Onward Mad Drubbers
> A group of Volkswagen enthusiasts took to the roads on a drive of a lifetime through picturesque Myanmar
FOR PEOPLE like Lavarn Senthirajah, the call of the open road is irresistable. He has been making road trips around Southeast Asia since 2009. In 2012, this Volkswagen enthusiast, together with a like-minded group of friends, formed the Mad Drubbers club and set off on a four-nation drive through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, in their classic Volkswagen Beetles manufactured between 1958 and 1972.
Lavarn recalled: “People said we were mad going on these journeys, so we [called ourselves] Mad [Drubbers]. Drubbers means German engineering as all our cars are German made. “To us, it was not mad at all.” In November last year, the Mad Drubbers joined the AVOC (Andy’s Volkswagen Owners Club) for a road trip to Myanmar.
They began their journey from Kuala Lumpur at 5am on Nov 11, and drove straight through to Thailand, arriving in Myanmar on Nov 14. They spent 10 days in Myanmar exploring Bagan, Tamy, Mandalay, Napiidaw, Hpa Ann, Yangon and Mongwya, before heading back on Nov 23, and reaching Kuala Lumpur on Nov 28. Altogether, they drove some 6,940km. Lavarn said the trip was first planned for 2014, but there weren’t many takers, due to work and other commitments. He tried again last year, and this time, 11 people took up the challenge.
One of those people was Puvanandran Karuppiah, who said: “These places may not [be as popular] as other places in Asia, but they are really beautiful.”
For the trip, they packed themselves into two 1968 Volkswagen Beetles, and three Volkswagen buses that were built between 1969 and 1974, which have similar engines.
Lavarn said that having more people joining meant they could share costs, as they had to hire a local guide as well as accommodate a representative from the Myanmar Tourism Ministry to accompany them at all times.
Lavarn said he has been doing trips like this with friends for years, and they have driven through Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
“I shipped my car to east Malaysia last year, and drove from the tip of Sabah to the tip of Sarawak, and then drove from Kalimantan to Pontianak. Myanmar was one of the countries we had not [yet visited in] Southeast Asia.”
His friends would often tell him to explore Myanmar over land, because once the country is developed, much of its beauty would be lost to modernisation.
Lavarn said that while the drive was long and the roads were typical country roads, the scenic view kept them wide awake.
He added that meeting country folk who did not seem to have much, but who always greeted them with a smile, gave them a tremendous and wonderful feeling.
They initially planned to drive into India (and even made it to the border), but decided to call it off due to time constraints.
Initially, the plan was to spend seven nights driving through Myanmar, but due to poor road conditions, they ended up two days over schedule. Thankfully, their travel permit covered the extra time spent.
Among the highlights of their trip were the ancient temples they visited, the many bridges they had to cross (many built by the country’s British colonisers), the local culture they experienced, and the chance to enjoy a spectacular sunrise from a teak wood bridge over the Irrawaddy river.
Their VW buses also drew a lot of attention, and one couple who were getting married even requested to have their pictures taken next to it.
The vehicles only needed minor repairs during the trip, which most of the group could handle. They even brought their own spare parts. It also helped that the vehicles came with air-cooled engines and didn’t have radiators that needed to be cooled down.
For their next adventure, Lavarn is planning a trip through Europe by the end of this year, and intends to have their vehicles specially shipped over to the continent for the occasion.