The man who traveled around the world, from Canada to Vietnam using "muscle and wind power"

Over the course of seven years, Markus Pukonen walked, rowed, cycled, tricycleed, skied, and rafted his way through 29 countries without using any motor vehicles.

Sharing about his adventure, Pukonen said he traveled about 80,000 km without planes, trains, cars and even without taking elevators.

Pukonen said he had been on many adventurous expeditions and had ideas for longer trips for a long time. But it was only when he learned that his father was terminally ill and had only a few weeks to live that he decided to make this special trip.

Pukonen shared that while working to extinguish a forest fire in Canada, he received a phone call from his father, saying that he had acute myeloid leukemia. Pukonen asked himself, what would he do if he only had a few weeks left to live, how to live without regrets.

After spending time with his father, about six months after his death, Pukonen planned a trip to many places around the world without using motor vehicles.

He originally planned to make a film documenting his entire journey, and even studied documentary filmmaking, but was unable to secure the funding to do so. He eventually decided to go anyway and spent five months training.

Before embarking on the trip, Pukonen founded a non-profit organization called Routes of Change, which aims to raise funds and awareness for social and environmental organizations along his journey.

After a number of “extremely stressful” weeks, Pukonen left his former home in Toronto on July 13, 2015, and walked to a canoe on Lake Ontario.

“I started on the street where I was born. From that point on, things were pretty crazy. Regardless of what happened, I did exactly what I wanted to do,” Pukonen shared.

Since then, Pukonen has tricycleed across the Canadian prairies, skied through British Columbia, rowed to Washington, Hawaii, cycled through Macau, traveled to Vietnam and kayaked to Indonesia.

Pukonen shared that he was quite surprised by many people's reactions when they learned that he absolutely does not use motor vehicles when traveling.

During his trip, Pukonen visited organizations such as: Blue Dragon Children's Foundation - a charity that provides care for children and families in need across Vietnam, Clayoquot Action (a conservation organization based in Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada) and shared their stories.

Much of his travel expenses are covered by donations from various donors. He is also given various means of transportation, including a canoe provided by Algonquin Outfitters and some outdoor gear. Pukonen has an official sponsor, Canadian tea shop JagaSilk.

“The people I met on the trip were also my biggest supporters. They were inspired by what I do. They were like angels helping me when I needed them, which was very special,” Pukonen shared.

In April 2021, Pukonen set off from India to Seychelles, a trip that took about 40 days. He met his girlfriend in the country, but this was also when India imposed travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The couple sailed together to Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. He then went to Brazil and several Caribbean islands and Florida Solo. From Florida, Pukonen paddled to Savannah, Georgia.

Pukonen cruised down the Mekong River in Vietnam and spent three months on the island of Tobago, among the many highlights of his extensive journey. He then sailed to Tofino with his sister and niece, who came to visit him on a special trip.

“I hadn't seen them since I left Canada seven years ago, so it was such a special moment that I burst into tears,” Pukonen shared.

Pukonen is gearing up to return to Toronto for a welcome home party in early July, reuniting with family and friends.

After the welcome party, Pukonen said he had few plans, other than to do something creative and farm. Pukonen said he generally likes to live in the moment. That’s also why he travels so much.

Pukonen also plans to write a book about his incredible journey and hopes to turn the story into an adventure film “unlike any other.”

According to Vietnamnet