Nabil Kazi … Make Every Day Count
Nabil Kazi has traveled to 129 countries - Make Every Day Count Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I am excited to share my conversation with Nabil Kazi. I connected with Nabil Kazi back in 2021 when he suggested a guest (Nick Butter - episode 95) for Counting Countries. I guess everything comes full circle as Nabil is a guest on this episode. Nabil and I have been in contact ever since and even connected in person for dinner in Bangkok at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Charlie Browns. Nabil has had two distinct chapters in his adult life. Chapter One, an executive in the land of Hollywood and Chapter Two, as a full time traveler. Maybe we can get some behind-the-scenes Hollywood insights. Some of you might have heard the tragic news from Bamiyan in Afghanistan. Nabil and I touch on this but while editing there are some greater details. Apparently, a tour provider from our 193 community brought a group to Afghanistan. Three Spaniard travelers and three Afghan locals were shot and killed. [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #5 – Richard Barrow
Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024. Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $120. Reserve your place today. The discount will be reduced starting in May, lock in your savings and buy now. Want to go to Bhutan? Join us on our side trip to Bhutan. Or you can join us on a tour to UNESCO Thailand. I was fortunate to secure Richard Barrow as a speaker for the Extraordinary Travel Festival. Richard has been living in Thailand since the mid-1990s. He is one of the most knowledgeable individuals and a trusted source for all things Thailand for both the expat community and travelers coming to the region. Make sure you follow up on Facebook or Twitter with him.
Tan Wee Cheng … An Iconoclast
Tan Wee Cheng has traveled to 187 countries Tan Wee Cheng Counting Countries. Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Wee Cheng, a regional neighbor, and I have communicated on and off for several years, but like many of us in the community we were only virtual acquaintances. That changed when I met Wee Cheng in person at an extreme travel dinner in Singapore last year and then a more recent catchup in Honolulu. I was surprised to learn about Wee Cheng’s longevity as a traveler and also noted how he is a bit of an iconoclast in Singaporean culture when it comes to extreme travel. If you are a listener, you have heard this before … the next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok. Discount code BANGKOK of $120 will end on May 1, so please purchase your ticket today to lock in your savings at the Extraordinary Travel Fest. We love having diverse voices at the event. Just in case you missed this speaker announcement, Raiiq Ridwan, who [...]
Elena Chechina … A Lost Day Of Your Life
Elena Chechina has traveled to 158 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I met Elena back at the ETF in Yerevan and started to realize what a unique life she was leading. She is a true global citizen with true family connections to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Elena has somehow managed to balance the multiple moving parts of her life … 3 children, a spouse who lives and works in Northern Africa, a full time job, and of course Chasing 193. In this conversation, we learn how she manages the complexity of her life. The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok. At the festival, we will have over 20 amazing speakers. I am excited to announce new speaker Joe Cummings. Joe has has spent time over six different decades in Thailand. He wrote the first Lonely Panet Thailand Guide back in 1981. He offers an unique perspective on Thailand and travel that few have. He is also a renaissance man, he is a linguist, an actor, [...]
Hayley Kennedy … Overcoming Obstacles
Hayley has traveled to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I started to follow Hayley in the last year or two on Instagram. And over the last several months we started sharing some messages. She has just completed her journey to every country in the world and I wanted to learn about her adventures as well as her two physical disabilities and how she overcame these challenges. The next Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held on November 15, 2024 in Bangkok. At the festival, we will have over 20 amazing speakers. Sort of like the TEDx of travel. Think Thor Pedersen, Francis Tapon, the Sultan Randy Williams, and so many more. You can buy your ticket now and use the code BANGKOK to save big at the Extraordinary Travel Fest. If you have questions, just let me know. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my Patrons: Phil Marcus, Jorge Serpa, Per Flisberg, Justine Kirby, Marc Jorgensen, Sonia Zimmerman, Lori Pastorelli, Carole Southam, Sunir [...]
Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #4 – Joe Cummings
To hear the entire podcast join us on patreon.com or Apple Podcast subscription. Join us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024. Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $120. Reserve your place today. Want to go to Bhutan? Join us on our side trip to Bhutan. Or you can join us on a tour to UNESCO Thailand. For those in the know when it comes to Thailand, you must know the name Joe Cummings. Joe has been living in Thailand since the late 1970s and has a resume that will rival the most interesting person in the room. He wrote the first Lonely Planet Thailand guide in the early 1980s, plays in a rock band around Bangkok, is a film and TV actor, his written over 30 books, speaks Thai fluently, and is an expert in Sak Yant Tattoos. His wealth of knowledge and years in Thailand gives him an unique perspective on the country and region. I am very excited to have him as a speaker at the ETF. You can follow him on [...]