Kazakhstan Embassy, a little sad place.
Success.
All posts by WanderCyclist
June 04 2010 The Day Before My Birthday
I was riding leisurely down a country road, hardly a car in sight, just passing horses, carts, and their drivers.
About a kilometer ahead I noticed something that just didn’t look “right”. I saw a horse coming towards me at a faster pace than I had ever seen before. The horse is getting closer and I can see there is no driver and it’s picking up speed and his mane is flying behind him. I see a commotion coming behind the cart at a much slower pace. Immediately, I take my bike to the side and jump off my bike, grab the camera, and walk very quickly ahead. From childhood, I know a spooked horse is not something you want to get to close.
A quarter km from me the horse collapses. I run ahead. These are those photos. You, reader, will notice a lapse missing from these. As I stood near photographing a group of 5 boys on bikes were next to me. I could see what the problem was, the cart poles were under the horse. I walked over, set my camera on the ground, and quit being a photographer and became a helpful person. Within a couple of minutes, the other boys had come over. We pushed down on the back of the cart while trying to pull back at the same time.
Finally, we accomplished it. I spoke nothing to the driver, nor to the boys. Passing the driver a couple hours later, after my rest on the side of the road, we exchanged glances with cheerful eyes and a slight smile – a simple acknowledgement.
There was a moment, holding that camera, taking photos, not sure what I should do…………..
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Photos from Touring
Finally…I have some time to work on this.
Must quit researching…
As I am about 10 days from departure, cramming the Chinese into my brain and my stuff into panniers, I keep researching deeper and deeper into Central Asia. NOW, I have fallen in love with the Pamirs.
I’ve prepared a lot for this second go around EXCEPT for my route. I have a general direction and major city stops…but I’m really throwing the planned route at the window.
Tentatively: Kunming, Shangri-La, Chengdu, Xining, Xinjiang…from there, it depends on the Visas.
My passport is at the Kazakhstan Embassy awaiting a “yae” or “nae”. Will know Friday….
OH my god!
I washed my passport and I had been planning to leave in 2 weeks in 1 day. Why do these things happen when I really can’t afford this mess?
Done Done Done…not for good…3 weeks and counting.
View 8900km in a larger map
3 Weeks until the train to Kunming.
I’m leaving Shanghai with my bike in 3 weeks. At least 10 hours of Chinese classes a week until then…I’ve gotten over a grammar hump! To top that off I can read and “type” now too. Yae for me.
Back in China
Photos from the tour will be up soon.
We left Taipei on Feb 28th and completed the route on March 11th. It was wet, windy, and heck of fun.
Upon our return that weekend, the devastating disaster hit Japan. Being in Taiwan, a Japanese friendly country (unlike another very unsympathetic place) we watched the news unfold right before our eyes. There are at least 10 Japanese news stations and we would stop in the street, or subway, and just look in horror at the tv. By Tuesday I couldn’t watch anymore. What I saw on those was horrific.
Jason moves back to the US on the 30th, I am staying with some friends in Gubei, working non stop…saving every single rmb to get on the road by the end of the month.
My latest publication of photos can be seen here.
Day 11 (and the end): Dalin to Taipei 第十一天：大林道台北
A too long of a day, too much rain, too much cold, too much wind, and we rode in the dark (with rain) for nearly 3 hours. Not smart but we just wanted to get this over with. I hate being wet…it’s one thing I really really hate. When I’m touring solo I always sit out the rain if I can. There’s nothing like soggy feet and and wind/wet chilled digits.
Oh, speaking of digits (fingers)…the night before Jason and I flew back to China he gave me an engagement ring. After 6 years, living in 2 countries, a few thousand kilometers riding…we decided to commit to “Team Awesome”.
Morning preparation for religious ceremonies.
Keys
Taibei
My FAVORITE breakfast joint in Taiwan! We eat there almost every day.
View at a Nightmarket.
Window box
Lanterns
Asia likes their old trees
Taiwanese "Ice"...my favorite "food" in Taiwan
Clean, orderly, and dignified PUBLIC bathrooms in the subway. Get a hint China!
Day 10: Běigǎng to Dàlín 第十天：北港到大林
We’ve almost made it back to Taipei. Making our days as long as possible because, frankly, we are both a little tired of the crappy weather and look forward to the luxuries of Taipei. Although our destination had a pretty good night market…we got this tuna burrito of sorts and I also gobbled down a bag of popcorn.
Woken up at 6 by fireworks and a spiritual parade of some sorts.
Rice
Old Town
Art Deco, my favorite.
Graveyard overgrown with banana trees.
Spring Festival decorations at a temple.