8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

Asia » China » Xinjiang
March 21st 2014

Published: April 21st 2014

I still can’t believe it’s over. It’s actually been a while now. After cycling from Gansu Province to Xinjiang, then on to the <em style="line-height: 1.428571429;">Stans , Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, I am back with Becky in Beijing, China. I have a good job (back to teaching) and surprisingly often enough the sky is amazingly blue over the city. Of course there ... Read Full Entry

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Jeremy Chiron

Jeremyaroundtheworld

I am a 36-year old language teacher, currently working in Beijing. I was born in France but China has been my home for many years. I taught French and English in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, for 6 years. I never thought I would stay in China for such a long time but it’s been an amazing experience! Professionally speaking, teaching Chinese students is extremely rewarding. They are so hard-working and eager to learn new things. And then China… there aren’t enough words to describe this intricate (hence fascinating) country. “China is not to be liked or disliked: i... full info

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One of my best memories

I was camping when kids came to say hello. I got out and started talking. One of them went home to get a Russian-English phrase book... one of them made a fire, and we sang and talked for hours.

in the morning

Uzbek shepherds greet me

I was invited inside a school one morning

the kids behind me were the ones who sang and talked to me one evening around a bondfire

my guide/friend in Shakhrisabz

we rode together and he showed me the sites

South of Samarkand

entering the desert

camping in Uzbekistan

freedom!

Around Shakhrisabz, everyone was so welcoming and friendly!

I attracted the crowds... or at least my bike did!

Around Shakhrisabz, everyone was so welcoming and friendly!

in Uzbekistan

my road... Uzbekistan was not the most exciting place to cycle

but it was a great place to free my mind

best lunch in Uzbekistan!

i will never get tired of these turquoise domes in Uzbekistan

Visiting Khiva

part of history of Central Asia

Joana and Nuno (from Portugal) cooked a nice Birthday dinner for me

They cycled from New Zealand... They are going home. We met in Samarkand, and again in Bukhara. I hope they get to stay with my parents in France in August or September. Wishing you nice tail wind!

crossing the Kyzylkum Desert, from Bukhara to Khiva

almost 400km of desert

kids in Khiva

always ready for a photo!

they invited me for lunch

Great memory! I was taking a picture in the street and the mother simply waved at me and asked me to come in. Her child didn't speak English but we managed using a lot of body language

I witnessed so many wedding ceremonies in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

People get married any day, all the time! Here in Khiva. Music + drinks before (after?) visiting the sacred sites.

having a delicious Uzbek lunch with Stefania and Oliver, 2 diplomats from Italy and Germany

Elaine (from Canada) and I spent a couple of days visiting Khiva together. She would get very upset when the Uzbek asked her if she was Chinese... The Uzbek would always pretend to speak Chinese to her blurring a lot of "ching-chong-xin" at her...

in Khiva

People were so hospitable in Khiva. I was invited for tea, lunch and dinner... every day there!

Looking over Khiva from the top of the tallest minaret in Uzbekistan

I thought I should go home. Becky is unhappy alone in Beijing. Winter is coming. The sky is grey and rainy 5 days out of 7... Turkmenistan and Iran can wait.

21st April 2014

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

I was so happy to hear that Becky wants to join you next time...
I thought it was going to be a choice between her and the road. Now you can "have your cake and eat it too." The TB community looks forward to your completion of the Silk Road and your blogs. Meanwhile blog about life in China with Becky...and the joys of teaching languages. And you might go back and tell about your life in the U.S. and Australia.

22nd April 2014

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Fantastic summary!
Thanks for the lovely summary of your incredible bike trip, I especially loved reading about the encounters you had with local people. Even after just a month away, putting on work clothes and shoes seemed odd - so I can imagine how you felt going back to city and working life again. Hope you hear about your next adventures soon! :)

22nd April 2014

denidax
Deni, Dax and Ella

Congratulations! What I loved the most is how extremely happy you look on all your photos! Please, don't stop blogging after this. All the best

23rd April 2014

auspicious
Michelle Duer

How surreal! I loved these lines: "Yes, I had to cook my own food; I often didn’t have running water (rivers), and on a few nights it got very cold (my water bottles froze inside my tent on many occasions) but I didn’t owe anything to anyone. It was just me and the stars, the birds and I, the dunes and I, and the sound of water or the ice-cracking at night." -- such a liberating and self-aware journey!

23rd April 2014

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Freedom on the open road...
Great summary of a most amazing journey! I love the freedom that you got, stopping where ever you wanted and seeing things up close, better than in a bus or car. Fabulous encounters with the locals that touched my heart, too. I'm sure you and Becky will have some adventures in China, so I look forward to those. Bon voyage!

23rd April 2014

At Lake Karakol, south of Kashgar, on the way to Pakistan

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

I CAN DO ANYTHING
Fabulous adventure...fabulous achievement...how wonderful you could share it...with locals...with Becky...and with your TB friends in the ether. While memories may fade over time you have zillions of great photos to relive and revive your soul. But one thing that will remain with you I am sure...is the knowledge that you can do anything you set your mind to...yep...anything.

9th May 2014

ingnova
Ingrida

Thanks for sharing
This last log sums it up, how incredible it was. Amazed about organizing all gear for such grand trip and puzzled what part of Europe would be nice to cycle, may be Finland for me in the summer.. Welcome to the Baltics if you ever make to this part :) Sure, its nothing of significance of nature like isolated mountains and deserts of Asia. yes, better lets keep dreaming :)

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8 INCROYABLE months on a bike!

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