Or maybe you are a bit of both.

Living on the road.

Living on the road.

Recently I was talking to a friend of mine, who has been to more than 100 countries. We ended up talking how we are very different types of travelers, even if we both love to explore the world. My friend has been all over the world and keep visiting new places. But he always returns to his native Denmark and is married to a danish woman and has a house there. When he grows old he will for sure keep traveling if he has the energy and the money for it. But his base is Denmark where he lives and it always will be. On the other hand I have been living most of my adult life abroad and have mostly worked in other countries and mostly dated women of different nationality than myself. I have no plans of ever settling down in Denmark. But I have actually been to fewer countries than most of my globetrotting friends. Because it’s usually personal relations that takes me to places. So I revisit a lot of countries and do not always go after new destinations. I have been to 73 countries though. It’s not like I am just going to the same 2-3 places only.

 

So what kinda person are you?

 

Eye color and skin color does not matter, as long as you are a world citizen.

Eye color and skin color does not matter, as long as you are a world citizen.

Are you a globetrotter?

The globetrotter loves to explore new peaks.

The globetrotter loves to explore new peaks.

The globetrotter is mostly the person who likes to explore foreign countries. but that person will always have an end to the trip and the trip will often have a certain frame. For the globetrotter it’s mostly about seeing as many countries and places around the world.

But his/her friends and family are back at home and this is where they have their base and their family life. Globetrotters have often seen an amazing amount of sites around the world and can fill out most check lists of “100 places to see before you die”. But the globetrotter tend to be deep rooted in his/her own culture.

Are you a world citizen?

I fly to Istanbul when I need to visit the dentist.

I fly to Istanbul when I need to visit the dentist.

The world citizen is more the kinda person that you can drop out of a plane with a parachute and then he/she will be just fine where they land. A world citizen has often been to fewer places than the globetrotter. But he/she tends to build stronger personal relationships around the world as he/she does not look at nationality, race, religion that much when choosing friends, partners and so on. The world citizen is more looking for like minded people within the community they happen to be in right now. And if you have another world citizen, then it’s not really important where in the world the person is from.

So what kinda person am I?

For me it's all about the people I meet, when I travel.

For me it’s all about the people I meet, when I travel.

I am for sure more of a world citizen than a globetrotter. I have a bit of a globetrotter in me. But I am for sure a lot more of a global citizen and when I chose where to go next. I never chose a place because there is some sight that I want to see there. I do it because there is either some interesting person there that I want to meet or maybe a meeting where I find the attendees interesting. Then when I go there I will also try to see a few sights.

So the globetrotter creeps in a little there. But it’s the personal meetings that comes first. ALWAYS. I have no bucket list of things I have to see before I die and if people ask me what place I want to see the most in the world, then it’s kinda hard for me. Cause I sort of want to see all places around the world. But I will mostly chose a destination because I can combine it with meeting someone interesting there. I have for instance been 16 times to Brazil because I have made some really good like minded friends there and I will go to Mexico for the 7th time next month because I know some super interesting people there. Albania, Malaysia, Vietnam and Turkey are other places that I have been to several times because of personal contacts and there are many other countries I could mention.

If you are a commuter on Lao Airlines, then you are not working 9 to 5.

If you are a commuter on Lao Airlines, then you are not working 9 to 5.

I have been living this lifestyle for 27 years. And there is no way that I will ever go back to Denmark and live a quiet danish life with a danish wife. I am also not the kinda person who get’s all exited when I see a danish flag. Or for that matter something else from Denmark when I am abroad. Not that I have anything against it. But it does not really evoke nationalist feelings in me. I am hopelessly in love with the world and the people who inhabit it. So I will keep being a nomad and a world citizen for as long as I live.

Goofing around with a work college in Cambodia.

Goofing around with a work college in Cambodia.

 

Always looking forward to see what is around the next corner.

Always looking forward to see what is around the next corner.

My friends are from all walks of life.

My friends come from all walks of life.

7 Comments

  1. I think I am a little bit of both. I don’t have a bucket list but I do like to visit places where I have friends around the world. But I do travel to see new places regardless if I know some one there or not.

  2. I may just be a rather well travelled tourist?
    Love to re-connect with people around the Globe, yet try to nail a couple of new countries each year.
    Often only get 8-12 weeks to travel a year, but frequently take a year or more off work.
    Currently working 3 months on a school ship in the south Carribean agaun -just because I can.
    My friends think I’m never home, yet Claus usually makes me feel landlocked.

    #Can’tBeNailedDown;-)

  3. We are globe-trotters. Our roots are firmly planted in Canada but we always make sure to take our kids to visit two new countries each year!

  4. My wife has made me remain a globetrotter. She feels that owning a home is her life goal, a place we must return to after each new trip. I would love to be more of a world citizen but as they say, happy wife happy life!

  5. Since I stopped flying, I don’t belong to either of these categories. I’m glad I grounded myself in Europe, where I can still get around by train and bicycle.

  6. Dewaki Nandan & Manju Agrawal

    We are a globetrotter couple from India and have an aim of visiting 100 countries and still continuing with an aim of TRY BEFORE DIE. ..

  7. Dewaki Nandan & Manju Agrawal

    Trust by the grace of God and good wishes from good people like you, we shall be able to full fill our dream of travelling and becoming the first world couple having such record

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