Counting Countries | Travel The Entire World

Download Episode! Tony has a sense of adventure not rivaled by many. Tony heard tales of travel from his Dad, a merchant marine.  He also had two opportunities to study in the USA as a student.  Yet, the gift of a kidney which prevented a life of dialysis supercharged his travel life, reminding him that his life is short.         And did I mention that Tony is also blind and mostly deaf.  Tony shows an incredible amount of poise, courage and optimism.  Tony typically travels solo and revels in the magic of travel, enjoying the interactions with locals and other travelers.      Tony shares why he loves New Zealand and Iceland.  He tells us why he found the Italians less than helpful.  Tony shares with us how he we was kicked out of North Dakota on his first visit and about Greyhound’s habit to lose his luggage.  Tony has a penchant for adventure, whether it is hang gliding, bungee jumping, zip line or skydiving.  He has a zest for life and exploration. Tony joined me from the UK while I was in Chicago, please

A number of allegations have been made against William Baekeland by other members of the travel community. These allegations have not been proven in a court of law. Please listen in on this special episode. Photos provided with permission by Harry Mitsidis and Dominique Laurent. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!  And write a review! 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 the guests: About Harry Mitsidis His appearance on Counting Countries About Mike Kendall Mike’s map on Nomad Mania About David Langan His appearance on Counting Countries His website About Dominique Laurent His website About William Baekeland His appearance on Counting Countries Nomad Mania newsletter in regard to William Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the

Download Episode! James is the current world record holder as the youngest person to travel to every country in the world according to the Guinness World Records James has travel DNA.  His grandfather regaled him with tales of spending time in Yemen.  His mother lived in Hong Kong.  His father was an airline captain who flew to international locales like Senegal and Ethiopia, James sometimes accompanying.   James shares with us why people make such a big difference when visiting every country in the world.  And he tells us what country has the friendliest people. James  tells us where the most magical sunrise is in the world.  James recounts visiting Ivory Coast during a civil war and traveling to Libya after the killing of Gaddafi.   And what counts as visiting a country?  James and I discuss the “broken finger rule”.   James also has a lot of current travel initiatives currently.  He recently published a book called Breaking Borders.  He is also rolling out a new travel app named Holiday Swap that helps pe

Pong has travel in his blood.  He started traveling to nearby Asian countries and Europe with his parents as a kid.  Pong spent a year as a thirteen year old in Bangalore, India learning English at a strict boarding school.  He continued his schooling in Canada as he went to high school and university. Instead of heading back to Thailand on summer break he ended up visiting his classmate in the middle of Russia in the Urals for two months, living like a local. During university, he took a year off, and began a backpacking trip to the Middle East which included Syria. Owning his own business has allowed Pong a lot of flexibility in his travels.  Pong shares with us why he loves South Africa and why he is not fond of the Gulf States.  He takes us to current conflict zones likes Afghanistan and Venezuela.  He tells us why he loves the natural beauty of DRC and the hospitality he received in Iran.  And Pong shares with us the magic of travel, when he met a random South African family who drove him around showing

Download Episode! Arvi is nearly finished in completing his quest to travel to all 193 countries, and has had some amazing experiences on the way. Arvi only has 15 countries left and is hoping to finish this quest in the next year.  During his travels, he has visited both Antarctica and the North Pole.  He sailed around Antarctica from New Zealand to Chile, stopping and visiting McMurdo Station via helicopter during his 30 day cruise.  He joined a Russian nuclear ice-breaker as it journeyed to the North Pole.  Arvi shares with us why he is fond of Macedonia, thinks Paris is overrated, and why Nigeria is not one of his favorites.  Arvi tells us about crossing the border from India to Bhutan as he motor-biked in Bhutan in the early 1970s, when tourism did not even exist.  And Arvi will most likely be our first guest who travels to outer space.  He has placed his deposit with Virgin Galactic and heopes to be traveling to space in 2019.  Arvi shares with us what it is like hanging out with Richard Branson who he

Download Episode! Listen to Nina’s inspiring story to learn how an offhand comment by a friend set her on the path of becoming one of the approximately 10 women who have visited every country in the world. Nina grew up in Frankfurt in a single parent home. As a child she dipped her toe in the water and traveled within Europe, visiting England on a language exchange program. She began to travel and explore more after university visiting a couple dozen countries.  At the age of 36, she quit her job in the corporate world so she could focus more on counting countries.  Nina shares with us her love of and passion for travel, of speaking multiple languages, witnessing beautiful wildlife, and meeting and interacting with locals. Nina shares her love of safari, the beauty of the Serengeti, and watching the wildebeest migration. She talks about the remoteness of the Orkney islands, and her frustration getting visas...for iran, turkmenistan, and equatorial guinea.  She tells us a story of watching a gorilla slap a to

Download Episode! Ella made a drastic decision after graduating university and starting her first corporate job.  She quit on her 89th day.    Despite having a great opportunity in the corporate world, she realized quickly that she craved a life of independence and freedom.  She ended up living in Rwanda working for a NGO for 6 months.  And this started a transition to becoming a digital nomad and beginning a career as an elite success coach.  This new role allowed her the flexibility to live where she wanted to live as she grew her business.   As she gained more success, she began to travel and explore more often.  Ella shares with us why she loves Thailand, believes Paraguay is interesting, and why she is not fond of Dubai.  We also talk about her upcoming road trip to West Africa.    During this conversation, Ella joined me from Spain while I was in Chicago on Skype.  Please listen in and enjoy. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Vis

Download Episode! A family that travels together stays together.  Jakob travels frequently with his girlfriend and two young children.   Jakob travels often with his girlfriend and two young children.  Family vacations include overland West African road trips, visits to Somaliland, and family excursions to Afghanistan.  His children aged 10 and 8 respectively have traveled to 72 and 55 countries respectively. Jakob also hits the road solo as well.  He recounts witnessing a secretive Satanic ritual in West Africa.  He overviews his attempt to travel overland from Antarctica to the Arctic over 10 months.  Jakob was fortunate to visit Cambodia in the early 90s when the Khmer Rouge still reigned.  He visited Angkor Wat when there were virtually no tourists.  Cambodia was a bit lawless, where travel sometimes required armored cars where the machine gunner's bullets cost extra and where marijuana came for free at your guest house. During this conversation, Jakob joined me from Copenhagen while I was in Chicago on

Download Episode! Maurizio was a travel outlier at a young age.  Riding the rails in Europe independently as a 13 year old.   At 17, he left Italy to travel the Trans-Siberian to visit his penpal in Mongolia.             After university in the UK, be began an international career as a journalist and NGO worker.  This allowed ample opportunity to travel and lives overseas.  Maurizio has spent time living in Haiti, Brazil, Mali, Sudan, Afghanistan, Central African Republic amongst others.  Maurizio shares with us why he loves Gabon and Cameroon.  Maurizio has traveled to Tokelau, one of the remote places in the world in the Pacific, and recounts his journey.   Maurizio lived in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban.  He met his future wife in Kabul.  And he had his wedding in Kabul, but yet he and his wife were traveling with the wedding held in their honor.  Maurizio spent time in Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage to Mecca.   Maurizio in 2004 held the Guinness World Record for being the youngest traveler to v

Download Episode! Fabio is closing in on his goal of 193 countries as he narrows down the list! Fabio was born in Milan and spread his wings as a model as he travelled to Miami and then moved to East and Southeast Asia before he was even 20 years old.  Before he knew it, he had visited dozens of countries and he was on his quest.  Fabio shares with us why Kabul and Caracas are the most dangerous cities in the world.  Fabio recently visited Libya, and explains how he wrangled a visa and what his experience was like visiting Tripoli.  Fabio has visited the Pygmies of Burundi and the Maasai of Kenya.  Fabio tells us why he loves both Hong Kong and the Cheesecake Factory.  He shares with us why he doesn’t want to visit Djibouti City or Belize City again.  And Fabio tells us why Uzbekistan is an underrated country. Fabio joined me on Skype today from London, while I was in Boston.  Please listen in and enjoy! . Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Ques

Download Episode! Drew is 26 and has already been to 110 countries and holds two Guinness World Records.   As a ten year old, Drew spun a globe in his room and memorized the countries of the world.  As a college student, he did a semester abroad in Prague and visited 20 European countries.  After college, he moved to a small town in South Korea to teach English and started his travel blog.  Drew now travels full time professionally and works with brands and tourism boards who support his travels.  He details during the podcast how he makes a living as a travel blogger.  He shares with us why he has been to McDonald's in over 50 countries and what his favorite food is.  Drew tells us what his favorite beach is in the Philippines and why he is not fond of Egypt.  He shares with us why he believes Kyrgyzstan will become a popular destination.  And Drew recounts how he survived a fatal bus crash in India.   Drew joins me on Skype today from the Philippines while I am in Boston,  Please listen in and enjoy. Subs

Download Episode! Randy is a well-known radio personality who happens to be on a quest to travel to every country in the world. Randy became intrigued with travel while listening to his Spanish teacher’s travel stories.  At the age of 26, he ventured abroad for the first time, and immediately became smitten with Brazil.  He traveled there over 30 times, and lived there for two years.  While discovering Brazil he decided to visit every country in the Americas before the age of 40.  That goal transitioned to visiting all UN countries. Randy enjoys visiting those countries which are less visited.  He spent New Year Eve’s in Tripoli.  He also recently visited South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Venezuela, Nauru, and North Korea.  Yet, he has not been to Greece, Turkey or Egypt.  On the podcast Randy shares with us many travel tales.  Randy was stopped in the Tripoli airport when departing and had several items confiscated from his bag.  When crossing into Burundi, he picked up a police escort who did not leave his side,

Download Episode! At the age of 24, Eric visited his last UN country beating Guinness World Record Holder, James Asquith.   Eric grew up in northern California, the son of Vietnamese immigrants.  He had the opportunity of international travel with his family growing up.  But his travel began in earnest when he went backpacking in East and Southeast Asia when he was just 18.  He was inspired to visit every country in the world and attempt to break the world record for three reasons.  First, Eric was inspired by world traveler and former guest, Gunnar Garfors.  Second, Eric learned about James Asquith, the Guinness World Record Holder at the time, the youngest person to travel to every country in the world.  But the final catalyst was a meeting with his college professor who encouraged him to see the world when he was young. Eric at times threw caution into the wind when pursuing his quest.  He couchsurfed in Libya, while local militias learned of his presence.  He had a very challenging time in West Africa.  

Dustin balanced his career as a dentist while completing all 193 UN countries and then some. Dustin grew up in small town America yet ended up living in Singapore working as a dentist.  Despite a childhood of limited travel, he spread his travel wings after settling in Singapore and began to discover the region.  Dustin shares with us an amazing collection of travel stories.  He crossed the border into Syria from Lebanon as an invited guest of Syria.  Dustin was the keynote speaker at a medical conference in Damascus.  He was banned from entering Israel and had to hire an attorney so he could attempt another visit.  Dustin couchsurfed in Burundi and ended up in jail.  He met his host in Afghanistan on Tinder.  Dustin tells us why the Maldives is one of his least favorite countries.  And Dustin also gave back when traveling, including spending two days providing dental treatment to half of the population of Pitcairn Island.      Subscribe on iTunes today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume

Download Episode! Thomas grew up behind the Iron Curtain, joined the military to travel, and now lives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.   Thomas was raised in in East Germany in modest circumstances, with virtually no travel in his life.  He joined the military for 12 years which allowed him the opportunity to travel.  During that time he traveled to hotspots like Afghanistan and Kosovo.  After the military, he settled in Saudi Arabia with a career that allowed him to continue traveling.  Thomas keeps an aggressive travel schedule, adding in 20 new countries a year.  He also likes to incorporate athletics into his travel, participating in multiple triathlons. Check out why he is fond of Nepal, but not so much on Brazil.  And listen in where he will be celebrating his 40th birthday this summer.  .   Subscribe on iTunes today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Visit Every Country In The World. Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backg

Thanos is on a quest to visit every country in the world and has already visited 146 UN countries.   Thanos initial focus in life was education and business, not travel.  In fact, one of his first overseas trips was a basic package trip to Sri Lanka.  After completing his doctorate in theoretical physics and starting his own business in India his life eventually transitioned into a life of travel.  Now adventures include summiting the seven summits with three already completed.  Thanos also enjoys road trips like a 3 week, 3000 km motorbike trip across Mongolia.  Thanos also appreciates a good land crossing such as when he entered Mali and ended up spending the night in jail.  Thanos will also share with you why he needs to go back to Laos.  Please listen in and enjoy.            Subscribe on iTunes today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Visit Every Country In The World. Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations

Download Episode! Audrey is a member of an elite club of female travelers who have traveled to all 193 UN countries.   I thought it was important to have a member of this club to speak on the podcast in regard to    the media’s claim that Cassie DePecol is the first woman to travel to every country in the world.  This false narrative has been embraced by the public.  During the podcast, we speak about this controversy and Audrey shares her perspective on being a woman who has accomplished this feat.  Audrey’s first international foray took place in 1969 as she traced her ethnic roots to Soviet Lithuania and recounts how a group of Soviet officers serenaded her.  Other stories include visiting China during the 1980s and almost being shot in Ethiopia.  Please listen in on how Audrey as a mother and grandmother accomplished this amazing quest.   Subscribe on iTunes today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Visit Every Country In The World. Explore the unique stories from 2

Download Episode! Gary sold his house and all of his belongings in 2007 and began his life of travel.   Gary over his 10 years of travel has established himself as an elite travel blogger with an expertise in photography.  Gary shares with us many tales from the road.  Gary, single handedly, changed the visa rules for the Pacific Island of Kiribati with one email.  He tells us why his motorbike driver pulled his gun as they made their way to the contested Temple of Preah Vihear at the Cambodian/Thai border.  And Gary also spends a lot of time exploring national parks, and tells us why his favorite national park is in Canada.  Please listen in and enjoy.   Subscribe on iTunes today! Check out our partner and sponsor: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Visit Every Country In The World. Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a

Download Episode! Lee has led an incredible life, traveling to all 193 countries and being the youngest American to accomplish this feat at that time.  And he is only 6 territories away from completing the Travelers Century Club. Lee travels in style whether it is entering his 193rd country under a hail of gunfire or hanging out with Prince Harry in Antarctica.  Lee grew up in modest circumstances and began his travel with a semester abroad in London.  This trip and the loss of his friends on 9/11 sparked his interest in travel.  Lee was motivated to complete the Travelers Century Club after he read an article about Charles Veley accomplishing the TCC list.  He shares with us the high and lows of traveling in Africa.  Lee recounts summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and spotting lions in the Serengeti.  And also, how even the ATMs in Nigeria are in on the scam.  Lee shares his journey to off-the- beaten path places like Tuvalu (awful experience) and Pitcairn Islands (rewarding experience).  Please listen in and enjoy

Download Episode! João is a quintuple threat. He is a professor, an entrepreneur, a father of seven, a romantic, and a believer in all of the world’s religions.   The professor shares his amazing stories of traveling the world.  As a romantic he has married his wife eight times in different ceremonies around the world, including their first in Addis Ababa with a honeymoon in South Sudan.  He spent time in a Yemeni jail cell that conveniently included wifi allowing for some Facebook updates. He avoided being strip searched in the Congo with a well placed bribe.  And the professor traveled the Karakoram Highway, one of the world’s  highest paved roads in the world.  The trip ended in Pakistan where he raised thousands of Euros to help Pakistanis who were affected by the severe floods.  The professor’s travels began in earnest when he began competing with his cousin.  The professor has been to all 193 UN countries, 292 places on the TCC list, and is the 35th most traveled on The Best Traveled.  He recently retu