Money may make the world go round, but spending money on transportation isn't required to travel around the world. If you need proof, just ask 29-year-old Ludovic Hubler, a French graduate with a Master of Science in Management, who has been touring the world by hitchhiking. Since January 2003, Hubler has traversed 118,000 km through 45 countries withoutspending a single cent on transport.

By using nothing more than his thumb, Hubler has crossed 1,500 km of the Sahara Desert, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Antarctica on an ice-breaker, and survived guerilla warfare and checkpoints in Colombia. The Internet has been a key resource in arranging Hubler's tour. His website (www.ludovichubler.com) documents his experiences and serves as a contact point for him on the road.

Organizations like The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) and Couch Surfing members (www.couchsurfing.com) also provide him with comfort and friendly contact in each new environment upon arrival.

As an inspiration to adventure-seekers and humanitarians, Hubler has appeared on over 30 TV stations and in hundreds of newspapers globally, sharing his travel experiences and involvement in human aid projects along the way. He's been invited to speak at over 200 schools, including the Western Academy of Beijing, and community groups around the world. His lectures cover a variety of issues from globalization and the environment, to more personal reflections and lessons learned on the road.

"Hitchhiking in China has actually been easier than I'd expected," said Hubler. "The highways are amazingly good and I can just go from one petrol station or toll way to another without much problem. Hitchhiking out of the main routes is a bit harder but still works well." In terms of interaction with locals, Hubler has used a written Chinese translation explaining his trip along with a few published articles. "Most of the Chinese people I have met have been very nice and happy to be part of my journey around the globe," he said.

Hubler will make another stop in Beijing on his way back from the Gobi Desert and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. To hear more about his experiences and find out where he's headed next, catch his lecture at The Bookworm (Building 4, South Sanlitun Road, tel: 6586 9507) on February 12 at 7:00 pm. Like hitchhiking, it's free.

(China Daily 02/07/2007 page18)