Ric, a Boston native, is a seasoned traveler who’s covered nearly 7,000 miles in races and rallies worldwide. He’s a big fan of overland travel, believing it offers a deeper understanding of a place by getting closer to the ground and visiting more of the countryside. Despite never having participated in a major overland rally, Ric’s adventurous spirit has led him to some incredible experiences.
Ric used to work in the financial services industry, but now he spends half the year in Bangkok. He travels and explores for about four months a year, and the rest of the time, he visits the US. He runs a blog called GlobalGaz and a podcast called Counting Countries, where he interviews people who have traveled to every country in the world. Ric hopes to achieve this goal himself one day.
In addition to his blog and podcast, Ric co-leads Bangkok’s Travel Massive and organizes a 2,500-person Meetup.com group. He loves bringing together fellow travel enthusiasts. He’s also published three books, two about road rallies he’s participated in and one photo journal of his stay at Chernobyl. He’s even produced two full-length travel documentaries and keynoted at the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference.
Ric’s journey into a nomadic lifestyle began when he was laid off from his job three times in five years. Each time, he used his severance package to embark on months-long international road trips. On his third trip, he realized he couldn’t return to his former corporate life and decided to make traveling his life. Now, he spends 9-10 months overseas each year and aims to visit 20 new countries this year.
Ric’s goal is to visit every country in the world. So far, he’s been to 110 out of the 193 countries recognized by the UN. His 100th country was Iraq, where he was warmly received by the locals. He’s also visited countries that aren’t recognized by the UN, like Transnistria, which is located between Moldova and Ukraine.
Ric’s friends and family have been supportive of his travels. His father has even joined him on some trips. His friends often seek his travel advice, and some have joined him on his adventures. He’s also made new friends from around the world who are fellow travelers and travel bloggers.
Ric’s advice for new travelers is to start slowly. He suggests starting with Western Europe, then moving on to countries like Thailand, Bulgaria, or Argentina, which have good tourist infrastructure and are very affordable. As you gain more experience, you can venture to more off-the-beaten-path places. He also recommends volunteering and joining adventure rallies to enrich your travel experiences.
Ric got into rally races after seeing a banner in an Armenian café. A rally is a challenging adventure where participants travel from one point to another within certain parameters. Ric’s first rally was the Caucasian Challenge, which covered 17 days, 11 countries, and 7,000 km from Budapest to Yerevan. He’s also participated in the Rickshaw Challenge in India and the Cambo Challenge in Cambodia.
Ric’s biggest lessons from his travels are the importance of perspective and the power of perception. He’s learned to value experiences and relationships more than material possessions, and he’s realized that one’s truth is not the universal truth. His adventures have all stemmed from his desire to break free from the 9-5 routine and explore the world. He hopes his story will inspire others to use their passion and skills to escape the cubicle and see more of the world.
