Ryan Pyle Blog: A Brief Break

Hello,

I just wanted to update everyone and let them know that at the moment I am in the midst of an epic 60 day - 20,000km - motorcycle journey around China.

Needless to say my days are filled trying not to get killed by crazed truck drivers and bus drivers. The two-wheeled life is a tough one in China. What does this have to do with photography? Well I'll be shooting during my entire trip and that will make me very happy. But it'll mean that between shooting everyday and riding almost 300km per day on dangerous roads, I'll have little time to update this blog. My hope is that you can still find time to connect with me on any of the following forums below. I'll be sure to continue updating my blog in mid-October upon my safe return to Shanghai.

In case you still wanted to follow our, Colin and I, motorcycle journey around China - you can follow us at: www.mkride.com

You can connect with us on: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE

The Middle Kingdom Ride wouldn't happen without our wonderful SPONSORS: BMW, Touratech, Airhawk, Pelican, Kodak, Oakley, Cardo Systems, Lowe Pro & Mandarin House.

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Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
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Ryan Pyle Blog: The Middle Kingdom Ride

Hello.

I just wanted to write a brief email to introduce you to a new project that I began working on today. It's name is "The Middle Kingdom Ride".

The project will involve both myself and my brother, Colin Pyle, circumnavigating China by BMW motorcycle. To date, no one has ever attempted such a journey; we have the opportunity to be the first. Our 60 day - 20,000km - journey will take us through some of the most remote and populated regions of the world. To say the least, it will be an epic journey. We left Shanghai, China this morning at 6am.

You can follow us on our dedicated website: www.mkride.com.

You can also follow us on our blog: www.mkride.com/blog

Colin and I will be writing throughout our journey with the goal of producing a co-authored book, as well as a documentary film and of course I'll be taking pictures the entire time. Our 60 day journey will take us on a "once in a lifetime" adventure. We hope that you opt to follow our journey and connect with us while we are on the road. We depart on Saturday August 14th 2010 @ 6am from my home in Shanghai, China.

Colin and I will be sure to stay in touch.

You can connect with us on: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE

The Middle Kingdom Ride wouldn't happen without our wonderful SPONSORS: BMW, Touratech, Airhawk, Pelican, Kodak, Oakley, Cardo Systems, Lowe Pro & Mandarin House.

--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
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Ryan Pyle Blog: The New China - Yes, it's a Lamborgini

Hello,

This picture above, and the post below was created by a good friend of mine, Jeffrey Parker. He was in Beijing earlier this week visiting a grocery store when he came past a PINK Lamborgini. Behind the wheel was a barely 20 year old women who clearly couldn't drive or park.

The post is interesting because it is a stark reminder that yes, with all the poverty and the messy politics of China, there are still a lot of people out there who can buy their favorite mistress (one of many no doubt) a pink Lamborgini - so she can drive it to pick up her Sunday groceries.

Check the original link, below, for more pictures.

Original LINK
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his series doesn't really need much explanation. But I'll set the stage. I was on my bicycle, just coming out of the Beijing Carrefour on Sunday afternoon, which of all the worst times to be in the Carrefour parking lot ranks about the top. Only a holiday Sunday it could be worse. So I'm navigating among untold numbers of newbie drivers in their newbie cars, and come upon this:

Is this really what it looks like? Surely it's a kit car -- a converted VW bug. I swing back around for a closer look. You can't quite tell, but it's an, er, sheila, at the wheel, as I suppose might be indicated by the color scheme.

And she's clearly a newbie. She's very unsure of her driving, and finally hops out. The young swain in the passenger seat hops in to finish the parallel parking, while she stands in the street watching.

Here's the dude, inspecting his parking job. Note the owner's shoes, which do not appear to be stock for this model.

No plates on this lovely urban getabout, but what's this? A rhinestone badge!

Couldn't do much about the glare, but this clearly is not a VW conversion kit car, as can be seen through the glass engine cover. That's hardly a surprise. I've only seen maybe two air-cooled veedubs in all my 20 years in China.

Yes, it's really, truly a pink Lambo Gallardo.

Yes, This is China.
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--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
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