Endorsing Erika and Robin Roshan's remarks are just the perfect example of what is written in the blog...
1. Hatred towards Pakistan... based on the only and exaggerated information he is exposed to from the media of international and local ( unfortunately including Pakistani media).. i am not saying its all false but mostly it is (why ... is a separate issue)
2. If I ask Roshan have you ever met a Pakistani... answer would be no... that also endorses blog's viewpoint....
3. I don't think that a man's luck starts working on one side (as Roshan said "perhaps you were lucky enough not to be exposed....") of a white line (wagha border) and stops on the other, and starts working again when he crosses back ...
I would suggest Roshan to visit www.aliveandwellinpakistan.com to see many such stories like these cyclists ....
We Pakistani's are peace loving and hospitable people... these islamic fanatic are like the trained snakes to kill the enemy but left on their own after west got their job done ... now they are biting us .. india... and the whole world ..
Nice to know about GOOD Pakistan Hey ! gr8 blogs by you two. I started reading ur blogs 2 weeks ago and now about to complete all. They are so refreshing and alive to read, they almost sound still happening. Nice to know that you have had good experinces in pakistan, I could never imagined that.
But Roshan you also has noted down good and real facts too !!
bilal thanks for showing me the photos of my own country.... i feel so bad that i havent been able to travel to these areas that you have shown in these photos ... lovely place ... thanks
cheers
Great blog! Hey guys - glad you're still travelling/teaching and blogging. Some great tales and photos to inspire those of us not travelling at present! I cycled through Pakistan in 1993 and it was one of the friendliest places I visited on a 12-month cyling trip. One family looked after me for 3 weeks when I got really sick with giardia (in Bahawalpur)! In fact, I was constantly being invited for cups of tea and it slowed me down no end! Sumatra sounds great. Looking forward to your future updates.
Is it over? No, but we got even slower, started going around in circles a little bit and one of us has kind of stopped, for a while anyway, to take a different kind of journey. We also got even lamer at writing about it.
And in plainer language we are living in Indonesia for a year - Erika is teaching, Robin is still cycling around, island-hopping, scaring Orangutans and such like.
After that there is still the other half of the planet......
Small World Hey guys - inspirational stuff - myself and mate were bumming around Yazd and surrounds at almost exactly the same time as yourself, during July 06; and we seem to have pretty much matched each other step for step - am surprised we didn't bump into you along the way - if you ever saw two badly sunburnt irishment then that was us - keep on truckin
Amazing journey.... We just looked at your blog after you left a message on Thorntree plus your blog address. We were the ones asking about the 2nd Indonesian visa in Dili. Yes, we will let you know what happens when we get there. I thought that we had been on the road a long time then saw your 4 1/2 years.....!!!!Wow!!! We followed your route on the blog and sometimes it was the same as ours except we're not on bikes!! Pakistan was also a big favourite of ours. We read what you wrote about SE Asia and we had felt exactely the same. Sometimes we wondered too if we've been on the road too long.....we don't want to go home yet though and sometimes we even have the mad idea about cycling home from China, perhaps your blog will be our inspiration!!!
Enjoy the ride across Java!! Would be great to meet you both but as we're a little ahead it may not happen but we'll keep our eyes open for you...you never know.
It was great to read your blog!!
Best Wishes
The Sloths
Re: That's KHASI Thanks guys. I've been following your globetrotting adventures. Your wanderlust and thirst for human knowledge is very commendable. If only more people were like you... there's be more understanding, tolerance and peace in this crazy world.
Just another point to clarify Dr James Weldon's comment - Although the Khasis are Matrilineal, it would not be accurate to also tag us as Matriarchal. The man is still the dominant partner in the relationship and is responsible for the general welfare of the family as well as has the final say in any important matter. The wife does take the husband's last name after marriage, but the children inherit the mother's maiden name as well as would belong to the mother's clan - hence 'matrilineal'.
I was in Balochistan for 2 years! Heys Guys!
i recently just came back from Balochistan, Paksitan. I spent 2 years there. The moment i reacched Balochtan.. I spent a month at Noshki... and then back to quetta... A VERY MISERABLE AND DIRTY PLACE
unbaised blog Thank you for sharing your experiences traveling across India and Pakistan and even more for your opinion on the origins of indian and western hatred against pakistan.
But these are your opinions based on your experiences which are not necessarily true for everyone else, perhaps you were lucky enough not to be exposed to the islamic terrorism breeding in that country, perhaps you didn't witness the indoctrination of paki children by mad clerics screaming "Death to the infidels", perhaps you didn't witness the shariah being practised in SWAT and last but not least perhaps you haven't experienced the Islamic barbarism inflicted by terrorist scumbags on innocent civilians so please forgive us Indians for our ignorance of the peace loving people of pakistan,we were to busy trying to protect our civilians from paki islamic scumbags.
Hi. I'm from Brasov, and I lived in Racadau for 20 years..so I know perfectly what you were talking about. (now I live in another country).
I found this blog accidentally, trying to show to a friend from Germany some info about the bears in the area (because he couldn't believe it). I really liked how you described the place, and I must add that your description is very realistic (including the biureaucracy, police station, robberies..).[ I was also robbed, of my wallet, a few times even..and I guess that in the same internet cafe (on Republicii Street)..also been at the police station, and I had the same treatment..fortunatelly I didn't loose my passport].
Anyway, that is Romania..exactly how you described it. In spite of all the troubles you had..I hope you enjoyed you time there.
Of course, if you plan going there some other time, and you need some info, I'd be glad to help :).
Greetings.
I now pedal too Hey robin and erica, I long entertained the idea of trying a cycling trip someday but that became a conviction after stumbling across your blog. I now have over 2500 kms in my legs, a rather disappointing refusal despite valid visas (why we're still trying to fathom) from the Chinese immigrant officer at the China-Laos border and now we pedal to the next border through Vietnam without fretting much. If not for your blog I might still just be dreaming about this all. Thanks and pedal on and certainly hope you two get back and continue the journey. P.S: I was born in Shillong and I loved the account of your trip there. www.muddyruts.blogspot.com
good reading thanks for a good read. i am living in newcastle but my grandmother was born in shillong (khasi). she left aged 25 and lived the last 55 years of her life in uk. i am sure that my mother has aunts, uncles and cousins still in shillong and am currently trying to trace them. i am planning a trip aswell in the next couple of years and cant wait. anyway thanks again.
jason
Glad to see western travellers in Pakistan Hello
Congrats, I am norwegian-pakistani, i must admit I am glad to see western turist/travellers in Pakistan. It would be fine if more western travelled to Punjab/Sindh/Kashmir provinces of Pakistan. Its no unrest there. The army action is taking place in Balochistan and NWFP.
Fine that you understand India hatred aganist Pakistan, while Pakistani people dodnt care about or have any negative oppinion towards indians.
Tetovo? Well, I am from Tetovo and I can say Tetovo is a very safe place, especially for foreigners. Anyways you fell for the Macedonian propaganda because it is an mainly Albanian populated town, and obviously Macedonians hate us :)
We are Erika and Robin from Scotland and in April 2005 we quit our jobs and set off to cycle from Scotland to İstanbul.
We reached İstanbul in October 2005 having discovered that cycling truly is the best way to travel and so decided to keep going beyond the Bosphorous......
We had never cycled any long distance before but had been wanting to travel for a long time and had finally saved enough and realised ıf we didn't set off now we never would. We decided cycling would be the best form of transport as we wanted to learn more about the countries and people we passed through at a s... full info
Nikhil
non-member comment
Wonderfull
Wonderful. Even I'm eager to plan such a trip now. I wish I will !! Thanks to you !! :)