• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Singapore HomepageExpat Living Singapore

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
        • moonbow- where to go for date nights -11 Romantic spots for date nights
        • Canadian International School digital learning male students laptopsDigital learning and its benefits
        • Repton Schoolhouse Singapore kids outdoors play-based kindergartens in SingaporeWant your kids to learn through play?
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
        • feautureStreet Art in Singapore – spot the difference!
        • royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner39 Fun Things To Do In Singapore
        • Keppel BayThe best places to watch the sunset
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Repton Schoolhouse Singapore kids outdoors play-based kindergartens in SingaporeWant your kids to learn through play?
        • East Coast park beachThe best parks for picnics in Singapore
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
        • brain mappingThe benefits of brain mapping for your child
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • dining room table –Dining tables – where did you buy yours?
        • where to buy furniture in singaporeWhere to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!
        • furniture direct from the manufacturerHome furniture for indoor and outdoor
        • Dining roomsDining furniture that will have you drooling!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • Glamping Time + Time NsoloGlamping: The best kind of camping!
        • The Fullerton Hotel kids room tent4 fun family staycays – with deals!
        • Merdeka - Where to stay in ThailandWhere to stay in Thailand, reviews & more
        • Covid-19 travel woman mask airportCOVID-19 travel: What to expect
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • moonbow- where to go for date nights -11 Romantic spots for date nights
        • Kopi breakfastAll you need to know about kopi
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • pre-loved designer clothesBuy, sell and swap pre-loved designer clothes and accessories
        • where to buy bras in singaporeGorgeous lingerie to spice up your life!
        • Facial at homeStay at home facial products – reviewed!
        • fashoionShopping in Singapore – Fashion News
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • nutritionist in singaporeRoot cause medicine
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • frequent urge to pee overactive bladderHow to treat that frequent urge to pee
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home Β» Living in Singapore Β» Driving for charity: Could you travel 1,000km in a tuk tuk?

Driving for charity: Could you travel 1,000km in a tuk tuk?

6th July 2017 by Michaela Bisset 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/pimp-my-tuk-tuk-charity/

In September, 52 people will tick a box on their bucket lists when they spend nine days driving across Sri Lanka in customised tuk tuks. Organisers Alex Longman, Michael Phelps, Giri Candiah and Eamonn Ling explain the motivation behind Pimp My Tuk Tuk (PMTT) and its significant local impact.

Pimp my tuk tuk
Chris and Jerry from Team Lantern in 2015

What was the inspiration to start PMTT?

Seven years ago, a group of us were brainstorming novel ways to celebrate a milestone birthday of Nick Sutcliffe, one of the founders. He had spent time working and living in India, and thought the idea of driving tuk tuks would be a fantastic way to see the country, put some smiles on faces and bond as friends. The idea grew from there. We decided to make PMTT even more special and include a charity venture to focus on helping children that were less fortunate than our own. Our inaugural ride was in India in 2013, followed by Sri Lanka in 2015 and again in 2017.

How does PMTT’s fundraising improve the lives of Sri Lankans and others?

We work with two charities: Food from the Heart in Singapore and the Foundation of Goodness in Sri Lanka. Food from the Heart provides food and goods parcels for low income families; some of our riders have previously volunteered by packing food parcels and helping with the weekly deliveries.

Pimp my tuk tuk

The funds and awareness raised in 2015 for the Foundation of Goodness have changed over 19,000 people’s lives through everything from dental and medical care, to training and life skills, from the very young to the elderly.

And we are all very passionate about clean water projects. In 2015, we built a reverse osmosis water purification plant in a remote village where many deaths (due to chronic kidney disease) were attributed to dirty water. The water plant supports about 500 families, or 1,500 people. Most of the riders have continued to donate monthly since building the plant and being there for the official opening in 2015. They were so taken aback at how much so little can do. Since then, we have built three water plants around Sri Lanka and we aim to build one a year.

 

Tell us a little about the riders this year.

The 52 of us are all up for a challenge: to do something different and to help those less fortunate than ourselves. In general, we’ve all lived and worked in Asia and are mostly professionals who work, or have worked in multinational companies. Importantly, the trips are fully self-funded and all monies raised go directly to the charities. How does a typical day unfold on the road? Each day is different depending on where we are, how far and in what conditions we are driving, and if riders need to be in a specific place at a specific time – for example, a visit to a school for the disadvantaged, or a sponsor visit.

Pimp my tuk tuk
A stop to meet aspiring cricket players at the Centre of Excellence at Foundation of Goodness in 2015

We generally start early – around 6am. Each tuk tuk team checks that their vehicle is in working order and has adequate fuel levels, and ensures they have sufficient water for the day. There may be a quick meeting to discuss timings, but teams are free to choose whichever route they think best to get from A to B; sometimes there are some counterintuitive decisions! Factors affecting the routes include the availability of places to refuel, road conditions, scenic versus shortest route, timings and sometimes the places of interest along the way.

Generally things go smoothly, but teams do occasionally get lost, run out of fuel, breakdown or get caught in poor weather. Sometimes the driving days can be very long. Once we reach our destination, the riders are free to relax, share the day’s stories, catch up with family, sample the local cuisine or explore the surroundings.

Any logistical challenges?

PMTT is becoming a trip that people put on their bucket list. The major challenge is the sheer numbers of participants – 52 this year! That’s a lot of flights to book, and international driving licences to apply for. Once we’re on the trip, it’s like β€œherding cats”; it takes a lot of organisation to make sure everyone gets on their way every morning and reaches home each evening.

Tuk tuks aren’t known as the most comfortable vehicles; is it a physically gruelling ride?

There is certainly a physical aspect to the trip – especially for a group of middle-aged folk. Fundamentally, tuk tuks are designed for short urban hops, rather than long cross-country journeys in variable road conditions. But we all make the best of it, and end up falling in love with our tuk tuk β€œchariots”.

Pimp my tuk tuk
β€œThings generally go smoothly, but teams do occasionally get lost, run out of fuel, breakdown or get caught in poor weather”

Event Stats

Distance: 1,400km

Start and end: Colombo, Sri Lanka

Riders: 52

Tuk tuks: 26

Fundraising target: S$250,000

Recipient charities: Foundation of Goodness (Sri Lanka) and Food from the Heart (Singapore)

 

PMTT is looking for corporate sponsors to help a good cause. Get in touch at pimpmytuktuk.org.

This article first appeared in the June 2017 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Charity Pimp my tuk tuk

Michaela Bisset

Michaela is the youngest member of the Expat Living team and therefore the best one. She's London born but Singapore grown. Third culture kid. She’s always on the lookout for the best drinking deals and latest vegetarian bites.

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

where to buy furniture in singapore

Where to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!

royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner

39 Fun Things To Do In Singapore

kate marsden facial review iyac med spa aesthetic clinic

Best facials in Singapore: Our reviews!

brunch st regis singapore

Best Brunch Places in Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

hair salon in Singapore before and after

Best Hair Salon In Singapore – Our Favourites

What's On

Singapore International Photography Festival exhibition

Singapore International Photography Festival 2020

Stone Stacks Stefanie Hauger solo exhibition Miaja Art Collections

Stone Stacks

ThisConnect - Threading Worlds

ThisConnect – Threading Worlds

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

Battle between Rama and Ravana Faith Beauty Love Hope Our Stories, Your ACM Asian Civilisations Museum

Faith Beauty Love Hope – Our Stories, Your ACM

Perfect Stranger by Dawn Ng asian civilisations museum exhibition

Perfect Stranger

Expat Living Singapore πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬

expatlivingsg

Open
We are looking for readers for to tell us about their area and why they love it. 

We will send you some questions to answer (you can see an example in our stories) and feature you in the Street Talk section of our print issue and will also publish online. 

Drop us a PM with some info of where you stay and we will get our team to be in touch 😊
Open
If you’re looking for fun and memorable ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts or dates, we’ve gathered some that will earn you major brownie points. 

Flowers, staycations, workshops, spas, jewellery, romantic meals and even bungy jumping, we’ll let you do the choosing – or should we say wooing!

Take a look at the link on our stories ❀️
Open
Get our February issue delivered to you! To order, visit πŸ‘‰ expatliving.sg/mag/ig

In this issue, go behind the lens and meet a couple who married under COVID restrictions, check out Greek restaurants for your Valentine’s Day dinner (and what to wear for it!), shop for fun kids’ furniture and find out how to win some stunning jewellery!
Open
Friday Giveaway! 

We love competitions and we have a fantastic 1-night stay in a Family Suite up for grabs with complimentary breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children at the InterContinental Singapore. 

To stand a chance to win, all you need to do is tag friends, follow @expatlivingsg and @interconsin on Instagram, then click on the link in our stories to enter. 

We will choose a winner on 5th February, so hurry and enter now. 

Good luck!  #intercontinentalsingapore #expatlivingsg #expatlife #singapore #intercontinentalLife #relax #vacationlife #staycation #win #familyfun #beautifulhotels #funhotel
Open
If the men in your life don’t like shopping around too much you can save your sanity by sending them the link to our article on the 10 best places to buy shirts πŸ‘” 

The link is on our stories
Open
Don’t we all love a home makeover! 

If you are looking for some easy, low-commitment ways to spruce up your home for the new year we have six tips on how to do a home makeover from Caroline Chin Geyler (link on our stories) she’s the founder and principal stylist of award-winning interior styling firm Arete Culture. 

The company is a four-time Gold Winner in our Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards (2017-2020) in the interior design and home styling category so they certainly know their stuff. 

As well as some fab tips she’s offering a special Chinese New Year makeover offer, too. At last our homes can look as stunning as these do @areteculture
Open
Guys: did you know that your skin is structurally different from that of ladies? For most men, androgen (testosterone) stimulation results in skin that’s thicker and tougher than women’s skin. This also means you might need something more than just your wife’s, mum’s or sister’s moisturiser or face wash! 

Lumin was founded on this concept; this California-based online store offers simple yet effective skincare for men, tailored to different skin types and concerns. So, whether you’re looking for a good face cleanser or a moisturiser for men, this is one brand to check out.

To differentiate Lumin from other men’s skincare brands, founders Richard Hong and Darwish Gani flew to South Korea to work on formulas that benefit the thicker and more stubborn skin constructs of men. Most of the ingredients used are powerful plant-based extracts like ginger root, rosemary, coffee and shea butter. The paraben-free and cruelty-free brand also makes a point of avoiding unnecessary nasties commonly associated with popular off-the-shelf products.

If it’s your first time shopping for men’s skincare, you’ll be glad to know that the Lumin experience is simple and fuss-free. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you’ll get a personalised skincare regime that’s suited to your skin type and lifestyle. You can choose to go with a one-time purchase or have your products delivered on a subscription basis. Alternatively, shop from the curated range of skincare sets catered to different budgets and preferences.

Read about our readers review on our stories
Open
We are completely in love with the new Bvlgari Parfum Allegra that lets you customise your own scent...how cool is that! 
 
Step 1 - select your base fragrance 
Step 2 - personalise your fragrance with a magnifying essence 

The bottles are so pretty we want them all πŸ’• 
 
The Allegra collection is available online at bulgari.com/en-sg and in-store at the Takashimaya Department Store from 19th January and if you can’t wait they also have a pop up only for today at ION SKY
Open
Say hello to our latest Kids' Guide! Want a free copy delivered to you? Visit πŸ‘‰ expatliving.sg/KG and place your order before 30 January.
 
🧸 The guide has everything from finding an obstetrician and caring for your newborn, to fun activities and choosing the right schools for your child. There’s also lots of useful advice from other mums and dads.
Open
We love finding cool places to check out at weekends.

The Whiskey Library at the chic Vagabond Club Hotel is a must for Whiskey lovers. 

Be entertained by bespoke adventures such as specially curated (sung and told) Jazz stories, intimate theatre sessions, book readings, artist evenings, musical showcases, and even independent film premieres whilst enjoying delightful small bites. 

With a choice of over 1,000 rare and unique whiskeys you can even book a cool Staycation so you don’t have to travel home! @thevagabondclub
Open
So if you are still managing to cling onto dry January or still pondering whether to do dry February (like some of us here at EL), then you must check out our round up (link on stories) of alcohol free drinks to stock up on...we also spotted some pretty cool cocktail recipes on the links to help you out🍸🍹
Open
We are on the lookout for cute baby pics for our next issue. Have you or a friend just had a baby? Send over a baby pic with the date of birth and parents names to editorial@expatliving.sg and we'll feature them in our next issue (swipe to see an example of our baby noticeboard). Tag some friends in this post to share their news with us. 

All babies will receive a free personalised print from the gorgeous @hellosammyeve worth $150 (see 3rd pic). 

We just can’t wait to see the pics of those cute bubbasπŸ‘Ά
Open
We are craving those pineapple tarts from @littlehouseofdreams packaged in a pretty eco-friendly canister with an engraved bamboo lid.

Check out their pretty gifts, hampers and roasts to help you usher in the year of the πŸ‚ 

15% off regular items and 10% off gift sets until 31st Jan
Open
Hunting for new foodie places is a tough job but someone has to do it! 

Check out our stories link for a few new hot spots to try. There are more listed in our January print issue and others springing up next month!

Tag your favourite hot spots in our comments, we are always on the lookout πŸ‘€ 🍽🍷🍻🍹
Open
We had some wonderful  celebrations today for our amazing Editor in Chief Rebecca. Happy Birthday and lots of love from all of the EL team ❀️ x
Open
We love cocktails in a can, what an easy start to kick off your weekend. Available in Espresso Martini, Margarita, Pineapple Daiquiri & Negroni - yum!  Order @curatif
Open
Time to get moving!

Our fitness experts share top tips helping to stick to those New Years resolutions πŸ‹οΈ πŸ§˜β€β™€οΈ πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ 

Link in our stories
Open
The rain and cold winds getting you down? A warm beverage and maybe a good book to snuggle up to might just chase the blues away!

If hot chocolate is too mainstream for you, could we offer up this red velvet alternative? @littlefarms have a wide selection of oat milks, almond milks and soy milk options. 

Since it's #Veganuary, we recommend using dairy free milks to recreate this recipe....

2 cups non-dairy milk of choice
4 medjool dates (pitted)
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon beet powder

Add the milk and dates into a saucepan.
Heat, over medium, until it reaches a simmer. Add the warm milk with the dates and the remaining ingredients into a high speed blender.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Serve and enjoy! 

Image and recipe courtesy of @darngoodveggies
Open
Read our January issue on any device for free! To get started, visit πŸ‘‰ expatliving.sg/digital/IG
In this issue, step inside a heritage shophouse, find out where our readers buy their carpets and dining tables, discover amazing glamping locations, plus find out how you can win a glamorous home decor prize worth over $7K!
Open
πŸŽ‰ We're so pleased to announce the winners of our Readers' Choice Awards! Congrats to all the companies who were voted among the best in Singapore, and to the voters who won the amazing prizes. See the full results online nowΒ at πŸ‘‰ expatliving.sg/readerschoice

.
#expatlivingsg #sgbusinesses #singaporebusiness #elsgreaderschoice
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.