#Living the Good Life: Retirement in Indonesia

[greenthestral]

Indonesia: Heaven for Retirement

When it comes to choosing the perfect destination for retirement, many people often think of popular retirement hotspots like Florida, Spain, or Costa Rica. Indonesia, with its diverse culture and exotic location, may not immediately come to mind. However, this vast archipelago nation is gaining recognition as an ideal place to spend one's golden years. With its breathtaking natural beauty, affordable cost of living, warm hospitality, and unique cultural experiences, Indonesia offers retirees a retirement paradise like no other.

One of the most compelling reasons why Indonesia is becoming increasingly popular among retirees is its unparalleled natural beauty. The country is home to a diverse range of landscapes, from the lush rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo to the pristine beaches of Bali and the volcanic wonders of Java. Retirees can wake up to the sounds of tropical birds, stroll along white sandy beaches, or witness stunning sunsets over picturesque rice terraces. The abundance of natural beauty creates a sense of tranquility and serenity that is perfect for retirees looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Aside from its natural wonders, Indonesia offers retirees an affordable cost of living that can significantly stretch their retirement savings. Housing options in Indonesia cater to a range of budgets, from luxurious villas in upscale areas to modest apartments in more affordable regions. Retirees can find comfortable and well-appointed accommodations at a fraction of the cost compared to Western countries. Additionally, daily necessities such as food, transportation, and healthcare are considerably more affordable, allowing retirees to maintain a high standard of living without draining their retirement funds.

Indonesia's warm hospitality is another aspect that sets it apart as a retirement haven. The locals, known as Indonesians, are known for their genuine friendliness and welcoming nature. Retirees will find themselves embraced by a culture that values community and inclusivity. Indonesians take pride in their heritage and are eager to share their traditions, cuisine, and customs with retirees. Whether it's joining a local celebration, learning traditional arts and crafts, or simply engaging in friendly conversations with the locals, retirees will find themselves surrounded by warm smiles and genuine connections.

Furthermore, Indonesia's rich cultural heritage offers retirees a unique and enriching retirement experience. The country is home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups, each with their own distinct traditions and customs. Retirees can immerse themselves in the vibrant local culture by attending traditional ceremonies, exploring ancient temples, or learning traditional dances and music. Indonesia's cultural diversity provides retirees with endless opportunities to expand their horizons, broaden their perspectives, and develop a deeper appreciation for the beauty of human diversity.

Retirement is a time to focus on health and wellness, and Indonesia offers retirees an abundance of options to support a healthy lifestyle. From the tranquil yoga retreats of Bali to wellness resorts in Java, retirees can find solace in a wide range of wellness practices. The country's natural healing practices, such as traditional Indonesian massage and herbal medicine, offer retirees an opportunity to rejuvenate their bodies and minds. Balinese spa treatments, for example, are renowned for their relaxation and therapeutic benefits, providing retirees with a perfect escape from the stresses of daily life.

For those seeking adventure and exploration, Indonesia is a treasure trove of opportunities. The country's diverse geography provides a wide range of outdoor activities for retirees to enjoy. Retirees can embark on exhilarating hikes through lush rainforests, explore ancient temples and archaeological sites, or venture to remote islands to discover hidden beaches and pristine diving spots. Indonesia's unique marine biodiversity makes it a paradise for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts, with colorful coral reefs and an array of marine life waiting to be explored. Retirees can indulge in their spirit of adventure and create unforgettable memories in this tropical paradise.

Indonesia may not be the first country that comes to mind when considering retirement destinations, it offers retirees a unique and alluring retirement experience. From its breathtaking natural beauty to its affordable cost of living, warm hospitality, and rich cultural heritage, Indonesia has all the ingredients for a retirement paradise. Whether retirees are seeking relaxation on pristine beaches, engagement in vibrant local culture, or thrilling adventures in stunning landscapes, Indonesia offers endless possibilities. So, consider Indonesia as your retirement destination and embrace the incredible opportunities that await you in this tropical haven.

Natural Beauty and Climate

One of the main reasons why Indonesia stands out as a retirement haven is its stunning natural beauty. The country is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, including lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and majestic volcanoes. From the famous white sands of Bali to the tranquil shores of Lombok and the untouched wilderness of Komodo Island, retirees in Indonesia can indulge in the wonders of nature every day.

Moreover, Indonesia's tropical climate is another attractive aspect for retirees. The country experiences warm temperatures year-round, allowing retirees to enjoy outdoor activities and leisurely strolls without having to battle extreme weather conditions. The abundance of sunshine and pleasant temperatures create a perfect environment for relaxation and rejuvenation, making Indonesia an ideal place to spend one's retirement years.

Cost of Living

Another key factor that makes Indonesia an attractive retirement destination is its affordable cost of living. Compared to many Western countries, the cost of housing, healthcare, and daily necessities in Indonesia is significantly lower. Retirees can stretch their retirement savings further and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without breaking the bank.

In Indonesia, it is possible to find affordable housing options, ranging from luxurious villas to modest apartments, depending on one's budget and preferences. Local markets offer fresh produce at reasonable prices, and dining out at local eateries is often much cheaper than in Western countries. Additionally, healthcare costs in Indonesia are relatively affordable, with high-quality medical facilities available in major cities.

Warm Hospitality and Culture

Indonesia is renowned for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage. The locals, known as Indonesians, are known for their friendliness, making retirees feel welcome and at home. The country's diverse culture, influenced by various ethnic groups and religions, offers retirees an opportunity to immerse themselves in a vibrant and unique society.

Retirees in Indonesia can engage in various cultural activities, such as attending traditional ceremonies, exploring ancient temples, and learning traditional arts and crafts. The country's rich history and heritage provide endless opportunities for retirees to deepen their understanding of Indonesian culture and create meaningful connections with the local community.

Health and Wellness

Retirement is a time to focus on health and well-being, and Indonesia offers numerous options to promote a healthy lifestyle. From yoga retreats in Bali to wellness resorts in Java, retirees can find an abundance of opportunities to rejuvenate their mind, body, and soul.

Indonesia is also home to natural healing practices, such as traditional Indonesian massage and herbal medicine. Balinese spa treatments, for example, are renowned for their relaxation and therapeutic benefits. Retirees can take advantage of these natural remedies to enhance their overall well-being and enjoy a healthier lifestyle in a serene environment.

Adventure and Exploration

Retirement should never be a time of boredom, and Indonesia offers retirees countless opportunities for adventure and exploration. With its diverse geography, the country offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, scuba diving, surfing, and wildlife safaris. Retirees can explore the stunning national parks, climb volcanoes, or embark on island-hopping adventures to discover the hidden gems of Indonesia.

Indonesia's unique marine biodiversity also makes it a paradise for diving enthusiasts. The coral reefs surrounding the archipelago are home to an incredible array of marine life, making it an ideal destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. Retirees can discover the beauty beneath the waves and create unforgettable memories in the underwater world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Indonesia is a hidden gem that offers retirees a slice of paradise for their retirement years. With its breathtaking natural beauty, affordable cost of living, warm hospitality, rich culture, and endless opportunities for adventure, Indonesia has all the ingredients to make retirement a truly memorable and fulfilling experience. Whether it's relaxing on pristine beaches, immersing in vibrant local culture, or embarking on thrilling adventures, retirees can find their own piece of heaven in Indonesia. So, consider Indonesia as your retirement destination and embrace the incredible opportunities that await you in this tropical paradise.

[ameliastory]

Childhood memories in Pandeglang

1:16 AM, I can't sleep lately, my sleeping schedule are messed up. I just want to write a blog while I have an idea for writing. Have you ever liked nostalgia for the old days or when you were little? It’s very often happened to me. especially in the past, it seems that the atmosphere is still very peaceful, not as stressed as now, and the quality of life was so good. Eid in the past felt better than nowadays, right? In the early 2000s I used to live in the Java island area precisely in Pandeglang, entering Banten province, Indonesia

So my mother's relatives are mostly in Pandeglang because she is a Sundanese originally, and migrated to Lampung from the time of my ancestors era, but some of my relatives are still pretty much staying in Pandeglang, but I'm not too closest with them when I was a kid, I even forgot how their face was

So I used to live in the Cilembur bathing place area which is very close to the Sosro bottled tea factory

Location: Karang Tanjung, Pandeglang, Banten.

That's the photo that I found from Google because in the past, when I lived in this area, I was still a kid, I haven’t go to school yet, so I kind of forget about some of these, but I'm full of memories in this place, especially since I have a friend who used to be very kind, she’s a girl named metha, her family is also very kind, I don't know if she still remembers me or not though, I also can’t remember what her face is because it's been a long time, you know I'm still a child who hasn't go to school.

I used to like to take a bath with my sister here, the bathing place has a lot of fish, maybe it's a sacred fish? There are 2 parts of the pool for small children and adults, small children are safe, there are no fish, but there are in adults area, plus the pool is very deep, i used to enter here for free because I was the resident there, but now I don't know if it's still free or paid for admission.

There is one more memorable place, the Sosro bottled tea factory.

I read the news and I was surprised that it was said to be bankrupt, but indeed if you look at it from Google Maps now it's a bit abandoned it's really sad, this factory was a silent witness when I was little in front of this factory there was a small stall owned by my relatives she’s selling a breakfast she sold like vegetable lontong and nasi uduk, there was one incident that made me traumatic until now it's ridiculous for some people but I really have a phobia of this one animal because of this incident

In the past, there were not many houses in front of this factory, the number is still very small amount compare to now. even in the past, when it was maghrib time, no one dared to come outside because the local said there was a ghost etc. maybe now it's different and not like before

Well, in front of the road of this factory, there was a very big millipede, he passed the road, there was a truck passing by, the sound was crackling, I still remember until now how it was shaped. Of all the memories I have, this is the most memorable one and scariest too haha, but living in this area is not suitable for city people like me and my family, so I can't survive and go back to Lampung. Whatever you want to sell is they always want it to be cheaper, it's only common that cuz it's still in the village area, maybe live here for those who have retired but if you are still young it's better to live in the city.

There are still many more experiences I have here but it will turned out to be a whole book lol, and I am writing this so that my child can read and know how their mother's life story is.

[thelovingroses]

Childhood memories in Pandeglang

1:16 AM, I can't sleep lately, my sleeping schedule are messed up. I just want to write a blog while I have an idea for writing. Have you ever liked nostalgia for the old days or when you were little? It’s very often happened to me. especially in the past, it seems that the atmosphere is still very peaceful, not as stressed as now, and the quality of life was so good. Eid in the past felt better than nowadays, right? In the early 2000s I used to live in the Java island area precisely in Pandeglang, entering Banten province, Indonesia

So my mother's relatives are mostly in Pandeglang because she is a Sundanese originally, and migrated to Lampung from the time of my ancestors era, but some of my relatives are still pretty much staying in Pandeglang, but I'm not too closest with them when I was a kid, I even forgot how their face was

So I used to live in the Cilembur bathing place area which is very close to the Sosro bottled tea factory

Location: Karang Tanjung, Pandeglang, Banten.

That's the photo that I found from Google because in the past, when I lived in this area, I was still a kid, I haven’t go to school yet, so I kind of forget about some of these, but I'm full of memories in this place, especially since I have a friend who used to be very kind, she’s a girl named metha, her family is also very kind, I don't know if she still remembers me or not though, I also can’t remember what her face is because it's been a long time, you know I'm still a child who hasn't go to school.

I used to like to take a bath with my sister here, the bathing place has a lot of fish, maybe it's a sacred fish? There are 2 parts of the pool for small children and adults, small children are safe, there are no fish, but there are in adults area, plus the pool is very deep, i used to enter here for free because I was the resident there, but now I don't know if it's still free or paid for admission.

There is one more memorable place, the Sosro bottled tea factory.

I read the news and I was surprised that it was said to be bankrupt, but indeed if you look at it from Google Maps now it's a bit abandoned it's really sad, this factory was a silent witness when I was little in front of this factory there was a small stall owned by my relatives she’s selling a breakfast she sold like vegetable lontong and nasi uduk, there was one incident that made me traumatic until now it's ridiculous for some people but I really have a phobia of this one animal because of this incident

In the past, there were not many houses in front of this factory, the number is still very small amount compare to now. even in the past, when it was maghrib time, no one dared to come outside because the local said there was a ghost etc. maybe now it's different and not like before

Well, in front of the road of this factory, there was a very big millipede, he passed the road, there was a truck passing by, the sound was crackling, I still remember until now how it was shaped. Of all the memories I have, this is the most memorable one and scariest too haha, but living in this area is not suitable for city people like me and my family, so I can't survive and go back to Lampung. Whatever you want to sell is they always want it to be cheaper, it's only common that cuz it's still in the village area, maybe live here for those who have retired but if you are still young it's better to live in the city.

There are still many more experiences I have here but it will turned out to be a whole book lol, and I am writing this so that my child can read and know how his mother's life story is.

[lin-cang]

Bali, April 2023.

There will always be a good starter on everything. For this particular chapter of my life, it started out last year when I was invited to be selected Liaison Officer for Singapore Indonesia Youth Leadership Exchange Program (SIYLEP) 2022. I was so stoked knowing that it will be held in Bali. For quite sometime after July 2023 when I enter new work environment with a lot of stressing and suppressing event, this could be the best moment to feel relax a bit and for a week I can enjoy Bali with new point of view.

They said the best thing come out of off expectation, and it was nothing but true. My work leave has been approved smoothly and I was packed and ready, not knowing that the program will make a definite change in my mind. I fell in love with Bali in my own time. I met outstanding new friends from both Indonesian and Singaporean, I enjoy the programme like its my own program, I listen to what the discussion going and feel that my machine in my head turn and run without stopping, the energy so good I am drenched by it. Week goes by with promise of going back to the Island more and more and eventually for good.

They said energy attracts energy. I feel that I am with myself when I'm in Bali, I didn't need to worry about my physical aspect which it was a long journey of struggle, I didn't need to sweat to find my crowds, my people, because it is really like a magnet to the right pole, I attract the people and experience on my level and I feel nothing but grateful about it. For a long time, I dream of living on my own feet, decide my own things, living the life I've been yearning to live on, now I know where I want to spend my early retirement days. I'm planning to get my early retirement, make two long lease on house and a studio, working as a consultant and art, and most of all, I become who I truly am, walking at the warm sands looking at the sun rises and setting besides the beach knowing that I got everything.

[horsesofgili]

Romeo is an older boy 9-12 years. He’s been on Gili Trawangan a long time…. Best we can find out is that he was born around 2001-12 on Sumba and became a very successful racehorse at around 18 months. He traveled around the island of Sumba, Sumbawa, Lombok and became well known as he was big and flashy. He was also apparently very fast. After retired from racing he ended up on Gili Trawangan as a cart horse. It seems he wasn’t particularly good at it and was actually too large to be pulling a cart. Sometime around this point I became aware of him and tried to buy him. He was in a tiny stall covered in feces and had run wounds from the harness. But I was told he was not for sale. He was traded/sold through various homes until eventually he became a beach ride horse. He was in much better condition but was still in a tiny and filthy stall. I used to pet him every night day on the way to the stables and once again tried to buy him. He had such a sweet and kind temperament and I felt sorry for him. Again…not for sale…when Covid came I filmed him getting on a boat to leave the island and thought we’d never see him again 😞. But in the middle of the second year of Covid I was told he was for sale…his owners relative was very sick and the needed money for hospital. I literally couldn’t move fast enough…I’d promised him for years that we would give him a wonderful life and here was our chance! He came to live with us July 2021….it was like an old freind coming home. He’s now a fat and happy gelding and learning to integrate and play with other horses. (He’s lived in isolation most of his life) He’s definitely a permanent member here at Horses of Gili and he is very much loved. He’s also learned bitless and is becoming a terrific riding horse ❤️ #horsesofgili #lombokhorse #horsesofasia #rescuehorse #rescuepony #ilovehorses #makeadifference #donatenow #horsesofinstagram #rescuehorse #rescuepony #horserescue #ponyrescue #horsecharity #indonesia #giliislands #giliTrawangan #oneponyatatime https://www.instagram.com/p/CdPh5FcPAha/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[welcometomy20s]

February 7, 2021

This is Part two of the introduction of Nijisanji. I have written for an audience who has just gotten to know vtubers through hololive and wants to explore more. This part cover all of Nijisanji members who has debuted in the year 2019.

2019 Part 1 (Jan-Apr)

Warabeda Meiji - Another eleven year old, but likes FF14 and K-On! So frequently described as an 11 year old third season. But she is genuinely cute! And a really good singer, so much so that her K-On cover gets banned for being too close!

Gundou Mirei - Actually a teacher, but definitely a ditzy and lazy one, that is incredibly sexual to an uncomfortable degree, you know, a fan favorite, including of mine. Watch her 3D streams and you will be amazed. Has a ship with Shoichi as mentioned before, even though she’s a self-professed bisexual. It’s odd but, you know, it works!

Yuzuki Roa - Kind of innocent devil like Towa, but more like a kid than an older sister. Really like Belmond. Was friends with Chitose, a retired member, and got a costume based on her a bit, and maybe is retiring herself, considering she hasn't uploaded for quite a few months now. Well, whatever. She’s cute and innocent.  

Onomachi Haruka - Another of the rare, truly seiso people in the team, but can go wild if the vibe goes that way. Lost and found a llama in minecraft once.

Seto Miyako - Kind of a quiet girl who might be psychopathic... you know the type. Her true tendencies pop up during gaming. Also tweets a lot... make sense.

Kataribe Tsumugu - Basically retired, but her concept was so shocking that it took Naruse Naru’s return of old design to push her into the bottom of the list.

Otogibara Era - She’s a Cinderella if she has gone completely out the window. People routinely separate the original Cinderella side as Era, and her true side as Gibara.

God, how do I describe her. Gibara is just great. Her adult comments are something to behold, let’s say she gels with Tamaki very well. She returns to monke often, and does other types of screams too... seriously look at her gacha stream and witness Gibara in her full glory. Also incredibly lazy and definitely cannot live by herself.

But as you have guessed it, she is an incredible singer. (It might be the case that incredible singing is associated with madness) Had knockout hit with her 3D stream, trending number one on twitter and 30,000 US dollars in superchats!

Lize Helesta - Queen of Shizuoka, I mean Heleste kingdom. Usually behaves like an empress, but as with most royalty has a real competitive spirit, so she knows how to badmouth when she needs to. So, she’s a really stingy person as well... not really fitting for a royalty, but you do know some people that act like that.

She’s a strange person. Look at asphalt or a handstand in order to sleep. Friends with Ange, who was a childhood friend, even with an age difference. Also does radio stuff with Lulu as well. Reveres Mito, wonder why. Again, incredible 3D debut.

Ange Katrina - Nice low-middle voice with a smooth upper body, and surprisingly small but that got fixed as 3D started. Think she’s cute, but blushes when people agree. Just a cool gal who I enjoy very much... her streams, I mean.

Inui Toko - She’s a cerberus, and now works at a cafe. A little bit out there, but definitely a tsukkomi. Usually does little gaming outside Minecraft, so mostly talks and sings. A unique laugh and loves Ensemble Stars. Hangs out with red and blue people, like Lize, Ange, Roa, Ayame, Suisei and so on. Actually is boing boing, Ange felt betrayed.

And as mentioned above, a great singer, and can play many instruments as well!

Saegusa Akina - High tension singer, who is quite sickly and is terrible with girls. But he got better as time went on and the ship with his gen mate Manami started to sail. Actually he hangs around with many girls... maybe it’s just Manami?

Arizona Manami - Ito Life’s daughter... so you know what she looks like. Calls herself the queen of sensitivity, and yes she does very suggestive streams... but she’s pretty innocent and childish... so she’s kind of like Melody in a way. Has a very fond-looking relationship with Akina as mentioned above.

Suzuhara Lulu - Just your typical art student. She’s a rich girl, so she knows very little about the outside world. Definitely has stamina of a thousand horses, famously played 11 hours of Dark Souls, then straight onto 10 hours of Ring Fit, and never got phased. Seriously, she never gets phased. She rode the freaking snake without a problem! Apparently really beautiful in real life, really has large expressions.

There’s a rumor going around that she’s actually some kind of an eldritch god... and I don’t know where that comes from at all. Look at her, she’s such a sweet gal, look at her dancing and singing... she’s a true idol, that’s what she is... (don’t hurt me.)

Yukishiro Mahiro - First-year high-schooler. Good variety of content. Her personality is of a rude kouhai. One viewer described her as a bad-tempered chihuahua. Really likes Kanae, which is okay, I guess. There’s not much more than that.

2019 Part 2 (May-Aug)

Ex Albio - A hero from a different world. Originally portrayed as a rude snarky figure, much like Kazuma without charm or luck but with perseverance. Got his fame through his noob Minecraft experience, as with Minecraft servers, they are ripe with collab opportunities, so he started to collab especially with Ars Almal, which he thinks as a mentor... and so they both talk in high register. Eventually became a couple.

Has a thing where he questions something and immediately denies it, which is quite funny. Eventually got a dark alter version due to the imagination tournament I talked about earlier, which brings the fact that he can’t fight until tragedy occurs.

Levi Elipha - Actually only six years old, and apparently dense, like physically dense. Great singer and good physique, does some English songs as well.

Nui Sociere - A 25-year old witch, but more like a NEET with an addiction to horse racing. Very much like Megumi in terms of magic abilities, but capable of melee.

Kind of sounds like Doraemon when she screams... usually plays JRPG... and well, just look at her. Damn... well, least you have something to look forward to.

Hayama Marin - Hayame is Hayame. She’s just a little kid with a pure mind. Yeah.

Hayato Kagami - CEO of a toy company, so called that. Polite and diligent, but like a CEO of a toy company, completely becomes a boy when getting a bit excited.

Actually is a great singer, maybe a trained singer as well. As a good example of rich getting richer, fans have a tendency to throw red superchat, a typical stream might hit 10K USD, even though there’s nothing particular going on.

Yorumi Rena - Idol magician, but no actual proof of her magic abilities. Plays APEX a lot. Very much an outgoing person with lots of collab from everyone. Hakase calls her mama. Sleep promptly at midnight, except when ARK was involved.

Also makes 8-bit art proficiently, does all her loading screen. A bit of a lewd mind.

Hakase Fuyuki - HIgh school girl who likes to experiment, but it’s obvious none of it ever works. Tries to ship Yorumi and Kagami, and calls him papa. Just absolutely in her own world and everyone is just privy to it... also incredibly bad at gaming.

Mayuzumi Kai - A white hacker. Very cool, but has a thing for comedy, almost to the level of Joe Riikichi, but laughs very little himself. Make sense, since he lost his parents at an early age and lived in the system, therefore is a night streamer. Very good with kids as a result, and very kind and polite as well.

Ars Almal - A mage who specializes in lightning. Started out by apologizing, gets bullied for her round face, usually by Shiina. Cute voice with toxic words with a knack for pranks and taunts. Actually is quite boing boing. Good at Minecraft construction, but get rough and dirty under the wheel, as in Mario Kart. Became a kitsune, and then immediately got compared to Fubuki... much like Fubuki in a sense.

Aiba Uiha - Another idol who is a bit out there, has a tendency to be clingy. Also has a large physique... kind of a denatured Lulu is what I’m getting at. Sisters with Ara Chae, incredibly bad eyesight, apparently. I can see that, actually.

Eli Conifer - A flower fairy and maid with a unique phrasing. Likes to immerse herself in games, very knowledgeable, especially with teas, and also handy at housework, and superb at drawing and singing. Ryushen and Rion think she’s a badass, and they might not be entirely wrong on that aspect, actually.

Kokoro Amaiya - Dragonborn, I think. But there’s no dragon anymore. Has that mumble-speak that people really don’t like. She’s very much kid-like in a sense, uh, so get put into the loli category much like her fellow peer. Incredibly weak.

Ratna Petit - Adventurer with an independent streak. Does games and ASMR, tries to be grown up during collabs, but retreats into a kid in solo streams. Got the infamous random deletion of the account that Kiara famously got.

Nijisanji ID Gen 1

Taka Radjiman - Another CEO, this time a food CEO. Usually streams games, but much like other CEOs here, a pretty good singer as well. Obviously a good cook as well.

ZEA Cornelia - She’s an automata. ZEA is short for Z-type Executive Automation. Likes to sing, and sung many songs including La Vien en Rose by IZONE! I really like her, her streams are bit odd and ZEA can carry a stream like no another.

Hana Macchia - A design student, much like Lulu. Likes drawing as you expect, also like gaming as well. Does some barista stuff as well, a kind of the ambassador of Nijisanji ID, since her father is American and her mother is Japanese, and she lives in Indonesia.

Papa Macchia appears on stream from time to time, and apparently was the progenitor of Hana’s gaming prestige as he played Doom and Half-Life. She’s on the cute side of things, but blushes when she gets called that. Also cries in horror, but screams in excitement... just overall a well-rounded in strangeness. I really like her.

2019 Part 3 (Sep-Dec)

Sukoya Kana - Incredibly smart, but also has an otaku and perverted side. Likes acting, as you might have guessed and bad at housework. Has a quiet voice, but gets savage when a game is involved. Pretty good at english as well. Does a radio show as well.

Oh, yeah, likes to throw up. It’s a thing. Also plays drums. She’s pretty cool.

Shellin Burgundy - Before Kanata did her PPT intro, Shellin was the first one. Professes himself to be a detective, but little lightheaded for that. Good narration voice, though, which means he’s a good singer as well. I kind of like him. He’s good.

Hayase Sou - An outdoorsy girl who likes cosplay and road biking. Kind of talks like she’s middle age, but she acts pretty young. And of course she likes shotas.

Fumi - It took over a year for her to debut. She’s a hikikomori gundam otaku and a goddess. A bit airheaded and pretty bad at gaming, and since she is 67, gets called grandma infrequently. She’s fun to watch. Has a ship with Nagao.

Hoshikawa Sara - Half Japanese and half English. Definitely a cool and tough, ready to take whatever sex jokes and insults you throw at her. Hangs out with Mahiro a lot, or with male members like Yumeoi, Ebio, Shellion or Kanda. Has a wide voice range, with a wide personality as well. There’s a sense of healing to her, honestly.

Obviously gets fangirled by many, including Matsuri, whose frequently red superchats her much to her confusion and relative embarrassment.

Yamagami Karuta - She’s a tengou in training, since she is filled with desires, mostly to connect with people. This is real, apparently. Has a ship with a staff member...

Matsukai Mao - Smartest devil... no, she’s an airhead like the rest of them. Apparently she can spit out crude oil... which is pretty useless. Definitely an unlucky, miserable person who needs to be protected at all times, and she relishes that like the devil she is.

Hangs around with Luis a lot in real life, apparently. Also plays APEX and stuff.

Emma August - Demon Lord that was thrown in an uprising, living with Morinaka Kazaki, and got a new house in February of last year. An alcoholic and a masochist, who gets berated by Kazaki of all people. Definitely not a loli, that’s for sure.

Luis Cammy - An expert thief, which excites Shellin very much. Seen as the leader of the gen, but found out to be much of a kid as the gen mates, especially around Shellin. They are a couple now, apparently. Oh yeah, she did an Outlast stream with a cat outfit and invited Shellin because she was scared? Now there's a loli version of her... yikes.

Fuwa Minato - A host, but a teetotaler, because of health problems... yet drinks Monster energy like it’s no business. A bit out there, as Nijisanji people are. A bit of a trickster, a bad boy if you will... right there with being good at games as well. He’s pretty cool.

Shirayuki Tomoe - When I first saw her, she felt like one of those people in mahjong tournaments. Well, she’s a queen of the night, so night-time streamer, although she has daytime streams as well. Strong drinker. Talks about SM, but also effortlessly friendly and a lovely person. I think she’s attractive, but I can see why people call her cute. She hates bugs, loves cute things, odd thoughts... feels like an aunt to me.

Very bad at reading kanji, not that she’s good at anything else. Likes to practice, hence preserved her way in the Mario Kart tournament. Does talk and ASMR streams with a third of her viewers being women. Likes Mirei, makes sense. Oh, she’s a nudist.

And don’t forget the relationship between Kana and her. Purported to be the most real of the ships of any vtubers. I believe it’s called Crossick. I don’t know too much.

Gwelu Os Gar - Presenter for the elf kingdom, hired as a presenter, since Nijisanji got so big and there’s only so many Kakeru around. Unfortunately seen as boring, and transitioned into kind of a Maimoto character.

Already married, I don’t know why that’s significant but there you go. Oh, and an actual dad! That is pretty significant. Although Setsuna also has a child, and had to retire to take care of the little baby. Teaches math to others, so that’s cool.

Mashiro - Recent high school graduate. He’s a boy. Yes, he has heels and boobs, but he’s a boy. And yes, he is a bit out there, stealing candies from the office.

Naraka - Another oni, and a loli-baba. Obviously a fan of the fellow oni, Mikoto... which has a queen kid relationship. And yes, her chest is smaller than Mashiro... sad.

Kurusu Natsume - 19-year old college student who likes music and sheep. Very smart and very normal. Has an ASMR test stream, which was pretty fun.

Nijisanji ID 2nd Gen

Rai Galliel - An interdimensional policeman. Likes cheese, but hate porridge due to only eating one for four months. Likes baking, pretty cool personality, if a bit straight edge.

Amicia Michella - A freelance illustrator, so the drawing is superb. Like sleep but also sports. Also penguins. Likes to play horror games pretty calmly. Raises two dogs, well one of them passed away late last year. Sang a 10cm cover?

Miyu Ottavia - A business student, and likes otters and is optimistic. Mostly plays RPG and online multiplayers. Tries to be cool, but look at her! She’s very cute.

Riksa Dhirendra - A 24-year-old freelancer and works as an editor and translator. Looks mean, but is actually a very decent gut. He is pretty competitive. Plays RPG.

[sheltersounds]

Asians and Their Prominent Representation in Contemporary R&B

In a scene originated and also dominated by African-American artists, there are some good shout outs for artists of Asian descent who are starting to make a scene in contemporary R&B, including 88rising’s Joji and NIKI, Malaysian singer Yuna, and Indian-American singer Raveena. 

Rhythm and Blues, or commonly known as RnB, is one of the genres of popular music that originated in the African-American communities between the 1940s and 1950s, with the music emphasizing the usage of heavy beats on jazz music. The genre symbolizes joy and freedom for the African-American people and tackles issues of ups and downs of an array of aspects, mostly about economics, relationships, and their vocal aspirations as people of color. The genre later emerged into contemporary R&B, with the amalgamation of hip-hop inspired songs, and became more known among American youth, with artists such as R. Kelly, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, and Whitney Houston becoming popular during the era.

Currently, the genre dominated the charts with artists such as SZA, Ella Mai, H.E.R, Khalid, Usher, and many more, with increasing numbers of streams in multiple music streaming apps such as Spotify and Apple Music, making R&B one of the most popular genres in the past few years or so. At the same time, artists of Asian descent are starting to make scenes into the R&B genre, such as Joji, NIKI, Yuna, Raveena and other artists who have built a devoted fanbase in recent times. Although the Asian representation of the genre is considerably lesser known compared to African-American or even Caucasian representatives, their prominent rise into the scene for the past few years is worth mentioning.

Two of the Asian label and music collective 88rising’s rosters, Joji and NIKI, experienced major success for the past couple of years, garnering millions of streams for both of the artists. Nicole Zefanya, known as NIKI, had built a career back in her home country of Indonesia, releasing a few singles independently, before joining 88rising following the footsteps of her fellow Indonesian, rapper Brian Imanuel or rather known as Rich Brian. It was during the time she first joined 88rising that her career boosted into another level, releasing a few hit singles, a full length album titled Zephyr, and recently an extended play titled wanna take this downtown under the stage name NIKI, receiving generally favorable reviews from both critics and fans alike.

While NIKI’s fellow 88rising compatriot, George Miller, also known as Joji, is also having a successful career with 88rising, Miller has had a modest following from his previous career as a YouTube comedic persona, Filthy Frank and Pink Guy, before eventually retiring from his YouTube channel to focus on his music career. Before joining 88rising, Miller released a project titled Chloe Burbank: Volume 1 back in 2017 on his Soundcloud account, and also released a full length album under the Pink Guy moniker titled Pink Seasons in the same year. During his time at 88rising, he has released a couple singles, an extended play titled In Tongues at the end of 2017, and a debut full length album titled Ballads 1 the year after. Ballads 1 received major praise from fans and critics and was a commercial success, reaching number 3 at the Billboard 200 charts and topping the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Miller recently announced his sophomore album titled “Nectar”, with an additional release of its lead singles “Run” and ”Gimme Love” earlier this year. Initially planned to be released on July 10, the album released was later postponed to September 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysian singer Yuna might be a familiar name among R&B listeners and enthusiasts, but her significant breakthrough from a local indie sweetheart to one of the prominent stars in R&B is something worth mentioning. Starting her music career doing covers on MySpace a decade ago, she built a decent amount of following from the platform and started to become known in her home country of Malaysia, winning a few awards in the country before signing a record deal with New York-based label, Fader Label in 2011. She then released four full length albums internationally, collaborating with some of the renowned RnB/Hip-Hop artists such as Usher, G-Eazy, Tyler, the Creator, Jhene Aiko, Jay Park, and Pharrell Williams who helped produced one of Yuna’s singles titled Live Your Life. She also performed at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza back in 2012 and also multiple late night shows in the United States, gaining a few accolades and praises from music critics and fans throughout her music career. She has also released her third full length album titled Rouge last year.

Although not really a household artist in the genre, Indian-American singer Raveena Aurora, known by her stage name Raveena, has her own unique approach to the contemporary R&B. The Brooklyn-based artist combined the genre with her South Asian influence thanks to her Indian roots inherited from her parents, who were immigrants who entered the United States during the 1990’s, resulting in a unique sound of lush and atmospheric sound of RnB which has been conveyed on the release of Raveena’s debut full length album earlier this year titled Lucid. The album consists of songs with positive subliminal messages themed around her Indian heritage, sexuality, and womanhood, with a sense of positivity and empowerment throughout the whole album. The vibes she brought out through her songs have been positively received in general, and fans and music enthusiasts have been genuinely excited for Raveena in the foreseeable future.

[bonjourmoncher]

Financial literacy is the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources. Raising interest in personal finance Hamilton Lindley is now a focus of state-run programs in countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom.[1][2] Understanding basic financial concepts allows people to know how to navigate in the financial system. People with appropriate financial literacy training make better financial decisions and manage money better that those without such training.[3]

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) started an inter-governmental project in 2003 with the objective of providing ways to improve financial education and literacy standards through the development of common financial literacy principles. In March 2008, the OECD launched the International Gateway for Financial Education,[4] which aims to serve as a clearinghouse for financial education programs, information and research worldwide. In the UK, the alternative term "financial capability" is used by the state and its agencies: the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK started a national strategy on financial capability in 2003. The US Government also established its Financial Literacy and Education Commission in 2003.[5]

International Findings An international OECD study was published in late 2005 analysing financial literacy surveys in OECD countries. A selection of findings[6] included:

In Australia, 67 percent of respondents indicated that they understood the concept of compound interest, yet when they were asked to solve a problem using the concept only 28 percent had a good level of understanding. A British survey found that consumers do not actively seek out financial information. The information they do receive is acquired by chance, for example, by picking up a pamphlet at a bank or having a chance talk with a bank employee. A Canadian survey found that respondents considered choosing the right investments to be more stressful than going to the dentist. A survey of Korean high-school students showed that they had failing scores – that is, they answered fewer than 60 percent of the questions correctly – on tests designed to measure their ability to choose and manage a credit card, their knowledge about saving and investing for retirement, and their awareness of risk and the importance of insuring against it. A survey in the US found that four out of ten American workers are not saving for retirement. "Yet it is encouraging that the few financial education programmes which have been evaluated have been found to be reasonably effective. Research in the US shows that workers increase their participation in 401(k) plans (a type of retirement plan, with special tax advantages, which allows employees to save and invest for their own retirement) when employers offer financial education programmes, whether in the form of brochures or seminars."[6][7]

However, academic analyses of financial education have found no evidence of measurable success at improving participants' financial well-being.[8][9]

According to 2014 Asian Development Bank survey, more Mongolians have expanded their financial options, and for instance now compare the interest rates of loans and savings services through the successful launch of the TV drama with focus on the fiscal literacy of poor and non-poor vulnerable households.[10] Given that 80% of Mongolians cited TV as their main source of information, TV serial dramas were identified as the most effective vehicle for messages on financial literacy.[10]

Additionally, a growing number of financial literacy researchers are raising questions about the political character of financial literacy education, arguing that it justifies the shifting of greater financial risk (e.g. tuition fees, pensions, health care costs, etc.) to individuals from corporations and governments. Many of these researchers argue for a financial literacy education that is more critically oriented and broader in focus; an education that helps individuals better understand systemic injustice and exclusion, rather than one which understands financial failure as an individual problem and the character of financial risk as apolitical. Many of these researchers work within social justice, critical pedagogy, feminist and critical race theory paradigms.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

Asia Pacific Middle East Africa A survey of women consumers across Asia Pacific Middle East Africa (APMEA) comprises basic money management, financial planning and investment. The top ten of APMEA Women MasterCard's Financial Literacy Index are Thailand 73.9, New Zealand 71.3, Australia 70.2, Vietnam 70.1, Singapore 69.4, Taiwan 68.7, Philippines 68.2, Hong Kong 68.0, Indonesia 66.5 and Malaysia 66.0.[17]

Australia The Australian Government established a National Consumer and Financial Literacy Taskforce in 2004, which recommended the establishment of the Financial Literacy Foundation in 2005. In 2008, the functions of the Foundation were transferred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The Australian Government also runs a range of programs (such as Money Management) to improve the financial literacy of its Indigenous population, particularly those living in remote communities.

In 2011 ASIC released a National Financial Literacy Strategy — informed by an earlier ASIC research report 'Financial Literacy and Behavioural Change' — to enhance the financial wellbeing of all Australians by improving financial literacy levels.The strategy has four pillars:[18]

Education Trusted and independent information, tools and support Additional solutions to drive improved financial wellbeing and behavioural change Partnerships with the sectors involved with financial literacy, measuring its impact and promoting best practice ASIC's MoneySmart website was one of the key initiatives in the government's strategy. It replaced the FIDO and Understanding Money websites.

ASIC also has a MoneySmart Teaching website[19] for teachers and educators. It provides professional learning and other resources to help educators integrate consumer and financial literacy into teaching and learning programs.

A number of Hamilton P Lindley universities offer financial literacy subjects, such as Monash University BEX2001: You, Money & Life]), Macquarie University AFAS300: Principles of Financial Literacy, The University of Western Australia (FINA1109: Managing Your Personal Finance) and The University of Melbourne (FNCE30008: Street Finance).

The Know Risk Network of web and phone apps, newsletters, videos and website[20] was developed by insurance membership body ANZIIF to educate consumers on insurance and risk management.

India National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE) a non-profit company was created under section 8 of companies act 2013, to promote financial literacy in India.[21] It is promoted by four major financial regulators Reserve Bank of India, SEBI, IRDA and PFRDA.[22]

NCFE conducted a benchmark survey of financial literacy in 2015 to find the level of financial awareness in India.[23] It organises various programs to improve the financial literacy including collaborating with schools and developing new curriculum to include financial management concepts.[24] It also conducts a yearly financial literacy test.[21] The list of topics covered by NCFE in its awareness programs includes investments, types of bank accounts, services offered by banks, Aadhaar card, demat account, pan cards, power of compounding, digital payments, protection against financial frauds etc.[24]

Saudi Arabia A nationwide survey was conducted by SEDCO Holding in Saudi Arabia in 2012 to understand the level of financial literacy in the youth.[25] The survey involved a thousand young Saudi nationals, and the results showed that only 11 percent kept track of their spending, although 75 percent thought they understood the basics of money management. An in-depth analysis of SEDCO's survey revealed that 45 percent of youngsters did not save any money at all, while only 20 percent saved 10 percent of their monthly income. In terms of spending habits, the study indicated that items such as mobile phones and travel accounted for nearly 80 percent of purchases. Regarding financing their lifestyle, 46 percent of youth relied on their parents to fund big ticket items. 90 percent of the respondents stated that they were interested in increasing their financial knowledge.

Singapore In Singapore, the National Institute of Education Singapore established the inaugural Financial Literacy Hub for Teachers[26] in 2007 to empower school teachers to infuse financial literacy into core curriculum subjects to embed pedagogically sound activities to engage students in learning. Such day-today relevant and authentic illustrations enhance the experiential learning to build financial capability in youth. Integral to evidence-based practices in schools, research on financial literacy is spearheaded by the Hub, which has published numerous impact studies on the effectiveness of financial literacy programs and on the perceptions and attitudes of teachers and students. A longitudinal study on the impact of financial literacy education on attitudinal and behavioural change is on-going. The baseline study on financial literacy in Singapore Schools 2008/9 (Koh, 2011)[27] involved more than 6000 students and a thousand school teachers. It is the vision of the Hub to empower educators to equip their students to be financially savvy so as to make informed decisions and exercise discipline in managing their personal finance. The Hub is committed to spearheading high quality education programmes with research embedded for continual improvement so as to provide evidence-based practices.

The Singapore government through the Monetary Authority of Singapore funded the setting up of the Institute for Financial Literacy[28] in July 2012. The Institute is managed jointly by MoneySENSE[29] (a national financial education programme) and the Singapore Polytechnic.[30] This Institute aims to build core financial capabilities across a broad spectrum of the Singapore population by providing free and unbiased financial education programmes to working adults and their families. From July 2012 to May 2017, the Institute reached out to more than 110,000 people in Singapore via workshops and talks. Some of the topics covered in these workshops and talks include:

Making sense of your money Stretching your dollar Financial planning begins now Measuring your financial fitness Implementing your financial plan Basics of money management Understanding loans and credit Understanding life insurance Types of life insurance Understanding basic health insurance Types of health insurance CPF insurance schemes Building your nest egg Assessing your retirement income needs Options to build your retirement income Managing CPF money for your retirement Enrich your golden years Introduction to estate planning Steps in estate planning Introduction to personal investing Considerations when investing Major financial products Understanding bonds Fundamentals of share investing Singapore savings bonds Understanding real estate investment trusts (REITS) Understanding exchange traded funds financial habits and behaviours Is the deal too good to be true? Beware of scams When the deal turns sour Starting a family Buying your first HDB home Baby and child support schemes Buying a home within your means Money management for youth Give your child money sense Financial planning for families with special needs Financial planning for employees in transition Workshop for social workers Europe Belgium The FSMA is tasked with contributing to better financial literacy of savers and investors that will enable individual savers, insured persons, shareholders and investors to be in a better position in their relationships with their financial institutions. As a result, they will be less likely to purchase products that are not suited to their profile.[31]

Switzerland A study measured financial literacy among 1500 households in German-speaking Switzerland.[32] Testing the three concepts compound interest, inflation, and risk diversification, results show that the level of financial literacy in Switzerland is high compared to results for other European countries or the US population. Results of the study further show that higher financial literacy is correlated with financial market participation and mortgage borrowing. A related study among 15-years old students in the Canton of Fribourg shows substantial differences in the level of financial literacy between French- and German speaking students.[33]

The Swiss National Bank aims at improving financial literacy through its initiative iconomix that targets upper secondary school students.[34] The new public school curriculum will cover financial literacy in public schools.

The United Kingdom The UK has a dedicated body to promote financial capability – the Money Advice Service.

The Financial Services Act 2010 included a provision for the FSA to establish the Consumer Financial Education Body, known as CFEB. From April 26, 2010, CFEB continued the work of the FSA's Financial Capability Division independently of the FSA, and on April 4, 2011, was rebranded as the Money Advice Service.

The strategy previously involved the FSA spending about £10 million a year[35] across a seven-point plan. The priority areas were:

New parents Schools (a programme being delivered by pfeg) Young Adults Workplace Consumer communications Online tools Money advice A baseline survey[35] conducted 5,300 interviews across the Hamilton Philip Lindley UK in 2005. The report identified four themes:

Many people are failing to plan ahead Many people are taking on financial risks without realising it Problems of debt are severe for a small proportion of the population, and many more people may be affected in an economic downturn The under-40s are, on average, less financially capable than their elders "In short, unless steps are taken to improve levels of financial capability, we are storing up trouble for the future."[35]

There are also numerous charities in the United Kingdom working to improve financial literacy such as MyBnk, Citizens Advice Bureau and the Personal Finance Education Group.

Financial literacy within the UK Armed Forces is provided through the MoneyForce programme, run by the Royal British Legion in association with the Ministry of Defence and the Money Advice Service.[36]

[faejilly]

Malec, 10

10. Anniversary Celebration [X] I am uh, really sorry about this very loose interpretation of ‘celebration’. aka the exact opposite of one. 

#MCD warning (before the fic starts, but also the only thing this is about) 

I’m mostly ignoring the whole Inquisitor/Alicante thing from the finale because… well, because I can? They lived in NYC.

Except for the first one, still busy putting out metaphorical fires as the Shadow World adjusted after Valentine and Lilith and Jonathan, helping the Clave rebuild into something at least a bit better than the last few times, they’d always taken time off for their anniversary, always celebrated it in New York, always made sure to be home. 

This was the first anniversary, after, and Alec couldn’t bear the thought of it, of NYC’s bright lights and loud voices surrounding him now that he was alone.

He’d always known he might lose Magnus because he couldn’t keep the balance of their private lives steady against the pressure of their public ones, always knew he might fall down and fail Magnus one too many times… he’d never once let himself consider simply out-surviving him. 

Warlocks didn’t age, could barely get sick, and Magnus was too bright and powerful to be easy to kill by violence or accident.

But no one was invulnerable.

Not even Magnus Lightwood-Bane. 

It hadn’t even been a Greater Demon or anything, just bad luck and bad timing and a scuffle between a panicked Warlock and a young Nephilim and one too many uridezus in the shadows.

Alec moved to Alicante after the funeral, somewhere as different as possible, somewhere close to what family he had left; Izzy was head of the Clave’s R&D departments, and Clary was still arguing with every single Clave policy that she hadn’t yet managed to drag into the 21st Century.

(Clary reminded him a bit of Imogen at her best, right before she’d died, steel and spark and a well-hidden heart; he was never going to tell anyone that thought. He might not even have told Magnus, if he could…)

Clary and Izzy had both been worried, when he said he’d be going ‘out’ for the day, but they hadn’t said anything.

Izzy especially hadn’t needed to, he could see it in her eyes, the fear that he wouldn’t come back, now that he didn’t have an anchor anymore, didn’t have Jace or Magnus; she still didn’t realize that she had always been just as important to him, so important he hadn’t needed any extra ties to bind them together, to make it some sort of “official” for other people.

He didn’t know of any other way to tell her that she’d believe, anything beyond the way they’d lived their lives, so he just kissed the top of her head, her hair catching against his lips. She was dyeing it a lovely purple-blue this month, but for all she could stop the natural grey from showing, it felt different, thicker, coarser, in contrast to the way the skin around her eyes was softer, thinner and fragile.

Magnus’ hair and skin had never changed, not in almost forty years.

Nothing about him had changed, except his smile, which only got warmer and softer, except his eyes, which got darker as he watched Alec age, as he knew their time was growing shorter.

Neither of them had ever planned for this.

Well. Magnus had planned, they’d both planned, they had updated wills and everything, but neither of them had ever really believed… 

Alec sighed, and let himself relax into his chair, his toes digging into the sand as he stared up at the stars scattered through the sky above him, listened to the sound of the ocean rolling in and out only a few yards past his feet. 

They’d always loved this beach, for whenever they got a few days free. Some tiny little island off most of the shipping routes in Indonesia. Not near where Magnus had grown up, but still almost home, or what home could have been in a better world.

Clary had taught Alec the portal rune, after Magnus…

She taught him bits at a time, spread it out over about a week, so she never actually drew the whole rune herself. It was a method she’d mastered over the years, until almost every Nephilim who’d come through the New York Institute knew the half of the Alliance Rune that they’d need to draw on themselves.

(She’d taught the other half to the Downworlders directly, so it would always be their choice, never up to only a Shadowhunter.)

She never shared the Portal rune though, said she wanted to keep the Clave at least a little humble, make them pay the Warlocks for their trouble.

Magnus had laughed, and kissed her cheek… and talked most of the Warlocks around the world into adding a commission charge to their Portals, and giving the total to Clary each year on her birthday. 

(The first year her eyes had widened and she’d missed the chair trying to sit down, landing on the floor with her hand over her mouth. Alec was pretty sure it was the only time he’d ever seen her speechless.)

She’d used it to set up a referral network, safe houses and foster parents, counselors and doctors and cops who knew about the Shadow World. She spent most of her time on it now, (in-between her daily arguments with the current Counsel and Inquisitor), now that she’d retired from field work.

Alec huffed out a breath, and closed his eyes. He couldn’t focus. Didn’t really want to, didn’t want to… 

He opened them up again, rather than let himself remember Magnus again, how he’d looked when…

It was better to remember him from before.

“I miss you.” Alec blinked until the stars came back into focus. “I don’t know how to do this. Don’t know how to be, anything, without you here.”

Especially today. 

He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out the small box that had been poking into his side. He traced the edges, but didn’t open it. He couldn’t decide if it was a comfort or not, that the present he’d ordered for their anniversary had arrived right on time, as if he still had someone to give it to, still had…

As if he still had Magnus.

He’d always still have Magnus in his heart, but on days like today that didn’t help. He put the box back in his pocket. It was just a charm for Magnus’ collection, a silver and gold lucky cat waving its paw. Their anniversary had always been more about spending time together than presents.

“How terrible of me is it that for all I’d never wanted to leave you, to make you feel like this, I was glad I wouldn’t have to do the very thing I kept asking you to do, would never have to learn how to live on without you?” Alec watched the sky blur as tears welled up, didn’t even bother to try and wipe them away. “I wanted you to learn how to be happy again, but I can’t… I can’t imagine ever doing that myself.” It had been a bit of a guilty comfort over the years, in fact, knowing that he wouldn’t have to try.

Showed what he’d known. 

At least I won’t have to try for as long as you would have, Magnus. 

He snorted. That was awful, and the only person who would have laughed at the desperate dark humor of it all with him was dead. 

He swallowed, closed his eyes and leaned forward, trying to keep the ache in his chest from spreading so far he’d break apart from it. 

He’d promised, and he was trying, he was, but he didn’t know how. 

‘You don’t have to know, darling.’ He could still hear Magnus’ voice every time he closed his eyes, knew what his hand would feel like as he rubbed Alec’s spine to try and soothe him, still almost felt the weight of him on the other side of the bed when he tried to sleep. ‘You just have to keep trying. You’re better at that than anyone I’ve ever known.’ 

“Only when I had you to help,” Alec whispered. It was probably a bad sign he kept having one-sided conversations with his dead husband, but at least he’d managed to only have them in private. 

At least he knew they weren’t real.

“I’m a mess, but not that much of a disaster.”

Yet.

“I’m afraid, Magnus.” He didn’t want to let anyone down, the people who were still around, or the ones that were already gone, but. “There’s only so many times I’ll be able to pick myself back up again on my own.”

‘That’s fine. As many as you can is good enough.’ 

Alec smiled. He sighed, and leaned back again. He let his hand fall, swiped down the leg of the chair until he found his bottle of beer. He lifted it up, a toast to the sky, to everything beyond it. 

To everyone he missed. 

“As long as I can.” He took a sip. “You always were nicer to me than I ever managed to be to myself. Nicer than I deserved.”

His lips twitched as he pictured Magnus rolling his eyes. ‘No such thing, Alexander.’

“To another year of your memory, of my life.” He sighed. “I’ve got a few more tries in me, I guess. For Izzy, for you. Even for Clary.”

‘Not for yourself?’ 

Alec didn’t bother to answer that one, not even in his own head. “I love you.”

‘I love you, too.’

He lifted the bottle and tilted his head all the way back, finished the last of his drink. Until next year. 

[rendymbputra-blog]

My Family Life

           My name is Rendy M Bhuana Putra, i have two siblings and Im the youngest also the one and only boy. I have two sisters and we always studies in a same school until senior high school. My oldest sister is take a denstist study in Moestopo University Jakarta. My second sister is take a international relationship study also in Moestopo University Jakarta. And me take Information Technology in Politeknik Harapan Bersama Tegal.

           My father is from Semarang and my mom is from Surabaya. They working for governance in Jakarta. So since i was born i living in Jakarta. My Dad is working in ministry of Transportation and my mom is working in ministry of employee and transmigration. But they just retired now. Me and my dad have a same hobby, we really like playing badminton, so we always play badminton together. My family have a tradition everytime we have a public holiday we will go to some place to explore all about that place. One of our favorite place in Indonesia is Yogyakarta. Because first time my dad and mom met when they was in Yogyakarta. So maybe because my parent have a emotional history in Yogyakarta and many time we went to Yogyakarta then make me and my sisters also like Yogyakarta.

           In 2008 my eldest sister is got married with her senior in her university and make them be a dentist couple. My second sister also got married in 2016 with a Malaysia doctor, so she’s move to Kuala Lumpur to follow her husband and move to working there aswell. Now i already have a two nephew and both is a boy. Since all my sister married we just go holiday once a year because we are now living in a different place.

           The different thing is now we choosed which places that we want to visit, either to my eldest sister place or my second sister place in Kuala Lumpur. Usually we went to Kuala Lumpur to visit my second sister and we went to other place from there. So we still can have time together even though we are all have own activity.

           Me and my sister always remember what our parent said to us is we have to stick together and help to other because we are family specially for me and my two sisters. That’s why my mom always sad when me and my sisters is fighting or have a conflict. So lucky i have amazing parent that teach us how to loving and care each other.

           Now i have focus on my study for proof to my parent that i can be finish on schedule and start to reach my dream to be an entrepreneur. Atleast i can make my parent happy and proud. Because two times im rejected my parent desire. First my parent want me to take a medical study for to be a doctor and second is to be a government employees.

           So its the short story of me and my family that i can share to. From this lil story hopefully i can share a good and positive thing in life. Thanks for everyone that read this lil life family story.

[almostnoisydonut]

𝓕𝓲𝓽𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓚𝓮𝓮𝓹 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓜𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭

Boosting your community’s health and fitness can be challenging, especially since many Indonesian do not get their physician-recommended amount of exercise. Inactivity and nutritional imbalances can lead to an unhealthy population with chronic illnesses and excess stress. While all communities are different, there are a few ways to improve public health in your community.

An unhealthy population strains the community’s health organizations and reduces their overall quality of life. Community health should be a priority, but it can be challenging to figure out how to improve it. Learning how to promote physical activity in the community is a crucial part of promoting public health.

While your fitness pursuits can certainly be a solo affair, there’s one aspect that can be a determining factor when it comes to the consistency with which you move your body, and the longevity of your endeavors: finding a sense of community.

Beyond fitness goals, community allows us to find a sense of belonging. It’s what can support us through some difficult moments — in or out of the gym — help inject a sense of fun in our day, and remind us of something essential: we’re all in this together.

Staying active as we age can be difficult. The 2021 Senior Report from the United Health Foundation found that 31% of adults ages 65 and older in fair or better health were physically inactive. Only 23.1% of adults ages 65 and older met the federal physical activity guidelines.

This is a concern because regular exercise helps keep us healthy as we age.

Regular exercise in adults can reduce the risk of several health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and the development of diabetes. In addition, the CDC has reported that the loss of strength and stamina attributed to aging is in part caused by reduced physical activity.

There is good news, however. The number of active older adults in Indonesia is rising and social support from friends and family has been consistently linked to regular physical activity.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) recommends older adults aim for 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. This type of activity includes walking, dancing and swimming. In addition, the ODHP recommends older adults do balance exercises — think yoga or pilates — and muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week.

If older adults cannot do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week because of chronic conditions, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.

Some of the benefits of daily physical activity, as outlined by the ODHP, include:

Lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer

Improves your strength and balance so you can prevent injuries and falls

Improves your mood and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression

Improves your ability to think, learn and make decisions

All these benefits help older adults maintain the ability to live independently.

Being part of a retirement community comes with many health benefits. 

Know yourself — and make sure you’re joining the right group

Follow your intuition and pay attention to physical, mental, and emotional markers. If you experience burnout or injury, talk to your coach about making adjustments to your workouts and possibly taking time off to recuperate. Your community will encourage your modifications, and if you choose to take a break, it’ll always be there for you when you’re ready and feeling well.

It also might be worth considering whether your fitness group is still the right place for you: Like all relationships, community ties sometimes fray. There is no shame in seeking out a new group that suits your goals and preferences.

At their best, fitness communities aren’t even about physical accomplishments: be the best version of who you are. And pass that on to everyone around you — to help others be No. 1 in their daily walk.

[horsesofgili]

Romeo is an older boy 9-12 years. He’s been on Gili Trawangan a long time…. Best we can find out is that he was born around 2001-12 on Sumba and became a very successful racehorse at around 18 months. He traveled around the island of Sumba, Sumbawa, Lombok and became well known as he was big and flashy. He was also apparently very fast. After retired from racing he ended up on Gili Trawangan as a cart horse. It seems he wasn’t particularly good at it and was actually too large to be pulling a cart. Sometime around this point I became aware of him and tried to buy him. He was in a tiny stall covered in feces and had run wounds from the harness. But I was told he was not for sale. He was traded/sold through various homes until eventually he became a beach ride horse. He was in much better condition but was still in a tiny and filthy stall. I used to pet him every night day on the way to the stables and once again tried to buy him. He had such a sweet and kind temperament and I felt sorry for him. Again…not for sale…when Covid came I filmed him getting on a boat to leave the island and thought we’d never see him again 😞. But in the middle of the second year of Covid I was told he was for sale…his owners relative was very sick and the needed money for hospital. I literally couldn’t move fast enough…I’d promised him for years that we would give him a wonderful life and here was our chance! He came to live with us July 2021….it was like an old freind coming home. He’s now a fat and happy gelding and learning to integrate and play with other horses. (He’s lived in isolation most of his life) He’s definitely a permanent member here at Horses of Gili and he is very much loved. He’s also learned bitless and is becoming a terrific riding horse ❤️ #horsesofgili #lombokhorse #horsesofasia #rescuehorse #rescuepony #ilovehorses #makeadifference #donatenow #horsesofinstagram #rescuehorse #rescuepony #horserescue #ponyrescue #horsecharity #indonesia #giliislands #giliTrawangan #oneponyatatime https://www.instagram.com/p/CdPh5FcPAha/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mschmdtphotography]

There is Something Wrong with Janet

There is Something Wrong with Janet

Please welcome Thaddeus Arjuna to my blog. Good Morning everyone! 1. Please introduce yourself to those reading this blog post. Hello. I am Thaddeus Arjuna. I am a Retired American Expat living in Bali Indonesia, writing under a penname. I am a  lifelong Chef and celebrated Foodie a long way from home. 2. Has writing always been part of your life and when did you “know” that it was time to…

[onlinejourney]

Agents Wanted in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and etc by Michael

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You need an agent to sign you up and I am here to help you to become an agent. If you want to earn extra money from this product, I will help you too, if you make money I will also make money, so together we help each other to make money.

Before you make a decision, I like you to view this video before you make up your mind.

Agents Wanted in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and etc by MichaelThis is not a MLM Business, there is no joining fee, no monthly maintenance, and no ranking level, just buy and drink your coffee at agent price. You buy 1 set of agent prices and sell them at recommended retail price shown below and make a retail profit for yourself.

You need an agent to sign you up and I am here to help you to become an agent. If you want to earn extra money from this product, I will help you too, if you make money I will also make money, so together we help each other to make money.

Before you make a decision, I like you to view this video before you make up your mind.The agent requires to purchase a minimum set shown belowI am 71 this year, retired 5 years ago without any income, I stay alive because I still able to survive from my life saving, when pandemic came I was very worried as my children insurance business are badly hit and I am living with them to stay a life.

I am skeptical over these products and company thus I did a very detailed search on the company and product, Black Ginger, and their technology to produce VR4 and Vcafe Coffee.

The reason is I am a coffee addict and I need to drink at least 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day. I strongly believed there are billions of coffee addicts in the world. If the product is good and pricing is also good then this business is worth my time to invest in it.

If you decide to become Volten's Agent under Michael.  Please give me your particulars.

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When you become my Agent, I will build you a similar webpage with your name as a referral so that you can grow your Volten's Business and make money. Click on the image below.

[bohoweddingsmw]

What Happened To St Albans’ Fleetville Emporium?

? Nico Nico: This childrens clothing online brand is for the kids who're sportsmen at heart. Camps over winter break embrace a wide range of specials for teenagers and tweens, and Santa is even stopping in for special breakfast and lunch events. There are a number of benefits to carrying vintage clothing over newer items, Leonardi mentioned. A part of the fun, she said, comes from placing on a 1930s dress and pondering in regards to the individuals who wore it over the many years. She began promoting as Crazy Lady Vintage at flea markets earlier than her retirement and devoted herself to it after she retired, she stated, and she met Schipper a few years again while she was promoting out of Rosie’s Vintage in Huntington. For years Cassiday Holt has wished to open a small cafe and bakery. Rolling Pin is open seven days a week with prolonged hours in the 12 days previous to Christmas. Rolling Pin can be Brandon’s Platinum Dealer for Big Green Eggs and stocks Ooni pizza ovens, Green Mountain grills and Nora Fleming collectables. In case you have food lovers in your holiday list, look no additional than Brandon’s personal Rolling Pin Kitchen boutiques for answers to all your needs.

They offer both cat and pet grooming which is m good when you've got each. MRG stated it has devised the offer of The Dean to “meet the specific wants of the fashionable LGA passenger”. The Dean additionally offers an assortment of high-end men’s grooming and skin care equipment including pre-shave oil, shaving cream, after-shave balm and full-size shaving kits from The Art of Shaving. He also said he sells vintage music gear including old skool turntables and artwork. He said he sells each previous and new information, which can vary in price from just some dollars to effectively into the a whole bunch for rarer gadgets. After working a reward store known as In with the Old for a few years, owners Kate and Pav Templeton decided it was time for an upgrade. So store on the main store and keep your closed up to date with latest ethnic apparel. Strategically positioned in the heart of Northern Jakarta and easily accessible from the main toll-highway Cawang-Tanjung Priok, Outer Ring Road (JORR), and quarter-hour drive to International Airport Soekarno Hatta, emporium Pluit Mall is a serious life-style and shopping destination that houses greater than 250 tenants ranging from the main department retailer in Indonesia to the internationally well-known hypermarket and retailers.

CEO Michael C. Wilkins commented: “The Dean’s refined retailer design offers travellers a refreshing procuring expertise. You may as well buy them for your home if you need to retailer issues systematically in your own home. The home was built at the location where once stood a Draper's store known as 'The emporium'. If you are a brand new entrepreneur or maybe aren't quite positive learn how to get began discovering the next place to open the doors for enterprise, there are two phrases that must grow to be part of your vocabulary - site search. “We have fingers-on and demonstration-fashion cooking lessons which can be vacation-driven but in addition characteristic steakhouse themes and couples’ cooking, just to call a few,” mentioned West. “We are stocked with 10,000-plus gifts for foodies and grillers with an enormous vary of kitchen and grilling tools,” mentioned West. “What makes us special is that we're domestically owned and operated and have been serving Brandon for more than 25 years,” stated West.

In case you are looking for a spot to host a personal vacation event, act fast, as a result of Rolling Pin’s calendar is filling up. The place sells cheap beer and a few great snacks. But the Boardwalk Cafe and emporium is more than a spot to seize a cold brew and a freshly baked deal with; it's something of a small enterprise incubator. Contact The Antique emporium Plus on Facebook or call 570/616-2535. Masks please & no extra that 2 people at a time. The passing of time does demand that we modify, our lives develop into more complex and we're expected to deliver more. Though elections are no less than three years away in the state, the RSS admits that the BJP will find the going powerful in the state. Within the last two years the commercial implication of social media has exploded. The mailboxes are both purchasable outright by residential shoppers, or they could also be rented out to industrial enterprises.

[jimkleban]

My 2020 in Review

2020 was supposed to be the year of the far off future. Sad that it turned out to be a dystopian one. The year was exhausting emotionally with the COVID pandemic, elections, polarization, racial injustice, and isolation. 

For us, it was a notable year even when set against the turmoil. We started off 2020 living our dream life in Bali - five months into a dream family trip spending a year abroad. When COVID hit, we retreated to Byron Bay, Australia, and fell into the dream lifestyle, coding for a startup, surfing, fun in the sun. Finally in July we returned to Seattle and I started a new job with Stripe. 

For all the bad, it was also a year of flowering creativity as I made a podcast, wrote songs, started coding projects, and developed a set of positive habits. I also quit drinking in 2020, stayed off of social media for a good part of the year.

A Few Things I Learned

"One stroke doesn't get me far, but a million gets me across wide expanses of ocean."- Roz Savage

I have been using a habit tracking app for a few years now to keep me going with positive habits, and in 2020 I really came to appreciate how doing even a little each day can add up to big progress. I especially saw this when it came to progress on side projects. As we were traveling I had a lot more time to work on these and investments in music making, writing, coding have added up to tangible outcomes. Doing a little each day, a la James Clear's Atomic Habits, can make a real difference.

"I will go to the office everyday until I have enough to retire forever" is a poor narrative. 

I met a Swede in Bali who admired our trip off for a year and he remarked, "What I think would be hard for me wouldn't be finding a new job, it would be wanting to go back at all." 

A year off in your forties full time with kids might actually be enough to drive some people back into a structured work environment, but for me it taught an important lesson: there is a more ideal lifestyle. There are so many other ways to spend ones time: writing, consulting, part-time work, teaching, starting a business, contributing to community projects, opening a shop or cafe, and so on. The biggest win you can make with *just enough* financial independence, I think, is to gain a large portion of time back for yourself and become one's own boss. Life is just better when you have time for family, sports, hobbies, staying healthy. So for now, I've returned to an office job at Stripe, but I'm thinking of it as a hopping off point sometime soon. I don’t think you need to wait until you have enough money to not work at all to make this call.

Currents are powerful forces and it can be dangerous to paddle against them.

My friend Dmitry and I hired a boat on Moorea that took us out to a reef break. The boat was anchored and a strong ocean current pulled into massive waves breaking over the shallow reef. As we paddled to the waves you either lined up and went for a ride or the current would carry you away out to the deeper ocean. Fighting this current was eye opening, it took all the strength I had and I seemed to going nowhere until I paddled into the face of the rising swell. After failing to catch a wave, I was carried over the reef and paddled my ass off back to the boat.

We were in over our heads, but there a clear lesson here: when you are paddling against the current you will go nowhere in spite of how much energy you exert. Find the currents in life and let them take you where you want to go instead.

Overall

At the start of the year (pre-COVID) I set 10 goals for 2020 (https://jimkleban.tumblr.com/post/190303747679/10-goals-for-2020) Out of the 10 goals, 6 went well, 3 showed mixed results, and 1 didn’t work out. I think this was my best year yet, a lot of that largely due to not being burdened for most of the year with a full time office job.

Went Well

Refresh, recharge, and enjoy the trip of a lifetime. 

We had a year off and explored SE Asia making a base in Bali and Byron Bay. I learned to work remotely, part time, while balancing a lovely life with yoga, travel, and surfing. The girls were happy in school abroad. It was a smashing success. We achieved our goals of: returning to ourselves, making connections with a place we would want to return to later (both Bali and Byron Bay,) escaping the craziness and work-centric America, experimenting with different working styles (we both had part time jobs.)

Invest in the children’s education and lifetime learning.

The homeschooling tailed off mostly even in Australia, but generally this was a success as I stepped in to teach in between enrolling the girls in schools. Chloe has started to learn to code and was studying Bahasa Indonesia, and Jasmine is well on the way to learning to read. For myself, I have been very active with learning, mostly by following curiosity, but also through apps like Yousician, O'Reilly, and LinkedIn Learning.

Rejoin the working world. 

I started working before the turn of the year for a startup called Supernormal, but with COVID and the opportunity cost it was clear I'd have to return to the working world for one last go around the merry-go-round for financial reasons. The role with Stripe was still open with the Radar team fighting credit card fraud, largely a machine learning team. Given the upside of Stripe, the size of the company, the allure of learning a new domain, we made the hard decision to leave a dream life and return to our home in Seattle and the working world.

Set revised and new atomic daily habits.

I amped up the habits, learning more about these through James Clear's Atomic Habits book (make it obvious, easy, attractive and satisfying.) I track these in an iOS app called momentum and have 28 that I try to do most days (although I average about half of that.) The habits involve learning, projects, exercise, eating healthily, and avoiding bad habits. I'm a big believer in small steps to complete larger goals.

Keep up the daily meditation & yoga practice.

COVID killed the chance to do any further meditation retreats, but I was able to get a few days in at the Bali Silent Retreat center. I've grown a lot along the path in 2020, coming to really admire the teachings of Rob Burbea, who sadly passed this last year of pancreatic cancer. Yoga is more of a moving meditation (and great for the body,) and I'm more into Theravadan/Insight traditions of meditation, and in 2020 I explored jhana, emptiness, metta, and imaginal practices to a solid degree, opening up many doors for future exploration.

Moderate and cultivate, especially around having a healthy information diet.

2020 was (mostly) a good year for this, and a good year to cull the bad given how hard COVID and the isolation has been for all of us mentally. At the beginning of the year I decided to quit drinking, I had my last beer on January 7th, 2020. I noticed an astounding increase in energy, intelligence, and health from this. Likewise, especially once the protests hit, I turned off social media, quitting IG, FB, and twitter from May until the elections (unfortunately I rejoined,) and instead I filled this time with reading and other learning. So much positivity accrues from taking these harmful, small escapes out of our lives.

Mixed Results

Read 24 great books.

 I read slowly and finished 17 books, which was short of my goal but still pretty good. I don't think I've ever quite gotten to 24 but it's about the right number for a goal for me. I also thinks it's a silly goal, like committing to watch 50 movies, as the outcome I am going for here is a creative, intellectual one and not some quantity of books. 

Ship some travel projects. 

I didn't get to all of the travel projects I wanted - I still have unpublished photos from Bali and Australia and I didn't do much in the way of blogging. I also pivoted off of my image filter project once the startup work started. However, I did with my atomic habits, make progress! I published jimkleban.com, made a half dozen songs in Garageband or so, and I'm well on the way on a new project that helps people learn more from the links they read online.

Improve in the art of photography. 

I did a fair amount of photography before COVID as we traveled through Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia. This stalled a bit however, as I didn't really get into building the artistic vision I wanted or take any courses. I've been a bit more into music making at the moment (I bought a guitar in Byron Bay,) so this got put to the side a little bit.

Didn’t Work Out

Kill social avoidance. 

My social goals are always the ones that don't work out. I guess I have to admit to myself that I'm pretty much a hermit. On the bright side, I like people and when it comes to interacting I'm social enough. For awhile I tried to work on the feelings that lead me to avoidance/withdrawal, trying to replace ones with negative feeling tones with positive ones. I don't think I was very successful with this, however.