Intrepid traveller chronicles 7,000km solo ride in new book

Free Malaysia Today

15-07-2025

Read all about Zahariz's harrowing adventures traversing the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China. (Zahariz Khuzaimah YouTube pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : In intense heat – some 52°C! – with his water nearly gone, he arrived at what was supposed to be a rest stop – only to find it had been reduced to ruins.
This is among the most harrowing moments Zahariz Khuzaimah faced while crossing the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China, during a 7,000km cycling expedition across three countries.
'On the paper map, a small town was marked – but when I got there, it no longer existed. It had been destroyed.
'My water had run out, and the temperature reached 52°C. I felt like I was close to death but, fortunately, I was rescued by Chinese soldiers,' he told Bernama during the launch of 'Dengan Basikal Aku Merentas Benua Asia' ('With a Bicycle, I Crossed the Asian Continent') recently.
That terrifying episode is one of the compelling chapters in his debut book, written over six months and based on his travel diary from around 15 years ago.
The 287-page book documents the first year of Zahariz's adventure in 2010, when he left his job as a lecturer to explore China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, armed with nothing but a bicycle and courage.
Zahariz at the launch of his book in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur recently. (Bernama pic)
Zahariz, who is known for his vlogs and short online documentaries on his adventures, said the book was written to provide more detailed stories that couldn't be fully shared through videos.
'Many people already know the general story from YouTube, but I couldn't tell everything in the videos. In this book, I can share much more; through writing, readers can take their time and truly immerse themselves,' he said.
Beyond the physical and emotional trials, the book captures heartwarming human stories: interactions with Muslim communities in rural China; a humorous moment when he was offered a marriage proposal by a local family; and the profound loneliness of being on his own in a foreign land.
He hopes to publish a second volume in the future, sharing stories from over a decade of travel to remote parts of the world, including the Arctic regions covering Iceland, Scotland, Sweden and Norway.
'I hope my book will inspire those who are searching for the meaning of life, or who have thought about breaking free from their routine and daring themselves to go where they never imagined,' Zahariz added.
'Dengan Basikal Aku…' is priced at RM62 and can be purchased by contacting Zahariz via his website, or on Facebook or Instagram. Also check out his videos on YouTube.