#Dark Cacao has some serious game

[waffleslashermaster]

I can’t believe he actually beat him. GLORY TO THE KING

[burningcheese-merchant]

I know you're a burningcheese merchant but can we have some hcs or snippets for mysticcacao 👉👈

You don't have to do it if you mind

Popping back in for just a minute to become mysticcacao-merchant, just for you 🫵

They'd probably take things quite slow, mostly due to Flour's shyness and embarrassment (and a bit of honest shame, really. She never thought she'd be shackled by meaningless emotions again, love least of all. But Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome came and stole not only her Soul Jam, but her heart... truly, life is suffering). But Cacao doesn't mind. He's very much a gentleman (more so than even Pure Vanilla), he will not say or do anything she doesn't want him to and respects her boundaries with zero complaint. (He's a bit nervous and uncomfortable for a while, too, so she's not really alone there lol)

They end up doing a lot of activities together where they don't really talk. Lots of long walks through the mountains, many games of Go, even meditating together (first they sat a ways away apart from each other, then when they became comfortable enough, they started sitting back-to-back). The silence doesn't bother them at all; they're both the sort of person who appreciates quiet moments like that, and they don't necessarily need to talk to understand each other.

He once gave her his coat to wear (the one that's part of the "Vanquisher of the Two Dragons" costume) because he noticed she was cold. Later, when it was time to part ways, he asked if she wanted to hold onto it. She said no. He reached for it and got slapped really hard with her ribbons. This happened several times before he got the message and just went home without it lol ("why are women like this", he wondered to himself)

She's not that far from him height-wise (5'9'' vs 6'1'', in my headcanon), so he never has to bend down much to kiss her. (He likes to just get close and press quick little kisses to her forehead)

This moment? In both of their heads?

RENT. FUCKING. FREE.

They went to the Dumpling Soup Hot Springs once and Flour saw Cacao take his shirt off and almost fucking died (he kept his pants on, thank goodness, she would've returned to flour on the spot if he stripped any further than he did)

They exchange letters a lot because Flour refuses to leave Beast-Yeast and Cacao can't visit her often (he has a kingdom to run and bad guys to fight). Flour arranged for a bird native to her mountain to be the one to come and go with letter deliveries, since it's very tough and would remember how to make the journey. Cacao keeps her letters in a box hidden somewhere in his room, Flour keeps his tucked on a shelf in her study in the Ivory Pagoda. They both really like each other's handwriting/calligraphy

Their kisses are almost always quite chaste. Flour is too hesitant to ask for more and Cacao will not push unless she explicitly asks for it... but they both want it lol. It's just a matter of Flour learning to be bold and allowing herself to indulge her own wants

They're able to get along a lot easier than the other Ancients and Beasts might because they already aren't that different from each other. Both are very calm, disciplined, serious people who tend towards stoicism and asceticism (or just rejection of base wants and desires in general). They just get each other right away, after putting away the "mortal enemies" thing haha

Cloud Haetae is really jealous of Cacao in the "kid is jealous of the man their mom is dating because they're scared he'll take her away and she won't love them anymore and the kid doesn't know better" sort of way. Cacao demonstrates his surprising skill with animals, dogs especially thanks to the cream wolves (Haetae is not a dog but it works anyway lol), and wins the little guy over pretty fast lol

[thewallsaretalking-again]

you know what?? Fuck it, there's something I've GOTTA talk about:

(don't worry this isn't like a serious post or anything. also its gonna be really badly written with grammar errors because I'm just really excited to finally be talking about this and I'm shaking like a leaf) (also, if you don't agree with this that is completely fine; everybody ships different ships, this is just one that I personally love and me explaining how it came to be and how I image it. I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything, this is just for fun. If you don't like, that's fine! All I ask is that there is no hate and that you just move on. Thank you!)

I love rairpairs. Like, LOVE them. Anyone who's seen my old transformers art knows that I ship DreadOp which is like, a nonexistent ship. like, the ship equivalent of being an endangered species (there's like 10 fics about it on AO3, so you KNOW it's rare). There's a few examples of me being like this but this is the best example that i have.

But this has gotten to the point where i have done something absolutely ridiculous: I have created an entirely new ship- no, TWO entirely new ships (I'm only going to be focusing on one rn). AND I'VE GOTTA TALK ABOUT THEM because honestly? I love them! so, what monstrosity have I created? Whoo... prepare yourselves (especially you, dark cacao cookie fans...)

Yep. Don't hate me. Please hear me out because honestly iv'e seen more heinous ships in my time on the internet.

so, first of all, the white dude is known as the milk village elder in CRK, and we only see him once in the entire game (that i know of). I love taking npc's and giving them characters, so this is kinda how this happened. I'm gonna start by talking about the milk dude and how i headcannon/ imagine him because it will come into play later.

I gave the milk village elder the name Whole Milk Cookie, because i couldn't exactly call him Milk Cookie; that names already been taken

Whole Milk Cookie isn't actually anyone's grandfather, despite him being called grandad/ grandpappy in the actual game. We never see anyone his age in the milk village, and I like to imagine that its sorta like an honorary title. Like, he acts like everyone's grandpa, so everyone calls him grandpa but no one is actually related to him.

Whole Milk Cookie is like, ungodly sweet. Like, diabetes kind of sweet. its ridiculous. there are only a few ways to get him angry; and trust me, you don't want to...

He's strong. Like, think Hollyberry type strong. Gives the BEST hugs too.

Nobody knows exactly how old he is, but people suspect that he's actually much older than he looks. This could be caused by his extreme talent with the milk that comes from the villages well; if its used right, the milk can cure disease, help pains, or even extend someone's lifespan/ help retain youth. either that or he's some sort of demon but hey, who's counting?

got all that? good. Now the question everybody's asking; why the hell do i ship this? What's the story here? What's the origin? Well hold onto your pants folks because this is where we get into me overanalyzing shit.

behold the line that started it all:

This is so SO vague. why the hell did they put this in here it is SO VAUGE. what does he mean by "THAT king"? you know what it sounds like? someone reminiscing of their time with a loved one who has now changed....

they never elaborate on what exactly this line means and this is the very last line we hear Whole Milk Cookie say in the main story

wondering where exactly he's gone instead of wondering when he's coming back? idk man you sound worried about him...

also saying "laid your eyes upon" just sounds so gay/loving and i don't know why. yeah your laying something thats for sure glfbnvbrfnjkrb (im so sorry)

There's also this line:

The ally thing is kind of given, but why and how isn't this guy talking shit about dark Cacao? Like, he has EVERY right to! but he's not.... its almost like he cares.... and sure he mentions the generation thing but just because your parents were friends with some dude doesn't mean you necessarily like them right? so what gives??

Then there's the matter of Dark Cacao Cookies SON:

who is DArk CHOCOLATE

now Dark Chocolate usually doesn't have any milk/dairy in it, but it DOES need a fat, which whole milk DOES have!!

So, in theory, it would make sense for cacao and milk to make chocolate of some kind, AND it would account for Dark Choco Cookie having a lighter skin tone than his father (lighter eyes and the double white hair streak too)

I also like the story implications outside of cannon:

two people who would generally not be allowed to be in a relationship due to differing status keep a relationship going for years behind the backs of their communities

Dark Cacao Cookie taking full responsibility for taking care of their son, only for everything to become too overwhelming and he begins to remove himself from everything emotionally, wanting to give his son over to his other father to be properly taken care of but can't due to the dangers that poses for everyone in his family

Dark Choco nearly kills him and Dark Cacao has to exile him and (because of a mix of psychological manipulation, grief, and regret) locks up the citadel, leaving Whole Milk Cookie out of the picture entirely

Whole Milk Cookie stews in anger due to everything that's happened and Dark Cacao cookie not taking proper care of their son but eventually falls into guilt as well because he saw the signs of stress and overworking from his partner and didn't step in, assuming that everything was fine (but is still mostly mad at Cacao because he REALLY fucked up and it's not an excuse)

Gingerbrave and the crew comes strolling up and gets the citadel open, and Dark Cacao admits to Dark Choco that he didn't care enough and that he should have done things differently, and that he loves his son. Dark Choco leaves the cookies of darkness and begins a journey of recovery while Dark Cacao vows to do better for his family and kingdom in the future.

Dark Cacao meets up with Whole Milk Cookie to truly apologize to him, admitting everything he's done wrong and that he should have done far, FAR better. He tells WM that he deserves better than him

Whole Milk is obviously still angry and will never forgive Dark Cacao for what he's done. but he still loves him despite everything and would much rather the two of them work together to fix things (not necessarily romantically, more just not hating each other wise) moving forward instead of breaking things off and stewing in grief and anger.

The two of them take things extremely slow and carefully because it's been a long and difficult process, but they, eventually, get back to where they were.

Their recovery process takes years, but by that point Dark Cacao has improved himself exponentially, wanting nothing but the best for his partner and kingdom (and now knowing exactly what NOT to do) They also eventually find Dark Choco Cookie and fix things with him, but that's a whole other can of worms I'm not going to open here.

Just generally a story of two very different people, who despite goin through unimaginable hardships, do their very best despite the circumstances. they love each other more than even they realize and the fact that they are able to fix what was broken by their own hands is a testament to that, despite all of the arguments and tears along the way.

TLDR: Dark Cacao fucks up, his husband is mad but still loves him because he knows him better than anyone else, Dark Cacao actually makes an effort and succeeds to be much much better, and the two of them eventually figure things out. An unlikely love story :)

Ok, wow, that was a lot and kinda sad. But there are a few thiings that i couldn't fit into the rest of this so imma just stick them here:

Whole Milk Cookie finds Immense joy in picking up his husband and throwing him across his shoulder like some kind of really important sack

Whole Milk calls Dark Cacao "Cacao bean"

Dark Cacao loves Whole Milk Cookies cooking to a stupid extent

Dark Cacao loves playing with his husbands fluffy hair

the two of them will often help each other do their hair because they both just have SO MUCH of it

Dark Cacao, despite popular belief, is a flustered mess around his husband and can very often be found blushing like a madman whenever Whole Milk uses his strength

these two have the ABSOLOUTE WORST bedheads. Like, Cacao HAS to braid his hair before going to bed because otherwise the two of them will wake up tangled in it. And Whole Milk will just have an untamable afro.

uhh anyways. thanks for coming to my ted talk

[cookie-run-university-au]

Whats Dark choco like in the au?

THE BOY

I was sure I already talked about him but apparently not?? Wtf?

He has a great relationship with Dark Cacao. They are not super close but Choco knows he is there for him if he needs anything.

He is kinda shy? I cannot find the right word for him actually but he is extremely respectable and polite. He has a hard time making friends because he is too afraid to talk to people and he doesn't really know what he'd say anyway

Despite that he is very affectionate. He mirrors peoples' love languages the best he can, unsure what his own one is

He is close friends with Caramel Arrow and later on manages to become very close with both Crunchy Chip and Purple Yam as well.

He doesn't know too much about magic

He is a natural leader. Whenever someone needs his help he aids them as soon as he can but gets flustered when people call him helpful, insisting that he just does the right thing.

He has his mind set to do the right thing. He is a Neutral Good, people are more important to him than anything else

Despite everything he is unsure who he wants to be. He doesn't want to run Cacao's school once he retired but he feels like he needs to even though Cacao is encouraging him to find his own passions as well

His sword is not cursed here. He got it as a gift from Cacao when he graduated high school and set on becoming a serious warrior. He cherishes it greatly

Dark Choco is one of my favourites in this story. He has lots of character progression (example: his friendship with his roommates developing from tense to brotherly), i may dare to say that he has the second most after Vampire, but I still kept some of his in game stuff.

Despite his sword being uncursed, Choco still has a similar fate to his in game counterpart. How and why he gets where he does? Fuck around and find out /lhj

But yeah I love him. Tragic little cookie.

[marshmallow-rain]

I had to spent two nights in a row in two consecutive blackouts in the middle of the hot season, and that completely messed up my sleeping schedule. I finally got a full rest last night and I'm feeling much more awake.

I'll be working in my TWST's AU, but first I'll be giving some love to Cookie Run: Kingdom, that's actually my main hyperfixation at the moment.

I started playing this game from late December and several things have happened. I got so absorbed on this that I started neglecting Twisted Wonderland and Obey Me! It's just that CRK's playstyle is more understable to me than TWST and my Cookies are much easier to level up than my OM!'s cards.

So here you got my Cookie Run: Kingdom experience so far in an incorrect quotes format.

Content Warning: Light spoilers for Castle in the Sky and Timeless Kingdom, Swearing, Overall bad decision-making.

...

Me: *sees blogs posting about this game about cookies in my dashboard* Huh.

...

Me: *sees blogs posting about having fun with this game about cookies in my dashboard* M'kay, I'm getting curious...

...

Me: So it's an RPG? I like those, but it seems kind of heavy for my phone and I'm kind of busy with Obey Me!, I don't know if I should...

...

Me: Wait, how come nobody told me AmaLee voices one of the characters?? Here I go, Parfait Cookie!

...

Pure Vanilla Cookie:

Me: Oh, this is that cookie I kept seeing around.

...

Me: Everybody sounds so cartoonish, I love it.

...

Me: Yeah, I have a lot of fun with Cookie Run: Kingdom!

Also me: *cries for 30 min because I can't landscape to save my life*

...

Me: Okay, I could start leveling my Cotton Cookie and my Cocoa Cookie and my (other Epic Cookies I got early), but what if I just stick to the starter team till I can't go on.

...

Me: There's this Cookie Alliance thing that just came out in this new update....

Me: Forget it, I haven't even unlocked the Arena.

...

Me, scrolling through the Costume gallery: @end-this-gay-disaster once said Licorice Cookie's Pale Reaper Costume is just Devsisters covering him in cocaine and now I can't unsee it. It's their fault every time I see it I giggle like a middle schooler.

...

Me: Well, well, well, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions.

...

Me: Now that I can't be carried through the story by the starting team, I should put some serious thought in building a new one.

Eclair Cookie: *three (almost four) times promoted during his banner* *greatly recommended by meta*

Me: So anyway... *starts maxing Rye Cookie*

...

Me: I should watch out for these Cookies when I encounter them in the Arena: Legendaries, Ancients, Cottton Cookie, Herb Cookie and Moon Rabbit Cookie. As long as I avoid teams with those particular Cookies, me and my team should be a-okay.

Other players: *has at least one of them in their teams*

Me: *cries*

...

Me: I've being owned so many times for others' Cotton Cookies, I should just max mine.

Cotton Cookies: *becomes my best cookie overnight and carries my team*

Me: Turns out the meta is right, apparently.

...

Me: Should I just start doing the actual layout of my kingdom? So far I've only being throwing buildings around, it's kinda embarrasing...

Me: *trying to make a road* *messes up*

Me: Okay, let's- let's not talk about this ever again.

...

Me: *grabbing the Costume Gacha and shaking it* Why do you keep giving me Costumes for Cookies I don't have?!

...

Me: *adds Eclair Cookie to the Arena blacklist* Who would've thought? *still doesn't max him*

...

Me: *picking Raspberry Cookie* I swear it's nothing personal, Eclair Cookie. It's just that the heart wants what it wants and mine wants an all-lesbian team *looks at Cotton Cookie, Cocoa Cookie, Rye Cookie and Chili Pepper Cookie*

Me: *pointing at Cocoa Cookie* She gets a free pass because I got her Enchanting Night Costume and it's too pretty to be left in my ugly ass kingdom.

...

Cookie Run: Kingdom: *updates*

Me: Ooh! They added a new episode to the main story! The Dark Cacao Kingdom looks so neat! And there's a new Ancient! And there's more about Dark Choco Cookie!

Me: Too bad I'm still stuck in the Forgotten Academy.

...

~Me & Affogato Cookie: A Saga~

Affogato Cookie: *is released*

Me: Devsisters, how did you know I like them cunning, pretty, savvy in politics, Machiavellian, gender non-conforming, morally dubious, ambitious, with a silky voice, evil advicers of a king? It's not like I think he's neat, I just need a Bomber Cookie *immediately starts pulling for him*

Also me, after getting him: I don't trust this funky little Cookie *gesturing towards Affogato Cookie*, he just keeps appearing everywhere. Nevermind the game putting him on tasks to level him up, I think he's just trying to take over my kingdom.

Also, also me: Please, please, just take over my kingdom, Affogato Cookie. I cannot decorate.

Me, picking Affogato Cookie up: Haha, look at him. Little guy's so mad.

Me: Sure, I could max Affogato Cookie, but I also want him to just sit pretty and relax while I make everyone else do all the heavy lifting.

Me as well: I could accept Affogato Cookie's offer to eat sweets together, but we both know we would spend it by him trying to butter me up (unnecessary, he's already got me wrapped around his little finger at first sight) in order to carry out some scheme of his and me bullying him out of love.

Me: *crying* Why do I have to be stuck in chapter 7?! I wanna meet him in the main story already!

...

Me, meeting Black Raisin Cookie: Bro, it's that Cookie I've seeing shipped with Pure Vanilla Cookie, dunno why. She's very cool, should I build her?

Me: She would hate me, though, I really don't like raisins.

...

Me, meeting Healer Cookie: That's Pure Vanilla Cookie! I'm feel so smart, like when I solved A Case of Identity's mystery (from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes).

Me: I can see why he and Black Raisin Cookie would be shipped.

...

Me: Fine *puts down Raspberry Cookie*, if my Cookies are dying anyway, I might as well just bring Tea Knight Cookie in the team *refuses to look at Tea Knight Cookie's simp*

...

Me, trying to place a bridge over water: Why this bridge won't bridge?!

...

Me: *makes a crappy beach* *makes a crappy campsite* Well, it seems like my Cookies like them.

Me: *sees the rest of my kingdom: a bunch of buildings thrown around* I'm just gonna ignore that for now...

...

Me: Every time I look at my team, I feel it's like Tea Knight Cookie and his granddaughters in a bonding trip that's mostly them in a fighting competition. The winner is whoever has the highest killing count, and Cotton Cookie is winning.

...

Me: *breezes through Episode 7 and 8* Woah, I guess I underestimated my Cookies' growth, I wonder if I'll be able to complete the vanilla adventures.

My team: *dies in Castle in the Sky*

Me: Of course.

...

Me: *adds Cotton Cookie, Herb Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie to the Arena blacklist, again* It's so fucking annoying when other people heals, I swear.

...

Me: *shaking the Nether Gacha* Why won't you give me Dark Choco Cookie's dad?! I have to reunite the family!

...

April Fools' Day's Event:

Me: Gosh, I thought this was some gijinka thing when I saw Frost Queen Cookie's transformation on my dash, but it's even funnier than that.

Me: My country only celebrates el Día de los Santos Inocentes, so it's weird seeing this kind of event out of December.

...

Me: This new event is a good excuse to use Cookies I normally wouldn't.

...

Random Cookie: *runs*

Me: *crying* C-cute!

...

Me: I still have PTSD from fighting this Cookie in the Arena, but might as well *buys Moon Rabbit Cookie Fragments*

Moon Rabbit Cookie: *does anything*

Me: *crying* She's too cute!

...

Me: *blacklisting Caramel Arrow Cookie*

Me: *takes the Ancients off my Arena blacklist*

Me: *graylists Eclair Cookie, Moon Rabbit Cookie and Herb Cookie*

Me: Well, that's some weight left off my shoulders.

Me: But why those *gesturing at the Legendaries and Cotton Cookie* don't get any easier?

...

Me, entering my kingdom and seeing a DevNow notice: "Promo code"? Does this game have...? WAIT.

Me: *researches*

Me: *facepalms* Of fucking course.

...

Costume Gacha: *gives me a Costume for the Herb Cookie I don't have*

Me: You know what? Fuck you *starts grinding Herb Cookie's fragments*

...

Gacha: *shows I'm getting an Ancient Cookie*

Me: Dude, dude, this is new, don't you tell me...

Gacha: *gives me Pure Vanilla Cookie*

Me: Woohoo! My first Ancient ever! Nevermind needing a DPS, I gotta give you all my attention!

...

Me: Pfft, everybody looks so tiny besides him.

...

Me: I'm touch-averse, but I really, really want to hug Pure Vanilla Cookie. It's the only thing I can think of whenever I see him on my screen. He just looks so warm and soft and comfy, ugh! I feel like if I could hug I wouldn't need therapy ever again.

...

GingerBrave: *says something about their kingdom having no monarchy*

Me: Wait, I thought I was the queen here? It seems I'm just Architect Cookie, and extra who sucks at her job.

...

Me: Ooh, finally completed the Vanilla Kingdom Adventures, it wasn't that hard. Now on to the Hollyberry Kingdom!

My team: *immediately dies*

Me: Well, shit.

Me: Whatever, at least I finally unlocked the Cookie Alliance, now let's see what this is about...

My team: *immediately dies*

Me: Again? This is pretty acephobic, if you ask me.

...

Me: Pure Vanilla Cookie should have a Healer Cookie Costume, it's kind of weird he doesn't have one since the sprite/model already exists. Maybe to avoid spoilers? It's obvious, though.

Me: It'd make much easier comparing his height to other cookies if he didn't have his big ass cone (affectionate) on his head.

...

Me: You know what? I was hoping to get her on the gacha, but fuck it *buys 20 Parfait Cookie's fragments*

Me: *cries* She's so p-pretty!

Me: Each and every time I'm more convinced I just have a thing for Support Cookies *avoids looking at Eclair Cookie*

...

Gacha: *shows I'm getting an Ancient Cookie, again*

Me: Woah, it hasn't even been a week? I do need with my defense and attack *avoiding looking at Eclair Cookie* so if I get Hollyberry Cookie or Dark Cacao Cookie-

Gacha: *gives me Pure Vanilla Cookie, again*

Me: ... Promoting him is good, too.

...

Me: I got Herb Cookie and I was hoping to max him so I could have a Healing Cookie in the side, but now I already have Pure Vanilla Cookie, so...

...

Me: Okay, I'm seriously running out of ideas. Pure Vanilla Cookie is good, really, like a buffed version of Custard Cookie III, but my main DPS is somehow Cotton Cookie and there's no way I'm winning stages like this, I also need a Cookie to position in the middle. I have to step up my game!

Eclair Cookie: *4 times promoted* *meta* *middle*

Me: Fine, I'm gonna max you or whatever.

Me:

Me: First I'm maxing Caramel Arrow Cookie, though.

...

Me: Oh, this new update makes it so we can save our layouts.

Me, seeing my kingdom's layout: *cries*

...

Me: So Affogato Cookie now appears in Bonds, huh...

Me: *screeching* Should I just read it?! It's gonna take forever before I reach the Dark Cacao Kingdom! But it'll feel weird without the main story context, right?! But I want more content other than my headcanons! Aaargh!!

...

Me, after pulling 30 times at Cherry Blossom Cookie's banner and not getting her: Why won't you come home?! Everybody else would've at this point! *avoids looking at Frost Queen Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie*

...

Me: What would happen to my Cookies if I cover all the floor in water?

...

Me: Now that I finally got all Epic Cookies *avoids looking at Cherry Blossom Cookie*, only the Ancient (minus Pure Vanilla Cookie) and Legendary Cookies are left!

[anestiefel]

Is It Safe to Visit Belize Right Now?

Belize Safety: Where Tourists Should Not Go in Belize

Pier at the Grand Caribe Belize/Oyster

As of 2019 (the latest update at time of publishing this article in 2020), Belize has a level-two travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. For some perspective, that’s on par with France, Italy, the Dominican Republic, and Denmark. What does level-two mean? Simply that the U.S. government urges tourists and state employees in Belize to exercise increased caution. Tourists should avoid Belize City, specifically on the south side, where the Belize government declared a state of emergency in 2018, due to gang violence and crime. In better news, that specific security threat has passed and most tourists don’t spend any time in Belize City. If they do, it’s to get to the highly patrolled Municipal Airport or ferry landing (for small flights and speed boats out to the cayes) in the north and eastern section of Belize City.

Outside of Belize City, violent crime does impact tourists and ex-pats throughout the country. Local police don’t have the training or resources to respond quickly to criminal reports. Most crimes remain unresolved.

Common Types of Crime in Belize

Belize has a population of almost 400,000, and its murder rate is extremely high at 44 homicides per 100,000 people. This consistently puts it in the top five (fourth in 2019) countries with the most murder cases per capita. Violent crime does occasionally impact tourists and ex-pats living in Belize. Sexual assault, home invasions, armed robberies, and murders do happen, though most of this activity is gang and drug trafficking related. More minor crimes include pickpocketing and sexual harassment. Cash theft and credit card fraud are prevalent around San Pedro.

LGBTQ travelers should note that the Belizean government decriminalized homosexuality in 2016, but there continues to be hostility towards individuals (especially men) who openly identify themselves as LGBTQ. Tourist-friendly areas, including San Pedro Town and Ambergris Caye remain relatively open and welcoming to the community. Outside of tourist areas, men have reported incidents of verbal or physical assault for openly displaying their sexuality.

Tips for Staying Safe in Belize

Beach at the Coco Beach Resort/Oyster

Most visitors to Belize leave the country without encountering any crime or safety incidents. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. Practice common sense that you’d take with you everywhere in the world. Leave valuables at home (or in the hotel safe), don’t use ATMs after dark, and avoid drinking to the point of intoxication in public. The U.S. State Department offers the following tips for all Belize visitors:

Be aware of your surroundings.

Avoid walking or driving at night.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.

Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

Review the Crime and Safety Report for Belize.

U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations.

Natural Disasters and Health Concerns in Belize

Belize’s hurricane season normally runs from June to November (though climate change is shifting weather patterns, and the season may arrive earlier or run longer). While in Belize, it’s smart to monitor local and international weather updates from the National Hurricane Centre. The last major hurricane to impact Belize was Hurricane Richard in 2010.

As a tropical destination, Belize is susceptible to malaria, Dengue fever, and Zika virus. These illnesses are spread by mosquito bites, so come prepared with travel-size insect repellent. Wear long-sleeves and pants during high mosquito activity times, such as at dusk, dawn, and after rainstorms.

Serious injuries or illnesses normally require evacuation to another country with larger hospital facilities, likely to Mexico or the United States. Travelers may want to purchase travel insurance that includes evacuation policies when visiting Belize.

Planning a Trip to Belize? Check Out These Hotels:

Portofino Beach Resort

Pool at the Portofino Beach Resort/Oyster

Owners Jan and Sandra run this romantic San Pedro hideaway. Portofino Beach Resort has 16 rooms (many are cabana-style units with thatched roofs) and one large mansion for families. Getting to the resort is half the fun, as you’ll arrive and depart by boat. The owners call the vibe “barefoot elegance” and the quiet property is surrounded by palms and ocean views. The lovely pool overlooks the sea, the restaurant and bar have both indoor and outdoor seating areas, and the beach features firmly packed white sand and a swimming pier. Active types can take advantage of the free kayaks and snorkel gear, or the professional dive shop. You gotta see it to Belize it.

Pricing for Portofino Beach Resort

Price Dates

Edit dates

See more prices

See less prices

See all prices

See less prices

Turtle Inn

Pool at the Turtle Inn/Oyster

Francis Ford Coppola’s (yep, the famous director) Turtle Inn is up and running after a 2017 fire. It’s still an intimate luxury resort set alongside a beautiful stretch of the Caribbean Sea near Placencia. The resort offers a peaceful setting and Balinese-style private cottages and villas — each with a fabulous indoor/outdoor bathroom. Three restaurants, two bars, two outdoor pools, and a number of guided tours and excursions make the resort feel much bigger than it actually is. Most guests are here to unplug and unwind.

Pricing for Turtle Inn

Price Dates

Edit dates

See more prices

See less prices

See all prices

See less prices

The Lodge at Chaa Creek

Pool at The Lodge at Chaa Creek/Oyster

Though Belize is celebrated for its coast and island cayes, you shouldn’t sleep on the rain forest interior. The Lodge at Chaa Creek is one of Belize’s first eco-lodges. It combines luxury facilities and the option to book a charming budget cabin accommodation at Macal River Camp. Modern amenities include an infinity pool with rain forest views, a full-service spa, and riverside setting. Activities are the name of the game, with everything from horseback riding to nature walks to cacao classes. Oh, and there are treetop villas if you want to sleep among the birds in the canopy.

Pricing for The Lodge At Chaa Creek

Price Dates

Edit dates

See more prices

See less prices

See all prices

See less prices

You’ll Also Like:

8 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Belize

The Safest Destinations in Latin America and Why You Should Visit Them Now

The Best Time to Visit Belize

  The post Is It Safe to Visit Belize Right Now? appeared first on Oyster.com.

from Oyster.com https://www.oyster.com/articles/is-it-safe-to-visit-belize-right-now/ Publish First on IFTTT

[rickcaleb82787-blog]

What Is Actually A Slab Press

Occasionally it's challenging to evaluate an activity. Always choose a luxury white colored food preparation delicious chocolate to avoid troubles and take terrific treatment certainly not to get too hot when liquefying it. White delicious chocolate serves additionally for color contrast in ornament, producing a remarkable result when it is actually put over darker histories. He chronicles the group's finances diligently on Channel (their finances is around $100,000), floating suggestions on prospective revenue streams and also methods (" including food vehicles, relocating the beer tent closer to the arena, establishing a Farmer's Market up inside our gateways") as well as illustrating the thought process behind jersey styles (the design is actually a topographical map of Kingston). An EH Nightclub is a team of people who fulfill when a month for more information about concerns facing people today: personal and residence protection; household connections and human growth; foods as well as nourishment; the monitoring of household sources; management; and clothes and fabrics. More advice on playing, assisting in, and also designing matrix video games may be discovered in the Source Game Construction Package (MaGCK) Consumer Overview, offered as a pdf download coming from The Video game Crafter. For example, many individuals completely not known to on their own reside and also feed from the life-force (energy) of other people. Because instance, silownia-twojblog.info there is actually no necessity being worn out ever again considering that in today times the delightful flash games are actually around for every some of the video gaming enthusiasts like every person else. Allen outscored Kansas Urban area 7-5 in both preseason video games along with 7 various players slashing for the Americans, a great indicator. However, in case you participate in activities coming from the offline setting you'll need to get video game CD or DVD however it will certainly demand that you have free space as portion of your harddrive or even possibly you will be actually unable to put together your motorcycle ready the house pc. Yet in order to try out motorcycle activity online you would certainly as if flash based internet browser. Nonetheless, if you want to offer him the shadowy associations The Dark Knight Rises appointed the character, you could wish to take the alternative individual trait Dim-Dweller. For daily cooking food as well as most of the recipes for darker delicious chocolate, opt for one along with around fifty% cacao solids. Neither was this the end of the day's bad job, for St Antoine thus shouted as well as danced his upset blood stream up, that it boiled again, on hearing when the day approached that the son-in-law of the despatched, yet another of individuals's insulters and adversaries, was actually coming into Paris under a shield 5 hundred sturdy, in mounties alone.

The cash reports released Monday dealing with Sept 4 via October 1 ended with $782,000 in cash money on hand, matched up to Pearce's $1.254 million. The exact same source suches as Skin layer Lotion 01 through DOCTOR Jackson, a time cream with baobab, shea butter and marula oil. Great Glass Properties: fifty Modern Classics. Waldorf believes that Dove and also Olay create superb body system laundry products that strip less crowds and also proteins from the skin layer as well as leave the skin much better moisturized than most others. And it seems to be rather apparent that creating it harder to eliminate someone is a good thing because it might lead to some life-saving pondering or a victim who has time to escape untouched or along with less serious traumas. Keep in mind, there can be 21 gamers on the active roster for the very first month of the time just as long as their increasing wages stay under the compensation hat ($ 13,470). Those that chose to intensely convey their pessimism, opted for to certainly not live in the lighting of their soul as well as selected to live an unbalanced way of living.

[keijay-blog]

New Post has been published on https://cookingtipsandreviews.com/5-natural-cocoa-powders-that-put-the-supermarket-s/

5 Natural Cocoa Powders That Put the Supermarket S...

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "makemoneyq-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "cooking"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "Kitchen"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "51fe4d035c7af8dc5928e6f5e5b79c4e"; amzn_assoc_default_browse_node = "284507"; amzn_assoc_rows = "4"; amzn_assoc_design = "text_links";

Low-fat natural cocoa powder (second from right) tends to be duller in color than higher-fat versions. [Photographs: Vicky Wasik]

I’m not usually one for kitchen hacks, but sometimes there really is one simple trick that can change your life. If you’re a baker, anyway! And it’s as easy as this: Stop baking with low-fat cocoa powder. Because, unless you’re a cocoa enthusiast, I guarantee the cocoa sitting on your shelf right now is low-fat.

But upgrade your cocoa powder, and in one fell swoop your favorite cakes will suddenly taste more aromatic and rich, your cookies will be less crumbly and more flavorful, and your hot cocoa will be bolder and more velvety. I could go on (I haven’t even talked about ice cream and fudge), but I think you get the idea.

In the realm of chocolate, fat is flavor, so why settle for brands that skimp?

To fully appreciate the answer, it’s important to understand what cocoa powder is: the slightly acidic mass of dry matter left behind after the oily cocoa butter is extracted from cocoa beans that were previously fermented and roasted for maximum flavor.* So the resulting powder will vary depending on the type of cocoa bean involved, its quality, how long it was fermented, how darkly it was roasted, and how much of its fat was removed. That means that the flavor, color, and richness of natural cocoa powder will vary from brand to brand.

* For Dutch-process cocoa, the process is exactly the same, but an alkalizing agent is added to neutralize the cocoa’s natural acidity.

The FDA stipulates that cocoa powder must contain at least 10% cocoa butter, so most brands squeak by with the bare minimum required to meet that legal qualification. Cocoa butter is expensive, so the more they can squeeze out, the lower the final cost. But the more cocoa butter they extract, the greater the concentration of cocoa solids, which are fibrous, starchy, and less aromatic—characteristics that can make desserts seem chalky, dry, and bland.

In the olden days, that’s all home cooks had to work with, and, while there’s something to be said for their ingenuity, we don’t face those same limitations today. Anyone can hop online and choose from an array of natural cocoas that offer a better balance of flavor and fat. But wading through that huge number of options would be a full-time job, and that’s where I step in. After baking and tasting my way through more than a dozen different brands, I’ve narrowed the list down to my top five natural cocoa powders.

In a simple chocolate sheet cake, these brands provided an outstanding combination of flavor, color, richness, and aroma. Compared with the same cake made with low-fat cocoa powder, the difference was almost comical. When compared with each other, on the other hand, their individual nuance was all but lost to the competing flavors of butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the cake. However, in less complex recipes, such as a basic chocolate pudding or a mug of hot cocoa, the character of each cocoa powder came through loud and clear. For me, one cocoa in particular stood out above the rest, but you may feel otherwise depending on your own go-to applications.

Consider this list a springboard for jumping into natural cocoa powder beyond the standard supermarket fare, and a way to add life to your favorite recipes without reinventing the wheel.

Gerbs

Don’t be fooled by the low-budget packaging and goofy-sounding name—Gerbs Natural Cocoa Powder is absolutely legit (the company is a retail vendor for Barry Callebaut), with a fat content of around 39%.

It has a rich chocolate aroma that’s both classic and complex, super chocolaty up front but with an undercurrent that reminded me of dried figs: undeniably fruity, yet simultaneously earthy and deep. What struck me most was its aroma, which wafts up from the bag and into your nose like some scene from a cartoon. Those qualities make it a versatile cocoa for baking—bright enough to pair with light and fruity desserts, but dark and aromatic enough for satisfyingly intense brownies and hot chocolate. When all the testing was done, this was the brand I reordered for myself, a good all-around option that’s sure to play nice in any recipe that calls for natural cocoa.

Sunfood

Despite a tawny color that’s much lighter than the packaging suggests, there’s nothing pale about the flavor of Sunfood Organic Cacao Powder.

This cocoa brings a lot of personality to the table, with an aroma reminiscent of dried fruit or an oaky wine, something a little woodsy but sharp—just the right acidity to cut through its fat content of around 40%. Some bakers may find it a bit too distinctive for a classic hot cocoa, but it’ll sing in fancier applications, like a chocolate sourdough, or as the dusting for some high-end truffles. Reach for it in any recipe that calls for natural cocoa, especially those you intend to pair with fruit or wine.

Penzeys

For many bakers, Penzeys Natural High Fat Cocoa is the original gateway to the realm beyond supermarket cocoa, and there’s a reason it’s a cult fave among serious bakers.

This cocoa is as earthy and dark as it looks, with a classic cocoa flavor that’s rich and smooth. While not as fruity or acidic as some of the others, it has a pleasant mustiness about it, like nutmeg or freshly cut hay. It’s as versatile as they come, and perfect for whatever desserts you have in mind.

Herbal Secrets

With a fat content right at 50%, Herbal Secrets isn’t just the richest cocoa powder of the bunch; it’s the richest I’ve ever tried. So if you’ve struggled with a family recipe for chocolate cake that always turns out crumbly and dry, this is your magic bullet.

Its flavor is earthy, mellow, and supremely rich, but with a slight sourness or medicinal edge, almost like anise. While perhaps not as versatile as the other options, this aptly named cocoa has an herbal quality that would pair beautifully with nuts and spices, funkier drinks (like Daniel’s Fernet-spiked Irish coffee), or a minty grasshopper pie.

Pure Natural Miracles

With a fat content of just 14%, Pure Natural Miracles is the leanest cocoa powder of the bunch, but it’s a worthy contender.

It has a no-frills chocolate flavor that’s super straightforward, but more nuanced than that of typical supermarket cocoa. While not as fruity as some of the other options, it has a hint of mellow acidity along the lines of golden raisins, something simple and bright. Because of its lean formula, this cocoa wouldn’t be my first choice for drinking, but I think it would be a workhorse cocoa for bakers who’d like to step up their game without straying too far from the familiar flavors and textures of supermarket cocoa.

Ultimately, picking “the best” natural cocoa is a highly subjective decision that depends on personal preference as much as usage. The true worth of these cocoas isn’t in their tasting notes or cocoa butter percentages, but in their ability to help us understand how natural cocoa affects the flavor and texture of dessert. If nothing else, it’s an excuse to pick out something new and start baking!

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "bottom"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "makemoneyq-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "cookware"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "b45319dac495d29e17b5eff312392025"; Source link

[fitness-and-health-blog2]

Polyphenols: What are they?

Here’s a little-known fact: Plants are full of naturally occurring chemicals called polyphenols that benefit your health.  

There are more than 500 kinds of polyphenols found throughout nature. Also, dietary polyphenols are important compounds found in lots of the natural foods you probably already eat.

Fruits, vegetables, lectin-free cereal grains, tea, coffee, and even wine all have polyphenols. But, these helpful compounds aren’t just the building blocks of good-for-you, plant-based chemicals, they’re also filled to the brim with antioxidants.1 Furthermore, polyphenols give fruit, berries, and vegetables their bright colors and contribute to the bitterness, flavor, aroma, and oxidative power of these great natural foods.

Now, the number of polyphenols in a plant food can vary depending on where it’s harvested, how it’s grown, how it travels from farm to shelf, and how ripe it was when picked or eaten. Even the way you cook a vegetable can change its polyphenol count.

So, what foods are high in polyphenols?

Well, vegetables and fruits tend to be pretty high in polyphenols. And certain herbs and spices also contain polyphenols. Check out the following lists to see which foods are high in polyphenolic content.

In-Season Fruits: avocado, blueberries, raspberries, black elderberries, blackberries, strawberries, green bananas

Vegetables: leafy greens, onions, shallots, olives, Jerusalem artichokes, broccoli, asparagus, carrots

Nuts & seeds: chestnuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, walnuts, ground flaxseed

Beverages: coffee, tea, red wine

Fats: dark chocolate, virgin olive oil, sesame oil

Spices and seasonings: basil, curry powder, ginger, cumin, cocoa powder, saffron, oregano, rosemary, cloves, peppermint, star anise, celery seed, sage, spearmint, thyme, cinnamon.

In addition to all of these foods high in polyphenols are supplements like Vital Reds by Gundry MD. Adding supplements to your diet is the easy and efficient way to get more polyphenols and nutrients into your diet. But before getting ahead of ourselves, let's focus on the polyphenols found in foods.

Exploring the Health Benefits of Polyphenols

Can the foods listed above really help you when it comes to your health?  

Well, polyphenols get their reputation based on their antioxidant power. Antioxidants are known in the health world for their remarkable ability to combat cell damage. Here are just a few ways in which polyphenols might help your health...

Insulin Regulation

For starters, polyphenols might help support insulin sensitivity and even slow down the rate at which your body absorbs sugar. You probably know that insulin regulates the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in your blood. And a lack of insulin can cause some serious health issues.

But, according to one study, flavan-3-ols (a type of polyphenol) could help lower insulin resistance.2 Another review suggests people who consumed the more flavonoids had a lower risk of disease.3

Also take cocoa, for instance. It’s an incredibly rich source of flavonoids. A study found that those who consumed cocoa decreased the potential for insulin resistance.4  Note that unprocessed cocoa comes straight from the cacao plant. There’s no added sugar and it is not processed in any way — so, this doesn’t mean a candy bar would do the trick. Stick to unprocessed cocoa.

Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s response injury or infection. Basically, it’s a localized physical reaction in which part of the body could become puffy, reddened, swollen, hot, and sometimes painful.

In a recent study, US researchers found that higher levels of lignans (another type of polyphenol) in the urine of adult participants were associated with lower levels of levels of inflammation.5 Why is this important? Since long-term inflammation has been associated with certain diseases, like heart health issues, lignans could be really helpful.

Anti-aging Benefits

As you age, your body is forced to deal with damaging changes to the cells and tissues that make it up. Sadly, that can mean increases in the risks of diseases and certain health issues. Of course, a major component of aging is oxidative stress.

But your body is always defending itself against oxidative stress. The thing is, the rate of damage can grow when your body’s natural ability heal itself slows down.

So, an antioxidant-rich diet could be effective in reducing the harmful effects of aging.

Polyphenols, however, might help protect your skin from environmental factors like the sun’s nasty UV rays.  

In fact, some polyphenols like resveratrol – one of the polyphenols in red wine – have properties that could help protect your skin. And given the latest mounting research, polyphenols really could be considered anti-aging compounds.6  

Heart Health Issues

It turns out, polyphenols might help lower your blood pressure as well. Here’s why: the endothelium is a thin membrane that lines your heart and your blood vessels. And endothelial cells release substances that regulate the relaxation and contraction of your blood vessels. They also help monitor blood clotting.

Now, research shows a potential connection between polyphenols and fewer incidences of heart health problems. In fact, a polyphenol-rich diet might even be linked to lower risk of a decrease in blood flow.7

Weight Loss and Maintenance

Finally, upping your polyphenol intake could also help if you’re worried about regulating your weight. In a recent study, researchers discovered a higher polyphenol intake was related to lower Body Mass Index and waist circumference.8

But these results aren’t just important because people generally want to be slim, they’re significant because obesity is directly linked to higher risk factors when it comes to several chronic conditions.

What are Other Ways to Get Your Polyphenols?

Well, there are many different kinds of polyphenol supplements out there, believe it or not. If you read some supplement labels, you might notice ingredients like grape seeds, grape skin, or olive pulp. And those are all great sources of polyphenol content.  

One of the best supplements on the market is called Vital Reds. Now, Vital Reds harnesses the power of 34 polyphenol-rich superfruits with natural fat-burning ingredients and probiotics. It can help support higher energy levels, boost your digestive health, and even promote healthier skin.

The Takeaway

In the end, polyphenols offer lots of health benefits. Of course, you want to consume as many polyphenols in their natural form as possible. And there are lots of options — like the Mediterranean Diet — if you’re truly looking to up your polyphenol game. But, if you’re serious about increasing your polyphenol consumption, try adding a supplement to your food regimen. Your body will be so glad you’ve started to make your health a number one priority.

Sources

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/79/5/727/4690182  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5572601/

http://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(13)00089-7/abstract

https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/141/11/1982/4743335

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696038/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24791917

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3513903/  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5518804/