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News December 2015              (Khartoum/Sudan, 12/31/2015)
 
Website statistics:   'Webalizer' has been shut down in February 2013. 'Google-Analytics' is now the current counter.
                        'Google-Analytics' showed 20'160 pageviews during December. The visitors come from 235 countries!
                        ('Google-Analytics': November = 24'452 pageviews / October = 21'579 pageviews)
                        'Logaholic' shows now the following figures in December 2015: 19'623 visits / 93'817 pages
                   ('Logaholic' November = 20'080 visits / 90'915 pages; October = 20'037 visits / 89'120 pages)
                                  Record day since 12/17/1998 = the birthday of our website: on 11/5/2007 = 13'407 visitors and 787'456 hits ('Webalizer')
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
First of all we wish to all of our readers a Happy New Year 2016, and may all your wishes come true!
 
On December 4th, 2015, we left Lalibela, Ethiopia's monolithic place of churches with a status of a UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage. Although the access apart from the plane is only possible by partly bad gravel roads, the somewhat arduous inward
and onward journey is worth the effort. It's not that the road itself is that "arduous", but as already mentioned in News October
and News November 2015 it's the hordes of stone throwing children. They sit all day long at a road obstacle, which can be
negotiated only at walking speed. Always they scream for money (jujuju, manni, manni, manni, gimmi, gimmi, gimmi you, give
me money). Woe, if we continue: Stones are thrown; rocks are rolled up to the size of a melon to force the vehicle to stop. Well,
that belongs now to our history here in Sudan, our 185th country, the people are completely different: Not aggressive but
reluctant, not demanding but helpful, not cheeky but nice. Abruptly at the border of Metema (Ethiopia) and Gallabat (Sudan)
not only the landscape is changing (mountains to plains), the temperature (mainly chilly to desert like heat), the religion (Ethiopian
Orthodox to Muslim), the language and script (Amharic to Arabic), from a country glutted by aid money to a country restricted
by economic sanctions (NGO's to UN/US/EU etc.), the currency (Birr to Pound), the calendar (Ethiopian 13 months with 365
days to Islamic 12 months with 354 days), the population density (Ethiopia 251 pop. per sq.mi. [97/km²] to Sudan 57 pop. per
sq.mi. [22/km²]) and as already mentioned above the character of the population. The contrast could hardly be starker.
 
But "all is not gold that glitters". Thus one is compelled to register within three days at the alien registration office in Khartoum, at
least if the country is entered from the South (Sunday to Thursday N15.59983 E32.51812 Friday and Saturday at the airport
N15.59235 E32.54904). Then one has to get a Photo and Travel Permit from the Ministry of Tourism (N15.60194 E32.53243),
at least when leaving the city of Khartoum. Furthermore there are no ATM's that accept any foreign credit card subsequently
there's a black market. And automatically there's a barrier in taking freely photos, because a lot of stuff is classified as a military or
strategic important target - or could become immediately such a target, if somebody sees it, and finally women and poverty
shouldn't be pictured either.
 
However getting the Saudi Arabia Visa (now called "Road Transit Visa") was relatively easy. It's not anymore done directly by
the Consulate, but via an agent. We were recommended the agency "Waleed" (N15.57464 E32.54697 an unlabeled "shop" just
opposite of the Saudi Embassy), and we can really also recommend Mr. Waleed (he is arranging within 2 days a visa to transit
the 930 miles [1'500km] through the Kingdom within 3 days, to be used within 30 days). We had to submit a letter of
recommendation from our Swiss Embassy, as well as a copy of the marriage certificate, the carnet de passages, the international
driving license and 2 passport photos. Cost in December 2015 SD£ 650 p.p.
 
Khartoum itself is just another mega city (min. 5.5 million) at the confluence of the Blue and the White Nile, whereas the first is
flowing more in a brownish color and the white one does not look less dirty. May be that the color is changing from time to time.
Although there is a lot of traffic too, the metropolis isn't (yet) congested like Nairobi. We could camp in the garden of the
"Khartoum Youth Hostel" centrally situated in South Khartoum at the rate of SD£ 70 per day (~$6.35). The Youth Hostel act's
also as "sponsor" for the registration. Cars wider than 94 inches [2.40m] (= exact opening of the door) cannot enter. Unfortunately
the ablution leaves much to be desired and the noise from the road and the close-by airport might bother those with a light sleep.
 
 
                                                                       Sudan: Christmas 2015 at the camping of the Youth Hostel in Khartoum
 
 
What's next? The Saudi Arabian "Road Transit Visa" can be used until January 15th, 2016. The ferry "Mahabba" of Namma-Lines
is sailing from Suakin (39 miles [63km] south of Port Sudan) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and arrives in Jeddah
theoretically after 14 hours the following day the vessel needs nearly always more time and is without fail delayed. That means
that docking at Jeddah is at dusk, which is actually day #1 of the three transit days. But obviously the time of leaving the harbor
customs is noted, hence there are finally true 3 days (= 72 hours) for the 930 miles [1'500km] lying ahead. This Saudi Arabia visit
will be our 8th. 7 have been also transits, only back in 1966 we received a 30 days Visitor-(= Business-)Visa that made it
possible to explore freely the Kingdom, with the exception of Mecca and Medina. It's likely that we shall enter at the latest on
January 17th, the United Arab Emirates for the 22nd time with our car (including all border crossings between the UAE and Oman)
if no unforeseen events are cropping up.
 

New Reports/Pictures
                                                                mouse over picture shows comments
                                                                                    click a picture to see details
 
Malawi
1 Report
 
(July-Aug. 2015)
Malawi/Nkhotakota: Armed Robbery in Malawi on July 31st/August 1st, 2015 on the campsite of the Safari Beach Lodge
 
  • Armed Robbery in Malawi on July 31st/August 1st, 2015
  • South Africa
    1 Report
     
    (Jan.-April 2015)
     
     
    3rd Major Repair
    of our LandCruiser (due to two broken side shafts)
     
    South Africa/Clanwilliam: Once more a broken side shaft
    Angola
    2 Picture Galleries
    1 Report
     
    (Sept.-Oct. 2014)
    Angola/Leba Pass: 6'053 ft. high pass between Lubango and Namibe
     
    Part 1: September 26th to October 4th, 2014
     
    Part 2: October 4th to 22nd, 2014
     
    30th Anniversary of being on the road
    Namibia
    2 Picture Galleries
     
    (July-Sept. 2014)
    (Oct. 2014-Jan. 2015)
     
    Namibia Part 1: from Walvis Bay to Windhoek
     
    Namibia Part 2: :from Windhoek to the Angolan border, back again and on to South Africa
    Namibia/Walvis Bay: Dune No. 7
    Cape Verde
    1 Picture Report
    6 Picture Galleries
     
    (Nov. 2013-May 2014)
    Cape Verde: Girl from Praia
    Island of Santiago (Report)
    Island of Fogo
    Island of Brava
    Island of São Nicolau
    Island of São Vicente
    Island of Santo Antão Part 1 Eastern Side
    Island of Santo Antão Part 2 Western side
    Transnistria
    Picture Gallery
     
    (Aug. 22 - Sept. 1, 2013)
     
    Transnistria: Lenin in front of the parliament building
    Moldova
    Picture Gallery
     
    (Aug. 21/22, 2013)
    (Sept. 1 - 4, 2013)
    Moldova: Trebujeni - a typical Moldovan village near Orheiul Vechi
     
    Ukraine
    Picture Gallery
     
    (Aug. 17 - 21, 2013)
    (Sept. 4 - 22, 2013)
     
    Ukraine: Roksolany along Dniestr-Liman: The churches with its 'golden' domes can be seen everywhere
    Abkhazia
    Picture Gallery
     
    (Aug. 5 - 13, 2013)
    Abkhazia: Pebble beach of Sukhumi
     
    Nagorno-Karabakh
    Picture Gallery
     
    (July 9 - 17, 2013)
     
    Nagorno-Karabakh/Stepanakert: The Monument 'Tatik u Papik'
    Armenia
    2 Picture Galleries
     
    (July 2 - 9, 2013)
    (July 17 - 22, 2013)
    Armenia: Haghpat Monastery near Alaverdi in the North
    Armenia part 1
    (from the Georgia border at Bagratashen
    to the Nagorno-Karabakh border near Goris)
     
    Armenia part 2
    (from the Nagorno-Karabakh border near Goris
    to the Georgia border near Gyumri)
    Azerbaijan
    Picture Gallery
     
    (June 13 - 24, 2013)
    Azerbaijan: Baku: Flame Towers
    Georgia
    3 Picture Galleries
     
    (June 4 - 13, 2013)
    (June 24 - July 2, 2013)
    (July 22 - Aug. 5, 2013)
    (Aug. 13 - 15, 2013)
    Georgia: Mtskheta and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
    Georgia part 1
    (from the Turkish border at Sarpi
    to the Azerbaijani border near Lagodekhi)
    Georgia part 2
    (Tbilisi + from the Armenian border at Ninotsminda
    via Kazbegi, Kutaisi to Zugdidi before Svaneti)
    Georgia part 3
    (Svaneti + Ferry to the Ukraine)
    Turkey
    Picture Gallery
     
    (May 28, - June 4, 2013)
    (Esendere-Hakkari-Van-
    Dogubayazit-Kars-Ardahan-Hopa)
    Turkey/Southeast-Anatolia: Kurdish Village Soguksu with Volcano Tendürek
    Iran
    3 Picture Galleries
     
    (May 2013)
    Iran: Picture of Ayatollah Khomeini in the Nasir-al-Molk Mosque in Shiraz
    Iran part 1
    (Ferry Port Bandar Abbas-Shiraz-Persepolis-Pasargad)
    Iran part 2
    (Pasargad (excl.)-Yazd-Esfahan)
    Iran part 3
    (Esfahan (excl.)-Chelgerd-Hamadan-Sanandaj-Orumiyeh)
    Oman
    5 Picture Galleries
     
    (Jan. 28, - March 29, 2013)
    Part 2: Sohar-Muskat-Rustaq-Nizwa
    Part 3: Sur-East Coast-Isl.of Masirah-Dhofar
    Part 4: South: Salalah & Srndg. (Dhofar)-Nizwa
    Part 5: Western Hajar Mountains
    Oman/Musandam: View to the bay Khor an-Najd, southeast of Khasab
    2nd Rejuvenation
    Picture Gallery
     
    (Bodywork: Aug.-Oct. 2012)

    Miri/Sarawak/Malaysia: Dismantling the roof rack on the occasion of the second "rejuvenation"

     
    Report of the second overhaul of 
    our LandCruiser in Miri/Sarawak
    - the East Malaysian province
    on the island of Borneo
    Réunion
    3 Picture Galleries
     
    (Dec. 2011 - May 2012)
    (Saint-Denis & surroundings-West Coast-Salazie-
    La Paix-North Coast-Takamaka-Dos d'Âne)
    Réunion part 2
    (Les Makes-La Fenêtre-Saint Louis-East Coast-
    The Volcano-Grande Anse)
    Réunion part 3
    Cilaos-Grande Anse-Le Maïdo-Saint Pierre
    Réunion: View from Cap Noir/Dos d'Âne (near La Possession) into the Cirque de Mafate
    Madagascar
    4 Picture Reports
     
    (Sept.  - Dec. 2011)
    Madagascar/Morondava: 27 years 'on the road', here in the 'Allée des Baobabs'
    Madagascar part 1
    (Tamatave-Andasibe-Antananarivo-Miandrivazo)
    Madagascar part 2
    (Miandrivazo-Morondava-Antsirabe-Fianar-Ambalavao)
    Madagascar part 3
    (Ambalavao-Isalo N.P.-Tuléar-Ranomafana)
    Madagascar part 4
    (Antananarivo-Ankadibe-Manambato-Foulpointe-Tamatave)
    Mauritius
    3 Picture Reports
     
    (July - Sept. 2011)
    Mauritius 1             (with car)
     
    Mauritius 2                (with car)
     
    Rodrigues Island    (without car)
    Mauritius: Typical steep mountains rising from the sugar cane fields
    Sri Lanka
    3 Picture Reports
     
    (March - May 2011)
    Sri Lanka/Dambulla: Buddha in the Golden Temple resp. Cave Temple
    Sri Lank part 1
    Sri Lank part 2
    Sri Lank part 3
    United Arab Emirates
    3 Picture Galleries:  (with car)
    (Nov. 20th, 2012 to Apr. 29th 2013)
    1 Picture Gallery:  (w/o car)
    (Feb. 19th, to 27th, 2011)
    1 Picture Report  (with car)
    (February - May 1999)
    UAE: 3rd Visit part 3   (with car)
    UAE: 3rd Visit part 2   (with car)
    UAE: 3rd Visit part 1   (with car)
    UAE: 2nd Visit (Dubai-Sharjah) (without car)
    UAE: 1st Visit   (with car)
    United Arab Emirates: Souk of Sharjah
    Yemen
    3 Picture Reports (w/o car)
    (Feb. 9th, to 19th, 2011)
     
    1 Picture Galleriy  (with car)
    (May-June 1996)
    Dicksam Plateau/Socotra Island/Yemen: Forest of Dragon Blood Trees
    Island of Socotra East      (w/o car)
    Island of Socotra South    (w/o car)
    Island of Socotra West     (w/o car)
     
    Pictures from Yemen Trip (with car)
    Papua New Guinea
    5 Picture Reports
     
    (Aug.  - Oct. 2010)
    1) Milne Bay - (Port Moresby)
                    - Mt. Hagen - Lae
    2) Mt.Hagen Cultural Show 8/13-15/2010
    3) Lae – Madang – Goroka
    4) Goroka Cultural Show 9/17-19/2010
    5) Goroka - Mt. Hagen - Kumul Pass
                    - Mt. Hagen - Goroka - Lae
    Mount Hagen/Papua New Guinea: Huli Wigman from the Southern Highlands at the Mount Hagen Cultural Show 2010
    Indonesia 2010
    3 Picture Reports
     
    (March  - June 2010)
    Medan/Sumatra/Indonesia: Indonesian Serenity
     
    North Sumatra  Report  (March-April 2010)
    West-Sumatra  Report    (May-June 2010)
    Southern Sumatra  Report    (June 2010)
     
    Tonga
    Picture Report
     
    (Nov. 2009 - Jan. 2010)
    Tongatapu Island Nuku'alofa/Tongatapu/Tonga: Royal Palace
    French Polynesia
    3 Picture Reports
     
    (Aug. -Oct.  2009)
    Tahiti/French Polynesia: One type of Tahiti's main flower with many names - Frangipani, Plumeria, Tiare
    Tahiti 1st part  Picture Report  (Aug.-Sept. 2009)
    Tahiti 2nd part Picture Report  (Oct. 2009)
    Moorea Picture Report   (Sept. 2009)
    Cook Islands (without car)
    Picture Gallery
     
    (Aug. 2009)
    Rarotonga Island Cook Islands/Rarotonga: Beauty from the South Pacific
    American Samoa
    Picture Gallery
     
    (July 2009)
    American Samoa: View from Pago Pago towards the 1'718ft. high Rainmaker Mountain (Pioa Mountain)
    Samoa
    4 Picture Reports:
     
    (April-June 2009)
    Island of Upolu: 1st part
    Island of Upolu: 2nd part
    Independence Day  June 1st, 2009
    Island of Savaii
    Apia/Samoa: Coat of Arms of Samoa in front of the Government Office Building
    Fiji
    3 Picture Galleries:
     
    (Jan.-March 2009)
    Suva/Fiji: Guard at the Parliament House
    1st part: Island of Viti Levu (Jan.+Febr. 2009)
    2nd part: Island of Vanua Levu (March 2009)
    3rd part: Island of Taveuni (March 2009)
    Vanuatu
    2 Picture Galleries:
     
    (1st visit: July 2008)
    (2nd visit: Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009)
    Vanuatu 1st visit (without car)
     
    Vanuatu 2nd visit (with car)
    Vanuatu: Boeing 737-800 of Air Vanuatu at the airport of Port Vila
    New Caledonia
    3 Picture Galleries:
     
    (Aug.-Oct. 2008)
    New Caledonia: Nouméa and the St. Joseph Cathedral
    1st part: Grand Terre: Nouméa + South (Aug.2008)
    2nd part: Grand Terre: North #1 (Aug.+Sept. 2008)
    3rd part: Grand Terre: North #2 (Sept.+Oct. 2008)
    New Zealand
    6 Picture Galleries:
     
    (South Island: Febr.-May 2008)
    (North Island: May-July 2008)
    1st part: South Island (Febr.+March 2008)
    2nd part: South Island (March 2008)
    3rd part: South Island (April 2008)
    4th part: South to North Island (May 2008)
    5th part: North Island (May+June 2008)
    6th part: North Island (June+July 2008)
    New Zealand: South Island - typically
    Philippines
    1 Picture Gallery:
    3 Picture Reports:
    (1st visit: Febr. 2008)
    (2nd visit: Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011)

    Philippines: Ricefields near Sagada/Mountain Province/Northern Luzon

    Philippines 1st visit (without car Febr. 2008)
     
    Philippines 2nd visit (with car):
    Luzon (South)-Mindoro-Panay  (Nov.-Dec. 2010)
    Negros-Cebu  (Dec. 2010-Jan. 2011)
    Bohol-Luzon (South)  (Jan. 2011)
    Taiwan
    3 Picture Reports:
     
    (Oct.- Nov. 2007)
     
    1st part: Kaohsiung-Kenting-Taitung
    2nd part: Taitung-Southern Cross-
    Island Hwy-Siraya NSA (Zengwun Reservoir)-Alishan-Sun Moon Lake -Taroko-Suao-
    Hualien Hwy-Taipei
    3rd part: Taipei-Taitung-Kaohsiung
    Kaohsiung/Taiwan: God of War at Lotus Pond
    Timor-Leste (East Timor)
    2 Picture Reports:
     
    (May 2007)

    Oecussi/Timor-Leste: Landscape East of Oecussi-'Town'

     
     
    Exclave of Oecussi
     
    Mainland
    Indonesia 2006/07
    1 Report + 6 Picture Galleries:
    (Sumatra-Java: Sept.-Dec. 2006)
    (Bali: Jan.-March 2007)
    (Lombok, Sumabawa, Flores: April 2007)
    (Sumba, West Timor: May+June 2007)
    (Sulawesi:June+July 2007)
    (Tana Toraja (-Land): June+July 2007)
    (Kalimantan: July 2007)
     
    Sumatra-Java    (= Report)
    Bali
    Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores
    Sumba, West Timor
    Sulawesi
    Tana Toraja (Toraja-Land)
    Kalimantan
    Ke'te Kesu near Rantepao/Sulawesi/Indonesia: Traditional Toraja village
    Brunei
    Picture Report
     
    (Sept. 2006)
    Brunei (Borneo): ’The 'Ali Saifuddien'-Mosque at sunset in Bandar Seri Begawan
     
    Borneo
    3 Picture Reports:
    (Sarawak: 1st visit: June-Aug. 2006)
    (Sabah: Oct. 2006)
    (Sarawak: 2nd visit: Nov. 2006)
    Picture Gallery:
    (Borneo-Trip: Sept.-Nov. 2006)
     
    Sarawak part 1 Northeast (Miri)
    Sabah
    Sarawak part 2 South (Kuching)
    Borneo (Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak, Kalimantan)
    Sepilok near Sandakan/Sabah/East-Malaysia (Borneo): Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center
    1st Rejuvenation
    Picture Report
     
    (Engine/Body: June-Aug. 2006)
    (Transmission: Sept. 2007)

    Miri/Sarawak/East-Malaysia (Borneo): Overhaul of our LandCruiser in 'Full Swing'

     
    Report of the first overhaul of 
    our LandCruiser in Miri/Sarawak
    - the East Malaysian province
    on the island of Borneo
    Myanmar (South) (without car)
    Picture Report
     
    (May 2006)
     
    Myanmar: Waiting for customers in Kawthoung
     
    Thailand
    2 Picture Galleries:
     
    (1st visit: Nov. 1993 - Jan. 1994)
    (2nd visit: Nov. - Dec. 2005)
    (3rd visit: Febr. - April 2006)
    Thailand: Ho Phra I-Suan Temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat
    Temples, Pagodas, Shrines

    People, Beaches, Nature

    Laos
    Picture Report
     
    (February 2006)

    Laos: The ’Patuxai’, the Laotian replica of the French ’Arc de Triomphe’ in Paris

    Vietnam
    Picture Report
     
    (January 2006)
    Vietnam: Two women cultivating a rice field
    Cambodia
    Picture Report
     
    (December 2005)

    Cambodia: The main temple of Angkor Wat with its five towers viewed from the hill of the ’Phnom Bakheng’ - Temple

    Malaysia (West)
    Picture Report
     
    (Oct. - Nov. 2005)
    (May 2006)
    Malaysia: The four minarets of the ’Sultan Salahuddin’ State Mosque in Shah Alam are visible already from far
    Singapore
    Picture Gallery
     
    (September 2005)

    Singapore: Merlion - the Land- and Trademark of the Lion City

    Macao   (without car)
    Picture Gallery
     
    (September 2005)

    Macao: The ’St. Paul’ ruin is an inspiring sight also at night

     
     
     
     
    Hong Kong
    2 Picture Galleries:
     
    (1st visit: September 2005)
    (2nd visit: Dec. 2007-Jan. 2008)

     

     
     
    Hong Kong 1st visit (without car)
     
    Hong Kong 2nd visit (with car)
    Hong Kong: From ’Hong Kong Peak’ we get an excellent view of the ’skyscraper jungle’
    The visit of 6 countries with and 1 island without our LandCruiser Middle East
    The visit of 10 countries with and 1 without our LandCruiser Southeast Asia
    The visit of 4 countries with and 1 islandl without our LandCruiser Indian Ocean
    The visit of 4 countries with and 1 without our LandCruiser Far East
    The visit of 14 Pacific Islands with and 1 without our LandCruiser

    Pacific (Febr. 2008-Jan. 2010 + Aug.-Sept. 2010)

    The visit of 13 Caribbean Islands with our LandCruiser

    Caribbean (June 2003-Dec. 2004)

    + added from the United Arab Emirates:

    Fairytale Wedding in Dubai   (March 1999)

    + added from a earlier visit to the USA:

    Las Vegas  (Millennium change)

    + added from our Arabian Peninsula round trip:

    Pictures from Yemen (May-June 1996)

    + Flashbacks of our Worldrecordtour:

    Pictures from "all the continents" (Oct. 1984 - April 1997)

    + Follow-ups about Toyota-Experiences:
    Encounters resp. "Ups + Downs" with
    Toyota Companies since 1982
    On July 7th, 2005, we were able to celebrate after a journey through 150 countries the car's
    600'000th Kilometer - very prosaic in front of the post office in Cayenne/French Guiana.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    On June 10th, 2009, we were able to celebrate after a journey through 163 countries the car's
    400'000th Mile - in a beautiful landscape in the West of the island of Savaii/Samoa.
    Are you interested into the LandCruiser History, prepared by Toyota Motor Sales USA and taken over by
    Toyota Motor United Kingdom? (after some loading-time please klick "IN LEGEND" and afterwards "HAIR TO MAGELLAN"

     

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