Name: Kashi Samaddar
Age: 54
Nationality: Indian (and proud)
Claim to fame: Holds travel record for visiting every country in the shortest time ever.
Lives in: Dubai Other job:
Former job: MENA regional director at electronics multinational
Something to prove
I was stranded in South Africa for two days with visa issues due to my nationality. It angered me that a small percentage of troublemakers hinder the majority so I took it upon myself to lobby foreign governments to relax visa restrictions for the 166 developing nations who suffer unfair treatment at immigration desks, by visiting every one in person.
Record holder
I am now in the Guinness World Records for visiting all 194 sovereign states in the shortest time ever: 12 years, eight months and 13 days. I travelled over two million miles and spent almost Dh3 million of my life savings to see more of the world than Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and Captain Cook. I have 17 jumbo passports, and yes, they are all Indian.
Don't blame 'em
I understand why people opt for different citizenship. I had similar opportunities but felt that human beings, wherever they're from, should travel freely. At times I wish I had different citizenship, because the last 60 countries were very difficult to obtain visas for. I almost gave up. Macedonia took nine attempts, and I often wasted money flying to and from South America only to face visa denials.
Just a bit of danger
Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Burundi, East Timor, Colombia and Suriname were all fairly hairy. My hotel blew up just after I left Kabul, bullets flew past me in Somalia and I went two days without food in Timor.
My findings
I learnt that on either side of borders, be it North and South Korea or Ethiopia and Somalia, both sides had nothing but love for one another and a wish for unity. Peace can work through tourism, and defence budgets could go to much better use.
Next trip
I'm starting a consultancy for travellers in need of advice on obtaining visas so everyone can experience this beautiful world.
