On Reflection and Finally We Thank You!!

The Rickshaw Run By Numbers

• 14 Days constant driving.
• 10-16 Hours per Day
• 4689Km in total
• Average speed 35-40Km
• 70kmph - Our top speed. once only
• £4690 Raised for the Alzheimer's Society and the Frank Water Project by our team alone
• 0 Casualties - on our team
• 23 mosquito bites
• 75 Strong bottles of Kingfisher
• 84 Curries 
• 2 Clutch cables
• 5 complete brake failures
• 2 spark plugs
• 1600 unique blog views
• 1507 photographs
• 2 hours of video
• 5 flights
• 5 in flight movies
• 1 arrest on board flight at arrival at Heathrow. not us
• 50,000 people at immigration on our return
• 9 English cans of 9% Super Skol in homage to India
• 2 very inspired young men

With the rally now 2 weeks behind us it's hard to comprehend what we actually achieved in such little time. Its even harder to think it only finished 14 days ago.
We have both had a our well deserved break from the chaos that was India, jet lag maybe but we know it was more sheer and utter exhaustion.  There is no way to train for that kind of punishment, in fact, if it wasn't for India being such a marvelous, diverse and interesting country i doubt we would have had the commitment to get out of bed so early morning after morning just to slave over the roads every day. The reality is it was such a wonderful, glorious and colourful experience that no tiredness couldn't have marred this experience, even when Lloyd was asleep in the back of the Rickshaw and James was doubled over in a truck stop toilet they still had little bad to say about the beauty that is India.


What did shock and perturb us was actually the reason we were there. The FRANK WATER PROJECTS was the charity chosen in India to receive our donations. Each team had to raise a minimum £1000 for charity, £500 of which would go to Frank Water. (Albeit to date we actually raised £1020 for FW alone) As most of you know we also chose the Alzheimer's society as our main charity receiver. We would not change that for the world. The guys at the Alzheimer's Society do a splendid job and they deserve all the money they can get. (to date - £3600+)
But what we did become aware of was how much help India still needs. The water situation out there is still dire. the quality of the water, the origins of the water and the amount of times the water is recycled without being cleaned or filtered is really depressing. People are still dying in India as a result of contaminated water.
It was common to see what we thought were albinos but they were not, they had in fact been poisoned and their skin disorder is actually a result of metal poisoning due to mining and or poor quality water abstraction. All we know is that when we told people in India what we were doing and why we were doing it they rejoiced and tried to hand us money, it wasn't until we arrived in Darjeeling one man in particular shook each of our hands and tried to thrust 100 Rupees in our pockets, his words of thanks literally brought tears to our eyes. He could not comprehend why someone from one country would want to raise money and travel to another mans country to help out people we didn't know or would have no direct benefit from. He compared us to latter day saints. Far from what our mothers call us, of this you can be sure, but at that moment we promised each other that we would champion the Frank Water Project as their efforts have such a hugh impact on the lives of people in India. - please click read more

End of days

We left via Shillong Airport which apparently is a an adventure in it own right, due to its mountain location the weather is hugely variable and most flights are cancelled. All i know is the security at this tiny hill side aerodrome is tighter than USA, Russia and China all rolled into one. Lloyd must of had his hand luggage scanned 5 times each time emptying and repacking to point his disapproval must of become visible as the senior guard went thought it with a fine tooth comb just make a point. That aside the flight actually left 30 minutes early and we arrived to hot and humid Kolkatta in 90 minutes. 

Given our flight to Dubai was at 9am the next morning we questioned an airport based hotel with a pool and wifi, or getting involved in the centre and head out to consume the old capital city of India in just one evening. As we arrived early there was no real decision, we jumped straight into a taxi, everyone at every point trying to do something for you to warrant a tip, we managed to get away from the airport more or less intact. Gazing out the window we were whisked down side road after alley, scraping arses of cows and vendors alike we pulled up on Sudder St. Our chosen hotel was The Fairlawn, a 3* with good reviews and sensible price to boot. The place was amazing, the colonial walls adorned with photos of celebrities, guests, the entire royal family, and tat, one persons life time collection of knik-knacks, antiques and colonial left overs, it was truly fascinating if not overwhelming. Our room was hugh and had a big free standing bath, one i wish id actually used, But the streets were calling. 

We heading out to change up some pounds, we hadn't seen an exchange bureau since Cochin and there were markets galore to be explored and not much time. first stop the pub. 2 freezing bottles of Kingfisher strong, a selection of local tandori kebabs and we where gone, the markets bustled with thousands of sellers and buyers bartering for fish, meat, textiles, spices everything, everything you could ever imagine was thrust into the this one giant indoor market. if you look at anything for anyone for too long everyone in spitting distance would try and sell you something. regardless of weather it was their shop or not. buying a shirt involved 10 salesman, buying tea involved 12. the price defiantly goes up at these times!

 the distance in smiles

 Being pulled in a engineless rickshaw! our final tribute to the humble rickshaw walla

We managed to purchase shirts, trousers, tea and could have had anything else we desired but we wondered for an hour or two, sank a few more beers and went to bed. . . For all of 50 minutes before deciding we had in no way seen enough of this great city and tried to get a cab to take us somewhere, anywhere. The cabs were rare,  in fact nothing at all was open. the place was a ghost town but the security guard of the hotel woke up his friend to take us around the city at 1pm. he however knew a late night food joint, the only thing open in the city it seemed.  As this was to be our last meal in india we ordered big and with naan, tandoori chicken, salad and cola underarm scuttled back to the cab to eat our way round the great city. or back to the hotel it seemed.  3pm saw the curtains draw on this epic and most amazing adventure.