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

  • Destination: Wales

    Established: 1057
    Population    : 3,139,000 (estimate 2018)
    Religion:  57.6% Christian 
    Language: Welsh, English
    Capital: Cardiff
    Order of Visit: Seventh
    First Visit    : 27 February 2000
    Last Visit: 28 February 2000
    Duration: 2 Days
    Must Do: Cardiff Castle
    Cities: Cardiff
    Wales Journal Entries

    Wales has a history dominated by England but they have had times had independence first as a united country in 1057 under Gruffydd ap Llywelyn until his death in 1063 and later had their own Prince of Wales until 1267.

    Edward II was born at Caernarfon in 1284 and he became the first English Prince of Wales in 1301. The title is granted by the monarch to the heir apparent (usually eldest son) as a personal honour and is not heritable, merging with the English Crown on accession to the throne until passed onto the next heir apparent.

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  • Andrew and Danelle’s Wedding

    On Friday 6 March 2020 I had the honour of attending the wedding of my nephew Andrew and his amazing fiancé Danelle.

    Andrew and Danelle had been engaged for sometime to ensure they were right for each other and for almost 2 years at one point they lived with me while saving for their future home.

    I remember holding Andrew when he was a baby, picking him up for after school care when he was 8, him and his mother Kara living with me for a short while when he was in primary school, and taking Andrew on a world trip when he graduated from high school. How had he become this outstanding man who could find a woman like Danelle? (more…)

  • Destination: Republic of Ireland

    Established: 1937
    Population    : 4,900,000 (estimate 2019)
    Religion:  78.8% Catholics 
    Language: Irish, English
    Capital: Dublin
    Order of Visit: Sixth
    First Visit    : 20 February 2000
    Last Visit: 26 February 2000
    Duration: 7 Days
    Must Do: St Mary’s Cathedral (Limerick), King John’s Castle (Limerick), Watch Waterford Crystal Vases being created, Trinity College (Dublin), Visit Guinness Brewery (Dublin), Enjoy the Irish green countryside, visit an Irish pub and sit by a fire.
    Cities: Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny
    Republic of Ireland Journal Entries

    Southern Ireland was created as Irish Free State in 1922, when Ireland was partitioned between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Southern Ireland eventually become the Republic of Ireland in 1937 on leaving the Dominion of Britain but didn’t use the Republic title 1949. (more…)

  • Destination: Northern Ireland

    Established: 1921
    Population    : 1,885,400
    Religion: 48% Protestants, 45% Catholics 
    Language: English
    Capital: Belfast
    Order of Visit: Fifth
    First Visit    : 15 February 2000
    Last Visit: 20 February 2000
    Duration: 6 Days
    Must Do: Exploring Belfast murals of the Troubles, Irish pubs, Experience the Giant’s Causeway, The green countryside
    Cities: Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Derry
    Northern Ireland Journal Entries

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  • Australian Open 2020

    Friday 25 January 2020

    Each year since the Australian Open moved to Melbourne Park (formerly Flinders Park) in 1988 I’ve attended the local Australian Tennis Grand Slam missing only 2000, 2010, and 2013 when overseas, so 30 times out of 33 Australian Opens.

    I managed back in 2018 to attend the Men’s Final watching the great Roger Federer beat Marin Cilic. But most years it’s a ground pass to watch some matches. This year it was a Margaret Court Arena ticket given to me as a gift by my brother Reagan which made this our second Grand Slam in a row after we both went to the US Open late last year.

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  • Lounge Review – Virgin Australia Canberra Airport Lounge

    When visited: January 2020
    Time of day: Late Afternoon to early evening

    Rating: 4.5 / 5

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  • Destination: Fiji


    Official Name: Republic of Fiji
    Established:     10 October 1970 (from the United Kingdom)
    Population    : 912,241 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 64.4% Christianity, 27.9% Hinduism
    Language: English, Fiji Hindi
    Capital: Suva
    Order of Visit: Thirty-Sixth
    First Visit    : 1 November 2010
    Last Visit: 5 November 2010
    Duration: 5 Days
    Must Do:  Gardens of the Sleeping Giant, Viseisei Village, Vuda Lookout, Sunset Cruise, Swimming and Relaxing
    Places Visited: Nadi, Viseisei Village
    Fiji Journal Entries

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  • Destination: New Zealand

    IMG_0101Established: 1840 (Treaty of Waitangi)
    Population    : 4.47 million
    Religion: Christianity  (47.65%)
    Language: English
    Capital: Wellington
    Order of Visit: Second
    First Visit    : 11 November 1999
    Last Visit: 21 January 2010
    Duration: 31 Days
    Visit Highlights: Explore Waitomo Caves, Visit Bay of Islands, Remember Lord of the Rings at Hobbiton, Hike anywhere in New Zealand (but beware changing weather), and have fun in Queenstown.
    Places Visited: Auckland, Bay of Islands, Cambridge, Christchurch, Dunedin, Fox Glacier, Greymouth, Hanmer Springs, Matamata (Hobbiton), Kaikoura, Milford, Picton, Queenstown, Rotorua, Turangi, Wellington
    New Zealand Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Netherlands

    Established: 1581
    Population: 14.4 million (2018 estimate)
    Religion: Non-religious (51%), Catholic (21%)
    Language: Dutch
    Capital: Amsterdam
    Order of Visit: 12
    First Visit: 6 May 2006
    Last Visit: 10 May 2006
    Duration: 5 Days
    Must Do: Stunning flowers at Keukenhof, Model Town of Madurodam,  Amsterdam Red Light District, Anne Frank House, Bike ride around Amsterdam, Marijuana Cafes   
    Cities    : Amsterdam, Keukenhof, Deft, The Hague, Madurodam 
    Netherlands Journal Entries

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  • Destination: Zimbabwe

    Established: 1965 (As Rhodesia with White minority rule) / 1980 (As Zimbabwe with universal enfranchisement)
    Population: 14.4 million (2018 estimate)
    Religion: Christian (84.1%)
    Language: 16 Languages – most used languages are English, Shona, and Ndebele
    Capital: Harare
    Order of Visit: Sixty Seventh
    First Visit: 29 December 2017
    Last Visit: 01 January 2018
    Duration: 4 Days
    Must Do: Helicopter Flight over Victoria Falls, Night Game Drive at Stanley Livingstone Private Park, Sunset Cruise On the Zambezi  
    Cities    : Victoria Falls
    Zimbabwe Journal Entries

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