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For the first time, a complete list of annual tourism numbers to every country in the world. Or you can read more about the top 20, i.e. the 20 least-visited ones here. #the198leastvisitedcountriesintheworld #tourismnumbersforeverycountry #countrieswithfewesttourists #annualtouristsforallcountries #whichcountryhasmosttourists #whichcountryhasfewesttourists

Travelling should be vastly underestimated by anyone who hasn’t properly done it. No? My bet is then that you didn’t go far enough, that you went too far or maybe you were unlucky, had a bad experience and decided never to give it another go. Or perhaps, just perhaps travelling just isn’t your cup of tea. There are people who don’t like sex too. By Gunnar Garfors, author of “198: How I Ran Out of Countries” – Like his author page on Facebook. I have travelled a bit, and I manically love it. Yeah, I am truly, utterly, totally addicted, yet I would never seek any cure. Why not? It can all be blamed on the 6 Cs of travel. Challenges Travelling provides plenty of challenges to your mind and your understanding of the world through new experiences, new acquaintances and friends, new knowledge, new tastes and new realities. Things are not like home, and home – it turns out – is not the center of the universe. Truly eye-opening to many. If travelling doesn’t humble you I don’t know what will. Perhaps you should stay home, with your superficial arrogance, after all. Creativity Travelling boosts creativity like nothing else. You will have to perform old familiar tasks, but in new environments, as well as a lot of new things you never even had to think about back home. New and unfamiliar situations will force you to solve major and minor operations, often thinking outside the box. You may soon enough get your Master’s Degree in travel, but you will never complete the best education in life. Curiosity Travelling stimulates curiosity. Learning new things, seeing new places, meeting new people and tasting new foods will only want you crave for more. If something this beautiful exists so near to home, what may then appear past the horizon or on the next continent? The more you you travel, the more you will want to see. There is no cure. Connections Nokia might have connected people in the past, but never in such a way or to such an extent as travelling have or will. The people you will encounter on the road will have backgrounds and knowledge you could never dream of, and they will help open your eyes to new cultures, believes and understandings of the world. Their homes, their villages, towns, islands and cities are as important to the world as your own. Just take time to listen to them, they might not have travelled as much as you, but they will have perspectives and knowledge of the world that may blow you away. Just remember that all important real smile when you approach people. It will get you further than any amount of cash. Compromises You think compromise is a bad thing? Compromises done right mean that you get the best knowledge from two worlds, that you get a feeling of working or doing something together and that both or all parties feel proud about the result and have ownership to whatever you have agreed upon. Travelling will help you see things from new angles, with new understandings in the light of new cultures and traditions. Look forward to your own “ah, but I didn’t think of it that way” responses. Costs Yeah, travelling costs money. Not necessarily a lot, but you will in most cases have to sacrifice something else. Determination and self control is needed not to fall at the temptation of picking up those beautiful new arrival sneakers or that designer top instead of booking that trip. But whereas those items will be out of fashion next Thursday, your memories from your travels will last forever. So will the friends you meet. And the impressions you leave on your family and friends back home when telling the stories from your adventures. They might even be inspired. Inspired? Feel free to check out my top travel tips. Or you might even join The Country Challenge or find inspiration in by book “198: How I Ran Out of Countries” with one chapter for every country.

Kvifor ikkje Ofoten når Lofoten er full? Eller uansett. Tilsvar til “Reiseposørene” på NRK Ytring: Det er interessant å få sin eigen kronikk analysert av ein lektor, 30 år sidan eg på 80-talet skreiv skulestilar i byte for bokstavkarakterar frå den legendariske norsklæraren på Naustdal barne- og ungdomsskule. I 2020 er Njaal Johansen kritisk til mine skråblikk på nordmenn på tur i Noreg. Mi reiseerfaring synast uinteressant, då ho ikkje reflekterer folk flest sin måte å reise på, og det er heilt greitt. Sjølv om eg kanskje kan sjå på det å reise frå uvanlege synsvinklar. Johansen gjettar til dømes at eg ikkje har vore i Syden, på trass av at eg både omtalar “området” og har vore i middelhavslanda “minst to ganger”. Eller at eg faktisk kan tenkjast å ekskludere meg sjølv frå “saueflokken” eg omtala i den opphavelege kronikken på NRK Ytring, “Saueflokk på tur“: “For som innehavarar av norske pass har vi vore blant fåtalet i verda som faktisk kunne reise utanlands. Vi har tid, transportmogelegheiter, tilgang på vaksinar, fridom og ikkje minst pengar. Mykje pengar, i alle fall samanlikna med dei som bur på reisemåla.” Ein snittnordmann nyttar nesten dobbelt så mykje som ein snittsvenske på å reise i året. Vi er verst/best i verda. Vi har alle mogelegheiter, men vel å oppsøkje kø når vi først må feriere i eige land. Eg har sjølvsagt ingenting imot dei populære reisemåla eller dei som reiser dit, eg berre undrar meg over at så mange likar seg som sild i tønne. Kva med å eventuelt reise dit grytidleg om morgonen eller utanom sommarsesongen? No let eg til og med vere å nemne korona. Det å stimle saman rundt nokre få turistattraksjonar under ein verdsomspennande pandemi er ikkje nødvendigvis spesielt tilrådeleg (Skjerp dere, feriefolk). Johansen meiner samstundes at eg tilhøyrer ein annan flokk, nemlig “reisende som ikke liker at andre gjør det”. Så eg er altså medlem av ein (ulve)flokk som mislikar den opphavelege saueflokken. I så fall ville eg neppe ha kome med 10-15 konkrete tips til kvar ein kvar noregsturist kan reise for å oppleve utrulege og eksotiske reisemål, utan å måtte stå i kø eller kjempe om å kunne ta premiebilete som vil skilje seg ut frå dei som “saueflokken” tek i Lofoten, Geiranger eller på Preikestolen. Johansen har rett i at eg truleg tilhøyrer ein spesiell type reisande, og eg meiner at folk med fordel kan reise meir for å utvikle seg sjølve. Eg har heller ikkje innvendingar mot at folk slappar av i solsenger eller ønskjer enkle og komfortable reisemål. Men er det ikkje enklare og meir komfortabelt å ikkje stå i kø overalt, betale mindre for overnatting, mat og inngangsbillettar eller køyre i eige tempo og kunne parkere gratis der ein ønskjer? Og som ein bonus kunne oppleve noko anna enn “alle andre”? For ikkje å snakke om at servicen truleg også er betre. Vi snakkar tilbod og etterspørsel. I tillegg har kro-, hotell- eller campingplassvertar utanom toppattraksjonane betre tid til deg som gjest. Hadde ikkje reiselukka vore like stor eller endå større om ein ikkje hadde oppdaga ein stad på eiga hand, i staden for å valfarte rett til dei “obligatoriske” toppturistattraksjonane i Noreg? Dette undrar eg meg over. Det er ingenting gale med enkelt og avslappande, Njaal Johansen, men er det det på Nordkapp, Atlanterhavsvegen eller Kjeragbolten? Med lange køar og blokkerte utsikter? At vi har ferie på same tid er knappast noko orsaking for å klynge saman på få reisemål i løpet av få sommarveker når vi har titusenvis av originale andre norske destinasjonar å velje mellom. Johansen håpar at globetrotterar som meg reiser til fleire skjulte og ukjende stader og kan fortelje “saueflokken” om dei seinare gjennom bøker og på sosiale medium. Noko eg gjer med eit visst hell og som kan lesast om i den siste boka mi “Ingenstad“, sjåast gjennom potensielt inspirerande bilete på instagramprofilen min @garfors eller lyttast til via Noregs største geografi- og reisepodkast “Globusrulett” som eg driv saman med reisejournalist Thorkild Gundersen. I alle kanalar oppfordrar eg folk til å reise til kjende og ukjende stader, i inn- og utland, med eller utan kø. Eg trur likevel at dei fleste av oss, med verdsrekord i turgåing, føretrekk feriar utan trengsel. Lektoren antydar at globetrotterar bør vere glad for “sauane” slik at dei av oss som reiser mykje kan få dei “spennande” reisemåla for oss sjølve. Han gløymer at vi alle er sauar, som er ålreite dyr, og at vi som nordmenn er eksepsjonelt privilegerte når det kjem til det å reise. Eg har dessutan tru på at det å reise fører til ei betre og gjensidig oppfatning av dei du møter enn noko anna metode vi kjenner til. Mellom kulturar, nasjonar, livssyn og individuelle menneske frå ulike bakgrunnar. Truleg vil verda bli ein betre stad dersom fleire reiser, kommuniserer med kvarandre og er opne for tankar og filosofiar ulike sine eigne. For det kan berre føre til meir respekt, nye venskap og mange fleire gjensidige smil. Eg er glad for at Njaal Johansen sin analyse av teksten min viser at sarkasme er ein vanskeleg øving. Og om ein lektor si forståing av kronikken min ikkje tek omsyn til ei rekkje vesentlege poeng, så bør eg kanskje leve i frykt for korleis “saueflokken” også vil misforstå teksten. Eg har stor respekt for at mange er førstegongsreisande i eige land, og at enkelte som er vande med ferdigspikra opplegg kan finne det utfordrande å planleggje alt frå transport via hotell til sjåverdigheiter. Det betyr likevel ikkje at det tilsynelatande mest spektakulære eller det som skårar best på Tripadvisor er det ein bør gå for dersom ein ønskjer ei optimal norsk ferieoppleving. P.S. Johansen undrar seg også over at ein ekstremreisande, som til og med skal ha reist jorda rundt på 56 dagar, kan tenkje på miljøet. Truleg refererer han til flyturane rundt planeten på 56 timar og 56 minutt i 2018. Det var ikkje ei reiseoppleving, det var eit logistikkeksperiment og verdsrekordforsøk som var klimakompensert gjennom planting av fleire tusen tre. Reising forureinar, som alt anna. Eg og andre medlemmar av alle flokkar må redusere våre utslepp innan alle sektorar, ikkje berre utvalde få. #reise #saueflokkmentalitet

I was recently interviewed by There She Goes, a magazine targets young women. It is on travel and fashion. I clearly was not interviewed for the latter. I’m more often suspected of conspiracies against it. But I know a couple of things about travel. You ought to try it. Deciding to travel will have concequences for your social life, though. You will not be able to afford all that tempting stuff. Neither those gadgets from California, Taipei or Seoul, nor the smallest of cars from India, Russia or Italy. Your flat will not be the flashiest or biggest one around. If you even can afford one. Your wardrobe will more likely than not consist of a wide range of strange garments. They may all be very fashionable where they were purchased, but mix them or wear them in the wrong country and you will be the cause of widespread whiplash. Not ever being at home when the party in town takes place will lower your social standing to a depth not yet explored by mankind. You will of course never be able to afford the "right" presents to your potential better half, as any month's salary will be spent on impulse on that bargain flight to Dushanbe. You even purchased it before contemplating why there would be bargain flights to the Tajik capital. And cutting that romantic date short because your plane to a new territory leaves very early in the morning just kills your score rate. Your date will be here when you get back, you think. Or hope. Before you are consequently proved wrong. But when eventually settling down for someone, only a traveller will do. Just think about it. Would you like to hang out with someone who has the right handbag, shoes or pair of jeans? Or rather with someone who can share memories of something amazing, that money cannot buy. That sudden wedding invitation on two hours notice in Afghanistan, the bow and arrow competition in Bhutan or the boat ride down the river in the sunset on the Congo. Would you like to be with someone who needs to plan everything even when going on the smallest trip, only to freak out when nothing goes according to plan? Because whenever you make a plan it will get a name. It will forever be known as plan B. Such is the curse of travelling plans. Or rather be with someone who is calm and laid back about the trip, who knows how to behave when on unknown territory and who realises that everything will work out just fine when you get there? There is no need to stress, you won't get killed. If the train doesn't go today, a bus, taxi or donkey will. And when something breaks, it can be mended. Even in 2017. Just pack that sewing kit. And let's speak about that long needed holiday. Would you like to travel with slaves of guidebooks that take you through a worn out tourist path through all the "must see" sights in town, follow tour guides with little red flags held high or keep visiting the same beach, the same hotel and the same pizzeria for the umptheenth time? Or would you rather like some stimulation, some excitement, some adventure? Travel guides promise to deliver it to you, but do rather the contrary. The travel guide writer passed through a town or an area in a few days or maybe a week. In 2010. To do what? To explore for you. To ruin the pleasure of exploring, to stop you from enjoying the satisfaction of discovering for yourself. Like you did when you were a kid, when you couldn't even read but had to let curiosity help you find out the hard way. Will you really allow them to do so? Has curiosity left the building? Towns change, people change, cultures change, you change. Dare explore. How else will you find the hidden gems, the small secluded restaurants and the new bar in town? Will you share your life with someone who lacks curiosity? Or rather with that certain individual who wants to find out why, who dares talk to locals and who are not afraid of tasting snakes, worms and fried bush crickets? They have Heineken in 192 countries. That still shouldn't stop you from trying Polar, Tusker, Primus or Kubuli. Travellers have learned that arrogance is their worst enemy and that being humble goes a long way. Only by acknowledging that people you meet are your equals can you understand and appreciate the world genuinely and truthfully. Travellers know how to appreciate home, however unimpressive it may be. They have been in dusty towns, on rocky roads and in salty waters. They know why and how to smile because of the little things in life. They know how lucky you are for even being able to travel. And they have seen the world from a different perspective, from an unusual angle. Travellers are a strange breed. They may not immediately come across as Aphrodite or Adonis with their hiking boots and the worn backpack. But I'd say they are worth searching for. People with stories to tell, images to share and problem solving skills usually are. They even kiss better too. Chances are they haven't only kissed in French.

Travel guide books. I hate them. I hate them like garden owners hate smelly little apple stealing brats. Guide books reduce your creativity and destroys impulsiveness. A lot of people use guide books to plan their holidays to death. All I know is that any such plans must, shall and have to be changed. So why make them in the first place? 1. Guide books try to take over your holiday Merely following what some random person has written in a guide book is like plagiating another person’s holiday. It isn’t illegal, but man, how unoriginal. Live your own holiday! 2. You are not everyone What you read in a guide book is hopefully well-meaning advice. Stay in the same room as travel writer X when he visited country Y and found the service amazing and the value of money much better than at home. A lunch in her favourite coffee shop where Wi-Fi is free and the coffee was made according to her taste. Or a trip to the statue park, a visit to the concert hall, a little bit of haggling in the local market or a pint of that must have dark beer in the particular pub by the park. A travel writer try to cover all, or at least many audiences. Everyone will get something. I am not everyone. 3. Guide books make you plan too much before leaving your home When I arrive in a new place I want to do so with an uncorrupted mind. If I start out with a stress creating list of what I have to see, I have lost as a traveler. Not because planning is all bad. But because I base my holiday on what a random contributor to a guide book coincidentally ended up doing before me. Instead of actually going there first to see, smell, taste and get a feel of the place. That is difficult if I have already read about “everything” there is to do there. Which probably means that you have also planned your trip to death. Before meeting a single local person from there or getting a feel of the place. Just imagine how much you will lose out on just because you have “already planned something else” than those locals you ran into invited you to join. 4. Guide books are biased Of course they are, they are written by one person, or at best a few, with their specific interests and preferences. I am not going to claim that anyone have offered goods, services or money in exchange for listings in guide books, but I would be very surprised if that was not the case in a number of books. By the publisher or the individual writer. Or both. 5. Guide books are based on short experiences I mean, what did the travel writer really have time to do and see during the 12, 24 or 72 hours she was in town? There are of course exceptions to this, at least when it comes to big and famous cities, but just think about it; How else can you manage to visit than by severly limiting your time on each destination? Rumours have it that certain travel writers have visited 4 or more towns in one single day. 6. Guide books are old When is your guide book written, again? Seven months ago? Two years ago? In 2006? The restaurant and nightlife scene can totally change in a matter of months in some cities. Then again, perhaps not in Slough. 7. Guide books create queues Admittedly not necessarily true if your destination is Tadjikistan or Chad, but nevertheless. Given that you use a particularly popular guide book, such as Lonely Planet, likelihood is that there are many other tourists there carrying it too. Which means you will end up on the same touristy route that most other readers of it are on. So, not only is there a likelihood for queues, they are not even made up by locals, so they won’t even help tell you if the particular restaurant, museum or pub is a good or popular one among locals either. 8. Guide books hike prices The owners of the bars, cafés and restaurants aren’t stupid. (Well, I know one that is, but that is besides the point.) When they one lovely day notice, by an increased number of foreign visitors, that they have in fact been listed in i.e. Rough Guides, they will naturally hike their prices. Of course! Wouldn’t you have? With brigades of well-off foreigners coming from nowhere into your business? I mean, travellers are often pretty well off, and might not mind or care if prices go up 30%. But locals do, of course. So, you will end up in places which accommodate for foreigners. And of course those trying to hook up with foreigners, trying to get you to buy them drinks. 9. Guide books take you to ghettos of foreigners As shown above. I rather prefer meeting local people, asking them for advice on what to do and what not to. Even though I, as a shy Norwegian, usually need to drink myself into daring entering into such encounters. In the nearest local joint. Of course, you can always innocently just ask someone what the time is or where the nearest coffee shop can be found. Chances are that it will develop into a proper conversation, and kaboom, you have a local friend. Who knows “everything” about the town, village or country you are in. 10. Guide books create hostility towards locals It doesn’t exactly make you seem like a friendly person, sitting on the bus or on a bench with your nose into a guide book. Instead of actually engaging with locals, asking them what you should do. I never use guide books, although I admit that they can be good for getting some basic knowledge about a place, giving background information and act as a safety precaution in your backpack should you find that you are lost or without any idea of what to do. To travel without being bombarded with impressions in advance works best for me. I want to come there with a free and open mind. But to read up on culture, history and political and religious matters is good. That provides you with background info. And might help you avoid making stupid mistakes or insults. Or go to jail. So what do I do? I try, when possible, to ask local people of what to do wherever I am. They know their area, sights, restaurants, cafés and nightlife much better than someone who pass through. There is of course one exception. People usually know nothing about hotels where they live. Why would they? And some people would never even travel without a guide book, and to travel with a guide book certainly beats not travelling at all. Admittedly. How do I know so much about guide books, by the way? Well, I certainly used them in the past. And it did take me a while to actually realize that I was much better off without them. The exception There is of course always an exception that proves the rule. The guide book series Inyourpocket.com is first of all free for download online. But even better, it is written by locals and updated several times a year. Unfortunately it primarily covers European and some Asian cities.

Travel guide books. I hate them. I hate them like garden owners hate smelly little apple stealing brats. Guide books reduce your creativity and destroys impulsiveness. A lot of people use guide books to plan their holidays to death. All I know is that any such plans must, shall and have to be changed. So why make them in the first place? 1. Guide books try to take over your holiday Merely following what some random person has written in a guide book is like plagiating another person’s holiday. It isn’t illegal, but man, how unoriginal. Live your own holiday! 2. You are not everyone What you read in a guide book is hopefully well-meaning advice. Stay in the same room as travel writer X when he visited country Y and found the service amazing and the value of money much better than at home. A lunch in her favourite coffee shop where Wi-Fi is free and the coffee was made according to her taste. Or a trip to the statue park, a visit to the concert hall, a little bit of haggling in the local market or a pint of that must have dark beer in the particular pub by the park. A travel writer try to cover all, or at least many audiences. Everyone will get something. I am not everyone. 3. Guide books make you plan too much before leaving your home When I arrive in a new place I want to do so with an uncorrupted mind. If I start out with a stress creating list of what I have to see, I have lost as a traveler. Not because planning is all bad. But because I base my holiday on what a random contributor to a guide book coincidentally ended up doing before me. Instead of actually going there first to see, smell, taste and get a feel of the place. That is difficult if I have already read about “everything” there is to do there. Which probably means that you have also planned your trip to death. Before meeting a single local person from there or getting a feel of the place. Just imagine how much you will lose out on just because you have “already planned something else” than those locals you ran into invited you to join. 4. Guide books are biased Of course they are, they are written by one person, or at best a few, with their specific interests and preferences. I am not going to claim that anyone have offered goods, services or money in exchange for listings in guide books, but I would be very surprised if that was not the case in a number of books. By the publisher or the individual writer. Or both. 5. Guide books are based on short experiences I mean, what did the travel writer really have time to do and see during the 12, 24 or 72 hours she was in town? There are of course exceptions to this, at least when it comes to big and famous cities, but just think about it; How else can you manage to visit than by severly limiting your time on each destination? Rumours have it that certain travel writers have visited 4 or more towns in one single day. 6. Guide books are old When is your guide book written, again? Seven months ago? Two years ago? In 2006? The restaurant and nightlife scene can totally change in a matter of months in some cities. Then again, perhaps not in Slough. 7. Guide books create queues Admittedly not necessarily true if your destination is Tadjikistan or Chad, but nevertheless. Given that you use a particularly popular guide book, such as Lonely Planet, likelihood is that there are many other tourists there carrying it too. Which means you will end up on the same touristy route that most other readers of it are on. So, not only is there a likelihood for queues, they are not even made up by locals, so they won’t even help tell you if the particular restaurant, museum or pub is a good or popular one among locals either. 8. Guide books hike prices The owners of the bars, cafés and restaurants aren’t stupid. (Well, I know one that is, but that is besides the point.) When they one lovely day notice, by an increased number of foreign visitors, that they have in fact been listed in i.e. Rough Guides, they will naturally hike their prices. Of course! Wouldn’t you have? With brigades of well-off foreigners coming from nowhere into your business? I mean, travellers are often pretty well off, and might not mind or care if prices go up 30%. But locals do, of course. So, you will end up in places which accommodate for foreigners. And of course those trying to hook up with foreigners, trying to get you to buy them drinks. 9. Guide books take you to ghettos of foreigners As shown above. I rather prefer meeting local people, asking them for advice on what to do and what not to. Even though I, as a shy Norwegian, usually need to drink myself into daring entering into such encounters. In the nearest local joint. Of course, you can always innocently just ask someone what the time is or where the nearest coffee shop can be found. Chances are that it will develop into a proper conversation, and kaboom, you have a local friend. Who knows “everything” about the town, village or country you are in. 10. Guide books create hostility towards locals It doesn’t exactly make you seem like a friendly person, sitting on the bus or on a bench with your nose into a guide book. Instead of actually engaging with locals, asking them what you should do. I never use guide books, although I admit that they can be good for getting some basic knowledge about a place, giving background information and act as a safety precaution in your backpack should you find that you are lost or without any idea of what to do. To travel without being bombarded with impressions in advance works best for me. I want to come there with a free and open mind. But to read up on culture, history and political and religious matters is good. That provides you with background info. And might help you avoid making stupid mistakes or insults. Or go to jail. So what do I do? I try, when possible, to ask local people of what to do wherever I am. They know their area, sights, restaurants, cafés and nightlife much better than someone who pass through. There is of course one exception. People usually know nothing about hotels where they live. Why would they? And some people would never even travel without a guide book, and to travel with a guide book certainly beats not travelling at all. Admittedly. How do I know so much about guide books, by the way? Well, I certainly used them in the past. And it did take me a while to actually realize that I was much better off without them. The exception There is of course always an exception that proves the rule. The guide book series Inyourpocket.com is first of all free for download online. But even better, it is written by locals and updated several times a year. Unfortunately it primarily covers European and some Asian cities.

What do you mean you are not impulsive, adventurous, restless or hyperactive? Well, bloody do something about it. Why? Because it is the only real way to travel. I'll give you a few tips. Inspirational ones. I hope. Not because I am a nice guy. Just because I hate seeing miserable people when on the road. Coincidence has it that has only happened nearby resorts (aka. all-inclusive hell holes), beaches that resemble canned sardines (because of sunbathers, not because of fish), packed pools that smell of pooh or so called holiday villages where no one but people from your own and a neighbouring country seem to reside for a week or two (plus some Brits of course, they are in every holiday village known to mankind). Too much planning has killed millions of holidays. Why? Because you can't really plan everything when going somewhere you don't know. Too much planning will be counter productive and make you or your travel companions annoyed. Annoyed about everything that does not go according to plan. "Because whenever you make a plan it will get a name. It will forever be known as plan B. Such is the curse of travelling plans." I once said. And it is true. It doesn't really take much to become an impulsive traveller, to travel on impulse. Just a little creativity. And a few tips that may help boost it. 1. Travel with hand luggage only. It is the only way to be free, flexible and have more fun when on the road. How else can you jump onto that tiny bus to N'Djamena the last minute, be allowed onto a canoe on The Senegal, ride a horse from A to B cia C, D and F in Pategonia or hike through a jungle, forest or park in Guyana, Madagascar or London? That suitcase just won't allow you to do it. Not even if it comes with wheels. More here. 2. Go to the airport without a ticket. Buy one when there. It won't necessarily cost the world either. After all, no one does that. So, you may very well be given a fair deal. My good friend Arve Grønnevik perfected this tactics together with a friend. He once travelled to the airport, sporting nothing but hand luggage, of course. "May I have a ticket to abroad?" He politely asked at the ticket counter. The lady behind the desk spent a minute or so to comprehend. I mean, how hard can it be? Dozens or hundreds of flights go there every day, from most airports of any size. They ended up in Berlin. You know, that city abroad. 3. Subscribe to airline newsletters. Go to the first destination that sounds like a real deal. It is of course too easy to claim that there are no real deals. Of course, if you haven't picked a city, you will have to go to the 11th one. It is the law! Cheap ticket tips here. 4. Pick a letter. Go to the first destination you can think of that starts with that letter. Again, you will have to book tickets instantly. If on a budget, limit your choices to a continent, a country or even a region or city. 5. Visit a website or watch the news. Go to one of the countries mentioned within ten minutes. Then again, you may want to skip the top stories. Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia are often included in those. Of course there is almost always a safe spot in any country. 6. Hang a map on a wall. Throw a dart. Go to the country/city neareast your target. This also makes a great present. Give a map and three darts to your better half. Promise to take him/her to wherever the dart hits. If on a budget, mark certain cities and go to the one nearest to where the dart penetrates the map. 7. When driving, pick a number, i.e. 14. Take off on the 14th exit. Got to the next town. Stay the night. So easy, yet so difficult. Do you dare? Impulsiveness on a shoestring. 8. Go somewhere without a guidebook. You know, people who live there will have a much better idea about what is hot and what is not. That travel writer was there a year or two ago, spending a day or three. He or she missed many spots, and certainly does not know what has changed to better or worse. Be your own travel writer and ask around. You can do that to people on the street, via Facebook, Twitter, Couchsurfing or any other website that has the ability of connecting people. 9. Start a travel club. Not a normal one, of course. You should not be more than 4-5 people. Decide on dates, it can be a week or a weekend. Play rock, paper, scissors. The winner will be the first organizer. Everyone deposits an agreed amount into a joint account, to the organizers Pay Pal, etc. He or she will decide on where to go, how to travel, where to stay and what to do there. You will know nothing about the destination or what will happen. The day before the big day you will be told about the point of departure, when you have to be there and what you need to pack (i.e. warm clothes, swim gear, etc.). Show up and enjoy the surprise. No guidebooks, no maps, no nothing. Just an open mind and trust in your friend. 10. Order a minibus taxi with some friends. Pay for 2 hours. See what happens. This is primarlily for local travels. Have the driver take orders as normal and pick up random passengers. Tell them the ride is for free, and start a conversation. If you get along, you might be invited to get off at their destination. If not, repeat the excercise. This may work best on party nights, and possibly with a few drinks. 11. Travel in an offbeat manner. Would you expect to drive? Then bike. Would you expect to fly? Then board a cargo vessel. Would you expect to go by boat? Then swim. You get the drill. There are many other ways of travelling on impulse, of course. The clue is about doing random stuff, about letting the wind blow you somewhere. About feeling a new place. About giving it the possibility to surprise you, enlighten you, pleasure you. About seeing what happens and where it takes you. You only live once, don't let planning deteriorate the relatively few experiences you will be blessed with. Impulsiveness is a skill, but it can be learnt. The tips above may help you enjoy and appreciate the adventures of impulsiveness. I will be happy to hear your stories

The globe is big enough for everyone to find unique travel experiences. Don’t be a copycat. You know the feeling. When you see a spectacular photo from one of the countless jaw-dropping sceneries on Earth. Or when you read about someone who had a hell of a time in that particular city you always dreamt about visiting. Chances are that you will inhale the inspiration and start planning your trip. And you should. But seek your own experiences, your own memories. Sheep never were particularly innovative. Don’t be one. People don’t like copycats, anyway. There are a few things I invite you to think through. 1. Keep an open mind. This goes withot saying, but what I mean is that you don’t plan your trip only based on what you read in guidebooks and online, what you hear from your neighbour that has visited before or what that so-called travel expert said about the place on TV. Only doing what they tell you to is not keeping an open mind. They may have been there, but perhaps only for a short time or maybe it was 3 or 5 years ago. They may also have lived there for a year or two and have just returned. Regardless, what they recommend is based on their experiences, their memories, their interests and their ideas of fun. Why would you plagerise their stories? Live and write your own. Don’t be a copycat, a sheep or merely a follower. There will of course always be exceptions such as a famous monument, a world famous museum or the best restaurant in the country that you must pay a visit to, but as a general rule I always seek my own experiences. By talking to locals, travellers I meet there or by being impulsive enough to walk down a random road, jump on an arbitrary bus or say hi to that peculiar  person in the park. 2. Don’t travel for bragging rights. Travelling is the new status symbol to more and more people, and social media helps us to show it off more easily. It seems like it is all about going somewhere fancier than your friend or foe, at least to a better restaurant or a flashier hotel. But if the only reason you travel is for the show off photographs on Instagram or maximizing your Facebook likes, do you even take pleasure in the travelling itself? Pleasures such as exploring new places, feeling the different and unusual atmospheres, tasting flavours unknown to your tongue and meeting people with background totally different to yourself. “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”, a wise person once said. But not if travelling isn’t about exploring the world and yourself but about mimicking the photographs of others in front of pyramids, beaches or hotels. I would claim that you are only travelling for status. If that is the case, why don’t you just be true to yourself and get some designer outfits or a couple of sportscars instead? Strange coming from me, hey? With six travel world records to my name, visits to every country, much used SoMe accounts and published books and articles. But believe it or not, I do not even have a bucketlist. I am however very impulsive and I find pleasure in strange, weird and crazy ideas that suddenly come to mind. Some of which led to world record attempts and what not. 3. Use guidebooks with care. Guidebooks can be excellent in planning your trip, but chances are that they are totally out of date, inaccurate or written by a ballet-dancing, fly-fishing, former pro-wrestling, new age fanatic that you may have nothing in common with. Use guidebooks for what they are, one source of information. And never assume that everything in them is accurate, remotely correct or what you agree with. Finally, be aware of the insult factor when reading a guidebook about the country you’re in. Those around you may wonder why the hell you don’t just ask them instead, or assume that you are an ignorant and arrogant traveller for not reaching out. I have also written about why guidebooks are bad for you, if you need more excuses not to buy another guidebook in your life. 4. Don’t plan your holiday to death. Guidebooks sort of also bring me to the last point. Don’t overplan your holiday, or it will seize to be a holiday, with schedules much more feirce than what your much hated boss could ever impose on you. I mean, how can you base all your planning on what you read or hear when you haven’t even been in that city, region or country before? Chances are great that it will be very different to what you expected the minute you walk off that aircraft, train or boat. But by then everything has been planned, restaurants booked and all the tours set up and paid for. With no time left for being impulsive, listening to advice from locals or just walking down that unknown path. And who knows, it might very well lead to that pristine beach that no one knows about. As they don’t want to spoil it all by having it listed in a guidebook. #copycattravelling #experiences #guidebooks #plagerisedtrips

Some people often on the road hate to be called tourists. “No, I am a traveller” is a typical response. First of all, what is up with the need of being part of a particular category? And does it really matter what other people call you? I would still like to know what you see yourself as. I hope that you are happy to contribute. First, let’s look at the definition of tourist. one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture* Not too bad, really. Of course, the term may have changed quite a bit the last few decades. From when travelling was exclusive to the very fortunate few, through cruise ship holidays that opened up the door to more people to today with low fare airlines crisscrossing most continents. To be a tourist in the 70s, not to mention back in the 30s, was seen as very exotic and quite something else than what is now the case. And tourist class on airplanes is no longer all what it is cracked up to be. To get a little bit of an idea how travel and tourism ads have changed throughout the centuries (yeah, from as early as the 1850s), check out the often hilarious ads on VintageAdBrowser.com. So why may some people prefer to be called a traveller (or traveler, if you are US based)? The dictionary definition doesn’t give a clear answer. one that goes on a trip or journey* Not too different to a tourist. Although while you can clearly be a professional traveller, being professional tourist comes across as more problematic. Unless you work with culture, if the definition of Merriam-Webster is accurate. Or does it even matter? I don’t know, but I have often overheard people on the road who resent being called a tourist. Let us anyhow screw the definitions for a while. What do you call yourself, with regards to travelling? The “titles” are listed alphabetically. Create your own user feedback survey

My third book features 81 spectacular places beyond the beaten track in Norway. It was published on April 15 2021 by Skald and is called Bortom allfarveg (Beyond the Beaten Track). For foreign language versions, do get in touch. Boka til din neste noregsferie Gunnar Garfors er kjent for å ha besøkt alle land i verda. No har globetrottaren pakka sekken for å oppdage eige land og spora opp dei mest unike og undervurderte stadene i Norge. Stader som ikkje nødvendigvis ligg så veldig langt utanfor allfarveg, men der mange av oss suser rett forbi på veg til meir populære reisemål. Interessa for å reise i eige land har eksplodert det siste året, men mange av oss reiser først og fremst til dei mest kjende attraksjonane. Men treng vi det eigentleg? I boka viser Garfors fram orginale reisetips i heile landet. Dette er ikkje ein tradisjonell reiseguide, men ei bok til inspirasjon for dei som er leie av å reise i kø og oppleve akkurat det same som naboen. Garfors vil opne auga våre for vårt eige vesle land: Større enn til dømes Tyskland, Japan og Filippinane; med 104 byar, 356 kommunar, nesten 1 800 fjordar, over 13 000 fjelltoppar i tillegg til 320 000 øyar og skjær. For ikkje å snakke om verdas tredje lengste kystline. Bla i boka her. #BeyondtheBeatenTrack #book #Bortomallfarveg #GunnarGarfors

Turkmenistan has not reported any cases of the coronavirus. There are now only 12 countries without any coronavirus cases, 10 of them in Oceania. Most of them are among the 20 least-visited countries in the world. One case reported on May 13 took Lesotho off the list as the last country in Africa. Tajikistan, Yemen and Comoros have also just recently reported their first cases. The virus is also believed to have reached North Korea and Turkmenistan, the only two Asian countries on the list, but no cases of COVID-19 have officially been reported. Oceania (10 countries): Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu; Asia (2): North Korea, Turkmenistan. Sources: Worldometers and Wikipedia on Kosovo, Turkmenistan and North Korea. Updated May 17, 00:25 CET. #coronavirus #coronavirusfreecountries #COVID19freecountries

The coronavirus pandemic has abruptly virtually closed down the travel industry. Globetrotters, backpackers, all-inclusive lovers, sun seekers, weekend trippers and luxury escape indulgers are all despairing these days. We can no longer travel! Our priveleges have been taken away. There should be an amendment protecting our right to travel. Or perhaps what is effectively a travel ban is long overdue. Because we are all essentially spoiled brats. Those of us that can, I mean could, actually travel internationally are all a part of a minority. The group of people has been growing fast the last few years thanks to the increasing availability of low-cost airline tickets, but we are still talking about the lucky few. Howcome? Because each of us that make up this advantaged minority has: Money to spare. You will actually need to afford maintaining a life at home while also being able to spend extra to actually go abroad, with all those costs that actually add up on a trip. This is typically the biggest obstacle to most people in the world. They will never make enough money to actually be able to travel. That certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t want to. Credit or debit cards. This isn’t essential, but it will in most countries make travel safer and more convenient. Cash may be king or queen, but not necessarily on the road (although in some countries, you will indeed need cash, preferrably USD or EUR). A lot of people will never be eligible for a credit card. Internet access. Yes, you may still call or visit a travel agency, but you can then only dream about getting the lowest prices. A lack of internet access is prohibitive for travellers. Time. There may be many reasons why people cannot leave home for days or weeks. You need to have enough days off from work and be able to actually let property unwatched and animals, kids or family at home or with someone you trust (unless they come along). A passport. This doesn’t only include being able to afford a passport, but actually having the opportunity to get one. Which means the need to live in a democracy or a semi-democracy, alternatively being very well-connected in a non-democracy. You will also need a passport to get a visa, which is mandatory in many countries (depending on your nationality). Not everyone has passports. 90 % of Norwegians do, but only 58 % of US citizens and a mere 48 % of French. In Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America the number is presumably much lower, despite a lack of statistics. In China less than 10 % of the population have passports, whereas only 8 % of Indian citizens hold one. Do note that people can usually travel to some neighbouring countries even without a passport. Freedom. A passport on its own isn’t necessarily enough. If your government is supressive or at war, you may not be able to leave even if you hold a valid passport. Vaccinations. Depending on where you are from and where you want to go, having certain vaccination can be smart, essential or even mandatory. Without proof of i.e. a yellow fever vaccination there are many countries that won’t allow you to enter, or even board your mode of transport. Anti-waxxers clearly cannot travel much. Which is yet another reason not to be an anti-waxxer. They’ll lose out on the 6 Cs of travel too. Experience. As with anything else, practice makes perfect. With experience you are likely to save money and make smarter choices with regards to where you go at whoch times and how you behave ther.e Then again, everyone will have to start somewhere so this isn’t a prohibitive obstacle, the lack of experience is more likely being used as an excuse not to travel. Which means that confidence may be a better term. Willingness. Some people have no desire to go anywhere outside their village, island, state, county or country. And no one is going to force you travel. But in every country in the world I have met people who would like to travel more. Their barrier certainly isn’t willingness but rather at least one of the above. A plan. Very few of us will travel without a plan, especially if you have never travelled before. And then making a plan can be quite an obstacle. Would you go to Yemen on a one-way ticket, and see what happens? I did. And I actually prefer to just go somewhere and see what happens. Letting impulsiveness decide is rarely wrong and comes highly recommended. Why not try it once? Chances are you’ll do so again. Don’t get me wrong. To travel should be vastly underestimated by anyone who hasn’t properly done it. I have travelled a fair share and I manically love it. You can even say that I am truly, utterly, totally addicted, yet I’d never seek any cure. Because the most important thing to me about travel is to challenge and expand my own mind. Not to travel would be an insult to my intellect, my curiosity, my creativity and my understanding of other people, cultures, mindsets, backgrounds and faiths. And if travel doesn’t humble you, nothing will. Perhaps have we taken it for granted. Maybe have we chosen to ignore the fact that we are among the lucky few that can explore the world. That doesn’t mean that the rest don’t also want to travel. Now none of us can travel, we are all equal in that respect. Those of us with a few miles on the clock have realized its importance to us and how it helps us understand and connect with other people. Also with those that have never left the vicinity of their hometown. How about inviting a non-traveller from a faraway land on a leg of your next trip? All expenses paid. The coronavirus has reminded us of the value of travel and how much we miss not being able to roam. Possibly has the pandemic also made us ponder over the inequalities in life. They are countless. And should include the possibility to travel. It’s a privelege, not a birthright. All you need is a…backpack. Photo by Haakon Hoseth. #corona #pandemic #privelegedtravel