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

  • 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>

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  • 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).

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • World Trip 2026: Flights and Tours locked in

    So my 2026 world trip with my nephew Harry is now locked in with all flights and tours booked.

    We will be visiting six countries over 41 days; Qatar, Jordan, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Morocco. All but Spain will be first time visits, which I can’t wait to explore.

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  • 2026 World Trip – Most Flights Booked

    Doha Night Safari is in my future

    The last few weeks of 2025 have been major weeks for my world trip in 2026 with my nephew as I’ve managed to book the first four flights of this trip.

    So far I’ve booked:

    • Melbourne to Doha (Business Class 14 hour 15 minute flight)
    • Doha to Amman (Regional First Class 3 Hour 10 minute flight)
    • Amman to Athens (Regional Business Class 3 Hour 25 minute flight)
    • Athens to Madrid (Economy 3 Hour 55 minute flight)
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  • Australia and World Trip 2026 Update

    I am now one year out from the commencement of my world trip with my nephew, Harry, which starts with a flight from Melbourne to Doha on Saturday 21 November 2026. For the world component we will be visiting Qatar, Jordan, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Morocco over 45 days.

    I’ll be starting my trip on Wednesday 11 November 2026, with Harry’s sister, Darby, for a nine-day Australian adventure. We’ll travel from Sydney to Perth on the Indian Pacific, a 4-day train trip across the great continent of Australia.

    This will be followed by 5 days of exploring Perth and the surrounding area.

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  • Travel: The Next Generation

    One of the joys of traveling is learning about other cultures.  Most of my travel was inspired by others, hearing their stories and their experience.  Becoming a little jealous in this case was a good thing as it inspired me to act.  

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  • Life’s Next Phase

    Now I’m into my 50s my mind is turning to the next phase of my life and what I want to get out of it especially as I transition to retirement. Education, health, spiritual balance and new travel and cultural experiences are very possible with the right focus, attitude and commitment.

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  • World Trip 2009: The Egyptian Journey Tour Review

    Cairo, Egypt – Our Tour Group (Taken 08 June 2009)

    Tour Title: The Egyptian Journey
    Tour Company: GAP Adventures (now G Adventures)
    Tour Leaders: Ahmed 
    Cities Visited: Cairo, Aswan, Kom Ombo, Luxor, Edfu, Valley of the Kings, Hurghada, Dahab, Mt Sinai
    Countries Visited: Egypt
    Dates: Saturday 07 June 2009 to Sunday 21 June 2009  
    Duration: 15 days
    Tour Type: Classic
    Tour Itinerary (PDF) and Journal Entries

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