Perth, Australia
We’ve made a big decision: we’re no longer cycling through Southeast Asia. The original plan was to ride all the way from Europe to Australia, also via Southeast Asia. But along the way, we realized something important: the plan isn’t always what matters most.
The past weeks in Southeast Asia were tough. Arriving in the hottest season of the year with temperatures over 40°C, intense humidity, dirty air, and chaotic roads, it became harder and harder to enjoy the journey. We started missing what we truly love about bikepacking: wild mountains, cooler air, fresh skies, and the peace of remote camping. All things we couldn’t find here.
We’ve cycled in other countries with high temperatures too, like Turkey and the 'Stans', but that was a dry heat. The humid, suffocating heat in Southeast Asia is a whole different story and honestly, it just became unbearable.
One morning on the way to the border of Laos, it all became too much. Overheated, emotional, and completely drained, we stopped and asked ourselves: what are we doing? We returned to the village where we started to breathe, reflect, and create space for a new plan.
It wasn’t an easy decision. There were a lot of tears. This wasn’t something we took lightly. For so long, cycling all the way to Australia via South East Asia had been the goal. Changing that felt strange, and even like failing, at first. But now, it feels like the right move.
We’ve now arrived in Perth, where we’re taking a short break before cycling around 4,500 km across Australia to Melbourne.
Australia isn’t the final destination of our journey, it’s just the next chapter in a much bigger adventure.
So no, you’re not rid of us yet! We’ve still got MANY more bike adventures ahead, and we’re more excited than ever to keep sharing the ride.
Adventurous greetings, Marco and Tessa