BRAVE FUNDS HIS TRAVELS WITH ART
Would you dare to travel without money? How would it even be possible?
Mert Gültekin knows – and he does. This artistic student from Istanbul, Turkey, gets around the world with empty pockets. His key to success is to exchange drawings and paintings for food, accommodation or money that pays for activities along the way. Like our whale watching.
By selling a whale drawing on the campsite, Mert could afford a whale watching ticket with us the next day. He came up to the Ticket Center after his tour, thanked for a great experience and gave us one of his paintings of a breaching humpback.
– This was my first time whale watching and it was so amazing! What fascinates me the most is their size as they are some of the biggest animals in the world, he said.
Mert told us about his incredible journey, hitchhiking from Istanbul through Europe and eventually around Iceland. He is studying fine arts and interactive media design with a future dream of creating cartoon movies, but until then he will keep on travelling the world – without money.
– I like the challenge. Money often brings a lot of problems and I have proved that it is possible to even travel without it and be happy.
When I told him I admire his courage, he smiled and said that his name, Mert, in Turkish means "brave".
You can see more of Mert Gültekin's art and follow his journeys on @kaybolanadammert
To show his appreciation after the whale watching tour, Mert gave this painting to Gentle Giants.
Ready to hit the road again and all his awaiting adventures.
Mert travels without a penny in his pocket and exchanges drawings and paintings for food, accommodation or money that pays for activities along the way.