FINAL FRONTIER OOOM TOUR BLOG #31.......

ISTANBUL: THE NEW ANCIENT CITY AT THE END OF THE OOOM DREAM TOUR....A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....BAZAAR, FELINES, ANCIENT MOSQUES & MOSAICS, WILD STREET & NIGHT LIFE, UNDERGROUND CISTERN BASILICA, FEASTS, PASSION, POMEGRANATE JUICE & MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER DREAM OF IN AN URBAN SPIRITUAL HEADQUARTERS ....we could almost stop here.... but impossible. the man matt & his camera feasted on the unbelievable and unstoppable scenes that unfold around every corner. THE ISTANBUL FOUNDATION FOR CULTURE & ARTS were the most gracious hosts a team of people could ever hope for. an impressive institution in the heart of the TUNEL district, this foundation hosts local and international arts of all kind, and we were lucky enough to be part of the program. we were assigned two perfect dream like hosts to guide our enthusiastic wide eyed OOOM team around day and night activities... introducing, honoring and thanking our hosts: ZEKI AND AIDAwe asked questions and favors for over 48 hours of heaven... like any tourists we wanted to see the most famous of the mosques Sophia & Blue Mosques, the mysterious Cisterns with upside down Madussa head and the Palace Museum .... here's a slice of what we sawafter the ancient mysteries were visited, the day unravelled into the streets towards the grand bazaar. as if to push my heart into its final longing and withdraw of my felines waiting for me at home 48 hours way.... there were the FELINES OF ISTANBUL (thanks for the book!!!), not the mention the dogs, which will live on a canine lovers blog somewhere one day (will?) ....and the "children" and endless hallways and stuff of the grand bazaar bazaar...he barely had time to jump in the air for the ritual of jump split, but he did. the rest of the time was devouring the streets, et voila...MATT'S FEAST ON ISTANBUL STREETS: smell the Raki and split dive in...THEN THERE WAS THE SHOW.... the music as our magic carpet ride to turkey.... and our SPECIAL VIKING GUEST! BLACKJAZZ ANYONE? JORGEN MUNKEBY, MASTER SAXER, FRIEND & VISIONARY took up our invitation to join us for the weekend. SHINING played istanbul a couple of years ago at club babylon, and left the city, as we have, with a special feeling for it. we always have room for jorgen on stage with us, so this weekend was a perfect final show of 2010 and encore for all.the weekend was as magical as we dreamt it would be... to share it with friends and musical peers was PURE HEAVEN HEAVEN HEAVEN ... i can barely stop... this tour, this weekend, this team, this life are pure bliss heaven on earth. thank you to all who took part of this chapter with me. i am in love with life and refreshed after a long leave of hibernation and recreation. i am alive in the outside world and back from the underworld. ancient cultures helped me get here, swelling deep inside. isis the feline and the goddess helped poke me awake along the way. i have visited beautiful places this past year, that have meant more than any trips i've ever taken before. this year was the year of drinking the fruits of my deepest labor. feels so much better when it goes directly from my bloody fire heart to yours. thank you for receiving. i will be back again and again and hopefully EGYPT (and south america!) for a first time... if i play my desire deck cards right.LOVE LOVE LOVExMAdMx