Small Town.

Boise (Idaho) is small town. Middle of the city hundred years old hotel has a meditation(TM) center. Winter is very special here. Too much snow, frozen river, less activity, so got plenty of time for music practice at least 18 hours a day. That was first experience to work hard on music.Tabla player was staying just next to my room, competition between us who is going to practice more, issue was getting to new heights. Some time he use to put cloth on the Tabla and practice so I will not able to make out that he is practicing. Twenty-four hours we were in the hotel room only except lunch and dinner, we were going to dining hall. Non-stop practice for months together was too much for my throat, there were problems for throat but I continued just like that. I had satisfaction of doing, got some perfection on notes.Early morning open air concert on an open land in cold winter before sunrise, than sun comes up and still you are singing, once in while experience in a life time very special and un forgettable. That was for the warm up ceremony of the place.Bayarn and Nola a business couple from Boise follower of transcendental meditation and of Indian ancient Vedic knowledge. Great fan of Indian classical music. Wanted to construct home in the countryside. He came to us early morning around four o clocks. He had invited his friends for the concert. It was pure Indian classical (Raga) music performance. It was not a chanting of mantras but their level of understang is higher because these are sounds of Gandharva Veda, it has that pure divine power to purify the surroundings. That is why this music for warm-up ceremony.This couple was very interesting they never missed us to invite for every weekend for lunch, movies, ballet, opera and long drive in the mountains. One day we went to the hot springs to take hot bath. There is natural hot water in the pond (small).How it sounds when it is cold out side, great fun ha…. There was big area of hot springs; one can see the water coming from the ground in the form of tiny fountains. We went for lunch in one of the hotels in the mountain, rested for while and then we did snow rolling, hotel has swimming pool,sweeming in the pool and, rolling in the snow with wait body, o.. Boy …one of the coldest experiences. It is hard to believe that Americans have preserved the natural resources so well. You go any part of this country it has its own flavor, richness & beauty of the nature. Thick forests, creeks are full of water, Snow Mountains, green valleys, ranches, farms and you name it.One more member of our group by name Danny, his home was hundred miles away from Boise, we went to visit his parents. Next day he has to appear in the court he asked us to just accompany him in the court to support him. I was also curious to see the court and the proceedings of it. That was the case about claim of Helicopter accident. I was wearing Indian traditional cloth so naturally every one was looking at me including the judge for while.Next day we headed to Halfway Town for fifteen days for Christmas vacation on the farmhouse of Bob (Danny’s brother).His whole family was gathered for Christmas It was lonely remote area surrounded by hills covered by snow. During the stay, we performed music in different churches and in community hall for county side people. For them Indian music was first experience. We had great time there, cross-country skiing, going for the walk in Snow Mountain, watching animals like lamas, reindeer, turkey, moose, cattle farms, horse ranches, cowboys and more… That is all great things, lovely memories about small town.Vedang Dharashive.