About Lee Abbamonte

“The traveler is active; he goes strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes sight-seeing.” - Daniel J. Boorstin

“I travel a lot. I hate having my life disrupted by everyday routine.” - Anonymous

My traveling odyssey began as a junior in college when I decided to study abroad. I had never traveled as a kid so this was a very big deal for me. I chose to live and study in London and my whole life changed instantly. It literally opened my eyes to a whole new world. I fell in love with traveling and the mystery, adventure and freedom that goes with it.

I’m fortunate to have realized a lot of my dreams and destinations. I have done wild and exciting things on six continents. At last count, I had been to over 164 countries and I am a proud silver member of the exclusive Travelers Century Club, which is reserved for people who have visited over 150 countries. I have also been elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Circumnavigators Club.

I try to travel as often as I can to both new places and some old favorites. It is my goal to visit every country in the world and have the overall best and most exciting possible experience along the way. Additionally, I am attempting to become the youngest person ever to successfully visit the entire Travelers Century Club list of 317 countries-I am currently halfway there.

I don’t like to just travel like a typical tourist. I aim to really explore ancient cultures and civilizations. I want to find the answers to unanswered questions. I truly experience places and people. I test the limits of extreme traveling. I want to explore what few have seen. I live what others can’t. I do what others won’t. When people ask me why I travel so much, I ask why they don’t. I have devoted myself to living my life to the fullest.

Some of my extreme traveling highlights include: Hang gliding over Rio de Janeiro; Conquering the worlds highest bungy jump in South Africa; Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; Ice climbing various glaciers around the world; Canyoning in Switzerland; Skydiving; Safari in the Serengeti; Base jumping in New Zealand; Hiking the Inca Trail in Peru and white water rafting down the level five rapids of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.

Bungy Jumping 2004, Victoria Falls on bridge between Zimbabwe and Zambia

Some of the more far-flung amazing places I have been to include: Easter Island; Sumatra; Qatar; Victoria Falls; The Taj Mahal; Syria; Kazakhstan; Colombia; The Black Sea; Ras Al Khaimah; The Amazon; Samarkand; The Pyramids; Petra; Uruguay; Angkor Wat; Outback Australia; Ethiopia; French Guiana; Sri Lanka; East Timor; The Sahara Desert; Goa; Trans Dniester; Paraguay; Russia; Cappadocia; Western Sahara; Iguassu Falls; Yemen; Isla Margarita; Azerbaijan; The Philippines; Guyana; The Great Wall of China; Zanzibar; Abu Dhabi; Thailand; Tajikistan; Machu Picchu; Oman; Djibouti; Bali; San Andrés; Mozambique.

I believe in globalization of everything including people. I believe that I am a citizen of Earth. I believe that people around the world are at their core, basically good and the same. I believe that more people should experience the world and the way traveling can open their eyes and minds to different and exciting things. I believe in just being myself. I believe in life.

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” - Aldous Huxley

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” - Mark Twain

On the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

The imposing Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The breathtaking Taj Mahal in Agra, India

The Rock of Gibraltar in Gibraltar, UK (Southern Spain)

The “7 Star” Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, UAE

A colorful street in the awesome Old Town of Cartagena, Colombia

The Parthenon atop the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

The world famous Tower Bridge in London, UK

Atop the fjord and gorgeous old city of Kotor, Montenegro

A scenic highway in the middle of Morocco

With the Moai on Easter Island, Chile in the South Pacific

Kuwait Towers in Kuwait City, Kuwait

Swinging like Tarzan in the Amazon Jungle near Manaus, Brazil

On a rooftop above Old City Sana’a, Yemen