Recent Posts

 Yaël Pericard has been to 133 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I have the pleasure to speak with traveler Yael Pericard.  I met Yael briefly at the ETF in Bangkok and follow him on FB, but here is another case of a traveler who I really did not know well.  Of course that is no longer the case after our conversation.  Yael leads an adventurous life from summiting 7000 meters in Pakistan, to giving back in the Phillipines, to risking it all to explore a remote airstrip in Lesotho (this one is a pretty crazy story).  And, you will get to meet him at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok as he is coming back for the next event in 2026.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons.  You know them, you love them!  Bisa “fully nomadic” Myles, Ted Nims, Adam “one-away” Hickman, Steph “Phuket” Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe “BC” Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir [...]

The ETF/ABS Magellan Travel Index was announced and premiered at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok in 2024 by founder, João Paulo Peixoto.  The professor has recently moved into the #1 position on both the NM and MTP lists.  The professor joins us on the ETF to provide an update on the MTI. You can learn more about the MTI by clicking here. Please remember the Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held in Bangkok from October 22-25 in 2026. You can join and use code BANGKOK to save.  Click here to join this event!

Thomas Preinl has been to 190 countries   Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Thomas Preinl who I met at the NomadMania meeting in Uzbekistan and spent time with him during a recent visit to Thailand. Thomas is one of those characters who has been Chasing 193 but only recently found the extreme travel community.  Thomas has benefited with flight benefits due to his employment with Lufthansa for years.  As Thomas will share, he is German by birth, but not by character, having a flexible and adaptable travel persona.  You will get to meet him at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok.   I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons.  You know them, you love them!  Bisa “fully nomadic” Myles, Ted Nims, Adam “one-away” Hickman, Steph “Phuket” Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe “BC” Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Dana [...]

Orla Phillips has been to 172 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Orla Phillips who I was fortunate enough to meet at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok.  Orla was inspired as a child to travel as she thumbed through travel brochures in her home.  We trace her life as she leaves the Irish countryside to become a long term expat in Dubai.  We discuss her transition from avid traveler to someone who is Chasing 193.  And we learn about the tragic passing of her mother and why Portugal will be her last country to visit.       I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons.  You know them, you love them!  Bisa “fully nomadic” Myles, Ted Nims, Adam “one-away” Hickman, Steph “Phuket” Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe “BC” Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Dana Mahoutchian, Mihai Dascalu and Ryan [...]

Hey now!  Welcome to the third season of ETF news and updates. The destination for ETF III will be back to Bangkok, Thailand! The dates will be October 22-25, 2026. Join today to lock in great prices with these discount codes. ETF3 - $140 DISCOUNT – EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 24 ALUMNI - $160 DISCOUNT – EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 24  (only for those attended ETF I and ETF II, if you did not go, please do not use this code). Tickets are non-refundable, but you may sell your ticket.  It will be your responsibility to find the buyer. For more details.  www.extraordinarytravelfest.com

Peter Fenger has been to 102 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Peter Fenger, who just celebrated his 50th anniversary of global traveler.  I always love to hear the insights of pre-internet travelers, as Peter visited both China and the USSR in the 1980s.  AS a young man, Peter turned left at the fork, which opened a path of exploration and freedom and avoided a regimented life in Copenhagen.  He never looked back, and he never lived in Denmark again.      I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons.  You know them, you love them!  Bisa “fully nomadic” Myles, Ted Nims, Adam “one-away” Hickman, Steph “Phuket” Rowe, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Ed Hotchkiss, Barry Hoffner, Katelyn Jarvis, Philippe “BC” Izedian, Gin Liutkeviciute, Sunir Joshi, Carole Southam, Sonia Zimmermann, Justine, Per Flisberg, Jorge Serpa, Sam Williams, Scott Day, Dana Mahoutchian, Mihai Dascalu and Ryan Knott for supporting this podcast.  You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com/CountingCountries.  My patrons [...]