As always I’m delayed in blogging, but never the less I do promise you a compelling read. The previous blog covered the start of the whole adventure, but the rest of the Galle lit fest was so intense that writing about is like stringing a blur.
I just found out that the Galle Fort it self is an actual functioning fort even though it was built ages ago, and it’s walls withstood the last tsunami. There is almost no two identical buildings here, and what would seem like a not noteworthy narrow house would open up to a lavish stretched out living area, and a small manicured garden in the back.

The first walk through the fort revealed a world full of colleges, muslim cafes with delicious Rotis, and plenty of stray dogs and cats. The dogs here seem very disheartened with the human surrounding, as if its our world that they are cursed with dealing with; they go about their daily business with sad eyes, and some love any attention you give them. They effortlessly cross the road amidst traffic, and almost everywhere where you find shade you will see a Sri Lankan short haired dog taking a nap. The advice I was given is never to pat a dog when its sleeping, but I did see somebody have a successful drunken patting session with a three legged stray just the other night.  I’m not sure I mentioned this in my previous blog, but I had a great time playing with street puppies within the fort.  Their mom looked kinda relieved that someone else took on the responsibility of entertaining them for a bit.  A car was driving by and had to stop for a moment trying to get all the puppies organized, and out of the way before it could pass.  One kid signaled me and asked me if I wanted to pay 450 Sri Lankan Rupees to see him jump head first off the wall into the water, and apparently a decade before this was just a hobby the local kids came up with, which eventually morphed into a tourist attraction.

Richard Dwakings headlined the day after Tom Stoppard, and to be honest I was expecting a bit more originality. I guess what is common sense to some still feels like something a bit tough to swallow to others; and with that in mind he had to release a book for children focusing on debunking popular modern myths(go and purchase ‘Magic of Reality’). He read out of his new boo, and then took a few questions. This didn’t feel like literature to me at all, but more like a light hearted essay that was meant for an adult reader to chuckle along to. He was definitely there to piss some people off, but to my surprise the audience was more harmonious to his statements than to Sir Stoppard the day before. What was missing for me is imagination, and even though he was saying that imagination is key to science; he felt so dated. Personally I believe that Atheism should’t be an ism at all, and it shouldn’t be a science; it is a lack of a filter that otherwise clouds our judgment, but human beings are so complicated that often in the absence of faith you will see something else congruent to religion fill the void. Literary masters like Stoppard see the world in a non idealistic view, and as long as you are free to decide for your self what you believe in and not brandish your belief around like a gun in the hands of an insecure thug; then all is gravy. The issue that both of them kind of touched on is that the ideals and morals that are archaic are being pushed onto children by their parents, and that is very dangerous. We just saw that happen in Canada when a man murdered his teenage daughters and han ex-wife with the help of his son and the current spouse. In his mind the girls were too sexually liberal and brought shame upon his family, and these are those archaic moral ideals I’m talking about. Most people were appalled by his actions, but I’m sure there is quite a number worldwide of clouded minds that would not only support what he did, but would do exactly the same thing; and not all of them are devout or religious at all.

That week as well I met a local fire fighter that told me about his brother that also played the violin, and in his words had a bigger violin hickey than me; so out of curiosity I asked him to bring him over the next day around 11. By Sri Lankan standards he showed up with his brother the next day at 12:30. This extremely shy kid took a bit of convincing to play a few traditional tunes, and then he took my fiddle and closed his eyes diving into some traditional stuff. The technique was not different, but the phrasing felt very refreshing. He then played on his own violin breaking an E string, so I passed him one of my spares. The next day I was supposed to come over to his placeto jam, but decided to immerse my last day in taking a final walk throughout the

Fort accompanied by Anoushka(the founder of www.colomboartbeinnale.com), who lived there for many years, and raised her sons within these walls. She brought me to a local artist that paints on wood(look up Sithuvili on facebook), and once again I was in a presence of a shy artist. It’s very refreshing to meet so many creative individuals who are not boisterous, and do not live the typical North American standard of being the over confident alpha figures; but rather modest, and purely composed.

That night I performed the Festival’s closing party at Aqua (http://cantaloupevillas.com/), and as usual went completely bonkers. The energy was so fresh, as most of the people didn’t see this side of me yet, but still enjoyed the earlier improv sets at the cafe. I met a young couple from Hong Kong that were just so energized by the performance that they were recharging me in return. It was their first time here, and the whole vacation was a surprise gift from the girlfriend to her boyfriend. Then there was this awesome couple from Riga who with their warmth kept the vodka coming till closing time; and ofcourse the trip wouldn’t be complete without meeting a crew from closer to home, so out of nowhere I get introduced to a party family from Quebec that were good friends with the young owners of the club/villaresort….Phew…That was an amazing night, and I passed out on the way back to Colombo in the passenger seat of Viren’s car arriving back in the City at about 7 in the morning.  People are still talking about that night, and I’m trying to see if I can make it back south to Galle before I go back home.
I will leave you at this moment, but will continue as soon as I get a piece of mind.