In 2016 I decided to quit my corporate job and went to South East Asia without a plan. After two weeks of backpacking around, I arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I was walking around the city. Then I saw a motorcycle rental shop. That’s when I got the idea. Why not ride through Cambodia on a motorcycle? I had riding experience from India, Bhutan, and Nepal and I was excited to ride again.

I really loved the trip. The Cambodian countryside was wild and raw. There were temples and monasteries everywhere. Angkor Wat was incredible. Somewhere in the middle of that journey, I made a decision. I would explore each country on a motorcycle. That is when I started thinking about Vietnam. I took an overnight bus from Phnom Penh to Saigon. During that journey, one thought kept coming back. The motorcycle trip felt too fast. I wanted to go easy and slow. I wanted to explore more without planning everything. That is when the idea hit me. The idea that changed my life.

Get a bicycle in Saigon… Ride it all the way to Hanoi... Tourists do this route on motorcycles all the time. It is popular and common. But I wanted to try it on a bicycle. One thing kept bothering me though. How could I make such a big trip on a bicycle? I had no cycling experience. I was overweight. It seemed impossible. I thought about it a lot. Then I bought a basic bicycle with some accessories. I made a deal with myself. If I felt like I could not do it, I would sell the bicycle. Go back to backpacking. Simple.

After all those questions and confusion in my head, I finally started. My first cycling trip. Saigon to Hanoi.

The first week was really tough. Hard work every single day. But slowly, I grew stronger. I found comfort on the bike. The weather was insanely hot. Rain came often. But somehow, I began to enjoy it. By the time I reached Hanoi, something had changed in me. Somewhere in the middle, I made another decision. I would not stop at Hanoi. I would extend the trip to Laos. When I reached Hanoi, I felt a change inside me. Not just in my body, but in my mind too. I was excited about the next country, Laos. Big mountains and wild landscapes awaited. I couldn’t wait.

My first bike trip through Vietnam and Laos was brutal. It was really tough, but I learned a lot. Punctures, pouring rain, falling off the bike, struggling up steep hills and high mountains… And yet, all of it was worth it. One of the best things I have ever done.

What an amazing adventure!

On the trip, I learned a lot about bikes and gear. I saw I needed better equipment and better techniques for the next rides. And then I wondered… why stop here? My mind went to other routes. Other countries. Places I could cycle and document with my camera. After some research and thinking, I made a decision. Get a better bike. Better accessories. Keep going.

The next year, I came back to Vietnam. This time I cycled the Ho Chi Minh trail. Saigon to Hanoi again. But different and more adventorous route.

After South East Asia, I started thinking about my next ride. That’s when the idea of going to New Zealand and Australia came up. Harsh weather. Remote regions. The kind of places that test everything you have. Since I started cycling, one idea kept coming to me.

Go to Australia… and cycle across the Nullarbor Plain.

I was ready for this trip, mentally and physically, after riding both islands in New Zealand. The Nullarbor crossing was going to be an interesting challenge. Every single day would be a test.

Just me on the open road. My bicycle. My belongings. A whole lot of determination…

That was all I had..