Nice article. I hadn't such a nice experience in Beazil but I for sure remember the nice Brazilian music and the way they dance! Salvador is definitely on my list on where I want to go next time in Brazil!
I was reading your post and I was hoping to read about the whole biking trip, hope a new blog about the rest of the trip will come soon ;)
better than expected how nice to read only positive and its more beautiful than i imagined. but you were lucky guys. It can be different picture too..may be china for one aspect better, because less crime? seems wonderful to explore place by bike, probably, no better way, but still courageous, esp for your father. i would of thought bikes not very popular there too, but looking at that beautiful bike road along the beach..puts Eurovelo in Baltic countries to shame
wonderful yes, its better to read about it when hot summer outside :) Truly amazing ice creations. as i never gonna to see in reality and i didn't suspect such even exists!
Brrrrr Nearly got to Harbin 12 years ago...changed our bookings to travel to Central China instead...that year -35Cin Harbin. Gotta say the ice sculptures tempt me as does adding another Provence to my list. And now you say crowds, crowds and more crowds. Maybe I've missed my opportunity.
it's never too late! the festival starts a month before Spring Festival and ends maybe a month (or 2?) after Chinese new year. Plan your trip after the national holiday and you'll pretty much have the place to yourself! (If you go early they might still be working on some of the sculptures).
What a contrast! From solitary bike riding to joining Chinese New Year crowds in a popular tourist spot--I guess now, you can do anything! Great that you and Becky managed to really enjoy the place even though there were so many (and not so friendly) people and such incredible cold. I've always wanted to go to this festival or the one in Sapporo, Japan, so thanks for the fabulous photos that let me enjoy it from my room in warm, sunny Peru.
Hah, Jeremy, I really agree with you about the people in Harbin. When I first got there, I couldn't understand a single word of taxi drivers. And people in some stores were very unfriendly. And a lot of people kept asking about my accent and telling me my Chinese's not good.
But the island experience on the other side of the river was an unforgettable memory. I went to this island on the Chinese New Year's eve. There's an Iceland hotel where I could watch over the other shore. The concrete jungle in the sound of crackers was such a contrast to the silence on the island. The view was great, but prices were ridiculous. A Chinese friend invited me to her family for a dinner. Gee, they ate like three times at night: 6pm, 8pm, and 12pm! Big family, huge table, and lots of lots of dumplings!
Dumplings! The ice sculptures looks so pretty, but I'm not sure how I would cope with that intense cold. On the other hand, I might be able to put up with it for plates of those dumplings :)
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 :)
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.
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!
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!
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! :)
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.
FYI the direct road from Wuwei to Tian Ti Shan was shut yesterday (9th April 2014), so just had major journey - 4h there, 4h back the day after, and had to stay with a local family overnight in a nearby village. Amazing scenery on the back-roads though!! Also construction around Tian Ti Shan - looks like this may be a typical Chinese tourist site in a couple of years.
Couple of elderly people...but still on the road :-) Good to read your last blog posts (I think the title of this comment answers your compliment). I do hope to see you on the road and on your bike too! Happy days back in China "foreigner". Take care amigo! Beijos e abraços
it was a very small kiss anyway... ;-) she was either still mad at me for leaving her alone for months... or felt a bit bad for not letting me finish my trip! Either way, I have been taking advantage of this: the sentence "I came back from Uzbekistan for you" has been very useful to avoid washing dishes at home! haha!
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
Natacha
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Nice article. I hadn't such a nice experience in Beazil but I for sure remember the nice Brazilian music and the way they dance! Salvador is definitely on my list on where I want to go next time in Brazil! I was reading your post and I was hoping to read about the whole biking trip, hope a new blog about the rest of the trip will come soon ;)