World rider | Pushkar's Diary

ANUP PRAKASH

WAVE: How did you decide to do a world tour?
Pushkar Shah: I was unemployed and wasting my time after graduation. I wanted to do something different and came up with this idea. So I announced my world tour in 1996 and started two years later.

What did you do from 1996 to 1998?
I learnt about the history and politics of many countries, and how to maintain a bicycle.

What do you carry on your cycle?
I carry about 60kg—a tent, a sleeping bag, mattress, stove, cooking pot, spare bicycle tyre and tube, brake wire, gear wire, brakes, pump, cycling clothes, camera, bottles of water and some documents.

Have you ever been really ill?
No serious illness so far, luckily, but sometimes I get common colds or headaches on hot days.

Have you ever thought of quitting?
There were times when I had no money, and had to fill my stomach with water, and really wanted to quit. But I also meet people who support me morally and financially, and then I make up my mind to continue cycling.

How many hours do you cycle a day?
On an average, I cycle for 9-10 hours a day. And I drink about 5-6 litres of water.

Any bad experiences?
Not really, but in Haiti a French cyclist irritated me quite a bit. He didn't speak English, I didn't understand French, but we were sharing the same hotel. He'd scold me in French and beat me a lot. I had to obey him all the time.

What country did you enjoy the most?
In the US, Nepalis and Americans supported me financially, and I really appreciated their support. I also enjoyed being in Norway, which is rich in natural beauty.

Have you ever fallen in love on the road?
No, but I've been proposed to many times. In Hong Kong, a girl asked me when we first met, "Will you marry me?" I was naturally surprised but said I'd marry her if she agreed to join me on my trip. She refused. I get lots of love mail from WAVE readers, but I haven't actually been in a relationship on the trip.

Who would you marry and when?
I was married once, but we split. She didn't want to wait. After I complete my journey, I might settle down. With whom? I don't know. Who'd marry me? All I have is a cycle.

How long will you stay in Nepal?
I'll be here till November—to celebrate Dasain and Tihar. Then I'll move on to Swaziland in southern Africa.

Your future plans?
I have to go to 50 more countries, 150 is my target. I'll finish in three years. In 2010, I plan to climb Mt Everest with the flags of all the countries I visited. Eventually, I'll go back to my village, Makaibaari in Dolakha, and hopefully spend the rest of my life doing social work there.