How NOT to travel India 🇮🇳

Overview

Max starts his journey in a small Kerala village with a bold plan: ride a flimsy kick scooter across southern India to reach Munnar—despite already knowing the uphill climb will be brutal.

Day 1: Scooter, Heat, and Hitchhiking into Munnar

Departure and early food fun

He fuels up with breakfast and immediately tests local flavor by trying beef paratha. Locals joke and encourage him to eat, setting a friendly, talkative tone for the day.

Road struggles and constant stops

On the route, heat and humidity repeatedly slow him down. He keeps having to stop, then cools off with coconut drinks. Along the way, he chats with other travelers—including Germans and a Chicagoan who insists on paying.

A recurring gag follows his scooter choice: people keep remarking it’s “not for India’s hills,” especially while he tries to film as well.

The climb problem—and the honest pivot

As Munnar nears, Max realizes the scooter can’t handle the climb. Instead of riding dishonestly and pushing through while miserable, he decides to hitch a ride.

He successfully flags down a car at a slow switchback—remarkably also passing through an elephant crossing zone—and the ride turns out to be one of the easiest hitchhikes of his life. It’s slower only due to construction congestion, but he arrives in Munnar with renewed energy.

Munnar: Food, Hotel Problems, and a New Plan

In Munnar, he eats biryani and struggles to find a hotel because everything is booked. Eventually, he manages to secure a bargain room with a balcony and mountain views.

He plans to continue riding toward Madurai the next day, but admits the scooter trip is already a “silly idea”—mostly because of balancing the camera, pushing uphill, and the relentless humidity. He expects to fly to Sri Lanka afterward.

Day 2: Tea Roads, “No Motor” Signs, and Ongoing Help

Chaotic roads and repeated local interactions

The next day, he rides through intense tea-plantation roads where “no motor” signs appear. He keeps running into locals who talk with him, offer advice, and laugh at his setup and situation.

Max takes steep terrain in stride—at times even using gravel shortcuts that surprisingly work.

Moments of hope (and then more struggle)

There’s a brief feeling of validation when a smoother gravel stretch makes it seem like he can finally “handle” the scooter. But when the road worsens again, the humor returns: he’s still pushing, still struggling, and still receiving help—water, directions, and encouragement.

Multiple roadside encounters

He encounters more friendly stops, including:

• Toll gate checks where nobody stops him
• Soda and water sales where locals give downhill safety advice
• Mini-conversations that spark laughter, especially about “no electric” and uphill suffering

A highlight includes a local truck/scooter interaction where people briefly want to try it. Max shares coconut and explanations like a proud (but exhausted) scooter specialist.

Final Stretch and Closing Mood

He reaches a higher point and enjoys dramatic haze and mountain views. After taking a bad shortcut back into traffic, he finds an open restaurant for lunch (chicken biryani).

The day ends with him tired but satisfied—booking a cheap stay and closing the episode with a “what a day” vibe. Even though the scooter itself has been a challenge, the trip feels more rewarding for the people and scenery than for the scooter experience.

Notable Personalities / Groups Appearing

• Max (the narrator/creator)
• A friendly man from Chicago who pays for Max and chats about cold weather
• Multiple German travelers he meets along the way
• Local hotel and restaurant staff in Kerala and Munnar
• Drivers/passengers who give him lifts/hitchhike assistance (including the ride into Munnar)
• Various locals, shop owners, and passersby who talk with him and advise on riding (especially downhill)