In 6 months, I took 34 flights, rode 14 trains, visited 17 countries, and discovered that the world is a lot bigger than I realized. I thought I’d share my thoughts on each of the countries I visited on my first trip around the world. Naturally, these are filtered through my prejudices, and for some, you should not trust my impressions any more than I would trust yours as we all look for something different to define our experiences. At the end of my trip, I was not ready to come home realizing that despite the numbers listed above, I had barely scratched the surface of this giant orb we occupy.

Italy

Everybody’s favorite and still mine. Italy can’t be beat for great food, wine, and culture. Beautiful rolling countryside, canals lined with architectural classics, and ancient homes hanging over steep cliffs that drop into the Mediterranean sea. If heaven on earth exists, it is Italy.

Slovenia

The Switzerland of the Balkans. In contrast to its neighbors, Slovenia is clean and green. It has a great train system that takes you past immaculate countryside towns. It is a leader in green practices and has a well developed network of bicycle routes. Though a small country, it offers a little of everything: ancient fortified seaside town, mountainous lake region, rolling hills, and some of the largest caves in the world.

Croatia

It’s too late. You can no longer experience it before it changes. Overrun with tourists and with prices as high as western Europe, the place has long since passed being a secret. Dubrovnik feels like something designed by Walt Disney. In a way it is since the actual city was destroyed during the Balkan wars. The islands provide the best experience in Croatia, and one of the most unique landscapes I’ve visited can be seen at Plitvice lakes. But don’t come here expecting a bargain. Everyone knows about Croatia.

Montenegro

A beautiful easy going country whose entirety you can visit in a single day. There is a rich history history here with good wine and food to be found in the many little villages. It has the Adriatic sea’s only Fjord overlooking the Bay of Kotor, which is lined with nice little villages. This is the type of place people are talking about when they speak of Croatia before it was discovered.

Turkey

My favorite country of this trip. Istanbul with its international food and culture situated at the isthmus of the world. It is a vibrant city with opportunities to experience cuisine from all over the world. The regular Islamic calls to prayer reverberate five times a day throughout the city leaving you feeling you have definitely left the western world. Throughout Turkey are beautiful desert landscapes, beaches, and a 150 mile coastal trek. In the center are the fairy chimneys, where you can stay in a room carved from a sandstone monolith or catch a balloon ride with more than a hundred balloons dotting the cool morning sunrise.

UAE

This is the most forward thinking country I’ve ever encountered. They welcome immigrants as a means to position themselves as a global leader in innovation. Emirates, despite being a minority in their own country, are very tolerant of other religions and cultures, and only impose their faith upon themselves. They possess an attitude that anything is possible and have proven it by creating the world’s tallest building, the largest botanical garden in the world, a migratory bird sanctuary, and the world’s first solar powered city all from the barren sands of a desert. They use their wealth not just for themselves, but to improve their infrastructure, their public transportation, and to invest in a future beyond oil.

India

The filthiest place on earth and hardly the spiritual place I had hoped for. I find it hard to respect a spiritual philosophy that exemplifies itself in a culture of bullies and cheats. Selfish people who shove their way to the front of lines, who show no regard for others on the road, who throw trash on the ground, who defecate and urinate on their public streets. The values of the Indian people were at strong odds with my own, and I ended up leaving after just a week. Still, a place of frenetic chaos that could be a stimulant for some.

Nepal

Nepal is what I hoped it would be. Kind, generous people living simply. Sadly, the biggest problem for Nepal is not its earthquake recovery, that only affected a few regions, but dealing with the fuel embargo imposed by India that is crippling the whole of this tiny country. Unfortunately, they are too frightened to make this more public for fear that even fewer tourists will come. It is a majestic mountainous country allowing for easy exploration with its many trekking routes. With towns never more than two hours walking distance apart, you need only carry a change of clothes and some water as both food and shelter can be found regularly along the trail. It is also the most fresh food I’ve ever tasted as most of what you order is still living or in the ground at the time of your order. As a result, be sure to order your meal at least an hour in advance.

Myanmar

I think the only thing that comes of visiting Myanmar is bragging rights: that you’ve been to a place that only recently has opened to tourists. Unfortunately, that also means it has not yet been developed for tourism, and I found that there is not a lot to do here. I think you come to Myanmar for the experience, not for the highlights. It offers visions of what you expect of Asia: fields being ploughed by great horned oxen, farmers working the ground beneath conical shaped hats, lazy rivers flowing under a hazy sun. Come here not to do and see, but to feel and be.

Thailand

No place beats Thailand for the ease of being a tourist. This place is well developed towards tourism, and there are a multitude of ways to get around and experience all the country has to offer. Though it is probably best known for its beaches, everyone I’ve met speaks most highly of Chiang Mai, a charming city in the north where you just want to drop your bags and stay awhile. Arguably the best food in Asia, Thai cuisine is outstanding whether you get it at a 5 star restaurant or a roadside stand. Once you get your fill of temples, head for its southern beaches, but do your homework. Many of Thailand’s most notable beaches are all night party havens for backpackers or older men looking for an accommodating Thai girlfriend. Frankly, I would choose to spend my beach time in other countries and skip southern Thailand.

Vietnam

This was my favorite country of SE Asia. Despite the war not being that long ago, these people love Americans and are always happy to chat in broken English with visitors. The people are friendly and generous and have not been hardened by an overwhelming tourist trade. It has some of the most unique food offerings in Asia due to its history as a French colony: things like fresh bread, locally produced wine, and excellent coffee. Prices are very cheap, and as everyone likes to say when they get their first fistful of Vietnamese Dong, “I’m a millionaire!” The landscape is beautiful with green fields and blue ocean pierced frequently by great stone karsts. There are caves and tunnels, and you can even take a boat trip on a river that winds through a cave.

Malaysia

Very modern with english spoken everywhere, this is possibly SE Asia’s most diverse population. The people aren’t quite as friendly as their northern neighbors, possibly as a result of being more westernized. It’s an easy place to travel, but I wouldn’t spend a lot of time here. It lacks the pristine beaches, stunning temples, and unique food that can be found elsewhere in SE Asia.

Philippines

This is probably the most western of the SE Asian countries due to their history with Spain and the U.S. As a result, English is widely spoken and American culture well understood. The Philippines possess a landscape out of fantasy books with thousands of islands protruding from a deep blue sea, secluded palm lined beaches, and the best coral reefs I’ve ever seen. Because it is so big, it is easy to get away from tourists and hide where you’ll never be found in one of many little fishing villages. The cities can be dirty, and it lacks the eastern culture of its Asian neighbors, but Filipinos are a fun people with their own regular festivals that without fail include the most elaborate costumes ever conceived.

Indonesia

The middle class of Asia. Many of the comforts of western culture with plenty of the chaos of Asian culture. Nothing special, but a good place to relax. You can find giant seaside resorts and quiet meditation villages. The food here is pretty good, and you won’t have to worry about being overwhelmed by tourists.

Singapore

The most sophisticated city I visited. Possessing a great infrastructure designed to enhance the lives of those who live there, it equally provides plenty to enjoy for the visitor. The waterfront was developed as the centerpiece of city and is lined with art installations, restaurants, museums and bike routes connecting them all. It’s more expensive than other SE Asian countries but still cheaper than the US. My favorite are the public service messages throughout the city ranging in topics from proper public cell phone use to family planning. It’s a fun place to take a break from the chaos of Asia while providing a great hub to hop back in.

Australia

Exceeded and disappointed. This country easily possesses the most beautiful beaches in the world, and the best part is there’s no one on them. The country is so sparsely populated, it’s easy to feel like you have the whole place to yourself. After Asia, it was a little on the slow side, lacking the constant buzz that comes from a place overpopulated with people. It felt strange to walk down streets without seeing a single soul. Its similarity to the US also made it a little less exciting than Asia but, of course, you had all the conveniences and people politely stand in lines and wait for signals to change before proceeding. The best part of Australia is that it offered a lot of scenery I had never encountered, and with its lack of people, I always felt like I was the first to discover it.

New Zealand

While beautiful, it offers nothing you can’t find in the western US, and it is the most expensive country I’ve ever visited. With its American food and culture, it didn’t offer enough to justify its price tag. My third most disappointing after India and Myanmar.

For now, I am headed home, but I am already struggling with where to go next. Northern Europe has long been at the top of my list, but on this trip I decided I also want to bicycle through Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand; a big leap for someone who up until recently didn’t even have SE Asia on his list. And then there was the guy I met who works at a restaurant in Iceland. I want to do that. And despite my travel through the Balkans, I seemed to miss a good portion of Eastern Europe. And what about S. America? And the places I’ve already visited but want to go back to? Yep. The more you check off your travel list, the longer the list becomes. I look forward to adding more stamps to my passport, and the next time I get it renewed, I believe I will ask for the one with extra pages.