Adventures of a lifetime

JAY JOSHI

It is an established wisdom that one must travel as much as possible in a lifetime, and many of us do it. When setting out to travel, some typical tourists will first consider the “safest” and the most comfortable modes of travel. Trains, preferably first class, or better yet, by air. And when you get to the destination, app-based taxis will take you straight to the hotel or to the tourist spots. There are those who prefer such “comfy” travel, surrounded by controlled environments, and then there’s the other breed of travellers; the ones that shun the commercialisation and immerse themselves in the local reality. 

Rather than choosing the mainstream options such as bus, railways, or air, these daring travellers choose offbeat modes of transport and offbeat destinations. Some ride their own bikes while others go for treks in remote locations. Why do they do it? When you could easily go from Goa to Ladakh by air in a few hours, why take a gruelling drive or bike-ride all the way up to the Himalayas? 

“It lets you take stops whenever and wherever you want and experience the culture and people of a place,” says Saifuddin Tinwalla from Porvorim. “Some bikers travel just to boast about how much distance they covered in a day, but for me, I travel for the experiences. I make a lot of stops, meet different people, sometimes stay with them. You make a lot of friends this way.” says the rider who recently returned from a bike trip to Bhutan. 

Advocate Soumitra Kundaikar from Ponda who recently made a trip to Hampi has his own reasons. “Riding a bike is like meditation,” says Soumitra.  “Pulling the throttle, shifting the gears, hearing the wind race against your body, everything is a part of the experience.”

Pradeep Desai, a researcher currently based in Japan is a trekker who loves visiting remote hilly areas. “It makes me feel very mature despite suspending my current and ongoing tasks,” says Pradeep “I like standing on the edge of a cliff to dive, but instead of jumping,I stand still and look at the view, hoping that the beauty will stay forever.” 

For Gauresh Fadte of Kumbarjuve, the car is the vehicle of choice. “I like the car more than any other mode of transport. Not only because a long drive is fun, but also because it gives you greater control over your decisions.” says Gauresh who has driven to Ladakh and Kanya Kumari before and is now planning to explore North East. On the other hand, Kapil Mardolkar from Mardol prefers bikes over cars. “I don’t really like cars. A bike is easier to handle and gives you more freedom,” says Kapil.

Even as their personal reasons vary, adventure travellers believe that their way of travelling and their choice of remote destinations offers a chance to escape predictable, routine life. . “Once you set out, there is no point in going to a crowded urban area. We strive to connect with nature,” says Gauresh. In the same tune, advocate Soumitra Kundaikar has a different view on planning. “A plan is more sort of a guideline. You do not necessarily have to stick to it. Having your own vehicle, and not having to keep the appointment with a bus or train or plane offers you a flexible plan,” says the lawyer.  “It is only when you ride, facing the elements of nature and mingling with different people, that you are truly out of the comfort zone and taking a new experience.” 

Panaji-based engineer Raghav Desai is into both biking, and picking offbeat destinations to travel over crowded cities and commercialised tourist spots. “We stay in a city all-year -round so it is important to connect with nature when we get a chance,” says Raghav “Also, a bike is the best vehicle to refresh yourself because traveling by train or plane deprives you from experiencing the terrain and climate of a place. If you are going from one enclosed space, i.e. your flat, into other i.e. the train, and then the hotel, you miss out on the change in environment and distinct smells and sounds of nature in a particular place.” 

For professor Mukund Narvekar, biking and traveling bring what we all lose in the hustle-bustle of city life - peace of mind. “I believe in something called the ‘egg theory’ just like an egg has a yolk and the egg white, we are the yolk, and the nature and environment that surrounds us is the egg white. Trekking helps us connect with nature and discover ourselves. It increases stamina and boosts health,” says the professor who has also ridden across south and north India. “Riding is about overcoming your weakness and finding your strength. It tests your stamina, and mentally too, it is a calming experience,” Mukund says justifying the use of bike as preferred mode of long-distance transport over rail or air. 

For Bengali rider Himadri Sankar Roy Choudury, bike rides mean access to remote places which you would often miss in a train journey. “Riding offers a chance to explore small towns and villages where people will not always venture,” says the 50-something rider who has covered 50,000 km of riding across the length and breadth of the country. “It gives me a chance to meet warm and welcoming people in small villages and grab a tea at small roadside kiosks. It is an amazing experience.”