Gabon – 156th Country
Gabon – 156th 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. Gabon is my 156th country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Gabon is a country located in central Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo. The area that is now Gabon was inhabited by various Bantu-speaking groups for centuries before being colonized by France in the late 19th century. Gabon gained independence in 1960 and has since been led by a series of authoritarian regimes. The country has significant reserves of oil and timber, which have been a major driver of the economy, but there have been concerns about corruption and the unequal distribution of wealth. Gabon has also made efforts to promote conservation and ecotourism, due to its rich biodiversity and rainforest habitats. You might detect a theme, but my trip again was colored by an awful guide for my trip to Gabon. My trip began with [...]
Republic of Congo – 155th Country
Republic of Congo – 155th 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. Republic of Congo is my 155th country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! The Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, gained independence from France in 1960. The early years of independence were marked by political instability and coups, with several different leaders taking power. In the 1990s, multi-party democracy was established, and the country has since made progress in reducing poverty and promoting economic growth. The Republic of Congo has significant natural resources, including oil and minerals, which have been a major driver of the economy. However, the country also faces challenges related to corruption, inequality, and political instability, and there have been periodic outbreaks of violence and conflict in certain regions. ROC is one of those many countries in Africa which have limited tourism infrastructure and supply. Meaning, there are limited suppliers and the one I used “mailed [...]
Renee Bruns … Live More Authentically
Renee Bruns has traveled to 117 countries Renee started appearing in my IG feed over the last year. And like many of my virtual friends, I tracked her travels to the far flung corners of the globe. But what caught my attention is that Renee is Chasing 193 in a wheelchair. She has the same quest and goal as myself but is accomplishing this feat in her wheelchair. I thought her quest deserved greater attention. This is a reminder that I am partnering with SafetyWing, a travel insurance company. I have been using them personally for over 2 years. And yes, there are a couple of reasons why … let me highlight a couple of the features. First, you can purchase insurance while you are already on the go. Some insurance products force you to sign up before you leave on your trip. Second, you only have to share your initial country on your trip. Many of my trips are open-ended when it comes to the agenda. I don’t have to worry about forgetting to update SafetyWing. [...]
Sudan – 154th Country
Sudan – 154th 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. Sudan is my 154th country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Sudan, officially known as the Republic of Sudan, is a country located in northeastern Africa. The region that is now Sudan has a long and complex history, dating back to ancient times. The land was home to various empires, including the Kingdom of Kush and the Meroitic Empire, which flourished between the 8th century BC and the 4th century AD. In the 7th century AD, Islam was introduced to the region by Arab traders and quickly became the dominant religion. Over the centuries, various Islamic kingdoms and sultanates rose to power, including the Funj Sultanate and the Sultanate of Darfur. In the late 19th century, Sudan came under joint British-Egyptian rule and was later granted independence in 1956. However, the country struggled with internal conflicts and civil war throughout much of [...]
Djibouti – 153rd Country
Djibouti – 153rd 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. Djibouti is my 153rd country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Djibouti is a small country of one million sitting on the Horn of Africa on the Red Sea. This sea passage is one of the most critical transportation junctures in the world. The Americans, Spaniards, French, Japanese and Chinese all have military bases. Man has roamed these lands for 1000s of years and in more recent times ruled by the Afar, the Somalis and regional sultanates. The Ottoman Empire moved in from the 16th to the 19th century until the French made their way to the region. This Islamic nation gained their independence in 1977. I had three aborted attempts to Djibouti until I made it on my 4th attempt. The first two I canceled out of protest of the crazy prices that they charge tourists. My third attempt was foiled [...]
Cyprus -152nd Country
Cyprus – 152nd 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. Cyprus is my 152nd country. Check out the best 193 travel books to read! Cyprus is the third largest island in Europe located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. History dates back to the 10th century BC. Many empires over the centuries have made their impact on the island: the Greeks, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and the Ottoman Empire. In the late 19th century, the Brits took over, and the Cypriots gained their independence in 1960. In 1974, there was a coup, an invasion and a division when the Greeks, Turks, and Cypriots faced off against each other. The result was the birth of Northern Cyprus which is controlled by the Turks. Today Cyprus is a presidential republic with an economy powered by shipping, petroleum and banking. I spent over a week renting a car and exploring this amazing island nation. Cyprus has several beach towns that [...]
