Really glad you found this page.  I know it’s buried a bit but this is a summary of links used in other pages and the blog, plus maybe a few relating to issues that are close to our hearts but haven’t quite made it anywhere else!  From these links you will also learn a little more about some of the quirks of our thinking and the stuff that interests us.  This page will be updated from time to time, so check here occasionally, you never know what you might find!

b-oil Belize – Bio-diesel is being produced in Belize, making a small difference to the world’s consumption of fossil fuels.  We met up with the founders of this new company when we stopped to buy some parts for our Land Rover.  It’s a fascinating process of growing the trees from the beans and then using the beans to create fuel.  Nothing is wasted.  The beans produce the materials for soap as well as oil and what’s left over is used for fertilizer.

Baikal off road club - we met one of their members in Chita, Siberia

Carbon Footprint calculations (for businesses and schools) – Helen has always been a bit of a recycling freak but this trip has really raised our awareness of the limited resources of our planet

Carnet de Passage - this essential document for many of the countries we will be visiting is only available from the RAC

Climate maps(1) & climate maps(2) – to finding out what weather to expect around the world throughout the year – or the world temperature right now

Club Diversant - we met one of their local members in Chita, Siberia

Coal – can this be a clean fuel – Atlantic magazine article

Communication can sometimes be a problem – as illustrated in this YouTube video – make sure you watch right to the end

David Sheldrick Wilflife Trust - working to preserve Africa’s wilderness and endangered species – and on our proposed route

Fairfield Cafe & Guesthouse - Tsetserleg, Arhangai region, Mongolia – for anyone travelling through the particularly beautiful Argaingai region this has to be a recommended stop point – bit dearer than other hotels in the area but worth the extra – hot showers, good food, secure parking (and it’s still cheaper than UK prices) – and all the staff speak English!!

Greening the Desert  - video Helen found interesting (on the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia’s website) showing how by going with nature rather than against nature, and simple management, arid deserts can be reclaimed as soil

Humanure Handbook - relevant to sustainability issues and an insight into Helen’s mind as she thinks this is a fascinating book – free download from this link – Google ‘humanure’ for other references to this

National Anthems of Mongolia (a must to watch) and Kazakhstan (beautiful scenery)

New Internationalist - one of Helen’s favourite reads – not everyone’s political cup of tea but an interesting look at many of the countries we will be visiting during our travels, as well as a more detailed perspective on many world issues not seen in the regular press.  Check out their back issue on the subject of toilets and why the work of Water Aid is so important.

Oasis cafe & guesthouse - on the east side of Ulaanbaatar this is another of those recommended stop points – secure parking, English spoken (among other languages), hot showers, clean, good food – and plenty of other overlanders to chat to – again a bit dearer than others but well worth the extra

Overlanders and Overlanding on YouTube – winch rescue in Cambodia, more to follow

Overland Routes – a list of overland routes with co-ordinates and other useful information (including GPS download information) from Expedition Portal – currently only covers US, Canada and Mexico (as at January 2012)

Pathfinder blog - inspirational news from around the world

Project Visa - this Australian website is a useful starting point for international information about which countries need visas

Royal Geographical Society - very interesting and helpful for anyone planning an expedition whether just a few weeks or long, large group or small, young or old

STANtours – very helpful for travel advice in the ‘Stans’ region and Russia

Tar sands - also known as oil sands – bitumen found on or near the surface of land, being harvested by various oil companies arond the world, this energy intensive extraction is causing concern due pollution and other environmental impacts

The South African based Overland Forum found our website via Flickr and put up a link to GoingOverland – thanks guys.  You never know we might meet up when we get down your way.

Traffic News in the UK – we’ve heard about this site – seems to be good but not tried it for real – any feedback welcome.

True Grip - off road training provider especially for 4×4 vehicles

Zoe Sarojini Education Trust - working in South Africa supporting children who will benefit from education but who cannot afford the fees – we hope to visit them when we arrive in South Africa