KUANTAN: Going off the grid, away from the daily grind and exploring new places leisurely are indeed everyone’s dream, including that of Estonian Meigo Märk.
Nevertheless, the 27-year-old has opted for a more thrilling plan to achieve his dream...by going on a world tour on foot.
The wanderlust in Märk has seen the young musician so far globetrotting 17,356 kilometres.
From the Estonian capital of Tallinn, where he set off on May 11, 2014, Märk had backpacked across 21 countries.
From his home country, he trotted through Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iran, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, and now Malaysia.
Recently, Märk walked from Singapore into the southern state of Johor, then walked all the way to the island state of Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
When met during his short sojourn in Kuantan recently, he said his trip was inspired by several globetrotters who travelled on foot.
His passion was boosted by supportive family members who came to visit him a few times in various countries during his endeavour.
When asked what motivated him to walk each day for three years and four months, his eyes sparkled, saying, “My passion to explore the world gets intense each day.
“The dream itself is so strong that it gives me the energy to go further.”
Every day, he would walk for 30km to 40km along small roads and alleys which bring him closer to the locals and their cultures.
Due to his humble and friendly personality, Märk often gets invited to stay at the locals’ homes and treated as part of their family.
He arrived in Nepal in 2015 when the country was just struck by the devastating Gorkha earthquake.
He was invited to stay at one of the villagers’ homes where Märk helped the family to farm and rebuild their home.
“The people in Nepal were nice, so much so I took a long rest there and began to forge good relationship with them. They even started to call me ‘brother’.”
Until today, he has stayed with more than 170 families living in big cities and remote jungles, offering him shelter and warm meals.
However, there were also nights spent at cheap backpackers’ lodges or inside his tent by the beach, on top of a hill or anyway else he wishes to rest.
His journey has given him bundles of bittersweet memories.
One of the moments he cherishes the most was during his Vietnam tour, when 13 Vietnamese accompanied him for a 100km walk.
“They came all over Vietnam to support me. It was as if I’m in the Forest Gump movie, only that we were walking instead of running.”
The opposite happened when he passed through a crime-infested area in a rural district of a country he declined to reveal.
Instead of being surrounded by fellow travellers, he was escorted by an armed police officer for his own safety.
Once, when he was not escorted by the police, a group of people tried to rob him. But he was prepared.
“Travelling in the dangerous area, I did not wash for a week. My skin was coated with dirt, my shirt stained with ketchup and I got holes in my trousers.
“They went through my bag but found nothing except for my clothes and tent. They thought that I was as poor as the other villagers and let me pass through,” he chuckled at the recollection.
With zeal in his voice, he reiterated his drive to continue his quest for another seven years to embrace the beauty and diversity in the world.
Before continuing his epic journey, he revealed that he would walk all the way to Pekan and Rompin before entering Johor, where he would cross over to Singapore again.
“I will take a boat (from Singapore) to Indonesia,” he said.
Märk’s remarkable journey is documented and updated on his Facebook page, The Walk Around The World.