What’s the Last One??? What’s 193???
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing my recent visits to countries 184 through 192 on social media. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked, “What’s the last country?” or “What’s number 193?” I would be rich!
It is definitely a great question, especially for those who’ve been following this saga for a while. And by the way, thank you for cheering me on and for all the support along the way. I appreciate you so much!
Can I get a drum roll???
My last and final country, number 193 is…
Turkmenistan!!!
Turk-men-a-what??? Turkmenistan!
Where the heck is Turkmenistan?
Here:
When will you visit?
The big bummer: Turkmenistan has not opened up since its closure at the start of the pandemic. So, we wait…
What will you do after you complete 193?
I’m starting my own country! No, seriously! The Republic of Slowjamastan is an 11-acre sovereign nation located about an hour south of Palm Springs. We have laws against wearing crocs, mumble rap, and placing your feet (or foot) on the dashboard of a vehicle.
@slowjamastan ⚠️ It’s ILLEGAL to wear Crocs in this country! #crocs #crocs4life #crocsgang #crocssuck #slowjamastan #travel #porderbatrol #borderpatrol #slowjams #rdub #dictator #thotpatrol #micronation #micronations #molossia #sealand #geopolitics #geography #weirdaf #maps #nasdaily #police #drewbinsky #ramblinrandy #travel @lumpotron @officialkidcorona ♬ original sound – Slowjamastan
More travel?
I’m so looking forward to slowing down. Instead of trying to hit between four and twelve countries on a single trip, I’m really looking forward to traveling a lot slower and spending more time in some of my favorite countries. These include: The Philippines, Japan, Armenia, Yemen, Indonesia and back to Brasil! (And yes, that is the proper spelling of Brasil!)
There will also be a trip to Antarctica, which is not a country, by the way!
How long has this journey taken you?
46 years. Although I really started traveling “extremely” over the past decade.
You should write a book!
I’m going to!
More to Explore…
If my travels interest you, please feel free to peruse this website. Just pick a country, any country – except Turkmenistan – and see my story about it!
It’s been a pleasure following along your journey through the years both on your blog and social media accounts! I especially respect your strategy of getting the more “difficult countries” out of the way earlier on, like Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq (yay, Country #100!). One can only imagine how much longer this goal would have taken you had you left some of those countries towards the end.
While you wait for Turkmenistan to re-open, are you going to re-visit some of your favourite countries in the meantime? Or do you foresee yourself doing a lot more exploring of the United States for now?
Thank you so much, and GREAT question! I’ll be visiting Czechia this year to see some long, lost relatives for the first time, and the villages my forefathers came from…I found the connection only recently, I’m so excited. And then to Belgium to represent The Republic of Slowjamastan at Microcon 2023. I’m hopeful Turkmenistan will crack open sometime this year and if so I’m on a plane and there!
Wow!!! All this is amazing. Continue on including us to your journey. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Veronica!
I’m so proud to call you my friend Randy!!! You are truly an amazing individual!!! So proud of everything you’ve accomplished since 2001. Keep going, just enjoy more of it all!!
Thank you so much!
Good luck Randy. I love the look of Slowjamistan and I fully recognise it as a country and would love to backpack it one day. In the meantime I’m just finished country 218, which was Mauritius on my wacaday journey and aiming for 250 or 300 real countries before I retire or go back to some of my favourites like you. Do the Darvaza Crater if you get a chance and camp beside it. Epic stuff! Safe travels. Jonny