Bollywood Party Vancouver Style!

I know, you've all been hanging out for this one. Knowing that, I've decided to keep you in suspense and escalate that by releasing other blogs ahead of this one!

But the suspense is at an end now. You can sleep easy tonight, with the knowledge and assurance that you've seen the photos...

You know, nearly two months off work still hasn't made me write like a lawyer any less...: )

I was pretty chuffed with the turnout, given I'd been in Vancouver for less than a month. And whilst not everyone dressed up to theme, the people that did dress up did a great job of it!

The evening started out very tame, sitting down and have nibblies. The madness commenced once the Punjabi music was turned up. I (being birthday boy and entitled to make a fool of myself) decided to dance Punjabi style (not that I know how to), as the photos show. Then I draped myself over my friends. The evening ended with one of my friends having his pants torn by a few party-goers in a very nasty but humorous 'wedgy' - I have omitted that photo for the sake of his own pride...

The party was held at my friend Iman (pictured here with me) parents' house which was an awesome venue as the pictures will show, similar to a Bollywood movie set!










They also made me a HUGE birthday cake and put a nice spread of food too. Needless to say, I was pretty chuffed, as my expression shows...










Enough of me talking. Now enjoy!

OK now it's time for less photos of people and more photos of stunning Vancouver!

So...when I haven't been rehearsing for a show, performing or attending post-show parties I've been taking in the sights this city has to offer.

So this is the view of the mountains from Burrard St (round the corner from my place), which turns into Burrard Bridge and crosses the water into downtown Vancouver.









If you take a left turn when you get to the water and walk along Vanier Park, this is the view you get of the West End...and the mountains of course!










If you keep walking along Vanier Park you'll get to Kitsilano Beach (everyone calls it 'Kits' Beach) which is the most popular beach after Spanish Banks (photos of that to come later).









More of Kits Beach, with the West End and the mountains in the background. People here don't go to the beach to swim (water is too cold), they just go to hang out, get a tan and play volleyball. But I braved the cold and went into the water at Spanish Banks!







From this view of Kits Beach you can see West Vancouver in the background. I haven't been to West Van, although I hear they have an excellent shopping mall there (although Metrotown is bigger and better, as I experienced last week!)








The contrast of the water, buildings and mountains is amazing and is what Vancouver is famous for.











There's a jetty down at Kits Beach too!













View of the cafe at Kits beach, with the downtown in the background. There's also a swimming pool next to where I was standing, which is 125m long and quite deep too!









If you keep walking along the beach away from the city you'll get to Point Grey and the yacht club. It's really quiet and secluded around here, great for a bit of quiet 'time out' near the water...








Getting closer to that yacht club! Over that hill is the University of British Columbia, which occupies a huge area of space.










OK walking back towards the city now. This is the view of the West End and English Bay (another beach area where you hang out but don't swim).










This is Burrard Bridge, which the street in the first photo turns into when it crosses the water. Vancouver downtown is to the left.









Burrard Bridge, with Granvile Bridge in the background. Between the two bridges, facing downtown Vancouver, is Granville Island. There is an awesome market there, and I also saw some cool performers as part of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival recently.






Along the way to Burrard Bridge are tents set up for the annual Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. You can watch Shakespeare being performed right near the water! I'm going to see a performance this week. Check out the mountains in the background...





















I went to the world-famous Vancouver Aquarium at Stanley Park and saw some amazing fish, plus beluga whales, sea lions, dolphins and the cutest sea otters (a new pet perhaps?):