Very Hungry Nomads … On Their Reverse Retirement
Very Hungry Nomads have traveled to 185 countries I had the opportunity to speak with world travelers Martina Sebova and Rachel Davey, who comprise the Very Hungry Nomads. This was my first outing of attempting to interview two people at the same time. Marty and Rach did an excellent job of moderating the answers. It has been a frustrating time for most extreme travelers as we shelter in place around the globe. There does not seem to be an end in sight when travel will go back to normal. I hope everyone is well and keeping safe. Thanks to my patrons William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. And William, if you are listening, please reach out to me. They help pay for the production of this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com. My patrons will hear an extra interview with Marty and Rach which is exclusive to them. Untamed Borders is our sponsor and they want to remind you that Covid-19 travel [...]
Visiting Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai
Visiting Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai. The Sukhothai Kingdom reigned in current northern Thailand for 200 years starting in 1238. Sukhothai Kingdom was at one time part of the Khmer/Angkor Kingdom, the predecessor of modern-day Cambodia. Sukhothai is considered to be the first capital of Thailand, followed by Ayutthaya, Thonburi, and with present-day Bangkok. Sukhothai has been designated as an UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns. Did you note that title includes “Associated Historic Towns”. This UNESCO site also includes Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park and Si Satchanalai Historical Park. Si Satchanalai is located approximately hour north of Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet about an hour south. Sukhothai is a very worthwhile visit in Thailand but of course it is not as prominent on a visitor’s lists such as a Phuket, Chiang Mai, or Bangkok. I strongly encourage visits to Sukhothai which has a plethora of temples, but I equally encourage visits to both Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park and Si Satchanalai Historical Park. Si Satchanalai Historical Park I left Sukhothai in the morning and drove [...]
Visiting Grand Palace Bangkok
Visiting Grand Palace Bangkok. The Grand Palace complex in Bangkok is by no means an off-the-beaten-path monument, but it is a positively a must-see masterpiece. It is the 4th ranked Thing To Do in Bangkok on TripAdvisor with over 16,000 reviews. The Grand Palace complex is the official residence of the King of Thailand (formally Siam). The king departed in 1925, but the complex is still used today for official events. In fact, I visited the palace for the funeral of the much-admired King Rama IX in 2016. This complex dates back to the latter part of the 18th century and is located near the banks of the Chao Phraya. Within the complex is Wat Phra Kaew known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This is the holiest of holiest sites in Bangkok as it is considered at the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. Construction of the temple began in 1783 under the orders of King Rama I, the first king of the current ruling dynasty. Over the generations, the temple complex has expanded and [...]
Chris Sutherland … Striking Out On His Own
Chris has traveled to 193 countries. Chris Sutherland Counting Countries. It was back in February and I was preparing for several months of non-stop travel. That meant I had to record and prepare five podcasts prior to my trip so I could publish them once my travels began. And randomly I got an email from Chris Sutherland sharing that he was swinging through Bangkok for a couple of days. I know Chris from FB and being fellow moderators in Every Passport Stamp. This was a great opportunity to sit down with him and hear his story in person. In a perfect world, I would like to do all of my interviews in person. Technically it is much better and it is also easier to get to know my guest. It has been a frustrating time for most extreme travelers as we shelter in place around the globe. There does not seem to be any end in sight when travel will go back to normal. I hope everyone is well and keeping in safe. Thanks to my patrons, [...]
Joss Stone … Performing In Every Country In The World
Joss has traveled to 204 countries. Joss Stone Counting Countries. I have spoken to so many travel legends on Counting Countries, but this interview marks my first time speaking with a person, who gained their fame outside of the travel world. Joss Stone is a multi-platinum artist who has won a Grammy. But of course on this podcast, we focussed on her travel accomplishments. Joss created the audacious project, Total World Tour, which entailed Joss performing in every country around the world. I only learned about Joss at the beginning of 2019 when Thor Pedersen, former guest, shared with me that he saw Joss perform in North Korea. With help from Thor and Simon Cockerell from Koryo Tours, I got Joss’s email. What proceeded next was a 13-month email drip campaign. Joss had an interest in being on Counting Countries but it was difficult to schedule. I increased my efforts with self-sheltering during Covid assuming Joss might have more free time. And my efforts were rewarded with an interview in early May. I was quite hesitant to [...]
Visiting Wat Samphran
Visiting Wat Samphran. The visitor to Bangkok will be introduced, whether it is via Tripadvisor or companies offering day trips, to the typical circuit of temples. The tourist will witness the glorious colors of the Wat Phra Kaew, the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, and the sun set behind Wat Arun. These are all amazing temples and must be included to any visit to Thailand. But in Thailand, there are over 40,000 temples, meaning there are so many undiscovered gems, including Wat Samphran. I had spent over two months in my apartment in Bangkok, self-sheltering. Thailand has weathered Covid exceptionally well with approximately 3,000 infections and less than 60 deaths at the time of this writing in early June. For over two months, my only outings were to the market, but at the end of May, I decided to stretch my legs with an outing. I decided on Wat Samphran, a unique temple on the outskirts of Bangkok. https://youtu.be/-Xzoaf2p9yk Over the years I noticed the occasional photo on the web and mentally filed that I should plan [...]
