Becoming the First Filipino to Travel the World at Age 77

How a 77 yr aged turned the to start with Filipino to vacation the planet?

At the age of 77, Odette Aquitania Ricasa turned the initial Filipino to be able to vacation to all 195 nations in the globe, 193 of which are identified by the United Nations, though the other 2 are non-users: the Holy sea and the Point out of Palestine.

Just before the pandemic commenced in 2020, she was only 5 countries limited of acquiring her objective. These international locations are Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Iraq.

At last, on the 25th of August 2022, just after staying held for two years simply because of the pandemic, Ms. Ricasa completed the goal of quite a few tourists – to travel to each individual place in the world! She arrived in Kurdistan, Iraq, on Thursday, earning it the past state on her list.

General, she has been to 301 nations and territories, which include islands! Even people islands that are not identified by numerous, which include Robinson Crusoe islands, Lakshadweep islands, Andaman Nicobar islands, and far more!

How It All Started off

Ms. Ricasa is dependent in Los Angeles, California and she commenced the journey of touring the earth in the year 1980. She shared that some countries, such as Russia, had extremely strict procedures relating to tourism all through those people moments. Nevertheless, that did not cease her from exploring much more and extra international locations.

Memorable Vacation Activities

Ms. Ricasa has two passports – the Philippines and the US. She primarily uses her US Passport, but she talked about that in some situations, making use of her Philippines passport is perfect.

One of these instances is likely to Africa. Equally US and Philippines passport holders need a visa in purchase to journey to this continent, but applying her US passport requires far more paperwork than applying her Philippine passport.

When asked what were being some of her unforgettable encounters in her much more than 40 several years of traveling, she mentioned there had been a whole lot, but her take a look at to Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both African international locations, are unforgettable. The stated nations are not well known places for travelers, and in the course of her go to, she was by yourself. But as the stating goes, ‘You ought to do the detail which you believe you are not able to do.’ And she did she conquered Africa and the rest of the earth!

She also stated that when they arrived in Libya just this calendar year, they felt like they had been VIPs as there was a great deal of security escorting them. But this kind of exceptional practical experience is what motivates her to journey extra.

In her 4 many years of traveling, 80% of people is her traveling by itself, while the rest 20% is a group tour (which she joined when she was just a novice in the journey world)—talking about bravery, passion, and enthusiasm!

Much more Achievements

Ms. Ricasa is indeed vacation pro as she is also a member of the Travelers’ Century Club, A club that only makes it possible for those persons who have been to 100 or a lot more international locations!

Furthermore, she’s also an energetic member of the Philippine World wide Explorers journey neighborhood, and she heads the US West Coastline chapter, executing this when traveling.

Aside from staying a traveler and the initially Filipino to travel the earth, she is also an author of 6 guides, an artist, a motivational speaker, and a pianist.

She talked about that owning her e-book was essentially not her plan. It was early 2000, and she was in Spain creating her vacation encounters in her journal – “With all the nations and towns I’ve been to, it is unachievable for me to don’t forget them, that’s why I write them in my journal.”, non-verbatim assertion of Ms. Ricasa.

Her mate, who was with her at that time, advised her, “Why do not you write a book instead?” That assertion gave her the concept to write a travel guide and share her activities on the road. Her textbooks are all offered on Amazon.

Ms. Odette Aquitania Ricasa’s travel practical experience is just one of the inspiration of quite a few vacationers, not only Filipinos, but foreigners as nicely.