Becoming the First Filipino to Travel the World at Age 77

How a 77 year aged grew to become the very first Filipino to journey the planet?

At the age of 77, Odette Aquitania Ricasa grew to become the very first Filipino to be in a position to journey to all 195 nations around the world in the globe, 193 of which are recognized by the United Nations, while the other 2 are non-users: the Holy sea and the Condition of Palestine.

In advance of the pandemic begun in 2020, she was only 5 nations limited of acquiring her purpose. These nations are Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Iraq.

Lastly, on the 25th of August 2022, just after getting held for two many years due to the fact of the pandemic, Ms. Ricasa attained the intention of quite a few tourists – to journey to every single state in the globe! She arrived in Kurdistan, Iraq, on Thursday, making it the very last nation on her list.

Over-all, she has been to 301 nations around the world and territories, including islands! Even people islands that are not recognized by many, like Robinson Crusoe islands, Lakshadweep islands, Andaman Nicobar islands, and much more!

How It All Started out

Ms. Ricasa is centered in Los Angeles, California and she begun the journey of traveling the world in the year 1980. She shared that some countries, which includes Russia, experienced incredibly strict policies relating to tourism throughout all those moments. Nevertheless, that did not stop her from checking out more and extra nations.

Unforgettable Vacation Activities

Ms. Ricasa has two passports – the Philippines and the US. She mainly employs her US Passport, but she outlined that in some instances, making use of her Philippines passport is suitable.

1 of these instances is heading to Africa. The two US and Philippines passport holders require a visa in get to vacation to this continent, but utilizing her US passport necessitates a lot more paperwork than making use of her Philippine passport.

When requested what have been some of her unforgettable experiences in her far more than 40 a long time of traveling, she claimed there were a good deal, but her take a look at to Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the two African countries, are unforgettable. The stated nations around the world are not preferred locations for travelers, and throughout her go to, she was on your own. But as the declaring goes, ‘You must do the issue which you feel you cannot do.’ And she did she conquered Africa and the rest of the globe!

She also described that when they arrived in Libya just this 12 months, they felt like they were being VIPs as there was a ton of protection escorting them. But this form of exclusive working experience is what motivates her to journey more.

In her 4 a long time of traveling, 80% of these is her touring by yourself, although the relaxation 20% is a group tour (which she joined when she was just a novice in the vacation planet)—talking about bravery, enthusiasm, and enthusiasm!

Much more Achievements

Ms. Ricasa is certainly vacation specialist as she is also a member of the Travelers’ Century Club, A club that only enables individuals men and women who have been to 100 or a lot more countries!

Additionally, she’s also an active member of the Philippine World wide Explorers travel local community, and she heads the US West Coast chapter, executing this when touring.

Aside from being a traveler and the to start with Filipino to vacation the globe, she is also an creator of 6 textbooks, an artist, a motivational speaker, and a pianist.

She outlined that possessing her guide was in fact not her idea. It was early 2000, and she was in Spain writing her travel activities in her journal – “With all the countries and metropolitan areas I have been to, it is extremely hard for me to remember them, that is why I write them in my journal.”, non-verbatim assertion of Ms. Ricasa.

Her buddy, who was with her at that time, explained to her, “Why don’t you generate a e-book rather?” That assertion gave her the thought to write a travel book and share her encounters on the road. Her books are all accessible on Amazon.

Ms. Odette Aquitania Ricasa’s vacation knowledge is a single of the inspiration of many vacationers, not only Filipinos, but foreigners as perfectly.