So far I have done a few cycling
journeys. It started all about 2 years ago when I met some cyclists in Parit
Buntar. They had great stories about what they experienced. I became
enthusiastic and bought a bicycle myself. That was by the end of 2003.
Round Malaysia in 14 days
The first thing I did now was to
round Malaysia. I soon found out there were only very few Malaysians cycling.
For many reasons cycling was never popular except for children. Of course the
heat was an important factor. But I do not suffer much from the heat.
I cycled around Malaysia in 14
days. It made me many new friends. I learned quickly that in the west people are
more used to cyclists. But here in Malaysia it's all different. People were
friendly, probably curious would be a better word.
Those 14 days were a great
experience. In Parit Buntar many people started to know my new found love for
cycling. Whenever a cyclist was on the way to Parit Buntar, they called me and I
could pick them up to show them around my hometown and listen to their stories
and tell them a few stories myself.
South
Thailand
From the first journey to the next
was a small step. South Thailand became the next destination. I went to many
different places in South Thailand including Phuket, Krabi, Ko Samui but also to
lesser known places as Songkhla.

Making friends in Thailand
went all over and had a great
time. But being back home I felt there was more to explore. I started to plan a
longer journey which eventually ended up in a plan to ride the borders of
Thailand.
Asean
Countries
The "40 Days Great Bike
Ride"
The plan was simple, ride around
the border of Thailand on the "other side of the border. It was the idea to
cycle to Siem Riep (Angkor in Cambodia) from Bangkok, then back to Thailand,
into Laos. Next would be Vietnam and through China to Myanmar and then back into
Thailand.
It went actually a bit different.
Very soon after I started doing some research it was clear I couldn't do that
much. China, according to some cyclist I met, was definitely too much for the
time I had available.
Another problem was an overland
border to Myanmar. There's none you can cross. Not even Malaysians are allowed.
(We do not need visa for these countries).
Due to a lack of time I couldn't
do as much cycling as I wanted. So I went by train to Bangkok and started
cycling to Cambodia. Through quite rough road I went back to Thailand, cycled
further to Mukhdahan and crossed into Laos to Savanaketh.
Due to a lack of time I couldn't
do as much cycling as I wanted. So I went by train to Bangkok and started
cycling to Cambodia. Through quite rough road I went back to Thailand, cycled
further to Mukhdahan and crossed into Laos to Savanaketh.

North Vietnam, proud local women
Now I cycled to the Vietnamese
border but due to some things I had to take the bus to Hanoi. From here I cycled
to the Vietnamese-Lao border crossing close to Dien Bien Phu but I couldn't
cross. 
I went back to Hanoi, took a bus
back to Laos and went straight to North Thailand to get a little bit of a
Burmese experience. After visiting the Golden Triangle, I had to go back South.
Hardly any time left but I went in South Thailand to the island Ko Tao for a
rest.
It was more then time to go home,
to work and family. With me I took wonderful memories and loads of photos. Some
of the memories and photos I will share with you in these pages. In the coming
up months I will write more stories about my experiences during my journeys.