Explorer halfway through journey to walk around the world

Summary

Paul Solomon, a National Geographic explorer, is trekking across the globe on foot for the 'Out of Eden Walk' project. In an interview with Stephanie Sy, Solomon discusses his journey through China amid the pandemic, encountering diverse cultures and traditional lifestyles. He shares insights on migration, emphasizing human movement as a survival tool. Despite challenges, Solomon finds inspiration in the kindness of strangers and the stories they share. His journey offers a unique perspective on global interconnectedness and the enduring spirit of humanity.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Paul Solomon, a National Geographic Explorer, is undertaking a global trek on foot called 'The Out of Eden Walk'.
• 🗺️ His journey has taken him through various countries, including Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and currently, China.
• 😷 The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have forced Solomon to adapt his route, navigating around COVID hotspots in China.
• 📚 Solomon encountered a poet in China who believes he is a reincarnation of an ancient Chinese poet, highlighting the rich cultural experiences on his journey.
• 🏞️ His trek through China's Yunnan province revealed a rural, pastoral economy, contrasting with the common international media portrayal of China as a highly industrialized nation.
• 🐎 He met people who still engage in traditional ways of life, such as horse traders moving cargo over mountains and subsistence farmers.
• 🌐 The media in the U.S. often focuses on the competition between the U.S. and China, but Solomon's experiences show a more nuanced view of Chinese society.
• 👥 Solomon's walk through Yunnan involved interactions with over 25 different minority communities, each with unique languages and cosmologies.
• 🏔️ The landscapes he traversed in China varied greatly, from tropical rainforests to high-altitude snowfields in the eastern Himalayas.
• 🚶‍♂️ Despite the challenges, Solomon finds energy and inspiration from the people he meets and their willingness to share their stories.
• 🌍 He emphasizes that human movement and migration are not problems but solutions, and a natural part of human history and survival.

Q & A

What is the name of the project Paul Solomon is undertaking?

The project is called 'Out of Eden Walk.'

What is the purpose of Paul Solomon's trek around the world?

Paul Solomon is trekking the globe on foot for a project to explore and understand the micro-level stories of the world and human migration.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected Paul Solomon's journey?

The pandemic has forced Paul to adapt his route, as he had to skirt around invisible boundaries of COVID hotspots in Western China.

What kind of encounter did Paul Solomon have in China that stood out to him?

Paul Solomon spent time with a poet who believes he is a reincarnation of an ancient Chinese poet, which was a unique and interesting experience for him.

What stereotypes about China did Paul Solomon have in his mind before his visit?

Paul had a stereotype of China as a country of megacities, robotic ports, massive traffic, and bullet trains, as portrayed by international media.

What surprised Paul Solomon about his journey through Southwestern China?

Paul was surprised to find rural, pastoral economies still existing in Yunnan province, with people engaged in manual work and traditional lifestyles.

How many different minority communities did Paul Solomon walk through in Yunnan province?

Paul Solomon walked through more than 25 different minority communities in Yunnan province.

What types of landscapes did Paul Solomon experience during his walk in China?

Paul experienced a range of landscapes from tropical rainforests to the snowfields of the Eastern Himalayas at over 14,000 feet.

How does Paul Solomon view human migration in the context of his project?

Paul views human migration as the oldest tool of coping and survival, and he does not see it as a problem but rather as a solution that societies need to adapt to.

What positive impact do people have on Paul Solomon's journey?

People along the way offer help and share their stories with Paul, which provides him with positive energy to continue his journey.

What does Paul Solomon suggest about the effectiveness of building walls to stop migration?

Paul suggests that building walls has never been a successful strategy to stop migration, citing the example of the Great Wall of China.