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Elao 2011

Elao 2011

East Londoners Odyssey through Africa in 2011

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Going West

Day 64 – 11th August – Zurich to Freudenstadt

Day 64 – 11th August – Zurich to Freudenstadt

Team Lipstick is heading straight to Zurich today from Waedenswil which is only a 20 minutes drive however the batteries in Lipstick were sucked dry overnight as the fridge door was left open causing the fridge to work under full

Elao August 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 63 – 10th August – Munich(Germany) to Zurich(Switzerland)

Day 63 – 10th August – Munich(Germany) to Zurich(Switzerland)

Despite lots of Syrian refugees rushing into Europe in general and Germany especially – the crossing of borders between the EEC countries were simple and easy. No passport control, no police stop for the crossings of Hungary to Austria, Austria

Elao August 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 62 – 9th – August – Prague to Munich – “The Beer route”

Day 62 – 9th – August – Prague to Munich – “The Beer route”

Early morning start and team Lipstick left Prague and went straight to Pilsen to have some breakfast   Today also marks one of only a few days with some rainy weather and rather low temperatures which could however not dampen

Elao August 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 61 – 8th August – Prague ( Czech Republic)

Day 61 – 8th August – Prague ( Czech Republic)

As Lipstick was parked in another “danger zone” it needed to be moved to a ore secure side and after lotsof negotiations with the hotels staff Tem Lipstick was offered to use parking which normally is reserved for their staff

Elao August 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Video complilation by Andre

Video complilation by Andre

Video compilation from Andre

Elao August 10, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Picture gallery updates from Andre

Picture gallery updates from Andre
Elao August 10, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 60 – 7th August “the Triple” Budapest, Vienna & Prague

Day 60 – 7th August “the Triple” Budapest, Vienna & Prague

Toady Team Lipstick decided to do “The Triple” and be in what is often referred to as “the three pearls of the Danube River.   After breakfast in Budapest this would mean lunch in Vienna and Dinner in Prague.  

Elao August 10, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 59 – 6th August – Budapest

Day 59 – 6th August – Budapest

Driving to Budapest was ok but only half the distance to the border was on highways whereas the rest of the route saw the boys driving through the mountains of Dracula’s home ground in Transylvania.. Dracula is an 1897 Gothic

Elao August 10, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 57 & 58 – 4th & 5th August 2016 – Bucharest & Drive to Budapest (Hungary)

Day 57 & 58 – 4th & 5th August 2016 – Bucharest & Drive to Budapest (Hungary)

Night fall over Bucharest   Having slept a night in Bucharest the first task of the Day (4the August) was to find a repair shop in order to replace Lipstick’s manifold gasket.   Bucharest is the capital and largest city

Elao August 10, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 54 – 56 (forced rest) – 31st July – 3rd August 2016 – Istanbul (Turkey) to Burgas (Bulgaria)

Day 54 – 56 (forced rest) – 31st July – 3rd August 2016 –   Istanbul (Turkey) to Burgas (Bulgaria)

Sunday lunchtime team Lipstick bid farewell to David & family as they need to board a flight back to Dubai and Andre & Willy will be on their way to Bulgaria.   Team Lipstick enjoyed the time spent with Andre’s

Elao August 10, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 53 & 54 (Restday) 30th & 31st July 2016 – Bodrum to Istanbul

Day 53 & 54 (Restday) 30th & 31st July 2016 – Bodrum to Istanbul

Au revoir to this beautiful place on the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey which many compare to St Tropez in France. A last glimpse of the town could be seen as team Lipstick headed away from the coast climbing some mountains

Elao August 2, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 51 & 52 (Restday) 28th & 29th July 2016 – Ankara to Bodrum

The older part of Ankara is not very car friendly as too much traffic is trying to get through the narrow roads up and down on lots of hills – again the Sygic app on the iPhone was a bigger

Elao August 2, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 50 – 27th July 2016 – Kesap to Ankara

Day 50 – 27th July 2016 – Kesap to Ankara

Another beautiful sunny day and the boys decided to have a rest on a beachside along the black sea soon after leaving Kesap on the way to Ankara.   Some liquid refreshment would give the boys wings on their way

Elao August 2, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 49 – 26th July 2016 Dogubayazitto Kesap (Black Sea)

Waking up in this small border village on the Turkish side of the Turkey and Iran border and the first task of the day was to get some local currency called the Turkish Lira and also a Turkish sim card

Elao August 2, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 48 – 25th July 2016 – Teheran (Iran) to Dogubayazit Turkey

Day 48 – 25th July 2016 – Teheran (Iran) to Dogubayazit Turkey

As the Garmins picked nothing up in detail team Lipstick downloaded Sygic a great navigation system which works on the cell phones. It was therefor no problem in getting out of Tehran and onto the highway up north towards Turkey.

Elao July 27, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 46 & 47 – 23nd July 2016 – Astara to Tehran (rest day)

Day 46 & 47 – 23nd July 2016 – Astara to Tehran (rest day)

Leaving their luggage at the hotels reception the boys went back by taxi to the customs area to try and get Lipstick through customs. Passing a small Café in the customs area the team was approached by a “Fixer” who

Elao July 27, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 45 – 22nd July 2016 – Baku (Azerbeidschan) to Astara (Iran)

Day 45 – 22nd July 2016 – Baku (Azerbeidschan) to Astara (Iran)

Again a nice breakfast buffet gave the boys a good start for the day and after packing their belongings into Lipstick they headed south towards Iran.   The outskirts of Baku are full of oil wells with hundreds of pumps

Elao July 27, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 43 & 44 – 20th & 21st July 2016 – Baku (Azerbeidschan)

Day 43 & 44 – 20th & 21st July 2016 – Baku (Azerbeidschan)

It was a long day on the ferry crossing the Caspian Sea with not much to do for the boys other than hang around in the cabin or walk around the ferry to stretch their legs. Something similar like breakfast

Elao July 27, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 41 & 42 – 18th & 19th July 2016 – Aktau (Kazakhstan) to Baku (Azerbeidschan)

Day 41 & 42 – 18th & 19th July 2016 – Aktau (Kazakhstan) to Baku (Azerbeidschan)

  After a well deserved sleep the first task of the day was to find a bank with a ATM machine in order to get some of the Kazakhstan Currency called Tinge.   The 3rd Bank worked and the boys

Elao July 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 40 – 17th July 2016 – Nukus to Aktau

Day 40 – 17th July 2016 – Nukus to Aktau

First task in the morning was to find a bank to get some more of the Uzbekistan currency called “Soms”. However, it was Sunday and no bank was open… there are also no ATM’s in Uzbekistan as no ATM could

Elao July 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 39 – 16th July 2016 – Bukhara to Nukus

The team needs to head north today to Nukus which is the closest big town before the border to Kazakhstan. Whilst the original plan foresaw to travel from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and then to Iran this had to be abandoned

Elao July 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 38 – 16th July 2016 – Bukhara to Nurus

Day 38 – 16th July 2016 – Bukhara to Nurus

  The team needs to head north today to Nurus which is the closest big town before the border to Kazakhstan. Whilst the original plan foresaw to travel from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and then to Iran this had to be

Elao July 22, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 37 – 14th July 2016 – From Tashkent (Uzbekistan) to Samarkand

Bravo – no border post to be up against today as Lipstick would remain in Uzbekistan and travel to Samarkand …   Heavy traffic was experienced getting out of Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan…   Tashkent is the capital

Elao July 18, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 36 –13th July 2016 – From Osh (kykistan to Toshkent (Uzbekistan)

Day 36 –13th July 2016 – From Osh (kykistan to Toshkent (Uzbekistan)

Osh is very near the Uzbekistan border so team Lipstick thought t would be plain sailing today . Their thoughts were corrected by real life as they arrived at the border post… The first approach was made to a tiny

Elao July 18, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 35 –12th July 2016 – A day in Osh

Day 35 –12th July 2016 – A day in Osh

After breakfast the team went off to sort out new sim cards as their Chinese ones were no longer functioning in Kyrkistan. At first there was a big language problem as nobody at Beeline (the most used sell phone provider

Elao July 18, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 34 – 11th July 2016 – From Kashgar (China) to Osh (Kyrkistan)

Early wake up today and the special guide in charge of customs procedure Arrived at 8.15 at the hotels parking area with his driver to accompany team Lipstick towards the Chinese border.   After about 100km the boys arrived at

Elao July 13, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Videos from Andre

Videos from Andre
Elao July 13, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 30 – 7h July 2016 – Kuche to Hotan

Day 30 – 7h July 2016 – Kuche to Hotan

Operation desert crossing today for team Lipstick as they turned south straight through the middle of the Gobi Desert.   Fortunately, they encountered a fairly good tar road unlike the stretch they did through the Sahara in Mauretania 2 years

Elao July 13, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 32 & 33 – 9th & 10th July 2016 – Rest Days in Kashgar

Day 32 & 33 – 9th & 10th July 2016 – Rest Days in Kashgar

Hi all – its me again the editor of Lipsticks trave talks – Natnas – and whilst the boys are resting in Kashgar thought to give you all an overview of their experience during the travel so far.. First of

Elao July 13, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

In the Gobi Desert with Willy and Andre

In the Gobi Desert with Willy and Andre
Elao July 8, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 29 – 6th July 2016 – Turpan to Kuche

Day 29 – 6th July 2016 – Turpan to Kuche

Today sees Lipstick driving along the mountains down to Kuche in a south westerly direction with not much other than rocks and sand to be seen on the road . There was very little traffic on beautiful roads winding around

Elao July 8, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 28 – 5th July 2016 – Hami to Turpan

Day 28 – 5th July 2016 – Hami to Turpan

  Having left the oasis of Hami the team was back in desert and rock surroundings but enjoyed the straight roads enabling Lipstick to let loose an all cylinders…   With outside temperatures in the mid forties it was however

Elao July 8, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 27 – 4th July 2016 – Dunhuang to Hami

Day 27 – 4th July 2016 – Dunhuang to Hami

  Hamiis a prefecture-level city in eastern Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China. It is well known as the home of sweet Hami melons. The Xiongnu have been recorded to be the natives as early as the beginning of Han dynasty.

Elao July 8, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 26– 3rd July 2016 – Jiayuguan to Dunhuang

Day 26– 3rd July 2016 – Jiayuguan to Dunhuang

Lipstick today took the same route like the ancient Chinese explorers and the European traders who went off or to China.   The so called Hexi corridor was the only way between two huge mountain ranges which would allow Marco

Elao July 5, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 25– 2nd July2016 – Zhangye to Jiayuguan

Day 25– 2nd July2016 – Zhangye to Jiayuguan

Early start today and the boys took off to see the big Buddha temple and on the way to there the team had to cross a square where various groups of Chinese pensioners had their morning dancing session. This seems

Elao July 5, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 23 – 1st July 2016 -Xining to Zhangye

Day 23 – 1st July 2016 -Xining to Zhangye

  An early start today for team Lipstick as their first call today would be to reach lake Qinqai close to Zhangye.   The owner of the hotel in Xining spoke very good English and presented the boys with a perfect breakfast.

Elao July 5, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 22– 30th June 2016 – Xiahe to Xining

Day 22– 30th June 2016 – Xiahe to Xining

Today was an uneventfull trip for team Lipstick as they just had to get a some mileage onto Lipstick in order to reach Xining which meant to drive just over 500km. Xining was a commercial hub along the Northern Silk

Elao July 5, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 21– 29th June 2016 – Tianshui to Xiahe

Day 21– 29th June 2016 – Tianshui to Xiahe

First off in the morning team Lipstick looked at some local engineering shops as they wanted to buy a proper set of tools for Lipstick but after looking at various hardware shops in town nothing suitable was found. So straight

Elao July 5, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 20 – 28th June 2016 Xian to Tianshui

Day 20 – 28th June 2016 Xian to Tianshui

Leaving the mega city of Xian meant that the team would now go through some more rural areas and to the Maijishan Grottoes close to Tianshui… The Maijishan Grottoes, are a series of 194 caves cut in the side of

Elao June 29, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 19 – 27thJune 2016 Pingyao to Xian

Day 19 – 27thJune 2016 Pingyao to Xian

  The streets of Pingyuang were empty when Andre and Willy left early in the morning…   Todays goal was to reach the city of Xian which many years ago was regarded  as the biggest city in the world.  

Elao June 29, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Checking into Chinese Hotel in Pingyao

Checking into Chinese Hotel in Pingyao
Elao June 27, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 18 – 26th June 2016Datong to Pingyao

Day 18 – 26th June 2016Datong to Pingyao

  After leaving Datong team Lipstick headed further south towards the famous “Hanging Temples” near the town of Hunyuan.   Along with the Yungang Grottoes, the Hanging Temple is one of the main tourist attractions and historical sites in the

Elao June 27, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 17 – 25th June 2016 – Beijing to Datong

Day 17 – 25th June 2016 – Beijing to Datong

  The drive out of Beijing was easier than expected and some 40 km later the team reached the Great Wall of China.   Whilst obviously having seen pictures of this monumental structure it still took the boys breath away

Elao June 26, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 16 – 24th June 2016

Day 16 – 24th June 2016

  Another early morning start for Andre and Willy as they set foot onto the streets of Beijing and went straight down to the Tiananmen square where they first of all, visited the coffin with the mummified body of Mao

Elao June 26, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 15 – 23rd June 2016

Day 15 – 23rd June 2016

Andy fetched the boys from the guesthouse early morning and the team went straight to the area where Confucius used to hang around. For those who are not too familiar with Confucius here a few explanations about his life which

Elao June 26, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 13 – 21st June 2016

Day 13 – 21st June 2016

After a good rest the team set off to reach Shanghai today and it took a bit of time to get through the early morning traffic and reaching the highway leading north. On the subject of roads, it is worthwhile

Elao June 24, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 14 – 22nd June 2016

Day 14 – 22nd June 2016

What was meant to be a rest day in Shanghai turned out to be a no go. After waking up the team saw Shanghai under pouring rain and after assessing the situation the boys decided that instead of spending a

Elao June 24, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 9 – 11 – 17th June –19th June

Day 9 – 11 – 17th June –19th June

Teams Lipsticks patience is getting stretched to its limits as they were not able to get the car through customs yesterday.   Andre and Willy booked out of the hotel as they were advised by Andy -the tour guide –

Elao June 20, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

A word from the reporter…

A word from the reporter…

Yes its me again Natnas the constant travel companion of team Lipstick and I will try to give you up to the minute reports about the happenings of yet another adventure of Team Lipstick.   So far the boys have been struck

Elao June 19, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 5 – 8 days of patience – waiting in Shekou 13th June 2016

Day 5 – 8 days of patience – waiting in Shekou 13th June 2016

On Monday (13-6-16 ) Andre and Willy met up with their Chinese tour guide ANDY and started the process to obtain a Chinese drivers licence which is essential to steer a car through the roads of China.   The procedure

Elao June 19, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Day 1-4

Day 1-4

On 8th July both Andre and Willy started their journey from different places on the Globe. Andre would fly from Dubai ( where he spent a few days with his sons ) to Hongkong whereas Willy would fly in from

Elao June 12, 2016August 28, 2017 Going West Read more

Find Lipstick
The password for access is:  Lipstick2016

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silk road

2011 & 2014

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The ELAO Expedition: Going Down Under 2019

Having driven through 5 of the bigger continents on earth it was just a matter of time for Team Lipstick to complete their world tour and explore the smallest of the 6 continents -AUSTRALIA. Read More..

The ELAO Expedition: Going East 2017


Having completed the Silkroad from China to Europe , going North and South on the African continent it seem only logical that the Americas should become the next adventure for team Lipstick.Lipstick was shipped out to New York in July 2017 fromwhere Andre and Willy
will join the well travelled Landcruiser and go on tour through Canada and up to Alaska before turning South again until they reach the bottom end of South America and then finally ship the car back to South Africa from Argentine or Brazil.
Read more

The ELAO Expedition: Going West 2016


Inspired by Marco Polo the great adventurer who traveled from Europe to Asia -dating 1271 to 1295-it was decided to follow his footsteps on this journey which is known as the Silk Road. The main travelers of the Silk Road at that time were merchants who organized various caravans to cross the Gobi Deserts. Overcoming all kinds of hardships.... Read more

The ELAO Expedition: Going South 2014

3 years have passed since team Lipstick went up north along the East Coast of Africa through Europe to Germany. During our return to East London the idea to complete the return trip from Europe down south along the west coast of Africa was born...Read more

The ELAO Expedition: Going North 2011

A trip through Africa…. Ever since Willy Gauss arrived by plane in 1974 in South Africa it was his dream to one day drive back through Africa by car. Dreams don’t come easy however and the time required is not...Read more

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