Jaipur The Maharajah of Jaipur died the day before we arrived and everything in the whole state has shut down for two days of mourning. After lunch, we walk downtown and come upon a funeral filling the center of town. There are floats pulled by pick-up trucks, brightly painted elephants, musicians and costumes, honking cars… Continue Reading »
April 20, Varanasi, Walking to the Ganges Returning from the Ganges after the evening rituals, I work my way through the crowd and am accosted by a young boy selling postcards for 100 rupees. I assure him I have no money, which is true. Most thefts occur in the crowds on the way to the… Continue Reading »
April 27 2011, Kathmandu I am drinking tea and sitting in a music store I’ve just discovered on my last day in Kathmandu. The owner and his brother play me selections from CDs of modern Nepalese music. A track begins and within 10 to 30 seconds I say “Yes” or “Not so much” or “Can… Continue Reading »
The Lotus Temple in New Delhi (for Kristina, who insisted that I visit) While we wait in the temple courtyard, we are welcomed, first in Farsi, then in English. We will enter the Temple while the previous group is exiting through the front of the temple. It is important to move quickly because the faster… Continue Reading »
Day One: Arriving in Beijing When the sun stands at mid-day it begins to set; when the moon is full it begins to wane…. How much truer this is for men…. —Commentary on the 55th Hexagram of the Book of Changes The more cold gets into the river the slower it flows. In the moonlight… Continue Reading »
Beijing, Day Two Mao is still revered in China as a god or demi-god. The life-dream of many Chinese is to visit the mausoleum in Tiananmen Square where Mao is encased in crystal, his body covered by the Chinese flag. For those in the most remote and poorest areas of China, this trip to Beijing… Continue Reading »
Day Two: Beijing, Part II We are staying on an average concrete and stone street in Beijing, which means a torn-apart two-lane alleyway choked with tides of humanity flowing back and forth day and night, tangles of black electrical wiring hanging perilously low above their heads. The old and young ply their trades under floodlights… Continue Reading »
Editor’s note: This piece was adapted from an original interview of our wandering poet-in-residence Randy Roark conducted by Michael Limnios of Athens, Greece, for his Mixalis series of interviews with the Beats and students of the Beats, January 18, 2013; embellished and illustrated for Newtopia’s 2nd anniversary issue. PRELUDE In 2003, I met performance artist… Continue Reading »
Foreword On October 30th , 2013, I posted on my company’s website the following memorial for Layne Redmond, who had died two days before. 34-02 Layne Redmond, Promo Photo, Remo Drums, circa 2006Layne Redmond, Remo Drums Promo Photo, circa 2006 Layne Redmond: 1952-2013 As a producer and editor for Sounds True, I am friendly with… Continue Reading »
Sitting next to Xi on the plane out of Lhasa, I ask her if she knows the story of Buddha and the snake. I tell her it’s my second-favorite Buddhist story. I first heard it from Lama Surya Das, a Dzogchen Buddhist. Xi frowns. Once again I’ve proven that I know more about Buddhism than… Continue Reading »