A motorised rickshaw may not be the fastest way to travel nearly 2,000km through India and Nepal, and certainly not the most comfortable - but it might be the most adventurous.
Five men from Abu Dhabi will compete next month in the Rickshaw Run, a two-week charity race that promises to be "quite chaotic" in a pair of unreliable, three-wheeled rickshaws.
Last year a team from Dubai won the event, beating dozens of other contestants on a trek from Kathmandu to Pondicherry. Now the Abu Dhabi team of British and Australian expatriates will try to keep bragging rights within the country.
The race, held twice a year since 2006, always has a different course, setting off from the previous finish. The event earlier this year ended in Goa, so the next one, starting on September 12, will begin there and end in Pokhara, Nepal.
George Foulsham, 33, an environmental scientist, said his team was currently charting its route, taking advice from Indian friends in the UAE. They have been warned some areas are too dangerous to traverse.
"You can go along the coast through Mumbai," he said. "The direct route is to go right through the middle. That involves much smaller roads, one-lane roads, cows, donkeys, bicycles and big troubles. It's going to be quite chaotic."
The rickshaws, powered by 150cc engines, are described by the race organisers as "tin cans" and are notorious for frequent breakdowns.
Mr Foulsham expects to have to make dozens of on-the spot repairs.
"I've got to work out the mechanics of it," he said. "Rickshaws also take fuel and oil mixed together. You have to mix it before you put it in. That will be a challenge, just fuelling up along the way."
Taking their cue from last year's winning Dubai team, the Abu Dhabi group will make the trip in two rickshaws, so if one group breaks down, the other will be able to drive around looking for parts and help.
"Our plan is to work in a convoy," Mr Foulsham said. He will drive one rickshaw and Graeme Mullin, 27, a trade and investment adviser with the British Embassy, will drive the other.
When the race is delayed by technical failures, Mr Mullin expects other pastimes to keep the competition alive. "We're taking cricket bats, a football and a frisby. We think we'll break down a lot," he said. "It's all about playing cricket. There is no real racing, the whole aspect is really to make it to the end."
All of the team members are looking for an adventure.
"I love this sort of thing. I've done all sorts of crazy adventures," Mr Foulsham said. "I've gone trekking in Nepal and I've hired a driver and gone around India. I absolutely loved that. It's an amazing place, the colours, and the people are all very embracing."
For Matthew Crabbe, a 31-year-old environmental scientist, the opportunity to travel and experience a new culture in such a unusual way is worth the inevitable frustrations involved with driving a tin can over a long distance.
"Going to India will increase my awareness and I say it as a message that increases people's awareness of humanity."
The team hope to raise Dh6,000 (US$1,630) for the Frank Water Project, a charity that helps developing countries create sustainable water projects, and Maiti Nepal, which combats human trafficking.
jgerson@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Mahmoud Habboush
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Expert input
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
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- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
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SERIES SCHEDULE
First Test, Galle International Stadium
July 26-30
Second Test, Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
August 3-7
Third Test, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 12-16
First ODI, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
August 20
Second ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 24
Third ODI, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
August 27
Fourth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
August 31
Fifth ODI, R Premadasa Stadium
September 3
T20, R Premadasa Stadium
September 6
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Abu Dhabi racecard
5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m