We believe that the different forms of local transport are unique qualities of a place that, when experienced, are a vital part of a local travel experience. To know a place is to get around it the way local people do: cramming yourself into a chicken bus in South America, throwing caution to the wind in a tuk-tuk in Southeast Asia or boarding a ferry in Africa. We’re sure you will find these rides to be a brilliant bonding experience with locals.

Imagine if you could tell about actually getting to drive a rickshaw. Yes, today it is possible to get your hands on the steering bar of this ever-popular mode of transport. In which case it’s game over: Your tale would triumph, hands down. Get ready to tell the best stories about your time as a rickshaw pilot, because we’ve found the top five rickshaws that you are actually allowed to drive.

The picture here is of an evening Aarti performance at Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi, India. While many ghats performs this grand prayer ceremony, the one held at Dasaswamedh Ghat is one of the largest and best known. Here, five young, extremely talented Hindu priests preform the highly choreographed ritual with super agility and dexterity.

One of the main features of Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim is the prayer wheel, found in lines on monastery premises. Pilgrims turn these wheels, for it is believed that a prayer is released with every rotation of the wheel. The picture here is of one such wheel in the making. The artist is painting the prayer ‘om mani padme hum’ on it, which is a very popular Buddhist mantra said to increase the effect of a prayer.

All around the world, horses are often the star athletes of best-loved sports that go way back in history, most tracing their roots to the ancient equine traditions and horsemanship originally practiced in Asia and the East. We’ve taken a look at some of the most fascinating horse sports in Asia – tournaments, games and traditions that helped define the local cultures of which they are still an integral part today.

Inter-village football games are the backbone of Goan soccer, and take place during the off-season months of monsoon (June to September). Vast open fields are converted to playing pitches for these inter-village tournaments, easily identified by the large crowds blocking the roads and causing traffic jams. Held mostly in the evenings, most of the matches are thronged by crowds of locals, hoarsely encouraging their heroes, even when faced with torrential rains.