09/03/2014 - Cycling SE Asia. Day 73 - An epic winding road back to sea level.

Distance cycled: 162km from Rantepao to Pare-pare, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Average speed: 21km/h
Moving Time: 7h43m
Elevation Ascended: 1497m
Elevation Decended: 2329m
Burned Calories: 4199kcal
Burned Fat: 545g
Total Distance on Current trip: 6613km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 13,137km
Money spent: $16



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THIS downhill run today was incredibly good fun but also frighteningly dangerous as I was taking every turn just a little bit too fast narrowly missing unseen vehicles around tight bends. This didn't stop me grinning when I had made it down to the bottom having passed such unique and stunning scenery.
162 kilometers is a long way to cycle in a single day with the last hour in the dark and right now as I write this in a hotel room I am squirming with aches and pains finding it difficult to keep my eyes open, let alone write this post.
However tomorrow is much the same with another 160 or so kilometers to Makassar. No rest for the wicked, eh?
This gives me one day to pack my bicycle into a box before I fly back to Thailand.
Right now its time for some much needed Sleep. Yawn!

The beautiful landscapes leaving the Toraja region of Sulawesi, Indonesia

02/03/2014 - Cycling SE Asia. Day 69 - More Sulawesi hospitality.

Distance cycled: 148.2km from near Watampone to 20km south of Belopa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Average speed: 19.5km/h
Moving Time: 7h36m
Elevation Ascended: 1137m
Burned Calories: 3852kcal
Burned Fat: 500g
Total Distance on Current trip: 6265km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 13,485km
Money spent: $5


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What a day, hot, flat, bumpy, sweaty, sticky and despite my dislike towards rain I was eagerly awaiting the normally predictable afternoon cool-down/shower which unfortunately never came.
Still, I covered some decent distance today and yet again I was invited into another home by a local family. Anser and his wife Lulu were happy to have me spend the evening and within moments of entering their home, having a shower and meeting their disabled daughter I was taken to the aftermath of a traditional wedding ceremony, unfortunately I missed out the big event by 3 days but it was great to see the household decorated in a traditional colorful fashion and meeting the family who were intrigued by this white but temporarily red, sunburnt foreigner with crazy hair who dripped buckets of sweat into the nice carpets whist ate all the delicious treats that were available.
Typically the celebrations last 6 days after the ceremony, I am a bit disappointed I missed it though because I still have never been to a wedding.

Lukman and his family

Me at a local wedding… with lots of treats

01/03/2014 - Cycling SE Asia. Day 68 - More calamities!

Distance cycled: 106.6km from Sinjai to Tokaseng, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Average speed: 22.6km/h
Moving Time: 4h43m
Elevation Ascended: 681m
Burned Calories: 2516kcal
Burned Fat: 326g
Total Distance on Current trip: 6117km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 13,633km
Money spent: $18


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I didn't quite cycle the distance I wanted to today mainly due to the series of events that followed after a collision with a woman on her motorbike. Entirely my fault because i was reading the map on my GPS as I was cycling towards an unexpected red light, it was nothing serious, I just broke a small piece of plastic off her scooter and I punctured my tire.
Having replaced the tube at a roadside repair shop I topped up the air in my rear tire which caused it to tear the seam around the stupid French valves that are more problematic than they are worth, much like French cars.
Trying my best efforts with the patches and rubber cement I failed at getting my bicycle in a rideable state. Thankfully I was close to a big city where I could purchase a replacement tube and hopped onto the back of a scooter to get me there.
Without doubt I was ripped off on the purchase but I was in dire need of it. I was also unsure if the tube would fit my tire but everything worked out just fine.
The (now) late afternoon traffic on the narrow and pothole riddled road was ridiculous and avoiding these holes, which were more like death traps, would put me in harms way of the passing vehicles.
As night fell desperately searching for a place I could pitch my tent i found it near impossible too do so because between each little town there were only rice paddies, eventually I stopped at a shop where the local village flocked to come see me and I asked if I could camp behind the shop. They agreed but soon I was approached by a local guy who spoke English and he invited me to his home. I joined Lukman down the road to his place where he lived in what seemed to be a converted barn, it was pleasant, and his family were all very welcoming.
It didn't take me long before I told them I needed to sleep but tomorrow I'm going to try and get to Polapo that is 200km away.

Locals on bikes

Showing some kids some magic tricks

Friendly locals