Hello from Honduras! Today I crossed the border from Nicaragua and entered Honduras, my 10th country on this route and 38th overall by bicycle. At the border, everything went smoothly, except when at the Honduras immigration, the officer wanted to see my Yellow Fever vaccination certificate. When I told him that I don’t have it … Read more
Greetings from Nicaragua! A few days ago, I left Costa Rica and entered Nicaragua, which is the country#37 I am travelling by bicycle. The Costa Rica/Nicaragua border at Las Tabillas was a low-key border without any high-security measures, not very different from any other border crossing in South/Central America. Besides, there was no queue and … Read more
The tarmac on the Panamerican Highway melted under my tyres in the tropical heat. I struggled to keep the bicycle on the wide shoulder of the road which was dotted by dead frogs who were baked dry in the intense sun and had been flattened out by the traffic. These paper thin frogs flew in … Read more
No matter where you live, it is very likely that many products in your home, whether they are food, clothing or household appliances, passed through the Panama Canal before they reached you. After all, about 4-5% of world’s maritime trade transits through the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is an 80 km long artificial canal … Read more
In January 2016, I came to Ushuaia, Argentina with nothing but a wild dream to travel 26,000 km from Ushuaia to Alaska on a bicycle—a journey which spans the entire length of South and North America. Within months, I was out of money, and my journey had come to a dead halt. I somehow managed … Read more
It was a crisp winter morning. My mum had bathed me and applied Surma (kohl) to my eyes. Then she made me wear brown pyjama pants and shirt with long yellow stripes which as a kid I was very shy to wear. I was only used to wear Shalwar Kameez. “If you wear this, I … Read more
Tatacoa is also called as the Valley of Sorrows because of the sadness it evokes. As I sat on the edge and watched the sun set slowly in the valley, the clay rocks glowed in red and golden colour casting pitch black shadows. The gullies and canyons seemed as if they were once carved by … Read more
Has it ever happened to you that you were afraid to see a person because you knew it would be hard to say goodbye? Or, you didn’t taste something because you were afraid of becoming addicted to it? Or, a place so special you were reluctant to visit because it would be hard for you … Read more
It is Colombia’s most dangerous road. They call it El Trampolin de la Muerte or The Trampoline of Death. The road is carved out of near-vertical mountains and winds through the thick cloud forest. Looking down from the edge of the road, you see no bottom, only layers of vegetation going several hundred metres below. … Read more
About four hours of drive from Quito there is a lake tucked away in the mountains. Located at over 3500-m altitude, this volcanic crater lake is filled with emerald green water. They call it Quilotoa Lake. Today, while sitting on the edge of the crater I look at the lake in its entirety. A soothing … Read more
How to wrap up old year and start a new one? In Ecuador, people bring an end to their año viejo (old year) by burning it. At midnight they bring effigies of politicians, cultural icons and fictional characters, and torch them in the street as a part of their tradition. The effigy can also be … Read more
One early morning pedalling slowly on a steep road in southern Ecuador, I feel a hand on my shoulder. A familiar voice speaks to me. “What is that you seek?” “I want to escape. I am searching for something, but I don’t know what?” I reply. “You can only search for something when it is … Read more
Cycling along the Utcubamba river in North Peru today, my bicycle and I achieved a little milestone on this journey. We completed 10,000 km out of 25,000 km from Ushuaia to Alaska. It was hot today but the sun was behind the clouds, so I took a little break along the road and tried to … Read more
Cycling on an isolated dirt road along the River Tablachaca in the northern highlands of Peru, I was stopped by two men who warned me that there was no road ahead and two river crossings were to come. These men were gold prospectors. They were panning for gold in the river bed. One of them, … Read more
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