#ITS JUST SO MANY GOOD VIBES CRAMMED INTO A COUPLE HOURS

[pixiecaps]

i cannot expressive enough how much fun and entertaining this qsmp event has been. i mean shove all the little guys in a contained space and make them interact who would’ve thought thats a content goldmine. im just so happy this prison event happened i feel that sense of community and seeing so many less active players log on and be able to fuck around for a couple hours is so so cool. as someone whos been missing the spanish speakers its so heartwarming to see luzu, missa, roier, mariana, and quackity log on and have all these shenanigans with others and again shoutout to luzu from choosing to return and continue his story with arin and give us what he did these past two streams. its been incredible. im just so so happy for the prison event we get so much cool content from it like slime meeting sunny today and phil and missa fucking around and the whole ghost lore that everyone is learning about and ALL THE PRISON ACTIVITIES ARE SO FUNNY AND ENGAGING. its a rlly good time and yeagh

[timetoresurface]

I Only Wanna Talk to You / NJM

idol!au Jaemin x Y/N 4k coffee shop scenario where you work at a coffee shop, and you’re facinated by a regular boy who always orders the same drink // no warnings

A broke college girl. That’s it. That’s how you would describe yourself. You weren’t top of your class, and you weren’t the life of the party. You were just you while struggling to make ends meet. There was absolutely nothing special about you. Even the coffee shop where you worked part-time was nothing out of the ordinary. You did like the place, and you did like to work there as you could study for your upcoming finals when the place was deserted. 

There was always one customer who knew when the coffee shop was empty. It was his daily mission to come visit you when no one else was around. His name was Jaemin, and that’s all you knew about the blonde-haired guy. He never really spoke to you except to order his iced americano, but he didn’t even have to order as you knew his preference by heart. 

Some months ago, you had asked one of your co-workers if they had ever seen Jaemin on their shift, but the answer was no. Somehow he only seemed to come in when you were working, and you didn’t know what to do with that information. Yes, he was handsome, but so were other regular customers. He wasn’t extraordinary compared to the others, but somehow he was the one you looked forward to the most. 

“Hello!” Jaemin said when he entered the small coffee shop. You looked up from your books and gave him a tired smile. You had been cramming French vocabulary for the past two hours, and you were honestly getting nowhere. Why the hell did you choose languages? Couldn’t you just study something useful like economics or something?

“Iced americano?” You asked him while already putting his order into the machine. He did always order the same thing.

“Am I getting predictable?” He laughed while he payed for his drink. 

“You have been ordering the same thing for months, and now you’re asking me if you’re predictable?” You teased him effortlessly. This was the first time you shared more than the formality of ordering drinks. 

“So that’s a yes, I assume.” The boy’s expression was pleasant, with a hint of wistfulness while the glimmer in his eyes betrayed the dreamer. You stood there staring at each other while he was assessing you. He smiled with his lips, but it’s his eyes and its radiance that makes you smile back at him. He simply stood there watching you while you made his drink. 

“Here you go.” You said while you handed him his drink. He gladly accepted but stayed frozen in his spot. You eyed him suspiciously, trying to communicate with your eyes only, afraid of scaring him away if you said something out loud.

“Is it okay if I sit here? I’m in need of some company.” He asked you softly, his voice barely a whisper. He gestured to the only seat close to the bar, coincidentally opposite from where you were studying.

“Of course.” You responded while you seated yourself behind your books again. It was hard to focus when you felt the eyes of Jaemin focused on your every movement, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“What are you studying?” He asked you after a few minutes of watching you. He did say he was in need of some company.

“Some French vocabulary for my speaking exam next Monday.” You explained to him, keeping your eyes focused on your notes. 

“Bonjour!” He immediately said, and you smiled fondly at him while looking up at him. “That’s all I know, though.” He finally confessed, satisfied with your attention.

This weird situation continued for a couple of weeks. He would come in when no one else was in the room, silently drinking his iced americano next to you while you were studying something. You weren’t always studying because Jaemin made sure you took a break every half hour so he could talk to you. You learned he was a kind soul in need of some attention, and you didn’t mind giving it. It was easy to talk to him, and it was nice to have someone keeping you company. 

You had gotten so used to him that you even missed him a little bit on the days he was too busy to stop by. He would come over the next week to apologize, but you always told him work should come first. You actually didn’t know what he did for a living, but you had never really asked. Perhaps he was a back-up dancer. He did have the body to be a dancer, and there was an entertainment company close by. That you knew, but you didn’t know what the name of the company was and if Jaemin was entangled with it. 

“How is my favourite barista today?” Jaemin asked the moment he entered the coffee shop. You instantly smiled by merely his presence, and you were starting to worry about your sanity. It is never a good sign to be affected by someone’s appearance alone. 

“I’ve been good, actually. I passed all my finals, so I’m delighted.” You told him proudly, and he immediately mirrored your smile. 

“I knew you would.” He simply said while he seated himself on his chair. He was the only one allowed to sit in this chair during your shift. When people moved toward that specific spot, you quickly moved it aside or threw an empty box on top of it. You actually don’t know when you had started doing so, but it was now what you did.

“What would you like to drink?” You asked him while already grabbing everything for his iced americano. 

“The usual.” He simply said, and you suddenly noticed the dark circles underneath his eyes. He actually looked tired and a little bit lost.

“Coming right up.” You cheerfully said before finishing his drink. You didn’t put his order into the system. You did consider him a friend, and a sad friend deserves a free drink.

“Are you going to celebrate?” He asked you. He was always the one who asked questions. It was always you who was talking, and right now, you kind of felt bad. He looked drained, and you hadn’t even asked him why. It has been weeks, and you barely knew anything about the boy who brightened your shift. 

“I’m not sure. Some friends want to go to a new club downtown, but I’m exhausted. I’ve been working extra shifts, and my head requires some bad reality tv.” You told him, putting the drink before him. “Also, I feel like you might need my attention today.” You finished saying while he took a large sip from his iced drink.

“I’m always in need of your attention.” He confessed, looking straight at you. He didn’t seem to be joking, he actually seemed to mean it. 

“How are you feeling?” You asked him softly while putting your hand on his forehead, checking if he might have a fever or something. This was actually the first time you had touched him. Well, your fingers often brushed against his when giving him his drink, but you had never touched him so freely.

“Why? Do I look that bad?” He asked you with a small smile that almost didn’t reach his eyes. The spark in his eyes while smiling was your favourite thing about him, and it hurt you that it wasn’t there today. 

“You always look bad, but today exceptionally terrible.” You teased him softly with your hand still on his forehead. He didn’t say anything, but he did close his eyes at your touch. You both stayed like that for a couple of seconds, ignoring the awkward vibes that were coming off you. 

“Are you alright?” You asked him after you finally removed your hand from his face. He opened his eyes, and all you could see was the pain. He tried to give you a small smile, but he couldn’t fool you. Over the past couple of months, you might not have learned a lot from what he said, but you learned a lot about his body language. You could tell apart his fake smiles from the real heartwarming ones.

“I have been better.” He confessed while fiddling with his drink. He hadn’t even taken a sip yet, and that’s how you knew he was far from okay. The boy usually inhales his iced americano. 

“What’s going on? You can tell me.” You tried to pry out of him, but he didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk much. 

“I know, but I don’t want to burden you.” He confessed after taking a sip from his drink. Finally. 

“You’re not a burden, Jaemin.” You told him softly, you leaned on the counter while your head rested in your hands. You didn’t have to study anything today, so Jaemin had your full attention. 

“Are you working tomorrow?” He asked you, avoiding your eyes. It was the first time you had seen him so shy and small. You really wanted to take away his pain, but you didn’t know how.

“No. I think I deserve some time off. Why?” You explained to him, but he didn’t seem too happy about it. Jaemin sighed while he jutted his bottom lip out, redirecting the air-flow to his bangs. For a brief moment, his now blue hair fanned upwards before resettling just over his eyes.

“I have a free day tomorrow, and I wanted to hang out here.” He confessed, still avoiding your eyes like the plague. You had never seen him like this, and you started to worry. 

“We can always hang out somewhere else?” You asked him insecurely. You had only seen Jaemin in the safe space of this coffeeshop. You might consider each other as friends, but it was a very limited friendship. Would you be friends if he hadn’t come to your part-time job all these months ago? You liked to think so, but he wasn’t a college student like you. Where would you have met? He also didn’t seem to go out much, so you couldn’t have met a bar or anything. You thought about this more than would’ve considered healthy. 

“I don’t want to bother you on your day off.” His hands went through his hair, and you just wanted to hold his hand and tell him everything would be fine.

“You’re not a bother, Jaemin. How many times do I have to explain that to you?” You said softly but determined. You wanted to see the smile on his face again, and you didn’t care what you needed to do to succeed.

“I know. I’m sorry.” He whispered while he covered his face with his hands. “Honestly, I don’t know why I’m so down today.” He said, and you stayed silent so he could gather his thoughts.

“I don’t feel like doing much tomorrow.” He finally said while his eyes searched for yours. You were already looking at him with worry in your eyes. You both stayed silent again, just looking at each other. He suddenly seemed determined to take all of you in, like it would be the last time he would see you in this light.

“We can watch bad reality tv at my place. I don’t feel like doing much either.” You told him, and a small smirk made its way on his face.

“I’ve never watched a reality show.” He confessed after finishing his drink. You quickly grabbed his cup and threw it out.

“I can teach you.” You told him excitedly, and you could feel the mood lighten by your enthusiasm. His newfound energy by your actions made him the Jaemin you had gotten to know and love.

“I’ll bring the snacks.” He said cutely, but you rolled your eyes at him. He knew you didn’t like him acting cute. You had told him it was because you thought it was embarrassing, but in reality, it was because you found him irresistible when he acted cutely.

“Just bring yourself. That’s more than enough.” You told him with a wink, and his cheeks flushed red.

“Can I have your number?” He suddenly asked you, and your eyes must have mirrored your panic. “So you can text me the address.” He quickly said, trying to make it less awkward. It was too late though, you both were red in the face and avoiding each other’s eyes. You quickly grabbed a piece of paper and wrote your number on it together with your address.

“Here you go.” You said when you handed him the piece of paper. Your hands softly brushed against his when he took the paper out of your hands, and you had to ignore the way your body reacted to him. It was the first time you had felt something like this with him, and it actually scared you because it had been a while since you had started to like someone. Maybe you needed him as much as he seemed to need his coffee breaks with you.

Jaemin: Hi! This is Jaemin. Is it too soon to come over?  Y/N: You’re always welcome. Jaemin: Good because I’m already in front of your apartment building. Y/N: What if I said it wasn’t okay for you to come over at this early hour? Jaemin: I would have cried.

You immediately rushed down to let Jaemin in. You were so happy you had woken up super early to get ready for your day with Jaemin. You didn’t actually know if he would spend his whole free day at your place, but you wouldn’t mind his company.

The moment he had left the coffee shop with your number and address scribbled on a tiny piece of paper, you had started to reflect on some things. You wanted to make him comfortable, and you wanted to be the reason he smiled. Not just because his smile was beautiful and made you feel warm all over, but because you also genuinely cared for him. Somewhere along the coffee’s you had made for him, you had started to grow a soft spot for the colorful boy with the bright smile and dreamy eyes.

“Hey, friend!” You yelled at Jaemin, who was outside of your building. You opened the door further to reveal yourself to Jaemin, and you wanted to replay the scene of him spotting you over and over. He had looked a bit worried at his phone, maybe because you hadn’t answered his last text, but all troubles vanished from his face the moment he had heard you.

“Y/N!” He sighed happily before skipping over to your side. You held open the door, and he quickly made his way inside. He wore sweats and a big sweater to hide his body. His face was covered by a black cap, but you could still see the outlines of his extremely sharp jaw. Has he always had such a perfectly sculpted face?

“You don’t need to cry today. I’m going to take care of my sad friend.” You told him while you pushed the elevator button.

“I'm already less sad when I’m near you.” He told you cutely while taking off his cap, revealing his blue hair. You were stuck for a moment, but the elevator doors saved you from a very awkward situation.

“You’re so cliché.” You told him while rolling your eyes. Both of you entered the small elevator, and your arms touched while you were simply standing next to each other. You felt your ears turning red, so you quickly covered them with your hair. If Jaemin noticed, he didn’t say anything. 

“Welcome to my crib.” You said when you successfully entered the code of your apartment. It was weird having Jaemin inside of your safe space, but not the wrong kind of weird. It felt like he had been here before, and he quickly made himself comfortable by taking his shoes off.

“Your place is nice.” He said while he seated himself on your couch. You softly thanked him before retreating to the kitchen. You had bought all the ingredients to make Jaemin a nice iced americano, and his favourite sweet snack. 

“You didn’t have to.” He said when he saw you entering the living room with your hands holding up a tray filled with Jaemin’s favourite things.

“It’s the least I can do when you have already blessed me with your presence.” You teased him after you seated yourself next to him. This might be the closest you had ever been to him, but you didn’t mind. He smelled extremely lovely, and you had to force yourself to focus on something other than him.

The rest of the days was filled with you and Jaemin watching tv and talking through half of the episodes. You hadn’t noticed Netflix had asked you if you were still there because both you and Jaemin were so focused on each other, all else was forgotten or simply ignored. 

You had learned a great deal about Jaemin like where he was from and who he looked up to. He talked about his parents and his friends like they were the most important people on the planet. You had also shared some of your personal matters to the dreamy-eyed boy. He had listened to your stories about heartbreak and your love for languages with admiration in his eyes.

“What time is it?” Jaemin asked you when you had checked your phone in between a comfortable silence. You were surprised by the time and offered to order some food for the two of you, but Jaemin refused that you paid for the food. He had ordered something himself on his phone and told you to wait for 30 minutes. His phone kept lighting up with incoming messages and calls, but he ignored them all. He seemed to be used to it.

“You can answer your calls. I don’t mind.” You said when he ignored another incoming call. You were starting to worry, maybe it was someone important with terrible news. 

“They’re all from unknown numbers.” Jaemin simply said while shrugging his shoulders. 

“Did someone write your number on a public bathroom door or something?” You joked, but Jaemin didn’t seem to be amused by your comment. 

“Something like that.” He told you without looking in your direction. Something was bothering him, so it was automatically bothering you. 

“Jaemin, when will you tell me what’s going on?” You asked him softly while you touched his arm. He looked at your hand, but he didn’t seem to be pleased by your touch, so you removed it.

“Why are you so interested in me?” He asked harshly, and you could feel yourself losing him. Maybe you had asked him too many questions. Perhaps he didn’t consider you as a friend. You didn’t know, but it did make you feel inadequate and childishly insecure. 

“Can’t I be worried about a friend?” You whispered, afraid to scare him away if you raised your voice.

“Are we friends?” He asked you softly, and you could tell he was fighting an internal battle.

“What’s up with the sudden attitude?” You asked him forcefully. “If you don’t want to be my friend, I don’t need you in my house.” You told him while getting up. You took the tray with empty cups and plates back to the kitchen. You couldn’t understand why he was suddenly so defensive, but you did feel worried about him. This wasn’t the Jaemin that you knew, but did you actually knew the guy? You had only talked to each other in a random coffee shop where you would serve him his drink.

“Y/N?” Jaemin asked you. You heard him entering the kitchen, but you didn’t turn around. If he wanted to talk to you, he should speak up because you were done worrying about someone who didn’t want to be your friend in the first place. A connection between two people should be maintained by both of them, and not just one.

“I’m sorry, okay?” He whispered while standing next to you, helping you out with the dishes. You didn’t respond to his half-apology but accepted his help with the dirty cups. “I actually consider you as a friend, but it’s difficult.” He continued softly. 

“What’s difficult about us being friends?” You asked him, putting the cups in their rightful place before turning around to look at him. You were surprised by his appearance. In just a matter of minutes, he turned from a cheerful but tired boy into a broken man.

“Because I have a different lifestyle than yours. You don’t know how much I appreciate you and your innocent presence. Just being around you makes me forget about things, and you make me feel safe.” He started to explain, and you saw tears forming in his eyes. You couldn’t fight the lump in your throat, but you tried.

“I don’t feel appreciated at all. I have been worrying about you ever since I saw your tired eyes yesterday, and all I’ve tried to do is to make you smile again.” You told him while a single tear trailed over your cheek.

“I know.” He whispered. His hand found its way to your cheek and removed the lost tear. You leaned into his touch while you stared into his eyes. Tears were falling out of his eyes, but you tried to wipe them off with both of your hands. 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me what’s wrong, but please know I do care and I do worry about you.” You spoke gently. His head was dangerously close to yours, and you could feel his breath fanning over your face. Had he always been this handsome up close? 

You remove your hands from his face and look down at your shoes afraid that if you would stare any longer, you’ll ruin his beauty. He only takes his finger to lift up your had, so you could meet his eyes again. Although his eyes were a bit swollen and red, you notice the feelings behind them, as if he were longing for something. He touches his forehead to yours, and you could feel the warmth. One that you’ve never really experienced before. It fills you from head to toe with an indescribable feeling that only Jaemin could awaken in you.

He leans his head closer to yours, and his lips meet yours in a gentle but passionate kiss. The world around you slows. Your heart flutters, and you do kiss him back. His mouth was warm and soft, and he keeps kissing you while he put his hands on the back of your head. You pull back and smile. You lay your head on his shoulder while he massages the back of your head softly with his fingertips. 

“I could be here with you forever. I wish I didn’t have to leave.” Jaemin finally said after he kissed the top of your head. You pulled back to look into his eyes again. They had softened, and his smile did reach his eyes again, but there was still something bothering him.

“Don’t.” You whispered while you interlocked your fingers with his. His hands fell soft against yours, and their touch made you relax in an instant.

“Will you still be here when I tell you?” He asked you, displaying his insecurities in front of you in your small kitchen.

“I’m unsure about almost everything, but I’m sure I’ll stay by your side if you’d let me.” You told him honestly, earning a breathtaking, yet sad, smile. He looked at your intertwined hands and brought them up to his lips, kissing the back of your hand so fondly it made your heart skip a beat. At that moment, you knew you would do everything in your power to make the dreamy-eyed boy happy, and you wouldn't let him slip between your fingers. 

[master-sass-blast]

Release.

Hmmmmm... this thing is solid projection. Whoops.

Summary: You're exhausted. No matter what you do, you can't get enough rest to save your soul. You try to keep up with everything, try to not let the fatigue hinder you

--And then it all comes crashing down.

Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader.

Rating: T for depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and general angst-hurt/comfort vibes.

Set after “It’s Truly Magical,” but this one is special in that it doesn't directly impact the canon. It's sort of a special one-off.

Author’s Note: So, as some of you may have gathered from the tags and preamble, this fic is basically me venting my own frustration.

I've been dealing with some pretty wicked chronic fatigue for the better part of... coming up on a year now, actually. Wow. I didn't realize it'd been that long.

It's made life really hard for me, from everything to eating to doing chores to hanging out with friends to writing. We don't know what's causing it, and we're trying to take care of it through lifestyle changes and making sure I don't exert myself too much (we meaning me, my family, my fiance, and my doctor). There's been a few things that have helped, but by in large it's still been kicking my ass.

I know I was gone for a long time. Part of that was the fatigue making it impossible to write or post. To those of you who are still around, thank you -and I'm sorry. I'm trying my best, I promise.

If you're dealing with chronic fatigue or think you're dealing with chronic fatigue, just know that it's okay that you're tired. You're not lazy. You're not a failure. You're not going crazy. You're not a burden. Your body needs rest, you need rest, and you *deserve* to rest.

Here's a resource on chronic fatigue syndrome and what it looks like.

I hope you're all doing well. Stay safe and wear your mask.

Taglist: @marvel-is-perfection, @chromecutie, @girl-obsessed-with-things, @super-darkcloudstudent, @dandyqueen, @leo-writer

It creeps over you. It starts as a wispy, soft cloud, hanging over the horizon of your existence.

And then it grows. Larger, more oppressive. Until you’re fully immersed in it, with no sense of direction or how to get out.

 ***

 You’re not really sure you remember when it started. You’ve always been tired to some extent –anxiety, nightmares, and running on the X-Men schedule will do that to a person.

Exhaustion hits like a brick one day after training. You slump against the tiled wall in one of the shower stalls in the locker room. Water streams down your sweaty face and body while you struggle to make your eyes focused. Shit. I must have pushed too hard.

You manage to get yourself cleaned up and trudge back to yours and Piotr’s home at the back of Xavier’s property. You collapse onto the couch in the living room. Your limbs are stone, too heavy to drag another step. Your body throbs in time with your heartbeat. I need a nap. Just for a couple hours.

You only want to sleep for a couple hours.

You only mean to sleep for a couple hours.

You wake up at nine in the evening, to Piotr gently nudging you.

He tuts, fussing over you like a worried mother hen. “Are you feeling well, myshka?” He presses the back of his hand against your forehead. “You have slept for long time.”

“I’m fine,” you mumble, mind still cloudy with exhaustion. You force yourself to sit up. You jaw cracks when you yawn. “Just overdid it in training today.”

Your husband gently chides you, ushering you into the kitchen so you can eat. “It is important to replenish energy.”

You go straight to bed after eating and sleep for another ten hours.

 ***

 Part of you wonders ‘how did I let this happen? How did I let it get this bad?’

The other part of you wonders if you had any say in it at all.

 ***

 The fatigue starts seeping into other areas of your life as well. Training, grading, hanging out with friends, eating…

You’re so tired. You chalk it up to mission stress, to going too hard during training, to running on weird hours all the time.

You start sleeping through the day to cope. No matter how well you sleep at night or how much sleep you get, you’re always so fucking tired.

Piotr notices the change in your sleeping habits. Because of course he does. It’s ingrained into his very DNA to be an observant, loving nurturer.

He brings it up during dinner one night. “Are you doing alright, myshka?”

“What? Yeah. Of course.” You’d woken up from a nap a couple hours before, and you feel good for once. (You’ll crash a couple hours later.) “Why? What’s wrong?”

“You have been sleeping at odd hours,” Piotr says, stirring his soup with his spoon. “I just want to make sure you are not having mental troubles.”

“I’m fine, baby.” And, on that front, you are. You’ve got your meds, your support system, a home, creative outlets, and a fulfilling –if occasionally dangerous—job. “I’ve just been tired lately, is all. I think it’s the weird mission hours just putting my body clock out of whack.”

“You should try to stay on normal schedule, then,” Piotr points out. He frowns, concerned. “Is not good for mental health to keep odd hours.”

You bristle. You are trying, dammit. You push through training and grading and your obligations every single damn day, even if all you can do is collapse in bed afterwards. Who the hell is he to say that you’re not trying?! “I am, Piotr. You don’t have to micromanage me. I’m not one of your teens.”

Piotr recoils, blue eyes widening. He holds up his hands. “Easy, dorogoy. I am not trying to micromanage. I just want you to be healthy.”

You drop your gaze down to your bowl of soup. Your heart races in your throat. “Sorry.”

***

 It’s like being one of those houses infested with termites. You’re being consumed from the inside out. On the outside, you look fine. On the inside, you’re crumbling away like a sad, dry cookie left in the bottom of the cookie jar for five long, lonely months.

You’ve always been weird. You oscillate between outgoing and reclusive like nobody’s business. You’re a lot like Wade –somewhere between amusing and a nuisance to most of the adults, though most of the teens and kids like you.

(Piotr insists that it’s not true, that everyone likes you well enough, but you’ve never quite had the full faith to believe him.)

No one notices that you’re hurting. No one notices that something’s wrong. No one notices, no one notices, no one fucking notices—

But, to be fair, you hardly notice it yourself.

 ***

 You kind of start to lose your mind, if you’re being honest.

It’s hard enough to keep up with your workload with the mission scheduling –but being tired all the time slams the nail in the coffin. You manage to drag yourself to training on time because it’s mandatory, because it’s important, because it’s for the good of your team, and—

And everything else falls apart.

You spend countless late night hours on the couch cramming through your grading, because you needed to sleep earlier, and the deadline’s only looming closer, and you have to be productive, dammit—

More than once, you drag yourself up to bed when Piotr’s just getting up for the day.

He frowns, forehead creasing. “Myshka—”

“I had grading to do,” you mutter as you crawl back into bed.

He finishes buttoning up his shirt, then sits down next to you. The bedframe groans under his bulk. “This is not healthy, moya lyubov’.”

“I’m fucking working on it, Piotr!” you snap, glaring at your husband. “Just –leave me alone!”

He swallows hard, blue eyes shining with hurt. He looks like a kicked puppy.

You huff and slam your face into your pillow, mostly to hide the fact that you’re crying.

Piotr smooths your hair down, then kisses the back of your head. “Ya tebya lyublyu, myshka.”

You bite down on your pillow and cry harder.

 ***

 It’s more than just being tired.

It’s guilt. It’s enough guilt to fill an ocean. No amount of effort you make is good enough; no matter how hard you try you wind up failing. Or snapping at someone you love. Or being unable to do even the simplest shit.

There’s so much anger, too. At the world, at anyone who points out that you’re not doing well, at yourself. There’s a scream constantly behind your lips, trying to crack its way out of your chest.

You’re failing. You’re trying to scoop up handfuls of sand to keep an entire dune from consuming you, and the grains keep running through your fingers; it practically looks like you haven’t done anything at all, and you’re so fucking tired…

 ***

 The ‘house’ collapses over a load of dishes.

One load of fucking dishes.

It’s ridiculous.

You manage to drag yourself out of bed one morning, trying to get the haze that seems to be a permanent fixture in your mind to clear. You trudge downstairs, energy sapping out of you with every step you take.

You see last night’s dishes in the sink, waiting to be rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher.

It’s an easy task. The dishes aren’t all that dirty, and there aren’t that many of them.

And you can’t do it. You don’t have the energy. You’re just too fucking tired.

You failed.

You crumple to the floor, weeping against the wooden floorboards as the dam you’d been trying so hard to keep stable gives way. You scream, anger and guilt and frustration and self-loathing washing over you, crushing you beneath their weight. You clutch at your hair, seething as the past few months finally come to a head—

And then Piotr’s arms are around you. (Later, you’ll learn that he stopped back at the house to pick up a gradebook, which is why he was even around during the day in the first place.) He scoops you up, cradling you against his chest. “Myshka, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

You sob into his shirt, beyond words.

“Okay, okay.” He checks you over to make sure you’re not visibly injured, then carries you upstairs to bed.

You whimper when he tries to tuck you in. “No –I’ve got stuff to do—”

“It can wait,” he says, loving but firm. He gently tugs the comforter over you, then toes his shoes off before laying down next to you.

“It can’t,” you cry, even as he tugs you into his arms and tucks you against his chest. “It’s already waited for so long.”

“And it can wait longer.” He kisses your forehead. “It is okay, myshka. Rest.”

You snuffle and sob and gasp—

And, eventually, you fall asleep.

 ***

 You wake up to Piotr stroking your hair. You inhale sharply, blinking to cast the bleariness out of your vision. “What time is it?”

“About noon,” he says.

Your heart sinks. “Shit. I’ve got grading—”

He places his arm over your waist, holding you in place. “It can wait.”

“But—”

“You had breakdown this morning, myshka. Health comes first.” He gazes into your eyes, brow furrowing. “Talk to me, moya lyubov. Please. What is wrong?”

Your heart rips into infinitesimal pieces at seeing him so worried –and then you start crying again. “I can’t…” You squeeze your eyes shut and buy your face against his chest. “I can’t. I can’t do it. No matter how much sleep I get, or I don’t get, or how much I exercise or don’t exercise, or what I eat or –any of it. I’m so tired, Piotr.” You let out a choked sob. “I’m just so tired, and I keep failing—”

Piotr rubs your back and kisses the top of your head. “It’s okay, myshka. It’s okay.”

***

 Eventually, you settle again. You’re snuggled against Piotr’s chest, sniffling and sighing while he strokes your hair.

It’s not a bad place to bed.

“How long?” he asks, voice quiet and gentle. “How long have you felt tired?”

“I don’t know,” you mutter, lulled to a state of near drowsiness by his ministrations. “A few months? Maybe a little longer? I’ve always been kind of tired, what with anxiety and nightmares and all that shit.”

He ‘hmms,’ kissing the top of your head. “Have you eaten yet?”

“…does leftover pizza at three in the morning count?”

He sighs, exasperated and amused. “Okay, time for food.”

“I can’t,” you whimper, tears coming back as frustration swells in your chest. “I’m too tired to eat.”

Piotr shushes you, gently drying your cheeks with a tissue. “What if I bring you something?”

You stomach churns with guilt and self-loathing. “I’m not a baby. I don’t… I shouldn’t need people to make food for me.”

“No, not baby,” Piotr agrees, kissing your cheek. “But you are unwell.”

“I’m not sick!”

“Unwell is unwell,” Piotr states, voice brokering no room for debate (though it never loses that gentle intonation of his). “If I bring you food, will you eat?”

You hesitate, then manage a small nod. “Something small, please. I don’t want, like, a whole meal.”

Piotr nods. He heads downstairs, then returns a few minutes later with some toast, fruit, a glass of milk –and some Cheetos.

You giggle when you see the fluorescent orange cheese-snacks on your plate. “You do love me.”

“Navsegda.” He hands the plate to you, sets the glass on your nightstand, then waits for you to start in on your toast before speaking again. “I think you should see Dr. Mccoy about fatigue.”

“But I’m not sick,” you argue after swallowing a bite of toast.

“That you know of,” he corrects. “Lots of things can cause fatigue. Is best to check, to make sure more serious problem is not happening.”

“But…” A lump rises in your throat. “What if this is just me now? What if… what if I’m just broken?”

Piotr takes your hand in his. He presses his lips against your knuckles. “Then we know, and we make life suited to your brokenness.”

“I can’t slow everyone down, Piotr,” you insist. Your eyes burn with unshed tears. “I can’t –I can’t be a burden. It’s not fair to everyone else if I’m getting some sort of special treatment because I’m tired.”

“You are not burden,” Piotr declares, gaze boring into yours. “You are never burden. Understand?”

“Piotr—”

“Things happen, myshka. Sometimes, our bodies just… do not work right anymore. You still deserve comfortable, happy life. Nothing is unfair about that. Nothing.” He kisses the back of your hand again when you sigh, then pats your leg. “Finish eating. We go to doctor afterwards.”

 ***

 The only way out is through.

Who would’ve guessed.

 ***

 Dr. McCoy runs a series of comprehensive tests. Thyroid, allergy, iron deficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, glucose levels—

It comes back negative. All of it.

On one hand, it’s a good thing, given that you don’t have some sort of life-threatening condition that needs treating.

On the other hand, you just feel worse. It’s like proof that you have no excuse, that you’re tired for no reason, and that you just need to try harder.

“You are trying,” Piotr says when you admit as much. He draws you into a hug and kisses the top of your head. “We just need to find tools so that trying isn’t so hard.”

“What if there’s nothing?” you ask in a horrified whisper. “What if we try everything and nothing works?”

He kisses the top of your head again. “Then that is okay, too. However you are is okay, myshka.”

 ***

 “How’s the tai chi going?”

You shrug. “It’s fine.” Nathan had switched you over to low impact exercise the second he got wind of your fatigue issues. “Wade likes to do it with me; we like to try and incorporate lame dance moves into our sets to see if Nathan’ll catch us doing it.”

Alyssa chuckles and shakes her head. “And does he?”

“He definitely did when Wade started doing the worm.”

The two of you laugh together.

“And how’s your task setting going?” Alyssa asks when you both settle back down. She grins when you scowl. “Ooh, I knew that’d be your reaction. I knew you were not going to like it one bit. You keep trying to eat the whole whale, sweetheart. You’re gonna choke!”

“I know, I know.” You sigh, frustrated and dejected in equal measure. “It’s just… hard. I used to be able to do so much more. And now –it’s like my body was stolen away from me.”

“I know, sweetheart. And I’m so sorry. But it’s important that you learn to readjust your scope for what’s reasonable and what’s not. Otherwise, you’re gonna keep spinning yourself in anxious circles –and you’re gonna keep making the fatigue worse by overworking yourself.”

You groan and rub at your face with your hands. “It just… it feels wrong! Like I’m being lazy! I don’t have a reason to be so tired.”

“Sure you do,” Alyssa says, as if it’s that simple. “Your body is healing. You spent a lifetime being traumatized and abused. Your body put itself on hold to help keep you alive. You’ve dealt with your anxiety, depression, and trauma to the point where you’re stable, so now all those years of stress and pain are finally catching up. This is your body’s way of saying ‘hey, it’s my turn!’ So, now you need to listen to it.”

“But what if I don’t get better?” you ask, voice fraying. “What if I’m like this forever?”

She shrugs, tucking her braids over her shoulder. “That could happen; the amount of trauma you went through would be more than enough to result in a permanent presentation of chronic fatigue syndrome. But it could also get better, too. There’s no point in trying to predict the outcome.”

“But if I don’t get better, I’ll have to step down from being an X-Man.”

“There is more to this life than being an X-Man, honey,” Alyssa says, smiling warmly at you. “You have an entire world to discover. You just might have to do it at a different pace than everyone else. Your goal isn’t to get back to being an X-Man. Your goal is to take care of yourself.”

You tuck your knees under your chin and wrap your arms around your legs. “That doesn’t feel like enough.”

“How come?”

“Because it’s me. I have to do more to make up for the fact that it’s me.”

Alyssa points her pen at you. “That’s the anxiety and depression talking. You are more than enough, just as you are. Your worth is not based on your productivity or what you can offer to society. It’s based on your existence as a human being, that’s all.”

You drop her gaze, opting to look down at the ornate, ocean blue rug she keeps in her office instead.

“I want you to keep working on adjusting your goal setting,” Alyssa says as she jots down a few notes in your file. “Three things a day, whether it’s chore, work, or self-care related. Nothing else goes on that list unless you need to remember to do it, like taking your meds. Okay?”

You mutter your assent.

“Attagirl. I also want you to do your positive affirmations. Three times a day, plus whenever you get caught in negative thought patterns.”

You groan and slump down on the couch. “No! Positive affirmations suck!”

“They’re wonderful,” Alyssa fires back, chuckling. “They’re so good for you, so good for your brain…” She laughs when you retch, then closes your file and stands. “Alright, sweetheart. Keep at it. I’ll see you next week.”

Piotr looks up when you walk out of Alyssa’s office. “All done?”

“She’s making me do more positive affirmations,” you grumble (you can hear Alyssa laugh at your admission).

“Ah, is good for you,” Piotr says as he ushers you down the hall. “Good to say truth out loud.”

You retch again. “Not you, too. I need to go find Wade. He’ll understand.”

Your husband chuckles and shakes his head. “Come on, myshka. Back home with you.”

“Why does it have to be so far?” you groan. “It’s so much walking.”

“Are you feeling tired?”

You sigh. “Honestly, yeah. I’m really wiped out.”

Piotr puts an arm around your shoulder in a one-armed hug. “I am sorry, moya lyubov’. Would you like me to carry you?”

“I shouldn’t need carrying.”

Piotr stops. He cups your face in his massive hands, making you look up at him. “Is not about ‘should’ or ‘should not.’ If your body needs help, then you need help.”

You hesitate, but ultimately nod. “Yeah. I’d be nice if you carried me.”

He nods. He waits until you two are outside, then kneels so you can clamber on his back. “Hop on, myshka.”

You loop your arms around his neck. You wait until he has his arms looped around your legs, then point in the direction of your house. “Home, Jeeves.”

Piotr chuckles. “I am transport service, now?”

“Damn right.” You gently slap his burly chest. “Mush. I want Poptarts.”

Piotr laughs again, then sets off across the lawn.

 ***

 You’re not alright. Not technically. Alyssa’s right that you’ve been hurt. Healing takes time, and you’re just beginning your journey.

But you’ve got Piotr. Your family. Your friends. You’ve got Dr. McCoy and Alyssa as professional support. You have a home to rest in when you’re weary.

You’re okay –and on the days that you’re not, you will be.

And that’s more than enough.

[mielikki-austin]

12102021

Hello! Lately it's been all about enduring the shorter days. Okay, they're not that much shorter this far south; our ten hour days are better than brother's eight hour days, but it's still noticeable with my seasonal affective disorder (my computer does not believe 'affective' is a real word and is trying to get me to change it to 'effective', but I've assured it that I'm not mistaken).  I have not decorated for Christmas like brother has, and I'm just starting to realize that I wish I was- though I may plan for next year since I can have a 'go big or go home' kinda vibe.  I'm thinking lights on the house, which I have no idea how to do, but surely I can figure this out.  It's not like I'd be the first person to try it, right? On to some photos! 1.  Crepe myrtle and the Moon - these trees are all over the place and they are one of the few reliable sources of fall color.  If only they were natives, I would plant more, but they aren't, so I don't.  It's taken me some time to figure out that 'all over the place here' doesn't mean they're native, and I want to stick with natives whenever possible. But I'll take care of the ones we've already got and love them- this one is next to friend Joel's condo and I just happened to look up at it one morning and saw the Moon hanging in the sky next to it.

2.  Hair decoration - a late birthday present arrived in the mail last week- a bone hair stick carved to look like a snake.  It's very me; I like snakes, and I have a lot of hair that needs to be corralled.

3.  Moon and Venus - another picture of the Moon.  I'm frustrated that I can't take good pictures of the Moon at night; this is the smallest Moon in the darkest sky I can decently photograph.  If the Moon were any more illuminated, or the sky any darker, the Moon gets all blown out and just looks like a big white blur.  Above the Moon is the planet Venus, which I'm told is getting closer to Earth in its orbit every day and will look huge in a telescope or binoculars.  I will try to see this soon before it gets too close to the Sun.

4.  Mistflowers - now that I've crammed as many plants into the rocky back yard and narrow side yard that I can manage, I'm starting to dig up patches in the front yard.  All of this was just planted with whatever grass was the cheapest when the house was built, and has been slowly converting to a low meadow as the years have gone by.  This is fine by me except for when it grows sticker burrs, which this patch of lawn tends to do, so in my continuing theme of all blue and purple flowers, I picked out this native to plant.  I've seen bunches of it in neighboring yards and it's always covered with butterflies.  So I started hacking out a space for it, which was a lot harder than I'd thought it would be and I didn't finish it until well after dark.  When I went out the next morning to see it in the daylight, and there were already butterflies on it.  You can see one of them on the middle plant.  Success!  I also sowed some bluebonnet seeds in the bed because why not.  I have them and they demand a lot of sunlight, so it's a perfect spot for them.

5.  Joel at the Bullock - there's a Texas museum right across from the UT campus that has an IMAX theater.  Joel and I went to see the newest Dune movie there (there was a movie made in the eighties and at least a couple of TV movies from other parts of the series); I had already seen it with Eric at a regular theater but wanted to see it at an IMAX because it's such a BIG movie with big, sweeping scenery and a big, thunderous score.  I don't know if I'd recommend it if you're not familiar with the source material because it's one of those really dense multi-novel narratives with a lot of politics and this movie only covers the first half of the first book.  But it's very pretty and seeing it at the IMAX was amazing and wonderful; the soundtrack has a lot of loud, deep bass in it that just rumbles through your insides.  I've gotten a copy of the soundtrack and my tiny computer speakers don't do it justice.  Maybe I can get to the IMAX again before it leaves the theaters.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now.  Until next week!

[pevcnsiee-blog]

━  🌹| INTRO 

is that a chicken????? no its just me, kitty - im nineteen, live in CEST and im going to present you my lil blondie emmy under the cut  if you’d like to plot just hmu or click the ♥ and i’ll get into ur IM’s c:

[ josefine frida pettersen, cisfemale, she/her ] —» biting down by lorde came on the radio, and it reminded me of emmy pevensie, who’s been in sundance for the last 24 hours. they're 21, and currently unemployed. i’ve noticed they're cold & egoistic but can be independent & polite, too. anyone who knows them would say the loud roar of an old truck, light sundresses flowing in the summer breeze and the sharp smell of hair dye describes their vibe effortlessly.—» [ kitty, she/her, 19, CEST ]

( tw : death, implied child abuse )

- was born on november 13th as emmy natasha pevensie  to her parents and her sister: fiona mary.

- she grew up in the suburbs of helena, montana

- her parents weren‘t particulary strict, allowing emmy and fiona to spent a lot of time doing whatever they desired

- since there wasn‘t a big age gap ( one year ) between emmy and her sister, they spent their all of their free time after school playing outside with the neighbour kids

- in middle school, fiona became a member of her school‘s cheer team

- emmy was never particular fond of cheerleading, yet she always attended her sisters performances

- but due to sickness, little emmy couldnt be there during a very important performance at a outward game of their middle school‘s football team

- emmys parents left their bedridden daughter in the care of a babysitter, while they drove off with fiona to the game

- emmys babysitter got a call from the police thirty minutes later: an accident - fionas and emmys parents didnt make it, yet fiona magically survived with minor injury

- so twelve year old emmy and thirteen year old fiona were sent to their first foster family

- it was quite obvious that this family just tried to gather as many children as they could, in order to get as much money as they could

- the six children and two grown-ups had to share a three-room apartment, cramming all six children into one of the tiny rooms

- emmy and her sister barely recieved emotional support or therapy, due to neglection of the issue by their caretaker

- both of them continued going to school, yet there was a big change in their personalities: both of them kept very much to themselves, their grades dropping dramatically and both girls stopped caring about their friendships - the sisters were mostly seen huddled together on the stairs of the fire escape during breaks

- of course their teachers got concerned, contacting the authorities and soon, the pevensies sister‘s caretaker pulled them out of their foster family and sent them to a different one in colorado springs, colorado  

- and right off the bat emmy could tell that something was off about them, giving emmy a weird tummy-feeling whenever they were around

- but her new parents were friendly, gifting their new daughters a beautifully furnished room and all the candy they could imagine, managing to shake off their bad vibes

- you could say everything was perfect: except fiona and emmy‘s older foster sister

- she seemed to loathe her younger sisters, barely exchanging a word with her new sisters and alwaysexiting the room when both were around, spending as little time as possible with them

- but the worst part was that she always locked the girls into their rooms during the night, not wanting to »have them running around at night and disturb her sleep«

- the new house made a lot of weird noises that fiona and emmy had to get used to first, making nights unbearable for them

- yet they stayed at the family for a couple of years, and her foster sister left the family as soon as she turned eighteen - leaving the girls with a habit of locking their door every night

- during that time, both sister managed to cope with the death of their parents by just repressing it - both scolded each other as soon as they‘d talk about their real parents, trying to forget them

- it was hard for emmy when fiona graduated middle school and now started visiting high school, but it also forced both girl to established a new social circle, with their other half now gone

- that‘s how fiona met her boyfriend.

- both hit of right away, fiona spending almost every night at his house

- and with eighteen, fiona also left her foster home, without telling her little sister - she just vanished while emmy was at school and left nothing behind

- emmy was beyond heartbroken, her foster parents not answering any questions about fiona, but she managed to pull herself together and accepted the fact, that everyone she once loved has now left her

- after fiona graduated high school, she didnt leave her family right away, since they offered her to work as a nanny

- her parents were planning to take in more foster children, now having somebody who could watch over them all day

- they even payed fiona good money and her life was going pretty well; having a handful of good friends she could spent her free time with, she got along with her foster siblings and planned to study abroad in europe once she had the money

- she came home late at night, as she caught her foster father leaving the room of one of her siblings, pulling up his pants and adjusting his belt

- both parties being equally shocked at the sight infront of them

- in that moment, emmy understood everything. the noises, why her foster sister locked their door every night ...

- she stormed into her room, locked her door for the last time, packed her bags and fled through the window

- emmy threw all her belongings she managed to stuff into her bag, into her truck and just drove off, everything she has ever surpressed in her entire life flooding back into her memories

- a short stop was made in a small town in utah, and now emmy is stranded in sundance, nevada after her truck broke down

- she‘s staying at the sundance inn , figuring out what to do next

- emmy is a bit ... difficult at the moment

- she tries to be as polite and respectful towards everyone, but it‘s not that easy if you‘re in a emotional crisis

- also being stuck in a strange town doesn‘t help to gain a sense of security and a good basis to sort out one‘s emotions

- having everybody she ever loved leave her in some way, emmy learned that the only person she could trust is herself

- and that‘s why she started putting herself first

- even in highly critical situation, like her running away from home and not taking her foster siblings with her, leaving them in the hands of their abusive foster father

- but at least she‘s not involved in this mess anymore, right? at least she‘s safe

- there‘s a constant war in her mind

- on one side, she knows that it was wrong to not help her younger foster siblings, but on the other hand she doesn‘t want to get involved with something, that could backfire on her - she doesn‘t have any clear evidence, does she?

- honestly, emmy is very broken right now, but is afraid to let anyone get close to her, in case they happen to break her even more

- thus being quite selective in her choice of friends: she won‘t let them get too close, since she doesn‘t want them to know any of her struggles, but she is often way too polite to say no, when one of her friends is in need

- then she tries to find a quick solution, not wanting to shoulder more problems and sorrows than she already has

- but emmy would lie, if she would say, that she doesn‘t enjoy having a bit of company once in a while - just because she doesn‘t want any help, doesn‘t mean that she want to be lonely and secluded

- people who were able to get to know the blonde better, were able to experience her dry sense of humour and her tendency towards sarcasm and self-depricating humour

-they also experienced being woken up in the middle of the night by emmy calling them, demanding them to come outside and join her to get some fast food, the blonde not wanting to be a weirdo, who buys three cheeseburgers and eats them in her parked truck at four thirty in the morning, alone

- spontanous roadtrips tend to happen on a regular basis when being friends with emmy

- again, with the reasoning of her wanting to do something, but doesn‘t want to be seen as an awkward loner

- because she spents so much time in her good old truck, she‘s a fairly good driver and manages to perfectly park even in the most difficult spaces

- never had a boyfriend or girlfriend, due to already fearing a break up

- she‘s not a real blonde

[efurujr]

Tourmates Jhené Aiko & Willow Smith Discuss Mushrooms, Magic & Industry Misogyny With Billboard

On a hot late-October evening at a rustic-chic Sunset Strip restaurant, Jhené Aiko lifts and considers a truffle fry before nimbly popping it into her mouth. Next to her, Willow Smith grabs four and crams them all in at once, so engaged in a discussion with Aiko about fantastical art that she exclaims, mid-bite, “Magic is all around us!” Aiko nods: “I learned that on mushrooms.” Smith fervently nods back: “Mother Nature did it for a reason: ‘Here’s something to woke ya!’”

Starting Nov. 14, Smith will support Aiko on her North American Trip Tour, named after Aiko’s latest album (and its accompanying short film), a sprawling ­psychedelic R&B concept piece about overcoming grief that reached No. 1 on the Top R&B Albumschart. Willow’s surprise second LP, The 1st -- released on Halloween, which is also her birthday -- swirls proggy compositions with left-field folk and soul.

Together, Aiko and Smith seem to embody a new breed of modern hippie: Aiko, 29, a self-proclaimed “NPR girl” in a loose sky-blue frock, steeping her ­chamomile tea bag with guru-like calm, and Smith, 17, vibrating with energy, in bell-bottom jeans and a black tee that reads in white text, “Got consent?”

But despite their age gap -- and the fact that one woman has been a single mother for nine years and the other is, well, the teenage daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith -- Aiko and Smith have much more in common than an interest in the supernatural. Both were born, raised and home-schooled in Los Angeles. Both were signed as children and marketed to the mainstream -- Aiko as an adjunct member of R&B boy band B2K, and Smith as an actress (2007’s I Am Legend), then as a kiddie-pop ­star with 2010’s “Whip My Hair,” which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Then, with money and fame hanging in the ­balance, they each walked away. Aiko took about six years off before starting an alt-R&B solo career flexible enough to allow for esoteric side projects like Twenty88 -- her duo with boyfriend Big Sean, whose self-titled album Aiko has described as ­“combining stuff like robots and sex” -- and a forthcoming poetry book titled Trip. Willow returned in 2015 with avant-garde soul album ARDIPITHECUS, and often posts genre-flouting ­collaborations on SoundCloud and a now-defunct YouTube channel (“Frequencies by Willow”) with everyone from The Internet’s Syd to her brother Jaden.

As plates of pasta arrive, Aiko and Smith dive into a wide-ranging ­conversation, often completing each ­other’s sentences as they discuss their respective decisions to, as Smith puts it, “take control of not just my music, but my life -- if shit goes south, it’s my fault, but if it goes good, that’s mine too,” and ­affirming their vows as artists to, in Aiko’s words, “usher in new ways of thinking.”

You last toured together in 2014. Willow, you were 14. What was that like for you?

Willow Smith: Coming out of the “Whip My Hair” days, that was the first time I’d ever toured with artists I listen to [in addition to Aiko, Syd and SZA]. I’d started playing guitar, and that tour really solidified: “OK, I want to be a live musician, to have a music career, for real.” Being around people who were so confident and so set in their artistry was a huge step in the direction of understanding who I really am.

Jhené Aiko: We did that for each other. I’d never ­considered myself a ­performer, but now I’m super into how I present these songs. This time, I want to take the audience on a  journey, have them feel what I went through -- I want them to think they’re tripping balls. People like Willow and me, we’re super connected to this music and our message. We really want to change the world.

Jhené, what made her right for that tour three years ago?

Aiko: It’s crazy because just following her career and social media, I felt connected to her, especially seeing her talk about being an indigo and a star seed. I saw so much of myself in her.

Smith: Yeah. I’ve ­followed your music from the ­beginning and always loved how angelic and sultry your voice is. So when I heard that you wanted me on, I was like, “Whoaaa!”

Wait, let’s rewind a ­second. What’s this ­“indigo” thing?

Aiko: So if you look up in the night sky and see this light that’s flashing colors, that’s Sirius. It’s a star system, and it looks like there’s a party going on. What I like to believe in my dreams and imagination is, there’s some of us on Earth that come from there, indigos and star seeds, who are hyper ­sensitive to feelings and ­seasons, and in tune with each other without even trying --

Smith: Or even knowing. I’ve read and experienced that many indigos struggle with addiction and heartbreaking circumstances because this reality is not familiar to them. The density of the third dimension is so heavy on their soul, and they yearn to be light, to be in the stars. So you can --

Aiko: Free yourself from the physical and just be pure energy. I started singing when I was really young too, and touring when I was 12, so those were things I would think about and wanted to talk about, but I was home-schooled, so I didn't have many friends on the same level.

Willow, you were home-schooled too, right?

Smith: All my life, except from age 12 to 13 when a ­family friend was like, “Come to school with me. I’ll help you out.” But I live in the mountains, away from the city, far from people. It was literally me and Jaden in nature hitting cactuses with sticks, so school was really overwhelming. I was that girl: backpack half open, running through the halls, stressed. So I got to see firsthand how it shapes your psyche -- like how you’re always looking for approval. That’s the hugest thing.

Aiko: I started home school in the middle of seventh grade. I loved schoolwork, but the social part was too much for me. I’m a hermit, still. My family goes out, and I’m like, “I’ll be home staring at the wall ’cause I like it.” The past couple years ­working on Trip, I’d go on road trips or to ­festivals by myself, meet other ­wanderers. That’s why we’re doing this tour -- we’re on that wavelength.

I get the sense that there’s something deeper than a big sis, little sis thing going on here...

Aiko: Willow’s a being that has been here before, ­obviously. I don’t get age. I mean, I have a 9-year-old daughter who has this pure knowledge, and I learn so much from her. I feel like this is my 20th life because from the first moment I can remember, I’ve been over the kid things.

Smith: Yeah, I understand. I don’t know what it is. I felt that way too.

Have you given any thought to how you might spend downtime together on this tour?

Aiko: I want to make music. I’ll have a studio on my bus, and she can come through with her guitar. I’ve also been doing a group meditation the day of a show. I’m reading The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra, and he talks about setting your intention. Mine is to calm people, but I get really nervous onstage.

Smith: What I think is really going to happen on this tour is, like, a feminine energy super bomb. This tour is going to be so potently ­feminine it’s going to warm your heart.

You’re both into poetry and philosophy. What about a book exchange?

Aiko: A book club!

Smith: I have always wanted to be in a book club. My entry would be The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. It’s about these sisters who lived a long time ago and this tradition of when the women ­menstruated, they’d all go into the red tent together. They’d have these crazy conversations and spiritual ceremonies and shamanic experiences. It’s about female camaraderie in ­terrible times.

Aiko: Mine is Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh. He’s a poet and monk from Vietnam. He tells ­beautiful stories to get across very simple messages. Like how people get agitated in ­traffic -- he teaches you to take each red light as a chance to breathe deeply.

I can see you two ­sharing music, too. Who’s an artist more people should know about?

Aiko: Michael Franks, a jazz artist from the ’70s. His voice is like butter, and his writing? So clever. I love jazz because of the range of emotion it can take you through in one track. I’m a fan of John Mayer for the same reason. For Trip, he came in with, like, 50 guitars, and for hours he was coming up with song ideas and melodies one after the other, nonstop.

Smith: Cameron Graves. He plays with Kamasi Washington, and his Planetary Princealbum is the epitome of each musician showing their uniqueness. Not a lot of my peers are open to music that doesn't have vocals.

Aiko: That’s my favorite. I think we should do a jazz album.

Smith: Let’s! Honestly, we can get a bunch of musicians in a room and just vibe out.

You were both signed young and could have followed very ­traditional career paths, but you took time off and came back to the business on your own terms. What was the moment you decided: “This is my own trip?”

Smith: When I said no to Annie [in 2013]. The script was written, we had paid people, the production was going to happen. A lot of people were putting pressure on me, and I was like, “I have to take the control.” That was scary, standing up to ­executives who were like, “What? We spent this amount of money. Mmm, you’re doing it.” And I was like, “No, I’m not going to. Sorry.”

Aiko: I was turning 16, and my label contract was up. Everyone assumed I was going to re-sign, but I knew that wasn't who I was going to be as an artist -- I wasn't satisfied singing songs other people wrote. Then when I was 20, I got pregnant. I became a waitress at a vegan cafe but was going through all these new things as a mom and wanted to make music about it. So I quit, and from then on, it was like, “No, this is my vision. You have absolutely nothing to do with this art.”

As young women of color in an industry that is hard on women and on ­people of color, where do you think that surge of ­confidence came from?

Smith: You have to see other black women doing them. That’s the only way. I went on tour with my mom when I was Jhené’s daughter’s age, and it was so empowering and beautiful.

Aiko: I never saw a ­distinction between a man and a woman. My ­grandparents and my mother were great examples of men and women, and they taught me ­equality. So I would fight with boys and wear my cousin’s clothes. I would do whatever I wanted, and that’s where I still stand today.

Smith: If you truly believe in equality, you know it up here. [Taps forehead.] It’s how you think. There’s a lot of women doing their thing, ­expressing themselves in ways I feel weren't possible before. At the same time, a lot of men still spit ­misogyny like it’s nothing. It’s a forever journey.

Women have been ­banding together lately to expose predators in the entertainment ­industry…

Smith: Yeah, and our president. Ahhhhhh! The creepiest dude of all!

Aiko: I’m pleased people are brave enough to come ­forward, because it ­encourages others. I’ve always been protected. My mom was my manager. Now my older sister is. Even when I’ve been in sketchy ­environments, ­someone always had my back. That’s important. In these stories these women are telling, there’s no real friends around. I have definitely experienced male ego...

Smith: And I’ve ran into situations with white men specifically who are like, “Black girls don’t usually look like you,” or, “Whoa, your hair is lying down. That’s crazy, you actually look pretty!”

What do you want the future of young women in art to look like?

Smith: I don’t want there to always be this stigma of the “female” artist. “Oh, what does it feel like to be a female doing something?” That hurts me.

Aiko: Because of that, a lot of young girls ­compare ­themselves to others. Growing up, people wanted me to do choreography. If it wasn't for a supportive mother, I would have been put in the same boot camp. You were born into your own lane -- don’t let anyone push you into theirs. I’m not going to stop evolving until I’m 80. Like, I want to go back to school for astrophysics.

Smith: The arts and the ­sciences! That’s my whole life. In the future, I think there’ll be a new kind of person who does both. Like... an imagineer!

Aiko: See? I mean, clearly, she’s in her own lane.

© Billboard

 Written By Chris Martins / Photography By Nate Hoffman

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Ingesting our way close to Vital West, Florida

A person of my favorite methods to understand a vacation spot is by simply just having the community delicacies. I mean who doesn’t get pleasure from having a gastronomic tour the place you get to stroll, speak, consume and drink your way via an area’s best places to eat, bars and culinary institutions?

Critical West Meals Excursions are one of the best-acknowledged food tour groups in the Florida Keys. They supply three principal food stuff and drink excursions all-around Critical West. But their Southernmost Food items Tour is the greatest excursion you can do if you want to consume like a regional and get a full knowledge of the island’s food stuff lifestyle.

In fifty percent an hour of arriving into Key West, we have been at Siboney Restaurant in which we ended up completely ready to meet our Important West foods tour information, Analise Smith.

Analise has Cuban heritage in her relatives so she was effectively qualified to teach us on the Cuban foodstuff scene in Essential West.

The Southernmost Meals Tour: Feeding on our way close to Critical West, Florida

El Siboney, Key West

El Siboney is a single of the most renowned Cuban dining places right here and has come to be anything of an establishment considering that it opened in 1984. You will discover El Siboney in the Old City and it is an unassuming purple brick developing, nonetheless continuously attracts in the crowds for its authentic Cuban cooking.

So, if you want to take in right here, critically contemplate reserving in advance.

The Southernmost Food Tour lasts three hours, but there is a whole lot of taking in to do. So Analise doesn’t mess about.

When our food stuff was becoming well prepared, she gave us a crash-class in how to drink Cuban espresso and the numerous approaches you can purchase it.

There’s the Cafecito or Café Cubano (served in a thimble-sized cup), a Café con leche (espresso with steamed milk), a Cortadito (served with a very small splash of steamed milk) or the Bucci (a strong shot of espresso that’s served with cane sugar.)

If there is additional than a single of you, you can go with the tradition of purchasing a Colada which is in essence an additional-large cup of the sweet Bucci, which you then share among a number of folks in the thimble-sized cups (see image underneath.)

Yet another Cuban tradition is also to order the ridiculously additional-ish pan Cubano (Cuban bread) and dunk it in your drink. Delish.

Cubans have a very sweet tooth, or as Analise claims, they are ‘sweet freaks’. So introducing sugar to the espresso is a given. If they talk to you whether or not you’d sugar, they’re really asking if you’d like even more sugar than what they instantly set in.

So you could be bouncing off the walls following tasting this. You have been warned!

The foods dish we try at El Siboney is the vintage roast pork, or Cuban Puerco Asadoas it’s recognised. If you read through my overview of Versailles in Miami, you will know that BC tried out a dish like this there. However, I have to say, this a single was tastier. It was served with white rice, fried plantain and a squeeze of contemporary lime, with a incredibly hot sauce on the facet. Delicious.

It was time to go on.

Badboy Burrito

Badboy Burrito, our up coming quit, is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and bar. It’s below you’ll choose up what are arguably, the most effective tacos and ‘build-your-own’ burritos in Critical West. The extended queue claims it all.

It is a no-frills variety of position, so you pull up a chair outdoors, get a chilled consume and prepare to get your fingers messy. The Southernmost Foods Tour very encouraged we tried the fish taco. And for superior explanation. They’re designed utilizing ‘tile fish’, which are a single of the most sustainable fish you can consume in the Florida Keys.

Numerous persons are still unaware of this additional ‘environmentally friendly’ alternative of fish. And when I’d say it’s not bursting with flavour, it was surely livened up by the salsa verde, sour cream and cilantro. The govt chef at Badboy Burrito is really passionate about using the freshest components. So considerably so, they don’t even have freezers. You can warranty on ocean-to-plate top quality and you cannot beat the name both.

A bit of history and lifestyle

In in between all the having, Crucial West Food items Tours will make positive they fill you in on the a lot of cultural and historic spots of fascination you go on the way. On the Southernmost Meals Tour, Analise regaled us with all kinds of tales about Key West’s cigar-building record, the ‘shotgun houses’ in which factory employees lived, as well as the stories at the rear of the quite a few quirky retailers and properties you’ll obtain on the island, these types of as the Tomasita Seafood store.

Many thanks to its proximity to the Caribbean, Vital West was a big player in rum importation, even during America’s prohibition period.

And just after all our strolling, Analise determined it was time for a tipple – which takes us on to one of the island’s most well-known speakeasies, The Rum Bar.

The Rum Bar

I’m a huge admirer of rum, so it was a little disappointing that I was unable to make the most of this little bit, staying six months pregnant! But whether you’re consuming alcohol or not, The Rum Bar is an intriguing place to check out. You are sure to meet up with a quirky character or two.

You’ll find The Rum Bar on Essential West’s famous Duval Road and it was at first owned by a gentleman referred to as Raul Vaquez, who was a cigar selector at the island’s famed Gato cigar manufacturing facility.

They stock an impressive 250+ sorts of rum, which you can of training course sample straight, or in one of their a lot of basic cocktails.

Seemingly Vaquez’s true enthusiasm was functioning as a ‘rum runner’ concerning Important West and the Caribbean. The sector turned so in-need, they established a ‘rum row’ – a three-mile route concerning Crucial West and Bermuda the place ‘rum runners’ travelled back again and forth.

So it only appeared correct that on the Southernmost Meals Tour, the team attempted the synonymous Rum Runner cocktail – a combine of white and dark rum, banana, blackberry, grenadine, OJ, pineapple and sours. Meanwhile, Analise kindly requested me a Rum Runner sans alcohol.

Livened up and all set to go, our next prevent on the Key West Food stuff Tour was the Bahama Village, one of my favourite regions of Key West and where by the majority of Crucial West’s Caribbean community settled.

Analise crammed us in on the background of the colourful clapboard houses and stopped by important points of desire such as the significantly-loved Rick Value mural….

…and the family members property of famous trumpeter Theodore “Fats” Navarro.

But our future halt on the Southernmost Food items Tour was one more Crucial West institution, Blue Heaven.

Blue Heaven

If you are ever in Critical West, this is in all probability the restaurant I’d propose as a great all-rounder. Positioned in just a leafy yard, comprehensive with roaming roosters and a rooster cemetery (they like their roosters below), an out of doors bar and quirky knick-knacks, it is packed with that Bohemian appeal you will come across in several components of Crucial West…

…and they serve a Critical Lime Pie which is to die for.

As you are going to study on this gastronomic journey, Key Lime Pie is a typical Important West dessert and there are all sorts of variants in how it’s served.

In this article at Blue Heaven, we tried using it in miniature form, comprising of a delicious biscuit foundation and a tangy lime filling topped with a pillow-delicate meringue.

They were so tooth-achingly sweet, these cute minimal miniatures ended up far more than plenty of. If you are eager to attempt the many variants of this neighborhood treat, head to the several Vital Lime Pie stores and factories in the Outdated City and sample them all!

We headed again to Blue Heaven for a good brunch a couple of days later and I’d remarkably advocate a visit.

Mangoes

Mangoes is extra of a mainstream bar and cafe you will discover on Duval Road. But its indoor-outdoor really feel and good cocktail bar vibe absolutely make it worthy of viewing. As we discovered on the food tour, it’s also a fantastic place to sample a different culinary staple, conch. 

Conch is the sea snail you will find in abundance in Critical West. It’s also what lots of individuals however nickname them selves below soon after the tongue-in-cheek motion in 1982 which saw Crucial Westers form a micronation dubbed the ‘Conch Republic’.

These squidgy molluscs are usually utilised to make ceviche and chowder but you are going to also find them shallow-fried, or deep fried to make fritters. At Mangoes, they have been served as fritters with a mouth watering aioli created utilizing the community Important Lime.

They’re fantastic as a tasty snack and style even greater when enjoyed in the sunshine, with a refreshing beer.

Aspect note: Component foods child, portion genuine infant escalating in my tummy listed here..

Important West Distilling

Our final stop on the Southernmost Food items Tour was Critical West Distilling, a compact distillery on Southard Avenue that generates craft spirits, rums, vodkas, gin and whiskey.

Yet again, I experienced to scent somewhat than flavor, but Analise provided an attention-grabbing introduction into their exceptional distilling processes, the means they develop the oak flavours and the a variety of substances and spices that are made use of below.

If you’re brave sufficient, you will consider the overproof rum which has a mighty 76.5% alcohol content. Or probably you’ll sample the horseradish vodka?

Either way, it was a fantastic close to a superb tour with Important West Food stuff Tours.

I’m so happy we did the Southernmost Food items Tour as shortly as we arrived into Important West. It presented a wonderful introduction to the island, it taught us a ton about the Florida Keys society and we left with a prolonged checklist of recommendations on places to eat and consume, which is never a bad point.

The Southernmost Foods Tasting & Cultural Strolling Tour charges from $75 for grown ups and $49 for kids aged 12 and under. You can locate out a lot more about Vital West Food items Excursions on Facebook, instagram, twitter and via their web site.

Find out much more about the Florida Keys and Crucial West by using the Florida Keys and Essential West Vacationer Board.

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The Most Pervasive Problems in singapore australia holiday packages

What do you think of whenever you listen to the term Australia? Kangaroos, beach locations, and ‘g’working day mate’? Effectively Of course, Australia does have its fair share of ‘roos, even so the land Down Beneath offers Much in excess of that! We’re speaking awe-inspiring mountains, epic highway outings, massive national parks, stunning waterfalls…the listing really is endless. We’ve rounded up some top Aussie travel bloggers who've specified us their guidelines about the best locations to visit in Australia – and you will be specific that whatsoever you’re seeking within your excursion, Australia can provide it plus much more. Continue reading for twenty-four of the greatest sites to go to in Australia!

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

Tasmania

South Australia

Best destinations to go to in New South Wales

1. Blue Mountains

Very best Locations To go to In Australia - Blue Mountains

Encouraged by Rachel and Jeremy with the Kiwi Couple

If you’re looking for a dose of mother nature, the Blue Mountains are to suit your needs. Only one.five several hours with the hustle and bustle of Sydney, it can be visited as each day journey or perhaps a weekend getaway, depending on your vacation timeframe. Make sure you have time to go to Wentworth Falls. This place presents walks of varying problems with gorgeous views on the waterfall, and it’s just a brief push from the leading party – The 3 Sisters. These renowned rock formations are the highlight of this picturesque postcard spot.

In case you head to Echo Point you can obtain an epic view of them, or hop on Scenic Globe’s gondola. As you’re there, don’t miss out on the Scenic Railway – the steepest passenger railway on earth! Very last but not the very least, Lincoln’s Rock is a must. With sights from the wide landscape and a magic formula tiny cave great for seeing the sunset, it’s the most effective stop into the working day.

Blue Mountains hostels from $17.eighty a night

two. Bathurst

Most effective Locations To Visit In Australia - Bathurst

Encouraged by Tara from Where Is Tara

Bathurst is among my favorite spots in Australia for numerous causes. One of them is my cousins have farms around. They allow me to remain whenever I pass through and bring me to cattle marketplaces, and that is a true novelty to me getting developed up in town. The opposite motive I love Bathurst is mainly because it is commonly ignored by travellers, In spite of acquiring a great deal of to supply. It’s the oldest inland metropolis in Australia and is also the site of the original Australian gold hurry.

Go to the T-Rex on the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, have a spin within the famous Mount Panorama Circuit. Or just grab a cup of coffee from Campos, have a stroll by Machattie Park and take a look at the commemorative plaque from Charles Darwin’s visit in 1836. For a unique day trip while in the Bathurst area check out the gold rush town of Sofala (it looks like a ghost town and it has a GREAT ebook shop), or head on the Jenolan caves for many organic natural beauty, limestone-model!

Sydney hostels from $fifteen a night

three. Sydney

Greatest Areas To go to In Australia - Sydney

Proposed by Rachel and Jeremy with the Kiwi Couple

Sydney is the biggest town in Australia – crammed with beautiful shorelines, pleasurable actions and great food items. Probably the greatest ways to view the beauty of Sydney is by having a calming stroll. An amazing Beach front stroll, and among the best, is from Bondi Beach front to Coogee Beach front. It offers magnificent views of the area’s popular rocky beaches, thin beaches and sandy shorelines. A further common stroll is along the Sydney Harbour Bridge walkway. Equally walks are no cost and therefore are a great way to take pleasure in Sydney.

We like finding up higher and seeing metropolitan areas from higher than. An ideal way To achieve this in Sydney is by performing the Skywalk at Sydney Tower. At 268 metres substantial, it’s guaranteed to Get the coronary heart pumping. You’re harnessed in however so it’s not (far too) scary! And at last, a necessity do of Sydney will be to eat your heart out. Test a deep fried Golden Gaytime ice cream from What The Fudge Cafe, you won’t regret it!

Sydney hostels from $fifteen a night

four. Byron Bay

Best Locations To Visit In Australia - Byron Bay

?@eloisejulier

Encouraged by Dane from Getaway From Exactly where

Byron is one of Australia’s leading vacationer destinations but should you’re willing to place in slightly do the job it is possible to however find some extra well concealed gems just out the again within the hinterland mountains. From innumerable waterfalls and swimming holes to unbelievable mountains and bush walks this tiny region hide much beauty. I'd personally propose commencing which has a hike to The underside of Minyon Falls for just a swim, a hike to the top of Mt Warning for an unbelievable sunrise, A different swim at Killin Falls and after that a hike on the Normal Arch. These are just a number of the most available but there's so a lot more when you’re ready to check out.

Byron Bay hostels from $25 a night

Greatest places to visit in Victoria

five. Melbourne

Ideal Places To go to In Australia - Melbourne

Proposed by Aditi from Diary of a Cusp

Melbourne has secured its place of one of the most liveable city in the world the seventh time in a very row. Most times see a diversified temperature – hail, sunshine, rain, wind – but that doesn’t impede the livelihood of Melbourne. Any provided day yow will discover an event, an show, a music gig, or perhaps a display to relish. You have entry to no cost trams throughout the metropolis circle to wander across without having outlaying a buck on transportation. Melbourne is usually a multicultural metropolitan with copious dining establishments serving slavering foods and cafes for your caffeine deal with – Melbourne’s espresso is some of the ideal on this planet.

Melbourne hostels from $18 an evening

6. Terrific Ocean Road

Most effective Areas To go to In Australia - Terrific Ocean Street

Proposed by Jack and Jenn from Who Requirements Maps

Lorne is a well-liked quit together The good Ocean Road (also to the Twelve Apostles). It’s the proper destination to take it easy along the seaside, it's possible Opt for a surf, try to eat some of the very best fish and chips, and benefit from the landscapes. Jack is usually a surfer and likes to head out to The nice Ocean Street for the surf. However the vacation isn’t complete with no quit in Lorne to get a parma plus a pot write-up-surf. Lorne also has some stunning walks and waterfalls to investigate, like Erskine Falls and Phantom Falls. My most loved, is for those who go over the appropriate year, you may capture a number of whales at sunset. Seize a wine in a seaside restaurant and enjoy the serenity.

7. Mornington Peninsula

Greatest Sites To go to In Australia - Mornington Peninsula

Encouraged by Aditi from Diary of the Cusp

Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula Positioned southeast of Melbourne, just an hour generate from town. It's been an immensely common working day trip or staycation internet site to the people of Victoria, especially Melbourne for decades now. Mornington Peninsula has a great deal of to supply to its website visitors – seashores, nationwide parks, scenic sights, relaxing spas, vineyards, golf classes, mazes, camping sites and so way more. This plethora of actions along with the quick distance causes it to be so appealing to go to all through prolonged weekends like Queen’s Birthday, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Calendar year and so on. Sampling some Pinot Noir though from the peninsula is a necessity.

Greatest sites to go to in Queensland

eight. Sunshine Coast

Very best Sites To go to In Australia - Sunshine Coastline

Recommended by Sophie from Adventures of Soph

The Sunshine Coastline has obtained to generally be Among the most attractive strips of coastland in all of Australia, boasting gorgeous, long white beaches lined with wellness aware cafes and boutique clothing shops. Any time you aren’t soaking up the sunshine on one of many many beaches, you can head out towards the hinterland for each day of mountain climbing or hop from the crushed monitor to find secluded swimming holes and waterfalls with not a soul in sight. Noosa Nationwide Park and fairy pools is surely an absolute will have to do, just stay away from the midday hurry with the crowds.

Sunshine Coastline hostels from $twelve.50 a night

nine. Brisbane

Greatest Sites To go to In Australia - Brisbane

@anitababic3

Proposed by Erica from A lady Who Wanders

Brisbane is my hometown and an area I intend on staying for a really long time. Why? As it has everything! Compared with its capital town counterparts of Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane delivers all of the perks in a fraction of the fee. High on my list of areas to go to is Southbank, the house of executing arts and Queensland lifestyle together with back again alley bars and river front eating. Southbank also attributes Australia’s only inner-metropolis Seashore, a man-created marvel which normally takes you far from the hustle and bustle of town and into a tropical oasis with sparkling waters and white, sandy beaches.

West Stop is another suburb I hugely propose traveling to, with its hipster vibe, insanely good espresso and street marketplaces to help keep you buying several hours. For those who’re following a see of the town from the major, head approximately Mt Coot-tha for its breathtaking 360 views of the city plus the bordering hinterland. I also remarkably recommend climbing the Brisbane Story Bridge For an additional Distinctive addition in your excursion, because the watch is beautiful as well as adrenalin rush one never to be skipped!

Brisbane hostels from $fifteen an evening

ten. Gold Coastline

Ideal Areas To go to In Australia - Gold Coastline

@scottypass

Encouraged by Erica from A Girl Who Wanders

If you’re searching for a desired destination which includes all of it, search no more and acquire on your own to the Gold Coastline! With arguably a lot of the ideal beaches in Australia, the Gold Coastline is my “go-to” spot through the warm summertime months. But when lazing about on tender, white sandy seashores or swimming inside the crystal clear ocean doesn’t choose your fancy, the Gold Coast Hinterland is just a short generate from the Seaside and it has many of the most awesome walking tracks and viewpoints in Queensland.

My favorite issue concerning the Gold Coast is how the vibe is incredibly laid back but also electric powered, with locals and tourists alike savoring the “Sunday sesh” atmosphere with the day along with the party scene that concerns life as soon as the Sunlight goes down. For those who’re scheduling on viewing the Gold Coastline whenever soon, my personal recommendations for the very best sites to visit are Burleigh Heads beach plus the Lamington Nationwide Park.

Gold Coast hostels from $21 a night

eleven. Airlie Seashore/Whitsundays

Ideal Sites To go to In Australia - Whitsundays

@jessea_h

Proposed by Jack and Jenn from Who Desires Maps

Airlie Beach front is an ideal location to get a taste of almost everything. You'll be able to embark on an journey to the Great Barrier Reef, sail for the Whitsundays, try to eat a lot of the freshest meals straight out with the ocean, and wander many of the most beautiful coastal walks in Australia. Did I point out usually there are some awesome beer gardens?

Airlie Beach front is a great hub to satisfy other backpackers that have a hankering for journey. We experienced so much fun going on all types of nautical adventures. We even husked our own coconuts and played with turkeys and wallaby’s on the island. Airlie Beach is also recognized for its male-built lagoon, an outstanding place for beachside/poolside cocktails.

Airlie Beach front hostels from $28 an evening

12. Noosa

Finest Locations To Visit In Australia - Noosa

@emelianjellachas

Suggested by Fanny from Minka Guides

Rising up, I always read about Noosa from other Australians as this aspiration coastal vacation spot. Remaining with the state, I didn’t really realize why till I eventually frequented several yr in the past and fell in appreciate. In contrast to many other legendary coastal towns, Noosa isn’t stuffed with towering skyscrapers And large shopping malls. Actually, the community council don’t let anybody Develop better in comparison to the trees, ensuring that this sub-tropical town retains its incredibly beautiful seaside town vibe – even though also staying an exceptionally well-liked location to go to!

The leading Seaside can get fairly active with sunbathers, so I’d advocate doing a trek via nearby Noosa National Park to 1 of its stunning and deserted stretches of sand. A forty five-moment wander along the Tanglewood Observe can take you to definitely Alexandria Bay, wherever small, translucent fish swimming in the shallows (and the occasional nudist) are your only corporation. Absolute paradise.

Noosa hostels from $24 an evening

13. Atherton Tablelands

Very best Sites To go to In Australia - Atherton Tablelands

Advisable by Sophie from Adventures of Soph

Consider unlimited waterfalls, rolling inexperienced hills dotted with dairy cows and rustic, relatives operate cafes. All within an hour or so’s travel from Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands is the perfect gateway for the countryside, whether or not it be for per day trip or for an extended weekend. The easiest method to see the Tablelands will be to hop in a car, seize a location map and just push. The waterfall circuit of Elinjja Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls and Zillie Falls will not be to get missed and if you happen to find yourself there on the final Saturday of your month you should definitely look into the Yungaburra marketplaces.

Atherton Tablelands hostels from $twenty five a night

fourteen. Townsville

Most effective Places To Visit In Australia - Townsville

Encouraged by Sam from Sam Around The World

Boasting palm laden Seashore fronts, a ninety% prospect of sunshine and warm temperatures all yr round, Townsville is surely an complete ought to on any North Queensland itinerary. Wander the strand and learn about wealthy WWII heritage or take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and dive the S.S Yongala shipwreck – it’s one of the best dives on this planet. And it doesn’t halt there, the town is household to the vibrant nightlife, an impressive meals scene and quick access to The gorgeous Magnetic Island. Should you time your trip appropriate you’ll have the possibility to knowledge one of the islands infamous total moon get-togethers!

Townsville hostels from $eighteen an evening

15. Cairns

Best Sites To go to In Australia - Cairns

Proposed by Nicola from Polka Dot Passport

You will find not numerous spots on the globe in which you can devote your morning snorkelling via a vibrant underwater playground that is part of the globe’s major single construction of dwelling organisms, and also your afternoon dipping into turquoise drinking water holes, canopied by The most assorted and oldest rainforests on the planet. Cairns is a gateway to not one particular but TWO all-natural entire world heritage internet sites, the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Daintree Rainforest, making it a pretty Exclusive spot to visit. Don’t leave without the need of executing a horse journey alongside Cape Tribulation Beach front, taking a trip out on the GBR or going croc-spotting alongside the Daintree River.

Cairns hostels from $12 a night

16. Whitehaven Beach front

Best Spots To Visit In Australia - Whitehaven Seaside

Advised by Dane from Holiday getaway From Where

Whitehaven Seashore is really a 7km stretch of coast located in the Whitsundays. It truly is most simply accessible from Airlie Seashore, unless that you are Blessed ample to own a yacht. The Beach front is popular with locals and holidaymakers alike but when you choose to camp there you'll have the Beach front all to oneself and just A few other Fortunate campers for sunset and sunrise. The white colour of your sand plus the extraordinary blues from the drinking water make this a truly exclusive vacation spot that is consistently sighted in almost every ‘greatest beach on this planet record’.

Cairns hostels from $twelve a night

Very best spots to visit in Northern Territory

17. Uluru

Greatest Destinations To go to In Australia - Uluru

Recommended by Crystal from Castaway With Crystal

Uluru might be Australia’s most recognisable landmark. But this enormous chunk of rock is likewise very sacred to the nearby Anangu Aboriginal individuals listed here, an area of great energy. It's the centre from the universe and the home from the ‘Earth Mother’. Inside the outskirts of Uluru, in compact caves, Aboriginal rock artwork might be found which is tens of 1000s of several years previous. These are generally viewed as nationwide treasures and Uluru can be a UNESCO Earth Heritage site.

Nevertheless you can nonetheless climb to the best from the rock and encounter the unquestionably magical sights, doing this is a degree of controversy amongst the neighborhood Aboriginal persons along with the countrywide park company that manages the realm. For this reason, visitors are closely inspired never to climb. Uluru rises 348 meters previously mentioned the bottom, but the bulk of this rock lies underground. It's a circumference of sixteen kilometres and might be walked close to in comprehensive using a cleared path.

Alice Springs hostels from $27 a night

eighteen. Darwin

Very best Places To Visit In Australia - Darwin

Encouraged by Edit From Edit All over the world

Even though Darwin may be the capital town in the Northern Territory, it is very compact – but it’s essentially an incredible place for purchasing. Moreover, for record lovers, it’s a true treasure metropolis Along with the Museum and Artwork Gallery of the Northern Territory and a number of other aboriginal artwork galleries. Conversely, journey seekers can look into the Crocosaurus Cove, in which the Cage of Death knowledge delivers the thrill of currently being in a similar environment, a lot more exactly in a very Specific cage from the h2o, together with a 5m lengthy croc. Crocodile may also be located on lots of cafe menus around Darwin. From crocodile sandwich to croc pizza, The range is big and really delectable. It preferences somewhat like rooster, nevertheless it will come in a Considerably increased value.

Getting a tour to the Adelaide river gave me the opportunity to begin to see the methods in the crocs when they’re making ready to attack. Litchfield National Park is a good place to see crocodiles australia tour inside their organic habitat – moreover it's got great swimming places located in a high sufficient altitude the crocodiles

[travelererrant]

Let’s Talk About “Agents of MAYHEM” - PS4

I’ve been a fan of the Saints Row franchise for a long time now. I never played the first game in the series, but it’s actually pretty rare to find someone who has. By almost all accounts I’ve heard, the series may as well have started with the second game and proceeded from there, as each sequel tried to cram in more humor and more over-the-top scenarios as the franchise went on. This culminated in the standalone DLC campaign, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell, where your goal is to fight your way through Hell so that Johnny Gat can shoot Satan in the face. At the end of that campaign, you get to choose from a couple of different endings, one of which literally has God retcon the entire Saints Row universe. The reason I mention this is because eventually the people over at Volition would use this ending to create their newest game, Agents of Mayhem, which takes place in that retconned Saints Row universe.

 For what it’s worth, Agents of Mayhem is actually a very fun and enjoyable game that stays true to its roots in the Saints Row franchise, with plenty of pop culture references, fun characters, and writing that’s more focused on humor and jokes rather than trying to make something groundbreaking. Its decently long, with enough content to keep me going for about twenty hours of playtime, but there are some technical issues that keep it from being truly great.

Visually, there’s not much to write home about. It has a cartoony vibe that has plenty of color and charm. The setting of Seoul was a good choice, but I feel like they could have done more with it. It just ended up feeling like “generic future city with some futuristic stuff”. I wish they could have done more with it, but I at least do feel like there was some genuine effort thrown in. I do hope you like purple though, as that’s going to be the color you see the most, as it wouldn’t be a Saints Row spin-off without that color. It’s strange to mention, I know, but the game is steeped in purple. You could wear purple-tinted sunglasses and you probably wouldn’t notice a difference, except when the framerate occasionally stutters and slows down the otherwise fast-paced gameplay. However, some of the cutscenes feature 2D animation, which can feel a little stiff and awkward at some parts, and hilariously fun at others. It’s awkward when certain cutscenes only feature barely moving still-images, and clashes with the opening animations that feature all sorts of action and dynamic movement. I wish they were more consistent because I actually loved the art style in those scenes, as it was evocative of old Saturday Morning cartoons. It sets the tone for the rest of the game well enough, but I wish it just had a tidbit more effort and time put into them.

 The game plays from a third-person perspective, allowing players to run and gun their way through a fictional version of Seoul, South Korea that was taken over by the villainous “LEGION”, a sort of parody of every evil villain organization from the eighties. Think “Cobra” or “The League of Evil” and you’re in the right ballpark. LEGION basically took over the world, and it’s your job as Agents of “MAYHEM” to fight them back, one mission (Or “episode”, as the game presents it) at a time. This time around, our version of Cobra Commander is known as Doctor Babylon, the Minister of PRIDE, and one of the leaders of LEGION. Leading the Agents of MAYHEM is the mysterious Persephone Brimstone and her assistant Friday, along with a colorful and diverse cast of rogues who sometimes feel like bad guys themselves. I guess that’s why one of the taglines of the game is “Bad vs Evil”.

 During the game, you’ll be able to swap between three different characters at a time, each with their own unique weapon, special skill, passive ability, and a devastatingly powerful attack called a “MAYHEM Ability”. You unlock more characters as the game progresses, to a total of twelve different agents (or fourteen based on the preorder DLC characters) to make a customizable team of three. Each agent can equip up to three unique “gadgets”, and nine passive upgrades/bonuses that can be attached to each gadget, giving you plenty of customization options to choose from for each character, and further allowing the player to tackle the game’s many enemies as they want.  And I actually do mean it when I say that each character you play as does feel unique and interesting. You get a bit of everything, from a Japanese Yakuza hitman, to a minigun-toting alcoholic Roller Derby expert, to a Russian Supersoldier with ice-based abilities, and even more.

 The downside to having this many characters however is that many of them feel very one-dimensional, and as they each only get two unique side missions you don’t really get a chance to see their stories properly develop. The Yakuza dude’s side mission ends with him discovering his daughter was kidnapped, but it never goes anywhere after that. He just kind of… knows his daughter was kidnapped. The Roller Derby woman discovers Chicago was hit by LEGION and goes on a rampage, and… nothing else happens after that. There are so many opportunities to add in more development and character interactions, and unfortunately Agents of Mayhem kind of falls flat. I’m hoping that if there’s a sequel or DLC missions that we get to see these get fleshed out, as I do enjoy their personalities as is. For what it’s worth, they at least all have some funny quips and one-liners as they react to the events of the game.

  Humor is definitely the area where the game excels, with plenty of jokes and references that got me to cackle more than once. For example, the voice of Doctor Babylon is none other than Darin De Paul, the voice of Reinhardt in Overwatch. I mention this because there’s a moment where Babylon decides to use a villainous exit-line, and he decides to say, “When all you have is a hammer, your problems begin to look like nails”, referencing the same line that Reinhardt will occasionally say during a battle. It’s jokes like these that got me to keep playing, along with my interest in the characters, rather than the overall story.

 Gameplay-wise, I don’t really have much to complain about. It’s standard run-and-gun action, with repeating side missions that let you wreak havoc against LEGION, though there are a couple of minor hiccups that aren’t necessarily deal breaking, but they are very annoying. As the LEGION Occupation missions refresh themselves, you can feel like you’re actually not doing much to stop them at all, such as when you take over an outpost only to find out later that they took it back while you weren’t looking. There are missions to unlock a steady stream of income, but those reset too, leaving me feeling frustrated and thinking there wasn’t really much of a point to doing them other than to level up my characters and waste some time. It starts to feel like the same thing over and over again after a while, so I don’t recommend this as a game to people who like to just marathon it in as few sittings as possible.

 As of this review’s writing, 8/18/17, there are also plenty of glitches and bugs that were extremely irritating. I was able to get around the majority of them by resetting the game, but I still didn’t like having to interrupt my game because the button to switch characters or summon a vehicle suddenly decided to piss off and go on break when I needed it, or when character models would become suddenly disfigured when they had to go through a teleportation animation. The buildings had occasional holes on their sides that I could actually fall through and end up going through the world, and sometimes the voice lines would get interrupted if you went back to a previous room, which would trigger the dialogue for that room and make it seem like you were about to replay a segment. On one occasion, I actually had a glitch where one of the character’s weapons would only have one shot in the clip and nothing I could do would fix it. They’d fire one shot, reload, and have only one shot left. When I swapped them out at the main base, it seemed to fix it, but it was very inconvenient at the time because I was fighting a group of snipers.

 Yeah. One shot. In a shotgun. Against a bunch of snipers. Not the best moment of the game, to be honest. Something I should mention is I played it on the Playstation 4, so I’m not sure how well it’s faring on the other systems.

 Yet despite that, because of the game’s addictive run-and-gun gameplay, the fun characters, and the humor, I was compelled to try and finish up as much of the game as I could. I managed to stretch out about twenty hours of playtime from a single campaign, and it was fun enough that I’d be willing to replay it a few months down the line, or whenever they announce more DLC for it. If you’re hesitant about picking up this game, that’s completely understandable, and I’d almost advise you to wait until they patch out the majority of the glitches I encountered. If you don’t mind those bugs or glitches, go ahead and pick it up. It’s just waiting for you to cause some mayhem.

[carterashofficial]

Fic idea: vanyke and the triplets stranded on a planet and have to work together to get off of it. Just a suggestion cause I would love to see something like that, but seriously no pressure!

oh man I love this idea, how they end up there together i don’t know but oh, would it be good. I’ve currently got way too many full-on, multi-chapter fics i’m working at the moment so I can’t write the major huge thing this idea deserves but I’ll outline it for ya!

Featuring companions: Doc, Kira, Pierce, Jaesa, and Quinn

Vanyke is not happy to be working with Jedi. Especially Leikar. He’s extremely Jedi and is trying to get Jaesa to come back to the Order. So to get back at him Vanyke tries to get Kira to rejoin the Sith and Kira is even more pro-Jedi than Leikar.

Riya’s hearing implants’ calibrations are off from whatever crash got them to this planet and there’s no tools to adjust them so Doc is sticking close to her and translating everything into sign language

Quinn catches Doc signing and realizes Riya is deaf. A possible weakness to exploit.

Orentha and Pierce have a stare-down that lasts 2 hours. Neither win.

Leikar can’t handle talking to Vanyke so he tries who he assumes is her second-in-command, Quinn, who seems reasonable but keeps staring at Riya

Jaesa and Kira interrupt Pierce and Orentha’s staring contest. Surprisingly enough the two apprentices get along fairly well if they don’t discuss Jedi/Sith stuff

Vanyke is not in charge here and that is not 100% okay with her

So Vanyke end up talking to Doc, she wants to meet this deaf Jedi to get a feel for her powers and see if she can threaten Riya to get Leikar to follow her ideas

Instead the more Vanyke talks (through Doc) to Riya the more Vanyke sees her own sister in this Jedi. And its impossible to miss the feelings this deaf Jedi and her medic have for each other.

Orentha and Pierce have begun to trade war stories. Total bromance. Vanyke scathingly asks if they’re dating and Pierce teasingly answers by throwing an arm around Orentha and saying ‘Spring wedding, right babe?”

Pierce is then force-pushed twenty feet away

Vanyke eyes him and goes “You deserve that, Lieutenant.”

He keeps calling Orentha ‘babe’ as a joke and she’s actually okay with that because at least he’s not flirting with her the way Doc usually does

Quinn and Leikar have single-handedly recovered a whole lot of wreckage. Quinn calculates where stuff should be, Leikar uses the Force, boom. They have the thing.

Only one of their ships can be repaired.

And no one knows how to repair certain things.

Vanyke calls up Andronikos

Doc contacts a smuggler he know. Carmadda.

They join the calls together

And this is how both Jedi and Sith learn about the Carmadda Shade/Andronikos Revel rivalry

“Oh, that pipe? it goes up Captain Revel’s ass SINCE HE TRIED TO BREAK INTO MY SHIP!”

“Hey, Sith, do me a favor and Force-choke that smuggler. She broke into one of my warehouses and stole a couple million in credits.”

Neither Leikar or Vanyke do as suggested

Jaesa, Kira, and Riya are all admiring the view of Doc and Pierce shirtless and fixing something. They don’t know what. Quinn joins them and suddenly Pierce and Doc have lost their audience

Vanyke and Leikar have to work together to lift the Jedi ship upright to finish repairs

Orentha and Pierce go off scavenging for food and they return in a dead sprint with a herd of very unfriendly native beasts in tow

Vanyke does not like Orentha for very different reasons than what she doesn’t like Leikar for

Pierce gets that vibe of Vanyke not happy with him so he says he’ll find a way to make it up to her once they’re back on their ship. He lets his hands wander to give her an idea of what exactly he means

Quinn is oblivious to this

Doc and Riya are not and they walk into seeing Pierce and Nyke hardcore making out

they slowly back up and pretend they never saw anything. Riya’s face is bright red. Doc is thinking about doing that exact thing they just witnessed with Riya

Meanwhile Quinn and Orentha are talking and neither like each other all that much. They say maybe 10 things and just walk away

Jaesa tries to flirt up Leikar, knowing it’s probably not going to work

Kira tries to flirt up Quinn. He gets very uncomfortable and says some not-so-nice things. Kira keeps it up just to watch him squirm

They get the ship repaired with Carmadda on one holo as far away from Andronikos, who’s on another holo. They offer almost identical advice, however Carmadda has more solutions to his and they’re slightly better.

When they get off the planet, all of them crammed together on the ship, they go straight to a neutral fuel stop, unload, everyone shakes hands and then they stop being civil and make a point of waiting for their respective factions to send a ship to pck them up

neither Sith nor Jedi leave until they see that the other’s ship has arrived

Jaesa and Kira totally exchange holo-frequencies without Vanyke or the Trips knowing. They’re kinda now bffs.

[crimsonblackrose]

When I was making my plans for Okinawa, most of what was recommended for food everywhere online was Blue Seal. I thought it was one tiny ice cream shop that I’d have to make a pilgrimage to. Oh no. Oh no no no. Blue Seal is everywhere. Blue seal is such a staple to Okinawa that it was one of the few things beyond security near my gate at the airport when I left. I lived at Blue Seal while in Okinawa. I don’t think I’ve tried to cram so much ice cream into a trip before and I honestly don’t regret it. I do regret that I didn’t try all the flavors I wanted.

When it comes to Blue Seal I highly  suggest popping into every shop you see. My hotel recommended one that was around the corner on its map of family friendly things to do nearby. I thought when I checked in that this meant it was the only one within walking distance. Oh boy I was wrong. There was nearly one every block, and every single one was different. One of them was a tiny shop where you picked out what you wanted from the vending machine and then handed it over to the one person working. Their options were limited but they had the basics, the most popular flavors.

The one my hotel suggested had seating. It was bigger and very reminiscent to a big chain ice cream shop with all sorts of Blue Seal souvenirs and a couple of places to sit —inside or out— to enjoy your ice cream.

Then further down the main street there was a third one that was much much bigger and that inexplicably sold crepes.

I swear ever single shop I went into was magically different. Some were better than others, some were super basic, but they were all a fun adventure.

Blue Seal’s slogan is “Born in the U.S., raised in Okinawa” and it was created in Uruma City by the United States military for the soldiers in Okinawa at the end of the second World War. Originally it was an American only thing available exclusively on the bases from 1948-1963, when it finally opened up to the Okinawan public by opening a shop in Urasoe City, Maki Port. The main branch can still be found there today. It eventually traded to become a local owned business but still retains that American diner vibe.

Historically one of the most popular items is nicknamed Shirokuma, or the polar bear ice cream sandwich originally only available in mint but has since expanded to many other flavors. I was a bit too busy trying the actual ice cream to move onto bars so I didn’t get a chance to meet Shirokuma or try any of the polar bear ice cream sandwiches. (Which is a bummer because I haven’t had an ice cream sandwich in forever and it was a staple in my home growing up). Apparently all the original USA Foremost Ltd. recipes are kept in a super secret orange book, which might explain why there’s a splash of orange in the blue logo.

There are at least 33 constant flavors of regular ice cream, several soft serve flavors and then seasonal or monthly specials. There are classics like vanilla, chocolate, matcha (maccha), vanilla and cookie, strawberry, Neopolitan (Neapolitan), and San Francisco Mint Chocolate, among a lot more. But then! Then there are some local Okinawan specials:

Ryukyu Royal Milk Tea

Shiiquasa Sherbet

Beni-imo

Okinawan Salt cookies

Okinawa Ta-imo Cheesecake

That isn’t the longest list but when you’re only in Okinawa for a couple of days and you’re already eating everything you can try, as well as other local ice creams, it meant that I didn’t complete that list. I had really hoped I’d be able to try one more before leaving, there was even a shop at the airport but my stomach warned me against it. Here’s what I managed:

Shiiquasa Sherbert

When I was looking up ice cream to try this one came up often as a must try at Blue Seal. It’s similar to a lemon or lime sherbet but pretty tart. I did enjoy it and it was the first thing at Blue Seal I tried.

Okinawan Salt Cookies

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to ice cream and this one was I think my favorite of the flavors I got to try. I loved the crunch of the cookies and the balance between salty and sweet.

Beni-imo*

  *I had this as a soft serve. Twice.

I got it mixed up with ube which was the other flavor I wanted to try. So I tried it once on it’s own as a soft serve and again mixed with vanilla as a swirl. It was good, had a slight after taste of yam but I really liked it. It was a lighter purple than I was expecting.

Sakura Annin

While I was visiting there were two seasonal/monthly flavors. On my first trip to Blue Seal it was just Ganache Chocolate Fudge and this Sakura flavor was not available. But it popped up the next day and I was determined to try Sakura (cherry blossom) ice cream. There were three components to the ice cream: cherry blossom, brown sugar sauce, and almond pudding taste flavor. To me the almond extract flavor overpowered the rest of the ice cream and it ended up not being my favorite. Still, I am glad I tried it.

Each time I went I only got one scoop in a cup. This was about 330 yen. If you want a double scoop it’s 560 yen. Soft serve was 330 yen. Soft serve flavors included:

vanilla

beni-imo

mango

vanilla and Beni-imo

Salty milk

For 600 yen you could also double up with a regular scoop of ice cream and top it with some soft serve. You can even pay an additional 50 yen for your cone or cup to change into a waffle cone. Some locations even did ice cream floats for 410 yen.

I highly suggest a visit. Everyone seemed to love it. I really loved it and one day I want to go back and try Ryukyu Royal Milk Tea and Okinawa Ta-imo Cheesecake and probably just live in the bucket of Okinawa salt cookies. That was by far my absolute favorite.

The hours change depending on location, if one location is closed another might still be open just a block away.

Blue Seal When I was making my plans for Okinawa, most of what was recommended for food everywhere online was Blue Seal.

[heightsneverseen38-blog]

Top banquet halls for your wedding

Finalizing the wedding operate venue isn't just about making certain that it can accommodate all your friends comfortably. The venue that you simply select will not only host your wedding function however this may also be the place where all different wedding rituals will taking place. Thus, there must not only be ample house for the guests to fit in, however there should even be enough space for activities like socializing, eating, dancing and different activities. For top banquet halls just follow the link.

We are getting married at a beautiful trip rental property within the thumb of Michigan. There are forty eight acres on this stunning property and our households and bridal party may have the possibility to remain there for the complete marriage ceremony weekend.

Top banquet halls;

Uncovered brick & beams, hovering ceilings and seating on two ranges make The Boiler Home a extremely popular event venue, and it has hosted quite a few celeb weddings, film competition events and occasions for Canada's top companies. It simply and flexibly accommodates a variety of functions, from intimate cocktail events to wedding ceremony receptions for 700. Personal dining rooms can be found in addition to personalized menus to go well with any occasion.

Hopefully by now you need to be all geared up to begin looking at wedding venues; getting married actually is the most thrilling time, nonetheless by following these fundamental, sensible suggestions, you possibly can guarantee that you have the marriage day of your desires.

Set in the breathtaking banquet halls and coastal city of Ayrshire, design an unforgettable marriage ceremony day, like no other. To make planning your wedding as simple and straightforward as possible, we have now a variety of wedding ceremony packages out there. We are going to cowl all points of your marriage ceremony day. Working with our wedding ceremony coordinator, they are going to make it easier to to make your dream day absolutely magical. We offer what many golf motels cannot, which is a feeling of exclusivity. The Marine Resort possesses a selected appeal that lodges in massive cities simply would not have. Escaping to a fantastic coastal city, will make for the right marriage ceremony venue selection - whether you are organising an intimate affair or are inviting a large number of friends. You will be greeted and sorted with the same degree of heat, hospitality and care. We proud ourselves on offering a number of the greatest accommodation in Troon.

Being located in some of the beautiful coastal cities of Scotland has its advantages and it makes for an excellent setting to spend a lazy weekend. The town has a stunning sandy seaside, to enjoy with the household or take a romantic stroll, on a warm day. Different nearby attractions embrace Ayr Racecourse - a Visit Scotland 5 star attraction. For an historic injection of tradition, Dundonald Fortress is steeped in history and a popular web site for guests.

The Rookery is one other venue that showcases it is historic roots with no problems! The building was constructed and completed in 1888 and it still has so much of it's unique character. The grand stair case and the outdated world feeling that you just get from standing in the room allows for any marriage ceremony ceremony to happen after which simple transition to dinner.

Me too! There are so many amazing venues throughout the town that can help you specific your uniqueness as a couple, without having to resort to the standard banquet corridor. A giant thanks to Black eyed susan who labored off our mood boards to create heart pieces and bouquets that fit perfectly with the theme, soft pretty floral center items that looked perfect. Textures are one factor it's possible you'll need to consider incorporating into your invitations. Textures could make an invitation stand out and look truly stylish and chic if you are planning a formal wedding.

Before even looking at venues it is best to take into account the place the precise ceremony is being held; in the event you're plumping for a church or registry workplace, then you definately need solely look at a venue for the wedding breakfast, reception and overnight stay. On the other hand you may want to consider a venue that provides your complete package, ceremony included. There is no proper or unsuitable possibility here, whilst having a venue that performs your ceremony could make for a less anxious day, it's possible you'll want to have a church wedding for religious reasons.

If you have guests that have mobility points, this query is paramount. You will have elderly relations, or kin that use wheelchairs, be certain that they can be accommodated by checking every part of the venue is accessible. Free delivery during our Canada Day sale. Visit our Etsy web page to begin procuring! Discover marriage ceremony venues close to you by area, capability, worth or type. Get images and essential details. Discover your good marriage ceremony venue. We are able to hold up to one hundred thirty friends for seated dinners, and as much as 250 guests for cocktail reception-fashion occasions. Symbolically, reducing the cake is the first job that the bride and groom carry out collectively as husband and wife.

Should you're set on having your marriage ceremony on the water, the four,000 square foot, two-tiered patio at Palais Royale is the very best in the city. This eighty-one thing 12 months-old dance corridor has undergone a major restoration with an art deco vibe, stage and a dance ground to host common Big Band Dances. The bartenders are educated in flare and can even set the bar on hearth!

We had a tremendous wedding ceremony on Valentine's Day 2015 at Pink Scooter! The preparation, professionalism and service from Eammon, Laura and all the Red Scooter workforce was second to none! Lots of our visitors said it was the most effective wedding ceremony they'd been to which is a credit score to Pink Scooter Events! Each little element was catered for and we have been made to really feel very special by the entire Crimson Scooter Workforce! We cannot advocate this Melbourne Wedding ceremony Venue sufficient!

For those who're searching for a country venue within the metropolis, The Evergreen Brick Works is an previous brick factory. The Koerner Backyard is a long and dramatic space that can hold as much as seven hundred for a seated dinner! A nature path surrounds a crammed in quarry turned pond that is perfect for images.

After the ceremony, we could have cocktail hour around the pool. I hope to add floating candles to the pool to set the mood for the night. Simon Revill (an area photographer) requested me if i might manage one of his picture workshops, that is where photographers come to a venue from completely different components of the country to observe marriage ceremony photography and share hints and suggestions. I consider the venue is one of the most important parts to planning your marriage ceremony, if the venue is ideal so is every little thing else. Under I have given a number of easy tips about what to think about when your venue search begins. As a wedding planner I don't only plan weddings I also organize and plan many other occasions too.

Evert very exited every time thinks about banquet halls and her wedding ceremony day and likewise they think that how we'll make it memorable day. Every one thinks about unique style wedding ceremony planning however some thing which is frequent in all wedding ceremony like wedding ceremony venue, meals and ornament. So right here we are discussing about easy marriage ceremony planning concepts.

[topfygad]

Ingesting our way close to Vital West, Florida

A person of my favorite methods to understand a vacation spot is by simply just having the community delicacies. I mean who doesn’t get pleasure from having a gastronomic tour the place you get to stroll, speak, consume and drink your way via an area’s best places to eat, bars and culinary institutions?

Critical West Meals Excursions are one of the best-acknowledged food tour groups in the Florida Keys. They supply three principal food stuff and drink excursions all-around Critical West. But their Southernmost Food items Tour is the greatest excursion you can do if you want to consume like a regional and get a full knowledge of the island’s food stuff lifestyle.

In fifty percent an hour of arriving into Key West, we have been at Siboney Restaurant in which we ended up completely ready to meet our Important West foods tour information, Analise Smith.

Analise has Cuban heritage in her relatives so she was effectively qualified to teach us on the Cuban foodstuff scene in Essential West.

The Southernmost Meals Tour: Feeding on our way close to Critical West, Florida

El Siboney, Key West

El Siboney is a single of the most renowned Cuban dining places right here and has come to be anything of an establishment considering that it opened in 1984. You will discover El Siboney in the Old City and it is an unassuming purple brick developing, nonetheless continuously attracts in the crowds for its authentic Cuban cooking.

So, if you want to take in right here, critically contemplate reserving in advance.

The Southernmost Food Tour lasts three hours, but there is a whole lot of taking in to do. So Analise doesn’t mess about.

When our food stuff was becoming well prepared, she gave us a crash-class in how to drink Cuban espresso and the numerous approaches you can purchase it.

There’s the Cafecito or Café Cubano (served in a thimble-sized cup), a Café con leche (espresso with steamed milk), a Cortadito (served with a very small splash of steamed milk) or the Bucci (a strong shot of espresso that’s served with cane sugar.)

If there is additional than a single of you, you can go with the tradition of purchasing a Colada which is in essence an additional-large cup of the sweet Bucci, which you then share among a number of folks in the thimble-sized cups (see image underneath.)

Yet another Cuban tradition is also to order the ridiculously additional-ish pan Cubano (Cuban bread) and dunk it in your drink. Delish.

Cubans have a very sweet tooth, or as Analise claims, they are ‘sweet freaks’. So introducing sugar to the espresso is a given. If they talk to you whether or not you’d sugar, they’re really asking if you’d like even more sugar than what they instantly set in.

So you could be bouncing off the walls following tasting this. You have been warned!

The foods dish we try at El Siboney is the vintage roast pork, or Cuban Puerco Asadoas it’s recognised. If you read through my overview of Versailles in Miami, you will know that BC tried out a dish like this there. However, I have to say, this a single was tastier. It was served with white rice, fried plantain and a squeeze of contemporary lime, with a incredibly hot sauce on the facet. Delicious.

It was time to go on.

Badboy Burrito

Badboy Burrito, our up coming quit, is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and bar. It’s below you’ll choose up what are arguably, the most effective tacos and ‘build-your-own’ burritos in Critical West. The extended queue claims it all.

It is a no-frills variety of position, so you pull up a chair outdoors, get a chilled consume and prepare to get your fingers messy. The Southernmost Foods Tour very encouraged we tried the fish taco. And for superior explanation. They’re designed utilizing ‘tile fish’, which are a single of the most sustainable fish you can consume in the Florida Keys.

Numerous persons are still unaware of this additional ‘environmentally friendly’ alternative of fish. And when I’d say it’s not bursting with flavour, it was surely livened up by the salsa verde, sour cream and cilantro. The govt chef at Badboy Burrito is really passionate about using the freshest components. So considerably so, they don’t even have freezers. You can warranty on ocean-to-plate top quality and you cannot beat the name both.

A bit of history and lifestyle

In in between all the having, Crucial West Food items Tours will make positive they fill you in on the a lot of cultural and historic spots of fascination you go on the way. On the Southernmost Meals Tour, Analise regaled us with all kinds of tales about Key West’s cigar-building record, the ‘shotgun houses’ in which factory employees lived, as well as the stories at the rear of the quite a few quirky retailers and properties you’ll obtain on the island, these types of as the Tomasita Seafood store.

Many thanks to its proximity to the Caribbean, Vital West was a big player in rum importation, even during America’s prohibition period.

And just after all our strolling, Analise determined it was time for a tipple – which takes us on to one of the island’s most well-known speakeasies, The Rum Bar.

The Rum Bar

I’m a huge admirer of rum, so it was a little disappointing that I was unable to make the most of this little bit, staying six months pregnant! But whether you’re consuming alcohol or not, The Rum Bar is an intriguing place to check out. You are sure to meet up with a quirky character or two.

You’ll find The Rum Bar on Essential West’s famous Duval Road and it was at first owned by a gentleman referred to as Raul Vaquez, who was a cigar selector at the island’s famed Gato cigar manufacturing facility.

They stock an impressive 250+ sorts of rum, which you can of training course sample straight, or in one of their a lot of basic cocktails.

Seemingly Vaquez’s true enthusiasm was functioning as a ‘rum runner’ concerning Important West and the Caribbean. The sector turned so in-need, they established a ‘rum row’ – a three-mile route concerning Crucial West and Bermuda the place ‘rum runners’ travelled back again and forth.

So it only appeared correct that on the Southernmost Meals Tour, the team attempted the synonymous Rum Runner cocktail – a combine of white and dark rum, banana, blackberry, grenadine, OJ, pineapple and sours. Meanwhile, Analise kindly requested me a Rum Runner sans alcohol.

Livened up and all set to go, our next prevent on the Key West Food stuff Tour was the Bahama Village, one of my favourite regions of Key West and where by the majority of Crucial West’s Caribbean community settled.

Analise crammed us in on the background of the colourful clapboard houses and stopped by important points of desire such as the significantly-loved Rick Value mural….

…and the family members property of famous trumpeter Theodore “Fats” Navarro.

But our future halt on the Southernmost Food items Tour was one more Crucial West institution, Blue Heaven.

Blue Heaven

If you are ever in Critical West, this is in all probability the restaurant I’d propose as a great all-rounder. Positioned in just a leafy yard, comprehensive with roaming roosters and a rooster cemetery (they like their roosters below), an out of doors bar and quirky knick-knacks, it is packed with that Bohemian appeal you will come across in several components of Crucial West…

…and they serve a Critical Lime Pie which is to die for.

As you are going to study on this gastronomic journey, Key Lime Pie is a typical Important West dessert and there are all sorts of variants in how it’s served.

In this article at Blue Heaven, we tried using it in miniature form, comprising of a delicious biscuit foundation and a tangy lime filling topped with a pillow-delicate meringue.

They were so tooth-achingly sweet, these cute minimal miniatures ended up far more than plenty of. If you are eager to attempt the many variants of this neighborhood treat, head to the several Vital Lime Pie stores and factories in the Outdated City and sample them all!

We headed again to Blue Heaven for a good brunch a couple of days later and I’d remarkably advocate a visit.

Mangoes

Mangoes is extra of a mainstream bar and cafe you will discover on Duval Road. But its indoor-outdoor really feel and good cocktail bar vibe absolutely make it worthy of viewing. As we discovered on the food tour, it’s also a fantastic place to sample a different culinary staple, conch. 

Conch is the sea snail you will find in abundance in Critical West. It’s also what lots of individuals however nickname them selves below soon after the tongue-in-cheek motion in 1982 which saw Crucial Westers form a micronation dubbed the ‘Conch Republic’.

These squidgy molluscs are usually utilised to make ceviche and chowder but you are going to also find them shallow-fried, or deep fried to make fritters. At Mangoes, they have been served as fritters with a mouth watering aioli created utilizing the community Important Lime.

They’re fantastic as a tasty snack and style even greater when enjoyed in the sunshine, with a refreshing beer.

Aspect note: Component foods child, portion genuine infant escalating in my tummy listed here..

Important West Distilling

Our final stop on the Southernmost Food items Tour was Critical West Distilling, a compact distillery on Southard Avenue that generates craft spirits, rums, vodkas, gin and whiskey.

Yet again, I experienced to scent somewhat than flavor, but Analise provided an attention-grabbing introduction into their exceptional distilling processes, the means they develop the oak flavours and the a variety of substances and spices that are made use of below.

If you’re brave sufficient, you will consider the overproof rum which has a mighty 76.5% alcohol content. Or probably you’ll sample the horseradish vodka?

Either way, it was a fantastic close to a superb tour with Important West Food stuff Tours.

I’m so happy we did the Southernmost Food items Tour as shortly as we arrived into Important West. It presented a wonderful introduction to the island, it taught us a ton about the Florida Keys society and we left with a prolonged checklist of recommendations on places to eat and consume, which is never a bad point.

The Southernmost Foods Tasting & Cultural Strolling Tour charges from $75 for grown ups and $49 for kids aged 12 and under. You can locate out a lot more about Vital West Food items Excursions on Facebook, instagram, twitter and via their web site.

Find out much more about the Florida Keys and Crucial West by using the Florida Keys and Essential West Vacationer Board.

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My ticket for the Southernmost Food Tour was organised by the Florida Keys Vacationer Board

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Ingesting our way close to Vital West, Florida

A person of my favorite methods to understand a vacation spot is by simply just having the community delicacies. I mean who doesn’t get pleasure from having a gastronomic tour the place you get to stroll, speak, consume and drink your way via an area’s best places to eat, bars and culinary institutions?

Critical West Meals Excursions are one of the best-acknowledged food tour groups in the Florida Keys. They supply three principal food stuff and drink excursions all-around Critical West. But their Southernmost Food items Tour is the greatest excursion you can do if you want to consume like a regional and get a full knowledge of the island’s food stuff lifestyle.

In fifty percent an hour of arriving into Key West, we have been at Siboney Restaurant in which we ended up completely ready to meet our Important West foods tour information, Analise Smith.

Analise has Cuban heritage in her relatives so she was effectively qualified to teach us on the Cuban foodstuff scene in Essential West.

The Southernmost Meals Tour: Feeding on our way close to Critical West, Florida

El Siboney, Key West

El Siboney is a single of the most renowned Cuban dining places right here and has come to be anything of an establishment considering that it opened in 1984. You will discover El Siboney in the Old City and it is an unassuming purple brick developing, nonetheless continuously attracts in the crowds for its authentic Cuban cooking.

So, if you want to take in right here, critically contemplate reserving in advance.

The Southernmost Food Tour lasts three hours, but there is a whole lot of taking in to do. So Analise doesn’t mess about.

When our food stuff was becoming well prepared, she gave us a crash-class in how to drink Cuban espresso and the numerous approaches you can purchase it.

There’s the Cafecito or Café Cubano (served in a thimble-sized cup), a Café con leche (espresso with steamed milk), a Cortadito (served with a very small splash of steamed milk) or the Bucci (a strong shot of espresso that’s served with cane sugar.)

If there is additional than a single of you, you can go with the tradition of purchasing a Colada which is in essence an additional-large cup of the sweet Bucci, which you then share among a number of folks in the thimble-sized cups (see image underneath.)

Yet another Cuban tradition is also to order the ridiculously additional-ish pan Cubano (Cuban bread) and dunk it in your drink. Delish.

Cubans have a very sweet tooth, or as Analise claims, they are ‘sweet freaks’. So introducing sugar to the espresso is a given. If they talk to you whether or not you’d sugar, they’re really asking if you’d like even more sugar than what they instantly set in.

So you could be bouncing off the walls following tasting this. You have been warned!

The foods dish we try at El Siboney is the vintage roast pork, or Cuban Puerco Asadoas it’s recognised. If you read through my overview of Versailles in Miami, you will know that BC tried out a dish like this there. However, I have to say, this a single was tastier. It was served with white rice, fried plantain and a squeeze of contemporary lime, with a incredibly hot sauce on the facet. Delicious.

It was time to go on.

Badboy Burrito

Badboy Burrito, our up coming quit, is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and bar. It’s below you’ll choose up what are arguably, the most effective tacos and ‘build-your-own’ burritos in Critical West. The extended queue claims it all.

It is a no-frills variety of position, so you pull up a chair outdoors, get a chilled consume and prepare to get your fingers messy. The Southernmost Foods Tour very encouraged we tried the fish taco. And for superior explanation. They’re designed utilizing ‘tile fish’, which are a single of the most sustainable fish you can consume in the Florida Keys.

Numerous persons are still unaware of this additional ‘environmentally friendly’ alternative of fish. And when I’d say it’s not bursting with flavour, it was surely livened up by the salsa verde, sour cream and cilantro. The govt chef at Badboy Burrito is really passionate about using the freshest components. So considerably so, they don’t even have freezers. You can warranty on ocean-to-plate top quality and you cannot beat the name both.

A bit of history and lifestyle

In in between all the having, Crucial West Food items Tours will make positive they fill you in on the a lot of cultural and historic spots of fascination you go on the way. On the Southernmost Meals Tour, Analise regaled us with all kinds of tales about Key West’s cigar-building record, the ‘shotgun houses’ in which factory employees lived, as well as the stories at the rear of the quite a few quirky retailers and properties you’ll obtain on the island, these types of as the Tomasita Seafood store.

Many thanks to its proximity to the Caribbean, Vital West was a big player in rum importation, even during America’s prohibition period.

And just after all our strolling, Analise determined it was time for a tipple – which takes us on to one of the island’s most well-known speakeasies, The Rum Bar.

The Rum Bar

I’m a huge admirer of rum, so it was a little disappointing that I was unable to make the most of this little bit, staying six months pregnant! But whether you’re consuming alcohol or not, The Rum Bar is an intriguing place to check out. You are sure to meet up with a quirky character or two.

You’ll find The Rum Bar on Essential West’s famous Duval Road and it was at first owned by a gentleman referred to as Raul Vaquez, who was a cigar selector at the island’s famed Gato cigar manufacturing facility.

They stock an impressive 250+ sorts of rum, which you can of training course sample straight, or in one of their a lot of basic cocktails.

Seemingly Vaquez’s true enthusiasm was functioning as a ‘rum runner’ concerning Important West and the Caribbean. The sector turned so in-need, they established a ‘rum row’ – a three-mile route concerning Crucial West and Bermuda the place ‘rum runners’ travelled back again and forth.

So it only appeared correct that on the Southernmost Meals Tour, the team attempted the synonymous Rum Runner cocktail – a combine of white and dark rum, banana, blackberry, grenadine, OJ, pineapple and sours. Meanwhile, Analise kindly requested me a Rum Runner sans alcohol.

Livened up and all set to go, our next prevent on the Key West Food stuff Tour was the Bahama Village, one of my favourite regions of Key West and where by the majority of Crucial West’s Caribbean community settled.

Analise crammed us in on the background of the colourful clapboard houses and stopped by important points of desire such as the significantly-loved Rick Value mural….

…and the family members property of famous trumpeter Theodore “Fats” Navarro.

But our future halt on the Southernmost Food items Tour was one more Crucial West institution, Blue Heaven.

Blue Heaven

If you are ever in Critical West, this is in all probability the restaurant I’d propose as a great all-rounder. Positioned in just a leafy yard, comprehensive with roaming roosters and a rooster cemetery (they like their roosters below), an out of doors bar and quirky knick-knacks, it is packed with that Bohemian appeal you will come across in several components of Crucial West…

…and they serve a Critical Lime Pie which is to die for.

As you are going to study on this gastronomic journey, Key Lime Pie is a typical Important West dessert and there are all sorts of variants in how it’s served.

In this article at Blue Heaven, we tried using it in miniature form, comprising of a delicious biscuit foundation and a tangy lime filling topped with a pillow-delicate meringue.

They were so tooth-achingly sweet, these cute minimal miniatures ended up far more than plenty of. If you are eager to attempt the many variants of this neighborhood treat, head to the several Vital Lime Pie stores and factories in the Outdated City and sample them all!

We headed again to Blue Heaven for a good brunch a couple of days later and I’d remarkably advocate a visit.

Mangoes

Mangoes is extra of a mainstream bar and cafe you will discover on Duval Road. But its indoor-outdoor really feel and good cocktail bar vibe absolutely make it worthy of viewing. As we discovered on the food tour, it’s also a fantastic place to sample a different culinary staple, conch. 

Conch is the sea snail you will find in abundance in Critical West. It’s also what lots of individuals however nickname them selves below soon after the tongue-in-cheek motion in 1982 which saw Crucial Westers form a micronation dubbed the ‘Conch Republic’.

These squidgy molluscs are usually utilised to make ceviche and chowder but you are going to also find them shallow-fried, or deep fried to make fritters. At Mangoes, they have been served as fritters with a mouth watering aioli created utilizing the community Important Lime.

They’re fantastic as a tasty snack and style even greater when enjoyed in the sunshine, with a refreshing beer.

Aspect note: Component foods child, portion genuine infant escalating in my tummy listed here..

Important West Distilling

Our final stop on the Southernmost Food items Tour was Critical West Distilling, a compact distillery on Southard Avenue that generates craft spirits, rums, vodkas, gin and whiskey.

Yet again, I experienced to scent somewhat than flavor, but Analise provided an attention-grabbing introduction into their exceptional distilling processes, the means they develop the oak flavours and the a variety of substances and spices that are made use of below.

If you’re brave sufficient, you will consider the overproof rum which has a mighty 76.5% alcohol content. Or probably you’ll sample the horseradish vodka?

Either way, it was a fantastic close to a superb tour with Important West Food stuff Tours.

I’m so happy we did the Southernmost Food items Tour as shortly as we arrived into Important West. It presented a wonderful introduction to the island, it taught us a ton about the Florida Keys society and we left with a prolonged checklist of recommendations on places to eat and consume, which is never a bad point.

The Southernmost Foods Tasting & Cultural Strolling Tour charges from $75 for grown ups and $49 for kids aged 12 and under. You can locate out a lot more about Vital West Food items Excursions on Facebook, instagram, twitter and via their web site.

Find out much more about the Florida Keys and Crucial West by using the Florida Keys and Essential West Vacationer Board.

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My ticket for the Southernmost Food Tour was organised by the Florida Keys Vacationer Board

source http://cheaprtravels.com/ingesting-our-way-close-to-vital-west-florida/

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Paris exhausted me. There were so many things I wanted to see coupled with the strikes that was the one two punch combination that left me a zombie. After Paris I had a week to regroup and repack for my Seollal (Lunar New Year) trip to Okinawa. A week that pre-Paris me had filled with plans like: hiking, hosting, packing, and cleaning. Pre-Paris me made the worst decisions.

So by the time my flight to Okinawa had come around I was a little wary. All I wanted was a peaceful and relaxing vacation. It’d be the last one until I return to the States.

Like Paris and a couple other trips this year I made a pdf guide to try and organize myself. You can check it out here: Okinawa.

So maybe you’re wondering, where is Okinawa? Okinawa is an island off the coast of Southern Japan. It reminds me a bit of Jeju-do, which is off the southern coast of Korea. In both cases they were originally their own country with their own people and cultures until Japan and Korea took them over. (A bit like Hawaii). Okinawa is actually closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan.

Okinawa, once upon a time was the Ryūkyū islands (though not all of the islands) and due to its location the people who lived on the islands frequently traded and interacted with China and Korea and several other countries in the area. The results of which can be found within the foods and traditions.

At one point in the 17th century swords were banned which led to the creation of several Okinawan martial arts, the arguably most famous of which is karate.

In 1879 Japan decided to annex the Ryūkyū islands. Also after the Battle of Okinawa in World War II the island found itself occupied by the United States army from 1945-1972 and there are active American army bases still on the island which adds a controversial USA style residue.

Something else found around the island are Shisa or シーサー. These creatures are a cross between a lion and a dog and can be found throughout the island in pairs. One will have its mouth open while the others will be closed. The one with an open mouth is said to eat evil spirits while the one with the closed is meant to keep good spirits in. They are from the Ryūkyū period and can even be found in cute but silly looking souvenirs. Or in many souvenir/tourist spots you can make your own set to take home.

This shisa has it’s mouth closed and is keeping the good vibes in. 

Another uniquely Okinawan thing you’ll find often, even just by sound is the Sanshin, or 三線.  It is a three stringed snake skinned banjo. Classes are offered to learn how to play, the instrument is sold as souvenirs, and you’ll see people just chilling and playing them depending where you are. Many old traditional Okinawan songs are played using this instrument.

 Okinawa is also one of the first places within Japan to experience cherry blossoms. This special type of sakura is called Kanhizakura and is a darker color than the cherry blossoms found in the rest of Japan. They start blooming on the northern side of the islands in late January and through early February which is around when Seollal this year was. (January 24th-27th) So I was actually quite excited to see them. I’ve always wanted to attend hanami of some kind but the dates of cherry blossom viewing and my time off never coincided.

My goal was the Nago Cherry Blossom Festival which was due to happen while I was in Okinawa. The cherry blossom festival was scheduled to happen at Nago Central Park (名護城公園) from January 25th-26th. But according to Google maps it was a 2 hour bus ride away from Naha where I was staying and about a 23 minute walk from where the bus would drop me off in Nago city.

Normally I’d do that. I’d get up early, hop on the bus and then just spend the entire day in Nago before catching a bus home. But I just really wasn’t feeling it. I wanted my trip to Okinawa to be an actual vacation and not me running around trying to cram every possible thing I wanted to do into my short time there until I exhausted myself. (see Paris) So I came up with a compromise. I’d check and see where the cherry blossoms generally were popular to visit in Naha and I’d go there. If they weren’t blooming at all then I’d do the bus. If they were blooming even a little I’d take a cooking class.

If you’re curious about other places you can see cherry blossoms in Okinawa during late January/ early February I suggest checking out these posts that I used to decide for myself. Japan also tends to have a cherry blossom forecast you can check. As a general rule the northern side of the island  blooms first and then makes its way down south.

Matcha’s Top 5 Cherry Blossoms 

Gina Bear’s Blog: Alluring Sakura Spots

The weather in Okinawa is tropical. It’s pretty warm. I was visiting in winter and during the time it gets the coldest. Generally from December through February the lowest it might get is around 9.6°C and with highs of 26.9°C (between 49-80°F). While I was there in late January while the forecast called for low 70°F (21°C) it ended up being more on that high end of nearly 80°F for most of the trip. Meaning I had packed for a warm spring and ended up in summer style weather. It did however rain towards the end of my trip which cooled things off a lot.

I highly suggest making sure you take care of yourself and prepare for the heat. In the summer it gets a lot hotter. If you’re curious to read more about the monthly weather, what you should wear or how much rain and typhoons they get on average I suggest checking out this website here.

As you can tell, since I went in winter and it was in the upper 70’s it gets hot in Okinawa. I was expecting from the weather reports I saw before I left for it to be spring like in weather and so I packed accordingly…which wasn’t right. I should’ve packed for summer. Clothing wise this is what I wish I’d packed. If you want to print it you can print a copy of my okinawa packing list by clicking on the link.

I suggest packing for warmer weather that might cool off with a breeze or some rain. The jeans I packed were too hot until it started to rain towards the end of my trip. At which point it was nice and cool. Also definitely take a fan. While for most of my trip I was good.

I, and a lot of people, while leaving Okinawa at the airport were dying while in line to go through security. There were only 4 doors and a lot of people trying to get through and the airport didn’t have any air conditioning on, at least that was noticeable. I whipped out a wooden fan I got in Malaysia and I’m pretty sure it’s the only reason I didn’t pass out. It also let me bond with a family whose grandma had a similar fan and whose grand-kid got excited every time they spotted me with my fan.

Also a side note for people with allergies. Due to the climate there are a lot of flowers in bloom and they’re everywhere.

The connecting platform from the airplane to the actual airport was filled with orchids. There were orchids everywhere in the airport. (It’s lovely) There are also a large amount of well loved stray cats.

I saw many people halting their daily business to stop and check on the cats or feed them and a lot of the cats seemed friendly. However if you have allergies and are extremely sensitive to cats or flowers make sure to pack your most trusty allergy medicine.

Something to note in Okinawa is that the usual transit passes you use in the rest of Japan do not work. There’s are lot of different passes for different regions of Japan. I have two. I have a Pasmo and a Icoca which usually covers where I tend to want to travel. Neither work in Okinawa. Other IC passes also don’t work.

The first thing you should do is decide what you want to do while in Okinawa. I wanted a super chill vacation so I wanted to stay in Naha as much as possible. Especially after seeing that the cherry blossom festival was a two hour bus ride away and there weren’t tours available that I could find in English. I had already booked my hotel in Naha for the entire time I was going to in Okinawa. So I suggest even before booking your hotel decide what you want to do and where you want to go. Then try and figure out logistics. If you want to travel around beyond Naha (the city nearest the airport) then one way to do that is to get an Okinawa bus pass. A 1 day pass is 2,500 yen, a 3 day pass is 5,000 yen. It is 500 yen more to add on the Yui rail. It does not however “include buses that pass the highway such as limousine buses, line No. 111 and No.117, and regular sightseeing buses.” You can pick up or buy the pass in the International arrival terminal at Naha airport.  (These tickets are also available at other locations if you want to buy them later in your trip. You can check out the locations here.)

I had planned to get this ticket because it’s what everyone suggested getting online for getting around while in Okinawa. But because I was mostly staying in Naha it wasn’t worth it for me. Instead they suggested I go to the Domestic arrivals terminal and get the Naha bus pass. (660 yen per day just for the bus. If you want to add the monorail it’s 1,000 yen) After some back and forth in my limited Japanese and the staffs limited English I finally understood why they weren’t selling me a 3 day transit pass. Let alone why they weren’t wanting to sell me any bus pass. The Naha bus pass works for that day. Meaning if you start using it at 5pm it will only work until the last bus of that day. It’s a bit expensive to even do this. My hotel which was the only goal for that day other than eating and going to a nearby park was accessible via the monorail. It was more financially responsible to just go to the monorail and buy a one way pass to my nearest station and walk the ten minutes to my hotel. Due to my hotels location I was also near a ton of popular things to do including a lot of restaurants. And it turned out most of what I wanted to do was arguably within walking distance.

So I bought a one way ticket via the monorail  (Yui Rail) and spent the rest of my vacation walking around the neighborhood my hotel was in.

I’m really grateful that neither bus shop sold me tickets. I’m glad that both booths knew that it wasn’t financially worth it for me to buy a pass with them. Because I’d never been to Naha before and the number 1 suggested way to get around is via a car. So I had assumed everything would be too far away for me to walk. But because I had planned to stay in Naha it was better for me to just walk. Or buy tickets at the station for the monorail.  You can get a one day or two day monorail pass if that will be better for you financially. These run 800 yen for a day pass and 1,400 yen for two days.

  If you want to the local IC card (similar to the Pasmo or Icoca) which is what I was looking for, it is called OKICA pass and can be purchased at the ticket machines. To get the card you must load up in increments of 1,000 yen and you will loose 500 yen as a card deposit when you first get the card. The purchase amounts for the card are 1,000, ￥2,000, ￥3,000, ￥4,000, ￥5,000 and ￥10,000. If you would like to take the bus and trains around Naha often then I suggest getting this card because it will make your commute around Naha faster than buying a ticket one way. The ticket machines have an English option so follow the instructions to get your card.

I did not get one of these cards since I took public transportation a grand total of twice. Once from the airport and again back to the airport. But if you want to explore more of Naha and be able to easily jump between bus and monorail I suggest getting this card. (For me to get to and from the airport those two times I spent a grand total of 600 yen which is why it was not worth it for me, even in retrospect.)

The regular paper pass work via scanning a QR code. Scan when entering the monorail and when leaving. When you’re done with your ticket there is a bucket you can drop it in or you can keep your ticket.

One of my favorite things to do when travel is try the local specialties. It’s become even more of a thing since living in Korea and whenever I mention traveling, even just to a different part of Korea, my coworkers want to know above all else if I ate the foods of the region and if it was good. Food is also a huge part of Okinawan culture, they believe that food is medicine and the proof is in the pudding as they have the longest life spans.

I didn’t manage to try everything they’re famous for but I tried a lot. I’m going to make a quick list for you and then in upcoming posts go more into detail on which places I went to try the foods.

Super special local ingredients!

Goya ( ゴーヤー)– Goya or Momordica charantia is a super healthy food and looks a bit like a bumpy cucumber. It is chock full of vitamin c and is considered the perfect thing to eat when it’s hot out to protect your stomach from the heat. Usually when it gets too hot out the appetite decreases. It’s believed the Goya keeps that from happening.

umi-budō (海ぶどう) – Umi Budo or Caulerpa lentillifera is known as a couple of different things, green caviar and sea grapes are the top two. Umi budo is neither a fruit or an egg but instead a satisfying to eat type of seaweed. Rather than leaves sprouting from the main stem there are a whole bunch of tiny orbs. If you like salty and popping boba in your tea then I suggest giving these a try. They’re a lot of fun, almost an edible equivalent to popping bubble wrap. It’s usually served covered in vinegar at room temperature.

Shiiquasa (シークヮーサー ) – This citrus fruit has various spellings and names in English. Among which include  shiikuwasha, shiiquwasa, or shequasar or the scientific term: the Citrus depressa. It’s is a very sour fruit similar to a lemon or lime and sometimes confused with a calamansi (though it is similar). It can be found in various types of juices on the island as well as as a chip flavoring and in ice creams.

Benni Imo 沖縄の紅芋 – This is a relative to the sweet potato, taro, ube, or yam. However it is dark on the outside and bright purple on the inside. It gets used a lot in Okinawa for various fun desserts with no artificial coloring due to the natural dark purple color.

Maasu 真潮 – Massu or Masshu is very simply salt. There are about 150 types of salt uniquely made in Okinawa. And you’ll find a lot of things have salt to them. Some of these are quite fun like salt ice cream and cookies. As a person who grew up in the United States where salt is arguably over used, living for the last 5 years in South Korea where sugar is grabbed in almost all instances I would have use salt, meant my savory salt taste bud was in absolute heaven in Okinawa.

Aguu あぐー豚 – Aguu is Okinawan pork. Aguu is used commonly in many dishes so if you do not eat pork or meat make sure to double check with the restaurants that this is not used. It is a local special ingredient and every bit of the pig is used in some part of Okinawan cuisine. If you’re sensitive please take care when walking around in Okinawa as pig heads are commonly on display as a showcase to their importance within the culture or as part of souvenirs. I usually did not get too close to see if some of the ones on display were real or fake. Aguu itself is considered a very special type of pork and has become rarer than it use to be. Due to this the pork you eat in Okinawa might not automatically be aguu, and if you do find aguu  it will be expensive.

kokuto 黒糖 – Kokuto is a local type of brown sugar made from a very sturdier type of sugar cane on the island that can withstand typhoons. It’s considered one of the world’s healthiest brown sugars.

peanut tofu– most tofu found in the world is made out of soybeans, but in Okinawa you can buy and try tofu made out of peanuts. Note peanuts is a popular ingredient, if you have allergies make sure to double check before eating things in Okinawa.

pineapple and mango- Pretty sure most people know what these are.

Alcohol and spirits

Awamori– local very strong rice liquor, it has no added sugars and is low in calories. If you want to enjoy it it is highly suggested to add at least ice or water (hot or cold). If you want all the calories then have it in a cocktail. Popular cocktails according to an Okinawan guide are: Mango Harusa (local mango, orange and shiiquasa), Awamori twice (milk and chocolate liquor), and Ryuku tonic (lychee).

Orion– the local beer. If you like this beer then you’re in luck. You will find souvenirs for it everywhere.

wine– due to the large amounts of fruit grown on the island you can try all sorts of fruity wines like pineapple, mango, guava, and shiiquasa.

Foods!

Goya Champuru – you might recognize that first word. Goya is bitter melon and Champuru essentially breaks down to stir fry. Goya Champuru is a great way to try bitter melon. Common ingredients include goya, tofu, egg, pork belly and/or Spam.

Rafute– this dish is a sweet meat. It’s made from pork belly cooked in Awamori and a local type of miso. Depending on who makes it it may be sweet or salty but it will be melt in your mouth soft. For some people that is a textural no-no with meat.

Okinawa soba– Usually soba is quite thin and dark looking, however the Okinawan style looks a bit more like udon with its paler 100% wheat made chewy noodles. It usually comes with some sort of pork. Commonly pork belly or spare ribs.

Taco rice– It’s exactly what it sounds like. Instead of a taco shell either soft or hard you’ve got a taco salad essentially on a bowl of rice. Not everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it.

Mimiga– I didn’t manage to give this a try but it is boiled and steamed pork ears. Note that if you have peanut allergies make sure to let them know because it’s usually covered in a peanut dressing.

Sweets

Santa Andagi– nicknamed Okinawan brown sugar donuts these are not what most would consider a donut. They are instead balls of fried dough. They aren’t super sweet and tend to be very crunchy on the outside. They’re fun to try and they come in other flavors but the traditional old school flavor is brown sugar. 

Salt ice cream– exactly as it sounds. Also depending on location you can try flavored salts on top of your ice cream.

Okinawan salt cookies

Chinsuko– a cookie similar to a short bread cookie that comes in a lot of different flavors. They’re quite good. When it comes to souvenirs though you may notice that they’re being sold in joke boxes because Chinsuko is similar to a slang word for penis,  “chinko”.

Beni Imo Tart– a bright purple sweet potato tart which can be found at almost any souvenir shop. You should also be able to sample these at many of the shops to see if you like it.

Beni imo soft serve– if the tart isn’t up your alley you can also try beni imo in the form of bright purple ice cream in many locations.

This of course isn’t everything that is exclusive to Okinawa or all they have to offer but this is a lot of the main ones I ran into and ran into often.

While Japanese is spoken in Okinawa and they’ll understand you if you say the basics, Okinawa has its own language that predates even the Ryūkyū Kingdom.

Languages are confusing and I am no expert. I only learned two phrases, one on a tour and the other at a show, but I figure if I share them so you’ll pleasantly surprise those you meet.

First up is hello. But as a note the language is gendered. So from my understanding what you say depending on the gender you identify as.

Since I identify as female I would say Haitai はいたい as a greeting to the people around me.

For those who identify as male you say Haisai はいさい . 

Thank you is nifee deebiru 御拝でーびーる. It is not a gendered phrase.

If you want to memorize hello in Okinawan there is a song that is played practically everywhere, even if it’s just a little jingle on the Yui rail or at the airport called Haisai ojisan (ハイサイおじさん). If you want to hear the song a version of it can be heard here. If you go to any traditional performance there’s a good chance this song will be played accompanied by the sanshin.

  Okinawa Paris exhausted me. There were so many things I wanted to see coupled with the strikes that was the one two punch combination that left me a zombie.