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Xiaosi & Xiaowen ∣Travel Across Asia and Africa in
浏览次数:2689次 更新时间:2020-06-03

By Xiangjun


Kilometers of pursuing on 318.

Xiaowen wouldn't dream of having a wonderful day such as this day a year ago. As a Shanghai good girl, she had never traveled by train before she was 27 years old, let alone riding. The first time she took a plane was to try to take her unorthodox boyfriend, Xiaosi, back home from Chengdu.

 

A month ago, Xiaosi, who had been in the relationship with her for five years, told her that he wanted to ride a bike to Tibet. Xiaowen was shocked, and her first response was that he was crazy.

 

After futile arguments and crying, in August 2013, Xiaosi set off, with the longings to travel around the world and without any hesitation, from the zero kilometers of highway 318 at People's Square of Shanghai with supplies, a guitar, and forty thousand Yuan.

Xiaosi's aim was Lhasa, Xiaowen saw him away with resentment. Twenty-eight days later, these lovebirds who were torn by struggle and lovesick reunited at Shuangliu Airport in Chengdu.

 

Survived Zheduo Mountain.

The moment they saw each other, Xiaowen had many reasons to persuade Xiaosi, and Xiaosi had run many arguing scenarios in his mind. The outcome was that this Shanghai girl, who didn't even know what afar was, somehow, went crazy as well, and started to ride with Xiaosi on the legendary Sichuan-Tibet line.

 

How did a rookie with the cheapest mountain bike venture though the mountain road of Sichuan-Tibet line? Xiaosi was concerned about his girlfriend. The fantasy of Xiaowen, who packed enough make-up to look pretty along the way, was ruined by reality quickly. The first day riding the bike, her arms were too sore to raise, and her tushie was almost shattered. She had no energy to be beautiful.

 

Metamorphose while pressing forward.

Live on the road changed Xiaowen utterly. The scenery along the Sichuan- Tibet line shook her heart. She could never forget riding across Haizi Mountain, the way was so wide, and the sky was so low, clouds seemed to be within reach. This kind of broadness could never be found in Shanghai. If it were not to follow her love, she would never see such breathtaking views. She brought herself to that moment using wheels.

 

In the strong wind, she cried while riding, because she felt there was no regret in her youth. She was like a white bird, stretched her wings, flew through thousands of kilometers, and finally got back to her lover, Xiaosi.

 

Along in Sri Lanka.

Waves of the Indian Ocean woke Xiaosi, who was sleeping in a tent in Sri Lanka. At that moment, there was only one bike with packages on the beach. There was one person who had left home for five months, one sea and one group of flowers. Where was Xiaowen? She couldn't go to India due to her visa and left him alone on the road.

 

Xiaosi was immersed in country music when he was young. His biggest dream was becoming a roamer. That's why he chose to study navigation in college and then became a sailor. In the end, the dream didn't penetrate reality, and it was burnished to extinction. He returned to the city, worked from 9 a.m to 5 p.m, and he could see through his life thirty years from then. He was frustrated. When he was 27 years old, he was getting married and having a family, and he remembered his original dream again.

 

His youth was nearly over, and his dream shouldn't be over. But it would be if he didn't act, so he left. He didn't expect Xiaowen to follow him, nor rode with him for a period. They didn't understand each other before, and now they are impressed by each other.

 

At that moment, he stood on the lonely island on the Indian Ocean, should he continue or go back to Shanghai? He peaked Adam Mountain, which is the highest mountain in south Sri Lanka, the valley was quiet, and the cloud was rolling, it was intoxicating and lonely. He still wanted to roam around the world; at that moment, he had hoped to share with his loved one more than ever.

 

The most beautiful sunset in the Dead Sea.

Xiaowen, who was on the other side, couldn't bare missing him anymore and set off again. She persuaded her parents the way she persuaded Xiaosi. She took the cheapest flight as soon as possible, spent three days and nights, and slept in four countries' airports during the transition. The skinny girl was like a man, carried over 30 kilometers of luggage and bike to meet her boyfriend in people's stares.

 

At the Amman Airport of Jordan, Xiaowen was hurt when she saw Xiaosi, he was darker and thinner, just like the first time they met in college. When Xiaosi saw Xiaowen, he laughed. Xiaowen was like a Christmas tree, covered in all sizes of bags, and plastic bags were hanging on her neck. When he opened the bags, a dozen kilograms of his favorite twice-cooked pork and hot pot's condiments were in there.

 

He embraced his lover tightly, whom he hadn't seen for three months, and said, "let's go, I am taking you to the Dead Sea, and see the sunset with the lowest altitude in the world."

The sunset was like fire, slid in the Dead Sea slowly, boiled the water. The sunset glow blushed their faces. This was the most beautiful sunset he had never seen, and at that moment, Xiaowen saw it as well. They coddled at the shore of the Dead Sea, and the dusk melted into a heart. The wild and broad Africa waited for them in the front.

 




Wild Africa.

Every traveler who longs to the primitive barbarianism has an Africa dream. Their destination was Cape of Good Hope because it is the tip of the world in a traditional sense. What's more romantic than to ride till the tip of the world with the girl he loves?

 

They love the desert, so they went to Sahara; they love the ocean, so they went to Zanzibar, which is the most beautiful island reputedly. Xiaosi carried the guitar, Xiaowen brought an iron pot, their luggage was their entire asset. The traveled with little money; the tent was their home; the wilderness was their living room, garage, balcony, and garden. Xiaosi said, "we are home, no matter where we go." Xiaowen believed him seeing he waved the spatula and hearing the crack sound of the frying pan.

 

There were bound to be more significant challenges behind the romance. The first day they left the Dead Sea, they encountered a storm, their tent was blown away some time and almost fell in the sea. They ran into wild dogs when they camped in the wild. The most tormenting experience was when they traverse Sahara, they did not only ran out of food and water from time to time, but they also had to endure over 50 Celsius degrees, which nearly melted their bikes and them, and traveled 2,000 kilometers.

 

The girl and starry sky.

Camping deeply in Sahara, they saw the sky filled with stars. Until that moment, she felt that her heart finally caught up with her footsteps. She would never experience this kind of beauty and broadness if she didn't follow him bravely.

 

It was also in Africa, Xiaosi was sure of Xiaowen more than ever. He couldn't forget a night they rode in the desert, and they encountered a storm, a warm-hearted older man invited them to his home to get out of the rain. In the middle of the deserted valley, a broken cabin was the home of an Arabic farmer. The older man and his four daughters served them with the best food. The foreigners' enthusiasm touched them. Xiaosi couldn't resist the temptation to say thank you via a song.

 

The fireplace was burning with the sound of the strings. Xiaosi sang Xu Wei's Starry Sky: no matter how far we are apart, as long as I call your name, you will stop doing everything and come to my side, my girl... The African girls, who couldn't understand the words, clapped their hands. Xiaowen was intoxicated, and the fire made her cheeks look red, she was so beautiful.

 

The warmth on the road.

Riding in Africa, all the kind smiles they met was as warm as the couple. They met so many good people who invited them to their homes to stay away from the sun when they were traversing Sahara in the heat, more than they could count. In the primitive villages, the villagers were poor and couldn't understand Xiaosi and Xiaowen, and yet served them with the best food as if they were some honorary guests. Xiaosi and Xiaowen wanted to pay them with money, but the villagers waved their hands and rejected with innocent smiles, which showed their white teeth.

 

At night they arrived Zambia's capital, Lusaka, the hotel was expensive, and they couldn't find a place to camp. A local boy saw them in a dilemma, generously said, "let's go,  and you can stay with me."

 

At first, they were thrilled, but where they were heading to was in the middle of nowhere. Xiaowen started to feel afraid, and she thought of the news about Chinese people being robbed, she began to cry. Xiaosi trusted the boy without any reason. Finally, they arrived at his home, a truly broken house, which was about a dozen square meters with seven or eight residents. The tight space became lively due to Xiaosi and Xiaowen's arrival. The family cooked many delicious foods, invited them to sing and dance. The moon was round and bright that night, and it was the 2014's Mid Autumn Festival.

 

What touched Xiaosi, even more, was that the African boy got up really early in the morning, walled a long way to invite a photographer to take photos with them. It is an extremely extravagant and essential to ask a photographer to take pictures there. The African boy became a real friend in less than 24 hours.

 

The coldness of AK47.

There were uprisings behind primitivity. When they rode across North Africa, Egypt was having a riot. Because of this, Xiaosi carefully eliminated the war zones. However, they ran into danger in spite of that. The night of Sahara just arrived, but the dreadful storm came. They squinted to find a place to take shelter and saw a giant hole. Xiaosi and Xiaowen rushed toward it. When they got closer, their hearts stopped a beat. There were people in the hole. Should they run? It was the intersection of the Egypt government and rebels. If they ran, they could be shot on sight.

 

They were in a dilemma, and Xiaosi's palms sweated. He had no time to think, he told Xiaowen to lie on the ground, and he went forward alone. It was only a few meters, but it felt like the longest road he had never walked. His footsteps were heavy, and every step seemed like he was getting closer to death.

 

Finally, he came behind those two people; Xiaosi was soaked in sweat. He set his mind and said, "hello," loudly. The next moment, an AK47 was pressed against his forehead. The gun was cold, but his heart was colder. He thought he was doomed, and what was going to happen to Xiaowen.

 

Thankfully, the gun didn't go off accidentally, and they encountered the governments' army. After they stated their nationality and put up harmless smiles, they were lucky and came back from the dead. They climbed out of the hole, which was filled with machine guns and soldiers. During the last 40 kilometers to Luxor, they were escorted by three groups of polices to the hotel.

 

Witnessed by the Nile.

"Xiaowen, let's get married if everything is perfect." On May 12th, 2014, on the sixth anniversary of the first time they met, they boarded the cruise from Egypt to Sudan. They met five Chinese travelers while waiting for the ship. "Five people are just enough for a wedding. I know it is meant to be!" Xiaosi knelt on one knee, proposed to this woman, who had been with him through thousands of miles, life, and death. Xiaowen said, yes.

 

That was the best journey on the Nile. The ship was as crowded as the Spring Festival Travel Rush, and the only venue was a small space on the deck. Rings were iron rings they picked up on the road, wedding cars were two crabby bicycles, wedding gowns were two waterproof jackets, the wedding feast was a bottle of Sprite, a few milk candies, and peanuts. The five travelers they met was the host, bridesmaid, groomsman, photographer, and guest.

 

It was not the outdoor wedding she dreamed about, but Xiaowen felt happy from the bottom of her heart. It was unique and exceptional.

 

When they exchanged the rings, the new sun jumped out of the Sahara desert. They embraced each other in the glow; that moment was eternal.

 








Goodbye Cape of Good Hope.

They had traveled for 480 days, and the journey reached the climax when they were 30 kilometers away from Cape of Good Hope. That day had a strong storm, and they could barely walk as if it was the last challenge. And because of this, they ran into a magic house halfway upon the mountain. The house was made of glass, and it was empty except a giant couch and a piano. The house's owner was a couple who were over 70 years old. They welcomed Xiaosi and Xiaowen, who were totally wet, to stay for the night.

 

In the morning, they were wakened by the sound of waves crashing the shore. When they opened their eyes, they saw the endless sea outside the window. The day was sunny after the rain, and the rising sun turned the house into a golden palace. Beautiful piano music poured in from the other room. The last day of their journey in Africa was like a fairy tale.

 

Just like that, Xiaosi, who only dreamed of going to Tibet, accidentally ride 22,000 kilometers and arrived at Cape of Good Hope in Africa. Xiaowen, who had never left her home, followed her love, spent 480 days on the road, and became a new person.

 

They embraced each other on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, looked at the running and roaring waves, yelled uncontrollably, "Good to be alive." "Why?" "Because we can see the world!"

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