Man walks from Bristol to India with empty pockets

A Bristol man is planning a little holiday to India with a twist : No money. Oh, and he’s walking.

Honestly, we spend years developing trains and planes and then people decide to start walking.

Irishman (wahey), Mark Boyle, is basically sick of all the focus being on money these days and so, he’s decided he’ll walk to India and fund his trip with the generosity of others.

Speaking to the BBC Mark spoke fondly of his parents’ memories of Ireland. Times of unlocked doors and neighbourly people all lending a hand in times of need.

Apparently, that’s all gone now (I maintain us Irish folk are still lovely people). Streets full of strangers and locked doors coming out your ears in Ireland. Mark is a freeconomist. A freeconomy is a community based moneyless society where people share their space, tools and skills.

Mark left for India last Wednesday and plans to go through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching his final destination, Porbandar, on the west coast of India. Porbandar is also Ghandi’s birthplace.

There have already been lots of sightings of the man himself trekking across the UK and his blog documents his trip ; the highs, the lows, the ups and downs of being homeless and blistered. Follow his progress here.

The 9,000 mile trek will take an estimated two and a half years to complete so if you’re holidaying in France, Italy Eastern Europe, Iran Afghanistan or Pakistan and you happen upon Mr Boyle spare a thought and give him a ham sandwich, eh ?