Alltop.com

All sorts of inspiring and interesting travel news.

If you thought skipping around Europe after college with little more than a backpack, a train pass and a big beer budget was challenging, imagine heading out to see a large chunk of the Eastern Hemisphere with only $2 and a bicycle. In April 2001, Keiichi “Kei” Iwasaki of Japan became bored working for his father’s air-conditioning company and decided to set out for a biking adventure across his homeland with only 160 yen (about $2) in his pocket. Iwasaki enjoyed his joyride so much that he hopped on a ferry to South Korea and began biking west.

Over the past 8 years, Kei has visited 37 countries and traveled 28,000 miles (makes that 5 mile ride on the stationary bike seem easy, eh?), but his trip hasn’t been all sunshine and gumdrops—he has faced pirates, a rabid dog, arrest and marriage.

The biking fool, who funds his adventure by doing magic tricks on the street, is currently in Switzerland and plans to continue his journey down into Africa and across the Atlantic in the Americas. After Kei wraps up his journey, he wants to pen a book all about his travels. For now, you can keep up with Kei by checking out his blog.

By Annie Colbert.