Pav Mbeda … Go Big Or Go Home
Pav Mbeda has traveled to 106 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. We are back with the second episode of 2025. I hope your travels are off to a good start. Today, I am happy to share this conversation with Pav Mbeda. Pav was one of the 250 participants of the sold-out Extraordinary Travel Festival. I reach out to all ticket buyers and was happy to note that Pav was from Kenya. Whether it is ETF or this podcast, it is great to hear different perspectives and life experiences. And speaking with Pav, I am reminded how different my upbringing was compared to someone like Pav’s. Pav shares her travel stories … everything from traveling in Kenya as a kid, to work trips throughout Africa, pursuing a masters in Europe, and then spreading her travel wings further to explore the seven continents. **Public Service Announcement Jonny Beardmore, the Galapagos Postman, has spent the last year hand-delivering 50 postcards from around the world. He picked up these 50 postcards from a fabled 18th century postbox [...]
Yooshita Fathi … Breaking Stereotypes
Yooshita has traveled to 108 countries Yooshita Fathi Counting Countries. Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. A giant Happy New Year to all of you country counters! We are back today with a new episode after a small break. Over the past year, you’ve likely heard me mention many times the Extraordinary Travel Festival on this podcast. In November, I had the privilege of organizing this incredible sold-out event in Bangkok, hosting 250 participants over four action-packed days. With 30 inspiring speakers and lively evening events and some amazing sponsors, it was a truly memorable experience. I’m excited to share that planning is now underway for the next festival in 2026. Stay tuned for updates! Today, we are speaking with Yooshita Fathi. I had the pleasure of meeting Yooshita in Bangkok at ETF after seeing her for years on social media and having many common acquaintances. Besides travelling to over 100 countries, Yooshita has lived in 9 different countries. She shared many stories and experiences but I will definitely not forget her story travelling to [...]
A Year In Review 2024
The year of 2024 is a tale of two cities. The first half of the year was about Chasing 193 while the second half of the year was focused on producing the second Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok. I ended 2023 at 171 UN countries. This year I made further progress, ending the year at 181 UN member countries. So close I can almost taste it. Only 12 more countries remain, and my quest will be complete. My goal was to finish this journey in May of 2025, visiting my last country, Ireland. But, unfortunately there is a catch. I will explain that later in this post. The New Ones. I reported last year that I was near completing the most challenging continent, Africa, with 54 countries. I only had 2 countries left at the end of 2023, Libya and Sao Tome & Principe. Libya a sometime tough visa and security challenge and Sao Tome & Principe a bit of a logistical pickle. I left Boston in early January to visit my penultimate African country, Libya. Libya [...]
20 Best Photos Of 2024
20 Best Photos Of 2024. I am back again with my annual wrap-up of my best travels from the year. It was another incredible year of travel, especially the first half of the year. The first half of the year was focused on finishing the continents of Africa and Oceania, the second half of the year it was all about the Extraordinary Travel Festival. Please take a gander and feel free to share any comments. LIBYA I could have selected many photos from the historic Roman Ruins in Libya but I opted for this guy who shared this sly smile with me in the Medina of Tripoli. TUNISIA Not maybe the image you think of when one mentions Tunisia. The US maintains a handful of war cemeteries overseas, including the magnificent and somber North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, honoring those who perished fighting the Axis forces. AUSTRALIA There are sometimes reasons why landmarks are the top tourist draw. One of the most recognizable monuments in the world is the Sydney Opera House. Here is a shot [...]
The Maverick Show … Hosted By Matt Bowles
Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Well not really. Today I am sharing an interview of me hosted by Matt Bowles who hosts the Maverick Show Podcast. Matt and I had great conversation and wanted to share it with my listeners. So, please check out this conversation and also make sure you subscribe to the Maverick Show Podcast. He has over 300 episodes to binge. A ton of interesting people. Including the 2nd part of our conversation on our feed. The other reason I don’t have one of my typical interviews is things were a bit overwhelming with the production of the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok on November 15th. I will recap the event at a later point, but I am guessing many of you have seen tons of photos flying around social media. So make sure you are following ETF on FB and IG. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons. You know them, you love them! Bisa Myles, Ted Nims, Adam “one-away” Hickman, [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #11 – Charles Veley
Hey now! This is it, the last episode before the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok. Still a little time left to join. Use code BANGKOK. My special guest is speaker and sponsor Charles Veley, founder of the Most Traveled People, and considered one of the most traveled people in the world. Charles teases some of the updates he will be sharing in Bangkok, from updates on the App to next location of the MTP Summitt. Please listen in and enjoy. www.extraordinarytravelfest.com
