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A quarter of a century – that’s how long it took Danas Pankevičiis, a traveler from Panevěž, to travel to all the countries of the world. D. Pankevičius became the first Lithuanian to achieve this unusual record.
After tasting all the flavors of the world, the traveler promised himself to choose a sedentary life, but he also realized that it might be impossible to quench his thirst for travel.
The best you have
For D. Pankevičiis, who has traveled all over the world, this record is neither a goal nor a dream.
He is always on different trips to see new places, new people, and experience new and untried things.
However, two years ago, when he listed the countries he had visited in a dedicated app, he was surprised to find only a few he had not yet visited.
Then it occurred to me: Why not visit all of them – the 195 countries recognized by the United Nations Organization?
“I thought, why not travel the world and change my lifestyle – start living a more sedentary life. That was the plan, but I already knew it wasn’t going to happen. I realized that there was nothing better in my life than traveling. I’ve already traveled and I want to go further”, Dan smiles.
Fatal article
D. Pankevičius’s passion for travel came about completely by accident.
Twenty-five years ago, he found a newspaper with an article about a man who traveled alone by train across Russia to Beijing.
At the time Dan had no idea that this was possible – after all it was so far away, almost as far away as the moon.
However, after convincing his friend, who was also from Panevěž, he decided to repeat the trip – flying forward by plane and returning by other means.
Because of the airplane Flights to Singapore were cheaper, so they left there and returned to Lithuania by bus, tuk-tuk, train, and boat.
Symbolically, on the way home they also visited the vast region of Siberia, where Dan’s father, Raimondas Pankevičius, a former member of the Panevěž City Council, was born.
“Before that, I had hardly ever been anywhere, I had only been to Latvia. But an article that fell into my hands by chance turned everything upside down and changed my life. When I saw how beautiful and colorful the world is and what wonderful things there are, I was so moved that I realized that this was my path. I still can’t stop,” says D. Pankevičius.
Over a period of 25 years, D. Pankevičius visited all the countries of the world, some of them more than once.
Unaffected by civilization
Dan said that there are no obstacles to traveling around the world now, and many things can be done online. Of course, health and planning are also important. Really You will not be able to travel to very remote areas when working as not all places have internet connectivity or electricity.
“Because of this, I couldn’t work for about seven years. I had to choose between traveling to remote corners of the world or working but not going to those places. You yourself know what I chose”, the traveler smiled.
D. Pankevičius has visited all the countries of the world, some of them more than once, and he admits that it becomes increasingly difficult to surprise him each time.
As Dan points out, the whole world is becoming the same – whether you go to Shanghai, New York or any other metropolis in the world, you will see a lot of the same things: the same shops, the same cars, even the way people live. In Africa, however, things are still different – people lived a thousand years ago, so they still live today. They have preserved their cultural things, wearing extremely colorful clothes of their own ethnic group, or no clothes at all, only thin clothes that cover their private parts.
“I know that all this can change very quickly, as civilization penetrates even the most remote places and those people will one day live like us, walking around in sweatshirts and jeans. I try very hard to see places that have not yet been affected by civilization, spend as much time as possible with local tribes and capture their way of life,” says D. Pankevičius.
Dan was surprised that in some tribes, not only milk but also urine was used: it started the morning cleaning routine. In addition, local men believed that girls would prefer their hair not to be black, but orange, which was dyed with cow urine.
The language of gifts
The traveler must see war and extreme poverty, as well as extreme luxury. But Dan felt safe everywhere.
He believes that a sense of security is primarily a feeling that requires psychological preparation.
“I know that some areas are much more dangerous, but I accept this risk to allow myself to see more of the world. First of all, I was well prepared mentally because I knew where I was going and what to expect. I had not only a plan A, but also a plan B and even a plan C. As you can see, I am still traveling and nothing bad has happened to me”, smiles D. Pankevičius.
He is fluent in English and Russian and studied Spanish for two years in college, but primarily uses sign language when traveling.
“It is the only language that can be used to communicate in remote areas where no one understands English, French or other languages that we know,” the traveler noted.
Another language that opens many paths is the language of gifts.
Most often, salt, soap, oil or tobacco are delivered to remote corners far from civilization, and in some tribes they are mixed with cow dung – even African teenagers are attracted by this trick. And for children, the greatest joy is to receive a plastic water bottle as a gift, which represents both a toy and a container for drinking milk.
“There is definitely another place to travel to, and I know that my lifetime will not be enough to see what I want,” said D. Pankevičius.
Use cow urine instead of showering
D. Pankevičius said that gifts help to make friends with local tribes. After the first contact, you can ask for permission to set up a tent.
There are no shops in the jungle or other remote areas, and the traveler is completely dependent on the hospitality of the locals. However, he does not have to find himself in a situation where local tribes let newcomers starve. True, there is no menu with a variety of dishes: people living in the jungle usually eat what they catch, make salads from leaves, and if there is a river, they go fishing. Those tribes that live outside the jungle raise goats. But they do not eat them, because animals are a symbol of status and wealth. The more livestock a person has, the higher his status. They do not allow themselves to eat farmed animals, but use milk – they usually cook porridge with cornmeal and sorghum.
Dan was surprised that in some tribes not only milk but also urine was used: it started the morning cleaning routine. In addition, local men believed that girls would prefer their hair not to be black, but orange, which was dyed exactly with cow urine.
“In the tribe, people eat only once a day – you get something in the morning and you know that it is your ration for the whole day, no one will cook you three meals a day. I tried to record the primitive tribal lifestyle, because I know that in another ten years it may disappear”, comments D. Pankevičius.
Oil or somethingCompany Advisor
The last country Dan had to visit in his pursuit of the record was Turkmenistan. He had wanted to visit this country for a long time, but it was one of the most closed countries in the world and tourists were not usually allowed in.
“It may be the first country in the world in terms of inclusiveness. Although I still couldn’t get a visa, I didn’t give up and kept trying until I received a confirmation letter in March this year that I could come, so I did it. “The traveler said.
North Korea is often listed as one of the most closed and unsafe countries, but this is just a myth according to the interviewer, who has visited North Korea six times, once even bringing his five-month-old daughter along.
“10-15 years ago, North Korea was probably very closed, it’s really not like that anymore, it’s true, it’s impossible to enter it today because they closed their borders since the pandemic and didn’t open them until now. As far as I know, only two groups of Russian tourists were allowed in. “said D. Pankevičius.
According to travelers, even the most closed countries have multiple ways of entering – if a tourist visa is not issued, there are business visas or other tricks. How to get to one or another extremely closed country, travelers from all over the world share their ideas on various forums.
“We are certainly not talking about illegal ways. For example, when you become a consultant for an oil company, you can apply for a business visa. Then company representatives arrive at the airport to meet them, and after paying for services, they go their separate ways. But I am not the only one who has come up with such a trick here – this is done by travelers from all over the world who want to enter the closed country,” D. Pankevičius says with a smile.
A lifetime is not enough
Dan said that it was great to be able to travel around the world and see the world, but the fact of recording did not change anything. At first, he thought that after traveling around the world, he would at least change his lifestyle and become more sedentary, but now he finds that nothing will really change – new trips are already planned for the next year.
“Yes, I have visited all the states, but there are still thousands of islands that I have not visited. For example, I have never been to Sicily, although I have been to Italy about seven times. But I will be leaving there in a week. There are definitely places to travel, and I know that my lifetime will not be enough to see the places I want to go, “says the travel enthusiast.
As the interviewer observed, after years of being on the road, climbing mountains, swimming in the sea, traversing scorching deserts, diving behind shipwrecks, or sleeping with primitive tribes and wild animals in the jungle, the moments that could surprise him became fewer and fewer.
“I remember the first time I saw oranges growing during my first trip. I still remember the enchanting smell when I rubbed the freshly picked leaves between my hands. Seemingly simple things, but they are deeply engraved in the memory. But 25 years on, people, images and nature are constantly changing like a kaleidoscope, and it becomes increasingly difficult to surprise me. Because this has become a daily routine. The situation in this life is already such that many times we no longer feel that much pleasure when doing something. A person who can afford to eat out once a month will be happy and enjoy this dinner, unlike someone who eats out three times a day. The same is true with traveling,” compares D. Pankevičius.
Weapons are common in Ethiopia. Tribal people arm themselves to repel attacks from rival tribes or to ward off livestock thieves.
No expectations
Dan thought that if he didn’t travel for a year or two, he would miss the experiences and the new feelings would be as strong as they were on his first trip. But he never stopped traveling.
Experienced travelers recommend not to have unreasonable expectations so that your trip will not be disappointing. You just need to enjoy the country, its people, architecture, food and traditions.
According to him, people often avoid traveling alone because they are worried about not knowing the local language or not understanding the local language, but you have to be adventurous. For first timers, he recommends choosing safe countries so that the travel experience is not too scary.
“Europe is great, and after that you can choose other more distant countries, such as Southeast Asia – it is an inexpensive region with excellent food, nature and wonderful people,” D. Pankevičius suggests.
“The world is infinitely beautiful, and that beauty can only be seen when traveling. It is hard for me to believe that I have already spent a quarter of a century on the road. But life is mine and I want to enjoy it to the maximum”, says D. Pankevičius, who organizes his own trips that others do not: to Antarctica, Venezuela, Iraq, Pakistan, South Sudan, Bangladesh and other interesting countries.
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