Welcome to the FAQ section — here you’ll find answers to the most common questions about my journey, from why I chose to travel by bicycle to how I plan routes, budgets, visas, and daily life on the road. If you’re curious about long-term bike touring or simply want to learn more about my adventure, you’re in the right place.
Why by bicycle?
I love traveling by bicycle. Only on a bike are you fast enough to cover long distances, yet still able to greet everyone you meet along the way.
While you’re turning the pedals, you’re physically active, always outdoors, and you don’t pollute the environment. And I don’t know a better way to be so close to nature while traveling — to hear its sounds, the birds chirping, the murmur of rivers, the voices of animals. Not to mention that feeling of happiness, like when you were a child…
Why around the world?
The first idea was to ride through Europe and then return home, and afterward head to the next continent…
But research on the internet and my calculations showed me that the most expensive part of any trip is always the return. That’s why I decided to set off right away on a long journey without any time limits.
How did you dare to set off alone?
I didn’t set off alone. Two years before departure, I was looking for someone to join me on a round-the-world tour. No one from the former Yugoslavia responded, so I eventually posted an ad on the world’s largest cycling portal — Crazy Guy on a Bike. Bryan Keith from Colorado reached out to me through that site. We corresponded for several months, and in March 2011 he flew to Belgrade, after which we flew together to Sicily to do a trial tour. After a successful trip, we decided to start our journey together that summer.
When did you start the journey?
On July 24, 2011, I packed my bicycle onto a bus and traveled to Bratislava to meet Bryan. Three days later, on July 27, 2011, we left Bratislava and set off on a tour through the Carpathians, which we planned as an overture to our round-the-world journey.
How long have you been riding alone?
At the beginning of February 2012, Bryan and I parted ways. Since then, I’ve been riding alone.
How long do you plan to keep riding?
I have no plan regarding the duration of this journey. In the meantime, it has become my way of life, and for now I don’t want to change that. If I ever feel tired of constant changes or feel the desire to return, I’ll stop.
What bicycle do you have? What parts does it have?
My bicycle is an Italian brand, Bottecchia, and it’s about thirty years old. It was a gift from Sale Točak, my friend who runs a repair shop in Šabac. I wrote about it in my cycle touring guide “Rolling Everything I Own With Me.”
What gear do you carry? What is needed for such a trip?
All advice and details regarding bicycle travel can be found in my cycle touring guide “Rolling Everything I Own With Me.”
What is your budget?
It depends on many things. During the first year of the journey, I had 6 euros per day. Later, my budget increased significantly, and during the second year I spent about 15 euros per day, which was quite comfortable. Now I try to stay within 8 euros per day.
Do you camp? How do you find accommodation in cities?
Yes, I mostly camp, and in cities I find accommodation through the online communities CouchSurfing and WarmShowers. Sometimes our people living abroad who follow my blog invite me to stay with them. Occasionally, I stay in cheap hostels, most often from the HI Hostels network or Hostelworld.
What are you most afraid of during your travels?
Illness and crazy drivers.
Have you had any negative experiences?
I’ve had two unpleasant experiences. The first was on Corfu, when I heard footsteps around my tent in the middle of the night. The second was in China, when a farmer attacked my tent in the morning because he thought I had damaged his crops. The only truly negative experience was actually in Greece, when my handlebar bag was stolen in front of my tent. Fortunately, it didn’t contain anything valuable.
Which country did you like the most, and why?
Turkey, Laos, and Thailand are so far my favorite countries. In Turkey, people are incredibly hospitable — as soon as they see a traveler, they invite you for tea, which then turns into an invitation for lunch, and then for an overnight stay. In Laos, people are happy and free despite being poor, and that feeling of freedom is contagious. Thailand is one of the easiest countries for cycle travelers because every gas station has showers, free Wi-Fi, and convenience stores — perfect for campers. On top of that, Thais are extremely kind and will drop everything to help you.
Where was it the worst?
China remains my worst memory. It was very difficult because of the language barrier, different body language, completely unfamiliar ways of thinking and associating, terrible drivers, and the lack of freedom — over 2,000 websites are blocked, like Facebook and Picasa, and all Google services open extremely slowly because they’re interfered with. China is still a very closed country.
What was the hardest thing for you?
Two moments were the hardest: when I ended up alone, and a few months later when I lost any source of income. Those were also my two biggest fears before I set off: companionship and money. However, it turned out that I could continue alone and manage without money. So now I believe that our fears are really just excuses we tell ourselves.
What is the situation with visas?
That’s a very general and vague question. Every country has different visa rules, and they often change. One set of rules applies when you apply from your home country, and another when you apply from a third country. Traveling independently means you must spend a lot of time online gathering up-to-date information about visas and the conditions for obtaining them.
Do you have a plan for where you will go next?
I have general plans. I will spend the winter of 2013/14 in Nepal writing a book. In spring 2014, I need to fly to Beijing to get a new passport because my old one has no empty pages left. Beijing is the only place in Asia (besides Moscow) where our embassy has the equipment for biometric passports. After that, I plan to tour South Korea and Japan. If I have the funds, I would cross to Kamchatka and cycle there for a month. From there, in late autumn, I would return to South Asia and continue heading south.
Would you accept a travel companion?
For short sections of a few days or weeks — yes. For longer — it depends on many factors.
How can I help you and buy a few kilometers of your journey?
The best way is to send me a message through the contact page, and I will send you all the instructions.
