Three Nepalese cyclists on an environmental crusade

Three Nepalese cyclists pose with their bikes in front of Seoul City Hall, June 27. The three, from left, Dilip Chhetri, Anish Dhakal and Nirmal Baral are on a tour to promote environmental protection and world peace. / Courtesy of Anish Dhakal

By You Soo-sun

Three Nepalese men set out on an environmental crusade Dec. 30, 2016, with a plan to set foot in 100 countries during their five-year journey. With just a bicycle and a backpack each, they arrived in Korea on June 18: their 14th country.

What motivated their trip was a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in April, 2015, killing up to 9,000 people. “It was the most haunting experience. We felt a big sinking ― everywhere around, people were screaming and crying,” said Anish Dhakal, 22, who initiated the trip, the “World Bicycle Tour for Environmental Protection and World Peace.”

Two others joined him. Nirmal Baral, 39, is a social worker. He is also the only married man of the three and a father of two children. His wife and two little children were at first opposed to him taking off for five years, leaving his job and his family behind. He told them: “Life may mean nothing. I want to do something for my country.”

And just like that, he persuaded them. Dilip Chhetri, a social worker and a student at the same school Anish attends, is from near Sindhupalchowk, one of the most affected areas. His house collapsed and nine people in his village died.

The trio bikes from one country to another where they can ― a healthy and eco-friendly method, explained Dhakal: "If we can travel from one country to another by bicycle, then why can’t others use it once a week?”

They talked of the hunger, the backaches and leg cramps they have endured throughout the trip. Yet, they never lost their smiles throughout the interview. The most memorable for them all was crossing the border from Myanmar to Thailand.

“It was uphill, there were no houses around, no food and no water,” Dhakal said. “My favorite food is water now. I got to know the real taste of it.”

They have so far hit Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan in the last six months. They have many more to go. But they are determined to finish the journey as to spread the word, and to spread the love.