Tokyo. If you promise to have a toast to us somewhere along your travels, we'll do the same! ((D))

God morgon from Stockholm, more specifically the SAS lounge at the airport. My first time to this city, and what a welcoming and delightful spot! The city is filled with culture and charm, but life seems to go on at an unhurried pace. Only spent 2 days here (catching up on sleep for much of the 1st), and I could easily have spent much longer. Gorgeous looking art glass, but that will have to wait for another time.

I enjoyed staying at the Sheraton -- the location is good just a few steps from both the old town and the main shopping area, but the staff at the hotel were wonderful and hospitable, without giving the slightest sense that their welcome was forced. It's not often that I can say that about a chain hotel.

The down side of the city is that it's not cheap.

Off to Berlin and the film festival, as well as checking out some sights. Cheers to all.

Prenzlauerberg in Berlin is one of my favorite neighborhoods anywhere. Mitte is pretty cool too. What an awesome itinerary!

Hi

Have a great trip...check out my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com as I have been to a few of the places you are going to. Maybe you can find some useful info in my trip reports :d

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Berlin is a fantastic city, and I admit to being overwhelmed by a sense of place and history there. Today it is such a vibrant and welcoming place, yet 20 years ago it was cut in two by a wall. And 65 years I would have been shipped off from Berlin to a place from which I would likely never return.

Today I had planned to do this and that, but serendipity intervened because it was Carnival day. The city became a massive street party, with an enormous parade, lots of children and adults and adults behaving like children just having a grand time.

I'm sitting at the Frankfurt Airport now, waiting for as flight to Bangkok. I'm in the Lufthansa 1st Class terminal -- if you don't know about this place, it's a terminal reserved for pampering: wonderful meals, great booze, showers, quiet rooms, and people to wait on you hand and foot.

Irregular reports to continue as opportunity allows.

Rizzuto:
Any Asia updates for us?