Our continent hopping reporter Ms. Candace Rardon was in Bali covering the goings on for the Bajai Rally launch at the start of October. As the teams made their way towards Medan, the first time this route had been attempted, she picked out some of the finest & most shocking updates & photos sent by the teams on the road.

One look at team updates over the past two weeks of the Indonesian Rickshaw Run and it doesn’t take long to see this run has had its particular obstacles  – from flying down volcanoes with no brakes to taking care of blown head gaskets and broken gear boxes.

Here’s an idea of what exactly attempted to thwart this run’s teams in their adventuring quest from the beaches of Bali to the jungles of Sumatra:

Daily mechanic visits

“We are doing a splendid job of maintaining our average of visiting a mechanic at least twice per day. Though this is on the assumption that you count a group of twelve year olds dismantling your engine for a free t-shirt and air horn as professionals.”  
Team: Gong and Gonger

Mountain crash

“Bit of a prang today, the windscreen shattered. Couple of minor scratches sorted out by nurse Nick, the rickshaw is another story. We will have to send the shaw ahead to Jakarta, as this is the first place we can get a new windscreen. Free styling it by truck, train and automobile through central Java until then.”
Team: Bam Bam Bigelo and the Indogeezians

*This adventure really is very dangerous - read the warning if you're in any doubt*

Phil from team Thaiway to Hell says, “That’s what happens when no brakes meet a MOUNTAIN!!”

Drinking sessions with the locals

“The McGerkins blew a head gasket in Krui which Buzz fixed with a piece of aluminium. I assisted by getting rollingly inebriated with the locals. If you ever want a party find the fisherman, they are the same the world over.”
Team: The Trident Thunderbolts

Emergency Bintangs

“Engine started losing power and cut out twice on the motorway! Had to push it 2km on the Indonesian equivalent of the M6! Doing the only thing I can do in such a moment of despair...crack open my last large Bintang I was saving for such an emergency!
Team: The Twa’ Amigos

The Twa’ Amigos squeeze onto a boat from Bali to Java.

Bemo Push-Start

“Created a great new mass participation sport called bemo push-start. Game is best played in the dark on crowded streets of an Indonesian city involving a mixed nationality team of 3 English blokes and an assortment of locals. Idea is to push a rickshaw down the street for as long as it takes to get it started, (usually 4 or 5 attempts).”
Team: The IndoStructibles

Filthy t-shirt competitions

“Day two and Nick is leading the filthy Tshirt competition which currently contains sun cream, sweat, insect repellant, chocolate ice cream, WD40, oil, blood, and petrol. He smells great too.”
Team: Thaiway to Hell

Mario Kart-esque test drives

“Things running smoothly all the way to the ferry – well and truely ragged! But then checked the beast/beauty/pile of ..... and found that the clutch cable was hanging on by a thread – one single thread. Managed to get it into 1st gear and cruise off the ferry – and then that last remaining thread snapped. Bitch. Much luck in that there was a mechanic about 50 metres down the way. Repaired the clutch cable and then did some “Mario Kart-esque” tests around the town... All good.”
Team: The Big Bouncy Bali Bus

Marathon truck rides

“Two rickshaws and six guys crammed in the back of a tiny truck for 26 hours. Vomit and piss and hate. But we made it!”
Team: Hooded Merganser

Pug from team Thaiway to Hell couldn’t even make it to the start line without a few locals coming along for a ride.