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I am a 72 year old American living in Goa, India and have taken up solo unsupported Bikepacking or ultra lite cycle touring over the past few years. I loved the idea of ultra lite and on my Open U.P. carbon fibre cycle with Adipura bags I started in south India exploring the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. I didn’t start blogging until later but these huge states are wonderful for cycle touring.and they can all be found on Strava. Along the way I have been inspired by some remarkable people who have done impressive feats on their bicycles. Avinash Noronha”s blog (cycling monks) was a direct motivation to do something similar.and I converted my blog musicmumbai.Wordpress.com which was all about my previous passion North Indian classical music into a blog about my cycle touring.
hi, I was a very big fan of Bhimsen Joshi. I heard him many many times in concert and if ever I was disappointed it would have been because of fatigue and ignorance (mine of course). So often he came at the end of all night programs! His total involvement in his music was impressive. I read an interview with him years ago that had an important effect on me as a student of music in his comments on the bandish. No matter how many times he sang over and over the same bandish, he would never be uninterested or bored with it, and thus neither would the listening public. He was straightforward and unpretentious. Back in the 1970s and 80’s, being really ignorant in Indian music I was much more stimulated by the visual rather than the aural and his theatrical dramatics brought the music alive to me in a very moving way. When the rumor went around, I guess it was the early 80’s that Bhimsen had given up the drinks many people thought that his music would cease to be as effective. How wrong he proved them! The personality, the total emotional involvement and the power of his music could very easily captivate any auditorium. Jon B. recently related a concert he had attended in Calcutta at the enormous Netaji stadium where Bhimsen had mesmerised the audience. After him Ustad Vilayet Khan who oddly had chosen the same raga was unable to make an impression. How lucky we are to have hundreds of hours of recordings. I will always be listening and getting inspiration.
Hey Jim, Nice Blog! I have to get Judy to come with me to India for a bike ride! It was so nice meeting you last night. Sue
Thanks Sue