Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > West and South Asia
West and South Asia From Turkey to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ladakh and Bangladesh
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 27 Dec 2004
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia
Posts: 81
Situation in Nepal Due to Maoist ...

December 24 2004
Hello All,
this is what happened to me yesterday.
Day before yesterday Roy ( a friend of mine whom is
traveling on a motorbike in India and Nepal) and I
left Katmandu to go to the Royal Chitwan National
Park, where we were planning to spend some days before
heading back to India. We left Katmandu at about 10
oclock and drove towards Hetauda (a village on the way
to the park), the drive was beautiful as from here we
could see the Himalayan Range from distance, at about
4 oclock i have a flat tyre ,so we lost 1 hour in reparing it and so
on, so we were obliged to sleep in a small house just
in the middle of nowhere. The morning after at about 9 we started driving again,
just 7 km away from were we slept the Maoist (the
rebel group fighiting the monarchy ) had put mines on
the street so we were obliged to stop and try to
understand what to do ... suddently 2 maoist came out
from the jungle, and in nepaly made us understand that
the road was blocked (we didnt need much explanation
for that) and then they told us to go back , we said
ok we sat on the bikes and suddenly they took out 2
granades (bombs) from a bag they were carring and told
us to get down from the bikes, we were confused and
got down from the bikes , then they told us to walk
back to Katmandu (100km) and wanted us to give them 1
liter of petrol, we were more confused. We hesitated
since we did not understand why they wanted the fuel
and of course we did not even think of leaving the
bikes and walk, but just then we realized that they
were trying to put the bikes on fire .. so we started
argueing and telling them what are u doing ?? Suddenly
they started threatening (sorry for the spelling) us
with the granades, but we still resisted from letting
our bikes put in fire .... then they told us to move
away and togheter with them we walked some 10 mt. form
the bikes, at this stage one of the guys opened one of
teh granades and throwed it to the bikes , the granade
landed about 4 mt. from the bikes and exploded, we
were unhurt but the bikes suffered some damage ... we
were now in compleate shock and started begging them
not to do it so lots of begging and they were shouting
and so on .,.. then the other guy opened and throw the
second granade which landed just few centimeters from
the bikes , we were speachless ,with our eyes full of
tears from the anger and waiting to see our bikes
compleaty destroyed.... but the granade did not
explode, and this point THEY were shocked and i dont
know for which reason they just left, maybe to go and
fetch more granades or fuel, but as they dissapered in
the jungle we runned to our bikes started them and
drove for 5 hours NON stop to Katmandu. We are not
hurt but very very ANGRY .... So Richard if u are
planning to come to Nepal with your AT, think twice,
seriously this guys are mad !!
Anyway we are now stucked in Katamandu as the rebel
blocked all the majour roads, the distroyed the main
bridge that takes to Pokara which takes also to India
, in Katmandu there is not much fuel (u see km long
lines), people dont know when this strike will end so
i dont know when to i can go back to india ..... is a
pitty becouse Nepali are really nice people and Nepal
is a wonderful country but the situation now is no
good , no good at all ... other tourist are flying
somehow out, but we (Roy, Neil another Guy with a
motorbike,) and i are stuk here.
Today i passed the day in a workshop to fix the bike,
and the nepali mechanic did a great job.
This was my x-mas in Nepal.

Mauro on a AT round the world ...

  #2  
Old 31 Dec 2004
Susan Johnson's Avatar
Administrator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,006
Mauro

So sorry to hear your news and thankful that you and your friend were not injured.

Unfortunately, the situation in Nepal has deteriorated to such an extent that we recommend travellers avoid the country if at all possible, and otherwise exercise extreme caution.

I have moved this post to the Travellers Advisory forum, as it is important to get this information out to travellers.

Susan
__________________
Susan Johnson

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:04.