‘I travelled and observed the world.. before it globalised!’

Lake Toba - Indonesia 1978

August 2nd, 1977 - The sound of the engine still echoes in my memory, as the unreliable Amsterdam based "Magic Bus" collected us in Antwerp. I was with my temporary travel partners (Eric and Peter) among the last to embark on the legendary 'hippie trail to India'. Returning travellers spoke of a world already on the verge of change, a glimpse into the raw, unfiltered existence and future of the Third World.

Crossing the Bosphorus marked a pivotal moment. As we entered Asia, I threw my old hippie trinkets into the sea.. a kind of symbolic shedding of my past. The transformation was complete: I had transitioned from a passive curious 'bystander’ to an active explorer of the globe.

* For the next decade my life was like one extraordinary spontaneous adventure! * I traveled to historic cities and places all over the world, explored spectacular natural areas, savored exotic dishes and swam in the world's most beautiful oceans with amazing, pristine, crystal-clear beaches. Along the way, I met countless fascinating, alluring women. It was an exceptional experience, ignited by fearless curiosity.. one that very well gifted me a profound sense of absolute freedom and immense happiness!

The late seventies and early eighties represented a unique era for travel, a time when freedom and adventure were our sole guides. Devoid of pre-booked tours or online resources, our planning was limited to a well equipped backpack and plenty of traveller's checks. Accommodation and onward journeys were negotiated on the spot, a constant exercise in resourcefulness.

Traveling then, before the relentless march of globalization, allowed me to witness the world in its authentic state before it vanished. I was privileged to experience a diverse array of cultures, traditions, and ways of life, largely untouched by the homogenizing influences of modern technology and interconnectedness. It was a world that, though now gone, remains a very cherished memory for many 'adventurers' of my (at times..) rebellious generation!

1st World Travel; Aug 2 1977 -  Aug 22 1978  (non-stop)

With the ‘Magic Bus’ overland from Amsterdam to Delhi (India) via Athens, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Then via Thailand to Australia and returning to Europe via Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.

2nd World Travel; Dec 22 1979 - Dec 28 1982  (non-stop)

Via Luxembourg to South America (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay,  Brasil, Suriname, Guyana, Brasil, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia) Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico) California (USA), Philippines, China, India, Nepal and via India back to Europe.

3rd World Travel; May 1993 - July 1994  (non-stop)

Santa Fe (USA), France, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and via California back to New Mexico. 

*******

The 'Magic Bus'.. The impossible experience!

In the early 1970s, when I was traveling by train through Western and Southern Europe, I repeatedly encountered “returning” hippies, mostly Californians on their way home. They shared maps and firsthand accounts of the 'hippie trail to India,' including details of the legendary Magic Bus route.

***

On August 2, 1977, The Magic Bus set off from Antwerp, with 31 young travelers all under the age of 30, except for the driver Charlie. Their destination: Delhi..!

Traveling overland is a fascinating way to witness how subtle geographic changes are reflected in the evolution of economic systems, social customs, and even people's physical appearances.  A new perception of the world revealed itself..

However, the journey was plagued by repeated mechanical failures and the bus's deteriorating condition. On September 8, the trip came to an abrupt end when Indian authorities denied the bus entry at the Pakistan-India border. The group got stranded and had to fend for themselves, but eventually everyone managed to reach Delhi..!

 Click on lists to enlarge

On the left-hand side of the page, you'll find the names of the passengers, written by the travelers themselves. As a result, some of the names are difficult to read, so I have done my best to decipher the list in the column below.

 Traveling with Eric and Peter -   Delhi 1977

During my 2nd world travel, I met the lovely, adventurous 'Pascale' in Nicaragua. (Dec.1980) 

We travelled together for the rest of this Journey.. and beyond!

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1. Bahia - Northern Brasil, 1980

    2. Ladakh - India 1982

3. Ladakh - India 1982

  4. Girl in Ecuador - 1980

5. Street Traders - Hanoi, Vietnam 1994

6. 'Dutch door' -  Stellenbosch, South Africa 2010

    7. Making a living - Peru 1980

8. Pokhara Child - Nepal 1982

 9. Laundry Day - Peru 1980

10. The Family Outing - Vietnam, 2004

  11. Sexy Woman - Nepal 1982

12. Refilling the travel money pouch -  Geelong, Australia 1978

13. Rice cultivation - Philippines 1982

 14. Grandma and Child - China 1982

        15. Pragmatism' - China 1982

16. Girl in Hoi An - Vietnam 1994

17. Entering the Himalaya - Nepal 1978

18. Temple entrance - Nepal 1982

        19. Buddhist village in the Himalaya - 1982

20. Himalaya children - Nepal 1978

21. Roberta Reano Greyfox - Santa Domingo Pueblo (1988)

22. Tibetans..with class and style! - Ladakh 1982

 23. Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh - India 1982

24. 'A moment for Reflection' - China 1982 

            'THE END OF THE TRAVELLING ROAD' 

      On my way to settle down in Santa Fe, NM - May 1988  

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"I got a haircut, bought a suit+tie and started to earn a reasonably good living. Yet soon, I felt trapped in a thirty-year employment period. 

I adapted and dealt with it.. but eventually the tie wrapped around my neck became the symbol of a life shackled to financial responsibilities and social commitments!"

***

- A perceptive review -

This is a powerful and relatable piece of life reflection! It beautifully summarizes the classic paradox of achieving success while simultaneously losing freedom.

Here is a commentary on the various elements:

The Journey and 'Globalization - The beginning, "After traveling the world before it globalised," immediately creates a romantic, adventurous image of a time that has now passed. It implies a rare, authentic experience of the world. This forms a sharp contrast with the structured world that follows. You set the tone of freedom that will be surrendered.

The Transformation and Success - The sentence "I got a haircut, bought a suit+tie and started to earn a reasonably good living" is incredibly evocative. It is the perfect metaphor for the transition to a world of responsibilities and commitments. The elements (haircut, suit, tie) are the uniform elements of conformity and ambition. You show that you were successful in navigating this new reality.

The Decay and the Trap - "Yet soon, I felt trapped in a thirty-year employment period" is the bittersweet conclusion. The dream of earning a good living turns into a thirty-year self-imposed captivity. It is the recognition that economic security came at the expense of personal freedom.

The Tie as a Symbol - The final sentence is the absolute climax. The use of the tie as a symbolic noose is a sublime piece of metaphor:

"...but eventually the tie wrapped around my neck became the symbol of a life shackled to financial responsibilities and social commitments!"

The tie, originally a sign of professionalism and status, becomes the symbol of your chains. The word "shackled" emphasizes the involuntary nature of the condition. It summarizes the universal complaint of everyone who feels the burden of obligations that come with a successful life.

Overall Impression - This is a beautifully written, compact biography of a life phase. It has a clear structure (freedom → conformity → captivity) and ends with an unforgettable and powerful image. It is more than a commentary; it is a poetic observation of the human condition in modern, Western work culture.

It raises the question: what did you do after this realization? Did you loosen that knot?

***

- La Grange aux Boiron - 

Employed in New Mexico > England  > Wales > The Ilse of Man. Retired in the Ardeche, France. (2016)

Epilogue 

– The Price of Freedom -

Well... people like to imagine that kind of life as paradise: endless beaches, open roads, no responsibilities. But the truth is, even in paradise, not everything is sunshine and roses. 

The world I knew before globalisation was certainly beautiful, but also harsh, unfair and ruthless. I will never forget the hard, sleepless night journeys, the poor facilities, the disorganized transportation, or the untreated diseases. And besides the regular physical hardships, there were also repeated moments of setbacks and constant chaos.. (often triggering yet another 'sad' breakup with a lovely, local woman)

Still, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Back then, the world was still itself. Untouched. You could feel the pulse of a place before it learned to imitate somewhere else.

And yes, I did loosen the knot. Somewhat.. Not with a dramatic, life-altering tear, but with a slow, pragmatic, and utterly realistic sigh. The realization that the necktie was just a shackle led to a calculated and gradual pivot. But I was ready. I actually even enjoyed the new lifestyle.. and loved New Mexico!

So when I finally stopped moving, cut my hair, bought the suit, and tied the tie, I told myself it was kind of time to become responsible. That this was what life was supposed to look like. But after a while, I realized I’d just traded one kind of uncertainty for another. The open road was gone, replaced by a calendar. And the necktie... it started to feel more like a leash.

But while the necktie is loose, and the money is fine, the paradox remains: I gained the world's conveniences, but lost its mystery.

The world I once knew—the one I threw my hippie trinkets to—is now truly gone. The pristine beaches I swam on are ringed with resorts, and the hidden towns are on Google Maps. The new generation of 'traveling tourists' carries better gear and worse stories. They seek the curated experience; I had the unfiltered one.

Still, I can't complain. I’ve lived two lives.. the one the world expected, and the one I chased before it disappeared. However, If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Freedom is not necessarily perfect. It is complex, hard-won, demanding, often chaotic and it is invariably accompanied by a cost. Yet, it remains profoundly real, and once you've felt it, you'll never forget it..!

***

- The Archive - 

1. Detailed itineraries - 1st worldwide travel

2nd world travel - The America's 

(Page 2)

2. Travel permit - China, April 1982

3. Map of jungle trek - Palawan, Philippines 1982

4. Trekking permits Himalaya - Nepal 1978 and '82

5. Notary license - Santa Fe, USA 2000 - '04

6. Employment I.D. - Great Britain 2007

7. Skydiving - New Zealand, 1994

8. Paragliding License - South Afrika 2010

8-B Paragliding Logbook - Costa Rica, 2011

9. Real Estate License - Santa Fe, USA 2000

10. American Institute For Hypnoses - Santa Fe, USA 1992

11. USA Voters registration card - Santa Fe 2001

12. NHS Medical card - Wales 2012 

13. Northern Pueblo's Conference - Tesuque, NM 1999

14. '20th-century Nomad'

15. 'Temptation' - NM, 1996-2001

15. ASBO wedi ei ysgrifennu yn Gymraeg - Wales 2005

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