In February of 2011 as part of a world bike tour, we rode through SE Asia and were struck by the beauty of what independent travel allowed us to experience.  Sure it’s fun to hang out on a Thai island, and maybe take a bus out to see Siem Reap or Chiang Mai for a few days… but the real adventure starts when you leave the beaten tourist trail and head into the unknown.

Where you need to enlist local help to carry your bike across rivers, or barter the fare for passage on their wooden canoe – and then hope it doesn’t sink!  Where there is every chance you might mistake the word “dog” for “duck” when ordering a local meal, and where the locals will offer you a seat in the shade, a smile and a cup of tea while you rest in their village.

We came across a few adventurous travelers who had hired local bikes to do some short tours off the main highways, they were all dusty and dirty, with backpacks strapped to little motorbikes bumping along small tracks that led through the same tiny villages we were traveling through.  Some had scratches and grazes, (2 of them were even looking for a hospital!), but they all looked happy, with the same light in their eyes as us, we were all doing something unforgettable.

We had been riding around the world having our own crazy adventures, but it got us thinking that most people coming to Asia never actually get to the see the best parts.  It also made us realize that you don’t need to be an experienced rider on an exotic off-road bike to get out and see these places.

All you need is a little dream… a Honda Dream 125cc motorbike – the weapon of choice for all genuine Cambodian riders!

We also wanted to do something good for these places, for the villages who made us feel so welcome, who gave us a drink and helped us pick up our bikes when we fell over.  So the idea was born.

Ride for Cambodia.

It’s just 2 weeks of your life, for a memory you’ll savor, and the chance to make a real difference for people who will give more to you, than you could ever dream to give them.

Dave’s website: davegtravels
Dean’s website:  donkeyandthemule