I got Settled at the festival performing on and off in between 12 and 2 at the Lit Cafe for the duration of the festival. It’s a charming open space incased in the exterior of the original fort wall from the sixteen hundreds. The aire here is laid back, and today (Friday the 20th) a girl came up to me and asked me about when am I performing next, when I asked for her name she said Swastika; thank goodness I kept a straight face, but the girl gave off a chuckle as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Beside me is the kiosk for Sri Lankan Air which I watched being set up by Sri Lankan Rastas, and for the first time time ever I hear people actually complaining about how cheap the flights are. This dude is actually saying that he would pay more for a flight.
This part of the fest is taken being taken care of by David who is a witty well contain young chap from the UK. He makes it extra fun by being awesomely British, as well his wife is a part of this as well a very pleasant person to be around.
Yesterday which was the first day of performing at the cafe, I was slightly stressed (with having a chance to entertain some of my literary idols), but today I could really care less as I realized that all I can do is just be myself, and here they expect nothing else.
After a few hours of playing off and on in the sun I get to my modest hotel room in the centre of Fort Galle, take off my sweat drenched clothes and out of curiosity I switch on the TV; not very surprised to see it set to a Russian channel.
The bathroom is extremely tiny, and I couldn’t find the shower until I closed the door which then revealed the shower head facing the toilet. After hearing Tom Stoppard speak about escorting a scorpion out of his bathroom, I went on a short bug search.
so far.
I was hooked on Stoppard after my ballsy alternative school lit teacher introduced the class to ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.’ He is absolutely my idol and he makes playwriting feel so natural and not forced, but I admit to not being much of a fan of ‘Shakespeare in Love.’
His presentation during the day felt as if he is not to be bothered with ideologies or moral principals, and he just wants art to be seen as art; this notion was underlined as he asked the crowd to why artists have this extra treatment, and that you don’t hear of a pastry chef ever being locked up or banned because of the pastry they make.
I recommend that you check out a local writer name Ashok Ferrey, and as well google Galle, and see how lively this place is.
I thought I would have more time to blog, but unfortunately thats not the case. I will post another blog hopefully by tomorrow morning, and play catch up for the rest of the trip.