Not a Google Photo

Mr Secretary

Many thanks for your multiple club updates.  They prodded me to report my recent visit to India. Despite my 3-year sojourn in Pakistan, this was my first visit to India where I did the needful w a Kingfisher.  Photo (not from Google) attached. 

Mr W

Low Hanging Fruit Cocktails

Dear Mr. Secretary,

Greetings from St Vincent and the Grenadines! The beer is cold, the water warm and the hospitality just right, chillin’

I have to confess to having been a bit lax in updates recently. For which my most humble apologies. Contrary to perhaps appearances I have not just been putting on a cheeky spurt, but I have bagged a small brace over the last 12 months:

-          Uganda

-          Tanzania

-          Kenya

-          Vietnam 

-          St Vincent

Which I believe brings me to 69? And one more trip to the Caribbean later this year with maybe a chance of a few more low hanging fruit cocktails. The shirt-jack is pressed, and being thoroughly modern no tie is required, so I am just off to the yacht club to see what the options are for perhaps another little spurt later in the year.

With my warm regards to you and your very charming better half as always.

Grant.

[Sec'y's note:  Mr Rhodes had previously reported Tanzania and his total stands at 66].

Lima Larco

Mr. Secretary,

I'm pleased to report a new country visit in Peru. Lima is a lovely
city that I highly recommend to all club members.  While there, don't
miss the Larco Museum (http://www.museolarco.org/), which has a
breathtakingly good collection of pre-Columbian artifacts as well as
lovely gardens and restaurant.
I did the needful in Peru in many ways, with pisco, pino gris, campari and etc.

Off to another new country next week, but will save that for a separate mail.

Mr W

Mr C gets very high

Thanks Mr. Secretary. 

Since then:  a trip to Honduras and a trip to Lethoso.

So the new total is 89.  

With deep regards,

Mr. C 

Mr. Secretary:

Further to my last communication, I am happy to report that my new total has risen to 87….with a ground breaking visit to a new region for me….a trip to the UAE.   Attached please find photgraphic evidence of this trip….a view from the Burg Kalifa, 148 stories up.

Lest you think that I used taxpayer dollars to finance such foolishness…..let me remind you that all costs associated with the visit to the building were paid by myself.  

Next week, I am off to Honduras, filling a long standing hole in my Central American visit record.   I shall report that when the time comes.

Your truly,

Mr C

Whiteman in Patna

(Sec'ys note -- Mr N's List already included South Sudan, so the China visit moves him to 75 Countries and tied with Mr W.  

Mr Secretary,

I have been to South Sudan and China since my last update.  No pictures to prove these visits, but I can assure you that I did drink in each of these locations (especially in Juba!).

Thanks for moving me up the list, and I think above Mr. Warshauer and just behind Mr. Brady.

Thanks!
Mr N

let me add a recent photo from Patna India, which is an oft-visited country on my list...

Mr H Finds His Mojo

Inspired by Mr C's spreadsheet audit, and motivated by our esteemed secretary nipping at my heels, I looked at my own spreadsheets.  I have not posted a blog or new country in years, and fear that I may be losing my traveling mojo.  Or I'm in groundhog's day, visiting the same places over and over again.  

To my delight, and chagrin, I found 2 missing visits -- Finland and Lesotho.  I visited Finland when I was still begging for money.  Vodkas were had.  I visited Lesotho for a day last year, when I was checking (edited -- something work-y). I fear I was only there for a day, arriving early AM, and leaving at cocktail hour.  Hopefully, the beer I quaffed while running to catch my plane in the Lesotho airport gets this trip across the country club qualifying threshold.  

After reaching the century mark a few years ago, my country numbers have largely stagnated.  I need to get creative, or risk a continued stall on the club ladder.....

Tres Cervezas Por Favor

Mr Secretary,

Hope you are well and you and Ms van H had a fun trip to PANAMA!

My trip to ECUADOR was great: customs were cleared of course, and alcoholic beverages consumed
in the form of cervezas pequenas y grandes, micheladas and mojitos. A beautiful place! And, although
no concrete country-plans for next year yet, I am determined to break even with Hillary's achievement as 
Secretary of State (116).

Cheers,

Mr v/d Z

Sec'y's note -- Ms van H and yours truly did indeed travel to Panama in December, sipping many things Chilean to make the visit qualifying.  

Mr E Goes to Sri Lobster!

Mr. Secretary,
After several years of repeat visits to far flung places like Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Ethiopia, South Africa and Kenya,
per attached evidence, I am pleased to report a first visit to Sri Lanka where Lion Lager, red wine, Talisker and some serious prawns - more like lobsters - were consumed ...
Alas, a 27th country to the subset of Golfing Country Visits was prevented by torrential rain, and so I remain on 26, still leading Mr. Chapman by 8 and where are the rest of you ....? Criteria are simple - did you play there or not (and have a beverage of appropriate type afterwards)! Spreadsheet attached for your consideration (ed note -- attached under the List of Countries Visited).

Cheers,

Mr. Earle ... they call me Speedoo but my real name is ...

Mr C: 5 Steps Forward and 2 Steps Back

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have gone through the "countries visited" spreadsheet and humbly offer the following corrections and additions:

1.  In the Pacific Ocean spreadsheet, you will notice that the cell assigned to "percent" under my column is not working.  Kindly attend to this.

2. Unlike what I assume is the case with other members, scoundrels that they be, when I reviewed this spreadsheet I took the care to identify countries listed as "visited" yet I have no clear recollection of such.  Surely these mistakes are connected to the office of the Secretary.   Thus, kindly delete Peru and Turkmenistan from my list of countries.

3.  To the contrary, tho, I am proud to add the following countries:   Columbia, Paraguay, Portugal, South Sudan and most recently, Pakistan.  Although photographic evidence of such visits is lacking, I invite you to contact the PSI Country Representatives in said countries for proof.   Many, months and even years later, are still reeling from these visits and would be glad to recount as necessary the details of such.

In sum, then, Mr Secretary (assuming I can trust your spreadsheet veracity as to beginning balance):

Beginning Balance: 83

Additions:                  5

Sub total                   88

Deletions                  2

Total                         86

It is my sincere hope to keep Mr. Earle at bay.

With regards,

PC

Haiti execution

Mr WW wrote today with the following:

"I write to let you know of a new country visit (no independence referendum required).  I visited Haiti earlier this week and did the needful with a Prestige beer.    My strategy to join a company with operations in 9 countries not on my list is beginning to bear fruit.....

Below is photographic evidence from the lovely central plateau region. "

v/d Z consumes Tigre

Hey Sec'y,

Vietnam was great, both Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, and of course I consumed the local Tigre and Hanoi beer…

113!

Cheers,

v/d Z

Morning Buds & v/d Z apparently consumes fermented yak milk

Mr W reports:

Mr. Secretary: After an exceedingly long drought, I'm pleased to announce a new country visit to South Korea. I did the needful with a Budweiser at (AM. I am neither in the habit of drinking Budweiser, nor generally beer of any type at 9AM, but cicrumstances and the Club Rules dictated. Happily, I anticipate some new visits, as I have taken a new job. While I am unclear what exactly this company does, I do know that they have offices in 30 countries, including 7 countries I have not yet visited. Tally Ho!

Mr v/d Z reports
I had a great time in Ulan Bator, MONGOLIA, where of course I consumed the usual alcoholic beverages.

Number 111

Mr v/d Z reports that he is currently in Cartagena, Colombia, his 111th country, consuming as one must and does.  This is the first country club visit this year for any of our fine members.  Not slowing down, are we?

Mr Brady total on the club ladder was adjusted upward by one to 77 to equal his total on the List of Countries Visited.

yr sec'y.  -s

Three Members, Three Continents

Mr Negus reported a November visit to Burma and Messrs v/d Z and B report visits in South America and Africa below.  

Mr v/d Z reports:

The good news: I managed to combine my workshop in Bariloche, ARGENTINA, with a weekend Andes cross-over into CHILI, both in which local wines were consumed. And to top the itinerary, I complemented last weekend in Buenos Aires - what a great town, perhaps in my top three worldwide - with a day's ferry return to Colonia, URUGUAY, which I remembered you having told about as interesting TCC option a decade ago. In other words: I keep on the speed... 110!

Mr B reports

Dear fellow Country Clubbers

Alas after a long hiatus I spent a few weeks in Cameroon this October – the first time for me in West/Central Africa.  I am happy that my work was focused on supporting PSI - based in Yaounde.  A few days trying to get around in Douala was more than enough (Douala has a “mini Lagos” reputation).

As per my escapist tendencies, and the rules of this venerable club, Various drinks were consumed – including palm wine!

Although given the humid climate, I ended most days sampling a wide range of beers.  Cameroon has one of the most diverse selections of beer in Africa. Les Sociétés Anonymes des Brasseries du Cameroun (SABC or BC) is the main brewer, with an interesting ownership profile. Les Brasseries et Glaceries d'Indochine (BGI) owns a 75% share, Heineken 8.8% and of course Cameroon's president, Paul Biya’s hand is in this profitable business. Les Brasseries brews, bottles, and distributes: "33" Export, Beaufort, Castel, and Tuborg, as well as three beers from De Hooiberg (The Haystack): Amstel, Heineken andMützig.

I hope to hear about more global exploration from all of you in the coming year

 - All the best

Chris

A Long Way from Lilongwe

Mr Secretary

Proof from David Greeley of imbibing in an alcoholic beverage in rural Malawi, a new country for our beloved Founder.  Says our exalted leader "It's a LONG WAY from Lilongwe"

David Greeley

Zim, Zam, Zoom!

Dear Mr Secretary,

Greetings from the bottom rung!  

I would like to confirm travel to Zimbabwe and Zambia.  Here are photos of my dive into Devil’s Pond, Vic Falls, Livingstone, and myself with the boyz at The Big Tree (a habitual meeting place for Mr Livingstone and his buddies) on the Zimbabwe side of the Falls. This brings my total to 45 countries visited.  

I remain swinging happily from the bottom rung.

Ms Ridley

Dear Members,

It is with regret that we have received notice of the death, after a long illness, of Mr Sempliner on 16 August 2013.  

Mr Sempliner was elected in 2004, entering the List at 45 countries.  He immediately protested the absence of a definite article in the names of many countries.  Some of his recommendations were easy on the modern ear, such as The Netherlands and The United Kingdom.  Others, such as The Lebanon and The Argentine, less so.  Much Club conversation and deliberation ensued and today our fine list holds several parenthetical references in a nod to Mr Sempliner's preferences.

Mr Sempliner visited nine countries during his membership, namely Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo, Kenya and The Philippines.  His missive, from Peking (his word), in 2011, requesting the recording of a visit to China, was rejected as redundant based on pre-1999 visits to Hong Kong and Macau.  He replied that there was some satisfaction having gone to the "heart of the beast."

Mr Sempliner, ever competitive in the great traditions of our club, was uncomfortable at the lower end of our The Club Ladder and made the suggestion in 2010 that the By-Laws be amended to narrow the criteria for a country visited to a visit done and a drink had without subsidy from one's employer.  Less Club conversation and deliberation ensued and the proposed amendment was rejected.  

Mr Sempliner made mention in the Club's proceedings in 2011 of his presence in Tokyo Narita during the earthquake that resulted in a tsunami and Mr Sempliner spending a night sleeping in a terminal "for the first time in many years."  

Mr Sempliner was a close confident of many in the Club, particularly Messrs C and D, and Ms v/H.   One of my dearest memories will be playing golf with him in The Democratic Republic of the Congo during his visit there.  Other memories from members welcome.

Mr Sempliner will rest in peace at 18th on the Club Ladder and 54 Countries Visited.  

With sadness, yr sec'y. 

Mr P announces visits to Haiti, Oman, Qatar and UAE -- up to 68 countries.  

Close observers of these proceedings may have noticed that none has appeared for the past 15 months.  That says more about your secretary than the peripatetic members.  Countries have been visited!  Apologies to members whose travel may not be recorded here; a quick review of the List, always merited, will both confirm its completeness and inspire movement.

Our founder and beloved chairman visited Uganda, Governor D Switzerland, Ms v H Russia, Mr B Bangladesh and yrs truly Angola, Colombia and Peru.
 
Mr v/d Z visited Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe Zambia, Qatar, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Uganda, rocketing into first place, with 105 countries, past our leader for the past decade, Mr H., who remains at 101.  :-)

VTY, yr sec'y.

Guinness Will Leave St James Gate Brewery in 10760

Mr Secretary, 


I just returned from a tour of the Guinness brewery in Dublin, which is subject to a 9000 year lease by Arthur Guinness.  We had the obligatory tasting session and enjoyed the fab view from the brewery's top floor. The black beer smells nice and hoppy but, in the end after a taste, I preferered the French sauvignon blanc to toast to the new country. 

Yours, 

Ms v/H


[From Wikipedia: Arthur Guinness started brewing ales from 1759 at the St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin. On 31 December 1759 he signed (up to) a 9,000 year lease at £45 per annum for the unused brewery.]