After a Tom Yum soup filled five days in Bangkok I’ve just arrived to Nepal. I had originally planned to come here to find & develop products for my business, but was suddenly invited by the Nepalese government to join a 10 day tour of the country.
Together with group of over 50 travel writers from around the world, we’ll be checking out the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini, Tigers & Rhinos in Chitwan National Park, and finally celebrate Mt. Everest Day in the adventure capital of Pokhara.
Needless to say, I’m really excited, and grateful to experience the best of Nepal with some awesome travel writers.
Why Am I Traveling By Motorcycle?
Although transportation is included on the tour, I couldn’t resist renting a motorcycle. Ever since I first came to Nepal back in 2008 and laid eyes upon the Royal Enfield Bullet, I vowed that one day I would ride Nepal on this bike. Now, with a bit more change in pocket, and a set itinerary provided by the tour, I’m about to make this dream a reality. I can’t wait to carve these wild Himalayan roads!
Throwback, Pokhara Nepal, 2008. Pulsar 5$/day. Disposable camera :)
The Enfield Bullet (Classic 350 cc)
The Enfield Bullet is as classic as motorcycles come. Aside from the electric starter and a few other modern upgrades, its’ a bike that has retained it’s style since the 1940’s. In fact, it has the longest production run of any motorcycle, and I love it.
Specs:
- Fuel Capacity: 13.5 Liters /3.5 Gallons
- Range: 300 Miles
- Discplacement: 346 cc
- Seat Height: 31.5 inches (Ideal for taller riders like myself)
- Gears: 5 speed
The Itinerary
24-May-17 Ride to Chitwan National Park (106 miles, 5 1/2 hours)
25-May-17 Chitwan Safari
26-May-17 Ride to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha (80 miles, 3 hours)
27-May-17 Ride to Palpa (31 miles, 2 hours)
28-May-17 Ride to Pokhara (75 miles, 4 hours)
29-May-17 Mt. Everest Celebration at 12:05
30-May-17 Ride back to Kathmandu (126 miles, 5 1/2 hours)
31-May-17 Free Day
1-June-17 ITBMC Conference (International Bloggers & Media Conference)
2-June-17 HTM Conference (Himalayan Travel Mart)
3-June-17 Fly To Sicily On Turkish Air
The Preparation
For the past two days I’ve been riding all over the capital, Kathmandu. It doesn’t get any crazier than this. There are no traffic signs and seemingly no rules of the road (aside from driving on the left hand side). It’s survival of the aggressive. I figure if I can survive the this crazy city, I’ll be ready for anything.
Aside from getting used to the bike and acclimating to the driving culture, I bought some tie downs and an agricultural sack to put over my backpack. I figure, if I’ve got my helmet on and a sack of rice on the back no one will no I’ve got an expensive camera and laptop on me. Not that I’m worried, cause Nepal is really safe in that regard, but hey, you never know.
The End Of The Tour
On May 31st we’ll be returning to Kathmandu for the the International Bloggers & Media Conference followed by the Himalayan Travel Mart on June 2nd. The first event features some very interesting speakers from across the travel industry. The second event aims to connect buyers and sellers, and looks like a great opportunity to discover new products for my business.
Feeling extremely grateful to Turkish Airlines for comping my flight to Italy, to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and the Nepal Tourism Board for this incredible opportunity.
The adventure begins Wednesday May 24th. I’ll be posting daily on Facebook and on my blog, so be sure to stay tuned for updates!
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