How a 77 12 months previous grew to become the primary Filipino to journey the world?
On the age of 77, Odette Aquitania Ricasa grew to become the primary Filipino to have the ability to journey to all 195 international locations on this planet, 193 of that are acknowledged by the United Nations, whereas the opposite 2 are non-members: the Holy sea and the State of Palestine.
Earlier than the pandemic began in 2020, she was solely 5 international locations in need of reaching her aim. These international locations are Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Iraq.
Lastly, on the twenty fifth of August 2022, after being held for 2 years due to the pandemic, Ms. Ricasa completed the aim of many vacationers – to journey to each nation on this planet! She arrived in Kurdistan, Iraq, on Thursday, making it the final nation on her checklist.
General, she has been to 301 international locations and territories, together with islands! Even these islands that aren’t identified by many, together with Robinson Crusoe islands, Lakshadweep islands, Andaman Nicobar islands, and extra!
How It All Began
Ms. Ricasa relies in Los Angeles, California and he or she began the journey of touring the world within the 12 months 1980. She shared that some international locations, together with Russia, had very strict guidelines concerning tourism throughout these instances. Nonetheless, that didn’t cease her from exploring increasingly international locations.
Memorable Journey Experiences
Ms. Ricasa has two passports – the Philippines and the US. She primarily makes use of her US Passport, however she talked about that in some instances, utilizing her Philippines passport is right.
One in every of these instances goes to Africa. Each US and Philippines passport holders want a visa in an effort to journey to this continent, however utilizing her US passport requires extra paperwork than utilizing her Philippine passport.
When requested what had been a few of her unforgettable experiences in her greater than 40 years of touring, she stated there have been rather a lot, however her go to to Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, each African international locations, are unforgettable. The stated international locations will not be standard locations for vacationers, and through her go to, she was alone. However because the saying goes, ‘You could do the factor which you assume you can’t do.’ And he or she did; she conquered Africa and the remainder of the world!
She additionally talked about that once they arrived in Libya simply this 12 months, they felt like they had been VIPs as there was loads of safety escorting them. However this sort of distinctive expertise is what motivates her to journey extra.
In her 4 a long time of touring, 80% of these is her touring alone, whereas the remaining 20% is a gaggle tour (which she joined when she was only a newbie within the journey world)—speaking about bravery, ardour, and enthusiasm!
Extra Achievements
Ms. Ricasa is certainly journey knowledgeable as she can also be a member of the Travelers’ Century Club, A membership that solely permits these individuals who have been to 100 or extra international locations!
Furthermore, she’s additionally an energetic member of the Philippine International Explorers journey group, and he or she heads the US West Coast chapter, doing this whereas touring.
Except for being a traveler and the primary Filipino to journey the world, she can also be an creator of 6 books, an artist, a motivational speaker, and a pianist.
She talked about that having her guide was truly not her concept. It was early 2000, and he or she was in Spain writing her journey experiences in her journal – “With all of the international locations and cities I’ve been to, it’s not possible for me to recollect them, that’s why I write them in my journal.”, non-verbatim assertion of Ms. Ricasa.
Her good friend, who was along with her at the moment, informed her, “Why don’t you write a guide as a substitute?” That assertion gave her the concept to jot down a journey guide and share her experiences on the highway. Her books are all out there on Amazon.
Ms. Odette Aquitania Ricasa’s journey expertise is likely one of the inspiration of many vacationers, not solely Filipinos, however foreigners as effectively.
