PRESS
1) Press
>
From Sin Chew Press
http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/99437
FRENCH COUPLE SPEND LIFE SAVINGS TO TOUR THE WORLD OUT OF LOVE FOR THE WORLD
Klang 22-4-2010
How much do you need to spend to tour the world by land in a travelling caravan ? A French couple have to dig deep into their life savings in order to fulfill their dream of touring the world, with an average of RM4000.00 per month spent in each country visited
Date of arrival at Port Klang coincides with Earth Day
Arriving at Port Klang by the French couple on Earth Day has made the occasion much more significant and meaningful. With their strong desire and determination to tour every corner of the world, they will travel to all parts of the five continents to study the various cultures, ways of life and witness the changes taking place everywhere.
Aged 50 by June this year, Jean and his wife Natalie, 44, arrived at Port Klang 1 week ago and are currently putting up stay at KLANG HISTANA HOTEL. Their travelling van Ford Transit Connect reached Port Klang separately by sea from India a day earlier.
Savings started 30 years ago
Jean worked as a company regional manager while Natalie is a computer engineer. Both started savings since 30 years ago to generate sufficient fund for this round the world trip. They relinquished their high salary employments and set off the journey on 8th May last year.
During the past 11 months , Jean and Natalie had visited 19 countries including Europe, Russia, Middle East and India. Malaysia is the 20th country visited.
Natalie said this is their first time coming to Malaysia. They are immensely attracted to the climate, the cultures of 3 main races and the many varieties of food available here. They estimate to spend 3 to 6 months in Malaysia to get to know better the people’s way of life.
Know more about Malaysia through website and travel books
“We are very amazed and impressed with the freedom accorded to the three main races to preserve and practise their individual cultures. This is absolutely not workable in France. Natalie added that before coming to Malaysia , they had limited impression of the country and only managed to gather some information through the website and travel books. At the same time, coincidentally they met some Malaysia visitors in Iran who strongly promoted Malaysia as a tourist destination.
Jean and Natalie are both very fascinated with the local Mamak culture and they thoroughly enjoyed the so many varieties of food here.
Natalie further pointed out that after their trip to northern region of Malaysian Peninsular, they will travel to Indonesia before returning to Malaysia again to continue their tour to East Coast especially the nearby islands to enjoy diving activity.
From Malaysia, they will move on to Australia, South Africa, South America, United states etc to continue with their world tour which they foresee will complete by 2013 before they finally return to their home country, France.
Creating website to share experiences including photos
Jean and Natalie have jointly created a website (www.natetjean.com) to share their experiences together with photos especially for those who have similar intention to tour the world in the same manner. Natalie explained that they bought the travelling van Ford Transit Connect from car manufacturer Blucamp Grosso at a special discounted price and at the same time it was installed with sleeping bed, washing and eating settings free of charge. She told that this van model is very popular in France. Many retired senior citizens do own such vehicles but they do not know how to go about it even though they too have the same dream to travel around the world.
To invite interested group to enjoy travelling together by land
“ Apart from sharing the experiences through internet, we may consider organizing group tour with those keen to enjoy the fun and excitement in travelling by land.” Natalie described travelling by land as full of fun but there must be adequate budget especially to meet the high cost of sea transportation for vehicle. She further disclosed that their next destination will be Australia and expressed hope to find someone in Malaysia to assist them in sourcing for shipping service for their Ford van.
Warm reception at Klang Histana Hotel
Jean and Natalie were given a warm reception by management staff Brian Ng, Raymond Ng, and Ganesh upon their arrival at Klang Histana Hotel.
According to Brian Ng V Han, this is the 4th time KLANG HISTANA HOTEL has been chosen as a place to stay by similar round the world travelers . Within last year and this year, several such travelers from England and Switzerland had been to Klang as part of their world tour itinerary with their rally vehicle or 4-wheel drive.
Brian Ng opined that being near Port Klang as an international seaport, Klang is strategically located as an entry point for foreign travelers before they proceed to other Asian countries.
To promote Klang as a tourist center
Brian Ng V Han expressed hope that Tourism minister Dato Seri Ng Yen Yen will intensify effort to promote Klang as a tourist centre and attract more foreign visitors to our country. This sentiment has also received support from Jean & Natalie who see Malaysia as a good choice to begin tour around Asia.
“The tropical climate condition of Malaysia also enables tourists to come here any time round the year” added the French couple.
Most unforgettable experience ---driving in India
Talking about interesting experiences , Natalie pointed out that driving in India has been the most challenging and unforgettable. Fortunately, and unbelievable to the French couple, there had been no accidents the last 4 months even though having to drive under very unfavourable circumstances. Another unforgettable encounter is about an attempted break-in of their vehicle in Italy, notoriously famous for the high frequency of thefts. The van was damaged but nothing was stolen in view of the extra protection provided by the safety locks installed on the doors. Other than this, Jean lamented that he could only speak French language initially but managed to pick up English bit by bit throughout the journey. Luckily, Natalie started learning English well before they set off the world tour. They realized now that English is a more commonly used language all over the world.
法夫婦用畢生儲蓄‧走全球關愛世界
（雪蘭莪‧巴生）環遊世界需花多少錢呢？來自法國的一對中年夫婦，就用了畢生儲蓄， 實現環游世界的夢想，每個月在各國的消費平均需要4000令吉。
適逢422地球日意義深重
環遊世界來到巴生港口，適逢是世界地球日，對於這對夫婦來說，更是意義深重，因為他們靠著毅力走向世界各地，也認認真真地去體會世界各國風情及瞭解五大州面對的變化。
將於今年6月踏入50歲的津，與44歲的太太納達麗，是於上週抵達巴生，下榻巴生皇府酒店，而陪伴他們環遊世界的福特Transit Connect客貨車，則於早前從印度運抵巴生港口。
早在30年前就開始存錢
津在法國是一間公司的區域經理，納達里則是一名電腦工程師，為了這項出走計劃，他們早在30年前就開始存錢，並於去年5月8日開始，放下高薪優職周遊列國。
在過去的11個月里，津及納達麗共走過了19個包括歐洲、蘇聯、中東、印度等國家，大馬是他們行程中的第20站。
納達里指出，這是他們夫婦倆第一次在大馬旅遊，大馬的氣候、三大種族的文化及美食，著實讓他們大為著迷，他們計劃在大馬逗留3至6個月的時間，好好體驗大馬的風土人情。
“尤其是大馬的華巫印三大種族，都能在這國土上完好的保存他們的文化，真讓我們感到驚訝，因為這在法國是根本不能實現的。”
從網絡及旅遊書瞭解大馬
她說，在還未決定來大馬時，他們對大馬一點印象也沒有，只是從網絡及旅遊書瞭解大馬，同時在伊朗遇見大馬遊客，向他們大力推薦大馬。
津及納達麗也被大馬的嘛麼（Mamak）文化給吸引，並大贊大馬種類繁多的美食，讓他們食指大動。
納達麗指出，他們在遊玩北馬的景點後，將到印尼走一趟，再回到半島，繼續行走東海岸，特別是到東海岸的島嶼進行他們最愛的潛水活動。
“續大馬之後，我們將會到澳洲、南非、南美、美國等國家繼續我們未完成的旅程，初步計劃旅遊至2013年，才返回法國。”
將旅遊經驗及照片放上網
夫婦倆設旅遊網站
津及納達麗也開設一個旅遊網站http://www.natetjean.com，將他們旅遊各國的經驗及照片放上網，讓有意環遊世界的朋友作參考。
納達麗指出，他們駕駛的福特Transit Connect電動商用車，是車廠Blucamp Grosso在知道他們的用意後，以優惠價格賣給他們，隨車附送睡房、漱洗及用餐空間等設備。
她說，這款車款在法國非常流行，許多退休樂齡人士都擁有一輛，也有乘車旅遊的夢想，只是不懂要如何實現。
邀請旅行團一起享受駕車旅遊
“除了在網上分享我們的經驗，我們也考慮安排一些旅行團，邀請他們加入一起享受駕車旅遊的樂趣。”
她說，駕車旅遊非常寫意，不過，就得有多餘的預算，單是運載汽車的費用就佔去旅費的大多數。
她披露，他們的下一站是到澳洲旅遊，希望能在大馬找到可以協助他們運載福特客貨車到澳洲的人士。
印度駕駛經驗最難忘
提及旅遊中難忘的經驗時，納達麗指出，在印度的駕駛經驗極具挑戰性，讓她們非常難忘，慶幸的是，在那樣糟糕的情況下駕駛4個月以來，沒有發生過任何意外，也讓他們感到不可思議。
另一個叫他們難忘的經驗，則是在以“偷竊”聞名的意大利旅遊時，他們的福特客貨車車門被企圖偷竊的匪徒給破壞，幸好車門裝有安全鎖，匪徒無法得逞。
此外，津指出，由於在法國只說法語，因此，他的英文是在出國旅遊時，才慢慢學回來的，還好納達麗早在計劃出走前，就苦練好英文。
抵巴生獲皇府酒店熱情招待
津及納達麗抵達巴生後，也獲得皇府酒店經理黃華達、助理經理黃偉漢及副銷售經理加尼斯華然的熱情招待。
黃偉漢表示，這已經是該酒店第4次迎接類似環遊世界的外國遊客，之前就有英國及瑞士遊客分別以越野車及四輪驅動車環遊世界。
他說，巴生處於策略性地點，也擁有世界級港口的便利，是外國遊客入境大馬，通往亞洲國家的最佳選擇。
希望大力推廣巴生旅遊業
他希望旅遊部長拿督斯里黃燕燕，能利用巴生的這個優勢，大力推廣巴生旅遊業，吸引更多外國遊客前來大馬。
黃偉漢的建議也獲得津及納達麗夫婦的認同，他們指大馬處於非常策略性的地點，從大馬開始亞洲之旅，是一個絕佳的選擇。
“大馬的氣候四季如常，任何時候來旅遊都非常適合，而且進入大馬無須簽證，免了因簽證到期必須申請延長簽證的麻煩，鼓勵遊客在大馬逗留更長的時間。”
星洲日報／大都會‧2010.04.22
