A Professional Globetrotter.

First. 24 days. Ahh. Went to the REI members only sale this past weekend. Bought a safari hat for 30% off. I've almost amassed all that is needed for the trip. Unrelated to my trip, but related to traveling: An interesting article about a man, John Rheinberger, attempting to visit every country in the world. John holds bachelors degrees in history, poli sci, and geography. Has Masters in history and business administration. AND has a law degree. WOAaaah.

The article isn't the best writing - feels like I'm bulleting points when reading. But there are some good things to consider in case you want to visit every country in the world. I've listed these below, in a bulleted form:

• Watch the movie 'Around the World in Eighty Days' for inspiration.
• Travel is an investment. No, not a return in money, a return in experiences.
• Given the decline of the dollar, you will likely spend around $1mil to gain these invested experiences.
• To visit all countries, it's estimated, will take more than a year and a half of one's life.

I think it's worth noting that Rheinberger himself, has an interesting way of traveling. Listed below, also in bulleted form:

• Uses Lonely Planet travel guides, but doesn't bring books. He "makes two copies of the relevant pages and reads them on the airplane en route".
• Doesn't venture out of rural areas because of safety concerns, and exposure to disease.
• Sticks to American food - eats either at McD's or at his hotel. "If they didn't eat it in the 50's, I'm not eating it".
• Drinks only bottled water or Coca-cola. If in Asia, rice bear, because it's pasteurized
• Uses a taxi, sees the capital city and stays at a nice hotel
• Rarely stays in a country for more than three days
• Takes 27 photos in each country with a disposable camera
• Wears black loafers and brings no other shoes

Seems that people "travel" in many ways. John's method is very efficient and regimented. He's got his black loafers. He's in, he's out. He develops his 27 photos. He checks off another country.

Don't want to disparage John. He should be proud of what he's achieved. And I don't want to go off on a tangent of what traveling means to me. But John's way of travel seems boring and unfulfilled. He's traveling to check boxes, not to gain experiences...

"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist see what he has come to see."

GK.Chesterton