Spring has sprung

It's official in my book, the sun was out, I was only wearing one layer of clothing and I had a plastic cup of Pimms in my hand as I laid about in Hyde Park with Aushi and Tasha. Come on summer, you can do it. Break free!

I also had a lovely long walk around the canals of Maida Vale with Bobby and Netta who were staying with us and it was just wonderful to feel the warm sun on my face, catching all the signs of spring like huge bright red poppies, goslings and other sweet birds tuttering around, the smells of flowers and trees and cut grass. Finally.

Whoo hoo.

And another thing....

We're doing grown up things which is rather strange BUT super exciting... flat hunting. So far, not so bad.

I love being married. Its a pretty wonderful thing, but I think that is down to who I am married to - a lot of people ask me whether its different and if so, how come. I say yes it totally is different, for 100's of reasons like - he cooks a mean roast and looks hot while doing it.

Back on the blogtrail

It has been absolutely ages since I blogged, its almost as if I felt that too much time had passed between January and now, so how was I going to back it all up and write about all the amazing things that have been going on? I figure, ah, I'll just start from now.

The sun is shining, but it's also hailing, raining, windy and um warm in bits so we're all a little confused. But spring is on it's way, I can feel it in my toes.

I'm barely recovering from Aushi's hen night, which was a huge blast - but hard on the body. I just paid for tickets to Sri Lanka - we leave in about 6 weeks, I can't believe its that soon but then, its not really is it? Another wedding on my island of paradise.

Work has been intense but good... my mind is whirring with ideas constantly, I bought a book to jot down all the thoughts I tend to have at (often inconvenient) times. But as predicted, the second the book was in my bag, the ideas stopped. Just for a day.

Kare kare Kojahey

The mehendi ceremony on the 27th, kicked off the start of the grand festivities, it felt so exciting and right to have it at home - plus the last of our friends had arrived - Ed, Tom, Clare, Ella, Glyn, Lauren and Alisha. We had been practicing our mehendi dance for a few days and amazingly our Uk crew were up for it (even the boys). Rukshana, Minha and Nadiyah toiled and slaved to get our back garden into festive mode and when it was done, I couldn't believe how absolutely fantastic it looked. While I waited upstairs to be escorted by my family to the "throne" in front of all the revellers, my female cousins chose my thaati and fastened the ancient belled foot anklets on my feet. It was pandemonium and super fun all the same. The women then escorted me down, hollering and clapping to signal my arrival.

Lee was taken to my cousins house and then driven in procession, finally arriving with all the male members of his and my family - they banged drums and tamborines while hollering loudly when they brought him in.

We were up most of the night dancing, having mehendi tattooed on our hands, belly's, feet and general body parts - even the boys go it done which was pretty amusing. Waking up the next day we found some had names on their bodies they had no idea how it go there! The party was started and everyone headed 2 hours down south to the wedding destination.

Two Happy Bazalgette's

And so, just like that, its all done! One absolutely fabulous month of festivities and I am now a married woman - an incredibly happy and blessed one at that. Lee is a wonderful husband and we are so excited... Still not used to being a Mrs, especially the part about changing my name - I am keeping my maiden name as a middle name... I am officially a Bazalgette!

The wedding was beautiful, we couldn't have asked for better weather - no blustery winds, the tide had gone out, the sunset was stunning and the atmosphere was lush. It was an incredibly emotional feeling seeing all your friends and family seated with tears in their eyes, watching our ceremony... I still can't believe we got all 35 of our friends from the UK down. Lee and I will never forget it.



My parents worked so so so so so hard on our wedding, it is definitely impossible to put down into words how much they did, and I am so blown away by their love and generosity and enthusiasm. Everytime I tried to say lets just leave that detail aside, they refused and got it done somehow.



We had the ceremony at 5pm right on Ahungalla beach, and then all our guests were ushered into another part of the land where they cocktailed it while we had our pictures taken by the most fantabulous Mere. She is such a star - what an incredibly talented photographer and how lucky we were to have her there.



The wedding party, with food, drinks and champagne flowing - went wonderfully. The speeches were great (Dias, Dad, Tom and Tash) and Lee's speech was so perfect too. It was so amazing to see all my Sri Lankan friends from childhood and now, make it all the way there for our special day too - it made us feel so lucky.

One thing though, there was something very important that happened that I was not aware of until after I had made my speech which is unfortunate as I would have made sure all the others knew. I noticed that the marquee was a bit warm even though it was open on all sides and faced the sea, and that there were no fans even though our loopy marquee lady knew we needed them. When I asked my cousin, I found out that it was my family - my many wonderful cousins and uncles and in-laws who worked all day long building the dancefloor and wiring the marquee and built our ceremony platform and everything. To make it all happen. I couldn't believe what they had done for us. It made all the little details even more special.

Hurray for family.

seeya

Today is the 4th death anniversary of my grandfather Reggie Candappa, but it feels like he was here with his sparkly smile just yesterday. I try not to think of the day he died, because that is not what its about though it is a day I believe I still haven't come to terms with. Maybe I never will and thats just how it is. But today is an important day because it reminds us all that he was the most amazing, fascinating and heartwarming person we'd have the pleasure of knowing.

Every time I hear a bellowing booming laugh, I think of him... or when I see a bald head. Or when I see a tree full of different coloured leaves, paintings, hear Mozart, see a homeless person (because he used to always give them money) and a trillion other things. My wonderful Seeya.

the time machine

holy moly. Today is last day of work for a month, and this is because Lee and I fly off to Sri Lanka on Saturday morning for our wedding! Whoooopppeeeee! Honestly I have no way to express how happy, excited, nervous and psyched I am.

the band band land

Saw my mates play a super gig last night - was at Fiddler's Elbow and they put on cool nights where they get up and coming bands on stage. This band has just a sort of come together at the last minute, they play with their own official bands but are friends and have rehearsed a few times but have super lyrics! And good stage presence. Unfortunately Alex, my friend, left to Sweden today and he's the drummer - London loses another!

http://www.myspace.com/bandbandland

and finally...

I couldn't think of a funny caption. the pressure was too much. Soharni and I having a discussion about something crucially important no doubt.

more photos

Roger More couldn't take the tube whipping pressure from Lauren. I was handcuffed to him for most of the night.



Katharine about to sing - and I think the sake was kicking in right about now.

more hen night humiliation

The gorgeous Kayla, Ella and Elsie - some of the stars of the show from the hen weekend!

Japanese Karaoke Bar:


Lots of sake and cheesy videos, this was the second stop of the night of debauchery!

A now fragile hen

My hen night was an absolute blast - Tasha and Aushi went to town with it, it was incredible. Plus the girls who came, they made the night! Starting at 1pm in the afternoon, we had a 2 hour pole dancing and burlesque strip lesson by a very nubile and hot teacher. Well she had a hot body and could grip the pole like none I have seen before!
Couple of bloody mary's later and I was flying around the pole in my high heels and lacey hold ups, but clearly Ella and Lauren were the stars of that show.

Afterwards, we had a delicious and fun 3 hours getting tanked up on champagne, yummy and spicy Lankan curry and some hilarious chat, just hanging out at Aushi's... it was super fun getting dressed up, because I was given my outfit for the evening - a drag queen tranny, complete with electric blue PVC high heels, trashy lingerie dress, heavy make up, blonde wig and well, you get the picture (or see it above). I was horrified at first but figured, one ought to get into it - after all how often does that happen? The rest of my buddies dressed up looking very foxy and we set out to mystery destinations that they had planned out for the rest of the evening - Japanese Karaoke bar (sake! sake!) where we sang to our hearts content, another cocktail bar, my old haunt - The Lux Bar in Hoxton Square, where I ended up on the stage alone with another random dude, and Helena passed me the whip and well the rest is a rather bad yet hilarious Madonna style performance. It was kick ass fun.

Thanks to Tasha - my lovely sister who made such a huge effort to make it such a special weekend, and it was more than I could have imagined! Also thanks to Aushi - you were so generous with your flat. And to the rest: Soharni, Emily, Kayla, Lauren, Helena, Elsie, Ella, Pam and Katharine - you guys are the best.

But not for the fact that you guys made me busk while we were on a packed central line tube platform on a Saturday night, for money. While being handcuffed to a male blow-up doll named Roger More.

Life's goings on

I have been so rubbish about blogging ever since I came back to the real world. Its not due to any particular reason except for the fact that time is flying before my very eyes and things are moving at an incredible speed.

I've got a job, its been fantastic and with a company I really like, respect and believe that my ideas have a fighting chance of making themselves heard. Its been super busy, they put their faith in me and that has been inspiring in itself - always makes you work harder knowing someone else is leaving you to do it the way you think best. Work took me to Madrid, Spain for a mind blowing week of heavy work, culture, beautiful weather, new friends (Rodrigo & Santi) and brushing up on my Spanish. It made me long for our days in Argentina just drifting through these sweet little plaza's and wining and dining.

The wedding - is going full steam ahead. The invitations are printed and on their way to us here in London courtesy of my cousin... my parents are being absolute champions running around getting everything done, its been so difficult to make decisions on things that just require you to see it to know and say yes or no. But we're working through it, and a lot of it you just have to let it go and know that in the long run, its going to be a beautiful day with my family and the man I love and that is what is most important. Its so easy to get lost in the detail and lose your mind over it, which just isn't what its about. My parents have been doing so much though and it makes me just want to get on a plane (which i am not so fond of) and go over there. Less than a month though! Yikes!!!!!

I feel really happy and lucky. Its all so very exciting, especially as we have so many wonderful people coming to Sri Lanka (you know who you are!).

ladies night

Its my hen weekend tomorrow - and i am so looking forward to it!

Venezuela, London and now Lanka

So the wedding plans are underway - I flew to Sri Lanka for 2 weeks to attend to the essential stuff that needs to be done - there is so much to do! I have been living, breathing, eating and sleeping the wedding plans and I think it is finally coming together. We are so excited about it and my family will be in charge once I leave this week, so fingers crossed!

Yippeeee.

The fact that I was in Venezuela just a month ago is super surreal - one thing is for sure, the world didnt change much while we were away and for us, that is harder to take in. The real world will never have us!

The amazing proposal!

So that very same day (see post below), Friday the 20th of July, was to become a very special day in my life.

It was the day that Lee asked me to marry him! I never expected it and I think thats the best way for it to happen. I couldnt have asked for a more incredible, emotional or loving proposal - and it happened on a deserted beach, just the two of us, standing on the north side of Francisqui island facing the Caribbean sea. I wont delve into the details because I would rather tell you face to face, but I can say that he got down on both knees!

I dont remember being this happy! We have set the date for the 29th December 2007, not ones for long engagements - we're hoping for a beach wedding in Sri Lanka with parties before and after, plus a celebration in the UK when we get back mid January. Its all pretty exciting especially as we have some really special people flying down from UK to celebrate it all with us.

We spent the next 4 days on Los Roques celebrating with our new Spanish friends, telling everyone we could, snorkeling, wining, dining and seeing a number of the islands in the archipelago. Blissful paradise. Whoooo hoooo!

Los Roques - now this is paradise

So the time came to get on a very small propellor plane and fly to these magical islands off the coast of Venezuela. Destination Los Roques: it is an archipelago of islands, mostly uninhabited - no cars and each island accessible only by boat. It is too expensive for most Venezuelans so the pollution is fairly limited. Anyway, after an incredibly stressful morning at the Mexicana Airlines desk at the Caracas airport (they are thieving bandit bastards) and getting ripped off for an extra USD $1000 just so we could fly to Mexico to catch our flight back to London, we were fairly wound up and upset. Not the way to start what was meant to be a romantic splash out for the last few days of our 6 month South American journey.

So the plane was small. And old. And we could see the cockpit and everything which Lee found very exciting. I on the other hand, thanks to my recent development of fear of flying, wasnt too happy. Anyway a fairly smooth 30mins later - we landed by the most exquisitely blue ocean I have ever seen. White sand, the most turquoise blue ocean and water so clear you can see your feet from chin level!

Gran Roque was the main island - and the only inhabited one with a population of about 800 people. Filled with colourful one storey posadas and boutique styled bars, it was such a haven away from the chaotic Caracas suburbs. Our posada, Dona Carmen, was right on the beach front close to the airport runway and the pier where all the boats would depart to the other islands.

I could feel us slowly unwinding from the days stresses as we whiled away time at the pier waiting for our boat to arrive to take us to the island of Francisqui, about 10 mins away so that we could relax and snorkel. And thats exactly what we did - the water was so clear and the marine life we saw was incredible. Puffer fish, pink and green eels, squid, brightly coloured fish of all shapes and sizes, rainbow coloured barracuda... absolute paradise.

Little did I know what was about to happen.

Sign here for toilet paper

I just wanted to mention that though we have been on holiday for the past 6 months, its not to say that I havent been reading up on the world or following certain stories and conflicts with great interest. There has been a great deal of thinking going on. And this story I just found on the BBC News website is exactly the kind of thing I believe is happening all too often.

Fear mongering, manipulating scare tactics and red neck crazy talk is starting to be marketed by governments to their people, in the name of national security. Soon we wont be able to shit without getting prior clearance from the Defence Department. What the hell is wrong with people? Are we that gullible? The residents of Sydney, Australia have been told to ¨pack a survival kit to prepare for a terrorist attack or a natural disaster¨.

What a load of bollocks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6902143.stm

Back west!

So our time in Rio Caribe has ended though it filled us with really happy memories. What a lovely place and I would highly recommend Posada Villa Antillana as the most wonderful place to stay, not to mention the incredibly warm hospitality we were lucky enough to experience. Thanks Emilio!

While we were out there, we managed to find our way to another beautiful and completely deserted beach called Playa Loero - spent the day in the sun, playing frisbee and swimming in the clear ocean.

We also managed to get to another town called San Juan de los Galdonas a few days later to visit a turtle hatchery, the tour was a bit of a joke/farce though as the guy who ran it was more interested in showing off how known he was in the town. He ran a posada called Tres Calabresas and it seems he wanted us there more for the stay and the money than the actual tour. So we saw nothing as far as turtles were concerned, though we got to talk to the cool biologist there who said the turtles who lay the eggs from the wild measure over 1.7 metres in length!!!

On our way back the next day, we visited the Hacienda Bukare which is a cacao farm a.k.a. organic chocolate hacienda. Drool. It is very old, having been started in 1908, but currently owned by the same people who ran Villa Antillana where we were staying in Rio Caribe. It was an pretty yet old cottage, in the middle of a cacao farm and they gave us a really fascinating tour of how they make chocolate. Complete with tastings... yum yum yummmee. They make pure dark chocolate, ranging from 50% to 100% pure! We tasted so much, Lee and I got headaches later, but it was worth it. Mmm chocolate headaches.

Now we are back in Cumanà, doing day trips to the lovely Parque Nacional Mochima with its´secluded beaches only accessible by boat and hopefully going to visit some other beaches and a famous cave, before we hop on a flight to Los Roques this weekend - a paradise of islands off the coast of Venezuela!

Fever, mud baths and boat trips

We are in Rio Caribe, so far my most favourite place in Venezuela as its a small town, really friendly with loads of character and with so much to do around this region. Its also where I had my first illness of the trip, not bad for getting by 5 months and no scars. It was a bad fever with aches and a nasty cold, reminded me of the dreaded chikunguniya of our trip to Lanka in Dec. But the lovely people at the posada were are staying in (absolutely gorgeous place) took me to a doctor and she got me to test for malaria. Yikes! I was so out of it, but we were so worried, anyway luckily we had bought our own sterile needle kit courtesy of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. If you´re going to travel, dont scoff - buy one, you just might need it!

Test results a nail biting 1 hour later, negative for malaria - phew. But I was out for a good couple of days and sweet Lee was running around being an awesome (and good looking) nurse. Also talk about picking the perfect place to fall ill... Villa Antillana has a garden courtyard, hammocks, airy living room with cable tv, delicious breakfast each morning and two happy dogs. Not to mention a friendly and helpful guy called Emilio who runs it for his architect/artist aunt from Caracas.

Finally felt well enough to leave the posada, though heavily armed with enough tissue to wrap a mummy with. We spent the day with Emilio and his girlfriend visiting natural hot springs called Aguasana where you can dip yourself in wonderful hot water pools, fresh from the earths core - plus cover yourself in some slightly sulphur smelling mud, wait for it to dry and then let it do its´wonders! The thing is, I was still feeling fairly achey and off, and after our day at the springs, I felt so much better. The locals believe that there are so many minerals and good elements in the water and mud that its possible it healed me extra! Hurray.

Today, we took a wonderful boat trip out on the Carribbean sea. The ocean colour is like nothing I have seen before, emerald sea green but also kind of blue. So clear and stunning against the backdrop of jagged mountains filled to the edges with lush green tropical forestry plus an immense number of pelicans! We took a hairy ride over some large waves which made our wooden fishing boat drop a couple of stomach cringing feet - only to arrive at a deserted beach called Pui Pui. The lovely thing is the complete lack of tourists - sure there are locals, but not many and it is just overwhelmingly clear and beautiful. After a couple of hours, our "boat captain" and his "second in command" who were two young chaps, returned to pick us up and seemed to have been indulging in some Sunday afternoon boozing. And they had brought a their girlfriend with them. So we carried on and on to another beach called Medina which is pretty popularbut with more people which made it a bit less enjoyable but all the same, it was beautiful. Plus it was amusing to witness our chaps getting pretty pissed on wine they shared with us and even one falling off the boat smack into the water when trying to get a lighter from one of our friends.

All in all, it was a super day and so wonderful to think we are by the Carribbean coast. Ah, life is sweet.