NJ resident and adventurer David Nghiem faced a crisis in La Paz, Bolivia. When the airlines wouldn't take his return flight tickets because his ticket agency went bankrupt, David made other plans. With the funds he had left over, he bought a ticket to Panama City, then biked 120 days and nights across Central America. Tired and weary when he got to the Mexican/Texas border, he took a five day bus ride to Philadelphia.

The "road trip" involved 2000 miles of bicycling through jungles, deserts, and mountains, with side adventures that included exploring "lost" Mayan cities, getting shot at in Guatemala, and swimming over crocodiles. And then there also were some scary moments.

"If I was a cat -- I have six lives left." Says Nghiem.

"One evening I found myself in a desolate corner of northwest Costa Rica. The border area was infested with armed bandits, and I set up camp by hiding on a high cliff behind the brush. I couldn't sleep and laid in my tent with my diving knife in one hand, and pepper spray in the other. I thought my heart would explode with every sound I heard." Said Nghiem.

Read about his incredible adventures in his new book, Jackfruit: A Bicycle Quest Through Latin America, which chronicles his thrills, close calls, explorations, and the occasional romance. Also read about his 3768 mile bike ride through the Amazon at his website.

Jackfruit: A Bicycle Quest Through Latin America (ISBN: 978-1-60145-922-0), 440 pages, is available for $18.95 + $3 S&H through http://davesnewadventure.com, 804 Kingston Drive, Dept ____, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Phone:(856)667-3829. Visa/Mastercard welcome. Publisher guarantees an entertaining, educational read. Also available on special order through any bookstore.