Words of wisdom from a veteran rickshaw rambler:

Well, some kindly veteran of the Rickshaw Run was chatting to Clio about our little adventure and gave her some advice for the trip which we now relate to you good reader.

I dare say I am jealous! You are set to have a most excellent adventure. In terms of tips, I recommend the following:

- Get a radio fitted. Tunes are 101% essential. 

- Bring a very good medical kit. After my accident I got blood poisoning and nearly had my leg chopped off but what REALLY scared me was the thought that I might have contracted HIV/ Hep A-Z etc from the dirty needles they used. 

- Take it slowly and set realistic goals. Half the reason I got in such trouble was trying to 'make time' on the motorway. Our goal of completing in 3 weeks or just over was seriously unrealistic and we had to do quite a lot of all nighters to even get half way (which is when we crashed).  Maybe prepare a contingency plan for abandoning/ shipping the tuk tuk to the finish if you have limited time.

- Take big rolling papers (if that's your kind of thing).

- Beware of thieves. You'll often be mobbed by beggars/ curious onlookers/ gentlemen of dubious moral fibres when stationary and they will endeavour to relieve you of your belongings. The Indians are on the whole very good people, but some of them see you as insanely rich Westerners and consider it a moral duty to rob you.

- Eat local and avoid meat. 

- Don't take too much stuff. I'd recommend packing as light as possible as a 7 BHP tuk tuks's performance is seriously inhibited by weight. Also, putting things on the roof makes the vehicle seriously unstable (another cause of our little James Bond style barrel roll).



Ps. a good map would be useful, as well as GPS (cheating). Indians are likely to give you the answer you think you want to hear, so don't always believe them if they say Goa is just over the hill when you are still in Cochin...!!