The World on Wheels

by MALIN GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 167 (November 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Pushkar's  glorious journey around the world and his recent  arrival back home has created a surge of media attention. WAVE has been following him around for eleven whole years, and this is his final words about his campaign for peace to WAVE team and our readers. Excerpts  from the interview.

How do you feel?
I am happy.

Have you achieved your goal?
I don't believe that a single person can change the entire world, but I wanted to be an example; I wanted to show that a person can forfeit 11 years of his life for peace.  Travelling to 150 countries I believe that I succeeded in spreading the message
of peace.

The first ever reaction you got?
I must've been about 28 then. It was one of our reunions and we were drinking. (Chuckles)That night, I'd grandly announced that I was going to cycle the world. But my friends had lamely replied: "He's finally high".

Did you prepare for the journey beforehand?
I did prepare for two whole years. Learned to repair bicycles, exercised to build up stamina and well, basically prepared my self for what was coming.

The press must have deemed you crazy when you first declared the idea. How did you cope with it?
It was crazy. Friends that were supportive escorted me till Thankot and said that they'd be proud even if I reached India. You can imagine how I felt.

Tell us about a typical day while you were on your cycle. Was it structured? Was your whole trip pre-planned?
I normally woke up at 6.30 am, jogged for 10-15 minutes, prayed for about 20 minutes and then ate whatever I could get hold of. After that I used to set off for the da+++++y and wherever the day ended, I used to set up my tent.  And no, the whole trip wasn't planned. When you set out in the morning not knowing where you'll reach by dawn, there is no way a plan can work.

Was visa a problem?
Visa was a real problem. The immigration officers made faces every time they saw a Nepali passport. And this was the same in all places I went. But well, in a way it's justified, given the number of Nepalis who seek asylum abroad.

Apart from visas, what other challenges did you face?
Everyday was a challenge. Being an outsider, you wouldn't understand their language, their culture or even their way of life, so the journey was challenging all along.

How did you manage your budget?
Normally I used to ask for money but I did work in places where I could. I'm an excellent dish washer, you know. But well, it was mainly the organisations and good samaritans who donated me money.

I see your journey like that of Siddartha Gautam's to enlightenment. Did you come out as Buddha after the trip?
(Gasping) Please don't compare me to Buddha. Well I don't know if I achieved nirvana, but I did come out as a winner. And it was, indeed, Budhha's footsteps that I followed to spread the message of peace.

Did you ever feel alone or exhausted?
Of course I did. I got those feelings when I had to cross jungles, or camp in marooned places or pass deserts.  And I used to be completely exhausted at the end of the day, but I still had enough zeal to compensate for the exhaustion.

Any unfortunate events?
I saw death face-to-face several times during my trip. I was abducted in Mexico. I was robbed at knife-point in Barbados. There are many such incidents I don't want to recall.

And a rather funny incident occurred in New York.  After a night of heavy drinking, I ended up at a bad neighbourhood. I don't remember how I got there but a young guy pointed a gun at me and asked me for 10 dollars. I replied that I didn't have it. After several minutes I took out a 20 dollar bill. The guy thanked me. And when I asked for a 10 dollar return, he laughed and said that it was for my next visit to the city.

The day you enjoyed the most?
Everyday was different. Each day was beautiful. There is beauty in everything if you want it to be beautiful. 

What next?
I plan to climb Mt. Everest sometime next year. At the moment, I am preparing for it.

Any final words?
Each of us is a part of the global fraternity. We are one and if the last 11 years have taught me anything it is the power of one.

Total mileage:  221000 km. Enough to circle the globe five and a half times
The country that reminded him of Nepal:  Switzerland Countries he doesn't want to visit again: I never want to go to several African nations
Took along with him a Rs 100 bill given by his mother
First cycle gifted by actress Sharmila Malla, which broke down in Hong Kong, the 14th country of his tour.
Second cycle gifted by the people of Hong Kong, was stolen in New Zealand
The cycle he uses now was, gifted by Sir Edmund Hillary.
The country he spent the most time in, USA, 6 months.

*Don't miss his diaries about the expedition to Mt. Everest in future issues.