Cycling around the globe

“It was my passion to see new places, spread the message of peace and to make one million friends around the globe that made me want to cycle the planet,”

by PRAVAT J GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 159 (March 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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image:anup prakash

He is a cyclist cycling around the globe making friends and spreading the message of peace. We thought our very own Pushkar Shah was the only one cycling around the world but we were wrong. Daisuke Nakanishi, a Japanese national, started his journey 11 years back on July, 1998, just 4 months before Puskhar peddled away to the world. He started his expedition from America and then moved on to other countries. As a child, he dreamt of seeing new countries and to make his dream a reality he started his escapade. "It was my passion to see new places, spread the message of peace and to make one million friends around the globe that made me want to cycle around the planet," says Daisuke with enthusiasm. He confesses to having made just one thousand friends approximately till date. But he says all of them are very close to his heart and although it might take him a lifetime to make one million friends, that doesn't deter him.

With money he saved by working when he was home, Daisuke keeps travelling. His parents, like any other parents, were very worried about his future when he expressed his thought of going around the globe, but eventually let him go. In his 11 years of extensive travelling in 111 countries, he's been home only thrice. His expedition hasn't been a bed of roses as he explains, "I almost died once when I got malaria in Kenya. If I hadn't received proper treatment, I wouldn't be here. Another incident was when I almost fell off a mountain in Namibia. It was a near-death experience and scary." When asked if he knows about a Nepali cyclist who is cycling to spread the message of peace too, he says with a surprised expression, "Yes, I had met him once in Rio De Jeneiro and had dinner together. We couldn't talk much but I was happy to meet him."

Daisuke met President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav while he was here and extended his message of peace. Extending his best wishes, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said that he respected his journey for peace. Later, he adds that he loves Nepal and it is one of his favorite places around the globe along with North American countries. "The people here are very helpful, the history is very interesting and the nature is just beautiful. Nepal is special and intriguing," says Daisuke who plans to visit at least 120 countries before ending his trip this year. WAVE wishes him all the luck for his journey and strength to his legs!