Archive: April 2010

Photography is an important part of our trips. Far beyond the aesthetic value of our “work”, pictures immortalize our fun moments and discoveries forever, allowing us to process everything we’ve lived once we’re back home.

Technological advances in photography during the past decade have made available ultra-light and easy-to-use cameras, whose main function is their practicality.  I’d like to call your attention to other cameras that don’t adhere to this criteria however, operating instead on a more human and emotional level such as the experience of recording special moments in a special way with them. I’m talking about lomographic cameras.

Lomographic cameras are some of the best known analogical cameras, whose origin dates back to the early 1980s in the former Soviet Union.  These cameras were initially manufactured with a robust frame and defective lenses which produced surprising snapshots because of the focus deviation and color/light distortion they realized. This, of course, is what made them so special. Taking super-prepared photos is no longer a must; now, you expect a lomographic camera to astonish you with everyday images that stand out or to capture details which normally would go unnoticed.

At the start of the 1990s, a group of Viennese students discovered these cameras during a trip to Prague, and overnight an enormous community of lomographers was born. Their only aims are creative and spontaneous photography, as you will see in the “Ten Golden Rules”.

Nowadays, you can find reproductions of those original Soviet cameras in every color imaginable at their “Embassies” (yes, that’s what they are called) all over the world.

Two of the most fully-convinced trourists from the Community (Oiana and Mikel) recently had an opportunity to live Brazil before embarking for South Africa where they’ll spending the next 6 months. During their visit, they took full advantage of their stay and lived the pre-carnival goings on like any two cariocas (locals from Rio de Janeiro) and never hesitated in bunkering down on a Rio beach in search of real experiences. Here is a video taping of their ExperienceLess adventure:

Green with envy, right? Enjoy your next adventure on the African continent to the max. Looking forward to your news from Capetown.

Meeting a member of the opposite sex should never be among the main reasons a treveller embarks on a new adventure; on the other hand, being a traveller shouldn’t require you to give up flirting either. I’ve decided to pass along five sure ways to make a connection while on the road:

1. Stay at cheap hostels and sign up for every evening jaunt, pub crawl, …. The right mix of alcohol and youth increases your chances, no question. Of course, check beforehand to see that the cheap hostel you’ve chosen has free private rooms that night. And if there are none, you can always follow the advice I gave you a while back when i discussed sex in hostels.

2. Avoid trendy discos. If you’re looking for pretty sights, smart dress and drinks at 15 euros a pop, going to the most “in” spots is probably your best bet. Personal experience tells me, however, that the people who frequent these places are more hung up with being seen there than having fun or meeting someone new.

3. Separate yourself from the “competition”. Take advantage of the fact that you’re on holiday and go out on a weeknight. There’ll be fewer people, reducing your chances of success theoretically, but in reality, you’ll likely meet quite a few interesting sorts without having to “fight” others for your dream target’s attention.

4. Don’t fret over your linguistic limitations. Don’t think that because you know the right line in someone’s language and repeating it over and over ad nauseam that you’re going to appear more witty. And don’t even consider uttering “voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir” to male/female French speakers. Trés boring. What wins people over ultimately is a compelling conversation.

5. Lastly, wear one of the first 100 T-shirts designed by the Trourist team. Who can resist succumbing to all that the Route 66 Trourist Tee represents? ; ) ; ) ; )

In 1977 at the behest of the New York City Tourist Bureau, Milton Glaser came up with a logo design that expressed with striking simplicity the admiration which the city inspired in him and all those who have allowed themselves to be infused by its essence.

The design, done pro bono incidentally (his altruistic donation to the city) has transcended to such a point that even today, thousands of persons everywhere –New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers alike — wear it daily, making it one of the most significant designs of the 20th century.

Since then, numerous messages have been transmitted via this unique creation produced by an American typewriter and a red heart. We, too, wished for Glaser’s legacy to be present in the design of our initial T-shirt. However, we elected to include our own personal touch.

With that in mind, we substituted Glaser’s heart with the silhouette of the mythical and romantic Route 66 sign. When we speak of route 66, we could care less that for decades it has served as the nexus between the eastern and western coasts of the United States. Instead, what we do like is that it is the symbolic representation of the non-conformist generation portrayed in Jack Kerouac‘s On The Road. For this reason and as a homage to that spirit of adventure and the numerous road trips it has engendered, we felt it should receive an honorary place on our inaugural T-shirt.

If you want to be one of the lucky few to own a T-shirt from our initial run of 100, we’ll make sure you receive yours anywhere on the planet for just 15 euros. Write us at: hello@trourist.com and include your name, postal code and the subject heading: ROUTE 66 TEE.

Don’t forget: Keep traveling real!

There are persons who take a trip around the world because they’re tired of work and the same hum-drum routine of everyday living. Others feel it’d be a great way to know oneself better and find some meaning to life. Then there are those who travel as part of a continuing adventure. As you can see, there are many reasons for packing your bags and hitting the road, but it seems there is a common denominator: an implicit understanding exists that for every step you take, every move you make, something new will be learned.

Since I was a kid, I’ve always dreamt of taking one of these round-the-world trips and I hope that someday I’ll see this dream fulfilled. Whenever I have my dream, I ask myself what is the most important lesson I would learn.

In meeting people who are different than me, I imagine I’d learn new philosophies and perhaps appreciate more those people who surround me and life’s comforts which I take for granted. Maybe I would get to know myself better, since these kinds of trips frquently pose trying situations that test one’s resolve and resources. And, yeah, I’d probably learn to open up to people more.

These minor reflections make me think that the lessons learned would be very personal and different from those of others, including a person who might join you on this type of sojourn. We hope that those of you who’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world will share with us your experiences and the lessons learned therefrom. I’m sure your words and wisdom will inspire those of us who have yet to take a step in that direction.

Photo by Kieran001

In April 1992, a young man from a wealthy East Coast family hitch-hiked his way to Alaska and penetrated the forests north of Mount Mckinley. Four months later, a group of elk hunters found his body in a decomposed state, the result of an apparent intoxication.

The youth’s name was Chris McCandless and his “adventure” had begun in the summer of 1990. Upon graduation from Atlanta’s Emory University, McCandless simply disappeared. He legally changed his name, donated the 24,000 dollars he had in his checking account to a humanitarian organization, abandoned his belongings and burnt whatever cash he was carrying in his pockets. His distrust of all those things that could be readily had was absolute. McCandless proceeded to reinvent his life and wandered across North America in search of new and meaningful experiences. His family knew nothing of his whereabouts until the remains of his body were found in Alaska.

McCandless’s story is not exempt of controversy. While many idolized him for his intrepid idealism whose sole objective seemed to be an exploration of his soul, others accused him of being an egotistical maniac who not only ruined his own life but that of those dearest to him. I do not dare to lean one way or the other, but I do believe that human beings have always possessed McCandless’s nomadic spirit. Settling down and setting up roots in a city is something that we’ve only been doing for a relatively short time if we consider the history of humanity as a whole. McCandless was merely emulating our forefathers.

If you want to read more about Chris McCandless, I suggest you pick up a copy of “Into the Wild”, an easy-to-read, highly entertaining book that invites reflection.