Admit it – you used to dream about giving it all up and hopping into a car and driving right around the world, but now, alas, you think you’re too old and it would just be so complicated, what with all those visas, foreign languages and everything else.
The intrepid Schmid couple meet the Swiss Ambassdor to Vietnam Benedict de Cerjat
Well, meet Emil and Liliana Schmid, a Swiss couple both in their sixties that are in the Guinness Book of World Records, recently arrived in Vietnam, after 21 years and three months driving more than 600,000 kilometres around the globe in a FJ60 Toyota Land Cruiser. The couple first entered Vietnam, the 152nd country they’ve visited, on December 28th from neighboring Cambodia and rang in the New Year in Mui Ne (Phan Thiet). “Our first impression of the incredible masses of motorbikes and the never ending rice fields along the highways is still prevailing. Ho Chi Minh City is a real inferno during rush hour: on six lanes, uncountable motorbikes are rolling through the city, accompanied by the unavoidable pollution, there is nearly no space for cars and none at all for pedestrians,” Emil Schmid wrote in his dairy. He noted while Thai people seemed rather blasé towards foreign car travellers, the Cambodians were more curious, and the Vietnamese were most similar to Indians: kind, friendly and curious. “Whenever we stopped, they encircled our car immediately and continuously posed questioned on us,” he added. Emil and Liliana were married in 1969 and have no children. Formerly, Emil was a computer software and financial business specialist and Liliana a secretary, and like most Swiss, they can speak an impressive amount of languages, in their case, German, English, French and Spanish. But back in early 1980s, the couple wanted to break out of the monotonous circle of working in offices and decided to explore the world of remote back roads, unique cultures and people, and the beauty of nature. They purchased FJ 60 Toyota Land Cruiser in 1982 from a dealer. This 4.2 litre, in-line six cylinder gasoline engine-car serves not only as their transport, but their living quarters as well. It is also fitted with a sink, a shower, a stove, a table, water purifiers and a bed. They set off on a journey around the world in October, 1982 with the first destination of Montreal, Canada. Their Land Cruiser is basically as the day they bought it. The only difference is that they’ve added reinforced springs, a larger gas tank, a roof rack and grilles. All the spare parts are placed on the roof. Although buying a Mercedes was in their minds, they decided to pick up the Land Cruiser because it was more within their budget at the time and can be fully loaded. Emil said the Land Cruiser had never been broken down or even had to be towed. The vehicle was a good buy and they have not regretted purchasing it ever. Their log book reveals they’ve encountered 156 flat tyres, changed 29 batteries, replaced 126 spark plugs, 22 air filters and had 85 oil changes. The couple has no immediate plans to quit and expects to continue travelling the world for as long as reasonably possible. “Barring ill health or an accident, we will keep on going. We have enjoyed everything so far. We love the different cultures and the experiences and we want to enjoy it for as long as possible,” they acknowledged. After Vietnam the couple continued their journey on to Laos. But we won’t say goodbye, we’ll say “Hen Gap lai Ong Ba!” (See you again). You certainly wouldn’t bet on the intrepid coming back.
You can contact them at emil_liliana@hotmail.com or visit their website: www.weltrekordreise.ch/a_starte.html
