Hy guys, it’s festival season 🌈

So, because I spoke a lot in English – and Italian, since I’ve been a bit less than a week in the beautiful valley of Lostallo ⛰ – this article is in English and I know, that at least one of you speaks English 🙂 My English is not fluent, so be patient ☮️

I will share with you some pictures and insights of one of the best holidays I’ve ever had – why? Because I also care a lot about personal growth and a festival is just a good place to be confronted with people from all over the world and with yourself 🤗

How it all started: For me, pretty easy. By train from Zurich HB to Bellinzona through the Gotthard Tunnel. I had an interesting conversation with a guy from Israel (he was from Tel Aviv) and the whole train was already in a happy festival vibe 💃🏽

Unfortunately, the first days of Shankra, it was raining, raining, raining. And camping not so fun. And: also a part from the mountain came down and one stage therefore wasn’t accessible for dancing.

Something I didn’t like: I’ve rented a tent. Which sounds really comfy. But honestly, you don’t get all the free camping vibes. It feels more like checking in a hotel. Which in fact, it is, because you pay for your tent and your place is surveilled:

I know, for all camping lovers – and honestly, also for me, even if I’m lazy: It’s the night mare for all who love camping. Uniform tents, all in a row… Luckily, my neighbour showed me how to built up my very easy tent, so for the next festival I will get all the free spirited festival vibes…

Shankra without Toitoi is like… I don’t know. What matters, is, that the colorfoul toilets matter. And are super clean, by the way.

You see, how foggy it got in the valley… but looking quite good, honestly.

Next to the festival location there is a river and some other really nice spots.

One of the main dance floors

So, and now to my insights:

1. It was my second Shankra and I didn’t go with a group of friends, unlike the first time. Which on one hand can be super sad: You miss the feeling of hanging around with your crew. It’s a safe space (ideally). On the other hand, alone, you speak way more with strangers and catch up all the different vibes and people surrounding you. I really met some interesting people: festival guests but also people who worked at the food tents or sold bracelets or clothes at one of the many markets. A good way I figured out to meet people was during the way to Shankra, in the train and than later on in the Shuttle Bus from Bellinzona to Lostallo. And of course, you also easily meet people who are camping around you. But: Of course, going alone to a festival takes more effort. You don’t have the emotional group support. And I also had to hear some surprised and negative comments from people at the festival or at home, that they thought it was courageous or kind of strange, that I went alone there… an other way, of going alone at the festival and still be part of a group, would be volunteering at one of the many programs, there is also a children’s village, for example. If I will still be going alone to Shankra next year, I will defenitively consider this, since I’m also a person who likes to have a look behind the curtains and see how things are organised… Looking back, I should have found some people to regularly hang out with, but sometimes I’m just weird and rather alone, than with people I don’t know well, but then, on the other side, I’m complaining, that I’m all alone… well, I’ve figured out that this is a super strange behaviour of mine and that I need to change this. It was only the beginning of a row of festivals.
2. Of course, if you go alone there, almost in your thirties… well, someone will madly fall in love with you and the same thing will happen to you – just with someone else. The very flattering picture of me for example: well, someone fell in love with my at first sight (I never thought, this would happen, but at a festival, a lot of strange things happen). Unfortunately for the very kind guy, I had to disappoint him – I just wasn’t into him. But who knows – after the festival, there are a lot of people who hope to find their sweetheart they lost at one festival, at the next. I also figured out, that some of them try to find their lost loves on social media and do posts about it. I too had immidiately a crush on a guy that just wasn’t into me. I’m used to it, being a veteran of unreciprocated feelings (you get addicted to it, by the way), but the whole festival then of course had a more melancholic touch to it. There is a high pressure, to just have fun, and that’s why so many people just break down there and cry. Seriously. I mean, of course, probably there are also just the easy-going extroverts there, who have fun all the time, but honestly, a festival is challenging and breakdowns pretty normal.¨
3. I didn’t take the things with me that are very important for me at home: some nutritional minerals. A book to read. Something to write. I feel, these things can be very useful, especially, if you are alone and emotionally need to support yourself with things that are good for you. Ironically, I know, the next time, I’ll be taking all those things with me, I won’t be needing them. It’s always like that.

With so many festivals going on, I’d like to hear about your experiences as well.

Keep having a nice summer!