The duo: Ruokuo Kire and Sievituo Solo, the cyclists who are currently on Nagaland tour. (Sorei Mahong/Morung Photo)
Dimapur | November 4: With the not so cycling-friendly roads in Nagaland, the duo - Sievituo Solo and Ruokuo Kire have daringly pedaled across 10 districts and have reached Dimapur today.
The duo took the challenge, “Discover Nagaland on a Bicycle” with no sponsors or help from the state government but they have been successful in making their sheer aspiration to become a reality. Their next stop is Peren district after which they will go to Kohima and end the tour in Khonoma village.
Commenting on the road conditions, they said that Zunheboto district and in some parts of Tuensang district, the roads were “horrible”. On which Sievituo Solo said: “…some roads are meant for Horse Power Challenge and not cycling”. He added that in Yakko area (Tuensang district) the mud was above ankle that they couldn’t pedal but had to climb down from their sits and push their bicycles.
In contrast to that they revealed that the roads in Mokokchung district are clean and well maintained.
Experiences of travelling is priceless
Sievituo Solo, whose passion is to travel, always had an aspiration to tour Nagaland on bicycle and his childhood friend Ruokuo Kire readily accepted to face the challenge together with him.
He said that his friend Ruokuo is a man of few words but with strong determination, which has helped both of them in this venture. Ruokou with a smile said that when Sievituo approached him with the daring idea he accepted it since it was something different.
The duo said that though they started off alone, support came along from well-wishers and strangers. They also added that the beautiful landscapes and the generous people they met along the journey made them forget their weariness. “…we have paid only once in the whole journey”. Stating that “Nagaland is a wonderland, a land of generosity” and they have come this far because of “God’s grace”.
The darkest night and the good Samaritans
The duo also narrated how they pedaled on a pitch-dark night. They said that the eerie feeling was so immense that they got goosebumps but did not utter a word to one another. Silently they were pedaling along the dark lonely road.
Sievituo had no choice but to use his DSLR camera’s flash gun at every turning so that if any vehicle coming from the opposite side would know that someone is there.
About an hour later, the support team –NAC reached the spot and asked them if they could help in anyway for which they agreed. The NAC team made small bonfires after every kilometer so that the duo can stop and warm themselves since it was drizzling.
A message to the youth
The duo has challenged the youth of Nagaland to follow their dream and fulfill it than to regret all throughout one’s life. “…you don’t have to wait for the government to step up for you.”
The duo took the challenge, “Discover Nagaland on a Bicycle” with no sponsors or help from the state government but they have been successful in making their sheer aspiration to become a reality. Their next stop is Peren district after which they will go to Kohima and end the tour in Khonoma village.
Commenting on the road conditions, they said that Zunheboto district and in some parts of Tuensang district, the roads were “horrible”. On which Sievituo Solo said: “…some roads are meant for Horse Power Challenge and not cycling”. He added that in Yakko area (Tuensang district) the mud was above ankle that they couldn’t pedal but had to climb down from their sits and push their bicycles.
In contrast to that they revealed that the roads in Mokokchung district are clean and well maintained.
Experiences of travelling is priceless
Sievituo Solo, whose passion is to travel, always had an aspiration to tour Nagaland on bicycle and his childhood friend Ruokuo Kire readily accepted to face the challenge together with him.
He said that his friend Ruokuo is a man of few words but with strong determination, which has helped both of them in this venture. Ruokou with a smile said that when Sievituo approached him with the daring idea he accepted it since it was something different.
The duo said that though they started off alone, support came along from well-wishers and strangers. They also added that the beautiful landscapes and the generous people they met along the journey made them forget their weariness. “…we have paid only once in the whole journey”. Stating that “Nagaland is a wonderland, a land of generosity” and they have come this far because of “God’s grace”.
The darkest night and the good Samaritans
The duo also narrated how they pedaled on a pitch-dark night. They said that the eerie feeling was so immense that they got goosebumps but did not utter a word to one another. Silently they were pedaling along the dark lonely road.
Sievituo had no choice but to use his DSLR camera’s flash gun at every turning so that if any vehicle coming from the opposite side would know that someone is there.
About an hour later, the support team –NAC reached the spot and asked them if they could help in anyway for which they agreed. The NAC team made small bonfires after every kilometer so that the duo can stop and warm themselves since it was drizzling.
A message to the youth
The duo has challenged the youth of Nagaland to follow their dream and fulfill it than to regret all throughout one’s life. “…you don’t have to wait for the government to step up for you.”
• NAC has tagged Sievituo Solo as “Naga Backpacker”.
• Sievituo Solo and Ruokuo Kire will be taking up another bigger project.
• Sievituo Solo was chosen to be in the reality show “The Freaky Traveller Hunt” but he gave up for “Discover Nagaland on a Bicycle”.
• Sievituo Solo is a talented contact juggler, he will be performing contact juggling during the upcoming Hornbill Festival.
• Sievituo Solo and Ruokuo Kire will be taking up another bigger project.
• Sievituo Solo was chosen to be in the reality show “The Freaky Traveller Hunt” but he gave up for “Discover Nagaland on a Bicycle”.
• Sievituo Solo is a talented contact juggler, he will be performing contact juggling during the upcoming Hornbill Festival.
