Most of these photos have migrated from an original 'Camera Games' Anniversary post. I've generally been at peace with not having had a camera for most of the EuroTrip, for the moments that mattered there was usually a photographer present or a Camera I could borrow. I learnt to live in the moment better and mentally just learnt to let shots go. One bummer was not being able to take more 'On the street' candids like these though.
I've been describing my EuroTrip last year as 'living the dream'. It has a double meaning in that its the achievement of a goal but also how the experience now feels like a half-remembered fantasy. Whilst I didn't take many photos, I more than made up for it with a lot of writing online and off. There is no disputing that the events of last year took place, though I've had several moments since that have messed with my reality.
The main reason for this dream-like feeling is that most of the places and people are so physically distant from my daily existence. The lack of shared history has also made the connection seem more fragile than it might actually be. This can be fixed through reunions which I was fortunate to achieve, having reunited with traveling friends I made in Australia around England and Germany. I've experienced how the connection and memory continues on right where it was left.
I've started to get curious about books like Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia and Alice Through the Looking-Glass, stories that explore a nostalgia for a fantastic place all but forgotten. Looking through photos or writing/reading about these memories never fully captures the feeling of having been there which is why its so important to live in the moment. It might be all we have.
One thing that has given me comfort is that even if time and circumstance manage to erase the memories in our mind they can never erase the feeling of knowing we carry in our body.
Comedians Pete Holmes in conversation with Duncan Trussell references the film 'The Assassination of Jesse James', counting the stars and how our "body knows"
VIDEO: The Duncan Trussell Family Hour - Pete Holmes on how "your body knows"
'The Duncan Trussell Family Hour' - Episode 8: Pete Holmes is a beautiful Dreamer
PETE HOLMES: They're riding at night... he looks at the stars and Jesse James (Brad Pitt) says "You ever count the stars. I can never get the same number". The guy's nervous because he knows Jesse James is about to kill him and he goes "I don't even know what a star is in reality" and this is what Jesse James says before he f*cking shoots him in the back "You're body knows, its your mind that forgot"
DUNCAN TRUSSELL: Whooaaah!
HOLMES: He's riding towards the camera so we can see his face, he knows he's about to die. He knows that Jesse James took him out to kill him. Every f*cking time (I've seen it 30 times probably) the gun shot startles me because I connect with him making his peace, with him commending his spirit. With him being incapable of commending his spirit, with him dying afraid instead of knowing what a star is.
And we see for about the longest 30 seconds in the world, we know he knows he's about to die. He's looking at the stars and he's kind of crying. He looks like he's about to cry and he realises he's going to die. He realises he doesn't know what a star is
My mood definitely shifted, I became suspicious of everybody. I even began questioning the authenticity of my hostel roommate, a down-on-his-luck Canadian traveler borrowing money from newly made running mates. I knew I had to find a way to get out of this mental funk. Attention is a double-edged sword. Being a traveler, a lot of possibilities were opened because people were curious and drawn to me as an outsider. I was welcomed into homes and friend circles, now this attention was being used against me. I was afraid to go out, the simplest chores would be interrupted by the constant initiation of conversation. I imagine this is the reality celebrities and hotties live in every day.
My running mate who escaped the scam unscathed was someone I befriended on the trip from Goreme to Istanbul. We bonded over our love of basketball, he was a diehard Laker fan and former intern for the team. We played a game with locals at the courts in the Nike Beyoğlu store the morning after his ordeal as he briefed me on what happened. I had my epiphany, I would convert scammer invitations into a game of hoops. It dovetailed with my 30 Home Games mission, my quest for a basketball experience in each country. He was skeptical, it was asking for trouble.
The genius of these scams are that they're only asking for your time. It's essentially rapport building through good conversation, a few shared drinks which sets the table for the manipulation to take place. Its only when the betrayal happens at the clip-joint that one begins to question everything. A fellow traveler equated it to a relationship break up, especially one dissolved through infidelity. We start tracing its history, which parts were real? Was any of it genuine? Then we start looking inward, was it my fault for believing? I figured I could entice them to a game of basketball during what they thought was the "real" part.
The following few days I was upbeat, returning to my old self. Instead of shooing people away grumpily, I was looking forward to interactions but surprisingly the attention had waned. I can't pinpoint whether it was my change in energy, my familiarity or random chance. Interestingly I had begun to mutually greet one of the scammers like Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog would in the cartoons. He was a fellow in a blue/green puffer jacket I would regularly cross paths with, usually alongside a new Asian tourist. Our original encounter he tried to open me at Sultanahmet with the line "Hey you look like Michael Jackson".
In the closing days of my fortnight in Istanbul I did manage to find a genuine connection, befriending young artists at a Jazz bar. Over several days we hit the town, was welcomed into homes for dinner and tea and got to crash at a few places. The locals were understandably removed from this reality, they explained that some Current affair shows had shed some light on the scams in Istanbul. As it was a crime of opportunity, Turks from the east unfamiliar with the big city were also being scammed. Most attention was paid to non-Turks because they were ideal targets, distinct, lucrative and crucially - naive.
The charming person I spent most of the time with mindblowingly did her major thesis on 'Hyperreality' - a pet topic of mine. On my final day I was welcomed into her friend's apartment, we discussed scamming and reality as we smoked and drank in their attic. Their roommate, a Syrian revolutionary taking refuge in Turkey arrived late into the evening. He began in the front lines for the cause but decided his powers were best served in media relations. He weighed in on the conversation by showing videos he'd filmed that day presenting two versions of reality for the same event, one for dissemination now and the other truth to be released after the revolution was won.
It was a memorable way to close my experience in Turkey and it gave me a sobering take on the scamming experience. I've always been fascinated by the power of charisma and the bending of reality but this underlined for me that its ultimately playing with fire. My running mate who escaped the scam had himself conceded, "As bad as it could have turned out, it'll likely go down as the most interesting thing that happens on this trip".
During this time creating genuine experiences with amazing new friends, the basketball mouse trap was the furthest thing from my mind. I never did get to hoop it up with a scammer, I didn't even come close to as invitations had dried up. I'm still intrigued by the prospect of holding court with a scammer but the idea served its purpose as it shifted my mood and I found the genuine experience I was searching for. I'll file it as 'incomplete' and still hope to achieve it if I ever return to Istanbul. If someone is able to execute it on my behalf I would love to hear your story.
After a great evening capping off my time and saying my goodbyes the morning after, I had one final rude awakening. As I checked in at Atatürk International Airport the teller informed me I wasn't in the system for any flights that day. I scanned my ticket, checked my phone everything seemed fine. It was then I realised that my calendar settings were set to 2011. My Turkish friend had borrowed my phone 5 days earlier to use her SIM, I must've mistakenly applied the wrong settings when I turned it back on so the dates corresponded to the wrong days. I had been operating a day in advance this whole time, my flight was actually for tomorrow.
Everything is real until the moment it isn't.
Spotted in Lisboa, Portugal. 3pm, Quinta. 12 Maio 2011
You'll find Open Top Double Decker buses at most of the world's popular tourist destinations. In Lisboa, Portugal it comes particular handy for the tourist traffic from the Cruise ships that dock near Alfama. Its an option that appeals to travelers who are in town briefly and want a quick overview of the city.
Personally its not how I choose to travel but I understand its appeal. On a casual Friday chilling at Parque Eduardo VII with a fellow traveler from Madison, Wisconsin. We spotted a promo bus advertising the upcoming Semana Académica (Student week) party headlined by Fatboy Slim. We humbly invited ourselves on the bus and they welcomed us aboard. It was a punk rock way to see one of my favorite cities.
You'll find me posting more podcasts now that I'm a bit more stationary as I settle back into Sydney. That said, I plan not to be sedentary - to keep living, writing and connecting with people. To continue the energy of the YesMan year in 2010 and the Eurotrip of 2011, working towards the '30HomeGames' mission in the near future.
Comedians Kyle Kinane and Pete Holmes discuss going "all in" and following your dreams. It encapsulates the spirit that I enjoyed about traveling, the elixir to living the good life - freedom, gratitude, novelty and finding optimism in uncertainty.
VIDEO: YMiW w/ Pete Holmes - Kyle Kinane on being excited all the time
KYLE KINANE: (36m 50s) You all look so bored, sing a song skip through the grocery store! To see somebody express slight happiness - "Did you win the lottery, What happened to you?". Everyone's kinda trudging through... the transformation is that you're no longer trudging
PETE HOLMES: You're no longer tethered
KINANE: Tomorrow is always exciting right now. Do you feel that way?
In six months I have no idea what could happen but if I look back 6 months from now and look at all the stuff that happened that last 6 months; I went to Korea, I went to Amsterdam, I got to make a TV show with Matt Braunger. What happens the next 6 months? Maybe I just reap the rewards of that. I'm excited all the time. Everyday is Christmas Eve, everyday is Christmas Eve
HOLMES: I feel like we're on the Titanic and you're Jack, you're Leo DiCaprio "And now we're on this boat with you fine people" remember that?
KINANE: And if it goes down, f*ck it. Did you make the best of the time till it goes down?
Pete Holmes references this memorable scene from the Titanic. Its not the first time Pete has referenced a movie scene that has resonated with me after initially overlooking it because I wasn't in the right frame to properly appreciate it at the time.
Titanic (1997)
Jack: Well, yes, ma'am, I do... I mean, I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or, who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count.
I'm not one for Bucket lists, what makes me happy is momentary and usually not so defined.
I found this line which simplifies my goals under one directive "You can measure your happiness by the gap between your thoughts and your actions". Its the mantra I've been living by the last few years and what I largely document on this blog.
Watch video of this memorable scene here
VIDEO: 500) Days of Summer - Expectations Versus Reality
I had the pleasure of being in Europe for over a year in 2011. I visited a dozen countries but surprisingly never stepped foot in France. I wanted to.
I baracked for Les Bleus, the French Basketball side during EuroBasket and planned to see their star players representing local clubs during the NBA lockout. No luck.
I'd planned to do a walking tour retracing the trail of one of my favorite movies. Nope.
My parents were incredulous that I was going to miss the City of Light "Just go even for a few days!". Sorry mum.
In all honesty, I was saving it for last and as my time and money expired I knew if I was to go it had to be done right. I wanted a month-long experience like the previous Countries, considering my situation I decided I would save it for another time. 'Go with Oh' could give me that chance.
VIDEO: Quai 54 2011 - The Recap
1. Quai 54 (Continuing my mission)
This is the Pièce de résistance for any Basketball enthusiast in France. Quai54 is the International Streetball Championship held in Paris, the tournament enjoyed its grandest year in 2011 having the iconic Eiffel Tower as its backdrop. The event was brought to my attention by a Czech streetballer I befriended in my Kaunas hostel during EuroBasket last year. I walked around the city with said running mate as he achieved his travel ritual of digging for local hiphop. We later found a court where we balled with a Spanish exchange student.
When I think of France, romance and high fashion aren't the first things that come to mind. For some reason I picture gritty streets and colorful Graffiti, think of the segue used in Pixar's 'Ratatouille'. As a graphic design student I was enamored by French street art through '123Klan'. I had been looking forward to seeing some live French HipHop and was collecting plenty of acts to look out for as I met people around Europe. Names like Sexion D'Assaut, Oxmo Puccino and Booba.
3. Parkour (Getting Active) France is the home of Parkour. I've been to several classes in Sydney along beautiful Pyrmont Point Park. On my first day attempting it, I reconnected with a mate from Design school. Though its been roughly 18 months since I've been to classes, it heartens me to know my friend has remained committed to the sport as I've never had the discipline to stick with something. One of my instructors made the pilgrimage to France and I can only assume my mate might one day do the same.
I did have brushes with Parkour whilst traveling Europe. The CouchSurfer who hosted me in Tallinn was in the early stages of starting Parkour lessons. I was impressed by the fact he had never done Parkour but hoped to bluff his way into leading sessions. I stumbled onto classes at Olympiapark München on the way to BMW museum. Despite the language barrier it was a well attended and fun workout. It was on this day I would have my first basketball experience in Europe, paving the way for my 30 Home Games project.
4. Reconnecting with Running Mates du jour (Mon ami)
Traveling around Europe for the year, you'll inevitably have French running mates. Below are a few I'd love to reconnect with.
Fab was a charming French photographer I spent several days with in Istanbul. I followed him as he did a story on Turkish Oil wrestling, we met cool kids together at Jazz Cafes and Art Openings.
Syra was a journalist for a French Basketball Magazine (Reverse) I met in my Vilnius Hostel. She began as a dedicated blogger covering female ballers working her way up to globetrotting for the game. I appreciated her dedication and hope to one day forge a similar path. I showed her to the local courts so we could compare notes and shoot around. When I visit France I'd like to hit up the Arts district and cool spots with Fab and hopefully Syra could show me the inner workings of her Magazine.
----------------------------------------------------- VIDEO: Before Sunset Trailer
5. Before Sunset (Life as a movie)
Though I've been a little cute with my Paris to-do list so far. I'm not going to shy away from what Paris is best known for - Romance. I had this on my initial to-do list for my EuroTrip but obviously never had the chance to action it. Before Sunset is the sequel to my all-time favorite movie 'Before Sunrise', charming films directed by my artist rolemodel Richard Linklater. I hope to one day do a walking tour following the footsteps of Jesse and Celine past the iconic sights as well as the parks and cafes. A beautiful encounter with my own Celine would be nice too.
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3. Parkour (Getting Active)
