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This isn’t my usual blog post, but I found it almost impossible to find out how to apply for a visa to the Republic of Kiribati in the Pacific, so here’s a little assistance. I collected the needed information I received from the British Consul of the Republic of Kiribati, Mr. Michael Walsh after finally managing to track him down. He resides in the village of Llanddewi Rhydderch in Monmoutshire in Wales, an unlikely place for a Consulate. Then again, I suppose Kiribati is an unlikely place for a country, so there you go… People from some 60 countries do not need a visa to Kiribati, but be aware that you are likely to be denied boarding of your plane unless your country is on it and you don’t have a visa. Norway is not on the list. You should apply at least a month before leaving for Kiribati, although there isn’t a rush to go there, so you will probably get it earlier. I had my passport back after two weeks. According to the numbering, I got the second visa of 2013. That means only one visitor got a visa in January. Not a lot? Well, only three countries have fewer tourists than Kiribati. If you want to be one of a very few to visit the country, you should hurry. The entire country may soon disappear due to rising sea levels. The country has purchased land in Fiji as a plan B, in case all citizens must leave. Kiribati is one of the poorest countries in the world, so building dikes to keep the water out is out of the question. Find out about the situation on this website, kiribatiisgone.com. Pretty depressing stuff. Maybe worth going there to see for yourself, spread the word and to boost their economy? It might help a country to survive. It is worth saving. The application form can be found here (pdf). The list, addresses, contact details and general information on how to apply can be found here (pdf). The price list isn’t very clear. A tourist visa costs 40 Australian dollars, or approximately 30 British pounds. There used to be a consulate in Hamburg as well, but this is no longer operational. I do not take responsibility for any updates or errors in any of the information or attached documents. Please check with Mr. Walsh if in doubt.

This post relates to the license funding of Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and is therefore written in Norwegian. Stadig blussar debatten opp. – Kvifor skal eg betale TV-lisens? Eg ser aldri på TV lenger uansett, eg ser berre på nett-tv, seier mange. Isolert sett kan argumentet synast reelt nok. Sjølv om “lisensen” kverulantane refererer til offisielt heiter “kringkastingsavgifta.” Lisensen, eller avgifta, er med andre ord knytt opp til kringkastinga. Men vil kringkastinga seie distribusjonen, altså kringkastinga av innhaldet eller vil det seie selskapet som står bak, NRK, Norges rikskringkasting AS og alt det driv med? NRK har i alle år, det vil seie sidan 1933, drive med kringkasting av radio og frå 1960 også med kringkasting av fjernsyn eller televisjon. Men det er ikkje mogeleg å kringkaste ingenting. Sjølv om det legendariske prøvebiletet ikkje var så langt unna. Ein stor del av kringkastingsavgifta er knytt opp til produksjon eller innkjøp av sjølve innhaldet som kringkastast eller sendast ut som radiosignal til stua di. No er det mogeleg å både sjå og høyre mykje av dette innhaldet også via internett. For NRK sin del via TV-avspelaren tv.nrk.no eller nettradioen radio.nrk.no. Av historiske grunnar er kringkastingsavgifta knytt opp til mottakarane, og då spesifikt fjernsynsapparat, DVD-spelarar og liknande med ein innebygd frekvensmottakar eller tuner som tek imot dei kringkasta signala på riktig frekvens. Men verda endrar seg også innanfor media. Det er TV Norge, Dagbladet og Newsweek einige i. At det per dags dato eksisterer tekniske smotthol som alle og einkvar kan gjere nytte av betyr ikkje at intensjonen bak kringkastingsavgifta har endra seg. Tenk på kva som er NRK sitt oppdrag. Rikskringkastinga har vore, er og skal vere ein kulturbærar som skal nå ut til heile landet, det vere by og bygd, dal og vidde, fjord og hav. Tilbodet er tufta på norsk språk og norsk kultur. Og NRK skal lime nasjonen Noreg saman til kvardags, fest og i sorg. Men ikkje berre frå lokale, regionale og nasjonale perspektiv. Mange NRK-auge følgjer også med på kva som skjer utanfor grensene våre for å formidle bodskap og skape meining. Du betalar ikkje for at signala skal kringkastast til deg. Du betalar for at programma og kanalane skal lagast og kunne konsumerast av deg der og når du sjølv ønskjer. Sjølve transporten kan vere via kringkasting, internett eller kassett frakta per motorsykkel, bil, båt, snøscooter og fly (ikkje vanleg no lenger). At du no kan sjå program i opptak gjer tilbodet betre og meir verd, ikkje verre og gratis. Brukar du smottholet som argument for å kvitte deg med TV-apparatet eller frekvensmottakaren gjer du deg sjølv og oss andre ei bjørneteneste. For det er innhaldet, dei gode programma, dette gjeld. Betalar du ikkje kringkastingsavgifta undergrev du det breie og fantastiske programtilbodet som går ut til så utruleg mange måkgrupper. Det er ikkje utan grunn at NRK dagleg når 89% av alle med eit av dei mange tilboda som kringkastast ut til alle eller som kan hentast via internett. Og så spørs det vel om Stortinget, som legg premissa for kringkastingsavgifta, sit heilt stille i båten om for mange sluttar å betale fordi dei kan, sjølv om dei kanskje ikkje bør. I Sverige har styresmaktene opna opp for å gå vekk frå “radio- og tvavgifta” for å kunne innføre tilsvarande avgift også for nettbrett, mobiltelefonar og datamaskiner. Gunnar Garfors er tilsett i NRK, men leigd ut til Norges mobil-TV AS der han er dagleg leiar. Garfors følgjer óg medieverda nasjonalt og internasjonalt gjennom leiarvervet i radio- og TV-organisasjonen IDAG samt ved deltaking på konferansar og i paneldebattar verda over. Synspunkta over må sjåast i dette perspektivet, dei representerer ikkje NRK sitt syn.

By: Gunnar Garfors. He travelled to 5 continents on June 18 and has been to 190 of the world’s 198 countries. A lot of you out there love to travel to unusual tourist spots, judging by the number of people reading, tweeting and commenting on The 25 Least Visited Countries in the World I recently published. Quite a few comments indicate that some of the countries on that list may be too hard or expensive to get to or too dangerous to go anywhere near. That calls for another bucket list proposal on the 25 countries where ‘no one’ lives and why you should still visit. Maldives narrowly misses the list, being number 26 with eight thousand people ‘too many’ to join it. 25. Iceland. Population: 320,060 Why so few? Would you want to live on an island with fierce and flaming volcanoes, yet so cold it’s called Iceland? The country was also discovered by Norwegian vikings and was the last European country to be settled. Why you may still want to visit The lava based scenery rising from the storms of the Atlantic is fantastic! So is the food. Just leave your whale meat boycotting plans at home. Whale meat is the healthiest meat on the planet and tastes fantastic when prepared as it is supposed to in one of Reykjavik’s gourmet restaurants. You may also try puffin or walrus. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 1,418.000 tourists, 443% of the population! As if the US would have 1,390,639,197 tourists per year. That reads 1 billion, 390 millions 639 thousand and 197 and could have helped settle the US debt, although every tourist would still have to cover 11,826 USD to eliminate it. Some smaller countries have even higher percentages, but they have very small populations (less than 100,000 citizens) and are not surrounded by an ocean. I therefore still consider Iceland’s tourist numbers more impressive. What else What is the worst liquer you can think of? Make it twice as bad, and you have Brennivín, the national Icelandic liquer that is also known as Black Death. Why it was ever invented? To make hákarl, cured and fermented (more commonly referred to as rotten or putrefied) shark edible. You will drown and mask the shark taste with a shot or five with Brennivín in order to regain consciousness. Do also note that the country has so few people that everyone is listed by their first name in the telephone directory. 24. Belize. Population: 312,971 Why so few? Belize has the lowest population density in Central America. Having so few neighbours doesn’t attract many new ones, except for John McAfee. Of course it doesn’t help when the few neighbours there disappear in mysterious ways, either. Why you may still want to visit The Great Blue Hole is one of the world’s top diving spots. It is a so-called submarine sinkhole where you can dive with sharks. It’s over 300 meters wide and 124 meters deep. Go there early to avoid the wors tourist crowds, though. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 250,000 tourists, 80% of the population. What else Do avoid San Pedro unless your ideal holiday involves queues, mass tourism, overpaying for bar food of questionalble quality and generally being ripped off. 23. Barbados. Population: 274,200 Why so few? One third of the population emigrated to Britain and the US the four decades following WWII. A strict family planning program that resulted in a crude birth rate of 17 per 1,000 inhabitants the first half of the eighties didn’t make things much better. Why you may still want to visit The tap water in Barbados is fantastic, do drink a lot of it when there! And if you are British and a little hesitant to leave your united kingdom, rest assured, driving is on the left. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 568,000 tourists, 207% of the population. What else There are a lot of old British pensioners here. They are great fun until they suddenly fall asleep around 21:00. Barbados is being nicknamed The Little Britain of the Caribbean. ‘Computer says no!’ 22. Vanuatu. Population: 258,213 Why so few? Some tribes there used to eat each other. The last recorded act of cannibalism (and related killing) happened as late as in 1969, according to anthropologists. This has been proven to be a bad way of keeping up your population. Why you may still want to visit They have now stopped eating visitors. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 94,000 tourists, 36% of the population. What else Port Vila, the capital, is the base for most tourists. It boasts a number of restaurants, cafés, resorts and a souvenir market. It’s not the place to hang out for long if you’re an individual traveller, although it ought to beat provoking a cannibal to take up his old habit. 21. Samoa. Population: 187,820 Why so few? Most Samoans actually live elsewhere. They may have tired from frequent changes. As late as in 2009 the country decided to switch from driving on the right to the left side of the road, in order to promote closer ties with their main trading partners Australia and New Zealand. There still aren’t any car ferries between the countries, though. And in 2011 they switched sides of the International Date Line, moving from the east side to the west side of it. That meant they went from being one of the last countries going to bed each day, instead having to adapt to waking up before anyone else. I would have moved too. Why you may still want to visit Samoans love song, music and dance and there will be plenty of opportunities to witness musical events. Do not miss the national parks, waterfalls or beaches. A traditional Samoan tattoo, on the other side, is very painful. If pain is not on your bucket list, save that for later. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 127,000 tourists, 68% of the population. What else Beware of the frequent earthquakes and typhoons. Robert Louis Stevenson lived through some of them when he lived there for four years in the 1890s. His nickname was allegedly ‘Tusitala’ which of course means teller of tales. 20. São Tomé and Príncipe. Population: 187,356 Why so few? This island nation in Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic, is very far from anywhere else. It is also the smallest African country, out of 55. It is a poor country that depended on cocoa, a resource that has suffered due to draughts and less than perfect management. Why you may still want to visit The fantastic scenery, the isolated and usually empty beaches and the offshore corals that invite for superb diving. And do not forget Mouth of Hell (Boca do Inferno), a geysir like phenomenon which occurs when seawater enters an underwater cave and then shoots up like fireworks. Claudio Corallo Chocolate factory is also worth a peek, you may be given a tour upon request. Claudio or one of his sons will show you the real chocolate deal. You will never again eat those sugar bars commonly referred to as chocolate and that are too often found in convenience stores around the world. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 8,000 tourists, 4.3% of the population. What else It is the only country in the world where you pay by Dobra. Do remember getting your visa in advance, or you will kindly (at first) be asked to return by the same flight or vessel you arrived by. 19. Saint Lucia. Population: 166,526 Why so few? They may not be many, but they are well educated. The country boasts the highest ratio of Nobel lauretes in relation to the total population of any country in the world. Sir Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott won the Nobel Prizes in Economics and Literature, respectively. Both gentlemen were born on January 23 in 1915 and 1930, repectively. Expect a lot of love-making nine months ahead as the locals may try to copy the feat. Why you may still want to visit Where else can you find a drive-in volcano? Tourists annually, in percentage of population 290,000 tourists, 174% of the population. What else One of the country’s two airports has the best preboarding activity in the world. 18. Kiribati. 104,573 Why so few? The former part of Britain gained independence in 1979 and is now one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. Their top export articles are fish and dried coconut meat (copra). Why you may still want to visit The cuisine is legendary. Seafood goes without saying. But do not miss out on palu sami and pandanus either. The 33 atolls offer divine diving and other sea related activities, but you may want to bring your own gear. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 4,700 tourists, 4.5% of the population. What else Kiribati may actually move soon. Why? If the sea levels rise, there will be very little left of Kiribati in only a few decades. The government has however taken some measures to ensure continued existence. It purchased the 22 square kilometer big Natoavatu Estate on Fiji’s second biggest island in 2012 as a backup plan. Going from 811 square kilometers to 2.7% of that may not sound too attractive, but it beats the alternative. 17. Tonga. Population: 103,981 Why so few? Tonga is considered the 165th safest investment destination in the world, according to the Euromoney Country Risk ratings of 2011. That has presumably contributed to the departure of half of the Tongans who now live in Australia, New Zealand or the US. The remaining citizens are heavily dependant on remittances from those that left. Why you may still want to visit Tonga is lobster heaven, and you do not want to miss out on a traditional Tongan feast. And, as is the case for most Pacific islands, do not rule out diving, boating or fishing. Kite surfing also comes recommended. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 45,000 tourists, 43% of the population. What else Watch out for sharp corals on the beaches. Tonga has direct flights from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. The relative high number of visitors ensures a good range of accommodation, from basic budget beds to luxury resorts. 16. Grenada. Population: 103,328 Why so few? The country only measures 344 square kilometers. If you are not into growing spice or welcoming cruise ship tourists, your work possibilities are limited. Why you may still want to visit Even those entering from cruise ships, tourism’s parallel to the industrialized revolution (effective but disinfected for charm), go there for a reason. The island nation has a pleasant climate thanks to a cooling wind often passing through. Grenada produly boasts a thriving spice market and surprisingly good restaurants. Not to forget the beaches, the scenery or the night clubs that are located 10 kilometers outside St. John’s, the capital. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 112,000 tourists, 108% of the population. What else The horseshoe shaped harbour of St. John’s is very picturesque and offers cafes, bars and souvenir shops. It is on the other side of the hill from the cruise ship port, so go through the little tunnel or climb up and down the steep but charming streets. The latter is recommended, the view is ace. 15. Federated States of Micronesia. Pop: 101,823 Why so few? It’s called Micronesia. Micro means small, everything comes in small numbers. The islands are geographical isolated and come with a poorly developed infrastructure. The economy is based on fishing, farming and some tourism. Why you may still want to visit Micronesia will blow your mind away when it comes to diving and surfing. There is a surfcamp in Pohnpei. Don’t expect a crowd. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 26,000 tourists, 25% of the population. What else On Yap, one of the islands, you can see Rai stones, or “stone money.” These large disks are usually made by calcite, are up to 4 meters diameter and comes with a hole in the middle. There are 6,500 of them, they still come with a value and they are owned by private individuals. Change must be carried in very large pockets. 14. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Pop: 100,892 Why so few? The country has a primarily banana based economy. It’s not a republic though, so save your jokes. Tourism is not increasing rapidly, rather the contrary, so the natural beauty found outside the capital can still be enjoyed in relative peace. Why you may still want to visit The clear water, the views and the odd tourists that do not come by cruise ship. Travel independently, preferrably by your own boat to experience total relaxation. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 74,000 tourists, 73% of the population. What else The airport is only a couple of kilometers from downtown Kingstown, the capital. There you will find quite a few shops and restaurants. Don’t expect a thriving nightlife. 13. Seychelles. Population: 90,945 Why so few? This country is many people’s definition of honeymoon hell. If you can avoid those couples, you probably will. Why you may still want to visit Newlyweds without much imagination might as well jump on the bandwagon. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 194,000 tourists, 213% of the population. What else The further away from the main island you go, the less honeymooners you are likely to run into. When entering, you are likely to be asked for your exact holiday address, so be sure to have booked in advance. You may otherwise find youself calling hotels with custom officers eavesdropping or risk being sent home. 12. Antigua and Barbuda. Population: 86,295 Why so few? St. John’s, the capital, is zimmer frame heaven. A way too big cruise ship terminal, souvenir shop Mecca and a casino virtually on the quay contributes to this. Would you wanna live here? Why you may still want to visit You’ll fit straight in if you have a zimmer frame. If not, do avoid the capital. Outside it you can still find your own little piece of paradise. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 241,000 tourists, 279% of the population. What else Barbuda, the smaller of the islands, is much less touristy. Go there for spotless beaches and a frigate bird colony. V. C. Bird International (ANU), the international airport in Antigua, is a convenient hub for short flights to neighbouring islands. 11. Andorra. Population: 78,115 Why so few? Most people prefer to live in neigbouring Spain or France. Why you may still want to visit It’s duty free heaven, don’t come with a full suitcase. The country includes beautiful mountains that offer splendid possibilities for skiing, hiking and trekking. After all, the little country is in the Pyrenees. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 1,948,000 tourists, 2494% of the population! What else Don’t order seafood in the restaurants. And be aware of limited rum supplies in the bars. 10. Dominica. Population: 71,293 Why so few? Dominica has among the lowest per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of the Eastern Caribbean states. You can legally get a second passport from Dominica, but it will set you back over 100,000 USD, so demand is somewhat limited and doesn’t contribute much towards an increased population. Why you may still want to visit “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” deserves it’s nickname. The magnificent and very varied flora and fauna is much appreciated by the Dominans who protect it all by an extensive natural park system. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 73,000 tourists, 102% of the population. What else Dominica’s original name is Wai’tukubuli which means ‘tall is her body.’ 60% of the needed electricity can be classified as green, as it comes from hydropower. Dominica got it’s name from Christopher Columbus. He spotted it on a Sunday (which is dominica in Latin). 9. Marshall Islands. Population: 55,548 Why so few? The US performed 67 tests of nuclear bombs here between 1946 and 1958. That includes the biggest nuclear test ever performed, codenamed Castle Bravo, a dry fuel thermonuclear hydrogen bomb. The Atomic Energy Commission regarded Marshall Islands “by far the most contaminated place in the world” in 1956. Why you may still want to visit Divers unite. There are over 1,000 different kinds of fish and 250 types of coral around the islands. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 5,000 tourists, 9% of the population. What else You will find a great variety on the menu thanks to an abundant selection of fish and fruits. Marshall Islands used to be called the world’s “fishiest place.” Please ignore any double meanings. 8. Saint Kitts and Nevis. Population: 51,970 Why so few? The 261 square kilometers make this the smallest country in Americas. It is also the smallest when it comes to population. The economy relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. Why you may still want to visit Dive, eat and drink. The selection of restaurants is surprisingly big, given the size of the country. Resorts are scattered around the country. St. Kitts is the biggest island, and it receives most of the tourists, Nevis is however also worth visiting for a more relaxing atmosphere. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 98,000 tourists, 189% of the population. What else University of Medicine and Health Services on St. Kitts claims to offer US standard educations. It’s location certainly attracts students that might otherwise be too tired of school to continue their education. Then again, frequent beach parties can easily contribute to a graduation that is still quite far away. 7. Liechtenstein. Population: 36,476 Why so few? A constitutional monarch is Head of State, and the country is very conservative. Women gained the right to vote on July 1, 1984, as the last country in Europe. Narrowly so, though. Only 51.3% of the voting men were in favour of such revolutionary measures. The country has the second lowest unemployment rate in the world (only Monaco’s is lower), and is probably eager to keep it that way. Why you may still want to visit The country is full of mountains, divided only by the Rhine Valley. Liechtenstein is one of only two double-landlocked countries in the world, meaning you have to travel through at least two countries to get to the sea. The other one is Uzbekistan. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 53,000 tourists, 145% of the population. What else Liechtenstein actually has more registered companies than citizens and has traditionally had somewhat relaxed banking systems. No wonder it has a reputation as a haven for money laundering gangs from Russia, Italy and Colombia. 6. Monaco. Population: 36,371 Why so few? It’s the most densely populated country in the world. Most people aren’t interested in squeezing in. And they probably cannot afford to. The country is bloody expensive and is home to more snobbish people than many ‘normal’ people can take. Why you may still want to visit The strangest Formula 1 race in the world is held her one every year. There is no room for a track, so the cars race through town instead. The harbour is usually full of very expensive yatchs, and the owners will in most cases show off a few brand new cars as well. Add the wealthy population of Monaco’s extensive and expensive car park, and you will see more cool cars here than at an average car show in Detroit. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 295,000 tourists, 811% of the population! What else Don’t forget the gambling. It is never far to cheaper accommodation in France or Italy should you lose your money to better or smarter gamblers than yourself. There are actually budget restaurants and semi-inexpensive hotels in Monaco too. Less fortuned people seem to have a tendency to wanna watch the rich and famous. 5. San Marino. Population: 32,457 Why so few? It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. They may want to remain well placed on that list, so why invite additional citizens? Why you may still want to visit San Marino is the oldest republic in the world. Walking around the small streets is nice, and the three towers on top of the mountain is a must-see. The view over Italy is great from up there. In the souvenir shop in the country you may even get an official stamp in your passport. Against a fee, of course. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 156,000 tourists, 481% of the population! What else The owner of the nicht club will personally drive you home if you fail to leave voluntarily at closing time. Ask nicely, and he might even give you a T-shirt. 4. Palau. Population: 20,770 Why so few? There isn’t all that much to do in Palau when you tire of beaches, fishing and sea related activities. The biggest employer is the government, and the country relies on financial aid from the US. Why you may still want to visit The unique rock islands can be seen throughout Palau and will stand out in your photo collection. Diving is fantastic. The island nation is fairly well connected through flights to Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Guam, Yap, Manila and Hong Kong. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 109,000 tourists, 525% of the population! What else Their presidential election is at the same day as the American one. So feel free to confuse people through jokes about the presidential candidates the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in election years. In 2012 they weren’t called Obama and Romney, but Toribiong and Remengensau. The latter won by 58% of the votes. 3. Tuvalu. Population: 11,264 Why so few? The Pacific island nation is only 26 square kilometers in size and it isn’t going to increase anytime soon. Tuvalu will be the first country to disappear should the ocean level rise. Why you may still want to visit You can relatively easy reach the highest summit there. The geographical top point of the country reaches 4.6 meters above sea level. Note to American readers: 4.6 meters equals 15.1 feet. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 1,100 tourists, 9.7% of the population. What else Male homosexuality is illegal in Tuvalu, so be aware if travelling as a male couple. 2. Nauru. Population: 9,945 Why so few? Over 90% of the population has no work. There used to be one big employer, Nauru Phosphate Corporation. The open phosphate mine which covers most of the 21 kilometer square kilometer big island is however running out of phosphate, and most workers have been laid off. The two hotels, the internet cafe or the handful of restaurants and shops are not set to hire loads of people anytime soon. The only employer of any size left is the government, but everyone can’t be bureaucrats. Luckily, I’d say. Can you imagine the result? Why you may still want to visit Less tourists visit Nauru than Somalia, Afghanistan and Liechtenstein. Being the least visited country in the world appeals to many. The people are very friendly and the island is surrounded by your typical Pacific beach. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 200 tourists, 2% of the population. What else It is the smallest republic in the world. The only airport there doubles as a road which is part of the 19 kilometers stretch going around the island. Do look out for frigatebirds, on the beaches around Nauru. They are caught by fishermen and kept inside big net cages as a status symbol. Catching them is an ancient tradition. They are then tamed through irresistible fresh tuna. The tamed birds are later used to lure more birds to the captors. 1. The Vatican. Population: 793 Why so few? 0.44 square kilometers can only accommodate a few. And don’t expect the Pope and his people to stay in bunk beds to fit in twice as many. Keep in mind that no one in this country share double beds either as marriage is looked upon as slightly overrated and unnecessary. Why you may still want to visit There are no bars there, no nightclubs and hardly any women. You mean that doesn’t appeal to you? There’s always neighbouring Rome (totally surrounding The Vatican) where there are plenty of playful neighbourhoods. Tourists annually, in percentage of population 5,000,000 tourists, 663,910% of the population! The extremelly low number of inhabitants and the immense popularity of the Vatican Museum makes this a truly unique case and I won’t even bother to make the comparison with other countries. See Iceland country number 25, for a more normal, yet still relatively extreme case. What else 793 inhabitants matches that of the Canadian village Doaktown in New Brunswick. Ever heard of it? Well, you are excused. The Pope doesn’t live nor post Twitter messages in Latin from his Ipad there either. Missing any ‘countries?’ Some of you may wonder why I haven’t included Jan Mayen, Niue or Pitcairn. The latter is one of the most isolated settlement in the world in the world with some 50 souls, but it is a British oversea territory. 1,414 people live on Niue which belongs to New Zealand whereas 18 people, primarily scientists, are based on Norwegian Jan Mayen near Greenland. The list is based on 198 countries. 193 UN members, UN observers the Vatican and Palestine plus Kosovo, Western Sahara and Taiwan that are all acknowledged by a fair number of countries. The other end of the list Most people will know that China is number one, followed by India. But which other countries are among the top ten most populated? 1. China, 1,354,040,000 people. 2. India, 1,210,193,422 people. 3. United States, 315,229,000 people. 4. Indonesia, 237,424,363 people. 5. Brazil, 193,946,886 people. 6. Pakistan, 182,082,000 people. 7. Nigeria, 166,629,000 people. 8. Bangladesh, 152,518,015 people. 9. Russia, 143,369,806 people. 10. Japan, 127,460,000 people. I will also mention Mexico which is number 11 with 112,336,538. It is the last country to have more than 100 million inhabitants. The Philippines is number 12, but lacks almost 8 million people to join the 100 million club. You may also want to read The 25 Least Visited Countries in the World and How to visit five continents in one day. Source: Wikipedia.

DAB radios have been more expensive than FM radios, butthe gap is about to narrow. One reason has been the much lower production volume, another reason is the patent license fee on DAB chipsets, commonly referred to as the Philip patent. That patent expires March 18, something that eliminates the fee of €1.50-2.50 (volume dependent) and should make digital radios €3-5 Euros cheaper. The DAB patent has already expired in some countries, but it is now eliminated world-wide. That is good news to both manufacturers and consumers. It should also lead to an uptake in production of DMB/DAB+ capable devices from companies that may not have produced such receivers before. It also lowers the barrier to introduce more mobile phone and tablets with built-in DMB/DAB+. A few Euros may not sound like a lot, but it quickly adds up if your volume is hundreds of thousands or even millions of devices.

Get in touch with Gunnar Garfors in one of the following ways: twitter.com/Garfors facebook.com/GunnarGarfors instagram.com/Garfors linkedin.com/profile/view?id=1142292 phone: +47 40 00 00 22 garfors[@]gmail.com Or invite him to speak at your event anywhere in the world. He has presented at events, seminars and conferences in over 20 countries on 6 continents.

Me, myself and I. Hello and welcome! My name is Gunnar Garfors and I would really like to get you keen or keener on travelling. Why on Earth? Well, I am a globetrotter, and seeing the world has opened my eyes in so many ways that I would like to inspire others to do the same, or at least travel more. I entered the 198th and last country, Cape Verde, on May 8, 2013, as a 37 year-and-344-days-old. That apparantly still make me the youngest person to visit all the countries of the world while working full-time. Or as a hobby traveller. I have encountered people, places and situations you can only dream of – unless you go out there and travel yourself. It may be needless to say, but I am particularly fond of places less travelled. And there are a few of those among the 198 countries out there. I like to say that travelling is in my blood. Sort of, at least. I was inspired to explore the world at age 4, when my dad was working on cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean. My mother lived in  in Naustdal, a small village on the Norwegian West Coast with my mother and my brother. I couldn’t read, so he recorded these amazing tales on audio cassette tapes and sent home in those characteristic and easily recognizable air mail envelopes. My brother and I ran to the mailbox every day to check for a new envelope with new stories inside, but they only arrived twice a month or so. And on those lucky days we sprinted back to our house, inserted the cassette into the cassette player on the kitchen bench and pressed play. Rarely have the eyes of little boys been bigger and bluer. We listened in awe. And I promised myself that I would travel like my dad when I grew up. Now, after having visited every country in the world I realize that I am extremely lucky. Most people on this planet will never even leave their own home country, let alone board an aircraft. And every time I travel, I try to keep this fact in mind. Because it is important. Those of us that are able to travel are in fact very fortunate. We are the ones that can experience and explore foreign cultures, meet and befriend people from other backgrounds on their own turf as well as see, feel, smell and take in the atmospheres of other regions, countries and continents. A lot of others cannot, but that doesn’t mean that they do not want to. And please be humble about it, arrogance might go a long way in the boardroom, but not on the road. My top travel tips is a rather simple one. Smile a lot. It invites friendships and lowers barriers like nothing else. And it is even free. In the end I ended up visiting every country in the world, and wrote a book about it: How I Ran Out of Countries*. The year before I visited 5 countries on 5 continents in just one day, and set a Guinness World Record. And I must admit that setting travel world records intrigued and thrilled me. Two friends and I later popped by 19 countries in 24 hours and 22 US states in the same time. Not even the Norwegian or English counties were safe from restless visitors. Professionally I am President of an international radio and TV organization and Advisor on distribution matters for Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. And semi-professionally I occasionally write about travel for various publications, perhaps most notably The Guardian and Business Insider. I was born in Hammerfest in Norway on May 29, 1975. It was snowing at the time. My dad, Reidar Garfors, is a retired medical doctor while my mom, Ruth Berit Stensletten Garfors, is a retired teacher – who now runs her own food company that deals in 100 % natural ingredients she has picked herself. I have three brothers, three sisters and a half sister. And finally, I grew up in Havøysund, Dublin, Førde and Naustdal. Plus one year as an exchange student in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, three years studying in Falmouth, England and shorter stints in Copenhagen, Taipei and Washington D.C. I hope that you may find some inspiration on this site. Not just when it comes to where to travel, perhaps more importantly on how to travel. It is no secret that I encourage people to travel independently and to not engage in copycat or plagierised tourism. By that I mean to use guidebooks with care, and rather seek your own experiences, on your own or with someone worth sharing with. Do you want to come along for the rides? Please sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. I am looking forward to hear from you and hopefully be able to share travel experiences. Keep travelling. CV. Hire me. Press photos. Wikipedia entry.  In the press.

I entered the 198th and last country, Cape Verde, on May 8, 2013, as a 37 year-and-344-days-old. That apparantly still make me the youngest person to visit all the countries of the world while working full-time. Or as a hobby traveller. I have since completed visiting all 198 countries in the world twice. But how many countries are there, exactly? Why 198 countries? There are many ways of counting the countries of the world. FIFA recons that there are 211 while the UN has 193 members. When I set a goal, he wants it to be logic, explainable and achievable. My goal to visit 198 countries is explained as follows. There are 193 UN member countries  in the world. I count all of them. There are 2 UN observers. I count both the Vatican and Palestine. 3 additional countries are recognized by a fair number (over 10%) of the 195 above. Kosovo, Western Sahara and Taiwan are therefore also counted. That makes the total number 198. Follow me on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook for updates on my travels. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are acknowledged by four UN members (Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru) while Northern Cyprus is acknowledged by one (Turkey). Neither Nagorno-Karabakh nor Transnistria is acknowledged by any UN members (but by each other and by Abkhazia and South Ossetia). Source: Wikipedia. I visited 193 of them the last 10 years, 3 in 1992 and 2 in 2000. Alone to 96 of the 198 countries and with at least one other traveller to the remaining 102. Most countries were with my brother Øystein Garfors (35) and with friends Andreas Munkelien (21) and Asbjørn Havnen (17). All three of them, and another 9 friends and family members, joined the celebratory trip to the last country. What’s a visit? But what constitutes a visit to a country? In my mind, I must have done something there and have a story to tell. It isn’t necessary to stay overnight, but leaving the airport or train/bus station is mandatory. To merely step across the border doesn’t count.

A lot of people talk to me about digital radio. They know I work with media. Some seems to hate it, others are full of appraisal. But following Christmas Eve I have only heard great things. From a lot of people. Why? Because they just got their first DAB+ digital radio as a Christmas present. The official sales statistics are not out yet, but judging by the feedback I have got, a lot of Norwegians have discovered DAB+ radio under their Christmas tree in 2012. There are some reasons that stand out when people tell me about their gifts. And they do so enthusiastically, so please excuse the widespread use of exclamation marks below. 1. – The sound is much clearer! This is of course a debatable claim, as we have seen through repeated discussions following the launch of digital radio in the 90s. It all depends on the bandwidth the broadcaster allocate to each channel, the equipment on the receiving side as well as available signal strength and the space you are listening in. The higher the bandwidth, the better the sound. Keep in mind that most people compare the sound to their old FM radios and that most people listen while doing other things, moving around in a room or two. Most of the negative audio claims about DAB came from audiophiles who had enjoyed optimal listening conditions. They were typically sat between two high-end speakers connected to good receivers in an area with top signal strength and in an acoustically tailored room. Is this how you typically listen to the radio? 2. – I can finally change stations! Some people claim that they didn’t dare to before, because the FM radio was tuned in just right and they didn’t want to risk losing the frequency. With DAB+ you will see the list of all available radio stations which you can easily switch between. 3. – The selection is so much better! This is certainly true outside all major cities. In Naustdal, my home village on the Norwegian West Coast, you will get 5-6 stations via FM and 21 via DAB/DAB+. One of the FM stations is transmitting on FM only, but all modern DAB radios come with FM as well, so you don’t risk losing those odd FM only ones either. In addition, several radio station are digital only and cannot be received via FM. The number of such stations will only increase year on year. All of Norway is not covered via DAB yet, so some areas are still with FM only. NRK P1 covers the country best with 99.5% population coverage. DAB currently covers approximately 84% of the population, but by the end of 2014 99.5% will get at least 12 radio stations via DAB, 90% will get more than 30. Some areas in Norway do not currently have FM at all, but will finally get radio via DAB in early 2013. 4. – Car radio listening has dramatically improved! Several people have told me that they will never again drive with an FM radio switched on after having tried DAB in their cars. The sound appears better (see the first point, and add that the car noises might also contribute) and they don’t repeatedly lose coverage. This is of course only valid on roads with DAB coverage, but more and more roads are being covered, many of which do not currently have FM. Road tunnels are also gradually being covered by the Norwegian Road Authority, as DAB there works as an emergency system too. If an accident happens or a fire breaks out, the tunnel controller can override the radio stations and tell motorists how to get safely out of the tunnel. 5. – Now I can see who sings that song I loved so much! Metadata are being broadcast together with the DAB radio signal. That may at times offer the listener valuable information about artists, song titles or names of presenters, DJs or guests. I could have added to this list myself, but that would’ve been bragging. Please feel free to add your own comments below though. And congratulations with your DAB radio, whether you already got it or soon will. Have an eminent radio 2013!

Digital radio is conquering new countries every year. Most of them (over 40) use digital radio’s de facto standard Eureka 147 (which includes DMB and DAB+). Some of them use DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), which is like the AM of digital radio. It covers vast areas with few transmitters (i.e. India). The United States has, as usual, gone their own way and uses HD Radio, a proprietary solution. Germany has used DAB+ since 2011 and is now covering over 80% of the country. Deutschlandradio in Germany did however also use DRM. Until September 2012 when it was switched off. Why? It cost the broadcaster 12 million Euro per year to run the system, the same as DAB+. The difference? Their DRM capacity was limited to 40kbps, just about enough for one radio station. DAB+ gives them 400kbps, 10 times as much for the same price. And while there are hundreds of receiver models capable of receiving DAB+, there are only a handful capable of receiving DRM. DRM is a good option when you want to cover big areas with few radio stations. DAB+ is great when you want to provide many stations via broadcast radio. So, DAB+ for choice, DRM for reach to remote away places. Then again, in Norway DAB+ will provide both as 99.5 of the population will be covered by the end of 2014. And there aren’t many countries that are more challenging when it comes to building a distribution infrastructure. 765 transmitters are needed to ensure better DAB+ coverage than what is currently the case for P1, the widest reaching radio station on FM. Then again, India and Russia are somewhat bigger than Norway, and DRM may very well be a good solution in such huge countries.

UPDATE March 20, 2014: Name changed. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has joined forces with the BBC and Deutschlandradio to in a better way promote digital radio across Europe. Or to put it in the words of the EBU: ‘The ‘Euro-Chip’ initiative is a marketing project designed to promote an existing set of minimum features and functions that was originally created by WorldDMB, EBU and EICTA, for all new digital radio receivers.’ This is a splendid project which has been presented by EBU Media Director, Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser, acting General Director of the BBC, Tim Davie and Director-General of Deutschlandradio, Willi Steul. But the name of the project defeats the purpose and does nothing by cause confusion and possible hostility from countries outside Europe. I am attending the WorldDMB European Automotive Event in Berlin today with over a hundred other people that are working within the radio or the car industry. I’d say we know, understand and love radio. When the ‘Euro-Chip’ initiative was presented, many attendees reacted with surprise and a number of questions were asked: – When will the new chip be introduced? – Is it a chip that costs only one Euro? – It is not a chip? So it is some new software? – How can we use this? – Who produces this chip? – When will the new chip be ready? – Is it only for use in Europe? A Marketing Project We were told that this is only a marketing initiative to give digital radio a European wide push. The main message is pretty clear and easy, but it is being overshadowed by the name. Or as Tim Davie put it when ‘Euro-Chip’ was introduced last month: “Digital radio across Europe has been plagued by uncertainty. We may be reaching a tipping point, but first we have to bank what is certain about radio’s digital hybrid future and join forces to promote a common vision across Europe.” Such chips that support FM, DAB, DAB+ and DMB are already in production and have been so for years. They ensure the interoperability between all new digital radio devices that are to be sold in Europe and eliminates uncertainty. All such radios will be able to receive radio no matter which way it is broadcast. “This is of critical importance for broadcasters, manufacturers and the public. We must ensure that European consumers are able to buy future-proofed receivers that will provide them with radio services across Europe.” Said Annika Nyberg Frankenhaeuser. Many listeners don’t even know what a chip is or that there is a chip inside radios. And why exclude the rest of the world by insisting on ‘Euro’ in the name? DMB and or DAB+ services are live on air in five continents. There is really nothing new, except that broadcasters across Europe will work together to promote digital radio. Let us do so by using a language that people understand and a language that doesn’t exclude or confuse. Please don’t make it more difficult for us to do this, Annika, Tim and Willi. Scrap the name, not the project. What Google Says Or how about a websearch on ‘Eurochip?’ Eurochip is already the name of no less than two European projects. In the first one, scientists from research institutions ‘study various aspects of the hormonal communication between the gut and the brain.’ In other words, a research project about obesity. Eurochip is in fact an acronym. Sort of. It stands for ‘European Obesity Consortium studing the Hypothalamus and its Interaction with the Periphery.’ The other one is a cancer health indicator project. Eurochip is also a company that has ‘your branch and tree removal needs covered,’ a car chip for BMWs and an Italian bike park. Eurochips, on the other hand, is a network; The European Committee for Children of Imprisoned Parents. Any original ideas for a new name? Anyone? It is not too late to change the name, EBU. Sometimes even marketing people can get slogans and names wrong. And it is never too late to turn around and actually change something that was a less than perfect idea. Now, we will have to use a lot of effort on explaning what the “Euro-Chip” is supposed to be and what it certainly isn’t istead of spending our energy on explaining what it really is and why a concept is called a chip. Update (Nov 27): The EBU seems to have taken the feedback to consideration. They now occasionally refer to the initiative as ‘The Euro-Chip concept.’ A little bit better, but there will be no cigar for creativity or clarity.

A report by independent Dutch research institute TNO compares various networks that may be used to cover a country with digital radio and mobile television. LTE-A (Long Term Evolution Advanced) is the newest buzzword, or buzz acronym rather, to come from mobile network operators and the technology has been included in the comparison. TNO is looking to its own country for a case. In the Netherlands, 16.5 million people share 31,000 square kilometers. An LTE-A network will require 38,500 transmitters on almost 13,000 sites to reach all of them, according to TNO. A DMB/DAB+ network will require 30 transmitters on the same number of sites. The differences in building costs, site rentals and other running expenses are major. The running costs for a LTE-A transmitter is 60,000 USD per year, according to Arqiva back in 2010. Given that those figures still are accurate means running costs of 2.3 billion USD a year. In addition to four times as much in investments. That means that whoever would want to buy such a network covering over 99% of the country would need 4 million paying customers (25% of the population) to each pay 1,150USD a year to break even. And a revenue on top would be nice. The TNO report maintains the need for cost efficient distribution solutions, that the capacity crunch in mobile networks is very real and that broadcasting networks are the most efficient means to distribute live content to a large audience. The report has been commissioned by IDAG and will shortly be available to paying IDAG members. Not among those? Please get in touch with Ron du Croix to buy a license for individual or corporate use. In January 2011 I wrote Why 4G is Hyped which you may also find useful.

The costs of distributing on demand television via the internet are higher than via broadcasting as soon as you pass only 8,000 viewers, according to IHS Screen Digest. To distribute one hour of web tv to 8,000 people will cost 29.58 Euro, or 0.003698 Euro per user hour. The price of an hour of broadcasting is 28.62 Euro, again according to IHS Screen Digest. The difference is that broadcasting can reach an infinite number of people bringing the cost per user hour to virually zero. That means that a programme that is watched by, say 8 million people (as the highest freefall jump last week), will cost 29,580 Euro per hour to distribute via the internet. That is over a 1000 times more than the 28.62 Euro it will cost if it was broadcast. But is 8 million viewers a lot? Not necessarily. Several events have reportedly had around one billion viewers. The cost then, if it were to be distributed via the internet (this is very hypotethically, as the infrastructure wouldn’t at all be able to cope) would then be 3,697,500 Euro per hour, against 28.62 if broadcast. 129,000 times more expensive (given that all the viewers are in one country), in other words. How does this translate to current television figures? IHS has made an estimation for the UK, given that all current TV viewing were to be distributed via the internet (again, very hypothetically). The CDN costs alone would exceed 1.2 billion Euro per year. In the US, videos from Netflix alone is to “blame” for 33% of all internet traffic! And Netflix only provides on demand video, which in the US accounts for 2% of viewing times (98% is on traditional television, live or time shifted). Add YouTube traffic, and the figure increases to 44%. What if you add all live television viewing? You do the maths. And remember that Netflix and YouTube are not alone. HBO, Hulu, The BBC and others also provide online video services or are planning to do so. The internet will not be able to distribute all sorts of radio and television content. It is already struggling with on demand videos. The figures shown above may illustrate why we need both broadcasting and the internet even clearer than other examples. I have provided a range of them in various blog posts the last few years, included posts such as Why the Internet Won’t Solve Everything. Maybe broadcasting isn’t so stupid and old fashioned after all.