Extracted from Keiichi Iwasaki travels across 37 countries on $2

A TOURIST has spent eight years travelling across 37 countries with the equivalent of $2, relying on his bicycle for transport.

Keiichi Iwasaki, 36, left his Japanese home in 2001 with just 160 Yen ($2) in his pocket after becoming bored with his air-conditioning job, the UK’s Telegraph reports.

After cycling the country for a year he decided to extend his journey to South Korea and, eventually, 25 other countries.

During his trip Mr Iwasaki was attacked by a rapid dog in Tibet, robbed by pirates and was even arrested in India.

He cycled over 45,000 kilometres during his marathon adventure and become the first Japanese man to climb Mount Everest from sea level without using any transportation.

Mr Iwasaki said he raised funds from performing tricks, and only his “strong will” has kept him on his bike.

Could you imagine doing this yourself? The courage, the fun!

I guess I just enjoyed avoiding the pressure of my desk and I had just suffered at the hands of a storm that hammered The Gap in Brisbane. Yes it was nice not to smell water damaged carpets, not to trip on protruding nails in my floor and not to have to read the 250 emails a day I get.

My focus on my health has also slipped over the last couple weeks becuase of the storm and the Malaysia trip. While I didn’t do too badly, I need to get back on top of things.

Done!

I have not blogged much lately. I have been busy, between work and a few other exciting personal developments I have been completely overwhelmed with activity.

It’s time to start again, so here is something about a trip to Tokyo I just returned from.

I stayed at the Hotel Ibis in Roppongi, and even though I spent time unwell and only some time getting around the city I did manage to checkout the following Tokyo highlights:

• Ginza – a world that I do not understand; where too many brand names are not enough.
• Harajuku – Between the Shrine and the Girls on the Bridge I found this area very engaging.
• Shibuya – Without doubt my favourite zone of Tokyo. Alleys, lights, shopping and Mandrake (an amazing Manga shop).
• Tokyo Central – Including a visit to the Imperial Palace.
• Roppongi – Cheap food, lots of bars, Tokyo Tower and the Roppongi Hills shopping arcades.

Tokyo is amazing, though I was a little disappointed I could not spend more time there and even more disappointed I could not get out into the countryside a bit. I would love to have seen Mt Fuji up close, gone to see Osaka and of course toured the Sapporo brewery

Enough of these meanderings, here are some pictures.

Another post of photos I have taken in the past…

Italy:

Czech Republic:

Germany:

Well I promised in a previous post that I will publish some photos of where I went over the holiday break. So here are some photos I took while exploring the Crystal Creek area of Northern New South Wales. What a gorgeous part of the world, I even had fleeting moments where land at Uki was looking like being purchased…

So now for the photos:

And for the Google Map:
View Larger Map

Yay, finally I have time to write about this trip.

After the last trip to Tallebudgera Creek, which was really only a trial run for this trip I am writing about here, we had to return.

Tallebudgera Creek was wonderfully clear and sandy again, and we could not have asked for a better day. Loading up the 330s and one 380x we took off for a quick trip for no other reason than to find a place for my kids to swim. The current was quite strong as we were very close to the open sea, and under the bridge (see the map below) it was quite hard to stay on track in the 330 when going against the current. The 380x cut it up with no problem though.

We paddled from the Tallebudgera Caravan Park up to the Burleigh Head National Park and back.

The gear we took:

• 1 x SeaEagle 380x Pro with AB40s and tall back seats
• 2 x SeaEagle 330 Pro with AB30s and pro kayak seats
• my kids were in PFD1 and PFD3 life jackets
• all precious items were secured in a 10L Sea Sack which I have found exceptionally valuable for lots of things

Some photos of the trip:

I loved just about every moment in which I explored it.

Outside of the crazy way-point that is Changi Airport is a small easy to see city that has a lot to offer. I have visited Singapore a number of times for work and I have enjoyed it every time. In fact, this place rates very high on my “want to live in” list: not because it has the colour of its neighbours, but because it is in the middle of everything that I love about Asia and you can get somewhere fantastic really quickly.

Ok. I admit it. Singapore is just a stepping stone to other great places, but it is a calm place amongst a mad continent.

Definitely check it out. I hope to take my kids there one day very soon.