Age: 22

D.O.B: 03/04/86

Shoe Size: 11-12

Likes: Adventures, Mysteries, Cheesecake and Walking.

Dislikes: Washing up, Laziness and Gravy.

Travel Experience (where have I been):

I believe I started thinking about my gap year at about age 10. I travelled outside Europe for the first time after finishing college, when I flew to Ghana (West Africa) to work in an orphanage, followed swiftly by a jump across the ocean to Thailand to work in an animal sanctuary, as part of my gap year. These two experiences changed me profoundly. Having never left Europe before it was a bit of a culture shock, but I found I adapted quickly, so much so that after my placement finished in Thailand I chose to extend my flights and travel solo through Cambodia and Vietnam. Upon my arrival home after these two adventures I started to hunger for more travelling and began planning my next foray into the unknown.

This was to take place the very next summer following my first year of university. This time equipped with some very close friends I took myself on an overland tour of Asia. Starting out in China we made our way via the old silk route through Pakistan and India. Following this we went our separate ways in Asia and I took myself through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam again, but in addition travelled through Laos and crossing overland back into China (I just couldn’t seem to get enough of the place).

A bit about me:

I am a Psychology graduate from the University of Leicester. I currently live in Hindhead, in Surrey.

I am quite an active person. I am currently an avid snowboarder, a mediocre break dancer and a marginally flexible Yoga pupil. I have a strong interest in language and culture, whilst at school I attended extra curricular language lessons in Russian and Japanese, in addition to the core languages of French and Spanish.

After this expedition I hope to continue my studies in Psychology. I believe that if one wishes to truly learn about and understand a subject unfamiliar to them the only way to do so is to investigate and experience it first hand, literature and accepted wisdom will only get you so far. The same can be applied to understanding different countries and cultures.

How did the idea for this expedition come about:

Ever since taking my first gap year, I have been fascinated with travelling over-land in countries I visit; I prefer to walk across country borders than fly. People undervalue the gift of bi-pedal motion. I believe travelling overland is the best way to view a country if you are only there for a limited time.

As I mentioned previously in the summer of 2006 I travelled across china, and whilst there I walked a section of the great wall, and subsequently became enthralled and enticed by its majesty. It is here that I first started contemplating the notion of this trip and wondering whether anyone could walk/had walked the whole thing. Upon my return my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and this settled it.

This trip is a self challenge, I addition to raising money for Diabetes U.K, I will be testing my own levels of commitment and endurance, not to mention seeing how long my beard will grow in 6 months. I have been training since June 2007 and am currently learning mandarin. I need to be fully prepared for any eventuality in this venture as any number of things can go wrong. However I have faith in my planning and shall endevour to maintain my sanity.