In November 2010 I travelled to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and then cycled across Vietnam and Cambodia. The 7 day, 400km ride took me through traditional villages and on to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Culmanating in arrival at the ancient Khmer temple of Angkor Wat, the world's largest religeous structure. Temperatures in excess of 30 C and high humidity added to the challenge!
Photographs from the challenge are shown below.
We start in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Vietnam, 86 million people, 7% annual economic growth ... and over 20 million motorcycles!
Ready to go ... .... man and machine in perfect harmony ...
Riding through the jungle and the banana plantations
Children wave and shout "hello" as we cycle by
Ferry crossings are a frequent feature to travel in the Mekong Delta
Ducks being transported to market .... by Quackersaki?
Tung, our excellent lead guide in Vietnam, holds the "snake wine" (venemous snake infused in rice wine) ... tasted like brandy ... had a real bite to it though
Floating market at Cai Rang
A floating village near Chau Doc ... houses have fish farm nets underneath
We cross the border into Cambodia by boat
Houses line the river bank as we travel up the Mekong to Phnom Penh
Cycling through wonderful Phnom Penh ... wide tree lined avenues reflect the French colonial influence
Live tarantula ... seemed like a good idea at the time ...
The Cambodian Cycle Display Team
Khmer Rouge rules at the graphic and harrowing "Prison 21" in Phnom Penh
One of the many "killing fields" of the Khmer Rouge ... the stupa is filled with skulls. An estimated 1.7 million people were killed by the regime between 1975 and 1979
Rice fields and a typical house in the Cambodian countryside
Pedicure with Christina, from "garra rufa" fish in Siem Reap ... the fish survived too
Angkor Wat, centre of the Khmer civilisation, devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, dates back to the 12th century and is the largest religious structure in the world ... fantastic
Apsara dancers at Angkor Wat, with their new recruit ... not so fantastic
Indiana Barr and the Banyan (fig) tree roots .... (filming for Tomb Raider was also done here ...)
The Team ...!
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