Why Cycle the Shimanami Kaido? The Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road is one of Japan’s most spectacular outdoor adventures, stretching 70 kilometers across the Seto Inland Sea. Connecting Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture, the route takes cyclists over seven impressive suspension bridges linking six islands. Unlike many cycling routes, it offers a seamless mix of natural beauty, cultural encounters, and world-class infrastructure, making it a must-do for both beginners and experienced riders. Designated as part of Japan’s National Cycling Routes, the Shimanami Kaido is well marked with the distinctive Yahane Blue Line. Cyclists can expect smooth roads, plentiful rental options, and friendly “Cycle Oasis” rest stops offering bike racks, refreshments, and maps. 👉 For official travel information, visit the Shimanami Kaido Tourism Official Website. Highlights of the Route 🚴 Easy Navigation and Bike Rentals The course is designed with cyclists in mind: A blue line guides you the entire way. Bicycle rentals are available at both ends (Onomichi & Imabari), with one-way return options. Online reservations are possible, even in English, via Shimanami Rental Cycle. 🌉 Cycling Over Seven Bridges One of the most thrilling aspects is the feeling of flying over the sea as you ride across bridges like the Tatara Bridge and Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge, marvels of modern engineering. Each island offers its own character, from bustling fishing villages to quiet coastal trails. 🏯 History and Culture Along the Way Onomichi – Famous for its hillside temples, retro shopping streets, and artistic vibe. Ikuchijima Island – Home to Kosanji Temple, an ornate complex inspired by Kyoto’s Byodoin Temple. Innoshima – Features Innoshima Suigun Castle, linked to the legendary Murakami Pirates. Imabari – Known for Imabari Castle and traditional towel-making culture. 🍜 Food & Local Flavors Cyclists can refuel with Setouchi specialties such as: Fresh seafood dishes, including octopus and sea bream. Citrus treats from local orchards, especially mikan oranges and lemon-based desserts. Casual noodle shops and cozy cafés overlooking the sea. When to Go The best seasons to cycle are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when the weather is mild and the views are clear. Avoid the rainy season (late June–July) and peak summer, when heat and humidity can be challenging. Practical Details Length: 70 km Duration: Around 6 hours (casual pace with breaks) Elevation Gain: Minimal (approx. 20m) Recommended: 1–2 days for a relaxed experience with sightseeing stops. Access to the Shimanami Kaido Starting Point – Onomichi Fly from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Hiroshima Airport (80 min). Take the Hiroshima Airport Line, then transfer to the Sanyo Line to JR Onomichi Station (~1 hr). End Point – Imabari Imabari is accessible by train from Matsuyama or via the Shinkansen through Okayama. Where to Stay Accommodation ranges from luxury seaside resorts to budget-friendly guesthouses and traditional ryokan with onsen baths. Staying overnight on one of the islands allows you to enjoy stunning sunsets and quiet mornings before resuming your ride. Final Thoughts The Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road is more than just a bike ride — it’s a journey through Japan’s maritime culture, history, and landscapes. Whether you complete the route in one day or take it slow across several, you’ll find that every island has its own story to tell.

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Organisers of Vietnam’s premier cycling event, the Coupe De Hue, have vowed that the race will return stronger than ever in 2021 after this year’s installment fell victim to the global pandemic. The event, which was due to take place in late September, became the latest high-profile sporting occasion in Vietnam to be postponed due to public health safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 virus. Other major sporting events in the Southeast Asian nation to have fallen by the wayside due to the pandemic include the Ironman 70.3, a triathlon held in Danang each year, and the Ho Chi Minh City installment of the Spartan series as well as the Hue Marathon.  The Coupe De Hue will now be held at the same time next year. Anticipation for the Coupe De Hue — a 2-stage, 2-day epic dubbed “Vietnam’s toughest road race” — had been strong. Stage 1, the Bach Ma King of the Mountain, comprises an average gradient of 8.3% for 15.2 kilometers, whilst the Stage 2 Gran Fondo comprises a ride of either 70km or a 140km, bringing a total of 3100m of climbing over 155km for the bravest riders. Having established itself as a highlight on the global race calendar since debuting in 2018, the event was set to build on that momentum in 2020. Naturally, the enforced shelving of the event came as a blow for organizers, competitors, and cycling fans alike. Nevertheless, race supremos are using the window created by the cancellation to forge new partnerships for the event and to make improvements to its route. In doing so, they are confident that 2021 will be a red-letter year as they aim to grow the reputation of the race and use it as a way to position Central Vietnam as a hub for cycling and other adventure activities in Southeast Asia. “Of course, there is disappointment, but when the safety of competitors and of the local community is concerned there was no other decision to take,” said Les Walters, Director of Activities at Laguna Lang Co and the manager of the Coupe De Hue. Walters and his team are also in the process of simplifying the city-based segments of the Gran Fondo, resulting in a faster, safer and more direct route to the finish line in the heart of Hue: Vietnam’s enchanting former imperial capital. “Laguna Lang Co is committed to boosting adventure and sports tourism in Central Vietnam and is currently finalizing a new exciting partnership that will solidify the Coupe De Hue as the race of choice for keen cyclists for years to come,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf & Destination Marketing at Laguna Lang Co. “We are working closely with Vietnam’s tourism authorities to ensure we offer the best possible venues for amateur and professional sporting events throughout the region.” “I believe that Coupe De Hue is the best 2-day 2-stage road race in all of Asia,” added Walters. “The Bach Ma KOM presents challenges equal to the mountain stages of the Tour de France, while there is no more spectacular finale to any Gran Fondo than in the heart of Hue citadel.”

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Bali Eco Cycling, part of Bali Eco Tours, was established in 1999 with the intention of creating tours that offer a unique and rewarding experience to Bali visitors. Bali Eco Tours take visitors away from the tourist circuits and show them the Bali they want to see – the real Bali. Not just the beautiful sceneries, but also a hands-on experience of typical Balinese daily life and a feel for the magic and spirit of this stunning island, its beautiful people and its vibrant culture. Whether on a mountain bike gliding down on quiet country lanes from Kintamani to Ubud, trekking to Mount Agung or trekking through Bali jungle. Sharing their island is their passion, so Bali Eco Cycling are proud to offer a wide range of tours/activities to discerning Bali visitors, for a stay in Bali that is both enjoyable and memorable. The Bali Eco Tours concept remains that of being eco-friendly. To them, this means caring about the bottom line: for a business to be sustainable, it must strive to balance its duty of care to people and the environment with profit. Bali Eco Tours is a company that set off on the right path to be environmental friendly, cultural friendly and indigenous friendly, a unique phenomenon amongst Bali rampant tourism growth. They continue to work hard to give their guests real value-for-money experiences and provide opportunities to experience the real Bali without the hassle, hustle and bustle. Their guests discover more than the superficial beauty of Bali island: they have an adventure and at the same time learn through first-hand experience. Bali Eco Tours do their best to reduce carbon footprints while educating their staff, their partners, the communities they work in as well as their honored guests, inviting all of them to join on a journey towards environment stewardship together. Bali Eco Tours limit the number of people they accept on their tours on each day to ensure every guest has a quality time. Their staff love doing their jobs well, they take real pride in their achievements, and Bali Eco Tours would rather suggest guests book on another day than overcrowd any of the tours. To cater to different needs and fitness levels, they continue to come up with variations on their products, especially on the Cycling Tour and Mt Batur Trek. They also remain flexible to requests for tailored tours to suit their guests. As there has been a few copycats trying to use the Bali Eco concepts, ideas and even the name, when booking a Bali Eco Tours tour, please ensure you are definitely booked with Bali Eco Tours. The guide picking you up should wear a bright blue t-shirt with Bali Eco Tours logo on his chest and www.baliecocycling.com on the back of the t-shirt. Bali Eco Tours offer a professional and well-trained team, international standards of safety and hygiene, and a warmth and genuine desire to please their guests. Bali Eco Tours Special Promotion for 2017 U3: What do you get if you take Ubud to the Power of Three? You have a special combination of their Ubud Fun Orientation Tour (including hands reflexology, neck & shoulders massage), their Rice Field and Village Exploration Walk (including feet reflexology and legs massage), and their Mt Batur Summit, Swim and Spa (full body massage) on three separate days, all for a single special price! A2: Do you want an Adventure or many Adventures? So little time, so much to do? This package allows you to combine their Mt Batur Sunrise & Swim with their popular full day Bali Eco Cycling Tour all in one day for a very special price! F3: Lets have Fun For all the Family! They provide a special rate so you can take all the family on their popular Bali Eco Cycling Tour for a family of 4 (typically 2 adults + 2 children) or a family of 5 (2 adults + 3 children). With this package, even the teenagers get the discounted children rate. Bali Eco Tours love families (and families love them!) – this is the best rate for their tours. To obtain the above special rates, contact Bali Eco Tours via email or phone quoting the name of the package in the subject line (U3, A2 or F3) – don’t forget to provide them with your pick up location and contact details! They will need to be able to reach you on the day of the pick up (local phone or Whatsapp number preferred). PT. Bali Budaya Tours (Bali Eco Cycling) Jln. Raya Pengosekan, Peliatan, Ubud, Bali Telephone: 081 337 420 420 – If ringing from a mobile phone or outside of Bali dial +62 (0)361 97 5557. Inquire about Bali Eco Tour programs via email at baliecocycling@gmail.com or check out their booking calendar by following the links below to see what tours are already running: http://www.baliecocycling.com/cycling-tour/

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You cannot say that you have seen Chiang Rai without having been to Wat Rong Khun. Commonly known as the White Temple, this is a Buddhist and Hindu temple with a huge structure designed by famed Thai painter and visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. Wat Rong Khun is today one of Chiang Rai’s biggest tourist draws, and I had a chance to visit it as part of a Chiang Rai bicycle tour (CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE TOUR). Every day, hundreds of visitors line up to see the main building of this religious complex built just 13 km south of the city center of Chiang Rai. Wat Rong Khun unconventional architectural work is inspired by the Expiatori Temple from the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. The temple is currently under construction, and it can actually be considered a work-in-progress. Its construction began in 1997, and the completion is not expected to happen for another 50-60 years. The project is being funded by donations and by sales of Chalermchai Kositpipat’s gallery prints, as well as by the private funds of Kositpipat, who had a very poor upbringing in his home town of Chiang Rai, but who has now reached a certain level of wealth and has decided to give back to his community. He is rumoured to have already invested 40 millions thb (1 million Euros) of his own money into the project. Chalermchai Kositpipat is famous for Buddhist symbolism and for the traditional Hindu modern twist in his art; his works are also known outside of Thailand. Despite being one of the most famous contemporary Thai artists, Ajarn (a title reserved to professors and great masters) Chalermchai Kositpipat has long been criticised for his stylistic choices: the outdoor complex of the white temple is completely made up of white lime and millions of small mirrors embedded in the tiles that make a beautiful light effects. The choice of white, like many others, is dictated by the idea of communicating through important evocative symbols. Asked why he has chosen to make Wat Rong Khun white, Kositpipat replies that gold is “suitable to people who lust for evil deeds” so he wanted this one to be more pure, different from the traditional golden temples. However amazing the white effect is, and no matter how much sense his concept makes, Wat Rong Khun is not always well digested by the local population, accustomed to hundreds of years of bright colours. Back to my visit, past a pond populated by white carps, I made it across a bridge that crosses a sea of ghoulish white supplicant hands pointing upwards and reaching from the pits of hell while sinking to the underworld; this bridge dictates the cycle of rebirth and separates a small semicircle that represents the world as we know it, and the temple. It symbolises the road to happiness above the temptation, greed and desire. Two huge white naga snakes accompany the faithful to the inside of the temple; disembodied heads dangle from trees. This symbolism seems to be warning us: leave your anger and greed at the entrance or you will end up in hell. Inside I was greeted by seraphic Buddha statues sitting in meditation on big lotus flowers, and I paid my respect to them before concentrating on the unusual iconography of the interior walls: not the usual story of the Buddha as depicted in most ordinary temples, but a series of frescos on shades of orange with characters that include Superman, Spiderman, Michael Jackson, an International Space Station, Batman, Angry Birds, Osama Bin Laden, George Bush and even Neo, the chosen one in the Matrix trilogy. These mixing of apocalyptic visions and science fiction is a choice that surely searches for a blend between the West and the East, the ancient and the modern. Unfortunately, photo taking is not permitted inside the the main building of the White Temple, so you have to take my word for it (or visit the temple yourself). While I was very puzzled by the interior, where I spent longer time than I had planned, I was really amazed by the crisp white aesthetic of the exterior. Actually, the whole compound revealed endless surprises. The guide took me around each part of the grounds, explaining the symbolism of the artwork and of the sculptures. Around us were statues that seemed carved out of ice, with beautiful topless girls designed following the traditional Hindu canons, surrounded by pretty installations that are proudly displayed in the huge and very well-kept gardens. For a small donation, I wrote our names on a silver leaf and hanged it on the prayer trees present in the garden, joining the over 100,000 leaves already present. The guide then took me to the massive workshop warehouse where I could witness work behind the scenes: sculptures, panels, mirrors being cut and glued to cement wings; several young artists take part of this amazing project, one that will take decades to properly complete. On the outside, a golden pagoda that looks like a temple in itself hosts the toilets. Wat Rong Khun was badly damaged during the 2014 earthquake and it was closed for a short time until some experts verified the damage and reported that none of the complex structures suffered from extensive damage. At the Chalermchai Kositpipat gallery and shop, you have the chance to purchase one of the several prints or a book on the artist; in this way you will help financing works at this amazing structure that is Wat Rong Khun. Entrance to the White Temple is free, but I heard rumours that they are planning to charge a small fee very soon in order to collect funds for the construction. Chalermchai Kositpipat believes that this temple, his great tribute to Buddha, will give him immortality. Once, talking about Wat Rong Khun, he stated that “only death can stop my dream, but it will not stop my project!” I have visited several temples around Asia, and I can...

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Chiang Rai Bicycle Tour 222/6 Moo 3 Tasai Muang Chiang Rai 5700 Thailand  Tel./Fax: +66 53 774506 Available 24 hours : Mobile +66 85 6624347 Website : www.chiangraibicycletour.com e-mail : chiangraibicycletour@yahoo.com Chiang Rai Bicycle Tour (Licence No. 24/00101) is a tour company that operates half day – five days cycling tours around Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle area. Chiang Rai Bicycle Tour is the only bicycle touring group based in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand. The cycling is on well-planned routes on quiet roads and lanes used by the local villagers, chosen for the interest and contact with the Thai countryside and Thai way of life. The bike tours are easy exercise and relaxing in beautiful surroundings that highlight the beautiful sites around Chiang Rai. While your are cycling you will experience authentic Thai culture and see local Thais working in rice paddies, fruit orchards, rubber plantations, and learn to appreciate the gentleness of the Thai people in the village. You will understand why they call Thailand “the land of smiles, the land of yellow robes. Chiang Rai Bicycle Tour is Recommended by TripAdvisor and the Holidaysplease Thailand Holidays guide. Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand, is situated on the Kok River basin. Chiang Rai is about 785 kilometres from Bangkok and 182 kilometres from Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is called “A Cycling Paradise” because of its rolling hills and beautiful mountain countryside . It offers a wonderful opportunity for riders to experience the Thai way of life as you cycle by and visit Thai villages, farmers working in their orchards and rice fields.

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The Nature Club Resort is located near the  by Khao Laem Dam in Sangklaburi. The Nature Club Resort blends with the landscaping, and with its natural rivers and hills offers you vicinity to a great environment, stunning views and the utmost privacy. Crafted with natural materials, it features unique wooden cottages and villas complete with private balconies or terraces with serene views of the lake. A TV and minibar are provided. Select bathrooms feature bathtubs and/or outdoor rainshowers. Free Wi-Fi is offered at the restaurant area. Offering a host of adventures, resort’s guests can enjoy activities including kayaking, ATV, elephant riding along the creek, cycling and trekking in and around the resort. Its tour desk makes sightseeing arrangements to places such as Prasat Muang Sing Historical Park, Wat Pa Lelai and Saiyok Noi Waterfall. Traditional Thai and international dishes can be enjoyed at the resort’s restaurant. The Nature Club is a 15-minute drive from Wat Somdet Temple and Market. Wat Wiwakaram Temple and Mon Village are a 30-minute ride away. Facilities of The Nature Club Resort Outdoors: BBQ Facilities, Grounds, Terrace, Sun Deck Activities: Fishing, Canoeing, Hiking, Cycling, Water Sports Facilities (on site), Hot Tub, Bicycle Rental, Karaoke Food & Drink: Breakfast in the Room, Restaurant With Dining Menu Internet: Free! WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge. Parking: Free! Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed). Services: Room Service, Shuttle Service (surcharge), Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Air Conditioning The Nature Club Resort  207 Sangkla Rd, Nong Lu, Kanchanaburi, Thailand 71240. +66 (0) 89 510 8444 (Information & Reception) thenatureclubresort@gmail.com http://www.facebook.com/thenatureclub http://www.thenatureclubresort.com THAILAND ON 2 WHEELS stayed at The Nature Club Resort in May 2014. Follow THAILAND ON 2 WHEELS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thailand-on-2-wheels/272739139560253?fref=ts

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