Looking Forward Music-Art-Fashion-Humanity
For City People 1
For City People
Fall 2010
Recommended Price: â‚Ź3,50,-
L4
-State of PlaySpecialty:
Behind the Scenes with girlsandfootballsa.com
Travel Report:
Che Guevara or maybe Cocaine?
EXTRA
Creative Minds: Akua Naru Orange Grove Semsa Ferreira Renske van Kollenburg
DREAM PHOTOGRAPHY
Jens Hocher Marc Hibbert
m a s e H a y o R
E V O L E W . . . R E N DESIG
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“Ein Traum ist unerlässlich, wenn man die Zukunft gestalten will.” Victor Hugo
Inti Ferreira Fashion Shop Noordeinde 111 2514GE Den Haag Nederland
www.intiferreira.eu info@intiferreira.eu
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References Looking Forward For City People Music-Art-Fashion-Humanity
Contributors: Jalane Aparicio Renske van Kollenburg Jos Dirkx Philippe Gebhardt Michele Ferron-Leckie
Publisher: Snatching Media Design www.snatchingmedia.com info@snatchingmedia.com
Concept: Francesca Schueler Print: Drukkerij Morgenstond b.v. Editors Alexander Schroeder Francesca Schueler
Wanted: Journalists Promotion Stories
Creative Director Francesca Schueler
Praise and Criticism: info@snatchingmedia.com Music. Art. Fashion.
COVER CREDITS Photographer: Jens Hocher www.jenshocher.com Model: Leandra Lax Make Up and Hair: Sano Wahyudi Styling: Anastasia Janz
Humanity .
Edit or’s Note
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In a world where breaking news are always bad news it is hard to keep up spirits and free ones mind. The solemnity of the established western system forces us to function within its set frame and rules. Anyone trying to bypass that system will end up with a fine, on the streets, or in worse problems. In order to breathe freely in this world we should be “cool” with us, and as shallow as it sounds, believe. The principle that applies is Hope. It illuminates us through children’s eyes, their words, and their innocence. Who are we not to believe in that? Nature also shows that seeds fall of trees, only to carry their fruits. The same applies to us! For some reason or another, along the way experience cripples us. There is nothing bad forever, unless we leave it that way. Nor is there anything good, unless we do it. Looking Forward to something means that we are positively awaiting something. It means that good things happen all the time! Try count the times you say “I am looking forward” in a week… In this edition of Looking Forward we introduce people with a vision, people that are doing something with their talents, people that are working to become better than they already are. We truly believe that, in order to free ones mind, to stay motivated and positive….we all have to move! Physically, mentally…be your own positive breaking news, and surprise yourself with your own talents, powers, and cleverness. Give your hopes and dreams a try…. We have seen people do it…and it works!
Enjoy and Much Love, Francesca Schueler. -Creative Director-
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Music
14
Exclusive Interview with Orange Grove
18
Akua Naru
20
Rayn Bechoe
22
Sammylu
25
L4: State of Play
30
Column: Music is the answer
Fashion
34
We Love: Roya Hesam
42
Scrap Book: Inti Ferreira
46
Fashion in Perspective: The Shift Dress
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Art
Humanity
10
Foreplay
50
Photographer Marc Hibbert
62
Photographer Jens Hocher
80
Girlsandfootballsa.com Behind the Scenes
86
Life Changing Travel Report: “Che Guevara or maybe Cocaine?�
Foreplay... 10 Looking Forward
Jalane knows about the Hot Stuff
Shopping in The Hague I would say the hottest shops are Masculine, Inti Ferreira, and Fabriq. Masculine, because they have the coolest hats, belts, jewels and much more, finally just for men! Inti Ferrera is a semi new specialty in The Hague in the end of Noordeinde, because they have a different line than the usual. Timeless, and made of the best natural materials. I also like the decoration and atmosphere in the shop! Fabriq on the contary is a tiny little hot spot where any trendy female will find one or two hot pieces, or men can shop for their ladies! Take my word, go check these places, they did not pay to be mentioned here!!!
i to the Pad In my opinion the iPad is the coolest gadget on the market right now, especially if u have the 3G connection. It allows you to check your Emails, be online at anytime without depending on any wireless connection! It allows you to play games with great graphics, nice sound and a wide screen that makes it even better, not to mention the thousands of breath taking Apps! Many people say that it is too big to carry, I say it is too big not to OWN one! Everybody who has one knows that.
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Janelle Monae When it comes to music, there is (unfortunately) a lot of garbage on the Dutch/World market. For the real “art of music” lovers there are a few alternatives to mainstream channels. We can still make a difference by demanding better music, and how do we do it? Only buy what is good and not taking a look at what is apparently wack. I like Vinnie, Kleine Viezerik, Zwart Licht, Kernkoppen, and L4 of course, when talking about the Dutch market! Within the Urban/Hip Hop boundaries that is, but I also like Jenny Lane, Blof, and Caro Emerald. My new favorite International Artist has got to be the already great Janelle Monae and her new Album : The Archandroid though. Everybody should go and check that out because it is one of my favorite things to listen to at the moment.
android” “The Arch k that hec Go and c use it is a out, bec y favorite one of m t there at things ou a Janelle is this point. t. true Artis
Restaurant “Rodizio” in Scheveningen (The Hague) is probably the best place to eat as much as u want for any wallet. It is affordable, gives the customer great many choices, and it has a pleasant atmosphere. The quality of service is the best I have had for some time. They are fast, clean, understandable, and a little
annoying, because they constantly come to you to re-fill your plate with the most delicious and juicy MEAT! There is also a great variety of Vegetables to choose from and many tasty sauces. Rodizio is what I know about South American and Portugese food: Simple greatness!
Author: Jalane Aparicio Images: Getty Images/iStockphoto
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UP NEXT: Orange Grove Akua Naru Rayn Bechoe Sammylu L4 Column: Music is the answer
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(from left to right:): Vince Tonk - Guitar Quincell Adolphin - Bass Michael Maidwell - Vocals Danny Fuljhari - Guitar (2nd picture on the right): Benny Bakker - Drums
MUSIC PEOPLE
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Orange Grove Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography: Private
FINALLY WE GOT THE GUYS FROM ORANGE GROVE TO GIVE US AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO SHARE PERSPECTIVES, EXPERIENCES, FUTURE PLANS, AND POSITIVITY! THEY HAVE JUST RELEASED THE FIRST VIDEO TO THEIR LATEST ALBUM “FINGERPRINT”, AND ARE PREPARING TO SHOOT MORE FOR THEIR EVER DEMANDING AND GRATEFUL FANS. Location: Den Haag and Rotterdam Web site: www.orangegrove.nl WHAT ELSE Michael: “We are starting to get airplay on U.S. college radio and it is picking up! This is quite exciting. It is one of the few platforms on which unsigned artists can still break through to the mainstream. I just got an email this morning from one of these stations. It broadcasts live from the Chicago Comic Con 2010, that had over 150.000 attendees last year, and they have chosen one of our songs for their playlist.”
BEGINNINGS Michael: “I came to Holland when I was 16 and really didn’t know what I would become. I studied business and although I believe I have a certain talent for it, I just didn’t have enough interest in it. Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of being an entertainer or something like it. I thought perhaps I can become a writer and so I started writing short stories in high school back on Sint Maarten. Then one day I discovered that I can sing and that felt like a calling I wanted to pursue until today. A close friend, Jacob Streefkerk (Intwine), got good at playing the guitar and together we decided to form Orange Grove. Since then we started to take music much more seriously and our studies much more
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“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” That is a cliché but oh so true! Oh and also, for when things aren’t going quite as planned: “The barn’s burnt down...now I can see the moon!”
lightly. That was about ten years ago and I have no regrets about it since!”
MILE STONES Michael: “A couple of shows on Sint Maarten in November 2009, A song (You Decide It) reaching as high as #5 on a popular Dutch radio chart (Rijnmond Top 30), performing on the “Wereld Draait Door”, our album release parties for Genuine Origins (2007) and Fingerprint (2009).” Dan: “2007, opening for Steve and Damian Marley in St. Maarten, for the 27th Heineken Regatta. 2008, opening for “the Wailers”, 2009 the same festival, National Dutch Television and Radio!!”
IMPORTANCE Michael: “Each band member has quite a different music background and influence. When we combine our individual qualities and ideas, great songs with an original sound are the result of that process and we really enjoy that. Why do we make this music? The feeling we get from knowing that there are people out there who have been touched by our songs is a big motivation. I mean, I don’t think we make music for ourselves. In the end it is about sharing: we all know a delicious plate of food tastes even better when you’re sharing it with somebody. The same goes for music. We want to make it extra delicious for all the people we are sharing it with!”
Quincell: “Music has become one of the most important ways of communicating over the last few years. As musicians we use our instruments to do that. Also, we take great pleasure in seeing people who enjoy the music that we create. It motivates us to continue providing our fans with the best we can!”
MUSIC IN PICTURES “FEEL THAT FIRE” MUSIC VIDEO Michael: “This was the first video off our last album. The experience was quite special. We all had a good time and we’re very proud of the results. Our fans, radio stations and others in the industry react with so many great comments. The ability to produce videos of this standard feels great and I know they will only keep getting better. We’ll be releasing quite a few more for songs off the Fingerprint album and we’re already planning to bring out two before the end of this year. Oh, and Tempo (the MTV of the Caribbean) has just accepted the video and they’ll be adding it to their rotation very soon! Last week we sent it to TMF/MTV and we’ll soon be hearing whether they add it or not. Fingers crossed!”
PHILOSOPHY Michael: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” That is a cliché but oh so true! Oh and also, for when things aren’t going quite as planned: “The barn’s burnt down...now I can see the moon!” Quincell: “Speak, believe and you shall achieve...”
MUSIC PEOPLE
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Their album “Fingerprint” was released in 2009! Check it on iTunes.
Dan: “I believe in ‘Karma’. What you do, you get back! You create your ways to get somewhere (with all the actions and reactions), and for me the ways to get somewhere are more important than the actual purpose I am aiming for.”
(minded).”
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
Quincell: “My lovely wife and son who she’s about to give birth to.”
Michael: “We have performed at a few charity events probono and I occasionally give to the homeless. I also donate a few Euros every month to one of the large charities but that was mainly because the girl at the train station who tries selling them was so cute and friendly to me.”
NEXT TO YOUR BED Michael: “A few old or new bills which are being used as paper for writing lyrics (and I have found yet another way to recycle!!!) ...a couple of pens…mp3 player...my phone…and a pile of clothes.” Quincell: “My iPod touch, my phone and the bible.”
PREJUDICE Michael: “I try to give everybody a fair chance. But wow, sometimes I get so disappointed by how judgmental people can be, especially in Holland. Some people really only let themselves get #%##% by men in nice suits!” Dan: “It is something I don’t think about at all (anymore). It’s always there, and I believe it always will be. I try to be open for anybody I don’t know yet, even though they aren’t open
TRUE LOVE Michael: “True pain and happiness.”
Dan: “I believe in true love!! Unfortunately the girls don’t believe it when I tell them, waaaaaaah!! No seriously, I think I haven’t met her yet but that is hopefully still to come!!!!”
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MUSIC PEOPLE
Akua Naru
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“...it’s always amazing to see how something that began in my mind and heart could touch others...” Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography: Till van Loosen
Job Emcee, Teacher Location Cologne, Germany
www.akuanaru.com WHAT ELSE
COOL
“I have just finished recording the last song on my forthcoming album entitled “…the journey aflame.” We’ve been working on this project for a while so you can imagine how good it feels to bring something you have started to an end. I’m looking forward to the release in fall.”
“I think making music is really cool. It has to be the greatest feeling to write your thoughts in rhyme, to record them, and then to watch them walk to the hearts and mouths of others. Music is so powerful; it can sculpt memories, demand more presence in a moment, force us to pay attention, teach and enlighten, and so much more. For me, it’s always amazing to see how something that began in my mind and heart could touch others, in the ways in which other artists have touched my life. It has to be the coolest feeling; yeah, nothing is cooler.”
OBSESSION “My music and all the creative processes involved. I feel that I am living the music. Each moment is the rhyme waiting to be rhymed and written. I am a lover of words and sounds… reading, writing and performing are like drinking, sleeping and breathing to me. I find truth in words and water. When I am in the process, there is no separation between the rhyme and the rapper, the song and the singer, the dancer and the dance. We are one whole together. I need those things.”
DESIGNER LOOK “I guess I do my own thing fashion-wise. I am more into wearing whatever feels the best to me at the moment. I like when people wear what makes them feel good. I love to wear long dresses, sometimes I wear neckties, sometimes suspenders, sandals, whatever feels good, a lot of bohemian and natural elements too, and most definitely earth tones.”
PREJUDICE “I feel that it’s important to be aware. Understanding history for example, helps us to better understand how systems of power operate and have been operating over time. Once we become informed, we are responsible. I find that it is never easy to deal with prejudice or injustice. Being informed is a life long journey, and by being informed, I can inform. That’s what I work to do through my music.”
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS “I support all efforts toward social justice. I have worked with a number of organizations designed towards giving back to communities. I have worked with Philadelphia’s Girls on the Move Program, where I work alongside teenage girls to navigate youth empowerment through the Arts. I am always thinking of new ways that I can be of service.”
NEXT TO YOUR BED “I have two bookshelves full of my absolute favorite books. When I open my eyes in the morning I can see my favorite titles. This morning I awoke to Teishan Latner’s The Quotable Rebel and Toni Morrison’s the Bluest Eye.”
TRUE LOVE “Do I believe in true love? Hmmm, yes, I do. I believe in love, and think that all love is true, if it’s love. Love is the highest vibration in our universe, it can only be itself, and everything that is true lies within it. But the challenge is to find if what we are speaking of is love. Sometimes it’s not love, it’s dependency, it’s addiction, it’s lust. All love is true, and yes, I am definitely grateful because I believe that it has found me.”
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MUSIC PEOPLE
Rayn Bechoe
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“...I don’t like the word prejudice...” Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography: Private
Job Singer, Songwriter Location Utrecht, The Netherlands www.raynmusic.nl
WHAT ELSE “On my Web site www.raynmusic.nl you can find all the information about my music career and news about the CD I’m busy with.”
things we should have for each other. It will be the way to fight prejudice.”
COOL OBSESSION “My family, I thank my mother for all the care and support she gives me in my life. I’m very proud that she is my mother. Mom, brothers and sisters I love you from the bottom of my heart.”
DESIGNER LOOK
“I think it’s really cool to have my own album on the market and many performances for large audiences. This is really my dream in life. I also want to have my own clothing company with my sisters so we have our own name on it and develop clothes for people with curves. That would be very cool.”
“I like to wear suits when I perform, because I think that it’s more professional. It also matches my personal preference, and it is nice for the people that come and watch. I also love sportswear when I’m at the studio, go shopping or just chill with my friends.”
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS
PREJUDICE
NEXT TO YOUR BED
“I don’t like the word prejudice, because you can’t tell from looks what kind of people you are dealing with. When you meet someone for the first time, you can’t say that a person is bad because of their race, the way they look, or what they wear, because you don’t know him or her. But still a lot of people do that because everyone is different. Still it doesn’t mean we should. Someone that is prejudiced will never be a good friend of mine. We all deal with it every day but I don’t mind. It’s not my job to watch every single person about the way they look or behave. Respect is one of the most important
“I don’t support any humanitarian efforts yet, but I’m planning to do some benefit concerts when my career is settled as a musician, because I always want to give a helping hand to the children of this world. They are the future.”
“Next to my bed you would find a bottle of water some CD’s, a pen and some lyrics I wrote when I’m in bed and couldn’t sleep.”
TRUE LOVE ”I do believe in true love, but I did not find it yet. Maybe the time is not there because I’m really focused on my music career. We will see what the future brings. No doubt there are a lot of beautiful women in this world.”
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Job Singer, Communications manager Location The Hague, The Netherlands www.myspace.com/sammylu85
MUSIC PEOPLE
Sammylu
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“I am a very fashion forward person and everyday I dress differently.” Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography: La Hager
WHAT ELSE “In the future, I will be working with L.A based producer named Cook Classics; a dope hip hop, soul & R&B producer from the United States, check out his music on www.myspace. com/cookclassics. Furthermore, I will also continue working and creating songs with Astro, beat producer. I have also been invited to sing in a band on the 3rd of September 2010, with lead singer Mariska; a semi-finalist on the program of RTL 4 “My name is”, so that’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to it!”
OBSESSION “Music I personally listen too, like and write about has to be meaningful. As a musician, you have the ability to create the best beats in the world, but if your lyrics do not represent or reflect who you are as an individual, then you haven’t done a very good job. People forget that the lyrics are what make the song work and come to life. I listen to all kinds of music, ranging from hip hop to reggae and dancehall and soul to Jazz. If I am feeling romantic, I listen to Sade, if I feel like dancing, I listen to Antibalas, Beenie man or Bounty killer. Music has the audacity to make you feel a certain emotion in about 30 seconds and therefore should not be tampered with. Nowadays, the music industry has become too fabricated, even to the extent where it’s not even about the song anymore. The younger generation are viewing the craziest, most obscene videos up to date. What happened to the music? On that note, I’d like to quote DMX: “ I am not an industry artist, I am an artist in the industry.”
world. We need to be educated, insightful and moral to truly surpass the barriers that create prejudice. I deal quite well with prejudice, however it depends on what scale and what kind of prejudice we are talking about. If you are talking about experiencing individual discrimination then I tend to be calm, cool and collected. No matter how hard you fight a preconditioned judgement made about you, you will never see it disappear, so the best thing to do is ignore it or try to understand why you are being judged in the first place. I believe there is a reason why we get exposed to bigotry. It makes us stronger as individuals and allows us to get to know ourselves a bit better. It definitely builds character.”
HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS “This year I started thinking about creating my own Charity because of my lack of trust for non governmental organizations that presumably give our money to those in need. I think the best way to help or donate is by knowing someone in the charity/cause you would like to support; then at least you know that your money might make a small difference in someone’s life. I think its very important for human beings to donate a percentage of their wages or physically help those in need, wether it be on a local, national or global scale. I think we are on this planet to give, and I personally go by the following quote: Winston Churchill once said, “ You make a living by what you get and you make a life by what you give”. It’s our duty, let’s say, as individuals to help those that are not as fortunate as us, because if we all did, the world would probably be a better place to live in.”
DESIGNER LOOK
NEXT TO YOUR BED
“I do not have a favorite fashion look, because I have many! I am a very fashion forward person and everyday I dress differently. My style is very eclectic; one day I’m rocking my designer outfit and the next day, I’m wearing jeans and some kicks. If I could label my style, I would label it Scandinavian. Although my favorite designers are not all from that region, they all have a Scandinavian feel to them: Simple chic yet edgy.
TRUE LOVE
PREJUDICE “Prejudice in general is an error in thinking, a failure to think past our own norms and values. This thought belittles the human race and disgraces our level of understanding of this
“Haha..next to my bed you can find a black coffee table with a very funky black alarm clock, a small statue of Roma- Il Pantheon, a small statue of Roma- Colloseo, a small zebra and giraffe I picked up in Kenya, and last but definitely not least.. my champagne glass with my bottle of Pellegrino.”
“Have I found true love, that’s a tough one. I have fallen in love, and I found true love, but only to realize that true love doesn’t always mean long lasting love. Do I believe I will end up with my ideal person...Absolutely! It’s just a matter of time before he comes and sweeps me off my feet. Have I told you I am a hopeless romantic?”
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MUSIC PEOPLE
L4 State of Play Summer 2010 - Behind the Scenes International Band Shoots Video to “Ice Cream”
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Leading Men
MUSIC PEOPLE
The Hague is in flux when it comes to their music scene. People assume it is all blunt Rock music. Far from the truth looking at international Hip Hop formation L4. Not too long ago L4 launched their second video to their relaxing song “Tranquility”. Thank god these guys do not sit still and let opportunities pass. Riding the wave of the hype they have shot the story to their song “Ice Cream”. We have had the privilege to enjoy a sneak preview, before it was launched officially. Let us just say that...afterwards we had pain in our bellies and face muscles from laughter! It is great entertainment, musically and acting wise too. It is due to play on the Dutch music channels, and of course fabulous YouTube. Until you enjoy it there do check their album on iTunes or Bol.com: L4 “Counting Coins” and check their Web site: www.L4music.com for the latest updates and endevours.
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MUSIC IS THE ANSWER Author: Renske van Kollenburg @ Splash Agency
I TRULY BELIEVE MUSIC IS THE ANSWER. IT’S THERE WHEN WE ARE HAPPY OR DEPRESSED… MUSIC IS THERE, ALWAYS. MUSIC REALLY GIVES A VOICE TO ANYTHING WE WANT OR NEED TO EXPRESS. LET’S HIGHLIGHT A FEW ARTISTS WHO ARE KNOWN FOR USING THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR SHALL I SAY: FREEDOM TO SING? YOU BE THE JUDGE.. SLAVERY In times when slavery was still accepted, music literally saved lives and singing was their only “freedom of speech”. Most slaves couldn’t read or write and it was illegal to teach them. Slave songs were much more than just songs about a better life. Slaves sung to pass secret messages and information. Codes hidden in the lyrics for example, advised slaves when, how and where to escape.
RASTAFARI MOVEMENT With songs such as “Redemption Song” and “Get Up, Stand Up”, Bob Marley tried to show the world the awful situation of the oppressed black man. Through his non-violent protest methods and his music, Marley asked his listeners to fight for their rights, and gave them the message to change the world. It’s clear, by examining the core beliefs of the Rastafarian religion in relation to “Get Up, Stand Up” that the song is a song of protest against the white political and religious powers that have held down the Jamaican blacks, as well as blacks throughout the world for centuries. The song became a Rasta theme throughout the world, and Marley, became a leader in the Rasta movement.
THE 70’S John Lennon came into collision with the Nixon government that considered him as a political danger and so they shadowed him by the secret service. A legal fight of many years followed. The assassination of Lennon started rumors
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“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Victor Hugo
about this being the work of the American government who would be afraid of the influence Lennon would still have on the public. The song “Gimme Some Truth” for instance, has strong political references emerging from the time it was written, during the latter years of the Vietnam War.
HIPHOP Gangsta rap has caused a great deal of controversy. Criticism has come from politicians and religious leaders. The group N.W.A. sparked the first major controversy regarding hip-hop lyrics when their song “Fuck Tha Police” earned a letter from the FBI. The 1990s also brought a rivalry between East and West Coast hip-hop. Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. used their lyrics in the competition between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records. After the release of the song Who Shot Ya? (Bad Boy Rec.), 2Pac would appear on numerous tracks aiming threats at Biggie and Bad Boy as a label. He felt that the song was directed at him, raising suspicions that Biggie was in fact responsible for his shooting. For the rest of his life, 2Pac remained defensive against Biggie and Bad Boy until his death on September 13th, 1996. Without excluding every other possible reason of the rappers’ death, according to the media, the rivalry in their lyrics went from nasty to vicious to deadly.
HOUSE House also had an influence of sending political messages to people who were considered to be outcasts of society. It appealed to those who didn’t fit into mainstream American society and was especially celebrated by many black males. Frankie Knuckles made a good comparison of house saying it was like “church for people who have fallen from grace”. Deep house was similar to many of the messages of freedom for the black community. Both house CDs by Joe Smooth, “Promised Land” and Db “I Have a Dream” give similar messages of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Smooth is best known for the track “Promised Land” (1987), which speaks of how humans as brothers and sisters will all make it to the “Promised Land”.
Follow up album, “Rejoice” was released in 1990 and contained the hit single “They Want To Be Free,” an “antiapartheid” anthem for the citizens of Africa.
2010 POP And then I have to mention MJ. There are lots of rumors about his death. Even Joe and LaToya Jackson believe it was based on a conspiracy theory. To name a few rumors; the THIS IS IT tour would “wake up” too many people about “the truth” because MJ was setting up an Illuminati exposure to his last show, he was killed for his music catalog; it was determined that he was worth more to his handlers dead than he was alive. Some people believe the CIA murdered him because he was about to release a song similar to “Heal The World” for the Palestinians. Michael made a song named “We’ve had Enough” which is about Palestinians getting slaughtered by the Israeli Defense Forces. He was to use his tour to expose this abuse by Israel against the Palestinians. The story goes CIA therefore used an undercover agent to assassinate Michael Jackson. Talking about freedom of speech in the 21st century…are we there yet? Answer to yourself. One thing is sure; MJ’s lyrics contain a lot of brilliant messages… To end on a more positive note I would like to mention Emmanuel Jal. He is an African rapper who has been a child soldier for 5 years. Through his music, Emmanuel counts on the unity of people to overcome ethnic and religious division. He feels hip-hop is the most effective way to lobby for political change. Through his lyrics, he opens the world up to the corruption and greed of the Sudanese government. A theme of his songs is the campaign for peace in Sudan and the clear message that children have no place in wars. To me, there can’t be enough freedom of speech in music and my wish is for every artist, black and white, to use their freedom of speech and to bring wisdom and positivity into the world.
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UP NEXT: Roya Hesam Scrap Book: Inti Ferreira The Shift Dress
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34 Looking Forward FASHION IN PERSPECTIVE
We Love...
Roya Hesam ! Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography: Private
Fashion Designer Roya Hesam, based in Amsterdam and presented by the So Dutch Fashion Foundation is living her dream. As she is preparing her new collection for presentation in January 2011 we have the honor to check her latest styles. Feminine, daring, and exciting. Artful fashion for women that cherish fine materials and curve hugging cuts. www.royahesam.com
HOW DID YOU GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? “I was always interested in Fashion. I drew dresses as a little girl and wanted to be a trendsetter on the street. After my retail education, I realized that I’m missing something. I wanted to do something with my talent and that was also what people around me advised me to do. So I decided to study fashion and design.”
IF WE UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY YOU HAVE STARTED YOUR OWN BRAND, IS THAT TRUE? “Yes, after my graduation I decided to start my own label.”
WHAT MAKES A GREAT GARMENT IN YOUR OPINION? “A great garment arises from a good quality with the right cuts.”
DO YOU FOLLOW “TRENDS” IN FASHION? “Not in great detail. I want to create garments that I think are attractive and fit the women I make it for.”
HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION TO DESIGN ENTIRE COLLECTIONS? “First I do research on what is new on the catwalk. I pay attention to shapes, materials and colors. I also visit museums and get inspiration from the streets, buildings and nature. I get the most precious inspiration when I’m taking my rest. It can be while taking a bath, sitting in the train, or just lying on my bed. I think it’s a mix of all things I perceive. I find my inspiration mostly unconscious.”
HOW MANY HOURS A WEEK DO YOU WORK? “If I’m busy with a collection and everything that is involved with it, I think I make 52 hours a week.”
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN A COLLECTION? WHAT ARE VALUES YOU DEMAND OF FASHION? “Fashion has to be innovative, which translates directly to my entire collections. Besides fitting a season, I think a new collection should be surprising; it has to be personal and must have an attractive quality.”
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“Doing your best now prepares you for all the opportunities that are to come.”
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WHO IN THE INDUSTRY INSPIRES YOU? I’ve always admired the work of Alexander McQueen with his unconventional style. He was and still is in many ways a great inspiration to the world. He translated his concept in a very unusual way in his designs. He was classic and innovative at the same time. Haider Ackermann is also a great example for me, because his work touched me very much. He has a strong individual and tasteful handwriting. The way he uses his materials and colors are diverse, I find that very attractive.”
WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO WORK WITH? “I would desperately want to work with Steven Meisel. He is one of the most powerful photographers in the fashion industry and made many people famous. His excellent style of photography reminds me of great heroes like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn.”
WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY? “Doing your best now prepares you for all the opportunities that are to come.”
DO YOU HAVE SALE POINTS? SOMEWHERE PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE YOUR GARMENTS? “My collection is presented by So Dutch Fashion in Amsterdam and it’s also my sale point.”
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Catwalk Photography: Peter Stigter
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Catwalk Photography: Peter Stigter
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Catwalk Photography: Peter Stigter
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Scrap Book @ Inti Ferreira
Before the technical drawings the dynamic ones are composed. Illustrations a la carte! The fashion concept is classical, but not classicist, it is sexy but not sexist...simply elegant. Inti Ferreira’s style is pure, it is good taste and desire...for those who know what they want.
‘Sometimes I can design 20 different clothes in one night. It is like a chain reaction, either you are on the roll or not.’ Semsa Ferreira (Designer)
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“I like to go against the trend, so everything in my collections is unique and produced with extra care. I decide everything, from design to material, to cut. It is simply a limited production, so we can take that extra care and time.� Semsa Ferreira (Designer)
Inti Ferreira is an exclusive fashion store for women and men located at Noordeinde 111 in The Hague. www.Intiferreira.eu
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Author: Michele Ferron-Leckie @wearittowork.co.uk Shift dresses were actually born of the ‘undershirt’ or also known as a chemise. The exposing of the inner layers of clothing allowed the development of the shift dress, introduced by the French who pulled out the inner garments and used them as the outer.
SHIFT DRESSES AND STYLE ICONS The Shift dress has been popular throughout the decades, but had a few periods of highlights. Its silhouette is most iconic of the 1960s “mod” look, when it was worn by such public figures as Audrey Hepburn, Mia Farrow, and Twiggy. Shift dresses made a comeback in the mid-1990s when business wear became popular, and at this time were most often layered over a turtleneck or t-shirt and worn with knee socks. Since then the classic design has not left the stage. The shift dress is still associated with timeless style and sophistication, and is often worn by First Lady Michelle Obama. The shift dress was previously associated with US presidency when former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy adopted it as her own signature style, paired with pearls, gloves, and a pillbox hat. Today, the dress is hugely popular with current style icons, from Jennifer Aniston to Sarah Jessica Parker, everyone seems to be loving them.
VERSATILITY The versatility of the shift dress is key to its popularity. Although shift dresses can come in various sleeve lengths and hemlines, the classic shift dress is sleeveless, kneelength, and features a high collar or boat neck.
It can be dressed up or dressed down, and can be adapted to wear in any season. The simple styling of the shift dress makes it a versatile piece, lending itself to a variety of fabrics and accessories. Layering is hugely popular with this dress, especially when worn for the office or business look. Due to the short sleeves, it is ideally paired with a blazer or cardigan, and remains remarkably comfortable. Also, because of its simplicity, it can be paired with jewelry to give it a unique look. The fact that they are not form-fitting and that the waist is not emphasised, they allow women to move around freely without constraints. The simplistic lines of the dress allow for it to be produced in many materials, colours and prints. For the basic office wardrobe the main choice would be a black, grey or navy blue version of the dress. It’s the perfect dress to wear for a quick shift from desk to drinks. School to Job Interview.
FOR WHO? As established, the shift dress is ideal for anyone who needs to look professional, or works in an office. Besides that, it is perfectly flattering for any body type. Slimming rather than hugging the body, it narrows down every shape and size and takes you from an early morning meeting to cocktail hour with ease. If you are looking to upgrade your wardrobe, a shift dress is a great investment, not only will you be able to pair it with many items you already have in your closet, but you will also look great for the job.
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UP NEXT: Marc Hibbert Jens Hocher
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Marc Hibbert
“...if you have a passion for something, give it a go. There’s no point in wishing you had.” Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography of Marc: Private
OCCUPATION Full time freelance photographer. I mainly shoot fashion and also shoot a lot of musicians and bands for various magazines and record labels.
LOCATION I live in London, where I have been based for the last 8 years. Hackney is where I live and do most of my work, which is great as it is full of lots of amazingly talented and interesting people and great locations. It really is a fun place to be. I also get to travel throughout Europe on commissions and personal projects.
PERFECT PICTURE The right styling, the right light, the right subject and the right moment. It needs to have all of these ingredients. It doesn’t have to be constructed; in fact it’s sometimes better when it is not. It can just be a quick snapshot, but if it contains all the above elements it can make the perfect picture. The really good pictures tend to reveal something about the subject, an element of their personality permeates the image. As a photographer you always see these expressions,
beautiful visual glimpses of someones personality and soul. If you can translate this to film that is pretty special.
INSPIRATIONS In the past, as an assistant I had the pleasure to work with some great photographers. Tom Oxley is a fantastic music photographer, who has photographed literally everyone and is the main snapper for britains prominent music magaznie, NME. I also worked with MOFO, an amazing fashion and portrait photographer. He’s great at getting the most out of his subjects and really pushing them and his own art. As for future collaborations I guess it would have to be someone who has really proved themselves to be a cultural icon, and really forward thinking within their field. I guess it would have to be someone like David Lynch. I would love to photograph him, though I’m sure I’d be too nervous to hold the camera.
PHILOSOPHY I think it’s really important to be honest and open minded, try new things, learn from others and if you have a passion for something, give it a go. There’s no point in wishing you had.
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Jens Hocher
“Always be trustworthy and reliable when negotiating...” Interview: Francesca Schueler Photography of Jens: Private
www.jenshocher.com
OCCUPATION I began working as a freelance photographer on completion of my studies in media design at the former Bauhaus University in Dessau. Currently I’m working in product photograpy, with hip-hop and street fashion brands for print, online and catalogues. I’m also occasionally working as an Editor. I’m still working out, or enhancing my own individual style within my career for the near future. For instance, I’m currently developing an artistic series of images inspired by ancient mythology.
LOCATION
the shoot. In my opinion the performance of the model is even more important than the photographer himself; and although I love to compose different light settings, my theory is that “There is just one sun.”,so whether it’s just one light source or one basic idea for the shot, all parts will ideally float towards that source.
INSPIRATION I love working with inspiring fashion designers and stylists on creative projects, as well as with gifted, and down to earth models that have a good sense of humor.
I operate from Düsseldorf and Cologne, Germany.
PHILOSOPHY
PERFECT PICTURE
Don’t take anything too personally. Always be trustworthy and reliable when negotiating, and the impeccability of your words is of the upmost importance. Don’t gossip, and always do your best.
Perfection is only possible when the model and the photographer both comprehend the feeling and concept of
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Where: Achterom 8 g 2511 AJ Den Haa 2 070 345085 iek.nl info@patermuz iek.com www.patermuz
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UP NEXT: Girlsandfootballsa.com Behind the Scenes of “What it means to us” Travel Report: Che Guevara or maybe Cocaine?
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Behind the Scenes of Girls and Football SA promotes football for girls and women, by launching an educational campaign and workshops, and reaches out to a broad public through reporting on the importance of girls and women in sport. They aim to change the attitude towards girls and women in South Africa, by empowering them through sport, allowing them to be exposed to role models, and by creating an educational program that deals directly with challenges they face with regard to their health and sexuality. By creating awareness on issues facing girls and women in South Africa, they include a worldwide audience, thus promoting the importance of the social development of girls and women. The project takes place in South Africa. The immediate goal is to explore implementation of the workshops and educational campaign in the Western Cape, after which the goal is to expand to the rest of Southern Africa.
’T THAT ZING?
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What It Means to Us
GIRLSANDFOOTBALLSA.COM
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Author: Jos Dirkx Photography: Private
About the Author:
PROGRESS
for at least three years.
Jos Dirkx was born in Rio de Janeiro and has since been traveling the world with her parents and brother. She has lived in Brazil, Bangladesh, Spain, Senegal, The Netherlands, Canada, Norway and currently resides in South Africa. Her passion for social justice and gender equality has propelled her participation in projects, debates, fund raising and campaigning for increased public awareness of women’s rights, and her hands-on experience with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has furthered her dedication to making social justice and gender equality a worldwide priority. She has worked on various projects, including projects for victims of the Tsunami, as well as on services for commemoration of World War II survivors and victims and has volunteer experience teaching theatre in South Africa and English in Sudan. She has spoken in various European countries about Female Genital Mutilation. She enjoys theatre, music, dance, traveling, reading, playing sports, and being with friends and family.
Girls and Football SA is a young initiative based in South Africa that focuses on the development and empowerment of young women through football.
They are more than happy to talk about why they think “Girls and Football SA” is important, and what the sport means to them. But, what they say when the camera is off is almost even more interesting. The girls confide how glad they are that an emphasis is finally being placed on girls’ football. They agree that the boys are always getting much more attention, and that it isn’t fair. Their sentiment about the social position of girls and women proves to us that a lot of work still needs to be done – schools and governments are not involved in the development of girls through sports - and girls are not getting the attention they deserve. Unfortunately, the way women are treated in sports often directly correlates to the way that they are treated in the rest of the society.
We aim to reach our goals by three distinct, but interlinked channels. Primarily, together with our partner ETA, South Africa’s leading Exercise and Training Academy, we provide workshops where girls can play football, have fun and feel good. Secondly, we have devised a campaign that links girls with role models they can look up to through promotional and educational video material. Thirdly, through our contact with the South African National Women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, we raise media attention for football and its effects on girls’ development. In this article, read about our experience filming “What it Means to Us”, our most recently published video.
DIARY On Friday, July 23rd, Caleb Heymann, Leon Visser, Tonje Olsrud, ThatoyaOna Manasseh and I go to the Kayamandi High School to shoot our newest video, “What it Means to Us”. The girls we are interviewing are young women who have grown up in the township, Kayamandi, and have all played football
SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN
AND
Although South Africa is considered a ‘hegemon’ in the region - meaning that it is one of the stronger countries, with a stable government and promising economic future - there are many social factors that contribute to inequalities between men and women. Women are less likely to be employed, and often find themselves in managerial positions, regardless of the fact that there is a significant increase in the number of women enrolled in tertiary education.
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If they do work in the same position as a man, they are frequently overtrained and underpaid. Women are often referred to as “the poorest of the poor” in South Africa, with the women in the rural areas surviving of remittances from the family and rural agricultural production. The high rates of violence in South Africa remain shocking. In a keynote speech at the Professional Women’s League of Kwazulu Natal, the speaker stated that, “One in every three women in SA is in an abusive relationship, a woman is killed by her partner every six days and there is a rape every 35 seconds.” The girls we are talking to today feel the presence of this violence in their surroundings, they experience the injustice, and they want it to change. In addition to serving as a direct means to change society, practicing sports serves as a temporary escape. As Mambesi states, football is good as “[it] can keep you away from bad things; drugs, teen pregnancies, viruses...” her voice trails off as she tries to share what it means for her to be able to go out and have fun. Something so simple, a game of football, should, according to her, be accessible to girls. With so many girls that want to play and participate, and with constant efforts and dedication from organizations, communities and schools, this is a crucial area for development in South Africa.
‘Without a focus on girls and women, it is hard to reach gender equality regardless of the fact that it is highlighted in the South African Development Community Gender Protocol, the South African constitution and in the United Nation’s third Millennium Development Goal.’
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The girls we are talking to t this violence in their surro the injustice, and they wan to serving as a direct m practicing sports serves a
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today feel the presence of oundings, they experience nt it to change. In addition means to change society, as a temporary escape.
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CHE GUEVARA OR MAYBE COCAINE? Author: Philippe Gebhardt Photography: Private
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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about South America? Is it Mojitos, beautiful women, Che Guevara, or maybe cocaine? The nice thing about South America: It does not matter what you answered because every answer you provided can be check marked. Consequently, the question whether it is worthwhile experiencing South America, can definitely be answered with a yes. But it’s not just South America. Everywhere in the world you can see or experience the wonderful gifts that nature and culture have given to us. Be it the Iguazu Falls, the Rocky Mountains, Angkor Wat, the Uyuni salt lake or the Karst Topography along the Li river. It is frustrating to see some people who have never wanted to explore the world and find out about nature and cultures in other countries that their own do not have. Their ignorance can almost physically harm you considering the fact that these people neglect the beauty of this world, don’t care about it or don’t even know about it.
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Sometimes travelling may even have an impact on your whole way of thinking and life style. You don’t believe me? Then why don’t you listen to one of my stories?
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ou might wonder why other people travel around the world and cannot get enough of it. It is exhausting, costs a lot of money and possibly dangerous. You might have strange encounters such as people putting half-empty bottles on their car to signal that they want to sell it for example. You might come across strange cultures with dubious customs or weird languages. If you do not speak these languages, you might be confronted with quite some difficulties. If you think you can speak a language but you actually can’t, then you will either end up in funny situations or in real trouble. Take me for example. After spending a couple of weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina and having done a Spanish language course for beginners, I started to feel more confident about my Spanish skills. I have to mention that my second mother tongue is French which made it easier for me to learn Spanish… sometimes, but sometimes it caused confusion. One evening I went out with a friend and got to know this nice girl. The next day I met some Argentinian friends and told them about the evening and also that the girl kissed me. The problem was that when you translate she into French you say elle whereas
in Spanish el (pronounced the same way as the French elle) means he. Hence, I guess you can imagine the weird looks my Argentinian, male, heterosexual friends were throwing at me when I told them that “she” kissed me. It took me quite a while to clear things up and have them feel comfortable around me again. However, if you think that travelling is only trouble and not worth it you are all but right. Travelling can bring you incredibly positive memories, images and experiences that no one can ever take away from you. They will be yours even if you lose all your senses. If you plan your trip correctly, put some energy in it and are willing to take some risks, your trip will be worth all the money and dangers in the world. You can travel the calm way or the extreme way… which will sometimes be the case even without your consent. Sometimes travelling may even have an impact on your whole way of thinking and life style. You don’t believe me? Then why don’t you listen to one of my stories?
THE JOURNEY BEGINS – LA PAZ During my exchange studies in Buenos Aires, Argentina I made a two-week trip to Bolivia and Peru. My journey started like this: I took a cab to get to the airport of Buenos Aires in order to fly to Bolivia’s capital La Paz. I started some simple
small talk with the taxi driver, you know, the usual chit-chat between guys. We talked about women, the good Argentinian meat and Boca Juniors (the most famous Argentinian soccer club). After a while we ended up talking about the Argentinian economic crisis, which started a couple of years before. Even though he has not mentioned it explicitly, you could come to think that this cab driver must have had a lot of money before the crisis. He must have lost plenty but nevertheless he was a happy taxi driver when I was talking to him. After 20 minutes of driving we arrived at the airport. When I stepped out of the cab the driver asked me what I was going to do. I told him that I was going on a two-week trip and then return to Buenos Aires. The taxi driver gave me his card and told me to call when I would come back to the airport. He said he then would drive me home and also invited me at the same time to an Asado – a barbecue which would cost him two days of work! As a business student, I should consider these 20 minutes of chit-chat as an incredible return on investment. As a traveler I would just embrace to have met such a beautiful human being! When I arrived in La Paz I started my journey with a simple city tour to get to know it better. The most interesting part about it was the acquaintance with Tom and Chris (Names changed). Tom was a traveler in his mid 30’s who had already travelled quite a bit around the world. Chris was a young German who was travelling before he started his studies. I told them what I had planned for my two-week journey and after a short discussion and some agreements they decided to come along with me. We visited La Paz for two days during which we planned our trip in detail. You can see beautiful sights in La Paz. For example, the 460 year old church San Francisco or the Valle de la Luna. You can also have unusual experiences at the witch market where they sell skinned animals as charms or the bar “Route 36” where you get a line of cocaine next to your drink. Yes, it is true, many people only think of Columbia when they hear about cocaine but in fact 70% of Bolivia’s GDP was related to cocaine in the 1990’s. Our last evening we stayed at the same hostel and wanted to celebrate our planned trip. Hence, we went to the bar at the first floor where many party enthusiastic people gathered. After a while we got to know two Australians. We told them what we planned to do for the upcoming two weeks and as they were so amazed by our plan they started inviting us for a couple of drinks. These couple of drinks, however, did not end until one of the Australians was lying on the table and unable to move an inch. That’s how the night ended but not without the other Australian still handing me a piece of paper on which was written: “Enjoy your trip you crazy bastards and when you come back we will continue where we stopped right now”. The next day I woke up and went to the dining room to get some breakfast. Once I got in I had this strange feeling which I first blamed on the alcohol from the evening before. Unfortunately, I found out quickly that it was something else. The mood in the whole dining room was miserable. People looked sad and didn’t talk much. I remember, it was then that I realized my feeling was more like a concern that something bad had happened. I jumped up and searched for one of
SUCCESS STORIES For City People 89 my friends. After I found one I asked him what was going on and he answered: “Dude, haven’t you heard yet? It’s Jeff (One of the Australians, his name changed for this article)… he is dead. I couldn’t believe my ears and had to sit down immediately. My friend told me what happened. The bar in the hostel was at the first floor. When you go out you arrive at a hall in the form of a circle. From there you can look to the ground floor and the second floor because there is a whole in the middle. The whole is impassable due to railing which, however, was only approximately 1.5 meters high. Jeff who was drunk and two meters tall leaned against it, fell over, and broke his neck when he landed on the ground floor. I couldn’t believe it! In South America where you can be killed or have a serious accident this guy died because he was drunk? And this unnecessary way of dying just happened two days after two Americans had been kidnapped. When they went into the taxi they suddenly got a noose around their neck and were abducted. One of the guys was kept for 72 hours while the other had to organize money with his credit card. So this was the way my journey should start? I was wondering if I had to make more experiences on my journey and whether I should continue at all. When I went out for a cigarette and searched my pockets for my lighter I found the piece of paper Jeff gave me the evening before. After reading his words again I decided that I had to do this trip now and was sure it could only become better…a thought that the upcoming events would refute.
LAKE TITICACA The next day we started our journey by taking the bus to Lake Titicaca, South America’s biggest lake. It is 15 times larger than Germany’s Lake Constance and located on 3800 meters above sea level which makes it the highest situated commercial navigable body of water in the world. According to legend, it was at this lake where the first Inca came down to earth. Finally, my flight to Bolivia would pay off! I saw one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen, nature and people in their most natural and beautiful form as well as incredibly clear water. We arrived at Copacabana, a town situated directly at the lake (not the district of Rio de Janeiro) where you can eat fish of awesome taste because it was fresh from the lake! From there we took a boat to visit Isla Del Sol – the sun island. Upon our arrival I felt like Asterix and Obelix in “The twelve tasks of Asterix” when they ended up on the Isle of Pleasure. It was heaven on earth with flowers everywhere, fountains and a nice smell in the air. After climbing a couple of stairs though I quickly felt the 3800 meters height. Wow, I felt fifty years older! We stayed in a simplistic house at the top of the hills where we experienced life as it was 100 years ago. No electricity, no heating, no toilet flushing and still, it felt great to see that it is possible to live under these circumstances and really focus on important things. We watched the sunset and sunrise in colors I have never seen before. Kids were playing on the street without any Wii, computer, action figures, or even drugs! And somehow they were really having the greatest time of their life. In the morning we had breakfast made only of fresh ingredients in a little house right at the cliffs with a beautiful view on the lake. The coka tea helped against the altitude problems such as headaches, feeling weak or dizzy.
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Lake Titicaca According to legend, it was at this lake where the first Inca came down to earth.
HELL ON FOUR WHEELS After having such a great time at Isla Del Sol and going back to Copacabana, I had a strange and to me somehow unknown feeling. That was somehow scary, lonely or empty but then I figured it out! There have not been any incidents, injuries or deaths for three days! Some days later however, I remembered these thoughts and wondered if someone had listened to me and tried to help me out with these missing problems. Arriving back at Copacabana we arranged a bus that would take us to Puno. From there another bus would take us to Cuzco where we would start our journey to Machu Picchu.
The bus, as most buses in South America, was punctual (yes, I know it’s unbelievable for many of you), comfortable but driving ill. As I was still an amateur traveler I sat in the second front line of seats – never do that! I got quite nervous when we were driving along the cliffs and every curve felt like we would drive straight ahead to take a little cooling off in the lake. When we arrived at the end of the cliffs to finally reach the mainland, I let my guard down and started feeling comfortable again. I started talking to the U.S. couple sitting in front of me and thus recognized too late from the corner of my eyes the minibus that came from the right side of the road directly crushing into our bus. I heard a big bang, our
bus drove into the left-hand ditch and I could see the U.S. girl, who had turned to me before, lift off, her eyes widened in horror while she flew against the wall behind her. When I came back to consciousness the bus had stopped. We were lucky that a big rock in the ditch had kept our bus in balance because otherwise it would have overturned. I stood up and asked if anybody was dead but unfortunately I was the only one who considered this question to be funny. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured. I went out of the bus to check the other vehicle although I was afraid to see its occupants because that minibus looked like a smashed potato. I was sure that the occupants had little chance of survival after such a crash – 3 tons against 20 tons? I gathered all strength I had left in me and went to the front of this smashed potato and… nobody there! I could not believe my eyes. As the motor was still running, I went to the site of the driver to turn the keys and shut down the engine but there were no keys either. So my theory is that the guys in the minibus must have stolen it and where in such a hurry to drive away that they did not see our bus and crashed into us. I still have no clue how they survived this crash but I guess that they must have had a lot of adrenaline to be able to run away. Be that as it may, everybody went out of the truck and helped the injured while waiting two hours until the next bus would pick us up.
SUCCESS STORIES For City People 91 hours. He had turned back into racing mode and I was getting the feeling that somebody was desperately trying to not let me see another light of day. Even though I was completely exhausted, I could not sleep a wink.
HEAVEN ON TWO WHEELS The next bus in Puno was so kind to wait for us…which I regretted later on. The second we took our seats, the driver switched to racing mode and tried to catch up his lost two hours. We, who just had an accident, were everything else but enjoying this ride. Going to the front and begging the driver to slow down did not change anything. You could hear a friendly “claro” and there it was again the accelerator pedal on the floor. Hence, I tried to distract myself by talking to the guy sitting in front of me. He was a young Brazilian photographer who just came back from his first job for a magazine. After talking for a while, both of us dozed for a moment. This doze though, ended for me when someone started cursing. It was the Brazilian guy. His camera got stolen during our doze and he started to freak out and blame everybody. The problem was not just the camera but his pictures in it for the magazine. So he called the police which searched through the whole bus for one hour. The camera could not be found because the bus had stopped at several locations and the thief was most likely gone already. Every passenger was really angry because everyone got checked and we already were three hours late. After the police was gone everybody jumped back into the bus, the driver started the engine…which stopped immediately. The battery was broken. As we were in the middle of nowhere, the driver jumped out of the bus and just started to walk in order to find a place where he could find a new one. We got out of the bus, waited for the driver and had no idea when or if he was coming back. The evening approached. One and a half hours later the bus driver returned, installed a new battery and we were back on our way. Completely exhausted and wondering what would happen next, I looked out of the window and saw that we were already in Peru and entered the mountains with their many twisting roads. This wasn’t necessarily a problem except for the driver still being eager to catch up his lost four and a half
I do not know how but we arrived in Cuzco in one piece the next day. I was still alive! We arranged a hostel, had a look at beautiful Cuzco and then slept, slept, slept. The next day we had American breakfast, French breakfast, fresh orange juice and coka tea for 1.50€. We talked to many people, exchanged our experiences and got to know some very interesting individuals. After that we planned our trip to Machu Picchu. This trip can be done in several ways. Usually, the people hike along the Inca Trail. This one, however, was fully booked for the next couple of months as nowadays only a limited amount of people is allowed to use it per day. Besides, it is ridiculously expensive. An alternative is to take the bus or the train to the closest town Aguas Calientes or to go by bike. What did we do? As we apparently had not enough excitement already, we decided to go by motorbike. I have to mention that I had never driven a motorcycle before but I always liked the maxim “learning by doing”. Hence, we went to a motorcycle tour shop, borrowed three motorcycles and booked a guide who knew the region. When he asked me for my driver’s license, I told him that I had one but have not driven in a while. The next day we met in the morning, I practiced driving for half an hour and then we started our five-day journey. While I told my mother that I was visiting museums to keep her unworried, these five days became the craziest, most beautiful and most incredible days of my life. We started our tour by leaving Cuzco and driving on the highway. I first had to get used to my motorcycle and learn how to handle it. But unfortunately I did not have much time before we entered the countryside and valleys where the roads changed to gravel paths. I felt like having the steepest career in cross country cycling and was eager to find out how much talent I had for my new career. The valleys were huge, impressive and beautiful. I felt so free driving down theses landscapes that I
92 Looking Forward SUCCESS STORIES have only seen on TV or in books before. Sadly, I cannot fully describe the beauty of the scenery, nature and how I felt. The feeling was so different - probably due to the fact that I had a constantly boosted adrenaline level for hours as every wrong move could result in a painful fall from the bike or even worse. In fact, during our trip I lost control over my bike twice and I was literally on the brink of death. The gravel paths were relatively narrow and you could easily slip on the gravel. Both times that I lost control, I headed towards the canyon which was several hundred meters deep but I managed to regain control over my bike when I was driving along the edge. I could not really drive slowly because I had to keep up with the other guys. We needed to cover a certain distance every day in order to make it back to Cuzco in the time agreed on. This schedule implied of course several stops here and there to enjoy the landscape or just to have a break. We drove through lovely little villages, through rivers, up to over 4000 meters into the mountains and into the jungle. Every day after 8 hours of driving we stayed in a village and enjoyed the mountains and stars while taking a bath in hot springs. I had no idea how many stars you could see when you are in the middle of nowhere. After so much beautiful impressions and positive feelings of course something had to happen again. One day we had the funny idea to play the TV show Jackass. We installed one of our cameras on Chris’ helmet to make a little movie. This video would have certainly been a great movie… if Chris would not have lost control over his bike and fallen down. But the camera was our smallest problem. When we ran over to Chris, he stood up and told us he was fine. This statement, however, turned into a big scream when he lifted his arms. His right shoulder was dislocated. First, we tried to put it back in like you see in movies. One holds the patient, the other pulls the arm. Since screams were the only thing we could achieve, Tom jumped on his bike and drove to the next village to get a three-wheeled cab. We took Chris to the village’s hospital which was more of a doctor’s office actually. When we explained what happened the doctors gave us an answer I have never heard before from a Doctor: “I have never done this, I cannot do this, I am afraid of it. You can go to the hospital in the next city”. The only problem was the fact that the next city was three hours away. There was no way to convince this doctor to help us, so we had to improvise. We asked the owner of a pickup outside the hospital if he could drive Chris to the city hospital in exchange for some money. He was willing to help. When we arrived at the hospital, the first thing that we were asked to do in order to receive a treatment was to go to a pharmacy and buy some medicine, because the hospital lacked stocks. In total Chris had to wait eight hours before his shoulder was back in place. Even though we discussed whether Chris should continue the journey with us, there was no way of convincing him to cancel the trip. The next day we continued all together again.
FINAL DESTINATION – HEAVEN ON EARTH Although we encountered some dangers on our way to Machu Picchu, all of them were nullified the moment we arrived at Aguas Calientes. That was a big moment because from there Machu Picchu is only one night away. The next morning we
took the first bus around 5.30am in order to catch sunrise at Machu Picchu. When we arrived the sun hadn’t risen yet so we could fully concentrate on our amazement. We were finally there! And even though we had already seen pictures of Machu Picchu, being there in flesh is just a whole different story. You are surrounded by mountains and you can imagine how people must have lived here. So many details were still in place and it was impressive to realize how advanced this civilization already was during that era. When the sun finally began to rise, I captured one of the most beautiful sceneries in my life. The sun began to rise behind the mountains, only a couple of rays penetrated and shined upon the ruins until they eventually gave life to Machu Picchu. As you can see, there is a lot in the world to find out about and experience. Travelling provides you with so much more than books or documentaries will ever be able to offer. First, you find out about these little beautiful details that you cannot find in books. And second, a book can never provide you with the same experiences and memories as those you gain from your own journey. Although I have told you about my most adventurous trip where many incidents occurred, you can be sure that this trip was my most exciting one and the one I will remember the best. Moreover, my appetite for more journeys got boosted exponentially by this trip. That is why I have already planned my next trip to India. Soon I can tell you some more stories. If these kind of journeys are a little too much of an excitement for you, rest assured – you can usually experience the same positive feelings without (or with less) incidents. But all these experiences made me notice how much more there is in the world than just daily working routine in order to have a nice car. These experiences showed me that many things cannot be bought with money and that so many more values and treasures are out there ready to be shared. As for myself, I know now how fast one can lose his life, how beautiful life and nature can be, and thus, how important it is to share this beauty with other people as long as you can. THE END
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“When we arrived the sun hadn’t risen yet so we could fully concentrate on our amazement. We were finally there! And even though we had already seen pictures of Machu Picchu, being there in flesh is just a whole different story. “
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