Adrian Wanliss’ dream lands him in 30 countries and counting
Published:Saturday | July 15, 2023 | 12:09 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
He left the island with a dream: to pursue his passion in the arts. Doing just that, what he received as his reward was a world of knowledge and understanding after exploring different cultures. Adrian Wanliss has travelled to some 30 countries and currently resides in Germany, though he will always call Jamaica his home. He attributes his well-stamped passport to one pivotal decision.
“After I finished working with a company in the Netherlands, I was at a crossroads and I was looking for a new job. I had a bunch of auditions and I landed the job in Germany. To be honest, it was the highest-paying job,” Wanliss told Saturday Living. He has been living there for close to a decade.
A long-time fan of travelling, his mother, Donnah Wanliss, was a flight attendant and he recounts catching flights for big family trips to Disney and Universal Studios in Florida, “What really got me super excited was actually sitting in a plane. And I’d just sit down beside my aunt and that was also a highlight for me.”
Having already visited the United States and Canada, as well as parts of the Caribbean like St Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, The Bahamas and Cuba, when he was afforded the opportunity to live in Europe, he tapped into the access it gave him to different countries, not only by plane, but by train or bus as well.
“My first year in Europe, I said that I wanted to visit a new city every weekend. That was the goal but it didn’t happen. With my schedule, I settled on visiting a new country at least once a year.”
One of his favourites is the picturesque views of Switzerland, “If you want to wake up and see a painted picture outside of your window every morning, then that’s the place to visit. It is that beautiful. It is extremely expensive but worth visiting.”
Listing Vienna in Austria and Munich in Germany as both historic and charming by nature, he said he was impressed when he set foot on Greek soil, “There’s so much to explore in Greece. That country started our modern society. So, to see the beginning of our modern society there, that was amazing. The beaches are amazing. The people are amazing. The food is amazing. It’s absolutely fantastic. It kind of reminded me of Jamaica. I think that’s why I was drawn to it.”
He also made special mention of quality time spent in Croatia, Montenegro in the Balkans, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary, Italy and Rome. “Italy is a beautiful country with incredible food. Almost everywhere in Italy has its own charm and that’s also beautiful. Rome is famous for its history but it’s also very romantic. I was surprised by that.”
Some of the challenges he has encountered on his travels include experiencing delays and unpredictable weather conditions, both of which can put a spoke in his wheel. “This will affect me because I tend to be early or on time. I’m a planner. I plan everything down to the minute sometimes,” he said with a laugh.
Finances have also come into play, particularly when you have the desire to see and do so much in one country, until you’re faced with the realities of the cost. With expenses comes the matter of time, which waits for no man. Wanliss often finds himself so swept up in the majesty of one location that he doesn’t get around to seeing all the sites on his itinerary.
“Sometimes, I want to do too much in one trip and I have to remind myself that it’s a vacation. But that gives me the incentive to return to the country or the city. And that’s a great thing in my book,” he added.
On any trip, he can be found with his phone. Great for capturing wonderful memories, it’s also a useful tool to use for travel around Europe, since the Internet is free so information is at your fingertips. “I have an emergency kit for essentials like [my] toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, extra underwear, an extra pair of socks, face products and a face cover. I also carry a small bag to explore the city with, a power bank and comfortable shoes, because I like to walk to a lot of places,” he disclosed.
While the visits were always a sight to behold, as a Jamaican, living in countries like The Netherlands did expose Wanliss to something he had no experience with: racism. Being aware of the cultural differences, he has so far been able to tread lightly, speaking up for himself in situations that warrant it. While it is mostly met with insouciance, he is grateful for colleagues and friends who have advocated for addressing the injustice.
Whenever he gets the chance, he returns home to Kingston, where he is greeted with the warmth of the climate as well as the people he holds so near and dear to his heart. “It’s a warming thing to come home to Jamaica. I get to come home but then I also get to discover the island as a tourist,” he said. Some of his favourite spots to visit are Strawberry Fields Together in St Mary, YS Falls in St Elizabeth, Rose Hall Great House in St James, Dolphin Cove in St Ann, the Bob Marley Museum and Hope Gardens in St Andrew, as well as Holywell Park in St Andrew and Portland.
And what’s next on his international bucket list? Wanliss is looking forward to visiting Asia, namely South Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as Africa.
The associate directing manager of a ballet company in Chemnitz, Germany, advises those who want to start travelling the world to start from home. “Start from your home country and work your way out from there. Go to South, Central and North America; visit Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The sky’s the limit,” he said.