Bishkek
Bishkek offers many western style coffee shops, like this Sierra Coffee.
Bishkek
So happy to receive the FiberFix Spoke. FiberFix Spoke is made of a strong Kevlar cord with an extremely durable cam slide mechanism. Unique design works on the freewheel side of the rear wheel without freewheel removal.
Kazakhstan
We leave Bishkek and we enter for the second time in Kazakhstan. But this time the temperature are much different!
Kazakhstan
A cricket on Simona's Crosso bag
Kazakhstan
We met this bird of pray along the road. It was in very bad conditions, we could only move it away from the road to prevent it to be hit by cars
Kazakhstan
A shepherd got very interested in us, the two bottles are one for the Cay (Tea) and one for the Vodka!
Kazakhstan
Full moon over our camping spot. Nice thing about Kazakhstan is that it's population density is so low (5.94/km2) that is very very easy to camp!
Kazakhstan
Funny man wearing his wife hat to protect his head from the strong sun
Kazakhstan
Juppiter and Venus conjunction on our way to Almaty
Kazakhstan
Giuliana and his husband welcomed us in Almaty and helped us to find an amazing free accommodation for our long stay.
Kazakhstan
After two weeks we are back on the road, with a chinese visa on the passport. Kazakhstan in this time of the year is super hot. Every small source of water is a blessing! Simona is refreshing her feet in a canal
Kazakhstan
On our first time in Kazakhstan we couldn't cook outside the tent because it was too cold! Now things are much easier!
Kazakhstan
Entrance gate of Charyn Canyon, located 200 kilometres east of Almaty
Kazakhstan
Broken spoke
Kazakhstan
Daniele repairing Simona's back wheel broken spoke
Kazakhstan
Mosquitos are our worst enemies. No way to escape their painful and annoying bites
Kazakhstan
A very strange a big kazak lizards
Kazakhstan
Another quite and nice camping site
Kazakhstan
Beautiful kazak girl. She could speak good english and was so happy to practice with us!
Kazakhstan
The two guys brought us to a river for a refreshing swim!
China
Horgos, the first city just at the border with Kazakhstan.
China
This small "car" has been our flagship for 10 km, giving us the chance to cycle at 25 km/h without any particular effort
China
Every mean of transportation is allowed here
China
Our first night in China. Camping in a quiet, full of mosquitos, corn field.
China
Roads in China are for everyone!
China
Our first encounter with a chinese cycle-traveler
China
Old smiling man working in a field
China
We stop near this man shop. At first he gave us a curious look, then he decided to approach us. Why?
China
He wanted a selfie with us!
China
A group of young chinese cycle traveler whose destination is Lhasa, Tibet. Tibet is a very famous destination among cyclists in China. Thousands of them cycle from Chengdu, crossing the great himalayan mountains
China
Traffic light for cyclists! Something we hope to see in our city, Rome!
China
Yili huge and empty train station. Due to frequent terrorist attack in Xinjiang, entering public places such as train station is subject to passing a strict police control.
China
An amazing thing about China are public toilets. They are everywhere in cities, they are free and clean.
China
After a couple of days of free camping in China we found a couchsurfer in Yili.
China
Our first chinese-uyghur meal "Lengmen".
China
Yili has a population of 430.000. Soon we discovered that the smallest chinese town are as big as the big cities in Italy!
China
This is the most popular mean of transportation in Xijiang
China
Skyscrapers in Yili are covered by lights due to a Government law.
China
Our second chinese meal. Here is where we learned to say "no spicy" in chinese but with no luck at all...
China
Our couchsurfer in Yili, They both are english teacher.
China
Skyscrapers in Yili are covered by lights due to a Government law.
China
Our couchsurfer in Yili. They both are english teacher. Han life in Xinjiang is very difficult due to the very unstable political situation. They can not exit the country as easily as the other chinese citizens.
China
This group of men was working in a field near the road. They stopped us to invite us for a slice of watermelon. Daniele took the big knife and pretended to use it against them as a joke. They all laughed except one!
China
Uyghur women taking photo of us and bicycles. Although they follow islamic religion, uyghur women seems to be very emancipated. It is quite common to see them driving and working.
China
Soon after Yili we both got sick. Luckly we found a nice spot near a river where to camp for 2 days. This two uyghur girls have been our angels and teacher for 2 days! They taught us numbers and above all they taught us a lot about Uyghur life in Xinjiang.
China
Sweets brought by the girls
China
Our two days camping site
China
Coca-Cola in chinese!
China
There's not much on the road G218 that crosses Yili valley. So we have to stop at gas stations for fresh water and small snacks.
China
Thousands of birds over electricity wires.
China
Many chinese work on roads construction and maintenance
China
A very stunning stretch of G218 road in Yili valley
China
China is: you stop by a petrol station for some refreshment, go to the toilet leaving the bicycle unattended and when coming back find fruits and fresh water as a present!
China
These three girls live and work in these remote Sinopec petrol station.
China
Before leaving please let's have a selfie!
China
China roads are perpetually under construction. But if a road is closed to car, it is not to bicycle! So you can find yourself cycling on the very construction site
China
A men walking at the side of the road
China
So difficul to find a spot for the tent on this stretch of the G218 because of road constructions and fields. A young guy invited us to put the tent in his rear, it has been a stroke of luck since a heavy storm came by.
China
Not sure these people are working in the safest conditions!
China
China roads are perpetually under construction. It is very interesting to see the full construction progress, three layers of different materials to ensure durability.
China
China roads are perpetually under construction. It is very interesting to see the full construction progress, three layers of different materials to ensure durability.
China
China roads are perpetually under construction. It is very interesting to see the full construction progress, three layers of different materials to ensure durability.
China
Public toilet in the G218 near Nalati. Not the cleanest toilet we have met so far
China
In Nalati we find a nice spot for camping in a road construction site. Workers and these two kids came to greet us.
