Buenos Dias amigos

So its official - we´re here! Its an unbelievable experience seeing, feeling, tasting or smelling Argentina, because after so much anticipation, planning and constant wondering we have it all in front of us and to be quite honest its a wonderful inexplicable feeling I have not had before. The flight was really bad as for about 80% of the 14 hour flight there was ridiculously bad turbulence and I have a really low tolerance, every shake and I think ´this is it we´re going to crash´ Poor Lee had his arm nearly nawed off by me.

Anyway we made it, and Buenos Aires is beautiful and gritty all at the same time. We are staying in the old region called San Telmo where its less hectic and full of locals, antique shops (whoopee!), plaza´s, cafes and delicious little restaurants serving steaks the size of my two hands. Yum yum. Though it takes roughly 2 days to digest. The hostel is cool, the first time I´ve done anything like it, there are people from all over the world here and they are all super friendly. There,s a big kitchen where we all get together to cook and talk in the evenings. The wine is cheaper than water and I have been sampling many a bottle.

We went to see Eva Peron´s grave today plus a fantastic hippie market which puts Portobello to shame to be honest - this is the genuine stuff, and its all gorgeous. Lee has had to strap my arm to his so when he thinks its time to move away, I have to as well. Probably best considering I have a heavy bag already.

South America is scoring vast points with me and its only our 4th day. Tomorrow we go to Plaza Dorrego to eat at a beautiful little balcony restaurant that looks over the square as there will be free tango shows in the afternoon that we can watch. The people here in the hostel are tango crazy, and its interesting to follow. More stories and pictures soon, well once I get more time to do it.

Hurray for life trips.

A few more days

to go. I can't believe that we have just under 3 days before we get on that flight to Buenos Aires. Its been a weird experience so far - anticipation like I've never known it because its exciting, nerve wracking, worrying, joyous and well all the opposite emotions in one big bag!
We've just had a lovely couple of days in Wales with Bobby and family, and we're now back in London till we set off. Its bizarre trying to think about how we're going to be on another continent for 7 months - who are we going to meet? what are we going to see? are we going to be ok? I think I know the answer to the last one because its Lee and me. I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather do this big trip with...

Right well there is money to be withdrawn and yellow fever jabs to get today - not to mention our farewell drinks party is tonight too. Whoo hoo. Its all happening.

Boozy birthday lunch

So it started at around 130pm and went on till about 8pm - Sangria (which i made myself and was rather lethal), Pimms, beer and wine (feeling fine!) and complete with spicy rice and curry lunch. Here are a couple of pictures, and you can see how the day deteriorates with two of my friends (an artist and a designer) attacking my with their pens and leaving graffiti (or grapheety) all over my arms.

Fun fun all the same... though I passed out shortly after this, while my parents and Lee watched Borat.

Home sweet home

This is no picture off the net, this is Kosgoda Bay on the way down south - part of the beautiful scenery we get while driving down south (Unawatuna) for New Years Eve a few days ago. It has been absolutely fantastic being back home in Sri Lanka. Being here with my family, my friends and especially with Lee, he has had a much better opportunity to experience the country and culture since we're here for so long. Its easy to slip back into things and the lifestyle... not to mention the gorgeous weather we've been having. Sunny, blue skies and breezy days.

It was my birthday yesterday - eek! 27, I am not so keen on this post 25 experience, where did time go? I can't believe I'm 27, but it feels kick ass awesome to wake up and think "ok so i'm 27, but no need to panic, cause I am off on an amazing world travelling adventure in under 3 weeks with the most wonderful man!" so i think i'll be ok.

Going to post more pictures of our time here (some from my birthday drinking session at our bar at home, 7 hours of sangria and wine!) its been so long since I have though Lee has been merrily blogging away since we got here and posting his pictures on Flickr. So click on his blog if you want to see more.

We've been to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Kelaniya Perahera, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa (surf trip) and living it up in Colombo with Christmas, parties, clubbing and bars etc... Tis the season to be in Sri Lanka!

Our last day!

Its an absolutely bizarre thing to think that today is my last day of working for the next 6-8 months before Lee and I take off on our big adventure - it's his last day too but he is tres hungover from his work christmas do last night so it might be a slightly different enjoyment.
I was on the tube this morning, slightly hungover, squashed up next to some guys woolly coat and I actually felt nostalgic. No more rushing from one underground line to another at 830am, no more pushing and shoving with grumpy city workers, no more getting up at 7am and wrestling with my snooze button, no more watching the world go by at work - though my current job that I say goodbye to, has been one of the best experiences I've had! So thanks to the guys!

But back to my point - how fun to think I'm just going to be permanently on holiday from 5pm this evening.

No amount of Homer Simpson's whoo hoo's could top mine!

Thieves

Just had the rudest girl on the phone to me from Carphone Warehouse Billing section - they want money and when its money, nothing else matters. It makes my blood boil because she couldn't have given a damn about the fact that they have not sent me an itemised bill since I moved houses in late July - I have called and spoken to their moronic agents 6 times in the past 4 months to update my address details and up until the 28th Nov they still didnt have it down correctly. But they still expect me to pay the bill even though I have no bloody clue what I am paying for, its amazing how they justify themselves by saying "I'm sorry but we will not be able to do anything for you until you settle your bill" and I replied in awe "How the heck am I supposed to pay a bill that I have no idea what its for?" - they are the Foxtons of the Mobile Phone industry. Its pathetic.

I have had my limit of "Customer Service Agents" honestly they don't know sh*t from chocolate. I wish, just wish a company would put some educated, intelligent human beings on the other side of the phone - after all we're all paying them our hard earned money that keeps them in business. So what the hell for?

Off to my Spanish lesson - where I will learn to cuss appropriately.

My wonderful Marikkar family

This was taken at my cousin's wedding in Sri Lanka on Friday by my other cousin Minha who lives in Cape Town but flew down - I couldn't make it (i have a total of 44 first cousins on my Dad's side - we are one hell of a loud bunch!). Check out my lovely cousins, and the other picture is of my parents and is growing to one of my most favourite of them! I cannot wait to see you!

Thoughts on the tube

Honestly today was one of the best days to have my iPod on shuffle - I know that sounds weird but it was as if the happiest music was just organised for me and played out - Beatles, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Sinatra, Bob Marley, The Darkness, Erykah Badu to name some of it. And I was in such a great mood this morning anyway, even though its gloomy and raining. Who cares? Life is truly working out to be a happy adventure - even with a lack of sleep, everything is good. Sometimes it takes a tiny bump in the road to make the next day clearer and positive! LB you are awesome...

I met with my sister Tasha last night, and its getting more and more of a wonderful laugh to see her and hang out with her. She is one of the most fashionable and trendy people I know! Go Miss Fox!

It may be raining outside, but my heart is in a warm and sunny place.

Intruders!

Can you believe this? I read a blog entry by Tom Coates who says his very personal blog entry was infiltrated by Cillit Bang (toilet cleaner company) pretending to be a sympathising blogger replying to his message about not speaking to his father for 30 years. It just gets sicker and sicker. After my post below about the KFC monstrosity on the moon, check out 2 comments I received on the same day after I published my post:

richard quick millionaire, said...

Horrifyingly retarded! That's perfect!

Check out franworst to see how KFC has even gone one better!

If you like it, please post a link to it.

I like your site. Keep it up!

6:46 PM

Sorry... forgot to leave the url:

http://www.franworst.com

Thanks!

RQ

6:47 PM

Richard Quick is supposedly this dude who saved KFC's previous disastrous ad campaign (what the hell he did here is beyond me) and did this moon venture, but I believe it was all a hoax and this guy doesn't exist even though has a blog (which skim reading it, I find to be pretty weird). I can't believe that someone/some company would just post a comment on my site. Will be doing some research into this!!

Space adverts and the Sun on Earth

Yes, I too made the face of an orangutan being shown the benefits of wearing underpants when I read these headlines today. But its the truth - KFC advertised the ugly face of Col. Saunders on the bloody moon and separately an international consortium has signed a formal agreement to build an experimental nuclear fusion reactor.

It is fascinating (not the KFC stunt, thats just too horrifyingly retarded that I don't want to even comment) but this multi-billion-euro energy project known as Iter - or "the way" in Latin - will aim to produce energy from nuclear reactions like those that fuel the Sun and if it works - we'll be seeing statues of these scientists in every western square. No actually if it is successful, it could provide energy that is both clean and limitless.

I have to admit, we live in some pretty amazing times. Not good, not bad, just amazing.

Sun Fuel
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6165932.stm

KFC
http://www.franworst.com/?p=62

Graffiti is good

Thought I'd add one more link to my very cool list - Banksy. He absolutely rocks with his graffiti art and words, people who don't like him are ignorant, war loving control freaks. How any one can find it difficult to see the great ideas and expression in his work, is beyond me - because the world needs more people who have the courage and who are willing to speak out when injustice and wrong doing are being done to innocents.

Click on his website and see for yourself - respect to the guy who posts the most criticising emails sent to him by the public.

Messing around

Got this super cool software on my mac - check out these pictures.

Go Lanka!

A very innovative Sri Lankan company has made the final twelve of the BBC's World Challenge. Its a global competition, and this company has beaten 800+ other global companies to make the shortlist. It uses bio degradable elephant waste to produce paper etc. and uses the revenue to conserve and protect the elephants in Sri Lanka. The winner will be determined through a vote. Click if you can and help them win!

"Elephant Paper - Sri Lanka"

http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/voteform.php

Excitement

I am getting bouts of it more often than not, now that Lee and my plans are coming together... my parents are in town this week too and its been so wonderful to see them. I have to admit that honestly sometimes I miss being a child who just clings on to her mum's hand and gets taken around wherever she goes, sort of subject to her parents' wants and routines of life. Not realising how much these habits shape our childhood. I'm so proud of my parents. They rock the world.

Besides that bout of massive mush - I was thinking today about a feeling/emotion that people have though I realised that we don't actually have a word for it. Its that feeling when you're discussing a problem or a debate with a friend or companion and then you suddenly completely understand what you want to say and get the whole gist of what its all about. That sort of mind cloud clearing and in front of you is that very momentous point which you comprehend and want to make.

I do believe I am rambling. hurray.

Playing in the Park

Just another beautiful crisp day in Vicky Park, playing with Lee's Mum's dog who is the sweetest rappiest doggy in the world - next to my Jade of course. Here I am discussing with her the importance of compromise on returning the tennis ball back to me.

I love days like these.

hypo-critical

We're living in critical times if the world stands united against North Korea for testing a bomb in their own basement, but not united when 1000's of innocent lives are lost because the United States and United Kingdom invade another sovereign state in the interests Of International democracy and Liberation (O.I.L).

It is absolutely unbelievable that the US, UK, Russia, China and many 'others' are outraged at the North Korea's nuclear test when it is conveniently omitted that these very countries with their large accusing foam hands, have their own nuclear weapons. Where do they test theirs? Why is it any different, why is it that they get to have nuclear weapons and other countries don't? What is this supposed criteria? Do you have to be a country lead by a person who lacks any moral intelligence, who's father was a president so it makes it ok for him to be? This entire primitive, not from the west, not adopting western forms of life, not accepting a few country's keep policies stance - does this make them uneligible for this exclusive group?

I can't believe educated people around the world accept this hypocrisy. Also it just makes me sick to think how irresponsible the media is being. Sick.

I find it almost hilarious that a newspaper (if you can call it that), the Metro, with such low standards of objective reportage says that the world is against this madman Kim Jong-Il, I'd like to know where exactly they got this interesting fact. Also the fact that its almost as if N Korea exploded this bomb in someone else's backyard. We do not even know for sure whether this bomb exploded - it might have just fizzed out unsuccessfully. Though I have to admit it is foreign diplomatic suicide for N Korea to admit that they had tested nuclear weapons. They should have just kept their mouths shut.

Even funnier to read the front page headline of Lite London tabloid - 'The bomb that shook the world'. Obviously Nikki from Big Brother wasn't doing anything exciting like filing her nails for them to put on their front page.

Shall we have another go?

The Govt and LTTE have announced that they're ok to go for another round of peace talks, though we have heard this tune before I believe that this time it will be different. There's alot happening in the midst of all the corruption and loud mouthed extremists (you all know who you are) lets just hope the people who have good intentions get to see them through right to the end.

Rock and roll again tonight with another kick ass gig from Chimovski - my spanish is improving thanks to more lessons and hopefully I'll keep to my commitment of more time each week.

¡Escribiré la semana más próxima! si no más pronto...

We have broadband!

And in other news, just went to Bristol this past weekend where Lee and his band Chimovski played a cool gig... more gigs this week too. Rock and roll.

Looks like the U.S.A is going mad (not a news flash) but am really taken aback by the unbelievable school shootings this past week. Life really is losing its value with some. But there's still hope with others.

The winter is approaching but here are some pictures of a fantastic summer gone by...

Pictures at Last

This is from Lee's 30th birthday - we went down to Llangennith, Hill End Campsite to camp and go surfing for 4 days in the sunshine. It was absolutely beautiful and about 30 of his friends and family came down and camped too. So bbq's, tents, a refreshingly cold ocean, friends, family, great company, ultimate frisbee at 3am on the beach, wine, beer and whisky were all part of fantastic weekend celebration. it is always sunny in Wales!

Even bigger lapse!

I've been so bad at updating my blog but i blame a certain broadband provider as they have still not hooked our flat up to it so i never get a chance to upload the great photos of all the cool stuff I've been up to. So check out Lee's blog (over to the right) for pics.
Also some cool things I've discovered lately:

http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/61/gastatement19.shtml
for all the transcripts of all state leader's speeches to the UN General Assembly, I highly recommend Venezuela, Iran, US (for amusing reading) and Kofi Annan.

www.beyondthevalley.com
for wunderville - cool design exhibit free to all at Carnaby street square till end of next week.

I've been running around like a lunatic with work, my parents visiting here and just general life living and socialising!
More to come soon (i hope).