French cyclist “My trip across 14 countries has been a learning experience.”

A 44-year-old French engineer named François Hainaut just arrived in Amritsar after spending the previous year cycling across 14 other nations. Hainaut, an engineer for a Mumbai-based company, moved to India six years ago from his hometown of Lyon, a town west of Paris. That’s when the need to travel the nation started, and I made the decision to take advantage of the chance to do so,” he said.

Hainaut traveled via Central Asia, passing through Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan before arriving in India via Wagah. His year-long journey was the product of his love of athletics and his desire to learn about the culture of this region of the globe. “I visited Mumbai six years ago when I was in India, and I have a lot of friends there in Chennai. I think the people here are very kind and have a distinct way of looking at a lot of things,” he said. His adventure started in East Europe and continued from Turkey to Central Asia.

He spoke with children at the School of French Language in Amritsar, where he was welcomed and requested to relate his story of riding a bicycle throughout Central Asia. “To make sure I can meet my schedule, I travel 160 km on average every day while on my journey.” His discovery that Indian roads are quite safe for bicyclists was a startling discovery during his trip—something that most of us would not be able to relate to. He said, “That is because of the heavy traffic, the slow-moving cars, and the less space on the road, which means a safe biking experience.” He will now set out on a bicycle trip across India, stopping in Chandigarh before maybe arriving in Chennai to complete his expedition. The Golden Temple tour is undoubtedly the portion of his trip to Amritsar that he remembers the most. He said, “I like going there at night because of the way it’s lit; it’s surreal.”

Hainaut’s experience could be complete if he were to add eating the renowned Daal Makhani of Amritsar to that bizarre encounter.

He did, however, add, “Visiting Iran, a country that is otherwise perceived quite differently in the western world, was one of the truly transformative experiences for me during the journey.” Francois Hainaut described Iran as having a rich cultural heritage and a varied geography, adding that it is peaceful and reminiscent of India. “Their community is vibrant and varied, and they take great pleasure in their culture—a trait I also see in India. I consider my trip to have been a teaching opportunity,” he said.