I wasn't even aware of this, till I read this article today, but it looks like the adventuring spirit of these islands is still alive and kicking!
Graham Hughes left his home in Liverpool on New Year’s Day 2009. Since then, he has visited all 201 countries in the world: 193 United Nations member states, plus Taiwan, Vatican City, Palestine, Kosovo, Western Sahara, not forgetting the four nations of the UK. He's also achieved it on a total of £10 a day, including all the travel!
Guinness World Records have confirmed that Hughes, who has been filming the trip for a documentary and raising money for Water Aid, is the first person to achieve this feat without flying.
He’s been arrested (twice), his lowest point was when his sister died and he felt like giving up, but he's done it and his main impression is this:
“If you take everything that you know of the world from the news, it’s all the bad stuff and you get very paranoid that everyone is out to get you,” he says.
“But the most amazing thing to me is that everyone I met looked after me and I didn’t even know them.”
[url]Global first: Brit visits all 201 states without flying - CSMonitor.com[/url]
Congratulations Graham!
Amazing, thank you for sharing xx
would not have heard of it at all, if you didn't post it Judy. BBC and Sky news seldom have anything like this. Its all doom and gloom as far as they can see. but in reality human spirit is always active unfolding amazing acts of courage, love and kindness.
Thanks for posting
Wow, I hadn't heard about this either! Thanks, Judy. What an adventure and a remarkable achievement - and for a good cause, too.
Charis :nature-smiley-008:
Just a PS. Apparently, though he's finished this 3 year journey, he didn't want to fly home, so is doing the overland and over water route and aims to get back at Christmas. So perhaps we'll see some publicity here when he makes it home again!
He's been making a film of it for the National Geographic Adventure Channel (which we don't subscribe to) but again, perhaps when he gets back, some of the more mainstream channels will buy it. He's called it the Odyssey Expedition
World Record
That is quite an accomplishment, and reminds me of all the places I still haven't been!