Some people ask if I am travelling the world on my own. I am actually travelling around the sun, once every year, with seven billion other humans. Some of these humans I am meeting, and some of them, are giving me gifts.
My journey around the planet is made possible by the humans that give me the gift of 'point A to point B' and share that part of the journey with me. To each and everyone of you; I have an enduring gratitude and love that cannot be fully conveyed with any language that I know.
It feels like my heart is 'crowd surfing' humanity, being passed from one set of hands to another. This Blog will record each leg of my trip. It is one way for me to acknowledge my gratitude and share the story of receiving the “gift of the world”.
Below, is the list of gifts from the last eight months, destination to destination, and the name (if known) of the human that gave me the gift. Name spelling may be incorrect, for that I apologise. Locations may not be exact, in some cases I have used the name of the closest town or village. Unless stated otherwise, I have been hitch-hiking and receiving the gift of a ride.
I will post as regularly as I am able, and this Blog will end when I receive the final gift, the last leg of the trip, from wherever I will be, to Brisbane, Australia … at some unknown time in the future from an unknown gift-giver.
This list covers only the travel aspect of my trip. A comprehensive list of every gift I receive on this journey, including meals, accommodation, et cetera, will be detailed in another Blog coming soon to a URL near you.
The Gift The Gift Giver
Brisbane, Australia to London, England Kylie Brown (the gift of Currency for flight)
London to Gloucester Kylie Brown (Currency for Coach fare)
Gloucester to Bristol Kylie Brown (Currency for Bus fare)
Bristol to Stonehenge Kylie Brown (Currency for Bus fare)
Stonehenge to Bristol Kylie Brown (Currency for Bus fare)
Bristol to Walton Sorry Brother, do not remember your name
Walton to Pilton (Glastonbury Festival) Nik Rawlings
Pilton to Castle Cary train station Nik Rawlings (three weeks later)
Castle Cary to London Glasto 2011 Litter-Pickers Crew (Currency)
London to Keflavik, Iceland Frankie Burns (Currency for Flight)
Keflavik airport to Keflavik Davíð Berman
Keflavik to Keflavik (Highway) Young couple, I did not get their names
Keflavik to Keflavik (Highway) Young couple, I did not get their names
Keflavik to Reykjavik Awesome dude, loves his music
Reykjavik (city) to Reykjavik (Highway) Young guy, did not get his name
Reykjavik to Keflavik (to friend's front door) Sorry Brother, I did not get your name
Keflavik to Keflavik airport Sorry Sister, I did not get your name
Keflavik to London, England Frankie Burns (Currency for flight)
London to Brighton & back to London Kylie Brown (Currency for Coach fare)
London to Amsterdam, The Netherlands Asia Depp (Currency for Coach fare)
Amsterdam to London, England Mr & Mrs Pat Wills (Currency for Coach fare)
London to Harewood End Conni Pösl (Currency for Coach fare)
Harewood End to Bristol then Glastonbury Merlyn Haycraft & his father
Glastonbury to Farrington Gurney Awesome bloke called Pup
Farrington Gurney to Cardiff, Wales Pavel Sima from Czech Republic
Cardiff to Newport Pavel Sima - the next morning
Newport to Ross-on-Wye, England Philip (it was his daughter's 5th birthday)
Ross-on-Wye to Harewood End Ross (hope to meet you in Africa one day)
Harewood End to Gloucester Mark - peace & love my Brother, heaps of it!
Gloucester to Basingstoke was three Sorry Brother, do not remember your name
gifts, it was raining & they happened Very kind man with a daughter living in Australia
so quickly I didn't get place names British Army Soldier, family man & legend
gifts, it was raining & they happened Very kind man with a daughter living in Australia
so quickly I didn't get place names British Army Soldier, family man & legend
Basingstoke to Fleet John - Absolute Legend. I was his first hitch-hiker
Fleet to London Khalid Anees, May Allah bless you & your family
London to Barcelona, Spain Jacinta & Matt Roberts (Currency for flight)
Barcelona to Car de Deu Joan Arias - peace my Brother, much peace!
Car de Deu to Girona Sorry Brother, I didn't get you name
Girona to Orange, France Pavel from Poland - peace Brother & safe travels
Orange to Valence Olivier & Daphne (it was Daphne's birthday)
Valence to Paris Hajar. Sister, may your life be blessed, Insha'Allah
Paris - city to petrol station on Highway Sorry Brother, I did not get your name
Paris to Dijon Sebastien Jimenez - peace Brother
Dijon to Freiburg, Germany Bartalis - may the universe bless you & your family Brother
Freiburg (Autobahn) to Freiburg (city) Andrick, from Freiburg. Cheers Brother
Freiburg to Kassel (my friends front door) Tim - good luck with the decision Brother
Kassel (city) to Kassel (Autobahn) Matice - thanks Brother, a life saver :)
Kassel to Alsfeld Sorry Brother, I did not get your name
Alsfeld to Frankfurt Nano - thanks Brother, love to you & your family
Frankfurt to Kronau Chris - good luck for the Cairns Triathlon brother
Kronau to Karlsruhe Johanis - peace Brother
Karlsruhe to Baden Baden Nicole. Sister I hope your happiness lasts forever
Baden Baden to Freiburg Matthias - Dropped me at the front door
Freiburg to Baden Baden Kilian - enjoy travelling Australia with your Wife
Baden Baden to Karlsruhe Jans - hope you got to work ok Brother - peace
Karlsruhe to Hockenheim Alexander - good advice Brother, let's see :)
Hockenheim to Mannheim Ry Rhiner - best wishes for you & your family brother
Mannheim to Frankfurt Gisela Letschner - we will meet again dear Sister
Frankfurt to Alsfeld Karsten, Brother thanks for the help with Deutsch
Alsfeld to Göttingen Two young mothers, born the same year as me x
Göttingen to Magdeburg Josef Frhr. von Beverfoerde, a true Christian
Kassel to Alsfeld Sorry Brother, I did not get your name
Alsfeld to Frankfurt Nano - thanks Brother, love to you & your family
Frankfurt to Kronau Chris - good luck for the Cairns Triathlon brother
Kronau to Karlsruhe Johanis - peace Brother
Karlsruhe to Baden Baden Nicole. Sister I hope your happiness lasts forever
Baden Baden to Freiburg Matthias - Dropped me at the front door
Freiburg to Baden Baden Kilian - enjoy travelling Australia with your Wife
Baden Baden to Karlsruhe Jans - hope you got to work ok Brother - peace
Karlsruhe to Hockenheim Alexander - good advice Brother, let's see :)
Hockenheim to Mannheim Ry Rhiner - best wishes for you & your family brother
Mannheim to Frankfurt Gisela Letschner - we will meet again dear Sister
Frankfurt to Alsfeld Karsten, Brother thanks for the help with Deutsch
Alsfeld to Göttingen Two young mothers, born the same year as me x
Göttingen to Magdeburg Josef Frhr. von Beverfoerde, a true Christian
Magdeburg toTriebel Werner Pösl - peace, love & happiness Werner
Triebel to Berlin Benjamin Friedrich - much Metta my Brother
Berlin to Magdeburg Angelika & Werner Pösl - my love to you both
Magdeburg to Berlin Conni Pösl (organised for a 'ride share' Danke x)
Berlin to Wollin Dimitri & Irina - Much love to you guys x
Wollin to Braunschweig Dennis, enjoy your trip to Africa Brother!
Braunschweig to Göttingen Gelista - Sister, you are an Angel of Mother Earth
Göttingen to Kassel Norman from Kassel - peace Brother
Kassel to Reiskirchen Owe - hope the evening was fantastic Brother
Reiskirchen to Frankfurt Tolston from Berlin/Switzerland - peace Brother
Frankfurt to Rheinfelden, Switzerland Kermit - So much in common my Brother, peace
Rheinfelden to Schwyz Benjamin Friedrich - Mountain, here we come!