The Road to South America Grand Slam

I didn't reach South America until 1999. This became the 6th continent I visit in my life (after Asia, North America, Oceania, Europe, and Africa).

Surprisingly, within 15 and 1/2 years, I have reached "South America Grand Slam" (南美洲大滿貫) and South America becomes only the second Continent where I have visited every single country!

It helps that there are not really that many countries in South America (unlike Europe...), so it is much easier trying to visit every of them. However, South America is a continent with enormously beautiful sceneries and some of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the world. Through the years, I have never felt tired of visiting this majestic continent!

The following is the list of South American countries I have visited through the years, in chronological order: 

1 Peru (1999)

2 Ecuador (2003)

2a. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (2003)

3 Chile (2006)

3a. Rapa Nui/Easter Islands (2011)

4 Argentina (2006)

5 Uruguay (2006)

6 Brazil (2006)

7 Paraguay (2006)

8* Aruba (2007)

9* Curacao (2007)

10 Bolivia (2011)

11 Colombia (2012)

12 Trinidad & Tobago* (2014)

13 Guyana (2014)

14 Suriname (2014)

15 French Guyana (2014)

16. Venezuela (2014)

Above: Angel Falls, the highest waterfalls in the world, Canaima National Park, Venezuela.

"South America Grand Slam" Accomplished!!

I guess, "North America Grand Slam" (北美洲大滿貫) would be a logical choice for my next goal... However, there are so many island countries in the Caribbean to visit! *_*

[Note]* Caribbean islands usually count as a part of "North America." However, Aruba, Curacao (both are autonomous territories within Kindom of Netherlands), Trinidad and Tobago are just off shore from Venezuelan coast. Thus, they should be count as a part of South America. 

The Road to Europe Grand Slam

In August 1991, I traveled to Europe with my Mother for the first time, on a typical Taiwanese all-inclusive package tour.  - Arriving in London, England on a the longest flight I had ever had (at that time, 13 hours was long for me, now it is "average"), London and England become my first European city and country.

That was not a good trip at all. We visited 10 countries in merely 3 weeks; we ate in Chinese restaurants almost every meal; many group members in that tour were wealthy but uneducated - they acted quite obnoxiously (like today's tourists from China). At the same time, my mother was neurotic and constantly had nervous breakdown. It wasn't a good trip.

However, I have since been in love with Europe. It is a relatively small continent with so many different languages, cultures, and cuisines (and yes, there used to be so many different colorful bills and coins that confounded me!). After that trip, I started to learn French and German, and later, started to learn to read Cyrillic. It is an opposite to my own culture and background. And I like the exotic and sophisticated feel of Europe (Well, "exotic" may be more often used by Europeans to describe us Asian :P)

And, I have been to Europe more than 20 times since then.

After visiting Moldova/Transniestr in 2011 and the Caucasus in 2012, I practically had been to every country on the Continent. Every of them, except two.

For me, Belarus is too complicated to visit, with expensive visa fee and not much to see (I thought); while the remote Faroe Islands seems interesting. However, the high cost of visiting turned me away and I continued to delay my visit.

Until 2014.

The 2014 International Ice Hockey Championship opened the door for visa-free regime to Belarus (even the window is only one month); while later in the summer, a family trip on a luxurious cruise, mainly taking my Mother to Iceland and Norwegian fjords, afforded me an opportunity finally to set foot on Faroe Islands.

Yes, now I have reached what I call "Europa Grand Slam" (中譯 "歐羅巴大滿貫")

Well, it took me a very long 23 years to achieve this. However, it is better "late" than "never."

Now, I can move on to reach my "South America Grand Slam," "North/Central America Grand Slam," and "Caribbean Grand Slam." ;) Fortunately, there are fewer countries in Americas than in Europe :P 

The list of European countries/autonomous territories I've been to, in chronological order.

1 England, United Kingdom (1991)

At one of my favorite spot in my European Country No. 1 - British Museum in London, England. (This picture was taken in 2014, not 1991 XD)

2 France (1991)

3 Belgium (1991)

4 The Netherlands (1991)

5 Germany (1991)

6 Switzerland (1991)

7 Leichtenstein (1991)

8 Austria (1991)

9 Italy (1991)

10 Vatican (1991)

11 Denmark (1993)

12 Sweden (1993)

13 Norway (1993)

14 Finland (1993)

15 Scottland, United Kingdom (1993)

16 Greece (1993)

17 Wales, United Kindom (1993)

18 Monaco (1993)

19 Czech Republic (1995)

20 Spain (1995)

In Ronda, Andalusia, Spain. They may fail to defend their "World Champion" status in World Cup this year, but Spain is always among my Top Countries (This was also taken in 2014, not 1995)

21 Russia (1997)

22 Gibraltar (1998)

23 Portugal (1993)

24 Andorra (2002)

25 Turkey(2005)

26 Slovakia (2005)

27 Hungary (2005)

28 Poland (2005)

29 Serbia (2006)

30 Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006)

In front the Old Bridge of Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2006.

31 Bosniak-Croat Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006)

32 Monenegro (2006)

33 Croatia (2006)

34 Slovenia (2006)

35 Albania (2006)

36 Lithuania (2006)

37 Latvia (2006)

38 Estonia (2006)

39 Ukraine (2006)

40 Romania (2006)

One of the main Painted Monasteries in South Bucovina, Romania. Romania is one of the most interesting and underrated countries in Europe.

41 Bulgaria (2006)

42 Republic of Ireland (2006)

43 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (2006)

44 Luxembourg (2006)

45 San Marino (2007)

46 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2007)

47 Kosovo (2007)

48 Iceland (2009)

49 Republic of Cyprus (2009)

50 Turkish Republic of Cyprus (2009)

51 Malta (2009)

52 Moldova (2011)

53 Transniestria (2011)

54 Armania (2012)

55 Georgia (2012)

56 Azerbaijan (2012)

57 Svalbard, Norway (2013)

58 Greenland (2013)

59 Åland Islands, Finland (2014)

60 Belarus (2014)

By reaching Belarus in May 2014, I have been to every sovereign state in Europe.

61. Faroe Islands (2014)

Taking a stroll in the oldest part of Toshavn, Faroe Islands. I reached "Europa Grand Slam" in Faroe Islands in June 2014.

==> Europe Continent-Wide Gram Slam Achieved!!!

Updated List of Countries I've Been To (As of April 2014)

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Last December, my Travelers' Century Club (TCC) "Silver Membership" card and special pin finally arrived at my home in Taiwan. Since I crossed the "1-5-0" mark in April 2013 in a West Africa Expedition Cruise (hosted by Toronto-based G Adventures), I had become eligible to be a "silver member" of TCC.

However, I didn't send an update notice until September, after I returned from another Expedition Cruise (to Greenland and Svalbard in that trip). Greenland became my Country No. 159.  The card arrived just after I reached No. 160 in Nepal.

The first three months of this year alone, I added 7 more countries. Oh, well, most of them are not actually a "country." However, I just use the "Country List" based on Travelers' Century Club (TCC) Master List (see: http://travelerscenturyclub.org/countries). So, don't argue with me why Tasmania and Hawaii count as separate countries....However, I do believe Hong Kong, Macao, Bermuda, French Polynesia, Easter Island, and Faroe Islands should count separately ;-)

This is my updated list of countries I've been to, as of April 2014. Suddenly, I feel more confident now that I may be able to reach "200" (Gold member) in 2015 :)



1 TAIWAN (Country of Birth)
2 South Korea (1983)
3 Japan (1983)
4 Hawaii - US state (1984)
5 United States - Lower 48 states (1984)
6 Mexico (1984)
7 Hong Kong (1991)
8 Australia (1991)
9 New Zealand (1991)
10 England (1991)

11 France (1991)
12 Belgium (1991)
13 Holland (1991)
14 Germany (1991)
15 Switzerland (1991)
16 Liechtenstein (1991)
17 Austria (1991)
18 Italy (1991)
19 Vatican (1991)
20 Macau (1991)

21 People Republic of China (1991)
22 Singapore (1992)
23 Dubai - UAE (1992)
24 Egypt (1992)
25 Denmark (1993)
26 Sweden (1993)
27 Norway (1993)
28 Finland (1993)
29 Scotland (1993)
30 Greece - Mainland (1993)

31 Wales (1993)
32 Monaco (1993)
33 The Bahamas (1993)
34 Canada (1994)
35 Czech Republic (1995)
36 Spain (1995)
37 Puerto Rico (1996)
38 US Virgin Islands (1996)
39 St. Maarten - Netherlands Antilles (1996)
40 St. Martin - French Leeward Islands (1996)

41 Dominica (1996)
42 Barbados (1996)
43 Martinique (1996)
44 Thailand (1996)
45 Russia (1997)
46 Malaysia (1998)
47 Gibraltar (1998)
48 Portugal (1998)
49 Peru (1999)
50 South Africa (2000)

Boulder Beach, near Cape Town - My Country No. 50 (Though this picture was taken in 2013, in my 3rd visit to South Africa).

51 Bermuda (2001)
52 Balearic Islands - Spain (2002)
53 Andorra (2002)
54 Ecuador (2003)
55 Galapagos Islands- Ecuador (2003)
56 Laos (2004)
57 Myanmar (2004)
58 Cambodia (2004)
59 Vietnam (2004)
60 Guatemala (2004)

61 Honduras (2004)
62 Canary Islands - Spain (2005)
63 Turkey (European parts) (2005)
64 Turkey (Asian parts) (2005)
65 Slovakia (2005)
66 Hungary (2005)
67 Poland (2005)
68 Chile (2006)
69 Argentina (2006)
70 Uruguay (2006)

71 Brazil (2006)
72 Paraguay (2006)
73 Serbia (2006)
74 Srpska - Serb part of Bosnia (2006)
75 Bosnia & Herzegovina (2006)
76 Montenegro (2006)
77 Croatia (2006)
78 Slovenia (2006)
79 Corfu - Ionian Islands (Greece) (2006)
80 Albania (2006)

81 Lithuania (2006)
82 Latvia (2006)
83 Estonia (2006)
84 Ukraine (2006)
85 Romania (2006)
86 Bulgaria (2006)
87. Bali - Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia (2006)
88 Ireland (2006)
89 Northern Ireland (2006)
90 Luxembourg (2006)

91 St. Kitts & Nevis (2007)
92 Aruba (2007)
93 Curacao (2007)
94 Namibia (2007)
95 Botswana (2007)
96 Zambia (2007)
97 Zimbabwe (2007)
98 Malawi (2007)
99 Tanganyika - Tanzanian mainland (2007)
100 Zanzibar (May 26th, 2007)

Stone Town, Zanzibar.

101. Kenya (2007)
102. Uganda (2007)
103. San Marino (2007)
104. Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2007)
105. Kosovo (2007)
106. Alaska (2007)
107. Abu Dhabi - UAE (2008)
108. Qatar (2008)
109. Ethiopia (2009)
110. Iceland (2009)

111. Republic of Cyprus - Greek part (2009)
112. Turkish Republic of Cyprus (2009)
113. Malta (2009)
114. Sharjah - UAE (2009)
115. Umm Al Qaiwain - UAE (2009)
116. Ras Al Khaimah - UAE (2009)
117. Fujeirah - UAE (2009)
118. The Philippines (2009)
119. India (2010)
120. Jordan (2010)

121. Israel (2010)
122. Palestine (2010)
123. Sicily - Italy (2010)
124. Sri Lanka (2010)
125. Maldives (2010)
126. Lebanon (2010)
127. Bahrain (2010)
128. Ajman - UAE (2011)
129. Moldova (2011)
130. Trans-Dniester (2011)

131. Bolivia (2011)
132. Palmer Peninsula - British Antarctica (2011)
133. Palmer Peninsula - Chilean Antarctica (2011)
134. Palmer Peninsula - Argentine Antarctica (2011)
135. Easter Island (2011)
136. Tasmania, Australia (2012)
137. Djibouti (2012)
138. Armenia (2012)
139. Georgia (2012)
140. Azerbaijan (2012)

141. Cuba (2012)
142. Siberia, Russia (2012)
143. Mongolia (2012)
144. Colombia (2012)
145. Panama (2012)
146. Costa Rica (2012)
147. Brunei (2013)
148. Angola (2013)
149. Congo - Brazzaville (2013)
150. Sao Tome e Pricipe (April 16, 2013)

Reaching Country 150 on the island of Sao Tome. Eerily, the shape of this island resembles so much of my Country No. 1!

151. Benin (2013)
152. Togo (2013)
153. Ghana (2013)
154. Sierra Leone (2013)
155. The Gambia (2013)
156. Senegal (2013)
157. Corsica, France (2013)
158. Svalbard (2013)
159. Greenland (2013)
160. Nepal (2013)



161. Sarawak, Malaysia  (2014)
162. Sabah, Malaysia (2014)
163. Cayman Islands (2014)
164. Jamaica (2014)
165. Haiti (2014)
166. St. Lucia (2014)
167. St Barts (2014)

Technically, now I am two thirds (2/3) the way between my Country No. 100 and Country No. 200.

So, that's it for now...and, what's next?

Well, while I still move around and travel (and carrying my works while traveling), currently I even feel more the "urge" to find a place I can call HOME (where I can hang all the tapestries from South America). Unfortunately, I haven't found it yet. Last yea, I failed that miserably when I tried to live and re-settled back in Washington DC (and along the way, ruining some long termed friendship). Then, after staying in my hometown, Taipei, for a few months, I know, it is NOT here.

Thus, I will continue my life as urban nomad, for now. And yes, I will continue traveling and visit more new places.

Looking at bright side of life...yes, finally, I will reach my "European Grand Slam." And it should be in just a few weeks! Because, yes, I am going to Belarus and Faroe Islands!

【Te be continued】

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