21-Year-Old American Woman Becomes The Youngest Person To Travel To Every Country

Meet Lexie Alford, a 21-year-old American woman who has achieved quite a feat by becoming the youngest person on Earth to travel to all countries in the world. On June 2, Lexi uploaded a photo on her Instagram account with a caption that read “officially traveled to every country in the world”. The photo shows Alford holding a piece of paper that has “North Korea May 31, 2019, country #196” written on it, indicating that North Korea was the last milestone on her tremendous journey and a finishing step in the world record. Her website, lexielimitless, proudly displays the number of countries she has traveled, 196, in contrast to the tab with the remaining countries where the number has finally dropped down to zero.

The adventurer has documented her numerous travels across the world not only on her blog but also captured the moments in stunning photos which she uploaded on her Instagram. At the moment, her page has 67.3k followers and around 400 posts with multiple images. Scroll down below to see photographs from many of the countries she visited and don’t forget to comment and vote for your favorites.

More info: lexielimitless.com | Instagram

Best seat in the house

Image credits: lexielimitless

This summer was crazy
Africa chewed me up and spit me out a new, slightly traumatized person. I’m mentally exhausted and I’ve been seeing the world through completely different eyes now. It’s already been more than a month since this trip and I’m still looking for the words to describe what I experienced in these places. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Dear Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, São Tomé, Gabon, Seychelles, Mauritius, Lesotho, Swaziland, Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Rep. of Congo, and Central African Republic- ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you for giving me an unfiltered glimpse into an aspect of the world that, for the most part, goes unmentioned. I hope someday I can find the right words to tell their stories

Image credits: lexielimitless

Offbeat places, friendly faces

Here’s some of my favorite photos from the two things I loved most about Pakistan: the people & the mountains!
This trip… the grit of it, the awesome conversations, the depth of experiences and sense of real exploration are what I’m always trying to find my way back to.

I’m still processing all the funny & heartwarming things that happened. For example, the man in photo #5 and I traded glasses then he proceeded to create a standup comedy bit about how he wouldn’t give them back. I couldn’t understand a word he said but he had a whole crowd of people laughing in the market. Then there was this young man in photo #9 who ran all the way to his house & back to bring us hot tea when we were stuck in the van behind a landslide for 6 hours in the middle of nowhere. So much LOVE from the places you least expect. Oh, and I guess these mountains were pretty cool too

Image credits: lexielimitless

5 in-person trips to the embassy in Los Angeles, 2 formal interviews, 3 different tour companies/fixers, 2 LOIs, countless phone calls and 6 months later I finally made it to PAKISTAN ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The media always exaggerates and blows out of proportion but so far I can’t get enough of this incredible country! Every day has brought not only new tastes & sights but also a renewed sense of appreciation for the kindness of people in faraway places. Even this truck driver’s nice way of telling me to move out of the way was to just start driving forward slowly ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you so much @cpicglobal for making this dream come true for me!

Image credits: lexielimitless

A glimpse into the colourful tradition and culture of Pakistan ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One of the first things I noticed when I arrived in Islamabad was how gorgeous and stylish the women are. I really wanted wear some of their beautiful clothes while traveling here which is why I was so excited to go shopping with @anushaesays . She helped me find this shalwar kameez which is the tradition trousers and long shirt that are commonly worn in South Asia. We later found this amazing headdress in a little shop in Karimabad when the whole @cpicglobal gang played dress up for an hour ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Side note to all the Pakistani ladies: Is this called a tribal kuchi headpiece? I forgot to ask the shopkeeper & I would love to know more about it! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photos by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

You guys. Pakistan is next level. 5 stars. One of my new favorite places in the world. I think this is going to have to be an annual adventure. As you can see, we’re having way too much fun! So… Who wants to move into a yurt underneath this waterfall next summer?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Travel therapy should be covered by health insurance
Seriously though. It’s unbelievable what traveling has done for my mental health. I was a pretty depressed & angsty kid when I was in high school because I felt like I didn’t belong there. I felt like I didn’t have anything in common with the people around me. All my frustration and unhappiness is what ended up fueling me to save up as much as I could and start backpacking. That’s when everything changed for me. As soon as I got out of my hometown bubble and realized there’s so much more out there for me. Discovering that there’s so many beautiful places and awesome people scattered all around the world made my outlook on life change completely.
Even if you can’t afford to travel right now, you can always change your perspective in smaller ways. Do whatever you can to get active outside in the fresh air, whether it be hiking or photography or whatever calls to you. Take a road trip to somewhere you’ve never been, even if it’s only an hour away from your house. Small trips like that are how you can gain momentum but be careful, once you get going it’s really hard to stop!

Image credits: lexielimitless

Alright guys I want to talk about something important… SONY vs. CANON?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
*taking into account the photo & video quality, price range, size etc. I can’t make up my mind & it’s about time to switch it up! Heated debates encouraged
Photo by @marijnderuiter

Image credits: lexielimitless

Guinea Bissau was the last country out of 54 countries in Africa I visited for the record
West & Central Africa is, in my opinion, by far the hardest areas of the world to travel in. The visas were tricky, there’s very little infrastructure for tourism, the language barrier makes matters even more complicated and believe it or not, this is also the most expensive area in the world to travel. There’s not many flights, hotels or guides so the operators have the market completely cornered. They can pretty much set whatever outrageous price they want because there isn’t very many options (besides maybe grueling & potentially dangerous bus rides). West Africa especially is the kind of place where even the most popular “destinations” are obscure (if you know, you know). But hey, I can genuinely say that traveling in this area of the world thickened my skin more than literally anything in my life ever has. And I’m grateful for it. Not sure when the next time life will pull me back to West & Central Africa, but when it does, I’ll be ready

Image credits: lexielimitless

Guys I literally can’t believe there’s over 25K of us here now (cheers to the people who also love @thomasbrag ) I swear life just went from being somewhat dormant to absolutely and incredibly LOUD. I’m in one of those rare times in life where everything seems to be working out perfectly and I couldn’t be more grateful. Sorry that I have joy BURSTING from my fingertips right now but I just got on a flight to a country I’ve never been to before and I’m so freaking excited! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Since there’s so many fresh faces here I wanted to share 5 things you might not know about me:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. I just turned 21, I’m from a little town in Northern California and my parents are my best friends.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. The only countries I haven’t traveled to yet are Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Pakistan, Syria & North Korea and I still have over 3 years to break the world record.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3. Traveling so much has left me really out of touch with my body & getting back into a healthy routine is one of the things I’m looking forward to the most.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4. One of my super powers is being able to fall asleep anywhere at any time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
5. I’m happiest when I’m out in nature & when I’m doing something I’ve never done before. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
That’s enough about me for now, I want to get to know some of you! Tell me about where you’re from & what you like to do in the comments

Image credits: lexielimitless

Aptly named ❥ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Swipe to see my favorite photo from this place ↠
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You guys have been asking how to get to Angel Falls in Venezuela so I wrote a blog about it! Link in bio #heaven

Image credits: lexielimitless

Afghanistan is one of the most unique places I’ve traveled to because it felt almost taboo to be there. So much negative hype has been built up around it that not many people get to experience this place which is a real shame. Honestly it is very unstable here and I don’t recommend going to Afghanistan casually. I got really lucky with my experience but I also put in the work researching where to go and how to do it safely. That being said, wow. Just wow. The food, architecture, smells, colors. Gorgeous people with dark hair and bright blue eyes. Sensory overload. I didn’t feel unsafe walking down the street although the traffic will give you anxiety. I visited a few colorful 1000+ yr old mosques and saw hundreds of people praying together. Everywhere we went there seemed to be someone genuinely happy to share their culture with us. Although Afghanistan was challenging to understand at times, being there made me feel so much connected to its people, their cultural history, their strength and struggle. It made me thankful for everything that I have and reminded me not to take it for granted. Afghanistan made me grow.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Miscalculating risk since ‘98
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Over the past few years I’ve developed an affinity for offbeat places. And its been rewarding me nearly every step of the way. Places like Venezuela have been written off by the average traveler as somewhere that’s too dangerous to travel. That’s a logical conclusion to reach given what we see on the news but it’s an underestimation of the genuine kindness within real Venezuelan people. I’ll always remember this trip as one of my all time favorites ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

Visiting Mauritius was a dream of mine for so long that I was worried maybe the real place wouldn’t match the story in my head. Not sure if I just got really lucky in this country but it was as if I was in a movie where everything has this surreal cinematic quality. Also couldn’t believe how warm & full of life the ocean was just right off the beach! Feeling nostalgic
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What’s a country you’ve always dreamed of going to?

Image credits: lexielimitless

In light of the tragedy at the Notre Dame today I wanted to share the story of La Mothe-Chandeniers castle. This beautiful, one of a kind castle was destroyed by fire and many other disasters over the centuries that it’s stood here in the French countryside. It was abandoned and almost torn down by developers after being completely overgrown. Then, something incredible happened that’s never been done before. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thousands of people from over 100 countries rallied together online through crowdfunding to buy the Chateau de la Mothe-Chandeniers, raising more than a million dollars to save it from being lost forever. Time inevitably takes a toll on these parts of our history but what was built before can always be built again with more resilience than ever before ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo by @exploringwithjosh ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Drone shots by @skylynx_productions

Image credits: lexielimitless

This was one of the top 5 craziest adventures of my life! After riding like maniacs on the top of our 15 passenger van through the Karakoram Mountains for countless hours we arrived at the launching point. We switched into these 4×4 rock crawling land rovers and ascended up the aptly named “most dangerous road in the world”. The local driver swerved recklessly around loose gravel corners with heart pounding 500+ ft. drops to the left. After nearly 3 hours of that, we arrived at the starting point for the hike to Fairy Meadows. Our group quickly fell into different paces which gave us time to feel even more secluded in the deep wilderness of Northern Pakistan. We hiked up roughly 2500 ft. as the sun set on the little Swiss cabins we would sleep in that night. The temperature dropped rapidly. All our bodies were acting funny because of the altitude. The 10 of us huddled around the common room stove sharing stories and stretching our deliciously sore muscles. ‘Twas a day & night that I’ll never forget #pakistandiaries

Image credits: lexielimitless

What does your perfect travel day look like?
For me, it starts by waking up somewhere I’ve never been before. I’ll wander down the streets seeking out the perfect cup of coffee. Then I’ll hopefully find myself adventuring near the ocean, a waterfall or in the mountains with friends. Seemingly endless backroads will have us driving fast, windows down, our heads sticking out singing at the top of our lungs. We’ll snap photos and try strange & amazing foods while learning about another beautiful corner of the world, ideally from the perspective of a local. Finally ending the day with an epic sunset & a happily ever after… that’s basically what happened on this day
Photo by @fearlessandfar for @cpicglobal

Image credits: lexielimitless

Inspiration strikes me when I have a thought that is immediately followed by ‘ha, there’s absolutely no way I could do that’. That’s where the spark of possibility is born. A curiosity about my own potential. I was talking to a few of my friends last night and they said they couldn’t think of anything they could go out and do right now that would really scare & excite them at the same time. That got me thinking- maybe they just hadn’t taken enough time to look into what challenges them physically, creatively, etc? What do you guys think- if you could go out right now and do something crazy, what would it be?
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Photo by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

This is one of my favorite memories from traveling solo. I remember waking up way too early and driving past stunning waterfalls in the lush jungle to get to this place. I climbed down that slippery ladder and at first there was a small old man collecting leaves from the pool with a net. He didn’t say anything but had the best toothless smile. When he finished his work I dove into the crystal clear salt water. The cold was a shock the system but it felt soft like it had been filtered & tamed by the lava rock. Explored the little caves to the sides and discovered one of them lead back to the ocean. I floated and soaked in the silence until it was broken by the sound of rain ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How I got this shot: I hired a taxi driver to take me to this place early in the morning to avoid crowds (typically getting there before 8 or 9 AM is best if it’s somewhere that tour buses might go). Then I befriended the taxi driver on the way and asked him if he could please take a photo for me when we got there. Thankfully he agreed and when we got to this spot, I adjusted the setting on my camera then showed the taxi driver exactly how I wanted him to line up the shot and I asked him to take a few before I ran down & jumped in the water. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is how I get most of the photos where I’m the subject. Whether it’s a stranger or one of my friends taking the photo there’s always a chance that it’s not going to turn out the way you envisioned but it’s always worth a shot

Image credits: lexielimitless

Imagine not knowing exactly how old you are. If it was raining when you were born, your birthday is in February or if it was hot outside, it must have been August. Taking into consideration that when you live in such a rural area, these concepts are foreign and don’t really matter much in your world. These kids were wandering around an abandoned mosque in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. They didn’t have cellphones but they knew how to chase each other, play and entertain themselves without technology. What a different way of life that would be ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

Radioactive The abandoned city of Pripyat in Ukraine is one of the most intense places I’ve ever stepped foot in. Check out the full story in my Chernobyl Diary blog (link in bio)

Image credits: lexielimitless

California dreamin

Image credits: lexielimitless

I’ve been coming to a really important realization: your interpretation of a country has nothing to do with the country itself. Its your mindset that defines whether or not you enjoy the time you spend in a place. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Since September I’ve been reflecting on the experiences I’ve had in Africa. To be honest, spending almost 3 months last summer in 20+ countries throughout West & Central Africa was really rough on my mental health. The language barriers, intense cultural differences, constant movements… it can be really depressing and lonely at times. I had never thought about giving up & going home until I started seriously traveling in this area of the world. But that’s when I was reminded of the quote, “I didn’t come this far to only come this far”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’m so happy that after this last fantastic trip to 5 countries throughout Africa I had a total shift in perspective! The places I traveled to were somewhat similar to where I was before but this time something was different. I’m starting to slow down. My mind is more open and prepared to absorb everything, even the frustrating bits, with patience & gratitude. It’s crazy that I’ve traveled to 189 countries now and somehow I still feel like I’m just beginning to understand the ways of the world. There’s so much left to learn!!

Image credits: lexielimitless

I turned 21 yrs old today! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I thought I would have more mixed emotions because on the bright side: I can finally buy beer in America! But I’ve also been working so hard all year to break the record by this day specifically & I still have 5 countries left. I was expecting to be disappointed with myself but I’m actually quite the opposite- I’m so proud! I think a part of me never really believed I would get this far in the first place. Everything has been falling into place lately and I’m reminded to not take life too seriously & have a damn good time if anyone wants to celebrate this weekend you’ll find me at the nearest alcoholic beverage stand at Coachella

Image credits: lexielimitless

Stepping back in time through the ancient city of Aït Benhaddou ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Swipe to see Mohammed coming in with my all time favorite photobomb

Image credits: lexielimitless

Hi I’m Lexie and most of the time I feel like I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing with my life
Can anyone relate?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Roasting marshmallows over the DOOR TO HELL ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Last week I was camping in the middle of nowhere with @fearlessandfar & a bunch of drunk Russian speaking men. Being fed way too much food from the kindest locals and running around this pit of fire was definitely one of the most epic & memorable nights of my life. No one really knows how Darvaza Crater was created but it’s been burning for over 40 years. Its such a fitting addition to this otherwise mysterious landscape. Have you ever seen anything like this before?? #Turkmenistan

Image credits: lexielimitless

SO grateful for these amazing trips around the sun, for a life brimming with abundance, and the wonder of having a healthy human body that gives me a chance to climb up mountains & learn something new every single day. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo by @kevinophoto

Image credits: lexielimitless

ADVENTURE UPDATE ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve officially made it to 191/196 countries!! I turn 21 years old in two weeks so I still have over 3 years to break the Guinness World Record but I’m planning on finishing up as soon as possible. There’s good news & bad news. The good news is that after 6 months, I finally got my visa for Pakistan! Bad news is that it’s going to be very difficult for me to find my way into North Korea right now because I’m an American. Nonetheless, where there’s a will there’s a way and finally making it into the 190s has made me more motivated than ever to SMASH this record! (& I’m so ready to move on with my life it’s been over 2 yrs) Also for those of you wondering my last 5 countries are Pakistan, Syria, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and North Korea.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Some questions I’m asked all the time usually revolve around if I get scared traveling alone as a woman or if I feel safe in the more ‘dangerous’ countries around the world. Personally, I get freaked out the most by hypothetical scenarios I make up in my head rather than what might realistically happen to me. I think its like this for most people… We become afraid of what we hear on the news without realistically understanding how low the probability is of actually having an issue. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I just wrote a blog with some of my most helpful tips for solo travelers! I go over the reasons why I plan ahead, what to wear, how to take good photos of yourself and the most important thing you can bring with you when you’re traveling alone. The link to my website is in my bio

Image credits: lexielimitless

People ask me all the time how & why I decided to start breaking the world record for the youngest person to travel to every country. I always fumble through my answer because I’m better at expressing myself through writing but the real reasons why I’m doing this are pretty simple. All my biggest fears revolve around regret & running out of time to do things before I’m inevitably tied down by adulthood. The very first time the thought of breaking this record crossed my mind I knew, without a doubt, that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t try. I figured that no matter what happened I would push my limits, learn more about the world and hopefully inspire a few people to challenge themselves along way.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I don’t even think anyone reads captions this long so comment if you made it this far haha.. Thank you all for your support on this journey!! It’s been 2+ years and it hasn’t always been easy but then again, nothing in life worth doing ever is.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Places like this are being trashed by people who have zero respect for the outdoors. If you can’t pick up your trash, don’t leave the house. Simple as that
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Thanks for the hike & sustainability lesson @kevinophoto

Image credits: lexielimitless

Would you rather… have a great big house in your favorite place in the world or 3 tiny apartments in the cities you love the most? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If, like me, you opted for option two- what 3 cities would you choose? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I would live in Bali, Indonesia ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Venice Beach, California ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
& somewhere in the Alps (maybe Switzerland, preferably overlooking a lake)

Image credits: lexielimitless

Throwback to this serene temple we stumbled upon in the misty mountains of Vietnam. Places like this make me feel small in all the best ways. Just one of the many reasons to fall in love with Asia ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Can you spot the dragons?

Image credits: lexielimitless

World’s largest indoor Ferris wheel or intergalactic teleportation station?
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Ashgabat is possibly the strangest city in the world. It’s full of sterile white marble buildings and bizarre gold monuments like this one. And there’s literally no one around to see it. I was left thinking “This is sooo not what I expected this place to look like.” Stay tuned for a blog about this particularly odd & beautiful country Photo by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

Hey guys! I’m finally back in California and what a strange month its been for me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My route looked something like this: Tunis, Tunisia> Tripoli, Libya > Cairo, Egypt > Asmara, Eritrea > Luanda, Angola > Tashkent, Uzbekistan > Ashgabat, Turkmenistan > Istanbul, Turkey⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I was off the grid this past week in Turkmenistan because online censorship blocks all access to social media and search engines within the country. On the bright side, it was really good to disconnect and genuinely explore some new places without google maps or looking up photos & locations beforehand! I have more than a few stories to tell & I’m feeling grateful to have the privilege to share them with you

Image credits: lexielimitless

I can’t believe I’m about to hit the road again for the next few weeks!! All new & unusual places sprinkled with last minute plans, a side of risk, and a heaping scoop of visa stress ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve heard adventure begins when things start to go wrong and wow I’m already positive that I’m going to come away from this trip with more meaningful conversations and bizarre, vivid, beautiful memories than I know how to hold.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Any guesses where this next itinerary will take me?? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Here’s a hint: think as geographically illogical as possible

Image credits: lexielimitless

The Great Kyz Kala is one of the only remaining ancient buildings in Turkmenistan which is preserved so well that it’s possible to see the original shape of the walls. It dates back to the 6th century AD. It’s nearly impossible to imagine what this city looked like during the times of prosperity. However, the atmosphere of the place is unique and demonstrates the reality of time – nothing is eternal – even the greatest civilizations came, flourished and declined. Kyz Kala has a very unique, distinctive pattern on the outside which hasn’t been found anywhere else. No one knows for sure what the buildings were used for or if the grooves were just made for decoration. To be honest, I admit that pictures of Kyz Kala look more magnificent than in real life. Also being honest, I was underprepared for the cold on this morning *not a fashion influencer* ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photos by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

When I mention traveling to Turkmenistan, people have been giving me this blank confused stare then ask what is it- a place, a city, what? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So here’s 5 interesting facts about the little known country of Turkmenistan: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– After Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan is the least densely populated country in Central Asia with less than 6 million people living there. It’s also one of the least visited countries in the world. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of Islamic civilization since medieval times and its home to several UNESCO Silk Road cities. It was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1800’s then became apart of the Soviet Union in 1924. The country gained independence in 1991. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Turkmenistan is ruled by ‘Presidents for Life’ and since it’s independence there’s only been two (very eccentric) presidents. One of them even renamed the days of the week after Turkmen heroes, including himself ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Turkmenistan has the 6th largest natural gas reserves in the world which gives an explanation to the very apparent wealth throughout Ashgabat. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Considered the North Korea of Central Asia, Turkmenistan is one of the hardest countries to travel to because of strict visa applications requiring tour agencies and a mandatory guide. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This photo by @fearlessandfar was taken at the Monument of Neutrality in Ashgabat (think Las Vegas meets Pyongyang). Huge thank you to @lupinetravel for putting together such an epic itinerary for us! If you’re interested in going to Turkmenistan, they’re definitely the people you’ll want to arrange your tour with.

Image credits: lexielimitless

My favorite country There’s no other place in the world like Egypt. I’ve always felt so drawn to the history, architecture, mythology and the grandness of it all. This was my 3rd time here and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this incredible place. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Is Egypt on your list yet? If not, it definitely should be!

Image credits: lexielimitless

Golden hours⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Whenever I have off days (like today) and I’m just not feeling it I love focusing on the simple things: the power 10 mins of meditation, saying thank you even with people I’m with everyday, and taking a moment to appreciate what we have because such a vast number of people have a lot less.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photos by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

A genuine smile goes a long way
I got made fun of in school for having big teeth but now (since I’ve grown into them) I’ve learned to love my smile. I can’t even count how many life altering things have happened to me after flashing a simple sign of kindness. Smiles are powerful, contagious. I love smiling at grumpy people and seeing their whole expression change. Never underestimate the power of positive expression
@fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

Looking back on old photos, I’m realizing my favorites aren’t the ones of beautiful places. It’s the photos of friends and family & the memories we captured that have the most meaning. Traveling with someone creates this bond that you continue to share no matter how much time passes. Feeling extra grateful for my friends this week soooo here’s a montage of some people I really love :’) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Take this as a friendly reminder to snap tons of photos and videos of the people in your life, you’ll be so happy you did!

Image credits: lexielimitless

Malagasy souvenirs

Image credits: lexielimitless

Exploring an abandoned Tank Graveyard in Africa ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Just uploaded an IGTV episode from this location! This the first vlog I’ve ever made, what do you think?

Image credits: lexielimitless

I travel because… what’s your answer? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Travel can be a window or a doorway. Like most people I want to see the most famous sights, the beauty, the best of what the world has to offer… but only experiencing that aspect of a county feels somewhat like window shopping. Looking, but with no real investment or connection. When I travel I want to be transported. I like being completely immersed in it, home cooked meals, experiences that push my limits, and real conversations. It’s harder to come by but that’s the good stuff ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I had such an awesome time exploring Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan but once again it’s the people you’re with that truly make a place special thanks for so many epic memories on this journey @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

When we walk on the thin line between comfort and discomfort, our bodies reward us with this indescribable rush of endorphins. That might just be my favorite part about being human.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Hike & photo courtesy of @kevinophoto

Image credits: lexielimitless

Is there a word for that feeling you get when you remember a place from your past? Like nostalgia but more about the physical sensations. The way you can almost ‘re-feel’ the smell, the way the light looked and the texture of the air. That’s what I think about when I see this photo. I’m instantly drawn back to the feeling

Image credits: lexielimitless

Hey everyone! A few days ago I asked you guys if you already knew that I’m currently breaking the Guinness World Record for the Youngest Person to Travel to Every Country. I’m stoked that you had tons of questions!! My life has completely revolved around this record for the past 2 years and I’m feeling especially passionate about it because I’m so close to finishing! I’m excited to talk about all this finally so I’ll be posting my answers for the next few days. Here goes: ⠀⠀
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– How many countries have you been to & what countries do you have left? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As of January 2019, I have traveled to 186/196 countries. The 196 comes from the UN member states including Taiwan, Vatican City and Palestine which is what is required by Guinness World Records (GWR). The ten countries I have left are Libya, Eritrea, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Syria and North Korea. The hardest visas I have left are Syria, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. These 10 are the only countries I have plans to visit right now. My current plan is 4 countries in Africa in Feb/March, then hopefully Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (if the Turk visa comes through). ⠀⠀
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-Do you ever feel scared traveling alone as a young woman? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I usually only get freaked out by things I’ve made up in my head (anxiety) rather than whats actually happening around me. I traveled to 72 countries with my family and friends by the time I was 18 so when I started traveling solo I was already experienced. What I recommend to other women is to gradually transition into solo travel- start traveling with your friends (if possible) and start in places with infrastructure for tourism like Europe or South East Asia. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s too dangerous because all you need to navigate the world safely is common sense. Bad things can happen anywhere at any time so you shouldn’t let fear dictate what you do with your time. Also, when I’m alone I always have hotels booked ahead of time so I don’t end up on the street without a place to stay. Having a plan is really important, especially in lesser visited countries- can’t stress that enough.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
@fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

By far the most-asked question: HOW DO I PAY FOR MY TRAVELS?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m don’t have a trust fund, or big sponsors, or a sugar daddy. It basically boils down to three main points – hard work, consistent saving, and smart spending. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I started working multiple jobs and saving everything I’ve earned since I was 12 years old. I’ve worked in everything from commercial painting to professional chauffeuring to freelance photography and blogging to managing at my mom’s travel agency. I’m fortunate to be able to structure my work schedule in a way that accommodates my travels because my bosses are flexible and I also work for myself.
In addition to taking on all these work opportunities, almost all of my finances go into my travels. I rarely buy nonessential material possessions. I don’t spend money on fancy clothes or shoes – I still wear clothes I’ve had since middle school. I’m also fortunate enough to still live at home so my monthly expenses are very low.
And when it comes to spending money on travel, I always look for the best deals and book ahead of time. As I mentioned, my amazing mom has a travel agency she’s owned for over 30 years. So I’m able to grab awesome savings on flights and hotels because my mom has worked in the travel industry for so long. To be honest, my family’s business has been my secret weapon to keeping my costs down and I couldn’t have done this without their support of my dream. But each step has come by my own blood, sweat, and tears too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So with hard work, consistent saving, and smart spending, I’m now within a few months of accomplishing my goal. If you’re utterly committed to your goals, it’s amazing what can get done when you’re focusing all your energy on it.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Landed on Tatooine It’s been strange visiting a place I didn’t think I would genuinely like & enjoy so much. I love surprises though and this experience has me wondering what other expectations I hold that I could be wrong about too! Most common phrases the last four days have been “How is this real?” and “Are you kidding me!” Can’t wait to show you guys more photos from my trip to Libya

Image credits: lexielimitless

Peace out Africa, the last 73 days have been… real. Please excuse me while I spend the rest of my life processing everything that just happened. Until we meet again

Image credits: lexielimitless

GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE get out before it steals all your energy and excitement for life. Take that trip. Quit the job you hate. Chase your passion. Tell him/her that you love them. Be vulnerable because there’s nothing attractive about being hardened by the challenges life throws at you. Feel it all. Push your limits & have a damn good time

Image credits: lexielimitless

Setting my sights on Korea ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
North Korea will officially be the last country I need to enter in order to break the world record! There’s only 2 problems. Problem #1 is that the US State Department have made it illegal for Americans to travel to North Korea since 2017. The travel ban was only supposed to last for a year but it was renewed in September 2018 for another year. None of the companies that currently offer tours in NK want to bring me in because they’ll potentially get in trouble (& it would technically make me a criminal in my country). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Guinness World Records approved a visit to the blue house conference room in the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the North and South. This is where problem #2 arises. The JSA has been closed indefinitely for months. This photo was taken after my first attempt to go to the JSA in January but they wouldn’t let me in. I could even see the place in the distance from the DMZ. I feel so close I can taste it. But I’ve made it this far and there’s no problem that can’t be solved, right? Let me know if you guys have any ideas! I’ll take all the help I can get

Image credits: lexielimitless

Travel. Get uncomfortable. Talk to strangers. Open the doors of your mind completely. Trust in the unknown. It’s a learned skill, and it takes guts at first (especially if you’ve been ingrained in your daily patterns). Then it starts to become second nature. You’ll get addicted. You start to crave unfamiliarity. So often we conform to what’s comfortable, to our rituals. Your future self can be found in your daily routine.
Remember there’s people on the other side of the world who are so excited to meet you. You have something amazing to share with those people. And vice versa. There’s local foods to taste, art to drink in, lips to kiss and destinies to manifest

Image credits: lexielimitless

Hey beautiful people I hope to connect with beyond this little rectangular box someday
I wanted to share 4 simple ways to improve your relationship with social media:
1. Don’t check your apps in the morning, you’ll start your day off reactive. Turn off push notifications!
2. Unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself (or whoever promotes stalker-esque behavior) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3. Save all the good things people say to you. All the meaningful words from friends and strangers that are worth remembering. Even writing them down by hand helps to internalize that positivity.
4. Remember that behind every perfectly curated feed is just another regular person incessantly checking their phone.
Bad habits online can be toxic & remembering little things like this has really helped improve my mental/emotional health. We’re here to connect with inspiring people! Not to fuel our self limiting beliefs.
What do you do to get the most out of your time on social media?

Image credits: lexielimitless

The Middle East has this richness in its culture and spirituality that had me wide eyed and open minded during this whole trip. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I started consistently writing down what people said to me. I’m really happy about that because it’s been one of my biggest regrets since I started breaking the world record.
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Just saving bits & pieces of inspiration and insight goes a long way. Even seemingly mundane, fleeting thoughts. There’s nothing quite like leaving your comfort zone to show you how much you don’t know. Its even crazier how fast you can forget about the moments that shaped you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sometimes it’s just about capturing simple conversations. Like the one I had on the street in Afghanistan with my guide who said, “its a tough world here but we’re doing the best that we can”. Others are more profound like, “this life is so transient. People, places, and even this planet are temporary. Remember not to take anything too seriously”. Those are the kind of words I’m afraid of forgetting, or even worse, not learning from. The people I met in the Middle East have taught me gratitude, the value of faith and pride, and that the way we think life should always be done, may not be the only path.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Hey guys! I wanted to share a super simple life hack that’s already helped me a lot. If you want to spend less time on your phone try switching it to grayscale! Naturally humans are drawn to vibrant colors and I think that has a lot to do with why we get so addicted to social media. On an iPhone it’s easy: General -> Accessibility -> Accessibility shortcut -> Color filters (ON) and if you click the home button three times it will switch the color back and forth. I also put all my social media apps in a folder so it’s not the first thing I see. I’ve been trying to use my spare time on my phone to read the news or write notes if I don’t have a pen & paper. These little habits have totally altered the way I use my phone, you should try it. If you guys have any other ones I’d love to hear about them.

Image credits: lexielimitless

This trip has been about letting expectations take the backseat and replacing stereotypes with real experiences. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When most people imagine Iraq they can’t see past the danger. They’ve never actually talked to someone who has been there or even looked up pictures of the place. The way countries like Iraq have been portrayed on the news encourages people to write them off as just another war torn part of the world without thinking twice about what they have to offer.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Since we arrived in Kurdistan we’ve been tasting foods that scare me, having tea with old men, meeting up with strangers from the internet and exploring green mountains and raging waterfalls. And of course, no trip to the Middle East would be complete without being invited into someone’s home for a family dinner. There’s castles and culture and smiling faces around every corner. Not another tourist in sight. Simply blows my mind. Iraq has filled me with excitement because there’s so much more to these unexpected places than we could ever imagine.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Part 3/4 of this ongoing Q&A ⠀
-What’s been the hardest part about breaking the record?
Visas and loneliness ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– How old is the current record holder?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The current record is 24 years 192 days old. Hopefully I’ll break it by over 2 years and become the first woman to hold the record!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Who helps you/do you have a team?
I don’t have a team- the person who has helped me the most throughout this project is my mom. It’s just been the two of us scheming up the entire thing. She’s a genius and there hasn’t been a problem she couldn’t help me solve. Also, the people I’ve interacted with on social have helped so much! Kind strangers sending me advice has made a huge difference.
– How do you plan to get into North Korea and Syria?
North Korea is the only country in the world with an active US travel ban but GWRs approved a visit to the JSA conference rooms on the DMZ as a trip to NK. For Syria, an American hasn’t been issued a tourist visa since before the war. I applied a few months ago and I’m still waiting on the approval ⠀⠀
– How long do you stay in each country?
Anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. Depends on a few different factors: safety, expenses, personal interests, etc. One of my biggest regrets is traveling through some of these countries too quickly. I’m constantly conflicted because I don’t want to rush but I can’t afford to stay for long while also breaking the record. I’ve learned a lot about my travel preferences during this project and I really want to stay in each place for as long as possible. It seems like everyone’s favorite countries are the ones they’ve stayed in the longest.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-What has been the hardest visa to get?
Syria! I haven’t been able to get it yet…
-How do you prove that you’ve traveled to every country?
LOTS of paperwork. GWRs requires all kinds of things to prove that I’ve been to each country including plane tickets, accommodation receipts, passport stamps (harder than it sounds), photos & videos and the hardest part: witness statements filled out by 2 people in each country that can testify that they have seen me in the country. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-What are you going to do after the record?
It’s a surprise

Image credits: lexielimitless

Still dreaming of Uzbekistan… I’m so excited to go back to Central Asia and explore more soon! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’s such an unusual place for casual tourists and that’s one of the best parts about these countries. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear your can’t-miss lists. I feel like I’m forever rambling to you guys about all my favorite places & it’s about time I hear about some of yours ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
On a different note: There’s so much beautiful architecture throughout the cities of Uzbekistan but I heard that up in mountains the heli-skiing is some of the cheapest in the world- who’s down?? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo by @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

I’ve been waking up SO stoked to be alive. Happy to have another day seeing new things that are challenging and beautiful all at the same time. I’m really trying not to take a single day for granted and start treating all this time like a golden opportunity to learn something I didn’t know before. It’s easy to get stuck in my head, overthinking everything especially because it’s starting to seem like people are actually listening to what I’m saying. It feels like I’m finally developing a mindset that fits my lifestyle and gives me energy to explore and create and learn everyday. I’ve only been spending my time on people who share the same passions & inspire me to become a better version of myself which has helped soo much. Less is definitely more. Not sure where I’m going with all this but I’m just really happy. I can feel good things coming !!

Image credits: lexielimitless

In that moment, all the worries and distractions of real life faded away. All that was left was the human connection between nature and the spirit of adventure. There was nothing that could have made the experience any better than it already was. I consciously tried to remember everything about this feeling because I knew it was only temporary and I want to be able to channel that energy into my daily life. For me, these realizations are what traveling is all about. Before you leave you have no idea how much you’re going to get out of these experiences… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
‘This is My Venezuela’ blog up now link in bio

Image credits: lexielimitless

Finally back in the USA this summer was wild but I’m soo ready for winter! All I want to do right now is slip on some headphones and weave through trees in search of hip deep powder ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Snowboarding is one of the only things I’ve ever done that completely takes my mind off of everything in life but the present moment. It feels like a form of meditation, when I’m on my board the only thing that matters is the relationship between my body and the mountain. After being more stressed out over the past few months than I have ever been in my life, the mountains are definitely calling Who’s in??

Image credits: lexielimitless

One of the most beautiful aspects of social media is that there are some of you reading this who I’ve never met, we have no mutual friends and somehow I still feel like we know each other on an interesting level since we interact constantly.
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There’s also so many of you who I’ve only met once. It’s amazing to have this ability to stay connected to the lives of people you’ve met along your journey. This way your time together doesn’t really have to end when you say goodbye. The healthiest way to use this place is to engage with the people who make you feel good about life. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For me it’s really easy to find people on social media who I aspire to be like. Whether it’s the type of photography or aesthetics they post, the image they portray or the way they carry themselves. Get to know those people! Making real, tangible connections with each other is why this platform was created! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Thanks @alexdiii for snapping this epic photo of one of my favorite places & moments in time

Image credits: lexielimitless

Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you & weigh you down

Image credits: lexielimitless

Curious girl

Image credits: lexielimitless

This is the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen !! Just finished my 2018 reading list, here’s my favorites ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀
-The Obstacle is the Way (Holiday)
-Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (Manson)
-On the Road (Kerouac)
-Sapiens (Harari)
-The Truth (Strauss)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-Unfu*k Yourself (Bishop)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
& almost everything by Paulo Coelho. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The bright side of spending so much time in transit this past year was that I always had time to learn & get inspired. Looking to step it up with some crazy books in 2019! What are you guys reading/recommending?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Where would you go if you weren’t afraid? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
@fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

Life on the open road
Recorded my first podcast on Counting Countries with @globalgaz. We talked about growing up traveling the world, lessons learned, and all things record breaking. Check the link in my bio to learn more about my life story!

Image credits: lexielimitless

When you think your Valentine was excited to see you… but really he just wanted food Seriously though, the tour guides here should stop encouraging people to feed these monkeys because this little guy was way too eager for his own good.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo from the blonde archives, missing Central America today!

Image credits: lexielimitless

dim the lights

Image credits: lexielimitless

The most meaningful experiences happen when & where you least expect. I was able go to Saudi Arabia because the country opened up an evisa for the Formula E races. We explored Riyadh and ended up at a breathtaking place aptly named the Edge of the World. The Formula E was such a random & awesome event but I never expected to find so many friends there, most of whom I had only known through social media.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The concert after the race was historic, Saudi Arabia had never done anything like this before. Most of the people in the crowd had never been to a concert before in their lives. David Guetta spent months in the studio making an Arabian mix just for them. My friends and I looked at each other in complete disbelief. The crowd was singing along so intensely that the ground was literally shaking. I’ve never heard anything like it. What made it even crazier for me was that in the US, concerts are something we totally take for granted. Everyone there was so genuinely excited & I could tell that they were cherishing each moment.⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Saudi, I’ve never seen a country so ready for a change. My guide even taught me how to drift his car which felt like a big deal considering women have only been driving there since 2017!

Image credits: lexielimitless

Is that a world tour or your girl’s tour?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Flexing before this 36 hour trek back to Miami

Image credits: lexielimitless

Honestly the more I travel, the more I feel like I don’t understand anything about a n y t h i n g. The world is filled with such unimaginable complexities. But hey, that’s why I’m here, maybe that’s why we’re all here. To learn. And I couldn’t think of a better teacher than experience

Image credits: lexielimitless

You’ve been here before. It’s the morning after returning home from a life-changing trip. You saw so many amazing places, became immersed in a completely different culture and learned so much about yourself and the world around you. You need to tell someone or anyone that will listen, as if that would help organize all the exciting thoughts running through your mind. You sit down at your laptop, open a blank document and… nothing. You have so much to say but every time you place your fingertips on the keyboard, the right words just won’t come out. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is how I’ve been feeling all the time. I started writing a book a few months ago and I have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve gotten into the habit of only writing when I feel inspired which isn’t the most productive creative process. I’m really excited about this project and becoming a better writer but I have soo much to learn.
What do you guys do to get into a creative mindset and stay there? Any advice would be much appreciated

Image credits: lexielimitless

Here’s 5 interesting facts about Eritrea (for people who’ve never even heard of this country):⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– The country signed a peace treaty in 2018 with Ethiopia, ending a 20 year war.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– 5 1/2 million people live here⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Only 1% of Eritreans have access to the internet.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Their favorite national sport is cycling⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– The capital city, Asmara, is known for vintage ‘30s Italian colonial style buildings which is very unique for this area of Africa. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This photo was taken at a Tank Graveyard outside Asmara. Do you guys want to see a video from this location?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Pieces of advice I’ve benefited from lately: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– If it feels wrong, don’t do it ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Be careful who you surround yourself with, you become them ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Don’t worry about the future, be excited about it
– Life’s too short not to take full advantage of your youth ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Do one thing everyday that scares you
– Don’t take advice from anyone you wouldn’t want to be like
What have you heard recently that inspired you to become a better version of yourself?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ : @fearlessandfar

Image credits: lexielimitless

The world is full of surprises
This was my first time exploring Mexico! Thanks for showing me how much this beautiful country has to offer @fearlessandfar #BeamMeUp

Image credits: lexielimitless

Sunrise in the Lost City of Petra

Image credits: lexielimitless

Sometimes I like to think about what’s happening right now in all the places I’ve ever been, simultaneously. Like a split screen in my mind of all the people rushing around in cars and planes. Mundane buildings in crowded cities and isolated beaches on faraway islands. All the different angles of sunsets and sunrises. There’s so much energy flowing everywhere, constantly. It’s kind of a weird concept to think about but it’s reality and it’s happening all around us. Everyone you’ve ever met is experiencing the world in this very moment through completely different eyes. The thought makes what’s going on in my life seem so small in comparison to the big picture. It’s crazy that we’re all these little interconnected beings roaming around this planet and somehow we all feel so alone sometimes. Imagine if you could see the world from every single person’s point of view at the same time; even for a second. What would that look like?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Wakanda sunsets ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How many photos do you have on your camera roll?
I’m almost to 23,000 I think I may have a problem #sendhelp

Image credits: lexielimitless

I will never forget these moments This mountain gorilla’s eyes were dark brown and her ears looked just like mine. She sat shoulder to shoulder with me, bumping my face with the stems she was eating. I watched her fingertips wrap around the branches and heard her teeth chewing. It was so surreal to be in their presence, especially since we share 98% of the same DNA. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This was by far one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. For anyone that’s heard the stigma that Africa is dangerous and scary to travel through, it’s not true at all! Everyone I met on this trip was so welcoming and eager to make a change in the way the world views their country so they’re extra helpful in every way they can be. Definitely don’t sleep on Rwanda!

Image credits: lexielimitless

Words can’t describe how intense it felt to bask in the breath of this behemoth! Clouds of mist rained down, up and sideways like a fire hose.

It’s crazy how this place was absolutely intense and calm at the same time. I always wondered why I hadn’t seen very many close-up photos of the falls. I quickly discovered it’s literally impossible to capture this place because of the sheer force of it. So I just danced amongst the rush, soaking up all the energy and running around like a stoked little kid.
Have you seen any of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Victoria Falls ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Aurora Borealis ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Harbor of Rio de Janeiro⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Grand Canyon ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Great Barrier Reef ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Mount Everest ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– Parícutin (google it!) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve only seen 3 so far, definitely adding the rest to my evergrowing bucket list!

Image credits: lexielimitless

Definitely my type of morning

Image credits: lexielimitless

You can’t cram all the moments you’ve lived into a grid of square memories. You just can’t. For example, I don’t share photos of all the different types of people who cross my path. I’ve had conversations with all kinds. Yemeni resistance fighters^ going into their 4th year of war. Solo female electricians volunteering in the most remote villages in Papua New Guinea. Everyone from desert nomads living in caves to brain surgeons on 6 week sabbaticals constantly change my whole perspective on life. Theres not enough space for them on my feed because you can never truly capture a persons essence. They wouldn’t get the attention they deserve here anyways. Those people belong in books and films and art because all of us have so much more to say than what can fit on Instagram. This is a beautiful place to connect. We just have to remember that its the beginning of a conversation, not the entire thing.

Image credits: lexielimitless

being this stoked on life all the time can get exhausting ;)

Image credits: lexielimitless

A l o h a Sometimes you need to escape to places that weren’t created by human hands. Places that don’t care if you’re out of shape or that you’re barefoot; somewhere that doesn’t respond to a voice command or traffic lights and whose existence makes you feel small. All we have to do is get off our little electronic gadgets, and take a look around. I’m trying to get better at this myself. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Hawaii is so aesthetically pleasing and that’s why most people come here but there’s so much more to it than that. My friend @kevinophoto talked about the energy of the place and it’s people from such a unique perspective that you wouldn’t pick up on unless you live there. Exploring Oahu with him reminded me how awesome it is to have a local show you around! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo by @kevinophoto

Image credits: lexielimitless

Always an ocean away

Image credits: lexielimitless

At first I felt really guilty about going on this trip. The mission was simple: sneak into North Korea (2nd photo). When that turned out to be a complete fail, I was filled with so much anxiety about making a mistake and wasting money and time. It’s been years since I went somewhere that wasn’t directly working towards breaking the Guinness World Record. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What made me feel better was remembering the night Brynn and I started planning the trip. We realized that we’re the most important person in each other’s lives and we haven’t spent real time together in over a year. We worked until we couldn’t keep our eyes open every day for weeks after that conversation to make this trip a reality. It’s never a convenient time to do something special with your friends. Life gets so busy and friends are usually one of first things that get lost in a mountain of other priorities. But life is short & one day you’ll just be a memory to someone. Make sure it’s a good one

Image credits: lexielimitless

You know what’s better than two lemurs

Image credits: lexielimitless

These cave paintings are some of the oldest ever discovered in Africa! Estimated to date back somewhere between 9,000 and 3,000 years BC, the unbelievably well preserved rock art depicts sacred cattle and the herders who are believed to be the creators of the paintings. The Laas Geel caves are located on the outskirts of Hargeisa, Somaliland which has self-declared independence but is internationally recognized as still being a part of Somalia. Nonetheless, this artwork was painted long before we started drawing up lines between countries. I’m so happy that Somaliland is stable and felt very safe to travel to because having the opportunity to see a piece of history like this in real life was something that I’ll never forget.

Image credits: lexielimitless

I had honestly never heard anything about São Tomé before I traveled there. I was stoked to discover there was like one gas station, a handful of hostels, a fruit stand or two, and only one paved road that lead south. The Portuguese influence has created such a unique culture that I never expected to be there. Huge baobabs were growing right on the beach and there’s a 2000m mountain that literally came out of nowhere! I barely even noticed other travelers and had so many epic views all to myself, this place is definitely Central Africa’s best kept secret

My dream of traveling to every country has been leading me to so many crazy places like this that I didn’t even know existed. São Tomé recharged my soul and gave me the energy I desperately needed to power through the rest of my African adventure. 10/10 would recommend

Image credits: lexielimitless

Regardless of what my eyes see, I’m astonished on a daily basis. It’s been my favorite habit to cultivate & turned out to be one of the things I love most about myself. Being easily entertained has been a essential characteristic to rarely being disappointed when traveling. There’s so much beauty in this world yet even the smallest things never ceases to amazing me.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Word of the day: Empathy⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ➵⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“Open your mind before you open your lips and try to tell someone they’re living the wrong kind of life.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
➵⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Strive to be more empathetic and less judgmental. Open minded individuals only seek to understand, they aren’t interested in deciding who’s right or wrong. They accept that the world is multifaceted, full of contrasting beliefs and that’s both necessary and beautiful.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
➵⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve been working on becoming a better person not only for myself but for the people who choose to be around me. My newest goal for this year is to consciously view the world from the perspective of others. To not put people down, even in my personal thoughts.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Not the Libya you hear about on the news! Although I only spent a few days here my lasting impression was that there’s so much more to the story of this country than you would expect. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I’ve been fascinated by history since I started traveling (the boring stuff they teach us in school never really peaked my interest). Architecture, discovery, the need to create art, worship and explain are some of our earliest legacies as human beings. Thousands of years later, we have so much to learn about ourselves.
In Leptis Magna I learned that the coast of Libya was once apart of the Roman Empire. The ruins here are some of the best preserved in the world because there isn’t a city close by so less people had reason to steal from it…. Never heard about that in history class. I love being immersed in it, even just for the day.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Backpacking for miles to glistening gold country mountain lakes
crackling fire pits, smoke stained flannels
sun kissed scent of manzanita & pine needles
wet paw prints and poison oak and mosquito bites
skinny dipping into turquoise water so cold
it takes your breath away
absorbing heat off the river rocks like rattlesnakes
dreading the hike back to the truck after
drinking under the sun
barefoot and bruised in blue jeans
bohemian drum circles and dreadlocks
dipped in patchouli
Red dirt sticking to sweaty bodies
hot summer nights filled with smoke and Sublime and a symphony of frogs so loud
they deprive you of sleep
soaking in hot springs
under endless jewels in the night sky
meandering around the town that never changes.
Traveling is great, but missing summer in Northern California isn’t. #home #mamayuba

Image credits: lexielimitless

I traveled alone for almost 5 months last year. I had so much time to learn how to be comfortable with myself in uncomfortable situations. It opened up so many opportunities for me to do things and meet people I wouldn’t have if I was traveling with other people. I definitely think traveling alone is something that every person should do once in their lives because its such a powerful catalyst for personal growth. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
That being said, there’s nothing more fun than traveling with people you love. The stoke you share with someone when you finesse a crazy situation or get to an incredible view is out of this world. I have so many memories that no one else will ever be able to relate to because I was alone which is really special but with Brynn, for example, it’s different. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We’ve been creating travel memories for a long time & it’s taken our relationship to a deeper level. I’m grateful we’ll get to remember all these indescribable moments when we’re old. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Do you prefer traveling solo or with friends?

Image credits: lexielimitless

The Korean Peninsula: “one history, one culture, one language, one blood” Historically unified, currently politically divided, but a people that belong as one. Here’s to future peace & reconciliation ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you to Jai, our insightful & impressively fit 75 year old guide, for sharing his perspective on North & South Korea.

Image credits: lexielimitless

Dreamscape I was honestly nervous to head back to Africa this time for a few reasons- I didn’t have much time to plan this one out and the last trip through West/Central Africa took a real toll on me both physically and mentally. Thankfully expectations don’t always align with reality! It’s only been a few days but I’m stoked that everything has been going great so far. Almost lost my phone today but thankfully 6 strangers rallied together to help find it Up next… a country I’ve never been to before !! First tangible step forward this year towards breaking the world record. Feels good to be back

Image credits: lexielimitless

Life has been throwing an above average number of new obstacles into my path lately… yet I’m so happy to embrace these challenges and grow from them because they are entirely the result of my own choices.
I run farther and farther away from routine everyday. Taking a leap of faith first and planning the rest second. The lack of stability or set plans has me a little bit (aka a lot) anxious… but I’m also pumped to see what the next few months will bring. Just me, my backpack and my crazy dreams.
Truth be told, the road less traveled by is terrifying… I guess if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.
If anyone needs me I’ll be lost in the middle of nowhere chasing magic

Image credits: lexielimitless

Euro summer >

Image credits: lexielimitless

One of my favorite parts about urban exploration: STREET ART! I’ve been obsessed with graffiti since I discovered Banksy and Shepard Fairey in my high school art class. It’s incredible that artists can transform the side of a boring building into a canvas. These photos are from Europe and Korea but I’ve seen amazing graffiti in almost every country I’ve been to.
Where in the world have you seen the best street art?

Image credits: lexielimitless

Yemen

Image credits: lexielimitless

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