Benka Pulko - About Benka

Q: Why did you decide to travel around the world?
A: Because I didn't have anything better to do. I wanted to spend time doing things I liked: traveling, meeting people, visiting new places and learning new things, like how to make clam chowder. So I went. I was also inspired by Paolo Coelho's inner journey as depicted in "The Alchemist". I was lucky to meet him recently in Slovenia while both our books were on the best seller list.

Q: How long did you travel?
A: I started my journey on June 19, 1997 and returned exactly 2,000 days latter, on December 10, 2002. The preparation for the trip took five months. Now, after all is said and done, I still haven't lost the taste for living on the move and still have trouble believing the journey is over.

Q: Where did you start your journey?
A: It seemed only natural to start in my hometown Ptuj, the oldest town in Slovenia.

Q: And where did you finish it?
A: The same place I began. It was the closest spot to my mother's kitchen. I made beeline for it...

Q: How much the entire project cost?
A: I do not know exactly. If anybody asked how much they would need to do the same thing, I would suggest doing it with no less than $100,000. (US). An estimate of my spending between gasoline, photographic equipment, film and developing, shipping, food, accommodation, services, tires, airfares and the rest of the things was $53,000. (US). But, I must warn you; it was hard, very hard. This is the rock bottom budget. Living on such a budget made me earn my PhD in thriftiness. And yes, without helping hands, sponsors and donators that cost would have been much, much higher.

Q: How did you find the sponsors?
A: WORK! Hard work. Endless phone calls, applications, knocking on doors, banging on doors, pleading and convincing that I had something that would most definitely interest them. Of course, there was much disappointment, rejection and lack of understanding. But without valleys, there can be no mountains...

Q: What kind of motorcycle did you ride?
A: A red 1996 BMW F650, the friendliest bike in the world.

Q: How much experience did you have before you started the trip around the world?
A: Enough. 380 miles. It may not sound a lot, but it was enough to understand what the handlebars are for, how to use a throttle and apply the brakes. When I decided to travel the globe, my driver's license was 7 months old. I was learning and gaining experiences as I went. The knowledge from the road was in my case worth more than one from the University.

Q: What kind of motorcycle gear did you use?
A: Quite an assortment! I swear by Dainese jackets and Aerostich Darien pants. The best pants your money can buy. I have tried Darien jackets as well and they worked fine. I started with Sidi boots, followed by the Aerostich Combat model and ended with BMW's Kalahari and Savanna.

My favorite heated clothing comes from Aerostich and the best rain gear, Klima Komfort, from BMW. Road, Yoko and Dainese gloves. On rainy days I like to cover with Aerostich Triple Digit Rain Cover. As for the helmet: BMW System 3 and 4. The sexiest yet warmest motorcycle underwear on earth is made by Rukka. In Finland they really understand cold.

Q: Where did you spend nights?
A: Most of them in my flying house, as I called my tent. If that was not possible, let's say in South America, I stayed often in motels with hourly room rate or so called "love" motels. They have the greatest and the safest parking lots. That was more important than a room. In Asia there were plenty of cheap accommodation possibilities. In North America people are so open that it was not even necessary to do any more than ring a doorbell and ask a permission to pitch a tent in their yard. In Europe I got caught in cold and wet winter. That is why I left the last of my money in roadside motels. Nowhere was better than in warm homes of open hearted yet unknown soon to be new friends.

Q: What place did you like most?
A: I have many favorites. New Zealand, Japan and Canada. I am ready to pack my bags and return to just about any place I have visited. They all have a special charm or something outstanding to be remembered.

Q: The best experience?
A: Landing in Antarctica. Returning to my hometown after over half a decade. Being part of celebration for Hillary Clinton's birthday was really a ball. And jumping out of an airplane while the Space Shuttle Columbia was being launched not far away; diving with the sharks, riding under glow of the northern lights in Russia. A rhino photo hunt in Nepal, traveling through forbidden Saudi Arabia and so many others.

Q: And the worst one?
A: Traffic in India. For me it was the greatest nightmare I have encountered. In general, India is very interesting and the most colorful country of them all. But life in traffic is

something I never want to do in my life again. Next "down" was the accident in Ecuador. I crashed from the horse, not from the bike and ended up in the hospital for 10 days. When I got hit by the police in Egypt it wasn't much fun either.

Q: Have you ever been sick?
A: Yes, quite often actually. In average I was sick more while traveling than while at home. But then again, life on the open road and much harder and more demanding than the comfortable one at home.

Q: What was the most demanding part of your journey?
A: The hardest part was the fact that I was the girl for everything. There was no one who could share the burden. Yes, at the same time that was one of the better parts. I was the one did everything from servicing the bike, changing tires, writing travel reports, updating web site, emailing, trip planning, arranging visas, all the interviews, earning money, maintaining my laptop, cameras and the rest of the important things. And so many times that was done on the side of the road.

Q: Where do you live now?
A: When I am not on move I am spending most of my time in Ljubljana, Slovenia, the loveliest city of all.

Q: Have you written a book?
A: Indeed. In less than a year after the journey was completed the book was published. "Around the World Following the Sun" is a coffee table book with over 380 photos, on 220 pages. The book became one of the fastest selling coffee table books in Slovene history. It won the prestigious prize at the biggest Slovene book fair. You can read more about the book here.

Q: Do you do any public performances?
A: Yes I do. I am responding to numerous invitations from schools, universities, colleges, organizations, clubs, libraries, motorcycling events, corporations, etc. The program varies depends on the public. My performance includes and hour and a half multimedia presentation,

motivational lessons and discussion groups.

Q: Did the journey itself change you in any way?
A: Most definitely. I no longer accept "impossible" and "can not be done" as valid answers. I am more demanding. I have learned how to get most out of the time available. I hate waste of any kind: resources, time, energy, money and possibilities. My outlook on the world changed as well. I see the world as even friendlier, human and wonderful place - much more so than what media is trying to convince us of. I believe we can make it even better place with more love and less fear between humans.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: There are so many of them. There is still so much going on in the present that I can barely focus on that and have no time to contemplate the future. Firstly there is my new, humanitarian project "Believe in Yourself and Kickstart the World". Much to be done to help with the education of the children in the world (read more about the project here). I am publishing the English edition of my book and working on my new book. Still not neglecting numerous working assignments, writing articles and photographing. In any spare time I cannot stop thinking about where my next adventure is going to take me and what vehicle I should take this time.