3 Kiwis Trade The Urban Jungle For The Real Thing

MEDIA RELEASE

4 DECEMBER 2003

What the Hell Are We Doing Here?

Three Kiwis trade the urban jungle for the real thing

The extraordinary overland journey of Murray Gough and Peter Travers with friend Lloyd Powell was a dream that became reality, a modern odyssey that encompassed eight years, 50 countries and over 150,000 kilometres. New Zealanders can now share their amazing adventures in a recently published book, being launched today.

'What The Hell Are We Doing Here!' is the story of how they did it, how these Wellington businessmen traded the urban jungle for the real thing.

The men ventured into the unknown with two fully-equipped Land Rover Defenders and a year's worth of planning, research and preparation. With anecdotes and dramatic pictures the book recounts their traverse of the Sahara Desert, their encounters with the colourful people of West Africa, and their arduous battle through the chaos and corruption of the Congo.

Behind the story and pictures lies the challenge of three middle-aged businessmen setting out to fulfill an unlikely dream. Co-author Peter Travers recalls that facing the threat of a loaded AK47 in Zaire was "considerably more exciting than banking", and that his enjoyment of the experiences described in the book led to an unplanned extension of the overland journey - in stages over 8 years all the way to Siberia.

At the end of his term as CEO of the Dairy Board Murray Gough was ready for the challenge of a different type of travel. A chance business encounter in Algeria had left him dreaming of the "vast seas of sand" that lay in the interior of North Africa, never really believing that he would one day cross them. "We had many adventures and learnt about many cultures," Murray says, "but perhaps the greatest surprise was that we could journey successfully through countries considered by most to be too difficult for independent travellers - and the universal warmth and dignity of the people we met."

The book is now available in bookstores and can be seen on the internet at www.forbiddenzones.com . It would make a superb Christmas gift for anyone with a spirit of adventure or an interest in travel.

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