Lebanese vanlife dreams

(First published in Issue 7, December 2022) My name is Gregory Kamel. I am a proud camper owner from Lebanon and my journey with vanlife began eight years ago.

They say we have two lives to live and the second one begins when we realize we have only one. This reality hit me hard when I was fourteen and involved in a disastrous car crash. I had severe face and jaw injuries and spent quite some time healing, and I am not only referring to the physical pain.

During that period, my perspective on joy and fulfillment slowly began to shift. I was always a very social and outgoing person, but I came to realize I also enjoyed my alone time. So I took a break from everyone and everything to reconnect with myself, unfold the deep layers, and most importantly, find out what makes me happy.

And this is how it all started. I discovered an innate love for nature, vintage cars, handcraftsmanship, outdoor activities, camping, and extreme adventures. While enjoying all of this, I always had this inner voice in the back of my head whispering, "get yourself a camper". I remember sharing the thought with my family and a few friends.

Nothing is impossible, right? I pursued my dream and fast forward a few years, I bought my first camper. Or to be more accurate, I bought a piece of distressed junk that used to be a camper. That is how my dad described it. He did not see any potential in it, and to be fair, no one did. But I was convinced that under all the rust and inside all the wreckage, that ugly duckling could become a beautiful swan.

Before jumping into the restoration journey, I have to warn you: it is a very bumpy ride. Buying a vintage camper is not for everyone, especially in Lebanon where the vanlife movement is still small. There are limited resources and very little advice available for the restoration process. It got ugly sometimes. It was extremely draining and time consuming. Finding the parts was nearly impossible. Getting someone to do the repairs was complicated and so expensive that I decided to take charge of it myself. This meant a lot of DIY work, and I had zero experience.

I will not pretend it was all sugar and spice. I had to be patient, stay focused, and trust the process. It was a ton of work, including a full overhaul restoration. I handled electrical work, painting, flooring, installing appliances, refurbishing the interior, and adding personal touches. I was going to be spending most of my time in it, so it had to reflect my personality.

Five years. Five long years of trial and error, fine tuning every small detail, and recruiting my father, brother, and close friends to help cut costs. Major DIY work had to be done and many shipment delays happened, but it was all for a greater cause. From early mornings to sleepless nights and everything in between: I lost track of my days, months, seasons and years... But I did it!

Amid the pandemic, while everyone was tucked away in the comfort of their homes, I was working hard to finalize my work of art. Yes, my camper turned out to be a piece of art, and I could not be prouder to watch it hit the road in 2020.

Sitting behind the wheel, exploring new cities, and discovering hidden gems in my beautiful country gave me immense satisfaction and made me appreciate all the labor of love I invested in my camper.

As I mentioned earlier, the van life movement in Lebanon is still very small. You have to be fully equipped for every adventure. That means fuel, food, water, solar panels, tents, and warm sleeping bags. There are no dedicated parks or stations to offer help if needed. I have to be well prepared before cruising and ready to get my hands dirty if any urgent repairs are needed. The bright side is that I have been through a lot in these past few years, and I can now overcome any hiccup along the road.

There is nothing more thrilling than being out there in the wild, recharging the body, nurturing the soul, and clearing the mind. It is the ultimate form of unwinding.

People may find pleasure in a good cup of coffee, chasing sunrises and sunsets, stargazing, enjoying stillness, or simply wandering. I consider myself lucky to be able to do all of that, no strings attached. I learned how to live in the moment, and it brings me so much joy.

In a very agitated country, the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. I dreamt, and what once felt like an unattainable dream came to life.