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Cambodia adventure travel
dirt bike Cambodia
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Dirt bike Cambodia,
Cambodia motorcycle tours,
Cambodia
adventure
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- Dirt bike Cambodia
is increasing in popularity
with people on Cambodia tours. A special dirt bike
tour made into the south within a Bokor
national park dirt bike tour is below.
If someone like Cambodia adventure dirt bike
rentals are available but it is strongly
recommended to be within a group to do this. For
mainly two reasons, first it is very difficult
for a foreigner to find right directions and
second if an accident happen (very often) it can
be a matter of life or death. Cambodia
motorcycle tours are for sure a ideal
possibility to travel Cambodia and do bike
adventure tours.
- It's
hot,
I'm tired, filthy and my limbs are aching.
I
sit in the dirt, head lolling, trying to
grab a bit of shade. I take my helmet off and
toss it into a bush. I've had enough. "Not too
far now," says my cheery guide and tour leader,
the wonderfully moniker Zeman McCreadie. "I know
you feel like giving up, but when we get there
you'll realize it's been worth all the effort."
We've been in the saddle for nearly 3 hours on
the way to to the ancient Khmer ruins at Tonle
Bati.
I had first sat on a dirt bike six days
earlier. In fact, if you don't count a
couple of years riding a vintage Vespa around
London, it was my first time on a motorbike of
any kind. And there are certainly easier places
to learn to ride a 250cc Honda XR Baja trail
bike than the reckless streets of Cambodia's
capital Phnom Penh.
By
the time we set off the next morning for the
abandoned 1920s French hill resort
of Bokor, 130 miles south of the
Cambodian capital, I am reasonably |
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confident,
though. Learning a new and potentially dangerous
activity is made easier when you have a teacher
who has patience and experience. McCreadie has
both in abundance.
Originally from St David's in West Wales, he
ended up in Cambodia in 1994 after backpacking
around Asia, and began dirt-biking the remoter
stretches of the country. "You'd hear heavy
machine-gun fire every night in Phnom Penh, and
there was hardly a tarmacked road in the
country," he says. "It was perfect for nutty
dirt bikers." McCreadie, 32, set up a series of
dirt-bike Rally Raids that took upwards of 40
riders for wild sojourns deep into the uncharted
regions of a country devastated by years of
civil war. "The locals treated us
like we'd just stepped off a
spaceship," he says. But this gang
of unruly bikers also had a
conscience, becoming involved with
organizations such as Unicef and
distributing health advice, medicines and
condoms." Each rally had a theme. |
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We wanted to make a positive
contribution to the places we passed
through," says McCreadie, who has set up
an adventure-travel company, Cambodia
Expeditions, to extend this experience
to paying customers.
Back on the road,
the first of our tours to Cambodia leads
to Bokor National
Park. Apart from the
potholes, stray cows, packs of
meandering cyclists and veering,
seemingly possessed, bus drivers, it is
a breeze. The next two hours are
decidedly tougher. "It's a steep climb
from here, and the road is a mix of sand
and large rocks. Take it slowly and you
should be OK," McCreadie says as we
reach the foot of the Bokor plateau. I
ask if he had any other tips. "Sit as
far forward in the seat as possible.
That way your centre of gravity is more
stable and you can steer by shifting
your weight. Also, stay in first or
second gear and, if you get into
trouble, give it some throttle." I'm soon nervously motoring up the
switchback trail at Bokor. Every so
often my front |
Dirt bike Cambodia tours, Waterfall, Bokor
National Park |
Dirt bike tours at Cambodia
travel picture from
cambodiaexpeditions.com, more
info below. |
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spot for paragliding, I suggest
to McCreadie. "We've thought of
that, but the jungle below is
still heavily mined," he
replies.
The night is spent in the
comfortable quarters of the
rangers who patrol Bokor
National Park.
Our support vehicle has brought
all the necessary supplies -
good food and good wine. "I like
to inject a little style," says
McCreadie, as we sit around a
candlelit table eating marinated
pork steaks and drinking a
decent Bordeaux.
With a good night's sleep under my belt, I
complete the descent from Bokor
in double-quick time. The
next few days are spent visiting
another old French hill station
at Kirirom, looking for rare
river turtles far upriver, deep
into the Cambodian jungle, and
improving my bike skills. "I
saved the best part of this
Bokor trip until the end," says McCreadie as we arrive several
days later in the dusty town of
Kampong Thom. "From here, we're
heading for Preah Khan. It's a
stunning place but it's a very
difficult ride and the area
hasn't been fully cleared of
landmines." Landmines are one of
the big problems at Cambodia
travel. |
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The route to Preah Khan is legendary
in Cambodia's dirt-bike scene. Mark
Calafatello, a New York antique dealer
and highly experienced dirt-biker whom I
met in Phnom Penh, had failed to reach
the temple complex on two occasions.
"Not too far now," repeats McCreadie, as
I pick up my helmet and strap it back on
my sweat- drenched head. I open up the
throttle and attempt to steer the bike
through the sand, but it keeps sliding
out of control. I am reduced to a crawl,
eating the huge clouds of dust
McCreadie's bike kicks up in front of
me.
We make it into a small
village, where I guzzle down
a huge bowl of noodles in front
of a large audience. Shortly
after the village we reach the
outer limits of Preah Khan.
Large stone ruins covered in
thick foliage loom out of the
jungle - one has mammoth,
ancient faces carved into it,
stone-lidded eyes staring down.
Everywhere areas are roped off,
marked by red "Danger - mines"
signs. "They are clearing the
mines to open the area up for
tourists," McCreadie explains.
We camp out in a simple, open, wooden
shelter,
with mosquito nets, mats and
hammocks to provide comfort.
Before night sets in, we explore
the central temple: jumbles of
giant, abandoned temple stones,
knots of fat, sinewy roots, |
Dirt Bike Tours, use the link
further down. |
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intricately carved friezes,
noble relics of a once mighty
city, nestle evocatively in the
gentle evening mist.
The morning ride back to Kampong Tom is a
revelation. The struggles of
the previous day are forgotten.
At times I slide the bike
sideways through the sand, my
confidence growing. I have been
forced to push hard to get this
far, but the Bokor ride it has
been more than worth it. Not
only have I learnt to control a
powerful motorbike in difficult
terrain, I have also visited
places few people have seen. Zeman McCreadie is right - it
has been worth all the effort |
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Cambodia Expeditions (07815
639 808,
www.cambodiaexpeditions.com),
organize tailor-made dirt-bike
tours from novice to expert,
inclusive of food, on-tour
accommodation, bike rental and
fuel, starting at $150 (pounds
80) a day per person (not
including flights). Support
vehicles can carry non- riders,
and 4x4 and boat tours are also
available. Travelmood (0870 066
4556, www.travelmood.com, )
offer five nights in Phnom Penh
at the four-star Sunway Hotel,
including return flights from
London Heathrow, from pounds 645
per person based on twin share.
Independent on Sunday, The, by
Andrew Spooner, Copyright
Independent Newspapers UK
Limited, Provided by ProQuest
Information and Learning
Company. All rights Reserved.
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