With the drunken decision made to go for this particular Rickshaw, we woke up the next morning not really knowing what we'd agreed to! O well, time was pressing so we went to withdraw the small sum of 85,000 Indian Rupees (about 1275 pounds) from a HSBC branch (apparently not the worlds local bank!) and headed off to the backstreets of Kochi where the purchase was to be made. Again, lots of bemused looks to see westerners down these backstreets but still all really friendly. We were lead into this old mans house where him and his family made the final checks of the paperwork before we handed over the money, Prior being more interested in the monkey in the driveway. The actual deal was sealed when the eldest of the house got up and handed all the paperwork tо Matt, obviously being quite a big deal to them. (We were all very glad he wasnt to know the real destiny of his beloved Rickshaw).
Once we had possesion of the Rickshaw, the transformation of taxi to private vehicle began. With the use of masking tape, white paint, thick brushes, sandpaper and turpentine, we gave her 3 hours of loving attention to cover all the yellow taxi paint with white paint. White paint even made it onto the Crow at the front of the Rickshaw, so with a white crow on the front, there was only one stupid name that we could give her to match her ridiculous appearance.....The White Crow was born.
As for the legislation, we had to legally try and make her ours as a private vehicle........peolple said it definitely couldnt be done, completely impossible.....we thought otherwise and used bribes.
With The White Crow now ours (not legally however as foriegners arent allowed to own vehicles in India!) we began preparations to make her road worthy for a 3000km trip. A full service for about 20 quid, tyre changed and various water and food stores on board she was ready to go! Just the addition of some graphics on her sides and beak and an Indian flag flying from some electrical piping made her complete! We were on our way.
Once we had possesion of the Rickshaw, the transformation of taxi to private vehicle began. With the use of masking tape, white paint, thick brushes, sandpaper and turpentine, we gave her 3 hours of loving attention to cover all the yellow taxi paint with white paint. White paint even made it onto the Crow at the front of the Rickshaw, so with a white crow on the front, there was only one stupid name that we could give her to match her ridiculous appearance.....The White Crow was born.
As for the legislation, we had to legally try and make her ours as a private vehicle........peolple said it definitely couldnt be done, completely impossible.....we thought otherwise and used bribes.
With The White Crow now ours (not legally however as foriegners arent allowed to own vehicles in India!) we began preparations to make her road worthy for a 3000km trip. A full service for about 20 quid, tyre changed and various water and food stores on board she was ready to go! Just the addition of some graphics on her sides and beak and an Indian flag flying from some electrical piping made her complete! We were on our way.
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