#Spectacular Crab Spider

[ljsbugblog]

little guy!!

Spectacular Crab Spider, male(?) (Thomisus spectabilis).

[gachacatt]

A while back when spider-verse was sweeping the screens, I drew my friend amybugs' Spectacular "Spider-Crab-Woman"! So I thought I'd share the sketch! 🦀🕸💥✨️ https://linktr.ee/amybugs Please check out my friend's amazing work!

[hollowsart]

Again me. X3

Why you're choose sloth for your spidersona? I can guess they're cute but maybe you have other reasons x3

One more thing.

Can you write your opinion on The Spectacular Spider-Man's Mysterio nd Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio? I'm alright if this will be different from what I'm thinking.

Hello hello again!

This will be a long response:

===

1) I tried to make a spidersona before that was like a Spider Crab/Japanese Spider Crab because "spider" and also those are my favorite crabs ever, as well as just to be silly, however nothing was working, so I gave up and forgot about it until this year. I really love sloths, they're my favorite animal ever and so I had the brilliant idea to make mine a sloth instead of a spider! Really makes mine stand out from the rest, plus it wasn't too hard to design it in a similar way to spiderman! Lots of similar design elements, like the black around the eyes and all!

I am also archnophobic and think sloths would be more friendly. It also makes people underestimate me in a fight with their preconceived notions of how sloths are vs how I actually am because of my enhanced abilities from being bit by the genetically modified spider!

Also makes my spidersona more unique and personal to me 💕 and you're not wrong about sloths being cute!! They're adorable 🙏💕🦥

..I did recently draw up a quick concept of an alternate spidersona for myself that is actually based on a spider like everyone else, the spider I chose was a Bunny Harvestman:

They're the only spider I can withstand looking at surprisingly (they're kind of cool?), plus.. cute bunny.. and a nice color palette!

----

2) I never saw Far From Home, but I am disappointed that the character isn't a rejected melodramatic theater kid with a background in the movie making business. That's all I've really gathered about him. I like my Mysterio/Beck to be a goofy funny silly guy who can be a real big threat and very serious when he wants or needs to be. I just feel his character wasn't done the justice he deserves, I guess. I don't have any desire to watch FFH to gain a more thorough opinion on Jake's take on the character tho, unfortunately.

I hope that's not disappointing?

TSSM's Beck/Mysterio, however, is by far my absolute favorite version of him and I've grown so fond of the one from the Amazing Mary Jane mini comic series where he works with MJ to create a biopic of himself. (Learned it's a part of a bigger more complex story and all but ehh, I'm gonna ignore everything before and after that little series. It's better that way. More enjoyable to imagine Beck just really wanted to make his own biopic movie with no real bad intentions or ulterior motives for making it. Genuinely his character was so cute and charming in that comic, oh my gosh 😩💖)

I haven't read really hardly any comics tho, but I just wanted to mention that!

Anyways TSSM's is absolutely my favorite above all others. He's everything I like about the character and then some! A shame the cartoon was canceled because I would have LOVED to see more of him. That's the version of the character that got me into him, got me to like him (also I mean, Mysterio's design in general from almost anything he's been in has been really eye catching and appealing, so..) and is also the main base of inspiration to my own version of Mysterio/Beck and his personality and overall design.

Smoochable blorbo 💖 would hold hands with him if I could..

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Earth Island Journal:

If the rufa red knot flew much farther south on its migration from the Arctic, it would soon be going north again. Each fall, this little shorebird, a threatened species the size of a robin, travels the delicate thread of a path from its Arctic breeding grounds, down the entire North American East Coast, through the Caribbean, and as far south as Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, a total distance of 9,000 miles.

A favorite spot on their return trip north is the Delaware Bay, where the wealthy and powerful of Washington, DC, among others, keep beach homes along the coast. These human visitors, though, are far outclassed by the red knots, who arrive each May on their way to the Arctic, having traveled many times farther. For these birds, the Delaware Bay isn’t convenient; it’s crucial. Or at least it has been. To refuel for the rest of their trip north, red knots rely on horseshoe crabs and their eggs, but that food source is in trouble, and so are the birds.

Horseshoe crabs have been laying multitudes of eggs in the sands along the bay for millions of years. They are biologically closer to spiders than crabs, but they don’t really resemble either. They are more of an armored shell with legs and a spiky tail, and when they spawn the beach looks like it’s littered with the helmets of soldiers.

The red knots time their arrival on the bay with this spawning, gorging themselves on a buffet of the horseshoe crab’s tiny, blue-green eggs. They aren’t dainty about it. They skitter around on long legs, drilling into the sand with their beaks. The beach is covered with the hopping, flapping birds, as they compete with opportunistic shorebirds and gulls. As spectacular as the show is, it’s becoming less and less impressive. The population of horseshoe crabs, whose blue blood is important to science and medicine, is on the decline along the Atlantic coast. The population of red knots has followed.

The rufa red knot is now a federally listed threatened species. From the 1980s, their numbers have dropped by an estimated 75 to 80 percent. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies report that some years the flock counts were over 90,000 in the 1980s. They averaged around 25,000 from 2012 to 2020. “For reasons that are still being investigated, aerial counts in 2021 and 2022 were the lowest on record,” according to the report.

Biologist Larry Niles knows the trends as well as anyone. Formerly with New Jersey’s endangered species program, he now runs his own company, Wildlife Restoration Partnerships. Niles says the Delaware Bay waters were cool in 2020 and frequently disturbed by storms, which delayed the spawn. When the shorebirds came, they found no eggs. The egg buffet returned the next year, but the red knots went elsewhere. They have begun to return, but it’s hard to know what the state of the population is, Niles says. “I think we’ve hit bottom, but I don’t know.”

There’s a lack of consensus on exactly how to fix the problem. New Jersey has banned all horseshoe crab harvests, while Delaware allows the harvest of males. Government agencies argue that limited, scientifically regulated harvest is not a threat to horseshoe crabs or red knots, while advocates like Niles disagree. Niles is skeptical of their statistics and argues that all harvesting of horseshoe crabs should stop until the species rebounds completely.

While horseshoe crab blood can be harvested for medical purposes in a catch and release process, some nevertheless die as a result. Niles calls the practice shameful, since there’s now a synthetic alternative.

Meanwhile, the long, fragile route of the rufa red knot contains other perils.

That includes disturbance from humans, who also love flocking to the beach, and their dogs. In some parts of Latin America, people hunt red knots. Walsh also points to habitat loss from coastal development, beach erosion from climate change, and increasingly strong storms, among other factors.

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

Guys?!? Decapods!!??? Hello!! Those guys are amazing! They do everything that isopods do, and more!

Scavengers? You got it!

Filter feeders? Yep yep!

Fierce predators? Sure thing!

Most decapods eat just about anything, really! They’re very opportunistic omnivores which enjoy a diet of fishes, crustaceans, worms, bivalves, phytoplankton and zooplankton, fruit, decaying organic matter… the list goes on!

Decapoda includes the largest terrestrial arthropod, the coconut crab, and the largest living arthropod, the Japanese spider crab!

It has the friendly and mutualistic cleaner shrimp, which will eat dead skin and parasites off of fellow reef dwellers!

It has the pistol shrimp, which have a specialised large claw! The claw is used to stun prey in the most fascinating way: it can close so fast with such force that it creates a cavitation bubble in the water, that is a bubble filled with vapour, which upon collapsing creates a powerful shockwave. This shockwave is among the loudest sounds in the ocean! The force is so strong it can kill small fish, and even emit a tiny amount of light!

As if they weren’t fascinating enough, pistol shrimps have the only eusocial marine animals! Genus Synalpheus comprises of small pistol shrimps that live in colonies inside sea sponges, with a single breeding female and lots of nonbreeding workers!

This species is called S. pinkfloydi. ;)

And who could forget hermit crabs! The shell-inhabiting crustaceans that are just the cutest. Did you know that they can actually architecturally remodel the shells they inhabit, usually by making them roomier and lighter? Since pre-modelled shells are a sought-after resource, species which remodel shells tend to have social behaviour around redistributing shells, with size-based queues! This behaviour seems to occur in other hermit crabs too, though articles talking about hermit crabs redistributing shells don’t very much specify species…

Decapoda has many species that can be kept as pets! Most obvious aquarium dwellers include the aforementioned cleaner shrimp, hermit crab and the bamboo shrimp in the filter feeders (left picture). Some of the coolest ones in my mind are the blue crayfish and various dwarf shrimps of Caridina and Neocaridina alike, which have been bred to have spectacular patterns!

And these shrimp are all Neocaridina davidii:

Man I have a lot more to say than I anticipated. See how cool decapods are? There’s so much to talk about!! I haven’t even properly delved into true crabs. Uhh… carcinization, anyone! You know, that phenomenon where a lot of crustaceans that weren’t crab-shaped evolved to be crab-shaped as an example of convergent evolution! That thing that people joke about happening to humans and all the other animals too! Well, it started with crabs, of this here Decapoda! Come on tumblr, you love carcinization!

Uhh, something else… Boom! Iridescent lobster!

That’s all. Decapoda rules!

Taxonomy Tournament: Crustaceans

Decapods. This order includes crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, and prawns.

Isopoda. This order is made up of isopods, including terrestrial species like the potato bug and aquatic species like the giant isopod. Some eat dead matter, others are filter feeders, and some are parasites, mostly of fish.

[3techno]

PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER

#guidetophilippines

#Palawantouristspot

The park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the western coast of the island of Palawan, about 80 kilometers (50 mi) north of the city of Puerto Princesa, and contains the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (also known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River). It has been managed by the Puerto Princesa city government since 1992. It is is also famously known as the Puerto Princesa Underground River. The 8.2-kilometer-long underground river boasts jaw-dropping cave formations, stunning limestone cliffs, and pristine waters, however, only a portion of the river, around 4.3km, is allowed for tourist explorations.

It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and voted as a New7Wonders of Nature in 2012. It also became a Ramsar Wetland Site in 2012.

A major tourist destination, it is mostly accessed through road trips to the seaside village of Sebang from where one of the many Bangkas (Kayaks) take visitors to the park The river’s complex ecosystem has adapted to the underground environments over hundreds of years. Visitors can explore this natural wonder by joining a Puerto Princesa Underground River tour.

The variety of species in the caves is endemic to the river system, including fish, crabs, giant spiders, bats, swallows, and snakes. But bats and swallows are usually the only species you’ll see.

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park encompasses one of the world’s most impressive cave systems, featuring spectacular limestone karst landscapes, pristine natural beauty, and intact old-growth forests and distinctive wildlife. It is located in the south-western part of the Philippine Archipelago on the mid western coast of Palawan, approximately 76 km northwest of Puerto Princesa and 360 km southwest of Manila.

[rattyexplores]

Unfortunate.

Undetermined Cephrenes species Thomisus spectabilis, “Spectacular Crab Spider”

25/10/20

[tempural]

Here’s the two types of Normans I’ve been drawing for different situations.  One Dafoe flavored, one cartoon/comix flavored.

Nudity and scarring under the cut, along with some headcanon text barf!

Dafoe’s Norman has such a specific body type that I love so much and have mutated into my own strange crab-person.

Shorter!  5′5″ max!  

Straight auburn hair.

Large prominent ribcage of course.  Very bony, especially post-mortem.

His goblin glider stabbed him in in the nuts for whatever reason (thanks Raimi), so post-mortem he needed a penectomy.  This is a great way to nullify your faves AGAIN so they have no pp for your pleasure!!!

If he survived his goblin glider stabbing, Peter may have taken him to the hospital instead of to the Oscorp mcMansion.  Pete and Dafoblin would be on much better terms, but still uneasy due to the whole “alter-ego that murders people and terrorizes my family” thing.  

I’d love for Peter to feel guilted into being Norman’s caretaker, both physically and mentally :) Because with Harry dead, there’s literally no one else there for Norman.  Help gramps sort his schizophrenia meds!

Comx/Cartoon Norman is a big conglomeration of the things I like from various drawn media.  Which is to say, I LOVE spectacular spider-man’s whore-man but also the patheticness of early 60′s-70′s comix and 90′s cartoon Norman.

Tall hot GF!  About 6 feet?

Curly ginger hair, a brighter orange tone.  The vaunted Osborn waves!

Curvaceous body, with larger boobs and hips and more body fat.  He looks a bit healthier and younger, and he needs to fill out his green goblin spandex with his slightly thick thighs.

His goblin glider stabbed him in the chest, and he canonically DOES have a cross-shaped chest scar in some appearances!  Very sexy.  

He retains his lil’ pp.  For now.  Because I’m obsessed with him having curly renaissance sculpture fig-leaf-pubes.

We all know this kind of Norman never stays dead... and Peter HATES IT!!!  Very hard to forgive the guy who’s murdered and impregnated so many people close to you.  This Peter/Norman relationship is very contentious... lots of hate!!  The comix/cartoon Peter is much less dorky than Tobey, and much more angry, vengeful, and aggressive.  But you can’t just choke him out, cuz whattabout Harry?!  It’s very hard for me to conceptualize any sort of romantic relationship between the two... this Norman’s so naughty!

[chameleocoonj]

Septembug double spider finale spectacular!! Goldenrod Crab and Santa Rosa Wolf. 🌺🦀🌊🐺

[elvensemi]

This is crab-anon: it will be tragic to lose all your crab rants, so if you wouldn't mind tagging just anything visual (crab art? Claw visual??), that would work. Otherwise I'll have to accept 60% of your content being on my blacklist I guess because you are a crab maniac

This is the most valid thing ever, and kind of why I regret having to tumblr savior "spider" and "spiders" and miss a lot of Ship's most spectacular informative spider posts and also everything to do with spider-man. Okay, we can do this. From now on, all visual representations of Fuckable Crab will be tagged "visual crab," a phrase that DESPERATELY makes me want to design a full visual kei crab band. This vague and unspecific tag means that I can use it for any future crab designs as well, of which I pray there will be many.

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Pink Flower Crab Spider

The flower crab spider (Thomisus onustus) is a fascinating species, as it is able to change its color! It can be found in a white, yellow and pink form, while the pink form, which you can see here, is easily the most spectacular one, showing not only a plain color, but an exciting stripe pattern as well. The yellow and white form does not have these stripes.

By Christian Brockes

[dogboy-willgraham]

Crabs??

*Does the Crab Rave* So...crabs. From Dungeness to King (King Crabs aren’t true crabs but whatever) crabs are some of the most eaten crustaceans next to lobsters. I think personally think they’re terrible taste wise, but they’re pretty cool in other ways. 

(Except when they invade other places and go absolutely nuts. *Cough* King Crabs *cough cough* No worries though. I’m pretty sure we got it under control. Maybe. I can’t find consistent reports. I’m pretty sure we’re good though. Maybe. Don’t quote me.) 

While I could’ve gone with a nice little Purple Shore Crab I decided no, not today. We’re going to talk about something that probably shouldn’t exist. The Japanese Spider Crab. If you don’t know about this unholy beast already, then good for you. You’re about to. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I love these big bois, but look at this bitch and tell me it belongs here:

[ID: A picture of a Japanese Spider Crab on a black background. End ID]

Remember, the ocean is terrifying and we should be very careful about exploring it, this is only the beginning of what’s down there. Only the beginning. 

People used to think that they dragged sailors off boats to their deaths, and I mean can you blame them? If I were a sailor, doing my sailor things, trying to flirt with the captain by keeping my shirt unbuttoned, and saw this, I too would think death was near. I also would go and pet it so I have no survival instinct it seems. They don’t actually pose a threat to humans, they scavenge carrion and hunt tiny animals or eat plants. So I suppose if you’re under 5 feet you’re in danger /j. Sorry 4′10, you were meant for a spectacular death /j. 

Japanese Spider Crabs are tall, and Big. Their leg span alone is on average 12.5 feet or 3.81 meters. *Legs by Lucian Piane starts blasting* And for looking quite thin, they weigh 42 pounds or roughly 19 kilos on average. 

Compare that to the Dungeness Crab, a very common and popular crab in culinary use, who at best only gets 10 inches/25 centimeters in width. At best. More common is 7-8 inches/17.78-20.32 centimeters. Big Big Bois. 

So, you’d think for having that much leg they’d be well built, right? Wrong. They’re weak and poorly attached at the joints. They looked Survival of The Fittest in the eyes and laughed. When caught, they’re usually found with missing legs, which will regrow when they molt. So I guess it’s alright to have weak ass legs if they regrow. 

These guys live a long time, about 100 years. So remember, these things are older than you and often will outlive you, a baby will likely be there past your life, past your child(ren)’s lives, and maybe some of your grandchild(ren)’s lives. Assuming you have kid(s) and they have kid(s). Some things exist to keep us humble and remind us of the inevitable end and remind us how small we are in the whole universe, and this is one of them.

These guys live at about 50-600 meters under the surface, mostly in Honshū,  Kagoshima Prefecture, and Tokyo Bay. Deep as fuck. 

King Crabs are a type of decorator crab. Juveniles put little sponges and other things on their shells to camouflage. Adults don’t seem to exhibit this behavior, given they have very few predators where they live. Which is like, what the heck evolution I want a giant crab with a little sea sponge on it’s head. Eat a dick. And go fix what you did with humans and periods instead of pulling this shit-

Ehem. 

While this species has not been reviewed for conservation status, they are thought to be doing just fine, there has been a decline in large-scale fishing for them because of how deep they live so deep. And climate change doesn’t seem to be affecting them so far. The moral here is if you evolve to live so deep capitalism won’t bother you. So this is why I am moving into the midnight zone wanna come- 

 Though Japan considers them a delicacy, but will not allow fishing during breeding season. Which is awesome! This prevents a severe decline by letting them reproduce and make more so that when a some adults are taken for food it doesn’t hurt the population. When we don’t do this, we end up with empty lakes/rivers that have to be filled with farm grown fish that aren’t as big as they were before. This has literally happened in the US. A lake/river my dad and/or other male family member used to fish in was overfished and a farm grown population had to be made to replace them. Don’t overfish y’all, don’t take home small fish, they’re likely babies/juveniles, and make sure that there’s a firm limit and little/no fishing during a breeding season. 

I don’t believe that has been done with ocean animals, the best we can do then is rescue injured creatures and release them when better, and prevent them from getting to endangered in the first place. 

I love my dear Japanese Spider Crabs, even if they’re slightly terrifying, they deserve to be protected forever. 

[pandoramusicbox]

Cape of Death  the region of great infamy, its dry, its deadly, its full of spectacular natural beauty, and some active volcanos. roughly the size of real life spain the peninsula separates the sand sea from the ocean. it also acts as a buffer from the sea to the west. because the bobda region to the west takes the brunt of the rain, often leaving the region dry but also prone to electrical storms and wind storms though not as harsh as the winds in the cosmirian mountains. sandstorms from the sand-sea often blow in over the region as well. the region is highly prone to flooding, and about once a year during the highest tide large regions are flooded over by the tied and sea water. when these tides recide they leave behind a lot of minirals, especially salt, creating salt flats. though other parts get nutrient rich silt deposits. the northern parts of the coast is covered in tidewater caves and sinkholes. some of these caves are known to have la’qual, the growing crystal, that grow  in them. the la’qual of the region is is a red-ish, brownish grey to clear in color. it grows slowly. these caves are deep and dangerous, even sea people will not venture down into them too far. they have tales of pale scaled sea witches that live in them. the locals often say the caves are entrences to the underworld or the center of the world, where a spectacular other world is to be. though most of the common religions in the world lack afterlifes, the cape of death often says the spirits of the dead go to these caves. other folktales said thats where certain creatures crawled out from in creation. the creatures that live here are tough.many are reptile like, with spikes and armored plates. a lot of crabs, and crab like creatures, scorpions, spiders. plants in this region often need to be  drought resistent but also able to handele the flooding and the more salty earth. there's plenty of swafts of land where nothing will grow. people do still live there. especially around more habitable rivers, where thin wispy or thicker more tuberous trees grow. most of the food they eat is imported in trade for salts and spices they can grow in the region. they do grow a maze like food and these red starchy tubers that look like they bleed when you cut them. the locals are often seen as swindlers, pickpockets and outlaws. now despite this in the more modern era the region became popular for two reasons, one was the large amounts of trade that went up some of the rivers.  this made the place common to travel through. the next reason was the eventual presence of the organization circus, outcast flocked to the region. then eventually something like las vegas started to form as the organization made a city in the region one of their home bases. so a reputation for power and entertainment still surrounds the region to this day. species of the region. -Arachne, the Arachne are very common in the region as in an interesting twist very few gorgans live in the region. the gorgans say something about a curse, the Arachne think them silly. spiders, scorpions, are the most common.  -Reapers, demon kin . they are seen as one of those odd between kin creatures, as a lot of them are said to be able to stalk into shadows.  they are considered to be one of the most dangerous kinds of demon kin. As its said they eat souls and shadows, and well they do in-fact eat energy. luckily they and the animals with simular powers to them near exclusively live in this region. -demilions, i’ve said it many times, they are everywhere. the ones that live in this region are notably seen to have frilled ears like the sea folk, and thier bodies are covered in quills. -humans, the most common kind of human kin in the region are the elv and specifically the  that are known to have a mostly masculine population. - kangaroo mice, though the locals call them hopping shrews.  -horned toads, and many other desert dry-land adapt lizard. snakes, and such. the lizards feed a lot on the abundant insect population, especially on locusts -owls, they often make homes in the cacti or desert palm. -vicker, these colorful horned people come from gargoraqi usually as merchants, but then stay. they tend to not stray far outside the region due to their colorful appearance. - the skvi, these anima kin are adept swimmers, and have frills that allow them to absorb water from the atmosphere. they have long sensitive ears, and four eyes. their necks can extend and retract. -the parascopti, strange birds that can change the length of their legs and stay standing in the high tides of the flood waters. -cactus cats, like the ones that live in the cosmotarian mountains. -flamingos, they eat shrimp and migrate into the region once a year. (all photos are stock photos and are used only to help in visualization, if a photo is not a stock photo it was not known to me)

[mesitas]

Top restaurants in Santiago de Compostela

The city has many attractions, but without a doubt, one of them is its gastronomy. Do you have doubts on where to eat in Santiago de Compostela? Despite being a small city, it is full of restaurants and places to eat with charm and traditions. In Santiago there are places to eat for every type of people. There is nothing better than to watching a football game while eating the best traditional plates in all Spain. Santiago de Compostela is one of Europe’s best destinations for food lovers. With the country’s tapas culture, extraordinary cuisine and rich regional gastronomic offerings, travelers are spoilt for choice.Boanerges Market & Boamar Restaurant, by Yayo Daporta 📷 There is a unique place in Compostela that has brought the experience of most traditional Galicia’s “Plazas” and food markets or “mercados de abastos”. A menu based on food markets’ produce links the local farmers and the visitors in an adventure full of sensations. Ten different options reunited in one place invite you to taste them one by one.On the second floor we find the heirloom of this place. The Boamar Restaurant. This place, run by prestigious chef Yayo Daporta. In the menú you can find some of chef’s classics like his “cocido Gallego”, grilled mussels or “zamburiñas” and dishes created from his trips around the globe as the chili spiny spider crab and the “Arepa de vaca vieja gallega con aji amarillo”.Asador Gonzaba 📷The wind and rain on the northwest coast of Spain produces some of the best seafood and meat in the country. Gonzaba is more than a restaurant, it is a whole project in homage to Galicia. It’s not accidental that Galician cuisine can be found throughout Spain. Since 1976, the plates recreate the cuisine of our mothers and grandmothers that will most likely generate great memories. The ingredients used are from local farmers and fisher men. Their specialties are “chuletón” which they offer from veal, ox or old cow cooked on the grill.Casa Marcelo 📷Saint James’ Pilgrims from all over the world complete their pilgrimage at the monumental Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Casa Marcelo is adjacent to this World Heritage Site and it has been a reference for Galician avant-garde cuisine since 1999.Its founder, chef Marcelo Tejedor, rejected the Michelin star in order to redesign his restaurant in 2012. After opening the new proposal, Tejedor was awarded with a Michelin one more time.The restaurant with a menu of Spanish tapas, is perfect for sharing. The cuisine offered in this restaurant is a magnificent fusion between fresh Galician food in the Japanese culinary.O Curro da Parra 📷If you are planning to have dinner here in good company, we can guarantee that everything you try will be spectacular. An elaborate and simple cuisine with authentic flavors, with deep respect for the product is what we find behind Curro da Parra.Mesón-Restaurant O’42 📷A great option to eat good in Santiago de Compostela is the Mesón-Restaurante O’42. You can try the best dishes of traditional and homemade Galician cuisine. The dishes are prepared with the best products from the sea and the land of Galicia.You can try spectacular dishes such as chops, cod or barbecues, but you can’t leave without trying the best tapas such as squid, empanada, octopus and scallops. In addition to the menu, there are always great deals and menus at very affordable prices. Mesón O’42 is your place to have good wine. Whether you want to have some beers or sit down to enjoy traditional Galician cuisine, it is all prepared with great care.O Dezaseis 📷A classic restaurant can be found on “San Pedro Street”.  Besides the grilled octopus, this place offers a variety of dishes where the Galician product plays the most important role. The creation of the dishes invite the diner to have a different traditional food experience. This restaurant offers menu of the day where you can choose between two appetizers and two entrees, drink, dessert and a cup of coffee.

[fitllivinglifestyle]

What to do in Dubai for Adventure: 15 Awesome Activities in Dubai

Dubai is known for its opulent architecture, lavish malls, never-ending deserts, and rich culture. But there is more to the city beyond its glitz and glamour. Would you believe that the city also has an adventurous side to it? Yes, it is true. If you crave for some thrill and excitement, then here is the ultimate list of what to do in Dubai for Adventure. It is time to try something offbeat in Dubai and indulge in some awesome activities in Dubai.

Dhow Dinner Cruise

Credit: beccacantpark Flickr The Dhow dinner cruise is one of the most fascinating experiences in Dubai. Sail along the Dubai Marina on a traditionally decorated wooden boat. This 2-hour cruise lets you experience Arabian hospitality to the fullest. Take in picturesque views of the city sailing past and spot some iconic landmarks such as the Rolex Tower and the Logo Island. Spend a night under the twinkling stars while you sit back and enjoy some cultural performances such as Tanura Dance Show. Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner with mouth-watering local and international delicacies.

Hot Air Balloon Dubai

What better way to experience the deserts of Dubai than to go on a hot air balloon ride? Watch the mesmerizing view of the rising sun against the backdrop of the Hajjar Mountains from 4000 feet above the ground. If you are lucky you can spot some gazelles, camels, and Arabian oryx in the sand below. Enjoy the antics of the falcons as these intelligent birds keep you entertained. Once you touch down, enjoy a gourmet breakfast consisting of a spread of local and international dishes. >>>One of the Best places for hot air balloons

Dubai ZipLine

The longest and fastest zipline in the world is located over Dubai Marina. Measuring one kilometer, and a speed of 80 km/h, XLine has an incline of 16 degrees and is also of the steepest ziplines around the globe. Two parallel zip lines are running currently so you can enjoy the company of a friend or family member with you. You can feast your eyes on the jaw-dropping views of the Dubai Marina. The age criteria for this activity is between 12-65 years and a minor has to be accompanied by a legal guardian. The best part is that you get to carry pictures and videos of the entire activity. 

Dubai Museum of Illusions

One of the Middle East's most unique attractions, the Museum of Illusions provides you with an unforgettable experience. The place houses 80 plus exhibits that will play with your mind, challenge your senses, and leave you utterly confused. Nothing is what it looks like. Deceive your senses with various optical illusions, holograms, and photo illusions. Some of the famous attractions here are the Chair Illusion, Vortex Tunnel, the Infinity Room, and the Ames Room. 

Hatta Heritage Village

Credit PYP Flickr Visit the Hatta village to get a sneak-peek into the Emirati life centuries ago. Owned by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, this village was restored in 2001 and consists of approximately 30 buildings. Located in the Hajar mountains, this village has a fort, two watchtowers, and a mosque. The original structure of the house was made with natural materials such as mud, palm fronds, and stone and are still retained. Don't forget to visit the house of the local chief, called Bait Al Wali. The village museum houses a wonderful collection of exhibits such as weapons, furnishing, crockery, jewelry, handicrafts, and musical instruments. The palm tree farm nearby called Al-Sharia Site uses one of the oldest irrigation systems called Falaj and is a must-visit. 

Mountain Biking in Dubai

Head out of the city to enjoy a wild day out in the rugged terrains of the mountains. Mountain Biking has gained a lot of popularity in Dubai in recent years. The hilly region of Hatta is the most picturesque destination in UAE for mountain biking. The roads can easily be navigated by amateurs and professionals with difficult levels of difficulty. There are many bike rentals options in the city to cater to your needs.

Sky Dive Dubai

In recent years, skydiving has become one of the most popular adventure sports. And now you can experience this thrilling activity in Dubai. Experience a free fall at the rate of 120 miles an hour, from a height of 13000 feet above the ground. Witness breathtaking views of incredible Palm Jumeirah or the Arabian desert. You can also witness some of the fascinating sights of the city from above. You also get to carry a video of your sky diving experience that you can cherish for life. This is a prime example of what to do in Dubai that you should certainly not miss. 

Dubai Aquaventure Waterpark

Aquaventure Waterpark is one of the largest and best waterparks in UAE. It has more than 30 thrill slides and attractions. Relax at a 500-meter private beach or enjoy Dubai's longest river, the Lazy River. Ride through the twisting Aquaconda water tunnel or battle with the King of the Sea at the Tower of Poseidon. Explore the ruins of the lost city of Atlantis and get some interesting information on marine life. Visit the Lost Chambers Aquarium that houses more than 65000 aquatic animals such as sharks, stingrays, sea lions, and dolphins.

Ski Dubai Snow Park

Credit 123_456 Flickr This is your chance to experience snow bang in the middle of the desert. Located in the magnificent Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort. It is the perfect opportunity to take a break from the scorching heat of Dubai and cool off at the ski park. It has an 85-meter high mountain with different levels of slopes and an ice cave. You can take part in activities such as snowboarding, tobogganing, and skiing. There are rides such as chairlift, snow bumpers, zorb ball, and a mountain thrill ride. The most delightful part is the March of the Penguins where these exotic creatures perform various activities that will surely leave you amazed. 

Desert Safari Dubai

Deserts are synonymous with Dubai and your trip is incomplete without a trip to the vast deserts of the city. Brace yourself for a bumpy ride across the desert in a 4x4 vehicle. Indulge in some exciting activities such as quad biking, sandboarding, and dune bashing. Retire to the Bedouin campsite for some unique Emirati experience. You can take pictures in traditional Arabic garments, smoke a shisha pipe, ride a camel, and the womenfolk can get their hands painted with Henna. Enjoy some cultural performances such as Belly Dancing, Tanura Dance show, and Fire show. Relish a lip-smacking BBQ dinner with an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Put this item of what to do in Dubai on your bucket list. 

Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Credit globetraveller Flickr Located in Dubai Mall, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world. It also holds the Guinness World Record for the 'Largest Acrylic Panel'. It houses over 30000 marine animals consisting of over 140 species. You can get up, close, and personal with sharks, piranhas, stingrays, sea horses, crabs, penguins, jellyfish, and more. There is even a terrifying King Croc weighing approximately 750 kgs and the largest collection of sand tiger sharks. 

Camel Polo in Dubai

Credit landrovermena Flickr The traditional camel race gets a makeover in the form of Camel Polo. Camels have been an integral part of the Arabian culture for a very long time. And Camel Polo is a favorite pastime of the locals for many years now. The only difference is that the traditional jockeys have been replaced with Robot jockeys that are controlled by operators driving in SUVs alongside the camels. This is through and through a complete entertaining experience. 

IMG World of Adventure

Credit rollercoasterphilosophy Flickr This majestic indoor park spans across an area of 2.5 million square feet. Enjoy some adrenaline-pumping attractions at the Marvel Zone. Get up, close, and personal with your favorite superheroes such as Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Spider-Man and others. Your most loved cartoon characters such as Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10 come to life in the Cartoon Network Zone. Enter the prehistoric era in the Lost Valley zone which is home to some of the most gripping rides such as Dino Carousel, Predator, The Velociraptor, and Forbidden Territory.

Dubai Seaplane Flight

The Dubai Seaplane takes you on an aerial journey that will leave you enthralled. The ride takes around 20 or 45 minutes based on the package you choose. Take off from the dazzling waters of the Persian Gulf and enjoy the spectacular sights of Dubai's skyline. Feast your eyes on some awe-inspiring sights of the most celebrated wonders of Dubai such as the Burj Khalifa, Palm Islands, Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai Creek, Dubai Marina, and Hotel Atlantis, The Palm among others. There is no better way to experience the splendid beauty of Dubai. 

Water Activities at Jumeirah Beach

There are many pristine beaches in Dubai which have become a favorite hangout of locals and tourist alike. One of them is Jumeirah Beach that caters to all your water sports needs. The safety and security of people are top-notch, so you need not worry. There are multiple activities such as jet skiing, wake-boarding, banana boat ride, donut ride, fly fish, seabreacher ride, and scuba diving to name a few. This is a perfect place to spend a leisure day with your family. >>Best Beaches in Washington

Plan your Dubai Trip Now

Dubai gives you an amazing opportunity to experience a wide variety of water and land-based activities. Dubai adventures and activities are what make this city an interesting travel destination. So next time you are in this fabulous city, let go of yourself and indulge in a bit of daredevilry. This article was written by Neha Singh

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Weeks 3-5

The last couple of weeks took a bit of a turn for us, but I’ll start from where we last left off and go from there. After writing my last blog entry, we stayed at Daintree National park for two nights, and then headed off north with Cape Tribulation as our end goal. The journey took us on a car-ferry across a river, and up some ridiculously windy, vertical steep roads up the mountainous terrain.  It was whilst there, driving up these insane vertical bends in first and second gear, engine revving to the max, that we suddenly realised we had No. Fuel. Whatsoever...

How could we be so stupid, you ask? Well, rest assured, we asked ourselves the same question. Personally, I blame our very questionable fuel gage, which stays on the same point for miles on end, before suddenly dropping by half a tank. Although it is possible that it could also have something to do with our combined air-headedness though…

Nevertheless, with little other choice, we ploughed onwards in the desperate hope of coming across a gas station while Sherman still could. As it happened, the gods took pity on us. After a hair-raising journey coasting the entire way down the vertical winding decline that, unsurprisingly,  followed the crazy vertical winding incline (would not advocate this driving style), we finally came across the blessing we were looking for, and pumped our tank full. By this point, Declan’s chair was soaked in sweat, and I think it’s safe to say we had definitely learnt an important lesson. Now, we vow never to let our questionable petrol gauge drop below the half way mark again. And, the whole palaver had a positive note too, in the form of this spectacular view…

Anyway, we continued onwards exploring the beautiful tropics of the North East. Cow Bay was our first stop, and probably my favourite; A gorgeous white sand beach with not a soul in sight, bordered by some brilliant rock-pools with wildlife that kept us entertained for several hours – sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, giant blue mud crabs, luminous blue fish, and even a couple of lizards. Although the ever-present threat of potential crocodiles lurking certainly made us wary!

From there, we went on to the highly-recommended Fruit Farm Ice Creamery. The concept was rather a novel one; Based on a large plot of land, they grow all sorts of exotic fruits themselves, importing nothing and harvesting those in season to make unique ice creams. Four flavours are served each day, based on what is currently harvestable, and you pay $7.50 per person to receive a large pot with a big scoop of each flavour. Dec and I were unanimous in our enjoyment of three of the four flavours. Unfortunately, one tasted like vomit - definitely would not recommend Yellow Sapote fruit – but the experience was really cool, and we had a great time exploring the fruit farm too.

From there, we stopped off for the night, unsuccessfully went on a hunt to see Cassowaries in the morning, and then continued up to Cape Trib. Here comes our second ditzy moment, wherein we actually drove past Cape Tribulation altogether, after unknowingly stopping RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAPE TRIB SIGN to check our maps for directions. A real ‘face-palm’ moment. Anyway, we made it to Cape Tribulation, which rather mirrored Cow Bay but was significantly busier. We stayed in the area for a couple of days – again, seeing some crazy wildlife, including a giant Golden Orb Spider and a monstrous Monitor Lizard – and booked ourselves onto the Great Barrier Reef’s  ‘Ocean Safari’; A 25 minute boat ride out to a sand bank and its surrounding coral reefs, where we spent 2 hours snorkelling. We swam with Sea Turtles, saw Giant Clams the size of a 5 year old child, luminous rainbow Parrot Fish, and so much more. It was totally incredible, and Dec especially was pretty elated (although sad not to have seen a Reef Shark).

Unfortunately, things took a slight turn from there.  I’ve been struggling with some complications of the surgery I had 3 months ago, and was in a whole lot of pain after coming back from snorkelling. We made the decision to drive back to Cairns that day and stay at the lovely Castaways Hostel again whilst we went to different doctors and figured out the best route to take to sort me out. We made some progress (many thanks to all the friends and family who got the ball rolling with their contacts!) and stayed there a week before continuing on with our travels. Our next stop was Port Douglas, where we were accompanied by our French friend Ben for a couple of days’ fishing. 

It was a brilliant couple of days. The beautiful scenery from Port Douglas’ Jetty made for an exceptionally picturesque fishing trip. The highlight, however, came from the fishing itself. Along with a Barracuda, a Stingray and Moray Eel, Declan and Ben between them managed to hook 4 sharks. BIG sharks, each reaching six to eight feet in length.  Naturally, this drew in quite a lot of spectators. None compared, however, to the absolute quality New Zealand lad who came out of nowhere in a tiny little boat and, in true Aussie fashion, shouted up to Dec “Oi mate, hop in! Let’s catch the c*nt!” !!!

Picture the disbelief of Ben and me at the scene: Declan, hobbling over metal chains and down the rickety stairs of the Jetty to the water’s edge, clambering onto this tiny boat with some dreadlocked, topless man, all the while trying to keep his line tight, then speeding off across the water (nearly falling off the boat in the process) after this huge shark. Unfortunately, after about 25 minutes of knackering work for Dec, the line snapped whilst they were trying to bring the shark onto the boat. The experience, though, is one that none of us will forget in a hurry, and left us laughing for the rest of the day. I actually managed to catch the whole ordeal on camera, which we’ll upload soon, and Dec was totally chuffed to not only have been able to see these awesome sharks up close, but  to have caught footage of them too.

After a great couple of days at Port Douglas, Ben returned back to Cairns and we continued on inland to go exploring the Tablelands. We are currently at Downfall creek campsite in Danbulla National Park, with plans for the next week to go to the Lava Tubes, natural hot springs, several waterfalls, and whatever else we may come across. Although it’s currently rather wet and miserable, it is fortunately much cooler inland than on the coast, particularly at night, which means spending the day snuggled up in the campervan isn’t awful and stuffy. It’s rather nice in fact – we’ve some sandalwood incense burning, some relaxing music playing, and we’re both sitting in bed doing some writing whilst the rain patters gently on the windows. It does, however, make us both feel a little homesick. Staying at a national park where there is no phone service and very few other people, as opposed to at a hostel surrounded by friendly faces, suddenly feels rather lonely, creating a sombre element to our travels. It certainly makes us feel ready to meet more people and crack on to the next fun activity.

Until then, stay tuned.

Nicole & Dec

P.S Lots of love and hugs to all our family and friends – we’re thinking of you all lots! And special thanks to Mike for helping sort the camper’s dodgy solar power. Really hoping you’re okay. We’re both sending you big hugs.

Danbulla National Park, 17.10.2017