Meet 79-year-old Luisa Yu, the globetrotter who visited all 193 countries

If you love travelling, then your travel wishlist will be never-ending. However, if you find yourself short of inspiration, Luisa Yu, a 79-year-old Filipino American globetrotter, will motivate you for sure. She achieved a remarkable feat by accomplishing her lifelong dream of exploring the world by visiting 193 countries over the past half-century. As per her words, her passion for travel ignited in her youth, which was inspired by the captivating scenes of nature, rivers, and mountains in movies.

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Reflecting on her early aspirations, Ms. Yu shared, "When I [went to] the movies, I [saw] this beautiful backdrop about the scenery, the nature, the rivers, the mountains, and that fascinated me. That's why I always thought someday I will go to these places and travel."

Ms. Yu came to the United States as an exchange student at the age of 23, and started her travel adventures within the country due to her status. She used to take a Greyhound bus, visited different states, and enjoyed the experience of waking up in a new location the next day.Transitioning from a career in medical technology to become a travel agent, Ms. Yu sought greater flexibility to pursue her wanderlust. Over the past five decades, she explored European countries like Italy, ventured to Asian nations, such as Thailand, and also explored African nations like Libya, along with Middle Eastern destinations like Iran.

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Driven by her desire to witness the historical and cultural significance of diverse locations, Ms. Yu decided to visit all 193 member states of the United Nations, despite potential dangers in some areas. She expressed her motivation, saying, "Even though [some places were considered] dangerous, I said, 'I think I can do this. I want to see these places [with] my own eyes because there's a lot of history and culture that happened there.'"

Completing her ambitious goal on November 9, 2023, in Serbia, Ms. Yu received an enthusiastic welcome from supporters.
Encouraging others to pursue their travel aspirations, Ms. Yu stressed the importance of taking initiative, stating, "Don't be afraid, just go. Don't wait for anybody, because if you wait, it will never happen."