In the Kumaon Himalayen Mountains

We arrived in Almora more than 2 weeks ago, and have been staying on Kaser Devi ridge, or Crank's ridge, since then, enjoying an incredible view of the snow capped Himalayan glaciers, which appears amazingly close to us.
The people are incredibly nice and have shown us many traditional dances and traditions. There is a strong musical culture here, and during Holi, the festival of colors, everyone was in high spirits and sings and dancing for around 6 days in a row. 

Geohack for Almora, Utterkhand, India

We went to Jageshwar and acquired some on the sacred Deodo (Ceder) wood and bark. We also visited an a\incredible cave temple deep underground, which was consecrated by shankaracharya in the 10th century. 

Internet access in only through an internet cafe a half kilometer down the road, so I am not online often.

Arrived at the Maha Khumbh in Allahabad

We have arrived in Allahabad after a short flight this morning. We woke at 6 am and caught a flight at 10.

We went to the meeting point of the Ganges and Yamana Rivers and splashed the sacred water on our heads, and gave offerings of flowers, incense, and fine camphor. Sadly the Naga babas and the Juna Akara have left already for Varanasi, where we will be going in a few days if not tomorrow for Shivaratri, which is on the 10th.

The energy is still amazing, though admirably much less intense than during the main bathing dates. It struck us that virtually no westerners are here at all, the majority of people being Indian pilgrims. Many rudrushka mala beads are for sale, along with conches, toys, and anything else you can imagine.

Allahabad is amazing, filled with peddle tricycle rickshaws and packed with traffic.

Current toolkit for instrument building

Got a cheap Chinese Swiss army knife, a box cutter, a cheap serrated stainless steak knife for precision cuts, and m-seal, which is a epoxy putty found fairly cheap (30 rupees for 100 grams) and quite handy for quick builds. Almost bought a wood carving toolkit for 170 rupees ($3.40) in Gokarna, but passed because of the weight, I also ended up ditching the large crude hand forged blade that cost 60 rupees (around a buck) and my boxcutter on the way to the airport today. Got a good blade in the Mysore market for 20 rupees, but it ended up dying the pomegranate we ate jet black in some strange reaction with the surface, though it is lightweight and good steel, so I ended up checking it with my tools today's while flying.

Also included in this post is my first string instrument made in India. I built it two weeks ago, but only last week finished it with tuning pegs and strings. Tuning pegs are an excellent simple tech for string instruments, and are quite easy to fashion with a knife and hard stick. Tuning pegs and tuning machines seem almost impossible to find for sale, so everything was made by hand. The hole can be awed with a half scissor blade to made a round a tapered hole. The pegs were first goan driftwood bamboo, then palm tree wood, and now some random hardwood from Hampi. Working on one more string instrument which will be longer with the bowl more centrally located, and with heavier strings. I want to make a bow to experiment with playing it like a violin or fiddle.

Current trend with my guitars is a metallic resonator for analog amplification. I used the bottom of a coke can in my first guitar which is quite effective especially with higher frequencies.

Hampi is incredible beautiful, both geologically and historically rich with temples everywhere. We visited the hanuman temple where hanuman was born, on top of a mountain covered in monkeys, with a long steep staircase climbing up to an incredible peak and temple. There is a drum circle every sunset like arambol, albeit smaller but on top of a mountain with an incredible view. We found the Italian baba living amongst the ruins in the center of Hampi, he has been here 40 years and ha become a well respected baba with an incredible home. He has Internet and was on Facebook, and I helped him fix his keyboard.

Hampi to Gokarna to Mysore to Delhi to Varanasi

We just left Gokarna on the 27th, and arrived in Mysore at 5:10am the 28th.

Gokarna is incredibly beautiful and quiet. I feel knowing what I know now, that Gokarna is the place to chill for a few months, versus goa. We spent 2 weeks in Gokarna on half-moon beach, which has no power and is Ina very natural state with agrarian farming happening in a prehistoric fashion, utilizing a cantilever for irrigation the fields from the well, to using large beasts of burden for plowing and running tools. Cow shit, like in much of indianis a very valuable resource, used for homebuilding, floor building and

Mysore is an incredible city rich with crafts and artisans, in addition to producing huge amounts of sandalwood and other essential oils. We saw the traditional method of making incense and beadies ( coming soon to a youtube video) and visited a essential oil distributed and manufacturer. We also visited Swamy G, Ira's guru in Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit, which was an enlightening visit, I am homered to hear him speak and have the opportunity to ask questions to such a humble scholar.


Took the plane this morning at 8:45am to Delhi from Mysore after leaving at 3 am with a cab to the airport in Bangalore. Had our flight get delayed in Delhi after two problems with the plane, first a plane had a technical problem and a backup plane was brought, then after everyone getting onto a Bombardier DHC-8 and taxi'ng for takeoff, we we're told there was another problem shortly after being told to prep for takeoff and the preliminary spinup of the props we were told there was another problem which took an hour to fix, then we had to wait for paperwork to clear, by the time that was settled we were told it was too late to land in Allahabad and that the flight was canceled. We ended up going into New Delhi to Par Gung. Delhi is an incredible city, and Par Gung (or Par Grunge as it is affectionately called) is beautifully rich with street life.

In the morning at 6 am we try again to fly towards Allahabad, this time we fly to Varanasi and then will take a taxi to Allahabad. Hopefully all goes well today, at least tonight we sleep In a nice hotel with hot water and a lcd tv for a change.

Leaving Goa

Were heading to the train station at 5 am this morning to go to Hampi. Planning to get a third class non ac train, as anything else is unavailable at such short notice.

There was another accident in our extended circle, this time nothing serious, but a warning nonetheless. Be cautious with bikes and scooters here, as road conditions and the state of the bikes can be dismal. Scooters might be easy but can give a false sense of confidence, and loose traction easily, plus are much less stable at any speed.

Made an instrument from a clay curd ( yogurt) pot and some bamboo driftwood, held together with epoxy putty. The tone is good, and it is fretless, but still learning to play it. The hardest part was the tuning pegs, and two broke, but have now made them from some hardwood other than bamboo which seems more durable. Still haven't glued the bridge as I need glue and still deciding on its configuration.

Will report back soon.

Learning Hindi and Devenagri

We have been pushing each other to learn Hindi. Also trying to learn Devenagri, the hindi and Sanskrit script, which would be a great help.
I have made flash cards, and both Myles and I got good Hindi books. Also practicing writing the script as often as possible. Hindi is all phonetic, each vowel or consonant is independently pronounceable, making it easy to pronounce written text if I can remember all 12 vowels and 36 consonants. Reading signs in Devenagri is important even of you can't yet understand the words.

Sanskrit uses the same character set, with slightly different rules, so this is another goal to learn. After sitting through a few Bhagavad Gita lectures in sanskrit with Ira and Shyamdas, I am inspired to learn this beautifully concise and philosophical language. Each word seems to contain incredibly deep and profound meaning.

I thought to do a Sesame street style class, as in today is brought to you by the letter प pa, the number १३ तेरह terah and the word बड़ा bara (big). I want to get a small chalkboard for this purpose. I can count to twenty, but still working on larger numbers.

My vocabulary is limited, but expanding. I have been advised Mersin in an area lacking English is the best way to pick it up, which has been experience for other languages.

In memory of Shyamdas

Shyamdas passed away last night after a motorcycle accident shortly after a party.

Alison is currently in a hospital but stable and will hopefully be able to leave soon, she is going to make a full recovery.

Ira mentioned that auspiciously Shyamdas died in Brindavan hospital, Brindavan being the birth place of Krshna, a sacred pilgrimage site, and Sham Das' home in India.

Everyone is in a state of shock and mourning here in Mandrem, there are many here that knew him well and most of us have spent a lot of time with him the past few weeks.

Ira and Shyamdas had been reading through the Gita in Sanskrit, and I was honered to sit quietly through these talks in rapt attention.

Sophia was truly the heroine last night and was critical in the post accident medical treatments, from being the first at the scene to the end, taking charge and coordinating urgent care in addition to first aid and mental support.

Shyamdas was in great spirits and truly went out doing what he loved in devotion to Krshna, surrounded by loved ones and friends. His devotion to Krshna showed in every action, and his mind was in a very peaceful and loving state the preceeding week.

We will all miss a kindred spirit, friend, guru and scholar. this has shocked everyone by it's suddenness.

RIP Shyamdas
अँ Aum (Om) Krshna

-Alex