CAMBODIA 2015

In 2025 my mate Dave convinced me to go dirt bike riding in Cambodia after seeing an episode of "Blokes World" on TV where the money raised built houses for some of the poorest people on the planet. The thought of riding bikes through the jungles of Cambodia and doing something worthwhile was too good not to sign up for. Here are some clips from my helmet cam on the ride. There are a whole lot of stills onn the MJK page.

My mate Dave convinced me to go dirt bike riding in Cambodia.

Cambodia

Best dirt bike riding I've ever done and for a great cause. http://www.globalvillagehousing.com

Cambodia

Rocky, steep and challenging, I was ready for anything as i watched those who went before me and then picked the line I felt would lead less likely to disaster. This set the scene for an amazing adventure I'll never forget.

Cambodia

Hot, dusty and breathing in dirt. Always good to find a cold beer waiting for us at the end of the day thanks to Dara and his crew.

Cambodia

With the rice paddy's empty of water it was tricky to ride the mounds between them but great for the balance. Cutting though the chopped up soil instead was an uncomfortable option to be avoided having done it once.

Cambodia

Came a cropper as single track met sand and front wheel stopped and I continued. Kitty money for beer. Then to add insult to injury repeated this same incident on a different part of the trip not long after - doh.

Cambodia

When the corner man strategy fails and you lose the group. I knew someone would come back for me eventually but in the meantime i was as lost as you could get chatting by sign language to the local kids while sweating big time in the heat.

Cambodia

Doesn't take long to get out of town. Helmets on is the cry at around 8am and we don't stop till late afternoon except for lunch and the occasional look around.

Cambodia

Cambodia

Where we met all the other riders and acclimatized for a day or two. The crew from Cambodia Motorcycle Tours were exceptional - kept the bikes running, rarely got us lost and always smiling and laughing. I should add super professional.

Cambodia

Every time someone came off it was money in the kitty for beer at the end of the day. I paid my share.

Cambodia

The Cambodian people are super friendly. The children can hear the bikes from miles away and race out to wave.

Cambodia

Slipping off the road into the jungle was the best. The sound of the engine and the jungle foliage whistling in the breeze as you whipped by - awesome.
 

Cambodia

Day Two and really getting into it. What an awesome trip and would love to do it again. Tested my skills though and probably made me a better rider. Great support crew keeping everyone together and the bikes going.

Cambodia

Hot and dusty 36 C in the shade in full kit means you got to keep moving to stay cool.

Cambodia

Angkor Wat is one of the seven wonders of the world and not to be missed. Check out the photos i took on my website www.wps-skate.com It really is hard to take a bad photo.

Cambodia

VIETNAM 2016

Vietnam off road riding north in Vietnam towards the border of China. We begin our trip in Hanoi and then head up into the hills to SaPa. Linh, Andrew and Steve and I pick up our bikes strap our gear on the back of our trail bikes and head off. We're going to pick up school supplies and drop them to a couple of the most needy and remote schools in Vietnam.

Today is the day Linh, Andrew, Steve and I hit the highest peaks on the border of Vietnam and China in search of the most remote school we could find to drop off educational supplies, toys and health products. This was a challenging ride and on our return - within sight of the road things go pear shaped as I stop for a local and his livestock - lose my footing and break my foot and dislocate my shoulder. Never mind - I'd do it again! and probably will (but no injuries next time).

Vietnam 2016

Vietnam 2016

Riding through this Hmong village on Sunday market day was fascinating. The colours, the noise and smells made for an incredible experience. So lucky to be with good company in Andrew, Linh and Steve on this ride of a lifetime.

Vietnam 2016

Riding in north Vietnam with good mates Linh, Andy and Steve

Vietnam 2016

We rode to the furthest regions of Vietnam to deliver a gift.

Vietnam 2019

Day 3 - riding through northern Vietnam with Linh and Eric.

Vietnam 2019

Day 5 - a village

Vietnam 2019

After days in the saddle it was time to take some time out on one of the most beautiful lakes up Northern Vietnam.

Riding North in Vietnam with mates Linh, Andy and Steve. Although a lengthy clip you really get a sense of what it's like as you travel to the more remote climates.

Vietnam 2016

We rode to the furthest regions of Vietnam to deliver a gift.

Vietnam 2016

Today is the day Linh, Andrew, Steve and I hit the highest peaks on the border of Vietnam and China in search of the most remote school we could find to dro...

Vietnam 2019

Day 4 - riding north through Vietnam to Cao Lac.

 

Vietnam 2019

Day 7 - Returning our bikes

Vietnam 2024

It wasn’t until 2024 (post COVID) that I had the chance to catch up again with my mate Linh for another adventure. This time it was just the two of us.

It certainly didn’t disappoint Motorcycling in rural and remote areas in the north west of Vietnam offers riders a unique and immersive experience through breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural encounters. The rugged terrain and winding mountain roads provide an exhilarating challenge for adventurous motorcyclists seeking an off-the-beaten-path journey. As riders traverse through the remote villages and rice paddies, they are rewarded with the stunning beauty of terraced fields and lush forests. The encounters with local ethnic people along the way offer a glimpse into traditional ways of life, adding a layer of authenticity to the exploration. However, riders must navigate carefully due to the varying road conditions and unpredictable weather in these areas, making it a thrilling yet demanding adventure for those who dare to explore the hidden gems of north western Vietnam on two wheels. Here are a few short videos documenting our travels.

2024 Vietnam Riding - The Route

We left Ha Noi for a five day ride.

Day 1 : Ha Noi - Mai Chau 160kms Day 2 : Mai Châu - Sơn La 180kms Day 3 : Son La - Mu Cang Chai 150km Day 4 : Mu Cang Chai - Tram Tau 140kms ( hot spring) Day 5 : Tram Tau - Ha Noi 200kms

2024 Vietnam Riding - Day 1

After arriving in Ha Noi I headed to the My Moon Hotel on the edge of the tourist district. My riding buddy and good mate Linh was already at the hotel. We had a leisurely wander through the tourist district as I needed a couple of tops to go under my body armour then Linh took me to a local restaurant for a good pre ride feed and a couple of beers.

The next day we took a cab to the outskirts of the city to pick up our bikes. We were not disappointed. Honda CB500X adventure bikes fully kitted out with luggage boxes. Plenty of room for the drone and a few clothes.

Then we were off.

2024 Vietnam Riding - POV

There’s a timewarp function on the GoPro 12 that’s pretty cool. This was about 35 minutes of footage that ended up as 35 seconds.

2024 Vietnam Riding - Day 2

The road to Mai Chau and Son La from Ha Noi.

The road started out very foggy and misty in the morning and a little wet but after a while the weather cleared. There was a bit of traffic on the roads to contend with but some beautiful smaller roads and some lovely places to stop and see some scenery. Vietnam is truly a beautiful country.

2024 Vietnam Riding - Day 3

Son La to Mu Cang Chai.

Sensational weather today. Still a little foggy and very hot but cooler as we headed further north and up into the mountains. The roads and the countryside did not disappoint. It was so much to see and some opportunities to stop and fly the drone and take some photos. Great coffee on the road and a sensational lunch in a tiny town. I did say the stir fry beef had been walking around in the paddock, the day before.

I highly recommend the homestay we stayed at to anybody who wants to go further a field in Vietnam that isn’t quite so touristy. Apparently, there’s a bus from Hà Nội. 

2024 Vietnam Riding - Day 4

Mu Cang Chai to Tam Tau.

Best riding yet! The sky was clear when we left but after we went higher up in the mountains the cloud appeared and it actually got cold until we emerged from it. The roads got smaller and smaller, and the oncoming traffic grew less and was mostly local people on motor scooters transporting goods.

In the valleys the rice paddies are so green and the tea paddies look very healthy. These little edits will be great reminders of my motorcycle travels through Vietnam post Covid with Hà Linh Nguyễn.

2024 Vietnam Riding - Day 5

Tram Tau to Hà Nội.

We left the homestay around about 8:30am and instead of backtracking along yesterday’s roads to get to the turn off to take us back to Hanoi, on the advice of our host we took a new road that was 90% complete. That would take us over the mountains, very high up and then back down into the valley where we might rejoin one of the more direct roads back to Hà Nội.

Again, I’m looking forward to trolling through all of the video footage I took and the photos because we passed through many Hmong villages high up in the mountains.

We had learned from our hosts at The Mu Cang Chai home stay that the Hmong people make a living selling animals, meat and fish along with mushrooms, and medicines from plants that are only accessible at very high altitudes. Their short stature and their colourful clothing something quite special to behold.

We rode through clouds today where you could not see more than a couple of metres in front of you, and there had been some landslides which had blocked some parts of the roads. Visibility returned as we moved lower down the mountain side. we had some rain in the afternoon and the traffic in Hanoi was absolute mayhem.

Another great day’s riding.

2024 Vietnam Riding - Day 5 continued …

Returning the bikes in Hà Nội.

Not for the feint hearted. Riding in peak hours traffic in Hà Nội tests skills and experience - and requires a sense of flow. This clip is about an hour of riding in crazy traffic distilled into two minutes.

I asked Hà Linh Nguyễn what were the road rules and he said “there are none”.

There are some rules … but tricky to work out.