I
should say it's a dream come true but then it's not just that dreams come true
as we say, it takes the passion and commitment and the right ingredients, time
that makes the dream achievable.
After driven across Europe (2009) and eastern part of the USA (2007), the roads and the cars were by far more sophiscated and the technology of GPS had engrossed into the lives of the drivers (atleast by 2009, where we specially request for a Garmin / TomTom GPS navigation device with the rental vehicle). Indian subcontinent back then was waiting to leap frog into the new Highways, Smart phone based navigation and the better cars.
It was in the year 2015, when me and Amit used to drive to office together in my Swift, I used to tell him about my dream of driving across the Subcontinent and he used to return me "do you really think you can afford a long leave". As days passed, I did move from the Hatchback to the SUV Nissan Terrano. I had to settle for the 85PS variant considering the simple plain driving with a mix of possible few trips to the western ghats. Then we had the same discussion (me and Amit) of the Subcontinent drive and by then Amit had surely moved to replying, "let's drive to Nepal" and used to quote his experiences with the 4 wheel drive Nissan pick up trucks in Nepal. I used to patiently cross him saying "this is a simple 2 wheel drive and no where in comparison to the bulky 4 wheel drive heavy weights".
May'2017
After 2 years, I was complaining myself of not able to drive my SUV as I used to drive the Swift earlier. Within 2 years, I had driven it across southern India few trips of 500 kms and once had a terrible experience of getting stuck at the bottom of a non tarred steep road (when I had wrongly taken a road in Wayanad) wherein my 2 wheel drive could not take up the slope instantly and had to get back to create the momentum and speed to get through the steep.
It was Amit who initiated the topic again of driving to Nepal and instantly I confirmed positively. As weeks passed, Amit started his usual push and pull to get things done and I had to accept a date where we planned to drive to Kathmandu, then plan a landing at Lukla and do the Everest base camp Trek. All flight tickets from Kathmandu to Lukla done considering we both will drive from Bangalore to Kathmandu.
July'17
My vehicle was due for the yearly service and as per the standards, the service guys confirmed that oils are changed and the vehicle is in perfect condition. Couple of weeks after the service, there was an unusual lag in the Turbo kick in and I had to send back the vehicle to service station again to be checked. Thanks for the warranty cover, Nissan replaced the Turbocharger and my vehicle was back with the Turbo power. Nevertheless, this episode could not pull me down on my drive plans.
I am set to write the experiences from my drive from Bangalore to Kathmandu and back. So, wait for my recurring blogs on this great adventure.
After driven across Europe (2009) and eastern part of the USA (2007), the roads and the cars were by far more sophiscated and the technology of GPS had engrossed into the lives of the drivers (atleast by 2009, where we specially request for a Garmin / TomTom GPS navigation device with the rental vehicle). Indian subcontinent back then was waiting to leap frog into the new Highways, Smart phone based navigation and the better cars.
It was in the year 2015, when me and Amit used to drive to office together in my Swift, I used to tell him about my dream of driving across the Subcontinent and he used to return me "do you really think you can afford a long leave". As days passed, I did move from the Hatchback to the SUV Nissan Terrano. I had to settle for the 85PS variant considering the simple plain driving with a mix of possible few trips to the western ghats. Then we had the same discussion (me and Amit) of the Subcontinent drive and by then Amit had surely moved to replying, "let's drive to Nepal" and used to quote his experiences with the 4 wheel drive Nissan pick up trucks in Nepal. I used to patiently cross him saying "this is a simple 2 wheel drive and no where in comparison to the bulky 4 wheel drive heavy weights".
May'2017
After 2 years, I was complaining myself of not able to drive my SUV as I used to drive the Swift earlier. Within 2 years, I had driven it across southern India few trips of 500 kms and once had a terrible experience of getting stuck at the bottom of a non tarred steep road (when I had wrongly taken a road in Wayanad) wherein my 2 wheel drive could not take up the slope instantly and had to get back to create the momentum and speed to get through the steep.
It was Amit who initiated the topic again of driving to Nepal and instantly I confirmed positively. As weeks passed, Amit started his usual push and pull to get things done and I had to accept a date where we planned to drive to Kathmandu, then plan a landing at Lukla and do the Everest base camp Trek. All flight tickets from Kathmandu to Lukla done considering we both will drive from Bangalore to Kathmandu.
July'17
My vehicle was due for the yearly service and as per the standards, the service guys confirmed that oils are changed and the vehicle is in perfect condition. Couple of weeks after the service, there was an unusual lag in the Turbo kick in and I had to send back the vehicle to service station again to be checked. Thanks for the warranty cover, Nissan replaced the Turbocharger and my vehicle was back with the Turbo power. Nevertheless, this episode could not pull me down on my drive plans.
I am set to write the experiences from my drive from Bangalore to Kathmandu and back. So, wait for my recurring blogs on this great adventure.
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