Not just a bike dream!

Travelling through 10 countries on a bike might seem impossible for others but not for Bengaluru girl Candida Louis. She started her journey from our very own city and travelled for six months on her motorcycle across 10 countries, two continents and 28,000 kilometres. Talking about the purpose she found in her journey, she says, “I was selected for the ‘Change your World’ fund travel project and chose Australia as a tribute to adventure rider Alistair Farland and his family.

Throughout my journey, I volunteered at couple of places and gave many talks in schools, colleges and cafes about the importance of travelling. For me, learning about multiple cultures through first-hand experience is the best form of education. Thus, I wish to inform women in semi-urban and rural areas about the empowerment that travels can provide.”  

Candida’s adventure began from Bengaluru as she rode towards and up the Eastern coast of India, reaching Siliguri. She then entered her first international destination - Bhutan. After which she rode back to India through the North East and from Manipur exited into Myanmar and then rode through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. She did a few island hops, one from Malaysia to Indonesia and the other from Bali to Perth. On the final leg, she rode from Perth all the way across the Nullarbor up until Sydney.

Talking about what souvenirs she got back, she says, “Throughout my adventure I shot a documentary showcasing the people I met, their smiles, culture and stories, the challenges I faced, and the magic I experienced. I want people to see the good and the difficulties of travelling, especially riding.” This documentary is to be displayed on September 28, along with a video clip of answers to biking-related questions.

Candida grew up in Hubli, Karnataka, and moved to Bengaluru for work in the corporate field. After spending over two hours commuting to work daily, she would look outside her office window and imagine riding around the world. A road trip across India gave her a small taste of what her dream adventure would feel like and that’s when she decided that no desk job could stop her from making it a reality.

Going down memory lane and talking about how she got interested in biking, she adds, “I remember that I was really young when I started going on rides with my dad. It’s been nearly 13 years now. From a pillion rider to a front seat rider, the transformation was complete when I got my first bike as gift on one of my birthdays.”

In recent times, there are increasingly more success stories in women’s motorsports and this has inspired a lot of young women to explore both tracks and off-road. “Just remember to keep going and don’t be afraid of the unknown. You have just got to take the first step and everything will follow. Travelling will activate your mind and change you in extraordinary ways that will blow your mind,” she assures women biker riders.