Jazzin' it in Jakarta

The National Monument in Central Jakarta.

It is a huge city, with a reputation to match. Traffic hell in a dirty concrete wastelands with shabby neighbourhoods in between cannot be anyone's idea of fun. Well, if that was all there was to the metropolis. There is much more.

World's Top 50 Country Passport Stamps

My ten passports.

A journalist recently asked if she could go through my passport stamps. It also triggered me to have a closer look in my ten passports to find my favourite stamps. The intention was to come up with a top 25 list, but I just couldn't do it. Call me awful at prioritizing, but here you have my favourite 50 stamps from the 198 countries of the world. With two bonus ones thrown in. 

What Tourists Prefer to be Called

Marius Arnesen and I in Afghanistan. Crazy was not among the options in the survey. Photo: Asbjørn Havnen.

In July I asked if people who travel prefer to be called a tourist, a traveller or something else. The blog post has been read a couple of thousand times, and the results are now in.

13 Tips on How to Travel Solo Without Being Alone

On my own in Kiribati.

Out of the 198 countries in the world, I have visited almost half alone. No surprise, really, even when contemplating about future trips with very enthusiastic potential travel companions. There will however inevitably be a moment when our exact destination becomes an issue. 

We Visited All England's 48 Counties in 24 Hours

Why not celebrate in the last, and best county? Øystein Djupvik (from left, Øystein Garfors and Gunnar Garfors.
(Disclaimer: Gunnar studied in Kernow (Cornwall) and may be slightly biased.)

Norwegians are known for invading the UK. Or dying while trying. Four Norwegians took aim at visiting all 48 counties in 24 hours. The mission was completed Saturday August 20 at 17:24 London time after 23 hours and 34 minutes of non-stop action.

RecordRun 5: Track Our World Record Attempt

Andreas Munkelien (from left), Gunnar Garfors, Øystein Djupvik and Øystein Garfors
are just about ready to attempt a travel world record. We started in Cumbria. 

Summer is almost over, and it is time to yet again go all-in and try for another travel related world-record this weekend. This year, RecordRun goes to the UK. How many English counties can the four Vikings visit in 24 hours? You can now follow our GPS tracks on the embedded map LIVE.

Where Do You Think You're From?

Where are you from, exactly? Or your ancestors, rather. Most people will assume that they are practically 100% Norwegian, Rwandan or Czech. Likelihood is that you are wrong. As I just discovered.

World's Best Countries 2016

I bet this is another place you would like to visit. I proudly present Samoa in the Pacific Ocean.

I am asked about my favourite country 10 to 20 times every week. And yet, I am unable to give a good answer. First of all, there are way too many indescribably amazing countries out there to pick only one. I could certainly mention top ten, but that would inevitably call for an 11th country, a 12th and so on. Most people who ask about my favourite country also do so for a very selfish reason; They want a recommendation.

So You Are a Traveller, Hey?

Umbrellas are rarely used against rain in Senegal.

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.

The World's Most International Airports

One particular airport is much more international than any other. 

What is the best airport to live nearby if you want to use a hub strategy to travel as many countries as possible? In other words, from which airport can you fly to most countries by scheduled passenger aircraft? It may not be the one that you think.