I realized that my early plans been focussed on the Northern Hemisphere, mostly because I’m not a fan of really hot weather. An early summer trip to Greece made me reconsider. What about the Mediterranean in springtime? Turkey in Spring could be both beautiful and fragrant with flowers and trees. I wasn’t sure about how to get from Istanbul to Perth. Would I fly to Qatar, India or Thailand? The more climates, the more clothes, I thought; and I was already thinking in terms of traveling with a backpack and one suitcase. Once I started thinking about Qatar and the Arabian Peninsula, visiting the Pyramids became a necessity. And if I was stopping in Egypt, then getting to Jordan to see Petra was almost unavoidable. There is at least one catch to Spring travel in the Middle East, I’d be visiting the area during Ramadan. It seemed a bit awkward since I did not intend to be fasting during the day and I wondered about whether it would be disrespectful to have meals during the day. It seems polite not to eat or drink in front of someone observing Ramadan, but would restaurants be open? What about eating at my hotel? I decided to call it part of the adventure! I still had to get from Amman to Perth. I could take one very long flight or I could experience India or southeast Asia. My decision was made by plants. Singapore has an outdoor orchid park. And a famous train: The Eastern & Orient Express. It is run by the same company who runs the Orient Express from Turkey to Europe. And it looks fantastic! https://www.timeout.com/news/asias-most-luxurious-train-ride-is-coming-back-in-2024-071723