I had tried, more than once, to find companions for the ride to China.
In the end, it became a solitary endeavor. Before I left, I wasn’t sure I could endure such a long stretch of solitude — perhaps I even dreaded it. What is experience, if no shared? What if something went wrong?
Fortunately, there were no emergencies. And in the quiet of countless evenings alone, I found another form of connection — sharing more than I ever expected with those following along from afar.
As this journey took shape as a cultural project, it became clear that reflection and writing were not just byproducts but pillars. A steady accumulation of stories, a personal archive — something to draw from for a lifetime.
This post contains a preview of a forthcoming book about Journey to the East, highlighting the perpetuating tensions and sometimes awkward dialogues between East and West as found on my quest for a New Silk on an Old Road.
Mooi en oprecht geschreven. Wij kunnen allen meegenieten met de bijzondere ervaringen: Blaffende honden, plastic in de berm, geweldige architectuur onderweg en aardige mensen. En echt heel veel in je eentje fietsen. Echt ' A once in a lifetime experience" . You did it!