Donner Lake

Donner Lake

Big blue, bluer and azure! Donner lake, blue gold by sunlight, turns silver by moonlight. A treat lay in store for the youth attending the DS USA event. Promises of chances to experience this magnificent lake at close hand. The 3 mile long lake lies on the edge of the Sierra Nevada Range near the town of Truckee.

The experience was just way way beyond expectations. Ie: I was in seventh heaven cubed. My favorite had to be the Jet Ski ride, which I did 5 times around the lake!! The Jet Ski just cleanly slices through the shimmering wavy sheet-like water and sends out streams of spray on either side. Houses on the other side of the lake - 3/4 mile away - are visible - mere toys to the eye. Little toy people stand on piers and grow lifelike as you get closer to the other shore. The steep turns and the tilts of the Jet Ski provide extra bonus thrills. I first tried Jet Sking during my vacation to the Bahamas laat year with Mom and Dad. The volunteers go faster than Mom and Dad, so this was more fun.

I would love to be able to drive a Jet Ski on my own!

I also tried tubing for the first time. It was fun to be dragged around the lake on the tube, but it was somewhat bumpy, compared to the Jet Ski. But still, not an activity to be missed - so went not once but three times. And of course a leisurely canoe ride was sandwiched there, somewhere in between.

We had spent the night at the Donner Village Resort. From the floating pier in front of our hotel, we watched others out on lake and the changing color of the alpine waters and the surrounding trees as the sun set. It was just delicious to the senses. (Kind of really over stimulating too!)

What a lovely mini-vacation!

Summer 2011 Vacation Travelouges
(A Mini Vacation 7/31/11)

Pandit Habib Khan Day

Pandit Habib Khan Day

Swara sounds drifted our way as we entered the large home in San Jose where the annual Pandit Habib Khan Day was being celebrated. This marks the day when all the students of the Saraswati Temple and Gurukul, perform for Guruji in the Guru-Shishya Tradition.

A sizable crowd of students, parents and well-wishers had gathered to witness the students perform, whether it was singing or playing their instruments. The house was packed, with its balcony view - even the stairs were filled with the visitors.

To our surprise, we heard 3 the student performers up front, start the Sawari composition. And what a great performance it was too. Pallavi, who was standing close to me in the audience started singing along. And Rohan sitting on the stairs, started doing the actions and I could see his lips moving as he silently sang along as well. 

And of course, there was the performance by the Jeena Kids - Anirudh, Anu, Pallavi, Raj,Rohan, me (Hari) and not to forget our parents. We sang both the Sawari composition in Raag Bhimpalsi and Gopala in Raag Bhopali. With each performance, starting with the Mexican Heritage Theatre to Jeena Yahan to today, confidence increases. I definitely felt I sung out loud, more today, which was both a relief and a joy, culminated by a huge round of applause from the audience. All of us certainly did well today. Guruji gave a very moving account of his experience of working with us to the audience and we were each given a surprise gift at the end of our performance - a set of 7 CD's of Guruji. Thanks Guruji. 

All the students performing there today were indeed a talented bunch. It is hard to say which performance was better than the other. My personal favorites of the day were the Sawari composition (both by the 3 students and the Jeena Kids), the tabla recital and the ghazal sung by Shefali. 

Guruji was at the side playing the harmonium throughout the day and Davidji was on the other side, fine-tuning the sound system and playing the tabla. My other teachers Sanjanaji, Rubyji and Rekhaji were also present, encouraging the students along and organizing the performances of the day. 

An absolutely enchanting morning of the sounds of young talent pouring forth in sur-sangeet.