#Trip abroad

[nathjonesey-75]

LV, NV - Part One

Reflecting upon an unearthly amount of sensory stimulation over the course of five days is a rarity. In particular, when the senses of the writer; at the beginning of those five days would have probably benefitted mostly from a damn good rest. So, when you agree to a free flight and hotel break in Las Vegas as a neurodivergent “sin city” virgin, it could be likened to a power surge in a region which already uses more electricity in ninety-six hours than a small country, in a week.

Nevertheless, if the bare bones of leaving a new home in the hands of a tempest, while travelling to a place which – it has to be concurred – must be experienced once in your life, even while northern Nevada is under a state of major emergency due to over twenty thousand acres of land being destroyed by fire; you know there is a story to tell. From prologue to real-time story, to the return – this long weekend may not have Bradley Cooper or Mike Tyson starring, but by the power of Grayskull – eventful, it was.

For full context, the prologue must be covered first – and not in a bleary memory recall type of way which is often associated with movies set in this modern metropolis. Leaving our little, insecure rescue dog so soon after recently losing her older canine partner in crime to old age and illness – was never going to be easy. Having only moved to a new home area ten weeks previously, finding a new, trustworthy dog-sitter would prove to be nerve-racking; and a test of faith. Not only a test of stranger’s ability with our remaining, beloved pup – but of how it indicated the future’s possible journeys away. As I write this on the return flight to London Heathrow – so far, so good. Let’s just hope the house isn’t bugged, missing valuables or holding a sinister surprise upon return. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge. Joking, honestly.

The other grey area of the prologue being the accumulative mental and physical exhaustion, after not only weeks of grief and sorrow – with the need of a truly relaxing holiday overhanging; but the break away having been a work-corporate arrangement, with my wife being grandly rewarded for her performance in the previous financial year of work. If I played a game of “what comes to your mind first?” – in the context of relaxing holidays, my answer would be more like a Greek island or possibly Cape Verde. Guaranteed sunshine, with a backwards pace of life. Vegas would more likely be in a League One relegation zone of locations to unwind, in my mind.

When the first day of the sensory overload weekend – Thursday – was in full swing, driving to Heathrow in heavy rain suggested more of an escape than at first thought. Yet, after boarding the Boeing 787 at 3pm-ish, the dismal skies above decreed it unsafe to have multiple take-offs and landings; thus delaying our departure by ninety minutes. On board, my phone hadn’t actually downloaded the thousands of tracks I’d thought were synchronised over the course of Wednesday evening, so my favourite thing of zoning out and listening to music was also ruled out. Throw in a narrow seat for a tall guy, inadequate service from cabin crew, another delay in landing in Vegas due to air traffic – plus even further delays to our shuttle taking us to the hotel – and an Oasis-Ticketmaster-like queue for checking in at the glamorous hotel – and it became a full twenty-four-hour day of being cattled around the world. In the words of many conscious people at many different points in history, “fuck that for a game of rectum scalding.”

Anyway, our habitation for the four nights was to be the reputedly most sought-after resort hotel in the global home of throwing money away. The Wynn-Encore International. Now, I had no preconceptions of Las Vegas, other than it being hot and seedy. While these were certainly unchallenged expectations, an education it all was. I can verify that it’s not somewhere I’d recommend my father visit – neither for temperature, nor tourist provisions. From my perspective, it was somewhere I could have maximised the stay – had the weekend’s timetable not have been structured in a haphazard way. Nonetheless, it was free and we did as much as we could.

The size of the city with these fixed plans in mind was one big surprise. Having been stuck at the airport eleven years ago, following a disastrous journey from Melbourne to Kansas City; where a cancelled connection flight from LA resulted in a five airport, thirty-two-hour journey – I’d then seen the famous strip from afar. My resulting idea of it was; that as a new city – its expanse would not be too great. Naïve, this proved to be. More than any western city I can imagine, you would really need to zoom in onto a map to actually see how many businesses are in one area – and even then, it wouldn’t be a shop-to-shop stroll between each one. Along with Google Maps’ unreliable journey planning - the distance between resort hotels and the more variable, interesting parts of Vegas became jagged. Monday, pre-return flight became the best time to visit the Arts District. Monday; when many of the businesses in that district were closed.

Ah, well. Rewinding back to the start of the intense block of days – a phrase which I’m very glad someone else in the work group highlighted about the vacation; “everything takes a while to do”. Having arrived on the Thursday the flight’s delay, the shuttle bus to the Wynn had to - you guessed it – wait for the final passengers. In true Nathan style, I rushed off the bus to try edging past other guests, to reach registration and quickly find a hunger-easing snack en route. The sheer, staggering quota of fruit machines where normal, non-Vegas hotels would possess a “lobby” – with the number of guests, made the effort slightly worthless. There was an air of science-fiction about the place – a 21st century upgraded Mos Eisley space station, in fact. You needed foreknowledge of where every required unit was, or a Skywalker land speeder to get from place to place quickly. So, divide and conquer. Mrs Jones can use her travel admin skills to check in at the desk; while Mr Jones would hunt for a shop containing snacks, while of course; avoiding paying a dreaded tip for simple advice in directions from any hotel staff. It took a while.

When we finally got to it, the room was exceptionally grand. Fifteen-foot drapes opened as we entered, with a panoramic view across one neon corner of the city; immediately throwing more childhood science fiction into my mind. “Holy shit, I’m in Biff’s Hotel in Back To The Future 2!” I blurted. As I was so drained from an already twenty-four-hour-day, plus the $9 total for snacks at the shop was not enough food for us – while I appreciated the room and view, we had to order a room service meal. Which took a while. In that time, I laid on the giant bed and flicked through channels on the larger-than-most hotel room television. What I found on national TV was not just spooky, but already memorable for the trip having just arrived. Back To The Future was just finishing; followed by (great Scott, this is heavy!) Back To The Future 2!

There was no way I would make it past the first half hour of the movie, as the food arrived around 10:10pm and though the waiter assembled an extra table by the panoramic window (which took a while) and the film was only a few minutes in by then; as expected – we smash-ate our meals, lights out and crashed for the night. Still, I managed to rotate the television in front of the window and took a photo of Biff in front of the Vegas skyline*.

Thankfully, upon waking the following morning, indeed each of the four days held a stunning, opulent sight. From the busy streets below to the rocky hills in the distance. As long as I zoned out from the gold-coloured, Biff-tainted pillar of a hotel on the right-hand side (which at this point won’t be named), it was all a sight to behold. With each different cloud or natural light arrangement, whether clear blue skies, moody, unpredictable cumulus or a combination of both – there was a sense of “anything could happen here”, from that view alone.

*For those, unprivileged to have grown up with Spielberg’s sci-fi time travel trilogy, Biff’s evil character in that particular film – and his trashy empire of greed which turned the town of Hill Valley into a crime-riddled nefarious alter-ego of the original town – was based on Donald Trump and his hotel. The scene which shows the alternate 2015 from the 27th floor of that hotel, looking down onto the street was a view almost identical to the one from our room, on the 30th floor. Minus the burnt-out cars and street alcoholics, of course!

[forexpeindia]

Forex Cards vs. Cash: Which is the Better Option for Your Next Trip Abroad?

If you're planning to travel abroad, one important consideration is how you'll carry your money. Two popular options are forex cards and cash. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to weigh them carefully before making a decision. In this blog post, we'll compare forex cards and cash and help you decide which is the better option for your next trip.

What are Forex Cards?

Forex cards are prepaid travel cards that allow you to load multiple currencies onto a single card. They work like debit cards and can be used to withdraw money from ATMs or make purchases at merchants that accept card payments. Forex cards are offered by most banks and come with features such as travel insurance and emergency assistance.

Advantages of Forex Cards

One advantage of forex cards is that they offer a more convenient way to carry money while traveling. You can load multiple currencies onto a single card, which means you don't have to carry multiple currencies in cash. Forex cards are also widely accepted, so you can use them to withdraw money or make purchases at most places.

Another advantage of forex cards is that they offer better exchange rates than cash. Forex card providers usually offer competitive exchange rates and charge lower fees than banks or currency exchange counters. This means you can save money on currency exchange and get more value for your money.

Disadvantages of Forex Cards

One disadvantage of forex cards is that they may not be accepted at all merchants or ATMs. While forex cards are widely accepted, there may be some places that only accept cash. This means you may need to carry some cash as a backup.

Another disadvantage of forex cards is that they may come with hidden fees and charges. Some forex card providers charge fees for ATM withdrawals, balance inquiries, and currency conversion. It's important to read the terms and conditions carefully and understand all the fees and charges before choosing a forex card.

What is Cash?

Cash is the most traditional way to carry money while traveling. You can exchange your local currency for the currency of your destination country at a bank or currency exchange counter. You can then carry the cash with you and use it to make purchases or withdraw money from ATMs.

Advantages of Cash

One advantage of cash is that it's widely accepted. Cash is accepted at most merchants and ATMs, so you don't have to worry about whether your payment method will be accepted.

Another advantage of cash is that it's easy to use. You don't need to worry about PINs, passwords, or security codes when using cash. You simply hand over the money and receive your change.

Disadvantages of Cash

One disadvantage of cash is that it can be lost or stolen. If you lose your cash or it's stolen, there's no way to recover it. This can be a major problem if you're carrying a large amount of cash.

Another disadvantage of cash is that it's difficult to exchange. If you have leftover cash at the end of your trip, you may need to exchange it back into your local currency. This can be a hassle and may result in poor exchange rates.

Which is Better?

So, which is the better option for your next trip abroad? The answer depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you value convenience and want to save money on currency exchange, a forex card may be the better option. If you prefer the security of cash and don't want to worry about hidden fees or merchant acceptance, cash may be the better option.

Ultimately, it's important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option and choose the one that best fits your needs. Whatever you choose, make sure to keep your money safe and secure while traveling.

[arcdreamer]

"The Autumn Trip" pt6.end [short story]

“The Autumn Trip” pt6.end [short story]

“The dinner went well. The conversations were here and there, the whole of it seemed alright. I went out to smoke, this guy went along with me. He said he’s in his 40’s, and he sort of did look mature, not in a sense of shabby, but the fine aged wine of classy and fashionable. He was indeed attractive, he was well mannered and felt like he knew what he did. We smoked, he asked how my vape tastes…

[thepenultimateword]

Prompt #226

“Sooo…” The deity tapped their fingers uncomfortably on the arm of their chaise lounge. “Do you want…cheese?”

The sacrifice raised both brows. “Cheese?”

“I don’t really know what mortals like. I personally don’t eat, but the acolytes keep a refrigerator in the lower quarters of the temple and I’ve overheard once or twice they keep cheese there.”

“I’ve been abducted, held prisoner, and served to you on a silver platter, and you’re just going to feed me?”

The deity shrugged helplessly. “Well, I’m not sure what else they expect me to do with you.”

[thou-babbling-brook]

Bro I can’t believe I’m in Ezioland rn 😤🇮🇹🗡️

[tanadrin]

Eric Adams is going to visit Germany next month. The rat mafia, displeased with his decision to permit trash cans in New York City, wants him gone. Remy Ratatouille offers you five hundred thousand german dollars, and the eternal friendship of the international rat mafia, to do the job. Do you accept? (The rat mafia will help but they are too small to operate conventional firearms)

No, I don’t think I could get away with murder. Besides, Berlin definitely has some big-ass rats that could get the job done. Plus they are immune to the human justice system.

[ifindus]

Fun idea

How about 🇩🇰 building a Lego castle !

Since Denmark is where Lego comes from

Of course Denmark loves legos!! As a relatively small country Denmark is proud of being home to such a big company known all across the world. He has made a lot of money on Lego, but for him personally it is much more important to bring joy to people of all ages. He loves creating and being artistic as well - lego is very Danish.

[expiationist]

im not crying, you are 😭

[corrodedcoughin]

Thinking about steddie future where they're both just average guys. No rockstars, no basketball players just two Normal men living a normal life because honestly? they deserve it. They deserve soft domesticity and happiness.

They both have jobs they like but don't love and they're happy with that. Eddie maybe becomes an electrician, working for someone else's company. His coworkers are chill, he gets to get out and work with his hands and that's more than he could have asked for. Steve is a physical therapist, or a manager in some business. He likes his team and the steady hours. He's not working for his dad which is a plus.

They buy a house together, that's not a mansion but it's not a trailer either. Steve does a lot of the dishes because Eddie hates it, hates the feeling of old food on the plates and cutlery. So Eddie will kiss Steve on the cheek and does the laundry because Steve fucking hates laundry. And sitting on the floor watching TV while he folds clothes is honestly sort of relaxing?? Love is doing the chores your partner hates.

Steve and Robin go out for brunch at least once a month, where they catch up and gossip for hours and hours and Steve comes home lighter with updates on Robin and Vickie. Eddie will have nightly phone calls with Wayne, where they talk and laugh and Eddie will eventually hand the phone over to Steve so he and Wayne can talk sports together. When he's in town Dustin will come over and stay in their spare room and they laugh and joke so much it's just like old times. They go over to Jeff's house for dinner on a semi regular basis, and it's nice having normal friends.

They adopt a very annoying cat who will climb all over them in bed and meow in their faces when they don't wake up to feed it breakfast in time. Steve will go for jogs on a Saturday morning, coming home to Eddie reading in bed. Some old western book Wayne recommended to him. There's a steaming cup of coffee waiting on their bedside tables that Eddie's prepared.

They take time off of work and go on a week long vacation because they can do that now. They do dorky touristy things and Eddie buys a mug to send to Wayne. Steve takes a lot of dorky photos of the two of them.

Idk they deserve to be normal and alive and happy with no upside down anymore <3

Oh I love this! I had actually been thinking about tradesman Eddie for a little bit I am so, so glad you’ve come up with this!

I can so completely see him learning a trade and just getting employed and put through his time by a small local employer! He has to go through his exams and that part of it worries him when he first gets the job but his team end up being really supportive and Steve stays up late with him, practicing circuits and wiring and quizzing him on currents and volts. Eddie returning the favour, letting Steve mark up his muscles and be a living anatomy dummy. Sure it gets a little sexy from time to time but more often than not it’s just them testing each other as Steve identifies bones and Eddie talks about parallel circuits.

The monthly brunches mentally and physically revive Steve after working extended hours with patients that he really does want the best for but a jobs a job and it can get pretty tiring. They joke that they rebalance each others chakras but they really do feel realigned after their meet ups. Eddie can see it to, sometimes he’ll come pick them up when it’s been a boozy brunch and delights in seeing them happy and light, clambering over each other to tell Eddie something about one of the waiters or an especially good dish they ordered. When he drops Robin home Steve sits in the front and looks at peace and Eddie feels the same way.

Their weekends are for them, sometimes that means staying home and cleaning the whole place between ordering food in and sometimes that means going on a day trip and taking Wayne around all the antique spots around the county and seeing what horrors they can uncover. Top spot currently sits with Wayne’s find of a doll whose limbs had been replaced with horse legs and had the head of a fish. Of course they bought it.

Every time they go on a holiday they make sure to send postcards to everyone, including themselves, seeing if they’ll get home before the postcard does. Steve keeps them in a photo album, each with a Polaroid of them next to it. Sometimes taken by a stranger, sometimes just a close up of their faces squashed together. It’s Eddie’s favourite thing to go through on their anniversary, or any day really, just loves being reminded that this is the life they get to have.

It’s mundane, dare say even normal, but they love it. Steve comes home every night, happy to put his scrubs in the washing machine next to Eddie’s uniform, happy to be where he feels loved.

[psychodelic-insomnomaniac]

Do you think the person who made this PrussiaxGermany Hetalia yaoi doujin knew that it would one day end up on display in the Danish National Museum?

[mythicalpoolnoodle]

My great plains ass isn't built for these mountains

[corvid-language-library]

Sometimes I think about all the discourse that used to circulate langblr and I'm like lmao thank fucking god we grew outta THAT phase

[yard-adjacent]

“He thinks this is enough…”

[stuckinapril]

You guys don’t know how much yearning for Baghdad takes up of my mental real estate

[xiyade]

I got called to the office on the weekend to help with tickets and visas. Manager asked where he can buy cardboard boxes from. Anyone with less anxiety can you please tell me if I should look for a new job?

[iwa--chan]

📍hakone, japan