Bikepacking Turkey - Cultural Clash while cycling towards Middle East

🚲 Hello fellow traveler!🌎
I am Giant Cheerio, a bicycle traveler, exploring the world by bike since 2021!
Join me on an incredible journey as I continue my bikepacking adventure from Cappadocia to Iran. I'm excited to reunite with my cycling companion, Timo, and together, we make the perfect team for some unforgettable kilometres.
During our bikepacking trip, we encountered diverse people and engaged in fascinating conversations about culture and religion. Our journey took us through the heart of Turkey, a country that bridges Europe and the Middle East. We experienced the unique blend of traditions, history, and hospitality that define this extraordinary region.
One of the most remarkable moments of our journey was when we were warmly invited into the home of a Syrian family. The experience was both eye-opening and heartwarming, as we navigated cultural differences, shared stories, and enjoyed their incredible hospitality.
While cycling further east I have to admit, that I also felt a bit out of place in this cultural setting and observing the contrasts to my well known ''western bubble'' left me reflecting on the nuances of culture and my own sense of belonging.
🍀Thanks for being a part of my journey!
And now lean back & enjoy watching!
Cheerio, Goodbye, Salut & Adios!
🙌 Do you want to support my journey?
🏕 Kofi: ko-fi.com/giant_cheerio
🏕 Patreon: / giant_cheerio
0:00 Intro
01:04 Cappadocia
03:00 Turkish hospitality
06:48 Visa for Iran
08:45 Exploring Turkey
10:39 A night with a Syrian Family
14:53 Thoughts about culture
#BikepackingTurkey #CyclingAdventure #CulturalClash #MiddleEastTravel #BikepackingExpedition #TurkishCulture #AdventureCycling #CrossroadsOfEuropeAndAsia #CulturalExperiences #SyrianHospitality #CulturalDiversity #TravelVlog #BikingWithFriends #CappadociaToIran #CulturalReflections #RespectingDiversity

Пікірлер: 186

  • @andrewdutton1003
    @andrewdutton10037 ай бұрын

    You are a strong woman, and don't think any less of yourself for having Teimo by your side You are travelling in very different countries and cultures now, so i hope you both safe travels together Take care !!

  • @TheNtrLight

    @TheNtrLight

    6 ай бұрын

    And fyi these countries are safer than US, don't worry!

  • @cathye.9659
    @cathye.96597 ай бұрын

    I love your comments and honesty about being a woman. Iran will be even more challenging I suspect. Hugs. Stay safe.

  • @pmcmpc

    @pmcmpc

    7 ай бұрын

    It's generally much safer ... roads - assuming you avoid traffic clogged arteries - are less dangerous and the dog problem isn't nearly as severe. Majority of people will be very concerned with your safety given how few western travellers there are.

  • @JoePenaProductions
    @JoePenaProductions13 күн бұрын

    This particular episode seemed like I was watching a verité documentary on your travel through Turkey. Listening to your comments gave this a feeling of being poignant at times. So well done.

  • @tonnyimmink1617
    @tonnyimmink16177 ай бұрын

    I can't describe what you do to me when I'm watching your stories. there are emotions, my hard throbbing and tears in my eyes. will it be your honesty your purity your sincerity the way you tell your story, how you edited it, the music? I don't know what it is, I can't describe it, what's going on? I love it, happy for you with what you're doing. so thank you sincerely for creating and sharing your story. hopefully you are doing well. Have a safe journey wherever you are and wherever it will take you.

  • @Unptitpandaroux

    @Unptitpandaroux

    7 ай бұрын

    I have the same feeling, but you put some words on it, this feeling of mind liberty

  • @yaesew8441
    @yaesew84414 күн бұрын

    Starkes Video und interessante Infos, die ihr teilt. Vor allem deine emotionale Reise war spannend. Weiterhin gute Fahrt der Sonne entgegen.

  • @andreaseckenom3139
    @andreaseckenom31397 ай бұрын

    Es macht einfach Spaß deine Reise zu verfolgen. Echt gut gemacht. Eine gute Reise & Zeit weiterhin. LG Andreas

  • @giantcheerio

    @giantcheerio

    Ай бұрын

    ✨🙏 danke dir !

  • @jamesmc1272
    @jamesmc12722 ай бұрын

    The way you express your feeling is very nice. I respect all cultures but the western enlightened christian society. is great.

  • @MediaRedia

    @MediaRedia

    2 ай бұрын

    Western enlightened Christian societies? Wow, talk about arrogant BS! 😂

  • @mariocouture1596
    @mariocouture15967 ай бұрын

    Wow, amazing chapter of your journey! Glad you had Temo with you as a companion but also for security. He seems like a cool and good guy. 👏👍

  • @stevemiell4555
    @stevemiell45557 ай бұрын

    So much admiration for you...both. You give a great insight into the cultural differences as you travel east, keep this stuff coming!

  • @frankgelling5840
    @frankgelling58407 ай бұрын

    Enjoy your video. I tour myself and will turn 76 this month. Looking forward to my next long tour in 2024. You keep motivating me. Be safe.

  • @theduckrc211v4
    @theduckrc211v44 ай бұрын

    I miss you Cheerio !!!

  • @evanlouis8853
    @evanlouis88537 ай бұрын

    Your videos bring me joy. I stop what I am doing to watch them. I so envy your adventure. I am 67 and dream of such things. Who knows...perhaps I will start my own?

  • @BB-vh3cb
    @BB-vh3cb7 ай бұрын

    It really nice to see you again on bike, than you you. I really appreciate you being honest about yours experience.

  • @chris24j48
    @chris24j487 ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed your video!Godspeed you on your journey.

  • @vamosmoya
    @vamosmoya21 күн бұрын

    Tu es une personne sensible, intelligente et raisonnée. Tes vidéos prouvent que tu apprends autant sur toi que sur le monde. Je ne te connaissais pas, mais j'aime beaucoup ta philosophie de vie. Merci de partager des bribes de ton âme. xx

  • @chrisedwards4403
    @chrisedwards44037 ай бұрын

    Pilgrim pioneer from the peloton, I wish you peace and fulfilment. You are in my thoughts.

  • @sarileroy7050
    @sarileroy70507 ай бұрын

    Wauw, your video's are becoming soooo professional! They are just beautiful. Thank you for sharing your journey in this authentic way. Keep going!

  • @sergiomas7001
    @sergiomas70017 ай бұрын

    Sei riuscita a trasmettere la tua emozione di questo viaggio. . Brava e grazie

  • @lukyluke993
    @lukyluke9937 ай бұрын

    All the best to both of you for the long journey ahead. Love to see videos about both traveling alone and with mates. Greetings from Germany

  • @TerryRamsey-jg8fm
    @TerryRamsey-jg8fm7 ай бұрын

    Great 👍 to see you back... I enjoy your videos, and pray always for your safety... Thank you....

  • @dodginglions5163
    @dodginglions51637 ай бұрын

    That was awesome!😎thanks for sharing this video!

  • @timhackenberg1128
    @timhackenberg11287 ай бұрын

    First comment in my life :) love what ur doing! keep on pedaling

  • @hpvspeedmachine4183

    @hpvspeedmachine4183

    7 ай бұрын

    “Ai miei tempi se chiamava La vojia de scopa’” Cit.

  • @glenmurray8447
    @glenmurray84477 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your adventures and observations

  • @davidharris4062
    @davidharris40627 ай бұрын

    What a brilliant video and experience you are having, respect to you

  • @markperry222
    @markperry2227 ай бұрын

    Nice to see you posting again. 👍 I had a thought on remote rural culture, that might have parallels with your experience. When travelling in SW China I discovered a couple of barriers to using translation apps. Literacy levels can sometimes be low, especially for older people, and not everyone speaks Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) as a first language, and even among the people who do there is often local dialect.

  • @Louis-ic1nn
    @Louis-ic1nn7 ай бұрын

    Great editing and honesty as usual. Very sensitively and respectfully presented, thank you for bringing this to my armchair and perhaps one day my wheels.

  • @maidbloke
    @maidbloke7 ай бұрын

    Your videos are getting better and better ❤

  • @paerts9511
    @paerts95117 ай бұрын

    love the film. Keep up the nice movies. Keep up that awesome spirit. And keep loving every moment

  • @Life_Is_A_Journey481
    @Life_Is_A_Journey4817 ай бұрын

    Thank you Giant Cheerio.. I am always touched and inspired by your videos. I also want to do bikepacking in future.

  • @stevenmccormick3659
    @stevenmccormick36597 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing, very interesting insights and observations. Keep safe both.

  • @richardlangford7590
    @richardlangford75907 ай бұрын

    Another great video ❤

  • @johnsmith-ke2sr
    @johnsmith-ke2sr7 ай бұрын

    Stay safe and stay independent. You have been so strong on this trip. Much respect.

  • @tiagothetaz
    @tiagothetaz7 ай бұрын

    What beautiful landscapes, what an incredible adventure... and what a contrast of cultures... I imagine that you really become introspective and reflective about the people along the way and what their lives are like. Thank you very much for sharing... Greetings from Brazil. ☺💯🏕🚲🙏

  • @Mokkel73
    @Mokkel737 ай бұрын

    Good to see you back!

  • @michaelzanotto8469
    @michaelzanotto84697 ай бұрын

    A extremely respectful insight about yourself and others. Thanks for sharing the contrasts in cultures. 🦘🇦🇺

  • @wildirishladdavy7965
    @wildirishladdavy79657 ай бұрын

    Good to see you again, thanks for sharing ☘️🐺☘️

  • @bicweld
    @bicweld7 ай бұрын

    You are so cool))) I watch you every time with great pleasure!))

  • @luigiseguro4713
    @luigiseguro47137 ай бұрын

    Way to go, Cheerio. I'm always checking on you here on KZread. On the road again.

  • @Baese_R
    @Baese_R7 ай бұрын

    It feels good to still see you travel safely. And I can't wait to see you travel through Armenia. I really ride there too, beginning my travels next summer. Though I wont ride through Turkey, but take the ferry across the Black Sea. I wish you and Timo only the best and safest travels and thank you for sharing your experiences.

  • @lisamirako1073
    @lisamirako10737 ай бұрын

    An extremely interesting and impressive video! Thank you very much!

  • @DC-lu5qs
    @DC-lu5qs6 ай бұрын

    I truly admire your attitude in approaching the things that you experience that are outside your comfort zone. Really inspirational on a human and spiritual level. You are making the world a better place.

  • @roger.l.31
    @roger.l.317 ай бұрын

    What a wonderful video! Bravo!!!🔥🔥🔥

  • @andrelloyd4010
    @andrelloyd40107 ай бұрын

    A wonderful capture with lovely photography - so enjoyable !

  • @Jeffersonpereiraleite
    @Jeffersonpereiraleite7 ай бұрын

    Wow, your partner wears Havaianas sandals, which are a tradition for us Brazilians. A hug to you guys, from Brazil!!! I wish you every success in your bikepacking 😁

  • @ldosucowboy3279
    @ldosucowboy32797 ай бұрын

    Very interesting cultural experience. This kind of individual made video is a good way to get the real picture. I'm glad you take time to interact. Thanks from USA😊🇺🇸

  • @Himalayan_mysteries
    @Himalayan_mysteries7 ай бұрын

    Welcome back Giant 😊 Good Luck 😊

  • @ascot1049
    @ascot10497 ай бұрын

    Brilliant as always. You are a champion.

  • @chrisbassett1269
    @chrisbassett12697 ай бұрын

    Be safe in you travels. Great videos

  • @davidgutesleben1266
    @davidgutesleben12666 ай бұрын

    Einfrohes, gutes, friedliches Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr 2024🎄🧑‍🎄⭐🎁🍗🥗🥮🍭😁

  • @arcoulant87
    @arcoulant877 ай бұрын

    Great story telling ,chapeau and rubber side down.

  • @omargrattoni3241
    @omargrattoni32416 ай бұрын

    Hola.. excelente experiencia... conocimiento y gracias por compartir

  • @peterbristow7055
    @peterbristow7055Ай бұрын

    Brilliant cultural education vidio, loving this adventure. You are very brave.

  • @khmansour1
    @khmansour1Ай бұрын

    طريقتك في التعبير رائعة وبسيطة و صادقة.

  • @BANDW1
    @BANDW17 ай бұрын

    Congrats, videos and very interesting reflections

  • @Tarmaccyclocross
    @Tarmaccyclocross7 ай бұрын

    You are one awesome woman 🚴🏽‍♀️👍

  • @eddiesedventures...3106
    @eddiesedventures...31067 ай бұрын

    You're a great ambassador!

  • @vicky_uk_05
    @vicky_uk_057 ай бұрын

    great storytelling ❤

  • @danielbeddows2089
    @danielbeddows20893 ай бұрын

    As others have said, totally beautiful video. Amazing music, video, and how you can express your thoughts.

  • @giantcheerio

    @giantcheerio

    3 ай бұрын

    🙏

  • @brianchang7710
    @brianchang7710Ай бұрын

    The first time I watched you and it was just beautiful and extremely touching the real life story you told.

  • @Whodaflunkit
    @Whodaflunkit4 ай бұрын

    Ahhh your videos get me so excited :D

  • @jounijoutjarvi1783
    @jounijoutjarvi17837 ай бұрын

    I really like these videos/stories of yours and enjoy watching them. Thanks again. P.S. The offer is still valid (you--->to Finland) 😊

  • @Tommyhillfinger5
    @Tommyhillfinger54 ай бұрын

    I flew to India for winter biking it's been fun with every day to learn how to stop at any moment

  • @corneliuspumpkins
    @corneliuspumpkins6 ай бұрын

    This is such a great video ❤

  • @sfinnera1
    @sfinnera15 ай бұрын

    Really great video!

  • @davejack3054
    @davejack30547 ай бұрын

    I have watched a lot of your videos over time but I think this maybe one of your best. I suspect that the culture differences you are seeing will expand your mind in ways that nobody, including yourself, could not predict. This is why we travel, no? I am really looking forward to how things go for you in Iran, somewhere I have wanted to go for a long time!

  • @matt281075
    @matt2810756 ай бұрын

    👌👍take care thanks for sharing

  • @abuzerkadayf2445
    @abuzerkadayf24455 ай бұрын

    I waitng your iran videos .

  • @alafenetre81
    @alafenetre817 ай бұрын

    Your comments and feelings are useful to hear.

  • @robclarke5438
    @robclarke54387 ай бұрын

    Fantastic Video

  • @user-fj5wj6he3t
    @user-fj5wj6he3t7 ай бұрын

    Красиво снято!

  • @shred3005
    @shred30057 ай бұрын

    Every time I see something about Cappadocia, seems so touristy compared to when I backpacked through Turkey 30 years ago. It shouldn't be surprising of course and I feel glad that I travelled there way back then however it did make some elements of travel really hard because we didn't come across many other tourists and support for independent travellers wasn't broadly available. Inter town and Inter city buses were widespread so that wasn't too bad but chokingly full of smokers. It was a great experience though. It's a big country to cross by bike though and I can certainly I imagine the challenges as a solo woman. My girlfriend at the time was harassed even if I was close by within ear shot.

  • @selcukcilek555

    @selcukcilek555

    7 ай бұрын

    That's time travel. Some things change to the better .Others getting worse. Turkiye made a huge step in smoking free areas in the last 15 years and busses are one part of them. The infiltration by more more tourists (overtourism) is something which a lot of places experience. Like Venice wants to charge tourists to enter the town in peak hours. Nevertheless adapting to the surrounding and culture is one option of getting more easily accepted by locals .

  • @DW-rb1if
    @DW-rb1if7 ай бұрын

    Someday day I will do this too (travelling the world by bicycle). This year I did my first solo bikepacking trip 2 weeks across Italy. But at first I need to save up a bit for a few years and can at least watch great videos lile this on YT

  • @danielfabreponce7079
    @danielfabreponce70797 ай бұрын

    Felicitaciones, otro gran video. Que delgada estás, todo bien? Buena ruta. Saludos

  • @antp1125
    @antp11253 ай бұрын

    Great videos and what an amazing experience you are having. I was wondering what bike you used as I would like to go cycle touring this summer.

  • @dougmckinney7575
    @dougmckinney75757 ай бұрын

    Another great video, love your perspective and honesty. Say, what bicycle are you touring on and are you happy with a single chainring rather than a double or triple? Cheers Cheerio!!

  • @ahmadrezanazif6438
    @ahmadrezanazif64387 ай бұрын

    It's really exciting that you're coming all this way from Europe to Iran, my home country, I would be very glad to help you out if you need any information.

  • @paulsmakingmovies1451
    @paulsmakingmovies14517 ай бұрын

    Great video

  • @TerryRamsey-jg8fm
    @TerryRamsey-jg8fm5 ай бұрын

    😊I pray that you are o.k. haven't heard anything from you... No videos or a simple message that you are alive and well... Keep safe, and let your followers know how you are even if you're not riding... ✍️ write soon, you are missed❤ God is with you, just pray🙏

  • @mohamedworld28
    @mohamedworld287 ай бұрын

    انت أروع يوتيوبر رحالة

  • @kishor4156
    @kishor41567 ай бұрын

    Nice❤❤❤

  • @user-vj4iq6ji1y
    @user-vj4iq6ji1y4 ай бұрын

    It is nice to see your irritant mood to go away. Now you laugh, talk in good mood. This 🎉 is for your good mood!

  • @grahamrobson5954
    @grahamrobson59545 ай бұрын

    the music is beautiful

  • @user-il8fy5iu7g
    @user-il8fy5iu7g7 ай бұрын

    Stay safe, stay Giant Cheerio!🎉

  • @DEADLIESTMAN1
    @DEADLIESTMAN16 ай бұрын

    keep on rolling wheels !! 🚴🚴‍♂

  • @nxlutz
    @nxlutz7 ай бұрын

    At the point where you talked about the man and the sheep, I thought about the book, "The Little Prince", and his adventures. Lots of parallels. "Yeah, we did not want to buy any sheep." "As if we're from two different planets." From the book, "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

  • @Said.Benfares-ik
    @Said.Benfares-ik6 ай бұрын

    I wish you success and safety. We welcome you to Morocco, a country of security and safety ❤❤❤❤❤

  • @user-hx6dg4ml5b
    @user-hx6dg4ml5b7 ай бұрын

    i❤this ❤channel

  • @kenprice1047
    @kenprice10477 ай бұрын

    Good luck in Iran. Stay safe.

  • @oscargil665
    @oscargil6655 ай бұрын

    it's great to see people doing such challenges. Could you please share your route?

  • @chrisbassett1269
    @chrisbassett12697 ай бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @klausmusterfau3087
    @klausmusterfau30877 ай бұрын

    Bedankt!

  • @erencavdar
    @erencavdar15 күн бұрын

    Well as a Turkish if I had to explain Turkey with a few words I would also do it by the same. Turkey offers so much cultures and literally different cultures in every corner of the country. Also Turkish people can get confused and didnt get the way of thinking of his opposite. We have complicated politics and socialogy. Now you have experienced one of the cultures and got little bit closer to middle east. And our culture as a Turkic people and the culture from this geography is generally gets mixed and gets more tolerant but as you saw in this example syrians or some group of kurds can be more in the ends. Going to middle east by Turkey is a good choice for seeing things changing slowly and not directly.

  • @TerryRamsey-jg8fm
    @TerryRamsey-jg8fm5 ай бұрын

    ☝🏿👸❤Take care, and be safe..😊

  • @TerryRamsey-jg8fm

    @TerryRamsey-jg8fm

    4 ай бұрын

    Hope and pray all is well with you...😊

  • @wobblywheeler6682
    @wobblywheeler66827 ай бұрын

    Be VERY careful in IRAN. 😑 STAY SAFE!!! 🙏

  • @zzip0
    @zzip07 ай бұрын

    I want to see how you will drive in Iran as a woman... It will be fun!

  • @fensterputzernuernberg
    @fensterputzernuernberg7 ай бұрын

    Great video .. what camera are you using when on the bike ?

  • @biran44r
    @biran44r7 ай бұрын

    the contrast increases as you approach the cities near iranian border...

  • @egbertmulder5989
    @egbertmulder59895 ай бұрын

    Hallo Cheerio, wie geht es dir? Wir haben so lange nichts von dir gehort? Hi Cheerio, are you okay? We haven’t heard from you a long time, hope you are well and in good health and spirit! Warm greetings from a fellow cyclist 🎉❤

  • @ema-b1h
    @ema-b1h7 ай бұрын

    What you described your experience ‏Might get more extreme in Iran you gotta learn how to protect your self and stay in your core and filter annoyances and what are your triggers and limits and to just filter things from letting everything inז The thing about traveling I think is to just passing through and just try and stay a little more light and excepting from inside it doesn't mean you have to agree with everything but you don't need to identify ‏Everything Other people say or do it's really about developing a more subtle lightweight curiosity than just diving into every interaction and every person it's just passing and it's not your fault that they think of certain things or that they might make you feel A certain way.

  • @magaars1974
    @magaars19747 ай бұрын

    you are cool 👍