I interviewed Tom because it was immediately clear that he was a brother in arms when it came to travel styles and desires. Tom is a big Aussie who is actually now my boss and colleague on various tuktuk and travel related ventures. Tom was one of the cofounders of tuktukrental.com and spent a lot of time working for a social venture in the slums of India. He has a fascinating perspective on life and travel and I was excited to pick his brain on these topics and learn about his experience starting a business in Sri Lanka.
Notes:
Why are you in Sri Lanka?
Creating documentary in India about traveling environmentally responsibly, riding bikes and had an accident that caused injury to film-making partner, rented 16-year-old Tuk Tuk, and fell in love with Tuk Tuks. Visited Sri Lanka after India and thought it was a better place to start a business.
Importance of social business
Tuk Tuk mafia
Struggles setting up a foreign business in Sri Lanka
Language barrier (biggest barrier), understanding the system, getting the right information
Perception around Tuk Tuks being a vehicle for the lower class
52:45 Tom’s experience in the slums of India
1:07 India has magic
1:11 Eco-friendly traveling
Using reusable water bottles, changing culture - plastic, eating meat
1:17 Specific goal in India
Zero carbon, sustainable tourist, opportunities to make change
1:19 Eco-friendly traveling tips
Don’t go to the big hotel chains, large restaurant chains; transport: bus, train, boat instead of planes; support locals; consider your impact on local economy: drugs, alcohol
1:23 Vegetarianism
Eats on basis of carbon emissions, not wasting food
Mentioned
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
Pollinate Energy - social business Tom worked for in India
TED Talk - The Way We Think About Charity is Dead Wrong specific to nonprofit sector, overhead ratio
Vipassana Meditation
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