Every journey has a destination, but not for Merwyn Coutinho (34) and Rajiv Rathod (25), whose destination itself is an extensive journey. This duo believe in living life for the ‘present’, and have treaded across the most difficult terrains and explored diverse cultures in India and neighbouring countries. “We have no plans, no destinations and no timelines. We are just passionate about exploring and travelling,” says Coutinho. Rathod adds, “We are travellers and explorers, who seek to experience the known complexities of life, while highlighting the simplicities of existential being.” It all began when Coutinho and Rathod met through common friends in October 2005, and shared their similar interests in travelling. Their first road trip was to Goa, and later they started going to places across South India. It was in February 2008, that they decided to take a road trip from Bangalore to Bhutan. And in May 2008, this vision turned into reality as they covered 12,000 kms by car to Bhutan and back. This journey lasted for a period of 27 days.“As we passed through the dense forests, we were intrigued about what was in there — we wondered whether there were people living there,” says Rathod. Such questions crossed their minds for another year and a half as they continued their expeditions throughout South India. In January 2010 when Coutinho quit his job in Mumbai, he and Rathod made a decision to stay on the road forever.In April 2010 came their calling. That’s when Mahindra and Mahindra gave the nod for their Indo-Bhutan friendship drive. They were given two cars, and accompanying Rathod and Coutinho were eight of their friends. “It was during this 53-day drive that we learnt about camping on the road and making our own food,”said Rathod. In July 2010, Couthinho left Mumbai for good and started exploring the countryside on a 1980 Bullet, carrying bare essentials for a period of eight months. He travelled to Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. Rathod joined him along the way, and they took off on Coutinho’s ride.Their means of commuting is a 1980 ‘Bullet’ that seats two. They carry bare essentials like three to four pairs of clothes, sleeping bags, tents, phones and also rice and dal.On the way, Coutinho and Rathod work on the farms of people, at cafes and as drivers, apart from writing about the places that they see for a travel portal. “We are self funded,” says Coutinho. In December 2010, they visited Arunachal Pradesh. Rathod narrates an experience during their stay there. “We heard about tribals travelling by foot to get their supply of salt and sugar from their neighbouring village. They just take two days to cover the stretch of 240 kms. But ‘we’ took 18 days to travel back and forth by foot.” When asked about how the tribals in the regions perceive them, Rathod says, “The first thing they ask is whether you a researcher or with an NGO. If you are with an NGO, they tell not to teach them how to live,” he chuckles. “When they know that we are neither, then they ask us about life outside their little world, although the children are pretty aware of the latest Bollywood flicks and MTV styles,” he adds.In October 2011, Merwyn and Rathod are looking at going to eastern Arunachal Pradesh on their bike, and plan on staying there for three months. The duo’s experiences are documented on www.furtherandbeyond.com and are also available on facebook.
Comments
0 comment