For most people, traveling around the world is a grand dream that is hard to achieve due to the considerable cost and effort required. Yet history notes an unusual event. The President of Indonesia once funded five citizens who boldly traveled around the world solely by walking and cycling. These individuals were Rudolf Lawalata, Abdullah Balbed, Sudjono, Saleh Kamah, and Darmadjati.

This event took place in 1955, at a time when Indonesia was gaining prominence as a Third World country that strongly opposed Western neo-colonialism. Inspired by the spirit of elevating the nation’s reputation, the five young men intended to visit numerous countries through unusual means—on foot and by bicycle.

The five youths did not previously know one another, but around the same period in 1954, each of them expressed their intentions to the media.

For instance, Koran Merdeka (6 December 1954) reported Saleh Kamah’s determination to travel the world by bicycle. Meanwhile, Java Bode (22 October 1954) wrote about Rudolf Lawalata, who had already begun walking from his home to Jakarta as the first step of his planned journey across the globe.

Their shared ambition eventually brought them together. They all wished to meet President Soekarno before departing Indonesia. Upon learning this, Soekarno summoned them to the State Palace.

In the memoir Rp. 50 Keliling Dunia (2009), Sujono recounts that the meeting occurred on 8 January 1955 at 10 a.m. They were welcomed directly by President Soekarno, Prime Minister Ali Sastroamidjojo, and several high-ranking officials. Soekarno expressed pride and shared words of encouragement.

“My children Rudolf Lawalata, Sujono, Abdullah Balbed, travel the world but keep your souls devoted to God and Indonesia,” Soekarno said while tapping their chests.

The President then provided funding of Rp50—roughly equivalent to Rp700,000 today—along with a camera, three backpacks, and six batik shirts. With these supplies, the five young men immediately set out to carry out their missions.

Saleh Kamah and Darmadjati chose to cycle along a long route: starting from Malaysia, then Pakistan, India, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and onward to Europe. From Europe, they crossed to the United States by ship, continued to Japan and the Philippines, and eventually returned to Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Rudolf Lawalata, Sujono, and Abdullah Balbed traveled on foot through Malaysia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Latin America, Russia, then back through the Middle East, before returning to Indonesia.

Their simple and modest style of travel attracted attention in many countries. They were warmly received by local communities and even featured in international media. United Press (2 August 1956), for example, reported the arrival of Sujono and Abdullah Balbed in New York, noting that Rudolf Lawalata was absent due to illness in Germany.

“Two Indonesian students, Sujono and Abdullah Balbed, who are journeying around the world on foot, arrived in the city on Wednesday aboard a Norwegian ship from Europe,” the American outlet reported.

In total, their journey lasted six years. However, not all of them returned to Indonesia. Only Sujono and Saleh Kamah came back. Abdullah Balbed settled in the United States, Lawalata stayed in Germany, and Darmadjati’s fate remains unknown.

Upon returning, Sujono and Saleh were warmly welcomed by the public and authorities, and were even invited again to the Palace. From this long journey, Sujono drew a meaningful conclusion.

“In the end, I concluded that experience must be complemented by knowledge to support life and service to the homeland,” Sujono stated.

In the years that followed, each of them pursued their respective paths. Abdullah Balbed worked at the U.S. Embassy until his passing in 2015. Saleh Kamah became a journalist until he died in 2011. Sujono passed away in the United States in 2019. Meanwhile, the traces of Lawalata and Darmadjati have disappeared from historical records.