Vietnam and Cambodia Cycle Challenge

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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