Benka Pulko
Encyclopedia
Benka Pulko is a Slovenia
n world traveler, Guinness World Record
holder, motivational speaker
, author and photographer.
. On June 19, 1997, Benka Pulko departed from her hometown of Ptuj
, Slovenia on a BMW F650
motorcycle. She returned to Ptuj on December 10, 2002, having established the Guinness World Records for the longest solo motorcycle ride ever undertaken by a woman - in both distance, 111856 miles (180,014.3 km), and duration, 2,000 days. In the process she also became the first motorcyclist
to reach Antarctica, and the first woman to ride solo across Saudi Arabia.
After returning to her home, Pulko was chosen as Slovenian Woman of the Year for 2003. The award is conferred each year by readers of Jana, the Slovenian oldest women's magazine. She was also rated by Playboy
Magazine at 16th place among Slovenia's most influential men for 2003.
, with her articles having appeared in approximately 50 publications in New Zealand, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Japan and the United States. In Slovenia, she continues to be a regular contributor to national magazines and newspapers such as Jana, Delo
, Dnevnik
, Večer
, 7D, Primorske novice
, Štajerski tednik and others.
.
in Slovenian history. At the 19th National Book Fair in Ljubljana
, it took home the top prize for Best Overall Publication, as well as the award for Prepress
.
In 2005, Pulko provided the cover photo and co-authored the book Biseri sveta v očen slovenskih popotnikor (Jewels of the World) along with other Slovene adventurists like Zvone Šeruga and Arne Hodalič.
Obrazi sveta/ Faces of the World was published by Pulko in 2007. The exhibition catalog, in both English and Slovene, detailed her photo exhibition of the same name.
Pulko's most successful book to date, Pocestnica ("Streetwalker") was also published in 2007. At the book's launch the President of Slovenia Danilo Türk
and other celebrities presented excerpts to the audience.
Her latest book, Dve ciklami ali Na svetu je dovolj prostora za vse ("Two Cyclamen
s or There is Enough Room for Everyone") marks Pulko's first foray into children's literature
. The book was awarded at the International Children's Literature Competition in Schwanenstadt
, Austria.
, India, Pulko was moved by the plight of the children of the Tibetan diaspora
. As a result, she launched the humanitarian organization "Believe in Yourself and Kickstart the World". The primary goal of the foundation is to promote, encourage, and support the education of children with limited opportunities in different parts of the world. The organization primarily focuses on providing scholarships to students of Tibetan Children's Village
, and ensuring female students have equal educational opportunity.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n world traveler, Guinness World Record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
holder, motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
, author and photographer.
Biography
With a university degree in Biology and specialized training in massage therapy, this former educator is most famous for traveling to all seven continents on her motorcycleMotorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. On June 19, 1997, Benka Pulko departed from her hometown of Ptuj
Ptuj
Ptuj is a city and one of 11 urban municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Lower Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Podravje statistical region...
, Slovenia on a BMW F650
BMW F650 single
The BMW F650 is a family of single-cylinder motorcycles that was produced by BMW Motorrad beginning in 1993. Models include the F650ST Strada, F650 Funduro, F650GS, F650GS Dakar and latterly the G650GS...
motorcycle. She returned to Ptuj on December 10, 2002, having established the Guinness World Records for the longest solo motorcycle ride ever undertaken by a woman - in both distance, 111856 miles (180,014.3 km), and duration, 2,000 days. In the process she also became the first motorcyclist
Motorcycling
Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. A variety of subcultures and lifestyles have been built up around motorcycling.-Benefits:Robert M. Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was a paean celebrating motorcycling...
to reach Antarctica, and the first woman to ride solo across Saudi Arabia.
After returning to her home, Pulko was chosen as Slovenian Woman of the Year for 2003. The award is conferred each year by readers of Jana, the Slovenian oldest women's magazine. She was also rated by Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
Magazine at 16th place among Slovenia's most influential men for 2003.
Journalism
In addition to being an |adventurer, Pulko has extensive experience as a journalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, with her articles having appeared in approximately 50 publications in New Zealand, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Japan and the United States. In Slovenia, she continues to be a regular contributor to national magazines and newspapers such as Jana, Delo
Delo
Delo is the largest national daily newspaper in Slovenia. It was established on May 1st, 1959, when two newspapers Ljudska pravica and Slovenski poročevalec merged. Nowadays, it is the most influential and credible daily newspaper in Slovenia...
, Dnevnik
Dnevnik (Ljubljana)
Dnevnik is a daily newspaper published in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It was first issued in June 1951 as Ljubljanski dnevnik but was renamed to Dnevnik in 1968....
, Večer
Večer (Maribor)
Večer is a daily newspaper published in Maribor, Slovenia. It was officially established on May 9 1945 as a publication declaring the liberation of Maribor called Maribor svoboden . Regular circulation started on May 25 1945 under the name Vestnik. But it wasn't before 1949 that it became a daily...
, 7D, Primorske novice
Primorske novice
Primorske novice is a regional daily newspaper published in Koper, Slovenia. It was first issued in 1947 as a biweekly named Nova Gorica, in 1963 it merged with Slovenski Jadran and became a daily in 2004. As of 2009, it is the only regional daily newspaper in Slovenia....
, Štajerski tednik and others.
Photography
During her record-setting journey, Pulko began photographing the people and places she experienced. Since her return, she has presented these photographs in more than 20 solo exhibitionsSolo show (art exhibition)
A solo show or solo exhibition is an exhibition of the work of only one artist. The artwork may be paintings, drawings, etchings, collage, sculpture, or photography. The creator of any artistic technique may be the subject of a solo show. Other skills and crafts have similar types of shows for the...
.
Literature
Pulko's first book, Po Zemlji okoli Sonca (Around the World Circling the Sun), a large format book chronicling her journey in photos and words, became the fastest selling coffee table bookCoffee table book
A coffee table book is a hardcover book that is intended to sit on a coffee table or similar surface in an area where guests sit and are entertained, thus inspiring conversation or alleviating boredom. They tend to be oversized and of heavy construction, since there is no pressing need for...
in Slovenian history. At the 19th National Book Fair in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, it took home the top prize for Best Overall Publication, as well as the award for Prepress
Prepress
Prepress is the term used in the printing and publishing industries for the processes and procedures that occur between the creation of a print layout and the final printing...
.
In 2005, Pulko provided the cover photo and co-authored the book Biseri sveta v očen slovenskih popotnikor (Jewels of the World) along with other Slovene adventurists like Zvone Šeruga and Arne Hodalič.
Obrazi sveta/ Faces of the World was published by Pulko in 2007. The exhibition catalog, in both English and Slovene, detailed her photo exhibition of the same name.
Pulko's most successful book to date, Pocestnica ("Streetwalker") was also published in 2007. At the book's launch the President of Slovenia Danilo Türk
Danilo Türk
- Early life :Türk was born in a lower middle class family in Maribor, Slovenia . His father died when he was a child. He attended the prestigious II. Gymnasium High school in Maribor. In 1971 he enrolled to the University of Ljubljana where he studied law...
and other celebrities presented excerpts to the audience.
Her latest book, Dve ciklami ali Na svetu je dovolj prostora za vse ("Two Cyclamen
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves...
s or There is Enough Room for Everyone") marks Pulko's first foray into children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. The book was awarded at the International Children's Literature Competition in Schwanenstadt
Schwanenstadt
Schwanenstadt is a town in the district of Vöcklabruck in Upper Austria, Austria....
, Austria.
Humanitarian Activity
While traveling through DharamsalaDharamsala
Dharamshala or Dharamsala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district....
, India, Pulko was moved by the plight of the children of the Tibetan diaspora
Tibetan diaspora
The Tibetan diaspora is a term used to refer to the communities of Tibetan people living outside Tibet. Tibetan emigration happened in two waves: one in 1959 following the 14th Dalai Lama's self-exile in India, and the other in the 1980s when Tibet was opened to trade and tourism. The third wave...
. As a result, she launched the humanitarian organization "Believe in Yourself and Kickstart the World". The primary goal of the foundation is to promote, encourage, and support the education of children with limited opportunities in different parts of the world. The organization primarily focuses on providing scholarships to students of Tibetan Children's Village
Tibetan Children's Village
Tibetan Children's Villages or TCV is an integrated community in exile for the care and education of orphans, destitutes and refugee children from Tibet. It is a registered, non profit charitable organization with its main facility based at Dharamsala in Himachel Pradesh, North India...
, and ensuring female students have equal educational opportunity.