Schema
Below is the schema of our trip. We’ll visit these countries: Finland, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and the Unites States.
Keep an eye on your scrollbar, you might lose it 
| October 2008: Finland | ||
| 31/10/2008 | Flight Amsterdam - Helsinki | FinnAir, AY0842 |
| Helsinki Cathedral, harbour and quest for the Sanoma building | ||
| November 2008: Finland, Russia, China, Japan and Australia | ||
| 01/11/2008 | Flight Helsinki - Moscow | FinnAir, AY0153 |
| Red square from a distance (closed - military parade) |
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| 02/11/2008 | Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building, Red Square, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Ministry of foreign affairs, Statue of Peter I | |
| 03/11/2008 | Kremlin, Tsar canon and bell | |
| 04/11/2008 | Gorki Park, KGB headquarters, Statue of Marx, Bol’shoy theatre, Metro (Yvo arrested) | |
| 05/11/2008 | Flight Moscow - Helsinki | FinnAir, AY0154 |
| Flight Helsinki - Beijing | FinnAir, AY0051 | |
| 3 hour delay on our flight to Beijing | ||
| 06/11/2008 | Tiananmen square flag ceremony, art scam | |
| 07/11/2008 | Jade factory, Ming Tombs, Chinese hospital, Chinese lunch, Great Wall at Badaling | |
| 08/11/2008 | Summer Palace, meet up with Marcel and Robbert, Peking Duck dinner, KAI bar | |
| 09/11/2008 | Tiananmen square and the forbidden city, Bird’s Nest and the WaterCube, table BBQ dinner |
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| 10/11/2008 | Flight Beijing - Tokyo | Japan AL, JL0684 |
| Long train ride, quest for the hotel | ||
| 11/11/2008 | Government district, lookout at 45th floor of the city hall | |
| 12/11/2008 | Imperial palace, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Jungu | |
| 13/11/2008 | Tsukiji Fish market, Rainbow Bridge, Fuji TV hq, Shibuya | |
| 14/11/2008 | Flight Tokyo - Hong Kong | Cathay, CX0501 |
| Apple laptop quest | ||
| 15/11/2008 | Midlevel escalator, The Center, Bank of China, Botanical Garden, Man Mo temple | |
| 16/11/2008 | Ferry to Macau, St. Paul cathedral ruins, A-Ma temple, Lighthouse | |
| 17/11/2008 | Soho, Ferry to Kawloon, Symphony of lights | |
| 18/11/2008 | Flight Hong Kong - Brisbane | Cathay, CX0157 |
| Check-in at midnight | ||
| 19/11/2008 | Flight Brisbane - Darwin | Qantas, QF0824 |
| Shopping for sunblock and insect repellent | ||
| 20/11/2008 | Adventure tours Camping Safari - Day 1 | Website |
| 21/11/2008 | Adventure tours Camping Safari - Day 2 | |
| 22/11/2008 | Rest day at Darwin | |
| 23/11/2008 | Flight Darwin - Alice Springs | Qantas(link), QF1935 |
| Flight Alice Springs - Ayers Rock | Qantas(link), QF1941 | |
| Rain; Sounds of Silence Dinner cancelled | Website | |
| 24/11/2008 | In the morning: Uluru Sunrise tour with Jessy | Website |
| In the evening: Katan Tjuta and Dunes tour with Leroy | Website | |
| 25/11/2008 | Flight Ayers Rock - Alice Springs | Qantas(link), QF1940 |
| Flight Alice Springs - Darwin | Qantas(link), QF1936 | |
| Catch our breath in Darwin | ||
| 26/11/2008 | Flight Darwin - Broome | Qantas AirNorth, QF2671 |
| Technical problems at Kununurra, quiet day in Broome | ||
| 27/11/2008 | Scenic flight with King Leopald Air, Horizontal Falls, Hovercraft tour | Website |
| 28/11/2008 | Relaxing in Broome - Day 1 | |
| 29/11/2008 | Relaxing in Broome - Day 2 | |
| 30/11/2008 | Flight Broome - Perth | Virgin Blue, DJ0486 |
| Late arrival in Perth due to 7-hour delay by Virgin Blue | ||
| December 2008: Australia | ||
| 01/12/2008 | Jacobs Ladder, Kings Park, Treetop walk, Botanic Gardens, Belgian beer café | |
| 02/12/2008 | Swan Bell Tower, bit of shopping | |
| 03/12/2008 | Flight Perth - Melbourne | Virgin Blue, DJ0288 |
| Flight Melbourne - Launceston | Virgin Blue, DJ0606 | |
| Slow gate arrival, car rental pickup | ||
| 04/12/2008 | Drive Launceston - Bicheno | |
| Getting used to left driving | ||
| 05/12/2008 | Whalers lookout, Blowhole, Freycinet Peniscula, Wineglass bay, Nature world | |
| 06/12/2008 | Drive Bicheno - Hobart | |
| Tessellated pavement, Port Arthur (ferry and guided tour) | ||
| 07/12/2008 | Bruny Island tour | Website |
| 08/12/2008 | Mt. Wellington, Tahuna airwalk, Swinging bridges | |
| 09/12/2008 | Drive Hobart - Strahan | |
| Cradle Mountain Lake St. Clair Nat. Park | ||
| 10/12/2008 | Gordon River Cruise | Website |
| 11/12/2008 | Drive Strahan - Sheffield | |
| Cradle Mountain, Sheffield Murals | ||
| 12/12/2008 | Drive Sheffield - Launceston | |
| House of Anvers Chocolate, Walk around in Launceston, Stillwater cafe | ||
| 13/12/2008 | Flight Launceston - Melbourne | |
| Bad weather nothing special | ||
| 14/12/2008 | Victoria Market, St. Patricks Cathedral, Ride on the Circle Tram, more of Melbourne | |
| 15/12/2008 | Botanic Gardens, War Memorial | |
| 16/12/2008 | Great Ocean Road Day 1 | |
| Port Campbell, Twelve Apostles, Best Western @ Port Campbell | ||
| 17/12/2008 | Great Ocean Road Day 2 | |
| Seatbelt problems, Grampians, Victoria hotel @ Dimboola | ||
| 18/12/2008 | Great Ocean Road Day 3 | |
| Long drive to Adelaide | ||
| 19/12/2008 | Flight Adelaide - Sydney | Qantas, QF0750 |
| Darling Harbour, IMAX - Wild Ocean 3D | ||
| 20/12/2008 | Scenic bus tour, Opera house tour, Bondi beach | |
| 21/12/2008 | Sydney Tower, Aquarium, Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb! | |
| 22/12/2008 | Harbour Bridge Pilon Lookout, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Government House, Hyde Park | |
| 23/12/2008 | Christmas presents shopping frenzy | |
| 24/12/2008 | Drive Sydney - Orange | |
| Blue Mountains, Three (foggy) Sisters, arrival in Orange | ||
| 25/12/2008 | Christmas in Orange!, Scenic tour with Jennifer, Orange nightlife | |
| 26/12/2008 | Drive Orange - Canberra | |
| Taking it easy at our hotel | ||
| 27/12/2008 | Massive rain, scenic drive in the city, Old Parlement house | |
| 28/12/2008 | Black mountain, Telstra Tower, NASA Deep Space Communication Complex | |
| 29/12/2008 | Drive Canberra - Berry | |
| Fitzroy falls, Meet and greet with Frank and Lynn | ||
| 30/12/2008 | Drive Berry - Sydney | |
| Short beach walk, drive to Sydney, bit of relaxation at the hotel | ||
| 31/12/2008 | New Year’s eve in Sydney! Concert at the Opera house and awesome fireworks at 0:00 | |
| January 2009: Australia and New Zealand | ||
| 01/01/2009 | Champagne champagne champagne!, Sleep in at our hotel | |
| 02/01/2009 | Flight Sydney - Brisbane | Qantas, QF0510 |
| Flight Brisbane - Cairns | Qantas, QF0782 | |
| Transfer to our hotel in Palm Cove | ||
| 03/01/2009 | Relaxing, relaxing and more relaxing | |
| 04/01/2009 | Walk around a bit in Cairns, Car rental pickup | |
| 05/01/2009 | Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, Discovery Center | |
| 06/01/2009 | SkyRail Cableway, Scenic train, Kuranda, Bird World, AU Venomous Zoo, Butterfly Sanctuary | |
| 07/01/2009 | QuickSilver: Helicopter tour, Helmet dive and Snorkling at the Great Barrier Reef | |
| 08/01/2009 | Flight Cairns - Brisbane | Qantas, QF0649 |
| Making our way to Mieke @ Sunshine Coast | ||
| 09/01/2009 | Australian Zoo (finally saw some proper Koalas) | |
| 10/01/2009 | Day of relaxation, updating GlobeGazer, checking financials | |
| 11/01/2009 | Sunshine Coast tour by Mieke, Underwater World, Mooloolaba Beach Club | |
| 12/01/2009 | Drive Sunshine Coast - Hope Island | |
| Underwater World: Swimming with seals | ||
| 13/01/2009 | MovieWorld theme park | |
| 14/01/2009 | Flight Brisbane - Christchurch | Qantas JetStar, QF0209 |
| Up early and went to bed early | ||
| 15/01/2009 | TranzAlpine train Christchurch - Greymouth | Website |
| Drive Greymouth - Paparoa Natl. Park - Westport | ||
| 16/01/2009 | Drive Westport - Reefton - Greymouth - Fox Glacier | |
| Lunch at the beach in Hokitika, Hike to the Franz Jozef Glacier | ||
| 17/01/2009 | Drive Reefton - Hokitika - Greymouth | |
| Helihike cancelled due to heavy rain | ||
| 18/01/2009 | Drive Fox Glacier - Queenstown | |
| Weather still not good enough for the Helihike, Time to boost our vitamins with some fresh fruit | ||
| 19/01/2009 | SkyLine Gondola, Luge track, Kiwi Haka show | |
| 20/01/2009 | Waiting for the weather to clear for helicopter flights in Queenstown | |
| 21/01/2009 | Drive Queenstown - Te Anau, Visit to Milford sound | |
| 22/01/2009 | Seaplane flight in Te Anau | |
| 23/01/2009 | Drive Te Anau - Manapouri, board the boat to Doubtful sound, Sandfly attack | |
| 24/01/2009 | Wake up next to Doubtful sound, Drive Manapouri - Invercargill | |
| 25/01/2009 | Relax day at Invercargill | |
| 26/01/2009 | Another relax day at Invercargill | |
| 27/01/2009 | Ferry to Steward Island, Village and Bays tour | |
| 28/01/2009 | Explored all of Steward Island’s road with scooters | |
| 29/01/2009 | Ulva Island tour with Ulva | |
| 30/01/2009 | Ferry back to Bluff, Drive Bluff - Queenstown, | |
| 31/01/2009 | Quad Adventure tour | |
| February 2009: New Zealand and Hawai’i | ||
| 01/02/2009 | Drive Queenstown - Mt. Cook, Helicopter flight to Milford Sound | |
| 02/02/2009 | Sunny day with hikes to the Blue lakes and Tasman Glacier view, Hooker Valley track to the Hooker Lake, Gazing at the stars | |
| 03/02/2009 | Drive Mt. Cook - Christchurch | |
| 04/02/2009 | Flight Christchurch - Auckland | JetConnect, QF2762 |
| 05/02/2009 | Sky Tower, swam at the hotel, plan the rest of NZ | |
| 06/02/2009 | Driven to Paihia, Kauri tree’s at the Waipoua forest | |
| 07/02/2009 | Pohutu geyser - Whakarewarewa in Rotorua, Driven to Tauranga | |
| 08/02/2009 | Relax day in our big hotel room in Tauranga | |
| 09/02/2009 | Kiwi 360, Explore more of the bay of plenty | |
| 10/02/2009 | Lady Knox geyser, Champagne pool, East Cape drive (road 35) to Gisborne | |
| 11/02/2009 | Drive to Napier, Look at Art Deco buildings | |
| 12/02/2009 | Long drive to Wellington | |
| 13/02/2009 | Beehive building, Cable tram, Botanical gardens | |
| 14/02/2009 | Drive to Ohakune, Mt. Ngauruhoe and surroundings | |
| 15/02/2009 | Drive to Hamilton, visit Hobitton in Matamata | |
| 16/02/2009 | Day of relaxation in Hamilton | |
| 17/02/2009 | Drive to Auckland, hotel close to the airport | |
| 18/02/2009 | Flight Auckland - Sydney | Qantas, QF0114 |
| Flight Sydney - Honolulu (Oahu) | Qantas, QF0003 | |
| Get ourselves used to the -23H time difference | ||
| 19/02/2009 | Visit Pearl Harbor: Bowfin submarine, U.S. Missouri battleship, U.S. Arizona memorial, long wait for transport back | |
| 20/02/2009 | Flight Honolulu (Oahu) - Lihu’e (Kaua’i) | Hawaiian airlines, HA0303 |
| Drove North and back to Lihu’e, Caves and fresh Coconut | ||
| 21/02/2009 | Waimea Canyon and surroundings | |
| 22/02/2009 | Prepared for helicopter tour… cancelled | |
| 23/02/2009 | Flight Lihu’e (Kaua’i) - Kahului (Maui) | Hawaiian airlines, HA0508 |
| 24/02/2009 | Maui - Day 2 | |
| 25/02/2009 | Maui - Day 3 | |
| 26/02/2009 | Maui - Day 4 | |
| 27/02/2009 | Flight Kahului (Maui) - Hilo (Big Island) | Hawaiian airlines, HA0132 |
| 28/02/2009 | Big Island - Day 2 | |
| March 2009: Hawai’i and Los Angeles | ||
| 01/03/2009 | Big Island - Day 3 | |
| 02/03/2009 | Big Island - Day 4 | |
| 03/03/2009 | Big Island - Day 5 | |
| 04/03/2009 | Flight Hilo (Big Island) - Honolulu (Oahu) / Happy birthday Bernd! | Hawaiian airlines, HA0341 |
| 05/03/2009 | Flight Honolulu - Los Angeles | American airlines, AA0162 |
| 06/03/2009 | Los Angeles - Day 1 | |
| 07/03/2009 | Los Angeles - Day 2 | |
| 08/03/2009 | Los Angeles - Day 3 | |
| 09/03/2009 | Los Angeles - Day 4 | |
| 10/03/2009 | Los Angeles - Day 5 | |
| 11/03/2009 | Flight Los Angeles - London | British airways, BA0268 |
| 12/03/2009 | Flight London - Amsterdam | British airways, BA0440 |
After that we’ll have to start thinking of our next trip…
Recent photos
