On the wall of his tomb, prophet Shaikh Akhmed Yassawi (He was poet, mystic and Sufi order, who lived in 12 Th. c. and mausoleum in Turkestan is dedicated to him - second holiest place for Muslim religion.) has this wish:

” When one day you meet a stranger. Do not do him wrong. God does not love people with cruel hearts.”

Those are the words that Kazakhs people still live by, today in 21 st. c. In last days I experienced how hush, hard the nature can be and how amazing are the people on the other side.

Read the rest of this entry »

I have no clue where to start… - so with a help from movies:

The Great Debaters:
James Farmer Jr.: We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.

Into The Wild (I read the book on a ride to New Jersey beach back in 2002..Thanks Cathy;)):
Christopher McCandless: The freedom and simple beauty is too good to pass up…
Title Card: There is a pleasure in the pathless woods; / There is a rapture on the lonely shore; / There is society, where none intrudes,/ By the deep sea, and music in its roar; / I love not man the less, but Nature more… / - Lord Byron

Facts first:
- Few photos uploaded at Taraz.Kazahkstan
- Back on roll and ride part of my life
- 27000 km all together done (Just not to forget last year attempt
- Kazakhstan is hot and huge…and so far really hospitable (It is good to be back to Central Asia.)
- Heading west eventually

OK so lets start… The life in big city was mistake. I went back to early (Still way too tired from the journey before - The months of cycling in south China remain to be one of the hardest time in my life. Looking now back from the distance. ) and nope I did not find myself their. I saw myself in the worst condition so far. Me as a person. Me as being unproductive. Yeap that was not Marija who crossed from EU to BJ and around. So the change was made.

The end of China was another experience from which I learn a lesson. Last day I spent in Khorgas ( I travelled to Almaty together with Asmund, Norwegian biker that Rob and I met on the way to Turpan) and memories were flying through my mind all day. China - what a part in my life! There is no way to understand it all. But till last moment expect to be surprise in good or not so good way.

Crossing boarder. Once again. Being foreign made a difference. The guards helped while trying to put our bikes through. (Recumbent bike with a lot of people around can be a bit painful for some people.) We tried to bike to Kazahstan, but the guards start to yield. So we follow the rules. We must put the bike on the bus for couple hundred meters ride. One more formality. And Kazakhstan here I am.
Read the rest of this entry »

1. Back on road.
2. Hot…hot…
3. Joy, happiness and being esusted at same momment is normal.
4. Kazakhstan is not China.
5. Sorry, but more next time….