http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/ChrisH/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from ChrisH en-us Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:36:57 +0000 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:36:57 +0000 Well its been a rocky ride and wersquove only been on the bikes for a bit over a week. It started tough after 3 weeks of leisure off the bikes despite the almost flat terrain. It was certainly flat compared to what we got a few days later and maybe the only excuse for falling off my bike is fatigue coupled with altitude. So the daily statsTuesday 17th June First day back in the saddle Dali t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Deqin/blog-293495.html Beijing is truly different to the area of Yunnan I have visited thus far. Normally size and order don't go together and with Beijing having a population of 15 million compared to the next biggest city we had visited Kunming at 1 million I was expecting chaos. I was amazed and impressed at what I found an effective traffic system policemen earning their keep and streets relatively free of no http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/Forbidden-City/blog-287924.html As I alluded to in my early posts when Matt and I started the trip we had the intention of raising some money for good causes close to our hearts RSI Action in the UK and Carry for Kids an Australia based charity working in South East Asia.With the invaluable assistance and incredible manwoman power of his household we held a gala evening back in February and raised around around 1200 dollars http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-285042.html Well I think it's fair to say that just over a week with Greer when I haven't seen her for three months isn't enough but what with work holiday allowances we couldn't have anymore but we made the most of what we had.We decided to stay in Yunnan province to avoid too much travel which would likely leave us too tired to enjoy the trip. And in any case if you want to avoid big cities and pollution http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-285028.html Since the last blog we haven't done so many k's on the bike instead exploring the 'touristy' area of Tengchong and in the last couple of days doing very little in Dali. I say 'touristy' as we didn't see the hordes of western tourists that we were expecting Tengchong is in the Lonely Planet a first since Jinghong more than 3 weeks ago although there have been quite a few Chinese tourists a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Dali/blog-278864.html Well after all the emails asking When is Matt going to publish his first blog here it is. South Adelaide supporters have not had to wait as long for this blog as another premiership 1964 nor Saint Kilda supporters as long as their one and only in 1966. I cannot guarantee that readers will enjoy this as much as respective football supporters enjoyed these victories but I will attempt at http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-279299.html Just a quick note following the earthquake in Sichuan province 2 days ago to say that Matt and I are both fine. We did not feel the earthquake although we are about 1000km from the epocenter about 13 as far as beijingbangkok where apparently the earhtquake could be felt.We did not pass through any towns of substance during the day and had decided to camp in the evening. The first we heard of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/blog-276033.html Due to a couple of comments from concerned mothers and exhousemates I feel the need to start this post with an explanation and safety warning. It has been noticed that we have grabbed on to a passing truck to assist our progress when spirits were lowand fears raised that this is unduly risky. The trucks have been travelling at the speed approaching a fast walk imagine if you will an experienced http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/blog-275029.html So over a week has past with Matt and I riding together and we haven't bitten each others heads off yet which is good. And as you'll see from the summary below we have had some hard days which have tested both out legs or mental stamina and our bums. The latter has faired the worst. My route up until this point through Thailand Laos and early China has on reflection been on particularly bril http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/blog-272417.html Hi all. It has been at times busy at times relaxing but altogether a very varied 10 days since the last post. A quick tour tuesday 3rd day of Lao New Year. more celebrations in Luang Prabangwednesday Slow boat to Pak Beng along Mekong riverthursday continued on slow boat to Huay Xaifri 77km to wild campingsat 59km ride and 50km hitch to Luang Nam Thasun and mon 2 day trek in Nam Tha nati http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Jinghong/blog-270234.html Quick picture saturday Cycle from Vieng Vang to truck stop 80km north. Meet ride with other cyclistssunday 60km and truck ride to Nam Chat a village supposedly with a guesthousemonday 79km to Phonsavontuesday day around Phonsavon visiting plain of jars an area heavily bombed during 'Vietnam' warwednesday going solo again Muang Kham 52kmthursday punishing 87km to Nam Neunfriday even h http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Luang-Prabang/blog-266708.html Once again a week has flown by so much has happened more than there is time for in this post but here goes a snapshotQuick picturesun. Cross to Laosmon. Veintiane exploretues. 98km to Ban Na Keun or at least i think that was the village namewed. 110km to Vang Vieng. And Claire's birthday hope you got my txt sisthursay. walkingcavingtubingfirday. ClimbingCrossed into Laos successfully. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-262988.html It is now day 22 and from now on i'll stop numbering the days for fear of disheartening people as the numbers grow and i have arrived at the ThaiLaos friendship bridge at Nong Khai which I plan to cross tomorrow. Hopefully i should be able to ride rather than ferried over by tuktuk at grossly overinflated prices which make the Kangaroo Island ferry seems cheap per KM.The last few days I have http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-East-Thailand/Nong-Khai/blog-260891.html Here is the kit I have with me. Probably too much but I must have some comforts especially the camp chair which uses my sleeping matressBIKEBike Raceline Hardtail mountain bike.Tyres Evolution Gearx touring tyrestrailer BOBfront handlebar bag cycle computer with altitude meterpump drinks bottles 4drink bottle cages 6cable lock 2 and padlock mirror bar ends crud catcher rear mud g http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Northern-Thailand/Dan-Sai/blog-259205.html Day 10 to 16 17th to 23rd MarchSo I have made it up in to the mountains and mostly back down again of North Eastern Thailand and apart from one unforgivable climb it has been great fun. Have been in some real backwater places and have had to plan my water and rest stops a bit better coke selling stalls are no longer spaced within view of each other. I have also now frequented most forms of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Northern-Thailand/Dan-Sai/blog-259199.html Day 9 Nakon SawanI've now had 3 days in the saddle and getting used to the riding and the temperature. My body hasn't quite caught up though and it takes all of about 15 minutes for my shirt and helmet to be full of sweat. Frustrating as the Thais don't show any sign of sweat. I'm currently in the central plains of Thailand temperature about 25C at night and up to 40C during the day. Needless to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Northern-Thailand/Nakhon-Sawan/blog-256595.html Day 3 Impressions on BangkokBangkok is big especially when compared to Adelaide bustling and dirty. Well that was my impressions from the first 24 hours but today i saw a nicer side too when postponed the bike preparations checking over gear that emerged from plane with bike box wide open and shopping and headed to some tourist draw cards. Arrived in Thailand at 11pm after a pleasant BA fl http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Bangkok/blog-254794.html Well it has been a very busy 3 weeks since i finished work and I still haven't been able to get everything done yet. Still got some shopping and farewells to go... One of the more useful things i have managed to do is a 'bike fitting' session. Shannon a friend of Matt's having previously been a professional bike fitter came round to get our bikes a bit more friendly towards out bodies. Genera http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/South-Australia/Adelaide/blog-254787.html A bit about meIrsquove been living in Australia for nearly 3 years with most of that that time spent in Adelaide and 6 months in Perth. Prior to that I had been working in London for 2 and a half years following uni. Although Irsquove been working full time as an Engineer with Connell Wagner Irsquove taken the opportunity to travel around a fair bit of Australia in my time here. As well as http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/South-Australia/Adelaide/blog-254785.html An outline of the route http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-250921.html