Taal Yatra

Saturday was a good day. Karate was awesome because there were about 20 people there today (about 12 more than usual) and after karate I hung out with Abby and we watched movies while eating junk food (and crazy salad concoctions on my part) and studying for my map test in Geography. We watched such classics as Win a Date With Tad Hamilton, Freaky Friday, and Jaws 2. Good times...

In the evening Sam and I went to a concert on campus of a group called Taal Yatra. It's an Indian ensemble that plays north-Indian classical music and it was amazing! There were two drummers playing the tabla drums, one vocalist, and one man playing the harmonium (an instrument that I have never seen before - look it up, it's cool). From the very beginning of the performance I was entranced. The vocalist had such a beautiful voice and the leader of the ensemble, Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, was absolutely incredible. He was very charismatic and had one of the most expressive faces I have ever seen in my life. I wish I could have gotten a recording of it because it was amazing. Afterward, Sam and I were really craving curry but since it was 10pm by the time the performance was over we couldn't do anything about it.

After the performance I played a heated game of Canasta Caliente with Grandma S. and Aunt Joy. Grandma won of course and I lost by about 1,000 points but whatever - it's a fabulous game. All in all it was a fabulous weekend. :)