Hi folks,

This is my last night in India. Tomorrow morning I fly from Kolkata to Bangkok.

I'll be spending the next week or so on an island with my beloved, so until I
arrive in Japan on April 8, I won't be able to check or reply to emails.

I may write a fuller report then but for the brief news for now is:

The Inaugural "Ashu Babu Memorial Concert" was a GREAT SUCCESS!!! At the start
of the evening there were about 1500-2000 people in attendance, the biggest
concert I've ever seen in Varanasi. First item was Smt. Vaswati Mishra (Kathak
dance) followed by Dr. Aditi Chakraborty (vocal). Then came the highlight of
the evening, Pt. Debu Chaudhuri (sitar). Unfortunately for me I didn't see his
performance as I was focusing on my performance with Jimi-san next up. We
played at about midnight to an audience of about 400 people and the response
was excellent. I think a lot of people were very surprised.

Since the concert I've been running around the country - first a few days in
Delhi and Agra sightseeing with my parents, then back through Varanasi for
final packing and negotiating Holi. (Holi is one of the biggest festivals in
India - the whole country becomes a waterbomb/waterpistol warzone. I arrived
in Varanasi the morning before, packed during the battle, and zipped off to the
station through the deserted aftermath.) Now a couple of days in Kolkata
packing and sending tabla home and it's on to the next chapter...

Love to all
Shen
Aum Mani Padme Hum

shen@...
http://www.ethnosuperlounge.com