Preparation Scorecard

In 2 days I leave for India, Al follows me the next day. If anyone is in contact with Shad, please let us know when he’ll get there.

Our scorecard so far:

‘Team Members’ – 2/3

Rounding up 67% is not bad. 67% is a high C, almost a B, so not exceptional, but acceptable all the same. Two thirds is a majority vote, which seems to work for most governments. Also, 2/3 of our planet is covered by ocean which supports life as we know it, and apparently, depending on who you listen to we came from the ocean in the first place. So two thirds is ok. We would however prefer 100% (or even 80% will do) so if anyone who reads this is in contact with our other 1/3, please do get him to alert us as to his whereabouts and intended time of appearance in the Indian desert just east of the Pakistan border. Thanks.

‘Shelter’ – 9/10

We have purchased a tent (an unreal little find – lightweight, low admin – opens and folds up in mere seconds, and can be set up and packed away easily by a girl). Along with the tent, a blow up mattress, pump for said blow up mattress, inflatable pillows, and sleeping bags have also been procured.

Our first nights’ accommodation in Jaisalmer is booked (although we may now have an extra bed if anyone reading will be in Jaisalmer on Saturday night).

We have not booked accommodation in Delhi for Friday and Saturday night but aim to do so this evening. Will keep you posted.

‘Transport’ – 3.5/4

Flights from Delhi to Jodhpur, booked.  Taxi from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, not so much booked. Flights from Cochin to Delhi to make our return flight to Shanghai, booked. Tuk Tuk for the other 2500km, we’ve been assured it’ll be ready and waiting with our masterful original design delicately painted all over its exterior.

‘Gadgets and other techy stuff’ – 4/6

Awesome blog, awesome. Bling camera with HD video capability for easy quality uploads while on the road, obviously. Extra video recorder for ‘ShadCam’, to be purchased tomorrow. Indian sim for GPRS and connectivity on the road so as to update awesome blog daily, to be purchased in Delhi on Thursday. Ipod for the best Indian Roadtrip Soundtrack ever, just waiting to be unleashed on our Tuk. Extra battery to allow for said soundtrack to be heard booming across the west coast of India for the entirety of our journey, to be acquired in Delhi/Jodhpur, not sure I have the required command of Mandarin Chinese for explaining why I’m taking a 16 volt battery on a plane to India.

‘Navigation’ – 1.67/3

Lonely Planet India, check. Laminated map of India (so as to last longer than 3 days on the trip), to be acquired tomorrow. Compass, I am ridiculously good at reading the sun and the moon.

‘Team Kit’ – 10/10

Head to toe Zebra suits will no doubt start many conversations along the way, and should surely endear us to the locals when we’re looking for a patch of garden on which to spend the night.

‘Hipflask’ – 10/10

This is apparently the hipflask to end all hipflasks. Initially an oversight, we will no doubt be singing Shads praises when the time comes for a Bombay Sapphire and tonic on the pier in Mumbai!

So all things considered we’re looking good. Sort of. Maybe 67%...

Shad if you're reading please call us.