#asia news earthquake

[workersolidarity]

🇯🇵 🚨

MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS TAIWAN, TSUNAMI WARNINGS ISSUED FOR JAPAN

📹 A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocks Taiwan today, prompting Japan's Meteorological agency to issue tsunami warnings.

The agency told residents of Okinawa Island, Miyakojima Island and Yaeyama Island to immediately evacuate, warning of waves up to 3 meters (9.8ft).

A little while ago, Xinhua News Agency reported tsunami waves of 30cm had reached the Japanese island of Yonaguni.

#source1

#source2

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[memenewsdotcom]

Taiwan earthquake

[firstoccupier]

WPS.News Report: Events in the West Philippine Sea, Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal, and South China Sea (January 10-11, 2025)

WPS News Staff ReporterBaybay City | January 11, 2025 The situation in the West Philippine Sea remains fraught with escalating tensions as Chinese naval forces continue their unlawful patrols within Philippine territorial waters. Philippine security officials have expressed a firm commitment to enhancing territorial defense practices in response to increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region.…

[newsfeed2023]

Earth shook from India to Pakistan and Afghanistan chaos from night to morning

Image Source: AP Image of earthquake in Afghanistan (File) Along with the outbreak of rains and floods, nature’s displeasure is also being seen in the form of earthquakes. In a span of just six hours, there was chaos due to earthquake from India to Pakistan and Afghanistan. First of all, at 12.10 in the night, the earthquake knocked in Afghanistan. This created panic among the people. People…

[biglisbonnews]

Vanuatu twin cyclones underscore the Pacific’s vulnerability to compounding climate-disaster risks Country: Vanuatu Source: UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific The twin cyclones and an earthquake in just 48 hours remind the world that seismic and climate risks are converging and intensifying – no community feels this stronger than those of the Blue Pacific Continent. https://reliefweb.int/report/vanuatu/vanuatu-twin-cyclones-underscore-pacifics-vulnerability-compounding-climate-disaster-risks

[sirowsky-stories]

The Sixth Extinction

Alrighty, number two of the two veeery delayed Halloween stories, but hey, let's not dwell on past mistakes!

Description: After a series of catastrophic events, Earth has become nearly lifeless and only a few humans and animal species have survived, which means people are now on everything's menu.

Author's Note: This is less horror and more like a snapshot of a dystopian future and the struggle for survival when the very planet can barely sustain life anymore.

Warnings: Brief description of extinction level events, scary birds. Word Count: 1192 Author's Masterlist Dividers by @saradika-graphics

   There were many monsters in the new world. The world which came after the sixth extinction.    If anyone had known it had been about to happen, they’d chosen not to speak up about it, but you’d always gotten the feeling that even science hadn’t seen it coming. After all, hundreds of natural disasters kicking off simultaneously wasn’t something anyone had known to look for.

   It had started in Iceland, when the many active volcanoes there had suddenly erupted all at once, culminating in the formation of a brand new one, which had grown large enough to engulf the entire island over just a few days.    And while that was happening, each day saw the news broadcasts informing about more volcanoes becoming active across Europe, then Africa, closely followed by Asia and by the time it had circled around to the Americas, only three weeks had passed.

   Yellowstone had been the first real sign that the world was in serious fucking trouble, because the massive eruption had left the entire country such a toxic environment in so short a time, that only a few million people by the coasts had managed to escape.    But then, only hours after the caldera had blown up, the hurricanes had started to form. Dozens of them, covering all the oceans around the globe.

   From there, things had only gotten worse.    For a total of eleven months, the earth continuously punched the reset button, leaving no landmass untouched by the multitude of earthquakes, storms, eruptions, rock and mudslides, avalanches, lightning strikes and tsunamis, until there were no habitable places anymore. Not even little pacific islands in the middle of nowhere.

   The atmosphere had become so filled with ash and volcanic materials, which were then spread even further by the hurricanes, that pretty soon, not even the hardiest plants could survive the contaminated air. All land-living animals were killed, either by the toxins or the lack of food or clean drinking water, and before long, most aquatic life had succumbed as well.

   Still, when the dust had finally begun to settle, some humans had managed to find a way to survive.    On drifting boats, with air and water filtration technology, surviving on what scraps of biological life could still be consumed relatively safely, a few hundred of you had made it, somehow finding each other and sticking together in small groups, in the frail hopes of maybe one day being able to go back to living on land.

   That was twenty years ago now, and sure enough, you had found stabile ground to settle on eventually, made easier by the fact that the atmosphere had begun to clear much faster than you’d first thought.    What was perhaps more surprising and challenging than your living situation, was the realization that a lot of life had actually survived. Just not in the same form as before.    Forced to evolve thousands of times faster than they otherwise would have, and perhaps aided in their mutations by the strange new foods they’d had to learn to survive on, dozens of animal species had mutated into nearly unrecognizable creatures.

   Common butterflies have become the new mosquitoes, growing smaller in size and developing the ability to make their trunks stiff enough that the tip can be used to pierce skin, allowing them to feed on blood.    Komodo dragons have made it, but with so little food on offer, they’re less than half their previous size, which of course also makes them much faster.

   Unsurprisingly, crocodiles are among the survivors as well, and contrary to the dragons, the river reptiles solved the food problem by becoming ocean dwellers, feeding on fish and later sharks to survive, all of which means that the fucking things have all but doubled in size.    Sharks are still around, but you believe they’ve retreated to deeper waters where the contamination won’t have been as severe. They’re rarely ever spotted anymore.

   Today, though, the monster that’s responsible for causing you trouble is the only remaining species of bird. The former Golden Eagle.

   A clever strategist from the beginning, the eagle has only gotten smarter with this new evolution, becoming a full-fledged pack-animal, travelling the entire globe in groups up to twenty individuals strong. And as if that wasn’t enough to make your teeth clatter, the birds have lost their feathers to the toxic atmosphere, and now resemble the ancient pterodactyls in how their naked wings have become thin and sinewy.    Their beaks, talons and eyes remain unchanged, though, which somehow only adds to the alienness of their new appearance.

   “Wait…” Joel cautions.

   He’s noticed the twitch in your spine. The instinct to flee kicking in, even though you know it would just provoke the nine birds who are quietly circling above you, into a dive.

   “Where the fuck do we go?” Your question comes out hoarse with the sudden dryness in your mouth and throat, and there’s no masking the fear you feel.

   Because you know exactly what happens when a flock of New Dacts get their claws in someone’s flesh.

   You and Joel are harvesting out in the fields, somewhere in what used to be northern Africa, but is now a completely different landmass, after the entire continent broke apart and was reassembled several times during the extinction. It’s now a giant island which sits in the center of what was once the Atlantic Ocean.    But there’s no cover in the wheat-field. No trees, no big rocks, not even ditches.

   “The river.”

   “Are you insane?” you whisper, glancing to your left where you can only just make out the edge of the field as it drops into the riverbank. “We’ll never make it…”

   “No choice…” he grumbles, but as always with Joel, there’s a kind of determination to his voice. Something that sounds much older than the man actually is, as though he’s lived several lifetimes already and therefor knows things no other man ever could.

   The circling beasts above you have begun to spiral downwards with each turn, which means they’re preparing to attack.    You’re out of time.    It’s been over a year since you last saw any Dacts, but on that occasion, your small village had lost half its population. Over thirty souls. You can’t afford another loss like that as the community hasn’t even had time to recover since then.

   So, when your partner gives the signal, you run.    Life in the new world kills the slow, so you’ve all learned to be fast, and with the scarcity of food, weight isn’t anyone’s problem anymore. The wheat you’ve been able to cultivate is a pale replica of the genetically enhanced kinds from before, and each harvest is small.

   You starve every winter, surviving on a bare minimum of vegetables and edible plants, so your muscles are small and weak, but still capable of incredible bursts of speed over short distances.    Which is the only thing giving you hope as you sprint for your life through the yellow stalks, cursing them for slowing you down when even through the whining of the wind in your ears, you hear the sharp cut of the leathery wings behind you.

THE END

@harriedandharassed @pedrostories

[redsamuraiii]

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of central Japan on Nov 26, 2024.

Seems the aftershocks of not more than magnitude-5.0 continued on Nov 27 and 28. Some friends in Osaka and Kyoto say their hotels swayed for a while. Although the epicenter is far away, the tremors are felt in Kansai.

What to do in Earthquakes when you are traveling in Japan :

Before Earthquake

Download an earthquake early warning app, Safety Tips app provided by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

Locate the staircase or emergency exit of your hotel.

Put essentials in your backpack, flashlight, batteries, phone charger, power bank, water bottle, cash, medicine (if any).

During Earthquake

Drop down low for stability and reduce risk of falling; Cover your head from falling items; and Hold onto something.

If you are inside, do not go outside as there may be falling debris.

If you are outside, stay clear from buildings, trees, and utility wires.

Never use elevators during or after an earthquake.

If you’re in public transportation, follow the locals and authorities.

When near the coast, immediately find higher ground and remain there until you have been notified that there is no tsunami risk.

After Earthquake

Wear shoes to protect your feet from broken glasses / mirrors.

Avoid turning on electrical switches.

Approach the hotel staffs and follow their instructions.

If you require aid, call the number 119.

Avoid using a car and evacuate on foot if possible.

Do not use elevators. Evacuate via the stairs if possible.

Free Public Wi-Fi '00000JAPAN' Available During Disasters

Based on the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Japan has promoted activities to make public wireless LANs available free of charge in the event of a disaster.

But, don't worry! These steps are usually for MAJOR quakes!

Most earthquakes in Japan are quite minor and can even happen without you noticing. Japan has plenty of experience with this, so most modern buildings there have been designed to be resistant to earthquakes and their early-warning systems are state-of-the-art.

The JNTO has an online tool that provides tourists with advice based on their circumstances depending on what kind of emergency you’re experiencing, including earthquakes. It also features some useful Japanese phrases to help with communication in an emergency.

Sources : Asia News, Earthquake Tracker, JR Pass, Live Japan, Good Luck Trip

[neocatharsis]

[EXCLUSIVE] "NCT Doyoung, Donates 100 Million Won to Underprivileged Children... Brilliantly Dazzling Good Deed"

"According to Sports Chosun's investigation, NCT's Doyoung recently donated 100 million won through UNICEF. The donated amount will be used to support children in vulnerable communities and marginalised neighbours around the world.

Doyoung's generous donation appears to be a way of expressing his gratitude to his fans. After successfully concluding the activities for his first solo album "YOUTH", he also recently wrapped up his first solo Asia tour with an encore concert.

In addition, with the upcoming UN World Children's Day on the 20th, it seems that Doyoung extended a helping hand to children in need. He has rolled up his sleeves to ensure they have a warm Christmas and year-end.

Notably, Doyoung's new song 'The Story' which will be released today (November 6), conveys a message of encouragement to all the youth striving to live their best lives. This makes his donation even more meaningful, as he not only offers a song of comfort to those in need of support but also spreads his positive influence through real-world donations.

Doyoung is known as the "Representative donation angel of K-Pop idols" who continuously practices sharing. He is particularly renowned for carefully identifying where help is needed and meticulously selecting appropriate donation organisations.

In 2022, he donated 30 million won to aid in the recovery of wildfire damage and support displaced residents in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, and Samcheok, Gangwon. In February last year, he donated 100 million KRW to the Community Chest of Korea to help with recovery efforts following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Last Christmas, he donated 50 million won to the Community Chest of Korea, becoming a special Santa for children. On February 1 this year, he donated 30 million won to the "The Direct Donation" platform on his birthday, supporting the donation of feminine hygiene products and daily necessities for girls from low-income families.

Now, to support children in vulnerable communities, Doyoung has donated 100 million won to UNICEF, once again impressing many. In just the past two years, Doyoung has donated a total of 310 million won. Thanks to his continuous charitable efforts, he was inducted as member number 3112 of the Honor Society, a group for large donors, under the Community Chest of Korea last year.

Translated by NCTDAOYlNG

[workersolidarity]

🇹🇼 🚨

MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE ROCKS TAIWAN KILLING SEVEN AND WOUNDING DOZENS

📹 Scenes from a massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake that rocked Taiwan on Tuesday night, killing at least seven people, or as many as nine according to other reports, and wounding as many as 800 others.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake, which struck shortly before midnight on Tuesday, caused extensive landslides and liquifaction of the ground, destroyed several buildings, and prompted Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines to issue tsunami warnings, which were later lifted.

The earthquake was felt from the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, to southern Japan, to as far away as eastern China and the Philippines.

The earthquake was among the strongest of its kind to hit Taiwan in over 25 years, with the worst damage being reported in the eastern city of Hualien, as well as the surrounding mountain countryside.

#source1

#source2

#videosource

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[memenewsdotcom]

Japan earthquake

[somepsychopomp]

If you were being courted by Zeus & Poseidon at the same time and had to pick one, whose bribes- I mean gifts would you choose?

(Yes, this is in reference to my Fair Contest fic)

((And yes, I did delete the original version of this poll so I could revise it based on some feedback & new ideas sorry.))

Zeus: to be the most wealthy king in all of Europe & Asia, a king of unparalleled opulence in not only gold and silver, but also in terms of might and influence. You shall be gifted an army of undying soldiers to protect your wealth and kingdom, or to wage war and conquer lands if you so desire. And you shall be delivered a dozen virginal young maidens and men to fill your harem. (You cannot release or otherwise reassign your new slaves.)

Poseidon: to have your small, modest island home raised from the sea to become a vast, resource-rich nation where you and your people shall never go hungry. Also, your home shall never be struck by storm, drought, earthquake, or flood. But you will also be bestowed a horde of sea monsters to "guard" your island for all eternity, effectively making any travel to or from your home extremely treacherous, and thereby inadvertently isolating your people from the rest of the world. (You cannot release or drive off the sea monsters.)

Both god-kings think the other has suggested a completely ridiculous series of offerings. (Fun thing to point out, instead of Hera offering to make Paris the king of Europe & Asia, it's now Zeus offering to make Odysseus the most wealthy king in the known world.)

Zeus cannot comprehend why you would want vast, fertile lands when money could be used to simply buy food. By contrast, Poseidon since learned from the Athens debacle that mortals are most motivated by what they can eat.

Conversely, he wants to give you eternal fair weather, something Poseidon thinks is quite precious. But Zeus thinks such an idea is utterly paltry and trivial in comparison to having your treasury filled, your nation/name feared, and your bed never empty.

(Important to note: you might very well anger whoever you reject to the point they curse you, your loved ones, or perhaps even your entire kingdom. So who's anger do you think you can survive?)

[justforbooks]

People will face terror and starve, many will die

The decimation of USAid is already having a terrible effect in some of the poorest places on the planet. It damages America: it will harm us all

An earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or above could not have caused more carnage. Recent floods in Asia and droughts in Africa have been catastrophic, yet they have inflicted less damage and affected fewer people than the sudden withdrawal of billions of dollars of US aid from the world’s most volatile hotspots and its most vulnerable people. Coming alongside President Trump’s plan for a US takeover of Gaza, the US administration’s resolve to shut down its international aid agency sends a clear message that the era when American leaders valued their soft power is coming to an end.

But while the Gaza plan is as yet only on the drawing board, USAid cuts – which will see funding slashed and just 290 of the more than 10,000 employees worldwide retained, according to the New York Times - have already begun to bite this week. We have seen the halting of landmine-clearing work in Asia, support for war veterans and independent media in Ukraine, and assistance for Rohingya refugees on the border of Bangladesh. This week, drug deliveries to fight the current mpox and Ebola outbreaks in Africa have been stopped, life-saving food lies rotting at African ports, and even initiatives targeting trafficking of drugs like fentanyl have been cut back. One of the world’s most respected charities, Brac, says that the 90-day blanket ban on helping vulnerable people is depriving 3.5 million people of vital services.

One critical programme has been granted a limited waiver. Pepfar, created by Republican president George W Bush, offers antiretroviral prescriptions to 20 million people around the world to combat HIV and Aids. Its activities escaped the ban only after warnings that a 90-day stoppage could lead to 136,000 babies acquiring HIV. But it has still been blocked from organising cervical cancer screening, treating malaria, tuberculosis and polio, assisting maternal and child health, and efforts to curtail outbreaks of Ebola, Marburg and mpox.

Not only does the stop-work edict mean that, in a matter of days, the US has destroyed the work of decades building up goodwill around the world, but Trump’s claim that America has been over-generous is exposed as yet another exaggeration. Norway tops the list as biggest donor of official development assistance (ODA) as a percentage of gross national income (GNI) at 1.09%; Britain is at just over 0.5%, albeit down from the UN target of 0.7%; but the US is near the bottom of the advanced economies at 0.24% – alongside Slovenia and the Czech Republic. It is simply the size of the US economy – 26% of world output – that means that the 0.24% adds up to more aid than any other country. The US provided $66bn in 2023, making USAid a leader in global humanitarian aid, education and health, not least in addressing HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

On Sunday night, Trump told reporters that USAid had been “run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out”. “I don’t want my dollars going towards this crap,” his press spokesperson added, with one of the president’s chief advisers Elon Musk calling the agency a “viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America”. “You’ve got to basically get rid of the whole thing. It’s beyond repair,” he said. “We’re shutting it down.”

Indeed, in a post on X last weekend, Musk shared a screenshot quoting the false claim that “less than 10 percent of our foreign assistance dollars flowing through USAID is actually reaching those communities”. The implication is that the remaining 90% was diverted, stolen, or just wasted. In fact, the 10% figure is the proportion of the budget going directly to NGOs and organisations in the developing world. The remaining 90% is not wasted – instead, it comprises all the goods and services that USAid, American companies and NGOs, and multilateral organisations deliver in kind, from HIV drugs to emergency food aid, malaria bed nets, and treatment for malnutrition. It is simply untrue that 90% of aid falls into the wrong hands and never reaches the most vulnerable.

In fact, the initial blanket executive order proved to be such a blunt instrument – the only initial exemptions were for emergency food aid and for military funding for Israel and Egypt – that it had to be modified to include exceptions for what the government called “life-saving humanitarian assistance”, although it stopped short of defining them. “We are rooting out waste. We are blocking woke programs. And we are exposing activities that run contrary to our national interests. None of this would be possible if these programs remained on autopilot,” said a statement released by the state department. The new secretary of state, Marco Rubio, now wants his department to control the whole budget and close down USAid entirely. “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” Rubio asked in a statement that suggested that the America which generally worked multilaterally in a unipolar era is now determined to act unilaterally in a multipolar one.

This new stance is not just “America first” but “America first and only” – and a gift to Hamas, IS, the Houthi rebels, and all who wish to show that coexistence with the US is impossible. The shutdown is also good news for China, whose own global development initiative will be strengthened as it positions itself to replace America. Desperate people will turn to extremists who will say that the US can never again be trusted. And by causing misery and by alienating actual and possible allies, far from making America great again, the cancellation of aid will only make America weaker.

The tragedy for the planet is that US aid cuts come on top of diminishing aid budgets among the world’s richest economies, from Germany to the UK. International aid agencies are now so underfunded that in 2024, for the second consecutive year, the UN covered less than half of its humanitarian funding goal of nearly $50bn – at a time when increasing conflicts and natural disasters necessitate more relief donor grants than ever. Yes, we can discuss how greater reciprocity can create a fairer system of burden sharing – but further cuts in aid threaten more avoidable deaths, and a poorer world will ultimately make the US poorer too.

US generosity is often seen as mere charity, but it is in the country’s self-interest to be generous because the creation of a more stable world benefits us all. We all gain if USAid can mitigate the spread of infectious diseases, prevent malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, halt the upsurge of IS in Syria and support a fair, humanitarian reconstruction of Gaza and Ukraine. Only the narrowest and most blinkered view of what constitutes “America first” can justify the disaster America has unloaded on the world.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[moon-alight]

If the World was Ending - S.Coups

Synopsis: You and Seungcheol have been broken up for a year when a sudden Earthquake began to rip the world apart. You weren't sure why but you wanted to be with him and luckily, he did too.

Inspired by the song: If the World was Ending byJP Saxe and Julia Michaels.

Warnings: The end of the world, fluff, exes coming together Word Count: 1060

General Masterlist

Seventeen Masterlist

You were merely watching television, a movie on the screen which you weren't really paying attention to. There was, however, one person on your mind, the same person who you weren't able to let go of no matter how hard you tried.

Seungcheol was everything, the best boyfriend you could've asked for but even the best people have issues. He liked to overwork himself. Staying late inside the Hybe building to finish certain things and even taking his work home which drove you up the wall.

Three beautiful years they were until yu both decided that it would be best to break up, to make sure you seperated so nobody would get hurt too much. It was the best decision but you still felt so lonely, so sad even after a year of being broken up.

It was when you were so deep in your thoughts that you felt it, the ground underneath you shook heavily and it should've scared you but it didn't. You frowned, stood up and walked towards the window. The sight in front of you was unerving to say the least.

Many people -- adults and children -- were running across the street, panicking and yelling. It struck you, this was serious. Everybody seemed to be rushing to get away, to escape death.

The movie you were originally watching on the tv got interrupted by a nation-wide broadcast, one with a warning popping up on the screen. The flashing lights and sounds caught your attention as you walked over to watch this broadcast.

"We interrupt your programming. This is a national emergency, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has detected a significant environmental event that will impact the greater Asia. You and your loved ones should seek the nearest fallout shelter immediately. Please stand by for further area updates."

If the world was truly ending, why weren't you scared?

No, instead you looked down at your phone and opened the one contact you swore you'd block a couple months ago but couldn't. Seungcheol was active but as much as you wanted to text him, you couldn't. Your pride stood in your way.

Truly the broadcast said 'you and your loved ones' and he was, oh he was. You knew he still was your loved one but were you his? He could have a new partner for all you knew. It honestly broke your heart to think about.

Knowing everyone would be rushing to safe areas, you sat down on your couch. Was there truly a safe area when the world was about to fall down? Everyone would be dead anyways, why bother, right?

The sun was slowly setting, the ground beneath you shook once more but much heavier than the first time. You held onto the couch, unsure what was about to happen though it felt as if the world was being ripped apart.

A repeated knock on your door snapped you out of your thoughts, you frowned, unsure who would've been at your door when this all was going down. Maybe some people were there to try and convince you of seeking shelter.

You stumbled, trying to balance on the shaking ground. You managed to reach the door and pulled it open only to come face to face with him. You inhaled sharply when your eyes landed on his.

He looked good. You hadn't seen him for almost a year but he looked rather the same. His dark raven hair stuck to his forehead thanks to the rainwater which had drenched him, he was breathing heavily and looked as though he had ran to you.

"Cheol--"

His arms wrapped around you, holding onto you. A feeling of familiarity and safety washed over you. You allowed yourself to break down, tears streaming down your face as you let yourself fall against him. He closed the door behind you two and sat you down on the floor of your apartment. He cradled you against him.

It felt as though he was never gone, he smelled the same -- like home -- and if he wasn't holding onto you so tightly you would've believed you were dreaming. He was drenched, sure, but you couldn't care less. He was here, with you, at the end of the world.

"You're here." You whispered in disbelief. You hadn't expect it, to be completely honest but you had hoped for him to show up.

"Of course, I promised you once that whenever you needed me, I would come and I will. I always will."

Sure, he did make that promise but when you were dating for two years. You thought after the breakup this promise would've been forgotten but Choi Seungcheol was a man of his word.

"I missed you." He muttered against you as he stroked your hair. "I have been thinking about you a lot. . . about our anniversary."

You huffed out a laugh at the memory. "Do you mean when we were so intoxicated that we stumbled into the house together like morons?"

"We didn't even make it past the kitchen, passing out right there." He reminded you. "I love you, I always have."

"Believe me, I love you too."

The tv began to rummage again, the noise made the two of you look up and stare towards it. The flashing letters took over the screen once more, announcing another warning.

"Seek shelter immediately." You looked towards Seungcheol without moving an inch, already feeling at ease. "This broadcast will go dark in five," You took in his wet hair which you always loved to tie into ridiculous ponytails just to tease him.

"Four," Your gaze fixated on his eyes next, his beautiful dark brown eyes which never failed to put you at ease in whatever situation you two had found yourselves in.

"Three," Your hands took ahold of his, squeezing gently as you knew how hard reality would hit in a few seconds. His big hands held yours in a way that made you feel comfortable.

"Two," There was so much noise outside as though the sky was falling and crashing onto Earth. Your eyes, however, without a care for what happened outside, focused on Seungcheol's smile which he held to make you feel calmer.

"One--" He leaned forward, pressing his plush soft lips against yours as he held onto you. A final explosion near your house setting off and complete darkness blinding you.

[chaeilay]

Sat, Jan 12 - I visited the ancient Roman city of Sardes today for the first time. (Information about the city is under this post.) It consisted of the Gymnasium with the remains of many Byzantine shops including restaurants and painting shops, a public pool, tombs, and a Synagogue. It was truly refreshing to see the place overall, but what I adored about the visit was the fact that you could imagine and experience the feeling of what it was like to be living in an ancient city, as it was empty because of the weather conditions. No voices, no noise, no motion, just the smell and the air of this ancient place. (I bet Henry Winter would die for it.) The Temple of Artemis was also close and I went there as well. I'll publish the pictures from the Synagogue and the Temple next if you want to check them out.

Sardis (/ˈsɑːrdɪs/ SAR-diss) or Sardes (/ˈsɑːrdiːs/SAR-de ess; Lydian: 𐤳𐤱𐤠𐤭𐤣, romanized: Sfard; Ancient Greek: Σάρδεις, romanized: Sárdeis; Old Persian: Sparda) was an ancient city best known as the capital of the Lydian Empire. After the fall of the Lydian Empire, it became the capital of the Persian satrapy of Lydia and later a major center of Hellenistic and Byzantine culture. It is now an active archaeological site in modern-day Turkey, in Manisa Province near Sart.

In 334 BC, Sardis was conquered by Alexander the Great. The city was surrendered without a fight, the local satrap having been killed during the Persian defeat at Granikos. After taking power, Alexander restored earlier Lydian customs and laws. For the next two centuries, the city passed between Hellenistic rulers including Antigonus Monophthalmos, Lysimachus, the Seleucids, and the Attalids. It was besieged by Seleucus I in 281 BC and by Antiochus III in 215-213 BC, but neither succeeded at breaching the acropolis, regarded as the strongest fortified place in the world. The city sometimes served as a royal residence, but was itself governed by an assembly.

In this era, the city took on a strong Greek character. The Greek language replaced the Lydian language in most inscriptions, and major buildings were constructed in Greek architectural styles to meet the needs of Greek cultural institutions. These new buildings included a prytaneion, gymnasium, theater, hippodrome, and the massive Temple of Artemis still visible to modern visitors. Jews were settled at Sardis by the Hellenistic king Antiochos III, where they built the Sardis Synagogue and formed a community that continued for much of Late Antiquity.

In 129 BC, Sardis passed to the Romans, under whom it continued its prosperity and political importance as part of the province of Asia. The city received three neocorate honors and was granted ten million sesterces as well as a temporary tax exemption to help it recover after a devastating earthquake in 17 AD.

Sardis had an early Christian community and is referred to in the New Testament as one of the seven churches of Asia. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus refers to Sardians as not finishing what they started, being about image rather than substance.

I take the pictures that are on my blog myself. In case you're interested in this post, I also post/reblog content including travel/cultural pictures, books, book recommendations, analysis, quotes, anything related to movies, series, and girl blog entries.