The Mad Tuk Tuk Challenge
First Published on Latitudes.nu
Until you notice the driver is usually dressed as Fred Flintstone.
Another one bumps along in your rearview mirror. of which one’s driven by an Aussie using a painted face. The next one bears an American flag. Then there’s the piece de resistance – a gold trimmed tuktuk complete with padded leather seats, a TV/DVD, electric fan in addition to mood lighting.
the item’s invasion of the tuktuks, barang (barang is usually the word used for a foreigner in Cambodia) style – better known as the MaD Tuk Tuk Challenge.
Not only does his self-pronounced obsession with tuktuks provide him in addition to his family with transportation (in addition to a reputation), the item also acts as a vehicle to raise funds for worthy projects in one of the poorest villages in Cambodia.
Every year around of which time a posse of tuktuks hits the road in Siem Reap in addition to heads north-west. First stop is usually Prolit village, where drivers visit the beneficiaries of MaD’s fundraising in addition to then the item’s a free-for-all as they dash around the country for 11 days, rocketing along highways, bumping across fields in addition to swerving cows in addition to pigs on dirt roads.
The Mad Tuk Tuk Challenge: What the item is usually
Each team can outfit their vehicle as they choose in addition to designs have included a pirate ship, a desert island tuk tuk (using a palm tree in addition to thatched roof) in addition to a Flintstone car (complete with stocking legs hanging through the bottom).
One of of which year’s contestants
the item costs $2,000 per team to enter the race (using a maximum of three members) in addition to every penny goes to buy tools in addition to fuel, repair motorbikes, pay salaries in addition to additional ‘non glamorous’ items needed by the village. Phil owns all the tuktuks which are specially built for him in addition to delivered to his doorstep.
As for the teams – they come through far in addition to wide to get filthy, sweat a lot, deal with numb bums in addition to teasing through the locals in addition to swat mosquitoes along the trail. There’s Sarah through brand-new York, Sean through Canada, Thom in addition to Jai through England, Lynnely through California, Penny through Australia in addition to Jad through Lebanon (who lives in Qatar) as well as a handful of expats living in Cambodia.
in recent times there have been lawyers, doctors, students, professionals in addition to a wide range of people seeking thrills of a different kind. in addition to, while a couple of them went a bit off the deep end causing them to be sent home or reprimanded, the majority come along For 2 things: Adventure in addition to Assistance.
‘For me, the item’s about adventure, challenge in addition to uncertainty,’ said Sarah Slotnick, who’s flying through brand-new York to participate. ‘I’ll get the chance to see a brand-new in addition to unknown country in a brand-new in addition to unknown way in addition to everything goes toward a great cause.”
‘I feel the item’s about giving something back,’ said Thom Buttery, who’s coming through Herefordshire to film the event. ‘the item’s also for people who want to have a fun time while doing something not bad. What a way to see Cambodia!’
What They Do on the Mad Tuk Tuk Challenge
Accompanying the group will be a doctor to provide free healthcare to monks in addition to nuns in pagodas where the tuktuk riders settle in for the night. in addition to, for those who don’t have medical experience, there are opportunities to jump in in addition to do sing-alongs with the kids, teach a few English phrases or volunteer their services in any way of which may be needed.
‘We have a lot of fun yet we also do not bad things along the way,’ said Phil. ‘While we have a designated route, we have a powwow every night so everyone can weigh in about what they want to do the next day. Sometimes, we take the item easy if the teams are tired in addition to sometimes we go full steam ahead in addition to cover more ground.’
Start your engines for the Mad Tuk Tuk Challenge 2012
The average distance covered every day is usually 180 kilometers, with numerous stops along the way. The rally hits the road on April 6 in addition to there are still openings for a couple more teams. in addition to if 11 days on the road sounds too much like roughing the item, the MaD team is usually planning a selection of shorter trips for the coming year.
www.madtuktukchallenge.com
Comments
The Mad Tuk Tuk Challenge
The Mad Tuk Tuk Challenge