About the writer

I like to view myself as an explorer and a chronicler of sorts. Like Tintin, a "journalist" who uses his profession as an excuse to seek adventures all over the world. Or perhaps like Dandelion the bard, who accompanies Geralt of Rivia with hope to witness drama and danger to inspire new music. Most prominently though, as you might have figured by now, like Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. Like Bilbo, I come from a place where if you keep your nose out of trouble, no trouble will come to you; where people generally don't go on adventures or do things unexpected; where things are made to endure, passing from one generation to the next. Like for Bilbo, the vastness of the world and the wildness in it, and in us, are calling me. Like him, I have everything I need, all the safety and all love I can ever hope for, and yet choose to leave the comforts behind in favour of the unknown. And like him, I write about my adventures that go there, and back again.

Whilst there is still longing in me for different and dangerous, time has eroded the edges; the thrill of aimless exploration is no longer there. Five years ago in Mumbai, India I met an Irish man who had just finished his journey of Dublin to Delhi, on a bicycle. The rawness with which he shared from it touches me still, and I have longed to embark on something similar without knowing what. As the ideas have matured, it felt increasingly motivating to start far away and go home. That way, when homesickness and loneliness inevitably find me, I am already working on the solution. Every push on the pedal puts me one step closer both mentally to my set goal and geographically to my friends and family. To home.

Even so, it is most reasonable to question as to why. Why go through all this trouble? Yes, personal challenge this; yes, cultural lessons that; yes, romanticism, fairytales and soul searching. But still, why? The truth is, I don't know. But I believe that purpose need not always be known beforehand for a cause to be worthwhile. I believe that this very nature of exploration - to go somewhere in body and mind without fully knowing what is to be gained or overcome - is something we tend to encourage in others, but shy away from ourselves. I believe that, as the journey goes, meaning will find me, and I will find it. I believe that my directed exploration can help others find direction as well. I believe I can give a nudge out of the door, to be an inspiration to go forth in the spirit of Tennyson; to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

I believe. For me, that is reason enough.​

Pelle Duveblad