Last day in Arambol

So it's Monday Jan 18, we've been in Arambol since Wed. night, and it's time for our trip into "the real India". And even though Arambol is more world travellers than Indians, it has been a fantastic five days of decompressing, getting over jet lag, hanging out with our friend Leita, and finding our way around this cool little beach town.

Today we walked around past the end of this beach, past beautiful rock formations to the next beach to the north. And right beside that beach is a little sweet water lake, so we camped out under a palm branch and swam in the lake and rested and read and talked and ate and drank, avocado and cheese and tomatoes and onion and bread and passion fruit and beer and... Definitely not at all hard to take.

We will take some new friends out to dinner tonight, they have been welcoming and hospitable to us. There is live music and Italian food waiting.

Tomorrow we take a bus to Margao, then an overnight "sleeper" bus with beds to Hampi, which is inland the next state south of Goa, Karnataka. There are amazing ruins and rock formations there, and it's supposed to be fantastic. I'll let you know...

We are realizing that travel time and distances are long and far in India, and we have to stay aware of not trying to cover too many places, or else we could get really run down. So slowly gradually we are heading south towards Kerala and more adventures.

Arambol is a little bit strange, with a real scene of travellers and "expats" who spend six months a year here, some since the 60's. There's one dude who sings at the jam night at Loekie's where I have played twice who is almost 80, has been here since the sixties, and sings songs like "Love Life" and "Love is a Gift" and so on with a little button accordion. He gets everyone going... I ran into him just now on the path to this Internet Cafe, and we hugged and shared appreciations for each other's gifts. Very cool...

There is a strong Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda and healing arts focus. Also lots of drinking and charra smoking and general carousing. Some of it is genuine, some not so much. We met a beautiful Indian yoga instructor named Balu, who was definitely a wonderful and humble teacher. We see other people dressed like ninja gurus, looking like they are on the hunt. Sweet and gentle locals, and others that scowl and pester and hawk stuff you don't want at you repeatedly on the beach. If I wanted a taxi I would ask for one!

The roads are shared with Brahma cows, some pigs and dogs, walkers bikes scooters motorcycles cars vans trucks autorickshaws and buses, all trying to squeeze into the same two inches. Rules are nothing, horns are everything!

So many experiences already, and we are just beginning!

Second India Post

We are starting to settle into the scene at Arambol a little. Our friend Leita is a great person to hang with, and she has spent four winters in the area and around India, so she knows what’s going on, and has been very helpful with advice and tips and tricks. So far everything has been pretty smooth, sleep is a little uneven, but we can nap if we want so it’s not too hard to take.

Today is Friday, and through Dylan, the owner of the best coffee shop in town, we heard about a Jewish community right here in Arambol. Bretzlav Jews from Israel have established a “Bait Yehudi” right off the main strip, and so we dropped by to say hello yesterday, and were immediately invited for Kabbalat Shabbat this evening. Apparently they play lots of music (not on Shabbat, only voices) and are very joyful so we are looking forward to spending our first Shabbat evening with them.

Besides that, we are trying to decide how long to stay here and possible next moves. We could easily hang here for a week, not too hard to take at all, but I think Leita has a little adventure in mind, so we shall see.

So far no real health issues (knock on wood!), though I do get some sniffles periodically, not sure why, it’s not a cold. Stomach is fine so far (knock on wood!), being very careful with water. The food is excellent here, and it’s even okay to have salads and tomatoes and such in some of the restaurants. This place really caters to the “tourists”, though some of those tourists have been here for thirty years! Last night there was a jam at a restaurant, and one of the performers is almost eighty and has been here since the 60’s. He played a little accordion and sang some “hippy” songs “Live Life” was one, a little cheesy but at the same time pretty cool. The lineup was a real mixture of folky players, then one crazy guy dressed like Elvis who did a medley including Tobacco Road, In a Gadda Da Vida (!), People are Strange, Light My Fire, and on and on (get the hook!). There was a swing band with an Armenian, a Ukrainian and a German violinist. There was a French “dude” (his words) who kind of barged on stage and wanked for a while, so it was a real mix. I played three guitar songs early, and people sang along and were very appreciative. A lively crowd for sure!

Amy’s off to an Ashtanga Yoga class this morning, which is a little too strenuous for me, so I will walk the beach, get a little organized, and meet her and Leita at Dylan’s around 11 am.

This is such a great place to land, unwind and get used to being in India. It’s kind of in between the “real” India and a beach hangout that really could be anywhere – reminds me of Santa Theresa in Costa Rica, places in Mexico, and so on. The waters are warm, the beach is beautiful and sandy, the weather is great, and I just feel very fortunate and blessed to be able to be here. I highly recommend it!

When you think about it, if you could save up a few thousand dollars, you could easily spend a winter here, no problem. It’s not so hard to take! And especially if you are interested in Yoga, Meditation, Healing Arts, Ayurveda, music, art, etc., it’s a great place to be!

1st post from India!

Well, here we are! Amy and flew from Toronto to Brussels, Brussels to Mumbai. Left Toronto at 6:25 pm arrived in Mumbai next day at 11:30 pm! Stayed near the airport at the Iskcon Guest House - address Hare Krishna Land (really!) - Juhu. Juhu is a suburb of Mumbai, and the guest house was very nice, hot shower, etc. We walked around the area in the morning, tried to get my Blackberry unlocked so we could put a SIM card in it (unsuccesful) and experienced the autorickshaw driving in Mumbai traffic! Unbelievable - lanes? Traffic lights? No matter!
Anyhow we survived, and got back to the airport in time to fly to Goa, taxi to Arambol beach, found a nice guest house for $10 a night, near our friend Leita's. Spent today with Leita, walking around the town, learning the ropes, getting over some jet lag. Hatha Yoga class at 4 pm, visited the beach for sunset, then played an open stage at a restaurant. It's 11:30 here, and time for bed.
First impressions? It's a wonderful place here, most people are incredibly sweet, and so far everything has gone smoothly (well almost everything). We have a cell phone now, and are sending out the number to our kids so they can be in touch. Tomorrow is another day! I will have more time and energy to write another time. Good night!

Amy and Paul's Big Adventure!

So today we leave to visit "Grandmother" India! We will be traveling and living for two months there, exploring culture, history, Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation, music, friends, ashrams, and more. It's been overwhelming getting ready, and I feel a combination of elation, excitement, nervousness and anticipation. Here we go!

We had a fine going away gig on Saturday evening at The Annex Live, with Shira, Richard Keelan, Joey Goldstein and Derek Downham. A nice turnout of family and friends (thank you for you support), and a great evening of music! Good way to celebrate the start of a new journey.

I will try to blog periodically as we go along, and Amy has her blog too: http://amyblock-livingintentionally.blogspot.com/.

So take care friends, be well, and we will be in touch!

~Paul

It's been a busy couple of weeks of music! Since I embarked on this new journey of music as a career (for the second time in my life) it has been a slow process of building activities, and I believe the momentum is now building. Of course Amy and I are about to depart for India in January so that will put a hold on Toronto activities for a couple of months. Nevertheless it has been a very busy and rewarding time here. Music Night at Darchei Noam on Dec. 5 was a great success, with 170 people showing up, to my utter amazement and appreciation! And the music was special with my regular "posse" and some added congregational members adding their musical touches. So that was the first gig. On Dec. 9 I had the honour of serenading the dinosaurs at a corporate gig for Annie DiMilo (singer) at the ROM. Then on Dec. 12 Paul Gellman Band rocked at the Axis. That plus coaching my students has made the time very productive. So perhaps this is a sign of things to come! I am letting you and everyone know that I am available to help in all kinds of musical projects, either as bandleader, musical director, sideman (sideperson sounds lame), accompanist, arranger, producer, session man, coach, teacher, whatever!!! Well almost whatever...

The truth is, while I won't likely get rich doing it, I gain many riches from the work, doing something I love, and spreading the knowledge and experience to others. So this is a great thing!

Other than that, I am focused on preparing for the Voyage to India, doing research, planning, visas, inoculations, etc. We are getting excited, and trust this will be a great adventure! I have dreamed of visiting India since I was a teenager, and both Amy and I are looking forward to a different world, exploring history, nature, yoga, meditation, Ayurvedic practice, music and who knows what else!

Happy Channukah, happy holidays, happy times!

U.S. Thanksgiving

So we're in Connecticut celebrating with family, and it's pretty cool...

Also checking out Peter Himmelman, an L.A. based musician who hosts a live to web show from his home studio every Tuesday. What a cool idea - self broadcasting through streaming video on the web. And I'm still trying to get some video clips on Youtube. We have a lot to learn!

Which by the way is part of this new song I've been struggling with. I worked some with my buddy Frankie on some lyrics and they are starting to emerge, but boy! It can be so difficult to find the words to express the feelings sometimes! Music is not usually hard, but WORDS!!!!

So the ideas are starting to come, slowly slowly. I'm hoping to have the song done for my next gig, but it's coming fast, so I'm not sure. Anyhow, a few gigs coming up that I'm excited about, and I am learning new skills, new tools, and slowly slowly progressing.

Why is it that we are so connected to our cell phones, pdas, computers, Facebook, email, and all, and have trouble connecting person to person? Turn it all off and look me give me some eyeball, some face time, some full attention, and I will give you the same.

Why is that with global warming, the world is feeling colder?

When the darkness comes, what do we do?

When the darkness comes, I will wait...

When the darkness comes, I will be true...

When the darkness comes, there will be new light.

Like night vision, the shapes will emerge and we will see again.

At the mercy of the mystery
I will be still and wait for the light to emerge again...

~P

Song trapped in my heart

So I have been struggling to get some new songs written, lots of musical ideas, a few (so far) instrumentals over the past months, but WORDS!! Anyhow, I sat down yesterday and this is what came to me:

I have a song trapped in my heart.
The words sit there, the emotions
Like a lily in a pond just out of reach
I'm trying to touch them and it hurts.

What am I trying to say?
What is the "message"?
What needs to come out?

It's
happy and sad
clear and confused
hopeful and depressed
cynical and optimistic
a dream and a harsh reality.
It is so mixed up
like me.

I have a song in my heart
and I want to sing it
but it sticks in my throat
I croak like a frog.

I suppose a frog's croak is also a song.