MAKNA’s CancerCycle Launch on October 18th, in Ipoh

Did you ever tried to cross 4000 km by car? For some, the task can even look stressful by airplane, and it only take you three hours comfortably seated to accomplish so. Now, imagine doing that… cycling. 

Well, it may look terrifying and unachievable for some, but can also be very inspiring. Specially when you are doing it for a good cause like fighting back cancer or praising a loved one that survived to the disease. Max Chong is doing it for both reasons.

From October 18th to Jannuary 4th , Max will be cycling from Ipoh, Malaysia, to Hanoi, Vietnam, through Cambodia, Laos and Thailand to give graces to those that survived to cancer. The flag off will be at TESCO Pengkalan new store, starting at 9.00 am. At the same time, Max offered his efforts to MAKNA as an opportunity to raise funds and bring hope to our patients.

Do you believe in the power of one?  Through his journey, you can see how just one person can change the live of hundreds of people. You can also be part of the change! Let’ s help Max to achieve his objective of saving lives as he reaches Hanoi at the beginning of Jannuary with just 0,10 sens per meter!

At MAKNA’s website – http://www.makna.org.my – you can show that you also in believe in the power of one: in your own capacity of promoting change! Just look for the CancerCycle logo and make your donation!

Bottomline…

I would like to apologise regarding the late close-up of the whole journey in cancercycle blog. Here i would like to share to all about a touching story that i experienced in Laung Prabang, Laos. One day, while i was walking on a street in a market place, I saw a few foreigners were having bowl of noodles. then, when they left the place, i saw two boys about ten yrs old went to that same table and took the leftover food and share in a corner.. After witnessing this matter, i bought a bowl of noodles for them.
In Laos too, i met a group of cyclist Europe, Canada and Australia aged between 50 to 70. They were very humble although they had achieved much in life. they had even shared many experiences and knowledges with me.

Once i reached Nong Khiaw ( Northern Laos ) i left my bike for the first time to take a boat to Muang Ngoi. While i was walking, two teachers came and approach me. they showed me their school and hostels. the hostel had a bad condition. 21 sq feet room is shared by 3 student of 8 yrs old. it is impossible for them to lie straight comfortably. no electricity, and students have to cook by themselves using firewood stove. most of the students have to walk 3 to 5 hours daily to school. ( malaysian should be thankful of our situation) In this village, there are still many Unexploded Ordinance (UXO). Please log on to this website: www. maginternational.org. for more information.

There was once i could not reach my destination before sundown. Finished all my water and food, in hunger and muscle cramp after all the cycling uphill. so i seek help from a local there. The good samaritan had offered me a place to spend the night. Provided me with Sticky rice and a bowl of weird soup. Then they showed me to my mosquito netting bed. This was my most unforgettable experience in this journey. the whole place was surrounded by mountain and hills, so, to cross to another destination, i will have to continue journey in a bus due to all the steep road and unavailabe food and accomodation.

Finally, when i reached the border between Laos and Vietnam, called NaMeo, whereby i experience an extraordinary situation. the officers working there had never received any Malaysians crossing this border, the nearest is a Singaporean who cross over in yr 2007. So, it took them for hours to find the code for Malaysian Passport.

Vietnam is a beautiful country but just not so fond of the drivers or motorcyclist there. Very rude with their vehicles. Always misused their honking. From this border to Hanoi, I actually reached earlier than expected. So, i spent about ten days touring Northern Vietnam ( Halong Bay ) and Southern Hanoi ( Nih Binh)

The final counting of my journey is 83 days by bike (6472km). Train (210km), Bus (230km). The most favourite place i visited is Laos, Cambodia and Northern Thailand.

Thank you Makna, all who have sponsered my expedition, Puan Faridah and Datuk Farid, Bangkok Ambasador, Tuan Roslan & wife Puan Norelan and everyone who are invollved in making this biking expedition fund raising work.

Yours Truly,

Max Chang Kam Kok and Family

Max in Laos with friends!

Finally, Max reached Laos, after spending some time back in Thailand and enjoying some thai food, he is back to the route again. For five days, Max cycled together with Ronald (62) and his wife until Vientiane, Laos. Ronald is a cancer survivor and already cycled more than 60,000 kilometers (!). It seems that flying is really becoming obsolete…

Ronald and his wife

In Vientiane, Max took some time to extend his complements to the Malaysian Embassy in Laos. He is really MAKNA’s Ambassador.

Laos have some beautiful landscapes. Of course Max took one of his famous “sunrise pictures”, but I will not be posting it right now. Ther is much more to see in Laos, You know!

Thatluang Stupa

Victory Arch

Just Max wearing a nice local hat

Vietnamese Coast

more about "Vietnamese Coast", posted with vodpod

A video that Max wants to share with you all!

more about “MAKNA’s Cancercycle Weblog › Dashboar…“, posted with vodpod

From Vietnam… back to Thailand???

Yes, Max does not like to make my life easy, you know? I can understand, as you go through the astonishing landscapes of Southeastern Asia, it is understandable that you become a little demanding. Today, Max informed me that he decided to go back to North Thailand because he was convinced that the landscape ahead was “boring”. Sorry Max to bring it to the public, but the idea is to make it fun and inclusive.

Well, Max will go back to Vietnam soon… he still have 1700 km to cycle from Vietienne to Hanoi! Until there, we have new photos from Hoi an and two viedos.

Son Temple, built more than 1000 years ago! (9th century)

One of the oldests bridges in the world (an World Heritage) in Hoi an

Good Morning Hoi an

Typhoon!!! But, believe me, Max is ok…

Three days ago I was surprised with the news that announced a typhoon in Vietnam. My thoughts instantaneously reached Max and I started call him for news. The news came a few minutes later in the form of this message:

Hi Matt , I just arrived in Quang Ngai City, two day ago I told you that I travel by
train from Nha Trang to Diu Tri because of the typhon.I want to share with you that
typhoon was strong and I found along the way some of the village was flooded. Big
advertise sing boards collapsed.Since the ducthgirl (Mirjam) shared her experince to me
and adviced always not to put myself in a risky situation. She said BRAVE and STUPID
just separate in betwen a thin line. As long you still safe you could travel even
more. Thanks for her advice ,it is so useful to me.I will teach my kids this words
and ask them to remember it in their entire life. Weather is getting more coll, I have to
wear more during cycle. Please check Photobucket for latest photo. See you.

Max

Diu Tri after the Typhoon

Still, Max is safe and had sometime to take care of himself:

Haircut

We talked so much about Vietnam's landscape, but it you didn't see much of it lately. So, here
it goes some photos taken by Max:

News from Vietnam

As we promissed, today we are posting new photos. Max is now on Vietnam and he sent a few photos of his passage through Cambodia. Max really enjoys sunrises and dawns; obviously he couldn’t help but sending photos of another sunrise, this time in Mui Ne, Vietnam

Sunrise in Mui Ne

Do you remember us mentioning about the accident Max had last week? The accident involving a motorcycle spoiled his back tire and here goes the photo as Max reached a hostel:

Spoiled back tire!

One thing that you will notice once you go to Vietnam is: they have a lot of motorcycles. Relating a personal experiences, when I called Max last week to know how he was doing, the first thing he told me was: “I am on Ho Chi Min right know. They have a lot of motorcycles.”

Yes Max, they do. Don’t wonder that you had an accident with one. Of course, having so many motorcycles means that you can easily find someone to fix yours:

Vietnam is also known for its beautiful landscape and coast, so we could not miss it on our blog:

A quick update before the new photos

We’ve been talking with Max since he left Bangkok, but it has been quite difficult for him to send us the updates from his trip, specially because of time restrain. Now that he stopped for a rest after reach Ho Chi Min city two days ago, he will be able to send us some photos.

What we can tell you so far is that Max is enjoying the trip, he is 100% healthy and had a small accident with his bike, which spoiled his back tire. This small incident took him some days, since it was very difficult to find a new tire of the same type in Cambodia. However, if you take a look on the Intinerary, you will see that Max reached Vietnam two days before scheduled, which means that all the rest has been fine so far.

CancerCycle in Bangkok, Thailand

“I have cycled a total of 1650kms” said Max, when he reached Bangkok on Friday, 31st October. On 1st November, The Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok was in preparation to commemorate his arrival in Bangkok.

He shared some of his experiences with us; at times he is disillusioned when he reaches a place after cycling for almost 200kms. “It takes me 10 to 15 minutes to compose myself out of exhaustion”, said Max, while pointing at his evidently sun burnt arm at the dining table of Mr. Roslan. Mr. Roslan & his lovely wife Puan Norelan housed Max, Mama Gie & I at their residence in the Embassy.

Max showing his sun burnt arm, a decent partition.

At their residence, there was a painting hanging on the dining wall painted by Puan Norelan, it immediately pulled Max’s attention, “this is in Lisse, Holland!” exclaimed Max. “I was working there as a chef almost for nine years. I take deep breath early in the morning as the air is so fresh”. Max and the Roslans became very chatty exchanging their stay in Holland.

“Now I have stick in front of my cycle to chase away the dogs, I was chased by dogs more than 10 times and nearly bitten by them. The first time, I swayed myself to the middle of the busy road when I was attacked from left, little I realized that I was engaging myself to danger of being run down by a truck. I looked back, fortunately the road was clear” said Max. The stick helps Max to shoo away dogs.

There was a time Max had to stay in a guest house at Surat Thani, 650 kms south of Bangkok, he was very tired from cycling, he miscalculated his distance thinking that he had arrived Surat Thani not knowing it is another 28 kms away. When he finally reached, it was dark, in addition he had to carry his cycle to the 3^rd floor, it was hot safe to leave the cycle at ground floor. Adding more to his distress is when he realised he is at the 4^th floor and had to walk down 1 floor down with his cycle on his shoulder. “That is what exhaustion can do a man”, said Max.

Along the way, Max met many kind hearted people in Thailand. Language was a barrier, with little understanding of English the Thai understood his plight and placed some donations into the donation box. Max was moved with this particular incident where a Thai girl together with her elderly mother was selling cookies for a living where Max stopped for a break. She understood Max’s journey from an English speaking Thai couple. She placed her earnings for the day of 20 Bhat (about RM2) into the box. Max said to me, “Vemanna, there was hardly any people buying her cookies, the little she made she donated, her kind heart moved me”.

The Thai girl making a donation of 20 Bhat

“Ah! I enjoy the food, it’s simply irresistible, I eat along the way and there is plenty of good food all along the way. I am within my daily budget and the cheapest guest house just cost me 70 Bhat (about RM7). The owner just asked me to pay for linen as I shared my cycling expedition. Apart from the food, the sceneries are breathtaking; the beauty of sunrise by the sea side in Pratchnap Khirikhan was like heaven on earth. At 5am, I purposely climbed the hill to experience the sunrise. And, along the way the brand Michelin caught my attention, Michelin in Thailand gestures “Sawadikap” instead of the normal running which we are familiar with” We all broke to laughter.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Bangkok organized “Cancer Care” walk, formally known as Terry Fox Run for the Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer. Saturday morning of 1^st November; Max, Mama Gie & I joined the run at Lumpini Park, Bangkok to give our support. Khunying Finola Chatamras, the Honorary Advisor of the Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer later attended the commemoration of CancerCycle held at the Embassy of Malaysia later in the afternoon.

Max wearing cap participating in Cancer Care Run

Myself, Mama Gie & Max at Cancer Care Run

The Perwakilan Embassy of Malaysia, Bangkok welcomed Max with great honour. Puan Norelan who is also MAKNA Volunteer leader organized the receiving of Max with the help of the residence of the Embassy. Home cooked food was served to almost 70 guests who attended. Puan Norelan prepared savory, chicken rending, nasi himpit with kuah kacang, mee goreng mamak , cut fruits with the help of her friends in her house. Some cooked other dishes and brought to the event site.

Puan Norelan preparing Savory

Volunteers frying noodles “Mee Goreng”

Volunteer preparing cut fruits

The Embassy of Malaysia receiving Max

Mr. Bobby Tai Chong Yih, Business Development Advisor, BINA PURI (Thailand) LTD presented donation. A total of 12,000 Bhat was presented, the Malaysian Club, Bangkok 5,000 Bhat, Mr. Bobby Tai 5,000 Bhat & Mr. Billy Chua 2,000 Bhat respectively.

Mr. Tai Ching Yih presenting donation

Guests having photo opportunity with Max

Volunteer leader Puan Norelan, Khunying Finola Chatamras, the Honorary Advisor of the Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer & Mama Gie

Mama Gie, myself, Puan Norelan & Max with his cycle.

To Mr. Roslan, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Malaysia, Bangkok & the Perwakilan. A big THANK YOU!

Max at the entrance of the Embassy

Max & Mr. Roslan, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Malaysia, Bangkok

Max bid farewell on Sunday morning and continued with his journey…

By Vemanna, Manager MAKNA

 

The many landscapes of Thailand

The Thai Coast

Buddhist Temple

Changing the tires

Fruits Market