A 25-Year-Journey Around the World - With No End in Sight!
- (see our Follow-ups about "Encounters, Experiences, Ups and Downs" with Toyota Companies around the world since 1982)
- (see chronological sequence see: Statistics > "More information" and "The Journey's Chronological Sequence")
It began with a dream on the part of a Swiss couple, Emil and Liliana Schmid: to have a year free from schedules to explore the world, remote backroads, unique cultures and peoples, and the beauty of nature. The dream grew into an epic reality with the purchase of a Toyota LandCruiser FJ60 in 1982 and the couple's departure in October 1984. Destination: Montreal in Canada.
North and South America - 1984-1988
One year soon proved insufficient for traveling throughout North and Central America, and after two years, 98'000 km/61'000 miles and seven countries, even incidents with guerrillas and bandits could not deter them and their faithful vehicle.
They embarked on a 66'000 km/41'000 miles/10 countries circumnavigation of scenic and challenging South America. From Tierra del Fuego to Colombia, their two year jaunt carried them through deserts, volcanoes, glaciers, swamps and the Amazon Jungle.
From Africa to "No Worries" -- Australia 1989-1992
Their travel bugs still biting, Schmid's continued on to Africa, all 97'000 km/60'000 miles and 34 countries, with challenges from mud-choked roads to 200-meter/600 ft-high sand dunes and rewards like brilliant desert nights under the stars, the awakening jungle at dawn, and the diversity of traditions and customs.
After Africa's excitements, Australia was a welcome vacation as the Schmid's explored the deserted West, the rugged South, the green East, and the hot North, taking advantage of the adventures offered by the Outback tracks (39'000 km/24'000 miles).
Asia and the Middle East -- 1993-1995
The jump into Asia was a thrilling change: The stunning temples, sandy beaches and deep jungle, along with the kind people are memories of this region.
As they traveled to the Middle East, they were greeted with endless deserts, fascinating architecture, safe passage and deep Arab tradition.
Europe and entering the Guinness Book of Records - 1996-1998
After traveling through 100'000 km/62'000 miles and 28 countries in Asia, the Schmid's crossed the Ural Mountains in 1995, returning to Europe. Their travels through this culturally rich continent lasted three years. From Gibraltar to the North Cape of Norway, they traveled through 45 countries and 84'000 km/52'000 miles. It was at the Vatican, the smallest state in the world, when in May 1997 they achieved a triple lead in the Guinness Book of Worldrecords: for the most countries, the most kilometers and the most years in a single car (www.guinnessworldrecords.com). Until now they visited 150 countries, driving >584'000 km/363'000 miles during nearly 20 years.
Arabia, Far East and Northern America - 1999-2000
Europe could not hold the Schmid's any longer. In January 1999, they headed to Arabia for the third time - to the UAE and Oman. This fascinating corner of the world was love at first sight for them already in 1994 and became one of their favorite regions. In Dubai, the speedometer of their LandCruiser reached on 16th March the 500'000th km/=310'690 miles. Mid 1999, they changed from the beauty of the desert of traditional Arabia to a subtropical lush green world: South Korea and Japan.
Their eleven weeks' journey through the hilly islands of Japan presented them with a still untamed nature. They appreciated the exceptional courtesy and friendliness of the people and their very safe passage through this Far East country.
- On 9th September 1999, they landed on the North American continent where their epic journey began.
- North America, South America and Caribbean Islands - 2001-2004
- With the goal to explore all 50 US states on the mainland of North America, they headed
for the second time through this diverse continent, where the exceptional beauties of
nature, the endless open land in the West and the "Indian Summer" in Atlantic
Canada kept them for many months. Then, the longing for more exotic places overwhelmed
them again. They embarked to the Caribbean Islands of Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto
Rico. Those beautiful islands with their great hospitality, contagious joy for life, happy
music and palm-fringed beaches made it easy to leave behind fond memories and the desire
to return again.
In June 2002, the need for more "pepper in the soup" and "off the beaten track" adventures brought them back to the South American continent after having heard that there would now exist a jungle track connecting Northern Brazil to the three Guyana's, the only countries still missing on the American mainland. These small countries pushed their LandCruiser and themselves to the limits through incredibly muddy tracks and dense rain forest. The beautiful rewards were the cries of howler monkeys, calls of tropical birds, noises of unknown creatures and the luxury tropical vegetation. And not only once they found Jaguar tracks around their solitary camp in the morning.
Still infected by the travel bug and still obsessed by the desire to travel to the most possible of the 193 sovereign and 64 non-sovereign states and territories in the world, they pushed themselves into a new, even more difficult logistical adventure: "Cruising" the whole Caribbean with their LandCruiser. From May 2003 to December 2004, they hopped through these wonderful islands, fighting against strange laws for the temporary entry of their vehicle, learning to deal with dangers of hurricanes and simply enjoying the turquoise waters, powdery white palm fringed beaches and the multi cultural friendly and happy Caribbean people. In this exotic atmosphere, they were proud to celebrate two more milestones in their epic journey: On July 26th, 2004 they reached their 150th country – the island of Anguilla - which simultaneously became the last of their totally visited 17 Caribbean islands. And shortly after, on October 18th, 2004, the anniversary of being 20 years on the road took place in Sint Maarten on the Netherlands Antilles. At the end of the year they left this unique beautiful region and returned to Guyana on the South American continent. - South America - 2005
In the North of South America, a period of "rejuvenation" should have started for the Schmid's, because the past 20 years definitely demanded its tribute on their Toyota LandCruiser, which is understandable. But unfortunately, this vision has been smashed. Although most of the local Toyota distributors were more than generous when visiting their particular country, wishing their epic journey to continue, now for them it is logistically and also financially a nearly impossible task to upgrade their loyal companion to that level that it would be able to visit also the next '50 countries and 250'000 miles'. The global Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan until now inexplicably denied the support for their world record - although worldwide many Toyota distributors urged them to do so – despite that the vehicle got already fame in the Guinness Book of World Records, proving thus also its achievements regarding quality, reliability and durability which poses for TMC an enormous marketing potential - facts, competitors can only dream of! Why do they show deaf ears to these specialists working at the front?
- But the Schmid's did not let them discourage from this knock down. Traveling and their longing for new adventures having become too much part of their life. With a big portion of optimism, they continued their journey from Georgetown/Guyana to French Guiana, where on 7.7.2005 their LandCruiser achieved its 600’000th km in front of the post office in Cayenne. Shortly afterwards, on July 29th, 2005, the trio split up: The LandCruiser went on a two months long sea journey from French Guyana through France to Singapore and the Schmid's followed by air via the US-Hong Kong-Macao. New land was calling!
- South East Asia, Far East - 2005-2008
- The exotic of South East Asia captured the Schmid's from the very first day again. On well known paths, they first crossed Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Then, on December 9th, 2005, they entered new land again: Cambodia, their 151st nation. They loved it at first sight: Angkor Wat, the rural life and especially the broad smiles of the people - everything was so strange, so new, so exciting. It was there where they experienced their first accident on their 21 years journey around the world: On their way to Vietnam, Mrs. Schmid was hit by a Cambodian car on Christmas Day 2005 at the Mekong ferry crossing. Result: Broken leg and a gypsum cast. Despite this handicap, they continued to Vietnam and Laos. And nearly, they made it also to Myanmar. But at the last moment, their visit was hampered by new rules applied from the Burmese authorities. But Myanmar is still on their wish list and not cancelled yet, just postponed. Back in Thailand, a new planning phase started. Because the condition of their LandCruiser deteriorated more and more, and because the possibility of overhauling it in East Malaysia's Sarawak popped up, they sent it without hesitation from Penang to Borneo. During the following three months, the car was taken apart completely, derusted and repaired. It was the first engine overhaul after 381'800 miles of driving. After a test drive through Brunei and Sabah in East Malaysia, the result showed to be enjoyable, allowing the Schmid's to continue confidently for an indefinite time to come. In the meantime, the car's permit to enter Indonesia arrived, thus they entered Kalimantan on November 18th. Indonesia is not only a huge and diverse country, the incredible number of islands require a lot of patience as well as the necessary existence of ferry connections. After they were able to visit nine islands during their first six months, they entered on May 15th, 2007, their 156th country Timor-Leste - a country still unspoiled and that was able to arouse their enthusiams for one month. The tenth Indonesian island was visited for another two months after their re-entry.
- A completely new world opened up at their next destination, Taiwan, although the entry for the car was finally only possible with a lot of luck. The following two months they experienced the hospitality of an exceptional friendly nation, and they enjoyed day by day the authentic Chinese culture and way of life. But soon after the downturn of their "luck for permits" arrived: Although the Schmid's tried for 16 months to get an authorization to visit the Philippines with their car, the failure happened due to a relatively small detail of the Filipino procedure of customs clearance. This was the reason for them to proceed to Hong Kong, their next testination - also considering a possibility of a visit to mainland China. Actually, this would have been possible at a certain price, if the approval process wouldn't have lasted for months. After two months of waiting in the megacity of Hong Kong, they grew tired of the bureaucracy, although the "accumulation of skyscrapers" was still thrilling and the Schmid's spent also Christmas 2007 and New Year's day there.
- Oceania (Australia-Pacific) - 2008-
- The idea of the Schmid's to explore afterwards the Pacific islands with their own vehicle - similar to the Caribbean in the years of 2003 and 2004 - slowly began to take shape in Hong Kong. But again, the entrance into their first country in the Pacific - Papua New Guinea - was to be dropped after a long and persistent fight with the red tape. Certainly, also the criminal situation on scene played a major role that they abandoned rather sooner than later their idea. Hence, they shipped the car in February 2008 spontaneously from Hong Kong to New Zealand, their 159th country. During four months they criss-crossed 7'000 miles on the North and South Island and enjoyed the exciting beauties of nature, the emptiness and the relaxed and safe traveling. Then, the penetrating cold of the winter drove them to new horizons deeper into the Pacific, firstly to New Caledonia, afterwards to Vanuatu and Fiji and the Samoa's. Except of New Caledonia being French, the car permits for these independent South Pacific Islands were a huge and time consuming bureaucracy to overcome. But they enjoyed every moment in this relaxed paradises of the South Pacific, every island showing its special culture and way of life. The Samoa's especially captured their hearts. After a 9-days 'car-free' stay in the Cook Islands they reached their dream destination: French Polynesia. There, on Tahiti and Moorea, they spent nearly three months, where they could also celebrate their 25th Anniversary of 'exploring the world'. Currently they are in the Kingdom of Tonga, their 166th country.
- 11/5/09