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Yesanman
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Location: Chungnam
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 Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:50 pm Post subject: How many countries? |
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Ok, I know that on this site there are some serious travellers who have been to a number of countries. I also know that many people, myself included, like to brag about how many countries they've been to.
I was talking about travelling with my students on Friday. I told them how many countries I've been to and they wanted me to write all the countries on the board. I did, but while looking at the list I began to feel that I was being a bit dishonest.
My question is: When you count how many countries you've been to, what qualifies?
1) Changed planes in Heathrow- can I count the UK?
2) In 1988 went to West Germany for a week and then crossed through Checkpoint Charlie to East Germany. Years later went to a unified Germany. So does that count as three countries or one?
3) Went to the USSR and years later went to Russia. That's gotta count as 2, right?
4) Took the train through Belgium. Never got off the train. Count- yes or no?
5)Abu Dhabi and Dubai? Same country or not? Does an Emirate count as a separate country?
I was thinking that perhaps I should only count the countries that I actually stayed over night in but then that leaves out small places like Monaco, Vatican City.
I love telling people I've been to 51 countries but I know that if I was challenged by someone I wouldn't be able to truthfully back them all up.
So what do you think?
When you count how many countries you've been to what do you include? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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I can't answer as it is so subjective. Like you said, what does "been to" mean. I lived in Japan, China, Canada and Korea so I have definitely been there. I went to Thailand for a week and a bit. I consider myself to have been there, but I don't really know a lot about it (I know more about it from a Thai friend and people who lived there than my visit there  ).
I hate people who go somewhere, eat something or do something not to go, eat or do it, but to say they went, ate or did it. These people tend to be quite annoying. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: How many countries? |
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| Yesanman wrote: |
Ok, I know that on this site there are some serious travellers who have been to a number of countries. I also know that many people, myself included, like to brag about how many countries they've been to.
I was talking about travelling with my students on Friday. I told them how many countries I've been to and they wanted me to write all the countries on the board. I did, but while looking at the list I began to feel that I was being a bit dishonest.
My question is: When you count how many countries you've been to, what qualifies?
1) Changed planes in Heathrow- can I count the UK?
2) In 1988 went to West Germany for a week and then crossed through Checkpoint Charlie to East Germany. Years later went to a unified Germany. So does that count as three countries or one?
3) Went to the USSR and years later went to Russia. That's gotta count as 2, right?
4) Took the train through Belgium. Never got off the train. Count- yes or no?
5)Abu Dhabi and Dubai? Same country or not? Does an Emirate count as a separate country?
I was thinking that perhaps I should only count the countries that I actually stayed over night in but then that leaves out small places like Monaco, Vatican City.
I love telling people I've been to 51 countries but I know that if I was challenged by someone I wouldn't be able to truthfully back them all up.
So what do you think?
When you count how many countries you've been to what do you include? |
I consider a country as being visited only if I have "ENTERED" the country through passport control and have the entry/exit stamp or visa from said country in my passport. This usually means spending more than a few hours in the country.
Including business trips (some as short as 1 day in a country) - my count is now up to 74.
I don't consider "passing through" on a plane, train or similar as being in the country for the purpose of my count. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with ttompatz about what going to a country is. I think your Abu Dhabi/Dubai thing is really pulling it. They are in the same country. Maybe if you were talking about how many emirates you have been to, than you could count two, but you are counting countries. |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 1:21 am Post subject: |
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| I take it you're counting South Korea as 1/2 a country then? |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| ajgeddes wrote: |
| I agree with ttompatz about what going to a country is. I think your Abu Dhabi/Dubai thing is really pulling it. They are in the same country. Maybe if you were talking about how many emirates you have been to, then you could count two, but you are counting countries. |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 2:25 am Post subject: |
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| Oh sorry ajgeddes, my post was responding to the OP. |
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Yesanman
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Location: Chungnam
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, Ok. Suitably chastised.
I always felt that maybe I was pushing my count up unfairly but wasn't sure how others counted.
But ttompatz did confirm for me that many of us do keep count.
74? Good on ya!
Guess I fall down to 39 then. Damn, got to get one more to make a nice round number. |
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baldrick
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: Location, Location
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Yesanman you're in Yesan? I'm so, so sorry. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Another issue is a place like Hong Kong. Some people think of it as a seperate entity from China. There is a border between the two, they have different passports and immigration policies. However, Hong Kong is sufficiently controlled by China, especially aside from the economy. What do you think? 2 or 1?
I personally think they are 1 place because they have one military and there is no protests about it. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| ajgeddes wrote: |
| I agree with ttompatz about what going to a country is. I think your Abu Dhabi/Dubai thing is really pulling it. They are in the same country. Maybe if you were talking about how many emirates you have been to, than you could count two, but you are counting countries. |
yeah, that's like saying I've been to 60+ countries- 40 of which were US states. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject: |
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| How about Antartica? Is that a country, or only considered a continent? I haven't been there, but who knows |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| How about Antartica? Is that a country, or only considered a continent? I haven't been there, but who knows |
WELL..... if you consider Australia to be a continent (geographers do) and it counts, AND if you manage to make it to Antartica (are you a geophysicist?) .... I guess you can count is as a special case and count the extra continent even if you don't count it as a country.
Perhaps one day I can say 74 + Antartica. 
As to HongKong and Macau, they were separate colonies and NOT red Chinese when I first visited them so I did count them as 2 (3 with Red China). I have been to both places before and after re-unification with China. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| How about Antartica? Is that a country, or only considered a continent? I haven't been there, but who knows |
WELL..... if you consider Australia to be a continent (geographers do) and it counts, AND if you manage to make it to Antartica (are you a geophysicist?) .... I guess you can count is as a special case and count the extra continent even if you don't count it as a country.
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I heard there is actually a bit of tourism. You can go from the southern island of South America to a Russian outpost. There is even a bar. Actually, there is only a bar, but hey, it's still going to Antartica. You can also go around and look at penguins and stuff This is just a rumour thouhg, I am not sure if it is true, but knowing the Russians... |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| How about Antartica? Is that a country, or only considered a continent? I haven't been there, but who knows |
WELL..... if you consider Australia to be a continent (geographers do) and it counts, AND if you manage to make it to Antartica (are you a geophysicist?) .... I guess you can count is as a special case and count the extra continent even if you don't count it as a country.
Perhaps one day I can say 74 + Antartica.
As to HongKong and Macau, they were separate colonies and NOT red Chinese when I first visited them so I did count them as 2 (3 with Red China). I have been to both places before and after re-unification with China. |
So, what do you think if someone goes to them afterwards? Like if someone was to go now, how many would you count?
I also like how you call it 'Red China'. Makes me feel like I am caught up in the Cold War. |
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