KUALA LUMPUR: Pawel Poterski and Joanna Poterska have been bitten by the travel bug for as long as they can remember.
The Polish couple had made a pact to travel the world together after they met and decided to combine their passion for travelling and Poterski’s love for classic cars.
Poterski, an architect, said the tour had also strengthened the relationship between them.
He said their vehicle of choice – a refurbished Polski Fiat 125p – is a classic Polish-made car, which also became the pride of the Poles.
“When we decided to take on the journey, we thought it would be best to choose the Polski Fiat 125p, a classic car that is very well known in Poland.
“Many people have very fond memories of the car,” the 34-year-old said during an interview in Kuala Lumpur.
He said the car used for the journey was produced in 1990, among the last manufactured before the model ceased production in 1991.
Poterska said they talked about the excursion since 2016, and that it was only in July last year that the idea finally took off.
“We quit our jobs, saved some money and started to prepare for the trip, doing research, googling the routes and such.
“We started the journey from Poland in November last year and six months later, here we are, in Malaysia!,” said the 28-year-old dietician.
To date, they have visited 14 countries – Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia – covering some 24,000km so far.
They arrived in Malaysia on April 14 from Thailand, where they headed to Penang before making their way to Kuala Lumpur.
The couple will take a short break in Singapore and Bali while their car is under service here in preparation for shipping to Canada in mid-May.
From Canada, they will drive to the United States, then to Portugal where they will continue the last leg of their journey in Europe before heading home.
“We expect to travel to another 12 or 14 countries before reaching Poland in November this year,” Poterski said, adding that the estimated cost of the whole journey was US$30,000 (RM124,123).
He described their journey as “enriching and humbling”, adding that overland travel was the best way to see the world to experience stunning landscapes, as well as to learn about the rich cultures of the locals.
“I would say 95% of the people in the world are very friendly and helpful. It is very safe to travel by car cross country.
“You will find that the world is a very friendly place,” he said. — Bernama
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