Frans Kunst was born in Holland. He is a rather “colorful person”. He was a sailor officer by profession. In this job he sailed the world’s oceans for several years. He has seen piracy in Nigeria, smuggled liquor into Norway and drugs out of Kenya. Almost fell overboard in Spain and has been in collisions with other ships 3 times. He got stuck with his ship in the arctic ice and had 2nd degree frostbite on both ears. Been in a fight with prostitutes in the streets of New York, well… which sailor hasn’t... Because life as a sailor wasn’t adventurous enough he gave that up and became a tour leader for “Ashraf Travel”.
In that profession he traveled through the Middle East during the Gulf war while the Iraqi missiles flew over on its way to Israel. Had to bribe his way into Egypt, where he worked for 9 months. Had smashed windows on his coach, been held at gunpoint by 2 soldiers and a camel in the middle of Sinai dessert. Had the Egyptian police bumped into his parked coach (and get zip for the damage). Had to bribe his way out of Egypt too. More collisions in Turkey . How come every one bumps into ones parked coach?? He slept underground in the former underground cities of Capadoccia, where the Christians used to hide for Muslims who wanted them dead. After a terrible tourist group in Indonesia, who totally spoiled his lust for leading groups, he decided to travel on his own in stead.
Went backpacking for almost a year in Asia with his girlfriend. Seen extreme poverty in India, went via Nepal over land all the way up to Tibet trough the Himalaya Mountains. Came into contact with Buddhism and after that became a much nicer person. Been in Vietnam to see the remnants of the Vietnam War he grew up with as a kid.
During the past 15 years he has been the owner of a caravan business. He kept traveling and always took loads of pictures. Now he is a free lance photographer and currently based in beautiful Taipei, Taiwan. Has he slowed down? Not really, still taking every bit out of life and a little more if possible.
Frans Kunst: “You better hurry…because you never know what day you meet that big red truck head on…”
Frans Kunst 於 1961 年生於荷蘭。你可以說他是一個活的蠻多采多姿的人。年輕時他是個職業水手，因為工作的關係他航遍了世界的各大海洋。在奈及利亞他遇見海盜正把酒偷渡進挪威和把違禁藥品運出肯亞。在西班牙他幾乎摔出了船外，還撞了三次船。他曾被困在北極而且耳朵因為低溫差點掉了！ 在紐約的街上他跟妓女大吵了一架，但我們都知道哪個水手沒有發生過這種事呢？哈哈。當水手的日子並沒能滿足他冒險的慾望，他便改行當起了導遊。
他在中東當導遊時正值第五次中東戰爭，而在他頭上飛過的則是伊拉克的飛彈，甚至連進出埃及都得賄賂才能通過。在中東的九個月中，兩個軍人和一隻駱駝在西奈沙漠中闖進他駕駛的巴士拿槍指著他的頭。埃及警察開車撞到他停在停車場的巴士（神奇的是警察的車壞了，他的巴士卻一點事也沒有！）。即使在土耳其也是車禍連連，搞的他一頭霧水不知道為什麼大家都愛撞他的車？？ 曾睡在地底城市 Capadoccia 以前基督徒用來躲避殺害他們的回教徒的洞窟裡。然而當導遊的興致在全被一群在印尼糟糕的遊客給毀了。所以他決定開始自己去旅行。
和他的女朋友當了一年的背包客並遊遍亞洲。在印度看到了極度的窮困。從尼泊爾經由西馬拉雅山到達西藏，接觸到了佛教並成為了一個更溫和的人。也到過越南並看到了他從小到大一直聽說的越南戰爭殘骸。
直到今天他成為旅遊拖車進口商已經有 12 年的時間，但閒暇之虞還是不斷的旅遊各個國家並拍照攝影。現在他是個正值不惑之年的自由攝影師 。你可能會說他因
為年紀而放慢了腳步？ 那可不！ 他還是依然的在享受生命！
Frans 語錄： ” 你最好趕快，因為你永遠不知道哪天會遇上一輛正面迎來的大卡車！ ”