Around the World on a Bike
While many of us are sitting in comfortably air-conditioned offices, homes, or cafés here in sweltering Beijing, Kim Paul Nguyen has been on an intercontinental cycling journey for the Ride Planet Earth Challenge. Born and raised in Canberra, Australia, Nguyen has called the road his home for the past few months.
Currently cycling from Brisbane, Australia to Copenhagen, Denmark via many different pit stops along the way, Nguyen is meeting local people to find out how climate change is impacting them, especially in the most vulnerable communities. He hopes to encourage other people to use environmentally sustainable forms of transport through this trek. Later this year in December, Nguyen will arrive in Copenhagen, just prior to the Climate Change negotiations starting in Denmark, where he plans to organize an event to fight climate change.
While Nguyen was waiting for his Visa to go to Mongolia, our Jennifer Ying Lan had the chance to talk to him to learn more about Nguyen’s quest.
What was the initial spark to do something like this?
I have wanted to do something to help protect the environment for many years. I did voluntary conservation work in Ecuador in 2006 but felt frustrated that I couldn't make more of an impact. I was getting more and more concerned about climate change and felt I needed to do something. I love traveling. I love challenges. So, it was a natural progression to this.
Throughout my previous travels, I saw many vulnerable communities completely reliant on their local environment for their everyday survival. Any climate changes caused major problems. I wanted to do something to make people in the developed world realize how their actions are affecting people on the other side of the planet, who are much more vulnerable to climate change than they are.
What does Ride Planet Earth promote?
Ride Planet Earth promotes sustainable solutions to climate change, focusing on sustainable travel and transport. We urge people to think about their impact on the environment around them and make the changes necessary to reduce that impact. In my case, it's a decision to cycle stead of flying to Europe. But, we ask people to challenge themselves to do this everyday, making choices about how they get to work or play by means that will not destroy the environment (e.g. cycling, walking, skating, taking public transport).
Why is this important for you to do this?
This is the greatest challenge of our time, the greatest perhaps of any time. If we don't take action, the environment will suffer, and human society will not survive as we know it. I have a degree in social work, and I have worked for about 8 years supporting at risk children. Well, because of climate change, all children are going to be at risk. If we are going to protect the earth so that future generations can still flourish here, we have to take significant action and do it now.
What is the route?
I cycled through Northern Australia, then East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and then China. Then, onwards to Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. After that, I need to somehow get to Iran, then Turkey and then it'll be straight across Europe.
Where have you lodged?
I have stayed in all kinds of accommodation. A lot of camping in strange places, under trees, on beaches, under bridges, I've stayed with many local people, who have generously offered me a bed even though they didn't know me or speak my language. Lately, I have been using websites for couch-surfing to stay with local people.
How have you found the people? The scenery?
The people have been amazing. Really, really amazing. In virtually every place, I have been welcomed and supported. When people smile or a child waves, it makes all the effort worthwhile. There have been very few people who have enjoyed giving me a hard time, but I don't dwell on that.
The scenery has been incredible. From cycling through the red desert of Australia, the rain forest covered volcanoes of Indonesia, the shining rice terraces of Yunnan to the silent power of the Great Wall, I have been incredibly lucky to experience this. The beauty of our planet is another reason we need to prevent dangerous climate changes from developing.
Funny stories?
There have been many funny stories…getting lost, bicycle parts falling off, those two things happening at the same time. Now when I think about them, they are only really funny to me. I'll have to keep those to myself.
Most memorable moments thus far?
The most memorable moments have been those when I've been alone on the road, maybe in a mountain range, maybe by the sea, with the sun setting or rising, the world around me slightly aglow, and I get a sense that life could not possibly get anymore precious. These are surreal magical moments.
But, I also remember quite vividly the difficult times, my sickness and hospitalization from heat exhaustion, my sudden collapse in East Timor when I landed face first on the road and cut my face up, the time I nearly smashed right into a speeding van only to see it veer off the side of the road and crash itself. These moments make those beautiful ones all the more special.
How much more till you get home?
Well, I finish cycling on December 6 this year, one day before the Copenhagen Climate Change negotiations. But home? I don't know where that is. I'm certainly looking forward to a little bit more stability for a little while once I finally stop. Give my legs a rest.
How is Beijing thus far?
Beijing has been great, but that's been down to the wonderful people I've met here. It's been pretty damned hot, weather-wise; I'm told summer has come unprecedentedly early this year. I cycle around the city seeking out shade, wishing the sun would let up just a little so I wouldn't sweat quite so much.
Many parts of the city seem to me like giant concrete children's building sets. The massive roadways loop in every direction with strangely shaped shiny buildings lining each side. The CCTV building is like something out of a science fiction film, I stared at that thing for a good 30 minutes. The parks are great, beautiful, and welcoming, and I've found refuge in them every chance I've gotten.
How much time have you spent in Beijing? Have you done anything fun?
I have been here for about a week in total. I've been waiting for my visas for Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. It’s been a hectic wait. I did have the fantastic opportunity to cycle up to the Great Wall near Simatai. The area around there is just stunning and I was very fortunate to have a Greenpeace China volunteer, Yao, come up with me to translate and help me out. The Great Wall was amazing and lived up to my expectations, maybe even surpassed them. It was fun getting some photos of me cycling on the Wall. Not sure if I was supposed to though...
What do you hope to promote by doing this?
I hope to help inspire people to make changes in their behavior that reduce their impact on the environment around them. Cycling more, driving less, using less energy, causing less pollution, having a better connection with the world around them. Then, I think we'll beat climate change.
You can find out how to participate in Ride Planet Earth by emailing Kim at kim@rideplanetearth.org
Facebook: The Ride Planet Earth Challenge