tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89065161499211413262024-03-12T19:42:10.950-04:00Johnny Rodgers BandOn The Rhythm RoadJohnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-37349089744182287902011-01-27T22:59:00.020-05:002011-01-28T12:57:02.071-05:00Wherever I May Roam<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTKMuHkrIjFSQQ92Va6ke3Zsp7vl__iJRGXn4ID9GyLHTHc8xSllrgORyCpH1wcby7Kp4v0a6cXqY3GsEq2CqSNNJBYF-nP62CdFCA5A0Ss3wdL0lDeOVMqFvnoTmOR0aPlHV30iO55s/s1600/purple+sunset.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567091321285229842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTKMuHkrIjFSQQ92Va6ke3Zsp7vl__iJRGXn4ID9GyLHTHc8xSllrgORyCpH1wcby7Kp4v0a6cXqY3GsEq2CqSNNJBYF-nP62CdFCA5A0Ss3wdL0lDeOVMqFvnoTmOR0aPlHV30iO55s/s400/purple+sunset.JPG" /></a>DAY 27: (<em>Danny</em>) When we landed in Malaysia, we were met by Chew and Nick from the U.S. Embassy and the Kota Kinabalu City Council. They hung welcome beads around our necks and told us how happy they were to have us in their country. They understood how tired we were and how we must have felt traveling so far to our last country on the tour. We told them how excited we were to experience a place we knew so little about. I had eaten at a few Malaysian restaurants in New York City, but otherwise, I knew nothig about the country or its culture.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe0trd0ERbaMAITW9TDfdPdu94EA7uedbwG7vT6MmKJEamjXENsICJi4JjXmIlw0JSg9uOF_EQijZ2N18ogw-Evs3DGN-P5SZOErvIMcoZ9ZPwFDTGVIr1SpYZoRMLn36J5vdaxfWp8k/s1600/Coastal+KK.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 361px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567091324982395474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRe0trd0ERbaMAITW9TDfdPdu94EA7uedbwG7vT6MmKJEamjXENsICJi4JjXmIlw0JSg9uOF_EQijZ2N18ogw-Evs3DGN-P5SZOErvIMcoZ9ZPwFDTGVIr1SpYZoRMLn36J5vdaxfWp8k/s400/Coastal+KK.JPG" /></a>At our introductory meeting and briefing, we met our embassy liaison as well as the SPARKS performing arts organization/team led by the president, Cheong Kok Ann. They do such a great job of bringing culture and art to Malaysia. Cheong would prove to be very generous with his time by showing us many cool places in the city, including an indoor archery range where we acted out our Robin Hood fantasies. After our security briefing, we needed some rest because it looked like we were on the verge of a very busy schedule. I had to eat before I slept so I wandered down to the lobby and scored a big plate of mee goren noodles. After, I wandered around the lobby and found a great vocal group in one if the hotel’s lounges. They were doing a mix of classic rock and pop. I later found out that a lot of vocal groups from The Philippines travel to Malaysia to perform. I applauded their polished sound, choice of material and sexy dresses!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5-8JJFG_IY934fOUcdwLcY2aCsMxIbsLhV6VvCs9_siPGyf-RcVcTqnhJn0qKHXG0IU5H_yeW6TJsVHGn83kOs6YNnrxBKMiS_WW6DbAEFuTBruM_XsOWp4ftwRPqk7Ee4dr2-CMBkc/s1600/University+SABA.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567092683615992578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5-8JJFG_IY934fOUcdwLcY2aCsMxIbsLhV6VvCs9_siPGyf-RcVcTqnhJn0qKHXG0IU5H_yeW6TJsVHGn83kOs6YNnrxBKMiS_WW6DbAEFuTBruM_XsOWp4ftwRPqk7Ee4dr2-CMBkc/s400/University+SABA.JPG" /></a>The next day, we went to the University of Malaysia SABA to do a workshop and an evening concert in one of the most beautiful concert halls we’d been in on the tour. There was a grand piano for Johnny, which made him very happy, and set the tone for a great show. Before we got started, we went to the campus radio station to do an interview and play some tunes. While we were there, we did a fun station promo, something we got really good at during the tour.<br /><br />The workshop was so much fun as we continued to break down the walls between the audience and our music. We discovered some fine young musicians in attendance including some singers, a jazz violinist and a melodica player. After, we rehearsed with a great guitarist and new friend, Rodger Wang. Rodger had been contracted to get us around and integrate us into the musical community. He brought in an arrangement of a Malaysian popular tune that had a similar message as <em>New York State of Mind</em>. He was accompanied by a great young singer and saxophonist. At the rehearsal, we read down the chart and added some Johnny Rodgers Band sound to the music. Rodger already had a great arrangement and charts so the rehearsal went well. He’s a great composer and runs his own studio in town.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKTNXLQgG1YsEMgfKbkHSEEqAcEklZG16OEfA1wxgxObVlO1cBfxRH7Lp-rgIZmNP_5qWRAZ3-A50o9V2rWtT1wqcfal1vqrPadciC7-t_VXyTHbFh2Sk7dquqtf8G6ip7ikzh-TqmIA/s1600/Rodger+Wang.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 345px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567092683874856530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKTNXLQgG1YsEMgfKbkHSEEqAcEklZG16OEfA1wxgxObVlO1cBfxRH7Lp-rgIZmNP_5qWRAZ3-A50o9V2rWtT1wqcfal1vqrPadciC7-t_VXyTHbFh2Sk7dquqtf8G6ip7ikzh-TqmIA/s400/Rodger+Wang.JPG" /></a>After the concert, we found out he had won an award for best international song from the Malaysian music Grammys. Members of the City Council took us out to an incredible dinner at a local restaurant later that evening.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuWfVYV7PpL0wGv1DhsOBV1q-vtOC3YZ63b4DtweDyoOWqdT8yN0xa7hKlWXhVBwYhoyG6hFqhH-JflWzsmw7aYxK4_JjwXO_AVaoqORIOT3owOUuSpRv9G63mFxnDDhf0M7AcpqrP6Y/s1600/dinner+KK.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 354px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567094822786309746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuWfVYV7PpL0wGv1DhsOBV1q-vtOC3YZ63b4DtweDyoOWqdT8yN0xa7hKlWXhVBwYhoyG6hFqhH-JflWzsmw7aYxK4_JjwXO_AVaoqORIOT3owOUuSpRv9G63mFxnDDhf0M7AcpqrP6Y/s400/dinner+KK.JPG" /></a>The next day I took a walk to the waterfront, which was basically across the street from the hotel. The esplanade was filled with open air booths of merchants selling fresh fish, shells, peppers, seaweed, conch, bananas, colorful fruits and jewelry.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbe4NEY8-bJYLQcHFtPtN5T7XTSG3EwFkL5LZPzXRNpy5uLtbDT_sX35QAfnH4gDAkFpSt5YEVvWoF8YHmfVfruF96D7q7boC7i1nIFYaaoKD8qZYDYGo5J3bQ655HOBn5FChpJ0ETm0/s1600/market+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567101890858703490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbe4NEY8-bJYLQcHFtPtN5T7XTSG3EwFkL5LZPzXRNpy5uLtbDT_sX35QAfnH4gDAkFpSt5YEVvWoF8YHmfVfruF96D7q7boC7i1nIFYaaoKD8qZYDYGo5J3bQ655HOBn5FChpJ0ETm0/s400/market+2.JPG" /></a>The sights, sounds and smells were overwhelming and intoxicating.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXUwFhQ4aWT_S4FBTEK13-UqmRY21BMoKlPvqip5a46Xkj71J6m3KQXiYwYwKO5WRhyphenhyphensHDBY7uu5zPsZj3ub8l00T9ovZnSSgp71Ky5crVuy4ornPJKc3JflgJiAT8H5mh6rFrEsyCn0/s1600/market.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567094826231349170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXUwFhQ4aWT_S4FBTEK13-UqmRY21BMoKlPvqip5a46Xkj71J6m3KQXiYwYwKO5WRhyphenhyphensHDBY7uu5zPsZj3ub8l00T9ovZnSSgp71Ky5crVuy4ornPJKc3JflgJiAT8H5mh6rFrEsyCn0/s400/market.JPG" /></a>There’s an island in the bay inhabited by illegal immigrants who have claimed it as their own with an established island government of their own. It is said that even the Kota Kinabalu police don't try to enter the island because it would incite extreme violence. Yet, the inhabitants of the island come over in boats to trade and work in the city.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7cV-v6vjcsOd_4VpNeoa2MMZY5sO41rcd05ctQl6qhool-QvbT980CAQG1FW3LtQrGRY5YaIEdsv5YMklqDGmHo_PaWG5VFdxwIvVqxxNWsuzzll219cE9IEU-iu8qXQtGBhLGXlFCc/s1600/banana+boat.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567101894025162994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7cV-v6vjcsOd_4VpNeoa2MMZY5sO41rcd05ctQl6qhool-QvbT980CAQG1FW3LtQrGRY5YaIEdsv5YMklqDGmHo_PaWG5VFdxwIvVqxxNWsuzzll219cE9IEU-iu8qXQtGBhLGXlFCc/s400/banana+boat.JPG" /></a>Somehow, between all the ethnic and religious diversity in this city, everyone gets along working together, side by side. They share the same beautiful Malaysian sunsets and the bountiful, diverse food from land and sea. Maybe in this sharing of nature and culture, a silent bond is formed, a communion of community.<br /><br />Next stop: Sandakan Malaysia.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-10896845104104555442010-12-03T10:31:00.019-05:002010-12-04T18:45:21.318-05:00The Most Wonderful Time of the Year<strong>DAY 25</strong>: (<em>Danny</em>) Hospitality, snacks and song are the mainstays of everyday life in The Philippines. <p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg488CGWOVxFovMWiPEGX3jqM-jMWVmn3GVn9u0FiLnHNM5KKu9_FL-5PP0aB75TRL8MqoGah2r5qF2DIvARN5KyrUHhCQE_e5J7LFaG1AHMp6OKHNPivpbg95_dUinVGq24Wl5_MxYzbY/s1600/danny_gingerbread_house_Philipines_hotel_lobby.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546492925779715186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg488CGWOVxFovMWiPEGX3jqM-jMWVmn3GVn9u0FiLnHNM5KKu9_FL-5PP0aB75TRL8MqoGah2r5qF2DIvARN5KyrUHhCQE_e5J7LFaG1AHMp6OKHNPivpbg95_dUinVGq24Wl5_MxYzbY/s400/danny_gingerbread_house_Philipines_hotel_lobby.jpg" /></a>Also, Christmas decorations and songs start at the beginning of September and continue through the 6th of January. Easter preparations start soon after, then Saints' days and festivals to carry you into Spring. By Summer, you’ll need a new bathing suit because the food is too good to pass up. And, you'll have a bigger and better voice because all the festivities involve everyone singing Karaoke.<br /><br />Filipinos are the second largest immigrant group in the United States after Mexicans and we’re lucky to have such a beautiful, cultural addition in our country. The family and extended family is ever present at holiday gatherings and because we were in Manila for Thanksgiving, the circle widened to include us.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsXPRnx8yQC1NO2xNllrDS2PuDvgJgosxIyZ5vvtTY16tqI42cau0ZKlH19J-ctiKYJS_DncZDpjhCgWBlTFcHmb7FlRMKnDEoK1cz03H28D-82wNklbIBjLvKIZ_GJ0Rk7vlKhGEoDM/s1600/philipines_embassy_menu.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546493928095169410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsXPRnx8yQC1NO2xNllrDS2PuDvgJgosxIyZ5vvtTY16tqI42cau0ZKlH19J-ctiKYJS_DncZDpjhCgWBlTFcHmb7FlRMKnDEoK1cz03H28D-82wNklbIBjLvKIZ_GJ0Rk7vlKhGEoDM/s400/philipines_embassy_menu.jpg" /></a>We played a Thanksgiving Day gala at the American Embassy for the Ambassador and his guests. The menu pared our music with great wine, and of course, a multiple-course Thanksgiving feast prepared by the Embassy’s chefs.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcewjP-FLpSM1K3t-XdtH3KTjZoRLBE30F8QwbpZcscph_6E3_4hZMcETc_p-pIdmgvWy3-J52wNTbF4cSC7NWiLyIhUwiItOYIYa52531G9y-DOmiJi9mPEun5SqMyDpgmi9vp5VIwY/s1600/embassy_turkeys.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546494927411080386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcewjP-FLpSM1K3t-XdtH3KTjZoRLBE30F8QwbpZcscph_6E3_4hZMcETc_p-pIdmgvWy3-J52wNTbF4cSC7NWiLyIhUwiItOYIYa52531G9y-DOmiJi9mPEun5SqMyDpgmi9vp5VIwY/s400/embassy_turkeys.jpg" /></a>It was amazing to play and tour the grounds of this historic building perched above Manila Bay. It was a piece of WWII history and the trial of the captured Japanese general was held in the ballroom in which we played.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-V-4_AuwKsD6KevAZCf6Yp3_SQXdlxDsiNwdmBhc8cAZxXcuUYVFMEnSKlzNIz2_wwaqEvtcr7y5sevQrSRjJMTiKzrWy78-ohlCkJeToWWmIzFrTCYM_ubS_UI8lw514E80X3I2zyso/s1600/jrb_w_Philippine_ambassador_.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546975420565103762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-V-4_AuwKsD6KevAZCf6Yp3_SQXdlxDsiNwdmBhc8cAZxXcuUYVFMEnSKlzNIz2_wwaqEvtcr7y5sevQrSRjJMTiKzrWy78-ohlCkJeToWWmIzFrTCYM_ubS_UI8lw514E80X3I2zyso/s400/jrb_w_Philippine_ambassador_.jpg" /></a>The embassy staff, Joe, Jomar and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jenny, took such great care of us.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7aKJPAxJ3yMbZJ4LtPqO-S8ZcW0vlhXSo7h3lxW02APXryLBej1Ut3cNcxmq1RyuT30Gzz3NRpNmy7zjq28OTK0O8_e2WY_Nphxg-ddrW59zWYFpQBbM1jEoH7lawCCaElE8VfUVuEo/s1600/IMG_0316.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546495786054365506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7aKJPAxJ3yMbZJ4LtPqO-S8ZcW0vlhXSo7h3lxW02APXryLBej1Ut3cNcxmq1RyuT30Gzz3NRpNmy7zjq28OTK0O8_e2WY_Nphxg-ddrW59zWYFpQBbM1jEoH7lawCCaElE8VfUVuEo/s400/IMG_0316.jpg" /></a>The Ambassador was from Queens, New York and was a New York Met fan so we got along immediately. We also were invited to the home of the Public Affairs Officer for Thanksgiving dinner. Our hosts, Rick and Pinky, graciously invited us over to their beautiful home where we dined with their extended family and friends including a top designer, an art historian, a model and the Southeast Asia NCAA champion basketball team. Everyone had a great time and the food was a mix of traditional Thanksgiving fare and local favorites.</p><p>Shopping is a big part of the culture in the city and malls are a source of pride and bragging rights.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQQHaKSsDKXYFMsBemBtLfDxW0k68Xv5sPgSD5hW7JafC-GsE-jlyhsdOt2LVb9tcyNfbuksx2m6BkVZ_1KhEcCTg0VNdwcAJ3DM_XaIscN0F1sM2cG4Q-IoWPv6qSoDo6kOZ2e4nZtE/s1600/the_Robinson_Mall_philippines_.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546496720944700594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQQHaKSsDKXYFMsBemBtLfDxW0k68Xv5sPgSD5hW7JafC-GsE-jlyhsdOt2LVb9tcyNfbuksx2m6BkVZ_1KhEcCTg0VNdwcAJ3DM_XaIscN0F1sM2cG4Q-IoWPv6qSoDo6kOZ2e4nZtE/s400/the_Robinson_Mall_philippines_.jpg" /></a>These malls are like small cities and if you make a wrong turn, you could end up in an alternate universe where everything looks almost the same. Some of the largest, award-winning mall designs are in Manila and the surrounding provinces so it was no surprise that our two main concerts were on mall stages.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWy3p9vSQx6RjHJnJNNOTR61zqFVWrGryrSe_GAuB9Dn1TIveMx7th4cK5CA7aZRqKelPhSyzjlAD4dUfXuzZvi3Bk4uhhweGiHYvvEmZTn7aTlhAuEttNeaBbiRtHvL2o7IgMDXNPbqc/s1600/philipines_master_class.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546497899390614210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWy3p9vSQx6RjHJnJNNOTR61zqFVWrGryrSe_GAuB9Dn1TIveMx7th4cK5CA7aZRqKelPhSyzjlAD4dUfXuzZvi3Bk4uhhweGiHYvvEmZTn7aTlhAuEttNeaBbiRtHvL2o7IgMDXNPbqc/s400/philipines_master_class.jpg" /></a>We played three Master Classes at St. Thomas, FEU and Loyola Universities. We loved working with the students and they treated us to some great performances. We're looking forward to staying in touch with everyone and have been answering Facebook requests and mail daily.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWZ8hc_n6MSdWcOhgkpKk3Jm9Uf4pWQXnIIGnRKv_EbkqTBvPlBUfFfaO6jK4uaxkAaOrGHIfrij_RGVWZHCZPsRYRXOze1DbYien8-7LH-z4JCAmoWeel5sXk3hyr0FXAtNih3XCSLc/s1600/philipines_3rd_masterclass.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546976660279099778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWZ8hc_n6MSdWcOhgkpKk3Jm9Uf4pWQXnIIGnRKv_EbkqTBvPlBUfFfaO6jK4uaxkAaOrGHIfrij_RGVWZHCZPsRYRXOze1DbYien8-7LH-z4JCAmoWeel5sXk3hyr0FXAtNih3XCSLc/s400/philipines_3rd_masterclass.jpg" /></a>We enjoyed talking with everyone, taking pictures and signing CDs after the concerts.<br /><br />I would love to come back someday and see more of the islands and the beaches where, I'm told, the sand is as white and fine as sugar.<br /><br />I feel so blessed to have had this experience in The Philippines where I received multifaceted gifts: a sense of renewal, holiday spirit, family and the joy of song. As we moved through these countries (six in 30 days) at lightning speed, it was hard to process and put into words the emotions and events in real time. Now that I'm home and I slowly decompress, I know that out of the stillness will come a river of expression. I hope I can put that down in this living and ever expanding journal. For years, I've meditated and prayed about playing music around the world on instruments from around the world with people from around the world. And this trip has been a manifestation of those prayers.</p>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-38387844411474975752010-11-28T00:27:00.015-05:002010-12-08T10:01:55.724-05:00Shine On<strong>DAY 27</strong>: (<em>Brian</em>) As soon as we drove into Phnom Penh from the airport, it felt like we were far from home - almost no signs of western culture or multinational corporate brands. I didn't see a McDonald's, KFC or an Exon sign anywhere. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoWdMqopMzwz-8mspsxImuHpt97JHTSbDZcawCfKhyphenhyphenWJW4gVi62Z60XLRPnZtqMZtRSQ2a0kqNWW1EeazN4b7K8X2GorfELtyy4JiMXrbGmoG3bojYtFuc7cRrik9DFhQxgYJK3U-lqk/s1600/DSC04130.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548185774794720530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoWdMqopMzwz-8mspsxImuHpt97JHTSbDZcawCfKhyphenhyphenWJW4gVi62Z60XLRPnZtqMZtRSQ2a0kqNWW1EeazN4b7K8X2GorfELtyy4JiMXrbGmoG3bojYtFuc7cRrik9DFhQxgYJK3U-lqk/s400/DSC04130.JPG" /></a>Just local, small businesses and food stalls mostly housed in old-style, French-built apartment buildings from the late 1950s and open-air street marts.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr343xCPpFnFXeNpyMAu4RTLdkjzEI_xLt10gh6VuuEqAh-k1DZFU1hbOs-OziqA56Z7sTxuONFQQ9jsxi_-QWHTwhGcn7iOCzxNfCHasFh7VfKOORLOOzpSLOv2JWj-b_Vzn5T3gdyI/s1600/DSC04087.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548182943120225826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr343xCPpFnFXeNpyMAu4RTLdkjzEI_xLt10gh6VuuEqAh-k1DZFU1hbOs-OziqA56Z7sTxuONFQQ9jsxi_-QWHTwhGcn7iOCzxNfCHasFh7VfKOORLOOzpSLOv2JWj-b_Vzn5T3gdyI/s400/DSC04087.JPG" /></a> There are crazy unspoken driving rules like “largest vehicle has right of way” at intersections where your driver would just push through a sea of thousands of young people and families on scooters and motorbikes, swerving every which way into any lane. It wasn't uncommon to see up to five people on a bike with little children riding side saddle without helmets! I kept thinking how this city seemingly has no public safety laws whatsoever and my fears proved not unfounded in the terrible tragedy that immediately followed our departure.<br /><br />Our time there, however, seemed magical. From the warmth and dignified respect we received from everyone we met from the incredible U.S. State Department staff and local employees to the student musicians we mentored and, of course, the warmth of the audiences in Kampong Chom and Phnom Penh.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDnZlt9DdYiiQwXIL-cXcV1UV758-oCbY4AG6dn4CpuWReGDcTIID72gob1i0cQ2mDYfM55KCW_hyFCGEuizcIB9JTqoWAy44C-QIKMAegr3jxsGaSYQvWMlZ1iOo2Xo4aKuUz4ZMWHI/s1600/DSC04111.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548318971982809202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcDnZlt9DdYiiQwXIL-cXcV1UV758-oCbY4AG6dn4CpuWReGDcTIID72gob1i0cQ2mDYfM55KCW_hyFCGEuizcIB9JTqoWAy44C-QIKMAegr3jxsGaSYQvWMlZ1iOo2Xo4aKuUz4ZMWHI/s400/DSC04111.JPG" /></a>The children of Cambodia had a big effect on me as I am missing my own so much during this month away. There were so many I saw working during the school day, selling food (including bugs of all kinds), fruit, or dancing for tourists.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhfPcRE-fox5VAjFZIAFNWJyxMWmOQBtfox56kLG2v_J23MvhgviLUk4y_rM9rr7-JggJfeZ8S9YXhvVu_DOCGKYwdKe-Ur1MgV21PhppDr_Ez9rvNI57qnMk7z4Up24Y8OyiCxGTn3Y/s1600/DSC04079.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548181386187017490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhfPcRE-fox5VAjFZIAFNWJyxMWmOQBtfox56kLG2v_J23MvhgviLUk4y_rM9rr7-JggJfeZ8S9YXhvVu_DOCGKYwdKe-Ur1MgV21PhppDr_Ez9rvNI57qnMk7z4Up24Y8OyiCxGTn3Y/s400/DSC04079.JPG" /></a> We were told by locals that some go to school in the morning and some in the afternoon. I can only hope this is true because we saw so many young children in the country drive to Kampong Chom working and panhandling during the day with their even younger siblings on their backs. Makes me especially thankful on this Thanksgiving for my three healthy and happy kids: Holden, Liv and Max.<br /><br />We did see happy kids with their caring parents and giggling school girls who gathered and seemed thoroughly entertained by just watching us set up and sound check.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK1I0hzKY2GGSrLbBudK_bssCMHpCllwxLBNzkxriQX-SxL80dI5LOdkufzFOLjl8aj7wi2FmFaLhwpSO30FQls53upmKySZ-7WQYOIQ1NLOdQcrTchTF1-PkBSftsO-Y9f8Fs6awRUc/s1600/DSC04092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548183740146707634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK1I0hzKY2GGSrLbBudK_bssCMHpCllwxLBNzkxriQX-SxL80dI5LOdkufzFOLjl8aj7wi2FmFaLhwpSO30FQls53upmKySZ-7WQYOIQ1NLOdQcrTchTF1-PkBSftsO-Y9f8Fs6awRUc/s400/DSC04092.JPG" /></a>Our shows were magical as well and a true exchange of cultures as we jammed with local Gamelan master musicians, Pu Klaing the Cambodian rapper and pop star Meas Soksophea of Cambodia, incorporating their sounds and ours into a wonderful mélange of true “world music” at both of our two major shows. Not to mention the professional sound, lights and staging! It's not every day one gets to perform on the double bass with pyrotechnics exploding all around!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW78XD86Oo-gAxNt1V_t-Qox6JT3s836pkQ14FQpsrvypJ-XyDTjXZwo3BHccpb1MpE7f6UDRp7UfHP-Lk_7-NJ3uf0-tLWNUpWlkspZhf32TiRW43QPcKAem6XylWNCDFtAbLnT4ehwo/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW78XD86Oo-gAxNt1V_t-Qox6JT3s836pkQ14FQpsrvypJ-XyDTjXZwo3BHccpb1MpE7f6UDRp7UfHP-Lk_7-NJ3uf0-tLWNUpWlkspZhf32TiRW43QPcKAem6XylWNCDFtAbLnT4ehwo/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548322972558909154" /></a>We had decided that on our last day in Cambodia - our day off - it was a must to go see this county's wonder in Siem Reap, the 12th century temples of Ankgor Wat. Missing that would be like missing the pyramids of Egypt. Exhausted though we were, our excellent guide, Mony (he’d been guide to both Hillary and Bill Clinton on their visits there) made our visit informative.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEz1WS6HB9EY5C8jRKAZaxEMnJ2OkEizSlShP84Ya5yk_aihexsWpyj2_HyWzwWqsVIZ-bszdea5D3ANmIz8dtmB3Z379yb6MEaWD5MS0jV2ZJyahN-1QSNKnDB4qJGxcoqJtzGGtF2w/s1600/DSC04204.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548184929809669282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEz1WS6HB9EY5C8jRKAZaxEMnJ2OkEizSlShP84Ya5yk_aihexsWpyj2_HyWzwWqsVIZ-bszdea5D3ANmIz8dtmB3Z379yb6MEaWD5MS0jV2ZJyahN-1QSNKnDB4qJGxcoqJtzGGtF2w/s400/DSC04204.JPG" /></a> He took us to see the three best temples in our limited time. The scale and detail of the bas relief carvings and sculptures left us awestruck, each depicting different Hindu and Buddhist legends. Some were so modern looking and well preserved that it seemed as if they could have been done yesterday.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsai2MR9pd-_KGM2JoKAD1GrO2HHQAD2yO2OT-EYYalD0GuOREzKFoIhbuvL075sWbFsx1yENwtIk9CxKslfQWxR2M0WaC9_Ey2fr1sXkIHTRHRx4a_6b-2s0ffD8SBQVUkcg0zeAzDdA/s1600/DSC04279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548187132153355394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsai2MR9pd-_KGM2JoKAD1GrO2HHQAD2yO2OT-EYYalD0GuOREzKFoIhbuvL075sWbFsx1yENwtIk9CxKslfQWxR2M0WaC9_Ey2fr1sXkIHTRHRx4a_6b-2s0ffD8SBQVUkcg0zeAzDdA/s400/DSC04279.JPG" /></a>We left Sunday for Manila, The Philippines, after playing the wonderful opening concert for the Water Festival in Phnom Penh on the Friday evening before. We could not have imagined the terrible tragedy that would unfold at the final day of the same festival on Monday. More than 400 people were crushed to death and more than 500 injured in an apparent stampede and panic as one of the city's small bridges across the river swayed while overcrowded with festival revelers. Our deep condolences and prayers go out to the families of the men, women and children lost in this horrific event.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv17ZTig9Y2x1rmFaVgji3k1aUVcph1twfcGxAriAymIDqKTm6AUpXwTXZvQea2QBZrZtEQcmyn0qFWmaYLVfMDRGgNpHZO6zQwCJcGLZPWM2CRGoVRFw2_4mvgkqhUvDAdVeBE9wigQ/s1600/DSC04082.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548182256813683346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv17ZTig9Y2x1rmFaVgji3k1aUVcph1twfcGxAriAymIDqKTm6AUpXwTXZvQea2QBZrZtEQcmyn0qFWmaYLVfMDRGgNpHZO6zQwCJcGLZPWM2CRGoVRFw2_4mvgkqhUvDAdVeBE9wigQ/s400/DSC04082.JPG" /></a>It's a terrible lesson about public safety that Phnom Penh has had to learn the hardest way, but I know that these unbelievably strong people and this fantastically rich culture on the cusp of a modern day renaissance will surely endure.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JNxj8giXJlhaiuqqjbN5FiZV2MNCpDHW7gvwh_Ob69amDWAxmketIWkvYdgjdvsfMKvLNDKf-q4oZZ7LyRKIADdaWVE2RuL81ckrF_lkqgw7DmtnQDYPJ_46VALVpNbJBs2rhop2sQw/s1600/DSC04140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JNxj8giXJlhaiuqqjbN5FiZV2MNCpDHW7gvwh_Ob69amDWAxmketIWkvYdgjdvsfMKvLNDKf-q4oZZ7LyRKIADdaWVE2RuL81ckrF_lkqgw7DmtnQDYPJ_46VALVpNbJBs2rhop2sQw/s400/DSC04140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548325525353068370" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-52032910914216072362010-11-27T10:44:00.013-05:002010-11-27T13:30:28.448-05:00The Circle of Life<span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 25</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) In Cambodia, we played two big concerts and conducted a Master Class. Most of our days were quite busy - sometimes 16 hours long. So, on our one free day, we woke up early and left our hotel at 6:00 AM to fly to Ankor Watt to see the great temples and ruins. The flight from Phnom Phen was about 45 minutes long and a lot shorter than our other flights (with a lot less gear). Our liaisons, Michelle and Pekaday, were kind enough to set up the flights and arrange for a driver/guide.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlR8debB_wIOG0gFYv8EbEInexmkxbn2JlaIUnUpaZPCO4QEuTehflsBDomSsUNtUsl9z60GurHW3od9RhmLJvT7gk8ociib7I7JkYSN9t2NGqSjSFyrqjW-TcjJ3Jvm0-t0ddbefqkM/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlR8debB_wIOG0gFYv8EbEInexmkxbn2JlaIUnUpaZPCO4QEuTehflsBDomSsUNtUsl9z60GurHW3od9RhmLJvT7gk8ociib7I7JkYSN9t2NGqSjSFyrqjW-TcjJ3Jvm0-t0ddbefqkM/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544282721760232674" border="0" /></a> Mony is a friend of the Embassy and one of the most knowledgeable guides in the area. He was assigned to show the Secretary of State around just a few days before he was scheduled to show us around. And he had done the same for President Clinton so we knew we were in great hands and would learn a lot about the history of the temples. We got our passes to the Ankor Watt Eco Park for about $20 (U.S.) and proceeded to the first stop: Angkor Watt.<br /><br />There are water filled moats surrounding the temple. The grounds are lush and expansive. We saw some funny monkeys by the entrance who were entertaining us and begging for bananas.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl3t2E0eUcWDuQVMWC3M1GUuKW6ryvSVMmQcR7lCCZPrBUIUzYUl9Em7eE4yXxQb17YIlm0zBUzaFjHbDjzJtoNzkmjW-hBqhwRStWCxFp4-FcgA91RusIber5Bmva2sI_l-iTBzx_Fo/s1600/IMG_0014A.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXl3t2E0eUcWDuQVMWC3M1GUuKW6ryvSVMmQcR7lCCZPrBUIUzYUl9Em7eE4yXxQb17YIlm0zBUzaFjHbDjzJtoNzkmjW-hBqhwRStWCxFp4-FcgA91RusIber5Bmva2sI_l-iTBzx_Fo/s400/IMG_0014A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544285088256766082" border="0" /></a> Mony called them “tourist monkeys.” Our guide knew so much about every detail of these temples, I understood why he was chosen by the State Department to guide us.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgOSqHBbZ9HUCeGJ9oTtj5dKOLJSw87OtR9G3XDE-bFMvO4ulthK9dSW467pXx9KFs5K12OUEtzNHHpW-C5MCjJ1uOkbZU34gC5efnzNvI9D3rtVGSzF769qLD37TcAZvdoENQzkyuYk/s1600/IMG_0007A.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgOSqHBbZ9HUCeGJ9oTtj5dKOLJSw87OtR9G3XDE-bFMvO4ulthK9dSW467pXx9KFs5K12OUEtzNHHpW-C5MCjJ1uOkbZU34gC5efnzNvI9D3rtVGSzF769qLD37TcAZvdoENQzkyuYk/s400/IMG_0007A.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544289762655170050" border="0" /></a> It was a bit overwhelming to hear all of the history at once and reminded me of touring the Vatican and cathedrals of Europe, except it's easier for me to wrap my head around the Christian history.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCly24p46DGePgjS2Q-7hYqU3JEyLzY0CrqT42A1X4ibD4u0Bi1IcaEaOZJrTcbBqMP1gVyUU1JPMPXkbNOGxD10q-DktOuPGWZnWZWNbePR6P_cwFrUBBCipmc2tpYzWh5hyCtSX42fU/s1600/IMG_0075.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCly24p46DGePgjS2Q-7hYqU3JEyLzY0CrqT42A1X4ibD4u0Bi1IcaEaOZJrTcbBqMP1gVyUU1JPMPXkbNOGxD10q-DktOuPGWZnWZWNbePR6P_cwFrUBBCipmc2tpYzWh5hyCtSX42fU/s400/IMG_0075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544290397455066434" border="0" /></a> We were all really tired and the heat was pretty intense but we made it through the grounds. Mony took us to lunch at a great open air restaurant where we had an amazing meal and purchased some gifts. After lunch, we went to see the famous temple filmed in <span style="font-style: italic;">Lara Croft: Tomb Raider</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V_x-FPM00ckPIc_4b4scKsi_lklKkUBqV-nFAuW9V3WOzao1G0_iC88KanUoUcIQTZYaXuFnLH4qzWRRTNPopqTgBa_To-JiWSmV2Metw-IvC2CBYsyH3G9tjJMlLIdlqDNhmdR0oB8/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6V_x-FPM00ckPIc_4b4scKsi_lklKkUBqV-nFAuW9V3WOzao1G0_iC88KanUoUcIQTZYaXuFnLH4qzWRRTNPopqTgBa_To-JiWSmV2Metw-IvC2CBYsyH3G9tjJMlLIdlqDNhmdR0oB8/s400/IMG_0117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544294123626419586" border="0" /></a>Nature had taken over the temple and the tree roots were growing through and over the rock.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkWyfJ_MqBy2NPQCcjP3NgyXV6tnAIOkkYgt9UN8II79JYzIsHtvirYYMx1HWNrxRCPrdrNFuiUdfZxnbCBJ9D6OvE4k2z57dWt0qSWIxdNt4YzUdef5bkR5dl0tREcpOJWbESRLsGB4/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkWyfJ_MqBy2NPQCcjP3NgyXV6tnAIOkkYgt9UN8II79JYzIsHtvirYYMx1HWNrxRCPrdrNFuiUdfZxnbCBJ9D6OvE4k2z57dWt0qSWIxdNt4YzUdef5bkR5dl0tREcpOJWbESRLsGB4/s400/IMG_0126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544295893139856290" border="0" /></a> We took some great band shots and learned so much about this ancient culture. Pu Klaing had told me to pay attention at the temples in order to understand the Cambodian people and their history. He said to take it all in and someday, to try to put it into a song for all the world to hear. No easy task, but one that is inspired. We hit one more temple on the way back to the airport which was called the Smiling Buddha temple (look at the picture and you'll know why).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVtb65hWwdV_nI50mPsecpfm6FOj-rR87Aq28Mra0KPSEWQdLrqGLGG-uVmbuoJg76l934o0caWNKfkwcPoggTeok4v0T2Ypr7mAhcS_zDYFc6f1f45afBj25dKld6JcxU0XaHVIddG8/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVtb65hWwdV_nI50mPsecpfm6FOj-rR87Aq28Mra0KPSEWQdLrqGLGG-uVmbuoJg76l934o0caWNKfkwcPoggTeok4v0T2Ypr7mAhcS_zDYFc6f1f45afBj25dKld6JcxU0XaHVIddG8/s400/IMG_0105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544296605197925202" border="0" /></a> I had to sit this one out and relaxed on the stone wall outside the entrance, where I observed the structure from the outside. I realized there are some things that can only be felt and are not possible to describe in words or intellect. I was overwhelmed by a sense of impermanence when I saw the crumbling stone and felt that just like these temples, all structures are unstable and pass one day back to the nothingness from which they were formed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4pO3lDzhFqqi1iD-XprPRiHP0P2rDLVrR5QBMK17haxByVrjsiRNKvpqKOBNimf1L1yBzsF-r5q3BOT2xi4xPQKdvuIbisIP5TBbE8X4NDmQKBG1qCvn2r3f1H42FV62bQ869op5B3g/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4pO3lDzhFqqi1iD-XprPRiHP0P2rDLVrR5QBMK17haxByVrjsiRNKvpqKOBNimf1L1yBzsF-r5q3BOT2xi4xPQKdvuIbisIP5TBbE8X4NDmQKBG1qCvn2r3f1H42FV62bQ869op5B3g/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544297986944569298" border="0" /></a> This ancient city of temples was once home to millions of people who lived and died within the shadows of the temple walls. Their voices echo in the ruins and are a reminder that we are the awareness in which all life unfolds.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-10698248777506744582010-11-23T14:48:00.025-05:002010-11-24T12:32:37.676-05:00Silent Night...<span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 22</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Joe</span>) I was just preparing my first blog post in several days about our tour in Cambodia when I received news of the terrible tragedy which took place at the end of the <a href="http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101122/cambodia-stampede-101122/20101122/?hub=TorontoNewHome">Water Festival in Phnom Penh</a>. We played last Friday night for an audience of 3,000 at Veal Preah Mehru, a park near the National Museum in Phnom Penh, as an opening concert for this festival. It’s difficult for us, as a band, to comprehend such a horrible ending to such a wonderful event. As a band, we send our deepest, heartfelt condolences to all our new friends in Cambodia. We were so well received and are so thankful to the Cambodian people for the wonderful experience and love they brought to us and our music.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fJaCQ36rNZJIUQ3dxdG8awU3azBSyJ1WISgyLoGBZeLWHHEKi1DQXX8yUb3_vK94pOYLx21698eSxWJU8GIFEUcQfHkVHvks2baghXMSpdw3L28PbmDK9OtNIepBuaTK9guZ8drzZl0/s1600/rush+hr+crowd+watching+sound+check.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542890693014801570" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fJaCQ36rNZJIUQ3dxdG8awU3azBSyJ1WISgyLoGBZeLWHHEKi1DQXX8yUb3_vK94pOYLx21698eSxWJU8GIFEUcQfHkVHvks2baghXMSpdw3L28PbmDK9OtNIepBuaTK9guZ8drzZl0/s400/rush+hr+crowd+watching+sound+check.jpg" border="0" /></a>Cambodia is not what I had expected. I could write a huge blog post on what I saw and learned but I think for now, because of the pace we’re keeping in The Philippines, I’ll give the short version of something that touched my heart. I’m very sensitive about filming or photographing the pain of people who have suffered great losses in their lives. It's a bit voyeuristic, I feel, and nothing positive can come of it. However, on the entry path to Ankgor Wat, we passed a group of musicians playing traditional Cambodian music on traditional instruments.<object width="485" height="297"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sIoncG_ctCE?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sIoncG_ctCE?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="485" height="297"></embed></object>It all seemed normal to me, you know, the Cambodian version of street musicians. Upon closer view, I realized they were land mine victims from land mines left behind over the course of three decades of war. The fact that they were land mine victims wasn’t as striking as the spirit of the music they played. One of our main messages to students who attend our Rhythm Road Master Classes is to never give up one’s dream.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNJ65ugEBOGISixzB3P2oO0I7eeDnp4J8vlPhGhUCZioZQAsQFxQGiN_ItJhYIf2O5x8L-6gr1LXPQMO7KBHGWZDhbTJO-ggUaHnokgUPTyVnFVOQmY3TqUTX37HQk0DLm_AtOfJsHwM/s1600/master+class+ministry+of+culture.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542875129218319890" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNJ65ugEBOGISixzB3P2oO0I7eeDnp4J8vlPhGhUCZioZQAsQFxQGiN_ItJhYIf2O5x8L-6gr1LXPQMO7KBHGWZDhbTJO-ggUaHnokgUPTyVnFVOQmY3TqUTX37HQk0DLm_AtOfJsHwM/s400/master+class+ministry+of+culture.jpg" border="0" /></a>These musicians are the living example of the power of the human spirit. Cambodia itself is proof of such a spirit. The most impressive thing about young Cambodians – more than 60% of the population is under 30 – is their forward-looking spirit.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp699T45WIezRXks85RDfxhXz-Q5n884WIE1rhmQUGXcW2ACxlFIK2SmAK3qoAjrd2aQeKRRw-VuG0_HRN5mCvmrhqV-5DQyeIlY1Ac23JBcWQ1-rDMtEKRzOqklzP-L8PcXLVAbVfUf8/s1600/school+girls+on+bikes.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 319px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542891514454169922" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp699T45WIezRXks85RDfxhXz-Q5n884WIE1rhmQUGXcW2ACxlFIK2SmAK3qoAjrd2aQeKRRw-VuG0_HRN5mCvmrhqV-5DQyeIlY1Ac23JBcWQ1-rDMtEKRzOqklzP-L8PcXLVAbVfUf8/s400/school+girls+on+bikes.JPG" border="0" /></a> How do a people, whose recent history is so tragic, whose culture was all but destroyed, who lost by various estimates one quarter to one third of their population, how do these people maintain such a positive outlook on the future? I’m amazed by the Cambodians I met in my short stay. As an American, I feel a bit spoiled. We speak often of the dark cloud of slavery in our own county’s past and how the music we play is the silver lining of that dark cloud – all of the American music which finds its roots in slave songs, gospel and the blues. It seems we are about to see a cultural rise in Cambodia descending from the pain and suffering dealt by the Khmer Rouge reign and civil war. The people of Cambodia seem on their way to building a new Cambodian culture out of the ashes of the past.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31lSy1sq09_SgCxKmaNdhMtDz7OSIiFNL4TgVrBW985o7KIAZvlBchBwU4jrLXtJuQsHfxjTB4boyrIdMVvT7dqEvbIS74CSF2L-IxYJrbyWW1F6ITU8wwN44bOvL5hl5VbzhyJSiZIw/s1600/IMG_1496.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 292px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542898956232850898" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31lSy1sq09_SgCxKmaNdhMtDz7OSIiFNL4TgVrBW985o7KIAZvlBchBwU4jrLXtJuQsHfxjTB4boyrIdMVvT7dqEvbIS74CSF2L-IxYJrbyWW1F6ITU8wwN44bOvL5hl5VbzhyJSiZIw/s400/IMG_1496.JPG" border="0" /></a>In our concert at Veal Preah Mehru, we invited a guest ensemble led by <a href="http://www.whereelephantsweep.net/inner/about_musical.html">Keo Sonankavei,</a> a professor of music at the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA) to perform. Keo brought a couple of very special instruments that he, himself, created based on traditional Cambodian instruments.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmvaE0x407S7KYUf9jPccnWaLn19oQh6m54fIZUf69XkINk31qUicHWKZQpT_TIy9xJR-9wtJdsHhGXyOOySsdzQiHWQ0uxZd1YJB3mesVbTgqYzUvj1vqhB9zuTPYSadgoRzTfdiK7U/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 272px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542918984141872226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmvaE0x407S7KYUf9jPccnWaLn19oQh6m54fIZUf69XkINk31qUicHWKZQpT_TIy9xJR-9wtJdsHhGXyOOySsdzQiHWQ0uxZd1YJB3mesVbTgqYzUvj1vqhB9zuTPYSadgoRzTfdiK7U/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" /></a><object width="485" height="297"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ikG9LGssC2Q?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ikG9LGssC2Q?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="485" height="297"></embed></object>These new instruments are based on the chromatic scale rather than the older traditional Cambodian scales.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_EqM804yWwPYfZtdpfbpjDftX3pEREnthE0sgdojH4WK_55bSkjSBa2ys9sZWiG9nJnlhP7x8twhvVOLEmYwfK9Onqvr0NE0fvubBMNfSmD3Pzw-DcbYumuxAJMip1xKzq_3MH06sW8/s1600/Chrome1.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 277px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542930286400358050" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_EqM804yWwPYfZtdpfbpjDftX3pEREnthE0sgdojH4WK_55bSkjSBa2ys9sZWiG9nJnlhP7x8twhvVOLEmYwfK9Onqvr0NE0fvubBMNfSmD3Pzw-DcbYumuxAJMip1xKzq_3MH06sW8/s400/Chrome1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The modern versions of Cambodian instruments and the Cambodian musicians fit right into our ensemble jam session at the concert. For me, this was a wonderful cultural bonding experience, one that only happens when musicians share the thing they love: music. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJSSGD4G38ntVdg6IvHfO4-lN4WIL6QV0-R61pcequElJJUbS2k-8txKnZn6v-f6waGPEsUx7RlNWs94POBIgn_K8iydXTkAf9yqxgbi6wajvR7n4ScsAYVN1eZ57ngFw1YpYAfbtQ68/s1600/flowers.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 266px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542901063089422178" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJSSGD4G38ntVdg6IvHfO4-lN4WIL6QV0-R61pcequElJJUbS2k-8txKnZn6v-f6waGPEsUx7RlNWs94POBIgn_K8iydXTkAf9yqxgbi6wajvR7n4ScsAYVN1eZ57ngFw1YpYAfbtQ68/s400/flowers.JPG" border="0" /></a>I have quite a bit more to say about this land of gentle people and great hope.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rt1TYL05z5DQ3S-dl003wIKYcvS1qj3TqRpL5VaQugn2v-cfzeKrv3_6iNCMCf9bT2iLPKLd7hQ8uHhMfRQ6TJWZS4f46XHm5_F_6lYecoO7i_h3oSIDaN-ZOC0sLWXTk0c3iED3N0k/s1600/family+on+the+Mekong+River.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542874373873321218" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rt1TYL05z5DQ3S-dl003wIKYcvS1qj3TqRpL5VaQugn2v-cfzeKrv3_6iNCMCf9bT2iLPKLd7hQ8uHhMfRQ6TJWZS4f46XHm5_F_6lYecoO7i_h3oSIDaN-ZOC0sLWXTk0c3iED3N0k/s400/family+on+the+Mekong+River.JPG" border="0" /></a>But, for the moment, for myself and the rest of the Johnny Rodgers Band, we again send our deepest condolences for this recent tragedy at the Water Festival.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-37815283289425438162010-11-21T20:00:00.000-05:002010-12-08T00:20:43.330-05:00In Your Eyes<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">DAY 21</span>: (<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Danny</span>) I've mentioned before that it's always bittersweet when we leave one country and travel to our next destination.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY-VzBCodFPhSWfK3ytIJVkbaE5IZxla-75hqDLEcP7KbP6Nh4mf8nVOKeADwhs3yRxaK5oL5Usey_fxlzL04zXDpA3h60qXoDpvxAA41-Y3uj3y3IKeti81CQbcHRrysjioiFr-ojsQ/s1600/IMG_0002A.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542940673277337938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY-VzBCodFPhSWfK3ytIJVkbaE5IZxla-75hqDLEcP7KbP6Nh4mf8nVOKeADwhs3yRxaK5oL5Usey_fxlzL04zXDpA3h60qXoDpvxAA41-Y3uj3y3IKeti81CQbcHRrysjioiFr-ojsQ/s400/IMG_0002A.JPG" /></a> This time, I feel especially sad to leave Cambodia and its lovely people. I’ve made so many friends in Cambodia and wish I had more time to spend with all of them. Even though only 1% of the country's population has Internet, I was amazed that almost everyone we’ve met is on Facebook. I'm looking forward to staying in touch and sharing pictures and videos.<br /><br />We were so busy in Cambodia, we didn't have time to write or post many pictures or accounts of our time. We worked 16-hour days for almost the whole time.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVDooNbea27rlS-_op9-oMwxeRx5jqGP-VkEgP1THNJTXaZC6cIfaeqfJt1a44wCOQ-2Jfx16-pC1arZZt88XVEV8DcLVzdyKRyz3ph3Y2uKfev-T54Y3jPqhpphkwaAZF7MriRFjbmU/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542913727086254274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVDooNbea27rlS-_op9-oMwxeRx5jqGP-VkEgP1THNJTXaZC6cIfaeqfJt1a44wCOQ-2Jfx16-pC1arZZt88XVEV8DcLVzdyKRyz3ph3Y2uKfev-T54Y3jPqhpphkwaAZF7MriRFjbmU/s400/IMG_1483.JPG" /></a> Driving, loading, unloading and of course, sound checks and performing. We love it all and the music is why we came on this trip but meeting all these people and the sharing of cultures is what’s changing our lives. I was constantly blown away by the youth of the population! 60% of the population is under the age of 30 and although the reason for this is unbearably sad, the resulting youthful population seems poised and ready to catapult into the future.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVnXVKnCubkvMMRFIznJXW-icUyVoQvpnXptpxHVHWu_7hMX4nyiNW4TfebDMiviPLTBxELBhnfGVKPdA2f3M1sswzKjTUfUAcSO3MEXShUEQdC9bxuxuVmpLGCOir2xQhvZj0wHdkJE/s1600/IMG_1300.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542914651516095010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVnXVKnCubkvMMRFIznJXW-icUyVoQvpnXptpxHVHWu_7hMX4nyiNW4TfebDMiviPLTBxELBhnfGVKPdA2f3M1sswzKjTUfUAcSO3MEXShUEQdC9bxuxuVmpLGCOir2xQhvZj0wHdkJE/s400/IMG_1300.JPG" /></a> Humble, kind, beautiful, warm, smiling faces greet you at every turn and there is a spirit of peace which permeates the air.<br /><br />The day after we landed, we conducted a Master Class at the Ministry of Culture. There was a mix of western classical and traditional Cambodian music students and faculty.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwckZs2rXWOnThXDgMt9oWtmuJukb2nZ9DWWzB_SsX6APlvPS5w6bcI4xOC_SYaDUYzCJCAleS30m8A_GtjfxO8BarehInS8uoPgXtOr5ZdwURs6OCFUCn4zrLyDptTkSZrftcxMSMBUo/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542969783721265106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwckZs2rXWOnThXDgMt9oWtmuJukb2nZ9DWWzB_SsX6APlvPS5w6bcI4xOC_SYaDUYzCJCAleS30m8A_GtjfxO8BarehInS8uoPgXtOr5ZdwURs6OCFUCn4zrLyDptTkSZrftcxMSMBUo/s400/IMG_1317.JPG" /></a>We had the singers improvise over the blues and had a great question and answer session.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIurXVIrC43wOJofBJMO68VVGHgShqt0kMLTOi5GZnOTHNT4N0yUfAO7TKHE5kze37x4rDUvF3rmE4Nt5J54O07ACLZckvj3qpPBP6KfchIQGgq7uA51rPJQI3MRgZMXzCLxXwjPAcoY/s1600/ministry+of+culture.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542931328943148930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIurXVIrC43wOJofBJMO68VVGHgShqt0kMLTOi5GZnOTHNT4N0yUfAO7TKHE5kze37x4rDUvF3rmE4Nt5J54O07ACLZckvj3qpPBP6KfchIQGgq7uA51rPJQI3MRgZMXzCLxXwjPAcoY/s400/ministry+of+culture.jpg" /></a>After the class, we rehearsed with some local artists who were to join us in our two big concerts. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsfa2pCFgkYDGuXl0jp3EHe2ThVfEV6veWxNcHAxTz1PX2exy_LUUTaxklew0jP48KrZysmZryuJt-trGclEbgtuYOyTzhsTblhelRReATCBLmBcK9fwjSM5-lTf62DxR9Q7Z4J-H1-I/s1600/IMG_1486.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542932714722223458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsfa2pCFgkYDGuXl0jp3EHe2ThVfEV6veWxNcHAxTz1PX2exy_LUUTaxklew0jP48KrZysmZryuJt-trGclEbgtuYOyTzhsTblhelRReATCBLmBcK9fwjSM5-lTf62DxR9Q7Z4J-H1-I/s400/IMG_1486.jpg" /></a>Meas Sok Sophea, a local singer who has the top song in the country and the great Cambodian rapper/MC, Pu Klaing, brought their artistry and flavor to the table. We rehearsed with the Ministry’s traditional percussionists and a great young band called Blackwood. This short rehearsal was all the time we had to put together a multifaceted and bi-cultural show to perform in Kampong Cham and Phnom Penh for more than 3,000 people at each concert.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggndEe44Gyqh79MfTyhD69BFm_vpuz9iekTHn7fTiv-u1wTmAMYUdoBVEZidjwI1VZoCFhQJ30hDiIIAgTN_oYR22ZvZfOX-JsMJGQDpAHEmFRl08mtKHQcKdXiLHUxMKe_9iCgHUKdvk/s1600/kampong+Cham+concert+crowd.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542933369255734306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggndEe44Gyqh79MfTyhD69BFm_vpuz9iekTHn7fTiv-u1wTmAMYUdoBVEZidjwI1VZoCFhQJ30hDiIIAgTN_oYR22ZvZfOX-JsMJGQDpAHEmFRl08mtKHQcKdXiLHUxMKe_9iCgHUKdvk/s400/kampong+Cham+concert+crowd.jpg" /></a>We had the chance to visit the U.S. Embassy and to meet with the Ambassador, Carol Rodley, which was both an honor and a thrill. We’ve had the pleasure of meeting three U.S. Ambassadors on this trip and always enjoy seeing the Embassies.<br /><br />The drive to Kampong Cham was a three-hour journey through the artery of Cambodian life outside the city.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoveKdOOMYkgg8FjtmTqL1RV1CilFsUEWn7cC-XR2CEC4zt2YHYJ3dMSrolmvuIbHHpf3LZ-sub4ZmhcHuSGGSHlalf7w9RE2uSSEXZP11hrHRqqkliDJA5pxEdF09r5hRjAPBQAUcj5c/s1600/IMG_1429.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542943759970849314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoveKdOOMYkgg8FjtmTqL1RV1CilFsUEWn7cC-XR2CEC4zt2YHYJ3dMSrolmvuIbHHpf3LZ-sub4ZmhcHuSGGSHlalf7w9RE2uSSEXZP11hrHRqqkliDJA5pxEdF09r5hRjAPBQAUcj5c/s400/IMG_1429.JPG" /></a>The road was bordered by lean-to shacks and stilt houses that sometimes doubled as stores and sleeping quarters. There were no gas stations so there were stands on the side of the road selling gas in coke bottles for the scooters.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR36mlB9z4HzhviKg44-dt5ZStAOz2AZBGBQFxknYMImu7DLhaiuCejpIwFTfOslTeJaDCJ7CjRC7TzEn2Y3Zj9KjKWrk4Y3ld2UZIBDNkjKTCuzdrqK3suWtBCNBeWT09zua34fhfEo/s1600/road+side+markets.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542946579457805298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibR36mlB9z4HzhviKg44-dt5ZStAOz2AZBGBQFxknYMImu7DLhaiuCejpIwFTfOslTeJaDCJ7CjRC7TzEn2Y3Zj9KjKWrk4Y3ld2UZIBDNkjKTCuzdrqK3suWtBCNBeWT09zua34fhfEo/s400/road+side+markets.jpg" /></a>The traffic thinned out some and the scooters gave way to bicycles as we got into the smaller towns and most of that traffic was school children coming home from the first shift. The students either went to school from 7:00-11:00 AM or 2:00-5:00 PM. The early shift seemed preferable because the temperatures weren't as high. We saw rice fields, Cambodian white cows, chickens, little horses and lots of dogs. We stopped for our first rest stop at a conglomeration of roadside stands and as soon as we stopped, young girls and children mobbed the van, trying to get us to buy their fruit and bananas.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10QzhXCEHjOgaEfeNlZimNwfOfJ1I0WZqO45qnIw66vfkoYkxB7gah2hJ-CkWHFMmC6upMMbhKqWwqnSxNeVXnPMfg2ajuThEo4xNeAPRP9rkFe987SN9uPYccn0j_a6ajkMpE3x-oxQ/s1600/IMG_1378.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542947356641025826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10QzhXCEHjOgaEfeNlZimNwfOfJ1I0WZqO45qnIw66vfkoYkxB7gah2hJ-CkWHFMmC6upMMbhKqWwqnSxNeVXnPMfg2ajuThEo4xNeAPRP9rkFe987SN9uPYccn0j_a6ajkMpE3x-oxQ/s400/IMG_1378.jpg" /></a> Each of the teenage girls had live tarantulas on their shirts and one gave me one to hold. I saw a giant basket of fried tarantulas and crickets at a nearby stand.<br /><br />The drummer from Blackwood convinced one of the girls to let him have a tarantula which he brought into the van. I asked him to pass it to me where I was sitting in the front next to Michelle, our Embassy liaison. I had mentioned we had a spider in the car, but she thought I was joking until she saw it crawling around on my hand. I was impressed by how fast she jumped into the back seat. In the meantime, Joe and Johnny were getting a kick out of the CB radio in the van. They hadn't seen one in a while.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnjMbt6p1rJaT15Zyvl1ofyKw7dqEGNUedZyGzMf-tcUlJ3kfqwIe5k_4o5RL08NwmiY8oY98Yn1ozb1VZpYTdnmOlww_7AI7y9zWXJWQtKAVnfQ-n5ZEZPDrsCwEhfrYKhq0L0Eg5y4/s1600/dragon+boat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542950126641514178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnjMbt6p1rJaT15Zyvl1ofyKw7dqEGNUedZyGzMf-tcUlJ3kfqwIe5k_4o5RL08NwmiY8oY98Yn1ozb1VZpYTdnmOlww_7AI7y9zWXJWQtKAVnfQ-n5ZEZPDrsCwEhfrYKhq0L0Eg5y4/s400/dragon+boat.jpg" /></a>When we arrived at our hotel in Kampong Cham, the afternoon sun was shining on the Mekong River. I’d heard about this river since I was a young child and finally, to see it was amazing. I heard Cambodian music coming down the river and I saw a junket-type boat pulling a traditional dragon boat. This type of long thin boat seats 50 rowers was being transported to Phnom Penh to participate in the Water Festival. Every year, crews and dragon boats are transported to the river festival to participate in races and competitions. Three million people were already descending upon the city to celebrate this year’s festival.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cY7OLtR31H-g-QoKjOyuAGLFzaWpglMFsFoIYs8WiDbkIqWAAAHtZ8ZxNGYbi-FFR-gVCn2z3qysyE1rcv7nWscKaN4BXf5HHNaGeVc3jVGf0KD0IMQjprGySAb23SZjOZwpbMe6cBE/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542952128241495778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cY7OLtR31H-g-QoKjOyuAGLFzaWpglMFsFoIYs8WiDbkIqWAAAHtZ8ZxNGYbi-FFR-gVCn2z3qysyE1rcv7nWscKaN4BXf5HHNaGeVc3jVGf0KD0IMQjprGySAb23SZjOZwpbMe6cBE/s400/IMG_1457.JPG" /></a>The hotel in Kampong Cham had beautiful, wood-carved statues and chairs. The rooms had beautiful, ornately crafted wooden beds. My room also had a little balcony that overlooked the Mekong.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBE_h_bg9izLqdyH02Eg0L5xrxLfTvDx8twaLnSlbZeL5hc2__Pq9yvdxoKiq5pDdULS_UWKso256JjMW_Eshtl1CKEVeChV5_9g78xx1nBnG9L-ZG9Dr8nMqngrcJFIiISCp2SpOOyQY/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542952805852216786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBE_h_bg9izLqdyH02Eg0L5xrxLfTvDx8twaLnSlbZeL5hc2__Pq9yvdxoKiq5pDdULS_UWKso256JjMW_Eshtl1CKEVeChV5_9g78xx1nBnG9L-ZG9Dr8nMqngrcJFIiISCp2SpOOyQY/s400/IMG_1455.JPG" /></a>In most of the countries we've been to, I've been a lobby rat, where I'm sometimes able to find wireless. The wireless at our hotel was down but I was able to get wifi at a great cafe next to the hotel - Smile Café - an open-air Cambodian restaurant that helps young people in need in conjunction with a Buddhist association. The owner and I became friends right away and because they were open daily until 3:00 AM, he saw a lot of me.<br /><br />We went to the football (soccer) stadium to load in and do our sound check.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCAcBQpxL1JqAbRtlNxKPm1Fabf6-qbOPi-bGgnx1W4MBy2_qLHv7s1Ykl17fDQgtag_pt_NTa5sJP0klguRMUhSBaelAoN4fac7dfdAIDKI1NeJ2dMIkMmZhHwwhX9AnVa6Eobqg-r4/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542957008592642978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCAcBQpxL1JqAbRtlNxKPm1Fabf6-qbOPi-bGgnx1W4MBy2_qLHv7s1Ykl17fDQgtag_pt_NTa5sJP0klguRMUhSBaelAoN4fac7dfdAIDKI1NeJ2dMIkMmZhHwwhX9AnVa6Eobqg-r4/s400/IMG_1459.JPG" /></a>As soon as we started playing, the field filled up with people on scooters and bicycles who were on their way home from work and school. They sat there on their bikes and watched us sound check and when we left to change, they rode away.<br /><br />We came back to play the concert and when we saw the stage and lights, we were amazed by the volume of bugs flying around. It looked like it was snowing bugs! My white drum skins were covered in black bugs. When I walked on stage, I was swarmed by critters of every shape and size. I thought, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">I am one with these bugs, I accept them, they won't bite me</span>. We've all been taking Malarone pills for malaria but forgot to bring our Deet cream. Not that it would have worked in this situation.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC393IFPrGKB5hyIRPsORvg6At4Dh6FsWXb6uQrrmPzm1GpLvzoqxbGxFmlAq6Uq3PZWH-xWZr3g2e56uMAMRKHgsjilDhrpq8RrzQLs-uiwbcqNHAE_wioL6ocaeoJiDUGRaFbGLIuY4/s1600/IMG_1489.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542961537744390722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC393IFPrGKB5hyIRPsORvg6At4Dh6FsWXb6uQrrmPzm1GpLvzoqxbGxFmlAq6Uq3PZWH-xWZr3g2e56uMAMRKHgsjilDhrpq8RrzQLs-uiwbcqNHAE_wioL6ocaeoJiDUGRaFbGLIuY4/s400/IMG_1489.jpg" /></a>I thought, <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">don't open your mouth on stage</span>, but I knew I had to sing and wondered how much protein I’d be taking in that night. Probably not as much as Johnny! It was funny to watch the guys battling the bugs at first and I saw everyone have a big one fly onto their ear or mouth. While I was playing, I found a Praying Mantis hanging on to my floor tom and I had to play around him for a few tunes. Brian went to play his gogo bells for <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Mary Jean</span> and there was a giant grasshopper on the bell so he was late on his entrance because it freaked him out. Then I saw a giant brown bug on his neck that looked like it was about to suck the blood out of him.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggX0HNXSmbt_G5EfAZRu8YWg1_UhCdDGITrSYtsE_UwHuo5AVovz7YlUpxBv166Za9A3QkKZOQptZaHRPiGtmwxb7si8tGuq1zLrGYnk8AZ4AgzYtndw5N4Xtze1KViGczTcnOs-I9P8Q/s1600/smoke+machines.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542957853598426130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggX0HNXSmbt_G5EfAZRu8YWg1_UhCdDGITrSYtsE_UwHuo5AVovz7YlUpxBv166Za9A3QkKZOQptZaHRPiGtmwxb7si8tGuq1zLrGYnk8AZ4AgzYtndw5N4Xtze1KViGczTcnOs-I9P8Q/s400/smoke+machines.jpg" /></a>The stage had a giant backdrop with our pictures and there were about five smoke machines that kept clouding the stage. During one of the quieter tunes, I requested they be turned off because they made too much noise. There was a strobe light by the footlights that, at one point, made me feel as if I had been hypnotized.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW63Amlpq8BdRU5C_XXM4GwNCLT-hPPFmfO1sVpSCQ3FEYJI6Uof4gOuTvZ7MReDI_5G3-8FTamuOrCv7Xhiz1ESUiwx-7g6juN_8m9nRAttW8hJYnb6PT-ooB0Kr0yBa7u_9oD6cFWl0/s1600/IMG_1491.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542962521982765250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW63Amlpq8BdRU5C_XXM4GwNCLT-hPPFmfO1sVpSCQ3FEYJI6Uof4gOuTvZ7MReDI_5G3-8FTamuOrCv7Xhiz1ESUiwx-7g6juN_8m9nRAttW8hJYnb6PT-ooB0Kr0yBa7u_9oD6cFWl0/s400/IMG_1491.JPG" /></a>The MC Puh Klaing really got the crowd going with his intros and antics. He was great helping translate the song intros and keeping the crowd informed and entertained. They loved our music and when Sophea came out to sing two of her songs with us, they were even more excited. We played more of our set and then Puh Klaing came out with the Blackwood Band who gave the crowd some of its signature rock. They were great and when we came back on stage, he joined us for a great version of <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Ain't No Sunshine</span>! We really enjoyed being on and off stage with him! Sophea came back with her dancers and after, we did a rocking version of <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">You Can Leave Your Hat On</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeeMVloUZ8Zyt0qwWB8RgqhNpM55tOgq6fh2Sch8-rluFLBbN-UlkHkc3Ha4eb_aKr4MrHEedGFJTfWAC49HFwWXs_LOSka1K2XpcnFbjiGd7SCNTx75-TxcRleFO-9PORhVKiNNaiws/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542962533365541314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeeMVloUZ8Zyt0qwWB8RgqhNpM55tOgq6fh2Sch8-rluFLBbN-UlkHkc3Ha4eb_aKr4MrHEedGFJTfWAC49HFwWXs_LOSka1K2XpcnFbjiGd7SCNTx75-TxcRleFO-9PORhVKiNNaiws/s400/IMG_1494.JPG" /></a>After the show, we hung out at the Smile Cafe with Pu Klaing by the Mekong River.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">To be continued...</span></span>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-3291270076008662772010-11-17T14:09:00.012-05:002010-11-20T19:44:17.059-05:00Scenes from a Cambodian Restaurant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaRvP7cdTeUXK3gYDpZLNiLIBEn7ZCW0ktuw6LlYfDAc3z6ZKZ7MZN8INTjpzIFZibRPw-BOy7Tmb0RR59FqUkOQtQY_shp0OtXTjrP8_p_z6R_s6BANBkdWxuiPq0EzNgUFACVKM4JY/s1600/phnom_penhdark.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaRvP7cdTeUXK3gYDpZLNiLIBEn7ZCW0ktuw6LlYfDAc3z6ZKZ7MZN8INTjpzIFZibRPw-BOy7Tmb0RR59FqUkOQtQY_shp0OtXTjrP8_p_z6R_s6BANBkdWxuiPq0EzNgUFACVKM4JY/s400/phnom_penhdark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540994224048051682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 15</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) As soon as we touched down in Cambodia, I had the greatest feeling! I was happy to be here and knew we were in for a great adventure, one that would change us forever. Our U.S. Embassy liaison spirited us through customs and we were on the road to the hotel in no time. Because it was rush hour, we were treated to Phnom Penn traffic which was an exiting adventure filled with scooters, scooters and more scooters.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkDCUfoHKpFoiO_5JKQ_iPPf09Mo4Irg7LBtIhDQlAc49f0XDxMOuVlOBVYcuEF1FL6dKP_WiKSR_Jxrwol0kKYeucacyUBg25c6RqZPzI8MQ3JzCxcmh5hzW4J6jgq5p_Yx01lBK9Ok/s1600/scooter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkDCUfoHKpFoiO_5JKQ_iPPf09Mo4Irg7LBtIhDQlAc49f0XDxMOuVlOBVYcuEF1FL6dKP_WiKSR_Jxrwol0kKYeucacyUBg25c6RqZPzI8MQ3JzCxcmh5hzW4J6jgq5p_Yx01lBK9Ok/s400/scooter.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541797213186013362" /></a>We also saw many Tuk Tuks, which are like rickshaws but with a motorcycle front. I was amazed how many people they could fit on one scooter and I saw as many as four at a time, although one of those passengers was a baby. We have heard of as many as five passengers on a scooter, but I haven't seen that yet.<br /><br />Our hotel is amazing and everyone we’ve met thus far is awesome. We checked in quickly and then had a dinner meeting with the embassy folks to go over our schedule. While we were waiting for our embassy liaisons, I sat in with a traditional Cambodian drum and xylophone duo (after the drummer showed me the basic pattern).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSjg1kZgEjvOqhVz4I3GJZoVQPnmRPRJH2qrgNTlXIBEDk-MMHpmM8_IoeLBfAu4wKMP6IGVksdH4YJtqWQpKuDZPHukSSa3PKzIvgHsG9RcOf1EVPSSmaRlKMXEOWN8Xbo_0iXPeSM4/s1600/DSC04048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSjg1kZgEjvOqhVz4I3GJZoVQPnmRPRJH2qrgNTlXIBEDk-MMHpmM8_IoeLBfAu4wKMP6IGVksdH4YJtqWQpKuDZPHukSSa3PKzIvgHsG9RcOf1EVPSSmaRlKMXEOWN8Xbo_0iXPeSM4/s400/DSC04048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541450465785625778" /></a> They were really cool. Our hosts took us to Ramdeng, a creative Cambodian restaurant that used local cooking school graduates as the help. I had told my best friend Colleen that I was going to eat some crazy stuff in Cambodia after she suggested I try monkey brains, like in the first Raiders of the Lost Ark. Well as soon as we opened the menus, Johnny spotted sauteed red tree ants and I knew I had to try that.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1InQl0s-2MPSZhtn2caoHanzpc5LGPbGExwLRtUQarjmx7uX6vPX9BlPBP1-Su6mWu0D6M-XK7MKKograavcDqdiCV4wxGdOgWq7LoeMUadsuJIUnzggMKhQirTKh7Bnvv-pmIu3Thw/s1600/Ants.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1InQl0s-2MPSZhtn2caoHanzpc5LGPbGExwLRtUQarjmx7uX6vPX9BlPBP1-Su6mWu0D6M-XK7MKKograavcDqdiCV4wxGdOgWq7LoeMUadsuJIUnzggMKhQirTKh7Bnvv-pmIu3Thw/s400/Ants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540968816479816210" border="0" /></a> Then we saw a snack: crispy tarantulas with lime and pepper sauce.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA4854aqRzMkxteUtI0hbBYs1PLwJyVW29RMgW1bQSw87KQfU30tSvuWhpc4cTXYvlGtKFNi-SDPZa2pWGrF9dKYoYr63ancgdYZLKbbAqXkdLk1wGpde6sDxosyS4Wks_FrsD7Y3-9A/s1600/crispy+spiders.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnA4854aqRzMkxteUtI0hbBYs1PLwJyVW29RMgW1bQSw87KQfU30tSvuWhpc4cTXYvlGtKFNi-SDPZa2pWGrF9dKYoYr63ancgdYZLKbbAqXkdLk1wGpde6sDxosyS4Wks_FrsD7Y3-9A/s400/crispy+spiders.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540969293676973826" border="0" /></a> I told everyone I was going for them and the cameras came out. I was the first one to taste the spiders and then when I exclaimed them to be crispy and spidery. They all tried both dishes. The spiders tasted like bacon and the ants had a thread-like (?) after taste.<br /><br />There was also fish in banana leaf, mango salad, sauteed string beans and tiger beer. We had the best time and I’m so proud of how adventurous the group was tonight. I feel there is an exuberance and hopefulness of the youthful population here and you can feel the excitement everywhere you go. I love the Cambodian people and if this first night is any indication of what’s to follow, then we’re in for a real treat!Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-679159099983170112010-11-16T10:30:00.000-05:002010-11-16T10:35:43.419-05:00Bandstand Boogie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iV371pjxuV2NF9Di2rQxrU9wx6T4E7J6rn-Kbt6QR3ogr1YH3-rcTJ6anC7JXFI0nlMuHGU5gYpMJ3GSM29OuIkb9KJXmGD_2t_PvYG7gZHz35o45NmSgZuyVqycjZyyhiuemjNXYFg/s1600/DSC03961.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8iV371pjxuV2NF9Di2rQxrU9wx6T4E7J6rn-Kbt6QR3ogr1YH3-rcTJ6anC7JXFI0nlMuHGU5gYpMJ3GSM29OuIkb9KJXmGD_2t_PvYG7gZHz35o45NmSgZuyVqycjZyyhiuemjNXYFg/s400/DSC03961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539974438965012258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 14</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Brian</span>) Singapore is an incredibly modern, safe, clean, and cosmopolitan city. It thrives on the diverse cultural mix of people and influences from all over Asia with many ex-pat Americans, Brits and Australians all taking advantage of the squeaky clean, rich environment for raising kids. Modern architecture and constant urban renewal seem to be the rule with cranes and construction crews building without end. No sign of recession here with bustling high-end shops, malls and boutiques up and down the Orchard Avenue area near our hotel. You can buy any high-end item here but don't you dare drop any litter or worse - chewing gum or cigarette butts - on the street for fear of strict prosecution. I notice, also, alcohol seems pricey here. Vices of all types highly discouraged, it seems.<br /><br />But then there's FOOD! Did I mention the food?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCxAwn_bIFxtPjv_IsHQtfRxEEABa6CWV1haW2HBLHgccrz2_wWVa-XRnSFixKG_Slvaiqk-qmKwPjNO_HJosXLI3K6QYkGTNhfurgg9PT4_Wo3FdATt5J6cKp5ADQ3VmnzKc4sByiMY/s1600/food+market+%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCxAwn_bIFxtPjv_IsHQtfRxEEABa6CWV1haW2HBLHgccrz2_wWVa-XRnSFixKG_Slvaiqk-qmKwPjNO_HJosXLI3K6QYkGTNhfurgg9PT4_Wo3FdATt5J6cKp5ADQ3VmnzKc4sByiMY/s400/food+market+%25281%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539976168008816082" border="0" /></a>There are food centers like Lau Pa Sat with dozens of "hawker" stalls where you can eat ANY type of Asian or Indian delicacy for very little money.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFJ0UAT3ldo_JMY_73qowwyk1nDrmaOLw9TQJKEWTK4xz9KThP4OE1gpPi5L6Li-8zXVsHi3CLbrsgckipj-MBIZC0IzOOhAl_CDw1o8UdCgReC6MQsNp48R-Uug02kGy5Q1s2W9s1o4/s1600/DSC03966.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFJ0UAT3ldo_JMY_73qowwyk1nDrmaOLw9TQJKEWTK4xz9KThP4OE1gpPi5L6Li-8zXVsHi3CLbrsgckipj-MBIZC0IzOOhAl_CDw1o8UdCgReC6MQsNp48R-Uug02kGy5Q1s2W9s1o4/s400/DSC03966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539975785193390210" border="0" /></a>I’ve always had an affinity for genuine Cantonese cuisine, something that seems increasingly rare even in New York City and non-existent in New Jersey where I live. So I am in Chinese food heaven here! Steamed fresh fish in ginger soy sauce, fresh Asian greens in Hoisin sauce, BBQ Satay skewers (chicken, beef or lamb) and giant shrimps. Not to mention the Dim Sum stalls that steam the real deal: dumplings, shumai and buns of all types in small bamboo baskets prepared while you wait. And, exotic fruit drinks, teas and beers to wash it down with.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2z5FJRQszl3Y10wTwXHpicYvgUvw3o6CSb7KfJXmoqRh5kMQ6lZvFfxJh45iUPNh0t7stf_bWztIYwzo3Paez7_WYjp-j7xN-B7v_MQfWy0Tt0p-90iTmk4N77oGu4znmVVIuYV2bcqA/s1600/DSC03939.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2z5FJRQszl3Y10wTwXHpicYvgUvw3o6CSb7KfJXmoqRh5kMQ6lZvFfxJh45iUPNh0t7stf_bWztIYwzo3Paez7_WYjp-j7xN-B7v_MQfWy0Tt0p-90iTmk4N77oGu4znmVVIuYV2bcqA/s400/DSC03939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539975776638482578" border="0" /></a>Each stall has its own specialty and the aggressive vendors vie for your business, following you with unrelenting offers of tables and menus. Needless to say, none of us are losing weight on this tour.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLtwO-6CMT_g6LHAm0CaYE1-r4SJ7zZ0oO_KWouHXO0y3n52kE7ZM3ddJXjMHeUMSHUR_kLz-fdIUxdCjJYuNC5NrbB2EZxeoHucUQ-q9hV3Wr_WgVSHeVhd9eLkdRP58CMFAQY13b04/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLtwO-6CMT_g6LHAm0CaYE1-r4SJ7zZ0oO_KWouHXO0y3n52kE7ZM3ddJXjMHeUMSHUR_kLz-fdIUxdCjJYuNC5NrbB2EZxeoHucUQ-q9hV3Wr_WgVSHeVhd9eLkdRP58CMFAQY13b04/s400/IMG_1187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539984369702164690" border="0" /></a>Our concert venues started with a fantastic large stage in the middle of the City’s Botanical Gardens.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBueNtyGbdsVI4Ol6sHNKA3Mh8mTbJpjda1y-ogC8-LhIIz1Fw1HG5asmZbJQo4ogrnGrcpGmyiH7nTLC0IUBy06LFIhmu0CLr_e_39ke8UQl0_9xQrhoRfqf2bWr1QXT3b3Vp4b7XIMM/s1600/DSC03953.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBueNtyGbdsVI4Ol6sHNKA3Mh8mTbJpjda1y-ogC8-LhIIz1Fw1HG5asmZbJQo4ogrnGrcpGmyiH7nTLC0IUBy06LFIhmu0CLr_e_39ke8UQl0_9xQrhoRfqf2bWr1QXT3b3Vp4b7XIMM/s400/DSC03953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539972197029074226" border="0" /></a>Enclosed by a giant clam-shaped structure surrounded by a lily pond and a beautifully manicured lawn rising up a hill it, couldn't have been more ideal with a light breeze and state-of-the-art sound gear on tap.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShND84TgWjOwDWLqNql1vMYBsWc-SDTIITJMTR0EyUC7klmTE5hSlNKa8jDn1Mol_bWkfjzDIh9gBM2A8KX1I7e8-Xuq3z74Itf7pZC2rxHHHxeXgl1kkqbEm3U_OvvozUWTshtm8des/s1600/DSC03925.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShND84TgWjOwDWLqNql1vMYBsWc-SDTIITJMTR0EyUC7klmTE5hSlNKa8jDn1Mol_bWkfjzDIh9gBM2A8KX1I7e8-Xuq3z74Itf7pZC2rxHHHxeXgl1kkqbEm3U_OvvozUWTshtm8des/s400/DSC03925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539972190128650594" border="0" /></a> I kept saying (as a joke), "We just can't work this way!" to Shana and our ever-helpful State Department representative, Rachel.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvGZLCi9toP7j4WtqVx8nySZ8Cg2to_lbzBvhPA7jdy1hyphenhyphenKIcDQ3Bg81lu1KHyKTuXgs-WfN_ddBlvPNgY9Gt7OLq1pSKXJ3FryQlHUvzEcws7HDPzYsZg6c07ZsXbwQEPxCONDtPWfs/s1600/DSC03922.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvGZLCi9toP7j4WtqVx8nySZ8Cg2to_lbzBvhPA7jdy1hyphenhyphenKIcDQ3Bg81lu1KHyKTuXgs-WfN_ddBlvPNgY9Gt7OLq1pSKXJ3FryQlHUvzEcws7HDPzYsZg6c07ZsXbwQEPxCONDtPWfs/s400/DSC03922.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539972181289967874" border="0" /></a>Johnny was even more animated on this big stage (if you can imagine that) with grand comic gestures and running leaps to the edge of the stage in a mock threat of jumping into the lily pond (something I was afraid he might actually do). The crowd ate it up and we played two encores for them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWCVvEaUeI_-1nJN__m6_UqJF5NS3Es2AwECbk4VF0nwBAETIr9VodQ0xM2soruLDH_uuO2w-ZFmkvbAlENq7JuWM_1MmfUnqXvrIx2Pp-av1NBULFKGR-eeoTx4Nf-PnUfYpf06IPi8/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWCVvEaUeI_-1nJN__m6_UqJF5NS3Es2AwECbk4VF0nwBAETIr9VodQ0xM2soruLDH_uuO2w-ZFmkvbAlENq7JuWM_1MmfUnqXvrIx2Pp-av1NBULFKGR-eeoTx4Nf-PnUfYpf06IPi8/s400/IMG_0984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539991576591275682" border="0" /></a>Next day was an intimate setting in a public library in the brand new Esplanade Cultural Center at the breathtaking new waterfront area. They should call this city Shangri La.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26EZw_3SZAwcXPBQ0ZnqEs5H2lQCOXQyeLNDfohCJGiJ61poldTsci-FRiNhxko206Aa1ziPKVm5Qrac7uidQMgqVqWVTkub8IRvfmviCsMcxDfbFQlN7oWq4yjCfZD8_6GFs5Vi9rUY/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26EZw_3SZAwcXPBQ0ZnqEs5H2lQCOXQyeLNDfohCJGiJ61poldTsci-FRiNhxko206Aa1ziPKVm5Qrac7uidQMgqVqWVTkub8IRvfmviCsMcxDfbFQlN7oWq4yjCfZD8_6GFs5Vi9rUY/s400/IMG_1148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539988376673698514" border="0" /></a>We enjoyed the fine acoustics and an in-tune baby grand piano even when the sustain pedal broke in the fifth number. No one seemed to mind the piano notes ringing into one another or Johnny lying on his back under the piano in the middle of the set in an attempt to fix it. Maybe we’ll leave that in the show.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtfEzL4DkrqvriHQdBAn1vK_HFIQgcDAdvQvTZYseL6nGBITrMK75X7bYDadSOZMHQG68__KmSIi-QDDsbYgyqO_WWglWbsyDa7zn83mZlarkQ-8-pRncy-zFbyj3KkIELFZha2MNwb8/s1600/DSC03971.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtfEzL4DkrqvriHQdBAn1vK_HFIQgcDAdvQvTZYseL6nGBITrMK75X7bYDadSOZMHQG68__KmSIi-QDDsbYgyqO_WWglWbsyDa7zn83mZlarkQ-8-pRncy-zFbyj3KkIELFZha2MNwb8/s400/DSC03971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539989987655898098" border="0" /></a>Our day off consisted of a visit to the amazing Asian Civilization Museum (Danny and me) and a visit to the unique Nighttime Safari Zoo by the four of us. But Danny has shared that already.<br /><br />Next stop, Cambodia!Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-67474051962678942742010-11-15T11:42:00.032-05:002010-11-16T10:10:47.554-05:00Sunshine Lily Pads and Dumplings<div><span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 13</span>, continued: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) When we were driving from the Singapore Airport to our hotel, I was immediately struck by that familiar cosmopolitan feeling one gets upon arrival in Miami, LA, or NY.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7OeYDh2xVla5KLxovuLzXGiGMBTBqfg-l3Yu1nX5_XlfQEoez-FKW2yh2PiM6ECt6iGCI1MVganv7Ly8nMP-oApAH6utNl35Y9xmAiIf59yuqY3vyJfEAjb6ZkIBEAuCOrHB0MnLabw/s1600/DSC03959.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7OeYDh2xVla5KLxovuLzXGiGMBTBqfg-l3Yu1nX5_XlfQEoez-FKW2yh2PiM6ECt6iGCI1MVganv7Ly8nMP-oApAH6utNl35Y9xmAiIf59yuqY3vyJfEAjb6ZkIBEAuCOrHB0MnLabw/s400/DSC03959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539922866153091618" border="0" /></a>The sleek, clean modernism of this city, set like an emerald in a tropical setting, is a stark contrast from our previous stop in Papua New Guinea. The main drag was a combination of Rodeo Drive and 5th Avenue, only on steroids! We were dropped off at the Regency Four Seasons Hotel.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi105WsP61Wf6kxmd_eA6TAD9jAnNrOtLTscDR7jpNOHsRDh9Ytomdk4vCT0ynJ46Infdjr_Lls_0_SpKlIVwmjYJ1iwM1rA6nNFwSSt8Jvm2RUnUvqL6-fh30hpBInYpRcRMW_cLt6q9Q/s1600/IMG_0918.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi105WsP61Wf6kxmd_eA6TAD9jAnNrOtLTscDR7jpNOHsRDh9Ytomdk4vCT0ynJ46Infdjr_Lls_0_SpKlIVwmjYJ1iwM1rA6nNFwSSt8Jvm2RUnUvqL6-fh30hpBInYpRcRMW_cLt6q9Q/s400/IMG_0918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539923395717715250" border="0" /></a>When I walked in, my jaw dropped! The opulence of just the lobby was staggering and I knew we were going to have a very different and enjoyable week in Singapore. As soon as we got settled in our rooms, we took off to the famous food hawkers stalls where we chowed down on dumplings and chili crabs galore.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVJTPSoMoAdHTmQnfPsfkB4mQCXpTNQV2_aLLPH5hoAB8dd8iYK-tGc06CxPZ77rEJIGTvEPUt5k6CR9Iw2OGpOh8ATVdluzEXUy6TXBHfpGNJxrB7ewkCjpgxIApcKi52M54yae9uV0/s1600/DSC03942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVJTPSoMoAdHTmQnfPsfkB4mQCXpTNQV2_aLLPH5hoAB8dd8iYK-tGc06CxPZ77rEJIGTvEPUt5k6CR9Iw2OGpOh8ATVdluzEXUy6TXBHfpGNJxrB7ewkCjpgxIApcKi52M54yae9uV0/s400/DSC03942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539926826581574466" border="0" /></a>I have eaten some of the best Asian food EVER in Singapore and have had to step it up in the gym because otherwise, I’d be a giant dumpling, myself.<br /><br />Our first concert at the Singapore Botanical gardens was a blast. The place is a cross between Central Park and a Zen garden.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6yX2lIZpmNqoi07amliXXr-6vmfndDgDgMlFhySQE7-Pxj0Jixe1BwfSD12sj2qIF8DlGgp0ayIxWS4cz9hl2IywyjxM57UKnIQ1YeTJY8sNaFr6ofcHa-MgC6PchConyyV_dzr1F_w/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6yX2lIZpmNqoi07amliXXr-6vmfndDgDgMlFhySQE7-Pxj0Jixe1BwfSD12sj2qIF8DlGgp0ayIxWS4cz9hl2IywyjxM57UKnIQ1YeTJY8sNaFr6ofcHa-MgC6PchConyyV_dzr1F_w/s400/IMG_0934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539929334043917650" border="0" /></a>The band shell was shaped like a giant clam and was surrounded by a lily pad filled mote. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cmnFtvhrGhAiNXfv4R_Y9P7WRAb2Q8yM8Py3hF3baz2RMpdZuhp0pqYvTcQ8rVpQY555Qi9lGK5-o6N0V3s1_e0wSVlsGdmkvlrpnhZAs-KPM71H9DxraX0NTWvM1rnMN1JCW4Wi3os/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cmnFtvhrGhAiNXfv4R_Y9P7WRAb2Q8yM8Py3hF3baz2RMpdZuhp0pqYvTcQ8rVpQY555Qi9lGK5-o6N0V3s1_e0wSVlsGdmkvlrpnhZAs-KPM71H9DxraX0NTWvM1rnMN1JCW4Wi3os/s400/IMG_1057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539932627607167826" border="0" /></a>The audience sat on the grass and was treated to a great night of music by the Johnny Rodgers Band.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mZmtKGVTs1ZsafaYUOCUf0aXDXQlIKEXdRNWN-Nq_jXOiv_539R7IOHE138GsiF87qv5c_j2fzWGDrKRlJ72MoMfEtvXSYO_WASnmuh-idfu_-CXGCCieBnpr9Ebkjt_eflccRSt9FE/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mZmtKGVTs1ZsafaYUOCUf0aXDXQlIKEXdRNWN-Nq_jXOiv_539R7IOHE138GsiF87qv5c_j2fzWGDrKRlJ72MoMfEtvXSYO_WASnmuh-idfu_-CXGCCieBnpr9Ebkjt_eflccRSt9FE/s400/IMG_1084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539930435838297538" border="0" /></a>We signed lots of autographs afterward and packed up in time to go out to a different food hawkers market. I see a recurring theme in Singapore and there's talk of going to Little India for lunch.<br /><br />Our next concert was at the Esplanade on Singapore's downtown waterfront.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiVrqzbImdHTk0wfhFWIvqBygrdKZSn6tYUrzMhnmBqg0RwuEtMauWFiv4u8yCjCw9R2Cz_BSrodC3tlPSbNmtUubkEALHcRNYOkw2GZjaddFQ9jVUoLNDB92o1eD5EQJsjvK2icpZtg/s1600/IMG_1102.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiVrqzbImdHTk0wfhFWIvqBygrdKZSn6tYUrzMhnmBqg0RwuEtMauWFiv4u8yCjCw9R2Cz_BSrodC3tlPSbNmtUubkEALHcRNYOkw2GZjaddFQ9jVUoLNDB92o1eD5EQJsjvK2icpZtg/s400/IMG_1102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539934480079222098" border="0" /></a> We played at the very modern library and arts center which houses a few theaters, event spaces and an outside stage on the water. The skyline is amazing and modern, not what I expected, and is one of my favorite cities in the world so far. It was an intimate audience of about 80 and we were treated to a baby grand piano for the first time on the tour. Johnny has had to carry and play his electronic keyboard everywhere.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGIl87HwOprsoTXdBntxPOe2HMNZvg-Fob-db53suKGU92_Bw_fgfpt7lRZAksa6t1PMLZ9clMdn0MgX6t2FucvJPZU7iAQZuLpuLGT7xv5HKKCIgmS0DOeYHIicqP8X3CDoa6fW1aKw/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGIl87HwOprsoTXdBntxPOe2HMNZvg-Fob-db53suKGU92_Bw_fgfpt7lRZAksa6t1PMLZ9clMdn0MgX6t2FucvJPZU7iAQZuLpuLGT7xv5HKKCIgmS0DOeYHIicqP8X3CDoa6fW1aKw/s400/IMG_1162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539938912120226370" border="0" /></a> We had a great time playing, and of course, found yet another great food situation.<br /><br />Yesterday was our day off and we had grand plans of bird sanctuaries, food markets, museums and night safaris but rest was the order of the day and as a group, we did manage to go to the Night Safari, which was so much fun.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fs4mu4IkxBPH3Pm5NmNYVk6xhPtW3i7Fy8WcZnJMEVvPtJV-UM1YqV2Wa2qr9KTLnpVnRZq08n8dsOutE5FpHrS1fnrKyZVnpklkW_0wJfRW49105aasRgdm5QVMJ0gZrXM-wO8wSzk/s1600/bat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fs4mu4IkxBPH3Pm5NmNYVk6xhPtW3i7Fy8WcZnJMEVvPtJV-UM1YqV2Wa2qr9KTLnpVnRZq08n8dsOutE5FpHrS1fnrKyZVnpklkW_0wJfRW49105aasRgdm5QVMJ0gZrXM-wO8wSzk/s400/bat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539945238726933474" border="0" /></a>We took videos of frisky leopards, frightened each other in the bat cage, got lost on the jungle trails and finally made it safely back to our hotel.<br /><br />Did I mention we also ate at the food hawkers market? I guess you assumed that already.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEisO4FWgAmHy2_UZNYVZWE5vvMZGlNfPOdb8DD8bydCMqoCE2oJ8AuGK8r4OAHIejZ53lDoR6YpMB04wNZI9g9Zy4IRSzLZA-cEE9ssro9D8u4L7VYMAr-YmzZGFjQ0lKJ_USuZlWzik/s1600/dumpling+heaven.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEisO4FWgAmHy2_UZNYVZWE5vvMZGlNfPOdb8DD8bydCMqoCE2oJ8AuGK8r4OAHIejZ53lDoR6YpMB04wNZI9g9Zy4IRSzLZA-cEE9ssro9D8u4L7VYMAr-YmzZGFjQ0lKJ_USuZlWzik/s400/dumpling+heaven.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539924258900825698" border="0" /></a>Well I went right for the soup dumplings and by the time Johnny got there, the soup dumpling Nazi, said, “No soup dumplings for you, no more!” I guess I cleaned them out of dumplings and he was so tired of steaming them, he closed up.<br /><br />Today is our last performance in Singapore at the Polytechnic Institute. We are heading to Cambodia tomorrow where the adventure will continue. I'm looking forward to playing again today with my brothers and am having the time of my life, especially when we perform. The music takes my mind off how much I miss my friends and loved ones and hopefully brings us all closer together. </div>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-53836289818361386562010-11-14T22:02:00.008-05:002010-11-14T22:28:36.251-05:00I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aAvgXGNYSFDSmR2WSTuEowNRhWWEE1rPxfaobXfKL_IDz01IR18N1D4XxyzOkm2geSD1FeDCQeXUjIyIuINHFxtWpEhu2HyBvmUA3QDpkONEO6GAenp_WazwJdW1IcArN0QwxwetsXU/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aAvgXGNYSFDSmR2WSTuEowNRhWWEE1rPxfaobXfKL_IDz01IR18N1D4XxyzOkm2geSD1FeDCQeXUjIyIuINHFxtWpEhu2HyBvmUA3QDpkONEO6GAenp_WazwJdW1IcArN0QwxwetsXU/s400/IMG_0920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539607122062132642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 13</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Johnny</span>)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Rules of the Road 2:</span><br /><br />Before you checkout, check your hotel room for all your belongings. Twice.<br />Then check again.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-3971065320418595672010-11-13T10:00:00.001-05:002010-11-13T10:08:57.358-05:00I Got the News<span style="font-weight: bold;">From <span style="font-style: italic;">The National</span>, Papua New Guinea</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b6WLWZyS7MoIv3kSJ_z1paWGrTvpNQesk-wyLDPcaxoNY9rVqA9H5C2YzdbLByHLOtkpblutTTZ57rGNDhro1XzPeohLCsGakkmUeoJCdXw1nuohuGi6nHZhoNQsNC2-i7S86PXW1NQ/s1600/JRB+articles-Nov+12%252C+2010_Page_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b6WLWZyS7MoIv3kSJ_z1paWGrTvpNQesk-wyLDPcaxoNY9rVqA9H5C2YzdbLByHLOtkpblutTTZ57rGNDhro1XzPeohLCsGakkmUeoJCdXw1nuohuGi6nHZhoNQsNC2-i7S86PXW1NQ/s400/JRB+articles-Nov+12%252C+2010_Page_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538716928754627234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNITELcmnBud1KtT2ctheG4GjlOu_Mg_edeD2es0I6z-YassxDW8SAXAfQ2ghHOG_Jemg3ARm-S3c3W_NVzvAgLKpgp-63HPkBDDW8PTVFeB6C8DEIasl6No4M6Nod3s1WdJTV9qpzSkQ/s1600/PNG+The+National+Nov+12+2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNITELcmnBud1KtT2ctheG4GjlOu_Mg_edeD2es0I6z-YassxDW8SAXAfQ2ghHOG_Jemg3ARm-S3c3W_NVzvAgLKpgp-63HPkBDDW8PTVFeB6C8DEIasl6No4M6Nod3s1WdJTV9qpzSkQ/s400/PNG+The+National+Nov+12+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538717212215624962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDCIEcwXk_TDKttA0XlJdX2v1KQEyHsV0NE-MbxyZjjikEX4W3EpxgumeSKKeNcIk9RJqdhyT44eGdTTBhmyMhx5BZmWr0zVQwbTMUBG0mVR9deKFV15ITSH3YogmVRJFsHfzqG76OV8/s1600/JRB+articles-Nov+12%252C+2010_Page_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDCIEcwXk_TDKttA0XlJdX2v1KQEyHsV0NE-MbxyZjjikEX4W3EpxgumeSKKeNcIk9RJqdhyT44eGdTTBhmyMhx5BZmWr0zVQwbTMUBG0mVR9deKFV15ITSH3YogmVRJFsHfzqG76OV8/s400/JRB+articles-Nov+12%252C+2010_Page_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538717499068123394" border="0" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-88347921595085793842010-11-12T10:18:00.031-05:002010-11-16T10:23:43.490-05:00Arc of a Diver/Double Bass Player<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgVN1yGxZNXgBhAuClU0A6KF4ERmldit_h9AFVYjGkJG-lm_JGynBxoBvxFek8gcBMxO3Y6p-NlQczVU65SjzlftR87UNMGJdWWZ78yy3Y5OkfVKWPLfsB1wyIryv6mt5YNDWFXiBMYE/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgVN1yGxZNXgBhAuClU0A6KF4ERmldit_h9AFVYjGkJG-lm_JGynBxoBvxFek8gcBMxO3Y6p-NlQczVU65SjzlftR87UNMGJdWWZ78yy3Y5OkfVKWPLfsB1wyIryv6mt5YNDWFXiBMYE/s400/IMG_0531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539074611912613874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 10,</span> continued: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Brian</span>) Papua New Guinea is a place of wonder, for sure. When we landed, our State Department contact, Brian Asmus, greeted us with an amiable smile and several locals to help us with our gear. All the Papua New Guinea fellows were friendly and seemed eager to help. They had broad grins revealing bright red gums and teeth that I assumed, at the time, was bad dental care. We later found out it was the red juice from chewing the betel nut – a pervasive local habit which gives one a dizzying, quasi-nicotine-like rush.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABQlE7MP2EBBgoqRz9oB0RAK8RuXCqBYsPgXqmcQGH-zPWQEi_KQLgY5MByucRM5DPl_2T-jw1cIiSxIQDA7adHUqg3IHowXJEcw4lI5XKegnS_pLZb8enXRNwo5nuwMDnIr-w3R2GF8/s1600/Betel+Nut.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABQlE7MP2EBBgoqRz9oB0RAK8RuXCqBYsPgXqmcQGH-zPWQEi_KQLgY5MByucRM5DPl_2T-jw1cIiSxIQDA7adHUqg3IHowXJEcw4lI5XKegnS_pLZb8enXRNwo5nuwMDnIr-w3R2GF8/s400/Betel+Nut.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538693366715093250" border="0" /></a>All of our performances and workshops were in and around Papua New Guinea’s largest city, Port Moresby, and the drive into the city went past a scary, ramshackle market that Brian A. said was quite dangerous and even off limits to security personnel. In stark contrast, our hotel was quite nice and in the most modern part of town. In Port Moresby, this consisted of a small cluster of 10-story high-rise buildings but you could see this city is about to undergo a major building boom with Exxon/Mobil moving into town in a big way after a major natural gas discovery here.<br /><br />Like any port city, we were advised on what parts of town to stay away from but we never felt unsafe at any time in our five-day visit. All the local people were warm and friendly. After a night of time-zone adjustment rest, we had a performance at the U.S. Ambassador's home for State personnel and a good time was had by all including the Johnny Rodgers Band. We played against a gorgeous backdrop of the Port and Papua New Guinea’s hills with cooperative weather. The State people were great and appreciated some genuine American entertainment from back home. Next event had us at the Port Moresby International School, a private high school with kids from all over Papua New Guinea and some from Australia. We worked with some very sweet kids from the music department and their teacher was an Australian jazzer who later joined us on trumpet in our performance there. The kids and the very international faculty were welcoming and gave us the impression that this really was a great place to go to school. Extremely well-mannered students, rugby players and trees laden with ripe mangoes around the amphitheater made it all idyllic. Our show went over big time and we were inundated with kids wanting autographs.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t9RdOpUbXkCq_pEF1lmzYue4WGY_8NrVQ3H2cPA2V2X5_PvbvANcq3zIqHK1bUyuxkYX_xhZbhsjufM2cB01bsOVHe2TKkHXDIq8A8EbvW3i823Si1X3TmOU8vkgB4LFX0cQd5SoPqk/s1600/autographs+%2540+Inter.+Sch.+PNG.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-t9RdOpUbXkCq_pEF1lmzYue4WGY_8NrVQ3H2cPA2V2X5_PvbvANcq3zIqHK1bUyuxkYX_xhZbhsjufM2cB01bsOVHe2TKkHXDIq8A8EbvW3i823Si1X3TmOU8vkgB4LFX0cQd5SoPqk/s400/autographs+%2540+Inter.+Sch.+PNG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538694179630926418" border="0" /></a>Next day was our day off and I convinced Joe, Danny, Shana and even our rest-conscious Johnny to get up early and go for a trip to Loloata Island Resort for a day of snorkeling, boating and animal watching.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QncE7S6AjAS-rIaEEFyivGSjB4fzSblQrIOZ2b_jh_-2V8YrPzoPwAwQZxrJQY3Js9ooVq-MFrAtp2TJrKmMgDesvChqiaLJj4VSknAfNYimhKig31PYYMY0zNCf3UEMSniN47NKOHc/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QncE7S6AjAS-rIaEEFyivGSjB4fzSblQrIOZ2b_jh_-2V8YrPzoPwAwQZxrJQY3Js9ooVq-MFrAtp2TJrKmMgDesvChqiaLJj4VSknAfNYimhKig31PYYMY0zNCf3UEMSniN47NKOHc/s400/IMG_0510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539070777928076770" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3GuUXe5IFXpG7N-agfm_HksguyIJI-zKns4rPBmWHD56kpZFmNaG-fCFtA6uQf4P7oHH_rMiLOUpNLIb7jWYwMjq4O3XK6FffWBAWfNho94KCKSqmck1Soo5oiY3s8NDQQ0zT_7Pbco/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 376px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3GuUXe5IFXpG7N-agfm_HksguyIJI-zKns4rPBmWHD56kpZFmNaG-fCFtA6uQf4P7oHH_rMiLOUpNLIb7jWYwMjq4O3XK6FffWBAWfNho94KCKSqmck1Soo5oiY3s8NDQQ0zT_7Pbco/s400/IMG_0538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539267078157111410" border="0" /></a>Everyone thanked me (later) for waking them up at 6:00 AM to make the 8:30 AM reservation because we all had a fantastic time snorkeling on the remote island at a reef rich with tropical fish. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeKLl51r061apMC1mLoJSN6VZ17TMRkA6fdRfKyilY2FR9indKV3TpujTooTL9LN8RzTfwcC6KSo8pr2muUuMJXI020iLyi1bKkbdVURpVCgmKxRUpHxtvK1ngtyXkNdYLp9uzK9jtDE/s1600/Loloata+Island%252C+PNG.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeKLl51r061apMC1mLoJSN6VZ17TMRkA6fdRfKyilY2FR9indKV3TpujTooTL9LN8RzTfwcC6KSo8pr2muUuMJXI020iLyi1bKkbdVURpVCgmKxRUpHxtvK1ngtyXkNdYLp9uzK9jtDE/s400/Loloata+Island%252C+PNG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538694757516404354" border="0" /></a>We had a ball frolicking with and gawking at the island's little pets: mini wallabies, parrots and an old tree kangaroo named Monte.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbEkN0Hd6w01sV3Xv4guR_tuPCHNam0e7KfKkQT5DE0noLN2Tlv0D2IIDDctqavY5juvVKXAqdSavkMICk9VihZm9fDa1ZPFwkA4TJ9HffGblqd4Zn0TRrzSQ7Zidxv0dcUULe1QGBxw/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbEkN0Hd6w01sV3Xv4guR_tuPCHNam0e7KfKkQT5DE0noLN2Tlv0D2IIDDctqavY5juvVKXAqdSavkMICk9VihZm9fDa1ZPFwkA4TJ9HffGblqd4Zn0TRrzSQ7Zidxv0dcUULe1QGBxw/s400/IMG_0520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539071888340921538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmrqvFAMHSAF2TaON2g6pfoCNC23G3i4g_sDFKr642y8Mox9Rqc6eQQRB51fIw48UH_k9Nra-Kgfqd5RyJpm0x9yjUMOAvHe7A8j9i6At4DYUV4N5i72v3er4keBrqgpTOxx__OU1MN0/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmrqvFAMHSAF2TaON2g6pfoCNC23G3i4g_sDFKr642y8Mox9Rqc6eQQRB51fIw48UH_k9Nra-Kgfqd5RyJpm0x9yjUMOAvHe7A8j9i6At4DYUV4N5i72v3er4keBrqgpTOxx__OU1MN0/s400/IMG_0526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539220053850589938" border="0" /></a>The van ride back to our hotel, however, was sobering as we passed through shanty squatter villages with striking poverty. Like many places around the world, people flock to the city trying to find work and cannot afford the rent due to inflated real estate prices. The result is a proliferation of these villages without basic utilities or sewage. This is a nation of truly stark contrasts between the rich biodiversity, ancient indigenous cultural traditions of the highlands and coastal provinces all crashing suddenly into 21st-Century technology and new corporate investment money that we pray makes its way down to the impoverished children and unemployed residents of this fast growing city. Our good State Department people are helping with AIDS and domestic violence prevention programs here and we much admire them for their efforts.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrjZB0UL8-LKcACtQgVDE0OmQPrx1DxTUzQrme83_ZPNT2HNfypG7YEzsl5NV_HZvo7XvBYr1y1X1Hpn5VOhj41BgPhuJwsNsnQoZkakd4vV4bCUGTsQ13rluZ2dNnpSmaPe1KyS-Lcg/s1600/local+kids+at+parish+show%252C+PNG.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrjZB0UL8-LKcACtQgVDE0OmQPrx1DxTUzQrme83_ZPNT2HNfypG7YEzsl5NV_HZvo7XvBYr1y1X1Hpn5VOhj41BgPhuJwsNsnQoZkakd4vV4bCUGTsQ13rluZ2dNnpSmaPe1KyS-Lcg/s400/local+kids+at+parish+show%252C+PNG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538684320435501634" border="0" /></a>Our final day started with an unforgettable workshop and performance with some local students and adults at a very modest parish stage. Inside the hall there was a cache of incredible totems expertly hand carved by artisans depicting indigenous iconography and animals of all types. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0WiHiRCvFeu6kMl64OWfzhNGJj6yhtAYb3mWbDnmV16l2KtH85DXFZOiMu2IM5DRqftJsLMnXL6D0KnQX-onS-FSJHELrccmiKgInx-Hwcn-WzzQ2_vpNsUlaz7zji2Q2x9l0AhBODU/s1600/totem+detail%252C+PNG.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0WiHiRCvFeu6kMl64OWfzhNGJj6yhtAYb3mWbDnmV16l2KtH85DXFZOiMu2IM5DRqftJsLMnXL6D0KnQX-onS-FSJHELrccmiKgInx-Hwcn-WzzQ2_vpNsUlaz7zji2Q2x9l0AhBODU/s400/totem+detail%252C+PNG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538689896221968946" border="0" /></a>We did our <span style="font-style: italic;">Ain't No Sunshine</span> workshop with the very shy onlookers/participants and Johnny did not give up, did not let them escape his coaxing. His persistence was rewarded when he shrewdly let a group of young men pass the mic back and forth to each other on their own in a vocal call and response over our bluesy vamp. This really brought them out of their shells in a big way and our following show had them all gathered 'round the stage as they genuinely seemed in awe of our playing.<object width="485" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZNmP6Sl60WE?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZNmP6Sl60WE?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="485" height="388"></embed></object><br />As in Fiji, I again held “Bass Court” after the show with demos of my solo playing plucking and bowing, up close and personal, as I truly was taking the double bass where no one had taken it before! I'll never forget the experience. Wait 'til my buds on Talkbass.com hear about this! It's (kind of) every Double Bass player’s dream to expand the world's knowledge and appreciation of our noble instrument and I feel great pride in having done this in both Fiji and Papua New Guinea.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-JHvG_NqybGkJw_Qxn_hYcSngzoClZSQzbltEdBSbOAyEqM57mnbkBBG-u52egFNTo9Lb5oPkH0wl1PdMPRHMl6N71SiCCvyNQ_s9vRi9clyeEev5c5n49KCwLB8dbhkECF71nOTre8/s1600/ela+beach+amphiyheater.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-JHvG_NqybGkJw_Qxn_hYcSngzoClZSQzbltEdBSbOAyEqM57mnbkBBG-u52egFNTo9Lb5oPkH0wl1PdMPRHMl6N71SiCCvyNQ_s9vRi9clyeEev5c5n49KCwLB8dbhkECF71nOTre8/s400/ela+beach+amphiyheater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539224882012443938" border="0" /></a>The apex of our trip culminated with a performance, open to the public, at the Ela Beach Amphitheater complete with the Governor of Port Moresby, the U.S. Ambassador, State people, an opening act: The Sing Sing Tribe (an incredible, young acapella group!),<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNQxEkXLNIyPF59B5NDVT9fHwkMlNOJwXP9v-SXTS5w50VZDwwCmu-ITNRYxWQ41j9Z6c6tFdVYg9LG46VLdZRrJt3pCzSpVwUKz5JZQFKIb_n6UpIVMa6HsbPsXWJ9gLDpF332dq_V0/s1600/IMG_0829.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNQxEkXLNIyPF59B5NDVT9fHwkMlNOJwXP9v-SXTS5w50VZDwwCmu-ITNRYxWQ41j9Z6c6tFdVYg9LG46VLdZRrJt3pCzSpVwUKz5JZQFKIb_n6UpIVMa6HsbPsXWJ9gLDpF332dq_V0/s400/IMG_0829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539231401952805506" border="0" /></a>the teachers, and some of the students and people we met during our wondrous week.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-jgeJAOFW12Cy_Ohbk7hwZG3aWkMls39Ka12JtE10n3TNIEYOPemi3lpcKuT3XxaWXoq3_r6DV9wwvDkzvwYbjx41cIlHhYkCANFUnRwf_Wbs1uhZ6QCVju7Rxe5Ps4Qod7fPkEhudo/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-jgeJAOFW12Cy_Ohbk7hwZG3aWkMls39Ka12JtE10n3TNIEYOPemi3lpcKuT3XxaWXoq3_r6DV9wwvDkzvwYbjx41cIlHhYkCANFUnRwf_Wbs1uhZ6QCVju7Rxe5Ps4Qod7fPkEhudo/s400/IMG_0848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539232604826605186" border="0" /></a>Time to get some shut eye on this flight to Singapore. What a month we're having! Somebody pinch me...Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-53502794931524977252010-11-11T20:16:00.019-05:002010-11-13T21:59:30.017-05:00Papua Was a Rolling Stone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOSi1-XeSqknz1AZ_O_VLEQIYjjC7spu1WKhLo02-QV9BoT3PtkNUHm1SD4m1HRnBUz3RmkyqrIdiTzJIFo8UTy4yiquEK3Lp5PyakGfL1wHhdh0wY4vARrG5y2Jd3j8NrYQh8He-b8o/s1600/File+12894250263926.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538473513418805074" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOSi1-XeSqknz1AZ_O_VLEQIYjjC7spu1WKhLo02-QV9BoT3PtkNUHm1SD4m1HRnBUz3RmkyqrIdiTzJIFo8UTy4yiquEK3Lp5PyakGfL1wHhdh0wY4vARrG5y2Jd3j8NrYQh8He-b8o/s400/File+12894250263926.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 10</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) It's hard to believe that we’ve already left our second country and have been in Papua New Guinea for five days. When we landed in this nation of tribes and villages, I sensed the presence of pain and struggle. I think we were all nervous with security briefings but kept an open mind. We’re New Yorkers, after all, and used to being aware in our surroundings. The airport personnel and transport crew were really sweet and our gear made it off the plane safely and into the trucks to our hotel in Port Moresby.<br /><br />I noticed that most of our crew had what looked like bloody teeth and mouths. I was a little freaked out at first but soon found out the red teeth came from chewing betel nuts mixed with mustard root and dipped in lime (crushed coral) powder. The combination turns your gums, teeth and mouth a dark bloody red. Betel nuts also have a very intoxicating effect if chewed all day and is likened to chewing tobacco.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULW-_i7TgSUaCHBPexJj4oJcikvst0NRLsLI07qXZMQNXJ2WOdy9_sgXncX4SDhQiU9tP9aNzqihF5eq4avV-VOujwPWpCG_uRiGYB1SUpGboBJdQwMuNqXyU5RH2cSNqHc8KMiIT4I/s1600/sunrise+on+Ella+beach+PNG.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538474049922387330" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdULW-_i7TgSUaCHBPexJj4oJcikvst0NRLsLI07qXZMQNXJ2WOdy9_sgXncX4SDhQiU9tP9aNzqihF5eq4avV-VOujwPWpCG_uRiGYB1SUpGboBJdQwMuNqXyU5RH2cSNqHc8KMiIT4I/s400/sunrise+on+Ella+beach+PNG.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our hotel was up the hill from Ela Beach and the views of the harbor and ocean were spectacular. We were confined to our hotel at night but I decided to take an afternoon walk to the beach. First, I stood outside the gates of the hotel for a few moments. Then, I ventured across the street and finally, I walked down the hill and onto the beach. There were lots of people out so I felt pretty safe. People would wave and say, "hi," but I sensed this place could get serious after dark. With an 80% unemployment rate, there is, sadly, a lot of poverty and strife and the time to get into trouble. That said, I saw no violence, crime or anything that made me uncomfortable. I met only humble, beautiful and welcoming people in Papua New Guinea. Despite statistics and a reputation of poverty, the children and people were all smiling and gracious. The island itself is a paradise of unparalleled beauty and that green tropical richness is evident in the hearts and souls of its people.<br /><br />It makes me realize how spoiled I am and that just beyond the doors of my posh hotel, there were children living in shacks made from cans and tires. They have no shoes, no running water or electricity, but persevere despite their dire circumstances.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd4wL8cDQKX8eNsZ6XO65PK12eW_nKuQk6WHNjTIwg4XMDHa4MvE6vyQamE7i97nzYZIpqajSWDPdLGuW0ITbP3W6J0VefcEWBOs-tNtBp-0dKPI80nRFaBaWLDHOwgfeIp2vbJWXE3o/s1600/playing+%2540+the+US+Ambassadors+home+PNG.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538474524603303522" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd4wL8cDQKX8eNsZ6XO65PK12eW_nKuQk6WHNjTIwg4XMDHa4MvE6vyQamE7i97nzYZIpqajSWDPdLGuW0ITbP3W6J0VefcEWBOs-tNtBp-0dKPI80nRFaBaWLDHOwgfeIp2vbJWXE3o/s400/playing+%2540+the+US+Ambassadors+home+PNG.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our first event was an outdoor performance at the American Ambassador’s home on a hill overlooking the bay. We played a couple of sets for the Ambassador’s guests, local business leaders, embassy folks and Papua New Guinea government ministers. Everyone had a good time. For us, it was but a glimpse into mainstream Papua New Guinea society within the capital city.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcATPurisCbqp4sicxBqModEm4Ig59Gj7NJ2qbJP3FIWaAIefuHHuAZwtV5VaE5-Vq7m_0ExcPHHFadnzRBjPLXOTK4bHz0kFkR75QQdT3tS8b1AQ9rQ-FDjoLq90vnyX3T_pE-bpvAtY/s1600/international+school+masterclass.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538475104352211346" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcATPurisCbqp4sicxBqModEm4Ig59Gj7NJ2qbJP3FIWaAIefuHHuAZwtV5VaE5-Vq7m_0ExcPHHFadnzRBjPLXOTK4bHz0kFkR75QQdT3tS8b1AQ9rQ-FDjoLq90vnyX3T_pE-bpvAtY/s400/international+school+masterclass.jpg" border="0" /></a>Over the next few days, we conducted some master classes and concerts at the International School and an outdoor Catholic parish house. Although the Melanesian culture is shy and humble, once they are immersed in the musical experience, they open up and embrace the spirit. We had very similar experiences in Fiji but realize, now, that no one wanted to seem pushy or be perceived as greedy. We had so much fun working with the local people and students and they seemed to have fun with us. I believe we learned something from each other.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf3kKnU8T7LebJFt5OnkdC_Hl09LzuC3uAskcxa6xnEyJLGLnlwaPTnbVLG_rPAbEdhgd4GhQvlyPVUEExgY0HHGsifd5x7t6i3ksCWe9in8Ax0JpcP0UwHWCHoOxfrI_x5iD0hwtMs0/s1600/Bootless+bay.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538475609190465010" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaf3kKnU8T7LebJFt5OnkdC_Hl09LzuC3uAskcxa6xnEyJLGLnlwaPTnbVLG_rPAbEdhgd4GhQvlyPVUEExgY0HHGsifd5x7t6i3ksCWe9in8Ax0JpcP0UwHWCHoOxfrI_x5iD0hwtMs0/s400/Bootless+bay.jpg" border="0" /></a>On our first full day in Papua New Guinea, we took a boat ride across Bootless Bay to Loloata Island. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4GJmATtAsNwF2-kv6JUif5If0FdURD7TsoHXXL0aINRnEP4E7qWbcS0sxZMTT0W-Wg3dQmLmN135uuGWIXcSr9K2mvqpT2JKPYKDF18dSAppLX_NeH4c1Kz2rfA6XndBQgRn2oqsQMs/s1600/loloata+island.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538476205001736434" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4GJmATtAsNwF2-kv6JUif5If0FdURD7TsoHXXL0aINRnEP4E7qWbcS0sxZMTT0W-Wg3dQmLmN135uuGWIXcSr9K2mvqpT2JKPYKDF18dSAppLX_NeH4c1Kz2rfA6XndBQgRn2oqsQMs/s400/loloata+island.jpg" border="0" /></a>As soon as we walked down the long dock, we were greeted by these large blue birds crested with peacock-like feathers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkruaYDEIJHDtwkrtgf2DKQ7d8POsZo9sqowPsW5QfrLreabSEwQPHqyyHjyEL1M1Vl8TxM6BlC853EegtuYgGceoWlIlvyp_t_TN0PNvLeh6H7m6fxYcWuLbtp-UkyOjRABBpbtZ_qQ/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkruaYDEIJHDtwkrtgf2DKQ7d8POsZo9sqowPsW5QfrLreabSEwQPHqyyHjyEL1M1Vl8TxM6BlC853EegtuYgGceoWlIlvyp_t_TN0PNvLeh6H7m6fxYcWuLbtp-UkyOjRABBpbtZ_qQ/s400/IMG_0515.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539069383455571666" /></a> The Papua New Guinea pigeons, originally from the mainland are much prettier than their New York City counterparts.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDsW3_m2XOdOQKLWhiYW3i_9zZuygcTrlF234BCXMRq569SRcWlFytDZUUmGByMGLINlzEja7aFlqgLaAXtEAYOTbgoxi9CXBm_3gSBRdItAy8_DMyb4BiZZhBAskyqCDb_NiPbr8gOc/s1600/tree+kangaroo+%2526+parrot+.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538476776773500130" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDsW3_m2XOdOQKLWhiYW3i_9zZuygcTrlF234BCXMRq569SRcWlFytDZUUmGByMGLINlzEja7aFlqgLaAXtEAYOTbgoxi9CXBm_3gSBRdItAy8_DMyb4BiZZhBAskyqCDb_NiPbr8gOc/s400/tree+kangaroo+%2526+parrot+.jpg" border="0" /></a>We were greeted by little Wallaby kangaroos hopping around the area. We saw a tree kangaroo and some beautiful, but noisy, parrots. The staff on Loloata Island prepared a great breakfast for us and showed us around the grounds, which were right on the bay.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV0tgGn_t0H83SnAfeNbDlKp76Xvj2wJb4upSkKsAUgivnKLkhxP52eA6Th2Z3QuT3OSQiv5VHtzBzaEZAJAejX9d0qJD5ZLcR1O0-OqIyI6yFqBjlGuHK5BUBMOf7yUK7uxPC4ToRoU/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV0tgGn_t0H83SnAfeNbDlKp76Xvj2wJb4upSkKsAUgivnKLkhxP52eA6Th2Z3QuT3OSQiv5VHtzBzaEZAJAejX9d0qJD5ZLcR1O0-OqIyI6yFqBjlGuHK5BUBMOf7yUK7uxPC4ToRoU/s400/IMG_0511.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539069971613214610" /></a> Then, we boarded a small skiff and ferried to another small island beach for snorkeling.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkf2M39uI9I0DdygEQ687FLPqYNteFMVRq48KvxzPbnioh7S5C7OBiuYFbXW0WSA1JOJx67pI6pHlPPxpcrStki3ujxlRmiJmM7ZmMzrWGsU3MuctfvwHUq7ez27Lgqkx-AwLOvyeNtw/s1600/coral+reef+snorkeling.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538477416863752402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkf2M39uI9I0DdygEQ687FLPqYNteFMVRq48KvxzPbnioh7S5C7OBiuYFbXW0WSA1JOJx67pI6pHlPPxpcrStki3ujxlRmiJmM7ZmMzrWGsU3MuctfvwHUq7ez27Lgqkx-AwLOvyeNtw/s400/coral+reef+snorkeling.jpg" border="0" /></a>I’d never snorkeled off a coral reef before and was blown away by the colors and variety of fish and fauna. I didn’t want to get out of the water and stayed in until the boat took us back to Loloata Island.<br /><br />When we got back, we had an amazing lunch and bought some gifts to take home. We signed some CDs for the staff and left for the main island and the city. Words can't describe how beautiful the islands are and I'm not sure the pictures can do them justice either. I would love to stay on Loloata Island next time I come back to Papua New Guinea.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96WcqyNFNcBoyPbSFXyhqw2YJRLmUdS-pyBIneJbdG6thH7WP7enlC95VsUA7Adi2qHbw4_6mRF5RQWPrtjKSAmrgSvsSLpPH4GuCT84RNRTiFpkI7F78niEp-vfeC9oZetdYX8yzqVE/s1600/loloata+island+natives.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538478914833097090" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj96WcqyNFNcBoyPbSFXyhqw2YJRLmUdS-pyBIneJbdG6thH7WP7enlC95VsUA7Adi2qHbw4_6mRF5RQWPrtjKSAmrgSvsSLpPH4GuCT84RNRTiFpkI7F78niEp-vfeC9oZetdYX8yzqVE/s400/loloata+island+natives.jpg" border="0" /></a>Last night, we played an outdoor concert at the Ela beach amphitheater. The U.S. Ambassador and the Port Moresby Governor introduced us to the crowd after a great local vocal group opened up the concert. We had so much fun and found out that it was the first ever nighttime concert held at the venue.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbGlro0Zxvb4WQEZdys01vueblDmv6Unin41n10py15O_At_pn5dN3xlgOnYbEgAjmNNt_-ouGUVT1mijMAJI6qocWToZICZ6D7QDQbzo5mxWAqzlcTaID2aN5StXs3QE8rLbpK40Oak/s1600/IMG_0859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbGlro0Zxvb4WQEZdys01vueblDmv6Unin41n10py15O_At_pn5dN3xlgOnYbEgAjmNNt_-ouGUVT1mijMAJI6qocWToZICZ6D7QDQbzo5mxWAqzlcTaID2aN5StXs3QE8rLbpK40Oak/s400/IMG_0859.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539234408731193922" /></a>At the end of the concert, they presented our band with a beautiful wooden Kundu drum which has a lizard skin.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hexT2SJVm7Sumz6rydgBdUKL22bZVlqBKN-dxszNGgydpxsuiMrfoFrlpeo8PcIrmnknjKCU4TJ0PZyECMahAakdywYZsogPKxL4E90Cb3VHDUTJYme8QV3WgRbT-i-UdssJ28fFz-c/s1600/Joe+w+drum+gift+to+us%252C+PNG.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hexT2SJVm7Sumz6rydgBdUKL22bZVlqBKN-dxszNGgydpxsuiMrfoFrlpeo8PcIrmnknjKCU4TJ0PZyECMahAakdywYZsogPKxL4E90Cb3VHDUTJYme8QV3WgRbT-i-UdssJ28fFz-c/s400/Joe+w+drum+gift+to+us%252C+PNG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538677540026180178" border="0" /></a>We are flying to Singapore today and I’m exited to go to a new country but part of my heart is staying behind in Papua New Guinea. It was once sung, “Wherever he laid his hat was his home.” Well, I would like to hang my hat here again someday and pray that the beautiful people of Papua New Guinea continue to persevere and protect this beautiful island country preserving its beauty for future generations.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-75911742717769772322010-11-10T18:21:00.007-05:002010-11-11T13:40:57.270-05:00Little Bird<STRONG>DAY 10</STRONG>: (<EM>Joe</EM>) We've been in Papua New Guinea for the past three days. It's been difficult for any of us to post on the blog because of the fast pace and internet bandwidth limitations. Not many Americans have been here outside of divers, anthropologists, some Exxon workers and, oh yes, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We feel extremely privileged to have this opportunity. It's been great so far and you'll be hearing a lot about this adventure from the other guys shortly. We have three events today so I'm up at 6:00 AM local time. I'm sure my friends in the States are laughing after reading that last sentence. Yes, 6:00 AM. I'm wide awake and ready to go. It's hard work but we all love it. I have to go for now to change strings and get ready for another day of music. There's lots more to come from Papua New Guinea. I'll leave you with a short clip. Brian and I auditioned a local musician to sing backup with Johnny Rodgers Band. Here’s the audition reel.<br /><OBJECT id=BLOG_video-b35bbc1cc3e9d1bb class=BLOG_video_class width=485 height=403 contentId="b35bbc1cc3e9d1bb"></OBJECT>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-60471770381498631352010-11-08T15:59:00.033-05:002010-11-13T21:32:46.219-05:00I Will Remember You<strong>DAY 7</strong>: (<em>Johnny</em>) (<strong>Two omelets and seven [small] danishes later</strong>) Maybe it’s the malarone (with side effects that include dizziness and disorientation) but Fiji seems a warm and colorful dream already. It was like driving a NASCAR racing vehicle at top speed through an island atmosphere with a speed limit of 5 MPH (km are used there but my conversions aren’t up to snuff).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNaS7-u80aojVgNfEhiyYbBK7tVCqJIxkoOKI27_zdKMEUtHgMZs2q_EwFYggIHUwRvx20MZ2T3yvxO60ntvpYEEnzhl7cS9GTQuey-HYF7N_jX2x_hngx8CJk57IT12hHM2dWA-RGcA/s1600/IMG_0202.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537668849901832690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNaS7-u80aojVgNfEhiyYbBK7tVCqJIxkoOKI27_zdKMEUtHgMZs2q_EwFYggIHUwRvx20MZ2T3yvxO60ntvpYEEnzhl7cS9GTQuey-HYF7N_jX2x_hngx8CJk57IT12hHM2dWA-RGcA/s400/IMG_0202.JPG" /></a>I remember many moments vividly but as they add up, they blur into a swirl of sweet smells and pure pastels, so many incredible vistas and views, incredible curries and fresh seafood stews. Most of all, though, I remember the people. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZQqjhIHmrRO4uf_vX9H8_QTAJmgfZWgCBz47oHHMxWfZiWmaZypwmKQz-UbN_W7UtLsJI7CtoMSMu3awwz5qqfk3mkpZAj1V7aldAAKgYL0loiZ1mKqGlj272-7TRbmErTJmT_7qBXU/s1600/DSC03751.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537669797907902498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZQqjhIHmrRO4uf_vX9H8_QTAJmgfZWgCBz47oHHMxWfZiWmaZypwmKQz-UbN_W7UtLsJI7CtoMSMu3awwz5qqfk3mkpZAj1V7aldAAKgYL0loiZ1mKqGlj272-7TRbmErTJmT_7qBXU/s400/DSC03751.JPG" /></a>We’ve made so many new, true friends from the moment we touched down. The energy of the kids at the Suva Civic Center concerts for the primary and secondary students was palpable and could never be expressed with words. At the evening show, I had a very spiritual experience listening to the incredible choir from the conservatory singing in the darkness of a blackout before we were once again blessed by power in the nick of time (just before we were about to cancel). The hairs on the back of my neck will stand up when I remember that moment of pure organic and acoustic harmonic discovery, so very alive and powerful. Music is a force to be reckoned with in Fiji. So deeply ingrained in everyone we’ve met. It’s as natural as breathing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AGHG_FrE7MO3reCzmoIAgZuwZphYXtadjhXLml7UR81hP0xl545qgvLxloez4SSC4-rS5ToQMxqxY36g5G68ncTcTQk5lbAY6IAH6h2VQGBaLHdDYxEw5HMQu9LS_qTZLfWJ3Tzxg6I/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537665259589781858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AGHG_FrE7MO3reCzmoIAgZuwZphYXtadjhXLml7UR81hP0xl545qgvLxloez4SSC4-rS5ToQMxqxY36g5G68ncTcTQk5lbAY6IAH6h2VQGBaLHdDYxEw5HMQu9LS_qTZLfWJ3Tzxg6I/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" /></a>I remember jam sessions, trading musical phrases, throwing out a lick of vocal bebop melody only to have it returned with a delightful dash of reggae that flipped it over and sent it another direction, to be momentarily absorbed and returned with a new flavor, a constantly evolving volley of exploratory musical conversation.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_GIcH7_K0HuT1m4_uutYCuXmdajM5rXxyCTtA1JE0D8AULA3QIfGedHXbUpBZ2JSDn6e_jWp61kiiSdxkKd6W7q8IXHKT5J0QBYcGH7JUcOgOsA52-ccmiQFWZnSLXGy2GlPViFj17I/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537670697189026418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_GIcH7_K0HuT1m4_uutYCuXmdajM5rXxyCTtA1JE0D8AULA3QIfGedHXbUpBZ2JSDn6e_jWp61kiiSdxkKd6W7q8IXHKT5J0QBYcGH7JUcOgOsA52-ccmiQFWZnSLXGy2GlPViFj17I/s400/IMG_0243.JPG" /></a>There was an air of shyness at the beginning, but make no mistake, the students here have within them a wellspring of pure musical passion which would disarm anyone with one ear and a soul. I remember a long moment before I instinctively opened my mouth to move things along, hearing a sound kin to Miles’s Harmon mute blowing over a minor blues. It was a student instantly tapped into his imagination and set free, pursing his lips together and letting go of inhibition. We had found our new trumpet player. Much credit is due to Margaret Sotutu and her husband for their incredible work with these students. The choir sings with gloriously matched vowels and dynamics that are a thrill ride of emotion.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4eWT3VtumwyYl_Psip1cBp1BMltIVXx8_l6RgSZjo3NwExwS-jx4pRdPoXlS_DU1WK8d365ihyphenhyphenu9Y7MxYxrCFphjnll15eVPibiwsZ505Y16Yb9KJmr39ziW234iHoPK4ZB67weCrV8/s1600/Jammin+w+the+local+cats+Suva%252C+Fiji+11-4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537672930852404914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4eWT3VtumwyYl_Psip1cBp1BMltIVXx8_l6RgSZjo3NwExwS-jx4pRdPoXlS_DU1WK8d365ihyphenhyphenu9Y7MxYxrCFphjnll15eVPibiwsZ505Y16Yb9KJmr39ziW234iHoPK4ZB67weCrV8/s400/Jammin+w+the+local+cats+Suva%252C+Fiji+11-4.JPG" /></a>We jammed wth the local musicians of Suva with an esteemed audience that included U.S. Ambassador Steven McGann and Ambassador of Japan Yutaka Yoshizawa, both welcoming and full of humor, great to share a sunset and some stories with.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngqmT-Rb4qbPIdrWmPZLIbg8pelyGYqOvgcJWAhR9B7YvxD5y4jLK8A3J2TwPna1iriPUHdPmJTDEcKLR3vYOv8A1UI1TeoRHy9UbcWV5MMaF4uHP7BNjWhOpTBMvUVz_uWTqiGhsq64/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537680285637025154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngqmT-Rb4qbPIdrWmPZLIbg8pelyGYqOvgcJWAhR9B7YvxD5y4jLK8A3J2TwPna1iriPUHdPmJTDEcKLR3vYOv8A1UI1TeoRHy9UbcWV5MMaF4uHP7BNjWhOpTBMvUVz_uWTqiGhsq64/s400/IMG_0294.JPG" /></a>Liza (with an “I” and a hard “S”) sang Bobby Troupe’s classic <em>Route 66</em>. Ani sang the Gershwin’s <em>Summertime</em>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpocLhjCElHvoYHAZgh672Nz1ToorajxOBgXAucXcZHCU9yxwfdew4XTdaOd7v7268KNrUv2koJRu_3YJDfzDiay42pF8yDz6I1SsGWDUwe_G2Lgm6izJ-Sd8U9VukeuI2Oqnr_Jg6nEY/s1600/Suva+jam+%2540+Holiday+Inn+11-4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537677315996462450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpocLhjCElHvoYHAZgh672Nz1ToorajxOBgXAucXcZHCU9yxwfdew4XTdaOd7v7268KNrUv2koJRu_3YJDfzDiay42pF8yDz6I1SsGWDUwe_G2Lgm6izJ-Sd8U9VukeuI2Oqnr_Jg6nEY/s400/Suva+jam+%2540+Holiday+Inn+11-4.JPG" /></a>Soudo shredded with his guitar on the blues and Jonathan, a newcomer to the island who was delighted to find a jam session, blew his trumpet into the open air with a joyful spirit and a “cat that caught the canary” grin as the sun set on our last night in Suva.<br /><br />I stayed up late into the night doing laundry as every scrap of clothing was soaked with sea-salty sweat. The next morning I laid in the back of the car and slept for some of the three-hour drive to Nadi (pronounced Nahn-dee). <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbxlz7jLkzgGfBiAu45Y9JvYArcyV5czfYh5vHfVq8NentdJnaykxABXv0ZRW6B3SXWBqNH-XDBiZQz7ESnNPmQAYVJKHKHqUOnbx3axN43XdFDEPo5XADrhSMeCS8ebX5wQzzpPUE2A/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537667308485590322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbxlz7jLkzgGfBiAu45Y9JvYArcyV5czfYh5vHfVq8NentdJnaykxABXv0ZRW6B3SXWBqNH-XDBiZQz7ESnNPmQAYVJKHKHqUOnbx3axN43XdFDEPo5XADrhSMeCS8ebX5wQzzpPUE2A/s400/IMG_0218.JPG" /></a>I’ve heard of silent consonants but don’t often encounter “secret consonants.”<br /><br />Jone (pronounced Cho-nay) was kind enough to honor my request of stopping for a quick shot at the mahogany forest by not only stopping but taking Shana and me on a short side trip up an adjacent climbing dirt road with a great view of the trees. He had told us on the first drive that Fiji has the highest population of free-standing mahogany on the planet. It is privately owned and harvested but there is no sustainable harvesting plan.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDP_MENTTCPIaVNSCh4jsLcuNiGzD3zfCcKbYgRWLV-Qpy-RXAV3ox9ek7mRyrZqQGEcgkaj04CEGi3D-ryVdBvsC9NQveM0PMk-6vXEVV-RNm9pVNRs6-Y_GKdbMuhUrtQQZIojZNJfE/s1600/Mahogany6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDP_MENTTCPIaVNSCh4jsLcuNiGzD3zfCcKbYgRWLV-Qpy-RXAV3ox9ek7mRyrZqQGEcgkaj04CEGi3D-ryVdBvsC9NQveM0PMk-6vXEVV-RNm9pVNRs6-Y_GKdbMuhUrtQQZIojZNJfE/s400/Mahogany6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539227620395721282" /></a>It is protected by the government. We saw mahogany trees of various ages and sizes. We continued on to a full meal at Bounty, where the food is as good as you’ll find anywhere and I should know - I had most everything on the menu. Robert, the owner, gave this recommendation when I asked about two dishes: “Why not have both?” My kind of guy! I had both and more. (See "Rules of the Road 1" for more information.) We jammed at Bounty for a couple of hours with Danny playing brushes on a music stand. The musicians who joined us, after the trademark initial shyness, relaxed into an easy groove of songs both new and classic.<br /><br />Leo played guitar and sang his original, <em>Save the Children</em>, a heartfelt plea about flooding in both Fiji and Haiti. William sang a great rendition of Cat Stevens’s <em>Where Do the Children Play</em>? Joe did Tracy Chapman’s <em>Baby, Can I Hold You Tonight</em>? We also had a great vocalist join us with a request of <em>Bridge Over Troubled Water</em>, which I was just lucky enough to see earn Paul Simon the “Towering Song Award” by the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.<br /><br />Ngo joined us and played a gorgeous, joyful acoustic guitar melody over a playful 6/8 groove that is still dancing around my brain.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxOQtXNfb1B9BGyRiMsX5l7YEEaPdKVGhSzQm64qH9SAC7gpc0ZgfXqcxHv-lV7EzUdGhpZNxJCHub6L5xzBdwzWKehzDrcjy7LdRZds-hDbOnWY5EIgIx7t9o46RWNoQ67e3Ccx6PYA/s1600/DSC03747.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 311px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537682440462402066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxOQtXNfb1B9BGyRiMsX5l7YEEaPdKVGhSzQm64qH9SAC7gpc0ZgfXqcxHv-lV7EzUdGhpZNxJCHub6L5xzBdwzWKehzDrcjy7LdRZds-hDbOnWY5EIgIx7t9o46RWNoQ67e3Ccx6PYA/s400/DSC03747.JPG" /></a>Brian’s double bass caused quite the stir in Fiji. The Martin Backpacker is invaluable on this trip and even preferred by the local musicians here. When it’s plugged into the system, it was a great tone that belies its small size and novel look.<br /><br />We closed out the night with a concert and jam session at the Radisson Resort on Nadi’s beachfront on the eve of Duwali, the Festival of Lights. William joined us with <em>Wild World</em>. Joe came back with <em>Hero</em>, and Vincent, who works at the Radisson, sat in on drums and vocals. He kept looking at me from the small balcony and pointing at Danny and then at himself. “You wanna sit in?” I asked. “One song,” he said. What happens when you combine Louis Armstrong, Phil Collins, Jerry Herman and Elvin Jones? One unique and fiery version of <em>Hello Dolly</em>. And the crowd went wild! What a way to close out Fiji!<br /><br />I had to stay up all night from fear of oversleeping through our 5:30 AM lobby call.<br /><br />Tired? Yes.<br /><br />Grateful? You’d better believe it.<br /><br />Many thanks to Ambassador McGann, Jone, Alena, Sue, Margaret, Arthur and all of our new friends in Fiji.<br /><br />Twice we were treated to <em>Isa Lei</em>, a beautiful Fijian song with no literal English translation.<br /><object width="485" height="297"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0_lQSg33hGw?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0_lQSg33hGw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="485" height="297"></embed></object><br />I asked Alena to come close. She said it was an explanation of sadness from a sense of loss, someone leaving or someone dying. One thing is certain. Before I die, I plan to return to the “Pearl of the South Pacific.” I am glad to know that in Fijian, there are no words for goodbye. So instead I say “Moce Manda” (pronounced mo-thay Mahn-da). Farewell for now.<br /><br />P.S. Side note: $1 = $1.75 in Fijian currency. I was able to pay American dollars most everywhere. In fact, I never converted any cash. Interesting and worth a mention.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-53457987336948662882010-11-07T12:28:00.015-05:002010-11-07T19:21:14.520-05:00Good Vibrations<strong>DAY 6</strong>, continued: (<em>Danny</em>) We woke up this morning and left our hotel in Suva to travel across the main Fijian island, Viti Levu, to play at a local restaurant in Nadi called Bounty. The owner, Robert, fed us the most amazing meals and desserts! I had mango cheesecake with snowballs and banana ice-cream covered with fresh coconut flakes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W3ieoLC7V2d-OBhW56IVoMk5A04WDy7iBX-GWhwxZUtw4aGxKV8h75F8x4o2JprBD-Dxrc_RA0-g7E9dQ01hPakVhtrByr64qOK6eKjKj85q_6n9AUGvF0IM3ZYZJqepfzNQ5ABaqYw/s1600/Photo+Nov+06,+12+08+47+AM.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 372px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536863321317983042" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W3ieoLC7V2d-OBhW56IVoMk5A04WDy7iBX-GWhwxZUtw4aGxKV8h75F8x4o2JprBD-Dxrc_RA0-g7E9dQ01hPakVhtrByr64qOK6eKjKj85q_6n9AUGvF0IM3ZYZJqepfzNQ5ABaqYw/s400/Photo+Nov+06,+12+08+47+AM.jpg" border="0" /></a>After a lunch of great curries, we set up our equipment in the other room for a jam session. Because we only had a little bit of time for the session before we had to leave and set up for the next one, I played just brushes on a music stand. There was a room full of local musicians and some free food, so you know the next part of the story, LOL!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUyz7AXIvVdxt3vdSgZaTjHiDDLlnASqlynqJke90ZUdxUVU_W_ATs7yX4kfUe8vgwOKbNP8Ttd3P72vMEy_by1tTPI4tbWjOWuxnEYh6AypgcvpaLTZ2I6OLYMNkN8EdcpfzFGfAE_c/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536870853635121954" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUyz7AXIvVdxt3vdSgZaTjHiDDLlnASqlynqJke90ZUdxUVU_W_ATs7yX4kfUe8vgwOKbNP8Ttd3P72vMEy_by1tTPI4tbWjOWuxnEYh6AypgcvpaLTZ2I6OLYMNkN8EdcpfzFGfAE_c/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" border="0" /></a>We played a few tunes and then invited people up to play. They were shy at first and no one really came forward so we went into the crowd and coaxed them up. Well, a bass player named Leo came up and played some piano and a drummer came up and played some brushes and it ended up being a great jam session of mostly classic rock tunes. It seems there are lots of bass players in this area but there is only one upright bass on the whole island. Brian is a little bit of a star!<br /><br />At the end of the session, all the local musicians sang us the Fijian Farewell song that the choir had sung for us the day before, except that it had more of a folk feel. They waved goodbye and we teared up again. We had to leave and check in at our new hotel where we were welcomed by a guy playing a log drum. He played a welcome Lali drum beat. He heard I was a drummer, so he invited me to play it and I did okay. But I think he played with much more conviction. We checked in and I finally got some wireless for the first time all day. I was able to make my first Skype call of the whole trip. It made my day even more incredible!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMcINyseIoo95FZbLxSm5XbUtqGSDTm7KyXrDa9YvhP06avjwR3FuTgVGNOFDoiCfG3SNQrR9c9oND5WiemF8cryr75vzGl0j1M7OV7RJRYwYD0wP7D00YVEdnWQFqVI68orWc5g_yoc/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536868239333789186" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMcINyseIoo95FZbLxSm5XbUtqGSDTm7KyXrDa9YvhP06avjwR3FuTgVGNOFDoiCfG3SNQrR9c9oND5WiemF8cryr75vzGl0j1M7OV7RJRYwYD0wP7D00YVEdnWQFqVI68orWc5g_yoc/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" border="0" /></a>We set up and played for about an hour in the hotel where some of the musicians from the afternoon session were listening and joined us. We got to play some Cat Stevens, Johnny Cash and even some Louis Armstrong tunes. We are a band of brothers and are having so much fun on the road together again. We love performing and traveling together. This sharing of music, friendship and good vibrations is so inspiring and brings us so much joy. This is why we came on this tour and have made so many friends here in Fiji. We’re all very sad to leave Fiji tomorrow, yet very excited to go to Papua New Guinea.<br /><br />(<span style="font-weight: bold;">En route from Fiji to Papua New Guinea</span>) We just took off from Fiji's main airport in Nadi and are flying over a tranquil turquoise sea, dotted with little islands which can only be described as castaways. We left our hotel at 5:30 AM to ensure all our gear would get on board. We were only partially lucky because we made the weight but paid through the nose.<br /><br />After our show last night, we ate a pan Asian meal at the hotel. The hour was filled with lots of laughter, stories and then some final travel prep for the morning. Before we ate, I finally had a chance to walk around this beautiful ocean resort and take some pictures. I definitely want to come back here again and enjoy the island and these resorts. The hotel was amazing, the rooms were awesome and we were treated like kings. Before we went off to sleep, the staff of young waitresses had to have our cd so I went back to my room to grab some and when I returned, I was greeted by a sea of hands and high-pitched squeals.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF92sQ-meE-rJz29mw_fmYIbhlpqLWir_gQhjNgS90Le9rT4wFgAvWbnnQoLrmixQaDgWSrylflN3SXaxIeZi1GENtmxyeN2dzwHTN9a8A3HJYDLB6W7i00sqBE6_lMCh5X_foOGv3sw/s1600/DSC03796.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536870125059240962" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidF92sQ-meE-rJz29mw_fmYIbhlpqLWir_gQhjNgS90Le9rT4wFgAvWbnnQoLrmixQaDgWSrylflN3SXaxIeZi1GENtmxyeN2dzwHTN9a8A3HJYDLB6W7i00sqBE6_lMCh5X_foOGv3sw/s400/DSC03796.JPG" border="0" /></a>We signed the cds and posed for pictures and received so many thankful hugs.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0U2dQ_9VUANHxEuOC4rWucba2QwQJ0Stf_WamF0cUmNXZSWpqIWk6NFkvbdxxSIEN1XMgNsIDtIQIANk17FnMP_dP7rVLFD2qsuMVmLRCFCO9QCS4P9Gs3PtAKzzfrOGzVYemD3kRkM/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0U2dQ_9VUANHxEuOC4rWucba2QwQJ0Stf_WamF0cUmNXZSWpqIWk6NFkvbdxxSIEN1XMgNsIDtIQIANk17FnMP_dP7rVLFD2qsuMVmLRCFCO9QCS4P9Gs3PtAKzzfrOGzVYemD3kRkM/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536881840980316034" border="0" /></a>We’ve made even more friends. They told us, “West is best” and the prettiest girls were on their part of the island. They were charming, funny and warm and made us promise to return to Fiji with our families.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-64854918633250883742010-11-07T11:59:00.005-05:002010-11-11T21:44:35.560-05:00Who Knows Where the Time Goes?<strong>DAY 6</strong>, continued: (<em>Johnny</em>) Fiji is a wrap. I woke up bleary eyed and confused.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFQNayLT1NJ-jh-68rRJt5gftLs_FdnJwzfu1N0zbDBhSdwnjbBEhZpn2pLa6r3WZ0rGmxyn_0qsptB4x68i18VE7HT3JhSkOYAUOM-fwgEUXa5ZUv8nYzZPRihD5gz5k_AdCeacgTDY/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536854458840345026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFQNayLT1NJ-jh-68rRJt5gftLs_FdnJwzfu1N0zbDBhSdwnjbBEhZpn2pLa6r3WZ0rGmxyn_0qsptB4x68i18VE7HT3JhSkOYAUOM-fwgEUXa5ZUv8nYzZPRihD5gz5k_AdCeacgTDY/s400/IMG_0488.JPG" /></a>Where am I?<br />What time is it?<br />What day is it?<br /><br />The last thing I remember is making plans to grab dinner after pulling an all-nighter and the 12-hour journey from Fiji to Papua New Guinea. Then, I must have passed out with all the lights on and was out for 14 hours flat. My voice is fatigued and I’m starving. I could easily go back to sleep for another 14 hours but I should get some food in me and take my malaria pill. Planning to overeat at breakfast and find some coffee and clarity. In the meantime, ponder this:<br /><br /><strong>Rules of the Road 1</strong>:<br /><br />Eat when you can.<br />Sleep when you can.<br />On the plane doesn’t count!Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-33662185528083429002010-11-05T18:53:00.017-04:002010-11-07T19:27:12.151-05:00Mud Man Across the Water<strong>DAY 6</strong>: (<em>Brian</em>): An important part of our tour on The Rhythm Road is the cultural exchange aspect. In addition to concert performances, we give master classes and perform jam sessions with local musicians in each country. As any musician in the world will tell you, we all share a special bond with one another no matter what part of the world we are from or what kind of music we play.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuQOpAAxk1tebJP37mhyP3GoqNopUC8-w-RNwWcy0SCAOFejsMvhMhhskdZUUen5JPc-O_wXplG12vwAD5OIo4vJrek5Yja0kKsxwxeS7yUkZA_SomxNwaEJtsQwOliYZYBPdZy9GzKE/s1600/Gifts+for+fans+Suva+Aud.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536524702531512578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuQOpAAxk1tebJP37mhyP3GoqNopUC8-w-RNwWcy0SCAOFejsMvhMhhskdZUUen5JPc-O_wXplG12vwAD5OIo4vJrek5Yja0kKsxwxeS7yUkZA_SomxNwaEJtsQwOliYZYBPdZy9GzKE/s400/Gifts+for+fans+Suva+Aud.JPG" border="0" /></a> Indeed, this the essence of what The Rhythm Road program is about and this common bond was never more apparent to me than when we gave our master classes or held jam sessions in Fiji. The first was with a choir of music college-aged students. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDQiPvoUOxx4budb9cAt2fNbDiSlq8Imbxyc0x5t6PLDsedBkHi5f6VTxoOLfSAF-FeGA7ABiN0UuQ8NEOe0q5t9487VpeI-WdaJVEq9wXXHlAG4mf791-gw4vJlXJxbBmYEyF9ZtfKU/s1600/IMG_0239.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536522705245352402" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDQiPvoUOxx4budb9cAt2fNbDiSlq8Imbxyc0x5t6PLDsedBkHi5f6VTxoOLfSAF-FeGA7ABiN0UuQ8NEOe0q5t9487VpeI-WdaJVEq9wXXHlAG4mf791-gw4vJlXJxbBmYEyF9ZtfKU/s400/IMG_0239.jpg" border="0" /></a>We started by performing a few songs for them but then we immediately involved them in an extended call and response jam on <em>Ain't No Sunshine</em> which is centered around the virtually universal A minor pentatonic scale. Johnny assigned the basses, tenors, altos and sopranos different parts to sing and before we knew it, we had full, four-part angelic choir accompaniment for the Johnny Rodgers Band – Johnny's wildest dream for backup vocals realized to its fullest! After some initial shyness (an endearing Fijian trait), we had them scat singing choruses and “trading 4's” like seasoned jazz cats. At the end of the workshop, they assembled themselves and sang us a traditional Fijian Farewell song and a more sincere and sublime sound was never heard by these jaded New Yorkers. There wasn't a dry eye in the Johnny Rodgers Band.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jzjbxC4FO4ZYnZ4jf8Xs4ZUTVqVvK48d4dEtHl-4O_5ZY_mHB3qIoHGI5y5OuadzYfPLeIm1jpF9fIy-WecInX5qQCUzIKO8V8DueD0Yw8OxJEUanlechZQxQW6nHW_eGvMQB-zXS-s/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jzjbxC4FO4ZYnZ4jf8Xs4ZUTVqVvK48d4dEtHl-4O_5ZY_mHB3qIoHGI5y5OuadzYfPLeIm1jpF9fIy-WecInX5qQCUzIKO8V8DueD0Yw8OxJEUanlechZQxQW6nHW_eGvMQB-zXS-s/s400/IMG_0481.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536968340909394834" /></a>After the session, they all seemed highly fascinated by me and my double bass, apparently something very rare, if non-existent, in Fiji and I was happy to oblige with some impromptu bass lessons and demos.<br /><br />Our other jams and workshops were with some of the pro musicians that gig in the many resorts on the main island. They were also very shy and respectful and we had to repeatedly coax them into sitting in with us. Again the singers had a sweet and sincere approach to music, without any hint of the showy or florid pretense you might find elsewhere. This group was well versed in American pop and folk guitar styles and we were happy to accompany them in versions of Cat Stevens and Paul Simon tunes as well as American songbook classics like <em>Route 66</em> and <em>Summertime</em> right up the Johnny Rodgers Band alley.<br /><br />Despite our heavy schedule and lack of any chill time on the unbelievably beautiful beaches of Fiji, our time here was filled with warmth and magic, the natural wonders and beauty of this place only surpassed by the people of Fiji, themselves. We'll be back...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJJh87JaPM8qdvHRgAXjNefY-sRQ-Q3TpT-RCdng5Bty4X53ao3myBXEFyJwTXLio24ogF6vot-WuUXoRxIgAlpH9JGi0C01V2gVa4D955ajAe1ukmqFbtgECsziXGUz1MGabNCO2Yvc/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 252px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536203220555109266" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJJh87JaPM8qdvHRgAXjNefY-sRQ-Q3TpT-RCdng5Bty4X53ao3myBXEFyJwTXLio24ogF6vot-WuUXoRxIgAlpH9JGi0C01V2gVa4D955ajAe1ukmqFbtgECsziXGUz1MGabNCO2Yvc/s400/IMG_0445.JPG" border="0" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-33938181190651072442010-11-05T11:01:00.024-04:002010-11-16T10:26:24.780-05:00Sweet Emotion<span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 5</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Joe</span>) Our last day in Fiji. Bula and Moce: Welcome and Goodbye. We’ve just had two very busy days and in a few hours, at 5:30 AM, we’re leaving Fiji for Papua New Guinea. We’ve had nothing but wonderful musical experiences in this beautiful country and I think this is the most welcoming place I’ve ever visited in my life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8NwQe3Tm-Lji1P0lzUqxoIqCw__uuEvjptQyKFx-jGyh85uYZ4GondlMSXPc4DZzs_HhRHcDa3rOLGSY-9OLCKUEIurzN8EJ2jj0P9oDPq752ZFkWLmc1aPmWuIQv4ZN8HBKolQUejg/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536187816446188098" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8NwQe3Tm-Lji1P0lzUqxoIqCw__uuEvjptQyKFx-jGyh85uYZ4GondlMSXPc4DZzs_HhRHcDa3rOLGSY-9OLCKUEIurzN8EJ2jj0P9oDPq752ZFkWLmc1aPmWuIQv4ZN8HBKolQUejg/s400/IMG_0470.JPG" border="0" /></a>In Fiji, they have a tradition of welcoming guests with a log drum call.<img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 299px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536193118871209458" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglarsuvdUsQTH1ZXQx9Px1oPQxe535nmDYXqyCwgrQyjaKSCWBs5iHCsbjxN9GA72zLX74I88tyPgKVnj1-TMcXFG0o4AeHW6L0dbhGNOMYNyT-TZBjuusqxiYnbhhQp3BX33Ip-Mndx8/s400/Photo+Nov+06,+12+09+39+AM.jpg" border="0" />When we changed hotels this morning to spend our last day here, we got a sample of this ritual.<object height="297" width="485"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5h5ndOENdEE?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5h5ndOENdEE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="297" width="485"></embed></object>After we were greeted by the drum call, Danny took a crack at the log drum.<object width="485" height="297"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZF6Njqj847M?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZF6Njqj847M?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="485" height="297"></embed></object>A few days ago when we met with the Conservatorium students, they sang the traditional "Farewell" song to us because it was our last session with them.<br /><object height="297" width="485"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fE8Bd4Xb8To?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fE8Bd4Xb8To?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="297" width="485"></embed></object><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXnHvkUdgbldPmUDQoUuTo-awjcsCL2fxIO9AGmr6OKZhH8ckeQHlEorT44SGpq0ytAk7XaAViJGWB3oLOKg1rK-hq54caFa-wbWMCleQFjfRpiQN5XNbLq0BvaD5W8-TF0mDmJG10r4/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536194902713697874" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXnHvkUdgbldPmUDQoUuTo-awjcsCL2fxIO9AGmr6OKZhH8ckeQHlEorT44SGpq0ytAk7XaAViJGWB3oLOKg1rK-hq54caFa-wbWMCleQFjfRpiQN5XNbLq0BvaD5W8-TF0mDmJG10r4/s400/IMG_0249.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UX81eVu3SXHecQAhIf6AStlu0FZClLTLtgvdSpt7vudVceZKXYa_OI9m0GUp7-yXpP8A4-OY_ugAXy9pKykxzGX6lKm0H_GYC6BEBhbRmj3j7EsrG6ckkMjoxZklrskXsrhn0-paRqA/s1600/IMG_0256.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 283px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536196845657240530" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6UX81eVu3SXHecQAhIf6AStlu0FZClLTLtgvdSpt7vudVceZKXYa_OI9m0GUp7-yXpP8A4-OY_ugAXy9pKykxzGX6lKm0H_GYC6BEBhbRmj3j7EsrG6ckkMjoxZklrskXsrhn0-paRqA/s400/IMG_0256.JPG" border="0" /></a>At the end of the song, I had tears in my eyes. I turned to Brian and he had tears in his eyes. A moment later I realized Danny had the same experience with this song. I met a New Zealander at our concert/jam session this evening and he related his story of first hearing the Fijian Farewell song. He had the same experience we did. None of us understand the Fijian language, yet this song touched us all in the same way. Well, farewell Fiji.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTj2ARRMfjFDbDLGBK10yiRH7kYZ-KXQvjya7Vn9abdVrd6YC4AJM1CEHEdzdlaw8GFV06e2lZRR0OgM45ZYHAv9aqDbWDN7EZnh3Y14vnoBQUBu0hatrDmn-Wem9JuPWcYrVlcVVBjc/s1600/w+our+fans+in+Nadi+Fiji+11-5.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 336px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536199334504935762" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTj2ARRMfjFDbDLGBK10yiRH7kYZ-KXQvjya7Vn9abdVrd6YC4AJM1CEHEdzdlaw8GFV06e2lZRR0OgM45ZYHAv9aqDbWDN7EZnh3Y14vnoBQUBu0hatrDmn-Wem9JuPWcYrVlcVVBjc/s400/w+our+fans+in+Nadi+Fiji+11-5.JPG" border="0" /></a>I, for one, will miss this land of singers and guitarists…<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSdgbdJG_7XZ7NeYa-wdUOjP9VEMokBFK6FZRssyOb77xpQvpr6bD63gcmZrATUeVJ5UhxBMoTAn-uqL5pH7r49ReGiwdwiAsDLPGFSDkmV1Ob0Uea_oJEWC-sCEq29PqXiUQFWYJpic/s1600/We+don%27t+wanna+leave%21+Fiji+11-4.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536192571308361074" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSdgbdJG_7XZ7NeYa-wdUOjP9VEMokBFK6FZRssyOb77xpQvpr6bD63gcmZrATUeVJ5UhxBMoTAn-uqL5pH7r49ReGiwdwiAsDLPGFSDkmV1Ob0Uea_oJEWC-sCEq29PqXiUQFWYJpic/s400/We+don%27t+wanna+leave%21+Fiji+11-4.JPG" border="0" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-63896510347888467382010-11-04T18:19:00.004-04:002010-11-04T18:27:22.355-04:00Four Tickets to Paradise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC-xqZtjvPULXDWOKwzPmuJsuF9hWSC3geqYzWnU9XE9QBGKaPE8HUlguzCdSqYVxaTTcnwVlyRD2s9crm8JtTHjEsdKNK19U1pkOCyaFY_rvy-FC6glokp21pl-5paR2reoeclvfKOw/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOC-xqZtjvPULXDWOKwzPmuJsuF9hWSC3geqYzWnU9XE9QBGKaPE8HUlguzCdSqYVxaTTcnwVlyRD2s9crm8JtTHjEsdKNK19U1pkOCyaFY_rvy-FC6glokp21pl-5paR2reoeclvfKOw/s400/IMG_0292.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535824608424309474" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_akXLRa3GEBqXSjVStDVeDZNXK49qeeb_StVi8P7cGTm2krxsypIUQXlDqXov4e8rBadH3cw9PdwV0bWNE1xHtjDeqny6gKm57cZa45AuTlxbnqA0U_fVsLuDSlm4hyTOotgop-1V_Ng/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_akXLRa3GEBqXSjVStDVeDZNXK49qeeb_StVi8P7cGTm2krxsypIUQXlDqXov4e8rBadH3cw9PdwV0bWNE1xHtjDeqny6gKm57cZa45AuTlxbnqA0U_fVsLuDSlm4hyTOotgop-1V_Ng/s400/IMG_0302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535824153128587618" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8O1bubsn3XoghSwi3mLyEzjmd36PtlGdjUf8DkGE9iEYrqULc8V3AULVTB5QjgcdnPmIKBen4nopny0d2aGWMB_OzOP5GpqQX7bP3dLAF3M0iQcuErrN5_eyI6mNwLF-2k1ikk2aNDE/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8O1bubsn3XoghSwi3mLyEzjmd36PtlGdjUf8DkGE9iEYrqULc8V3AULVTB5QjgcdnPmIKBen4nopny0d2aGWMB_OzOP5GpqQX7bP3dLAF3M0iQcuErrN5_eyI6mNwLF-2k1ikk2aNDE/s400/IMG_0289.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535823178744405346" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-16434999324295118552010-11-04T12:06:00.013-04:002010-11-04T18:07:17.832-04:00Amazing Grace<span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 4</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) Last night we arrived at the Fiji Civic Center to find out that power in the building and most of the town had gone out because of a lightning strike on the power station. I walked into the darkened hall and down the aisles with the help of the crew's flashlights. I soon realized that the seats were full of people, waiting patiently in the dark. I could barely find the way to my drums but after a few minutes, Shana helped me find my way back to the lobby area, to meet with the rest of the band.<br /><br />The embassy would give it 30 more minutes for the power to come back on or else they would send everyone home. Johnny suggested that if the concert was to be canceled, we could just borrow an acoustic guitar, get Brian's bass, I would grab my brushes and we could do a small acoustic set in the lobby. I went off to sit in the corner and warm up, when I heard some singing? I thought maybe the power had come back on but the lights were still out? I walked back into the hall and heard the most amazing thing: there was a choir from the local conservatory singing some spiritual songs and entertaining the audience as they sat in the dark.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTYKFfm1FsvPbwwX8Cm8RsSU-OIW-PrAUoiOjckHwNXIcWQm4jdeUvh2WRy802izhnsmu4z6Nspv3yyrUNvXAW_TFsk9MtVKU8YUrw2xOCwgMqNn55JQ1WpJ_RFU0uel2KhtR0-MU96Q/s1600/IMG_0190.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTYKFfm1FsvPbwwX8Cm8RsSU-OIW-PrAUoiOjckHwNXIcWQm4jdeUvh2WRy802izhnsmu4z6Nspv3yyrUNvXAW_TFsk9MtVKU8YUrw2xOCwgMqNn55JQ1WpJ_RFU0uel2KhtR0-MU96Q/s400/IMG_0190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535727352604188450" border="0" /></a> I saw Johnny and of course he was already recording them and basking in their grace.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKrEp_D2DaHmroY8HR3FQWspMfyjytktQ-cS79wDEyy7Gg2E0xUDtmTRzXVwpUdxtgcmHFVnA42lxsusKS6U6qBHIw3XAWxZfuYUC4RRyNGgmRFkVUDpYq2u07o3jJRhMznrSnlHCTTM/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKrEp_D2DaHmroY8HR3FQWspMfyjytktQ-cS79wDEyy7Gg2E0xUDtmTRzXVwpUdxtgcmHFVnA42lxsusKS6U6qBHIw3XAWxZfuYUC4RRyNGgmRFkVUDpYq2u07o3jJRhMznrSnlHCTTM/s400/IMG_0175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535727860881099794" border="0" /></a> It was one of the most moving experiences, to sit in the dark and feel the light of their joyful sound. Very soon after they finished their last song, the power came back on and we were able to see the beautiful faces of the choir. It's as if they sang the light and power back into the room as well as our hearts. We got on stage and played the first half of the show. The choir came up at intermission and did a 20-minute set for the crowd, loved (again) by everyone.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZPtTxUNe1qrBDBpyLdCOlYttsZ62u_lK3IUTwrMHW6uod5ddTmQCV5JFu_HNu6n5d5e7_O2eCfcvhFi13AobMmPg77d8waU5D9p05tqFDD5vYE1pf8Tx13e5-bVnMvWzWjqz1Ur_FW8/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZPtTxUNe1qrBDBpyLdCOlYttsZ62u_lK3IUTwrMHW6uod5ddTmQCV5JFu_HNu6n5d5e7_O2eCfcvhFi13AobMmPg77d8waU5D9p05tqFDD5vYE1pf8Tx13e5-bVnMvWzWjqz1Ur_FW8/s400/IMG_0172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535729122930533730" border="0" /></a> We played the second half of our third show that night and we all agreed that this entire day was one of the greatest experiences we’d ever had!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYst90S-wXXMe_B93f0YkFiPEtKSP5GH0ywZQvJjHe7BpOh3_3dJHcLXbbqfnvaakd7IvD49C89n_KTlwO62ZNHBG0Q6CDbO66drgpS24rYg0NwxV2TgaB1zVLFJBM3U718N3HUBWVCjQ/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYst90S-wXXMe_B93f0YkFiPEtKSP5GH0ywZQvJjHe7BpOh3_3dJHcLXbbqfnvaakd7IvD49C89n_KTlwO62ZNHBG0Q6CDbO66drgpS24rYg0NwxV2TgaB1zVLFJBM3U718N3HUBWVCjQ/s400/IMG_0193.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535813655363134210" /></a>I was signing autographs until my hand was exhausted. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BCoGQZX7g4IsQ1UfQEK8uuWLB3A5_wpyeECK6ilvlcvpvWH4HCGvVtGQwEiRjvOh_AHPrYP6g_CbF4hdTmpDcnILt0h3lA4g81uahlJPVv6pjsJW3g0ZGuiFfh2RPMXgzPnJdIa3qSY/s1600/IMG_0200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BCoGQZX7g4IsQ1UfQEK8uuWLB3A5_wpyeECK6ilvlcvpvWH4HCGvVtGQwEiRjvOh_AHPrYP6g_CbF4hdTmpDcnILt0h3lA4g81uahlJPVv6pjsJW3g0ZGuiFfh2RPMXgzPnJdIa3qSY/s400/IMG_0200.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535814095337927810" /></a>Earlier, after the second show, we had been signing autographs for the high school kids and one young girl asked me to sign the back of her uniform with a magic marker, I said, “Your mom’s going to get mad” and she just laughed and said, “It's worth it!” We met so many beautiful people and I am amazed at the heart, talent and soul of this country. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8JvNGntHtp8_2XWrB1EpsdLUXot7HzmNbRGrcxUGXiX38IobmHTekddvPDWDZ4kRXmfBXEfshj-PtJCoJJuu7apwv3QyOjAInkqUd7gNqvvlOgf5iK0hWYRBC1zKeA7orRIM8yy8NEE/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8JvNGntHtp8_2XWrB1EpsdLUXot7HzmNbRGrcxUGXiX38IobmHTekddvPDWDZ4kRXmfBXEfshj-PtJCoJJuu7apwv3QyOjAInkqUd7gNqvvlOgf5iK0hWYRBC1zKeA7orRIM8yy8NEE/s400/IMG_0308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535818788543302706" /></a>We got back to the hotel and Liza, a great local singer who tours Southeast Asia and teaches at the conservatory, introduced us to the U.S. Ambassador to Fiji. We sat with him while he told us stories and suggested places to see.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo below: Johnny Rodgers Band with U.S. Ambassador for Fiji, Steven McGann, (4th from left) and Ambassador for Japan, Yutaka Yoshizawa (far right), with other Embassy officials</span>.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa9iCs2BA1ijUb8cKAivvbw4Bi8st5dc56Gzr874W77qN3wQ5ylwg0PpdnX6GJ9M4LlYHc0OJGNj-RnyUQzJpgIwMltUfXUKOnyssTyzVEmKZuGcc3njrHRjJHNBLemwhkdJfhz3pr-4/s1600/JRB+with+US+Ambassador+of+Fiji+Steven+McGann+%284th+from+left%29+and+Ambassador+of+Japan+Yutaka+Yoshizawa+%28far+right%29+and+other+Embassy+Officials.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxa9iCs2BA1ijUb8cKAivvbw4Bi8st5dc56Gzr874W77qN3wQ5ylwg0PpdnX6GJ9M4LlYHc0OJGNj-RnyUQzJpgIwMltUfXUKOnyssTyzVEmKZuGcc3njrHRjJHNBLemwhkdJfhz3pr-4/s400/JRB+with+US+Ambassador+of+Fiji+Steven+McGann+%284th+from+left%29+and+Ambassador+of+Japan+Yutaka+Yoshizawa+%28far+right%29+and+other+Embassy+Officials.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535809495562177858" border="0" /></a>Liza told us about her Papua New Guinea years and what it was like to perform and live there. She comes from one of the 300 islands that make up Fiji. When she was a little girl, she would watch the sunset and think <span style="font-style: italic;">I’m bigger than this little island</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">There must be a greater world beyond</span>. She wanted to be a star and sing around the world. We all agreed that when you’re in love with music, you just know it. It's like someone hitting you with a bat – the same with the love of another person. You just know and it hits you like a ton of bricks. I’ve been in love with music since I was five-years-old and it has taught me how to love others. It’s an amazing grace!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QJPIzmpfRyZThQPDkMM4XKV9Oyny-63yA9Jx-IVXXf1IGedT5ruNUK_IgDVNiGAz2f7i5YLTPHstCzg6EEbUqaLqrq1TO9uAUjpg03YnLFKr8pTh7pKfzJDO5eS6y5GcVpmcsv-sQGQ/s1600/IMG_0299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QJPIzmpfRyZThQPDkMM4XKV9Oyny-63yA9Jx-IVXXf1IGedT5ruNUK_IgDVNiGAz2f7i5YLTPHstCzg6EEbUqaLqrq1TO9uAUjpg03YnLFKr8pTh7pKfzJDO5eS6y5GcVpmcsv-sQGQ/s400/IMG_0299.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535819382228111074" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-75174000868011617742010-11-04T00:23:00.000-04:002010-11-04T00:30:25.310-04:00The Things They Said Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLqqKT9y943hxupXQSdxbR2U39x6QGCZMJjfVpL85N-jxFFyLdvaPllZtMIJZSGn8nMhbmQiTTNo4hFHoJrflqHdRkv45kJEhNt26lsKnWyYrlhqoVNHs2blW0SjmF7o1chVptwVWP_E/s1600/Fuji+Times.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLqqKT9y943hxupXQSdxbR2U39x6QGCZMJjfVpL85N-jxFFyLdvaPllZtMIJZSGn8nMhbmQiTTNo4hFHoJrflqHdRkv45kJEhNt26lsKnWyYrlhqoVNHs2blW0SjmF7o1chVptwVWP_E/s400/Fuji+Times.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535547059948289394" /></a>Read it <a href="http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=159173">here</a>.Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-88227849413083935802010-11-03T18:50:00.000-04:002010-11-03T18:54:24.583-04:00How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You!Live from the Suva Civic Center!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uCY1TSn8z7c?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uCY1TSn8z7c?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-50772072545717902202010-11-03T10:40:00.002-04:002010-11-04T18:56:16.806-04:00Yesterday...<span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 3</span>, continued: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Brian</span>) So much has happened and it's just the beginning of the tour. I needed a little remedial learning period with my new PC netbook since I'm a Mac guy.<br /><br />Our first stop was a jumping off day in LA. I spent a scary Halloween renting a car and running down to the official Johnny Rodgers Band instrument case maker, Bruce Lamb, to have him modify my removable neck bass case to make it even smaller and lighter for the trip.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMPdREBh7PMx5syS04tZVE6VvsRgOygaxtpu596AD3KXzg2Tysr9FGqe4mwE2OnHS9VU4l-DmrEPIYVVqRnz9pfv-uqyeSsx-8NLAwHIwgjhvA1MKShLqFZuc9iMCQT9K5S8QqyZr9Yw/s1600/Bruce+Lamb+doing+bass+case+modification.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMPdREBh7PMx5syS04tZVE6VvsRgOygaxtpu596AD3KXzg2Tysr9FGqe4mwE2OnHS9VU4l-DmrEPIYVVqRnz9pfv-uqyeSsx-8NLAwHIwgjhvA1MKShLqFZuc9iMCQT9K5S8QqyZr9Yw/s400/Bruce+Lamb+doing+bass+case+modification.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535345803442036418" border="0" /></a>It was worth the nearly two-hour trip (each way), the six hours assisting him plus dodging and jumping away from Bruce's grunting and charging house pet "Tootie," a HUGE pot-bellied pig!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnf6fQ_X_qoXXFyRnab44WxR0A1l4SaYDhojfab7gqgP5fhkaUB-WxwImMeIjgWW_0tCkW3dZlTc9F6qsG4kGM6iBNPipuUgdGsQHofYC6o7Bq2Waawa0M03a0g8LxVJrQ2KnHT0VxqY/s1600/Tootie+the+pot-bellied+pig.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnf6fQ_X_qoXXFyRnab44WxR0A1l4SaYDhojfab7gqgP5fhkaUB-WxwImMeIjgWW_0tCkW3dZlTc9F6qsG4kGM6iBNPipuUgdGsQHofYC6o7Bq2Waawa0M03a0g8LxVJrQ2KnHT0VxqY/s400/Tootie+the+pot-bellied+pig.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535346299935736338" border="0" /></a> But this innovative system with the Schnitzer/Di Sola RN Upright Bass will be a boon to all bassists traveling! It's making it possible for the Johnny Rodgers Band to have our REAL sound even while traveling to all these far away locales. A bass guitar or a "stick bass" just wouldn't be the same thing!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72-OLIgzTy5oru__gCxhef-UukIykhjvL5nq2KDEfyBywCKhA0nanP8tQzwjBEuzwSY8UtfyTUeW1pUNR2LjK-mwfdMjuUgFTS6Ho76gA0K0bfvt5_kMYSwk1Wb62cAy7l2la2Jl5HHg/s1600/Innovative+way+to+travel+w+a+real+Upright+bass.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72-OLIgzTy5oru__gCxhef-UukIykhjvL5nq2KDEfyBywCKhA0nanP8tQzwjBEuzwSY8UtfyTUeW1pUNR2LjK-mwfdMjuUgFTS6Ho76gA0K0bfvt5_kMYSwk1Wb62cAy7l2la2Jl5HHg/s400/Innovative+way+to+travel+w+a+real+Upright+bass.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535347459036057426" border="0" /></a>Johnny enjoyed his last meal in LA.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu15tIYtvV0MVc0AbB_HpBhXP_9qIIRRRS7EoDURnW4Z70k9qw-V0-F8HMIti4QElpy6aRW4MKQK06LACMUE4BpcQ63l_crXtbwMof-ycoRMyoY78fc6-WyFHEl0K6lv1Aqq2Q8PvyrMU/s1600/Johnny's+Last+Meal+In+US+Chicken+Pot+Pie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu15tIYtvV0MVc0AbB_HpBhXP_9qIIRRRS7EoDURnW4Z70k9qw-V0-F8HMIti4QElpy6aRW4MKQK06LACMUE4BpcQ63l_crXtbwMof-ycoRMyoY78fc6-WyFHEl0K6lv1Aqq2Q8PvyrMU/s400/Johnny's+Last+Meal+In+US+Chicken+Pot+Pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535355357071631250" border="0" /></a>We're finding the Fijian people warm, welcoming, and musical. They're making us feel like rock stars wherever we go. People recognize us from all the advance publicity for our shows and we’ve even heard a radio ad playing <span style="font-style: italic;">Mary Jean</span> announcing the concerts on our way to the capital city, Suva.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0ieAvmrIMF8QdBk3wGEYdKM54tlqWs4QH3pBdjGGwusL-I_F2SzLc5AQ3q5MjOagN9GB4l54876DQpFQdCggLM9NvJazmopf8shHqX0GjkgwiMkscFloE61SI2jfnY-7lFXchTJjlv8/s1600/Dinner+on+a+boat+in+Fiji+11-2-10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0ieAvmrIMF8QdBk3wGEYdKM54tlqWs4QH3pBdjGGwusL-I_F2SzLc5AQ3q5MjOagN9GB4l54876DQpFQdCggLM9NvJazmopf8shHqX0GjkgwiMkscFloE61SI2jfnY-7lFXchTJjlv8/s400/Dinner+on+a+boat+in+Fiji+11-2-10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535348845466384402" border="0" /></a>Shana Bromberg, Manager of Tours for The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad and Jazz at Lincoln Center, has been incredibly good at doing what she does and I don't know what we'd do without her. The U.S. State Department locals have been great as well. All musicians should have it this good on the road. The Rhythm Road program is the real deal!<br /><br />Our first shows here were for local school kids and the girls were screaming and cheering as if we were the Beatles in 1964. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz227Kd169_tNxv0E-YedLCHfeliKAu2c72Fo-pErETCOGC-re-CuX_IfJCCv9w6EMbsmtnlM-B_rDChOyKuct-oh6StpinuQduVVk3HGPoUYJGhAvHyKcI2c7echKI6TP6dmH3mrhGI/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz227Kd169_tNxv0E-YedLCHfeliKAu2c72Fo-pErETCOGC-re-CuX_IfJCCv9w6EMbsmtnlM-B_rDChOyKuct-oh6StpinuQduVVk3HGPoUYJGhAvHyKcI2c7echKI6TP6dmH3mrhGI/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535351227946084674" border="0" /></a>I think it was the first time I’ve ever experienced the need for ear plugs - not to protect my hearing from our loud amps - to lessen the noise from all the excited shrieking! They were almost louder than we were, like the Beatles on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ed Sullivan Show</span>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5wNmqkyRXFUk8bBT1bdr_Q2RjE_GEV3WqBSCQoqlwAWA6Aov5jDoiql2TugN1EpAVbMatU63QjsfFKsU0JkJbweS9RulttbcvY4JRh7bDr5YPe9hHMs2knACr5jcDRXdxh9p9jKAn0A/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5wNmqkyRXFUk8bBT1bdr_Q2RjE_GEV3WqBSCQoqlwAWA6Aov5jDoiql2TugN1EpAVbMatU63QjsfFKsU0JkJbweS9RulttbcvY4JRh7bDr5YPe9hHMs2knACr5jcDRXdxh9p9jKAn0A/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535351581082253474" border="0" /></a>They were very sweet, though, and their enthusiasm warmed our hearts. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQt1UBsTu0XAk_72SoCuvH-bSAD-Zj45tPJJn6p-MBTQLeeM6h38N47i4TR7UYpcGgZLmUMtZ8iQyKAFKGnIEHRIXM1Ee9Qb9ZpY3H_yQFcj00iRqciDrFai90mbraLEgsUCtfuy11h1A/s1600/IMG_0153.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQt1UBsTu0XAk_72SoCuvH-bSAD-Zj45tPJJn6p-MBTQLeeM6h38N47i4TR7UYpcGgZLmUMtZ8iQyKAFKGnIEHRIXM1Ee9Qb9ZpY3H_yQFcj00iRqciDrFai90mbraLEgsUCtfuy11h1A/s400/IMG_0153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535348004262383122" border="0" /></a>During a little Q & A at the end of the show, I thought the girl Johnny invited up to the stage was about to faint.<br /><br />Needless to say, we're having a great time without even mentioning the great food we've been having: fresh seafood and incredible buffets. Best of all, Fiji, it turns out, has a deep musical culture and everyone, it seems, is a great guitarist or singer! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrsboMbtJM203lYuN7K-BAaouV8r34ZvS9O3aeRMiXPWRbOAMOxjkU18Fx0_aHisyiml-7gpP3SZpxH_QLD7-m5nodvzTXPzyxyvthEuKnlqlhrnRl6qPb779-2Oz5phstjDO2_JjrFE/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrsboMbtJM203lYuN7K-BAaouV8r34ZvS9O3aeRMiXPWRbOAMOxjkU18Fx0_aHisyiml-7gpP3SZpxH_QLD7-m5nodvzTXPzyxyvthEuKnlqlhrnRl6qPb779-2Oz5phstjDO2_JjrFE/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535347111599024114" border="0" /></a>So nice to see so much GOOD live music in the resorts, hotels and restaurants. I know we're going to have a treat when we do our master class on Thursday with the local pro musicians and the university music students. We're supposed to be the "Masters" in the master class but I'm sure we'll learn lots from them! Off to get ready for the evening concert at the Suva Civic Center...<br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) This morning, we set up for a three-show day at the Suva Civic Center. We played the first one for a group of primary school children. They were screaming with excitement and loved the program. We have the intermediate school next and then a concert later this evening. We are loving all the people we meet here and they are treating us like gold. The kids love our nicknames (Mad Dog, Mud Man, Poppy Sunshine and Cotton Eye). Johnny is doing a great job entertaining the kids. They love his silly dances and funny lines. We’ve had so much fun on stage and are looking forward to the next one. I feel blessed to be on this tour and making these connections. Music is truly a bridge to the heart and it's a two-way street. I love being here but I miss my family and friends. <span style="font-style: italic;">We are tangled, we are stolen, we are living where things are hidden.</span> (John Doe, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Golden State</span>) ; )<br /><br />(<span style="font-weight: bold;">Later that day...</span>) Wow!!! We just got back to hotel after our second daytime show. As soon as we walked on stage, the kids started screaming and didn't stop for a second. We actually had a hard time hearing each other on stage. I felt like I needed earplugs because the screaming was so loud! We were laughing and smiling because we just couldn't believe the Johnny Rodgers Band mania.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUERGYh-8w5PLivx62Roh_rjbLiBnFn5iiDP-VYABowmbSdv3PNe-qCxNY2LlRWJe6yfxNkvufsJsmyostc7tOV0r9srvbOesM5jzJY1GUwCpoTTatDBy-3cL8QUQ-eWJGR6z7a4iXa2s/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUERGYh-8w5PLivx62Roh_rjbLiBnFn5iiDP-VYABowmbSdv3PNe-qCxNY2LlRWJe6yfxNkvufsJsmyostc7tOV0r9srvbOesM5jzJY1GUwCpoTTatDBy-3cL8QUQ-eWJGR6z7a4iXa2s/s400/IMG_0154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535353600967949218" border="0" /></a> It was truly one of the most amazing and fulfilling shows I have ever played anywhere. We have one more show tonight for the city and embassy folks.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkrfOES_1cATESXWkadXJ2IJliHjIf6E9Xz00W6oco-rVv5FVGLHC_0h4y9GM_K9ORQZKwscFO4yxctNXNXU9sNhZbmjLiVrnTBukr7k9EarzFCQwtz0lL6gjeGBROAwHpU3nQSQGv34/s1600/Fijiian+sunset+by+Brian+11-2-10.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkrfOES_1cATESXWkadXJ2IJliHjIf6E9Xz00W6oco-rVv5FVGLHC_0h4y9GM_K9ORQZKwscFO4yxctNXNXU9sNhZbmjLiVrnTBukr7k9EarzFCQwtz0lL6gjeGBROAwHpU3nQSQGv34/s400/Fijiian+sunset+by+Brian+11-2-10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535353061207209858" border="0" /></a> I’m so happy right now, sitting here with a big pot of tea, watching a storm roll in across the bay, clouds obscuring the mountains. I’ll be even happier to be back on stage tonight with my brothers. : )<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamuZTbEO0oTiJ7i77YAd-zgZKia7gV1c46Hk6NbCkd5XjVdHSllbb2nHPT2Eg7xR9qPuHhnvy_bl3Nrkt7zQquRb2gUPKHIXiGLoeTmyavTkAQSgQwTteljpB5E1yGufF07OjGWx69cI/s1600/IMG_0072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamuZTbEO0oTiJ7i77YAd-zgZKia7gV1c46Hk6NbCkd5XjVdHSllbb2nHPT2Eg7xR9qPuHhnvy_bl3Nrkt7zQquRb2gUPKHIXiGLoeTmyavTkAQSgQwTteljpB5E1yGufF07OjGWx69cI/s400/IMG_0072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535359314341388210" border="0" /></a>A quick shout out to CKC and her mom: presents in my bags! ; )Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906516149921141326.post-26420874939338574912010-11-02T15:25:00.000-04:002010-11-02T16:45:54.507-04:00Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SlDL15W2cYhrtD5uTqCih4V4Le8IwaQjiXfrFO97xeddFlKon9K2KnFgV2nJg5XhAOCeNlAW2zws6EizzHog1rq9A6JUnFBwGVGY45nly9_J0-6PJwUJgGBp9rUrJjPVRTag68IbzXA/s1600/Photo+Nov+02,+12+41+04+AM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SlDL15W2cYhrtD5uTqCih4V4Le8IwaQjiXfrFO97xeddFlKon9K2KnFgV2nJg5XhAOCeNlAW2zws6EizzHog1rq9A6JUnFBwGVGY45nly9_J0-6PJwUJgGBp9rUrJjPVRTag68IbzXA/s400/Photo+Nov+02,+12+41+04+AM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535037373621918338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DAY 3</span>: (<span style="font-style: italic;">Joe</span>) On October 31st, we took an 11:30 PM flight out of LA bound for Fiji. The flight was 10 hours. How did we arrive in Fiji on November 2nd at 6:30 AM? Even with the time-zone difference and the local time taken into account, Johnny Rodgers Band still can’t figure out what happened to November 1st. And it gets worse. Not only did we lose a day but when I called home to NY, I realized that it was still yesterday there. We’re in the future here! Oh yes, Fiji is beautiful and musical. <br /><br />We ran into this Fijian string band on our way to Suva, the largest city in Fiji.<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0y1wlPG_7-E?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0y1wlPG_7-E?fs=1&hl=en_US&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>This is something I knew about but really wanted to see in person. There are guitarists everywhere in Fiji. Many of them play in string bands like this one. It seems that there’s also a rich singing culture here. People sing at family and friends' parties as a way of life – social bonding. Singing and playing guitar is a form of social currency in Fiji. This is my kind of place – guitar heaven. I wonder how the guitar got to Fiji. And when did it get here?<br /><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">Danny</span>) Yesterday, after we played on the radio show at Gold FM, I walked into town to go shopping and met a Fiji man named Rocky. We discussed how blessed we felt to be alive and in such a great place. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsrk2iWgPKRWwrJmdmxpYT9XivUxCum25i4rLxDkCSTJJ2FUFSrJKxTquSjrShepyc-ZKrL_gAWvYDq78rtOHCrTl14jkMmIeu4N5xYrDz0cYGpa9HRvw9H2RxVbAy0sirURtkzXsFLI/s1600/Photo+Nov+03,+7+35+27+AM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsrk2iWgPKRWwrJmdmxpYT9XivUxCum25i4rLxDkCSTJJ2FUFSrJKxTquSjrShepyc-ZKrL_gAWvYDq78rtOHCrTl14jkMmIeu4N5xYrDz0cYGpa9HRvw9H2RxVbAy0sirURtkzXsFLI/s400/Photo+Nov+03,+7+35+27+AM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535039487701552658" border="0" /></a>He walked with me and showed me how to get to the mall. On the way, he showed me a restaurant on a boat docked in the bay, he said this was his favorite place, so tonight we're going to eat there. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3NG1459iBcnr8REKuZrjFl8EPD5_A6_FJiGqI1dJxrnV7LZg3Ks4d9mvbP-GqgOZCYOYgEstNSa85ZcmHhgoKDSW_PclZVDTPBnI2YZdyGs8996dRfGfFnGiW_h3bNEi59fSdZ-_-N8/s1600/Photo+Nov+02,+12+36+09+AM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3NG1459iBcnr8REKuZrjFl8EPD5_A6_FJiGqI1dJxrnV7LZg3Ks4d9mvbP-GqgOZCYOYgEstNSa85ZcmHhgoKDSW_PclZVDTPBnI2YZdyGs8996dRfGfFnGiW_h3bNEi59fSdZ-_-N8/s400/Photo+Nov+02,+12+36+09+AM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535039970745247410" border="0" /></a>He also told me about his village and pointed to the cloud covered mountains across the bay. He said he would come to our concert tomorrow if the weather wasn't too bad. Before we parted, he reached into his bag and pulled out a wooden mask he had carved and gave it to me after he carved my name and the date into the wood. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9njA9zfY5Jy9Asl5pn388O5Qq3Tornz5zVyJBo_PWT8iTx-jrpcbxHyvg5fLIGvC-4_trvUtDehhnedWtxcML_6vs6kocEiEsE2ZF-DIe5Gpy9TfBnEa0oNrJLeaWPxt2ADHjM44R_zc/s1600/Photo+Nov+03,+7+28+47+AM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9njA9zfY5Jy9Asl5pn388O5Qq3Tornz5zVyJBo_PWT8iTx-jrpcbxHyvg5fLIGvC-4_trvUtDehhnedWtxcML_6vs6kocEiEsE2ZF-DIe5Gpy9TfBnEa0oNrJLeaWPxt2ADHjM44R_zc/s400/Photo+Nov+03,+7+28+47+AM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535039133526681618" border="0" /></a>You hang it over a light bulb and the light shines through the eyes, just as the light shined through his. We were blessed to have met each other and share a connection that goes beyond borders. Everyone we've met has welcomed us and treated us so well. I am blessed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfxENDsNYJKhbIbDbP5iDzL0VakBiE0uvS7YjAD3Hxq9foBHx7Mg63I8SDn6cK6Idh4i6tP-gMmvmCNbjNHRCPjWvBy8T_g6-AvuN-YZoJ3wO0F-RMysmuO4NS3F94Lz1i7_v6tt0hhk/s1600/Photo+Nov+02,+12+42+13+AM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfxENDsNYJKhbIbDbP5iDzL0VakBiE0uvS7YjAD3Hxq9foBHx7Mg63I8SDn6cK6Idh4i6tP-gMmvmCNbjNHRCPjWvBy8T_g6-AvuN-YZoJ3wO0F-RMysmuO4NS3F94Lz1i7_v6tt0hhk/s400/Photo+Nov+02,+12+42+13+AM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535042093572038434" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxX-5yQwhuluCz0bWJAIL84WnneVvtWy9NoCtS4XZfOUEtriaywMMrOphmZ5SNaEhCUzAD6KBIYSIzXJl_ptzW_u3TeGThQSkxAZiYQt66GAJ66-PgQbtIhOXpVanDB_tcTnE9glsZ9A/s1600/Photo+Nov+02,+12+39+22+AM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxX-5yQwhuluCz0bWJAIL84WnneVvtWy9NoCtS4XZfOUEtriaywMMrOphmZ5SNaEhCUzAD6KBIYSIzXJl_ptzW_u3TeGThQSkxAZiYQt66GAJ66-PgQbtIhOXpVanDB_tcTnE9glsZ9A/s400/Photo+Nov+02,+12+39+22+AM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535040560565578754" border="0" /></a>Johnny Rodgers Band on The Rhythm Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12271104557166284725noreply@blogger.com0