PRESS REPORT
THE STAR Contact	TUESDAY June 23 1998
Have wheels will travel
By Esther Chandran

Gregg on his bike. He plans to write a book on his travels.

"I was always fascinated with countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya and have read various books on these places;" said Gregg.

"I also did a study on destinations along the Nile routes and had great plans to visit these places.but, I realised hat it would be impossible to depend on public transport alone," he said.

So, Gregg came up with the next best solution -- to see the world on his bicycle. Gregg, 34, a graduate in mechanical engineering was at the time working as a technical writer before he decided to tour the world on his bicycle.

In 1990, with enough savings, Gregg left his hometown in Sheffield on the adventure of a lifetime.

"Initially, I thought of only cycling to places on the Nile routes but on my travels to. France and Belgium, I met an American long-distance cyclist, Richard Anderson, and he made me realise that it was possible to cycle around the world," he said.

With Anderson's words of inspiration, Gregg mapped out his plan of the attractions he wanted to see.

His travel has taken him from Germany and neighbouring countries, onto Egypt, where he saw the Pyramids, and to Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.

"In Africa, I was thrilled to seen lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and giraffes.

"But in all my travels, I have yet to see a tiger in the wilds," he said.

However, all adventures are not without their setbacks and Gregg also met with his share of problems.

After Kenya, Gregg flew across to Pakistan and cycled for 3,220 km before fallings ill for a period of three months.

After his bout of illness, Gregg got on his bike and headed north towards the Chinese border and also visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.

"The temple is a very spiritual place and the feeling that I felt when I was there, is something I can't explain," said Gregg.

But bad luck struck yet again, this time when he was in Kashmir in 1992.

"I was riding in a house-boat -- that looked like an English cottage. The maintenance hatch in the boat was left open, and I fell through it and tore a ligament.

"So, I had to leave my biking equipment for an operation in New Delhi, and after that, I flew to England to rest for 10 months," said Gregg.

Meanwhile, he seized the opportunity to pursue a teacher training course at Sheffield Hallam University before heading back to Kashmir.

He spent a further six months in India before heading off to China.

Gregg's next destination was Japan and it was here that he put to good use what he had learnt..

"I had to support myself in Japan as it is quite costly to live there, so I taught English in a private school and at the British Council," said Gregg.

So far, his tour has taken him to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Gregg who has been in Malaysia for a month still has many more places to visit such as Taman Negara and Cameron Highlands and the east coast.

"I will be heading for Singapore Indonesia Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand after leaving Malaysia. "If I can learn to sail, then perhaps I can work on a boat and sail across the Pacific.

"It will be good if I can find work on a sail boat as I want to be in touch with the ground as much as I can and avoid flying," said the adventurous traveller.

So, what does he plan to do after he has travelled the world?

"I know it is a romantic idea but I would like to write a book about my adventures and perhaps inspire others to take up the challenge to see the world," said Gregg who keeps a record of his travels.

For details on his travels, Gregg can be reached at:
http:/www.digital-mines.com/worldcycle.