Synopsis: No
matter where we live in the world, we all want to see the big wide world that
we have only heard of or read about in books but our poverty and our limited
knowledge of the world prevents us. Only a few fortunate ones can travel and
see all the world has to offer but they too are intimidated by the immensity,
the logistics and most importantly the cost of travel, food and shelter. There
is an alternative so read this blog.
I learned to ride a bicycle when I was perhaps 7 years old.
I used to take my father’s bicycle to a field where a cousin taught me how to
balance myself on it and gradually learned it without anyone’s help. This
learning came at a price of scraped elbows and knees but the joy it gave me
served as a balm on my wounds.
It was an old bicycle of my father who after an accident
gave up using it so I learned my lessons on it at an early age when most kids
dare not use an adult bicycle due to the fear of falling. The over protective
parents now buy them tricycles at first or fix some training wheels on two
sides of a bicycle to prevent them from falling. We did not have such luxuries.
Our parents did not bother to know what I was up to most of
the time that included a lot of mischief making so we as children grew up with
a whole lot of freedom to do whatever we wished that would make the present
generation green with envy.
Once I got on my bike from the edge of a roadside veranda
because of my small height but pedaled on down our narrow lane where we lived.
The only problem was how to get down from the high seat from where my small
legs could hardly reach the pedals so I asked a kid to hold the bike so that I
could get down but he ignored me and I fell down flat on my face with the bike
on top of me. My bleeding knees and elbows alarmed Mom so she brought out the
hated tincture of iodine to stop bleeding.
Almost all families kept a bottle of tincture of iodine
because I was not the only dare devil in the lane. The tincture hurt more than
the scraped knees so we often tried to hide our mishaps but Ma had sharp eyes
that no one could pull any wool over. Dad was more tolerant so he did not mind
our little adventures now and then.
Later I inherited this old bicycle when I was in college so
it served me well as my sole mode of transport for many years because my elder
brother had found a Government job so he bought a brand new bike to go to his
office.
My old bike needed a lot of maintenance to keep it going so
I upended the bike every Sunday, cleaned the chain with toothbrush and kerosene
and fixed the broken springs under the seat or found a new spring to replace
the damaged one. I cleaned the mudguards and buffed the bike with wet cloth and
oil. I oiled the bearings, put some grease on the chain and made sure that the
tire pressure was good. I did this every Sunday year after year to maintain my
old bike.
But one day my old tire gave way that could not be repaired
even by a genius so I sent a distress message to my dad from my college campus
that I needed a new tire before I could come home so the very next day a
classmate brought me the new tire dad bought for me.
Later this bike that I had maintained with loving care for
so many years was passed on to someone who trashed it in a short time because
he did not care to maintain it at all.
I had to write about my old bike as a preamble just to tell
you how it gave me the freedom to move around anywhere anytime. I was also the
errand boy of our family so I had to buy all the essentials for them every
month so the bike was very useful. I even woke up at 4 am to fall in line just
to buy 20 kg of coal at the depot and returned home hungry and thirsty at 2 pm
with the sac of coal on my bike. Don’t ask me why anyone had to fall in line
for 20 kg of coal at 4 am in a country blessed with coal mines everywhere.
The point is that a bicycle new or old gives you the
freedom of mobility but sadly I left India at a young age and never rode a
bicycle since then. I learned to drive in Vietnam and was given a new car
there. So gradually I became dependent on motor cars and lost the ability to
ride a bicycle the way I used to.
Once I was in India to visit my Ma when my brother got the
bright idea that he will organize a picnic for me at a place some 30 kms from
the city and got me a brand new bicycle to ride. So one morning we started with
great excitement on their part and some trepidation on my part. I was amazed
that I could still ride a bike and pedal it so far because I had not done so
for so many years.
But my joy and amazement was short lived when the time came
for us to return home that was more than 30 kms away. Everyone pulled ahead of
me leaving me trailing by a kilometer or so because my legs were so sore that I
was in terrible pain. At this time a fellow noticed my difficulties and came to
my aid. He came behind me and gave me a strong push each time I slowed down.
This way he brought me home but the pain in my legs lasted over two weeks. I
still remember my ordeal.
So you must ride your bicycle frequently to stay in shape.
Otherwise your legs will not support you and cause a lot of distress. The
comfortable cars did this to me so until now I can’t ride a bike to go anywhere
without my legs swelling up.
In Vietnam I was given a Taiwanese bike that was so heavy
that I at first removed all the unnecessary parts to lighten it but it was
still too much so I never rode it. May be they should learn from India how to
make decent bikes that are light and wonderful to ride.
One of my classmates in college had a brand new Sen Raleigh
bike that he pedaled with great pride every morning while we struggled on our
beat up bikes. I always dreamed of owning a Sen Raleigh that was the Rolls
Royce of bikes but never could afford one as a student. Later when I could
afford one, my lazy legs ( no thanks to cars I drove ) could not pedal anything
let alone a Sen Raleigh. I feel a twinge of envy when I see how young people
all over the world ride their bikes with absolute ease and joy.
Once I had a visitor when I was living in Sikasso in Mali,
West Africa. He was a Swiss gentleman who had arrived in Sikasso from Dakar in
Senegal and was going on to Niger and from there to Algiers crossing the Sahara
desert on his bike. I was amazed. He said that he could pedal his bike loaded
with all the things he needed like food, water, some spare parts etc. for 100
kms every day. At the end of his day, he could just sleep under a tree or in a
village thus traveling over vast distances day after day.
He sent me a card form Algiers saying that he was on his
way to Europe passing through Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain, and France etc. to
reach Switzerland. I forgot his name but remember his stamina and courage even
today. It was a wonderful way to see the world.
I often hear of a few young men in India who make a group
to travel all over India on their bikes. The group travel has some distinct
advantages like when someone has some trouble with his bike, they all stop to
lend a hand. There is also safety in numbers while a solitary bike rider may
run into bandits or thieves on the road. It is outright dangerous to ride solo
in some countries where lawless people will rob you, hurt you or even kill you
for your money. So group of bicyclists can offer some protection to each other.
Female bike riders may face more dangers than others if they ride solo. But a
mixed group provides the security.
I met a German bicyclist in Haiti who told us how he was
pelted with stones by the Haitian bandits who were suspicious. Haiti was
undergoing a revolution and a period of lawlessness so many bad people took
advantage of the situation to make some quick money. I was accosted by a group
on the road to Les Cayes but I spoke Creole so they let me pass. They could
have hurt my wife and two children or damage my car but my Creole came to my
aid.
This world is beautiful that very few people ever get the
chance or the opportunity to see because it takes a lot of money to travel by
plane and pay for expensive visas, food and hotels. There are unscrupulous
people everywhere who will take advantage of you given half a chance. There are
con men and women, thieves, tricksters, outright criminals and corrupt
officials who all are eager to lighten your wallet. Solo travelers are often
victimized this way in many countries like that poor German bicyclist in Haiti.
But if you have the courage and have a few good companions
to go with, you too can see the world the way no tourist can ever see and
experience. You will get to know the real people, the poor people and honest
people who will shelter you and give you food if you need. You will be able to
get off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that only the locals know
about.
If you write a blog on your journey and share your story
with the world with photos and videos, these hidden places will no longer
remain hidden so some people may start to commercialize it and trivialize it by
bringing in hordes of insensitive tourists who leave behind trash and a bad
impression on the simple folks.
If you really value your freedom and others then do not write and publicize about your travels so that the simple people may continue to live in peace and preserve their unique cultures. The tourist money may help them initially but in the long run they lose whatever is precious to them like their values, their culture, their food and even their way of living. (Read my blog here called The effect of mass tourism here).
So start with your own country. Get a sturdy bike and all
the things your bike can carry and join a group of likeminded bicyclists. You
will see your beautiful country and get to know the diversity it represents. It
is also the least costly way to travel and see the world. Once you have seen
your own country, then start with another country where people are friendly and
welcoming. It requires years of training to pedal long distances. You have to
build up your leg muscles and your stamina. At first you will have sore muscles
but eventually it will go away. The endurance will gradually increase until you
are fit for the challenge of your life.
You will also have the time of your life. This experience
will enrich you in a way no fly by night packaged deals promoted by the Tour
operators can. It will give you the freedom to see the world the way only you
can. When you are old and sitting in a rocking chair, your memories will always
bring a smile to your face.
Note : My blogs are also available in French, Spanish, German and Japanese languages at the following links as well as my biography. My blogs can be shared by anyone anytime in any social media.
La biografía de anil en español.
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