French World Traveller
FOR Antony d ‘Oliveira, eking out a living in the suburbs of Paris haunted him, especially since what he really wanted to do was explore the world. When he was 20 years old, the young adventurer- feeling disillusioned- decided to take the bold step and follow his dreams. Today, Antony is officially a world traveller and Guyana is the 60th country he has visited since he started five years ago.
When he first started, Antony’s goal was to broaden his scope as an individual and made up his mind to pick himself up and get moving.
THE JOURNEY
The 25-year-old Parisian first travelled to Australia where he stayed for nine months. He then made a stopover in Indonesia before returning home to France.
It was then in the winter of October 2014 that he decided to fully pursue his adventure by taking his travels to the United Kingdom. And so, with no direction or plan in mind, but always this thirst for encounters, Antony picked himself up after returning from Indonesia just one month prior, and set out to see the world.
Today, his travels have taken him to England, the United States, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, the Fiji Islands, Japan, South Korea, Polynesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Kingdom of Tonga, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany , Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Portugal, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, China, Australia, India , Jammu-Kashmir, Nepal, Turkey, Georgia, Greece and Crete.
Antony told the Pepperpot Magazine that over the years and through his many travels, he became aware that life was more than just a journey.
THE JUMP
While on the road, Antony conceptualised the idea of ‘The Jumps’- which enables him to live on the bare necessities; a concept which he labelled the ‘guinea pig of your own experience’.
“The Jumps is a concept that has grown from day to day and keeps growing, enriching itself in a continual development. England 2014 (London): It was here that the Jumps were born. It was here that everything began. This trip was a huge click for me. It was the birth of this concept,” Antony said.
DIFFICULTIES
He related that after travelling to Australia, to return to the starting place was difficult, so much so he wanted to quit, having exhausted his savings and pocket money.
“It was with a little penny in my pocket that I decided to resume the road towards this new destination; with no knowledge or places to go, but still with this thirst for learning and to meet and live this life as if tomorrow was going to be the last,” he said.
“My beginnings in that country were remarkable. I found a job in Central London from the very first day I arrived and a hostel at an affordable price and made interesting connections. Over the days, this fine situation turned sour, more precisely at the end of the month when my money ran out.”
He told the Pepperpot Magazine at the end of the month he got himself a ‘miserable pay-cheque’ and having no more savings in his pockets he knew it would only last a few days.
It was then this young man started to sleep in the streets in his sleeping bag or under a tent so as not to spend money for accommodation.
Then the cold, hard reality hit him and he was forced to sell his MacBook and camera to get some money to offset living expenses when he lost his job as a dishwasher.
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME
He related that his journey around the world is quite an experience having visited so many countries he got the chance to get a first-hand look at the varying cultures and lifestyles of peoples of the world over.
Antony said essentially, people are all the same but are also different in their own ways; as such he believes that people should live as one and not be divided.
RACIAL PROFILING
This traveller stated that his time around the globe has not been a ‘walk in the park’ and has had its difficulties. He admitted that as a black man travelling, he is sometimes profiled and when he is at some airports his passport is checked repeatedly and he is unnecessarily harassed. But during his travels he has met some interesting people from all walks of life; an experience he will continue to savour.
“No matter how much or little you have, if you want to do something, money is no excuse since it is mind over matter and one just needs to motivate themselves to get up and make a start,” he said.
Despite all the travelling, this young man stated that perhaps one day he would like to have a family but for now, he will continue to get out of his comfort zone and be on the go no matter how difficult it is.
Although he doesn’t have a target of how many countries he would like to visit he will continue to share his experiences through “The Jump” and enjoy the simpler things in life like sleeping out in the open.
D ‘Oliveira was a participant at the recent Harmony Village at Main Street, Georgetown where he displayed his exhibition which comprised of photos of 50 countries he visited.
It is through similar displays in various countries that Antony usually takes donations which he uses to provide for himself as he moves from place to place.
The French man told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has composed his life travels in photos which he has on display wherever he goes and people can follow his journey on his Facebook page: Antony D’Oliviera.
