by dechen dolma April 08, 2007 Thimphu: Eighteen enthusiast bikers from and are riding throughout to complete a grueling 25-day sojourn across the treacherous mountainous terrain.
Biking may have become synonymous with young dare-devils but the 18 of them, all of whom are parents and some grandparents, are all out to prove them wrong.
Speaking to BT, Phillipa Saxton, the tour operator, said, “Young people are reckless when they ride bikes, they think they are immortal but we know we are not.” She added that is a vehicle to adventure and aims to provide tours combining in-depth cultural experience with extreme motorcycling magic.
Flying to Bangkok from and and then to Kolkata, the bikers picked up 13 Royal Enfield bikes from Siliguri before heading to .
“When we drive around in cars, we cannot really feel the joy of the journey but on a bike we are liberating. It’s like being in charge of your destiny and not in the mercy of the driver but at the same time keeping in mind to be cautious and to take safety measures,” said Lilorratti, a 58-year-old woman.
Jann, 57, feels she is the most inexperienced rider in the group. With embarrassment she said that she fell off her bike in the congested alleys in Phuentsholing. But for her too, the experience has been fulfilling. “I wanted to ride in the magical kingdom of Bhutan with its stunning mountains, spectacular scenery and ancient Buddhist monasteries offering tranquility which is difficult to find in today’s fast-paced world,” Jann said.
More than even the ride, Bhutanese hospitality seems to have made quite an impression on them.
“I have noticed that in people are humble, always hospitable and more content with the simple life they seem to lead. But in our country people have become so materialistic that they do not realize how much they are missing out in their lives,” said Jill Rees, 49, a New Zealander.
All the bikers will exit for from Samdrup Jongkhar on April 15, after biking throughout the country.
