Nathan's Insights

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

Pages:
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 – Jordan

    Official Name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
    Established: 11 April 1921 (Emirate) / 25 May 1946 (Independence from United Kingdom)
    Population: 11,484,805 (2035 estimate)
    Country Size: 89,342 square kms
    Religion: 95% Islam (official religion), 3% Christian   
    Language: Arabic
    Currency: Jordanian dinar
    Capital: Amman
    Order of Visit: Ninety Second
    First Visit: 24 November 2024 (planned)
    Last Visit: 04 December 2024 (planned)
    Duration: 11 Days
    Expected Highlights: Exploring historical Petra site, visiting Dead Sea, Sleeping under the stars
    Cities: Amman, Wādī Mūsá, Petra, Wadi Rum
    Jordan Journal Entry
    First Published 01 June 2026 | Updated 

    (more…)

  • 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>

    (more…)

  • 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).

    (more…)

  • 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.

    (more…)
  • 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.

    (more…)