Planning and Preparation

I once read somewhere that if the planning and preparation for a task are perfect, then the job is already half done. Without proper preparation, even the grandest of missions can fail spectacularly. Therefore, paying attention to every tiny detail is crucial. Imagine a multimillion-dollar Everest expedition falling apart just because someone forgot to pack a simple matchstick. That pretty much sums up the importance of planning and preparation.

In fact, preparation often outweighs the importance of the main event itself. The actual mission is simply the execution of your groundwork. The clearer you visualize your journey or mission beforehand, the fewer unexpected hurdles you’ll face. For long tours, adequate preparation is a must, ideally starting at least six months in advance to cover every small detail.

But, my planning was short-term and impulsive. As mentioned in the second part, my decision to go on this Nepal tour was sparked by a Facebook ad, leaving me grappling with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I had to arrange everything in a very short time.

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Health, Insurance, and a Dose of Reality

Travelling abroad comes with its fair share of risks—illnesses, accidents, and more. If you find yourself in a foreign hospital due to an accident or illness, the medical bills can be overwhelming. Hence, having travel and medical insurance is non-negotiable. Moreover, it is necessary to keep copies of your insurance documents and emergency contact numbers handy because you never know when the unexpected might strike. For some, going on a trip could even be their last journey (grim, but true).

One of the most crucial aspects of preparing for a trip abroad is ensuring that all necessary documents are in place. Passports, visas, insurance, flight tickets, and hotel bookings should be double-checked and kept in an organized folder. Additionally, carrying photocopies or digital backups of these documents is highly advisable in case the originals are lost or damaged.

Before leaving, it’s a good idea to entrust your life insurance documents to a reliable family member and explain what to do in case of emergencies. For me, this emotional task was entrusted to my younger brother, Sameeran, who became the custodian of my policies. Unsurprisingly, this emotional exchange left my mother teary-eyed and me a little wobbly.

Language: The Ultimate Icebreaker

When travelling abroad, having a basic grasp of the local language or widely spoken tongues like English can be a lifesaver. Learning every language on the planet isn’t feasible, but knowing English and perhaps a few key phrases in other languages helps.

That said, some countries, like Germany or Russia, can be tricky, where even English might not suffice. Fortunately, in Nepal, most people understand Hindi. While riders from Chennai and Bangalore struggled with Hindi at hotels and restaurants, I managed fine with my mix of Hindi and English.

The Bike Ride That Wasn’t

My original plan was to ride solo on my bike all the way to Lucknow, the starting point of the tour. I mapped out a detailed route and identified challenging sections. However, Jitin Kanwar, the tour coordinator, advised me against it, warning that I might be too exhausted to enjoy the actual trip. Reluctantly, I shelved my ambitious plan and decided to ship my bike by train instead. Booking train tickets at the last minute meant shelling out a bit more, but it was a necessary compromise.

Interestingly, apart from seeing their names on the Royal Enfield website, I had no prior acquaintance with the other riders. So, mentally, I prepared myself for stepping into a completely unfamiliar group dynamic.

Paperwork: The Hidden Hero

For a bike tour, ensuring all essential documents are in order is crucial—bike registration papers, insurance, pollution certificate, and driver’s license. I had to upload all these necessary documents to Royal Enfield’s website in advance. Since this was an international trip, carrying my voter ID was mandatory, as Nepal permits its use for Indian citizens who don’t have a passport as I did not have one.

However, the last-minute nature of my decision meant I had little time to prepare. Busy with work, I had yet to shop for essentials like a travel bag or riding gear. Medical insurance also proved tricky as many agencies were hesitant to insure a bike rider. After much online searching, I finally secured medical coverage through ICICI Lombard.

The Bureaucratic Hustle

Another thing made matters more challenging. That is, copies of the documents to be submitted could only be viewed on the Royal Enfield website after payment of the registration fee for the tour. However, I could only register three days before the deadline due to delays in getting insurance. Upon registering, I realized I needed a doctor’s fitness certificate, which turned out to be another uphill battle.

The tour was scheduled to start from Lucknow on April 14. So I was to get to Lucknow at least on April 13th. So I decided to start my journey on April 11 by train. I also decided to take office leave from April 9 so that I can buy the necessary items. But I couldn’t finish my office work on the 8th as I thought. So though I was on vacation, I worked in the office on the 9th. Meanwhile, I had all the shopping left to do. The medical certificate of physical fitness was also to be obtained. There was only one day left. I had to board the train on the 11th.

The Health Certificate Chronicles

I had already contacted Barhola Primary Hospital on April 8 for the medical certificate of physical fitness. Looking at the format downloaded from the Royal Enfield website, the doctor said, “The rest will be here, just get the eye examination.” Accordingly, on April 9, at the end of the office in Golaghat, I caught an eye doctor who was about to close his chamber and go home. There is a lot of rain on the way. I was accompanied by my office colleague Ritu Sharma, a neighbour of mine. I got home at about eight o’clock at night.

The other day in the morning, i.e., on April 10, I went again to Borhola Primary Health Center. Someone informed me that there is a certain doctor at the pharmacy in front of the hospital. This doctor, however, was not the one I met earlier. I told him the matter. I thought it would be fine if I got the same kind of certificate from any doctor. After looking at the format of the certificate, he said, “You should go to Jorhat Medical College. They have all the departments there. You will get all the tests done and receive the certificate there.”

I already had plans to go to Jorhat to buy the necessary items for the tour. So, I left for Jorhat, taking Ritu Sharma along with me.

We reached Jorhat around 1 in the afternoon. After inquiring at the Jorhat Medical College, I found out that getting a physical fitness medical certificate is not something that can be done in a single day. An application needs to be submitted to the superintendent of the medical college almost a month in advance. If I applied that day, I would only get the certificate a month later, i.e., after returning from Nepal! I needed it that very day.

While leaving the hospital, I noticed a booth near the outpatient department with “How Can I Help You” written on it, and two people were sitting there. I approached them, hoping to get some “help.” I explained my situation to them, saying that I would be travelling to Lucknow by train the next day and urgently needed the medical certificate on the same day. After hearing my problem, one of them informed me that according to the process at the hospital, I could only get the certificate after a month. Still, they advised me to try with the outpatient doctor or suggested trying at the old civil hospital. They even recommended consulting a private doctor if nothing worked out.

Following their advice, I went to meet the outpatient doctor. He was busy attending to patients. His assistant asked us to wait. After some time, the doctor asked about my problem. Upon hearing it, he instructed his assistant to send me to the superintendent. For me, the superintendent meant one month. So, I left and got into a tempo.

I hadn’t yet purchased some essential items needed for bike riding, such as knee guards, elbow guards, gloves, etc. I didn’t realize earlier that so many things would be necessary for a bike ride. The Royal Enfield website had a list of these essential items. I didn’t have the items mentioned above with me, so buying them became imperative. I also needed to buy a bag and a pair of shoes.

After getting off the tempo at Barua Chariali in Jorhat, I decided to visit a shop in Torajan that sells bike accessories to buy the necessary items. Accordingly, I bought the items I needed.

I discussed with Ritu Sharma, who was with me, whether it would be possible to get the physical fitness medical certificate from a private doctor here. He called one of his acquaintances, a medical representative, to ask if they knew any familiar doctor. The reply was that a doctor would be available at his chamber after 5 PM. However, we couldn’t wait until 5 PM. As we had come by bus instead of a bike, considering the cloudy weather, it would be difficult to find transportation later if we stayed that late. So, we had to try elsewhere.

We entered a hotel, had a light snack, and then headed toward the old civil hospital. At the hospital, I approached a woman sitting at a desk and explained my problem. She pointed to a room and said that there was a doctor inside and asked me to go there. My spirits lifted. After wandering around for so long, at least the work would be done here, I thought. It would have been better if I had come here directly. I felt I had wasted so much time.

Thinking this, I entered the room with the doctor’s permission and explained my situation to him. After listening to me, the doctor poured cold water on my hopes, saying that the work couldn’t be done here. He asked where I had come from. When I told him I had come from Borhola, he said, “Why don’t you go to a certain doctor in Borhola itself? You can get this certificate from him.” With that, he dismissed me. I felt like a football being kicked around by whoever wanted to send me in whichever direction.

Time was running out. By then, it was already 3 PM. The last bus was at 5 PM. I still needed to buy a bag and other items. There was no guarantee that I would find what I needed at the first shop I entered, and bargaining would take additional time. So, I decided to leave the old civil hospital and try at Bahadur Gaonbura Road, where several doctors have their chambers. I thought I might try my luck with one of them. With this thought, I headed toward Bahadur Gaonbura Road, thus beginning my hunt for a doctor.

(To be continued)