Kristijan Ilicic, a globetrotter who travels around the world, shared a photo from Sri Lanka on his Instagram account, announcing that he has managed to visit every country on the planet.
“197/197! Today, I became the first Croatian in history to have traveled to every country in the world. For some, this might just be a number, but if I say that out of 8 billion people, only 300 have achieved this, then that number is no longer just a number,” Ilicic shared on his account yesterday.
He stated that this achievement represents the realization of a big dream he had since he was a child.
“Behind the number 197, there are thousands of stories woven into one dream. Hundreds of unforgettable moments and lessons that helped me grow as a person. So many life stories in which I lost myself and found myself again, stories that have become a part of who I am today,” wrote the travel blogger.
On his profile page, Ilicic described what left a special impression on him in some of the countries he visited. For example, in Ethiopia, he encountered both beauty and sorrow.
“I saw faces that spoke of a harsh world, I looked into eyes that remember everything and bear the weight of life under the scorching African sun, yet still, they carried a yearning for life,” Ilicic explained.
Afghanistan was the country where his perspective widened, and he says he could no longer believe in the notion of “evil peoples”.
“People are people everywhere, and I mostly encountered only good people. I’ve become sensitive to all the nuances of the world that are impossible to understand unless you truly travel,” he emphasized.
Behind the number 197 are also the volcanoes of Congo, Guatemala, and Vanuatu.
“The eruption of the volcano in Congo shortly after I descended reminded me that life can disappear in an instant, and while we are alive, we must live it to the fullest. Climbing Acatenango taught me to push myself beyond my comfort zone, always taking that one extra step. It is precisely after that extra step that life begins to reward us abundantly. The volcano on Vanuatu showed me that life should be celebrated with dance, laughter, and in the company of those we love,” he explained.
The number 197 also includes the powerful waterfalls of Victoria Falls, Iguazu Falls, Blue Nile Falls, Niagara Falls, Angel Falls…
“The thunder of those waterfalls always reminds me of who truly reigns supreme on this planet,” Kristijan shared his reflections.
The number 197, as he says, also represents years of traveling through African deserts, South American jungles, the endless blue of Oceania, and much more.
Photo: Instagram
