Rickshaw numero dos, police escorts, tire slashing and highway robbery

Having sold most of our internal organs to fund mechanics of southeast Asia, our first trusty shaw was declared terminal in Belawan after an impressive 3.5km of road time. Naturally we did the only English thing in such a circumstance and stole a replacement from the Scots as quickly as possible.

The Juggernaut is now ripping through the potholed roads of Sumatra at breakneck speed to catch up the two days lost. An all-nighter to Parapat, followed by a leisurely 36 hour straight followed by another 24 hour stint had us back in familiar territory...broken down. A couple of strange and angry locals later, our tyres have been slashed, our stuff stolen and our rickshaw once again immobile.

So as I report from the only hotel in Sumatra with no water, bathrooms or sheets:

Police escorts from chief of Tarutung - 1

Synchronised man-on-man pole dancing sessions - 2

Consecutive meals eaten without cutlery - 7

Tow truck count - 11

Items of clothing for the remainder of the trip - nil

GAME OVER ALREADY??

Shambles by name, shambles by nature - after pushing the rickshaw to, on and off the car ferry..........5 mechanics, 4 hours in a coconut truck, 9 hours in a trang workshop...... Good honest rickshaw!

Did we have an 80 year old in a hand towel repairing our rickshaw, revealing both ball sack AND shaft for no less than an hour? AFFIRMATIVE Did we have water dripping in our faces from a mouldy hotel ceiling all night? AFFIRMATIVE Did a mechanic really show us a close-up of his son naked? AFFIRMATIVE Did a member of our team strike a thai mechanic for being too aggressive with the gear stick? AFFIRMATIVE Have we covered a single kilometre in 24 hours? NEGATIVE Living the dream!

Mobilization

Team Shambles has successfully mobilized and deployed all 3 team members to Thai soil. In typical shambles fashion hiccups were experienced.

 

Ross missed his first flight to Thailand while sitting in the lounge as his gate closed.  He then discovered that his passport was due to expire in less than 6 months so was forced to postpone his trip until an emergency passport could be produced. Finally receiving a temporary passport, he missed another flight by arriving at the airport 1 minute after check-in closed. True is the phrase 'third time's a charm' as he made his third attempt - only to have his pre-adventure phuket stay halved.

Carney and Dancer, clearly veterans, executed last minute rope, hydration, tent and water purifier purchases and successfully completed phase 1 - bangkok arrival - ahead of schedule. Able to enjoy their first Thai meal at McDonald's. Standard.

If all goes according to schedule (as it always does with team shambles), the three members will converge on Phangan on the evening of the 6th. Carney and Dancy by way of Bangkok to Samui to boat and Ross by overland journey via car to Don Sak followed by boat.

 

-Shambles over and out