The Great Driving Challenge | User Application

Shahdil Samuel Soundararajan & Nicola Varghese

Total Vote(s) : 223 | Total Testimonial(s) : 12

I’m a rebel without a cause and She is a saint with all the right causes. She’s the sanity to my madness, and the calm to my storm. She’s there to egg me on when I need a little encouragement, and also to temper my impulsiveness when I’m being foolhardy, though sometimes roles are reversed. My passion is automobiles and the fire in her life is Dance. I drove into her life and she danced into my heart. Even from the get go we had a common denominator, and that was our love for travel. So from the outset of our time together we’ve travelled the world getting to know the world a little and getting to know each other a whole lot more. My name is Shahdil also known as Mav and her name is Nicola also known as Nic. We’re both from Bangalore and have grown up hopefully with the right set of values and a positive outlook on life. We love life and enjoy living every moment of it. They say people can get high on life, if so be the case we’re certainly flying high. Our tastes and likes are eclectic, we love the great outdoors but we also enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life as well. We adore animals (dogs in particular) but we also tolerate the 2 legged planet of the apes’ kind. We’re young and nubile and always in for an adventure and a good time. So hopefully come join us get to know us a little better. We promise you an unbridled view of stunning scenery, humorous encounters and hopefully veritable knowledge of information on places and routes plentiful and seldom travelled.

We are the best candidates because...

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves" said Albert Einstein, (truly wise words from a truly wise man). My greatest love affair is with my car, an open road, a full tank of gas and my eternal navigator by my side - Mav. "Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly" said a smart person once. My Guardian Angel while travelling is always behind the wheel. I feel safer with him behind the wheel no matter what terrain, what car, what speed. All he has to say is his favorite saying "Let's drive" and I'm there - Nic. We were literally driven into each other’s arms and have been driving ever since. For the better part of a decade we've clocked thousands of miles across vast plains, high mountains, arid deserts, lush forests and everything in between. We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. Travelling is our life's ambition and we take it very seriously. We work to live and not live to work. Working is a means to an end and our end is the horizon. So even though we both work hard we play harder and our playground is the great unknown. Our love affair with the world as a whole leads us to keep exploring places and to travel the road less travelled. We've got a flair for adventure, a love for wildlife and a yearning to be lost in the journey of life. So if you want to be part of our trials and tribulations, experience the world through new eyes, and possibly fall in love with travelling we would be the couple to hitch your wagon to.

Our Travel Plan

Life doesn’t get better than having my partner in crime by my side, a trusty steed, a tank full of gas and an open road. We would love to travel from the hills to the seaside, from the jungles to the plains. We could look at doing the West coast of India or possibly Central and East India. The options are plentiful and choices are many and we would keep you up-to-date every step of the way. Our first choice would be from bustling city of Mumbai to Chandoli National Park. From the wilderness of the park to the sunny (now monsoon) beaches of Goa and then along the coast to the sun kissed town of Mangalore. From Sunshine to monsoon we'll cover it all while heading to God's Own Country Kerala where we touch base at Calicut and then head down to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. From the plains, up to the hills of the nilgiris with a stopover at Coonoor. Heading inland we pass through Mudumalai National Park to Coffee Central Coorg and from there onto another land of coffee Chikmaglur. Onwards to Bhadravati, Shimoga, Tunga Bhadra Dam and Bijapur. Here we exit Karnataka and head into Maharashtra and land up at the Ujani Dam. From here it’s a break for the home stretch with a stop at Pune and then onto the final burst on the expressway and onwards to Mumbai passing Lonovala. This is fluid but we will keep you enthralled through the whole trip

Our Travelogue

From the Vatican to Beijing, from the Land Down Under to the vast dunes of Arabia, we have tried to satisfy our lust for wandering. We've tried straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa and swum the Great Barrier Reef, we've climbed the Eiffel Tower and teed off from the top of the Burj Al Arab, we've skied on the Alps and bungee jumped off a bridge in Australia. We’ve had wine from Chardonnay and Saki from Tokyo; we've had Gelato from Venice and Fatira from Cairo. We've dined with the Queen and had Sushi with the Ninja's. In all we’ve visited a majority of Western Europe, a few countries in the UAE, seen the pyramids of Egypt, a couple of countries in the Orient, Australia, and a little of South East Asia. We’ve traveled from South to North and East to West in India. We’ve seen the Himalayas, we’ve seen Kanyakumari, and we’ve seen the tea gardens of Darjeeling and the Gateway of India in Mumbai. We’ve danced to Bhangra in Punjab and raved to psychedelic trance in Goa; we’ve stewed in the heat of Rajasthan and reveled in the monsoon in Kerala. We’ve driven, ridden, taken a train, travelled on top of a bus, hitched a truck ride, ridden a tractor, jumped on board a Tonga. All in all we’ve seen a little, experienced a little, done a little. But we aim to do a lot more in time eternal, so here’s taking a step in the right direction. As much as we’ve seen, it’s only a drop in the vast ocean i.e. India. While travelling the world may seem glamorous and exciting, one mustn’t forget that there is no land like India with a large array of landscapes, cultures, people, and ethnicities. We could go on and on about India but truth be told we know so little yet we yearn to know so much more. Therein lies the mystery of voyages unknown, that we wish to embark on and explore the eternal land that has spawned such a rich heritage for all of us to be proud.

Arun Emerson

If there is no way make one. Shahdil is the one who can do it. Let's face it. He's the best.

Clive VanBuerle

Truly the best ambassador for wheels, speed and motorcars, Shahdil is not tied to the ground nor restricted by the sky....he can do all and more of what this experience requires and will do it only because he can and he wants to... Nicole blends �lan, spontaneity and action through her attitude, persona and confidence. This challenge was made so Shahdil and Nicole could be in it!

Danny

Well Shahdil is my cousin.. and when it comes to taking road trips he's all about the driving.. I have been on trips with him.. and he's gone on driving for hours on end.. even when all of us are tired and sleeping in the car he'd still carry on going... Well anyways.. al the best cuz.. hope you can win this...

zac maratt

The sweetest couple iv ever know till date. Nicole & Shadil, i so wish i could give you a wild card entry into this event, unfortunately i dont own Mitsubishi. But if there is any one out there who i think deserves this drive i think its the two of you. Shadil was born handcuffed to a steering wheel, i guess that says a lot. A very mature and experienced driver. One person with whom i can actually chill out with when he is driving. Nicole is the lady gaga who is Shadils source of inspiration. She is by far the most genuine person iv ever met and has a heart of gold which only melts of Shadil, God bless you both n good luck to making it to the drive. Narain, these two realy deserve the drive, trust me when im saying this!!

Deepika

When it comes to wheels it can%u2019t be any one better than Shadil who can handle it, anytime and anyplace. He can just keep driving for days trust me on this. He deserves this drive for sure. All the best to you both. Sure to see you guys as WINNERS!

Sasha

Shahdil is a man who loves his ride and who's ride loves him back. all the best you guys.

Aditi Rabindran

If ever there was a guy who loved speed and driving, then Shahdil is the GUY. Also, always sitting beside him and giving him company is Nicole. They are the bestest couple I have had the good fortune to come across. They sure compliment each other and that%u2019s where the charm lies. They story is kinda like opposite%u2019s attract but in a Hollywood-chick-flick-but-true-to-life-haffy-ending type love story. Awwwwww.. I hope u guys get all the votes because you guys truly deserve to go & kick some high-speed ass.. :P

John V Rajendra

Just want to wish Shahdil all the best he desreves to participate in this challange

Dipti Varma

He%u2019s crazy about Speed and She%u2019s mad about the Moves! Oozing with energy, and with no short lived elements to get them soaring, Shah n Nic are just simply High on Life!! When pissed off, he%u2019d prefer best to sort his head out on a long drive with his Baby... NO,not Nicole, his Monster Truck!! A drive with him is something everyone is always up for! And why not!! With a Kick Ass Music System, Fab Music, Enough Red Bull to fuel his energy...and ours ;), even a Baton (for our security...like we%u2019d need any!), and of course Him behind the wheel with Nicole by his side,it most definitely is a High Octane Combo!! SHE drives...him crazy!! In all the good ways of course!;) Mad about Music & Movement, and Insanely Passionate about Travel, Nicole compliments Shahdil in the best possible way! All she has to say is - Shah Lets go!! And He%u2019s got his Monster raring to Fly! Her Passion for Travel has gotten her to see half the world and on her own terms!! To discover new places, within the country and outside is Top Most on her Priority List and nothing and no one can make it shift that spot! I truly wish the 2 of them all the luck cuz they quite obviously deserve this win! U Go Guys!!!

Ajay Samuel

Well! Well! Well! Shahdil and Nicole.. What can I say.. Wonderful Combination.. Shahdil might say %u201CDitch the Witch, Lets Go RACING%u201D and Nicole would surely come back sayin %u201C Ditch the Dude, Lets Go Dancing%u201D%u2026 2 people with different Passion%u2019s but one common interest .. They always want to MOVE , be It on 4 wheels or on 2 Feet.. Shahdil is this extremely fast paced Talker and a Smooth Driver and Nicole is always there to navigate him.. He cannot stop talking about the Automobile Gamut.. Be it Carburetors, Turbo chargers or anything that makes 4 wheels move.. He is a Know it all, been there done that person.. Full of Energy and a will to achieve.. You guys will surely rock the GREAT Driving Challenge%u2026 GO ON ..Smoke IT..

sundeepnayak

Shadil was born to drive & nicole was born to ride...sorry dance :)they make an awsome couple together.i have been on numerous trips with them.. and he's gone on driving for hours with nicole right next to him..even when all of us are tired and sleeping in the car they would still carry on going.u guys so deserve to win. al the best cuz.. hope you guys win this...

Shagufa Soundararajan

I am Shahdil's mother...AND I am a nervous ninny when in a vehicle. But with my son at the wheel I am quite comfortable and calm. The desire to be behind the steering wheel has governed a number of Shahdil's decisions and choices. Nicole brings out all good things in Shahdil. She gives him the support he requires while giving him the space he wants (the wind beneath his wings.). Shahdil has this inherent need to make sure that everyone he cares about is cared for and safe and Nicole compliments that (Thank you Nicole.) I hope both of you win this challenge and get to travel new roads. All the best both of you.

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