Looking for ideas for your next trip? Look no further!

michael deveney

Living and working in Asia for some forty years has given me tremendous opportunities to experience places and cultures first-hand. Cycle trips have added the benefit of being close-up and, without doubt, the jeopardy of circumstance in the saddle can lead to a true sense of adventure. 'Asiatique' does all rather seep through, simply being there is usually enough to lift the spirits. As soon as you step off the plane...

Having a camera and phone to hand has enabled me to build a visual catalogue along the way. Let's face it, everyone can be a photographer now - almost! I have put together a collection of images here from my travels in this part of the world, plus the occasional commentary.

Working in Thailand, Vietnam and Japan for extended periods allowed for more of a focus on those countries, but trips further afield also feature.

Above: Kaihinmakuhari Station bike park, Chiba - overnight snow; The Nakasendo Trail, Gifu - tea break.

Below Top: L to R - Phu Chi Fah - the (not quite) view to Laos; Shifen, Taiwan - soggy sky lantern; Mt Fuji. - all wrapped up.

Below Middle: L to R - Chiang Mai - 40kms, coming up; Makuhari - time to ride home; Phu Kradueng - just finished, yay!

Below Bottom: Tail end of a typhoon in Japan - off to work; Loy Krathong - hoping for some luck! Ikaho Onsen - a bit froz!

Based in Thailand now, there has been scope for more in-country adventures as well as visits back to the old places with a little more time on my hands to explore.

The blogs are stand-alone and can be read in any order. The cycling ones date from a while back, but the road and rail trips are more recent. I have also created a series of 'galleries' and, while it's true that a picture says a thousand words, a few additional reflections don't go amiss in giving context to the locale or circumstances surrounding the shot.

For cameras it was point-and-shoot compacts when on a bicycle. For the others it was a Nikon 7000 and later a Sony α7II. To be honest, smartphone cameras are so good these days that an up-to-date Samsung Galaxy S model usually does the trick. I use Capture One for editing - colour rich, I know, but I like the vibrancy.