Brazilian on bicycle with mission

Brazilian on bicycle with mission

Asti Megasari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"Conquering the world" is not the right phrase to use. Rather
passion, and a mission to teach and to learn are the main driving
forces behind Argus Caruso Saturnino's determination to cycle
around the globe.

The 25-year-old Brazilian was recently in Indonesia for almost
one month as part of his journey of discovery. His mission is to
get to "know other cultures and people", said the carefree young
man.

He cycled across South America, from Brazil to the land of the
Inca Empire in Peru, before flying to Sydney to begin his east
coast journey, after which he visited East Timor and Kupang.

Saturnino cycles, sails and climbs, but it was not easy for
him to make the decision to "get on his bike".

"It was difficult for me to get away from the job ... but now
I am here and very happy," he said. "I asked myself many times
(before making the decision). I have no money but I do have my
health and plenty of time."

A strong determination, willpower and support from his family
have made Saturnino's journey possible. He has now accomplished
almost half of his trip, a feat that took him a total of 10
months.

Saturnino started his "tour de Java" from Kuta in Bali on
Sept. 8. He peddled his way through Central Java's southern
regency of Banyumas, and arrived in Jakarta 18 days later.

"The rice fields are really nice; you don't find them in
Brazil," he explained when asked about the most enjoyable part of
his journey across Indonesia.

Language can be a little bit of a problem, but this has not
stopped him from actively interacting with the locals. He often
visits town centers and takes pictures of the scenes for
remembrance sake.

He describes himself as a nomad and says, "I live a completely
different life from other people."

A bicycle and some personal belongings are all he needs in his
journey around the world. Some clothes, pants, a pair of shoes
and other basics are his loyal companions.

Often, Saturnino has to camp out in the fields when there is
no suitable accommodation available. "I sleep in cheap
accommodation, camp out, and when people invite me into their
homes, I appreciate it a lot".

This is more than just an obsession for travel. It is also a
journey of self-discovery for the architecture and urban planning
graduate.

"It helps you to understand your own culture better. In
Indonesia, people help each other, something that doesn't really
happen in Brazil."

He believes that knowing different cultures can open up
people's minds in many ways. "Traveling makes me think a lot of
the time," he said.

Determination, wisdom, responsibility and a sense of direction
are very much reflected in his stories.

Having traveled widely and experienced many things, the young
Saturnino has developed a particular sensitivity to his
surroundings.

He expressed great concern over the issue of environmental
degradation. Mother Earth is Saturnino's home.

"I have learned to respect nature much more." He thinks that
the world is moving so fast that many have neglected the
importance of having a sustainable environment.

His family values education very highly. As the second of
three children, Saturnino believes that life is all about
continuous learning, and is greatly concerned about educational
access for children in his home country.

Seeing the limited educational resources that Brazilian
students have, Saturnino is determined to share his experiences
with them.

This is not all about travel. It is an educational project at
the same time.

Saturnino writes an online journal that highlights historical,
geographical and cultural facts about the places he has visited.
The journal, he claims, has been used widely in Brazil for
educational purposes.

"I want to tell students what I have seen, everything for the
public schools is free," said the young man.

Having secured sponsorship from several organizations,
Saturnino's interest in history has compelled him to carefully
select well-known historical routes.

The Inca trail has been done and he has visited a number of
old East India Company garrison towns here. Subsequently, he
plans to cycle the silk road, the caravan trails to the Roman
empire, the routes by which Islam expanded, and Africa-Asia trade
routes.

On Thursday (Oct. 3), he continued his journey on to Malaysia
and he will pedal all the way through Thailand, Cambodia, India,
Pakistan, Turkey, Greece and several other countries.

"The idea behind this journey is to visit as many parts of the
third world as possible. I realize that I will meet some problems
but at the same time I will learn something new," said Saturnino,
who plans to write a book about his journey one day.

Having knowledge about third world countries is important for
him as it will help him "understand our brothers around the world
who are in the same situation (as in Brazil)."

His thoughtfulness on educational topics does not end here.
Saturnino has often visited schools to share his message. He also
participated in the International Cultural Festival, organized by
Paramadina, a Muslim educational institute in Jakarta, on Sept.
28.

If you are interested in following Saturnino's progress around
the world, you can check out his website:
www.pedalandoeeducando.com.br