Nathan's Insights

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


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  • Short Break 2008: Day 3 – Brisbane

    Next time I have to remember ear plugs when sleeping in the same room as my brother.   I thought at different times he had stopped breathing but then suddenly the train crashes was heard again 🙂

    Today was the last day of this mini trip with a trip scheduled to the Doomben races.   Back during our Australia Day Weekend mini trip earlier in the year we did really bad day at the Cheltenham races.   I’m sorry to report that once again we helped the local economy by donating our money to the local TAB and bookies. I’ve had a terrible, terrible spring racing period for betting.   I used to at least win once and a while but lately it’s all loses.

    The betting gods obviously are trying to send me a message. With the little money left for a cab fare we headed back to the airport a little earlier than I would have like.   However having QANTAS Club membership is good for these times as I can get something to eat, drink and write blogs to remind me of all these trips. You never know what tomorrow holds, or what we might no longer have.   I write these posts for myself, so one day I can read them and remember these times, when I still have most of my family especially Erin, Darby, Harry and Andrew.

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  • Short Break 2008: Day 2 – Brisbane

    Only got a little sleep due to both the fantastic lightening from the storm and my brothers loud snoring, if you can call it that! Anyway got and early breakfast and checked out the starting times for Quantum of Solace the new James Bond flick.   We caught a cab to the second day of the Australia Vs New Zealand test match since Reagan had a blister, only cost $6 so obviously we are staying close. A very big day at the cricket, 16 wickets and 280 runs so it was very enjoyable.   Have to think that Hayden hasn’t got long to play for Australia.   On the other hand Katich a player I’ve never really liked impressed me.   The Gabba is a very good ground however it is a little cramped for room and they is little public transport compared to Melbourne.

    This is my 6 Test cricket venue (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Joh-burg, Christchurch and Brisbane).   I still have Perth, Hobart and Darwin (if they play there again).   Always a good excuse to travel and see Australia.

    I liked the James Bond movie.   While not as good as Casino Royale it was very enjoyable.   I’ve always been a fan of 007 films but luckily their style has changed with me over the years.   Moves I enjoyed in the 80s and 90s I find difficult to watch now.   The movies have fewer gadgets now and even less black and white, with flawed characters on the hero’s side.   I suppose as you grow up you start to see the grey areas of life more and more.

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  • Short Break 2008: Day 1 – Brisbane

    Feeling the need to take another short Australian break I helped organise a birthday trip for my brother Reagan on behalf of our immediate family.

    Having spent the night in Attwood (near the Melbourne airport) we got to the airport at the ungodly time of 6.15 am about 30 minutes before boarding time.   I took Reagan into the QANTAS business class lounge.   I really enjoyed the pancakes and orange juice, I tried to tell myself they are part of my new eat big breakfast health plan….. but they taste way too good to be part of a health plan! The trip was uneventful, I scored an aisle seat and got Reagan a window seat, and we ended up with no one between us so that was a bonus.   Anyway we caught the Airtrain to South bank train station and walked about 30 minutes to the Gabba.   Unbelievably they don’t allow day packs into the ground but eskies are okay!!!!!   Given it was so hot I did a strip tease for the locals and changed into shorts in public.   Maybe this can be a new career 🙂 The game was fine; Australia got bowled out near the end of the day.

    Sitting in the beer drinking public area was good fun.   Bikini clad babes sculling beers to the approval of the crowd was free extra entertainment. We walked back to our hotel, Royal on the Park, which is located on the edge of the CBD.   Took about 50 minutes but should have been less Reagan got a bluster I believe.   After getting tea at Nando’s we just got back to the hotel in time for the storm.   A great display better than New Year’s Eve fireworks.   Brisbane is really suffering from bad storms, with luck we should be okay for this short trip.

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  • Travel for 2009 just got interesting

    Due to a large number of reasons including the desire to catch up with friends in Europe and my nephew wanting to cut down the big 2009 trip (due to increased costs) I’m now going on two different trips in 2009.

    Trip 1: USA – Egypt – London – Copenhagen – Bangkok
    This first trip will see me going accompanying my mother Helen for her 5th trip back to USA. That particular leg will see use staying around Los Angeles, visiting Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Tijuana in Mexico. Egypt is the tour I’ve wanted to do since 2006 and is the major reason I’m doing this trip. London is catching up with friends.

    Trip 2: New Zealand – South America – New York – Orlando – Honolulu
    This is the really big trip of 72 days travelling with my nephew Andrew for the entire time. His family (Kara, Jason & Erin) will be part of the New Zealand leg. Since this is a big change from my previous plans I have heaps of planning to do, however I think I’m now an expert in maximising flights for costs. I’m waiting on my new passport, and I can say its heaps better than the last photo that looks like I was drunk and suffered from a mental disability. Finally I won’t have custom officials laughing and pointing at me

  • The Colossal 2009-2010 trip gets bigger

    Well the trip keeps on getting bigger.   Andrew and I will probably be taking off late November 2009 but we have added a few more stops.  Current thinking is Egypt (tour), New York, Las Vegas (new), Orlando (new), South America (tour + longer stay in Rio), Queenstown, and NZ (new).

    I’m also thinking about a short stop in Jamaica since I’m so close to the Caribbean and I’m unlikely to get there ever again.   Anyway Andrew has been saving up big time for his first big world trip as an adult (18 years old) and I’m paying off debts so I can get into debt again!

  • The big product launch

    Well last week the organisation I work for (accidentally) released the new returns I was project leading early (by about 1 week). Now the hard part, dealing with the public and any issues they have (or our staff).   The returns themselves are radically different and introduce a lot of new concepts and rules and instructions.

    It’s been an experience working with some many public across the country to create this products, government and public, professionals and non-professionals.  Hopefully I made the right decisions, easily the biggest project or thing I’ve work on or been responsible for.   I’m glad I pushed myself to do something like this, I’ve learnt a lot about people and bringing people together I can tell you!

  • Debutants and baby minding

    My nephew (Andrew) had his debutant ball (or presentation night) last weekend.   Basically a night when 16-17 old girls get to dress up in formal white dresses, get limos, make-up and presents and the boys get to escort them and dance with them.   They have to practise for something like 10 weeks.    Anyway since Andrew’s parents went to the night I got to look after my baby niece (and god daughter), it turned out to be so much fun.   She started out crying (she loves her parents) but after a little while she decided it was time to play, the transition was amazing!   She’d take me from one side of the house to the other, picking up things wanting to play.   She has this small indoor slide, at one point she got quiet and I haven’t seen her for about 2 minutes I found her sitting on the slide she was waiting for me to watch and cheer her on!   Erin even put her hands in the air after doing a roll 🙂

    Got the pleasure of feeding Erin, playing with her and even had to change her!   A really great night, I understand how people get tired looking after young children but boy its fun as well.   Erin is so cute and loves playing little games and even spying on you when she doesn’t think you are watching.

  • New Position

    Since February I began working as a Director, a position I just finished last week.    It was an interesting 3 months, I had to deal with a health issue effecting staff that meant the workforce had to be changed from full time to part time (with shifts).   Hard to tell people that they could no longer to a job that they were very good at due to a job design issue effecting people’s health. Still it’s the right thing, I didn’t want staff having long term health issues after they retire or leave.   As a former rehabilitation officer I’ve seen people who get injured at work and have the condition for the rest of their life, that’s never justifiable to affect someone’s life like that. Anyway I’m returning to the Superannuation area but in a higher level job.   I’m now responsible for delivering several major superannuation projects over the next few months; most that still have outstanding issues especially relating to computers.   Over the past 15 months my work has challenged me and there is no doubt that the expanded working hours, weekend work,   consistent travelling and high pressure to deliver have affected my health.

    I somehow have to get back on track, need to remind myself that it’s only a job and a means to an end i.e. to have the financial freedom to enjoy life, travel and met people.

  • World Trip 2009-2010: Initial Trip Planning

    Planning has now started for my next world trip due to commence around 24 November 2009 and returning around the end of February 2010. Trips like this take time to work out (which is actually fun). I’ll be travelling with my nephew (Andrew) and places under consideration for this trip include: South America (almost certain) Antarctica New Zealand USA – New York (I love this place) Caribbean (Cuba anyone??) Egypt Indonesia The thing with my last trip is how fast things can change. My last world trip was to include just Europe and happen in 2003 or 2004, took too 2006 but I ended up in South Africa, Canada, Russia & Eastern Europe and China & Hong Kong.

    At this stage I’m planning on using the Oneworld alliance which is linked to QANTAS (good for lounge access for me!). Anyway Oneworld will be adding more South American airlines shortly so that is good timing for me. Other then the places to visit it is also important on how you visit; backpacking, adventure touring, mid-level tours or good hotels. Since this is Andrews’s first major overseas trip I’m thinking that some of it must be backpacking.

  • World Trip 2009-2010: Plans under development

    Well I’m further along in the planning for the 2009-10 trip that I’m taking with my nephew Andrew. Previous posts are the initial planning and the phantom booking. Since we are about 2 years from the date we would leave I recently tried booking the trip working backwards from the last date you could book a trip for via QANTAS (2 October 2008).

    The new plan is to first fly to London from Melbourne. The original plan was to go to Cairo (via London) however the time in the air is too much and Heathrow has a bad reputation at losing luggage (as I found out transiting via there last year) not a good start if we are in Cairo so starting in an English speaking place is easier.   Well spend about a week in London (longer if possible).

    The second stage will be to fly to Cairo and do a 15 day tour there, the Egyptian Journey (with GAP Adventures). This is the same as before (other than being the second stage now).

    The third stage sees us flying to New York (via London). We’ll stay in New York for about 10 days (maybe go to Niagara Falls and see a Nick’s basketball game). We should be there for New Years Eve.   No real change here except for this is now the third stage.

    The fourth stage will see us fly to Sao Paulo and after spending a few days there go onto Rio to start a 45 day tour Southern Cross. This is different as we weren’t going to Sao Paulo (about 7 hour bus trip from Rio) and we are starting in Rio and finishing in Lima (instead of the other way around). From there will catch a flight back to Melbourne.

    Two years is a long time but you need to plan everything out well in advance, especially the money side!