Most people we have spoken to seems to believe that travelling such a great distance in such an unreliable vehicle is pure madness. We agree, but nonetheless have decided to go. If all goes well, although we can't possibly understand how it will, many more stupid trips lie ahead of us. An overview of this year's trip can be found here.
Here are the three crazy bastards that make up team The Swedest Things for the Rickshaw Run Spring 2010.
Sebastian Billebo
Quick guide:
Age: Will hopefully turn 31 on the way to Gangtok.
Lives: Stockholm, Sweden.
Favorite Swedish scrabble word: Mellangården. Not only a place in Astrid Lindgren's fairytales.
Role in the team: Puts the team on the right track when everyone else has failed. Quizmaster and general entertainer.
Biggest weakness: Complete lack of driving skills.
Biggest strength: Acute sense of direction. Also knows actual Indian people.
Knowledge of India: Decent knowledge of parts way off our actual route.
Map skills: Spent four years on the professional map reading tour.
Sense of direction: Superior. Can find a needle in a haystack in under two minutes. Any needle, any haystack.
Mecanical skills: Theoretical skills: 6/10. Practical skills: -4/10.
Sofia Billebo
Quick guide:
Age: In this life I have lived for 25 years.
Lives: Nowhere, really. I will fly to India from Borneo if that counts.
Favorite Swedish scrabble word: Salaam Aleikum, but nobody ever lets that pass. It's two words, it's not Swedish, don't get me started.
Role in the team: Spiritual guide.
Biggest weakness: Fear of animals.
Biggest strength: Respect for animals.
Knowledge of India: We have met several times in my dreams. Hopefully my internal map is correct.
Map skills: Who needs them with my brother in my team.
Sense of direction: My feeling is my biggest asset. If you ask me, I am always aware.
Mecanical skills: Imagination and stubbornness.
Fredrik Malmqvist
Quick guide:
Age: In my very early thirties.
Lives: Stockholm, Sweden.
Favorite Swedish scrabble word: Zloty. Triple word score on that one and it is all over, baby.
Role in the team: Driver, navigator and keeper of good spirits.
Biggest weakness: Inability to wake up early.
Biggest strength: Ability to stay up late.
Knowledge of India: Poor.
Map skills: Excellent. Second in the world map reading skills compeition 2006, 2008 and 2009. Injured in 2007.
Sense of direction: Incredibly nonexistent. It is scary, really. Could easily get lost in my own living room, or any other room for that matter.
Mecanical skills: Whatever the lowest score is.