We Left Everything to Cycle the World (Video)

In February of 2025, we flew to Singapore with the idea of cycling all the way back to Portugal, a journey that would take us at least a year to complete. The first few weeks were amazing, but after three months on the road, the trip unexpectedly ended. Bernardo documented the journey in a four-part YouTube series. In the documentary below, he has condensed all four episodes into a single film. It shows why the trip was cut short, but above all, what it gave us.

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We still think back on the journey every day, and there’s one day in particular that keeps coming back. A day when we felt so lucky and walked away with a truly valuable life lesson. That day marked our entry into the Gulf of Thailand, a coastline between Surat Thani and Bangkok that felt like a literal warm bath, with ocean temperatures above 30°C, and people welcoming us with warmth on a whole other level.

The route took us past several cafés known for great coffee. Although we usually prefer local restaurants, we had to stop. Breakfast wasn’t local, but delicious: a berry smoothie for Bernardo, a cappuccino for me. And since it was Easter, we shared a croissant. We continued for 20 kilometers, until we passed a man tapping sap from a palm tree. He waved us closer and invited us to taste it. Proudly, he handed us a small plastic cup filled with the sour liquid. The smell was sharp. Almost vinegary. We hesitated for a split second, then drank it anyway.

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It wasn’t easy to swallow. We had to force it down. But in the heat, the refreshment was welcome. And more than that, it was beautiful to see how much joy this man felt in sharing something small, but meaningful to him. That moment stayed with us, hinting at what the rest of the day would bring.

The following 40 kilometers flew by. We were absorbed in the views and cheered on by locals, waving back with huge smiles. Out of nowhere, a car drove past. Moments later, it came back around and disappeared from view. Several minutes went by. Then, the car returned. The driver pulled up beside us, rolled down his window, and handed us cold cans of Coke, Sprite, and Fanta. Unbelievable.

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Thirsty as we were, we each drank two cans. Then we handed out the rest to some kids. They received them with gratitude and happy faces. Once again, that moment of sharing stuck with us. Earlier that day, we had already experienced how much it can mean to simply accept. We started to feel what we had only understood in theory: that accepting can be just as meaningful as giving. Seeing how openly the kids received what we offered, and how happy it made them, did something to us.

It brought to mind a passage from The Alchemist: “When you accept something, you allow someone else to make you happy. And in doing so, you make them happy too.” That simple exchange, a few cold drinks, a few happy faces, made us start to question how we receive, and why politely refusing so often feels like the right thing to do. If it feels so good to have something accepted with such joy… then why do we so often hesitate to receive things ourselves?

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We were starting to understand that receiving is not about taking. It’s about allowing. And that’s a generous act too. Still mindful of that insight, we continued the ride. We passed a temple perched on a hill, like so many in the region. Curious, we climbed up and were greeted by a monk, who came over with bottles of cold water. The temple was closed, but he opened it just for us.

Under the blazing sun, we wandered around. Every now and then, the monk reappeared, checking in on us with a gentle smile. Just before we left, he returned once more, carrying a plastic bag filled with cupcakes and tangerines. He also invited us to use the bathroom and take a shower, to freshen up. As he offered us all of this, it reminded us again that accepting can be just as meaningful as giving.

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Refreshed and sugared up, we continued the ride. Without even realizing it, we had already covered over 100 kilometers. We arrived at a campsite. It was closed, but the gate stood open, so we took full advantage: showering (again), charging our devices, and plugging in the fairy lights, which instantly made the place feel cozy. It felt like the day kept on giving. And all we had to do was receive. This was just one day of the trip. Watch the film for the full story!

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