musical expedition

Hello to all!
I am thinking of embarking on a long trip of musical excursion and field recording.
I am currently interested in a few regions:

Balkans
Caucus and central asia
Middle East
India and Pakistan
North Africa and north west Africa
Brasil

Has anyone ever done or know of someone who's done a sort of thing?
How did they prepare for it?
Where did they go?
Did they manage to keep in touch with musicians they've met?
What equipment did they take with them for recording etc.?
What form of transportation did they use?
Did they have any trouble with local authorities?

Would anyone care to join?
Cheers!

Like a global myspace, all to yourself.

that was a terrible way to understate this incredible task you've set for yourself, wasn't it?

sounds bad ass
most people express or remember their travels through pictures
if i get your meening your looking to do it with the sounds and music of the places you travel to, i hope it comes out awsome

We used to bring a pro recorder and a quality mike with us wherever we went way back in the day. Here and there we got lucky. Guess you'll bring digital gear. In India, mahfils (aka mehfils) are basically private parties where guests are welcome to leave their recorders turned on near the stage to record whatever improvs the musicians are into on that given day. Someone with more experience at these gatherings can fill you in better than I. Let's Go India (of all guidebooks!!) used to list an Udaipur sarod player who welcomed visitors into his home to hear him rehearse. We did so and he is a great guy. Might an email to Brazil's Minister of Culture, the veteran tropicalismo star Gilberto Gil, be of any use?? So-called World Music has its various stars and many tour across the West semi-regularly. Centres include Paris (many West African stars live there), London, New York, LA, and surprisingly, Toronto. There are surely more cities with histories of bringing in ethnic music. Bon chance.