How a 77 yr previous turned the primary Filipino to journey the world?
On the age of 77, Odette Aquitania Ricasa turned the primary Filipino to have the ability to journey to all 195 nations on the 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 nations wanting attaining her objective. These nations 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 achieved the objective of many vacationers – to journey to each nation on the planet! She arrived in Kurdistan, Iraq, on Thursday, making it the final nation on her checklist.
Total, she has been to 301 nations 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 is predicated in Los Angeles, California and he or she began the journey of touring the world within the yr 1980. She shared that some nations, together with Russia, had very strict guidelines relating to tourism throughout these occasions. Nevertheless, that didn’t cease her from exploring increasingly more nations.
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 good.
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 have 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 nations, are unforgettable. The stated nations aren’t well-liked locations for vacationers, and through her go to, she was alone. However because the saying goes, ‘You will need to 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 yr, they felt like they have been VIPs as there was a number of safety escorting them. However this type of distinctive expertise is what motivates her to journey extra.
In her 4 many years of touring, 80% of these is her touring alone, whereas the remaining 20% is a bunch 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 skilled as she can be a member of the Travelers’ Century Club, A membership that solely permits these individuals who have been to 100 or extra nations!
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.
Other than being a traveler and the primary Filipino to journey the world, she can be an creator of 6 books, an artist, a motivational speaker, and a pianist.
She talked about that having her e book was truly not her thought. It was early 2000, and he or she was in Spain writing her journey experiences in her journal – “With all of the nations and cities I’ve been to, it’s unattainable for me to recollect them, that’s why I write them in my journal.”, non-verbatim assertion of Ms. Ricasa.
Her buddy, who was together with her at the moment, advised her, “Why don’t you write a e book as a substitute?” That assertion gave her the thought to put in writing a journey e book and share her experiences on the highway. Her books are all obtainable on Amazon.
Ms. Odette Aquitania Ricasa’s journey expertise is among the inspiration of many vacationers, not solely Filipinos, however foreigners as effectively.