What do you think?
Rate this book
Three men on motorcycles: The Amigos ride to Ladakh
‘Let's go for a ride ... To the HIGHEST road in the Himalayas!’
It’s just the three of them - and it's their first time in the mountains... But hey - what could possibly go wrong?
Three amiable and generously-proportioned Amigos ride from the flat plains of Punjab over ancient silk-route roads all the way up to the forbidding Himalayan desert of Ladakh, where not even a blade of grass can grow!
Snow-covered mountains, broken roads, flooded rivers, landslides, scamsters, explosive diarrhoea… The Amigos take it all in stride and have the time of their lives.
They are mounted on their Royal Enfield thumpers - the temperamental warhorse of Indian roads - and are guided and egged on and nagged by SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED - the Travel Goddess Supreme! Defy her at your peril!
A unique exploration of India - by Indians!
Get a real taste of India, with crisp and flavoursome sides of history, culture, traditions - and a lot of fun anecdotes and stories.
About the author :
Ketan Joshi is a biker, backpacker and travel writer. He has travelled the length and breadth of India, and has travelled to more than 50 countries around the world.. He is the author of 17 books - including the ‘Three Men on Motorcycles’ and the ‘One Man Goes Backpacking’ series, and also has a podcast and youtube channel.
Reviews :
‘Both inspirational and insanely funny at the same time - I cannot imagine how the author managed to do this but this is the first book that made me laugh so hard and then inspired me to do something that is entirely out of my character. If you love travelling then just trust me and go for this.’
‘ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ! When you start feeling sad as the Ladakh Ride of the Amigos in the book is coming to an end, then there can be no better travelogue for Ladakh, and for a Bike Ride, and for a relaxed trip, and for a fantastically modified vocabulary, and for a ride with friends as mad as you are. Finished the reading in one sitting and now hopping on to the next ride experience. I swear, it was a treat reading this.’
‘ He's easily one of the most gifted authors in India . If there's any Indian author that you like and you pick up Ketan Joshi's book, he'll kick out your favourite author by a mile! He's absolutely amazing!’
‘Hats off to Ketan! One of the greatest Indian authors IMO! I pray that he keeps on writing book after book! He's the PG Wodehouse of India.’
‘One of the most incredible books that I've read. ..This is one of those books that you can read over and over again and it'll take you to a different world where you can travel with The Amigos’
It’s just the three of them - and it's their first time in the mountains... But hey - what could possibly go wrong?
Three amiable and generously-proportioned Amigos ride from the flat plains of Punjab over ancient silk-route roads all the way up to the forbidding Himalayan desert of Ladakh, where not even a blade of grass can grow!
Snow-covered mountains, broken roads, flooded rivers, landslides, scamsters, explosive diarrhoea… The Amigos take it all in stride and have the time of their lives.
They are mounted on their Royal Enfield thumpers - the temperamental warhorse of Indian roads - and are guided and egged on and nagged by SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED - the Travel Goddess Supreme! Defy her at your peril!
A unique exploration of India - by Indians!
Get a real taste of India, with crisp and flavoursome sides of history, culture, traditions - and a lot of fun anecdotes and stories.
About the author :
Ketan Joshi is a biker, backpacker and travel writer. He has travelled the length and breadth of India, and has travelled to more than 50 countries around the world.. He is the author of 17 books - including the ‘Three Men on Motorcycles’ and the ‘One Man Goes Backpacking’ series, and also has a podcast and youtube channel.
Reviews :
‘Both inspirational and insanely funny at the same time - I cannot imagine how the author managed to do this but this is the first book that made me laugh so hard and then inspired me to do something that is entirely out of my character. If you love travelling then just trust me and go for this.’
‘ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ! When you start feeling sad as the Ladakh Ride of the Amigos in the book is coming to an end, then there can be no better travelogue for Ladakh, and for a Bike Ride, and for a relaxed trip, and for a fantastically modified vocabulary, and for a ride with friends as mad as you are. Finished the reading in one sitting and now hopping on to the next ride experience. I swear, it was a treat reading this.’
‘ He's easily one of the most gifted authors in India . If there's any Indian author that you like and you pick up Ketan Joshi's book, he'll kick out your favourite author by a mile! He's absolutely amazing!’
‘Hats off to Ketan! One of the greatest Indian authors IMO! I pray that he keeps on writing book after book! He's the PG Wodehouse of India.’
‘One of the most incredible books that I've read. ..This is one of those books that you can read over and over again and it'll take you to a different world where you can travel with The Amigos’
- GenresTravelIndiaNonfiction
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2017
61 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Ketan Joshi
26 books19 followersKetan Joshi is the author of the ‘Three Men on Motorcycles’ series - a humorous travel-adventure series about him and his friends - the ‘Amigos’- riding their Royal Enfield motorcycles across far-flung parts of India - Ladakh, Spiti, Coorg, Kishtawar, Killar, Saurashtra, Rajasthan, etc.
Before he got into motorcycle touring, he was a backpacker and trekker- having travelled all across India and nearby countries with his Lonely Planet. He writes about his early backpacking travels in a different series - ‘One man goes backpacking’.
Ketan is an MBA from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai and worked as a Sales and Marketing professional for over 20 years, before jumping ship to become a full time traveller and writer.
Apart from travel books, Ketan has written 2 books of detective fiction featuring the eponymous detective ‘Dipy Singh’ , one book of short stories - ‘Bombay Thrillers’ - and one textbook on Marketing.
Ketan’s writing has been praised for being humorous, easy to read, yet extremely informative and practical - and having a very unique Indian style.
Ketan lives and works in Mumbai, India.
Before he got into motorcycle touring, he was a backpacker and trekker- having travelled all across India and nearby countries with his Lonely Planet. He writes about his early backpacking travels in a different series - ‘One man goes backpacking’.
Ketan is an MBA from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai and worked as a Sales and Marketing professional for over 20 years, before jumping ship to become a full time traveller and writer.
Apart from travel books, Ketan has written 2 books of detective fiction featuring the eponymous detective ‘Dipy Singh’ , one book of short stories - ‘Bombay Thrillers’ - and one textbook on Marketing.
Ketan’s writing has been praised for being humorous, easy to read, yet extremely informative and practical - and having a very unique Indian style.
Ketan lives and works in Mumbai, India.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 5, 2020
Amazing... amazing... amazing.... what a fresh breath of air this book has brought in this lockdown. The sharp observation skills and the most wittiest of humours by the author just made me read on and on. This is how a travel book should make you feel. Relaxed :)
October 11, 2019
One of the most incredible books that I've read. The narrator (author) has an exceptional observation powers. He makes lots of funny comparisons, insightful observations, adds jokes / insults, puns and explains each event in a detailed manner.
The narration makes you feel like you're part of their group, experiencing whatever they're going through. It's the fun group and their dialogues that caught my interest more than the travel. The insults and jabs made at each other, the fortunate and unfortunate turn of events, the way in which they find solutions or sometimes don't.
This is one of those books that you can read over and over again and it'll take you to a different world where you can travel with The Amigos..
The narration makes you feel like you're part of their group, experiencing whatever they're going through. It's the fun group and their dialogues that caught my interest more than the travel. The insults and jabs made at each other, the fortunate and unfortunate turn of events, the way in which they find solutions or sometimes don't.
This is one of those books that you can read over and over again and it'll take you to a different world where you can travel with The Amigos..
November 23, 2019
Enjoyed the book
Enjoyed the book. Found the narration informative. It was also entertaining at times, but sometimes the jokes fell flat or felt too misogynistic. I loved the social commentary in the book, especially the constant feedback to Royal Enfield owners and government officers. Few areas i personally didn't like: glorification of both alcohol and drug consumption during the trip, narrator's constant whining about crowds in places they visited. I understand the govt need to regulate. But dude, come on, open your eyes. You are the crowd too.
Enjoyed the book. Found the narration informative. It was also entertaining at times, but sometimes the jokes fell flat or felt too misogynistic. I loved the social commentary in the book, especially the constant feedback to Royal Enfield owners and government officers. Few areas i personally didn't like: glorification of both alcohol and drug consumption during the trip, narrator's constant whining about crowds in places they visited. I understand the govt need to regulate. But dude, come on, open your eyes. You are the crowd too.
April 1, 2020
What a fun read this book was! It reminded me a lot of my trip to the Ladakh region. Trips with friends are always to cherish and this book would definitely bring a smile to your face.
September 14, 2018
“For all its material advantages, the sedentary life has left us edgy, unfulfilled. Even after 400 generations in villages and cities, we haven’t forgotten. The open road still softly calls, like a nearly forgotten song of childhood. We invest far-off places with a certain romance. This appeal, I suspect, has been meticulously crafted by natural selection as an essential element in our survival. Long summers, mild winters, rich harvests, plentiful game—none of them lasts forever... Your own life, or your band’s, or even your species’ might be owed to a restless few—drawn, by a craving they can hardly articulate or understand, to undiscovered lands and new worlds.
Herman Melville, in Moby Dick, spoke for wanderers in all epochs and meridians: “I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas…” " - Carl Sagan
This book is that 'itch', put into words. But that's not why I am rating this with 5 stars. There are tons of people out there who turned to writing soon after their dream tours. But this book is special because its both inspirational and insanely funny at the same time. I cannot imagine how the author managed to do this but this is the first book that made me laugh so hard and then inspired me to do something that is entirely out of my character. I am not going to do the usual dissection and analysis in this review. If you love traveling then just trust me and go for this.
Thank you, Ketan, for this wonderful book and all the very best for your future trips.
Herman Melville, in Moby Dick, spoke for wanderers in all epochs and meridians: “I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas…” " - Carl Sagan
This book is that 'itch', put into words. But that's not why I am rating this with 5 stars. There are tons of people out there who turned to writing soon after their dream tours. But this book is special because its both inspirational and insanely funny at the same time. I cannot imagine how the author managed to do this but this is the first book that made me laugh so hard and then inspired me to do something that is entirely out of my character. I am not going to do the usual dissection and analysis in this review. If you love traveling then just trust me and go for this.
Thank you, Ketan, for this wonderful book and all the very best for your future trips.
July 18, 2017
I read many blogs about many places, and i myself have written couple of blog posts about the places i visited, but reading a complete 200 odd pages travelogue is a first time for me. I picked the book the moment i read the tag line, the Amigos ride to Ladakh. Ladakh i guess is the dream ride for many people who have passion of riding a bike. whats better than doing it with close friends.
Coming to the book, its very crisp and no unnecessary details. Its funny too. For any one planning a trip to Ladakh, this book can be handy guide though it doesn't have all the details, it can help us plan better.
Adi's goggle stories, his sulking, bawa s love for the dirt roads all were put in a good way. How can i complete this review without mentioning about Bharathi, if i forget her probably i get to hear UTHO RE tomorrow morning, before my maid comes.
May be one day i will find my Bharathi and will do a ride akin what these guys did :)
Coming to the book, its very crisp and no unnecessary details. Its funny too. For any one planning a trip to Ladakh, this book can be handy guide though it doesn't have all the details, it can help us plan better.
Adi's goggle stories, his sulking, bawa s love for the dirt roads all were put in a good way. How can i complete this review without mentioning about Bharathi, if i forget her probably i get to hear UTHO RE tomorrow morning, before my maid comes.
May be one day i will find my Bharathi and will do a ride akin what these guys did :)
July 3, 2017
A rather unusual mix of travelogue and amusing fiction which works particularly well.
A real insight into the challenges faced by those traveling around the Himalayas in India by motorbike. A nice balanced amount of fact (for those planning a similar type of experience) and description (so you can really visualise their surroundings and difficulties) interspersed by a fair bit of male orientated banter and antics.
I Love the Bharathi character, really hope she exists................ If I ever plan to travel in India, it would be her I would seek out first!
A good fun read.
A real insight into the challenges faced by those traveling around the Himalayas in India by motorbike. A nice balanced amount of fact (for those planning a similar type of experience) and description (so you can really visualise their surroundings and difficulties) interspersed by a fair bit of male orientated banter and antics.
I Love the Bharathi character, really hope she exists................ If I ever plan to travel in India, it would be her I would seek out first!
A good fun read.
June 13, 2020
A fun book that takes you along the whole trip. Lighthearted read with a lot of comical takes but over exaggeration and some repetitive parts could be reduced.
July 5, 2020
Good Reading
I was with them as 4th rider while Reading.
it was really fun, laughter, adventure traveling with you. thanks for sharing experience.
I was with them as 4th rider while Reading.
it was really fun, laughter, adventure traveling with you. thanks for sharing experience.
December 19, 2018
Good for people who love travelling
I did like the way the book was written, a good road map too to speak about. For some one who would like to plan for drive around the same plan, this is kick start. Great job
I did like the way the book was written, a good road map too to speak about. For some one who would like to plan for drive around the same plan, this is kick start. Great job
July 17, 2022
This was what I wrote on 27 December 2017 when I read this book for the first time:
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. When you start feeling sad as the Ladakh Ride of the Amigos in the book is coming to an end, then there can be no better travelogue for Ladakh, and for a Bike Ride, and for a relaxed trip, and for a fantastically modified vocabulary, and for a ride with friends as mad as you are. Finished the reading in one sitting and now hopping on to the next ride experience. I swear, it was a treat reading this."
And now, after around 1 year I read this book again. Whenever the names Leh, Ladakh, Bike trip, come to my mind, the first thing that comes to my mind is this book. It's a fun read. The book is really well written and superbly described. It makes you wanna take a trip right now. From the very start of the journey, I felt like I'm with these guys on my own bike. I felt my shoes going wet in chilled streams. I felt slipping with my bike on the muddy road. I posed for photographs on all the high passes. I enjoyed the mesmerizing landscapes. Thank you, Ketan, for this wonderful experience and for this wonderful book.
"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. When you start feeling sad as the Ladakh Ride of the Amigos in the book is coming to an end, then there can be no better travelogue for Ladakh, and for a Bike Ride, and for a relaxed trip, and for a fantastically modified vocabulary, and for a ride with friends as mad as you are. Finished the reading in one sitting and now hopping on to the next ride experience. I swear, it was a treat reading this."
And now, after around 1 year I read this book again. Whenever the names Leh, Ladakh, Bike trip, come to my mind, the first thing that comes to my mind is this book. It's a fun read. The book is really well written and superbly described. It makes you wanna take a trip right now. From the very start of the journey, I felt like I'm with these guys on my own bike. I felt my shoes going wet in chilled streams. I felt slipping with my bike on the muddy road. I posed for photographs on all the high passes. I enjoyed the mesmerizing landscapes. Thank you, Ketan, for this wonderful experience and for this wonderful book.
October 10, 2019
Good book, if you read without any expectations
A good read for travelogue. Great eye to details when describing places, pretty much nothing left out. I would have liked it bit more if not for the over exaggeration of all characters. Too much repitition of some segments.
A good read for travelogue. Great eye to details when describing places, pretty much nothing left out. I would have liked it bit more if not for the over exaggeration of all characters. Too much repitition of some segments.
December 10, 2019
A real good read
Nice, witty & breezy!!! And very informative too about the locales. Definitely worth a read. Looking forward to further adventures.
Nice, witty & breezy!!! And very informative too about the locales. Definitely worth a read. Looking forward to further adventures.
May 18, 2019
Experiential joy of reading about the journey and visualising the ride through words.
October 28, 2019
Fun and nostalgic read
This book is fun to go through. A light hearted travelogue and the writing style grows on you. Glad I picked it up.
This book is fun to go through. A light hearted travelogue and the writing style grows on you. Glad I picked it up.
May 2, 2019
Perhaps not for a UK audience
I've given it two stars purely on the thinking that this may appeal to Indian male sensibilities, it didn't appeal to my more modern european thinking. Having spent some time in India riding motorbikes, Royal Enfields, the subject matter really caught my eye. Having spent some time there I also understand how different the cultures are and how male attitudes differ from our own here in the west, nevertheless I gave it a fair crack of the whip. After a while though the book became irritating despite my interest in the locations, particularly Ladakh that I love. Only try reading if you are able to deal with the foul language and misogynist attitudes in the book, sadly I will not be bothering with the follow up books.
I've given it two stars purely on the thinking that this may appeal to Indian male sensibilities, it didn't appeal to my more modern european thinking. Having spent some time in India riding motorbikes, Royal Enfields, the subject matter really caught my eye. Having spent some time there I also understand how different the cultures are and how male attitudes differ from our own here in the west, nevertheless I gave it a fair crack of the whip. After a while though the book became irritating despite my interest in the locations, particularly Ladakh that I love. Only try reading if you are able to deal with the foul language and misogynist attitudes in the book, sadly I will not be bothering with the follow up books.
August 4, 2022
Fun read for those who like to travel.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews