I made 14 visits to 9 different projects and met with several prospective projects for future consideration, cycled in two weekend training sessions before and after the Bike Race, took part in the Bike Race (and survived), took volunteering medic students on a tour of the less than modern Provincial Hospital, gave blood (at the slightly more impressive Angkor Childrens Hospital), cheered on a football team which is partly sponsored by HOPE playing in this year’s league final at the Provincial Stadium, a grand occasion but sadly decided by penalties (and Angkor Empire FC did not come out winners on this occasion),  met all the young adults in the three programmes HOPE now supports and finally got to visit My Grandfather House rural school project which has gone from being a dream for one local Cambodian when I left in April 2009, to more than a reality with some 300 local children receiving supplemental education.

While I loved every minute of my time back in Cambodia, there were three enormous highlights for me.

Taking part in the fifth Angkor Wat Bike Race was particularly special.  There is no other bike ride in the world quite like this one – where else would you see sunrise, paddy fields, monks, cows, water buffalo, elephants, cyclos, tandems, Japanese tourists and of course the wonderful temples of the Angkor Wat complex.   With some 400 entrants in total, HOPE entered a team 40 local Cambodian young adults and their educators from all three HOPE supported Young Adult Programmes.

The 30km race starts at 6am, just as it is beginning to get light, so we have to get there in the dark (another 8kms) and try to get organised in the dark –this is much easier for the Cambodians who are more used to early starts and lack of light, than it is for Jo and Tanya!  The backdrop for the start and finish is surely one of the most amazing temples, Angkor Wat, there is nothing more inspirational. We highly recommend a visit, with or without bicycle.   As the ride progresses you are cheered on by many of the small local children, all with the compulsory Cambodian smile.

You didn’t have to win the race to be a winner, anyone who got up at 4.30 cycled in the dark to get to the start line and then cycle for 30km around the temples has to be a winner.  Our photos speak for themselves.

Training sessions on Sunday are continuing, a great way for the young adults from different projects to mix, see more of their countryside and get some exercise (and a break from studying).  We will be back next year, I seem to remember Jo saying she would also enter the running races on the following day – I know I declined but maybe I said I would do the 100km cycle ride!

The day after the Race we were rewarded with dinner cooked by the 13 Young Adults from Sangkheum who all live together in a transition house.  Not only was dinner great (they have recently been taught how to make proper burgers by staff from a local training hotel) and I am so proud to see how well they are transforming into independent, motivated and curious young adults.  On this lovely evening they made a presentation to us, a framed acknowledgement for the $25,000 HOPE has, so far, provided to support their programme.

Finally, with my love of football I always squeeze in a visit to Sangkheum Centre to go along to the daily training session.  I usually end up playing around with some of the younger kids all too small to even kick a normal sized football.  But this time I was treated to a wonderful 10 minutes having a proper one on one kick about with Tour.  When I first met Tour, 5 years ago, he had only recently come to the Centre and could barely walk and definitely couldn’t talk.  Now he goes to school, chats away in Khmer, can ”high-five” and is starting to play football, This was probably the most priceless moment of the whole trip.  I saw a lot of positive progress during my trip but this brought the biggest smile to my face.

Mads training in his boiler suit offshore Australia

As you can see from earlier blogs and updates, training has officially started for HOPE’s annual bike challenge. This year Tanya will be joining Jo, Thomas, Samnieng, Dayvy, Jay, Vanarith, Ida, Karla, Marli, Natasha and many of the Young Adults and educators from Sangkheum Center for Children, Anjali House and Salariian Kampuchea in the annual Angkor Bike Rally.  HOPE entered the Sangkheum young adults into this last year and they got so much out of it we have agreed to do it again – and this time with even more recruits. At the time of writing, we have over 50 participants in Siem Reap and a growing number elsewhere too!

This is the kids own way of helping us to help themselves, and if you would like to encourage them further please visit the Just Giving page – Harnessing Oddlesofdosh through Pedalling and Exhaustion.

The regular training sessions from outside Soria Moria Boutique Hotel are going well with various routes trough some beautiful Cambodian countryside. Should you happen to be in Siem Reap and would like to support the young adults in their preparations, please contact the reception at Soria Moria for the latest training schedules as we will have extra cycle guides allowing a number of guests to join the training sessions – absolutely free of charge…!!

Whilst obviously missing out on the great atmosphere and beautiful backdrop of the Angkor temples, some keen supporters have committed to do 30kms on exercise bikes on the day of the event or embrace the great outdoors wherever they may be. Mads will be pedalling on an exercise bike on board FPSO Ningaloo Vision offshore just outside of Australia, another group organised by Jess Connor will be on the Great Ocean Road and, encouraged by a recent visit to Siem Reap, another group of supporters from komplett.no lead by Jan will be pedalling in their training room in Sandefjord, Norway.

We have also received wonderful support from the Adidas shop in Siem Reap who will be providing water bottles, wrist bands, head bands and socks for prizes!

The big day is Saturday, 4th of December and starts at sunrise!

Despite many good friends and loyal supporters in the UK, we have no organised events scheduled on the day there (…yet), so, should you want to put some extra muscle behind your fundraising efforts, join our growing team of global challengers by contacting us !!

Mads in full training

Last Sunday's training group

Sangkheum's Young Adults

One of Salariian Kampuchea's smiling young adults

Cambodian countryside and bright orange dust roads (HOPE's colours)

Painting at Anjali House - Adidas are a main supporter

On Sunday the 31st of October, I went to the bicycle training with my friends from Anjali and people from other organizations in Siem Reap. We started the training at 8.00 o’clock in the morning and met each other at Soria Moria Hotel. From there, we went straight on Wat Bo Road and we turned to the road near the Siem Reap River. When we went along this road, I could see my house and the houses of some of my friends. On this road, I also saw a lot of people I know, rice fields and cows.

The training was very nice for me. I had a very good time, because I never raced with my bike as far as we did during the training. I was tired, but that was ok.
Before I went to the training, I felt a little bit sick, but when I was riding my bike I felt better because I could see the beautiful views along the road and get fresh air. It is like a medicine. Therefore, I think that bike racing is a very good sport and it is a good exercise for people, because it can make you better when you’re feeling sick. So, I hope all people like bike racing.

I went bicycle training last Sunday to practice for the bike race next month. I also met some students from other organizations in Siem Reap. We rode very far, about 20 kilometers. I rode very fast and I saw many people along the road who were working on the farms. And some people drove cars or motos passed me and they looked at me. Some people were fixing the road and other people were constructing something.
I felt very happy because it is the first time. I was very tired afterwards, but I really enjoyed it. I think it is very good, I even got a new t-shirt! I also like that I get experience from the bicycle training.

My name is Roun and on Sunday last week I went to train for the bike race with my friends at Anjali and some other kids. Along the way I saw very nice places such as rice fields, trees, schools, buildings, small houses, and many kids fishing in the river. I know I can ride my bike very fast, but that day I was a little sick so I couldn’t go that fast. I hope I get better soon. I am very happy because this was the first time for me. I am happy over the moon!
Thank you!

I did bicycle training on Sunday last week. It was great, but now I’m very tired. I have never experienced riding bicycle for such a long distance. On the road, I saw rice fields, houses, landscapes and a lot of people. Last Sunday, we rode for 23 kilometers. While I was riding the bike I could feel the cool air in my face. Also, I saw a golf field. This was the first time ever that I saw one!

Hello, my name is Sopheak and I’m 16 years old. I am a student at Anjali House. On Sunday, I practiced for the bike race. First we met at Soria Moria Hotel and we got a t-shirt. After that, they told us the route that we needed to practice. Then, they took a photo of all the people together. 5 minutes later we left from the hotel and started the training. We rode a long time and we went through the country side. We saw rice fields, cattle, birds, a lot of green, and especially a lot of cool air.
I felt very exciting because this was the first time for me. I hope I will join again. It was a little hard for us to ride, because there was a lot of wind, so we couldn’t ride very fast. But it is fine!

On Sunday morning I went to practice for the bike race with my friends and my teachers. First, we meet at Anjali and then we went to Soria Moria Hotel. When we were there, we got a new t-shirt and they told us about the road that we would practice. Then they took a photo of all of us together. After that, we leave from the hotel and started the practice. We rode a long time and I saw a lot of rice fields.
I am very happy because before I never practice with this many people. Now I could practice together with all my friends and we will all join in the bike race in December. I hope I can also join the training again. It’s difficult for us, but it also gives us a good health. And I hope that I win the race!

These texts have been written by the young adults from Anjali House who participated in the bike training on Sunday morning. The stories are their own but their impeccable English has been corrected by Richard the YAP C0-ordinator who has set up the Young Adult Programme at Anjali House! Thank you Richard for your hard work and for getting the kids along to the first training session! For more information about our support to Anjali House click here!

Hope sponsored young adults

Training for the Angkor Wat bike ride officially started this morning and 20 enthusiastic cyclists turned up before 8am this morning at Soria Moria hotel in the fresh (dare I even say cold) air! It does happen in Siem Reap sometimes and it’s a welcome relief to the constant hot, and the downpours during the rainy season. A light wind made this morning’s cycle almost pleasant as we trundled past the Siem Reap river, open lush green rice fields and ending up on airport road back to the town centre.

Thomas led the training group, hotly followed by the Sangkheum Center and Anjali young adults. It wasn’t a bad start as we clocked up 23 km in just about one hour and 15 minutes, only another 7 and we would’ve completed the target! We should be flying round the course after 4 more training sessions…

On the day Tanya, Thomas and I will be joined by some fellow Siem Reapers who enthusiastically turned up for training today – Natasha, Karla and her daughter Marli and Richard from Anjali House. Thanks for coming and thanks to the young adults too.

I am excited to say we have already reached 7% of our fundraising target and thank our loyal supporters for supporting us some more… as always, Mum and Dad, Lesley, Stu and a few others. If you would like to build momentum and encourage us all on our cycling challenge by donating please visit our just giving page!

Sangkheum Young Adults before the 23KM training ride

Sambath at the starting line

Training is soon to start for HOPE’s annual bike challenge. This year Tanya will be joining Jo and some of the Young Adults from the programmes they support in the annual Angkor Bike Rally.  HOPE entered the young adults into this last year and they got so much out of it we have agreed to do it again – and this time we might have a few more recruits too.

This is their way of trying to help themselves and if you would like to encourage them further please visit the Just giving page – Harnessing Oddlesofdosh through Pedaling and Exhaustion.

If you are unable to visit Cambodia in December why not challenge yourself to 30km in your home town, even if you don’t fancy bracing the cold in Europe why not set the challenge in your local gym? Whilst obviously missing out on the great atmosphere and beautiful backdrop of the Angkor temples, some keen supporters have committed to do 30kms on exercise bikes on the day of the event. One of them will be offshore just outside of Australia, another group on the Great Ocean Road and another will be pedaling in the training room of his company in Sandefjord, Norway.

The big date is Saturday 4th December and starts at sunrise!

Join our growing team of global challengers by contacting us !!

There are three options:

• To give a one off donation visit  www.justgiving.com/hopeforcambodia
• To set up a monthly donation please go to www.justgiving.com/hopeforcambodia
• Alternatively Tanya has set up a page dedicated to her two towers trip at http://www.justgiving.com/tanyaseeley

Please join me in wishing Tanya well (I’m still very grateful she didn’t convince me to do it) and I look forward to seeing and sharing photos of the journey in due course!