The Extreme India Challenge
The Race
In April, Navin and I will race a beat-up rickshaw 2,000 miles across India, all for charity. Our rickshaw is a three-wheeled converted lawnmower, meant to shuttle passengers a few short miles. Once we leave Kochi, we will have no crew, only two weeks to travel through India’s famously congested and treacherous roads. We will battle pollution, roaming cows, erroneous maps and unforeseen danger to complete our mission. Impossible, you say? That’s part of the adventure.
The Extreme India Challenge Route Map: 2000 miles of the most bizarre challenges in India
The Crew
My friend, Navin, and I have taken many trips together. We’ve had great adventures, and even greater misadventures. Once we got caught on the wrong side of martial law during the Mexican swine flu epidemic. Another time we were mauled by dogs after taking the wrong path to a temple in India. Airport riots in Argentina, Malaria in Paraguay.
The Extreme India Challenge will be our most daring adventure yet.
Mexican swine flu pandemic: Liberating Mexico one party at a time.
The Extreme Challenges (“The Dare”)
To make the race more exciting, Navin and I will be competing against each other to complete challenges along the way. Each completed challenge is worth a number of points, and the winner gets eternal bragging rights. You can contribute by commenting below or on Facebook (one comment equals one vote for the challenge of your choice), or by visiting our page with Trevolta, where your contributions support our charities and our trip, and earn you challenge votes. The more votes each challenge receives, the more points it will be worth.
The Extreme India Challenge: You can vote in the comments to increase the stakes for each challenge
The more you vote, the higher the stakes, and Navin and I like high stakes games!
The Charities
Proceeds from our trip will go to eradicating malaria. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has the most comprehensive and far-reaching plan with an agressive goal of eradicating malaria. Proceeds will also go to Cool Earth, which works alongside indigenous villages to halt Amazon deforestation.
A mockup of our mosquito rickshaw in our quest to eradicate malaria. This is sure to get some attention.
How You Can Help
Tell us what you want to see! Vote for challenges by commenting here and on the myWanderlist Facebook page, or by donating to through our Trevolta page. Each comment and each dollar donated equals one point for a challenge.
In addition to contributing to challenges, you can join us in generating good karma by sharing the adventure with your friends. More publicity means more awareness and money raised for charity.
Disclaimer: while we will try our best, there is no guarantee we will be able to find or complete every challenge along the race route. In that event, the proceeds will still be given to the charities.
Racers drive rickshaws the length of India
Trevolta Crowdfunding Travel Site
We’ve teamed with Trevolta, the exciting new crowdfunding travel site to raise our funds. Visit our Trevolta page to see more ways you can help. If you are interested in partnering with us to assist with fund raising, please leave a comment below or contact me directly at bradbernard340@gmail.com
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About the author: Brad Bernard
Brad Bernard has traveled through 92 countries to find off-the-map experiences and authentic adventure travel. He pushes his own personal boundaries by travelling experimentally. Brad’s personal quest to find the most extreme and unique in travel has bred misadventures and moments of enlightenment alike. You can read his craziest stories on his adventure travel blog
Website: https://plus.google.com/+BradBernard340/
at 3:53 pm
India seems a crazy place to Travel. Thanks for sharing.
at 3:36 am
Thanks, Reunen. It is a truly fascinating place.
Brad Bernard recently posted…Caminito del Rey – A New Look for Europe’s Most Dangerous Path
at 8:28 pm
I just met someone who did this, sounded like a good time. I love those little rickshaws too! Next time try it with the non-motorized pulled rickshaws, though 🙂
f.d. walker recently posted…Where Travel & Street Meet: A Photographic Journey Through India – Part 1: Kolkata
at 2:36 pm
Bahaha! Yes, it is a crazy journey into the unknown. I didn’t see any pulled rickshaws. It’s a white knuckle experience driving through intersections, dodging people and cars and who knows what else.
at 4:38 am
The Rickshaw run sounds amazing! And now I know why you jumped in the Ganges. It’s all coming together now.
Drew recently posted…How to conquer the death road (and live to tell the tale)
at 12:57 pm
I seriously want to do this with Audrey someday. What an adventure!
Samuel Jeffery recently posted…New Brunswick Highland Games
at 6:35 pm
Yes, it is ridiculously fun. Just throw any notion of predictibility out the door. You really get a feel for the real India, it’s a great way to see the country.
Brad Bernard recently posted…Extreme India Challenge Rickshaw Run: Death Summons Us to the Sacred Ganges
at 6:24 am
I admire your sense of adventure. The only thing I think I definitely would not do be the piercing one. :)Some I would do, some I would have to look at at the time. Good Luck!
Zoe recently posted…Don’t Overlook These Places in Paris!
at 6:37 pm
Thanks for reading, Zoe. Yeah, it was a challenge to say the least. We went to the Thookham festival, but they wouldn’t let us do the hooks. Apparently it has been outlawed by the government. I guess we’ll have to go to Thailand. :-/
Brad Bernard recently posted…Extreme India Challenge Rickshaw Run: Death Summons Us to the Sacred Ganges
at 11:10 pm
How did the challenge go?
at 11:37 am
The trip was a complete disaster, so much crazy drama. I should be publishing everything over the next month. Spoiler alert: I’m still alive.
at 8:50 am
Looking through the list it is really difficult to pick a favorite. My hands are sweating and I’m not even going to do ANY of them. My vote is for the Ghost Pepper Challenge! Good luck . . .
Looking forward to reading how things go.
jen recently posted…Cuenca Side Trip – El Cajas National Park
at 2:57 am
Wow, salute to ur bravery! I can’t decide which challenge is worst, I think for me it would be Cleanse Our Sins….industrial waste and sewage water?! I will spread the word and post on my twitter. best of luck!!
at 4:18 pm
Thanks for reading and sharing! They all have their own unique difficulties, most of which we still have to figure out how to do safely.
at 2:13 am
a couple of my fav youtubers from the UK did a rickshaw run last year and it was awsome as we followed their journey via daily vlogs, you should try it to! plus nothing beats a good cause! cheers!
at 5:16 am
That sounds fun. We definitely plan to show “proof” for any points we win from challenges. Have you seen a great video series? I’ll look it up. I definitely want to do this right.
at 11:00 am
I’m voting for the Ghost pepper and Get hooked 🙂 Good luck and drive safe!
at 10:52 pm
Just don’t die.
at 10:57 pm
The driving in India is probably the most dangerous part of the whole thing.
Twitter: brookedeakins
at 2:41 pm
I have never seen such an extreme event that goes to charity. I will be following your extreme and exciting adventure on twitter and facebook. Please take many photos of you on a lawn mower. Good luck!
at 10:58 pm
Thanks for your support, Brooke. The whole thing will be turned into a Bollywood YouTube video.
Twitter: brismart
at 8:11 am
I’d go for “get hooked” good luck!
at 7:41 am
They r all tough, but I vote for “charm a king cobra”, cos I’m very scared of snakes. Good luck
at 11:00 pm
I’m terrified of snakes too! They tell me there are a few tricks to doing that safely, though. Hopefully I can face my fears.
at 11:48 am
I would go with the Ghost Pepper Challenge or Walk On Hot Coals – they are the most likely to make you laugh afterwards instead of cry with pain ha! I think it’s brilliant that you are both doing this though and wish you the best of luck! I shall spread the word on Twitter. Great stuff!
Lucy – HalcyonTravel recently posted…Monchique: Another Side To The Algarve
at 7:53 am
Thanks, Lucy. They are all pretty crazy but I’ve heard there are tricks to all of them, dealing with the pain, etc. I’m excited to learn.
at 10:50 am
Get hooked and feed a wild Bengal tiger seems awesome.. Good luck 🙂 #Crazy
at 7:46 pm
I think the toughest challenge not on there is having a couple beers on the beach and not getting rabies.
Also, is this going to be on Tosh.0?
at 8:16 pm
I know, seriously! My last trip to India with you, I ended up in the hospital getting rabies shots. The video will be on YouTube, so yes, it could qualify for Tosh.0
at 12:02 pm
The ghost pepper challenge try to eat 2, you are mad but you have my respect
Twitter: Avidtravelr
at 11:24 am
So these are all insane! But I feel compelled to vote for the Ghost Pepper challenge. Good luck!!!
at 10:58 am
Get Hooked takes our vote! Goodluck in the adventure 🙂
at 3:30 am
Brad, you’re a nut! I want to see pictures of you chewing betel with blackened teeth while doing a handstand in a circle of Indian children. 🙂 Then later, riding bareback on an elephant in the same day. Have fun, buddy!
at 11:20 pm
I love this! Casting my vote for you to drink from a human skull and walk on hot coals!
Twitter: KarinaReissmann
at 6:18 pm
Hey Brad!
Hard to decide but I think I vote for Bengal tiger, hot coals and ghost pepper challenge 😀 By the way, I love spicey food and chilly. So I want to see you sweat with tears in your eyes guys 😛
All challenges are very tough and I wish you lot of success! You get it, guys!!!
Greetings Karina from Twitter xx
at 9:30 am
Can i vote again? Really want to see you walk on hot coals! That’s crazy!
at 5:17 pm
Hey Brad,
Sounds like an exciting list! But as an animal lover also, we’d like to vote AGAINST feeding a wild tiger! As we all know, feeding wild animals almost always ends up being bad for the animal! There must be a better way to pay homage to this stunning endangered creature! (If it ends up actually being a captive animal that’s part of tourist attraction where visitors get to mess with the poor cats for their own personal entertainment, all the worse!)
Much better to only torture yourself for entertainment. I say go with the bed of nails! (Hook in the back, close second.)
at 4:23 pm
Oh lord these are crazy!! I’m going to vote for drink from a human skull. I just hope they don’t decide to eat you for lunch afterwards, since you’ll be good and liquored up!
Katherine Belarmino recently posted…Finding the Treasures of the Forbidden City
at 6:58 am
I just hope that if you take a hook to the back that it’s all healed-up before you jump into the river full of sewage! 😀
at 9:39 am
That’s good advice, Matt. I guess if I’m forced to choose between the 2, I have to take the one with more points. I’m going to win whatever it takes.
at 10:08 pm
Effin Crazy challenges ! haha Getting hooked at the back skin for a certain ritual is too much !!!! hahaha
Josemanuel recently posted…Café Hopping in Hongdae, Seoul
at 3:32 pm
Can I use my vote to vote against Get Hooked? And maybe Cleans Your Sins too? This looks like a lot of fun and I can’t wait for the updates! Be safe guys!
at 12:24 pm
Wow you two are brave/crazy! Looking forward to following your journey and finding out how you get on with these challenges, I’m not sure I’d be able to do any of them. ‘Extreme Facial Piercing’ and ‘Get Hooked’ sound particularly scary!
Good luck 🙂
Bekah recently posted…Beating the January Blues
Twitter: only1wilfy
at 7:03 am
You guys are nuts lol! Looks like a crazy adventure and can’t wait to get the updates!
at 12:19 am
I vote Feed the Bengal Tigers. Go for it Brad
at 11:47 pm
I want to see you drinking from a human skull and partying with cannibals. Actually, all of your challenges sound awesome.
at 8:38 pm
You’ve got my respect, as always. I’d go with the Ghost Pepper Challenge, skip the King but out of all of them, I’d rather get a buzz from the skull so my vote is the moonshine that way, by the end of the drink, you won’t care about the fact that you just drank from a human skull. Whatever you do, I’ll be looking forward to the outcome.
at 8:17 pm
I vote GET HOOKED!!!!
I would not wish “Cleanse Our Sins” and “Ghost Pepper Challenge” on anyone. No way!
at 4:18 pm
GET HOOKED gets my vote!
at 2:59 pm
Well, I wouldn’t want to vote for something that could lead to your demise or cause severe pain. I’ll give your sisters some relief and vote for drinking moonshine from a human skull–that way, you can make new friends in a tribe and, I think it would make a great story too. =) Have fun!!!
Emily recently posted…Our Tico Neighborhood in Atenas
Twitter: WorldTravelWH
at 2:13 pm
Well, after being at the Ganges in Varanasi and watching the “ablutions” taking place a mere 200 feet away from the “cleansing” – I’m gonna agree it’s quite, um, not something I would want to do… But would, for bragging rights! However, I think I’m going to have to go with “Get Hooked” jays man, that’ll leave a mark won’t it!!!??? That sounds painful. Wishing you all the very best in your future endeavours!! 🙂
Twitter: anishahbbc
at 2:06 pm
This is brilliant and I actually wish I was coming to film you two! Good luck and stay safe!! The challenge I’m going for is ‘Get Hooked’ – which I’ve seen in documentaries – whoever does it is mad! Look forward to following your progress!
Anisha Shah recently posted…Markets of Madurai
at 1:41 pm
Walking on hot coals sounds completely crazy!!!!! So that is my vote!!!!
at 1:41 pm
Each of these challenges looks amazing & scary too!
I selected 2 challenges: feeding a wild Bengal tiger and walking on hot coals
Am looking forward to following this race!
The very best of luck!
Twitter: LtsFlwr70
at 12:56 pm
I’m a BIG animal lover so I’m obviously gonna vote for charming the King cobra & feeding a wild Bengal tiger!!!! Being suspended by a back hook would be awesome & I’d admire you tremendously if you even attempt it. These challenges are AWESOME!!!!
at 6:18 pm
I thought crossing India on a lawnmower was extreme in itself – then I saw the crazy stuff you’re planning along the way. Gee, hope you got some good travel insurance Brad! Got to hand it to you, you’ve got balls of steel if you can complete HALF of those challenges. The worst for me? Its a toss-up between the extreme facial piercing and the cinderblock dropped on the stomach.
Good luck!
Frank (bbqboy)
Frank recently posted…Looking back at 2013…and forward to 2014
at 10:27 am
Thanks, Frank. I think I’m up for all of them. I’m going to beat Navin, but he does insane things if he knows a crowd is watching.
I worry though that the ghost pepper will likely be last and I’d rather not have to eat multiple ghost peppers to win the challenge. Those things can cause second-degree burns on bare skin.
at 6:35 am
Wow, you’re brave! I can’t decide which challenge is worst, I think for me it would be Cleanse Our Sins….industrial waste and sewage water?! No Facebook for me but I will spread the word and post on my twitter. Good luck!!