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)
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)
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)
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)
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】
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】
