sTePs

Twilight Breaks over the Northern lights and the spirits sail south and erupts into a retreating stampede of colors merging and teasing this star eyed wanderer. Sweat drips of the young brave’s brow down a glistering tan to the earth below. The fire gorges on, dry timber giggles in crackles over flames dancing gracefully into the shadows. The Shaman erupts into a rhythmic dance and evokes the spirits from fleeting sunbeams. Around the fire he dances, higher and higher he jumps and turns, chanting and whaling spirit calls in melancholic hymn.

Motionless in a deep dark and peaceful place the brave shatters through the surface of the spirit world. Exhale....

The horizon awakens the enlightened young boy as he greets dawn with his awakening. Soaring high above the gleaming waters that play with the gentle winds. The forests radiate joyous vibrations of spring in the air. In the distance the cresting of twilight and behind us only night and the smirking stars.

The wind rushes through his feathers, the waters swirl ...wake spirit....the rainbow has landed.

Steps

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

June 2006

There’s truth behind the hype of the big apple. Every moment in this Utopian bird cage is exciting and far beyond the comprehension of this prodigal son. I arrived in New York on a on a sweaty evening, delayed by a couple of suffocating canines in Heathrow, only to be picked up by a dude named “bud” in his boxers. The pace of the one of the fastest cities in the world caught me off-guard as I almost watched my big red suitcase leave me behind on a sky train. This is truly THE cosmopolitan hotpot. I watched with wide eyed amusement as I took in the vastness of the city seated in a sky train with folks of over ten nations, colors, shapes and sizes.

I was blessed to be put up in a hostel right off Central park. Jogging round the reservoir and playing ultimate Frisbee in the great lawn is my recommendation to start the day if you’re around. The magnanimity of the towering heights all around gave me a neck ache and a tourist tag.

Times Square is the image of a global kaleidoscope of murals, buildings, peoples and cultures. It’s easy to loose yourself in commotion of tourists, soothsayers, promoters and street artists.

New York - Manhattan

Broadway the pinnacle of musical and theatrical entertainment sandwiched in a few tightly knit blocks is a must see….my 1^st experience watching a spell binding performance of “The Wedding Singer” completely blew me off my feet and kept me glowing throughout the evening.

The complex yet simple tapestry of the amazing apple is an amusing experience. Just two blocks away from the humbug of Times Square and the surrounding buzz, I find myself puzzled at how I now was eating blueberries of a tree in a quiet and lonely suburban street filled with old Brown Houses when few moments back I was a sardine in a choc o block.

The free ferry to Stratton Island is one of the best ways to watch a magnificent Manhattan skyline as Lady Liberty stands guard over the Promised Land.

Ground Zero, a big hole in the ground, much like the basement of a giant construction site with a fence around it, brings a tear to my eye as the tragedy gone by had sunk in, buttered by sounds of an old man playing amazing grace on the sax. A detailed time line of the incidents that occurred one weary fall morning over looks the site with the omnipresent stars and stripes fluttering in a strong harbor gust.

Roller coaster rides on my pallet are always welcome.. a bite of the apple is an experience that will likely not fade into the sands of my memory any time soon. The global cultural cuisine made my mouth water each day trying a new authentic national delicacies from Mexico, Israel, Trinidad, Korea, Vietnam, China, England, Poland so many more that it took me two months to lay my swollen hands into a Roti.

“The City of Blinding Lights” was rightfully sung by U2 for New York. You feel the electricity in the air any given night. Times square, the Mecca of murals on titans of concrete is a sight that will keep you buzzing well into the wee hours. All things giant sized.. Paris wheels in toyshops, MTV, NASDAQ, naked cowboy.

I pledged to return to this surreal seaside nook of the woods. An understanding of the cultural soul of the United States dawned upon me while gazing on Lady Liberty. There’s something for everyone….no really…playing football in the park with a team from all corners of the globe, break dancing face off, street artists, trees on buildings, giant squirrel, beautiful people exercising in all known ways, Hotdogs, cops on horses….we haven’t even left the park yet.

The time had come for me to bid adieu to the Apple till another day. Compass bearing north up the Hudson to a hill where I would spend my summer with kids. Grand central with its nervous system and the stars leading us on we’re off, “Billings” next stop!

The Big Hop

Leaves are falling all around,
Its time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged
For such a pleasant stay.

The time had come and I was off on the largest hop of my life. The compass pointed to the Americas and I had set off on my journey to the heart of the enemy…the “Big Apple” they called it. Bags packed with and sweet visions of adventure, fun, exploration, understanding and a traveler’s best tool…no expectations.

M. I. A.

My Apologies folks for my absence. I've taken a big leap across the fence to greener pastures and have not had a decent computer nor the time to update the blog.
Not to worry...all id grand and i'm havin a blast.....in New York!!! :)
Got lots to write soon enough.....done some traveling and got tonnes of photos.
Washington DC, Phillie, Jersy and Woodstock so far. Rockin the free world and livin it up.
Will write more asap. probably in Toronto - Canada.
Cheers and watch this space!

Valley of Gods

November 2005

The overwhelming powers of redemption on a jaded soul, the unbinding vibes in her arms, the acceptance of oneness is what constantly draws me to her. I long to be in her arms again, rise to her sweet fragrance with the morning beams and sleep in her bussom once more.


The bug had bitten us once more the itch on our heels to flee to the hills beckoned us to travel to a favorite haunt for the monsoons. Two monkeys from the land of the Buckingham Canal would join us in the hills shortly. My limber footed friend Arjun and Hari accompanied me to our fondest get away. Tucked away in the misty mountain top is this gift from the heavens, Kodaikanal.

Smiles and hugs greeted us on our arrival as the southern monkeys had arrived before us. We had stumbled upon tales of a secret paradise and decided to take a chance and journey to the unknown. Vegetable vendors, Baskets of Jasmine, Crying babies, sweaty and grumpy locals filled the bus at every stop as we tugged up the hills on a scenic drive for an hour and a half. Finally we had arrived at the last stop, Manavanoor.
Campers club was one of the least visited retreats in the area due to its sublime isolation from civilization. Our lodging was scenically chosen as the highest in the valley. We climbed up the hill to our lodging where we glanced around at a truly divine sight. Looking out in front of us was a wide valley enclosed by a circle of giant hills. Hills in every direction enclosed this valley in its entire splendor. Way down at the base of the valley was a calm and pristine natural lake bordered by an artificial damn. Multitudes of giant timbers in all shapes and sizes carpeted the hills and the valley below.

Overwhelmed by this magical splendor we all dropped our bags and nulled into silence. Stumped in our tracks we spent many ticks of the clock taking in this sight and swallowed mother natures vibes with smiles of oneness and an ease of being at home again. Man had not yet laid his destructive hands on this pristine paradise and all that we gazed upon had been there untouched through the ages. Giant eucalyptus and pine trees dotted the hillsides and herds of sheep played down by the lake. We truly felt like we were in the valley beyond the Garden of Eden. We were now guests at the Valley of Gods.

Our rooms adjoined each other and bordered the lawn. The lawn was the perfect place to chill out and watch the clouds twist and turn as they played with our imaginations. Sitting on tree stumps and plucking blades of grass reminded us of the simple pleasures in life. We were the only tenants of this haunt at the time and Raja of Campers Club treated us to simple home cooked meals and fresh spring water. Raja set up a cozy bonfire that evening which was another spectacle as we were the only lights in sight in the valley.

Dawn was truly a divine experience and brought me closer to the maker than ever before. It had rained the night before and I awoke to a misty morning. It was a cloudy and the sun played “peek a boo” lighting up the valley ever once in while. The mist had blanketed the valley for as far as the eye could see and you could hardly notice the lake from where I stood. I was graced with these moments as God showed me his divine creation and made me realize my place in this world. A sense of nirvana took over this weary eyed follower as I tuned me into the vibes of Gaya.

Later that morning Arjun plotted out a course as we took off on a trek through the valley. We walked past the village after purchasing our “Marco Polo” local beer and headed out with a group of friendly children to the lake. It was a holiday and the kids lead us on to the lake, which showed up at the base of a steep hillock. The chill breeze swept across the lake and brushed our faces with a refreshing fragrance and the smell of rain in the air. Arjun took a stand of a mountain goat and decided that we were to use the unbeaten path and stay clear of the beaten track. This idea turned out to be quite adventurous as we landed up walking through marshlands filled with Alien plants and thickets so dense that our billy goat friend had to get up on his hind legs and thrash about till we found fairer grounds.
We rested on top of a hillock, the trees which resembled as scene from the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur protected by Lancelot and surrounded by the other nights. A few quick puffs and a sip of spring water and we were off once again, heading back to our little nook. By this time I was quite taken aback by the magic playing tricks with my senses and fooling my mind. A sheepish innocence adorned my face with smiles of utter delight that I had found on this beautiful day.

Arjun and me were the only ones left on our final day here. We set out early for another adventurous trek through the valley on a new route. This one proved to be much more arduous than the previous. We found the perfect little nook in the woods near the lake. We caught a few breaths and some munchies under a giant pine whose leaves formed a thick comfy carpet at its base. I shed a tear of happiness as the winds off the lake whistled through the pines and onto my face.

A conundrum of emotions filled my mind that evening, heading back to my mad mad city. Melancholy and happiness filled my thoughts and I realized that I had found true balance in this surreal abode if only for the shortest time.

Manavanoor Jan 2007

Creatures of a Concrete Jungle – The Awakening

In continuation to Darwins Theory of Evolution, we look into the advances of man – Homo Sapien, racing through time to the current day and even daring to catch a peek into the future.
Our three million year journey from the treetops of Africa to civilization in the present day tells an exciting and interesting story of human evolution. Through natural selection and our amazing powers of adaptability we have been refined to a creature that rules his world and are the most advanced and intelligent being on the planet.

Look closer now at the behavioral evolution of this human being.
Starting from our primitive state swinging from tree to tree the whole day, procreation and hunting. Fast forward half a million years. Apes now stand on their hind legs alone. They hunt on the land and make tools from the earth. Homo Sapien has arrived for the 1st time in Central Africa.

Over the last 2 Million years we have moved on from Stone Tools and Animal Skins to a social creature with cultivation, animal rearing and communal order. Man has made giant leaps in the last 5000 years in terms of industrial, social, scientific….development.

Now… pardon the prequel, but getting down to the point! Look at us in the present day, more so a huge section of our race….. as I fondly call them “Creatures of a Concrete Jungle”.
According to statistics, 30+% of our global population fall into the Urban demo graph. This section is the humans who live in an artificial environment and live an unnatural life. If you are reading this article you too are ironically one of the Creatures of a Concrete Jungle.
Look around……all that you see is man made. The computer in front of you computer, your table, the walls that enclose you, the walls outside, cars, the lights. …practically every thing you see is made by man. We have created an environment to fulfill means to never ending needs. We are now slaves of our own doing. We fill our days with complications on top of complications and then try it again the next day. If you look at the behavior of our race from a scientific point of view the following brief observations can be made:
1. Humans have evolved form a swinging primate to desk jockeys.
2. These creatures spend hours on end in a crouched sitting position in front of monitors and machines.
3. Money and monetary benefits is the object of all human activity.
4. Recreation can now be gained in front of a monitor at or by playing games indoors…more so inside a computer programme.

The list goes on and I’m sure you will have many more observations. But the fact of the matter is that we now consider ourselves advanced and highly evolved…but the gruesome facts are that we have taken two steps forward and one step back.
How much longer can this dance go on? How much longer can we fool ourselves? This open secret, which no one dares to whisper, needs to be discussed and action needs to be taken.
This is a serious matter my friends and we need to take drastic measures before it is too late. Have you seen the “Evolution” video of Pearl Jam or watched the “Matrix”? Well that’s your plight if you don’t see the light.

When we were kids we were graced by being kicked out of the house by our parents. Those few who had seen the light, told us to go play some sports or games. Do something which involved some physical activity and which brought about a holistic development. Kids these days spend their free time playing with each other over the Internet or opt for mindless entertainment in front of the idiot box. Only now do I see the light, the problems and the possible solutions.

I fear that in a couple of hundred years we will become obese slug like creatures who are used to harness mental energy to feed machines for so called greater developments. We would have lost the use of our limbs, our senses and what’s more our souls and free minds.

They say the first and the hardest part of a problem is admitting that you have one. Well I hope this article has brutally awoken you to this problem and that you too will act upon it and spread the concern. Think about it and please for your own sake …do something.

Creatures of a Concrete Jungle…..Awake!!!!

Open your eyes, open your minds, open your lives and lets make tomorrow a better world to LIVE in!

Munkey Valley Boom

Febuary 2006 - Goa

Our 1st night in the Motherland and we set out to party!!!

The Goa party scene is constantly evolving as I have seen in my time. Back in the good old days you could party hop out at Anjuna, then move on for a morning set to Arambol, Arpora or anywhere you catch a beat. We would ride out into the night, down those windy narrow trails and actually find a party by stopping the bikes and listening out for the unmistakable sounds of PARTY!! Follow the beat and sure enough you would find a gathering of footstopmers.

This year Anjuna and the regular rave haunts were all dulled out. Its all becoming too commercial with the government sweeping out the tight dollar hippies and laying out the red carpet for the spendthrift yuppies.
We sniffed out the party vibes, hoping to catch the distinct scents of a party. All signs lead us to Sapora. "BIG PARTY SAPORA" brought smiles to my crew. Then Bang in the middle of the road , next to Manu's, were scores of party pilgrims from all over the globe, prepping up for what they are best at. To my delight the streets were clouded with chillum chimneys burning strong in every direction and brews guzzled with smiles and cheer.

We rode down to the sea and yes, yes....its a party!!! :) Beats aloud and bikes stacked up all over the road. After my orgasm from the dozens of Modified India Thumpers we queued up and paid up. (Gone are the days of free party)
There were 14 of the best Dj's all itching to belt out their tunes to a hungry crowd, 800 odd if I could figure. GMS, Astrix, Sun Girl and more were rumoured to be at the console. The Set of course was mind blowing.....20 Bass Bins, 8 Humungous Tops and UV to light up all those pearly teeth.

That uncontrollable, contagious foot stomp had well set in and we prepped up with our own spices by the Chai maa's. The late night set was simply superb with new sounds and not those overdone remixes of the dark lords. Not one of my favourite times to party but Mr. X sure had fun with me.

Ahhh and here comes dawn. My first few glimpses of this divine peice of paradise.....Munkey Valley, the party was set on a flat field at the base of a cliff, and this field was enclosed by the hill on one side and the Sea just off the road on the other. Dawn brought out the funky shades, the giant chillums and the bun n omlets by the chai maa's as everyone prepped up for the most favored set of the party.

Good Morning Everyone!!! Boom!!

With friendly smiles on everyone's faces, the Dj's switched sets in a smooth transition. Foot stomping, you'd think it was a quake, Bass belting, did my heart just miss a beat?
The party rocked on till noon and everyone did swear that it was the perfect release of pent up energy. Party's like these are now a rare item in Goa and we were surely blessed to be part of this one.

The pics were taken in the morning, up on the hill, a bird's eye view of the madness below.

Oh to Party in Goa!!

Boom!!

Shiva at Anjuna

Ages ago in on a beach far far away, an artist with his tools and a faith for the Destroyer, engraved upon this divine place a tribute to the Lord Shiva.
If ever you are on Anjuna Beach, Goa.....wonder off to the extreme right of the beach and look closer at the rocks in front of you.
The story goes that some 50 odd years ago a hippie of some sorts waded through the tides, battled with the sun and banged away with his chisel a sculpture of the Lord Shiva on the rocks of the beach.
This spot truly has a divine vibe to it and its the perfect spot to watch a magnificent sunset.
Look closer...its the head of shiva, adorned with a human skulls necklace and a Hooded Cobra protecting him.
Up on the rocks past Shiva is a Thrishul.
This spot has become one of pilgrimage as we found out from an Old German poet who frequents this "shrine" year after year.

Fields of Gold

"Wake up Yo! Wake up!!"

Its freakin 4:30AM in the morning and I aint done with Carmen just yet. Go Goa!!!!

Me and my bunch of nitwits are off to Goa, the motherland. We were in for a good trip as the signs lead us on.
Sunrise and we find ourselves surrounded by fields and fields of sunflowers. Sunflowers till the eye can see, sunflowers chasing the sun....oh to be a sunflower.

Rainbow Hopper

Hidiee Hay Hidiee Hoo!!!

In the words of my greatest band ever - Led Zeppelin


IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I ROCK N' ROLLED
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I GOT DOWN AND STROLLED
OH LET ME GET BACK LET ME GET BACK LET ME GET BACK
LIVING BABY WHERE I COME FROM


Here's a log , a blog , a journal if you will, of the last few hops I've been on ever since I was bitten by the travel bug. We all need our breath of fresh air and I sure aint a creature of these concrete jungles. Find me in my field of grass, Mother Nature's Son, swaying daisies sing a lazy song beneath the sun... Hang on and join the ride as we ramble on in South India.