[TEDxCapeTown] Speaker profile: Marek Dziembowski

Solar eclipse-chaser Marek Dziembowski lets us in to his experience at TEDxCapeTown this year.

Tell us more about your initiative and how you got involved?

Dziembowski: I was drawn to my first solar eclipse by simple curiosity, and the fact that there was a huge music festival attached to the event. My eclipse-chasing journeys began in 1999 when I experienced my first total solar eclipse on 11 August along with 15,000 freaks at Dadpuszta, Ozora in Hungary. This event, Solipse 99, spawned the legendary annual Ozora festival, which attracts 20,000 people to party on in the fields touched by that special eclipse.

A good friend from Cape Town and I had been talking about going up to the first major "Solipse festival" in Europe for quite some time, but he eventually conceded sadly that the idea was just a dreamy fantasy - no time, no money. I was disheartened. (He did, however, make it up later by joining me on my third eclipse journey a few years later).

I was a musicology student at the time, and while working on a paper on a Sunday evening, happened to be listening to a mini-disc recording a DJ friend had given me after a crazy party the previous evening. It was the first release called "Are you Shpongled?" Needless to say I struggled to stay focused on my assignment while thoughts of the Hungary Solipse lazily floated through my mind, urged on by the sweet new music. "Wow," I thought, "This music is awesome. What is it?" I leaned over to check the MD display and almost fell off my chair when "And the day turned to Night" came scrolling into view on the one line LCD display. I took the cue. Picked up the analogue phone and dialed my girlfriend Marilie and said "It's late I know. Sorry, but listen - get your bags packed we're going to Hungary for the eclipse next week! No I don't know how we'll get flights, money, time off work, or visas. Yes, I know its in 10 days time... don't worry - we're going."

She thought I was mad. But magically, we pulled it off and a week later we were on one of the last smoking flights from Athens to Budapest and our trip was littered with co-incidences. The most striking moments happened before the eclipse totality. As we were walking up a small grass hill for a better vantage point, we bumped into two very close South African friends coming up from the other side. Neither knew the other planned being there at all. The timing was perfect. We looked up and immediately became spell-bound by the 2min 23sec eclipse. As an extra-special treat, after the sun set again, the night sky was washed by continual streaks of blazing light from the passing Leonid meteor shower storm. Truly spectacular!

Incidentally, Raja Ram and Simon Posford wrote that track after witnessing an eclipse in India in 1996, releasing it in 1998 as 'Shpongle'. All thanks to them for spurning me on!

How was the experience giving a TEDx presentation?

Dziembowski: It was incredibly exhilarating and created an inspirational feedback loop for me! Having such a warm and appreciative audience really got me stoked.

What did you enjoy the most from the event?

Dziembowski: The positive response from many individuals approaching me after my presentation to tell me I had given them impetus to go ahead and live their dreams, do that trip, start that adventure, seek that grail. I was stunned by the sheer amount of individuals who's lives I'd touched with my simple tales from under the umbra of the darkened sun. Interacting with the friendly diverse speakers was hugely uplifting for me, too.

What is your interpretation on the theme: Open Access Control

Dziembowski: Combining various aspects of our lives in balance to enable further new possibilities with sufficient energy to attain them!

What innovative or inspirational message will you take home from TEDxCapeTown?

Dziembowski: Stand up and begin your journey now - nobody else will start it on your behalf! Find your inspiration in the world around you, then motivate yourself to achieve your ambitions starting small - take the first step and don't look back.