APR 17, 16 .. ARAMBOL BEACH .. THE DRUM CIRCLE

To this point in my life my only experience with a 'Drum Circle' has been here at Arambol Beach.

Let's keep this simple. 

What is a Drum Circle?

I have got-to-tell all of you what a laugh this is! Those of you who have been following me for some time know that .. 

I love Wikipedia and I contribute financially to Wikipedia.

So?

So just-for-the-heck-of-it I went to Wikipedia and checked out the term Drum Circle. I notice Wikipedia did NOT capitalize it. I choose to continue to do so. 

A drum circle is any group of people playing (usually) hand-drums and percussion in a circle. They are distinct from a drumming group or troupe in that the drum circle is an end in itself rather than preparation for a performance. They can range in size from a handful of players to circles with thousands of participants. Drum circles are related to other community-based music gatherings such as flute circles or vocal improvisation groups.

In 1991, during testimony before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart stated:


Typically, people gather to drum in drum "circles" with others from the surrounding community. The drum circle offers equality because there is no head or tail. It includes people of all ages. The main objective is to share rhythm and get in tune with each other and themselves. To form a group consciousness. To entrain and resonate. By entrainment, I mean a new voice, a collective voice.

Too much and too funny .. at least in my opinion. 

What to say .. Wikipedia has just said-it-all ..

Here we go loop de loop in Arambol Beach in the North of Goa on the West coast of India South of Mumbai (Bombay).

Keep It Simple Captain!

Where is the Arambol Beach Drum Circle located?

The Arambol Beach Drum Circle is located .. Taa-Daa .. On the beach at Arambol.

Early in the day morning-photos. I never climbed up here either in the afternoon or evening. Too warm and too hot to do so.

Musicians are late to bed and late to arise. Accordingly the Drum Circle is at Sunset. But it IS on the below beach.

Before going any further I must make a short disclaimer. 

There are several Drum Circles on the beach at Arambol. What I am going to show you in this post is 'MY' Drum Circle the one that I consider to be the largest and the very best one.

To get to it we are going to walk West from our apartment out to the beach.

We arrive at the beach at THE (there are no others) Life Guard Station. We then walk South down the beach. 

THE Life Guard Station is far-and-away the very best land-mark on-the-beach to find my favorite Drum Circle. I stress the words on-the-beach because I am going to give you two other land-marks that are not on-the-beach. Magic Park and The Full Moon restaurant.

From the Life Guard Station we then walk South down the beach.

These photos of several of India's beloved 'sacred cows' were taken in the evening about sundown quite close to where the Drum Circle convenes. 

Now for another way to find my favorite Drum Circle.

Back from the beach there is what I consider to be a very trendy most definitely 'IN' place in Arambol Beach .. 

Magic Park .. Healing Resort .. Their sign says-it-all. Simple! Go there and live-out-you life.

What else do you possibly need to eat? Coarse home-made bread with Indian Dal and Curry and Rice and 'pickled lime' (the small dab of red sauce). Never ever in this lifetime did I think that I would come to like 'pickled lime' let alone eat it and to actually enjoy it. 

"Yes 'Zilla! The red curry directly below was HOT AND VERY SPICY."

I love it .. I crave it .. Just find the silence and you are all set!

Oh yes .. In my humble opinion Magic Park is 'within' the circle of 'IN' places in Arambol beach. 

There are several legions of Arambol Beachers (hard drinkers for one) lining up to take-me-on about Magic Park so again .. This is my opinion.

So? 

First find Magic Park. Then walk due WEST out to the beach and there you will find the Drum Circle in front of you.

As you are walking into / through / and beyond Magic Park heading due West for the Drum Circle on-the-beach you will walk past and through The Full Moon.

The Full Moon becomes my third land mark for the Drum Circle.

Patti and I just love The Full Moon. You can sit on the porch and looking West you can see and you can hear and you can almost feel the vibrations from The Drum Circle.

Sitting on the porch (there is no inside) of The Full Moon at sunset is wonderful. Patti and I enjoyed the view many evenings.

In front of us above and below is the Drum Circle.

 Don't fret .. Don't worry .. We are soon going to be there with and amongst them.

 I just got stuck here at The Full Moon on my way to the Forum.

Amazing the difference between night and the light of day isn't it?

The pure magic that you just saw in the above photos at sunset 
just isn't there at High Noon! No wonder musicians are night creatures!

Arambol Beach from The Full Moon looking out at The Drum Circle and at the sky!

Do you all see? Do you all get it? The Beach at Arambol Beach is one special scene!

As you will see in several photos further below the Yellow Guitar kept coming down-to-earth.

What a fun place for the children! They love the Yellow Guitar! Do you all see The Full Moon in the background.

The time has come the Walrus said to join the Drum Circle.

The above photo gives you all a clear view of Patti sitting in a plastic beach chair on the edge of the Drum Circle. 

In the below photo can all of you see Patti in her green shirt? Straight ahead in the background is The Full Moon restaurant I showed you previously.

 You can see Patti (green shirt) in the above and below photos.

Below I am showing you my favorite Drum Circle on another day.

 As you can see above the Drum Circle begins small with just a few drummers. By the time you get to the end of this photographic sequence you will see how the Drum Circle has grown.

 Notice The Full Moon restaurant in the background.

The sun has set and the dark of night is at hand and the drumming continues ever revving up at a manic pace.

LOOK AT THE CROWD!

 The wild and crazy manic energy is unbelievable.

Yes 'Zilla .. Yes my friend .. The shops in Arambol Beach sell drums.

Below are two photos of a special friend I met in Arambol Beach in 201l. Tom and his wife were next door neighbors. If in 2011 there was a 'leader of the Drum Circle' .. It was Tom. 

Patti and I asked about Tom and we were told that he was in Arambol this past January. We never were able to connect up.

I hope that you enjoyed visiting my favorite Drum Circle at Arambol Beach ..

Much Joy from Cap and from Patti ..