Interested So Tourists War

AFP PHOTO/STR Toshifumi Fujimoto took pictures of a rebel fighter Syria in Aleppo, Syria. Fujimoto is not a journalist, but describes himself as a tourist.

KOMPAS.com – Japan-born truck driver, Toshifumi Fujimoto, bored with the routine of his life. The 45-year-old man that could have been spent his spare time to try bungee jumping to tourist activities challenging the adrenaline.

However, he instead chose a more extreme activities. He became a war tourist. The spirit of Fujimoto had brought her from a boring routine life towards Syria. Syria became his latest adventure in the Middle East.

There, photographing Fujimoto photo and record video while avoiding the brunt of the mighty bullets. He was in Yemen last year and was in the middle of a demonstration in the United States Embassy in Yemen.

Then got to Cairo, Egypt, during the hard times which led to the fall of President Hosni Mubarak. At the end of this year, he plans to meet with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

However, this time he spent a tour in Aleppo, northern Syria. This area is for six months be a point of conflict and according to UNITED NATIONS data, has swallowed 60 thousand inhabitants.

Previously, Fujimoto has spent two weeks in the country by the end of 2011. This time, still using tourist visa, he entered Syria through Turkey secretly.

By wearing military uniforms and armed Japan two photo cameras and one video camera, Fujimoto went to the front lines each morning. Later, he documented the damage that occurred in Aleppo.

Fujimoto can't speak in the language of United Kingdom and can only speak a little Arabic. But he could understand a few words, such as "danger" and "the front line".

"I always go alone, for there is no tour guide who will deliver to the forefront. It's so exciting and so thrilling, "he said.

He added that more dangerous while in Syria to be a journalist rather than a tourist. Every morning he walks as far as 200 meters to reach the front line. He was on target shoot together Syria rebels.

Sometimes, the rebels put a stop to him and encouraged him to take pictures with. When the rebels shouted to run and shy away from snipers, Fujimoto flinch.

He chose to stick to taking photos and go with relaxed after he was satisfied. The pictures were then downloaded into his Facebook page.

"I am not a target for snipers, because I do not like a tourist, You are a journalist," he said to a journalist.

"Anyway, I am not afraid if they shoot me or I die. I am a combination of a samurai and kamikaze, "she said.

Fujimoto even do not use protective helmets and bulletproof jackets. According to him, the tools were so heavy when carried on a run. In addition, he added, more enjoyable if it is on the front lines without bringing anything and more interesting as well as fun as the action takes place.

"I have no family, no friends, does not have a girlfriend. I live alone, "she said.

Fujimoto was divorced. He has three daughters that he had never seen for five years.

"Not Even through Facebook or the internet, there are no (contacts). That's what makes me sad is so deep, "she said while wiping the tears that drip.

So, he bought the insurance. Then pray every day, if something happened to her, her children could take the money from the insurance and live comfortably.

Toshifumi Fujimoto took pictures of a rebel fighter Syria in Aleppo, Syria. Fujimoto is not a journalist, but describes himself as a tourist.

Interested in following in the footsteps of Fujimoto became the war tourist?

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