Journey around the world...

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/#section-0

National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek is walking from Africa to the tip of South America. He is following the path our human ancestors took about 200,000 years ago. It took ancient humans around 50,000 years to migrate from Africa to South America, but Salopek estimates his journey, which he began in 2013, will take about ten years.

Met a colleague, who is about to visit her 100th country. Having travelled around, she says, UK would like to show a map with them in between and China a map with them in between. Russia is so close to US is we look at it in a way, but far, if we look at it the other way. 

Here is all the countries by size from her home. 

You can see all the pins - they are colour coordinated. Red is  “early years”, yellow with husband ( together for11 years), Lizard from Africa, whole flat is full of stuff from around the world

hats collected from around the world - in the dining room.

 Spend about 3 months in India / Pakistan / Nepal / Bhutan. 

 India in 2007 and went just from Delhi to Ranthmabore to see the tigress, 2008 and started in Mumbai and ended in Kathmandu a month laster - overland trip covering most of Rajasthan. Then up through the north bit (Rishikesh, McCloudganj, Daramasla,etc) and to Amritsa and into NE Pakistan

Was camping between Gilgit and the Chinese border, then into China to Kashgar, visited Bhutan at the same trip. To Nepal three times base camp of Everest, chinese side, and to Tibet from there - 2 weeks on jeep safari. 

Lake Karakol - it's on the Karakorum Highway, the Western part of China that links up with Pakistan. Stayed in a huge yurt (Turkish - huge round tent made of skin and portable).  It's near the NW of Pakistan. A beautiful area of the world. In NE Pakistan you get 3 ranges in different directions… Himalaya, Karakorum and Hindu Kush. The Karakoram mountain range runs along the borders between Pakistan, India, and China. It is part of the longer Himalayan mountain range, which is home to the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest. The highest peak in the Karakoram range is K2. K2, at 8,611 metres (28,251 ft) above sea level, is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest (at 8,849 metres (29,032 ft)). The Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) are the freshwater towers of South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Water originating from their snow, glaciers and rainfall feed the ten largest river systems in Asia.

Go on group trips - but on own. Overlanding with a company called Dragoman - all over the world for months at a time. They are not operating any more since Covid but it was a big truck, with coach seats, all the cooking equipment and camping stuff all on the truck.

One epic journey was from Xi'an in China, diving into Kyrgystan, Uzbekistan, Turmenitstan. Also went to Kazakhstan for 2 weeks which was lovely (in 2018). 

Kyrgyzstan 2013, before heading south to Osh and the Fergana Valley. Also there is Pamir mountains is located at a junction with other notable mountains, namely the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, Hindu Kush and the Himalaya mountain ranges.

The Afghanistan trip was also to Tajikistan. Spent 2 weeks in Mongolia in 2012. Took a year off work in 2008/9.... and another 4 months off in 2013 !!

Went to Vietnam and Cambodia many years ago when  was married, went to Sri Lanka and Maldives in 2019 - just before Covid hit. Bangladesh is a pending dream. 

This was an amazing journey, all done. 

There is the gas crater in Turkmenistan, it's been burning since the 1970s. She went to Sumatra to see the oran otangs and to Komodo to see the dragons.... and of course Bali too

Have also been to all of South America (apart from Uruguay and Paraguay).......... over many many months, including Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana.

Had been to N America and did an epic road trip from Calgary to Vancouver with  husband in 2002. Have been to NY a few times, Boston and other places in Mass, then drove around Nevada / Utah / California a couple of times.

Spent about 3 months in Australia - drove from Darwin to Albany (far south)... been to Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney, Cairnes and Gt Barrier Reef....been to 18 countries in Africa and on safari about 20 times. have been to all of Southern Africa apart from Malawi and Mozambique

Have been to 98 countries , now isn't that an inspiration - Something to look forward to? You will find her wearing the viking mask from Sweden.