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Dubai: Cycling around the world is already a big enough challenge. But cycling half the world on your own an even bigger one.
Tim Bogdanov, 23, and two friends planned to cycle from Gothenburg, Sweden, around the world, but now he is continuing the journey to Beijing alone.
He hopes to reach the Chinese capital in time for the Olympic Games.
Bogdanov was in Dubai last week on his way to Iran. From there he will cycle through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and then on to Beijing.
"We split up in Addis Ababa because my friends were tired after crossing the desert in Sudan.
"They went down to Cape Town and now I'm on my own, sticking to the plan to reach Beijing for the Olympic Games. I hope I'll get there in time, but there's lots of things to see on the way.
"Hopefully I'll make it, but it's hard to say when you're travelling by bike," he said.
Bogdanov had his bike serviced at a bike shop while in Dubai and stayed for a couple of days to process visas for his ongoing trip. He rested while he was here and also visited some places of interest.
"Dubai is amazing. It's great to see how they turned the desert into a modern city. These are the greatest buildings I have seen in my life," he said.
"I also really enjoyed Syria. It was the first Arab country I have been to and the people were great and really hospitable. In Sweden, the only thing you see about the Arab world is the war in Iraq on the news, so it was amazing to see these Arab countries in reality," he said.
So far, Bogdanov has cycled approximately 11,500km, and has had only two punctures.
His cycling compatriot Nino Jonsson, however, wasn't so lucky and had a cracked wheel while in Turkey.
He had to travel 400km back to Istanbul to wait for a new wheel to be delivered from Sweden, because the back wheels are a special type that cannot be replaced easily.
Bogdanov has also cycled through Yemen and Oman, but enjoyed the relaxing time in Dubai.
"I spent some time in Dubai city. I also went to Ski Dubai, because in Sweden I used to go skiing for two or three weeks a year and I haven't been for a while, so it was nice," he said.
He has an English blog which can be found at: www.romankonovalov.com/category/around-the-world-by-bicycle.
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