India 2013 – Part 1: Letting go of the fears in Kolkata
When I was still working in Nicaragua, my mother told me she wanted to travel with me as soon as I got back to Sweden in September. She wanted us to go to Istanbul together, but as she would have two entire weeks of vacation, I had her reconsider and think bigger, and she picked India and the Taj Mahal. I had already been there in 2010, but this was going to be very different. First of all, I was going to let my mother lead and plan everything – it was her trip. Also, she wanted to see everything. More buildings, less spirituality. I was going to let somebody else decide where I would be going and not travel alone for the first time, she was going to have to trust me on the safety issues and discover the hardships of India. It was going to be a challenge for both of us.
Kolkata, or as many say, Calcutta, was our first stop in the country after a really convenient Emirates flight. We landed under heavy rainfall and found a hotel on Sudder street where travellers often choose to live due to its convenient location. It wasn’t really tourist season in September as the monsoon period had just started, so we were almost alone in the hotel apart from a group of very nice Japanese guys that we spent an evening with. During the days, we basically walked around looking at monuments my mother wanted to see – and ate. My mother had no issues with trying food in different places, so that was wonderful. She was already loving the Indian cuisine after one day and I was thrilled. On our second day, we met Bose, a guy who insisted on showing us around for hours. My mother was nervous, “Why is he so nice? Are you sure this is the right direction? Where is he taking us?” but she finally gave in when I told her to try to let go of her fears and trust her instincts instead, and Bose was indeed harmless and genuine – he took us to his favourite places and showed us his secret shortcuts and little temples. He made sure we weren’t harassed by vendors and refused accepting even a soft drink from us. In the end, my mother kindly forced him to accept for us to pay for his lunch. The way a Polish mother does best. We had enormous plates of Chicken Biryani, we spoke about culture, Indian history and Bose’s plans for the future, and we had a lovely time.
How does it feel?
Bob Dylan just released a very interesting interactive piece to be the first official video for his 50-year-old classic “Like a Rolling Stone”. I’m not going to tell you what happens, so that you can enjoy it best yourselves – one thing you might want to know is that you can see original Bob Dylan footage on one of the 16 channels. If this is the future of music videos, I can’t wait to see what other artists will come up with. (No need to tell me about that Kanye video)
Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (1965)
Video – November 2013
The release of the video coincides with the release of Dylan’s 47-CD box set entitled The Complete Album Collection Volume 1 from Columbia/Legacy Recordings. The makers behind this piece of interactive awesomeness is the digital agency Interlude, and the CEO Yoni Bloch said that more channels eventually will be added to the video, adding that “you’ll always miss something because you can’t watch everything at the same time.”
Ouch. So good!
We can’t wait – Start giving a shit.
Kolkata, India 2013
Today is World Toilet Day, a UN recognized event observed annually with the aim to break the taboo around toilets and instead draw attention to the importance of adequate sanitation. It’s not the sexiest of subjects – but it’s doubtlessly one of the most important one’s.
Until today, 2.5 billion people still lack access to a clean toilet. This is a huge challenge that poses not only health risks, but also direct threats to the security of women and girls, and is an abuse on people’s dignity. Girls drop out of school. Children die from diarrhea. Going far away to find a dark spot during the night equals risk of harassment and even rape for many women. Just imagine a scenario of not having privacy when you need to relieve yourself.. this is a reality for a third of the world’s people.
Click the image below for the 2013 report by Water Aid, WSSCC and Domestos on “Why we can’t wait”, and start giving a shit about this.
Redrum
30 is the new 20 – Grattis Bumbi!
“Oh my god – I’m so old!” she gasped, clutching harder on to the string holding a pink helium-filled balloon with 30 written on it. “It’s crazy!”
The apartment was full of people I hadn’t seen for years and it was great fun to have a talk with them again. Big O kept demonstrating how he was tall enough to touch the ceiling, as usual. Also, according to tradition, the whole group kept chanting for M to finally ask M to marry him. H was there, or was he really? We took a bunch of photos which I was tasked to stitch together. And there was a slideshow with old embarrassing photos on the TV, including a couple of shots from when I lived in Warsaw seven years ago – and met Bumbi for the first time.
At some point during the evening I found the coco-chocolate-pink-cream thingies. *pause for drooling* (Daj mi ten przepis!)
We went to Privé, the place where we all used to dance as 16-year olds and which reopened a couple of months ago. For old time’s sake. The music was mostly perfect, the atmosphere became ours and the balloons joined us all the way. I checked out at 4am to drive a friend home, but as far as I know, the party ended as much as two hours later – which I find very impressive for being in Malmö – and a very clear and indisputable argument for the fact that Bumbi really isn’t old at all.
Your age is in your head, kochana – thank you for a great party!
Dance like nobody’s watching
I just wanna vibe with you
Syd the Kyd from The Internet sings along to Chad Hugo (The Neptunes) produced beats, creating a casually perfect, minimalistic and incredibly groovy masterpiece, rocking it in her socks only. This is a production where the actual music really is given its proper space – Syd the Kyd’s soft voice and funky attitude along with the beautiful and unconventional takes and close-ups, soft contrasts and gray tones in the Lacey Duke directed video let you truly focus on how it all sounds – connect with the bassline – and take in all the soul. And there’s so much of it!
The Internet – Dontcha
Feel Good (2013)
I had to pick up the entire album – released two months ago – after hearing this, and I love how The Internet manage to sound so much like those timeless neo soul masters – I’m talking Lucy Pearl, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Raheem DeVaughn kind of quality.
You know, when mesmerizing and rich vocals are accompanied by live instruments that in any moment can break into sounding like a live jam session. Soul, funk, lounge, jazz.. Love!
Actually, this is The Internet’s sophomore album, which apparently sounds far better than the first one so I’m not going to risk this enchantment by digging into their past. So to break it down, The Internet is actually a duo consisting of Syd the Kyd and Matt Martian, both part of the LA based 14 member hip hop collective OFWGKTA – which stands for “Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All” – and has another five sub-bands – confused? Most people just refer to the collective as “Odd Future”. And if that name at least rings a bell, like it did for me – it’s a record label – and Frank Ocean is part of the whole deal. Aaahh.. can you hear the sound of planets and talent aligning?
Anyway, in its full splendour, I give you Feel Good, by The Internet. Odd Future Records. September 2014. So much soul. Please vibe along.
Feel Good
(September 2013)
UNA Workshop
Spent the day in Gothenburg at a workshop with a group of students from UN Association certified schools around Sweden. My role was to tell my own story and share advice, tips and inspiration. The group was very eager and involved in the conversation which is my favourite kind of audience – dialogues are so much more fun than monologues. Thank you all, I hope to see you again – and good luck with everything!
Yay, Monday!
I’m trying out different gyms in Malmö. None of them will let me sign up short-term anyway, and I’m still not planning to hang around here for much longer. One month for 10€ here, one week trial for free there, and so it goes. Maybe I’ll write a gym guide when I’m done. Haha
Back to work now – I’m going to Gothenburg tomorrow to do a lecture. It’s for youth and they named it “Inspiration and guidance by Caroline Bach” which made me giggle. It sounds like I’m some kind of New Age dreadlock lady who will come on stage dressed in a long white dress carrying a stereo playing dolphin sounds. Haha! No, it’s just human rights, engagement, ideas, UN, and career stuff for young people who want to get engaged. I promise. No “fall back and Iet me catch you” workshops on my account. I like dolphins but I’m far more into proactivity. Get going! Yay!