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Comment by jasonkester | Hacker News Reader

FYI, 5 years is not enough time to do 50 countries. It took me 10 years of traveling 6-9 months a year to break 50, and I'd say more than half of them are places I don't think I spent enough time in.

I'd recommend taking that half of the plan out, and just shorten it to "travel for 5 years or so". Chances are you'll find at least one country that traps you for an entire year. Probably best not to set yourself up to feel bad about it.

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Thanks. I have a set of "life goals" and none of them are "rigid", think if it as a "baseline" goal so I know what I am aiming for. If things work out the way I planned, it nice; if I visit just 20 countries in 5 years its still 20 more countries that have not been to before. I am fine with it.

On the other hand, I've "done" seven countries in two weeks. (In Europe, of course.) It's easy to get into a travelling pace where one night is enough to feel like you've seen a city... unless it's a really big city like Rome or Paris in which case you need two.

I'm living in Europe and just have been to the USA for the first time. LA, SF, Vegas - 4 days each plus 6 days NYC (start and end point). I'm not sure you can do even the typical tourist stuff in one day where you don't have to think about where you go.

and it took me, well I'm not even sure, but probably 4-5 years of actual travel time to hit about 70 countries, and all up 12 years or more living abroad. I didn't see enough of _any_ of those countries. I agree it's not about hitting a number, but about enjoying the meandering, and allowing yourself to be trapped for a time in places that please.

I am since seven years in one country,China, and the rest of my life will not be enough to know it. I don't think you can say you know a country if you didn't speak to its citizen in their language, for example.

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