Dearest friends!
It has been a while since you had news about our walker. Thus, let us resume his adventures on his arrival in Wuhan, on July 3rd of this year. In this city where the thermometer easily reaches 40° C. during the month of July, he grants an interview to promote his walk to the Chinese News Agency, Xinhua.
On July 18, he writes:
"I have horrible aches in my left foot; I am walking in an area that is very warm, humid and hilly; I lost a memory card holding a 10-day period of superb photos. Otherwise, all is well! The Chinese people I meet give me all kind of support; they are always so kind and courteous. The country continuously offers magnificent and peaceful landscapes. The Chinese policemen and women also bring considerable help in finding directions and night's lodging."
Around Guangde, a typhoon coming from the Pacific Ocean brings quite a bit of rain and ravages Southern China.
Jean arrives in the Shanghai suburbs on late afternoon, August 6th. Shanghai is an immense city and many had suggested all kinds of visits of the metropolis but his Chinese visa will expire soon and he must move on to the next country. When he cannot walk from one country to the next, Jean much more prefers to travel on water rather than air travel and this because of his trolley. If he has to fly, he needs to somewhat take it apart and pack it a specific way whereas on a boat, he merely has to roll it on the deck.
During the afternoon of August 8th, while China and the whole world is restlessly getting ready to watch the official opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, Jean fraternizes with the employees of Motel 168 before making his trolley ready for the next day flight to South Korea.
In the gigantic airport of Incheon, he is welcomed by Nicolas, a French supporter who has been following Jean since May 2006 and who lives in Seoul. Instantly, Nicolas and his wife, Eun Ju become Jean's angels! During almost a week, they accommodate him in their home and help him considerably for important meetings with the specialists-chiropodists of Samsung Health Center where all will be done to heal his sore feet. From the bottom of our heart, we thank the Samsung Medical Center and in particular the doctor-professor Shinae Yo and her team to have supplied free of charge, orthopedic soles and sensible advice that will allow the walker to pursue his journey with much more comfort.
During his stay in Seoul, Jean gets multiple invitations to meals and meetings. The Koreans are excellent supporters and Korean food is delicious and plentiful.
He gets back on the road on August 17th near the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, this sad border made of barbed wire that tears the country apart. Back in Seoul on the 18th and in spite of a rainy day, Jean celebrates his 53rd birthday and 8th anniversary of his walk with an Australian couple. Always as faithful as in the previous years, our friends from Buenos Aires, "Walkers for the Children" forward their best wishes.
On the next day, Jean will have a brief meeting with Canadian Ambassador, Mr. Lipman and will make a short presentation of his endeavor at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. Afterward, arrangements are taken to produce and broadcast a documentary on his walk on the Korean national channel, KBS 1. Visits to schools and children hospital, encounter with Korean people, interesting anecdotes... in sort, his everyday life. Thus Korean people will know about a part of the life of our walker. People are happy to meet him on the road and some invite him to sleep in their home.
On August 26th, by transport this time, Jean goes back to Seoul where he is greatly honored to have an interview with Mr. Kim Dae Jung, former president of South Korea and recipient of the Nobel Prize in 2000. Mr. Kim Dae Jung is one of 18 Nobel Prize winner who signed the Manifesto 2000. Both men talk about topics such as the evolution of the democracy in Asia, environment matters, the condition of children in North Korea etc.
Our most sincere thanks go to Pastor Paek who was the instigator of this memorable meeting.
Then Jean continues his progress towards the extreme south of the peninsula.
He was expected in Daejong by a friend who invites him to relieve his painful feet in a bath of warm water right in the center of the city.
On the road to Geochang where he is quite happy to see Susie again, a friend met for the first time in Mozambique 5 years previously, he crosses fields of ginseng, this well known "vitality root". Susie introduces him to her friend-teachers who welcome him with much generosity and all together on September 4th, they watch Samiingok, the famous KBS documentary.
Following the broadcast of the documentary, almost all Korean people know about Jean's mission.
On September 8th, I am very excited to tell my favorite walker that I have my plane ticket for our next meeting. Thus an appointment is set for December 12th at 21h00 at the Taipei airport. A big change this year as I will be flying over the Pacific Ocean instead of over the Atlantic as the previous years.
As Jean gets to KwangJu, a few friends take good care of him!
In Tanghkkut, on the most southern headland of the country, Mr. Woo Meong Sung who had previously walked with Jean for a whole day contacted the department of Tourism of the city and they organized a pleasant event to underline Jean's last steps in South Korea.
Jean's mission is done and well done in this country with the most sensitive inhabitants! Now by bus to Busan, situated in the southeast of the country, to embark on the ferryboat that will take him to Osaka in Japan. In the train from Osaka to Aomori, he meets Yamaguchi Takao san from Goshogawara who, during the night of September 18th, will drive him to Cape Tappi, on the Northwest peninsula of Honshu Island.
At last, I receive news from him on September 21st, from Goshogawara. It seems that the Japanese people are all equipped with computers at home and as a result Internet Cafés are almost inexistent! Jean must try to accede to his emails in a public library or a city hall or commercial establishments.
The first sketch of his route in Japan is to follow the west coast along the Sea of Japan. It is a magnificent tourist area although off-season at the present time. Late in the evening of September 22nd, he is on the site of a typical Japanese resort and asks permission to pitch his tent. Instead of sleeping in his tent, he is invited free of charge for the night, including a meal and a session in the thermal bath. Japan is situated on a "ring of fire" and offers a whole network of thermal bath establishments that are greatly appreciated by all.
Having reached Niigata on October 6th, Jean decides to change his route and heads toward Tokyo, climbing over the Echigo mountain range instead of continuing to follow the west coast.
Till next time...
Luce