Justine’s Trial by Fire
Cambodia: First Setbacks and Recovery
Just days after departing Saigon, Justine Tibesar faced her first major setback. On the rough roads to Phnom Penh, her inexperience with motorcycle riding caught up with her. As she later explained, “I had my luggage behind my saddle, and on the rutted paths it was not easy to keep my balance.”(1) The result was a serious fall that nearly ended her adventure before it truly began.
The accident forced Justine to remain in Phnom Penh for ten days to recover.(1) For many travelers, such an early mishap might have signaled a time to reconsider the journey, but not for Justine. As soon as she was well enough, she climbed back onto her FN 350cc and continued her expedition.
After her recovery, she made her way to Angkor to visit the ancient temple ruins.(1) The magnificent stone structures, reclaimed from the jungle, must have provided a striking contrast to the modern technological marvel she was riding. Yet even this cultural interlude was not without its challenges.
The Mechanics of Survival
Throughout Southeast Asia, Justine encountered a recurring problem that tested both her patience and ingenuity. As she reported in the FN Sports magazine: “At each stop, I had to protect my machine against the curiosities of the natives who showed an indiscrete taste for mechanics.”(1)
This innocent but problematic fascination with her motorcycle led to an alarming incident: “Their familiarity with my motorcycle earned me a breakdown one night in the middle of the Cambodian jungle.”(1) Finding herself stranded in such remote and potentially dangerous conditions would have terrified most travelers, but Justine demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness, managing to repair the bike despite her limited technical knowledge.
Nature’s Obstacles
The natural landscape of Southeast Asia presented constant challenges. According to her accounts, “The motorcycle gets stuck again and again in river courses in Siam, crashes on impossible roads.”(1) These weren’t merely inconvenient delays—each river crossing represented a genuine risk to both rider and machine.
Without modern waterproof riding gear, bridges, or support vehicles, Justine had to navigate these water crossings alone, often pushing her motorcycle through shallow waters or finding alternative routes. Each successful crossing was a victory of determination over circumstance.
Survival in the Elements
Perhaps most daunting were the basic survival challenges Justine faced. Her accounts mention “nights in the open air, in the desert, without knowing exactly where she is, drinking water supply is used up.”(1) In an era before GPS, satellite phones, or established tourist infrastructure, Justine navigated by basic maps, compass, and instinct.
The unpredictable Southeast Asian weather added another layer of difficulty. Alternating between intense tropical heat, humidity, and sudden downpours, the climate tested her endurance daily. Water management became critical—finding clean drinking water and keeping enough in reserve while traversing regions where reliable sources were scarce.
The Bangkok Milestone
Despite these formidable challenges, Justine successfully reached Bangkok, Thailand. Here, she made a critical decision based on the realities she faced. The mountains of Burma presented an impassable barrier—there simply were no roads suitable for motorcycle travel.(2)
Rather than abandoning her journey, Justine adapted her plans. She secured passage on a boat to Singapore, and from there to Calcutta, India, where she would resume her motorcycle journey.(1)(2) This pragmatic approach to obstacles would become a hallmark of her travel style—facing the impossible not with surrender but with creative alternatives.
Southeast Asia had served as Justine’s baptism by fire. The challenges she overcame in these first weeks of her journey would prepare her for the even more daunting obstacles awaiting in India, Persia, and beyond. More importantly, these early experiences confirmed what she perhaps already knew: that her greatest asset was not her FN motorcycle, reliable though it was, but her own indomitable spirit and adaptability.
References:
(1) “Artikel Justine Tibesar englisch.pdf” – Report from the magazine “FN Sports” / October – November 1931 by Paul Destoc
(2) “La fabuleuse histoire de Justine TIBESAR.pdf” – Le fabuleux raid de 22.000 km, en 1931, de Marie Justine TIBESAR, à moto du Vietnam à Arlon by Jean-Marie Zimmerman
