It has been five months since Daryl Cauchi and Deborah Azzopardi left their home in Malta. After reaching Greece on a ferry, they have been on the roads riding through Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India on their Suzuki V-Strom 650. “Our goal is to reach Australia. That's where we plan to live for a year or more before starting off again on a whirlwind biking trip,” says 27-year-old Daryl Cauchi, who left job as a photographer to pursue his passion for travelling. Cupid struck him two years ago when he met Deborah Azzopardi and they both embarked on this journey. “I got the travel bug when I backpacked through South East Asia four years ago. When we discovered our mutual interest for adventures and bikes, we set off. We both worked hard for a year to save money for the trip. I even sold my car. It's not about money though, travelling is more about experiences,” says Deborah.
NOMADS ON A BIKE: Daryl Cauchi and Deborah Azzopardi
The duo call themselves as 'nomads on a bike'. “There's nothing certain when you are on a two-wheeler. For instance, we met with a minor accident in Pakistan. A car collided head-on but luckily it hit one of our luggages and not the bike or us. So far, our bodies and the bike have been cooperating well,” says Daryl. “We don't have a time limit or an itinerary. We like it this way, where we don't have a destination for the day.” “It's enjoyable to see the different kinds of landscapes flit by. After riding through the mountains and passes of Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, we entered India through the Wagah border. We wanted to be beside the sea and hence drove down to Goa and spent Christmas and New Year on the beaches,” adds Deborah.
NOMADS ON A BIKE: Daryl Cauchi and Deborah Azzopardi
“It was a spontaneous biking trip and we didn't do much planning except for a basic research on the countries we chose to ride through. Honestly, you must be open to amend your plans on a tour like this,” says Daryl. “It was the paper works for the bike and visas that we really concentrated on. Only when we reached a particular country, we started looking at the map and chose a route that appeared interesting. Much of it is 'on the spot' decision. “The idea of this trip was to have a real experience of every country. Every moment is unforgettable on a biking adventure. Sometimes, it's about the beauty of nature and other times it's about the the local people. We have been hosted by many. That way we have also minimised our expenditure.”
NOMADS ON A BIKE: Daryl Cauchi and Deborah Azzopardi
Having clocked 25,000 Kms so far, they hope to reach Australia by the end of this year. “We will be taking the route through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia and ship our bike from there to Australia,” says Daryl.
To know more about their journey, visit wildfeathersblog.com
