#TSS kiwi

[dood1e-bug]

Wondering through a spooky mansion wasn't on Kiwi's bingo card.

Happens not long after War of the cryptids.

[dood1e-bug]

Get squished!!

Why is he holding Gala like that?

[wise-journey]

Experience the Splendour of Queenstown, New Zealand's Crown Jewel

As you arrive in Queenstown, you're instantly captivated by an ethereal landscape of tranquillity and grandeur. Queesntown invites you into a world brimming with endless discoveries, unforgettable adventures, and a symphony of tastes and flavors.

The Ideal Time to Unveil Queenstown's Magic

Queenstown casts a captivating spell in every season, be it the enchanting snow-cloaked peaks in winter or the vibrant wildflower tapestry in summer. Yet, to truly experience nature’s artistry, I heartily recommend an Autumnal visit (March-May). Watch as Queenstown transforms into a fiery spectacle of crimson and gold, a veritable feast for your camera lens and adventurous spirit.

Navigating Your Way to the Heart of New Zealand

Accessing the beauty of Queenstown is simplified with the well-connected Queenstown Airport, which serves both international and domestic flights. However, for the romantics among us, consider a leisurely road journey from Christchurch – an unforgettable way to drink in the scenic splendor of the surroundings.

Discover Your Home Away from Home

From the lap of opulence at The Rees Hotel to wallet-friendly comfort at Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park, the city allures every traveler with its genuine Kiwi hospitality. Whether you are a luxury-seeking visitor or a budget-conscious backpacker, Queenstown accommodates all, embracing you with a warm welcome.

A Cornucopia of Experiences

Be prepared to be swept off your feet by Queenstown's array of exhilarating adventures and serene experiences. Ascend Bob's Peak via the gondola ride to behold the cityscape from a bird's eye view. Experience your heart pounding as you bungee jump from the iconic Kawarau Bridge. Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of the Milford Sound or stroll through the charming lanes of the historic Arrowtown.

A Melting Pot of Culinary Delights

Queenstown’s gastronomic delights pay homage to its rich cultural heritage. Sample a traditional Hangi meal cooked in earth ovens, or satisfy your cravings with the world-famous Fergburger. Indulge in the freshest seafood at Finz Seafood and Grill or embark on a vinicultural journey by tasting award-winning wines at the nearby Gibbston Valley wineries.

Unforgettable Tours and Sights

Delight in a guided tour of places where scenes from The Lord of the Rings were brought to life or delve into the city's gold-rush history at the Lakes District Museum. A cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship is a must-try, offering scenic vistas of the landscape from the lake's tranquil waters.

The Pulse of Queenstown: Nightlife, Transport, Shopping and Currency

Once the sun sets, Queenstown transforms into a lively hub with a plethora of bars and clubs. Queenstown’s efficient transport system, with abundant buses and taxis, ensures easy navigation around the city. With the NZD as its currency and a widespread card acceptance, transactions are hassle-free. For shopaholics, Queenstown offers an irresistible mix of quaint souvenir shops and high-end brand stores in large shopping centers.

The Queenstown Odyssey: An Epitome of Unforgettable Experiences

Queenstown, a paradise for travelers, beckons you with an irresistible amalgamation of adrenaline-fueled adventures, culinary journeys, breathtaking natural beauty, and a captivating culture. Its warm people, intriguing heritage, and stunning landscapes guarantee memories that will last a lifetime. So prepare for a trip of a lifetime, pack your bags and let the intoxicating allure of Queenstown embrace you in its magic. Read the full article

[thelovevirus]

kiwi x lemon?

you look so cool!!

[kissinginkitchens]

You Bring Me Home—Chapter Eleven: Water Under the Bridge (Finale)

a/n: welcome back my loves <3 It’s so weird to think that this is the final chapter of YBMH and I’m definitely having a lot of feelings about it (denial, mostly). I want to say a huge thank you from the very bottom of my heart for sticking with this story and these characters that I love so much. I’ve had the most fun over the past few months talking to some of you and hearing your thoughts; I cherish it more than you’ll ever know. With all of that said, I’m going to miss this era so so much but I would still love to hear from you lovelies, so please feel free to drop by my inbox and let me know what you thought of this series!! Feedback, criticism, all of it is welcome :) Much love, Mel <3

Pairing: Hawai’i!Harry x Original Character (Halani <3)

Warnings: swearing, angst

Word Count: 6.7k

catch up on parts one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten

January, 2018

A strand of hair tickles Harry’s nose and his eyes flutter open. The faint sound of car horns and traffic outside reminds him of his location when his memory fails. He gently slips out of the bed and tiptoes over to the window, careful not to wake the girl sleeping soundly next to him. A thick layer of snow blankets every building and surface in New York City as far as the eye can see, and the grey sky above signals another storm on its way. 

I’m going to die of hypothermia, Alani shivers, nursing her steaming cup of tea as she walks away from the office window and takes a seat behind her desk. Even after living in the city for a year, she still hadn’t adjusted to the cold weather and feared that she never would. Her boyfriend had joked on numerous occasions that you can take the girl out of the island, but you can’t take the island out of the girl. 

“Vanessa’s on line three,” her assistant calls from the doorway. 

“Thanks,” Alani nods before bringing the phone to her ear. “So, what did you think?”

“It was brilliant,” the editor admits. “Insightful, witty. I think they’ll love it,”

Alani smiles and spins in her seat to face the window again. “St. James has been on my ass about this piece for weeks. I hope it’ll shut him up,”

“It will, trust me. Hey, I gotta go, but I sent the revision notes and we can discuss more later,”

“Great, thank you so much. See you at dinner,”

“Ta-ta.”

Alani reaches for a pen and scribbles a reminder onto a pink post-it note nearby. 

Bloody five-star hotel, you’d think they could afford decent pens.  Harry grumbles to himself, shaking the ballpoint to no avail. 

“Where are you going?”

Harry freezes in his tracks and turns to the brunette stretching out her tired limbs. He has to clear his throat to keep from saying the wrong name. 

“Just a quick walk,” he explains with a tight lipped smile. “Go back to bed.” 

She flashes a wide grin and snuggles back into the covers, but he secretly hopes that she’s gone by the time he returns. 

The snow crunches under Harry’s feet and he digs his hands deeper into the pockets of his coat. He had never been very fond of the cold, but he did have to admit that Central Park looked unbelievably beautiful in the winter. His phone buzzes inside his pocket and he digs it out to read the message. 

Mitch: Me and Sarah are going to Bisous in ten. Meet us?

Harry: See you there. 

********

“French is such a pretentious language,” Maleah scoffs, taking a bite of her pastry. “But I’ll be damned if I have to give up my chocolate croissants,”

Alani chuckles lightly and traces the restaurant’s logo of a red kiss printed on her napkin. Going to Bisous at least once a day had become a tradition during her best friend’s visits. 

“I’ll have to smuggle a real one back for you and then you can tell me if this one’s the real deal,”

“When are you going, again?”

“Next month,”  

Maleah wiggles her brows. “Oooh, Valentine’s Day? Are you taking Mason with you?”

“No,” Alani says casually. “It’s for work,”

“Well, who says you can’t mix business and pleasure?”

“Literally everyone.”

“Okay,” Maleah sighs, patting her full stomach. “Let’s go now before I get sleepy.”

The two friends make their way out of the busy restaurant and Alani’s shoulder brushes someone next to her. 

“Sorry.” she apologizes, making brief eye contact with the other person before doing a double take. 

Mitch purses his lips and turns his head back to the other girl at his arm while Maleah drags Alani out the door. 

********

“I mean, what the hell was that? I could barely keep my drum kit together,” Sarah laughs gently, sipping her coffee. 

“Cause of death: rocking too fucking hard,” Mitch shrugs. “There are worse ways to die,”

Harry stirs his black coffee with a spoon and watches the mini whirlpool grow. “Rob said you could feel it in the balcony, too,”

“I’m surprised you didn’t die,” Mitch pokes. “Mr. defective lungs,”

“Heyyy, I can’t help the asthma thing, alright?”

“Well it’s the last night,” Sarah chimes in. “Are we gonna try to beat the Kiwi record and go for four times in a row?”

Harry shrugs, a soft grin on his lips. “Dunno. Maybe if it feels right,”

“I say we cut out the middleman and just bulldoze MSG ourselves. What difference does it make if the fans tear the house down or if we do?” Mitch suggests. 

“Oh yeah,” Harry nods. “I’m sure Irving would love that.”

“Some food for thought.”

The trio finish their breakfasts and excitedly continue their conversations about the impending show, but the entire time, Mitch is haunted by the knowledge of Alani’s presence in the city. He debates telling Harry, but is suddenly reminded of the intense aftermath of the pair’s falling out. 

********

“Where’s Alani?”

“Don’t fuckin’ say that name to me ever again.” 

Mitch’s brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

And with a simple question, anger had subsided into grief. Mitch still didn’t  know all of the details surrounding their split, but he had pieced together sufficient bits from Jeff and, in part, from the lyrics Harry penned in the following weeks. The slump had lasted through the fall and winter of that year, but as spring rolled around and the album’s release drew closer, Harry pulled himself together enough to promote and tour. It felt good to be on the road, and he found himself revitalized by the energy of those who came to support. Tour itself had been relatively intimate, as he had actively decided to play smaller venues than the sold out stadiums he was accustomed to, but the enthusiasm of the crowds hadn’t changed from his band days. As Harry occupied his attention with music, Hawaii grew smaller and smaller in the back of his mind. Eventually, it dwindled into a dull ache at the center of his chest, felt only on particularly long nights coaxed with a little bit of alcohol in his bloodstream. For now, he tried to focus on his last show at Madison Square Garden. 

********

Alani’s stomach turns. Had she really seen Mitch or had it been a remarkable doppelgänger? She hoped it was the latter, knowing that if he really was in New York City, Harry wasn’t far behind. This was by no means the first time she had been reminded of her summer love turned sour, but it stung just as much every time. The first incident was last April when she turned on the T.V. only to find Harry performing one of his new songs on Saturday Night Live. It had resulted in the loss of her favorite mug as it shattered against the hardwood floor in her apartment. Since that day, Alani had seen his face on countless billboards in Times Square and habitually asked taxi drivers to change the radio station or turn it off entirely. After a while, she had gotten better at dealing with the sinking feeling whenever he was mentioned, it was easier to detach feelings for someone who lived on a screen. Running into Mitch, however, had blasted a hole straight through the fourth wall that Alani had erected,  and she knew that there was absolutely no way she could cope with a similar encounter from Harry. 

“Oh shit,” Maleah gasps softly, looking through the windshield at the hundreds of people lined up on the pavement outside of Madison Square Garden. 

“What?” Alani asks, head still spinning. 

Her best friend immediately turns to her with a nervous smile and shrugs. “Oh it’s nothing. Hey do I have something in my teeth?”

Alani glances out the window behind Maleah and her eyes bulge. “Woah, what’s happening there?”

“Oh it’s probably, like, Lady Gaga or something. Anyways, look at this random text I got the other day.”

But it wasn’t “Lady Gaga or something.” The marquee reads “Harry Styles—SOLD OUT” in bold lettering. Alani retches into her bag. 

********

“Oh, for fucks saaake!” Harry shouts playfully, the sound of his obscenities echoing throughout the large venue. 

Mitch and Adam chuckle beside him and continue setting up their equipment while Sarah offers a comedic “badum-tss” on her drum set. 

“Okay then at that point, stage lights will come down and it’s ‘Meet Me in the Hallway’,” the technical director speaks into his earpiece.

Harry nods and watches the screen behind him roll through the animation that will play during the song. 

“Alright, then it’s—”

“Wait,” Harry interjects over the mic. “Sorry, can we run it?”

“Run ‘Meet Me’?”

“Yeah,”

Mitch tenses listening to the conversation that filters through his own inner ear piece, but he continues fiddling with the strings of his guitar.  

“Running ‘Meet Me’,” the director affirms. “Sarah, stand by.”

Harry’s eyes dart over to Mitch and he nods as a sign to begin. The guitarist clears his throat and strums the opening chords. 

Meet me in the hallway 

“M’gonna go wait in the hall…”

Meet me in the hallway 

“Give you some space to think and then we’ll talk, yeah?”

I just left your bedroom 

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

Give me some morphine 

“I hope you got all the material you wanted.”

Is there any more to do?

“Please don’t go.”

Just let me know and I’ll be at the door, at the door

Hoping you'll come around

Just let me know I’ll be on the floor, on the floor 

Maybe we’ll work it out

********

“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” Maleah offers. “I can catch a return flight tomorrow,”

Alani sits up in her bed and shakes her head. “No, Mi, it’s okay. I’ll be fine,”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s probably just a stomach bug or something,”

Maleah gives her friend a tight squeeze and pulls away to read her face. “Let me know if you need anything, I’ll come right back,”

“Thank you,” Alani says, forcing a smile. “I’m so sorry to put a damper on your last day.”

“Nah, there’s nothing to worry about. Feel better soon, Nani.”

The door closes softly and Alani burrows deeper into the covers. She tries to bury the emotion back under a lock and key, but a gentle sob fights its way up her chest. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, she cries, but maybe it was. Just as the sun rises and sets, so had Harry entered and exited her life, and maybe that’s exactly how it was meant to be. After all, Alani had gotten exactly what she wanted, hadn’t she? So why does it still hurt? 

The snow falls gently outside of her window, but the entire scene blurs into shades of white and grey behind her tears. It had snowed just like this on the day she moved to the city. Shortly after the article about Harry had been published by a small gossip site, Alani had contacted the publishers and threatened litigation if they didn’t take it down. Unsurprisingly, they had also been contacted by Columbia Records and thus, the piece was removed that same day. Despite the quick turnaround, Rolling Stone had caught wind of the storm brewing on social media and reached out to Alani a few days later. They had been impressed that the elusive Harry Styles granted her an interview, but they didn’t push the matter much further. Instead, they had offered her one piece of her choosing to prove herself. If the reviews were favorable, she would be given a regular contributor spot, unpaid of course. They would re-evaluate at the beginning of the new quarter and negotiate from there. When January of 2017 rolled around, Alani’s writing was making surprising waves in the Rolling Stone community, so she had been hired on as a junior writer and assistant to the Editor in Chief. The pay wasn’t great, but it was a leap in the right direction. 

Despite everything that had changed in a year, a string of random letters on a building that Alani passed a million times had brought her emotions right back to the day she had tried so hard to forget. Her phone buzzes under the covers and she reaches out a hand to locate it. Her editor’s name appears and she answers it quickly. 

“Hello?”

“Darling, hello! Where are you?”

“Oh my god,” Alani groans. “Vanessa I’m so sorry,”

“Is everything okay?”

Alani sits up and clears her throat. “I have food poisoning,”

“Christ, from where?”

“Bisous,”

Vanessa sighs. “Poor thing. Okay, no worries we’ll just reschedule,”

“I’m so sorry, I’ll make it up to you,”

“No need to be sorry, get some rest and we’ll catch up later!”

The call ends and Alani gawks at the time. 7:30 already?  She slumps back under the covers and sifts through her social media, wincing when she sees several of her friends posting about the line outside of Madison Square Garden. No, Alani decides sternly when the sudden urge to go stirs in the pit of her stomach, absolutely no fucking way. 

********

“10 minutes!”

Harry scans the crowd from the monitor backstage. He pinches his lower lip between his index finger and thumb as the nerves settle in. 

“The house is packed,” Jeff comments with a hand on the singer’s shoulder. “And there’s still a crowd outside,”

“We did it?”

“You did it,”

So why does it still hurt? 

“Thanks for everything,” Harry says, bringing his manager in for a hug. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Jeff pats Harry on the back. “All in a day’s work for the dream team.”

Before heading out, Harry stops one of the crew members and asks if any of the guests on his list have arrived yet. Names are read off, friends from different inner circles over the years, but there’s one name in particular that isn’t called. He offers a thumbs up and a forced grin before making his way to the stage.

It always surprises the technical crew at every venue that Harry has specific lighting requests for the house. Performers had their individual preferences, this wasn’t unusual, but no one made a bigger deal about being able to see the crowd like Harry did. He enjoyed being able to see each person and connect with them, especially when performing an album that was as personal as this one. But in every sea he searched, one face was always missing. Tonight’s audience, much to his disappointment, was no different. 

The crowd cheers as “Sweet Creature” fades out and the lights on stage dim. More than half of the show has already gone by and they’ve reached the point that is always a little harder to get through. Harry takes a swig from his water bottle and clears his throat to fight the lump that forms. He breathes in deeply and “Meet Me in the Hallway” begins, but no matter how hard he tries to focus on the technical aspects of his performance, it’s nearly impossible not to get dragged back into the moment when the song was written. 

“I should go back,” 

“H, I don’t know if that’s such a good—”

“I have to go back.” 

And so he had. After two hours of pacing the airport lounge, Harry had jumped into an Uber and sped back to the hotel. It had taken another agonizing twenty minutes to explain his situation to the front desk workers and retrieve his old room key, but it was no use. He was too late. The bed was still unmade, but there was no sign of Alani save for the faint scent of Baby Honey and a gold necklace tucked away between the sheets. 

The flight back to the mainland had already departed by the time Harry stumbled through the hotel lobby, and there wouldn’t be another one for three more hours. In the meantime, he decided to get some fresh air and clear his mind, hoping all the while that he would find Alani at the edge of the beach waiting to run back into his arms. She never did, and he was left with all the words he wished he had said. 

I walked the streets all day 

Running with the thieves 

‘Cause you left me in the hallway 

Just take my pain away 

Just let me know and I’ll be at the door, at the door

Hoping you'll come around

Just let me know I’ll be on the floor, on the floor 

Maybe we’ll work it out

********

“Great show,” praises Rob Sheffield, author of one of Harry’s favorite books, Love is a Mix Tape. “Drummer’s incredible,”

Sarah beams and Harry flashes her a grin. “Thanks. It’s Sarah’s band, really. I’m just the frontman,”

“Well she kicked ass. All of you did, and I can tell by the way the floor was shaking that I’m not the only one who thought so.”

“Thank you so much, that means a lot.”

More guests filter in and congratulate Harry and the rest of the band, but while he sincerely appreciates all of the love, he can’t help the way his eyes flicker to the door every once in a while in the hope that someone else will straggle in. He slowly loses that hope when the room empties and the night drags on. 

********

This isn’t ethical, Alani chastises herself, this is wrong on every level and you’re gonna pay. She runs her fingers over the Rolling Stone press badge in her hand and stares at the marquee towering over her. What the fuck are you doing? 

“Excuse me!” Alani calls when she sees an employee slip through a side door. “Hi, I know I’m really late but I’m actually here with Rolling Stone,”

The blonde-haired woman blinks and scans over the badge with an unamused look on her face. 

“Nice try,”

“No, wait,” Alani begs. “I have to get in there, please—”

“You and every other girl within a twenty-five mile radius.”

Alani takes a deep breath and re-groups. “You don’t understand. I really need to get back there, I’m working on an important piece,”

As the struggle continues, another woman in stiletto heels exits through the side door with a clipboard in tow. 

“My name is Alani Hale, see? Please just—”

“Wait,” the woman with the clipboard intervenes. The name sounded strangely familiar, probably from the blacklist, in which case security would need to be notified. “What did you say your name was?”

Alani holds her badge out and swallows hard. “Alani Hale, junior writer for Rolling Stone.”

The woman checks through the blacklist but the name isn’t registered. She does a cursory glance over the V.I.P section and her finger lands on a note that reads “Mahealani ‘Alani’ Hale—Code Carolina: escort backstage and inform Mr. Styles immediately.”

“Follow me, please,”

Alani trails behind, doing her best to keep up with the long strides of the woman with the clipboard.

 “Marta to security, I have a Code Carolina,” she murmurs into her ear piece. “Repeat, I have a Code Carolina.”

Alani’s heart races as they zig-zag through the arena. Did Harry know that she was coming? Had Mitch told him that they saw each other at Bisous? The answer was no, Mitch hadn’t told and Harry didn’t know. He had only hoped. Unbeknownst to Alani, her name was printed on the Madison Square Garden list and on every list of every show in all the countries scheduled. Through Paris and all through Rome, Harry had looked for her face in the crowd and he dreamed that one day his efforts wouldn’t be in vain. 

“Wait here,” Marta instructs, leading Alani to a back room with mirrors, a couple of couches, and a clothing rack. “Someone will be with you shortly.”

Before she can ask any questions, Marta is gone and the sound of her heels echo down the hall. Alani takes a deep breath and her lungs are immediately filled with the familiar scent of vanilla. Her eyes carefully rake over the scene and land on a familiar white shirt hanging on the rack and the words “Enjoy Health, Eat Your Honey.”

“Thief,”

“I meant to return it.”

Alani spins on her heel and Harry stands with his fists shoved deep inside the pockets of his flared pants, eyes cast down at the floor. She tugs on the sleeves of her coat and offers a shy smile. 

“It’s okay, looked better on you anyway.”

A brief silence follows and they size each other up like it’s a gunfight, each waiting to see who will draw first. His hair is longer and curlier, Alani notices, chest and shoulders broader, too. But there’s a familiarity in his creased brow and in the heart shaped curve of his cupid’s bow. Harry does his own inventory; dark, almond shaped eyes, check. Round face, cinnamon skin, check and check. Her long, wavy locks are now shoulder length, but he’d recognize the scent of Baby Honey anywhere. The two are absorbed in their own silent assessments for a moment longer, but Alani quickly gets the urge to flee after she counts too many similarities between this Harry and the one that left her with a broken heart. 

“I should go,” she croaks, taking a step back. “I shouldn’t have come—”

“Why did you?” Harry asks earnestly. 

Alani tugs at a loose thread on her sleeve before crossing her arms. “Saw your name outside and got curious. For a while there, I started to think that maybe I imagined you,”

Harry doesn’t know what to do with the knowledge that he had haunted her as much as she had plagued him. He had spent so long believing that he meant nothing to her, but nevertheless, a part of him left room for her return. 

“You did, this is a hologram projection,”

Alani smiles and her shoulders relax at his humor. It really was him. 

“Did you enjoy—”

“I didn’t see the show—” they speak at the same time, eager words overlapping. 

“Oh,” Harry laughs softly. “You didn’t miss much,”

Alani shakes her head and takes a single step forward. “No, that’s not true. I’m sure it was amazing,”

Harry offers a coy grin, the shadow of a dimple on his left cheek. One hand emerges from his pocket and his knuckle brushes against the tip of his nose. Alani catches sight of the silver rose on his finger and she still remembers how it feels under the pad of her thumb. 

“Are you hungry?” he asks softly, pulling her from her reverie. 

“What?”

“Have dinner with me?”

Alani blinks, her throat suddenly dry. “Oh. Well I don’t know, I don’t wanna interrupt—”

“Never an interruption,” Harry assures her. 

She nods and he takes a step back. 

“M’gonna go change,” he explains. “I’ll just be a minute.”

“What, you don’t wear custom Marc Jacobs suits to dinner?” She teases. 

He grins, amused, and continues backing away towards the door before correcting her. “It’s Gucci.”

Alani rolls her eyes and he disappears into the hallway. 

When Harry reemerges in a beanie, puffy coat, and light wash denim jeans, he leads them through a series of tunnels and exits. 

“Where are we going?” Alani asks, bracing herself for the snow outside. 

“It’s a surprise.” he offers and she doesn’t fight him on it.

********

“We’re not eating here?” 

A soft smile falls on Harry’s lips. He hadn’t realized just how much he missed her incessant questioning. 

“No,”  he replies, opening the passenger door with one hand and passing her the bag that contains their dinner. “Too crowded,”

“Oh,” 

It made sense that Harry would want to keep a low profile and avoid any possible paparazzi sightings of the two of them, but it still felt strange to worry about such things after they had lived so carefree in Hawai’i. But that was then, and this was now, things had inevitably changed. 

“D’you wanna play some music?” Harry asks, settling behind the wheel. The parallels between this moment and their first excursion together make her chest tighten. 

“How about,” Alani starts. “Your album? Since I didn’t get to hear it live,”

Harry’s breathing hitches. “Well, I dunno—”

“Please?”

He meets her pleading eyes momentarily and, against his better judgment, agrees. 

“What’s it called?” she questions. 

“It’s just my name,”

“Self-titled, very classy. I like it,”

“I thought about calling it Sign of the Times,” Harry reveals. “But it’s already been done before,”

Alani hums. “Prince,”

“Yeah,” he nods. “But then I also thought about going with ‘Pink,’ because, you know, when in doubt—”

“Go with the pink one,” they say in unison and Alani smiles softly. How had he remembered that?

“And it’s the only true rock ‘n roll color,” she continues. 

Harry beams. “Exactly. But then Jeff suggested that we just go with the name. Simple, but effective,”

“Okay, so now that we’ve got the background,” Alani pokes. “And you’ve sufficiently distracted me, can I listen now?”

He swallows and checks the GPS, still twenty-five minutes to go. 

“How about we hold off,” he suggests. “Just for now so we can listen to the full thing and really soak it in?”

Alani backs off. “Alright, deal.”

She presses shuffle on the playlist of her frequently played songs for the month and immediately regrets doing so. Clearing her throat, she goes to press skip but Harry stops her. 

“S’a good one.” he says gently, so Alani lets Adele fill the awkward space. 

If you’re gonna let me down 

Let me down gently don’t pretend 

That you don’t want me 

Our love ain’t water under the bridge

********

Harry opens the passenger door and Alani steps out, her eyes squinting to make out any recognizable landmarks in their surroundings. They remain a comfortable two feet apart and make their way to the entrance of what appears to be some sort of greenhouse. Alani is filled with more confusion, but she doesn’t ask further questions until they reach the white double doors. 

“What?” Harry questions. “Never been to the New York Botanical Garden?”

Alani’s eyes widen. “The—wait, you—we’re?”

“After you,” he chuckles lightly, opening the doors. 

“Are we even allowed? I mean is it open?”

“I pulled some strings,”

She enters cautiously, immediately met with an archway of blush colored flowers and string lights that takes her breath away. A long, narrow pond in the center reflects the image back and creates a kaleidoscope of pink, green, and golden hues. 

“How did you,” Alani begins, at a complete loss for words. “Who are you?”

Harry nods in the direction of an adjacent hallway. “There’s a ballroom set up for a wedding tomorrow night, but Jim said we could crash as long as we clean up after ourselves,”

“Jim?”

“The director.”

“Of course.” 

Sure enough, round tables with cream colored tablecloth and elaborate floral centerpieces are arranged around the room. A delicate, yet undoubtedly expensive, chandelier twinkles in the center of the room and casts such a warm glow that Alani momentarily forgets about the snow outside. 

“Dig in,” Harry instructs, setting the pasta on the table in front of them. 

Alani sits and gently sheds her winter coat as he does the same. Underneath his jacket, Harry wears a yellow shirt that catches her eye with the words “treat people with kindness” printed in black lettering. She freezes when she spots a gold chain with a sun and moon pendant nestled comfortably between above the words.

“How is everyone?” Alani questions politely to shift her attention. “Mitch, Tom, Jeff,”

“They’re good, yeah,” he nods. “How’re Freddie and your family?”

“They’re fine, and he’s living his blissful little life,”

“Good for him. Miss his cuddles,”

And yours, Harry thinks, but he pulls back. Alani offers a shy laugh and thinks about the elephant in the room yet to be addressed: the break-up. It’s worth discussing, but she sure as hell isn’t going to be the one to bring it up. 

“And how’ve you been?” Harry asks when the silence stretches out for too long. 

Alani chews and ponders the question. “Good. Been working a lot,”

“Where at?”

“Rolling Stone,”

“Really?” he beams. “That’s incredible, congratulations,”

“Thank you,” she replies graciously. 

Harry’s chin rests in his palm and he twirls a noodle around his fork. “So you live here?”

“Yeah, in the Village,”

“Wow. Greenwich Village, a real city-slicker now. Traded Stevie in for the Holland Tunnel?”

A bittersweet smile spreads across Alani’s lips at the memory of her beloved Bronco. “Sadly, yes. And you?”

“Malibu,” Harry divulges. “I hate the cold.”

“It’s not so bad. You can always cuddle up with the giant rats,” she jokes, which makes his nose scrunch.

“I’m just gonna pretend you didn’t say that,” 

“Speaking of pretend,” Alani wiggles her brows. “You were in a movie after all,” 

“I was,” 

“I didn’t watch it, sorry,” 

Harry feigns offense and Alani quickly back pedals. “I don’t like war movies!”

“And you hated my guts.” he teases, though it pains him that there might be some truth to his words. 

Alani shakes her head and fights the urge to reach across the table for his hand. “No, not really. It was kind of the opposite, actually.” 

Harry’s eye wanders to the outside of Alani’s wrist and a faint smile creeps across his face when he spots the black outline of a crescent moon. He wonders if there are any new inked designs that he isn’t aware of. Despite all the time that has elapsed, there is a familiarity in her presence that he hadn’t felt even in the comforts of his California residence. It was like kicking off your shoes in the doorway after a long trip. It was like coming home. 

They finish their meal and continue their light-hearted banter into the night. Harry tells his favorite stories from tour and Alani wishes more than anything that she could have been there. She details the events of her own busy life in New York and the highlights of working for Rolling Stone, one of which being the time that she got to meet Stevie Nicks in the flesh. 

“Did you tell her about your car?” Harry presses enthusiastically. 

“No way,” Alani chuckles, draining the last of her drink. “I wasn’t gonna embarrass myself in front of the Supreme,” 

“I think she would’ve found it flattering,” 

“Naming your child after someone is flattering, not a car,” 

Harry shrugs. “I think it’s cute,” 

“Yeah well,” Alani sighs. “You’re not like most people,”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

She mulls it over, studying the familiar sea glass irises that she never thought she’d see again. What had Alani meant by that statement? Truthfully, she didn’t know if she could put it into words, nor had she meant to say them in the first place. But something about Harry always made her feel brave, like she could speak her mind uncensored and he would understand without even trying. 

“I just meant that you’re, you know,” she starts. “Not judgemental. Like, I could tell you that I think I’m part alien and you’d probably try to help me find my home planet,” 

Harry laughs and leans forward with his elbows on the table, an unspoken challenge for Alani to continue her thoughts. 

“You make people feel seen and heard,” she says finally with a wistful look in her eye. “I mean, why do you think all those people lined up to see you tonight?” 

The last part of her statement is a deflection from what she really wants to say, which is that Harry makes her feel seen and heard. Despite all the time and space between them, it was still true and it terrified her. There was only so much bravery that Harry’s presence could evoke. The mood shifts suddenly when Alani’s phone buzzes and the name “Mason” with a pink heart emoji lights up the screen next to her glass of water. Harry hadn’t meant to look and he deeply regrets that he did. 

“You have a boyfriend,” he comments dejectedly, and though he hadn’t meant it to be accusatory, all words carry the sting of judgment when falling on guilty ears. 

“Oh, and I’m sure you’ve stayed celibate this entire time,” Alani bites back. 

Harry’s brow furrows. “I wasn’t—I didn’t mean—”

“I’m sorry, this was a mistake,” she apologizes, standing with her coat. 

“Wait,” he jumps up. “What just happened?”

“I have to go—”

“Just stop for a minute, please,”

Alani stops in her tracks and turns back to face Harry slowly. His jaw is tight and the crease between his eyebrows is deeper than she remembers. 

“I’m sorry,” she begins carefully. “Thank you for tonight, but I really shouldn’t be here—”

Harry’s eyes clamp shut and he runs a frustrated hand through his messy curls.  

“Can you stop acting like you’re doing me a favor by leaving and just talk to me?”

“What do you want me to say?” Alani pushes back. “‘I’m sorry that I saw your name in flashing lights and I got caught trying to spy on you’?”

“Alani—”

“‘I’m sorry that I tried to move on’?”

“Stop apologizing—”

“I’m sorry that I fell in love and fucked it all up because I was afraid and I’m sorry that I betrayed the one person who meant everything to me,”

Silence falls between them and the only sound is the sniffling of Alani’s nose as she tries, and fails, to hold back the emotions that pour over. 

“That’s why I went,” she continues, voice wavering. “Because I’m selfish and I couldn’t stay away. Every single day, I’m reminded of how royally I screwed everything up and it tears me apart, so I went to try to make things right and take some of that pain away. Even though I hurt you and there’s nothing I can ever do to change that,”

Harry swallows hard and his eyes sting, but Alani speaks up again before he can respond. 

“So please,” she begs. “Please, just let me finally do something right by you and let me go,”

He takes a cautious step forward and shakes his head. “I don’t want to,”

They both hold their breaths, anticipating the other person’s next draw. 

“And maybe that makes me selfish too,” Harry adds. “‘Cause I went back that day, back to the hotel,”

Alani blinks. “You did?”

“Yes,” he nods. “Because I wasn’t mad that you published the article, I was scared that it was the only reason you were with me—”

“Harry��”

“But then I realized that I didn’t care,” he laughs dryly. “Because I still loved you, and I figured that having you— having just a little bit of your heart and your attention—was worth it, even if you didn’t really love me back,”

He takes another step forward and the toes of their shoes nearly touch. “And maybe I’m being selfish now by asking you to stay, but you’re not the only one trying to get rid of the pain,”

Alani takes a shallow breath and studies the eagerness in his eyes. The sight makes her chest pound. 

“I’m sorry that I ever made you doubt,” she whispers. “But I meant every word I said, you were everything to me. You were the sun that my life revolved around and I was terrified of losing you because the truth is that I hate the cold, too,”

Harry gently reaches a hand up to her cheek and Alani leans into the warmth of his touch. 

“Can I show you something?”

You and your goddamn surprises. “Yes.”

He leads them down several winding hallways before flicking a light on in the gallery. Alani’s heart stops when she sees it. 

“Not quite as impressive as the real thing,” Harry offers. “But Ms. O’Keeffe did a pretty damn good job,”

An original Georgia O’Keeffe painting of a waterfall, their waterfall, the one that Alani had mentioned all that time ago, is displayed proudly on the wall before them. A replica had hung above the bed they shared on many nights and all at once a faint memory resurfaces. 

“Where did you say the original was?”

“New York Botanical Garden,” 

 “M’gonna take you one day,”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Alani takes a step closer to the artwork and examines the details of the oil on canvas. A few steps behind, Harry is only concerned with her reaction and pays little attention to the piece of art on display. As far as he was concerned, Alani was the only one worth admiring. 

“Do you remember what you told me when I asked why you went to the falls to write?” Alani asks. 

Of course Harry had, but he remains silent to let her continue. 

“You said that you liked going there,” she adds, deliberate. “Because it made you forget about every bad thing that ever happened to you, because none of it was real in comparison to the feeling of standing in front of that waterfall,”

Harry nods gently, but he still doesn’t speak. 

“Do you know what that feeling is called?”

“No,”

“It’s called home,” Alani says softly, turning to face him. “It’s what I felt, what I feel, when I’m with you,”

His breath hitches and he stands frozen as she carefully walks toward him.

“And while we’re making wishes come true,” she smiles delicately. “I never told you what I wished for the day we saw that rainbow,”

“What did you wish for?” Harry searches. 

Alani’s eyes fall to his parted lips. “That you would kiss me.”

His mouth curls at the edges and he releases a long breath. “Think maybe I can deliver on that one, too.”

Harry leans in, ever so slightly, and Alani closes the gap. They had been standing mere inches apart, but the meeting of their lips bridges an entire chasm. Over and over again, like waves against the shore, their mouths collide desperately as they pull each other closer with no intentions of ever letting go. 

********

February 14, 2018

“Comment est le temps?” 

Alani peers up at Harry and shields her eyes from the sun behind his back. “What does that mean?”

He grins softly and kisses the top of her head before taking a seat on the balcony next to her. 

“Means ‘how’s the weather?’,” 

“Oh,” she leans over, lips puckered for a kiss. “Full of perfectly Parisian sunshine,”

“Try sayin’ that ten times fast,”

Alani swipes his pink, heart shaped sunglasses and slips them onto the bridge of her nose with a contented sigh. Ahead, the Eiffel tower stands proudly in the distance and the lenses of her glasses tint the entire scene in a picturesque rosy glow. 

“La Ville de L’amour,” she hums. “Did I say that right?”

“Oui,”

“Hey, you know what I saw on the room service menu?”

Harry shakes his head. “No, what?”

“Piña coladas,” Alani wiggles her brows. “Think they deliver at midnight?”

He chuckles lightly and his hand takes purchase on her knee. “They better,”

“Never had a Parisian piña colada. Sounds romantic, though.”

“Sure does, sweets.”

Alani stands and reaches for Harry’s hand. He accepts and rises to his feet, pulling her close. Below, the sounds of the city serenade them as they gently sway in the chilly breeze. When Harry feels Alani shiver, he hugs  her to his chest and rests his chin comfortably on the top of her head. She feels his steady heartbeat against her cheek and smiles softly, fingertips smoothing up and down his back. 

“Are you ready for Valentine’s Day surprise number one?” he asks, pulling away slightly to meet her eyes. 

She narrows her eyes. “Where are we going?”

Harry pulls back with a mischievous smile, hands still attached to hers, and leads them back inside.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Alani giggles but she doesn’t push. Instead, she happily follows him out of their room, down the hall, and into the bustling streets of Paris. 

We don’t know where we’re going 

But we know where we belong 

And oh we started 

Two hearts in one home 

It’s hard when we argue 

We’re both stubborn 

I know, but oh

Sweet creature, sweet creature 

Wherever I go, you bring me home 

Sweet creature, sweet creature

When I run out of road 

You bring me home

[mysticmeadowscamp]

Um, hi, this is kiwi anon, I just made this blog and I was wondering if I could get a lil shout out? 👉👈

I can't draw or anything and it's an ask-based au and I wanna know if people would actually like it since one of my friends said it should have art and it should have a better prologue and all that so they made me feel all crummy about it... If no one pays attention to it I'll probably just delete it...

@tss-au-abused-runaways

[kiwi-rebel-57-06]

Kiwi Rebel. My backyard is TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu with the Southern Alps in the background here in New Zealand.

[sky-loves-anime-blog1]

â–· New Zealand roundtrip

I honestly don't know why I waited 26 years to do this. Jumping out of a plane is really the best experience I have had in my life so far! When we jumped it was the perfect autumn day with blue sky, sunshine and a pleasant 20 degrees. The North Island is home to the most famous cities Auckland and Wellington and there are more beaches. The billiger-mietwagen.de editorial team combines the concentrated knowledge of online editors and travel experts from all areas of the company. These areas are often very scenic and can usually only be reached by car. With a rental car you are also particularly flexible in your travel planning. For example, take a leisurely cruise on the nostalgic steamer TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu (from approx. NZD 65). Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand. - Hostel accommodation - |} Read more about campervan hire New Zealand here.

>|}

If I would do the tour again, I would rent a big camper and stay overnight in it.

With about 400.000 inhabitants it is situated in a scenic location on different hills around one of the most beautiful natural harbours of the country.

You should definitely take enough time to discover this area of New Zealand!

You could also walk the first few kilometres of the Kepler Track or visit the firefly caves of Te Anau.

Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora (45 km)

Even today, many buildings from the time of Queen Victoria give the city a Victorian atmosphere. You turn off the coast and through the area of Te Puke, the largest growing area for kiwi fruit in New Zealand, the tour continues south to Rotorua. You drive up to Mount Eden, one of the 48 extinct volcanoes in the Auckland city area. In our New Zealand travel guide you will find over 100 tips for the North and South Island including 5 suggested routes. You should plan at least half a day, whereby many people stay several days in the park and stay overnight. There are different places where the boats drop you off and you can walk different routes. Despite the devastating earthquake, Christchurch has a lot of places to stay. There are many motels in the city, but Christchurch also has some really nice boutique hotels. So it is only too understandable that the Coromandel Peninsula is very popular with the Aucklanders as a recreation area. Auckland was built on 48 extinct volcanoes, of which Mount Eden with 196 m is the highest mountain in the area. Our travel module leaves you free to choose when booking your flights. But of course we are also happy to help you with your flight booking. On the North Island you will visit the natural beauty of the Bay of Islands and the Coromandel Peninsula.

[stylesunchained]

I've always thought that the little intro that chasm played before kiwi needs to be made into a proper song. If he does go rockier for this next album I'll be ecstatic.

Oh I miss CHASM and I miss seeing Harry live. It’s my favourite thing in the world and it’s been way too long. And yes, I *love* that intro and always thought it’d be a great sound for a song. I’m very curious to see which direction (ba dum tss) he’ll follow this time around. Can’t wait for this new Harry era! @harry HURRY UP

[hoanq2802]

New Zealand ngập sắc hoa

New Post has been published on https://khachsanthanhdong.com/new-zealand-ngap-sac-hoa.html

New Zealand ngập sắc hoa

Dạo chơi trên TP cảng Auckland

Tháng 11 là thời khắc lý tưởng nhất để du lịch tới Auckland. Nếu tìm một không gian lãng mạn, hãy tới công viên Domain, dạo bước dưới những tán anh đào đang nở rộ. Hàng triệu cánh đào lí tí đung đưa trong gió như nhuộm hồng cả một vùng rộng lớn.

Cách đó không xa là vùng ngoại thành trên đồi Eden – điểm dừng chân cho những người muốn tận hưởng bầu không khí trong sạch, yên bình với những hàng cây cổ thụ rợp bóng mát. Chiều về, du khách có thể tới thong dong trên bờ cát trắng mịn, ngắm hoàng hôn rực lửa sau muôn cánh buồm trắng trên bến cảng Manukau thơ mộng.

Tán hoa anh đào nở rộ đầy thơ mộng.

Hồ Tekapo rực rỡ sắc hoa

Rời đảo Bắc, hồ Tekapo ở đảo Nam sẽ là nơi tới thú vị tiếp theo trong hành trình tò mò xứ sở kiwi. khuông cảnh nơi đây ngập tràn vẻ đẹp của những bông hoa lupin rực rỡ sắc màu, từ trắng, xanh, tím, cam tới vàng, hồng, soi mình trên mặt hồ trong veo. 

Xa xa, dưới ngọn núi tuyết bạc đầu là nhà thờ Good Shepherd cổ kính đắm mình trong ánh nắng dịu nhẹ. Vào khoảng tháng 10, khi hoa lupin nở rộ, hồ Tekapo trở thành nơi tới yêu thích số 1 của các thợ chụp ảnh trên khắp toàn cầu.

Dải màu sắc rực rỡ từ các bông hoa lupin.

Lạc lối trong làng Hobbiton ở xứ Shire

Cách trung tâm TP Auckland khoảng 180 km là ngôi làng cổ tích Hobbit trong bộ phim cùng tên “The Hobbit”. khuông cảnh làng quê thanh bình của xứ Shire hệt như trên mỗi thước phim với những ngôi nhà nửa nổi nửa chìm trong lòng đất.

Bước qua hàng rào gỗ nhỏ xinh, du khách như lạc vào vùng đất cổ tích với khoảng sân vườn ngập tràn hoa cỏ. Trước cánh cửa gỗ được sơn phết màu sắc, có một bộ bàn ghế nhỏ với vài giỏ trái cây để nghỉ chân. Nơi đây tách biệt hoàn toàn với toàn cầu ồn ào bên ngoài, không tiếng còi xe, xô người tình ngột ngạt. Ngôi làng người lùn như vùng đất bị thời kì bỏ quên nhưng mà quý khách nên tới một lần trong đời.

Làng người lùn bình yên như trên phim ảnh.

Nghỉ dưỡng tại Queenstown

Được mệnh danh là “TP nữ vương” phương Nam, Queenstown là điểm nghỉ dưỡng lý tưởng ở đảo Nam. Mùa xuân về, TP đẹp như bức tranh với những ngôi làng bình yên dưới chân dãy Alps. Mặt hồ Wakatipu phẳng lặng và xanh lè như màu mắt cô gái phiên bản địa làm say lòng du khách.

Đừng quên trải nghiệm ngồi tàu hơi nước TSS Earnslaw trăm năm tuổi hoặc ghé thăm làng đào vàng Arrowtown nép mình bên đỉnh núi quanh sông Arrow. Một vài điểm tham quan ngoài trời khác được nhiều du khách yêu thích ở Queenstown là hầm rượu nho tại Thung lũng Gibbston và cầu Kawarau – nơi sinh ra của môn thể thao mạo hiểm nhảy bungy nổi tiếng.

Queenstown có nhiều điểm tham quan thú vị.

Lưu ý, trong tháng 11, New Zealand có nắng ấm nhưng khí hậu hơi se lạnh, thích hợp cho các hoạt động ngoài trời. Khu vực đảo Bắc thường ấm hơn một tẹo so với đảo Nam.

Một trong những đường bay được nhiều gia đình và khách du lịch lựa chọn là dịch vụ bay phối hợp giữa Air New Zealand và Singapore Airlines, quá cảnh tại sân bay Changi. Đây là 2 hãng hàng không nằm trong top đầu toàn cầu về chất lượng dịch vụ.

Thảo Trang

Liên doanh Air New Zealand – Singapore Airlines cung ứng 5 chuyến bay mỗi ngày, 7 ngày trong tuần giữa Singapore và New Zealand; 4 chuyến bay thẳng hàng ngày từ Singapore tới Auckland và Christchurch; 5 chuyến mỗi tuần tới Wellington, liên kết liền mạch tới 20 nơi tới nội địa khác của New Zealand. Hành khách có thể đặt vé qua website hoặc khi tới đây.

Info: https://khachsanthanhdong.com/

[dood1e-bug]

Couple of Secret Saturdays memes

[roundtheworldrambles]

Queenstown and Glenorchy, New Zealand

Day 114 – Brisbane to Queenstown, New Zealand

Kia Ora, New Zealand!

I arrived at Brisbane’s airport in the morning, departing on a three and a half hour Virgin Australia flight over the Tasman Sea to Queenstown, New Zealand. After getting lots of feedback from friends, family and fellow travellers, I had decided to start my month-long stint in New Zealand on the scenic, mountainous South Island, before eventually making my way to the North Island and Auckland. Although I was arriving in New Zealand in mid January – the height of summer, we were surrounded by snowy capped peaks as we began our descent into Queenstown. 

The arrival into Queenstown’s airport was an event in and of itself. As we approached the airport, we gradually descended along the length of Lake Wakatipu, the mountains surrounding the lake quickly towering above us while we were still in flight. Without my feet having even touched the ground of New Zealand, I could already tell that I would love this country. The beauty of the Southern Alps was unmistakable, even through a tiny airplane window! I immediately was reminded of the feeling I would get when flying into Vancouver, and arriving in New Zealand, I already felt like I was coming “home”. (That or your mind starts playing tricks with you when you have been travelling for over 4 months!).   

Although Queenstown has a fairly small airport, it still took some time for me to make my way through passport control and Bisecurity NZ. Given its geographical isolation, New Zealand takes biosecurity seriously, aiming to prevent pests, predators and diseases from damaging the unique environment and biodiversity of the country. Incredibly, the native flora and fauna of New Zealand evolved free of any warm-blooded predators, and as a result, the country is home to several flightless birds, such as the kiwi and the kakapo parrot. Unfortunately, following colonialization of this country, smaller predators such as rats, possums and stoats were introduced to the country, and many of New Zealand’s unique species are currently endangered as a result. 

Finally grabbing my pack and passing through Biosecurity, I caught a taxi into town, arriving at my hostel for the night, Black Sheep Backpackers. Over the coming month, it was hard to believe I would only be staying at a hostel for the one night – as I was set to pick up my mini campervan the following day! I met a few of my fellow travellers at the hostel – from Scotland, Quebec , Zimbabwe and England, most of whom were either starting or finishing a campervan adventure of their own. It was terrific to chat with them and get tips for campsites, hikes, routes and excursions – as I was planning on mapping out my roadtrip over the next few days!

Lake Wakatipu

In the afternoon, I strolled down into the main area of town, wandering along the main street and the waterfront. It was clear that Queenstown lived up to its reputation as the ultimate destination for lovers of the outdoors! Lake Wakatipu is framed by yellow-green hills, set against jagged mountains in the distance known as the Remarkables – quite a fitting name! Along the streets, countless tour operators offer every imaginable activity and tour – from skydiving and bungee jumping, to white water rafting and kayaking – the options were quite overwhelming! Overhead, paragliders swooped through the air, having launched off Bob’s Peak, a mountain overlooking the town. I stopped by Queenstown’s famous bakeshop “The Cookie Muncher” for an ice cream sandwich before heading to the Department of Conservation (better know as the “DOC”) to gather more information on camping permits, bookings and campsites. Armed with a veritable mountain of flyers, pamphlets and maps, I returned to the hostel for an evening of research and planning for the month ahead!

Day 115 – Queenstown, New Zealand

In the morning, I headed out to Frankton, a Southeast suburb of Queenstown, to pick up my camper van for the following month. During my first full day in New Zealand, I was already amazing by the friendliness and helpfulness of the locals. Not only was I given a free bus pass by a passing couple, but a friendly transit worker named Peter gave me a lift in his car to the campervan pick-up, when realizing I had misread the bus timetable! I could quickly see why NZ is sometimes called the “friendliest place on earth”!

Wicked Campers Queenstown

As having a vehicle is essential when travelling around New Zealand, there were countless options for campervans, large and small, basic and boujee – for me to pick between! Trying to stretch my dollars as much as possible, I ended up going with the backpacker classic – a Wicked Campervan. By far the cheapest option, these vans are best known for their large, bright (and sometimes risqué!) graffiti. Unfortunately – what this also meant is that the first van they suggested for me was decorated with a topless woman and an octopus! I ended up going with an equally bizarre, but less provocatively decorated model – with a large graffitied picture of a dog and a red solo cup! Needless to say, I got many strange looks over the following weeks, when I rolled up to gas stations and campsites! However, more often than not my hilariously decorated van ended up being an excellent conversation starter!

Fortunately my time driving around Tasmania a few weeks earlier had helped me prepare for a long stint of driving on the left-side of the road, so it didn’t take me long to get used to my new wheels. I spent the rest of the day running errands around town to prepare for my roadtrip – groceries at PAK’nSAVE, gas top-ups, trips to Kathmandu (NZ’s answer to MEC) for camping gear, and laundering a second-hand set of pillows and a sleeping bag, donated from a previous traveller. In town, I also picked up extra layers of merino wool, blankets, and fairy lights – as I was determined to make my peculiar campervan as cosy as possible over the coming weeks!

In the evening, I met up with Oran, a Swiss traveller I had met at the hostel. We headed into town to join the lineup at Fergburger, the town’s famous burger joint! A compulsory stop in Queenstown, it is common to wait for up to an hour to get “the best burger in the world”. Oran and I didn’t mind the wait, as we took the time to swap travel tips and pick each other’s brains. As luck would have it, he was heading to Australia the following day, after spending a month in New Zealand – the reverse of what I had done.

I spent my first evening in my campervan that evening – parked in a designated parking lot on the outskirts of town. Although it was the height of summer, the evenings were very cold – and it got pretty brisk inside the van overnight! Before going to bed – I began my new evening routine for the following 4 weeks – reading Shantaram on my Ipad, complete with a glass of NZ wine. 

Day 116 – Glenorchy and Moke Lake 

Lake Wakatipu

In the morning, I headed out of Queenstown to Glenorchy, driving West along Lake Wakatipu. It was hard to keep my eyes on the road when driving – the scenery around me was so gorgeous. I stopped countless times along the way to take in the mountains surround the brilliantly blue lake. The historic steamship TSS Earnslaw cruised along the lake during my drive. Now used for sightseeing trips, this 100+ year old, coal-powered steamship was originally used to transport sheep, cattle and passengers to the high country stations in the hills surround Lake Wakatipu. Watching the steamship chug along the lake in the distance, I felt transported back to another time. 

Glenorchy

Glenorchy

I arrived at Glenorchy around lunchtime and cooked lunch in the back of my campervan, admiring the magnificent beech forest and towering mountains around me. I could easily see why this location had been scouted for many scenes from the Lord of the Rings – it truly felt as though I had arrived in Middle Earth. 

Lake Wakatipu

In the afternoon, I drove my campervan down to the shores of the Lake and wandered along the river’s edge, wading in the water. A row of partially submerged willow trees was growing just offshore, the rippling water reflecting the trees and distant mountains. With this incredible backdrop, I spent the afternoon by the water’s edge, relaxing with a book. For me, this was pretty close to a perfect day!

As I prepared to leave Glenorchy to head towards my campsite for the evening, I stopped by the Glenorchy Trading Post for a few snacks and a hot drink. Hopping into my camper, I began to retrace my route back towards Queenstown, the road hugging the lakeside. The afternoon light cast long shadows over Lake Wakatipu, while also highlighting the mountains on the far bank. I was in awe of all the scenery I saw this day – a feeling that would continue to follow me for the duration of my time in New Zealand!

Lake Wakatipu

My Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite for the night was at Moke Lake, a pretty lake off the beaten track, about 10 minutes outside of Queenstown. The road into this campsite was unsealed, and it took me a few minutes to get the hang of driving my camper over the bumps and gravel in the road. I passed my numerous farms and fields along the track, packed full of sheep and goats – stopping my can every few minutes while I waited for them to get out of the way! New Zealand is known for being one of the most populous sheep farming countries in the world, which was quickly apparent! I later learned that the number sheep of NZ outnumber people by 6 to 1! Around the campsite, you could see countless lines tracing along the distant hills – footpaths for thousands of freely grazing sheep. 

Setting up for the evening at Moke Lake, I cooked fajitas in my make-shift, campervan kitchen - consisting of little more than a cooler, a hand-pumped water sink, and a camping stove!  I spent my evening enjoying the peaceful scenery – with a few “baas” here and there – reading my book, and drinking a glass of wine. Thoughout my time in New Zealand, most of the campsites I stayed in were so remote that there was no cell service, a digital detox which I quite enjoyed!

Typical Campervan Evenings

[smartagepl]

Po zakończeniu służby wiele statków zamiast smutnego końca w stoczni złomowej może liczyć na drugie życie. Taki los miał spotkać TSS Duke of Lancaster, jeden z ostatnich statków British Railways napędzanych turbiną parową. Niestety świetlana przyszłość zamieniła się niekończącą się agonię.

Historia TSS Duke of Lancaster sięga połowy lat 50. Zbudowany w stoczni Harland & Woldd w Belfaście i zwodowany w 1955 roku statek wszedł do służby w 1956 roku. Początkowo miał obsługiwać trasę Heysham-Belfast, ale z czasem zaczęto go wysyłać na dłuższe rejsy wycieczkowe, nawet do Hiszpanii.

TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. dukeoflancaster.net)

Statek miał 114 m długości i tonaż 4450 ton. Napęd stanowiły dwie turbiny parowe Parametrada zapewniające prędkość około 21 węzłów. Wnętrze urządzono ładnie, ale bez zbędnych luksusów, ponieważ w latach 50. statki pasażerskie traciły już popularność. Na pokładzie mieściło się około 1800 pasażerów.

W latach 60. popularność tego typu jednostek zaczęła gwałtownie spadać, głównie na rzecz bardziej przydatnych promów samochodowych. Koszty wymiany floty były jednak na tyle wysokie, że podjęto decyzję o przebudowaniu parowca. W trakcie prac dodano na rufie wrota dla samochodów, a jeden z pokładów przebudowano tak, aby pomieścił 105 samochodów. W wyniku zmian liczba pasażerów spadła do 1200 osób. W nowej odsłonie statek wrócił do służby 25 kwietnia 1970 roku.

TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. mapio.net)

Niestety mimo poniesionych nakładów TSS Duke of Lancaster pozostał wraz z siostrzanymi statkami – TSS Duke of Rothesay i TSS Duke of Argyll w służbie tylko przez kilka kolejnych lat (za wyjątkiem TSS Duke of Argyll, który zmienił właściciela) ponieważ 5 kwietnia 1975 roku zlikwidowano połączenie Heysham-Belfast. Do listopada 1978 roku TSS Duke of Lancaster wykorzystywany był na trasach Fishguard-Rosslare, a później Holyhead–Dún Laoghaire. Z racji braku opłacalności dalszej eksploatacji parowca, podjęto decyzję o jego wycofaniu z służby i przeniesieniu do Barrow in Furness w Cumbri.

Wycofany z eksploatacji statek trafił w ręce firmy Empirewise, która w 1979 roku postanowiła przerobić go na atrakcję turystyczną – The Fun Ship. Całe wnętrze przebudowano aby pomieścić w nim pomieszczenia z automatami, bary i kasyno. Następnie dawny statek pasażerski został 10 sierpnia 1979 roku na stałe zacumowany w Llanerch-y-Mor, w utworzonym specjalnie doku.

  Początkowo jednostka cieszyła się sporą popularnością, ale lokalne władze szybko zaczęły wyrażać niezadowolenie z działalności prowadzonej przez właściciela statku. Początkowo odmawiano wydania odpowiednich pozwoleń na prowadzenie barów i kasyna, głównie tłumacząc to problemami z bezpieczeństwem i brakiem odpowiedniej liczby wyjść ewakuacyjnych. W latach 1985-1990 lokalne władze wytoczyły właścicielowi The Fun Ship liczne procesy sądowe, które zakończyły się jednak przegraną władz.

Wydawało się, że będzie to koniec problemów statku, ale niestety w 1994 roku temat powrócił. Tym razem władze wytoczyły proces twierdząc, że mają monopol na prowadzenie działalności rozrywkowej w tym rejonie. Przedłużająca się batalia sądowa sprawiła, że w 2004 roku przedstawiciele firmy Empirewise postanowili zamknąć interes, ale nie złożyli broni i kontynuowali walkę w sądzie.

TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. Berit/Wikimedia Commons)

Zamknięty statek pozostawiono własnemu losowi, przez co jego stan szybko się pogorszył. Brak konserwacji sprawił, że zewnętrzne poszycie zaczęła pokrywać rdza. Na szczęście teren był na tyle dobrze chroniony, że nikt nie włamał się do wnętrza jednostki. W 2012 roku grupa kolekcjonerów automatów do gier odkupiła od właściciela wyposażenia jednostki większość znajdujących się na Duke of Lancaster maszyn.

W tym samym roku łotewski artysta o pseudonimie Kiwie otrzymał zgodę na przemalowanie statku i pokrycie go w całości graffiti.  Prace nad rysunkami prowadzono w dwóch fazach – od sierpnia do listopada 2012 roku i od marca 2013 roku. Niestety pomimo chwilowego poprawienia wyglądu, narażony na zmienne warunki atmosferyczne statek szybko wrócił do swojej dawnej, zardzewiałej aparycji. W 2017 roku podjęto więc decyzję o przemalowaniu burt jednostki na kolor czarny, aby zapobiec dalszej korozji. W takim stanie jednostka cały czas czeka na nową przyszłość, ale prawdopodobnie nigdy już nie będzie wykorzystywana w roli atrakcji turystycznej.

Bardzo dużo zdjęć, również z wnętrza (starych i nowych zdjęć) jednostki można znaleźć na stronie dukeoflancaster.net

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TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. Bev Goodwin)

TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. Chimpville/reddit.com)

TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. ReverendJT)

TSS Duke of Lancaster (fot. ell_is_here/reddit.com)

Zapomniany TSS Duke of Lancaster Po zakończeniu służby wiele statków zamiast smutnego końca w stoczni złomowej może liczyć na drugie życie. Taki los miał spotkać TSS Duke of Lancaster, jeden z ostatnich statków British Railways napędzanych turbiną parową.

[secret-rendezvous1d]

The kiwi music video. I’m kinda into it. *ba dum tss*

We’re all kinda of into it... we’re kind of into it... xx

[datesfactory75366-blog]

Date Fruit Nutrition Details & Storage Info

This 's a simplified explanation of a expire number: A die is really a cylindrical object of metal using a layout on a single end. Considerable progress has been made in recent years seeing our knowledge of these bioactive chemicals present in fermented foods and their direct link to human health 8 9 these protective outcomes are attributed for the phyto-chemicals, secondary plant metabolites or key cell elements, existing within just fruits 89 Thorough investigation of those dates used inside this research revealed that they truly are a rich source of phytochemicals, for example hydroxycinnamic acids, PACs and also lipophilic polyphenols.

The fruit is prized because a health food as well as a tasty treat. Hossain et al. (2009) documented that the sugar material represented by Total Soluble Solids (TSS) of this chosen sea fruit fruit was little high in uncovered sunlight (35C) taken care of fruit than at room temperature (28C).

Each of these more expensive medjool dates has 1.6 g of fiber, and it is 6 percent of the daily price, or DV. Eat only a half-cup of chopped deglet noor dates, and you also 'll absorb not quite 6 grams of fiber, or 24 percentage of the DV. The collection of the proper cultivar of grafted apple timber is vitally essential, because despite the fact that the apple fruit could be increased in the majority of areas of the united states of america , the timber require different amounts of chilling temperatures as a way to blossom.

It has been indicated that date fruits and seeds may be manipulated in some food purposes utilizing their high levels of antioxidants and fiber. Conclusions: The calculation indicates that if dates are extracted in one point using a equal quantity of water, the Bx level of the juices reaches about 35, but the Bx loss in the media cart of 55% humidity is (intolerably) elevated (30%).

Ripe dates really are powerful in curing diarrhoea as they contain potassium which helps in controlling looseness of their bowels. While a plant-primarily established diet program is still a wholesome choice, some vegetarian foods can be higher in energy. Jaggery made from date palm preferences delicious with black coffee, and dried dates can be added into cakes, bread, along with other meals.

Research shows that great feeling maylead theres a increased taste for nutritious foods over-indulgent foods. A wholesome tree bears lots of clusters. Some additional wholesome, fuller foods are sunflower sprouts, flax oil, brown basmati rice, millet, soaked almonds, tomato slices, fresh avocado, vegetable soups or green tea juices.

Cao aunt some time past to see her people consume 100% fruit juice bottle plastic bottle appears very good, appears high quality, so didn't bathe his own water bottle. Dr Aminu Kazeem, a sexual health therapist that works at vitality for Gender Clinic in Lagos stated adult men who'd operation issues should incorporate dates within their diet.

Dates aren't exactly a nutritional powerhouse in comparison in comparison for some other foods like kiwi or sesame seeds, however, also the fruit does still offer numerous health gains along with excellent flavor. Lots of people all over the globe try to eat natural fat-free dates for a quick afternoon snack when they're experiencing lethargic or lethargic.

Dried Dates Fruit and its own Biochemical and Nutrient Information: Software like Diabetic Food. This therefore puts dates around the list of foods that can help one handle their weight since they're restrained from eating more frequently. You may sprinkle date sugar on foods to get an interesting, earthy sweetness.

Even so, fruit juice is just a a lot more hugely processed product than fresh or frozen fruit, plus it usually contains a nutrient profile that isn't so as conducive to accelerated weight reduction. Dates are suggested by specialists as a healthful method of cutting down thelevels of both LDL cholesterolin the body, and it is a big contributing variable toheart strikes, coronary heart disorders and stroke.

Jams, jellies, squashes, preserves, vinegar, juices, beverages, pickles and wine are all designed from the jamun fruits. The archenemy of nutritious , fresh food is air. What's really a character of the bliss of this original tree with its gently scalped, large white blossoms and also the bread formed fruit is broken up in tablets depicting the royal families using the lotus blossom.

Very few palm trees have the benefit of large indoor climbing because does the girl Palm shrub, Rhapsis excelsa. Individuals who are making an effort to manage their blood sugar, such as for instance those with diabetes, obesity needs to keep in mind the entire sugar ingestion when swallowing dates. If you wish to try Safawi Dates fresh dates, this 's precisely the opportunity to execute it. Additionally they 're moist and succulent once new, plus so they feature 50 to 90 per cent water.

Juice is diluted, glucose and citric acid included (0.3percent ) and pasteurized in bottles (twenty five minutes in boiling drinking water ) (433, 177). Additionally, it will help maintain the body clean, healing a very excellent summer. Medjool dates really are a single of naturel 's great candies, plus they need to be appreciated a ton longer compared to occasional vacation baked cure.

[typesofdatesfruit44250-blog]

Date Fruit Nutrition Information & Storage Facts

This 's a basic explanation of the perish variety: A expire is really a cylindrical article of metal with a style and design using one finish. Considerable improvement was produced in recent years seeing our understanding of their bioactive compounds present in fermented foods along with their immediate link to individual health 8 9 these protective outcomes are attributed for the phyto chemicals, secondary plant metabolites or integral cell elements, current inside fruits 8-9 Detailed analysis of these dates utilised in this review revealed that they truly are a rich source of phyto chemicals, for example hydroxycinnamic acids, including PACs and lipophilic polyphenols.

The fruit is prized as a wellness food along with a yummy treat. Hossain et al. (2009) claimed that the sugar content symbolized by Total Soluble Solids (TSS) of this chosen elephant apple fruit had been bit high in exposed sun (35C) handled fruit compared to at room temperature (28C).

Every one of these larger medjool dates contains 1.6 g of fiber, and it can be 6 percent of the everyday value, or DV. Eat only a half cup of sliced deglet noor dates, and you'll absorb almost 6 grams of fiber, or even 24 percent of the DV. The collection of the appropriate cultivar of grafted apple trees is extremely crucial, as despite the fact that the apple fruit could be increased in most regions of the united states of america , the timber require different quantities of frightening temperatures in order to flower.

It has been suggested that date fruits and seeds can be harnessed in a few food purposes employing their elevated heights of fiber and antioxidants. Conclusions: The calculation shows that if dates are expressed in one point with an equal number of water, even the Bx degree of those juices reaches about 35, however, the Bx reduction at the press cake of 55% humidity is (intolerably) high (30%).

Ripe dates are effective in treating diarrhea as they feature potassium which assists in managing looseness of their intestines. Although a plant-primarily established eating plan is a wholesome choice, some vegan meals could be higher in energy. Jaggery made of date palm tastes yummy with dark coffee, and also dried dates might be inserted into cakes, bread, and other foods.

Research shows that good disposition maylead theres a increased taste for healthful foods overindulgent foods. A healthful tree carries lots of clusters. Some other healthy, alkaline foods include sunflower sprouts, flax oil, brown basmati rice, millet, soaked almonds, tomato pieces, fresh avocado, vegetable soups or green vegetable juices.

Cao aunt some time past to visit that her people consume 100% fruit juice jar plastic bottle looks great, looks good quality, so therefore didn't bathe his own water bottle. Doctor Aminu Kazeem, a sexual wellness therapist who works in vitality for Gender Clinic at Lagos explained men who'd operation issues should incorporate dates within their diet.

Dates aren't exactly a nutritional powerhouse as comparing for some other foods like kiwi or sour seeds, but the fruit does still offer many different health benefits together with excellent style. Many people across the globe take in natural fat loss dates for a quick afternoon snack Medjool Dates Exporter if they are feeling lethargic or lethargic.

Dried Dates Fruit and its particular Particular and Nutrient Content: Uses as Diabetic Food. This therefore puts dates about the set of foods that will help one control their weight loss since they're restrained from eating more often than You are able to sprinkle date sugar on foods for a fun, earthy sweetness.

Nonetheless, fruit juice really is just a a lot more hugely processed merchandise than frozen or fresh fruit, plus it often has a nutrient profile which isn't very as conducive to steady weight reduction. Dates are suggested by specialists as a healthy method of cutting down thelevels of both LDL cholesterolin the body, which is a key contributing factor toheart attacks, coronary heart conditions and stroke.

Jams, jellies, squashes, preserves, vinegar, juices, beverages, pickles and wine are all manufactured from the jamun fruits. The archenemy of balanced , fresh food is atmosphere. What's really a character of this temptations of this original tree using its gently scalped, significant white flowers and the bread formed fruit has been divided in tablets depicting the royal families using the lotus flower.

Very few palm trees have the advantage of large indoor climbing because does the woman Palm shrub, Rhapsis excelsa. Men and women who're attempting to manage their blood glucose sugar, such as for example those with diabetes, should keep an eye on these overall sugar intake when swallowing dates. In the event you want to take to refreshing dates, that's precisely the time to do it. Additionally they 're salty and moist when new, plus they contain fifty to ninety percent water.

Juice is diluted, glucose and lactic acid inserted (0.3percent ) and pasteurized in bottles (twenty five minutes from boiling drinking water ) (4 3 3, 177). In addition, it helps keep the body new, treating a really superior summer. Medjool dates certainly are one of naturel 's great candies, and so they will need to get appreciated a ton longer than as the intermittent family vacation baked deal.