Professional tourist reveals which destination is his favourite
American Ramblin’ Randy from San Diego reveals his favourite country as he rounds up his final destination, Turkmenistan.
Randy has visited every country in the world after he finally marked off Turkmenistan in 2023, completing his extensive list of 193 nations.
Out of almost 200 countries, you’d imagine picking your favourite is a backbreaking task. However, for Randy, it was a piece of cake.
This country has even inspired the 40-year-old to quit his job and relocate to his dream destination.
Back in 2019, Randy told LOST iN City Guides about his goal to visit every country in the world. At that point, he had visited 120 countries.
He revealed his top 10, which included a variety of diverse countries from Switzerland to Djibouti, while his number one choice was the fifth-largest country in the world.
Randy said: “I always get asked what’s my favourite country, and the answer for me is so easy because well, it’s the only country that I packed up everything, quit my job, left everything behind and moved to,” per the Mirror.
He continued: “I found this city on the coast called Recife. I didn’t even leave the airport, but passing over the shores of Recife, I saw these beautiful, coral, pastel-coloured high-rises right along the beach. It kinda reminded me of Miami Beach.
“So, on my next trip, I visited it. I found an apartment and then I went back home and asked my boss if I could talk to him and told him I was quitting and moving to Brazil, and it was one of the most exciting times of my life.”
Brazil is South America’s largest country, with its imposing 4,500-mile coastline bordering the Atlantic and every other country on the continent apart from Ecuador and Chile.
In 2023, Ramblin’ Randy finally achieved his travel goal, by visiting the last country on his extensive list.
The professional traveller described the moment as quite poignant: “It’s bittersweet. A pin for every country, and this is the last one – Turkmenistan. Here we go,” per ABC 10News San Diego.
Randy dubbed his final country, Turkmenistan as “one of the most mysterious countries on the planet”.
He went on to explain the process of entering this mystifying country: “So, the only way you can visit Turkmenistan is through an approved tour company.”
Recalling his experiences travelling the world, Randy believes that his around-the-world travels have led him to be very accepting of other cultures, as he’s learned to embrace and love the countries he has experienced.
The UN recognises 195 nations, with 193 being UN member states. The remaining two, Vatican City and Palestine hold a non-member observer status.
