The Bailey Bunch

Our final day in the Maldives as we are heading home to London and the Olympics early tomorrow morning. We have had a great time here - its a stunning place with incredibly friendly and welcoming people - we have had a terrific trip. We will leave you with some favourite images.... read more

Our days here in this gorgeous atoll and on this beautiful island are coming to a close. We have been very privileged to come here see a new world, experience that extra ordinary new world with incredible scenery, wildlife - so we are spending the last few days relaxing and chilling - taking in the scenery and the seascapes to try and etch them in the memory for a long time to come.... read more

Yesterday was stunningly hot - the breeze of the last few days disappeared and the whole atoll and island was becalmed. The sea was like a mill pond and the visibility in the water was terrific with views of Surgeonfish, Cornetfish, Wrasse and Unicorn fish crystal clear. We decided to go on a Donhi in the evening to watch the sunset and search for dolphins. A Donhi is a Madivian boat - wooden up to 50 feet long originally sail powered now motored. With a carved prow and stern with flags astern. We set out across the atoll to the neighbouring islands about 5pm local time. The ocean was astonishingly still and calm and the colour of a deep blue sapphire. Within an hour we had seen dolphins -just a few swimming close by - Dhoni's ... read more

Whilst we have been on holiday Cob has been over in Romania working for a charity helping to build houses and accommodation for families. He initially had a couple of days acclimatisation to Bucharest before heading off to Rasnov and Brasov. After an eventful train trip - for some reason Rasnov station is named something else ! - they got where they wanted to be but found the hostel fully booked so ended up sleeping on a local church floor or the duration. Working as a group with the charity leaders they helped build extensions and accommodation for some families who were working hard for themselves but where for example one of the parents had died. Conditions were pretty basic but the contribution Cob and the others made was important and of course Cob and the ... read more

Cob has now returned from Romania having had a fantastic time there learning how to lay foundations, build concrete floors and brick laying with a bit of plastering thrown into too for good fun. The next team are out there already doing the decorating - sounds like Cob had the short straw. But what a great experience ... Josh is in Belgium near Bruges preparing for the first festival of his tour. We have had another lazy day here on the island - lounging around and enjoying the sunshine and scenery. One of the things that has struck us here is the colour of everything - there's little pollution in the air or the sea relatively speaking - and the light is very intense for most of the day. So colours themselves are intensified as some ... read more