World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Friday 24 April 2015
Highlights: Playing cricket with the locals, tractor ride, drinking under the stars.
A late start today leaving our hotel at 10.30 am ulitising the hotel facilities one last time before heading to the rural village of Sawarda. The drive gave me a chance to see more of the countryside as we got deeper into rural communities.
Thursday 23 April 2015
Highlights: Amber Fort, local merchants, fine dinning under the stars.
Another incredible day made possible by our pro active tour leader / CEO Manu who added several optional events into today’s crowded events calendar.
Wednesday 22 April 2015
Highlights: Fathpur Sikri (abandon city) , Abhaneri (stunning ancient water tank) and Bollywood!
Today originally looked like a positioning day with a long trip to Jaipur but was it turned out that under played today’s stops in Fathpur Sikri and the Abhaner. We left Agra at 8.30 am with the knowledge we wouldn’t get to Jaipur until early earning and with some sorrow or leaving the wonders of this town.
Tuesday 21 April 2015
Highlights: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Baby Taj and visit to the Marble Emporium.
A massive day, probably the most impressive I’ve done on a tour excluding the Antartica trip. The city of Agra is an amazing place that the Moghuls, at that time led by Akbar the Great, settled in the late 16th century and used their fabulous worth to build monuments and other structures like Forts.
Monday 20 April 2015
Highlights: The Paharganj slums, the children’s refuge, Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sikh Temple, Jamaica Masijd (Great Mosque).
The first full day of the tour turned out to be eye opening. Before we started I woke up at 5.30 am local time, which is really 10 am In Australia so I used the time to walk around the local area and backtracked to the shopping district I saw last night. I saw the $15 million USA dollar residence which became a handy reference for the later visit to the Delhi slums.
Sunday 19 April 2020
Highlights: Indian TV, Meeting the group, Indian Dinner, Oganised chaos on the roads.
Another day mostly relaxing before the G Adventure tour begins tonight with our local meeting. Again during the day there were many power blackouts. (more…)
Saturday 18 April 2015
Highlights: Exploring local area.
This time for my flight from Hong Kong to Delhi I had a seat mate, a big Indian fellow, meaning I had limited access to the aisle. The flight was fine enough, or fine enough for someone who has been awake for over 18 hours when it began. They sprayed all passengers on approach to Delhi, that was something new.
Friday 17 April 2015
Highlights: Free seat next to me
So the next adventure begins this time it’s India and Japan, countries I’ve heard a lot about from good friends and I now get to experience for myself.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Taj Mahal with my own eyes, visiting Sikh Temples, experiencing India chaos and Japan order. Hoping I can avoid getting sick in India (fingers crossed)! (more…)
One of the great things about international travel is it gives you time to reflect. At least international travel from Australia as since we are so far away from the rest of the world you are usually going away for a while. For me this time it is 5 weeks.
When leaving for a length of time you start thinking of what you are leaving, who you are leaving, family, friends, work, your local routine (for me tennis and footy). I love the excuse it causes to talk to people you know you should see more often.
Some of my friends are going though extremely difficult times. Others are having their first baby or expanding their family or getting married. Some friends are starting new careers or businesses or purchasing their first home. Life can be amazing, fun, difficult, frustrating and sad all at the same time.
I’m blessed with what I have but in particular with individuals who put up and even embrace my not so great attitudes and characteristics, people who want me to succeed, who help me when I’m down and trust me to help them when they need it most.
It has been 2 years and 2 months since I returned from my last overseas trip. During that time I have experienced some difficult mental health issues, I had to fight to keep my job and on keeping it work harder than ever before. I learnt a lot, like I’m tougher than I sometimes realise, and that I have some people who always have my back even when doing so can hurt their immediate needs. I learnt I can motivate people, I can help mentor and support people so they can learn from my challenges and experiences. I learnt I’m not a bad speaker and I’m a good strategic thinker. But most importantly I learnt that events and situations are never as bad as they seem.
I like my life situation, yes I fall down, I’d like to be fitter and healthier and more attractive, but I have a group of wonderful people in my life. People who I love and who love me. People I can’t wait to see again and tell them about the next adventure or experience. Let the adventure begin!
Friday 03 April 2015 – Monday 06 April 2015 – Photos
My first tournament since starting a gym program with personal trainer Kevin and I had high expectations. I even re-entered the singles event for the first time in 4 years. While the results didn’t go my way I definitely felt it wasn’t due to lack of fitness or motivation I was unsuccessful, maybe skills and bad luck :). I can only hope with 12 more months of gym work I will be even stronger.
Results
D Singles 3-7 (lost 4 sudden death games)
D Doubles 3-7 (with Reagan, lost 5 sudden death games), 7-0 (forfeit)
C Doubles 2-7 (with Leon, lost 3 sudden death games), 4-7 (lost 1 sudden death game)
** Note at this point Saturday night I had lost 13 sudden death games in a row (out of 28 games lost) and received a pizza award!
D Mixed Doubles 7-0 & 5-7 (with Kara, won 1 sudden death game, lost 3 sudden death games)
So the story was losing all these close games. I felt I was playing well but just kept up coming short. I didn’t really get any easy opponents and I could definitely see some of them on the nearby courts!
But this isn’t just about playing tennis. It’s about taking a break from the city and having some fun. Watching Erin do the bunny hop song was a definite highlight 🙂
Catching up with Catherine and her fast growing 3 year old daugther Hannah and their family let to some fun and games. Quality time with the grestest mother – daugther combination I’ve meet in Lyn and Elle Longmuir is always fun.
So it’s another year over and now time to concentrate on the upcoming India and Japan trip which is only 11 days away.
