Chill(um) in Mumbai

Rolling with homies, smoking chillums and beedies, making some music with Samir, our Couchsurfing host. He has taken us (my roommate John and I) to see aging Bombay rockers Pentagram, ate, drank, and chilled in parks with Samir's friends. It's good just hanging, like a fly on the wall, listening to them shoot the shit and going to their favorite spots. Couchsurfing beats hotels 10-to-1.

Next day, John's last hours in India, watching music and interpretive dance at a well-groomed Stern Grove (SF) in North Mumbai with Samir and crew, Headed to Imaad's for a red light evening chilling to great trance and downtempo, rounds and rounds of chillums, Indian champagne and beer, Rachel with her guitar. I like Imaad, who reminds me of an old friend we called Goat, and Rachel, the center of attention as the only female singing blues and strumming a guitar.

And.... a tidbit of the conversation that made me love Samir:
Samir's friend: "Why the fu@# can't he just chill and stay late, it's bullsh!#, man."
Samir: "Chill out, you don't know what he's got at home. If he stays out, he's got to deal with it."

Finished the evening freaking out over the draconian electric road sign:
"Do not believe in rumours"
"Stranger in your community? Call 100"
"Vanquish the Terror"

Terror Hype at 110%, people.

Saturday night: 5 Austrians beatbox squad will defeat you. They sounded like Tricky instrumental, but with less cool accents. Jammed with Samir and JJ tonight. They are both slap bass monsters.