#had to use the free wifi at the mall for now to post this

[gotchibam]

Shiny Masquerain & Shiny Aggron ko-fi doodle for cyrus!

[twit-ter-pa-ted]

Hi!! Could you please write a Reader X sanji fic, where reader is struggling with her mental health, and sanji walks in on her crying?

Only if you;re comfortable!!

Homesick

pairing: Vinsmoke Sanji x afab!Reader

warnings: generalized; can be platonic/romantic, sanji comfort:( <3, a bit of taz's physical touch love language possessing sanji

a/n: posting this with mall wifi how do i get in these situations idek

+ congratulations! you're the first to request hehe thank you!

You hadn't been feeling well, lately.

You absently skipped meals, lounged in your and Nami's shared room for most of the time, and spent most of the day sleeping whenever you weren't on adventures.

You were homesick, and it was messing you up badly.

You didn't think anyone noticed, with how everyone would go about their days. It was fair, since you had been trying your best to mask it. You didn't want to weigh everyone down because one of their crew was feeling down.

You must have been masking it well because Nami hadn't questioned your behavior, and she was the most empathetic one in the crew.

It became Sanji's routine to bring your meals to your room instead of urging you to join the crew. Their persistency had stopped working on you at some point and you just couldn't bring yourself to leave the room for a meal.

This day was no different. Sanji called your name through the closed door and you scrambled to hide the photograph in your hand.

"Dinner's ready, darling."

You cleared your throat, "Coming." You stood and opened the door for him.

He greeted you with a smile, with which you forced one back. His gaze lingered on you for a moment before he looked at the dish in his hand.

He had begun explaining what tonight's meal consisted of, but you'd stopped listening before he even started talking.

He called your name again and you snapped out of your daze.

"Sorry," you chuckled anxiously, eyes darting away from his so he wouldn't see right through your disguise, "I'm a little tired. Thank you for the dinner, Sanji."

You took the plate from his hand and moved to close the door when he stopped it with his foot.

"Are you okay, love?" He had been first to ask. Your heart dropped actually hearing the question, tears stinging at your eyes and a lump growing in your throat.

"You've been acting odd lately."

You fought to keep the tears in, at least until you had successfully closed the door to keep Sanji out.

You didn't want to tell them. You didn't want to seem like the weak crew member. You certainly didn't want to worry anyone when there were bigger things to worry about.

"I'm fine, Sanji," you spewed out the lie in such a way that, unbeknownst to you, only rose Sanji's suspicions.

You had been in this crew together for months – by cooking for the crew, Sanji had memorized everyone's behavior. It seemed that your bunch was the happiest when it was time for meals, and for fights.

You were a free spirit and a social butterfly. Even while eating, you would make conversation with the crew. Now, you barely even joined them for meals. Everyone seemed to assume it was because of what you had gone through with the crew, in contrast with your silent and calm town, and how you may take some time to get used to the sudden change.

Sanji could tell you weren't fine, but he didn't have any reason to press on towards what you may or may not be going through. He knew doing so could only aggravate you.

"Alright, then. Enjoy your meal, love. You're free to join us any time," was something he always offered. Still, you would end up eating alone in your own room.

He began departing from your room, and you were free to close the door.

But you didn't, not until his figure was out of sight.

* * * * * *

The day was like any other. You remained in your room again, reading books if you weren't looking at the photographs of your family that you had taken along.

Tears were streaming down your face before you knew it.

You covered your face as you cried, sitting at the foot of your bed. Your back faced the door so you would have enough time to get yourself together if someone were to knock.

But you didn't seem to hear him.

You heard a plate being put down and you instinctively turned with a gasp, then turned back around to wipe your tears. He was kneeling in front of you in the blink of an eye.

"No, no. Hey, hey, what's wrong?" He held your wrists in a vise grip.

You shook your head profusely. "No, it's nothing. You don't need to worry about me."

"Hey." He grabbed your face to get you to look at him, even through your blurry vision. "I care about you. I'll always worry about you."

He held your hand and wiped at your dampened cheeks, settling next to you on the bed.

"What's wrong, lovely?"

You leaned into him and he opened his arms to wrap you in an embrace.

"I've just been miserable," you spoke against his dress shirt. You waited for him to talk, to react somehow, but it seems he was giving you the time to let it all out.

"It's not the crew, it's not you, it's just – " your face scrunched up and you burrowed as tears began welling up again.

"It's okay." He began rubbing your back.

"He-hey, I could go get Nami if you – " He began to stand up when you took him by the wrist.

"No, just…" you trailed off, shaking your head as you couldn't find words to spew.

He looked at you and sat back down, holding your hand that took a hold of his wrist. "Okay. Okay, just take your time."

"I don't know why I've been feeling so…gloomy." You shrugged. "Maybe it's because I'm a bit homesick."

"Do you want to go back?" He asked. "To your town?"

You took some time to answer.

"I do, but I don't." You furrowed your brows and shook your head again. "It's…complicated."

He remained silent. You still had yet to look at him again, so you couldn't tell what he was feeling at the moment.

"I want to go back home and stay, but I also want to stay with you guys," you elaborated, "Everything just seems so much more fun and thrilling when I'm with you guys."

You finally looked at him again. He held a sympathetic look while his hand remained on your back.

"Can I tell you something?" He asked once it was clear that you wouldn't speak again.

"I'll be damned before I let the geezer hear it, but there are some days I miss my old man," he confessed. "There are times when I think of what could've been if I stayed, despite how godforsaken that place is."

He shifted as he looked away towards the window of the room. "Then I remember – life would just be bland, wouldn't it?"

"I joined because I wanted something more with my life. So, maybe it would help you decide if you think about why you joined the crew and chose to leave in the first place," he concluded and looked at you again. The tears had stopped at this point, though you continued to sniffle.

"That…helps," you spoke as if surprised that it did. "Thank you, Sanji."

He flashed you a smile, which caused you to reciprocate it, genuinely. "It's no problem."

You remembered why he came in your room in the first place and turned to the plate put down atop your dresser. "Is that lunch?"

He hummed as he stood to get it. "Your favorite. I had a feeling you'd need it."

He gave you the plate, to which you silently thanked him for. "Whenever you're feeling sad for leaving home, leaving your parents, just think of how much your parents went through to get you where you are right now."

You couldn't help but chuckle. "You mean on a pirate ship with a wanted rubber captain?"

He laughed as well, placing a gentle hand on the side of your head to plant a kiss on your temple. "Yeah, exactly."

A comfortable silence fell upon the two of you as you looked down at the plate you settled down on your lap.

"You can talk to me, you know. To the crew," he spoke again, "You don't have to keep it all in."

"I just don't want anyone to worry about me."

"Darling, a crew stays together by worrying for each other – caring for each other." Sanji shrugged then chuckled. "Hell, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm all ears even through a fight."

You, too, laughed. Just imagining how that could go was entertaining to think about. "Thank you for listening."

He placed his hand on your shoulder, his arm around you. "Anytime."

[andtheny]

Isaiah C Thu, May 25, 9:25 AM (3 days ago) Wassgud I remember you from the hospital

Andy De Thu, May 25, 10:02 AM (3 days ago) Heeeeeey, what's up dude?

Isaiah C Thu, May 25, 11:33 AM (3 days ago) 🗣️you don't even really remember me then 😭

Andy De  Fri, May 26, 10:12 AM (2 days ago) Hmmm, well I remember getting yelled at by Emily for the crime of talking to you. Unless I have the wrong Isaiah?

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 10:14 AM (2 days ago) Lmfao nah you right 🤣����

Andy De  Fri, May 26, 10:22 AM (2 days ago) I have an excellent memory, sir *adjusts glasses* How dare you accuse me of forgetfulness :P

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 10:24 AM (2 days ago) 🤷🏾‍♂️I just had to make sure 😂 wyd

Andy De  Fri, May 26, 10:29 AM (2 days ago) Right now I'm just posting my stuff on social media, what about you?

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 10:30 AM (2 days ago) Just woke up lol

Andy De Fri, May 26, 10:33 AM (2 days ago) Gotcha. I had to walk to the mall to use the free wifi, cause I don't have internet at my apartment right now.

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 10:35 AM (2 days ago) Oh shit lol where you stay by

Andy De  Fri, May 26, 10:49 AM (2 days ago) Soap Factory in the downtown area. I live in a studio apartment with my little brother.

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 10:58 AM (2 days ago) Damn I was finna say let's chill

Andy De Fri, May 26, 12:26 PM (2 days ago) You don't have your own place either?

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 12:56 PM (2 days ago) Lol nah not rn

Andy De  Fri, May 26, 12:59 PM (2 days ago) Aw, that's too bad :c What part of town are you in, though?

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 1:20 PM (2 days ago) Lol no shit right and kirby

Andy De  Fri, May 26, 1:37 PM (2 days ago) No idea where that is, but anyway, I'm going to be in San Antonio until September, so maybe we could hang out later while my brother is at work? Maybe next week

Isaiah C Fri, May 26, 3:11 PM (2 days ago) Lol it's on the NE and fashitsho lmk

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 10:10 AM (1 day ago) Wassgud 😌 I woke up single so wyd tonight 😊

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 10:35 AM (1 day ago) Lmao, tonight I'm driving to Laredo with my little brother to fix his stupid car. When we were at HEB this morning the thing started honking at us when we opene

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 10:37 AM (1 day ago) Lmfao welp there goes that plan

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 10:38 AM (1 day ago) gomen nasai 😂😅😂

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 10:40 AM (1 day ago) Nigga what 💀

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 10:40 AM (1 day ago) It's Japanese for "sorry bro" LMAO

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 10:44 AM (1 day ago) 💀💀😂😂😂mane ion speak that bullshit

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:05 AM (23 hours ago) Hmm?

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:05 AM (23 hours ago) "Oh man, I don't speak that bullshit."

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:07 AM (23 hours ago) 💀💀💀🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ simple English mane 🤣🤣🤣

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:12 AM (23 hours ago) Does "mane" mean "man" or was that a bad guess? I've always been terrible with dialect and phonetics

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:14 AM (23 hours ago) Lmfao yeah I'm from Houston so you close enough...I'm really talmbout yo japanese 💀 SIMPLE ENGLISH DAWG 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:15 AM (23 hours ago) Ditto! The hell does "talmbout" mean?!

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:17 AM (23 hours ago) Talking about 🤦🏽‍♂️ mane ima just have to throw a Texas dictionary at you

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:17 AM (23 hours ago) Ugh. I hate Texas slang

Andy De Sat, May 27, 11:17 AM (23 hours ago) Why don't YOU use simple English, hmm?

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:18 AM (23 hours ago) Bro call me rq 🤣💀 210-XXX-XXXX watcc this

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:21 AM (23 hours ago) I do🤷🏾‍♂️ wym

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:29 AM (23 hours ago) Ma'am in all honesty you talking to a mf from Houston that gang bangs you think I believe in a normal sentence 😭💀

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:35 AM (23 hours ago) Dude I KNOW, but you have to keep in mind you're speaking to a fucking nerd from Laredo Texas. And I barely even know the Laredo Texas slang, because I ignored all my dumb classmates that were speaking it!

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 11:39 AM (23 hours ago) Stop stressing one thing I never told you I'm good with wires car and house so if you need help just ask 💀😭 I can hook up amps stereos run wire thru yo house

Andy De  Sat, May 27, 11:57 AM (22 hours ago) Nah, I don't need your help. I'm just politely telling you that you're stuck communicating with me the old fashioned way: through email or Facebook messenger.

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 12:00 PM (22 hours ago) Ohhhh lol well add my Facebook too T zayy .....it's a picture of Alex Bergman

Andy De Sat, May 27, 12:02 PM (22 hours ago) Too hard to find you, just follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092519550177

Isaiah C AttachmentsSat, May 27, 12:02 PM (22 hours ago) On Sat, May 27, 2023, 11:59 AM Isaiah C <kingcarr210@gmail.com> wrote: Ohhhh lol well add my Facebook too T zayy .....it's a picture of Alex Bergm

Isaiah C Sat, May 27, 12:04 PM (22 hours ago) 😭💀 how is it to hard to find wait pause that's a good thing then 🤫🙄😁

Andy De Sat, May 27, 12:07 PM (22 hours ago) I typed it in, but I'm pretty sure you aren't "Isaiah T at Nebraska Wood Preservers · Central Community College · Lives in Kansas" 

Andy De  <andelizdel@gmail.com> Sat, May 27, 12:08 PM (22 hours ago) to Isaiah

On Facebook I changed my name to "De Leon" because "Leon" is a super common last name and "Llano" is super unique, and I didn't want any of my family members to be able to find me on Facebook because I hate my fucking Mexican Immigrant family.

And then they finally found each other on Facebook, and lived happily ever after. 

PSYCH

[peaches-writes]

how to appease your asian aunties ch. 3 - spring break

* icym: this was prev. a guide to social gatherings but i changed the title bc i still think i’m funny that way

description: in the immortal words of blood-related aunts and aunts you’re not even related to but forced to call your aunt at reunion parties, “do you have a boyfriend?”  member: jisung / han  genre: fluff, fake dating au, implied rich kids au, eventual childhood / best friends to lovers au, college au, implied fem reader (but i still used they/them pronouns)  word count: 5.4k chapter warning: food, a conversation calling out toxic asian family culture oops note: i’m not confident with this one bc i had to re-write this two times (?) with diff. plot directions + srsly idk what happened here what was the point am i ok + i didn’t post this accidentally this time !!!! 

ch. 1 // ch. 2 //  series masterlist

After seeing you and Jisung interact during your trip to the mall, your mom has started loving this new idea of you dating one of her close friends’ sons so much that she has not-so-discreetly started conspiring with Mrs. Han in order to see the two of you together as much as possible. From invitations for snacks and drinks at one’s house every day after school to whole-day activities on the weekends (usually to the mall or the cinema), it didn’t take long before you and your own best friend put two and two together and conclude that your respective moms have somewhat developed an auntie type of obsession over your fake relationship. 

This idea that your moms would love you and Jisung together so much to this extent initially flew past your head when you started this fake relationship last Christmas. You were only thinking of casually fake dating your best friend, after all; such arrangement ideally confined only in social gatherings where invasive relatives and family friends ask about your love life endlessly. You genuinely did not expect that that Jisung would start tagging along to you and your parents’ Sunday movie dates and side with your dad every time you disagree on your selected movie’s ending; or that you would not be parting ways with Jisung after school anymore when you reach your house and he has to drive another block to get to his.

But for the most part, you’ve decided as the weeks fly by with this new added twist in your everyday, it’s fun and, even at times, cute. Though Mrs. Han dotes on you more now, like you’re her own child, and your mom is starting to be more talkative around Jisung since they now have you to talk about, you still get to eat snacks either your mom or Mrs. Han made, hog the extraordinarily fast wifi at Jisung’s house, and get free movie tickets and shopping bags from when you’re going out with the other’s family on the weekends. Plus, it’s made your workaholic mom come home earlier just to see you and Jisung lounging in your living room and Mrs. Han’s worries lessen now that Jisung’s busy with something else that isn’t academics or whatever it is he does with his Bumble and Tinder apps. 

At times, it’s tiring having to hang out with your best friend under the guise of a couple, especially when you didn’t really plan for it to be this way, but you can’t deny that there are perks to it. 

So, you wait more patiently for Jisung every day after your classes now even when he usually takes a lot of detours to see his friends before driving over to you on the other side of campus. You still hang out with your friends, Ryujin and Chaeryeong, after classes, of course, but you part ways with them just a little bit earlier now to anticipate Jisung’s Convertible pulling up in front of your building and unnecessarily yelling at you to get in even when he’s the one awfully late. 

Because if you were to choose between your other best friends and a free expensive snacks, you’d always choose the latter without fail. 

“You know,” Chaeryeong comments next to you on this particular Friday, stretching her legs down to the steps below you three while you scroll through your phone and Ryujin naps on your shoulder with her earphones still plugged in. “if I didn’t know that you’re ditching us earlier for free fake dating food, I would’ve thought that you and squirrel boy were seriously dating.” 

“You always think we’re dating either way.” You roll your eyes, not even sparing a glance at the smug grin on her features. “Anyway, aren’t you happy we’re ‘dating’ now? It’s what you’ve always hoped for but, you know, fake.” 

Only then do you turn to Chaeryeong over your shoulder, also scrolling through her social media on her phone. She meets your gaze after with a scrunched up nose and furrowed eyebrows. “Hm,” She pretends to contemplate, placing her index finger up to her chin. “I don’t know. I think I’ll have to wait until someone caves and you actually develop feelings for each other—like in books!” 

“Seriously?” You deadpan with pursed lips, only making her laugh. “Of all things you could bring up.”

Chaeryeong shrugs in response with a knowing smile, chuckling when your expression doesn’t change. “You never know!” She replies in her defense, laughing all the way. “You did say after break that you’re just going to fake date if there’s an event but it’s Spring Break tomorrow already and you’ve been fake dating every day since classes started again.” 

“Sounds like a romantic trope to me.” She comments last teasingly before you can even interject, swiftly dodging your hand when you reach up to try and smack her. Literature majors, really. 

“For one, I don’t want to date Jisung, I’ve seen enough of him my whole life for that and I don’t think I’m in the mood to date in general. And besides, we’re only a ‘couple’ at home when someone’s mom is watching.” You counter as you retract your free hand back to your side, alternating your gaze between her and your other hand with your phone. Jisung’s last message is that of him informing you that he’s making a quick stop at the International Relations department today to hand Hyunjin his books ten minutes ago. Knowing him, if he didn’t get lost or got distracted by a kiosk selling coffee, he’s probably on his way now. “And you know I love free stuff, it just happens to come only if I hang out with Jisung these days.” 

“So what happens when you ‘break up’? And I don’t mean the cute perks from the aunties.” Chaeryeong asks next, leaning back on her propped elbows now that the stairs going up to your college building have started to cool down from being exposed to the sun the entire day. “I mean, it’s back to normal for us as your friends—I do miss not having to remind my parents that you’re a couple now—but your moms are going to think it’s weird that you suddenly broke up and went back to being friends like nothing happened.” 

“I already told you and everyone else, we’ll think about that when it happens.” You shrug both at her and the nagging thought in your mind that she has a point.   

“And when exactly will that happen?” She prods on, smiling smugly at knowing that you and Jisung never talked about this certain part of your current predicament clearly. “‘Dating until everyone doesn’t think of Jisung as a fuckboy or when aunties stop offering blind dates’ sounds vague to me.”

You see Chaeryeong’s smile grow bigger when you don’t answer immediately, accidentally letting time pass until Jisung’s gray Convertible pulls up steps below you with an obnoxious honk. 

“Y/N, my mom bought gelato today!” Jisung yells at you from his roofless car, his radio blasting Bermuda Triangle at an embarrassingly loud volume. “Let’s go!” 

You then quickly shake Ryujin awake in response, gently moving her to Chaeryeong’s legs when her eyes open, before standing up and waving goodbye at your two friends. “Like I said, I’ll let you know when it happens.” You hurriedly conclude your conversation with Chaeryeong with a triumphant smile, making her roll her eyes. “See you after the break!” 

Chaeryeong only shakes her head in disbelief, easily letting you go from her interrogation with a wave goodbye. “You be careful now, hm? Have fun with your ice cream, then!” 

You chuckle as you run down the stairs, waving your hand up for her as you move away without sparing a last glance. “Don’t worry, I’ll take pictures!” At this, you open the front passenger seat to Jisung’s car and smoothly slide in, haphazardly discarding your backpack next to his at the back before closing the door next to you. “Hey, ugly. Glad you didn’t get lost on campus.”

“Speak for yourself, ugly.” Jisung teases back, shifting the car’s gear back to ‘Drive.’ “How was your day? You three look so bored out of your mind there.”

"Better now that we’re going to eat ice cream at home.” You put your seatbelt on as Jisung now drives the car home, reaching over to the radio in between the two of you after and lowering the volume. “Classes were tiring as usual. What flavors did auntie get, by the way?”

Jisung almost makes the wrong turn with your choice of words, quickly gathering his thoughts and shaking his head. “Fu—u-um, Ferrero, strawberry, and mint choco, that’s what she texted me.” He shrugs, making the correct turn to the nearest campus gate this time. 

From the corner of his eyes, you nod with a hum as you sink back in your seat, completely missing the way you unconsciously caught him off-guard even with the screech of the car tires. “Oh, cool—no pun intended there.” You chuckle to yourself, leaning to the opposite side now to watch the college buildings pass by. “We’re watching The Conjuring 2, right?”

“Yeah.” Jisung scoffs, brushing off what remains of his sudden nervous feeling with the comment. “Tch, cool.” 

Like every Wednesday and Friday that Mrs. Han prepares you after school snacks and drinks, you and Jisung go through tubs of ice cream and tumblers of water while a horror film is projected on the television of the Han’s ground floor living room. Mrs. Han, who has her office day off on Fridays, would occasionally drop by and either ask if the two of you need anything or comment on her distaste for horror under her breath. 

“Oh, oh, dear.” She clutches her pearls dramatically, much like her son would, as she passes by for the sixth time to go to the kitchen and catches another glimpse of The Conjuring in the process. She then turns to you and Jisung after to calm her nerves, catching you still sprawled across the sofa with your legs lazily piled on top of Jisung’s.

Of course she’s seen you in the same position before in the few times you came over as one of Jisung’s friends but the sight now seems different under the guise that you and her son are a couple. Typical mom. 

“Hi, auntie!” You greet her when you catch her from the corner of your eye also for the sixth time, waving your empty spoon in greeting with one hand while the other blindly reaches for Jisung’s laptop on the coffee table to pause the movie. Jisung hides his face under a throw pillow at this, already having enough of his mom snooping around for today and you giving her the time of day. Since when did you get comfy with his mom, anyway? “Do you need anything?”

Mrs. Han immediately shakes her head with a dismissive wave and smile. “Ah, nothing, I was just checking up on you two!” She clarifies again. “Do you need anything? Extra pillows? More water?” 

You shake your head politely, holding up the water tumblers on your other side reassuringly. “We’re good but thank you!” 

At this, Mrs. Han clasps her hands together in satisfaction. “Alright, if you need anything, I’ll be in the kitchen, then!” She concludes, taking a step back from the door frame. “You’re staying for dinner, right, Y/N?” 

You glance over at Jisung, prying the throw pillow away from his face enough to see him shaking his head and making you feign a teasing frown for his mom. “You don’t want me to stay over dinner, babe?” You taunt with a smile, chuckling when he pushes the pillow back onto his face. Turning to Mrs. Han, you add, “I think Sung doesn’t want me staying for dinner, auntie, but I’ll gladly stay over if you want me to; anyway, my parents are coming home late today.” 

“What? Oh, he’s just being shy!” Mrs. Han dismisses with another wave of her hand. “Please do stay for dinner. I’ll text your mom for you too.” 

“Alright, if you say so.” You nod, giving her your sweetest smile now. “Thank you so much!”  

With that, Mrs. Han then bids you goodbye and proceeds to the kitchen. When the sound of her stilettos fades outside the living room, Jisung removes the throw pillow in front of his face with a groan, scooting closer to you until his shoulders bumped into yours. “My mom, seriously.” He then smacks you on the shoulder with the throw pillow as you press ‘play’ on his laptop again. “Ya, are you seriously dining with us tonight?” 

You kick his legs under yours in response. “I think it’s cute, it’s not like she caught us doing something weird.” You shrug in his mom’s defense. “And yes, I’m staying over because your mom is clearly cooking tonight and I can’t say no to an offer and free food.” 

“I’ll have to get back at you when we’re back at your house on Monday.” He counters back, shamelessly dipping his spoon on the mint chocolate ice cream in your hands. As he bites on the small chocolate drops on the ice cream, a thought then crosses his mind and he asks, “Wait, are we still hanging out on Spring Break?” 

You turn to him, swatting his hand belatedly before taking a big chunk of his strawberry ice cream. “I don’t know, my mom hasn’t mentioned anything and I don’t think my parents have any plans of going on vacation this break.” You answer truthfully before eating the spoonful of ice cream. “What about auntie?” 

“Nothing from her too.” He shakes his head. “Though we’re definitely going on vacation this Break—my dad really wants to check out the new Jeju hotel.” 

“When are you coming home?” 

“Friday night, I think? We leave on Sunday.” He answers, taking a sip of water now that the taste of ice cream is now making his mouth feel sticky. He takes note of how you used the same word again, recovering quicker this time before he could even choke. “So we’re definitely not hanging out on those days.” 

You hum against another spoonful of ice cream, this time from the Ferrero ice cream in the small gap between the two of you. “I mean, it’d be nice to be away from you for once—we’ve literally been joined to the hip after classes and most weekends since the New Year—but that would mean no free food which would be a shame; I really like your mom’s cooking.” 

“Ouch, I didn’t know you don’t like spending more time with me just for me.” He clutches his chest dramatically, hugging the throw pillow again. “I thought you’d like this since I was away for a year.” 

“We barely hung out before you even left.” You chuckle in amusement, grabbing the pillow from him again and this time lazily discarding it to the other end of the sofa. “I already thought you’re annoying the rare times we hung out before. Now, you’re just the bane of my existence.” 

Next to you, Jisung laughs along belatedly, holding his ice cream tub away when you try and take another spoonful of strawberry from him. “Yeah but I’m the bane of your existence that you’re ‘dating’ in front of the aunties for free stuff and them leaving you alone.” He points out, giving in to you after when you almost topple over the Ferrero ice cream and handing you his strawberry ice cream. “So you can’t really complain.” 

You roll your eyes as you exchange tubs of ice cream. In front of you, a jump scare goes unnoticed as you pay more attention to Jisung anticipating what your next words would be. “I’m grateful,” You clarify in a mumble as you chew on the ice cream. “But you’re still annoying as hell.” 

“Not like you’re any better.” He rolls his eyes with another playful laugh, shifting in his seat. “Yeah, I think we shouldn’t hang out on Spring Break: we’re going to ‘break up’ if we keep meeting too much at this point.” 

This time, it’s you who gets another thought at this comment. Shifting in your seat as well so you’re now facing Jisung, you ask in a change of topic, “Right, I meant to ask: when exactly are we ‘breaking up’?” You raise an eyebrow at him when his eyes widen in confusion. “It’s just that Chaeryeong and I were talking about it a while back and it had me thinking.”

“Hm? I thought we’ll do it a little after Chan and Miyoung’s wedding.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “There aren’t many events after that and I’m sure the aunties won’t bother you for a while since you’ll start working.” 

“And if they do?” You ask back curiously. “Starting work at your own parents’ company while going through a ‘break-up’ doesn’t exactly guarantee a free pass from blind dates—remember the last time Yeji had a relationship the aunties knew about?” 

“Right, that was quite chaotic.” Jisung replies, keeping his spoon in his mouth now instead of eating more ice cream as the unexpected question actually catches him off-guard. “But, I don’t know. I guess we can keep going a little longer after the wedding, until the aunties have someone else to bother or, you know—if you end up liking someone else.” 

You then catch Jisung’s eyes light up at this idea and you hear him quickly add, “Hey, how about that?” He then removes the spoon from his mouth, placing his ice cream down in between the two of you. “You don’t have to worry about your elders and we don’t have to fake date anymore.” 

“Actual dating?” You furrow your eyebrows. Jisung nods at this. “You know how I feel about that. I don’t think I want that for myself right now given the changes that are going to happen after we graduate.” You wave your hands around now, setting your ice cream and spoon down before sinking back in your seat. “And I especially don’t want that just for the sake of getting people to mind their own business; it’d be like giving in to the pressure in a way.” 

You glance over at Jisung to see him nodding thoughtfully now, an unfamiliar look crossing his features before he meets your gaze and comments, “Okay, that’s fair—but we both know it’d be too troublesome to fake date for a long time.” He then sighs, sinking into his own spot and leveling with your gaze.

Suddenly, you feel a shift in the air around you as Jisung sets his ice cream down on his other side. “Aish, don’t you just wish you can talk back to older people?”

“Yeah.” You nod in agreement this time, pursing your lips. The air suddenly felt sincere now, a bit comical since the people keep screaming on the television in front of you but, for some reason, you don’t feel like laughing because Jisung isn’t despite obviously having the same thoughts. “I mean, we all know that the talks about dating and career and everything else are often in good-nature but a lot of times they’re just invasive and a bit rude.” 

When Jisung doesn’t reply as quickly, you nudge his shoulder and add, “I especially think of the time you told some of the parents during Yeji’s birthday about your plans to study in Malaysia and how negatively they received it because they think you won’t graduate on time and that you should just finish college quickly and work.” Jisung’s eyes widen in surprise this time. “They don’t know how hard you work in your studies or how you really wanted to go abroad and explore and I really wanted to scold them for it.” 

“Y-You still remember that?” He asks in disbelief, earning him a casual nod from you. 

“Of course,” You confirm, your free hand unconsciously balling into fists on your lap at the memory. “I’ve never wanted to yell at my mom’s friends until that point even when you tried laughing it off so I’m glad you proved them wrong when you came back during Christmas and impressed them when they asked about it again.” 

You see Jisung chuckle under his breath shyly, tearing his gaze at you for a moment. “You mentioned that night that you were annoyed. I never knew you were this annoyed.” He muses out loud. “Thanks.” 

“Thinking about it now, I feel a bit bad,” You point out after, heaving a frustrated sigh. “You’re keeping up with fake dating me even though it just started as a little joke last Christmas to protect me in a way but I couldn’t stand up to you two years ago.” 

Looking up at Jisung, he grins at you reassuringly and shakes his head, effectively easing the atmosphere back into being more lighthearted. “No, it’s okay.” He dismisses your frown. “Just knowing what you really thought then is fine already.” 

“And,” He shifts in his seat after, transferring the tubs of ice cream in between the two of you now to his other side so he can scoot closer. “I get free food every other day from your mom because we’re ‘dating’ so it’s nothing, really.” 

You scoff when he breaks out into laughter. “Right, of course.” You deadpan before breaking out into genuine laughs yourself. “What was I even thinking, talking about sincere things with you?” 

The two of you laugh for a while, even more when Jisung pretends to complain that you just 'wasted’ the last act of the movie talking about ‘mushy stuff.’ 

“Stop complaining, dummy,” You smack his elbow, sitting up properly now as the credits begin to roll. “you entertained my rants instead of stopping me so it’s your fault too.” 

“Because you brought up something of mine from two years ago!” He protests before moving away to gather all your scattered snacks to the coffee table, laughing in disbelief all throughout. “I had to respond or it’d be rude!” 

You only roll your eyes at him, making the two of you laugh even harder. You then lean back on the sofa, stretching your hands above your head and removing your legs off of Jisung while he disconnects his laptop from the television and closes both electronic gadgets. 

Turning to you, after, you see his laughs turn into a small sincere smile once again. “But seriously,” He says, glancing back at you from his shoulder. “Thanks.” 

“For?” You prod him teasingly, earning you a groan of frustration from him. 

“For almost getting mad at the elders?” He jokes back with a raised eyebrow before going back to being sincere again. “Nah, for being understanding with me and my choices.” 

“Of course,” You reply casually. “even if we joke around a lot, you’re one of my best friends—well, as if I had a choice in that, you know me too well and too long.”     

“Way to ruin the moment.” He frowns at you in feigned disappointment, making you chuckle, until another thought crosses his mind. “And, Y/N?” 

“Hm?” You look up expectantly at him. 

“We have to break up some time after the wedding but I’ll still try and protect you,” He clears his throat awkwardly. “from the ‘rude’ and ‘invasive’ comments after, I mean. You should do whatever you want to do freely and date seriously when you want, not when older people pressure you into it.” 

At this, your gaze softens at him visibly, even more when he doesn’t make other hints that he’s joking. “Thank you.” You mumble, just loud enough for only him to hear when you see Mrs. Han pass by the hallway again. “You should too, you know, do whatever you want and date whenever you want to.”

Jisung opens his mouth to speak but, behind him, you catch a glimpse of Mrs. Han suddenly returning to the hallway and stopping by the living room entrance again, waving at you and unintentionally cutting her son off. “Y/N, Sungie, dinner’s ready!” She informs you before Jisung could even get a single syllable out, making him purse his lips in annoyance with his face hidden from his own mom’s view. “Y/N, I already texted your mom, by the way, and she said it’s fine that you stay over for dinner.” 

You turn to the side and nod at Mrs. Han, chuckling when you see Jisung hiding his hands on his lap and exaggeratedly curling his fingers up in frustration. “Thank you, auntie! We’ll be right there!” You assure her, smiling up at her until she disappears back to the opposite direction of the kitchen. 

Turning back to Jisung, you swat his finger tips back into relaxing with a laugh. “Guess we have to go back to adhering to the system and fake dating for now, though.” You conclude with a giggle, standing up from the sofa and fixing your clothes. “What were you going to say before your mom barged in?” 

After a moment of silent contemplating, Jisung ends up shaking his head and following you, gathering the tubs of ice cream in his hands. “It was nothing.” 

“Really?” You ask, elbowing him gently before picking up your water tumblers from the sofa. “Come on, tell me.”

“It’s nothing, seriously.” Jisung assures you with a laugh, walking ahead of you out of the living room and turning around to see you catch up. “Come on, leech, dinner time.” 

You bump his shoulder with a laugh when you manage to catch up with him, “Shut up, you’re also a leech.” 

“But not on this day, you’re in my house.” He corrects. 

Dinner with the Hans regrettably passes too soon even with all of Mrs. Han’s questions on your school life and post-college plans; and Mr. Han bringing up embarrassing and, at times, even exaggerated stories from when you and Jisung were children. When Mr. Han is suddenly forced to retreat back into his home office to attend to a minor emergency (hastily bidding you and Jisung goodnight) and Mrs. Han managed to win in your argument over you helping her and the house helpers to do the dishes, the old grandfather clock at the house entrance strikes quarter to 9 PM which prompts Jisung to offer you company in walking back home. 

“Yes, how thoughtful of you, Sungie! Do walk Y/N home!” His mom comments with a proud grin as she shoos you out of the kitchen. “I’ll see you after Spring Break, Y/N, okay?” 

You nod, giving her one last side hug, careful of the dish washing liquid bubbling up on her pink gloves. “Have fun on your trip to Jeju, auntie!” 

“I’d ask you to come along if it didn’t turn out so last minute, I did mention it on New Year” She jokes, much to Jisung’s horrified face. “Oh, Sungie, what’s that look for? Don’t you want Y/N to go on a trip with us next time?” 

You giggle nervously, pulling away from the hug after and taking a step back to Jisung’s side. “Maybe next time, auntie? I have lots of deadlines this break, anyway.”

“Ya!” Jisung hisses at you discreetly, pouting again that you’re entertaining his mom’s antics. You only elbow him in response. 

In front of you, Mrs. Han seriously contemplates on the idea before waving her drier glove. “Yes, it is quite last-minute right now since we leave on Monday.” She smiles fondly. “Next time, it is, then!” 

“Okay, that’s enough planning for a future trip!” Jisung quickly interjects before you can humor his mom longer, placing an arm over your shoulder and turning you around to face the open door leading outside. “It’s getting late and I have to walk back here on my own after!” 

You wave back at Mrs. Han, laughing when she rolls her eyes at her son before bidding you one last goodnight. “Goodnight, auntie!” 

With that, Jisung gently pushes you into a run out of his house, haphazardly closing the door behind him and directing you across the front lawn, to their gates, then, finally, to the dimly-lit streets of your subdivision. You’re only pulled to a stop when Jisung almost pushes you to a car parked on the house across his, making you laugh. 

“Ya, we didn’t have to run out so fast!” You protest, clutching your stomach with one hand while the other hits his side. “My stomach hurts.” 

“You keep entertaining my mom’s ideas!” He playfully whines back in between tired pants, catching his breath quickly before throwing an arm over your shoulder. “If you’ll keep going like this, you might actually become best friends!” 

You scoff, keeping his arm on your shoulder anyway as the two of you now walk to the direction of your house. “Watch your words, Han Jisung, or it might actually happen.” You warn him teasingly, adjusting your backpack on your shoulder. “Besides, I was just doing what you were doing on New Year—how did you call it?—’earning points.’” 

“I also told you then that my mom already likes you so much,” He pouts, easily pulling you flush against him when a lone car passes by. Instinctively, he then moves you to his other side so he’s walking closer to the road. “You’re just going to be more annoying at this point.” 

“Well, I like your mom, too, so I’m going to be extra annoying from now on,” You grin mischievously. “maybe until we ‘break up’ then everything’s going to be awkward for a while.” 

Glancing over at Jisung from your side, you see him genuinely frown momentarily before sighing in feigned defeat. “Fine, do whatever you want.” 

You want to ask him about the sudden frown but you end up shrugging it off as you cross the street to get to the right turn at the intersection. With the new direction you’re walking into, Jisung shifts you to his other side again. 

“You know, it’s not like some car’s going to crash into us,” You move to his other side anyway and swiftly dodging another offer of him slinging his arm over your shoulder. “We’re inside the village? Where the speed limit is 20 kph?” 

Jisung scoffs, dropping his arm back to his side “Your house is on your side of the street, dumbass, that’s why I moved you there.” And, as if on cue, you see your own house slowly coming into view among the towering gates and trees. “That little heart-to-heart talk we had must be getting to you, huh?” 

“As if.” You elbow his side in retaliation, your backpack hitting his back slightly in the process which only fuels his teasing more. 

“Aren’t you glad I’m here to walk you home?” He asks with a grin, just as you reach your gates. “Imagine if you got lost when we’re literally a block apart.” 

“I hope the dog next door escapes and chases you back home,” You groan, walking a few steps ahead to open the smaller entrance on your gate with your key. 

Behind you, Jisung only laughs, unfazed, before walking over to your side again and extending his arms out for a hug. “Okay, sorry,” He grins halfheartedly. “Come here, goodbye hug.”  

You raise an eyebrow at him, swinging your gate open with one hand and stepping one foot on the other side. “What do you mean? My mom’s inside.” 

“Yeah, but I haven’t hugged you alone in a while.” He points out while tilting his head sideways, earning him a genuine look of confusion from you. 

“Ya, it’s not like we don’t hug platonically before all this.” He adds with a shaky snicker before pouting. “I’m going to get s—”

“Okay, fine.” You scoff with a small smile, stepping outside again to hug him. “Look who’s getting all mushy now.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” He shakes his head against your neck, reluctantly pulling away from you after a while. Rubbing the nape of his neck bashfully, he adds, “It’s just that—everything’s been a bit different now since I got home.”  

“It’s mostly your fault—”   

“—I know and I don’t regret it,” He interjects quickly, wiping the smug smile of your face. “since I’m doing it to get you away from creepy guys but it’s just us now and I sort of...miss being casual.” 

Your frown tugs upwards into a sincere smile as you lean back against the gates. “We are casual. It’s just that people are looking now.” 

“Can we hang out sometime?” He suggests with hopeful eyes. “just us, like old times.”

“You call it old times like it wasn’t just two years ago,” You point out, chuckling now. “But—sure.”

Jisung nods with a big grin now, excitedly shifting his weight on his feet. “So, see you after the Break?” 

“Buy me something nice from Jeju then we can talk.” You conclude, stepping inside now completely. “Night, Sungie.” 

“Hm, goodnight.” 

When you accompany one of the Han’s family drivers to fetch Jisung and his parents at Incheon International Airport exactly a week later, you only expected to see the box of imported chocolate snacks Jisung promised to buy you as the only unfamiliar thing that you’ll see, maybe even an entirely new carrier with Mrs. Han’s vacation haul if she did actually spent more time shopping than working. 

What you genuinely did not expect, upon finally spotting your best friend and his parents waiting for you at crowded Seattle’s Best, is him holding more than just your box of chocolates. 

“Hey?” You wave at Jisung in confusion as you stop right in front of him. To your right, you catch a glimpse of the family driver, Mr. Yoo, greeting Mr. and Mrs. Han on the next table before obligingly taking their luggage cart. “Who’s this little angel?” 

Only then do you notice the two other unfamiliar people with Jisung’s parents, eyeing you curiously and whispering to Mrs. Han, probably to ask who you are.

Jisung waves his hand at you once before transferring the same hand over the nape of his neck, “Y-Yeah, um, this is—”    

But before he could even finish and maybe even explain, the little girl on his lap shifts in her place and jumps to stand in front of you. “Hello!” She grins sweetly in slightly broken Korean, waving one hand at you while the other clutches Jisung’s bear plushie. “I’m Kitty!”

“Oh, hi, Kitty!” You bend your knees slightly to level with her gaze hidden behind round eyeglasses, briefly sparing a glance at Jisung after and raising an eyebrow at him before smiling again at the little girl. “I’m Y/N, it’s nice to meet you!” 

“It’s nice to...m-meet you!” She politely returns the gesture, hugging Jisung’s bear plushie shyly after and making your heart skip a beat. “Will you also live with us?” 

“At home?” Your furrow your eyebrows deeply now, standing up properly and turning to Jisung who you then belatedly notice has stood up as well and slung his backpack and Kitty’s over his shoulder. “Sung?” 

Jisung stands next to Kitty and places a hand behind her back, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Kitty’s going to live with us for a while.” 

ch. 4 // series masterlist

tags: @t-toodumbtocare​ @sandaigdigan-reads​ @pwarkhans​ @ruellelix​ @malai-barfi​ @mahalau​ @milkywayfelix @qweens-stuff @tenclouds​ @crscendoforsung​ @verobibble

[miskiett]

rain rain rain rain rain fuck off please

Wow. I’ve had an interesting few days. 

It’s raining so much in South Africa right now that the grass is starting to rot in the ground. We’re a water scare country with a corrupt government that conducts poor maintenance, and things are just not built for this much rain. Its destroying infrastructure. 

So last week Wednesday, it started raining all day and got a lot colder than usual in the middle of summer. We went from 35 to 13 degrees C overnight. I love rain and cold, plus we don’t get a lot rain in general, so I was very happy. Little did I know.

Then my internet went off at home on Thursday. Granted, I’m working and studying online from home right now, and I’m very busy, so this was a disaster. We had an area outage and the fibre network went down for the whole neighbourhood. I had to take my old laptop and go and work in the mall or at campus to use free wifi. But I could not walk to the mall nearby as the whole neighbourhood was having trouble, so I needed to use my car - which is still giving trouble. I had to find a lift from someone. Public transport is shit dangerous - I’d rather walk or just avoid it in general, especially if I’m carrying a laptop, and private transport is expensive here. So, fun. 

Next, the water meter to my house broke on Friday. Don’t know why, it just stopped giving water and I could not reload it with more. So I sat without any water to my house. Went to the municipality to try fix it, and they were offline apparently, but so rude and hateful in telling me so that it was really scary. So spent Friday evening trying to recover from verbal abuse.  

At some point, the rain had apparently damaged the power stations, and we had started getting loadshedding. With loadshedding, the government literally switches the power off for entire areas just because the public energy supply cannot meet the national demand anymore. This is directly a result of poor maintenance, corruption and lack of upgrading the power stations to meet the population rise since the end of apartheid. Pretty ugly. But we have been getting blackouts intermittently for about 4-6 hours every single day, sometimes twice a day. No light, no internet, no charging your phone or laptop. Pretty dire. 

At this point I was sitting with no car, no fibre internet, no water, and no electricity. Then... The constant blackouts of power damaged the batteries which power the towers which provide mobile signal to the cellphone networks. Basically, even if my phone was charged, it could no longer connect to the internet because the mobile network went down. 

So I had no car, no access to internet in any form whatsoever, no water, no electricity, and constant incessant rain causing a ton of leaks in the roof which has damaged furniture etc. I got a little depressed at that point. Even my dogs started looking a bit restless. I was using buckets to collect rainwater off the roof so I could flush the toilet at least. 

By Monday things came right more or less. I managed to contact the one lady from the area government, and she got some of the municipality workers to come switch my water on, regardless of the broken meter. It’s not my fault it broke, and they take forever to fix it, so I can’t just sit without water all that time. Furthermore, I went out and dug the internet fibre cable connection out of the ground and raised it up out of the water. The fibre is working again, I kid you not, hence I am posting this quickly before I lose power again. The loadshedding is worse than ever right now, they say it is “stage 6″ or code pink, which is because a few stations blew up due to the rain or something. So my power should be going off again 10 min from now, taking my fibre internet with it. The mobile network is working now, but with the loadshedding in 10 min it will move to batteries, and I don’t know if they have fixed that yet. 

My hair is all curly from the humidity, lol, which I am not used to. Also some of my indigenous plants have suddenly rotted from the humidity and lack of sun. They are covered in thick layers of fuzzy fungi. Nothing South African is adapted to constant heavy rain for a week straight. This is not central Africa; we are mostly temperate, savanna and semi-arid to arid desert, not a jungle. The weather is really weird for my area. There were apparently 4 cyclones in the Indian ocean, but I have no idea what has happened with them because there has been little power or internet for media and communication. 

They say the weather should clear up tomorrow. I bloody hope so. 

[nightglider124]

Japan: My Trip

Thought I’d put together a little photo diary of my two weeks in Japan because why not and I just like to share with my tumblr pals.

Read on to find out what I got up to.

Sunday 13th May

This was the day I flew out to Japan. I packed my bag and was ready to leave at 11am UK time. I’m not gonna lie to ya’ll, I was an emotional mess, leaving my family behind. 

You should know, I’ve never been on a trip without my family and I’ve never been out of Europe. So, going out to Japan with just my best friend was a big thing for me. So, was pretty tearful and then my mum like burst into tears; she’s a worrier. 

Anyway, my dad dropped me off at the airport to meet my bestie and we did all the boring airport stuff and soon enough, we were on the plane. The sky is ridiculously pretty at different times during an overnight flight or at least, a flight that crosses different time zones. 

Pretty uneventful. I mostly ate, slept and wrote chapter 1 of CTD: Bound. 

Monday 14th May

So, I arrived in Japan’s Narita airport at 11am.

Then I went up and grabbed my suitcase as well as going and grabbing my pocket wifi - Something that is tremendously helpful if you go to Japan. I don’t know what it’s like for you guys but in London, I pretty much have wifi anywhere I go whereas in Japan, it wasn’t as easy to come across; at least not for free. 

The pocket wifi was a godsend. It can connect up to 10 devices and it lasts all day long when fully charged. Now, there were a couple times it tapped out but you just need to turn it off and turn it on again. 

It cost about £60 for 2 weeks but if you’re going with people, it works out better. Me and my friend split it so we only paid £30 each but very worth it.

But, yeah, defo recommend this for anyone who is going to Japan. It was a big help, especially when needing to look up locations and/or directions.

Next, we went and grabbed our Japan rail passes which look like so:

This was probably the best thing I bought for Japan. Not even joking. 

Even if you aren’t going very far, this thing helps so much. It’s a pass that allows you to use any trains that are owned by the JR company which is a fair amount that helps you get around Tokyo and surrounding districts. Note: You have to buy it before you fly to Japan and take the exchange form that comes in the post with you to Japan. You exchange it at the airport and they give you the passes above. Just make double sure your passport has been stamped because otherwise, they won’t let you have it. 

Anyway, this was £310 for 2 weeks but again: WORTH IT. It does depend on what you’re doing but me and my friend were out and using transport every single day. We also went far. We went to Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka - All covered by the passes. And for example, £310 is basically a return ticket to Kyoto so you are already making your money back. 

So, we picked these up and using them, hopped on the shinkansen (bullet train) to Shinjuku (Sound familiar, Titan fans? Yes, it’s the ‘roughest part of town’ according to Robin in the Trouble in Tokyo movie). It took about an hour and then we checked into our hotel which was: Shinjuku Prince Hotel.

It was a really nice hotel actually. The staff were friendly and spoke really good English. I recommend staying here; it’s right in the heart of busy Shinjuku and was only 5 mins from the station. We booked a deluxe twin room because two rooms worked out more expensive and it was not too shabby at all. I didn’t actually take any pictures so I snubbed some off google.

Anyway, we were running a little late and we had tickets to the Studio Ghibli museum so naturally, I was freaking out because the website expresses that they are strict on being on time for your slot. I nearly had a breakdown because... dunno if ya’ll remember but I had a right time trying to get a hold of these tickets. They sell out so quickly it is unreal. Anyway, our slot was 4pm and they only allow you to be 30 mins late. 

We arrived at 4:50pm and I was close to tears as I ran into the park it’s situated in. I was so annoyed and so scared they weren’t going to let us in. But...

They did!! The guy was so sweet; I think he could see by my face how much I wanted to go inside. He was like all smiley and was like it’s okay, go on in. I was like THANK YOU JESUS. Here are some photos:

They don’t allow photography inside to preserve the magic of visiting. And honestly, it was so nice inside. It felt just like a Ghibli movie and seeing the animation process and the short film and the original drawings... it was all so amazing. Being a Ghibli fan makes this 1000% better but it’s still great for people who aren’t as into it. My friend isn’t really into Ghibli movies but she thought it was still pretty cool whereas there was me in like awe over all of it.

Anyway, we stayed there about an hour and as you can imagine, we were frazzled af. We were tired from the flight but I wanted us to force ourselves to stay up so jet lag wasn’t as much a problem. 

After, we made our way back to Shinjuku where I took some pics from my hotel room:

Then we grabbed some McDonalds which was literally just across from us; something quick so we didn’t starve. I facetimed my family, showered and fell asleep.

Tuesday 15th May

So, the first full day we were there, it was a more chilled, sightseeing day. Nothing too taxing and we felt a lot more refreshed after a proper sleep.

First, we went and checked out the Tokyo Imperial Palace which was really pretty but we couldn’t go inside. It was mega hot the entire time we were in Japan; I thought I’d die. I hate the heat.

And because I was out in the heat all day and didn’t think to put suncream on... yeah, you can see where this is going... 

More on that later, because then we carried on to the Yasukuni shrine which is just down the street from the East Gardens of the palace. 

The shrine was cool and everything was so pretty; very tranquil and peaceful.

In the afternoon, we headed over to the Sunshine City mall in Ikebukuro where I forced my friend into the Pokemon Centre Store which was LIT.

I was fucking excited, ya’ll. I got some really cute stuff too. Got myself some Mimikyu chopsticks, an Eevee tail key holder, a Pikachu glasses case, a Pikachu makeup bag and a little Mimikyu figure bc Mimikyu is a fave and I have no cool stuff with it on. 

I also got my brother most of his souvenirs in here because we have loved Pokemon since the dawn of time. I mean, we’ve fallen out of it in recent years because all the new gen pokemon etc... we’re more for the original pokemon and original series and games. Seriously, when kids come up to me like, do you even know Pokemon I’m like bitch step back you don’t even KNOW. It’s like I got a Pokemon CD for my brother and it had a japanese version of one of the songs from the first movie and we were like screaming. That film man, don’t even look at me.

Ahem... the Pokemon store was so wicked but mega expensive like shit son. Glad I took so much money with me because I NEEDED IT.

After the Pokemon store, we went down a level to the Studio Ghibli store where I didn’t get as much stuff as I thought I was gonna. 

But, I got a Spirited Away fan with No Face on it, a Totoro and No face figure as well as a Totoro bib and hat for my niece. 

Then we went and had fooood where I noticed... I was extremely sunburnt... Like in the below pic, you can’t see it that much because it hadn’t really come out full pelt yet.

Pls ignore my hamster face but see my chest? Burny burny burnt burnt. I got back to the hotel later that night and I had the shakes where it was hot and all the heat was there rather than all over. It was horrible.

I’m lucky I decided to wear full on makeup that day otherwise my face would have gotten buuurnt. Well done, Estee Lauder foundation, well done.

But yeah, it wasn’t the best end to the day because then I was all uncomfortable and my skin was sensitive and I was mad at myself for not putting on cream so then I got all upset and cried but I think I was still tired from the journey too and I was overwhelmed but yeah; kinda sucked.

Other than the sunburn, I also didn’t pack shorts for under my dress so my thighs rubbed and were in agony as well as my vans gave me like 4 blisters on each foot so I couldn’t walk or at least was in extreme pain when I tried so getting back to the hotel was a damn hoot.

Besides all that, it was a pretty good day!

Wednesday 16th

This was the day we trekked all the way down to Hiroshima which is like a 5 hour journey by train. We had to take two trains but it was actually not too bad. It certainly didn’t feel like it took that long to get down to Hiroshima. 

One thing I will say about longer train journeys; remember to reserve a seat. Some like the one from Narita Airport are reserve only so you have to reserve a seat for it. But, others don’t need it and have “non reserved” cars but mark my words, if you’re travelling on these trains at a busy time, it really pays off to reserve a seat. We didn’t for Hiroshima and whilst we found seats for the 3 hour part of the journey; on the second train, we had to stand for like 45 minutes because there were no seats and then even when we did get to sit down, it was separated so yeah; book your train seats, people.

Once we arrived in Hiroshima, we hopped on a ferry which took us to Miyajima island. It’s about a 10 minute journey and once again, it’s covered by the JR pass. I loved that thing to death not even kidding.

Here’s some pictures I took on the ride over:

This island is home to the big red Torii gate that people may know of. I picked up some cute souvenirs and ate katsu. And there were even deer roaming around the place! A couple got married too whilst we were visiting and it was so nice. Again, it was mega hot so I was dying from that aspect but otherwise, I could live on this little island.

Unfortunately, we spent so much time at the island; we didn’t get round to doing the two other things we had planned which were seeing Hiroshima Castle and the Atomic dome memorial. I was kinda bummed by not seeing those but the last train was at 5pm and we weren’t staying the night so we had to get said train. It was okay though; it’s something to add to the list of things to see when I eventually revisit.

We got back at about 10pm and then it was lights out because we were exhausted.

Thursday 17th May

This was another sightseeing day that was fairly local considering we were pretty tired from Hiroshima still. 

We traveled over to Asakusa which has the lovely Senso-ji temple and shrine. It was really cute, the walk up to the temple is lined with all these little shops and souvenir like places which have charms and fans etc. Really nice.

Inside, they do this thing where you pay 100 yen and you shake a metal box that contains lots of sticks with numbers on. When you bring out a stick, you find the number it matches and you bring out the fortune. You get a good fortune, regular fortune or bad fortune. I got myself a regular ol’ fortune XD. 

But, they also have this rack so that if you get a bad fortune, you tie it to the rack to rid yourself of the bad fortune whereas a good or regular one; you would carry it with you.

Other than that, we hung out and then went back to our hotel for a while before heading out again to check out the nightlife of the area. Everything was mega lit up and was so nice. We went and grabbed dinner and also went and got crepes. They were a m a z i n g. Like they were so good ugh. 

After that, went back, showered and slept. Pretty uneventful day; just being touristy. 

Friday 18th May

Again, more sightseeing on this day. We went and saw the Tokyo Metropolitan Building and looked out over Tokyo.

Then, we went to the Meiji Shrine.

Aaand lastly, we went to Shibuya for the evening.

Yes, those are people dressed as characters from Mario Kart driving in the streets of Tokyo. This place was crazy. XD

After seeing the crossing scramble that is so infamous, we trekked back to the hotel and fell asleep.

Saturday 19th May

This day we literally went on trains all day to collect stamps. In Japan, they do these things called Eki stamps which are stamps you can find at stations, museums, shrines, tourist spots etc.

I haven’t got any pictures of mine but i got like 50 of them whilst I was in Japan. Going on one train line at all the stops got me like 30. 

We had nothing else planned on this day so my friend suggested the collecting stamps XD.

Sunday 20th May

This was one of my two absolute favourite days whilst I was there. It was the day I went and saw Mt Fuji and went into Aokigahara forest. 

It was approx 2 hours from Tokyo but we’d booked a tour instead of trying to do it ourselves. It worked out a lot easier. When we reached the highest point you can go to on Mt Fuji, by vehicle anyway, we had 30 mins to sightsee. We took pictures and went into the souvenir shop etc. 

My god, it was so frickin’ cold up there. Obviously. We were high off the ground like shit, it was freezing. But, pretty pictures.

We then went caving in an ice cave that is iced over all year round and is not usually open to the public. 

After that, we were taken back to Shinjuku where we grabbed food and went back to sleeeep.

Monday 21st May

We went to Kyoto on this day. We managed to see all we wanted to as well but then again, Kyoto was only a 2 and a bit hour train ride away.

When we got there, we saw the Fushimi Inari Taisha.

They were pretty but boy, was there a lot of people. I had to wait for so long to get pictures with none of very few people in it.

Then, we headed over to Kinkaku-ji which is this golden temple.

Again, very pretty.

Lastly, we checked out the Arashiyama Bamboo grove which was pretty also.

After that, we headed home to our hotel. We had an exciting day the next day.

Tuesday 22nd May

TOKYO DISNEYLAND, BITCHES.

I was excited and I can see why people hype Disneyland up. No matter which one you visit, there is this big sense of nostalgia and magic. It was unforgettable and wasn’t half as busy as some theme parks get here. But, I suppose we did go on a Tuesday.

Would hate to see it on a weekend.

The mike melonbread was delicious <3

Disneyland catered to the childish side of me and I loved every single bit of it. <3

Wednesday 23rd May

On this day, we visited Osaka which is about the same sorta time out from Tokyo as Kyoto is. Again, not too much going on. We checked out Osaka Castle.

And then, we checked out Dotonbori which was also very cool.

After that, we headed back to Tokyo. There wasn’t too much we were desperate to see in Osaka and it was raining which wasn’t the nicest.

Thursday 24th May

Last full day meant Harajuku and Shibuya for shopping day. I haven’t got any pictures but omg we went and did those purikura photo things? They are hilarious. It was funny doing them but even looking at them; they funny XD

I bought a bunch of stuff for myself as well as my family as souvenirs. It was funnn. 

Friday 25th May

The day I flew home to London :(. I was sad to leave Japan but I was really happy to be coming home. No matter how much you may call your country a shit place, there’s no place like home. 

Omg, I went over my bag weight limit with all the stuff I bought. I’m allowed 23kg and my suitcase was 27kg -.-

I paid £65 for that extra weight because I was not about to be that person who opens their suitcase in the middle of check in trying to decrease the weight XD

Pretty straight forward afterwards. I flew home and when I got to my house, my family let me have reign on dinner so we got KFC.

So, that is what I got up to in Japan. I loved every minute I was there. It is so very different than London and it has much more beauty than any city I’ve been to has.

I can’t wait to go back someday and I encourage anyone and everyone to go there. It is something else! <3

Thanks for reading if you made it to the end! I appreciate it ^.^

[travelingnowhereandbeyond]

When you travel ANYWHERE you might have the tendency to compare that place with what you’re familiar with and that is perfectly normal, BUT it might not make you happy. You may find you miss where you are from and dislike this new place, their culture, their language, their food, and on and on. OR you may you find the opposite. BUT the best option is to notice these differences and accept them. Accept where you are from and accept these new ways. If your mind is open, you might just learn something.

So, this third installment of “Reasons to live or travel in South Korea” is full of fantastic things I loved while I was in South Korea. Implicit in their descriptions is how different they are from what I was used to. They were welcome surprises. And now that I’m presently somewhere else, I miss these things and sometimes it does make me a little sad, but that’s life. So, on with the list…

1. Noraebangs/노래방– I’ll unashamedly defer to Wikipedia’s definition here, “private sound-proof rooms are available for rent, equipped for singing – typically microphones, remote controls, a large video screen, couches, and mood décor such as disco lights and tambourines.” I only went twice, so regret I didn’t go more. First, with my brother and his friends on a week long trip to Seoul from the US. Second, with friends from work right before I left the country. Both were fantastic, memorable evenings. Since they’re private rooms, you can relax with your friends without worrying about your performance skills or lack there of.  The videos on the screen are amusing (often random), the words not always accurate, the song selection stellar, the bonding with friends priceless.

2. Dining Out: I have mentioned food many times in this blog, but here I’m specifically referring to the experience of eating out. Most of the time you are greeted with a smile and bow, allowed to choose a seat (or shown to one), and left alone. You buzz the server with a button on your table or flag them down. The water jug, cups, hardy chopsticks, and napkins are already on your table (or in a drawer inside the table). The food comes fast, as does your bill. And paying your bill is super easy, at the table or register. In some places you sit on the floor on pads, after leaving your shoes in cubbies or on the floor at the front door. When you leave, you’re treated to smiles and shown out. You feel special.

What a set up at a seafood restaurant where we chose our food (still swimming around) before we ate

  3. Face and Beauty Supplies: I’ll admit I’ve never been too concerned with my skin, beauty, or other such things, but there are good beauty supply shops everywhere, always with discounts, or free gifts and samples. At Etude House in Myeong-dong (명동), Seoul, there’s often handsome young men standing outside in white suits luring us in. I eventually gave in to those brightly lit, accessible stores, especially when my friends went. I got into face masks and lotion, amazing! And the best foundation I ever had was from a South Korean store.

Ken products! Cuz, why not?!

4. Seoul: This needs its own blog, so instead of going on and on, just believe me when I say you can explore for several life times and never see everything. I frequently enjoyed an hour train or bus ride into Seoul to visit my brother or sight see with friends, or alone, and stay in decently priced, super nice hotels. There’s so much to see and experience- art, cool neighborhoods, museums, history, shopping, cafes, parks, rivers, canals, sports, food, and everything else. Though not a traditionally beautiful city, I found the modernity mixed with the old, often randomly sitting in the middle of the bustle, astounding. One of my favorite cities! (These photos below are only a few from one trip in the fall of 2016 with a friend.)

Sungnyemun Gate, Seoul, Korea- South Gate

Inside the gate

A few from Namsan tour

A view looking up at the tower

5. BBQ: Do you love meat you can cook at your own table? Do you enjoy wrapping it in leafy greens and adding condiments like garlic? Do you wish to do this with friends while not blowing all your hard earned money? Then have BBQ in South Korea. I refer to all kinds of meat, because often a place will specialize, and it will be great. (One of my favorite places was a duck restaurant, a friend took me to.) Again, sit on the floor (or not), but enjoy the attentive servers (but not overly so). Use scissors to cut your meat, and feel the juices run down your face when you bite into it. Having the grill between you and your friends makes for an interactive bonding experience. I’ve never NOT enjoyed Korean barbecue.

A meal in Gonju, South Korea

Look at all those sides! and the flowers!

6. Wifi and phones: South Korea is a technologically advanced country. I had a full, unlimited data plan for less than $40 a month, and rarely did I need all that data because I could connect almost anywhere, even at the bus stop. My phone was more than $100, but it was a new Samsung Galaxy. I need my phone to look up things like maps, when the bus is coming, or where to eat. Okay, I like social media- I’ll admit it. So, being connected is so easy!

7. Movie Theaters: It’s happening in the US, more choose your own seating at the cinema. It makes the movies feel more upscale. In South Korea there’s so much more than that. First, they’re often the top floor(s) of a building, so you can shop before or after. There’s often cafes or coffee shops on the same floors so you can take it in with you. That’s right! You often take a number before stepping up to purchase your ticket and choose your seat (unless you use an automated screen). There’s 2D, 3D, AND 4D (though not everywhere).  The theaters are clean, spacious, and comfortable. You leave through the exit in the front of the theater by the screen, and are greeted by someone with a trashcan and/or someone giving out movie memorabilia. It’s just so delightful. And not to worry, movies are in their original language with Korean subtitles (unless noted).

A display for Beauty and The Beast at our local theater above the bus station in Daejeon. 

8. Underground malls: Although these places can be a little claustrophobic and disorienting, they’re great places to find deals, get out of the heat, rain, snow, and often a short cut to crossing the street. The one in Daejeon, by the train station, links a major outdoor shopping mall and surrounding neighborhood together. I found low cost, high quality, tiny boots for my tiny feet. And a sturdy umbrella that withstood Austrian wind blasts, so there you are! These malls aren’t always readily apparent so be on the look out; they are normally around transportation hubs and you could get lost inside! Which isn’t always a bad thing.

Stairs out of/in one of the subway stations/shopping centers in Daejeon. They lit up with music!

We could go on easily, but this is another small chunk to digest for now. Honestly, there’s so much to be grateful for wherever we live and everywhere we go can be an adventure (one of my life philosophies, I try to live by). We humans have come up with some pretty great stuff. It’s fun to enjoy it. I hope you book your trip to South Korea soon!

A view out at Itaewon (foreigner district) in Seoul, on New Years Eve. It’s pretty at night

QUESTION: What do you love about South Korea and why?

Post your comments!

Reasons to Live in South Korea: Volume III When you travel ANYWHERE you might have the tendency to compare that place with what you're familiar with and that is perfectly normal, BUT it might not make you happy.

[threshie]

11 Questions Tag Game!

Tagged by @killer-kid-konan -- thanks for tagging me! I hope you don’t mind that I am replying with my main blog instead of @threshasketch. That’s my art blog, so I like to keep it just to posting my own work and the occasional ask there. =)

THE RULES ARE SIMPLE 1. Post the Rules. 2. Answer the questions given to you. 3. Make 11 questions of your own. 4. Tag 11 people.

1. Pizza or pizza pop

I don’t know what pizza pop is...but I’m allergic to most pizza. XD Gluten-free, dairy-free pizza from Razzi’s Pizzeria in Seattle is fantastic, I’ll pick that.

2. Xbox, ps4 or Nintendo?

PS4. Then I could game with my boyfriend. (Being off-grid again, my PS3 is kinda collecting dust and I game on my PC right now.)

3.what fandom’s are you in?

Supernatural, Resident Evil, Until Dawn, and Marvel are my most recent/active fandoms. I will draw/write about whatever I want at any time, though, and I’m eternally a fan of dinosaur-anything.

4. what fandoms have you abandoned or don’t visit anymore.

Fandoms I’ve been active in in the past (by “active” I mean I made fanworks) include Death Note, Axis Powers Hetalia, Gundam Wing, Fushigi Yuugi, Fruits Basket, The Slayers, Ouran High School Host Club, Stargate: Atlantis, Harvest Moon, Mario Bros, Final Fantasy VII, Pokemon, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I’m positive there are a few I missed in there; I’m 31 and I’ve been in various fandoms since I was 14. 

5. where are you on that DND alignment chart thing

LOL; I’d say I’m lawful good. I don’t like to lie, break rules, break laws, hurt feelings, I’m sometimes too honest, I would not stand by and let people get hurt and do nothing about it, I would clothe/feed poor peasants I meet (giving money to people standing on the street corner with a sign is the modern equivalent, right?), and I like to do small things to make people smile, like compliment their neat shoes or pretty hair.

6.Best fast food place?

I am allergic to most fast food, as it contains a lot of gluten and dairy.

7. Mall or online shopping

Online, no contest. I’m an introvert and I don’t drive, so having things delivered to my door is extra nice. I can also find what I want better online, mall stuff is overpriced, and you’re always there with other people so you can’t take your time browsing or you’ll be inconveniencing them...

8. HOW HYPE ARE YOU FOR THE HOLADAYS

I’m jobless, so I can’t really buy gifts for people this year. I’m really excited to get together with my family though, and to cook home-made pies and baked turkey and play Christmas carols and string up shiny lights and hang up a row of the cards we receive above the big picture window in the dining room. Oh, and to drink egg nog, and make hot buttered rum, and probably write some fanfic to take advantage of the great contrivance that is mistletoe. And to wear cuddly sweaters, and to see it snow some more (it snowed last night -- woke up with it white out!), and to draw cute things like characters in ugly Christmas sweaters. Okay, I guess I’m pretty hyped, LOL.

9. Wifi is not working, what do you do?

Draw, read or write! ...Or use my phone as a mobile hotspot, but I think that answer might be cheating?

10.Whats the 2017 mood in less then 17 words

I don’t know about anybody else, but my 2017 mood is this: Speedy. 2017 is zooming by. It’s almost 2018. Cripes.

11. Would you drink a glass of spit for 1000$?

As revolting as that sounds, yeah, I probably would. There are more disgusting things, and hey, you didn’t specify whose so it could just be my own.

Okay, here are my 11 questions for you:

1. Would you rather be entirely responsible for somebody else (who can’t make any decisions without your help), or not be able to make any decisions without somebody else (who is utterly responsible for you)?

2. You can travel to any point in time, but you have to stay there. What time would you pick?

3. What’s your earliest memory?

4. Assuming you’re in a comfortable warm environment, do you prefer to relax in socks or barefoot?

5. What’s your fanfic or fanart guilty pleasure? (You can send me an ask on anon if you don’t want your name attached!)

6. List any scars and how you got them?

7. Could you find your way safely through your room in pitch darkness?

8. Can you whistle?

9. Describe an outfit that is the opposite of your usual way of dressing.

10. What’s your favorite board game?

11. How would society be different if humans had evolved with wings?

I tag the following:

@casinthegarden @bruvebanner @spikedspiegel @profdrlachfinger @lesbianlenas @yifera @jennilah @ozonecologne @kennedysharper @hvit-ravn @grumpycakes and anybody else who sees these questions and thinks answering them would be fun! :D

[dailykhaleej]

Coronavirus: How UAE hotels have turned into quarantine facilities

UAE hotels turning into quarantine facilities Picture Credit score: Provided

DUBAI: Many empty hotels within the UAE have now been reworked into quarantine facilities for asymptomatic and mildly-symptomatic coronavirus sufferers. This collaboration between the hospitality trade and the healthcare sector have helped liberate hospital beds for many who want them essentially the most, whereas efficiently isolating those who wait for his or her outcomes to be declared fully virus-free.

It has additionally helped so as to add an additional stage of safety for the group and the households of those sufferers who would possibly have risked their very own well being by having them shut at dwelling.

Abdulla Balouma, Director of Normal Companies and Administration Affairs at DHA

Abdulla Balouma, Director of Normal Companies and Administration Affairs at DHA, mentioned, “We are working with different hotels and many private healthcare providers to ensure we have high-quality isolation facilities for people that need to undergo mandatory self-isolation for a period until deemed medically fit. Working with hotels for isolation purposes has multiple benefits. It reduces the risk of infection spread and thus protects community members, it also provides those who need to self-isolate with a comfortable and comforting environment and it ensures hospital beds are reserved for those who really need them.”

Dr Pietie Loubser, Chief Scientific Officer, Mediclinic Center East

Dr Pietie Loubser, Chief Scientific Officer, Mediclinic Center East, that manages one such resort in Dubai, mentioned, “As you are aware, the UAE Government is employing many strategies in its efforts to control the Covid-19 pandemic. One such measure is to utilise currently empty hospitality facilities to quarantine asymptomatic COVID-19 sufferers or those who are recovering from the virus and need minimal care. Mediclinic is actively supporting the Government in this endeavour by managing such a facility. Those in residence receive a high level of care and support.”

No hospitality workers

The hotels that have been reworked into quarantine facilities are manned solely by healthcare workers. There are not any staff of the resort on floor. Sufferers have to be above 18 and below 50, displaying delicate signs or with no signs in any respect, to have the ability to be in residence. Every affected person has a personal room, with entry to 3 meals a day, free wifi and laundry companies. Nurses and medical doctors test vitals each day, maintain a watch out for any creating signs and test for complications.

Vernon Cordy, Clinic Director, Mediclinic Dubai Mall

Vernon Cordy, Clinic Director, Mediclinic Dubai Mall, defined that when sufferers are available to the quarantine facilities, they’re, “tested five days after admission. If the first test is negative, a second test will be conducted after 24 hours. If it is negative again, the patient will be discharged. If, however, the test is positive, the test will be repeated after 72 hours and will be repeated until two successive negative results (24 hours apart) are obtained.”

Six-night keep

Suman Manning, who examined optimistic for Coronavirus in March however remained completely asymptomatic, spent six nights in a single such quarantine facility on The Palm Jumeirah. She is now all away from the virus.

Manning was moved from her dwelling to the Parkview Hospital to be checked after testing optimistic for the second time after which from the hospital, was moved to the resort on April 8. She has remained fully asymptomatic all this whereas.

The resort Manning was quarantined at has no hospitality workers and is manned by the Mediclinic nurses and medical doctors. “We were well looked after. We each had a room with a balcony and I even had a view of the ocean! We get served three meals and two snacks a day. We were also allowed to order food online which then got delivered to the hotel and one of the staff brought it up to me. It was all contactless. We were also provided with a choice of cuisines. The authorities also make sure we had access to fresh towels and toiletries and we had help with laundry as well.”

Excessive stage of security controls

So, how does a resort get reworked into a quarantine facility? Balouma says that DHA is working with hotels to create the best stage of security controls and an setting, which is therapeutic for sufferers.

“We create optimistic stress within the corridors and adverse stress within the affected person rooms utilizing the resort’s AC system and improve circulation of contemporary air within the rooms. We work intently with hotels and the personal well being suppliers in order that hotels observe all well being precaution measures to the best requirements and they’re monitored by DHA. Lodge workers endure coaching previous to the method of taking in any sufferers they usually observe all disinfection protocols and processes.

We offer all workers members on the resort with crucial private protecting gear (PPE’s) they usually completely observe well being and security pointers. These below self-isolation are additionally made conscious of those procedures. For instance, meals and alter of linen is positioned exterior the door, sufferers must put on a facemask after they accumulate the meals. Disposal strategies are clearly defined to sufferers. Sufferers have wi-fi facility and are supplied with personalized common meals particularly ready based mostly on their choice and medical situations.”

Cordy, who has been managing operations on the quarantine facility of The Palm, agrees that the change in finished in step with worldwide requirements.

“Process flows are instituted whereby contaminated items are separated from clean areas. While rooms are kept as comfortable as possible, all items that are considered non-essential or pose an infection control risk are removed. It is important to ensure adequate room ventilation and to post signage indicating isolation areas. No visitors are allowed and access to and movement within the hotel is restricted.”

Even staffing is in accordance with DHA laws and worldwide norms.

“Frequently used ratios are 1:10 for nursing (one nurse for 10 patients) and 1:40 doctors. There are, however, environmental and other factors that might influence these ratios, such as the layout of rooms on a particular floor,” Cordy added.

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[newstfionline]

After Irma, a once-lush gem in the U.S. Virgin Islands reduced to battered wasteland

By Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, September 12, 2017

CRUZ BAY, U.S. Virgin Islands--The Asolare restaurant is gone, practically blown off its cliff, along with its world-famous carrot ginger soup. The facade of Margarita Phil’s is a junkyard of yellow and vermilion planks. Multimillion-dollar homes and aluminum huts alike lie in ruins.

On the island of St. John, that was only Irma’s beginning. Once a lush gem in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a chain steeped in the lore of pirates and killer storms, this 20-square-mile island is now perhaps the site of Irma’s worst devastation on American soil.

Six days after the storm--some say several days too late--the island finally has an active-theater disaster zone. Military helicopters buzz overhead and a Navy aircraft carrier is anchored off the coast, as the National Guard patrols the streets.

The Coast Guard is ferrying the last of St. John’s dazed tourists to large cruise ships destined for Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. More than a few locals, cut off from the world with no power, no landlines and no cellular service--other than the single bar you might get above Ronnie’s Pizza--are leaving, too, some of them in tears.

The streets of Cruz Bay, the largest town of this island of roughly 5,000, were a bizarre tableau of broken businesses and boats on sidewalks. Beyond belief, the Dog House bar had not only a generator but satellite TV, and folks streamed in and out, some stepping over debris holding beers.

A drive up formerly picturesque mountain roads reveals a landscape of such astonishing devastation that it looks as if it were bombed. Entire houses have disappeared. Others are tilting on their sides. Horizons of waxy-green bay leaf trees on jade-colored hills have turned to barren wastelands, as if the world’s largest weed whacker had hedged the entire island.

“Hurricanes? We’ve been through hurricanes--lots of them. But nothing, nothing, like this,” said Jerry O’Connell, a Chevy Chase, Md., native turned St. John developer.

And that’s just damage from the weather.

In the days following the storm, lawlessness broke out--here and on other Caribbean islands. Thieves hit a string of businesses. Houses were burgled, entire ATM machines stolen.

In the information vacuum after the storm, rumors flew like Irma’s raindrops. Prisoners had broken free on nearby Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, seized guns and formed armed gangs.

Left largely unprotected and with no way to call the police, some locals began sleeping in shifts. One local blogger, Jenn Manes, called for help on her island blog--help that finally arrived in force Monday. Others jumped on her for sullying the island’s name, because tough times can bring communities together, but they can also divide.

“I know some people were not happy with my telling the truth--that I was scared, that people here were scared,” said Manes as she lined up Tuesday to catch a Coast Guard boat off the island. “It doesn’t mean I won’t be back. We’re going to rebuild.”

On late Wednesday morning when Irma hit, the Virgin Islands, a haven for cruise ships and those in search of a good piña colada, were supposed to get lucky. A former Danish colony purchased by the United States in 1917, the small island cluster had had more than its fair share of cyclones. Their names read like a litany of salty villains: Marylyn, Irene, Hugo.

Irma was supposed to veer to the north, or so thought Joe Decourcy, a Canadian businessman who moved to St. John in 2001. Instead, the storm slammed the island at full intensity, its Category 5 winds of 150 mph racking it from coast to coast. Irma also hit neighboring St. Thomas, devastating the local hospital and homes and businesses across the island. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, only St. Croix was largely spared.

Decourcy, owner of Joe’s Rum Hut, holed up that night in the formidable villa of a friend. Even the multimillion-dollar home could not hold Irma back. They sheltered on the first floor after second-floor windows were sucked out, causing massive flooding.

“The pressure was insane. It felt like our heads were going to explode,” he said.

When the slow-moving storm cleared, Decourcy emerged with other shell-shocked locals to post-apocalyptic scenes of shattered homes, of cars, boats and sides of homes in the street. “We walked around like ‘The Walking Dead,’” he said.

A sailboat named Windsong had landed in the street in front of Joe’s Rum Hut. Islanders quickly banded together, he said, sharing food, supplies. But by Friday, the “vibe,” he said, “started to change.”

The island was virtually cut off. No cell reception. No power. No WiFi. It also meant there was no way to call the island’s police, and some began to realize it.

Friday morning, Decourcy arrived to start cleaning up in earnest, only to discover the chains to the bar had been cut by bolt cutters. Inside, the registers were smashed open, the safes ajar. He had banked the bar’s cash before the storm. But who knew what else was missing--he did not have the stomach to do an inventory.

At least four other businesses in a mall he runs also were hit. A gas station was robbed, as was Scoops, the island’s ice cream parlor. The burned-out husk of an ATM and safe, which thieves apparently tried to open with a blowtorch, sit in the town’s police station.

Many residents were outraged it took so long for the National Guard to arrive.

“No structure, no police presence, no National Guard,” Decourcy said. “It got really tense, to the point where business owners were asking, ‘How do I get firearms? How do I get off the island? Are they coming for us?’ I mean, this is supposed to be U.S. territory. And yet people were just running around breaking into residences and stores.”

Devida Damron, 38, a 10-year island resident who works at the local veterinary clinic, was leaving St. John on Tuesday with her boyfriend and her dog, French Fry. She said she saw a man with a machete in the street Friday yelling, “It’s looting time.”

At the same time, a cluster of do-gooders, mostly launching from the Puerto Rican coast, were starting to ferry the old and infirm off St. John. Nils Erickson, a 42-year-old Gaithersburg, Md., native and part time St. John resident, rushed down Friday after he began hearing pleas from islanders on a Facebook page.

“People were begging for help,” he said.

With the aid of a local boat company, a GoFundMe account and credit cards to finance the rest, Erickson began running supply mission and evacuations. Since Friday--three days before large-scale official efforts--they managed to get 600 people off the island.

So many boats came to aid that the locals began to call it the “Puerto Rican Navy.”

“It was our own Dunkirk,” said Sgt. Richard Dominguez of the Virgin Islands Police Department. “They took their own boats before official means were available. They didn’t wait.”

Kenneth Mapp (I), governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, insisted in a telephone interview that there had been no pillaging at all on St. John, despite evidence to the contrary.

The citizens here are pulling together. The Dog House is offering free food. Meaghan Enright, 34, a marketing manager on the island who suddenly finds herself jobless, has found a new reason for being the de facto relief organizer.

“St. John has a singular ability to pull together in a crisis,” she said.

[oneandonehalf]

Days 3 - 5: Victoria and Vomiting

Despite the title, this was mostly a successful and fun couple of days.

Day 3 had us departing Vancouver after our brief love affair with their Chinese food and heading to Victoria via a beautiful ferry ride out of the tip of Richmond (outside of Vancouver proper). The scenery was beautiful, and since I’m a bit nearsighted I went to grab my glasses to see it more clearly. Except, as it turns out, I packed my glasses case but NOT my glasses.

Driving from the ferry port into Victoria proper reminded me a lot of Long Island, for the most part. Lots of big box stores like the ones we have, a mall on the outskirts of town. But the brands like ‘Boston Pizza’ and a store offering ‘Vintage Hot Tubs’ definitely made it clear we were not in the States. (Because who’s going to Boston for PIZZA?)

We stayed at Hotel Rialto, which is about a 10 minute walk from the harbor in Victoria. It was SWANKY! They gave us a voucher for a free cheese plate in their tapas lounge, there was a towel warmer in the bathroom and robes for us to use while we were there. This was probably going to be the most luxury I would be getting on this trip, so I took full advantage. 

After we settled in, we still had some time to spare and decided to explore the neighborhood. A quick Google search told me there was something called the Miniature Museum a short walk away, and if there’s anything I love more than things it's SMALLER VERSIONS OF THINGS, so off we went!

It did not disappoint! This was at least 30 miniature dioramas of war scenes, the history of Canada, a carnival section, a fairy tale section, tons of doll houses and much, much more! There were buttons you could push that would make the trains go or turn the lights in the dollhouses on and off, and we all know I’m great at pushing buttons so I PUSHED THEM ALL.

Day 4 was quintessential Victoria: Butchart Gardens and tea at The Empress. The gardens were absolutely gorgeous, and where most people take 1.5 hours to explore, we took three (I like to linger :D). The most beautiful part was the Sunken Garden, which was created in an abandoned limestone quarry:

There was also a rose garden and a Japanese garden and an Italian garden (which has gelato that you MUST have if you go). The landscaper really outdid themselves.

Next was high tea at The Empress, which overlooks the harbor. TBH, I’ve had better high teas, but seeing as those were in England I’m giving The Empress a pass. There was still two pots of tea and a tower of food, and we were very happy with it, and thankful for the walk back to the hotel to digest it all. :P

Day 5 was travel from Victoria to Seattle on a Clipper ferry, and here, dear readers, comes the vomiting. It turns out that Clipper ferries (which are passenger only) are much more subject to bobbing around, and these inner ears of mine were made for bigger vessels than that one. By the time we got to the hotel, I was done for the day.

To anyone that’s read all this way, or who continues to read the banalities of my travel life, THANK YOU! I’m sorry I’m so behind (it’s now day 8 as I write this) but hopefully I will catch up soon! Wifi has been spotty, but LOOK, I FIGURED OUT HOW TO NOT CLOG YOUR FEEDS so that counts for something, right? 

(It also seems that I can only post a certain amount of pictures at any given moment before the Tumblrs explode, so the only way to get you more pictures is to post them one by one. Say YAY if you want this!)

[umichenginabroad]

GHDI Presents: Ghana, by the Numbers

** I’m noticing that the text format for this blog doesn’t allow for a lot of space between paragraphs so I’m going to put (some random) pictures between paragraphs to make it easier to read**

Afia’s Guesthouse

May 14, 2019 at 7:41 PM

I always have trouble starting off these posts. Maybe I should start off with an objective fact or something that surprised me just to get me writing. Today the real-feel temperature was 98 deg and sunny, and definitely the hottest day we’ve had so far. It was also the day we did the most walking around; so, that kinda sucked. We decided to check out a different place (still on the hospital campus) for lunch, and it turned out to be super good! It was marginally more expensive (8 ghs = $1.6 instead of 5 ghs = $1) for food that was some of the best we’ve had here. We had been eating at the canteen within the emergency department, and this was the overall hospital canteen; changing things up is good sometimes. There are other restaurants and food stalls within the hospital walls and just outside so we’ll be sure to branch out and try new stuff!

Today is Tuesday, and our first weekend here in the city was very fun! On Saturday we had a leisurely morning (spent reading, ofc) and then our young host brother (he has to only be like 9 or 10) was our tour guide! He took us in to the Palace of the Ashanti King. I won’t go into too many specifics, but the Ashanti region is a very important region of Ghana, Kumasi is the capital, and the Ashanti king is a very important dude. Just under the president of Ghana in terms of power. The palace of said Ashanti king is right here in Kumasi! He currently lives in a very nice place located right next to the OLD king’s palace, which has been converted into a museum. Turns out we can’t roll up to the king’s place (knock knock hello hi) so we checked out the museum instead with a very kind guided tour that was actually pretty cheap (25 cedi = $5) We had to wait a bit because the president of the UN was actually visiting the palace as part of her tour around Ghana (read that in an article later fun fact) so there were actually 8 or so black SUVs just chilling in the middle of the parking lot with a peacock. Wild. With the UN president there were also other Ghanaian dignitaries there, and we got a picture with the mayor of Kumasi! Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

After visiting the palace museum, we headed to the famous Kumasi Kejetia central market! Think about the biggest market you’ve seen, and unless you’ve been to the Tokyo fish market, at least double it; then imagine that each stall is about big enough for one person to sit in sideways (maybe like 3 ft by 5 ft area with surrounding shelves about 12 feet tall, 2 ft deep, that hold the goods. The goods can be fabric (so much gd fabric and cloths wow what a time to be alive), pencils and notebooks, shirts and sheets and shiny things, anything you think of, it’s there somewhere. I hope that mental picture works for you, here’s a real picture of one of the “hallway” between stalls if it helps.

Our host mom actually works at the market and has her own stall! She sells t-shirts and towels and sheets so I ended up picking up a 3-pack of white wife beaters (pack for 15 cedi = $5) to wear under my scrubs at the hospital so I wouldn’t wear out my other shirts. I also found a pumice stone for 5 ghs = $1 so my feet can look all nice when I wear my flip flops (very important) because EVERYONE here wears sandals or flip flops (they call them slippers). Walking through the market you can be overwhelmed by how many pairs of sandals and flop flips you see climbing high above you. It’s kinda wild. I got a compliment on my Kino flip-flops (I brought these from home) from some of the kids on the street so I’m riding a high right now and I can’t let it go.

When we were at the market, it suddenly opened up and the sky started POURING rain down. We might have been able to see the sky to know it was coming but there was a little bit of fabric in the way. As soon as the first drop hit the whole market went into a frenzy. Knife stalls started wrapping their wares, food vendors started closing shutters. Fabric sellers grabbed these long poles and deftly snagged all the fabrics away from the edge and everyone closed some curtains or plastic drapes around their stalls and sat and waited for the rain to hit. It all happened so quickly and efficiently, these people are professionals. Alex and I were waiting out the rain in our host mom’s stall and showing her kids how to play euchre (on our phone). Take that image of a small, cramped stall, and now fit Afia, her brother, her two kids, and two white guys into that area for about 30 minutes. Having fun yet?

Rain in Ghana seems to come furious and fleeting. Last week we seemed to have a major downpour that literally shook the ceiling and the winds slammed all our doors open and closed until we blocked them. The rain and winds (but mostly the rain) can come out of nowhere and downpour for about 10 or 15 minutes and then be nice and sunny again. It’s like Florida on steroids (or on [insert hard drug]). After the rain ended, we headed to Kumasi City Mall, the largest mall in West Africa! There were a few higher end stores there and two main grocery/goods stores to cap the ends and some more western vibes like a dine and view movie theatre and the like. I ended up settling in the fabric store to look for patterns and fabrics out of which I can make custom tailored clothes like this!

One thing we had heard from previous students is the availability to have custom-made shirts and clothes! I love the idea so I bought some fabric and Afia contacted a tailor that came over on Monday to take our measurements and our style preference and get the fabrics from us. I ordered 2 short-sleeve shirts with a mix of simple and patterned fabric and Alex went with 1 short sleeve and 1 long sleeve out of a fabric he found in the market. They should be done by Friday so I’ll let you know what they turn out to be! The fabrics (and really most things here) were super cheap. prices at the market were 4 cedi = $0.8 per 1 yard of fabric for some of the cheaper ones and the higher end range at the mall were 26 cedi = $5.2 per yard (reference:2 yards make a shirt, normal yd prices in U.S. are usually like $15/yd). The cost to make the shirts was 50 cedi = $10 for a short sleeve, and 60 cedi = $12 for a long sleeve. To be honest it’s on the pricier side of things we’ve purchased but in perspective I think they’ll be really cool items.

I skipped Sunday, and while the morning was super relaxing and I was able to read for a while (noticing a trend? I’ve finished 3 books since I’ve been here [flex]) in the afternoon we were invited to a party! Afia’s oldest brother in law was having his 67th birthday and we scored an invite to the hottest party. It was a pretty fun event, the home was wonderful, they had tables set up outside with umbrellas and fans and free drinks (1 water, 1 malt drink, and 1 beer, nothing crazy). I don’t have much to compare it to, but it was a cool even with some optional speeches from guests about the feats of the birthday king and lots of prayers and the same 3 damn songs played over and over and over again for hours because the guy doing the music left to go inside. Alex and I chatted with some people and played lots of cards outside and had some great food so a good way to make a day when we didn’t have any plans.

Today we met with the coordinator of the medical student hostel (after he kept us waiting for 2 hours) to see about getting our room! Turns out they were more prepared for us because they had us check in, grab a key, and go to our room right then and there. The new digs are pretty cozy, Alex and I are sharing a room and then we also share a bathroom with the B side of the space but there’s no one there right now. The room costs 20 cedi/night or $4/night so for $2/night, neither of us are really complaining. We contacted someone to get access to the wifi and that was a huge success so some major moves coming out of today. We told Afia that our last night would be tomorrow night (Wednesday) and that we would move in there on Thursday; so that’s the plan. We haven’t paid for anything yet, and don’t really know when we have to. They didn’t ask for a down payment or payment for the full time we’ll be there, we already have the key so I imagine they’ll come buy sometime asking why we haven’t paid. It’ll be nice to be much closer to the hospital and the city instead of having to take a 20 cedi = $4 cab each way from Afia’s house. In the grand scheme of things, we can’t complain but there are advantages and disadvantages to living with Afia (being cooked for is a huge plus).

Quick update on hospital life: things are going well! We’re both more confident in introducing ourselves and asking the questions we need to ask about the challenges they’re facing within the hospital so we’re doing well so far.

Later this week I’m sure there’ll be fun things to tell you about (we made a friend today) as we continue exploring the city so stay tuned.

Thanks for hanging with me,

Scott

—

Scott Vanden Heuvel

Mechanical Engineering

GHDI Immersion Experience, Kumasi, Ghana

[remembermemorablememories]

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

post #428

condensed post

main points:

- woke up around 10am, chilled in bed and mobilized/headed out around 11am

- got a pastry at a family mart on the way to taipei main station. it was like a 10 minute walk from my airbnb fortunately. went to the ticket counter and purchased my HSR ticket for 11:31am. also went to a bakery shop and got a hot dog pastry thing cause i was still kind of hungry. i chilled for like 15 minutes, i couldn't connect to wifi cause the wifi required me to make an account with a taiwan phone number :’(

- rode the train for an hour and got to taichung around 12:18pm. when i got there i tried to record with my DSLR camera. then... on the second clip, the screen glitched and froze. this was like when my camera broke in october 2017. not good news. i tried switching the batteries but it didn't work. god damn it. my camera might actually be broken this time. switched my phone to airplane mode for the day so i could use it for recording

- john came and picked me up around 1:20pm. we rode on his scooter over to rainbow village since it was close to the HSR station. scootering is SOOOO fun. but after we started picking up speed i could barely open my eyes cause there was so much wind LOL. but it was a nice sunny day out so all good. while we were riding, i think a fly got caught in my band-aid on my right thumb. yikers had to get it out/wash it off in the bathroom when we arrived at rainbow village

- wandered around rainbow village for about 30 minutes. we just kind of caught up on how things were going cause it's been like 6 years since i last saw john :o he told me about how his teaching is going and also how he's learning chinese which is super cool. so much respsect that he's able to do that

- scooted over to a mall to go to a sushi place that john likes. but the first mall we went to was the wrong one :P so we scooted another 5 minutes and then went to one of those sushi places with conveyor belts. it was super cool, i got a lot, like maybe 5 plates? our meal in total was like $10 per person. they also have a really cool plate game at the end where for ever 5 plates you drop in, it has an RNG game that you might win something from a gachapon type thing. the salmon with cream cheese was pretty good. we talked a lot about john's teaching experiences in an inner city school and now in taiwan. i also talked a bit about my internship experiences/leading up to my full time job

- john gave me a couple of options that we could do and i opted for the hike :D big mistake, the hike was so hard lmaooo. we got there and then hiked for maybe like 40-60 minutes up to the top. there were so many stairs :o also it was kind of hot. but honestly i couldn't imagine what it would be like if it were dead of summer with humidity added to it too. once we got to the top there was a guy selling this cold lemonade juice so i got one of them. also we got to the top and watched the sun set which was great timing (like around 6:30pm) . then we flew my drone around for like 20 minutes just to see the view from the top of the mountain. i got a bunch of mosquito bites, the big ones were one or two on my neck

- scooted over to a night market and wandered around for a bit. we both got scallion pancakes which were solid. then i tried to get some milk tea but it was actually just milk and boba. it was meh but oh well, gotta try the boba in taiwan while i can

- scooted over to john's favorite ice cream place and then ate it on top of this abandoned building he knew of across the street. it was low key really scary and sus. i was anxious the whole time. but it was an interesting experience LOL. john had a lot of "would you rather" questions like would you rather lose an arm or a leg? lose sight or lose hearing? very interesting stuff

- john gave me a ride back to the HSR station and we said good bye. it was already like 9:30pm. the whole day flew by so fast, so many activities. it was really really nice catching up with him. he seems like he's thriving, meeting so many new people and really getting immersed in taiwan culture :)

- took the train back to the apartment. then just took a shower and wrote an email to Canon support asking what I could do about this situation. i got back home and it was the same battery issue so i thought maybe it would be fixed. but after recharging the battery and plugging it in, i actually got an error 80 this time. but since i had it repaired in 2017, they made a public notice that they fix error 70/80 for free. i just don't know if i have the time to wait for them to repair it while i'm traveling... sigh

the end

[yuppielionheart]

kriz Wanders in Taiwan: New Year Escape 2019

DIY travel is in nowadays, but we have to admit that having a DO-IT-YOURSELF Travel in a country wherein you are unfamiliar and you can not understand their language is a bit difficult, but me and my friends were able to pull it off when we took our vacation last December 2018 to spend our New year in Taipei, Taiwan. I’m going to share our 6 day itinerary and some of our travel hacks. So if you are interested, keep on reading this blog.

TIP #1 ALWAYS BOOK AHEAD OF TIME!

So this is my first time to travel overseas, and luckily, I don’t have to get a visa for this trip since currently, Taiwan is visa free for Filipinos. Originally, my friends and I were planning to spend the first quarter of 2019 in Cebu for Sinulog. But, suddenly they had a change of plan and I had to choose if I will come with them, or I will just go to Cebu on my own. And that’s how I ended up with this trip. Taiwan was not in the list of the countries that I wanted to visit, but as I come to wander around, I fell in love with the place. And so with the people who are very nice to us.

We booked our flight way ahead of time, so we can get a lower price for the plane tickets and my friend booked a place via airBnB, which is supposed to be cheap if only, we were able to book ahead of time. There is a big price increase if you will book a month before your stay, which happened to us.

So does with the place that we're going to stay, we didn't book ahead of time. When we were doing a canvas like 6 mos before our stay, the price was cheap, but when we alreadydecided to book a place, few months before our flight, that was the time that the price suddenly went up.

So always remember, BOOK AHEAD OF TIME!

You can really save some money if you will book ahead of time from the tickets to the place that you will stay. What happened to me was, I was so confident that I won't be needing an extra baggage allowance, since it will just be a week of stay, but in the end, I realized that I need an extra baggage, which lead me to a pricey addition of extra baggage. If you will just add a week before your flight, then it would cost you a lot. That was my case, and I regret it.

TIP # 2 FREE WATER @ the airport

We arrived in Taiwan at around 1AM, most stores in the airport is already closed at that time. Since most stores are not open when we arrived, the choice that we have is the 7-11, it's open 24 hours near the airport food court. But if you just want a water and you don't want to spend, the airport water refilling station is there. If you've watched my Vlog, it's the part where in there is a paper cups.  I was a bit amazed when I first saw the paper cups and I was like, that's cool.

TIP #3 EXCHANGE YOUR MONEY AT THE AIRPORT

Upon arrival at the airport, you're going to need some money to spend to buy some stuffs. There's a money changer as soon as you go out after picking up your luggage in the carousell area.

My friends chose to have there Php change to NT before leaving the country, they bought some NT in NAIA before our flight. They had an exchange rate of 1.85Php to 1NT that time.

But I chose to exchange my money as soon as I arrive in Taoyuan Airport. Since I have US dollar, the exchange rate will be higher to NT than if I chose to buy NT using Php.

1 US Dollar = 30NT

NOTE: The money changer at the airport only charges 0.30NT compared to having a money exchange at the local bank in Taiwan which charges 200NT.

I really regret that I didn't exchanged everything at the airport, and just had my other money exchanged at the bank a few days after our arrival. I didn't have an idea that it would cost that much.

SO NOW YOU KNOW GUYS!

TIP # 4 PORTABLE WIFI + SIM (Bought at the airport)

We live in a modern age, where in internet is a part of our life and we love to update our social media accounts on our whereabouts. So here's a very useful and economical tip that I can share with you guys. You don't have to register your sim for roaming and subscribe to a surf promo using your local network here in the country so you can use data when you're abroad. You don't also need to rent a portable wifi in the airport  or from an online shop.

What you'll need is just YOUR OWN PORTABLE POCKET WIFI which is not locked from any network (OPENLINE), so you can use any network and enjoy surfing.

So upon arrival at the airport, we decided to buy a simcard that is under a local network in Taiwan, what's cool about is for 5 days, you'll get unlimited data for only 300NT!

That's cheap!

And of course, having an internet connection in a foreign country is a way of survival, well that's our case. We can always use google maps, online translator so we could understand the things that we're not able to understand.

TIP # 5 MRT FOR TRANSPORTATION

There are a lot of ways to get around in Taiwan, there's MRT, BUS and TAXI. But we chose to use the MRT, because it's easier and faster than taking a ride by bus/taxi. You should be aware of the bus routes, if you will choose to get around by bus, there bus ride system is different than ours because they use bus route numbers for their destinations. MRT is very convenient for transportation and cheaper. Since most of the tourist spots can be accessed using MRT, we chose this as our mode of transportation.

NOTE: You can buy a card that is good for 1 week stay in the train station, so you don't have to buy chips whenever you're going to take train/bus ride.

But in our case, since we know that we won't be able to consume everything in the card, we chose to buy chips every time we're going to need it.

(See here: Getting around Taiwan)

TIP #6 BOOK YOUR HOTEL/AIRBNB NEAR MRT STATIONS

It will be much easier to wander around the area and will be cheaper if you will stay near MRT stations. In our case, since our place is near the MRT Station, whenever we're going out, we will just walk to the nearest station and head to our destination.

We only took a cab like twice? It's because we are too tired that we don't want to walk anymore.

There are two options in taking a cab:

1. UBER - it's simple, just pin the place and you're good to go, no need to explain.

NOTE: Cash is not accepted, so you must connect your credit/debit card in your account as a mode of payment.

2. Hire a taxi

We're lucky enough that the driver is fluent in english so we we're able to understand each other and had a fast drive.

So here is our travel itinerary

DAY 1: - Arrival at TAOYUAN AIRPORT - TAIPEI MAIN STATION - MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Taipei (MOCA TAIPEI)

(MOCA TAIPEI)

You can go here by walking from Taipei Main Station, no need to ride.

Day 2:

- TAIPEI ZOO - MAOKONG GONDOLA - CHIANG KAI SHEK MEMORIAL HALL - XIMENDING - SHILIN NIGHT MARKET

TAIPEI ZOO

You can find a lot of animals that is not present here in our tropical country. So if you're an animal lover, you must visit this place. There is just an entrance fee of 60NT.

From here you can also ride going to MAOKONG, however you can also go to Maokong without entering the zoo, because they have a station outside the zoo. In our case, we rode from the south station of Taipei Zoo going to Maokong Station, which costed us 70NT.

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A post shared by Kristine Bonx (@kristinemaeb) on Dec 30, 2018 at 12:38am PST

MAOKONG

It's very cold here!

So we went here riding a crystal clear cable car, it's a 30 minute ride so the 120NT charge is not bad (MAOKONG STATION-TAIPEI ZOO STATION)

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A post shared by Kristine Bonx (@kristinemaeb) on Dec 30, 2018 at 1:39am PST

CHIANG KAI SHEK MEMORIAL HALL

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A post shared by Kristine Bonx (@kristinemaeb) on Dec 30, 2018 at 3:26am PST

XIMENDING

If you love shopping, this is the place to go. The Red brick house is also found here.

SHILIN NIGHT MARKET

Another place to go for shoppers. There's a nice vietnamese restaurant here.

DAY 3: - TAIPEI 101/TAIPEI 101 Mall - TAIPEI 101 Observatory deck - TIGER ROAR @ UNI-PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL BLDG

TAIPEI 101

At Taipei 101, there's a starbucka where in you can chill and enjoy the beautiful view of Taipei city, but you'll have to make reservations for it.

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A post shared by Kristine Bonx (@kristinemaeb) on Dec 31, 2018 at 3:50am PST

TIGERROAR is a korean cuisine restaurant and they have great food. This is where we chose to have our New Year's eve dinner. Most restaurants were full and we found this as we search for a place to eat. 

NEXT = > DAY 4

[bluebookweb]

How WiFi Data Helps Restaurants Produce More Customer Traffic

It’s always been said that creating a successful restaurant begins with three fundamental strategies: serving great food and drink, offering exceptional customer service, and creating a comfortable and attractive environment for patrons to enjoy their meal.

Yes, those strategies are a given. But in the 21st century, they’re also not enough.

Finding ways to increase customer traffic and retain loyal customers are the keys to success in the today’s ultra-competitive restaurant industry. Consumers now have hundreds of choices, each just a Google search away. This makes attracting these diners to your restaurant, and keeping them coming back, more important than ever.

Fortunately, there’s a way to get an edge on the competition that you may not realize is sitting right there in your restaurant.

Guest WiFi Data Collection

The ability to collect and analyze customer data has become a hallmark of modern business. WiFi analytics systems put the powerful, data-driven decision-making abilities of ecommerce companies into the hands of brick-and-mortar business owners. Essentially, the playing field can be leveled again, taking back the advantage ecommerce sites have had for years.  Here’s how WiFi data collection works.

The true power of WiFi analytics is realized when a customer decides to log in through your WiFi access point.

All WiFi-enabled mobile devices have a unique identifying code called a media access control address, commonly known as a MAC address. As the mobile device repetitively scans the surrounding area, it sends out a message to any available WiFi access point. The MAC address is also broadcast in this message and is how individual customers will be recognized.

At the same time, your WiFi access point is constantly scanning for available mobile devices within its range. When it identifies a new mobile device, it adds the device’s MAC address into a database and anonymously “watches” the device until it is no longer within range. From that point on, anytime the device comes back within range, its behavior will be added to the database.

At this point, a WiFi analytics platform will give you metrics like first time visitors, visitor repeat rates, average dwell times, visit times/days, and other anonymous data. These metrics are valuable in spotting trends and measuring overall customer behavior. All of these metrics can be obtained without the users logging into your WiFi.

By targeting individual customer segments with optimized campaigns designed to appeal to them, you can save on marketing costs while increasing ROI, revenue and messaging engagement.

The true power of WiFi analytics, however, is realized when a customer decides to log in through your WiFi access point. They will be taken to a WiFi landing page where they will be required to enter their name and/or email, or log in with a social media account. The system can then associate the device’s MAC address with the customer’s contact information and begin building a customer profile for that patron. All previous data linked to the MAC address is then added to the customer’s profile.

Using public social media account information or progressive profiling, the WiFi analytics system can build a very detailed customer profile containing not only the customer’s physical behavior data, but their demographic information as well. With a database of customer profiles containing data from actual customers, marketers can begin to segment their customer base into accurate and detailed segments, creating personas of their most valuable customers. They can then begin creating highly-focused marketing campaigns to target each individual segment. 

By targeting individual customer segments with optimized campaigns designed to appeal to them, you can save on marketing costs while increasing ROI, revenue and messaging engagement. WiFi analytics provide the data necessary to optimize your marketing efforts, making them more efficient and effective. This can produce major impacts on your business in many areas, including the following.

Attracting More First-Time Visitors

While consistent repeat customers provide your restaurant with the steady cash flow it needs to survive, first-time customers provide you with an accurate way to measure how your establishment is growing by attracting new business. Being able to determine first-time visitors vs. repeat visitors allows you to measure the success of customer acquisition campaigns with accurate and tangible data. You also can track data to find out how many first-time customers turn into second-time customers or loyal repeat customers.

Increasing Customer Repeat Rates

These guests are the bread-and-butter of your business. While cash flow is key, loyal customers also are more likely to “talk up” the quality of your restaurant via social media, ratings websites or word-of-mouth. Nothing is more valuable than this free publicity, so it is imperative to have the means to measure your customer repeat rates and proactively visualize potential trends.

WiFi analytics can also help you get to know customers better, like understanding their frequency of visits, favorite days of the week to visit, dwell times, and whether they are part of the breakfast, lunch or dinner crowd. This is invaluable when it comes to creating targeted and relevant marketing campaigns. You’ll also be able to see how many times the typical repeat customer is returning within a given time span.

Monitor and Decrease Customer Churn Rates

Every restaurant in the world, no matter how famous or fancy, experiences customer churn or attrition. And every one of them should have the primary goal of reducing it. Customer churn rate indicates the percentage of customers who frequented your restaurant but have now stopped returning. Data collected through WiFi analytics can give you an accurate visualization of your churn rate at a given point in time, or over a specific date span. It also gives you insight on when they churn, so you can isolate issues that may be keeping them from coming back, which could include anything from the menu to the service to the atmosphere.

Understand Traffic Patterns

Many restaurant managers simply build staff schedules and inventory around breakfast, lunch and dinner times. However, customer traffic patterns do not always hold true to general patterns. Some restaurants may attract a larger afternoon crowd or customers looking for a good brunch. For those with multiple locations, your various stores will undoubtedly have disparate traffic patterns. Data allows you to know exactly when your restaurant has the highest and lowest traffic, broken down by day of the week and by hour of the day. 

This provides an immense advantage for scheduling, inventory management and determining what areas you need to focus on in marketing to increase customer volume during the lower-traffic times.

Foot Traffic Capture Rates

For businesses that operate in high-traffic areas, such as office buildings or malls, another insightful facet of WiFi analytics is the ability to identify the rate of actual customers compared to those who are simply passing by your restaurant. The percentage of customers among this group provides you with an accurate traffic capture rate, which offers insight into how well your business is presenting itself to those who are passing by.

These represent some of the many ways WiFi analytics can give you an insightful edge against your competition. It takes the speculation out of many facets of business operations and marketing, which in turn lowers costs and increases potential revenue through effective, intelligent marketing.

How WiFi Data Helps Restaurants Produce More Customer Traffic posted first on happyhourspecialsyum.blogspot.com

[nothingbutyourimagination]

@crhiscornell tagged me!

RULES: Always post the rules. Answer the questions asked, then write 11 new ones. Tag 11 people to answer your questions, as well as the person who tagged you.

1. What album (or song if you don’t listen to full albums very often) currently defines your life?

I’m gonna go with 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day. With the cesspool that is US politics, that album speaks more truth to me & really sums up my feelings about it all right now. 

2. When was your last haircut, and was it what you wanted?

Oh damn, it was probably in October of 2015 I think. I need to get the split/dead ends trimmed soon, I know. My last haircut was what I wanted: just maintaining my layers & trimming the ends.

3. Have you ever shoplifted? (Intentional or unintentional)

Guilty as charged. I’ve done my share of intentional shoplifting more than unintentional. When you’ve worked retail, you pick up how to do it well pretty fast. 

4. Describe the best summer of your life?

Can’t really say I’ve had one, especially since it’s my least favorite time of the year. Instead of the best, I will say my most difficult & transformative one was summer of 2014. A lot of heartache & risk taking made up that time for me. 

5. Where would you say home is?

I’d say the general concept of home is where your heart is: your friends & family. I just moved so I’m in the process of making my new environment my home. But my home is where my dog, my boyfriend, & my wifi are. 

6. Would you rather have a pet rat, cat, or bat and why?

I’m torn between the bat & cat. I’ve always loved both animals so much. Realistically, I’d have a cat but that probably wouldn’t work out since I’m the only one in my household that isn’t allergic & likes cats. If it was possible to have a bat, I’d love to have a fruit bat/flying fox bat because they’re essentially winged goth puppies. 

7. Do you subscribe to any lifestyles?

Well, I’ve been a vegetarian for close to 6 years now & have identified as straightedge for even longer. Since my middle school years, my clothing choices have been on the more punk/goth/alternative side. I’d like to think that my fashion sense has improved from my baby bat/mall goth/Hot Topic punk days.

8. If you had to write a book, would it be fiction or nonfiction?

I’d probably write something that’s nonfiction. As to what, I’m not sure. It’d be nice to contribute information on issues/causes I care about like human rights, gender/sexuality, feminism, animal rights, sustainability/environmentalism, etc.

9. What are you most confident about?

I don’t know, I can’t say I’ve got much in that department. I guess I am confident in my creative attitude & abilities. Those things have impressed others more than myself sometimes & I really don’t give myself enough credit on that. 

10. Have you ever eaten anything out of the garbage? Or fed someone something from the garbage?

No way. I would never do that myself or to anyone else. Well, only if it was going to the mouth of someone that I truly despised & they deserved it. 

11. Have you been in a moshpit?

Not directly. I’ve only been next to some from shows ranging from death metal to Green Day. 

I’m terrible at these things & can’t come up with any questions. So anyone’s free to take it from here & answer the same ones I did or make new ones.