Nathan's Insights

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

Friends Indeed

September 28, 2006

Last night I attended a charity movie screening; An Inconvenient Truth. What I got from the night is how important friends are. The invite came from my friend Adrian whose sister Madeleine (I brilliant person BTW) was helping organise the night. During the night I got to catch up with my friends Adrian, Natalie & Madeleine but also their friends. It felt great to interact with like minded people who really care about others and in this case the environment. Sometimes you forgot with all the bad news everyday on TV that the majority of people have great depths of compensation for others. Natalie also surprised me with an offer to help me reach some of my personal growth goals. The kindness of this offer touched me, I’m not sure how Natalie does it but I always find myself happier and more content after speaking to her. I also find my mind way more engaged when Natalie and Adrian are around. As humans we need interactions and connections with others. I’m lucky to others so many well centred and thoughtful people I can trust in my life. On the weekend I got to see a dear friend in Sandra, and her 4 week old baby girl Anna. A perfect and more beautiful baby girl you would never see. I also got to spend some quality time with my elder sister Kara who is expecting in December. Life really can be wonderful.
The real world

September 9, 2006

I’ve now been back home for just under 2 weeks and I’m really not sure exactly what has happened to the time. Adjusting back can be difficult however I’d have to say I still haven’t since I think I need to actually return to work to say I’m back (which will be this Monday). When I returned I had lots of really good ideas about what my future holds, I’ve felt that I finally have some focus back in my life and that I also have some self-confidence. While I’ve been very lazy these last 2 weeks I have on occasions started doing some of the necessary steps to begin this next stage. I’ve been thinking about these goals and if I’d share them with others. Unlike previous goals these ones are either more personal or far more likely that I’ll fail them. After having dinner with my good friends Adrian & Natalie I’ve decided to go the whole way.

I basically have 6 interlinked goals that I want to achieve by February 2008:
Get down to a healthy weight (82 kgs – currently 95 kgs)
Get promoted (I’ve put this off for a long while now)
Win a tennis tournament (links to getting healthy)
Complete a marathon (a girl on the trip inspired this one)
Get in a serious relationship (I have someone in mind actually)
Stop worrying about what other people think (except the people I love)

I’ve always found myself making excuses not to go after these particular goals and I’ve even put obstacles in the way (like life doesn’t make it hard all by itself!). Basically I’ve been too afraid to go for the things I really desire, mostly afraid of failing and what others would think. Change is very hard, but behaviour can be learned and unlearned if required. The next week or two are very important to commencing on the path to happiness I believe I have found.
World Trip 2006: Trip Highlights

August 28, 2006

I’ve just starting to organise my thoughts in regards to the many highlights of my 153 day trip. I’m sure as I start putting together my photo albums and travel journal I’ll recall many more but for now; I’ve travelled for 153 days, on 8 different airlines and 23 different countries.

Photos:
2006 Leg 5 China, 2006 Leg 4: Canada & USA, 2006 Leg 3 Eastern Europe Part 2, 2006 Leg 3 Eastern Europe Part 1, 2006 Leg 2 Western Europe Part 4, 2006 Leg 2 Western Europe Part 3, 2006 Leg 2 Western Europe Part 2, 2006 Leg 2 Western Europe Part 1, 2006 Leg 1: South Africa Part 2, 2006 Leg 1 South Africa Part 1

Highlights included
South Africa: Visiting Robben Island (Cape Town), Soweto, Mandela’s house, the wildlife
Swaziland: The King with 36 wives
France: The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower
England: Hampton Court Place, catching up with Jon, London Eye, Eurostar train trip
Belgium: Catching up with Inge, the chocolate, Fort Breendonk (Gestapo camp)
Holland: Sex District, ‘Coffee’ Shops, Tulips blooming
Germany: World Cup!!! Beer halls
Czech Republic: Road Trip (Moravsky Kras Caves)
Austria: Wine Tour & Opera
Switzerland: The Alps and waterfalls
Italy: Sorrento, Gondola ride in Venice, Ancient Rome, Pompeii
Vatican: Michelago’s painting of the ‘Book of Genesis’
Monaco: Yachts and beautiful people on the beaches
Spain: Bullfights & beaches
Finland: Staying at the Olympic Stadium, Senate Square
Russia: St Petersburg (especially the Winter Palace) & Moscow underground system
Belarussia: Nothing but oppressed people, very sad 😦
Lithuania: Trakai Castle
Latvia: Museum of Occupation
Estonia: Russian Cathedral, Parliament building and the town hall all on one square!
Canada: The Rockies, 10,000 year old glaciers!
USA: Major League Baseball match, being fingerprinted like a criminal 😦
Hong Kong: Shopping, the Giant Buddha, Disneyland
China: The Great Wall, The Terracotta Warriors, riding in the countryside.

Most Embarrassing moment;
(1) Crashing my bike after helping everyone else out
(2) Throwing up everywhere at the last beer hall in Munich

How did it happen to me experience; riding with 5 drop dead gorgeous girls on a gondola in Venice 🙂

Bad feeling experience; British Airways paging me to let me know my luggage was somewhere but definitely not here in Vancouver
World Trip 2006: Day 153 – Hong Kong to Melbourne

August 28, 2006

Monday 28 August 2006
Highlights: Returning Home

I woke up very early today; I think I’m really looking forward to returning home, it’s been long time since I’ve seen those I love. As you can check your bags in at the train station in Kowloon I did so early and headed for the airport for a free lunch. It’s a great service. After 153 days I have 20 Hong Kong dollars left, or about $4 Australian dollars converted (which I can’t convert some it’s in coins).

Financially I’m almost bankrupt, but spiritually enriched beyond measure. I only have to hope that my bag shows up in Melbourne (which wouldn’t be the end of the world if they don-t – insurance!) and that I get picked up at 6.30 am. so getting home from the airport isn’t an issue.
World Trip 2006: Day 152 – Guangzhou to Hong Kong

August 27, 2006

Sunday 27 August 2006
Highlights: 14 hour overnight train trip

Continuing the train journey that started at 8 pm last night in Guilin, we arrived at Guangzhou from where we can commence our crossing to Hong Kong. Despite the 14 hour train trip I was feeling good today; the train had air-conditioning and was very comfortable. We caught a local underground train to the border crossing train station. I had some trouble at Border Control, being asked to go from this line to that line without being told exactly what was happening but eventually the Chinese let me exit their country. The moment you step on the Express Train you know you are in the West again (including the style of toilets!).

As I’d seen everything I wanted in Hong Kong from my earlier trip I watched my first AFL match for the year (Fremantle Vs West Coast live) on “The Australian Network” which seem like a joint venture between all Australian networks but run by the ABC. Seemed like I am already home! The group had some farewell drinks at an Irish Pub ($50 HKG for a beer) and at about 11 pm the tour officially ended as we said our goodbyes.

I’ll definitely miss certain people for sure, especially Bronwyn who helped me when I was sick. I invited Gareth to meet me in the QANTAS Club tomorrow since he is leaving at the same time.

Friends Indeed

The real world

World Trip 2006: Trip Highlights

World Trip 2006: Day 153 – Hong Kong to Melbourne

World Trip 2006: Day 152 – Guangzhou to Hong Kong