It was 4 continents and 9 countries with the first route (USA to China to Philippines (2) to Australia to Sri Lanka (2) to Italy (2) to Suisse to Spain to UK to USA) but they must have made a mistake. Stupid editors.
Yes, that was the original route.
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Original route:
USA - China - Philippines (x2) - Australia - Sri Lanka (x2) - Italy (x2) - Switzerland - Spain - UK - USA
4 continents, 9 countries, 35,000 miles
Continents: North America, Asia, Oceania, Europe
(Alternate) actual route:
USA - China (x2) - Malaysia (x2) - Sri Lanka (x2) - Italy (x2) - Switzerland - Spain - UK - USA
3 continents, 8 countries, 25,000 miles
Continents: North America, Asia, Europe
Note: The route was changed at the last minute when both of the Philippine legs were canceled due to the Typhoon, and Melbourne, Australia was abandoned. Guangzhou moved from one to two legs with the same greeters in the first two legs. Malaysia legs are the replacements of the Philippine legs.
So means no Africa nor South America.