Vespanda Ilario, an inveterate traveller, who has travelled to more than 140 countries mostly on his Vespa, came calling to India recently. The Italian for whom travelling is learning, chatted with t2 on his journey so far and more.
Your journey has been an incredible one. How did it all begin?
Ten years ago, I was in America, and I started in New York. I went all the way down from Alaska to Argentina, came back to New York, and (went) all over the American continent on a Vespa and it was amazing. I decided to come back to Italy, work and save money and start to see the rest of the world. But, why am I doing this? Because I love travelling. I love Vespa. I'm powered by the fear of having regrets. I mean, it's one life, so I live it. I'm doing what I love the most and this is the reason. Vespa for me has many meanings. First, it's my love and second is that I can fix it by myself, or I can find spare parts everywhere. And most importantly, it is my best business card because when people see me on Vespa they feel like they can approach me in a smooth way and it's the best way to be in touch with the world. My Vespa is a 1968 model.
How many countries have you been to so far?
Good question because in the last six years during this trip, I've been to 97 countries, all of Europe, all of Africa, Central Asia, all Arab countries and now I'm going to Australia. I have travelled a total of 1,90,000 kilometres. But in the previous journey in America, I covered 21 countries. And in my entire life, I think I have been to more than 140 countries, and 99.9 per cent always on my Vespa.
Can you even describe the experience in words?
This is my life. I'm travelling because I love to discover everything or something new every day. I don't like the usual routine life. I want to meet people. I want to experience culture and I want to see new places. I want to have a different experience, good or bad because you never know if the next day will be the best of your life or the worst day of your life. Life is a journey they say so, and yes, my life, it's a journey.
What have the challenges been like?
Oh, there are many bad moments or difficulties that you face, because it's not easy at all. First of all, I am alone. Hence, I have to solve every problem by myself, but I travel alone because I want to be free. I cannot stay with a travel buddy, because it is difficult for me. And the first problem when you are on the road is the road itself. It is super hot sometimes and there are bad roads, sometimes there are a lot of potholes and gravel. So, you even feel pain in your body.The second problem is the bureaucracy. I mean, for every country, you need a new visa. So, you have to handle it and have to know how to do it. You must study during these travels because you cannot prepare yourself and do everything when you are at home. Another problem is when you fall sick. For example, this year, when I was in Africa, I got malaria, intestinal problems, stomach aches, and so on. Not only in Africa but everywhere, because I eat everything on the road. It is not easy since you are alone. So, you try to find or reach a nearby hospital for a quick recovery. You are away from home and your mother is not there to take care of you. When you are sick, you are weak and if you are on the road with your bike and you haven't reached the destination yet, it is very tough especially when it's extreme weather conditions. For example, I was in the middle of the desert at 40 degrees, and the next moment I was in the winter in the north of Pakistan or in the winter in Scandinavia at minus-5 degrees.It is important to have all the equipment because if not, you don't survive. The other problem is when you have to cross countries in a war situation. I was in Somalia, Cameroon, Afghanistan, and Yemen. It's not easy when there is war, because there are no rules in the countries with wars. There are many problems. You have to face different people, the police, the military, the soldiers, and anything that can happen to you because the law is in their hands as they are the locals. I mean, there are no rules that can protect you since there is no embassy as well. It is quite risky, to be honest, (but) nothing bad has happened to me. I have always been lucky....
Did you always enjoy travelling?
Yes, I always love travelling, this is the way I enjoy my life. Travelling means learning. I am a very curious guy. I want to learn and know everything. I'm travelling because I want to see the reality of the world because it is much different from what you see in the media, on the television, or in the newspaper.
Which country has been the friendliest? And, not so friendly!
That is a great question! All the people everywhere are nice, especially when they see a foreigner travel to complete a milestone. Of course, some countries are more welcoming.... For example, when I was in Iran, Arab countries, and even across Pakistan they welcomed me very warmly. Even here in India, the people have been very nice to me. They offer me food and accommodation.The places where people are not friendly are mainly tourist places. People just care about the money. For example, when I was in Ethiopia, Africa, there were a lot of tourists. They only care to entertain people who have money and aren't very friendly. But of course, there were a lot of nice people in Ethiopia too.
How has your India experience been so far?
It has been an interesting experience. I will start with a dramatic experience. It started when I was entering the North of India when travelling from Pakistan. The landscape was very new to me. A lot of people, overcrowded streets, and a lot of chaos on the streets. It took a lot of energy and was difficult to handle another lifestyle with so many people from different cultures.It was a different environment. The one that affected the most was noise pollution because I heard a lot of horns on the road in India, unlike the rest of the world. So it was very overwhelming at the start. I got nervous and was wondering why they were blowing the horns. As I moved toward the south of India, everything kept getting more relaxed and less overcrowded.Now I am back in the North and have learned so much about India. However, a couple of months is not enough to learn about India, as it is such a large country with so many different cultures and people with different stories. It is not an easy country to live in for me, but it will take some time to learn more about the culture, religions, environment, and everything else in the country... but India gives back to you. You learn a lot.
What is the ultimate dream that you have for this journey?
My dream is to complete my world tour safely on my Vespa and enjoy every moment right till the end. I don't have big dreams. I don't want to be rich, famous, or beautiful. My goal is to travel and enjoy in a very simple way because it makes me very happy. I always have a low budget when I travel. The entire tour itself is a dream come true. All I can say is, just enjoy your life!