Backwaters
Our tour boat glided slowly through Kerala’s backwaters.
We gazed out over palm trees, and life along the river banks.
Yes, we’ve seen similar scenes while pedaling. But here we didn’t have to worry about Tata trucks blasting past us.
Shwedagon Pagoda
Mind blowing
The Shwedagon is one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites and it’s stunning! The immense gilded stupa is surrounded by temples filled with an array of Buddha statues.
There’s a constant buzz of activity as Burmese from all walks of life come here to pray, give offerings and even have their fortune told.
More Yangon impressions:
Back to Myanmar
Laos river boat
Boat
From Luang Prabang, we took the slow boat to Huay Xai.
It was two relaxed days of viewing life alongside the river banks; children playing, men throwing out fishing nets, and women washing clothes.
The icing on the cake was sailing by the steep hills that we no longer had to pedal over.
Another Huay Xai impression:
Back to Laos
Kyzyl-Aart Pass
Stunning
The landscape heading up from Sary Tash is spectacular, with its multi-colored mountains and thick snow packs.
But its not a place you want to linger since multi-day storms regularly pass through…
Another Kyzyl Aart impression:
Back to the Pamirs
Pamir Landscape
Vast
Vast, enormous, immense, are just some of the adjectives used to describe the scenery.
To truly appreciate it, you have to pedal it yourself.
More on tour impressions:
Back to the Pamirs
Ophir Pass
Summit
“Ophir Pass? It’s spectacular! You guys shouldn’t have a problem cycling up it,” said the tourist information lady reassuringly.
Perhaps she had been altitude training – or lying – because we suffered. We weren’t acclimatized and by midday, we were still struggling to reach the summit.
She was right about the scenery though. We ended up pitching our tent near the top with a panoramic view of the San Juan Mountains.
Back to America
Amber palace
Palace
The last thing we expected to see while traveling the polluted, over-crowded Delhi-Jaipur highway is Amber Fort.
It’s a beacon of elegance that rises above the Aravalli hills.
Once inside, we felt miles away from the chaos of India.
Back to India
Dasain
Safety
Rental bike owners make offerings to Durga; to ensure a safe year on the road.
Another festival impression:
Back to Nepal
Pedaling the Terai
Tranquil
Nepal isn’t just soaring mountains.
The Mahendra highway runs through the Terai, a strip of flat land between the Indian border and the Himalayan foothills.
It had a serene, simple beauty; so unlike the frantic chaos of neighbouring India.
Back to Nepal
Lake Tanganyika
Gladiators
As the Liemba slowed down we could see the passenger boats racing to dock alongside.
It was a competition between them since they were only paid by the number of passengers and amount of freight they carried back to shore.
The scenes were reminiscent of the chariot race from Ben Hur.
Another Lake Tanganyika impression:
Back to East Africa