First stop on this trip is Moscow, and what a city of contrasts. First impressions at the airport are not great being quite drab and dour. And the city is severe. Not many people smile here. However there are some beautiful buildings and Red Square at night is just stunning. The World Cup has just last week concluded and so it's wall-to-wall tourist groups currently. Our tour group is 19 strong and among those there are us, 2 ex RAAF officers and an ex RSM of...

Well, our much anticipated holiday is finally here! Months of will-we-or-won't-we are behind us and we're on our way. We're spoiling ourselves again by flying Business Class; we take the view that our holiday starts when we leave home not when we arrive at our destination. So it's farewell to Bris-Vegas and hello Moscow via Singapore.