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: South Africa

    Established: Union of South Africa 1910, Republic 1961
    Population    : 58,775,022 (estimate 2019)
    Religion:  African Independent Church (25.4%), Pentecostal and Evangelical (15.2%), Roman Catholic (6.8%), Methodist (5.0%), Reformed (4.2%), Anglican (3.2%)
    Language: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Swazi, Venda, Southern Ndebele
    Capital: Pretoria
    Order of Visit: Eigthth
    First Visit    : 29 March 2006
    Last Visit: 21 January 2018
    Duration: 31 Days
    Must Do: Visit the Soweto township, attend a cricket Test Match, attend the Apartheid Museum (Johannesburg), the amazing wildlife of South Africa, visit Kruger National Park, attend a culture experience, exploring bushman caves (Drakensberg), Explore Karoo, do the highest Bungee Jump (216 metres – Knysna), hike the Sand Dunes of De Hoop Nature Reserve, witness the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans (Cape Point), hike Table Top Mountain (Cape Town), Visit Robben Island, do a Wine Tasting in the Cederberg Mountain region.
    Cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Cederberg Mountain, Gariep River, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Knysna, Karoo, Ladyband, Drakensberg, Durban, Dolphin Coast, Zululand, Kruger National Park, Hazyview, Ballule Nature Reserve
    South Africa Entries

    South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and to the north by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe and the east by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland).

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  • Destination: Wales

    Established: 1057
    Population    : 3,139,000 (estimate 2018)
    Religion:  57.6% Christian 
    Language: Welsh, English
    Capital: Cardiff
    Order of Visit: Seventh
    First Visit    : 27 February 2000
    Last Visit: 28 February 2000
    Duration: 2 Days
    Must Do: Cardiff Castle
    Cities: Cardiff
    Wales Journal Entries

    Wales has a history dominated by England but they have had times had independence first as a united country in 1057 under Gruffydd ap Llywelyn until his death in 1063 and later had their own Prince of Wales until 1267.

    Edward II was born at Caernarfon in 1284 and he became the first English Prince of Wales in 1301. The title is granted by the monarch to the heir apparent (usually eldest son) as a personal honour and is not heritable, merging with the English Crown on accession to the throne until passed onto the next heir apparent.

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  • Andrew and Danelle’s Wedding

    On Friday 6 March 2020 I had the honour of attending the wedding of my nephew Andrew and his amazing fiancé Danelle.

    Andrew and Danelle had been engaged for sometime to ensure they were right for each other and for almost 2 years at one point they lived with me while saving for their future home.

    I remember holding Andrew when he was a baby, picking him up for after school care when he was 8, him and his mother Kara living with me for a short while when he was in primary school, and taking Andrew on a world trip when he graduated from high school. How had he become this outstanding man who could find a woman like Danelle? (more…)

  • Destination: Republic of Ireland

    Established: 1937
    Population    : 4,900,000 (estimate 2019)
    Religion:  78.8% Catholics 
    Language: Irish, English
    Capital: Dublin
    Order of Visit: Sixth
    First Visit    : 20 February 2000
    Last Visit: 26 February 2000
    Duration: 7 Days
    Must Do: St Mary’s Cathedral (Limerick), King John’s Castle (Limerick), Watch Waterford Crystal Vases being created, Trinity College (Dublin), Visit Guinness Brewery (Dublin), Enjoy the Irish green countryside, visit an Irish pub and sit by a fire.
    Cities: Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny
    Republic of Ireland Journal Entries

    Southern Ireland was created as Irish Free State in 1922, when Ireland was partitioned between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Southern Ireland eventually become the Republic of Ireland in 1937 on leaving the Dominion of Britain but didn’t use the Republic title 1949. (more…)

  • Destination: Northern Ireland

    Established: 1921
    Population    : 1,885,400
    Religion: 48% Protestants, 45% Catholics 
    Language: English
    Capital: Belfast
    Order of Visit: Fifth
    First Visit    : 15 February 2000
    Last Visit: 20 February 2000
    Duration: 6 Days
    Must Do: Exploring Belfast murals of the Troubles, Irish pubs, Experience the Giant’s Causeway, The green countryside
    Cities: Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Derry
    Northern Ireland Journal Entries

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