Expedition notes: HimalayasX2011 - A cross country travel experience in the People's Republic of China

Lo-Fi version 1.0 shot with a GoPro Helmet Hero camera

HimalayasX2011 - an expedition of western China

Trailer for a self-supported expedition by bicycle across western China, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Taklamakan Desert, the northern Himalayas, crossing both Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

3200km/1800miles by bicycle, 500km by hitchhiking, 3240km by standing-room only train*, 1028km bus*
7968km of extreme travel with a bicycle, train and bus.

I encountered local cultures, languages, food, transportation and used old paper maps as navigation. This was not an expedition about crossing the longest distances (world circumnavigation riders have done all that).

Objectives of this expedition were about:

*learning to document expedition travel in a journal

*learning to record video and photos that can illustrate, as well as educate from life experiences on the road

*to experience places that I have seen through maps;

*to experience some of the world's best desert highways, mountain routes while challenging the terrain, climate, topography and elevations (above 4000 meters)

*learn to ride a bicycle self-sustained for an extended journey without ride support, backups, or sag wagons.

*to raise awareness of several, non-profit organizations

*to build networks with other explorers and share

*to prepare for future expeditions

*to live to face my fears, and live my dreams

Banner created in Adobe Illustrator to support several nonprofit foundations

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of western China (a friendly place, put your heart in the right place!)

I crossed the Taklamakan Desert from North-South on the Tarim Desert Highway

Sandstorms sweeping over the Taklamakan Desert (quite common overnight*)

I did it solo and unsupported. I did it as part of the HimalayasX2011 expedition. I did it to show others it's possible to live, to face your fears and begin living your dreams. I did it will a paper map and courage to try!

Thank you for visiting my little Korean-World. And remember to...

"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Mahatma Gandhi

Equipment used on this expedition (if you like to shop online, support my expeditions!)