concubine

Picture from here.

I am fascinated of the art of the concubine.
And a part of me is convinced that in some other lifetime I was probably one.

sufi love haiku

1.
Here I mourn and fast
Yet behind the veil my love
Waits for me, naked.

2.
Possessing you,
I Shall not be me but you -
Who will then be I?

3.
Closer than each breath,
For you I look everywhere:
Where are you hiding?

I am fascinated by Sufism. And these beautiful verses of Rumi.

heartography

this is a worldmap
with the pieces of my heart scattered over it

spring coolage

spring is coming and inspiration tags along...
here is a coolage I made today

a leather bound journal
a nice light and healthy breakfast
funny patchwork rabbit-like doll
colourful cushions
warm, Maroccan style interior
and this fragile-looking NY girl,that is cuddling in her coat against the last winter-chills of March

Love, poetry and origami

I recently found a present from a beloved friend.
A book with oriental love poems and beautiful origami.
Pure pleasure for the soul...



On a rainy Night to You Up North

You ask for a homecoming date but still there is no date,

on Mount Bashan the late night rain swells the autumn lake.

When will you and I trim a candle by the bedroom window again,

and chat about Mount Bashan and the late night rain?

/Li Shangyin, 813-58, China/



Then let us pledge a friendship

without human ties

And meet again at the

far end of the Milky Way

/Li Po, 701-62,China/



I have always regretted the shallowness of words

Compared with the depth of human hearts,

Today the two of us look at one another,

Silently, but with feelings a hundredfold.

/Liu Yu-hsi, 772-842, China/

parallel worlds

She exists in two parallel words...
The world "here and now", the what people call "material world" is just a temporary stop.
With little bridges to the real world beyond, the world of the eternal soul.
A Saturday afternoon in the misty Lodi gardens, around tombs with smeared outlines and mosques that someone has woven poetry into.
Meaningful solitude.
Cosmic music.
Sensual pleasures that pull u out of the mundane and place u in the whirlpool of very personal, yet very universal emotions.
The feeling of closeness beyond physical presence.
She is sometimes so bored by the "here and now"...
Thank God for the real world!

...desire...

closing my eyes...
my hips move with this rhythm
the music vibrates in me
in my body
in my soul
i am a belly dancer
my eyes burn your skin
and my moves leave bruises to your heart

...desire...

making love

silently...noisily...quickly...in slow motion...in the dark...in broad daylight...on the floor...in the shower...under the stars...on the hot sand...on the dewy morning grass...late at night...instead of lunch...with our fingers...without our bodies...with the lips...tracing patterns...with our souls...beautifully...passionately...in our dreams...between two snacks...without words...with eyes closed...with our hearts open
we become one.
here.now.
everything else is irrelevant.

Just a perfect day...

Woke at around 4 in the morning.
I could hear my soul wailing somewhere far. Metaphorically. In fact it was only the street dogs.
Suddenly I felt at peace and happy.
Woke up and decided not to wait for the others but head for Delhi straight away.
Dressed. My Bulgarian tee, the favourite green and white duparta,the hat that is not exactly mine. And the black coiled earring. Just one. As a statement...
Went to Landmark and bought a thing i love for a person I love. I love giving presents :)
Got on the bus to medical. Listening to Ostava. Started reading "Shantaram" and loved the style.
Peeped into the book of the girl sitting next to me. Maths.
I had to meet Ricardo and Pauline at Dilli Haat. Was wondering where to go, then the idea just sprang up in my mind. Of course we should go to Dilli Haat.
Waiting for them in the sunlight, jotting some names in my gift-list for home...trying not to forget someone and visualizing the meeting with these people.
Then, Ricardo and Pauline came, we strolled around Dilli Haat. Devouring the variety of colours and shapes. Scarves, wood, fabrics, leather, kites,jewelery, paper...a see of beautiful items that have caught the spirit of India. I thought of how much I will miss India when I go...
We had lunch at one of the restaurants. Huge portions we couldn't finish though I shared mine with a very fat cat and a skinny dog. Remembered how Neeraj told me how he loves the place.*Inner smile:) Remembered how I went there first with Andre and was fascinated. *Inner smile :)We moved to Sarojini market...the familiar crowd and mess, and the memories of waiting for Julie to do her last minute shopping. Pauline bargained furiously for a pair of earrings.We saw a belly-dancer costume. Remembered Pondy trip and the hilarious "dancing night" at the hotel. I really need to learn Indian dances, I made a point to myself.
Then, we headed to CP...said goodbye to the guys. Knowing I will meet them someday...somehow:)
Walked on the road where we walked together last Sunday. Remembered how beautifully confused and excited u were...Indulged in the pain of the memory. Thought about what Vesi said..."let yourself be sad". Strolled around, listening to Niyaz, thinking of the time we will spend with Vladi when I am back. Simply being happy of where I am.
Got into a Coffee Day, ordered a latte and opened Shantaram again. Observed people around as I love doing...Saw that the B8ulgarian lady - Mariana had called me.
She happened to be in CP as well...so can we meet for coffee?
Thought how much I love accidential meetings. They just make my day :)
Mariana was with her husband - the Austrian diplomat and the two kids - a 9-year old girl and 12-year old boy. Pleasant surprise that they greeted me in Bulgarian:)
Then - the excitement of speaking my mother tongue to someone I meet for the first time, but I know I connect to. Conversations about life and love and India and Delhi. Where will I live next? Cairo? Istanbul? Funny I never thought of Istanbul in this way :) Sharing pleasant moments and a sinful chocolate cake with this amazing family that has lived here and there...
I had to go back to Gurgaon...so I got into an autorick...The driver was nice. Tried to explain me where the cabs stop in Hindi. I believe I should learn a bit of Hindi. As a part of my endeavour of digging deeper into the great Indian soul:) Would be nice to talk to people just like that...
Then, I was quite anxious if I will manage to catch the right bus but luckily it came very quickly :) Sat down and had a random (but pleasant) conversation with an Indian boy. I like conversations with strangers in buses and trains :)
Just a perfect day...and the happiness of the moments is still lingering in me...

My "late nite song" lately...

songs like that are such a beautiful
expression of the human soul
and people who write them are genius...



Precious and fragile things
Need special handling
My God what have we done to You?

We always try to share
The tenderest of care
Now look what we have put You through...

Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give

Angels with silver wings
Shouldn't know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for You

If God has a master plan
That only He understands
I hope it's Your eyes He's seeing through

Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give

I pray You learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in Your heart for two

Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give

I will possess your heart

This is officially our new favourite song. Anca's and mine that is...
Enjoy :)


How I wish you could see the potential
The potential of you and me
It's like a book elegantly bound
But in a language you can't read just yet

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

There are days when outside your window
I see my reflection as I slowly pass
And I long for this mirrored perspective
When we'll be lovers, lovers at last

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

I will possess your heart
I will possess your heart

You reject my advances and desperate pleas
I won't let you let me down so easily
So easily

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You got to spend some time, love
You got to spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

I will possess your heart
I will possess your heart

Friday, I'm in love

rainy

it has been raining restlessly for the past almost 20 hours
it's like livin in an underwater world
the only thing that i am thinking of the whole day is a nice, cosy place
a cup of thick hot chocolate and long easy-going conversation about life with someone i have just discovered
tomorrow we are all going to this amazing Mocha place - i fell in love even before i have stepped in
the whole melancholic mood of this week that went down the drain like a dream
makes me think of an ella fitzdjerald song that boris had given me.

Everytime we say goodbye, I die a little,
Everytime we say goodbye, I wonder why a little,
Why the Gods above me, who must be in the know.
Think so little of me, they allow you to go.
When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,
I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,
There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to
minor,
Everytime we say goodbye.

When you're near, there's such an air of spring about it,
I can hear a lark somewhere, begin to sing about it,
There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to
minor,
Everytime we say goodbye

Have a good weekend...

In an ABSOLUT world

The new ABSOLUT campaign reminds me how much I love their ads.

What should I say...in an ABSOLUT world all ads are like ABSOLUT ads :)

Micro food

Meu Fado

I recently watched Carlos Saura's FADO.
Great movie. Great music. I was on the verge of tears.
This music is so emotional and has some deep feeling of sadness in it.
Here is one really great example Mariza - Meu Fado.
Dedicated to all people that are not ashamed to start crying when they hear such a beautiful song.

Just push PLAY

Photos by Alain Delorme



I was quite impressed when I saw these pictures of little girls.
They are so abnormal.
Queer.
Sick.
Plastic.
Their faces are the faces of grown-up women.
They are actually Little Dolls , Alain Delorme's interpretation on the PLAY topic.
The photos are part of the PLAY exhibition.
The other artists involved are Etienne Clement, Cornelie Tollens and my favourite Erwin Olaf.

Jazz-snake

The following video is the exam performance of a very ambitious young guy I happened to know through Internet.
He is studying in the National Academy for Theatre and Film and wants to be a director. Recently he won a prize for a new, unpublished novel.
He also enjoys making photographs.
Here is the video, which I think is quite fresh :)

Placebo - a dream come true

I was at the concert yesterday:)I am so happy I managed to go.
One thing - these guys really rocked the house!
Amazing work!

Funny videos on youtube

Yesterday, while searching for the "Happy feet" trailer on YouTude, I accidentially came accross The Brothers McLeod Show.
These guys have some really funny pieces - at some points of The M man I was laughing out loud.
Other personal favourites are A history of Rock and Fuggy Fuggy 1.
Enjoy:)

Just a glimpse of the beauty

I just had to post some pictures from the Ice show...
Ain't it amazing?!

One amazing week in one post

Well, I have been a bit lazy this week in blogging.But I will try to sum it up in one post.
It has been quite a strange week for me - without a proper desire to work- i guess there are times like that that you can heardly concentrate. Yet, seems it was good in terms of my job - as I understood from my boss my salary is rising (just a bit:P) and this - in a way - means they are satisfied with my work. I also understood that in future I will have to write extensively in the i-net isssue and keep a real estate blog. Seems like a great challenge to me, so I am gonna give it a try. I was a bit disappointed with some stuff happening in the office, but, as I talked to friends they all told me that it is like that everywhere...
But, my word was not for work though.

Social life:) This week seems to be quite full, compared to previous one. And really nice.

On tuesday, I went to a very pleasant Cuban night in one new place - Tea house. It was like a dream come true - Cuban music (not only salsa),Cuban food ( i ate ham with caramel and pineapple:) ) and ...of course RUM! No pics of course, I was too busy to enjoy!Just one, made by my collegue - to give u an idea of what the place feels like.
Then, to skip the working week ...friday night was an experience - we went with a friends to eat Chineese. I once again thought how much I love the Chineese people for that wonderful food:)After, we moved to a place that I cannot call exactly a bar, as it is a bit too underground. It is called "Hambara" (something like a "Barn)and it lit only by candles. I met some people I haven't seen for a long time.And we had a few nice drinks and talks.


Later, we moved to a disco - "Alcohol". It was cool, though crowded and the music was strange - too much techno.However - we really had a good time there as well.
Saturday was tres legere - again walking around, shopping, eating sweet stuf ...mmm:)
And today - a wonderful ending of the week. I went to drink coffee at one of my favourate places - ONDA. Met a friend there,whom I thought gone abroad.
The evening was full of beauty, as we went to watch the Bulgarian ice-skating champions - Albena Denkova and Maxim Stavisky. They were marvelous!So much beauty and grace...it was as if I was in another world. Besides them there were some other couples - an Italian one (these guys, I can bet, were born on ice!), a Russsian one (he was swinging the girl in such a dangerous way...I couldn't watch), an Ukrainian one ( they did amazing acrobatics, I have never imagined that someone can balance on ice like that). There were also some other Bulgarian skater - they were also pretty talented. And two funny French guys. One of them danced pretending to be a 3-year old girl.He had this pink ballet skirt - so funny:)
Of course, my camer was not good enough to make proper pictures, but soon I hope to receive some from friends I was with. But just if you have some time...and to give you a very little idea of the experience I had - see Albena and Maxim perform their free dance at the 2006 olympics. Enjoy!
And have an inspired week, full of beauty:)

La vie en rose...or some reasons for me to be happy

No, I am not in love, as supposed by the Edith Piaf lyrics :)
But I have some reasons to be happy:
-I have a french exam tomorrow. Don't ask.Not so much prepared as I should be. Yet I am not giving up the French, not because everyone is mocking me "what is that special interest in French" and "are you studying oral French only":)

- After the exam I might go to a "Cuban night" at a very nice bar - tea house. I heard some interesting things about the event. Will put some pics on flikr if I go:)



- On sunday - I have a ticket for the Ice-skating show by the Bulgarian star-couple - Albena Denkova and Maxim Stavinski. They just came back with a bronze medal from the European championship ( I heard it was not a very fair decision for the Russians to win the silver, but I would rather not comment, as I really do not understand the criteria and besides - haven't watched the competition). I cannot wait to see the show - promises to be really beautiful.

- There is an exhibition of Leaonardo Da Vinci's works - presenting him not as an artis,but as a scientist. I will find some time and visit it.

And...well, it seems finally the winter is here. The cold wind is blowing. No snow yet:(I hope it will soon come, though my shoes just let me down yesterday:)

Memorable print ads :)

My Saturday experience

Saturday was quite a nice experience.
At first I woke up with a bit of an anxiety, as I had to meet with Cveti for the financial documents of the previous MC term. Financial stuff always makes me feel uneasy, as everything I do not understand very well...I guess it's normal, anyway:)
It turned out to be a nice meeting (at least for me) - Cveti calmed me down and I felt that at least someone knows what is going on more profoundly than me.
After that I went to see Sevi and we had lunch together:)
Then, I went with Peca to the National Gallery to see the Exhibition of Ivan Murkvichka paintings (150 years since he was born).
It was really marvelous!
I saw pictures I have seen as a child in my history books and I never imagined I would see them for real.
Some of them were so good that tears started coming to my eyes - so great was the gift of the master, that the portraits I saw were like real, living people!
And, as I was walking through the Gallery halls (it has once been King's residence) I was wondering how was it arranged, what was the furniture when people were living there in the beginning of 20th sentury...
After this wonderful experience we went to drink a cocktail in Toba:co ( which is just behind the gallery) and then - for a little walk in my favourite streets in the central part.
...then - coffee at Onda...
Peca had bought me a birthday present - a purple scarf:)
In the evening - we went out for a beer with Drago, Stassy and some Canadian guy that Drago met in Croatia. Some more people came and we went to a nice underground place, called "Hambara".
Then - Sevi kidnapped me to some very strange "private party" which took place in a wonderful patio at "Tzar Samuil" street.
It was lit only by candles...And the stars...
Some AIESEC alumni were gathered there, drinking Russian vodka with caviar and discussing "low-profile" and "high-profile" societies...
Then, we decided to go to the birthday party of some girl I have never met - she had been in AIESEC as well (mafia:))...
We went to EXIT disco. I felt so bored by discos...but we had a little bit of dancing...
At the end Luzmita had a bit of a "polite conversation" with the guards ( every second word was "mutra" - meaning a very dumb, criminal guy)and we left.
So that was it...my nice Saturday:)