Episode #306: Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Racing Tuk-Tuks Across Asia with Ric Gazarian

Episode Summary

Learn about traveling through Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and what it’s like to travel across a country by Tuk-Tuk. Ric Gazarian starts off talking about his family’s history escaping the Armenian Genocide in 1915 and eventually making their way to Boston, Massachusetts where he grew up. He reflects on his first visit to Armenia and how his Armenian identity has evolved as he visited every year for over 20 years.  Ric explains the history of Nagorno-Karabakh and shares his experience visiting multiple times.  Next, he talks about his experience racing through the Caucuses, and then about driving across both India and Cambodia in a Tuk-Tuk.  Ric reflects on the unique experiences and local encounters that this mode of travel enables, and what it was like to capture it all in an award-winning documentary film.  He then talks about his love for Southeast Asia, shares tips on the most interesting festivals in Thailand, and why Myanmar is so special to him.  Finally Ric talks about being the Asia coordinator for Travel Massive, a 60,000 person travel industry network.

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Ric Gazarian

Ric Gazarian (better known as “Global Gaz”) is an Armenian-American travel content creator who has spent time in 180 countries on all 7 continents. He is an author, photographer, and award-winning documentary film maker who has produced two films that follow his adventures racing a tuk tuk across both India and Cambodia. Born and raised in Boston, Ric now maintains a base in Bangkok, Thailand but travels most of the year on his quest to visit all 193 UN recognized countries. He is the Bangkok Chapter Leader as well as the Asia Coordinator for Travel Massive, a 60,000 person travel industry network.  Ric is also the host of the Counting Countries podcast, where he publishes long-form interviews with the world’s most traveled people. And, he is also the founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival—the largest gathering of avid, accomplished, and adventurous travelers in the world. The first event was held in Armenia in 2022, and the second event is coming up in Bangkok in November, 2024.

What You'll Learn
  • Family Stories from Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora
  • The Most Interesting Festivals in Thailand to Attend
  • The Unique Experiences and Encounters when Driving a Tuk Tuk Across a Country
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JOIN THE TRAVEL MASSIVE NETWORK

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FOLLOW AND CONTACT RIC

Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[1:00] Introducing Ric Gazarian

[3:20] Living in Bangkok, Thailand

[6:48] Ric’s Armenian Family History

[9:59] Growing up in an Armenian Immigrant Home in Boston

[11:11] Developing an Interest in Travel

[14:11] Career Trajectory

[15:52] First Trip Back to Armenia

[18:24] Visiting Armenia Every Year for 20 Years

[20:04] How the Historical Persecution of Armenians Has Shaped Ric’s Worldview

[21:32] The History of the Republic of Artsakh

[25:06] Visiting Nagorno-Karabakh Multiple Times

[27:03] Tips for Visiting Armenia Today

[30:01] Road Rally Through the Caucuses

[34:01] Racing a Tuk-Tuk Across India and Making an Award-Winning Documentary

[37:37] Racing a Tuk-Tuk Across Cambodia and Making Another Documentary

[39:05] Unique Experiences and Encounters when Traveling by Tuk-Tuk

[41:57] Deciding to Move to Thailand

[45:15] Best Festivals in Thailand

[48:50] Travel Massive

[50:19] Myanmar