Biking across Eurasia (33 photos)

From a young age, self-taught British photographer Alex Gandy dreamed of distant travels and adventures, inspired by the story of Anglo-Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton and Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island."





While working as an urban planner in chaotic London, Gandy took to cycling. "Zipping through the streets, dodging cars and pedestrians... it's almost a form of meditation," he says.

After a period of austerity, Gandy came up with a plan. In 2013, he quit his job and began training for an ambitious undertaking: a bike ride across Asia.

Starting in Istanbul, Alex Gandhi set out on a 15-month journey through 13 countries. Along the way, he encountered hospitality and kindness, as well as countless obstacles. He took photographs and blogged about his journey along the way. He even managed to raise money for a children's charity in Nepal.

The trip, of course, was fraught with all sorts of trials and dangers: from a dog bite in Turkey to cluster bombs in Laos. Nevertheless, the freedom and experiences Gandhi experienced while cycling 22,530 kilometers are priceless.

Alex Gandhi shared photographs from a series titled "Perhaps Your Footprints Have Caught My Eyes"

Why a bicycle? "The bicycle gave me the freedom to move wherever I wanted. And it forced me to ride at a leisurely pace that truly allowed me to experience the country I was traveling through," the photographer explains.

"It's amazing how simply saying hello to someone passing by can completely transform your impression of a place." Here, residents chat by the side of the road in the eastern Turkish city of Şavşat.



Gandhi spent a couple of hours chatting, drinking tea, and playing backgammon with the owner of a stall in a new building at a market in the Turkish city. Ardahan.

High on the Anatolian plateau. A woman rolls out dough and prepares dinner. Meanwhile, the men of the family tend to the cattle.



The most difficult and challenging roads ended up being the most rewarding. "There were times when I felt I had already found all the adventures I craved in "The beginning."



In Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Alex Gandy met a British cyclist named John, who was heading east. Together, they crossed the Caspian Sea by ferry and soon were cycling through the desolate deserts of Uzbekistan.



"There are far more tourists on bicycles than you might think." imagine."



He met many of them in dorms while waiting for their visas. "We quickly became a close-knit community. And when we crossed paths again, a great camaraderie had already grown between us."



East of Dushanbe in Tajikistan, the hills quickly gave way to rocky Mountains.



While cycling through Badakhshan National Park in Tajikistan, he met these three fishermen. They were using a strange fishing technique. First, they would slap the water, scaring away the hidden fish, and then capture them with a net.



Resu and his grandson live in a small village in Kyrgyzstan. They are supported by family members who work in remote areas. cities.



Gandhi encountered much kindness during his journey. For example, Aibek invited Gandhi to stay at his home in the Kyrgyz village of Kok-Dzhar.



By chance, the traveler stumbled upon an onion plantation where the man was butchering a ram. He and his family invited the cyclist to dine on lamb, tea, and vodka while telling stories of hunting in Steppes



"When people started inviting me into their homes, I started thinking about how we treat strangers in the West. I don't think a Tajik cycling through Surrey would be treated the same way I am here. It's very upsetting."



Winter soon set in in Kazakhstan after Gandhi's arrival.



The unrelenting cold overtook the cyclist near China's western border.



Turning south, Gandhi encountered another extreme: the vast Gobi Desert.



The road across the Tibetan Plateau is long and difficult. Any cafe along the deserted highway is a welcome respite.



Gandhi's hardest time was in China. Not only because of the harsh weather. A pickpocket in Lanzhou stole a traveler's wallet, leaving him penniless while waiting for a money transfer.



"The sheer number of people, the language barrier, the busy roads, and the economic revolution that has destroyed much of the natural heritage—these are the reasons why China has become the most challenging country I've ever traveled."



"Everywhere I went, someone was stirring up the riverbed, someone was mining the rock, damming rivers, and manipulating nature to the detriment of a complex ecosystem."



Despite the troubles, kindness always prevailed in China. Villagers often built fires near his tent and offered treats.



Alex Gandy spent Christmas in a village house, where they served a simple dish of roast pork and rice. He said it was the best meal of the entire journey.



"The master of the house didn't know the importance of this day for me, but his actions moved me to tears."



On Christmas, Gandhi helped a humble farming family pick radishes and herd cows. He was struck by their simplicity and wanted to thank them in some way.



On the road, he met Daniel. Together, they crossed Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Gandhi crossed paths with the French cyclist Stéphane several times in Central Asia.



They set up camp together and happily shared stories in the Laotian jungle.



Crossing the river and a chance to cool off.



The forests in Laos are vibrant, but workers advised staying on the road to avoid hitting a mine left over from the civil war.



In Cambodia, Gandhi spent the night in a local monastery.



During his journey, he encountered an incredible amount of kindness and learned a lot about himself and others.



Gandhi says the most important thing is: "Never give up. Never give up."



When he reached Thailand, he could barely remember where he started. "If you believe in what you're doing and work hard with the right attitude, then in the end everything will work out."