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Trans World Expedition: Driving around the world

This photo taken Oct 17, 2009 shows Nicolas Rapp pullling down what will be his sleeping quarters during his drive around the world.(AP Photo/Nicolas Rapp)

ENLARGE PHOTO

This photo taken Oct 17, 2009 shows Nicolas Rapp pullling down what will be his sleeping quarters during his drive around the world. (AP Photo/Nicolas Rapp)

ENLARGE PHOTO

This photo taken Oct 17, 2009 shows Nicolas Rapp checking his engine in preparation for his drive around the world. (AP Photo/Nicolas Rapp)

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By NICOLAS RAPP, The Associated Press 11:26 AM Monday, October 26, 2009

NEW YORK — In November, I'll be quitting my job and heading out on one of the last true adventures left on earth: Driving around the world.

I'll spend about a year on the road, starting and finishing in New York. When I can't drive, I'll ship the car by boat, then fly to the next stop to pick it up.

The route is sinuous. Cross Central America, then head down South America to Buenos Aires. From there, I'll ship the car to South Africa, then drive north through Africa to Europe. I'm a native of France, so I'll stop in Paris to get some paperwork done, then go east through Eastern Europe, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India. I'll ship the car to Thailand, drive to Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and put the car on a final sailing home to the U.S.

My blog about the trip, where I'll post updates from the road, is called "Trans World Expedition: The year of living dangerously." I hope it will be a good tool for people who wantto do a similar trip.

It is scary to leave your girlfriend, your career, your apartment and people you know to have a year of waking up in unfamiliar places. Many people think I'm insane to quit my job when the economy is so bad. But I'm 33 and I've worked since age 18. I came to New York as an artist and ended up as an art director. It's early enough in my life that I can take a year off, then come back, hopefully pick up my career and start a family.

I believe a trip like this is something many people dream of. When you're young and a student, you don't have money to travel, but when you're working and can afford it, you don't have time. I always thought I would buy a place in New York, but when you think about it, is there a better investment than traveling around the world? Wouldn't you be smarter after doing that? Wouldn't you have incredible stories to tell your kids and grandkids?

THE ROUTE: My path will change depending on places I discover, tips, climate, where I can catch a boat, driving conditions, and visas. Staying out of trouble will also determine my route and how long I stay in one place.

Driving around the world may be more difficult now than it was in the 1960s, even though cars are more reliable and roads are better. Wars and civil unrest have eased in Latin America, but the crossing the Middle East is now a challenge. Here are some problems I'll face:

—Darien Gap: This 100-mile-long area of swamps and mountainous jungle separates Panama and Colombia. There is no road, no police or military. The inhabitants are tribes, guerrillas and drug traffickers. Solution: Ship the car from Panama to Colombia, and go myself in a small plane over the jungle. Pray that no emergency landings are required.

—Africa: Visas for Chad and Sudan are difficult to obtain, making west-to-east travel impossible. I'll need to get through Angola, but again, visas are hard to get. In Nigeria, I'll have to worry about kidnapping, carjacking, roadblock robberies and other violent crimes. Solution: Get a visa for Angola in South Africa, my first stop on the continent, and get across trouble spots like Nigeria as quickly as possible.

—Iran: Once inside the country, no problem. Great place, nice people, few incidents reported by travelers. But I worry about arguments between countries that could lead to border closings. Solution: Get my visa in order and hope my government doesn't get too excited about political events before I get there.

—Pakistan: Suicide bombings. Taliban insurgents. Imagine how much fun it will be to cross this country with New York license plates. Solution: Go as fast as possible, perhaps with the military escort some foreigners use when driving overland. I'm told the soldiers drive like New York cabbies.

—Asia: China makes overland travel expensive by requiring you to hire a government-approved "guide" to take with you. Myanmar's borders are closed to overland travel. Solution: Ship the car from India or Bangladesh to Thailand or Singapore.

ACCOMMODATIONS: In order to afford a year on the road, there's little choice but camping. I wish I could say I have no problem with scorpions in my shoes, and that whenever I catch a snake, I'm happy to have it for breakfast, but I can't. After some research, I discovered most overlanders in Africa use a rooftop tent. The cheapest are expensive at $850, but they let you sleep anywhere, out of the mud, and they pop up in minutes.

Other equipment: fridge for the car, stove that runs on unleaded gasoline, lanterns, water cans, small pop-up tent with portable toilet and shower. Added costs: $800.

THE CAR: There are not many choices when it comes to choosing a car for such journeys. In my opinion, only two vehicles can make it, Toyota Land Cruisers and British-made Land Rover Defenders. Both are tough, and you can find spare parts on all continents. Others, including American makes, are good quality, but you can't find parts everywhere. Land Cruisers are used by the U.N. and other non-governmental organizations around the world. Thanks to the economic crisis and the abundance of used cars available, I got a clean 1996 LC with 92,000 miles for less than $7,000.

I can no longer count how many hours I spent getting the LC ready. I upgraded the suspensions so the truck could handle difficult terrain and carry all the equipment, including tools, extra battery, spare parts, cooking equipment, roof tent, water and gas cans, books and luggage. I installed a drawer system for storage. I upgraded the electrical system to run several devices for days before running out of juice.

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Is there a site some where that is open for the public to read as he goes his way? I know a few who would like to have that web address. Please?

Sue
10:11 AM, 11/12/2009

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Nick please contact me i can drive down with you, i'm in Philadelphia on my way from the Arctic to the Antarctic on a similar expedition i'm 17 months onto my expedition.
email me @ tim@ramblingrat.com
www.ramblingrat.com

Tim Dennis
10:45 PM, 11/4/2009

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I TOTALLY AGREE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD TRY A SIMILAR TREK! I HAVE DROVE THROUGH ALOT OF STATES IN A 1973 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT! WAY MORE RISKIER!!!!LOL. GREAT TIME!! I LEARNED ALOT! I HAVE TRAVELED THROUGH EUROPE AS WELL!! THIS IS A HUGE WORLD, LIVE IT!!! GOOD FOR YOU!

DANNY
4:23 PM, 11/4/2009

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Wow you really did get prepared that is good!May God Bless you and keep you safe..you will be in my prayers..

Annie
3:24 PM, 11/4/2009

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Only in a LandCruiser! You have chosen wisely. Good luck. Get a copy of Who Needs A Road by Harold Stephens and Albert Podell. They went around the world in a LandCruiser in 1967. Check it out at www.tlca.org in the store.

Matt
3:12 PM, 11/4/2009

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