Larry and Zaheera got married

That title about sums up the last week in Durban. The wedding was last night and went off (for the most part) without any major hitches. That said, the bride and groom looked fantastic and happy (probably relieved -- especially Z) when it was all over.

The ceremony took place on the pool deck at the Elangeni Hotel overlooking the Indian Ocean. About 300 people crowded onto the patio and separated the men from the women, despite Z's mom's frustrations. The Islamic ceremony was interested. A table of about 10 men, including Larry, sat off to one side and Zaheera was seated alone to the other side of the aisle. Several prayers were said and Larry was asked twice if he had Zaheera's permission for marriage. He of course replied yes. Zaheera was asked nothing during the ceremony and simply prayed. There were a few other traditions mixed in and the ring exchange wasn't done until we were inside the banquet hall after the nikkah (ceremony) was complete. After some dinner and far too many chocolate desserts, most the guests filed out as apparently is the custom. And when it was left to only family, the music started and the dancing begun. I put on my bhangra shoes and showed the boys how to really shake it to the Bollywood tunes. (Yes, you can start making fun of me now.)

The last two nights I've been going out with these boys as everyone in the wedding party has been too exhausted to make it out of the house. Imagine me, with my pale skin in an Indian-style outfit from the mehndi party (explanation to come) waltzing into a cafe at 2 in the morning, escorted by a dozen Indian men. Yeah, I got a few looks. Still, I put up with them and dished it out and apparently was impressive enough to prompt one of Z's cousins -- all of whom I've adopted as my own and all who insist on us returning to South Africa -- repeatedly proposed marraige to me. Don't worry, Mom, I refused. Over and over again. He's very sweet, but Durban just isn't my style.

I finally went to bed shortly before dawn for a few hours sleep before my flight to Johannesburg today. We've checked into our hostel (I'm with Freeha, one of Zaheera's bridesmaids, who's from LA) and have already taken a 3-hour nap to recover from the madness of the week. We both agree we feel as if we're finally in Africa -- not India.

I'd like to send you all postcards but it seems my address book has old addresses for many of you. If you want pictures of lions and elephants in the mail, send me your mailing address.

Oh yeah, almost forgot about the mehndi party Friday night. It was a blast. Almost everyone from the U.S. dressed in Indian clothes, I performed in a bhangra dance routine with 13 other cousins and friends and we even got a hookah set up. No party is complete without that. Oh yes, and the night before we'd had the mehndi (henna) applied to our hands. I only did a design on the top side of my right hand. I'll try to post some pictures soon if I can figure out how to do it.

Three more days in South Africa, then on to Egypt!