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.
Hosted by Matt Bowles
306: Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Racing Tuk-Tuks Across Asia with Ric Gazarian
Episode #306: Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Racing Tuk-Tuks Across Asia with Ric Gazarian
Hosted by Matt Bowles
306: Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Racing Tuk-Tuks Across Asia with Ric Gazarian
Episode Summary
Get The Maverick Show's
Monday Minute Newsletter
Kick off each week with 3 personal
recommendations from me that
you can read in 60 seconds.
About the Guest
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
Links From the Episode
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. If you click through any links and make a purchase, you should assume that Maverick will receive financial compensation (at no additional cost to you). We greatly appreciate you using our affiliate links because it helps to support the show and cover production costs of the podcast.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAVERICK SHOW’S MONDAY MINUTE EMAIL NEWSLETTER
JOIN RIC AND MATT AT THE EXTRAORDINARY TRAVEL FESTIVAL IN BANGKOK IN NOVEMBER 2024
(Use Code “Maverick” at Checkout for a Special Discount)
LISTEN TO RIC’S COUNTING COUNTRIES PODCAST
JOIN THE TRAVEL MASSIVE NETWORK
OTHER MAVERICK SHOW PODCAST GUESTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
TRAVEL COMPANY MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
BIG BODY OF WATER MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN ARMENIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN CAMBODIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN EGYPT MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN GEORGIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
HIGHLIGHTS IN MYANMAR MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN SYRIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN THAILAND MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACE IN TURKEY MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
BOOK MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Ric: Bangkok, Thailand
OTHER PERSON MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Artsakh
- Azerbaijan
- Baku
- Beirut
- Boston
- Brazil
- Budapest
- Cambodia
- Caucasus
- Chennai
- Georgia
- Hongkong
- India
- Marseille
- Middle East
- Myanmar
- New York
- Philippines
- Serbia
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- Turkey
CONTACT AND FOLLOW 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
Recent Episodes
The Maverick Show
Getting file data...