Best festival in the world... or maybe I'm just biased;)

Every year in October a music festival is held on the shores of Lake Malawi. It's basically 3days of non-stop music, dancing, drinking, friends (new and old) & pure happiness. Every age, race, religion, music genre, alcohol... features with the mornings consisting of jumping in the gorgeous lake in an attempt to ease the hangover. Musicians & DJs come from all over the world to perform, the majority are independent artists and their styles vary assuring that there is something for everyone. A couple of really famous people have come including Goldfish (SA) who were INCREDIBLE, Oliver Mtuzkudzi (Zimbabwe) & this year Freshlyground (SA) are making an appearance. Slowly but surely Lake of Stars is making a well-deserved name for itself!

I just saw the 2011 poster (which inspired this blog) and I have to say it is absolutely PERFECT. It encaptures the heart of what the festival is about - dancing to your heart's content underneath a baobab tree at one of the worlds best kept secrets.

What a memorable moment!

This is the kind of thing you'd see in the movies... literally.

The Spanish Revolution

A sort of follow on from my previous post about the youth being those who will change this world. For many years now Spain has suffered greatly from the worldwide economic crisis - mostly due to it's reliance on tourism & their construction bubble which imploded a couple of years back. The country's unemployment rates are the higest in Western Europe with 21.3% (4.1million people) of the population jobless. When looking at this rate amongst the 'youth' or under-35 age gap, the figure almost reaches a staggering 50%!!! The effects can be seen throughout the country and as the elections for the 'communidades' loom next week people are finally starting to stand up against these injustices with the hopes of forming a 'Spanish Revolution'.

I came across a Flickr photostream with pictures of protestors outside the Spanish Embassy in London. I highly encourage you to take a look! My favourite one:

From there you can also check out more photos from the Flickr page Spanish Revolution which has pictures of acampadas throughout the country as well as the main one in La Puerta de Sol.

“We have a powerful potential in out youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends.” - Mary McLeod Bethune

To all my friends in Madrid, get involved! Show your support for a different, more democratic Spain!!

Our answer is the world's hope; it is to rely on the youth

"It is these qualities which make of our youth today the only true international community.  More than this I think that we could agree on what kind of a world we want to build.  It would be a world of independent nations, moving toward international community, each of which protected and respected the basic human freedoms.  It would be a world which demanded of each government that it accept its responsibility to insure social justice.  It would be a world of constantly accelerating economic progress -- not material welfare as an end in of itself, but as a means to liberate the capacity of every human being to pursue his talents and to pursue his hopes.  It would, in short, be a world that we would all be proud to have built." - Robert F. Kennedy



Tuesdays with Morrie

Sorry for the silencio, I have been sans internet for the better part of 3 weeks and now that I am at my mum's I will try to update the blog at least once a week!


To start with is another film recommendation: Tuesdays with Morrie. I had never heard of the film before yet it turned out to be full of common sense & good life lessons. Definitely a must see.

Some memorable quotes include:

"We...need to forgive ourselves...For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened."

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

"When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."

"In the beginning of life, when we were infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right? But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well."

"What's wrong with being number two?"

"Death ends a life, not a relationship."

Reflecting on my last 20 years

Just like everyone, my life has been one bumpy rollercoaster with some high highs and some low lows, yet all these individual events have taught me to look around at the bigger picture and give thanks for my life. I am truly truly blessed to be surrounded by so many amazing people and to have been given such incredible opportunities. 

The above picture of Calvin & Hobbes, is not only from my favourite cartoon, but also sums up my life perfectly, because, I am exactly where I needed to be.

How wonderful life would be if we were to live it backwards! ;)

"In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day. You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!"
— Woody Allen

I believe

I came across this post on another blog: The Inspiration Tree and was really moved. I've just copied and pasted it, but highly recommend you to check out the blog!
(apparently it originally comes from a poem, author unknown)

I believe..

that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe…

that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

I believe…

that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I believe…

that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe…

that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I believe…

that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I believe…

that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I believe…

that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I believe…

that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe…

that no matter how bad your heart is broken that the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I believe…

that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe…

that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.  And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I believe…

that you shouldn’t be eager to find out a secret.  It could change your life forever.

I believe…

that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe…

that you should always leave loved ones with loving well wishes. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe…

that you can keep going long after you can’t.

I believe…

that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe…

that we don’t have to change friends, if we understand that friends change.

I believe…

that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe…

that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe…

that you either control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe…

that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, that passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I believe…

that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe…

that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe…

that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe…

that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe…

that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down, will be the ones who help you get back up.

Petrichor

PETRICHOR

The smell of the earth after it has just rained.

No further explanation needed as to why this is my favourite smell in the world!

The wonder that is our sky

People sometimes ask me what my favourite thing about this world is - although there are too many things to list, one of my absolute favourites is the sky. No matter what time of day you look at it, or where you are in the world (perhaps except for London;) it is always capitvating and as the picture says, an escape.

In light of celebrations regarding Osama's death

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

A whole new world

My best friend sang this in assembly many years ago, and dedicated it to me. I will always always remember that moment for the rest of my life. Here it is, my favourite Disney song: 

P.S - I'm sure we all agree that Aladdin was the sexiest Disney prince.

The real To-Do list

How men and women see colours!

The world needs you. Make your move.

“As you’re reading this, your life’s getting shorter. It’s ticking away. I’m not saying this to frighten you. Or even scare you. Though it may. I’m saying this to awaken you. To inspire you. To rise you out of your deep slumber. To really know you won’t live forever. To share your unique gifts. To ignite your great inner fire. To ignite your great inner strength. To ignite your great inner light. To shine. Brightly shine. To awaken your great inner beauty. To motivate. Yourself and others. To love. Yourself and others. To paint. To write. To teach. To innovate. To sing. To dance. To care. To feel. To listen. To learn. To laugh. The clock’s ticking. The world needs you. Make your move.” ~ Mike Litman