Globetrotting Bay family back after nearly two years
Shaanaaz de Jager WEEKEND POST REPORTER	Published:Jan 03, 2009
A PORT Elizabeth doctor and Globeriders Cape2Cape team member has told of his family‘s astonishing 21 months of travelling the world, visiting more than 40 countries. But after such a remarkable and hectic globetrotting schedule, Dean Allie and his family have decided to swop life in a camper for the comforts of home. The Globeriders Cape2Cape team – two Port Elizabeth doctor brothers, their families and three friends – left South Africa in March 2007 and have travelled through some of the world‘s most far-flung destinations. The team was originally made up of 11 members, including four children, but earlier last year the three friends had to say farewell due to financial constraints. The Globeriders are raising funds for the Happy Home for Disabled Children in Mthatha and have been receiving donations via their website, as well as corporate sponsorship. Eleven days ago Dean, his wife Vanita and children Zack, 6, and Troy, 4, packed up, having had enough of living out of trucks. Only Dean‘s brother Gary, his wife Jo-Anne and children Jade and Dane are forging ahead – but they are hoping to return home in time for the soccer World Cup in 2010. “Vanita felt it was time to head back home after two years of travel. She was tired of living out of the van. She needed to get back to normal life,” said Dean. He and his family arrived back in Port Elizabeth to “greetings of tears of joy”. “Our parents are very happy to have us back. Their biggest concern was when we were in India and Pakistan with the recent violence,” he said. He said they were now even more worried that “Jo-Anne and Gary are there alone”. “We decided to ship our vehicle home after our Indian tour and then visit Thailand for two weeks before our return home.” He said the decision to come back home was an easy one. “Vanita‘s happiness and that of our family comes first. It was disappointing that we could not have continued, but we always said that we would go on as long as we were having fun, so no regrets. “We are all just grateful for the last two years, and let‘s not forget there is still tomorrow.” He is eager to go back into private practice but is not sure how soon. Vanita is a human resources practitioner and hopes to find employment as soon as possible. They will live with Vanita‘s family in Malabar. The Globeriders were in India during the recent terror attacks but were in no danger. Dean said India was the “most outstanding country we visited, literally bombarding all five senses”. “Each city and each province has completely different offerings, for all five senses, and with each visit you could not help but feel you were in a completely different environment. We loved it.” He said Iran and Pakistan were very interesting countries and their highlights were not so much the sights, but the people. “Everyone was just so friendly and open and nearly every day we would receive multiple invitations to visit their homes. “Never before have we received this type of openness and friendliness towards foreigners. And to date Pakistani food has been our best. Their bryanis rocked,” said Dean. Communicating via email from Goa in India, Jo-Anne and Gary said they were not concerned about more attacks in India. “When you‘ve travelled through Uganda, Sudan, Libya, Iran and Pakistan, which are all considered dangerous, you tend to be positive and hope for the best,” said Jo-Anne. Gary said: “Pakistan was interesting as well and the people equally friendly, but the security situation forced us to speed through often with police escorts. “Apparently just after we left the country, there was a devastating earthquake and our hearts went out to our friends who entertained us in the very area that was devastated. Luckily they were unharmed and could help others.”