umkomaas

i'm now on the indian ocean, diving at aliwal shoal in the kwazulu natal south coast. still exhausted, but in a different way: instead of staying up all night, i'm waking up at four to go diving. here are some pictures from my dive center, umkomaas lodge. as of today, i'm certified as an advanced open water diver.


my dive instructor's daughter and my initial "buddy"

at the bar with alan

christmas in durban

i spent christmas in traditional south african fashion -- at the beach.



at the ushaka marine world. now i only have to work at getting the picture without the glass in between ...

fouriesburg

welcoming home in fouriesburg, at the house of nobantu's mother


the bride in her lesotho blanket (with mimi)

the mbeki-zithas

the new couple (the first thanks to lauren)

drakensburg

some beginning (unedited) pictures from south africa, starting with the wedding at the alpine heath lodge. i will add more as i am able. my camera is in constant crisis these days, so i also have to gather the photos from all of the various cameras i commandeered for the event. after days of wedding festivities and staying up until five, though, right now all we're trying to do is catch up on sleep.



the mother of the bride (with grace)


at the reception

darius likes cake...

and his new clothes

the new ms. vaidya krishna

as noted by the new york times:

Reena Vaidya and Dean Venkat Krishna were married yesterday at a Doubletree Hotel in Philadelphia, in a ceremony they conducted themselves under Pennsylvania law. Prabhakar Sharma, a Hindu priest, participated, performing traditional Hindu rituals.

and in their own words:

Looking back on their parting, Mr. Krishna explained, “When we first started dating, Reena was so fascinating, so strong and so compatible with me that it left me wondering, ‘Is this really happening?’ But I was just starting college and I thought that perhaps all adult relationships could be like that. The distance across continents wore down both of us, and we thought a break would be best. We were young and we did not realize what a rare thing we had found.’’
...
“Our romance was rekindled,’’ Ms. Vaidya said, “and we began a long-distance relationship one final time. We recognized that this would be our last attempt, and either it would lead to marriage or be over once and for all. Happily, it was the former.”

preparation

climbing home

squibnocket

life on the run

lucy vincent pond

menemsha, ma

aquinnah

self-portrait in big sky

zooboy

young darius

mother's day

alta

blackout

philadelphia

mohonk

milano

genoa

pisa