Resulting from the positive feedback we all had from our trip, we will again be scheduling 2 trips in 2012: the first at the beginning of April, encompassing Easter, and the second once again in October.

There will be 3 key changes for our 2012 trips:

Our 2011 motorcycle trip through Northern Thailand went smoothly and safely. A couple of minor spills were more embarassing than painful or life-threatening. Glenn Bowditch from Boyds Motorcycles in Hamilton came along with a contingent of Waikato riders and all had a great time.

Halong Bay is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Set in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea off the northern coast of Vietnam, 3000 spectacular limestone island formations rise out of the turquoise sea. Halong Bay is a UNESCO Cultural world heritage site, and many of the islands have isolated uninhabited beaches for swimming and kayaking.

One of the most common questions we get is "what sort of license do I need to ride a motorbike on your trips overseas?" This is often accompanied with the statement that some people have not got a full NZ motorcycle license in NZ, but have been riding for a long time and are fully competent.

We don't seem to be immune from earthquakes anywhere these days. On 24  March a force 7 earthquake hit the Thai / Myanmar border town, and it was felt as far away as Bangkok. Just one person was reported killed in the town of Mae Sai, but details of the Myanmar toll is sketchy. At least there are no nuclear powerplants, nor any opportunities for tsunamis to hit that region. Our trips take us to Mae Sai, as well as a border crossing into Myanmar.

It is hard to believe that it is just 6 months before several intrepid groups of motorcyclists head away to our Thai and Vietnamese destinations to experience a wonderful adventure. We are currently taking registrations of interest and bookings for both Thai and Vietnamese trips, and already the planning is underway for air travel as well as motorcycle and other arrangements on the ground.