Eating and sleeping outdoors were common occurrences during their journey.
Yi Zhijiao, 63, is the leader of the Chutian Cycling Team; Hu Runsheng, 68; Li Zejiang, 73; Bao Jiguang, 65; Cheng Shangen, 70…
Over 92 days, they cycled 5,100 kilometers, visiting four Southeast Asian countries (Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam). Yesterday at 10:30 am, the five seniors walked out of Wuchang Railway Station and returned to their hometown after more than three months away. Amid flowers and applause, the elders shared stories from their trip with the welcoming crowd.
[Most Troublesome]
Language barriers meant relying on gestures
Being in a foreign country with no common language was the most troublesome part. Team leader Yi Zhijiao said that in most situations, they had to communicate with gestures. What seemed like simple, understandable signals were actually not so straightforward, and even led to some funny misunderstandings.
Once, while cycling through the mountainous areas of Laos, it was getting dark and everyone’s stomachs were growling. They decided to buy some rice to cook congee. At a house halfway up the mountain, a middle-aged couple with three children watched curiously as a group of elderly men dressed in colorful cycling gear arrived.
“Do you have any rice?” Yi Zhijiao asked the man, gesturing the act of eating. The man said something incomprehensible, then stared at them blankly.
Out of options, Yi Zhijiao pressed his palms together as if scooping water and brought his hands to his mouth. The man smiled slightly and turned to go back inside.
After a while, a bowl of rice was brought out. Yi Zhijiao shook his head—it wasn’t enough—and the man went back inside again, returning with another bowl.
In desperation, Yi Zhijiao picked out a few grains of rice from the bowl. The man whispered something to the woman, who went inside and returned with yet another bowl of uncooked rice.
The five seniors laughed and gave a thumbs-up.
[Most Touching]
Armed militiamen offered protection
One of the most memorable experiences for the five seniors was in a village in Cambodia. After a day of cycling, they were tired and started setting up their tents to rest.
Then, a man approached, shouting loudly, drawing a growing crowd of villagers. Perhaps someone among them knew they were Chinese and called a phone number for Yi Zhijiao to answer.
“Hello!” To their surprise, a Chinese voice came through the receiver—though slightly accented, it still felt familiar to Yi Zhijiao. The caller asked about their destination and then said, “I understand. Please stay safe!”
Half an hour later, two young armed men in camouflage uniforms arrived. The five seniors looked at each other in silence. One of the young men laid down on a table, while the other rested on a hammock strung between two trees. Yi Zhijiao realized—they were there to protect them.
[Most Delicious]
Cooking three home-style dishes abroad
Along the way, the seniors were quite frugal, mostly cooking meals with the pots they had brought along.
In Cambodia, about one and a half months after leaving Wuhan, they started craving meat. Fortunately, the town they reached had pork and vegetables for sale.
Although they didn’t usually cook at home, they had to fend for themselves on the road. The five men divided up tasks, using two stones to prop up an iron pot. After an hour, they prepared three fragrant, home-style dishes: stir-fried bitter melon with pork, stir-fried cucumber with pork, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes—all mouthwatering.
They enjoyed that meal immensely.
[Most Unforgettable]
Three days exploring Angkor Wat
Though the seniors were generally thrifty, they splurged a little: each spent $40 to spend three days visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Also known as Angkor Temple, Angkor Wat is located in northwestern Cambodia. It is the best-preserved temple among the Angkor ruins, famous for its grand architecture and intricate bas-reliefs, and is the largest religious monument in the world.
Elder Li Zejiang said that the steps of Angkor Wat are steep and require climbing using both hands and feet. It is said that this symbolizes the many hardships one must endure to reach heaven.
The five elderly people insisted on climbing up, despite sweating profusely: “Coming to Cambodia without visiting Angkor Wat would definitely be a huge regret in life!”