Nathan's Insights

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

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  • 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!

  • Tennis Victory!

    On   a warm Saturday my Men’s B Grade team won our grand final against East Coburg by 14 games.   Andrew (my nephew), Tony Hendy, Cameron Hendy and Nick Norman carried the day against a very strong former A grade team. East Coburg dominated the competition only losing 1 match (to us) and having a 200+ percentage.   It was a great win and follows up our 4th placing last summer.   The additional of Nick Norman made a huge difference.   While I went from playing last year’s semi-final to not making the final’s team I had a great year on the court (plus 69 games) and an enjoyable one off with this guys.   Next summer the team will most likely go up to A Grade so I probably won’t be with them but I’m happy I helped made this all possible especially for Nick, Cameron and Andrew. Now it’s onto Myrtleford for the annual Easter Tennis Tournament and a chance to catch up with friends.   This year I’m back playing with Jacqueline Damen in mixed, last time we finished runners up so who knows what this time holds for us both!   I’ve been trying to get into sharp for the long weekend and while my weight hasn’t got better at least I think my fitness is okay. I suppose I’ll find out soon.

  • World Trip 2009-2010: Phantom Booking

    I have done some early planning for our world trip in 2009-2010. My sister and Andrews mum Kara thought it would be a good idea to work out a plan now so we have some idea of cost (and see if this could be done), so I did a phantom booking as if we were going this year. The plan below has us leaving on Tuesday 27 November (at 23.59!!) and returning Wednesday 27 February at 9.30 so a 3 month trip.

    1st Leg – Egypt

    Duration: 15 Days

    Tour: Highlights: Local guide and entry fee to Pyramids and The Sphinx – Egyptian museum – Citadel and excursion to Khan al-Khalili bazaar – Nubian village dinner – Felucca Sailing Trip (The Nile) – Kitchner Island – Karnak temple – Valley of The Kings and Medinat Habu – Mt. Sinai climb

    2nd Leg – England

    Duration: 13 days

    Highlights Tower of London Big Ben Shakespeare’s Globe theatre Premier League Match Possible side trip to Paris, France

    3rd Leg – USA (New York)

    Duration: 9 days

    Highlights: Time Square New Years Eve!!! New York Nicks (NBA) Statue of Liberty Empire State Building Central Park Broadway Show Comedy shows plus a possible side trip to Niagara Falls

    4th Leg – South America (Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil)

    Duration: 47 days (1 day before tour, 45 day tour and 1 day after tour) Tour: Southern Cross (with GAP Adventures)

    Highlights: – Day tour Nazca Cemetery and potters workshop – Guided tour of Colca Canyon (overnight) – Guided tour of the Sacred Valley – 4-day hike on the Inca Trail with local guide, cook and porters – Guided tour of Machu Picchu – Guided tour of Taquile and Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca – 3-day 4 wheel drive excursion to the Salar de Uyuni – 2-day wildlife excursion to the Pantana

    So if Andrew was finished Year 12 this year and I actually had some money this is what we could do.

    Now due to some of the flights (in LA for 5 hours, Santiago for 4 hours, 2 hours London) having access to a First Class lounge (or any lounge) would be ideal.  Anyway this is all subject to change but I think it is a good trip with great things to do from the Pyramids & the Nile, to London and New York, perhaps seeing Niagara, crossing the Inca Trail and finishing up in party town Rio!!!

    While I’ll be repeating some things again I think they are worth a second visit and Andrew shouldn’t miss London & New York. Let me know what you think!

  • An Australia Day Long Weekend

    Starting on Saturday 26 January (Australia Day) I enjoy a short 3 day weekend away in Adelaide with my brother Reagan.   I got him the trip as a combined birthday/Christmas present as we didn’t get to spent must time together these days. On the Saturday we went and saw a small but beautiful German town called Hahndorf which was a short 40-50 minute drive out of Adelaide.   I did manage to get us slightly lost just after I told Reagan I’m a great map reader, so that wasn’t ideal timing!

    That night we walked around the city centre (which was 95% closed) and checked into our hotel. On Sunday it was time to go to the star attraction, the Adelaide Test match, Australia vs. India.   I booked this trip in September last year but after the Sydney Test Match it looked like this one might be cancelled.

    A very enjoyable day watching cricket, this makes it 5 different Test Matches grounds for me;
    1) Melbourne,
    2) Sydney,
    3) Christchurch (New Zealand),
    4) Joh-burg (South Africa) and now
    5) Adelaide.

    This is the only one we didn’t win however.   As Gilchrist had announced his retirement overnight I got to see his final match.   Ponting and Michael Clarke got hundreds.   I choose to walk back to our hotel and saw a very drunk young man crash his bike into…. well nothing he just crashed but thought he hit something.

    I helped untangle him from the bike and him wanted to toast Australia Day with me, unfortunately that was yesterday (I’m guessing  he had been awake for 30-40 hours so I suppose it was still for him!) and he had smashed his last beers 😦 And on the last day we went to the horse races at Cheltenham at which both Reagan and I helped the local economy by giving all our money away.   I know I’m very generous.

    I also realised I got sunburn at the cricket, but only on my face!!!   I put sun cream elsewhere but thought the cap would take care of my face… I was very wrong. I won’t need lights at night this week as I now glow in the dark 😦   Despite this it was a good weekend away from the everyday life in Melbourne.   I have a feeling big things are about to happen in my life in the near future so this was a good chance to take a break.