Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • 2022 – The Silk Road and Turkey

    So with the COVID19 pandemic now having a chance of being under control sometime in the next 12 months, and assuming a working vaccine, I’ve started considering future trip ideas.

    I was thinking of going ‘off the beaten path’ somewhat, already iconically on a former major trading route – The Silk Road. This would also allow me to experience and see some of the impact the old Soviet era have in these areas.

    Gorges of Chong-Kemin, Kyrgyzstan

    The countries I’m looking at visiting are:

    1. Kyrgyzstan;
    2. Kazakhstan;
    3. Tajikistan;
    4. Uzbekistan;
    5. Turkmenistan;
    6. Turkey; and
    7. Singapore.

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  • Covid-19 and the Victoria Lockdown

    My home State Victoria (Australia) on 27 November just completed 28 days without any new COVID-19 cases or deaths and we now have no known active cases at all. It has been a very rocky long road to get to this stage and a very hard winter we lots of learnings and self reflection over the past 8 months.

    An abandoned Melbourne CBD on a warm March 2020 day

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  • Destination: Botswana

    Official Name: Republic of Botswana
    Established: 30 September 1966
    Population: 2,254,068 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 73% Christianity, 20% No religion, 6% Traditional faiths
    Language(s): English, Setswana 
    Capital: Gaborone
    Order of Visit: Sixty Sixth     
    First Visit: 28 December 2017
    Last Visit: 07 January 2018
    Duration: 9 Days
    Visit Highlights: Chobe National Park; Water Safari, Dusk Game Drives, Bush Camping under the stars, Morning Game Drives, surviving elephant charge and a lion chasing my vehicle, observing massive pride  of lions. Okavango Delta; Mokoro Canoe Ride, Walking Safari, Bush Camp, flight over the Delta, Bushman experience.   
    Places Visited: Chobe National Park, Ghanzi, Maun, Okavango Delta
    Botswana Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Zambia

    Official Name: Republic of Zambia
    Established: 24 October 1964 (Leaving Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland)
    Population: 17,351,708 (2018 estimate)
    Religion: 95.5% Christianity
    Language(s): English 
    Capital: Lusaka
    Order of Visit: Sixty Fifth     
    First Visit: 24 December 2017
    Last Visit: 28 December 2017
    Duration: 5 Days
    Visit Highlights: Elephants and baboons a South Luangwa campsite, Amazing game drive South Luangwa National Park, colourful and skilled wild dogs hunting, Victoria Falls (Zambia side), sunset on the Zambezi river 
    Places Visited: Livingstone, Lusaka, Petuake, South Luangwa
    Zambia Journal Entry

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  • Destination: Malawi

    Official Name: Republic of Malawi
    Established: 6 July 1964 (Independence from the United Kingdom)
    Population: 19,129,952 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 77.3% Christianity, 13.8% Islam
    Language(s): English, Chewa
    Capital: Lilongwe
    Order of Visit: Sixty Four     
    First Visit: 21 December 2017
    Last Visit: 24 December 2017
    Duration: 4 Days
    Visit Highlights: Lake Malawi coast, Sunrise over Chitimba Beach, Kande Beach Village visit, relaxing around Kande Beach
    Places Visited: Chitimba Beach, Kande Beach
    Malawi Journal Entry  

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