As a world traveler, Benka has distinguished herself on four counts. She holds the record for the longest solo motorcycle ride ever undertaken by woman-in both distance (111,856 miles/180,016 kilometers) and duration (2,000 days). She was the first person to motorcycle to all seven continents while riding around the world. Benka was also the first woman to ride Saudi Arabia alone. Her achievements are documented in the Guinness Book of World Records.

When did it all start? How did this woman become a modern-day road warrior, accomplished photojournalist, and Slovene Woman of the Year?

A child of the Communist era, Benka grew up in Yugoslavia with aspirations to become a biologist or a nurse. By early adulthood, she had done both. She also worked as a masseuse for the top Slovenian men's basketball and handball teams. But her dreams would take her further and bring her certifications and citations for many more adventurous undertakings. Inspired by Paolo Coleho's "The Alchemist" and her upcoming 30th birthday, Benka conceived a round the world solo journey by motorcycle.

Once she realized her dream was going to become a reality, her focus shifted to journalism. Someone would have to document her travels and who better than the subject herself? Eventually, she would file stories with twenty-four newspapers, magazines and radio stations in her home country, as well as servicing dozens of international media outlets with copy and photos along her journey.

Although she acknowledges being in love with motorcycles for fifteen years before her round-the-world trip, she was no biker fanatic. She did not even have a motorcycle! Luckily she was a quick study, crafty, and determined.

While circumnavigating the globe, Benka drove a BMW F650 owned by her primary sponsor, BMW Slovenia. BMW believed if the bike could withstand the arduous world terrain, variable climates, and excessive mileage, the F650 would indeed be proven a reliable vehicle for international travel. Benka established that both bike and woman were ideal adventure models.

To raise what she needed for the trip, Benka canvassed small businesses and corporations, used her connections, and gained the support of relatives, friends, and strangers. Attired in a Dainese jacket, Aerostich’s Darien pants, Sidi boots, BMW System helmet, Benka was prepared for the hazards of everyday travel and the unpredictability of the elements, which would prove a constant challenge along the way. She planned the routes, wrote reports, handled maintenance, obtained visas, and became skilled at promoting her adventure.

The project was named "Around the World, Circling the Sun". It began naturally enough, in Slovenia on June 19, 1997. Benka returned five and a half years later on December 10, 2002 welcomed by dignitaries and the media as a local hero. Her travels have brought her national attention and the honor by being named Slovene Woman of the Year in 2003.

Benka published a 220-page best-selling coffee table book of her travels. "Around the World, Circling the Sun" won the country's top book award at the Annual Slovene Book Fair. The book sold out in its first printing, making it the fastest selling coffee table book in Slovene history.

Benka's photographs are featured in news stories, calendars, and posters, and are offered as signed prints. Benka is a regular contributor to Jana Magazine and Slovene National TV.

Benka's extensive travel journal entries and photographs from the journey are featured here. This work attests to the depth of love Benka came to hold for people across the globe. The children are the inspiration behind her current project "Believe in Yourself and Kickstart the World", an international humanitarian effort to provide scholarships for children in developing countries to complete their education. This year's beneficiaries are Tibetan girls in exile.