Robert Kidnie, Updates from Mekong River

Rob Kidnie has set himself a unique challenge: to standup paddle the length of the Mekong River from Cambodia through Vietnam, to the South China Sea - and in the process, raise awareness of water pollution.

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MEKONG River, Cambodia – Rob Kidnie is now in his first week of stand up paddle boarding the Mekong River to raise awareness of the problem of water pollution, particularly in Southeast Asia. During the first days of his paddle journey, he has had to wait for the correct current and winds, plus also manage the sweltering heat, typical of those parts of the world.

“Today started off in Chau Doc drinking coffee on the banks of the Mekong waiting for the tide to change so I could get the benefit of the out going current,” reports Kidnie on the first day of his paddle. “When the tide finally changed, the current was cancelled out by the steady headwind.”

Despite of the challenging conditions of the first days, he is ahead of schedule and has much to share by way of his interaction with the people and the local water pollution. Among the highlights, Kidnie counts the “hundreds of amazing smiles from the local people, swimming in the clean parts of the river and drinking coconuts during lunch time. And for the negatives, the fleeting favorable conditions of currents, winds, and heat, plus the constant need to remove plants from the fin are some of them. As he approaches the more developed areas, pollution is growing exponentially, with pollutants of all sorts, including even baby diapers and various forms of plastic.

Helpful and Guiding Links Related to Robert Kidnie:

Daily Updates: Follow Robert Kidnie’s Blog
Pictures from Paddle: See Photos Taken by Professional Photographer
Watch Video: Short clip on Robert Kidnie’s Paddle by Fisheye Production

What do you think is the most fascinating part of Robert Kidnie's paddle journey?

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