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WEDNESDAY
14-7-2010
We had passed the border by 3:30 pm and went
on, among trucks, fuel tankers, hazardous
overtaking buses ,and the private cars
not to forget. On these serpentine roads mountain up and down into
a valley again, one drives with constant
tension.
We were in 2800 m, with a breathtaking view.
Fertile soil yields two harvest per year
neatly separated property
The first 40 km after the border there are frequent checkpoints,
police and soldiers searching for
contraband. However, they
always waved us through.
open booth and humble waiting
see the front wheel? What an idiot!
In
2400m. That could be in Austria or
Switzerland
deep Gorge, where we had to drive down
One fascinating landscape after another. And the play with
clouds, sun and rain. We could not stop
looking.
a play with clouds
the road wound itself down along the
mountain slope
A eucalyptus overgrown with
lichen the
tallest flower in the world
Today I like to confront you with two pictures. One of youth
and life, the other a young man laying on
the roadside where we
passed. Squeezed between trailers in mountain serpentines, we
could not stop. No one else bothered.
Was he dying? Was he dead? We do not know. He troubles our mind.
Because only if we care for each other then
we have
the right to be called Humans.
the smile of
innocence
Alone in the last moments
By 6:00 pm we had arrived in
PASTO where we stay for the night.
THURSDAY 15-7-2010
We left by 8:00 and drove out of town northbound.
Dear reader have you ever drove serpentines for 7 hours? Mountain
up and down again. That is frustration. One
looses the desire to
make photos although the landscape is nice. Out of 260 km between
Pasto and Popayan there has been maybe 5 km
of straight
road. All else was curved along mountain slopes
.
Into the mountains again
a local transporter
Spectacular, see the road?
Ravines a km deep
Mountains, nothing but
mountains hold
ups for money
A new nuisance we encounter
here. Villagers pull strings over the road
to demand money. At another site,village
women repair the
road and demand for their work.
Not one tree
the "village shovel"
Old city of
Popayan
A church build in 1736
By 3:30pm we arrived in Popayan, an historical Spanish settlement.
Churches bear witness. It was raining
long into the night.
We had checked into a hotel and proceed tomorrow northbound.
FRIDAY 16-7-2010
Travelling on the whole morning we stopped
at a service centre to change engine oil.
The photos are shot there.
mobile supermarket
he has an old toothbrush to wet the tire for
assembly
The Baba had borrowed the kinder wagon to transport his crackers
around. Or worst, his daughter not needing
it anymore as the child
had grown out, ask him to look for some money to feed himself. And
so the old man instead of having rest from a
hard life,
pushes his items around hoping that someone will buy something from
his merchandize. (we did).
He did not make it
This is one truck with three trailers.
Later we had to climb up again towards Manizales town in 2000 m.
From here comes the finest Columbian coffee
exported all over
the world.
green as in Borneo
coffee plantations for miles
the Bolívar square
neatly painted houses
Although it was still raining when we
arrived, the town made a neat and clean
impression.
 
Cathedral in
Manizales
weird rider in the sky
statue half man half beast
We were not able to find out the meaning of these figures. Below
two copper panels from the main door of the
cathedral.
market activities
performers in
old days
SATURDAY 17-7-2010
Early morning we took off, again towards the
north. Mountains up, curve after curve,
hoping to reach the top soon. Between
trailers,
saloon cars which were hazardously
overtaking. And when we were up, wishing it
was the last pass, but no. Once down in the
valley
the road climbed again. Pass
after pass. It was raining too.
impressive landscape, but rainy
looks like Mt. Kinabalu road up to the
National Park
as everywhere; looking and photographing JAMBO
Mountain gaucho as in old days
Mountain folks in their homes along the road
sometimes we encounter road slides and
repair works
Up here milk is produced.
Cattle herds on the slopes. The farmer
transports his morning milking to the
collection point, where the milk
is stored
for the truck who arrives every morning and
transport it the valley for further
processing.
The night we spend in hotel
de la JAMBO up in the mountains. We rented a
room for US$ 11.- "for the comfort"
but slept in the car.
But first we tried to
find a hotel in this village below. But what
a mistake that was! When we turned into it
after asking the direction for
a hotel from
a soldier, we drove slowly the narrow
streets towards the center. From no
where a youngster on a bicycle showed up
driving next to us and gesticulating. The
road narrow, we were worried he would fall
or scratch the car.
So we stopped and Harun politely told him to
Pack off. He ignored and drove now in front
of the vehicle, trying to direct us to a
hotel
where he gets commission for dragging
guests in. Suddenly there was a second guy
now, both having the same task, namely
bringing
us to their master. We stopped.
They too. Driving on again, they with us.
Then, finally there in front was a junction
and we, smart as
we are, turned left and uphill
the road along houses left and right. "Here
they cannot follow" said Harun, So it was.
We had peace.
"Where is here a hotel?" The man directed us
further the road, which led down and into a
plaza. Guess who was there waiting for us?
The two guys. They knew we would come down
as only here are two "one star hotels".
We had enough! Turning
without stopping we drove out of the village and
further up the mountain where we ,after a
half hour found
peace and tranquility on a
mountain pass, disturbed only by roaring 600
hp engines of passing
trailers.
the village where we were trying to find a
rest boxed in; but what a fine sleep it was
SUNDAY 18-7-2010
Driving off early, we happily realized the
road wound down and at the distance there
were no more high mountains obstructing us.
We
finally are getting on.
ahead no more high mountain passes
typical traffic and JAMBO in-between
The driving down was swift again. Along a
river which almost burst his banks due to
heavy rains in the mountains.
Fish still big, are sold by village boys for
a token. How long more until the netting
will have taken all creatures bigger than a
finger and
men is forced to make ponds as
seen in Sarawak, where the Limbang river is
literary empty due to overfishing and over
logging
combined with heavy river sedimentation.
"Yes sirs! Mankind is foolish and
shortsighted."
What a fine road, cold be
anywhere in Brunei
fish still big and cheap
the river rushing
swollen and angry; must be good for rafting
At the first village we gave JAMBO a good wash. After all he should shine
for people to see.
Deserved wash how about a driving
license kids?
The two buys refueling their machines. We asked; One was 10 years old. No
number plate, no insurance and under aged.
Only possible in Colombia.
By afternoon at 4:00pm we drove into
Cartagena, the town on the Caribbean sea
and checked into a hotel.
Lots of tourists from the US, lots of
hotels. From here we plan to ship JAMBO into
the USA.
MONDAY 19-7-2010
We looked around town, but foremost for a
trustworthy forwarding agent. There are
stories of thievery in the Internet. We had
to be
extremely careful. Calling around with
the help of the receptionist we found
finally the agent of Schenker a renowned
shipper, and
went to their office. "Tomorrow
is national holiday. You can get a quote on
Wednesday". Thanks; we have to wait and used the time
to look around Cartagena.
new Cartagena
from the castle defense walls
old Cartagena within the walls, founded in
1533
The town blossomed those days back quickly
into a Spanish port and the gateway to South
America. What had been robbed from
the
ingenious population left from here on
galleons back to Spain.
But the buccaneers of the Caribbean sea
noticed the wealth and in the 16th century
alone, these pirates besieged Cartagena 5
times.
Then
the infamous Sir Francis Drake sacked
the port in 1586; for the ransom of 10
million pesos he gracefully agreed, not to destroy
the town.
In response to these attacks the Spaniards
build a series of forts saving it from
subsequent sieges. The walls still stand
today.
In 1741 the Brits showed up with a fleet of
over 180 ships and 25.000 soldiers, to
rob and plunder in the name of the crown.
Admiral
Edward Vernon nicknamed "Old Grog"
commanded the Brits. It became a disaster
for them as they were defeated here by a
garrison
of 3500 Spaniards, led by a fierce
fighter Blas de Lezo a Spanish
officer. He managed to defend off the
armada, the biggest naval
attack until 1944
in the Normandy. Blas had already lost
an arm, a leg and an eye in previous
fights. This did not hinder him.
the Brits lost against him who had the
spirit of a lion and body of a cripple
Today he is considered the savior of
Cartagena, his statue stands next to the St.
Filipe fortress.
Our flag in Cartagena
St Filipe fortress build in 1675
Later, during the colonial period the town
became the most important bastion of the
Spanish empire; however, in 1810 it
proclaimed
independence together with Bogota
and others. But that is never easy if profit
and power is involved. The Spaniards showed
up to re-
conquer Cartagena. The town paid
dearly. After a 4 month siege, 6000
inhabitants had died of starvation and
disease.
The town had to wait until 1821,when
patriotic forces took the city back.
Cartagena was once again a trading center.
Many nations
settled here to get a share of
the prosperity including Jews, Italians and
French.
walls surrounding the old city
part of the wall with defense tower
Building material used for the walls were
limestone, bricks, mortar and corral block,
as a close up indicates.
Strategic edges build into the walls to
shoot at the attackers
wall section
respected artilleries
Chick- click; do I look beautiful?
another strategic wall opening
TUESDAY 20-7-2010
Cartagena is hot. only in the afternoon when
the sea breeze sets in, it cools a bit. At
evenings it rains for an hour.
Tourists sweat on the beach, to become
suntanned, the population brown or
black since birth, walks in shadows to avoid
the sun.
It was difficult as we do not speak Spanish,
and, very few people master English here.
Today if National holiday, the Independence
day and a big celebrations with colorful
events and marches. We went to the old
town to
get a glimpse of the spectacle. The
empty narrow alley became soon afterwards
the marching center of the festivity.
nicely painted and decorated
houses
the first group arrived
the girl military band
she performed acrobatic on the road
the indigenous farmers arriving
a boys band, the girls dancing
who
are these tiger bikini girls?
temperament full dancers, full of life and
spirit
Although it was incredible noisy whenever
the marching band passed, spectators had
come by the hundreds. Girls dressed and
stuffed like toys, senoritas in Spanish
extravaganza. Only the boy had enough. being
only a year on this world, he wondered what
that "cravallo spectacle" was all about.
Better I plug my ears, since I will need
them for a long time.
"Do not take my
Raspado!"
Na, what you say?
" too noisy for me"
It all happen in the San Pedro Claver square
under his nose.
church of San Pedro Claver
San Pedro looking down to these noisy
children
San Pedro was a Spanish Christian Jesuit,
living between 1580 and 1654, who helped the
black slaves arriving from Africa. The
transport was so inhuman that one third died
in transit. After the slaves were herded out
into shut up yards, San Pedro went among
them with medicines, food and tobacco.
During his 40 years of ministry he baptized
about 300.000 slaves. His determination to
serve
the most abused and neglected is
stunningly heroic.
His shrine is located under the altar in the
church.
the cupola
The church bearing his name
His
shrine under the altar, here rest his
remains
WEDNESDAY 21-7-2010
Last night we checked the GPS. Since JAMBO
came out of the port in Buenos Aires,
we have driven 17281 km until Cartagena
here in Colombia. South American roads, in Argentina, Bolivia,
Peru, Ecuador and now on Colombia. Down,
from Patagonia's ice
storms to the gentle waves of the Caribbean. In deep devotion we pray silently; "Thank you ALMIGHTY
for protecting us."
A big hug to all sponsors. We have achieved
what we have set out to do in South America.
It was only possible with your great heart. Together we
make history for our beloved Brunei
Darussalam..
the
kilometers driven, on our GPS
Our route on this map, made in 1594. There
was no Australia on it and western America.
The blue line
would be our route. From these inaccurate
days when navigating was done by sextant and
compass.
THURSDAY 22-7-2010
Cartagena new
district
the port, somewhere is JAMBO
Quiet days in Cartagena.
For four days we went to the Schenker representative here trying to
expedite JAMBOS port clearing and loading.
Quiet and
frustrating days; as we are people of action and travelers. What
can be worst then depending on others who
work slowly and perhaps
incompetent?
Days passed with little progress, like photocopying notarize
Harun's passport, the carnet and so on. We
were very worried as
Columbia is the main cocaine supplier to the USA. Keeping JAMBO
under lock in our cheap hotel, that not
someone smuggle some
stuff into it, we went every day on a pilgrimage to the forwarder
office. What we are doing today?
"Wait!" . "Something seems not
right here in this place "said Harun.
FRIDAY 23-7-2010
By morning Harun was there again. The manageress lifted her finger
and said "little problem". The next hour
Harun spoke to their
bosses in Bolivia, then the director of operations for Columbia.
Why? The office woman Mrs... told him
through an English speaking
colleague, they cannot do the job. After 4 days waiting. The
country director: "We will make sure
your vehicle get out of Colombia."
"How madam?"
Meanwhile it was clear we are pushed out and to another company.
The gentlemen had come to Schenker. We
asked, his service
price of US$ 200.- seemed reasonable. We took all documents along
to his office and it was the best what could
happen to us. He
does sometime clearings, and his madam, competent and efficient,
took over the task. After a few phone calls
she said." tomorrow
we load your vehicle, I will be by 7:45 am in the hotel.
Eager adventurer, should you ever travel in this region, this is
their address you need, not only for
clearing and shipment, but also
insurances required here and any other headache you may encounter.
ENLACE CARIBE Manga Avenida No. 26-47. Tel 57 5 6609495 e mail
gerencia@enlacecaribe.com. Talk to Mr.
Ernesto.
SATURDAY 24-7-2010
By 8:00 am we drove to the port. The procedure begun, to check
any dents, inventory etc that was out in the
sun. Then came
customs in the antinarcotics hall. The custom officer was obviously
briefed, as he just signed the carnet, that
was it. Anti Narcotic
took over one hour. The officers knocked and hammered on the door
chairs and body, we had to remove all stuff.
Finally the sniffer
dog jumped into JAMBO and pocked his nose everywhere. As we know
there was nothing to be found. Repacking and
we drove in
presents of the narcotic officers (that we not now still load
something...) to the container, standing
only a 200 m away. I steered
JAMBO in, disconnected the batteries, locked all doors with
padlocks. The stuffers tied JAMBO, and
container doors were closed.
Two seals came on it and a seal from the anti narcotic. Our huge
padlock too, which we used already from Cape
town.
By 1:00 pm we had paid our final port dues, JAMBO save, we returned
to their office. "That was fast" . Thanking
them, we returned
to our hotel.
JAMBO in the
port of Cartagena with our efficient
clearing agent
our items on the floor in the anti narcotic
building
Lashing of JAMBO
final check by Harun
doors closing
and placing seals on
the drugs inspection seal over the door gap
SUNDAY 25-7-2010
Quiet days in Cartagena. Except on our hotel. The first floor
window faces the main port road and until
10:00 pm trailers move to and
forth. Afterwards drunkards shout around. It gets quiet from 4:00
am to 6:00 am. It is only possible to sleep
with plugged ears.
We intended to take the original Bill of Lading with us and have to
wait until Friday, as the shipping line will
release it only by then.
We walked around in the historic town today, relieved as our
vehicle was technically out of Columbia
already, sealed in a container
awaiting transport. Cartagena has little of interest besides the
old fortress and some Spanish churches.
We thought to travel into the interior, but the additional expenses
occurring, we rather wait the time out here;
and visit some churches
the only buildings worth to see. But I must stress Islam is for me
the only religion to follow.
In the chapel of the virgin of candelaria here in Cartagena we
noticed the two paintings above the altar.
secluded inner
court, a place for meditation
the altar of the church, above two paintings
Above the altar in the church of two intriguing paintings. A nun
with a halloo (seen also on Buddha statues,
meaning enlightenment)
her hands crossed below her shoulders, a whip, a scepter, a candle
burning on the table
can
anyone explain the meaning?
Why choose the painter two crossed arms
nailed onto the cross?
What did he wanted to tell? Look at the
fearful face of the girl above. Why?
The virgin of candelaria is actually an
apparition of virgin Mary on the island of
Tenerife, Gran Canarias. According the
legend, in 1392
a statue was found on the beach by two goat herders. She had in one
hand a baby, in the other a green candle.
Hence candelaria.
They tried to stone it but the arms were paralyzed. Later on the
statue was stolen and transferred to
Lazarote an island, where she
stirred up havoc until she was returned to Tenerife and Candelaria
town. Unexplained are strange letters
written on her, like on her
mantles right arm OLM INRANFR TAEBNPEM Reven NVINAPIMLIFINIPI
NIPIAN
on the edge of her left hand EVPMIRNA ENVPMTI EPNMPIR
VRVIVINRN APVI MERI PIVNIAN NTRHN. And
others. No one ever
deciphered the meaning.
The statue was lost when a tidal wave carried her out into the open
sea in 1826. Widely venerated in South
America, where she is
patroness of Medellin town here in Columbia. The virgin is
identified in the Guanche mythology as
Chaxiraxi the sun mother and
in Andean religions as Pachamama, "mother earth".
MONDAY 26-7-2010
Quiet and boring days in Cartagena.
We paid this morning the shipment of JAMBO including all other
charges. It came to pesos 3.5 mio, that is
about US$ 2,480.- . Plus
our hotel expenses. The ship will dock on 28-7 and depart on 29-7.
As nothing to do, we went to the historical township where the
Museum is located and where artifacts of he
inquisition are exhibited.
The plaza
this painter likes fat women; so it seems
People and pigeons. Kids playing under the
nose of Bolívar the liberator
entrance to the museum, made in 1776
they had secret jails
behind the walls the dungeons
Have we not learned since then? Rendition? Secret detention
centers? Nothing has changed in 300 years.
Some of us are still the same as these barbaric back then. The
inquisition was for several hundred years a
tool of the catholic church,
How did it begun? Many of people who reached high places were "conversos",
converts for convenience.
Many famous names we see. Among Crypto Jews, bankers Luois de
Santangel and Gabriel Sanches who financed
the voyage of
Christophe Columbus. Some even received titles of Nobility and over
the next century various writers attempted
to demonstrate that
virtually all of the nobles in Spain were descendants of the
"Israelites".
In 1483 the Jews were expelled from Andalusia, southern Spain.
Tomas de Torquemada became in charge for Aragon, Valencia and
Catalonia. He established procedures such as
30 days grace
period for confessions. Searching on Sabbath (Saturday) if no smoke
comes out of the house chimney of a Jew, as
they are forbidden
to work on that day. If no smoke he would still practice Judaism in
secret. The court
employed physical
torture to extract confessions, with tools like these.
The stretcher which
sick brain invented the double fork?
Crypto Jews were allowed to confess and
repent. But if relapse, they burn on stake.
As an example of forced confession,
in 1620 five black slaves were brought to
the tribunal here in Cartagena. Four women and one man. They were
charged with
participating in a diabolic
sect of witches, so tell the court annals.
Four of the eventually testified (during torture?) to practicing
witchcraft. The court records tell us the
scene:" Standing on her feet she
testified that the devil carried them in groups of twenty and
twenty to different plantations to do harm
as much as they could.
She and the rest of them killed little children sucking the blood
through naval and when they were adults they
sucked the blood
through the nostrils. You can guess what punishment these "witches"
got. Eerie times those days back. They
bundled women on
accusations, and throw them into the river. Could she manage to
stay with the head above the water, she must
be a witch and was
burned alive. Did she drown, well, she was no witch, so her soul
will be taken care off by God. "Mad men
indeed they were."
Other offences were sodomy including
homosexuality; people were executed for that
crime. Blasphemy, bigamy and witchcraft
naturally too. To
be member of a Freemason society was a crime. One could be arrested.
for the
delinquent limps
and an iron necklace
TUESDAY 27-7-2010
It is quiet in Cartagena. Reading and planning. The Brunei High
Commission in Washington did not reply my
e-mail.
I guess they are very busy for affairs of our country and do not have time, or, they have
never heard about the world journey, as it
was
in our Bangladesh Embassy in 2008. I called them, no one to pick up
he phone. so I left a message advising my
E-Mail. But
nothing. They must be hard working officers.
WEDNESDAY 28-7-2010
Waiting, waiting.
We are very security concerned, that is why we do not explore the
lower town. Therefore we are stuck to the
hotel room.
Even here we worry, as the hotel is located as said before, on the
main road to the port. On the cheaper side,
because of budget
concern. For breakfast little butter and jam and a coffee tasting
like over-boiled Indian sod, as we
know it from our restaurants.
3 m high walls; Security first
one leaves the breakfast hungry
Just looking at the gate and the wall, which is over 3 m high tell
us we must be careful when out of the door.
Although Cartagena is
supposedly save; the historic town where tourists wander, is
watched by 2000 policemen. But no one, where
we reside.
And Cartagena is one of the main drug export location for drugs.
Young folks mainly from the USA come here to consume cocaine which
is cheap. But consumers must remember,
cocaine does not
only destroy the health but also indirectly support fighting in
Columbia as drug cartels are financed and
they have their own agenda
with kidnapping, massacres and assassinations. This year, the navy
has seized 3,000 kg Marihuana and 5000 kg
Cocaine.
We have to watch out!
Our ship transporting JAMBO has arrived; now we buy our ticket out
of Columbia. Our agent assured us the B/L
document on Friday.
"You will have by then".
THURSDAY 29-7-2010
While waiting for the taxi, which was to bring us to the only cool
place that is the "Caribic Mall" , something
like our Center Point, we
encounter this poor fellow. He had the vehicle stuffed with foam
cushion and maybe due to overloading the
engine was too hot and
caught fire. Boy, we run away, after the picture. But luck was with
him as someone helped with a water splash
out of a bucket,
extinguishing the flames.
flames
under the hood... and
look at the load; He was lucky
Sandra, full of Columbian temperament
Enquiring from a travel agent the
fare, it would have cost US 630.- per person
to Miami. A lot of money for a two hours
flight.
We had checked the internet and found only one cheaper, for
398 dollars, we could enjoy the airline for
17 hours and 3 stops.
This plane will go first south with waiting time somewhere before
it heads to USA.
"Do you have something cheaper, never mind not direct to Florida,
an airport somewhere near will do.
We can then take the bus to Miami. "
Sandra, that's her name, dig deep into heir magic arsenal and
pulled a Price of US$ 290.- each.
"But on Sunday and you have to fly to Fort Lauderdale." We accepted
gladly. Fort Lauderdale is only 70 km from
Miami.
One more overnight cost us only US$ 55.- that means, we can safe
funds.
In the evening we went to the historic
center, knowing that every 5th person is a
policeman. A "self appointed" music band had
gathered and a girl swung her body, whirling around that the dress
was flying. When one drummer took up a solo
in a feverish rhythm,
it looked to us as if she would go into a trance. The eyes closed
,she stood now the legs slightly spread on
the toes of her feet,
only her lower part moving, sometimes in almost obscene motions.
The girl was rhythm; she danced sensual and
from her heart.
three drummers and a clarinet fired the girl
up; she performing barefoot on the cobble
stones.
FRIDAY 30-7-2010
We got an E-mail asking why we do not pass through middle America
Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua and so forth.
It was our intention but being here now, we see the danger
involved. While some countries are "safe"
others are a security disaster,
Mexico being the worst. Criminals have taken over the land. No day
where people are not kidnapped.
No day without a dozen murders, provinces are under the control of
drug cartels.
The government with the corrupt police has no say.
And then imagine dear and distinguished reader, we show up on the
border with flashy JAMBO.
How far do you thing we can get until stopped by police for
extortion? Or kidnappers taking us away for
ransom?
They kill us anyhow as we are not from the rich site of life
and cannot pay their demand.
Here the local TV programs paint a far more grim picture, as we
hear it in Asia. Unfortunately it is the
reality.
NO SIR! We do not travel there. We want to enjoy again a Nasi Lemak
in Brunei one day, and not having our
remains rotting away
somewhere at a jungle path or fed on by vultures.
Mexico is in turmoil with no end in sight.
SATURDAY 31-7-2010
Yesterday afternoon we got our Bill of Lading. We enquired with the
shipping line, and yes, our JAMBO is sailing
towards USA.
The ship is to arrive tomorrow and we fly out too. The morning we
ventured into the lower income neighborhood
and share a few
pictures with you honorable reader.
Three things one noticed immediately.
1.) there is no more tarred road.
2.) most if not all are of African decent.
3.) security grills to protect the little one possesses.
mud holes and water ponds
safety grills and cramped homes
Not that safe
structures, but still home for some less
fortunate
Close by an inlet
and fishermen repairing their net
large fish are still caught
from old make new; pallets
a motorcycle taxi. question does he charge
her double?
Honorable reader. This is the moment to say good bye to South
America. We have travelled it from Ushuaia
the southernmost town
on our god given earth up to Cartagena in Cocaine Columbia.
Conclusion: As everywhere we travelled, there are many poor
and a few rich people. Crooks, thieves and
pimps, whores and hustlers.
A few honest men once a while, willing to accept their destiny.
However the land and Andes, sometime of
exceptional beauty cannot
match Africa. There is nothing like it, despite the real dangers we
went through. We are now leaving the 3rd
world to the biggest
borrower of the planet " USA" transit Canada, and steer JAMBO
"North to Alaska" as the gold-digger song
indicated.
Not to the gold claims staked in Klondike but to Anchorage, to
raise our flag under polar lights, and ship
JAMBO from there to
Australia for the final part of the "Around the world" journey. We
look forward to it.
SUNDAY 1-8-2010
Not less than three security inspections we had at the airport,
before we entered the plane to Fort
Lauderdale. While approaching
the airport, one could see the brown sludge floating in patches a
few hundred meters long. BP legacy. But
Obama and the Brits
agreed already to keep British Petroleum alive. Money
means everything.
Fingerprinting on both hands, a photo and questions. That is the
new homeland security procedure for every
visitor.
Now we are in a database for future use. When we told the
immigration officer (everyone wear a
revolver) of our journey, he got exited
and enthusiastic.
So was the custom officer. They did not check anything.
"Good you ship your vehicle" said he. I was just at the border
between Guatemala and Mexico. (What is an
American custom officer
doing there?) there is only a train, gangs rob in Guatemala at
gunpoint, and kill tourists."
Highway robbery by police or assailants dresses in uniform is a
daily occurrence, armed
robber stealing a cell phone, turn
increasingly violent.
Our decision not to drive there was the right one.
By 7:30 we arrived in Miami town, driving on US roads with a rented
vehicle.
It was Sunday, the freeway was empty. We found a hotel in
Doral neighborhood, where our Custom broker
was located.
MONDAY 2-8-2010
By 9:00 we were at their Office. A lady named Heidi, had our
papers. "It is cheaper for you, if you go
yourself to custom and clear
the vehicle out" Thanks Mrs. Heidi" and went. Handing the carnet to
an officer who came late on this Monday
morning, he said after
studying:" This is not recognized in the USA" . "Sorry Sir could you
repeat?" Your carnet is not recognized."
"But there are tourists
coming with motorcycles and vehicles from Europe." "You need a
letter from the EPA authority" He wrote us
the name and turned
away.
Back to the custom broker.
" You should be able to bring the car in The man is not
cooperative. We will contact the
supervisor." Said Heidi. That was it for
today.
TUESDAY 3-8-2010
We are faced the first time with a possibility, that we cannot
traverse the USA. That we have to re-route
JAMBO to Australia.
On a decision of an officer our world journey sector
North America is excluded.
What are we writing in our adventure book ? We had never expected
that. The custom regulation clearly stated
"that a foreign vehicle
can drive for 1 year in the USA, but is not allowed to be sold." We
had checked that in the internet. We went to
an insurance agent
for an eventual insurance. Also this seemed to be a problem but maybe
we can overcome it. Our mood was at the
bottom.
So, I phoned again our Embassy in Washington.
Maybe they could help
with a call to the custom boss here in
Miami, if we provide their name and phone number.
No one pick up.
Are they all on holiday? I left a message and our phone number.
WEDNESDAY 4-8-2010
No one of our Embassy called back. What kind of service is
this? What would happen in an Emergency
situation?
There is no use for us to travel to Washington, as these officers
ignore my call and E-mail. What are they
here for anyway? You can
see dear and honorable reader, I'm upset.
We now will travel west here in the south, if- we are able to bring
JAMBO in.
Distinguished reader if you find time, click
United States of
America, where our story further
unfolds.
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