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Journey of a lifetime

By Zhou Wenting | Shanghai Star | Updated: 2014-09-12 10:43

Journey of a lifetime

The couple in Iran. Photo provided to Shanghai Star

Journey of a lifetime

Reflection and celebrations

Journey of a lifetime

Five hours to a lifetime

To prepare Shen for the long trip, Ma took her hiking in Shanghai's neighboring provinces to prepare her physical strength and successfully encouraged her to catch the travel bug.

Their motorcycle constantly drew people's attention throughout the journey. Near the Kanas Lake in Xinjiang, a herdsman’s young son climbed up on the big bike trying on Shen's helmet. The herdsman invited the couple to ride his horse.

"We rode his horse while they checked out the motor tricycle, it was an exchange of friendship and a life experience," says Shen.

Both say their favorite stop was Iran. Ma says the country satisfies everything he looks for when traveling to a new place - mystery and uncertainty, different views and religious culture.

The country is relatively closed, so people are curious about tourists and stopped the couple on the street to ask for pictures, says Ma, adding that when they walked down the street, passers-by would smile and say hello to them.

"They have the purist eyes that I've ever seen," he says.

"We were invited by locals to their homes several times. We tried to communicate in English but mostly used gestures. When body language failed, we would have tea and snacks with laughter and joy," he says.