November 27, 2004
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FIJI UPDATE
I’m here in balmy Fiji. Took a lot to just get to a terminal, get a phone card to call home, get used to the different voltage and plugs but I’m finally settled in.
I arrived yesterday but it already seems like a week. Time moves like molasses here. I joked that the old timers here who are 80 probably feel like they’re 150. When you’re cut off from the cell phone and computer–you realize how much time you’ve really got on your hands.
The cast is great so far. No prima donnas yet. I’m part of a group of college kids who gets chased around by this Sabretooth Tiger. Of course, in actual age, I am the oldest of the group and have to kiss my 17 year-old co-star in a scene next week. Poor girl, she’s probably freaked out being kissed by an old man.
The ceremonial drink here is Kava. Looks like muddy water, tastes like it and it’s very disrespectful not to drink it when offered. It’s made from the properties of cocaine, so it can make you a bit loopy if you drink too much.
Everyone here greets you with “BULLAH”! Which means “Hello”. The thing is everyone says it all the time. If it were a drinking game, you’d be wasted in the first 5 minutes.
The town has a lot of great carved stuff but I’ve already had to use my New Yorker street smarts to bat off all the shiesters trying to hustle for a buck. A few hours ago, a few guys were leading me to an internet cafe but instead, led me into a tiny room above an alleyway to drink their super-strong Kava. They had already commandeered 2 poor Americans. With my imagination, I could picture the Americans passed out, naked and penniless 3 hours later. So I booked outta there fast. Only when I exited, there was another dude wanting to lead me to some place different.
Tomorrow I start my first day of work. They’re getting the messy parts out of the way first so I’ll start of the morning getting my entire body sprayed with fake blood from a decapitated head. Sigh. Guess I’ve gotta earn this vacation somehow.
Hoping to travel, island hop and eat more awesome cuisine while I’m here. I had some awesome Indian food already. More to come later! Sorry no pictures to upload until I get back!
Comments (19)
wow..fiji, sounds so awesome
Stuck in Fiji, drinking cocaine juice and making out with 17 year old girls. Man, you actors have it hard.
Lucky you.
woow interesting..
why would anyone make a movie about that??
have a great trip! the weather sounds a lot better there than in CA right now…
Sounds like you’re having a GREAT time there.
PS: YOU’RE NOT OLD!!…at least you don’t look old. just pluck out the gray hairs before you go on set.
^ burned lol
wow…the closest i’ve ever been to fiji was the bottled water…haha
but hey..soak up the good stuff while you’re there
hmmm, lucky girl. LOL
You better report back soon.. before I know the KAVA got you.. haha
Sounds great looking forwrd to seeing the movie
hope ur having fun Marie
join parrys message board. http://parryshen.proboards3.com
can’t wait to see this one. ;]
LOL…17 year old girl! PARRY! Oh well, I guess these kinds of scenes are old news for you anyway
Good thing that you’re meshing well with the new group 
Can’t wait for the pictures! Stay cool and avoid sketchy Kava-pushers.
RE your last post~ congrats for your baby! How exciting! ^_^. Enjoy fiji~
Show that gurl how you do it haha
Poor you…stuck in Fiji with all the time in the world !!! =)
you arent that old! its a lucky co star.
have you seen the movie post concussion (2000) written/directed/etc by daniel yoon? you two should get together. hes brilliant.
daniel@bluewaterfilms.com , thats his email.
parry, this project reminds me of demon island, which features one of our other favourite asian american actors, garrett wang. i actually saw that movie on AMC around halloween.
btw, this is chris – i showed you around when you visited yale on the BLT tour with julie and roger. wassup.