Hazaribag – Bodh Gaya – 126 km
Our ride to Bodh Gaya was terribly stressful and downright awful!
Barely 20 kilometres outside of town, we came across a hit-and-run
accident victim. In passing, we noticed an unconscious man in
spasms lying next to the road, his broken motorbike and bags strewn
all over the place. We waved down a passing motorcyclist who
mercifully had a phone to call an ambulance. Unfortunately, little
could be done, as the person was unconscious and seriously injured.
This made me realise how fortunate we were to arrive safely at our
daily destination. Bodh Gaya was reached in good time, where we
found lodging and I flopped down on the bed exhausted.
Contrary to our day, Bodh Gaya, where Buddha reached
enlightenment, was a peaceful place. The entire village is built around
an old temple where Buddha was rumoured to sit under a tree. The
original tree is long gone, but a sapling of that tree was planted in its
place. By the time of our visit, this was already a large and old tree.
The following day was spent wandering around the various temples
and gardens. I believe us extremely lucky to be there during “Holi”.
Being a national holiday, children enjoyed painting all with coloured
powder and spraying red and green water.
Bodh Gaya – Patna – 135 km
The ride from Bodh Gaya to Patna was awful. While overtaking a
stationary vehicle, it unexpectedly pulled into the lane, knocking off
one of the bike's panniers and driving over it. As we entered Patna,
we encountered equally hectic traffic. After locating a guesthouse in
the city centre, we booked a two-night stay. Ernest was able to collect
one of the two parcels my sister had sent.