Globetrotting Graham Hughes has walked into the record books after visiting all of the planet's 201 countries - without stepping on a plane.
Filmmaker Graham, 33, journeyed 160,000 miles in nearly four years and after all that he still thinks Britain is best.
Living on just £60 a week, he used buses, taxis, trains and boats on his gruelling trip and was arrested in Russia, twice jailed and befriended by a ladyboy and an orangutan.
He also lost his sister Nicola to cancer and split up with his long-standing girlfriend.
But, after all his adventures, ask Graham which is his favourite country and he has no doubt. He said: "Honestly, it is the UK because travelling to all these places has made me appreciate life here so much more."
The Liverpudlian's epic journey, which was has so far raised £7,000 for the clean water charity WaterAid, is on the brink of being recognised by GuinnessWorld Records.
He already holds the record for the most countries visited in a year by "scheduled ground transport" - 133 in 2009.
Graham left home on New Year's Day 2009 and started his great trek in Uruguay.
From there he travelled through South America, the Caribbean, Central and North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Far East and Australia.
His journey ended last month, after 1,426 days, in Juba, South Sudan, capital of the world's newest country.
He had planned to finish his epic trip with a bang in New Zealand by proposing to his girlfriend of 10 years, Mandy, 35.
But the incredible highs and lows of Graham's globetrotting had taken their toll and sadly they split up.
Among some of his most memorable experiences were watching one of the last space shuttles taking off in Orlando, Florida, swimming with jellyfish in a Pacific island lake, becoming friends with ladyboy Jenn in Singapore, bungee jumping in Indonesia and lying on a boat in Papua New Guinea watching the stars.
But meeting an orangutan in Borneo left one of the biggest impressions on Graham. He said: "He must have thought we were related because of my red hair, he came over and tried to take a pen from my pocket. It was yellow and he thought it was a banana. I pushed his little hand away, he was a juvenile, and he started walking along the path and was following me."
The journey had many dark moments. Graham was arrested trying to sneak into Russia and jailed for a few days at Cape Verde in June 2009 after spending four days on a fishing boat to reach the Atlantic islands.
Even worse was to come two months later in the Congo when Graham was held without charge in solitary confinement for six days and feared for his life.
He had spent three days travelling from the border of Gabon in a packed lorry. "It was diabolical. There were children crying, dead carcasses of animals without heads and the smell of rotting flesh lingered in the air," he told the Sunday People .
"The suffocating dust was unbelievable, I used wet wipes to keep myself clean.
Armed police stopped the lorry and locked up Graham, fearing he was a spy.
They took away his video footage, shoes and socks and held him in a cell with a filthy toilet and a blood-soaked mattress.
"It was horrific, my glasses were taken off my face and they wouldn't let me have my malaria tablets."
The honorary consul for the British embassy advised him to stop banging and screaming to be released.
Graham said: "The way it was said put fear into my heart. It made me realise these were the types of men who would take me out back and just shoot me in the head."
Graham's prison ordeal spurred him on to continue his adventure but his sister being diagnosed with liver cancer nearly caused him to quit.
In January 2011, with about 17 countries to go, Graham was told about Nicola, 48.
"My family had debated whether they should even tell me because Nicola didn't want me to give up my travels.
"But I think I was a breath of fresh air for her as I turned up and would have loads of anecdotes about my travels and she loved listening to them. A month later she died.
He returned to Australia to carry on his challenge but admitted: "Losing Nicola really took the wind out of my sails." Graham, who collected a stone and a note or coin from each country, thinks he gets his spirit of adventure from his dad Graham, 75, who took him to unusual destinations when he was growing up. Graham's travels were broadcast as Graham's World on National Geographic's Discovery Channel in the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
He said: "The TV show was great because when I travelled around those places people recognised me and helped me out."
This proved invaluable when he wanted a visa to enter Tibet. Graham said some of the easiest countries to get into included Iraq, which he simply crossed into from Turkey, and North Korea which he reached from its bitter enemy South Korea.
After his amazing adventures Graham is a prime candidate for the exclusive Travelers' Century Club for people who have been to 100 or more countries. But he is put off by the £60 joining fee and £50 annual membership subs.
Graham said: "Ah well, I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member. Plus, I hear it's expensive, so nah.
"There's an Indian guy called Kashi Samaddar who's done the 201, but he did it flying. I met him in Dubai, he took me for dinner. Lovely guy."
"My main feeling is of intense gratitude and thanks to everyone who helped me along the way. I promised every person that I met that I would finish this.
"And if I hadn't, not only would I would be letting them down, I would be letting myself down."
Big bangs in Bolivia & of babes in Colombia
Craziest country: "Bolivia, it's the only place where shops sell sticks of dynamite. If you like a bit of adventure, I can't recommend it enough."
Best food: "I love food, and nothing beats a good old-fashioned British Indian takeaway."
Friendliest people: "Iran has the friendliest people. Russians are the least friendly but once they've had a drink they're a bit better."
Most beautiful women in the world: "Colombia, Uzbekistan and Madagascar have the most beautiful women but my girlfriend was from Australia and I met her in the UK."