After reading my first travel book ('Jupiters Reizen' by Ted Simon), more books by other world travelers followed, and with the advent of the internet, beautiful photo and video reports were added. All those experiences of these so-called overlanders formed a route in my head along countries and locations that I would like to see one day.

Since my memories often fade faster than I would like, I started writing down everything I read and saw and pinning pins on a map, so that the route came about almost automatically. This is of course a very global route in which nothing is fixed yet and which will constantly change due to new insights or, for example, closed border crossings.

In any case, the journey will start in my hometown of Stramproy in August 2022 and through several European countries (Germany, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria) to the gateway of Asia (Istanbul, Turkey) to enter Iran from there, via Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Until a few years ago, motorcycles heavier than 250 cc were not allowed to enter Iran. At the time my 1200cc heavy GS can. And I certainly have Iran very high on my wish list. The journey then continues via the 'Stans' (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan) to India.

After busy India, the serene tranquility and beautiful nature of Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar is on the program. Traveling through Myanmar is only allowed in groups accompanied by a guide and costs a considerable sum of money, so I will not stay there long. Then at a leisurely pace through Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia to catch the boat in Kuala Lampur to the islands of Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa-Tenggara).

Fittingly, my journey will end in the town of Ende on the island of Nusa-Tenggara. At least, with the bike. Because of the high shipping and import costs of the motorcycle to Australia, I have decided not to go there by motorcycle. But if the budget and the calendar allow it, I would still like to travel by car from Darwin to the northern part of Australia to end up in Brisbane at the easternmost tip of that continent in August 2023.

Hopefully my timing will be about right and I will escape the hottest and wettest months in Southeast Asia. For the time being, I am really enjoying preparing for this dream trip. I can't wait for it to become a reality!