Riding for world peace

Oct 15, 2008

Why would any one spend time and effort cycling around the world?

By Frederick Womakuyu

Why would any one spend time and effort cycling around the world?

For some, it is fun, exercise, sport or personal preference.

But not for a Nepalese cyclist touring the world to promote peace and universal brotherhood.

Now in Uganda, Lok Karki Karki, 32, has covered 33,785km since he started his trip on December 7, 2004 and hopes to go around 113 countries by 2013.

Karki, who hails from Dharan district in eastern Nepal, said the idea for the world tour was born by four teachers, who were working with the International Red Cross Society in Nepal.

“Pained by the violence and conflict, we decided to spread the message of peace. This tour was timely. In our country, because the Maost rebels have fought the government since independence and many people have died in the conflict,” Karki said.

With this agony, they embarked on a nine-year tour of 53 districts in Nepal, then continued to China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Sudan and now Uganda.

Karki adds that they chose these countries because they have gone through the same experience as Nepal.

“The wars in these countries have resulted into death and left others maimed. We are therefore proclaiming peace to remind people that we must live in harmony to achieve development and political success.”

Karki said his three collegues; Narayan Parasad, Jannrdan Khanal and Kharel Sunsari, with whom he started the journey did not make it to Uganda and other countries.

Parasad and Sunsari were stricken with jaundice and malaria in Thailand. They returned to Nepal, leaving Karki and Jannrdan Khanal, 37, to proceed.

Six months later, Parasad died but Sunsari recovered and chose not to resume the journey.

Khanal got an accident in Syria and decided to go back home, leaving Karki to continue to go.

Karki has so far spent over$40, 000, of his personal funds and donations from other associations in the host countries. In Uganda, he has received sh250,000 and sh100,000 from Red Cross and the Indian Association of Uganda respectively.

“At the beginning, we used our personal money for upkeep but other organisations helped us out with food and accommodation later on. However,the rest of the needs are personally met,” he said.

Karki said in a day, he covers 125 km but this depends on the weather and the road surface.

“When the road is rough and hilly or there is hot weather, I cover between 56 to 60 km,” he adds.

He used a plane from Laos to Vietnam and from Jordan to Sudan because there were no roads connecting to the countries. He adds that from Burma to Indonesia, he used a ship and from Sudan to Uganda, he used a bus up to Kamdini near Karuma falls and later to Katugo.

The peace activist gives out brochures in every country he passes through, urging people to embrace peace. He also educates them on the cultures of other nations he has visited.

“If we can plant the seeds of permanent peace in people, and governments, people will get freedom, said Karki, a former mathematics and sociology teacher.”

Before the friends dropped out, Karki had bizarre experience in the journey. In Bhutan and Burma, for example, they felt they were being trailed.

In Iran and Afghanistan, they were escorted by armed security guards. And in Thailand and Malaysia, they were robbed.

“We had to raise money to pay for a ferry that transported us from one island to another in Indonesia.We worked in a butchery for six days, handling pieces of chicken and meat.”

Karki said at the moment, he is more focused at achieving his dream.

“I have one daughter and a wife whom I communicate with every three months. My wife works in a government hospital and is able to provide for the home,” he adds with a smile.

During his three-week stay in Uganda, he plans to visit Sipi falls,and the rock paintings in Nyero before he leaves for Kenya. “Ugandans are frank and loving. I want my tour to strengthen the relationship between Nepal and Uganda.”

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