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Published on November 18, 2007

 
    Most roundtheworld journeys overland in recent years have been by motorbike or bicycle, but here’s a pair of eccentric Englishwomen taking a tuktuk beyond its Pratunam limits – all the way to Brighton, England.
    Though the trek is reminiscent of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s LondontoNew York motorbike odyssey, these women are genuine thrillseekers who believe that if you’re determined enough, anything is possible.
    Local readers will automatically wonder at the sputtering tuktuk’s ability to get beyond Bangkok’s outskirts, but this trip is as much a test of strength for the riders.
The adventure was conceived six years ago when Jo, holidaying in Thailand, fell in love with the vehicles and thought it might be fun riding one back home to Brighton. She made her dream a reality last year when she and Antonia set out on a tuktuk named “Ting Tong” that was modified for a long haul.
    It was to be a lifechanging trip. They puttered through Laos and China, then westward to Kazakhstan. They bypassed Iran – an “axis of evil” country – and got on with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before crossing the English Channel.
The voyage was full of surprises, beginning with the barebreasted tribal women of Laos. In China they found the locals adept at turning natural marvels into “plasticised” theme parks.
    After 14 weeks, 12 countries and 12,500 miles, the girls were home safe, having raised 50,000 pounds for a mentalhealth charity. Years for now they’ll still be smiling at every memory along the way. – Manote Tripathi