Lostravellers Magazine #2 by Lostravellers

Lostravellers Magazine Memories

Lostravellers x 002 x Memories

Hola w LT Hello and welcome to issue no. 2 of the Lostravellers’ magazine, fittingly entitled: Memories. It’s been almost a year since Kyle and I returned from our respective voyages - and the time has flown by, eaten up by the demands of everyday life. Barney has been to Britain and back, and Kyle still manages to get out of the city every few weeks (I still don’t know where he goes half the time, and I live with the guy - but such is the life of the travelling enigma). We haven’t forgotten the road, and many a moment has been spent reminiscning on past adventures, and dreams of future ones. This issue is a tribute to these memories, and the joy that reliving and recreating them gives - we hope it inspires you to get out and create some of your own. Much love, The LT crew.

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Lostravellers x 002 x Memories

Hola Introductions w LT

Content

Hola w LT Page 2

On Dreams; or The Inevitable Return w Wanyasi Page 06

Leaving for Stranger Shores w Maxi Quy. Page 10

Live Circus and Life on the Way: A Tale of Travelling Acrobats.

Content

International Talents w Ivan Average Page 26

Weapon of Choice. Page 30

Train Tracks and Beetnik Living w Ivan Fuchich. Page 34

Tunes From Afar w Arama Page 48

Page 16

Photographic Series: Berlin w Kyle Boonzaier

Adios w LT Page 50

Page 20 -

Creative Director: Kyle Boonzaier Editor-In-Kief: Daniel Kelly Intern: Barney Chunn

Contributors Barney Chunn, Daniel Kelly, Maxi Quy, Kyle Boonzaier, Ivan Average, Ivan Fuchich, Cairo Bean Sewer, Wanyasi, Parisa Razaei.

Special Thanks Henry Christian-Slane, Nick Blazey, Maxi Quy, Adam Tan, Lane Park, Sams Bike Store, Deon Boonzaier, Willow Zephyr, Lara Hagberg, Christine Birchall, Zoe, Katja Isabella, Gamka Nature Reserve, Jean, Remuera traffic and the entire Gravel Pit family.

Cover Photo: Ivan Fuchich

Page 34

Page 26

Page 06

Page 16

Page 30

Page 54

Page 48

Content Lostravellers x 002 x Memories

Page 20

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On Dreams; or The Inevitable Return w Wanyasi

Worldwide Wandering/ Photography/ Ramblings of a Reformed Reprobate. “Freedom is a strange thing. Once you’ve experienced it, it remains in your heart and noone can take it away.” - Ai Weiwei

For there are dreams, and then there are dreams. Dreams that inspire and dreams that scare; dreams that offer insight and dreams that serve only to muddy the waters. It almost seems self-evident: that these esoteric adventures would be as varied as the people that dream them. For dreams do much more than distract us from sleep. Late at night, when your subconscious is hard at work and you drift between worlds, what dreams do you dream? Do you dream of escape and exploration, adventure and freedom? Are they dreams of the open road – stories with no predetermined endings? These are the dreams of lost travellers, waiting to be found. Maybe we’re all waiting.

On Dreams; or The Inevitable Return

There are many dreams to be had, out in the void. So dream a little; go on. Cast yourself out... which will be yours?

For all the variations there are some dreams we share – even if they’re dressed in different clothes. It doesn’t matter if it’s a week on the beach in Thailand or jungle trekking in India – the allure is the same. It’s the prospect of no work, no obligations, no worries: a holiday to end all holidays. And if we don’t all share it then there are at least enough of us dreaming for it to take on mythical status. Indeed, getting overseas is nigh on a right of passage for antipodeans, isolated as we are down at the bottom of the world. Year after year sees screeds of us packing a bag (or two – you know who you are), saying teary farewells and flying north in search of all the adventure we can imagine. It doesn’t matter where the plane lands or what you do when you get there; everyone does it differently. It’s about getting out, “seeing the world” and all the excitement that prospect entails. Travelling, for me at least, has a touch of surrealism to it. It seems to defy the belief we create in our own permanence and, as a corollary, our importance. One day you’re in familiar old Aotearoa, slipping round in your jandals with a Fruju then BAM – a disrupted sleep, some average nosh later and it’s the bustle of Khao San Road, Chennai or London. You haven’t changed but there you are, in a totally foreign locale, feeling different - or at least like you could be different; and, if you’re anything like me, wondering how the fuck you got there. (I know, an Airbus A380... I’m talking metaphysics, ya bish).

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At times it really does feel like you’re a different person. All those months of penny-pinching and hard work in the lead in and then you’re free to drift, spend the cash, drink till the sun comes up and then do it all again. I guess this is what life must be like for some people, rock stars and the like. Except they have to perform, deal with media, fans and all the hassle of being famous. I just got to swan around and follow my nose (sometimes literally whatupmolly), backing up night after night in different cities: London, Berlin, Paris almost repugnant in my indulgence.

This time travelling was recorded with a tinge of nostalgia already fully in place. I couldn’t help it. Can anyone? Sure, I was in shitter clubs and on shitter drugs than the rock stars, but mine was an existence free from obligation. And so many of the people I met were on the same buzz: a veritable army of drifters, schlepping from hostel to hostel, chasing that dragon. So we all chased together, sort of, and in its own way it was glorious: new friendships, challenging environments, freedom and perspective. Many of these experiences transcend any particular location, no matter how delicious the local cuisine or nightlife and I think that this is what makes travel so damn addictive. We can recreate the glory; reach the destination that is the journey – time and time again. But with the glory comes an associated sadness. This is the paradox of travel: transience as a gift and a curse. Impermanence means that the bad is good, because it cannot last: “All things pass. This too, will pass.” There were many times I repeated the mantra - sick and lonely, hung over on another shitty bus, missing friends and family - and, in the absence of anything else, its tautology was comforting.

And it is this truth that bands nomads into tribes and tribes into towns. We need this permanence and an acceptance of the ill its absence creates; otherwise how could our good times have any substance beyond the moment?

So how to deal with this inevitable comedown? Initial struggles fade, and eventually normalisation occurs. You lose yourself in “the dream of daily life” and the teething problems pass, for the most part. This isn’t the dream that pulled you away, but that isn’t to say it doesn’t have its own merits. After all, what is life, if not a series of overlapping and interwoven dreams? You’ve got your memories and, if you really wanted, you could go back. Things mightn’t be the same the second time round, and there is always the risk that in trying to recreate a feeling you will cheapen the original memory; we mess with the past at our own peril. How does that mantra go again? (All things pass, but nothing is forever). I’ve adjusted to being back at home, now. Now I just go out on weekends. I get up in the mornings and do my washing weekly, for the most part. The so-called “reality check” called and was answered; life ticks inexorably on. I have a routine, familiarity and process – but I certainly haven’t forgotten the memories. To drift permanently would be to lose some of what makes the escapism and wanderlust so special. So we come home, regroup and plan our next trip. We talk about the memories to others who get it, who’ve been where we were and who understand the allure of an open road. In the absence of new adventure, these shared memories sustain.

When the time came to come home, I was ready. Or so I thought. It was strange to find myself back at Mum’s place, a year on. It’s the surreal again, creeping in, reminding you that yours is a life characterised by transience. Nothing seemed to have changed in my absence; I slotted in with old friends and soon learnt to hold my tongue.

I felt like a stuck record, glossing over any formative experiences I might have had with a token “yeah, it was great man – really good times” – as if this window dressing somehow undermined the value of my travel. But it didn’t, and doesn’t not really. Travel, like any other process of self-exploration, is inherently personal and you don’t have to tell everyone how sick the clubs in Berlin are or how spiritual your time in India was. They probably wouldn’t understand anyway.

On Dreams; or The Inevitable Return

But the same sword cuts both ways and that which is good is bad, for it too cannot last. It is what we leave behind that informs the tragedy of travel: friends who will never all be together in the same place; stories that will never be told quite as we intended; and memories that will never get to be shared with the people who understand them best.

No one cared where I’d been, really, and accounting for my absence soon became tinged with tedium.

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My story isn’t finished yet – no one’s is - and there are always more memories to be made. Somewhere in the wilderness new roads await those eager to explore, and in the minds of those that know, the dream lives on…

Lostravellers x 002 x Memories

New York-Auckland Illustrator-Traveller New-Experience>22 Years. OverSeas Adventure transitive verb: to create again; especially: to form anew in the imagination

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Leaving for Stranger Shores w Maxi Quy.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Maxi and I’m an artist/ illustrator. I primarily paint portraits and write and illustrate graphic novels, using watercolour and other traditional mediums. When did your passions for illustration begin?

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Probably when I was very young, I used to draw dinosaurs, aliens and spaceships all the time at primary school instead of doing any work. I was also inspired by my parents, my dad had done a bit of illustration work while I was growing up. They also introduced me to the artists, movies and comics that still inspire me today. Can you remember any defining moments growing up that have shaped your adult self?

I always wanted to do something creative, and I used to want to go to film school when I was younger. Most of my artwork during highschool was done outside of class and it wasn’t until I got into AUT graphic design on the strength of my illustration portfolio that I decided it was really something I wanted to pursue. 3.Thefidler.jpg

I didn’t know you were keen for film, what is your process when working? Do you go about every piece with the same structure or just take it works as it comes? Lostravellers x 002 x Memories

I usually use the same process for my highly finished illustrations. I start with a thumbnail drawing, which I’ll develop into a finished pencil drawing, often using photo reference if it is required. I’ll then transfer the drawing onto watercolour paper and do the final painting, usually taking 3-6 hours to finish a piece. I’m getting a little more experimental with colour lately, which is quite difficult with watercolour, where most brush strokes are permanent and mistakes are hard to cover up.

I feel some of your work is pretty haunting, where do you pull your inspiration from and could you compare your styles to any current artists on the scene?

I think the haunting aspect of my work came from experimenting with the medium, through trail and error. I wasn’t completely conscious of trying to achieve this style.

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I think the haunting aspect of my work came from experimenting with the medium, through trail and error. I wasn’t completely conscious of trying to achieve this style. My recent graphic novel was (loosely) a haunted house story, and I found the style fit the narrative and atmosphere of the book I wanted to achieve. Contemporary illustrators I admire include Joao Ruas, Sam Weber and James Jean but i’ve recently tried to remove myself from any specific style and genre of illustration and make my work unique to my stories. I see, so the reason I have interviewed you was also for the adventures you are about to embark on as a travelling illustrator. Your next big stop is NewYork, what was the attraction to the city for you?

It was primarily the strong illustration scene they have in New York, both in galleries and commercial illustration, that I’m attracted to. I would love to try freelancing, exhibiting work and (once it’s finished) publish my next book there. It is a beautiful city and I’m also counting on the highly competitive nature of the place to inspire me to create unique work I wouldn’t otherwise make without the experience. Competition is always key. What are the plans when you first arrive in New York? Will you jump straight into work or sift around the city and try silver tongue your way into a studio/gallery/old rich ladies’ apartment?

I’ll probably have a few places in mind to work for who I’ll contact before before I head over, publishers/magazines/ galleries. I’m still doing my research. Otherwise I’ll just make it up as I go along. Focusing back on local shores, what is your thoughts on art community within Auckland city at present?

Strange Shores W Maxi Quy

I find it pretty strong, definitely when it comes to galleries and fine art. The illustration and comics scene is pretty small, but festivals and events like zinefest and Chromacon seem to be bringing more exposure to the the industry. For me personally I’ve enjoyed taking part in and organising exhibitions with friends and other artists I’ve met here.

”

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Notes:

Bunking in Bedlam

“A Tale of Travelling Acrobats” is part of a new series Lostravellers will be looking to feature, tentatively entitled: Bunking in Bedlam. Bunking in Bedlam is a place to share any stories you might have about the unique characters you have encountered on the road. These can be interviews, anecdotes or even photos… (As always, we like to keep an open brief – so the medium is up to you). The feature aims to celebrate alternative worldviews, expose the lunacy of hostel inhabitants and travellers worldwide - and capture your interest in a way that the usual “look-where-I-went-andlook-what-I-ate” stories don’t. Our first subjects are travelling circus performers, living their dream out sailing and performing live acrobatics round the world. I hope you enjoy it.

The Tale of Travelling Acrobats 16

Live Circus and Life on the Way: A Tale of Travelling Acrobats.

It was the sort of day that might make you question your choices in life. Summer threatened to leave and Auckland grew gloomy in response. I cycled the marina in the rain, scanning the moored boats for a sign of life. The description had been vague and in the weather my optimism waned. I was looking for a Frenchman on a yellow boat; surely he would be easy to find in an area as small as the Viaduct?

It’s not surprising, to have so much going on below deck – for this isn’t just a boat. Franck and his wife, Delphine, perform acrobatic shows around the world and the jovial yellow vessel is their family home, stage and transport. The couple moved on board in 2004, before crossing the Atlantic in 2007. What began as a loose plan to meet new audiences around the European coast eventually became much more: leading them from Europe to North America and down into the Pacific. Despite the considerable travel necessary for such a world tour Franck insists that it was never the motivating factor: “It wasn’t, for us, a way to travel. But to meet a new audience we need to travel, and that’s why we are on the way. We are pushed by the audience.” The audience certainly has a lot to be responsible for. Franck is resolute in his commitment to providing shows for free and they survive largely on donations, be they money or, as was the case in Marquises, boxes of fresh mangoes and avocadoes: “if they don’t like then they [don’t] give. And we are able to be here today!”

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A few circuits later and I finally spotted it; my hesitant “bonjour” met with enthusiastic reply as Franck came on deck and surpassed my rudimentary French with a rapid-fire reference to rain and wind from the south (I think). I hopped on board and entered their gently rocking world, squishing in at the table while Franck put the kettle on. From where I sat I could see the whole cabin: a basic hob and sink, several small beds, and a cramped toilet to the right of the captain’s desk. Despite the size and sailing equipment it was homely and well lived-in. The shelves were full with books and toys, and in the forward section one of Franck’s daughters worked dutifully on her home schooling.

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France/Auckland Circus Performers/ Four Children/ 2004/ OverSeas Adventure

“It wasn’t, for us, a way to travel. But to meet a new audience we need to travel, and that’s why we are on the way. We are pushed by the audience.”

Even if travel hasn’t been the motivating factor, it is an inescapable aspect of life on the sea. Their longest stint offshore was 24 days, as they languished sans wind between Mexico and Marquises. I ask about storms, expecting tales of swelling waves and gritty survival - but am disappointed by Franck’s realistic take: “yes we have some storms, but it’s not a problem, it’s just storms. You reduce your sail, and it doesn’t last a long time… when you are offshore you are just like a nutshell, going up and down.”

Is time not an issue though? Franck laughs: “but time is nothing, time is just butterflies. Perhaps now, we meet the time differently than people from the new society. Before, when you want to go to the next town it was like half a day, and… you have time to arrive. We meet this kind of relativity… [and] have time to adapt.” He mimes being spat out of a plane: “not-blerg-where am I?” Of course, life in the cramped confines of a boat isn’t without its difficulties. Franck describes it as three full-time jobs: promoting and performing the shows; moving and maintaining the boat; and looking after his children. The younger of his two daughters was born in France in 2008 and came on board when she was just one and a half months old. She isn’t there when I visit; someone who saw the show offered to take her to visit their school. It’s her first experience of such a thing.

The Tale of Travelling Acrobats

I ask whether it has been liberating, to take the show out of the theatre. Franck is considered: “in the dark rooms of theatre, there’s always people coming to see you, but you never go to see the people. It’s so different when it’s live – it’s real… there’s some kind of energy we can’t match today. We feel the audience when we are performing; we feel [their] spirit and they perhaps also feel our spirit - and there’s something, some communication you can’t match.”

They carry a basic location system, so friends and family can see where they are but Franck is frank about its capacity to send a distress signal: “I will only use it if life is in danger. If the boat loses a mast, I don’t have to use it, it’s okay, I can do something to fix it, and change the way, and continue the travel. If we have enough food and enough water there’s no dangers, you can just continue the way.”

I jumped off the boat and back into the weather. The sky was still grey and rain lingered, but there was a smile on Franck’s face as he bid me adieu. There was no anguished self-doubt or second-guessing here: time was a butterfly and audience and ocean alike awaited its visit.

Words by Daniel Kelly

Franck admits to being a searcher: “I like to find new ways” – and the autonomy of their lifestyle obviously appeals. His advice for others inspired by their story is simple:

“don’t expect anything… just offer what you have to offer and take what people offer you.” Theirs is an existence without boundaries and Franck is keenly aware of this. “In the same day we can eat with a billionaire guy and after that with a poor guy on the street … I like this!”

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School isn’t the only thing absent on the seas and, noticing the lack of one, I ask how they’ve adapted to life with no showers. Franck is cheekily philosophical: “When you are sailing so far, it’s okay; you can stay in your odours. But when you meet people you need to be clean… and, uh, I like showers! But in another way… when you don’t like your neighbour, you have just to move. It’s easier by a way. And we have a big garden around us and no grass to shave. That’s good!”

Photographic Series: Berlin w Kyle Boonzaier Berlin/Aotearoa Photography/LosTraveller -8 Degrees/Kruezberg OverSeas Adventure

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Remember the days when you had your point and shoot and you would always think twice about taking a photo? I mean, you only had thirty and you always had to question what that particular sight was worth? After having my (borrowed) digital camera taken back, I was forced to rethink both what I shot and the way I shot it. This is the end result of that challenge, created in the final month before going home to Aotearoa. My fingers nearly froze but I survived to bring you these sweet memories.

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Photographic Series w Kyle Boonzaier

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transitive verb: to create again; especially: to form anew in the imagination

International Talents

Oslo/Norway Hip-Hop/Traveller Scandanavian/25 Years. International Talent

Notes:

International Talents gives insight into young and vibrant acts that strike a cord with the amigos back in the Lostravellers office/shed/tent. A platter of finely selected artists from across the globe, these select personalities bring something unique to the table and are certainly worth learning more about. 1. Ivanaverage.jpg International Talents w Ivan Average 26

International Talents w Ivan Average

If you would, tell us a little of your social background and what it was like where you grew up? I grew up in Norwegian middle class towns. I spent my first ten years in one very small town called Åmot. That’s in Telemark, which is inland, mountains, valleys, forests, cold winters, all that. A beautiful place to grow up, although not necessarily conceived as fertile ground for hip-hop culture. Later on we moved to a bigger city on the west coast, Sandnes, which is more suburban. It neighbors one of the biggest cities in Norway, Stavanger. There was a hip-hop scene there for as long as I can remember, although I would say graffiti was pretty much the only element kids were nailing back then. I didn’t have the patience to get nice with cans, so I decided rap was how I was going to impress girls. Turns out mastering rap takes at least as long. What attracted you to music in general, and hip hop specifically?

Given the history of social and cultural impact on hip hop and vice versa, how much influence has where you grew up had on your writing, and how much effect has travelling and experiencing other cultures had?

In terms of my environment and my writing, I struggled for years trying to find my “voice”. Most of the hip-hop I listened to was obviously created in different circumstances than my own. But once I discovered the weirder underground rap, I understood that rap as a medium is as open as a blank canvas. Anyone can express anything through raps, as long as you put that energy and rawness in it. Upon realizing that I started trying to find out how I wanted to share my story, or rather my version of our story. “Our story” expanded as a concept once I was able to travel, and met people from all over the world. Living in the U.S. for some time also taught me a lot about what this music can do for me and for listeners. As long as you write about what you know, and you keep it honest, people from all backgrounds will be able to relate.

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My friend Anders in Åmot had a Fugees CD and a 2Pac CD, and those blew my mind and apparently have me hooked until this day.. I also think my introduction to hip-hop was helped by RnB and Pop CDs my older sisters listened to, which I often borrowed without permission. Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, later on Lauryn Hill and so on. I would say my musical consciousness started with Michael Jackson. I rocked one glove and knee pads at an early age. Hip-hop became my thing after we moved to the city, when I guess I needed some escape and something that was my own. I went on to discover older hip-hop, all the 90s stuff that I still love today. I love hip-hop for what it did for me then, and still feel like it serves me like it did all those years ago, so I try to serve it back.

“I would say a major part of my approach when doing music is to document. Document what’s going on in my life, in the life of people around me, in society or culture, whatever is going on I try to tap into.”

I would say a major part of my approach when doing music is to document. Document what’s going on in my life, in the life of people around me, in society or culture, whatever is going on I try to tap into. In production as well as lyrically, I try to capture some feeling or vibe of the present. I think if I do that well, the music rings true to listeners as well as myself, and it will live a life of itself. If you hit a nerve in people.

Lastly, what do you hope that your music, and music in general, will achieve?

Talents w Ivan Ave

My hope is that I’ll find a voice and expression that feels honest and true to me. A bonus would be to be able to make a living doing music. Real music can impact people’s lives in so many ways, so my goal is to someday make a positive impact through my music.

International

With people* in that way, you don’t have to push your music on to anyone, it pushes itself. What I mean by “our story” is just that. I tend to try and write about our situation more than just mine, and tap into what it is to live in our times, at our age, in our culture etc.

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* Tear out poster to hang above your bed.

人

Weapons of Choice:

Adventure/Tools Tools/Weapons Rucksacks/Bags Knifes/France Teeth/Amsterdam

Notes:

Weapons of Choice is a section where we celebrate the treasured possessions that accompany travellers on their adventures. While we’d be the first to pick experiences over stuff, there’s no denying that a few trinkets help to make missions that much easier... What keeps you in check when abroad?

Wepaons of Choice 30

Kyle

What is it? One extremely special black and brown Cactus bag with hand stitched rope dangling from the bottom of it. Where did you get it? I believe this was my dad’s bag from the dawn of time. It has been in our family since I can remember seeing my first map of the world and has accompanied me on all my adventures abroad. I cannot keep any items, truely nothing is safe around me, 15 pairs of pants and all of them are destroyed. This bag has done it all though, an absolute trooper and still going strong. I love it. Heart and fucking soul. Why it so invaluable to you when travelling? On my last trip, it was the only bag I took. 16 months abroad with these little ropes I stitched onto the bottom to hold my sleeping bag and it is still charging. Not only for its quality but since it has been with me on every big trip there is a real connection to the bag. I have used it countless times as a pillow on long train rides and thrown it against every surface possible on every continent. A family jewel and such a solid product, I will be passing this on to my child without question. One bag to rule them all. Yayayayaaaa.

Wanyasi

What is it? A trusty cap. It’s looking a bit tatty now. Red no longer; mottled and worn. Bits of mould blossom in the seams – life born of my sweaty scalp and the damp porch it now calls home. But I still can’t let it go.

Why it so invaluable to you when travelling?

Lostravellers x 002 x Memories

Where did you get it? The Ferrari Hat came to me in Thailand, offloaded by a friend determined to lighten his already laughably light load. He was en route to Taiwan and had no need for the waxy covering and meagre shade it provided. I didn’t either, but took it anyway. And it stayed with me, reducing me to a sweaty mess every time I chose fashion over hydration. It reminded me of home, of the friends I had there, and that Ferrari’s are cool. Which I didn’t need reminding of.

Ferraris are swag as fuck! 31

Ivan Fuchich

What is it? The most important thing in my bag is probably my camera and journal. Documentation is everything. Not in the sense of documenting to “brag about where I’ve been” but for myself to look back on and remember. I bought my camera online and my journal from a good friend. Without them I feel incomplete. It’s what is most frequently grabbed out of my bag.

Cairo

What is it? A Laguiole 4-inch silver blade, I think it was originally a butter knife that was sharpened to weapon status. Where did you get it? It was found somewhere in India, a small knife store on a black alley in Jaipur! A knife comes in handy in so many ways, so it was the greatest purchase on my trip.

Wepaons of Choice

Why it so invaluable to you when travelling? A knife, I think, is essential. No matter where you are there is always need for it, in those sketch locations, opening a can of beans, slicing fruit for some mystery lady on the bus in South America or simply to look cool. Always rock the blade babe.

Nadeesha What is it? Minus my journal, my most important possession would have to be the water brush! It’s a brush with water already in it, great if you quickly want to loosen up line work, or shade. I know you can buy them from any art store, but I got it from a student.. They are pretty cheap but it’s invaluable to me because it’s just so functional and convenient. I don’t have to carry jars of water around and it adds way more dimension to the drawings, so thats it’s not just ‘line’ work.

Parisa When I thought about what my weapon of choice while travelling is, it made me realize how much of a silver spooned traveller I am, and how I need to grow some big man nuts and get more ruthless. But until then I will always choose between 3 weapons, with one always the clear winner. What are they? I always go with the unimaginative iPhone map, but I find this weapon will sometimes stab you in the back at the moment you realize you can’t afford the incredibly £$€ phone plans the world offers.

So this always leaves me with my last weapon. A big fucking smile. This weapon is always with you and will save you from any situation. I always use it as my fall back when I don’t speak a country’s language. This weapon nearly failed me when I fell down some New York subway stairs and I landed on my face. But a few thousand dollars and a bunch of porcelain later, my trusty weapon is back to save me. Brush yo teef.

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No. 2 is my hair straightener. This always saves me from bad cases of rain-induced frizz, but once again, this weapon always fails me - when you find your kiwi plug doesn’t work anywhere else in the world and you can’t buy NZ adapters in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Train Tracks and Beetnik Living w Ivan Fuchich.

Train Jumping/Detroit Photography/USA Hitch Hiking/San Fran Over Seas Adventure

目

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“It’s wild man. TOO wild. I’m in a car with 2 cute ass girls right now. Going straight to San Francisco. These last 24 hours man. Just ridiculous.” Ivan Fucich 13:47

Ivan Fucich jumping trains 13:47

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9th_May

Who are you and where are you at this moment?

My name is Ivan Fucich and I’m a 19 year-old photographer. I’m currently crashing on my cousin’s couch in San Francisco getting stoned and watching Harmony Korine movies. What inspired this cross country epic?

I don’t know what really inspired this trip, nor can I really pinpoint or recall the moment I wanted to. After being stuck in Michigan for 13 years attending grade school, I really just wanted to get out and start seeing world. Where did you start and where are you going? I started my trip in Portland, Oregan. Me and my good friend Travis just hitch hiked all the way to San Francisco. After this, I’m not really to sure how my trip will pan out. All I can really say is that I’ll be heading back to the east coast by train/hitch hiking pretty soon. When doing an adventure like this, what are the biggest risks about jumping trains and what made the journey so appealing?

21st_May

The biggest risks are definitely death and other fatalities, but those are things you just try not to think of. What makes it so appealing though is just being off the grid to some extent. I mean I obviously have my phone and I’m in contact with those close to me, but to talk to people and tell them my newest location and that it self is just kinda rad! To constantly see new things and meet new people is great as well! What tools have you taken for the trip?

Yeah! I’ve definitely had some great experiences. The first train me and my friend tried to catch Southbound out of Portland ended up being terminated after 1 miles and we were stuck in the train yard. Ended up having to run away from the “bull” (the railroad cops). After that, we got some coffee and slept under a jungle gym at some local school. Upon waking up, we started thumbing it. Got our first ride after 30 minutes. Hitch hiking to San Francisco from Portland was a breeze though. For lack of better wording, we got very lucky. These 2 girls, about our age, picked us up just north of Cottage Grove and we spent 12 hours with them on the road. Despite one of the tires blowing up as soon as we got into California, we had one hell of a trip!! In total, 5 people picked us up, and after 16 hours we arrived in San Francisco around the stock of midnight.

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21st_May

Have you had any unique experiences so far on the adventure?

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Sorry if those replies sucked. I’m really stoned hahaha

Train Tracks

The tools I’ve taken are: my backpack, sleeping bag, clothes, cameras, film, my moleskin journal, maps of the freight trains and high ways of America and also lots of food and a gallon of water

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Is there anything you are hoping to achieve from your time on the road, and if so what is it? 24tH_May

Only thing that comes to mind is achieving to arrive in each one of my destinations. Still have to get all the way to Chicago and NYC! You are traveling with your camera. Who are you inspired by and what do you enjoy capturing while on the road?

16tH_June

I’m inspired by all of my surrounds, as well as the people I surround myself with. What I enjoy shooting the most is just me and my friends having good times where ever we may be. To just document the places I’ve been and the friends who I’ve hung out with. Recently I’ve been hanging out a lot near the coast, so shooting candid portraits and landscapes has been the most fun! damn wussup man im about to be in chicago how you been?!

This has probably been the most lengthy interview to date, fuck it! Where are you now? Are you still travelling and what have you learnt from your time on the road?

1st_August

Glad to hear man, this whole interview has been amazing! I hope we can do more feature shit in the future! I’m currently chillin’ out back home in Detroit, Michigan. Currently saving money for my trip to Iceland, Europe and Russia in Spring/ Summer 2014! I’ve learned far more than I could ever fucking put into words man. The people I’ve met, the things I’ve seen. It’s been surreal and I can’t wait to get back out there in just a few months from now. For those wanting to do something similar to yourself, what would be your one line of utter wisdom to the aspiring train jumpers and hitchers of this world?

Don’t ride freights unless you know some one who has done it before, and don’t fucking die. I’m not trying to sound like an ass hole or speak up of myself, but for real, NEVER just jump on a train and go! the last thing I’d ever want is for someone to pass away just because they read an interview online. Be safe out there, but never stop exploring!!

Train Tracks

and Beetnicks

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Train Tracks

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The travelling epics of Ivan are on. We will be catching you for a couple more words when you hit Europe. Buy my final questions (for now): What has been THE MOST memorable experience throughout the trip - one particular point on the journey where you were blown away?

Definitely, overseas is gonna be wild. If anyone in Europe wants to grab a beer or just hang out next spring, feel free to get in touch! The most memorable moment by far was when the two girls (Hayley and Holly) picked Travis and I up in Cottage Grove, Oregon and drove us all the way to San Francisco. That was the moment when it really hit me. Cottage Groves to San Francisco is about 500 miles (about 800km for you foreigners) to give you an idea of the distance we traveled with these 2 strangers.

How would you define a Lostraveller?

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A Lostraveller is a drifter man, it’s what I aspire to be!

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It was then that we realized how great of a journey this was about to be. Driving through the mountains really gives you an idea of how big the USA is, and looking out the window and realizing that was spectacular. Also, realizing that these strangers picked us up and asked for nothing in return was incredible, almost restored my faith in humanity, giving me a first hand look at how grateful should be for the people that help me out and support me! That was definitely the “prime” moment.

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Ivan signs off with these lyrics

I’m a travelin’ man and I’ve made a lotta stops all over the world And in every port I own the heart of at least one lovely girl I’ve a pretty senorita waitin’ for me down in old Mexico And if you’re ever in Alaska stop and see my cute little Eskimo

Oh, I’m a travelin’ man Yes, I’m a travelin’ man Yes, I’m a travelin’ man Woe, I’m a travelin’ man

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Oh my sweet fräulien down in Berlin town makes my heart start to yearn And my China doll down in old Hong Kong waits for my return Pretty Polynesian baby over the sea I remember the night When we walked in the sands of Waikiki and I held you oh so tight

Ricky Nelson - Travelin’ Man 1961 Lyrics

Tunes From Afar w Arama Tairea Notes:

Local beat collector and Lostravellers affiliate, Arama Tairea, searches the the world wide web for up and coming sounds from all corners of the globe. Here are a few of his favourites.

Madpete I’m a big fan of music in other languages but most of the time (well actually all of the time) I’ve got no idea what they’re talking about. This artist raps in the tongue of Cantonese, and despite my non-existent knowledge of the language, it’s in his beats where he switches to a language we can all understand. Madpete is a native of Hangzhou, China - perhaps a distant Chinese relative of Pete Rock? Regardless of bloodlines, you definitely get a Pete Rock feel from his Cantonese version of boom-bap. Toss a bit of DJ Premier into the mix and you’ve got a pretty tasty aural recipe sure to have your head bopping. So do you really need to understand the lyrics? https://soundcloud.com/ groovebunnysoundmachine

David Sparkz

https://soundcloud.com/davesparkz/ mcrphnmstr

When you hear the name Dave Sparkz, you could be forgiven for thinking he’s some trill artist from the South. In fact he is a Swissborn beat maker. Geographical locations aside, when you hear the name Sparkz you have to admit, it does have a electric sense of style about it. That would be the best way to describe D.S. His grooves leave you with such an impression that you end up bobbing your head, not out of choice but because of some unknown biological reaction to his beats. For all you nineties hip hop kids, Sparkz is sure to bring back some tear jerking memories. For all those who ain’t...betta check yoself...

Bun Japan is often seen as a possible blueprint for the future of humanity. Embedded in its cultural values, one could argue is a duty of creativity - with this spilling over into their music. Combining his education in classical and contemporary music composition and mixing it with the likes of hip hop and electronic music to name just a few, Fumitake Tamura’s (aka Bun’s) control of sampling is like that of conductor controlling an orchestra. His beats are their own little masterpieces, giving instruction to each sample to guide you through a finely textured landscape, as if capturing the mood of that particular moment. What that mood and moment is I’ll let you decide, but if you’re wanting to be transported to the future then be sure to check out the link below. https://soundcloud.com/bun/simply

Losco I don’t know much about Belgium, apart from the fact that they make good beer. However it seems that they also make good beats. Losco are a group of four guys who I’m sure you’d want to share one of those famous beers with. Their sound is definitely inviting, bringing you in with silky smooth bass and synth lines, before sending you on that groove as if it were a lazy Sunday. If you’re having a weekend in or out, then Losco has you covered: providing good vibes all round. Check the link below, and enjoy. https://soundcloud.com/loscobeats/loscox-orijanus-abroad

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Looking to hear more from our beat collector and local lostraveller? You can find weekly artist updates through our Facebook and monthly playlists on Soundcloud. Simply follow the link:

Adios w LT You’ve reached the end of memories - but fear not. There’s a host of extra content on the website and plenty more to come in the future. Yipee! From all the lostravellers out there, we hope you enjoyed the spread. Summer is well and truely here (for us southerners) and there’s plenty of advenures to be had - so get busy adding to those memories; we’ll be back soon! Until then, stay hungry and jah bless. Love, Kyle Boonzaier Barney Chunn Daniel Kelly

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