| WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
Since 1989 the Japanese Emiko Seal and the Australian Steve Seal are
following their dream to cycle around the world. To experience the
world with their 5 senses.To 'experience' the world at a human pace.
To meet people and to get to know their life, and preferably even
sharing an episode of life with them.
Over 17 years later with between them 256,000kms 174 punctures, 85
tyres worn to breaking point they have yet to complete full circle
of the earth. Emi and Steve have cycled through arctic tundra, several
types of deserts and steamy jungles. They've pushed through snow,
floods, severe electrical storms (nearly being struck by lightening),
across many mountain passes over 5000 metres in altitude and cycled
close by live mine fields. Encounters include bears in Alaska, poisonous
snakes in Mexico, guanacos (a type of llama) in Patagonia, herds of
elephants in Botswana, giraffes and zebras in Kenya, scorpions in
the Sahara desert and large vicious ants in the Amazon jungle cut
through their tent and attacked them as they slept.
In the year 2000, while in Pakistan Emi was diagnosed with Cancer
and given a 20% chance to survive. Both flew immediately back to Japan
for Emi's hospilisation. 4 Years later to the day with Emi's miraculous
recovery both Emi and Steve hit the road again to continue their dream.
Here on this web site, is a view of the journey so far.
WEB SITE MAP
Emisteve's MAP: Check
the route of over 140,000 kilometres by bicycle across the Continents.
Emisteve's
Google Map (under construction) (Best seen by high speed internet connection)
Click on this marker
on the Google map for more information
Photo
Gallery: Selected images of the journey.
Links: Friends that
have helped us on our way & some of our favourite, Bicycle Friendly
sites.
FAQ's: If you really
need some answers.
Lhasa to Shangrila
guide for desperate cyclists (like us)
Our other
Web sites By Emi in Japanese
(online translation available)
Japan: Life in Japan
Sign Guestbook View Guestbook
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THE LATEST REPORT (Where
on Earth are they?)
See with Google Earth
the latest location N18 47.480 E99 00.244
2007-09-29 Chiang Mai
After 17 Years and the full loop of the Earth by bicycle
we Re-cycle Chiang Mai.
Our cycling friends came to meet us in the morning. They were a couple
of 42 & 56 years of age and very fit. Their bicycles were of high
quality and they wore helmets. Thailand had changed; years before
the only cyclists we saw was people that only cycled because they
didn't have enough money for motorised transport. We heard that now
with more affluence, therefore a richer diet, people had to now cycle
for fitness. We had more surprises when we saw not only we saw 7 Eleven
convenience stores but a huge shopping centre with Pizza Hut, Carrefour
and other stores well known in Europe, Australia and America. We even
saw a video rental shop we are members of back in Japan.
My memory of Chiang Mai was vague and I saw nothing to jog my memory.
The city had grown from my memory of just a large town. The traffic
was heavy there large highways circling the outskirts. We headed to
the Tape Gate where across the road in the Montri Hotel we had eaten
everyday. The ancient gate and city walls were being renovated and
the hotel restaurant had moved to anther location but the hotel building
hadn't changed much.
We had come back to Chiang Mai not as strangers like the first time
but we had waiting for us our friend Nakayama san from Osaka, Japan.
He was working in Chiang Mai at the Healing Family Foundation a place
for intellectually & physically challenged people come to work
on artist endeavours to provide them something positive to do with
their lives. The Thai government doesn't support these people so volunteer
organisations fill in the gap. Six years before we had met Nakayama
san at his organisation in Osaka Japan where we have annual exhibitions
of our travel photos. From that time we had a dream to meet in Chiang
Mai. We had a very warm welcome from everyone there and a small party
too.
More News>
TRAVELOGUES
AUSTRALIA:
On a dark & stormy night in the mountains.
Emi & Steve meet. Sand, sand, sand. Crossing the outback.
ASIA:
Tough time in Timor. Bridge over the river Kwai.
Spring in the Japanese Alps
NORTH AMERICA: Log
trucks. Old aged Hippies.
Camping in the desert & in the Redwoods.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH
AMERICA:
Murderous drivers. Held up by guerrillas. Crossing the Amazon jungle.
The most southern city in the world.
SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA:
Camping with elephants. Minefields & African drums. Sleeping with
the Massai.
CENTRAL AND WEST
AFRICA: Funeral drums. 50 degree heat & sand-storms. Sneaking
into Senegal. Camel for breakfast.
EUROPE: Culture shock. Nordkapp
(another leg completed). Spies for the CIA.
EURASIA YEAR 2000:
Central Asia, China, Mountains and deserts
SOUTH ASIA (After Cancer
a New Beginning)
TAIWAN 2002: A test for Emi, beautiful mountains, friendly
people
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