Quarantine On The Friendship Highway, Part V
Quarantine On The Friendship Highway, Part V. Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again Let us sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again It was day five, and today we would gain our freedom. The government officials returned in the morning and called the group to the sparse lobby. They informed us that the Italian woman, which we had traveled with over the border into China, was not infected with H1N1. She was enroute to finally join us after five days of quarantine at the hospital. We danced and yelled, hugged each other, and smiled. Even the Yetis got into the action. I am sure they were happy to see us go. But nonetheless hugs and high-fives were passed out liberally. Half us ran to our rooms to maddeningly pack our bags while the other half whipped open the glass doors to smell freedom. The Italian woman, we hardly knew ya! photo credit: Leonard If you need to catch up from the beginning, click here to read [...]
Babis Bizas – 193 countries … and travels 300 days a year for several decades
Babis completed his quest for 193 in 2004, but has not slowed down at all. [Download .mp3] In the late 1970s, Babis backpacked the Hippy Trail which included Pakistan and Afghanistan. He eventually found his way to Sri Lanka and joined the crew of a Greek ship and travelled even further. Babis is one of the few who has traveled to both the North and South Pole. He shares with us an amazing tale of 19 hours in a helicopter traveling to the North Pole. And no travel career is complete without an arrest story. Babis found himself in a jail in Benghazi. Babis spoke about his favorite traveler, Frank Grosse Oetringhaus, who is a fellow 193er. He also shares an interesting perspective of why he is fond of William Baekeland, who he met and traveled with. Babis joined me from Greece while I was in Bangkok, please join in and listen to today’s episode. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase today on Amazon. [...]
Lethwei Fight Yangon Myanmar
Lethwei Fight Yangon Myanmar. Hard core. Brutal. That is Lethwei, the Burmese martial art. Many are familiar with Muay Thai in neighboring Thailand. When one thinks of Thailand; images of tuk-tuks, to-die-for beaches, Buddhist temples, all come promptly to mind. In the pantheon of Thai stereotypes, Muay Thai has an equal seat. Muay Thai traces its history back centuries in Thailand but today has transitioned into a high-level of commercialism. Virtually, anywhere a tourist travels in Thailand today, there is a ring set up whether on the beach or in a stadium with Muay Thai fighters at the ready. In addition to the ubiquitous fights, another cottage industry has developed. Muay Thai camps have sprouted throughout the country, giving foreigners the opportunity to train for the afternoon or for months, with some advancing into the ring for a fight. Myanmar (Burma) also has a long history of martial arts, Lethwei, which is a very close cousin of Muay Thai. Lethwei is a shy, reticent child in comparison to the uber-present Muay Thai. I had added watching Lethwei [...]
Artemy Lebedev – 193 countries … and exploring over 1500 cities
[Download .mp3] Being a lazy workaholic propelled Artemy to become one of the world’s most traveled people Artemy had exploration in his DNA. As a kid he traveled the metro in Moscow visiting scores of different theaters, satisfying his passion of cinema as well as exploring the nooks and crannies of his city. As an adult, he made a pact with himself ensuring that at least once a month he would partake on a trip, whether the neighboring town or across the world. This led him to be ranked 25th on the Nomad Mania list. Artemy is a very popular and successful blogger in Russia. Artemy organizes incredible contests and trips on behalf of his fans. He has brought his fans on explorations of the Pacific via a yacht. Another adventure had Artemy driving in the dead of winter to Norilsk. Norilsk is a city located north of the Arctic Circle and is in essence an island. It is typically reached via airplane or ship. Artemy and his crew traveled overland for two weeks covering 1000 [...]
Vanuatu – 117th Country
Vanuatu – 117th Country. To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries. Vanuatu is my 117th country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Vanuatu a small Pacific nation gained its independence from joint French-British rule in 1980. Only 250,000 people call this nation home. A short, direct flight from Nadi would deposit me in the capital of Port Vila. My six night trip was condensed to only two nights. Due to a medical concern, I cut my trip short to receive medical help. Hopefully, I will be able to return to explore the country. Read about my eventful stay in Vanuatu Vanuatu – 117th Country
Have I Really Been To Vanuatu?
Have I Really Been To Vanuatu? I am part of a community who is attempting to travel to every country in the world. According to the United Nations there are 193 countries. So far I have been to 117 countries which sounds impressive, until you realize I still have to travel to 76 countries. It is believed that less than 200 people have traveled to every country in the world, making it more of an exclusive club then those who have traveled to outer space, who number over 500. There is a very active and passionate group of individuals who are on a quest to enter this august club. There is a heated debate on what counts as visiting a country. A passport stamp, sleeping overnight, tapping your foot over the border, airline transfers, a travel experience? There is no universal governing body dictating the rules of what defines a visit. But the online community of country counters passionately argues their position, and often it evolves into arguments and insults. Read about the insults and death rates [...]
