Nathan's Insights

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

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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

  • Australia and the Environment

    Recently the UK Government commissioned an independent report into the effects Climate Change will have on the economy.   They choose Sir Nicholas Stern a leading economist.   His report has created lots of press and is worth a read.

    The report makes the conclusion that climate change is real and happening.   It also talks about the long term cost to our economies and how we are running out of time to effect these changes while reducing the cost. The really sad part of the report is that the Howard Government (I can’t call them the Australian Government anymore) is still in denial about what is happening.   Their continued short term (blind??) view on the bottom dollar is and will have a major negative effect on our lives and future generations.

    Today’s dollar is worth more than people in the future.   I don’t, as a rule, believe in voting against someone, it’s negative, you need to vote for something.   However the next federal election it’s time to make an exception, put the Nationals last (they are worst which is hard to believe in a party that supports farmers i.e. the land) and the Liberals second last on every ballot (I’m only talking national, state level Liberals seem to be better). I’d rather any of the other parties (including Family First!!) get my and your vote first.   We are killing the environment.   There has not be one major report that has been independently reviewed for the past 10 years that says otherwise (I know certain parts of the media make you think otherwise).   Now we even have an economics report that talks about the major cost (lives and financial) and yet we still do nothing, it is close to criminal. Some people go on about the Americans re-electing George Bush and blame them for a lot of what is happening in the world.   Well it’s time to look in our own backyard.   Some Howard Ministers are saying we would sign up if everyone else does something.   They are missing the point; we need to be leaders not the last nation forced to comply. Get active, do something to make a difference.   This is not a left or right wing issue or Labour and Liberal.   It’s about long term planning to ensure the best outcome for future generations.   Are we so selfish and materialistic that we don’t care?   It’s time right now to demand action.

  • Personal Growth

    During October I actually ended up not really improving much in my life.   The hospital episode put me in a worst situation (as I had little to no activity for a week).   A good friend suggested I concentrate on a few of my goals, one at a time.   Well the health goal is the key so it will be the focus for the next few months. During October I started the 10,000 steps a day challenge at work.   So far I’m really struggling to get that much done.   I’m aiming by the end (5 weeks) to get up to the 10k average.   Last year in my team (team’s always have   10 staff members) I just managed to finish top of my group (I did a calf injury right at the end).   This year just getting the average completed will be a good effort.   This challenge is part of my employer’s “Wellness Program”.   Something I actually appreciate much more than when they started this program a few years ago.

    After getting out of the hospital I found out that someone I went to high school with (and played tennis against) died of a heart attack.   Matthew Galea was only 32 years old, fit and active and not overweight.   I found out about this one week after my hospital scare.   If I had known in advance I probably would have been in more of a panic when I was unwell. Luckily for me I’m in very good cardio health but it really makes you think about how short life is.   This news more than any other thing I’ve experienced this year affected me the most.   I’ve actually started to look into volunteer work now.   I have a motivation/drive to actually do something that matters; usually I allow distractions to get in the way.   Maybe this time I won’t.   I’m planning on November being a big month for health and community spirit. I should also find out about my promotion I applied for at Child Support Agency in Victoria.   Referee reports were supplied recently so I’m probably only got a week or 2 to find out.   Whether I want the job or not now (given the increased responsibilities and less flexibility) remains to be seen.

  • Mortality, Fear and Friends

    On Saturday morning I woke up just before 6 am with some chess pain, not a great amount but pain nonetheless.   Over the next 2 hours the pain would get increasingly bad, but more concerning just before 8 am I experienced shortness of breath, pins and needles in my left arm (and soon my whole body) and I started sweating.   To me this seemed like a possible heart attack even though I’m only 32. When this first started I tried to distract my body with hot showers & beds (this has worked in the past), but things kept getting worst.

    Fully I decided to go to a medical clinic, and then I thought I needed help to get to one (I tried a friend and later my mother who was working in the city that day).   At the last minute things got so bad I decided hospital was the only option, if my mother hadn’t been 1 minute from picking me up I would have called an ambulance.   In reality I probably should have done this around 7 am just to be safe (even if at that time it only felt temporary I pay for my membership so I might as well use it – better to be safe). I got allocated to the Emergency department of the Melbourne Public Hospital at around 8.15 am.   I was quickly losing my senses (probably from quick shallow breaths for last 15 minutes).   I was really concerned.   You see outside of getting vaccinations I hadn’t really seen a doctor for about 2 years and I’ve never been in a hospital as a patient.

    How bad was I?   I remember one of the nurses telling me that they needed to shave part of my chest (you should see it now patches here and there!) to be able to attach various cords for electro cardio graphs and other tests.   I don’t remember them doing it however.   They put 2 IVs into me, gave me heaps of drugs and took x-rays of my chest.   Within 4 hours all symptoms but a dull chest pain had gone (and mostly I only had the pain when I breathed deeply).   However within another hour I threw up (they have handy plastic bags). Over the next 4 days I would be subject to all kinds of tests, and for the first 2 days hooked up to machines in the cardio ward.     Sleep is hard when you can’t move due to the electric cords and get woken up for the time for more tests.   Late of Saturday it was looking more and more likely I didn’t have a cardio condition however the hospital takes no risks with patients with my symptoms.   In the end it turns out I have a very good heart which is surprising given how I’ve treated my body, but a big relief. It also turned out I had been running a slight temperature (around 38.5 I think 35 is normal) which would peak and then return to normal.

    The doctors and nurses asked me how long Id had this temperature but I didn’t even know I had one when they told me.   Looking back its very probable I had this slight temperature since I’ve returned from overseas.   On the Monday night they took some blood just for viral tests (Id given a lot of the past 3 days at that stage but not for this kind of test). The working theory is that I had being carry an infection since I got sick in China.   Tests on Tuesday seemed to indicate my body had just fought off an infection but they couldn’t be sure exactly what type.   They think it slightly enlarged my heart which caused the pain and shortness of breath and the drugs they gave me plus my own body finally being aware of the problem fought off the infection.   I hope this is correct. Late on Tuesday I got released so I can instead be an outpatient.   I feel very good actually but they want me to take a break until the end of the week to be sure.   I still need to go back in obviously as well for more tests.   While the hospital is fairly certain of what happened they can’t be 100% so I still go through other tests over the next few weeks to be sure (e.g. a tube down my throat to take pictures.   I’m not looking forward to that one).   On the whole I suppose I’m happy they aren’t taking any chances.   As one of the nurses said I’ve getting a 100,000 kms check up.

    What did I learn?   That the nurses in the Victorian health system are outstanding, I stayed in emergency for 12 hours and got to watch them operate under pressure I couldn’t handle they deserve at least double what I get paid but I know they get less (this issue will have a strong influence on my vote along with the environment from now on).   I should get a regular check up, I didn’t know I had a temperature but a doctor would have and I might have avoided this.

    I have a very caring family (all of them visited me on the first day), good friends (sms & visits) and some very caring colleagues (I got some great reading material as gifts and an uplifting card).   When things go wrong you learn a lot about yourself and others.   I hope I’d be there for others as they have been there for me.   I missed a chance to go to a dinner on Saturday with a friend that I’d been looking forward to since my trip ended, these things are now even more important to me.    I’m happy to be home right now.   It adds importance to my health kick (although it is great to know I have a strong heart).   It was an experience that I’ll be thinking about for a while, I might not have had a heart attack but it felt like one (I had all the symptoms), I think this changes you.   I still have time thank god to right the things I need to right in my life.

  • Personality Types

    These days I put a lot of effort into learning more about myself and why I do things.   This knowledge will hopefully help me break out of patterns that don’t bring me the long term desires that I believe will make me happy. Over the years I’ve taken different types of personality tests and I find them useful as a way to look at who I am at that moment.   The most famous test is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or test).   So what are my results?

    78% – Introverted
    38% – Intuitive
    12% – Feeling
    11% – Judging

    The percentages mean how much you are into one of these characteristics.

    This makes me an INFJ, which apparently is a little rare to quote just one section:

    “INFJs place great importance on having things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions.”

    This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk. ”

    So it seems I’m in conflict with myself which is something I can definitely relate to.   I recommend you give it a try and let me know your personality type.   A good friend thought I might be an ‘INFP which I actually appreciate if I’m seen that way.

  • Confidence

    On Wednesday I attended my first job interview in over 4 years.   A long time to go for someone who has been encouraged to take the next career step by people I admire and trust.   The interview was one of my steps or goals for the next 18 months, a chance to push myself a little. How did it go?   I don’t think I really sold myself as the must have person.   I was applying for a job in a different Government Agency so as an outsider you really need to make an impression which I’m not sure I did. The real or primary purpose of the exercise was to start believing in myself and my abilities a little more.   I know that I come off to many as very self confident but in reality the opposite is the truth.   It’s the reason that I put way too much value in opinions others have of me.   It’s no fun finding out your limitations or what others perceive to be your limitations.   This was a small step in starting to believe in myself, regardless of if I get the job or not I believe that I have the abilities to do it and that is a positive step in the right direction.