This 18-year-old dreamed of biking from France to the Philippines—now he's doing it
This teenager is on a bizarre yet inspiring mission to return to the Philippines from France—on a bike.
Adam Desvaux, an 18-year-old Filipino-French, began his journey on July 8, when he traveled from France to Switzerland by bike, covering the first 650 kilometers of his mission.
He documents his journey on his Instagram page, where he posts a video wrap of his week traveling to several countries.
Talking to PhilSTAR L!fe, Desavaux said he first got into biking when he was 14. "I think it really started during COVID when the excuse to go out was to bike. So everyone was kind of biking. And I enjoyed the sense of discovery and also just being able to go anywhere with a bike," he shared.
Initially, he wanted to travel around the Philippines by bike, but his mom, concerned about his safety, did not allow.
"During that time, I started dreaming even bigger. And now my dream was [to go] from France to the Philippines," he said.
Adam said that life on the road was pretty simple: he brought with him his documents, biking gears and equipment, a sleeping bag and a tent, a mini stove, and clothes. He also repairs his own bike when needed, especially since there are not many repair shops along the road, unlike in the Philippines.
"The only thing I cannot fix is if the bike breaks in half. Other than that, I think I can fix anything on the bike," he said. "The good thing about bikes is that everything is mechanical and everything is visible, so you can understand everything on a bike quickly."
Desvaux travels by bike alone for around seven to 11 hours. According to him, going solo is much easier because he can set his own pace.
"You don't rely on someone else because sometimes people have their own pace. They go faster. They go slower. Also, if someone gets tired, you have to take breaks with them. So it takes a bit longer," he said. This also allowed him to interact with the locals and fellow travelers, learn more about the country, and pick up tips to save trouble.
The thing is, a lot of people think that you have to plan for big adventures, but you're never going to be ready for big adventure.
"I talked with a guy on his journey, and he said he got fined 450 euros for bringing pepper spray," which he said can be handy during emergencies. "I get insights from other travelers to know how to deal with the local authorities. Now, I know not to bring pepper spray to the border because I don't want to get fined."
To avoid raising red flags, Desvaux ensures that he has all the necessary documents to establish his identity.
Growing through the unknown roads
Traveling alone may be overwhelming and may involve uncertainties. Adam, who hails from Cebu, said that while his dad was very proud of him taking on this challenge, his mom is worried sick.
"She prays for me every day. She's very worried. I try to update her the best I can, but I also know that I should not update her every day because in case something happens, like I lose my phone, I don't want her to get worried that I can't update that day," he shared.
"It's mostly my mom that's really having a difficult time with my travels, but she still supports me, she still is willing to go through all the stress of all the things I'm doing because she knows it's my dream," Desvaux added.
To stay safe, Desvaux said it's important to know the place. "I think it's not that dangerous. You just have to be knowledgeable and talk with people," he said.
"For example, because I know I won't be bringing any food with me when I camp in the forest, because I don't want to attract any bears...Now in Albania, I'll be bringing zero food in and into the forest, and you just learn all this stuff from talking to people," he added.
"I think in terms of safety, living in Cebu is the same as traveling here, there are still cars passing by you very fast...It's traffic, there's a bunch of things, so I think it's the same," Desvaux added.
People love to open up. People love to talk. You hear all different types of stories, and you always take a bit from everyone. And I feel like I am building myself to become a better person through other people's experiences.
Desvaux is currently on his gap year before pursuing an engineering degree in college, and he estimates that he will finish this mission in nine months. He is currently monitoring the situation in any country he may pass through, such as Iran.
"The world changes very fast. About visas, for example, all I know is I'm going to Turkey first, and I still don't know if I'll pass through Iran or if I'll go over Iran. The problem with Iran is that, because of the conflict that happened recently, their visa restrictions are very, very, very strict," he shared, adding that currently, he is leaning toward a much colder route by going over Iran.
"I should always pick the better option in terms of safety. But for now, I think it's safer to be with nature than with people," he added.
Desvaux just finished traversing Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania for his fourth week. He said he plans to pass through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, before heading to Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. And from Indonesia, he will take a boat to the Philippines.
'Mentality is the most important part'
The road to his home in Cebu may still be long, but he's excited to cover more kilometers.
"I've been having so much fun. There are problems every time, maybe your butt hurts, maybe it's too hot. But other than that, no," he said. "I've never encountered something difficult yet. Everything is always manageable, and everything always comes to your mentality. When you do trips like this, mentality is the most important part," he added.
"If you just stay strong in your head, everything seems very easy. Time passes very quickly, so I'll be in the Philippines in no time," he added.
A few weeks into this adventure, Adam said that the most memorable part of his journey so far is meeting new people.
"I've met so many amazing people along my journey with their own insights into things, with their own experience," the 18-year-old said.
"People love to open up. People love to talk. You hear all different types of stories, and you always take a bit from everyone. And I feel like I am building myself to become a better person through other people's experiences," he shared. Despite this openness, he makes sure to trust his instincts when it comes to his safety.
This mission may be big, but Desevaux assured that adventures like this do not necessarily need an elaborate plan. You just have to start.
"Preparing for this is very minimal. I spent maybe a week and a half getting all the things I needed. The thing is, a lot of people think that you have to plan for big adventures, but you're never going to be ready for big adventures," he told L!fe.
"What you've got to do is just start and learn along the way. The first week was horrible. I was bad at everything, but that's how you learn best is just being in the situation. So you just have to put yourself out there and just do what you want to do," he added.
In one of his videos, Desevaux reflected on his mission, seeing his big dream coming to life.
"I remember thinking to myself, 'This is just a stupid idea,' but then you know, just look around, and then you realize just how beautiful everything is. Even though it's so tiring, I've never felt this alive," he said while biking in the streets of Montenegro.
"This was a big dream for me since I was a little kid, so seeing all of this in real life is actually just magical," he added.
