Bicycle diaries

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A keen desire to explore the wild side and a curiosity to know about people residing in different countries is what makes Stefan Beerbaum take off on his bike to see the world around. When one thinks of ‘taking off’, one normally envisages a strong, masculine looking Harley Davidson or a Royal Enfield. But for Stefan, his Bicycle Factory T400 - with its Brooks saddle and panniers from Ortlieb - is the ultimate love of his life.  He carries along 30 kg of backpack with basic requirements.Stefan who has once again taken to the road to explore India has already covered 6500 kms and visited 11 countries. “I just want to live like a nomad and have a real-time experience of people and places,” says Stefan who was in recently in Kerala.  His first destination in India is Kerala and  this  physician-turned- adventurer is overwhelmed after seeing the greens around.“Kerala is awesome to ride. It is so lush everywhere, one can drink and eat at every turn...People are friendly and besides, most of them know English,” says this 29-year-old German. One thing he dislikes about the place, however, is the climate which he finds very humid but all the same he says he is not going to stop for this one reason.Foreign tourists have always been lured with the colours and sights of India, and it’s no different with Stefan. “India is so varied, colourful and loud.” Another aspect that interests him is the low price of commodities in the country. “I also got a chance to see coconut trees and banana plantains,something I hadn’t before,” he says. He also finds sari-clad women in Kerala extremely beautiful. “A woman in a sari looks like a queen,” Stefan exclaims.He started his journey from Germany on July 11 and says his perspective  of people and countries has changed now. Talking about his experience in Iran, he says, “It is not at all like how we see it in the media. People are warm and friendly. They don’t like the government though, as they feel it isn’t taking care of them,” says Stefan whose next destinations are Nepal, China, Thailand and the list goes on. Ask him what makes him opt for a bicycle for his journeys, and he says, “It is cheap, no fuel required, no need to pay taxes while crossing borders, easy to repair and no cage-like feeling as in a car.” He also points out the fact that a cycle can slip into  any narrow road or village.He has decided to make his final halt in Australia. “There, Germans have special privileges. I can both stay and earn while living there.” Stefan has planned to reach there by May 2012. For him Australia is a destination where he wants to improve his English.When he decided to start off on the journey, his family didn’t take him seriously. They also did not encourage the idea. But the young man was firm on his decision and followed it. “I don’t have a wife or kids...so no responsibility...I am happy that I did not listen to my parents otherwise I would have missed so much,” says Stefan.