We're at it again....

HopeAsia cares for some of the poorest and most vulnerable children in the world. Having said that, they are also some of the happiest and most joyful that you could ever hope to meet!
When we first came across the home in Cambodia in 2007 it was little more than a shack on the edge of the jungle. Amongst many projects we have built dormitories, a school room, kitchen and storehouse and a water tower to provide running water for more than 60 children who now live at the home.
In 2012 we were introduced to some amazing people in Myanmar (Burma) who were caring for about 30 children with virtually no resources. As the country has started to emerge from 50 years of isolation we have been able to replace temporary bamboo and bare earthed buildings that regularly flooded with a wonderful new home that provides rooms to sleep and study in, a dining hall and kitchen. We also provide extra lessons for all the children and others from the local community.
Most of these things are merely infrastructure. What is more important is that we have provided places of safety and loving care for children where they are fed, educated and cherished. Without this care they would be on the streets at the mercy of child traffickers and other criminals.
Funding these buildings and covering the significant day to day running costs has only been possible through the very generous contributions we receive. We never take from donations to cover expenses: every single penny goes to help the children. We are immensely grateful to everyone who has partnered with us to date in making a very big difference to some small, and very special, lives.
Our previous cycle challenges in 2010, 2012 and 2014 have been incredibly successful ways to raise considerable sums of money for capital projects at the orphanages in both Cambodia and Myanmar. They are also great fun and participants always tell us that they are the trip of a lifetime!
Myanmar Cycle Adventure 2016
Next year we are planning to return to Myanmar where tourism, let alone charity cycling is still in its infancy. We are teaming up with the same companies that organised our previous trips so have every confidence that the organisation and support will be excellent.
We will be starting in Yangon (previously known as Rangoon) where we will visit the youngsters at the children’s home, as well as the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda. We then fly north to Bagan where our 360km cycle challenge will begin as we head into the rural countryside and the plains pf the Ayerwaddy River towards the former colonial centre of Mandalay.
We will witness some amazing scenery seeing life as it really is in rural Myanmar. It will be a unique experience trip and will take place between 22nd and 30th October 2016 (timed to coincide with half term to enable anyone working in schools to come along). We are hoping to send a team of between 15 and 20 so are actively looking for volunteers now! The cycling is designed to be challenging but not something for which you need to be super-fit and a keen cyclist to achieve.
Typical cycling distances for a day are up to 50 miles. In the past we have had people aged from 17 to 70 taking part, some train for months and others do none (we strongly recommend training!). We often say that the biggest challenge is the fundraising beforehand as we ask each participant to raise at least £2,750.
There are a variety of funding options which we would be happy to discuss with you if you are interested. Launching the ride now gives you about a year to plan both your training and your fundraising events. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please get in touch now by contacting Chris Norris (ca.norris@btinternet.com , 07717 511481) or Crispin Fairbairn (crispin@fairbairn.email)

If you would like to see more information on our previous cycling trips you can visit the tour blogs at:
http://burmacycle2014.blogspot.co.uk/
http://chrisnorriscycle.blogspot.com/

Two and a half years later....Burma 2014

After all the excitement of the Vietnam and Cambodia trek more than two years ago,  I'm now just two weeks away from a 400km cycle through Burma to support a children’s home in Rangoon. You can support this latest adventure to help 40 disadvantaged children here: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/chrisnorrisburma

You can also follow my new blog by clicking here: http://burmacycle2014.blogspot.co.uk

Yet more serious action footage from our trip and some great camera skills too!!!!

Believe it or not Crispin filmed this remarkable 180 degree footage while zipping along the dust road that followed the bank of the Mekong river.... and it's in HD too! Thankfully he didn't encounter a pot hole while spinning on his saddle.

click here to watch the clip...

Live action footage of us cycling in Cambodia...

Courtesy of Peter's iPhone, live action footage of us on one of the better roads in Cambodia! It's Colin directly in front, with Nikki overtaking....

The kids crying out 'Hello' as we cycled past was a sound that followed us everywhere, and is still ringing in my ears!

That's a wrap....

Clive and I are now on the Railair coach for the final leg home to Reading. My wife and two boys await at the station and a texted promise of a cooked breakfast, prepared by my nine year old!

There will be ample time for reflective comments which I will endeavour to do soon.

But without doubt we all return home enriched by our experiences and by the close camaraderie of our merry band.
By the dedication and devotion to the children from the staff at the orphanage. And of course by Crispin: the inspiration behind the whole trip and the Hope Asia charity itself.

I hear we've had quite a following reading these posts - thanks for following our travels. I hope you've enjoyed my random jottings.

And the final thought for now must go to the beautiful children we had the privilege to meet and with whom we spent a precious afternoon. Thank you so much to all of you who sponsored us for this trip and helped to provide them with a real chance for their future after such traumatic and tragic pasts.

Your support has made a very tangible difference to some very deserving lives.

Chris

Update-Day Eight

We were good boys and girls last night, and only stayed out for a couple of drinks watching the sights of nighttime Siem Reap go on around us.

And this morning is, and in the tradition of all best package tours, to be spent at our leisure. A few meet in the lobby at 10am to say goodbye to Crispin, Peter - in fact, to be precise all the blokes and Jill. True to form all the other girls are prioritising shopping to farewells! We take a photo to make the point....

Check out at twelve, with bags and cases filled with dusty and sweaty cycling gear that is clear proof of our endeavours over the past eight days. And after a short rendezvous and lunch at the pool, massages for some, we board our support bus for the last time and head to Siem Reap airport.

Airline schedules dictate our 1645 departure heads north east to Danang in Northern Vietnam for a transit stop before returning south west to Singapore. I think it's what you call the scenic route.

And guess what we saw in Danang? Rain....

At Singapore we wave goodbye to one more of our ever diminishing bunch.-Sam, who has a night in Singapore before jetting off to Japan.

After a rejuvenating Starbucks we board the A380 and contemplate 14 hours wedged into row 61.....

Next stop loved ones and home...

We're back on UK soil

That's it. It's all over.

After a very long and very very bumpy flight home we have just landed at Heathrow Terminal 3 on schedule at 0555.

2 degrees outside apparently- that'll take some getting used to!

Now for the farewells..