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Globetrotter travels 193 countries, calls UAE his favourite

The 27-year-old is one of the youngest persons to visit every single country in the world

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Do you daydream about quitting your 9 to 5 job and embark on an odyssey around the globe? Sal Lavallo did just that. He left his job in 2016 as an investment analyst at McKinsey and Company in Abu Dhabi and put on his globetrotting shoes.
For the last few years, he has led a life many of us might envy and aspire for. At 27, Sal has become one of the youngest persons to visit every single country in the world.
His quest to travel across the planet has got him his passport stamped from the 193rd country - Malta - in November 2017. 
It all happened organically for this voyager. Interested in economic development and identity studies, he researched and worked all around the world. "I was traveling often to see classmates from the United World College - a boarding school with students from 100 plus countries. Travel for me is about learning new things and building connections with people." Having friends all over made sure he had a couch to crash on. 

 

What I learned visiting EVERY country! We are all similar, people want to connect, and everyone dances. Check out @sallavallo for more.
A post shared by Sal Lavallo - 193Journeys (@sallavallo) on Dec 21, 2017 at 7:08am PST

From 2009 to 2015, Sal visited 15 to 20 countries every year. He visited the United Arab Emirates for a long layover in September 2011 and instantly fell in love. "I decided to come back for a semester as an exchange student at the New York University - Abu Dhabi, and took up a job in Abu Dhabi."
UAE's strategic location became the perfect landing country for him to continue his travels.  "While living in the UAE, I would take long weekends of 3-4 days to nearby countries like the Maldives, Bangladesh, Eritrea, or Oman. The UAE has well-connected airlines and you can travel to many countries in five hours." 

 

2 days to every country: ABU DHABI For the past 6.5 years I've lived in Abu Dhabi and/or used it as my base. In that time, I've grown to love the city and, if you've been around me you know, constantly talk about it. Enough so that I've been called an "Abu Dhabi propagandist" - a title that I happily accept. Living here has helped me get to every country simply because of geography. From what other place can you take long weekends to Kenya, Ethiopia, Central Asia, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Georgia, India, Maldives, Seychelles, and more without taking more than 5 hours each way?! It's not just because it's close- we have the best airlines in the world with Etihad and Emirates (FlyDubai and AirArabia have their uses too)! This creates a culture of travel and friends will always be jetting off somewhere exciting and coming back with tips. Because the UAE attracts talent from all over the world, these friends themselves will be from many of these locations - it's truly a global environment and an internationally mobile one. More than all of this- Abu Dhabi has kept me happy and interested. There are no development stories that I find so fascinating and successful - it's exciting to watch that happen and to be a part of it. There is also nowhere else that I've found my interest in identity to be so piqued. Issues of class, race, gender, sexuality, and more are constant discussion points and in each the trend is positive. Whereas the UAE is aware of its problems and trying to fix them (albeit not as fast as in a dreamworld), my other homes seem to be stagnating or declining. It's also motivating to see how many people are bettering their lives through the opportunities provided by the country. And these opportunities are endless, not just in terms of jobs and finances, but in the arts, fashion, music, and more. It's a place to feel absolutely positive about. It's also my favorite country to travel in. I've been many times to all seven Emirates, explored the Western Region, visited Sir Bani Yas, Liwa, and Al Ain, and wondered in awe at the beauty of a desert sunset. I still have so much to see here. Thank you Abu Dhabi!
A post shared by Sal Lavallo - 193Journeys (@sallavallo) on Nov 15, 2017 at 7:15am PST

Travel lust took over Sal as his initially planned six months break from work turned into a year, and then two.  In 2016, he quit his job as an investment analyst and began blogging his adventures on his Instagram page (@sallavallo). At 22.4k followers today, the page is buzzing with his travel expeditions, that might encourage you to take the leap.  

Notes before the trip  

A planned traveller could take few weeks or even months to map out their journey before starting out but Sal only believes in a bit of research. He doesn't follow a strict itinerary but likes to go with the flow. And his tours have also got him into precarious situations.  
He recalls one for us.  "I was in a sticky situation on the Yemen border, when the Royal Omani Police came to my rescue. They shooed away some unfriendly men, gave me tea and local sweets, bought me dinner, and found me a free ride to a city, three hours away." 

 

For security reasons I had to dress like a local while in Yemen ????. One benefit I've had in my travels is that with my dark hair, naturally tanned skin, and full beard, I can "pass" as local (or at least half) in essentially any country in Europe, Latin America, North Africa, the Middle East, etc. This means that less attention is brought to me and I can go more under the radar. Usually though I don't actively try to magnify this by "dressing up" in the clothing of cultures I'm not intimately familiar with, but of course for security will take all precautions. If nothing else, makes for a fun photo.
A post shared by Sal Lavallo - 193Journeys (@sallavallo) on Dec 2, 2017 at 8:10am PST

After filling his passport with stamps all across the globe, he lists UAE and Tanzania as his favourite countries. "I also love Algeria, Syria, Eritrea, Tajikistan, Timor Leste, and more!  I like places that have an interesting development history, stunning landscapes, delicious food, and kind people.  Definitely, the most hospitable people in the world are in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf." 
When asked to list the crazy things he has done on his trips, Sal shares, "When I visited Jordan, I did the 180km Dead Sea to Red Sea team race. And among the weirdest things I ate on my trips is a whole bat in Palau (including teeth, fur), boiled goat head in Albania, and insects in Uganda." 
For this globetrotter, reading is another form of travel. He prefers to travel light, with kindle and camera as his constant companions.
And the one thing he remembers looking at the map from his 193-country tour are the faces. "No borders or bombs can entirely remove our humanity.  I've seen smiles in every country and everyone wants to be loved and respected.  Also, everybody dances!  I think it's the most beautiful expression of human happiness." 

Tales from India and Pakistan 

 

Badshahi Mosque #Pakistan #Lahore #Badshahi #Mosque
A post shared by Sal Lavallo - 193Journeys (@sallavallo) on Jul 11, 2014 at 8:33am PDT

India and Pakistan are two of the countries that I have spent the most time in.  In 2012, I lived and worked in Mumbai for two months. Mumbai is an incredibly energetic city. It can be a bit overwhelming but as I got used to the crowds, the food, and even all the smells, I soon felt at home.  I also visited Hyderabad, Delhi, and Pune and returned for a short visit last year.   
In 2014, I worked in Lahore, Pakistan for four months. After work, my colleagues taught me cricket and we would go for long walks through Lahore's many parks.  I miss my time in both of these countries.  

The UAE Lust 

 

Umm Al Quwain marina. #UmmAlQuwain #UAE #NorthernEmirates
A post shared by Sal Lavallo - 193Journeys (@sallavallo) on May 29, 2015 at 5:04am PDT

Once he landed in the UAE, Sal Lavallo knew this is the country he wanted to live in. He distinctly recalls the three times he travelled through all the seven emirates in a single day. "There is so much to see in each emirate. The country has natural beauty in abundance, from the desert sunsets to bright green oasis. There are endless activities from scuba diving in the Indian ocean to horseback riding on Sir Bani Yas. You can see the world's most incredible architecture in the Burj Khalifa, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, or see the best of wildlife from falcons, to salukis, and camels and oryx."
On a brief breather now from his trips, Sal will be back in the UAE soon.  
- anita@khaleejtimes.com