On May 8, 2021, 33-year-old Holland resident Tom Boerman departed his home country, embarking on a journey of incredible proportions.
Mr Boerman is on a trek across all continents on foot – a 25-thousand-mile-long walk through seven continents including Antarctica.
Last week, on day 435 of his journey, Tom made his way into Mackay, posting on a local Facebook group looking for a place to stay.
“I travel for the experiences, and I walk for the talks,” Mr Boerman said.
“For example, I posted something in the Facebook group in Mackay and a few people replied.
“I stayed with my host, and he said that he had an airplane, so he took me flying – this is how it goes.
“He said, ‘if you take a day off, I will take you flying,’ so I’m not going to say no to that.”
Mr Boerman says he wasn’t happy with the life he was living in Holland and needed to do something about it.
“I was depressed, suicidal and addicted; it was time for a change,” he said.
“I sold everything and started travelling.
“Nowadays I’m just walking around the world meeting people; it’s an awesome experience.”
Mr Boerman’s travels have taken him from Holland through Europe and into Asia where he got stuck in Iran with border closures.
He made his way through the Middle East and America and eventually flew to Cairns, now making his way down the coast and into Adelaide.
He says he was pleasantly surprised with what Mackay has to offer.
“Mackay’s actually a really nice city,” he said.
“Everyone who lives below the equator is more laidback and chill.”
As Mr Boerman walks across the world, he relies on the generosity of strangers for things like water and space to set up his tent.
He loves meeting strangers all over the world and getting their perspectives on life and politics.
With this unique insight into humankind, Mr Boerman says humanity still exists.
“It doesn’t matter where it is … people are keen to help,” he said.
“If you show vulnerability, they will answer that with vulnerability.
“It’s not a fairy tale – it’s the worst way to have the best time of your life, that’s what I always say.”
Having made such a drastic change to his circumstances, Mr Boerman’s advice to people is to avoid getting stuck in a rut.
“Make sure you don’t become the prisoner of your own life,” he said.
“I always say ‘never sacrifice happiness for achievement’, and I see people in the western world striving for whatever, they just try to reach goals and achievements and I see people running and I look at their faces and I’m like, ‘why are you running? To me, it doesn’t look like you’re enjoying it.’
“I would say to people if you had only 90 days, what would you do?”
While Mr Boermn is driven by the challenge and experience, he is also walking for a cause.
“Now that I am 35 years old, I simply cannot travel for pleasure only,” he said.
“I want to give back.”
He is raising money for the Bungamati Foundation, a Nepalese social organisation assisting marginalized, poor children, women and people and strengthening the capacity of schools and communities.
“I do think we all have the right to dream, but in order to dream one needs access to education,” he said.
To find out more about Tom Boerman’s journey and to donate to his cause, visit www.iwalkaroundtheworld.com.
Tom Boerman is walking across the globe. Photo: supplied
