THE SEVENTEEN YEARS JORNEY OF
THE “ED MEIER BAG”
Dear Peter,
I fondly remember when I met you first in spring of 1990. It was during
one of our first meetings when I explained to you what my needs were as this
pertains to regular bespoken shoes and boots. What I thought was a simple
request turned out to be a bit more complex and challenging for you as well as
for me. In May 1990 I finally got my first two pair of shoes and boots. They
exceeded my expectations in every aspect and still do after so many years.
However, I was not yet ready to embark on my next trip to northern India; Darjeeling
and Sikkim. I needed a first class canvas
bag to carry all of my most valuable belongings such as books, maps,
compass, camera, first aid kit, passport, money and a spare set of shirts,
socks, underpants etc.
After seventeen (17) years of constant and most demanding usage I
unequivocally can say: “This Ed Meier Bag is the best bag I ever
owned.”
Peter, in order to make the above statement more plausible I like to
give you a short rundown on where I took “The Ed Meier Bag” during the last 17
(seventeen) years.
INDIA & SRI LANKA
Five (5) times. From remote areas such as Leh in Kashmir, Simla / Tabo
in Himachal Pradesh to Sikkim / Darjeeling. Rajastan, Khajurao, Varanasi.
Calcutta, Madras, Triji, Tanjavur, Cape Comorin, Cochin, Bombay, Delhi and many
more places throughout the entire Indian subcontinenet.
Two (2) times to Sri Lanka. Visiting places such as Colombo, Galle,
Sigiria, Anuradhapura, Pollonaruva, Kandy, Jaffna and Trincomalee.
CHINA & PAKISTAN
Three (3) times. From most of the metropolitan cities, (also including
Hong Kong), all the way throughout the south and the north to the very remote
areas in the west of China. The north and the south slope of the Silk Route and
across the Pamir Plateau into Pakistan. The
Hunza Valley, Gilgit, Lahore and Islamabad. Crossing the Waga Border to
Amritsar in India.
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Three (3) times to Indonesia visiting most of the wonderful monuments
such as Borobodur and Pranbanan.
Five (5) times to Thailand from the north of Chiang Mai, Chiang Ray to
Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Phuket.
Three (3) times to Burma. From Rangoon to Prome, Pagan, Mandalay, Bamo and
Mt. Popa to just name a few.
Five (5) times to Cambodia. Including places such as Phnom Penh, Angkor
Wat, Bayon and all major as well as minor temples around Angkor. The Ruins of
Sambor, Prey Kuk and Prasat Kaoh Ker.
Two (2) times to Laos. Vientiane, Luang Prabang and the surrounding
areas.
Three (3) times to Taiwan.
JAPAN
Seven (7) times to Japan visiting most of the major cities and county sides.
THE U.S.A. & CANADA
Having a home in California I travelled between London and San Francisco
at least forty (40) times back and forth to the US and Canada. I did not visit
all 50 states in the US but at least 40 including Alaska and Hawaii. I also did
not visit all of the Canadian States but most of them.
CENTRAL & AND SOUTH
AMERICA
Four (4) trips to Mexico visiting the most interesting places all the
way from the north to the south including Belize.
Two (2) times to Chile from the Vale
de la Luna in the North to the Tierra de
la Fuego in the South.
One (1) time to Peru, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina. Visiting the most
important as well as remote places in each country.
One (1) time to the Islands of Jamaica, Barbados and Santa Margarita.
THE MIDDLE EAST & TURKEY
Two (2) times to Lebanon including Baalbek, Byblos, Tyre and Beirut.
Two (2) times to Syria including Damascus, Aleppo, Hims and Palmyra.
Two (2) times to Jordan including most of the biblical places as well as
Jarash, Petra, Aquabah and Wadi Ramm.
Three (3) times to Israel including most of the historical sites such as
Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Masada and the Negev.
Four (4) times to Turkey. The entire West Coast, South Coast, Central
Anatolia and the region around the Van Lake bordering on to Iran.
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEELAND &
THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Two (2) times to most of the major attraction in Australia including
Places such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs. The Ayers
Rock and MacDonnell Ranges.
One (1) time to New Zealand visiting a part of the North and the South
Island including places such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
One (1) time to Fiji Islands, Samoa and French Polynesia.
AFRICA
Five (5) times to Egypt. Visiting most of the historical sites several
times including more remote areas such as the Oases of Kharga, El Qualamun,
Siwa and Frarafra in the Libyan Desert.
Two (2) times to South Africa. crisscrossing the country several times
visiting major cities and national
parks.
One (1) time to Libya to visit Tripoli, Leptis Magna and Sabrata.
Two (2) times to Morocco visiting most of the historical places such as Tangier,
Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech and Fes.
One (1) time to the Island of Mauritius and Reunion.
EUROPE
In order to make this account not too long I opted for listing the
countries I have not visited with my “Ed Meier Bag” during the last 17
years.
Island, Albania, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia,
Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
All other European Countries had been visited several times during the
last seventeen years.
Peter, in conclusion I like to point out that some people might wonder
how on earth one person can travel this much. There is simply not enough time
to
do this. Incorrect… The fact is that I used the “Ed Meier Bag” even on many
of my business trips as much as on vacation and exploration. It is such a good
and practical bag which I do not want to miss on any of my future travels.
Cordial regards,
