He's not heavy, he's the Dalai Lama...

We got word today- no Tibet episode this shoot. Don't know exactly what's going on at home- slight news vacuum out here- but apparently the Chinese are irate about an award the Dalai Lama is receiving from the U.S. As communist party logic would follow- that means no tourists or journalists allowed in Tibet right now. Smooth move cadres. So our little band of filmmakers will land back on home turf Nov. 5th instead of the 15th. There's a definite mixture of relief and disappointment- three episodes over 6 weeks in China is a bit trying. We're only half way through the second episode and already everyone's feeling it. But we all really want to go to Tibet- so we're hoping the shoot there is just postponed until the round of episodes next year.

Other than that it's pouring on the Yangtze today- but overall a good day. It's been tricky for me to fight my natural cynicism and be more upbeat for the show- hard to sustain a personality contrary to your natural state. But I felt like today we started to figure out how to play with my role a little more- how to allow my natural self to come through and have a little fun with it. Hopefully I'll retain a smidgen of likability- otherwise I'm sure I'll end up "not the blonde one - you know - the asshole". Crossing fingers.

Oh yeah. When the hotel sent someone up to collect my laundry the other day, I was most appreciative when she spat (and how) on the carpet next to my bed. No offense meant- purely an acceptable act in backwater China. Incredulity sealed my mouth shut, but I am no longer walking around my room barefoot...