Thursday 24th November, HOME!

It was inspiring to receive emails whilst so far away making further and greater donations to Barnados and messages of support. Next time, come with me?

Thank goodness for Rosein's beef stew with home made suet dumplings to restore my spirits and waist line, (see below).

Flew in from Sim Reap via Seoul last night, 28 hours travelling, body clock needs overhaul.

What an experience, approximately 500 kms ridden in 5 days in my case, one day off because of tummy upset, 9 pounds lost in three days

I completed my ride by riding further after all the others had finished on day six. The rest of the group were going down like flies after the ride.

The route was substantially altered when we arrived in Cambodia due to the extraordinary floods that are already leading to malnutrition because of the failure of the rice crop. On the other side of the coin, the fish harvest has increased, but the rice farmers do not have nets and vice versa.

We rode with proper off road tyres and saw less of the prepared roads than we had expected, swimming in South China Sea for relief from heat whilst in cycling gear, not a pretty sight. Unfortunately, we spent more time in the bus than planned so as to drive around flooded and damaged roads, not fun but there was no alternative.

We witnessed excrutiating poverty, exploitation, cruelty, corruption (at the highest levels), humility friendliness and forgiveness. I have come home with many things to consider about our personal priorities and wider responsibilities at home and abroad. One thing is already clear, we should count our blessings.

We made contact with UNICEF in Sim Reap, widely regarded to be the least corrupt of the NGO's in the region, and made substantial donations of clothes, books, pencils and medicines. These are going straight to the trusted Directors of schools, (their name for a headteacher) and health centres. More on this in due course.

You have helped me raise over £6,500; Cash for Kids have declared this ride the highest grossing fund raising event in their history, (not bad as it is a nationwide charity). 

THANK YOU, I am humbled by your generosity.

I am intending to write a longer synopsis of the trip and post photos in due course so keep checking back.

Bless you all,

Douglas.

 

Friday 18th November

My apologies, we have not had access to the internet since Monday 14th Nov.

We have made it all of the way to Phnom Penh, capital city of Cambodia via Luong Seoul (Vietnam Mekong Delta), Kep, Sihanoukville and Kampot.

The route has had to be modified to allow for the after effects of the flooding that you will have read about. We have covered fewer miles but to make up for that we have been up and down mountains and through the jungle.

To be frank it has been very hard work and some of our group have given way from time to time, but you will be relieved to hear that Roy and I have stayed the course every inch of the way; infact we have done some extra miles and tutored some of our group in the basics of riding a bike long distances and hydration.

At the end of an outstandingly tough 50 miles today, and over 2,500 feet of climbing, we threw ourselves into the South China Sea in our cycling gear, magnificent. Then we cycled another 28 miles!

39-42 degrees C, 80-97% humidity and 100% at times when the heavens have opened!

Great food here in Cambodia, unbelievable fish and coconut curry last night.

Day off tomorrow to visit the Killing Fields and Prison 21, so a harrowing time in prospect but necessary experiences. Our lunch tomorrow will be cooked by orphans at a home run by orphans from the Khmer Rouge purges between 1975-78. Pol Pot ruled for three years 8 months and 20 days, he killed at least 3.5 million of his countrymen in the name of communism.

The trials of his henchman are in progres in Phnom Penh today, a sobering thought.

The people of Cambodia have been unfaillingly kind and warm toward us, the children run to greet us and practice their English, shouting hello at the top of their voices, it is hard to imagine how they are the same people who were guilty of genocide.

My next report will be from Sim Reap, home of Ankgor Wat.

Yours as always,

Douglas.

14th November.

So, here we are in sweltering Ho Chi Min City, 35 degrees at 7 am.

Today is fettling day, we will pick up bikes and fettle!

28 hours travelling yesterday swept away by breakfast of humungous proportions.

You will have just gone to bed as I type this. Sleep well, I will report in tomorrow if possible as we head for the Mekong Delta and the Cambodian Border.

Farewell for now,

Douglas.

You are good souls and so generous.

You have made my fund the largest for this Cash for Kids adventure. Over £6,000 raised including gift aid.

 Thank you for taking the time to visit my Vietnam to Cambodia Cycling Challenge, Cash for Kids page.

As many of you will know, the 7th July 2011, was the 30th anniversary of my call to the Bar. Hurrah! Rather than just celebrating with a drink, which happened in any event, I want to mark today by announcing a Challenge for us all.

My Challenge: I ride on my push bike from Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon), to Angkor Wat (Cambodia), this November, a bloomin' long way,

And Your Challenge: support my charity, Cash for Kids, by donating shed loads via Just Giving, think how good and righteous you'll feel!

Why I want you to donate. My work as a barrister has provided me with a stark insight into the lives of many thousands of children who have been taken into Care; either because their parents have caused them harm, or because their parents do not have the capacity to nurture them.

When these children become adults, many lack the necessary skills to care for themselves in our big wide world and as a consequence fall into crime, drug taking and self-destructive behaviour. Often, they themselves become parents in hopeless circumstances and tragically they lose the opportunity to care for their own children.

I have decided to raise money that can be targeted to help these young adults become self-confident and happy members of our society.

Please help me to meet my Challenge of raising £4,750 which will be donated to the Wave 105 FM Cash for Kids charity, whose trustees donate money to Barnado's (www.barnardos.org.uk) who play a massive role in supporting young adults leaving care.

I have been training for 5 months with my good friend and companion for the Challenge, Roy Marshall. Many of you will have noticed how I now spring up the steps to Courts 2, 5 and 8 at the Portsmouth Combined Court Centre!

Of course, my Challenge in the Far East has a base cost; this has been met by me in full, including the £1,000 I have donated via Just Giving, your donations will go to straight to Cash for Kids.

For more information on my Challenge please visit:- #mce_temp_url#

Thank you all in anticipation of your generous support,

Douglas.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.