It’s amazing when you remove all points of reference that bind you to a familiar timeline, how adventure and the directions of unknown currents can sweep you into a flow of timeless experience continuously revealing the most sacred beauties through a myriad of forms. Without trying, old dreams can be fulfilled and new ones created within one single breath. Nearly one moon ago, through the interwoven threads of friendships, Sharon and I found ourselves spending a most magical sunset in an intimate home setting with Goa Gil (Indian sadhu/godfather of goa-trance) and his wife, Ariane. We were invited and honored to join them for one of their African drumming practices in their backyard. The picture-perfect view toward the setting sun across rice fields, I swear I must have seen on a goa-trance compilation back in the mid 90’s somewhere. The deteriorating ruins of a neighboring building and the tree that effortlessly overtook them created the perfect backdrop for this rhythmic ritual. I managed to snag some recordings and hope to go back again for a full session of recording as Gil expressed interest in my doing so. Finally meeting the legend was in some way fulfilling and his gentle and fun nature perhaps inspired or at least reflected the shanti spirit of Anjuna.

The next day, we finally experienced a proper beach party at Curlie’s for sunset packed with smiling faces on a sandy dance floor. Following, George was kind enough to spend some time showing me some tips in music production and we spent a day writing a trance track, exchanging ideas and sipping chai under the hanging canopy of the German Bakery. Soon after, the time had ended for George and Alanna’s stay in Goa and we awoke for sunrise and some morning dancing before sending them on their way to Nepal. Later that week we hit Ingo’s night market—an international market with a large amount of European artists/designers—for the annual Goa fashion show and to do a little research. Definitely styles that attempt to avoid the mainstream, the creations were across the board available at European prices, and it was the first fashion show I’ve attended where a trance party among the models actually broke out on the runway. Ahhhh…Goa. The following weekend was Shivaratri, a major Indian holiday, and accordingly there was a gathering held at the Hilltop Lodge. Pumping trance, blacklight painted palm trees, a sky full of stars, and over 500 people made for the most amazing gathering we’ve experienced in Goa so far. It seemed reminiscent of a proper Goan gathering with Tristan playing “behind” the audience, and focus instead directed toward the deity tapestries of Shiva, Ganesh, and Buddha, that garnished the temple of speakers. The annual Carnival was held in Arambol the next day, on a long, flat beach in northern Goa. Seemingly a little piece of Burning Man, the carnival was an excuse for all of the westerners to display full costumes and body paint as a moving drum circle paraded down the beach from one circus-themed art installation to the next. Climaxing with an amazing fire spinning circle, we decided to head home and pack for our two weeks worth of travel through southern India which began early the next morning...