Vagabond generation (3)

Big adventure, little budget

Acting on impulse without any specific plan, Fan set off last year before he could work to save up more money. He confessed his plan to his parents only a month before departing. They were worried, but he promised to write home.

With his meager 500 yuan, Fan managed to make it from eastern China to Yunnan Province in the southwest, but it wasn't easy. He hitchhiked and slept in tents most of the time. Sometimes he could only cook one meal for two or three days. He lost about 5 kilograms on the arduous voyage.

On the way, he earned small amounts of income by writing travel stories for newspapers, exporting exotic local cosmetics and accessories back to his friends and selling postcards he made from photos he shot. He made sure to send a few of those home to his anxious parents, too.

Fan said the most rewarding part of his time out in the world was seeing how strong he really was, both inside and out.

In Katmandu, Nepal, he witnessed the heavily-guarded speeches given by candidates in the country's month-long election for prime minster. In Calcutta, India, he visited a hospice founded by Mother Teresa and reflected on life while witnessing the struggles of the dying.

"I was seeking fun when I started the trip. But I came to understand the responsibilities I should shoulder, especially for my family, after a year away from home. I was unwilling to work before, but now I really want to make a living for myself," he said.

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