2012 Cycle Tour of Indochina: Bangkok, Thailand to Ho Chi Minh City, via Cambodia: 8 November - 2 December

Introduction 

The first I knew about this tour was when I received an email from Bob Kent on 27 Jan 12.  I had just returned home from the 2012 Tour Down Under in Adelaide.  Bob, his wife Kerry and I had stayed at the same caravan park in Adelaide and had a great time.  I knew Bob from my road racing (cycling) days in Canberra.   I had completed four tours with Bob and Kerry; South Australia, Victoria, Eastern Europe (2011) and the Tour Down Under (2012) and I have enjoyed them all.  Although I knew that I would be only a few weeks back from a tour in Europe (23 Aug – 15 Oct 12) I jumped at the chance to join this Asian Tour.  Eventually so did 13 others Bob & Kerry, Michael & Kate Crowe (also did the Vic Tour) Tony Greenwell & Chris Toohey, Mike Hayes, Kev Hennessey (room-mate Vic Tour and Euro 2011) Antonina Bolschelarski & Mick Meaney, Ken Uren, all from Canberra and Paul Ryan from Gympie, Qld.  Later two ring-ins Leslie Stradinger (USA teacher working in China) and Franziska Kiener, Switzerland joined our group.  Kev and I agreed to share a room again.  I thought that 14 was a good size group. 

The trip will start in Bangkok with a transfer to Pattaya where mountain bikes are prepared, and the guide will brief on the cycling tour. From the border to Pailin, the road is dirt with some potholes as well as from Pailin to Battambang. From Battambang to Siem Reap, we will cross Tonle Sap Lake by boat. 

We ride about 1,214 km mostly on asphalt roads and sometimes broken roads or vehicle-width dirt roads, which may be smooth, gritty, stony, rocky, rutted, loose or hard-packed. The 85km from Pailin to Battambang is probably the worst road but still interesting things to see along the road.

Cycling to visit the 3 countries is one of the great experience in life as you will be able to see alot. From Thailand to Cambodia where you will see the different. Entering to the former Khmer Rouge stronghold in Pailin reminds the past bad experience of Cambodia and seeing the change they have now and the Angkor historical complex on the back road. The bustling Phom Penh capital, then head south to the less visited town and cross the quiet border to cycle along Mekong Delta to Saigon.

www.cambodiacycling.com