Getting around the world under his own steam

Canadian aims to spread green awareness as he travels without using motorised vehicles

Mr Markus Pukonen has travelled halfway round the world from Toronto, Canada, using basically just muscle power - by walking, cycling, paddling along the Mekong River and hopping for 10km on a pogo stick, and he has not even taken the escalator - sin
Mr Markus Pukonen has travelled halfway round the world from Toronto, Canada, using basically just muscle power - by walking, cycling, paddling along the Mekong River and hopping for 10km on a pogo stick, and he has not even taken the escalator - since he set out in July 2015. His feats include climbing the stairs up 57 floors to the Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool - twice. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID
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Canadian Markus Pukonen has travelled across 16 countries, three continents and made it halfway around the world in the last three years. But he has not taken a single plane ride.

Mr Pukonen is in the midst of a continuous round-the-world expedition, fittingly named Routes of Change, where he aims to travel without getting on motorised vehicles while spreading awareness for social and environmental causes.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 13, 2018, with the headline Getting around the world under his own steam. Subscribe