Goodbye to Laxman, Jagan and Shantaram from Pokhara Mountain Biking. I wish them all the best. I really enjoyed having dinner with the mad cyclist (engineer in real life) Sheldon from the U.K., his wife and paramedic Mandy. Sheldon has done more things on a bicycle and knows more about cycling stuff than anyone I have ever met, except maybe for Vinayak, another engineer. The photos Sheldon took with his gopro 360° fusion are quite spectacular. I am going to look into this camera.
After saying goodbye to all these folks I began my 95 km. ride to Malunga to visit Shanti’s family. They have a small shop in a quiet village about a km. from the highway. They have a traditional brick/mud house that is very nice. I always seem to sleep very well in these well insulated houses
A young relative was sitting there outside. When I asked him what he did he said “nothing” -plays cricket. Turns out he is planning to go to the Czech republic for work. Apparently this is a new destination, after Japan, Korea and the Gulf countries, for the poor exploited Nepali overseas workforce. This boy had just completed 3 years in Malaysia. He said he had learned the language there in 3 months. He seemed smart- maybe he did.
Something unusual happened on my bike ride. When I had stopped by the side of the road, 2 guys on a motorbike stopped and showed me a photo of me with a nepali guy. I couldn’t remember where that photo could have been taken, then, it turns out that it was from my last year’s trip to nepal and one of the guys on the motorcycle had been in a group that I had.met up with and cycled about with one day. I am going to try and find a photo from that fun ride.
Shant’s parents wanted me to stay longer but really I have started my journey and need to get some momentum. But not before alu parathas. Thanks Shanti’s father.
