I’m never sure how I feel about film (as opposed to movies). There’s a thin line between boredom and art. Eraj did screened his film ‘Aghori’ at the Park Street warehouses. It’s my second time seeing it and I enjoyed it in that setting, that is, I wasn’t bored. Aghori is about, I’m not sure how to encapsulate it in a soundbite, I just say that it’s about a graveyard saddhu, but that’s not right at all. You’d need to read the accompanying text.

A family friend was in from out of town and wanted to go sari shopping. I know nothing about this, but I asked around. We ended up at Rasi Silks (Wellawatte, off Hampden Rd), but there are a variety of places. To my knowledge there are numerous spots for the posh, and then spot rushes for the frugal. Personally, I think I’d recommend going to India.

The closest Colombo has to a decent beach is Mount Lavinia. The best hang out spot there is probably Buba. Closer, however, is this place I recently discovered called The Station. From Galle Road you turn right at the Williams Grinding Mills. This is Dehiwela, almost Wellawatte. If you continue all the way down you get to a beach shack with decent food and cheap drinks. The usual cuttlefish and stuff, though I got the boiled vegetables (which is nicer than it sounds). I am newly enamored of this camera and I spent most of my time photographing the candle lamp. I suppose that’s about as interesting as a bar’s navel, but here are a few shots.

Some of the best gifts I’ve given have been the cheapest. Colombo sucks for conventional shopping, but there is a lot of street stuff which is both awesome and cheap. For adults I usually go to the end of Darley Road, where they sell used books. There are some real gems. For kids House Of Fashion has good, cheap toys and random bits of awesome for adults. Also, if you wander around Tamil parts of town you can get these beautiful images of Hindu Gods, plus really good stickers. All of this stuff is sub Rs. 1000, but often more appreciated than a similar spend at Odel.

Most music in Colombo is horrid. I basically hear ‘Summer Of 69′ every time I go out, and I didn’t like it the first time. The other scene is rather hard house, which requires chemical zombification to enjoy. One musical oasis, however, is now Soul Funk Sunday. Every third Sunday DJs spin really good old-school vinyl at the Park Street Mews. I went for the first time yesterday and quite enjoyed it. The music had, like, actual instruments and they were songs I hadn’t heard every night of my life. God willing, Colombo may be happening again.