Indonesia 1978
August 2nd, 1977 - The sound of the engine still echoes in my memory, as the Amsterdam based "Magic (but very unreliable..) 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 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 symbolic shedding of my past. The transformation was complete: I transitioned from a passive ‘curious bystander’ to an active explorer of the globe. The following 10 years became an extraordinary, mostly unpredictable, spontaneous adventure..!
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 rebellious generation!
1st World Travel; Aug 2 1977 - Aug 22 1978
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
Via Luxembourg to South America, Central America, California, Philippines, China, India, Nepal and via India back to Europe.
3rd World Travel; May 1993 - July 1994
Santa Fe (USA), France, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and via California back to New Mexico.
1st world travel - Magic Bus passenger list.
On
August 2, 1977, 'The Magic Bus,' with 32 young travellers (all under age 30, except for driver Charlie), embarked on a journey to Delhi. However, repeated mechanical breakdowns and its declining state
ultimately led to the bus being denied entry into India on September
8th. From the Pakistan-Indian border, we all had to make it to Delhi on our own.. (and we did!)
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!
Bahia - Northern Brasil, 1980
Ladakh - India 1982
Girl in Ecuador - 1980
Street Traders - Hanoi, Vietnam 1994
'Dutch door' - Stellenbosch, South Africa 2010
Making a living - Peru 1980
Laundry Day - Peru 1980
The Family Outing - Vietnam, 2004
Sexy Woman - Nepal 1982
Refilling the travel money pouch! - Geelong, Australia 1978
Rice cultivation - Philippines 1982
Grandma and Child - China 1982
'Pragmatism' - China 1982
Girl in Hoi An - Vietnam 1994
Entering the Himalaya - Nepal 1978
Temple entrance - Nepal 1982
Buddhist village in the Himalaya - 1982
Himalaya children - Nepal 1978
Tibetans..with class and style! - Ladakh 1982
Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh - India 1982
'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 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 becomes the symbol of a life shackled to commitment and responsibilities!
- The Archive -
1. Detailed itinerary - 1st worldwide travel
2. Travel permit - China, April 1982
3. Notary license - Santa Fe, USA 2000 - '04
4. Employment I.D. - Great Britain 2007
5. Skydiving - New Zealand, 1994
6. Paragliding License - South Afrika 2010
6B Paragliding Logbook - Costa Rica, 2011
7. Real Estate License - Santa Fe, USA 2000
8. American Institute For Hypnoses - Santa Fe, USA 1992
9. USA Voters registration card - Santa Fe 2001
10. NHS Medical card - Wales 2012
11. Northern Pueblo's Conference - Tesuque, NM 1999
12. ASBO wedi ei ysgrifennu yn Gymraeg - Wales 2005
I appreciate the many requests for detailed stories about my world travels. However, I have often found that the initial spark of curiosity about other cultures quickly wears off as daily routines and common interest take precedence again. Understanding this and respecting people's time and attention spans, I have opted for a focused approach. Instead of exhaustive stories, I try to share concise glimpses into my travels with brief insights and engaging photographs, which I hope will provide fascinating impressions and intriguing facts.
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