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The Road to 197 with Glen Dalisay

Glenworth Carbonell-Antolín Dalisay at the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago
About Glen Dalisay
Glen Dalisay is a nurse who was inspired by his father to travel the world at a very young age. His dad told him to see the world before ever settling down and gave him a secondhand globe which he studied for hours and wondered what it would be like to be in these foreign lands. Dalisay never thought it would be possible to see every country until he became a travel nurse and decided to do a trip every month. Starting with Europe and the Americas, he then slowly traveled into Asia and the Pacific, and finally to Africa. He now sees himself finishing this goal he never thought was possible. But he won’t stop there. His love for exploring, learning and meeting new people will continue for the rest of his life. You can follow Glen’s journey on Instagram at @drworldwide.

Where and when was your first trip outside your home country? 
Canada when I was 4 years old. I had an aunt living there that we visited. Of course I've been back to Canada several times since then. 

Glen with his father
What is it about traveling that appeals to you the most? 
Learning about the history and culture of the people. Meeting people, experiencing the uniqueness of the country.

What do you carry in your travel bag? 
There are several essentials I bring on every trip. One is anti-diarrheal medication!

When did you consciously start counting countries? 
About 10 years ago. I've always had the wish to see every country but never thought it would be possible until about 10 years ago when I decided to make it a goal.

How many countries and continents have you visited thus far?
6 continents, 193 out of 197 UN countries. 

Glen at the Damascus Marathon in Syria in 2023
Glen, you’ve been to 193 UN countries so far. How many years has it taken you to travel to these countries?
My whole life but mainly the last 10 years.

What is the most inaccessible place you have visited? 
Venezuela is pretty difficult in my case but for many it would be North Korea.

What is the friendliest country you have visited? 
Philippines!!!!!

Which country served you the best meals? 
Japan. The sushi and ramen were amazing plus I got to try the blowfish!

What is your most memorable travel experience? 
Bungee jumping over Victoria Falls in Zambia, running the Damascus Marathon in Syria, getting tattooed by Apo Whang Od (Whang Od is the legendary tattooist from the Kalinga Province in the Philippines. She was on the cover of Vogue magazine in April 2023. She turned 108 years old in February 2025.)

Glen with Whang Od
What was your most hairy travel encounter? 
An elephant charging at our car in Sri Lanka.

Were you ever seriously sick on the road?  How did you cope with it?
Yes, hence the anti-diarrhea medication!

What country or place draws you back often and why? 
Paris. Love the vibes, food, things to do. It's magic!

You have an amazing collection of African masks. How did you manage to bring it all back to the US?
I pack light with extra space so when I'm traveling I can buy them along the way and I have space for them.

What's next on your agenda after you complete your travel goal in August 2025?
I am still doing trips especially for New Year’s and my birthday, I have several planned for the territories like Easter Island, Tibet, Antarctica, etc… I will return to places that I love and also cities that I have not been to. 197 is not the end for me, just a goal completed. I'll continue my passion!

———

The Road to 193 is a series of interviews with world travelers who are on a quest to visit all 193 United Nations recognized sovereign countries*. About 400 travelers from around the world have visited all 193 UN countries, according to NomadMania, a non-profit organization that validates the countries and regions visited by its community of travelers through a rigorous verification process. The goal of visiting all 193 countries is elusive at times and fraught with challenges including trying to get a visa, going to a war torn country, finding passage to a remote island nation, traveling to dangerous locations and when the budget doesn't quite fit the bill. But once conquered, the traveler joins an exclusive club of world travelers who went the distance to reach their final destination. *There are two UN Permanent Observer States, Vatican City and Palestine. Taiwan and Kosovo are recognized by some countries but are not UN recognized states. The addition of these four states brings the total number of countries to 197.

*****

Images provided by Glen Dalisay


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