DAY 1 TAKE OFF

Waking up from what might have been the worst night's sleep ever, I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation. With just days left before diving into the African wilderness, I found myself sharing a hotel room with my parents in Sydney the night prior.

The symphony of sounds that accompanied our night was unforgettable. Linda harmonized with Russell's sporadic bass drops, while the air conditioner provided its own vocals. And, of course, my contribution: a gentle pillow thud to Mum's head every 20 minutes to curb the snoring.

With barely an hour of sleep under our belts, it was time to begin what promised to be the longest travel day since my inaugural trip back in 2008. And for my companion, Aaron, it might just be his longest travel day yet.

Our journey commenced with a touch of luxury as we checked in at 'Business Class,' although our seats were firmly planted in economy. Rhonda, our friendly attendant from Singapore Airlines, greeted us warmly, eager to learn about our destination. But I had other plans—I instructed her to keep it a secret, handing over our boarding cards with a simple request for boarding time and gate details.

Several drinks later, including a Singapore Sling that tasted oddly like gasoline, the flight passed in a blur. Despite the lack of sleep from the previous night's ensemble performance, we felt surprisingly rejuvenated as we touched down.

Then came the moment to unveil the first surprise: a clue hidden within a card. Aaron quickly realized that Singapore could lead us to a multitude of unexpected destinations, given the five days we had before our arrival in Nairobi. With a mischievous grin, I gave him one clue: "Neither of us had been here before." His reaction? A mix of shock and laughter as I revealed the first card: "Next stop... INDIA!"

Feeling like the master of ceremonies at the Sydney Olympics, I handed over the clue.

Aaron's response was priceless—a combination of disbelief and excitement. After all, if you were to explore Asia for the first time, why not start with India?

After a brief stopover in the Ambassador's Lounge, we boarded our flight to New Delhi. The clock struck 8:05 pm local time as we touched down, realizing we had been on the move for nearly 20 hours. For me, it felt even longer after the less-than-ideal sleep the night before.

Despite some initial confusion with our guide and driver upon arrival, we eventually made it to our hotel. A hot shower and a soft bed awaited us, bringing an end to the eventful first day—no symphonies of snoring tonight.

With big plans for tomorrow, our adventure has only just begun.

-End.