Exciting News For Cheaper Trans-Pacific Flights!

The headline "First low-cost Asian airline cleared for flights to the U.S." caught my eye last night. . . all thanks to a friend's Facebook post. This news really excites me, a development like this really opens some new options for Americans looking to travel to Asia.

Even if they never start offering direct flights to the East Coast, where I live, I am still going to keep an eye on this as according to the article, AirAsia's "long-haul affiliate," AirAisia X, will be handling the US - Asia routes. AirAsia X has direct flights to Auckland, New Zealand from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Gold Coast, Australia.

Read the full article here: Money.CNN.com

HAPPY NEW YEARS! :D

When it comes to parenting a blog, I am not the most attentive of parents. Of recent, I have been an absentee parent for a few very major events and milestones: I missed Thanks Giving, My blog's 2nd birthday and even Christmas... oh my!

At least I have returned just in time to celebrate New Years! As a "peace offering, to make up my blog neglect, below are some pictures from my travels in the last year... travels which have been my most extensive to date. Actually, I don't think that they could be much more extensive but, such trips may become much more frequent in the future... God willing!

So, without further delay... especially for those of you who have been waiting since my "Why No Pics?" post, here you go!

OUT WITH 2016 AND IN WITH THE 2017!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE!
HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR!

My Current Travel Map (Updated: November 2016)

Samuel has been to: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Belize, Canada, Ivory Coast, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Egypt, Spain, Finland, Fiji, France, United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, United States, Vatican, Vanuatu.
Get your own travel map from Matador Network.

Flight Statistics From My 7-Month YWAM Journey

I did some flight calculations from my big 7 month YWAM journey.

All in all, I flew with 7 different airlines, on 13 separate flights (legs), covering approximately 25,778mi (42,480km), spending about 53.5hrs (2.25 days) in the air. Don't get me started on layovers...

Airlines I Flew With:

United Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

Air New Zealand

Air Vanuatu

Fiji Airways

Quantas

American Airlines

Flights Taken:

-Getting to Tauranga, New Zealand-

Orlando, Florida to San Francisco, California

San Francisco, Califonia to Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii to Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand to Tauranga, New Zealand

-Coming back from Outreach in Vanuatu (took a 5 day sail going to)-

Port Vila, Vanuatu to Auckland, New Zealand

-Going back to Vanuatu-

Tauranga, New Zealand to Auckland, New Zealand

(had an 18 hour layover... the longest in my life)

Auckland, New Zeland to Nadi, Fiji

Nadi, Fiji to Port Vila, Vanuatu

-Back to New Zealand-

Port Vila, Vanuatu to Auckland, New Zealand

-Heading home-

Auckland, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia to Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia to Dallas, Texas

Dallas, Texas to Orlando, Florida

Longest Flight (EVER!): Sydney, Australia to Dallas, Texas - 15.5hrs - 8,580mi (13,800km)

Shortest Flight: Auckland, New Zealand to Tauranga, New Zealand - 0.5hrs - 90mi (145km)

WHEW!!! What a trip! :D

New Mile Stone!

Today my blog has officially reached the 600 views miles stone! Originally, I was going to post for the 500th view but, that past my by too quick!

Also as of today, my blog has been viewed by people in 14 countries: USA, UK, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Romania, Singapore, Vietnam, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand and Japan! Almost as many nations as I have been to! LOL :D

Helpful Australian Tourist Visa Information

For those of you who have been following my blog, you know that I am going to New Zealand in January to take part in a YWAM Medical Compassion DTS (https://www.givesendgo.com/ywamnz). So yesterday, as I was looking at available flight options, I found that some of the flights from the USA to New Zealand will have stopovers (layover, plane change, etc) in Either Brisbane or Sydney, Australia.

 

Now I have always wanted to visit Australia, not long enough to get eaten but, just to visit. However, I knew that Australia, unlike New Zealand, required US citizens to obtain visas prior to entry.

Not really finding the info I was looking for online, I called the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C (202-797-3000). After following the prompts, I got a guy on the phone who told me to call a particular visa service at 613-238-1040. Now this number is apparently an area code for Ottawa, Canada, not sure if I will get charged for that call.

Anyway, the lady was most helpful for both my questions. I had two scenarios which I asked about.

#1: If I only change planes in Australia and never leave the airport, do I still need a visa?
Answer: No, as long as you do not leave the airport or have to re-check your bags.

#2: Do I still need a visa to leave the airport even for less than 24hrs?
Answer: Yes, you need one to leave the airport and/or if a bag re-check is required.

So, not knowing at this time what a plane change in Australia would mean, different airports handle long layovers and international bags differently I asked about getting a visa. She told me that Australia has an E-visa which is linked to your passport number. It costs only $20AUD (approx. $15USD as of posting) and is good for stay up to three months. You apply for it online and will be notified of an approval decision automatically. To qualify you must be free of any past criminal convictions and not have Tuberculosis. You can apply as well as get more information about this type of Australian visa here: www.eta.immi.gov.au

Long story short, I decided against changing planes in Australia as I was not prepared to pay the extra taxes upfront on my award flight, about $80USD per ticket. This is on top of US and NZ taxes too, However, I am glad that I got this information, it could be useful in the future. :D

PLEASE NOTE: "Answers" are paraphrased (not word for word quotes) and visa requirements may change at anytime. While I have made an effort to make sure the information I am providing is accurate I am NOT authorized to give immigration advice for ANY country. Please check with the nearest embassy of a country you plan to travel to for the most up to date information.

New Sailings From NCL!

Today is the day that my favorite cruise line (NCL) releases all of its' new list of expanded sailings. While I am not rushing out and booking any new cruises at this moment, I have been looking over the offerings, and I am liking what I see.

Their Asia, Australia & New Zealand, and Rio based cruises are at the top of my list!

Check them out!

Exciting Travel News!

On the day that NCL released this amazing news (August 3rd 2015), I was trolling around their website and noticed their new "NORWEGIANS SAIL TO ASIA AND AUSTRALIA" background on the home page. I was like, "WHOA! I can't believe it!" Apparently the rumors which I had been hearing from workers on their ships are true!

I have been on a total of 4 cruises and spent a total of 45 days cruising. All the cruises I have done have been with NCL. Though I have thought about doing cruises on other ships, that was only because NCL did not sail to the other places I was interested in, Asia mostly. However, according to this press release, that is about to change... much to my excitement.

Why do I love NCL so much? On word: FREESTYLE!!! While I know other ships are now offering similar ideologies, NCL won my heart first.

One thing that I am really excited about, which I did not see until I read the whole press release was that they are now adding the port of Rio de Janiero, Brazil to their South American cruise offerings. I really want to visit Rio and considering that taking a cruise in my FAVORITE way to travel it just make me that much more excited to visit.

Read NCL's full August 03rd Press Release Here!