Videos

On the trip I carried with me an Asus laptop on which I recorded the occasioanl video diary, as well as a VIO POV1 helmet camera which I’d sometimes set up and record some riding footage. I didn’t do this all the way, only occassionally, and some of it is a bit eractic, or stupid, but I guess it captures another aspect of the trip. Please be advised that many of these videos contain strong language.

This is a good place to start, it’s kind of a medley of various clips, from various places. It’ll give you an idea as to whether you want to watch any more or not;

And now country by country…

AUSTRALIA

The first video, shot in the back yard as I packed to leave later that day.

I didn’t shoot get much footage from Australia but here’s a compilation of a few random clips as I worked my way up to Darwin

Shot in the Mt Isa tourist information centre just after hearing the good news about the road. I was nervous about talking in public, hence the photo as a disguise.

Shot in a McDonalds the day I arrived in Darwin after the race across Australia. Not sure what I’m on about to be honest.

EAST TIMOR

A day or so after arrival, in the courtyard of the Dili Smokehouse. Still a bit nervous.

Faustoe, the Italian backpacker, singing us a song

INDONESIA

In West Timor having just crossed the border from East Timor. Not feeling good, nervous about money and places ahead

First night in Flores, the second island in the Indonesian chain. A bit daft really, it was just one of those evenings

This was taken in my room at a guesthouse in the city of Medan, the capital of Sumatra. I was there a few days, waiting to catch the ferry to Malaysia. I was bored and staying across the road from a mosque. Time to break out the toothbrush airdrums.

Another video from that room

MALAYSIA
Not much happened in Malaysia and I didn’t take many videos. I think in fact this was the only one; a video diary outsdie the gusthouse in the Cameron Highlands

THAILAND

While I was in Bangkok it was Songkran, or Thai New Year. The generla theme is to soak each other in water. This is waht happened when me and Dot went for a ride.

Needing to buy a new camera in Bangkok I went for a ride to the technology store in the centre of town.

Filmed straight after getting my visa for Pakistan at the embassy in Bangkok. Beware, dodgy dancing.

This was shot in the north of Thailand, just west of Chiang Mai. It was raining and I was getting very wet.

From a different angle

Shot on the way up to Chiang Mai, at a rest stop by the side of the road. Stopping to eat mangos

Perhaps my favourite video, also taken up near Chiang Mai when I tried to get Dot to go up a rather steep hill.

Again taken in the north of Thailand, just outside the lovely town of Pai. For anyone who’s read the book, this part of the journey wasn’t mentioned, mainly because it didn’t really fit in to the narrative. But between ‘Mandy’ flying out of Bangkok and me putting Dot on a plane to Kathmandu I went for a ride to the top of Thailand. This was in the jungle.

Another one from the jungle

And another…

One night I slept in the tent pitched in the back garden of an English guy who lived in Pai with his Thai wife. This was rise and shine.

Filmed last day in Bangkok, before heading to the airport and leaving Thailand behind.

Filmed last night in Bangkok. Also one of my favourite videos

NEPAL

Rebuilding Dot at the airpot

Filmed outside cargo depot at airport immediately after collecting Dot and rebuilding her.

Riding the streets of Nepal first day of arrival

New riding suit; a gift from a stranger in Kathmandu.

Filmed whilst on the toilet during the week of stomach upset in Pokhra, just after I’d finished the walking. Not a pretty video really.

The first of a series of videos taken on the approach to the Indian border. It was a tough day because I really didn’t want to cross it. Fear I think.
Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

Video 6

INDIA

First videos taken having just crossed the border from Nepal into India

Video 1

Video 2

Typical rest stop

Leaving Gorkahpur early in the moring. This was the start of my second day in India.

A video from the boat on the River Ganges in Varanassi.

Having got stuck in Varanassi for ten days through a lack of momentum, this is a video shot the day before I leave.

Filmed on road from Khajuraho to Orcha, two towns I passed throug on the three day ride from Varanassi to Delhi.

Video 1

Video 2

While waiting for visas to come through in Delhi I got up early one day and headed out to shoot myself a video, for self amusement if nothing else. This is what I came back with. I don’t know what made me think of Annie Lennox.

Taken on the road from Manali to Leh, over the second highest road in the world at 5318 metres

EUROPE
Taken at the Hulsmans house on the final stretch, at this point just a few days before reaching England

Filmed on the campsite of the Nurburgring (Germany) where I stopped hoping to do a lap. Penultimate night on the road.

Shot the very last night on the road, having arrived in Calais and now waiting for a ferry to England.