Days 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12: Delhiwood

First of all, I apologise for cramming 5 days of action in to one blog post. It's been a hectic (but brilliant) week and the internet at our hotel is continuing to operate at 20th century dial-up speed (with regular power cuts becoming a further blogging hazard).

As ever, thanks to everyone for the comments on the last blog; they never fail to bring a smile to my face. I've also been delighted to hear from my fellow traveller's that many of their families/friends are following the blogs. I'd always hoped they would be accessible to anyone with an interest in our trip so it's great to hear you're enjoying them too (Do drop a comment if you get a chance! See the last blog for instructions if you're unsure how it's done).

Well done to Mark, David and The Other J for correctly answering the last Commenter's Challenge question. The panel are still in deep debate as to whether or not The Other J should be awarded bonus points for his inclusion of the Hindi translation. In hindsight, that challenge was slightly on the easy side so I've decided to make the next one considerably more taxing (see below).

This week we've settled into a bit of a routine. Each day has begun with the Lorshya Hotel's infamous buttered toast and sweet coffee combo. Most mornings have been taken up with production meetings for our collaborative projects with the India students. This week we've been working on the pre-production elements of the project (scripting, storyboards, casting, set desgin, schedules, equipment requirements, and the list goes on...). It's been a fantastic experience to work with students from a totally different background and lifestyle. We've learnt a lot from each other and have picked up some useful life skills along the way. Simply learning to work with new people and negotiate a language barrier, especially in a creative situation, is very valuable life experience and will help us to grow as people. We're all looking forward to continuing the collaborations as we head into production next week.



Substantial progress has also been made on our Preston/Delhi project. Further to the secretive shooting in Jaipur last weekend, we've filmed two more scenes this week, both in Delhi. Again, I'd hate to ruin the surprise by giving away the exact content of the scenes, so I've uploaded a few behing the scenes shots that give very little away...





The two shoots each lasted between 2 and 3 hours and ran very smoothly (despite some ambitious cinematography). We're very satisfied with what we've got so far and are looking forward to further filming this weekend.

This weeks schedule has also included lectures from UCLAN's very own Chris Leonard and AAFT tutor Deepti Pant. Deepti's class was 'An Introduction to Indian Cinema' and was extremely interesting. We assessed some of the main issues tackled by Bollywood cinema over the years and identified the defining characteristics of Indian cinema. The lecture was given with numerous film clips to reinforce the points made (including some snippets from the classic 'Mother India' which I'm now very keen to see... it also happens to be Deepti's all-time favourite film!). Chris' lecture was the reverse of Deepti's (ie. 'An Intro to British Cinema) and was, of course, spellbinding!

On Friday morning, as a break from our film-related antics, everyone (minus the sleepy trio of Nicole, Becky and little Craig) visited the National Museum of India in the centre of Delhi. India's rich history is immensely varied and the museum managed to capture a snapshot of some of the key era's and cultural trends. It was jam-packed with informative illustrations, religious relics and ancient artifacts (some of which are 5000 years old!). After a fascinating two hour stroll, our cultural batteries were fully recharged so we returned to our patient driver outside (via the gift shop).
Commenters Challenge: What is the name of the type of 'guard statue' I am posing with in the photo below? (Clue: They are often found at the entrances to important places in India)






Our evenings have usually started with team meetings to iron out plans for the following day, before relaxing together as a group. Another local beer (Meakin's 10000) has been on the menu, and the food has ranged from a spicy but delhicious Butter Chicken Curry to a delivery from the local Pizza Hut.

Whilst returning from the market one evening, myself and big Craig travelled in a rickshaw (see image below). It wasn't quite an elephant but was still a cool experience... for some reason, I felt like James Bond!



Until next time,

John
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PS. I can't conclude without mentioning that the Frisbee made it's first appearance from my suitcase this week. We had a very brief (and very hot) throw around on the campus lawn during lunch break at the film school (naturally, some Freestyling took place).

Days 6 & 7: Jai Ho Jaipur!

[Commenting Instructions:
I've heard reports that a few people are struggling to navigate the commenting function. It's not obvious, so here's the layman's low down on how to do it...
- Click the link at the bottom of each post that shows the number of comments (eg. '0 comments' or '5 comments' etc.).
- Scroll to the bottom of the comments and there will be a box to enter your comment.
- Where it says 'Comment as:', select your profile as Name/URL.
- A small window will pop up. Enter your name (ignore the URL box).
- Click 'Post Comment' and hey presto, you're done!]


Before telling you all about what has been a sensational weekend, I'll respond to the comments from the last blog...

Thanks, as usual, for writing guys! The Other J: The mud slice is indeed chocolate - it's from 'Takeo's' (a local Patisserie & Chocolaterie)... an amazing little place tucked away in the local market. If its of any interest, the Greek word Takeo's means 'God'. I'll see what I can do about the Royal Challenge! Glad to hear everyone likes the outfit (not so glad to hear the United result) - hopefully I'll get the job at Bangla Fusion! I wil endeavour to find out the recipe for the mud slice Dad as I'm sure Old Wizard could improve it and turn out something truly delicious! And finally, just for Rose, here's a shot of my room (my bed is the tidy one on the left):


Saturday (Day 6) began with a very early as we left the hostel at 6am for Jaipur. The group was in good spirits as we set out for what we were sure would be a cracking weekend in one of India's most historic cities.

The miniubus journey turned out to be an experience in itself; a 5 and a half hour journey through Indian towns, villages, and across desert-like countryside. Along the way, we stared in disbelief at some of the insane manouevers we witnessed on the road (I'm still along way from getting used to the 'organised chaos'), and looked out at the unfamiliar landscapes.

We arrived in Jaipur shortly before noon and were amazed at what greeted our eyes; this was traditional India just as you'd imagine it. The pale sand-coloured buildings with their roof terraces is like a scene from Aladdin. There was an endless flow of elephants and camels simply strolling down the roadsides (accompanied every now and then by a monkey, wart hog, goat or cow). The elephants generated particular excitement amongst the group; most people, myself included, were seeing them for the first time (outside a Zoo!). They really are magnificent creatures... but not as funny as camels.



After settling into the very plush Ramada hotel, we set out for a sight seeing tour of Jaipur accompanied by local man Koonal. The tour was extremely interesting, featuring numerous architectural treats and visual feasts for the hungry traveller's eye. As with our tour of Delhi, I could spoon heapfuls of information on to your plates but, for now, I'll provide a brief summary of the main courses...

- Jal Mahal (means Water Palace). Located in the middle of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur...


- Hawa Mahal (means Palace of the Winds). It was built in 1799 and is part of Jaipur's distinctive Pink City in which all buildings are constructed from a pink stone.

Commenter's Challenge: The Hawa Mahal is designed in the shape if who's crown?


The two Mahal's (as you may have guessed, Mahal means Palace), were the highlights of this particular tour. However, it also featured several other structural snacks as we drove leisurely around the city in the minibus.


On Saturday evening we set out for a traditional Indian village resort; the amazing'ness of which is difficult to put into words. The outdoor resort is a celebration of Indian desert culture and is layed out with food houses, live music, live dancing (which members of the public are free to join in with), camel rides, bars and numerous other tasters of old Indian life. The design of the resort is immensely cool and every aspect of it was brilliant. However, the highlight for me was the traditional Indian eating experience we enjoyed at the end of the night. The food was tremendous (and spicy), the ambience was terrific, and the turban was trendy. Here's a selection of photos from the evening...





We arose bright and early on Sunday morning at the Ramada (or should I say not so bright - we were up before sunrise for the 2nd day running). The reason for such senseless behaviour is that we were shooting scenes for our film 'Dreaming of Delhi' (Sadly, I can't reveal the locations right now - our worldwide distributors Warner Brothers have demanded that all those involved keep such things a secret).

At 8am, fully nourished with a full English breakfast (the antidote to Saturday night's spice spectacular), we left the Ramada for our final Jaipur destination... the Amber Fort. Now, this landmark is without doubt one of the most incredible sights my eyes have ever seen. It's almost like a real-life version of Minas Tirith but with an infusion of Indian imagination (NOTE: the picture at the top of the post show the fort in all its glory - the very top of the fort can just be seen in the distance towards the top left). It's the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber and was constructed in 1592. Then, the thing that made the Amber experience even more unbelievable was the way in which we climbed our way up the winding cobbled streets... we didn't go on foot, we didn't go by minibus, we didn't go by cable car, we didn't even go by camel... we went by elephant! Riding up to that fort on the back of an elephant is a journey I will never forget as long as I live. It was an unbelievable experience and the views were simply staggering. My only complainy is that I was occasionally showered with water from my elephant's trunk (but I think I'll let him off!).





At the top, we enjoyed chilled drinks and spent time looking round the Amber Fort. Not even the temperature (40 degrees celcius) could bother us whilst still on a high from the elephant ride.

At one o'clock it was time to pack our trunks and say goodbye to Jaipur. The journey back was reasonably uneventful - we were back in Delhi by 7pm. The evening was spent relaxing and having a production meeting as we prepared for what is going to be an extremely busy week at the film school.

Over and Out.

John
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PS. Apologies for the recurring food metaphors earlier on. A 'large portion' of this blog was penned on the bus ride home from Jaipur and we hadn't eaten since breakfast! Safe to say, food was on the mind.

Days 3,4 & 5: Delhi is where the Haat is...

Good day readers, and welcome to the 2nd update from delightful Delhi. Three wonderful days have passed since the last post so I'll try to give you as much of a flavour of the experience as possible (without waffling on too long).

But before all that, I'll deal with the commenter's challenge... 'The other J' came closest to the mark in identifying the eight-point star as the khatim in Islamic art. The significance here is that by looking through the star (from the inside of Humayun's Tomb), you are looking directly towards Mecca. Well done to all those who gave their suggestions (although I expect more effort than a google search in future Mark...). Also, if you fancy making your own khatim, see The other J's comment... but children, please get an adult to assist you when using scissors.

We're now beginning to feel at home in our hotel in the Noida district of New Delhi. The staff are welcoming and friendly, despite the limited English skills. Rose, you will be pleased to hear the rooms are clean, well air conditioned and have en-suite facilites!



In terms of location, we are a brief bus journey from the film campus where we are spending most of our time, but we are always provided with private minibus transport.


A small market area with shops and food stalls is a leisurely 15 minute walk away. It should be noted that the push and shove technique witnessed continuously on the roads is also transfered to the shopping scene (The concept of queueing at a counter is not one that most people seem familiar with... especially when the trouble maker in front is a confused Brit who is likely to cause a delay). The pedestrian also soon learns that listening out for the "I'm about to run you over" horn is a vital survival skill.


For those few who have been up early enough, every day has begun with sweet coffee (they mix it with a concoction of hot milk and sugar here, as apose to the more mundane hot water), buttered toast and flicking through The Times of India.

The mornings/early afternoons this week have been spent down at the AAFT (Asian Academy of Film & Television) campus. It is also the home of the ASMS (Asian School of Media Studies) and Marwah Studios. Our welcome on Tuesday morning was fantastic - everyone was extremely friendly and happy to see us. The warm 'welcome ceremony' included speeches from creater/head of school Sandeep Marwah, AAFT lecturer Deepti Pant, the Dean of the AAFT, and our very own Chris Leonard (who was also presented with a beautiful bunch of blooming flowers). We also had the opportunity to spend time with and get friendly with the 15 (ish) AAFT students who we'll be working closely with.




The rest of our time at the campus this week has been sent carrying out production meetings for the collaborative film projects we will be producing together (we're splitting into groups of 8 and making 3 short films). These have gone very smoothly and I'm confident that working together over the next few weeks is going to be extremely enjoyable/rewarding.




We've also held daily meetings in the hotel 'lounge reception' area (that we have acquired as our front room) for our own group project that is to be shot in Delhi & Preston. We have some brilliant locations in mind for filming and have been putting together a schedule and utilising our contacts at the AAFT to get the ball (or should I say, reel) rolling.

In other spare spots of time we've paid a visit to 'The Great India Place'; a shopping mall of epic proportions, not too disimliar to shopping centre's you would find back home (for me personally, the contrast of elaborate, expensive structures and very run down scenes has been a hard-hitting/difficult aspect of experiencing Delhi so far - wealth and poverty literally lie side by side). At the mall, we picked up a fetching outfit for me to wear in our film (see image below).




Today, we have been to 'Dilli Haat'; an outdoor traditional Indian market that sells a vast array of crafts, food and fabrics. The atmosphere was fantastic...


The latter parts of our evenings at the hotel have been spent enjoying some bottles of Royal Challenge (a local beer), and numerous games of Uno (I'm sure the Coxhead/McCrave family's will be chuffed to hear this news). Last night, I also tucked into a freshly made 'Mississippi Mud Slice' that I purchased at local bakery (a magnificent find...).

This weekend we're off on a excursion to the historical town of Jaipur, so I'll be reporting back about that early next week.

Happy Easter to all for Sunday!

John
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Days 1 & 2: Settling In-dia

(Note: Click photos to enlarge them!)



Namaste Readers!

It's the first post from India. Apologies for delay in getting this online; internet access isn't great here and our accommodation doesn't have any public access PC's. As a result, every blog post for the trip will be done every 2-4 days rather than every day, but I will try to post updates as often as possible.

After a full day of traveling yesterday we touched down in Delhi at 9:50pm local time (4:30 hrs ahead of the UK). The journey went very smoothly; I kept myself entertained on the 8 hour flight by getting to know the American family I was sat with (our group was scattered all over the plane) and watching the 2nd Twilight Film - New Moon. No men, I haven't lost my marbles... I just felt compelled to see the film after (dare I admit it...) rather enjoying the book last year. My verdict: Compared to the book... (to quote a Newman College Student..) "pants". As a light enjoyable flight-film... perfect!

My first impressions of India are, quite simply, hard to put into words. You can learn all about it and study numerous photos before coming but there's nothing that can really prepare you for experiencing it first hand. You may have heard rumours that it's rather overpopulated... I can safely say that such rumours are most definitely true. People are literally all over the place! Other striking features include the heat (of course), and the road system that can only be described as a sort of organised chaos . The only rule of the Indian roads is... use your horn if you're about to crash. And... the horns blow continuously. The sea of interweaving cars, buses, vans, trucks, motorcycles, bikes, rickshaws and camels is mind-boggling. How can this possibly be organised I hear you cry?! Well, mainly it's the serene calm attitude that every Indian adopts whilst driving... to them it's totally normal to disregard any lane markings or signs. Despite the endless close shaves, I have not yet witnessed even a minor scrape (and the vehicles, like the people, are vast in number).

Today (Day 2) has involved a full day sight seeing tour around Delhi. We were greeted after a brief spell of sleep at 7:45am by our luxury, air-conditioned minibus and tour guide Nittan; a delightful local man who speaks surprisingly good English. (Note: I'll write about our accommodation in a future blog). In fact, Nittan perfectly summed up the road situation with 3 great remarks:

- "It's survival of the fittest"

- "After 3 weeks of surviving the Indian roads, you will definitely believe in God"

- "The reason Indians are never seen in international Motorsports, is that they have it every day on their own roads anyway"

The tour was amazing! I could go on for sometime about the historical importance & gasp-inducing magnificence of each sight but for now I'll just give the brief run down of locations...

The Jama Masjid (the largest Mosque in India). Note: The outfits were thrust upon is in order to cover flesh - a sign of respect....

Humayun Tomb (The tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun. It was built in 1562). The architecture of this temple is what inspired the design of the Taj Mahal...
(Commenter's Challenge: What is the significance of the second photo?)

India Gate (memorial erected to commemorate the lives of Indians lost in World War 2)...

Qutab Minor (the site oldest Mosque in India - built approx 1000 AD. Also features an impressive tower)...

Other sights included the Raj Ghat (cremation and burial site of Mahatma Ghandi - I assume you all know who he is), Parliament house (self-explanatory), Lotus Temple (Wikipedia it for further info) and just generally taking in the vast variedness of the Indian lifestyle. We also stopped off for a 'Tali' at lunchtime; an Indian meal that involves sampling a bit of everything (despite the odd biz-ahji taste here and there, it was delicious!).

As you can probably imagine, it's been a very hectic day and we're all now looking forward to some serious kip.

Take Care.

John

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Introduction

Hello all! It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the very first post of the India 2010 blog...

The next 3 weeks promise to be enthralling, surprising, hectic, rewarding, tiring and hot (current weather reports suggest daily highs of 39°C and night-time lows of 21°C for our first few days!).

Ever since touring the states in summer 2008 (see http://tri-statetour.blogspot.com/), I've had a fondness of the blogging medium. For the sake of any technologically challenged readers out there, a blog is basically an online diary/journal. It's a great way to keep in touch with friends and family whilst away, and to have an on-record account of every stage of what is bound to be an incredible experience.

This blog will serve as a personal account of my experiences in India but, as most of what I do will be with the rest of the UCLAN team (see 'The Trip' on the left of this page for further info!), it will also offer an insight into the experiences/activities of the group as a whole. As such, I hope that friends & family of all the team members will find it interesting to follow the blogs and will feel part of the adventure. I also hope that our friends & colleagues back at UCLAN will enjoy keeping track of our journey.

To the best of my ability (computer/internet access permitting), I will endeavour to update this blog every day - hopefully with pictures and other visual treats. Please do leave comments on the posts - it's always great to hear from people back home (To leave a comment, hit the comments link at the bottom of each post and the rest is reasonably straightforward).

Lastly, I'd like to say a huge thank you to all those at UCLAN who have helped generate funding for the trip and have worked hard to make it happen (you know who you are!). It's an amazing opportunity and one we will all strive to make the most of!

Now I'd best start packing (we leave in just over 36 hours!)

Best Wishes,

John
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