Photos from my bicycle touring exploits around the world, which I’ve added to the website over the past month (January 2026). The majority of this month’s photos come from my world tour when I was in Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. There are also some photos from October last year and my ride in England.
There’s no Flickr photo album this month as I’ve barely been anywhere in the past few weeks. Partly due to the weather, but mainly because of my hip. It’s giving me really bad sciatica, but hopefully my increased medication will kick in soon, so I can at least get out on a few local rides. Although there’s no new Flickr album, I have been busy updating some of my old albums.
You can also find photos on my social media channels: Facebook, Threads, Instagram, and Pinterest, which you can view without subscribing. But if you already use social media, why not follow me as I travel around on my bike?
Bicycle Touring Photos Added To The Website
Stop there’s a bank
It’s a nightmare trying to get anywhere
Chinatown London
My teachers
How different Kunming is to Dhaka
West Horsley campsite
Posing with one of the friendly truckers who I had lunch with
Looks like I’ve got to go down into the clouds
Isfield Railway station
Out and about in Luanghrabang
Boats on the Mekong River
Taking the easy option today
My supper this evening
Looking out my hotel window
My little mate, Wilson
Haggis neeps and tatties, my burns night supper
Garry along the seafront
Flooded fields in Felpham
If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry web page. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. The bulk of my photos can be found on my Flickr page, where I release my monthly photos and tour photographs first. If you’re enjoying my photos and want to help keep me going, feel free to buy me a beer.
My on this day bicycle touring blog post comes from Bangladesh on the 2nd January 2012. Country number 11 on my ride around the world. I’d just had a good few days off the bike, with my good friends from back home, the Barrs, who had also been in Bangladesh. But now it was time to get on with the primary purpose of being here, which at the time was just cycling to Australia. It was a stressful day and the start of an arduous process that nearly made me give up on this ride.
Monday 2nd January 2012 in Dhaka
Dave and his family left for England first thing this morning. And shortly after, I hopped into a taxi and headed for the Chinese embassy. There was only a small queue on arrival at the embassy, which moved quickly, and it wasn’t long before I was at the counter, all ready to hand over my pre-prepared visa form and photos.
That all turned out to be a waste of time! The man behind the counter explained that I needed to have a flight booked before they’d issue a visa. But if I’m quick and get back before midday, they’ll have a visa ready by tomorrow. That sounded good to me. I could be on my way to China on Thursday. I thought it was best to have a day spare, just in case they don’t get my visa ready on time. The man behind the counter also told me where to buy my flight. And it was only just down the road.
Stop. There’s a bank
I arrived at the airline booking office on the seventh floor of an office block. There, I was told that they don’t take cards. It has to be paid for in cash. And I’ll also need a receipt showing where I got the cash from!?
I’m Losing The Will
After trying several banks, none would take any of my cards at the counter! But the ATM did, so I thought I’d have to see if the ATM receipt was good enough. Or maybe I’ll try paying in US dollars! Cash in hand, I went back to the flight centre, and yes, they would accept an ATM receipt. What a relief. I’d missed the noon deadline by now, but if I could sort this flight out today, I could get a flight later in the week. The next available flight wasn’t until Sunday, which was a bit of a bummer, but if that’s all they’ve got, it’ll have to do.
I handed my passport and the cash to the man behind the counter. He started to thumb through my passport, back and forth; he went through the pages. “Visa?” he said. “Sorry”, I replied. Where’s your visa? I can’t issue a flight ticket without a visa!” “But I can’t get a visa without a flight!” I pleaded back. “Sorry, there’s nothing I can do without a visa. Try a travel agent!” Not a very helpful chap at all!
There was a travel agent near my hotel who was a lot more helpful. But they couldn’t issue a flight without getting a letter of encasement, which I have to get from a bank. I’ve now got an appointment with a bank manager tomorrow. This is so much hard work! I just want to get moving again. Time for a beer!
Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with a monthly photo update that I publish each month.
If you want to find out if Garry’s away touring at the moment and check his location, visit the Where’s Garry page.
Garry McGivern’s Travelsonabike2 Flickr Video “CNG Ride in Dhaka” was filmed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on the 31st-December-2011. Garry was in Bangladesh on his ride to Australia.
The video, which Garry filmed on his way to Greece, was originally posted on his Flickr Page but has now been transferred to YouTube. You can watch the video below or on Garry’s YouTube channel. But honestly, it won’t be any more enjoyable wherever you watch the video! You can also subscribe to his channel. You’ll then be amongst the first to know when Garry releases a new video. Or subscribe to Garry’s emails and receive all of his updates.
Flickr Video: CNG Ride in Dhaka December-2011
Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where Garry will publish the photos from this tour once home. Pictures from all of Garry’s tours and monthly photos can also be found on Flickr.
If you want to find out if Garry’s away touring at the moment and check his location, visit the Where’s Garry page.
Bicycle Touring to Australia: Bangladesh, in Dhaka
My latest bicycle touring update, cycling to Australia on Saturday, the 7th January 2012. My last full day in Dhaka and Bangladesh! Breakfast seems to be getting less and less each day. Today, there wasn’t any juice until I asked for some. And yesterday there wasn’t any butter, again, until I asked for it. The butter came out in a dish surrounded by frozen water! There was no chance of getting anywhere with that for at least an hour! I wish I hadn’t bothered!
I spent most of the morning on the computer. The internet is so slow it takes forever to do anything. And after lunch, I went to have my last cup of tea at Tully’s and say goodbye. Unfortunately, I never got to say goodbye. She wasn’t there. It was her husband instead!
My local restaurant!
My local restaurant didn’t let me down, though, and I was able to have one last roti and chicken. When I say a restaurant, don’t think for one minute that it’s like a restaurant we have back home with pretty table cloths, nice tables and chairs and a varied selection of meals and desserts. This restaurant has plastic covers on the tables, which is probably just as well. The locals just spit the chicken bones straight out onto the table! The place is lit with bright fluorescent lights. And the only things on the menu are curry, vegetable or chicken, and sometimes fish, served with either a roti or rice. But the food is good, and the people are friendly and have been very kind to me over the past week! One thing is for sure, I’ll miss the roti and chicken! Still onto Chinese food for my next diet!
Tour Information
It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:
Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.
If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page.
