Alex @goldhaut

Hey dear folks, I am Al @goldhaut and I live in a Mercedes 508 D.

I've done lots of backpacking throughout the years, searching, following a calling, till experiencing an eye opening moment a few years ago in middle of the mighty Sahara desert.

Living with the nomads and their camels, observing them being constantly on the move, carrying only just as much as they needed, only as much as the caravan could carry, made me rethink my approach on traveling and my way of living in general. The nomads would settle by unfolding a temporary camp, a home in any area they wanted.

Clearly, I didn’t see it happening for me with a real camel but I could picture a nomad life in a modern way by living in a truck. I named my truck Jamal, which amongst other things means Camel in Arabic.

The van interior is mainly made of refurbished and modified antique furniture I've collected over the years, So almost no new materials were bought or used. It felt like the general van interior conversions wouldn’t speak the right visual language for this oldtimer. Soulful wood and warm colours only.

I am freelancing entirely online as designer and software teacher and working as a goldsmith @goldhaut.studio while traveling. No time frames, no limitations. It’s not a vacation, it’s a way of living. For me, the best I can image. I can only encourage you to follow your calling, despite all frictions, it’s so worth it!

Follow along with Al’s travels and check out her incredible jewellery.

Published and edited by Jared Melrose Campbell. One of the team here @vanlifediaries & @youandiandthesky