Liam Cunningham and PJ Gallagher on life lessons learned deep in the high-altitude dirt tracks of the Himalayas
Thrown into one of the most hostile environments on earth, Comedian PJ Gallagher and actor Liam Cunningham were pushed to the edge in the first episode of season two of Uncharted with Ray Goggins.
The pair, joined by former special forces soldier Ray Goggins, took on the high-altitude dirt roads of the Himalayas on motorbike.From a quick pitstop at ‘Yak Donalds’ to reaching a height of more than 4,000 metres on bikes, the trio ate, prayed and biked their way along some of the most difficult roads in the world, in the Upper Mustang of Nepal.In an episode that explored themes of mental health, ageing, sense of adventure and the meaning of life, Gallagher, Cunningham and Goggins came together as one unit on their six-day adventure, navigating difficult terrains and embracing the sacred traditions of Buddhism while sharing local Nepalese culture.Gallagher admitted on camera before their adventure that he would have undertaken adventure holidays when he was younger but said growing older and having kids put a stop to that.“It’s been a long, long time since I had an adventure,” he admits.He hoped that he, Cunningham and Goggins would all get along, acknowledging that any experience in life is only as good as the people you’re with.Ray Goggins, Liam Cunningham and PJ Gallagher in Nepal. Picture: RTE/Uncharted.Cunningham expressed feelings of excitement and nervousness, saying he knew it would be a physical trip.Upon meeting Goggins, the pair were informed that they would be driving some of the highest roads and tracks on the planet to reach the mountain village of Muktinath and warned that the trip would be hard on the body.Acknowledging that the hardest was yet to come, Gallagher said: “Getting lost or getting up the mountains… I haven’t a clue. Someone moved the shepherd's pies in Lidl a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn’t find them. A lot of lads will tell themselves they’ll survive… I can’t find a shepherd's pie in Lidl, never mind going up into the Himalayas.”The trio drove through difficult terrain in the dark to reach the village of Kagbeni at 2,800 metres, before enjoying a burger and chips at the local ‘Yac Donalds’.Opening up about how he was beginning to appreciate being on the trip, as someone who has always felt like he never fit in anywhere, Gallagher said on camera: “I was adopted when I was born. Then I went to school and had really bad behavioural problems. Never been great at relationships. I’ve never fit in anywhere to be honest with you, bar the motorbike club.” The next morning, they caught their first glimpse of the Himalayas, with Goggins describing the view as “glorious”.“It’s just powerful. It just sits there, commanding everything,” Goggins said while admiring the view of the snow-capped peaks.After receiving a blessing at a local Buddhist temple, the trio headed off on the next leg of their journey by bike through loose gravel and icy patches of road, with Cunningham describing it as “a test of physicality and a test of your character”.After another day of loose gravel and sheer drops, they shared a beverage at their lodgings in a tiny village at 3,800 metres.Gallagher opened up about his recurring depression, how he dealt with things in the past by not sharing his struggles and how he got to where he is now.“I’m not ashamed of anything anymore; I talk about everything. And I realised I wasn’t talking enough. But men… we don’t talk like this. This is shoulder to shoulder; if we went out riding bikes together for days we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We just wouldn’t,” he said.Goggins acknowledged Gallagher’s power and courage, with Gallagher responding: “I hid it for a lifetime. Four years ago, five years ago, I honestly didn’t know if I was going to live one more day. I definitely didn’t think I was going to live one more day with a smile on my face. And we’re all here in the Himalayas.” Day three of their six-day trip saw Gallagher and Cunningham suffering from altitude sickness, but after being checked by the production doctor, they got the green light to continue on their journey, taking on some of the most technical routes of their trip to date.Liam Cunningham and PJ Gallagher in Nepal Picture: RTE/Uncharted.Cunningham, who took a fall off his bike, got back up and continued with determination as they dropped deeper into the gorge, hitting an area of black ice which forced them to pass right along the edge of the path.“I hate you, Ray. I never want to see you again after this. And I'm selling my bike and I’m selling my house and I’m living somewhere flat,” Cunningham joked.Their journey uprooted questions about life, how much people actually need to be happy in life, and the importance of reflection.“If you want to feel insignificant, come to Nepal. And I mean that in a positive sense,” Cunningham said.Standing at a viewpoint at almost 4,000 metres above sea level, overlooking the nearby mountain ranges, Goggins said: “I would challenge anyone to go up there and not feel it. The hardest person or the toughest person or the most cynical person in the world, you’re going to feel something. You just feel how powerful nature is… the world.” Finally reaching the town of Muktinath for a game of hardball snooker in the local club, Cunningham, who took part in a flotilla that sailed with aid to Gaza, spoke about why it was important for him to speak about Palestine.PJ Gallagher, Liam Cunningham and Ray Goggins in Nepal Picture: RTE/Uncharted.“I love my job. I’ve worked as hard as a dog and I’m very proud of the stuff I’ve done, especially the earlier stuff I’ve done. But essentially, I play dress up for a living… and if I put serving myself ahead of not speaking up when I should speak up I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror,” he said.A final test of endurance, Gallagher and Goggins took on the plunge pools at a sacred temple, known to take away all past sins, before all three hopped back on their bikes for the final stretch of their journey.“Life, like a motorbike, it’s very similar. You get on a bike and just like life, you start some days it’s tough going and other days the sun shines on you,” Gallagher said.“Sometimes the going is rough and sometimes the going is smooth and you never know what’s around the next corner and you have to enjoy the ride because one day the engine is going to stop and it’s never going to start again.”
The new series of Uncharted with Ray Goggins will see participants pushed far beyond their comfort zone in the ultimate test of survival and resilience. The season continues on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player next Wednesday at 9.35pm.
