KOCHI: It’s not everyday that you see a foreigner drive an autorickshaw in India. Let alone, buy one and take a trip across the country. US globe trotters and filmmakers Marta and Nate Connella did just that. So intrigued were they by India’s diversity, they decided that the best way to understand and film the country was to travel in an autorickshaw.
Icon of India
“The autorickshaw is such a wonderful icon of India and so, we thought, it would be the most interesting way to travel.
Another reason is that there are more chances to make an auto rickshaw look special. You can paint a motorcycle, but we had crazy upholstery and fun decorations that we couldn’t put on a motorcycle. Lastly, our bags would have been hard to carry by motorcycle so the extra space was nice,” says Marta.
The couple, who identify themselves as The Tipsy Gypsies (www.thetipsygypsies.net), spent over six months on the road. They had always planned to buy an autorickshaw.
And this is the first thing they did when they arrived in Kochi.
“There were a lot of legal formalities that needed to be done. But soon, we found a local person from whom we could purchase the auto,” she says.
Breakdowns on the way
To cross state borders, the couple had to ride through the night. “The lights were not in proper condition and, sometimes, it was difficult to see through the windshield. We were always a little worried about breaking down in a really isolated place, and not be able to get to a mechanic before dark, but luckily that never happened,” says Nate.
Apart from these fears, Nate feels they had an amazing experience. “The 40km maximum speed of our auto allowed us to really see and take in the countryside.
We made so many friends along the way and connected with so many people in towns.
It really allowed for a more enriching experience. We loved traveling by train and bus but the auto allowed for a completely different experience. It also gave us the independence to go where we wanted,” he says.
Marta worked as an interior designer for an architectural firm and Nate was an advertising film editor. One year ago, they quit their jobs to travel the world full time. Right now, they make promotional films for adventure travel companies, national boards of tourism, and the hospitality business.