A few years back, I set out a life-time goal. By the time I die, I would like to have seen half of the countries in the world. I didn’t specify which ones, but I wanted to be able to confidently say that I have seen around half the world.
The Rules
The rules are pretty simple, have to visit the country and stay overnight and have a meal. You must visit something other than transit places – like airports, train stations, etc. For smaller countries (like the San Marino or Andorra, for example), a meal can work.
The biggest rule and question that I’ve had to contend with is: what makes a country? When can you call a visit, a “visit”? For lack of any other guidance, we decided to go with the United Nations list (193 countries) to define what counts as a ‘country’. If you want to create your own list, you *must* first decide on what list to use. Other options could be the Olympic countries (205 countries), the FIFA country (211 countries) list or any other one that you compile. The important thing here is to ensure all people that are counting use the same list. No cheating to inflate your numbers!!!
The other biggest rule we’ve had to contend with is what happens when a country unites, splits or otherwise drops off the list? For example, when Czechoslovakia split up, how do you count it? Uniting is simple – you get to count the combined one!! Splitting – I’ve said you get credit for whichever portion of the country you visited. For example, if you had been to Czechoslovakia prior to the split, you get credit for which ever you actually set foot it, if not both.
The Country List
Generally listed in order of year visited, links are to photo albums.
- United States of America (on day 1!!!)
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Germany
- Austria (Vienna and Salzburg)
- Switzerland
- France
- Denmark
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- Italy (2024 Trip)
- Netherlands
- Belize
- Belguim
- Japan
- Sweden
- Thailand (Krabi, Bangkok)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia (too many to count)
- Singapore
- Czech Republic
- New Zealand (Queenstown and Central Otago)
- Spain (Seville, Alhambra, Seville Cathedral Tour)
- China (Hong Kong)
- Vietnam
- Cambodia (2009 trip, Lost Temples Tour, 2019 trip, Phnom Penh)
- Kenya (Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi)
- Tanzania
- South Africa
- Portugal (Lisbon, Albufiera, Duoro, Porto)
- Iceland
- Indonesia (Bali May 2012, Bali December 2012)
- Malaysia (Langkawi)
- Argentina
- Brazil (Rio, Fortaleza, Amazon Jungle)
- Chile (Valparaíso, Palomar / Santiago)
- Fiji (Tokoriki, Taveuni)
- Vanuatu (Aore Island)
- Namibia (Safari Photos)
- Botswana (Flight over Okavenga Delta, Safari Photos)
- Zimbabwe (Photos)
- Zambia (Photos)
- Mozambique
- Laos (Luang Prabong)
- Samoa
- Colombia
- Russia (Saint Petersburg 1 and 2, Moscow 1 and 2)
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Estonia
- Finland
- United Arab Emirates
- Turkey
- Qatar
- Peru (Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco)
- Bolivia (La Paz, Uyuni)
- Kingdom of Tonga
- Jordan
- Oman
- Rwanda (Magashi, Basate, Nyungwe)
- Democtratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (With the Gorillas Volcano National Park).
- Seychelles
Non-Countries
Non-Countries are those that generally are either protectorates or administrative lands of other UN Nations. For example, the United Kingdom counts for all of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Or, you can think of Puerto Rico for the US, or even Guam.
- Scotland (2024 Trip)
- Wales
- Vatican City
- Turks & Caicos
- French Polynesia (Papeete, Bora Bora and Rangiroa)
Paul Rin Travel Photojournalism 