What a funky start in India. I got cheated in Dheli by a very sophisticated beguiler network. They took advantage of my tiredness, my lack of knowledge, made me believe that Dheli was restricted for foreigners and convienced me to pay for a 6 hour taxi to Jaipur which was way overpriced. The drive was magnificent though. I might be a bit naif but I´m not stupid and I have friends. So finaly I got my money back + extra charges. Don´t fuck around with austrian´s we fight back!!

Lucky to have the opportunity of travelling by motorcycle in India. It took some time to familiarize though, since traffic is mad here. One has to expect everything (which basically means elephants, pedestrians, monkeys, huge potholes, accidents, wrong-way drivers and of course cows) anytime. Good horn, good brakes and good luck are required!

I made my way up to Rishikesh which is the yoga capital of India. Already the Beatles came here to meditate and write their white album in the maharishi ashram. Since that spiritual seekers from all over the world pilgrimage to this place to find enlightment.

In the foothills of the himalayas where the ganga river is still nice and clean. Indian hindi´s come to Rishikesh for a nine day fasting ritual. This man only eats sand from the river during that time.

A new world to discover for me. This country is a firework of colours, smells, taste and experience.

Daily routine of a mendicant in the streets of lakshman jhula.

The plethora of spiritual activity in Rishikesh made me curious. Thus I stayed in an ashram for eight days, did yoga and meditation myself -"om shanti shanti shanti"- If I got enlightened? Well, I really don´t think that there is enlightment at all. But as a life hacker I proofed what I already knew. Life is good! Just don´t take it to serious and listen to your heart.

 

Entering Vietnam made me become a millionaire out of the blue. Thanks uncle Ho!

Like Mao in China, Ho Chi Minh is still a national hero in Vietnam. In honor of his merits for the country his mortal remains are heavily guarded in his mausoleum in Hanoi. I lined up with thousands of other visitors to confront his countenance. No chance to shake a hand though.

It was raining for my entire stay in Hanoi. Locals are prepared and know how to deal with bad conditions. Me too - I left.

Lao was different then. Heat, less traffic and a relaxed attitude. Here the Mekong River at dusk.

First they were chasing me, but finally we got friends.

Amazing tufa pulling in Thakhek even though the temperatures have been far beyond decent climbing conditions. Start missing the remote north faces in the alps!

On the road in Lao. After about 115 hours of travelling by train and bus in the last couple of weeks it was brilliant riding a motorbike independly.

This guy knows exactly how to deal with the heat. Khao San Bangkok.

Travelling in China can be hard sometimes. Luckily I always found somebody to translate helpful notes for me.

Although, obviously it is difficult on the other side as well. Lost in translation.

There is a wide variety of food in China. The choice is way bigger than the spring rolls and the chicken sweet&sour we know from chinese restaurants in other parts of the world.

Chinese culture is a big enigma to me. What I understand so far: there is different ethics. Seems like one could do almost anything he wants as long as he don´t offends the system.

I met Mr. Tom, a swiss climber, in Dali. Sunny side up and good times at the cliffs in Shuanglang. See you up!

In Kunming I discoverd a street where all the police and security men buy there uniforms. I made friends and got the chance to buy an original security shirt. Austrian men power on chinese demand. Another job opportunity?

On my way south I had a brief stop in Yuanglang to explore the famous rice terraces. Heaps of heavy armed photographers occupy the viewing plattforms to catch a shot of the impressive sunrise over Duoyishu so as me.

Abstract patterns. A photographers obsession indeed. Vast mountainous areas have been cultivated into terraced rice paddies for the last 1300 years by the Hani minority.

Besides the landscape myself (as the only westerner) became an object of desire. Shooting back was my only defence ... no kidding.

I took the sleeper bus from Shenzen to Yangshuo in the Guangxi Province. Definitely an experience traveling horizontally in a bed made for chinese size standards. Even I was barely fitting in it´s been a quiet comfortable trip.

Yangshou. A vibrant city embeded in hundreds of karst mountains. Misty views from top of the television tower.

Yangshuo is internationally known as the sport climbing mecca Chinas. According to the chinese stereotyp the crags are accessed by bicycle, so as fixing bikes becomes a daily routine.

The limestone arch of moon hill, tourist hotspot and climbers obsession. Air pollution and weather patterns did´nt provide enough light for bright photos, but fabulous climbing though.

Anyways we have been very lucky to catch a periode of decent climbing conditions this time in the year. Another onsight sending day for Jon at white mountain. Watch out this guy is definitly killing it.

A hard work out day is over.

Besides world class rock climbing epic bike rides through magnificent landscapes will remain as remarkable memories.

Karst is dominating the place all over.

And: yes it is true... they eat dogs in China.

Arriving in Hong Kong. After six month travelling in western societies it has been mind blasting for a small warrior who grow up in the silent austrian countryside. A mysterious world was absorbing me. Out of the blue. Infinite impressions of a fast and crowded city, a different culture and strange language. Everything seemed to be totaly unrelated to anything I´ve seen before.

Though my sedulous curiosity made me ride the tiger again. Mystery turned into magic another time.

A butcher doing his daily business in the streets of Kowloon.

Bamboo scaffolding is extraordinary light and provides tailormade solutions also for bigger buildings. A main characteristic in asian building technology.

Mong Kok is HK`s busy sneakers and athletic sportswear district. Crowds.., almost like ants, rushing for the newest models and the best bargain. Asian feet are small. Nothing in stock that even slightly fits my size.

...south of Hamilton the capital of dairy farming in New Zealand. Obviousliy there´s is a need to put up a note like that.

On a last little road trip around the Coromandel Peninsula with french guys again. Sun, fun, beaches and a flat tire on my car. Luckily I found exactly the same tire within an hour for cheap. problem solved - la vie est belle!

Narrow windy roads another time.

New Zealand and it´s green reputation would be a long and interesting story to write. To be honest it´s like anywhere do not look to close.

Car saled, laundry done, luggage optimized, restored and already excited about the next chapter of my journey. to be continued ...

After New Year I hit the road north again. Endless driving reminds me on Canada.

Castle hill. A magic place on earth. Heaps of lime stone boulders waiting to be climbed.

I end up bouldering with a good growd of people. Sun, fun and couple of hard moves as well. Wish I could have stayed longer but I needed to catch my ferry back to the north island. Photo creds to Ashtyn Renée Photography. thanks.

Cristchurch is still suffering from that devastating earthquake in 2011. Quiet intimitating and intense how mother earth is able to shake us up easily.

Though it´s fascinating how people in a metropolis like that are dealing with such a catastrophe. Here the anglican cathedral temporarily built out of cardboard, designed by the japanese disaster architect Shigeru Ban.

Besides that a lot of freaky art is going on in Christchurch. Lucky that I got the chance to see this amazing performance. It´s all about processing the pain I learned that day... so "pain is temporary, glory last forever" is still a valid saying.

I was driving north from Wellington when I picked up Roger hitchhiking. He is a 65 year old maori guy who was going to surprise his sister for a birthday party after beeing away from home since 8 years.

While driving I learned a lot about maori culture and at some stage Roger got super excited about seeing "his" mountain - Mt. Taranaki - again. It was an easy thing for him to convince me doing a little detour to the base of the mountain. Felt pretty much like myself and Mt.Ötscha back home in Austria. Anyways, the maori legend says seeing the summit free of clouds is a good omen - so it might gonna be a good year for us!