When I think about going around the world, I can't help but think of the Jules Verne book, Around the World in 80 Days. Travel has come along way since 1873 when the book was first published and I will only have half the time that Phileas Fogg had to circumnavigate the globe. On top of that I don't even have the use of his valet Passepartout.

In keeping with the book, I am going to start and finish at the Reform Club in London - I'm not a member so photographic evidence of the exterior will have to do. From there it's across the Atlantic to Boston for a week touring New England before jetting to Las Vegas for a US-style "bachelor party." I promise to behave myself. My round the world ticket then takes me from Los Angeles to Sydney for six days. My last visit to Oz was tragically brief, so I am planning to take full advantage of the legendary Australian hospitality.

The next stage of the trip is the one I am looking forward to most. From Sydney I fly north to Beijing - I have a well-known love for China having spent six months there teaching English, so going back after six years fills me with excitement. Sadly I don't have long in China's capital before boarding the Trans-Siberian train #23 bound for Mongolia. The Trans-Siberian has fascinated me for years. I don't know if it's the scale - it spans eight time zones - or just the thought of days hurtling across the vast Siberian wilderness that does it for me, all I know is I can't believe I've finally got the chance to do it.

17 days of train travel later gets me to Moscow and my final leg. I leave Moscow and travel to Helsinki for their traditional mid-summer festival on June 21st. I then have three days in Berlin with WHRFC playing in a rugby tournament before returning to home to London and the Reform Club.

I will submit blogs as often as I can below, so please do come back and read all about the trip - and keep in touch!

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