A few years ago I was sitting in a bar of ill repute in Chiang Mai nursing a beer when a BMW motorcycle pulled up outside. The rider dismounted, strolled into the open fronted bar and ordered a cold one.  As soon as I saw the rugged biker I knew he had a tale to tell. Unable to suppress my curiosity I struck up a conversation.

His name was Glen Heggstad. As a biker myself, I was immediately interested to hear that he’d spent months travelling the world on his bike. I’ve always fostered the desire to do the same so I asked him if he’d experience any problems along the way. He replied in an almost offhand way, ’Yeah, you could say that.’

It turns out that Glen’s ‘problem’ was capture by the ELN rebel army as he rode through Colombia. He was ripped from his motorcycle at a roadblock, marched for days deep into the jungle, held hostage  for five weeks, and subjected to torture and brutality. Eventually he was released as part of a Red Cross prisoner exchange. His shocking story is told in his first book, Two Wheels Through Terror: Diary of a South American Motorcycle Odyssey. Remarkably, after his release Glen declined hospitalisation and continued on his round the world motorcycle journey.

The day after my chance encounter with Glen, we arranged to meet up again so he could tell me more about his travels. The result was an article I wrote entitled, Four Wheels Move the Body, Two Wheels Move the Soul which you can read below. Now, the reason this is all brought back to mind is because Glen has recently been in touch and brought me up to date with his fascinating life.

His new book documenting his global motorcycle adventure, One More Day Everywhere, has been released. In fact, according to Glen it quickly sold out and is into its second printing. Also, his first book, after being in hardback for four years, is also slated for an international re-release in the autumn in paperback.

Glen was also the subject of a National Geographic docu-drama based on the book. It was originally scheduled to be shown five times in one year but it immediately became the most widely viewed programme of the series and has been aired 60 times around the world so far. It has also been translated into 34 languages, including Mandarin for the Chinese market.

Two months ago, Biography Channel sent Glen a request to be in a show. He shot the piece a few weeks ago and it should air in the autumn. He is also currently in negotiations with a company discussing the possibility of hosting a moto-adventure reality TV show.

WorldFlix recently purchased rights to Glen’s life story in order to make a compelling feature film on the former Hell’s Angel turned adventure motorcyclist. He is now entering pre-production stages of an anticipated classic with top Hollywood players seeking leading roles. An A-list team of influential industry personnel will be announced in the upcoming months.

You can find out more about Glen and watch TV interviews on his website http://www.strikingviking.net/

It is always great to hear from Glen and I am thrilled to know that things are going so well for him.

I don’t usually put my articles up on this site, using it primarily for my photography but I make an exception in this case. All images used in the article are courtesy of Glen, except the two on the first page. Enjoy.

Setting up this website has been an interesting experience on many levels. It’s been necessary to go through a lot of images and decide what is worthy of being posted while I am in the process of shooting new work. Last night I revisited a few pictures I took in Myanmar, one of the most visually stimulating countries I have visited. Below are a few images that were taken on a train journey with gear far inferior to the stuff I use today and also with a lot less knowledge. The imperfections jump out but I like them. One thing is for sure, they have made me want to return to Myanmar again soon.

Travelling by train in Myanmar is a fabulous experience. I spent the good part of the day enjoying the trip, jumping on and off this old German train trying to get some captivating images.

The train stops every five or ten minutes at a station so there is a constant flow of passengers getting on and off. It’s a photographer’s dream journey.

With all the upheaval going on in Bangkok, perhaps it’s time to dig out a few images of happier times. A few years ago I travelled to Siem Reap with my all-time favourite travelling companion to visit the temples of Angkor.

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Siem Reap may get overrun with tourists but a visit to Angkor is still essential.Many travelers to Cambodia find the visit to Siem Reap to be so inspiring that two days is simply not enough. It is certainly possible to spend five or six enjoyable days exploring the area.

A good way to start your Angkor adventure is at the recently completed Angkor National Museum. It’s a worthwhile experience that explains the history of Angkor in a clear and concise manner and is a great precursor to visiting the actual sites. The museum also includes a stunning collection of over 1,000 Buddha images. Entrance fee is $12. www.angkornationalmuseum.com

The key to enjoying Angkor itself is to get up early while the weather is cooler. By 11 a.m. wandering around the ruins becomes uncomfortably hot and tiring. Rising early, however, doesn’t mean you’ll beat the crowds as everyone else has the same idea. Park hours are 5 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. daily. Entry to the park is $20 a day or $40 for a three-day pass.

Angkor encompasses more than 30 temples and ancient buildings spread over a vast area. If you have limited time or don’t want to spend your entire visit to Siem Reap at Angkor, concentrate on a few highlights.

Angkor Wat covers an area of one square kilometre and comprising of three levels and a central tower. The entranceway is particularly impressive and is the site of the early morning pilgrimage for the obligatory sunrise photo shoot. Inside the confines of the temple the inner and outer walls are covered with exquisite bas reliefs. If you want to get a detailed explanation of what you are looking at, you can hire an official guide at the entrance to the site.

Angkor Thom dates from the 12^th and 13^th centuries and was the last capital of the Angkor Empire. Enclosed by a moat and a three kilometre wall, the area is entered through an impressive gateway. At the heart of the complex is Bayon with 37 towers, most of which feature four massive carved faces. The temple is particularly popular with visitors but the inner area is small and can get very crowded.

Ta Phrom is sprawling temple complex is the site for some of Angkor’s most memorable imagery. The main temple was lost to jungle for centuries. When the site was reclaimed the massive trees that straddled the walls were left in place. It is a fascinating temple to explore and great for photography. Bayon and Ta Prohm were used as sets in the film Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie.

There are several fine temples beyond Angkor, one of the best being Banteay Srei. It is worth taking the 38 kilometre ride out here, if only to enjoy a drive through the beautiful. The temple is constructed of sandstone that has a pinkish tinge and its delicate bas-reliefs are in excellent condition. Due to looting, the sculptures at the site are replicas. The remaining originals can be seen at the National Museum in Phnom Penh.

You will need transport to get from temple to temple, either a romuak, a motorbike with a trailer for two, or a driver with car. The romuak are an excellent way to get around, and preferable to the confines of a car. You can hire a romuak and driver for between $12- 15 a day for running around town and Angkor. For longer trips out to places such Bantaey Srei, expect the fee to rise to $25. Drivers usually wait around near hotels and the concierge should be able to assist with negotiations.

Siem Reap itself is well worth exploring. It has excellent restaurants, bars, boutiques, and markets to discover.

Places to stay

Set within beautifully landscaped gardens on the outskirts of Siem Reap, the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort is an excellent choice for any visit to Angkor. The colonial style hotel features 238 superb rooms, a swimming pool, spa, five restaurants and an 18-hole golf course located 20 kilometres away. Service at the hotel is exceptional, as is the standard of the rooms. www.sofitel.com