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Entry 6 to 10 of 35.

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June 21, 2005

I'm in Japan. It took a little bit longer than I thought. For nearly four weeks I've been on the MV Tasman Adventurer but then freighters do not have a fixed schedule. Crossing the Pacific to the first port in South Korea took two whole weeks. It wasn't boring on board and you're always having the crew's good company. Two weeks later after two trips to China it was really time to get on land again. But the big city of Osaka is quite shocking after four peaceful weeks on the boat. And Japan's cities aren't good on your wallet anyway. In the meantime I've quit the urban chaos of Japan's southern coast and I'm touring on the island of Shikoku. It's green here, there are mountains with good roads, small villages with traditional Japanese houses and now and then a spot of green grass to camp between the rice paddies. After a tough arrival in Japan I'm starting to enjoy the country. The extraordinary politeness of the people, the food and the exotic Japanese culture. I'm back in Asia.

Mai 21, 2005

My time in New Zealand is coming to an end. For two months I traveled New Zealand with perfect weather and the region north of Auckland had some highlights as well. Riding the whole length of the Ninety Mile Beach was one of them. And of course the many good roads across New Zealand's unique landscapes. But now the weather has changed. It seems that the last couple of days all the rain I missed up to now has fallen. Things became quite chaotic here in Tauranga which is the reason why my ship was late. In the meantime I'm on board of the freighter and soon we set sail for three weeks on the high seas. The boat is going to carry me to Osaka in Japan with stops at Shanghai and Pusan. The voyage itself is already very exciting, the destination anyway. And it's time to change the hemisphere. Here in New Zealand winter comes closer day by day.

April 30, 2005

It took an awful long time until I was back on the road with my bike in New Zealand. But in turn I was rewarded with exceptionally good weather the last weeks. When I finally got my bike through customs and quarantine I didn't waste any time and set straight off to catch up with my brother. But being a few days ahead this is not easy given that you want to have a look around as well. So on the South Island I was traveling alone and had to explore the mountain, lake and glacier landscapes on my own. Arriving on the North Island we were finally riding together and altough the high mountains are on the South Island the north is much better for motorcycling. And being Swiss the volcanic landscapes are more spectacular than the south's mountains. Nature here in New Zealand really is unique but sometimes the country feels like one big entertainment park. The choice of outdoor activities, some even weird, is never ending. If it's about me, I'm currently happy to be in a big city again. My brother took the plane back home from Auckland two days ago. The last weeks I could experience what it means to only have a month to discover the whole of New Zealand. I still got three weeks left to see the rest of the North Island before it's getting time to change the hemisphere.

April 3, 2005

For three weeks I'm now in New Zealand and I'm still waiting for the arrival of my bike. For the fourth time it's freight but for the first time between two fully developed and industrialised nations and it's just not meant to work out. So you've got to be patient. But in fact it's not boring at all here in New Zealand. Since my arrival on the south island I've already been at its northern and southern end by bus and hitchhiking. It's been pleasant weather and beautiful landscapes went past as we drove along interesting roads. And that's why you'd like to be on the bike rahter than in a car or bus. But it's only really annoying because my brother flew into Christchurch almost two weeks ago and has already hit the road on a rented bike. Actually we planned to be on the road together from the beginning and I arranged the freight to arrive before him. But somewhen I too will be back on the road on two wheels.

March 10, 2005

I just arrived at the terminal of my travels in Australia, the city of Sydney. And it took a little bit longer than expected. In Melbourne I decided to take the ferry to visit Tasmania for two weeks to see an Australia that is so different from what I've visited up to now. Mountains, green forests, windy roads and all new cold nights and the occasional rain. Back in Melbourne I headed straight through the Great Dividing Range towards Sydney going through the same scenery again. In the Australian Alps it sometimes feels like back home and in the Snowy Mountains even skilifts can be seen, (unfortunately) out of service, tough. From the mountains it's down to the city from where probably most people start their travels in Australia. The first week in Sydney I was quite busy to organize my onward travels. The bike's now on the way to New Zealand and I have a couple of days left here before I fly to Christchurch.

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