The Portraits of Eastern Tibet

Posted on 26/04/2011 by robb

A silent post today. Pics .. but no words.
All the pictures were taken in the Eastern Tibet. We were not allowed to cycle the Western Tibet and that’s all we could see about this People. We didn’t like the monks but we love the “common people” and the nomads.
The monks were mostly interested in selling us tickets to the monasteries (not always in nice way, not always a polite one) but the others were just as friendly as you can see on those photos …

well . .enjoy :-)
























Take care and take a chance to go there and meet hem .. before they will disappear :/
R+A

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Silk Road in 6 mins

Posted on 26/04/2011 by robb

here we go :-)
ps. you can translate the title as “The Cycling Joy of Life”

tell us if you like it :-)

music by The Verve

Posted in from the bike, Silk Road, vimeo | 4 Comments

The Deserts

Posted on 18/12/2010 by robb

here we go ;-) one day I’ll work on the subs for all of you … one day .. ok ? ;-)

Posted in Silk Road, vimeo | 1 Comment

A Different China

Posted on 17/11/2010 by robb

ok .. it has been a loooong looong time since the last update .. I know .. BUT .. we are travelling ok ? ;-)
and we have only few more days left before they will kick us out of China … and only 200 Euro left …
(we have a ticket home .. don’t worry ;-)

so .. quick update now … more from Laos .. ok ?

so we are in Yunnan .. amazing Yunnan ..
no . .once again .. AMAZING Yunnan. Mountains, food, people … everything … even weather is ok ;-)

we have few pictures for You today .. more writing once we are home .,.. in 3 weeks ;-(




[caption id="attachment_1084" align="aligncenter" width="950" caption="and this ? aaaa .. this is a "Wonder Oil" with some extracts from different animals ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1082" align="aligncenter" width="950" caption="we take pictures of them .. they take pictures of us :-)"][/caption]


and .. wow .. if you like kms and all this statistics …
here we go ;-)

that’s all folks
sorry …

Posted in from the bike, Silk Road | 2 Comments

too early winter

Posted on 03/10/2010 by robb

After skeeping the great, stony, cold, windy and booooring Takla Makan Desert (one train, one bus – 2500 km in 3 days) we end up by the end-beginning of the Great Wall. Oficialy .. it’s the end, but like always .. every wall has two ends ;-) so for us .. it was the baginning :-)

And it was boring :-) At least for us :-) But well … we are in China right? Have to see some things you have to see . .right ? :-)

And … finnaly . .we left for the mountains .. and paid a great toll straight away. It’s just too high or to o late. One or another but at the end – it’s tooooo cold. Snow storms, frost, fog. You name it. At least the mood is good and the views are stunning.

[caption id="attachment_911" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="hmmmm . .a bicycle .. fully loaded ...."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_909" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and this to Germans .. will get some tomatos .. why not .. welcome to China!"][/caption]

One of the greatest things about the Chinese people is .. their smile. But … you don’t get it for free :-) Oh now. First .. they look at you .. cold, stone, ice faced and you don’t know if they are ok about you or not. NOT A CHANCE :-) .. so you wave .. smile, say “nin hao” and wait … “Did I make an idiot of myself again?” …
But .. most of the time, once you say hello .. you get an explosion of great, warm, happy emotions on this chinese faces.
And you feel great.
And you feel “in good place”
Just perfect :-)

[caption id="attachment_903" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and I .. will coock you the best "lau mien" in town ... "][/caption] [caption id="attachment_900" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="grilled tofu ... you can't say no to it :-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_906" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="harvest time .... chilly ...."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_901" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="or corn ... everything by hand"][/caption]

ok .. it’s a time for your photostory again ;-)
so here we go …

[caption id="attachment_920" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="drying some "tofu noodles""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_930" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="yes my friend . .Tibet is getting closer"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_931" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="go on ... "][/caption] [caption id="attachment_927" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="since 2008 His pictures are even allowed .. in the tempels"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_933" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Kerstin in full attack ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_935" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="(c) Jens und Kerstin - and the snow storm started"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_936" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and the Police allowed us to stay in "no aliens hotel""][/caption]




[caption id="attachment_943" align="aligncenter" width="950" caption="at least .. even cold .. but stunning .. (yaks on the way)"][/caption]



and fog .. and frost .. and no good mood .. just before another 3700+ m pass …

[caption id="attachment_951" align="aligncenter" width="950" caption="brrrrrrrr"][/caption]

And after all this struggle ;-) we arrived to Xining … full of chinese restaurants ;-)

[caption id="attachment_953" align="aligncenter" width="950" caption="oh yeas .. looks like Ania likes China a lot ;-)"][/caption]

So . .as you see .. everything is good … even cycling ;-)

[caption id="attachment_945" align="aligncenter" width="950" caption="(c) Jens und Kerstin"][/caption]

Greets from Xining

Posted in Silk Road | 2 Comments

It has to be gooood

Posted on 01/10/2010 by robb

well .. if it’s not . .and we know it is (!) they .. wouldn’t fake it right ?
Kab

well .. :-)

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Postcards from Wachan Corridore

Posted on 19/09/2010 by robb

Yeah … the plan was to go also to the afghani Wachan .. but the floods and deep fords convinced us to take it easy. As easy as possible on the non-tarmac roads but surrounded by beauty and good people again. The Good People Thing was almost boring :-)

No chances to complain, only smile, shake hands, share food, time and good words. Yes – speaking Russian always helps in this place but make no mistake – you don’t need to speak any language here to feel like guest and (maybe) along Friends.

From Ishkashim to the asphalt again (across 4300m pass – Google Maps said there is no road! ) took us over a week. 300 km :-)

[caption id="attachment_797" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Langar"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_796" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and they .. the young ones, even wanted to push our bikes .. the uphill was hard .. yes it was .."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_788" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="wait a second ... we know him ..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_820" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="we have seen him on the Saturday Bazar!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_787" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="aaaaaa .. so this is the Wachan ?"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_794" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Robb likes it straight away :-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_819" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Ania .. as you can see .. took care of the fresh water ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_818" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the Father of the Headteacher from Garam Chashma"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_795" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Zoir from Ishkashim ... the best english in the whole Pamir :-) and such a ideas!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_801" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="no, it's not the camera .. it's the horizon .. really!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_804" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and our friends .. on motorbikes . .through this fords ...  the afghan side of Wachan"][/caption]

———-the road to and through the Khargush Pass——

[caption id="attachment_806" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the snow leopard was here .. with the baby!"]
[/caption] [caption id="attachment_809" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the morning before the pass"]




[/caption]

And . .as we though the pass, and snow will be hard .. we met two boys taking care of a huge herd of cows and sheep. And they didn’t really have shoes! We gave them some socks as we were wearing 2 Smart Wools … oh yeah … you are born somewhere else and wearing merino .. or plastic … a lottery .. nothing else :/


a potem .. and after that ? there was a 25 km of “downhill” and asphalt .. loooovely asphalt and coffee … hard to believe but we are on … holidays ;-))))

[caption id="attachment_817" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="someone has to open and close the canals"]

—————-The Holidays?————-
There is no time and electricity fo PSP in here. Too much work to do but not enough time and hands so … the children had to work. But the children of Europe think the free time in Summer is a “standard” .. no .. it isn’t in the most part of the world

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_791" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="or someone has to bring all that grass home .. for winter"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_792" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="(but still smile ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_793" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="or someone has to take care of the greasing goats"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_799" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="or someone has to sell some apples, tomatoes or plums"][/caption]

—————–Saturday Market in Ishkashim——-
Welcome to the No Mans Land Market. On the Afghani side – the men are ruling the stalls. On the Tajiki – women ofcourse :-)


Posted in Silk Road, Tajikistan | 1 Comment

Life on 4000 meters

Posted on 19/09/2010 by robb

Ok .. Friends :-)
We are late with our latest stories … shame shame shame .. but .. there is no Internet in Pamir. Thank you God and everyone else :-)
It was cold, simple, honest, super-friendly and one of the most beautiful place in the world.
And now .. instead of typical blah blah blah .. the pictures from cycling some bad roads, great passes and meeting Good People.

Life on 4000 meters isn’t easy. Everything goes suddenly in slow-fast motion.

You are soooo slow but your heart goes fast like crazy.

You walk very slow but get tired very fast.

The Summer arrives slow, but is gone in no time.

Pamir is someting more than only (just) great mountains. It’s another proof of the old rule Less Friendly The Place – More Friendly The People :-)
Here we go. Especially for You :-)

[caption id="attachment_722" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="To make a pamiri socks takes 4 days"]
[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_725" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the dry and cold air takes it's toll"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_727" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="washing the carpets it's the childrens job"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_728" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and the silent hiss in your ears"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_729" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="in the evening ..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_730" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="cold ... in August. In 1997 the temperature had reached the record +27C"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_731" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the morning smell of smoke"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_733" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="our lovely toiled .. nicknamed as "teleporter" :-)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_735" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the Yaks are coming ..."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_736" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="the only road to the world"]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_740" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and the Almost Impossible Landscapes"]
[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_746" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="our host .. the Meteorogist"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_747" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and some of his Family"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_743" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and after some time ... we decided to go the another village .. but first .. reach the tarmac road"][/caption]
Posted in Silk Road, Tajikistan | 1 Comment

Toshkient .. while waiting for visas

Posted on 02/08/2010 by robb
[caption id="attachment_601" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Ben and Tobi on the hunt for ANOTHER watermelon :-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_602" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Hello. I'm a Happy Boy from Bukhara"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_603" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and I'm Ania .. also from Bukhara .. for a moment"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_604" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="everything can be in the shape of watermelon"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_605" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_606" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and .. I'm learning photography .."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_607" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and that's how good I am at it .."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_608" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="in the hot days .. it's ok to swim for a while"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_630" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="but you play it safe if you don't kinow the water right ?? ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_609" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="A Portrait of Uzbeki Family with the Bicycle -first decade of XXI century, digital photography"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_610" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="we finally met some great cyclist"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_611" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="and they have explain us many many things ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_612" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="so did the locals ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_613" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Char Minars in Bukhara"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_614" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Wait a sec .. is this Tom Cruise running a road restaurant in UZB?"][/caption]

—————–
Samarkand Bazar

[caption id="attachment_615" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_616" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_617" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_618" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_619" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption]

————-

[caption id="attachment_620" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_621" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Shop Keeper from Kolchoz Gagarin"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_622" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="Ali - The Taxi Driver"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_623" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption]

———————

[caption id="attachment_624" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="My Victorinox .. in the hands of profi"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_626" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="this nice one"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_625" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_627" align="alignnone" width="950" caption="golden teeth are not enough for some ;-)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_628" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption]

————

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Portraits of Turkmenistan

Posted on 02/08/2010 by robb

Here we are again :-)

5 days in Turkmenistan isn’t much BUT since you don’t need “a guide” (a guard!) if you have a transit visa .. you have more fun, more contact with the people. Just more Turkmenistan really.

Ok… here we go … some pictures for you.



[caption id="attachment_528" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""]

and some pictures from  The Road

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_543" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_544" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_545" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_546" align="alignnone" width="950" caption=""][/caption]
Posted in Silk Road | 5 Comments