Live and cycle in Goa?

Girl Gone Goa: Ulrike Bemvinda Rodrigues

Sure, read all about it on my blog  Girl Gone Goa: travel, sex, magic and cycling in an Indian State. I wrote over 60 stories on life in Goa as a single woman of Goan descent in 2008/2009.

Since I’m a freelance writer, so you’ll also find full-text newspaper and magazine articles that I wrote for various publications, including columns in Momentum Magazine; a profile of me in Goa Today magazine (Goa Today), an opinion piece on tourism and garbage (Herald), a discussion of the  India goverment NRI Commission’s “Know Goa” program (Goa Today), and an introduction to the Goa Cycle Club and cycling in Goa (Herald).

Enjoy, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, or related writing assignments.

New Zealand photo gallery

“Why cycle North Island?” asks an incredulous Auckland bike mechanic

True: it’s expensive, hilly, and the cars drive really fast. But I cycled a few areas of the North Island independently for a month and discovered that from a bicycle seat it’s the little details and moments that make it worthwhile.

Mamaku, North Island, New Zealand

New Zealand North Island travelogues (photos with commentary)

Coromandel Peninsula including: Miranda Road, Pipiroa, Thames, Tararu, Pauanui, Tairua, Whitianga, Kuaotunu, Coromandel Town and the Kawau Kat ferry into Auckland (50 photos).

Central region including: Auckland, Papakura, Pukehohe, Tuakau, Pukekawa, Huntly, Waingaro Hot Springs, Raglan, Hamilton, Cambridge, Lake Karapiro, Tirau, Mamaku, Rotorua, Murupara, Galatea, Taupo, Tarawera, Te Pohue, Eskdale, Napier, Wellington, and a Tranz Scenic train to Auckland (200 photos).

Tarawera

Raglan

Rotorua

Lake Taupo

Belize photo gallery

Paved roads join Mayan temples to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east

Belize is a small country in Central America, just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula (“Mayan Riviera”). I traveled by bicycle in Belize for three weeks in January 2006 to sightsee as well as participate in an adventure race called “Temple To Temple”.

Caye Caulker, Belize, Central America (Click to view photo gallery)

Belize travelogues (photo galleries with commentary):

Independent bike travel in: Belize City, Caye Caulker, Belize Zoo, the Coastal Highway, Gales Point, Dangriga, Hopkins village and the Placencia Peninsula.

Temple to Temple bike race including: Placencia village, The Placencia hotel (race start), the Toledo district (Conejo, Bella Vista, Lubaantun temple), Hopkins village, the Coastal Highway, Jaguar Paw, Mountain Pine Ridge, Caracol temple, San Ignacio, Western Highway, Caves Branch, Hummingbird Highway, and the race finish.

Western highway	Caye Caulker	Barrier reef
Lubantuun temple	Unitedville	Humingbird Highway

All images © 2008 Ulrike Rodrigues.

Like a photo? Order a print!

Cuba photo gallery

Cycle from Varadero to Vinales along the Circuito Norte

Got two weeks for a holiday? Sit on a bike instead of a barstool! I discovered fourteen days is plenty of time to explore Cuba’s Circuito Norte by bike. From resort-town Varadero, through Havana, to the peaceful Vinales valley, it’s a perfect, paved, almost-flat view of the island’s less known northwestern coast.

Matanzas (east of Havana), Cuba (click to open gallery)

Cuba travelogue (photo gallery with commentary):

Independent bike travel in: Varadero, Matanzas, Playa Jibacoa, Guanabo, Cojimar, La Habana (Havana), Vinales, Puerto Esperanza, Cayo Levisa, Play La Altura, Playa San Pedro, and Playa Baracoa.

I Recommend…

MAP:
The Rough Guide Map: Cuba – excellent 1:850,000 scale with contours & distance markers
READ:
Lonely Planet “Cycling Cuba” – a bit out of date (2002) and the routes are a bit picky, but good overall touring info and maps
Georgia Straight writer Andrew Scott’s experiences with casa particulars

WEBSITES:
- Cuba’s version of inexpensive B&B’s: www.casaparticular.info
- Hotels in a variety of price ranges: www.particularcuba.com
- Bike-friendly Skyquest flies economic direct flights from Vancouver to Cuba with no charge for bikes, and no need to box them (they provide a $5.00 plastic bag) www.sunquest.net
- Bicycles Crossing Borders: a Toronto-based organization that ships used bikes and parts to Cuba. www.bikestocuba.org

Cojimar

Havana

Vinales