Financial breakdown, Sponsorship and Crowd-sourcing

So I have manically started pulling out my beard hair, as I have been looking at some of the unavoidable costs of my trip. The aim is to do the trip using massage as an international currency; using it to get from A to B, find a place to stay and even, where possible, get some food in my stomach. There are, however, things that I will either need to gain via sponsorship deals or trade agreements or if absolutely necessary will have to BUY!!!

Here is a list of products/services that I will be trying at all costs try to stop turning into costs:

Potential sponsorship deals

• Cameras, Lenses and other photographic/filming equipment. (Cannon go pro)

• Bike (for conversion into the couchcycle), panniers, helmet and bike tools. (Evans cycles, cycle surgery)

Potential trade agreements

• Voyages: 

1. England to France (£20)
2. Italy to Greece  (E40)
3. Greece to Turkey
4. Turkey to Egypt
5. Iraq to India
6. India to Thailand
7. Cambodia to Hong Kong
8. Hong Kong to South Korea
9. South Korea to Japan
10. Japan to Hawaii

• Place to stay in descending order:

1. Couch-surfing
2. Local people
3. Camping
4. Hostels/ Hotels

It may be necessary on occasion to re-fuel and re-supply along the way, charge cameras batteries and clean properly. On occasion if there are not many couch-surfing prospects or safe havens along the way I will need to take a break from camping

• Food and Sundries Where possible I will aim to trade massage for food or massage for money which I can then buy food with along the way; this however may not always be possible. This also goes for any other purchase for example; parts for the bicycle, repairs on equipment, and replacement clothing... 

I feel that £50 a week should be more than adequate to supplement/support the trip for all other unforeseen and unbarterable expenses for both extra accommodation and food/equipment, however I will be doing my utmost to spend none of this money.

 £50 x 52 weeks=£2,600

The necessities 

The Kit List

1. 2x Poweradd Apollo Pro 23000 mAh Solar Panel Portable Battery + relevant wires £40
2. Light Weight Tent £70-100
3. Bike + equipment (aerodynamic trailer) [solar panel helmet] [fingers crossed sponsorship] Panniers 
4. Cameras + equipment [finger crossed sponsorship]
5. Emergency ration packs £30-£50
6. Clothing including: 2x cycling shorts, 2x shorts, 1x trousers warm, 1x waterproofs, 1x Thermal blanket Quick dry long trousers you can change into shorts, 2x Touch Trail T-shirts. £200
7. First Aid kit £25
8. Sleeping bag £70
9. Pillows for couchcycle and sleep £50
10. Mosquito net £20
11. Wash bag £20
12. Sun cream £10
13. Plastic or metal mug £5
14. Waterproof watch £25
15. Swiss knife £40
16. Freezer bags £5
17. Silica gel £8
18. Flask £15
19. Whined-up Torch £10
20. sovedis-aquatabs (??)

Current total for equipment: £693

Suggestions would be much, much, much appreciated...

Health

All relevant injections/immunizations for countries passed through. Arrange doctor appointment to go through the trip to get a list and prices.

Communication and Travel

1. Around the world coverage for phone (Internet)
2. Visa's for:

• Turkey £10
• Egypt £12
• Iraq (I am investigating)
• India £92.00
• Nepal 30 day visa £35
• China Chinese visa service centre 30 day visa £70
• Cambodia £15
• Thailand (tourist up to 30 days)
• Korea South (tourist up to 90 days)
• USA £15

Current Visa Total: £249 + (Iraq)

Insurance

Insure and go silver backpackers insurance 1 year with 10 million pounds health insurance: £404.00

• If you believe this project has potential
• If you have any advice or experience with crowd-sourcing
• If you know anyone or you yourself live in one of the countries listed and shown in my post 'The Trail First Draft' and would like to put me up for a night in exchange for a massage.
• If you are an experienced traveler
• If have connections to a cruse-line company who are always short staffed on their voyages from Kuwait to Mumbai (worth a shot)
• If you would like to support this project in anyway including financially

If you fit into any or all the above categories please send me a message or give me a call @

matthew@mlhmassage.co.uk

m.c.g.lacoste@gmail.com

07587091391