Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #10 – ETF/ABS Index, Baba Ahmed El Bekay, Ahmed Abdulrazzaq, & NM Awards

Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #10 – ETF/ABS Index, Baba Ahmed El Bekay, Ahmed Abdulrazzaq, & NM Awards

Author: Ric Gazarian September 30, 2024 Duration: 1:13:38
Hey now, I am your host Ric Gazarian on the 10th update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival. We have a lot of news to share with you today. So grab that coffee of if in Thailand, grab a chamanow and please listen in. The event is now about a month and a half a way. But still time to join, use code BANGKOK to save at www.extraordinarytravelfest.com. Some quick updates ... we have added three new speakers, Luisa Yu, Matt Bowles and Sabbatical Tommy. Luisa is well known in the community for her determination and her multi-decade quest to visit every country in the world. She finished at age 79! So impressive. Matt is the host of the super entertaining the Maverick Show Podcast, where he speaks with amazing travelers from around the world. He will be speaking on his 10 plus years of being a digital nomad. Tommy is a travel content creator on YouTube and also a polyglot! That's cool. Are you scared of ghosts? Did you know that ghosts play a cental role in Thai culture? We have partnered with Bangkok Haunts to provide you with an introduction to ghosts and spirits in Thailand. We offer a half day tour on November 14 and 18. Check it out! First, I speak with Professor JP. I think so many of us love lists and rankings. So I am excited to share a new travel index will be premiered at the ETF. The index is called the ETF/ABS Magellan Traveller Index. This will rank the top 100 travelers in the world. We will be sharing this list and announcing the top 3 ranked at ETF. I want to thank both Most Traveled People and NomadMania for partnering with us and sharing their data. I also speak to 2 great individuals and partners of ETF. These two people are sponsors of ETF and deserve a special thank you for supporting our event. First up is Baba the founder of T'Ore Mauritania. Baba has been welcoming and introducing travelers to this amazing Saharan country. Many members of the extreme travel community know and have traveled with Baba. Please consider Baba if you are travelling to Mauritania. Baba will be exhibiting at ETF as well as moderating a session on Mauritania to answer all of your questions. I also speak with Ahmed, the founder of Aknaf Alsawary. Ahmed was my guide when I visited Iraq the other year. Ahmed is a virtual sponsor of ETF. Ahmed offers fixed date group tours to Iraq, and he is raffling a 50% off coupon to one of these trips at ETF. In addition, ETF is pleased to announce that we can offer a $150 off these fixed date trips. Click here to check out the agenda and dates. Contact me to get your $150 off his tour. ric @ globalgaz.com And after I speak with Ahmed, I will do a little recap on the ETF and the NomadMania Travel Awards, nominate your favorite traveler today! Up first is Baba, please listen in and enjoy.

The journey to visit every country on the map is a pursuit that defines a life, blending obsession, logistics, and profound personal discovery. Counting Countries, hosted by Ric Gazarian, explores this rarefied world through conversations with the travelers who are doing it. This isn't a typical travel podcast about tips or destinations; it's about the human stories behind the stamps. Each episode delves into the motivations, the decades-long itineraries, the close calls, and the unexpected moments of connection that happen along the way. Listeners hear firsthand accounts of what it truly costs-financially, emotionally, physically-to chase this singular goal. The podcast naturally examines the shifting definitions of travel and countryhood, the ethical considerations of crossing borders for a list, and the quiet reflections that come from a lifetime of movement. Gazarian guides these discussions with the insight of someone who understands the quest, creating a space for honest talk about an endeavor fewer people have completed than have gone to space. It’s about the texture of the world, one border at a time, and the unique perspective gained from seeing all of it. Tune in for intimate narratives that go far beyond passport counts, revealing the deeper meaning of a global life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Counting Countries
Podcast Episodes
Jason Mayfield … Can't Is Not An Option [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:30
Jason Mayfield has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Mayfield. Jason was propelled into his travel life as a high school…
Mihai Dascalu … Plan B & C [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:05
Mihai Dascalu has been to 99 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mihai Dascalu. I met him at the ETF in Bangkok in 2024, and I am excited he is coming bac…
Sherri Donovan … Hugs From Old Mommas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:01
Sherri Donovan has been to 187 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sherri Donovan, a well-known member of the community. I was taken aback when Sherri sha…
Barry Hoffner … Belonging To The World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:18
Barry has published his memoir Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. This is a special episode with Barry Hoffner. Barry is a former guest on Counting Countries and I encourage you to listen to this episode to hear his…
Erik Futtrup … Left At The Fork [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:50
Erik Futtrup has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I had the pleasure of meeting Erik at ETF II in Bangkok, and I am looking forward to seeing him this October for…
Konstantin Liorek … Strawberries Forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:50
Konstantin Liorek has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I have the pleasure to speak with traveler Kostia Liorek. I met Kostia at the ETF in Bangkok in 2024, and I…
Brian Johnson … Slightly Bigger Office [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:16
Brian Johnson has been to 128 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. In this episode, I have the pleasure to speak with traveler Brian Johnson. I met Brian twice in the last two years, first at the Extraordinar…
Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update III – Matt Gray Of Pangea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:29
Join the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, October 22-25, 2026. Use code BANGKOK to save on your ticket. One of the goals of the Extraordinary Travel Festival is to bring the leaders of the travel industry togeth…
Yaël Pericard … A Pair Of Jeans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:03:00
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…