Contary to what you read in the papers the Dali Llama does not live in the exotic sounding town of Daramasala, he lives in a small town up the road called Mcleod Ganj which has a less sexy name. We've been here with a large group of the world's press for the past few days. On our first day we wandered around following the CNN camera man trying to get in shot and overhear people being interviewed to try and work out what was happening- it turned out to be a sort of extraordinary general meeting.
Anyway its a nice place, we visited the rather harrowing museum and have been walking in the hills. We also had cooking lessons. This being India, and a bit of Tibet, every other person in town offers massage courses, meditaion courses, crystal therapy, chakra cleaning and a million other routes to salvation...we opted for salvation through the stomach and are now the maharaja and maharani of Momo making (dumplings).
We also visited Aramitsar and stayed with the pilgrims at the golden temple. The Sikhs were all increadibly friendly and hospitable and everyone and their wife wanted pictures with us.
Amritsar is also the jumping off point for Pakistan and we piled into the back of a jeep with a load of Indians for the border closing ceremony. It's a sight to behold; bus loads of people fill the grandstands on both sides of the border while they warm the crouds up with patriotic techno music (the UK needs some patriotic techno music). Everyone waves flags and dances while the soldiers warm up round the back (you get a better view from the VIP stand where we were sitting and you could see them doing star jumps and calf stretches). A MC whips the crowd up in earnest at 4.30 with chants of Hindustan and Pakistan from the respective camps. the soldiers all then take turns to rush up to the border wrench open the gate and high kick in front of each other their moustaches bristling furiously. The culmination is the simultaneous lowering of the flags which are then spirited at great speed back to their respective customs posts to cheers. It was a real carnival atmosphere, with popcorn sellers and everything.
Next stop is Chandigar the modernist punjab capital (the old one is in Pakistan) and then meandering down south so we have a tan in time for Chrimbo- less than one month to go!!!
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Friday 14 November 2008
Pushkar Festival
no meat, no booze, no holding hands. But thousands of pilgrims and camels and also loads of people from the Punjab who all carry spears and swords and think its funny that I have no hair or beard. hmph
Tuesday 4 November 2008
Big in Bollywood
Hi from manic Mumbai
After Australia it's a bit of a culture shock wading into the seething mass of people thronging every street and the crazy drivers trying to outdo each other on the roads but its great fun. We've been staying at the Salvation army rest house and eating the most amazing curries and snacks- all lovely and spicy.
On Sunday we were shipped off with 30 other Westerners to Bollywood, to star in "Yuvraaj" after we were scouted wandering around looking lost. It was odd to see all the hippies shedding their fisherman's pants and tie die for suits and ball gowns but we all scrubbed up fairly well- especially Roz with her bright orange lipstick and croyden facelift- courtesy of the make up department (it was telling that all the real stars did there own!). None of the clothes we were given fitted but it did not seem to matter and we spent the whole day swaying and cheering along to Bollywood tracks while the stars pouted and gave cheesy grins to the camera. The whole affair was wonderfuly badly run especially when it turned out that they did not have enough dancers at one point and had to recruit some hippies and teach them a quick routine (girls only and Roz did not want to volunteer). The results were fairly hit and miss as waving your arms around to trance music on a beach and thinking you are dancing is less tricky than actually dancing. At the end we got paid 7 pounds for the day- possibly the lowest I have ever been paid for a days work!.
Anyhow- we've seen ads on TV and the posters on virtually every bus side. Amazingly the film is out on the 24th November so check it out at a cinema near you! Got some great photos which we'll put up when we find fast internet.
After Australia it's a bit of a culture shock wading into the seething mass of people thronging every street and the crazy drivers trying to outdo each other on the roads but its great fun. We've been staying at the Salvation army rest house and eating the most amazing curries and snacks- all lovely and spicy.
On Sunday we were shipped off with 30 other Westerners to Bollywood, to star in "Yuvraaj" after we were scouted wandering around looking lost. It was odd to see all the hippies shedding their fisherman's pants and tie die for suits and ball gowns but we all scrubbed up fairly well- especially Roz with her bright orange lipstick and croyden facelift- courtesy of the make up department (it was telling that all the real stars did there own!). None of the clothes we were given fitted but it did not seem to matter and we spent the whole day swaying and cheering along to Bollywood tracks while the stars pouted and gave cheesy grins to the camera. The whole affair was wonderfuly badly run especially when it turned out that they did not have enough dancers at one point and had to recruit some hippies and teach them a quick routine (girls only and Roz did not want to volunteer). The results were fairly hit and miss as waving your arms around to trance music on a beach and thinking you are dancing is less tricky than actually dancing. At the end we got paid 7 pounds for the day- possibly the lowest I have ever been paid for a days work!.
Anyhow- we've seen ads on TV and the posters on virtually every bus side. Amazingly the film is out on the 24th November so check it out at a cinema near you! Got some great photos which we'll put up when we find fast internet.
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