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Around the World with JanAround the World with Jan
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Around the World with Jan

Around the World with Jan

I've spent a lifetime travelling the world and I have no intention of ever stopping. There are so many amazing places to see. Baca lagi🇦🇺Sydney
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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanMexico and Cuba
      1

      Viñales

      12 Mac, Cuba ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      The West of Cuba is quite different to the East. This area is more lush and fertile with the rich red soil, fields of tobacco and coffee and beautiful birdlife against a background of limestone mogotes.

      The pace of life is slower here by necessity rather than design. The roads are in the poorest condition, making a trip to the sea a two hour marathon one way.

      So far we've spotted over 50 species of birds which is pretty amazing.

      What makes me sad as our trip comes to an end is that the situation here isn't because of external forces but from within. People have to operate within a system that is broken and they have found ways to do that.

      It isn't fair or easy to know that as we go back to our comfortable lives, people here will continue to struggle. Some people hope for change while others doubt that it ever will. I hope they are wrong. Given a chance Cuba could be so much more than it's allowed to be.      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanMexico and Cuba

      Santiago de Cuba

      1 Mac, Cuba ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      As we head East deeper into the countryside we experience first hand power cuts that can last all day and roads that haven't been repaired for years.

      Despite that, each place we visit has a special magic. And, music, always, and often loud enough to rattle the windows. Cubans like their music and they prefer it loud. Everywhere we eat in the evenings we are serenaded by fabulous musicians and of course we dance.

      Cuba doesn't have the archaelogical sites but the Spanish and French settled here building stunning homes full of treasures from their home countries - furniture, glassware and porcelain, much of it still there.

      Of course, Fidel and Che are everwhere. This is a country of revolutions and invasions, fighting and patriotism. There are monuments everywhere to those who have shaped this country.      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanMexico and Cuba
      11

      Adios Mexico, hola Cuba

      22 Februari, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

      I can't leave Mexico without summing up just how amazing it is.

      We saw so much and yet I feel that we only scratched the surface. UNESCO world heritage sites and one of the 7 wonders of the world at Chichen Itza.

      Our guide, Lucila, was amazing, her love of this country was obvious in the way she talked about it. The trip wasn't nearly long enough.

      Now it's on to Cuba and another adventure.      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanMexico and Cuba
      11

      Into the jungle

      18 Februari, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

      We are literally in the jungle now. Hot and humid, parrots and monkeys and that's just around the hotel.

      We've seen and done lots and yet the time hasn't gone too quickly even though I'll be in Cuba on the weekend. Who knows what connectivity I will have there.

      It's been an amazing trip. The UNESCO archaeology sites are incredible. The history and architecture as well as the food and the people. 15 days just isn't long enough.

      I've had frozen margaritas and mescal and posh, the local moonshine. We had to travel through Zapatista territory, and we did it without any issues. I've felt completely safe here, even walking on my own.

      I can't speak highly enough of our driver Evan and our guide, Lucila. The pride they have in their country is obvious. And, a nice bunch of people on the trip.

      An amazing place, definitely worth a visit.      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanMexico and Cuba
      Belle Artes Mexico City
      1A colourful neighbourhoodHe looks scary to meThe tree of life Anthropology MuseumTemple of the moon TeotihuacanSprouting wings, Puebla1

      Hola, habla Inglis?

      5 Februari, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      Mexico city, 25 million people, an amazing history and friendly locals but not much English spoken here so my rudimentary Spanish has been put to the test on a daily basis.

      The weather has been perfect, cool at night and warm during the day. It's easy to forget that we are sitting at 2000 metres above sea level.

      There is so much to see. The highlights for me have been the home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Casa Azul and the Anthropolgy Museum, built in the 60's and on of the best I've yet to see.

      Over the next few days we will visit some of the ancient cities that these treasures came from.      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanJan in Japan

      City of towers

      4 November 2024, Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

      Well, I’m now on the final leg of my journey. Arriving in Hong Kong at night was quite an experience. I’ve never seen such tall towers of light. As we sped to Hong Kong Island on the MTR Airport Express I felt like I was travelling through a futuristic movie set. It was something else. Now it’s morning and it looks much more like a normal city.

      I was happy to leave Osaka and it’s teeming crowds of people. From mid-morning to late into the evening a massive tide of humanity streamed along the footpaths – it makes Sydney look like a quiet place.

      Having said that, the back streets away from the shops sometimes produced hidden gems – two beautiful little temples around the corner and across the road from my hotel, tucked away in a quiet corner.

      Namba, the area I was staying in while I was in Osaka, was a mecca of luxury shops from Dunhill to Burberry, Prada and Fendi. The Diamaru store looked like something out of the 1940’s – David Jones only more posh.

      Where I am in Honkers seems to be the home of luxury cars – McLaren, BMW, Porche on the Queens Road. I look forward to exploring this city a little bit in the next couple of days – love the transport system.

      I am going to be glad to get home. I miss salads and sandwiches and being able to have fruit for breakfast and make it myself. It has been an amazing trip and definitely worth doing the walk. Rural Japan is beautiful.

      Now it’s time to finalise organising the next trip (I’m sure that doesn’t surprise anyone).      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanJan in Japan

      Japanese Pilgrim

      30 Oktober 2024, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

      I’m now half way through the hiking part of this trip and it’s been fun. Lots of laughter and silliness with a nice bunch of people. Marcus our guide has done his best to make this as enjoyable as possible. We’ve made paper when the rain just got too heavy to walk, sat in an outdoor onsen at the edge of a crystal clear river first thing in the morning and walked and walked and walked, and eaten amazing food.

      Day 1 was a steep climb which challenged all of us. The trails have varied from stones to dirt and mud walking through some of the tallest cedar and cypress trees I’ve ever seen, it’s rarely flat. On Day 2 we were rained on a lot and in that weather we watched while high school students carried bags of dirt to rebuild sections of the Kumano Kodo as part of a school excursion, not something you’d see in Australia.

      Unfortunately there are very few autumn leaves just yet. The season has been getting later and now the leaves don’t change until the end of the November. That hasn’t taken away from the sheer beauty of the forests we’ve walked through, especially today.

      Every night we’ve dined liked emperors – the food has been sensational and I’ve developed a fondness for plum wine! Each time the table has been set with beautiful dishes of tasty morsels to tempt us to keep eating.

      The local people are friendly and helpful even if they don’t always understand what we’re on about. What we haven’t been able to communicate in words, we’ve managed with smiles and hand gestures.

      A truly amazing trip - tiring, lots to see and more to come.      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanJan in Japan
      First impressions
      Life's a BeachLost for wordsCalm and beautifulAnd so it begins - the start of the trail

      And so it begins

      26 Oktober 2024, Jepun ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

      After thinking that this year I’d done my dash on an overseas trip, I was lucky enough to get a cancellation to hike the Nakahechi Route of the Kumano Kodo. The question was did I want to take the slot? Of course I did, would anyone have any doubt about it?

      It was a long journey to get here – 2 flights, two trains with a 4 hour layover in Hong Kong which turned into 5 as we arrived an hour early. Normally that would be good, but not when you have to hang around the transit lounge of a busy airport really late and everything is starting to close.

      Well, I made it to Kii Tanabe and, after a good night’s sleep, today has been the day of the temples. I’ve been amazed so far and I’ve only visited two. The elegance and simplicity of design coupled with stunning gardens took my breath away even on a grey overcast day. I’m sure there’s many more to come in the walk.

      Some of the group are arriving today so we’re meeting for dinner tonight. I look forward to meeting them all tomorrow at our briefing and then on Monday off we go. More on that later….      Baca lagi

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    • Around the World with JanAround the World with JanOn the road again
      Where am I again?
      Italian Garden Hyde ParkSo many lovely old pubsSome things never change - St Paul'sShakespeare's Globe TheatreGrand architecture everywhereWho wouldn't recognise this? Big Ben.A quiet corner - Little Venice

      My home away from home

      15 Ogos 2023, England ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      London didn’t disappoint – despite lots of construction work, it hasn’t really changed. It was busier than I’ve ever seen it as if everyone decided that 2023 is the year to go to Europe and the UK and many of them were in London.

      At one point I thought I’d been transported to Bangkok, trishaws lined up outside Selfridges with loud music and flashing lights – who would have thought?

      Despite the crowds, there were quiet pockets of the city with fewer people. My little hotel was in Paddington just off the main road so quiet and peaceful but close enough to walk to Hyde Park or Oxford Street, it was a great find.

      London is still London – there’s a buzz that I haven’t felt in any other city. It’s history and art still manage to charm even after all these years. I was lucky to have warm weather which made walking a pleasure.

      Now I’m back in Sydney it’s time to start thinking about what comes next…..      Baca lagi

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