rickshaw,jeep,bus,train,plane,coach,walk,home

so here I am, sat in work, thinking that 48 hours ago I was in India. Happy days.
My journey home was a bit of a mission. Before I got on the train I went to a chemist to get some valium for the trip. It works wonders. They didn't have any, but they gave me something they said was 'even better - you sleep long time'. I boshed two when I got on the train and was still very much awake five hours later, at 3am. We were meant to get in at eight. I did another couple and still no effect - until 7am when I started feeling violentally unwell, and had to go to be sick in the toilet. I could barely walk, they were obviously sleeping pills, god knows why I couldn't get to sleep - and I had to cling to everything on the way to stay upright and fight to even keep my eyes open. I got back to my bed and collapsed. On the platform I was throwing up, in the rickshaw I was doing the same. Got some funny looks. I eventually made it to tasky's house and passed out for a couple of hours.
I had such a dodgy stomach - I hadn't eaten or really slept in 24 hours - that my last supper in India, shamefully - was a Subway. I spent my last rupees on a shite, fake, chemical-filled, pillar of consumerism of a sandwich. I am a bastard.
Anyway, the rest of my trip was nothing to write home about. Got home and went immediately to the pub with lukey - Youngers in Henry J's is £1.65 a pint. Fuckin ay! Spent my last £20 in the world on ale. it was bloody well worth it.
And here I am, back in the real world.
The End. x

done and dusted

At long, long last, I just set Vegas to render what will hopefully be the final edit. I've been stressing mostly about the title the last few days, but had an idea this morning - it sounds a little cheesy, but its 'Lhamo Tso: Behind the Sea' - a few reasons behind it, firstly, her husband's film was called Leaving Fear Behind, so there is a link to that, and secondly, her name 'Tso' means sea (or big water - there aren't any seas in Tibet). Anyway, everyone seemed happy with it so its done now. Cheers to Ando for the Port Bandanas track 'Behind the Sun', which I was listening to when it came to me. Good work, son.
I had lunch with the President of the TWA (Tibetan Woman's Association), who I am doing this project for - she is the loveliest woman in the world - and she was so thankful, she gave me a Free Tibet T-Shirt and a Tibetan scarf as a gift, and invited me to their next Board meeting - with none other than His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She said she'd introduce me and I'd be able to ask him some questions. I kid you not. I'd fly all the way to India for that alone.
The finished thing is about 14 minutes long, and like I have said, its okay, good in parts but average on the whole. I'm not just saying that to be modest or whatever, it is genuinely not that good, it looks reasonably professional though, and I'm happy with it. The President told me that they have hired the TIPA school (Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts) in Mcleod Ganj on the 10th of September where they'll show the film - I went to see a show there a few weeks back, its bloody huge, around a 500 seater theatre. It's part of their 25th anniversary celebrations of their founding in exile. Kinda glad I'm not going to be able to be there, kinda gutted.
My India trip is just about at its end now, I'm on a bus then train back to Delhi tomorrow afternoon. I apologise for how miserable I might seem for the first few weeks after I get back, just the way it goes I'm afraid.
x

too much work not enough play makes listy a miserable bastard.

The films is coming together - pretty much all the editing is done now, I just need to record a voiceover, and tidy a few bits up here and there. Its ok - good in parts but ok on the whole. Miss Tibet 2009 came back earlier than expected so I've had to move into a different room in the building - its basically a box with a bed in the corner. And it stinks. I'm a little fed up with working so fricking much - I moved down to the main town from Bhagsu, a smaller village just up the road, which I had totally fallen in love with and felt very much at home in. I got to know loads of the locals and a good bunch of travellers before I moved down - what makes me feel most at home, wherever I go, is bumping into people I know, walking down the street. It happens every 10 seconds in Bhagsu. I miss the place. I'm really hoping I can get this film finished tomorrow or Thursday, which will give me one or two nights for myself to just chill before I go home - I'm on a train to Delhi on Saturday night, I fly home on Sunday night. Work on Monday. Happy days. There are plenty of things to look forward to when I get home, but I'm going to be utterly broke. Being broke in India is one thing, broke in England is another thing entirely. Not looking forward to it. I'm off to bed in my smelly box room. Tashi Dalek x