'So at 2 in the morning, the monk is banging at the door wanting to come in. They are frightened and so no, what you want, and the monk is drunk and say I wanna come in. They put beds in front of the door but he is still banging. So you know what they do? Call 911, and somehow it gets to the police in Kaza. They turn up an hour or so later, and start beating the monks. I mean really hitting them. Then they take the girls back to Kaza, and they stay for free at a hotel. Not sure of the name, but something like Jamaica's.
'Bad shit man. Giving monks too much respect. They can be bad too for sure. Maybe they come after you! If you go there, you know, make sure you wear tight pants!
"I'm Spanish, you know from where? Isles de Canaria. What do I do? Well now, not much, buy a little stuff from Morocco and sell. No, not that stuff! Shawls and scarves and stuff. But I have a little inheritance, a business from my mother, 700 euros a month. Is enough you know, we live simply.
'I have been travelling 24 years man.This year I am 50 so I do the big one, India. 2 months. But I been everywhere, Africa, South America, Australia.
'You know were I like best? Muslim countries. Never any trouble. People so hospitable there. Jordan, Oman, Saudi, I like very much.
'You see different things when you are older. I mean, when you are 24 it is all girls. I love so many, but for me, I think Mexican girls are the most dangerous. They sound so pretty. And then I think Columbian or Venezualan. Ahh, but they are beautiful, even the ones who are not. I like your saying, you don't look at the mantlepiece when you are stoking the fire!
'But not anymore. I am married now, 14 years. We have great trust. But every year, I say I have to fly. She knows, she understands. She likes her space too. We live next door to each other, I like my space, she likes hers.
'Her name, Isabella. You think a Gypsy name? Yes that describes her very well. Dark her and wild eyes! She is a musician, plays percussion in 2 orchestras! I am father to her son, my son. He is 15, and he says he don't agree with anything we say, but I know he listens. i hear our voices in him when he speaks to his friends.
I like these monasteries, but the music! Ah god, it can be awful and lovely too. Om mani Padme Hum - they chant that every morning in Kalpa, beautiful, But those horns and drums, not rhythm man, just banging.
But Africa, thats where the music is. Morocco, so much beautiful music, you go there. Great motorbiking in the Atlas mountains.
'2 months I am in India. I head straight to the mountains. It is out of season, but I think it is the best time. No fucking idiots around. I come to Spiti because a girl in Delhi told me about it. Its so beautiful man
'I have two books published. One is called 'Scatching my balls', about my travels in Africa, but with autobiography too. It means doing fuck all. On 5th edition now. I published myself originally and went to book fairs. The other, 'Three running in two' is short stories set in Canaria. One about how hot dogs came to Canaria. Now it is harder to write. I worry about style and words, First one is much easier, you just write.
'Football, of course I like! Tenerife is my team, but any teams with Spanish in too. Who is yours, Brighton. Ah you have Poyette as your manager now. He is famous in Spain too now.
'So you go to Kaza? Maybe I will see you there? And After, I want to go to Manali, maybe see you there too!'
In the end we spent four or five days and nights with James. He came to Kaza on Divali, and then in the truck to Manali. He is perceptive, funny, kind, intelligent, and a very young 50. he can talk to anyone, about anything it seems, but unlike many talkative people is as interested in what you have to say as well as what he is. A larger than life character, good company round the dinner table, out on treks, in a support vehicle, or even in a hot spring at 6am. I hope our paths cross again one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment