The Real World…
As the thought of our trip ending was approaching and we were talking to people about it, a common expression was ‘It’s time to get back to the real world.’ But we’d argue that point each time. I guess there are several versions of the Real World? But based on what we’ve experienced we see the real world as out there being with nature everyday. Working in it, living in it, growing food, raising animals, riding a bike in it. A pretty simple lifestyle but very also real. Didn’t do your chores today? The plants might dry out. The animals will be hungry. But being back here we’ve noticed things are so easy, abundant, wasteful, and often fake. Chicken comes in a foam package. So much energy is spent on the way things look; shiny packages, shiny cars, new clothes, gadgets, lawyers, money, fastest this, fastest that. Wow. It’s pretty overwhelming.
We’ve mentioned a lot that this trip for us was a life changing experience, and this change in our perspective is one of many changes for us. We probably wouldn’t have had this change in perspective if we only rode in New Zealand and Australia. It was 15 months in Asia. It was spending so much time amongst Buddhists. It was discovering patience. Hunger. Exhaustion. Simplicity. Poverty. Happiness. All of this is overwhelming as well, but these are all human conditions. Very real. We highly recommend discovering your own version of reality.
February 14th, 2012 at 7:30 am
We’ve got it pretty good. When you reduce your responsibility to a bike, a backpack, and maybe another person, you find it liberating and mentally stimulating. I’ve hiked several long trails and being totally self sufficient has had such a powerful impact on me. You come back into society and want to tell people that you don’t have run the rat race. You CAN get out! Glad that you connected the dots to what’s really important in life. That being people we come in contact with and not the “things”. Keep on Vagabiking guys!
December 3rd, 2012 at 3:11 am
Gidday Youse Guys,
Wow, this is a great blog. I’m really glad to have discovered it due to a friend of a friend who had posted a bunch of his trips on CrazyGuyOnABike.com. And, that is a great post right there too.
Glad to see you guys are still cycling on together, formally since July or so. Congratulations!
And now you’re in Colarado? Please look out for that first friend i just mentioned: Nate Busch. He’s an ex-pro racer, not a cycle tourist, and yeah i know it’s a large state but it’s a small world, right?
Hey, i’m reading up in preparation for a trip home to NZ from SKorea overland as much as possible in order to minimise the carbon footprint of flying. As an initial trip and with (only… [*cough*]) two months vacation i’m aiming to make it to Singapore.
Questions: If i travel light, and given that i have quite a light frame myself, what’s your opinion of travelling from Hong Kong or Ha Noi to Singapore (and back), in terms of 1.) time needed, and 2.)the concept of travelling on a road bike (instead of a mountain bike or cross)?
j.w.