They Thought We Were Crazy

S'pore couple quit jobs to drive across Asia, Europe with daughter, 4

- Chin Hui Shan

Each time Mr Ritesh Angural and his wife, Ms Nisha Hari Singh, both 38, drove their trusty 2002 Land Rover Defender across a land checkpoint and into a new country, their doe-eyed toddler Arisha would ask: "Will I see snow here?"

Four months and six countries into the couple's epic mission for their family of three to travel from Singapore to Norway by land, Arisha's wish came true - on her fourth birthday, in June.

It started snowing in Ulaanbaatar for just one day of their 42-day stay in Mongolia.

"She was so stunned and did not know what to say," said Ms Nisha of her daughter's reaction. "I remember her just staring out of the window, watching the snow fall and go, 'Mama... the grass is white!' It was so, so special."

Arisha later celebrated her birthday at a Mongolian abode with locals - who also gifted her a Mongolian deel (a traditional tunic) - they befriended while fixing their converted camper vehicle in the country.

Since February, the family has covered more than 32,000km across 17 countries, and experienced temperatures ranging from -4 deg C, in Cappadocia in Turkey, to 41 deg C, in Don Det, Laos. They document their travels on their Instagram page @sabbatical.living.

From their starting point in Singapore, they have meandered their way through countries such as Cambodia and Afghanistan, and were mesmerised by views of spectacular mountains in Central Asia. They will end their odyssey in North Cape in Norway, the northernmost point of mainland Europe.

While they were frequently awestruck by the views nature offers, what impressed Mr Ritesh and Ms Nisha the most were the hospitality and friendliness of the locals of the countries they traversed.

Mr Ritesh said he will never forget a Kazakh car mechanic named Rustam, who helped the family fix their camper in his garage for almost a week. Rustam even invited them to dinners with his family, dining on fish they caught and the vegetables they grew.