Back on the road the travellers are not only sharing meals together but also their lives. The apple seller silently observes the hapless Dondup become smitten with Sonam. Is he blinded by his hopes and schemes, is it lust or love, and what of his 'great American dream'?

The mischievous monk stirs the pot even more as he continues his tale.
...Tashi's dream of endless love darkens when Deki reveals she is pregnant. She coerces him into making a poisonous potion to get rid of her husband. As he goes through his death throes Tashi's remorse overwhelms him and he hastily departs. Deki follows him but drowns in the ensuing riverside chase.

Tshewang was there not as a worshipper but as part of the BBS crew covering the event. "When he beckoned, I thought he was going to reprimand me because there were nine cameras and it was a spiritual event," he recalled. Instead, Khyentse Norbu said, "Would you like to come for an audition?" Tshewang readily agreed and he became the first person to be cast in the film.

The character of Dondup represents the modernisation of Bhutan and Tshewang truly embodies transition. He has a son living in Toronto, posters of Che Guevera and John Lennon hanging in his living room, and wears a denim gho (traditional Bhutanese dress), the only one in existence, which is featured in the film. Yet he also has a deep understanding of his culture and a great respect for his country.

Tshewang was born in the Year of the Iron Dog (1970). His parents are from the eastern Bhutanese town of Radhi but Tshewang was raised in Samtse on the Indian border. Growing up he was exceptional and not just because he preferred to run naked whenever possible. He graduated top of his class and was sent to Sherubtse college, Bhutan's only college that awards degrees, graduating in 1993 to take up a post at BBS. He took leave during the 1999 and 2000 school years to accept a scholarship to UC Berkeley, in California, where he received a Master's Degree in Broadcast Journalism with an emphasis on documentary production. He is currently writing a novel.

Sonam Lhamo was born in the Year of the Earth Dragon (1988) in Gelephu, Bhutan. She is captain of her class at Lungten Zampa Middle Secondary School in Thimphu.

Sonam, the character, represents the unadulterated beauty of Bhutan. "I feel very fortunate and lucky to represent a country like ours," she says. "Some people don't even know Bhutan exists or they look down on it. But this film will certainly show that even Bhutan is something special." Sonam Lhamo is special, herself. She is courteous but not cold, delicate but not fragile, attractive but not overtly, lovely but not aware of her loveliness. And she's smart. One of the brightest students in her class. Khyentse Norbu recalls meeting her for the first time. "She was fresh like a lemon. She was even wearing green."

Acting, meeting new people, and joining impromptu dance parties at the camp, were all part of the fun for the young actress but working with Khyentse Norbu was the highlight. "Because religion plays a very important role in our country and its once in a blue moon that you even get to see lamas and Rinpoches," she says. "I was very fortunate to be acting in his film."

Sonam Lhamo hopes to help Bhutanese women and families by becoming a gynaecologist.

Of all the roles, Tashi was the most demanding to fill. Casting Director Karma Yangki simply couldn't find someone enigmatic, good looking, and sharp enough. A few days before the foreign crew was due in Bhutan she spotted BBS producer Lhakpa Dorji at a pay phone in the rain. She chased him up the main street of Thimphu calling out "Tashi."

Lhakpa didn't know much about Khyentse Norbu. "I was told that more than 100 people had auditioned and been rejected for the same role," he said. "But I did it my way and luckily I got it.

He spent much of his three weeks on set drenched to the bone, running through thickets, or eating the same meal take after take. But he never complained.

Lhakpa was born in the Year of the Fire Dragon (1976) He studied in Motithang High School then received his Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Madras in Chennai, India.

Deki Yangzom plays the young wife of Agay. Early in 2002, Deki Yangzom accepted a last-minute invitation to a dinner party held by her cousin Choing Tshomo. She came straight from her day job in the HR department of the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan to find herself in the middle of an impromptu casting call. "There were so many beautiful girls there I didn't think I had a chance," she says. "I was so shocked when they called me back."

Deki didn't know that Louise Rodd, a tarot card reader from England, had spotted Deki from the crowd and whispered to Khyentse Rinpoche, "she's the one." Rinpoche agreed, Deki's husband and family gave her their blessings and she accepted the role. "I was extremely happy and overwhelmed," she says. "I had never acted before nor even been to a filming set, I really didn't know what to expect - camera, lights, makeup and so on. And I knew we would be camping."

Deki probably had the shiniest gum boots in camp. Her fastidiousness is Tashi...played by Lhakpa Dorji, Deki...played by Deki Yangzom her mother from Mongar, both Sharshogkpa speaking easterners.

But amongst friends, Deki often speaks English. "Getting down the dialogue in Dzongkha was tough," she admitted. "The character that I had in the film had nothing really to do with my reality. But suppression and inhibition do exist in such a conservative society." Acting was exciting but, she says, "the most memorable moment was when I received the 'lung' (blessing) of the seven line prayer from Rinpoche at Chelela Camp. Deki was born in Thimphu in the Year of the Fire Dragon (1976). She studied in Khalingpong and later at Lady Keane College in Shillong, India. She is married and has a two year old daughter.

The Monk played by Sonam Kinga
Despite looking very much at ease in robes, Sonam Kinga is really not a monk but a researcher at the Centre for Bhutan Studies (www.bhutanstudies.org.bt). He is the author and editor of numerous books and reports on Bhutan including "Gross National Happiness" and "Impact of Reforms on Bhutanese Social Organisation." He studied in Canada and Japan and speaks eight languages. His forthcoming Rinzang Lhaden is a translation of Sophocles' play Antigone from English to Dzongkha.