Head in the clouds

I have finally managed to make the trip of my dreams...that is in the mountains, hiking and backpacking in the heart of nature, exploring the genuine beauty of the Parang Mountains. The Peak Parangul Mare is 2519 m tall (I just had to boast about our conquest). We have all slept in tents, carried our little homes through the day in our backpacks and each night found a different friendly place to set our camp. The landscapes were beyond words...unexploited, exciting, wild, yet calming and most of all intriguing, cause you couldn't know when the mountains could turn from friend to foe. We had our little adventures like not being able to find a place to set our tents, while outside was getting darker, or not knowing where we were on the map...not to mention the fact that we were running out of water while we were on the pick of the mountain. To sum up, the trip was hard, a bit adventurous and at times scary but it was exactly what I have wished for.
One thing I've realized during this trek is that life up there is harsh, the weather is moody the slopes are steep, the temperature is low and the air is wet. Still the mountains are outstanding, breathtaking...and it's worth all the effort to catch a glimpse of that beauty. After all, the good things are hard to get and this is the beauty of aiming high. Up there, at the altitude of our dreams everything gets more complicated. We do get to enjoy the beauty of being close to our desires, still we always have to maintain our concentration in order to achieve a balance. There's no stop button, there's just us and the unpredictable. The mountain can be friend, but also foe...and so are our dreams. They may bring us happiness or sorrow while we continue our trek.
The mountains and our purposes both offer marvelous scenery, yet require unceasing endeavor. Life up there is beautiful, but just as hard. However, since the satisfaction brought by a certain thing is directly proportional to the amount of effort we have put into it why shouldn't we aim high, keep our heads at the altitude of our dreams and stop complaining?


Goldfrapp - Clowns

Old firends, new friends and...no-matter-what friends

Four days ago I turned 20. The passing of the years has always frightened me and I used to think that 18, 19 are the best possible years to be. However, I came to realize that growing up is not so bad, or less fun, but a journey that becomes more and more exciting. I am now stronger, more confident and more natural than when I was 18, an age which I used to refer to as the best. Self-confidence is something which I have gradually built and now I never feel that being myself means running a risk. Failure doesn't defeat me any more and success doesn't shock me as it used to. Nor am I scared of expressing myself and of taking risks. Life has its inner balance, it's just a row of ups and downs and I am eager to take advantage of each and every opportunity to learn something more.
It's good being 20, but I owe that to my friends as well. I have organized a party at my place and my friends made it the best birthday of my life. It's a soothing feeling to know that old friends are still there for you, even if you don't spent as much time with them. On the other hand, it feels nice to see that your new friends think of you and appreciate you. I feel like I have two lives: the one from home, which is continuation of high school,of the past and the one from Bucharest, which implies new people, new possibilities, the future. I love both of them, only time can tell how they will merge and when I won't have the feeling that I am somehow divided.
And there are some things that transcend both lives. These are the friends that no matter what new trouble you get yourself into, or what past mistakes you repeat, remain there by your side without judging you. These things are the true friendships, these things are the connections that you would like to keep, the connections that you feel lucky for...

Patrick Wolf - Wind in the Wires (not very found of the video, but love the song)

The thrill of a live concert

I had been waiting almost the whole year for this event and it finally happened. Much better and cheaper then I had expected. I am talking about BestFest, the festival which brings together every year some of the musicians that I like most. Two years ago I was there for Hooverphonic, last year I was longing for Kaiser Chiefs, but couldn't attend the concert, as I was learning for my college entrance exam. Fortunately, this year I had my revenge: I volunteered for BestFest and I enjoyed two memorable days of concerts for free.
The two concerts that I really wanted to see were the ones of Patrice and Franz Ferdinand, and my wish did come true. Patrice was on the first day of the festival and I had a reward ticket for it. I loved the performance, which was enhanced by the solidarity between music and nature :)), as it started pouring right during the song called Soulstorm. Of course I got dripping wet, but this was even more fun.
The other concert that I would like to talk more about is Franz Ferdinand. I was a volunteer that day and because I worked at ticketing I was very busy. However, I did get a permission and found someone to replace me during the concert. The performance managed to rise above all my expectations. I wasn't a true FF fan, but now I am. The beautiful songs, the lyrics, the energetic crowd and the passion you could see on their faces while performing were all the ingredients of an outsanding and unforgettable concert. Not to mention that they are all true showmen- they have danced and jumped all over the stage, not forgetting even for a second to communicate with the public. I think FF is the best concert I have ever attended, I had more fun than at a System of a Down concert, which used to be my favourite.
Today's song is a live capture from the FF concert, and it's my favourite FF song. It's about a break-up and I will post the lyrics, as they are filled with meanings and emotions. Please enjoy this glimpse of one memorable concert.

Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away (live at BestFest)

I swapped my innocence for pride
Crushed the end within my stride
Said I'm strong now I know that I'm a leaver
I love the sound of you walking away, you walking away
Mascara bleeds a blackened tear, oh
And I am cold, yes, I'm cold
But not as cold as you are
I love the sound of you walking away, you walking away
I love the sound of you walking away, walking away, hey hey

Why don't you walk away?
Why don't you walk away?

Why don't you walk away?
No buildings will fall down
Won't you walk away
No quake will split the ground
Why don't you walk away
The sun won't swallow the sky
Why don't you walk away?
Statues will not cry

Don't you walk away
Why don't you walk away?
Why don't you walk away?
Why don't you walk away?

I cannot turn to see those eyes
As apologies may rise
I must be strong and stay an unbeliever
And love the sound of you walking away, you walking away
Mascara bleeds into my eye, oh
And I'm not cold, I am old
At least as old as you are

I hear the sound of you walking away,you walking away
I hear the sound of you walking away, walking away hey hey
And as you walk away
Oh, as you walk away

And as you walk away
My headstone crumbles down
As you walk away
The Hollywood winds will howl
As you walk away
The Kremlin's falling
As you walk away
Radio Four is static

The stab of stiletto
On a silent night
Stalin smiles and Hitler laughs
Churchill claps Mao Zedong on the back