So it's been proven, man can live on social media alone, well, at least, in Singapore he did; Okay, it's hardly Survivor stuff but hey, it's still worthy of an adventure worth sharing.

Armed with no money, just the new Nokia Lumia, and a backpack containing 10 survival items, Parisian Martin Pasquier not only survived but ate well, slept well (if insufficiently) because he had too many "friends" who wanted to meet him and partied well (his worst moment was Tuesday morning after the opening party of Social Media Week – a self-inflicted hangover).

During his five days in Singapore, he said, he met only kindness and generosity, slept in various places ranging from hostels to private apartments to a flat in the heartland and ate "things I didn't know what they were but they were good".

The rule was he had to reach out only through social media. He used Twitter to post photographs but it was on Facebook that he found the most engagement – "my family telling me not to eat something" or "people wanting to meet me".

Among the 10 items in his backpack (below) were a notebook, poncho, a book of French recipes which he gave to a chef, a USB key, a second pair of boxers, a pair of fitflops and swimming trunks. The most useful turned out to the notebook which he used to record his experiences and take notes.

He was busier than expected, he said, and one precious moment was when he had 10 minutes to himself on the train when he switched off his device. The device is for making friendships, you got to know when to switch it off, he said.

Most of the contacts he made during this experiment were in the 22-35 age group. And no, he didn't conduct any checks on those who reached out to him.

"I had heard Singapore is a safe place," he said. "I come from Paris. I am more worried about Daphne in London." (Daphne is the Singaporean girl who went through a similar experiment in London.)

Which is why he admits that possibly Singapore is the easiest place to conduct such an experiment. It is a small, safe place, its people are highly connected and the 3G and wifi infrastructure is good.

"I suppose it'd be more challenging if it was in India or China," he said.

Full story:

www.webintravel.com/news/yes-i-can--social-media-experiment-traveller-survives-in-singapore_3003