12982 km Yangxi
Door: Erik en Tjeerd
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Erik en Tjeerd
10 Januari 2008 | China, Yangxi
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all the newyearwishes! We really like to read your comments and it's nice to know people are reading the blog. Makes all that work writing and uploading pictures worthwhile ;)
Meanwhile we've been cycling a bit again and have arrived in China! Yeah, Hong Kong and Macao are separate regions so we really only crossed the Chinese border the moment we left Macao. Last Monday we left Wai Kong and Hong Kong to continue our trip. Cycling to the ferry to Macao, turned out to be a bit tougher then expected. Cycling in Hong Kong is not exactly easy. Most roads are highways that are forbidden for bicycles. After a lot of detours and some accidental entries on those highways we finally arrived at the ferry 80 km later (it should have been around 45-50). The boattrip across was an easy one though. About an our later we arrived in Macao. Macao looks a little bit like a small Hong Kong, only all tall buildings you see are called casino's instead of apartment buildings. The Portuguese influence is still eminent on the island. Everything is written in both Cantonese and Portuguese on road signs, menu's etc... Makes it a bit easier for illitares like us ;) We had a look at the fortress on the island and several old Catholic churches. We did not enter a Casino since we lacked some decent clothing and most off all we'll need our cash for the next few months :)
On Tuesday morning we left Macao and headed up to the Chinese border. Getting through customs was fairly easy. We just needed to confirm we don't have bird flue or other sorts of nasty diseases and shortly afterwards the: welcome to China stamp, was given. The moment we left customs it was clear that finding directions was gonna be a bit harder from now on. Hong Kong was easy with all roadsigns written in English and Portuguese was very doable as well but now it became a lot more challenging. We have struggled a bit, the last few days and have cycled a few extra kilometers here and there. Luckily we were never very far off and we managed to get in the right direction. Communicating with the Chinese is challenging but fun. Most people seem really surprised to see us. Guys always share their knowledge of the English language (usually one or two words) with us before quickly leaving again and girls/women get all giggly and dare not even approach us. It's either that, or we smell ;)
We have been cycling in China for a few days now and it's been good fun. The weather is nice here, it's a little warmer then in Nepal but not to warm. The roads are good and also a lot more quiet then we expected. We have been travelling on a mainroad that is almost abandoned since a new express highway has been build. The scenery is nice as well, we are slaloming between the Karst mountainrange which gives good views but is very easy on the legs as well. We hardly did any climbing so we got a nice and easy start after some time off the road.
Not much else to say for now. We will continue our trip towards Vietnam where we can cross the border on the 20th. So next update will probably come from somewhere in Vietnam!
Signing out for today, all the best
Erik and Tjeerd
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa310/erikopdefiets/23%20Macau-China%20and%20a%20bit%20hong%20Kong/?albumview
Thanks for all the newyearwishes! We really like to read your comments and it's nice to know people are reading the blog. Makes all that work writing and uploading pictures worthwhile ;)
Meanwhile we've been cycling a bit again and have arrived in China! Yeah, Hong Kong and Macao are separate regions so we really only crossed the Chinese border the moment we left Macao. Last Monday we left Wai Kong and Hong Kong to continue our trip. Cycling to the ferry to Macao, turned out to be a bit tougher then expected. Cycling in Hong Kong is not exactly easy. Most roads are highways that are forbidden for bicycles. After a lot of detours and some accidental entries on those highways we finally arrived at the ferry 80 km later (it should have been around 45-50). The boattrip across was an easy one though. About an our later we arrived in Macao. Macao looks a little bit like a small Hong Kong, only all tall buildings you see are called casino's instead of apartment buildings. The Portuguese influence is still eminent on the island. Everything is written in both Cantonese and Portuguese on road signs, menu's etc... Makes it a bit easier for illitares like us ;) We had a look at the fortress on the island and several old Catholic churches. We did not enter a Casino since we lacked some decent clothing and most off all we'll need our cash for the next few months :)
On Tuesday morning we left Macao and headed up to the Chinese border. Getting through customs was fairly easy. We just needed to confirm we don't have bird flue or other sorts of nasty diseases and shortly afterwards the: welcome to China stamp, was given. The moment we left customs it was clear that finding directions was gonna be a bit harder from now on. Hong Kong was easy with all roadsigns written in English and Portuguese was very doable as well but now it became a lot more challenging. We have struggled a bit, the last few days and have cycled a few extra kilometers here and there. Luckily we were never very far off and we managed to get in the right direction. Communicating with the Chinese is challenging but fun. Most people seem really surprised to see us. Guys always share their knowledge of the English language (usually one or two words) with us before quickly leaving again and girls/women get all giggly and dare not even approach us. It's either that, or we smell ;)
We have been cycling in China for a few days now and it's been good fun. The weather is nice here, it's a little warmer then in Nepal but not to warm. The roads are good and also a lot more quiet then we expected. We have been travelling on a mainroad that is almost abandoned since a new express highway has been build. The scenery is nice as well, we are slaloming between the Karst mountainrange which gives good views but is very easy on the legs as well. We hardly did any climbing so we got a nice and easy start after some time off the road.
Not much else to say for now. We will continue our trip towards Vietnam where we can cross the border on the 20th. So next update will probably come from somewhere in Vietnam!
Signing out for today, all the best
Erik and Tjeerd
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa310/erikopdefiets/23%20Macau-China%20and%20a%20bit%20hong%20Kong/?albumview
-
10 Januari 2008 - 10:51
Peter S.:
Zitten jullie nu niet precies op "schema"? 1 maart laos, eind maart thailand, half mei indonesie? Eind juni on the plane? -
10 Januari 2008 - 10:59
Erik:
Ha die Sonke,
Voor zover er een schema is wel ja. begin mei vlieg ik sowieso terug ivm het huwelijk van Chris. Ben getuige, dus ik kan er niet onderuit ;) Maar als de trip dan niet af is vlieg ik gewoon nog even terug.... :)
Greetz,
Erik -
10 Januari 2008 - 11:07
Mieke:
veel goede fietsen voor 2008!!!
ik las het verhaal over Hongkong en toevallig stond deze week een verhaal over Hogkong in het Parool; ging over een hollander die juist een toeristies fietsgebeuren daar heeft opgezet omdat je dan overal kunt komen waar andere toeristen niet komen. wat anders dan jullie het hebben ervaren; ik bewaar het artikel.
liefs en sterke benen
Mieke -
10 Januari 2008 - 11:36
Gloria & Gerard:
Looking at the map it seems you are already half-way to Vietnam: is that really so?
We are really curious how Tjeerd is bargaining now that you have to rely on other means of communication than spoken language.
All the best! -
10 Januari 2008 - 12:06
Karin:
Zo nooit geweten Erik dat jij ook chinees sprak.... You still amazing us!
Wees blij dat je niet meer bij Lyo bent, want het is jaarafsluiting....dus stress! Veel plezier in Vietnam! -
10 Januari 2008 - 13:19
Truus:
Ik snap iets niet, jullie hebben een visa voor één maand voor China en dan gaan jullie de 20ste al de grens over naar Vietnam, waarom? Is er te weinig te zien in China? En misschien een tip maar als ik het verhaal van Erik lees, dat hij terug moet naar Nederland, kan dit misschien niet, maar jullie zitten zo dicht bij Australië als je straks in Indonesië bent waarom niet even daarheen, dan kun je echt je hart ophalen met fietsen over rustige wegen. En het is een totaal ander landschap dan jullie nu al een hele tijd zien en die Aussies zijn prima lui.Maar waar bemoei ik me mee, het is jullie reis.Veel sterkte en plezier met de gebarentaal.
liefs
Truus -
18 Januari 2008 - 15:39
Houthuyse:
Als je doorfietst kan je nog mee naar Trance Energy!
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