RiKSep 13, 20183 minFrom the 1997 Archives. A contemplation of resistance to change.21 years ago, we were in Greece, holidaying with our new son for the first time. Great memories, fabulous times. Jack did, however, look ...
RiKJul 9, 20183 minToday’s the dayToday’s the day I placed my mother into care. Into the hands of strangers. Professionals to trust with a precious burden, but those who f...
RiKMar 22, 20185 minRoving Rant - Trip CompleteWe’re done! Over 5,000 Km over some pretty dubious roads with some equally dubious traffic. (The flight distance from Auckland to Bangkok...
RiKMar 16, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 22 - Nakhon Sawan to BangkokBangkok is huge, sprawling, super rich, super poor, overcrowded, congested, polluted, loud, raucous, colourful, exciting, shop-til-you-dr...
RiKMar 15, 20183 minRoving Rant Day 21 - Tha Song Yang to Nakhon SawanOur hotel last night was basic but grand. Large quantities of timber gave it a solid air. Shame that the hot water was only available on ...
RiKMar 14, 20183 minRoving Rant Day 20 - Inthanon to Tha Song YangToday was a day with nature. A leisurely rise with breakfast (if you can really call it that - I won’t go into details) on our terrace, w...
RiKMar 13, 20185 minRoving Rant Day 19 - Chiang Mai to InthanonWe hadn’t really decided where we were going until after breakfast this morning. And trying to sort out routes when the hotel’s WiFi was ...
RiKMar 12, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 18 - Chiang MaiToday was an R&R day. No bikes, no charging around, just a tourist trip around old Chiang Mai city on foot, a massage & a dinner by the r...
RiKMar 11, 20185 minRoving Rant Day 17 - Loei to Chiang MaiMy ode to riding! “The engine growls. The exhaust heat warms my legs. The cool morning wind rushes over me. The vents in my helmet whistl...
RiKMar 10, 20183 minRoving Rant Day 16 - Nam Ngum Reservoir to LoeiWhat a difference a day makes! Riding the same mountain road this morning was a joy. Of course we were fresh, but there was hardly any tr...
RiKMar 9, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 15 - Vientiane to Nam Ngum ReservoirDawn breaks over Vientiane & from our lofty perch on the 9th floor, we stare out over the city. Different but not too majestic. I think w...
RiKMar 8, 20185 minRoving Rant Day 14 - That Phanom to VientianeSo today was our last ditch attempt at getting in Laos. We’d tried 3 times to get into Cambodia & succeeded third time lucky, so would we...
RiKMar 7, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 13 - Laos border to That PhanomI’m sitting on a motel room balcony in That Pranom, which is a provincial town in Thailand, sipping a gin and tonic & staring across the ...
RiKMar 6, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 12 - Siem Reap to Laos borderWe were up at dawn to ensure we were at the Bayon temple by 7:30am when it opened. There is something rather peaceful about riding in the...
RiKMar 5, 20185 minRoving Rant Day 11 - Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)It was a 4:45am start. We’d missed the sunset from the top tower of Angkor Wat because they close at 5:30pm, but we were determined to ge...
RiKMar 4, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 10 - Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)OK, all the negative stuff first to get it out the way. Angkor Wat has been touristified. There are chains, no entry signs, go this way s...
RiKMar 3, 20186 minRoving Rant Day 9 - Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)This is it. This is the real reason I came to Cambodia. Ever since coming to Angkor Wat several times in the mid-1960’s, I have hankered ...
RiKMar 2, 20186 minRoving Rant Day 8 - Phnom PenhThe streets of Phnom Penh. The sights, the sounds, the smells and above all the people. It was Saturday, so the roads were a bit emptier ...
RiKMar 1, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 7 - Battambang to Phnom PenhWell my trick with our ‘smalls’ worked & we set off from Battambang reasonably early to avoid the heat of the day. Navigation was far les...
RiKFeb 28, 20184 minRoving Rant Day 6 - Ban Khlong Yai through the Cambodian border (yay!) to BattambangWe woke reasonably early & left the estate as quietly as we could. Pierre had kindly offered us coffee in the morning before we departed,...