PEACE, LOVE & NAMASTE

A Venture to the Top of the World

- Cheryl Jones

Nepal was always a dream, a bucket list item. I fell in love with the exotic idea of it—the people, the landscape, the culture. So, when my partner Ray and I pulled Nepal from a list of 20 desired destinations we’d collectively chosen, I couldn’t have been more thrilled. It was kismet, I reckon.

We decided to ride Nepal at the end of a three-week trip, exploring cities and experiencing the Himalayas on two wheels, as closely as possible to how the locals do it. Along with the usual booking of flights and accommodations, we needed to find a reputable motorcycle rental company.

We spent a fair amount of time reading reviews, determining ease of access via location, perusing inventory, and comparing prices. There was a budget in mind, and we wanted to stay within it. So, in knowing there are often hidden costs, we deciphered the various options and, proceeding with cautious optimism, discovered Sujan of City Motorbike in Kathmandu. Then, with great enthusiasm, the preparations began.

Guided tours don’t interest us, Ray and I have uncovered a mutual love of being independent. With a few emails back and forth, we had a solid plan, starting with the rental of two Yamaha FZS 150cc motorcycles for a whopping $15 a day.

Not long after flying into Kathmandu and locating City Motorbike, we met Sujan, a happy-go-lucky bloke who was fascinated that we planned to ride Nepal without a guide. Perhaps even more so with me, a woman riding her own bike.