Lexie Alford … Collecting 10,000 Documents
Lexie is the youngest person to travel to every country in the world This is my second conversation with Lexie. As I have mentioned before, I constantly debate whether to invite guests back for a second conversation, especially since I only publish podcasts on a monthly basis at this time. But I considered Lexie’s accomplishment worth a second conversation as I had become vested in her journey as I tracked her travels on social media and we would occasionally converse. And I also admire Lexie. As a 21, she carries herself with a lof of grace and maturity. Click here to hear her first interview on Counting Countries. I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries. And thanks to my other patrons, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Adam Hickman. As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews. Counting Countries is offering its first group tour to Bhutan on November 7th. [...]
Live From Dubai! … A Conversation With Four Extreme Travelers
Live From Dubai! … A Conversation With Four Extreme Travelers Ryan Gazder, Zulekha Huseni, Zsuzsanna Berencsi, And Adam Hickman Join Counting Countries A bit similar to our last episode, Live From Sealand, this episode, Live From Dubai, features four extreme travelers: Ryan Gazder, Zulekha Huseni, Zsuzsanna Berencsi, and Adam Hickman. I had an extended layover in Dubai en route to Armenia and I reached to some fellow travelers. We met for some Lebanese and then retired to a conference room in the Burj Khalifa to record this episode. I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries. And thanks to my other patrons, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Adam Hickman. As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews, only available to them. Also, Counting Countries is offering its first group tour to Bhutan on November 7th. Please go to GlobalGaz.com to see more information as well as disclosures. And I am [...]
Live From Sealand! … Extreme Travelers Gather & A Conversation With Prince Michael
Live From Sealand! … Extreme Travelers Gather & A Conversation With Prince Michael 25 Extreme Travelers Gather At The Extreme Travel International Congress On today’s episode, I speak with eight extreme travelers at Sealand. Well, let me explain that, the interviews did not take place at Sealand, but at the nearby port of Harwich in England. And yes, these interviews are recorded, so it is really not live. But, I loved the title … Live From Sealand. I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries. Thanks to new patron, Adam Hickman, who is also a former guest. Make sure you check out his interview and his blog, Hick Hiker. And thanks to my other patrons, Bisa Myles, Ryan Gazder, and Ted Nims. As thanks, they are able to listen to additional interviews, only available to them. And I am announcing a new trip to Madagascar in August of 2020 with G Adventures. As some [...]
Visiting The Mikoyan Brothers Museum
Visiting Mikoyan Brothers Museum. MiG. That just sounds cool. The Soviet MiG jet fighter. As a kid, I imagined F-14s and MiGs dancing in the air in combat as I played war. That name MiG is not just a random jumble of letters but is named after the two designers of the MiG, Artom Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. I am going to be focusing on Mikoyan, I am sure Gurevich is a great guy, but I visited the Mikoyan Brothers Museum, and, well, I am Armenian just like Mikoyan. Artom Mikoyan was born in Sanahin, which can be found in today’s northern part of Armenia, and when he was born, it was part of the Russian Empire in 1905. Sanahin is well known on the tourist trail for the stunning 10th century Sanahin Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. And only five minutes away is the Mikoyan Museum. How is that for some very cool logos! A MiG-21 stands on a platform, ready to launch into the sky. This is just a typical village, sloping [...]
The Yazidis Of Armenia
Yazidis in Armenia. The Yazidis have been in the news for all of the wrong reasons over the past several years. The Yazidis practice their own unique religion and caught the ire of ISIS. Yazidis are spread throughout the world numbering 1.5 million, but the highest concentration can be found in northern Iraq. ISIS was intent on decimating the Yazidis population through a series of killings, kidnappings, forced conversions, slavery, and expulsions. The Yazidis have had better success in Armenia where they comprise the second largest ethnic group. That is not saying too much, since there are only approximately 35,000 Yazidis in this former Soviet Union republic. Armenia is hyper-homogeneous with over 98% being ethnic Armenian. The Yazidis make their homes across 19 different villages, and they are free to speak their own language, practice their own religion, and attend Yazidi schools. The Yazidis follow one God, making them monotheists. Their God created the world and then assigned a Heptad (fancy word for seven) of Holy Beings (Angels) to oversee life on earth. The preeminent of the [...]
Eight Days In Mauritania, An Agenda, Part II
Sample Itinerary Mauritania. This is the second part of my trip to Mauritania. To see the first part, check out sample agenda Mauritania. Ben Amera Ben Amera is the third largest monolith in the world. The first two that claim that record can be found in Australia. Ben Amera rises over 630 meters (over 2,000 feet). A monolith is a geographical feature comprised of a singular giant rock. It is pretty cool. After a lazy breakfast at Zaida’s Auberge, the gear was packed, and we were back on the road in our trusty steed, the pickup. Around lunch, we arrived in Afar, one of Mauritania’s larger towns, which is tiny. I eagerly whipped out Tripadvisor to check out the restaurant options. I wanted to avoid another meal of goat stew. I fell into mild depression, when Tripadvisor produced zero dining options. I settled on a coke and took a brief walk through the market. One local offered her hand in marriage at one of the vegetable stands, but I politely declined. We headed back on the road [...]
