Nathan's Insights

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


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  • Destination: Panama

    Official Name: Republic of Panama
    Established: 3 November 1903 (Independence from Republic of Colombia)
    Population: 4,176,869 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 63.2% Catholic, 25% Protestant, 3.3% Other Christian, 7.6% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish (English is also commonly spoken)
    Capital: Panama City
    Order of Visit: Fiftieth 
    First Visit: 01 February 2013
    Last Visit: 10 February 2013 
    Duration: 10 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Bocas del Toro: Festival partying, swimming in the Caribbean sea.
    – Boquete: Hiking, waterfalls, hot springs and smart monkeys 
    – Panama City: Panama Canal engineering marvel, beautiful Panama City ‘Old Town’
    – Santa Catalina: Magnificent beach, snorkelling in the Pacific Ocean
    Places Visited    : Bocas del Toro, Boquete, Panama City, Santa Catalina
    Panama Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Costa Rica

    Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica
    Established: 
    – 15 September 1821 (Independence from Spain)
    – 01 July 1823 (Independence from Mexico) 
    – 14 November 1838 (Independence from Federal Republic of Central America)
    Population: 4,999,441 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 52% Catholic, 25% Protestant, 17% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish (English is also commonly spoken)
    Capital: San José
    Order of Visit: Forty-Ninth 
    First Visit: 24 January 2013
    Last Visit: 01 February 2013 
    Duration: 9 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – La Fortuna: Boat ride across Lake Arenal, diverse and amazing wildlife or Costa Rica (lizards, various monkeys, sloths, caimans and birds), surviving Grade 4 white water rafting
    – Monteverde: Toucan sighting, stunning sunset, zip-lining though the trees, exploring a forest at night, stunning mountain scenery
    – Puerto Viejo: the beaches, Caribbean sea food, visiting the Animal Rescue centre, tasty organic ice cream
    Places Visited: La Fortuna, Monteverde, Puerto Viejo, San Jose 
    Costa Rica Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Nicaragua

    Official Name: Republic of Nicaragua
    Established:
    – 15 September 1821 (Independence from Spain)
    – 01 July 1823 (Independence from Mexico)
    – 31 May 1838 (Independence from Federal Republic of Central America)
    Population: 6,486,201 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: 55% Catholic, 27.2% Protestant, 14.7% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish
    Capital: Managua
    Order of Visit: Forty-Eighth 
    First Visit: 20 January 2013
    Last Visit: 25 January 2013 
    Duration: 5 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Granada:  Swimming in Laguna de Apoyo, exploring stone walled local market at Masaya, surviving the active Volcano National Park including exploring a bat cave, horse carriage ride, exploring the old Central Train Station, the enormous Lake Nicaragua
    – Ometepe: Spellbinding sunset, homestay experience with locals, exploring the island, howler monkeys, fantastic views, relaxing in thermal springs.
    Places Visited: Granada, Ometepe 
    Nicaragua Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Honduras

    Official Name: Republic of Honduras
    Established: 15 September 1821 (Independence from Spain),  1 July 1823 (Independence from Mexico)
    Population: 9,587,522 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 46% Catholic, 41% Protestant
    Language(s): Spanish
    Capital: Tegucigalpa 
    Order of Visit: Forty-Seventh 
    First Visit: 14 January 2013
    Last Visit: 20 January 2013 
    Duration: 7 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Copán: Relaxing and sweating in hot springs, piñata fun, impressive Maya Copán Ruins
    – Roatan Bay Islands: Snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea, sea life up close, brilliant sea food, wild and spectacular weather keeping us on the Island.
    Places Visited: Copán, Roatan Bay Islands 
    Honduras Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Guatemala

    Official Name: Republic of Guatemala
    Established: 15 September 1821 (Independence from Spain),  1 July 1823 (Independence from Mexico)
    Population: 17,263,239 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 45% Catholic, 42% Protestant, 11% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish
    Capital: Guatemala City
    Order of Visit: Forty-Sixth 
    First Visit: 05 January 2013
    Last Visit: 14 January 2013 
    Duration: 10 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Antigua: Exploring the old city, fun shopping in the Zocalo, pimped out Chicken buses
    – Chichicastenango: Handicraft market
    – Flores:     Exploring the massive and impressive Tikal Ruins (Tikal National Park), cruising Lake Petén Itzá
    – Panajachel: Surreal and stunning sunset, cruising Lake Atitlán
    – San Juan: Public artworks, Piñata fun, excited children, staying with a local family. 
    – Rio Dulce: Exploring the area by kayaking, howler monkeys, enjoying the hot springs, boat tour to Livingstone, visiting a volunteer school 
    Places Visited    : Antigua, Chichicastenango, Flores, Panajachel, Rio Dulce, San Juan 
    Guatemala Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Belize

    Official Name: Belize (formerly British Honduras)
    Established: 21 September 1981 (Independence from United Kingdom)
    Population: 419,199 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 63.8% Christianity, 25.5% No religion
    Language(s): English (multiple other secondary languages also recognised)
    Capital: Belize City
    Order of Visit: Forty-Fifth 
    First Visit: 31 December 2012
    Last Visit: 05 January 2013 
    Duration: 6 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Caye Caulker: Caribbean New Year’s Eve party and celebrations, exploring the island, snorkelling and experiencing sea life
    – San Ignacio: Hiking to and exploring Actun Tunichil Muknal caves – the site of Mayan human sacrifices
    Places Visited    : Caye Caulker, San Ignacio
    Belize Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Cuba

    Official Name: Republic of Cuba
    Established: 20 May 1902 (Independence from United States of America)
    Population: 11,193,470 (2019 census)
    Religion: 59.2% Christianity, 35% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish
    Capital: Havana
    Order of Visit: Forty-Fourth 
    First Visit: 02 December 2012
    Last Visit: 09 December 2012 
    Duration: 8 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Cienfuegos: Trishaw ride, drinks at the Palacio del Valle as the sunset
    – Havana: Walking tour of Havana Old Town, visiting the Che Guevara mausoleum and memorial
    – Trinidad: Watching vintage 1950s cars, homestay with a local family, haircut by the street barber, singing and dancing at a street club, an amazing Cayo Blanco Island Catamaran Cruise, snorkelling in the Caribbean sea with beautiful fish and coral reefs, visiting the Romantic Museum  
    – Vinales: Orchid Garden Tour, homestay (great family), salsa lessons, night club dancing, brilliant singers, visiting a local Cuban cigar farm, smoking a Cuban cigar, exploring caves, exploring ecological farm (El Paraiso)  
    Places Visited    : Cienfuegos, Havana, Trinidad, Vinales
    Cuba Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Mexico

    Official Name: United Mexican States
    Established: 16 September 1810 (Independence from Spain) 
    Population: 128,649,565 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 82.7% Roman Catholic, 6.6% Protestant, 1.4% Other Christian, 4.7% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish
    Capital: Mexico City
    Order of Visit: Forty-Third 
    First Visit: 01 December 1986
    Last Visit: 30 December 2012 
    Duration: 27 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Cancun: Beaches, spas, pools, shopping and relaxing plus a visit to Xcaret Park (a combination zoo, amazement park and resort.
    – Chichén Itzá: The brilliant and sometimes overwhelming Mayan ruins (spoiled a bit by so many vendors approaching you all the time).
    – Merida: Swimming and enjoying the Cuzama water sink holes (a lot of fun)
    – Mexico City: Basilica de Guadalupe (church built in 1500s), exploring the Teotihuacan ruins (pyramids built around 100 BC), tequila shots.
    – Oaxaca: Magnificent countryside, Oaxaca Cathedral, nightclub drinking (hangover included!), exploring the Mitla Ruins (built 900 BC), relaxing in the Hierve el Agua pools, exploring the impressive Monte Alban Ruins (established 500 BC)
    – Palenque: Enjoying the waterfalls at Aqua Azul and the impressive Misol Ha, exploring the very impressive Ruins of Palenque
    – Playa de Carmen: Enjoying the beach, exploring the Tulum Ruins by the Caribbean Sea
    – Puebla: Puebla Cathedral, exploring the Zocalo (city square), enjoying the entertaining Lucha Libre wrestling
    – San Cristobal de Las Casas: The wild and dangerous 12 hour overnight bus ride, exploring Mayan traditional villages of Chomula and Zincantan, going on a cruise of the Sumidero Canyon, shopping and bargaining at a local market
    – Tijuana: Family shopping for tequila during a day trip
    Places Visited    : Cancun, Chichén Itzá, Merida, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Palenque, Playa de Carmen, Puebla, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Tijuana
    Mexico Journal Entries 

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  • Destination: Chile

    Official Name: Republic of Chile
    Established: 12 February 1818  (Declare Independence from Spain)
    Population: 17,574,003 (2017 census)
    Religion: 66.7% Catholic, 16.4% Protestant, 3.5% Other Christian, 11.5% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish
    Capital: Santiago
    Order of Visit: Forty-First 
    First Visit: 3 November 2012
    Last Visit: 7 November 2012 
    Duration: 5 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    – Puerto Natales: Watching a car rally event
    – Torres del Paine National Park: Finding majestic condors, 7.5 hours hike to the amazing Granite towers, camping under the stars and clouds, hiking the French Valley, safely witnessing a massive avalanche, hiking to Grey’s Glacier.
    Places Visited    : Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine National Park
    Chile Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Iceland

    Official Name: Iceland
    Established: 930 (Icelandic Commonwealth), 1262 (Union with Norway), January 1874 (Limited Home Rule), 17 June 1944 (Republic)               
    Population: 364,134 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 63.5% Church of Iceland, 7.6% Protestant, 4% Roman Catholic, 21.5% No religion
    Language(s): Icelandic
    Capital: Reykjavik
    Order of Visit: Fortieth
    First Visit: 15 October 2012
    Last Visit: 19 October 2012 
    Duration: 5 Days
    Visit Highlights: Ásmundur Sveinsson’s Museum, the Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), ATV riding on the Reykjanes peninsula, Swimming and relaxing at the Blue Lagoon, Þingvellir National Park (former home of a Viking Parliament), hiking on the Langjökull glacier, observing lava fields, enjoying the waterfalls at Barnafoss, watching the world’s largest hot springs boil.
    Places Visited    : Reykjavik
    Iceland Journal Entries  

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