Hi everybody,

Today is December 3rd 2003. In a bit less than 1 month will start the realization of my dream : the tour of the world by hitch-hiking using only cars and boats as means of transportation.

Indeed, I have now graduated (Master of Science in Management) and I am now focusing on the realization of this project that I’ve been thinking about for the last 2 years.

You have wished to be on my "mailing list" and I am really grateful. You’ll be for me very important since you’ll be my only link with the "real" world. Moreover, as I will not always be able to follow what’s going on around the world, maybe you could give me advice especially concerning countries not to cross (because of political situation). For my part, I will try to share my experience as much as I can.

Why hitch-hiking ?

Hitch-hiking is not new to me, I have had more than 25,000 miles of personal hitch-hiking experience throughout Europe. Indeed, my passion for hitch-hiking came very early since I’ve quickly realized how enriching it was to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds. Moreover, traveling thousands of miles without spending much money is an advantage for a student.

How long is this tour of the world going to last ?

To be honest with you, I have no idea, this tour can last 6 months, 1 year or even 2 years. However, I think it will last about 18 months.

When am I going to start ?

On January 1st 2003 by 6pm

Why travel alone ?

Traveling alone can look surprising and dangerous but I think it is the best way to be open to meet new people and to really feel into local cultures. Moreover, leaving alone is having a greater flexibility. Maybe the expected route will completly change, maybe I will stay in a particular place for a few week. I want to be FREE to do whatever I want. However, maybe I’ll have some travelmates.

Expected route ?

As I’ve explained earlier, the route I’m gonna tell you can change. This route has been made according to the weather conditions, the main routes and the affinities I have with some countries.

On January 1st 2003, I’m gonna head south to Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. In Dakar, I’m going to try something I’ve never done before : boat hitch-hiking. I’m going to ask boats (large boats that carry wares, cruise boats or even sailing boats) to work on the boat and I ask them to feed me and to take me to Brazil. In Brazil, I’m gonna head south to Ushuaïa and then North to Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Texas.

From Texas, I will go to Florida and then East coast of the USA up to Montreal in Canada. From Montreal, I will use the trans-Canadian route to Vancouver and then reach San Francisco to hitch-hike with boats again. This time, the goal will be Australia (about 3 or 4 weeks long !). From Australia, I will go to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thaïland, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar (Birmania), Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaïdjan, Armenia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany and back to FRANCE.

2 Humanitarian missions

To give a humanitarian dimension to my adventure, I will be involved in both of the following humanitarian missions :

  the organization of activities (competitions and games) to improve the daily lives of sick children in a hospital complex in Belo Horizonte (Brazil).

  The help in the completion of various construction projects in a hospital complex in Hanoï (Vietnam).

1 pedagogic project

To help share my adventure and to allow sick children to benefit from my experience, I’ve decided to become the "big brother" of around thirty children who are victims of Cancer and Leukemia of Strasbourg-Hautepierre’hospital (France).

"Bigbrothering" these children will allow them to follow my tour in a privileged way thanks to the Internet (with web cam and regular e-mails), and will be an excellent means to help them discover the world even as they lay in their beds.

During the last 3 months and went to see each of the children to tell them about the project (I had of course to wear the necessary clothes to get into their rooms). It was without any doubt the most intense moment of the preparation of this tour.

Preparation

As you can imagine, such a project ask preparation. Except a part-time job with Pricewaterhousecoopers, the last 3 months were focused on the preparation of this project.

Sponsors

To make a tour of the world, even by hitch-hiking, you need money. As a recent graduate, I have no money. To this "problem", 3 solutions : make a loan, do all kind of jobs around the world or prepare a solid project to get sponsors. For my part, I’ve decided to mix the 3 solutions by trying to be sponsorized and pay the rest either by working around the world or by making a loan.

To do so, I’ve realized a brochure (that will be available on my web site from December 20th) and I went "selling" my project to companies and public institutions. The result is that I gathered around 15.000 Euros, I think it will be enough for a bit more than 1 year.

My main sponsors are :

  Danone

  Rotary Club Strasbourg

  Région Alsace (the region where I live)

  Ministère de la Jeunesse et des sports (French government)

  Dernières nouvelles d’Alsace (Regional newspaper)

  Reneka International

  Isigny Ste Mere

  + other financial donations and help in nature.

Media support

Getting media support was not my first objective but it is appreciated by the sponsors and I must admit I enjoy seeing my face in newspapers.

Indeed, first of all, I had the chance to present my project on "France 3", which is a french TC channel and I was twice on Europe 2, which is a french national radio. Moreover, I’ve had some articles in local newspapers. This was very helpful to get sponsors and will be helpful during my tour when I will have to cross borders, it shows that I don’t lie to officers.

During my tour, I will keep a chronicle on "Europe 2" twice every month and keep auditors informed about where I am and the different people I’ve met.

Languages

I should be learning Spanish and Portugese but I’m having a hard time. I will have to learn while I’m there, it’s gonna be tough...

Health

To be protected against microbes, I had to get the following shots :

  Hepatite A

  Hepatite B

  DTP

  "Encéphalite japonaise"

  Rage (Rabbies)

  "Meningite"

  Yellow fever

  Typhoïd fever

I’ve also been surgeoned with my eyes not to wear neither any contacts nor glasses anymore. What a pleasure !

Ok, enough for today, the next email will concern the web site at the end of the month and then the departure.

Bye

Ludo

"when there is a will, there is a way" I don’t remember who wrote this sentence but I like it.