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: Egypt

    Official Name: Arab Republic of Egypt
    Established: 3150 BC (Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt), 28 February 1922 (Independence from United Kingdom)   
    Population: 100,075,480 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 85% Muslim, 10% Coptic Christians
    Language(s): Arabic
    Capital: Cairo
    Order of Visit: Thirtieth
    First Visit: 6 June 2009
    Last Visit: 21 June 2009
    Duration: 16 Days
    Visit Highlights: 
    Cairo: Sakkah Pyramids, Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Mohammed Ali Mosque, Turkish Bazaar
    Aswan: Negotiating in local marketplace, Felucca ride, Nubian village visit with dinner at a local house.
    Abu Simbel: Experiencing the Great Temple, dedicated to Ramesses II, and the Small Temple, dedicated to Queen Nefertari
    Kom Ombo: Felucca sailing from Aswan to Kom Ombo, swimming in the Nile, sleeping on the Nile under the stars, beautiful sunrise over the Nile, Temple of Kom Ombo, Temple of Edfu
    Luxor: Luxor Temple, Mummification Museum, Karnak Temple, Luxor Museum
    Valley of the Kings: Riding a donkey to the valley (and not falling off), visiting the stunning Queen Hatshepsut Temple, inspecting Ramesses II, Ramesses IV and Ramesses IX tombs. 
    Hurghada: ATV desert safari
    Dahab: Snorkelling in the Red Sea
    Sinai Desert: St Catherine’s Monastery, Hiking up Mount Sinai and watching the sunrise over the mountain range.
    Places Visited: Aswan, Abu Simbel, Cairo, Dahab, Hurghada, Kom Ombo, Luxor, Sinai Desert, Valley of the Kings 
    Egypt Journal Entries  

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  • Destination: China

    Official Name: The People’s Republic of China
    Established: 221 BCE (First imperial dynasty), 1 January 1912 (Republic established), 1 October 1949 (Proclamation of the People’s Republic)   
    Population: 1,400,050,000 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: 74% Atheist, 16% Buddhists, 2% Christians, 1% Muslims
    Language(s): Chinese  
    Capital: Beijing
    Order of Visit: Twenty-Ninth
    First Visit: 14 August 2006
    Last Visit: 27 August 2006
    Duration: 14 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    Beijing    : Hiking the Great Wall of China (Jinshanling section), Beijing Acrobats, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City. 
    Xi’an    : The beautiful Terracotta Warriors, The Great Mosque.  Luoyang:  Longmen Grottos, White Horse Temple, the Smiling Buddha. 
    Yangtze River    : The entire 3 day cruise, the lock system, The Little Three Gorges, the Hanging coffins, visiting a ‘Ghost Town’. 
    Yangzhou    : The striking landscape, biking to Moon Hill, learning tai’chi, watching hundreds of performers in a ‘Chinese Lightning’ show.   
    Places Visited: Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Guilin, Louyang, Yangtze River, Yangzhou, Yichang, Xi’an
    China Journal Entries  

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  • 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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