Dear Readers,

Welcome back and thank you for visiting my journal. These past two days have brought me to New York City - a most awe-inspiring and beautiful place in December. I was to give a single recital on Monday night. It was to be a rather short trip, unfortunately: fly into NYC Monday morning, concert the same night, fly out Tuesday afternoon.

I arrived on a fairly cold yet extremely clear and sunny day. With just enough time to drop off my luggage and do a sound check, it was night before I knew it. The recital took place in a most intimate setting and this audience simply could not have been more fun to perform for.

Sometimes when performing it feels like the audience is completely with you from beginning to end - whatever choices you make in the moment (whether musical, talking, etc), it's like they're willing to follow you wherever you go. It's a pretty spectacular feeling. With this audience it was like this from beginning to end. As a performer, there is just nothing more you can ask for.

After the concert I decided to roam around Midtown Manhattan for a couple of hours - seeing the enormous and brightly lit Rockefeller tree, the busy ice rink, and the elaborately designed 5th Avenue store windows.

Since I had the next morning free before my flight, I set out early for a walk through Central Park and around Manhattan. There really is no city quite like New York City, and at Christmas time, it seems there must be none busier or more energetic. After making my way through Central Park I headed down Broadway to Times Square, dropping in various shops along the way, before turning around and making the same trek back up 5th Ave.

I really hope to be back soon, there's something very invigorating about being in the Big Apple, no matter for how short a time. I'm now sitting at LaGuardia Airport waiting for my flight to North Carolina, then on to Houston. It seems it's time to go. Sorry for the rather short entry, though I sincerely hope you enjoy the photos. Thanks to everyone for your emails and for visiting my website. Until next time...

Yours truly,
Ashu