I've travelled to 193 countries but one stood out so much I quit my job and moved there
The intrepid traveller from San Diego, who posts online as Ramblin' Randy, has visited all 193 UN member countries and ticked off his final nation, Turkmenistan, in 2023.
You might think that having seen so much of the world, Randy might struggle to choose his favourite country.
But, in an interview with LOST iN in 2019, Randy revealed he actually didn't find it a challenge to pick his top spot.
At the time of the interview Randy had travelled to 120 countries and had one clear favourite.
'I always get asked what my favourite country is,' said Randy. 'And the answer for me is so easy because well, it's the only country that I packed up everything, quit my job, left everything behind and moved to.
'I found this city on the coast called Recife. I didn't even leave the airport but passing over the shores of Recife, I saw these beautiful, coral, pastel-coloured high-rises right along the beach. It kinda reminded me of Miami Beach.
'So, on my next trip, I visited it. I found an apartment and then I went back home and asked my boss if I could talk to him and told him I was quitting and moving to Brazil, and it was one of the most exciting times of my life.'
'I found this city on the coast called Recife. I didn't even leave the airport but passing over the shores of Recife, I saw these beautiful, coral, pastel-coloured high-rises right along the beach'
Located on Brazil's northeastern Atlantic coast, urban Recife blends beaches and high-rises.
But while he might have moved to Brazil, the South American country is the only destination to have caught Randy's attention.
He revealed that Switzerland, Djibouti, Armenia and Brunei also number among his favourite countries.
On his blog, Randy explains that he tends to 'travel fast and furious', sometimes spending less than 24 hours in each country.
When he completed his epic challenge in Turkmenistan, Randy told ABC 10News San Diego that it was 'bittersweet'.
He added: 'A pin for every country, and this is the last one - Turkmenistan. Here we go.'
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