Straits Times 1 Feb 08;
A BRITISH man has started a 2 1/2 year walk from Bristol to India without any money - to show his faith in humanity.
Equipped with only a few T-shirts, a bandage and spare sandals, former dot.com businessman Mark Boyle aims to end up at Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace of Porbandar on India's west coast after the 14,500km trek, which he reckons will take him about 2 1/2 years.
Walking up to 72km a day, he plans to work for bed and board or rely on the goodwill of people along the way through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
On his blog, www.justfortheloveofit.org/blog, Mr Boyle wrote, 'I will start writing a new chapter in my life. From this point on I endeavour to never touch money again.'
Mr Boyle describes himself as a 'freeconomist' - part of the freeconomy movement which began in the United States and aims to create a moneyless society.
'I've got some sunscreen, a good knife, a spoon, a bandage... no Visa card, no travellers' cheques, no bank accounts, zero. I won't actually touch money along the way,' the 28-year-old told BBC radio before starting his journey on Wednesday.
Describing the trip as a 'pilgrimage', he told the BBC he aims to demonstrate what he calls a 'harvest philosophy' in which people can live by sharing skills rather than using cash.
'My message is, we've got to get back to a more communal way of living,' added Mr Boyle.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
