Today is the culmination of almost two years of preparations, as well as the kick-off of a period of celebration for our project's 10 years of existence. The Best Travelled, the forerunner to NomadMania, officially launched on October 13, 2012 after about 6 months of being available in a pilot phase. Back then our list included 1221 regions, some very different to what we have today and including places like the micro nation Hutt River Principality, which doesn't even exist anymore!
More and more travellers have continued aiming to visit every country in the world and even this year their number is slowly increasing. Let's congratulate our members Jürgen and Ursula Hacker from Germany who just completed the feat and join our UN Masters List.
Like many in the travel world, we too have come a long way, strengthened our methodologies, created a community, and are very happy to be a small part of the world. We obtained a legal form a few years ago as a non-profit, have a small but dedicated international team and continue to welcome all people who love to travel and share the values that make us travellers open, tolerant, adventurous people who want to explore the world.
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In this issue, we will be focusing on changes to our Masterlist that we are implementing as of today. These amendments go in tandem with an extension of our M@P listing, which today expands by 40 items to a total of 1151 regions - of which many are regions that were on our Masterlist until today, but have been deemed far more suitable on the 'quirky' list of places. We will summarise what is happening in the section below, but we urge you to study our dedicated document available on NomadMania to fully understand all the changes.
The amendments are the result of a long period of study of a number of Committees, including our 5-member Executive Committee and our 11-member Circle of Elders which has been composed of some of our eldest members - 'eldest' in terms of being among the first to register 10 years ago rather than having to do with their actual age. Decisions were not taken lightly, but the overall guiding point was to take away from the Masterlist regions which are extremely small, and may be a legacy of other travel listings, and which are truly 'quirky'. With the existence of our parallel M@P list, we believe that we can now serve both the more 'general' traveller who wants to explore the world as much as possible, as well as the dedicated 'extreme' traveller - for whom the M@P truly provides an endless array of worthy extremes!
What you need to do next? Please go to your profiles and especially to the 'new' Masterlist; you will need to do some manual work either through Quick Enter (my regions) or through editing your input trips on Post Trip (my trips) in order to correct your entries. For regions which are now split into two in the masterlist, we have made some assumptions that may be wrong. Example: The US state of Nevada is now split into a North and a South region; we have assumed that if you had It ticked, you probably went to Las Vegas, so your 'tick' is moved there. But we could be wrong! If you only visited the north, you need to correct this assumption manually; and if you have visited both, you need to add the north to your visited regions.
The overall impression might be that the Masterlist has become easier; but we are not sure that 3 additional regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo are anybody's idea of an easy ride! And do note that no regions have been deleted - they have just been reallocated on the M@P list and your 'ticks' should have followed that!
Thanks to all the Committees for their hard work on this project!
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New NomadMania regions and M@Ps |
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You can find all about the updates in our main menu |
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As we already stressed, please go here to read the whole list of changes. You can also read our updated rules on 'what is a region' which are much simplified and with fewer exceptions compared to the first version issued in early 2020.
So, what is happening? Essentially there are three major changes.
1. 28 regions are being moved out of the Masterlist; of these, 18 are going straight into the M@P list exactly in the same form, while the remaining 10 are being devolved into more than one M@P regions; example: Cook Islands north is already in M@P as two regions: Manihiki (and Pehryn) and Pukapuka (and Suwarrow). All the regions being moved to M@P are extremely small, either in absolute terms or as a percentage of the territory of their country.
2. A huge innovation which required many hours of work - M@P regions now get their own pages, just like the regions of the Masterlist. On the M@P regional page, accessible either by clicking the region name or by searching for it, you can see a detailed map of the area in question, which you can zoom in or out of. This is especially important because of the 'quirky' and unknown nature of many of our M@P regions. For now, M@P regions also list the travellers who have visited them; soon enough we will be enabling Series items for these pages as well, even though there will clearly not be all that many to list given the tiny size of some of these places.
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One of our new M@P dedicated pages |
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3. There are 28 new regions entering the Masterlist as a result of deeper splits of existing regions that were assessed as meaningful. The additions are, per continent: Europe (4), Asia (9), Africa (7), Americas (8). All of the additions are in countries where the 'optimal' number of regions based on our calculating tool was higher than the existing NomadMania regions. There are 3 new regions in the United States and also 3 in the Democratic Republic of Congo - we know this may not be the most popular addition, but it does reflect that country's huge size and growing population, as well as its immense cultural diversity.
We ask you all to study the changes and take your time to absorb them, and especially to play about with he M@P maps (99.5% of the regions have been mapped). Due to the Easter holidays, our team may take a little bit longer than usual to respond to questions but as always we will get back to you for whatever isn't clear or if you let us know that something has gone wrong.
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A star of our Community |
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Today we present to you "one of us", our dear colleague and friend - Thomas Buechler. We awarded Thomas with our Best NomadMania Team Member award in the 1st NomadMania awards last November. He certainly earned it with his absolute dedication to his role since 2013 in what has required a lot of work, all completely voluntary.
If you have ever done (or tried to do) a NomadMania verification to put that extra 'stamp' on your travel accomplishments, then you have met Thomas. He is our "Minister of Internal surveillance" and his main work has been the verification process.
With almost 10 years of experience doing this and being one of the biggest travellers himself (he is ranked #15 globally and #1 in Switzerland on NomadMania), he has more than enough qualifications to verify the travels of others.
Thomas has never stopped travelling ever since he moved to the Philippines as a young man in the early 1980s. Now back in his native Switzerland, he still signs up for ambitious adventures and most recently he went to Syria, from where the bottom photos are.
Cheers and beers, Thomas!
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M@P regions that you may not know |
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Our presentation of 'quirky' M@P regions continues with the far south-eastern corner of the autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan, the Ishkosim district. This area borders Afghanistan, which is always visible at a very small distance across the river. At the main urban centre of this area, also named Ishkosim, there is a border crossing to the larger Afghan settlement of the same name (Ishkasim) on the other side; before covid and the Taliban takeover, there was a vibrant market once a week in 'no man's land' - whether that is now still happening is anybody's guess.
The scenery here is fabulous. The small town itself is a typical lacadaisical experience with a pleasantly relaxed vibe and quite a few decently developed guesthouses. Then, there are a number of interesting cultural sights along the way, including imposing Yamchun Fortress. With a decent camera equipped with a strong zoom lens, you will be able to clearly photograph Afghan farmers on the other side...
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The Interview - Thomas Demetz |
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He started with a goal of visiting the whole TCC list until, as he says, he discovered NomadMania. Thomas has left his home in the Dolomites and now resides in Panama, where he finds everything he needs. He doesn't shy away from an adventure while seeking his perfect work-travel balance.
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Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal |
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Thom, please tell us something about yourself. Where do you come from, where do you live now and what do you do?
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I was born in Val Gardena in the Dolomites (Italy – Trentino Alto-Adige). It's a great destination for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. I'm not spending much time there at the moment though. I've set myself up to live and work anywhere and manage all aspects of my life remotely. While this lifestyle has its challenges and I won't pursue it forever, it's a fantastic way to spend a few years exploring the world and looking for global opportunities. I have recently relocated to Panama, which I now consider to be my home base.
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My Place of Birth - Val Gardena, Italy |
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How did you first start travelling?
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After graduating from high school, a friend and I flew to Australia, rented a camper van and travelled all around the country for two months. Broke but not ready to go back yet, I got a job in an outback sawmill for a few months and then embarked on a solo backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. This journey opened my eyes, and when I finally returned home after ten months on the road, I was a changed man. I realized that an ordinary life on the school-work-retirement highway was not for me, and have focused on setting up a lifestyle that allows for frequent travel ever since.
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Ciudad Perdida Trek, Colombia |
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You recently decided to leave your home country, Italy. Why is that? And how did being an Italian influence your travelling so far (in terms of the passport strength, your travel choices, etc.)?
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Panama City is a great fit for my international lifestyle - a modern world hub with everything I need, including a very well-connected airport for easy access to the Americas and the Caribbean. I've already started exploring the surrounding countries! Panama is also very friendly to digital nomads, as it has no minimum-stay requirements and doesn't tax worldwide income.
My Italian passport is solid and has always served me well. Talking about Italian food, football or politics is a great way to break the ice with strangers because so many people are familiar with Italian culture and have an opinion on it.
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Where does your dream come from - why do you want to visit all UN countries?
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Travel communities like NomadMania actually helped shape that goal, because they keep me motivated, appeal to my competitive nature and show me what's possible. Hundreds of people have visited all UN countries - why not me? I simply aspire to see as much of the world as I can. I have an insatiable appetite for knowledge and think that travelling is the best way to increase my understanding of life and the world. Visiting all countries is the dream - I might achieve it or not, but the point is that as I pursue it, I keep growing as a person. The journey is the destination.
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You are currently at the count of 71/329 of TCC territories visited. What made you commit to this travelling list over all others and do you intend to go all the way until you reach 329?
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Before I discovered NomadMania, the best travel list I knew was the one published by the Traveler’s Century Club. Visiting 100/329 countries and territories is required to join the club, which seemed like a big enough challenge when I came out of high school, so I set that goal for myself. I look forward to achieving it!
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World Capital of Yoga - Rishikesh, India |
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When you get to a new country, where do you go before you go anywhere else (except for the obvious, of course)? What is the one thing that you are most interested in when travelling?
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I usually start in a big city. It allows me to ease into a new country or region before venturing into remote areas. I'm very interested in observing and understanding how other people live. Cities, especially the capital, provide a good overview of where a country stands and what its challenges and opportunities are. I often talk about politics with the taxi driver I meet at the airport (or border) to get a first glimpse of the current situation. I've never found a driver without a strong opinion! Once I've settled in, I get ready to venture deeper into the country. I love visiting remote areas and secluded minorities. That is where travel really turns into adventure.
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Jökulsarlon Lagoon, Iceland |
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You recently fully turned to a digital nomad lifestyle. How do you manage your work while travelling and do you find it is difficult or does it give you more motivation to finish your work more efficiently and go explore?
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There’s a time to sacrifice and work hard, and there’s a time to take it easy and recharge the batteries. Earlier this year I exited a business venture that, while very successful, prevented me from travelling for almost two years. Now it's time to get back to exploring for a while. At the moment my work consists mainly in doing research and managing assets and investments, which I can easily do on the road. I thoroughly enjoy being in business though, so there's no question that I will dive into the next project soon enough. In the mean time, I'm working my way through the travel bucket list!
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Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan |
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Please share some special travel stories that have stuck with you.
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I always found that the times when you get in trouble make for the best stories. And I sure have my share of those, as I have an almost manic desire to leave my comfort zone to see what happens. Some highlights include a too-close-for-comfort encounter with the second deadliest snake in the world in Australia, getting into a physical fight for taking pictures in a forbidden place in India, getting lost in the Colombian jungle and nearly losing my backpack while crossing a wild river, and being saved from walking into an ambush by a lovely grandmother in Mozambique. While scary at that moment, these situations teach the best lessons. Adventure begins where your comfort zone ends.
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What is it about travel that gets you excited the most and what keeps you going even when it is tough?
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What makes me feel so alive while on the road is the fact that travel is the opposite of routine - every day is different and presents new situations and challenges. It's impossible to unconsciously drift through the day - you need to be present, adapt to new circumstances and take decisions and chances all the time. I usually travel without a fixed itinerary and schedule. I may know where I want to be in a few weeks or months, but try to keep the day-to-day flexible. That allows me to be spontaneous, take detours and seize opportunities that a tight schedule just won't permit. There's a downside though: anything that has to be booked more than a few weeks in advance is off-limits while sticking to this travel style.
Travelling doesn’t ever get “too tough” for me and I rarely miss home. After a few weeks in remote areas I’m usually glad to get back to a big city though!
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How did your general view of the world change with travelling?
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One of the most important things I learned over the years is that almost anyone in the world could become my friend - if only I got to know them and their story. No matter where you go, people want the same things... To take care of their families, make money, spend time with friends, have fun, get laid, and most importantly: be left in peace by their governments. Different as we may seem on the surface, we are more alike than we think.
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Top of Mt. Huangshan, China |
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We have one question that we ask all of our guests, our signature question: if you could invite 4 people from any era to dinner, who would your guests be and why?
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This is a very challenging question as there are so many people I’d love to meet. But for the sake of this interview, let’s stick to my favorite travellers. First I would invite Rolf Potts, whose highly-recommended book “Vagabonding” initially motivated me to go backpacking and travel off-the-beaten-path. I would also invite Heinrich Harrer, who spent seven years in pre-chinese Tibet and had many other adventures. Next I would invite Alexander the Great, one of the greatest leaders and conquerors of all times. And lastly, I would invite legendary traveler Marco Polo, who left home as a teenager and spent an incredible 24 years in Asia before returning to Italy and telling his stories. Yes, that would certainly make for a very interesting dinner.
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Royal Palace of Mandalay, Myanmar |
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Did you like reading this? |
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We thank Thom for sharing his personal photos with us here at NomadMania.
We only send two emails a month and every time we share new features and NomadMania plans for future. Be the first to find out what's happening next.
Our next 'shorter' issue will be out on May 5th - so that's a long, well-deserved break of 3 weeks for our team!
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