Ra-Ra-Rajasthan

The first part of my extended world work and pleasure tour has now been completed. Over the last couple of weeks I have been in Mumbai, Udaipur in Rajasthan, Dubai for an evening due to my direct flight home being cancelled, and finally Brussels. If anyone is interested I have put some photos of the first three up on Flickr.

I enjoyed them all in their different ways but the highlight undoubtedly was Udaipur, the City of Lakes, with a little side trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort whose 36km walls are apparently the second longest continuous wall in the world after that Chinese one whose name escapes me. I would love to go back and see more of Rajasthan if I get the chance.

The local cuisine is excellent - I became a bit addicted to laal maas, mutton in a spicy gravy - as is the culture. My previous post featured some of the fine likenesses in the local wax museum, and now it is the turn of the music.

Tucked away in the heart of Hathipole market in Udaipur is a small store that sells discs loaded up with mp3s of Rajasthani music and Bollywood hits. I can't remember its name and could not find it when I tried to pay a second visit. Maybe it only existed for one magical moment in time.

Among the discs I bought were Volumes 1 and 2 of a series highlighting the 'representative dance songs of Rajasthan' called 'Ghoomar', which is evidently a traditional dance of the Bhil people. They were put together in 2000 by Veena Music of Jaipur, whose vibrant YouTube channel I relied on to identify the names of the artists.

According to Veena Music "Mahino Phagan Ko" is the best Rajasthani Holi song. As Holi this year was on Thursday and Friday last week it seemed like an appropriate choice to kick things off. Belated best wishes to all those who celebrated. 

"Mahino Phagan Ko" - Manohar

"Kalyo Kood Pado Mele Me" - Seema Mishra

"Gorari Kar Solah Singar" - Mukesh Bagra

The next leg of the journey starts tomorrow evening when I fly to South Africa to see the local branches of the Goggins family. I get back at the end of March and after a quick turn around head off to Mauritius for work. I'm still not sure quite how I wangled that but I have added on a few days for sightseeing and hope to return with stacks of sega CDs to share with you. 

I will report in when I can but until then here is some more music from the Bill people.

Cocoa Tea RIP

The roll call of musicians leaving us too soon continues to be added to on an almost daily basis it seems. Since the start of the month we've lost Roy Ayers, Brian James, Edip Akbayram, Geraint Jarman and Angie Stone to name but a few. RIP to them all.

Earlier this week the man known to his family and friends as Colvin Scott and to the rest of us as the mighty Cocoa Tea was added to the list. He passed away on Tuesday after struggling with lymphoma for a number of years. RIP Mr Tea.

"Africa Here I Come" - Cocoa Tea

"Things In Life" - Cocoa Tea

"Possy" - Cocoa Tea

"She Loves Me Now (Extended Mix)" - Cocoa Tea

Waxing Lyrical

I had intended to share with you over the next couple of days some of the film music and 'representative dance songs' of Rajasthan I picked up while in Udaipur. But that was when I thought I was going to be at home over the next couple of days.

Unfortunately the b****rs at Virgin Atlantic had a different idea. They cancelled my flight this morning and I am now coming back tomorrow with Emirates via Dubai, including what I am sure will be a delightful nine hour layover between flights, arriving in the UK on Tuesday. By the time I finally make it home I will have less than 24 hours before heading off to Brussels.

So the planned cultural treat will have to wait. Instead here are a few of the exhibits from one of the other cultural highlights of my visit, the Udaipur Wax Museum.

And now the theme song from 'Mannequin'. How wrong they were.