This UAE-based Indian couple biked 6700km from Kerala to Bhutan – Gulf News – Travel India Alone

‘We’re journey seekers and revel in occurring quick or lengthy journeys as typically as doable,’ says Gene explaining their love for bike rides and the outside. ‘Bikes and open air at all times encourage us.’

For the file, this journey was not the couple’s first bike journey. Their earlier bike journeys embody a 2018 trip from Kochi to Goa (a distance of round 800km) and a journey alongside the Pacific Coast Freeway within the USA in August 2022. Clearly, since their first journey that they had been bitten by the bike bug which fired them up with a ardour for journey and exploration.

Gene and Jolly selected a two-wheeler for his or her journey as a result of it allowed them ‘to expertise the journey extra intimately and be extra in tune with nature.

‘Travelling on a two-wheeler positively strikes the soul… all of the senses are activated and it’s very good– the wind, the climate. It’s very completely different from travelling in, say, a four-wheeler.’

It additionally meant the couple may benefit from the aroma of the meals from roadside foodstalls, the scent of the flowers on crops dotting the roadsides which might not have been doable in the event that they had been in a automotive. For them, the journey is simply as necessary because the vacation spot, and driving a motorcycle enhances that have.

‘I simply fell in love once I first rode the BMW GS 1200,’ says Gene, explaining what led him to decide on this imply beast for his or her exploration.

Jolly provides that the bike’s pillion seat may be very comfy and even has armrests for added consolation.

Gene discovered the bike in a preowned bike retailer in Mumbai. After checking it out, he determined it was the one for them to trip throughout the nation.

Gene and Jolly’s planning and preparation for his or her bike journey throughout India was thorough and intensive. ‘Very first thing was to prep the bike for such a trip,’ says Gene. ‘Aside from servicing it properly, you must put in new tires, new batteries, spare bulbs, and so on.’

In addition they made positive to have applicable driving gear for various climate circumstances.

‘We at all times be sure that we trip with correct security gear,’ says Jolly. ‘That features helmet, gloves, jacket, protecting vest and arm, knee and again safety.’

Moreover, they at all times rode solely throughout sunlight hours. ‘We might guide a lodge solely upon arrival in a selected city or metropolis.’ The concept was to not be in a rush to achieve a selected place however as a substitute to benefit from the journey.

In addition they averted pocket and aspect roads as a substitute hugging the highways to make sure security and safety.

As soon as the bike was primed and prepared for the journey, they started packing important gadgets wanted for the journey– for themselves and the bike. ‘Important instruments equivalent to an air compressor, a puncture restore package, and a battery leap starter, amongst others had been included in our ruck sacks. We additionally packed raincoats and rain boots,’ says Jolly.

They included garments that had been simple to clean and dry, in addition to driving gear and a few cameras. The helmets had been fitted with intercoms so they may talk with one another simply and safely whereas driving.

Since Jolly had restricted go away, it was determined that she would be part of Gene in Kolkata and return to Dubai from Bhutan.

FIRST LEG

The primary leg of the journey was from Kochi to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, a distance of 820km. Gene nonetheless remembers waking up at 3am to hit the street at 4.

‘Andhra Pradesh was tremendous scorching, and my cooling vest got here in useful,’ he recollects. Reaching Nellore at round 7pm, he retired for the evening. ‘My goal was to cowl round 700kms a day however the GSA is a mile muncher,’ he says, with a smile.

The following day he was off to Bhubaneswar in Orissa a distance of 1,075kms.

A brief detour to see Chilka lake later, he was again on observe and reached his vacation spot by 8pm however not earlier than having fun with some ‘scrumptious guavas from roadside distributors’.

Day 3’s mission was to achieve Kolkata in West Bengal, 450kms away.

‘West Bengal has quite a few paddy fields on both aspect of the freeway, which jogged my memory of my native place in Kerala,’ says Gene. Right here he was to fulfill his spouse earlier than persevering with the journey to Bhutan.

‘I have to say, the road meals in Kolkata is tremendous scrumptious. We tried the famed sweets and delicacies earlier than hitting the street the following day.’

Eager to benefit from the sights and sounds of town, they visited Victoria Palace, India Museum, Prinsep Ghat, Hoogly river and Howrah bridge and the Birla planetarium earlier than preparing for the following leg of the journey.

‘Our plan was to achieve Phuentsholing which was 700-odd kilometres from Kolkata and a day of arduous driving may take us to Jaigon the border city to Bhutan.’

It was right here that that they had one in all their extra thrilling and unforgettable adventures– although this one was not precisely on the street. Deciding to take a dangerous shortcut throughout the Hoogli River on a bamboo raft, Gene and Jolly bought on board the rudimentary raft. Eager to file the second for posterity he requested Jolly to shoot a video of him getting the bike onto the raft.

All was going properly, Jolly was prepared with digital camera and Gene started driving the bike onto the raft. Nevertheless, because the bike’s entrance wheel bought onto the raft, he misplaced steadiness a bit and the two-wheeler started tipping over into the river. ‘Fortunately there have been a number of folks on the financial institution who rushed to assist,’ recollects Gene. ‘They helped assist the bike. In any other case, it and I might’ve fallen into the river.’

The complete incident was caught on video and shared on Instagram, garnering over 30,000 views.

SCENIC ROUTES

One of many extra scenic routes was the following leg of their journey from Siliguri to Jaigon by way of Darjeeling a distance of 250kms.

‘The trip took us by hairpin bends after hairpin bends,’ recollects Jolly. ‘We may see superb mountains and shortly the mercury dropped to the early twenties making it a pleasure to trip. The route took us by dense forest space.’

The following day was a giant one– the journey to Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu.

‘Our tour operator Sangay met us on the India-Bhutan border submit and we straight rode into Phuensholing,’ says Gene.

Getting a allow for driving a motorbike in Bhutan is necessary and after the formalities had been over, the couple had been prepared to begin their first leg of journey in Bhutan.

‘Our first vacation spot was Thimpu the capital metropolis and we set off with our information and automotive in entrance, and us on path. Enroute, we visited the Buddha Level, Trashicode Dzong and the City of Gedu which is nearly 9000 ft above MSL.’

The preliminary impression of Bhutan left us in awe, says Gene. ‘All of the folks we met had smiles on their faces and driving in Bhutan is an eye fixed opener for guests from the sub-continent.

‘Thimphu is the one capital on this planet with out site visitors alerts; the site visitors is self-managed,’ remarks Gene. ‘They respect the street and obey the pace limits always. Even the site visitors alerts are managed by faculty college students,’ provides Jolly.

After an prolonged tour of town and the suburbs having fun with visits to a number of touristic locations of curiosity, the couple rode to the 520-foot lengthy Punakha Suspension bridge that provides some spectacular view of the river and valley. ‘Strolling throughout the bridge is kind of an exciting expertise, a minor panic assault ensures as one reaches the center when the bridge sways because of winds.’

One other fascinating place they visited is Tiger’s Nest, a monastery perched 3000 meters above sea stage. ‘It was a mesmerizing view from there. It’s actually lovely,’ says Jolly. Alongside the best way, they met pleasant locals who had been interested by their journey and keen to have interaction with them. ‘Younger guys need to race with us after they see a giant bike. You simply smile at them, wave at them, and so they’re glad.’

A few days in Bhutan after which on to Paro earlier than the riders hit the street as soon as once more heading to Chennai after which Kochi some 3200 kms away.

‘You’ll by no means end exploring India in a lifetime.’ remarks Gene.

PLENTY OF CHALLENGES

Gene and Jolly’s bike journey was not one with out challenges. As Gene recounts, ‘Andhra Pradesh for example was super-hot.’ To fight the scorching temperatures, they needed to cease continuously and use a cooling vest to remain cool. Discovering vegetarian meals was one other hurdle, as Jolly explains, ‘we at all times attempt to have solely vegetarian meals on the street. It’s safer.’ In addition they needed to cope with a lifeless battery and low tire stress, however fortunately, they had been well-prepared with instruments.

The duo shared insights on how they balanced the bodily calls for of the journey whereas having fun with the scenic magnificence. Based on Gene, being bodily match is essential when enterprise such a visit. ‘A month or two earlier than we took off, we made an effort to enhance our stamina and health ranges,’ he says. The duo additionally took frequent breaks in the course of the journey and drank solely water or coconut water to maintain themselves hydrated.

So how a lot did the journey price them?

‘In all we spent round INR200,000 (approx. Dh9,000),’ says Gene. But it surely was certainly value each single rupee, they are saying.

If there’s one tip the duo can provide aspiring journey lovers, it’s to not procrastinate. ‘In the event you love to do something, do it now. Don’t maintain it for the long run, go forward with it.

‘As soon as you might be previous a sure age, like we’re, you need to make merry whereas it lasts. We don’t know what’s going to occur sooner or later, so we began off, and hopefully, we are going to do extra sooner or later.’