A journey full of surprises – this could be the title of Geri Winkler’s new adventure. In the summer of 2008, the world traveler set off for Central Asia together with his life partner Sylvia Alfery. Their destination was the fascinating regions along the Silk Road – the historic route between the Mediterranean Sea and East Asia. What made the journey special is that they made their way through even dangerous areas and regions as individual tourists without the protection of a travel organization. The first stage began in Tajikistan. After a 12-hour flight, they reached Dushanbe, the capital of this mountainous country. “After we arrived, the exact itinerary of our upcoming tour wasn’t so important to us,” Winkler reports. “But that’s what made it so exciting. Everything remained open to us, and each day offered new destinations.” Whether traveling down dusty roads in the scorching heat or buffered by icy winds on glacier-capped mountains: the type 1 diabetic – whose pancreas can no longer produce the hormone insulin that is vital for metabolism – constantly seeks new challenges.

Geri Winkler and Sylvia Alfery made contact with the locals already on the first day of their journey. Together with a friend who accompanied the couple, they drove in a rickety car from Dushanbe to Kundus, Afghanistan, where they were taken aback by the hospitality of the people in the city’s lively streets. From there the journey took them to Faizabad, a small provincial capital. The path led over rocky roads past breathtaking river landscapes. The inhabitants of Faizabad attempted to make contact with the Europeans using what little English they knew. “If we had accepted every invitation, we’d probably still be there today,” says the adventurous Vienna native fondly. After crossing northern Afghanistan from west to east, they returned to Tajikistan. Their enthusiasm grew with each passing day. The landscapes alternated between wind-swept sand dunes in the valleys, crystal-clear lakes and snow-covered mountains. Despite the stunning impressions, Winkler made sure to regularly monitor his blood glucose level. Always close at hand in his backpack during his travels around the globe is a measurement device from Bayer HealthCare. Even under extreme weather conditions, it always provides reliable and accurate readings – and thus certainty.

A highlight of the tour was the lonely peaks of the Pamir Mountains. On narrow roads and trails, Winkler and the two women explored these unique lofty mountains, which offered them a fascinating spectacle of nature. “We scaled 5,129 meter-high Orus Molo and then crossed into Kyrgyzstan via the Kyzyl Art pass,” relates Winkler, summarizing the highlight of the day trip. The journey along the Silk Road ended in Uzbekistan, where the trio could not get enough of the magnificent mosques and minarets.

Winkler’s tremendous interest in foreign cultures and his outgoing personality made this journey into another unforgettable experience for everyone involved. “We gained a lot of impressions that will last us a long time. And although we traveled alone, we had nothing but positive experiences,” reports the Austrian following his return. Central Asia was uncharted territory for his two companions – but not for Geri Winkler, as he had already visited Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2001. “Back then I climbed 7,000 meter Pik Lenin in Kyrgyzstan,” recalls Winkler. “It was then that I began hatching the plan of reaching the highest peak on each of the seven continents.” After a bicycle tour through the Sahara this spring, he realized this dream in June 2008.

About Geri Winkler

Geri Winkler was born in Vienna in 1956 and has suffered from type 1 diabetes for 24 years. His passion is the discovery of foreign countries, cultures and communities. He prefers to explore these worlds on foot or by bicycle. On May 20, 2006, he reached the 8,850 meter summit of Mount Everest. It was the longest ascent of all time, as Geri Winkler began the climb at the lowest point in the world – on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan, 411 meters below sea level. Traveling alone by bicycle and ultimately on foot, he reached the base of the world’s highest mountain in five months before ascending to the peak together with an American expedition.