Welcome to my web page!
My name is Anna Grechishkina. It’s already more than six years that I’ve been traveling around the world on my motorcycle, KTM Adventure 1190. On this website I share my experience and impressions, photos and videos from the countries I visited, news and plans for future.
I was born in Kiev, Ukraine, in 1979. I graduated from Kiev Linguistic University, specialty of English language, and International Institute of Business, specialty of Human Resources Management. Worked as a teacher, translator, Human Resources manager.
When I was 25 my life started to change drastically. I got acquainted with a motorcycle, learned to ride and soon started to travel – first around Ukraine, then went outside to neighboring countries – Russia, Belorus, Moldova, then further and further – Europe, Asia, Middle East. Every time I felt like going further and for longer. Traveling by motorcycle became my passion. At first I could manage to combine it with my work. I was coming to the office on my motorcycle, changing into office suit, at the end of a day reverse transformation was taking place. All weekends and vacations were spent on a motorcycle.
One rainy day when I was thinking where to go next a fleeting idea about the trip around the world came into my mind. I didn’t pay much attention and just waved it away. This idea seemed impossible to me. After several days it came back to me again, and this time it was more persistent. But I decided to suspend it as I was about to leave for a 4-months trip around India for which I rejected perspectives of a good career in the big company. I will have enough time to think about possible trip around the world later, I told to myself. And it really happened this way. India has a favorable atmosphere for contemplation and taking serious decisions.
In spring of 2012 I was returning to Ukraine with a firm decision to start preparing for the trip around the world. Preparation took me one year and three months. During this period of time I went through the moments of doubts, hopes and disappointments, rises and falls. It was very difficult to find support and understanding, especially from potential sponsors to whom I addressed for help. Great victory and success was that KTM company – headquarters in Austria and Ukrainian office in Kiev – provided a motorcycle and riding gear for the trip. One of the most important issues of this trip was finalized – I will go on the motorcycle KTM Adventure 1190.
But the question of financing the trip itself remained pending. At the day of leaving for the journey around the world, July 27, 2013, I had only one thousand dollars in my pocket and hope that if this travel is meant to be, the world will open its doors for me.
The hope came true. But the plans kept changing .. The journey of two years was gradually turning into three, four, five. Soon I realized that no longer I travel, I live on the road.
More than six years had passed since I left for the trip around the world, and now I am already doing my second circe. It was harder to stop than I thought. The road became my comfort zone.
A lot of miracles and pleasant coincidences happened to me on the way, which gave me confidence that if you really want something and keep pushing towards your dream, the dream will come true.
The decision to go around the world was the most correct of all the decisions so far. And I am happy that when it was very hard and I was on the edge, I didn’t give in to the impulse and decided to try it no matter what. A dream is worth of taking the first step towards it. It will guide you through the rest of the steps itself.