2023 Travel Year in Review
Just like 2022, 2023 was another exciting year of travel for me. I started the year off by flying to Paraguay. In fact, I rang in the New Years on a flight from Zurich to Sao Paolo (from which I connected to Asuncion, Paraguay).
Working remotely, I decided to base myself in Paraguay for the year as I desired to better my Spanish and see what it was like to live outside the USA. Spoiler— I loved it!
March— Lebanon and Syria
My first trip (besides from some day trips outside Asuncion) was to Lebanon and Syria. I attempted to visit Syria with my brother in Summer 2022 and again in the winter of 2022, but my visa was refused on the basis of my US place of birth. Thankfully, in early 2023 I got a text from a guide in Syria that the government was now accepting people born in the US, and shortly thereafter allowed entrance on US passports.
I flew to Beirut, Lebanon via Panama and Istanbul. In Lebanon I had the pleasure of meeting Masha and Rob, two unbelievably experienced road warriors who have visited almost all of the countries on Earth. I had such a pleasure doing a walking tour around Beirut with them and talking travel + points. I also got to meet Natalia who would be joining me on my trip to Syria. She and I enjoyed a beautiful day trip to the Baatara Gorge Waterfall and Tripoli, Lebanon.
Despite being super nervous during the entrance process to Syria (given they didn’t give me the visa twice!), I got the long-awaited stamp into one of the Middle East’s jewels. I had an unbelievable time in the historic centers of Damascus and Aleppo and was blown away by the historic sites of Bosra, Apamea, and the highlight of the trip— Palmyra.
This trip was an eye-opening experience for me: illustrating the resilience of the human spirit. I pray others must not go through what the Syrians endured— and continue to— but I know that the strength of mankind will prevail.
May— Uruguay
While I was based in Paraguay while working the whole year, I decided to “nomad work” for a week in Uruguay in May. While the weather was unideal (that’s what you get for traveling in the southern winter), I had a lovely time walking around the European buildings of old Montevideo. I also had the pleasure of driving up to the middle of the country and sitting on the banks of the Rio Negro in the town of Paso de los Toros.
May— Back to the Empire
While I graduated from school in December, I had the opportunity to attend my real graduation ceremony with my friends in May. I could not pass up the opportunity to have one more moment at Duke as a student and see my friends before they became scattered around the country and world. It was a very emotional experience for me, but having spent a few months away from that environment, I began to fully realize that I am ready for the next chapter.
After a few days back in South America to take care of some business, it was off on the biggest trip of the year.
June— The Great North and Equatorial Africa
My philosophy when figuring out how to visit all of the countries in the world is target the most difficult places when the opportunity presents itself. Some countries are practically impossible to visit for undetermined and lengthy periods every so often. For instance, due to Sudan’s civil war it is essentially impossible to get into the country if you are not a humanitarian, and the DPRK has been closed to tourists for about four years.
Therefore, knowing the country could be closed to people with my background at any point, I knew I had to visit Russia. I had always dreamed of crossing the country by train, but I figured visiting the country’s two best known cities— St. Petersburg and Moscow— first would be a good start. So, in March I sent out my visa application on my second US passport while in the US for a few days after the Syria trip, and then got the passport (with the visa granted!) forwarded to me in Paraguay.
I had an unbelievably pleasant week seeing art, walking old estates, and riding the metro. I will certainly be back to Russia, as the country simply fascinates me. The next trip will definitely have to include some of the famous Arctic and Eastern nature!
Afterwards, I headed to Kyrgyzstan for a trip with my good friend Scott and my parents who decided to join at the last minute. Then, after being likely one of the first people to fly from Osh, Kyrgyzstan to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (via Istanbul and Addis Ababa), I landed in the small African nation. I was there to attend the Most Traveled People summit (despite the name, I certainly am not one, but I was honored to be in the presence of many accomplished travelers).
I got to meet my dear friend Natalia again and spend time with her and others exploring Bioko Island where the capital of Equatorial Guinea is located. Then, we flew to the mainland for the actual conference, which was hosted in the country’s new capital city— Ciudad de la Paz— which is currently under construction. It was an amazing few days connecting with travelers from around the world in the jungle of a country that was historically very difficult to visit due to the restrictive visa-regime. Now that the country has shifted to an e-visa, it should be increasingly open to intrepid travelers.
October– Europe and Yemen
In October I headed to Germany to visit my grandparents and uncle + cousin. During my few weeks there I was able to drive down to Luxembourg to see the capital city and Schengen: the town where the famous border-free zone in Europe was born.
The time in Germany was lovely, and it also served as a stop on the way to Yemen. I have been wanting to visit mainland Yemen for a while, so I was delighted to be able to get the chance to go at the end of October.
I had a lovely time in the wadi (river valley) of the Hadhramaut region among the old mud buildings and daggers. Yemen is an enchanting country facing so much unnecessary hardship, and I hope to return when the other cities are accessible for visitors.
At the end of the year I headed back to Boston for a new opportunity, and now I’m excited for what lies ahead travel-wise in 2024.