@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 fuck yeah. I'm hoping to get out and do some mini tours of the UK very soon (next week) all in preparation to go from London to Ulaanbaatar next year!
Very very sorry for your traumatic experience. The way I see it sir - Being an Indian from this particular region in the video - I think the motorcycle guy harassing you was the owner of the land where you had camped. His father / cousins and maybe himself had came to check who that stranger was on their property at night when they came with flashlights to your tent. They allowed you to rest for the night but as a local cultural courtesy expected you to say goodbye and thanks next morning before leaving; maybe money too if they were greedy. When that didn't happen they chased you with "Police" threat and all that unnecessary stuff. He was rude and wrong, and trying to have fun with his buddies at your expense. - An absolutely deplorable behaviour. But then he calls the police and they actually respond !! The assumption in the police mindset here is that why is a foreign "tourist" not nighting at a registered hotel where they usually do? Is he on the run from somewhere? Why is he on the backroads? We dont see any foreigners and that to cycling around in these parts anyway? What is this guy up to? All that must have been cleared over the tea with the cops. And they let you go. BTW, our law states that we have to get a certain form filled up by a Foreigner spending a night in our premises and deposit that to the local Cop station - That very night ! The hotels, guesthouses are used to it. But not a farmer, but they know the rules. By informing the cops, this Motorbike guy was doing just that - he was probably trying to protect his backside from the cops if they would have later learnt from nosy neighbours a few days later that a strange foreigner had camped in his land, and that too with the family's permission. Just to educate any future travellers especially stealth campers in Northern India - Pls know that all lands belong to somebody. Most farmers live on their land even when when there aren't any crops at that time of the year. Seek permission preferably from the elder generation of the owners to camp for the night. Ask if there would be any charges for that - 95 % of the people will obviously allow you free of charge. About the rest 5 % - it would be your bad luck to run into such greedy people but then you have a choice to go over to the next door neighbour. The law I mention above still applies to all, but the police will not bother about it if one is a genuine house guest staying free of charge. They are after unregister / illegal hotels, smalltime guesthouses charging for stays and avoiding taxes. I think if you are an adventure seeker and are travelling the world to see different cultures and getting to know a certain people - such bad experiences are a part of the package. A working knowledge of the local language would be a huge help. It'll help you explain to inquisitive folks / hosts why you are there and what your goal is. Also a working local cell phone SIM is a must - to call the cops first in your case. Do visit India again, do not let this incident mire your impression about the Country. There are some good guys here too.
I really connected with this video Andy! I had very very similar experiences when I was cycling this region. It was nice to re-live it though your film
It all happened in such a short time frame...Some say they’ve experienced the same just in this region only. However, I know I didn’t have a good mindset for a few days, which ultimately didn’t help me either.
Yeah bro the northeast is nothing like what this video shows - people don’t stare at you like you’re an alien and it’s a lot more chill…wild camping is more easily available. I’m referring to Meghalaya because that’s as far as I got when Covid originally hit.
@@sirpaddlesworthiii5933 Sounds like a good plan - all cyclists have issues with drivers in Nepal since the roads don’t allow much space on the shoulder if there’s one - fyi
@@sirpaddlesworthiii5933 Every little village has places to buy bottled water and food - bartering for a legit price is the headache - rarely did I ever get an honest price on the first go around - after 10-15 minutes of “negotiating” normally some person would intervene and tell the seller to sell the produce at the regular price, which by that time had allowed a swarm of Indians to surround my bike, stare at me and try to open my bags and click all my gears - it became part of the daily routine that was oh so fun ;)
Literally man being an Indian, this is the reason that why we INDIANS don't have the courage to go out and enjoy cycling, camping all alone. I know such things will definitely happen because villagers have never ever seen such things like good bicycle, tents, living alone in the dark. Mark my words: You are a foreigner that's why they are still gentle to you, if it would be another brown man they would have simply robbed them or thrown him out of their territory as if you were a thief.
Here's what I'm seeing. Tell me if you agree. Since you're a camper (awesome BTW), you take side-roads a lot, but side-roads are where you're singled-out and accosted by money-demanders and selfie-seekers. When you're on the main roads, you don't meet those guys, but you can't camp near a main road. So that was the conundrum. Sound about right?
The main road was filled with many more selfie seekers, big trucks and lots of noise and air pollution. I felt the backroads got away from it but there were also lots of beggars too. Really a coin flip but yeah ideally finding a camp spot was better to stick to the smaller roads
I am sorry you had such a terrible experience. Its aggravated because you are a foreigner, but such elements also poke us city folks the same. Getting nicked is fairly common in rural area and back end roads.
@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 Andy, I can recommend Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tires - I did over 10 000 kms across South America, including rough terrain, without a single puncture. Simply awesome!
@@stuartgee7973 Many cyclists recommend them and by design they look great but I just didn’t have a good experience with them cycling over 15000kms so I’m going to switch and try something else...
There are also various goops that you can fill your tube with, that form an inner layer. Who knows if they'd really help you out there with those dang thorns.
Sorry you had shitty experience. But It isn't surprising at all cos people in northern part of india are usually cold and rude, as a result of mughals invasion & violence ( Not all , but majority ). You should visit North east and Southern part of india, where people are more civilized and cultured . Anyhow great channel and i thoroughly enjoy each and every videos !!
Could you suggest a best route for someone to take from Amritsar down to anywhere in Southern India, to avoid the most problems? Like go along the border with Pakistan maybe? Whatever you think.
Your videos are absolutely amazing mate. How you haven't blown up big time is beyond me. But keep then coming!!
Really appreciate the compliment bro! Thank you so much for your support and more content will be coming that is for sure!
@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 fuck yeah. I'm hoping to get out and do some mini tours of the UK very soon (next week) all in preparation to go from London to Ulaanbaatar next year!
Hola Andy que bueno verte, sube artos vídeos nomas vas a triunfar, saludos de Chile. Atte Lito
Gracias Lito! Cuando vuelva a Chile...algún día...ojalá pronto...por lo menos podré hablar en español contigo sin el Maestro Pedro jajjaa
Very very sorry for your traumatic experience. The way I see it sir - Being an Indian from this particular region in the video - I think the motorcycle guy harassing you was the owner of the land where you had camped. His father / cousins and maybe himself had came to check who that stranger was on their property at night when they came with flashlights to your tent. They allowed you to rest for the night but as a local cultural courtesy expected you to say goodbye and thanks next morning before leaving; maybe money too if they were greedy. When that didn't happen they chased you with "Police" threat and all that unnecessary stuff. He was rude and wrong, and trying to have fun with his buddies at your expense. - An absolutely deplorable behaviour. But then he calls the police and they actually respond !! The assumption in the police mindset here is that why is a foreign "tourist" not nighting at a registered hotel where they usually do? Is he on the run from somewhere? Why is he on the backroads? We dont see any foreigners and that to cycling around in these parts anyway? What is this guy up to? All that must have been cleared over the tea with the cops. And they let you go. BTW, our law states that we have to get a certain form filled up by a Foreigner spending a night in our premises and deposit that to the local Cop station - That very night ! The hotels, guesthouses are used to it. But not a farmer, but they know the rules. By informing the cops, this Motorbike guy was doing just that - he was probably trying to protect his backside from the cops if they would have later learnt from nosy neighbours a few days later that a strange foreigner had camped in his land, and that too with the family's permission.
Just to educate any future travellers especially stealth campers in Northern India - Pls know that all lands belong to somebody. Most farmers live on their land even when when there aren't any crops at that time of the year. Seek permission preferably from the elder generation of the owners to camp for the night. Ask if there would be any charges for that - 95 % of the people will obviously allow you free of charge. About the rest 5 % - it would be your bad luck to run into such greedy people but then you have a choice to go over to the next door neighbour. The law I mention above still applies to all, but the police will not bother about it if one is a genuine house guest staying free of charge. They are after unregister / illegal hotels, smalltime guesthouses charging for stays and avoiding taxes.
I think if you are an adventure seeker and are travelling the world to see different cultures and getting to know a certain people - such bad experiences are a part of the package. A working knowledge of the local language would be a huge help. It'll help you explain to inquisitive folks / hosts why you are there and what your goal is. Also a working local cell phone SIM is a must - to call the cops first in your case.
Do visit India again, do not let this incident mire your impression about the Country. There are some good guys here too.
I really connected with this video Andy! I had very very similar experiences when I was cycling this region. It was nice to re-live it though your film
Thanks bro! Glad you enjoyed the vid...just filming what life throws at me!
india is very beautiful n especially my rajasthan.
I am really surprised you encountered so many rude people .
It all happened in such a short time frame...Some say they’ve experienced the same just in this region only. However, I know I didn’t have a good mindset for a few days, which ultimately didn’t help me either.
"Your ID and password!" As for your videos anyway, this is the moment of "peak strangeness" for the whole trip.
I’d say so - it’s basically when I mentally broke down.
Yo have you been to northeast india? Assam and stuff? Any idea how busy it is up there and if you can stealth camp? Thx
Yeah bro the northeast is nothing like what this video shows - people don’t stare at you like you’re an alien and it’s a lot more chill…wild camping is more easily available. I’m referring to Meghalaya because that’s as far as I got when Covid originally hit.
@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 Nice. My plan is Nepal to Myanmar through there.
@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 Forgot to ask. Whats the water/food situation like while biking? Is there plenty of places to get bottled water?
@@sirpaddlesworthiii5933 Sounds like a good plan - all cyclists have issues with drivers in Nepal since the roads don’t allow much space on the shoulder if there’s one - fyi
@@sirpaddlesworthiii5933 Every little village has places to buy bottled water and food - bartering for a legit price is the headache - rarely did I ever get an honest price on the first go around - after 10-15 minutes of “negotiating” normally some person would intervene and tell the seller to sell the produce at the regular price, which by that time had allowed a swarm of Indians to surround my bike, stare at me and try to open my bags and click all my gears - it became part of the daily routine that was oh so fun ;)
Literally man being an Indian, this is the reason that why we INDIANS don't have the courage to go out and enjoy cycling, camping all alone. I know such things will definitely happen because villagers have never ever seen such things like good bicycle, tents, living alone in the dark. Mark my words: You are a foreigner that's why they are still gentle to you, if it would be another brown man they would have simply robbed them or thrown him out of their territory as if you were a thief.
🇮🇳🙏
Here's what I'm seeing. Tell me if you agree. Since you're a camper (awesome BTW), you take side-roads a lot, but side-roads are where you're singled-out and accosted by money-demanders and selfie-seekers. When you're on the main roads, you don't meet those guys, but you can't camp near a main road. So that was the conundrum. Sound about right?
The main road was filled with many more selfie seekers, big trucks and lots of noise and air pollution. I felt the backroads got away from it but there were also lots of beggars too. Really a coin flip but yeah ideally finding a camp spot was better to stick to the smaller roads
I am sorry you had such a terrible experience. Its aggravated because you are a foreigner, but such elements also poke us city folks the same.
Getting nicked is fairly common in rural area and back end roads.
i am from jodhpur
You live in a nice city bro :)
@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 thanks 🙏
Stay safe from these types of people be careful and happy 😎
You're most definitely right! Thank you and I'm always happy riding on my bicycle :)
Time to find some tubeless tires.
I'm leaning that way cuz!
@@plantpoweredcyclist7978 Andy, I can recommend Schwalbe Marathon Mondial tires - I did over 10 000 kms across South America, including rough terrain, without a single puncture. Simply awesome!
@@stuartgee7973 Many cyclists recommend them and by design they look great but I just didn’t have a good experience with them cycling over 15000kms so I’m going to switch and try something else...
There are also various goops that you can fill your tube with, that form an inner layer. Who knows if they'd really help you out there with those dang thorns.
Why do you guys like selfies? lol i'm still laughing :D
It's all fun and games until they pull out the stick and try to poke you ;)
They think cyclists are cheap poor people, don't be surprised if u get runover by a car or a bike
Sorry you had shitty experience. But It isn't surprising at all cos people in northern part of india are usually cold and rude, as a result of mughals invasion & violence ( Not all , but majority ). You should visit North east and Southern part of india, where people are more civilized and cultured . Anyhow great channel and i thoroughly enjoy each and every videos !!
Could you suggest a best route for someone to take from Amritsar down to anywhere in Southern India, to avoid the most problems? Like go along the border with Pakistan maybe? Whatever you think.