We took what we called our “2018 Top of the World” trip as we visited Nepal, Bhutan, Shanghai, and finally beloved Tokyo.
We had originally wanted to squeeze in a trip to Tibet, but the visa requirements were too difficult to overcome in the time we have planned for the trip. Tibet is difficult to enter from outside China, so we’re going to save that stop for another time.
Fortunately we were able to book two seats in the Etihad Apartments on their A380 from New York to Abu Dhabi. We flew the Apartment in 2015 from London to Abu Dhabi as part of our 2015 Around the World trip but that leg was just 6 1/2 hours – not nearly enough time to really enjoy the amenities. This time we had nearly 14 hours in our Apartment. If you don’t recall what they look like, here’s a picture:
Each Apartment is 42 square feet of personal space with a recliner and sofa of your own.
Our first stop was the mystical city of Kathmandu.
Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and the home of over 130 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Unfortunately much was damaged in the devastating 2015 earthquake, but there is still lots to see.
Our next stop was a little place in Bhutan called Paro. It’s near this amazing place:
This was a challenge. The monastery sits at an altitude of 10,000 feet and is 3,000 feet above the valley below making the walk a tough one. People say it’s about a three hour walk, but that seems aggressive.
Our third stop was a shopping stop in Shanghai. We haven’t been to Shanghai in nearly seven years and can’t wait to get back.
We beelined directly to the famous optical market for prescription glasses. If you’re going to Shanghai and wear glasses this is an absolutely must visit place — eight floors of nothing but optical shops selling designer frames. You can bring your prescription or get your eyes tested there and they will finish out your glasses in an hour. I bought Prada frames with my prescription in 2011 for $80 and am still wearing them. Fantastic!
Our trip is ended in Tokyo, one of our absolute favorite places on earth.
Tokyo is such an arresting place that it gets right into your soul. The people are so incredibly friendly and fun, the restaurants and food scene is the best on earth — even better than Paris — and the sights are never-ending. If you haven’t been hurry and go, it’s never been easier or cheaper to get there than right now.
You can read all about this trip by clicking here.
