-
Photo Essay Demonstrations in Tbilisi
February 10, 2018
I arrived back in Tbilisi in Georgia just in time to witness a demonstration in a similar mould to the one Tom and I witnessed when we arrived for the first time back in January 2008. 50,000 people gathered on the main street, Rustaveli, outside the front of the parliament building. There is a large stage with a banner proclaiming the purpose of the demonstration ‘Saakashvili for Resignation’. Saakashvili has been president since he came to power through the ‘Rose Revolution’ of 2003.
-
What Essential Bike Maintenance is Needed for Cycle Touring?
February 9, 2018
Maintenance you aim to do will depend on the kind of conditions you’re riding in. Daily Give the bike a once-over about once a day. Check the tyres by hand and increase pressure if needed. Tyre pressure depends on the terrain and the tyre. Clean chain. Use an old rag held round the chain and turn the pedals backwards. For more persistent dirt you can use a brush. Lube chain.
Tags: BikeMaintenance
-
Cycle Touring in India - A Photo Essay
February 9, 2018
Unfortunately this original post got corrupted and I was left with only the captions! TODO: Photos coming soon…. Two guards talk at the ceremony at the border between India and Pakistan. The Indian crowd cheers the ceremony - India and Pakistan don’t see eye to eye but the ceremony is a tradition and good natured. The Golden Temple at Amritsar at Dusk. The temple had an amazingly calming atmosphere. A group of wise men chat by the Golden Temple.
-
Cycle Touring through Nepal - A Photo Essay
February 9, 2018
Unfortunately this post got corrupted so I still need to put the photos back with the captions. Coming soon… Pondering the map before setting off on the road in Nepal. A mosquito is interested in reading my diary. Stunning statues at a temple along a busy street in Kathmandu. Some friendly street children pose for the camera. An impressive tree in the botanical gardens in Daman in the Himalayan foothills.
-
What Should you Carry in a First Aid Kit for Cycle Touring?
February 9, 2018
For an any outdoor trip you should take a basic first aid kit. Here are list of essentials with a focus on cycling. Antibiotic / hydrocortisone ointment for “road rash” and insect bites Assorted adhesive bandages Gauze pads Sterile swabs Micropore tape Over the counter painkillers like Aspirin, Paracetamol and Nurofen Diarrhoea medicine Fluid replacement sachet Water purification tablets (depending on where you are riding) Not strictly first aid but should have:
-
Protestors in symbolic cells in Georgia
February 9, 2018
In 2009 I took photos of a demonstration in Tbilisi where people set up metal cubes in the main square and lived inside them for weeks. The photos I took were then used on a website called Citizenside, which is a crowd sourced journalist website. My original post I heard about a public-driven journalism website from a friend, http://www.citizenside.com and I uploaded some photos I took of the ‘cells’ that appeared all over the main street, Rustaveli, Freedom Square and around the Parliament building yesterday morning.
-
Walkable Streets Are More Economically Productive
February 7, 2018
When I lived in London I walked a lot. London is a good city for walking, partly perhaps because it is a historical city where the streets were designed more for people and horse drawn carts. Designed for a time when people would be walking on the streets. However, having visited Dubai and attempted walking around that city, it is clear that Dubai is not designed for walkers. This may be down to the climate but also a ‘road focussed’ city design culture as opposed to one focussed on getting people walking.
Tags: Walking
-
Vegetarian Georgian Food
February 4, 2018
Badrijani - aubergine dish Khachapuri - cheese pasty Lobiani - bean pasty Lobio - stewed beans Ajapsandali - vegetable stew mushroom / cheese khinkhali - dumplings Gozinaqi / Churchkhela- snacks whilst riding Mkhali - Spinach and beetgreen puree Boiled beetroot with red tkemali (cherry) sauce Dolma - Rolled cabbage leaves with walnuts Bell peppers stuffed with rice and veggies and green beans (seasonal). Ajarian Chirbuli (similar to Shakshouka) - eggs stewed in tomatoes Pkhali - ground spinach leaves with walnut.
-
How do you Prepare to Live in a Foreign City?
February 4, 2018
Moving to a foreign city - whether for work, study, lifestyle change or just for fun can be a daunting experience. However, to ensure that it reaps the greatest rewards and to make the transition as smooth as possible here are some tips and advice to help out from my own experience which I hope will be useful. Accept invitations Get a local sim card for use in an unlocked phone Have a debit / credit card that doesn’t charge for getting money out and get a local bank account if you will be around for a while Take someone local with you to look for accommodation to tell the best places and to avoid getting overcharged Get on the local Couchsurfing (or alternative) meeting to meet locals who are open to meeting foreigns - there are many local city Facebook groups for a variety of purposes to that can lead to making helpful connections and friendships Try and get as much exposure to the local language as possible by hanging out with locals Take a backup battery for your phone Check with taxi drivers the fare before getting in the taxi Be aware of visa rules - e.
-
The Biki - A Wiki for Cycle Touring Research
February 4, 2018
A “wiki” for cycle touring research and here it is converted to pdf. Bike Maintenance - Biki.pdf Health - Biki.pdf Hunting - Biki.pdf Navigation - Biki.pdf Environment - Biki.pdf Food - Biki.pdf Wilderness - Biki.pdf Fire - Biki.pdf Cooking - Biki.pdf Malaysia - Biki.pdf England_ Route - Biki.pdf Myanmar (Burma) - Biki.pdf New Zealand - Biki.pdf Bulgaria - Biki.pdf Croatia - Biki.pdf Japan - Biki.pdf Lebanon - Biki.pdf Australia - Biki.
Tags: knowledgecycle-touring
-
Mongolia Photo Essay
February 4, 2018
Tom pedals through a stream at full speed. Gnarly route down to the river for a dip and a wash. Epic skies every evening. That particular evening I watched a huge storm approach us only to be blown right past and descend onto the adjacent valley = lucky! Unbelievable sight to wake up to camping next to Lake Hovsgul. Pedalling across the Steppe. Fun at first, but grew tedious.
-
Anker astro external battery 5600 mAh Review
February 4, 2018
Power banks are used for providing portable power to charge battery powered items like mobile phones and other similar items that have a USB interface. I bought this one from Anker I took with me on some hiking trips as a back up battery for my dying iPhone 5 battery and to trickle charge from a solar panel. Features Compact design Rugged and durable Charge indicator Doubles up as LED light Lightweight My experience Charges an iPhone 5 about 2/3 times.