Nathan's Insights

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

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  • Destination: Russia

    Official Name: Russian Federation
    Established: Duchy of Moscow (1283), Monarchy abolished (1917), Russian Federation (1991)
    Population: 146,748,590 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 70% Russian Orthodoxy, 15% No religion, 10% Islam
    Language(s): Russian 
    Capital: Moscow
    Order of Visit: Twenty-First   
    First Visit: 09 July 2006
    Last Visit: 16 July 2006
    Duration: 8 Days
    Visit Highlights: 
    St Petersburg; Peter and Paul Fortress, Pushkin Palace (Summer Palace), Petredvoert (Tsar Peter the Great’s summer residence), ballet performance – Swan Lake, Yusupov’s Palace, St Isaac’s Square and Cathedral, the amazing Hermitage and it’s art collection.  
    Novgorod; Millennium Monument, Kremlin Fort and St Sophia Cathedral.  
    Moscow: Metro Rail system (really it is stunning), Red Square, Peter the Great Statue, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, St Basil’s Cathedral (very colourful), Borodino Panorama Exhibition, The Kremlin (in particular Kremlin Armoury Chamber), Russian White House
    Places Visited: Novgorod, Moscow, St Petersburg
    Russia Journal Entry  

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  • Destination: Spain

    Official Name: Kingdom of Spain
    Established: January 1479 (First constitution 19 March 1812)
    Population: 47,431,256 (2020 estimate)
    Religion: 61% Roman Catholic, 35% No religion
    Language(s): Spanish 
    Capital: Madrid
    Order of Visit: Twenty    
    First Visit: 28 June 2006
    Last Visit: 26 October 2012
    Duration: 12 Days
    Visit Highlights:
    Barcelona     – Bustling Las Ramas, Placa de Catalunya (beautiful fountain), Borri Gothic sector,  tapas bars, flamenco dancing (2006). 
    Madrid     – The crazy Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, excellent Museo Nacional Del Prado, bullfighting, flamenco dancing (2012).
    Burgos – the amazing Cathedral.  San Sebastian – beautiful beaches and tapas bars.   
    Segovia – Alcazar (castle), Cathedral and ancient and magnificent Aqueduct. 
    Avila – the walled city.
    Places Visited: Avila, Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, San Sebastián, Segovia
    Spain Journal Entries  

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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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