The richest person

The Richest Man Author: Lin Chongru

On the afternoon of June 3, I rode to the Indian Cultural Museum in Teslin. The museum is located by Teslin Lake. There are two female employees inside. It costs 5 Canadian dollars to visit, which I feel is not worth it.

So I filled some hot water and left, continuing to ride towards Teslin. Less than three kilometers into the ride, when I arrived in Teslin, a cyclist came from the opposite direction. He had an oriental face, was not tall, had long and messy hair, his clothes seemed too big, his pants were so long that they dragged on the ground, and he had luggage on a trailer behind his bicycle. He waved at me happily, and I waved back at him, and he rode towards me.

"Are you Japanese?" He asked

“No, I’m Taiwanese. My name is Chung. And you? 』

“I’m from Japan, my name is Yamada. 』

“So where do you start? 』

“I rode here from Calgary. 』

I looked at his bike and gear, which were all very worn out, so he definitely didn't start in Calgary, so I asked him where he started. He said from Shanghai. I have been riding for two years and plan to ride for another four. It was difficult for the two of us to chat standing on the roadside, so I invited him to find a place to sit down. There happened to be a small bank nearby with stairs outside. We parked our bikes and sat on the stairs to chat.

“So where have you been since Shanghai? "I asked

“I started in Shanghai, then went to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, then to Malaysia, Indonesia, then to India, where I stayed for six months, then to Tajikistan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and then I was going to Turkey, but it was winter, so I didn’t go. 』

"oh! right! Türkiye is very cold in winter. I thought to myself

“I’m going to Russia. He then said

"You go to Russia!" ! ? I looked at him with wide eyes.

"right! I'm going to Russia. He laughed.

"You went to Russia in winter," I asked again in disbelief.

"right! I went to Russia, then to Finland, Sweden, Norway. "Thirty degrees below zero" He laughed even louder, his smile was very bright.

“When I went to Russia I met a lot of cyclists riding south, and I was the only one riding north,” he continued laughing. I looked at this man in surprise.

"Can I see your photo?" "I asked

"I don't have a cell phone."

"Where's the camera?" 』

"No"

"computer? "

“No, this is the only electronic device I have. He showed off his watch, a very ordinary electronic watch that looked like one that could be bought for a hundred dollars at a night market.

"FREE" He laughed

I'm amazed that there are people who travel without any electronic devices these days.

"So where are you going next?" "I asked

“Whitehorse, and then go canoeing. 』

"I just finished canoeing," I said.

"You just finished rowing"

"right! 』

“So you want to rent a canoe? "I asked

"No! I don't spend money

"Where are you going to find a canoe if you don't need to rent it?" 』

"I'll make one." He made a tree-cutting gesture and said to me with a smile

"I don't spend money on traveling," he continued.

"How is it possible that you don't spend money? Where does your food come from?" 』

“I went to ask the restaurant if they had any food they wanted to throw away that they could give me. He laughed.

"Do I need to get food every time?" "I asked

“My experience is probably half and half. He said

"Where's your fuel?" How do you get fuel for cooking? I then asked

“I went to a gas station and saw people trying to fill up their gas tank. I took out my fuel bottle and asked them if they would pay me to fill up the bottle. They asked how much it would cost and I said about 50 cents and they were willing to pay. 』I am speechless....

What an incredible way to travel, I must take a picture with him, I'll take out my camera.
"You want me to stand next to my bike?" He asked

Yamada with his bicycle and luggage

I said of course, and then I discovered that the tent tied to his car was a Hilleberg tent, which was the tent I had always dreamed of.

I pointed at the tent excitedly and said, "You use a Hilleberg tent? 』

"right! USD 1000 each. But FREE

"What the fuck?" How do you get a Hilleberg tent for free?

"I called their company and asked for it. At that time I was in Sweden, and I called their company and said, winter is coming, and I want to ride a bicycle to Finland, I don’t have a good tent, and I heard that your tent is the best, so give me one, and then they gave me one, hahahaha. He laughed out loud.

I continued to examine his bike and equipment.

He told me that his rear shifter was broken, so he just pulled the cable on the frame to change gears.

"Dry! So you can ride it too. 』

At this time I found that his bike did not have a front derailleur. I pointed at the front sprocket in surprise and said, "You don't have a front derailleur? 』

"right! So when I want to change the front gear, I just hook the chain onto the chainring with my hands, so my hands are all black and dirty, hahahaha.

He rode a bicycle without a front derailleur from Boston to near Whitehorse, a journey of more than 6,000 kilometers. He showed his greasy hands and said

This guy is crazy.

At this time, a local came over on a dune buggy, and Yamada talked to him about the Indian decorations on the roof of the bank. I didn't quite understand what he was saying, and a drizzle started to fall from the sky.

I ran to collect my camera cover and backpack cover. After putting away the camera, he went back to listen to them talking about Indian culture. Yamada asked him if he knew where there were professionals who knew how to make a canoe. The local said he didn't know. After chatting for a while, he said goodbye to us and left.

I only rode less than 70 kilometers that day, although I had originally planned to ride 100 kilometers. I had a strong intuition that I couldn't just pass him by like this, otherwise I would regret it for the rest of my life.

So I told Yamada that I originally wanted to ride more because it was only 4:30, but I wanted to talk to you more, so what do you think about us finding a place to camp and chat here tonight?

Yamada said he originally wanted to ride more, but why not? So the two of us started thinking about where to camp. He said he wanted to go into the bank and ask if there was any place to camp there, and I said okay.

We entered the bank and met a lady. Yamada asked her if there was any place where we could camp for free, because we were bicycle travelers and didn't have that much money to pay for a tent. The lady thought for a moment and said that there was a museum three kilometers to the north that might be a good place, and she would call and ask for us.

Then she went into the office to make a phone call. While the two of us were waiting outside, I told Yamada that I had just passed by the museum and I thought it should be OK. After a while, the lady came out and said that the staff there said it was okay, but we were not allowed to make a fire and had to stay away from the museum building. We thanked him and headed out to the museum. He rode in front and I rode behind.

He happily waved and greeted every oncoming car, regardless of whether they responded to him or not. In the middle, I saw him bending down and hooking the chain of the front sprocket with his hand, and it actually changed gears. What a genius.

The museum was less than three kilometers away, and we arrived there quickly. We went in to say hello, but the two female employees firmly said that we could not camp here. Yamada asked, but a lady at the bank had just called us and said that it was okay. One of the female employees picked up the phone and said she would ask. After hanging up, she said that their supervisor was coming and asked us to wait for him.

After a while, a middle-aged man who looked like a young KFC grandpa came over and told us with a smile that the law did not allow camping here, but we should stay away from the buildings and not make a fire, and he would pretend not to see it.

After thanking him, we went to the lakeshore, where there was a building that stored traditional Indian canoes. The door was locked, and the roof extended toward the lake. The ground was covered with wooden floors. We decided to camp here. I said you have a good tent and I have good food, so we sleep in your tent and eat my food. He said yes happily and kept thanking me.

Where we pitched our tent

"How old are you? "I asked

『20』

“So you left Japan when you were 18. 』

"right! We chatted while setting up the tent.

After the tent was set up, I took out my Shin Ramen and told him that it was only a little after six o'clock, so we would eat instant noodles first and then cook potatoes later.

"Wow~ Shin Ramen." He looked at the Shin Ramen in my hand happily, as if he hadn't eaten it for a long time.

"Would you like a little marijuana before you eat your noodles?" He asked

"OK! 'I thought to myself, why not give it a try.

"Have you ever smoked?" He asked

"No"

"Wow!" Thank you so much for letting me treat you to your first marijuana session. I'm so happy. He said

What's so happy about this, I thought.

"I don't smoke or drink, but I smoke a little marijuana," he continued.

"I have read the information. In fact, marijuana is less addictive and harmful to the body than cigarettes. But I don't know why most countries ban marijuana but not cigarettes." I said

"right! Do you know why? Because it's hard to make your own cigarettes, but it's easy to make your own marijuana. That's why tobacco companies lobby governments to ban marijuana. 'He replied to me. I think it makes some sense.

He started to roll the marijuana while I lit a fire and started to boil hot water. After he rolled the marijuana, he handed it to me. I took two puffs and didn't feel anything special. He told me to smoke slower and deeper. I did as he said, but still didn't feel anything. It was almost the same as a cigarette. At this time the water was boiling, I threw the noodles in to cook, and when they were cooked I handed them to him. He smiled and said to me, "Do you feel it now?"

Your eyes look different. It was then that I realized that I did feel it, a kind of drunken state. Gradually the feeling became stronger and stronger, a bit like being drunk but not quite. Time seemed to stop and yet seemed to pass quickly. I knew clearly what I was doing at this second, but the previous second seemed like a long time ago. I thought to myself that this thing was really dangerous.

He was making a joint, and in his hand was a knife that had been handmade for him in Finland, with his name engraved on it and the handle made from elk antler.

"How do you feel now?" ' he asked.

"I think this thing is scary," I said.

"NO!" You don't have to be afraid of him, he just makes you high.'

Yamada's eyes drooped after smoking marijuana. Am I the same? I have no idea.

"If you don't spend money, where does your marijuana come from? "I asked.

"If you see someone with hair like mine, they usually smoke weed, and I ask them for it. People who smoke weed are happy to share their weed. 'He said.

"You say you don't spend money, but there are always places where you have to spend money, right? I didn't continue the topic of marijuana. I asked him while eating noodles.

"have. VISA. I have to spend money to apply for a VISA. 』

"Where's the plane ticket?" You flew here. 』

"right! I had to pay for the plane ticket, but it only cost me $100 to fly from Norway to Boston. Hahaha"

"100 US dollars!" ! ! How did you find a flight from Norway to Boston for only $100! ! ! ? "I asked in surprise.

“I found it using the computer at the visitor center. "Hahahaha!" He laughed.

"You said you wanted to make your own canoe for rafting, but how are you going to prepare food for two weeks? It's in the wilderness and there are no restaurants for you to beg for food. 』

"Not two weeks!" It’s two months! I'm going to float to Fairbanks. I will prepare a big bag of rice and then I go fishing. Ha ha ha ha"

“You’re going to float to Fairbanks! ! ! ? I asked him in shock

"right! Someone has done this. Four Frenchmen, two years ago they made a sampan out of barrels and planks, which was not a real canoe. He said

"oh! I've seen the video, but I didn't know they were floating over to Fairbanks. What about when we get to Fairbanks? I asked

"Then I have two plans. One is to float to Fairbanks and then ride a bicycle to Inuk. Do you know Inuk? 』

"I know, take the Dempster Highway." I nodded back to him.

"right! I want to go in winter.

"You have to go in winter!" ! ? I thought to myself, this guy is crazy

"right! I want to go in winter. And then figure out a way, maybe take a plane, to a research station north of Inuk, where there's only two people there, or three people. Spend the winter there, and then ski to the North Pole in March or April. It's 900 kilometers from there to the North Pole. 'He showed me a map and told me his plan.

“Why March and April? "I asked

"Because in the winter it's too cold and it's dark 24 hours a day, and after May it's always daytime and it's too hot so the snow melts and you can't ski across. 』

Dry! Fucking Crazy! But it's so cool!

“Two people have done this before, and I want to be the third. 』

"Then the second plan is to ride south all the way to Ushuaia. I think this plan has a higher chance of success because crossing the North Pole requires a lot of good equipment, which is a bit difficult. 』

“But when you are in Panama you have to take a boat to Colombia, there are no roads there, and you have to pay for it then. I said

"I walked." He replied to me

"You have to walk!" ! ! ? 』

“Yes, it can be walked in two weeks. It’s all jungle, but there are roads. Some people do this, although not many. 』

I never knew there was a way...

"How did you get started?" "I asked.

“I found a job after graduating from high school, quit after four months, bought a plane ticket to Shanghai, and then I started. 'He said with a smile.

“When I left Japan, I had about $8,000 in the bank. I have lived on that $8,000 until now, and I will continue to use the money for another four years. 'He continued.

“8,000 dollars to travel the world for six years? "I asked

"right! What do you think? Hahaha! 』

"Where's your bicycle?" You have to buy a bicycle. 'I asked.

"I picked up my bicycle, hahaha." 'He really likes to laugh.

"Picked it up?" 'I'm very curious.

"right! When I was in Shanghai, I saw a bicycle. I observed it for several days and I was sure that no one wanted it. Although it was broken in some places, it was still rideable. Then I started. What do you think? Hahaha"

"So what did you take with you when you left Japan? . I asked him in shock.

He pointed to a tattered gray-blue backpack, which he estimated to hold about 15 liters. “I carried this with some clothes in it and flew to Shanghai, that’s it. 』

Yamada left Japan with only this backpack.

"Just this crappy backpack?" "I asked

"right! Just him. Hahaha"

"So what's next?" 』

"I rode that bicycle south into Vietnam, Laos, and then to Thailand," he began to tell his story in detail.

"I also bought food when I was in Vietnam and Laos, half and half, maybe. But from Thailand until now, I haven't spent a penny on food or accommodation, hahahaha. 』

"Then I rode to Malaysia, took a boat to Indonesia, and then flew to southern India. I spent six months in India. It's a great place. You should go there. 』

“I will” I replied to him.

"It was very interesting when I was in India. I set up a tent next to the village. When I woke up in the morning, everyone would gather around me and chatter. Then they would give me a bunch of food and ask me to eat more. When I was in India, I rode north along the west all the way to New Delhi. I originally wanted to continue riding north to China, but there was no way because the border there was very strict. 』

"What about riding to Pakistan? 'I asked.

“I could have ridden to Pakistan, but I couldn’t get into Afghanistan from Pakistan, so I flew from New Delhi to Tajikistan, then through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and into Iran.

Then I went to Azerbaijan and Armenia, and originally I was going to Turkey, but it was winter, so I went to Russia. After spending a month in Russia, I entered Finland, passed through Sweden and Norway, and lo and behold, I made the headlines of Norwegian newspapers. 'He showed me his newspaper.

"When I was in Finland, I kept riding northwards. When I reached the northernmost part, there was a local Aboriginal tribe. It was very small, with only about 300 people. Everyone knew everyone else. I spent the winter there with them, and my job was to help them make their traditional earrings. 』

"I also spent two weeks in a tent outside. It was very, very quiet there and pitch black. There was only night and no day. You couldn't tell whether it was PM or AM. Time seemed to be frozen with the cold weather. The only thing that made you feel that the world was still turning was the aurora dancing in the sky. His eyes drifted into the distance and he said

At that moment, when I looked at him, a picture emerged in my mind: in a dark wilderness, the sky was waving with the aurora, and there was only a tent and a bonfire on the snow, as if I was in that frozen wilderness with him.

"It's daytime for half a year and dark for half a year there. The locals say that's their day, hahahaha. 'He said with a smile.

"Why did you come up with this idea in the first place? I mean this idea of ​​traveling. 'I asked.

“During the four months I worked there, I read a book about a Japanese man who traveled around the world by bicycle. 』

"Ride for seven years?" 'I interrupted him.

"right! You know that book too? 』

“I know. I went on a bike trip because of that book. 』

"Me too, hahaha." We both laughed together.

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" 'I asked.

“No, I’m an only child. 』

"Where are your parents?" What do they think? 』

"They said: You go. Go crazy. Haha." I laughed out loud

“But it’s crazy that I only worked for four months and then I was released. 'I said.

“I don’t want to live in that Fucking System. 'He stopped smiling.

"Everyone wants to make a lot of money, buy a big house, and buy a big car. This is not how the world should be. 』

I looked at him and nodded.

"Although I live this kind of life now, I am very happy, really. 'He lowered his head and took two mouthfuls of noodles.

“You see, your bike needs a lock, but I’m not afraid of being stolen when I ride a bike like this. He pointed at the padlock under my seat and said

“Many people offered me money during my travels, but I refused them, I only accepted food or things. 』

“I deliberately don’t use better bikes and equipment, because if I spend money to buy them, I will want to pursue better, lighter, and prettier ones, and then I will fall into the Fucking System again. 』

"Many people say that it is dangerous for me to go to an extremely cold area without any preparation, but I am not afraid. I am not afraid of death. Chung, what is death? To me if your soul dies, that is death.

Did you know? There are many great figures in history who are not dead. Their spirits live in our souls. To me, they are immortal. I want to become a great figure like that and change the world. 』

“Although I live in poverty, my spirit and my soul are rich. 』

His words hit my head like waves.

“Don’t you encounter any difficulties in your journey? 'I asked.

"Of course, a lot, but even so I am still happy because every day is different for me. 』

“And in my experience, people are always happy to help others. As long as you want, everything is possible. Look, those two female employees just now kept saying NO! NO! NO! But the male supervisor said yes, so everything is possible, it just depends on whether you want to do it. 』

After dinner I borrowed his notebook to read. He asked me if I wanted to smoke more marijuana. I said no, I like to keep my head clear so I can think. He said I was fine this way.

I didn't reply to him and continued to look through his notebook. He wrote in his diary every day. Although most of it was in Japanese, which I couldn't understand, from the notes on some pages or corners of the notebook, I knew that he was studying very seriously, learning different cultures, different languages ​​and survival skills in the extreme cold.

He also asked me some questions about Chinese pronunciation, and he asked me how to speak "eldest brother" in Chinese. Since then he has always called me "eldest brother". Even though he had so little, he was happy to share with me. When he took out his sleeping bag at night, I asked him, "Is this your only sleeping bag?"

She said that's right, when he was in Finland, someone gave him a good sleeping bag that could survive minus 30 degrees Celsius. He tried it and asked me if I wanted to sleep in his sleeping bag. I looked at his sleeping bag, which was about the same size as mine, but older. He also didn't mind me rummaging through his things, even his passport.

Yamada's Diary

That night, we talked a lot, about life, about love, and about happiness. Late at night, we lay down to sleep, but his words kept bouncing back and forth in my mind like an echo. I kept thinking about his words all night.

The next morning when I was making breakfast he asked me if I wanted to eat his food, I looked at what he had, some canned food, half a pack of pasta, and a bunch of ketchup and sugar packets from the convenience store.

I said just eat mine. After finishing breakfast and packing up my gear, I asked him, "When you meet some cyclists like me on the road, with good bikes and good equipment, don't you envy us?" 』

"Won't! Like I said yesterday, if I pursue better bikes and better equipment, then I will fall into the Fucking System again. I can now ride a hundred kilometers a day on this bike, and these equipment allow me to sleep well in minus thirty degree nights, so what else do I need? ' he said without hesitation.

I asked a stupid question.

I hugged him at the intersection and wanted to ride back to Whitehorse with him because the canoe trip from Whitehorse to Fairbanks was so fascinating, but I couldn't. I couldn't just
Follow him, I want to have my own adventure.

So I parted ways with him on the highway, he continued north and I went south. As I rode on the road, some new ideas gradually came to my mind, like a scroll of the blueprint of life, which was originally only spread out to Ushuaia, but now the scroll is gradually rolling backwards.

Postscript: When I invited him to camp with me, I decided to write a blog about him. At that time, I was thinking about how to title it. I first thought of the craziest person. When I was halfway through the conversation with him, I wanted to say the most genuine person, but in the end I decided to use the richest person as the title.

After our conversation that night, he wrote these questions in a notebook.

In the morning I cooked mashed potatoes and oatmeal

I looked through all his equipment and found nothing good, except the tent.