Adventurous Couple Returns Home

Bandar Seri Begawan - Adventurous couple Norhayati Abu Bakar and her Austrian husband Harun Kurt Eichbauer finally returned home yesterday morning after embarking on a 13-month expedition that covered 52,137km of land in Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia, crossing some 37 countries on their Toyota Land Cruiser. They were greeted at the Sungai Tujoh Control Post by Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab, as well as a fleet of vehicles and motorbikes. It marked the fourth completed expedition for 41-year-old Norhayati, who told the Bulletin yesterday that she also had the opportunity to perform the Umrah together with her husband, and taking in the beauty of Mecca and Jeddah had to be the entire journey's most memorable experience. Among the challenges they faced were the 50-degree heat in Sudan, a desert storm and an unforeseen glitch while trying to cross the border from Loas to Cambodia. The whole journey cost over $100,000, including their vehicle's maintenance and modifications, fuel consumption, accommodation, ferry fees and visas, among others. About 65 per cent of the expedition was self-financed but the couple acknowledged the generous contributions from local companies in the form of cash and services. They also noted the warmth and generosity of countries like Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar that waived their travel visas and sponsored their accommodation. Some of the countries and regions they covered in the expedition included Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Syria, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, Yemen, India and Turkey, among others. The couple was also pleased to fly the Brunei flag along their route to promote the Sultanate, while also handing out flyers and brochures to many curious people who wanted to know about the country. The first leg of their journey that covered Africa and Austria was held from April to October last year, while its second part to 25 European, Middle East and Asian countries began in December and ended in Kuching. Norhayati added that she hopes to inspire and motivate Bruneian women with the expedition, urging them to explore possibilities and achieve all manners of things they may previously have thought impossible. They made history by being the first Muslim couple from Brunei to complete a journey crossing South Africa, North Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia on a four-wheel drive. Their past expeditions included promoting the Visit Brunei campaign in 1999 by travelling 21,000km through Europe, Middle East and North Africa, as well as leading five Bruneian women to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to mark the Visit Brunei Year in 2001. Norhayati added that her husband remains her best travel companion due to his passion and understanding. If time and health permit, they are open to embark on another expedition. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin