About the Team
It wasn't the best way
to assemble a team, put an ad on the Lonely Planet website and pick
companions sight unseen, but as the bubble burst in the spring of
2001 and my portfolio value plunged like a shot pheasant - it was
the only way I could think to
make the $100,000 trip budget. I was lucky. Our crew of 4 stuck
it out quite a while, we met some great people along the way, and
it was certainly a trip to remember.
A special shout out to some of the folks who joined
us along the way; Devy Santiago & Rob Smoot (Southern Africa),
Mike Faulkner (East Africa), Janet Porter (East Europe), Kathryn
Mertes (China-India), Stacey (Middle East).
____________________________________
Jeff Willner (Canada)
Expedition
Leader
jeffwillner@yahoo.com
OTHER
EXPEDITIONS
1999 - Six month, 28,000km, expedition through
southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Malawi), Land
Rover 110 Defender
2003 - Two month, 12,000km, drive from Guyaquil,
Equador to Ushuaia, Argentina on the PanAmerican highway down the
west coast of South America.
Before the Trip...
"The frustrations and hassle of planning an expedition sometimes
make me wonder if it's worth it - this latest trip has taken over
a year to put together. But then I remember a few of the "moments"
from previous adventures, times when it all seems to come together
and life overwhelms you with its immediate beauty - twilight bush
camp in the Okavango with unseen lions roaring, unexpectedly exquisite
french cuisine in a tiny Rwandan restaurant, swaping jokes with
the locals over midnight tea at a Tanzanian truck stop. I hope you
sign up to share our triumphs, challenges, and "moments",
it should be a great year of journals!"
After the Trip...
"In some ways we did this trip at the worst possible time.
We didn't get a single sponsor because the economy was so bad. The
9/11 tragedy occurred when we were in the Middle East and we had
to alter our itinerary. And because I was short of cash we had to
advertise for team members who would be willing to pay their way
- in order to cut costs. It's not a crew selection process I would
really recommend.
But in other ways
it was the perfect time. Life was tough on consultants in 2001/02,
we skipped the worst of the job market and had the trip of a lifetime
instead. Even through the trip meant a ton more debt, it was an
irreplaceable experience. Despite political unrest, riots, bad roads,
breakdowns, a disastrous wreck in Patagonia, and a never-ending
shortage of cash, we managed to pull it off. Along the way we met
some remarkable people, had some amazing experiences, and saw ...
well ... the world. And despite a rocky start I made some friends
for life. Around the world by Land Rover! Enough stories for a lifetime."
____________________________________
Sally
deFina (Australia)
sallydefina@hotmail.com
Before the Trip...
What
do I like most about visiting foreign countries? The opportunity
to experience diverse and unusual cultures. As an avid adventure
traveler, one of my goals has always been to complete an around-the-world
trip. I look forward to writing to you about the wonderful people
and their traditions as well as the beautiful scenery we will surely
discover.
After the Trip...
When I informed my fellow University of Chicago, GSB classmates
that I was planning on joining a Land Rover expedition instead of
immediately starting my business career following graduation, many
told me that I was absolutely insane. But not four months later,
when passing through the US after the European portion of the trip,
those same classmates were telling me that I picked the perfect
time to temporarily �avoid� the job market. While we were seeing
new countries, meeting new people, and discovering new and beautiful
scenery, our friends and family in the west were going through the
worst economic downturn in decades (not to mention the worst terrorist
attack in history).
Now that the expedition is finished, I too am out looking for work.
And the economy still has not recovered. Sometimes I feel like just
chucking in the whole job search and heading off for another year
of travel. Max (our Land Rover) is fitted for expedition travel,
and there are friends who are willing and able to just take off
for exotic locations at the drop of a hat (anyone want to join a
Land Rover expedition in South America for 6 months?). Oh, If only
I hadn�t spent all my money! Alas! I need a job. But despite not
having work at the moment, when interviewers ask me whether I would
do the same thing again, I tell them most definitely �Yes!. I would
not trade the experience for the world!� I will be back.
____________________________________
Jody Finver (US)
finverjody@hotmail.com
Before the Trip...
What
would possess someone who has already traveled plenty, already seen
enough sights to last a lifetime, to drop out of the working world
and travel overland, in a truck, for a year -- with strangers? Maybe
it's because once the travel bug bites it works like a virus through
your body, with no cure. Maybe it's because I think there's more
to the world than the 15 minutes dedicated to it on the nightly
news. Or maybe, just maybe, I needed a really good excuse to finally
learn how to drive stick shift.
After the Trip...
____________________________________
Gulin Akoz (Turkey)
Before the Trip...
After the Trip...
____________________________________
Other Travelers
Devy
(Sri Lanka) / Rob (US)
Southern Africa
Three weeks through Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa,
and Zimbabwe. Highlights - climbing the Great Zimbabwe in the middle
of the night and watching the stars while the hyenas howled below.
Mike
(Australia)
East Africa
Joined the team for three weeks in East Africa because
he couldn't bear to be parted from his sweetie, Sally DeFina. Drives
a mean curve in a loaded Land Rover. Excellent CD collection. Managed
to talk Sally into marrying him four years later.
Viktor
(Slovakia)
Ethiopia
In Addis we met up with a young Slovak Count, Viktor (last
name withheld by request). Educated in the finest English prep schools
(what, what) he was an interesting addition to the team and often
had a different perspective on things. On the unrelenting misery
of kids badgering us with their two words of English, “You”
and “Money”, he commented, “I wonder if one could
acquire a permit to export urchins by the kilo. They seem to have
quite a surplus here.” Today he's a banker in London.
Janet
(Canada)
Eastern Europe, Scandinavia,
West Europe
Met a cute Canadian while touring Vlad's castle in Romania
and offered her a ride to the next village. Sally and Jody adopted
her, I had no arguments, she stayed with us for the rest of Europe.
We were gutted that she couldn't continue with the expedition in
South America. She would go on to work for a non-profit in South
America, and is now doing anti-AIDS work in Malawi.
Kathryn
(US)
China to India
"What can I say, I love adventure! Whether it is crossing
the Andes alone, hitchhiking through South America, sailing in the
Caribbean, or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, I LOVE adventure. So when
offered the Chance to meet up with Sally and join the expedition
through China, Tibet, Nepal & Northern India, I was more than game.
I look forward to truly being on the road again -- free to explore
and learn about new geographies and cultures while taking some time
off from the rat race back home. My only regret is that my husband
cannot be here to share in this wonderful adventure with me."
Stacey
(Canada)
Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey - Europe
Talked a friend of mine from Toronto into meeting us in
Nepal to see the sights. Found out she was single when she arrived...
we were dating shortly after that. She extended her trip from three
weeks to six and traveled through the end of the expedition. We
were married a year and a half later. A pretty great way to end
an expedition!
