RANIYA, Iraqi Kurdistan – When 27-year-old Runbir Muhammad decided to return to Iraqi Kurdistan from Sweden this year, he didn’t board a plane or drive thousands of kilometers. Instead, he hopped on his bike.
Muhammad’s goal, he said, was to experience different cultures and raise environmental awareness.
Covering around 4,700 kilometers, it took Muhammad 47 days to reach Iraqi Kurdistan’s border at the Ibrahim Khalil crossing point with Turkey.
“I decided not to fly for three years because (planes) emit carbon dioxide into the air and pollute the environment,” said Muhammad, who used a 21-speed Nishiki bicycle for his journey to Kurdistan.
The final leg of Muhammad’s journey was a tour of Turkey’s Kurdish areas. He said he was troubled by what he saw there.
“I was very saddened seeing all those empty cans and plastic bags littered around Adana (in Turkey) to here,” he said. “I hope Kurds will protect the environment.”
Muhammad has spent around US$1,500 on his road trip. He often rode by day and stayed in hotels along the way. Had he chosen to fly, he would have only spent $800, he said.
Muhammad said he experienced several unpleasant moments, including being chased by street dogs and getting a flat tire.
But those incidents were minor and did not compare to the adventures he experienced, like touring Turkey’s breathtaking coastal areas with a young Englishman.
He carried a small cooker, a tent, a sleeping bag, books, food and spare parts for his bicycle. Muhammad said he lost around 28 pounds by the end of his journey.
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