I'm a motorcyclist of dubious skill. My particular love is for dual-sport bikes. They're the hybrids of asphalt and dirt. While I do love riding, I know my limitations in terms of the loose stuff and challenging roads or lack of same. So I let others do the really adventurous stuff and read about it here at home in air-con comfort and on a more stable platform such as a five-wheeled office chair.
The best resource for such entertainments is Adventure Rider, advrider.com, a global forum focusing on for dual-sport riders. A subforum called Ride Reports, and pics, pics, pics contains just about the most entertaining reading you can imagine if you like exotic lands and people and food. There are some truly awesome reports by truly awesome riders (some might say nutters) willing to attempt anything. The reports are complimented by much stunning photography, and I say this in the best professional sense. Wow.
There are many riders with a taste for Southeast Asia, some living there and some passing through on two wheels. I will list and link here some of the best reports on riding in Southeast Asia and nearby Asian routes. Warning, especially to those in Thailand with slow download speeds, the reports are loaded with high quality images and that may take some time to DL.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these stories do not dwell on motorcycling. They almost entirely focus on the people, places and things found along the way.
Here's an absolute must report, well written with panache, self-deprecation, gut-busting humour and complete lack of confidence in the halfway-round-the-world scheme. Currently, there's a lovable English maniac riding from Australia to home on a 110 cc Honda named Dot. He is tracing a route through Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and beyond. Video Treat: The author, Nathan the Postman, takes you on an axle-level video tour of Bangkok on Dot, his red Honda (scroll down to the video post).
Thailand and a little adventure: Newbie heads for Europe but chooses Thailand instead and shoots gorgeous photos in Bangkok, Chumphon and Chiang Mai. (Heavy image load!)
Tour of Thailand on GS1200: A gigantic tour from Hat Yai, to Nong Khai, Mae Hong Son and back south. Phew.
Batang Kali Malaysia: off-roading in Malaysia
Easter Mekong Delta Tour, Vietnam. First timer rides 125 cc Chinese bike and provides some very personal potraits of people and places in southern Vietnam.
KTM 950+Cambodia+flats=trouble...... : BeemerBoy from Chiang Mai tries to ride his KTM to Phnom Penh but flat tires and oil leaks decide otherwise.
Vietnam (Hanoi to Mai Chau): Area populated by White Tai tribe
Riding in Laos, or Why is there dirt all over me? : BeemerBoy from Chiang Mai again
Newbies from Indonesia: A 2000 km tour from Jakarta to Yogyakarta and return
North from Singapore: Malyasia and Thailand seen through gorgeous shots of scenery, buildings, food and people.
The Streets of Vietnam: Mobile Vietnamese up close and personal.
The Amazing Ujung Genteng (Indonesia): A gathering place for surfers and wind surfers becasue of teh fab beaches.
OK, that's enough. This will keep you reading all summer. One more thing: I cheated a little bit here and decided not to link to the other Asian reports because it would be just too much to cover all in one post. So part 2 will include the fantastic ride reports of those travelling through Tibet, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, China, eastern Soviet Asia and others. Enjoy . . .
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