Extraordinary Travel Festival II Update #7 – Meet The Attendees II
Release Date: 07/02/2024
Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update II - ETF/ABS Magellan Travel Index
Counting Countries
The ETF/ABS Magellan Travel Index was announced and premiered at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok in 2024 by founder, João Paulo Peixoto. The professor has recently moved into the #1 position on both the NM and MTP lists. The professor joins us on the ETF to provide an update on the MTI. You can learn more about the . Please remember the Extraordinary Travel Festival will be held in Bangkok from October 22-25 in 2026. You can join and use code BANGKOK to save.
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Thomas Preinl … Inspired By His Grandfathers
Counting Countries
Thomas Preinl has been to 190 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. On this episode I have the pleasure to speak with Thomas Preinl who I met at the NomadMania meeting in Uzbekistan and spent time with him during a recent visit to Thailand. Thomas is one of those characters who has been Chasing 193 but only recently found the extreme travel community. Thomas has benefited with flight benefits due to his employment with Lufthansa for years. As Thomas will share, he is German by birth, but not by character, having a flexible and adaptable travel persona. You...
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Orla Phillips … A Travel Brochure
Counting Countries
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Extraordinary Travel Festival III Update I - Destination Reveal
Counting Countries
Hey now! Welcome to the third season of ETF news and updates. The destination for ETF III will be back to Bangkok, Thailand! The dates will be October 22-25, 2026. Join today to lock in great prices with these discount codes. ETF3 - $140 DISCOUNT – EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 24 ALUMNI - if you are an alumni of ETF I or II please contact me for a bigger discount - expires September 24 as well Tickets are non-refundable, but you may sell your ticket. It will be your responsibility to find the buyer. For more details. www.extraordinarytravelfest.com
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Peter Fenger … The Milk Run
Counting Countries
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Thor Pedersen … Impossible Journey
Counting Countries
Thor Pedersen has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Thor returns for the 4th time to Counting Countries in addition to 7 other episodes for patrons. During this conversation, we speak about his newly published book, The Impossible Journey (). Despite knowing his journey well, this book shares more stories and additional context to his quest. We also overview what he has been doing over the last 2 years since his return from his nearly 10 year journey. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting...
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Zsuzsanna Berencsi … Thanks Tammy
Counting Countries
Zsuzsanna Berencsi has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. Zsu Berencsi shares with us her awesome travel adventures to every country in the world with a big celebration this past December in her last country, Jamaica. I have met Zsu twice before at both ETFs and she promises a third. I got it on tape. I also reconnected with Zsu at April Peregrino’s 193 party in Bratislava where Zsu arranged a special field trip. I would like to thank everyone for their support of Counting Countries, especially my...
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Michael Angelo Zervos … A Happy Moment
Counting Countries
Michael Zervos has been to every country in the world Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. This is a bonus episode with Michael Zervos. I interviewed Michael back in December of 2023, before he had started his quest. His quest? To travel to every country in the world in the quickest possible time. We have heard this before … someone who wants to break the GWR. And many in the community would ask what is the point? This is not a race. What will the traveler gain from spending just a day or two in each country? And once the record is...
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Jenna Pava … #FOMO
Counting Countries
Jenna Pava has been to 181 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I had the pleasure of meeting Jenna Pava at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok, only to discover that we were also (distant) neighbors in the city. This conversation offered another fantastic opportunity to dive into the story of a truly compelling traveler in our community. Jenna’s early life was marked by a tug-of-war between her birthplace in Russia and her new home in the United States, shaping a deep sense of resilience from a young age. Remarkably, her travel journey took two major turns...
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We Married Adventure … All Shawarma Visits Count
Counting Countries
We Married Adventure have been to 149 & 148 countries Hey now, I am your host, Ric Gazarian. I met Angela and Michael Ballard, the couple behind We Married Adventure, who I met at the Extraordinary Travel Festival in Bangkok. Angela and Michael at times pushed and pulled between a 9-5 lifestyle and travel. A wedding vow, an insane travel sabbatical and a retirement from work propelled them fully into the world of extreme travel. I am fortunate to have these amazing conversations to learn about my guest’s amazing and unique lives. Angela and Michael...
info_outlineJoin us in Bangkok for the Extraordinary Travel Festival in November of 2024. Please use code – BANGKOK – to save $100. Reserve your place today.
I believe there are 3 main pillars of why you might want to consider attending the ETF, this November in Bangkok.
First is the destination. Maybe BKK might seem too common. Well as a resident I would posit that this city offers so much beyond the Grand Palace, the Skybar and riding a tuktuk. This is a true onion; you can keep peeling back more and more layers and keep on exploring.
Maybe you are missing some NM regions in Thailand, maybe a funicular or the new UNESCO site, Si Thep. Or you missed Laos or Brunei on your last visit. There are cheap flights to everywhere in ASEASN. Or maybe catch a direct flight to Bangladesh, Bhutan or Kazakhstan. There is so much to see here!
Second, is the content. We have an incredible lineup of speakers. More will be announced. Please take a moment to look at the speakers on the ETF website. Everyone from Thor Pedersen who went to every country without flying, or Renee Bruns who has explored over 130 countries in a wheelchair, or the Sultan Randy Williams, who invented his own country.
And last up, is the community, the network of extreme travelers whether you are chasing 193 or maybe enjoy Iraq more than Italy. Then you have found your tribe.
So think of Bangkok as the hub for the event. A hub with great infrastructure at great prices. The spokes are everywhere in Thailand or the region you can visit easily.
Don’t get FOMO, come join the 160 plus who have already committed. And how many more will sign up in the next 6 months. Should be a lot of people!
Feel free to go to the website, use code BANGKOK to save $100, and join us in Krung Thep this November. If you have questions, reach out to me on SM, contact form on the website, or anywhere else.
I want to introduce three members of the community, three people who are coming to Bangkok, on this special episode. Meet the attendee! Please meet Virginia Ko, Zahid Williams, and Doug Mann.
First up is Virginia Ko, a traveler who recently passed her 100th country. Virginia grew up in Maylasia, moved to CA, and recently quit her job to Chase 193. Wow! Follow her here on IG.
Next up is Zahid Williams. Zahid is on his way to 100, but starting off with the challenging countries first. We even met randomly in the Pacific earlier this year. Don’t miss out on his IG posts.
And last, I speak with Doug Mann. Doug is a true expat. Working for years in Germany and Japan, and now retired in Chiang Mai. Check him out on website.
Please listen in and enjoy.