“The people of Saipan join me to commend you for the courage, effort and patience to travel for the last 11 years in an attempt to be on your bike as part of a record-breaking attempt to visit all the 138 countries and Saipan,” the mayor told Pushkar Shah.
Tudela handed Shah a certificate of appreciation, saying that his “visit will never be forgotten, and I hope that you will visit us in the future whenever your travel plans permit you to do so.”
In an interview, Shah, 40, said he started his “journey for peace against terrorism, war and fighting” in 1998.
He is hoping to achieve his goal by 2009 after visiting 150 countries around the world, including war-torn areas.
He said he dedicated his life for peace after his father was killed by a terrorist.
“We should stand against terrorism,” he added. “There’s not much peace in the world. And we have to be peace messengers — peace in action that include all people.”
Before coming to Saipan, he visited the Philippines, Palau and Guam.
On Friday, Shah will leave Saipan and head for the Philippines again.
“I found Filipinos to be friendly,” he said.
While here, Shah said two Filipinos met him on Beach Road and introduced him to their Nepalese friends.
Shah, married with a 12-year-old son, said he depends on donations for his food and airfare.
He eats two meals each day.
On Saipan, the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, the Nepalese Association of Saipan and the Saipan Cyclists Association helped generate funds for his needs while here.
Shah said he has also encountered sad experiences while spreading his peace message around the globe.
In Mexico, he said, he was kidnapped but was able to fight back and escape.
In New York he was held-up.
Shah said he has also visited war-torn countries like Nigeria, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Congo where he was caught in the crossfire.
“I was also in East Timor while the place was still in war,” he added.
Among his favorite places in the world are Switzerland and Norway where, he said, people want peace.
Shah uses an ordinary mountain bike for his tour.
He’s now using his third bicycle since he started his global mission.
His first bicycle was broken in Hungary while the second was stolen in New Zealand.
“I’ve been from the mountain to the desert. From Mt. Everest to the Marianas Trench,” he said.
