Bicycle Diaries

His journey began after he decided to have a teaching stint in India in Chembakolli,a small village 200 kms from Mysore,where international anti-poverty NGO Action Aid runs schools for the poor. He wanted to contribute in his own way to fighting poverty and illiteracy.

His journey across 13 countries across myriad landscapes and civilizations is fascinating in itself. “On the Russian border,a soldier held me at gunpoint and yelled at me. I couldn’t understand him and yelled back in English pleading for my life. Later,I understood that he wanted me to drink vodka with him,” says Danny.

In Uzbekistan he was chased by wild dogs and in Kiev in Ukraine,he was propositioned by sex workers. Danny was chased by a bandit on horseback carrying a whip and wearing a gaucho hat,and beaten up in Kyrgyzstan. He spent two weeks in a desert without sighting a human being and has wept at the Auschwitz. All this within a span six months.

“While entering Pakistan from China,soldiers at the check-post made be wear handcuffs and played with me to amuse themselves. I didn’t mind,” he adds. “When I managed to persuade them,I thought I’d fly down to India,” said Danny. But because Danny himself has discouraged all his students to use public transport,he didn’t have the heart to tell his students that he’ll fly to India. “I decided that I’d cycle down,” he added.

Before starting his journey,Danny had raised about £8,000 from sponsors to donate to educational activities run by the NGO. His trip to India cost him about £3,000,which he paid from his savings.

Danny,who has travelled in uncertain conditions and dodgy travel routes,is all praise for the warmth exuded by people in villages and small towns. “Those who don’t have enough are most forthcoming with whatever they can offer to help you. At times,I had no money but was fed well by unknown people. At times I had all the money but nothing else,” he said.

Danny spent a few weeks in Mumbai and visited families in Dharavi. “I’ve had plenty of surreal moments during the past six months,but none can match what I experienced here in Dharavi on Christmas Eve,” said Danny. That evening,girls had organized a cultural show with socially relevant programmes that spoke of illiteracy,hygiene and Aids.

Danny left for Mysore on his bicycle on January 15 to teach at the school in Chembakolli. “The world kind of bends to make things happen…if you really want to,” he signs off.