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

  • 2023 Central Asia and Turkey Update

    Bosphorus Strait, Turkey

    After many changes and delays due to COVID restrictions and isolations since 2020 (see 2020 and 2021 travel planning posts) I’ve now made a significant step for my next big international trip to Central Asia and Turkey.

    I just booked my first flights to get from Melbourne, Australia to Istanbul, Turkey via Singapore to start this adventure late April 2023. The best thing is I managed to redeem business class seats using Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles, which came to 86,000 miles and $109 co-payment. As a result I also submitted my leave request which my work has just approved for this 42 day trip.

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  • Australian Open 2022 – Women’s Final

    The Grand Slam Women’s Singles Final Venue!

    As a fan of tennis, and a regular attendee of the Australian Open every since it moved to Melbourne Park (previously Flinders Park) in 1988 I had a unique and unexpected COVID related opportunity this year to attend the AusOpen 2022 Women’s Singles Final.

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  • The Finance and Fitness Plan 2022 Edition

    Better balanced living room in 2022

    Now that 2022 is here after the crazy rollercoaster years of 2020 and 2021 living with the COVID pandemic it is to be hoped that this situation now becomes more like a endemic situation i.e. contained to a degree or at least only expected cases but relatively mild.

    Back in February 2019 I started a three year wealth plan and in February 2021 I added a one year health component.

    While the health component was always needed it become urgent after a testing and depressing 200+ days in lockdown and working from home during 2020 that had some terrible physical and undesirable mental health outcomes.

    These plans were finished both early and successfully. Now it’s time to consolidate and maintain strong forward momentum in 2022 and avoid going back to bad habits.

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  • Final Check-in: Wealth, Weight and Wellbeing Plan (Feb 2021 – Feb 2022)

    Success!!!

    Well two months early I’m calling the wealth, weight and wellbeing plan that started in February 2021 finished and more importantly a success!

    For background you can find the first check in here (15 April 2021), the second here (25 June 2021), the third here (02 September 2021) and fourth here (13 November 2021).

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  • Fourth Check-in: Wealth, Weight and Wellbeing Plan (Feb 2021 – Feb 2022)

    Almost there!

    A major success on the weight loss side marked the fourth stage of my Wealth, Weight and Wellbeing Plan as the end of the 26 fortnight ambitious and hopefully long term life changing challenge comes into view.

    You can find the first check in here (15 April 2021), the second here (25 June 2021) and the third here (02 September).

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