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

  • Balkans Adventure 2024

    Now replaced see Eastern Europe and Balkans post.

    Nothing gets you more focused on your next trip after returning from an overseas trip then experiencing a freezing cold winter.

    While I have a trip planned to Ecuador with my neice Erin in December 2024 after she finishes High School that seemed too long and I still have some leave saved up from the multiple pandemic lockdowns in Melbourne.

    The last time I visited a new country in Europe was Iceland back in October 2012 (technically Türkiye is both Asia and Europe) made this the obvious area to return and explore.

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  • A Trip Retrospective – Türkiye and Central Asia

    The sands of time – Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan

    Now that I’ve been back for one month I have enough distance to from the trip to look back and recall the good and the bad (basically only getting sick as I left Turkmenistan).

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  • The Next Adventure – Ecuador 2024

    Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

    The worst thing about coming home is missing the excitment that comes from having something new to experience and learn each day while travelling.

    One sure cure is to start looking at the next adventure. I’d known for some time that 2024 I would be travelling with my niece Erin after she completes Year 12 and turns eighteen.

    While it will be to new places this trip will mirror the type of adventure I experienced to Erin’s older brother when he finished High School in 2009 and we visited USA, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, New Zealand (see here). A chance to see and experience a new culture and region as an adult.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 42 – Kuala Lumper to Melbourne, Australia

    Friday 09 June 2023
    Highlights: Business Class Flight Home, Reuniting with my pets

    The final stage of this trip was my last flight home from Kuala Lumper to Melbourne on Malaysian Airlines in Business Class. This was my first long haul flight on Malaysian Airlines and I was very happy with the experience, a good use of award points (see review here).

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  • Flight Review – MH149 Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne

    Malaysian Airlines
    Date: 08-09 June 2023
    Gate: 14
    Seat: 2A (Business Class Seat)
    Plane: Airbus A330-300
    Boarded: 21:52
    Pushback: 22:16 (Scheduled 22:10)
    Arrived: 08:00 (Scheduled 07:55)
    Duration: 7 hour 46 minutes
    Distance: 6,306 kms

    This flight was from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) International Airport to Tullamarine (Melbourne) International Airport.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 41 Singapore to Kuala Lumper, Malaysia

    Changi Airport, Singapore

    Thursday 08 June 2023
    Highlights: Business Class flight on Singapore Airlines, Lounge Access, Exploring Singapore (Changi) Airport

    Today started on the longest flight of my journey home a 10.5 hour flight in Business Class on the excellent Singapore Airlines from Istanbul (see review here). Using points for long haul business class is always worth it especially when you have a long way to go.

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  • Lounge Review: International Golden Lounge Satellite Terminal, Kuala Lumper

    When visited: 08 June 2023
    Time of day: Night
    Operator: Malaysian Airlines (Linked to Oneworld Alliance)

    Rating: 4 / 5

    SUMMARY

    A massive and modern Business Class Lounge that provides everything you could need and more before Malaysian Airlines Long Haul flights from Kuala Lumper.

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  • Flight Review – MH608 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur

    Malaysian Airlines
    Date: 08 June 2023
    Gate: F32
    Seat: 2A (Business Class Seat)
    Plane: Boeing 737-800
    Boarded: 17:52 (Gate opened 17:10)
    Pushback: 18:20 (Scheduled 18:10)
    Arrived: 19:26 (Scheduled 19:20)
    Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Distance: 296 kms

    This flight was from Changi (Singapore) Airport to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) International Airport.

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  • Lounge Review: Qantas International Business Lounge, Singapore

    When visited: 08 June 2023
    Time of day: Afternoon

    Rating: 4.5 / 5

    SUMMARY

    A modern large Business Class Lounge that provides everything you need in particular access to showers and is the first Oneworld Lounge to open each day at 14:30 in Terminal 1.

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  • Flight Review – SQ391 Istanbul to Singapore

    Singapore Airlines
    Date: 07 June 2023
    Gate: D9
    Seat: 15A (Business Class Seat)
    Plane: Airbus A350-900
    Boarded: 12:45
    Pushback: 13:31 (Scheduled 13:30)
    Arrived: 05:10 (Scheduled 05:00)
    Duration: 10 hour 40 minutes
    Distance: 8,680 kms

    This flight was from Istanbul International Airport (Türkiye) to Changi (Singapore) Airport.

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