Immediately I got a travel disease

Passion to travel was born unexpectedly

Pankevičius’ life journeys started unexpectedly. Before his first trip, he says he has never dreamed of exploring the world. But one story changed everything.

26 years ago, a traveler read about a guy who drove to Beijing by train and caught the same idea himself to replicate the stranger’s path. However, when planning the route, Dan flew to Singapore and reached Lithuania from there, traveling only on land. It was his first trip – quite long and distant. After her, the man no longer wanted to stop, he realized that his journey would become part of his life.

« I really didn’t dream about traveling the whole world because it seemed to me, perhaps even it was impossible at that time. But yes, I was immediately ill. And after half a year later, I decided to go back to the road for two months, but this time for half a year to India.

The world is a constant discovery

For many years, Dan has not only visited the world’s most popular places, but also went to those corners where tourists rarely come. One such place is Antarctica. True, people often ask Dan what’s interesting in Antarctica? He thinks there are only icebergs there. But in fact, Dan says it is a place with a very rich fauna – seals, penguin colonies are attracted to the eye, and underwater is rich in skates and whales.

The colony of penguins in Antarctica. Photo by D. Pankevičius

Another exclusive and completely opposite region explored by the traveler is South Sudan. There, Dan spent time in tribal communities, which he says is the least visited in Africa and lives very traditionally.

« The tribes live the way they lived and thousands of years ago, with little change there, civilization, very little, » said the traveler.

It is true that traveling around such places requires a lot of experience and knowledge of local traditions. Dan said that when traveling to Africa, the tribes living there, it is important to know how to access them properly – thanks to gifts and openness, he was able to make friends with the locals and get the opportunity to stay in the villages and participate in their daily activities.

The traveler revealed what gifts are mostly carried by African tribes: corn flour, millet bags, oil, salt, sugar. Locals also ask for tomato paste and tobacco.

Local tribe living in South Sudan. Photo by D. Pankevičius

« When you make friends, then you become one of them and you will surely take care of you, never hungry, allow them to stay in the countryside and just do the same things as they do – whether to go hunting or graze animals. But if a person does not have experience. – D. Pankevičius shared.

Travels – Both dangers and discoveries

Travels, of course, do not go without danger. Dan does not hide that he has repeatedly entered dangerous situations while traveling, especially in regions where military conflicts have taken place. He tells about war zones that had to see mines’ explosions, shootings.

« I would not recommend traveling around Africa when there is a pre -election period, then there are many unrest, especially in the big cities, » the traveler warned.

Equally dangerous are exotic diseases, which are often fatal. Malaria, Dengo, Chicungunia – these and other diseases are distributed by local mosquitoes, and it is extremely difficult to protect against recent diseases because of vaccinations. Dan always follows precautions on his travels: he uses sprays, sleeps under nets that protect against mosquitoes, and tries to avoid dangerous places.

My greatest enemy in nature is a mosquito.

The traveler does not hide: « My greatest enemy in nature is a mosquito. Mosquitoes distribute a lot of diseases – some are vaccinated, and in terms of others, we can only take prevention. »

The boundaries of the flavor that transcend

Mr Pankevicius admits that he is not the one who is loaded with suitcases for one dish, but the map of his tasted flavors significantly transcends the boundaries of a regular restaurant. Traveling in the world’s most remote jungle and living in the tribes of hunters, Dan tasted everything from giant worms to pythons, prickles and even monkey.

« They eat everything that moves, » he said, remembering how tribes, without raising their vegetables or animals, make what nature gives.

Members of the Papua New Guinea genus, who are immortalized with the traveler. Photo by D. Pankevičius

There are no regular dishes here – everything that occurs at hand becomes dinner.

« I was most shocked by the eating of wildlife, some places even served that creative, with fur boiling. There is no electricity in the jungle, there are no refrigerators, when people catch something, and in large heat, they catch the catch, they quickly eat. Already on the fifth day you will come and ask you to give anything, ”the man did not hide.

Jungle cuisine is the art of survival and adaptation. Still, Dan said he found a real delicacy in Africa, a locusts: « I really like them, having the opportunity to buy somewhere in Africa, I definitely take their bag with me. »

The future of dreams and travel

Despite the challenges and dangers, Dan does not stop traveling and planning new routes. He will travel to Spain in the near future, where he will visit places where he visited 20 years ago and then departed to Syria, Lebanon and Venezuela.

I have been several times in almost all countries.

“I have been several times in almost all countries. I use a smart gadget where the world is marked by the 1301 region of the world, so more than half of the regions have been visited today. There is still a place to travel in the future, ”he assured.

Dan urges everyone who dreams of traveling, not to be afraid to take the first step. The traveler suggests starting with simpler trips, such as Europe, and only later enter other regions. According to him, when confronted with something, too difficult, one may be frightened and the next time he or she is hesitant to go on the road.

« The appetite will only rise, then it could be another region – Southeast Asia. A lot of exotics, the most amazing beaches, food. Well, and then you can choose other, slightly more complex regions of travel, like Africa, » said D. Pankevicius.

« My advice would just dare to dare to travel, » the man urged.