kumarpeace's Xanga

Another satisfied Sunday in the back streets of Nairobi...

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 09:59:47 GMT

Sitting in an internet cafe with Eric, Gordon and the boys on a Sunday afternoon after a big night out in downtown Nairobi. Finally broke through to the live music scene here and had an absolute blast with the guys at a bubbling club with a huge outdoor courtyard and an incredible Congolese 8-piece band! With incredibly smooth and flowing guitar licks and three-part vocal harmonies, and of course a kicking drummer and percussionist, these guys were charging the pulse of everyone there and compelling us to dance continually. It was a completely random and unique scene, complete with jubilant drunk men with their friends making a scene, contagiously happy couples getting down, gaudy prostitutes scattered about the place and shaking their thang to anyone and everyone, shady characters in the fringes scheming and drinking and finally us guys, a formittable crew of about ten or so, completely on fire with positive energy and rhythmic addiction!! (I'm feeling like really long sentences today if you haven't already noticed).

I'm hoping it will be the first of many nights on the town from now. We are starting to get a bit more of a steady flow of gigs coming in. Just played our second, at a wedding earlier in the afternoon yesterday and I got some great footage of it on video. Still, I feel like we're just getting started, and especially for myself, I'm just starting to tap into the potential of what this experience can be for me, musically speaking. It hasn't been easy to engage with music here so far. We still have only practiced once and just getting across the city from Peter's place to the east side ghetto where the boys are based is an ordeal in itself. Combine that with incredibly poor ability to communicate due to the insanely high price to use mobile phones and it creates a challenging setting within which to immerse myself in music. But, as they say, pole pole...
And finally it is actually starting to make sense. We have three more gigs on the horizon, coming up this Wednesday, Sunday and next Friday and on top of that I'm inspired to film original versions of each of their songs, all in different settings around Nairobi. We'll see how the project goes...
Also, hoping to escape down to Mombasa and soak up some coastal sunshine as I re-connect with the ocean (you know us Peace Boaters, we can't stay away from the water for too long ;). Hopefully we can fit it in next week, for about five days. Priority number one is to hunt down some waves and a board for a much needed surf! DUDE, I've been dreaming about riding waves just about every night and I don't think it's just from the larium. I've got some serious surfer withdrawls to deal with... Of course, I'm still savoring the memories of all the killer powder I scored snowboarding back in Japan winterland.

Well, the boys are done with their mails and getting very hungry to we are going to go grab some lunch at Jack's place (do you remember him? one of the dancers at the lodge).
Sending all of you huuuuuuge sticky mango hugs and big Kenya smiles!!!!!

sawa sawa

Sunday morning on the East side of Nairobi...

Sun, 05 Mar 2006 07:40:44 GMT

Finally taking the time to write some words here about my "musical journey" in Kenya. It's late Sunday morning and I'm sitting in a little cyber-cafe with Gordon, one of my close musician friends. Still pretty spaced out after a long day and late night yesterday, not sure where to begin...

We had our first gig together yesterday, playing at a school for disabled children on the outskirts of Nairobi. After about an hour or so of crammed, dusty and bumpy matatu bus rides we finally arrived there and I was about to fall over from the experience. Have been a bit under the weather for the last few days, maybe just my system adjusting to life here. Each day when I head to and from Peter's house and the downtown area I get an overabundant dose of toxic exhaustic dust from the clogged and traffic-infested streets of Nairobi and find my nostrils clogged with black funk in the evening. One of the many rough realities of life in the urban developing world. Still, the bumping beats of roots, dancehall, hip hop and all else that's good in the music world blaring from the boosted sound systems in the privately owned "Matatu" buses seems to make up for it all as I hurdle through the urban street scape. Music is here that's for sure and it comes filtering through the exhaust clouds, dusty potholes, rusty rooster crows and shrill voices of kids calling out from the school yards and road sides...

Getting a bit abstract here and didn't even get a chance to convey the beautiful moments at the school gig yesterday. Well, that will come soon.... Time to head back out to the East African sunshine and the new day to come!

Give thanks for life!!!

Off the the motherland, Nairobi, Kenya on the next adventure!!

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 12:09:47 GMT

Wow, it's been a while since I have written some thoughts here. Now I find myself on the brink of a totally new experience and personal adventure!

On my way to Nairobi, on a musical journey....

Off to play music with Peter Orwa and close friends and simply spend time experiencing the passing of days in a totally new part of the world for me. So many exciting moments to come!! Well, in the empty Kansai airport now and feeling the nervous urge to run to my plane. I will be writing in here as often and as much as possible during this adventure. Here's to the new and exciting twists and turns in the path of life!!

Love to you all!

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:51:20 GMT

From the festival streets of midnight Ramadan in Port Said, Egypt

Finally got a little chance to share a few more thoughts from this epic voyage...

It's been incredible so far, everyday filled with new realizations, inspirations, challenges and continued friendship with so many beautiful people, all part of our unique floating village...

Had a mind-blowing snorkel session on the white beaches of sunny Seychelles and then a dazzling two-day safari in Mombasa, Kenya. Among the incredible moments during those enchanted two days, approached a huge pride of lions, more than 15, with bellies full from a nearby water buffalo, and again jamming into the night with the drummers at the lodge, sweating off all of the stress and fatigue from the long days at sea under the Kenyan stars...

And now, off to the pyramids tomorrow morning with all of my new close friends, the team of international teachers and interpreters for another day of wonder...

On board the ship, the days just all smoosh into each other, with almost every minute packed with interesting and moving moments, a blur of concentrated life.

I'm getting more and more responsibility and have been able to focus on really meaningful projects. My emphasis now is on Global and Peace Education both as a subject in itself and as a focus within language education. I have become very close with a profesor from Canada named Kip Cates, who is a specialist in the field of Global Education and has been teaching for over twenty years in the discipline. He came onboard this voyage for the second time, working with me to provide lectures to the passengers and training sessions to the team of English/Spanish teachers, ranging from Developing a Global Identity, Causes of Wars and possible roads to Peace, and Strategies for teaching about the world in the Language classroom. He was one of the most successful guests the Peace Boat has seen, with all of his lectures packed to the gills, usually 200-400 poeple, and after his last lecture people even left in tears or joy and inspiration.

I was also one of hte three panel speakers on a panel discussion/lecture about the post 9/11 world, speaking of how I felt the US has changed since then and how I think we can take steps to make a better world and from the Americans' perspective how we can start to make a better relationship with the world. I used the US Peace Sign flag at the end of my comments (all of which was in Japanese) and people were really moved. There's actually a pic of me holding up that flag in the website report about that lecture (you can also see that on the peace boat website).

So, I guess as you can tell from all the things I have written, this voyage has been going incredibly well and i have really been having a wonderful time! All of the teachers in the team that we selected are totatlly cool and amazing people, so full of energy, friendly and appreciative. They have really helped to make my job and role on board a real pleasure and joy. Of course things are really challenging and especially during the last week, pretty full on non-stop days but above all else, it feels so rewarding ane meaningful.

I organized a prayer and song of peace yesterday at sunset on the top deck, for all of the people in Iraq. It was just as the ship past the closest point to Iraq, a little ways before we entered the Suez canal. Also, I have organized kind of like a Oceanographer project/study group, focusing on dolphins and whales and what we can see from the ship and sooo many people on board are really getting into it! I gave two separate lectures, one on ocean dolphins, the basic facts and strategies for spotting them and for determining the species. About 200 passengers came and really got into it. I made a slide show with many differnt dolphin pics and a bunch of pics and info from the marine mammal guidebook that i picked up last year when mom and I went camping in Pt. Reyes. I've actually become pretty good at spotting dolphins and determining their species. So far we have spotted dolphins almost everyday! Thanks to all of the people searching from all different points of the ship and at all different times of day.

I have seen striped dolphins, common bottle nosed dolphins and possibly rough toothed dolphins.

For the second lecture, I focused on whales first by how to differentiate whales from dolphins, the basic behavior and unique aspects of them, and the species that we are most likely to see. We saw, many many whales spotting on the two days before we arrived in Mombasa and then, two days after we left Mombasa and headed up the east coast of Africa I spotted a whale very close to the ship just drifting and spouting lazily. I could clearly see the shape of its back, dorsal fin or "hump" and the shape of its spout. I have no doubt that it was a Sperm Whale!!

Well, I'm going on and on but I have to wrap it up for now becuase it's creeping up on 1 am and I have to be up at 5 am tomorrow morning to help off load some luggage before I help to lead a tour for the teachers and interpreters to the pyramids!! Another adventure filled momentus day on the Peace Boat experience!!

Much love to you all...

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:52:24 GMT

Fourth Time around and still spinning.......

Finally, after far too long from taking the time to step out of the rapid day to day, I will put some thoughts out to this cyberspace and hope to share some experiences.

I'm already out in Singapore now, in a little back alley internet shop in Little India, decorated with some fantastic home made mandala paintings up on the plain stucko walls.

So, I'm off on my fifth Peace Boat voyage, and fourth full global. Just have a few minutes to spew off some moments and feelings about how it's been so far, but really wanting to make more of an effective effort to write more about this one...

Things were pretty non-stop hectic style before I left Tokyo, naturally. But I have at least survived until Singapore and so far things have went well... aside from the gnarly typhoon that just happened to obliterate Japan days after we left. We had some seriously rough seas and hundreds of seasick passengers, certainly not the best way to be starting a voyage around the world.... The captain had to alter our course drastically and as a result we were unable to stop in Danang, Vietnam, a port which we had planned to be at for two days and the first of the voyage. Instead we went straight to Singapore after 10 long and very full days at sea. I have been involved in organizing and presenting a huge amount of events, seminars, lectures and wild parties/performances already thus far, and although I feel pretty exhausted, at the same time it feels sooo satisfying and inspiring to think about all that has happened in just a fairly short amount of time.

I have the same role onboard as my previous voyage, being the coordinator of the language program onboard and responsible for personal care and program facilitation for all 16 of the teachers that we hired about a month ago back in Tokyo. They are such an incredible cool bunch of people, from over 7 different countries and all with loads of international experiences and crazy stories which they carry with them. I'm definitely feeling like I have a much more comfortable stride going with this experience, now that it's my second time in this role and fourth overall global voyage. I have had so many moments already where I have been able to step back for a second and just give thanks for being part of such an incredible reality. My main goal for this time around is simply to ENJOY myself and not get overwhelmed by it all!! So far, so good...

Sending my love out to all of you and hoping to hear from you soon after you get a chance to read this!!

Keep the fire blazing!!

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Thu, 17 Mar 2005 08:59:07 GMT

Back in Roma again!

Finally I find myself back in the ancient lap of Europe! On my second day here, just checked out of the cool bed and breakfast after a late night of dazzling food, enchanting wine and wild random night clubs with a big group of fellow Peace Boater friends!! I'm off to charge up on some cappucino and then head to the Sistine Chapel to witness Michaelangelo's opus. Then it's simply wandering around the cobbled streets, stumbling upon monument after monument and dodging the Vespa scooting locals and their crazy ways! Then, before I know it I'll be back on the boat bound for Marseilles to lead a soccer exchange tour most likely with a local immigrant team on some pitch tucked away in the captivating Mediterranean landscapes.

Again, my time is almost up for this little session. Realizing that I am developing quite an annoying habit of just plopping out these little entries and not really getting into the thick of it and really giving a taste of what this is all about. I will try to write a worthy entry next time.....

Ciao!!!!!!

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:29:51 GMT

Back from the majestic temples of the Sun God...

Today was a truly special and powerfully moving day. I just got back to Port Said after visiting Cairo and the Pyramids. WOW!! What a truly incredible place!!! I'm still so overwhelmed by the energy and history of that place, just feeling the power and vision of such goliath monuments... I got a huge dose of realization that the realms of our imagination are boundless and the power of humanity to create and express on a scale that is simply otherworldy is limitless. Our lives and actions are not limited by merely the physical dimensions and laws of this universe and our souls have the capability, and more importantly the need to express something truly spiritual and mystical out of the mundain, everyday world. It is all in our minds, our hearts and our souls. All there is for us to do is connect with the power and light within ourselves and bring visions to reality, through a clear connection with a passion... Or something like that?? What do you think?

Well, I only have about half an hour left to roam around this vibrant town full of friendly people with the most striking features. I have a little more Egyptian pounds to blow and already a bag full of fresh falafel with tahini, babaganoosh and all the other good fixings. Don't want to be sucked into cyberspace for too much longer... Next stop is Lybia and a totally new part of the world for me to behold and interact with. I will be in Italy a few days after that, journeying to Rome and the heart of European culture and history, and crazy passionate fashionable people!

All my love and positive vibes to you all!!!!! Now I have to run back on that boat....

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 22:10:36 GMT

Ramblings from the city at the end of the Suez Canal, Port Said...

On a full belly of falafel with a pleasant hooka induced daze...

Well, I'm in an internet cafe in Port Said now and it is very late at night. I just spent a wonderful four hours or so eating loads of falafel, drinking Turkish coffee, smoking a hooka and just walking around this vibrant city full of color and life. Half the time i feel like I am back in an ancient market, passing old fruit venders with carts piled high with giant cabbages and old carrots; fish carts with hungry cats waiting nearby for any scraps that fall to the ground, and old men with thick beards and glasses to match sitting next to sacks of almonds and spices counting money or conversing in thick Arabic with fellow merchants. Big corner coffeeshops full of men of all ages drinking strong black tea, smoking lazily from hookas with eyes glued to the football match on the television screen. Everyone greets us as we walk by, our group of wide-eyed obvious foreignersk, curious to get a feel of what this place is all about, to taste the local delicacies and sample some conversation. It feels so strange and so good to be in this seemingly fundamentalist and intolerant part of the world, the gate of the middle east, a central point of the Muslim world, and yet to be treated with such respect and kindness as we fumble around their streets. It is so important for someone like me from the US to come to this part of the world and experience the daily life first hand, greet some local people and recognize our differences, appreciate the common person's decency and kindness, and then share these experiences with those from my own culture who don't have the chance to travel beyond their own daily world. Times like these remind me how precious this wild adventure is that I am on, a whirlwind voyage around the world, to stop in the not so traveled to places and find a chance, however small or brief, to meet and interact with everyday people on the streets who are just as curious to see me passing by as I am to catch a glimpse of them and their culture.

OK, I'm rambling now. I think it's time to head back to that big white boat, an aquatic pegasus bound to continually sprint around the world, connecting the oceans... Tomorrow, it's an early rise and then to the Pyramids!!! for more glory for my heart to witness!!!

Sending you all my love and warmest greetings!!!! Goodnight...

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:36:23 GMT

"A human tea bag in Cochin" a truly aruvedic experience...

Finally back off the boat again, or should I say already? Time and experiences are flying by but slowly diminishing in the busy intensity and finally improving in the fun and quality times department. Just yesterday was the most amazing day at sea so far. Incredibly glassy deep blue India ocean and sooo much sea life it was amazing! I saw a pod of dolphins during lunch off the back of the ship, about 30 or so and got a really good close look at them. Later I checked the marine mammals guide book that I have been studying and I am almost certain they were Dwarf Spinner Dolphins, common to the Indian ocean just off the southern tip of the continent. That would have been more than enough to totally keep me stoked for the entire day, but it just got better.

After spotting a few more dolphins and a couple sea turtles just floating by during my brief moments on the top deck, the finale of the day came just before I went back inside to prepare for the teachers' meeting. I went out to the front deck to soak in the beautuful scenery one last time and low and behold hardly more than two hundred meters dead ahead was a clear spout and up arose the giant back and small dorsal fin of an enormous whale (I'm pretty sure they were either Byrde's Whales or Sei Whales). Just as I saw the one, another surfaced close by and they were hardly moving, just kind of coming up for some air and soaking in the setting sun perhaps? We came closer and closer and went right by them, just at that moment one of them sky-hopped (a term to mean sticking their head out of the water) and I could see clearly from the blowholes all the way to the front of the mouth. I followed them as we passed, walking down the back of the ship, and the longer I watched, the more whales started to surface. By the time I was standing at the back rail of the ship surrounded by excited passengers and other teachers who came running to my calls of "Whale!! Whale!!" there were at least 7-10 whales spouting here and there and just swimming around in a loose group, all in a very calm and slow manner. Could they have been feeding?

That sighting was perhaps the best I have had so far, especially because it was totally out of the blue (pardon the pun). Feeling absolutely recharged and invigorated now as I face the rest of this incredible journey!!!!

By the way, I'm in Cochin now and just got a most delightfully relaxing aruvedic oil massage and steam bath, where I sat in this enclosed box on a wooden chair with just my neck and head sticking out and proceeded to sweat like a surrendering madman after lifetimes of torment. I chuckled lightly to myself as I realized I was literally a human tea bag in a big hot Aruvedic tea pot...

This life is incredible in all its perfectly random moments!!!!!!

Love to you all, hope you keep reading and checking up on my adventures, and above all I wish you adventures no matter how small in your daily lives!

Namaste!

Friday, February 11, 2005

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 06:10:05 GMT

Back in Vietnam!!!

High on deliciously thick Vietnamese coffee I've found a few moments to jump into the nearby internet cafe and jot down some thoughts in the midst of my Peace Boat madness. I've barely had a moment for my own thoughts and reflections in the last nine days or so, basically since I got on the ship. Coordinating a team of 16 teachers and being involved in many other elements of the ship fills my brain to the brim and challenges all elements of my identity and inner energy. All in an incredibly satisfying good way though... I can't help but write about these thoughts before anthing else as, at times that is all that is in my head.

I'm back in Danang, Vietnam, for the third time, this time working as a tour leader on the huge exchange tour with about 200 young participants from our voyage and the same number of local university students. So much young energy and bursting excitement that we all just get swept up in the positive energy, dancing and singing our heads off...

I can't believe it but I have to run out already and make it back the meeting place as my free time has already expired... I must find more time to write these thoughts and reflections ahead of time and just download them at the next internet stop I have. Here I go, further into the world and this crazy unique trip...

Love to you all!!!