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Fundraising for travelling and volunteering

Bangkok to Brighton by tuk tuk: The journey begins...

Sunday 28th May: Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Ants writes...

"I can’t believe it, the Tukathon has actually begun. At 11.49 a.m on Sunday morning Jo, myself and Ting Tong, under the watchful eye of Queen Victoria, turned left out of the British Embassy in Bangkok and set sail for England. After so many months of planning, it’s extraordinary to think we have actually embarked on our 12,000 mile journey and that for the next three months we will be slowly heading home, each day inching a little closer across the globe.

Jo and Ants pose with the tuk tuk

On Saturday night we took Ting Tong (TT) to the Khao San Road and got a taste of what the next 12 weeks might be like. Even in Bangkok, where tuk tuks are ubiquitous, people stopped, stared, laughed, took pictures and shook their heads in amazement when we told them we were driving our pink bomber all the way to England. Jo drove her into the Khao San and we parked her up for a few hours while we did a few interviews. Jo also clambered on the roof rack and risked her (and Ting Tong’s) life for some photos. They’d better be good. Ting Tong went down a storm and although we might be a little bit biased, she really must be the most supersonic tuk tuk this planet has ever seen. (Thanks Anuwat, you are a total star and Jo and I are both very, very happy that we found you and your amazing tuk tuk factory.)

Sunday morning was an early start as we had to load all our kit onto TT and be at the British Embassy by 10am. After a rigorous security check at the gates, we cruised up to the front door of the Ambassadorial Residence to find a pack of photographers and TV crews waiting for us. When Nuttanee, the Embassy’s press officer, had said she would be able to get some press along to the launch, we never expected such a good turn out. Maybe it was the lure of a morning at the Ambassador’s residence, where they do make exceedingly good cakes...

The next two hours were a blur of interviews, hanging off the side of TT for more photos, giving the Ambassador and his wife a lift in TT, as well as hurried goodbyes to cousin Bert and our friends Hannah, Jess and Andre. Then in we got in and off we went! We could never have dreamed our launch would be such a grand affair and we owe a very big thank you to Mr and Mrs Fall for their amazing hospitality. Even better - Mr Fall might get a tuk tuk from Anuwat to drive round Wiltshire in his retirement. Spread that tuk tuk love!

Jo and Ants pose with the tuk tuk

Since then we’ve been speeding north in Ting Tong. Jo was at the wheel for the first two days, cursing everyones slow driving and bombing past astonished drivers at 65mph in the fast lane. Despite the floods in the north of Thailand, the terrible Indonesian earthquake and the strife in East Timor, we made it into seven Thai newspapers on Monday and were featured on two TV stations.

We’ve also heard from those back home in Blighty that we’ve also been gracing the airwaves on Radio 2 and Five Live and have been on the BBC website. Even weirder, Ting Tong also appears in papers as diverse as the Indian Financial Times, The Herald and The Pakistani Globe. Why on earth would someone in Karachi want to read about a bright pink tuk tuk?

We’re in Khao Yai National Park now, where The Beach was filmed. Our hut is surrounded by jungle and I’m hoping we wont get eaten by a hungry tiger in the middle of the night. 200 miles down only about another 11,800 to go..."

Love Ants (and Jo) x

Wednesday 31st May: Phimai, Thailand
Jo writes...

"Day four and I apologise that the updates have been slightly lacking, particularly from me. You should be able to recognise my updates as I do typos and write a bit like a 10 year old. Ants, on the other hand, uses long words that I don't always understand. So, I will appeal to those of a low IQ and Ants to those with a higher IQ and a dictionary shoved up their arse.

We drove from Kai Yao National Park to Phimai today, just over 200 kms. The drive here was fairly amusing. People were pulling up level with us on the freeway, winding down their windows to wave and take photos. And when we stopped for lunch at a tiny roadside cafe, the owner rushed out brandishing yesterday's newspaper with Ting Tong on the front page!. More photos were taken, lunch was free and a crate of water were loaded onboard before we waved and tukked off up the road.

Jo and Ants pose with the tuk tuk

So we are now in Phimai and I really need a good wash. I am grubby all over, particularly my feet which gather dust as we zip down the highway at 60mph (yes, Ting Tong is very fast).

Just arrived from Khao Yai National Park, which was pretty chilled with the worst food I have ever tasted. Last night we ate crisps, raisins and drank beer - that was supper. Dad bought some Thai crisps, but didn't realise they were cuttlefish flavour. He looked quite unamused. I fed a deer some raisins and gave it a good head rub - my hands were very dirty afterwards. In fact I am so dirty right now, you can now call me Christina (Aguilera - the older readers probably don't know who she is, which is probably for the best).

It was quite high up in the Park (over 1000m I think) and we encountered all kinds of bugs, but no mozzies. It was cool enough not to need the fan or air con, but the showers were cold and therefore I only washed the necessary soft parts. Anyway, time about to run out as quite frankly I am starting to get RSI from this damn keyboard. Big smelly and sweaty love from the slightly illiterate ruder tukker."

Love Jo (and Ants) x

Click here >> to follow the journey from the beginning
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Vientiane, Laos
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Vang Vieng, Laos
Click here >> to Ants' and Jo's update from Luang Prabang, Laos
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on arriving in China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on troubles in China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on the Stone Forest, China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on China Under Construction
Click here >> for Ant's and Jo's update; dirty tukkers in China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on Western China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on the Silk Road
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on the Great Wall of China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on sand tobogganning in the desert
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Turpan, China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's final update from China
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's first update from Kazakhstan
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Almaty, Kazakhstan
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's first update Lake Balkash, Kazakhstan
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on their impressions of Kazakhstan
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's first update on Russia
Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's thoughts on Russia

Why are Ants and Jo undertaking this crazy trip?
The girls are completing the 12,000 mile journey from Bangkok to Brighton in an attempt to raise £50,000 for the mental health charity Mind. Here at gapyear.com, we fully support their efforts and wish them the best of luck in their challenge. We'd also ask that anyone who has a spare few pennies sponsors Ants and Jo, as it really is a fantastic cause.

Click here >> for the full story

More about Mind Mind

Mental health problems can affect anyone, rich or poor, young or old, shattering the lives of those affected and the lives of the people close to them. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives. Each year more than 250,000 people are admitted to psychiatric hospitals and over 4,000 people take their own lives. Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales working to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

Further info

Click here >> for an interview with Ants and Jo
Click here >> to sponsor them now - every penny counts...
Click here >> for Ants and Jo's website
Click here >> to find out more about Mind
Click here >> for more fundraising information

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