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: 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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  • Destination: Thailand

    Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand (formerly Siam)
    Established: 1238 (Sukhothai Kingdom), 24 June 1932 (Constitutional monarchy)               
    Population: 66,558,935 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: 94.5% Buddhism, 4.3% Islam, 1.2% Christianity
    Language(s): Thai
    Capital: Bangkok
    Order of Visit: Thirty-Ninth
    First Visit: 06 October 2012
    Last Visit: 26 July 2016 
    Duration: 15 Days
    Visit Highlights: 
    – Ayutthaya: Exploring the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, Wat Na Phra Mane and Wat Lokayasutharam (sight of a large reclining Buddha), cruising Chao Phraya River (in 2012 and 2016),
    – Bangkok: Sleeping in bunks on the overnight train trip (Koh Phangan to Bangkok),  Royal Temple of Wat Po, Canal ride (and feeding fish), Jim Thompson House and Museum (silk hand weaving), Thai Kickboxing fights (Muay Thai), reclining Buddha, Visiting the Grand Palace with the Emerald Buddha).
    – Chiang Mai: enjoying a traditional Khantoke dinner, Thai cooking class, intense full body Thai massage, shopping at the Thai Silk Village, intense Muay Thai (kickboxing) fights, feeding, walking with and washing elephants in a sanctuary, exploring the Wat Doi Suthep Temple, experiencing a ladyboy show (Chiang Mai Cabaret Show), visiting the Baan Tong Luang Eco-Agricultural Tribes village including firing an old fashion box gun, the spellbinding Bai Orchid and Butterfly Farm
    – Koh Samui: Enjoying a elephant ride, patting a tiger, incredible scenery, relaxing ferry ride to the island, exploring Ang National Marine Park (swimming, hiking, kayaking
    – Koh Phangan: swimming in the beautiful waters, enjoying aroma massage, hiking, BBQ seafood on the beach, launching Chinese lanterns under the stars.
    – Nakhon Si Thammarat: Shadow Puppet Museum and enjoyable show
    Places Visited    : Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Nakhon Si Thammarat
    Thailand Journal Entries 

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