Motorcycle Journeys

My journey around the world on my motorcycle. Here you will find interesting information about the places I visit, things I do and eat, and people I meet. For more pictures, maps and stories visit my website: www.alexandertolchinsky.com

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The Cellist, Part II

Cordoba, Argentina

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A Sad Way to End... for now

4 weeks ago my tank bags were stolen, 2 days ago my camera was stolen, and last night they tried to take Georgia from me... this marks the end of this phase of the journey and I fly back to the states this sunday. I hope to return to the road some day, I hope to raise enough dough to get my camera back, I hope this is was only the beginning of my book...

I will of course continue to post stories and photos from my journey as I have years worth of stuff you guys don’t know about ;)

I just hope to recover a bit so I can get a new camera so that I can continue the good work:

http://www.gofundme.com/commonbonds

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Click here to support In Search of Common Bonds: Camera by Alexander Tolchinsky

4 years ago I put my career in teaching on hold, sold everything I had and hit the road on my motorcycle. I knew there was a book in me that needed to come out, and eventually I realized that it was about the common bonds between cultures. And as a photographer I have been documenting the journey...

At the urging of many friend I have made a campaign to help me recover from the theft of my camera. There are few things I hate more than realizing that I must rely on others in order to do anything, but as a writer and photographer who does not do commercial work I see no other way. There is more info on the campaign page, which I hope you guys will share, but if there is anything you want to know please feel free to write to me.

Thank you in advance for your time, your support and sharing.

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How a Journey Ends

and this is how it ends my friends... almost 4 years on the road, 67,000 km, 17 countries, 2 continents, 2 bikes, 2 major crashes, dengue, infections... and my camera - $6,000!!! - is stolen, while people stood by and watched. How can I continue as a photographer, how can I continue at all.Fuck!

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Mine Life, Part II

Potosi, Bolivia

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Mine Life, Part I

Potosi, Bolivia

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Cello in Motion.

A very talented young cellist from Argentina.

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53. 12-25-13: Christmas Colombia Style

After giving up the job search in Medellin I made my way to Bogota to search in the bigger market. There I met Catalina and her family and was thrown head first into the novena period before...

My latest story from my journeys. A couple of years old, I know.

One of the most beautiful experiences I have had in the last few years on the road.

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A Thought on Existence

WE are, all of us, meant for something. The relative greatness of that place, of that task, is irrelevant – what matters is that we have an intricate role on our planet, and in the lives of others.

We may seem insignificant, in the great scheme of the cosmos, and we are, and that’s fine. Where we are significant is in the very place/space we occupy. The fact that we are surrounded by conscious, feeling, beings means that our actions, our thought, our very lives are significant to, and impactful on, those around us. Even if we do not like some of the people we personally know, even if they don’t like us, our presence shapes their lives, our actions alters theirs, our state affects the existence of others.

That is an incredible power – our very existence, even if most if it is spent hidden away in a basement staring at a screen, still carries an impact. Regardless of our personal interaction with others, our very consumption of goods and services to maintain our own homeostasis impacts people – some of whom are on the other side of the planet.

The more we interact, the more we put ourselves out into the great chaos of life the more impact we have. And at that point we are faced with a choice – the kind of impact we wish to have. If you can remove all feeling of insignificance, as it is certainly misplaced, there is a real choice to be made about your role in this world. I don’t care if you are a grocer, a mechanic, a delivery boy, a maid, a busboy, a garbage man, or even homeless – that choice is very, very real.

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Cacti and Islands on an Ancient Sea - Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

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The complete lack of perspective on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia.

A Foot Like a Mile

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The Miracle of Birth - Sea Turtle Style

This one I wrestled from the mouth of a dog, on what is otherwise a virgin beach

Oaxaca, Mexico

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A sky we should all at some point see

Salar de uyuni, Bolivia

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Georgia on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia - the world’s biggest salt flat.

The Dakar was a nice finish to a ride which seemed like it would have no end

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Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Mining the silver that eventually gets placed on our wrists, fingers, necks, ears... is still a deadly process. There is no other industry here and therefore no real choice. Every time he enters the mine may be his last, so the hope lies in his son turning 18 before that happens.

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The most out of the way and least traveled borders I’ve ever crossed - Bolivia to Chile via Ollague.

Two days of hard, cold, windy, sandy riding, framed by volcanoes, lava flows frozen in time and the immensity of the desert.

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Sometimes in the places I stay, eagles are my neighbors.

Malinalco, Mexico