16 Mars 2010 - Changes in plans. Plans are only thoughts. One who travels for a long time knows this well. I planned to cycle in Laos for upwards of
a month. But, I had to stop because I hurt my knee cycling. Then, more happened to me. Flu, cold, gastritis. My knee is less sore each day. But,
I am still concerned about how it is and may affect my travels. In Kathmandu, I have been talking with some guides about the Annapurna Circuit. They say
there is snow (as much as 1.6 m) in some areas above 2,800 - 3,000m. There are multiple places where I would have to carry my bicycle up and down
stairs and across snow areas. I am concerned that my knee will not be well enough to carry my packs and bicycle through these areas.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Argent et Culture (Money and Culture)
Yesterday, I walked to the Népal Market in Kathmandu. At one point., two children came up and kept holding on to my arms. They asked for things over and over. Then, they sat down and held on to my legs so i could not walk and refused to let go until I gave them food. Other people stand in front of me and will not let me pass unless I buy something. At times, grabbing my arm firmly. I have found few people who listen to me when I say no. Another man wanted me to stay at his guesthouse and followed me down the street. He asked me to stay at his guesthouse NO less than 20 times (I am not exagerating). I already had a guesthouse. And those who see this happen to me never help me. This has happened to me too many times to count in all the countries I have visited. Unless one has visited these countries, it is difficult to convey what it is like to experience this. Alas, It is only one part of my experience in southeast Asia. One part of my education of a culture that is different than mine.
Les Routes (The roads)
Les routes dans le sud-est Asie sont un sport extrème. Les routes les plus sauvage du sud-est Asie qu'on a visité dans l'ordre des plus sauvages à les moins de sauvages: Kathmandu, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Siem Reap. Souvent, dans le Kathmandu, Népal, les motos/voitures vont me passer à moins de 15cm!!
(roads in southeast Asia are an extreme sport. The roads in southeast Asia that I have visited in order from most wild to least wild are as follows: Kathmandu, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Siem Reap. Often in Kathmandu, motorcycles and cars pass me within 15cm!!)
(roads in southeast Asia are an extreme sport. The roads in southeast Asia that I have visited in order from most wild to least wild are as follows: Kathmandu, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Siem Reap. Often in Kathmandu, motorcycles and cars pass me within 15cm!!)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Mise à Voyage en sud-est Asie (update for southeast Asia)
J'ai été en sud-est Asie de 61 jours. Je suis allé à vélo plus de 1900km maintenant - inclué Thailand, Cambodge et Laos.
Je me sens heureux etre ici.
(I have been in southeast Asia for 61 days. I have cycled more than 1900km to date, incompassing Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. I do not regret doing this.)
Je me sens heureux etre ici.
(I have been in southeast Asia for 61 days. I have cycled more than 1900km to date, incompassing Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. I do not regret doing this.)
DAY 60 - Le Mise à Numéro de Jours (update on days)
De vrai, aujourd'hui est le 60iéme jour depuis d'arriver en sud-est Asie. C'est le 48iéme jour depuis que je suis départs à vélo de Bangkok, Thailand. J'utilisera les jours depuis je suis allé à sud-est Asie - 60.
Actually, today is the 60th day since I arrived in southeast Asia. It is only the 48th day since I left Bangkok, Thailand by bicycle. I will refer to the actual days since I arrived in southeast Asia - 60.
Actually, today is the 60th day since I arrived in southeast Asia. It is only the 48th day since I left Bangkok, Thailand by bicycle. I will refer to the actual days since I arrived in southeast Asia - 60.
Les Montagnes de Laos.. (the Laotian mountains)
Ces sont les photos de moi aprés chaque jour que je suis allé à vélo (This is how I looked at the end of each day after
bicycling in the Laotian mountains)...LOL!
Thoughts on safety in Asia..
The people I have learned to most be concerned about and feel nervous when they are near me are the police, soldiers and
consulate officials. Here a only a few examples (There are more):
1. Laotian Embassy - The website for Laotian Embassy states that I only have to pay $42 for a visa. The consulate official told me I had to pay $47.
2. Laotian border - The website for the Laotian Embassy expressed no border fees. But, the Cambodian border patrol charged $1 to pass.
The Laotian border patrol charged me $2 to pass.
3. Cambodian soldier in broad daylight- touched me in a sexual manner and asked if I had any drugs. There were 2 police there.
4. Police in Xaysomboune, Laos - Took me to the police station for questioning. They said foreigners were not allowed there. They
had poor English. So, I only understood a few things they said and they understood only a few things I said. Of note: there are
multiple guesthouses there. I passed by the 2 police buildings more than once and even talked to one of them the day before. I bought
food and medicine at the village market. I passed multiple checkpoints from Vientiane to Xaysomboune (checkpoints are a common occurence
in Asia). Every patrolman let me pass. NO ONE told me foreigners were not allowed there. At the police station, there were three police officers.
One of them flipped through my passport for 10 minutes. Then, the second one wrote information from my passport in a ledger. The third police
officer just stood there. The other thing about this experience that worried me is that I was told that foreigners were not allowed there
because the roads are not so good. Of course, locals were on the roads walking and riding in vehicles. And all the roads that I have
come across in Laos are not good. So, why did the police officer lie to me? What are they hiding?
These are only a FEW of my experiences with government workers. They are the ones I worry about..not the civilians. There is one law in
southeast Asia when you meet a soldier, police officer, consulate official - their law. Not the government's law. It is wiser to do as they
say than to argue with them. And you say..well, it's safer to travel with other people. When I was taken to the police station for questioning,
3 other people who were travelling together, were brought to the station as well.
consulate officials. Here a only a few examples (There are more):
1. Laotian Embassy - The website for Laotian Embassy states that I only have to pay $42 for a visa. The consulate official told me I had to pay $47.
2. Laotian border - The website for the Laotian Embassy expressed no border fees. But, the Cambodian border patrol charged $1 to pass.
The Laotian border patrol charged me $2 to pass.
3. Cambodian soldier in broad daylight- touched me in a sexual manner and asked if I had any drugs. There were 2 police there.
4. Police in Xaysomboune, Laos - Took me to the police station for questioning. They said foreigners were not allowed there. They
had poor English. So, I only understood a few things they said and they understood only a few things I said. Of note: there are
multiple guesthouses there. I passed by the 2 police buildings more than once and even talked to one of them the day before. I bought
food and medicine at the village market. I passed multiple checkpoints from Vientiane to Xaysomboune (checkpoints are a common occurence
in Asia). Every patrolman let me pass. NO ONE told me foreigners were not allowed there. At the police station, there were three police officers.
One of them flipped through my passport for 10 minutes. Then, the second one wrote information from my passport in a ledger. The third police
officer just stood there. The other thing about this experience that worried me is that I was told that foreigners were not allowed there
because the roads are not so good. Of course, locals were on the roads walking and riding in vehicles. And all the roads that I have
come across in Laos are not good. So, why did the police officer lie to me? What are they hiding?
These are only a FEW of my experiences with government workers. They are the ones I worry about..not the civilians. There is one law in
southeast Asia when you meet a soldier, police officer, consulate official - their law. Not the government's law. It is wiser to do as they
say than to argue with them. And you say..well, it's safer to travel with other people. When I was taken to the police station for questioning,
3 other people who were travelling together, were brought to the station as well.
Laos - Jour 43-47 - Banlung à Luang Prabang 2010
Laos - Jour (Day) 43-47 - Banlung à (to) Luang Prabang 2010
Well plans are only plans are only plans are only plans....I had planned to bicycle from Xaysomboune to Phonsavan, Laos.
But, I hurt my knee bicycling in the mountains north of Xaysomboune and had to stop. I had worked very hard
on my bicycle to get as far as I did and I was discouraged and frustrated. I have found that most of the "roads"
in the Laotian mountains are mild to very steep. And most are dirt roads so they are bumpy and rocky. I even have to
walk my bicycle up some of the roads because it is too hard to ride up them. Yes, I stay far from the
edge of the roads so I am safe. After waling a short distance, I came across a little village. They spoke no English.
I do not speak enough Laotion. After some time of miming and using hand gestures, I assertained that there
was no bus heading north to Phonsavan. It is 100km from this village to Phonsavan. So, I took a ride in a "local bus"
heading south back to Xaysomboune that passed a few hours later. Then, I took another "local" bus to Vientiane, then
to Luang Prabang. Here, I will rest my knee...medication, Ace wrap, elevation, ice...blah blah blah. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Well plans are only plans are only plans are only plans....I had planned to bicycle from Xaysomboune to Phonsavan, Laos.
But, I hurt my knee bicycling in the mountains north of Xaysomboune and had to stop. I had worked very hard
on my bicycle to get as far as I did and I was discouraged and frustrated. I have found that most of the "roads"
in the Laotian mountains are mild to very steep. And most are dirt roads so they are bumpy and rocky. I even have to
walk my bicycle up some of the roads because it is too hard to ride up them. Yes, I stay far from the
edge of the roads so I am safe. After waling a short distance, I came across a little village. They spoke no English.
I do not speak enough Laotion. After some time of miming and using hand gestures, I assertained that there
was no bus heading north to Phonsavan. It is 100km from this village to Phonsavan. So, I took a ride in a "local bus"
heading south back to Xaysomboune that passed a few hours later. Then, I took another "local" bus to Vientiane, then
to Luang Prabang. Here, I will rest my knee...medication, Ace wrap, elevation, ice...blah blah blah. Oh well, c'est la vie.
Cambodge - Plus - Kep à Banlung 2010
Aujourd'hui, j'ai eu vais de Phnom Penh à Banlung dans le Province de Ratinikirri, Cambodge cars mon
visa finit 28 Fev 2010. Je prefere à aller à vélo. :( Le plus que je vais à vélo, le plus que je
me voyage à vélo. En le van, une femme m'a donné du nourriture. C'était un morceau du bois avec
du gazon à chaque bout. Lorsque "peeled off" le bois, il y a quelque chose que se semble du riz.
C'était trés délicieuse. J'ai me pensé, "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" Je porte "a facemask" lorsque que je
vais à vélo cars l'autoroute est trés devoir.
(today, I had to get from Phnom Penh to Banlung in Ratinikirri Province, Cambodia by van because my
visa ends on 28 February. I wanted to ride my bicycle there. The more I ride my bicycle, the more I want
to ride it. I have to use a facemask on the unsealed roads as they are too dusty. So, you will
see me wearing one in the video. On the van I had a "galome" (this is how the word sounded to me).
It was like a piece of bamboo-looking word with grass at the end. On the inside there was what
looked like rice. The whole thing was cooked before we peeled the wood off and took out the grasssy ends.
It was soooo tasty and sweet. I think it was a sweetened rice. not sure though. A woman on the van to
Banlung gave me it too eat)
visa finit 28 Fev 2010. Je prefere à aller à vélo. :( Le plus que je vais à vélo, le plus que je
me voyage à vélo. En le van, une femme m'a donné du nourriture. C'était un morceau du bois avec
du gazon à chaque bout. Lorsque "peeled off" le bois, il y a quelque chose que se semble du riz.
C'était trés délicieuse. J'ai me pensé, "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" Je porte "a facemask" lorsque que je
vais à vélo cars l'autoroute est trés devoir.
(today, I had to get from Phnom Penh to Banlung in Ratinikirri Province, Cambodia by van because my
visa ends on 28 February. I wanted to ride my bicycle there. The more I ride my bicycle, the more I want
to ride it. I have to use a facemask on the unsealed roads as they are too dusty. So, you will
see me wearing one in the video. On the van I had a "galome" (this is how the word sounded to me).
It was like a piece of bamboo-looking word with grass at the end. On the inside there was what
looked like rice. The whole thing was cooked before we peeled the wood off and took out the grasssy ends.
It was soooo tasty and sweet. I think it was a sweetened rice. not sure though. A woman on the van to
Banlung gave me it too eat)
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