Tag: CyclingAroundTheWorld

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 cycling around the world

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Cycling Indonesia: Merak to Jakarta On This Day 6th March 2012 | Travelsonabike2

Travelsonabike2 this day 6th-March-2012 Boats on the sea

World Bicycle Tour: Cycling Indonesia on this Day in 2012

My on this day bicycle touring post comes from Indonesia on the 6th of March 2012. The sun was so intense in Indonesia that I had to buy some gloves to protect the back of my hands from sunburn.

Tuesday 6th March 2012. Merak to Jakarta. 76 miles.

I thought breakfast was at six this morning. So I was up, all packed and ready to leave straight afterwards. Only to find the restaurant closed, breakfast wasn’t for another half hour. Normally, I would have been a bit pissed off. Not today; it gave me time to go for an early morning swim. I’d just as well make the most of the hotel swimming pool while I can. I don’t get many hotels with a pool.

Swimming pool
A nice early morning dip

Breakfast over. It was time to hit the road again. And with my new gloves, I felt like a proper cyclist. I’ll be buying Lycra shorts next!! There’s a lot more traffic on the roads here. It reminds me of India. Or maybe I’ve just got used to quiet roads. Although speaking to the man in the café that I stopped at for lunch. He said once I’m past Jakarta, the roads are a lot quieter. We’ll see. I hope he’s right.

When I reached Jakarta, the traffic was even worse. It was gridlocked. And, as usual, I got lost. Even if I wasn’t lost, the traffic was so bad I couldn’t move out of the flow. I was hoping to get through Jakarta and reach another town. But with the traffic the way it was, I was just wasting time. So I called it a day and found a hotel. I’ll get my bearings overnight and try again in the morning.

At least I’ve now booked my flight to Australia, but boy was it hard work! The price went from £100 to £184 after adding taxes, fuel surcharges, luggage, and food. They even charge a couple of pounds to pick a seat, any seat! But it’ll certainly be the cheapest flight I’ll ever get to Australia.

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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. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can 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.

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Cycling Indonesia: Butngatangung to Ketaun On This Day 27th February 2012 | Travelsonabike2

Travelsonabike2 this day 27th-February-2012 Fishing boats

World Bicycle Tour: Cycling Indonesia on this day in 2012

My on this day bicycle touring post comes from Indonesia on the 27th February 2012. Maybe local advice isn’t always the best, and a hasty exit

Monday 27th February 2012. Butngatangung to Ketaun. 75 miles.

I think it might have been better to have camped last night. Not really, because it’s always nice to stay with a family. But I wasn’t so keen on the sleeping arrangements. I slept on the floor in the same room as the man of the house! I was also ravaged by mosquitoes, but at least it was only mosquitoes! Before the man and I retired to bed. He’d insisted that I put some mosquito repellent on. Repellent, I got bitten more last night than I have in my whole time in Indonesia. I was reminded of what that idiot American had said to me in Bangladesh. “Why would you want to go to a mosquito-infested island!” He was wrong. The people and scenery far outweigh one night of mozzies.

People standing and sitting
My host family from last night

I thanked the family for their hospitality this morning before setting off on my way. I was keen to move before they bought the vicar out to officiate over our wedding after his sister-in-law had returned this morning.

Not A Good Day

There’s not much to say about today. I’ve not enjoyed myself. It’s the sort of day that I really don’t like. It’s been short, steep hills all day. Some of them are so ridiculously steep you’d have trouble walking up them. I think it’s more of the same tomorrow; that’s something to look forward to, not!

The only good thing about today has been the happy people, who always smile and say “Hello, mister”. I think that’s the only English phrase a lot of them know. I asked one of the locals this afternoon if there was a hotel up ahead. Yes, sir, about thirty minutes. How many kilometres? 300!! That was useful!

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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.

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Bicycle Touring Thailand: Lang Suan to Wiang Sa, On This Day 6th February 2012 | Travelsonabike2

Travelsonabike2 this day 6th-February-2012 Gold Buddha

World Bicycle Tour: Thailand on this day in 2012

My on this day bicycle touring post comes from Thailand on the 6th of February 2012. Things are starting to heat up as I travel further south towards the equator. The heat and humidity in the Lang Suan district seem a bit too much for me today. It’s as though I’ve not acclimatised to the Thai heat yet. But I still managed a decent amount of miles.

Monday 6th February 2012. Lang Suan to Wiang Sa. 101 miles.

I might have to start wearing long sleeves and a hat! It doesn’t seem to matter how much sunscreen I put on. It’s just not working. I just sweat it all off after half an hour or so. I’m looking rather red and feeling a little sore tonight. Compared to back home, apparently, they’re suffering from sub-zero conditions and snow. I think I know where I’d rather be. Snow would be a nightmare for me. Despite the hot conditions, I’ve still managed to cycle over 100 miles today, just!

Tin roofed shelter
At least these shelters give me some relief from the sun

It’s quite amusing watching people get out of their vehicles in this part of the World. They all drive Toyota Hilux pickups, which aren’t exactly small. Yet the Thai people aren’t the biggest of people. And they all look to be struggling to get in and out. Maybe they should carry a ladder.

Tonight’s supper was rather hot. It was some sort of soup, very tasty, but, boy, was it hot. Not only have I spent all day sweating, but now I’m sweating over my supper. It was pouring off me, just as it had been all day. But I managed to get through it. Even the chef was impressed. Personally, I think it was a ploy on their part to get me to buy more beer. Ha, they don’t know me. I don’t need an excuse.

Explore More Of My Ride Around The World

Watch My YouTube Video From SE Asia

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

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. 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.

Follow Garry on his travels

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Cycling Thailand: In Khon Kaen, On This Day 30th January 2012 | Travelsonabike2

Travelsonabike2 This Day 30th-January-2012 Houses with tin roofs

World Bicycle Tour: Thailand on this day in 2012

My on this day bicycle touring post comes from Thailand on the 30th of January 2012. And I’m holed up in Khon Kaen, with a bad stomach. I couldn’t really complain as this was the first upset stomach I’d had since leaving home. Not bad, considering some of the places I’d eaten on this trip.

Monday, 30th January 2012 in Khon Kaen.

I’ve had another day off. I said yesterday that I wasn’t feeling 100%, and last night the shits came back. I was hoping that I would have been okay by this morning, not a chance. So I’ve had another wasted day stuck in my room. Although I have managed to sort out the photo galleries on my website in between trips to the bathroom!

I needed some paper (not toilet paper), so I went down to reception. Upon arrival, I found the girl on reception doing her exercises with a hula hoop around her tummy, the one where they move backwards and forwards, and the ring goes around. She asked me if I wanted a go. Not with my stomach the way it is. I might have made a mess on the floor! So I politely declined, got my paper and went back to the safety of my room.

That’s Risky

I ventured out this afternoon for a haircut, but didn’t bother getting one in the end. I didn’t feel safe. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stay seated long enough without an accident. While out, I got some food for supper. A lovely meal of dried bread, crackers and a banana, all washed down with a glass of water! I’m not even going to have a beer tonight. I’m trying to be sensible for a change. I’m getting a bit fed up with having the trots.

Food on a plate
My supper this evening

I’m still not feeling brilliant tonight. But hopefully, I’ll be better in the morning. I don’t mind cycling along, feeling a bit ill, as you tend to forget about it. But when it’s the shits, you live in fear that if you fart, it might not be just a fart, and you follow through! We’ll just have to hope for the best.

Explore More Of My Ride Around The World

Watch My YouTube Video From SE Asia

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

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. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can 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.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels