You guys may have seen some of my posts about my crazy trips, so thanks for following along and reading them. This time I want to talk about something less exciting but just as important: maintenance.

My biggest obstacle on my recent trip was actually maintenance and getting proper service. I learned SO much along the way that at this point I feel like I have the entire parts catalog memorized. I also learned which crucial, often very cheap parts can cause huge problems when they fail, and which ones are worth carrying on the next trip because they can be difficult or impossible to source.

One of my biggest takeaways was learning to cross-reference parts with other bikes. I found out my bike shares a fuel filter with the R3 and MT-07, which helped me out when I needed one and the shop told me they didn't have it. I simply asked, "Do you have it for the R3?" Turns out they did!

When I started riding in Southeast Asia, I was spoiled. You really don't need to know much about mechanics there. Mechanics are more abundant than coffee shops, and parts are cheap and usually available with a quick motorbike delivery.

Europe was also pretty good. I received some excellent service, especially in Greece, Italy and Spain, where I had most of my work done. I haven't experienced South America or the USA yet, so I'll find out what that's like, but I'm expecting their own challenges, especially with cost and parts availability.

One thing I really struggled with was that in many of the regions I crossed, the best mechanics were usually focused on big bikes. They would sometimes overlook scooters or dismiss issues I was having with "it's just a scooter, they're like that."

But I really believe that whether you ride a GS, a Vespa, a Land Cruiser or a Honda Civic, proper maintenance will make any vehicle last longer and work much better.

Going forward, I'm going to do a lot more of my own maintenance and keep learning. After this trip, I've realized that when you're travelling this far and this long, relying entirely on finding the right mechanic in every country isn't always realistic.

I guess the best way to avoid this kind of service is to learn maintenance yourself. You don't need to become a professional mechanic, but knowing your own machine can make a HUGE difference when you're thousands of kilometres from home.

Winner July 2026

Congratulations to Workawayers Sandrine & Felix from Germany

https://www.workaway.info/en/community/travel-photos/2026-07

Give it a try for next month! You can upload up to 6 photos each month, and there are cash prizes for the top 3 entries. The winning photo receives €100, with prizes also awarded for 2nd and 3rd place.

Crossed all of Africa on a Maxi Scooter shared my story and banned from the motorcycles subreddit.

I posted this to r/motorcycles the first time I shared my story, receiving hundreds of comments from positive bikers and a few trolls. Later, after completing my journey across Africa on my Yamaha XMAX, I shared the post below.

This time, I got thousands of upvotes and hundreds more positive comments, but 2 trolls were gatekeeping so hard in the comments that they got the post removed.

All this does is prove my point. Anything with 2 wheels is a pleasure to ride, and other riders need to stop shitting on each other. Real bikers are the ones who support and encourage people to experience the thrill of a road trip, not the ones sitting parked in their garage telling others what counts as a "real" motorcycle.

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/s/6TC1ufMYQH

“It’s just a scooter, try a real motorcycle” — one year later

A year ago I posted here while I was halfway through my journey from Cyprus to South Africa on my Yamaha XMAX 300. I was getting the usual comments: “not a real bike,” “you need a bigger bike,” and plenty of people convinced I wouldn't make it.

Well, somehow I managed to cross over 44,000 km from Cyprus to South Africa, through Europe and Africa, on a 300cc XMAX. And yet, even after finishing, the argument hasn't disappeared. I still get messages saying I didn't really do the trip, that it was fake, or that an XMAX couldn't possibly have done it. And yes, I still occasionally get the “not a real bike” comments.

But I want to be clear about something, the XMAX is not a motorcycle. It's a maxi scooter. I've never called it a motorcycle. I usually use “motorbike” because it's easier, but the distinction is there.

It's a 300cc scooter. It's bigger and more comfortable than a typical small scooter, has plenty of storage, and is surprisingly capable on long distance trips. But it's also automatic, it's fundamentally a scooter. So where exactly is the line between a scooter and a motorcycle?

Is it the engine size? The riding position? The transmission? The frame? The wheels? At what point does a scooter become something else, but not quite a motorcycle? And does it actually matter?

For my trip, there were definitely times when I wished I had a proper adventure motorcycle. Guinea-Bissau and Guinea were probably the worst. I also fell in the sand several times on a 30 km stretch of pure sand near the DRC border. An off road bike with more clearance and bigger wheels would have made some of those roads much easier.

But I wasn't looking for easy.

There were also plenty of times when the XMAX was exactly what I wanted. It was comfortable, economical, had lots of storage, and the automatic transmission was great for spending entire days riding. The upgraded suspension and other modifications I made also helped enormously on the terrible roads.

It was also useful for blending in. In some places, there were plenty of medium sized bikes and scooters around, which was helpful when security was a concern.

Some of the people who were negative at the beginning eventually changed their opinion. People who told me I needed a “real motorcycle” later congratulated me, followed the journey, and told me they were genuinely impressed. Others never changed their minds.

But I'm not interested in proving that a scooter is better than a motorcycle. It isn't. There are things a proper adventure bike would have done better, just as there are things the XMAX did better for me.

I'm more interested in what happens when you stop worrying about what a bike is “supposed” to be and just take it somewhere.

A year ago I was halfway to South Africa trying to explain why I use a maxi scooter. Now I've actually ridden it there, and the only explanation I find myself needing is that I wanted to.

Maybe that's where the line matters less than we think.

Maybe what matters most is simply putting two wheels on the road and seeing where they take you.

Crossed all of Africa on a Maxi Scooter shared my story and banned from the motorcycles subreddit.

I posted this to r/motorcycles the first time I shared my story, receiving hundreds of comments from positive bikers and a few trolls. Later, after completing my journey across Africa on my Yamaha XMAX, I shared the post below.

This time, I got thousands of upvotes and hundreds more positive comments, but 2 trolls were gatekeeping so hard in the comments that they got the post removed.

All this does is prove my point. Anything with 2 wheels is a pleasure to ride, and other riders need to stop shitting on each other. Real bikers are the ones who support and encourage people to experience the thrill of a road trip, not the ones sitting parked in their garage telling others what counts as a "real" motorcycle.

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/s/6TC1ufMYQH

“It’s just a scooter, try a real motorcycle” — one year later

A year ago I posted here while I was halfway through my journey from Cyprus to South Africa on my Yamaha XMAX 300. I was getting the usual comments: “not a real bike,” “you need a bigger bike,” and plenty of people convinced I wouldn't make it.

Well, somehow I managed to cross over 44,000 km from Cyprus to South Africa, through Europe and Africa, on a 300cc XMAX. And yet, even after finishing, the argument hasn't disappeared. I still get messages saying I didn't really do the trip, that it was fake, or that an XMAX couldn't possibly have done it. And yes, I still occasionally get the “not a real bike” comments.

But I want to be clear about something, the XMAX is not a motorcycle. It's a maxi scooter. I've never called it a motorcycle. I usually use “motorbike” because it's easier, but the distinction is there.

It's a 300cc scooter. It's bigger and more comfortable than a typical small scooter, has plenty of storage, and is surprisingly capable on long distance trips. But it's also automatic, it's fundamentally a scooter. So where exactly is the line between a scooter and a motorcycle?

Is it the engine size? The riding position? The transmission? The frame? The wheels? At what point does a scooter become something else, but not quite a motorcycle? And does it actually matter?

For my trip, there were definitely times when I wished I had a proper adventure motorcycle. Guinea-Bissau and Guinea were probably the worst. I also fell in the sand several times on a 30 km stretch of pure sand near the DRC border. An off road bike with more clearance and bigger wheels would have made some of those roads much easier.

But I wasn't looking for easy.

There were also plenty of times when the XMAX was exactly what I wanted. It was comfortable, economical, had lots of storage, and the automatic transmission was great for spending entire days riding. The upgraded suspension and other modifications I made also helped enormously on the terrible roads.

It was also useful for blending in. In some places, there were plenty of medium sized bikes and scooters around, which was helpful when security was a concern.

Some of the people who were negative at the beginning eventually changed their opinion. People who told me I needed a “real motorcycle” later congratulated me, followed the journey, and told me they were genuinely impressed. Others never changed their minds.

But I'm not interested in proving that a scooter is better than a motorcycle. It isn't. There are things a proper adventure bike would have done better, just as there are things the XMAX did better for me.

I'm more interested in what happens when you stop worrying about what a bike is “supposed” to be and just take it somewhere.

A year ago I was halfway to South Africa trying to explain why I use a maxi scooter. Now I've actually ridden it there, and the only explanation I find myself needing is that I wanted to.

Maybe that's where the line matters less than we think.

Maybe what matters most is simply putting two wheels on the road and seeing where they take you.

A year ago I posted here while I was halfway through my journey from Cyprus to South Africa on my Yamaha XMAX 300. I was getting the usual comments: “not a real bike,” “you need a bigger bike,” and plenty of people convinced I wouldn't make it.

Well, somehow I managed to cross over 44,000 km from Cyprus to South Africa, through Europe and Africa, on a 300cc XMAX. And yet, even after finishing, the argument hasn't disappeared. I still get messages saying I didn't really do the trip, that it was fake, or that an XMAX couldn't possibly have done it. And yes, I still occasionally get the “not a real bike” comments.

But I want to be clear about something, the XMAX is not a motorcycle. It's a maxi scooter. I've never called it a motorcycle. I usually use “motorbike” because it's easier, but the distinction is there.

It's a 300cc scooter. It's bigger and more comfortable than a typical small scooter, has plenty of storage, and is surprisingly capable on long distance trips. But it's also automatic, it's fundamentally a scooter. So where exactly is the line between a scooter and a motorcycle?

Is it the engine size? The riding position? The transmission? The frame? The wheels? At what point does a scooter become something else, but not quite a motorcycle? And does it actually matter?

For my trip, there were definitely times when I wished I had a proper adventure motorcycle. Guinea-Bissau and Guinea were probably the worst. I also fell in the sand several times on a 30 km stretch of pure sand near the DRC border. An off road bike with more clearance and bigger wheels would have made some of those roads much easier.

But I wasn't looking for easy.

There were also plenty of times when the XMAX was exactly what I wanted. It was comfortable, economical, had lots of storage, and the automatic transmission was great for spending entire days riding. The upgraded suspension and other modifications I made also helped enormously on the terrible roads.

It was also useful for blending in. In some places, there were plenty of medium sized bikes and scooters around, which was helpful when security was a concern.

Some of the people who were negative at the beginning eventually changed their opinion. People who told me I needed a “real motorcycle” later congratulated me, followed the journey, and told me they were genuinely impressed. Others never changed their minds.

But I'm not interested in proving that a scooter is better than a motorcycle. It isn't. There are things a proper adventure bike would have done better, just as there are things the XMAX did better for me.

I'm more interested in what happens when you stop worrying about what a bike is “supposed” to be and just take it somewhere.

A year ago I was halfway to South Africa trying to explain why I use a maxi scooter. Now I've actually ridden it there, and the only explanation I find myself needing is that I wanted to.

Maybe that's where the line matters less than we think.

Maybe what matters most is simply putting two wheels on the road and seeing where they take you.

Jadi, mungkin kalian sudah membaca postingan saya tentang perjalanan terbaru saya melintasi Afrika, dan bagaimana Indonesia menjadi salah satu inspirasi besar yang membuat saya memulai perjalanan saya, terutama karena komunitas biker di sini. Saya ingin membagikan beberapa foto dari perjalanan saya di Indonesia pada tahun 2019.

>Inspired this trip: https://www.reddit.com/r/indonesia/comments/1vggmzl/saya_niko_dan_indonesia_adalah_tempat_saya_jatuh/

Saat itu, saya masih seorang biker yang sangat tidak berpengalaman, dan saya malu mengakui bahwa saya bahkan belum punya SIM! Sebelumnya saya sudah melakukan beberapa perjalanan di Thailand, Vietnam, dan Malaysia, lalu melanjutkan perjalanan ke Indonesia.

Di Jakarta, saya berhasil membeli Yamaha Jupiter. Karena saya memang suka tetap menggunakan Yamaha, sepertinya itu pilihan yang bagus. Tapi motor ini mogok begitu sering sampai saya sendiri tidak percaya masih bisa hidup untuk menceritakan semua ini. Sekarang saya lebih suka bepergian dengan motor yang lebih besar, meskipun saya tetap memilih maxi scooter.

Perjalanan saya waktu itu dari Jakarta menuju Bali. Saat itu, saya selalu fokus untuk bisa sampai ke Bali. Bali adalah hadiahnya, Bali adalah tujuannya. Tapi kalau saya melihatnya kembali sekarang, justru bagian paling indah dari perjalanan itu adalah perjalanan melintasi Pulau Jawa.

Orang-orangnya baik dan ramah, makanannya, menurut saya, termasuk yang terbaik di Indonesia, dan jalan-jalannya tidak kenal ampun serta lambat, terutama ketika melewati kota-kota. Saya sebenarnya tidak pernah mengalami masalah serius selain suku cadang motor yang terus saja rusak. Untungnya, para mekanik sangat baik dan selalu membantu saya ketika saya membutuhkannya. Berkali-kali saya kehabisan bensin, dan dalam hitungan menit selalu ada seseorang yang datang membantu mendorong motor saya sampai ke SPBU.

Setelah beberapa waktu di jalan, saya mulai merasa orang-orang menerima saya seperti salah satu dari mereka sendiri. Di setiap kota tempat saya berhenti, orang-orang selalu penasaran dan ramah. Wajah saya memang bule, tapi selera saya terhadap sambal sudah Indonesia banget wkwk.

Saat itu saya masih sangat tidak berpengalaman sebagai pengendara motor. Saya sering tidak tahu apa yang harus dilakukan ketika motor bermasalah, tetapi hampir selalu ada orang Indonesia yang berhenti dan membantu. Banyak dari mereka mungkin tidak pernah tahu betapa besar arti bantuan kecil mereka bagi saya.

Saya melewati Gunung Bromo, dan yang cukup mengejutkan bagi saya, saya tidak menyangka Indonesia bisa sedingin itu. Saya pun segera membeli pakaian yang lebih hangat. Setelah lama tinggal di Thailand, saya memang sudah tidak terbiasa membutuhkan pakaian seperti itu.

Dalam perjalanan menuju Gunung Bromo, saya berusaha sampai di sana tepat waktu untuk melihat matahari terbit. Saya berkendara dalam kegelapan ketika Google Maps gagal membantu saya dan saya malah tersesat. Akhirnya, saya menemukan seorang pria duduk di pinggir jalan dengan api kecil, jadi saya berhenti dan bergabung dengannya. Kami tidak bisa berbicara dalam bahasa yang sama, tetapi kami adalah dua orang pria yang hanya sedang berusaha menghindari udara dingin.

Saya melewatkan matahari terbit, tetapi akhirnya saya berhasil melewati Gunung Bromo. Mengendarai motor melewati pasir ternyata sulit, apalagi dengan bawaan saya yang berat. Beberapa warga lokal berhenti dan menawarkan untuk membantu dengan mengendarai motor saya melewati pasir, tetapi saya bertekad untuk menyelesaikan setiap kilometernya sendiri, bahkan kalau saya harus jatuh.

Motor kecil itu mungkin bukan motor terbaik yang pernah saya kendarai, tetapi motor itulah yang membawa saya melewati Jawa dan memberi saya salah satu pengalaman perjalanan paling berharga dalam hidup saya.

Beberapa kali saya juga merasakan keramahan para sopir bus di Indonesia, sampai saya menemukan diri saya tergeletak di pinggir jalan. Tapi itu tidak menghentikan saya. Saya tetap bertekad menyelesaikan perjalanan ini.

Pada akhirnya, saya tiba di sebuah pulau yang indah, tetapi pulau ini penuh dengan wisatawan. Tentu saja saya juga seorang turis, jadi saya tidak bisa terlalu banyak mengeluh, meskipun saya rasa saya bisa makan sambal lebih kuat daripada mereka.

Tiba-tiba, pesona Jawa seperti menghilang dari perjalanan saya. Dan saat itulah saya mulai melihat perjalanan ini dengan cara yang berbeda.

Bali memang indah, tetapi ternyata bukan bagian terbaik dari perjalanan. Justru perjalanan untuk sampai ke sanalah yang menjadi bagian terbaiknya.

Perjalanan itu mengajarkan saya untuk memperlambat langkah dan menikmati momen yang sedang saya jalani. Bukan hanya tentang tujuan, tetapi juga tentang perjalanan menuju ke sana. Memang terdengar klise, tetapi itu benar-benar nyata.

Kalau dipikir-pikir kembali, bagian terbaik dari perjalanan itu adalah perjalanan di jalan dan tempat-tempat yang sebenarnya tidak pernah saya rencanakan untuk kunjungi. Orang-orang yang saya temui ketika saya tersesat, para mekanik yang terus membuat Yamaha saya tetap hidup, orang-orang yang membantu ketika saya kehabisan bensin, dan pria yang duduk bersama saya di samping api ketika kami bahkan tidak bisa berbicara dalam bahasa yang sama.

Saat itu saya tidak pernah membayangkan bahwa beberapa tahun kemudian saya akan membawa motor melintasi Eropa dan Afrika sejauh lebih dari 44.000 kilometer. Kalau bukan karena perjalanan pertama saya di Asia Tenggara, mungkin saya tidak akan pernah memulai semua ini.

Mungkin tanpa saya sadari saat itu, perjalanan di Indonesia mengajarkan saya sesuatu yang kemudian selalu saya bawa dalam perjalanan-perjalanan saya berikutnya: jangan terlalu sibuk mengejar tujuan sampai lupa menikmati perjalanan.

Indonesia bukan hanya salah satu negara yang saya kunjungi. Indonesia adalah salah satu tempat yang membantu membentuk saya menjadi orang yang sekarang. Dari jalan-jalan di Jawa, motor kecil yang terus mogok, orang-orang yang membantu saya ketika saya kesulitan, sampai sambal yang membuat saya terus kembali lagi, semua itu masih saya ingat sampai hari ini.

Indonesia akan selalu menjadi tempat yang spesial bagi saya karena Indonesia punya peran besar dalam awal perjalanan overland saya. Saya tidak tahu kapan bisa kembali, tetapi saya tahu satu hal: perjalanan saya belum selesai, dan saya berharap suatu hari nanti bisa kembali berkendara di jalan-jalan Indonesia lagi.

Terima kasih sudah membaca cerita perjalanan saya, dan sampai jumpa di jalan!

Visited this gate in Suối Hai, interesting story behind it!

When I was travelling through Morocco, some Moroccan students told me about a small Vietnamese village near Kenitra. What surprised me most was how many of them already knew the history connecting the two countries. They all spoke warmly about Vietnam and the Vietnamese people, and it was clear this story is still remembered there.

As I entered the village, surrounded by farmland, I immediately felt like I had stepped back into the Vietnamese countryside. The peaceful scenery, the fields, and the familiar village atmosphere made it hard to believe I was still in Morocco.

During the First Indochina War, thousands of North African soldiers, including Moroccans, served in the French Army and were sent to fight in Vietnam. Hundreds chose a different path. They deserted the French Army, joined the Viet Minh, and fought alongside the Vietnamese for independence. After the war, some settled in Vietnam, married Vietnamese women, and helped establish what became known as the Vietnam-Africa Farm in Ba Vì. There they built a distinctive Moroccan-style gate as a tribute to their homeland and to the friendship they had found in Vietnam.

Years later, many of these Moroccan families returned home with their Vietnamese wives and children, settling near Kenitra. The community became known as the Vietnamese Village. Decades later, the Vietnamese Embassy, together with the descendants of those Moroccan and Vietnamese families, completed a traditional Vietnamese village gate there. It was built to complement the Morocco Gate in Vietnam and to ensure future generations would remember this remarkable chapter shared by both countries.

I visited the Morocco Gate in Suối Hai, outside Hanoi. Unlike the village in Morocco, this gate now sits in the backyard of a family's home. The owner told me that when the land was allocated years ago, the gate happened to be on their property. They could have taken it down, but instead they decided to preserve it.

Every so often Moroccan visitors and those who know the story, or are curious what it's about, come to see it. It sometimes causes inconvenience for the family, but they still welcome people because they know how meaningful it is. Often people will leave a small donation to the owners for being welcomed in to visit.

The owner also mentioned that some people have offered to help restore the area and add both the Moroccan and Vietnamese flags, just like at the matching site in Morocco. I really hope that happens one day. I also think it would be great if they opened a small coffee shop there. It would give visitors somewhere to sit, learn about the history, and at the same time help support the family who have become the caretakers.

What I found interesting is that this story seems to be much better known in Morocco than it is in Vietnam. I thought I'd share a little about it!

I realised that Morocco and Vietnam actually have a lot in common. Both countries have beautiful countryside, strong farming traditions, vibrant street food cultures, and people who love spending time together over coffee or tea. They also share histories of colonial rule, hard-fought struggles for independence, and a reputation for welcoming strangers with genuine hospitality. I've experienced kindness in both places that I'll never forget.

Two countries on opposite sides of the world, connected by an unlikely chapter of history that still lives on through the people, the families, and these two gates.

What's the story behind this gate in your backyard?

Hello everyone! Ako si Niko, taga-Cyprus, isang maliit na isla sa Mediterranean na nasa pagitan ng Europe at Middle East.

Gusto kong magbahagi nang kaunti tungkol sa journey ko dahil ang Pilipinas ay isa sa mga lugar na talagang nakatulong humubog sa pagmamahal ko sa paglalakbay gamit ang motor.

Bago ako pumunta sa Southeast Asia, hindi pa ako kailanman nakapag-motor sa buong buhay ko. Somehow, dito ako natutong mag-motor, at kalaunan ay nakapaglakbay ako sa Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand at Malaysia.

Nakapunta rin ako sa Pilipinas, kung saan nag-rent ako ng motor sa Manila at nag-tour sa Luzon. Mabilis kong napansin na medyo iba ang pag-overland sa Pilipinas kumpara sa mainland Southeast Asia dahil sa dami ng mga isla. Maliit na bahagi lang ng bansa ang nakita ko, pero talagang umaasa akong makabalik balang araw at mas marami pang lugar ang ma-explore.

Isa sa mga talagang tumatak sa akin ay ang XMAX at custom motorcycle community. Ang dami kong nakitang XMAX, interesting na modifications at touring setups, at gustong-gusto kong makita kung ano ang ginagawa ng mga Filipino riders sa kanilang mga motor. Noong mga panahong iyon, hindi ko kailanman naisip na magkakaroon din ako ng sarili kong XMAX, pero talagang naging interesado ako sa motor na ito dahil doon.

Bago ang COVID, pangarap kong mag-motor mula Southeast Asia hanggang Europe. Nang magbago ang mundo, nagbago rin ang mga plano ko. Kalaunan, bumili ako ng Yamaha XMAX sa Cyprus at doon ko sinimulan ang sarili kong overland journey.

Dinala ako ng journey na iyon sa buong Europe at kalaunan ay tinawid ko ang buong African continent. Africa ang pinakamahirap na bahagi, by far: mahihirap na kalsada, mechanical problems, mga piyesang imposibleng hanapin, at napakaraming araw na talagang walang nangyayari ayon sa plano. May mga pagkakataon talaga na napapaisip ako, "Ano ba ginagawa ko dito?"

Pero ang mga mahihirap na moments na iyon din ang nagbigay ng mas malaking meaning sa journey. Sa ngayon, nakapag-motor na ako sa mahigit 70 bansa at mahigit 40,000 km, at isang kakaibang bagay ang natutunan ko: puwedeng ma-homesick ka para sa isang lugar na hindi naman talaga naging tahanan mo.

At honestly, wala akong maisip na kahit isang bansa kung saan hindi ako nakatagpo ng mga Filipino. You guys are everywhere! Mula Africa hanggang Europe at sa buong Asia, lagi akong may nakikilalang mga Filipino, at palagi silang kabilang sa pinakamabait at pinaka-welcoming na mga taong nakikilala ko sa daan.

Ang susunod kong malaking adventure ay sa South America, kung saan ipagpapatuloy ko ang overland journey ko sakay ng motor. Pero bago iyon, mas maglalaan muna ako ng oras sa Southeast Asia, habang iniisip ko ang mga lugar kung saan nagsimula ang buong adventure na ito.

Pagkatapos maglakbay sa napakaraming bansa, natutunan ko na walang lugar na perpekto. Ang mga talagang nananatili sa akin ay ang mga taong nakikilala ko, ang mga kalsadang tinatahak ko, ang pagkain na natitikman ko, at lahat ng unexpected moments na hindi kailanman kayang planuhin.

At kung magkakaroon man ako ulit ng pagkakataong bumalik at mag-motor sa Pilipinas, hindi ako tatanggi!

Salamat sa pagbabasa ng story ko, at sana makabalik ulit ako sa Pilipinas balang araw!

Halo semuanya! Nama saya Niko, saya berasal dari Siprus, sebuah pulau kecil di Laut Mediterania, di antara Eropa dan Timur Tengah.

Saya ingin sedikit berbagi tentang perjalanan saya, karena Indonesia sebenarnya adalah salah satu tempat yang membantu memulai kecintaan saya terhadap perjalanan dengan sepeda motor.

Sebelum datang ke Asia Tenggara, saya sama sekali belum pernah mengendarai sepeda motor. Entah bagaimana, saya akhirnya belajar mengendarai motor dan kemudian melakukan perjalanan dari Jakarta sampai Bali, serta melintasi Vietnam, Kamboja, Laos, Thailand, dan Malaysia. Setelah itu, saya tidak bisa berhenti.

Indonesia juga menjadi tempat pertama saya mulai memperhatikan Yamaha XMAX. Saya melihat begitu banyak XMAX dan berbagai macam modifikasi yang dibuat oleh para pemiliknya, dan saya sangat suka melihat apa yang mereka lakukan dengan motor-motor tersebut. Saat itu saya tidak pernah membayangkan bahwa suatu hari saya akan memiliki XMAX sendiri, tetapi Indonesia memang menjadi salah satu tempat di mana saya mulai tertarik dengan motor ini.

Sebelum COVID, impian saya adalah mengendarai motor dari Asia Tenggara sampai ke Eropa. Ketika dunia berubah, rencana saya juga ikut berubah. Akhirnya saya membeli Yamaha XMAX di negara asal saya, Siprus, dan memutuskan untuk memulai perjalanan overland saya sendiri dari sana.

Perjalanan itu membawa saya melintasi Eropa dan akhirnya menyeberangi seluruh benua Afrika. Afrika menjadi bagian tersulit dari perjalanan saya. Ada banyak hari ketika berbagai hal tidak berjalan sesuai rencana, jalan yang saya lewati sangat sulit, suku cadang motor sulit ditemukan, dan saya harus terus berjalan meskipun ada saat-saat ketika saya benar-benar ingin berhenti.

Namun, justru saat-saat sulit itulah yang membuat perjalanan ini terasa sangat berharga. Sampai sekarang saya sudah mengendarai motor melewati lebih dari 40 negara dan menempuh lebih dari 40.000 km.

Satu hal aneh yang saya sadari setelah melakukan perjalanan selama ini adalah kita bisa merasa rindu pada suatu tempat yang sebenarnya bukan rumah kita.

Kadang-kadang ketika saya merasa rindu rumah, saya memasak makanan dari Siprus. Tetapi saya juga mulai merindukan Asia Tenggara, termasuk Indonesia. Saya sering teringat jalan-jalannya, makanannya, orang-orangnya, dan masa-masa ketika saya masih belajar mengendarai motor dan mulai menyadari betapa saya menikmati perjalanan seperti ini.

Bahkan ketika sedang melintasi Afrika, Indonesia entah bagaimana terus menemukan jalannya kembali kepada saya. Salah satu contoh yang paling lucu adalah Indomie. Saya terus melihat Indomie muncul dalam berbagai makanan kaki lima lokal di seluruh Afrika Barat. Saya langsung mengenalinya, tetapi yang mengejutkan, banyak orang lokal yang memasak dan memakannya bahkan tidak tahu bahwa Indomie sebenarnya berasal dari Indonesia.

Jadi meskipun saya berada ribuan kilometer jauhnya, saya tetap mendapatkan pengingat kecil tentang Indonesia sepanjang perjalanan.

Itulah yang saya sukai dari bepergian dengan sepeda motor. Kita tidak hanya mengunjungi sebuah negara dan melihat tempat-tempat terkenal. Kita benar-benar merasakan perjalanan di antara tempat-tempat tersebut. Kita bisa mengambil jalan kecil, berhenti di tempat yang benar-benar acak, bertemu seseorang yang tidak pernah kita sangka akan kita temui, atau tersesat dan justru menemukan sesuatu yang lebih baik dari rencana awal.

Indonesia memberikan saya beberapa kenangan seperti itu sejak awal perjalanan saya, dan saya akan selalu menghargainya.

Petualangan besar saya berikutnya akan membawa saya ke Amerika Selatan, di mana saya akan melanjutkan perjalanan overland dengan sepeda motor. Tetapi sebelum itu, saya akan menghabiskan lebih banyak waktu di Asia Tenggara, dan akhir-akhir ini saya banyak memikirkan tempat-tempat di mana semua petualangan ini dimulai.

Setelah bepergian ke begitu banyak negara, saya belajar bahwa tidak ada tempat yang sempurna. Setiap negara memiliki sisi baik dan buruk. Tetapi yang paling melekat dalam ingatan saya adalah orang-orang yang saya temui, jalan-jalan yang saya lewati, makanan yang saya makan, dan semua momen tak terduga yang tidak bisa direncanakan.

Kalau ada yang suka sepeda motor, perjalanan jarak jauh, petualangan overland, atau sekadar ingin ngobrol tentang perjalanan dengan motor di Indonesia, saya akan senang mendengar cerita kalian.

Dan kalau suatu hari saya mendapat kesempatan untuk berkendara dari Jakarta ke Bali lagi, tentu saya tidak akan menolaknya.

Terima kasih sudah membaca cerita saya, dan semoga suatu hari nanti saya bisa kembali ke Indonesia lagi!

I wanted to share one of the most unexpected and inspiring stories I've come across during my travels.

While travelling through Morocco, some Moroccan students told me about a small Vietnamese village near Kenitra. What surprised me most was how many of them already knew the history connecting Morocco and Vietnam. They all spoke warmly about Vietnam and the Vietnamese people, and it was clear this story is still remembered with pride. Until then, I had never heard of it.

As I entered the village, surrounded by farmland, I immediately felt like I had stepped back into the Vietnamese countryside. The peaceful scenery, the fields, and the familiar village atmosphere made it hard to believe I was still in Morocco.

The story behind it is remarkable. During the First Indochina War, thousands of North African soldiers, including Moroccans, served in the French Army and were sent to fight in Vietnam. Some chose a different path. They deserted the French Army, joined the Viet Minh, and fought alongside the Vietnamese for independence. After the war, some settled in Vietnam, married Vietnamese women, and helped establish what became known as the Vietnam-Africa Farm in Ba Vì. There they built a distinctive Moroccan-style gate as a tribute to their homeland and to the friendship they had found in Vietnam.

Years later, many of these Moroccan families returned home with their Vietnamese wives and children, settling near Kenitra. The community became known as the Vietnamese Village. Decades later, the Vietnamese Embassy, together with the descendants of those Moroccan and Vietnamese families, completed a traditional Vietnamese village gate there. It was built to complement the Morocco Gate in Vietnam and to ensure future generations would remember this remarkable chapter shared by both countries.

This week I finally visited the Morocco Gate in Suối Hai, outside Hanoi. Unlike the village in Morocco, this gate now sits in the backyard of a family's home. The owner told me that when the land was allocated years ago, the gate happened to be on their property. They could have taken it down, but instead they decided to preserve it.

Every so often, Vietnamese who know the story, along with Moroccan visitors, come to see it. It sometimes causes inconvenience for the family, but they still welcome people because they know how meaningful it is. I left a small donation to thank them for opening their home to visitors.

The owner also mentioned that some people have offered to help restore the area and add both the Moroccan and Vietnamese flags, just like at the matching site in Morocco. I really hope that happens one day. I also think it would be great if they opened a small coffee shop there. It would give visitors somewhere to sit, learn about the history, and at the same time help support the family who have become the caretakers of this special place.

What I found interesting is that this story seems to be much better known in Morocco than it is in Vietnam. That's one of the reasons I wanted to share it. I think more Vietnamese should know about this unique chapter of our shared history.

The more I travel, the more I realise that Morocco and Vietnam have a lot in common. Both countries have beautiful countryside, strong farming traditions, vibrant street food cultures, and people who love spending time together over coffee or tea. They also share histories of colonial rule, hard-fought struggles for independence, and a reputation for welcoming strangers with genuine hospitality. I've experienced incredible kindness in both countries, and that's something I'll always remember.

In a world where we hear so many stories that divide people, this is one that brings people together. Two countries on opposite sides of the world, connected by an unlikely chapter of history that still lives on through the people, the families, and these two gates.

To my Moroccan friends, thank you for sharing this story with me. Without those conversations in Morocco, I never would have known this remarkable piece of history.

Hey all, I know there are tons of regional groups but I thought it would be cool to start a global group for XMAX owners, not about selling just sharing setups and networking!

It'll probably be hard to get it going but if anyone is keen to help me out, let me know!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/xmaxglobal

I just arrived in the city, not sure how long I'll be staying yet. Can anyone recommend a good place to rent a scooter at a reasonable price?

I originally learned to ride in Vietnam a few years ago, and that's what got me hooked on overland trips. I just finished crossing the entire continent of Africa on my Yamaha XMAX, and now I'm back for a short visit to Thailand and Vietnam. I'd love to check out some custom bike and mod shops while I'm here.

I'd also love to meet up with some other riders for a day ride or weekend trip. I saw Yamaha Revzone is organizing a ride to Tà Đùng this weekend, so I might join if I can find a decent bike to rent.

If you've got a cool touring setup on your motorbike or know any great accessory, custom, or performance shops worth visiting, let me know. Always happy to grab a coffee too and meet up!

Winner June 2026

Congratulations to Workawayers Alberto & Florencia!

https://www.workaway.info/en/community/travel-photos/2026-06

Give it a try for next month! You can upload up to 6 photos each month, and there are cash prizes for the top 3 entries. The winning photo receives €100, with prizes also awarded for 2nd and 3rd place.

>UPDATE: Appreciate all the positive replies. They definitely outshine the negative ones. A few people reached out saying they know this man, Simon, and that his situation is quite complicated. Despite that, local people in Hanoi continue to help him with food, clothing, and kindness, without judgment or discrimination.

>If you'd like to help, please reach out directly to the organization that trying to help him. I'm just the messenger and was a guest on the evening they visited him.

>Ms. Pham Thuy: https://www.facebook.com/pham.thuy.3726
GLC: https://www.facebook.com/glcvietnam.education

I met him at the end of a Friday evening food donation run in Hanoi. The local organization helped him with food and clothes, they weren't just helping Vietnamese people. They were also helping foreigners who had fallen on hard times.

I don't know this man's full story, and I don't judge how he ended up in this situation. From what I saw, though, the local Vietnamese community has really been looking out for him. I was even told that a security guard near the park where he sometimes sleeps regularly brings him food.

During my travels I've come across a few foreigners who ended up stranded abroad. Sometimes it's because of poor life choices, sometimes the situation is much more complicated. But it's crazy how embassies can completely look the other way with their people sometimes. Hopefully get can get some help rather then depending on the kindness of locals, but they sure are kind!

Last year I helped a young Czech man who was stranded in The Gambia for 2 years get home after his own embassy and government wouldn't help him. For me, it's not always about judging someone's past. It's also about making sure the responsibility doesn't fall entirely on local communities.

Does anyone know this British man or know if the British Embassy is aware of his situation? If there's someone already helping him or a way to get his case to the right people, I'm just visiting Hanoi for a short trip but thought I'd throw this out there.

You can contact Ms Pham Thuy from Global languages center GLC (on Facebook).

I'd just arrived back in Vietnam to call it home for the next few months. One thing I always try to do when I travel is connect with both locals and other foreigners. I've also made it a bit of a personal motto to try and find positive stories hidden inside negative ones.

>I made a little video from our ride around Hanoi. Keeping up with everyone on scooters while filming was definitely a challenge 😅, but I hope it gives you a little glimpse into what these Friday food runs are like.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dsh9nRjNuM

A few days after arriving, I came across a Facebook post from a young woman from Burkina Faso. She shared the first bad experience she'd had after living in Vietnam for two years. Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of people responded with compassion and sympathy, but as with most things online, there were also plenty of trolls and hateful comments. After spending months riding across West Africa, where I was shown incredible kindness everywhere I went, I genuinely felt bad reading it. Honestly, I don't think I could have crossed West Africa without the generosity of the people there. Seeing the negativity directed towards someone who was simply sharing her experience was what prompted me to reach out. So I sent her a message and invited her for a coffee. I simply wanted to hear her story and learn about her life in Vietnam.

What happened next was something I never expected.

Her name is Farida. She speaks Vietnamese fluently, has built a strong local community, and works with Vietnamese businesses exporting Yamaha motorbikes to Burkina Faso. Instead of letting me buy her a coffee, she invited me to her Vietnamese business partner's café, where they ended up buying me coffee instead. As we chatted about my journey across Africa, she introduced me to some connections at Yamaha Vietnam, who were kind enough to pass my story crossing Africa with my XMAX on to Yamaha Japan. Afterwards, her Vietnamese friends insisted on taking all of us out for lunch and wouldn't let me pay for that either. I honestly came thinking I might brighten someone else's day, but somehow I walked away having received far more kindness than I intended to give, along with an amazing connection I never expected. It also reminded me that one bad experience doesn't define a person or a country. Farida contributes to the local economy, respects Vietnamese culture, speaks the language fluently, and gives back to the community.

Before we left, she told me about a volunteer group led by Ms. Pham Thuy from Global Language Centre (GLC). Every Friday evening, they ride scooters around Hanoi delivering food, clothing, and other essentials to people in need using donations from local businesses and supporters. She asked if I'd like to come along the following Friday, and of course I said yes.

I didn't do much besides contribute a little, ride along, and film some of the evening, but it was one of those experiences that reminds you how much kindness happens quietly in the background every single week. You could really see how much people care about looking after those less fortunate here in Vietnam.

One thing that really stood out to me was that they even stopped to bring food and clothing to a British man who has been living in Vietnam for years and had fallen on difficult times. Nobody cared where he came from or what his story was. If someone needed help, they were included. That really stuck with me because it reflected exactly the kind of generosity I experienced while travelling across Africa. Kindness didn't have borders there, and it didn't seem to have borders here either.

Sometimes social media feels full of negativity, but this entire experience only happened because I decided to send one message to someone I'd never met. That single message led to a new friendship, introduced me to an incredible volunteer group, connected me with Yamaha Vietnam, and gave me another reminder of why I love travelling. So often the best experiences aren't the ones you plan.

Only in Vietnam could one small negative moment lead to so many positive ones. 🇻🇳

>Ps: I recommend looking Ms Pham Thuy and her organization Global languages center GLC up on Facebook, it's a fun evening if you would like to join.