My Scratch Map: 37 Years Of Travel

Wanna know exactly how many countries I've been to around the world?
No, neither do I.
I was given this travel scratch map as a gift, and I figured it would be a great opportunity to talk about all the travels I've been fortunate to do throughout my life.
I mostly focus on the trips that pre-date my KZbin channel, or the ones that didn't make it on to my channel, rather than me just repeating info that you already know! :)
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-------------------- About Karl Watson --------------------
My name’s Karl, welcome to my channel that’s all about sharing my backpacking adventures from around the world, through fun, entertaining and honest travel documentaries.
Through these films I want you - the audience - to escape and come on the journey with me, and then be inspired to start an adventure of your own.
In between my travels I’m based in London, UK where I work as a freelance video editor.
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[@adkh5826]

Been watching your videos for almost 5 years, since Christmas 2015. They've been a great soundtrack and survived me through uni, work, illness etc haha

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks for watching all this time 😊👍

[@jayolixxx]

i am smiling while watching this. so precious memories specially those in your younger years.

[@mkhatun1]

Your all travel video is amazing , most of them i watched , i watching a lots of travel video , vlog but your was a best . i loved your morocco travel video , it was so heart touching , make me a tears , the last paert of moment when you guys visited the tour guide and drivers house , you are such a good kind of person . one word you doing a incredable job , your mum is so lovely bless her . good luck .

[@RichardParker-hc6dn]

This was really interesting Karl, thanks. Your travels have been extensive to what most people ever do in a lifetime. Thank you again and please keep doing them in the future.

[@ter1413]

Dr. Seuss.......Hans Christian Andersen.......and Karl Watson! 3 amazing storytellers! Brilliant vid!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Haha thanks 😊

[@taffy3857]

Completely agree with the scratch map flaws. Loved seeing this though, really interesting to hear about your travelling as a kid. Your mum sounds like a real diamond 💎

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks Taffy 😊

[@johnroley3781]

Such a lovely video man! Clearly your mums planning and budgeting skills rubbed off on you 😀 looking forward to the next one and hopefully getting on one of your tours in the next couple of years!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers John 😊👍

[@DuchessDelphine]

Love how you used this opportunity for story time. One of The MOST important thing about traveling is the stories and memories we have from our adventures. I love hearing yours. Just discovered your channel last week or so and glad I did. 🙂keep it up #flightattendantfan

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks very much :)

[@didierdubois2164]

you the boss of travel vlog mate. Can't wait for your next adventure.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks 😊

[@PocketTrailblazer]

Loving this Karl - you know I love a 'Retro Series' ;-)

[@karlwatsondocs]

Haha no idea what you mean 😉

[@juliethZuRe]

Always a fan. Always a nomad. Well done Karl 🤗

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks 😊 xxx

[@SimonF283]

Great watch Karl!! looking forward to the Turkey trip in June. Hoping to join you haha. fingers crossed!!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers Simon

[@subodhghimire9677]

Awesome as always..been enjoying ur vids for past two years. Love from nepal

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks :)

[@PilotWanderlust]

So cool! Just thinking what our son will summarize in 32 years from now on traveling the world with us 😎. Ok, at least he has to do so for the next decade 🤣. Great video!!!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks 😊

[@emlanguages]

This is an awesome idea! 37 years of travel, wow, it’s clear you’ve had some incredible experiences :)

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yep I’ve been very fortunate 😊

[@aniket.pandey]

feels kinda like ur version of "A map for Saturday" ...awesome

[@zoelamb3999]

Favourite video!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Should’ve included some old home video footage of you guys 😉

[@thetransferaccount4586]

nice diary there sir

[@sametsamet-sr3nj]

Oh my god Karl you do look like no more than 30 I can't believe u are 37 mate

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks :)

[@fajarpardomuan2173]

hi karl, You know Indonesia? there are many interesting places to visit such as the Borobudur temple and Mount Bromo. Hope you come there.

[@MrCedricman]

Netflix or Karl? Easy.

[@kingtingz41]

Just watching the beginning of the video, but quick question.. do you ever feel down when you reminisce on places you’ve been? Me and my partner had 5 months aboard in 2018 and it was fantastic! But since then reality has hit, we’ve had to get back to working and buy a house which is all positive stuff but just wish we could go back and continue it.

[@karlwatsondocs]

My usual cure for missing travelling is to start planning my next trip, which has been hard to do this year!

[@TravelTourTaste]

Hello Karl Do you happen to know where the Map was purchased I know you said it was a gift . but we would love to get one . Happy New year BTW and stay safe Love and Light Sarah and Glenn

[@karlwatsondocs]

It was from Amazon 😊

[@gyulapetri8382]

Great video! Have you ever been in Hungary?

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yeah but only for a birthday weekend to Budapest

[@laurab4570]

You’ve traveled more of the United States than I have… I live here lol

[@TehPoet]

Did you... did you clean your laptop screen halfway through this? 🤔 😂😂

[@karlwatsondocs]

It was shot over 2 days

[@karlwatsondocs]

Started it one afternoon and it got too dark with the short days

[@alefengb]

There was no need to get political about 2016.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Christ if you’re gonna get triggered that easily by a throw away comment like that in a KZbin video, there’s no hope for you.

[@Xii371]

@@karlwatsondocs 🤣 Well said

[@tripleg8352]

2020 was going to be my year of travelling around Europe. It turned out I never stayed at home for so long....

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yeah being at home all year sucks, so frustrating but what can you do

[@foreverfearless14]

2020 was supposed to be my first big backpacking trip around Europe too! This video made me realise how many years I've now spent watching travel videos on KZbin planning it 😭 Hope we can both get out there soon!

[@njs_gc]

@@foreverfearless14 Spent 4 months in South America at the age of 36. Met a lady in Iquitos in Peru who was travelling by herself and she was 55. Just travel when you can it's a life changing experience.

[@summerlord7977]

Salute to your parents!! Specially to your mom,they are pretty good in letting you understand what adventure truly is. A new subscriber here.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks and welcome :)

[@Neonravekid]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. The 80's vibes are absolutely great. Such a throw back.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks very much :)

[@normalast7099]

I loved this especially your early years. Your family came to visit us in London Ontario. We spent time in our backyard pool. Also went to Port Stanley beach on Lake Erie. I used to travel with your Mum and Dad in Great Britain in 1977 and 1978. Your Mum was great planning trips and saving money. Great memories.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Loved your swimming pool! Always remember wishing we could have one at home 😊

[@zaklinden8786]

What a life a lad 🤙 currently on my second year in NZ , planning our next moves, maybe able to squeeze a WHV in Canada before in 35 🤙

[@adrianskiadi7461]

As always great video mate! One of the best things, travelling around the world 🙌👍

[@harrietp2328]

feels like we’re having proper conversation, seeing clips from HK2NY gave me a sense of nostalgia i didn’t know i had 😅 would love to actually have a convo one day about it all

[@karlwatsondocs]

There’s gonna be a full look back to HK2NY video in the new year

[@TheVeganTravelShow]

Loved the video Karl. It was so cool to see how many places you've seen as well as seeing some insight into how you came to doing what you do now. We've been following you for a few years now and you, The Budgeteers & Steve Yalo are who motivated me to start our channel. Still early days for me... Anyway, looking forward to seeing all these epic adventures you have coming up, hopefully in the not too distant future. ✈️🤞🏼

[@michaelmce43]

Great job Karl! Refreshing and entertaining as always.. The HK2NY theme at 19:50 triggered some kind of fight or flight 😂

[@karlwatsondocs]

Haha cheers 😊

[@CambodiaNomadTips]

Karl, it doesn't matter where you go, it matters how you present it. Your presentations are just awesome. You captivate your followers in a professional manner. It's not always about the destination, it's about you. What you touch seems to shine. Thank you for your outstanding reach to all of us KZbinrs. You've made my years truly interesting. May 2021 bring you success and happiness.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks very much 😊

[@lanieperez6799]

Inspiring! You've had great experiences in life. I love all your videos. Keep safe.

[@RoseN-CJ]

Haaa, you were such a cute boy :))) Nice travels, loved the old photos, somehow much nicer than the super photoshoped from today.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Awww thanks haha

[@sagartomar3461]

What a childhood you have 😃 amazing. Lucky family you should have posted your dad photos also 🤞

[@BACKPACKTOPIA]

Oh man, the Mesa Verde Anasazi settlement at 6:34 is the most exciting place out of all the places I haven't been to yet in this video! Great video and great life long travel adventures.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers mate

[@christeannesantos1717]

This is one of my favorite videos that you’ve done. All of my travel memories growing up are so dear to me, the scratch off map is a phenomenal idea. Love all of your adventures! And I cannot believe you’re 37, you look great!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks! :)

[@travelstylers6667]

you should get yourself a beer scratch poster!

[@ccdoes1841]

i'm not going to lie Karl! Thought you were my age mate! Looking blaaaaady good for around 38!! Can't believe I have been watching your channel for 5+ years. time flies.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Only just turned 37 😉 cheers for watching all this time 😊👍

[@adia151]

Just found out about your videos from the Travel Talks podcast episode. Great video! Bungee jumping looked amazing. On my list Also, your reaction to the ‘bear band’ was great haha 🤣

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks Virginia, was great fun doing that podcast

[@Nopi9]

Honestly all credit to your family for instilling that love of travel in you and continuing to travel with you

[@TravelTourTaste]

Hello brother hope you are well. Just wanted to wish you a very Happy Christmas before the madness starts lol. See you again real soon.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Merry Christmas!

[@DNAtraveling]

Rad video , I grew up somewhat similar, plenty of travel and living all over the world made me really nostalgic...

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks, we were so lucky to grow up like that eh 😊

[@jessbest3151]

Wow your mums beautiful, that where I am in my life now with my kids. Making a budget for travels and adventures.

[@styx814]

I enjoy playing with maps of the countries I've visited, but it does seem to be unfair to mark a giant country like Brazil when I actually only been to 3 places there. Equally awesome countries like Thailand or Colombia don't cover that much space on the map yet they the differences in different regions there are stark. I don't think we need to visit every country in the world unless someone has such specific goal. Some countries will turn up to be painfully similar and others you can go multiple times and keep discovering something new. Nice video btw :)

[@isaidwhatisaid8470]

Great idea for a video Karl. Love your content mate. It's been getting me through the boring days of lockdown lol.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers glad it’s provided some escapism

[@bengray6219]

This video was put together brilliantly. Loved the old 80s and 90s VHS footage. Can't wait till we can all travel again

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks Ben 👍

[@ianwatson3315]

Your 37? ..I’d say late 20’s..

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks 😊

[@Atncarheathrow]

Your parents done a great job.😍😍😍

[@debbiecasey7596]

Karl, as usual, another great travel video! Your travels are very inspirational, fun to watch and bring hope for future travel sooner than later! I believe you have such remarkable talent for producing videos and are going to be very famous and successful any day now!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks Debbie :)

[@vincentgewert4886]

Hi Karl, I've lived and worked in Fiji for an entire year when I was 18 years (two years ago). I managed to travel across the country, especially to places which are not so frequently visited by tourists but which - as in any country I guess - often are a lot more interesting than touristy areas. If you can make use of a few tipps regarding spots off the beaten track I can write an e-mail:-)) that is if you really do want to visit Fiji and make a film!

[@jfnlgba]

OMG this is so good 😊

[@TammyTravelsTheWorld]

This dropped at the exact time I'm taking my lunch break! Watching and having a snack. Love scratch maps!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Enjoy Tammy 😊

[@thebarebonescom]

your mom and i are carbon copies!! 😱🙋🏻‍♀️ i still have notes of my previous travels. costs and everything. i save a lot of money too since i travel every year 🙂 memories over things 🙂

[@Heytombeck]

I used Eugene as a base for Seattle and up to Vancouver, I loved that coastline there. Also, you wore a lot of England shirts earlier on but rarely mention football. Are you still into it?

[@Jhoan62110]

Wow! Hugs to your mom. ❤️🙏 Thank you for this vid. it’s an inspiration I would like those scratch map 🤔😁🥂

[@sidradzz]

Your mom was a expert. Did great thing. We too save all the money and try to travel as much

[@wyldecloverdesignstudio]

So binge watching these and did not know that Karl is a fellow Durham person!!!

[@partyk79]

Loving this great idea for a video! Really inspirational video and I've followed many of the same routes as you and would love to try the ones I haven't yet. Wish I had tracked all mine with videos to look back on! I need to learn editing 😊

[@ChrisBatey]

5:38 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles truck? Ah yes, I had one too!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Best. Christmas Present. Ever.

[@piero17y65]

How is this possible? I thought you were 28 or something 🤷‍♂️

[@kingedward6146]

You deserve a million subs & views because of your highly informartive and stunning vlogs all over the world. You started 2007 and for many years you provide the world with amazing vlog contents. However, many vloggers with lousy daily vlogs contents yet gained almost millions of viewers & subs. One vlogger vlogs his daily life along with his family parents vlogging their "dirty" & lousy daily life, yet gained 1.8Millions subs & views and he started only 2016. He is already earned millions of $$ for those lousy & corny family vlogging😵😝 I don't understand it, I hate watching their corny family vlog dramas! Yours is an excellent vlogs! I am your subscriber and would always enjoy your journey since you started vlogging the Philippines which I enjoy so much. Is Life is unfair? 😝😔 Wishing your millions of subscribers 💪🏆

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks very much. Glad you appreciate my style of content 😊

[@icaricar2484]

So awesome! Love how detailed ur mum is🎇✨ cheers to more travels ❤

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers 😊

[@Shebsthewanderer]

This was pretty cool mate. Loved the old school videos! Well done

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers buddy 👍

[@rrocketman]

Greece is there best. Everyone should go there at least once

[@goranjamalmuhamed5169]

Great story u lave gorp travel for 2021 thx you for video 😊👌

[@travel_with_Pat]

man!!! just wanna go with you haha!! how's your tour works ? could i apply for that or something ? i mean no kiding! i was in the Philippines when you were in Vietnam at the beginning of 2020. i flew back home in Montreal, Canada in mid february... so i came across your videos this year and specially your Vietnam trip. witch it was supposed to be my next trip in early 2021...annndd it's all fucked now..Ugh!! whatever.. more seriously, where can i get some info for your next tour/trip? have a great holidays mister and don't stop what you do best! Films!!! (sorry my bad english, i'm french canadian..) peace out ✌

[@karlwatsondocs]

I'll announce when the next tours go on sale on here and on my Instagram @karlwatsondocs

[@r6mt09]

Why don’t you go to Africa or the Stan countries? Are you racist? JK

[@sugarwaters]

Loved this video! You grew up in a great family!

[@karentemplesnow8960]

Really enjoyed this Karl. Something's up with my "All notifications enabled" though. Going to check what else I've missed!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Check the upload playlist for the main videos I’ve released over last year 😊

[@Busha69]

oooh to be travelling in the 80s...can't relate...was being stuck behind the iron wall:') and 2020 feels like coming back to that time. Well, hopefully everyone can get vaccines by next year, so we can return to freedom (and concerts! i miss concerts more than i miss travelling to be honest).

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yeah I miss concerts so much! :)

[@havisiting]

Man, I can’t believe you visited the Hard Rock theme park! I remember being a grungy little teenager at school, looking at that theme park and thinking “I’m gonna go there one day”. Obviously never got the chance. Was the Led Zeppelin rollercoaster any good?

[@karlwatsondocs]

That rollercoaster was fantastic actually. It was the one good thing about the park 😉

[@LidiasWorld007]

Hello from Washington State!! Thank you for video!!🎄😁

[@karlwatsondocs]

Hello 😊

[@yolandastrumpher]

Love it! I feel you, because we have friends that call us "the rich Strumphers". My husband and I save up for 2 years and then go on holiday for 6 - 8 weeks. They don't get that the money comes from lots of saving, or maybe it's jealousy. But we love SE Asia, and there are still so many places to see there, that we have not visited. Maybe we'll see you in Borneo in 2021. Thanks the great story!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks! Yeah it’s amazing how many people don’t understand “saving”

[@maddogmarty]

will look forward to watching it tonight karl should be full of fun entertaining shots and lots of laughs and beers lol

[@Willzy_Roller]

Thanks for the stories Karl, it was great little escape to watch this!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers :)

[@1stklass]

Bro i respect your mother so highly, right now its so easy to travel. we have the internet which provides us with every single piece of information, plane timetables, train times, airbnb, uber..... Your mother organised amazing trips with im assuming little or no access to internet... amazing! And btw im self isolating at my parents home since my momma test positive yesterday lol... goodluck me!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Good luck to you and your mum! And yeah we didn’t have internet in our house til mid 90s so a lot of this was pre that.

[@adnantankiwala6847]

love this man I'm from India i've been following your travels since HK to NY its amazing to see that more than the countries the memories you've stacked up over the years... cheers! and here's to more travels!!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks for following all this time 😊

[@MarilynRose]

I love watching the world! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Happy new year!

[@bulshokades]

U r 37 damn u old man lol thought u was 20 man jeeez 😂

[@jimothypersson8306]

Oh how I've been waiting for this. Love scratch maps

[@jimothypersson8306]

And you manage to scratch my country first lol ;)

[@theeastendwanderer8277]

Great video Karl. It was really fun to watch and very cleverly put together. I love the 80s theme at the start. Looking forward to your next video. Merry Christmas :)

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers, Merry Christmas 😊

[@mrjonsantiago]

Hey Karl, just found you via the recommendation algorithm. Loved this video. Got me feeling nostalgic about my own travels around the world the last few years. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙏

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers Jon and welcome 😊👍

[@liv_in_cornwall]

Thumbs up for another great video. Love the retro vibe. Extra thumbs up for the old Middle Earth map; I've got a similar one on my wall right now.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks 😊

[@kelsnz3921]

Another interesting video Karl (great editing btw)!! This is the first year since in 19 years that I haven’t been out of the country and my job (used to entail) a lot of travel... I can not wait until we can go abroad again!!!! 😁

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yeah it’s so frustrating waiting to travel again

[@vladimirterziev3119]

Very,very interesting,Karl! Thank you for everything!Have a nice holidays and take care. See you in 2021!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers 😊

[@MegaGo68]

I found your channel when I was planning for a "grand circle" trip I did in October. Saw the video you did with your mum a couple years ago. Nice to get the backstory. Your mum is awesome, by the way.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers George 😊

[@booklover555]

Great video!! Just for the record The Badlands are in South Dakota not Colorado.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Oh I know. I said we flew IN to Colorado and then went UP to the Badlands, didn’t say they were in Colorado itself 😊

[@michaelely9467]

Awesome you have so much footage/pics from early trips. Bear Metal the funniest moment in all of your vids ... gold.

[@karlwatsondocs]

Haha cheers. Yeah that theme park was so unbelievably shit

[@filmsbysi]

Great video, dude!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Thanks 😊

[@LondonViewpoints]

That was brilliant , great round up and inspiration to travel for adventures not for the count 👍🏻

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers buddy

[@RizzoSheff]

I hope our time in Eastern Europe coincides this summer so I can meet you for a pint! Great vid again buddy. Up the owls x

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yeah just give us a shout if see we’re in the same area

[@sefaridvanunlu3613]

Dude, I really appriciate your channel!! If I become a traveler/youtuber it bc of you, Cheeers!

[@karlwatsondocs]

Cheers 👍

[@jantravelman]

I have the same issue with these scratch maps. When do you scratch a full country? Nobody knows

[@karlwatsondocs]

Yeah it's a load of shit really haha :) Looks nice on the wall though and I'm glad I was strict with my rules of scratching

[@cameronjones1544]

Great video but not happy about what he said about Vancouver... Yes Vancouver is expensive however it's an amazing city. well can you go to work in the morning have lunch on the water and go skiing in the afternoon on the mountains? I’m so happy to be born here and Proud to call Vancouver Home.

[@karlwatsondocs]

I didn’t actually say anything bad about Vancouver. In fact it’s one of my favourite cities in the world, that’s why we went there and we had a great time. What I meant was the amount of money we spent on flights and on the Working Holiday Visa that we didn’t use, should’ve gone somewhere else, considering in hindsight we just wanted a party holiday. Went back to Vancouver in the Canadian Rockies road trip film in 2015 and I loved it then too.