 Erika Bird and Robin Searle - Banchory to the Bosphorous by Bike | All Comments |
Comments | |
| 9th November 2009 Baris Kockaya | :) - From: Dear Erika and Robin; I hope everything goes well during your journey. Hope to see you a time again. Baris (The guy at Regal Internet Inn in Lahor - from Turkey) |
| 2nd November 2009 sayang | lonte jogja - From: Merdeka Magic jogja sangat indah pemandangan nya tp sayang gadis jogja yg bernama vera prg merantau ke malaysia jadi perebut suami org,tukah tipe gadis jogja yg gatal perebut suami org krn suami orang tuh sangat hansome,mgkn dia ngk pernah liat suami org sehansome tuh sbb tuh lah dia rebut tanpa perduli hak org,dasar lonteee |
| 9th October 2009 Graydon | Rock-throwing kids - From: Farewell to Turkey (Van to Bazargan) Dear Erika and Robin: I enjoyed reading this post. I'm in Van, having come the opposite way from Dog Biscuit to Van. I've had stone-throwing and begging kids plaguing me like horseflies for days, since Ani. Tomorrow I'm going to buy a child-beating stick to carry for such occasions! |
| 10th September 2009 aziz shah | on kkh - From: The Great Escape - the KKH it is the longest and dangers hidhwa of the word so make it and bild it |
| 14th August 2009 maramadh | - From: Trans-Himalayan Highway: Manali - Leh this is the best travelogue i have seeb for this route |
| 13th August 2009 Nikhil | Wonderfull - From: To the Holy Mountain: Ali to Kailash Wonderful. Even I'm eager to plan such a trip now. I wish I will !! Thanks to you !! :) |
| 13th August 2009 ehsan | Endorsing Erika and Robin - From: Chelo Pakistan!! Roshan's remarks are just the perfect example of what is written in the blog... 1. Hatred towards Pakistan... based on the only and exaggerated information he is exposed to from the media of international and local ( unfortunately including Pakistani media).. i am not saying its all false but mostly it is (why ... is a separate issue) 2. If I ask Roshan have you ever met a Pakistani... answer would be no... that also endorses blog's viewpoint.... 3. I don't think that a man's luck starts working on one side (as Roshan said "perhaps you were lucky enough not to be exposed....") of a white line (wagha border) and stops on the other, and starts working again when he crosses back ... I would suggest Roshan to visit www.aliveandwellinpakistan.com to see many such stories like these cyclists .... We Pakistani's are peace loving and hospitable people... these islamic fanatic are like the trained snakes to kill the enemy but left on their own after west got their job done ... now they are biting us .. india... and the whole world .. |
| 12th August 2009 Nikhil | Nice to know about GOOD Pakistan - From: Chelo Pakistan!! Hey ! gr8 blogs by you two. I started reading ur blogs 2 weeks ago and now about to complete all. They are so refreshing and alive to read, they almost sound still happening. Nice to know that you have had good experinces in pakistan, I could never imagined that. But Roshan you also has noted down good and real facts too !! |
| 5th August 2009 Nikhil Dixit | WOW !! - From: High Life - Ladakh Really like your pix and journey blogs/details. Wished I could ever do this in my life. Even I wanna travel whole of the world !!! :) |
| 3rd August 2009 bilal | bilal - From: The Great Escape - the KKH thanks for showing me the photos of my own country.... i feel so bad that i havent been able to travel to these areas that you have shown in these photos ... lovely place ... thanks cheers |
| 25th July 2009 Mike Stenhouse | Great blog! - From: Hey guys - glad you're still travelling/teaching and blogging. Some great tales and photos to inspire those of us not travelling at present! I cycled through Pakistan in 1993 and it was one of the friendliest places I visited on a 12-month cyling trip. One family looked after me for 3 weeks when I got really sick with giardia (in Bahawalpur)! In fact, I was constantly being invited for cups of tea and it slowed me down no end! Sumatra sounds great. Looking forward to your future updates. |
| 24th July 2009 Banchory to the Bosphorous by Bike | Is it over? - From: No, but we got even slower, started going around in circles a little bit and one of us has kind of stopped, for a while anyway, to take a different kind of journey. We also got even lamer at writing about it. And in plainer language we are living in Indonesia for a year - Erika is teaching, Robin is still cycling around, island-hopping, scaring Orangutans and such like. After that there is still the other half of the planet...... |
| 12th July 2009 Sean | Small World - From: Into the Desert - Esfahan to Yazd Hey guys - inspirational stuff - myself and mate were bumming around Yazd and surrounds at almost exactly the same time as yourself, during July 06; and we seem to have pretty much matched each other step for step - am surprised we didn't bump into you along the way - if you ever saw two badly sunburnt irishment then that was us - keep on truckin |
| 9th July 2009 Carla | vampires - From: A Transylvanian Tale - Vampires, Bears & Thieves (Sighisoara to Brasov) i didnt think this myth was acutally real but know i have read this i no |
| 6th July 2009 leh | - From: Trans-Himalayan Highway: Manali - Leh Brilliant! |
| 4th July 2009 Ben | Is it over? - From: Your blog is amazing guys, I would love to do some bicycle touring. Is your trip over? It just doesn't seem to have an end. |
| 27th June 2009 Gayle Dickson | Amazing journey.... - From: We just looked at your blog after you left a message on Thorntree plus your blog address. We were the ones asking about the 2nd Indonesian visa in Dili. Yes, we will let you know what happens when we get there. I thought that we had been on the road a long time then saw your 4 1/2 years.....!!!!Wow!!! We followed your route on the blog and sometimes it was the same as ours except we're not on bikes!! Pakistan was also a big favourite of ours. We read what you wrote about SE Asia and we had felt exactely the same. Sometimes we wondered too if we've been on the road too long.....we don't want to go home yet though and sometimes we even have the mad idea about cycling home from China, perhaps your blog will be our inspiration!!! Enjoy the ride across Java!! Would be great to meet you both but as we're a little ahead it may not happen but we'll keep our eyes open for you...you never know. It was great to read your blog!! Best Wishes The Sloths |
| 18th June 2009 PedalledPennings | - From: Turkish China Rolf! Big Man in furniture trade....He just might be related to the Furniturewala furniture tycoon family of India. |
| 29th May 2009 Khasi Dude | Re: That's KHASI - From: From the East of Scotland to "Scotland of the East" Thanks guys. I've been following your globetrotting adventures. Your wanderlust and thirst for human knowledge is very commendable. If only more people were like you... there's be more understanding, tolerance and peace in this crazy world. Just another point to clarify Dr James Weldon's comment - Although the Khasis are Matrilineal, it would not be accurate to also tag us as Matriarchal. The man is still the dominant partner in the relationship and is responsible for the general welfare of the family as well as has the final say in any important matter. The wife does take the husband's last name after marriage, but the children inherit the mother's maiden name as well as would belong to the mother's clan - hence 'matrilineal'. |
| 13th May 2009 Khasi Dude | That's KHASI - From: From the East of Scotland to "Scotland of the East" Hi guys. Lovely article. Glad you had a blast. But the word is "Khasi", not "Kasi". lease make the corrections. No offence taken. Thanks. |
| 26th April 2009 Anoynomous | I was in Balochistan for 2 years! - From: Smugglers,Taliban,Opium,Charas and lots and lots of sand - Balochistan (Bam to Quetta) Heys Guys! i recently just came back from Balochistan, Paksitan. I spent 2 years there. The moment i reacched Balochtan.. I spent a month at Noshki... and then back to quetta... A VERY MISERABLE AND DIRTY PLACE |
| 18th April 2009 Roshan | unbaised blog - From: Chelo Pakistan!! Thank you for sharing your experiences traveling across India and Pakistan and even more for your opinion on the origins of indian and western hatred against pakistan. But these are your opinions based on your experiences which are not necessarily true for everyone else, perhaps you were lucky enough not to be exposed to the islamic terrorism breeding in that country, perhaps you didn't witness the indoctrination of paki children by mad clerics screaming "Death to the infidels", perhaps you didn't witness the shariah being practised in SWAT and last but not least perhaps you haven't experienced the Islamic barbarism inflicted by terrorist scumbags on innocent civilians so please forgive us Indians for our ignorance of the peace loving people of pakistan,we were to busy trying to protect our civilians from paki islamic scumbags. |
| 24th March 2009 Loredana | - From: A Transylvanian Tale - Vampires, Bears & Thieves (Sighisoara to Brasov) Hi. I'm from Brasov, and I lived in Racadau for 20 years..so I know perfectly what you were talking about. (now I live in another country). I found this blog accidentally, trying to show to a friend from Germany some info about the bears in the area (because he couldn't believe it). I really liked how you described the place, and I must add that your description is very realistic (including the biureaucracy, police station, robberies..).[ I was also robbed, of my wallet, a few times even..and I guess that in the same internet cafe (on Republicii Street)..also been at the police station, and I had the same treatment..fortunatelly I didn't loose my passport]. Anyway, that is Romania..exactly how you described it. In spite of all the troubles you had..I hope you enjoyed you time there. Of course, if you plan going there some other time, and you need some info, I'd be glad to help :). Greetings. |
| 15th March 2009 Pearly | I now pedal too - From: Sumatera Sendiri Hey robin and erica, I long entertained the idea of trying a cycling trip someday but that became a conviction after stumbling across your blog. I now have over 2500 kms in my legs, a rather disappointing refusal despite valid visas (why we're still trying to fathom) from the Chinese immigrant officer at the China-Laos border and now we pedal to the next border through Vietnam without fretting much. If not for your blog I might still just be dreaming about this all. Thanks and pedal on and certainly hope you two get back and continue the journey. P.S: I was born in Shillong and I loved the account of your trip there. www.muddyruts.blogspot.com |
| 12th February 2009 jason barlow | good reading - From: From the East of Scotland to "Scotland of the East" thanks for a good read. i am living in newcastle but my grandmother was born in shillong (khasi). she left aged 25 and lived the last 55 years of her life in uk. i am sure that my mother has aunts, uncles and cousins still in shillong and am currently trying to trace them. i am planning a trip aswell in the next couple of years and cant wait. anyway thanks again. jason |
| 10th February 2009 www.velothailand.com | Nice... - From: Scorpions, Snakes & Jumping Elephants: Bangkok & Kaeng Krachan Hi there. |
| 8th February 2009 Pradeep | Excellent - From: Chomolungma and The Friendship Highway excellent outlook towards life.. thanks for the showing us how beautiful the world is. best wishes Pradeep Singh Kandari New Delhi |
| 3rd February 2009 Simen | Glad to see western travellers in Pakistan - From: Chelo Pakistan!! Hello Congrats, I am norwegian-pakistani, i must admit I am glad to see western turist/travellers in Pakistan. It would be fine if more western travelled to Punjab/Sindh/Kashmir provinces of Pakistan. Its no unrest there. The army action is taking place in Balochistan and NWFP. Fine that you understand India hatred aganist Pakistan, while Pakistani people dodnt care about or have any negative oppinion towards indians. |
| 28th December 2008 Banchory to the Bosphorous by Bike | Himalaya by Bike - From: They Sikkim Here...... Hi Satish, yes we know about this book, in fact we contributed to some of the chapters on Tibet! |
| 27th December 2008 Agron | Tetovo? - From: The Wrong Way! - Kjustendil to Ohrid, Makedonia Well, I am from Tetovo and I can say Tetovo is a very safe place, especially for foreigners. Anyways you fell for the Macedonian propaganda because it is an mainly Albanian populated town, and obviously Macedonians hate us :) |
| 25th December 2008 Satish Bardewa | Himalaya by bike - From: They Sikkim Here...... Hi, Erika Bird and Robin Searle, I am impressed to read your Sikkim cycling diary. There is a new book " Himalaya by Bike" by Laura Stone which is in its first edition at present. I hope you will come across this book for more maps, routes and details on cycling trip in Sikkim. Keep it up! Satish Bardewa Yak and Yeti Travels, Sikkim India http://www.yakandyetitravels.com |
| 25th December 2008 Jim R | Great Writeup - From: Sumatera Sendiri Sumatra...a fantastic place....and your pix are great, as is the focus on the incredibly friendly people...sad to hear the forest is still falling. Did you try some of that fantastic Rendang curry?? |
| 20th December 2008 Banchory to the Bosphorous by Bike | Misunderstandings..... - From: Smugglers,Taliban,Opium,Charas and lots and lots of sand - Balochistan (Bam to Quetta) Dear Ali Jan Baloch, We did indeed have great time in your country and in Balochistan in particular as you note. I am sorry if my somewhat sensationalist title has offended you but I do feel you have completely misunderstood the sentiments of our blog. Pakistan is one of our favourite countries because of the warmth, generosity and hospitality of the people there. I thought this was clear from our blog, as you seem aware of it yourself I guess it must be. I am not sure why you think we have forgotten this or what we are blaming Pakistan for? Please don't confuse us with our idiotic British government that is right now only trying to distract away from their economic incompetence by talking only about terrorism in Pakistan. Our intention was to write an honest account of our experiences in a place many westerners have misconceptions about or are just too scared to visit. Should we not have mentioned the charas and opium people were so keen to share with us? To me this was simply another example of their hospitality. I do not judge people simply because they use these things or continue to trade them. People are only smugglers because their ancient trade has been banned by modern governments and there is no alternative economic opportunities being provided. Again I do not make negative judgments about these people or the country as a whole, I feel it is you the reader who has made these judgments and attributed them to me. When writing this and my other blogs on Pakistan I was keen to highlight that although people may be drug smugglers, although they may sympathise with the Taliban or Bin Laden they still showed us big smiles, fed us and gave us safe places to sleep, despite the fact we were British and non-Muslim. I know for a fact that at least some travellers that would not have gone to Balochistan did go there after reading this blog, and of course they had a great time too. Please read my other blogs about your country, especially "Chelo Pakistan". I really hope you are reading this. If you wish to reply please do so by private message and we can continue this discussion privately by e-mail. Pakistan is a great country and it's people may well be better than us. We can only hope to better ourselves with the example of the many amazing people we have met (in many different countries) in our hearts. Only Allah can be the judge. Salaams from Indonesia. Pakistan Zindabad!! Robin / Daud |
| 13th December 2008 Faisal | I would like to join - From: Tehran & The Top of Iran I would like to travel the world as well. Let us form a team. |
| 13th December 2008 Faisal | Amazing - From: Polluted Plains & Fevered Pains - Multan to Lahore You both went all these places. It is ming shatering to go through all these countries, and cultures. This remided me of Che Guevara. If you truly did all this travling, you deseve to be international figures |
| 7th December 2008 mikarov | - From: Babylon by Bus - Israel & Occupied Palestine Interisting blog, i think is very sad wht is happening in Israel and Palestine whit the two side suffering to much, but i think that Palestinian are facing the worst side because are so opresed inside their lands (western bank and gaza) specially in the western bank. Of at side the two side are friendly, jewish and arab people are very friendly to the tourist, and the hospitality are among deeply part of their culture, both Israelis and Palestinians are so similar think they are like brothers, even i see programs and blogs about Israeli-Palestinian couples, unfortanaly a war between brothers are much worse than a war between unknow people. Im aganist extremists in the both side because they dont want peace. Examples are settlers who are west bank who are generally are extremist people and Hamas who is organization who are aganist feelings of Palestinans and who only supports the idea of a Islamic State. I want go some day to Israel and Palestine see the people, the opinions the sights of the two sides. Thanks to much write this blog. |
| 2nd December 2008 Ali Jan Baloch | You people are too much! - From: Smugglers,Taliban,Opium,Charas and lots and lots of sand - Balochistan (Bam to Quetta) I am really amazed to see your guys memories of being in Pakistan. I don't know who you people are are but our govt official give you security and escort and really enjoy highclass hospitality from the people of Pakistan but when you guys reach home, you forget everything and just remember, "SMUGGLERS, TALIBAN, OPIUM, CHARAS and LOTS and LOTS". Don't ever forget that time the local tribesman spends with you. Don't forget the escort that police and law enforcing agencies gives to you. But you people visit Pakistan and enjoy your stay here and on return you just blame Pakistan for having all these shits.. Pakistan and Pakistani people are far better than you, we are poor, but we have courage and God blessed us with big hearts to accomdate and entertain the selfish people like you. May God help you. |
| 17th November 2008 anonymous | - From: The Flat Side of Nepal Yeah! or fry them with potatoes and a wee bit of curcuma and chilli powder...bengali style. |
| 23rd October 2008 Ajoker | Finally Caught Up - From: Postcard from Paradise I've caught up with the last 3 years of your journey and I'm amazed. I have many new places on my "must see" list now, thanks soley to you two. Good luck in the future with whatever you choose to do; I just hope it's exciting so I can continue to live vicariously through you. :) |
| 21st October 2008 Gautam | Wonderful !! - From: The Road to Enlightenment ? - Bodh Gaya Dear Robin and Erika, I like your blog on the net, we are also planning to take the same route, till bodh Gaya, but will go on our Motor Bike - 500 cc, will continue from Varanasi to Gaya - Rajgir, Kushinagar - Lumbini and then Nepal. It was really wonderful comment and writeup .... regards.. Gautam |
| 10th October 2008 Stayloose | I am jealous - From: Scorpions, Snakes & Jumping Elephants: Bangkok & Kaeng Krachan Why did I ever give it up? |
| 9th October 2008 jimr | Nice writeup - From: Scorpions, Snakes & Jumping Elephants: Bangkok & Kaeng Krachan Like Erika, I couldn't believe how much better BKK's air was when I revisited this year - even the traffic seems more manageable! I really hope you managed to keep those bike saddles, or posted them home.....what classic souvenirs! |
| 9th October 2008 Stephen Paul | Time for New Continent - From: Postcard from Paradise Been following your blog for awhile, looks like you totally traversed Asia! Time to Start your South America Trip in Panama right? |
| 17th September 2008 Majid | It's wonderfull!!!!! - From: Postcard from Paradise Nice too meet you again :-) I climbed up Damavand and remembered your trying! good luck friends! |
| 16th September 2008 robb | pictures ? - From: Postcard from Paradise guys ... where are the pics ? all I can see are big black holes :-( and the LHD doesn't even work yet :-) keep it easy .. I mean the trip .. I don't know eather - I'm too old fashion, too hard core, too stupid .. or ... the "user friendly" is just wrong .. and I'm ok :-) love robb and ania |
| 13th September 2008 Ali | Congratulations on getting this far! - From: Postcard from Paradise Pity we didn't meet on the island - if I'd known you were here I would have headed over to Coral Bay - oh well - next time :) |
| 11th September 2008 Dave & Shirl | Life is tough! - From: Postcard from Paradise Hello Chucks, I was just thinking about you in the shower this morning and then we check the e-mails and find your blog. Weird! We were beginning to wonder if you had disappeared all together or finally decided to settle in a jungle village somewhere. Looks like life has been really tough for you recently; lying around on a coral shore, diving for lunch, etc. Anyway, it's great to hear from you. When you both decide what you want to do next, you will just know! Remember the Muir family motto - 'Something will turn up, even it it's only your toes!' Don't forget to let us know when you finally make up your minds. Love and hugs, Dave & Shirl |
| 10th September 2008 jim r | What to do next? - From: Postcard from Paradise Well, if you want some challenging riding, why not take a ferry across to Sumatra - some of those roads are really dodgy!! and the people are nice...or what about Borneo? In fact you should be able to island hop all the way to Australia without flying...and when you cycle down the East Coast, I 'll buy you a beer at Byron Bay - now isn't that enough to get you peddling??? |
| 10th September 2008 Jase Reynolds | Trying times! - From: Postcard from Paradise Keep your chins up you two. Life's mad isn't it - staying at home presents it's own challenges and can be dull and cycling round the world presents challenges and also can be dull! What a conundrum (I still think cycling around the world edges it slightly ;) - the things you've seen!). Will you find a place to call home soon or will you keep going? Why not enter to 2009 Tour de France? We wait with baited breath... |
| 26th August 2008 Hans Scholl | Excellent account - From: Babylon by Bus - Israel & Occupied Palestine Thanks for posting this excellent account of your visit. I have wanted to visit Palestine for some time and this gives me a general idea of what I would experience. The apartheid wall reminds me of those I saw visiting concentration camps in Europe-completely fascist. I guess it just shows that the ugly side of humanity is not unique to any one tribe. I would still love to visit the area and see historic sites (including Arab areas in Israel if they have left any standing). |
