For the past few years my creative partners, Mike Rogers and Meghan Shea, and I have worked closely with the Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School in Siem Reap, Cambodia to document the positive work they are doing for the nation's disadvantaged youth.  We have made photographic reportage and documentary films about this tuition-free hospitality training school and how they provide students with the skills and experience necessary to secure gainful employment in one of the city's numerous hotels, guesthouses or restaurants.  These skills, and the resulting economic independence, not only improve the students' quality of life, but that of their families as well.

Our close friend, Sam McGoun, has made a lifelong commitment to supporting Sala Bai in their effort to help stop human trafficking before it starts by providing young Cambodians -- teenage women, in particular -- with an education at Sala Bai.  Sam explained, “My purpose is helping others -- giving more in this world than I could possibly ever take.  My passion is Sala Bai, and more specifically, giving young Cambodian women access to education and employment in the hospitality industry.  My true happiness, therefore, is the result of helping others, and in particular, the students of Sala Bai.”

Inspired by the challenges overcome by the students of Sala Bai, in April 2012 Sam decided to run, cycle and swim more than 670km across Cambodia to raise funds for Sala Bai

and to increase awareness of the dangers of human trafficking.  As the documentary photography- and film-making team tasked with chronicling Sam’s odyssey, we did our best to keep pace with him as he traversed muddy lakes and rivers, ran through small villages and pedaled across the craggy countryside of rural Cambodia.

Sam’s route across the Kingdom of Wonder followed the metaphorical journey traveled by more than one thousand (and counting) Sala Bai students -- from a small floating village in Mechrey on Tonlé Sap Lake, to Sala Bai where they study in Siem Reap, to a sandy beachfront overlooking the Gulf of Thailand in Sihanoukville where the students’ graduation celebration is held annually.

For 10 days this past November, Sam and our small documentary team descended upon Siem Reap for a second cross-Cambodia fund-raising adventure.  This time Sam ran, cycled and swam more than 701km across the country, honoring his commitment to raise money to help the students of Sala Bai and to fight human trafficking in Cambodia.  Once again, Mike, Meghan and I were tasked with following Sam up hills, into mud, across lakes, through rivers, onto floating villages and into pagodas to tell the story of his epic journey.

A few months before Sam's odyssey began, I was speaking with my friends at SanDisk in California.  They had seen the

short behind-the-scenes video that Mike and I created following Sam's first cross-Cambodia triathlon and there was interest in us making some similar photo and video content during Sam's upcoming second adventure for the #SanDiskStories campaign.  We were excited for this opportunity and, along with our editor, David Flood, the team agreed to make two short films for SanDisk.

The first video, 'Extreme Cambodian Triathlon', is a short film that introduces Sam to viewers as he explains his inspiration and personal challenge.  It also takes people behind-the-scenes with me as I document Sam's cross-Cambodia adventure.

The second film, 'The Challenge', is a short video about the personal challenge I gave myself during the documentation of Sam’s journey: to make 10 photographs in rapid succession, every hour on the hour, from sunrise until sunset, each day of the adventure.  It includes me explaining the nature of my photographic experiment and shows viewers both the process and results of my creative challenge.

These films are complemented by a series of blog posts that the team created for the SanDisk Stories site.

Click here to see more of my work as a member of the SanDisk Extreme Team.

22 NOVEMBER 2013 - CHOM BOK TO SIHANOUKVILLE: 138KM

The Beat Goes On

Sourcing untapped reservoirs of energy, Sam demolished the first half of the day at speeds not yet seen on this trip. With a combination of running and cycling, he made his way out of The Kirirom National Park and traded the earthen roads of village life for the paved ones of Troaiong. As we entered Troaiong’s busy streets, Sam had to compete for road real estate with various unruly vehicles.  One of the motorbikes got too close, cutting in front of Sam and knocking him from his bike.  Thankfully Sam’s fall was cushioned by a puddle of mud and roadside trash.  Sam’s staggeringly good nature was omnipresent as he wiped himself off, told the driver of the motorcycle that he was fine and thanked the man for stopping to inquire about his well-being before carrying on.  It would be difficult to make a trip like this without a heavy dose of grace and humility.

By lunchtime Sam had already put in 103km and was able to find a few moments of respite for his worn feet by wading into a river that ran alongside our lunch stop. During this final break we asked Sam to take us back to the beginning of his journey, and his connection to Cambodia and Sala Bai. He talked about his initial visit to

Phnom Penh that motivated him to learn more about Cambodian history and prompted him to think about what he could do to support young Cambodians during this time of national economic rebirth.  It wasn’t until his first visit to Sala Bai that his connection and commitment was fully ignited; “When I visited I saw the impact that Sala Bai had -- their focus on education and guaranteed employment in a growing economic sector -- and how this combination of education and an employment acts as an immediate solution to poverty.”  He went on to talk about the personal transformation this caused saying, “When I learned more about the students themselves, what many of them had been through in order to get an education and get to Sala Bai, it transformed and inspired me.  And it is this inspiration that powers me on.”  We left lunch with a deep appreciation for Sala Bai, their students and Sam’s commitment to helping support them.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

With a fire in his belly and a celebratory cheeseburger on the brain, Sam rode hard in the final 24km stretch on the bike.  The course had saved the best for last, and Sam had to conquer a series of grueling hills during this final push on the bike.  Coming into the booming port town of Sihanoukville, he was unwavering in his decision to end his adventure on the exact beach where the Sala Bai students

celebrate their graduation.  In the final stretch of his eight day journey, Sam found himself running down a carnival-like strip of beach bars and restaurants.  With heavy legs, Sam managed to negotiate one final Cambodian cacophony of hawkers, vacationers and locals to pull his body to the finish line.

Success Was Sam's

Sam reached the finish line at the end of the beach road. Diving into the ocean immediately upon arrival, he savored the final moments of the journey in the sea.  He emerged minutes later, taking time to thank the entire crew and express his thanks to all of those who have been thinking of him, donating and supporting him along the way.  He was resolute in wanting to express to the Sala Bai students that they are his inspiration, saying, “I wanted to leave no doubt that I could deliver and over deliver on what I had told them.  And I can’t wait to go back and tell them that I did it – that we did it together.”

After completing his 701km journey, tired yet elated, Sam headed off to take a well deserved shower and indulge in the cheeseburger that had been occupying his dreams.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea

21 NOVEMBER 2013 - KAMPONG CHNNANG TO CHOM BOK: 111KM

Sam started off strong, departing from the pagoda where we had spent the evening.  He powered through a 20km run via a small town that overlooked the countryside ahead. The day was hot and the road was long, but with the Sihanoukville finish line drawing closer, Sam started and remained in high spirits despite his fatigue.

For the past eight days the team has traversed myriad Cambodian landscapes: urban environments, wetlands, farmlands, jungle foothills and mud encrusted mountains -- but it was today’s landscape that proved the most charming.  Sam cycled down a red earth road surrounded by paddy fields, lofty lean coconut trees and bamboo huts on stilts.  Clumps of wild lemon balm littered the verge as darting swallows skimmed the lotus pond and delicate white butterflies wafted on a luxurious breeze.  Local fishermen cast long bamboo poles into fish filled lakes as Sam wove his way through this tranquil setting.

These are a few of my favorite things

Sam has spent over a hundred hours powering himself throughout this adventure; ample time to think, stew and

ruminate.  Today our team put the question to him, “What do you think about when you ride, run and swim?” After a short pause, Sam responded with the following:

- My family

- Delivering on my promise to the students of Sala Bai

- Cheeseburgers

- Individual Sala Bai students who have inspired me

- Delivering on the commitment I have made to those who have donated to complete this journey; standing with integrity

Thinking of Sala Bai, his family, and food -- classic Sam.  With these thoughts energizing him, Sam met the dusty afternoon trail.  Kampong life poured out in the road and school children on bicycles, herds of cattle and motorcycles created a virtual “Frogger” game for Sam and the support crew.  Successfully navigating through this rural hullabaloo, Sam clocked in 90km on the bicycle and a 21km run.  We bed down at our campsite in the Kirirom National Park this evening.

Go Sammy Go!  Tomorrow you’re on the home stretch.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea and Gaynor Fitzgibbon

20 NOVEMBER 2013 - BATTAMBANG TO KAMPONG CHHNANG: 138KM

For the first time in six days the crew awoke to the sounds of silence -- and not a cowpat in sight!  The lovely Maisons Wat Kor offered a peaceful night’s sleep in an oasis of calm and serenity, a much needed respite for all.  Determined to meet his minimum commitment of swimming, running and cycling a total of 675km, Sam decided to make up for lost time the previous two days by covering a total distance of 138km in one day.  So today was about pounding the tarmac -- cycling and running the highway in scorching temperatures that hit over 90 degrees by midday.

Not losing sight of the bigger picture, Sam swapped his usual orange T-shirt for a purple one bearing the slogan 'Stop Human Trafficking Before It Starts’, a sobering reminder that there are an estimated 29.8 million people in modern slavery today. (Global Slavery Index, UN Gift, 2013).

En route out of town, urban life rumbled by as Sam resolutely ran and cycled at intervals.  Honking trucks and tooting motorcyclists whizzed past, along with giggling school children on over-sized bikes and chattering women selling their wares from bicycle stalls.  Traditional brick-making kilns sat roadside next to cell towers, along with

rice factories, technology companies and water buffaloes grazing in roadside paddies.  All of this while a man in a purple T-shirt simultaneously swerved and greeted Cambodian life as it happens on the road.

The road was literally rough today and the coarse pavement caused Sam to tear through four bicycle tubes and two tires. This made repair stops mandatory and dictated that Sam run during the hot midday hours.  One of the crew cars peeled off and stopped to investigate repair options. New tire supplies were on their way from Phnom Penh but an intermediary solution was necessary in order to make sure Sam could put mileage on without interruption.

What to do? Anyone who has the pleasure of spending time in South East Asia can attest to the brilliant ingenuity that can emerge from the most unassuming of repair shops, and minutes after our car arrived at a tiny roadside tire stall we had assessment and action.  One of our damaged tubes was stretched, submerged and fixed in a matter of minutes to the tune of $1 in repair costs.

During one of Sam's pitstops he formed a particularly poignant connection with a shop owner's family.  Struck by the dignity and apparent closeness of the three generations of women, from the 75 year-old grandmother to her five-year old granddaughter, Sam was reminded of the

importance for girls especially to receive the support and guidance of their elders in a country where so many young people are at risk of trafficking.

Sam powered on well into the night, finishing the day by running a total of 21km and cycling 117km.  After more than 18 hours on the road, the team tented in the sprawling Wat Thommanon Whan pagoda in Kampong Chhnang.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea and Gaynor Fitzgibbon

*In the Khmer language, the term barang has also come to mean a foreigner, particularly one of European ancestry.

19 NOVEMBER 2013 - CHROK CHONG OURET TO BATTAMBANG: 105KM

True to form, the indigenous wake-up calls continued.   Having unknowingly set our tents squarely in the middle of a barnyard, we awoke with a menagerie in our midst; one that cockle-doodle-doo-ed, crowed and grunted throughout the night and into the dawn.  And as the rain poured down during the early morning hours, ee prepared to reunite with Sam.  When Sam arrived, we celebrated by circling the wagons and calling to order a major routine re-evaluation.   The rains had worsened our course to the point where continuing on was called into question. However, after a laborious debate, the group decided to proceed forward and stay with the previously planned routing.

A mere 150m after we enacted this plan, we came upon a newly-formed pond that made our pass untenable.  Forced to call an audible, we needed to about-face.  Our only option was to retreat and face the terrain that we had painstakingly covered the day before (!@#$%).

The Devil That You Know

We set out to cross the very same terrain that we had suffered through -- and conquered -- the day before.

Tackling it on foot, the crew made a rare appearance on the trail and kept stride with Sam, walking along side him during this 8-hour retrace.  The rivers and gullies swelled with new rainwater, enveloping our lower halves as we plodded through the wetlands.

We had a brief moment of respite, fresh water and a brief lunch at Kampong Lapov before we made our way back to navigable roads.  Sam was hungry to make up for lost mileage and hit the road hard, riding 80km and running a total of 26km, wrapping up today’s mileage at 105km.

The team beds down in Battambang (again) and recalibrates for the long journey south to Sihanoukville that begins in the morning.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea

18 NOVEMBER 2013 - BATTAMBANG TO KAMPONG LAPOR / CHROK CHONG OURET: 40KM

Our Home for the Night

Our morning wake-up calls have become signature indicators of the day to come; today was no exception.  The rains heaved down upon us throughout the night, thundering into the morning and making our first introduction to the Cambodian rainforests a wet one.  A local family had hosted us for the evening and housed our tightly packed nest of tents between the stilts of their jungle farmhouse.  The father of the household explained that he had moved to the Cardamom region from Kampot in search of arable and available land.  While the surroundings presented the imagery of an idyllic farm, these fields were punctuated with red signs and unmistakable terms: Danger! Land Mines. Although significant work has been done to clear the area of mines, they still exist and are gruesome reminders of the continued living legacy of the Khmer Rogue Regime.

Mud Wrestling

Sam began his journey today by bicycle, heading onto village roads that had been softened and muddied by the overnight rains.  At the onset, the unpaved roads were slick

and barely passable, and after 15km on the bike he switched to running so he could continue plodding on.  As the day progressed, the roads worsened and, in fact, the term "road" quickly became an overstatement.  The terrain devolved into mud pathways, pitted with ravines and rivulets.  This created great difficulty for Sam and the support crews’ 4WD vehicles.  While Sam pushed through on foot, the rest of our caravan had tremendous problems making headway in the ever-evolving environs.

The Team Splits-Up

Due to the difficult terrain, Sam traveled an alternate route in an effort to make his journey easier to pass.  While he slogged through on foot, the caravan faced-off against the mountains.  The landscape was so unruly that the human foot proved a better tool than the Land Cruisers, and Sam outpaced our vehicles by hours.  The mismatch of pacing and opaque communications created a stressful and lonely afternoon with each crew facing the challenges separately.

What initially began as a strategic 4WD off-roading session for the support crew quickly devolved into a series of drive and rescue missions.  Countless times our wheels spun into oblivion and we fishtailed our way through the mud.  The only way our vehicles could make any traction was to be

pulled by local farm tractors.  With the help of the local John Deere’s and relic Fords, we were towed as our cars became a literal deadweight behind the machines that dregged us through the swamps and gullies.  The pace that the support crew was able to achieve was a mind-numbing 1km an hour.  While the support crew inched along, Sam lapped us, unaware of our increasingly serious delay.

Coordinating with local villagers and adventure race organizers, it was with great relief that we were finally able to contact Sam shortly after the sun set.

Because of the distance between our crews and the danger in traveling the "roads" at night, our crew made the decision to sleep in separate locations.  Had it not been for the ingenuity of our tractor team or the kindness of the local villagers who helped us locate Sam, today’s journey would have been impossible.

We humbly record 40km of travel for the day and are thankful for a dry place to lay our heads.

Tomorrow we reunite!!

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea

17 NOVEMBER 2013 - WAT BEUNG AMPEUL TO SAMLAUT TASIGN: 115KM

When the drum beats, the monks rise, and with them Sam and team.  Day 4 saw Sam make a head start by setting off on foot a full hour before the rest of the crew, since he was eager to get on the road.  After a heavy early morning rainfall the earth was sodden but the air cool, which meant a pleasant run for the first leg of today’s journey, and perhaps a chance for a little solitary contemplation for our man. With a total distance to cover of just over 111km it was going to be a long road ahead.

At 25km, Sam switched his running shoes for wheels to cover the remaining 27km to Pailin, a town with little to recommend it save for its notoriety as a Khmer refuge and high statistics for trafficked victims, in part due to its proximity to the Thai border.  However, the town has grown up around a magnificent temple, Phnom Yat Temple that sits at the foot of a small mountain, hence its Khmer name Phnom, meaning mountain.  The sights en route painted a variety of pictures: misty mountain vistas, rolling patchwork hills, tapioca and corn fields and paths of sliced cassava fruit drying by the roadside.  It was breathtaking and even more so when one contemplated the juxtaposition of the city’s complex recent history against the physical beauty of

the landscape.  A nod to this recent history were the signboards that dotted the roadsides which read: ‘Landmine Cleared Area’, a caption which left no one complacent.

Pailin and lunch covered, it was time to set off for what was to be the most arduous leg of the journey for Sam.  Two trucks and one cyclist headed into the mountain foothills, lush green undulating forest, dotted with wooden tin-roof houses painted in soft hues of pinks, greens, blues and the occasional bright yellow.  Smiling children sprinting out of houses to wave and barking dogs running alongside had Sam simultaneously delighted and swerving out of the way.  The cross-country route taken was muddy, wet and full of deep pit holes.  Though drenched with sweat and mud spray, Sam still managed to give his thoughts to others, asking all of us “How are you?”; astonishing thoughtfulness, from a man under strenuous circumstances.  Watching Sam stand on his peddles, determined to remain on his bike as he climbed steep, muddy, rutted hills, all the rest of us could do was hope that the cool mountain air offered Sam a little relief.

By 7pm, nearly 13 hours on-the-go and with darkness falling, Sam continued pedaling.  Though he had intended to run more, the road was simply too bad.  How does one

man push himself to keep on moving when most would have given up after the first muddy hole?  Sam admitted the route was tough and he needed to draw on inspiration from a variety of sources to stay motivated.  Keeping in mind the students of Sala Bai and knowing that one graduate has joined him in this journey (our chef) helps keep his final destination in sight.

As shadows spread, the air brought with it pungent smells of night, cooking over wood fires, smouldering neem leaves to dispel mosquitoes and damp red earth and we pulled into our campsite.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Gaynor Fitzgibbon

16 NOVEMBER 2013 - BAK PREA TO BATTAMBANG: 108.5KM

And so Day 3 began for Sam and team at around 3am when everyone awoke to the cacophony of sound that is life upon the water in the floating village of Bak Prea -- somewhat earlier than the scheduled 5.30am roll call due to some very enthusiastic cockerels.

Following breakfast, a gift of Take the Pledge T-shirts from Sam to the elderly matriarch of the home in which we stayed, and a prayer of thanks to the house spirits for their protection over night, the team jumped on board the barge for the first leg of the day’s journey.  Sam felt pumped and ready for the 108.5km journey -- boating, swimming, running and cycling -- that lay ahead.  Today was all about ‘Cooking’ (Sam’s chosen t-shirt) pledging his support for the students at Sala Bai Hotel and Restaurant School who participate in the 11-month program to become chefs, a training that subsequently sees them enter the kitchens of 4 and 5-star hotels in Siem Reap and beyond.

The next 2.5 hours were spent navigating the water highways of the Tonle Sap and Sangke River, before entering the outskirts of Battambang, the fourth largest tourist destination in Cambodia.

Along the way we witnessed isolated lake dwellings, solitary fisher folk, a variety of waterfowl and treetops barely visible above the surface of the water due to recent monsoon rains.  After an hour or so trudging the muddy waters of the Sangke, Sam made the pragmatic decision to forgo his morning swim.  As our barge chugged upstream past ramshackle villages lining both banks, it soon became apparent that diving into murky brown water that absorbed the ‘life’ of the river would not be wise if it compromised Sam’s health and thus affected the rest of the expedition.

River journey complete, the team disembarked in front of Kdang Knea pagoda, where Sam received a special blessing from the most serene of monks.  Travel spirits appeased and with four trucks loaded to the hilt, Sam made haste to run the 8km to Battambang town, where the production team dived into the nearest Internet café to make the most of the available connectivity.  Following lunch, Sam kicked his heels for a further 6.5km to O Dambong Station where it was all aboard the Bamboo Train.  These low rolling platforms of bamboo slats powered by a small engine, known locally as Nori, threw up a deliciously cool breeze, providing a welcome respite from the rising afternoon heat.  Lush green countryside and pungent wafts of trackside honeysuckle added to the most tranquil of settings.

However, there’s no rest for the passionately committed.  With little time to waste, and as the sun was already setting, Sam got on his bike for the first time in this adventure to cycle 40 km, followed by final run of 11km.

The documentary team of Scott, Mike, Meghan and Gaynor, along with the magnificent Teka and Jasmine from Heritage Adventures and drivers Sovan and Poev, had a little adventure of their own while departing Battambang, when one of their four wheel drive vehicles became heavily entrenched in deep mud.  It soon became clear the vehicle was going neither forwards nor backwards.  Scott and Mike gleefully jumped upon the opportunity to add that little extra nuance to their movie while Meghan unfortunately took one step a little too far and literally got stuck in the mud.  Thankfully, rescue came soon after from a handy length of chord, our spirited drivers and a special touch of magic – a smiling full moon.

It was well into the night before Sam and the rest of the team bedded down in Beung Ampeul Pagoda on the outskirts of Battambang.  Tomorrow we enter Pailin, a town renowned as a refuge for ex-Khmer Rouge and high numbers of human trafficking victims.  Though drenched and tired Sam says, “I’m happy and prepared for the day ahead.”

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Gaynor Fitzgibbon

15 NOVEMBER 2013 - SIEM REAP TO BAK PREA: 100KM

Starting Strong

Spirits were high this morning as Sam bounded out of the Heritage Suites Hotel and headed for the starting line at Angkor Wat.  One would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful and iconic place to begin an adventure than these graceful and mighty temples.  When Sam arrived at Angkor, he was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of Sala Bai students and supporters.  This cheering squad had a special long-distance addition, as we were joined by Sam’s mother, Carole McGoun, and her friends.  Donning specially crafted, limited-edition ‘Go Sammy Go’ T-shirts, the group of four traveled all the way from the United States to stand with us today and cheer Sam on.

Their presence today marked one of the significant emotional points of this year’s journey.  During the past year we were deeply saddened at the passing of Sam’s father, Sam McGoun Senior.  Both Carole and Sam senior were present at the finish line of last year’s race and this year Sam’s mother, bolstered by her friends, continued the McGoun tradition of giving Sam on–the-ground support. This committed and vocal entourage helped make for a powerful and emotional launch.

Sam officially started his run on the back roads of the Angkor Wat and was soon joined by Sala Bai students who began running and cycling alongside him.  The students’ athletic gear consisted mainly of their school uniforms and flip-flops, but this did not deter them from pounding the pavement in solidarity with Sam.  With sandals a-flopping, Sam and the students navigated out of the Angkor complex to the Sala Bai school where another round of supporters and high-fives powered Sam on.

A Teeming Temple

Sam continued his run out of Siem Reap taking time to break at a local temple, Wat Chok. Wat Chok hummed with men, women, children, dogs and monks all in a state of preparation for the upcoming Cambodian water festival of Bon Om Touk.  Two-dozen women sat crossed legged on the floor at the entrance of the temple surrounded by piles of bananas leaves, carnations and candles which they were deftly weaving into offerings. After a blessing given by the head monk, Sam continued on his run, clocking in 32km before lunch.

Out to Sea

While this would be enough activity for most, Sam still had the aquatic leg of his journey to complete before nightfall.

Diving into heaving waters of the Tonle Sap, Sam braved currents, floating villages, water traffic and refuse to get his swim in before darkness fell.

Tonight we sleep in the floating village of Bak Prea, and after 12 hours on the road, the gentle rocking of tonight’s’ accommodation in a floating house will undoubtedly bring sleep with great efficiency.

And we have only just begun...

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea

The Adventure Begins Anew

Laden with 17 bags of gear, bicycles, and bountiful well wishes for safe travels, our crew left Singapore and touched down in Siem Reap, prepped and ready for the second round of cross-Cambodian adventures.

Over the next eight days we will follow Sam McGoun, as he runs, bikes, swims and kayaks over 845km across the Cambodian countryside.  This is a one-man tour de force aimed at raising funds and awareness for the Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School and human trafficking prevention.

This year, Sam's route will take him from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, metaphorically following the year-long journey of a Sala Bai student, from their education on through to their graduation.

More about About Sala Bai

For over a decade, Salan Bai has been offering tuition-free hospitality training to 100 impoverished young Camobodians annually.  Their mission is to provide their students with the capabilities and experience necessary -- in one of four disciplines: restaurant service, cooking, front office and housekeeping -- to secure gainful employment in one of Siem Reap's numerous hotels, guesthouses or restaurants. Their students’ training, and their resulting

employment breaks the cycle of poverty, improves their long term quality of life, and prevents human trafficking before it starts by providing them with a strong economic future.

The Pledge is Made

Minutes after touching down in Cambodia, Sam addressed 100 Sala Bai students, for whom this run is inspired by and dedicated to.  Speaking directly to them in a warm and intimate launch ceremony, Sam spoke about the importance of programs like Sala Bai in human trafficking prevention models and the commitment he has made along with Touch Sala Bai and numerous others to seeing this model enhanced and continued, both in Cambodia and around the world.

In a powerful closing statement, Sam officially initiated Take the Pledge, a campaign aimed at combating human trafficking by making it easy for people to understand what human trafficking is, why it occurs and what we all can to do prevent it.  This eight day peregrination is Sam’s personal manifestation of this pledge.

The terrain ahead will include the Angkor Wat temples, ancient pagodas, floating villages, the Cardamon Mountains and, mostly likely, a heavy of dose of monsoon rain.

The Route

Day 1: 15 Nov - Siem Reap - Bak Prea

Day 2: 16 Nov - Bak Prea - Wat Beung Ampeul

Day 3: 17 Nov - Wat Beung Ampeul - Samlaut Tasign

Day 4: 18 Nov - Kampong Lapov - Veal Veaeng

Day 5: 19 Nov - Osom - Cardamom Mountain - Koh Kong

Day 6: 20 Nov - Koh Kong - Mangrove - Tropeng Rung

Day 7: 21 Nov - Tropeng Rung - Veal Renh

Day 8: 22 Nov - Veal Renh - Sihanoukville

Stay tuned to see how Sam and the team weather...the weather, the distance, and a tiny crew car.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea

As described on this blog many times, for the past few years my creative partners at Persistent Productions and I have worked closely with our friend, Sam McGoun and the Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School in Siem Reap, Cambodia to document the positive work they are doing for some of the country's most disadvantaged youth.

Together Mike Rogers, Meghan Shea and I have created volumes of photographic reportage and documentary film about Sala Bai, a tuition-free hospitality training school, illustrating how they provide students with the education, capabilities and experience necessary to secure gainful employment in one of Siem Reap's countless hotels, guesthouses and restaurants.

Our most recent project with Sala Bai was last year when we followed Sam as he swam, cycled and ran more than 670km across Cambodia to raise funds for Sala Bai and increase awareness about the dangers of human trafficking.

Inspired by the challenges overcome by the students of Sala Bai, Sam’s route across the Kingdom of Wonder followed the actual journey traveled by a former student named Khatna: from her floating village in Mechrey on Tonle Sap Lake, to Sala Bai where she studied in Siem Reap, to her graduation celebration on the sandy beachfront overlooking the Gulf of Thailand in Sihanoukville.

As the photography- and film-making team tasked with chronicling Sam’s odyssey, we documented his every step as he traversed snake-infested lakes and muddy rivers, ran through small dusty villages and pedaled across the glorious countryside of rural Cambodia on his way to raising more than USD$30,000 for Sala Bai.

At the conclusion of each leg we posted on this blog a daily journal and photo essay titled "Reports from the Road". And just recently Mike, Meghan and their extremely talented editor, David Flood, created this short film titled "A Step Between" which provides a candid, intimate look at Sam's cross-Cambodian adventure.

Sam has made a lifelong commitment to fight human trafficking and, in line with his promise, he will once again undertake a cross-Cambodia adventure in November. Mike, Meghan and I will be there to document and encourage Sam every step of the way.

Click here to watch our documentary team turn the cameras on ourselves in a short behind-the-scenes video.

This past March/April, Mike Rogers, Meghan Shea and I spent more than a week documenting our friend, Sam McGoun, as he swam, cycled and ran more than 670km across Cambodia to raise awareness of, and help to fight against, human trafficking.

Inspired by the challenges overcome by the students of Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School, Sam’s route across the Kingdom of Wonder followed the actual journey traveled by a former student named Khatna: from her floating village in Mechrey on Tonle Sap Lake, to Sala Bai where she studied in Siem Reap, to her graduation celebration on the sandy beachfront overlooking the Gulf of Thailand in Sihanoukville.

As the documentary photograph- and film-making team tasked with chronicling Sam’s odyssey, we did our best to keep pace with him as he dove into snake-filled lakes, crossed muddy rivers, ran through small villages and pedaled across the countryside of rural Cambodia on his way to raising more than USD$30,000 for Sala Bai.

We also tried to take the time to briefly turn the cameras on ourselves as we shared in Sam's epic journey, sleeping in active Buddhist monasteries, exploring abandoned 7th century pre-Ankorian temples and stumbling upon

beautiful, cinematic scenes of village women plunging fully-clothed to the bottom of a muddy river to catch trey phtok, a local freshwater fish.

Set to the recently released song "Anderson" by Wishes and Thieves, the result is a short two-and-a-half-minute video that Mike and I created to go behind-the-scenes and offer a brief glimpse into our personal experiences photographing and filming Sam's adventure.

Interested in more?  Click here to follow Sam's cross-Cambodia journey through our "Report from the Road" daily journal.  Or visit my website to see more of my lifestyle and travel photography portfolio.

In the final installment of Sam McGoun's cross-Cambodian adventure, our hero -- whom over the past few weeks has had time to reflect on his epic adventure -- pens an open letter to his friends, family and supporters.

Dear friends,

It is with the deepest heartfelt gratitude that I thank each and every one of you for supporting me and the students of Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School over these past several months.  Your messages of encouragement gave me the strength to continue in my physical challenge, and both your time and financial contributions will power us forward well into the future.

As I reflect upon my journey across Cambodia to benefit the students of this special school, I am often overcome with emotion -- all very positive and all very powerful.

Today, as I will do for many days, weeks and months to come, I am attempting to process these emotions.  That is, I am attempting to draw out the deeper meaning -- a conclusion or revelation, perhaps even a philosophy -- that I can use to help guide me going forward.   As we all know, a profound life experience is often the best opportunity to learn and grow as an individual.

So what then, are the conclusions, revelations or philosophies that have resulted from my running, biking and swimming 670km across Cambodia to benefit the students of Sala Bai?  There are many; below I share two.

True happiness requires a purpose and passion in life

From my perspective, the only definition of success is true happiness.  And while true happiness eludes many of us, I am pleased to share that I’ve found it with the help of Sala Bai and its inspirational students.  My true happiness is knowing that I have both a purpose and a passion in this life much bigger and far more important than me.

My purpose is helping others -- giving more in this world than I could possibly ever take.  My passion is Sala Bai, and more specifically, giving young Cambodian women access to education and employment in the hospitality industry.

My true happiness, therefore, is the result of helping others, and in particular, the students of Sala Bai.

To be clear, there are other core ingredients required for true happiness -- ingredients that I am blessed to already have present in my own life: my health, my family and my friends.  And indeed, while everyone is different, I feel confident that true happiness will continue to elude us if we

don't have a purpose or a passion or if we do not make these about other people or other things that benefit humanity overall.  For me, this is eliminating poverty and fighting human trafficking by educating and employing the students of Sala Bai.  For you, it may be raising your children with a value system that enables them to be good (and happy) adult human beings.

Two things are for certain:  one’s purpose and one’s passion are individual choices, and these are two ingredients required for our own true happiness.

Smiles have no language barrier

Smiles are universal signs of welcome and respect.  I speak exactly three words of Khmer (Cambodian).  Most rural Cambodians speak about the same amount of English.  Our ability to speak each other’s language has absolutely no bearing on our ability to welcome one another or show a simple sign of respect. Throughout my 670km journey, I was the beneficiary of literally hundreds of smiles.  Little did I know that such a simple gesture could have such a profound and positive impact upon my own outlook.

Without a doubt, the smiles of Cambodian men, women and children gave me the motivation and strength to finish my days' physical commitments.

The reality is that most of the smiles I received during my journey came from people who earn less than USD$50 per month, who barely have enough food to survive, who work in harsh conditions more than 12 hours per day, who have little or no education and who have little or no access to even the most basic healthcare.  These kind people welcomed me into their communities and respected me in the process with genuine smiles.

Truthfully, most days I’m so “busy” getting from point A to point B that I walk around with a blank facial expression that is so unwelcoming you’d think I didn’t have facial muscles to form a smile.  What’s my excuse?  Clearly, there isn’t one.  Enough said.

It is time to smile.  It will welcome others within your immediate surroundings and show them a sign of respect.  And if you need another reason:  I promise it will make you much happier in the process.

My journey has just begun

While I have completed the physical journey of crossing Cambodia to benefit the students of Sala Bai, the emotional journey and my lifelong commitment to fighting human trafficking with education and employment in hospitality has only just begun.  You can follow and join this journey

by 'Liking' Touch Sala Bai on Facebook, by visiting the Touch Sala Bai website or by writing to me directly at smcgoun@touchsalabai.com.  We will ensure that you receive periodic updates from Touch Sala Bai about upcoming events, important developments on the fight against human trafficking and the progress of past, current and future Sala Bai students.

And while I have several more reflections that I look forward to sharing with you in the future, it's time to bring this chapter to a close.

I would like to thank the three people who have given a voice to this cross-Cambodia journey, and more importantly, the students of Sala Bai: Scott Woodward, Mike Rogers and Meghan Shea are the truly gifted professionals who lent their talents to giving voices to those individuals who do not have them. Through their still and moving images, they have told a story that connects not just our minds, but also our hearts, to something far more important than ourselves.  Without them, none of this would have been possible.  Scott, Mike and Meghan, thank you for following your own dreams -- you continue to inspire me, and others, to do the same.

And finally, on behalf of Jean-Paul and Emmanuelle

de Thomas, the students of Sala Bai and the members of Touch Sala Bai, I thank you all for making a difference.

- Sam

To help celebrate Sam’s journey and to support the fight against human trafficking, please donate to Touch Sala Bai today.  Donations to Sam's cross-Cambodian journey will close on Monday 7 May.

Did you miss our daily "Reports from the Road" during Sam's cross-Cambodian journey?  Catch-up on all of Sam's adventures and experiences here.

Kep to Sihanoukville

We spent last evening on the beach following a seafood barbeque, serenaded into dreamland by a local Cambodian wedding and a chorus of wild barking dogs.  Falling asleep after midnight did not keep Sam from setting out at sunrise on the final day of his cross-Cambodian odyssey.

Sam ran along the seaside in Kep, a sleepy coastal town once a glamorous resort destination founded as a French colonial retreat.  The town reached the height of it’s popularity in the 1960s, and today is dotted with the select few French-style villas which survived the Khmer Rouge regime.

Sam departed Kep with his sprits high, pounding the pavement and making great time as he arrived 16km later in Kampot, a small city renown in couture culinary circles for it’s pepper.

Stopping for our last lunchtime picnic just outside Kampot, Sam was fueled-up for the final stretch of his race by indulging in bologna, cheese and jelly sandwiches. Seriously.

Sam brought a deep reservoir of focus and strength to the final segment of this journey, which included 80km on his

mountain bike followed by a further 20km on foot. Somewhat ironically, the steepest terrain of Sam's entire journey was to be found in the final half of today’s trek.

Our crew expanded in the final hours with the welcome addition of Sam’s mother and father who traveled from the States to help watch Sam complete his race and support his venture.

We arrived in the coastal city of Sihanoukville just as the sun began to sink into the sea, casting the city in a triumphant golden hue.  Sam was single-minded in his focus to finish his journey at the exact beach that the Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School students visit during their annual graduation celebration.  To reach this beach, Sam conquered seemingly unending inclines and deftly navigated streets packed with tourists, motorcycles, and touting restaurateurs.

At the brink of total exhaustion, Sam arrived at the waters' edge and dove into the Gulf of Thailand, still wearing his running shoes, Sala Bai shirt and a newly-born feeling of exaltation.

For Sam, diving into the ocean completed his circle: he had followed the actual journey taken by one recent graduate,

Khatna, from her floating village in Mechrey on Tonle Sap Lake to the sandy beachfront of Sihanoukville.

It was an emotional few moments after Sam emerged from the water and embraced his parents on the beach, remarking with conviction, “Anything is possible. We can do anything we put our hearts to; all we need is a little support from our friends and family”.  Sam is a proof that a committed individual can accomplish anything.  After these brief and eloquent words, Sam hugged each of his parents and left the beach for a well-deserved hot shower and comfortable night's sleep.

Over the course of seven days, Sam cycled 503 kilometers, ran just over four marathons, swam in one lake, and crossed one river.  Sam has completed his journey.

To help celebrate Sam’s journey and to support the fight against human trafficking, please donate to Touch Sala Bai today.

Did you miss our previous posts?  Read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh installments of Sam's adventure.

- Meghan Shea

Takeo to Kep

We fell asleep last night in a Takeo ricefield to the hums of the resident farmer tending to his fields perched atop his tractor (at 1am).  Joy.  Sunrise came quickly, and Sam took advantage of our auspicious location next to a pagoda by finding a moment to kneel, pray and reflect on his journey before setting out on day six of his cross-Cambodian adventure.  Following this brief spiritual reprieve, Sam bounded out of the campsite and into the town of Takeo. Scott and Mike were equally spry this morning and dove out of their tents to take full advantage of the beautiful golden hour sunlight.

After departing camp we explored Takeo, a lakeside city that was a stronghold for the Khmer Rouge Regime until 1996.  Sam’s route took him past the grounds of one of the most infamous residents of the city, former Khmer Rouge Commander Ta Mok.  Ta Mok served as the Khmer Rouge’s Chief of Staff in the 1960s and constructed a chilling Brutalist residence in Takeo surrounded by a moat and accessed only by a long, wooden footbridge.

Sam ran across the bridge and circled the property, now decaying and currently employed as a police training facility.  Behind Ta Mok's home we watched women

gracefully gliding across the property’s moat in their palm boats collecting lotus flowers; it was difficult to reconcile this serenity with the horrific atrocities committed by the home’s former resident.

Sam left Takeo, heading for the ocean village of Kep, biking in (literally) asphalt-melting conditions.  After nearly a week on the road, unrelenting heat, and countless kilometers, Sam has developed severe saddle sore on his backside.  It required immediate (and agonizing) attention at lunch to prevent infection.  We were in disbelief that, following a brief lunch break, Sam was ready to pedal for another 20km.

We took our question to the source, asking Sam where on earth his energy came from, to which he responded, “Honestly, I‘m not entirely sure where [it] is coming from.  It’s just kind like [I am] on a mission now; it’s uncomfortable but [I] just do it.”

We tipped our hats to Sam as he strode in Kep; six days down and one to go.

Our goal is help Sam raise USD$15,000 for Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School before his adventure is over.

As we write this, Sam has raised $10,245 with 24 more hours to go.  If you haven’t yet donated, please do so today.

Did you miss our previous posts?  Read the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth installments of Sam's adventure.

- Meghan Shea