Planet Circumnavigation. Destination: Asia, Australasia, South America. Drs Rachel and John McGarva tell the amazing story.

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About this blog

Welcome to our travel diary. Here you'll find detailed notes and photos from our travels to Asia, Australasia, and South America.

John quits his job as a programme manager with Cambridge Consultants in UK, and Rachel, a food scientist, negotiates a one year career break from her employer, Unilever. Find out what happens next.

We hope that you'll enjoy keeping in touch with out progress round the world.

Best Wishes,

John and Rachel

• 1

  At home   St Neots, United Kingdom on May 29, 2005 0 pictures 6 comments
• 2

  Our first week   St Neots, United Kingdom on Jun 6, 2005 0 pictures 1 comment
• 3

  A hot one in Delhi   Delhi, India on Jun 10, 2005 2 pictures 3 comments
• 4

  Impressions of Food   Delhi, India on Jun 11, 2005 0 pictures 3 comments
• 5

  To Amritsar on the Shababti Express   Amritsar, India on Jun 11, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 6

  Feeling Cool in Dharamsala   Dharamsala, India on Jun 12, 2005 2 pictures 2 comments
• 7

  A trek in the Himalaya   Manali, India on Jun 26, 2005 14 pictures 3 comments
• 8

  Agra- vation   Agra, India on Jul 1, 2005 4 pictures 1 comment
• 9

  Some Indian recipes   Delhi, India on Jul 2, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  First impressions of Nepal   Kathmandu, Nepal on Jul 4, 2005 3 pictures 1 comment
• 11

  Stuck at the Chinese Border   Zhangmu, China on Jul 7, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 12

  Everest base camp, 5200m, and on to Shigatse   Shigatse, China on Jul 12, 2005 9 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Lhasa, on the roof of the world   Lhasa, China on Jul 17, 2005 11 pictures 1 comment
• 14

  The Mysterious Qiadam Depression   Golmud, China on Jul 22, 2005 8 pictures 1 comment
• 15

  Dunhuang, on the silk road   Dunhuang, China on Jul 24, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 16

  Lanzhou, a small town of 3 million   Lanzhou, China on Aug 1, 2005 8 pictures 0 comments
• 17

  On the Mongolian Grasslands   Hohot, China on Aug 11, 2005 12 pictures 0 comments
• 18

  To Beijing in the East   Beijing, China on Aug 17, 2005 6 pictures 1 comment
• 19

  Frantic in Hong Kong   Hong Kong, China on Aug 25, 2005 16 pictures 1 comment
• 20

  Back in Beijing   Beijing, China on Aug 31, 2005 13 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  Shanghai, Gateway to the Orient   Shanghai, China on Sep 4, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  Kung Fu fighting   Zhengzhou, China on Sep 6, 2005 6 pictures 2 comments
• 23

  Xian and the Terracotta Army   Xian, China on Sep 10, 2005 3 pictures 1 comment
• 24

  Chilling in Chengdu   Chengdu, China on Sep 12, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  Horse trekking in the Sichuan mountains   Songpan, China on Sep 18, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  Two Chinese National Parks   Jiuzhaigou, China on Sep 20, 2005 11 pictures 1 comment
• 27

  On the Holy Mountain   Emeishan, China on Sep 23, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  Cruising on the Yangtze   Wuhan, China on Oct 1, 2005 11 pictures 1 comment
• 29

  Hong Kong revisited   Hong Kong, China on Oct 2, 2005 15 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  24hrs in Singapore   Singapore, Singapore on Oct 11, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  A reunion with old friends   Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct 13, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  Rainforest Experience   Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia on Oct 15, 2005 11 pictures 0 comments
• 33

  Perhentian Paradise   Perhentian Islands, Malaysia on Oct 18, 2005 5 pictures 1 comment
• 34

  Island Hopping   Krabi, Thailand on Oct 21, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 35

  Learning to Dive   Ko Phi Phi, Thailand on Oct 27, 2005 4 pictures 4 comments
• 36

  Oriental City   Bangkok, Thailand on Oct 31, 2005 7 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  Laid back in Laos   Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Nov 3, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 38

  Trekking amongst the Akha people   Muang Sing, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Nov 6, 2005 34 pictures 1 comment
• 39

  Jewel of Indochina   Louang Phabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Nov 9, 2005 10 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  Slow boat on the Mekong   Houayxai, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Nov 16, 2005 4 pictures 1 comment
• 41

  Loi Kratong Festival   Chiang Mai, Thailand on Nov 16, 2005 6 pictures 3 comments
• 42

  Trekking in Northern Thailand   North West of Chang Mai, Thailand on Nov 17, 2005 8 pictures 2 comments
• 43

  Kanjana Home Cookery School   Chiang Mai, Thailand on Nov 19, 2005 5 pictures 1 comment
• 44

  Bangkok train station to airport   Bangkok, Thailand on Nov 20, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 45

  Temples of Angkor   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Nov 20, 2005 25 pictures 0 comments
• 46

  Indolent and Neglected City   Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Nov 25, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  Entrance to the Mekong Delta   Chau Doc, Vietnam on Nov 27, 2005 10 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  Floating Markets on the Mekong   Can Tho, Vietnam on Nov 28, 2005 11 pictures 1 comment
• 49

  Lazy day on the delta   Vinh Long, Vietnam on Dec 2, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  S-S-S-S-Saigon   Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Dec 3, 2005 10 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  The tailors of Hoi An   Hoi An, Vietnam on Dec 8, 2005 5 pictures 1 comment
• 52

  Friendly Hue   Hue, Vietnam on Dec 9, 2005 12 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  Lost at Sea   Hanoi, Vietnam on Dec 14, 2005 18 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  Farewell Asia   Hong Kong, China on Dec 19, 2005 8 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  Family Christmas   Perth, Australia on Dec 25, 2005 32 pictures 2 comments
• 56

  Seven Mile Beach   Tasmania, Australia on Jan 15, 2006 51 pictures 0 comments
• 57

  Australia Day   Sydney, Australia on Jan 27, 2006 8 pictures 2 comments
• 58

  Whanau   Auckland, New Zealand on Jan 31, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  The Tongariro Crossing   Taupo, New Zealand on Feb 1, 2006 17 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Another Reunion   Athenree, New Zealand on Feb 2, 2006 10 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Living the same day twice   Santiago, Chile on Feb 4, 2006 4 pictures 1 comment
• 62

  In Patagonia   Punta Arenas, Chile on Feb 6, 2006 4 pictures 1 comment
• 63

  Circuito de los Dientes de Navarino   Puerto Williams, Chile on Feb 8, 2006 40 pictures 2 comments
• 64

  Trekking in Torres del Paine   Puerto Natales, Chile on Feb 16, 2006 11 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Glaciar Moreno   El Calafate, Argentina on Feb 22, 2006 5 pictures 1 comment
• 66

  Monte Cerro Grande   El Chalten, Argentina on Feb 28, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Ruta 40   Chile Chico, Chile on Mar 1, 2006 2 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Carretera Austral   Coyhaique, Chile on Mar 3, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Parque Pumalin   Chaiten, Chile on Mar 6, 2006 6 pictures 7 comments
• 70

  Isla Chiloe   Chonchi, Chile on Mar 9, 2006 9 pictures 1 comment
• 71

  Volcanoes and Fire   Puerto Varas, Chile on Mar 12, 2006 5 pictures 1 comment
• 72

  Sealions in the market   Valdivia, Chile on Mar 14, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  Monkey Puzzle   Villarrica, Chile on Mar 16, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Climbing Volcano Villarrica   Pucon, Chile on Mar 20, 2006 11 pictures 2 comments
• 75

  Te Pito o Te Henua   Easter Islands, Chile on Mar 24, 2006 36 pictures 2 comments
• 76

  Stopover in Santiago   Santiago, Chile on Mar 25, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 77

  Pearl of the Pacific   Valparaiso, Chile on Mar 26, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Edge of the Altiplano   Arica, Chile on Mar 29, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Parque Nacional Lauca   Putre, Chile on Mar 30, 2006 15 pictures 1 comment
• 80

  By the Seaside   Iquique, Chile on Apr 1, 2006 1 picture 0 comments
• 81

  In the Atacama Desert   San Pedro de Atacama, Chile on Apr 3, 2006 11 pictures 0 comments
• 82

  To the Salt Lakes of Bolivia   Uyuni, Bolivia on Apr 6, 2006 28 pictures 3 comments
• 83

  Highest town in the world   Potosi, Bolivia on Apr 8, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 84

  Capital of Bolivia   Sucre, Bolivia on Apr 12, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  Easter in La Paz   La Paz, Bolivia on Apr 16, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  Isla del Sol   Copacabana, Bolivia on Apr 20, 2006 12 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Islas Flotantes   Puno, Peru on Apr 22, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 88

  Colonial city   Arequipa, Peru on Apr 23, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  Ancient Capital of the Incas   Cusco, Peru on Apr 25, 2006 10 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  Machu Picchu   Agua Calientes, Peru on Apr 28, 2006 13 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  The Sacred Valley   Cusco, Peru on Apr 29, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  Aliens from outer space   Nazca, Peru on Apr 30, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 93

  The Poor Man´s Gallapagos   Pisco, Peru on May 2, 2006 9 pictures 0 comments
• 94

  Trekking in the Corillera Blanca   Huaraz, Peru on May 5, 2006 16 pictures 0 comments
• 95

  Leaving Peru   Lima, Peru on May 11, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  Welcome to Venezuela   Caracas, Venezuela on May 12, 2006 0 pictures 2 comments
• 97

  A Trip to Angel Falls   Cuidad Bolivar, Venezuela on May 16, 2006 16 pictures 0 comments
• 98

  The Worst bus Journey   Santa Elena, Venezuela on May 19, 2006 0 pictures 3 comments
• 99

  Trekking on Roraima   Santa Elena, Venezuela on May 20, 2006 29 pictures 1 comment
• 100

  Chilling on the Caribbean coast   Rio Caribe, Venezuela on May 29, 2006 13 pictures 2 comments
• 101

  You never know who you might meet   Santa Fe, Venezuela on Jun 3, 2006 8 pictures 1 comment
• 102

  Final destination   Los Roques, Venezuela on Jun 7, 2006 16 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  London calling   London, United Kingdom on Jun 12, 2006 10 pictures 0 comments
• 104

  A list of what we carried for 1 year   St Neots, United Kingdom on Jul 30, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments
• 105

  The Bill: £23,616.35   St Neots, United Kingdom on Jul 31, 2006 1 picture 0 comments