John and Ana are a Romanian globetrotting couple, both architects and photojournalists in our early 30s. In June 2011 we unplugged from our career and became nomads, embarking on an independent, self-funded journey by motorbike.
After travelling extensively within the last decade in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, we aim to connect the dots, unearth extraordinary stories and use our skills to serve remote communities. We humbly hope to teach, while learning about the world we share. After 420 days spent in a tent, 55,000 kilometers and 30 countries visited, in August 2012 we became the first Romanian bikers to complete the tour of Africa.
In January we will start circumnavigating South America and filming a documentary about Africa in the Americas. Watch an introductory clip about our journey: https://vimeo.com/51024744 INTO THE WORLD Into The World is an off-road round-the-world adventure ride structured in three parts: Round I | Africa 420 | 14 months (06.2011 - 08.2012) | 55,000 km | 30 countries | 2up on a 2010 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere (Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria). Round II | South America | 6+ months (01.2013 - 06.2013) | 20,000+ km | 13+ countries | BMW G650 X Challenge + Suzuki DRZ 400 (Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia). Round III | Central North America + Asia | 8+ months (08.2013 - 04.2014) | 30,000+ km | 20+ countries | BMW G650 X Challenge + Suzuki DRZ 400 (Romania, Ukraine, Rusia, Kazahstan, Mongolia, Rusia, Alaska, Canada, USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama).
OUR VOICE On our adventure we crossed Congo and the Sahara, spent time with Dogon, Himba and Borana tribes, but we have also worked as volunteers in the Nigerian rainforest and we havespoken to a range of audiences in schools, clubs and organizations. The most important aspect of our trip is meeting local people and engaging communities to explore life possibilities that many have never before considered. We use our adventure to inspire, motivate and make people more aware about their own potential. We believe extraordinary things are achieved by ordinary people who choose to be unreasonable about themselves. Fear and vulnerability can be manipulated to push us towards a better version of ourselves. We try to teach others how to overcome fear and achieve their own dreams. Besides blogging and speaking, we write for various publications and have opened photographic exhibitions in Romania. Speeches: The French School of Lagos (Nigeria), Cercle Belge de Lubumbashi (DRC), Intercapital Invest Brokers, Rotary Bucharest, TEDxBucharest 2012, Incubator 107, Atra Doftana, Ewo Pharma Exhibitions: Africa 420 @ McCann Garage Bucharest, nou9 gallery , L'Atelier Cafe Cluj; African Faces @ Carturesti Bookshop Cluj Awards: Jupiter's Travellers since 2012, Ted Simon Foundation.
To get the scoop on our adventure, find out about the environmental and charitable projects that we support, book us for a speech and to browse through our photos, visit: Website: www.intotheworld.eu Blog: blog.intotheworld.eu Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/www.intotheworld.eu We support: Pandrillus www.pandrillus.org A conservation organisation based in Nigeria and Cameroon. Its projects are dedicated to promoting the survival of the highly endangered Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and providing a safe haven for orphaned chimpanzees. J.A.C.K (Jeunes Animaux Confisques au Katanga) www.jackdrc.org An independent, self funded NGO in Lubumbashi, DRC, that acts as a Refuge Centre for orphan chimpanzee babies confiscated by the Ministry of Environment.