Nathan's Insights

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


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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: Hong Kong

    Official Name: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
    Established: 29 August 1842 (Treaty of Nanking), 1 July 1997 (Transfer from the United Kingdom)
    Population: 7,500,700 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: Buddhism 20%, Confucianism 20%, and Taoism 20%, Christianity 12%, Islam 4%
    Language(s): Chinese, English 
    Capital: Hong Kong
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Eigthth
    First Visit: 9 August 2006
    Last Visit: 30 October 2018
    Duration: 14 Days
    Visit Highlights: Stanley Market, Victoria Peak, Sampans, Ladies Market, Disneyland, Giant Buddha (Po Lin monastery), Cathay Pacific First Class Lounges  
    Places Visited: Hong Kong
    Hong Kong Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Canada

    Official Name: Dominion of Canada
    Established: 1 July 1867 (Independence from the United Kingdom)
    Population: 38,008,005 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 67.3% Christian, 23.9% No Religion, Islam 3.2%
    Language(s): English, French
    Capital: Ottawa
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Seventh
    First Visit: 6 January 2000
    Last Visit: 8 August 2006
    Duration: 15 Days
    Visit Highlights: Banff: Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, magnificent Chateau Banff.  Cheainus: Beautiful murals.  Jasper: Hiking on Athabasca Glacier and Edith, Jasper National Park.   Lake Louise: the majestic photogenic Lake Louise.   Niagara Falls: The stunning Niagara Falls.  Vancouver: Stanley Park, China Town, friendly locals.  Victoria: Beautiful Butchart Gardens, British Columbia Legislative building.  Whistler: Grand views of nature.  
    Places Visited: Banff, Cheainus, Jasper, Kelowna, Lake Louise, Lac Le Jeune, Niagara Falls, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler
    Canada Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: Estonia

    Official Name: Republic of Estonia
    Established: 12 April 1917 (Independence from Russia), 1940–1991 (USSR State), 20 August 1991 ((Independence from USSR)
    Population: 1,328,976 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: 16.1% Orthodox Christians, 9.9% Lutheran Christians, 54% No religion
    Language(s): Estonian
    Capital: Tallinn
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Sixth
    First Visit: 20 July 2006
    Last Visit: 21 July 2006
    Duration: 2 Days
    Visit Highlights: Historic buildings of Tallinn in particular Tallinn Town Hall
    Places Visited: Tallinn
    Estonia Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Latvia

    Official Name: Republic of Latvia
    Established: 6 July 1253 (Kingdom of Lithuania), 16 February 1918 (Independence from Russia)
    Population: 1,907,675 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 34.3% Lutheranism, 25.1% Catholicism, 16.9% Eastern Orthodox, 3.7% Other Christian
    Language(s): Latvian
    Capital: Riga
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Fifth
    First Visit: 18 July 2006
    Last Visit: 19 July 2006
    Duration: 2 Days
    Visit Highlights: Museum of Occupation, The Baltic Sea
    Places Visited: Riga
    Latvia Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Lithuania

    Official Name: Republic of Lithuania
    Established: 6 July 1253 (Kingdom of Lithuania), 16 February 1918 (Independence from Russia)
    Population: 2,795,334 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 93% Christianity
    Language(s): Lithuanian, Polish, Russian
    Capital: Vilnius
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Fourth
    First Visit: 17 July 2006
    Last Visit: 18 July 2006
    Duration: 2 Days
    Visit Highlights: Vilnius – Gediminas Square, St Peter and St Paul Church.  Trakai – Trakai Castle. The sad but impressive Hill of Crosses.
    Places Visited: Trakai, Vilnius
    Lithuania Journal Entry

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  • Destination: Belarus

    Official Name: Republic of Belarus
    Established: 25 March 1918 (Independence from Russia)
    Population: 9,408,400 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 48.3% Orthodox Christian, 41.1% atheist, 7.1% is Catholic
    Language(s): Belarusian, Russian
    Capital: Minsk
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Third   
    First Visit: 16 July 2006
    Last Visit: 17 July 2006
    Duration: 2 Days
    Visit Highlights: Dour and gloomy Minsk
    Places Visited: Minsk
    Belarus Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Russia

    Official Name: Russian Federation
    Established: Duchy of Moscow (1283), Monarchy abolished (1917), Russian Federation (1991)
    Population: 146,748,590 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 70% Russian Orthodoxy, 15% No religion, 10% Islam
    Language(s): Russian 
    Capital: Moscow
    Order of Visit: Twenty-First   
    First Visit: 09 July 2006
    Last Visit: 16 July 2006
    Duration: 8 Days
    Visit Highlights: 
    St Petersburg; Peter and Paul Fortress, Pushkin Palace (Summer Palace), Petredvoert (Tsar Peter the Great’s summer residence), ballet performance – Swan Lake, Yusupov’s Palace, St Isaac’s Square and Cathedral, the amazing Hermitage and it’s art collection.  
    Novgorod; Millennium Monument, Kremlin Fort and St Sophia Cathedral.  
    Moscow: Metro Rail system (really it is stunning), Red Square, Peter the Great Statue, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, St Basil’s Cathedral (very colourful), Borodino Panorama Exhibition, The Kremlin (in particular Kremlin Armoury Chamber), Russian White House
    Places Visited: Novgorod, Moscow, St Petersburg
    Russia Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Spain

    Official Name: Kingdom of Spain
    Established: January 1479 (First constitution 19 March 1812)
    Population: 47,431,256 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 61% Roman Catholic, 35% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish 
    Capital: Madrid
    Order of Visit: Twenty    
    First Visit: 28 June 2006
    Last Visit: 26 October 2012
    Duration: 12 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    Barcelona     – Bustling Las Ramas, Placa de Catalunya (beautiful fountain), Borri Gothic sector,  tapas bars, flamenco dancing (2006). 
    Madrid     – The crazy Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, excellent Museo Nacional Del Prado, bullfighting, flamenco dancing (2012).
    Burgos – the amazing Cathedral.  San Sebastian – beautiful beaches and tapas bars.   
    Segovia – Alcazar (castle), Cathedral and ancient and magnificent Aqueduct. 
    Avila – the walled city.
    Places Visited: Avila, Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, San Sebastián, Segovia
    Spain Journal Entries  

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  • 2022 – The Silk Road and Turkey

    So with the COVID19 pandemic now having a chance of being under control sometime in the next 12 months, and assuming a working vaccine, I’ve started considering future trip ideas.

    I was thinking of going ‘off the beaten path’ somewhat, already iconically on a former major trading route – The Silk Road. This would also allow me to experience and see some of the impact the old Soviet era have in these areas.

    Gorges of Chong-Kemin, Kyrgyzstan

    The countries I’m looking at visiting are:

    1. Kyrgyzstan;
    2. Kazakhstan;
    3. Tajikistan;
    4. Uzbekistan;
    5. Turkmenistan;
    6. Turkey; and
    7. Singapore.

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  • Covid-19 and the Victoria Lockdown

    My home State Victoria (Australia) on 27 November just completed 28 days without any new COVID-19 cases or deaths and we now have no known active cases at all. It has been a very rocky long road to get to this stage and a very hard winter we lots of learnings and self reflection over the past 8 months.

    An abandoned Melbourne CBD on a warm March 2020 day

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