World Travellers

It rained heavily when I arrived at PD recreational park to do my usual exercise yesterday. So I turned around and drove back to my apartment but found the field near the beach at the abandoned apartment complex was clear, not even a drizzle. I stopped and walked the usual 4 rounds around the open field and on my last lapse, a tall unshaven mat saleh approached me asking for a place where he can get internet connection.  I tried to explain where McDonald is and we talked, later joined by his wife.

Wim and Wil at their camper van which has taken them to most part of the world 200313

Wim and Wil having breakfast at my apartment 200313

With Wim and Wil at my apartment. I cheated a bit, I stood on tiptoes. 200313

That's how I met Wim and Wil Klaassen from Holland. They are a couple of fascinating world travelers clocking unbelievable miles in their 30 year old volkswagen camper van. They are on 6 months travel, ending on May 2013 when both of them have to go back to their jobs. In their early sixties, with their faithful camper van, they just arrived from Laos, landed in Singapore and drove to Malaysia hoping to settle their car permit to Indonesia at the Indonesian Embassy in KL, their next destination. The hassle and red tape of transporting car to Indonesia dampened their spirits and made them change their mind to ship their van to Australia at the earliest possible date. After touring Australia, they planned to ship the van back to Amsterdam. Yesterday, from KL they stopped at PD by the beach where I did my walking exercise. I advised against parking and sleeping in the van at the beach because a lone foreign van can attract unsavory attention, especially late at night.  So I suggested that they park their van  at the apartment where I live. After taking a shower at my apartment, they headed to MacDonald for dinner and internet connection.
I invited them in for breakfast of nasi goreng at my apartment this morning and we talked. I was fascinated to hear how they traveled in their camper van around the world - through the African continent (Wim worked in Zimbabwe some years back), across Siberia to Japan and Korea, Asia, eastern Europe and many other countries. With my world map on the world indicating all the places I have been, it was nothing compared to their experience. I have just seen a fraction of the world!!!
Wim has his own consultancy company and Will is a psychiatric therapist in a hospital in Holland. Today they are driving to Malacca and I  hope they will be able to settle the problem of transporting their van to Australia. This is a delightful couple with wide knowledge and understanding of the world and human dynamics. Somehow we made a connection and I am honored having establish a warm relationship with them.
As they said, it was unfortunate that I am going to Amsterdam in late April because they will still be in Australia or else I could make a visit to their home. It was an attractive invitation. Maybe I would visit Holland again some day, insyaallah.

Good luck and safe travel, Wim and Wil and hope we meet again some day.

The faithful 30 year old volkswagen camper van with Will, leaving PD 200313