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

  • The Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth)

    The Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth)

    Tour Title: Indian Pacific Coast to Coast (Sydney to Perth)
    Tour Company: Journey Beyond Rail
    Travel Distance: 4,352 kilometres
    Room: Carriage K Room 6 
    Passengers: 127 (38 crew) 
    Off-Train Excursions: Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, Rawlinna 
    Dates: 11 November 2026 to 14 November (3 Nights | 4 days)
    Rating: 4 / 5
    Indian Pacific Journal Entries

    I took this tour as part of the Indian Pacific to Perth All-Inclusive with Rottnest Island trip, booked with Discover Australia Tours. Journey Beyond runs the Indian Pacific. I had previously travelled on The Ghan (Darwin to Adelaide) back in 2022.

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  • World Trip 2026: Day 4 – Indian Pacific (Perth), Australia

    Saturday 14 November 2026
    Highlights: Saying goodbye to train life, exploring East Perth coastline

    Today was our last day on the Indian Pacific train after our 4,352 kilometres

    4-night and 3-day journey. Today I spent more time watching the landscape from our cabin window. Semi-desert for most of today, even as the vegetation and greenery grew on our approach to Perth, the dryness remained. 

    Indian Pacific – You need to be careful walking around
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  • World Trip 2026: Day 3 – Indian Pacific (Cook and Rawlinna), Australia

    Friday 13 November 2026
    Highlights: Exploring the ‘living ghost’ town of Cook, Crossing the Nullarbor Plain, Dinner under the stars at Rawlinna

    After a much easier night sleeping on the train, I woke to find we had entered the mostly barren Nullarbor Plain. Today was a very easy morning travelling and watching the landscape.

    Nullarbor Plain, South Australia
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  • World Trip 2026: Day 2 – Indian Pacific (Broken Hill and Adelaide), Australia

    Arriving at Broken Hill (12 November 2026)

    Thursday 12 November 2026
    Highlights: Exploring and learning about historic Broken Hill, amazing food, fun at the Adelaide Central Market 

    We spent the night travelling through the Blue Mountains, which made for a very bumpy night. Sleep was a little difficult with my Fitbit not recognising any sleep due to the cabin movement. Still, I felt refreshed after a shower and ready to explore Broken Hill.

    While we are still in New South Wales, we moved to South Australian time, which is 30 minutes earlier. This is because Broken Hill is closer to Adelaide than to Sydney. 

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  • World Trip 2026: Day 1 – Indian Pacific (Sydney), Australia

    The Indian Pacific Train – my home for the next 4 days

    Wednesday 11 November 2026

    Highlights: Sydney Central Train Station, Exploring the Indian Pacific

    After years of planning, my 2026 world trip was finally here, as was the start of bedroom renovations, and how did it start? I overslept because the alarm was set to mute, which defeats the purpose of an alarm! Luckily, I had everything packed and ready to go, so with only a minor delay, I was ready for the lift to the airport with my niece (Darby) for the next 10 days. 

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  • World Trip 2026: Day 0 – Ready to Launch

    Tuesday 10 November 2026.
    Highlights: Successfully catching my fast moving cats.

    The day before a trip normally causes me at least some nervousness, even after completing 16 World trips that started when I was twelve, way back in 1986.  Even now, after 871 days exploring 90 countries, I still get a little skittish.

    On this trip, however, I feel more apprehensive than usual.  I guess visiting the volatile Middle East for 2 weeks, this feeling is to be expected.

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  • Destination: Morocco

    Official Name: Kingdom of Morocco
    Established: Idrisid Dynasty 788 / End of protectorate 2 March 1956 
    Population: 37,254,695 (2026 estimate)
    Religion: 99.68 Islam (99.23 Sunni)
    Language(s): Arabic
    Capital: Rabat  
    Order of Visit: Ninety-Fourth
    First Visit: Yet to Visit
    Last Visit: Yet to Visit 
    Duration: 0 Days 
    Times Visited: 0 (Planned 2026 visit)
    Next Planned Visit: 24 – 30 December 2026 (7 days)
    Expected Highlights:
    Exploring Volubilis, an excavated Amazigh-Roman city and UNESCO site; hiking the Rif Mountains; exploring Ouazzane for historic sites and cultural understanding; exploring Hispano‑Moorish architecture of Tétouan; enjoying the culinary scene in Fès and the UNESCO World Heritage city; exploring Casablanca, including the Hassan II Mosque and the Atlantic coastline.
    Planned Places to Visit: Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Ouazzan, Fès, Casablanca

    Morocco Journal Entries (to be written)
    Published: 02 November 2026 | Last Update: 02 November 2026

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  • Health Progress – One Year Completed

    Health Progress – One Year Completed

    Today marks one year since I made the difficult but essential decision to do something about my health. I started with solid ideas that I evolved as I progressed. The first goal was weight-focused: to go from a BMI of 45.1 (127.1 kg), classed as obese, to a BMI of 29.9 (95.1 kg), classed as overweight.

    Today I stand right on the edge of a BMI of 25 (76.4), classed as ideal. I first achieved this on 13 June 2026, well ahead of schedule, and I’ve managed to drift in and out of the ideal weight range ever since.

    Maintaining what I originally thought of as a long-shot BMI target of 25 for 4.5 months feels like an achievement in itself, and suggests I might have a shot at long-term better health and this new “normal” might be sustainable.

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  • Destination: Portugal

    Official Name: Portuguese Republic
    Established: 868  
    Population: 11,424,031 (2025 estimate)
    Religion    : 80.2% Roman Catholic, 14.1% No religion
    Language(s)    : Portuguese
    Capital    : Lisbon  
    Order of Visit    : Ninety-Third 
    First Visit    : Yet to Visit
    Last Visit    : Yet to Visit 
    Duration    : 0 Days 
    Times Visited    : 0 (Planned 2026 visit)
    Next Planned Visit    : 17 – 21 December 2026 (5 days)
    Expected Highlights    :
    Learning the history of Portugal, trying Portuguese meals, exploring historic buildings, visiting wine cellars, exploring Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), undertake a Porto Ribeira Cruise, explore Sao Jorge Castle (Moorish castle), explore Praça da Figueira Market, Lisbon Food Tour, explore Évora Cathedral and Roman Temple, explore Olhão Fish Market.
    Planned Places to Visit    : Porto, Lisbon, Évora, Olhão

    Portugal Journal Entries (to be written)
    Published    : 02 October 2026 | Last Update: 02 October 2026

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  • Destination: Spain

    Official Name: Kingdom of Spain
    Established: January 1479 (First constitution 19 March 1812)
    Population: 47,431,256 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 61% Roman Catholic, 35% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish 
    Capital: Madrid 
    Order of Visit: Twenty 
    First Visit: 28 June 2006
    Last Visit: 26 October 2012 
    Duration: 12 Days 
    Times Visited: 2 (with future planned 2026 visit)
    Next Planned Visit: 15 – 16 December 2026 and 22 – 23 December 2026
    Visit Highlights: 
    Barcelona – Bustling Las Ramblas, Placa de Catalunya (beautiful fountain), Borri Gothic sector,  tapas bars, flamenco dancing (2006).  
    Madrid – The crazy Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, excellent Museo Nacional Del Prado, bullfighting, flamenco dancing (2012).Burgos – the amazing Cathedral. 
    San Sebastian – beautiful beaches and tapas bars.   
    Segovia – Alcazar (castle), Cathedral, and ancient, magnificent Aqueduct. 
    Avila – the walled city. 
    Places Visited: Avila, Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, San Sebastián, Segovia 
    Planned Places to Visit: Madrid, Seville
    Spain Journal Entries  
    Published: 26 February 2010 | Last Update: 10 September 2026

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