Setting Off

The most important task on the final day: get the perfect photos of your team, and rickshaws, to remember the event by!
 

Gokarna

Before Goa, Gokarna. This beach in Karnataka was the perfect spot for some rest, some lunch, and maybe a quick dip.
 

Hill Racing

After a week of learning the ropes, teams were now rickshaw experts. The hilly route made for a great challenge, with lots of chances (gladly taken) for adventurous overtaking.
 

Going, Going, Goa

And we made it to Goa! Here are Team Ice Road Truckers, who would later receive the Charity award.
 

Outlaw Trouble

Some teams made it to the hotel nice and early. As ever, though, the Outlaws were in trouble. One of their rickshaws needed an entirely new engine. For a while, we wondered if they’d even make it. Miraculously they did; and, best of all, not even in last place…
 

Better Late than Never!

The girls from Tuktukarama had been some of the day’s earliest risers, and had ‘decorated’ the rickshaws of Team Midlife Crisis. Karma paid them back, and in some style, though, as their first serious breakdowns of the week hit them not far from the finish line. They arrived 3 hours late, but they were quickly compensated when awarded the Bonkers Trophy.
 

The Winners!

Finally, when everyone had arrived, it was time for speeches, beers, and the final ceremony. Mostly importantly, the event winners were announced: The Tukkle Brothers, and it was richly deserved win. Afterwards, many of the teams went to explore the famous Anjuna night market — before a night celebrating the end of a great event. Till next year!
 

 
 

Road With a View

 

 
The day’s route passed one of our favourite sections of road in the whole Travel Scientists‘ calendar. Teams drove with the coast directly to their left, and backwaters on their right, and who can blame them for stopping to admire the view (and for coconuts, as ever)!

Selfie Season

 

Thomas’s ‘unique’ wig somehow didn’t scare off the Outlaws’ new friends…
 

Sun, Sea, Sand

Did we mention it was hot? Luckily, this beach was a stone’s throw from our hotel, and participants took full advantage.
 

Spiritual Maintenance

Murudeshwar isn’t just golden sands. It’s home to the world’s second largest Shiva statue, which was unfortunately partially hidden under scaffolding — its very big though!
 

Lift-off

The best view of the Shiva statue (and the beach, and well, anything for miles around) is from the top of Shri Murudeshwar Temple. It’s not as old as you might think: in fact, it’s so modern than it’s complete with an elevator to the 18th floor. Unfortunately, it’s not so modern that it has a reliable elevator — it broke down repeatedly. Still, for those not of a nervous disposition it was worth it for the view!
 

Time to Celebrate

After swimming and sightseeing, it was time to relax. It’s a tough town to find a drink, which actually made for a better evening — lots of teams ended up in the same bar!
 

No Phone Zone

Nobody likes it when people choose social media over real-life conversation, so an “all phones in the center of the table, the first to answer theirs pays for the drinks” rule was in place [enacted by the participants, not the Travel Scientists, it should be noted!].
 

Dinner Together

The highlight of the evening, and maybe of the entire event, was a group dinner in the only restaurant which served beer. Team Namaste kindly provided a soundtrack by bringing their rickshaw right beside the tables! Several rickshaws were also involved in giving quite a few people a lift home. This confused the local police, who presumed (reasonably, to be fair), that we’d stolen the vehicles. However, we managed to convince him the rickshaws were our own.. but only by giving him a ride!
 
 

 
 

Moustache Men

One of the challenges was to get a photograph featuring somebody with a moustache. There were many successful entries, but none moreso than Team Ice Road Trucker’s photo with a policeman, always a bonus. They’d broken down, and the local constabulary were only too happy to provide a personal security force until they got back on the road!
 

Fort Rest

One essential stop was Bekal Fort, spread over an area of over 40 acres. It was a a hot day, so exploring it all was quite a challenge. Still, the view over the old walls (which date back to 1650) towards to ocean, was phenomenal.
 

Family Lunch

The Namaste Teams stopped for fuel at a gas station, and ended up getting invited for a family lunch with the owner. They exchanged life stories, and heard about the hopes and dreams of the daughter, who hopes to study in the UK. What the Rickshaw Challenge is all about.
 

Best Men

The Tukkle Brothers were living their best lives on the Malabar Ramapage. Casually spending the day dressed in togas, they somehow found themselves invited to a local wedding. Not only that, but they were seemingly the guests of honour — they got to cut the cake! Sensational scenes.
 

Craft Beers

 
Participants’ trusty Lonely Planet guides served them well in Mangaluru. Spindrift, a modern craft beer bar, was lively, with great food, and some incredible beers: the Mango IPA had to be tasted to be believed…
 

 
 

Houseboat Hunting

An easy to challenge to start off with. Teams were instructed to get a photo of themselves beside a backwater (there are a lot). More points were awarded if your photo featured a houseboat. Some entries were marginal (*cough* Team Father & Son *cough*) but the Namaste guys, above, did a great job.
 

Easy Going

A short ride, barely any breakdowns (at least, not any that weren’t fixed without much fuss). A great lazy day, apart from Tuktukarama almost tumbling off the road into a pot hole. Luckily, locals helped them out, so they didn’t die
 

 Rooftop Beers

And our hotel had the perfect place to relax: a rooftop pool. Beers, a view, sunshine… this is the life. Until it was time to pay the bill, that is. Matt of Team Wrecking Ball decided to pay for everyone, and it was… a lot. Here’s Cameron of Cupid Stunts posing for the camera.
 

The Land of Spices

It wasn’t all relaxation though. Kochin is famous for its spice trading, so we asked participants to head to a spice shop and to check out what’s on offer. That they did, and here’s the proof.
 

Kochi Jews

Kochi is also famous as the home of the India’s oldest Jewish community. Just how old? That was another challenge posed to teams. The answer (roughly) is “very” and the synagogue area made for a great atmospheric walk.
 

Kumbalanghi

No relaxation for The Outlaws however. They headed to nearby Kumbalanghi island, and apparently fitted in with the locals with ease. They were sifting mussels, weaving baskets, making rope — sounds like they should’ve been paid, but we have a hunch the sunset (looking at the Kochi’s other famous landmark, Chinese fishing nets) may have made up for it!
 

 
 

Making Headlines

The event hadn’t even really got going, but we’d already made the paper. The Midlife Crisis lads made a trip to beautiful Kovalam Beach on Sunday, and somehow the local paper got wind of it. The participants came across very well, emphasizing the charitable aspect of the event, rather than the drinking; great job boys!
 

And TV!

One sniff of fame wasn’t enough for us. Local TV turned up to our flag-off celebration, and interviewed many of the teams. Whether it was shown? Who knows.
 

Costumes

The first day on the road is when teams pull out all the stops on their finest costumes, and today was no different. Better yet, the teams don’t just look cool, but they are representing their roots. Team Golden Turtle dressed as pirates in honour of where they live, the Cayman islands, while the Outlaws, from Nottingham, are celebrating local hero Robin Hood.
 

Holy Cow

The first photo challenge of the day was to get a picture of team and rickshaw with a cow. Team Tukkle Brothers (and most others) managed with aplomb.

Making Chai

A tougher challenge was to get a photo of the team making (making, not drinking) chai. Everyone did amazingly well: above, Team 1 demonstrate the stages of the process. It’s hard to beat Team 3’s effort, though. Tracy and Ian were invited into a strangers home, fed breakfast, invited to visit their family in Chennai, and (weirdly) encouraged to hold their rooster. That’s what the Rickshaw Challenge is all about.
 

Spot the Rickshaw

Selfies with strangers aren’t unusual on the Rickshaw Challenge, but this effort by Mitch of Team 2 has a great story behind it. Struggling to find a place to eat, their team somehow ended up blagging an invite to a housewarming party with forty college students, who taught Mitch and the gang to eat with their hands. Great times.
 

Varkala

Our route passed one of Kerala’s best beaches, Varkala, famous for its red cliffs and golden sand. Many teams were eager to make the most of it, not least The Outlaws, pictured above.

Fuel Trouble

India is unpredictable. For example, on Day 3 it turned out that a major strike was occurring in Kerala, meaning the closure of restaurants, shops and (problematically) filling stations. After passing a succession of closed stations, the Outlaws were getting concerned. However, Swiss team Father and Son came to the rescue, and shared some their spare supply. Fate quickly repaid them for their kindness: a local gifted Karl a tin of delicious cashews, while Christian enjoyed his first ever coconut.
 

Lots of Water in a Dry Town

And then it was time for Alleppey (/Alappuzha). It’s famous for its backwaters, and teams were encouraged to check out its many canals, best seen by taking a trip on a boat. However, the one downside of the town is that it’s not the easiest place to find alcohol. Luckily, Princely was on hand to save the day: he persuaded our hotel to provide a secret stash of beer, available via room service. Day (or, rather, evening) saved.
 

 
 

Backwaters

Boathouses

Snacks

Tradition

Space and Time

Chinese Nets

Kerala is famous for its trading history, with many centuries of connections with places all over the world. One relic of this history is Kochi’s collection of ancient Chinese fishing nets.
 

Fisherman

Beaches

Kerala is not without its share of glorious beaches. It may not share the fame of Goa’s golden sands, but this just means you’re more likely to find an empty cove.
 

Rolling Hills

Dramatic Weather

Firstly, Time to Relax

 

 
 

 
Before a long journey, it’s only right that teams had the chance to have a few beers and relax by the beach.
 
 

But Soon, Time to Get Serious

 

 
 
Participants had a lot to learn, but there are no better teachers than Princely and the Rickshaw Challenge gang.
 
 

And Suddenly: On the Road!

 

 
 
 

 
 
After a weekend of intense training, the teams hit the road. Departing Trivandrum, their first task was to head to Alleppey (Alapuzzha), the Venice of the East. On the second day driving, teams traveled North to Cochin (Kochi), the historic trading city.
 
 

Of Course, There were Fantastic Costumes

 

 

 
It’s not a Rickshaw Challenge without teams dressing up, and the Malabar Rampage 2017 has had plenty of that.
 
 

Everyone Made Friends With Locals

 

 

 
 
As ever, locals were keen to chat, take photos, or offer directions.

And There Was Time for Games Too

 

 
 
Is there a better way to make friends than sport? Not according to our teams. Whether it was a kickabout or some cricket, great fun was had.
 
 

Participants had to Make Traditional Chai Tea

 

 

 
 
It’s not just a race through India, there are challenges too. Teams had to learn how to make chai tea, and you can see, they had a fantastic time doing so!
 

And Get Friendly with Animals

 

 
 

 
India is blessed with incredible wildlife, so pariticpants were keen to get as close up as they could.
 
 

Learning to Fish the Indian Way

 

 
Kochi is famous for its ancient Chinese fishing nets, and on the teams got to give the old system a try. Whether they mastered it enough to help the locals is up for debate…
 
 

Breakdowns Occurred… But were Quickly Fixed

 

 
 
Rickshaws can be temperamental machines, as all the Malabar Rampage 2017 participants will have learned. However, there is always someone on hand to help, particularly the dedicated local crew with us on the challenge. As one of the participants put it, “Big Clap for these guys! They keep our Rickshaws safe by working until late at night! Nothing but love for them.”
 
 
 

 
 

Similarity #1: Canals (Obviously)

Similarity #2: Busy Busy Busy

Similarity #3: Religious Sites

Difference #1: Well, They are Very Different (Obviously)

Difference #2: In Alappuzha You Can Actually Relax

While the jewel of the Adriatic is one of the most visit sites in the world, Alapuzzha is far more of an undiscovered gem. The crush of tourists can make Venice almost impossible to enjoy, although the commotion on the canals can be fun for a while. However, just a short trip out of Alappuzha’s centre and you can reach a mesmerising paradise and floating towards Kerala’s backwaters is like descending into a dream of peaceful beauty. This is India at its best, and while it’s not Venice, it’s wonderful in its own right.
 
Don’t take our word for it though, you should see Kerala’s “Venice of the East” for yourself! The best way to visit Alappuzha is to join the Malabar Rampage 2017 rickshaw adventure. The minimal assistance rally travels from Trivandrum to Panaji, in a week of discovery, laughs, and over 1000km! You’ll explore the incredible food, scenery, and culture, that make South India so special.