amrish puri gone

AMRISH PURI DIED TODAY. HE WAS 72
one of the finest actors in bollywood. this saddens me a lot. he will be missed. a fine villian, he was. i think i got lucky and saw his last movie, "aitraaz." he rocked in that.

JAFFLES ROCK
jaffles are indian mini grilled cheese sandwiches made in a device much like a waffle iron. i've had a few dreams about them.

there's some kind of sri devi/kali/durga festival about to take place. all the restaurants are playing durga chants and the devi temple next to my hotel is totally decked out with the flower tunnel and tons of lights. they even set up a bandshell with, GASP, 15 STACKS OF SPEAKERS! like metallica would use. i don't expect to get any sleep this weekend. every day they bathe the devi statue and put her in a different sari. she's all decked out in red and orange today, yesterday yellow, green day before. many people sleeping on the ground there and old ladies in the field with huge palm branches dried out making those festival bird things they hang everywhere. many men carrying i don't know what in gigantic palm baskets on their heads to the temple. i admit i'm a little excited about this one. i'll keep you all posted.

bindifry