The Bev Zizzy 2017 World Tour Continues

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One year ago, in February 2016, we arrived on Gillie Trawangan at our usual pre-booked guest house, but were disappointed to find it was no longer acceptable, and had to seek new accommodation. The initial disappointment turned out to be the best thing ever, as it led us to discover Genius Beach Bistro and Bungalows, where we found not only very clean, spacious, bungalows set in a beautiful garden in front of the beach, but more importantly we met the delightful Austrian born management team of Gaby and Gerhardt, whose kind hearts and delightful senses of humour were equally matched by their profound passion for music - particularly live music. It was only hours after arriving that they invited us to attend a jazz festival with them on the nearby island of Lombok. We had to decline, but shortly after, I was invited to perform at their venue, inadvertently kicking off the "Bev Zizzy 2016 World Tour" on Gillie T, at which I was joined by a local bass player, as well as by Gerhardt himself, who accompanied me on box percussion. As I do not believe in coincidence, I can only say that coming across Gaby, Gerhardt, and Genius was a delightfully serendepitous experience.

This year I was again invited to perform at Genius, but I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with five other local artists over the course of the evening. I shared some original material, and several familiar covers, including one of my favorites - Louis Armstrong's classic "When You're Smiling" - which I translated into Indonesian and introduced as well in Bahasa Indonesia. That was a very special moment for me, as there were some in the audience whose command of English was almost non existent, and they seemed most appreciative when they could understand both the song's introductory story, and the lyrics! By the end of the evening, I was introduced to performances of three Indonesian pop songs which I am now adding to my repertoire.

We were fortunate this year to share our time on the Gillies with two long time friends from Regina who were visiting Indonesia for the first time, allowing us to see the island again through new eyes. Our experiences together included bicycle touring around the island, taking in numerous sunsets, swimming with turtles, and enjoying the excellent food, island hospitality, and music. On that note, I have now shared music in over ten Asian countries that we have travelled to over the years, including public performances in a half dozen venues on this island. But the concerts have grown more personal, more intimate, more extensive, and more engaging, as I continue to improve my ability to communicate in the Indonesian language, in the universal language of music, and always in the most universal language of all: that of a genuine smile, both given and received.

So another annual visit ends at Gillie T, bringing to a temporary halt our extensive roaming of the past few weeks as we return soon to our home base in Ubud, Bali, where formal language classes, yoga practice, guitar practise, reconnecting with old travel friends, and just slowing down to savour these moments in paradise will be the daily adventures over the next few weeks, until we are on the move again. So it may be awhile before the next blog entry. Thank you for your continued interest in our adventures, which will hopefully inspire some of you to chase your travel dreams as well.

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Photos

Live Music: Bev Zizzy from Canada
What fun this was! Thank you Gaby & Gerhardt at Genius Beach Cafe for your having me back again this year!

Volcanoes and Beautiful Sunsets
Thanks again, Gillie Trawangan, for your natural beauty and your beautiful island hospitality which provided us with yet another incredible experience.