It certainly feels like I've been here longer than 3 or 4 days. Mainly because it feels like so much has already happeneed; it's been so overwhelming!!
I'm currently sitting on our little "porch" area in the Retreat, in amongst the shade of the trees and the sun, surrounded by bird noise. Two peacocks with their oversized tails and tiny little heads strutted by me on the wall. Yesterday I saw a monkey here.
I'm feeling a little bit dodgy in the stomach area so trying my best to keep my spirits up and manage the local food. Both Indira and I have been feeling a bit funny and there have been outcomes to that feeling which I won't go into at this stage! At first we thought it was just our stomachs getting used to the food until we realised we'd been stupidly brushing our teeth with tap water! I thought for some reason we did that last time we were here, but apparently not...it's so obvious, but I didn't even think about it really. So I'm hoping this is the worst I get and we've both taken tablets. Arg! I'm currently preferring to be horizontal at the moment! I'm not letting my body get any worse though - only better from now on!
I still managed to do an hour and a half of silks today. Puja wasn't able to make it, apparently she's also been unwell, so it was just me and Papin again. He really likes getting everything right the first time and sometimes finds it frustrating when he doesn't. I think he's used to being the teacher. Of course he's keen on working with what he already knows, and is desperate to choreograph a routine with the cocoon from footlock. I think that will be a great starting point, but I really want to teach him more technique so we can have a bigger base for choreography. I really want Puja to turn up. I have no idea what her level is, but I've heard so many positive things about her that I'm very excited. Even if she's a basic beginner, she may have a natural ability to pick things up. Papin is incredibly strong though, so even if it's taking him some time (which it naturally would for anyone) to get his head around being upside down and the shapes he's putting his body in, he has the strength to hold himself and, importantly, save himself from any mistakes he might make.
Working in India is quite different from working in the UK. You definitely need to have a degree of patience. Not let it bother you if things don't immediately go to plan. The Darpana Company can sometimes be a little all over the place; not turning up at the same time, sometimes not at all and often working on an entirely different project which we don't find out about until it clashes with when we're meant to be rehearsing. But, it was all expected. And when they are around it's great as they're excellent to work with. Today we had Papin, Manoj and Sonal. She's choreographing a bharatnatyam routine with Indira.' We worked with Kim, playing around with some ideas, some images.
This evening we'll work with the shadow puppets, or at least get a sense of how the lighting will work for them as Mallika Sarabhai is going to teach us how to work them properly, with the foot work, on Monday.
This city is so polluted and dusty. The roads are like a filthy desert. The traffic is insane; all over the place. The cars, mopeds and rickshaws use the 'honking horn' method which basically means they can drive in any direction on any side of the road at any speed and with as many people on one seat as possible as long as they honk their horns. It's also not a walking city. Rickshaws are generally between 25 and 70 rupees to get to most places we need to go to and it's 80 rupees to a pound! Also, the pavements are often used as toilets so it's best to walk on the road anyway if you're going to walk. Crossing the road is also something you need to get used to. You just have to look for a relative space, it's easier with rickshaws and mopeds (wait for the trucks, buses and cars to pass) and go. once you go you can't hesitate and the traffic should just move around you.
To get to the theatre you turn off the main road and go along a smaller, quieter road which bends round to the left. The entrance of the road is lined with stalls; chai wallahs and others selling sweets and tobacco. My favourite is at the corner a little further on. It's, I suppose, a barber. A small square wooden shack with Gujarati writing on a painted sign above it. The doors open to reveal enough space for one single chair sat opposite a mirror and a shelf on either side holding all the necessary hair cutting and shaving equipment. Bollywood style music plays from a little radio on the side. I haven't taken a photo of it yet, but I will!
More animal sightings - I saw a camel on the road today! I also saw a horse pulling a very elegant carriage. It's wedding season at the moment so you can't move for drumming, decorated horses and general merriment or party preperation.
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