Overland - Travel & Transit

Asia : Africa : South America : Middle East 

All Images By Rick Hemi

A continuation from the overland travel transit page one, of various on the go transit snaps, with some images dating back to the early 1980s.
At times, blurred, or out of focus image snaps can't be avoided. Trying to capture on the go snaps onboard moving vibrating dusty bush buses from outside of open windows, and on the back of trucks using manual film cameras during the 80s, was at times difficult holding focus.

At the best of times, overland transit photography, is usually a collection of rough subpar still shots. Capturing on the go in transit compositions, some having no importance at the time they were taken through the decades get their two seconds of fame found scattered through this website.

Even though I've taken large amounts of overland travel video with DSLR and point and shoots, this website is dedicated to still photography. The majority of image captures through the pages were taken with full frame DSLR 12 MP bodies using various fixed prime and zoom lenses. 
Point and shoots were used for location snaps i.e. camera gear set up on tripods, on the go in transit snaps, and the odd, but rare street portrait when DSLRs were packed down.
All mages shown through this website are low resolution only between 60-70%. Sharpness is also subpar, due to automatic shredding when images are uploaded.     

The website owner avoids following travel trends, rather adding down to earth inspiration for others of real solo overland travel.

Overland Travel - On The Go

The best tasting coffee and chai are at transit highway bush bus break stops in the middle of nowhere.

Rough solo overland travel and transit journeys through the middle of nowhere all have one thing in common - basic roadside bush-stops where chai and local snacks are severed. This is one of many locations where I capture random up-close portraits using full frame DSLR photo gear. At bush-stop locations through the continents, I have never experienced negative flack by locals capturing images of them since the beginning of my global overland journeys dating back to '82. Learning the art of interacting with total strangers requires using positive outward skills. The best overland travel photographic environment offshore, is alone traveling solo, certainly not with a bunch of other foreigners. Try it, I've been doing it for decades.

Reaching or leaving isolated border crossings, is onboard anything with wheels moving in the right direction. Jammed packed out transport is nothing unusual in the middle of nowhere. The ride above had a dozen passengers with no complaints. Transit snap during transit. 

Above, highway road stop through Africa. Hitching lifts on long haul rigs started for me back in '82 through the Mid-East. The rides are free, the trucks are normally laden with freight, and the drivers friendly as one can meet. As mentioned through this website numerous times, hitching lifts with any transport is done at international border crossings, and at main highway gasoline stations on the outskirts of most major large cities. Actually, even in the 2020s, I can grab hitched lifts on board long haul trucks faster than booking bus and  train tickets. If trucks have a spare seat you're in luck. Try it, I've been doing it for decades. American rigs, European rigs, local rigs, bush truck rigs. 

Above, the days of SLR half out of focus quick snaps in the early 1980s. Foreigners from all walks of life were clocking up overland transit mileage through continents well before the shallow travel blogger world begun. Foreigners like myself were way ahead of the pack before the internet and toxic social media were created. It's snaps like above that show the difference between Real World travel and fake travel. 

You'll be hard pressed to spot images of the Dalai Lama like above in Tibet. It's prohibited by Chinese authorities with jail time. All those trendy yuppie Western travel blogger influencers promoting China before they all fled China during the 2020 plandemic, had zero interest exposing real truth of Buddhist oppression in Tibet. Their lips were tightly sealed. They were more interested in their own narcissistic egos profiteering on the backs of suppressed Tibetans. This is one reason why I'm anti-travel blogger. They're a dime a dozen promoting all the same fake tourism propaganda through the planet, painting biased rosy red getaway blissful destinations within countries who suppress ethnic minorities. It's why I've had no interest of being a You Tube travel blogger influencer. Below, rough as guts transit-stop en-route Iraq to Jordan via Syria.

Solo Overland Transit - Getting Through Continents

Van transportation is widely used through all continents. Vans are good for short day journeys reaching destinations. Driver operators are normally speed freaks pushing vans to the maximum level they can squeeze out of them. Before jumping onboard vans, first check the condition of the tires. Vans having bald or well worn inner or outer tread on front wheels are waiting transport coffins. This is one of the main cause of vans colliding with oncoming traffic, hitting power poles, and veering over cliffs through Africa. If front tires look healthy, you're good to go. Those traveling with excessive baggage can always purchase a second seat, which I've personally done through certain countries for safety reasons.

Basic overland transport at times can surprise you in the most isolated regions. Operators are normally locals, who've driven along the same routes for years. They know their vehicles, and also every bump, and dangerous curve en-route. Some of the most amazing transit journeys I've had, are from one isolated location getting to other isolated locations. Placing trust in local drivers depends on what they're driving and how they drive.       

Capturing reasonable on the go in transit snaps is anything with a lens. The above examples show the difference in quality using point and shoots and DSLR full frame cameras. Grainy low light snaps are more apparent using point and shoots. Hanging out of windows capturing images onboard moving transport is an art in itself. Vibration, bumping swinging around with cameras out of windows is at your own risk. Loss and damage of smartphones, point and shoots, and DSLRs dropping from moving transport happens — hang on to your stuff.        

Above, a slow chugging bush boat ferry making headway through an estuary. The image was captured onboard another bush boat heading in the other direction. As you can see, there's limited life saving equipment on most of these slow floaters. Knowing how to swim comes in handy when ferryboats capsize, which happens from time to time.  Egypt ferry : Philippines ferry : India ferry : DRC ferry :  Pakistan ferry

Long haul transit up and down the Pan American highway is automatic. It's the only main connection by road winding along the Pacific coastline corridor of the continent. Traffic is full-on in both directions during day light hours. Most of the Pano highway, is as smooth as glass through Chile up to the Peruvian frontier. Even still today, some sections of the Peruvian Pano runs along the edge of high cliff-tops with the Pacific ocean below. Shifting desert sands and thick sea fog through the winter months are perils of danger on the Peruvian tarmac onward from Camana to Chala Peru. I've had first hand experience self-driving this route in midwinter during the night. Ecuador's section of Pano highway is always busy with congested traffic during daylight hours. Driving through southern Colombia on the Pano, is a wild ride through mountainous regions till Pasto. Clogs of congested traffic, like the image above occurs at specified control stops. It's also worth mentioning, random drug control inspections are carried out through the Pano highway by narcotics police and drug sniffing dogs.

African bush transport is anything with wheels on it. It's normal jumping onboard mini vans over-loaded with passengers and baggage. Some vans are better than others. At times there's no choice using whatever is available. This has always been a part of any overland journey traveling through entire continents. The only bush van transport to avoid are those in South Africa. Have your own body bag ready if you travel with South African bush transport. The majority of bush van transport through Africa are used imported vehicles from Japan. The vibration, rattles, fumes, break downs, and high noise level comes for free — enjoy the journey.

Typical transit journeys off main highways are non-bitumen road tracks. Depending on routes chosen, transit journeys can become bogged down with congested traffic, caused by breakdowns and accidents. Traveling after dark along isolated mountainous road routes should be avoided, unless you're wanting to experience a one on one confrontation bandit holdup. Just ask locals, they're used to it.

Hitching lifts on the back of open trucks may sound thrilling, but don't expect comfort. Dust, vibration and noise is normal and comes for free. One thing I've learnt, is to never give up crossing countries getting through continents. At times, one does think what the *%#! am I doing here within certain regions. In these moments, grabbing quick snaps to remember those locations, is the least on anyone's mind. Images taken during difficult transit journeys become more appreciated as time passes, especially when waiting days on end for available transport passing by, or when broken down vehicles requiring replacement parts that are days away. Those in a rush having limited time schedules should forget about transiting through the middle of nowhere within the central heartland of Africa. Relying on transport to quickly move from one isolated region to another doesn't exist. This is even more so through midwinter up in Himalayan highland territory with blocked road tracks from one day to the next. Sticking to normal main highway routes on bitumen highways will be preferable for some who are used to comfortable deluxe buses. ​

The most amazing solo overland transit journeys are onboard on the back of trucks through the middle of nowhere.

As the saying goes, never let a ride go to waste, especially within remote regions with little or no available traffic. There are times when only trucks are the only means of transport getting through certain regions. Planning certain journeys through the middle of nowhere can suddenly change direction, or delayed caused by numerous hindrances. Finding the right trucks and drivers, who've driven on the same route consecutively are always safe bets. Hitched lifts onboard trucks has worked for me since the early 80's. Comfort is basic, stops are frequent, noise is high, fumes are normal, breakdowns happen.

Transiting along rough road bush track highways with locals on the back of trucks, or piled inside vans or utility vehicles beats traveling on luxury deluxe buses hands down. Those out there wanting to feel the real experience of overland travel through countries across continents, is with the locals themselves. This puts those to shame, who think they've actually completed extensive overland travel journeys, as a feat using comfy transportation on smooth bitumen tarmac. Maybe in Europe, north America, and other western nations, which I've done countless times, but certainly not crossing Africa, Asia, and South America. Get Real, get off the highways, and clock up some overland travel mileage using basic transport for a number of years, before boosting you've done some real hardcore travel i.e. south east Asia to central Asia, Venezuela to Peru via the Amazon, Somalia to Morocco via the Sahel. In the 2020s, there's more fake travelers than ever before. Don't become one of them, it's embarrassing.

Overland travel hitching lifts, is part and parcel through isolated regions. Hauling along road tracks on the back of pickups through Guyana is only appreciated by those who actually do it. Overland through Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana shouldn't be missed. I wouldn't hesitate repeating a second journey in the reverse direction through this region at a drop of a hat.

Overland travel through South America, is always a blast and a half. Since the late 1980s, I've returned to this vibrant continent numerous times spending minimum of 12 months to 24 months. I normally land in either Buenos Aires, Santiago, or Bogota, and then use different transit routes getting through the continent. Brazil alone no matter how one dissects the country, is impossible to fully complete requiring multiple visits. i.e. Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay from the south. French Guiana, Guyana, and Venezuela from the east. Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia from the west. I've successfully passed through all these border entry points, with the eastern side through to Bolivia being the best overland journey of all of them.   

Getting lost well away from urban sprawl is simple enough. Overland travel and transit through desert regions is satisfying for those looking for total freedom. Using a driver, self-driving, or hitching lifts through to the middle of nowhere becomes addictive. Free camping in the great outdoors for a week, a month or more are those travel journeys always remembered.

Rugged travel journeys still exist through Africa. Traveling on board rough bush buses, on top of trucks, or using your own transport can't be beaten for those looking for real adventurous overland journeys. Getting though Africa, is more complicated than South America and Asia. The presence of different Islamic militia groups running amok through the continent has been constantly ongoing since 2011. Highway banditry, kidnappings, people smuggling, and drug and arms smuggling is rife through the Sahel, central Africa, and the east coast from Somalia to Mozambique. Knowing fresh information of what's happening 500 kilometers away in the direction of travel, is imperative to avoid being caught unawares by these groups. If locals advise not to travel certain routes, take their advice seriously! Use another route, or abort that part of the journey until a later date. Don't be like other dumb westerners ignoring warnings from locals. Some have ended up becoming hostages, raped daily, and used as cash cows extracting cash from their governments. Snitches are your worst enemy. 

Year - 1989 : Highway - PanAmericana : Mode of transport - Tepsa bus & self-driving : Total visits through Peru - 7

Above, the original Pan American highway during the 80's and early 90's though Peru was only a thin strip of tarmac. Larger vehicles barrelling along the highway always had the right of way. It was a time when Tepsa buses had sudden engine failure, and highway bandits were busy. It was the era of real overland travel. It was when most foreigners had used their own brains to look after their stuff, and to think for themselves before the internet and social media drained their brains to pulp - Toxic Poison!

Anyone been through Venezuela lately? I've completed two solo overland journeys through Venezuela (Brazil to Colombia) (Colombia to Brazil) without loss of baggage, photo gear or paying corruption bribes to police and military. It's all about how one looks, communicates, and interacts with people. Speaking Spanish is imperative to hear what's being spoken around you. Venezuela has no karma, you're on your own. Snitches are your worst enemy! Below, solo travel crossing oceans has been around for decades, a recent sunset image captured on board a cargo ship in the central Pacific ocean en-route to South America.

Solo overland travel images like this are worth gold. This was the one and only overland transit route from Nepal to Tibet during the mid 1980s. Just getting a Chinese visa was a mission in itself. You had to know well in advance which embassy was issuing visas allowing entry through the Nepali border. Chinese embassies located in Kathmandu and Delhi were out of the question. Even in the 2020s, planning ahead before crossing international land borders requires the latest information. As always, never leave necessary visas to the last minute. The above snap, taken from the back of an open moving truck using 135 SLR roll film. The transit journey from friendship bridge climbed up through highland forest before reaching the snow line. A pure whiteout soon appeared above the treeline with temps plummeting to minus -25C (windchill -32C). Certainly one of many classic solo overland journeys remembered. Forget about experiencing this rugged narrow gauge road route — It no longer exists, it's well gone replaced with a super wide smooth bitumen belt and road highway.       

Backdoor transit highways through continents, is where simple compositions are found getting shots, just like above. While waiting for lifts, capturing images like this may seem boring at the time, but worth the effort when looking at them months or even years later. For most, the chances of ever returning through the same road routes will probably never eventuate. Best advice — take time to get some snaps.

Above, onboard a cargo vessel central Pacific Ocean. Below, it's rarer than rare to see historical cargo passenger ships from over a century old still afloat sailing fully laden with goods and passengers. The MV Liemba is one exception. This is one three day transit journey not to be missed. Book a cabin bed, or sleep on deck. Personally, this ship journey gets 10/10 for originality and full on local atmosphere.     

The M.V. Liemba puts five star plastic cruise ship holidays to shame. And no, I've never been on tacky cruise ships, not even to Antarctica capturing selfies with penguins. Originally, the Liemba was a WW1 German navy vessel. It was first constructed in Germany, then totally disassembled, packed and shipped to Dar es Salaam. A railroad was constructed across Tanzania to move the sections of ship, including a dry dock at Kigoma port. Above images, sailing on the waters of Lake Tanganyika. I'd do another journey on this classic vessel rich in history without question.

Original port windows and structure design intact. History data records the Germans scuttled the Liemba, and the English resurfaced it. Below, stern side, showing locals being picked up and dropped off by motor boats. The Liemba chugs back and forth to Zambia with the odd port call to Kalemie, DRC.  

Solo Overland Offshore - Beyond Extreme

I carry an original glass tube thermometer when heading to extreme subzero and boiling hot locations measuring temps accurately. Digital temp monitors fail giving false readouts. I manged to find an original 1970's glass temp tube in a medical supply shop in India. It came with its own protective case, so no problems there.   

Overland transit reaching any destination today is relatively straight forward during the summer months. This is when the most isolated places on the planet become subdued, overflowing with happy-selfie snapping tourists. During midwinter, these same isolated regions become more difficult to reach. Heavy snow fall along transit routes cause road closures, slips, rock fall, and avalanches. The most common occurrences is time delays. High altitude cliff edge dirt road tracks can be blocked for days on end. Midwinter subzero temperatures can easily drop to minus -35C  (-27F). These zones are totally deserted with only a small trickle of foreigners wanting to experience freezer type environments. Puerto Williams (Chile), Hindu Kush region (Afghanistan), Spiti and Leh (India), Mustang (Nepal), Oymyakon (Siberia), and Bayan-Olgii (Mongolia) all share the same midwinter climate. Reaching Puerto Williams by boat is an exception. Those looking for total isolation within pristine snow clad landscapes - look no further. The real experience of rugged overland transit to extreme subzero locations to the above destinations will certainly give all these options during peak midwinter.  ​

Escaping to the Himalayan region enjoying real isolation is unmatched. There's not many locations around the planet that have the same ambience above 4000 meters during midwinter. Getting up to this region using overland transportation, is a part of the overland journey. Those who can handle subzero temps, high altitude, rugged transit, and total isolation will certainly enjoy this part of the planet. I've been up here twice, and it's certainly not the last visit. 

Overland Transit - Middle Of Nowhere

Auto Breakdown : No GPS or Cell Signal : Unfamiliar Territory : Road Route Disappeared : No Food Supplies : No Water : No Map

Overland transit journeys across isolated wilderness regions off the bitumen tarmac well away from touristic hot spots is what many daydream about doing today. Escaping in to the beyond has its limitations when GPS and cellphone signals fade away. A healthy operating vehicle with essential spares parts, tools, and ample food and water supplies are necessities in case of sudden breakdowns, and no brainer shortcuts turning into long cuts. Carrying reputable maps of the entire region, and knowing how to use compasses may sound old school, but required, if stuck, lost, and desperate in the middle of nowhere. Australian outback : Namibia desert : Sahara desert : Pakistan midwinter

Forget about driving EV junk through the middle of nowhere period! Until the "EV global revolution" eradicates petroleum fueled engines, gasoline and diesel powered vehicles still remain king for reliable transport where EV charging stations are non-existent. Below, this rough as guts 4WD gasoline powered engine got me to locations without missing a beat.    

Don't rely driving EV junk through the middle of nowhere. Use petroleum powered engines within isolated zones and subzero regions. Gasoline vehicles 10/10 : Diesel engines 10/10 : EV Junk 0/10. 

It's coming, the end of days of fossil fuel all pre-planned by design, by the globalist elite i.e. WEF, IMF, UN, Club of Rome, Bilderberg, Trilateral Commission, Soros, EU, Federal Reserve, Vatican, Bank of International settlements. Together, they have created money out of nothing for decades, created most crises, and used their power for purchasing massive swaths of land, expensive property, and massive gold bullion deposits. They have bought and paid-off most governments to fully control them. The elites 2030 agenda, is on track. By the time gasoline is banned, or reaches $500 USD a barrel, no one will be able to afford the expense traveling overland offshore. Maybe with EVs in your backyard. One things for sure, the elites will still be flying in their luxury jets, partying on super yachts, and driving exotic gasoline vehicles. So much for climate change propaganda yes?
Below, transiting through the middle of nowhere on isolated road routes heading to border crossings, is what overland travel is all about. Transit journeys like this can take days of bump and grind. It's these transit journeys that are remembered.

The great escape up through the Himalaya on rugged highways is nothing new. Driving on high altitude road tracks, like below, requires critical concentration with oncoming traffic. Trucks and bush buses will always have the right of way. Those self-driving their own vehicles or motor bikes will at most times, need to hold back when there's minimal space for larger transport to pass through. Truck drivers will normally give a quick flick of their headlights for oncoming traffic to continue. If caught along a narrow stretch of road, it's the smaller vehicles that will need to reverse backwards until there's room enough space for larger transport to squeeze past. Below, a laden truck making its way through a narrow stretch of cliff edge highway @3900 meters.

Mist, cloud, drizzle and downpours are normal occurrences up at these high altitudes. The image below is a cropped enlargement from the above image showing a truck in transit mode. At times, thick fog shuts down all visibility. On one side of this cliffhanger road route are sheer drops, while the opposite side has ongoing issues with heavy rockfall and landslides. To experience these types of rugged overland journeys, one requires to travel up to the Pakistani, Indian and Nepali highlands just before or after the winter season. 

Rough & Rugged - Do It While You Can!

Going Somewhere Offshore? Get Inspired.

Overland transit is what it is. Some people sleep through journeys while others chit chat and enjoy passing scenery. Main Middle East highways are smoother than glass. I've traveled on numerous routes throughout the region onward to Africa, Asia and Europe. Ensure onward visas issued at consulates for neighboring countries are properly validated and officially signed off.

Background OK, focus OK, take the shot. Capturing images of different people around the world is never ending. There's always someone of interest to photograph. Traveling without camera gear (not smart phone junk), would be like going hunting without a gun, or wearing tee shirts instead of thermal clothing in minus -20C. Don't leave home base without camera gear.

Grabbing on the go snaps during transit journeys is something many don't bother about. As most browsing through this website, I've spent more time with my head out of windows capturing on the go snaps on board bush buses, vans, trains, ships and on the back of trucks. Although the majority of images are subpar, they'll still hold their value for years to come. I will normally use point and shoots rather than using DSLR gear grabbing on the go transit snaps. This is one of the main reasons I travel with a point and shoot - to capture all those don't care crappy snaps.

Solo overland transit journeys on board bush buses have their own unique atmosphere from one bush bus to the next. Some of the best transit journeys I've personally enjoyed, are on board all those slow bush buses taking days to complete. Without doubt, the numerous overland routes coast to coast through Africa and South America are inspirational journey routes impossible to beat. Rugged transit journeys haven't at all changed through the Indian, Nepali and Pakistan Himalaya. One can still ride on top of bush buses in certain regions, although this solely depends from driver to driver. It's also at your own risk and peril riding on top of bush buses and bush train roofs during transit journeys. People through the past have slipped and fallen suffering extensive injuries and death.

Some bush buses in certain countries haven't changed one bit through the decades. They still remain as transit icons having basic seating, jammed and rattling windows, smelly aromas, dust filled cabins, and smokey diesel engines driven at peak revs with no mercy. I still get that same feel good experience today as it was during the '80s and '90s. The longer the journey in bush buses the better the experience becomes. Best bush bus journeys - Central Asia, India, Venezuela, Cuba, Central Africa. As mentioned a few times, traveling on deluxe buses is boring. Bush bus Rating 10/10    

Solo overland travel and transit journeys crossing through continents begin to kick in when highways become narrow lane ways that eventually turn into bull dust rough as guts road tracks. You know when you reach them. There's no turning back, especially when half way across the central African heartland, or through the Himalayan highlands en-route towards the Middle East. Any transportation available becomes reality, hitching lifts on the back of trucks through the middle of nowhere fulfills unfinished dreams. Time becomes unimportant.
These are the exact solo overland journeys experiences never forgotten. Personally, the Moroccan, Egyptian, Nigerian and South African coast to coast are among the best rugged solo journeys left on the planet. Do them, enjoy the journey and don't look back.

Overland Transit - Rough Rugged Bush Buses

Bush buses are what they are. No frills transportation getting from one location to another. They are sometimes disliked, but in general regarded as the only reliable carriers getting across countries through the middle of nowhere along back road routes well away from bitumen tarmac.

One of my first experiences using rugged worn-out bush buses dates back to the early 1980s. Syria, Iraq and most of central Asia had their own unique designed bush buses. Regarded by locals as highway workhorses, bush buses are driven without mercy day in day out, year after year until falling apart beyond repair. South America had its fair share of bush buses as well. The continent was a dumping ground of used worn out US greyhound buses. There was nothing like the sound of smokey Jimmy supercharged two stroke diesel V8s screaming their lungs out at full power driven by Peruvians. African bush buses through the continent haven't changed much either. They're still being used for daily transportation in isolated rural regions. Some bush bus operators allow travel on the roof of buses. Although, with Less comfort, but who's complaining. On long non-tarmac journeys, it's best to avoid sitting on rooftops directly above the rear wheels, unless you don't mind locals climbing over stuff, and numbed bum from rigid suspension.

Westerners have a habit of traveling together using super deluxe buses. It's more than likely they travel reading the same travel guide book. In most cases where there's no deluxe transportation, anything with wheels on it does the job. Some eventually do find out through their travel journeys, bush buses become a favorite mode of local transport. The mixed atmosphere of different locals, the grubby interior, the non stop rattle and vibration inside smoky filled bush buses are positive bonuses.

Buses, no matter the design or model do catch on fire. It can be the result of electrical faults or fuel issues. I normally book rear window seats, and ensure the window actually fully opens. I've encountered a few close calls bailing out of bus windows. This is something that happens unexpectedly without warning. Below, typical bush bus atmosphere traveling through Ethiopia.    

Forget boring deluxe buses, journeys onboard bush buses have real atmosphere. Below, in the middle of nowhere at an isolated crossroad junction. It's times like this to stretch, take a walk, have a leak, drop a load, snack on food scraps, and grab a few snaps. ​

Forget deluxe buses, they're boring bitumen highway floaters making passengers doze off through the entire journey. To experience the real Africa, or through central Asia, use whatever basic transportation there's available instead. I can still remember all those rough rugged bush bus journeys back to '82. Bush bus windows are either wide open or don't exist. One can stick their heads out of windows grabbing transit snaps all day long. The ease of climbing on top of roofs enjoying wide open views through the middle of nowhere is pure old fashion travel. Pounding along dirt road highways with the wind blowing in your face, holding cameras capturing anything of interest en-route is virtually unbeatable. Try it, you'll never want to travel on deluxe floaters ever again. They don't exist anyway through backwater road routes.  

Are you looking for real wild travel adventure? Bush bus transit journeys throughout the African continent will do it i.e. basic comfort, crazy drivers, dirt track highways, red zone routes, Rabat to Cape Town, Djibouti to Dakar, Alexandria to Lagos, Algiers to Kampala, Kinshasa to Addis. The usual bush bus breakdowns happen when least expected. Diffs explode, axles break, leaf springs shatter, clutches fail and engines seize. I've experienced all the previous issues through the continents dating back to the early '80s. Waiting, repair time or replacement transport can take an hour to two or three days. Traveling with backup food supplies and water is essential within certain regions. Below, blown out tire with no spare in the middle of nowhere.  

Below, typical overland transit snap on the go. Those out there who avoid using bush buses through Africa and central Asia have totally missed out experiencing the real travel vibe and habits with locals. Next time when in Africa, or within isolated regions through central Asia, forget using deluxe transport. Bush bus travel coast to coast no matter the continent wins hands down every time. Even in south east Asia, local bush buses are vibrant, fully packed out with people that one never sees traveling on expensive deluxe buses. Part of the whole offshore travel journey, is to mix and mingle with locals. Using Bush buses give that atmosphere.     

Offshore Travel - Full Frame DSLRs

Those struggling to capture simple snaps like the above traveling offshore shouldn't waste time using photo gear — Use smartphones instead. 

A quick backward snap onboard a rattling vibrating rickshaw full throttle down the highway. Those who think full frame DSLR cameras are nothing but junk from the past are welcome to spend time with me doing a few full on days of street photography to show the exact opposite.

Random street photography is what most foreigners do offshore. We're certainly not talking about dreaded selfie snaps  to satisfy their personal addictive dopamine fix on social media platforms. Selfies are worthless compared to what can be randomly captured on the streets through continents. Avoid being a smart phone traveler - It's embarrassing.

Whatever overland travel direction one chooses, the choice of using real cameras and a few lenses will become self-satisfying with positive amounts of street images. They say location is everything. This also applies with what camera gear one travels with and uses.​

Distant and up close random street snaps of local subjects is what a major part of street photography is all about. Avoid becoming like the many yuppie travelers you see offshore today clinging on smartphones. Sounds harsh, but the reality out there is real. We now have a generation of wannabe fake smartphone snappers. A narcissistic selfie social media generation of all time. I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings, if so grab a hanky.

Full frame DSLR fixed prime lenses are superior than smart phone cameras for rapid fast closeup travel snaps. Those wanting to capture satisfying images consecutively through their travel journeys should use real camera gear. You only have yourself to blame, if relying on using junky smartphone cameras. Smartphone cameras are nothing more than wannabe cameras.      

Take some good advice, travel overland through countries using real photo camera gear. Full frame DSLRs, Mirrorless, 4/3 cameras, and high end point and shoots will capture images like this. Don't be like others when they find out months later, their still images look like shit, because they used smartphones instead. Use smart phones for what they good for - closeup of animals in zoos, pet dogs and cats and Selfies.  

Where are the best locations to capture images offshore? Anywhere where there's minimal foreign tourists, and well away from tourist locations. You know, all those trendy sidewalk cafes where tourists gather, and certainly well away from white sandy tourist beach zones. These two examples are proof of that, not one smart phone selfie traveler in sight. If you're anything like myself looking for real time street image captures - Use full frame cameras with prime lenses and head to the edge of cities and towns.

On the go overland random transit snaps hold their value for years, especially all those quick snaps taken en-route through the middle of nowhere. Images like this, are the complete opposite seen through fluffy travel blogger websites. The real world of solo overland travel is, dust, grime, bull dust road tracks, unexpected detours and deviations, breakdowns, without showering for days on end. The central African heartland and central Asian highlands are waiting for you.

Street snap western Thailand. Food supplies loaded to the hilt onboard local transport ready to go. Imagine an EV carrying the same load week after week, month after month? It wouldn't last! Diesel and gasoline engines just keep on going — the below transport vehicle proves that.

Solo Overland Travel - Street Still Camera Gear

Street portraits, tribal images, cultural and wildlife captures never lose their value wherever they're hung. Imagine having your own photo exhibition promoted and displayed in art galleries, or selling canvas prints of your images online. Smartphone and point and shoots maybe easier lightweights  to carry around. Full frame DSLR gear will out perform and guarantee satisfaction, including function and reliability in the middle of nowhere. Above, in the 2020s, I'm still capturing daylight street still snaps with the above D3 and zoom lenses.

Going to South America? Travel with some real camera gear i.e. DSLR full frame body, fixed primes and zoom lenses

Above, en-route through sweaty humid environments from Belem to Pucallpa. The Amazon region is well known for its high humidity levels. The Nikon AFS 14-24mm f/2.8G captured some great shots through this region. The same lens is still being used in the 2020s. Within hot humid regions, it's best to avoid keeping camera gear in air conditioned rooms at minimum temperature levels. Lenses will instantly fog up when taken outside. Lenses require time to acclimatize. One of the main issues, are dust specks that have accumulated inside lenses over time. Humid dampness in contact with dust particles on lens optics will result to full blown fungus within a short time period. I've witnessed this on many occasions through the continents with other foreigner's camera lenses. Some don't even realize, until showing them using a torch light revealing fungus spores spreading across on their lens glass. Is it worth it traveling with real camera gear? You betcha! Only idiots travel offshore relying on smartphones capturing images. Don't be one of them.     

Above, full frame DSLR photo gear that has been used through the continents since 2010, and still being used in 2022 offshore. There have been no issues or any defects or damage after completing thousands upon thousands of overland travel and transit mileage on board bush buses, desert sand taxis, and hitched lifts. Nothing beats the reliability of good product designs. Even though the above camera gear is getting old in the tooth, it still works and captures images flawlessly.       

The decision to travel with full frame DSLR camera-gear is a personal choice. Many have regretted not using DSLR gear through their overland travel journeys. It comes down to how motivated one is, if in fact the weight of full frame DSLRs with a couple of lenses is worth the extra weight and effort to carry around. Those pursuing a selection of canvas prints from their journeys spread across lounge walls know the value of full frame DSLR photo-gear.

Offshore, one doesn't require to travel days on end to capture images like these examples. Asking locals where the nearest wetlands are located is a good start. We're not talking about zoos with caged up animals here. Birds and wildlife are best spotted during early morning walks usually found gathered wherever there's water. The only items one requires is camera gear. 

Normally, capturing bird life is best when the migratory season begins in the colder months throughout the continents.  

Above, a typical looking scene on the verge of dense African bush land. This is seen throughout the African heartland coast to coast from central to southern Africa. Those game enough to wander off in to dense bush land on their own or with others do it at there own risk and peril. Getting attacked by big cats and other wildlife happens, just ask the locals in DRC, Cameroon, South Sudan and Zambia. Capturing long shots within regions like this, is best done with full frame DSLR cameras with powerful prime and zoom lenses i.e. Nikon D3/4/4S/5, Nikon 400-800mm lenses. 

So, you've just arrived to an isolated location with tree tops overflowing with eagles, but only have a smartphone, or point and shoot to take shots. Some will say - No Problem, just move in closer to capture subjects. Note — This never works in real time, believe me. As soon as one moves in closer reaching a certain point, eagles won't hang around for long. They will quickly take flight. Even if there were possibilities to edge in closer, the ground angle to eagle height elevation becomes an issue.

Since the early 1980s, I've traveled offshore using photo gear, 40 years later nothing's changed.

Do I still use full frame DSLR camera gear in the 2020s? Sure do, and will continue using full frame DSLR gear until the need of replacing something if required. As long as replacement batteries are available, my full frame DSLR photo gear will be still capturing images for many more years yet. I'm the opposite of couch megapixel You Tube idiots. I'm out there offshore doing street photography using what ever DSLR gear I'm using within subzero and scorching heat regions.
Do I use mirrorless cameras? Only a lightweight Sony for random location shots and on the go snaps during transit journeys. Even though the Sony is 20MP, the camera has issues with grain and blurred image captures unless using auto-flash. Give me a full frame DSLR and prime lens any day.

At times, location snaps using photo gear like above can be difficult if there's no one close by at the time to get the shot. This image was captured with a junky smart phone by a local which is better than nothing. Interacting with subjects first capturing closeup portraits, and then showing the image capture of them is always appreciated. A Nikon D3 and 85 prime lens was being used.

Those traveling overland offshore with no camera gear, not even with point and shoots, will no doubt regret that poor decision a few years later down the road. Previous overland travel images become more appreciated as time passes. This small website is verification of just that showing diverse selections of images spanning over four decades. Without using photo gear, this website wouldn't exist in it's current form. Below, if your camera gear still works and functions the way it should, why replace it?

Street still photography doesn't require the latest trending camera gear. All that's needed are lenses and camera bodies capable of capturing subject matter at any given location. Using old school photo gear can be cumbersome for those born in the overwhelming user friendly mirrorless smartphone age. The below 2007 Nikon DSLR D3 and 1986 800mm 5.6 ED AIS, are two old school combinations still being used in the 2020s with positive results. Rushing out spending a ton of cash on the latest camera gear doesn't make anyone better street still photographers. Good quality full frame still photography photo gear peaked in 2015. The majority of camera users in the 2020s are more interested in video, some traveling only with super lightweight smartphones instead. Everything designed today must be fast, rapid, lightweight, with must have 500 megapixel sensors.            

Just trying to spot salt water swamp tigers within their habitat can be an impossible task. The above 1986 Nikkor 800 5.6 AIS lens captured the below shot (enlarged crop) from distance with a 2012 D800 body in manual mode. Something point and shoots and smartphone junk struggle to do — no matter the brand name. This 37 year old 5.5 kg prime lens captured the shot in 2023 — how about that?

Overland Transit - Somalia

Bush buses - Yes : Road block check points - Southern region : Aggressive interaction - Required : Snitches & Watchers - Plenty

This is one country that will test anyone's patience. I wouldn't recommend anyone with poor interaction skills to transit through Somalia. Aggressive interaction sounds harsh, but required outside Mogadishu. Somalia is also riddled with no-go zones, Red Zones, and plenty of negative lectures if you're American. Street snap photography is tricky. Most locals ate watching your every move. Walking around exposing cameras can cause incitement within a very short time period from certain triggered locals.
Don't point lenses at women unless granted to do so first. Without getting into great detail, I encountered some issues when purchasing a goat at a local market with a Yemeni. Getting stones pelted at the car from a maddening crowd, and having to force shut the car door on someones foot trying to wedge it open, including the rattle of someone with an AK-47 dispersing crazy locals was insane over the price of a battered goat! Let's just say, I've passed through Somalia once, and don't have any future plans to return. Somali-land further north has a friendlier atmosphere. Crossing into Djibouti through the Loyada border post onboard rough hacked out 4WDs is an experience. Transiting through southern Somalia towards the Kenyan border is entirely at your own risk, if permission is granted to do so by local authorities at  roadblock check points.

A brief history of Somalia. The civil war has exposed the old roots of slavery and division through the country. The Somali Bantu are made up of diverse groups, the Shambara Mushunguli, Shidle, Gobaweyn, Makanne and Shabelle. Some of these groups have lived in Somalia for centuries as farmers based along the rivers, and adopted the culture of the surrounding Somalis. The Somali Bantu groups are united primarily, because of the racial discrimination they all face within Somalia. Somalis will not intermarry with Somali Bantus, and some will not even eat with them or enter their dwellings. During the civil war, Somali Bantus were one of the most vulnerable groups and suffered horrific atrocities at the hands of Islamic militias and criminal gangs.
The Bantus, or Jareerwayne as they prefer to call themselves, have different physical appearances. They share negroid features of curly hair and broad noses, unlike ethnic Somalis, who have Caucasoid features. Bantu ancestors were brought to Somalia from Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique, as slaves more than 400 years ago, mostly to toil on the fertile lands along the Shabelle and Juba rivers.
Bantu groups are second-class citizens with no rights. They have never had a jarerwayne become a president, a parliament speaker, a prime minister, an army general, or even an ambassador. In Somalia, the color of skin is not important, it's the ancestry and bloodlines of people. The Somalis of Arab descent call their brethren tiimo jereer - hard hairs (addoon -slave). That is what many Bantu groups were a century ago. It's now a repeat of that, since the civil war destroyed what little protection the Bantu had left.
The Majeerteen Clan are members of the Arab Darood family with soft hair and straight noses, who hold power and control over those with hard curls of African decent. It's worth mentioning that Ilhan Omar's Arab tribe - the Majeerteen Clan are responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Bantus and for stealing their land.

Solo Overland Travel - Untamed World

One normally won't find images like above on trendy travel blog sites, because it doesn't fit the narrative of travel blissfulness. The fact is, the world is cruel with most westerners off-shore ignoring real time reality of what's happening around them. Call it plain ignorance, or narcissism. The real world of survival certainly doesn't concern those who travel blind with eyes wide open. Today, it's all about self, and no-one else. Drink, party hard out, feed the hunger pains, grab some selfies, post to social media, and ignore what's happening just around the corner, as long as it doesn't bother or disrupt that getaway holiday - Right? Those who haven't as yet clocked up any overland travel & transit mileage through continents, will eventually experience some form of visual reality that may trigger their brains to wake itself up realizing  life is a gift.
Well seasoned western solo overland travelers usually know where the red line limits are, or do find out quick enough adverting conflict and injury offshore. Today, it's even more important to understand the untamed rule of law within regions carrying their own jurisdiction punishments. Westerners poking their noses around asking too many questions within certain territories off the beaten track should be aware of the risks involved. Local conflicts vary from the result of narco production, bribe pay-offs, smuggling, religious in-fighting, gangland warfare, or other chaotic rebellion. Westerners who push the boundaries beyond their tourist limitations are only asking for trouble. Locals caught up in conflicts  end-up like in these images.

I've learnt not to bother asking too many questions in sensitive zones. Westerners who ask too many questions, or openly reveal themselves as media photographers, journalists, or blog reporters crossing the red line in any "territories of conflict" run the risk of ending-up the same way. It only takes to be spotted together with certain locals who maybe already under surveillance. It's safer for fresh untraveled millennial and Gen Z westerners to enjoy their travel adventures within designated safe-zones, rather than becoming a wasted statistic.

There are the usual locations where hashish is readily available for local supply. Afghani hashish and hash oil have been known as the number one top grade product for decades. Moroccan, Lebanese and Nepali hashish come in close seconds. As of 2021, cultivation of hashish, smoking hashish, even smoking cigarettes in Afghanistan is now banned by the Taliban. No, I don't smoke or use drugs, not even plain old grass, but I have reached isolated locations where various soft and hard drugs are cultivated in different regions in South America, Africa and central Asia. Image website thieves have a habit of using these types of images for their social media audience. They are usually couch potato wannabes that wouldn't have a clue how to find themselves out of a paper bag. Do yourself a favor, travel with your own camera gear to the same isolated locations and take your own images. Don't use my images for your social media dopamine addiction.     

Overland Transit - Close Calls

They say one can be killed by just walking across the road, or choking to death from their own vomit, which does happen to those ignoring simple judgment and self discipline. Overland travel and transit offshore automatically increases the risk factor of hidden dangers that lay in waiting, and is out of anyone's control or self doing. Through the decades, I've personally had some close calls in South America, Mid East, and Africa. The first instance of being sporadically shot at was on a Peruvian Tepsa bus during the night in the 80's. A bullet projectile had just missed my head by a few inches. In South Africa, a mafia style street hit job had ammo projectiles flying in all directions. In Colombia, a single round was fired into a busy restaurant. They also say when your time is up, it's up, and there's nothing that can be done to avoid it. Some call it fate, others call it just bad luck. I've been fortunate offshore, let's see what the 2020s have in store, I'm still out there.      

Above, en-route to Jaffna, this 4WD suddenly lost control by a rear end issue causing the vehicle to veer off striking a pole. It was better hitting a pole rather than head on with a truck or ending over a cliff.
High speed, blown-out tires and overweight laden vehicles with insufficient braking power are the main causes of highway accidents. Foreigners are badly injured or killed across the planet, as passengers traveling on local transport in other countries. Placing one's trust into someone else's hands driving like maniacs does occur without any consideration for passengers. The risk increases and multiplies in countries with zero highway police control where drivers ignore public safety. Crazy drivers on speed steroids are one of the main causes for accidents. Trucks overloaded heading down hill missing a gear change, or running out of brakes is a close second. Buses running over the edge of cliff faces down into ravines happens frequently in Peru, Bolivia, Nepal, India, and Turkey. The Philippines and Indonesia have a bad history record with ferryboats, either burning, sinking or colliding. Foreigners are killed in accidents all the time, even walking down the street, one can be run over and squashed by some lunatic that's in a rush for no apparent reason.
The image below left, shows morgue vans picking up the leftovers of 12 passengers from a mini van. The vehicle had blown a front tire which caused it to cross the medium and collide head-on into a fully laden truck coming in the other direction. All twelve passengers including the driver were minced to bits. Drunk driving, or under the influence of drugs, or unsecured loads are other causes of road death fatalities.
​In India, train derailments happen from time to time. Nepal, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Peru are well known for tragic bus accidents that are either head-on or veering over the sides of cliffs and ravines. Indonesia has crazy accidents around the clock. South Africa has tragic highway accidents every week. You require when driving to be alert and defensive within seconds or end up in body bags.

Western Anti-Smokers - Offshore

Anti-smokers from western countries traveling through Asia, Africa, the Mid East and South America will abruptly find out that draconian western smoking rules and regulations are null and void. Those who don't smoke will find they have no choice, but to put up with locals smoking in public areas. Although some cities like Nairobi and Singapore do have restrictive public smoking rules. Locals from all walks of life. like above, do enjoy their daily tobacco intake. If this is an issue, then just wait until boarding smokey fumed diesel bush buses, or walking through bustling cities full of two stroke motorcycles. One can either enjoy the local vibe, or just stay home in their basements.

Angkor Wat advertising on local National cigarette packets. A carton of these retail for approximately five bucks. Disclaimer warning - cigarettes are bad for your health, including meth smoking, ice, crack, cocaine, hashish, LSD, acid, heroin, opium, fentanyl, MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly, Amphetamines, Speed and excessive alcohol.

Western anti-smokers traveling in the Real World are more likely interested in their own fetish addictions, like devouring volumes of fatty foods when they're actually not hungry. Many Western foreigners I've seen offshore are overweight, some plain fat, others obese. Anti-smoking Westerners should first take a quick look in the mirror before judging addictions of others i.e. meth smoking, ice, crack, cocaine, hashish, LSD, acid, heroin, opium, fentanyl, MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly, Amphetamines, Speed, excessive alcohol consumption.       

A large part of western foreigners traveling offshore are into party fetish culture i.e. full moon beach parties, mountain acid hikes, amazonian witch doctor juice, and hotel room drug get-togethers etc. Drug usage is common practice with the offshore experience. Westerners dabbling in drugs offshore, is at their own risk and peril i.e. getting busted, getting fined and deported, getting robbed, taking selfies while under the influence of drugs on edge of high cliffs, waterfalls, skyscrapers, and on top of trains.      

Through the decades offshore, I've met loads of western nationals who can't stand smokers. Mostly Americans, although Ironically, they become hypocrites who wouldn't hesitate lighting up sharing spliffs, joints and using bongs, purchasing weed and hashish, snorting cocaine, smoking meth, and boozing up at full moon beach parties till they drop. The western liberal mindset is obviously flawed.

Below, a street image capture using a Nikon DSLR D3S and prime lens.

Indigenous locals within isolated tribal regions do enjoy their daily smoking habits. Westerners who dislike smokers should bypass these regions if smoking triggers them. There are plenty of non-smoking locations one can instead visit i.e. other Western nations. Actually, anti-smoking Westerners should be more concerned about what vaccinations and booster jabs they get. Adverse events, stroke, heart attacks, and sudden deaths have increased beyond all historical records since early 2021. What's causing all these deaths? It's certainly not the flue. The flue completely vanished off the face of the planet in 2020-21. How ironic and coincidental could that be?     

Women casually smoking local made cigarettes. The local in the top left has enjoyed smoking since the 1950s.  

Old timers kicking habits, an impossible task for some — locally made tobacco leaf.

Some start their day off smoking joints, inhaling meth, and snorting cocaine — a local enjoying natural tobacco leaf intake.

Top left, black & white F2 SLR roll film snap taken in the 1980s. Top right, chillum smoking taken with a Nikon D3. 

Below, 90+ year old local smoking her own homemade herbs. She's been puffing on the same weed for decades.

So, all you woke westerners out there complaining about tobacco smokers should first do a self-check on your own personal habits. 1) do you snort cocaine? 2) Do you consume cannabis, weed or hashish? 3) Do you take MDMA, meth, ice or crack? 4) Do you inject heroin? 5) Do you take stimulants or amphetamines? 6) Do you take psychedelic hallucinogenic substances? 7) Do you take morphine or opium? Do you consume large amounts of alcohol offshore? Enough said.     

Yes, smoking is a health hazard like any other drug legal or non-legal put into the body. Do you think these two 90+ year olds careless? They made it to this age where as an increase in young healthy people have been dropping like flies from sudden death since 2021.  Now what is the direct cause of that? Let's say it out loud — 21st century Pharmakia Jab Juice

Random street snaps taken with a 2007 Nikon D3. The same dinosaur full frame body is still being used in the 2020s. Until the D3 gives up operating (shutter failure), it will keep doing what it was bought for years ago — street stills.

Home grown tobacco, backyard made hookha shisha pipes — street images Asia 

Below, when lighters run out of gas, or matches unavailable, a classic manual press heat sink does the job firing up cigarettes.

Like most consumable products in the world today, added toxic chemicals come for free. Tobacco companies tainted their brands with numerous additives harmful to health. In the 2020s, wise smokers home grow their own organic tobacco. Disclaimer note - this is not an advertisement promoting tobacco.

Below, random street still captured with my favorite DSLR body, the D3, with an 85mm 1.4 prime @f/2.5, 1000 sec. 

Overland Transit - Bangladesh

Choose any transport that has an engine - It will get you through Bangladesh - Do it in Winter!

Slow riverboat transport using deck class up the delta to Tripura, or Meghalaya in north east India is an incredible journey of perseverance during the peak of monsoon season. It's not for the faint hearted with most rivers through Bangladesh in full flood. The best season to transit through Bangladesh begins from November through to March. Bangladeshi locals are friendly and helpful and will go out of their way to assist foreign visitors if required. The above image was captured on board the Rocket ferry en-route from Barisol to Dhaka.

Rocket ferry riverboat docked at Dhaka port, if you haven't traveled on them, do it before they're scrapped.

Those who've done years, decades of solo overland travel will have collections of classic snaps if they used some form of photo gear to capture their shots. Old era travel images are easily converted to digital using original negatives to get maximum quality, but quick scans from rustic photos like below are good enough for websites. Image - Dhaka central hustle and bustle SLR 1980s.   Bangladesh Ezilon map

Blast from the past, overland journey Indonesia to Turkey, hustle and bustle Dhaka 1980s.

Overland through Bangladesh using public transport in the cold season to India is straight forward. Major bus companies operate from Dhaka to Kolkata everyday via the Benapole border. If traveling east towards Myanmar, the easiest route, is via the northern border to Assam, and then transiting through Manipur state to the Imphal/Tamu border crossing. Since 2021, all foreigners now require to fly into Manipur state within India. The only exception is the Tamu border entry from Mynmar. A double/triple entry Indian visa is necessary crossing borders to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Direct overland transit route Bangladesh - India to Kolkata, bus, train, truck, van, motorbike, hitchhike.

Hitching lifts on board trucks is best at international border crossings and at gas stations. This works anywhere throughout the Real World i.e. all of Asia, Africa, Middle East and South America. Some of my best overland transit journeys since '82 have been on board trucks solo with the driver, or on the back of trucks sharing space with others.

What has Bangladesh to offer? Vibrant, bustling, colorful images waiting to be captured. Random street photography anywhere through Bangladesh will keep you busy - make sure your camera battery is fully charged and carry a spare just in case. Bangladesh still remains a photographic paradise. DSLR or quality mirrorless cameras is a must have asset traveling through this country.

Overland South East Asia - Travel Snaps

Snaps taken using different cameras. The top left with a point and shoot rangefinder, top right, a DSLR full frame D3S & Zoom AFS, and below, a D3 and 35 f/1.4 AI 1977-81 prime lens. When viewing all three images @300 dpi high res, the D3S & D3 snaps are winners with minimal grain. One thing I've learnt with global travel in the last decade.  Don't leave home base relying on crappy smartphone cameras to capture satisfying images. DSLR cameras, fixed primes and zoom lenses work.  

Below, an oldie blast from the past, during the 1980s overland travel Era. You'll be scratching to find dusty windblown locations like below in the 2020s — they rarely exist anymore. We read-off maps, cooked our own food, boiled our own coffee and tea, slept on the side of streets, pitched our own tents, and used some of the roughest transportation getting through continents. Imagine placing yuppie flight babies from this decade back in time 35 years without Google maps or internet, no wifi or bluetooth, no social media, onboard rough bush buses, and using roll film cameras — they wouldn't handle it  

Below, Asian highlands night sky snap @4300 meters using semi-pro DSLR camera gear. An up market point and shoot failed to get the same shot. An iPhone totally failed to get the same shot. Use real photo gear traveling offshore!  

Overland Transit - East Africa

Tanzanian buses are thrashed without mercy - Blown diffs and suspensions are a part of the Journey! 

Dirt road tracks are scattered throughout Tanzania. This particular bus was en-route from Mbeya heading north up country via a short cut that ended up becoming a long-cut. The driver had his foot to the floor when the rear spring leaf shackles let go. The bush mechanic repairs using a large sledge hammer, crowbar, and other make-shift tools got the bus up and running again, but at a slower pace.  It's probably not the first time this has happened along this 200km short-cut bush track highway, and certainly not the last breakdown that will happen. This is just a part of a usual day to day scenario that can occur anywhere anytime within the interior of Africa transiting on board local transport.

  In Transit - On The Edge Of Cliffs

Cliff top road transit routes reaching destinations - Acrophobia has no place here!​

Transiting along half way up the sides of cliffs and mountains with no safety barriers will keep most on the edge of their seats. Getting though in one piece without going over the edge solely depends on the driver, speed and vehicle maintenance. What one has to ask before boarding local bush buses, is if they're feeling lucky. Below links are a tiny fraction of tragic accidents of buses and mini vans plunging over cliffs. The most dangerous high altitude road routes still active are in Nepal and India. 

India Bus plunge  :  India Bus plunge  :  Peru Bus plunge  :  Nepal Bus plunge  :  Bolivia Bus plunge  :  Bolivia Bus plunge  :  Pakistan Minibus plunge  :  China Bus plunge  :  Colombia Bus plunge  :  Brazil Bus plunge  :  Peru Bus plunge  :  Philippines Bus plunge  :  Peru Mini Bus plunge  :  Turkey Bus plunge  :  India Bus plunge  :  India Bus plunge  :  Kenya bus plunge  :  Philippines Bus plunge  :  Nepal Bus plunge

Some hardcore transit journeys through the Andes, Hindu Kush, and Himalaya is extreme with some dirt tracks chiselled out from cliff top faces having 800+ meter sheer drops within a cat's whisker from the edge. There's no room for onward traffic to slide past each other making it dangerous when drivers try to out maneuver each other without plummeting over the side. Fatalities happen all the time along high altitude transit dirt road routes with drivers playing Russian roulette with death. Speed, lack of brakes and miscalculating track erosion are the usual issues. Risks are even greater on bush tracks through the the wet season. Landslides and flash floods are common, but then if it's the only cliff track route to get through, cross your fingers, and hope the driver isn't a speed freak, and whatever vehicle is driven has some brakes.

Solo Overland Transit - Rugged Journeys

Anyone that has managed to have done the hard yards transiting through Tibet onboard local bush buses and on the back of trucks during midwinter know how bitterly cold it gets. The high elevation level with the wind chill factored in equals or surpasses Alaskan winters. Those wanting to push the limits of their travel journeys experiencing extreme isolated regions have plenty of options. Tibet at the peak of winter, or across Mongolia, Siberia, Patagonia, Saudi Arabia, central Sahara, or through the Hindu Kush all have extreme equals of bitterly subzero or boiling hot climates.

Overland Travel - Sea Ports & Fish Markets

Going with fishing vessels begins here.

If you like servings of fish and seafood, a visit to any of the major fish markets scattered through the continents is something worth doing. This is also a great location for street photographers to capture fresh boat loads of fish into the hands of sorters. Port side docks, is where you can individually head on ocean going vessels with fisherman for a week or two. Speaking directly with the captain is required.

The opportunities of grabbing vivid snaps of fishermen, laborers and sellers are plentiful during most mornings. One can even purchase their own supply of fish for afternoon dinner. Some favorite fish markets visited, Porto Alegre, Mumbai, Tokyo, Mombasa, Seoul, Dar Salaam, Porto Montt, Yangon, Muscat, Lagos.

Overland Transit - Ethiopia

Thumping along dirt track highways through the backwaters of Ethiopia.

It's hard beating the hustle and bustle of basic Ethiopian transportation. The competition between rival bus companies is fierce, including private minivan operators. Road infrastructure is minimal off bitumen highways, instead trucks are used as passenger transport. Toyota hi-ace vans are used throughout Ethiopia's main backbone infrastructure, connecting local villages together. The comfort of grabbing a seat is only guaranteed at the origin of transit. Bush transit through Ethiopia, is anything with engines and wheels. In some regions the only way of reaching isolated locations, is by jumping on board anything moving in the intended direction. Traveling onboard Ethiopian bush buses compared to boring deluxe buses is significant. Bush buses have open windows and vibrant low budget local atmosphere. 

Ethiopian overland transit routes through the country haven't changed in centuries. Major highways are layered in thick bitumen asphalt through to the Sudanese and Kenyan borders. Entering Ethiopia overland from the southern border can be either at Moyale or Omorate. Applying for Ethiopian visas anywhere south of the country is difficult unless an African citizen, or a foreign resident with working visas. Applying for Ethiopian visas in South Sudan was problematic (I've tried). It will depend on the day when applying, if the Consular officer is in a good mood granting one. Friday is always the best day applying for visas anywhere around the planet. The Ethiopian Embassies in North Sudan and Egypt issue 3 month visas within 24 hours. The route into northern Somalia to Djibouti, and onward into Eritrea is open as long as the appropriate visas have already been issued. Applying for Sudanese visas in Addis is time consuming for some foreign nationals. It's much easier to receive Sudanese visas in Aswan, Egypt or in Kampala, Uganda. Now with the new peace initiatives between Ethiopia, Kenya and Eritrea, border crossings will become normalized as entry points in either direction. Things change in short time periods, check the latest data for manual and online e Visas directly from Ethiopian government sources.

The Ethiopian government had previously contracted major highway construction to China. They gave them the boot and decided to use their own ingenuity and local labor force to construct highways themselves. The image above, a completion of a brand new laid tarmac smoother than glass in central Ethiopia. Major highways throughout Ethiopia are in excellent condition, until deviating off them, which then turns into dusty grinding bush tracks. Local transportation is plentiful everywhere with choices of vans, bush buses, luxury buses and trucks. I've hitchhiked a few times in Ethiopia without any issues. Hanging out at crossroads out of towns, and gas stations will usually give positive results in a couple of hours. Ethiopian bush track highways will reward you with endless amounts of bull dust all day non-stop. The best experiences traveling through Ethiopia are onboard basic bush buses. Super deluxe buses are more then boring having less local vibe. It may take longer reaching destinations, but what's the rush? Open windows, dust in your face, blown out tires, broken down engines, blaring music in packed out bush buses is overland travel.

Random street photography through Ethiopia is excellent, my second favorite country overall for diverse photography with only India surpassing it. The local below, a Coptic Christian from the far north was captured from 20+ meters using full frame DSLR photo gear. She is heavily covered in traditional tattoos seen on the face, throat neck and chest.

Overland Transit - Pakistan

 If dust isn't enough the heat will be - Transiting on bus rooftops is way to go - Try it!

Apart from several Chinese made main transit highways, backwater transit routes through Pakistan remain the same. Hiring, purchasing, and driving your own 4WD to get around the country is optional. Driving around after dark in Pakistan is asking for trouble. Permits, papers, and visa/visa extensions should be in order. Image snap taken in tribal territory.  

4WD : Deluxe Bus : Bush Bus : Train : Truck : Hitchhike -  Quetta : Peshawar :  Swat Valley : Islamabad : Lahore : Karakorum.

If there's one country that rattles your bones to bits in transit - it's Pakistan. The corrugated dirt roads filled with pot holes aren't avoidable within the interior off-bitumen tarmac. On short journeys less than a day is bearable, especially for any fragile contents in baggage bouncing around all day. This also depends which transport is chosen if in-fact there's a choice at all. Isolated rural transport is rough as it gets with dust and vibration being a part of any journey. Speed isn't an issue, but breakdowns happen, and will really test one's karma to the limits. Deluxe buses only run on bitumen highways, and non-existent anywhere else. I've traveled and transited through Pakistan more than six times using trains, vans, trucks, and hitched lifts. In the regions of Baluchistan, and tribal lands up through to Swat, summer month temps hit 45C. The dust, vibration and heat during transit come as a free package.
Screaming and complaining will do you no good at all, just hang on to your baggage, and enjoy the local Pakistani hospitality. Solo foreign females transiting through Pakistan should avoid flashing bare skin, cleavage or wearing tight clothing which will cause a riot, and the chances of being groped or sexually harassed. An American female tourist blogger was gang raped in July 2022.  Pakistan Ezilon map

Secondary road routes :  Tribal border regions : Hectic border crossings : Afghan, Iran, China, Indian overland frontier gateways.

Is Pakistan dangerous for foreign visitors to travel and transit through? The Pakistani government thinks it is, including most western governments. There are different travel bans and restrictions in Pakistan since insurgency went amok. The great Peshawar region has been on the no-go list for a while, although the Pakistani tourism board did launch a tourism campaign for Swat valley, but due to the increase of random attacks from various affiliated militia groups Swat valley is still a hot-bed of chaos. Over landing through from Iran to India can still be done via Pakistan, including crossing into China's backdoor, if appropriate visas have been issued. Chinese citizens cross all the time through the Chinese/Pakistani border en-route to Iran and beyond.
I've traveled through Pakistan many times through the years without encountering any issues. Today, the worst nightmare is to be bundled up in the middle of the night from an isolated region and scuttled off in the boot of a car used for ransom. This can be risky in north west Pakistan, if insurgent groups are notified by snitches of a solo foreign tourist booked into a hotel. Most tribal territories are now off-limits to western nationals for their safety. The majority of Pakistanis are friendly, and outward going with foreigners. Keeping one's own opinions especially any verbal chit-chat that may insult Islam or Koranic Scripture should be avoided or spoken in public places.

Most major transit highways in Pakistan have been upgraded and redone by the Chinese. The new highway connection to Gwadar port situated close to the Iranian border will get you connected on a ferryboat sailing to Muscat-Oman. Most all transit routes through tribal territories remain as they have been-Basic. The Quetta-Taftan route to the Iranian border contains levels of uncontrolled insurgency and may require armed escorts.  Feb 2019 - suicide attack  April  2019 - Quetta market 21 killed/50 injured  May 2019 - Gwadar hotel attack.

Tribal territory use their own rules and laws. Never think as a western foreigner who decides to travel through them have immunity over any locals. Although the interest of witnessing caches of weapons, opium, heroin and hash blocks openly for sale, the levels of insecurity becomes greater. Red zone territory has no sympathy for Westerners transiting through or remaining within them. Arriving into tribal territory is the easy part, getting through them unscathed depends on the day, the week, and month. Locals will normally spread news faster than lightning, of western foreigners visiting their turf. It only takes one or two bad eggs to hear the news of a foreigner to change a journey into a nightmare. Take this advice as a sense for safety. Below, a mix of revolver, semi auto hand guns, machine guns, hashish blocks, ammo and accessories for sale.

Overland Transit - Venezuela

A 50km drenching in a long boat hauling up the Caroni river to Angel Falls should do the trick.

A day before this journey, a long boat packed with 14 visitors were returning downstream, and had overturned. Most on board were injured, with some severe. All photo-gear, video equipment, including cell phones, and other personal items were washed down river never to be seen again.
This is only a small fraction of the adrenaline danger in Venezuela, but this scenario could happen anywhere. Since the creation of the “socialist agenda” in Venezuela, things have turned ugly to the point of desperation - even animals in zoos are being eaten and consumed since 2017.

Transiting in or out of Venezuela from land borders, seaports, and airports were already corrupted years ago. This has now become a survival nightmare.
​Don't believe what propaganda MSM TV networks air, they're escorted with armed security and live film within a zone near or across the border in Colombia. Foreign MSM and fluff bloggers don't travel through Venezuela. 
A quick example how things pan out when entering or leaving Venezuela these days:
Day 1 
If arriving into Venezuela by air, one will have the opportunity to be either corrupted by immigration officials, or to be missing valuables from airport ground staff before retrieving baggage after immigration procedures.
One will have the chance to be taxi mugged down a side street on the way out of the airport before reaching hotels arriving after dark. Those cruising around in taxis during daylight hours have the risk of being mugged and robbed with a 50% risk. 
Day 2
The chances of being robbed of baggage or items missing inside baggage inside hotel rooms when out and about - day or night is 75%.
Taking a stroll out and about from hotels anywhere on any street at any time is pushing the limit to 100% of being mugged and robbed of stuff.
Day 3
Getting to Ciudad Bolivar and onward to Angel Falls is 2 days away using overland transport from Caracas. The highway military control points en-route are many. The chances of corruption at each check point - especially after dark is 90%. The majority of check points are controlled by some of the worst imported Cubans that you can think of. The short one hour flight from Ciudad Bolivar to Canima are on old Cessna fixed wing planes that may or may not make it, due to shoddy maintenance of low or unpaid airport ground crews. On returning back to Caracas, one can multiply all the above once again, so by the time one arrives to Angel Falls, and returns through Caracas airport to fly out, be happy if you're still wearing the jeans, and boots one entered the country with.
Entering Venezuela through land borders from Colombia, Brazil or the Caribbean islands is even worse. I can personally acknowledge the above information from previous visits transiting overland throughout the entire country - twice. Midnight control stops are the worst nightmare as far as corruption goes. Speaking Spanish is a must, and playing the game with corrupt officials is imperative to avoid payoffs, bribes and pilfering. Every day has different outcomes solely  dependent on personal wit and interaction levels to avoid bribes and loosing stuff.
My baggage contents, including photo gear made it through Venezuela both times without loss on both journeys. Corrupt Venezuelan officials, which are many, had failed to extort cash handouts no matter how hard they tried with whatever approach they had used. You'll need a dollar cash stash to travel through the country - Hide it well or lose the lot!

Socialist reforms killed Venezuela flat to the grave, today the country can be kind to some foreigners while ruthless to others no matter what nationality or skin color one has. With locals - It's all about survival sustaining enough cash to purchase food supplies each  day. Transiting through Venezuela without being robbed, corrupted, mugged or bribed is on the lower end of the scale - 1/10. As a foreigner passing through this broken socialist country, its advisable to travel with minimal baggage, and look like a beggar. Night strolls, or walking through any isolated areas is certainly the easiest way to loose what you're carrying. Thieves and muggers in Venezuela have no mercy, they show zero mercy to their own citizens. As a foreigner, you're just a passing quick cash cow they can extract from, and with luck leave you left with the boots and clothes you're wearing.
​Venezuelan police are just as bad, or even worse when it comes to random street checks. They will, if possible plant drugs in day packs when they have you face up against walls when doing body searches. They will remove items from your day pack at the same time. This may also happen when buses are stopped and screened along highways at military barricades in the middle of nowhere at 2am in the morning. None of the above may occur, but the chances are more than likely to materialize at a time when you least expect it to happen. 

Venezuelan border crossings may close while others reopen, this is the situation in Venezuela. Foreigners get a free pass to enter Venezuela, but those contemplating of doing freelance political journalism should think twice of the high risk of being arrested, equipment seized, jailed and deported. Even though Venezuela was the 8th richest oil producing country on the planet just a few years ago, long haul buses through the country are struggling to find fuel. Entering, traveling, transiting, or remaining within any Venezuelan Red Zone region is entirely at your own risk. Drug cartels use the historic Escobar corridor thru Venezuela to various Caribbean sea ports, this has created numerous bandit gangs through the country who are alive and busy extorting, kidnapping, and mugging at will with whom they please.
Approximately 7 million Venezuelans have fled the country crossing borders into neighboring countries. The great Socialist revolution spreading through the planet - all by design. By 2025, most of South America will become under the control of Socialist regimes. The exodus of Venezuelans has brought higher levels of street crime, gang insurgency and lawlessness into regions in Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Guyana. You don't want to meet a gang of street thugs after dark, who won't hesitate to bash and rob anyone they chose as targets.
​You maybe carrying nothing of value, but Latino street thugs don't use telepathy, and only recognize you're a foreigner and may have something they don't have. North Americans reading this probably think they have the same level of aggravated street crime, but with one exception - foreigners traveling through South America don't have the advantage to bear arms which leaves most to decide if they're feeling lucky each time they venture out into the street - Buena Suerte.  

Jumping on a single prop bush flight slowly buzzing over jungle mountain terrain is sometimes required to reach certain destinations as a last resort. Cessna craft are widely used and have a sustainable track record of safety. The problems of fixed wing bush flights falling out of the sky, is normally pointed to the lack of ground maintenance and pilot error. The risk of taking flights in single prop depends on those two issues. It's your fate. Nepal fatal crashes : Tanzania fatal : Peru fatal : PNG fatal : Iceland fatal : Venezuela fatal : Costa Rica fatal : Namibia fatal

Foreign visitors should first check with trusted locals in Ciudad Bolivar beforehand, if the Caroni river is flowing lower than normal. It saves wasted time and energy reaching Angel Falls up river. The struggle to hand push longboats on dry riverbeds isn't for the meek and weak. Find out, if in fact Angel Falls is actually dropping water off the edge. During extreme dry seasons, Angel Falls will only have vapor spray and nothing else. There have been many disappointed foreigners through the years, because they arrived in this region during the dry months.

Solo overland travel and transit Venezuela - Deluxe Bus : Bush Buses : Self-Drive : Hitchhike : Truck : MC : Private Vehicles

If You Don't like Loud Vibrating Reggaeton In Transit - Get Some Ear Plugs! The small V8 mini-bus below is a good example of a Venezuelan noise box floating on wheels. Most buses are equipped with 2 large mega bass speakers with approximately 12 other subsonic speakers scattered along the ceiling and sides functioning at one volume - Loud enough to rattle your ear drums to bits without mercy. Depending which bus companies are used to transit through the continent, the choice of music is at the discretion of the driver. Normally, a mix of local Salsa, Merengue are the preferred music overtures played on super deluxe buses. Some bus operators who are fully addicted to the beat of Reggaeton at full volume can't be avoided in Brazil, Colombia or in Venezuela. Like in India, noise is a part of the everyday lifestyle and culture, which can eventually drive some foreigners totally insane.
​If Reggaeton isn't your cup of tea, find a set of reusable earplugs to block out DB noise, or slowly suffer to the pounding of base speakers rattling your brain cells into space.

The Orinoco river can be as busy as bitumen highways. Haggling fares with boat operators in cash dollars will get you from A to B. Don't expect luxury travel down river from Puerto Paez to San Carlos de Rio Negro. This region of the Orinoco is notorious for drug smuggling and contraband. Believe me, you really need trusted boat operators, and safe accommodation en-route. Venezuelan police and military through this zone will go through baggage like a fine tooth comb. Expect the same response crossing into Colombia and Brazil on the southern frontier. This journey can take approximately 6 weeks to complete if stopping and starting at individual river stops. Ensure all necessary visas, permits and documents are valid!  Watch your stuff and don't lose it overboard. A lost or misplaced passport down here will require returning back to Caracas!

Overland Desert Journeys - Don't Fry And Die!

Transiting across deserts is pure adrenaline until a breakdown occurs - Many have dehydrated to death.

Crossing deserts self-driving your own 4WD sounds exciting - yes? One has to first ensure the vehicle's maintenance is up to scratch. The failure of anything on a vehicle's running gear in the middle of isolated desert environments can literally fry you to death. Spare wheels, an on board air pump, tools, radiator sealer, spare battery, extra engine oil & diesel fuel, and a large surplus water supply are minimal requirements. Often, foreigners renting 4WDs heading to desert environs for the very first time have suffered or died in deserts because of dehydration from lack of water, hunger,  wandering off from their broken down vehicles seeking help. Any planned isolated desert crossing should be taken with caution without underestimating the extremities that can occur without warning. Cell towers are non existent within desert regions,  a computer, cell phone or a tablet with satellite connection to make calls will be the only way to save your skin - 44 migrants die of thirst in the Niger desert after their vehicle broke down.

News of some tourist found dead in deserts around the planet isn't the fault of deserts. Don't become a statistic, desert dehydration has no mercy, no matter the skin color or nationality. Normally the rule of thumb for most humans is 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 days without water,  and 3 weeks without food. Traveling with surplus water supply onboard vehicles hauling through deserts has more worth than triple the weight of gold, if breakdowns occur. And desert breakdowns do happen, and people die from their own misjudgments.
If desert breakdowns occur, rationing food supplies and water should commence immediately. If water supplies are already low or have run out, draining the cars radiator for drinking will add 3-5 more days. If any additives have been added to the radiator supply - you're out of luck. It will poison you to death! Extracting water from cactus is another option, if there's any cactus. In some cactus, high acidity level will give diarrhea, and push dehydration levels even higher. Drinking your own urine is the last resort. Those sharing journeys across deserts have their own responsibility ensuring there's an adequate supply of water onboard before venturing out in to the beyond.
Middle Eastern and north African deserts are gigantic frying ovens dehydrating humans rapidly without mercy. It's essential stocking up traveling with all the necessary auto spares, tools, food supplies, and above all, water to cover double, even triple the duration time planned through deserts.
Don't just take it for granted if you're a passenger in a group onboard a 4WD heading through deserts. Personally self-check water and food supplies are more than adequate enough. Carry your own essentials, like peanuts, dates, dried meat (biltong), watermelon, mandarins, and packets of rehydration salts. This can save your life from certain desert death. 

Overland Transit - The Edge Of Extreme

I've traveled on numerous road routes that are known to be extremely dangerous during midwinter. The higher the elevation levels become, the more severe the conditions increase. The risk factor solely depends on the day of transit. Safety includes, if weather conditions remain stable with minimal driver error, and no breakdowns occurring en-route. Traveling on rugged isolated routes, a selection of tools, including an emergency food supply, and thermo clothing are essentials items.. Cell phone signals disappeared on this particular journey - you're on your own.

Surviving midwinter overland transit journeys through extreme harsh regions depends on vehicle and driver safety. Hitching lifts in 2WD vehicles crossing over high altitude mountain passes covered in snow may sound exciting, but can be fatal. Sudden braking on black ice sliding over the edge of cliffs happens. A one way one journey to death. Traveling in 4WD vehicles using snow chains is safer, but only if drivers are familiar with the terrain and their vehicles. It only takes one miscalculation, a sudden jam of the brakes, or wrong gear to end up at the bottom of icy ravines within seconds. Driver error caused by misjudgment, is one of the main causes of fatal accidents.

In Transit - Risky Lifts

Vehicles operating in isolated regions with worn out bald tires like above are commonly seen through Africa, Asia and Mid-East. Normally vehicles like this will also have limited braking power when required. It only takes a front blown out tire to end up veering over into ravines, or colliding head on into on coming traffic. I've witnessed this on numerous journeys offshore through the decades. Severely injured passengers, and the remains of body parts scattered on highways will make most people tremble.
Driver error in unsafe vehicles at high speed is one of the major causes of road deaths. Self-driving, or jumping on board in worn out wrecks en-route heading towards rugged terrain, and mountainous narrow dirt roads at full speed, is at your own risk with crazy insane drivers. One has to seriously think if they're feeling lucky on the day, or rather wait for other available transport. With hitched lifts, avoid vehicles looking unsafe, and drivers sipping on alcohol, consuming drugs, and showing off. Only you can decide your own early death that could have been avoided. That's why I'm still alive offshore in the 2020s.

It's idiots like above driving city tin cans in regions where other drivers with 4WDs have to stop and help them.

Those considering to drive well off the bitumen tarmac on isolated mountain routes,  like in the image above - Don't be tight. Rent the appropriate vehicle to do the job, or suffer what ever consequences that may occur up ahead en-route. ​Roadblock delays caused from rockfall, slips, and avalanches are common occurrences through the Andes and Himalaya regions during winter. If self-driving, ensure vehicles are up to scratch, with enough food supplies, water and warm clothing sustainable for up to a weeks delay on rough rugged cliff-edge road routes. Driving after dark in remote high-altitude regions should be avoided at all costs, unless one wants to experience braking on black ice sliding over cliffs in the dark!

You can be the best driver on the planet, but like anyone else, if you cannot see where you're driving, this is when accidents suddenly happen. The example image above (taken in west Africa), shows a lone cow wandering on the highway. Any driver coming through from the other side of that bull dust without a care in the world, won't even know he's hit the cow until the damage has already occurred. This type of scenario happens all the time. This also places head on collisions with oncoming traffic, if drivers react swerving to miss animals, but collide with trucks instead. Hitting large beasts head on with cars and 4WD's will cause damaged front ends, including radiators, bonnet, front fenders and windscreens. Trucks have the habit of creating highway bull dust. I normally back off the pedal, slow right down, change to a lower gear, and at times pull over until the dust clears and visibility reappears. When driving through the middle of nowhere, especially through the African heartland, don't expect repairs at garages assisting you - there are none. Replacement parts can be days or even weeks away. Best advice avoid driving when you can't see what's in front of you i.e. bull dust, fog, mist. torrential rain.  
Below, winter driving offshore, safety comes first up in high altitude subzero territory. Only those with previous experience should drive above 3500 meters on 3rd grade roads covered under blankets of snow. Road tracks at this height and above, are already slippery ice tracks. Deposits of black ice within shady areas is common. Temps rapidly drop down to extreme subzero freezer conditions when daylight disappears. Night driving sliding on frozen snow is certainly something you don't want to experience. I've been in a vehicle sliding out of control on ice in the Himalaya that could of easily spiraled off a cliff face road track. Tools, spare wheel, snow chains, and other necessary essentials are all must have items driving in isolated regions throughout the Himalaya and Andes during midwinter.

Middle Of Nowhere - Secure Baggage!

A typical rugged isolated region loading up stuff to the hilt. Overland transit journeys in the middle of nowhere continuing through the middle of nowhere are road trips always remembered. There were no bush buses operating at this location due to rugged terrain. Securing baggage becomes more important. It only takes one sudden bump for insecure baggage to jump right off roof tops without finding out until 8 hours further up the road. Below, getting caught out between major slips and landslides happens occasionally. Unpredictable prevailing weather can block mountainous road route passes within a few hours by heavy torrential downpours. Self driving during the night through mountainous regions isn't recommended for obvious reasons. An adequate food supply to cover a few days is sufficient enough if road routes are blocked in either direction.

Middle Of Nowhere - Backup Cash Stash

Until the Power Greedy Globalist Global Banking cabal eradicates cash - Use cash while it lasts!  

Those transiting through to the middle of nowhere, a backup cash supply is required. Exchanging crisp clean $100 bill notes for local currency gives the best rates. Don't expect to find banks and ATM's in certain isolated regions. Traveling with a cash stash for backup emergencies will cover transportation, accommodation and food costs. Exchanging foreign currency should be done in advance well before heading off into the wilderness. Countless times in the past, I've run into foreigners who only relied on banks and ATM's, and had no local cash supply. Hide cash stashes on person in case baggage is searched in rooms when out and about.

Overland border crossings through continents can be the worst for some, and the best entertainment for others. It depends how one presents themselves, their personal interaction level with officials, and whether immigration officials are having an off-day i.e. pissed off from the previous foreigner that didn't pay a bribe, or who had suffered a fall out with personal issues, and then brought them to work. Knowing how to present yourself at a Nigerian-Cameron border crossing, or at Saudi-Iraqi border posts varies greatly. Every border crossing is different in how they treat individual foreigners. Knowing basic principles of speech mode, presentation and dress-wear usually works. There are at times, certain border immigration officials will probe asking all types of different way out questions. Keeping a cool head without creating negative waves and avoiding being triggered works. One can always use the Israeli method, if asked one question, ask two questions back. Below, typical bush bus breakdown in the middle of nowhere during transit coast to coast. If you're not used to breakdowns, corruption bribes, and having to watch your stuff 24/7, either get used to it, or stay wasting your days away on sandy beaches in Zanzibar, Bali, Taganga, Costa Rica, Cancun, Boracay and Thailand.  

Below, typical overland transit snaps crossing countries through continents. Journeys off the beaten tourist track haven't changed using basic transportation since the '80s. Ship vessels and bush buses receive fresh coats of paint, and local commuter vans are still overloaded packed to the hilt. Breakdowns still happen, delays are normal occurrences and traffic jams caused by accidents are still common occurrences. The world of solo overland travel may at times feel and sound hectic, but for real time down to earth travel journeys this type of travel experience is impossible to beat. Rating 10/10  

Rugged overland travel journeys offshore isn't only about the final destination. It's about the journey getting there that's inspiring.

What is real solo travel? No, it's not in flight seats 30,000 feet up in the sky, No, it's not hanging out at trendy offshore beach locations, No, it's not on tacky cruise ship holidays, and No, it's not onboard super deluxe buses traveling on bitumen 4 lane highways. These two images are more than enough to show what real solo travel is all about. Get real, get out there and clock up some overland travel mileage crossing countries, through continents on your own steam, at your own pace with no time limits. I've been doing it since the early 1980's.

Street Photography - People Shots

When offshore, all those random people shots aren't fully appreciated until arriving back to home base. They can be those simple street snaps that one captures with anything used at the time. A few quick examples using SLR roll film, point and shoots and DSLRs through the decades. 

The possibilities capturing people shots is an endless vacuum. Some foreigners, especially westerners dislike the idea of taking random images of strangers without consent, because of their indoctrinated concept this is an invasion of a person's privacy. On the other hand, one should first question, if street monitoring cameras, 24 hour surveillance, snooping of emails, cell phone tracking, bugged phone calls and listening devices on people, is a breach of privacy. I've been capturing random people shots offshore since '82 with no issues, and intend continuing the same way in the 2020s.

Even though I'm originally from a western country, I don't follow those creepy woke mindset rules in western countries of what can and what should be adhered to as a street photographer offshore. It's called paranoia outside the safety perimeter. Avoiding taking intrusive street images is common sense one quickly learns offshore. Stepping over the grey boundary, is something we've probably all experienced in one form or another. We should automatically learn from those experiences.

Using street interaction skills with total strangers is an education in itself. Every place, each location with local inhabitants contains different ambience. Seasoned street photographers are able to read the movement and faces of total strangers from distance, even before raising their cameras. With over four plus decades under my sleeve, I have never been requested to delete a single random street shot of any stranger being randomly photographed, and I've literally captured tens of thousands of random people shots.

Monks and novices in transit. I've returned to the same location through the years for the angle and view capturing shots just like above.

One thing I've learnt offshore years ago doing street photography, is to never let potential captures go to waste. If interesting people moving in my direction look my way, and the interaction level between myself and subject is positive, I'll take the shot. This is what I call decisive street photography. Thinking to slowly or pondering to long with people shots, especially subjects on the go, or in quick motion are moments lost for good. In most cases, if one uses positive interaction skills, most people from all walks of life allow those few seconds to be photographed, even if they're in a rush somewhere.

Some call this street photography. I call them street snaps, because that's what they are, just street snaps. Maybe, if some famous actress, or known celeb photographer took them, they'd probably be classified as something else. Notice the sketcher, her talent is from her left hand.

Random street photography within Muslim countries is no different than in other countries. Capturing moving subjects from distance within Muslim countries has never been an issue since the first time I began an interest in street photography back in the 1980's. Interacting first with locals at their work place, or with people walking along streets, is common sense before capturing close up people shots. The sensitive issue avoiding completely, is taking street snaps of Muslim woman without having prior consent. Saudi Arabia still has a carpet ban photographing women in public, although permitted within the right environment. Use common sense!

People shots of total strangers going about their daily activities has substance. Traveling through the Real World captures these types of still shots non-stop from dawn to dusk. Other foreign travelers will always ask which country is best for all types of street photography. I've given the same answer since the 1980s - India. The country has everything plus more that;s impossible to capture in one visit.  

Below, as most can see, interaction between the subject and myself was already established prior of taking this shot. Even with a lens and large DSLR body extremely close, this woman was more than happy posing for a snap. Every subject requires some sort of interaction process before pointing cameras directly at people's faces. If done correctly, one can easily capture hundreds of closeup portraits without issues. I've been using the same interaction methods with strangers for decades with positive results.      

Hitching Truck Lifts - Gas Stations - Truck Stops - Border Crossings

Hitching lifts on trucks can be the only means of transit in remote regions - Enjoy a wild ride! 

Hitching lifts throughout continents is by hanging out at gasoline filling stations on the edge of towns, or at crossroad junctions and truck stops. Grabbing rides will depend how much traffic flow there is heading in the direction of transit. Truck drivers are the most reliable source for long haul transit journeys. Through decades of travel, hitching lifts has been the norm within remote regions around the planet. I've always had good success hitching lifts at international border crossings at near by gas stations. The longest single hitched lift I've had totaled ten days in central Asia with a truckie. Below, you'd have to have been very fortunate to have traveled through Tibet without any restrictions, or the need of piles of permits and paperwork as it is today. The 1980s post card era was one of the best times ever of travel. Millennials & the Gen Z generation were born in the wrong decade -sorry guys. Grabbing lifts on the back of trucks through Tibet during midwinter was one of many great overland transit journeys completed. There were no bitumen highways, no heaters or trendy cafe stops en-route. It was pure hardcore overland travel with zero comfort.
And yes, the image snap below is blurry as. Try to imagine yourself on the back of an open moving truck manually focusing an SLR roll film camera getting this shot @3900 meters with a subzero temp of minus -20C. With calculated windchill factored in, the temp was minus -35C.

When train tracks end, and even bush buses are non-existent, jump onboard anything going your way.

There are some regions through Asia that have limited transportation networks operating. Where the railway tracks end, bush buses take over public transport. Further up in to no-man's land, anything moving becomes a passenger service. Bone rattling non bitumen journeys certainly still exist through regions in Asia and Africa. Dirt road dust, is as thick as sea fog. Rough road transportation is always a blast no matter the country.

Cruising on top of bush buses in India is a grey area depending on region and location. The more remote location are will allow passengers to transit on bus rooftops. Securely strapping up baggage will keep it falling off the side. Bus drivers won't stop, and the chances of fallen baggage getting run over from other moving traffic is more than likely to happen.

Overland Transit - Peru

Transiting on jammed packed bush trains  - Get squashed and enjoy it.

Peruvians are used to push and shove, so packed out trains is nothing new, and something they've been used to for decades. Most foreigners use the bus system in Peru, which works fine. Train transit in rural sectors of Peru have minimal run times, causing over-crowding with locals fighting for space. When climbing on board a coach  one has to be lightning fast to secure a seat, but this is only possible at the first few stops. By the time a train reaches halfway through its transit,  it's already packed out to the max.
​Crawling up on the roof is an option, but at your own risk. Holding on to baggage on the roof is required or you'll loose it sliding off the edge. Hanging off the sides of trains is actually not a bad idea either. Peruvians are a classic example of a nation in how they use any means of transport to get from location  to location without limitations. 

Overland travel and transit through Peru stopping at the above locations will take time. This will also depend which transit direction one chooses. Many fly within the country using the excuse of limited time. How crazy is that? Peruvian bus transportation is good, even up along the highlands, and through to the Amazon region. I've travelled extensively through Peru more than a dozen times and still have a few places to visit. Having at least 3 months to cover sections of the country is enough for a 1st time visit. Driving your own vehicle in Peru will test your driving skills. I've driven through the night in Peru, but I would strongly advise to avoid this unless it's a life-death emergency.

Below, after exhausting yourself up at Machu Picchu, there's nothing better than relaxing beside the main train track line devouring a pizza and sipping on wine at Aguas Calientes. You can be lucky to watch and feel the vibration of diesel powered locomotives rumbling through adding to the ambience.

Below, classic overland transit snap 1980s. An image that keeps its value of how travel used to be. 

Overland Transit - Guyana-Suriname-Guiana

Travel and transiting through Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana is well with the extra effort. Jungles are alive with wildlife, flora and fauna. If you've got a few months up your sleeve, these 3 countries will be rewarding for those looking for peace and isolation off the beaten track.

Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are certainly isolated well away from major mainstream overland travel routes in South America. There's only one route through Guyana from Brazil, with a coastal circuit route through Suriname and French Guiana returning to Brazil. In Guyana, jaguars can be seen during daytime. It's also relatively easy spotting the largest eagles on the planet — The Harpy. I've traveled this circuit and recommend this region for those wanting an escape from worn out touristic zones.

There's a dual wet season in Guyana, the first beginning from December through to February. The heavier monsoon season is longer beginning in April, and continues until August. During the dry months rainfall is still persistent at an average of 130mm. It's normal for surface flooding and the odd occasion for blocked roads by fallen trees. Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana are one of many drug smuggling routes via the Caribbean to the USA, Canada and Europe. Keeping your nose clean through these 3 countries enjoying what they have to offer at surface level is more than enough to keep anyone satisfied. It's important to personally pack and check all baggage if flying out returning to western nations from either of these 3 countries. ​​

The only thing stopping anyone from receiving gratis high voltage juice, is rusty rustic barbwire, which will also give free doses of tetanus. Notice, someone is tapping into the mains with wires disappearing into the bush. Sucking free power is commonly seen through Africa. 

Overland Transit - Uganda

African transportation — chaotic at the best of times coast to coast.

Kampala's congested traffic and overloaded pavements are continuous non-stop during daylight hours. Uganda is the main crossroad hub up, down and across central, west, and east Africa. Overland travel transit directions from Uganda are westward via Rwanda to the Congo (DRC) onward to Nigeria, or southward to Angola, Botswana to the Cape. Direct transit northward from Kampala to South Sudan takes two days to Juba. One can find slow boats out of Juba heading towards Ethiopia and north to the Sudan. The Juba to Wau rough road route may or may not be open reaching the border into the Central African Republic. This can be a difficult route, but not impossible whenever the dust settles from civil unrest. All transit routes from Juba will require valid visas to proceed onward to Ethiopia, North Sudan, and C.A.R. Things change, self-check the latest developments before rushing off into the beyond. Food supplies and Mosquito repellent are necessary on slow boats through South Sudan. From Kampala to Kenya and Tanzania the transits routes are fast and simple with a variety of different bus companies running around the clock.
The North Sudanese Embassy in Kampala were dishing out one month visas within 24 hours at the time this was written. DRC visas are straight forward. The cost of DRC visas vary for different nationals. It also depends which DRC border crossing one decides to enter for limited corruption fees. Corruption tariffs also differ by nationality depending on the duty officer on the day of entering. The Burundi-DRC crossing had no issues of bribes, Good luck on that, things do change.
​Ezilon Maps  Uganda  :  DRC  :  Rwanda  :  Sudan  :  CAR  :  Chad  :  Mali  :  Niger  :  Nigeria  :  Tanzania  :  Zambia  :  Ethiopia  :  Cameroon  :  Burundi   

Overland Transit - Bolivia

Transiting on dirt track routes through Bolivia is like the Wild West.

Bolivia has you covered in all directions. Altiplano dry salar road tracks, high-altitude snow clad transit routes, and sweaty humid Amazonian bush track highways. Use your own vehicle, local bush-buses, deluxe buses, slow train, 4WD, motorbike, or hitchhike getting through the country.

Bolivia like Venezuela and Colombia had their highways jammed packed with all different types of American transport nostalgia. Traveling on board any of these machines had the rumbling sound of V8 engines half throttle. It felt like one was cruising through the mid-west of USA. Russian Soviet made vehicles never made it to South America, they only reached as far as Cuba. Chinese made wing bling transportation is slowly edging its way into the continent, so before the phase-out of nostalgic North American vehicles on Bolivian roads, do jump on board these machines and experience the rhythmic vibration along highways with the wind blowing on your face. Below, image captured inside a Chevrolet V8 minibus showing an intercity Detroit two stoke powered V8 and Dodge V8 minibus in La Paz.      

Bolivian transit routes are well structured within all main bitumen highways leading to La Paz. Anywhere after a good day's road transit will eventually lead to detours through dirt tracks, riverbeds, canyon gullies and gorges. This is the beauty of Bolivia, hauling from high altitude Altiplano regions to the jungle basins below.

One transit route to feel the real Bolivia is from Santa Cruz to Costa Marques to the border of Brazil. Trucks, and anything else with wheels on it. This journey should be done in the dry season unless you're insane. Train and bus schedules in Bolivia work around the clock. Some Bolivian night bus operators drive sipping on local rum and slowly doze-off to sleep at the wheel. Normally there's a helper on board keeping the driver awake if he hasn't already dozed-off himself. This is one Latin country full of epic transit routes to five countries surrounding it. All routes travel through different rugged Andean terrain. Even with the millions of foreign tourists passing through the country, Bolivia still has a few good hiding places left which I'll keep for myself. Ezilon Bolivian map

If you need to upgrade your personal driving or motorbike skills, Bolivia is the perfect place to do it. After 3 months driving through this country, you can probably handle driving on any terrain on the planet. The above map shows the normal border entry/exit crossings into neighboring countries. Having sufficient enough food and fuel supplies is a necessity using your own mode of transport.

Overland Travel Offshore - Humor Snaps

Goats will eat on anything green. This mountain goat had no issues nibbling on wild weed (not cultivated) within a region in central Asia.

How many occasions have you enjoyed watching street humor offshore but never grabbed images of it? At times, I capture multiple images of one subject, like the local above of side and frontal shots. Walking around with full frame DSLR's ready to go is how I get my shots. The above image was captured using a manual focus Nikon 35mm f/1.4 AI lens on a D3 body.

Connecting to some form of free power is simple enough, but certainly not like above  - Middle East street snap.

Street photography using A dinosaur DSLR D3 body. Running like sheep getting the latest camera gear doesn't make you a better photographer.

There's no use wasting time and precious water washing down the Merc in this region of Africa.

This is how a car wash setup looks like in the middle of nowhere above 3650 meters.

The good old days of real sound systems and amplifiers. I can still remember a few I had used in the 1970's, Sansui, Pioneer, Marantz and Kenwood to name a few. The Pioneer speakers blew to bits while playing ACDC, the Kenwood became a straight swap for a derivable 1955 Ford V8 Customline with a 312 cubic inch Thunderbird Y block engine.

This driver was sick and tired of people using his dash as a makeshift travel lounge — you have to give him best signage seen in transportation.

The sale of fake ID cards has been around for decades. The only difference is the increased amount of different fake cards readily available beyond imagination i.e. student cards, press cards, international driving licenses, individual country driving licenses, uni cards, UN cards, permanent residency cards, airline cards, IATA cards, degree cards, and even diplomat cards.

The D3 rarely misses a shot, one of Nikon's best dinosaur bodies. I'm still using the D3 in the 2020s capturing random images just like above.  

Napping-off on the edge of cliff faces isn't recommended unless you're attached with safety ropes.

Asians are known for their family outings piling together on mopeds buzzing down streets with no helmets.

Himalaya Deep thaw @4450 meters clear sky sunny day midwinter minus-18C - added windchill minus -25C

Maybe art in the making, or weird backward reverse construction, or just a local sick of being constantly robbed.  

Those who've traveled through the continents will have most probably used whatever basic public toilet amenities available at certain locations when required. I've personally seen and used some pretty disgusting toilets offshore through the decades having zero hygiene whatsoever. Basic hotels, rough roadside cafes, bus toilets, bus and train station toilets all share one thing in common — Bacteria.

When you gotta go you gotta go. Some can hold off until reaching restaurants and hotel rooms. Other's with weak bladders have no choice relieving themselves at any location. An increased water intake strolling around in hot humid regions adds to random pee stops. Not a problem on beaches, or in bushland, but within cities, that's a different story. The choice of using any public WC will do the job — even for females.

The majority of westerners traveling through countries across continents quickly learn how many public hand basins in cheap accommodation, gas stations, restaurants, including buses with WC's cake baked filled with collective grime during three plus days of transit. This isn't a dig at any particular country or public service. It's about those who may have weak immune systems, and pickup some dreaded pathogen. Hand basin tap handles and WC doors handles are the worst culprits containing fresh loads of solid bacteria. One can of course use their own disposable wipes, but there will be times when wipes and liquid hand cleanser is unavailable. Learning the art of turning off tap handles and opening WC doors without hands touching door latches and handles is one way. An easier solution, is to rewash your hands with bottled water before handling food. Touching cafe restaurant table items like salt and pepper shakers, ketchup and olive oil canisters, or handling dirty cash notes and coins, shaking hands, peeling or eating unwashed fruit, or touching restaurant and bus seats are quick examples of contacting forms of bacteria. Those who have relied on using antibiotics through their lifetime have actually weakened their own immune systems. There's approximately six billion people who use their hands instead of toilet paper around the planet. Eating local fresh produced curd (yogurt) automatically builds up positive bacterial resistance. A daily fix includes bio-active honey, fresh peeled ginger, electrolytes, iron (red meat) and Vitamin C and D intake. Don't be fooled with fancy labelled vitamin and mineral supplements from trendy pharmacies and supermarkets, unless products clearly show where they were originally manufactured. Washing hands properly before eating food will avoid exploding stomachs and runny rear-ends.

Overland Transit - Bush Trains

Andean Block : Central & North Africa : India

Bush train travel through South America, Africa and Asia had ambience. There were no problems, no one was in a rush. Above, a European couple totally drained out from heat exhaustion onboard a slow moving rattler. Most classic rugged bush trains  are done and dusted. The 1980s was the final chapter and decade of real basic bush train journeys. For instance, steam trains were still functioning in India. The original Bolivian death train was operating. The Mombasa-Nairobi,  Rangoon- Mandalay, Calama-Oruro, Lahore-Quetta, and below Peruvian bush trains were great transit journeys.   

Until the Chinese CCP great belt and road projects through south America take hold, diesel powered trains will be around for a few decades yet. The Andean block still has plenty of isolated rail operating through individual countries. Peruvian train transit shouldn't be missed, especially on isolated tracks through the middle of nowhere. We're not talking about the Cuzco - Aguas Calientes express journey created for fluff puff foreigners. If you're looking for real basic bush train travel, there are other train routes beyond the Cuzco region. 

Overland Train Transit - S.E. Asia

Malaysian rail is similar to their bus system throughout the country - excellent. Getting around using the rail network is simple without fuss or bother. The Singapore-Penang-Bangkok express has been operating for decades. Those preferring landscape rather than clouds in the sky will enjoy this region of South East Asia. I've done this journey on numerous occasions since the '80s using buses and trains.
Whether liked or not, woke western pro-climate changers traveling offshore will have to use some form of "anti-petroleum" based fossil fuel to get around. Diesel and gasoline powered transport will still be functioning when electricity grids fail. One can hype up all they want on EVs,  but at the end of the day kerosene air fuel, leaded Avgas, and diesel engines are here to stay until the planet self-implodes. Anti fossil petroleum travelers can always use bicycles, swim across oceans, and use donkeys and horses to get around. The stupidity listening to woke westerners offshore rambling on and on about climate change while they're on oard traveling on diesel trains themselves, diesel powered ferries and buses tells you how dumb down they are.

Above, an ALCO WDS6 shunter and operator posing for a quick snap captured with my DSLR Nikon D3 daylight workhorse.

The country of diesel powered train engines is India. Thousands of ALCO engines still operate daily used for freight, shunting and pulling passenger wagons across India 24/7. Although India has a broad expansion of electric rail, diesel trains will still be used for decades to come. No wonder India has a rail network that can't be unhinged, diesel and electric is the key for survival of any nation's infrastructure in the real world.  

In Transit - Motor Rickshaws

The Asian African icon thrashed like mules - Get used to them, there's no escape  - Anywhere!

From north Vietnam to South Africa, motor-rickshaw transporters are seen around the clock 24hr non-stop. They've been used for years to transport anything unimaginable to most regions anywhere anytime. Piles of cement bags, sacks of grain, and livestock loaded to the hilt are common sights. Some rickshaws are in better shape than others operating like a bucket of bolts rattling down the highways.

When exiting from bush buses and train stations, there's always a line of rickshaws waiting in limbo for weary customers. Haggling the fare before take-off is imperative, if fare meters aren't used. Asking locals first about fare costs to destinations before jumping on rickshaws is recommended, unless you want to be ripped off paying triple the normal price fare.  

Thailand is well known for the flashiest fastest auto-rickshaws on the planet. Haggling a price to run across town can still be more expensive than using an aircon cab. If you can handle breathing smog pollution in mid-city Bangkok traffic, Thai auto-rickshaws (tuk tuk) are more than satisfying if you're fortunate enough to get a driver that drives his machine like Ken Miles.      

In some cases, I'll rent rickshaws for the entire day getting cumbersome photo gear within isolated location spots for bird and wildlife photography. Normally, I'd self-scout intended locations a few days prior before haggling with rickshaw drivers. This has worked out positive on numerous occasions without the need of renting vehicles.

Rain or shine, or loaded to the hilt, auto-rickshaws get the job done through the Mid East, Africa & Asia. 

When no other mode of transport isn't available , it's almost guaranteed auto-rickshaws will be somewhere close by.  

When you've traveled years and years of overland travel mileage, you automatically collect 1000's of random street snap shots like these examples. At the time of taking quick street snaps, they have no real value until shown together with similar images. I could easily post hundreds more of different images just of motor rickshaws from around the planet. A dozen or so is adequate enough for this website.  

Haggling fares with rickshaw drivers is an art in itself. Those who don't barter prices before jumping on board only make it more difficult to get the local price for the next blond haired tourist comes along. Always ask locals how much it normally costs to get from A to B. Sometimes, it can take several rickshaws until one driver agrees for the usual price. This is one of the many downsides since heavy tourism bombarded the planet during the mid 1990s.

Iquitos isn't short of auto rickshaws. Haggling fares is normal procedure, ask locals what the normal charge rate should be, or pay triple.

LPG and diesel auto rickshaws hauling through the streets in India hasn't changed one bit in the 2020s. 

I've used auto-rickshaws around the planet getting myself and baggage from one location to another since the 1980s. Auto-rickshaws are the perfect transport to and from international boarder crossings, bus and train stations, or along highway crossroads. I can hear the odd rickshaw buzzing by as I'm writing this in Dec 2021.

Open highway in transit mode onboard another rickshaw getting from A to B captured this snap — Sony RX100 V point & shoot  

Bangkok, the city that never sleeps. My first joy ride in a Tuk Tuk was back in '85. The above night snap was taken recently showing nothing much has changed.

India, the land of motor rickshaw transportation. This snap was captured onboard another moving auto rickshaw. Below, an Indian mass produced rickshaw in the far north close to the Eritrean Ethiopian border.

Below, my Nikkor 800 5.6 ED AIS lens pack securely strapped on the front seat during a 2+ hour transit journey. 

Overland Transit - Blast From The Past

The Real World - This is what overland travel is all about.

This classic snap maybe old, but retains its power understanding why I laugh at yuppie travel blogger influencers. Most haven't the faintest clue or have experienced real world overland travel. The image is self-explanatory, peasants living under control of Marxist ideology. The foreigners, a group of Swedish NGOs were also Marxist affiliated. Those out there who are hypnotized with Marxist values can get a fact check on the real Che Guevara the Butcher of La Cabana

Solo Overland Travel - In Slow Motion

Foreign tourists spotting me on the street often ask me why I'm taking certain images. I normally reply "can't you see the value of this composition", or "this subject probably won't be here tomorrow". This is how it's always been with street photography. Every day is different to the next. If my inner instinct says take the shot - I take the shot.

Strolling through streets in slow motion with camera gear capturing random images of anything catching my eye has been ongoing since the early 80s. Some call it a passion, other's as income. I do it for self-satisfaction.

Offshore Overland Travel - Casual Street Snaps

Since the 80s, I've captured well over half a million street images around the planet. I've stuck by using Nikon gear through the decades because of the quality of Nikon glass. Yes, other camera brands are just as good, but personally, I have no intention switching to other brands. These street snaps were captured using Nikon prime lenses with 12MP bodies. Nikon should be offering me a lens of choice freely promoting their stuff - Dreams are free!

Casual captured street snaps using DSLR cameras with fixed primed lenses. Best all round daylight body 2020s - D3, Best lens - 85mm

Cash leftovers, mil Cordaba notes, the Palacio National, Managua through the early years of the FSLN revolution.

I've actually sat down observing other foreigners at similar locations like below, if they photograph ambient snaps just like this. Nope, they instead walk straight past with smart phones in hand. I don't call them smart phone travelers for nothing.

Black and white still holds its power, especially when image captures are enlarged into large canvas hung on walls amongst other colorful overland travel snaps. Most of my random close-up images like below retain their value. It's the personal interaction with the subject before and after taking it. I had bumped into this local a few times on different days. Nikon D3, Nikkor 35 f/1.4 AI (1977-81) @ f2.8

Tribal Territory

Capturing random roadside images within tribal lands solely depends if locals insist on payment or not. Welcome to the many decades of heavy tourism exploration. Avoiding these tourist zones traveling a few hours out of villages is recommended. Spending a short time with locals without immediately pointing cameras at them usually guarantees close up shots without the need of paying for them. Instead, the offering of sweets, biscuits or cake in appreciation is optional, and what worked for me.

Totally isolated riverside locations are where locals gather. Freely photographing will depend if locals themselves allow and ignore you to do so. Staying at the same location over a few days will allow enough time for local inhabitants to spot you strolling around somewhere within their turf. Keeping distance is good start, like this image captured from 400+ meters across the river. Like anywhere, one requires positive interaction skills and patience to capture close up portraits within isolated communities like this where western foreigners are rarely seen.   

No fire permits or draconian regulations here, like in western countries. Honestly, the  further one escapes from western civilization, the more freedoms one has to live as they wish. There are no councils with straws sucking revenue tax till your bum bleeds. Simple living, well away from urban sprawl, is where its at in today's insane world looking for freedom survival. More on this in the global live page.     

Below, a quick snap transiting through a tribal region is rather deceptive. It shows a group of locals heading in haste towards the vehicle, which was approximately 500 meters distance from their village. There were only two or three locals who had seen the 4x4 stop, but within minutes half the village were in hot pursuit towards my direction. It's because the vehicle was within their territorial boundary when taking a few quick snaps from the roadside. Indigenous tribes within the Omo valley do expect some form of payment for close-up snaps, and generally don't bother about long-shots, but these locals were on a mission, and it wasn't to get some free bananas. The option to hang around was appealing, but the outcome may have turned into a forced frenzy bounty payment, so a quick decision to leave the location was made. Random roadside stops, tribal land boundaries, self-driving safety limits - aggressive behavior, forced payouts, stoning vehicles.

Overland Travel - DSLR Or Smart Phone Junk?

Don't expect capturing close up distant shots of any bird and wildlife using smart phone cameras!

Traveling through continents without full frame DSLR camera gear is like deep sea fishing without a rod. Many regret this mistake thinking their smart phone cameras will do the job instead - A big mistake! Wildlife distant images are captured using reasonable quality long tele or zoom lenses.  Many I've met offshore since the the hyperactive smart phone age have struggled to show me a single image captured from their smartphone cameras like these examples. Smart phones are useless for long distant captures. They are good for videos, closeup zoo snaps, and dreaded selfies - that's about it.

I'm certainly not your personal guru of what camera gear to use. This is a personal decision and requires thought and vision of what photo equipment one thinks is compatible to cover through their offshore overland journeys. For decades, I'm used to carrying an assortment of lenses and bodies. This doesn't mean that it has made it easier to capture certain images. One requires interaction skills to capture closeup street portraits, and to be at isolated locations at the right time to capture wildlife and bird life. I never use local guides unless mandatory, so most of the time I'm out and about scouting for possible locations to capture images. The image below, a heron, the only single large bird at this spot. I knew at sometime the heron was going to take flight. After 3 hours of waiting, I grabbed this shot. It was better returning to home base with at least one snap than nothing at all. 

Overland Transit - Nepal

Changing weather conditions are the causes of track erosion causing avalanches and slips along designated routes through Nepal. Road routes are passable all year round even through the rainy season, bar a few rough tracks that can be blocked for days or even weeks. Local jeep, bush bus and truck drivers are accustomed of driving in extreme conditions. Safety on board public transport is still a major concern in Nepal, even with upgraded roads with additional safety barriers along the edge on cliff top mountains. Road fatalities in Nepal are mainly caused by driver error, faulty brakes and excessive speeding.  Nepal ezilon map

The above image was captured from the rooftop of another bus. Transiting on rooftops is still possible in remote regions in the Nepali highlands with "some" bus operators.  Below, a quick snap on a remote highland bush-bus track that became blocked from cliff rocks above the road track. Accidents in Nepal are common with a large amount of accidents caused by driver error, failed brakes and speed. Transiting on the edge of cliff faces in the Himalaya in remote regions of Nepal with no safety barriers or speed limits will give anyone the ride of a lifetime if they make it through - over the years many foreign nationals never made it. fatal one : fatal two : fatal three : fatal four : fatal five

Transiting along high altitude road routes through the Himalaya above the tree line during midwinter can cause extensive travel delays. Major rock fall, avalanches and road slips are common events in winter. Braking and then sliding on black ice is the worst threat to all vehicles. The use of snow chains is required on isolated routes. Those self-driving, or in vehicles without snow chains in midwinter are running the risk of sliding off the edge down into ravines with certain death. Below image, a dozer @3500+ meters receiving makeshift roadside repairs., temp minus -15C.

Solo Overland Transit - Himalaya Summer

 High altitude cliff edge travel and transit through the Himalaya is pure adrenaline!

Looking for high altitude overland transit adrenaline above 3800 meters? India still has plenty of high cliff edge routes to satisfy. An untold amount of mountainous cliff-top highways stretch across the northern regions of Kashmir, Arunachal, and Himachal Pradesh. The Shimla to Leh transit route via Spiti valley will match any other high altitude road journey on the planet. If you're into hiking, trekking, landscape, astro and wildlife photography, the Indian Himalaya is certainly one region not to be missed. Most high altitude roads are closed during winter months caused by snow drifts blocking high pass transit routes four to six months yearly. Below image, a snap en-route on the Ladakh highway during late summer. 

In Transit - M.V. Liemba

Boat transit on Lake Tanganyika on an Ex-German WW1  Kaiser gunboat - Real African Atmosphere!

The MV Liemba is officially the oldest cargo passenger vessel still active in the world today. The century old vessel sets sail each week from Kigoma, and slowly steams southward down Lake Tanganyika to Mpulungu in Zambia. The original name of MV Liemba was the Graf Goetzen. The ship was built in 1913 as a warship constructed in Papenburg in northern Germany. It was then dissembled and transported in parts, in 5000 crates, from Hamburg port to Dar es Salaam. A narrow gauge railway line was specially constructed from Dar to Kigoma to transport the crates. During the colonial era of rivalry for dominance of the lake, the Germans scuttled the Graf Goetzen. The vessel remained hidden, resting on the bottom of Lake Tanganyika for almost a decade. The English resurfaced the Graf and recommissioned it under a British flag.

This is the best boat transit in Africa, (Wadi Rum to Aswan a close 2nd) with multiple stops en-route in either direction. Due to the cost of refurbishing this old steamer, the M.V. Liemba may be decommissioned at a later stage and replaced with a newer vessel. Repairs to keep the ship active of late (2018) has been ongoing. Don't miss a journey on the MV Liemba if your overland transit route is north bound from South Africa to Zambia, or from DRC, Uganda, Rwanda or Burundi - All three overland transit routes end up at lake Tanganyika.
Part of any overland journey isn't complete without transiting up or down rivers or lakes on board worn aged ferry boat steamers. The original Rocket ferry is still active in Bangladesh, including a variety of different makes and models through the African, South American and Asian continents.

In Transit - India

Transiting anywhere through India is a breeze with the country's vast rail network that runs around the clock non-stop. Buses, vans, and jeeps take over where any rail finishes, or non-existent. Crossing from one side of India, like from Jaisalmer to Calcutta takes a day and half, which isn't breaking any world speed record, but who's in a rush? The choice of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class bookings from hard bench seats to full on bedding and blankets, including air conditioning beats any bus service. It allows options for those running on a tight budget.

If you were issued a double or triple entry visa from an Indian consulate with split duration periods of 3+3 months, ensure to leave India before 90 days. The new long duration e-Visas relatively work the same way. Ignoring this will cause issues and missed flights. A few foreigners I've met in the past didn't realize they had to leave India before 90 days for at least 1 day. This is a good excuse to visit, or revisit Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka, so no harm done. Overstaying on an expired visa for even one day in India may make it extremely difficult when reapplying for any future Indian visa.

Don't think you can see all of India in six months, this is an impossible task. The country is so vast and will need many other visits to complete a thorough overland journey through different seasons. Those who think they can buzz around the country in one month, and assume they've seen India is either from another planet, or high as a kite in dream state.

Hanging out the sides of local state commuter trains during transit isn't a problem in India, Indians do it all the time through the hot sweaty summer months. Forget about doing this on express trains transiting across the country.

​Arriving into India without photo-gear is like flying down to Antarctica without having any interest in penguins. I've met plenty of foreigners who were totally gutted only using smart phone cameras. This is certainly a no-brainer for those traveling through India for six months. Those planning coming to India, do yourself a favor and bring a DSLR and a few lenses. Think about all the amazing images captured and then enlarged hanging on walls in canvas.

Indian Street Photography 10/10  :  Indian Landscape 10/10  :  Indian Culture  10/10  :  Indian Wildlife 10/10

Classic Cabs - India

Cruising around town in a classic Ambassador cab feels like the 1950s. Depending on cab drivers, cab meters maybe rigged, spinning over at twice the speed. One can also bater fares before jumping onboard. Older cab drivers are normally honest without using tricked-out meters.

Overland Transit - Mozambique

Bitumen tarmac - Laid back lifestyle - Beach lover's paradise.

Sun surf and relaxation along the Mozambican coastline has been a safe zone hot spot since the end of the civil war, although this is slowly being hampered by a wave of Islamic insurgency with vicious attacks in the northern region of the country. Mozambique is certainly not alone, Islamist insurgency has increased rapidly throughout Africa. If not contained (which looks unlikely), sporadic Islamic attacks will eventually move southward through Mozambique. 

The hardest thing to do in Mozambique is actually deciding which region of the country to chill-out for a week or two. There's still plenty of secluded coastal beaches and bays quietly nestled hidden away from mainstream tourism hot spots. Generally, most locals are very outward going. Personally, I would recommend spending time in small fishing village communities. Rising up early heading out on a small boat with locals, swimming, snorkeling, and catching your own fish supply can't be easier. 
​Transiting into Mozambique from any direction will end up along the coastal highway up and down the country. The laid-back lifestyle is immediately noticed with the 100's of small fishing communities scattered along the coastline. Local transport gets kudos with their comprehensive minivan and bus transportation. Hitchhiking is also relatively easy at gasoline stations. Transit routes too and from Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania constantly flow in either direction during daytime hours. Mozambique is well known for its crystal sandy beaches, especially in the northern regions near Pemba. Surfers from South Africa commonly cross the border to Punta del Este. Mozambique in the past was a laid back pit-stop to chill for a while before transiting northward up the continent towards Egypt.

In Transit - Western Himalaya

Do you doze-off falling asleep like other passengers do during overland transit journeys? I've been capturing images on the go since the '80s. I've always found corner back seats on any transport to be the best position to grab moving snaps. Most drivers won't stop unless breakdowns occur or needed piss stop. Hanging on to photo gear transiting along rough rugged road routes is imperative if you don't want your camera stuff hitting the road and bouncing to bits. Vibration and sideways movement is inescapable while half out widows trying to capture images on rough cut road routes.

The Karakoram high pass into China is closed during the winter months from heavy snow drifts blocking the high altitude highway. Even when mountain passes are cleared the possibilities of sudden avalanches can happen through the wet season. Above image, an avalanche that completely covered and blocked the route for days. Visa formalities for Pakistan must be done in advance. The new online eVisa scheme will eventually open and be valid for border crossings in the future. There was no Pakistani consulate in Kashgar at the time of writing this, but there is a consular office active in Chengdu (contact below) who were issuing visas to foreign nationals. A valid visa is required by most nationalities to enter Pakistan from China.
The days of receiving Pakistani visas at the Chinese/Pakistan border was canned years ago. Pakistani Consulate Chengdu - Jinjiang, Xinguanghua St, 7号航天科技大厦2306室 Phone+86 28 8526 8, forget the Embassy in Beijing, unless dressed in a suit carrying a briefcase, but then you never know your luck. Below image - narrow cut out driving through an avalanche. 

Overland Transit - Islamic Iran

Stick with Iranian Rules & Regulations, and enjoy the hospitality of the country's citizens and Persian culture!

Iran has a double-edged sword for those who visit the country. Strict Islamic laws will have its presence as soon as one steps across the border. Westerners with attitude are frowned upon by custom and immigration officials, and are not tolerated within the Republic by pro Iranian Govt. supporters. The hospitality of the Iranians themselves make up for all the rules and regulations that one has to abide with inside the country. The transit infrastructure through Iran's main highway arteries are smooth as glass. Iranians (Persians) enjoy meeting foreigners, and do go out of their way to offer a hospitality that's unmatched anywhere else within this region. Government and religious regulations are strict and must be adhered to without compromise. Dress code in public places for both male and female since 1979 took a step backwards from the Shah days eradicating exposed skimpy western attire. Naive dumb travel bloggers require permission and legal permits to fly drones in Iran, if ignored - Suffer the consequences which will rattle your bones and break your insanity! 
Above image - Smooth bitumen asphalt running through eastern Iran from Mirjaveh to Kerman. 

Warning - Don't be like other idiot westerners who've been jailed for photographing sensitive govt. buildings, military and navy ports.

Obtaining visa extensions is still in effect for certain nationalities. Applying well in advance before visas expire is recommended for those who can apply. Many transit quickly through Iran, which is probably more of a fear-phobia than anything else. New rules and regulations created in 2015 stipulate that all foreigners entering the Islamic state from English speaking nations will require  a personal guide.
The black market for US dollars is booming @42,000 rials for $1 USD (Jan 2021). Cash stash dollars on the black market will get you along way through the country covering food and other expenses. An official declaration showing exchange rates for hotel accommodation upon leaving Iran maybe requested. The latest western dummies (Kiwis) were warned not to go to Iran - Overinflated egos got the better of them.

Entering overland into Iran can be done from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Northern Iraq and Turkey. These are the normal transit entry/exit points. If continuing through to Afghanistan via Mashad, a visa can be issued from the Afghani Embassy in Tehran. It's located close to Shahid Beheshti metro station. Applying for Afghani visas at the Consulate in Mashad can be problematic, and may or may not issue visas to various foreign nationals - good luck on that.

Archeological sites are many through the country, one in particular - Persepolis, is not to be missed. It's located 60Km from Shiraz. A couple of days is required strolling through the complex. Below shows one of many original 2500 year old bas-reliefs still intact. Taq-e Bostan is another excellent archeological site well worth visiting when coming or going overland through to Baghdad via Kermanshah.  

Overland Transit - Burundi

Early 4am transit starts are Unavoidable - Securing a seat can be a mission… Book Early!

Many who overland through this part of Africa by-pass Burundi. Of late, internal turmoil simmers on the surface. The country's different ethnic groups are still scarred from the 1994 Rwanda genocide without compromise or reconciliation. Foreigners transiting through this small Republic will feel the friction and tension, if there's a mix of rival groups clashing on the streets. The Burundi crossing into DRC has a better reputation than the Rwanda-DRC border crossing having less bribes and corruption. Uncorrupted Goma immigration officials do allow entry without paying large dollar donation bribes. This will solely depend who's on duty when arriving. My last DRC visa had cost $150 bucks. There's also a presence of Islamic insurgency beginning to plague the country (Islamic State/ADL). Personally, I would be more concerned of being mugged or raped in DRC after dark. This has a higher percentage level @90 percent - Burundi Ezilon map

In Transit - Flash Flood Washouts

Erratic weather can cause flash flooding down river within hours without warning.

Torrential rain and constant downpours can be hundreds of kilometers away without any sign until the last second it impacts further downstream. It can take a days, or more before flash floods disperse. This is a normal occurrence that happens through the wet season in the sub-continents. A food supply of rations is essential within isolated interior regions that are prone to torrential downpours. Driving vehicles across swollen rivers should be avoided until river bottoms are visible. Becoming bogged down crossing flooded streams and rivers happens. It's up to the driver's judgment if river crossings are passable. If your gut instinct says wait - Wait! 

Below, a driver risks crossing through a swollen stream. Other onlookers, including myself watched and preferred waiting until the water had retreated back to its normal flow rate. The image doesn't show the actual flow rate and depth in the middle of the crossing, but it was well above sill height of this vehicle.  

Overland Transit - Brazil

Blown out tires, exploding diffs, and engine failure happens through the Amazonian Basin 

Brazil has you covered in all directions - self-drive : deluxe bus : bush bus : MC : Truck : Ferryboat : Hitchhike 

It doesn't matter which Brazilian bus company you choose. Many of them can fail anywhere anytime. On previous visits through Brazil, I've used local state buses. Blown engines and transmission failures do happen. The Amazonian region is where transportation is tested above and beyond its limitations during the wet season. Blown out tires are common occurrence, mainly caused by rough road conditions from extreme weather changes and maintenance issues. Some transit journeys in Brazil can take 3-4 days with alternating drivers en route. Amazonian bus drivers show no mercy hammering buses to bits. A few blown-out tire changes on any journey is nothing to complain about. Engine and transmission failures in the middle of nowhere is another issue. It can take a days for a replacement bus. Bandits are a problem in the northern region of Brazil. Highway bus robberies are as real as they get. Make sure you've got your pockets filled with mugging money, or suffer. Self-driving through the Brazilian Amazonian region with your own vehicle may result to holdups, ans mugged of everything - including the vehicle. I've been lucky driving in Brazil with no issues - twice.

Train Transit - Egypt

Slow train transit - Alexandria - Cairo - Luxor - Aswan

Many begin or end their solo overland African journeys in Egypt. Neighboring countries Libya, and Sudan both have friendly consulates for onward visas. Cairo is also the city for updating, renewing filled up and expiring passports. Above, probably the worst crappy smart phone snap on this website that's full of grain, blur, and lacking correct exposure. A rare no brainer moment when I didn't carry camera gear on the street.

Egypt has an extensive railway network system running up and down beside the Nile. Transiting by train to random drop-off points of interest from Alexandria to Aswan is straight forward. Egyptian trains have plenty of space for baggage, one can get up and walk around, stretch the legs, and interact and chit-chat with locals in other carriages. Now and then Egyptian trains do break down. This is always a good time capturing random images.

Are packaged tours on ferryboats up and down the Nile worth it? Honestly, I wouldn't have a clue, wouldn't care less, and have avoided any type of travel package group tours since I began solo overland travel journeys in '82. You'll be scratching to find any mention of group tours through this website. I'm not saying group tours are bad, they're just not my cup of tea. I only placed this Nile ferry image here because the composition has locals in it.    

Solo Transit - Hitching Across Oceans

Hitching lifts across oceans is nothing new. At some non-bustling sea ports, the chances of speaking directly one on one with captains can turn out positive. Most important of all, onward visas entering countries disembarking at seaports must be in order.

It doesn't happen all that often, but cargo ships do have their bad days. I've been on vessels when the engines completely shut down for two days. Another, a ships cargo shifted caused by stormy ocean currents. I've even been on a cargo ship sailing directly on the left-overs of a tsunami wave from a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

Bush boats are real, I've traveled on them in central and south America, Africa, the Mid East and Asia. Above, a typical bush boat during transit below deck of the engine and kitchen galley — in the 2020s. My basic bed was close by to the engine for four days — how about that? Try it, you might enjoy it. At times, there's no other available transportation within remote regions. Bush boats will get you from A to B at minimal cost. 

Those having strong stomachs will be able to handle rough sea swells, and put up with squalling weather conditions. Those with weak stomachs may spend more time on all fours during rough open sea voyages.

The majority of cargo vessel engine rooms are cleaner than kitchen tables. Next time when on the high seas, take a peek for yourself.

A great way to reach a continent rather than flying is by hitching lifts on board vessels in the direction of transit. Cargo ships are one option, which I've done a few times. Insurance and onward visas are normal requirements. One could still be lucky enough to find work away passage. Peeling potatoes in the kitchen, or painting the decks is the normal workload for gratis-free voyage on certain cargo vessels. Work-away has almost vanished and replaced with paid global sea voyages on cargo and container ships. It isn't cheap either, but there's no limitation for baggage, including weight.

The good - clear weather calm seas smooth passage : The bad - storms : swells : breakdowns : rescue

Grabbing free lifts on cargo ships will also depend on nationality and passport. All visa requirements and clearances to destinations must be in order. Expect 9 out of 10 rejections before finding a caption/purser who will grant free passage. Applying for a seaman's book is another alternative that has worked in the past.

There was a time when it was hassle free to jump on board sea going vessels for free, if one had a valid Seamans book. Off course one had to work, but at least journeys were for free. These could be obtained at certain offices for a minimal fee. Panamanian Seamans book were the easiest to be issued. In 2022, it's more simpler to be issued an astronauts license flying to Mars.   

Above, rough as guts sea ports through northern Africa are common. This recent image I took looks as if was taken decades ago from the age of the vehicles in it. Every isolated port has its own ambience, this one gets 10/10 for originality.

They say patience is a virtue. It is with no escape trying to grab lifts on sea going vessels. It's all about timing, contacts and who one corresponds with to successfully grab inexpensive journeys across oceans. Its usual, one out of twenty cargo ships may offer a ride, but don't expect lavish comfort like tourist cruise ships. I've personally slept in containers with nothing more than a thin mat to sleep on. Food is basic but who's complaining.      

Hitching rides onboard cargo vessels requires time and patience, including reliable contacts within the shipping industry.  

Below, jumping on board cargo ferry ships through the Mid East is relatively straight forward. One only requires valid visa entry to the destination. Yemen to Djibouti, Iran to Dubai, Oman to Pakistan, Egypt to Saudi, and Saudi to Sudan are the usual transit connection sea routes. Bookings are required in advance. 

My personal dress mode through the Mid-East depends on each individual country I'm passing through. I'll normally stick to what I normally wear - jeans, tank top, leather vest and buff hoodie. Iran and Saudi are exceptions due to public street clothing regulations. Western females will find it almost impossible strolling around through the Middle East in skimpy clothing. They will quickly become overwhelmed by local men following them around, and subjected to arrest if caught.   

Below, some cargo ships I've used have basic 20 foot containers for accommodation. I've slept on the decks of cargo ships, down in the hold of cargo ships, and if lucky enough in cabins with a spare bunk bed. Those looking for comfort on cargo/container ships can always pay top rate on large vessels.

Interacting Works - Try It

Bumping into total strangers can surprise you, if strolling around with DSLRs in hand. This local spotted me grabbing a few snaps close by and decided to do his macho thing. Of course, I could have ignored him, but then this image wouldn't be here. Using quick positive interaction with strangers makes it simple and easy to capture some great snaps. If locals aren't shy, then be like them, you've got absolutely nothing to lose.

Narcissistic Selfie Addiction - (NPD)

The need for positive admiration to be liked at all costs.

Drug use is bad, but taking non stop selfies and posting to social media is just as bad or worse. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) addiction is a mental disorder. It equates to exaggerated sense of self-importance. It's those who require the need for positive admiration, to be liked at all costs. Looking for the perfect click bait background ambience, and as most already know, those with heavy NPD symptoms will deny their addiction until the last straw.
Keeping control putting the lid on selfie addiction is difficult when everyone else around you are addicted doing it. This is the mad world we live in today. Leaving social media is a good start to overcome NPD - Just don't look back.

They say great minds think alike, well at least this local and myself were on the same page capturing images of other people rather than of ourselves. Below, my type of selfie.

If the entire planet stopped using cell phones, we'd be in a much better place. We would instead have dialogue and direct conversation with other people. We would enjoy looking more of what's around us rather than staring into cell phones. We would become more extroverted than introverted like how it was before smart phones arrived. We wouldn't have invasion of privacy, snooping, spying or tracking of everything a person does. But people today are so addicted to their smart phones, and will probably die of stress without having them. The snaps below show where people are at.        

Smart phone junkies  :  Smart phone addicts  :  Smart phone zombies  :  Smart phone madness  :  Smart phone brain damage

Capturing Images - There's No Limit

There's more to life than being an addicted smart phone addict - look around you!

These images are quick examples showing there's more to life out there than staring into smart phones browsing social media at the latest selfie snap how many likes it got. Selfie addicts are Social Media junkies. Like roaming sheep, they flock to those must have locations only to capture fresh selfies. Offshore I see them, I watch their habits, they're all the same. Selfie lovers can be anyone, although the most addicted selfie snappers are the Gen Z generation. Most have lost all cohesion of the real world of enjoying what's around them. Everything today relates hindering within the group think mindset. Selfie and Social media platforms put cocaine addiction to shame. The increased struggle with mental illness issues, and educated indoctrination has all but shut down self-critical thinking. People offshore taking more selfie snaps are those most in need to feel good about themselves, and to be liked at all costs. I'm not on social media, I don't need social media, so I don't have the above issues. I can sit out in the wilderness for days on end enjoying the night sky, or weeks on end within bustling isolated villages, or watching slow boats glide up and down rivers. It's probably even difficult or near impossible for most selfie social media addicts to reach these three locations without taking selfies of themselves. Instead, enjoy traveling around planet looking of what's in and around you rather than looking at yourself. 

Since the beginning of early 1980s the positive interest of capturing random street shots of people offshore from all different cultural backgrounds has been ongoing, and still ongoing effortlessly in the 2020s. Comparing these classic SLR roll film snaps (low res only) taken through the '80s, nothing much has changed with interaction and composition. The upgrade traveling with DSLR full frame photo gear has made it all the more easier.

The captures examples may seem boring to look at in today's world of street still photography, but one will require traveling to India, NWF Pakistan, Tibet and Myanmar capturing similar shots. One things for sure, it would be hard pressed, almost difficult for social media selfie addicts traveling to these countries to do the same. The Millenial-Gen Z generation are a different kettle of fish, I bump into them from time to time. They have common flaws with many lacking self-confidence, lack of respect, ignorant, and spend most of their pass time gawking at cell phones all day. Putting it bluntly, they are the entitlement dream state generation who wouldn't have a clue or careless of any real time reality outside social media - How sad is that?  

The most important above all when traveling offshore, is the art of interacting with all types of strangers. Forget the name tags i.e. Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist. Interacting with people is about one on one using different methods of dialog. The only way of capturing positive random captures of selected subjects, is by interacting with them first. Those out there with limited interacting skills should first brush up at home base interacting with locals before departing offshore. Having zero interaction skills certainly won't capture simple street snaps like below. Offshore street photography also requires reliable trusted camera gear. Whatever camera gear is used, do avoid relying on smart phone camera junk capturing shots unless disappointment is the aim. 

Don't hesitate interacting with random street subjects. It plays a roll capturing images like these quick examples.

Offshore Solo Travel - Stayin' Alive!

You'd think foreigners traveling overseas would easily abide by normal safety rules & regulations when it involves railway line tracks, but many don't and wouldn't care less and end up returning home in body-bags. Driving across uncontrolled railway lines without stopping, or at least slowing down to ensure there are no trains coming within eye distance is a quick way of ending up in a morgue on the same day. This also applies to selfie addicts taking unnecessary risks capturing snaps beside railway lines of moving trains and then struck dead as a door nail even before they know it. Walking along isolated railway lines is another no-brainer especially those who plugin ear phones blasting music without a care in the world. Getting stuck halfway inside railway tunnels, or along railway bridges when trains suddenly appear out of nowhere without any space to avoid being struck and killed happens. If you're one of those insane foreigners who think they know better - at least purchase your own body bag first with your name on it!

British national killed by train - Lagos Nigeria : Ukrainian national killed by train - Georgia : Korean national killed by train - Switzerland : Thai National killed by train - Thailand : Chinese national killed taking selfie from train - Sri Lanka : Dangerous train selfie trends : Indian national killed on toy train - India : Filipino nationals killed hitting train - New Zealand : Chinese national killed taking selfie beside train tracks - China  : 3 Indian nationals killed taking selfie beside train tracks - India : 3 South Koreans killed in car train crash - Hungary : Dutch national killed jumping from train - India

Offshore Solo Travel - Beach Breaks & Free Camping

No, this is not one of those faked photo shop images we see all the time online. It's real like everything else through this website. A basic isolated crib in the middle of nowhere to chill out during overland transit journey breaks with no plastic touristy ghettos in any direction. Most people would only sustain a week or two weeks at the most camped out in oceans by themselves. Can you imagine the Gen Z generation having to catch their own fish with no wifi, no internet, no food service, and no one to chat with - an impossible task.

For most, taking a break from overland travel is usually in any direction towards a beach - but which beach? Most beaches that can be easily accessed these days are usually overcrowded and jam-packed, which won't give the peace and quiet after a six to 12 month grind of overland travel. Depending the location, there's some awesome secluded beaches to hang a hammock, and if lucky enough, the option of setting up a small campsite for a few days, or even a week or two (cleaning up trash before departing). The best deserted beaches are situated on small islands, or archipelagos, like in Tonga or French Polynesia. Areas of the Caribbean, Red Sea, including coastlines scattered through Africa and South America still contain isolated coastal patches to relax and enjoy time-out. Rough style free camping is hard to beat for old school travellers, those who dislike basic outdoor living without internet can always find some where "comfy" to crash.

An ample food supply, and basic cooking gear is required at remote coastal beaches, and mountainous ares. Preparing a simple oven is by digging a small hole in solid ground (not sand). Collecting a supply of firewood along isolated beaches are normally branches, fallen trees, and washed up wood. Finding a hot plate to cook on can be difficult, but not impossible, small communities scattered along shorelines usually have something usable. One can catch their own fish, bake potatoes, cook veggies, and fry almost anything one desires. An essential water supply is required, including several food storage containers to keep insects and rodents from soiling food. Keeping watch on lit ovens and putting fires out completely before sleeping at any camp-site is imperative.

Getting to remote islands, like Bora Bora can be reached by ship. Tahiti is a direct flight path from New Zealand to Santiago-Chile via Easter Island. If the timings right, hitching lifts on supply vessels from Easter island to Valparaiso is a possible option, if the captain's in a good mood. Nellikunnu beach in Kerala, India gets a mention here, including Jericoacoara in northern Brazil. As usual, it's at your own risk free camping on any secluded beach anywhere around the planet. Robbing, mugging, and raping is something that does happen, and impossible to stop within isolated regions!

If you like blistering hot rugged isolated landscape with warm ocean currents, the Sinai peninsula is more than satisfying. The small Sinai fjord situated 18 kms from the Taba/Eilat border is pure isolation. The necessity of bringing enough food and water supplies is required. On one occasion, I was down to the last liter of water after free camping 6 days at this location. By chance, a private yacht had sailed in saving my skin. I attached 1/2 a dozen empty bottles on a dive belt and snorkeled out to the yacht refilling them. This added two more days at this isolated fjord. Camping without a tent isn't recommended here, scorpions and the odd wild dog pass through the night.

Swimming amongst sharks - Samoa - Cook Islands - Tonga - French Polynesia - Do It!

Personally, laying on beaches drinking Pina Coladas all day has zero interest. Catching my own fish for dinner, diving and swimming closeup amongst marine life with turtles, dolphins, and sharks is. The Pacific islands is one region I do return to for underwater adventure. The only way of reaching deserted islands is with locals. Food and water supplies required.

Some like myself prefer isolated beaches while others really don't care what beach they're hanging out in. Normally, yuppie flight babies choose island trendy beach getaways where there's plenty of other flight babies. Bali, Dubai, Rio, the Caribbean, and Goa are a few locations to mention. Personally, I've avoided these tourist party beach ghettos since the '80s. Those wanting to get drunk and drugged off their faces with other foreigners dancing at full moon beach parties has been around since the '60s hippie era. Since March 2020, most trendy offshore beaches are deserted. Beach tourism was hit hard by SARS-CoV-2 lock downs. People in 2022 have financial worries to think about - Like getting rid of all debt. Below, a classic roll film snap when travel freedom was taken for granted.                

Freedom beach camping regions offshore are situated in countries where tourism hardly exists. Finding rough rugged isolated beaches, like below, are situated well-off the beaten tourist track. The minimum requirements are firewood, a tent, cooking plate and pot, and basic food supplies. Knowing how to set up an open fire cooking your own food is an enjoyment, not a burden. Going fishing with locals, and sourcing additional grub like fruit and rice from locals is what has worked for me at different locations around the planet since '82.     

Most foreign tourists prefer silky sandy beach environments sipping on pina coladas. Top deserted rough beaches - Angola, Somalia, Saudi, Iran, Nicaragua, Suriname, Guyana, Myanmar.  Below, a classic snap I took in San Andres. One of my favorite pastimes on the island wasn't drinking Pina Coladas on Johnny Cay. It was around the backside of the airport runway, where one could freely sit on the edge of the open tarmac watching jets coming in passing just meters above you.    

Above, just like those 1980s-90s postcards, main beach San Andres, Colombia. One can't avoid stop-offs at beaches along the Brazilian coastline. Almost every beach location have their own displays of tourist tee shirts in abundance with city logos. Brazilians are known vivid travelers through their own country. I've traveled overland extensively through Brazil at least half a dozen times. Staying vigilant and being savvy streetwise will get yourself and baggage stuff through Brazil with no issues. Strolling along beaches after dark on any Brazilian beach is at your own risk and peril.

What do I personally do on beach coastlines offshore? Take images off course. Fishing villages are always great places to capture images. Busy bustling wharf's and loading docks are a close second. Anything else of interest worth photographing depends on the location. I do avoid heavy populated tourist beach ghettos, but now and then sipping on cold ales watching smart phone tourist travelers taking selfies is amusing. 

Above and below images are at the same location. Without traveling with any photo gear, surf still snaps like this would be impossible to capture. AFS Nikon 200-400 f/4G VRII zoom lens. 

The same beach, just a little stroll where the waves were rolling in at the point captured shots like below.

Still Captures - Canvas Art

Imagine traveling overland crossing entire continents without anything to show, except for a collection of selfies, and low subpar images taken from smartphones. You're not alone, many have done this, regrettably after a few years have passed when reigniting all those travel images back to life.
Everyone has different values of their own street images, and what was used capturing them. Traveling with some form of photo gear (not just junkie smart phones) will give more opportunities taking street snaps, people shots, landscapes, on the go, and wildlife images. One doesn't require the latest camera gear, or any specific brand. Any mirrorless or full frame DSLR will do the job. Almost every overland travel journey will automatically open up endless options capturing inspiring stills. As time passes, all those Raw files captured through various journeys becomes more valuable. For example, some images taken years ago that seemed boring, or not that interesting at the time could easily become favorites put to good use years later.

Are you heading offshore? Want to capture satisfying images? Don't leave home base without camera gear.

Think about it, traveling through countries over-landing across continents without capturing images in Raw format will almost become regrettable at a later date. Traveling with no photo gear at all, is more than insane, if crossing Africa, Asia, or South America. Satisfaction capturing street images becomes rewarding when returning to home base. A collection of various images splattered across walls, or a series of images chosen for gallery showings, is where it begins - not ends.  A few good examples of 2nd hand DSLR bodies with shutter counts below 30k are Nikon D700, D800, D810, D3, D3S, D4, D4S, Canon 5D Mark III - Used photo gear KEH camera USA
Capturing random snaps en-route on certain travel journeys will become more valuable as the years pass by. The regret of not doing so isn't important until one rekindles a collection of travel images, but then only finds a few quick snaps instead of multiple images that could of been taken during those past journeys.   

When offshore traveling through the middle of nowhere, never hesitate getting that shot. Many have regretted not doing so i.e. rugged regions,, African heartland, central Asia, Middle East, Andean block, bush bus transit stops, breakdown stops, road route delay stops, diverse en-route.

Capturing random street images on the go is what street photography offshore is all about. Having cameras close by and ready to go will get shots like this. One only has a small time frame with almost zero delay to get certain shots. Nothing remains in the same place, so don't expect anything spotted yesterday will be there waiting for you a day later. With no hesitation, get the shot before that particular composition vanishes forever. Regret has no place here, don't be like others dreaming about "Ohh damn, that could of been a great street snap", or "shame, my smart phone battery is dead" Use real photo gear and know how to use it.    

Offshore Travel & Transit - Pit Stop Grub

There's nothing better when stopping in the middle of nowhere en-route jumping off dusty bush buses, or from other transportation to fill the hunger pains. Some of the best tasting coffee and chai are from rough shack highway stops. Simple food intake becomes normal during overland journeys covering days of transit. Chowing down butter spread naan with a couple of boiled or fried eggs, coffee or chai is more than satisfying.

Solo Overland Transit - Photo Gear On The Go

The majority of kids throughout Africa aren't spoiled brats - highway lolly scramble.

Many traveling and transiting offshore capturing shots on the go, like below, quickly find out their images are blurred, not sharp, out of focus, or cut-off. User error is normally the issue, with incorrect camera settings a close second. During transit journeys, I will normal use the same lens without the need of changing lenses during transit journeys, and already familiar with camera settings. I've found smart phone cameras to be the most useless junk to rely on capturing satisfied images offshore. Up market point and shoots and full frame DSLR camera gear is where it's at. The snap below was taken with a  D3. It has been a reliable daylight workhorse body for almost a decade capturing street portraits, wildlife, and diverse subjects with zero issues. Nikon got it right with this model (D3-D3S-D3X).

Grabbing long haul flights escaping out of the western world reaching other continents can't be avoided. As we reach 2030, cheap airline tickets will be non-existent. Cheap international flights will become phased out. This is by design promoting climate change propaganda, leaving only the rich to fly wherever they wish. A phrase seen through this website "Do it while you can" is directly associated to draconian restrictions to freely leave your own country. By 2028, kerosene fuel jets will also become thinned out. This may sound insane, but those in sink with WEF UN 2030 globalist agenda protocols know what it's all about. Best advice, get out enjoying what freedoms remain before they all disappear.     

Overland Transit Page One