Norhayati Seek Support For 4X4 Expedition
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - "We want to make the nation proud by flying the national flag along the route of our expedition," Norhayati Abu Bakar said yesterday to the Bulletin regarding the 4X4 expedition that will take her and husband Harun Kurt Eichbauer Abdullah across Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asean countries.

She believes that it will be the first attempt by anyone in Asean to complete the route, and the journey will be the first in a Brunei-registered car.

Asked why she wanted to embark on such an arduous trip, she said: "I wish to fly the Brunei flag along the route as it will be an eye-opener for people in these countries to know where Brunei is on the world map".

The expedition will help promote the Visit Brunei Year 2008, especially Brunei as an ecotourism destination for tourists from the Middle East, she said. "We will tell those we meet along the way about Brunei so that they want to come to our country." . The challenge also aims "to prove that women in Brunei can do things that some have thought otherwise," she added.

"This attempt will bring glory to the nation as though we are a small country, we can take on big challenges like our neighbouring countries." There is also on an academic quest to find out more about the Malays in Africa, for example in Cape Town.

"However, this all depends on the budget available. We need sponsors or contributors for our journey. So far, we have spent a sum of money on the car and its modifications, equipment and necessary items as we are serious about making this expedition. We need $40,000 to $50,000 for the whole journey. If corporations are willing to sponsor our expedition, we will welcome them and let them put their corporate logos on our vehicle".

The journey will begin in April 2007 from Cape Town to Tanzania. They expect to return to Brunei in June 2007 after the first leg of the journey. The second leg will resume in September until January 2008 from Tanzania to North Africa and Europe.

The third and final leg will begin on April or May 2008 when they will continue from Germany and pass through countries in the Middle East, the Himalayas, India, Asean countries and finally return to Brunei.

Due to the anticipated difficulties during the long journey, Norhayati and her husband need all the support they can get from the country.

Norhayati is an experience adventurer, having already done four-wheel drive trips in Europe, Middle East and Africa during Visit Brunei Year 2001. She has also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She has done humanitarian work in post-conflict and disaster areas such war-ravaged Bosnia and earthquake-hit Turkey.

She welcomes anyone who is interested in joining the 4x4 expedition, probably for the second leg at the participants' own expense.

Norhayati cautioned that it will be a tough journey, but physically and mentally a rewarding experience.

Anyone interested in sponsoring, contributing or assisting in the expedition can telephone 2343946 or email ddltours@brunet.bn. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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