Tag: IndiaAndNepal

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 bicycle tour across India and Nepal. 2000 miles of adventure cycling

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Travelsonabike2 On This Day 7th November 2016

Bicycle Touring Nepal 7th-November-2016 Dusty road with cars on it

Bicycle Touring in Nepal

This week’s Travelsonabike2 on this day bicycle touring blog post comes from Nepal on the 7th November 2016. And I’ve made it to Kathmandu after a few days of hard cycling.

Monday 7th November 2016. Chisapani to Kathmandu. 11 miles.

There’s not really much to say about today. It was a very short ride into Kathmandu, and I was in a hotel by 10.30. The ride itself wasn’t very pleasant at all. And I’m so glad I waited until this morning.

The road surface was awful and had disappeared while they were renewing it. And there was so much traffic on it throwing up dust I could hardly see. Although there wasn’t as much traffic as last night. I could hear a steady stream of traffic going past the hotel all night. And when I looked down the valley from my window, all I could see was one long, snaking trail of lights going up the valley as far as I could see.

Bottle of beer
Of course, the beer’s called Everest

Once at today’s hotel, I gave my clothes a good wash and updated my website. I also had to repair one of the rear panniers. I’m not sure if I’d been hit or had caught it on something, but there was a tear in it. I also did a little maintenance on the bike. And a de-stress for me with a nice beer. I felt pretty worn out after the past few days, and today wore me out mentally with all the traffic and bad road conditions. I think I’ll play the tourist tomorrow before moving on on Wednesday. The hotel only has a room for two nights, and besides, I’d probably be bored by then anyway.

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where photographs from all my tours are.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry web page.

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Travelsonabike2 This Day 24th October 2016

Bicycle Touring India 24th-October-2016 Car in a river bed

Bicycle Touring India

This week’s Travelsonabike2 on this day bicycle touring blog post comes from India on the 24th October 2016. And I go back to school this week.

Monday, 24th October 2016. Panjh to Sagar. 48 miles.

I had a much earlier start today; I was woken up at about 5.30 by the call to prayer, which I tend to hear most mornings. So I’ve gotten used to it. But this morning, it was followed by a load of women chanting outside my door. I don’t think it was me that they were chanting at, but you never know.

It was probably just as well that I found that guesthouse last night because all I had for the first few hours of cycling this morning was jungle and loads of monkeys. And as much as I like monkeys, spending the night with them is not high on my list of things to do! It was cool to see them this morning, though.

Short ride today. I didn’t fancy another late night. And looking at the map, it didn’t look as if there would be much chance of finding somewhere for a long time after Sagar. Thinking I’d found a nice hotel with wifi, I was wrong. The hotel itself was okay, but forget the wifi.

On the ride into Sagar, I got pulled over by a man on a motorcycle. He asked me to come to his school and meet his students. To which I was more than happy; it was only about 400 yards back down the road.

Back To School For Garry

It was only a small school with about 130 pupils aged between 7 and 11. At first, they were very nervous. But after a while, they came out of their shells, and I was surrounded by pupils wanting to shake my hand. Their English wasn’t that good, and the only real question they asked was what was my name?

Man with waving school children
Photo op at the school

I got the impression that it was more of an ego trip for the headmaster or whatever he was than an educational thing for the children. But hey, I enjoyed it, and so did the children, I think!

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with a monthly photo update that I publish each month.

If you want to find out if Garry’s away touring at the moment and check his location, visit the Where’s Garry page.

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Bicycle Touring South Asia: Back Home In England | Travelsonabike2

Main road into Kathmandu

Bicycle Touring South Asia: Back Home in England

Cycling around South Asia, my latest bicycle touring update from England. Well, that’s it, it’s all over and done with. I’m now back at home in Bognor Regis.

Tribhuvan Highway
Part of the climb to Nepal from India

The flight was fine, and we landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule, however there was no gate free for us, so we had to sit on the plane and wait for 15 minutes, so nothing was really gained! Getting through passport control and baggage reclaim was very smooth, and I was through and out of the airport very quickly. I walked in my door after being picked up by my new son-in-law at about 6 pm.

Garry McGivern meeting some school children at a school in Sagar
Meeting school children

The passage through Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi was also very smooth, and I was really impressed; in fact, I found it a lot better and smoother than Gatwick Airport in England.

Garry McGivern riding into the night
Some long days cycling

Lovely People

All the people that I’ve met have been so nice, friendly and helpful, as is the normal case, no matter where I travel! As I’ve always said, 99.99% of the people in the world are good; unfortunately, it’s that very small percentage that gets all the publicity! I’m also a great believer in the attitude that you portray, you’ll get back!

Staff at the hotel Ganapati Palace in Dhule
Deepam and some of the staff who looked after me when I was ill in Dhule

The one thing that I certainly won’t miss is Indians behind the wheel of a vehicle! For such kind and lovely people, it’s hard to believe that it’s the same people, and I do think that I’ve had enough of their roads as the last few days cycling into Delhi and also whilst in Delhi, I definitely was Mr Grumpy with them and kept muttering under my breath, in fact sometimes it wasn’t under my breath I would just say things so they could hear and see I was a bit annoyed, not that it made any difference but it made me feel better!

Chatropati Shivaji railway station in Mumbai
Chatrapati Shivaji railway station in Mumbai

I’ve really enjoyed my time in both India and Nepal despite all the ailments I seem to have had on the way: chest infection, sore bum and Delhi Belly! Also, the bad roads weren’t much fun some of the time! But in the end, everything was ok; It’s just all part of the adventure!

Diety on a building in Kathmandu
Some deity on a building in Kathmandu

Total miles covered: 2087.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

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Bicycle Touring South Asia: India, In Delhi, Time To Pack Away | Travelsonabike2

Feroze Shah Kotla Palace Delhi

Bicycle Touring South Asia: India, in Delhi

Cycling around South Asia, my latest bicycle touring update from India. In Delhi. First thing after breakfast this morning, I went and gave Passepartout a clean prior to dismantling and packing away, ready for my flight home tomorrow.

Packing a bike away
The end of the road, Passepartout, all ready to be boxed up

That was all done and dusted by midday, and the only thing left to do was check in for my flight and print my boarding pass! After I’d completed that, there wasn’t anything else to really do apart from sit around the hotel and drink beer!

Afternoon snacks at the Royal Plaza hotel in Dheli Cycle Touring India 21st-November-2016
My afternoon’s activity!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Follow Garry on his travels

Subscribe to my email and follow me on my travels