Very Hungry Nomads…On Their Reverse Retirement

Very Hungry Nomads…On Their Reverse Retirement

Author: Ric Gazarian August 13, 2020 Duration: 1:20:17
Key Links Untamed Borders Support Counting Countries, and check out these trips from G Adventures Support Counting Countries at Patreon Counting Countries Apparel I had the opportunity to speak with world travelers Martina Sebova and Rachel Davey, who comprise the Very Hungry Nomads. This was my first outing of attempting to interview two people at the same time. Marty and Rach did an excellent job of moderating the answers. It has been a frustrating time for most extreme travelers as we shelter in place around the globe. There does not seem to be an end in sight when travel will go back to normal. I hope everyone is well and keeping in safely. Thanks to my patrons William Schelling, Steph Rowe, Ted Nims, Bisa Myles, Stephen Rothwell, and Adam Hickman for supporting Counting Countries. And William, if you are listening, please reach out to me. They help pay for the production of this podcast. You can support this podcast by going to Patreon.com. My patrons will hear an extra interview with Marty and Rach which is exclusive to them. Untamed Borders is our sponsor and they want to remind you that Covid-19 travel restrictions are slowly being lifted in certain parts of the world. If you are looking for inspiration for your first post Covid trip then check out some of their trips for the 2020-21 winter period in the middle east.It's been a crazy year for travel. None more so than for Untamed Borders, Counting Countries's sponsor. They have been grounded since March but as travel restrictions ease they are arranging some private itineraries to countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, where entry is permitted without quarantine if you have a negative Covid PCR test result. Contact Untamed Borders for a list of the more interesting places on the planet with this entry system. Please note, you may need to quarantine when returning to your home country. One trip they have in September where many countries do allow free travel is to Turkey. UB they will be diving into the far south east of the country populated by the Kurdish community. Visiting Diyarbakir, Mardin, and the very rarely visited province of Hakkari, which is high in the mountains on the border where Iraq, Iran, and Turkey meet. If that is perhaps too soon then maybe check out some of their desert offerings in early 2021. First up is their trip to what they call the Heart of the Sahara. To the Tadrat Rouge mountains of Southern Algeria. Right on the border with Niger and Libya, this really is an Untamed part of the world and for lovers of desert scenery, their photos of the orange sand and black rocks are spellbinding. You could also try their new Saudi Arabia itinerary. As well as visiting Jeddah, Riyadh and the UNESCO Maidan Saleh. They have also added a night camping by the volcanos north of Medina. Who knew that Saudi Arabia contains almost 2000 extinct volcanos. A real trip off the beaten path of a country that is off the beaten path. Marty and Rach grew up on two independent tracks but with an equal passion for travel. Their paths crossed in Europe while both worked for the same tour provider. Taking advantage of the off-season, they teamed up to start exploring other parts of the world. And of course, this transitioned at one point in traveling to every country in the world. They share their journey. I encourage you to subscribe wherever you listen, Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify and even better if you write a review. Listen to the end of the podcast to hear the latest review from Glimpses of Everywhere in Sweden … "Exactly what I needed!!! Instead of traveling this whole spring and summer (as was my initial plan) I got stuck at home and lost my job. Luckily I found a corona-job, making body bags. What helped me through this tough time was definitely Ric's podcast. He is such an amazing interviewer, so respectful and nuanced, and a great listener. I love listening to the podcast and with every episode, my bucket list gets longer and longer…" Also, a quick note to some of my listeners and supporters. A former guest on Counting Countries who is a bit disgruntled has been harassing some of my listeners. I apologize for this person's actions and hope you have not been overly inconvenienced. Very Hungry Nomads were in their Covid home base of Australia while I was recording in Bangkok. Please listen in and enjoy. Thank you to my Patrons …. William Schelling, Stephen Rothwell, Steph Rowe, Adam Hickman, Bisa Myles, and 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 Very Hungry Nomads: Born in: Slovakia (Marty) Born in: Australia (Rach)Passports: Slovakian (Marty) Passports: Australian (Rach) Favorite Book: The Alchemist (Marty) and Tales of a Female Nomad (Rach) Favorite Travel Film: The Motorcycle Diaries and The Beach Favorite App: Google Translate Favorite Food: Thai food Favorite Drink: Red Wine and coffee Their Map: Map Their Blog: Very Hungry Nomads Instagram: IG FB: FB 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
Renee Bruns … Live More Authentically [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:02
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 att…
Barry Hoffner … Connecting The Dots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:05
Barry Hoffner has traveled to 155 countries Barry should be much better known in the travel community than he is today. He showed up on my radar screen when we connected on Instagram. I follow many who are Chasing 193. B…
Riza Rasco … Embedding While Traveling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:22:17
Riza Rasco has traveled to 192 countries Riza Rasco is a well-known person in the extreme travel community. And I have crossed paths with her twice, once for breakfast in the North End of Boston and for the multi-day Ext…
Katelyn Jarvis … Giving Back In West Point [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:39
Special Links Join the live conversation with Charles Veley and Harry Mitsidis on March 25th at 17:00 GMT, click here to learn the details. Sign up with SafetyWing for your travel insurance for your next trip Katelyn Jar…
Ildiko Szabo ... Daydreaming Of Koalas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:10
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The Kidnapping Of Dr Song (Nopparat Rattanawaraha) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:56
Dr Song Nopparat Rattanawaraha Counting Countries Breaking News I speak with a 193 Insider who was working intimately to free Dr. Song from his kidnappers. Dr. Song is Chasing 193 and I was kidnapped by bandits as crosse…
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Duration: 21:32
On this episode, I will be providing an update for the Extraordinary Travel Festival. I am happy to share with you the schedule for the event and all of the great speakers. Check out the speakers for the festival. Check…
Paul Barbato … Embrace The Trainwreck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:30
Paul Barbato has traveled to over 70 countries Paul AKA Barbs and I met through Gus Rosted. Gus is one of the attendees at the Extraordinary Travel Festival. Gus recommended Barbs as speaker at the festival. I knew Barbs…
Sultan Of Slowjamastan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:09
Please check out the www.extraordinarytravelfestival.com To buy ticket, use code ETF to save $50 This is a special episode of Counting Countries. Like many in the community I have a keen interest of de facto states and m…
Lucy Hsu … It's A Compromise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:36
Lucy Hsu … It's A Compromise Lucy Hsu has traveled to 187 countries Lucy and I met briefly at an impromptu meetup in Jeddah. I knew she was an accomplished traveler who was nearing completion of every country in the worl…