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News – September/October 2017 (Tomohon/Indonesia, 10/16/2017)

check now and then also our information site → "what's happening?"

Website statistics: 'Webalizer' has been shut down in February 2013. 'Logaholic' became too unreliable in Sep. 2016.
Thus 'Google-Analytics' remains unfortunately the only somewhat reliable counter for us.: 'Google-Analytics' showed 11'836 pageviews during September 2017. The visitors came from 235 countries!; ('Google-Analytics': August = 14'011 pageviews / July = 12'684 pageviews / June = 12'710 pageviews); Record day since 12/17/1998 = the birthday of our website: on 11/5/2007 = 13'407 visitors and 787'456 hits ('Webalizer')

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Today, on October 16th, 2017, we release the “News” by way of a change in the middle of the month, in fact on the 33rd anniversary of our
world record tour. On October 16th, 1984, (=picture) our LandCruiser left Switzerland in its 1st container in direction Montreal in Canada
(since then there have been 28 more of such “cages” on all drivable continents). Two days later (=story) we followed to New York, where
we enjoyed right at the beginning of our epic adventure “the scent of the great wide world”. Subsequently we covered in 186 different
countries during 20'873 driving hours 463'494 miles [745'921 km] – everything checked by the Guinness Book and everything self-funded,
i.e. not sponsored (what doesn't mean that we didn't receive every now and then some “gifts” as an appreciation).

The latest “News May-August 2017” was put on the net on August 31st, 2017, still in Borneo, exactly in Kuching/Sarawak/East Malaysia.
Meanwhile we traveled another 2'089 miles [3'362km] more to the East, to Tomohon near Manado in North Sulawesi/Indonesia. There
were two equator crossings in between, once from the northern hemisphere to the southern and back again. This increases our total now to
40 (26 of it in our LandCruiser); we could also celebrate the 300th shipping on a ferry in East Kalimantan and uploaded three days ago our
10'000th photo to our website; otherwise our 531st border crossing from Malaysia to Indonesia, the 188th flat tire as well as our 74th TV
interview might be mentioned too. And for those who are interested in details: Today we spend our 12'053th traveling day at the 3'372nd
overnight place. Enough of the statistics! For those who like to know more, please click here!

Our current biggest concern lies in the extension of the Indonesia visa. Can't we work it out here, we would have to fly out at the latest on
November 4th, 2017 – probably from Ternate on North Moluccas – to Kuala Lumpur to apply there at the Indonesian Consulate for a new
visa. The continuation should carry us by ferries from the “Spice Islands” to the island of New Guinea, to be precise primarily to Sorong in
the West of the Bird's Head Peninsula, the present Indonesian province of West-Papua. We learned that the new “Trans Papua Highway”
from Sorong to Manokwari in the East ought to be finished more or less (whatever that may mean here). More ferries will carry us at first to
the island of Biak and afterwards to the actual West New Guinea – both located in today's Indonesian province of Papua (formerly Irian
Jaya). How and where we shall continue to travel once having arrived in the port city of Nabire, will be determined then and there. In any
case this journey might then find its place in our section “Pioneer Trips” too.



Indonesia is unfortunately not the ideal country to camp in a car, due to its dense population. For one thing the roads are partially very narrow,
even if they are called “highways”. While even just stopping can be dangerous, it's simply impossible to find an appropriate night place. Should
there be any lay-by to pull out, it's for sure that a crowd of people will emerge immediately. The Indonesians are indeed very friendly and kind
but also very curious. After a very strenuous trip, which generally lasted 7 to 8 hours, we prefer to relax and enjoy some privacy than being
questioned about all sorts of things (not to mention the never-ending “selfies”). Thus we look for reasonable guest houses (US$25-35) with a
secure parking lot. To our amazement most of the lodgings offer at that rate even free wi-fi and an Indonesian breakfast. However it's said that
the price level will increase considerably the more easterly we shall move. It's also remarkable that the accuracy of the GPS (OSM but also
Maps-Me or Google Maps) is simultaneously decreasing and getting vague. It's imagination and paper maps what's called for!

New Reports/Pictures
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click a picture to see details

Indonesia 2017 2 Picture Galleries (Sep. 6th, 2017-.......)	Kalimantan-Sulawesi: 9/6 to 10/18/2017 North Sulawesi Part 2: 10/18 to 11/14/2017
“3rd Rejuvenation” 1 Picture Gallery (Feb. 6th-May 3rd, 2017)		Report of the third overhaul of our LandCruiser in Miri/Sarawak - the East Malaysian province on the island of Borneo
Myanmar (without car) 4 Picture Galleries (Dec. 26th, 2016-Jan. 22nd, 2017)	Part 1: Dec. 26th, 2016 to January 5th, 2017 (Yangon [Rangoon] - 'Golden Rock' of Kyaiktiyo) Part 2: January 5th to 9th, 2017 (Bago [Pegu] - Shwenyaung at Inle Lake) Part 3: January 9th to 17th, 2017 (Nyaungshwe/Inle Lake - Mandalay + Goteik Viaduct) Part 4: January 17th to 22nd, 2017 (Mandalay-Bagan-Yangon (Rangoon))
Tajikistan 2 Picture Galleries (May 31st-June 27th, 2016)		Part 1: May 31st to June 18th, 2016 (Uzbekistan border - Dushanbe) Part 2: June 18th to 27th, 2016 (Dushanbe - Kyrgyzstan border)
Uzbekistan 1 Picture Gallery (May 10th-31st, 2016)
Turkmenistan 1 Picture Gallery (May 6th-10th, 2016)
Saudi Arabia 1 Picture Gallery (Jan. 9th-12th, 2016)
Sudan 1 Picture Gallery (Dec. 9th, 2015-Jan. 8th, 2016)
Djibouti 1 Picture Gallery (Nov. 18th-27th, 2015)
Ethiopia 2 Picture Galleries (Oct.25th-Nov. 18th, 2015) (Nov. 27th-Dec. 9th, 2015)		Part 1: October 25th to November 18th, 2015 (Kenya border - Djibouti border) Part 2: November27th to December 9th, 2015 (Djibouti border - Sudan border)
Kenya 1 Picture Gallery (Sept. 7th-Oct. 25th, 2015)
Tanzania 1 Picture Gallery (Aug. 18th-Sept. 7th, 2015)
Malawi 1 Picture Gallery 1 Report (July 20th-Aug. 18th, 2015)	Armed Robbery in Malawi on July 31st/August 1st, 2015
Mozambique 1 Picture Gallery (July 6th-20th, 2015)
Zimbabwe 1 Picture Gallery (June 8th-July 6th, 2015)
Botswana 1 Picture Gallery (May 15th-June 8th, 2015)
Swaziland 1 Picture Gallery (April 23rd-28th, 2015)
Lesotho Picture Gallery (April 7th-15th, 2015)
South Africa 3 Picture Galleries 1 Report (January-April 7th, 2015) (April 15th-23rd, 2015) (April 28th-May 15th, 2015)	Part 1; January 22nd to February 23rd, 2015 Namibia border to Capetown Part 2: February 24th to March 13th, 2015 Capetown to Tsitsikamma National Park Part 3: March 13th to April 7th, 2015 Addo National Park to the Lesotho border 3rd Major Repair of our LandCruiser (due to two broken side shafts)
Angola 2 Picture Galleries 1 Report (Sept.-Oct. 2014)		Part 1: September 26th to October 4th, 2014 Part 2: October 4th to 22nd, 2014 30^th 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
Cape Verde 1 Picture Report 6 Picture Galleries (Nov. 2013-May 2014)		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)
Moldova Picture Gallery (Aug. 21/22, 2013) (Sept. 1 - 4, 2013)
Ukraine Picture Gallery (Aug. 17 - 21, 2013) (Sept. 4 - 22, 2013)
Abkhazia Picture Gallery (Aug. 5 - 13, 2013)
Nagorno-Karabakh Picture Gallery (July 9 - 17, 2013)
Armenia 2 Picture Galleries (July 2 - 9, 2013) (July 17 - 22, 2013)		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)
Georgia 3 Picture Galleries (June 4 - 13, 2013) (June 24 - July 2, 2013) (July 22 - Aug. 5, 2013) (Aug. 13 - 15, 2013)		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)	Southeastern & Northeastern Anatolia (Esendere-Hakkari-Van- Dogubayazit-Kars-Ardahan-Hopa)
Iran 3 Picture Galleries (May 2013)		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 1: Musandam Peninsula 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
“2nd Rejuvenation” Picture Gallery (Bodywork: Aug.-Oct. 2012)		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)	Réunion part 1 (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
Madagascar 4 Picture Reports (Sept. - Dec. 2011)		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)
Sri Lanka 3 Picture Reports (March - May 2011)		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) (Jan. 12th, 2016 to .....) 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)
Yemen 3 Picture Reports (w/o car) (Feb. 9th, to 19th, 2011) 1 Picture Galleriy (with car) (May-June 1996)		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
Indonesia 2010 3 Picture Reports (March - June 2010)		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
French Polynesia 3 Picture Reports (Aug. -Oct. 2009)		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
American Samoa Picture Gallery (July 2009)
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
Fiji 3 Picture Galleries: (Jan.-March 2009)		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)
New Caledonia 3 Picture Galleries: (Aug.-Oct. 2008)		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)
Philippines 1 Picture Gallery: 3 Picture Reports: (1st visit: Febr. 2008) (2nd visit: Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011)		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
Timor-Leste (East Timor) 2 Picture Reports: (May 2007)		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
Brunei Picture Report (Sept. 2006)
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)
“1st Rejuvenation” Picture Report (Engine/Body: June-Aug. 2006) (Transmission: Sept. 2007)		Report of the first overhaul of our LandCruiser in Miri/Sarawak - the East Malaysian province on the island of Borneo
Myanmar (South) (w/o car) Picture Report (May 2006)
Thailand 2 Picture Galleries: (1st visit: Nov. 1993 - Jan. 1994) (2nd visit: Nov. - Dec. 2005) (3rd visit: Febr. - April 2006)		Temples, Pagodas, Shrines People, Beaches, Nature
Laos Picture Report (February 2006)
Vietnam Picture Report (January 2006)
Cambodia Picture Report (December 2005)
Malaysia (West) Picture Report (Oct. - Nov. 2005) (May 2006)
Singapore Picture Gallery (September 2005)
Macao (without car) Picture Gallery (September 2005)
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)


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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