“I rode my bicycle around the world”
I knew that there was a lot more to this world than the pictures we saw on the internet and I wanted to see it with my own eyes
All around the world you tend to find the most amazing countries, oceans, places and people. The adventurous story of Jemin Park and Jaeuk Kim is most definitely one of those stories you want to tell your grandchildren one day. This extraordinary adventure started with two guys that wanted to see the world from their own perspective and not what the internet and news had to offer.
“I knew that there was a lot more to this world than the pictures we saw on the internet and I wanted to see it with my own eyes” Jemin said.
This past week this two guys from South Korea had eMalahleni in abuzz, everybody wanted to know more about these cyclists entering our town and why.
Jemin and Jaevk started a once-in-a-lifetime journey around the world on their bicycles on November 15, 2011 in South Korea and cycled their way through more than 74 countries these past four years and until now they have travelled about 68 218km. With so many unprepared for obstacles during this adventure they never even had a thought of giving up. Some countries like Sudan denied their passports because of their nationality and threw them back a mile or two.
“We had many bad obstacles, many troubles but we are still smiling” Jemin had to say.
The worst situation for Jemin was the second winter in Central Asia where it was -20 degrees and all resources of water was frozen.
“Everything was frozen, even the water in my water bottle, and all I wanted was water to drink,” Jemin said.
It was only at Jemin’s pit stop in Hanoi the capital city of Vietnam, where he met Jaeuk and travelled to Iran with him. Their paths then separated a few times but found each other at various places such as Turkey and Austria. After one year has past Jemin and Jaeuk reunited in Bulgaria and decided to travel Africa together.
Jemin Park, Keegan Longueira and Jaeuk Kim during their route through Kenya.
They cycled among Africa and visited places like Cairo, Ethiopia and Kenya, this is where they met Keegan Longueira, the guy that brought them to eMalahleni. Keegan was busy doing the cycle tour Cairo to Cape Town, this route took him through one of the most dangerous roads in Africa named the Bandit highway where he luckily met Jemin and Jaeuk, the three guys exchanged personal details and went their own way.
Keegan said,
“After six months I made contact with them and asked them when they will be in South Africa and they replied in two months time”
On September 4, Jemin and Jaeuk achieved their destination where they enjoyed several days of relaxing and living a normal life, thanks to Keegan.
”I have missed showering, wi-fi and electricity so much,” Jaevk added. “We have been warned about the dangers of South Africa, but I am not afraid just careful and South Africa is our choice of the best country we have travelled, the people are so kind and our host family is very nice,” Jemin said.
After their stay in eMalahleni they will take the road towards Swaziland, Lesotho and Cape Town, where their final destination lies. After this achievement they would like to conquer another three continents and will not back down.
With a journey like this they don’t miss anything but gain a world full of knowledge.
“I have learned what freedom feels like, what different cultures, races and nationalities there is and the most important of all how to live with just myself,” Jemin finally said.
