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
Follow & Support Garry’s Bicycle Touring Adventures
If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying 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. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.
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.
World Bicycle Tour: Bangladesh on This Day in 2012
My on this day bicycle touring post comes from Bangladesh on the 3rd January 2012. I’m in Dhaka on my way to Australia. But I’ve been stuck in Dhaka now for nearly a week trying to get a Chinese visa, and today it tested my stress levels to the max.
Tuesday 3rd January 2012. In Dhaka.
I had an appointment with the bank manager at the NCC bank this morning, which is more or less opposite my hotel. Upon arrival, I was shown to Mr Ehsan’s office, where he invited me to have tea with him. From what I can work out, it seems standard practice in Bangladesh for absolutely anything.
After chatting for a while and hearing my plight, Mr Ehsan said that although his bank couldn’t do the letter of encasement, he knew an agent who could. And would get it sorted for me. So, I handed over my dollars, which was the preferred currency as it is much of the time. He said he would send one of his employees to the agent, which would take about half an hour. So rather than sit around waiting, I said I’d go and do some other bits and come back in a while. After nearly an hour, I returned to pick up my letter. I thanked Mr Ehsan very much for all his help, and he said if there was any more problems, I was to go back and see him.
Yay, Let’s Book That Flight
With the letter in hand, I went back to the travel agent. Confident that I could book my flight to China. Only to be told by the travel agent that I had the wrong letter! “Sorry, what, the wrong one?” I said. “Sorry, sir, yes, it’s the wrong one.” The agent replied. I couldn’t believe it; just as I thought I’d sorted things out, I was back to square one. No flight and no visa, what a stupid system. I can’t get a visa without a flight, but I can’t get a flight without a visa! And this letter thing seems just as elusive.
So, I went back to the bank to see Mr Ehsan, who rang the travel agents to see what the problem was. They said the letter had to be from a bank. Mr Ehsan’s bank wasn’t licensed to give out these certificates, which is why he used the agent. The certificate was all official and okay. It just wasn’t from a bank, which Mr Ehsan didn’t quite get. But not to worry, he said, we’ll sort it out. After a few phone calls, I was on my way in a rickshaw with one of the bank’s employees to the agent to get my money back.
The cafe where I used to eat each day
You’re Having A Laugh
We arrived at the agent and went inside to get my money back. But when he handed it over, it was 200 dollars short! “What’s this?” I asked, “Tax”, he replied. Tax my arse, 200 dollars, I don’t think so. That was nearly half of what I’d paid. So I started to argue with him; I’d had enough of this visa business and was more than happy to take it out on somebody. Eventually, I was told to calm down and take a seat while the bank employee rang his boss. The employee handed the phone to the agent. And after what sounded like a heated debate (but then they all do!), the agent returned all my money.
We then walked down the road to the Trust Bank, where a Mr Ali met us. He asked me what I wanted, over a cup of tea, of course. I think he might have had to issue one of these letters before, as he seemed to know exactly what I needed. After being introduced to several of his employees, Mr Ali took my money and issued another certificate. After thanking him, it was back to the travel agent once more.
Fingers Crossed
I sat down and gave the letter to the agent. He looked at it, then passed it around the office with everybody looking at it, shaking their heads. Things weren’t looking good. I felt like crying. Another letter, and still, it was wrong! I think they sensed I was getting upset and annoyed; two letters, both wrong. What do I do? After a few phone calls, the agent reluctantly accepted the letter and proceeded to book my flights, not without asking where my visa was once again, though! I just hope that I get the visa now!
Follow & Support
If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. 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 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. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.
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.
