Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History

Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • Destination: Qatar

    Official Name: Qatar
    Established: 18 December 1878 (Qatar National Day) / 3 September 1971 (Independence from United Kingdom)
    Population: 3,214,609 (2025 estimate)
    Country Size: 11,581 square kms
    Religion: 65.5% Islam (official religion), 15.1% Hinduism, 14.2% Christian  
    Language: Arabic
    Currency: Qatari riyal
    Capital: Doha
    Order of Visit: Ninety First
    First Visit: 21 November 2024 (planned)
    Last Visit: 24 November 2024 (planned)
    Duration: 4 Days
    Expected Highlights: Exploring Doha, Boat Cruise, Desert Safari, Stargazing
    Cities: Doha
    Qatar Journal Entry
    First Published 18 May 2026 | Updated <Not Yet>

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  • South Pacific Cruise 2027 Booked

    With me recently passing a significant weight goal on my path to greater and sustainable health as I near retirement, I decided it was time to reward myself. I did so by booking a 13-day South Pacific Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line for November 2027 (a 16-day trip overall to the South Pacific).

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  • Health Progress

    One of the major goals of my transition to retirement was to improve my health.  Last week I completed stage 1 of the weight challenge moving my body mass index from 45.1 (obese) to 29.9 (overweight).

    This represented a 32 kilo loss over 150 days which is way ahead of schedule.  The next goal is to get to a BMI of 24.9 (healthy) which is another 15.2 kilo lose.  I expect this to be much more difficult.  I know BMI is only an indicator and isn’t perfect but I’m a numbers person so this helps focus me.

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  • Transition to Retirement

    Transition to Retirement

    With the start of 2026 I’m started thinking about retirement and in particular transiting to retirement over the next 3 years.  I’ll be eligible to take early retirement in January 2029, but my tentative aim is May 2029. 

    To have a meaningful retirement I feel I need to work out what I want across the following categories:

    • Your finances
    • Your health
    • Your goals

    I don’t feel you can just figure out these areas when you retire, instead you need to have plans and goals.  You then adjust as circumstance change.

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  • World Trip 2026: Flights and Tours locked in

    So my 2026 world trip with my nephew Harry is now locked in with all flights and tours booked.

    We will be visiting six countries over 41 days; Qatar, Jordan, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Morocco. All but Spain will be first time visits, which I can’t wait to explore.

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