There’s a lot of discussion going on at the moment regarding technology and specifically Artificial Intelligence. I find the name and description absolutely fascinating. ‘Artificial Intelligence’…..Artificial. Is it just me or is the clue in the name? I reckon that I would be best described as a technophobe. I love what technology does and the results it produces. After all, I’m typing this out on a laptop in South India and it’s likely you’ll be reading it in less than 24 hours, thousands of kms away, halfway around the planet. However, I find the process tedious. I force myself to do it. There is no way that I was designed to sit at a computer and look at a piece of glass for hours on end. And I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone with these thoughts.

Nomadic Knights wouldn’t exist in its current form without our website and the ability to take payments online. The last part is a real bone of contention at the moment which I’ll keep short otherwise this will turn into one of my notorious rants. Let’s just say that we’re working with the tools we have available to us at the moment. The saga continues. Here we go. Artificial Intelligence springs to mind again. Many of the issues we face will never be solved by software. Upon reflection, for me, the most effective method for resolution is a conversation with another person. A real human being. I do it regularly with as many people as I can. I could email or message them, but nothing quite beats sitting down face to face with a coffee or tea and having a chat. I always leave these conversations feeling that I’ve really achieved and learned something.

Indian culture is like that.

The Indian Government uses the slogan/moniker ‘Incredible India’ and in my mind, it’s well deserved.

People here love to talk face to face. Human interaction is everything and I can’t see that changing any time soon. This is a country steeped in ancient traditions whilst at the same time embracing technology. Family and friends still mean everything, and relationships are built over long periods and seem to endure the odds of failure. Random people I’ve struck up a friendship with while travelling by train, well over 10 years ago, still call me to this day and ask two questions.

How are you?

How’s your family?

That’s it really, just that simple.

I know how that makes me feel after the call. It’s nothing short of incredible. And it’s very humbling at the same time.

Without stating the obvious, hopefully, we’re a motorcycle adventure company. And before you correct me, yes, we have started 4×4 Jeep trips but only one per year. I’ll cover that in another blog.

But I think we’re much more than just that. The reason I mention this is due to some recent communication. Someone had contacted me recently to enquire how many people were going to be on a particular ride. When I asked why they wanted to know, they told me that they didn’t really like being around other people. This floored me. I had to think very carefully about my response, even though I knew in an instant what my thoughts were. Eventually, I had to muster the courage to send the email stating that, if you don’t like company then it’s best you don’t book a ride with us.

Our rides are all about people. Riding together, eating together, laughing together and forging new friendships. After a few days, and most likely after a few beers, the stories start. I know I’m not the only one that finds them fascinating. On occasion, secrets are revealed. Everyone reacts differently when taken out of their comfort zone, but most people are pretty awesome. The bond that’s made between riders is intriguing.

People come from all walks of life, living in different continents much of the time. There’s something magical that happens when people sit around a campfire and connect with each other and nature, hundreds of kms away from the nearest town or city. Money, status, ego…….it disappears. Your task is simple. Get on the motorcycle and ride it. And yes, you might be cold, or hot and possibly even wet. It doesn’t matter.
The task remains the same: Just get on the motorcycle and ride it.

What myself and the team have put together here in India cannot ever be replaced with technology or any kind of Artificial Intelligence. It’s just not possible. It’s way too nuanced. The characters and personalities that shine through on our rides, are in my mind, the pinnacle of what human interaction is all about. You will find the rides challenging and frustrating, but they’re designed to be that way. You’ll find out who you really are when you have to dig deep. And after it all, you can reflect and maybe even have a bit of a laugh about it. And run the risk of being laughed at also.

I’m sure we can all relate to this and there’s nothing new about it. It’s very much the Old Way.

Alex Pirie

Founder and Lead Rider.