SARKANAIS delirium of mind

Kathy Bee - A Collector's Tale

2011-11-11T20:30:00.003+02:00

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear a term "Knitting"? I guess your thought flies not far from boring stuff that only our grandmothers tend to do in a big love to their grandchildren, caring how to keep them warm in cold winters by making a cute pair of gloves or socks. But it's not so easy. There's definitely much more to see in this as old-fashioned perceived hobby. There’s actually a huge industry hidden behind it. The world of knitting and textile - we see it everyday on the urban catwalks [especially in Serbia], but we never really dig in deep how actually the production process of creation of new materials and fulfilment of crazy ideas is happening.

I give myself a chance to dive in deep into the curiosities of textile world and speak with a brand new textile engineer Katharina Bredlich. She's just 24, freshly graduated from North-Rhine University of Applied Sciences [Germany], holding a Bachelor’s degree in textile engineering.

We meet in Belgrade, and it's a place, where she did her internship in a knitting company “IVKO” [http://www.ivko-knits.com/en/ - by the way, the promo video is quite impressive] and where she got a job offer to continue her life-long learning experience adding to it a few extra years in the management of textile world.

It’s important to have an Inspirer

It all always starts with something. Something probably extremely small, a small urge or a splash of passion, but later on it turns out to be very meaningful detail in someone’s career. Katharina entered the enormous world of textile industry unconsciously by seeing her older sister making clothes. Was it a grasp of competition or an inner wish to make something beautiful with your own hands, she doesn’t know, but she felt she could overcome this challenge and she did start sewing, while still studying at school. And one of the best qualities of Katharina as I notice from our conversation, is this unbearable enthusiasm she has to learn new things, making the quote of Adidas “Impossible is Nothing” fit her perfectly. Not many people make their own graduation dresses, but she’s one of those who did.

After finishing last exams at school Katharina had to choose her future profession and she actually got approved for studying Architecture after passing all entrance tests. But something changed her mind about Architecture and she skipped that study year. But the things never stopped in her own fashion and design world - and she applied for an internship in Köln at “Ludvik” to work with well-known couturier and fashion designer Fenja Ludwig [ http://www.ludvik-cologne.de/ ]. And even though from a professional point of view Katharina’s graduation dress didn’t seem to be perfectly made, again her unbearable enthusiasm and excitement about the designing, sewing, and willingness to learn and improve her skills to perfection, accompanied with enormous amount of creative ideas, made Fenja choose exactly her to be her trainee. And she did succeed. As Katharina tells now, she’s most thankful to Fenja Ludwig for being an Inspirer for her, as she was the one, who taught her a lot of new things and had the main influence on her choice of future directions in life.

The Textile Engineering: a close-up on Industry’s Latest Demands

“You don’t need to study fashion design, you just need to learn to make shapes,” was the advice Katharina got from her former teacher Fenja Ludwig before she applied for studies at North-Rhine University of Applied Sciences. And even though the entry test was rather similar to the one that fashion designers try to pass - at least the creative part, she chose to apply for textile engineering, as it included not only her favourite subjects from school times - like Chemistry or Maths, but the previously mentioned fashion design either, that meant gaining new skills and tricks how to do the things she enjoys the most. ”That’s a perfect combination of Chemistry and Textile,” Katharina says “and from technical part, you get to know the things that matter the most in textile world: fiber, the quality, expenses, technique, the origin of it”. Fashion is just a small part of the enormous fabric industry, though studying textile engineering gives an opportunity to experience how the whole creating process looks from inside - to see how a small piece of yarn transforms into a creasy, light and flowery fabric and what makes it so - all the machinery work and creativity of a human is captured there. Weaving, textile and knitting techniques, game of colors, compositions, screen printing, laboratory experiments and much more. Her choice seems to be quite practical and she notes: “An artist is doing it for a matter of art, a designer has to stick to certain rules. So you have to know the rules to play the game.” And the game can be played anywhere, where the textile is present.

There’s something about bees...

Asked if she has her own label already... she smiles and points at little insects on her dress she’s wearing today. I thought those are flies, but she nods that everyone thinks so, but those ain’t flies, those are BEES! During her studies one of the projects consisted of the task of making a design on fiber using screen printing technique and design clothes... and her main motive were bees. Asked about her choice she points that: “Everyone is crazy about butterflies or all kinds of flowers, but I haven’t seen much bees in cloth design. Bees are underestimated. There’s definitely something more about them.” And bees themselves carry with them a stereotype of very diligent creatures, so could be Katharina herself. Always unsatisfied, always fully inside the working process and always interested to explore what’s beyond the horizon of the neighbouring flower field.

While other study mates are obtaining their Master’s degrees already, she does not worry about it. She takes the opportunity to work in her field, and learn as much as she can, so that after years she can enter the Master’s program and the labour market already as an experienced young specialist, having a real background of how the industry is functioning. And probably “IVKO” is the best venue for her right now as it’s “the Place where knitting begins to tell its’ story” and I have no doubt she can truly brighten it up, this self-driven, always on the move Kathy [like a] Bee...

CS No.5, The Hostelworld of Belgrade and Serbia.

2011-08-29T19:37:00.017+03:00

Well, hello world!

I am back! Hopefully for a longer period. But you know I was kind of busy these days, this summer in general.

The internet connection or better say lack of engine providing such service in private conditions was missing. But I live among people and there were shared facilities available to use in limited time. But it's not the same thing as your personal, so no real moment actually came to feel like writing more that 140 signs on Twitter posts. But thanks to luck and good people I have a new/old/used engine with me to enjoy my so desired moments of intimacy with public outcomes to all kinds of social media.

So how have I been doing here so far? Well, not bad at all. But as much as I wanted to avoid it with reference to the fact of how much I love this country... it came and took me completely - my dear Culture Shock No.5 [yeah, nothing connected with Couchsurfing]. Actually it's easy to speak about it right now, as it's kind of over... and I had a few discussions about it with some other people, who are dealing with expatriate lifestyle here in Serbia. So actually the conclusion is about accepting the rules how this society is functioning or not, but it won't change anything if you still fight against something what is considered as normal. So I am calm now, I accept most of the things, which bothered me, except some issues about women rights [of course, huh? :D].

Summer 2011. After volunteering at the Exit festival and meeting masses of drunk and happy people, waking up every morning in a field full of tents, swearing on the sun for radiating sunrays exactly on your face and continuing to hide from it whole day long [as 45 degrees is not something what can be enjoyed for unlimited period of time] - mostly lying on the beach and doing nothing [which kind of annoyed me] and enjoying great music at night, I said - 7 days in nature is enough for me, so escaped from that already the next day after the festival finished. But being staff at Silent Disco was really cool experience, I even kinda felt like being part of this Festival.

I escaped to the city for which I felt longing for all the time... I arrived late and my potential host didn't give me any sign that he's alive, so I stayed in a hostel for 15 Euros. I managed to have a little fight with the receptionist about volunteering and money issues, so I didn't like him much or better say his views on life [but later on I proved myself that is something that majority of people think]. Next day I went to look for a job in a hostel as it's actual opportunity for a foreigner to find a job in Serbia. Of course illegally. I checked a few websites like bookings.com or hostelworld.com and wrote down the adresses of around 25 hostels in Belgrade. Thought it could be quite enough for one day. Then I took a map and placed all hostels like little dots according to location on one or another street, so that I could make a randomly organized City tour for today. It was already a mid-day of 14th July and I went on my hostel tour. I visited around 5 places, some I skipped as they seemed suscpicious or the entrance was just a bit scary to enter. Then I actually got into one of those 5, where I went to ask, if they need some staff members, and luckily I came at the time, when the boss of the hostel was present. So he offered me a job of "tourist attractor" or it could be translated in urban dictionary as a person, who promotes the hostel and brings people. The deal was easy: 1 tourist = 2 Euros, plus I get a bed to sleep for free. Of course it didn't mean that I go in the streets and desperately attack tourists with my leaflets. Of course I do that, but in more smart way, sometimes flirting, sometimes emphasizing on the facilities the hostel is offering, but my workplace or I would say 2nd home was the train station - eternal longing for the international trains to come. Waiting hours: from 6 AM to 10 AM and then from 6 PM to 11 PM. Worth to mention that trains are always late - just you never know if it's 30 minutes or 4 hours late. 2 hours was the average "lateness". Welcome to Balkans! Miracles happen exactly here...

But the tourist season pays off really well. Thanks to God and Interrail. If emphasizing especially on the last one - that's how Western Europeans basically get to know the Balkan region. Speaking from the side of majority - by my unofficial statistics, covering research on countries of origin, where the most backpackers came from - the leading country this year is Denmark [2nd Holland, 3rd UK/France] they don't have any big promotions of Balkan region, just Croatian coast is promoted, but Interrail does all the job. There is something like Balkanflex here, but not many local people usually can afford it. The idea is - you purchase the Interrail ticket [a fixed price] and you are given a period of time, which you can spend on trains, traveling around the countries, which support Interrail idea. If you don't feel like reserving yourself a chair on the train [which could cost you from 2.2 - 3.5 Euros, with sleeping facility - around 10 Euros], then enjoy your ride with a luxury to avoid standing in a cue to get tickets.

Coming back to work - of course I'm not the only one, who is promoting cheap place to stay in Belgrade. There are around 8 other people offering hostels. Eventhough we all are competing between each other, but day by day working [read: waiting] side by side to each other, we became more or less friends, sharing information, enjoying the happy or sharing the moments of not so happy days. We even established an unofficial band "Cekaci" [Waiters], as coincidentally in the period of our corporate working, everyone proved their singing abilities. But friendship ends at the moment when the train finally arrives... then everyone tries to draw attention to [sometimes scared] backpackers. Though I have a little bonus for being a girl - the thing of human psychology - ladies are not treated as being dangerous. The most competitive hours are in the evening, when all the "late" international trains arrive... otherwise if I am able to wake up at 6AM and take my half-asleep body to the station - the chance that I'll meet somebody from other hostels is minimal [but might happen], so then it's my "Jack Pot" hour. [In the first 3 weeks I did so, but by the time I got really tired, so it wasn't anymore so regular, but I tried hard to make it so]. And then there's another type of hour, which is inconstant, but I call it " an easy catch" hour and it comes usually during the day, while you're out doing your stuff - and by the way - inviting somebody to check out your hostel. It's all about business, huh? :P

Back to friends and the hostelworld I was enrolled in. About life under cover. Actually thanks to my new competitive friends after working 6 days in one hostel I took offer to work for another hostel - the conditions and the location were a bit better [this time I call it 3 in 1 = a job, a bed and finally as well the registration]. So if you don't want to continue to lose to your strongest competitors, you join them [if there's an opportunity]. The price on the leaflet played a role as well - offering beds for a few Euros less plays a huge difference. So that's how summer went on - meeting new people, sharing tourist information, living in a hostel, meeting soulmates, having lack of privacy, having no time for yourself [yeah, sometimes you have to sacrifice something], being tired all the time, having an emotional crisis, and getting good again. More straight forward. And being thankful for the given opportunity. A separate chapter should be made about people, actually everyone of them deserves a separate article, as all kinds of ideas and topics were on the imaginary discussion board this summer. Happy moments with happy people. If you ask me - what I have seen in Belgrade or Serbia this year - nothing yet, but luckily I know it from my previous journeys. And actually I still have time, as I'm not going anywhere from here. And no CS No.5 or 6, or 7 will stop me. Because this is my White City.

The life goes on. The tourist season is over, that requires extra nerves and energy to look for something else, as unfortunately no Alchemist ever invented a formula for free food and accommodation. The tourist-oriented business shuts down for a while [by the way - many hostels close by the end of the season]. But the Visa question is now on the agenda... and dealing with Bureaucracy is always a pain in the ass [why there's no difference in whichever country you're dealing with it? Well, ok, some countries are better, and some are really the worst :D], but I'm persistent when I want something. And I have good people around me. Hopefully everything works out. If not - next country, next Culture Shock...

The Glory of Unborn Stories.

2011-06-19T04:53:00.008+03:00

It's been ages since I last time wrote something in here. It's almost 5 o'clock in the morning and my English fluency has never been better. [Finally I'm not worried about it. Huh, dating an Irish guy really gives some results - despite it was a year ago. I hope it's like with ice-skating - once you learn it, you never lose the ability to that.]
And for the first time I feel like I don't need any plot to tell in this blog post, as it won't matter anyway.
I've met a lot of people and I always wanted to write about them, but then something always stopped me - like by telling the story I would miss something important and then the story would be incomplete, despite it would be already signed, sealed and delivered.
There's a guy, who constantly thinks of me, while exploring the world - no, no he's not in love with me or something, he just occasionally thinks of me, when something he sees really does remind him about me - I already received 2 pictures with objects including my name - one of them is a road sign in Italy welcoming to a little town called ""Marta", the other is some small shop in Porto in Portugal. Sweet! And the most I enjoy about it - is that enourmous and inspiring traveling background. That made me think - maybe I should start collecting all the small evidences, which include my name. That would be kind of fetish or something, but who cares - by the way - in Riga I have my own street in the city center [though is small, but cozy] and the most expensive shop of lingeries [well, it used to be]... quite enough to raise self-esteem in case if it goes down someday :D
But yeah, I started the topic without a constant structure, but with the idea of making my little interpretations about meaningful and interesting personalities I met in my life. I could quote movie "Paris":
"Elise: [in French] You're all alone here? What do you do all day? Pierre: [in French] Watch other people live. Wonder who they are, where they go? They become hereoes in my little stories. " but this time the characters would be real, I'm just not quite sure, if the people would like to be called in their real names... maybe better - my own made nick-names?
Twitter has made me a bit gabby. I guess that's because 140 signs very often are not enough. So the grammar has to suffer unfortunately.
But it's time... time to write about Mister New Zealand, Lithuanian brother, the guys you meet on the road while hitchhiking and who can make your 4 hour ride disappear like in 30 minutes, Austrian strawberry touch, French arheologist in his 50ties, Dutch guy having probably the best taste in music and big and pure illusions about eternal love, Slovenian ladies in search for the same thing, my favourite Latvian gay boy and all the other characters, which crossed my mind and life at least once... and definitely left some footprints in my perception of the world. But it won't be about me. It will be about them...
Grasps of Inspiration. More to love.
And actually it all sounds like an apology before commiting a "Crime".

Stimmt. Wir Machen Was Mit Medien.

2010-11-05T13:07:00.001+02:00

Urban Stories. The Cleaning Lady.

2010-10-24T21:21:00.022+03:00

She starts her day as usual - sweeping yellow leaves into bigger and smaller piles, swearing on guys who throw the butts of cigarettes on the ground instead of bin and she's always there - welcoming random people on their way to work, being a psychotherapist while listening to petulant stories of grannies, telling how much old bones are hurting and complaining that the prices for medicine are raising up, greeting the postman, who's trying to enter the house, but apparently forgot the entry code as he stays too long at the front door thinking [Yeah, the time goes and modern technologies come with the time]. This everyday ritual hasn't changed at all. At least for last 20 years. Might happen that prisoners of the cells of the Blockhouse Paradise have changed, the kids already grew up, but she's still there - sweeping the streets and washing the stairways with chlorine [so the smell is worse than in a public swimming pool afterwards]. So invisible and regular she is. Like a thing. Like a clock of existence. Like a painting on a Museum's wall [which is admired through centuries, but actually nobody gives a damn about it - only in a matter to be well-educated/informed]. She could easily be an icon of this live Museum of Cells, where behind the closed doors people tend to quarrel, love, cook dinners and oversleep working hours. This is a way of being a part of a randomly formed social group, even unintentionally.

Her bluish purple smock doesn't change colors either [meaning of royalty and wealth, and wisdom] - paradoxically it's a part of this Urban Museum icon. A face of an angel in the Forgotten World - filled with degenerates, drug addicts, young families and old couples, homeless cats and sometimes dogs, living in or nearby this Blockhouse Paradise. No signs of high culture, no signs of buildings of high appreciation and amazement, no positive vibes around... maybe that's why it's called the "sleeping" residential complex... and there are many of them, having many of these fairies in bluish purple smocks sweeping around the magic dust.

Snow White and Russian Red.

2010-10-01T14:32:00.002+03:00

Dorota Maslowska leaves me ignorant, despite she’s called a new rising star of Polish literature. And I can see she’s definitely a new one... just I couldn’t stand the very descriptive context in which she tried to make an insight of modern Polish youth. Beside the true hate of Russians [and everything what’s connected to that], the regular fun and loosing sense of reality under the impact of drugs and creation of virtual reality thanks to an addiction of the New Age – video games. I guess I will never get through the real meaning of the book, as I stopped reading it after a few pages. Maybe I’m getting older or maybe the translation was too direct, but I could get the opposite of aesthetic pleasure of reading. This game of words seemed so dirty and unpleasant to my senses of beauty. Maybe not even unpleasant but just SIMPLE, like hearing the chat between two drunken guys of my backyard – who are not kids anymore, but they remained the same, getting all great influences of street life – especially all swear words and all the synonims of normal things in more „poetic” way. Well, I leave this peace of modern literature for another undefinite time with hope that someday somebody will tell me the whole story of „The Polish – Russian war under the Red-White flag”.

Be A Friend of Nature!

2010-09-23T13:43:00.001+03:00

There's a City in Italy Called...

2010-08-23T19:08:00.002+03:00

Picture by Patrick Chevallier

Smells and Love Stories [Prague Airport].

2010-08-12T11:51:00.002+03:00

Travelling in memories. In memories of the best student times of 2008. Would love to see more than Airport, but the time is limited.

The language sounds as usually soft [even if it’s told to be opposite], but this time I can hardly understand what people are talking about.
I love airports. Indeed. Those loads of people, searching their gates and carrying big bags – in different colors [makes overall view important and very posh. Hehe.] – make you feel you’re going somewhere. And indeed I am. There’s something inspiring in all this multi-cultural mess of business men, mums taking their kids to WC, beautiful strangers which make you fall-in and out of love [as fast as the gate-ways are going here and there and what a pitty - you’re heading in different direction. Sometimes you’re on the same Boeing dragon, feeling the power of its’ wings made of steel]. Clean toilets, smoking prohibitions, innovations, bored ladies in small coffee worlds located next to each other and repleted with smells coming from duty-free shops of Parfume. People communicating in all possible languages of the world or being silent and thinking great thoughts. There’s something magnificent and united in all this reality of sky-dive providers. And I’m in it. Keeping the feeling as long as it stays. Let’s fly. High in the sky.

Intellectual Tea Drinking.

2010-08-02T17:03:00.008+03:00

Recently I was reading stories of a group of young people writing their interpretations about global icons. Beside a global phenomena of beauty and problems of homosexuals in Baltic region, there were a few inspiring stories about Erasmus experience – of a huge responsibility of presenting your country – as at some point suddenly it has your face and your views on life – which you share with other curious minds, wanting to explore more and more... but one thing which thrilled me and made me think of secretly following the exposed habbit someday – was one lady’s experience with souvenir cups. I don’t know if it was true and she does this regularly, but the plan was to come together with friends [or family, depends on your relations] and have an informative and fun thematic tea drinking – everyone would get one random cup – representing one country and have a lively discussion telling people, what’s happening in that country. Imagine – it’s December, it’s snowing outside, it’s freakin’ cold, but we go out for a smoke on the balcony and speak about international politics and survival kit for the chosen country... the cousine, the card games, the famous bastards, numerous loves at first sight, art galleries and fashion weeks... until not only tea becomes cold, but the feet as well start to become numb... but we continue...
Well, maybe I thought of this just because I have a small collection of such souvenir cups... otherwise – it’s quite nice way to follow the news on the world stage, if you didn’t manage to check yourself...

Hey, Soulsister...

2010-07-30T12:53:00.002+03:00

The Truth is...

2010-06-01T17:07:00.002+03:00

This blog seems to be dead. There are loads of Human Stories in my mind... and they are just waiting to be spread out... and waiting already for a long time... SHAME ON ME!

Hitch-Hiking Is Like Liquorice Candies - You Love It Or Hate it!

2010-06-01T16:39:00.005+03:00

Sometimes seeing couples or loners on the road with paper signs with the names of big cities and with the thumb raised up makes a lively joke in a regular life of high-ways. Beside the fact that hitch-hiking is becoming quite popular among young people by means of exploring the world, the feelings about this method of travelling differ – and mainly it’s like with Liquorice candies – you like it or hate it. But what is hitch-hiking? It’s not just standing on the edge of a lonely or rather busy road with a thumb raised up trying to stop the car, which is going in a preferred direction. It’s more about meeting strangers on your way and conversations! Anyhow, even if English is worldly accepted communication language, knowing other languages gives a huge benefit of spending time in random companies of strangers quite vivid and full of discussions while getting to final destination. It’s about being brave to challenge self in spontaneous and unknown situations. The curiosity to explore is the thing that keeps it going. People call it crazy, people call it dangerous. And in both ways they are right, and it’s everyone’s choice to do it or not. And beside there’s always buses going on their regular routes at exact times of the day.
[Search for the full article inside "DoRight" June issue]

Existential Happiness.

2010-05-28T12:15:00.008+03:00

While big boobs are winning second semi-finals of Eurovision [feel sorry for Lithuanians, as they were the best from all that crap shown on television last night, although they didn't have boobs], my mind comes to existential questions - how do people survive these days, what do they do for living?
Everyday passing through my small town on my way to the office I see a smiling lady in her 50-ties on the edge of Bazaar, hiding under big umbrella [whether is meant against the sun or either rain] and selling apples. Everyday! And she greets me with warm hello, asking where I'm going, in fact that she already knows where I'm heading to. Always so happy and smiling. Maybe the colors of reddish-yellow apples brings another joyful spectrum in seeing life in bright colors. And I feel happy to greet her.

Another old lady living in a house next to the office, always enjoying morning sun with glass of Lemon Schwepps smiles and says "Hello,what a nice sunny day outside, come over for the coffee!" And I refuse again, telling that I have work to do. But is it that hard - to leave all that work - and just go - to enjoy a frivolous chat with retired Geography teacher? C'mon! She has interesting stories to tell... she lived in another times... and I'm curious about them. I bring her fresh strawberries from the market and skip the coffee enjoyment for another time. As there will be another times. And sometimes it's just enough with one strong emotion - feeling of happiness... So dare and share it...
[By the way - I had the best morning ever - having a morning coffee while watching the world news on TV. Sometimes TV box is a real luxury ;)]
By the way - beside all those crimes and catostrophes, global challenges taking our minds, there is still space for our dreams. So start making the list! ;)

Life of an NGO - Leading Politics Without Government.

2010-03-23T17:45:00.006+02:00

You’re young and strong willed? You know what you want to achieve in your nearest future? Or actually you have no clue about the future, but you have some bright ideas at the present, which could change exactly your future and the society you’re living in? Just start a magazine, make an art workcamp for kids, help to prevent starvation in Africa, set up a football match against racism, create a workshop to clean the city – do whatever is good to keep society curious about certain meaningful topics – and a NGO is one of the best places to do it!

Like in the beginning of the world there was a purpose of creating something (if we believe that was this “cosmic” dust transformed into the planet Earth we inhabit now), and creating comes out mainly from idea. An idea which survives the times, circumstances and problems. The same can be referred to the creation of a non-governmental organization (further NGO). Mainly in the beginning it’s just a small group of enthusiastic people sharing the same interests about certain topics and a big wish to influence the on-going affairs in local or global level (feeling the urge of preventing certain problems/ speaking out about global consequences in local communities/ alter “unhealthy” thinking etc.)

When this small group is experienced enough (already making some voluntary activities in changing things around them and they succeed), the time comes to establish an organization officially – with main values, goals, rules and regulations, statement of intent and name, which usually gives a brief insight on main activities of the organization.

That’s how a non-governmental organization is born, after the celebration of new-born it’s time to enlarge the range of activities, promotion and voluntary participants (as NGOs are usually working on voluntary basis). When human resources are enlarged by a bunch of enthusiastic people wanting to change this world, it’s time to activate more and more projects, which will strengthen the values of the organization and make people involved closer to each other (friends) and the ideas they follow. When small informational and educational voluntary activities are not enough anymore (even with all this enthusiastic voluntary spirit) and the question comes to money issues – it’s time to search for financial support (either it’s support from local municipality or private companies for several projects or either “Youth in Action” program providing various ways for creative exposure for young minds to make projects and get funding for approved projects). It all depends on the way an NGO is working to get funding for their activities and whether they need money – as the main player still remains the human with his free will to participate and do some changes in society. Nevertheless, NGOs have critical points in their evolution – when the old leader is tired (or wanting to go further in his career) and the young one is not yet ready to keep the track – it usually happens after 2 years of existence. In a lucky situation the new leader takes things under control and the NGO experiences some changes and continues its’ evolutionary chart.

Being a part of an NGO is not just about dealing with bureaucratic circumstances and being involved in activities, it’s about bringing creative ideas, producing lively discussion, team-building, gaining organizational skills, keeping minds aware about global and local issues which matter and taking new challenges. Beside that – entering the society of NGO-ers, which bring not only new contacts (all around the country and abroad) and helping hands in realizing projects (collaboration), but as well different informational fields (full of opportunities for young people to participate and be active). Maybe you’ll start as a follower of someone else's ideas which are so close to your ideals, but anyway that day when you’ll establish your own NGO is already written down in future. For some people it’s like a disease – once you’re in, you can’t get out. Anyway if being active in the NGO sector doesn’t take you in so deep, overall it’s a great experience in a never ending process of non-formal learning.

Struga GANG Production presents: Biljana's Birthday Movie 2010!

2010-03-15T15:36:00.003+02:00

Architecture - Real Estate of Mind

2010-03-15T14:58:00.004+02:00

Architecture – not just the science of building stable houses with different shapes and accessories, according to current fashion… and architects – not just brave knights of future thinking drawing chimneys and projecting constructions of new libraries in their imaginative mind, while speaking with you… there’s definitely something more... more professional and dealing with responsibility – for creating or improving living environments for countless generations…

However in all times an architect as an image of a person, architecture and the profession of the architect were profoundly defined terms in the consciousness of society and it won’t change its’ meaning despite strong influence of differentiated social contexts. It stays as real estate presenting all kinds of emotions carried within the creation process…

A Cocktail of triumphant ideas
Nameless city. Large enough to gather all the masterpieces created since the time when people tried to fill up their living space with harmony. Maybe it started with nature, but continuously the art of building houses tried to leave remarkable footprints of understanding the beautiful. The colorful “ice-cream” hats of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow (referring to Russian national style), the palace of Versailles (home for royal ancestors and example of French Baroque Era), Taj Mahal mausoleum (mix of Persian, Indian and Islamic architecture), Gaudi’s House of Bones [Casa Batlló] (a highly unique feature of art-nouveau), ugly forms of functionalism (presented mostly as block houses worldwide), Frank Gehry’s metallic clouds and dancing houses (confirming artistic liberty of modern times in deconstructive manner) and other numerous examples, keeping the interaction between cultures and styles, exposed in descriptions of certain timelines… In this chaos of figures, structures, materials, colors and ideas – stands out the meaning, as every house is built or destroyed on purpose. Wherever it comes from - it appears with the urge for change. In this case the architecture is functioning as a reflection of artifacts visualizing the interpretation of lifestyles, tendencies and overall philosophy for exact period of history, and as well keeping the sprouts in the ground for future creations.

Life of a creator – dreamer versus demand
Today’s information society presents a choosy consumer wanting to be amazed by an original product and at the same time feeling comforted inside of new shapes created by constructional magicians of the New Age (functional and attractive). World-famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas once said that every architect is a dreamer, trying to make this world better. From one side he’s right – as all the constructions and searches for new forms of exposure speak by themselves. From the other side – working hard on implementing demands and if in the past it more followed the guidelines of current style, then now when everything is done before – competing for the best performance on the world stage. Mostly it’s a fight of giants in an amusement park, which in the end provides us with fruitful conjunction of pieces of urban reality – Frank Gehry (Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain), Rem Koolhaas (Central China Television Headquarters Building in Beijing, China), Jørn Utzon (Sydney Opera House), Santiago Calatrava (Alamillo Bridge in Seville, Spain)… and other bright minds are still on the way to make a show on the world stage...

Road Trippin' in Serbia.

2010-02-28T15:41:00.005+02:00

Morning starts early. While other bohemians like me are sleeping I’m leaving already this inspiring environment located in an apartment somewhere near city center of Belgrad, wishing great time and seeing in future again. Yeah, you know – this White City is something truly mine! Slavia is reached and the bus is missed. But soon should appear next one No.31. The bus goes the right direction but that wouldn’t be me if I wouldn’t gone at least 2 stops more than needed. So I did. But not a big trouble… fresh morning walk to the bridge with blue railings, then down the stairs and here the hitchin’ a ride starts… Amazingly, first car stopped, so I’m going in a little truck with nice old man inside in direction to “Niš” 70km/h. Serbian-Macedonian discussions how pretty city is, where are we from and what we are doing, but anyhow way is quite long, so it mostly turns out to be a silent drive with exchanging cigarettes time to time and short interruptions on themes of unemployment in the country, recycling and cities in Serbia “you should see before you die”. Niš is reached. I stay on high-way and here the great adventure No.1 starts. Beside police car suggesting me to travel by bus, I stop the truck with Turkish guy inside and with no knowledge of English. So I guess, it didn’t matter, where actually I’m going or maybe “Skopje” and “Sofia” sounded pretty similar for a Turkish ear? Yeah, you guessed right – he was going in direction to Sofia. And as far as he drove I had a feeling that I won’t be in Macedonia anyhow, so asked to stop in the middle of nowhere where I was currently situated, and thinking to go back to “Niš”. Well, at least there always appears some hope inside image of a car to take you back to civilization. Small truck, nice guy with wish to go out of his country [huh, everybody has this dream???] and 2 small kids at home, same Serbian-Macedonian conversations about unemployment and pollution in Serbia and Macedonia. Yeah, all depends on culture of people. He drops me off near the sign showing Skopje and as well Belgrad [which is the opposite direction, huh?], so it makes whole this affair more complicated. But it’s not that hopeless, there’s one guy standing and making swan-fly dances on the road! Yeah! Another hitch-hiker! And actually my savior – at least 10 minutes of waiting turns out to be fun and helping hand from his side – explaining local lady who stopped where she should drop me off. I’m on the right road, sun is hiding beyond the clouds and I keep on telling myself that I will be today in Skopje, but there’s no sign that it could happen… as mostly all cars turn on sideway or just pass. But suddenly appears not-Turkish truck (Turkish trucks from my previous experience I am trying to avoid. And there are more intimate matters than just misunderstandings about directions) and it stops as finally sign “Vranje” works better than “Skopje”. Two guys inside – older one and other in his 30-ties (probably. Here in Balkans everyone for me looks older than they are). Same Serbian-Macedonian discussions about unemployment, weather… proposal of marrying a son of the older guy. To skip the love affairs I’m telling to have a Serbian boyfriend [so since now – I have artificial one for such occasions] whom I was visiting in Belgrad. Vranje is reached and trip continues. One older guy picks me up till bordercity, so just 30 km left till the border. And here starts great adventure No.2! A local car stops, I ask if the car goes in direction to border, driver tells to jump in, we start to move and I ask, where actually the guy is heading to – the answer surprises me: “I’m bringing you to the border!” Well, the things proceed in the manner that guy asks me to have a coffee with him, I refuse… he tries again… telling how pretty I am [hey, I looked like a shit that day – and that was on purpose!] and even the fact of having artificial Serbian boyfriend doesn’t help much… after refusing having a coffee, a guy offers 20 Euros, then 50 Euros… level of extreme raises, but still I keep calm wishing that border comes sooner. Well, I had to have a coffee with the guy at the Serbian border and luckily there the story ends. “They hugged each other and lived happily ever after separately!”

Have you ever felt like a vehicle? I did. On the border of Serbia there was a little row of cars, I will count them down: 1st car already having a passport check, 2nd car waiting, ME and 4th car on the row. Huh, strange and at the same time amazing feeling… the border-guy smiles and wishes “Good luck” and there I am… out of one country and not yet in another. At least this space has just straight piece of tarmac [more amazement gets one of Bosnian-Serbian borders – when “out of space” territory is held on a bridge]… “Dobrodojdovte vo Makedonija”- another border guy smiles, asks if he’s right about European Union as my passport is not really red as it should be – yeah, yeah, already 5 years… and I go… I go home… feeling so free… playing with a dog [this one I already know from previous trips to Serbia – as he’s all the time passing the same territory. Probably he could be called a “Border puppy”]

This time without even leaving Border territory, one car beeps to jump in and drives towards Kumanovo. Mind becomes much brighter, as the sky just starts to grow in dusk, but I’m already almost in Skopje. Last car stops with Bulgarian number, but guy inside speaks Macedonian. To my amazement or by today’s all-day practice all way to Skopje was fulfilled with chatting in Macedonian! [huh, I see that impossible is nothing! Just right circumstances are needed!] The car drops me off in Kisela Voda… and it’s already dark, in spite it’s just 5 PM… and I’m happily moving my feet in direction to EVS Palace with hope that there will be somebody to give me a shelter and warmth, which EVS volunteers always have… and I’m not wrong about that, while sitting on the stairs and feeling happy of no more movement for today! By the way – it’s Spring outside!

In Love [with White City]

2010-02-15T23:08:00.008+02:00

Speechless. Amazed. In Love. [maybe?]

Groove Armada - "Sex and The City Theme Song"

Crank Your Wireless!

2010-02-08T07:31:00.001+02:00

It's All About Genes.

2010-02-04T03:04:00.007+02:00

Firstly, history is very relative topic. It's somewhere there - flying in the air. Yeah, exactly - flying! And I still wonder how people made up machines and measures to tell the age of some artefacts, searching other coincidences of bone features and relating them to nations, times and movements.

And today's curiousness took me into exploring Slavic origins. Beside their origin state, which nowadays is known as Ukraine, they mixed up a lot - invading, making friendships, playing wars, assimilating, searching for new territories, where to settle their little gardens with potatoes and carrots, and of course partying and doing all other stupid stuff, which we will never know - as the train already left [we can't go back in time to see it.] But I still wonder how did ancient parties look like?
But the thing is - it's all about genes. Slavs should have Y chromosome - so called R1a. And due to wikipedia, partying around the Europe was quite successful as even nowadays "the frequency of Haplogroup R1a ranges from 63% by Sorbs, 56% in Poland and 54% in Ukraine, to 15% in Republic of Macedonia, 14% in Bulgaria and 12% in Herzegovina." It's the case of slavs. [I don't want to quote whole article dedicated on exploring roots of Slavic people].
We are already experiencing quite successful partying around the Europe, and probably within 2 centuries history books will already recall migrations and assimilations of Baltic tribes in Ireland, Macedonian tribes in multi-cultural Australia, Turkish tribes in Germany, Vietnamese tribes in Czech Republic etc. And then again the case will be - it's all about genes [or maybe money? Love? Political affairs? Religion?]. Anyway keep it going - Stir up this cocktail! ;)

Hello Beautiful!

2010-02-03T16:25:00.013+02:00

While searching for little wires which connect things in one big network of thoughts, there was an issue which really amazed me. Going through numerous search results on question of architecture, one blog name dedicated to expose of curiousities of modern architecture, was (and still is) called "Hello Beautiful!"

That makes another network of wires going directly to statement "Rem Koolhaas", who once said that "every architect is a dreamer, trying to make this world better", and probably he's right as the pieces of human imagination in this area can be seen directly and you don't have to prove the world again that you're a Dreamer, as all the constructions and search of new forms of exposure speak by themselves...

Sketch.

2010-02-03T15:41:00.004+02:00

Have to make sketch of daily activities, as plans usually don't work with me. Maybe that's why hitch-hiking goes well, as all plans are considered as relative from the very beginning.
I overslept my language class today! Well, it doesn't sound like something that you have never done... but it was! As I opened my eyes in late morning, when the phone was ringing - at 14:00!!! Amazing! I still can't get over that! Definately some sketch is needed!

She Pours a Daydream in a Cup...

2010-02-03T02:04:00.007+02:00

No words.
Just enjoyment...

Matter Of a Tradition.

2010-01-29T01:14:00.010+02:00

Coca-Cola with lemons like in old good times. And my article stucks in a moment. Going nowhere. Just time is ticking out...
Was chatting today about documentaries. And possible themes according to certain circumstances of reality. I can't tell for sure that kids which are taken with their parents to a journey into new reality [in more specific terms - the case of Latvian immigrant families/job-seekers in UK and Ireland] are supposed to be left without a real childhood. The thing is that human is very adaptable creature, which can withstand the heat of Australia and the cold of North Pole, it all depends on demands. And so called "grown-up kids" are thrown into new reality just with the opportunity to meet all the benefits and drawbacks and try to cope with it. Maybe it's a matter of a tradition? That human should have childhood memories such like playing football in the neighborhood and pushing himself to attend School of Musical education, because everyone does? But times are changing, as well as habits and memories... who knows, maybe after 20 years those kids will be talking about how did they cope with language and cultural challenges and about their first trip to London? Anyhow, every experience is good experience, made on purpose or without.
But it's a documentary, so let's make some drama or at least provide some doubts! ;)

Show Time. Snow Time.

2010-01-28T04:02:00.015+02:00

Pancakes with apples. This grandmother's recipe was exclusively discovered in last days, since my home is asking for more oxygen and smoking in double. I have a new flatmate - EVS volunteer from Poland - Agnieszka. Winter arrived as well - in countinuous progression. And probably will stay here for a while. While outside all surroundings are under white blanket of snow, my 3 year old Converse shoes are suffering in the hallway. And those 2 oxygen users are freezing in separate rooms - but using one thing in common - the heater. My sense of "waiting for Central Heating turn-on" is on the highest peak... and I wish some flowers appear... it's already time for enjoyable morning coffees with cigarettes on the balcony with terrific view of Ohrid lake. [Hey, Christmas are gone! I don't need snow anymore!]
While whole blockhouse paradise is enjoying deep sleep those 2 oxygen users are actively using Facebook entertainment options - I already started to feel longing for beauty of silly tests and Fortune Cookies!
Good morning world! I don't feel any passion to go out tomorrow! Sorry, all my dates are sold out.
Bonobo sounds very yammy already second day and my American friend making fun of my natural avoidance using articles before nouns and that's why "Donald Duck was taking care of elephant". Hah, we could make 8-year old's translation of article into Macedonian! New challenges come up everyday! And even with all my typically Latvian, ironic sense of humor - Republic of the Sun is always in my heart, on my neck, on my laptop surface and everywhere else... and it remains timeless like the commercial of Macedonia proposes.

And actually I quite amaze myself by writing all these details of my tryings to balance between harmonious existing and something undefined.

Bonobo - "The Shark"

The Usual. No.24

2010-01-04T16:12:00.010+02:00

Beginning of the Year - with new plans, goals and crushes on the way... starts as usual - with Australia on Fire [covering enormous territories of wood and always a bit different official score of burned houses mentioned in the news], another murders in Finland [the depression grows, hah? or longing of everyday surprises?] and another clicheic speech of guys from government, emphasizing the problems of good behavior of citizens, putting accent on paying taxes [which have grown in quantity like mushrooms after rain] and determining themselves to achieve high goals [at least that's what Latvian ones said].

First days meet me with lightning and rain! [by Latvian tradition after a few times I can start swimming season! Well, the only difference is that there is no lightning in January usually and so annoying rain!]
Time to create. Time to work. Work so hard for your goals. Time to expose individual fragments of freedom. Meet old and new friends and travel the world together. And be happy. [And rain actually is a great sign that it can be!]
By the way - South Asia continues to play wars... I see there's kind of sense of fun in bombing? [if diplomacy never works, then oil always does] And I wonder what's the first thought in the morning of those, who call the place their home? [Am I still alive?]
Amen.

Too Much.

2010-01-04T14:23:00.008+02:00

Too much party.
Too much alcohol.
Too much expectations.
Too much connections.
Too much joy.
Too much non-sense.
Too much. Too much.
TIME FOR AN "ASSHOLE" DAY?

Pet Shop Boys "New York City Boy"

Christopher Fleming.

2009-12-27T15:14:00.022+02:00

You don't know Christopher Fleming? How come you don't know Christopher Fleming?
Wonderful guitar parts, tremendous lyrics, thrilling voice - romantic soul after all! That's our creative & sensitive being of friendly EVS family!
"Lord, here I go again... Day in, day out..." beside lyrics the flowing sound of guitar makes a bit dreamy, nostalgic, longing for undefined effect, showing scars of the past and heart bleeding, but still feeling... and image of dreamer's eyes, despite of pink glasses becoming darker, staying the same...
But still compositions [just heard 3 of them, but I know there will be more!] has some typically "British" music accents. [And I know that it could be irritating for him to read the "British" thing as he considers himself pure Irish and there is huge difference, but still - I can do nothing about that, as part of my life consisted of brit-pop influences of 90-ties - "Blur", "Verve" and "Oasis". Although the product of creativity is always original, it's easier to describe it with familiar things.]
Nevertheless, I cross my fingers for your little star up there under the painted sky, December Boy!

Rock This Macedonian Party.

2009-12-27T00:23:00.031+02:00

Well, this story could be reffered to numerous new-found glories of numerous new-found musical creatures. Nowadays it's pretty hard to surprise fastidious public, which we present with the image of ourselves. We desire more, we ask for more... more amazements in enourmous world of sounds and cute attraction points in every song, which makes us if not moan along with the main voice screaming on the microphone, then at least make a little finger-play on wooden bar-table producing "echo-effect" with original drumbeats.

Hard job mixed with enjoyment. As it's harder than before to shine among numerous underground amateurs trying to fullfill the dream to be heard. Life of a Poet - you never know what you will get, but you never stop creating the reflections of your rich imaginary world, although so many times three dots are the fullstop of stories of new-found glories.
So what's going on here in Struga? I can tell it's a town of very talented kids [anyhow they stand out with ability to play more than one musical instrument...] grown-up with sounds of Rolling Stones , Eric Clapton and Metallica. Metallica more... for sure. As that's one of the bands making effective "electric zippers", when playing solos. Adding a bit sugar to this musical cocktail - a bit of Depeche Mode for a change ;)
So what can be heard finally from fulltime young orchestras? Mostly POP-ROCK [with gentle touch of joy taken from SKA] or revivals of old, well-known sounds of hits of last decades of 20th century. I shake my head, hearing Guns'n'Roses "Sweet Child of Mine", Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away" and Eric Clapton "Cocaine" like in those terrific past times of my youth. But anyhow, beside the well-known hits I can smell the search of new ways how to tell [sound] the same things. Most interesting part to hear - popsy/electronic hits in different rock versions, if I may call them that way. Lady Gaga's parts with male's voice and some more rough interlude sounds freakin' awesome. Maybe rock coverversions is a latest fashion in music business? Well, it will succeed for sure and will cover more public to follow...
I still don't have proper image of Macedonian young strivers of music world, but I continue watching fingers and exploring the sounds... that's the way aha, aha I like it...

[in pictures: Struga's Duo Slide & Bitola's SHINE]

Merry Fuckin' Christmas.

2009-12-25T12:26:00.006+02:00

Fullfilling the most desired Christmas wish I had every year before Christmas 2009. And the feeling in the morning, going through the mess in the kitchen and trying to find something eatable left from wild Christmas party yesterday, was just the thing to prove it. Prove that Green Fairy was here in Skopje yesterday - fullfilling all kind of wishes you ever had a fantasy about - get laid, get high and overall drunk - partying as hell on Christmas! [ I guess Jesus was deliriously happy about such Birthday Celebration!]
The public involved in the event after First Wake-up had a strange, well-known feeling of 1st January [where am I and what I did last night?] as everything in the house, including morning faces and composition of mixed rows of dirty glasses & wine bottles, reminded of that. This time there was nothing but a neverending Christmas morning, which lasted all day... and consisted of talking bullshit mostly... with the members of great EVS family!
I drink my magic cucumber water for You, which I bought this morning for 55 Denars in the nearest shop [Damn! Even more expensive than Cigarettes! But for morning pleasure I guess you have to pay Double]!

Merry Fuckin' Christmas!
I'm lovin' it!

Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina "Stereo Love"

OrANGELove.

2009-12-16T02:49:00.008+02:00

Richard Wilbur telling that the morning air is full of angels behind the open window. But window is closed today. Maybe he's right. I hear them knocking...
I lost a friend today. Dot.
And time has come. For cities of white cats, fragments of freedom and killing beauty.
Time for senseless stories about "fall-in-love with the stranger" of different cultural heritage, hiding inside the daily cup of coffee.

December of Joy. Meeting Imaginary December Boy.

2009-12-08T16:52:00.016+02:00

December of shy flirt of sun. December of Joy. Meeting Imaginary December Boy. December of thinking, sinking deep into the thoughts. And evaluation process can begin. It already started, even without my permission. "This is the end, my only friend... THE END" [year 2oo9]
Here I am. Enjoying the sun playing shadow games in space of Ohrid lake and city itself [which is called the same by the way.]. And I smile back, whenever my eyes turn from postcard writing [yeah, finally!] to a shy glimpse at Paradise view, covered with harbour of lazy boats mixing with some passengers using different kinds of wehicles - skateboards, rollerskates, legs and wings. Everything in motion. And I'm somewhere there, having a power to press the button "Pause".

Lazy Sunday Talk. Latvians.

2009-11-22T12:57:00.015+02:00

The morning is half cold sharing the fresh air with smell of Vanilla Coffee. Lazy sunday yawn. Some rays of sunlight disturbing and at the same time inviting to seize this day...

Discussions on Skype about present life and how amazingly beautiful it is, if you take it that way... and smile appears on my face while noticing that we all are in the world somewhere! Sending hugs from Ireland, discussing the E-bay benefits directly from Birmingham, following unnoticingly crazy adventures in Denmark and Spain, sending greetings from Georgia and kisses from Macedonia... and the question "Where are you now?" sounds so pleasant, because WE ARE IN THE WORLD! That's a short story about members of dreamer nation calling themselves Latvians! [and they are not the only ones.] And I'm proud of them, as they not only dream, but as well make a huge effort to make their dreams come true! And Skype is just another progress of information technologies helping us to realize that we are still at different hotspots, but so fuckin' close to each other. Because real friends are always somewhere near... And "home is where the heart is..."

Goran Gora - "Swim, Robert, swim"... and reach the sunrise... :)

Ljube - The Child of Nature.

2009-11-12T21:15:00.003+02:00

The jeans jacket borrowed from friends, “The Beatles” and sparkling flames of ardour coming from young generation wishing to change this world – that was in the 70’s. Times are changing and passing by. But the sparkling flames still remain in collaboration with gained life experience. And the jeans jacket – that’s his own property now. Like the sparkling flames left for young generation.
Wearing glasses in style of Dandies. Smoking and making gestures, while telling the witty shortcuts of lifestories, which unconsciously make the whole impression of the person he is now. Telling that English wasn’t sufficient in his youth, but clothing in „manner of capitalism” was into just in the weird way to show the protest against existing dogmas of socialism. Expanding horizons. Not just seeing everything as a red square or green triangular (it depends how you zoom in the conditions of proposed way of living in every political regime).
Attracted to art since childhood. Remembers himself drawing everything that was in his daily outlook. And daily view was pleasant for young artist to explore his talent and passion of art. The art of nature. The love of nature. The nature that saves and that kills. The nature that is saved and is killed. In many ways. This is his message to society – to save the environment! And show the exact problem through the flowing moves of paintbrush.
Blusterous. Calling himself “Narciss” and why not? He has all rights to do that, as this story is only about his vision of this world. Through art, inside art and in crossroads. But still the art is winning this game, even if everything is against it.
His activities can’t be described in few words, it’s just the thing of feeling that can be only understood or not, like art itself. And beside our topic of Graffiti, which is also one of the expression fields of Ljube he makes art workshops (since 1993 in Art Association ZUM 93, now – ZUM 2002) around Macedonia, with this action letting society know that nature is dying because of our non-sense. Maybe painting the dead fish and polluted wood in an impressionistic way is not really helping nature directly, but people buy the paintings, people see the exhibitions and the true feelings of artists and the story every painting keeps inside. Beside the activating art in non-governmental way and saving the nature, he is Professor of Arts, working in a school in Struga and helping young talents to find themselves in the world of creating. Even despite the fact that art still remains as amateur profession ruled mostly by enthusiasts.
The true child of nature. Maybe will continue with Ljubeism as kind of new religion, which will take masses to follow and create the beauty, leaving the messages to the world… “You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one…” [John Lennon - Imagine]

Strong Brain Flavor.

2009-10-21T01:41:00.006+03:00

October.

2009-10-21T01:35:00.018+03:00

Yellow leaves fall down the trees. People going slowly. Maybe enjoying a windy-refreshing walk. Maybe.

Pieces of Sugar on my white sheet. Look like little diamonds. The Little reminders of snow.
People hiding their noses in scarfs and having frivolous chats inside cafeterias.
Music is chilling. And the only thing is missing - the snowing outside...

Oxygen.

2009-10-13T19:36:00.006+03:00

Starting with the rhythm of hip-hop and a skin-head guy rapping on the radio microphone. Talking hard. The composition number one says the title. “The Oxygen”.
The Oxygen – the dance of lungs. And the story goes on… about the girl from the big city and the boy from the provinces both called Sasha. Their love starts as usual sentimentally and suddenly noticing that lungs are dancing, the oxygen comes in bigger doses. Love in this case is compared to Oxygen – at least somebody made an alternative phrase of describing “Butterflies in Stomach”. And butterflies appear either in a few significant moments of the movie.
But the plot is more complicated than just love among two youngsters likely smoking weed in front of big monuments. The problem goes deeper, and for comparison the lack or either loads of “Oxygen” can cause all the biggest mistakes made by mankind. And examples are given in the next compositions of the movie. Full track contains 10 of them, covered in simple and easy discussion on present day topics skillfully using the elements that create the modern culture of the youth. Talking about Islamic countries, 11th September 2001, which was all made in name of big “love” (shown in videos of war and named as “LOVE PARADE”), and youth dependent on drugs, suffering either from big love or lack of it. The next composition called “Amnesia” tries to give one of the solutions – “Organize your brain clinical amnesia. Organize – I don’t remember anything, anything, anything…”
Movie is precisely describing the youth of the world, portraying the life of Russian example. The mixture of “Pump up the Volume”, “Trainspotting” and “Run Lola Run” scenes appear in the flow of pictures, taking the best part of it. Outstanding thinking, hippies running naked in the field of weed, rebels and all those who are in search for understanding in this world.
Ironic, containing delicious comparisons, excellent game of words, which touch, take and settle down in the memory. The above mentioned “Dance of Lungs”, “Provincial fur and fleas of big city”, “Heart in a shape of a big double-bed” and many others made by this hard talk of storytellers, alternating with visualization containing scenes of decelerated reality and as well impressive surrealism [e.g., girl walking on the moon in black gumboots decorated with colorful flowers, break-dance mixing with sound of broken glass].
The movie speaks to you and your conscience.
Organize your brain Amnesia and add some Oxygen!

The Shape of Music. Macedonia.

2009-10-04T00:46:00.014+03:00

It rains. It makes situation complicated by itself. The feeling of hidding from something. Something undefined. Willing to wear gloves and hide the eyes under sunglasses, which accidentally I never had. Today it's raining.

I throw my imaginary paper planes into the storm. And look how they dance in the wind. So unbearable and tender paperwork. So desperately trying not to touch the ground.

I continue to read inspiring stories of my mates, who went to the world to find their Freedom [eventually and for eternity] like me. [Hot spots from Denmark] The cheerful plays with coffee-grounds in Turkish way, trying to imagine that the coffee [or what is left in a cup after one round of frivolous conversations at the round shape table] will whisper the secrets of inscrutable future paths. Hopefully it will. Just for fun. If the suitcase full of formulas of hereditary customs gained through the centuries were working few centuries ago, why should we doubt their power now?

But it's raining today. And there's time to think for a while. About the things that surprise and the things that scare. Seems weird, I'm already 2 weeks in the completely new environment, and I can't start write about the new cultural and social heritage, which meets me everyday as about something really WOOOW. I can't make lifestory about African refugees trying desperately to be the part of this European world [as I don't have Black guys around. And actually Spain is in another direction ;)] Culture shock don't live here. It went different direction. The only pleasant shock of my everyday view are mountains! Mountains... somewhere there, sleeping silently, watching everything from apart and remaining green. I wonder if they become yellow in the Fall season? [As they are mostly covered with trees.] Yeah, stupid question from the human being, who spent the most of his lifetime on flat land.

The touch of crying rose. And coffee in the cup shaped like music. Can You imagine the shape of music? [Like naked lady making slow moves, singing in the rain and going on barefoot. More to feel. The shape of music.] That's just a game of words. But the cup looked as a clef if you look from above. ;)

I had a chance during these 2 weeks of living [not existing] experience once more the Summer. And I was in love [since I came here]. How else You can explain the messing up with everything and that smile which never goes down? And the feeling of being inspiringly busy, creating loads of ideas, which have the real outcome [not just the list put in dark corner awaiting for better times.]

Darling, FUCK ME TWICE - I'm HOME! :)

Another Chance.

2009-10-03T00:50:00.008+03:00

Little naive Girlie...
Can't forget that blind touch on her skin, which can't be understood neither "over"stood. The Touch in the dark. So deeply shy. Without any signs or explicit behavior. She thought it wouldn't be right. And that would be the wrong end, or was it the right start?

Un Coeur, S'il Vous Plaît.

2009-08-16T17:04:00.010+03:00

Experts from French corner of the world telling that only musicians with licences can play music in Paris Underground, which they get, fairly winning in the official competition. The musical fight for legal being in eternal draught! [Amazing.] The source of profit and challenge of life. But I guess the true issue of this "being" is far more deeper than eternal wind on the stairs. It's all about Love-thing, I guess.

City of Paris. The Morning [Bonjour!]. Kisses on both cheeks. The Smell of newly-baked croissants, lyrical and drizzling rain, small parks, miniature streets and lifers around. Those, who never hurry, but are always on time. Sensitive keepers of old stuff. Listening music on vynil plates and sharing memories. Talking much. Giving flowers to their heart-ladies and arguing about politics. And tasting life like newly-baked croissants. [Slow down. Pleasure up.]

Wax Tailor featuring Charlotte Savary - Seize the Day... sharing pleasant melancholy of my contemplation. Delicious music piece from "Paris" movie. About those - Sentimental and punctual, disigning life as molecular equation and dreaming out future plans, playing modern harlots and being imigrants. About those, who are young again and in love, and those, who live their last days, while being young. About colorful games of destiny.
Imaginary Paris. More to love...

The Smell of Cherry Tobacco and Autumn.

2009-08-15T22:40:00.010+03:00

Maybe that's my last smoke on the stairs of my Blockhouse Paradise. Someone has been here before. Someone left the smell of cherry tobacco. The rain drops playing melody on the window. It's raining. Latvian "Muse" [S.P.B.] is telling sad stories about past times, when we were poets and dreamers. Rising the urge of being hurt. Just a little bit. And I have no power to tell them to shut up. And it comes... silently and suddenly, but always at the same time - the Autumn Melancholy. With the longing for something undefined. The feeling that summer is gone. Gone with the birds. Gone far. Gone to Africa. Maybe.

But my Siberian-striped friend as usually joins me in my smoking ritual, playing with my hand as it was his own property. Enjoyable Cat flirt and the scars for memories.
Good-bye, my friend, I'll keep you here [in my heart.].

The Happy Land [Moving on.] Latvia.

2009-08-15T18:58:00.004+03:00

Turkey.

2009-08-08T04:38:00.004+03:00

The morning is refreshingly cold. I've just finished with checking youth pages and making newsletter on journalism stuff, and my thoughts came to Turkey...

The desirable willing of being a part of European Union, at least I can observe it in youth field. But maybe EU just needs a new firestarter [hell, yeah], if show must go on as usual, why not add some fire on it?
The thing that is irritating my mind is enourmous amounts (compared to others) of youth exchanges in Turkey [which is good in any way for international and open-minded society]. I see Turkish National Agency is making large investment in good future [in Europe]... mobility, integration, yeah, probably Turkey just needs to prove at least Europe the worth of itself. But why? Why something that already has a worth itself has to prove again itself?
Reminding myself the meeting of Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs with Latvian Journalism Students in February 2009, which was obvious disaster. He sounded like a little dreamer, talking about serious topics as gas, Russia and all the good things from Turkey[that's his diplomatic duty, no doubt].
Heh, come on - another trash country [like my homeland Latvia itself] and raised hands praying for subsidies? Worth to fight for?
Yeah, I should better leave for morning sleep, instead of telling bullshit... But I wish that dream of Turkey becomes true... maybe we really need a new firestarter? :)

By the way, LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations sounds damn good!

Time For...

2009-07-26T16:29:00.003+03:00

... Garlic.

Money. Money. Money.

2009-06-27T02:32:00.005+03:00

Fairytales with shiny glitters for ugly, new-found beauties.
Abstract feelings, covered in plum jam and smell of money.
Doves are dead. Already.
Questions above the head. Sold for money.
Taken furiously and damn fast.
Oskar Wilde was damn good liar.

The Time.

2009-06-22T16:30:00.005+03:00

"Sex and the City" was released on time. Indeed.
On time when there was the TIME for blurry talks & walks and overconsumption - shoes, dresses from Designer's Palaces', breakfasts at Tiffany's, music - so less passionate, clicheic and forgettable. And so many "Manhattan" Cocktails...
Adoration and ignorance - both taken as complex of pills together with further reaction. What reaction? Who knew? And who actually cared?

- [Cheryl Lynn] - Got To Be Real.
- So Be It [Pump Up The Volume]

Forever Young. Forever Drunk. [Вечно молодой, вечно пьяный...]

2009-03-19T22:13:00.014+02:00

They came to celebrate. Another birthday. And this was the special one. And despite of this fact Riga meets them with snow. So white and so unbearable.

They never buy a return ticket, in case if the city charm gets them too far... and the willing to enjoy the beauty of individual attraction is so vigorous that there's no chance to resist.

They come from the city of lions and bridges. All with historical fairytale, beauty and in great amount. [St. Petersbourg]

Telling about white nights and bridges, which tend to split and merge again time to time. That's all about astounded bridge thing. If you stay on the wrong side of the bridge after great party, that just means you had a great party. Indeed! Now use your creativity to work out, where you'll spend the rest of the night. The tourists might be in a little trouble, while watching this phenomenal mechanical brigde thing.

Economical tendencies uniquely precise and appropriate portraying global stability crash. Massive dismissals from full-time and part-time job places. Although the amount of pubs is decreasing too in space and number.

They're considering themselves as workaholic beings. Already 3 years earning money by writing BA and MA Thesis and reports for lazy students. Day by day working together. And they succeed. Telling that if the Spring season was very productive by doing this stuff, pretty frivolous living can be afforded afterwards, including expanding horizons across the home city walls. Seems to worth it. But as for today earning money with this method of arranging things also experiencing the recession. As the nation's capacity of paying becomes less impressive.

Telling about american tourists and subcultures. Laughing on obtuseness of Yankees. And describing typical subcultures they are part of. The Roofers. Those, who livin' on the roofs or at least enjoying some late night beers sometime. But even they are experiencing hard times - as owners of the houses, which apparently having roofs, started to close the entrances to Roofers' Paradises. And why shouldn't they? Paradise makes you feel so damn good and sometimes or even pretty often you are too loud for expressing your king size happiness. That's a shame! Those morons living down there can't understand You...
But still there are known roofs, which are still available to enjoy the Roofers' Paradise. And if needed, you always can get the right coordinates.

So they continue to celebrate. Celebrate their silent moments of happiness for being in a Big city. Drinking beer, hidden in the gloves. Smiling and making jokes. Inviting to come along. To the city of lions, pretty bridges and just great people. I'm smiling with. [About those... forever young and forever drunk.]

Imagine.

2009-03-14T23:29:00.001+02:00

I wonder how... I wonder why...
yesterday you told me about the blue blue sky...
but all that I can see... NEVERMIND.

We're Having a Party...

2009-03-14T03:34:00.001+02:00

The Son of The Flower Lady.

2009-02-05T23:16:00.008+02:00

He came from the country side. He was simple, warm and open. [Hello, world! I'm Yours!] And shining.
Shining whenever she smiled, she laughed, she looked.
But they were just friends. Under certain circumstances. She broke up, he didn't start yet. That's how it was. Just flowers left.
They usually met after school. Making round tours in familiar well-known places, passing the same crapy shops, where you can buy cheap beer and cigarettes, even if you're under 18 [and they were], fields full of frozen dogs' shit mines. It was winter 2004. It was cold. But still they met. Always at the same meeting point, always the same flowers. Red roses.
They were both looking for essence of life. They were both dreamers. Both lovers of beauty. Both somewhat outcasted. The king and queen of outcasted teens...
Graduation day came. She could hardly speak, when he appeared with the biggest rose she ever saw in her outcasted life. A bit seared. But still white. Like his feelings - a bit seared, but sincere.. the untouched beauty.
Years past by. They met again in another city. They both became students. So brave and so passionated about this life. No regrets.
They partied a lot. With great amount of boyfriends and girlfriends. Doing crazy things and less planning. Night walks and dancing on small, charming bridges of small, charming towns in sounds of imaginary music and plenty of emptied bottles of cheap wine, while the wind was blowing heart-shaped clouds under the painted sky.
Big plans to change the world and make it better place. Bob Sinclar and Junior Jack. It's all about love generation in stupid disco. Flowers remained. Silent.
His dream was to be a DJ. To have big head-phones and to hear the scrach of vinyl plate, mixing summer jam with blues of 60-ties... and seeing happy people. Dancing people... whole night long. On small, charming bridges or either on the dancefloors... And he did it. Despite of global economical crisis and depressing motions... enjoyed imaginary bed of roses. In new colors. And still does. This was the story about Son of The Flower Lady. To be continued...

Every human is invited here in this world with the purpose. Create your own. And follow...

nasing spešel.

2009-01-29T21:31:00.002+02:00

Arvien jauni personāži piesakās man līdzi braukt. Arvien jaunos ceļojumos ar zināmiem galamērķiem un nejaušiem ceļabiedriem. Nu patīk man tā padarīšana - stāvēt šosejas malā ar paceltu īkšķi. Netverams vieglums. Visums atveras. Paldies! Tādas, lūk, tās odziņas.

God, can you hear me?

2009-01-28T21:59:00.006+02:00

Fuck the People, who are trying to make a castle from ruins in the last minute...

Hello, my name is Carrie Bradshaw. Let's Talk About Sex.

2008-10-03T01:37:00.000+03:00

Friday. Late evening. The City is high-lighted with drunk-guys and tourists. Streets are almost empty. A few bars known for cheap beer. Not the best one. But we can survive with that. BBC is already telling about economical crisis. So let's be more pragmatic about money we have.

First stop. The park. The bottle of champagne opens with splash. We meet again. We haven't seen each other for ages. And to be surprised – we don't drink for "happy coming together again", we drink for SEX! Yeah, ask where is this world going?

We are 3 today. Samantha is missing. And that's what we miss – Samantha in ourselves. We are the rest 3 "loser" characters of "Sex and the City" – and not divided – just 3 as a whole. And we drink for SEX, which apparently we don't have.

1st Miranda, Charlote & Carrie.

Just had a dead end of relationship. Was in connection with married man. That explains the dead end. (Don't be naïve, he's not gonna leave his wife and warmly kept snuggery for you! That's why it is called extramarital relations. Take it or leave it). Emotional soul. Cries a lot. And shouts either. By occasion. Falls in love quickly and deeply. And often. Open-minded, argumentative, loves men's company.

2nd Miranda, Charlote & Carrie.

1st time in a long period of stagnation she's in love. In fact, her new relationship has not started yet. So there's a lot of romance in that. (oh, God! I love beginnings!). She can expect flowers and nice text messages. And for sure – she's got stomach full of butterflies by now. (Let's wish good luck, no matter how long this relationship will last.) A dreamer, doesn't like to complain. Open-minded, shy, loves men's company.

3rd Miranda, Charlote & Carrie.

Insensible and emotional by occasion. Once or even twice hurt. So there's no problem for her to avoid feelings, if the romantic soul awakens and suddenly disapproves of instant guy, who didn't approach in desired way. Rationalist is doing great job! So no extra unwelcome feelings. Just ignorance. That's her benefit and drawback either. The heart remains untouched, locked with 7 keys. It was enough that once someone put a shit there. Open-minded, positively-determined, loves men's company.

The bottle is finished. Round tour. Next stop – the bar few streets farther. On the way met German speaking tourists asking for hostel direction. Those 3 would love to help – but there was no emergency for hostel in Riga ever. So the question remained cloudy for every participant of this conversation.

Moving further. The bar. Smiling and handsome bartender, bottles of alcohol set in shelves, alighted with red light bulbs.3 beers, please! The same taste and the same reason! Again for SEX! A year ago they couldn't imagine that they will talk and DRINK for sex! So it's a bit confusing by now. It should be like – rationalist should complain about political affairs as usual, dreamer – just flying somewhere in clouds, and passionist just doing a little bit of both.

The conclusion about sex theme that evening – have sex without any obligations. The man and relationship, flowers and bla bla bla stuff can come along after (or not). Encouraged to be Samanthas at least once. Nothing to loose. At least the feelings remain for White Princes, who'll appear someday. Just have to wait for the right moment. Before that it's time for losers and those self-assured – choose the most likeable! Enjoy. With condom and without commitments! Is it possible?

P.S. After few beers they split. Rationalist went to free movies night organized by Culture Academy. Passionist stayed at the bar to meet some friends and got drunk pretty fast. Dreamer just went out to look at the stars.