Ulaanbaatar to Beijing – Transport and Border Information
What if you want to overland to China but don’t have 150 dollars a day to spend on permits? Or you don’t want to drive an itinerary that needs to … Read more
How to Prepare your Overland Vehicle for Winter
Thick snow, icy roads, plummeting temperatures – overlanding in winter. How do you do it? Here are tips on how to prepare your overland vehicle for winter.
The Joy of Overlanding with Kids (Where are We – Russia 4)
Overlanding with kids? Is that possible? Isn’t it dangerous? Iris and Ronald show us for a week what a joy it can be to go overlanding with kids.
Books on Japan – Fiction, Memoirs and Non-Fiction Books
Non-fiction, fiction, travel memoirs and guidebooks, this overview of books on Japan will help you get started to prepare for your journey.
How to Get a China Visa in Mongolia
Obtaining a China visa in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital, is a topic that can keep travelers quite occupied. Contrary to Pakistan and especially Laos, where organizing our visas for China was … Read more
Hiking the Great Wall Away From the Crowds (Where Are We – China 1)
Broken-down sections first attract tourists off the beaten track, then the inevitable hawkers, then the renovators and safety consultants who often strip away much of the historical charm along with … Read more
Visiting the Nadaam Festival (Where Are We – Mongolia 3)
Mongolia’s most important celebration, the Nadaam Festival is a summer event held throughout the summer and in every corner of Mongolia.
Books about Central Asia, Mongolia and the Silk Road
An overview with books about Central Asia (Mongolia and the Stan Countries) and the Silk Road, divided in Non Fiction, Fiction, Travel Memoirs, Guidebooks.
The Ferry Crossing From South Korea to Russia (+ the Car Paperwork)
The easiest way to get your car from South Korea or Japan to northern Asia is a ferry crossing to Russia. Here’s the lowdown on how we did that with our Land Cruiser.
Feeling Lost in the Gobi Desert (Where Are We – Mongolia 2)
Nothing in our 15 years of overlanding prepared us for Mongolia, let alone the Gobi Desert. The vastness, the emptiness, the distances and the never-ending unpaved roads all have us … Read more
Schedules, Maps, and Guidebooks for Central Asia, Russia and Mongolia
Preparing for an overland trip to Russia, Mongolia and the Stan countries (Central Asia)? Here’s what we learned thus far about paper work, road maps, and guidebooks.
Enjoying a Festival at the Amarbayasgalant Monastery (Where Are We – Mongolia 1)
Our conversation stopped and we listened to our surroundings. “Yes. I hear the chanting, let’s go take a look,” we both said. We packed the camping chairs away, put the … Read more
Travel Information on South Korea – Documentation, Money Matters, Roads, Guidebooks, Fuel, Accommodation & More
Travel information on South Korea for overlanders: documentations, gas stations, money matters, road conditions, and more.
Our Favorite Hiking Gear – the List After 2 Thru-Hikes
After two thru-hikes, the Baekdu-Daegan in South Korea and the Jordan Trail, we have learned what hiking gear we need and want and put this overview together for you.
Being Spoiled at the Romance Factory (Where are We – South Korea 11)
Romance Factory in South Korea not only saved our day, but our trip, and potentially lots of other vehicles. Through persistence they found the solution to the Land Cruiser’s failing brakes.
Accommodation & Camping in South Korea
Overview of places we enjoyed camping in South Korea, or spent the night otherwise, including GPS Waypoints.
Travel Information on Japan (part 2) – Budget & other Money Matters
Budget and other money matters, documentation, sightseeing, public transport, Land Cruiser maintenance, and other travel information on Japan.
Thank You Japan!
What a journey it has been! 9 months, 11 islands, 12,000 kilometers from Kyushu in the south to Hokkaido in the north. We kept you updated through our ‘Where are … Read more
Watching Korean Beach Life (Where Are We – South Korea 10)
Japan kicked us out two months earlier than we had hoped for and anticipated. Customs and immigration (in any country) have nothing to do with each other, which meant that while … Read more
Of Course You Can Hike a 465-mile Mountain Trail!
I was giving up. I didn’t want to do this anymore. My clothes were soaked with sweat, my legs and arms covered in scratches from overgrowth taller than I was. … Read more
Why Overlanding in Japan is Fun, Easy, and Affordable
We said goodbye to Japan with pain in our hearts. Nine months were not enough to see and experience it all. The country is too large, too diverse, too interesting, … Read more
Travel Information on Japan (part 1) – Shipping, Police, Maps, Books, Food & WiFi
Part 1 of our travel information on Japan with a focus on shipping, paperwork, and WiFi.
Accommodation & Camping in Japan
Enjoy the GPS waypoints of our first part of the journey in Japan, with additional info on staying and camping in Japan.
From a Typhoon to Okhinohama Beach (Where Are We – Japan 11)
August 15, 2017: Chased from Japan’s inland by a 4-day typhoon and rising rivers, we return to the coast and camp at Okhinohama Beach, one of Japan’s most beautiful beaches. But our visa is running out so we’re spending our last two weeks in Kyushu before returning to South Korea.
Enjoying Summer on Shikoku (Where are We – Japan 10)
July 25, 2017: Shikoku has been welcoming is with rain showers and warm temperatures, with empty beaches, good company of our friends Dan & Kyoko, and our first wilderness campsite in Japan!
Joining the Land Cruiser 40 Meeting East (Mount Fuji, Japan)
We had been thrown into Japan’s Land Cruiser community with enthusiasm and hospitality thanks to the Land Cruiser’s Festa in Kyushu, which was held on the weekend we arrived in the … Read more
Visiting the Land Cruiser Factory & Automobile Museum (Where Are We – Japan 9)
June 15, 2017: After a five-week stay with our families and friends in the Netherlands, our days in Japan have been on a rollercoaster. We visited the Toyota Automobile Museum in Nagoya (so awesome that Coen took 200 pictures) and thanks to the Land Cruiser community in Japan we could visit to the Land Cruiser’s factory of birth in Toyota.
Hanami in Japan – The Celebration of Cherry Blossoms
What better announcement of spring is there than sakura – the cherry blossom season?
Watching a Glassblower in Japan at Work (Where Are We – Japan 8)
April 20, 2017: We were fortunate enough to stay with Peter Ivy, a glassblower who makes stunning pieces of functional art in his studio in Toyama.
Admiring Wildlife on Hokkaido, in Winter (Where Are We – Japan 7)
March 17, 2017: Fabulous pics of animals we spotted in the heavy snow of Hokkaido.
The Sapporo Snow Festival on Hokkaido (Japan)
It’s as awesome as all the travel blogs and sites promise: Sapporo’s Snow Festival.
Exploring Honshu Island & Replacing the Clutch (Where Are We – Japan 6)
January 22, 2017: As we weave our way through urbanized Honshu, we stop in Hiroshima, make new friends and kill the clutch in the middle of the highway.
Hiking on Yakushima Island (Where Are We – Japan 5)
December 27, 2016: We packed our backpacks, took a ferry, and hiked on Yakushima Island.
Visiting Kyushu Island & 4Friendee Auto Workshop (Where are We – Japan 4)
December 14, 2016: We hoped for magic things in our Land Cruiser’s country of birth, Japan, but what is happening is beyond expectation. A look into 4Friendee Auto Workshop.
Why Hike the Baekdu-Daegan? (South Korea)
“To walk nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” ~Mary Davis
Loving Kyushu Island & Repairing our First Fender Bender (Where Are We – Japan 3)
November 29, 2016. We make new friends, admire hellish-looking ponds, and have our first car accident in 13 years on the road.
Thank You South Korea!
When writing our last newsletter (Yes, I want to receive it too!) I was reminiscing about our 6-month stay in South Korea and started thanking people whom had helped us in … Read more
Joining the Land Cruisers Festa (Where Are We – Japan 2)
November 8, 2016: Our introduction to Japan: a colorful Kunchi Festival and a Land Cruiser get-together in the mountains.
Hiking the Baekdu-daegan Mountain Ridge (Where Are We – South Korea 9)
October 22, 2016: Some 230 kms and 17 days of strenuous hiking along the Baekdu-daegan in South Korea. And that’s just a third of the total distance we hiked! Here’s an impression of stage 3 of our great Korean adventure.
Transportation in South Korea
Underground, above the ground, on foot, or varying from using 1 to 4 wheels or more. See the fascinating, nifty, and fun ways of traveling in South Korea.
A Visa Run to Tsushima Island (Where Are We – Japan 1)
August 28, 2016: The idea was a quick one-day visa run to Japan. It turned into a 24-hour trip, with enough challenges to fill a blog post.
Sightseeing Seoul (Where Are We – South Korea 8)
August 14, 2016: We sought the Olympic spirit at Seoul’s Olympic Park but melted away in the heat, as we did anywhere else outside aircon spaces. From temples and tombs we moved to massive and fascinating museums.
Hiking in Jirisan National Park (Where Are We – South Korea 7)
July 25, 2016; At the southern end of the Baekdu Daegan Trail we started hiking in Jirisan National Park and continued farther north, totaling 135 of of the 735-km trail.
Hiking in Seoraksan National Park (Where Are We – South Korea 6)
July 11, 2016: A 3-day hike in Seoraksan National Park had us blown away. The views, the trails, the sites along the way, the meetings with Koreans all contributed to a new passion: hiking.
Visiting the Demilitarized Zone (Where Are We – South Korea 5)
June 26, 2016: Why drive from Seoul to the East Coast in a couple of hours when you can take oh, let’s say, ten days?
Visiting Seoul (Where Are We – South Korea 4)
June 10, 2016: After a month of visiting family and friends in the Netherlands we returned to Korea. Back to good companionship, food, and a beautiful country – it feels good being here again.
New Continent, New Country: South Korea
When traveling from one country to the next, let alone to another continent, it’s hard not to compare. And while doing that, we tend to focus on what we like about the … Read more
Shipping the Land Cruiser from Suriname to South Korea – Part 2
Ins and outs of shipping the Land Cruiser in a container to Busan Port in South Korea.
Exploring the South Coast (Where Are We? – South Korea 3)
April 28, 2016: Checking out the famous cherry blossom, and colorful temples with golden buddha statues, towering gates and frightful guards in scenic mountainous landscapes.
Getting the Land Cruiser out of Busan Port (Where Are We – South Korea 2)
April 5, 2016: After 60 days sailing around the world, our home on wheels is back on terra firma. Better: we retrieved it from the port today! We are stoked to explore this new country.
Starting our Landcruising Adventure in the Far East (Where Are We – South Korea 1)
March 25, 2016: We’re in South Korea! We are super excited to start a new phase of our journey. It couldn’t have started in a better way: by being invited by South Koreans.
The Philippines by Boat
Beach, snorkeling, sunsets, outrigged boats, lazing, reading a book and more while exploring the Philippines by boat.
The Philippines on Foot and a Bike, by Bus, Jeepney and Tricycle
Mountain runs, hanging coffins, rice terraces, and old colonial towns.
Backpacking the Philippines – a Reflection
Why we prefer overlanding over backpacking – a reflection on backpacking in the Philippines.
Signboards in China – The Funniest Translations
Maybe it’s not fair to laugh. We all make mistakes, especially in languages that aren’t our first. On the other hand, there’s no reason to take life too seriously either … Read more
Signboards in Pakistan
Enjoy an impression of Pakistan through road signs, bill boards and other texts found along the way.
South Peru – a Tumor, an Earthquake and lots of Desert
South Peru brings a couple of scary moments: how serious is that tumor, and will the rock tumbling down that vertical wall hit our Land Cruiser?
Following Roads & Rivers in Bangladesh – a Photo Book
The story behind the creation of a photo book featuring Bangladesh, a country of rickshaws, rice & jute, historical wealth, and beautiful people.
Windshield Views From Asia
Windshield Views from Asia give a peek of landscapes, off-roads, animals, details, and a lot of other things during our overland journey to Vietnam.
Container Shipment from Malaysia to Argentina
Ins and outs to organize a container shipment from Malaysia to Argentina.
Shipping the Land Cruiser from Bangladesh to Singapore
Ins and Outs of the Land Cruiser’s container shipment from Bangladesh to Singapore.
