Bitten by the Bullet by Steve Krzystyniak and Karen Goa

Read by Jacob Rajan

Bitten by the Bullet is the story of how Steve Krzystyniak and his partner Lily came to set up and operate an innovative motorcycle tour company that takes small parties through the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan.

The narrative jumps between two storylines – the tour group which co-author Karen and her husband were a part of, and Steve's accounts his and Lily's intrepid visits to temples, palaces and bustling markets on their trusty Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles.

Produced by Jason Te Kare and recorded by Phil Benge, Marc Chesterman, William Saunders and Brett Stanton for Radio New Zealand

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 1

    8 Apr 2013

    Steve collects a tour group from the airport and tells us how he came to meet Lalli Singh. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 2

    9 Apr 2013

    Lalli Singh prepares the Enfield Bullet Motorcycles for Steve and Lily's first trip through Rajasthan. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 3

    10 Apr 2013

    The tour group hit the road for the first time on their Enfield Bullet Motorcycles. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 4

    11 Apr 2013

    Steve and Lily meet up with a woman whose life they changed forever and the tour group encounters a craft chai hawker. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 5

    12 Apr 2013

    The tour group gets a special tour of the private rooms of Bundi Palace. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 6

    15 Apr 2013

    The tour group moves to the sixteenth century Bijaipur Castle, meet the regal Raol Singh and visit state run opium poppy fields. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 7

    16 Apr 2013

    Next stop Udaipur where Steve and Lily catch up with an animal friend and the group experiences bartering India style. Audio

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  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 8

    17 Apr 2013

    The tour group visits a Jain Temple then stay in a hotel where a pool with a wet bar gets the better of some of them. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 9

    18 Apr 2013

    The group experiences a royal reception and with the poverty they've seen it becomes too much for one of the group. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

  • Bitten by the Bullet - Part 10

    19 Apr 2013

    On the last leg the tour visits the Royal Enfield Factory and we hear about Manic Singh, the man Steve and Lily hired when they guided their first tour. Audio

    This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions.

Bitten by the Bullet
Published by New Holland

Steve Krzystyniak has spent time in nearly every country in Europe and Asia. Travel and motorcycles are in his blood. He’s now happily based on Waiheke Island.

Karen Goa is an experienced travel and food writer who has articles published in NZ, Australia, Canada and the U.S. An expat Canadian who now calls Auckland home.

Jacob Rajan is a New Zealand playwright and actor. He received an Arts Foundation Laureate in 2002 and was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013.