Yesss I just stumbled across your blog as i have lived in Sydney for ten years and I would love to drive back to the uk . Will read more soon! Nice one!
Amazing What an incredible post! Sat here welling up as I try to plan how my partner, dog, campervan and I can get from the UK to Australia overland - my partner and I were in Australia on a working holiday visa in 2015 but we had to leave after a couple of months as my partner was diagnosed with Lymphoma. 4 years of treatment and recovery later and we're ready to try again! Do you have any idea if ships like this are still in action? And if there's any way we could do it with a van and a dog? Any help would be so greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Sophie
Hi Sophie,
Thanks for your message, I'm glad that you enjoyed the blog, especially if it gives you some ideas about how to do the same yourself.
I'm not too sure about routes to take your own vehicle overland though it must be possible. You could look at overland companies who take their vans on long trips to see what routes they take. That would give you an idea on which way to go, as permit requirements and availability of mechanics and spare parts would obviously vary along the way.
As far as boats goes, I do know that it was getting more and more difficult to take a container ship on trips like we did, for various reasons. But nothing is impossible and I really look forward to hopefully hearing about your trip in the near future. It really would be an adventure, both going with your dog under your own steam.
All the very best,
Andy
Interested...and scared! I just came upon your blog Andy, obviously pretty late, but it was captivating. I am currently trying to secure a teaching job in Asia and am considering this option (sailing from California to maybe Korea or China). I can't help but wonder though if I will be freaked out on the open sea...especially if and when we come upon bad weather and big waves. I know you mentioned that you kind of lucked out when it came to weather, but overall was it ever really scary out there? Did you ever have moments of panic?
Reply to M. Sensei Hi there,
Thanks for your message, it's a good question. As you say, we were lucky with the weather. We'd been told if we were sailing around south Australia then we'd hit some rough seas and I guess that would've become more of a challenge. As it was, we could stand on the bow and see for miles and apart from going on deck at night (which we didn't enjoy), it never seemed scary. The opposite side is that we were told that if we fell overboard, then the sharks would get us before we could be rescued :-)
If you like the big open spaces, realise you're travelling in a relatively unusual way and remember that there are thousands of ships sailing at any one time with no problems, then you'll enjoy it.
Cheers,
Andy
Reply Hi Josh,
Thanks for your comment, the gorge is an amazing place and I'm glad that you liked the descriptions and pictures. The trek is a very special experience and one which would be hard to replicate.
Cheers,
Andy
The Tiger Leaping Gorge I love your photos I hiked the the gorge in 2005 and I have been to and recognize most of your photos. You did a great job capturing the beauty of the gorge. I cant wait to return and hike it again hiking the gorge has been the highlight of my life thus far.
Reply to Lizzy Hi Lizzy,
Many thanks for your kind message - glad that you like the blog. You should definitely think about taking the container ship - it's an amazing way to travel and a real window on a life that we never really get to see. I'm glad that you will follow your dream too - I had mine for 18 years before finally packing my bags and heading off. It was the best thing I ever did!
All the best,
Andy
That was a great entry! ive always wanted to go to England by boat from Australia ever since i decided id go overseas. but I had no idea as to how that could be done. but when you described how you went about it and all the details of the trip, I was spurred on to not give up my dream. It didn't seem that long when i was reading it; just got lost in it. this is a really corny message, but when im 18 next year im going to do exactly what you did, but the other way around.
Lizzy.
ex. Buss Fleet Hi Andy, I sailed on the Baltrum Trader and on the Trave Trader. I do know Noel Nalupa. He asked for Capt. Kluegleins email address. I do have it. Please ask him (Noel Nalupa) to get in contact with me. By the way: Great report. All the Best - Roland
Reply to Noel Hi Noel, thanks for your message. Great to hear that you worked with Mario - he was quite a legend on the Baltrum Trader, and made our stay on the boat even more memorable. You must have seen some sights on your travels, which routes did you travel?
I'm afraid I don't have Capt. Reiner Kluglein's email address.
Thanks for getting in touch,
Andy
ex buss fleet seaman I like your work. Great Job. It brings back memories when i used to work on board a ship name TRAVE TRADER (sister ship of Baltrum), specially buss fleet. And I think I know Ch.Engr. Mario, I used to work with him a couple times. He was our ch.Engr. and I work on Deck. I quit going to sea for about 7 yrs. I decided to be with my family and work here in Bakersfield, California, U.S.A. If you know the name Capt. Reiner Kluglein or just his email address, pls email it to me. Thank You.
sounds like an amazing trip!!!
im going to australia next year with a working travel visa. ive been looking at flights and stuff and it all seems so boring!!!
from what ive read before, going on a ship like you isnt that cheap, but it sounds fun. how much did it cost you?
please reply to my email address :)
thanks,
josh
(devon, england)
Reply to Hannah Hi Hannah, thanks for your message. I needed a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet, which I had to buy in Chengdu (can't remember how much this was, I'm afraid). I then had to show this permit to travel to the monasteries I mention in my blog - I hired a driver with a Land Cruiser for this part of the trip. Hope this helps. Would be great to hear about your trip. Cheers, Andy
No Permit??? How did you manage to travel throught Tibet on public buses? I thought this was illegal for foreigners? Did you have a permit?
I was trying for the no planes rule, but got screwed over here cos I din't want to fork out for a permit and travel in a group. Unfortunately it was cheaper to fly over Tibet.
Curious to hear how you did it.
Reply To Koko Hi Koko, thanks for your message - that's amazing! Great to know who left the globe behind and that you had such a great time on the Baltrum Trader. Cheers - and thanks for letting us know, it's a great story to tell!
Awesomeness Hi Andy! Great to see this post, I did a similar overland trip in 2002 and crossed on the Baltrum Trader as well, awesome experience and a great crew! I left a blow up globe hanging in the officers' room, and it's still there on one of your pics above, totally awesome, I love it.
Incredible. :)
I want to do that too when I have lots and lots of time in one chunk. It would give one a real perspective on just how big the world is.
Mel
Quite A Trip! Hi Chuck - thanks for your message - biking that route must have been some trip! Did you post a blog on it - I'd love to read about it? Glad you liked the beerlao - I couldn't get enough of it :-)
Cheers,
Andy
hi from one who biked some of this My cousin and I bicycled from Vientaine to Kunming in 2002 (or was it 03) and your blog brought back some great memories. We also traveled by bus to Lijiing and Zhongdian and hiked Tiger Leaping Gorge. Quite a thrill. Thanks for posting. And an added thanks for the photo of the Beer Lao, which I miss dearly...!
Chuck Anschutz
In 2007 I fulfilled a life-long dream by travelling overland from England to Australia without taking a single flight.
Travelling allows me to indulge in my passion of photography and so far I've been lucky enough to win photography competitions in the Daily Telegraph and Guardian newspapers. I have also been short-listed in The Times travel photography competition and I have had an image included on the National Geographic Daily Dozen website. This blog was recently recommended by the Lonely Planet in their column in the Observer newspaper. I have now set up a website to showcase my fav... full info
Steph
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Yesss
I just stumbled across your blog as i have lived in Sydney for ten years and I would love to drive back to the uk . Will read more soon! Nice one!