travel

Travelogue: Magic Moments

Casting my eyes out to pastel skies hanging low over the Andaman Sea. Standing on the crest of a hill overlooking the shore of the Promthep Cape at the northwestern reaches of the Malacca Strait while waiting patiently with camera in hand. Sunsets are magical things.

The setting sun burns a hole in the muted sky, the last moments of a molten ball of fire smoldering in the mist never quite touching the horizon line. It’s an instant when one’s senses are alive and fully present moment. The first whispers of a cool offshore breeze tickle the hair on the nap of my neck. Yes, it’s the perfect place to be.

Steadily, the shutter fires away. The camera buffers and writes the images to the memory card. Moments are captured. Making decent photos has a lot to do with figuring out the “perfect place to be,” and getting there and set in time for the decisive moment. For me, it’s a little deeper than that. Photography is not so much about capturing the beauty, but experiencing it first, and then recording the moment before it’s gone. And over time, it’s a collection of these little slices that make up a life well-lived.

One last glance to the horizon as the sky fades to dull gray. It’s an excellent moment to consider the gravity of things. Yes, dreams do come true to those willing to give fair chase. I bag my camera and begin ambling down the hill into the dusk. Thus ends a day spent well. Making out the shadow of my driver’s tuk-tuk, it’s time to lean forward to a new day. Life is good. Get some.

Travelogue: Reflections from a Bridge

by Johnny Isaak ·

Travelogue: Reflections from a Bridge

Our return trek from Jiangshan in Zhejiang province to Shanghai was going to be a long. 224 kilometers lay between us and home. It was going to be a long day. Considering the miles ahead, we pushed on.

The day’s ride began at the crack of dawn. Cool air nipped at my bare face and jersey-only clad torso as well pedaled in the gray light. Early autumn was in the mountain air. Rather than stop and pull a jacket from my handlebar bag, I hope to shake off the chill as I leaned into the rolling hills.

Glancing over my shoulder upriver ascending the low arch one of the many bridges we’d cross during the day, my eyes cast up a fiery orange sunrise. Incredible. Allowing my bike to coast to a stop at the top of the bridge’s arch, I put a foot down to savor the serenity of the moment. Ah, one of the pure, genuine pleasures of traveling by bike.

Motionless water wandering into thick stands of trees had not even the slightest ripple on its surface, save for a blanket of lifting fog warmed in the yellow sun. A thick mountain mist defused the sun’s golden light. I unzipped my camera pouch, put the viewfinder to my eye and made a picture for my memories. It’s moments like this that make cycle travel so unique.

Many miles of riding nagged me back into action. I stowed my camera and resumed spinning my way down the road ahead. It’s small experiences such as this that make all the effort worthwhile. We had many miles to go before we would sleep tonight.

Sunrises are magical things. You only get so many of them in your lifetime. Embrace the moment. Put your foot down and take in those sweet little slices of life. Enjoy them one by one. Hope in the saddle and ride. Experience all of them you can as long as you can. Cheers.

Travelogue: Suzhou Water Town

by Johnny Isaak ·

Water in the canal lies motionless under a sinking afternoon sun, disturbed ever so slightly by the oar of a lone boat plying the water on its way to another place. Spring is in the air, and my feet are itchy. Destination: Suzhou.

The heavens have the moon and the stars. We have Suzhou and Hangzhou. — Chinese Proverb

Travelogue: Shadows on Lake Taihu

by Johnny Isaak ·

Returning home doesn’t necessarily mean suspending travel. It’s good to take a little time off the bike but still keep hitting the road in search of unique adventures.

Day tripping to the shores of Taihu only an hour or two north of Shanghai near the old city of Wuxi in Jiangsu Province provided an excellent opportunity to venture off the typical foreigner’s tourist trail to a place the Chinese know well.

Travelogue: North to Reinga

by Johnny Isaak ·

The journey north begins with a single push of the pedal. I’ve made my way south to Bluff, the southernmost town on the South Island and am now starting my journey north to Cape Reinga, the northern tip of New Zealand’s North Island.

Travelogue: A Few Moments on Lake Wakatipu

by Johnny Isaak ·

Standing on the shore, indigo water lapping at my feet, just taking in the moment. A cool breeze drives small cresting waves sparkling and falling in the low sun. Warm yellows and golds fade to black. There is something special about catching the last rays of wonderful day.

Travel Bigly

by Johnny Isaak ·

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. — Mark Twain

The World is an Interesting Place

The world is a big place. Endeavor to see it all. At the end of your life, you will be glad you did. Go places that interest you. Travel opens your eyes to the world and expands your mind to other perspectives. Go and experience people and places for yourself. Let your mind do its own thinking. Your life will be much richer for the effort.

People, places, and things are often quite different from what’s presented in the mainstream media. Experience the world first hand. See how the other half lives. Most of the time, it’s not what you think. The world over, most people are good human beings and are just like you — trying to get through the world the best they can.

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