World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Saturday 28 November 2009
Highlights: Cruise around Manhattan, Empire State Building, Attending Hair – The Musical
Our first full day in New York City after 7 years of planning! First on the agenda was a cruise around Manhattan using our 3 day NYC Tourist Pass). We walked to the docks early in the morning not being sure when the first tour left but luckily we only had to wait about 45 minutes for the 10 am two hour cruise.
Friday 27 November 2009
Highlights: Free upgrades to Premium Economy, QANTAS First Class Lounge
Well after some issues over the Brazilian Visa which I think can be settled in New York City the trip 7 years in the planning has commenced. On getting to the airport we quickly learned that Andrew and I had scored free upgrades to Premium Economy for the 14 hour flight to Los Angeles.
Had a great Melbourne Cup holiday, no good with any bets but fun nonetheless with a lot of my family coming up for lunch. Jason, Erin, Andrew, Mum (Helen), Reagan and Adeline made an appearance. While it wasn’t a very hot day we enjoyed having a hit on the tennis court and then the pool. Little Erin loved the pool and Andrew loved playing tennis without his top on. A nice day, especially given I won’t be around for Christmas this year.
For 3 great days I got to go on a mini holiday to catch up with my Belgium friend Inge in Sydney. After the dust storms a month earlier I was wondering what type of weather wed get and this time it was mostly overcast and raining. Still we had a great time packed full of activities which I have to admit have changed my mind about Sydney. Somehow I convinced work to let me take Thursday and Friday off, given I had 9 weeks off recently and have another 10 week trip later this is a good reminder of how lucky I am to have a supportive employer. Catching a cheap QANTAS flight up on Thursday morning and a train to the city (I wish Melbourne had these) I went straight to Inge’s hotel.
Inge looked great despite the jetlag and having little sleep. So off we headed to explore the city and we quickly found ourselves near the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Government House and the Botanic Gardens. While it was overcast I have to admit Sydney has the sights. After a quick lunch we headed off on a short tour of the rich parts of Sydney including Spit Bay (yachts aplenty), Sydney National Park and Manly Beach. The waves were very impressive on this storming day! We then ended up at Darling Harbour and visited the Sydney Aquarium and the shops. This included waiting in the cold for our Captain Cook Night Cruise. This included a nice diner and sailing past Luna Park, the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. We got off at Circular Quay and went back to our hotels, chatting to Canadians here for the Master Games.
Starting very early on Friday I met Inge at her hotel and we did another tour highlights include Lady Macquarie’s Seat (great views of the Harbour), watching the HMS Ballarat return from Gulf service and then onto the famous Bondi Beach. Again the ocean was very rough and dazzling. I was surprise how small the beach was, much be very crowded with 50,000 beach goers in summer. After the tour we went to Chinatown for lunch and then did some sightseeing. We ended up visiting the NSW Parliament, Hyde Park, St James Cathedral, the National Memorial, Old Royal Mint, and the First Hospital in Australia (the Rum Hospital – built by allowing tax free rum into Sydney). Exhausted we went to rest in our hotels before going out for dinner. When walking to Inge’s hotel it started raining very hard, luckily I found shelter. We caught the train down to Circular Quay (near Sydney Opera) and selected ‘Minus 5 as our restaurant. Had a lovely time made much better by the company. Later that night I wish Inge well on her tour of Australia which was included Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin, should be great. The next morning I slowly checked out of my hotel (I had done something like 60,000 steps in 2 days!) and caught a train to the airport (efficient) and a plane back to Melbourne. Later that night the family got together for Reagan and Steve’s birthdays.
I had a great day belatedly celebrating my sister Lana’s birthday at Galactic Circus. After lunch the kids enjoyed playing the games. I managed to win two stuffed toys, Spiderman and Mr Giggles (for Mr Men series); Lana got another Spiderman which worked out great for Erin, Darby & Harry. My three nieces and nephew had great fun playing the various games; Harry really enjoyed the wrack-a-mole type games. Erin seemed to like the colours and they all enjoyed the rubber tennis ball and six toy cars the exchanged their winning tickets for. Life can be very good sometimes. After saying goodbye I walked down to the MCG to watch the Essendon V Hawthorn match not expecting much. After a very slow start by the Bombers we had an excellent third quarter and then pulled away to win.
What a huge 52 days – USA, Egypt, England, Perth & Sydney. While this started out as a compromise trip once I had to split out Egypt from my trip with Andrew later this year, it turned out to be great fun.
This trip really had it all, from comfort of travelling in the USA with my mum (Helen), to the third world corruption and heat of Egypt, to catching up with friends in London (plus Inge in Brussels) staying at my friend Jon’s flat to finally seeing a little bit of Australia in the Margaret River of Western Australia.
I flew from;
For a total flight travel distance of 30,347 miles (48,838 kms). I was lucky to be upgrade to Premium Economy for the LA flight and Business class for the Perth to Sydney flight. Not bad for a ‘free’ award round the world ticket.
The trip was a real mixed bag of travelling, enjoyable and eye opening. The highlights included:
I travelled to see historical sights and to visit interesting places but more importantly to meet other people and experience different cultures. From the mid-west USA residents I spoke to at the Legends in Concert (Las Vegas) about the USA economy and the car industry, to the culture of Egypt i.e. pay money and you can do anything, to the English experience including meeting smart people like Lora (one of Jon’s flatmates). This trip again opened my eyes that there is much more than what I can experience in Melbourne.
I love my hometown, and I’m reminded of that when I travel. I’m reminded about those I care about. I really enjoy the pre-trip catch ups, and e-mails / phone calls while I’m on the road. In some ways you get closer to people back home when you leave! I now need to organise my next world trip with Andrew. I also better impress at work given I just got a promotion and I’m only 4.5 months before heading off for a 66 day world trip again 🙂
Australia Photos, Europe Photos 1, Europe Photos 2, Egpyt Photos 1, Egpyt Photos 2, USA
Facebook Photos
This leg was the shortest time wise. I have to say that I did thoroughly enjoy Margaret River in Western Australia, even the storms at night and the rain during the day. The winery tour was worth doing even if I ended up with a headache!
One day I’d like to go the Western Australia for a few weeks and really see the place, especially going up the coast to see places like Broome, I’m told it’s another world. It’s hard to under estimate how good the business upgrade was for the overnight flight to Sydney. When you don’t get to sleep in a bed for 40+ hours comfort during that time is critical.
Watching my team Essendon win was a great bonus and a fantastic way to finish the trip. But in the end I’ll remember this short leg for finding out I had been promoted which changes my career greatly. At the end of the 2006 World Trip I set out some goals and I really haven’t done any of them but now at least I can cross of the promotion one 🙂
Sunday 12 July 2009
Highlights: Returning Home
Today is the last day of the trip. After having a great night’s sleep I got up around 9 am and very slowly packed for the flight home. I was glad I went for a good hotel in Sydney and not a Backpackers / Hostel. I got to the airport about 5 hours before my flight hoping to get on an earlier one but it was not to be the case 😦
Can’t complain I got great seats throughout this trip and upgrades to Premium Economy (Melbourne to Los Angeles) and Business (overnight Perth to Sydney). I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone for my sister Kara’s birthday for dinner tonight and then finally returning home.
Saturday 11 July 2009
Highlights: Upgrade to Business Class, Essendon winning at the SCG
Well good luck smiled on me for the flight, at the gate I was stopped from boarding with 7 others due to a problem with the seat allocation. Everyone else got new allocated seats (to allow families to seat together) I on the other hand was upgraded to Business, scoring well on an award ticket, going with yesterday’s promotion news I was wondering if I should buy a lotto ticket.
Friday 10 July 2009
Highlights: The coastline
My last day in Western Australia started with a big thunderstorm during the night, boy it is unusual to see rain, at least this much rain! Anyway after checking out and doing a little bit of e-mail catch up I headed for the coastline to see whether there really was good surfing to be had around these parts, and the answer is yes there is but very dangerous. You need to dodge the rocks that seem to be everywhere. As I ate lunch watching the wave’s crash on the rocks and storm clouds moving in I felt really at peace. I remember how much I used to love cold weather and the rain, I’m not sure why.
Nathan's Insights 