25 years on the move
06.03.2010
6 weeks we've been on the Fiji Islands. The fact that we still haven't seen much is due to our valued Landcruiser: signs of aging! It was only three years ago, in mid-2006, that we had it extensively rejuvenated in Borneo, eastern Malaysia. But you can't make new out of old. Now a cooler from Japan had to be obtained again. The old one started licking in New Zealand. Then rusted on very quickly in New Caledonia and Vanuatu - the salty island air probably helped.
More and more repairs are necessary. But our '82 Toyota didn't deserve to end its adventurous life in some junkyard, where it has been our loyal travel companion for almost 25 years. 650,000 kilometers, through more than 160 different countries around the world - he has never let us down. Review: October 18, 1984. When we set out from Switzerland for Canada on this dreary autumn day, a long-cherished dream came true. We are in our early forties and have given up our jobs as a computer specialist and executive secretary. For at least a year we want to enjoy the great freedom to explore the world on our own. We want to start in Montreal, where our packed Landcruiser FJ60 is just arriving in the container. It soon becomes apparent that one year will not be enough for North and Central America - from Alaska to Honduras. We visit more than 75 national parks and monuments in the USA, experience our first off-road adventures in the rocky Canyonlands, drive the adventurous slopes of the Rally Baja 1000 in Baja California, make our way through the steamy jungle to historic Mayan sites in Central America.
Chase in Guatemala
Not even a hair-raising chase in Chimal-tenango (Guatemala) or the terrifying encounter with the guerrillas on the way to the Tikal ruins dampen our urge for further adventure. After two years and 98,000 kilometers through seven countries in North and Central America, we are finally obsessed with traveling. “South America is closer than Europe”, we say to ourselves - the return to Switzerland is postponed. In Houston (Texas) we pack our Landcruiser on a Chilean freighter with destination Valparaiso (Chile). October 1986: South America is characterized by the contagious joie de vivre of Latinos, but also by grandiose landscapes - deserts, jungles, glaciers, swamps, the Amazon basin and 5000 meters highPasses over the Andes. On the 78,000-kilometer tour criss-crossing this wonderful continent, it is never boring. Our longing for new adventures has only increased in these two years. We decide to tackle an even greater challenge next: Africa.
We take the ferry from Rio de Janeiro to Genoa in Italy on October 16, 1988. A short visit to parents and friends over Christmas and New Year - then nothing stops us in Switzerland. On January 3rd, 1989, we set off for the African continent - a dip in the deep end. Without GPS it goes across the Sahara, from Algeria over the Niger to Nigeria, where we come from the traditionally Muslim world to simple black Africa.
Malaria attacks in Africa
Der Battle with mud slopes, rotten bridges, corrupt officials, poverty and disease begins. We survived two malaria attacks - one in Niger, one in Togo. Nevertheless we fall for the African charm, the clear nights, the smells, the colors and the incredibly friendly people. Each of the 34 countries we visit is a challenge in itself - each of the 97,000 kilometers driven is exciting. After Africa we are ready for a little relaxation and in November 1992 we embark from Cape Town to Perth (Australia). The land of the 'no worries', the untamed Australia with its deserted people and its countless slopes holds us captive for a whole year. We roam this continent from the lonely, desert-like west to the populated, fertile east and from the hot north to the rugged south. But soon we long for more exoticism again and get on a ship to Singapore in Perth. The change from Australia to Southeast Asia is worthwhile.
By ship to the Orient
The cultures there are lively, colorful and full of surprises. We cross Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand - unfortunately Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos are closed to cars in the early 1990s. Reason enough to board a ship to Muscat in Oman on the Arabian Peninsula. The Arab people, their culture and the scenic beauties inspire us. It's love at first sight - we will stop by twice on our long journey in the region of nomads, sheikhs and princesses. The years seem to have passed since then. We traveled to the Middle East, Asia, Europe, again North America, the Caribbean, a second time South America, the Far East, Oceania and New Zealand. Now that we've explored Fiji, we're off to Samoa and Tahiti. Where do we go after that? Who knows - there is still so much to discover in this world.
Distances
Emil and Liliana Schmid have been driving their Toyota Landcruiser FJ60 through the world for almost 25 years, they already have a total of 650,000 kilometersunwound. Your 100,000. Kilometers they reached in Chile - in Japan the 500,000. The car was driven seven out of ten days; on average, the two of them changed their location after three days. In total, they slept in 2,850 different places. The photo archive of the two Swiss people meanwhile comprises 70,000 pictures.
Countries and borders
So far Emil and Liliana have visited 162 countries with 60 different languages and 137 currencies. They traveled through 143 of the 194 independent and 19 of the 65 dependent countries and other territories of the world. They had to apply for 74 different visas, which fill nine passports per person and cost $ 3,200. In the 455 border crossings, the two were checked 307 times. They traveled through 21 of the Earth's 24 time zones.
Consumption and wear and tear
Emil and Liliana filled up a total of 158,178 liters of petrol at 1682 filling stations, an average of 94 liters. The highest gasoline price paid was in New Caledonia in August 2008 ($ 1.97 per liter) and the lowest in Iran in May 1995 ($ 0.0175 per liter). On the trip, the Toyota had 164 flat feet, used 67 sets of tires, 31 batteries, 138 spark plugs, 22 air filters and 54 shock absorbers. Emil and Liliana changed the engine oil 92 times and the oil filter 55 times.
Records
In addition to the 650,000 kilometers traveled, Emil and Liliana had to use a ferry or freighter 245 times, to cross a river, lake or sea. Highest traveled point: 5320 meters in Bolivia (Chacaltaya), deepest: 390 meters below sea level on the Dead Sea in Jordan. Most days and kilometers were driven in the USA (1118 days, 101,533 km), followed by Australia (318 days, 38,960 km) - the least they drove in the Vatican (2 km), followed by Monaco (19 km). Right side of the road driven: in 118 countries for 5653 days and 454,387 km. Left side of the road driven: in 44 countries for 2850 days and 186,473 km. The two had the highest average speed in Belgium (71.9 km /h), followed by Denmark (62.3) - the lowest in the Vatican (10.0), followed by Gibraltar (11.3 km /h) /p>
More information at www.weltrekordreise.ch
