The idea to travel the world on a motorcycle did not 'come out of the blue'. Monica's husband Simon had this dream for 30 years. The opportunity to go arose after their three children had left school and home. Monica had a motorcycle licence but no mechanical skills and very little riding experience. She didn't even have a motorcycle. At the end of a focussed year of preparation sandwiched between two busy jobs as a social worker she was more or less ready to go. The original plan was to ride from Tokyo, Japan to St. Petersburg, Russia via Mongolia and the Central Asian Republics. The twists and turns of fate saw them return home through Africa, which had never been part of the plan. From the fabled Silk Road route to Timbuktu there was plenty of adventure and challenges. After 50,000kms and through 30 countries Monica missed out on learning how to change a tyre as she didn't even manage to get a flat. The trip was one of extreme travel and adventure and a wonderful way of spending a year. Monica and Simon managed to return home still married and keen to travel more.

The idea to travel the world on a motorcycle did not 'come out of the blue'. Monica's husband Simon had this dream for 30 years. The opportunity to go arose after their three children had left school and home. Monica had a motorcycle licence but no mechanical skills and very little riding experience. She didn't even have a motorcycle. At the end of a focussed year of preparation sandwiched between two busy jobs as a social worker she was more or less ready to go. The original plan was to ride from Tokyo, Japan to St. Petersburg, Russia via Mongolia and the Central Asian Republics. The twists and turns of fate saw them return home through Africa, which had never been part of the plan. From the fabled Silk Road route to Timbuktu there was plenty of adventure and challenges. After 50,000kms and through 30 countries Monica missed out on learning how to change a tyre as she didn't even manage to get a flat. The trip was one of extreme travel and adventure and a wonderful way of spending a year. Monica and Simon managed to return home still married and keen to travel more.

The idea to travel the world on a motorcycle did not 'come out of the blue'. Monica's husband Simon had this dream for 30 years. The opportunity to go arose after their three children had left school and home. Monica had a motorcycle licence but no mechanical skills and very little riding experience. She didn't even have a motorcycle. At the end of a focussed year of preparation sandwiched between two busy jobs as a social worker she was more or less ready to go. The original plan was to ride from Tokyo, Japan to St. Petersburg, Russia via Mongolia and the Central Asian Republics. The twists and turns of fate saw them return home through Africa, which had never been part of the plan. From the fabled Silk Road route to Timbuktu there was plenty of adventure and challenges. After 50,000kms and through 30 countries Monica missed out on learning how to change a tyre as she didn't even manage to get a flat. The trip was one of extreme travel and adventure and a wonderful way of spending a year. Monica and Simon managed to return home still married and keen to travel more.

This book has been written from my holiday journals and it is my thoughts and opinions that have been expressed throughout the book.

I have enjoyed all my holiday adventures inThailandand throughout our several trips have always enjoyed the company and friendship of the people that we travelled with. Our friends and family mean the world to me and to be able to share a holiday with someone that you care for is a privilege and each and every holiday holds a special place in my heart as does each person that we have shared a holiday or more with.

Along the way we have learned some history and some interesting facts aboutThailandand its people and culture, we have made friends that we treasure and we have lost a special friend in Soonee who passed away this year. Soonee will be sadly missed no longer a familiar sight onPatongBeachbut we will never forget her she may be gone but not forgotten.

There are so many more adventures that Raymond and I have had but I have not� included them in this book as well as adventures to other Asian places, this is not because they were not as important or special but simply lack of space and time.

My friends and family thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your company in our adventures to our holiday paradise and I look forward to enjoying many more holidays with each and everyone of you.

This book has been written from my holiday journals and it is my thoughts and opinions that have been expressed throughout the book.

I have enjoyed all my holiday adventures inThailandand throughout our several trips have always enjoyed the company and friendship of the people that we travelled with. Our friends and family mean the world to me and to be able to share a holiday with someone that you care for is a privilege and each and every holiday holds a special place in my heart as does each person that we have shared a holiday or more with.

Along the way we have learned some history and some interesting facts aboutThailandand its people and culture, we have made friends that we treasure and we have lost a special friend in Soonee who passed away this year. Soonee will be sadly missed no longer a familiar sight onPatongBeachbut we will never forget her she may be gone but not forgotten.

There are so many more adventures that Raymond and I have had but I have not� included them in this book as well as adventures to other Asian places, this is not because they were not as important or special but simply lack of space and time.

My friends and family thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your company in our adventures to our holiday paradise and I look forward to enjoying many more holidays with each and everyone of you.

This book has been written from my holiday journals and it is my thoughts and opinions that have been expressed throughout the book.

I have enjoyed all my holiday adventures inThailandand throughout our several trips have always enjoyed the company and friendship of the people that we travelled with. Our friends and family mean the world to me and to be able to share a holiday with someone that you care for is a privilege and each and every holiday holds a special place in my heart as does each person that we have shared a holiday or more with.

Along the way we have learned some history and some interesting facts aboutThailandand its people and culture, we have made friends that we treasure and we have lost a special friend in Soonee who passed away this year. Soonee will be sadly missed no longer a familiar sight onPatongBeachbut we will never forget her she may be gone but not forgotten.

There are so many more adventures that Raymond and I have had but I have not� included them in this book as well as adventures to other Asian places, this is not because they were not as important or special but simply lack of space and time.

My friends and family thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your company in our adventures to our holiday paradise and I look forward to enjoying many more holidays with each and everyone of you.

Greg spent most of his life in Michigan particularly in the Detroit area and Grand Rapids. His formal education was predominately obtained at schools and universities in Michigan graduating from Warren High School, a Bachelor and Masters of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Michigan University and a PhD program at Wayne State University. In addition, Greg received a Doctor of Business Administration from California Coastal University in Riverside, California.
Greg was an accomplished athlete especially in football and boxing and was the 1974 Michigan Light-heavyweight AAU champion. Greg had many professional fights with a record of 36 wins and 6 losses but was a �crowd teaser� before the main events.
With his wife Jessica they have started over 22 businesses ranging from fitness centers to an environmental business that is currently one of the largest in the United States.
After graduating from college he obtained his first job working for General Motors (GM) in Grand Blanc, Michigan and quickly rose through the ranks as the youngest General Foreman in GM at that time. He left GM and obtained a teaching position as a professor at Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan and then to Western Michigan University as a professor in the Engineering Department.
Greg�s father was a Naval officer and spent time in New Mexico working on the atomic bomb project leaving the care of himself and his brother to their mother. His mom, a Native American (Shawney) along with her children experienced there first real prejudices of being Native. Greg remembers instances of not being served in restaurants because of their looks, especially their mother. Greg�s Dad was severely injured in Korea and spent years in the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Accompanied by his mom and brother they lived with his mother�s parents in Ohio. It was his grandfather that first introduced Greg to hunting accompanying him on many white-tail hunts. It was not until mid-life that Greg had the time and resources to really enjoy the sport of hunting. As evident by this manuscript his love of hunting and being in the outdoors grew from a sport to a passion. Accompanied by his best friend and wife their life experiences are vast and will have visited or hunted all seven continents. There adventures are still going strong.

Biography of Jessica Cheek

Jessica spent most of her life in Michigan raising her three children and helping run the various business ventures with her husband Greg. She was born in San Luis Obispo, California and moved at an early age to Detroit. She graduated from Pershing High School and received a Bachelor of Arts from Wayne State University both located in Detroit.
Jessica�s life is centered on the church, husband Greg, children and her seven grandchildren. Her number one passion is traveling with Greg to all the various locations and seeing their particular cultures. She is very active in Christian activities and with her husband established a pre-school for Zulu kids in South Africa. Her particular �nitch� is cooking and particularly the challenge of wild game preparation. Jessica has introduced hundreds of people to her culinary menus at either their home in Breezy Point, Minnesota or Marco Island, Florida.
It was Jessica�s idea to document their many hunting and travel experiences and prepared the first text outlining many of those. After many revisions she incorporated the numerous articles written by her husband.
Jessica embraces the opportunity to share her experiences with individuals who appreciate different cultures and will work diligently in pointing them in the right direction. She particularly enjoys revisiting many of her traveled places with the grandchildren and hopefully they will have a different perspective of life after viewing first-hand there day to day survival.