A Pediatrician Travels the World

I think Copenhagen is the food capital of Europe. The quality and diversity and creativity is unmatched. Most people agree it all started in 2003 when Noma opened. Noma is one of the most awarded restaurants in the world with an impossible to get reservation during it's entire run. It's reinvention and interpretation of Nordic cuisine bought it front and center to the world. Countless chefs who trained and worked at Noma have gone out to the world and opened their own restaurants. Sadly, Noma closed it's doors at the end of 2024 but it's legacy lives on. 

Everyone hates packing. Except me. I love it. I'm good at it. I pretty much have it down to a science. If you travel frequently, it's a good idea to have things set aside that is for traveling so you can just pack that together instead of running around gathering things. 

Phu Quoc is a beautiful Vietnamese island on the south side of Vietnam, next to Cambodia. It has miles of beautiful beaches and chock full of luxury resorts that are pretty reasonably priced. You do need a visa to visit Vietnam BUT you do not need a visa if you just want to go to Phu Quoc (which is what we did).

This is a topic near and dear to me since I'm a doctor. When you travel as much as I do, it's inevitable you get sick at some point. I got altitude sickness in Peru. I sprained my ankle missing a step in the Metro in Berlin. I recently got heat exhaustion in Malaysia. This is not including all the minor things like colds, allergies, insect bites. 

Taipei is one of my favorite food cities in the whole world and every time I mention it, I get blank looks. I think it's a shame it's so underrated. I've been to Taipei twice. It's cool, calm and collected with a hip nerdiness. It also has an incredibly interesting and complex history. I will not claim to be an history expert. But the fact that China has been wanting to claim Taiwan for decades and this little island has defiantly said no is admirable at the very least. Taiwan is also quite progressive compared to other Asian countries, being the first to legitimize same sex marriages and elected a woman president in 2016. 

Here are some tips and things to consider when planning your next trip: *Passport  If you are traveling internationally, you will need a passport. It usually takes up to 6 weeks to get it by  mail but it can take longer if they are backed  up. So if you are even thinking of traveling internationally, apply for your passport now.  If you have a passport, check the expiration date. They are good for ten years. Most countries will not let you in if you have less than six months left on your passport. So plan to renew your passport accordingly. *Destination Entry Requirements  Check what the entry requirements are for your destination country as soon as you start planning your trip. Some countries require visas. Some countries requirement certain vaccines. Some countries now require an arrival registration. This was previously done on the plane before arrival but now some countries want you to do it online before you even get on the plane.  Countries will list ...