The Final Fifty…

So, I have fifty countries left to visit, and then I’m done. I can go home, put my feet up, stuff my face with Anzacs and have a nice hot cup of tea.

But like Sam in the last episode of Quantum Leap, I ain’t going home any time soon – in fact, the leaps are going to get harder. Much harder.

The final fifty include some of the most difficult places on Earth to step foot in. I’ve still got to (somehow) get into Turkmenistan (the North Korea of Central Asia), Eritrea (the North Korea of Africa) and North Korea (the North Korea of… oh). Add to that The Seychelles, Maldives, Taiwan and – gulp! – the Pacific Island states, I’ve really got my work cut out.

So, where next? Well after Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, I’ll be heading into Iran. Now the original plan was to go from there to the Gulf States of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Yemen – taking a boat from Yemen over to Eritrea and back (easy!) then hitching a ride back on the DAL Madagascar from Oman to The Seychelles (finally!).

However…

There is a cruise ship leaving for The Maldives from India in about three weeks time. It will be the last cruise of the season, and taking a cargo ship to/from the Maldives is going to be *breathes in sharply through teeth* tricky to say the least. Now it’s going to be cutting it finer than a sheet of quarks, but if (this is a big IF) I can get my Turkmenistan visa quicker than usual (it usually takes 10-20 days) I might –might- just be able to make it. I’ll need to pick up visas for Pakistan and India while I’m in Iran and thunder down there.

I’ll worry about the Arabian Peninsular, Eritrea and The Seychelles later.

Madness, I know, but this is The Odyssey. Hi!

Here’s a list of the FINAL FIFTY:

1. Tajikistan
2. Turkmenistan
3. Afghanistan
4. Iran
5. Kuwait
6. Bahrain
7. Qatar
8. United Arab Emirates
9. Oman
10. Yemen
11. Eritrea
12. Seychelles
13. India
14. Maldives
15. Sri Lanka
16. Bangladesh
17. Bhutan
18. Nepal
19. Pakistan
20. China
21. Mongolia
22. North Korea
23. South Korea
24. Japan
25. Taiwan
26. Philippines
27. Vietnam
28. Cambodia
29. Thailand
30. Laos
31. Burma
32. Malaysia
33. Singapore
34. Brunei
35. Indonesia
36. East Timor
37. Australia
38. Papua New Guinea
39. Marshall Islands
40. Solomon Islands
41. Micronesia
42. Palau
43. Nauru
44. Tuvalu
45. Fiji
46. Samoa
47. Kiribati
48. Tonga
49. Vanuatu
50. New Zealand

…wish me luck!

Graham Hughes

Graham Hughes is a British adventurer, presenter, filmmaker and author. He is the only person to have travelled to every country in the world without flying. From 2014 to 2017 he lived off-grid on a private island that he won in a game show, before returning to the UK to campaign for a better future for the generations to come.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Pradeep 6 April 2010 Reply

    HI Graham

    This is Pradeep from New Delhi, India. Came across your odyssey only a couple of weeks back. since then following the same. I myself love travelling, especially by land and nothing like crossing a country border on land!!

    Look forward to your entry into India. Feel free to contact for any logistical support you require here. Would love to meet up when you are in New Delhi. Can even offer a couch..

    BR/Pradeep

  2. Katie Parr 6 April 2010 Reply

    Hi Graham,

    I have a friend who lives in Vanuatu if you are in need of any help there – i’m sure that he will be able to help you out in some way. Let me know if you need any help there and i will contact him.

    Katie

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