Twelve hours later, swinging
London seems a world away. Everything here is lush and green;
there are miles and miles of sugarcane fields, feels like
paradise even before we disembark. It’s my fortune cookie
predicament come true. This is where I'll retire a gentleman of
leisure and devote my time to the art of meditative probability
in my very own mahjong parlor. We check into Hotel Le St.
George. I’m once again sleep deprived.
After a long deserved nap, we stroll down Rue Royal to grab some
chow. I feel a strange and familiar connection here as I stroll
along these streets of Port Louis. The colonial architecture
caressed by the tail end of magic hour light is reminding me of
“Days Of Being Wild”. Alluring silhouettes of So Lai Zhen
beckons me around every street corner.
There’s a striking déjà
vu of Southeast Asia in the 50’s. The old Chinese signs roll
back fond childhood memories of Shumsuipo, my old neighbourhood in Nine Dragons where I grew up. I feel as if the
gods have summoned me back to this long-lost land as my nose is
led from street to street by the scent of incense from the
sprinkling of Chinese temples dedicated to various deities.
This morning, Raj our driver for the week is taking us to St.
Julien. We take our time picking up ambient of sugar cane
plantations, country stores and village temples along the way.
Clouds moving shadows across the road in random patterns…
traffic... what’s happening on the roadside... think ahead of
yourself... no need to concern about making something
original... All ya gotta do is find an expressive and personal
voice.
At Chez Manuel, Collette is graciously waiting for us with a
fabulous Hakka lunch. Her Hakka menu is an eclectic mixed of
Creole and Indian, quite different from our Trini friend
Maurice. After lunch, we shoot an interview with Collette in her
tropical garden. It was a peaceful garden except for the
mosquitoes that tried to eat us alive.
There are still a few
good hours of light after we’re done with Collette. Raj takes us
to Flacq. Along the way we grab more ambient of sugar cane
country.
We head up early today to get as much in the can as possible
since we’re catching an afternoon flight out to South Africa.
Starting from the playground by our hotel through downtown
streets we meander up the market district surrounding Chinatown.
It’s like a music video shoot. We find situations... maybe
suggest dialogue… and let the subjects do the rest. We’re not
sure what it all really means or where and how it’ll work in the
story... I’m just working off instincts and the possibilities of
the space.
On our way to the airport, I’m a little queasy about not having
enough material for this story. Cheuk seems fairly confident
that we’ll pick up the rest on our way back.
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