I just spent the weekend trying to (finally) bring this new version of my website up-to-date, reposting the old journals and attempting to put some sort of logical order to things. And I figured while I’m at it I should finish sorting out my photographs from the first stage and archive them properly. It was the first time I’ve looked through the images of the journey in their entirety. Frankly, I would sooner have spent the day climbing one of the neighbouring peaks than engaged in the laborious task of scanning through travel shots, but at least it’s one more thing I can scratch from my lengthy to do list before I hit the road again.
It occurred to me that I had photographed a lot of hand painted signage, particularly in SE Asia and China. I’ve always been interested in this sort of stuff, so that’s one of the reoccurring themes. It doesn’t concern me if it’s well designed or completely illegible, I just like things that are hand done. I also came across many murals in Vietnam and China. Any form of graffiti seems to be nonexistent. I would be interested to hear from anyone who can interpret the murals or give an informed perspective.
Last summer I cycled to the most northerly point of Japan. And on that trip I took a heap of shots of public signage. Here (in Japan) communication is on a whole different level: fury mascots representing the police department; cute animal characters for safety warning signs, that sort of thing. My intention was to post those images on this site but my SD card got corrupted and I lost the lot. At least, it was better I lose the digi-pics than the Fuji monochrome. I can speak more confidently about Japan than the rest of Asia, but I’ll save that for future posts.
Anyway, these images don’t have much relevance to my story so I haven’t bothered posting them in the blog entries, but here’s a selection for the hell of it.
Getting to Know Russia
Setting Out
Sayonara Japan!
Tsunami Boats
Leg 2 Final Preparations
Earth Odyssey on Facebook
Pen & Ink Sketches Japan
Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 Review
Hey Benji! Remember me from Astex?? Been looking at your wonderful pictures, I am so happy that you are realising your dream. You must be having the most amazing time. If you venture over to the UK, give me a bell! Carry on exploring – you only live once mate!
Hey Theresa, it’s been a long time. I’ll definitely visit the UK again when I’m doing the rounds in Europe. No doubt I’ll be ready for a few ales by then. Hope all is well and genki.
You’ll see a nice selection of hand made political murals in the streets all across Latin America when you cicle that continent… I’ll send you some shots. The ones you posted are really nice ones!
Yes, no doubt there is plenty of interesting work there, and comprehensible too.
Yo Benji! All is genki thanks. Are you still enjoying Japan? Been teaching much about Brutus Cray? Ha ha ha!!! I’ll never forget that text book! I’m teaching French and Spanish here at home now – bloody hard but worth it! Must be quite hot at the moment where you are, the joke here is that they want to inroduce a hosepipe ban! In the wettest part of England!
Great photos ben
hai Benji!
Can’t believe you are still doing your journey and it seems so great .And surpprise me the man can spand years to do a journey.To drop the normal life for me it’s unimaginable, althourh my life is tired.I am so admire .
have a good day
Hi Liping, I’m so happy to hear from you!! I still look forward to the day we meet again. Please take care of yourself. B