Viva CdW!

Mr Secretary,

It is with great pleasure that at long last I share new country news.

Revolution! I have broken away from the dictatorship of travel to already visited countries and at long last conquer my 63rd country - Cuba. What better liberation can there be than the land of rum, sugar cane, 1950ies Buicks, Che and Castro with its infectious music, warm hearted people and beautiful countryside. Needless to say, libation of Cristal beer and mojitos accompanied our visit. May country number 64 be not far away and just as fun.

With much respect and salutations to you, Mr. Secretary, and all my fellow club members.

Caryn de Walden

Bonne Anniversaire!

Mr. Secretary,

Ms. Ridley and I report a first visit for us both to Morocco – we went for an early celebration of the 25^th anniversary of an event which 3 other of our esteemed members attended: our wedding! [sec'y's note: those would be our Honorary Past President, Mr Hovig, Mr Brady and yrs truly].

In fulfillment of article 3.1 we sampled local beer, Flag, wine, see attached as well as numerous G&Ts as we explored the medina in Marrekech and the rugged Atlas mountains.

Cheers!

Yours faithfully,

Duncan & Robin

Ukraine a go-go!

I am pleased to report my visit to Ukraine.

In addition to visiting Kiev, I visited Crimea, which is an autonomous republic (but may NOT be counted as a new country, as per instructions from our Secretary, alas)

While on my visit, I did the needful with, among others, Lvivske beer (delicious).

Balkanized

Yr sec'y traveled nearly 6000 kilometers from Amsterdam to Albania on his BMW R1200 GS and visited Albania, Macedonia and Serbia for the first time while observing naturally Article 3.1 requirements along the way.

Dalai Dublin

Your secretary visited Ireland earlier this week. The conference I was in grew absolutely electric when word went around that the Dalai Lama had walked into the hotel lobby and chatted up people there. Others reported seeing him multiple times in the lift. I could find him nowhere, and made my way back to my room, only to pass him in the hall; he was sharing a giggle with another saffron robed monk. Beats a Guinness. Here's a link to what he was doing there.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0413/dalailama.html

An Outlet Survey

Mr Secretary,

As you can see from the photos I combined some spiced rum tasting with an condom outlet check in St. Lucia (a new country for me).
Each bar has its own recipe, some much better than others.
What I tasted was quite the concoction as you can see from the expression on my face.

Here is a more conventional recipie if you want to move past Captain Morgan.

• whole star anise
• 1/2 3-inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 allspice berries
• 2 cardamom pods
• 1/4 ounce (1/2 tablespoon) freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 liter light rum
• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
• Strips of peel from 1 whole orange
  & lemon

Rock Bottom?

Mr Secretary,

Since my induction as the 18th member of The Country Club in February 2010, I have planned with little success to visit a new country. Most recently, a December snow storm thwarted my plans to spend my 50th birthday with Mr Earle in Livingstone, Zambia (and neighboring Zimbabwe which would increase my country scorecard by two). See first attached photo - doesn't Mr Earle look a bit off?.

Finally, in early March, I had the opportunity to visit New Delhi, India for the first time. I was surprised by the many green spaces in Delhi - tree lined boulevards, parks and gardens. The second photo was taken at the Imperial Hotel with my UNDP colleague Andrea P. who then dragged me off to our real destination [See email for the rest of the story!]

Sincerely yours from the rock bottom rung,

Ms Ridley

Mr W Suggests a Competition

As you know, the world will welcome its newest country in July when Sudan splits in two. I request a clarification re how the Club will treat this split. Will those who have visited Sudan receive credit for North Sudan, and will South Sudan be the new country? Or have you and the Governors made other provisions? However you plan to approach it, I suggest we launch a contest to challenge our members to see who will be the first to visit the new country. A prize should be offered. I have suggestions. [Sec'y's note. Students of the By-Laws of our fine Club will cite Chapter 3 "Definition of a Country Visited" and Article 3.4, which states "A Visited Country that, subsequent to the qualifying visit, splits into two or more countries, can only be counted as a single Visited Country. The Member will elect which of the issuing countries shall be recorded as a Visited Country."].

Shaken but Not Stirred

Mr Sempliner writes:

I was waiting in the lounge here at Narita Airport (Tokyo) yesterday afternoon for my connecting flight to San Francisco when the earth literally moved, windows swayed and things began to drop from the ceiling. Women began crying, lights flickered and it was like being in a bad movie. All pretty dramatic and the worst earthquake I've ever experienced. Needless to say my flight, in fact all flights, were cancelled as we continued to have aftershocks all afternoon. At first we were asked to leave the terminal for a few hours on the tarmac. Once back inside disorder reigned... well, as much as it is going to in Japan, and I slept on an airport bench for the first time in years.

This morning I found that the office had re-booked me on today’s flight. A good thing too, people (foreigners really) are beginning to get petulant. On reflection I’m glad I was in Japan when this happened. If this sort of thing had happened in New York or LA it would have been even more of a nightmare.

Shaken but not stirred,

Sandy

Our Beloved Founder Comes to Dinner

Ms v/H cooked, our Founder regaled, and yours truly took a picture. :)

No Cooler in Finland

Mr Secretary,

Hello from freezing Helsinki! The word arctic has a new meaning for me since walking around in a city with -3F temperatures. Had an Italian red wine over a business dinner last night and a German white with lunch. This is probably the one country where a wine cellar needs a heater. The red, although nice, was served at room temperature and was still too cold! There is so much snow that one simply has to believe in the existence of the abominable snowman!

Ms v/H

Mr. Warshauer visits DRC

I spent most of last week enjoying Kinshasa and did the needful there with several Primus beers. I believe this visit further extends my lead over other club members for visits on the continent, although I'm sure our esteemed Secretary can confirm. The city is one big construction site and the central boulevard has been widened to be 8 lanes (at the cost of all the trees that used to line it, alas), creating some rather amazing pedestrian crossing challenges. I had a great visit, my only regret being that I left on the day that Papa Wemba was giving a big concert in town. Prochaine fois!

Metaphoric in Manila

Mr Secretary,

Here in the dank underworld of the Country Club cellar, where mirth and happiness are unknown, we still have our pride. We dream of one day toppling the masters of the universe who rule so capriciously from above in their all expenses paid business class seats. I'm proud to report having removed one more brick from the wall of oppression by arriving in Manila and drinking deeply from the river of golden San Miguel that flows so powerfully here.

Respectfully yours,

J.A. Sempliner

Mao-tini

Dear Sir,

I write to you from Peking where the heroes of the risibly named Peoples Liberation Army seem to have developed a prodigious taste for Gucci, Burberry, Maserati, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and every other conceivable sort of western consumer goods. I have consumed a martini.

Unsure whether my previous visits to Hong Kong and Macau count as China visits or otherwise I write to confirm presence in the heart of the beast . Those of us in the cellar of the country club always identify with the proletarian struggle!

The East is red,

Sandy

[Secretary's note: Mr Sempliner has indeed already visited China when he traveled to Hong Kong and Macau]

A White Nile

Mr Secretary,

Having a white “Chateau du jardin Nil” while overlooking the Nile River from the Four Seasons Hotel bar. Not a bad way to start my first visit to Egypt!

Ms v/H

KyleManDu

Mr Secretary,

Our fellow traveller, Andrew Boner, is one blessed boy. I thought Turkey and Morocco were the best places to visit, until I experienced Nepal. Maury, six- year old son, Finn, and I trekked in the Himalaya and safaried on elephant back in the Nepal jungle. All of this was part of Maury and my sabbaticals. Along the way, we drank a few Everest beers and sipped millet "Roxie."

Hope everyone has a great holiday and look forward to adding a few more countries to the list next year!

Namaste

Kyle

Sophia is (not only) the Capital of Bulgaria

Mr Secretary,

I hope that our newly born, Sophia, will also become a great traveller.
She is in good hands though, so we foresee the best for her.

Meanwhile, for the short term I hope this change in life will not
affect my new countries record too much...

Cheers,

Mr v/d Z

The Real Country Club

Mr Secretary,

Like the real IRA I sometimes wonder if there should not be a “real” Country Club. The qualifying criteria would be that you paid for your own ticket and did not claim that beer on expenses. Now that would truly clear the hard core travellers from the expense account boys.

With humble respect,

Mr J.A. (Sandy) Sempliner

For the List of Counties Re-Visited

I have been meaning to update you on recent ‘re-visits’ and ‘expanded’ visits -
In October I went to Zanzibar for the first time and while Tanzania has been on my circuit for some time, the magic of the legendary island did not disappoint … nor did the Safari beers and South African wines.
Also in October I made my first ever legal visit to Ghana … yes, I have been to and imbibed of local nectars, bottled and not, but never before having transited a legal border with a visa …
It was hardly a visit as it was largely spent in the Airport Holiday Inn in a meeting – the Accra Airport Holiday Inn is still very much more Accra, West Africa than Holiday Inn, Generica. We did manage to fit in – no exaggeration – the most harrowing, scary, holy-shit-we-are-all-gonna-die taxi ride of my life! One of our local hosts decided to have a bunch of us – five taxis worth, plus one lost taxi – over to his house for dinner. His very nice house, deep in an Accra neighborhood, a la quartier ouest-africaine, would have taken us 90 minutes to 2 hours to reach had we labored through the absurd rush hour. Instead, a scene out of Too Fast Too Furious ensued in which these guys decided we would emulate a VIP motorcade – lights flashing, horns blaring, high speed overtaking with a game of chicken with each oncoming lorry – we are talking West African long-haul semis – as one of the drivers put it, with 5 cars, even the cops are afraid to stop us in case there really is a VIP in the group! It was 25 minutes of dusty, wrong-way around-the-roundabout, who can cut it closer, scariness followed by a delightful peanut stew with cold beers, wine and Talisker, and a much quieter trip home.
So no new countries, but memorable nonetheless!
Best,
Duncan

And in the 7th Year, He Traveled

Mr Peterson writes about a recent visit to Chile, bringing him to 63 countries and out of a three way tie for 11th, with Ms de Walden and Mr Karam.

"Winds from Patagonia"

I’m just back from a ten-day hiking trip to the famous Torres del Paine on the Chilean side of Patagonia.

Click here to see it: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=define:+sabbatical&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

While there, I tasted some delicious reds, which we packed in for the hike. A highly recommended cabernet is the Montes Alpha. I also enjoyed several Austral cervezas under the famous “Paine Horns” that are featured on the beer can label.

As this is the start of a two-month sabbatical, more posts with new country entries will be coming in soon. . .

Kyle

Secretary's Note: Below is Mr P's original posting, lost until two months after this posting:

Mr. Secretary,

The good winds have carried me to a new country, Chile, where I have just enjoyed ten days of hiking and kayaking in the Patagonia wilderness. I recommend the Pale Ale from the Austral brewery and sipped one under the famous Horns in the Torres del Paine National Park. The Montes Alpha Cab is also quite nice after a long hike. I nearly bagged Argentina, only a few kilometers away, but will do so the next time I'm here.

I have two months off and restless feet - stay tuned.

Salud

Kyle

Duke of Earle Maps!

Our Founder Maps!

Mr Peterson Maps!!!

Put your TravBuddy Map on The Country Club Pages

1. Go to http://www.travbuddy.com/
2. Register
3. Complete the Countries Visited Map
4. Copy and send me the html code for the small map.

Takes 5 minutes.

The Country Club Meets TravBuddy

Mr Clancy Joins Club, 20th Member

The Governors and Members of the Country Club today welcome Mr Clancy into our coterie. Mr Clancy enters in fifth place on the Club Ladder, at 81 countries. VTY, yr (very slow in updating our proceedings) sec'y

Back on the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Mr. Secretary,

It is with relief that I write to let you know I have finally broken what must be the longest drought in Club history. I am enjoying Hanoi and finally moved off of 69 countries by imbibing a "Bia Ha Noi" here last night. Given my new global mandate, I hope this is the first in a series of regular updates on new countries to come from me.

Yours in Transit,

Will

Ms v/H gets a clegg up

Ms v/H breaks up the three way tie for 16th and writes:

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I would like to report my recent and first visit to South Africa, at Mpumalanga, to be specific, for a business conference where beside many technical meetings and discussions, several social meetings took place and fine South African wines were tasted. My South African business colleagues Messrs. Clegg and Stretch (pictured) are not Country Club Members yet but did compare notes on having visited over 40 African States, which I in any case consider impressive.

Regards, MvH

Are You Sure It is the Water?

Mr Brady writes (as he goes one up on Mr Negus)

Chris Brady on THE White Nile (origin near Lake Victoria, Uganda)

Nile Nile Nile – it is the water and it makes me smile.

Fishing eagles and thirsty nomads are common images along the Nile

Note: Nile Special (5.6% ABV) has been the flagship brand of Nile Breweries for the past 50 years.

Misanthropically Yours :)

Although their English is hardly understandable,

their country pretty much like the US - but then way more expensive, their people even more voluminous, and their tourists all of their economy, the beaches of the Bahamians are white, their waters fresh, and most importantly: their Kalik Gold very refreshing! BvdZ

Greeley nearly sips KoolAid in Jonestown

(Apologies for taking a month to post this piece from the National Enquirer)

Earlier this week, upon arriving at the airport in Georgetown, I was met by a blurry eyed charismatic looking man donning a Hawaiian type shirt who called himself “Mr. Jones”. He asked if I would be interested in joining him to visit his “community” somewhere in the idyllic countryside of Guyana. He said there would be women, tall grass and tasty drinks. Since I am a curious man at heart, and I had never been to Guyana before, I rejoiced in this invitation and headed towards his car. As I was about to get in, a tall, rather good looking man jumped out in front of me screaming “David, don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” And thank God I was saved, and by no less than a fine newcomer to the Country Club, Chris Brady. Chris whisked me away in his limo, without my even being able to bid farewell to “Jim” -and thank God he did. The rest of my sojourn in this South American/Caribbean nation was peaceful, and, most importantly, I am back stateside to be able to tell you about it. And yes, Chris did suggest we indulge in local Guyanese Bank’s beer (as the attached photo attests to) rather than drinking Jim Jones “Kool-Aid” and your never hearing from me, the Country Club Founder, Governor and sometimes Benevolent Dictator, again.

Brady & Negus in Lockstep

Messrs B & N both made the move to 73 countries.

Mr Negus wrote from the Dominican Republic of a sip of red shortly after arrival. Mr Brady, wrote on June 5 "I am flying through Bangkok after a full week with MSI's Vietnamese crew (quick project design mission for the government). Soumitro was there at the same time developing a different proposal. As you can see we dined with Carlos Ferreros. Always interesting to hear his stories and learn about DKT's approach to social marketing. Of course there was also Lots of reminiscing and comparing stories .. .the good Ol PSI days and host of characters --

In any event Vietnam represents a new country for me. Various alcoholic drinks were consumed, and thoroughly enjoyed in Hanoi. But what I really blew me away was the food. I plan on trying some powerful new recipes back in Santa Barbara."

Ms v/H creates three way tie for 16th

Ms v/H rang last night to describe a qualifying cabernet sipped in a bucolic location one hour north of Oslo. This brings her to 54 countries, tied with Mr Sempliner and Ms Thuermer.

Odessa - Amsterdam is 2800 kilometers

Yours truly traveled to four new countries en route home from Odessa, including Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Article 3.1 of our by-laws was strictly applied and my experience is that the qualifying beverages are far superior to the food. Here, the Moldovan Cabernet is the only non-frightening thing on the table (that is a schnitzel in Slovakia).

Amsterdam-Odessa is 3200 kilometers

Yours truly is in Odessa resting from nine days of riding my motorcycle from Amsterdam to what "in your pocket Ukraine" calls "the world's most wretched roads." I'm on the Ride-On Motortours 16 day "Ukraine All Road" trip. A fine Ukrainian Cabernet from the south Crimea makes the visit qualifying and my 85th country. Tomorrow, inshallah, Moldova. Below, the route from L'viv to Sinovir.

Mr v/d Z takes the Midnight Train

To (the other) Georgia, his 90th Country. Red wine made the visit qualifying.

Dana Eyjafjallajoekull Gets a Century!

I write these words from Doha, Qatar, where I am stuck on my way home from Nepal to London. I believe this is my 100^thcountry visit. I guess there is a silver lining in every (volcano) cloud.

It is a fitting way for one of us to reach the century mark, truly representative of our club’s karma. This visit wasn’t planned. It wasn’t desired, as I want to get home. And on my way here, I didn’t even realize Doha was in a separate country – I thought it was one of the Emirates, like Dubai, which I have already visited.

To mark this century, I would like to propose to our grand poobahs and esteemed Board of Governors that we rename our humble club the Eyjafjallajoekull country club, after the volcano that pushed me, unwillingly, over this milestone.

Hereafter, we would call ourselves Eyjafjallajoekull-ians. We would greet each other with the words: May you live long, prosper, and Eyjafjallajoekull. Our founding members would be described as “Eyjafjallajoekull-icious”. The only requirement to enter the club would be to pronounce Eyjafjallajoekull 3 times, while standing on one foot, patting our heads, and rubbing our tummies. When any of us reach the 100 country mark, we would officially change our last names to Eyjafjallajoekull, thus truly becoming travelling brothers and sisters.

As in most good Middle Eastern countries, the scotch flows here. And it is flowing through me, as I await my fate.

Yours in suspended animation and travel.

Dana Eyjafjallajoekull

Is Mr Brady Too Short?

Welcome from Beirut- that makes it 72 for me, and a tie with Mr. Brady. I have several other secret (and new) destinations lined up for the next two months, so I guess Chris is the one who needs to stay on his toes now....

David

Ballet slippers for Mr Negus

Mr Secretary,

I must admit that this is embarrassing, but just realized that Ecuador was left off the original list submitted. I spent a week there for work in 2005. As you can imagine, cervezas were consumed. Sorry to hit you with a trip, retroactively -

Saludos

Chris

PS. 72 has a good ring - It'll keep the others on their toes ---

et tu, Mr Greeley

Mr vdZ's announcement below moves Mr Greeley into third for the first time in the long and fine history of our club. No news yet if vdZ made it to Qatar, which is so close to Bahrain that a bridge is being built. vdZ has, with these visits, 9 of 13 countries in the Middle East.

Dear Secretary,

UAEE!! This would normally have been another exclamatory, but I felt this was
exceptionally slightly more appropriate: as United Are these Emirates as I am currently
with my Foster's bEEr. Could you confirm that this brings yours truly in a new
interesting position in our dear Club's ladder!? But more importantly: I am starting my retour
to A'dam on Friday with a two-day visit to BAHREIN, but haven't so far been able to track down
whether there are neat little boats or so from this island to the peninsula-country a tiny bit East
from it. Would you, or in fact any other of our distinguished members with travel
experience in the area, perhaps have a TCC suggestion for me?

BvdZ

IceSave

Mr Negus writes:

Since the newly arrived Mr Brady entered with 71 countries, and I have been stuck at 70 since joining, this has pushed me to immediately make a move. I passed through Reykjavik yesterday..... Icelandic Schnapps was consumed, and additional quantities were purchased for later consumption.

The Brady Bunch

Mr Brady enters the club ladder at a higher longitude than originally advertised. Rather than being at our southern end, he is substantially north of our equator (at 71 countries in fact, north of Mr Negus, and in a remarkable sixth position). Apologies for the under estimation. Mr Brady takes the lead in the Pacific Ocean, having visited four countries there, and the Caribbean, with one more country than our beloved Chairman and Founder. He also ties our Honorary Past President with nine countries in South America. Welcome Mr Brady!

No Country for (Not So) Old Men

[Our beloved Honorary Past President writes about a December 2009 visit to PNG]

Port Moresby is not high on my list of places to return to. A hard place to
get to. I needed 4 flights and about 36 hours. Violent, depressing,
corrupt, overrun by Australians extracting raw materials and precious
metals. I met the acting Prime Minister, but could only highlight the
issue of violence against women there, and the need for family planning
and services for gender-based violence. Others from the country club
will have to travel to PNG to tackle the other problems...

I understand that the rest of Papua is amazing, with unbeatable flora,
fauna, and gentle people. Perhaps in another life, I can visit there,
bypassing Port Moresby.

On the bright side, an unintended consequence of the Australian invasion
is the easy availability of high quality reds. So I had a nice bottle
of Shiraz in my hotel room, since I was cooped up there after dark,
cowering from the violence and lawlessness.....

Persian Golf

This week at the Ghallah Wentworth Golf Club in Oman, an 18-hole desert course with punishingly domed browns, Ms v/H lines up for a par putt and a one stroke lead on yr sec'y (not pictured, brow knitted). Our honorary past president and the peripatetic Mr v/d Z visited here recently and praised it highly, and, given the ease with which one can make a visit here qualifying, we now see why (a bright Spanish rose shall be noted for these proceedings).

Lake Victoria Sundowner

My obligatory alcoholic beverage taken with friends on their boat on Lake Victoria. Can I count this as two countries since, as you will notice, I have two glasses of wine in hand?

Mr Karam goes to Uganda

Speaking of irony. I have just visited my 62 country -- Uganda. I was about to invite you to the obligatory alcoholic beverage and I receive this e-mail. OK Dana, I might not be able to join you to celebrate your 100th country since I have a serious aversion to cold and snow, but please try and join me for a drink in Uganda for my 62nd country.

I have a overriding commitment tonight so I cannot make your reception, but I hope to run into you in the next two days.

Regards,
Bob

A Message from the Honorary Past President, Mr Hovig

Dear Country Clubbers,

I would like to invite you all to an important upcoming milestone. I may
be reaching my century in early 2010. To do so, I need your help, and
hopefully your participation.

I am currently at 98 countries. Short of an act of the gods, I will
visit Papua New Guinea in about 3 weeks to log my 99th.

The secretary and I have been conspiring on how best to celebrate the
century. We want to make the 100th country special. The club has
wielded the iron fist of irony since its founding. So what could be more
ironic than to visit one of the smallest countries in the world to mark
the century.

We would like you to join us for a weekend of skiing in Davos. Not a
country, I know. At least not yet. But it borders on Lichtenstein,
which would be a new country for many of us.

The plan would be as follows:
* fly into Zurich on Friday February 12th, and rent a car and make our
way to Davos (about 1 hour 45 minutes).
* I would return to London on Monday or Tuesday evening (February 15 or
16), after much new powder, lots'o grog, and hopefully muchas travel
stories around the fire in the evenings.
* sometime during the weekend, we would scoot to Lichtenstein for a
drink or dinner, or we could just stop along the way on Friday evening.

Can all let me know by the end of November whether you are interested in
joining yr sec'y and me in Davos in mid-February. I would need to know how
many are coming, and dates of arrival and departure, so that I can work
on a place for us to stay. If you would like to stay longer than 3-4
days, that is fine. But I will probably leave on Monday, unless a bunch
of you will be there thru Tuesday, in which case I'd leave Tuesday eve.

And feel free to invite select, well chosen non-country clubbers and
partners if you'd like. Select, in that they must be fun, and be ready
for lots of long winded tales of travel brilliance and buffoonery.

I hope to see you in Davos!

DANA

Ms. de Walden

Mr. Secretary and esteemed Country Club members,

It is with great joy that I convey my new status as married and Ms. Caryn de Walden. As such, Club records to be amended for my new name. While our wedding was glorious and memorable in France, alas it did not constitute a new country. And despite my efforts to honeymoon in my coveted new country visit of Belarus - Jan would have no part of it. May I ask does marriage enable including countries by marriage? That would finally provide a leap in my count which malheursement has been stagnate for the last few years. But then again, the best thing about the country club is the visit to new countries. I will strive on.

Cheers from a very rainy London, Caryn

A Castle in the Kingdom

Yr sec'y enjoyed a Castle beer in the Kingdom of Swaziland this past week. That makes 83 countries, and 20 since our founding seven years ago, which is just under three countries per year. At this rate, I'll have visited all countries in 2046. -s

Nipping at Greeley's Heels

Dear Secretary,

Unfortunately failed to go to Gaza City, and find myself in Rabat now, the good news of which, however, is that unlike the former this charming Atlantic city is situated in - and in fact since half a century is the capital of - a country. Let me come to the point: a new country, MOROCCO. Finding alcoholic liquids rather than say cashewnuts is untrivial, but I'm confident to succeed in that...

Cheerio, yours ever, BvdZ

Secretary's note. This put Mr v/d Z at 87 countries, just one shy of our founder and chairman. Oh, and your sec'y enjoyed a Beer Lao in Vientiane last week. -s

Source of the Nile

Yr sec'y ordered and tasted a White Nile, southern Sudan's first beer from its newly built brewery, last night in a bar on the eastern bank of the eponymous river in Juba. Tastes a bit too fluvial, and it was quickly abandoned for a Tusker Malt, which, funny enough, was also had in Kampala earlier in the week. Kwaheri, Mr Earle!

v/d Z downs Viking

Mr v/d Z reported, via text message, "ICELAND, 86!"

Tanzania Chapter Meeting

Mr Secretary,
I am not sure this constitutes irrefutable evidence – the foto is blurry but we were still quite decent at this point - but I was in Tanzania recently and met up with a fellow country clubber for a sun-downer and, as it turned out, an excellent Ethiopian meal. The world weary will recognise this this as the terrace of the Irish pub on the water in north Dar es Salaam.

So my thanks to Robert for taking the initiative. Great evening. Grant.

Negus Elected 16th Member

Mr Negus, having received an aye from a 3/4ths majority of the members of our fine club, has been duly elected. Welcome!

My apologies to Mr Bob van der Zwaan who through an oversight was omitted from our correspondence on this.

The List of Countries Visited and The Club Ladder have been duly modified. Mr Negus enters at sixth with a total of 70 countries, half of which in Africa. Mr Grant asked about the delta of Mr Negus, who estimated it at three to five countries per year.

Bon voyage, Yr sec'y.

Mr K Embibes Entire City

Mr K writes "Oh BTW, I did manage to get to Namibia and drink a Windhoek. At this rate I will catch up to the leader in about a hundred years and five years to catch up with our nominee."

v/d Z gets Gold Star, 85th Country

Mr v/d Z is on the move again, this time to Israel, his 85th country. Anyone want to wager which region he aims to complete next?

Yr sec'y sipped a vieux magon in old Tunis last month too, putting him once again in a tie for fourth with Mr Earle.

Hoe Hoe Hovig visits Sierra Leone

I was in Sierra Leone a few months back. Had a bit of a swill at the bar in Freetown where Leonardo Di Caprio first met the hottie in the movie Blood Diamond. I tried my best to look rakish like Leo. Alas, I'm sure I resembled a less attractive garden tool in our shed....

You Gotta Have Heart

Mr Heart, after a lost demi-decade, wrote in to report that he lived in Lebanon from 2006-2007, where he learned about scotch whiskey. This moves Leigh to 69 countries, tied with WW.

Rhodes on the Road

Mr Rhodes has been on the road, just not notifying your secretary.  He has recorded visits to Bosnia, Croatia, Portugal, Indonesia, Malaysia and, pictured here (I think) is Ukraine.  Mr Rhodes leaps up two places in the club ladder and trails Mr Karam by one.  

Sempliner Recalls 12 Year Old Hong Kong Visit, 54th Country

Mr Sempliner recalled a visit to Hong Kong 12 years ago, resulting in the addition of China to his tally.  

Oman! v/d Z Opens Middle East Lead

Amsterdam, 8 February, 2008.  Mr v/d Z sent word via SMS of his sixth country visit to the Middle East, this time to Oman, opening a one country lead on Mr Karam.  Close observers of these proceedings will recognize the seasonality of v/d Z's travel to this region, having of course scored a hat trick just one year ago.  This is v/d Z's 84th country, still four shy of a tie for second with Mr Greeley.  v/d Z needs a camera in his phone badly; still no photo and no beverage recorded.  

Ms v H visits South Korea, ties Mr Sempliner at 52 Countries

Ms v H wrote to report that her KLM 747 had landed in Seoul and that qualifying actions were underway!  Ms v H has for years now been on the very honorable low ladder rung of our fine club, but with this visit she ties Mr Sempliner at 52 countries.   

v/d Z surges up Club Ladder

Mr v/d Z reports visits to his 78th-83rd countries: namely:
78: Lithuania
79: Belarus
80: Latvia
81: Estonia
82: Armenia
83: Malta (a joint visit with your Secretary and Ms v H, correctly documented here sipping a workmanlike beer).

v/d Z has now visited all countries in Europe and North and Central America, and has visited 33 countries since joining our fine Club in 2004. Mr Greeley, beware!