Indian Coffee Culture

13/09/2026

If it wasn’t for Bobby Bobby Roy introducing me to the Himalayan in the spring of 2017, I don’t think I would have ever found the courage to ride again.

Fifteen years had passed since my last ride. A few accidents, and the trauma that came with them, had convinced me motorcycles were a chapter better left closed.

Then came the lockdown.

Somewhere in that strange pause, it hit me “life only gives us one shot” So I stopped overthinking it and bought a Himalayan.

There’s been no turning back since.

A few days ago, I stood at the Himalayan Basecamp, looking at the new Himalayan 2.0 for the first time. It brought everything back, the roads, the mountains, the people, the coffee, the places I never imagined I’d ride to again.

And somewhere between the new bikes and the old memories, I found myself back at that lockdown decision.

It was never really about the motorcycle.

It was about finally giving myself permission to do something I’d been afraid of for years.

Maybe that’s why, all these years later, I’m still drawn to the road.

As baba Gonbo Dorjey says “Sometimes you don’t ride to find a new place,
You ride to find the part of yourself you thought you’d lost”

If there’s something you’ve been putting off out of fear this might be your lockdown moment.

31/08/2026

August was a lot.

7 cities. Another year older. More flights than sleep, more coffees than conversations I actually remember having. Somewhere in the middle of it, I turned a year older and I won’t pretend every day of it felt like growth. Some days were just tired. Some were lonely in the way travel quietly is, even when you’re surrounded by people. Some I second-guessed decisions I’d already made.

But it was also the version of my life I chose and I don’t take that for granted.

I met people who reminded me why this work matters. Reconnected with old friends who picked up like no time had passed. Made a few new ones I didn’t expect to. Learned things about the industry, and a little more about myself, mostly that I still have a long way to go, and I’m okay with that.

Not every city gave me a high. Some just gave me a lesson. Both count.

If you’re building something this year too, it’s okay if it doesn’t feel like a highlight yet. Mine doesn’t either. We’re just further along in the same mess.

Grateful for the year ahead, exactly as unfinished as it is.

16/08/2026

Lately, life has been filled with things I once prayed for.

And sometimes, I get tired doing the very things I once asked God for.
So I remind myself, this tiredness is a privilege,
this season is an answered prayer,
and even in the middle of it, there is still so much to be grateful for.

I haven’t been posting much lately, simply because life has been full.
But here’s my little version of two days in Calicut beautiful people, incredible food, a wonderful host,
and now, another beautiful memory to keep.

Grateful for this life.
Even on the tiring days.

12/05/2026

09/05/2026

Day 7 — the final ride home.

What started as a motorcycle expedition became something far more personal.
7 days. Endless roads. Thin air. Coffee brewed in the middle of nowhere.
Strangers who became brothers.

The boys head home today with tired bodies, full hearts, and stories that will stay with us for years.
Some came looking for adventure. Some found peace, healing, and a reset they didn’t know they needed.

We crossed mountains, chased sunsets, survived detours, reached heights above 19,000 ft, and somehow found stillness in the chaos.

History was made.
Memories were earned.
And this journey will always mean more than just a ride.

Thank you for watching, supporting, and being part of The Great Indian Caffeine Ride 2025.
Until the next mountain.

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02/05/2026

Day 6 off-grid and unforgettable.

After the high of Umling La, we rode from Hanle to Tso Moriri via a raw, less-explored route.
No stops, no cafés, just a roadside picnic in the middle of nowhere.

We chased the sunset and made it.

At the lake, everything slowed down, some journaled, some just sat with the silence.
And of course, turned melons + Monin into the perfect sundowner.

Day 6 wasn’t about the ride.
It was about the pause.

{ hanle to tso moriri, offbeat ladakh, remote road trip india, himalayan ride, sunset chase, high altitude lake, adventure riders india, indian bikers, slow travel, nature silence, journaling travel, raw travel experience }

01/05/2026

Day 5 this was the day.

We finally made it to Umling La 19,024 ft.
Back then, the highest motorable road in the world.

Broken trails. Endless climbs. Thin air that makes every breath feel earned.
This is what the boys came for. This is what they’d been chasing.

And when we got there… it wasn’t loud.
Just that deep, overwhelming kind of happiness you can’t fake.
At over 19,000 ft, with oxygen low and hearts full,it felt bigger than just a destination. It felt like a personal win.

And of course we brewed coffee
Because a moment like this deserves a cup to remember it by.
Up there, that coffee didn’t just taste good… it meant something.

Today, there might be a higher road somewhere out there.
But for us, for that moment this was the top of the world.

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26/04/2026

Pichle saat dino mei. . .

26/04/2026

Day 4 from reset to reward.

We rolled out of Durbuk after a much-needed rest, bodies recovered and spirits back.
The road to Pangong opened up slowly and then all at once.
That first glimpse unreal. The kind that makes you go quiet without trying.

Of course, we didn’t just pass by.
The boys pulled over, set up, and brewed, because some views deserve a proper cup.
Coffee tasted sharper, cleaner almost like the mountains had something to say.

From there, we rode on to the Rezang La War Memorial.
Standing there, hearing the stories, you don’t leave the same.
Just pride. Deep, quiet pride for the Indian Army.

Quick lunch stop and a quick reality check pannier decided to part ways with the bike somewhere along the ride.
No drama, no panic just one of those “it happens” moments on the road.

Long miles later, we made it to Hanle.
Tired, a little lighter (literally), but all safe.

Day 4 wasn’t just about reaching Pangong or Hanle.
It was about perspective, how small our problems feel when the mountains, history, and silence speak louder.

{ pangong lake, rezang la memorial, hanle ladakh, durbuk to hanle ride, ladakh road trip, motorcycle expedition india, himalayan landscapes, coffee brewing outdoors, specialty coffee india, high altitude ride, indian army pride, offbeat ladakh, road trip stories, mountain silence }

24/04/2026

Day 3 when the mountains said, “not today.”

We set out for Pangong with full energy… but the Shyok had other plans. Flooded crossings meant one thing detour.
An extra 4 hours on the saddle, testing patience, stamina, and a few silent prayers.

By the time we rolled into Durbuk, the boys were done or so we thought.
Because what started as a quick stop turned into a full-blown takeover.

Suhas stepped behind the bar like it was his own café quick crash course for the locals, dialing in shots, and suddenly we weren’t just riders anymore,we were a traveling coffee crew serving up some seriously good cups.

Big shoutout to Monin for holding it down even at this altitude, turns out great coffee doesn’t lose its balance, even when we do.

And just when the day couldn’t surprise us more
we found out it was birthday.
No fancy cake, candles just mountains, laughter, and a celebration that felt real.

What was meant to be a break, became the night’s stay.
No casualties, just stronger stories.

Day 3 reminded us, you don’t always reach the destination, but sometimes the detour is the experience.

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