A former accountant quit his job to travel the world and has already visited 115 countries around the world.
Ian Huddart (59) from Tonbridge, Kent, plans to visit a further 23 countries in the future, having already snowboarded in a helicopter in Sochi, Russia and white-water rafted the Zambezi.
Mr Huddart, a retired chartered accountant, is now regularly accompanied by members of his family.
He seems to have passed the travel down to his daughter, who has traveled to nearly 60 countries in her early twenties.
After graduating with a degree in mathematics from the University of Bristol in 1986, Mr. Huddard worked night shifts in a bakery in Chislehurst so he could save enough money to buy a plane ticket around the world.
This map shows countries around the world, with the dark blue boxes showing where Ian has been on his travels
Mr Huddart, 59, from Tonbridge, Kent, has visited 115 countries around the world and plans to add another 23 to his list by the end of 2024.
After working in the bakery for four months, Ian left South East London and headed to South East Asia before experiencing life in Australia, New Zealand and South America.
Speaking about his favorite experience abroad, the veteran traveler said his best memory was Tikal – the ruins of an ancient city – in Guatemala.
The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of Tikal National Park and one of the largest centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.
“It’s a lot less known than a lot of well-known sites and I think that’s why it felt so special to me when I first saw it, because I knew so little about it,” Huddard told The Telegraph.
Returning to the site 30 years later with his family, they watched the sunset from one of the pyramids at Tikal.
“It was absolutely stunning and I think my wife knew at the time that I wasn’t overstating it, even though I had been talking about it for years,” he continued.
Ian plans to visit Senegal before the end of 2023, with trips to Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar (formerly Burma) on his agenda in 2024.
When asked what advice he would give to anyone wanting to travel and explore the world, Mr. Huddard said, “Don’t be afraid.” I’ve had some bad experiences along the way and you’ll meet some nice people along the way. manner.
“Just book a flight to a place you’ve never been, get on the plane and walk around on the other side and enjoy it all,” he added.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
