Problem with the food = weight problem= prosthetic problem = grounded in Hezhou till i gain some weight

check my youtube video channel to see videos

Paakorn...rain....mountains March 18th

After months of preparation, waiting, planning ...yeah!  Huge smile. On the road finally . Last few days I've been cycling through very densely populated areas. Guangzhou  is crazy. 12 million people i was told, skyscrapers, the heart of the Chinese auto industry. It took me i day to cycle from one part of the urban area to the other. But then the urban jungle stayed there. Another face of China showed up. Smiles, small houses, not-so-hectic lifestyle. And bamboo forests. I love them, Last night i slept listening to the sound of the rain falling on the bamboo forest. I loved it, although it was bit cold in the tent, and i was bit suspicious towards my "made in china" tent, but it was great tent -no need to worry at all.




The rain continued the next day. I met Paakorn from Thailand. The only other tour-cyclist I would meet through the whole journey. He offered that we spend same time together and take a day off from cycling. I was more then happy. also felt bad after seeing how well he is prepared and equipped. He even seemed worried at the end that I am just way to "relaxed" about my overall plan. He had GPS, notebook, small tools, spare parts, knowledge in how to use them. And me? I was big...improviser

Start 14 March 2011

after an amazing few days in Hong Kong, which turned out to be much more of a friendly organized and not-so-expensive then the crowded unfriendly-expensive city i expected to see. Instead the tasty tofu in a local restaurant, the warm welcome and hosting by my new couch-surfing friend Phoenix. I must say the climate was way more colder then i expected or rather say - wished for. My mind is in China...on the road that I am just about to explore. How would China be like? How lost would i be? I will find out soon. I have one weekend to find a bicycle and gear up with all i need: tent, clothes, maps, gloves... knife? And another small change in plan.I will not start from Hong Kong after all. Cycling in a country where people drive on narrow roads and more important on the "other side" then i am used to, made me feel very uncomfortable. After comparing the prices of bicycles with mailand China is clear in my head -I'll start from Shenzhen, China instead.

across the border and another reality, the "real" China, Shenzhen.
Another huge town but yet another welcoming experience, Kim was my second couch-surf experience. I was bit worried when i found out how little i know about China. Kim was there to help me find bicycle and gear, learn basics about food and lifestyle. After two days spent there i finally found mu future best friend, the Giant Hunter 3.0. Amazing cheap but very good and reliable bicycle

Noon, March 14th time to go. Thank you Kim. It's now time for me to decipher those strange looking Chinese ...symbols all around me and try not to get too lost :)
Day:1  Miles:0  Excitement level: Maximum  :)

 

down at Doha changing plane with changed plans...

The trip far east started with some drama. First my 11.30 a.m. bus canceled his route to Istanbul with some lousy explanations...so i had to change plans. The packed bicycle already seemed heavy and a real chalenge for me transport, so i decided to make a change in plans....god please find me a good cheap bicycle in HK :)
 The bicycle stayed at home and i just took the extra gear the bags and the seat. Even without the bicycle i was above the allowance.

7 hours later and i took another bus, this time from Skopje. another 12 hours and i was in Istanbul checking in. All that mix of nationalities reminded me that i am leaving the Balkan.

a view just before landing in Doha (picture not mine)

6 more hours ant then late flight to HK

The ticket in the pocket, bicycle in my living room, waiting for the visa

suddenly it feels like is getting real. after months of looking maps and writing sponsor requests and gathering infoz i can see the bicycle and the gear in front of me. The ticket is here, Istanbul - Hong Kong. The visa is coming soon. Thanks to the sponsors and the good Chinese fairy, i am getting closer to Mad in China :) .

They told me my bike's name is Velotraum, but that sounds bit to traumatic to me. Maybe it means something nice in German ?? I will have to think of a better name for it, for him? for her ?

“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping”

- chinese proverb

friday 4thMarch:
I just added recently another important item in my travel kit - the Chinese visa. i was surprised by last minute call from the ambassador that i need invitation letter and other documents. thanks to the stip - Beijing connection and few early a.m. calls i got it :) .
Now all those bags lined up on the floor in my living room and i have only 11kg allowance after the bicycle and the box weighed