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00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:31,640
Seven continents, three oceans,
about 200 countries
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00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:33,560
and the unimaginable diversity
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00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,280
of cultures, animals,
plants and landscapes.
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00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,800
And my world ranges from
the front door to work
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00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:43,000
and back again.
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00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,080
Every day is the same: Getting up,
7
00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:47,840
searching for motivation,
8
00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,680
not being able to find any,
but setting off anyway
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00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,600
till the sun goes down,
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00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,280
sleeping
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00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,040
and the next day
it's the same game all over again.
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00:00:58,400 --> 00:00:59,560
A "game".
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00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,520
But what is the goal of the game?
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00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,600
Have you ever won it?
Is it even possible to win at all?
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00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:13,480
If the goal is to find happiness,
then I don't understand the tactics.
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00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,840
I've already thought about taking a break,
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00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,280
but what would really help
would be a starting shot.
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00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:31,000
I've been asked many times
if it's risky to cycle around the world,
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00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,000
because they say the world is dangerous,
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00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,440
and you can see that
on the news every day.
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00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,280
But what does the news
say about the world?
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00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,040
Maybe it's risky, maybe it's not.
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00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,160
But first and foremost,
it should be a huge adventure.
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00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,680
GELNHAUSEN
HESSEN, GERMANY
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00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,520
I've never been on a bike tour,
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00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,080
so I have no idea
what I'm actually doing here.
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00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,360
But I'm not the first person
to travel this way,
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so it's got to be possible.
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00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:04,200
But how?
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00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,240
That wasn't right.
This one goes over here.
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Hold on…
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00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:23,240
- My son…
- All the best. Take care.
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00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:24,640
You too.
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00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,080
See you in two and a half years or so.
35
00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:28,160
Well…
36
00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:32,960
Bye, Dennis!
37
00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,760
In the first weeks
I'm just trying to get away.
38
00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,600
And this actually works pretty well
with a bicycle,
39
00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,680
even without having practiced in advance.
40
00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,880
Of course,
some days are pretty exhausting,
41
00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:53,800
but it's getting easier every day.
42
00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,920
You also have that in Germany, right?
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00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:01,400
I'm traveling alone,
44
00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,120
but "alone"
doesn't necessarily mean "lonely".
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00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,280
What's your name again? Dimitri and…
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00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:08,640
- Nelina.
- Nelina.
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00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:12,840
From Vienna I've followed the Danube
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00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,960
and after only five weeks,
I've already reached the Black Sea.
49
00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,880
- Did it.
- How is the Black Sea?
50
00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,240
The Black Sea is beautiful!
51
00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,640
And it's so black. Look how black it is!
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00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:32,200
Just a few days later
I'm already leaving Europe.
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00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:35,080
Pretty amazing
what you can do on a bicycle.
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00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,520
So, the bridge is over there.
55
00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:39,880
I just have to cross it,
56
00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,680
and then I'll be in Asia! Wooh!
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00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,200
My friend, you are on a highway.
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00:04:58,560 --> 00:04:59,720
Come!
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00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:02,320
Highway.
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00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:04,800
No bicycle, okay?
61
00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:07,960
Bicycle in bus: no problem.
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00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,520
Culturally, it's not quite the Asia
that I'd imagined,
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00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,080
but, geographically, I've arrived.
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00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,920
CAPPADOCIA
TURKEY
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The first flat.
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00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:41,880
3,400 kilometers.
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00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,720
I don't know if that's
a good or a bad performance,
68
00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,280
but let's see if I can fix it somehow.
69
00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,520
Who knows how many hours I'll need…
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00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,320
One and a half hours for one tire.
71
00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:04,280
I guess I have to practice a bit,
but, fortunately, I'm not in a hurry.
72
00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,040
Slowly I'm getting used
to traveling by bike.
73
00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,640
I mostly camp wherever it seems safe.
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00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:23,480
I'm not 100% relaxed yet,
but it's getting better every day.
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00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,000
When I wake up in the morning,
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00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,400
I always wonder where actually I am.
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00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,280
I might be woken up
by a lawnmower behind a gas station.
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00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,800
I might wake up in a mayor's office.
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00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,560
Sometimes I even wake up
and I'm already in a different country.
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00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,640
ARMENIA
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00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,040
Going downhill in the Caucasian Mountains
is simply breath-taking.
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00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,560
Obviously, going uphill
is equally exhausting,
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00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,880
but as soon as I can enjoy
the view from the top,
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00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:34,880
all the pain is gone.
85
00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:45,440
In the more isolated areas,
I sometimes struggle to find any food.
86
00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,360
But every time I think
I'm about to starve,
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I eventually find a solution.
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Yeah.
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00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,360
Yes, yes, yes.
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00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,440
Cheers.
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00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:21,480
Yes!
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00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:35,960
The three angels in gangster outfits
leave as quickly as they had arrived.
93
00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,480
It's these random encounters
that make a bike journey so special.
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00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,320
They mostly last just a few moments,
but sometimes they lead to more.
95
00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:49,000
NAIRI
SHAHUMYAN, ARMENIA
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00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,240
Nairi saw me on the bike
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00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,760
and said something about coffee,
so I followed him.
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00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:56,960
Wintery eating.
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00:08:58,080 --> 00:08:59,880
With his mother and his aunt,
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00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:02,360
he lives in a tiny shack
at the side of the road.
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00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,080
- Cow.
- Cow.
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00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:06,400
- Cow. Cow.
- Cow.
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00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:09,560
Three cow.
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00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:11,040
You?
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00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:13,920
Three.
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00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,440
There's a cow coming.
107
00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,120
The three of them wanted to invite me
to stay for the night,
108
00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,760
but their house is so tiny,
that there's just not enough space.
109
00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,040
So, yet again,
a garden becomes my bedroom.
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00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,000
Anybody here?
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00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,800
What's your name?
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00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:48,040
Dennis.
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00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,240
Dennis?
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00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,160
My name is Melsida.
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00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,480
Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin
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00:09:58,040 --> 00:09:59,920
Our "Germany Boy".
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00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:02,920
Before I started my journey
I was wondering
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00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,840
how you can communicate
if you don't speak the same language.
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00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:07,120
Dennis!
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00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,120
First of all, there's sign language.
121
00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,720
What does a cup of fresh whey taste like?
122
00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,720
- No, no!
- Good?
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00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,520
I always try to learn
some important words,
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even if it's just ten.
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00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,040
It helps me survive and, at the same time,
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00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,800
people get excited when they hear
their language coming from my mouth.
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00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,240
- "Thank you?"
- "Thank you…"
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00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,520
"Shnorhakalut'yun."
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00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,600
"Shnorhakalut'yun."
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00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,280
- "Hello?"
- "Hello", "barev".
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00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:45,840
- What?
- "Barev."
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00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:47,880
- "Barev?"
- "Barev."
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00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,480
We often talk about cities or countries,
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00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:54,600
as they sound the same in most languages,
like the names of celebrities.
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00:10:54,680 --> 00:10:58,400
Dennis! Arthur Abraham. Boxer.
136
00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,680
Yeah, he's a champion in Germany.
137
00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,160
Arthur Abraham!
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00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,840
Having a conversation
isn't actually that difficult.
139
00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:09,040
Actually…
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00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,760
English: "Yes". Armenian?
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00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,160
Yes, Armenian man: Arthur Abraham.
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00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,880
A dinner, Armenian classes,
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00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:41,880
a campground and a breakfast:
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00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,760
they all have some value.
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00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,720
However, no one would ever accept money.
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00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,520
What counts here is gratitude.
147
00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,880
I've met three super nice
and helpful people,
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00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,480
but I'm already leaving them behind
after one day.
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00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,360
But that's how it goes on a long journey.
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00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,080
What remains are the memories.
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00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,000
From southern Armenia
I want to enter a country
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about which you rarely hear anything good.
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00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,080
I'd already organized the visa
at an embassy in Turkey.
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00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,480
Alleged possession of nuclear weapons,
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00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,680
legal discrimination against women,
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00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:04,680
one of the highest
execution rates in the world,
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00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,800
violations of human rights,
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00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,200
political separation
from Western countries.
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00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:15,480
All that, doesn't say anything
about the people of this country.
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00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:17,240
Hello, my friends!
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00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:25,720
In Iran I can ride my bike
just like I did in other countries.
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00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,640
Or rather, I rarely get to ride at all,
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00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,200
as many truck drivers
offer me a helping hand.
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00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:35,520
Because I'm a guest, and, here,
a guest is considered a gift from God.
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00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,560
If it's not an Iranian truck driver,
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00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,440
then it's two German globetrotters
who will pick me up.
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00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,600
And there's always space for the bike too.
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00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,680
Strangers offer me their help everyday
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00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,320
and I'm often invited to spend the night.
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00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,040
Hospitality is so important here,
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00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,920
that people often take a day off
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00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,800
just to show me their city.
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00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,800
And you may not believe it,
but in Iran you're even allowed to laugh.
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00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:13,760
Reza!
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00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:15,800
Reza, come here!
176
00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,280
I found Reza
via the CouchSurfing travel community.
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00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,640
This website is not blocked in Iran,
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00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,560
unlike many others,
including Facebook and YouTube.
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00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,720
I'm staying at his place for a few days
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00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,920
and one morning he invites me
to try his favorite breakfast:
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00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,440
sheep's head.
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00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:47,880
Really delicious!
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00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:56,960
It's pretty good.
184
00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:58,680
Really?
185
00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:02,040
You can't see
that it's a sheep's head any more, but…
186
00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,160
maybe that's why it's so good.
187
00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,720
When you eat sheep's head,
after that you need to drink a lot,
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00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,520
because sheep's head
requires water afterwards.
189
00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,920
And now we can go and buy…
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00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:24,520
Persian Pepsi.
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00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,080
Come with me. Come with me.
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00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:28,160
Come on!
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00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,400
This is Persian language.
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00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,520
That means: Live the moment now.
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00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:44,920
And this is Pepsi.
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00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,520
Pepsi. Pepsi. This is not original.
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00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,680
But, right here: "original".
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00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,880
What's so special about a Pepsi can?
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00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,880
Just like the Coca Cola,
it has the right label,
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00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,360
but it's got nothing to do
with the real brand.
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00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,240
As the real thing comes from the U.S.
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00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,400
and the Iranian government
wants nothing to do with them.
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00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:08,160
I think it's pretty good.
204
00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,840
It also shows that it wants
nothing to do with the U.S.
205
00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,720
The U.S. embassy was taken over in 1979,
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00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,040
and has never reopened since.
207
00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,640
Now its walls are covered
with anti-U.S. slogans.
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00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:25,320
Nevertheless, there's no need for
travelers to be scared when visiting Iran.
209
00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,640
But, unfortunately, it's not a country
where you can enjoy unlimited freedom.
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00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,840
The religious rules
influence the country's laws
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00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,840
which include all kinds of
interdictions and restrictions.
212
00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,800
For example, Iranians are not allowed
to have a partner or be in a relationship
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00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:43,640
unless they are married.
214
00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,400
Even flirting in the park
is punished by the morality police.
215
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,800
That's why the youth
came up with "DorDor".
216
00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,720
You need a wide road with two U-turns
217
00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,280
to be able to constantly drive in circles.
218
00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:01,800
It looks like a traffic jam
219
00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:05,359
but, in reality, people are flirting
from window to window.
220
00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:07,760
After having exchanged numbers,
221
00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:10,800
you can secretly arrange
an illegal date later on.
222
00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,920
You probably have better chances
with a big BMW,
223
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,599
but, as an exotic foreigner,
a bike is more than enough.
224
00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,720
For the rest of the world,
the political separation often overshadows
225
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,440
what a spectacular country
Iran actually is.
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00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,960
And especially what generous hosts
the Iranians are.
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00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,560
I was invited over and over again
to drink a tea,
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00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,680
to have a meal or to stay for the night.
229
00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,680
I hope the people will soon get the chance
to enjoy some more freedoms.
230
00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,480
Until then,
they'll continue to drive in circles.
231
00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,400
I take the night ferry
to cross the Persian Gulf to Dubai.
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00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:11,600
Past the highest building in the world,
and a hotel where one night costs
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00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,760
the same as a round-the-world bike tour.
234
00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,680
From Oman, I want to continue east.
235
00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:33,920
But there is the Arabian Sea.
236
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,560
That's why I will be taking my bike
onto a plane for the first time.
237
00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,880
And, once again,
I have a lot of helping hands.
238
00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:48,480
We put the bike into a big box
and off we go to the airport.
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00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:51,880
As much weight as possible
in the carry-on luggage
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00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:53,720
and some final tape around the box.
241
00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:58,600
The five kilos of excess luggage
are ignored after I tell them my story.
242
00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,320
To the airplane, security check,
243
00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:02,480
and takeoff.
244
00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,680
Like I said, the Bosporus marks
the border with Asia.
245
00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,880
But culture-wise, so far
it hasn't been the Asia I'd imagined.
246
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:20,920
Now I'm in Asia.
247
00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,360
This time, I found someone
via Warm Showers.
248
00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,840
Warm Showers is an online community
for bike travelers.
249
00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,640
One good thing about it
is that you have a free place to sleep.
250
00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,400
But what's even more important,
is that you meet people
251
00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,040
and find someone
who knows their way around the city.
252
00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:13,480
Namaste.
253
00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,960
So, we are in Swayambhunath.
254
00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,960
We call this one monkey temple.
255
00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,200
I love to come here,
because I can see the valley from here.
256
00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:26,520
And every time, when I come here,
I wonder where me room is,
257
00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,640
because there are a lot of houses
258
00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,040
and I cannot find my house.
Even now I cannot find it, you know.
259
00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,160
This one is the World Peace Pond.
260
00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:42,800
If we can put a coin, this kind of coin,
261
00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,280
inside that pocket, then we are lucky.
262
00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:50,120
I don't know if it's true,
but we believe in that myth, so…
263
00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,120
Sometimes I hit the sack and then I feel:
264
00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,800
Oh, I'm lucky today!
265
00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:56,480
Let's see if I can make it.
266
00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,920
- Please!
- Oh, no!
267
00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:02,600
Shit.
268
00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,200
Let's do it!
269
00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,120
Oh, no! It was just on the top.
270
00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,960
We will have a good day today.
271
00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:12,480
Because I made one shot.
272
00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:37,680
I chose Kathmandu
273
00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,400
because many embassies
and consulates are situated here.
274
00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,040
And while my visa applications
are being processed
275
00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:46,400
I'm getting to know life in Kathmandu.
276
00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:52,320
A Hindu death ceremony,
where the bodies get cremated,
277
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,360
marks the end of my waiting period.
278
00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,800
As, after a week, I finally have
two colored stickers in my passport.
279
00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,320
Myanmar visa.
280
00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:09,520
India visa.
281
00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,160
Let's move on.
282
00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:20,280
SIVALIK HILLS
NEPAL
283
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,120
After five days
in the foothills of the Himalayas,
284
00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,520
I reach the lowlands of Nepal.
285
00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,040
With the visa in my passport
I'm allowed to continue to India.
286
00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:54,160
INDIA
287
00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,560
The Indian traffic is like hell on earth.
288
00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:07,040
Apart from that, India is dirty,
utterly overpopulated
289
00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:08,920
and impoverished.
290
00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,840
At least, according to the information
I found on the internet.
291
00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,640
And, at first glance,
the prejudices seem to be true.
292
00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:31,400
But if you pigeonhole an entire country,
you're probably far from the truth.
293
00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,920
Especially, if it's such a huge
and diverse country.
294
00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,040
India can be very different.
295
00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:15,400
An English teacher approached me
and invited me to stay the night.
296
00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,440
Of course, I can never know
if a stranger is trustworthy.
297
00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:22,440
But as long as you trust your gut,
you'll stay safe.
298
00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:24,920
That applies to me as well as for him.
299
00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:31,760
As a teacher, he often helps
the children in his village after work.
300
00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,800
He wants to show me the tea plantation
where most of the villagers work.
301
00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,240
Hi, this is Binod Lama.
302
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:52,840
Binod Lama giving you the details
of what is being done
303
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,520
by the tea garden employees.
304
00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,960
The name of this tea garden
is "Hope Tea Garden",
305
00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,960
and the workers
are cutting the tea bushes.
306
00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,720
And the tea garden employees
start working early in the morning.
307
00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:10,000
They start working at six or seven o'clock
308
00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,800
till 1 p.m., or sometimes 3 p.m.
309
00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:16,880
And for this toiling and hard work
310
00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:21,080
the company pays them, in Indian currency,
311
00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,760
rupees, 122 only.
312
00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,240
122 rupees are around 1.70 euros.
313
00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,720
1.70 euros per day.
314
00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:38,280
Now I understand why so many Indians
go to Dubai to help build skyscrapers.
315
00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:43,040
The poverty wage over there
is many times higher than the wages here.
316
00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,920
In the slipstream of various trucks,
I continue my journey east,
317
00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,560
always with the hope
that I won't hit a pothole.
318
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:06,720
In order to enter Myanmar
from the easternmost point of India,
319
00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,560
I had to apply for a special permit.
320
00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,840
And after countless e-mails
and 100 dollars for the application,
321
00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,480
I'm allowed to cross the border
right at the appointed time.
322
00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,640
I did it. I'm finally in Myanmar,
323
00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,120
formerly "Burma",
324
00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,840
and the people are quite friendly.
325
00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:42,560
First, I will head south.
326
00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:47,760
It's the 16th of December.
Eight days till Christmas.
327
00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:50,160
We'll see what's happening then.
328
00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:02,400
In Myanmar, tourists aren't allowed
to rent motorized vehicles,
329
00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,280
and even if you bring your own,
330
00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:07,480
you have to follow a tour guide
and pay a lot of money.
331
00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,280
But with my bike,
I'm allowed to move freely.
332
00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:13,880
Once again,
another reason to travel by bike.
333
00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,040
The majority of the population
works in agriculture,
334
00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:22,840
and many live from hand to mouth.
335
00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:28,360
If they're able to put something aside,
it's often used for religious purposes.
336
00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:32,080
I see golden pagodas
and Buddha statues everywhere:
337
00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,120
some small ones, and some bigger ones.
338
00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,280
LAYKYUN SETKYAR
HEIGHT: 116 METERS
339
00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:57,360
Throughout the country, children and women
wear a light cream on their faces.
340
00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,000
Once again it's an English teacher,
341
00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,200
who I met in the local pub the night
before, who is able to explain why.
342
00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,640
I don't know how to translate "thanaka",
343
00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:08,360
so let's just call it "thanaka".
344
00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,600
Just call it "thanaka". Okay.
345
00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,040
So, why do you do this?
346
00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:16,040
You know, it has a good smell
347
00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:18,960
and as a cover for the sunlight.
348
00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,760
This is a stone and this is from the tree,
349
00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:26,200
and we just need to add water. Only water.
350
00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,160
- Just water?
- Yeah, sure.
351
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:29,960
And then we do this.
352
00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,080
- Like this?
- Yeah, sure.
353
00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:40,280
Ear…
354
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,080
to ear.
355
00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:43,960
Ear and ear.
356
00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,040
And then the neck.
357
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,680
- Good smell. You know?
- Yes.
358
00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:56,960
What is it called?
359
00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,080
"Brow." The brow.
360
00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,560
- It's a beauty session right here.
- Sure!
361
00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:09,080
- Okay!
- Yeah.
362
00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,960
You need to wait,
because it's not dry yet.
363
00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:15,680
So, when I'm on the road it will dry
364
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,000
and then I will say "mingalaba"
365
00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,120
and people will think,
"Oh, he can speak our language.
366
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:25,080
He has the thanaka. He's one of us."
367
00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:26,720
Yeah, sure!
368
00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,720
At the local market, Bobo and I
test if my camouflage works.
369
00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,120
And, somehow, nobody seems to notice
370
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,680
that I'm actually a lot taller
and look rather European.
371
00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:47,840
And no one seems to care that I'm wearing
cream, which men don't tend to do.
372
00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:49,520
I'm one of them now.
373
00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:02,080
Alright!
374
00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:03,520
How much is it?
375
00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:05,800
100 kyat.
376
00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:07,400
- Really?
- Yeah.
377
00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,000
Is it really just 100?
378
00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,400
Yeah, 100 kyat.
379
00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,720
100 kyat is about 0.07 euros.
380
00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,720
So that's seven cents
for a bowl of noodles.
381
00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,680
- Have a nice day.
- Okay. All the best.
382
00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:29,160
- Bye, bye!
- Yes, okay. Bye!
383
00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:35,480
The temples of Bagan
would've been perfect to explore by bike.
384
00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,400
But, instead, I'm feeling sick.
385
00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,440
I can only guess what's draining
all the energy from my body.
386
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:49,360
How much is it?
387
00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,600
- 100 kyat.
- Really?
388
00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,360
Is it really just 100?
389
00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:55,840
Yeah, 100 kyat.
390
00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,880
Can a simple meal
really knock a person out like this?
391
00:31:59,960 --> 00:32:02,520
Or is it actually a tropical disease?
392
00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:05,320
I have trouble staying on my feet,
393
00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,600
but instead of resting,
I try to keep going.
394
00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:30,520
At the hospital they gave me
all kinds of pills to numb the pain.
395
00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,160
I can't eat properly for six days,
396
00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:37,520
yet, I still cycle
almost 100 kilometers every day.
397
00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:45,480
After a week
I think I might be hallucinating:
398
00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:49,160
the path leading through the rice field
transforms into a three-lane highway.
399
00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:52,880
NAYPYIDAW
CAPITAL OF MYANMAR
400
00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:55,400
But it seems I'm not dreaming after all.
401
00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:59,400
What were they thinking with all this?
402
00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,040
I don't get it.
403
00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:04,720
I mean, there is nobody here.
404
00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,400
But what follows
is one hotel after the other.
405
00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:14,640
The three-lane highway
turns into a seven-lane highway
406
00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:16,160
but I'm all alone.
407
00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:18,280
The government claims
408
00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,560
that over one million people
live here in the capital of Myanmar.
409
00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:25,600
But there's no trace of them
and as soon as I leave the ghost town,
410
00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:27,800
I'm back on the field path.
411
00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,440
After a long week
I've more or less recovered
412
00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:39,560
and it's just before Christmas.
413
00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:44,760
I wish I could celebrate with my family,
but they're 8,000 kilometers away.
414
00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:48,680
And here in Buddhist Myanmar,
they don't even celebrate Christmas.
415
00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:50,560
Or, at least, that's what I thought.
416
00:34:20,679 --> 00:34:23,719
About 6% of the population are Christian.
417
00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:27,320
So I feel a little bit more at home
on Christmas Eve.
418
00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,880
A little more colorful, a little flashier,
419
00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:31,600
but just as beautiful.
420
00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,360
I've been on the road for six months now
421
00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,159
and I arrive in Thailand
at the start of the new year.
422
00:34:47,679 --> 00:34:51,239
After 10,000 kilometers,
I kind of know how to handle my bike.
423
00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:56,440
And looking at the traffic in Bangkok,
I no longer want to swap vehicles anymore.
424
00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:03,120
Paradise is definitely not located here.
425
00:35:03,640 --> 00:35:05,920
That's in the southern part
of the country.
426
00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:28,040
Up to this point,
the bike helped me discover
427
00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:30,600
the lesser known parts
of the countries I visited.
428
00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:32,440
But after more than six months,
429
00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:36,000
it's nice to meet some people
from my home country again.
430
00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,400
So far, I haven't taken
many breaks while traveling,
431
00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,480
but here in Thailand,
I don't touch the bike for two weeks.
432
00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:24,360
As the expiring visa is forcing me
to leave the country,
433
00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:27,400
I continue my trip to Malaysia
and hop on a ferry,
434
00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,880
which takes me to Indonesia.
435
00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:43,480
SUMATRA
INDONESIA
436
00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,400
Sumatra's jungle is one of
the most biodiverse in the world.
437
00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,240
But the question is,
how long will it stay like this?
438
00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:08,520
Big corporations are wiping out
the rain forest to plant oil palms.
439
00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:12,440
In Malaysia, a large part of the journey
was rather boring.
440
00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,960
And there wasn't much to see
in Eastern Sumatra either.
441
00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:20,600
Hoping that the west coast
has more to offer, I set off:
442
00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:22,760
all the way across the island.
443
00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:34,720
In Indonesia, most of
the international tourists go to Bali.
444
00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:39,200
But Bali is actually only one
of over 17,000 Indonesian islands.
445
00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:42,840
That means that you won't find
many tourists on the other islands.
446
00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:45,560
And when, suddenly,
a tall white man appears,
447
00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:47,560
it's got to be documented.
448
00:37:58,040 --> 00:37:59,040
Thank you.
449
00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,080
What is love?
450
00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:05,400
Baby don't hurt me…
451
00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,880
A few days later,
I've crossed Sumatra from east to west.
452
00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:15,520
And it really paid off.
453
00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,040
WEST COAST OF SUMATRA
INDONESIA
454
00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:31,800
CYRIL
VELAUX, FRANCE
455
00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:33,920
I'm Cyril from France
456
00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:38,360
and I'm cycling from Beijing to here.
457
00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:42,640
I met Cyril on the road
458
00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:45,800
and we travel together
along the west coast, going south.
459
00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,400
It's monsoon season, meaning we have
amazing weather during the day
460
00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:51,560
and right at 5:30 p.m…
461
00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:07,200
The next day,
the weather is amazing once again,
462
00:39:07,280 --> 00:39:09,640
we talk to the kids
at the side of the road,
463
00:39:09,720 --> 00:39:12,360
watch the fishermen at the Indian Ocean,
464
00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:14,040
try to swim
465
00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:15,880
and right at 5:30 p.m…
466
00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:27,680
One.
467
00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:28,760
Two.
468
00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:29,840
Three!
469
00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:34,080
The next day,
the weather is amazing once again,
470
00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:36,440
we enjoy the stunning landscape,
471
00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:39,080
jump into the river with a couple of kids
472
00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,880
and right at 5:30 p.m…
What do you think will happen?
473
00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:43,560
- Check!
- Check!
474
00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:44,640
Check!
475
00:39:54,360 --> 00:39:58,480
From Germany, I remember rain
as being something rather unpleasant.
476
00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,280
But here in Sumatra,
with 35 degrees Celsius,
477
00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:04,160
the kids show me
how much fun rain can actually be.
478
00:40:38,600 --> 00:40:43,400
It doesn't matter that the boys,
Cyril and I all speak different languages.
479
00:40:44,880 --> 00:40:47,760
Everyone understands
the international language of a smile.
480
00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:17,680
Today is Cyril's 31st birthday
481
00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:20,400
and there couldn't have been
a better party than this.
482
00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:24,400
To honor the birthday boy,
the kids even let him win.
483
00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:46,600
After a week, I'm alone once again.
484
00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:51,520
Cyril had to leave
in order to meet his brother.
485
00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:54,440
But, riding solo
is still a lot of fun in Indonesia.
486
00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:58,720
The people are open-minded
and every day holds something special.
487
00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:01,200
- Bye, bye!
- Bye!
488
00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:06,560
Besides, Indonesia is the perfect country
for bicycle-island-hopping.
489
00:42:06,640 --> 00:42:10,000
I can go from one island
to another by ferry,
490
00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:12,120
usually for only one or two euros.
491
00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:15,240
And then, I've arrived on Bali.
492
00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:19,360
Here everyone wants to have
their own unique Bali experience.
493
00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:20,840
And I'm having mine too.
494
00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:30,520
My hand is swelling up.
495
00:42:31,440 --> 00:42:36,280
And my elbow
also got a taste of the asphalt.
496
00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,760
My luggage has fallen off too, but I guess
497
00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:42,880
it's a blessing in disguise.
498
00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:46,080
A scooter driver crashed right into me,
499
00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:49,840
but apart from a couple of bruises
I'm uninjured.
500
00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:52,840
The bike has also been damaged,
501
00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:55,920
but with cable ties and a rubber band,
it's up and running again.
502
00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:12,040
Hey, mister!
503
00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:19,800
How are you?
504
00:43:19,880 --> 00:43:21,360
- Good!
- Good!
505
00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:25,280
- Where are you going?
- Where are you going?
506
00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:28,080
Germany.
507
00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:31,600
And now Flores.
508
00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:34,080
- Flores.
- Take care!
509
00:43:47,320 --> 00:43:50,400
To get from Flores to Timor,
I've taken the night ferry.
510
00:43:51,120 --> 00:43:53,840
The upper decks are way too crowded,
511
00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:56,080
so I stay in the lower deck,
close to my bike.
512
00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:03,440
I remember the first night of my journey,
when I was so scared I could hardly sleep
513
00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:06,040
and put my bike in my tent.
514
00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:12,960
Meanwhile, 12,000 kilometers from home,
I can sleep almost everywhere.
515
00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:17,120
Even on a rocky ferry,
between some dirty trucks.
516
00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:40,840
A cow.
517
00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:42,720
Oh! A cow.
518
00:44:43,200 --> 00:44:44,320
Yes.
519
00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:55,080
When I first started thinking about
this trip, over a year ago,
520
00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:58,080
I discovered this small country.
521
00:44:58,800 --> 00:45:00,640
- Hello!
- Hello!
522
00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:04,680
And… yeah…
523
00:45:06,760 --> 00:45:09,160
And now I'm here. Oh, my god!
524
00:45:09,240 --> 00:45:10,560
I don't know…
525
00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:41,520
Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002,
526
00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:44,840
making it one of the youngest countries
on our planet.
527
00:45:44,920 --> 00:45:49,640
So, far it is quite non-touristic,
due to the lack of infrastructure.
528
00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:55,600
But looking at this paradise,
I hope it stays this way.
529
00:45:57,240 --> 00:45:59,280
All-inclusive hotels and tourist buses
530
00:45:59,360 --> 00:46:03,360
should stay away from these magnificent
beaches for as long as possible.
531
00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:23,840
Daniel?
532
00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:25,040
Daniel? Dannis?
533
00:46:25,120 --> 00:46:27,200
- Dennis! Dennis!
- Dennis, yes!
534
00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:54,640
I must admit that the roads,
especially in the south, are not the best.
535
00:46:54,720 --> 00:46:57,400
Or, to be honest,
they are in terrible condition.
536
00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:01,280
But that's what makes it adventurous.
537
00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:17,240
If you should happen upon
a high-quality bridge,
538
00:47:17,320 --> 00:47:20,000
then something has to be wrong.
539
00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:49,760
The rivers are the only source
of water in many villages,
540
00:47:49,840 --> 00:47:53,400
which leads to tragic encounters
with crocodiles every year.
541
00:47:54,160 --> 00:47:58,280
This trio over here are said
to have recently eaten two people.
542
00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:02,080
And it seems I'm next on the menu.
543
00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:09,200
Holy shit!
544
00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:26,720
No problem at all.
545
00:48:32,320 --> 00:48:35,400
So the saltwater crocodiles
let me live to see another day,
546
00:48:35,480 --> 00:48:37,640
but more interesting things
are yet to come.
547
00:48:39,440 --> 00:48:43,720
My navigation app told me
there should be a main road here.
548
00:48:43,800 --> 00:48:46,840
But this doesn't look
like a main road to me.
549
00:49:26,560 --> 00:49:27,880
Snake, yes?
550
00:49:44,640 --> 00:49:46,600
Awesome! Really awesome.
551
00:49:47,160 --> 00:49:48,200
Awesome.
552
00:49:48,840 --> 00:49:50,160
- Good.
- Good.
553
00:49:50,760 --> 00:49:52,800
Tastes like…
554
00:49:54,080 --> 00:49:55,400
smoked…
555
00:49:56,760 --> 00:49:59,600
smoked trout, just a little tougher.
556
00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:02,080
Very good.
557
00:50:06,200 --> 00:50:08,120
The eldest caught a python
558
00:50:08,200 --> 00:50:12,720
and the younger boys took down
some marsupials with their slingshots.
559
00:50:12,800 --> 00:50:14,760
So-called grey cuscuses.
560
00:50:18,880 --> 00:50:21,720
It may not be
my favorite dish of the journey,
561
00:50:21,800 --> 00:50:23,680
but after a long day in the jungle,
562
00:50:23,760 --> 00:50:27,120
even a grey cuscus stew
with rice tastes alright.
563
00:50:42,560 --> 00:50:46,600
To round off my trip in Asia,
I want to go up high once again,
564
00:50:46,680 --> 00:50:48,200
as high up as possible.
565
00:50:55,320 --> 00:50:59,320
But, on a bike,
that really takes a lot of effort.
566
00:51:21,880 --> 00:51:25,040
TATAMAILAU (2,963 METERS)
TIMOR-LESTE
567
00:51:25,120 --> 00:51:28,880
I didn't know how close
the continents were situated,
568
00:51:28,960 --> 00:51:33,320
but, from Timor,
Australia is just 600 kilometers away.
569
00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:38,000
I've been on the road for ten months now,
and apart from some smaller leaps,
570
00:51:38,080 --> 00:51:40,880
I've made it to this point by bike.
571
00:51:41,800 --> 00:51:44,640
It's not my goal to cover
as many kilometers as possible,
572
00:51:44,720 --> 00:51:46,160
or to be the fastest,
573
00:51:46,240 --> 00:51:48,680
or to reach some kind of final point.
574
00:51:49,480 --> 00:51:53,640
But it still feels kind of special
to know how far I've made it.
575
00:51:57,480 --> 00:51:59,720
Is it even possible to top that?
576
00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:17,840
NORTHERN TERRITORY
AUSTRALIA
577
00:52:24,040 --> 00:52:27,400
As spectacular
as Australia may seem at first,
578
00:52:28,320 --> 00:52:33,800
it's incredibly boring when nothing,
literally nothing changes for days.
579
00:52:35,520 --> 00:52:38,040
Sometimes I don't see a village
for 200 kilometers.
580
00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:41,000
Sometimes it's even 400 kilometers.
581
00:52:42,360 --> 00:52:45,720
There are no kids
running and smiling by my side anymore.
582
00:52:46,200 --> 00:52:48,320
There is nobody here.
583
00:52:48,920 --> 00:52:52,080
On the mountain in Timor,
I thought I was the king of the world,
584
00:52:52,160 --> 00:52:56,400
but here in the Outback,
the harsh reality catches up with me.
585
00:52:59,160 --> 00:53:00,280
Beans…
586
00:53:01,520 --> 00:53:02,880
and toast.
587
00:53:08,920 --> 00:53:11,280
Every day is the same: Getting up,
588
00:53:11,920 --> 00:53:13,640
searching for motivation,
589
00:53:13,720 --> 00:53:16,480
not being able to find any,
but setting off anyway,
590
00:53:17,240 --> 00:53:19,480
riding till the sun goes down,
591
00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:21,200
sleeping
592
00:53:22,560 --> 00:53:25,080
and the next day
it's the same game all over again.
593
00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:29,880
It's been one whole week now
and the next two weeks…
594
00:53:33,120 --> 00:53:34,800
will probably be the same.
595
00:53:43,680 --> 00:53:44,720
Sweet.
596
00:53:50,080 --> 00:53:52,120
I thought Australia was this small island
597
00:53:52,200 --> 00:53:54,360
at the bottom right corner
of the world map.
598
00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:56,760
And that after all those kilometers,
599
00:53:56,840 --> 00:53:59,240
cycling from Darwin to Cairns
would be easy.
600
00:54:00,320 --> 00:54:04,000
But now I realize that 2,600 kilometers
601
00:54:04,080 --> 00:54:06,960
are still 2,600 kilometers,
602
00:54:07,040 --> 00:54:09,400
and this on a goddamn bike.
603
00:54:10,280 --> 00:54:12,400
And as if the loneliness wasn't enough,
604
00:54:12,480 --> 00:54:16,960
my dynamo charger died,
meaning I can't even listen to music.
605
00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:20,520
I wouldn't have
a phone signal here anyway.
606
00:54:21,240 --> 00:54:24,080
Now it's just the Outback and me.
607
00:54:29,640 --> 00:54:32,640
The fly problem is out of control.
608
00:54:49,160 --> 00:54:53,320
The highlights of 2,000 kilometers
of cycling can be quickly summarized:
609
00:54:54,720 --> 00:54:58,400
One day, I have to cross
some saltwater crocodiles' living room.
610
00:54:58,480 --> 00:55:00,240
So, actually, nothing new…
611
00:55:01,280 --> 00:55:04,600
Another day,
I cross the border of two states.
612
00:55:05,720 --> 00:55:07,680
Thereby, nothing changes.
613
00:55:07,760 --> 00:55:10,240
Except that I must wear
a helmet from now on.
614
00:55:10,320 --> 00:55:13,880
250 Australian dollars,
if they catch me without one.
615
00:55:18,240 --> 00:55:20,320
I have to go days without a shower.
616
00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:22,760
When my head itches… it itches.
617
00:55:23,520 --> 00:55:27,120
And in the few villages out here,
there's really nothing to do.
618
00:55:27,200 --> 00:55:30,240
But at least I can stock up.
619
00:55:30,320 --> 00:55:32,680
More beans and more toast.
620
00:55:33,200 --> 00:55:35,800
Everything else is too expensive out here.
621
00:55:38,680 --> 00:55:40,840
The joy of travelling is gone,
622
00:55:40,920 --> 00:55:44,600
but if I stop now
I'll never reach the east coast.
623
00:55:45,680 --> 00:55:47,560
So I just keep on going.
624
00:55:48,320 --> 00:55:51,960
When even the sun disappears
and nothing makes sense anymore,
625
00:55:52,040 --> 00:55:53,960
I suddenly have an epiphany.
626
00:55:55,240 --> 00:55:57,520
Stop, Ferris!
627
00:55:58,280 --> 00:56:01,400
Ferris MC? No, it's Ferris Gump, man!
628
00:56:02,080 --> 00:56:03,920
- How are you, mate?
- How are you, man?
629
00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:05,200
- What's your name?
- Dennis!
630
00:56:05,280 --> 00:56:06,440
Dennis, nice to meet you!
631
00:56:06,520 --> 00:56:08,680
From Germany. And you are Ferris, I guess?
632
00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:11,160
- Yeah, Ferris from Australia.
- Oh, yeah.
633
00:56:14,040 --> 00:56:16,760
A crazy man running across Australia.
634
00:56:16,840 --> 00:56:19,160
- Wow!
- I'm the first Aussie
635
00:56:19,880 --> 00:56:23,440
to run across Australia, on my own.
Solo. By myself.
636
00:56:23,520 --> 00:56:25,440
It's not easy. It's fucking tough.
637
00:56:25,520 --> 00:56:29,320
I'm doing like 50 to 75 kilometers a day.
638
00:56:29,400 --> 00:56:30,680
Okay…
639
00:56:30,760 --> 00:56:31,920
What? How much?
640
00:56:32,000 --> 00:56:33,520
75 kilometers!
641
00:56:33,600 --> 00:56:37,360
- And how many kilos is that?
- About 50. 50 kilos.
642
00:56:40,440 --> 00:56:43,160
It's good. Once you get
the balance point like here…
643
00:56:44,800 --> 00:56:46,200
then you can just like…
644
00:56:47,240 --> 00:56:49,320
- So you're going to Darwin?
- Yeah.
645
00:56:50,720 --> 00:56:51,960
Have fun!
646
00:56:54,440 --> 00:56:56,920
- Have a nice run!
- Have fun on the east coast.
647
00:56:57,000 --> 00:56:58,680
Thank you. I will.
648
00:57:01,040 --> 00:57:03,120
Run Ferris!
649
00:57:10,520 --> 00:57:13,400
Ferris keeps on running
towards Darwin for charity,
650
00:57:13,480 --> 00:57:16,960
and I leave the Outback
after three incredibly long weeks.
651
00:57:17,040 --> 00:57:18,040
Finally!
652
00:57:26,000 --> 00:57:27,280
Yes!
653
00:57:36,600 --> 00:57:39,720
This has to be the Australia
people have been so hyped about.
654
00:57:39,800 --> 00:57:43,280
I'm finally able to afford
other things than beans and toast,
655
00:57:43,360 --> 00:57:47,040
and I also find people
whom I can stay with for a couple of days.
656
00:57:47,120 --> 00:57:49,280
Washing clothes, personal hygiene,
657
00:57:49,360 --> 00:57:51,040
bike cleaning…
658
00:57:51,120 --> 00:57:52,280
service.
659
00:57:52,360 --> 00:57:53,360
Cheers, buddy!
660
00:57:57,320 --> 00:57:59,880
What happens
in the party capital of Cairns…
661
00:57:59,960 --> 00:58:02,200
I can't really remember.
662
00:58:03,240 --> 00:58:08,120
What I can remember is the guy
with the guitar on the beach in Thailand.
663
00:58:08,200 --> 00:58:10,840
His name was Willi
and he learned to play the guitar
664
00:58:10,920 --> 00:58:12,760
while riding a skateboard.
665
00:58:13,360 --> 00:58:17,240
Meanwhile, Willi emigrated to Australia,
but we stayed in touch
666
00:58:17,320 --> 00:58:19,800
and will meet again after five months.
667
00:58:34,560 --> 00:58:37,760
Australia is starting to be fun.
668
00:58:37,840 --> 00:58:41,280
At least,
that's what I thought for a moment.
669
00:58:53,080 --> 00:58:56,120
By now I'm on the road
for exactly one year,
670
00:58:56,200 --> 00:58:58,520
but there's no party to celebrate.
671
00:58:58,600 --> 00:59:01,720
Instead, there's the Australian winter.
672
00:59:03,000 --> 00:59:05,840
Wet and cold weather
is already annoying as hell,
673
00:59:05,920 --> 00:59:08,560
but what's 1,000 times worse
is the headwind.
674
00:59:09,480 --> 00:59:13,520
Every damn day I have to fight
against the invisible enemy.
675
00:59:15,920 --> 00:59:18,920
Gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour.
676
00:59:19,000 --> 00:59:22,560
It's twice as exhausting
and I'm only half as fast.
677
00:59:23,200 --> 00:59:26,800
I could already be much further,
but I'm not.
678
00:59:28,160 --> 00:59:30,520
The situation is driving me crazy!
679
00:59:38,160 --> 00:59:40,480
Okay, so this actually always worked:
680
00:59:40,560 --> 00:59:43,160
Just riding at night or in the evening,
681
00:59:43,240 --> 00:59:45,240
because the wind would die down then.
682
00:59:45,320 --> 00:59:49,760
But now, even at night,
it's coming from there and going there.
683
00:59:49,840 --> 00:59:52,240
I'm coming from there
and have to go there.
684
00:59:52,320 --> 00:59:54,400
It's very bad. Very, very bad.
685
00:59:59,120 --> 01:00:03,080
Physically, and especially mentally,
the wind is draining all my energy.
686
01:00:03,720 --> 01:00:05,240
But, to lift me up,
687
01:00:05,320 --> 01:00:09,280
the Australians placed some kind
of cyclist poetry at the side of the road.
688
01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:20,600
"Survive this drive."
689
01:00:21,400 --> 01:00:23,280
"Take a break, stay alive."
690
01:00:25,760 --> 01:00:28,000
The weather is great as well.
691
01:00:31,680 --> 01:00:34,040
Nice. It's nice over here.
692
01:00:34,120 --> 01:00:35,120
Just nice.
693
01:00:37,560 --> 01:00:40,600
And… It's happened. 20,000 kilometers.
694
01:00:40,680 --> 01:00:45,520
20,000 kilometers
doesn't help me… at all!
695
01:00:48,040 --> 01:00:51,560
In the end, it's only the bottom line
on the signs that keeps me going.
696
01:00:52,880 --> 01:00:55,720
Do I regret anything from my tour so far?
697
01:00:55,800 --> 01:00:57,000
I do indeed.
698
01:00:59,200 --> 01:01:02,240
But after more than
5,000 kilometers in Australia,
699
01:01:02,320 --> 01:01:05,320
I'm finally where I wanted to be.
700
01:01:07,360 --> 01:01:11,240
SYDNEY
AUSTRALIA
701
01:01:15,160 --> 01:01:19,360
In the first weeks of my journey,
I met an Australian.
702
01:01:19,440 --> 01:01:22,520
Back then, he told me
he'd welcome me in Sydney,
703
01:01:22,600 --> 01:01:24,720
if I really made it that far.
704
01:01:25,680 --> 01:01:27,600
He kept his word.
705
01:01:28,480 --> 01:01:30,000
- How are you, man?
- Good!
706
01:01:34,160 --> 01:01:36,080
Gelnhausen to Sydney…
707
01:01:37,960 --> 01:01:39,760
in twelve and a half months.
708
01:01:44,280 --> 01:01:48,680
In Australia you are not allowed
to drink alcohol in public places,
709
01:01:48,760 --> 01:01:50,920
so we took the alcohol-free,
710
01:01:51,000 --> 01:01:54,960
3.99, sparkling… Lambrusco.
711
01:01:57,280 --> 01:01:58,520
Nanny state!
712
01:02:01,800 --> 01:02:04,880
From Australia
I want to take a plane to the U.S.
713
01:02:04,960 --> 01:02:07,080
But as I learned a couple of months ago,
714
01:02:07,160 --> 01:02:10,080
the U.S. and Iranian governments
don't really like each other.
715
01:02:10,160 --> 01:02:11,720
And since I've been to Iran,
716
01:02:11,800 --> 01:02:14,480
I can no longer get
an electronic visa for the U.S.
717
01:02:15,080 --> 01:02:17,520
Instead, I have to apply for a real visa
718
01:02:17,600 --> 01:02:21,120
which costs time, nerves, and 160 dollars.
719
01:02:21,200 --> 01:02:22,840
And, for the safety of the nation,
720
01:02:22,920 --> 01:02:25,080
I even have to be interviewed
at the embassy.
721
01:02:26,120 --> 01:02:27,800
There is the tower.
722
01:02:28,600 --> 01:02:30,800
Let's see what they want to know.
723
01:02:31,400 --> 01:02:33,960
U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
724
01:02:34,560 --> 01:02:35,760
Hello, Mr. Kailing,
725
01:02:36,560 --> 01:02:38,440
I see that you're applying for a visa
726
01:02:38,520 --> 01:02:41,760
and you have recently been to Iran.
Am I correct?
727
01:02:41,840 --> 01:02:43,560
- Yes.
- Okay.
728
01:02:44,040 --> 01:02:45,560
I am straight-forward with you:
729
01:02:45,640 --> 01:02:47,280
Are you a terrorist?
730
01:02:48,160 --> 01:02:50,800
- No.
- Do you plan on becoming a terrorist?
731
01:02:50,880 --> 01:02:52,320
No…
732
01:02:52,400 --> 01:02:55,760
Well, sounds fair enough.
We're going to issue a visa.
733
01:02:55,840 --> 01:02:59,800
Get ready to receive your visa
within five days by mail.
734
01:02:59,880 --> 01:03:00,960
Have nice day.
735
01:03:04,120 --> 01:03:07,160
With the visa
I'm allowed to enter the USA,
736
01:03:07,240 --> 01:03:10,640
where I meet a visitor from Germany.
737
01:03:12,120 --> 01:03:14,600
I've arrived in Seattle
738
01:03:14,680 --> 01:03:17,120
and I'm not alone anymore. Finally!
739
01:03:17,200 --> 01:03:18,640
Because Robert is with me.
740
01:03:18,720 --> 01:03:21,280
- Robert, please say "hello".
- Hello.
741
01:03:21,360 --> 01:03:23,520
I say we empty this can,
742
01:03:23,600 --> 01:03:26,160
check out Seattle a bit and then…
743
01:03:27,280 --> 01:03:28,760
Where are we going then?
744
01:03:28,840 --> 01:03:30,080
South.
745
01:03:30,800 --> 01:03:31,800
Okay.
746
01:03:31,880 --> 01:03:36,880
It's logical:
If you cycle downwards, it's easier.
747
01:03:54,120 --> 01:03:56,760
Robert is my old roommate
from my Berlin days.
748
01:03:56,840 --> 01:04:00,320
He wanted to ride the west coast with me
and drink some beers.
749
01:04:00,400 --> 01:04:01,440
- Cheers!
- Cheers!
750
01:04:02,080 --> 01:04:04,840
And do whatever it is you do
when you're in the U.S.
751
01:04:04,920 --> 01:04:07,120
I said: Okay!
752
01:04:14,600 --> 01:04:17,400
We just bought a growler.
753
01:04:28,320 --> 01:04:29,520
Look! It's a huge beer!
754
01:04:36,240 --> 01:04:39,200
Traveling together
has a totally new dynamic.
755
01:04:39,280 --> 01:04:42,280
You fool around a lot more,
drink a lot more beer,
756
01:04:42,360 --> 01:04:44,000
and always have somebody to talk to.
757
01:04:45,440 --> 01:04:48,400
In Robert, I found someone
758
01:04:48,480 --> 01:04:52,360
with whom I can have
extremely deep conversations.
759
01:04:54,320 --> 01:04:55,640
It's nice here.
760
01:04:56,920 --> 01:04:58,600
Yeah, it's nice.
761
01:05:00,640 --> 01:05:01,640
Okay.
762
01:05:27,680 --> 01:05:29,840
I can't drink any more beer.
763
01:05:32,160 --> 01:05:34,000
- Thank you.
- Thank you very much.
764
01:05:34,080 --> 01:05:35,640
We got some free stickers.
765
01:05:35,720 --> 01:05:39,480
It's always the same.
I have to pay and Robert drinks the beer.
766
01:05:39,560 --> 01:05:42,000
Yes, that's how it's got to be.
767
01:05:52,440 --> 01:05:53,600
Shit.
768
01:05:57,440 --> 01:06:00,800
- Can you try? Have you still got money?
- I think so.
769
01:06:07,840 --> 01:06:09,840
"Your card has expired."
770
01:06:13,280 --> 01:06:14,640
So, what do we do now?
771
01:06:17,920 --> 01:06:20,720
What about the drug business?
772
01:06:21,520 --> 01:06:24,640
Yeah, let's go into the drug business.
773
01:06:33,000 --> 01:06:35,600
- Should we declare these as "drugs"?
- No.
774
01:06:36,800 --> 01:06:38,840
Yeah… So, what now?
775
01:06:39,640 --> 01:06:43,840
We're talking about medicine
for people who have headaches
776
01:06:43,920 --> 01:06:47,560
and for those who want
to relax after work.
777
01:06:47,640 --> 01:06:50,120
So we thought,
778
01:06:50,720 --> 01:06:53,760
why not do something good
with a little "snip, snip".
779
01:06:53,840 --> 01:06:56,280
In Germany it's not legal…
780
01:06:58,960 --> 01:07:01,560
and I'm wondering
what it's all about, because…
781
01:07:02,480 --> 01:07:04,040
it's a plant.
782
01:07:10,920 --> 01:07:12,200
Throw it in.
783
01:07:13,120 --> 01:07:15,600
There. Now you can hang it up.
784
01:07:16,320 --> 01:07:20,160
For one week we work
in the so-called "Emerald Triangle".
785
01:07:20,240 --> 01:07:22,080
In this region of Northern California
786
01:07:22,160 --> 01:07:25,800
cannabis has been cultivated
in a big way since the 60's.
787
01:07:26,320 --> 01:07:29,240
The global discussions
about the legalization of this plant
788
01:07:29,320 --> 01:07:31,560
will probably continue for a long time.
789
01:07:31,640 --> 01:07:35,360
But as long as the farmers
are forced to work outside the system,
790
01:07:35,440 --> 01:07:37,760
the profit is, of course, much higher.
791
01:07:37,840 --> 01:07:40,720
So there is enough left
for some cycling harvest hands.
792
01:07:40,800 --> 01:07:43,360
"It's all about the Benjamins, baby!"
793
01:07:48,320 --> 01:07:51,400
You somehow have to finance
a bike tour like this.
794
01:07:51,480 --> 01:07:52,840
Now you know how.
795
01:07:59,600 --> 01:08:03,320
During our visit,
the plant is still illegal in California.
796
01:08:03,400 --> 01:08:06,040
But only a few weeks later,
the population shows us
797
01:08:06,120 --> 01:08:08,760
that we apparently did something useful:
798
01:08:09,320 --> 01:08:13,760
A referendum determines the legalization
of cannabis in the state of California.
799
01:08:13,840 --> 01:08:15,480
It's so beautiful!
800
01:08:22,840 --> 01:08:24,760
We just got into a bike race
801
01:08:25,359 --> 01:08:27,600
and there's a food station over there.
802
01:08:28,680 --> 01:08:30,200
We'll empty the whole thing out.
803
01:08:36,920 --> 01:08:38,240
Get out of here!
804
01:08:38,319 --> 01:08:40,319
Go. No goddamn number.
805
01:08:40,399 --> 01:08:42,640
Get out of here. That way. Oh, sorry.
806
01:08:44,439 --> 01:08:50,800
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
CALIFORNIA, USA
807
01:08:52,040 --> 01:08:55,520
We got kicked out
of the Best Buddies Challenge,
808
01:08:55,600 --> 01:08:59,080
but our personal
Best Buddies Challenge continues.
809
01:08:59,160 --> 01:09:02,760
Look, there is a tree
coming out of the tree.
810
01:09:02,840 --> 01:09:04,080
Sheesh!
811
01:09:04,160 --> 01:09:07,000
Of course,
most of the time it's great fun,
812
01:09:07,080 --> 01:09:10,439
but by now we've been traveling together
for several weeks,
813
01:09:10,520 --> 01:09:12,760
24 hours a day.
814
01:09:13,399 --> 01:09:16,080
So, not every joke works as planned.
815
01:09:16,160 --> 01:09:18,920
He's a wimp, that's why he's pushing.
816
01:09:19,000 --> 01:09:20,200
Shut the fuck up.
817
01:09:23,359 --> 01:09:24,920
Dennis, you're washing up again?
818
01:09:25,000 --> 01:09:27,880
It's always the same.
Robert isn't doing shit.
819
01:09:28,600 --> 01:09:32,319
You're doing a great job
as a washing up specialist.
820
01:09:32,399 --> 01:09:37,560
When you have a flat, it's nice if there
is no fucking Dennis Kailing around.
821
01:09:38,399 --> 01:09:41,000
Because he knows
how to motivate his employees.
822
01:09:41,080 --> 01:09:44,240
Motivate? He knows how to annoy
everybody with his trash talk.
823
01:09:44,319 --> 01:09:46,600
Turn off the fucking camera.
824
01:09:52,160 --> 01:09:56,400
Getting along is sometimes easy,
sometimes difficult.
825
01:09:56,480 --> 01:09:58,400
Same goes for route planning.
826
01:09:59,120 --> 01:10:00,920
Even when I was traveling alone,
827
01:10:01,000 --> 01:10:05,160
at times I couldn't decide for days
where to go next.
828
01:10:05,640 --> 01:10:07,440
But now there are two opinions
829
01:10:07,520 --> 01:10:10,600
and in the south-west of the U.S.
there are endless options.
830
01:10:12,320 --> 01:10:14,400
So it's really hard to find common ground.
831
01:10:15,000 --> 01:10:17,480
San Fran, Los Angeles…
832
01:10:17,560 --> 01:10:19,480
Or San Fran, Yosemite…
833
01:10:19,560 --> 01:10:20,560
Las Vegas…
834
01:10:20,640 --> 01:10:21,640
Grand Canyon…
835
01:10:21,680 --> 01:10:22,560
New York.
836
01:10:22,640 --> 01:10:23,720
Monument Valley…
837
01:10:23,800 --> 01:10:24,920
Whatever…
838
01:10:30,280 --> 01:10:31,720
Damn Los Angeles…
839
01:10:32,520 --> 01:10:35,600
- Yeah, if you had…
- No, if I had 200 euro more…
840
01:10:36,200 --> 01:10:38,880
- No, if you hadn't booked your flight…
- Yeah, but…
841
01:10:38,960 --> 01:10:41,720
- Shoulda, coulda, woulda!
- Exactly.
842
01:10:50,920 --> 01:10:52,200
Well…
843
01:10:57,480 --> 01:11:00,640
- Now there is actually just one solution.
- What do you mean?
844
01:11:03,360 --> 01:11:04,400
Cheers, Robert.
845
01:11:06,080 --> 01:11:07,640
Whatever… What can you do?
846
01:11:07,720 --> 01:11:09,080
You already know:
847
01:11:09,160 --> 01:11:11,480
If you ride downwards, it's easier.
848
01:11:26,000 --> 01:11:28,680
Congratulations to us. We did it.
849
01:11:28,760 --> 01:11:31,280
We've reached the destination
of our dreams:
850
01:11:31,360 --> 01:11:32,720
Hollywood.
851
01:11:38,400 --> 01:11:43,800
Today we're going to a party.
To a bicycle ride party.
852
01:11:44,400 --> 01:11:46,600
And the theme is…
853
01:11:48,520 --> 01:11:52,480
Logan, what's the theme of the party?
854
01:11:52,560 --> 01:11:53,760
It's Grandma Raver.
855
01:11:53,840 --> 01:11:57,040
- Grandma Raver.
- Grandma Raver. Raver Grandma.
856
01:12:00,000 --> 01:12:01,000
Good?
857
01:12:03,200 --> 01:12:04,640
I'm ready for the rave!
858
01:12:35,720 --> 01:12:39,040
If we were here right now
as the cops came along, me and you,
859
01:12:39,120 --> 01:12:40,720
we'd be fucked!
860
01:12:40,800 --> 01:12:43,720
But we are with 400 people right now
861
01:12:43,800 --> 01:12:46,880
in a bicycle rave
drinking out on the streets,
862
01:12:46,960 --> 01:12:48,640
and they can't do shit.
863
01:12:51,000 --> 01:12:54,640
Of course, it's a party,
but it's mainly a wake-up call.
864
01:12:54,720 --> 01:12:58,400
Imagine a city
where people only used bikes:
865
01:12:58,480 --> 01:13:01,280
clean air,
no traffic jams, a healthy life,
866
01:13:01,360 --> 01:13:04,320
some drops of sweat on the forehead
and a lot of smiling faces.
867
01:13:04,920 --> 01:13:07,840
Everyone can do something good
for themselves and their city.
868
01:13:07,920 --> 01:13:11,880
But instead, people take their SUVs
to go to the McDonald's around the corner.
869
01:13:13,160 --> 01:13:14,560
The sooner the individual
870
01:13:14,640 --> 01:13:17,480
stops putting personal comfort
above the well-being of all,
871
01:13:17,560 --> 01:13:20,680
the faster we'll have cities
that don't belong to cars,
872
01:13:20,760 --> 01:13:22,120
but to us, the people.
873
01:13:29,000 --> 01:13:30,680
You took the picture?
874
01:13:30,760 --> 01:13:32,120
Epic, dude. Epic!
875
01:13:34,320 --> 01:13:35,720
One more, come on!
876
01:13:37,760 --> 01:13:39,360
Did it? Sick.
877
01:13:40,800 --> 01:13:43,040
Two photos are better than one photo,
878
01:13:43,120 --> 01:13:46,000
because that's double the likes,
so then I can…
879
01:13:46,880 --> 01:13:48,520
be an influencer.
880
01:13:48,600 --> 01:13:49,680
Sick.
881
01:13:51,040 --> 01:13:54,080
There are small
beer-parking-areas everywhere.
882
01:14:20,680 --> 01:14:24,840
I guess I really can't say if it's better
to travel alone or together.
883
01:14:25,440 --> 01:14:29,680
Of course, it depends on where
and with whom you're traveling.
884
01:14:30,360 --> 01:14:33,800
But would it have been as cool
to travel the U.S. alone?
885
01:14:35,120 --> 01:14:36,480
No way.
886
01:14:41,280 --> 01:14:45,600
After almost three months together,
Robert returns to Germany.
887
01:14:46,800 --> 01:14:48,760
I continue going south.
888
01:14:49,240 --> 01:14:50,480
But, from now on,
889
01:14:51,160 --> 01:14:52,440
I'll be on my own again.
890
01:15:16,160 --> 01:15:17,880
No slipstream,
891
01:15:17,960 --> 01:15:20,240
no fooling around,
892
01:15:20,320 --> 01:15:21,840
nobody to talk to.
893
01:15:24,400 --> 01:15:26,400
But, also, no compromises.
894
01:15:27,240 --> 01:15:30,640
Now, I can once again
travel 100% at my own rhythm.
895
01:15:30,720 --> 01:15:31,720
MEXICO
896
01:15:31,800 --> 01:15:34,400
And the rhythm… is good.
897
01:15:51,400 --> 01:15:53,800
All you need is grasshoppers.
898
01:15:53,880 --> 01:15:55,840
With these you can ride really fast.
899
01:15:57,520 --> 01:15:59,920
…given that you can ride.
900
01:16:00,000 --> 01:16:02,800
In Mexico,
I spend half of my time repairing.
901
01:16:02,880 --> 01:16:04,440
Number 15.
902
01:16:04,520 --> 01:16:06,640
One flat follows the next,
903
01:16:06,720 --> 01:16:09,440
and I need to replace
the expendable parts.
904
01:16:10,120 --> 01:16:15,080
So, after 28,000 kilometers, my bike gets
a new crankset and a new cassette.
905
01:16:15,600 --> 01:16:18,840
And without brakes,
it doesn't work as well.
906
01:16:18,920 --> 01:16:20,080
Bastards!
907
01:16:20,160 --> 01:16:24,920
But what's great about bicycles is that
you can repair everything pretty easily.
908
01:16:25,400 --> 01:16:27,320
And as soon as one problem is solved,
909
01:16:27,400 --> 01:16:29,040
the next one appears.
910
01:16:29,120 --> 01:16:31,400
But in Mexico you can find everything,
911
01:16:31,480 --> 01:16:33,960
and with every repair
I get better, of course.
912
01:16:36,720 --> 01:16:38,080
And that's not all:
913
01:16:38,160 --> 01:16:40,920
after a few weeks
I'm already mastering the language.
914
01:16:41,400 --> 01:16:44,760
I've already learned some Spanish:
915
01:16:45,840 --> 01:16:47,760
Two beers, please.
916
01:16:53,000 --> 01:16:57,760
VILLAHERMOSA
TABASCO, MEXICO
917
01:16:59,600 --> 01:17:01,720
I've been on the road
for a year and a half,
918
01:17:01,800 --> 01:17:06,000
and a Mexican family has invited me
to celebrate to New Year's Eve with them.
919
01:17:06,080 --> 01:17:10,000
They want to show me how they kick off
the new year in the state of Tabasco.
920
01:17:16,960 --> 01:17:19,920
This is how the sins of the past year
are eliminated.
921
01:17:21,440 --> 01:17:23,600
Just to be safe, we also hit a piñata.
922
01:17:23,680 --> 01:17:25,680
That's how you do it in Mexico.
923
01:17:26,840 --> 01:17:28,320
What is this?
924
01:17:31,960 --> 01:17:34,640
And in order to make
the next year a great one,
925
01:17:34,720 --> 01:17:37,400
we send our wishes all the way up.
926
01:17:37,880 --> 01:17:40,840
Let go, but don't let go,
as it will fall down on me.
927
01:17:42,440 --> 01:17:43,800
Let it go!
928
01:18:13,080 --> 01:18:17,120
PALENQUE
MEXICO
929
01:18:51,280 --> 01:18:56,400
Through Mayan territory, I leave Mexico,
and cross Guatemala to reach Belize.
930
01:18:58,120 --> 01:19:01,960
A young Maya boy explains to me
how they grow their fruit.
931
01:19:04,400 --> 01:19:05,520
Come over here.
932
01:19:08,680 --> 01:19:12,440
The banana is nice.
933
01:19:13,000 --> 01:19:16,760
And the tree do the banana.
934
01:19:19,640 --> 01:19:22,000
He is like a baby, true?
935
01:19:22,080 --> 01:19:26,400
That… grows up and up and up.
936
01:19:26,480 --> 01:19:29,120
In the tree. Like a baby.
937
01:19:30,000 --> 01:19:33,160
Because the baby is really nice.
938
01:19:34,040 --> 01:19:35,080
Okay?
939
01:19:37,800 --> 01:19:39,800
With new knowledge about banana farming,
940
01:19:39,880 --> 01:19:43,440
I want to head back to Guatemala
from the south of Belize.
941
01:19:43,520 --> 01:19:46,080
There's no official border checkpoint,
942
01:19:46,160 --> 01:19:49,400
but I found a small street
on Google Earth.
943
01:19:49,880 --> 01:19:52,280
The shady soldiers let me pass,
944
01:19:52,360 --> 01:19:54,680
but they don't have an entry stamp.
945
01:19:55,400 --> 01:19:58,760
I cross some backyards,
pay one quetzal for the toll,
946
01:19:58,840 --> 01:20:01,120
and I'm suddenly back in Guatemala.
947
01:20:01,760 --> 01:20:04,720
For three days I'm an illegal immigrant
948
01:20:04,800 --> 01:20:07,720
until I'm able to get myself
an entry stamp.
949
01:20:07,800 --> 01:20:09,200
- Buenos días.
- Buenos días.
950
01:20:09,280 --> 01:20:11,080
The border official explains to me
951
01:20:11,160 --> 01:20:13,800
what the original purpose
of the route I'd taken was.
952
01:20:13,880 --> 01:20:16,800
Only drug smugglers cross from there.
953
01:20:17,880 --> 01:20:19,800
Only drug smugglers.
954
01:20:19,880 --> 01:20:21,520
Narcotráfico.
955
01:20:23,040 --> 01:20:26,640
So I took the drug trafficking route
to get back to Guatemala,
956
01:20:26,720 --> 01:20:28,760
and there's no time to catch my breath.
957
01:20:29,320 --> 01:20:33,480
Next up is El Salvador, considered one of
the most dangerous countries in the world.
958
01:20:34,120 --> 01:20:36,160
Before crossing the border I meet Jhony.
959
01:20:36,240 --> 01:20:39,240
He was also an illegal immigrant,
just like me.
960
01:20:39,320 --> 01:20:43,120
However, not for three days in Guatemala,
but eight years in the U.S.
961
01:20:43,840 --> 01:20:46,560
He has some final tips
before I cross the border:
962
01:20:47,960 --> 01:20:50,400
So now I want to go to El Salvador.
963
01:20:51,320 --> 01:20:53,120
- You want to go to El Salvador?
- Yes.
964
01:20:53,200 --> 01:20:55,240
- You should be careful.
- Why?
965
01:20:55,320 --> 01:20:58,000
I've never been there, but people say
966
01:20:58,080 --> 01:21:00,520
that they kill people
like they kill chickens.
967
01:21:01,280 --> 01:21:04,680
If you have like 20 dollars,
968
01:21:05,440 --> 01:21:08,200
and they really need money,
they kill you for 20 dollars.
969
01:21:08,280 --> 01:21:09,880
- 20 dollars?
- 20 dollars.
970
01:21:10,480 --> 01:21:13,520
- If you have…
- I think I'm worth more.
971
01:21:15,880 --> 01:21:18,800
So I actually have no chance
to get through.
972
01:21:18,880 --> 01:21:19,880
Maybe.
973
01:21:23,800 --> 01:21:26,480
- El Salvador is dangerous.
- Yeah.
974
01:21:28,000 --> 01:21:31,720
I will just go and… pray.
975
01:21:34,920 --> 01:21:39,200
El Salvador has one
of the highest crime rates in the world.
976
01:21:39,280 --> 01:21:43,080
The number of fatalities due to
violent crimes has more than doubled.
977
01:21:43,160 --> 01:21:45,680
Violent crimes using firearms
or thrusting weapons,
978
01:21:45,760 --> 01:21:49,280
armed robberies, murders and rapes,
979
01:21:49,360 --> 01:21:52,560
kidnappings
and the blackmailing of citizens,
980
01:21:52,640 --> 01:21:54,720
assaults with car bombs…
981
01:21:54,800 --> 01:21:58,240
Single travelers
should be extremely cautious.
982
01:21:59,000 --> 01:22:02,360
These safety precautions from
the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
983
01:22:02,440 --> 01:22:04,320
imply that I won't make it out alive.
984
01:22:04,400 --> 01:22:07,000
Especially not on an unprotected bike.
985
01:22:10,040 --> 01:22:12,240
At the beach everything seems normal.
986
01:22:12,320 --> 01:22:15,280
People are relaxing,
the Pacific Ocean is calm.
987
01:22:16,160 --> 01:22:20,400
But then I realize
what Jhony was trying to tell me.
988
01:22:29,920 --> 01:22:31,440
I see firearms everywhere.
989
01:22:31,520 --> 01:22:34,920
Every super market, every gas station
and every beverage truck
990
01:22:35,000 --> 01:22:37,920
is protected with pump guns
or even with machine guns.
991
01:22:38,520 --> 01:22:41,240
Every small store
is protected by steel grids.
992
01:22:41,320 --> 01:22:43,480
The risk of an armed robbery
993
01:22:43,560 --> 01:22:46,960
by one of the ruthless gangs
who roam El Salvador is just too high.
994
01:22:51,600 --> 01:22:53,920
Subway is too expensive
for most people here.
995
01:22:54,000 --> 01:22:56,040
Actually, for my travel budget as well,
996
01:22:56,120 --> 01:22:58,720
but today I want to be part
of high society.
997
01:22:59,680 --> 01:23:02,120
Part of it is
that I'm protected by a pump-gun.
998
01:23:03,560 --> 01:23:08,520
At the same time, children
try to sell sweets in the parking lot
999
01:23:08,600 --> 01:23:11,120
in order to make
a few dollars for some food.
1000
01:23:24,320 --> 01:23:26,600
In the cities I try to avoid stopping
1001
01:23:26,680 --> 01:23:29,800
and at night I stay in some shady motels.
1002
01:23:33,760 --> 01:23:36,720
I could go to one
of the most dangerous cities in the world,
1003
01:23:36,800 --> 01:23:40,040
but instead I go to
one of the most dangerous countries.
1004
01:23:46,440 --> 01:23:49,800
I hear "gringo" shouts and see children
begging in south Honduras.
1005
01:23:49,880 --> 01:23:53,880
And things don't seem to be any better
in the north of Nicaragua.
1006
01:23:53,960 --> 01:23:58,080
One guy is waving a machete,
another one wants to beat me up.
1007
01:23:58,160 --> 01:24:00,560
Some people just don't want me to be here.
1008
01:24:02,160 --> 01:24:04,360
There must be nicer places
in this country,
1009
01:24:04,440 --> 01:24:07,840
but, on my route,
I don't have many good experiences.
1010
01:24:07,920 --> 01:24:10,080
And, unfortunately, I'm not the only one.
1011
01:24:10,160 --> 01:24:11,920
- Hi!
- Hi!
1012
01:24:12,000 --> 01:24:13,840
- How are you?
- I'm alright.
1013
01:24:14,400 --> 01:24:15,640
Who are you?
1014
01:24:15,720 --> 01:24:17,720
I'm Jarkko. I'm from Finland.
1015
01:24:17,800 --> 01:24:21,400
I'm actually living the last 21 years
in Austria, in Salzburg.
1016
01:24:21,480 --> 01:24:23,560
So you speak a little bit of German.
1017
01:24:23,640 --> 01:24:26,400
Yeah, it's like Austrian German.
1018
01:24:27,600 --> 01:24:29,920
So you like Viennese Schnitzel?
1019
01:24:30,000 --> 01:24:32,320
Well, it's actually my job to do it.
1020
01:24:32,400 --> 01:24:34,240
- So, you're a chef?
- Yeah, I'm a chef.
1021
01:24:35,240 --> 01:24:38,320
Jarkko has already been in Nicaragua
for a couple of days
1022
01:24:38,400 --> 01:24:40,600
and can give me some tips on what to do
1023
01:24:40,680 --> 01:24:43,280
and, especially, on what not to do.
1024
01:24:43,360 --> 01:24:49,400
When you go on smaller roads,
kids might throw stones at you
1025
01:24:49,480 --> 01:24:53,480
or things on you, and shout "gringo".
1026
01:24:53,560 --> 01:24:54,840
It happened to you?
1027
01:24:54,920 --> 01:24:58,600
Yeah, it happened to me,
but, well, kids are kids.
1028
01:24:58,680 --> 01:25:04,120
But when I went to Volcán Apoyo,
I took a small path with the bike
1029
01:25:04,920 --> 01:25:07,280
and there was a guy with a machete.
1030
01:25:07,360 --> 01:25:10,040
He was trying to stab me with it.
1031
01:25:10,120 --> 01:25:11,640
- Really?
- Yeah.
1032
01:25:11,720 --> 01:25:15,720
I just managed to grab
some money from my pocket
1033
01:25:15,800 --> 01:25:18,880
and he was more interested
in the money than stabbing me,
1034
01:25:18,960 --> 01:25:20,640
so he grabbed the money and ran.
1035
01:25:20,720 --> 01:25:24,760
It was like two euros,
so that's a cheap price for a life.
1036
01:25:24,840 --> 01:25:28,480
I now have a new safety gadget.
1037
01:25:30,040 --> 01:25:33,120
Foul! And I also have my knife.
1038
01:25:36,400 --> 01:25:39,320
Well, if you meet somebody with a machete
1039
01:25:39,400 --> 01:25:41,600
which is, like, that much longer,
1040
01:25:41,680 --> 01:25:43,720
better keep it in the pocket.
1041
01:25:45,040 --> 01:25:47,440
Thank you very much for this information.
1042
01:25:47,520 --> 01:25:49,000
- No worries.
- Have a nice trip.
1043
01:25:49,080 --> 01:25:50,400
- You too.
- Adiós!
1044
01:25:50,480 --> 01:25:51,480
Adiós!
1045
01:26:02,840 --> 01:26:05,720
Further south the tension eases.
1046
01:26:05,800 --> 01:26:07,400
I visit volcanos,
1047
01:26:07,480 --> 01:26:10,640
cross the banana plantations
of Costa Rica and Panama,
1048
01:26:10,720 --> 01:26:14,320
travel across the mountain crest again
and reach the Panama Canal.
1049
01:26:15,360 --> 01:26:19,360
A jungle interrupts the Pan-American
Highway in the south of Panama
1050
01:26:19,440 --> 01:26:21,360
which means takeoff to:
1051
01:26:22,040 --> 01:26:23,040
Colombia.
1052
01:26:23,080 --> 01:26:27,520
MEDELLÍN
COLOMBIA
1053
01:26:28,200 --> 01:26:30,200
I can reassure those who had concerns
1054
01:26:30,280 --> 01:26:32,640
when I mentioned this country
before my trip.
1055
01:26:33,240 --> 01:26:35,600
The times of Pablo Escobar are long gone.
1056
01:26:35,680 --> 01:26:38,480
Actually, I feel at ease in Colombia
1057
01:26:38,560 --> 01:26:42,000
and the great vibes
seem to pass on to me directly.
1058
01:26:42,480 --> 01:26:45,600
Until I have to climb the Andes
for the first time, that is.
1059
01:27:03,480 --> 01:27:08,280
I'm wrapped up really well, but it's
been raining non-stop for a week now.
1060
01:27:08,360 --> 01:27:10,720
But over there it says: Ecuador.
1061
01:27:11,200 --> 01:27:14,640
So, I'm hoping for some good vibes.
1062
01:27:14,720 --> 01:27:16,200
A new country.
1063
01:27:25,800 --> 01:27:28,800
Unfortunately, my hopes
did not turn into reality.
1064
01:27:29,320 --> 01:27:32,240
It won't stop raining for days.
1065
01:27:34,160 --> 01:27:36,280
In Sumatra, the rain was rather fun,
1066
01:27:37,120 --> 01:27:40,000
but here in the Andes,
with single-digit temperatures,
1067
01:27:40,080 --> 01:27:42,480
there's nothing funny about it.
1068
01:27:45,560 --> 01:27:49,800
I've got myself waterproof clothes,
but they're not working as I'd expected.
1069
01:27:50,560 --> 01:27:54,160
There's no water coming in,
but also none coming out,
1070
01:27:54,760 --> 01:27:57,280
meaning that I'm drenched in sweat.
1071
01:27:58,400 --> 01:28:00,840
I can't dry my stuff and, on top of that,
1072
01:28:00,920 --> 01:28:05,000
I have to climb
over 1,000 meters every day.
1073
01:28:07,040 --> 01:28:08,840
What am I doing here?
1074
01:28:11,000 --> 01:28:13,640
Why did I decide to set off
in the first place?
1075
01:28:15,640 --> 01:28:18,280
It feels like I no longer know.
1076
01:28:19,840 --> 01:28:23,560
I'm at 3,900 meters. And it's raining.
1077
01:28:23,640 --> 01:28:25,120
And it's 4°C.
1078
01:28:31,680 --> 01:28:33,440
And there's one more thing:
1079
01:28:34,080 --> 01:28:37,880
I told my dad that I'd be back
in two and a half years.
1080
01:28:37,960 --> 01:28:40,840
See you in two and a half years or so.
1081
01:28:42,840 --> 01:28:46,560
But I realized that that would be
in the middle of German winter.
1082
01:28:47,240 --> 01:28:50,640
And that's definitely not the weather
I want to be cycling in.
1083
01:28:52,120 --> 01:28:55,800
So, I either have to start making
my way home pretty soon,
1084
01:28:55,880 --> 01:28:58,080
or do another whole year.
1085
01:28:59,360 --> 01:29:01,800
But do I want to do
an extra year… like this?
1086
01:29:04,320 --> 01:29:06,320
I'll postpone the decision.
1087
01:29:06,400 --> 01:29:09,040
Maybe there'll be
a turning point after all.
1088
01:29:17,320 --> 01:29:19,240
So how did I do it?
1089
01:29:19,320 --> 01:29:21,680
Where did my good vibes
actually come from?
1090
01:29:22,680 --> 01:29:25,120
I think they came by going to countries
1091
01:29:25,200 --> 01:29:27,440
which I looked forward to visiting.
1092
01:29:28,720 --> 01:29:30,960
And sunshine had something
to do with it too.
1093
01:29:59,400 --> 01:30:00,520
Let's go!
1094
01:30:01,520 --> 01:30:02,760
To the top.
1095
01:30:26,000 --> 01:30:28,280
It's more or less flat.
1096
01:30:32,680 --> 01:30:34,400
But the air is thin
1097
01:30:35,080 --> 01:30:37,600
over 4,500 meters high.
1098
01:30:40,360 --> 01:30:43,520
It's 10°C and I'm tired.
1099
01:30:44,200 --> 01:30:46,000
I'd like to sleep a little bit.
1100
01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:49,080
Close my eyes. Let it roll.
1101
01:31:02,760 --> 01:31:05,680
Going downhill in the Andes
is incredibly beautiful,
1102
01:31:05,760 --> 01:31:10,160
but going up is quite tiring,
because there's almost no oxygen.
1103
01:31:10,640 --> 01:31:15,480
And I can't expect a truck
to stop and pick me up at every climb.
1104
01:31:15,560 --> 01:31:17,000
But I don't have to…
1105
01:31:39,880 --> 01:31:43,720
Of course, you can't skip the major
tourist attractions on a long trip.
1106
01:31:47,240 --> 01:31:51,440
But the very special moments
come along when you least expect them.
1107
01:31:51,520 --> 01:31:54,080
THE TREE HOUSE
1108
01:31:54,760 --> 01:31:55,760
50 M DOWNWARDS
1109
01:31:58,520 --> 01:32:01,360
I got the number of someone
who lives in Abancay
1110
01:32:01,440 --> 01:32:03,560
and who hosts travelers from time to time.
1111
01:32:04,320 --> 01:32:06,360
That's all the information I had.
1112
01:32:26,080 --> 01:32:30,640
When I was around five years old,
when I was a child,
1113
01:32:31,160 --> 01:32:33,720
I built my first tree house over here.
1114
01:32:34,440 --> 01:32:35,880
In this part.
1115
01:32:36,480 --> 01:32:41,040
And, not too long ago, there was a family
that needed a place to stay
1116
01:32:41,120 --> 01:32:44,680
because they had to leave their home.
1117
01:32:44,760 --> 01:32:48,200
So I brought them into my home,
they stayed three month,
1118
01:32:48,280 --> 01:32:52,360
and I moved into the tree house,
because I also needed a place to sleep.
1119
01:32:52,440 --> 01:32:57,280
And I stayed, because I really like
to live in the tree.
1120
01:32:57,360 --> 01:33:01,480
I'm connected with the animals,
the pigeons, the birds,
1121
01:33:02,440 --> 01:33:05,280
the ants, the spiders.
1122
01:33:05,360 --> 01:33:09,800
It's their house
and I'm like a guest in this tree.
1123
01:33:09,880 --> 01:33:13,680
The good thing is
that we have water, lights,
1124
01:33:13,760 --> 01:33:17,560
internet, a phone…
We have everything in the tree house.
1125
01:33:22,840 --> 01:33:25,720
Here we have a little bicycle workshop.
1126
01:33:29,680 --> 01:33:32,560
Here there's a kitchen with a gas stove.
1127
01:33:33,600 --> 01:33:36,280
We also built a bathroom with a shower.
1128
01:33:36,880 --> 01:33:40,080
If you want to use the bathroom,
you have to put this sign up.
1129
01:33:47,800 --> 01:33:51,960
This is a bed,
and underneath there is another one.
1130
01:33:52,040 --> 01:33:53,920
Nobody can see that.
1131
01:33:54,000 --> 01:33:58,600
There is another bed,
there is another hammock
1132
01:33:58,680 --> 01:34:00,920
and down here there's another bed.
1133
01:34:01,560 --> 01:34:05,120
One day, somebody came out from here,
1134
01:34:05,200 --> 01:34:07,080
another from there, and more and more.
1135
01:34:07,160 --> 01:34:09,040
I was like, "How many people are here?".
1136
01:34:10,080 --> 01:34:12,000
And what happens when it rains?
1137
01:34:12,600 --> 01:34:16,160
We have plastic covers, so the water
goes directly to the plants.
1138
01:34:21,200 --> 01:34:24,680
All the memories of the travelers
who have been here.
1139
01:34:25,280 --> 01:34:30,080
This is the best gift people can give me.
1140
01:34:33,280 --> 01:34:36,880
Now I have visitors
from all over the world.
1141
01:34:36,960 --> 01:34:39,960
Doesn't matter if they're cyclists,
backpackers, tourists…
1142
01:34:40,440 --> 01:34:44,160
And when the people leave
it sometimes feels like
1143
01:34:44,240 --> 01:34:47,080
you're losing a member of your family,
1144
01:34:47,160 --> 01:34:50,640
because this is a place
without skin color,
1145
01:34:50,720 --> 01:34:53,880
without different languages,
these things don't exist here.
1146
01:34:53,960 --> 01:34:55,720
And we share everything.
1147
01:34:55,800 --> 01:34:58,120
Sharing, every day, and it's wonderful.
1148
01:34:58,200 --> 01:35:00,480
I love to be here
and I never want to leave.
1149
01:35:19,840 --> 01:35:23,920
SALAR DE UYUNI
BOLIVIA
1150
01:35:55,360 --> 01:35:56,800
- Is this for me?
- Let's go!
1151
01:35:56,880 --> 01:35:58,240
Why?
1152
01:35:58,320 --> 01:36:00,480
Because you are our friend!
1153
01:36:00,560 --> 01:36:02,200
I'm from Germany.
1154
01:36:02,280 --> 01:36:05,160
Bolivian. Keep this as a memory!
1155
01:36:08,320 --> 01:36:10,160
- Thank you very much.
- Take care!
1156
01:36:11,640 --> 01:36:12,680
Take care!
1157
01:36:14,120 --> 01:36:15,320
- Ciao!
- Ciao!
1158
01:36:15,400 --> 01:36:16,520
Ciao! Take care!
1159
01:36:17,400 --> 01:36:21,560
Just because I happened to be passing by,
these men gave me a pan flute.
1160
01:36:21,640 --> 01:36:23,120
Just like that.
1161
01:36:23,200 --> 01:36:26,600
The daily dose of the beautiful things
that happen on a bike journey.
1162
01:36:26,680 --> 01:36:29,200
So I continue
on the high plateau of Bolivia
1163
01:36:29,280 --> 01:36:31,320
as a proud ambassador of pan flute music.
1164
01:36:32,400 --> 01:36:36,000
At almost 4,000 meters there is no hurry.
1165
01:36:40,040 --> 01:36:42,080
A lot of tiny villages are very isolated
1166
01:36:42,160 --> 01:36:44,640
and there's not much diversion
for the inhabitants.
1167
01:36:45,720 --> 01:36:47,440
Just like here.
1168
01:36:47,520 --> 01:36:49,920
But today, there seems to be
something going on.
1169
01:36:50,000 --> 01:36:54,600
VILLA ESPERANZA
ORURO, BOLIVIA
1170
01:37:08,520 --> 01:37:11,080
Somehow, this looks familiar.
1171
01:37:11,160 --> 01:37:13,240
685 days ago,
1172
01:37:13,320 --> 01:37:17,600
on the very first day of my tour
and about 30 kilometers from home,
1173
01:37:17,680 --> 01:37:19,800
I think I heard something similar to this.
1174
01:37:20,920 --> 01:37:25,400
FRAMMERSBACH
BAVARIA, GERMANY
1175
01:37:46,680 --> 01:37:49,640
Villa Esperanza and Frammersbach.
1176
01:37:50,440 --> 01:37:53,560
So far away from one another,
and, yet, so close.
1177
01:37:54,520 --> 01:37:57,400
Slowly, I start to come full circle.
1178
01:38:16,320 --> 01:38:18,440
I've been on the road
for almost two years,
1179
01:38:18,520 --> 01:38:22,080
and the decision of when to return home
is always on my mind.
1180
01:38:22,760 --> 01:38:26,040
See you in two and a half years or so.
1181
01:38:28,880 --> 01:38:32,000
Obviously, one can never discover
all the wonders of our world.
1182
01:38:32,760 --> 01:38:36,560
But, to be quite honest,
my motivation isn't that strong anymore.
1183
01:38:38,160 --> 01:38:39,520
Yet another country,
1184
01:38:39,600 --> 01:38:42,160
yet another 1,000 kilometers,
1185
01:38:42,240 --> 01:38:44,000
yet another 100 pictures.
1186
01:38:44,800 --> 01:38:49,600
The daily abundance of impressions
has become a normality now.
1187
01:38:51,120 --> 01:38:53,880
Maybe going home
would be the biggest adventure.
1188
01:38:57,000 --> 01:39:00,040
You might think it's impossible
to reach anybody
1189
01:39:00,120 --> 01:39:02,120
on an isolated dirt road like this one.
1190
01:39:03,560 --> 01:39:05,880
But we live in the 21st century.
1191
01:39:06,760 --> 01:39:09,640
- Hello?
- Hi, Mom! How are you?
1192
01:39:09,720 --> 01:39:12,240
Hi, Dennis. Nice to hear you.
Where are you?
1193
01:39:12,320 --> 01:39:13,320
Hey, listen…
1194
01:39:13,960 --> 01:39:18,440
I'm on the last mountain, at 4,300 meters,
1195
01:39:19,040 --> 01:39:23,040
and from now on it's all downhill,
in the direction of Rio de Janeiro.
1196
01:39:23,120 --> 01:39:27,800
To Rio and the Copacabana?
I heard it's nice over there too.
1197
01:39:28,520 --> 01:39:30,760
I've got some news for you.
1198
01:39:30,840 --> 01:39:36,200
I booked a flight,
and I'll be home on the 22nd of July.
1199
01:39:36,280 --> 01:39:38,000
- 22nd of July?
- Yes.
1200
01:39:38,080 --> 01:39:40,800
- Two days before your birthday.
- Yes.
1201
01:39:40,880 --> 01:39:42,160
Awesome!
1202
01:39:42,240 --> 01:39:44,000
So, see you in…
1203
01:39:45,240 --> 01:39:46,720
around two months.
1204
01:39:46,800 --> 01:39:50,840
- Great!
- Alrighty. See you!
1205
01:39:50,920 --> 01:39:52,400
- Take care!
- Yes, take care.
1206
01:39:55,720 --> 01:39:58,720
See you in two and a half years or so.
1207
01:40:00,360 --> 01:40:01,760
Or maybe sooner.
1208
01:40:01,840 --> 01:40:04,240
What? No, I'm going to see this through.
1209
01:40:04,320 --> 01:40:06,160
Maybe you'll make it in two years…
1210
01:40:06,880 --> 01:40:08,320
Let's go!
1211
01:40:16,920 --> 01:40:20,400
I didn't know that my father
had fortune telling abilities.
1212
01:40:20,480 --> 01:40:24,320
But, like I said, we'll never be able
to discover all the wonders of the world.
1213
01:40:24,400 --> 01:40:29,400
IGUAZU FALLS
ARGENTINA / BRAZIL
1214
01:40:33,120 --> 01:40:36,640
40,000 kilometers nearly equal
the length of the equator.
1215
01:40:36,720 --> 01:40:39,800
Just like with the 20,000 mark,
there are no prizes to be won,
1216
01:40:39,880 --> 01:40:41,600
but it still feels great.
1217
01:40:50,600 --> 01:40:52,320
And then I arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
1218
01:40:52,400 --> 01:40:53,400
RIO DE JANEIRO
BRAZIL
1219
01:40:53,480 --> 01:40:56,360
My final stop in South America.
1220
01:41:11,160 --> 01:41:14,000
After crossing the continent
from West to East,
1221
01:41:14,080 --> 01:41:16,400
I have to take the airplane
for the last time.
1222
01:41:17,240 --> 01:41:20,440
After all those kilometers,
a flight across the Atlantic Ocean
1223
01:41:20,520 --> 01:41:23,360
feels like I just arrived
in the next city with my bike.
1224
01:41:24,000 --> 01:41:26,680
You can't get any closer
to time travel than this.
1225
01:41:29,880 --> 01:41:31,320
The dress code in Morocco
1226
01:41:31,400 --> 01:41:34,200
is the complete opposite
of the one in Rio.
1227
01:41:34,960 --> 01:41:38,400
Such contrasts
are what make our world so diverse.
1228
01:41:40,400 --> 01:41:41,720
EUROPE / AFRICA
1229
01:41:41,800 --> 01:41:45,280
By now, I've been to 37 countries
on six continents,
1230
01:41:45,360 --> 01:41:49,000
and, having a German passport,
everything went relatively smoothly.
1231
01:41:49,080 --> 01:41:50,080
EUROPE
1232
01:41:50,160 --> 01:41:53,680
But many people
can't move as freely around the globe,
1233
01:41:53,760 --> 01:41:55,320
just because of their passport.
1234
01:41:57,040 --> 01:41:59,480
At the same time, the first six words
1235
01:41:59,560 --> 01:42:02,440
in the UN's Universal Declaration
of Human Rights are:
1236
01:42:02,520 --> 01:42:04,400
"All human beings are born free."
1237
01:42:05,040 --> 01:42:09,720
So why are there so many restrictions
and why are people ruled by people?
1238
01:42:10,360 --> 01:42:12,480
There doesn't seem to be an easy solution,
1239
01:42:12,560 --> 01:42:15,360
but some people
are at least looking for one.
1240
01:42:15,440 --> 01:42:17,120
Here we are in State Love.
1241
01:42:17,200 --> 01:42:20,760
State Love is situated in the heart
of the old town of Marbella.
1242
01:42:21,480 --> 01:42:25,720
It's based on the idea
stated in the resolution of the UN,
1243
01:42:25,800 --> 01:42:29,920
number 56/83, chapter two, article ten:
1244
01:42:30,000 --> 01:42:33,960
"Whoever manages to occupy
state territory within an existing state,
1245
01:42:34,040 --> 01:42:36,680
is automatically the new government."
That's what I did.
1246
01:42:37,360 --> 01:42:39,840
When I travelled to the United Nations,
1247
01:42:39,920 --> 01:42:43,320
I travelled with my diplomatic passport.
1248
01:42:43,400 --> 01:42:45,480
With diplomatic accreditation.
1249
01:42:45,560 --> 01:42:47,960
Here is the accreditation.
1250
01:42:48,040 --> 01:42:50,440
And, meanwhile,
I've been impliedly accepted.
1251
01:42:50,520 --> 01:42:54,680
An implied acceptance
is an international right.
1252
01:42:54,760 --> 01:43:00,560
And what motivated you
to found your own state?
1253
01:43:00,640 --> 01:43:04,080
I'm like a trailblazer
and I show people that:
1254
01:43:04,160 --> 01:43:08,520
"Hey! It is pretty simple.
There is a road to freedom."
1255
01:43:08,600 --> 01:43:11,360
That's my motivation:
a nice world, living in peace.
1256
01:43:12,440 --> 01:43:13,520
Okay.
1257
01:43:14,280 --> 01:43:16,960
- You also have an entry stamp.
- Of course.
1258
01:43:17,040 --> 01:43:19,080
- Here.
- Okay.
1259
01:43:19,800 --> 01:43:22,120
Keep going.
1260
01:43:22,200 --> 01:43:25,400
- Oh, that's very orderly.
- I know.
1261
01:43:25,480 --> 01:43:27,080
Very, very orderly.
1262
01:43:27,160 --> 01:43:31,000
Keep on browsing,
and then you'll see who works disorderly.
1263
01:43:32,000 --> 01:43:33,200
Ah, here.
1264
01:43:33,280 --> 01:43:35,520
It was Mexico and Guatemala.
1265
01:43:36,640 --> 01:43:38,640
Do you also have an exit stamp?
1266
01:43:38,720 --> 01:43:39,760
No.
1267
01:43:40,400 --> 01:43:42,480
You can only enter State Love.
1268
01:43:42,560 --> 01:43:43,960
- So…
- Yes.
1269
01:43:45,840 --> 01:43:47,320
State Love.
1270
01:43:47,400 --> 01:43:51,360
And now you have to tell everyone
that you've been to State Love,
1271
01:43:51,440 --> 01:43:55,120
which you will do anyway,
because it's part of your journey.
1272
01:43:55,640 --> 01:43:58,720
- And everyone will see it in the movie.
- Exactly.
1273
01:43:58,800 --> 01:44:01,240
It's for real: State Love.
1274
01:44:01,320 --> 01:44:02,320
Yes, sir!
1275
01:44:10,120 --> 01:44:13,000
BARCELONA
SPAIN
1276
01:44:21,920 --> 01:44:23,800
It's time to go home,
1277
01:44:23,880 --> 01:44:27,000
and the prices confirm
that I'm back in central Europe.
1278
01:44:27,800 --> 01:44:33,120
One scoop of ice cream in France
equals 43 plates of noodles in Myanmar.
1279
01:44:36,320 --> 01:44:42,080
And then, on this cycling path,
I arrive at the border to my home country.
1280
01:44:42,160 --> 01:44:44,400
No German flag, but…
1281
01:44:45,000 --> 01:44:48,840
"Bike route information:
Dyke maintenance!"
1282
01:44:50,720 --> 01:44:52,400
Dyke maintenance.
1283
01:44:53,520 --> 01:44:55,160
Isn't it lovely?
1284
01:45:01,360 --> 01:45:03,840
This is our pride and joy: The "autobahn".
1285
01:45:03,920 --> 01:45:05,760
Nowhere but here.
1286
01:45:07,320 --> 01:45:11,360
If the earth were a sphere
and I kept going east,
1287
01:45:11,920 --> 01:45:15,440
then I'd to return back home one day,
coming from the west.
1288
01:45:15,520 --> 01:45:17,680
At least, that's what I'd imagined.
1289
01:45:18,920 --> 01:45:22,320
And after almost 44,000 kilometers
on the bicycle,
1290
01:45:22,400 --> 01:45:25,320
I do in fact turn onto the street
1291
01:45:25,400 --> 01:45:28,200
where I started my journey
more than two years ago.
1292
01:45:29,120 --> 01:45:30,400
Unbelievable!
1293
01:45:54,600 --> 01:45:55,960
How are you?
1294
01:45:57,840 --> 01:45:59,240
So nice to see you!
1295
01:46:13,080 --> 01:46:14,320
Now I'm standing here…
1296
01:46:21,520 --> 01:46:23,640
So, what was it all about?
1297
01:46:24,200 --> 01:46:27,520
Once again, I'm where
I didn't want to be back then.
1298
01:46:28,840 --> 01:46:31,280
But I probably won't stay for long.
1299
01:46:32,120 --> 01:46:36,720
During my journey, I think I discovered
what I need to be happy right now.
1300
01:46:37,600 --> 01:46:42,080
It's not money, an expensive car
or the latest smartphone.
1301
01:46:42,720 --> 01:46:47,800
Two wheels, time and the freedom
to decide where to go next.
1302
01:46:47,880 --> 01:46:49,640
That's more than enough.
1303
01:46:50,880 --> 01:46:53,160
And the assertion
that the world is so dangerous…
1304
01:46:53,240 --> 01:46:55,600
my travels gave me
a different perspective.
1305
01:46:56,280 --> 01:46:59,360
The opposite is true.
We humans stick together.
1306
01:47:00,240 --> 01:47:03,920
Everywhere I went, strangers helped
and supported me on this journey.
1307
01:47:04,680 --> 01:47:07,800
A conversation at the side of the road,
a cup of tea,
1308
01:47:07,880 --> 01:47:11,160
an invitation for dinner,
or even to spend the night.
1309
01:47:11,920 --> 01:47:15,840
And, most of the time, the most special
thing was something way simpler…
1310
01:47:16,680 --> 01:47:20,920
What… What remains is love
1311
01:47:21,000 --> 01:47:23,520
and having an open mind.
1312
01:47:23,600 --> 01:47:27,400
And what we do not accept is…
1313
01:47:28,280 --> 01:47:29,880
that they don't smile.
1314
01:47:59,560 --> 01:48:01,360
What's next for me?
1315
01:48:01,440 --> 01:48:03,480
I don't know yet.
1316
01:48:03,560 --> 01:48:06,240
But it's not even that important,
1317
01:48:06,320 --> 01:48:09,280
because one thing
became clear during my journey:
1318
01:48:09,360 --> 01:48:12,840
the biggest adventures
hide in uncertainty.
1319
01:48:15,080 --> 01:48:18,560
The world is waiting.
It wants to be discovered.
1320
01:48:27,120 --> 01:48:30,600
761 DAYS
1321
01:48:30,680 --> 01:48:34,080
41 COUNTRIES
1322
01:48:34,160 --> 01:48:37,720
43,600 KILOMETERS
1323
01:48:37,800 --> 01:48:41,440
295,000 METERS OF ELEVATION GAIN
1324
01:48:41,520 --> 01:48:45,120
89.9 KILOMETERS PER CYCLING DAY
1325
01:48:45,200 --> 01:48:48,760
2,353 HOURS OF CYCLING TIME
1326
01:48:48,840 --> 01:48:51,680
515 DIFFERENT SLEEPING PLACES
1327
01:48:51,760 --> 01:48:53,760
63 FLAT TIRES
1328
01:48:53,840 --> 01:48:55,920
FIND MORE INFORMATION IN THE BOOK
1329
01:49:45,000 --> 01:49:46,320
THANK YOU
1330
01:49:46,400 --> 01:49:49,800
TO THE PEOPLE WHO MADE
THIS JOURNEY THE JOURNEY IT WAS:
1331
01:49:49,880 --> 01:49:52,480
TO THOSE WHO GAVE ME
A ROOF OVER MY HEAD
1332
01:49:52,560 --> 01:49:54,520
WHO FED ME, WHO ACCOMPANIED ME
1333
01:49:54,600 --> 01:49:57,480
WHO SHOWED ME THEIR CULTURE,
WHO SUPPORTED ME
1334
01:49:57,560 --> 01:49:59,040
WHO GAVE ME A SMILE
1335
01:49:59,120 --> 01:50:01,040
THANK YOU
1336
01:50:42,360 --> 01:50:46,120
Subtitle translation by: Dennis Kailing,
Georgina Avgerinou-Panagiotou