For our final week in Japan, we visited some friends in the quiet beach town of Kamakura. This also got me close enough to Tokyo for a planned musical collaboration. The absence of tourists made for peaceful exploring, and on a clear day, you could see Mt. Fuji from the beach.
Kamakura, Japan
Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Miyama; Japan
While based in Kyoto, I took a couple of excursions. The first was to the whispering bamboo forest of Arashiyama. The second was to the Fushimi Inari shrine, with its pathways lined by vermilion torii gates. The final was out to the countryside village of Miyama, with its traditional thatched roof homes. (Location for Miyama village is Kayabuki-no-Sato)
Kyoto, Japan
After spending two months in India, we set our sights on Japan. We landed in Osaka and immediately jumped on a train to Kyoto where we would spend the next two weeks. This album is a collection of daily life scenes, meanderings, and things that catch my eye.
Mysuru, India
We boarded a train in Bengaluru and traveled southwest a few hours to spend the final week of our 2-month trip in Mysuru (Mysore). This modestly-sized city hosts an amazing palace, is easily walkable, and had a relaxed atmosphere. It was a great way to wrap up our trip in India.
Chennai, India
Arriving to India, I discovered that my passport was nearly full, and I would need another. To pick it up, one morning I bounced from Bengaluru to the consulate in Chennai (eastern coast), and walked the city until my return flight later that afternoon. I met some great folks along the way.
Goa, India
A week after arriving to Bengaluru, we took a 1wk side trip to Panjim, in the western coastal state of Goa. The Sur Jahan festival was taking place, and we went to hang out. It's run by my Kolkata friends at Banglanatak dot com, and I would meet, hear, and hang with musicians from Sweden, South Korea, Denmark, Reunion, Hungary, and India.
Bengaluru, India
After spending 4 weeks in northeastern India, we headed to the southern city of Benglauru, capital of the state of Karnataka. We would make this our home base for two weeks, with side trips to Goa, Chennai, and Mysuru (photo albums on their way).
Paruldanga, India
For one day and one night, I took a trip to the village of Paruldanga, near Shantiniketan, a few hours outside of Kolkata. There I stayed at the home of Rina and Dibakar Das Baul, spending the evening playing music with them and other members of their community.
