It rained today. The first rains at any place tastes pure. I remembered the time we ran from the hostel to the park to catch the first drops: a beautiful, mad rush.
The rain carried mixed feelings: I will be heading home soon, after 8 months or so, which is an exciting thought. Meeting up old friends and being able to play are reasons to be happy. On the other hand, I realised I won't be a part of this city anymore. Thanks for all the Phish.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Thursday, May 19, 2005
In tide country
Thanks to Mixie for leading me on to the The Hungry Tide. I started reading it last night while waiting up for him, came back today and bought it, and finished it up in one go: which is pretty amazing for me.
The book brought back some vivid memories.
Bishupishi was posted in Goshaba for a WHO assignment when I visited the Sunderbans with her, for the first time, probably as a 12-13-year old. I was transported back both to that time, and the more recent trips through 2002-'03. The novel brought it all rushing back.
Have you ever experienced night? ASfloat on the Raimangal on a moonless night, sitting at the bow of the steamer that was our home for three days on water, I understood a little of what a 'night' can be. It is awe-inspiring, terrifyingly, but it's also supremely beautiful. The darkness that descends on the creeks and the rivers of the Sunderbans is almost sexual. It is its own, something that can never be found in any other forest in the world. Untamed, uninhabited, untouched by civilisation. It's pure: the pull that you feel here comes from the gut. The "Tide" delivers that pull.
The book brought back some vivid memories.
Bishupishi was posted in Goshaba for a WHO assignment when I visited the Sunderbans with her, for the first time, probably as a 12-13-year old. I was transported back both to that time, and the more recent trips through 2002-'03. The novel brought it all rushing back.
Have you ever experienced night? ASfloat on the Raimangal on a moonless night, sitting at the bow of the steamer that was our home for three days on water, I understood a little of what a 'night' can be. It is awe-inspiring, terrifyingly, but it's also supremely beautiful. The darkness that descends on the creeks and the rivers of the Sunderbans is almost sexual. It is its own, something that can never be found in any other forest in the world. Untamed, uninhabited, untouched by civilisation. It's pure: the pull that you feel here comes from the gut. The "Tide" delivers that pull.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Things we said
Past three days since I came back have been a bit of a daze: I slipped and fell on the bathroom floor yesterday, too weak coz I almost skipped food for the last 48 hours altogether.
Took the mag's number from Dhananjay, also have an appointment fixed with Sudhir on Wednesday.
A different city, a different life. And what have I become but a sucker for experience? New sights and smells and touches and tastes.....and things we said.
Tutu called me, said she wants to talk to me about a lot of things. Was busy on the page: couldn't talk to her.
There's an old D-for Brother tune that's racing across my mind, donno why: it's called I'll Always Be With You. It's like a lullaby, you know, caresses you to sleep. I miss my room and my bed in Kolkata.
Took the mag's number from Dhananjay, also have an appointment fixed with Sudhir on Wednesday.
A different city, a different life. And what have I become but a sucker for experience? New sights and smells and touches and tastes.....and things we said.
Tutu called me, said she wants to talk to me about a lot of things. Was busy on the page: couldn't talk to her.
There's an old D-for Brother tune that's racing across my mind, donno why: it's called I'll Always Be With You. It's like a lullaby, you know, caresses you to sleep. I miss my room and my bed in Kolkata.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Always With Me, Always With You
Saw Satch live last nite at Bombay. Worth the three nights of no sleep, a confused head, a flat broke pocket, emotional upheavels and being COMPLETELY alone at a gig of this stature. Worth every damn second of it all.
At over three hours, this was Satch's setlist (approximately):
Up In The Sky
House of Bullets (segues into)
Cool #9
Satch Boogie
Time
Up In Flames
Always With Me, Always With You (Makes me wish I'd chosen the guitar as an instrument; live, that wish TREBLED)
Hordes of Locusts
Summer Song
(normally, this is where the intermission in Joe's gigs come up, as mrte informed sources say. There was NO intermission in this concert!)
Sleepwalk
Starry Night
Moroccan Sunset (I was thinking...."I love Manu's groove better on the record..")
Bamboo (Immediately after that comment, Jeff makes me eat my words with a hi-hat pattern that flips me over!)
Strange
Searching
Hands In The Air
Psycho Monkey (Aggression, yeah?)
Is There Love?
War
(encore)
Flying In A Blue Dream (Classics they come)
(one more encore)
Surfing With The Alien
(yet one more....)
Friends
Met Rishi at the queue. Didn't know Carnage was his band. Wanted to meet Dwight, but ultimately couldn't manage it. Also couldn't meet Mixie.
At over three hours, this was Satch's setlist (approximately):
Up In The Sky
House of Bullets (segues into)
Cool #9
Satch Boogie
Time
Up In Flames
Always With Me, Always With You (Makes me wish I'd chosen the guitar as an instrument; live, that wish TREBLED)
Hordes of Locusts
Summer Song
(normally, this is where the intermission in Joe's gigs come up, as mrte informed sources say. There was NO intermission in this concert!)
Sleepwalk
Starry Night
Moroccan Sunset (I was thinking...."I love Manu's groove better on the record..")
Bamboo (Immediately after that comment, Jeff makes me eat my words with a hi-hat pattern that flips me over!)
Strange
Searching
Hands In The Air
Psycho Monkey (Aggression, yeah?)
Is There Love?
War
(encore)
Flying In A Blue Dream (Classics they come)
(one more encore)
Surfing With The Alien
(yet one more....)
Friends
Met Rishi at the queue. Didn't know Carnage was his band. Wanted to meet Dwight, but ultimately couldn't manage it. Also couldn't meet Mixie.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Being real
Question: How do you express care?
Answer: By being real. Being true to what I want to do in life, loving all the things that are my real company: my sticks, the hats and pedals. The smell of new brassware, oiling the hi-hat clutch and the boom arms, polishing the chrome surface. My magazines that teach me lessons and exercises, the tapes and CDs that teach me all the time. And somehow, somewhere in between, I know I made the right decision. Time heals.
Answer: By being real. Being true to what I want to do in life, loving all the things that are my real company: my sticks, the hats and pedals. The smell of new brassware, oiling the hi-hat clutch and the boom arms, polishing the chrome surface. My magazines that teach me lessons and exercises, the tapes and CDs that teach me all the time. And somehow, somewhere in between, I know I made the right decision. Time heals.
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