Cycling to Gdog’s – China (Part 1 – Shanghai)
Within my first couple of days in Shanghai I already had enough material to write a post. Coming from the idyllic Japan, Shanghai is virtually the opposite in every way. Gone are the polite greetings and thank you’s, the orderly queuing, clean streets, and high ratio of beautiful girls walking around. Instead it’s replaced with bad smells, litter, barging, crossing on green lights, driving on red lights, street touts (no I don’t want massage or lady sex!) and beautiful girls but at a far lower ratio. Carrying my bike-in-a-box into central Shanghai was an interesting experience, one I don’t intend on repeating (it blocked up the metro scanning machine as the box was too big and a staff member had to crawl in to get it out) as the metro is often as busy as a typical London rush hour on the tube! Despite all the above, it’s what makes Shanghai not necessary a beautiful place, but an interesting place. There are few sights to see, rather the experience is in the people, the streets, the prostitutes and the vast array of shopping.
Cycling to Gdog’s – Japan Rest Completed
I only spent 16 days in Japan, but within that time I became very attached to it. A way of life that I could easily identify with and wish was mirrored in British society. From talking to people they aren’t taught politeness or respect directly, it’s something that children mimic from watching adults. Landing in China only further highlighted the beauty of Japan, and the failings (or loss of tradition) in the large Chinese cities. Watching grown men run for the last seat on the metro and all jump on it like it were a game of musical chairs was embarrassing.
Cycle Touring – Flights Taken With a Bicycle
Flying with a bicycle is not always a trouble free experience but it can be done. This is a list of flights I have taken with my touring bike and gear, and what I experienced. Hopefully it will prove useful for someone in a similar situation trying to avoid the many problems of flying with a bicycle. Please feel free to post via comment your own experiences. So far, given how awkward I found it to carry a boxed bicycle and panniers (weighing in excess of 30kg), I’ve found just cycling up, with the bicycle not protected in any way, has worked very well and been a far more pleasant experience. So far no bike damage (apart from paintwork scuffs)! You’ll notice over time my luggage becomes slightly lighter due to me cutting back on what I was carrying.
Cycling to Gdog’s – Japan (Part 4 – Kyoto)
Having left Tokyo, my next stop was the former capital (until 1868), Kyoto. Originally listed as a target for the atomic bomb, it was reportedly removed from the list in order to preserve its many historical landmarks. Once there I realised why, where ever you stand you can literally throw a stone in any direction and hit a shrine or temple. With the many landmarks come hordes of Japanese tourists. It’s still a beautiful, student-based city though of little over 1.5 million. Another of the smaller cities outside of Tokyo that I could happily live and work in.
Cycling to Gdog’s – Japan (Part 3 – Hiroshima)
My visit to Hiroshima was a short one only lasting a few days. Using my rail pass I was there in a little over two hours from Kyoto. While Hiroshima was a beautiful city it didn’t offer more than two days of sights, so I figured my time was best spent back in Kyoto and Nara. August 6th 1945 marked a historic day, Hiroshima being the first city an atomic bomb (“Little Boy”) was dropped on. It wiped out 80,000 people instantly and effects were felt for a further few years killing an additional 20,000-60,000. Despite this the city has recovered quickly and now has a great buzz and feel to it. For those that don’t like the immense size and population of Tokyo, at only 1.2 million people, Hiroshima offers a city experience but with nature closeby.
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