At the end of June, Jacky Chen, a Taiwanese who has cycled around the world, arrived in the United Arab Emirates. He visited Samee Chang, Director General of the Commercial Office of Taipei in the office, and Johnson, the Managing Director of Yang Ming LLC (UAE) along with his colleagues, welcomed him at the office as well and afterwards hosted a lunch in his honor.

Jacky Chen shared that his journey has been smooth, though the weather has been quite hot. Just two months ago in Turkey, it was still snowing. He mentioned that during his time in Turkey and Iran, he experienced the simple and sincere nature of the local people. He often heard car horns on the road, not as a sign of hurry but as a way for people to greet him.

Additionally, he shared an interesting fact: when he started his "GO OR DIE" 100,000-kilometer, 100-country cycling journey in June 2015, he was shaved bald. However, when seeing him in the office, his hair was so long that he had to use a shark clip to tie it up. Letting it down, it would likely reach his waist, making it a unique way to document his travels.

Jacky Chen began his journey in June 2015 from Alaska, USA. He traveled through Canada, the United States, and Central and South America. From Southern Europe, he followed a counterclockwise route visiting various European countries, then entered Africa through Egypt. However, after nearly five years on the road, he encountered the global pandemic in Zambia, Africa. Initially, he planned to resume his journey once the borders reopened, but as the situation worsened in Zambia, he had to return to Taiwan in September 2020. He  then resumed his journey in October 2023 in the same place he left, Zambia.

He then traveled through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Eswatini, then flew to Turkey, cycled through Iran, and took a ship to Dubai. Jacky Chen explained that due to the difficulty of packing a bicycle, he preferred to travel by land whenever possible, resorting to waterways or flights only when necessary. His perseverance and spirit are truly admirable.

Next, Jacky Chen plans to explore the United Arab Emirates, then take a ferry back to Iran and begin his journey through South and North Asia from Pakistan, eventually returning to his homeland, Taiwan. Due to the difficulty of obtaining a Pakistani visa, traveling north to Afghanistan might also be an option.

Having been on the road for over five years, excluding the three-year pandemic period, Jacky Chen always maintains a positive mindset, facing various challenges with flexibility and adaptability. Director General Samee Chang expressed his admiration for Jacky Chen's perseverance and endurance, wishing him a safe and smooth journey ahead and reminding him to stay hydrated in the hot summer weather.

Jacky Chen planned to take a ferry back to Iran next on June 24 and continue his journey from the Middle East to Asia, completing the final piece of his global adventure puzzle.

Jacky Chen (middle) having a group photo with Director General Samee Chang (middle right), Managing Director of Yang Ming LLC (middle left) and colleagues at the office.

Jacky's bike that accompanies him throughout the journey.