Just for fun, let's pretend for just a few minutes that we're on a magic carpet that has the power to transport us over great distances at great speeds. Let's retrace our journey on this magic carpet, visiting our highlights while circumnavigating the globe.

We start off in eastern Africa, on the savannah plains of Kenya and Tanzania. A loop up into the dry Turkana region shows us how varied Kenya's landscape and cultures are, before we head into the national parks to spot some wildlife. We cruise under the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro into the famous Serengeti, where we watch animals co-existing in a magnificent circle of life and death that repeats itself perpetually.

We turn our carpet to the coast to stop by Zanzibar, where the aroma of exotic spices conjures up images of a bustling trading colony, and watch the sun rise and set from the very same point on the island. We then direct ourselves north up to England, where we get a taste of British hospitality and a glimpse of the hustle and bustle that permeates London's streets.

Zooming south for a bit, we curve around the magnificent cathedral atop the Spanish town of Segovia, then dive into the Plaza de Toros in Sevilla. Our carpet zooms up the sheer cliffs of Ronda before popping over to Portugal to weave our way up the west coast.

After a dose of port wine in Porto, we race across the strait of Gibraltar into Morocco where we are met with exotic sights and smells from all directions. We navigate our carpet through four Imperial Cities, tasting some tagine on the way, and head down to the south of the country to sleep on the red sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi under a blanket of stars. From fabulous Marrakesh, We then continue our circle around Morocco, zipping to the coastal town of Essouraria for a taste of some fresh seafood before hopping eastward towards Tunisia.

Another loop here reveals desert oases, palm plantations, and more exotic locales, as we get a glimpse of Berber civilizations and how life exists in the desert. The dust from the Sahara blows us up north across the Mediterranean to Malta, where we are met by the magnificent Grand Harbour of Valleta, with the surrounding sandstone ramparts of castles and walls conjuring images of the Maltese Order of Knights.

Another gust of wind blows our carpet to Turkey, where we do a whirlwind circuit from the incredible diverse city of Istanbul to the farthest reaches of the East. The mysterious heads atop Mt. Nemrut watch us cruise by on our way to Cappadocia, the central region of the country that has such a mysterious landscape we think we're in a fantasty world. As we leave Turkey, the Muslim call to prayer echos in our heads, evoking memories of delicious kofta, ayran, and sweet apple tea.

We slam our carpet into time-warp mode for a quick detour to San Diego for a friend's wedding, then back through Germany for a quick visit before slowing down in Bombay, India. There's no jet-lag on this ride as we turn north to head into the exotic heart of Rajasthan. We bounce like a pinball between Jaipur and Jodhpur and Pushkar, marvelling at a culture so unique and different from our own. Marble Jain temples in Mt. Abu, the famous Taj Mahal at Agra, a tiger encounter in Panna, and a Ganges River boat ride in Varanasi at dawn leave us breathless.

Next, our carpet takes us to the towering peaks of the Himalayas in Nepal, where eight of the tallest ten mountain peaks in the world loom over a troubled nation. Political unrest does not prevent us from sneeking a glimpse of Nepalese life however, as we trek in the Kathmandu valley and later in the Annapurna Region. Our efforts are rewarded by the most gorgeous sunrise we have ever seen, as we look upon the pink and orange colours of Macchapuchhre, the mystical peak that is not climbed.

A quick detour to the magical kingdom of Bhutan gives us a glimpse of how life can exist in peace and harmony as if time had no meaning. But as we glance over our shoulder as our carpet leaves the mountains, we can see that things are on the verge of change.

Now we put aside our cold weather clothing for a while, as we begin to explore the countries around SouthEast Asia, starting with beautiful Thailand. The friendly Thai people welcome us warmly as we explore the bustle of Bangkok and the charm of Chiang Mai. Our carpet cruises down the Mekong taking us into tranquil Laos where we stop to watch the grass grow for a while.

After saying goodbye to the monk friends we made in Luang Prabang, we're jolted into the fast-flowing stream of life that flows endlessly through Vietnam. Life pulses through every village, town, and city here and we are amazed by the constant activity of this vibrant country. From Hanoi down the coast to Saigon, we take in as much of the Vietnamese culture as we can, celebrating Tet, Vietnamese New Year, in Chau Doc before heading across into Cambodia.

Here, our carpet doesn't give us too much time, but we do manage to take in the sobering Killing Fields in Phnom Penhn, and then the awe-inspiring temple complex of Angkor Wat. We ask how human civilizations could have produced such marvels, but our ride wisks us away without the answers as we head back to Thailand for some sun and beach time.

After some inspiring diving and a few languid days on the beach, we drop further south into Malaysia, where we change tracks slightly and allow ourselves to be pampered by family. An incredible dive experience at Sipidan Island wraps up our Malaysian visit before we stop by Singapore to visit more family and dine on absolutely delicious food. Our magic carpet then lets us spend a bit of time in the small town of Ubud, in Bali, Indonesia, where we are enthralled by local dances and the skill of the talented artisans.

We now get glimpses of familiar territory as we hop from Sydney to Melbourne and are reminded of home before our carpet wisks us over the water to the south island of New Zealand. Here we try to keep our jaws tucked in as we are treated to one incredible vista after another, all within a few hours driving distance of each other. Hiking on Fox Glacier, kayaking in Milford Sound, and even visiting Hobbiton all contribute to an incredible set of Kiwi memories.

Our carpet stops by Fiji for a bit more beach time before transporting us across the Pacific Ocean to South America for some Ecuadorian exploration before we head for the famous Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos live up to its international reputation as being one of the most incredible wildlife destinations in the world, as we gingerly step over animals in our path who have miraculously evolved without developing any fear of humans.

Heading back to the mainland, we start a circle around Peru that takes us high into the Andean mountains to experience some of the incredible Inca civilization. Seeing the Inca city of Machu Pichu is a definite highlight, but we also get a glimpse of the Amazon river basin, the chilly altiplano region of Lake Titicaca, and the mysteries of the unexplained Nazca Lines.

A quick detour down south to Buenos Aires allows us to sample the flavour of this incredible South American city with a European flair, before we return to Peru to explore more wonders like the condors near Arequipa, and the spectacle of the Inti Raymi festival in Cuzco.

Finally, our magic carpet makes a turn north and brings us home, happy and satiated, but longing for more. Who knows where the next carpet ride may take us! The planning has already begun...