The last leg of the 2009 Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge, from Alibaug to Mumbai, began with trepidation today. Our team briefing this morning included warnings about potential overzealous traffic police, political disturbances, religious tension, Krishna Janmashtami festival celebrations, and swine flu hysteria. Even I felt daunted about going to Mumbai, and I live there!
However, Mumbai, as unpredictable as ever, gave us nothing to be concerned about. The weather was sunny, the traffic minimal, and everyone peaceful. The colorfully painted auto rickshaws received many smiles and head wobbles of approval from Mumbai's auto rickshaw drivers. It was a wonderful welcome home.
My team mate and I, having the benefit of local knowledge, were the first ones to arrive at the Juhu Beach destination, along with one other team and another team following closely behind us. Unlike one team who needed a complete engine replacement, and another team who ran into a car and had to part with 5,000 rupees ($100), we had a problem free journey. The way everyone managed to drive through the city was very impressive, and a huge contrast from our first practice day when we struggled to even start our auto rickshaws.
So how does it feel to be back in Mumbai after 13 days driving an auto rickshaw from Chennai? Quite incredible. I'm finding it hard to believe that we actually did it! Was it real or just a crazy dream? It feels good to rediscover Mumbai's familiar charms though, and to feel at home here. Pleasingly, I've come back with more confidence in my ability to live in India comfortably after my amazing experience.
Best of all, the 13 teams who were all strangers at the beginning of the rickshaw rampage have become friends. We've been brought close together by our shared challenges, accomplishments, and memories. All of us feel sad that the event has come to an end, and sad to leave our rickshaws -- which we've surprisingly grown to love.
The winner of the Rickshaw Challenge will be announced tonight at the award ceremony and party, at the JW Marriott hotel. I've got a good idea who deservedly won. It's not us, although we did score quite well. More will be revealed later! But now, I have to go and freshen up, wipe the layer of sweat and dirty off my face, and get ready!
Previous: Pune to Alibaug
Photos of the 2009 Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge
Photo copyright Sharell Cook
congrats, you’ve made it!!
wow, what a spectacular journey
have fun at tonights ceremony!
read ya later!
cuny
Hi Sharell,
It’s very nice to hear that, your journey is finished very well.
Waiting for your next activity…
Thanks,
Dipan
Hi Sharell
Glad that everything went very smoothly.
Cheers.
Sharell been following this space..congrats, u all did fantastic to complete the challenge!would love to see my pics en route..have a blast!
Thanks for the congratulations everyone!
And the fabulous winners of the 2009 Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge were:
Team Nigel Manzil (competition winners). These two guys from the UK (Harry and Paul) really deserved to win. Not only did they raise a lot of money for charity, they went out of their way to help other rickshaw challenge participants when their rickshaws had broken down — including my rickshaw!
Team Crud Bug (most bonkers). These three crazy Australian guys (Andrew, Peter, and Matthew) collected all sorts of junk along the way, and stuck it on their rickshaw. They also turned up to the party wearing hotel dressing gowns, and with a blow up cactus.
Team Mystery Machine (most charitable). These two girls from Canada (Christy and Jocelyn) raised the most money for charity.