IPOH: Anita Yusof, touted as the first Muslim woman to successfully ride a motorcycle around the globe, was received with great pomp and circumstance at her workplace at Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Hulu Kinta here today.
The 49 year-old lecturer at the teachers training college resumed work today after returning to Malaysia on Sept 16.
Also at the campus to welcome her was Hulu Kinta assemblyman Datuk Aminuddin Md Hanafiah.
"I am looking forward to teaching again and meeting my students after being away for about a year," said Anita, who teaches Curriculum and Pedagogy Physical Education.
She said she will be writing a book, entitled 'If this is the destiny that I choose’, about her solo adventure riding a Yamaha FZ150 motorcycle.
"My objective is to prove to the world, especially those who are Islamophobic, that Muslim women are not being oppressed and discriminated against," she said when met at the function today.
Anita said her "Global Dream Ride" proved that a Muslim woman could ride a motorcycle solo, covering 40 countries within 370 days.
She said she had to use her own savings of RM120,000 for her solo ride, apart from receiving sponsorship from Givi and Yamaha.
"But I managed to make my dream a reality with the help of the people in the countries that I visited.
"I was given free lodging and food by kind people in most countries, and I managed to change their perception on Islam," said the mother of two sons.
Anita said her next plan is to ride to the Himalayas.
"Riding a motorcycle is addictive, and I also want to give motivational talks to school children," she said.
Anita said being alone on the road also makes one feel closer to the Creator and roads were also the best ‘university’ on earth.
She also advised the young generation to chase their dreams while appreciating what they have in Malaysia, which is much better than other countries.