Arriving, Departing, Arriving

Transiting Changi

My flight arrived in Singapore's Changi Airport at just after 5 in the morning. My flight to Chennai (Madras) left at 9 that evening. I had almost booked the minimum 6 hour stay in the transit hotel but decided that the few hours sleep I had caught on the plane would hold me over. It was a successful plan. I was thinking of picking up my bag and exiting for my transit lounge at the budget terminal. The women at the information desk told me to just leave my bag and stay in the Terminal One transit lounge. I could collect my bag later from lost and found. Boy, was that a good idea!

For those of you who have not been in Changi Airport, it is the best airport that I have passed through. The transit area in Terminal One is two levels. The lower level is the 'transit mall'. However, in addition to the large duty free shops, the obligatory bar and a couple light eating places. there are other things for the comfort of the traveller.

If you want to watch TV, there are six large screens in one area each tuned to a different channel with comfortable easy chairs containing speakers in the arms.


A massage? There is a parlour with a large variety of choices.



There are two clusters of a dozen computers on stands that are free to use for broadband access to the internet. You have to stand to use them and they have fifteen minute sessions. There is also free wireless broadband access if you have your own laptop with you as I did.






However, my favourite place on that level is a corridor with plants and fountains and a row of ten chaise lounges for anyone to use. Notice my cart saving my space while I took this photo.

I do not understand why the airport was so quiet that day. There were very few people in transit and I managed three sessions on the chaise lounges. My first one, I settled into a very deep relaxation. Just on the border of sleep. Very refreshing.

The second level of the transit area contained a row of restaurants, the transit hotel, a pay by the hour transit lounge and a free cinema showing movies that I have never heard of. I did watch one. It was a grade B comedy called Balls of Fire. A kind of ping pong as kung-fu plot. It had Christopher Walken as a drag queen gang boss. I later walked in during a Bruce Willis film and turned around after two minutes. Besides a very predictable plot and gratuitous violence the acting was sooo bad.

The pay by the hour transit lounge offered $8.00 showers which were a welcome event in the middle of the day.

One special area for me was a section that will I suspect one day be covered with stalls but is now open space. I played several times with my tai chi forms and also the bagua unicorn form during the day. Here is a photo of the space. The pattern of the carpet. is much more disconcerting in the photo.


Notice my trolley in the edge of the photo. She was a cute little trolley. We went everywhere together.






I called her 'Olive'. She seemed OK with that. What she really liked was when she got to wear my hat.

Here she is watching the carp in the pond in the lounge.







Eventually, the time came for me to make my way to the budget terminal to catch my flight. I had to leave Olive at the top of the escalator. When I reached the lower floor, I wistfully looked back. She was gone... I turned and moved on.

Picking up my checked bag from lost and found only took about ten minutes though I had been warned to leave up to 45 minutes for that. I then had to walk to the other end of terminal one where I caught the "Sky Train" monorail to terminal two. I took the elevator to the basement where I caught a bus to the "Budget Terminal".

The Budget Terminal really lived up to its name. It looked like a converted maintenance hanger from the nineteen fifties. I think they bought the paint from a discount outlet. You know, those cans that they mixed incorrectly. The eating area looked like a cheap cafeteria. I had to wait an hour for my check in to start. I played backgammon on my macbook. When I got to the check in, I discovered that my duffel was two and a half kilos over weight. Tiger airways only has a fifteen kilo weight allowance. When you buy online, you can pay for extra weight. They tell you that if you pay at the airport it will be more expensive. This was a flight going to India. The clerk didn't even blink an eye at two and a half kilos.

Next step was to enter the waiting lounge. The guard directed me, without my trolley, towards a strange booth. As I turned the corner into the booth, I saw one of those devices to check the size of your carry on. Beside that a scale! Then I glanced up to see this woman on a stool being very bored. She was waving me through. I obliged as quickly as possible.

Financial Advice
When buying booze for your "Indian friend" remember that to them Johnny Walker is Johnny Walker. I bought the more expensive Black Label thinking that I would uhm come out ahead. When I went to er... transfer it, I discovered that my "Indian Friend" did not think of is as precious as I knew it was. I don't usually drink whiskey but I may have to start on this trip.

I also bought a bottle of Bombay Saphire to have as a G&T in the hot weather that I was headed towards.

I was happily waiting in the Budget boarding lounge of the Budget Terminal for budget flight when the call came through and we all filed along a winding line (pretending that our carry-ons weighed nothing) to another holding pattern. I noticed that I was only one of three caucasians on the plane. Then it was an orderly walk across the tarmac to the stairs up to the plane. We all got seated and were in the air on our way. It was an easy flight. We landed in Chennai airport and we were in India!

Read this first.
I Love India.

As usual, when the plane began to slow most of the people on the plane were standing and retrieving luggage. I waited, knowing that we would have to wait once we came to a full stop. It's always the same. I then stood in my aisle seat and retrieved my carry on and computer.

The doors finally opened and people moved forward. Now, usually, when this happens, there is an understanding that if you are ready to go, then, the people behind you will hesitate slightly and you can slip in the flow. Not this time. People move full steam ahead. I had to pry my way into the line. We were back in India!

Down the stairs, into a bus that drove us twenty metres and then up a long ramp that suddenly changed to carpet beginning with an edge that looked like an elephant had been chewing on it. When we hit hard floor again, the missing floor tiles had been replaced with rough cement. The walls had a pattern of large rectangular tiles floating in a pattern. You could see from quite a distance that the painters of the wall behind the tiles had splashed onto the tiles and wiped off the wrongly place paint with rags.. almost. We were walking down a corridor that was totally empty. As we approached a woman in airport authority uniform, she indicated that we should pass on her left side. We dutyfully obliged. Why have authority if you don't use it. It would be a total waste.

Yes, I was in India!

My driver was waiting for me with a sign that read "Mr Ebnam". I recognised the name of the hotel. It was nice to tell the rickshaw drivers that I had a driver with me. They lost interest very quickly. Crossing to the parking lot, I was lead along the zebra crossing when we could. I mean, they are open game as parking spaces, aren't they? Once packed into the car, my driver manuevered with some skill through the cars that were making up their own rules in the parking lot. Out on the street and under an incomplete elevated freeway and we were on a main road.

I had a very good driver. He kept the line in the middle of the car all of the time. I was glad that it was mid-night and not so crowded. I discovered an interesting way that the Indians have of calming traffic. You place a metal barricade across one lane of traffic and then a couple car lengths later you put one across the other lane of traffic. In Chennai, this was done on the main roads where you had two or three lanes going each way. Another thing that I noticed on the ride from the airport is the thriftiness of Indian drivers. Why only have two lanes of traffic just because there are lines on the road indicating such? If you can fit four vehicles (a bus, a car, a rickshaw and a motorcycle) across the road than it is much more economical. You are getting full use of the road that way!

My driver was very proud of his horn. He played it all the time. I was to learn further mysteries of the Indian highways in the next few days.

We arrived at my hotel by some untraceable route. I chequed in and was taken to my room. You probably know about the ways that interior designers make a space look larger than it really is; mirrors and such. Whoever had done my hotel room had discovered how to make a space look smaller and less pleasing to the eye than it really is. I guess it's an art. I tipped the bellboy, took a bucket shower and went to bed.

WTBA Tai Chi Camp Byron '08

Organised by Kerry and Steve and led by Eli Montegue. Five and a half days of training.

Most people camped or rented cabins at Belongil Fields on the edge of Byron. People came from South Australia, Western Australia, Far North Queensland, Brisbane, Byron Area and New Zealand.

Here we are doing a Morning Gathering Chi Gung.



Brother Ben and his girlfriend Eleanor came with Eli from Wales.










We started the morning at Belongil Fields with training in Silk Reeling form of the Yang Lu Chan Tai Chi followed enthusiastically by breckie put on by Kerry, Steve and assistants.











It was then off to Temple Byron where we learned the Unicorn Bagua Form. There are eight animal forms in Bagua. The Unicorn form is said to be uplifting of your spirits. It is a short enough form to learn during the one camp. I also bought Erle's DVD to help me remember the finer points.

A few Unicorn shots.









Only a brother would be a model for this one!










And, then,...









Ben and Eleanor practicing.



"Once more with feeling!"















Wally Says, "Hello"















He will teach you this one for $10,000.00 (Supermarket coupons are accepted for no more than half payment.)






There were twenty people lined up pressing against that finger just moments before the photo was taken. They landed thirty metres away. (POA)









Eleanor and Ben practicing some more.







Then, it was lunch! Lucious Restaurant catered vegetarian lunches for us and they were great. Everyone was raving about how delicious the food was.










Lunch was followed by the learning of the Large San Sau, "A" side. Large San-sau is a form that is practiced with a partner to help to experience the applications of movements. I managed to learn only part of it but I practice that bit daily so that I can build on it when I next am in the proper learning situation. This session took place in the Aikido Dojo. There were mats on the floor and it was a bit strange having a slippery surface that you sank into. "Ahhh Grasshopper! You must be prepared for all situations."




Steve in action.









Ben demonstrates an application.





Five to six o'clock found some of us in the yurt learning some Chi Gung from Wally. A nice way to end the day.















There was much that I couldn't show. There was all the cameraderie and new faces and old faces. The joy of learning and the energy that the forms bring with them. I finished with a high and the pleasure of knowing that it will happen again next year. It's on my schedule all ready. (PS- Thanks to the ever ebullient Kerry and Kiesha for the use of some of their photos.)

Bamboo in the Blue Moutains

As if the WSF weren't enough, my friend Kirsty had organised an additional concert, Call of Bamboo, in the Blue Mountains a few night after. I took the train to Katoomba and found myself with freezing temperatures and strong winds. A big change for this Northern Rivers boy. I did manage to have a short trek along the mountain's edge and snap the above picture.

The concert was a great success. It was held at the Carrington Hotel's Ballroom. It was almost sold out. Kirsty did a great MC job with little interesting intros for the pieces. Unfortunately, the bipod of my arms swaying above my head did not produce any publishable pics. I do have the following glimpse of a post concert gathering of the performers and friends as well as a bit of local colour. A major plus for me was a one hour lesson with Kaoru the morning after the concert. Following on from the experiencing of so many great performances, it was the perfect finish to my shakuhachi adventure.



A cute little coffee shop that I wandered into was called Common Ground. The shop is owned the Twelve Tribes Community. They are kind of sixties style jesus freaks. The men all wear beards and the women all dress in long dresses with no make up and long hair. You can learn more about them at this link. http://www.twelvetribes.com/whereweare/global/australia/katoomba.html. A new member came up and talked to me with gleaming eyes. Otherwise, it was a pleasant environment and good coffee. I remember eating at their food venue at the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland and it was just very good food that time.

World Shakuhachi Festival, Sydney '08

Was it a Dream?

It is only a short time since I returned and, yet, when I look back at my experience, it is so unbelievable.

Imagine that you play a musical instrument. The best players from around the world gather for a festival in Sydney. You are one of a total of three hundred who attend five nights and four days of performances. Is this a dream or what?

I feel the program that I hold in my hand, I look at the photos that I took, I remember new faces and outstanding performances. Perhaps it really did happen. If so, here is my rememberance.


With a sense of excitement, I left the bucolic environment of Byron Shire to fly to the metropolis of Sydney in time for the Rocky Mountains Downunder Summer Shakuhachi Camp and the World Shakuhachi Festival '08.

Now, you may be wondering how this delicate flower could survive eight days in the big city. The answer is The Botanical Gardens. The Conservatory of Music where the camp and festival occurred is located in the Botanical Gardens and the walk from the Travelodge to said venue is possible almost entirely through parks and the gardens. I did venture out into the netherworld of tall buildings, asphalt, crowds of people and vehicle exhaust a few times but I always kept a landmark in sight so that I might make a hasty retreat if I started to feel faint.

(A helpful hint to blend in while in Sydney: In order to appear to be a city person, I jay-walked as often as possible. Very exhilerating and I felt quite sophisticated!)

Before going any further, I must give credit for the photos from the camp to Elliot Kallen. http://www.tweakshop.com/WSF081.html

And, again, Kirsty Beilharz has lent me some of her excellent photos from the festival. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstykomuso/sets/72157606395897188/ (I did manage to take a few myself)

The camp was a fun affair in which I got my first taste of mixing with a large number of the my fellow shakuhachi players. Each morning of the camp, the more hearty or unjetlagged gathered in a circle to play the note 'Ro' (ro-buki) in the botanical gardens. Yes, that fellow on the right is yours truly. (So often, I am missing in any candid photos of events. I once saw a photo of the exact part of a gathering at the ranch where I was located and I was not in the photo!)



I don't know the official numbers but I would guess that there were fifty or so attendees for the camp. After the ro-buki, we all would meet in a recital hall at the conservatory for instruction by one of the many teachers. After a break, there would be a large selection of classes during the day for all levels of proficiency. Some classes would learn a particular piece, others would work a particular technique. Not being an absolute beginner, I joined an intermediate class and quickly discovered that I was not there yet. Never mind, I had plenty of very worthwhile instruction to choose from. A bonus of the camp was a lesson with Kakizakai sensei. That fellow you may remember from my previous post whom I call Kaoru and is my teacher in this beloved instrument.


The two fellows standing in this photo are Riley Lee and David Walker. Riley spent the previous two years as the prime mover behind the festival and David is one of the main organizers of the Rocky Mountain Shakuhachi Camp. They and all involved deserve a tremendous thanks for their incredible efforts. David was also the MC during the camp and the festival. He interpreted into Japanese all that was said on-stage during the events. The mind boggled to hear him do his thing. Remembering what had just been said as well as repeating it in another language!

Now the Festival

Mathew Doyle opened the first concert of the festival with his dancing, sticks and didge playing. Then, Riley came on at the back of the stage playing a beautifl piece accompanied by marimba. This segued into a performance by TaikOz.




If you ever have a chance to experience this troop live, take it. It is choreographed drumming that leaves you breathless. You wanna get fit? Join one of these groups.





Inbetween TaikOz pieces, were performances by some of the senior shakuhachi players. Here's a great shot of Kakizakai-sensei playing Yamagoe. Sounded great too.





There were concerts five nights at the City Recital Hall in Angel Place as well as six hours of performances and workshops per day at the conservatory of music. There were several choices all day. The performances occurred in large and small recital halls and I just luxuriated in the music.


The second night's concert showcased some of the less traditional ways to play the shakuhachi.






Here's John Neptune playing jazz with his friend of twenty years on guitar. John uses unusual techniques such as talking into his shakuhachi such as is done with a didgeridoo.


Another performance that evening was live shakuhachi with pre-recorded synthesizer music. The synthesizer music sounded like the bombing of London during World War II. The fellow on the stage was expanding his body to it's limits to prepare to blow notes that were loud enough to be heard. I was so astonished that I forgot to raise my camera. The comment after the performance was, "You have just witnessed suicide by shakuhachi."


Throughout the festival there were many performance combining shakuhachi with western instruments. Here are a couple more examples-














There were pieces that were composed by Zen monks hundreds of years ago as well as a dozen pieces commissioned for and primiered at the festival.








There was a performance by a Japanese National Living Treasure Aoki Reibo. When he was introduced the first day of the festival, he came on stage and said "I'm so thrilled I could dance" and struck a Saturday Night Fever pose.


There was a competition of under forty year olds with the finalists performing live in the conservatory concert hall. The winner was a sixteen year old Japanese girl. The future for the shakuhachi sounded very bright when listening to such great performances by those young players.

My days were spent enjoying the performances in the small recital halls at the conservatory. Experiencing the shakuhachi in such an intimate setting was a real treat.

Here is Tadashi Tajima; a man that I heard for the first time at the festival.





Here he is accompanied by four women on koto. A large group of koto players were in attendance. The koto has thirteen strings (the bass has sixteen) and each string has it's own movable bridge. Sometimes the performer would move a few bridges during a pieces. The music from a koto is beautiful and the players left me in awe.




I could go on and on and I wanted the festival to go on and on but there came that final night. We all climbed aboard the party boat, broke open the barrel of sake and sailed away.