Counting Countries | Travel The Entire World

Website: www.travel2unlimited.com Instagram: Travel 2 Unlimited On today’s episode, I welcome Rus Margolin to Counting Countries.  I learned about Rus and his prolific travel from seeing his photos on Facebook in Every Passport Stamp, and fellow EPS Moderator Petro suggested that I interview him for the podcast.   Russ grew up in the Soviet Union in Minsk, Belarus. Rus’s parents believed in travel and took him on frequent trips within the Soviet Union, including frequent trips to the Baltics.  In fact, growing up Rus was the president of the Young Communist League. The Soviet Union collapsed in his youth, Rus won a country-wide English contect, and won a scholarship to Florida to attend university.  After overcoming some culture shock, he excelled at school, and made his way to Wall Street. As a kid, Rus dreamed of exploring the world, cutting our pictures out from nature magazines, staring at photos of wildlife and nature.  After his arrival to the US, he was able to pursue his dreams of ex

On today’s episode, I welcome Danay Bustamante to Counting Countries.  I learned about Jenna from previous guest, Henrik Jeppesen, who introduced us via email.  It took Danay and I several months to connect due to conflicting schedules. Danay was born in Cuba, was separated for years from her father who moved to Mexico, and she eventually reunited with her father via a trip to the UK.  Growing up she developed her twin passions of travel and dance. Her love of salsa has opened many doors around the world, creating new friendships and providing new travel opportunities.  She has danced in some of the unlikeliest countries. Danay talks about how she was propelled into the world of counting countries during a visit to Africa for an extended time.  She talks about challenging experiences in Haiti, why Botswana is not on the top of her list, and why she loves El Salvador. And Danay shares with us a story about Burkina Faso and the magic of travel.    And during this episode, we speak about former guest Tony Giles,

Key Links Counting Countries Apparel --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I welcome jenna klotz to Counting Countries.  I learned about Jenna from two previous guests; Randy williams traveled with her in Armenia and Artsakh, and Lexie Alford randomly met her in the Pacific. Jenna is also living in Chicago and our interview coincided with my summer visit to my home in Chicago.  So taking advantage, Jenna and I set up a time to meet.   Instead of playing with dolls as a kid in Michigan, Jenna pretended to be a travel agent, planning trips for her family.  At college, she didn't do one semester abroad, she did three semesters abroad! Travel was in her blood. After college, she ended up teaching in a small town in Hungary.     This stay in Hungary in conjunction with European discount airlines, propelled her into the world of counting  countries. During our conversation, jenna, talks about a 55 foot rogue wave that disabled the ship she was on, money mishaps in Mauritania, the beauty of t

Key Links Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I spoke with Bob Bonifas.  I have seen Bob’s name on the top of the Most Traveled People’s list.  MTP divides the world into 874 places and Bob is currently ranked #2 on the list.  I had the opportunity to visit Bob in his office in Aurora, a suburb of Chicago. His spacious office was filled with a ton of  travel mementos. Bob did not take his first flight until the age of 30, but since then he has racked up several million plus miles and then some.  Bob founded Alarm Detection Systems and became involved with the industry associations. With his involvement in the association he began to travel more and more, expanding his horizons.        Bob learned about Travelers’ Century Club and MTP and being a Type A personality he quickly became hooked on travel.  He rapidly picked up new countries and territories, moving up on the list. He is now in a friendly

Key Links Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I welcome Mar Pages to Counting Countries.  I first learned about Mar when researching a trip to Djibouti several years ago and came across her blog.  I emailed her a question or two and she responded back with some advice. Two years later, I shared dinner with her when a group of mutual friends met up in Bangkok at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Charlie Browns. We are regional neighbors as she lives in Singapore and I am in Bangkok.      Since university Mar has led a truly global life, living in multiple countries and traveling extensively for work throughout the world. This is quite a big change copated to her fist travel forays which were limited to road trips to nearby Andora to stock up on Nutella with her family.   Mar has lived in London, Dubai, and Singapore. She has also practically lived in multiple other cities on long consulting gigs lik

Key Links Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa --------------------------------------- On today’s episode, I welcome Stephen Hughes to Counting Countries.  Steve and I met on the road during a visit to Iran, where we are both not allowed independent travel.  I enjoyed our time together since Steve is not shy about sharing his opinions, and I knew he would be a good fit for the podcast.   And this episode was a long time in the coming.  We met in 2016 and recorded an episode in 2017. Unfortunately, the file was corrupted and never published.  It took many months to reschedule and was finally recorded for a second time in the summer of 2018. This recording was of really, really poor quality.  I was going to have to schedule a third interview. But Counting Countries is not a one-man operation. My producer/editor is Evo Terra, the author of Podcasting for Dummies, was called in for emergency help.  While this podcast is not the best in audio quality, Evo was ab

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa More about Boris Kester: Born in: The Hague, Netherlands Passports from: Netherlands Favorite travel book: Homer’s Odyssey Favorite travel film: Touching The Void Favorite travel app: maps.me Must carry: Camera Favorite food: Italian Favorite drink: Freshly squeezed fruit juice Favorite Airline: KLM Favorite Hotel: Mattress in the desert Websites: Travel Adventures & Boris Kester Instagram: Boris Travel Adventures Twitter: Boris Kester Facebook: Boris Kester Boris’s Map: Nomad Mania  Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit GlobalGaz.com. ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by Simpler Media Productions. Our theme music is by Mundi.

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa More about Maurice Brand: Born in: Kerkrade, Netherlands Passports from: Dutch Favorite travel film: Given Favorite travel app: Skyscanner Must carry: Camera and several lenses Favorite food:  Hummus Favorite drink: Water Favorite Airline: Ethiopian Airlines Facebook: Maurice Brand Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit GlobalGaz.com. ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by Simpler Media Productions. Our theme music is by Mundi.

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa ---------- More about Michael Runkel: Born in: Bavaria, Germany Passports from: Germany Favorite travel book: Shantaram Favorite travel site: Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum Must carry: Camera Favorite food:  German Roulade, a roulade is a dish of filled rolled meat or pastry. Favorite drink: Aperol Spritz Favorite Airline: Emirates Airlines Favorite Hotel: Banyan Tree Hotel, Tanna, Vanuatu Website: Michael Runkel Facebook: Michael Runkel Photographs    Instagram: Michael Runkel Photo Travel Map: The Best Traveled Map Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit GlobalGaz.com. ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by Simpler Media Productions. Our the

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa More about Lexie Alford: Born in: Nevada City, California Passports from: US Passport Favorite travel book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac Favorite travel film:  Samsara Favorite app: Passporter app (coming soon) Favorite food:  Moroccan Couscous Favorite drink: Freddo Cappuccino (Greece) Favorite airline: Delta Favorite hotel: Berggasthaus Äscher (Cliff Hanging Hostel in the Swiss Alps) Website: Living Lost Facebook: Lexie Alford Instagram: Lost Lexie Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit GlobalGaz.com. ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by Simpler Media Productions. Our theme music is by Mundi.

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa More about Trek With Taylor Born in: Tuscaloosa, Alabama Passports from: 2 US Passports Favorite travel book: Eat Pray Love, I guess? I don’t tend to read a ton of travel books. Favorite travel film:  Honestly? The Lizzie McGuire Movie or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Those both probably sound so trivial or childish but from a young age they really inspired me to want to get to Europe and see the places in those movies. And, I am happy to say, I have now been to Rome (multiple times) and finally made it to Greece! I think it was so influential at a young age to be able to see to see other young women traveling around the world. Must carry: My retainer and a small stuffed animal (named Bun Bun). Also, definitely need my phone. Favorite app: Google flights for planning. Google sheets for organization. Favorite food:  Pizza. Or anything involving cheese really. Favorite drink:

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe!   More about Jorge Sanchez Born in: I was born in 1954 in Barcelona, Spain Passports from: I have Spanish passport Favorite travel book: My favorite travel book is: The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor Favorite travel film: Baraka Must carry: A notebook Favorite food:  Any Indian dish with curry Favorite drink: Coffee Favorite airline: The cheapest   Favorite hotel: Youth hostel Website: Jorge Sanchez Nomad Mania Map: Jorge Sanchez   Jorge’s books: Meetings With Remarkable Travelers and A Journey To Exotic South America Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit GlobalGaz

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe!   More about Peleg Cohen: Born in: Nahariya, Israel Passports from: Israel Favorite travel book: A Fine Balance Favorite travel film: Into The Wild Must carry: Camera!!   Favorite food:  My mom’s cooking, then Indian food Favorite drink: Mezcal Website: Lonely Peleg Facebook: Lonely Peleg Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more about your host, Ric Gazarian, please visit GlobalGaz.com. ------------------ Counting Countries is produced and supported by Simpler Media Productions. Our theme music is by Mundi.

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscribe!   More about Samer Kawar:   Born in: San Francisco Bay Area Passports from: USA, Jordan Favorite travel book: Any Lonely Planet Guide Favorite travel film: Seven Years in Tibet Favorite travel app or website: Nomad Mania, Atlas Obscura, Tripadvisor Must carry: My sketchbook, Polaroid Zip photo printer Favorite food:  Khao soi, torta ahogada, coconut curry Favorite drink: the local beer in each country Favorite airline: Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines Favorite hotel: Airways Hotel, PNG Website: WanderLuster Instagram: WanderLuster Twitter: WanderLuster Map: Nomad Mania       Please leave a rating or a review wherever you listen to Counting Countries. We’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Alexa and anywhere else you find podcasts. ------------------ For detailed show notes and more ab

Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We’re on Amazon Alexa More about Frank Grosse-Oetringhaus: Born in: Germany Passports from: Germany Website: Frank Grosse Oetringhaus Map: Nomad Mania A final note, with this episode, it will mark the end of Season 1.  A great thank you to all the listeners as well as all of the great travelers I have spoken with.  I look forward to speaking with all of you when Season 2 kicks off in early summer.

Key links & critical information: World Parks, Inc. SISO Club Counting Countries is now on Amazon Alexa Listen on Spotify Buy official Counting Countries apparel today More about Jeff Shea: Born in San Francisco, CA Passports from USA Favorite travel book: Bill Dalton’s Indonesia Handbook 1983 Must carry: Headlamps, Neosporin, satellite phone if on an expedition Favorite food: My wife’s cooking Favorite drink: Soursop juice Favorite airline: Garuda and Turkish Airlines Instagram: Travel The Whole World    Website: Jeff Shea SISO: SISO Overview Map: Nomad Mania And for some trivia, Counting Countries has fans in 114 different countries, including Somalia, Togo, and Paraguay. Jeff joined me from California while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode.

George has set two ambitious goals.  First, he wants to summit the tallest mountain on each continent.  Second, he intends to travel to every country in the world.  He has made great progress so far, summiting six of the seven summits and has traveled to 78 UN countries. George has climbed the highest mountain on each continent, except for Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica, which is quite remote and expensive to climb.  George has showed true grit.  His first attempt at summiting Mt. Everest ended in failure, with the peak only being a couple hundred feet away.  He was not deterred and the following year he successfully submitted Mt. Everest.  This feat was accomplished at great monetary and time expense.  George talks about his summit of Mt. Elbrus, which nearly ended in true disaster.            George has an unusual list of countries he has traveled to.  He has not been to Ireland or Denmark, but he has traveled to Afghanistan, Sudan, Pakistan, and Somalia.  Heshares with us why he is not fond of Burundi, an

Babis completed his quest for 193 in 2004, but has not slowed down at all.   In the late 1970s, Babis backpacked the Hippy Trail which included Pakistan and Afghanistan.  He eventually found his way to Sri Lanka and joined the crew of a Greek ship and travelled even further.   Babis is one of the few who has traveled to both the North and South Pole.  He shares with us an amazing tale of 19 hours in a helicopter traveling to the North Pole.  And no travel career is complete without an arrest story.  Babis found himself in a jail in Benghazi.          Babis spoke about his favorite traveler, Frank Grosse Oetringhaus, who is a fellow 193er.  He also shares an interesting perspective of why he is fond of William Baekeland, who he met and traveled with.      Babis joined me from Greece while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel!  You can purchase today on Amazon. And now you can listen to Counting Countries on Spot

Download Episode! Being a lazy workaholic propelled Artemy to become one of the world’s most traveled people Artemy had exploration in his DNA.  As a kid he traveled the metro in Moscow visiting scores of different theaters, satisfying his passion of cinema as well as exploring the nooks and crannies of his city.  As an adult, he made a pact with himself ensuring that at least once a month he would partake on a trip, whether the neighboring town or across the world.  This led him to be ranked 25th on the Nomad Mania list.   Artemy is a very popular and successful blogger in Russia. Artemy organizes incredible contests and trips on behalf of his fans.  He has brought his fans on explorations of the Pacific via a yacht.  Another adventure had Artemy driving in the dead of winter to Norilsk.  Norilsk is a city located north of the Arctic Circle and is in essence an island. It is typically reached via airplane or ship.  Artemy and his crew traveled overland for two weeks covering 1000 km on non-existent roads par

Jonny loves travel and he has a special interest in micronations. Jonny has met Jonathan I, Emperor of Austenasia and was the first backpacker to visit the nation.  He also visited the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a unique political and geographical entity. Jonny shares stories of traveling to New Zealand and partaking in adventure sports and meeting tons of other travelers.  He explains the challenges of traveling in China and the rewards that are earned by visiting this amazing nation.  He shares with us the beauty of Afghanistan and his discomfort when visiting Venezuela.       Jonny joined me from Poland while I was in Boston, please join in and listen to today’s episode. Check out our friends: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Visit Every Country In The World and Large Minority.  They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.   More about Jonny Blair:   Born in: Newtownards, Northern Ireland Passports from: Irish and British