28 Mahindra XUV 500s are traversing across 9
countries, covering a total distance of 8000 kilometres and spreading
the message of solidarity. Catch all the live action from the 2012
ASEAN-India Car Rally.
On the occasion of the 20th commemorative year of India-ASEAN relations,
the 2nd edition of the ASEAN-India Car Rally was formally flagged off
from Yogyakarta, Indonesia on 27th November and will wind its way
through 8 of the 10 ASEAN countries before finally ending in New Delhi.
However, since there is no road that connects Indonesia to Singapore,
the rally begins from Singapore.
Day 1: Singapore to Ipoh (Malaysia)
28 Mahindra XUVs were lined up at
the Marina Bay Formula One Circuit for the flag off on 28th November.
Hundreds of people, including children waving flags, cheered as
Singapore foreign minister K Shanmugan flagged off the rally.
Here begins the epic journey of 28 Mahindra XUVs
carrying politicians, diplomats, movie stars, journalists, rally
enthusiasts and laymen, covering a total distance of 8000 kilometres in
20 days.
Escorted by police, the convoy hit the stunning streets of the Lion
City. The policemen stopped the traffic at every junction, giving the
convoy complete right of way and helping us reach the
Singapore-Malaysian border in less than 45 minutes. The organizers did a
commendable job of making the border crossing seamless and by 11.30 am,
the convoy entered Malaysia amid a colourful welcome ceremony at Johor
Baharu. Take a look at the beautiful cultural events at the welcome
ceremony in the video below.
After the ceremony, the convoy gathered pace along the motorway that
tore though luxuriant palm plantations. As the rally progressed and the
kaleidoscope of colours accompanied, the atmosphere suddenly turned
gloomy and it started pouring heavily. But the rain failed to dampen the
spirits of the 124 participants, as they made their way into the
Putrajaya Square for a ceremonial flag-off by the Prime Minister.
Following is a video of the cultural programme performed there.
Today, what swept me away was the commitment the Malaysian Police
displayed while escorting the rally. With utmost dedication and
scrupulousness, they
escorted us on their superbikes all the way to Ipoh, making way for us
even amid bumper to bumper traffic. Here’s a big salute to you all,
officers!
Day 2: Ipoh to Hat Yai
Ipoh city woke up to a chilly, wet Thursday morning after heavy rains
the previous night. Even after a long and strenuous Day 1, the
participants assembled near their cars at 7 am for flag off. The XUV
500s soon hit the highway and gathered pace. We had to keep an average
speed of around 140 km/h, yet the XUVs were smooth and poised.
By the time we crossed the Malaysian border and entered Thailand, the
rally had already covered more than 1000 kilometers and drivers from all
10 countries had tamed the Indian cheetah completely.
Take a look at the warm welcome the rally received at Bukit Kayu Hitam border:
Take a look at the warm welcome the rally received at Bukit Kayu Hitam border:
It was just 50 kms drive from the border to Thursday’s halt at Hat Yai.
We reached the hotel at 3.30 in the evening and everyone was desperate
to hit the sack. Since there was a gala evening arranged by the Thailand
government, we had a quick nap and left for the International
Convention Center. While we were all standing amazed and overwhelmed by
the Thai hospitality, a lot of people started gathering around one of
the snack kiosks. Pretty Thai women were making khao kriab pak mo or
sweet dumplings from the pot's mouth there. What bowled me over was not
the taste of it, but the way it is made. Here’s the video and see it for
yourself.
The dinner followed by cultural programmes and different forms of Thai
classical dance. From Serng Krapo to Nora dance, everything was staged
and what a rich ensemble of colours it was! The epitome of grace
exhibited by the dancers flushed away all the tiredness of long drives.
Watch highlights below
Day 3: Hat Yai to Phuket
It’s
a bright sunny morning in Hat Yai and the convoy is already out on the
highway towards Phuket. Unlike the monotonous highways of Malaysia, the
picturesque winding roads in Thailand are more fun to drive along.
Reaching closer to Krabi, limestone cliffs started sprouting at the
horizon. As we drew closer, the limestone karst in the background of
dramatic sky looked like a Chinese painting. Sadly, electric posts and
cables on both sides of the road all along the way desecrate the
spellbinding beauty and make photography impossible.
Lunch was arranged at a restaurant with a unique name – Cabbages and
Condoms. You heard it right; and what you see is what you get there. You
can eat the former for sure but the latter, hmm… that’s a personal
choice. Well, these guys are promoting a campaign to spread awareness
about HIV and AIDS, by distributing condoms for free and hence the name.
After all, the Indonesian food was awesome and that’s all what mattered
to us then.
A typical Thai house
The
evening at Phuket was made special by the Ministry of External affairs
with Kathak and Sitar performance and Indian dinner that made the Indian
participants miss home badly. Thai girls performed Hindi numbers as a
gesture of Thailand’s friendship with India.Watch the video
The function ended with Thai and Indian national anthems. Listening to
our Jana Gana Mana on a foreign soil kindles the patriot in you and
certainly gives you goose bumps. Saare jahan se achha… Hindustan
hamara…how true!
Day 4 on page 4>>
Day 4: Phuket to Bangkok
Bracing
ourselves for the longest drive in 20 days, we assembled for flag-off
at 6 am. We are covering 850 odd kilometers from Phuket to Bangkok
today. After an early breakfast and refueling, the convoy headed toward
Bangkok at a fast pace, with the Thailand highway Patrol clearing the
traffic for us.
Since it was a long, tedious drive without much action, I kept looking around to find out what’s unique with this country. And yes, there are some very interesting things in Thailand that catch your attention at the first sight. You might have already seen some of these, yet it’s worth taking a look at what I have put together in the following photo gallery. Click on the image to view.
Since it was a long, tedious drive without much action, I kept looking around to find out what’s unique with this country. And yes, there are some very interesting things in Thailand that catch your attention at the first sight. You might have already seen some of these, yet it’s worth taking a look at what I have put together in the following photo gallery. Click on the image to view.
Hmm... I’m kind of enjoying this VIP treatment we are getting during the
rally. There are as many as 10 police cars and rescue vans along with
an ambulance to ensure the smooth sailing of the rally. One of the cars
had a flat tyre today and would you believe there were two police cars,
one rescue van and two service cars attending to it? Thai hospitality is
legendary across the world, but the way they are treating us… it’s
something that can only be experienced, not described.
As we entered the city limits, Bangkok Metropolitan Police took over the
escort duties. Well-sculpted men wearing smart, tight uniforms and
doing the rounds in BMW 5 Series! They don't demand respect - it comes
naturally.
Day 5: Bangkok
It’s a day off today, a chance to catch up on the laundry, a number of participants have gone shopping, and in the car park, team Mahindra is attending to running repairs. The cultural programme and gala dinner hosted by Indian ambassador to Thailand, Anil Wadhwa, have been cancelled as the state will be in mourning the demise of former Prime Minister IK Gujral.
Day 5: Bangkok
It’s a day off today, a chance to catch up on the laundry, a number of participants have gone shopping, and in the car park, team Mahindra is attending to running repairs. The cultural programme and gala dinner hosted by Indian ambassador to Thailand, Anil Wadhwa, have been cancelled as the state will be in mourning the demise of former Prime Minister IK Gujral.
However, we made a quick visit to the Grand Palace in
Bangkok. The official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later
Thailand) since 1782, the Grand Palace is the epitome of Thai Wat, which
means monastery or temple. The essential element in Wat architecture is
Chofah, a decorative ornament that adorns the top at the end of Wat and
palaces roof. It resembles a tall thin bird and looks hornlike. The
Chofah is generally believed to represent the mythical creature Garuda,
half bird and half man, who is the vehicle of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Resplendent with Chofah, the palace’s asymmetry and eclectic styles come
courtesy of its organic development, with additions and rebuilding
being made by successive reigning kings over 200 years of history. Take a
virtual tour of the palace along with the ASEAN rally participants.
Day 6 on page 5 >>
Day 6: Bangkok to Siem Reap
On
the fifth day in Thailand, we are bidding goodbye to the country, and
of course with a heavy heart. The Thai government, Indian Embassy, the
Royal Thai Police, our guides… all of them did a heartwarming job of
hosting the rally in the country. However, the rally will be re-entering
Thailand from Laos, so we waved at each other with the promise of
meeting again, soon.
As I had mentioned earlier, border crossing is such a seamless process,
thanks to the tremendous efforts that went into organizing the rally.
After a very brief welcome ceremony, we entered the Kingdom of Cambodia.
There was a sea of school children waving flags to welcome us to their
country. In Cambodia, vehicles drive on the right hand side and it took a
while for the rallyists to get used to driving a right hand car on the
right hand side.
A straight road that runs across sprawling paddy fields led us to Siem
Reap. The name Siem Reap means the 'Flat Defeat of Siam' — today’s
Thailand — and refers to the centuries-old conflict between the Siamese
and Khmer peoples. You may not be familiar with the name Siem Reap, but
there’s no one who hasn’t heard of Angkor Wat. Yes, Siem Reap is home
for Angkor Wat and many other magnificent temples.
Day 7: Visit to Angkor Wat
Today is one of the most memorable days in the rally as we are visiting the temples of Siem Reap and the gorgeous Angkor Wat. Historically, India-Cambodia relations come courtesy of Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences, emanating out of India in the 4th-6th century AD, to various parts of South-East Asia. The pervading influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indian architecture, is borne out by the structures at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, and other religious and historical sites in Cambodia. Also, the Government of India agreed to preserve Angkor Wat temple when the Government of Cambodia appealed, between 1986 and 1993 and spent around four million dollars during this conservation.
Day 7: Visit to Angkor Wat
Today is one of the most memorable days in the rally as we are visiting the temples of Siem Reap and the gorgeous Angkor Wat. Historically, India-Cambodia relations come courtesy of Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences, emanating out of India in the 4th-6th century AD, to various parts of South-East Asia. The pervading influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indian architecture, is borne out by the structures at Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphuon, and other religious and historical sites in Cambodia. Also, the Government of India agreed to preserve Angkor Wat temple when the Government of Cambodia appealed, between 1986 and 1993 and spent around four million dollars during this conservation.
After visiting , Angkor Thomand Bayon temples, we reached Angkor Wat
cng lined up the XUV 500s in front of the main entrance for a photo
shoot. It was indeed a feast for the eyes to see 28 XUV 500s lined up in
front of the splendid Angkor Wat.
It was blazing hot at Angkor Wat
but we persevered. The 500-acre Angkor Wat is one of the largest
religious monuments in the world and stands as an eternal testimony of
the architectural glory of the Khmer Empire. I’ll describe the majesty
of this boulder strewn structure in another blog and for now, let’s take a look at the photographs of Angkor Wat and continue this exciting drive.
Go to page 6 for Day 8 >>Day 8: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
The beautiful Cambodia is truly a
photographer’s delight. As the convoy started rolling towards the
capital city Phnom Penh across plush green paddy fields with isolated
palm trees here and there, photographers in the group were clueless of
what to click because no camera is capable of completely capturing the
beauty of the Cambodian countryside. You need not necessarily be a
shutterbug; random clicks can get you incredible photographs.
Here's a video of the Cambodian folk dance staged at Siem Reap.
Almost 3000 kilometres into the rally, the convoy finally hit a fairly
long patch of unpaved roads. Despite the loose gravel, the convoy didn’t
slow down, thanks to the impressive ride quality of the XUV 500. At a
fast pace the convoy left a trail of dust behind, which looked
absolutely stunning under the bright sun and blue sky.
By late evening we reached Phnom Penh. Located on the banks of the
Mekong River, the city has been the national capital since French
colonization of Cambodia. The Indian Embassy in Cambodia had arranged a
cultural event at the Chaktomuk Hall. An amalgamation of traditional
dance forms from across India, it was a moment that made every Indian
participant proud. Following are the highlights of the show.
Day 9: Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City
In Cambodia, the convoy was never let alone. Not that the rally is always escorted by police and rescue team, but ever since we crossed the Cambodian border, there were hundreds of thousands of school children standing at both sides of the road, waving flags and cheering for the rally. We extended our hands and touched the li’l fingers, planting a smile on the cute small faces.
In Cambodia, the convoy was never let alone. Not that the rally is always escorted by police and rescue team, but ever since we crossed the Cambodian border, there were hundreds of thousands of school children standing at both sides of the road, waving flags and cheering for the rally. We extended our hands and touched the li’l fingers, planting a smile on the cute small faces.
The XUVs have seen highways, winding uphill roads, dirt roads and now
it’s going to cross a river by ferry. Traveling between Phnom Penh and
Ho Chi Minh City, you need to cross the Mekong river by ferry since
there’s no bridge connecting the highway, one needs to depend on ferry
but of course, it’s an exciting experience. Here’s a time-lapse video of
the convoy crossing the river.
We have been experimenting with food ever since the rally was flagged
off but today everyone was shocked to see fried tarantula spiders and
fried crickets for lunch. You’ve heard it right. Fried tarantulas are a
delicacy is the Cambodian town of Skuon. Well, it might be creepy for
some and interesting for others, but there was nothing stopping from Mr.
Ejji Umamahesh in the Indian team from scarfing down couple of them.
Ejji is a foodie and dares to eat anything that moves. He explained to
us how to eat a spider, which inspired some of us and there weren’t many
fried tarantulas left over.
The rally entered Vietnam with a warm welcome at the Moc Bai border.
Pretty girls in their traditional Vietnamese robe welcomed us with lotus
flowers. There was a swarm of superbikes awaiting us to escort the
rally to Ho Chi Minh City. Following them, we reached the beautiful city
and Christmas spirit had already lit up the city. The rallyists paid
respect to Ho Chi Minh, the great liberator of Vietnam, and proceeded to
Laos next day morning. It was a very short, but never-forgettable stay
in Vietnam, thanks to the charm of Ho Chi Minh City and the hospitality
its people extended. Take a look at the Vietnam leg in pictures below.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City to Pakse (Laos)
It was a one-off experience to have breakfast in
Vietnam, Lunch in Cambodia and dinner in Laos today. The rally left
Vietnam early in the morning, re-entered Cambodia before halting at
Pakse in Laos. Laos is the land of Champak flowers. The national flower
of Laos, Champak’s smell filled the air as we crossed the border around
7.30 at night. We received a traditional welcome at the border with
Champak garlands. Perhaps the only country in the Southeast Asia that’s
not familiar to many, Laos is land of untouched beauty and ancient
wonders.
To be continued…