Dil to Pagal Hai

It really feels like the end is drawing near now. We had dinner at Papin's this evening. He's very excited about his new home and has been keen to have us over for a while. He was baffled, again, that we were vegetarian. It's a religious thing in India, he's also Keralan and Christian, so they're often surprised when we say we're vegetarian. We're white westerners, how can this be possible? Even though he stayed with us in 2010 when we worked on the initial development of the project, he still seemed surprised. Also, as there's no alcohol in Gujarat, he approached us secretively asking in a hushed voice if we drank vodka. Imagine the pronounciation of the 'v' to have slight softening, near to a 'w', but not quite as exaggerated. We agreed on the vodka after failed attempts to explain gin or rum (of course wine is not an option, this is straight into the heavy stuff), but brought along our own stash of gin in a bottle. But honestly, the culture here isn't a drinking one and even though I've had alcohol readily available as a tourist I've not had any desire to have any. So one sip and I'm pretty satisfied; feeling as if I'm properly treating myself to something very naughty.

He cooked a tasty egg curry, rice and his neighbour and head musician at Darpana, Jain, made idlis and dosas. Very tasty.

We're filming on Sunday, then we're doing some last minute bits and pieces on Monday if they're needed, off to Bhuj on Tuesday, get back to Ahmedabad on Friday morning, Saturday we'll do the Sun Temple and Step Well which is a day trip outside the city, then on Sunday we leave! It'll go quickly I think, I don't know if it sounds exciting or not when it's listed like that. We then have a couple of nights in Dubai before going home! I forgot to pack my bikini for Dubai, but Elsa's lent me hers which is teeny tiny so I need to either post it to her or give it to her personally when I go to France...if I go to France this year. I'd really like to, but I have no idea what the plans are for the year and if I can afford it. She may have to put up with me posting it.

I'm feeling very good today. I had been a bit down the last couple of days; I think it's because sometimes it can be quite hard to work here and I felt frustrated with the pattern and lack of communication. I felt like that on Elsa's last day, which was a shame, but she was super chirpy and happy so she was fine. She was best friends with everyone at Darpana and had a big party to send her off. We'll all miss her now she's gone!! I do hope I see her again, and wonder what it'll be like in normal circumstances...I always think of how it would be when you see someone in a completely different situation, especially when you associate them so much with it.

Here's a song from Dil to Pagal Hai which was out in the cinema when I first came here. We had to get a bus an hour (or maybe more) to the only cinema and it was a Hindi film with no subtitles. The film is 3 1/2 hours long and my brother and I pretty much made up our own storyline while watching it. It turned out after when we got it on DVD with English subtitles that we weren't too far off the real thing. Anyway these two characters are seperate and in love with each other. The other girl at the party is in love with him. But they're saying something along the lines of somewhere, someone is made for you! So the other girl finds her love in the end, don't worry!!