The Only Dance There Is

VIDEO-Bus Ride From Hell Part 2

2006-12-23T11:30:00.000+07:00

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If you are ever in Varanasi, India and you want to go to Nepal or vice versa, TAKE THE PLANE, the 3 day bus ride from India to Nepal were by far some of the narliest travel experiences we have had. They will break even the most seasoned traveller. I was seriously ill with a stomach virus, drifting in and out of unconsciousness at various states of the trip. Shit, it was horrible.

VIDEO-A stroll through Pokahar

2005-12-25T03:17:00.000+07:00

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This is a short video offering a peak into some of the people I came across in Pokahar, a beautiful town in Nepal, used as a launching pad for treks into the Himalayas. With the mountains providing a backdrop, the town is set around a lake and is one of those places you want to take with you.

VIDEO-Bus Musicians

2005-12-21T11:24:00.000+07:00

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On the bus ride from Pokahar, Nepal to Kathmandu, these two young boys who coudn't have been more than 12 jumped on the bus for 5 minutes and played some very interesting Nepalese folk songs on violin-like instruments. Unfortunatley, the other people on the bus treated them like an annoyance. However, I was enchanted by there playing.

VIDEO-Trekking Anapurna

2005-12-18T10:38:00.000+07:00

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Words can't really do justice to these mountains and neither do images but hopefully I can give you just a fleeting feeling of what it was like to be at 15,000 feet above the cloudline, walking among giants. Unreal...

SLIDESHOW-Hitting the Cloudline, Himalayas

2005-12-16T06:32:00.000+07:00

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We woke up at 5AM at Gurapani and made the hour long hike up to Poon Hill to catch one of the most awe-inspiring views of the Himalayas that you can get, short of being up on Anapurna itself. It was cold, the air was very thin, but we made it up there as the sun broke rose above the horizon. We were amidst the clouds but as the wind swepft the top layer off, we gasped as the peaks of 8 mountians exploded into our sight. It was one of the greatest moments of the trip so far and a feeling we will hold close to us forever. To the left is our trusty guide Lok.

Himalayan Stream of Consciousness

2005-12-13T06:02:00.000+07:00

Lifting the sky, heaven waits, journeys, stars in their own right behold graciousness…Rhododendrons grow, lotus in my hand, tea, warm pants, milk from the buffaloes, funny to the taste, yantras, mantras, sri yastra guide me home, happiness evades me but is always found, losing loss, death impermanence, bring something to your family, a token of love unconditional acceptance support, rosy cheeks, high peaks, wide smiles, innocent eyes that are filled with snow, pulling the Yak, nurturing the valley Himalaya.

SLIDESHOW-Beginning the Anapurna Trek, Nepal

2005-12-09T13:29:00.000+07:00

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I cannot describe the feeling of hiking the Anapurna trail in Nepal, one of the most amazing high altitude treks imaginable through the majestic Himalayas. I have dreamt of the day that the Anapurna mountain range would be within my eye sight...it took 28 years but we are here, and soaking up every minute of it. Our Nepalese porter/guide, Lok, is amazing, a kind soul who takes care of us like we are his children. The scenery is undoubtedly the most beautiful I have ever encountered while backpacking and is lush and green. A huge river creates mamoth waterfalls over huge boulders and a rhodedendrum forest is waiting to bloom. Song ideas are coming fast as we are coming up with soundtracks to suit this awesome landscape.
We have not encountered the Moaist insurgents yet, who have made travel here dangerous for the foreign traveller, until a recent ceasefire was arranged with the government. If it hadn't been for that we would not be in Nepal right now. We expect to encounter them on our way up to Poon Hill, where they collect a $15 "voluntary Tourist Visa" even though it is far from voluntary.

SLIDESHOW-Pokahar, Nepal

2005-12-07T13:31:00.000+07:00

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We left Varanasi thinking we would have a somewhat hard 2 days of train and bus travel to Pokahar, Nepal where we would start the Anapurna trek. Unfortunately, it took 3 days and was some of the worst travel conditions yet, and I was was feeling the sickest I have felt in my life. I picked up yet another stomach bug, and when you are travelling on a rickety bus with chickens in the seat next to you, horns honking non-stop, it can make you wish you were home in a hot bath. However, you cannot, we pressed on, and we finally arrived to the glorious sight of the Anapurna range on the horizon. Unfortunatley, my iPod was stolen from me while I was passed out sick on the bus, but we are both ecstatic to be here. These photos of are our first day in Pokahar, which we love. We are headed out trekking in 2 days, which will give me a little more time to recover. Stay tuned...

VIDEO-Famous On Trains

2005-12-04T05:43:00.000+07:00

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When we travel by train in India, we seem to attract an awful lot of curious attention. If you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a monkey at the Zoo or a famous rock star then hop on board the India Express...

VIDEO-Musical India

2005-12-02T22:44:00.000+07:00

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We laughed as we walked down the narrow streets here as ragas and the drone of the tambura wafted through the air. Varanasi is known as the music capital of India and offers up a smorgasboard of musical perfomances, shops, and lessons for the interested traveller. Every night we checked out a different performace, from the guitar-like sarod, to the sitar, flute, and tabla. We even managed to sneak in some lessons for ourselves in between all the yoga and meditation.

Vipassna

2005-12-02T11:35:00.000+07:00

vipassana: 'insight', is the intuitive light flashing forth and exposing the truth of the impermanency, the suffering and the impersonal and unsubstantial nature of all corporeal and mental phenomena of existence. It is insight-wisdom (vipassan�-pa��) that is the decisive liberating factor in Buddhism, though it has to be developed along with the 2 other trainings in morality and concentration. The culmination of insight practice leads directly to the stages of holiness.

Vipassna is the practice is an art of living which manifests its profound practical value in our lives—lessening and then eliminating the greed, anger, and ignorance that corrupt all relationships, from the family level to international politics. Vipassana spells an end to daydreaming, illusion, fantasy—the mirage of the apparent truth.

Like the sizzling explosion of cold water being thrown on a red-hot stove, the reactions after bringing the mind out of its hedonistic tendencies into the here and now are often dramatic and painful. Yet there is an equally profound feeling of release from tensions and complexes that have for so long held sway in the depths of the unconscious mind.

SLIDESHOW-River of Life and Death

2005-11-30T00:25:00.000+07:00

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Waking up before dawn to take a rowboat along the Ganges' bathing, burning, and ritual ghats was a surreal experience to say the least.To be around people with such devotion, and belief in ceremony and ritual was very moving as Americans in general are so far removed from these things in their daily lives.
I have kept busy with a steady stream of music, yoga, and meditation classes. I could not imagine a better place to partake in this as this city has been a spiritual learning center for thousands of years. When I do my breathing exercises, I can feel my soul tapping into the the millions of other souls who have reached for the light as I do.

Stream of Consciousness

2005-11-27T04:07:00.000+07:00

Flies, coconut, trap doors, seeing myself through time in a daydream, taking photos in life is but a unexpected but highly contagious…fear, lust, sex, death, a trip in a starry night, camel lips, sutras, yantras, bindis and a mago lassi for me and you, girls who talk to much, a sore heart and aching back, love to open up to the higher divine, cowshit mixes with my salty feet, horns pierce my head, can’t you shut up!@ cripples, beggars, I have nothing for you but my compassion, we are one in an ocean of nothing, Buddha like joy emanate from me please, I’m running low, running scared, I don’t want this to end, this creative force within, don’t give up on me now, I’ve come this far, lotus light, let it be captured, let it be free in my heart…please let me let go of her.

VIDEO-Varanasi, Ceremony, Ritual, and Spirit

2005-11-25T03:45:00.000+07:00

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Once you step outside of your guesthouse in Varanasi, you enter a world like no other you have experienced. Holy people, holy rituals, holy water, and holy spirits...

SLIDESHOW-Varanasi...City of Shiva

2005-11-24T02:28:00.000+07:00

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Varanasi…the holy city of shiva, holiest in all of India, sitting along the banks of the Ganges, where life and death coexist harmoniously. It is one of the world’s oldest cities dating back to the 6th century AD. It is a “crossing place” that allows devotees to access the divine and enable Gods and Goddesses to come down to earth. A Hindu who dies here, attains instant (moksha) or escape from the cycle of life and death. Because of this, many sick and elderly come here to live our their final days.
At first arrival, Varanasi seems like a God-forsaken and even God-less city, but if you give it a chance, it will slowly seduce you and reveal its soul to you. It truly is filthy, it is nearly impossible to walk 6 steps without walking in cow shit, and red paan (after-meal tobacco chew) stains cover most of the walls. The smell of the place is quite hard on the nose and you are offered charas (hash) every 5 minutes and silk and saris every 2, not to mention the car horns that incessantly blow all the time in your face. The first couple of days were quite draining but the characters who inhabit this place and those who make the pilgrimage to bathe in the sacred Ganges, make it all worthwhile. Ironically, the Ganges is one of the dirtiest, if not the dirtiest, river in the world, plagued by chemical pollutants, dead bodies, garbage, and poo poo. It is odd that this river that the Indian people revere with such passion, gets physical respect, but that is one of the many “why do they do that” things that are abound in India. Along the 7km stretch in Varansi, where there are over 26 bathing and “burning” ghats, over 30 sewers discharge into the river. The pilgrims and locals are literally washing in their own shit. Water safe for bathing should contain less that 500 faecal coliform bacteria per 100ml (a small glass of water) of water, the Ganges contains over 1.5 million!!! However, by far the worst problem affecting the river is the chemical waste that is discharged into the river.
Yesterday, we visited the burning ghat, where bodies are cremated and then released into the river. It was one of the most intense things I have ever seen as the bodies were very visible on top of these beds of wood and you could see and smell the flesh and organs burning right in front of you. It is the most auspicious place for a a Hindu to be cremated as the fire is supposedly lit from the same fire that Shiva’s wife Parvati made. The wood is carefully measured weighed out as they know exactly how much it will take to incinerate a body. Wood such as sandalwood and mango wood is more expensive and the uppercaste are usually cremated with that in a separate area cordoned off as to be separated from the lower caste Hindi’s.
One of the most fascinating things to watch here are the morning Puja rituals and evening time Ganga Aarti rituals. At dawn, thousands of people come to the river to perform prayers and songs to the river. The mellow morning light gives the river a mystic glow as Sadhus perform elaborate rituals waist deep in the water appearing from a distance to be fantastical creatures from another world. At sunset, Ganga Aarti is performed where thousands of floating candles, flowers, and food are released into the river and young priests oversee the affair with an elaborate ceremony involving lots of fire and incense. To see people with such reverance for ceremony and ritual is truly inspiring to me even though most of the time I understand none of it. I have enjoyed just sitting and watching the parade of people and plays go by me as I try to take it all in.
Seeing that Rishikesh did not live up to our expectations, we will be doing extensive yoga and meditation classes here as well as music lessons as Varanasi is the musical capital of Northern India. Breathe with me...

Varanasi Awaits

2005-11-23T02:30:00.000+07:00

We left behind the explosions of firecrackers at midnight and had to overpay greatly to find anyone who would take us to the train station in Ajmer, 30 minutes away on this final night of Dewali. Our ears still ringing and my stomach still reeling from the horrible and debilitating stomach illness I have been in bed the past 3 days recovering from, we boarded our train for what may be the hardest and most intense time for us on this trip so far.
Varanasi, the holiest city in India, is also the most talked about among travellers' circles. Some hate the crowded and dirty streets while others are captured by the holy vibes emanating off of the river and the ceremonies performed there at dawn and at sunset. Sadhus from all over India pilgrimage to bathe in the holy waters as do thieves to prey upon the google-eyed travellers. We have been told to watch our backs andexpectations we have and let the city unfold before us...expect the unexpected, fascination abounds. be aware of the many scams that fill the city. We are trying to dissolve any preconceptions and expectations we have and let the city unfold before us...expect the unexpected, fascination abounds.

VIDEO-Indian Dreams

2005-11-21T03:37:00.000+07:00

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India...a paradox, an enigma, loving it, hating it, repulsion, fascination, there is no other place in the world I would rather be than right here, right now.

VIDEO-Pakistani Rebel Attack on Film!!

2005-11-19T11:19:00.000+07:00

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Sorry, it has been so long, but we have just gotten out of Pushkar, Rajastan with our lives after being in the middle of a Pakistani Rebel attack.
You may have already heard about it on CNN, but we think this may be some of the first footage of it. We are so glad to be alive!!

Chai...

2005-11-18T05:10:00.000+07:00

Oh, Chai on trains. Another Journey, a musical ‘chai garam chai’ rings through your ears as the man carrying the vat of chai walk by, droning ‘chai garam chai’. Thoughts are triggered with the very first sip, its warmth runs through your senses. The flavour changes. From Station to station. Assam tea. Nilgiri tea. Darjeeling tea…yet the essence of drinking tea from that rough clay earthen cup follows you from one station to another.
A ‘chai garam chai’ interrupts your daydreaming. Sultanpur. The signal turns green. Gaziabad. Delhi. The train picks up speed. The electric wires race with the train. You wonder who will win. You chuckle. Puri sabki and a cup of tea to go with it. “Ek Chai?” you nod. New friends, new stations…another sip…ahhh chai
-Tea Board of India(-:

SLIDESHOW-Pushkar...Colors of the Desert

2005-11-16T12:23:00.000+07:00

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What first hits you when you arrive in Pushkar, Rajastan is not the smell of the cow shit everywhere, but the vibrant colors that shoot off of the cool desert background in the form of sari's, pastel painted walls, and jewelry. For some reason, the women in Rajastan are into bright colors and it is beautiful...
Pushkar is the town of the God Brahma. It is believed that Lord Brahma set out on a quest for a tranquil spot to perfom a yagna (ceremonial sacrifice) when a lotus fell from his hand. A lake sprang forth from the ground at the spot where the lotus fell. The town is centered around this holy lake and pandas (Brahmin priests) some real, some fake coerse you into perfoming elaborate ceremonies on the edge of the lake for your family members and then demanding ridiculous amounts of money for it. It is also the home of the only Brahmin temple in the world.
The town is dusty and laid back and a perfect place to chill out, drink a lassi and watch the colorful parade of people and camels stroll by. Unfortunately, I got a very bad stomach virus on our way there, probably from a dirty train station samosa, and unfortunately spent most of my time in bed wrecked.

VIDEO-Finding the hidden Beatles ashram

2005-11-14T17:43:00.000+07:00

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Ever since the 4 Beatles came to Rishikesh in the spring of 1968 to study transcendental meditation with the Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi, Rishikesh has been a mecca for westerners on the spritual path. I was fascinated to visit the ashram in which they had stayed knowing that they had written many of the songs on the White Album while there and had seen film footage of the trip. When I arrived, I was told the ashram had been closed by the Indian government years ago, due to tax reasons but I could pay a guard who was stationed there 10 rupees to get it. I spoke with some locals and made my way down the banks of the river to try and find the ashram, with sadhus pointing me in the right direction, I found it, dodged the monkeys guarding the outside, payed the guard and got inside. It was a beautiful day and I had the entire place to myself. It was completley overgrown with shrubbery and had a very mystical quality about it. Small transcendental meditation domes were abound everywhere and I managed to find the two large ones on top of the main building where John Lennon wrote "Across the Universe". Come with me...

New Boards of Canada!!!

2005-11-13T19:04:00.000+07:00

Wow, the wait is over, I have to share with all of you my love for Boards of Canada. They have a new album, the Campfire Headphase, and if any of you have it, please let me know how it is. I have used quite a few Boards of Canada songs as music for our slideshows so if you havn't heard them before you probably have. Their music touches me like only a few artists do, it is surreal, nostaligic, yearning, and intense, everything I hope our music will be.

Listen to their new song Chromakey Dreamcoast by CLICKING HERE

VIDEO-Land of Enlightenment??

2005-11-13T17:32:00.000+07:00

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I had a lot of expectations for Rishikesh, the “yoga capital of the world”. Arriving early one brisk morning at dawn, we crossed the pedestrian bridge over the Ganges river as a heavy mist/smog settled on the water. There are many ashrams in Rishikesh and we were excited to try yoga and meditation classes at some and pick where we would set up camp for the next 2 weeks. This is the same place where the Beatles spent two months post-Sergeant Peppers to delve into their spirituality and write songs for what would become the White Album. Since then, Rishikesh has become a mecca for foreigners. Being on the banks of the holy Ganges, it also attracts a large amount of sadhus, beggars, and pilgrims. The caves in the hills that overlook the town are filled with baba’s and others seeking enlightenment and make for a very interesting hike. However, upon taking our initial stroll through town, the reality of the situation dawned on us. This was not the beautifully idyllic place, where you could “sip ayurevedic tea, while taking in the good vibes” as Lonely Planet had put it. It was a cow shit infested concrete ghetto. The ashrams felt like prisons and were surrounded by imposing walls and fences. The grounds inside were not conducive to calming the mind, often filled with cheap and ugly plaster statues of the Hindu deities. The rooms in San Quentin could put the rooms in these ashrams to shame, as they were horribly depressing and dirty. I guess we had really envisioned an inspiring place like some places I have visited in California like Esalen, but this was not the case. We took some yoga classes and were not impressed by the teachers. I have had better yoga classes at the YMCA in Los Angeles and this is supposed to be the yoga capital of the world. It became apparent that our time here would not be as long as expected and we would have to get our yoga and meditation fix in Varanasi, because staying at a place like this for 2 weeks after being in Mcleod Ganj, one of the highlights of our trip so far, was not appealing.
I mustn’t discredit the place entirely though, because I have met some people here who are enjoying the place and the yoga, but it was not for us. The highlight of the trip for me though was getting into the defunct and derelict ashram of the Maharishi, where the Beatles stayed. You can see the video for that in its own entry that I will post soon. It all worked out well though, because it freed up time for us to head west to the desert of Rajastan, which was not on our itinerary initially, as well as adding some days to our trip to Nepal.

SLIDESHOW-Rishikesh

2005-11-12T15:58:00.000+07:00

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After a hellacious overnight 12 hour bus ride from hell through the foothills of the Himalayas from Mcleod Ganj in which we did not sleep, we arrived to the fog covered Ganges and a sleeping Rishikesh. We set out to find an ashram in which we could devote the next 10 days to yoga and meditation...

VIDEO-Free Tibet

2005-11-10T14:53:00.000+07:00

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Getting the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak yesterday with such a small audience was a profoundly moving experience. He is such a spritual and physical symbol of hope for all the Tibetans here and is extraordinarily intelligient. He often "dumbs down" his speeches for mass accesibility in America but while talking to Tibetans, his talks are often very deep and hard for westerners to follow. His knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism is unsurpassed and he leads the initiation into the Kalachakra, the highest level of Buddhism, though it is accesible to anyone. Over 12 days he leads the initiates through an intricate three dimensional mandala which houses 722 deities. He is an inspiring individual to say the least and laughs come readily.
I have spent the past few days strolling around the town, talking with the monks and Tibetan refugees who have all, every single one of them, made the dangerous and arduous escape over the Himalayas from their Chinese occupied homeland to safety in India. Talking with all these beautiful people who have struggled so hard so they can preserve their culture and identity has really made this issue personal to me. I made friends with a Tibetan massage therapist named Gampo who made the journey 7 years ago. He was the only one in his family to have done so and therefore is away from his Mom and Dad and his 6 brothers. He could not stand the repression involved with living there and decided he had to leave. He has not seen his family since, but his Mom and Dad will make the journey here in February to visit him for 3 months before they return to Tibet, it will most likely be the last time he sees them…
There are thousands of stories like Gompos all over Mcleod Ganj/Dharmasala, India, the community where the Tibetan Government in exile, the Dalai Lama, and the thousands of Tibetan exiles have chosen to call home since 1959 when China invaded Tibet, and began its destruction and assimilation of the Tibetan culture. Yet these people, in large part due to their faith in Buddhism and the peaceful and compassionate leadership of the Dalai Lama have remained hopeful, forgiving, and happy despite the fact that over 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed by the Chinese. It seems ironically appropriate that we kill off the people who have been studying the human mind and consciousness for thousands of year and have the potential to unlock so many secrets about ourselves and ways of knowing if we would only let them.
I had the opportunity to speak with some Nuns who were burned by fire by the Chinese and they had no ill will or anger towards their aggressors, in fact they had compassion. They realize at the core level that we are all one, that they are not their bodies, that they are their spirits which are present in everything. This way of living struck me very deeply and has given me examples to live by.

If you would like to learn more about the Tibet issue or how you can help visit Free Tibet.org

SLIDESHOW- Beautiful People

2005-11-08T14:44:00.000+07:00

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I am growing faster than I ever could have dreamed…what a place to be, high in the mountains, the mountains, my home away from home. Crisp air, warm Tibetan smiles, and hope and love surround me. What a place to spend my 28th birthday!!!! We have been staying at Kunga guesthouse in a room with an inspiring view over Mcleod Ganj and Dharamasala, the owner told us that when Richard Gere was here to study Tibetan Buddhism, he stayed in this room. Well, if its good enough for Richard Gere, its good enough for me.
The people here are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Their skin is deep and shows evidence of the time spent high in the mountains close to the sun, their eyes are rich with experience only gained by enormous faith and struggle, their demeanor soft and subtle.
There is so much to take in, the impressive artwork and mandalas that fill many of the shops here, the Tibetan chanting and horns that wake you in the morning, the monks in their daily practices of lively debate, and the views of the Himalayas which I have been awaiting for years. I have taken several walks around the Temple Complex and home of the Dalai Lama, watching Tibetan pilgrims and monks making the clockwise Kora(religious circuit) around the temple swinging their prayer wheels. The food has been great and I have enjoyed many lunches of Momo’s, traditional Tibetan dumplings with ultra spicy red sauce. Even though I have been sick with a nasty cold, the town’s energy has made me forget my aches and pains with a little help from some great Tibetan massages.
The images and deities associated with Tibetan Buddhism are enchanting and fascinating to learn about as they are so ancient in their origins. Several times a year, intricate colored sand Mandalay are painted and then ritually destroyed to practice non-attachment, a key Buddhist principle as attachment only leads to suffering.
I wish I could all transport you here to share this with me. Unfortunatley, I wish that you could go to Tibet to take in these same sights but because of what the Chinese have done, this is the closest to Tibet you will get today, but it is enough for me...Namaste

VIDEO-An Open Mic Night

2005-11-07T15:49:00.000+07:00

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There is a great cafe in Mcleod Ganj which is a part community gathering place and part restaruant. They host political documentaries about Tibet, ex-political prisoners talking about their experiences and open mics. This is a little slice of life and a compilation of an open mic there. Its a great mix of Tibetan and western music, true world community at its finest...

VIDEO-A Tibetan Pilgrimage

2005-11-06T14:32:00.000+07:00

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Tibetans who have escaped Chinese occupied Tibet, make pilgrimages to the Temple Complex which also houses the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, here in Mcleod Ganj. They walk around the complex in a clockwise direction called a KORA, swinging prayer wheels and chanting Om Mane Padme Hum. It was a wonderful way to spend my birthday and to prepare for seeing the Dalai Lama. Walking with these people who had struggled so hard to be able to practice their religion in peace was a humbling experience that I will carry with me forever.

SLIDESHOW-Tibet in Exile

2005-11-05T22:43:00.000+07:00

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Arriving in the small town of Mcleod Ganj/Dharamasala, northern India was like arriving in Tibet. It has been here, since 1959, that the Dalai Lama and the more than 100,000 Tibetans that have followed him have lived to escape persecution from the Chinese since China invaded and took over Tibet. The people have a richness and softness to their faces that I have seen nowhere else. I have a lot to write about that will go up on this blog soon and a lot of photos and video, this is the beginning.

VIDEO-Instrument Shopping in Old Delhi

2005-11-04T22:40:00.000+07:00

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While in Delhi, we headed to the row of music stores near Chowndi Chawk market in Old Delhi to start our search for sitars, tablas, sirongis, and sarods. It was a fun experience as we were often given little impromptu "concerts" by the owners showing off the instruments and their skills. The cost of these instruments is so cheap for us, just a fraction of what they would cost in America the impetus for this trip to begin with. Now we just have to figure out how we are going to get these things home...

VIDEO-Vinyl Shopping in Delhi

2005-11-02T18:26:00.000+07:00

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Some of you know my vinyl record obsession, and when I knew I was going to be going to Delhi, I had to stop at the Meenar Bazaar, a Muslim market where there is an infamous shop, #256 which is known among vinylists as being somewhat of a holy grail. DJ Shadow would love to search through their offsite wherehouse, if he hasn't done so already. I found some rare gems while I was there...

VIDEO-Bicycle Power

2005-10-30T00:00:00.000+07:00

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The streets of Delhi are a madhouse, I have never experienced anything like it before. We navigated the streets on one of the thousands of bicycyle rickshaws that compete for space on the crowded streets with motorcycles, elephants, cars, and auto rickshaws. We have taken several rides and these guys are hardcore, see for yourself...

VIDEO-Arrival in India

2005-10-29T20:17:00.000+07:00

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Here it is, the first video from India. This footage was filmed the first day we were there, what a day it was...enjoy.

SLIDESHOW-India's First Impressions

2005-10-28T17:07:00.000+07:00

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India…what to say, it is beyond words. It is everything we thought India would be and more, we’ve seen it all in just 3 days; snake charmers, lepers, elephants and cows in the streets, ever-present chai stands, dread locked sadhus, pollution infested air, inquisitive looks, ultra-spicy thali’s, garbage filled streets, bustling bazaars, technicolor Hindu posters and statues, and the list goes on and on. It is so raw and in your face the entire time you are out on the street, the only time you get a rest is when you are in your room. I had many ideas and visions of what it would be like, but it is so much more intense when you are actually there living it, standing in the street and surrounded by the vivid detail of it all…If I had not warmed up to it by traveling in Bali, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand for 3 months leading up to it, I could easily see myself being totally overwhelmed by it all and having my first ever panic attack, but it has been alright, in fact I have even been able to enjoy the frantic craziness of it all. We were expecting this and were ready for it.
Arriving in Delhi, it was great to stay with friends from Santa Cruz, Jessa and Mike, instead of having to stay at the dirty guesthouses in Old Delhi. It was calm, cool, clean and after spending our first days exploring Old Delhi it was very grounding to come back to a real apartment
One of the tough things has been the fact that we have been told to be skeptical of everybody that we encounter here as there are so many scams, thieves, and desperate people looking to make money off of unsuspecting tourists. Many of our friends who have been here have told us stories of being ripped off, stolen from, and even drugged. This is an unfortunate reality as we have tried to travel with open hearts and minds, but have had to wizen up and gotten used to watching our backs all the time. The trick will be being careful but not overly paranoid.
The food has been magnificent, it is a vegetarians dream here, and a vegans nightmare. There is barely any meat here, but everything is made with copious amounts of milk, butter, ghee, and sugar, but seeing that neither Malcolm or I are vegan, we have no problems. Sipping on the 3 rupee (10 cent) Chai that is everywhere (even on the buses and trains), and eating the taste bud invigorating 75 cent all you can eat veggie Thali’s has been awesome. Some highlights of our time here so far has been being surrounded by eager Indians wanting to know everything about you (where are you from? How old are you? What do you do? How much do you make? Are you married?), navigating the crowded bazaars, especially the Muslim Mena Bazaar at night where I was able to find a legendary music stall known for its enormous record collection. Also rewarding was visiting the musical instrument stores in Old Delhi, where the Punjabi owners were eager to share with us their skill on the tabla and sitar, and to take us to their warehouses stacked to the ceiling with instruments. Some of the unpleasantries have included the noise pollution, Indians have no qualms about using there horns and literally beep their horns every 5 seconds or more, it is headache inducing and these people are surely on their way to losing their hearing. We spoke to one man who said he has to replace his horn 3-4 times a year!!!! I have never heard of anyone in America having to ever replace their horn. The garbage and pollution is also very intense, my allergies have been acting up due to the amount of dust and fumes in the air. Garbage cans don’t exist here, if so, I haven’t seen them so garbage is everywhere. Cleanliness does not seem to be of a high priority here, which is funny because when we were in Thailand, we were always the dirty smelly foreigners as the Thai are obsessed with being clean, however, here we stink and we are the cleanest around, that’s cool though because we will save money on laundry now that we don’t need to be concerned about getting funny looks for our stank or the spots on our shirts. Personal space is also different here, there are no lines, you just crowd around wherever you need to get to and whoever gets to the front first is the man who gets served, when you are in a line, the person behind you will be pushing and leaning on you even though you can’t go anywhere. These have been annoyances that we will have to get used to, but they are far outweighed by the multitude of offerings India has for us. We are now on our way to Dharamasala/Mcleod Ganj in the foothills of the Himalayas, home of the Tibetans in exile and his holiness the Dalai Lama. We are looking forward to the cold weather as we have been in 80-95 degree heat for the past 3 months and are ready for a change. Until then…

Flight To Delhi, thoughts on Bangladesh

2005-10-26T00:10:00.000+07:00

I am on the flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Delhi, India. I am filled with an anxiousness that I think is a combination of butterflies and a small stomach bug. Just seeing the streets of Dhaka from a bus window when we went from the airport to the hotel was an eye opening experience. Bicycle Ricwallas (bicycle powered taxis) filled the streets and all the trucks on the road were hand painted with brightly colors and murals. The airline put us up at a simple hotel and Malcolm and I tripped out looking out the window at the street scene below. Even though we were not officially in India yet, we had arrived and it was intense. The people’s eyes are dark and mysterious and it looks totally different than the South East Asian countries we have become accustomed to.
Dhaka is the most polluted city in the world. At night, the headlights create ominous beams through the brown and gray shroud, and when you take a deep breath you can feel the smoke in your lungs. The population is 13 million and it is on its way to becoming the largest city in the world.
This morning on the ride back to the airport, it was obvious that the poverty here is severe. Whenever the bus stopped, men on crutches without legs, emaciated elders, mothers with young children on their arms, and a young blind boy with blank white eyes appealed to us with arms and cups outstretched. It was painful and hard to look at and most people just shut their windows so they did not have to deal with the awkwardness of the encounter. We are about to land in Delhi, and I am glad we have a friends house to stay at, instead of a random impersonal guesthouse, I think we will need an easy transition.

INDIA...Expect the Unexpected

2005-10-25T00:08:00.000+07:00

As I sit here on the cold tile floor of Bangkok’s Don Meung International Airport, waiting to board our Biman Bangladeshi Airways flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh and then on to Delhi, India, I am overcome with a sense of anticipation, anxiousness, nervousness, and excitement. I have not felt like this traveling since I first took off to Bali 5 years ago in which was my first trip to a developing country. India has been a mecca to me. Ever since I can remember wanting to travel, I always thought of the day when I would hike the mighty Himalayas or wander down cobblestone streets filled with colours, scents, and sounds that conjur up images of saris, silks, sitars, samosas, and sadhu’s. India is known for its ability to inspire, frustrate, thrill, and confound all at once. It is a multi-dimensional technicolor country, with each region offering its own food, culture, religion, and geography. We have been told that the poverty is confronting and alarming and the sheer crush of humanity can turn walking down a street or entering a train station a struggle. However, the rewards are tremendous, as the culture is so rich, it’s religions among the oldest.
As we only have a limited amount of time, we decided to not try and do the entire country but rather focus on one region so we could fully appreciate what it has to offer. Our trip will see us in the north where most of India’s main spiritual sites and musical offerings are loated. We begin in Delhli where we will be staying with some friends from Santa Cruz, Jessa and Mike who live there now. From there we will head up into the Himalayas and to Mcleod Ganj, where the Tibetan government and people in exile are located and where the Dalai Llama lives and teaches. I cannot think of a better place I would want to spend my birthday! We will be taking some classes in Tibetan music and volunteering our time teaching English to newly arrived Tibetan political refuges. We also hope to take in a small lecture taught by the Dalai Lama himself. From there, we will be doing some trekking in the Himalayas and then down to the yoga and spiritual epicenter’s of Hardiwar and Rishikesh. We will be doing a 10 day Vipassna meditation retreat there, and I will begin work on my yoga teacher’s certification as well as taking some traditional music classes. We then head south through Dehli again to pick up some traditional instruments and then it will be off to Varanasi, the city of Shiva, the holiest city in India where pilgrims come from all over to wash away their sins in the Ganges. From there we will either continue heading east along the north of India to Bohdigaya, home of the Bohdi tree, where the Buddha achieved enlightenment, Buddhism’s most revered sites, or we will head up to Katmandu, Nepal depending on the time and money we have left. Nepal has some instruments that we are very interested in so we are hoping to make it there. We finish our trip in Calcutta, the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation, known for its Bengali dance, music, film, and food, and unfortunately, its squalor and poverty.
Writing these words, I still cannot believe what I am about to embark on. To fully appreciate and take in this country one must fully let go. As I mentioned in a previous journal entry devoted to this idea, I am jumping into this experience with an open heart, open eyes, and a cautious sense of self-preservation, necessary in this country that will eat you up if you are not careful. I am looking forward to sharing the many sites and sounds that we will be encountering there and know there will be no lack of photos and video. The only thing that we can hope for is that we will have access to fast internet connections to upload our images. Expect the unexpected…

SLIDESHOW-Thai Islands

2005-10-24T00:06:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to download slideshow.

The islands of Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Phi Phi, and the archipelego's of Ao Phang Nga overwhelm the eyes and the water...emerald above an under saphire green, dark and pale, blue and shimmer-green, wonderous and infinite...not all was bad.

Sun, Sand, Violence, and Death

2005-10-23T23:07:00.000+07:00

Sun, Sand, Violence and Death
Our trip so far has been such a learning experience, both difficult and rewarding. We have seen both the best and the worst faces of humanity. I think that is one of the lessons I am meant to learn on this trip is that you cannot have light without dark, happiness without sadness, and life without death. Death and destruction has either preceded us or followed us and seems to be an energy we cannot escape. Before our arrival in Chiang Mai and Pai, a flood had done significant damage and took many lives in Pai. When we were there, I met several people who were still emotionally sensitive about the damage and destruction they had witnessed. Upon leaving Chiang Mai, another flood hit the city that did more damage than the first. As you know 2 terrorist bombs hit Kuta, Bali, where we had been and are very lucky we went there when we did. Katrina hit while we were in Laos, and we watched internet reports of the mounting catastrophe. We have just departed from Ko Phi Phi, which was devastated by the Tsunami last December (see my entry.) When we arrived back on the mainland today, we were alerted of the mammoth earthquake in Pakistan, which has claimed over 20,000 lives. Unfortunately, we had much more intimate brushes with the dark side which have left us pondering the lessons to be learned from all of this…
Visiting the islands of Ko Phi Phi and Ko Pha Ngan in Southern Thailand was meant to be the calm before the storm. The storm being our arrival and adjustment to India, which we imagine is going to test our endurance and our nerves. I was looking forward to some relaxation on their beaches after our non-stop traveling schedule through Laos, Cambodia, Bali, and Thailand. We also wanted to develop some song ideas we had had while there, and figured we would finally have the time. Ko Pha Ngan was beautiful, and we enjoyed time on the North East of the island before moving to the South East beach Hat Yuann. We reveled in the phosphorescent plankton (which you can read my entry about below.) and had a good time swimming in the turquoise blue water that is so warm you can spend hours and hours in it. We were also looking forward to dancing the night away at the Black Moon Party that takes place at a waterfall in the interior jungle of the island.
However, our time there came to a rather abrupt end our 5th day there. Malcolm had taken a yoga class that morning on a beautiful deck that overlooked the bay and was right next door to where we were staying. He figured this would be an inspiring place to come back later to play some guitar. I joined him later on and did some yoga there as well. In the midst of melodies and some downward dog, 4-5 Thai men, with anger in their eyes stormed up to us. Malcolm put out his hand to introduce himself and was greeted by a punch to the head. Within seconds Malcolm was surrounded by these guys and when I tried to intervene I was met by raised fists. The leader of the bunch owned the bungalows where the yoga deck was situated and was yelling nonsense about “us needing to learn a lesson”. We don’t know whether it was a case of mistaken identity but us peacefully being on this bamboo deck in no way warranted the violence by which we were met. Both of us being non-violent, we tried to calm the situation down with words and by me reasoning with them. That was only met with the men picking up bamboo sticks to hit us with. At that point I knew I had to get help, as I knew these 5 guys could kill Malcolm if they wanted to and they had no reason or logic to their actions. I can’t tell you how scared I was, and was in utter shock of the ugliness of these peoples actions. After I was about 20 steps out for help, I turned around because more Thai men were coming and I could not leave Malcolm to be swarmed upon by them. At this point, the leader picked up Malcolm’s acoustic guitar and hit him 3 times with it, breaking it in half. In the brief moment afterwards, we managed to make a hasty retreat and packed our bags and headed to the hospital and police station. First off, the Police are a joke in Thailand, so nothing will happen. Luckily, Malcolm just suffered some bruises and scratches and soreness. We were very lucky as I was not hit and Malcolm could have fared a lot worse.
This was the second guitar Malcolm had lost, the first being stolen in Cambodia. With that, went our ability to work on musical ideas which is a major setback for us. So many people think that these places are so safe and easy, but there is a dark underside to all of these places. Ko Pha Ngan, in particular has a very dark element to it that rears its ugly head in the form of drug dealers, thieves, and ignoramuses that prey upon the foreign travelers. It is not until you witness it though are you shaken out of your tropical dream.
6 days later, we had escaped to Ko Phi Phi, eager to volunteer and help rebuild this beautiful island which is just getting back on its feet. Just going there helps as 100% of the population makes its money from tourism ( See my journal entry below about the Tsunami.) Being there was very heavy, even though the Thai people there give no indication that they many of them lost everything including children, friends, parents, and family. The destruction is still very evident and there are more than a few lost souls haunting the beach. Last night, Malcolm and I were up late at night working when we heard a loud bang. We thought it sounded like a gunshot, but dismissed the idea as we figured no one had guns there. This morning we woke up and went to breakfast. About 30 feet from our guesthouse, a crowd was gathered around an open walled bamboo Tattoo shop that had just re-opened 3 days ago. I had accompanied a German friend to get her first tattoo there just 2 days ago and had spoken with the Tattoo artist about the bamboo technique they use. When I looked inside, I shook back as the site of a body on the floor covered with a bloody sheet filled my vision. Photos were being taken by Thai detectives. It turns out that someone had shot the Tattoo artist in the head with the one shot we had heard last night. No motive is clear at this point but we were speechless. I have not encountered or been witness to such violence in the past 10 years as I have on these islands in the past 7 days. I have been living in Echo Park, Los Angeles, not known for being the safest neighborhood, and have never once seen an act of violence. I felt sick to my stomach as I have never had an interaction with someone and than had them die so quickly. It doesn’t make sense to my logical mind that the same person I was chatting with is dead…At this point, I needed some space and walked to the beach through the rubble of the Tsunami. On the way, still in a daze, a local came up to me, opening a folder that had grisly photos of floating corpses, caskets, and piles of bodies from the Tsunami. I had no idea why I was being shown these and averted my eyes almost immediately, telling him “that’s horrible, I am sorry.” At that point, as I walked away overcome with the numbing reality of death, he yelled in broken English “do you want to buy photos…” At this point, I decided that my time on these islands had prematurely come to an end and we hopped on the next fairy to the mainland, where we hope to process what has happened and come out wiser for the time. However, I was meant with more ugliness before we left when I witnessed a Thai man beat up a woman in front of her 6 year old daughter over a dispute as both were hawking souvenirs next to each other. The way in which Thai men treat women is a whole other story in itself, which I will not get into now. Needless to say, it was the first time I had ever seen a man punch a woman and it was horribly disturbing. The Thai people may be Buddhist in theory but unfortunately, it seems some of them have missed the point…
Life is a gift, tell those you care about that you love them and live your life to the fullest of your abilities…I love you all.

SLIDESHOW-Fire Dancing Ko Phi Phi

2005-10-22T23:06:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to download (2mb)

Fire Dancing with staff or with chains (poi) is an ancient art that can be traced back to many countries in the AustralAsia part of the world particularly the Maori's in New Zealand. Today, it can be found all over the world and has a strong scene in San Francisco. I was really looking forward to getting to the Thai islands as I would be able to get back into doing it as it had been years since I had last lit up. I first learned 6 years ago in Australia, and have some friends who really take it to another level( check them out Here.) It was great to get back into it again as it is a truly invigorating and wonderful artform. These photos were taken on the beachof Ko Phi Phi, which last December was destroyed by the Tsunami. The intention behind my dance was a celebration of life, the creative force, and to honor both the people who were killed and who survived. Enjoy

A Note About the Videos and Slideshows

2005-10-19T20:28:00.000+07:00

The videos and slideshows that are posted have music and audio accompanying them and it is important that you can hear the music at a decent level to get the full experience. If you have are just using wimpy laptop speakers than plug in a pair of headphones because it will make the world a better place...thanks.

SLIDESHOW-Ko Phi Phi, 9 months after...

2005-10-19T20:25:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to download slideshow.

The day after Christmas last year, Southern Thailand and India were rocked by one of the biggest Tsunami’s ever recorded. One of the hardest hit islands was the beautiful island of Ko Phi Phi. It is a very small island about 2 square miles with only half of that inhabitable. The islands population including tourists was at 8,000 at that time of the year and all live or were staying in that small area which has a beach on either side of it. The destruction was huge, over 2,000 people lost their lives, 104 children lost one or both parents, and 70% of the building were destroyed. Thai people do not use banks, so many lost all their savings that were stored in boxes or under their beds. Even though the international outpouring was huge, Thailand, a country which prides itself on its independence and its healthy distrust of western interests, refused any foreign aid. This had made things hard for the people as not one foreign relief agency such as Red Cross or Doctors with Borders ever arrived on the island. The only non-profit that has helped was one set up on the island by a foreigner called Help International Phi Phi. www.hiphiphi.com. They work they have done is incredible and they have organized the volunteer efforts that have been underway since December. We went to the island in order to volunteer and fuel the economy with our money as nearly 100% of the locals make their money through tourism. Upon arriving on the island, judging by the locals attitudes and demeanor, one would never suspect that these people had most likely lost everything, including loved ones, and that they were just getting back on their feet. This is evidence that their strong spiritual faith in Buddhism truly keeps them going. We were welcomed with smiles, and genuine gratitude from the people we met. The island is really coming along with new guesthouses, restaraunts, and other businesses opening everyday. If any of you are going to Thailand soon, I would recommend going there, even if you don’t want to volunteer, there is plenty to do with boat trips, snorkeling and scuba diving, and some great beaches that are being cleaned up everyday by people like me and you. If you would like to see some footage from the Tsunami hitting Phi Phi so you can understand the scale of the wave, you can find it at www.issuespotter.com
We had a very rewarding time on the island being there deepened my understanding of life, death, and change, the main ideas that I seem to be coming to grips with wherever we go on this journey.

VIDEO-Life Is Beautiful

2005-10-17T21:16:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

Even though our time on the islands of Southern Thailand was filled with its share of dark energy, we still had an amazing time and I was able to delve into yoga, fire dancing, snorkelling, and being an island boy...good times.

To the Islands We Go...

2005-10-15T21:16:00.000+07:00

After an overnight bus, two minivans, a ferry, and two trips in a Sangthaew (a pickup truck with two benches in the back, we arrived on the island of Ko Pha Ngan in Southern Thailand. An island paradise where you can relax, meditate, snorkel, hike to a number of waterfalls or dance your ass off every night to drum n bass, psychedelic trance, progressive house, or breakbeats until you drop in the sand. Most people who come here are young and the islands population swells depending on the time of the month. Pha Ngan is notorious for its full moon parties where sometimes 20,000 foreigners,(usually Brits) descend on the island for a few days as an excuse to get sloppy drunk on what are called “buckets”. These are a notorious Thai invention that consists of a bottle of Sam Song Whiskey, a can of 150 (which is the Thai version of Red Bull and actually contains Amphetamines), and Coca-Cola. It comes in a plastic bucket with straws and gives you the feeling of being drunk while the 150 gives you energy and a speedy feeling…not my cup of tea. On top of that the music at the full moon parties is cheesy (house music with diva vocals) and the beach where it takes place looks like a garbage dump afterwards as these people think it is the local Thai’s responsibility to clean up after them. Well, we didn’t want to have anything to do with that so we decided to come to the island at the very exact opposite time where there is a much cooler and mellower version called the Black Moon Party that takes place at a waterfall and has some great DJ’s. We are really using this time to record some musical ideas in this tropical setting, meditate and do yoga daily, swim in the crystalline blue waters and catch our breath before we leave for India.
After Pha Ngan we are heading off to Ko Phi Phi to volunteer there and help bring the island back to life. It suffered extensive damage and thousands of people died and lost everything they owned. Just going there helps breaths life into the economy and is a tremendous help. Many tourist offices in Chiang Mai and Bangkok tell people that you can’t go to Ko Phi Phi and that there is no where to eat and stay in order to keep people there, which is untrue. Everyday, a guesthouse, a dive operation, or a restaurant opens proving how resilient these people are. We are looking forward in doing our little part to help these people after they have been long forgotten as people’s attention turns to other disasters like Katrina.

VIDEO-One from the Vault

2005-10-14T21:09:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

This video managed to slip through the cracks and never got uploaded. This is from late August when we were at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The poverty in Siam Reap and at the temples itself was heart breaking. All over the temples, there were children like the ones in the video hawking souvenirs for you to by. Some children couldn't have been older than 4 or 5 years old. Give thanks for your childhood...

VIDEO-Muslim Fishing Village on Stilts

2005-10-14T17:54:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

While we were in Southern Thailand, we chartered a boat to take us around Ao Phang Nga National Marine Park. An archipelego of islands and limestone formations, one of the most stunning places we have ever been. Amidst all these small islands is an entire community of muslims who live in a village on stilts above the water. They make their money from fishing and from people like us who stop to eat and take a look. Check it out...

VIDEO-Chinese Vegetarian Festival

2005-10-13T21:34:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to view.

Arriving in Phang Nga, we were happy to hear that festivities for the annual vegetarian festival were taking place there. We were able to witness some truly amazing sights and sounds, only a few of which we were able to capture on film.

Ufortunately, we can only offer these stills of the more dramatic moments:

VIDEO-Blue and Green Surrounds Me

2005-10-12T21:21:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

Phang Nga National Marine Park in Southern Thailand is truly one of the most stunning places I have ever been. I first visited here when I was in Thailand 5 years ago and had to go again. We chartered a long tail boat that took us through this archipelego of islands and limestone pieces that jut out of the water like they had been dropped from the sky. You may recognize the island to the left as Scaramaga's hideout in the 1973 James Bond film 'The Man with The Golden Gun.'

VIDEO-Om Mani Padme Hum

2005-10-11T18:09:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

Mom and Dad won't like this, but hey, its better than getting some bogus Navy anchor on my forearm right?

While in Chiang Mai, I had the Tibetan Buddhist mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, tattooed on my right angle. When repeated either out loud or silently, it invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have the same effect. Om means the seed which is behind everything, mani means jewel or crystal, padme means lotus and hum means heart so on one level it means the tnire universe is just like a pure jewel or crystal in the heart which is me and it is manifest, it comes forth in light in my own heart. It is also said that all the teachings of Buddha are contained within this mantra and there are monks in India, Tibet, and Nepal who just meditate on this mantra for years or their entire lives! It feels very fullfilling to have something so sacred on my body and I am reminded of its meaning everyday when I look down.

VIDEO-Cooking Up a Storm!!

2005-10-10T17:56:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

Hey, guys can cook too!!
Chiang Mai is known for its great food, so we decided to take a class at a place called Spicy House with one of the best cook's in Chiang Mai, Mim. We cooked up 8 dishes in one day and were very full by the end of it. If any of you are in the Bay Area, you may be lucky enough to try some if you let me crash on your floor in December!! yum, yum!

Pushing Myself

2005-10-09T17:48:00.000+07:00

I had a very unique experience while in Chiang Mai, Thailand, that illuminated something that I had been thinking about for a while now. When I set out on this adventure, one of the intentions that I wanted to manifest was for me to rediscover my boundaries, spiritually and mentally. Talking with friends, I think we can all relate to this feeling on some level or another. From the ages 16 and 22, I prided myself on constantly walking the edge, reaching out on either side with my metaphorical hands to see where those walls around me actually existed. Whether this was in social situations, climbing trees in the rain, dancing like no one was watching, doing sweat lodges, or experimenting with drugs, letting go was an integral part of my life and my learning process. There is a moment when you are in a situation that is not “safe” when you make the decision to “jump” and really let go. I find it is in those precious and rare moments that you are really alive. As Tyler Derden says in Fight Club after a horrible car accident, “we just had a near life experience.” There is much truth in that line.
When I returned from living in Australia and traveling in South East Asia 5 years ago, I either lost my edge or felt like I was coming too close to the edge for my own comfort and safety. I think that is a natural part of growing up and maturing. When you have tested your boundaries and found your metaphorical “walls”, you rarely go outside of them again as self-preservation is of utmost importance to us. Unfortunately, because of that, I feel like I have been missing out on a lot of magical and powerful learning experiences. I cannot remember the last time I was in a “jump” or “climb back down” situation in my life where I decided to jump. However, I feel like I need to see where those walls are in my life now because I think those walls of safety close in on me every year. Once you make the decisions in your life that bring other people into your life like a partner or children it becomes selfish to engage in some of these practices, although physical acts of bravery or taking drugs are by no means the only ways to find your limits or let go completely.
This brings me to my experience while in Chiang Mai. Malcolm and I were invited to take part in a unique Buddhist ceremony in a little makeshift temple on a rooft by a Thai woman named Sumi. We thought that we were going to a meditation, but it was very different from what you and I think of as meditation. Upon walking up 3 flights of stairs we arrived to a room full of frantic and violent chanting. Everyone was dressed in white and women were in what appeared like trance-like states while men who seemed to be acting as shaman yelled incantations at them. What we later found out was that the women were chanting to put let go of their bad karma, while the men were talking to the bad spirits, getting them to leave. Buckets were at the feet of the women and they would spit into them, the spit being the manifestation of the bad karma. To the observer witnessing this for the first time, it was intimidating and scary. A young girl next to me and driven herself into such a frenzy that she was in tears. I was very conflicted at seeing this because I felt that this was very traumatic for the child and that this would end up causing emotional scares for her when she was older. When you chant a word as fast as you can as loud as you can for 20 minutes and people are shouting at your face, I think it would be very hard not to break down and start crying. The people who had not broken down were being “worked on” by the guru’s until they reached that point. We was being encouraged by Sumi to participate and begin the chanting of “Tamma” (karma) over and over again as the spit bowls were being placed in front of us. I was very skeptical of it all, and with the fever pitch of the chanting and crying that was happening all around us, I felt myself in one of those places where I could walk the diving board and climb down or take a deep breath and dive in. I decided to dive in and was soon chanting while these gurus encouraged my karma to come out. However, I did not swan dive into the experience, but instead just meekly dropped off into it. It was after reflecting on it later that night, that I realized that I was still holding back and not letting go 100%. However, I felt that I should understand more of what was going on instead of blindly indulging in it because I was told to or because everyone else was. Nevertheless, it was that initial hesitancy that alarmed me because it was coming from a place of fear, specifically a fear of losing control.
That night, I made pact with myself to be more open in every aspect of my life so I can shine my light more brightly in my quest for my truth, my true nature, and for the universal truth. I invite any comments or reactions about this idea as I feel like I am not the only one who is going through this. Thanks

CLICK HERE to watch a short 10 second video of some of this chanting.

Video-Techno Workout

2005-10-08T17:44:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

This one is a quickie but a goodie. When we were in Pai and later in Bangkok, we were witness to some great workouts. They take place on the streets, in fields, and on sidewalks and are free to all. Check it out!

SLIDESHOW-Northern Thailand

2005-10-05T15:46:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to download slideshow. (4.5 mb)

Northern Thailand is a beautiful part of Thailand and very different in culture than Southern Thailand. It is famous for the many different hill tribes that live in the mountainous north. We spent time in Chiang Mai, tracking down some instrument makers and in the small oasis of Pai. Both had been devestated by floods only 2 weeks before, with Pai being hit the hardest. Many buildings and businesses were devestated and only half of the town was open. We neverthless had an amazing time visiting some hot springs in the rain and making some spelunking trips to some of South East Asia's largest caves. Chiang Mai is very special as it has over 300 temples within the city limits lending it a very spritual vibe that is a nice change from Bangkok. Hope you enjoy!

VIDEO-Grasshoppers...yum!!!

2005-10-03T15:40:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

South East Asia has many culinary surprises for the western traveller. While travelling we have seen snake, rat, dog, cat, tarantula, and carious insects on menus. One must set aside any judgement though because these people live in very different circumstances as we do and often these food choices were made out of economic necessity rather than choice. Anyway, enjoy the video...

VIDEO-Chiang Mai-Doi Suthep Buddhist Temple

2005-09-30T20:35:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video

There are over 300 temples in the city of Chiang Mai and Wat Doi Suthep may be the most important and beautiful of them all. Sitting high on a mountain top overlooking the city. The temple was built there after one of the kings gave a rare albino elephant a holy object and told it to go find the spot where the temple to house it would be built. The elephant climbed the mountain, stopped at the top and died, thus the temple found its home. There are many large gongs and bells there as well and we took a trip up there in the rain at dawn to record them. Check out the Kaura blog to see that video at www.kauratravels.blogspot.com
Hope all of you are doing well, I miss you.

VIDEO-Making Some Money

2005-09-28T15:00:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.

Want to know how you to can travel the world while making money at the same time??? Just watch this instructional video, follow the easy to follow steps and soon you too will be wondering why you hadn't thought of this earlier!

VIDEO-Laos "Are you Free?"

2005-09-24T20:29:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream the video

Its hard to believe, but this is the last of the Laos videos and slideshows. I can't express enough how much I fell in love with this country and its people. I truly did feel free while there and hope that someday all of you will get to experience a place like Laos.

***Also a reminder that all the videos and slideshows and posts are archived monthly. Just go to the right side of the page and click on the month and all the posts will come up. Only the last 15 posts are displayed on this page.***

VIDEO Laos-Nam Ou River Trip

2005-09-23T20:10:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video. Right Click to save for later. (16.2 mb)

River travel is a dwindeling but still important part of Laos, and we were fortunate enough to spend 4 days on slow boats traversing the Nam Ou and Mekong rivers. The trip between Luang Prabang and Mnong Ngau Noi is considered one of the most beautiful river trips in all of South East Asia and this video gives you just a taste of what it was like.
The trip was inspiring to say the least and I hope that our music will be able to stand up to such beauty if you were listening to it on headphones because that is what we are aiming for.

Laos-Feel Free

2005-09-21T16:40:00.000+07:00

While in Northern Laos, Malcolm and I took a slow boat from Luang Prabang 7 hours north to a small village called Muang Ngoi Neau. It is cut off from the outside world by a steep mountain rage that prohibits any access by road. The only way to get there is by boat. Few travellers have ventured up there due to its isolation and because of that, it has retained its charm and soul.
From there, we chartered another boat to take a kayak and ourselves and hour north to an even more remote part of Laos where there several traditional Hmong and Lao villages. This experience was by far the most impacting and fruitful day of our trip so far. Nesteled among huge limestone peaks and dense monsoon forest on a beachy river bank lies the village of Ban Phoichon, a traditional Lao village that has probably only started to see the occasional foreigner in the past 2 years. When we disembarked on the sany beach, we gazed around us like children in awe of a huge playground. We walked in 360's laughing to ourselves as we realized we had just landed in paradise. At that moment I closed my eyes and tried to take that moment in as much as I could...to save it for a day when I am stuck in traffic or at work. Each ray of sun that was beaming though the trees and every purple butterfly that was dancing arouund me was a gift telling me in its own way "you are alive, you are ALIVE".
All I could do was give praise and thanks and shake my head in bewilderment at the sheer beauty that was almost too much to take. I recalled the line in 'American Beauty', where the teenage boy says that sometimes the beauty in this world is to much to take and Kevin Spacey's realization at the end that you have to take it and let it flow in and out of you like air.
I wished at that moment that I could have shared that place with all of you and transported you there to enjoy it with me but realized that then and there was for my eyes only. As we sat on the sand, vibrating with that place, I looked down at the kayak paddle and saw that it had "Feel Free" printed on it and did just that.

SLIDESHOW-Laos-Make You Feel That Way

2005-09-20T19:32:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to download slideshow (6.7 mb)

LOVE LETTER TO LAOS
Love Letter to Laos
Laos, you are the lover who has seduced me
Not through flirty word play or aggressive come-ons like your sister Siam
but through your quiet confidant beauty and relaxed smile

You massage my spirit
With your coconut palms
While your rivers sing me to sleep

Sipping Lao coffee on the majestic Mekong
Ghosts of Chinese fishermen and trading boats
Roll by with a quiet lull
Reminding me that your rivers are the lifeblood
Of Asia and its past

Superhighways, interstates, and trains
Are an unknown reality
Seen only in Hollywood films
Instead your wooden boats lay at rest
Waiting to ferry me to my future

I came here seeking solace
And you gave it to me
Without asking anything in return
If Asia is the lotus
Then you certainly are the jewel within it.

Thank you

Downloading and Streaming

2005-09-19T19:28:00.000+07:00

Hello Friends
Just a little reminder for all of you who are taking a look at the videos and photos I am uploading. You need to have Apple Quicktime installed on your computer to view them and you can download that for free with the link on the right hand side under LINKS. Also, the videos should stream, meaning that you can start watching them once a little but has downloaded, your computer should start playing it automatically. The slideshows you need to download completely before you can watch them. If you don't have time, just right click and you can "Save As" and save it to your desktop or onto your harddrive, that way you can watch it later. You can also do that with the videos. Anyway, thanks for all your e-mails, it is good to hear from so many of you. Life is beautiful and I am reminded of that everyday. Much Love
Ben

VIDEO-Professors Jones and Guess

2005-09-18T20:11:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.
While we were in Luang Prabang, Laos visiting a Wat (temple), we were invited to return later that night to teach an english class to the monks there. We had been wanting to teach a class so were excited when the oppurtunity came to us. It was such an incredible experience to stand at the front of a room full of orange-robed novice monks and have them recite "music, drums, kaura". It's moments like these that you are reminded how amazing travelling really is...one of the greatest teachers there is. Hope you enjoy.

VIDEO-Tubing on the Nam Sou-Laos

2005-09-15T20:06:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to stream video.
Well, here is one of the many reasons why I fell in love with Laos...because it made me feel like a kid again...something a lot of us need right now! Enjoy

SLIDESHOW-Laos-Where Heaven and Earth Switched Places

2005-09-05T12:19:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to watch slideshow (6.2 mb download).

It finally feels like we have arrived…
I sit here and and find it hard to descibe this place and the people. It has taken me in, with arms wide open. I can only hope that the photos and video will do her justice.
The pace of life is decidedly slower and more relaxed than the rest of Asia. People say here “Bangkok, fast fast, Laos, slow, slow.” The people have a certain recognizable manner, quiet voices and gentle rapt expressions. They are a conglomeration of tribes and languages of Thai, Hmong, Khemer, Tibetan, and Chinese.
Our days have been filled with writing music with some of the most awe-inspiring, “oh my god”, stop you in your tracks scenery that one only encounters rarely in their lives, some never. We have been exploring caves, both dry and wet, rafting and traveling on the extensive rivers here, teaching English to Monks, hiking to remote hill tribes, and meeting travelers from all over the globe. The country has been virtually isolated for 20 years and has only been open to tourists since 1989, meaning that it many parts of the country are untouched by western influence and tourism, which is very special to behold.
Orange and saffron robed monks seem to fill the streets with umbrellas resting on their shoulders protecting them from the penetration Laotion sun. 85% of the country is unmanaged vegetation, most of which is monsoon forest, and 25% of which is primary forest filled with one of the healthiest but still threatened population of fauna. This includes elephants, tigers, the Asiatic black bear, water buffalo, king cobras, and the lesser known raccoon dog, pygmy slow loris, leaf monkey, and panda. This is hard to believe as Laos has the distinction of being the most bombed country in the world. From 1964 to 1973, the United States bombed the country endlessly to prevent the Vietnamese from gaining a foothold there. They dropped an average of one plane load of bombs every eight minutes, 24 hours a day for nine years! This cost US tax payers $2.2 million a day and cost many Laotions their lives and livelihoods. There are still unexploded bombs all over the country that usually kill small children and have made farming and agriculture very difficult. Like George Bush says “We love Freedom.!”
Like Cambodia, Laos is governed by one of the last remaining Communist parties, the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party(LPRP). Opium is one of the countries biggest exports, highly valued by the hill tribes of Burma and China for its medicinal qualities who brought the poppy with them to Laos and Thailand. The CIA infamously used air forces planes during the Vietnam war to run heroin from Laos to Vietnam to help fund various covert operations throughout Indochina.
So far, we have spent most our time in Vang Vieng, where mammoth limestone mountains hover over the town, and the Nam Song river hugs the town like a mother. We spent many hours floating down the river on intertubes, stopping every ten minutes to fly on zip lines or to jump off rope swings that line the river. There are many hikes and caves to explore so we set up home base to soak up the culture and see what came out of us. We are about to embark on a 5 day river trip on the Nam Sou and majestic Mekong river, which has provided Laos with her trade route with China for centuries. We have heard that this trip contains some of the most spectacular scenery in South East Asia, so we are really looking forward to it.
I am taking a lot of photos and video and will hopefully be able to upload them for you soon. Be Well.

Cambodia-VIDEO

2005-09-02T12:02:00.000+07:00

Here is a video I put together with various video images from our trip to Cambodia from the disenfranchised children of Siam Reap to Angkor Wat. CLICK HERE or on the image to watch.

**FOR PC USERS**
Theoretically, the video should start playing after your computer has downloaded 1/4 of it. If it doesn't and is taking too long, just right click and "Save As Target" and save it to your desktop or harddrive. That way you can continue reading the blog or surfing the net while your computer downloads it and you can watch it later. If you have any problems e-mail me.

Cambodia-Light

2005-08-30T23:30:00.000+07:00

Angkor Wat Slideshow -CLICK HERE or on the image to view( 8mb download)
They say you must go through the valley of darkness before reaching the promised land. After 8 hours of the bumpiest bone rattling bus ride of my life from Poipet to Seam Reap, and baring witness to some of the most horrific sites I have ever seen, we knew that there had to be an incredibly magnificent light to be casting these shadows…and their was.
It came in the form of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, a breath taking testament to the Khemer Empire, which ruled most of South East Asia and southern China. It contains over 100 temples over 50 sq. km’s. Some of the temples have been swallowed up by the jungle, tree vines and roots growing over gargantuan walls and faces, reminding us of the awesome power of nature. Words cannot do justice to the experience of Angkor Wat so I hope that the slide show can give you a glimpse of the ancient magic and energy emanating from it.

Cambodia Slideshow

2005-08-25T21:57:00.000+07:00

Here is a slideshow with photos from Cambodia. I will be uploading my photos taken at angkor wat very soon. Thanks for all your e-mails! CLICK HERE or on the image to view. If you need Quicktime to view, there is a link on the right hand side where you can download it for free.

Cambodia-Shadows and Light

2005-08-23T22:20:00.000+07:00

CLICK HERE or on the image to watch. (21.3 mb streaming)
When I was born in 1977, the place where I sit and write this, was in the depths of an indescribable and unfathomable darkness, of which today, it still bears it’s scares. Between 1975 and 1979, under the leadership of Pol Pot, the country was restructured into a Maoist agrarian peasant-dominated cooperative. This was not the co-operative that me and you think of today as some optimistic dream. 2 million of the countries 8 million were starved or tortured to death. The bodies were piled into “Killing Fields”, that litter the country like a bad memory you are not able to forget. The elderly, sick, and any educated people that could speak any other language besides Cambodian or even wore glasses was immediately killed. The remaining people were put into work teams were they were made slaves, plowing ditches and irrigation tunnels for 12-15 hours a day. Families were broken up, cultural artifacts destroyed. There were no markets, no shops, banks, arts, music, or restaurants. Cambodia was literally taken back to “Year Zero” , thereby cleansing the country of its past.
You cannot visit Cambodia, even 30 years later, and ignore that this happened…it is impossible to do. If you could, it would be a great dishonor to a people, who have so courageously endured this darkness and remarkably, have started to heal and move on, their souls and hearts deepened.
I do not know how I can begin to describe this place and the people and the energy here. When I was at the border, 5 years ago, I turned back because I felt I was not yet emotionally mature to deal with what lay across that invisible line. Today, however, I welcome it into my life and the many lessons it has for me and has taught me already after only being here for a week. If you ever start feeling sorry for yourself, think your life sucks, or are just feeling depressed, I welcome you to come and spend 5 minutes on the Thailand/Cambodian border or on the streets of Siam Reap or Phnom Penh…it will put you on your knees giving thanks for all that you have. Tell the 5 year old without legs, who is pulling on your arm pleading for food so he and his 7 month old sister can eat, that your suffering is great…
This place has put a lot of things in perspective for me. I have been feeling lonely and depressed over the loss of my best friend and partner, but after seeing the desperation and poverty these people live with, I cannot complain. Most of us take our health, access to clean food and medicine, our paying jobs, sanitary living conditions for granted.
The streets of Siam Reap, and Phnom Penh at night are filled with amputee victims, who lost their limbs from the mines that have been placed all over the country during the past 30 years during their civil war, and children aged 6-11, begging for money or a scrap of food. These children should be at home playing or sleeping in a warm bed, but instead fight for their survival. When I was there age, I didn’t even have to think about food or money, let alone have to look after younger siblings. Similar poor children fill the grounds of Angkor Wat, hawking bracelets, postcards, or bamboo flutes. The lengths at which they go to try and sell these to you says so much about how desperate they really are. Our daily budgets have doubled with the amount of meals and money we are giving to these children. But I could give everything I have, and it would still not be enough.
Because of these economic conditions and the war and genocide, which has ravaged this country, everybody is after a buck. Being a tourist, we have been hounded night and day, been scammed several times, and had a guitar stolen. However, we cannot blame these people, because if we were in their situation, we would be hustling too
All of these shadows mean there must be light…

Bangkok-Slideshow

2005-08-22T14:20:00.000+07:00

We are using Bangkok as a homebase for the rest of our travels throughout South East Asia, so we usually stop in for a day or 2 to resupply, upload video, and visit some temples. Here are some photos from our last trip before we left for Cambodia. CLICK HERE or on the image to view. (6.5 mb)

Bali and Bangkok Video

2005-08-21T22:08:00.000+07:00

Hello Friends
Here is a video with some images from Bali and Bangkok, Thailand. It is 25.1 mb streaming. We are using Bangkok as a homebase of sorts for are travels throughout South East Asia due to its proximity to most countries here. CLICK HERE or on the image to watch.

August 19th-Reflections on Bangkok

2005-08-20T00:20:00.000+07:00

August 19, 2005-Bangok, Thailand
Back again in Sin City, where the good, the bad, and the ugly all seem to co-exist in some sort of symbiotic symmetry. Malcolm and I are taking it all in, including the exhaust smoke which veils the city like a protective cloak.
This city is intense, no doubt about it. The heat is like nowhere I have ever been to before and we are in the middle of the monsoon season. It is thick and when the sun comes out it hits you like an open oven. You can not drink enough water to keep up with the sweat pouring out of your body as your clothes become damp and dank.
The environmental problem here is huge like all the other South Eastern Asian countries, including Bali. Litter is everywhere including the rivers and canals. People literally use the streams behind their houses to dump the trash. In Bali, if something isn’t done soon, I think in 10 years it may resemble a small garbage dump. Trash cans don’t seem to exhist here, when I have a water bottle, I sometime walk for a mile before finding somewhere to put it.
Amputees, glaucoma victims whose eyes appear pupil-less and empty, young mothers with starving children, and beggars covered in sut, their skin barely visible through the grime reach their hands out to me with a desperation in their eyes which seems to tell me that they are about to give up. I give what I can and walk on, but where is the line??? My heart feels their pain for that moment when our eyes meet and I see myself and I see you and I see God. I walk on and give thanks for my health and the love that surrounds us everyday. This is probably nothing compared to what I hear we will encounter in Cambodia and especially India where the poverty is debilitating.
A 12 hour bus journey awaits us tommorow morning at 7AM when we travel to Seam Reap, Cambodia, the home base for 4 days at one of the most incredible religious monuments every made…Angkor Wat. I have been waiting for this pilgrimage of sorts for years and I can only imagine what it will be like in person.
We have been getting up fairly early to fit in our busy days, and being witness to the early morning in Bangkok is a spectacle not to be missed. The sellers preparing their wares, outdoor markets coming alive, and the thousands of food vendors wheeling out their carts onto the streets for the days first customers as the streets fill with motorcycles is an amazing experience. This morning, I journeyed by foot, skytrain, and bus to the modern dental hospital on Sukhumit Rd. The Dentists there are western trained and the equipment is just as good as what you would find in the west. I had 4 fillings done today for what it would cost to have 2 done in America even with dental insurance. If any of you have some major work to be done, I would highly suggest this place, friends of mine clued me into it and I had a great experience.
We have yet to journey outside Bangkok as we have just used it as our stop over point for our other visits but am looking forward to going up to the North and to the South when we return from Cambodia and Laos. It is easy to get impatient and discouraged here with the heat, the exhaust smoke, and the sheer number of people, but Thailand, the land of the Siamese Dream has so much more to offer.

Gamelan/Dance Performance

2005-08-19T00:21:00.000+07:00

So I wanted to share with you some photos that I took at a gamelan instrument maker's shop and from a Legong Dance in Ubud, Bali. Arts and music are such a strong part of Balinese life and we feel blessed that we have been able to experience so much of it and encorporate it into our own music. Click Here or on the image to watch.

Bali Slideshow Part 2

2005-08-18T00:15:00.000+07:00

Greetings
One slideshow (or 100 for that matter)is not enought to encapsulate the wonder and beauty of Bali so here is one more for you. I am in Bangkok for 2 days before we head off to Angkor Wat. Click Here or the image to watch. Much love
Ben

Bali Photo Slideshow Part 1

2005-08-15T08:30:00.000+07:00

Greetings,
So I finally have some photos of Bali for you,CLICK HERE or on the image. As always you will need Quicktime to view them. Your computer should already have it and if it doesn't you can download it by clicking the link on the right hand side under LINKS, its free and easy. Hope you enjoy, drop me a line if you would like.
love
Ben

Luscious

2005-08-13T19:23:00.000+07:00

Today at the suggestion of Jessica Bottomley, I woke up an indulged in a traditional Balinese massage followed by a White Jasmine full body scrub, yogurt rub down, and to finish it of, a long soak in a flower petal filled bath. I am a bath freak, so getting to lie in a bath full of white, red and purple flowers was heaven. I felt like a child playing with the petals, covering my arms with them, scooping them up, and creating flower waterfalls with my hands. All of this while sipping on ginger tea and lime juice covered papaya and pineapple, truly luscious. The best part is that the cost of this indulgence was a mere $12.50, another reason why I love Bali and South East Asia in general because you can live like a king for so little. Jessica and Isaac definitely knew what was up when they bought their house here (which I am going to visit in several days.) Right now, I am in a mosquito net-covered bed in a small village called Tirta Ganga, home of a huge water palace, where you can soak an swim in the holy waters that are set amidst rice paddies that look like they are straight out of the pages of National Geographic. Our guest house is perched hundreds of feet above the valley with cinematic views over the fields and down to the ocean. Tommorow we will head out to the North of the island to Lovina, home of black sand beaches and world class diving and snorkeling on some of the islands best coral reefs.
We have been flooded with musical ideas and because we have brought our laptops we are able to record them. We hope to do a lot of writing of songs that will eventually end up on Kaura’s first album. Every single sight we have here is new, fresh, and often mind-blowing. We have not gotten used to the huge world of difference between Los Angeles and South East Asia yet, and a part of me doesn’t think we will and doesn’t want to either. I still have to pinch myself as we drive through this dense thick, palm covered island driving past women with baskets expertly balanced on their heads 4 feet in the sky. I still cannot get over how different our lives are from the people here. Due to the lack of income and education here, the large majority of Balinese never leave Bali, and are content with their lives selling goods, caring for rice paddies, wood carving, painting, or being involved with the tourist industry in some fashion. When I have spoken to the young men and women here, they do not have lofty aspirations to travel the world or become rock stars or doctors or lawyers, they are content with their lives, the closeness they have with their families and communities, and the rhythm of their daily life which includes a strong does of religion, art, and music. In many ways, I am jealous of their seeming spiritual contentment that lacks the burning unrest and desire that most Westerners constantly feel. The Balinese also have an openness that I is pleasantly unfamiliar to me coming from America. Their smiles are genuine, not forced, I have not gotten denied a smile when I smile at them and they are always curious to know where you are from or to help you with any questions you may have. When I tell them that I am from California, they often say, “Kaleefornia, Red Hot Chilli Peppers!! Dream of Kaleefornication!” Which cracks me up, last time it was “Yaah, Welcum to the Hotel Kaleefornia.” It is so bizarre what being from California means to them, they think we know these celebrities and hang out with them like it is a small village like where they live. Their estimation of you goes way up when you tell them you are from the Golden State. When I tell them I am in a rock band, forget it!!! Autographs usually shortly ensue!!
I am working on a slideshow for you all, so keep checking back in, in the next few days. Be Well!
Love
Ben

Bali

2005-08-12T19:14:00.000+07:00

Bali
After a very hectic and disorienting 3 days in Bangkok Malcolm and I made our way through Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Bali, Indonesia. The time we spent in Bangkok was spent running around the city buying any last minute things we needed such as clothes and electronic equipment. We did not get a chance to take in any of the temples but we will be back in Bangkok again as it is a departure point for many of our travels.
For those who have not been to Bali, it is a small island full of ceremony, ritual, tradition, monkeys, and some of the friendliest people in the world. It is also a major tourist destination but luckily the tourists tend to stay in 3 areas, and you can get into some serious indigenous culture with only a 5 minute drive of these places. People here live very simply, it seems that they have their priorities in the right place: family, community, fun, and religion. The Balinese are Hindus and they take great pride in holding up their religious obligations. Beautiful palm offering plates full of flowers, rice, and incense are offered up to the Gods in return for safety, protection, and abundance every morning outside homes, places of work and worship. Statues of Hindu Deities and figures from the Ramayana such as Rama, Sita, and the monkey god Hanuman are everywhere. This along with the ancient Chinese influeces architecture, and terraced rice paddied jungles make Bali one of the most awe-inspiring places I have every been. Unfortunately, most tourists don’t leave their safe enclaves and don’t get to experience the real Bali. We have been renting motorcycles and today and Jeep and have ventured into the heart of the island to visit its remote villages and temples.
4 days ago, we were privellaged to meet a local man Wayan, who took us to a small village called Tiungung, to visit his uncle’s Gamelan instrument shop. We got to see the entire process that goes into making Gamelan Bells, and Keys called Ryong and Gensar respectively from the melting down of the bronze tablets to the pouring of the molds to the shining and finishing process. As some of you know, I was introduced to Gamelan music and at my college, UC Santa Cruz where we had a Gamelan performance class. I have gone on to use Gamelan in my band Kaura’s music, so coming here was a top priority for us. We ordered a set of gamelan bells and it feels great to know the person that makes your instrument and to know that such good energy and prayers go into it. In the West we are so used to just going into a shop and buying something and having no connection to where it came from or the energy that went into it.
The monkeys here are something else as well, the Meras or Mecaques are all over the place and very friendly. I have gotten a chance to play with some of them in a wild setting which was very rewarding as I LOVE monkeys, the baby's are ecspecially cute. Anyway, I don't want to bog you down with too much text now. Take care
Ben

Bangkok

2005-08-11T21:44:00.000+07:00

Aaah Bangkok ,oh Bangkok…the true definition of hustle and bustle…a 3rd world coming to grips with its Americanization and Modernization, gold-encrusted Buddhist temples, shanty town tin shacks, ultra-modern shopping centers, and the river canals that are proof why this city used to be called the “Venice of the East”. The maze like streets are full of black smoke emitting glorified go-carts called Tuk Tuks, taxis, motorcycles, and buses all ready to take you to everyplace you don’t want to go for “a special price for you handsome man.”
The people…the smiles, a spirit rarely encountered in the west, they know...and they smile...love. 6 million of them, saffron robed monks, suited businessman, backpackers in their new thai threads, legless beggars crouched on the dirty street with their hands held above waiting for any sort of donation or for God to take them to another place…trani-boys, reclining Buddhas, conmen, shamen and the young Thai men and women whose energy and smiles are intoxicating. Truly, the land of smiles! People here base their decisions on the “sanuk” (Fun) factor.
One must have their bearings, mind, and patience together to be able to traverse this city amidst the lung stifling exhaust that clouds the air, not to mention all the drivers that seem to think that they are participants in Death Race 2000, the humidity that makes you sweat like you didn’t know you could, and the constant barrage of people trying to sell you something or take you somewhere. There is something here though, an energy that makes it all worth it..
Malcolm and I descended on Khoa San Road to pick up any last minute supplies before the proper adventure begins in Bali in a few days. “Chaos” San Rd., famous backpackers colony, meeting grounds for all the brothers and sisters who seek more, whose curiosity cannot be quenched within their country’s borders…English, French, Australian, Chilean, Japanese, Spanish, American, Canadian, African...blinking lights, pumping music, brilliantly colored fabrics, neon signs, the zoom zoom of tuk-tuk taxis, 25 cent street cart pad thai. Vendors selling you everything you could never want, smiling, buying, laughing, loving it and hating it...khoa san rd.
The past two days have been very strenuous, getting adjusted to the sweltering heat, the third world culture, the time change, and having to make a radical switch in perspective can take a lot out of you. After living the reality of jobs, deadlines, band practice, bills, strict time management, and the mental mind state you have to be in to survive, not to mention flourish in Los Angeles, it can take some time to make that change. I think once we hit the jungle arts utopia that is Ubud, Bali on Saturday, our minds and bodies will be much farther along on that evolution.

Preparation

2005-07-16T10:07:00.000+07:00

Listen To This While Your Read
It has been a lot of work this past month. So much change has been thrown my way out of the blue turning my world upside down. The house/recording studio I share with my bandmate Malcolm is going to be put up on the market so we are being forced to leave on July 31st. More importantly, I have been dealing with the breakup of my girlfriend, Carly, and I's 4 year relationship. I have never grieved like this before, and it has really awakened a sense of compassion in me that has was laying dormant. It has been a struggle, but I am tapping into that inner strength that you discover only in times like these, and breaking my heart wide open and letting it spill out. Robert Browning said that truth resides in full within us all and to know consists of us opening up so the splendor may escape out rather than opening up to let light in we think we are without.
It is ironic and true that serious growth cannot happen without serious pain, it forces us to heal and to grow, whereas when we are safe and secure we are not pushed. It is also odd though how the person you love the most can hurt you the most. I suppose that is what it means to love and be vulnerable. One cannot be in love without giving yourself up to that space where you are vulnerable to be hurt. That is the give and take of life and love.
Through my healing process, I have enjoyed getting in touch with that force inside me that has been calling out for attention recently. I have been doing Hatha, Ayurevedic, and Kundalini yoga 3-4 times a week, as well as meditating and praying everyday. Without that force, I don't know how I would have gotten through this period. I am nurturing my spirit and my compassion and can feel that the greatest growth lies ahead. The thought of trekking in the Himalayas or meditating in Thailand brings a smile to my face and helps me get through each day.
I am glad that I am able to get in touch with many of you through this blog and hope that I can reconnect with many of you who I may not have spoken with recently but care so deeply about. I love you all and send my love. Be Well!

Welcome

2005-07-12T11:29:00.000+07:00

Hello Friends and Family
This will be my contact to you for the next couple of months as I travel with my musical partner Malcolm. This has been a very intense time for me with change in all aspects of my life. Most significantly, relationship with my girlfriend of close to 4 years has ended, which has been the most painful and difficult thing that I have ever had to deal with. I have received so much love and support from you all, I deeply appreciate it. I am looking forward to growing stronger, healthier, more compassionate, and more fulfilled as I open myself up to the world and to my own self. Thanks for coming along for the ride! I Love You!
-Ben