Two backpacks – one 50 liters, the opposite 65 – with garments, a sleeping bag, medicines, repellent and a primary support equipment. These have been Beatrice and Filipe’s most prized possessions for the previous three months, and so they believed that they had been stolen in Iran. The story is lengthy.
The 2 folks from Lisbon have been in Indonesia after they met the couple that might be decisive for Beatriz Gonçalves and Filipe Diogo to make the choice that they had been laying aside: to drop all the pieces and go on a giant journey round Asia. The ultimate vacation spot could be Australia, and all the pieces might sound easy if it weren’t for the intention to do it overland solely. Sure, you learn that proper. Neglect the thought of taking a aircraft and crossing continents and oceans above the clouds.
In September 2022, after delays, unexpected occasions, pandemics and wars, the 29-year-olds started their journey there. From Lisbon they arrived in Porto, and from there they crossed the Swiss border with 4 buses.
Later, in Slovenia, journey started to tackle the patterns they intend to proceed with: extra hitchhiking and benefiting from stays at strangers’ homes. The right equation, it appears to us, for such adventures and limitless tales. And that is precisely what the 2 confirmed to NiT — and even a 12 months devoted 100% to planning the journey did not put together them for what they could discover.
20 hosts later (at the very least), three weeks in Slovenia, a month in Serbia, the primary trip taken with the assistance of a fisherman they may solely talk with by gestures, the tales have been already piling up. On the best way, they waited for the practice at an deserted station (which wasn’t even in the proper metropolis or nation) and have been pressured to transform to Islam by a younger 23-year-old physicist, with whom they stayed for a number of days.
The saga, deliberate to final three years, has solely simply begun, and already there are as many adventures as there are cities to find. Proper within the midst of the political and social scenario in Iran, they went via the worst scenario but – which has nothing to do with the protests and riots happening there.
“We had agreed to remain at somebody’s home and since we arrived early, round 12 o’clock, we ended up agreeing with you to go away issues in his automotive. He was at work on the time, we went to fulfill him at some storage and left all the pieces there. Beatrice and Filipe have been left with solely the smallest backpacks with cash, cameras and among the Most worthy objects they all the time carry with them.
Hours later, they have been shocked to listen to no information and tried to name – to no avail. So that they determined to go to the storage after which realized that the automotive was now not there. “We solely had the variety of the individual, who will need to have been about 38 years previous. We knew it was a white Peugeot, however we did not even have the license plate,” they are saying. It took him a number of calls to reply.
The individual then gave them the deal with, to which they proceeded, not with out first calling an individual they knew on the town, fearing it was a lure. In the long run, it was all nothing greater than a very good story that they will now inform in a humorous method – along with the signal that each one the small print they got here up with usually are not random.
Sure, as a result of Beatrice and Filipe had a 12 months to organize for the journey and all the pieces was thought out intimately. Visas, climate situations, methods to cross borders, transport, locations to go to: all the pieces was actually deliberate. “We ready ourselves for the opportunity of dying,” admits the nurse. Deep down, they needed to be as detailed as attainable and eradicate any dangers. In entrance of NiT, the 2 guarantee that that they had loads of time for this. It is simply that this journey was supposed to start out in 2021, however life modified its course.
The younger folks met in 2012 whereas attending a nursing course. In 2015, they determined to to migrate to England seeking higher working situations, and that is the place the journey drawback began to look. “We have finished some in Europe and one in Asia, however all in a really managed, largely all-inclusive setting.”
Nonetheless, in June 2019, throughout a second go to to the Asian continent – Indonesia to be extra particular – they realized that this would be the vacation spot of a long-term journey. “We had already considered it however there was all the time concern as a result of we had a secure life in England. And we did not know if we have been succesful. Not solely due to the monetary half, however as a result of it’s a very lengthy and considerably difficult street.”
Slightly nudge from a pair who have been on an analogous journey made all of the distinction. The purpose was one: to get to Australia with out ever utilizing planes. A backpacking journey. “We realized that what we actually get pleasure from is attending to know folks, their tradition, hitchhiking, doing all the pieces that some say to not do as a result of it is dangerous.”
And since “one of many massive prices of most of these plans is for flights,” the thought could be to plan all the pieces to realize as a lot time as attainable by taking them out of the equation. What began as only a dream additionally took form in a pandemic situation the place they labored longer hours, what little time that they had left was spent fascinated by their days as adventurers.
After promoting all the pieces that they had within the nation that had welcomed them for seven years, they returned to Portugal, however not for good – leaving their relations in shock. “We mainly got here again to say now it nonetheless will not be.” The thought was to start out in September of that 12 months, however the world situation meant they needed to change the departure date to a 12 months later. “We took the chance to stroll across the nation, primarily via Beira Alta, and we ready all the pieces very effectively.”
Within the meantime, that they had time to get married – a farewell ceremony scheduled for simply two months – and make investments extra of their Instagram account, via which they proceed to put up a few of their tales, recommendation and travels. It’s in it that the 2 wish to present the fact of the world, not the best issues.
“Social media perpetuates perfection and we wish to transfer away from that. That’s, sharing this non-standard perspective and displaying that international locations like Iran or India don’t solely have stunning issues. It’s true that there are some, however it’s also true that they’re difficult locations”, Filipe assures us. It is for that reason, and in addition as a result of it’s their favourite cease – and the place they spent 43 days – that the 2 write a lot about Iran.
“We shared so much in regards to the nation. We adopted different vacationers and noticed that there was a terrific lack of element and understanding of the Iranian perspective. That is what we’re making an attempt so as to add — not in actual time, as a result of we have been afraid to take action due to the political and social scenario — however now that we’re in Pakistan,” they clarify.
After three months, the funds stays the identical: 20,000 euros every. The intention shall be to remain in Pakistan for some time after which go to India, the place they have already got a one-year visa. They hope to spend three months in Nepal earlier than lastly arriving in Thailand in November. “In a 12 months we anticipate to reach in Australia, the place we’ve to remain for a 12 months.” On the finish of that point they return, this time by a distinct route.
Nonetheless, it’s a plan that’s not closed, and never figuring out very effectively what life shall be like after these three years, they maintain all doorways open. Within the meantime, he is certain they will proceed to simply accept invites from strangers in the midst of the road to go to their home and hitchhike – all all the time with loads of peace and time. “It’s this time, virtually blindfolded, that makes us see the world another way,” they emphasize. “Let’s hope we do not have to interrupt the no-planes rule.
Click on via the gallery to see among the nurses’ reminiscences.
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They’re couchsurfing.