The name’s OChen. Psyman OChen. Sounds like ‘Ocean’…Well not quite but when you are called Simon Ochen and do a journey from Australia to Asia mainly by sea and hitchhiking on land, you can’t be blamed if you are at times referred to as Simon Ocean. Barring one flight in Ethiopia that he was compelled to take, this transcontinental journey was undertaken without boarding a plane.
Currently living at a friend’s place in Arpora in North Goa, his journey assumes significance in the light of young climate change activist, Greta Thunburg who decided to sail on the Atlantic to reach New York shunning air travel although Psyman’s intent was to experience the world differently by challenging conventions and figure things out for himself.
At 31 years of age and absolutely disgruntled with the world and his job, Psyman decided he had to hit the road and see the world. May 13, 2013, five weeks after his epiphany, was the day of reckoning for Psyman who began this incredible journey of discovery. Not for him was the usual way of planning an itinerary, booking tickets and burning his savings but practicing a totally different way of thinking and connecting with the world by adamantly resisting to fly (except if absolutely necessary) and playing his guitar in exchange for food and boarding! “Music is intergalactic and is an extraordinary language in itself. It brings people together irrespective of backgrounds,” he exults. Going beyond border lines that divide us through different languages, cultures and food palates, Psyman has made it through with an evolved sense of self, a greater understanding of people and an all embracing belief in karma.
THE PLAN WAS TO SAIL TO BRAZIL FOR THE WORLD CUP
Says Psyman, “I hadn’t mapped out my journey but the original outline was to get to Brazil in South America for the World Cup. My intention was to also spend the duration of my visa in each country that I visited. Setting out, I drove from Melbourne through the outback to Darwin, then got a ride on a boat to Indonesia. Island hopping through Indonesia to Malaysia, I hitchhiked to Thailand and then met a captain who was open to giving me a ride to South Africa.” It’s insane when you think he did this hopping on sea via yachts and not big ships that one visualises on such journeys.
He then sailed across the Indian Ocean for 21 days without seeing land, though he did see the Chagos Archipelago, which is a marine sanctuary. “It was exhilarating to swim with the sharks, go spear fishing and be part of this beautiful expanse of ocean,” shares Psyman.
Deliriously exciting and adventurous as this sounds, one can’t help but wonder if he would have still set out on this trip if he were a woman travelling alone. Psyman responds, “Of course I am hugely privileged to be a white male with a charming crop of curly hair! It is a privilege I don’t take lightly.” Giving us an insight into the essence of who he is, Psyman also adds, “I never had aspirations for the financial world. I can’t understand why we give so much importance to money and are driven by it rather than being more mindful of our social and environmental impact and choices.”
Details of his expedition that involved sailing in the eye of a storm en route to Madagascar are nerve chilling. “Imagine heading into strong winds in pitch darkness – right into the blackhole and trying to get the water out of the boat,” he narrates and chuckles, “With 3 of us on board, it’s only when the captain casually mentioned that we were sailing in the middle of the cyclone season, did I realise the magnitude of this madness.” Overcoming fear is one of the main lessons and as Psyman rightly states, “Don’t fear ‘Fear’. We need fear to fuel us to tide over. Eventually everything passes by. What may seem daunting at that moment will pass with time.”
His plan to reach South America (remember the World Cup?) from South Africa failed when the captain of a boat / yacht he was in touch with decided to leave harbour earlier than planned. But did that stop the man, No! He just changed tracks, hitchhiked to Kenya, stayed with Musafir Kenya and worked on building a 70 foot dhow. Alas, despite trying every trick up his sleeve, the only time he had to take a flight, was to Ethiopia because overland visas were only issued to those who live in Kenya.
If all this sounds like a walkabout, the fact that he was bitten by spiders, had 5 near death experiences, had to hike through arid, dry desert lands in the Middle East and got arrested once in Zanzibar – must make you want to never attempt something similar. Well, this ain’t for the faint hearted anyway and having received military training in Israel, being of Israeli origin, Psyman is definitely made of sterner stuff.
But what one is hooked to most are the life lessons; the anecdoctes of the people he met and his rich experience. Psyman is most dismissive of people wanting to know his origins, his beliefs and the constant need to label him. When often asked about his religious beliefs and who he considered God, Psyman expresses his faith in karma and says, “Once in Sudan, when someone kept persistently asking me who my prophet or God was, I replied John Lennon – the new age prophet of our times, because to me his song ‘Imagine’ truly resonates at all levels.”
“The most generous people are the poorest,” continues Psyman. He would know. He had to rely on the kindness of absolute strangers who helped him in numerous ways, opening their doors and hearts to him. He adds, “I often wonder if we can be this nice to a complete stranger, what stops us from being nice to our own neighbour? Why must we still be fighting over religious beliefs in the 21st century.”
On May 13, 2016, Psyman crossed the border into Israel from Egypt’s Sinai and he did make it surviving on barter economy. Writing articles for National Geographic, working with conservation groups on the way and now, managing his blog, The Nomadic Diaries as well as writing a book, Psyman has made his creativity work for him and that continues to inspire him.
He concludes saying, “You only live once. Make it count.”
