ABU DHABI // When Larry Hoffman, now 70, bought a motorhome in 2001, he intended to spend a few months touring America and Europe. Eight years on he is still touring, having visited six continents.
Yesterday he left the UAE for Saudi Arabia, having called at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain which he describes as "one of the nicest towns in the world".
Mr Hoffman's Ford diesel motorhome, complete with queen-size bed, spent one night parked near the Abu Dhabi Marina, and another at the Carrefour car park on Airport Road while he awaited his visa to Saudi Arabia.
He has now driven the vehicle more than 200,000km and had it freighted across the world's oceans.
"I began in 2001 and drove across the USA and had the motorhome freighted to the UK. From there, I went to France and continued on in Europe for 18 months," he said.
After exploring Europe, he shipped the motorhome back to the US and closed his legal practice there. "I was curious about the rest of the world," he said.
From the US, Mr Hoffman spent a year in South America then secured a visa to tour China but before doing so, he travelled down through Europe, to Libya, then cruised down the Nile in Egypt. From there he drove through China to Mongolia before crossing Siberia westwards to return to Germany.
He then shipped the motorhome to Tahiti and went to New Zealand, Australia and Polynesia. The next leg for Mr Hoffman took in Singapore, then Iran and Yemen.
"In Iran the officials were very friendly, but they were concerned that I was CIA and wanted to spy on them, but soon enough they became comfortable and allowed me to tour their country," Mr Hoffman said.
He and his motorhome had a close call with pirates when they were on a freighter near Somalia, just before the Saudi tanker, Sirius Star, was hijacked.
"As the freighter approached Somalia, two powerboats approached and were circling us but the US Navy intervened," he said. Although a US naval destroyer was some distance away, a radio conversation with the freighter crew convinced the pirates that it was much closer and they left the scene.
From North Africa, Mr Hoffman drove through the north of Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, Qatar then Oman and the UAE and is now en route to Saudi Arabia.
"From there I really don't know where I'll go or how long I will stay," Mr Hoffman said.
He rarely drives more than five hours a day and keeps his speed down to 70-90 kph.
"I have no itinerary and am in no hurry to get anywhere. I take time to smell the roses. I will keep on touring the world, visiting places I have never been to until either I or the motorhome break down," he said.
ealghalib@thenational.ae
Don't get fined
The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:
- Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents issued
- Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
- Ban fruit juice and sodas
- Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
- Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
- Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
- Don’t eat dessert every day
- Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
- Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
- Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
- Eat everything in moderation
