“A lifelong passion for adventure travel gave rise to the exotic idea. The time was right; go before the East became too like the West and while we were still young and eager. We went with our two Specialized Rock Hopper mountain bikes, two T-shirts, two pairs of riding shorts, one long pant for modesty, a 35 mm camera, 100 rolls of film, and six Lonely Planet phrase books (one for each strange language we would have to learn to communicate). We flourished, floundered, and challenged our physical and emotional stamina as we intermingled in the daily lives of the local populations. On Our Own tells the tales of our reactions to and interactions with the varied people and the intriguing cultures we encountered along the way: spirit worshipping Balinese who wore their culture proudly through the streets; hard working Javanese pressured into a meager life by over-population and competition; over-zealous Sumatrans screaming hello, chasing  us and pulling us off our bikes; reserved Thais always ready with a helping hand; gracious Vietnamese plodding against heavy odds into a brighter future; enigmatic Chinese, pushing the western concept of honesty to the brink of extinction.
      On Our Own’s stories rise out of everyday ordinary experiences made extraordinary by place, culture, custom and language. Join us on this remarkable journey.  Enjoy the photographs and stories in our book and on these pages.