by Sweta Baniya

"My aim is not for material gain or international fame but simply it is about spreading the message of peace in the world and for my country's recognition in the world," said Pushkar Shah in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Pushkar Shah is a Nepali cyclist who travelled throughout 150 countries and regions in Asia, Asia Pacific, North America, Central America, South America , Caribbean, African, Middle East and Europe in bicycle in 11 years.

"On November 29, 1998 I set out on a long journey to capture my dream of riding 221,000-km around the world on my bicycle to spread the message of peace and hope for my country and for the world," Shah said.

"This is my peaceful war against many prevalent wars such as ethnic wars, religious wars, and political wars and many other wars in the world."

Shah said "my friends called me a lunatic when I declared from a tavern that I will be going for a world tour in my bicycle, plus my mother also did not agreed upon it. However I was determined to achieve my aim and I apparently did that as well."

Replying a query on the obstacles he faced while travelling, he said, every day was a new challenge. "I did not knew where I will be going as well. Moreover, I did not have any money and I have to ask for it many strangers whom I befriended while travelling."

Another main problem was the problem of visas, which was really hard to get to while entering any nation, he added.

"Non resident Nepali people living in different countries were the ones who helped me the most during my world tour, as I had no any official sponsor."

"At the time of severe hardship when I was hungry and I had to depend upon water, sleep in the jungle that never ended and even eat orange peel, I felt to leave my dream; nevertheless my determination never let me to destroy my dreams," Shah said.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the government, he said that he is not asking for the government to provide him money or build him a house but recognition as he has represented the country in the whole world.

"But no one has yet responded me and however I have not received any words of support," he further added.

The cyclist will be summiting Mt. Qomolangma along with the flags of all the 150 countries and regions he has travelled so far from April 7, 2010 with his supporting team.

A total of 150 cyclists will travel along with him carrying a flag of each nation or regions from the capital Kathmandu to Jiri, some 188 Km from the capital.

Informing about his plan after summiting Mt. Qomolangma, he said that he will return to his village, write a book and open a school for those children who lost their parents during the period of insurgency.

The cyclist is exhibiting the items he has collected so far from of his travel around the world in the capital Kathmandu from Monday.