Back in Kathmandu, I remember the time when I had not started my journey to the world. Then, the craze towards automobiles had just started. As a convenient, comfortable and quick tool motorbikes were common and car was also seen often. I had just started my life in the bustling city of Kathmandu with tight time schedule. And automobile could have been my good assistance. Unlike others, I did not quit my attachment with bicycle. The passion I had with my bicycle did not reduce but my concern to the environment increased. And the same passion is the only reason I have successfully pedaled the distance of 91213 Km to 88 countries in the world spreading the message of Peace and Environmental Protection.

For the first time in my life, I have traveled via automobile pretty long. Including other experiences in South Africa, traveling by bus, train and taxi have left a unique memory in me. I had reasons to do so, which were, insecurity, urgency and impracticability.

With no permission (visa) to stay in South Africa for more than a week, I could not have made to Lesotho on my bike in such a short time. I planned to travel by bus from Eastlondon to Lesotho. On 14th September, I left East London to Queenstown. On 18th I scheduled for the bus to Lesotho but couldn’t find a ticket and chose to take a train that dropped me off in Bloemfontein on the early morning of 19th. Then I took a bus to reach Lesotho Border. I pedaled the 17 Km distance to Maseru and as soon I reached, I headed to high commission of South Africa to work on my visa, which was my first priority. There, I was informed that I shall not get what I wanted in Maseru but must return to Bloemfontein or Johannesburg or Pretoria for the visa to South Africa. I had to reapply for visa extension before my previous visa expired.

I took a bus to travel the 140 Km distance back to Bloemfontein in a truck arranged by a courteous policeman and got a visa extension of 7 days. I had to reach Johannesburg the as soon as I can, and it was nearly dark. And the same day, 19th of September I left to Johannesburg in a bus that dropped me off the morning of next day. I reached Johannesburg. The next thing I should do was applied for visa to South Africa so that I could apply for more countries to travel. With the belief that processing in Pretoria would be faster, I applied in Pretoria.

The best thing about traveling in a public vehicle is company. I met a lady while traveling from Bloemfontein who helped me find the place I wanted to be at Johannesburg. I don’t know your name but I would like to thank you madam.

Insecurity was the primary reason I did not take my bike for follow up on my visa or be at Kempton Park. Also immigration has fixed time for inquires and I had to be in the rule. I regularly had to go to the immigration to check the updates on my visa because I didn’t want to delay my travel. Also, we had some get together and meetings at Pomana Lodge in Kempton Park for which I took taxi. From October 7, the distance of 50 Km- Alexandra to Pretoria was common for me. I didn’t like much to travel by bus. But, after being attacked in Pretoria once and followed in Johannesburg (Alexandra) plenty of times; I didn’t want to take the risk either. After all while staying at the city infamous for insecurity, I must be conscious.

About 69 times during my stay, I used taxi to travel. Taxi here unlike various part of the world is a public vehicle-mostly a microbus carrying about 15 passengers at a time. During the whole time I had a good company of black people. I did not get a chance to see a single white man or an Asian other than me. I was fascinated by the system of payment. They didn’t have ticket collectors but anyone sitting in the front seat should work as one. I had wonderful conversations with other itinerants. Most of them called me Chini (representing Chinese). I am not a Chinese but Nepali and I clarified them.

I believe contingency exists and adaptability to these consistent situations is the key to achieve ambition. It is not that I feel bad to use any form of combustion engines but I prefer using eco-friendly techniques the best I can. Other than the pre-mentioned journey, I traveled above 2600 Km distance inside South Africa alone. And I would like to request to use bicycle to travel short distances and lets Burn Carbohydrates, not Hydrocarbons.

Peace and Harmony

Furtemba Sherpa