Mar Pages … has completed her 100th country

Mar left her successful corporate life to focus more on travel and blogging

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 like Nairobi and Manila. This year, Mar made a major change in her life as she officially left corporate life so she can focus exclusively on her online businesses and her travel.

Mar touches on the magic of Bhutan and her frustrations with Nigeria, a place she has traveled to often for work. She shares with us how she felt unsafe in Somaliland and her interactions with the locals. She speaks about the isolation she felt in Sudan and the pyramids of Meroe. And talks about a solo, multi-week to the Pacific which made her reevaluate her travel goals.

Mar speaks about her travel inspiration Anthony Bourdain and one of her favorite travel blogs, Roads & Kingdoms. Mar is the Chapter Leader of Travel Massive in Singapore. Travel Massive is the largest travel network in the world with over 40,000 people. It is sort of like LinkedIn for people who work in the travel industry, with both online and real world networking. Check it out if you have a travel job.

I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and of course if you like the program, feel free write a review like Steve_M_300 from USA did. Ric is an excellent interviewer. He is able to keep things on track and will be sure to follow up where needed to bring to life some very unique travel stories. This podcast will give you wanderlust. This show has introduced me to many things the best of which was nomad mania. I was very surprised to see how my ranking ended up being on that site. Thank you Ric for putting this podcast together. Currently at 82 countries and hoping one day to be well traveled and interesting enough to appear on the program. I love to listen to your show while I am traveling as I find it motivates me to keep exploring. Thanks for everything you do. Please keep up the great work.” Thanks for sharing these kind words and I hope you hit the century mark soon.

I also want to say a quick hello to our fans around the world … from Paraguay to Afghanistan, from Angola to Haiti and over 100 different countries.

But for now, here’s my conversation with Mar who was in Singapore, the Garden City, while I was in Boston known to some as Beantown. Please listen in and enjoy.

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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 Mar Pages:

Born in: Barcelona
Passports from: Spain
Favorite travel book: Lonely Planet Story
Favorite travel film: Out of Africa
Favorite travel app: All Google products, especially Google Maps
Must carry: Cardigan
Favorite food: Pa amb tomaquet
Favorite drink: Wine
Favorite Airline: Singapore Airlines
Favorite Hotel: Aman Resorts
Websites: Once In A Lifetime Journeys & Singapore n Beyond
Instagram: Instagram & Instagram
Twitter: Twitter
Facebook: Facebook & Facebook
Youtube: YouTube

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About Counting Countries

Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space.

Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi.

About GlobalGaz

Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia.

Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com

How Many Countries Are There?

Well… that depends on who you ask!

The United Nations states that there are 193 member states.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories.

The Century Club states that there are 327 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands.

The Most Traveled Person states that there are 875 unique parts of the world.

The Nomad Mania states that there are 1281 unique places in the world.

SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world.

Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way.

An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori.

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 virtually endless amount of adventure.

Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda.