Robert Beal

Cycling to Gdog’s – Japan (Part 2 – Tokyo)

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Robert Beal

Having experienced the differences Tokyo and typically Japan has to offer compared to western society, I thought I’d write about the best and worst parts of Tokyo. My week in Tokyo was quite an experience and fairly different from the other parts of Japan I visited. I really enjoyed Tokyo and the Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki hostel I stayed at began to feel like home. Given I had spent most days cycling from point to point it was nice to settle somewhere long enough for it to begin to feel familiar.

Cycling to Gdog’s – Japan (Part 1 – Tokyo)

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Robert Beal

As part of my rest period before continuing my journey I am explored Japan (via bullet train), Tokyo being my first stop. I spent six days in Tokyo before moving on to Kyoto. While not the prettiest city, Tokyo has plenty to experience. Unfortunately due to my lack of planning the September Sumo tournament wasn’t one of those things, but maybe that is something for another time. Instead I got a large dose of fine Japanese food, culture and night life, while staying at the Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki hostel (awesome hostel!).

Cycling to Gdog’s – Flying With A Bicycle

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Robert Beal

My bike boxed up

Update 13/01/2012 – I have since found it much easier to fly with the bicycle un-boxed. Here is a list of the flights I have taken. Boxing the bicycle in Istanbul for the flight to Tokyo wasn’t terribly difficult, but it was a pain. The total cost was around 30TL (around £10). The biggest pain was getting around with the bicycle once it’s in the box, especially when also having to carry 16kg worth of luggage. From my hostel in Istanbul I took a large taxi (as the bicycle box won’t fit inside a standard taxi) costing me 65TL (£25, ouch). I had been told I would be able to fit in a standard taxi, which would have cost half the price, but upon it turning up it was obvious I couldn’t. With little time before the flight I had to order a large taxi. The alternative would have been to take the tram (which would have cost around 5TL), but given how busy Istanbul is, I decided against this.

Cycling to Gdog’s – Europe Completed

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Robert Beal

The first stage has taken me into (including England god damn it!) 13 countries at a total distance of 3700km, and after going to the F1 in Hungary, buying some Oakley’s (to replace my lost glasses) and blowing £180 in a strip joint in Romania… a slightly depleted budget. Having said that, the F1 was an amazing experience, my new Oakley sunglasses led me to buy two more pairs and get them free, and the strip joint will be a memory I won’t be forgetting.

Cycling to Gdog’s – Turkey

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Robert Beal

Given my change of route by going further east, rather than south-east, and due to time constraints from buying a super-cheap flight to Tokyo, I took a bus from Constanta to Istanbul (costing me €22 and taking around 12 hours). Sadly this meant that my only stop in Turkey was Istanbul, but on the positive side it meant I didn’t have to deal with the chaotic roads into Istanbul. The bus I took was awkwardly timed, leaving Constanta at 1500, but arriving 12 hours later in Istanbul at 0300. I wasn’t able to sleep on it much so by the time I reached Istanbul I was feeling quite shattered and left to wander around in the dark.