Kota Kinabalu: A father and son from London have arrived in Sabah, continuing their remarkable journey after covering 45,000km across 24 countries in two years and four months.
Rufus, 55, and Raffy, 13, embarked on the extraordinary adventure with two main objectives – to explore and understand the diverse cultures of the world and to fulfil the dream of Rufus’ late wife, Carmen.
Before her passing in a tragic accident eight years ago, Carmen had wished to drive from the UK to New Zealand overland with their children.
“Nothing is impossible if you have the passion and determination to achieve your dreams,” Rufus told local tour guide Yeo Yee Seng. Throughout their travels, Rufus has documented stories about human civilisation, environmental awareness and the social changes affecting humanity.
He believes that experiencing the world first hand is the best way to educate his son. While on the road, Rufus homeschools Raffy, supplementing his education with online lessons in mathematics, English, writing, reading and French. Their journey also includes immersive lessons in history and geography, explored country by country.
Along the way, they faced numerous challenges, including border restrictions due to war, visa regulations and natural obstacles such as mountains and deserts.
They survived a major accident in Pakistan, endured mechanical breakdowns, and overcame physical exhaustion.
Initially, they did not plan to stop in Borneo. Their original plan was to cross from Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, Indonesia, by ferry.
However, logistical issues led them to ship their truck from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu. While waiting for their truck to arrive, they visited Singapore before flying to Sabah to reunite with their vehicle.
Their route took them through Sabah’s tropical rainforests from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau, passing through Keningau and Kalabakan. They also visited Sandakan to see the famous Orangutans and Sun Bears.
Weather disrupted their journey to Pitas due to flash floods, forcing them to reroute through Ranau before reaching Tuaran.
Currently, they are staying in Tuaran, where their unique truck has drawn curiosity from villagers, and they have been warmly welcomed into the community.
They plan to reach New Zealand by mid-2025. After a six-month stay, they intend to ship their truck to South Korea and return to London via Japan, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Poland, Austria, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
