Dubai: A group of Dubai expats will embark on a 12-nation road journey to spread the message of love and happiness next month. As part of the mission they aim to drive approximately 15,000km over 45 days.
The group, comprising a trio of Indian friends, will kick off the trip from Iran and end it in the Netherlands. Along the way they will interact with people from various nationalities, showcase the UAE as a melting pot of cultures and highlight how the residents here get to experience real happiness.
“I have lived in the UAE for over 26 years and it’s been a home away from home. We have been eager to promote the image of the country that has given us so much but were not sure how to go about doing it,” said Saif Poovanchery, 46, a managing director of a tourism company.
Inspiration
“Then came the UAE leadership’s recent announcement of happiness initiative and that’s when inspiration struck and we knew what we wanted to do: spread the happiness that the UAE has given us. And since all three of us are fascinated with road trips, we decided we will go on one to spread happiness. This is one of the biggest goals we have set for ourselves,” he said.
During the journey, the three friends will wear shirts with the letters UAE printed on them and drive a Ford F150 decorated with the UAE’s name and flag. The pickup truck will be loaded with supplies to drive through dense forests, barren deserts and along scenic coastlines.
“We have teamed up with a number of cultural institutes and yoga centres in countries on our route where we will interact with people and speak about the experiences of the country we live in,” said Assif Yogi, who will hold yoga sessions in every country they pass through.
The 36-year-old aviation engineer cum yoga instructor hopes to find sponsors for the trip which for now is self-funded.
“We will drive from Dubai to Sharjah, then a ferry will take us and our car to Bander Abbas in Iran. From there we will actually begin our journey passing through Central Asia and Europe,” added Yogi who has been living in Dubai for 13 years.
Poovanchery, who loves hiking and trekking, is counting the days to get on the hiking trails of Sweden and Norway. “We are eager to explore the picturesque villages of the Black Forest in Germany, the stunning Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway and the Volga River, the longest river in Europe,” said the father of two.
Staying in hotels is not a priority for the adventure lovers. They plan to camp out in the open to experience nature’s beauty.
Just three months in Dubai and Akash Renjith is head over heels in love with the place. “It’s such a beautiful and multicultural country. Everyone around the world should know about the safety and comfortable life it provides,” said the 23-year-old marketing and sales manager. He is excited that he will get to do his bit to spread the ‘UAE Happiness’.
“I am very passionate about food and am looking forward to tasting the local cuisines of every country and writing a review book,” said Renjith who will be video-recording their travels. He will also be posting pictures on Facebook and uploading snippets of their journey on YouTube.
From their final destination the Netherlands, they will fly back to Dubai and their car will be transported by sea.
Route of happiness
The cities the three friends will pass through (in order):
Bandar Abbas, Shiraz, Isfahan, Tehran (Iran)
Baku (Azerbaijan)
Makhachkala, Voronezh, Moscow, St. Petersburg (Russia)
Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu (Finland)
Sundsvall, Stockhom (Sweden)
Oslo, Gothenburg (Norway)
Copenhagen (Denmark)
Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt (Germany)
Lyon, Montpellier, Paris (France)
Barcelona, Valencia (Spain)
Brussels (Belgium)
Rotterdam, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
