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Bridging The Continents

Bridging The Continents

di Andre van der Most

Documentari Diari personali

Stagione 3

May 24 2026 - Encounter Overland Reunion Ends Epic Journey

Location: Canada Summary; May 24th, 2026 marks the final recording of my epic 8.5-month journey. On May 20th, the day after arriving back on Fashion Island, I turned right around and drove to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, Canada. I took the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria and then drove up to Nanaimo for a very special event — an Encounter Overland reunion organized by Dennis Cornell. Dennis and I share a connection: we both worked for Encounter Overland, a British commercial expedition company that started around 1964 and ramped up in 1968. In about 1979, I got a job with them working in their workshop an hour north of London, repairing and converting Bedford trucks purchased from the British Army into passenger vehicles with coach seats. My experience crossing the Sahara Desert at age 19 in 1973 and my time in the Dutch Army in South America helped me land the role, even though I wasn't really a mechanic. I ended up doing several journeys — my first was London to Johannesburg with Martin Crabb as co-driver, an intense 16-week trip with 20 people. On the return journey I was on my own for the company, and we even went through Uganda. After about 10 months in Africa, I returned to London where they gave me just 5 days off before sending me back to Johannesburg for the next trip. That's how I met my future wife, Corinne Pettit (now Chandra) — she was a passenger on that trip. I only drove half the journey to Nairobi before being replaced, but our connection was made. After one more trip from Panama City to San Francisco in Central America, my Encounter Overland employment concluded, and Corinne and I traveled together for over a year. The reunion brought people from New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and the US. While most were reminiscing about 30 to 50 years ago, I had just come off my trail, which was a fun contrast. Adding to the excitement, I connected with Seth Scott from the Hold My Gear YouTube and Instagram channel. Seth and Ollie Jenkins hold the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous journey in a Reliant Robin three-wheel car. Seth happened to be in Victoria and ended up joining the reunion too — a wonderful full-circle moment. This journey has no equal, and I hope people will contribute to bridges2development.org and burndesignlab.org through my website bridgingthecontinents.com. Nathan has done an amazing job keeping it all together. I appreciate everyone who came along and shared this journey with me. May it inspire you to do the things you feel like you shouldn't but absolutely should. Make it happen.

May 12 2026 - Nairobi to Bangkok to Japan Travel Day

Location: Kenya Summary: Today, May 12th, 2026, I started by dropping off my rental car at the airport with the help of Steve Mogul, who handled all the administrative details remotely — pretty impressive that it all worked without an office on-site. From there, I caught a 9 to 10-hour flight to Bangkok. With a 6-hour time difference from Nairobi, I ended up with about a 9-hour layover in Bangkok. But honestly, Bangkok's airport is built for long layovers — there's so much to see and do, including sampling Thai food, so I didn't even feel the need to go into town. The next flight left on time and got me to Haneda Airport in Tokyo at about 7 a.m. on the 13th. Everything went smoothly. My son Nathan, who built this whole website, picked me up from the airport. The morning train commute made it take a bit longer, but it all worked out. I then got to spend wonderful time with Nathan, his wife Medea, and my grandson Noah, who is about 20 months old. Watching Noah try to put words together was a real highlight — he's getting there and he's such an exciting young person. After a great visit in Yokohama, I headed to the US on the 19th, arriving in LA. Re-entering the country was a bit of a hiccup because I'm on a green card and had been away longer than the typical 6-month allowance. I hadn't given enough attention to getting the extended permission beforehand. Fortunately, all I had to do was show I didn't have a permanent residence elsewhere, and having traveled through 32 countries made that pretty clear. It was time-consuming going through immigration and customs, but everything turned out fine. From LA I flew on to Seattle, had just enough time to stay one night, and planned to pick up my car the next morning. More on that tomorrow!

May 11 2026 - Visiting Burn Manufacturing in Nairobi Kenya

Location: Kenya Summary: Today was my last day in Kenya, and what a day it turned out to be. I started the morning at the Mabati house, a beautifully designed rental property where the walls literally open up so you become part of the surrounding landscape. I had met someone from the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi the night before, and we had great conversations. After breakfast, I packed up and began my drive back to Nairobi through the stunning Rift Valley scenery — there's truly nothing like it. My main objective for the day was to find Burn Manufacturing, also known as EKOHA, which is a company I've been trying to spread the word about through my website. Burn Manufacturing was started by Peter Scott, who I'd only met once before when I gave him a ride on Vashon Island. Peter moved to Kenya in 2016 to scale up the clean cookstove manufacturing operation. I showed up unannounced at their headquarters on Spring Valley Road in Nairobi, hoping to connect with him. Luckily, even though Peter wasn't at headquarters — he was at the factory giving a tour — someone was able to text him and we arranged to have lunch together. He recognized me despite our only brief prior meeting. Over lunch, Peter explained how carbon credits have been transformative for Burn Manufacturing. Companies that produce excess carbon emissions pay into the system, and companies like Burn that save carbon production receive that funding. This allows them to produce stoves affordably and get them to the people who need them most. Peter was thrilled to hear I had visited the EKOHA assembly plant in Malawi. He also shared that their operation in Kano, Nigeria — Burn Stoves Nigeria Limited — has grown from an assembly plant to manufacturing many parts locally. After lunch, Peter connected me with Oliver Mauersböe, the COO, who gave me a tour of the factory in Ruiru, north of Nairobi. Oliver's background includes working at Tesla from its early days, and he said he's never worked with anyone as passionate as Peter Scott. The numbers are staggering: 7.2 million stoves sold, 75.7 million tons of CO2 reduced, $2.8 billion saved for households, 44.6 million tons of wood saved, 36.7 million lives impacted, and 52,000 jobs created since 2013. The Ruiru factory alone has 1,200 workers across two shifts. Oliver was instrumental in securing the Ruiru, Malawi, and Kano locations. Peter noted I was lucky to catch him, as he travels constantly to grow the business. It's a challenging operation with many moving pieces, but they're doing an incredible job. Tonight I fly out of Nairobi to Bangkok on Kenya Airways, then on to Tokyo's Haneda airport via Thai Airways to visit my son Nathan, his wife Medea, and my grandson Noah for about five or six days before heading to Seattle.

May 10 2026 - Sanctuary Farm Kenya

Location: Kenya Summary: I woke up in a tent at Sanctuary Farm near Lake Naivasha in Kenya. The farm has a fascinating history — it was originally connected to Sir Derek Erskine, a Brit who stayed in Kenya after independence. His son Francis bought the 450-acre farm in 1974, and now it's run by the third generation. Guy and his late wife Julie had three children: Jamie, who designed the rental homes on the property; Quilly, whom I met in Mozambique and is the reason I came here; and Felix, who runs the place and whom I got to speak with briefly. I was really looking forward to trying the farm's famous kitchen, but they were in the process of developing a new menu, so pizza was the only option. Fortunately, the pizza was absolutely fantastic. Since I didn't have any local cash, I arranged to put everything on a tab and pay with Visa at the end, which solved a big problem. The night before, I met my tent neighbors — Owen Nyabuto from Nairobi and two friends from Iran. Despite global tensions, we shared tea and great conversation. The next morning, I took a long walk around most of the farm and was blown away by the wildlife. Zebras, impalas, wildebeest, waterbuck, Thomson gazelles, monkeys, incredible birds, and even giraffes on my last day — all roaming freely. Walking among them felt surreal. I also got to watch the cows being milked by hand. They have about 40 cows, with 24 being milked twice a day. They use most of the milk themselves for cheese and other products, selling to just one outside party. Since 2019, Lake Naivasha has been rising dramatically — at least a meter — causing buildings around the lake to be abandoned, moved, or submerged. I arranged a boat ride with Owen and his friends to see the hippos and the impact of the rising water. Our tour guide did an amazing job navigating us close enough to the hippos while keeping a safe distance. Seeing the flooded buildings from the water was a striking experience. After the boat ride, it was back to more pizza. If you ever get a chance to visit Sanctuary Farm, I highly recommend it. It's truly an amazing place.

May 9 2026 - Sanctuary Farm at Lake Naivasha Kenya

Location: Kenya Summary: I woke up on May 9th, 2026 at the Kozhi Airport Hotel, which was a really well set up guest house with great coffee. It was a little tricky to get to, but since I was driving, the pothole-filled roads weren't a problem. I rented a car because I only have 3 days in Kenya and wanted to make a special stop at Lake Naivasha, which is about a 2-hour drive from Nairobi. With extra suitcases, having a car was essential. I didn't have a GPS device in the car, so I relied on my phone for navigation since my Garmin was packed away in my suitcase. I initially tried to avoid toll roads, but Steven, the person who helped me with the car, let me know it was ETC equipped, so I could pass through toll roads without issue. The drive to Naivasha was absolutely beautiful. Once I arrived in the town, I tried to get some Kenyan money at the bank using my Wise card, but it didn't work at any of the banks I tried. The Wise card was simply not serviceable in Kenya, possibly because the exchange rate yields so many shillings per dollar that the machines can't handle the volume of paper. Fortunately, I could still pay with a regular credit card. The main reason for my visit was to get to Sanctuary Farm on Lake Naivasha. Back in April when I was in Mozambique, I met people who had done a 3-week canoe trip on the Save River for the Wilderness Project. One of them was Quilly, whose dad runs Sanctuary Farm where she grew up. After looking it up online, I knew I had to visit — it was absolutely inviting. I made it to the farm before darkness. It's about 450 acres with much more than meets the eye. I had booked a little house for the second night, but since there were no openings for the first night, the solution was renting a tent with a bed already set up. It was really neat driving past all the hotel-like establishments on Lake Naivasha and then arriving at this spacious 450-acre property where you can freely roam around. It was a truly welcoming place, and I look forward to exploring more tomorrow.

May 8 2026 - Flying From Malawi to Nairobi Kenya

Location: Malawi Summary: Today, May 8th, 2026, I traveled from Malawi to Nairobi, Kenya. My flight with Malawi Airlines departed around quarter to 5 Malawi time, and with the one-hour time difference, I landed in Nairobi around 8 in the evening. Before leaving, I ran into the Swiss couple again who had quite the adventure exchanging money on the black market — they were whisked away in the back of a car to count cash, a real dive into African culture. Since my flight was in the late afternoon, I had a relaxed morning exploring the local restaurants and shops one last time. I arranged a taxi through someone at the hotel, and the car that showed up was easily the most rickety vehicle I've encountered in all my time driving across Africa. I was genuinely surprised it made it to the airport, but it did. The Malawi airport was pretty basic with limited food options, but a simple sandwich did the trick. My Kenya visa, which I had obtained a few days earlier, cost about $139. These expenses add up, but in the grand scheme of this trip, they're minor. Upon arriving in Nairobi, I connected with Steve Mogul from Holiday Autos/YouSave to pick up my rental car — a Toyota Corolla. There was no office to visit; Steve called me while I was walking through the airport and eventually met me to take me to the parking garage. I chose to rent from the airport since I'd also be departing from the same airport when leaving Kenya. The car was set up for left-hand traffic, which is correct for Kenya, but I had to adjust since I'd been driving left-hand drive vehicles in right-hand traffic countries. Everything was on the opposite side of the steering wheel. It was dark by then, so I was glad my hotel was only about 6 kilometers away. The Cozy Hotel turned out to be an interesting place — a tall hostel-style building of about 9 or 10 stories with independent units, each with a kitchenette and private bathroom. There's a restaurant on the top floor with views of the surrounding area, which sits on the edge of Nairobi near open fields. Same day, new country — the journey continues!

May 7 2026 - Last Day Exploring Lilongwe Malawi Travel

Location: Malawi Summary: Today was my last full day in Lilongwe, Malawi, and I spent it wandering around the neighborhood to soak in more of the city. One thing that really stands out here is how properties are walled in — fancy ones and regular ones alike. Walls go up first, then security guards come with them. It gives an impression of safety, though you have to wonder why the walls are needed in the first place. That said, I consider Malawi a pretty safe place and had no issues walking around. At the local gas station, I learned something interesting: the fuel trucks come all the way from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, which is a journey of about 3 to 4 days. In the southern city of Blantyre, fuel might come from Beira in Mozambique, which is a bit closer at 1 to 2 days of travel. It really puts into perspective how challenging logistics can be in a landlocked country like Malawi. I also came across a foreign exchange bureau, which reminded me of how much of an adventure dealing with money is here. At the bank, you get about 1,700 kwacha for a US dollar and around 2,000 to 2,100 for a euro. But on the black market, you could get nearly twice that amount. The forex office offered a huge range of money transfer services — MoneyGram, Western Union, HelloPesa, Mukuru, RIA Money Transfer, Moto Money, Maura Money, and WorldRemit. That's a lot of options. For my part, I relied on ATMs and my Wise card to access cash, which worked well enough, though having extra cash on hand would have been ideal. By the end of a trip, though, you don't want to be stuck with too much local currency. In the evening, I met a delightful Swiss couple — a doctor and an engineer — who had just arrived and picked up a small 4WD with a rooftop tent. They were a little disappointed that the vehicle was so new, since they prefer older cars that draw less attention. For them it was their first night in Malawi, and for me it was the last. I was able to share tips and experiences that might help them on their journey, which made for a wonderful end to my time here.

May 6 2026 - Leaving Hospital & Exploring Lilongwe Malawi

Location: Malawi Summary: Today, May 6th, I left the Hôpital Saint-Jean after my stay there. The hospital kindly organized my departure and arranged a ride for me into town. They had offered to take me all the way to the airport, but since I wasn't flying out today, I just needed a lift into Lilongwe. The driver was essentially a hospital taxi driver who makes regular trips to the city for patients and staff who don't have their own transportation. The ride was really enjoyable. One thing I loved was being able to freely take pictures without having to stop — a nice change of pace. I considered filming continuously, but it felt intrusive and would have resulted in way too much footage. We picked up another passenger along the way who also needed to get to town. My destination was the Sunrise Motel, a place I had never been to before and hadn't even made a reservation at. I chose it simply because of its convenient location near the main intersection where the road heads north toward the airport. It turned out to be not far from another place I had stayed at previously. Fortunately, they had rooms available at a reasonable price — around $50 a night — so I booked myself in for two nights. After settling in, I walked around town exploring the nearby area and checking out what was for sale at various shops. I noticed a very busy KFC, which didn't surprise me since there are quite a lot of KFCs throughout Malawi and Africa in general. The capital city of Lilongwe is bustling and lively, and of course, they drive on the left side of the road here. Overall, it was a great day of transitioning from the hospital to the city in a relaxed manner. I'm enjoying taking my time before heading to the airport. Thanks for following along — see you tomorrow!

May 5 2026 - Car Handoff to Hospital in Malawi – A Giving Day

Location: Malawi Summary: Today was the handoff day, and it was truly a rewarding experience. I did the last few things with the car I've been calling "Orange" – it never got a better name, but Orange says it all. I packed up, took out what I needed, and drove from Hope's Inn along the back roads to the hospital where I'd been in touch with the administrator. When I arrived, the administrator had gathered a group of hospital workers, and they all posed for a picture during the handover. It was heartwarming. One of the administrators, a financial person, turned out to be the brother of someone I had met earlier at a national park. They both grew up in Nakoma and were incredibly grateful to receive the vehicle for the whole community. All I had to do was hand the keys to Happy and walk away. That car served me very well, and I truly hope it lasts them a long time and helps many people who need it. Afterward, I worked on finishing up my reservations and flights for the rest of my trip home. In the evening, since it was a Tuesday, we had the weekly potluck at Hope's Inn. Hannah from Japan showed up again, along with Kumiko. They both work for a Japanese organization similar to the American Peace Corps – one is teaching and the other is doing social research. There was also a 19-year-old who teaches two elementary school kids most days because there's no international school in this town. This allows the doctors who are the kids' parents to continue working while the children get education aligned with what the parents want, even though much of the local teaching is done in English. The kids still get playtime and make friends in town. These potlucks are always full of energy and great people. I've decided to head toward Lilongwe tomorrow rather than wait until the last minute. My flight to Nairobi is on Friday, so I want to give myself some buffer. Tomorrow I'll be leaving Hope's Inn. It was another really good day.

May 4 2026 - Leaving Malawi: Car Transfer & Visa Extension

Location: Malawi Sumary: Today was a really big day — one I had been waiting for. Stephen, one of the administrators at Nakoma Mission Hospital, and I drove together in my car to Lilongwe. The scenery along the way was amazing as always. We picked up a passenger along the route and dropped them off before heading to our first destination: the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA). The purpose was to get my Carnet de Passage stamped out, essentially removing the car from being registered under my name in Malawi since I'm passing it on to the hospital. With Stephen's help, we navigated through the building, went upstairs, waited a bit, and finally got the right person to stamp the document. Stephen also learned that the MRA expects the car to remain at their facility for about two weeks while they formalize the transfer and ensure everything is in order for the hospital. That was mission part one accomplished. Part two was immigration. I entered Malawi on April 6th with a 30-day allowance, meaning I only had one more day left unless I got an extension. Stephen knew exactly where to go. The immigration office was extremely busy, and parking was a challenge, but we found a shortcut to the right office. They stamped my passport with an extension at no cost — just like the MRA stamp was also free. Getting both of these critical items handled quickly was a huge relief. We celebrated with coffee at a place I had visited before, but Stephen suggested it because he knew the owner. Afterward, it was time to head back toward Nakoma, but Stephen stayed behind in Lilongwe at his own property — about 2.5 acres filled with cassava, corn for seeds, pigeons, chickens, and rabbits. He has workers helping manage everything, and he clearly loves the farming work. The whole property is fenced, which is very common in Africa. His long-term plan seems to be saving up to build a house and possibly some lodgings there. I drove back to Hope's Inn on my own, stopping along the way to pick up some barbecued meat from a roadside food spot near the Nakoma Mission Hospital turnoff. Back at the inn, I felt truly accomplished because now I could finally look at flight schedules and book my departure. My plan is to fly to Nairobi first. This journey is coming to an end, and I'm grateful for everyone who has been following along.

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