World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Official Name: United Arab Emirates
Established: 1971
Population: 9,890,400 (2020 estimate)
Religion: Islam
Language: Arabic
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Order of Visit: Fifty-Eighth
First Visit: 23 November 2017
Last Visit: 23 November 2017
Duration: 1 Day
Visit Highlights: Chauffeur drive in a Mercedes Benz, the luxurious Dubai International Airport and Roda al Bustan Hotel.
Places Visited: Dubai
United Arab Emirates Journal Entry
Official Name: Republic of Namibia
Established: 21 March 1990
Population: 2,746,745 (2020 estimate)
Religion: 87.9% Christian
Language: English
Capital: Windhoek
Order of Visit: Sixty-Eighth
First Visit: 17 January 2018
Last Visit: 07 January 2018
Duration: 11 Days
Visit Highlights: Climbing Dune 45, hiking to the dead valley (Deadvlei), Luna Rock formations, interacting with seals on a ‘dolphin’ cruise, ancient rock paintings (Spitzkoppe), the cycle of life and amazing animals like cheetahs, giraffes, lions, jackals in the very hot Estosha National Park
Places Visited: Brandberg, Deadvlei, Estosha National Park, Fish River Canyon, Sesriem, Spitzkoppe, Swapokmund, Windhoek
Namibia Journal Entries
Official Name: Principality of Monaco
Established: 1861 (Franco-Monegasque Treaty)
Population: 38,300 (2019 estimate)
Religion: Catholic
Language: French
Capital: Monaco (largest quarter Monte Carlo)
Order of Visit: Nineteenth
First Visit: 26 June 2006
Last Visit: 26 June 2006
Duration: 1 Day
Visit Highlights: Expensive yachts and cars
Places Visited: Monaco
Monaco Journal Entries
Official Name: Vatican City State
Established: 1929 (Lateran Treaty)
Population: 825 (2019 estimate)
Religion: 100% Catholic
Language: Italian
Capital: Vatican City
Order of Visit: Eighteenth
First Visit: 12 June 2006
Last Visit: 12 June 2006
Duration: 1 Day
Visit Highlights: Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s ‘Book of Genesis’, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, stunning artwork.
Places Visited: Vatican City
Vatican Journal Entries
Official Name: Italian Republic
Established: 1861 Kingdom of Italy
Population: 60,317,116 (2020 estimate)
Religion: 83.3% Christianity, 12.4% No religion, 3.7% Islam
Language: Italian
Capital: Rome
Order of Visit: Seventeenth
First Visit: 8 June 2006
Last Visit: 22 June 2006
Duration: 15 Days
Visit Highlights: Gondola ride in Venice, Rialto Bridge, Visiting The Colosseum (Rome), Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon, The buried city of Pompeii, Stunning views from the Isle of Capri, travelling along the Amalfi coast, exploring Florence, seeing Michelangelo’s David, the crazy and energetic Italians!
Places Visited: Amalfi, Florence, Isle of Capri, Naples, Orvieto, Pisa, Pompeii, Positano, Sorrento, Ravello, Rome, Venice
Italy Journal Entries
Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Established: 1768 Kingdom of Nepal
Population: 28,095,714 (2018 estimate)
Religion: 81.3% Hinduism, 9% Buddhism, 4.4% Islam
Language: Nepali
Capital: Kathmandu
Order of Visit: Sixty-Ninth
First Visit: 13 October2018
Last Visit: 27 October 2018
Duration: 6 Days
Visit Highlights: Kathmandu Streets, Thamel Market, Durbar Square, Sisterhood of Survivors, hiking around Panauti, dancing with Panauti locals, Panauti homestay
Places Visited: Kathmandu, Panauti
Nepal Journal Entries
Official Name: Tibet Autonomous Region
Established: 1951 (As part of the People’s Republic of China),
Population: 3,180,000
Religion: Tibetan Buddhism
Languages: Tibetan, Mandarin
Capital: Lhasa
Order of Visit: Seventieth
First Visit: 17 October 2018
Last Visit: 26 October 2018
Duration: 10 Days
Visit Highlights: The Himalayas, Mount Everest, Tsamkhung Nunnery, Polata Palace, Tashilunpo Monastery, Shigatse Bazaar, Pelkor Chode Monastery, Gyantse Kumbum, Gyatso la pass, Yamdrok Tso Lake, The clear air
Places Visited: Lhasa, Gyantse, Shegar, Rombuk, Shigatse, Mount Everest
Tibet Journal Entries
Way back in May 2017 after a discussion with my nephew Andrew and his fiancé Danelle we commenced watching the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Top 100 Movies. At the time they have temporarily move in with me while saving for their wedding and a future house. While they didn’t quite make it to the end after moving out I did and due to the unfortunate COVID-19 situation I watch the last 66 movies over five months.
So after starting with Yankee Doodle Dandy (ranked 100) and finishing with The Godfather Part II (ranked 13) on Friday 4 September 2020 this turned out to be highly enjoyable and exposed me to many great films I would never have experienced.
Overall the IMDb Top 100 listing was exceptionally strong which was what I was hoping for. Nineteen of the movies I rated 9.5 or 10 out of 10. Of these nineteen films I had previously only watched 8 of them including my only rated 10 /10 film the great Schindler’s List.
Cast: Al Pacino (Michael), Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Diane Keaton (Kay), Robert De Niro (Vito Corleone), John Cazale (Fredo Corleone), Talia Shire (Connie Corleone), Lee Strasberg (Hyman Roth), Michael V. Gazzo (Frankie Pentangeli)
Directors: Francis Ford Coppola
My rating: 9.0 / 10
Cast: Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), James Caan (Sonny Corleone), Richard S. Castellano (Clemenza), Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Sterling Hayden (Capt. McCluskey), John Marley (Jack Woltz), Richard Conte (Barzini), Al Lettieri (Sollozzo), Diane Keaton (Kay Adams), Talia Shire (Connie), Gianni Russo (Carlo)
Directors: Francis Ford Coppola
My rating: 9.5 / 10
