Dr Raj Panden, also known as Cycle Baba, is an Ayurvedic doctor from Buna, Fatehabad, Haryana. He began his incredible journey, ‘Wheels for Greens’, in 2016, cycling across all 196 countries to create awareness about environmental pollution, global warming, climate change and their impact on humanity.
Cycle Baba, now AfghanistanBaba, who shares his travels on Instagram, highlighted the country’s extraordinary hospitality in a recent video, noting that local shops wouldn’t let him pay for anything, and captioned the clip as “the best hospitality I’ve ever been treated to.”
When Vanden asked the shopkeepers why they didn’t take money, they told him, “Because you are our guest.” Vanden questioned how they could survive if they continued to give away items for free to visitors like him, but the shopkeepers ignored his concerns.
In the video, Vanden is seen hilariously trying to accept money, at least for certain items, but they continue to refuse. The scene then cuts to him preparing to continue his journey, with a local asking, “What can I do for you?” A grateful yet overwhelmed Vanden responds, “No, no, you’ve already done so much for me. Thank you so much.”
He also Hotel Owner Despite multiple attempts to pay, he was not charged for his stay. In a conversation recorded on video, he is heard telling the owner that he is annoyed that he was not being charged, but the owner insists, “No, no, you’re a guest, it’s fine.”
He also noted that hotel staff provided him with multiple blankets and heaters to keep him comfortable in the cold weather.

The video has warmed hearts across the world on social media. One user reacted to the video saying, “They are Pashtun people, our hearts are so big.” Another commented, “Afghan people are so sincere.” A third wrote, “What a respectful act…they are above material desires.” Another wrote, “This is pure.”
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First uploaded: 20 June 2024 17:01 IST
