Graham Hughes…Three Hobbits Named Mohammed

Graham Hughes…Three Hobbits Named Mohammed

Author: Ric Gazarian September 10, 2020 Duration: 2:48:41
Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel A fleeting tweet recently connected me to Graham Hughes and paved the way for this podcast. I had reached out to him years ago, but my email ended up in a spam folder. So for those who say nothing good comes from Twitter, you now stand corrected. Thanks to my patrons William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. And a warm welcome to our new patron, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, from Norway. They help pay for the production of this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com. My patrons will hear 30 more minutes of my conversation with Graham. Untamed Borders is the sponsor of this podcast, and we will be hearing a few words from James Willcox, the co-founder, on how to manage safety and security when traveling. Graham is no stranger to the extreme traveler community. He completed his quest to travel to every country in the world in 2013. He claimed the Guinness World Record as the fastest time to visit all countries by public surface transport. Graham shares a lifetime of stories from his travels from watching the sunrise from the top of the Pyramids of Giza to spending time in jail in Cape Verde. You can imagine which one was a more pleasant experience. And don't worry, we speak about Thor Pedersen and his quest and claim to be the first to travel to every country in the world with only surface transportation. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify, and even better if you write a review. Graham was in the UK while I was recording in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons….William Schelling, Simen Flotvik Mathisen, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles & Ted Nims. Be the first on your block to sport official Counting Countries apparel! You can purchase them today on Amazon. And now, you can listen to Counting Countries on Spotify! And Alexa! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today! And write a review! Check out our friend: Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world, including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, and the Amazon. And watch my full-length documentary in Cambodia when I traveled with Large Minority. More About Graham Hughes: Born in: UK Passports: UK The Odyssey Expedition Subscribe on Apple Podcasts today!! About Counting Countries Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who've spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Fewer people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space. Theme music for this podcast is Demeter's Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi. About GlobalGaz Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia. Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com. Well…that depends on who you ask! The United Nations states that there are 193 member states. The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories. The Traveler's Century Club states that there are 329 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands. The Most Traveled Person states that there are 949 unique parts of the world. The Nomad Mania divides the world into 1301 regions. SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world. Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way. An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori. Disclaimer: I will earn a fee if you order from Amazon/Agoda. Or book a trip through G Adventures. PS Thanks! ----- Produced by Simpler Media

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: 166

Counting Countries
Podcast Episodes
Jorge Sanchez: Ranked first on Nomad Mania [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:54
Key links & critical information: Get your official Counting Countries apparel Listen with Spotify We're on Amazon Alexa And check out our new sponsor - The Journey by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - take a listen and subscri…
Artemy Lebedev - 193 countries ... and exploring over 1500 cities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:58
Download Episode! 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 theate…
Jonny Blair - 113 countries ... a Northern Irishman in Poland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:05
Jonny loves travel and he has a special interest in micronations. Jonny has met Jonathan I, Emperor of Austenasia and was the first backpacker to visit the nation. He also visited the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a…
Tony Giles - 110 countries ... and blind and mostly deaf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:59
Download Episode! Tony has a sense of adventure not rivaled by many. Tony heard tales of travel from his Dad, a merchant marine. He also had two opportunities to study in the USA as a student. Yet, the gift of a kidney w…