The long walk home

The long walk home, by CarolineBach
Rajasthan Desert, India. October 2010

The origins of the Roma people, also referred to as Gypsies and Romani, can through linguistic and genetic evidence be traced back to India, and more specifically, Rajasthan. When I was in India I immediately noticed the stiking resemblance between the the languages and I was amazed by the fact that  I could use some of  my very limited vocabulary in Romani, that I had learnt when working with Roma children in Sweden, to communicate in and understand some basic Hindi. Culturally, the Roma people have, despite of their wide dispersion around the world, managed to keep many of their traditions and values intact. Their vibrant musical culture has had a vast influence on traditional Balkan Music, Andalusian Flamenco, and even European classical composers such as Brahms and Liszt. Following is a part from the movie Latcho Drom, meaning Safe Journey which is a documentary about the journey of the Roma people, along with their charismatic culture and dancing, from the Rajasthan desert to Adalusia in Spain.

Latcho Drom (1993)
Directed and written by Tony Gatlif

Moonchild

 

“They say I made the moon
Everything was in the dark
No memories at all
Just a tiny freezing wind in my back
As I was sitting there
Singing a song they had never heard before
Suddenly, a voice told me
“Keep on singing, little boy
And raise your arms in the big black sky
Raise your arms the highest you can
So the whole universe will glow”

My first vision was a bush growing down the river
And I couldn’t stop crying
Something was missing
I realized I was in love with a voice
I called it, again, and again
But all I heard was the echo in the light.”

M83 – Moonchild
Before the dawn heals us (2005)

You will never be forgotten.

Trains and Thoughts

I have been in Poland some days now and it has been truly exhausting and heart breaking. I won’t go into detail on the tragedy that my family has faced and I don’t know for how long I will be needed here and stay around. I am thanking my psychology studies for helping me to cope in balance and rationality and most importantly, to help those around me.

I am incredibly thankful and proud of my friends for giving me clear minded and patient support simply by listening to my talking about everything and nothing. Even when situations are horrifying, my conviction is that hysteria doesn’t help anybody, while I strongly support thorough thought, calmness and constructiveness. I am looking forward to, while being a bit anxious about, the hours of thinking, complete emptiness and opportunity to actually focus on myself that the train ride back to the airport will give me when it’s time to go.

I love going by train in Poland, hanging out the window while both landscapes and thoughts pass by is more than wonderful. So even if this time probably will be very different and difficult, it will be more necessary than ever before.

Destino

I just discovered “Destino” – an incredibly beautiful and mindteasing short by Salavador Dalí and Walt Disney that reminded me of how much I sometimes enjoy surrealism. The production originally began in 1945 but wasn’t completed and released until 2003. The music is written by the Mexican songwriter Armando Dominguez and is also truly a dream. Please enjoy.

Salvador Dalí & Walt Disney – Destino (2003)
Music by Armando Dominguez

Harmony

Listening to Brian Eno and looking at this beautiful woman while the city is asleep is a perfect contrast to what I’ve been living the past days. I found her on the Eco fair here in Barcelona last month, relaxing on a patch of grass, by herself, stroking her pregnant belly while seemingly being in some kind of vacuum of profound tranquility and peace.