Neil Ambler is participating in the 3-week Rickshaw run adventure in the Nepalese Himalayas. The Rickshaw Run is a tuk tuk race starting on 1 June in Kathmandu, Nepal and ending some 3 weeks later in Pondicherry, India. Neil will be sending updates as his team faces the usual dirt tracks, jungle, bad roads and awful driving.
I came across the Rickshaw Run website very randomly last year and it sparked me to send a group email out to my nearest and dearest to gauge their interest in taking part. Since then we have had people drop out and others join up so that we are now leaving for Kathmandu this week with a group of 11 people – although we’ve all managed to get ourselves on different flights!
We have 5 rickshaws out of a total of 70 that are taking part. Most of the group are leaving today and tomorrow and should be in Kathmandu by Saturday ready to depart on Sunday 1st June.
The theory is that we will be in Pondicherry, just south of Madras, some 4,000 km and 15 days later for a celebratory party with one or two drinks. The route was chosen over a few beers one night, hence the ‘zig-zag’ nature of the line! We wanted to get to the finish as fast as possible but also wanted to take in some sights – the top of which is Bandhavgarh national park where we will be doing some tiger safari.
The weather is of particular concern – it ranges from a relatively cold 25 degrees C (77 F) in Kathmandu to 45 degrees C (113 F) in Raipur! The rickshaws themselves, also known as tuk-tuks, are powered by a 150cc, 0.5bhp engine that can propel the 3 wheeled monster to a top speed of 30mph. Great news when you have to cover over 2,000 miles in 2 weeks!
So now you get the idea as to what it’s all about here is some recent news. One member of the group failed his driving test last week, and therefore will be just a passenger! His driving partner will no doubt be thrilled at having to drive for 8hrs per day! My travel companion, and girlfriend, has been refused a visa by the Indian Authorities in London and as such won’t be joining me for at least the first week! Brilliant…
We have also just been informed that there is severe fuel crisis in Nepal with the country down to its reserves. The organisers have managed to secure a tank of fuel for each Rickshaw from the Nepalese Army at a bargain price of £12 ($24)! Apparently it is easier to get fuel outside of Kathmandu but the potential to run out of fuel in the first 2 days is high.
Nepal itself is expected to become a Republic on Wednesday, announced by the newly elected assembly. As such the authorities have banned rallies and mass meetings in strategic areas due to fears of violence. All in all it has been an interesting 48 hours!
My top 3 songs for the journey are currently Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma, Bob Marley – Waiting in Vain and Stereophonics – Dakota. Although I’m sure the iPod will be on continuous shuffle!
Please feel free to post questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. Over and out.
Topic: General Travel |
8 Comments
Tags: adventure travel, India, Venere
About the author
Neil is 27yrs old and lives in Chelsea, London. Neil left Harrow School in 2000 and undertook his gap year in Pakistan where he taught English and Soccer in a school near Lahore. Since then Neil has taken part in a number of charitable fund raising activities including a trek through the Himalayas, a marathon in Pakistan and a white collar boxing event. Neil graduated from the University of York in 2004 where he studied Economics & Politics. Neil joined the Mergers & Acquisitions department at Ernst & Young in London and then moved on to Dresdner Kleinwort. For the past 18 months Neil has been advising a number of start up companies on their fund raising options as well as assisting with financial and operational planning. Neil has spent the last 3 months working for Venere.com in an operational role.
8 responses to “Neil’s Rickshaw Adventure in India and Nepal”
Report an inappropriate commentMay 28th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
We are all keeping our fingers crossed here at Venere! How long do you think it will take to get from Kathmandu to Pondicherry?
May 28th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Hi Neil, Are you ready for the rickshaw run?
I like your top 3 travel songs, even if I would have chosen a different soundtrack for a trip in India!
I’ve been listening to Vampire Weekend this week, but I missed their Monday gig at Circolo degli Artisti. 
Can’t wait to read about your Indian adventure!
May 28th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Hey Neil,
what sounds really interesting to me is the tiger safari at the Bandhavgarh national park… I’ve always been fond of big cats!
Let me know how it is like and take care!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Great, Guy!!
I’ve been in India for a couple of mounths last year, and i’ve been in Varanasi and Jaipur too.
Great but tough travel!!!
Good luck, and see you soon!!
Frenk.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:25 am
…in Pakistan he taught English and Soccer…
May 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Hi Neal,
good luck and take me some cinnamon from Madras
We will all follow your experience….
May 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am
in answer to your question Susan, we are hoping to arrive in Pondicherry on the 15th June. That is when the organisers have arranged a finishing party etc and should be when most teams arrive. However there is a very real chance that we could miss that date due to breakdowns, fuel shortages, revolution, serious accidents – you get the idea! I am now at Heathrow about to board my Jet Airways flight to Delhi – only 67 seats taken out of 287 apparently! Great result! Although given my luck with airplanes I’ll be sandwiched between warring 3 year old siblings while the parents are asleep at the back.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Hi Buffy – yeah the tigers should be fantastic! I’m just hoping we make it on time. We’re all booked in at a place called the Jungle Lodge – apparently it’s just outside the entrance to the park. If you go onto youtube and type in ‘tiger attack’ there is a clip on the first page of a tiger attacking an elephant, with a whole load of people on top of it! Very scary! I think the full clip is called Kandaga Tiger Attack or something like that. I’ll let you know what it’s like and try and post some photos.
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