United Kingdom welcomes Norhayati

BRUNEIAN adventurer, Norhayati Abu Bakar and her husband, Harun Kurt Eichbauer have almost completed their first round journey entitled: "From Brunei to around the World 2009-2010 (and Return): 25 Years Brunei Independence Expedition".

They have recently left France behind and continued their drive into the United Kingdom. In order to enter the UK, they had to take sea transportation from Normandy to the Poole Port in South England. It took them four hours of ferry ride.

Their expedition is supported by the people and government of Brunei Darussalam as well as generous companies from the private sectors that are enthusiastic in making both Norhayati and Harun's journey a success.

The Brunei Times have previously highlighted their journeys from Russia, the Nordic countries, Germany as well as France in their Jambo, a four wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser. The total traveling distance from Russia to the next destination Austria (after the UK) is estimated at 60,000km. They have covered at least 100km of ground per day, depending on the terrain.

Tuesday, September 15. By 2pm Jambo rolled for the first time on England's road. Cold winds and cloudy skies welcomed our arrival. But it was good; at least it was not raining.

Dear reader, this is our days in Great Britain. Upon arriving, we decided to drive to Stonehenge. After paying "Six quids" for entrance fees, we were immediately exposed to the treasures of 3,500-years old Neolithic structures from just inches away.

"It is the most outstanding pre-historic monument in the British Isles. These stones called Sarsen stones which come from a site 20 km away."

Again, similar question as we had in France came up. How did they bring them here? Why? Is it as the brochure claimed to map the sun and moon building these monuments accordingly?

It is said that the builders aligned the stones according to sunrise at the summer solstice or for other worshippers it would appear that the important alignment was the mid-winter sunset.

Naturally there are many legends around Stonehenge. Back to the medieval age, the circle was the sinners who were dancing on Sabbath and they turned to stone, while in the legend of King Arthur it was said that his Druid Merlin's magic was able to move the stone as a flying object from Ireland. However, others claimed that devils brought the stones and place them over the grave of several hundred nobles slain in the fifth century there.

Were it aliens who constructed it as Erich Von Daeniken claims? Was the circle erected as a pagan fertility temple? No one has the answer.

After seeing the Neolithic treasures, we then searched for a place to sleep. We found one near Salisbury. It was a camping ground with floor and heated washrooms. For us, this was special, as outside we had experienced the "English weather" of raining, windy and cold while in the inside we kept ourselves warm.

The next morning as we woke up, we enjoyed the sunrise. "Wow!" It was cold and windy but the sun shines. We drove around the countryside till evening time. At 6.40pm we arrived at the Brunei's High Commission. But before that, we got to change our expedition outfits to the appropriate ones in the car.

At 6.45pm, Brunei Ambassador to Britain Pg Dato Paduka Hj Maidin Pg Hj Hashim and Datin Sunah Hj Hamid arrived at the front yard of the Embassy. We then took a group photo holding our National Flag, while Jambo was parked behind as the background.

The importance of good relations with England is reflected in the number of personnel of Brunei representatives posted here in London. Our extended Royal family members make frequent visits there and we also have a sizeable amount of Brunei students here.

At the Embassy, we break the fast with the ambassador, his wife and all diplomats. The breakfasting was over in 45 minutes as we had to move on. We said gratefully thank you and good bye.

As we left the Embassy complex, we drove Jambo around the corner and stopped to call some bed and breakfast establishments. But, none of them offered the price under 100 pound sterling (over BND$250) a night. With the help of our GPS, we finally found a camping ground about 40km in the outskirt of London. But, unfortunately when we arrived the facility was already closed, forcing us and Jambo to go to the parking lot. We did not complain as we had experience worse moments in our journey, after all this is an expedition."

As it was again a dry and sunny day, we searched for the Jurassic coast, a stretch of coastline where sediments of dinosaur remains to be found. We were among a few hundred elderly Brits and their estimated hundred dogs.

Driving down the hill road, we came to a road sign next to a yellow telephone. It warned: "Call first before you travel on."

Maybe a gunner may miss the direction and a few one-inch caliber bullets come unwantedly your way. "Better be careful" we thought, dead men do not make expeditions. So, we called. "Hello, can we pass?" We heard nothing but a noise in the line. Again. "Hello officers." A voice came over the wire. "Hi mate, you want to pass?" "Yes sir." "Are you on foot?" "No Sir, we are here with JAMBO, our vehicle and we like to....." "Mate this is the British Army we are no civilians. We speak short and precise." He shot the questions over the phone, we answered "Yes sir and No sir." Meanwhile, other cars were passing us by the dozens. Then we got the "Mate, all is clear", we drove on, realising that the Army had set up a gunnery on the Jurassic coast.

Looking around, everyone was busy on his way. A few young men were running down the hill, soldiers training perhaps, to get ready for a "defense war" somewhere in the Hindu Kush. Behind the hill, the statacco of heavy machine gun fire was heard. "Pak.pak.pak." Again and again. I had requested to meet our Bruneian students and reserved an evening for the event. As the day before, we were in time at the Brunei Hall for breakfasting and dinner. A lively discussion developed, the interest in our endeavor was great, a thousand questions came over the table and I had to talk and explain.

Our young and staff paid serious interest in what we do, and how. Especially Jambo's appearance, GPS, the inverter, the extra fuel tanks, fridge and roof rack had drew their attention.

A final thank you for the reception in the High Commission and the lively evening we had with the staff and students in the Brunei Hall. The memory will stay with us. A few words are directed to our youth. "My dear students, I hope that I was able to encourage you all with my travel adventures, but especially the daunting hearts among you. We Bruneians can do what only a few achieve. I'm the proof. Set your goals and pursue them with all your might and will. You see, I paid myself for our first journey from my saving and was not ashamed this time, to beg companies for sponsorship because I believe that what I do is right and needed."

"To travel to the hellholes of the planet and financed from our savings account, is something not done often. Yet I never regret what I have given, as it is for our lovely nation. My success must become yours too. Climb out of the shell you are in, and remember these words. "Almost all is achievable in life, if only you worked hard upon it. Never take failure for granted but only success. Have the will and courage, then, you will grow as personalities not easy be fooled, but with a critical and sharp mind and the kind heart we Malays are known for. With these words I say goodbye and wish you good luck in your young life."

We cancelled our plan to stay until Sunday in Britain. We decided to leave the country on Friday and drove back to Poole Harbor. We had the same heavy traffic flow as we entered days ago. Therefore, we reached our destination at midnight. For few hours before the morning comes, we slept on the parking lot in Poole Harbor. The ferry left punctually at 7.30am. This time the French immigration officer checked and took my document then disappeared in their office for thirty minutes.



I was thinking that they must have never seen a Brunei passport before. Even our stickers did not help. We then checked into a hotel for shower, website writing and rest. It costs us 50 Euro. We are heading Southbound now towards Austria, but with a detour to see on the way some mystical sites, where through history unexplainable events took place. So dear reader, please feel free to log on to our Web site at www.overthehorizon.net.

Now we returned to Austria, the last destination on this year's journey. But Jambo will remain in Austria until January. We will travel back to Brunei, to obtain what is needed for the continuation of the "25 years Independence Expedition."

Has our Trans-Siberia, North Cape-UK expedition been successful in "Bringing Brunei to the World"? Yes, by all accounts. We got a lot of recognitions, wherever we stopped including immigration and custom officers in the UK, even without newspaper exposure. For us, it was hardship all the way, but a self chosen one, therefore we cannot complain. This journey will eventually become a book too, bringing our nation and events to international readers. That means, to be still read when we all of today, are no more.

We hope that we have not disappointed our sponsors, who supported us from their hard earned money for the cause. These patriots think as we do. No efforts are to be spared for our beloved Brunei Darussalam. To travel "as private" without a direct government support has its drawbacks too. We realised it this time more in some of our embassies. However many officials helped again, as the first time from South Africa to home. They are the Land Transport, Ministry of Health, Immigration,

Tourism board and a very special thanks to RTB for its Rampai Pagi, which has been airing 20-minutes show on my progress every Sunday. I sincerely wish I could bring all the events, to the Brunei audience in an interesting way. And many thank to The Brunei Times, especially Soh Lai Huat and Caroline Ang, the master of the written word. The Brunei Times informed their readers weekly about my journey. For a good cause we had joined hands with our sponsors to achieve the extraordinary and hope that all our efforts are recognised one day in the relevant quarters.The Brunei Times