#i was looking at this pool in japan on google maps

[catsinmugs]

made a pool lot for mt. komo because it's almost summer in ma game!!

[alienaiver]

Proposals Plus One

Iwaizumi Hajime x gn!reader

warnings: spoilers and references to Godzilla Minus One, it is gender neutral but you are being proposed to ! <3 also iwa gives oikawa the finger if thats not ur thing wordcount: 2.4k content: FLUFF, proposals, genderneutral reader, poc!friendly and body positive reader, Childhood friends to lovers trope, SFW, No use of y/n, canon compliant, post-timeskip, one-shot, established relationship, use of honorifics (iwa-chan is the only one, by oikawa of course), this was supposed to be a drabble hi, also oikawa appears at 5ish am in argentina, i salute him for his dedicated friendship

notes: when i describe iwaizumi watching the movie i basically just described myself LMFAO!!! anyways.. i wanted this to be a let-iwaizumi-experience-my-favorite-movie but it turned into... this! i hope u enjoy heheh <:) <33 PLEASE enjoy my title pun as a reference to Godzilla Minus One!!!!!

Iwaizumi’s hands are not still for more than a few seconds at a time during the little more than two hours you spend in the cinema. They shift between grasping onto his soda or taking the popcorn from you – only to put them back onto your lap, or grasp onto your hand like his life depends on it. Especially during the big, cinematic scenes. When Godzilla starts to charge the atomic beam attack, you hear him take a sharp intake and lean into you, like he really can’t contain his own mortal vessel.

It’s really cute.

You’re glad he brought you along with him, even if you’d been hesitant to begin with.

“Oikawa always goes with you,” you tried to argue, “I don’t want to take his spot.”

Iwaizumi had lowered his gaze and tried to hide his expression when he admitted that Oikawa wouldn’t be in Japan for the release. You genuinely thought he would, so you couldn’t hide the surprise at the admission. “So… you’re not imposing yourself.” he’d grunted afterwards and got up from the dining table, “but you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

Whenever there’s a big action scene, like when Noriko falls from the open and destroyed train free-fall into a pool of water or when Godzilla destroys the cinema, he leans forward in his seat before he looks at you and even through a dim cinema with lights only emitting from the screen, you can see the stars reflecting in his eyes, his mouth open in a smile you don’t see often on him. Like he can’t really believe what he’s seeing, and he’s checking with you to confirm it.

When the credits starts rolling and people start to leave, your boyfriend puts his palms on his temples as he uses a moment to process what he’s just seen. Then, very slowly like he’s edited into slow-motion he turns towards you. His eyes are wide and his mouth slack, but the more you get into view, the more the corners of his lips tugs upwards.

You laugh and grip his upper arm, squeeze it lightly, “was it everything you needed the 70th anniversary to be?”

The look he gives you is perplexed; almost like he can’t believe that you’re asking him that. He drags his hands down his face, dragging the skin with him and making a grimace, “what’s the time?” he then suddenly ask, real time seemingly catching up to his body as he hurries to check his watch.

“It’ll roll again at 6! That’s in 45 minutes! We can grab a quick bite and then”- he interrupts himself with a cough before he reminds himself and tenses his shoulders -”sorry, we have a reservation.”

You take him in for a minute, your underlip worried between your teeth as you weigh your options. The reservation isn’t important in and of itself; it’s just a small Yakiniku place that ended up being close to the cinema and you’re full from the popcorn and candy anyways.

You hum, dramatically as you pretend to be an actor for the effect. Iwaizumi’s already on his phone, checking the Google Maps route to the restaurant. You fish out your own phone and go to the cinema’s website to buy two new tickets. During the booking you see it’ll be shown in another of their screens, which only makes you smile mischievously.

When the booking’s confirmed, you start to get up with a sigh, “let’s talk about the movie at the restaurant, yeah?” you try to keep yourself neutral as to not give away your plan. Iwaizumi smiles and puts his arms through the sleeves of his light jean jacket. The summer heat is peaking, so he’d only worn it to have pockets.

You grab onto his hand and squeeze it as he gets up next to you, “thank you for coming with me, it means a lot.”

You kiss his him chaste on the lips before you start to drag him out. After you’ve both been by the bathroom, you pass by the snacks and tug at him, “can we go back in real quick? I really regretted not buying that chocolate bar when we browsed before the movie… please?”

Iwaizumi rolls his eyes at you but smiles widely and follows you, his other hand already searching his pocket for his wallet.

You grab two different chocolate bars, one you know that he likes and your own favorite. Then you go to the soda aisle and pretend to think it through deeply. Iwaizumi’s eyebrow perks up at your behavior, “what do you need soda for? The restaurant will have drinks. If you want something specific we can pick it up on the way home.”

You shake your head and tighten your lips into a frown, “yeah but look! They have this fun variant of melon soda. Don’t you want to taste?” you point to the small sign next to it, “it’s cinema exclusive.”

Iwaizumi is never really able to say no to you, but he is perplexed about the behavior you’re exhibiting. You bite your lip as you give him a pleading look, fearing your luck’s running out. The puppy eyes makes him shake his head and grab two cups to fill. You kiss his cheek with a laugh.

With renewed drinks and snacks (minus the popcorn, you can still feel the kernels stuck to your teeth) you go to sit down by one of their benches, pretending to tie your laces. Iwaizumi sees that your laces aren’t untied, but he stays quiet.

When you sit back up with a satisfied grunt, you grab your phone from your purse and find the tickets, “look babe! We’re in the middle row seats!”

He squints to look properly at what you’re showing him, his nose crinkling in a way you think is adorable. You wish you’d had a second phone to secretly record this reaction. There’s nothing like it. Warmth and blood rises to his face and makes his ears bright red as his eyes widen, mouth hanging slack.

“What did you- how… when did you?” he asks, clutching at his hair with his free hand. You laugh, proud to see him with revived excitement, “I booked them right after. We’re going to have so many snacks that dinner can be a little later… I’d rather experience that with you than that restaurant!”

Iwaizumi pulls back from you a little with a laugh as he drags his hand over his mouth, suddenly looking unsure of himself. You tilt your head to the side. He says, “but that restaurant’s really… uh… special.” You sigh and reach out for his hand, “yeah but you’re more special to me. We can always go some other time, right?”

You’re suddenly afraid he doesn’t want to watch it again, that it was just the adrenaline of excitement making him say it back when the credits where rolling. He mutters unintelligible words under his breath before he mumbles an announcement, “well now’s a good as time as any.”

He then looks at you, the blush returning as he puts the drinks and snacks down next to yours on the bench, “I uh- I need to call Shittykawa real quick.”

Your eyebrow quirks up at that, but you nod. Maybe he wants to tell him about the movie before you watch it again; this used to be their thing growing up after all.

You sit back down on the bench and take out your phone, scrolling through social media as you wait for him to make his call. You’re surprised when the sound of a FaceTime call starts ringing through the air and Iwaizumi looks annoyed. It’s not an uncommon expression on him, so you’re not sure you’re able to decipher the meaning behind it right now.

“Iwa-chan? That’s early! Doesn’t it take 10 minutes to the restaurant?” Oikawa gasps on the other end, “no way, did you get cold feet!? Iwa-chan!!” he suddenly scolds and Iwaizumi grunts out a shut up and you assume point the camera towards you because Oikawa’s voice greets you, strained and perfectly polite. It’s eerily unnatural when acted towards you and not a fan. Confused, you just wave at him and Oikawa gasps again. “In the cinema? That wasn’t the plan at all! Did you already do it?” he continues on, and you make a grimace to Iwaizumi. What the hell is he talking about?

Iwaizumi snaps at Oikawa and hurriedly moves out of earshot from you, mumbling into the phone. Then he comes back with his back straightened´up and stiff, legs seemingly wobbly under his weight. He puts his phone with Oikawa on the call up against the plant next to you, pointing it towards you. You can see Oikawa lying on his stomach on a bed, eye masks on and no light except for the screen – Argentina’s far behind Japan after all. Before you can ask what he’s doing, he’s jogged back in front of you and practically falls to his knee in front of you, wincing from the pain of landing unexpectedly hard.

You think you’re catching on.

Your breath catches in your throat as you keep your eyes locked onto the man in front of you, suddenly fearing he’ll disappear into thin air and that this is just a dream.

Iwaizumi clears his throat and opens his mouth to start talking before he catches himself and hastily goes through his pockets. He pats the chest pocket an extra time before his nimble fingers slide inside and come out with a blue velvet box. Your hands go to cover your mouth, because it’s the same color as Aoba Johsai’s turquoise.

“Why’d you choose Seijoh?” an angry-looking 15-year-old from your new class asked you during the rounds where you’re supposed to get to know each other. With a strained smile you admit sheepishly, “I loved the colors of the school’s volley uniform.”

When he sees your expression he laughs, “I planned to do this at the restaurant – but you willingly choosing to go to the cinema to watch my … uh, my thing, not once but twice. And in a day no less, well…” he clears his throat and looks away, “it kinda knocked me off my feet. I’ve known for a long time this was going to happen but… when you showed me your phone with that excited expression that I love? It’s like… well, it was like the entire universe conspired to confirm that it has to be you… you know?”

He shakes his head and apologizes for sounding so cheesy before he drags a hand through his spikes. When he looks directly into your eyes after gathering himself, you straighten your back and start nodding. He hasn’t even asked you yet but your legs are shaking with the intense feeling of your response.

He laughs when he sees you nod. The raspy and relaxed one, reserved for you. You stare at each other for a time, admiring each other’s eyes and being in this moment, this time in life carved for the two of you. Then he shakes his head and starts to open his mouth. It must take too long though, because your shared childhood menace of a best friend starts booing. You both look to him and Iwaizumi has a scolding ready on his tongue until he sees the fat tears shining on his screen, Oikawa’s nose red and wrinkled.

Iwaizumi decides to simply give him the middle finger before he turns back to you. He says your name with an embarrassed lilt to his tone and finally, at last, formally asks you;

“Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

You laugh, unabashed and excited. In your bewilderment you shake your head in disbelief and the raw fear in Iwaizumi’s eyes makes you flinch and yell out a too loud “yes!” to make sure that you were merely reacting to the overwhelming situation in front of you.

People in the cinema are looking, silently clapping and smiling at you both but generally keeping a polite distance. You sniffle and lean towards Iwaizumi, foregoing the ring to fall into his arms. It takes him a moment to process before his arms wraps around you too, pulling you into him so tightly, shaky breaths leaving him as he keeps pawing at your back, your hair, your neck. Like he can’t really believe this is happening, either. You repeat the word “yes” like a prayer, your heart thrumming at intervals you’ve never tried before.

You pull back and wipe a tear from Iwaizumi’s cheek, “you better calm down before we watch it again, huh?”

Oikawa clears his throat from the phone, “the ring, Iwa-chan! The ring!”

Iwaizumi gathers himself and rather forcefully grabs onto your hand before apologizing, letting his finger caress your knuckles in apology. You let him, and he fumbles to get the ring out. It’s a simple one, so very like him. Oikawa chimes in with your exact thought, “he was so panicky at the jeweler! You should’ve seen him!”

You wish you had. Flustered Iwaizumi is your favorite flavor, but seeing him with shaky fingers fitting the ring onto your finger, warms you more than anything else.

You perk up, “is your war finished?” you ask and Iwaizumi’s eyebrow rise for a second before he hears the reference to the movie you just watched and beams, eyes glowing with an excitement you didn’t think could be topped moments before. He leans forward and says yes before he kisses you.

Oikawa cheers and you hurry to pick up his phone and show Oikawa the ring in detail, “you could’ve warned me!” you scold him and he shrugs, “eh, I honestly thought you already knew. And don’t worry, I took plenty of screenshots for your families and friends. There’s even a pretty romantic shot of you hurling yourself into his arms.”

You gasp in feigned insult, “I did not hurl myself!”

Iwaizumi stands before you with his hands in his pockets, a bright smile, “you did kinda hurl yourself.”

“Shut up! Both of you! I’m not taking you into the movie with me! I’m canceling your ticket!”

Iwaizumi pretends to panic but leans down to rest his forehead against you, “you can hurl yourself at me for the rest of my life, I don’t mind. Don’t listen to Shittykawa.”

You shake your head at your two friends.

No, your friend and your fiance. It feels surreal. You wonder how long it’ll take you to get used to. You can’t wait to spend the time finding out.

[booksandchainmail]

re: your tags because I'm curious and google is only providing a history book about WW1 naval battles - what's castles of steel?

My apologies for this belated response, but here it is:

Castles of Steel (tagline: Lesbians Good, Imperialism Bad) is a quest hosted on SufficientVelocity. Set in alt-history Japan starting in the year 1909, it chronicles the adventures of Princess Arisukawa Haruna as she makes history as the first woman to join the imperial navy. Based on the fact I tagged it on a post about how war is never clean, you can get a sense of how that goes.

It's mostly concerned with sea battles, which do tend to be cleaner than land ones (the one land battle Haruna gets involved in, she's given a not-particularly good map, and the ground is torn up and communications are bad, so she winds up defending a hill that may or may not be the one she was assigned to). But the story is still very aware that this is a war being fought over and on colonial possessions, that neither side particularly cares about treatment of civilians, and that wartime pressure is sliding alt!Japan into facism.

To give an example of how bad it gets, early on Haruna fails a roll to convince a superior officer that trotting out an imperial princess for a PR shoot in an unhappy occupied city is a bad idea, and when this predictably sparks a riot, well, when all you have is a troop of soldiers, everything looks like a combat scenario. The option the thread picked was Fix Bayonets (as opposed to just opening fire), but still:

Once the first blood was drawn, once the screaming started, order broke down almost completely. To the men on either side of the incident, it looked like their formation had been breached, that a brawl had broken out. You tried to call a halt, but nobody could hear you. A cobblestone struck a soldier, and the one next to him thrust his rifle forward to cover the gap, catching a man through the gut with his blade. His comrades reversed their weapons as well, convinced the fighting had turned deadly, and simply pressed into the crowd blades-first. The screaming got louder as people tried to scramble away and others fell to the ground to be trampled in the panic. It worked. They were moving, now. The trucks were almost in reach. You stepped over a body as you moved, a student holding a sign in a death grip. You realized he wasn't dead yet when his hand closed on your boot. You managed not to shriek in surprise and hurriedly tried to shake him off only to stumble over another body on the cobbles. A woman clutching her belly and groaning as she tried to staunch the blood pooling on the cobblestones around her. The blood that was staining the pretty dress in Akitsukuni white and blue that she wore. She looked up at you for a moment, and you wondered what she thought of you.

and afterwards:

You remembered when you had finally gotten into the Army outpost and you had gone to the washroom, there had been blood on your boots. You'd been sick there, alone, where no one could see your weakness. This wasn't what it was supposed to be like. You were supposed to stand on the bridge of a steel castle and exchange blows with an equal opponent seeking to do harm to your nation, not tell scared young men to stab angry students.

And then there pretty much aren't consequences for this, she gets comforted for being in such a scary situation and praised for how she handled it, the whole incident gets blown over because no one really cares about the deaths of protestors in an occupied city.

This story is a companion to an earlier one called Aircraft Design Company, which is maybe the purest example of "Peace Activist Has To Admit Barrett .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Is Pretty Cool" I've read. The story was initially started to playtest the author's TTRPG system for early aviation design, then grew a plot that goes increasingly into "war is hell". The protagonist's boyfriend is a pilot who becomes a flying ace over the course of the story, and we get periodic interludes from his perspective as things get bloodier in the air and on the ground, as the other soldiers around him get more desperate and dangerous to the civilian "servants" of their occupied territory, and as he develops PTSD.

There's one great scene where he gets into a dogfight, and is just utterly done with violence and killing, and so he non-fatally shoots out the other guy's engine, and then signals frantically to him to surrender and land. And there's a moment of tension, and then the other pilot agrees, and it's this rare uplifting moment of camaraderie of the skies, even on opposing sides. And then the other pilot lands and promptly gets shot by Japanese ground forces who don't notice or care that he's trying to surrender.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyway, at one point the protagonist gets a letter back from him reading:

This war has eroded everything I have. I'm a machine no different from the ones you build for me. I wake up in the early morning and sit on a chair behind the lines with binoculars until nightfall. When I see an enemy machine, I climb into my Dragonfly and go to kill him.​ They don't make me fly regular missions anymore. I am just a killer now, an assassin. I fly five, six times a day sometimes.​ ​ It is hard for me to say this, but I have come to resent you, and to resent the weapons you have built me. I have come to hate how easy it is to line my guns up on an aircraft. How easy it is to kill the stupid young boys they send against me. I hate how the Dragonfly will nimbly pull me from the enemy's sights and keep me flying another day.​ ​ I have found myself thinking I would rather have died quickly, six months ago.​

and then it's time for another vote on aircraft mechanics!

[hardynwa]

This Seaport in The Southeast, The Feasibility.

By Capt. Evarest Nnaji As we take seriously, the need for a realistically more robust economic activities cum development of Southeast Nigeria where potentials of Ndigbo could be harnessed and deployed towards the end of attaining  the full economic potential possibilities and economy of scale befitting of a people whose ingenuity and can-do spirit permeate all spheres of business endeavour,  there is the need to firstly identify realisable paths to which focus should be placed in order to achieve the aim of industrialization and commercialization of the zone and in  record time without frustration. Over the years, Ndigbo, home and diaspora, have been pregnant and in deep hunger to unleash their potentials and develop their homeland. Many have great hopes that someday, there will be good and conscientious leadership with the capacity to engender an overarching economic plan capable of pooling the business ingenuity of Ndigbo together to build a Japan-of-sort economy in West Africa on the strength of the attested resilient spirit of industry for which Ndigbo are known all over the world. This expectation has never been more apparent in no other time in history than now. As this expectation is ripe in every mind, to prime our spirit, Ndigbo must be aware of a deep pitfall, a clear and present danger capable of draining our energy and causing debilitating frustration and which must be avoided like a plague.     This plague is the fallacy and misleading presumption that Ndigbo must have a seaport before the southeast could become an industrial or commercial hub. This lie sown in our minds, and which no one knows when it was sown, has been in the narrative over the years prompting deceptions, every now and then, of the possibility of one seaport or the other in Igboland, especially the often touted Onitsha Seaport. A cursory look at the Google earth map will show you that there is no part of Southeast anywhere near the Atlantic Ocean. Onitsha Seaport: River Niger, like all seven rivers of Africa; Nile, Niger, Senegal, Congo, Orange, Limpopo and Zambesi, are drying up due to global warming. In fact, you can walk across the river Niger (not swim) during the Dry Seasons nowadays. High water levels can only be guaranteed during the rainy seasons, and that can only sail floating badges, not ocean-going ships. Therefore, ocean going ship making it to Onitsha is never ever going to be possible, even with the suggested dredging of the river Niger; because dredging cannot introduce more water when the source flow is now so tiny. The only possible means to introduce huge water flow will be to dig the Niger riverbed down to a point where the Atlantic Ocean could flow back up to Onitsha. Before we go further, let me be clear that our conversation here is about seaport for ocean going ships. Ships from Asia, Europe, USA etc that can only sail to West Africa and Nigeria through the Atlantic Ocean. I am not arguing the present port at Onitsha where floating badges that carry less than 18 containers of cargo from Lagos ports berth, 18 trailers can do that by road; that kind of deception will not help the Southeast; and that is not what I am discussing here. Onitsha located along the edge of the river Niger at the lower boundary of Anambra and northern part of Delta State, is situated at 62 meters MSL (main sea level).  That means to excavate the floor of the River Niger from Onitsha point to where it comes to par with the Atlantic Ocean, you would have to dig deep down to 62 meters. Then, to have the Atlantic flow back up to Onitsha, experts say you would need to dig deeper down to another 50 meters. Furthermore, to guarantee dept enough for ocean going ships to freely navigate, there would be additional 50 meters, making the total dept required to 162 meters from the current floor of the Onitsha end of the river Niger. Experts also report that due to the curvature needed to ensure that earth will not cave into the dug trench and to enable ships pass each other in the Onitsha to Atlantic Ocean channel, the width of the channel would have to be at least 1,600 meters. From Onitsha, following the natural tracks of the river Niger through lower end of Delta State, River State and Bayelsa State, to the Atlantic Ocean, measures 210 km.  The question here is, even if we found the political will for such project, can Nigeria find the money to dig 162 metres dept and 1,600 meters wide from Onitsha, 210 km long, to the Atlantic Ocean to have a seaport at Onitsha?     Again, at the Bayelsa State and Delta State end to the Atlantic, there are labyrinths of oil and gas pipelines crisscrossing the entire region where the entry to the ocean will be needed. Can such critical national assets be destroyed to enable ships sail to the Onitsha seaport? In addition, the height of the just completed second Niger bridge is too low such that no ship can pass under it, this indicate that the designers of the bridge were equipped with the above information; that no ocean-going ship or vessel will ever go to Onitsha. There are great cites and societies around the world without seaports doing just fine, Southeast Nigeria can be like them. We need not be fixated on seaport; it is a distraction that can lead to frustration, especially as we have the possibility of a much better modern means to move goods and services across the globe and should focus on it. In USA, the cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix Arizona, Dallas, New Mexico City etc, in Europe, Milan in Italy; Munich in Germany, Austria etc, have no seaports but they are doing great, none availability of seaport has not hindered their development or make them inferior to any other city. In modern air travel, it is proven that there is nothing you cannot move by Air Freight. The only difference could be in packaging. Giant industrial materials are disassembled and packed in smaller units or compartments and shipped by Air Cargo. A full luxury bus of 42 passengers seating capacity can drive into an Anthonov air cargo plane nowadays, and within 24 hours be delivered at the other end of the world. The only thing you may not see is the iron-body ocean shipping containers, but the same amount of goods are packed in pallets and by air cargo shipped effortlessly across the globe in our today’s world.   Moreover, if for instance you have funds to import one container of goods into Nigeria at one time, you could only do just four containers (4 times) in 12 months; that is at three months for one container of goods into Nigeria by ocean freight. While as you can import the same amount of goods twice every month by air cargo. That means 24 times in 12 months. So, even if you would make 30 percent profit from the ocean container goods, due to the cheaper cost of shipping, if you make 15 percent profit on the air cargo shipped goods, you are still going to make more money at the end of the year since you would have done 24 rotations of the same amount of goods - speed! In Enugu, there is a 3-kilometre runway International Airport, within the city, that can take any cargo airplane in the world. From Enugu airport, the farthest part of Asia, Japan, is only 7,019 nautical miles (13,000 km). Beijing China is 6,090 nautical miles (11,280 km). The farthest of the West is Vancouver in Canada, which is 12,000 kilometres from Enugu, to name but a few. A Boeing 777 cargo or passenger airplane has a nonstop flight range of 17,205 kilometres.  So, from the Southeast you can reach the entire world on a nonstop flight with many models of modern aeroplanes. In Igboland, there is still Owerri airport; Anambra airport and Ebonyi airport. So, we are all set to launch our development if we can all focus our mind on this modern means of movement of man and materials and go further to acquire the expertise required for the full indoctrination of our people in the activities of aviation for we cannot afford to rely on other people to provide for us this basic means by which our economic development would be driven. Hence, my commendation for the organisers of this event; Aviation Career Meet, at this prestigious university, Coal City University Enugu. Aviation industry offers innumerable opportunities to any society that avails it. Careers in the industry offer training and expertise in divergent areas for men and women alike and the opportunity to excel anywhere in the world, if properly trained. I am quite delighted this university is partnering with another international institution in USA to bring to the Southeast the level of trainings and degree programs that will be a without-which-not to power the region’s aviation manpower development that will propel its desired development and industrial drive. Aviation being the best and the only viable means to fast track the imperative development of the Southeast, will suffer a serious setback if forward thinking investors and institutions fail to move in now to begin urgent trainings and orientations of our young ones into the industry. The industry is open to trainings in things about the airport and facilities; aircraft flight operations and maintenance, like pilot trainings; aircraft engineers; cabin crew etc. You also have Flight Operations Management; Flight Dispatchers; Material and Logistics Management; Ramp Services; Airline Safety Auditors; Air Cargo Operations and Management, as well as Aircraft Maintenance Planners; Airline Technical Records and Document Control; Aviation Equipment and Spares Store Management etc. These and many other opportunities abound in the industry. In conclusion, the way forward for Southeast to fast track the desired mega economic development capable of attracting their best brains, human and material resources, and provide our pride of place in the West African market, is to invest in the development of the existing airport infrastructure diligently and deliberately to the best possible international standards. This will mean also, to train and assimilate the young ones in the modern aviation credentials and encourage the regions potential investors to invest in the industry so as to have a permeable and strong foothold that will stimulate a booming economic activity and guarantee the future of the region’s economy.  Presented by: Capt. Evarest Nnaji       At The Aviation Career Meet – Coal City University Enugu on the 24th August 2023 Read the full article

[techcrunchappcom]

New Post has been published on https://techcrunchapp.com/gmail-and-google-services-hit-by-one-hour-outage-tech-news-top-stories/

Gmail and Google services hit by one-hour outage, Tech News & Top Stories

Google suffered an hour-long global outage yesterday morning that affected many of its services, including e-mail, calendar, chat and videoconferencing.

The disruption hit users at a time when they needed the tools the most to stay productive amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is also the second time in less than two months that Google services were down.

From around 9am yesterday, many users, including in Singapore, had trouble sending e-mails via Gmail, while others had to endure lengthy waits to load their inboxes.

Private educator Gwendoline Quek, 38, had issues with Gmail for about 20 minutes.

“My e-mails refused to go out, they kept getting stuck in the outbox. It was very frustrating because I had some urgent messages I needed to send out,” she told The Straits Times.

Google confirmed on its status dashboard at 9.30am yesterday that it was aware of problems with a number of its services.

At 10.07am, it posted an update to say all problems should be resolved.

The tech giant apologised for the inconvenience and said: “System reliability is a top priority at Google and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better.”

Google did not respond to ST’s queries on the cause of the outage.

Mr Urs Holzle, senior vice-president of technical infrastructure at Google, said on Twitter yesterday: “A pool of servers that route traffic to application backends crashed, and users on that particular pool experienced the outage… We’re very sorry… We’re working on a postmortem to ensure this won’t happen again.”

According to a live outage map by third-party Web monitoring firm Downdetector, the outage affected mostly users across South-east Asia, India, Japan, Australia, and the United States. In Singapore, it recorded over 1,200 reports of problems with Gmail – the majority reported issues with logging in and receiving messages.

Mr Loo Wee Teck, global head of consumer electronics at market research firm Euromonitor International, said: “While outages are unavoidable, the issues seemed to be occurring too frequently for Google, which is bad for their reputation.

“Free users do not have other alternatives and will have to put up with the outages, (but) companies will be looking to diversify and hedge its cloud-based services, opening up opportunities for competitors like Microsoft and Zoom.”

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[thekoreanlass]

As part of fulfilling my pledge from before and as a celebration of me becoming a fan of BTS, I’ll start my own version of ‘BTS Tour‘ with filming locations related to their album The Most Beautiful Moment In Life (화양연화 / HYYH). From MVs, jacket photos, prologue video down to their epilogue video from this comeback, I’ll try to cover them!

Without further ado, let’s go ARMY!

| PHOTO SHOOT

💜 Bomun Tourist Complex ( 보문 관광단지 )

In their album ‘The most beautiful moment in life, part 1‘, the man-made Bomun Lake (in Bomun Tourist Complex) with its many cherry blossom trees that decorate it in spring became BTS members’ backdrop for their photo shoot.

Within the Bomun Tourist Complex are facilities designed in a traditional style such as the tourist center, international conference room, golf resort, shopping mall, and a tourist hotel, etc. But Bomun Lake is famous for bikers and people who love to walk since it does have a long walkway around it with many cherry trees. Surely, you’ll love to go there too in spring!

Location: Sinpyeong-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 경주시 신평동) Info: visitkorea

💜 Gyeongju Cheomseongdae Observatory ( 경주 첨성대 )

Another beautiful location from their 화양연화 photo shoot is the Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju.

This flower field is actually surrounding the observatory tower itself. Isn’t it really pretty from the pictures? But wait! I know you’re here for BTS, but let me tell you this: Cheomseongdae is known as the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia. It was constructed during the reign of Queen Seon Deok! The place stands out on its own because of its meaningful existence and history so be sure to drop by especially in the spring just like BTS did!

Location: 140-25, Cheomseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 경상북도 경주시 첨성로 140-25 (황남동) Info: visitkorea

💜 Jeju Island – Andeul Oreum (안돌오름)

HYYH was also filmed in various locations in Jeju island just like this particular photo shoot the boys had in one of Jeju Island’s oreum trails. The photos they had here came out looking so magical as if they were in a dream and depicted their very fun youth days as they played in the fields of Jeju while surrounded by bubbles and nature itself.

According to wikipedia, ‘oreum’ in Jeju dialect implies to the ‘parasitic cone’ and the origin of the word is also ‘climb’. Jeju’s oreum refers to a small volcano within the main volcanic crater in Jeju-do and is typically applied to the hill in Jeju. There are more than 360 oreums throughout Jeju-do from the mountains down to the coast, which is pretty surprising. I’ve actually never thought Jeju Island housing volcanoes in it! 🙂

Location: 2171 Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea

💜 Dongneo Bundeok (동너분덕)

As seen from their HYYH photo, the members are about to jump off a cliff. This rocky cliff is actually still located in Jeju Island, namely called ‘동너분덕’ which is part of Jeju’s hiking Olle trail #7. Out of all the hiking trails in Jeju, this is said to be the most beautiful trail that visitors should try out. The cliff overlooking the island’s surrounding sea looks especially magnificent!

Location: 797-3 Cheonji-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea

💜 참외전로 

BTS made this area of Songwol’s neigborhood in Incheon their very own runway as they pose for their HYYH album in chic casual clothing. In the picture, the boys are seen together crossing the street with smiles on their faces while the rays of sun adds drama to the entire concept.

Location: 11-113 Songwol-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea

| Prologue/Music Videos/Epilogue

💜 Abandoned Swimming Pool at SNU

This abandoned swimming pool makes its appearance on their HYYH prologue video. It starts off with Taehyung alone in the empty and old pool, lying down on a mattress. The boys are seen running towards the place to hang out with Taehyung. As many fans had already been there, they say that the place looks eerie, but the boys gave life and color to the place that was once not often visited by many.

Location: SNU Genetic Engineering Research Center. Semiconductor Research Center                   유전공학연구소.반도체공동연구소.

💜 Seonjaedo (Seonjae Island)

When the members decided to go to the beach in HYYH prologue it was Seonjae Island where they went to apparently.

Seonjaedo which is located in Incheon is believed to have been there since the Neolithic Era. The name Seonjaedo literally means “an island where a divine fairy came down and danced.”

Location: 101, Seonjae-ro 34beon-gil, Ongjin-gun, Incheon

💜 Nodeulseom (Nodeul Island)

As seen from their Run MV, the members of BTS passes under the Hangang Bridge in full speed, stopping at some point to join Jungkook who looks rather lonely, but smiles as soon as his hyungs reaches him.

This filming location is known to be part of Nodeulseom, which is an artificial island in Han River. The Hanggang Bridge passes directly over the said island that is actually to the east of the larger island of Yeouido.

See here an image of Nodeulseom from Google maps.

Location: 305-9 Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

💜 North of Banpo Bridge

Another scene from the Run MV was filmed around north of the infamous Banpo Bridge–known for its ‘Moonlight Rainbow Fountain‘ which is known as the world’s longest bridge fountain.

Location: 271-120 Seobinggo-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea

💜 Mosan Airfield in Jecheon

Mosan Airfield, which was featured in BTS’ ‘Epilogue: Young Forever‘ MV is now a well known tour spot to ARMY alike. In the video, the members are seen walking this path as the sky turns a shade of pink, orange, yellow and amber as the sun starts to set at the distance.

The airfield was built in the 1950s for military training as an effort to prevent war and protect peace. However, today, the place has been transformed into a park after the city and military agreed to open a part of the land to the public.

Location: 1065-2 Goam-dong, Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea

💜 Gyeongjeong Beach

In the prologue MV, the boys went out to go to the sea. They happily watch the sun go down while sitting on the sea wall. A poignant looking Taehyung, however, looks up and notices the tall platform installed nearby facing the sea. He climbs up the platform and doesn’t go down despite the other members finally noticing him and telling him to go down. Then, Taehyung bravely jumps as if he has wings of a butterfly.

Location: 426-1 Gyeongjeong-ri, Chuksan-myeon, Yeongdeog, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

💜 Dongdaemun Apartment

From the ‘I Need U’ MV, Taehyung is seen walking around the corridors of this apartment building.

The said apartment building is inhabited by real people and has been renovated and repainted over time, so it may be a little confusing if you go there. Also, if ever you guys have plans to go to the place please be considerate of the people living there.

Location: 328-17 Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

💜 Wolmido Culture Street

In ‘For You‘ MV, Jungkook dejectedly sits down on a bench in his bear costume with Wolmido Island’s ‘Culture Street’ in the backdrop. The view is so captivating from the filmed MV that one won’t just be able to take their eyes of it!

In addition, the island of Wolmido is located roughly 1km off the coast of Incheon. Due to its accessibility, many people go to the island over the weekends to have fun, enjoying various activities like performances at night, street artists showcasing their talent in drawing, cafe and seafood restaurants open to bring good food along the coast so these can be enjoyed while viewing the sea. Also, there is also a theme park here called ‘Play Hill’ which is famous for its thrill rides, including the Viking and Apollo Disco.

Location: 57 Wolmimunhwa-ro, Gaho-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea

💜 Incheon Open Port Nuri-gil

Also in ‘For You’ MV, Jungkook is seen standing right in front of an old-looking building that has that Japanese feel to it. While I want to give emphasis to how cute JK looks here, I want to also focus on the area where this building stood. This area is called ‘Incheon Open Port Nuri-gil’ which actually opened in 1883 during the Japanese colonization in Korea. The establishment of this area in Incheon forced the birth of other modern historical architecture here than are still found intact. There are also other known architectures such as the Incheon Art Platform, Jemulpo Gurakbu, Jung-gu Office and the Incheon branch of Japan’s 1st, 18th and 58th bank.

Location: 1-2 Haeandong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea

💜 Saemangeum reclaimed land, Buan County

The ‘Save Me‘ MV graces us with dance moves from BTS members that I never thought would be born. Again, BTS becomes one with nature when they shot the MV at a clear land under a not-so-clear sky, but then again the ambiance added to the charm of the song itself.

But did you know this? If you watch the behind story of this MV, you’ll find out they actually filmed the MV while it was raining. So, it was very hard for them to dance as soil turned to mud! Good thing that our hard working boys made it possible for the masterpiece to still look perfect!

Going back to the main point, the MV was actually filmed in Buan County. As Yoongi hinted in the behind story, Buan is located in North Jeolla. The nondescript land is actually reclaimed land in front of the Saemangeum Project Office in Byeonsan neighborhood, so it might be hard to find. Plus, if you look in Google maps, most likely it will only point you to an image of the sea, so in case you want to try and go there try searching for ‘Saemangeum Project Office’ instead.

Location: Daehang-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do

💜 Neungnae Tunnel

At Neungnae tunnel, we see such a head-turning scene where Jin’s pick-up truck blocks the way, preventing other cars from passing through. Jungkook sits atop of Jin’s truck and looks back victoriously behind him and eventually the seven of them cause trouble–spray painting the cars, spitting drinks, jumping over cars, throwing cups and everything a rebellious teen in their age in BU will do.

See here for google map view of the tunnel.

Location: 951 Sanbon-dong, Gunpo-si, Gyeonggi-do

💜 Hwajeon Tunnel 

Another running scene from ‘Run’ MV was shot at the Hwajeon Tunnel in Gyeonggi-do. In here, just like with most scenes from the MV, BTS goes for an endless run at night as if having a blast just being together.

See here for an image of the tunnel from Google maps.

Location: South Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang-si, Deokyang-gu, Hwajeon-dong, 583-3

–

So, ARMY there you have it! I didn’t know that HYYH era actually used a lot of filming locations in Korea, but here they are. This is for sure not the complete list you must be looking for but I’ll try to find out more information as I search along, since I do still wonder where that trailer track is located at, or that place at the end of the prologue MV where they all fell asleep at. I’m still so much curious and I know I haven’t showcased everything, so I’ll make sure to update this post once I get a hold of the right information.

Lastly, this shall not be the last ‘BTS Tour’ post! I’ll come up with other posts for the other eras or other BTS related filming locations and try to research really hard to help whoever curious souls are out there that are hungry to know where they can go in Korea in the name of BTS. 🙂

In the meantime, check out the other snapshots I took from their videos.

More images captured from BTS’ videos during HYYH era:

  credits: wikipedia, DEOKUTOUR, visitkorea, jjkfire, koreajoongangdaily, btsinfo1 snapshots are all by THE KOREAN LASS 2019

        [Travel] BTS -‘The Most Beautiful Moment In Life’ Filming Location Tour As part of fulfilling my pledge from before and as a celebration of me becoming a fan of BTS, I'll start my own version of '

[lily-in-japan]

DAY 1

I woke up at 7:30am, feeling more alive then I possibly have ever felt. After taking a shower, facetiming Georgia in Glasgow, and brushing my teeth, I headed out from my hotel at around 9 and went to Shinjuku with absolutely no itinerary. My first inclination was to deliberately not structure my time in Tokyo in the hopes of coming across hidden / lesser known wonders that would become mine, and not every tourist who entered Tokyo’s border’s. However, after wandering around Shinjuku for about an hour trying to find a breakfast spot (which turned out fruitless) and getting pretty lost and intimidated by the stacks of shops that lined the streets, all with their own individual sign that screamed at me as I navigated my surroundings, I decided that maybe having a little structure or general idea of what I wanted to see could be helpful to me in the long run.

In the midst of this train of thought, I came across an Italian-style restaurant that looked pretty snazzy, and decided to give it a try. When I entered into the space, I was met with tablecloths and other fabrics pulsating red, white, and green -- the colors of the Italian flag. Almost everything in the restaurant was one of its three colors, even down to the napkins and table feet, which I found to be pretty impressive. I ordered pomodoro pasta, but misunderstood what the waiter had told me about a free drink that was included with my meal, which then transformed into a (broken) English speaking conversation which made me feel disheartened, as I wanted to understand but got flustered and then subsequently lost in the conversation. As I was eating my pasta alone with only one other customer (who quickly left), I was joined by two people who gave me the impression that they were on a first date. The man was smoking a cigarette that smelled like wood, and the woman was laughing and constantly shifting her position so that one hand was resting on her face longingly, lending the impression through her gesture that she was intently listening to the man’s stories and jokes. A large group of friends or coworkers followed them -- they were a pretty rowdy crowd and collectively drained about 30 beers in 45 minutes. When I paid for the meal, one of the other waiters asked if I was half Japanese because I could speak Japanese well, and after I told her that I was not and that I had just been studying for a while, we both laughed it off and had a nice and funny conversation about comparing New York, which she had been to once, and Tokyo, which I had been to once. We exchanged LINE IDs, and I went on my way, deciding to go to Harajuku next to see if I found any cute clothing or accessories to take with me to Kanazawa for school.

After deciding whether or not to walk or take the train to Harajuku, almost an hour away by foot, I crazily decided to walk. Though I had Google Maps on me, I figured asking a person on the street wouldn’t hurt, so I approached a group of older women who subsequently virtually adopted me as their own. After talking amongst themselves, they brought me to the police to further inquire about the potential walk to Harajuku, as they were on their way to the train anyway. We talked about the importance of long walks and travel they had done in the past, and after trying to convince the policeman on my behalf that I was a fan of taking long walks and failing, having the policeman tell me that it was impossible and that it was imperative to take the train, they individually shook my hand and went on their way. As did I, to Harajuku by foot, walking along a narrow winding path which transitioned into Yoyogi, where I saw the JR (Japanese Rail) headquarters and came across a book swap, where I found and bought a gorgeous manga drawn and written by Suehiro Maruo, an author I had never heard of but felt the need to read.

I eventually found myself entering the wild nature of Harajuku’s Takeshita street, bobbing through a packed crowd of hundreds of people forming two opposing masses that moved whether one was ready to or not. I explored many stores, walking up and down narrow stairs to enter into large warehouses packed tight with cool-looking punk clothing, streetwear, silky flower print dresses with white collars, and makeup galore. After waiting on line for a bathroom in one of these warehouses for 30 minutes, having been on my feet since the early AM, I was beginning to get exhausted, but still managed to snag a few awesome items, including a white lace collar that goes over any shirt or dress as a separate piece, sakura (cherry blossom) earrings, a Birth of Venus-esque bra and panty set that was too good to pass up, and a lot of fashion inspiration from people I saw around me.

On my way to the train back to my hotel, I strolled through Yoyogi Park, where the first signs of the blooming cherry blossom trees showed their face. While the park was fairly empty, as it was getting dark, there were many groups of people gathered under a large patch of land covered with 桜の木, playing catch, doing frisbee, having picnics, and holding hands on a bench on a romantic spring date. I felt so at peace, and sat on one of the benches next to a couple for almost an hour, reading my new manga and feeling the cool night wind against my face. It was a nice change of pace from the rest of the day, which was sunny and hot, in the mid 70s, and provided me with other sensory sensations that invigorated my skin and made me feel happy and alive.

I went to a soba/udon shop for dinner, where I was met with a vending machine where I chose my dinner selection after entering the appropriate amount of coins. The machine was old and run down, and did not have some of the options I saw outside on the window menu; as a result, I stared at it, trying to answer the questions swirling around my head, for longer than I thought I did, apparently, for the chef to my left began putting noodles in bowls and telling me that they were udon, soba, etc. in English with a large grin on his face. After replying in Japanese, we both began laughing, and he made me a delicious tonkatsu with a side of soba on the house.

I ended my night with a mortifying experience in a Lawson, a type of conbini (convenience store) that is very popular in Japan and is a lifeline in various ways for many people, especially as a place where you can buy a quick pre-made lunch that is delicious at a cost that is affordable. I bought a cup of jelly with mandarin oranges inside, a desert I am particularly fond of. However, when I was producing the cash needed to buy it, coming to 147 yen, requiring a number of different and specific coins that were crudely lodged in my wallet, I dropped all of the change I had in various intervals, becoming increasingly embarrassing every time I did it. The cashier stared blankly at me, while the other cashier giggled quietly and another customer picked up some of the dropped change to return to me. I finally produced the sufficient amount, quickly shuffled out of the store, and made it my mental priority to buy a change purse ASAP, realizing that unlike in America where change is not as important as dollars are, there are the equivalent of 1 and 5 dollar bills in yen, making change of higher importance.

When I got back to my hotel, I decided to cool down after the embarrassment attached to the experience I had just had, and tried out the small-scale onsen that was on the 9th floor, but did anything but cool down. I, along with 3 other Japanese women who were staying at the hotel, stayed in the pool for a total of about 10 minutes before all collectively almost passing out. After working collaboratively to get the cool water dispenser to work, to no avail, I went back to my room, popped open the jelly treat that I had temporarily stored in my fridge, watched a dramatic TV show under the covers, and drifted off to sleep. While hectic and overwhelming, I couldn’t have asked for a better first full day, and am glad I was able to approach it headfirst alone.

[sandytree1]

Radioactive hazards

Just a jumbled mess of notes. I’m still thinking about that Project 7 where we were supposed to design a live-work research pod for Chernobyl that I didn’t finish. So began googling stuff and looking up and working out details I’m wondering about. 

How to visit and live in radioactive areas? How to dress? How to prepare (local) food? What are the most radioactive places on earth? (contrast and compare) How to walk around radioactive sites? How to stay safe? How dangerous is radiation? How long should and could you stay in a radioactive area? How is it for people who moved back - what are their lives like? How to resettle the site? 

What do people do here? What can you research on here? What kind of data from site would be interesting? What tools, equipment and facilities do you need to do this research? How would their day by day routine look like - throughout a month - throughout the four season? 

What’s the geography like? Where do I find reliable maps of the area? How to I access these maps? geography, typology, contour relief map, political boundaries, rivers and seas, mountains, flora, fauna, exclusion zone. travel paths, roads, infrastructure, landmarks, world map location, prevailing winds, climate, habitat type. 

What are the dimensions of a wolf? What does a wolf need to survive and thrive-ish? What does the day to day life of a wolf look like? 

Nuclear power is a reliable source of energy, but comes with the risk of meltdown. 

Be careful of what you touch and where you step, because there’s all this radioactive dust and particles floating everywhere. 

When it blew, it spewed radiation across dozens of towns. Triggering a 12 mile evacuation zone that’s still partially in effect today. The plant itself is the hazardous site. 

Yet Japan is encouraging people to move back. How has conditions improved in the years since the disaster? Radiation researcher Azby Brown. You need to get permission to enter. Play it safe and stay in my protective gear. 

Fukushima Daiichi -- actually a massive cleanup in there, 5000 people working there. They can get into parts of the buildings, but they send robots there to take video etc. People can’t even go in there, since the radiation is so high. How long could people survive in there? A couple of minutes. There’s so much radiation damaging and killing your cells, that your organs would simply shut down. There might be some way of cleaning up to make it livable in 20 years, but it’s an incredibly daunting task. 

They’re removing the top inches of soil where the dust has settled. Dropped into plastic bags and stored in a temporary site. 9 million bags and counting. “Watch your speed, careful.”

Town has become overrun with wild boars. They’re ravaging homes and everything in their path. They eat and destroy crops, making it hard for farmers. They’re not only aggressive and known to attack, they’re radioactive. 

for everyone who returns, they build a new school and house from scratch. In the school yard there’s a radiation monitor so parents can check if its safe when they drop off their kids. “We teach our students about the volume and strength of the radiation, as well as how to avoid it.” 

Children are actually the most vulnerable to radiation. 

Everyday Ouji-san prepares food for the students and has to test the local ingredients that they use for radiation. Has there been times when the radiation levels were too high? Yes, there has. Test once per ingredient, which takes 30 min per ingredient to measure. 

For some living elsewhere is simply not an option. “We have our ancestors with a long history in this town as family. This is the most comfortable place for me, and I wish to continue to live here. I wasn’t worried that much to return, really.” Kids play outside on the ground, and we were concerned about soil contamination. After the accident, we carried a radiation detector with us, although the radiation level in the town of Naraha is low and safe. We’ve gotten used to this. I truly hope more families return and the town will be more active again.” People really trying and working to rebuild. 

A Geiger counter only measures ionizing radiation -- aka radiation with enough energy to rip electrons off atoms. Measured in units called sieverts. If above 2 sieverts, then you’ll probably die shortly after. 

Nautral background radiation coming from earth itself. The soil, rocks, air, space. Average .1 - .2 microsieverts per hour. The radiation in Hiroshima today is only 0.3 microsieverts per hour, 70 years later. Uranium ore is fluorescent under UV light. Marie Curie discovered uranium in Chech republic. In her office her doorknob is 0.10 and then the back of her chair when she pulled it out leaving traces of radium. New Mexico, Trinity test site where the world’s first nuclear bomb was set off. The whole area was vaporated. There was so much heat coming off the bomb that it fused all the desert sand into this green glass which you can still find it here. They’ve named these pellets Trinitite. 0.8 per hour in average, while the pellets are 2-3 microsieverts per hour. 

Which place has higher radiation than any place we’ve seen so far? Answer: airplanes. As you gain altitude, there’s less atmosphere above you to shield you from the cosmic rays: 0.5 microsieverts - 3 microsieverts per hour. 

Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor 4, Ukraine. Just walking close (100 m) gives off 5-6 microsieverts. So much heat was generated that it blew the top off and spead radioactive isotopes throughout this whole surrounding area and over into Europe. If I stayed here for 1 hour, my body will receive as mcuh when you’d receive a dental x-ray. So not a huge amount of radiation. Reason why it’s not that high is because they removed a couple of meters worth of topsoil from this whole area, then dumped it somewhere. Which is why we can stand here. 

Fukushima, Japan. Geiger counter goes up: 3. Mask is overkill, it’s just to stop the dust from getting into my lungs. 10% lesser radiaction material spread than Chernobyl. But because it’s not as long ago, much less of the radiation has decayed. Getting readings up to 5-10 microsieverts. Don’t stay too long because of that. 

Pripyat hospital was where the firemen were brought. The ones who fought the fires at the reactor, and in the basement they left their clothes once they realized it was so contaminated - they chucked it down there. 200-500 microsieverts by the door of them. 2000 microsieverts is a years worth of natural background radiation. CT scan is 3 years worth of microsieverts. Fukushima residents will receive an additional 10 000 worth of microsieverts in their lifetime. US radiation workers limited to 50 000 microsieverts. Astronauts receive 80 000 microsieverts. Smokers lungs receive on average 160 000 microsieverts every year. 

Uranium is not limitless supply (230 years). The largest problem is not meltdown or anything, but nuclear waste. Many different designs. 

Nowadays Chernobyl has become a site for dark tourism. 30 years later more than 10 000 tourists explore the disaster site every year. They snap photos of the stricken power plant and wanders the empty streets of Pripyat. Visitors are screened before they enter the zone. 19 miles surrounding blast area. Told not to sit down nor touch items within this cordon. Checked for radioactive particles when they leave again. Tour operators mainly based in Kiev. They insist the site is safe to see. Even offers overnight stays at a hotel which has been freshly built. 

Chernobyl power plant blew up 26 april 1986, Soviet Union. Nowadays Pripyat, Ukraine. Secret didn’t break until 50 hours later when radioactive particles were detected in Forsmark power plant in Sweden near Stockholm. Accompanied by a toxic cloud sweeping the continent. Belarus suffered the worst effects: poisonous rain, damage to plants and crops, birth of mutated animals. Impact also felt in Scandinavia, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, France, UK. Only 31 people were killed directly - mostly staff and brave souls that battled to encase the bleeding reactor in concrete. But for all its notoriety and its pan-European aftermath, it was largely a localised affair. 400 x more radiocactive material realised into atmosphere than by the Hiroshima bomb. Pripyat was evacuated 27. april - far too late in terms of citizen’s health. 

Exclusion zone is on border between Belarus and Ukraine: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Ukraine) and Polesian Exclusion Zone (Belarus). 19 miles surrounding blast area.

Ukraine is at war with Russia over Krim peninsula, although Putin won’t acknowledge their involvement in the civil conflict. But the capital Kiev is 450 miles north-west of troubled Donetsk. The current Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice says “the situation in Kiev and western cities is generally calm.” 

Tour operators insists that site is safe to visit. Ukrainian officials have suggested that Pripyat won’t be habitable for another 20 000 years though. Crew maintaining concrete sarcophagus work strictly monitored 5 hour days over the course of a month then take 15 days off. 

Place has become a time capsule of Cold War era beyond scope of what a museum can recreate. It IS 1986 with all its suspicion, frission and atomic fear. 

Rusted swimming pools, dusty gymnasium, giant ferris wheel. Amusement park was due to open 4 days after explosion. They’ve all become a symbol of the disaster. 

East European forest has reclaimed the city. Unchecked by man’s hand in 30 years. ABANDONED site. Trees begun to creep in. Wildlife skitters and darts in the shelter they provide. Wolves, lynx, brown bears have returned. Blissfully free of human footprints. 

Chornobyl tour (chernobyl-tour.com) offers 1 day foray to both power plant and Pripyat from £62 a head. Or a detailed 5 day itinerary from £361 per person. 

Welcome to Chernobyl (chernobylwel.com) specialises in 2 day trips which stay overnight from £240. 

Ukrainian National Chornobyl Museum (chornobylmuseum.kiev.ua) is a safer compromise. Charts the event with an exhibit of gas masks, images of deformed animals. Moving through a corridor of name signs for villages that were deleted from the map when the reactor burst. How many people were displaced? 

It was without comparison until Fukushima 2011. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/ukraine/articles/how-can-i-visit-chernobyl-and-is-it-safe/

25 things you didn’t know about Ukraine, the heart of Europe 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/ukraine/articles/amazing-fact-you-probably-didnt-know-about-ukraine/

How to travel to radioactive places (GOOGLE)

Watch Derek Muller travel to the world’s most radioactive places

Ten most radioactive places on earth - Brainz

About radiation danger/safety of short-term trips to the Chernobyl Zone (chernobyl-tour.com)

The most radioactive places in Chernobyl - ChernobylWEL.com

Nuclear tourism - Wikivoyage

Is Chernobyl safe? what you need to know - World Nomads

What’s it like to visit Chernobyl exclusion zone (The Independent)

Fukushima Travel Guide (Japan-Guide.com)

Netflix’s Dark Tourist: Japan investigating Fukushima tour episode (news.com)

travel the most radioactive places in the world (youniversitytv.com)

How to decontaminate a radioactive environment (MPH online)

Fukushima travel guide (GOOGLE)

Nuclear Waste problem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU3kLBo_ruo

[adurnah]

Two days in Numazu (Love Live Sunshine real life setting): a report

Heya! I know I haven’t used my Tumblr in ages, but I didn’t know where else to put this so here I am.

So, I’ve been to Japan for two weeks in late February and I managed to spent two days (Sun 19th and Mon 20th) in Numazu and Uchiura, the places where all of Love Live Sunshine is set. It was an incredible experience, so I’ve wanted to write a report both for me to remember it but also to show other people the place. I can’t believe I procrastinated two months in this

From Kyoto (where we were before this) we arrived at Numazu on Sunday morning at around 8am, by night bus. This is Numazu Station, featured a lot of times in the anime. We’ve been really lucky and had a wonderful weather! at least for one day

After going to check-in to our hotel (if you’re interested in going, I really recommend you Sanco Inn Numazu Ekimae, it’s super close to the station and the staff knows English pretty well), we came back to catch the bus for Uchiura.

Right in front of the station there’s a collaboration cafè, Yudai Festa Sun! Sun! Sunshine Cafè. We went there later for dinner.

This is the bus stop to Uchiura. You’ll see Love Live is literally everywhere here. Unfortunately I already knew we had no chance to catch the LLSS collaboration bus if we didn’t want to waste time (the first was at around 11am iirc)

While we were waiting there for the bus, another bus arrived and a girl next to us asked us “Where are you going?�� so I said “Izu Mito Sea Paradise” (since it’s the most known attraction from Uchiura and it was actually our first stop), and she said that that other bus that arrived was going there too. So we took that bus.

Random photo of the scenery from the bus.

Comes out, that bus wasn’t going to Izu Mito. I don’t know what happened, if she didn’t understood what I said or she was just wrong, but at some point on the road to Uchiura the bus changed direction. I kept looking where the f- we were going on my phone, and comes out we were going to the near city of Izu-Nagaoka. I tried asking to the driver if the bus was going to Izu Mito Sea Paradise (maybe taking a longer route) but he said “No, *something else I didn’t caught* Sea Paradise”. IDK. In the end I found with Google Maps that there was another bus going to Izu Mito from that area, so we dropped off the bus and waited for the other bus. 

The funny thing to all of this is that at that bus station in the middle of nowhere and far away from every LLSS location there was this:

No matter where you go, Love Live is there.

An old woman also asked us (in Japanese this time) where we were going and she confirmed that this bus was actually for Izu Mito and she was right this time. I got pleasantly surprised that people are so friendly there, even with weird gaijins like us.

This detour unfortunately cost us a lot of time, but in the end we managed to arrive to Izu Mito Sea Paradise! If you don’t know, this aquarium is the setting for the Koi ni Naritai AQUARIUM PV.

I forgot to take a photo outside This is the Show Stadium of the Aquarium, where most of the scenes in the KoiAQUA PV happen.

I loved this tank with sakura flowers inside.

I haven’t took a photo of the whole coloured jellyfish pool (where You is being emo in the PV) but I had a bit of fun photographing the single jellyfishes.

Shukas Otteeeeers so cute. I went to see them hundreds of time.

A dolphin came to say hi to us! o/

A nice view of Awashima Island and... Fuji-san being shy and hiding behind clouds.

Aqours images signed by the seiyuus. In front of this place is where you can see half of the aquarium’s audience are Love Livers, a lot of people came here to take photos of the posters. I loved the guy that posed next to Mari doing her “Lock on!” pose lol

Best grills and best seiyuus signatures

The aquarium shop has a literal aquarium with Aqours acrylic standees inside

YouChika under the sea and a fish staring at me

Aqours standees inside the aquarium shop.

The visit to the aquarium took us until midday, since we also saw the shows. After lunch, we went out and headed to our next stops.

First of all we stopped at the close Sannoura Tourist Center, aka the tourist center of the town. I tried periscoping inside of it so here’s a video: https://streamable.com/d5n33 (I can’t find a way to embed it sorry)

As you can see the place is FILLED with Love Live, it really is the main attraction there.

If I recall correctly this page in their signature book was signed by the seiyuus when they first came here in February 2016. I witnessed one of Rikyako’s best masterpieces with my own eyes I feel blessed.

After we looked around a bit the two staff members showed us a map of Japan where people put a round sticker for the place where they were from, and they also had spaces of overseas. For Europe iirc they had a space for UK, Germany and then “Other Europe” lel, so we put our sticker there. There were only 2 sticker on “Other Europe”, and I wondered who they were... comes out it was my friend and her boyfriend who come here in December :’D Not a lot of people are as crazy as us uh better for them

After this the staff girl asked us if the wanted to write a post-it with cheers for the seiyuus for their First Live. After I wrote mine, she took it, looked at it and asked “Yousoro?” (since I wrote it in blue and added an anchor), I said yes and then she disappeared for a bit and came back with two You keychains as a present for me WTF I was almost crying as I thanked her, so kind!! They also gave some Chika goods to my friend, I was speechless. As if it wasn’t enough, while we were going out the staff guy stopped us and gave us one of their big posters??

Like seriously WTF. Are they really so happy to see tourists?

I feel sorry that they also tried to make some conversation with me but unfortunately I’m still a beginner in Japanese and they didn’t know a lot of English ;; They managed to ask me if we were going to see some locations and I said that in fact we’ve already been to Izu Mito. They were so happy ;;

Another nice thing I didn’t expected is that outside of the Tourist Center we found a few itashas. Not comparable to the one you can see in UDX in Akiba but they were nice!

This one was very well made, except for the fact that one side was wrongly mirrored lol

This guy has good tastes.

We left the Tourist Center in the direction of the school. This is the place where Mari falls while running, in fact, to the school to meet Kanan.

A bit ahead we found this groceries shop called “Oh! Mos” that sells mikans and specifically the Jyutaro x LLSS mikans, and also has this big Aqours shrine. I told ya LL there is really everywhere.

Fun fact: Suwawa, Rikyako and Anchan went in this shop a few weeks later, when they were there for their DIVER photoshoot, and left a signature (that’s the shop twitter account).

We took a bag of mikans and when we went to the counter to pay, the old woman pointed at Chika’s image in the bag and said “anime?” to us, lol. When we said yes (?) she showed us that they even have the cardboard box of mikan, the megaphone and the sign that Chika uses in episode 1 to gather people for her school idol club, lol. SUKURU AIDORU BU DEEESU. My friend took a pic with them

Btw, mikans are really good.

Moving on, we went to the place where the girls (try to) shoot a PV in episode 6. The place is called “Nagahama Castle Ruins” but there really isn’t much except for a really nice view.

Actually, I had printed a lot of these postcards with anime screenshots to take this kind of photos, but unfortunately I realized taking a good shot takes a lot of time and effort, plus the wind was not helping me. In the end I gave up and took really a few of these. I still have all of them so maybe I’ll try again if I manage to go back in August.

If you turn back you can already see the school!

My friend took a panorama of the bay.

Moving on to the next stop: the little shrine where Kanan ends her morning run and dances under the stalkers other girls’ eyes.

I saw a lot of people thinking that the shrine where Kanan dances is the same as the one in episode 4 to where Ruby and the seconds year run, but it’s not: that one is in Awashima Island and it would have required Kanan to take the boat from where she starts her run. In fact it’s this one, a bit before the school. There were two other Love Livers there taking photos.

After this we finally got to the school bus stop! Featured in the ending, as well as in episode 1 when You joins the school idol club.

I failed this photo on so many levels.

Going up the hill to the school, such a nice scenery.

And here it is! Uranohoshi Girls Highschool is in real life a middle school called Nagaisaki. It was Sunday afternoon so no one was around, except for the gym where we could hear some people inside.

After this we walked all the way back to Izu Mito and beyond to see the other locations, like...

Yasudaya ryokan, aka Chika’s house!

And right in front of it, the beach featured in the very first LLSS image, as well as the scene in episode 1 where Chika and Riko talk. Someone already wrote Aqours on the sand.

And the pier when Riko tries to kill herself jump in the water.

Early blooming sakura.

Last one I tried to take. Kimi no kokoro wa kagayaiterukai?

Shougetsu Cafè! aka the place were a CYaRon radio drama is set, and also were the 2nd years seiyuus went during their Teku Teku. Of course we went to grab some mikan dorayaki! They are super good. I even bought mikan jam, but I still have to open it.

Photos and signatures of the seiyuus.

We were so lucky we even found the LLSS kitchen car! I bought the You Noppo keychain.

Unfortunately, at this point my organization failed me. We wanted to go to Awashima Island, but I got wrong the place where the boat docks. I thought it was in front of Shougetsu, where there actually is some kind of port, but it wasn’t. We lost time looking around and on the web (how come that the Awashima Marine Park website doesn’t say where the boat docks?!), then tried to ask to the girls in the kitchen car who managed to explain to me it was 20 minutes by feet to get there. Unfortunately it was already kinda late, and since we didn’t want to rush it we decided to go back to Numazu. While riding the bus I saw the bus stop “Awashima” and the docks. If only we had take the right bus in the morning I would’ve know. Too bad.

Even if we didn’t rode the LLSS collaboration bus there was still some Love Live on board. Someone likes OmoiNare ships here.

At Numazu station we finally grabbed some Noppo Pan! I bought the LLSS (caramel) flavoured one this time, and later I tried the strawberry chocolate too. In the same shop in the station I also bought some really good mikan cookies.

Going around Numazu by night. This shopping district appears in episode 6, and it also contains Maru-san (Maru’s favorite bookstore) and the cafè used as a background for Guilty Kiss first illustration

Obligatory visit to Numazu Gamers, or Numazu’s Little Demon shop.

Inside the shop.

Going to the collabo cafè for dinner! They have this fake UraGirls bus stop sign which actually resembles the real one (including the timetable)

I got the full You menu: Youkisoba (I even got the appropriate coaster), You’s drink and You’s Magic Tea (it’s a butterfly pea tea, it’s blue but when you put lemon in it it becomes purple). I really liked it tbh to be just a collabo cafè (not famous for the quality of their meals...)

And this concludes our first day in Numazu.

The next day we decided to do just a short visit to Numazu, since going back to Uchiura just to go to Awashima Island was too expensive.

Nakamise again.

We went to see Yoshiko’s house, a building called Natty Numazu. At the first floor of the building, on the other side, there’s a watch shop that even has some LLSS merch, and when the shopkeeper saw us looking at it they made us enter and sign their Yoshiko signature book lol

This tiny temple is right next to the alley where Yoshiko is seen in the last scene of episode 5 (before starting running away from the others).

Of course since You is best grill I couldn’t miss this place: You’s house! Which is not a house but a Western-style cafè called Orandakan.

Just from outside you can’t be wrong this is the place.

Their You shrine from inside.

When we entered an old lady came to us and made us seat. She tried failed a bit to talk in English and brought us their signature book (I swear every single place has signature books there). My friends told me she also said “Welcome to You’s house” but unfortunately I didn’t catch it.

Their menu is only in Japanese but luckily since the teas are all in katakana and the cakes had pictures we managed to order something.

Not bad but tbh kinda pricey, I paid 1010 yen for a tea and a piece of cake... but it was at You’s house! So it’s ok.

Our message in the signature book, I did the writing and my friend did the drawing.

Moving along Yoshiko’s escape route, we passed next to Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium (where the first years go in their KoiAQUA radio drama, aka the shiirakansu aquarium) and Numazu Hamburger & Cafè, where the first years also came for their Teku Teku.

I took a photo of this sign and not of the place, how fail I am.

We finally arrived at Byou (which I discovered actually means View-O), the water gate/observatory where Yoshiko finally stops running and also where You and Mari go talk in episode 11. Going up only costs 100 yen but due to some circumstances we decided not to go. The weather got bad in any case so we wouldn’t have seen anything anyway.

And this concludes our trip around Numazu, and is also where we suddenly started having incredible bad luck.

The weather was getting worse and worse, with strong wind and rain. On our travel back to Tokyo we wanted to make some stops: at Atami to visit the Plum Garden since the plums were in full blooms, at Nebukawa station (the station of feels in the anime), and Kozu station (the beach of feels- yes, they’re in different places). After riding the train we already decided that we would miss Atami, the weather was too bad to enjoy a garden. We could still stop at Nebukawa and Kozu, I mean, we just have to stop and take some photos, it can’t be that bad, right?

Wrong. The wind was so strong we were basically flying away, I’ve never seen something like this. We run inside the station and I only managed to take these photos.

Being the wind so strong we decided not to stop in Kozu, since it would’ve been a pain with our luggages and everything. But, after arriving at that exact station, the train stopped. We heard a lot of messages but we couldn’t understand them. We checked online and discovered that all trains in the Tokaido line were suppressed due to strong winds. And we were in Kozu. But we couldn’t go down. I couldn’t believe our bad luck, lol. The train stayed there for three (THREE) hours before leaving, and even then it was going slow and occasionally stopping, making our travel from Numazu to Tokyo 6 hours long instead of 2. But in the end we managed to arrive in Tokyo safe and sound.

Anyway, except for this last part, I really loved going to Numazu. It’s a bit of a struggle if you don’t know Japanese and it’s kinda expensive, but if you’re a Love Live fan it’s really really worthy. It’s not just “seeing” those places in real life, you can do that from photos... but being there, living like them, taking the same bus they take to school, eating mikans and Noppo pan... it’s an incredible experience. It makes it feels like everything is more real, even if it’s just an anime. I really hope I’ll be able to go back in August!

I want to give many many thanks to LuciaHunter for the LLSS Locations Google Map (link: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3623197,139.0468361,10z/data=!4m2!6m1!1s1cL4tMTO0iVaz69hqK88wyetWkR8 )

and also u/MasterMirage and u/FliryVorru for their reddit posts, they all were a huge help in planning this!

This concludes my report of these two days in Numazu. If you really read this till the end thank you, hope you like it! And if anyone has any question feel free to ask!

[exoscenarios3]

I Was Made for Loving You. Pt.18 (LayxReaderxChen) *Angst* Ft. Got7

*A lot of cheating* *Word of the day: Reassuringly* *Enjoy*

Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt.5, Pt.6, Pt.7, Pt.8, Pt.9, Pt.10, Pt.11, Pt.12, Pt.13, Pt.14, Pt.15, Pt.16, Pt.17, Pt.19

   Most of the boys were out today, the only people home were me and Kai, that is until he had a date with his girlfriend to go on, so now I was once again, home alone. The day past the way it normally does; me cleaning the dorm, watching tv, or listening to music, sometimes playing video games.    

   As I was watching some movie I randomly turned on, my phone buzzed. Thinking it was Jackson, I picked it up in a hurry, but I saw I got a text from Kai instead. 

'Is anyone at the dorms right now?' He asked. 

'No, it's still just me. You better not bring your girlfriend here to have sex, do it somewhere else.' I sent. I expected him to reply back, but he didn't. 

Twenty minutes or so passed, and Kai busted through the door, clearly angry. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked, standing up from the couch. 

"Are you still here alone?" He asked quickly. 

"Yeah, why-?" I started, but he cut me off, by cupping my cheeks, and placing his lips on mine in a chaste kiss. 

"Kai, stop." I said, in between kisses, he was too strong for me to push him away. What the hell has gotten into him? He started to go down from my lips, to my jaw, to my neck. "Kai, seriously, sto- oh my god." I say, out of pleaser. It wasn't until his hand was on my boob, that I came back to my senses, and pulled him off me. 

"Sit." I demanded in a mom tone,  pointing at the couch. Kai sat down quickly, and looked down at his feet. "What the hell has gotten into you, Kai? You can't just walk in here and start making out with me. Don't you have a girlfriend?" I asked, running my hand through my hair. 

"Not anymore." He said, the anger coming back to his face. I sat down next to him, and put a hand on his shoulder. 

"What happened?" I asked, concerned. 

"She cheated on me... She told me she did, and why she did it. She said that since I was always gone, and we never got to see each other, she thought I was cheating on her, so she did it to me." He explained, starting to tear up. 

"So you used me as revenge?" I asked, kinda understanding where he was coming from. He looked down again, and nodded.

 "I'm sorry, I know it was stupid and kind of an asshole thing to do." He said, putting his head in his hands. I rubbed his back, and sighed. 

"It's okay, I know how you feel. I've been there." I say, trying to comfort him. He looked up at me and wiped his cheek. 

"So will you help me then?" He asked, leaning in to kiss me again. 

I put my hand on his shoulder, stopping him.  "I could, but it wouldn't make you feel any better, just worse." I point out. "You know you don't like me like that. Plus, Chen would kill you, nothing would be resolved from this, and plus-" 

Kai cut me off. "I get it, thanks." He said, letting out a long sigh. 

"Plus if Harper-" 

"Madison." He corrected me. 

"Right, if Madison told you the reason why she cheated, don't you think that means she regrets it? Is it not an option for you to give her a second chance?" I asked. 

He shrugged. "I don't know if I can. I don't want to be as heart broken as Lay was..." He said, looking up at me and immediately regretting what he said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring him up." He apologized. 

"It's fine, I know what I did, I know it hurt Lay, that's how I know what you're feeling. I’m really the last person who should be giving relationship advice, but... If you got your revenge, it would hurt her too. Just, try to fix it, and if it doesn't work, then let go." I say, patting his shoulder.

 Kai nodded and stood up, pulling out his phone. "I'll go call her." He said, starting to walk away, but he stopped and turned back to me. "Thank you." He smiled, leaving to his room. 

~~~

The next few days flew by really fast. It was already time for the boys to leave for Japan, and I was seeing them off at the front door of the dorm. 

"You guys got everything, right?" I asked, handing Baekhyun his jacket. 

"I think we're good. If we forgot something, we can just get Suho to buy us another one." Baekhyun said, throwing his arm around Suho's shoulder. 

"That's not how that works, Baek." Suho said, shrugging his shoulder off, making Baekhyun pout. 

"Please don't kill each other while you're gone, okay?" I said. 

"We'll be good, don't worry." Baekhyun smiled brightly. 

"Manager hyung is downstairs with the cars waiting on us." Kyungsoo said, looking at his phone. 

"That's our cue then, bye (Y/N), don't wreck this place." Suho said, waving goodbye to me. 

"Bye, babe." Chen said, giving me a kiss before leaving. He went back to his normal self when he came home from whatever 'meeting' he went to a week ago. I'm still confused about what had gotten into him that day, but it's over now.

 "Do a good job performing! See you guys Monday." I said, smiling and waving goodbye to them as they all left the dorm one by one. It seems that all I do lately is stay in this dorm alone. I've done pretty much everything there is to do here. I sighed, and started walking to the couch, but before I could get there, there was a knock on the door. Probably one of the boys. "I thought you said you had everything." I say, as I opened the door. I stop, however, when I see Mark standing in the doorway. "Mark? What are you doing here?" I asked, confused as to why he was here. 

"Uhm, I was just coming to check on you.  The last time I saw you, you stormed out of the dorm, chasing after Chen." He explained, scratching the back of his neck. 

"Oh, w-well, come in." I say, opening the door wider so he could come inside. 

"How are you two? Nothing bad happened, right?" He asked, as he awkwardly stood in the hallway. 

"Me and Chen? Yeah, we're fine, I think?" 

"You think?" He asks. 

"Yeah... Well, he was acting a little weird last week. He lied about being sick and went out to get drunk with his friends and the next morning while he was hungover, he said he was going to a meeting, and then came back normal... And now they’re going to Japan this weekend for a performance, and I’m just second guessing everything..." I said. 

"That sounds a little suspicious don't you think?" Mark asked, scrunching his eyebrows. 

"I mean it does, but I'm trying to not let it get to me. Jumping to conclusions is the last thing I need to do right now." I say, moving past him and bringing him to the living room. "Would you like something to drink?" I asked, trying to change the subject. 

"I'm good, thank you though." He said. "Jackson told me you guys made up." Mark sat down on the couch, and I sat next to him. 

"Yeah, were back to texting everyday again. We go out every once in awhile." 

"That's good. I'm sorry for messing up your relationship with him..." Mark said, a fallen look on his face. 

"It wasn't your fault." I say, reassuringly. 

"No, it was. I messed everything up, and I'm sorry for that."

 "It was a long time ago, Mark. Everything's fine now." I give him a smile, to convince him that everything is indeed okay. He nodded and smiled back. There was a small pause between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable in the slightest. 

"Why don't you go surprise Chen this weekend? You could go see him perform and go backstage and surprise him?" Mark suggested, out of nowhere. 

"That was really random." I say, laughing a bit. 

"It could be romantic." Mark shrugged, still smiling.

 "I would if I could, but I'm sure tickets are sold out by now, and I don't have money for a plane ticket..." I say, sighing. 

"I could get you the plane ticket. Even if you can't see them perform, you could at least surprise him at the hotel." He winked, making me slap his arm. "Hey! I'm just trying to help. Do you want the plane ticket or not?" He asked. 

"Could you really do that for me?" I asked, looking at him with hopeful eyes. He nodded and put his smile on again. I smiled widely, and hugged him, kissing his cheek. "Mark Tuan, you are the best!" 

He laughed and hugged me back. "I like to think so too." He said, pulling away. "I have to get going now, we have practice in a few minutes." We both got up and I walked him to the door. 

"Seriously, thank you." I say, genuinely happy. 

"Anytime. In exchange though, call me every once in a while? Let me know you're okay?" He asked, looking at me hopefully. 

"I will." I say, smiling. 

"And I'll send you the tickets in the morning. Be safe, okay?" We hugged one more time, before he left the dorm. I couldn't help but smile. I hope Chen will be happy to see me. 

What am I saying? Of course he will be! 

~~~   

    Sunday morning, I got ready to leave for the airport. Mark sent me the tickets, and I texted him, thanking him again. On the plane, I could barely hold in my excitement. I couldn't go to the concert, but I at least get to see Chen. Exo's manager let me know what hotel they were staying at, and everything. By the time I get there, they should all be in their rooms. I already have my surprise planned out. And shall I say, I'm quite proud of myself?    

   A few hours passed, and I finally landed. I looked at my phone, already getting google maps ready so I could find this hotel, which wasn't hard to miss, since all you really had to do was follow the screams of fans who were outside of the hotel. I pushed through them, and made my way to the lobby, spotting Sehun on his way to the pool. 

"Sehun!" I shouted amongst all the screams, not really caring about the fans because of my excitement. He looked over and started to wave at what he thought was a fan, but saw me and stopped in his tracks. He walked towards me, making the fans screams get louder. 

"What are you doing here?" He asked, obviously surprised to see me. 

"I'm here to surprise Chen and you guys, so, surprise!" I say, happily. He smiled, and hugged me, making fans go crazy from outside. "I forgot the fans were here, I better not hug you in front of them, or they'll blow it out of proportion and say there's a scandal between us." He laughed. "Good luck finding Chen, I haven't seen him since last night." Sehun said, before making his way to the pool. 

   I turned to go to the elevator, to make my way up to his room, and stopped midway when the elevator doors opened, revealing Chen and some girl inside. His arm around her shoulder. He kissed the top of her head and smiled down at her, as she snuggled into him. When he looked up, we locked eyes, shock crossed his face, and he looked down at the girl beside him, then at me, quickly removing his arm from her. He started walking towards me, but before he could get anywhere near me, I turned around and started walking out of the hotel, pushing back through the fans. It was like everything was in slow motion, I couldn't hear anything, until I got out of the crowd. Fans were screaming Chen's name, I looked back and see him push his way through the crowd to get to me, he was screaming my name, begging for me to let him explain. People were taking pictures of me and of him. I quickly waved down a taxi, and got in it, closing and locking the door just in time. Chen tried to open the door, but realized that it was locked and started banging on the window. 

"Please, (Y/N)! It's not what you think! Let me explain!" He said, trying the door again. 

"Please drive." I said to the driver, looking away from Chen. 

The taxi started to move, and Chen chased it until he couldn't anymore. 

"Where to?" The driver asked, in broken English. 

"The airport, please." I say, sadly, trying to not to cry, but failing miserably.

~~~

After a lot of convincing and calls, I finally made it back home. I went to the dorms, packed all my things, and went to the first place I could think of. I knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, it opened. Jackson was standing there, in his pajamas, confused and sleepy. It was really late after all. 

"(Y/N)... Are you okay?" He asked, his voice hoarse from just waking up. I broke down immediately as soon as he asked me that. He pulled me into a hug, and rubbed my back. "Come in, okay? I'll get you some ice cream and you can tell me all about it." He said, letting me in the dorm, and taking my stuff. 

   As he put my stuff up and went to get me ice cream, my phone wouldn't stop ringing. Calls from Chen, texts from Suho and Sehun, everyone was blowing up my phone, but I refused to answer it, all I could do was hopelessly look at the phone. 

"Wow, someone's popular tonight." Jackson said, handing me a bowl of ice cream, and sitting down next to me. "You wanna talk about it?" He asked, rubbing my knee. 

   I shook my head and slowly took a bite of my ice cream. Jackson sighed, and pulled me into a side hug, making me cuddle with him. 

"Just tell me when you're ready." He said, soothingly. "I put your stuff in my room, you can take my bed if you want. I tend to sleep on the couch anyways." He offered. I didn't say anything, I just kept staring at my phone as I got yet another call from Chen. "I'm guessing something happened with him... Let's turn this off, okay?" Jackson reached over, grabbing my phone and turning it off, putting it in his pocket. 

"He cheated on me with some random girl in Japan." I finally said. 

"Oh... (Y/N)... I'm so sorry. Are we sure it was some random girl? I mean it could have been a family member visiting him or something?" He asked, trying to make the situation better. 

I shook my head in disagreement. "You didn't see the way he was holding her, the way she snuggled into him, the way he smiled at her... She wasn't family." I said, looking off into the distance, a tear escaping my eye. "This is what I get, I deserve this. I guess karma is a real thing after all. I'm a terrible person, terrible things happen to terrible people." I say. Jackson put his hands on my shoulders, and made me face him. 

"Stop that, you're not a terrible person. You're great, and if Chen can't see that, then he doesn't deserve you." He said, staring me in the eyes. "Chen is an asshole, don't let him ruin you." He said. "How about you get some rest, and then tomorrow, we'll spend the whole day watching movies and playing video games." He smiled at me, earning a small smile from me. 

   I nodded slightly, and stood up, hesitantly. "Jackson.. Can you stay with me? At least until I fall asleep?" I asked, playing with my fingers. I don't know why I was so hesitant to ask him that, we've slept in the same bed before. I guess, it's just since we just recently became close again, it feels a bit weird to ask.

 "Y-yeah, no problem." He said, getting up as well. We made our way to his room, and slid in the bed, cuddled up to each other. I almost immediately fell asleep in Jackson's arms. ~ Suho's p.o.v~

"Chen, calm down okay? I'm sure she's fine." I said, trying to calm Chen down. He's been in my hotel room for the past two hours, pacing back and forth. He explained everything to me as soon as he stepped foot in the room, starting with; "Suho I've done something terrible."   

   I’m worried too. of course she would leave like that. How could he have cheated on (Y/N)? I mean, sure, she doesn't have the best reputation in relationships, but that doesn't give him the right to go out and cheat on her like that. God knows where she could be right now. Hopefully she’s back at the dorms, safe. Then again, she probably shouldn’t be alone. 

Flashbacks from the time Lay was left alone after his heart break flooded my mind, and made me more worried and nervous, but I couldn’t show that for Chen’s sake. 

"What do I do? She's not answering my calls or my texts. Why am I such an idiot. I love her, and I just messed everything up." He said, running his hands through his hair.

    I started to say something, but there was a knock at the door. I sighed, and got up to answer it. As soon as I twisted the handle, the door busted open and in walked a angry Sehun. 

"What the fuck did you do!?" He yelled, pushing Chen. 

"Hey! Let's not break out into a fight, okay? We still have to perform tonight." I say, pulling Sehun away from Chen. 

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Sehun protested. 

"You don't have a say in it, we're performing. We can't just cancel a whole concert because of this." I say, sternly, trying to get some sense into him. Sehun turned his attention back to Chen and pulled out his phone. 

"Do you see this? This is all because of you! You're such an idiot! I can't believe you!" Sehun yelled, shoving the phone in Chen's face. Chen looked away from the phone and stared down at the ground, not saying anything.

 "Let me see that." I say, curious as to what Sehun was showing him. I took his phone and scrolled through some article about (Y/N) and Chen. "Mystery girl breaks Chen's heart. A girl, by the name of (Y/N), leaves Exo's Chen at a hotel in Japan." I read. "So they're turning everything on her?" 

"Basically. You should read the whole article, they're basically shitting all over her and praising Chen. You cheated on her didn't you? I had a feeling, since you've been acting so weird lately." Sehun scolded, still not getting a word out of Chen. "You better hope she's okay, because if she's not, it's you I'm coming after, and I'll make sure no one stops me next time." He threatened, storming out of the room, and slamming the door behind him.

    I looked at the door, and then turned to Chen, seeing him fall on the chair, head in hands, and tears streaming down his face. 

"Suho, I can't lose her." He said, through sobs. 

"You should've thought of that before... I'm sorry Chen, I don't know how to fix this one." I said apologetically. We've had 'cheating' problems before at the dorm, but no one has ever just up and left like this. Chen is an idiot, and this time he went too far for his own pleasure. (Y/N) won't answer her phone no matter who calls. I'm worried about her too, but what else can we do, other than wait for tomorrow to come so we can go home?

    I sighed, and put my hand on Chen's shoulder. "We'll figure something out, okay? Right now, just get cleaned up and ready for the concert tonight." 

~Jackson's p.o.v~   

   It didn't take her long to fall asleep, but I couldn't bare to leave her alone the way she was. I swear I'm going to kick Chen's ass for this. I don't mind her staying at the dorms, but I don't know what the others will think about it. She doesn't have anywhere else to go, I can't just let her live on the streets. 

   The door opened, and Mark walked in, stopping when he saw us in the bed. I put a finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet. 

"What happened? Is she okay?" Mark whispered, sitting down on the floor by the bed. 

"She found out Chen cheated on her." I informed him, as quietly as I could. 

"Damn. What an asshole." He said, shaking his head in disappointment. 

"That's what I said." 

"I feel bad, I'm the one who told her to go surprise him. I only made things worse, again." He said, moving a hair out of her face.

 "No, I think you helped this time. She needed to get out of this relationship, god knows how long he's been cheating on her." I reassured him. For once, I'm happy that Mark interfered with a relationship. 

"Guys! Have you seen this article about (Y/N)?" JB asked, walking into the room and not realizing she was in here. Me and Mark both told him to shut up, but it was too late, because (Y/N) was already up. 

"What article?" She asked, rubbing her eyes. 

"Uh... Did I say article? I meant to say meme about that girl that has the same name as you. You know the 'catch me outdoors, sound good?' Girl." JB said, trying to cover up what he said earlier. 

 Mark and I face palmed and cringed. 

"That's not her name, and that's not how that meme goes." (Y/N) said, sitting up more. "JB, give me the phone." She said, holding out her hand. JB looked from his phone to her and shook his head. "Im Jaebum, let. Me. See. The. Phone." 

   They stared at each other for a few seconds, and I thought he was going to give it to her, but instead, he ran and (Y/N) chased after him. Mark looked at me and we both followed them out into the living room. 

"Give me the phone!" (Y/N) was trying to jump for the phone, but JB was too tall for her. 

"Shorty." JB laughed. 

"If the article is about me, I have a right to know what it is." She said, pouting. JB sighed, and hesitantly handed her the phone. I looked over her shoulder as she read the article. "Great, so people are taking his side on this. They don't even know the situation!" She said, angrily handing the phone back to JB. 

"The media sucks, don't listen to them." I say, putting my hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "It's late, you should go back to bed. Get some rest, please." 

"Fine." She said, making her way back to my room. 

"Right, is it chill if she stays her for a bit?" I asked JB. He nodded, still kinda shocked from everything that just happened. 

"Yeah, no problem." 

~Your p.o.v~

   Jackson had breakfast ready for me to eat the next morning. I sat next to him at the kitchen table, where he was already devouring his food.

"Thanks for letting me stay here last minute." I say, filling my plate with food. "And thanks for the breakfast." I smile at him. 

"Anything for my best friend. You're always welcome here." He said, stuffing his face with pancakes.

 "I still can't believe they made me out to be the bad guy in that article. Do you know how many people are going to hate me now?" I say, running my fingers through my hair. 

"I'm sure they'll forget about it soon. Some new scandal will come out, and all this will be in the past." Jackson said, with a reassuring smile.

 "I hope so..." I say, playing with my food. 

"Oh, so I forgot I had an interview scheduled today, so I won't be here until this afternoon." He hesitantly said. 

"So no movies or video games today?" I asked, a little disappointed, but I understood. 

"Maybe you and Mark can go out today and see a movie? Just don't have too much fun." He suggested, pointing his fork at me and raising an eyebrow at the end of his sentence. 

"I guess I will do that." I say, starting to actually eat my food instead of just playing with it. 

“It’s only til the afternoon, don’t look so sad.” Jackson said, noticing my sullen face. “Once I get home, we’ll watch all the movies you want.” 

~~~   

   Mark and I went out to watch a movie, now we're eating in a restaurant near the cinema we were just in. Mark noticed some fans taking pictures of us, and I could hear the whispers from everyone. 

"Isn't that the girl from the article? The one who left Chen?" 

"What a bitch." 

One after another, there were insults towards me. Mark could tell I was feeling uneasy. 

"Hey, don't worry about them, they're just jealous." He said, looking me in the eyes. I nod, and try my best to ignore them and continue eating. But then, a girl came up to our table, and faced me. 

"You're the girl that left Chen right? How could you do that to him? Do you know how heart broken he was during his performance last night? Now you're eating with Mark. You sure do move on fast, I guess that's what whores do." She said,crossing her arms. 

"Excuse me, but we're trying to have lunch.." Mark said, tapping her on the shoulder. 

"You know, you should really get your facts straight before you accuse someone of something. I didn't just up and leave Chen. I went to the hotel to surprise him, only to find out he was cheating on me. He may be ‘heartbroken’, but he shouldn't have done what he did. I'm not the one at fault here, so please leave us alone." I say as nonchalantly as I could. "And for your information, Mark and I are just friends, I haven't moved on to anyone." 

   The girl stood there for a second, probably trying to figure out something to say, but I waved her away. She huffed, and turned away, angrily stomping off to her friends. 

"Can we go?" I asked, looking at mark pleadingly. 

"Yeah, come on." He said, getting up and leading me out of the restaurant. On our walk home, there were a lot of fans who followed behind us, asking questions, and just saying things to hurt me.

 "Mark, date me instead of her. She's a slut you know." 

"Mark! How can you be seen with her right now? Do you know what she's done?"

 "Are you two dating now? Don't date!" 

   With every comment, we just walked faster. Once we got to the dorms, the manager and security had blocked the entrance. I'm guessing Mark texted the manager on our way home and let him know what was happening.

 "That was an experience." Mark said, as we made it into the dorms, away from everyone. 

"I don't think I can ever go outside again." I say, looking out the windows and seeing the fans still try to push through security. 

"Hey, you guys are back. How was the movie?" Jackson asked, coming out of his room. He looked out the window as well, and shut the curtains. "I'm guessing your outing didn't go too well." He said, looking back at us. 

"The fans have gone insane." Mark said, sighing. 

"I can see that." Jackson peeked out the window again. "They're leaving, so that's good." He said, leaving the window. 

   I sigh, and plop down on the couch. 

"I swear, this'll all blow over." Mark said, putting a hand on my shoulder. 

"With the way things are looking, I'm not so sure." I say. 

"Nothing good will come from mopping around," Jackson said, walking to the speakers and plugging up his phone, turning on music. "I know what'll cheer you up." He said, coming up to me and offering me his hand. "A dance party~~!" He said, a big smile on his face. 

Mark looked at him weirdly and I let out a long sigh. "That worked when I was fourteen, Jackson. It's not gonna work now." I cross my arms, and sunk into the couch. 

Jackson rolled his eyes, and pulled me to my feet. "Oh please, you used to dance all the time." He said, moving my arms for me. Mark watched us, entertained. 

"Jackson, this is embarrassing." I laugh, secretly enjoying it. 

"But you're smiling and that's all that counts." He laughed as well.

    As soon as I was actually starting to enjoy myself and have fun, there was a knock at the door. 

"I got it." Mark said, jogging to the front door.

 Jackson turned the music down, and we followed him to the door. When Mark opened it, I was shocked. Looks like he found me after all. 

"Chen...?"  

[louiseblue1]

Submitting a Submission

Lou, thanks for reading the little thoughts that possessed me this morning. They just come and I am powerless to stop them. And also thanks for sending me the link to the writing sites. Some of them are interesting and sound like fun. Damn it, now that you planted that seed for me, I have written a little piece to send to one of those places on the list.

Can you or will you read it and let me know what you think? This short story was based on a visit I made to a house I used to live in when I was 10. The story itself is totally made up, but the images are real.

THE HOUSE ON HAMLIN STREET

My plane landed at the Bob Hope airport in Burbank, California just around 2:pm. It was the first time in forty-five years I had set foot in the San Fernando Valley. As the place taxied down the runaway, I looked at my window from seat 30F and could see a piece of my past enshrouded in the smog that lay over the land.

Once i disembarked from the 737, I  made my way through the tiny terminal, retrieved my luggage and my rental car. Twenty minutes later, I steered a fairly new Ford Expedition onto North Hollywood Way. I had my google map on the seat  next to me. I turned west onto Sherman Way and drove deeper into my old neighborhood. I passed by strip malls and various fast food joints, places that had  not yet found their foothold when I was last in this area. I was only ten then, and the congested activity of those blocks seemed like a world of their own. Sherman Way stretched on forever, and as I thought back to that ten-year old boy, I could remember how far the street seemed to go. It made me feel lost and so far from home.

Finally, I reached Coldwater Canyon Blvd. My ultimate destination was rapidly approaching. As I turned south, I could feel a light flutter of anticipation in my stomach. It was only a couple  more miles to Hamlin Street. Would the house still be there? God, I hope so.

Three more blocks before my turn, Coldwater Canyon Elementary School came into view. The school looked just as I remembered it; albeit a lot smaller, but back then it was a vast jungle of classroom bungalows and wide playgrounds. A sudden memory of my first fistfight flashed in my mind. I saw a crowd of shouting kids circled around  me and my opponent. We were clenched in headlocks, the standard strategy for fifth graders back then. Damn, I can’t think of what that kid’s name was—Robert or Russell. I do remember this person  had given me my first black eye. Thinking back to that day, I could almost feel the throbbing above my left eyebrow from the punch I took, and  how I had stood within that circle of kids and cried. Shame danced in my heart like a ghost haunting my memories. I would return later and take some pictures, but home was so very close now and I passed my old school without another thought.

Hamlin Street came up  next and I turned left. Two blocks down, at the corner of Alcove Street, I finally reached my goal. I was amazed that I could still find my way home after forty-five years. Relief surged through me as I pulled up to the curb across the street from my boyhood home. It was still there. A stone wall had been built around the perimeter of the front yard, but essentially nothing had changed. I noticed that the street sign on the corner was the same one that stood there all those years ago. Sure, it was weathered and faded and it leaned a bit to the right, but I could still read the letters through the dents in its surface, dents that I had put there by throwing rocks at it.

Looking out the windshield of my Expedition, I was suddenly ten-years old again. More memories took hold of me and guided my mind back to the summer of 1970. School would be letting out and the warm days stretching ahead would be filled with high adventures. There were dirt wars in my backyard, green plastic soldiers arranged in attack formations and ready to wipe out Charlie and his communist evil. Little League would be starting up and I would be in the outfield shagging pop-ups with the odor of freshly mowed grass wafting all around. My mother would be in our kitchen making Kool-Aid popsicles and dad would be out in the garage tuning up his old Indian motorcycle, getting ready to take me on a ride to the Mojave Desert. My best friend, Dave Munson, would come over and we would go down Victory Blvd to Matt and Tony’s Sub Shop, where sixty-five cents would get us two meatball subs with a dime left over for the  jukebox.

They were nice memories. Unfortunately, they were complete fantasy. I have spent all these years  hidden behind their softness, away from the pain and loss I really lived with that long, dark summer. There were no adventures, no green plastic soldiers or Little League. Mom didn’t make those popsicles and dad never took me on that ride to the desert. Dave never came by and we ate no meatball subs, never listened to Steppenwolf sing “Born to be Wild.”  No, that summer was the years my parents were killed, smashed up on the highway when a truck driver with too much coffee and not enough sleep drifted over the white line and ended their lives, along with my innocence.

As these memories held me, I did not notice the front door of my old house open or see the elderly Asian couple step out on the porch. Nostalgic tears threatened to streak down my cheeks. Finally, through those pools of mist, I saw the couple moving out front. They were gazing my way and the old man pointed at my rental. It suddenly occurred to me that my presence there on the street might appear mysterious, perhaps even sinister to the old couple. I swallowed the lump in my throat and opened my door. I would go over and explain to them why I was there.

As I crossed the street and approached the house, its owners seemed to stiffen with fear, watching this strange white man walk towards them, about to disrupt their simple lives. The old  man stepped forward, as is  he was prepared to protect his wife from the evils of the world—definitely from one stranger who did not belong in their driveway.

“Can I help you?” the man warily asked me.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry,” I replied. “I don’t mean to intrude, but—I, uh…well, I used to live here when I was a boy.”

The fear and suspicion in the couple’s eyes fell away. The woman actually smiled at me and the man quit his protectiveness and returned to her side.

“Is that right?” the woman said. “How long ago was that?”

I shook my head again and sighed. “Forty-five years,” I answered.

“Wow,” the old man marveled. “Forty-five years, huh? You haven’t been back since then?”

I nodded. “That’s right.”

Then the woman spoke and completely blew me away. “Would you like to come inside and look around?”

Just before I left Seattle, I remember telling my wife Shelia how great it would be if the house was still there and wouldn’t it be a gas if I could actually go inside and look around. She smiled at  me, but did not respond, perhaps still a little angry at me for insisting she not come. I guess it was some crazy macho need I had to face all of this alone. So when the old woman offered me that look inside, I felt some guilt for denying Shelia the chance to share some of my past with me.

However, standing there on the front porch of the house on Hamlin Street, I also felt some decorum, a cursory show of manners. I actually heard myself decline the woman’s invitation. “No, I don’t want to impose on you. It’s enough just to see the place.”

“Nonsense,” the woman replied. “My husband and I would be happy to have you come inside and see your childhood again.” She paused with a sudden distant look in her eyes. “You know,” she went on. “It has been too long since we have been back home. We met as kids living in our village back in Japan. Gosh, that was sixty-years ago.”

Gratitude swelled in my heart and I was almost moved to tears again. Suddenly, I wanted to know these two people, thank them by their proper names. “Thank you so much,” my voice croaked. “I’m Roy. Roy Banner.”

She took my hand in her leathery grip. “Roy, it’s nice to meet you. I am Keiko. My husband’s name is Shiro. Please come inside.“

She turned to enter the house. I followed them inside. When I passed over the threshold, it felt like I had crossed through a time warp. We stood in the living room, and as I gazed around its small but cozy confines, a sudden image of me stretched out on the floor in front of our Magnavox TV slammed into my brain. The memory was very vivid and it was easy to imagine the theme songs for Gilligan’s Island or the Brady Bunch echoing in the stillness of the room. Keiko and Shiro merely stood off to one side and let me wonder at all those years gone by—which suddenly seemed like no time at all.

I did not want to be rude, but I was compelled to move further into the house. I turned around and saw the hallway that led back to my old bedroom. It was only a few steps away, but again, through the eyes of a child, it seemed to stretch into infinity. I was barely aware of myself walking to the end of it. When I finally did arrive at the door, a hush seemed to settle in the air, as if the act of opening that door would bring an audience of angels. I held my breath  and turned the doorknob. I stood silent for a few seconds, gazing about the room, overcome with so many images. I did not see the modern furniture the old couple had decorated with. Instead, I saw my old bed stretched below the window, filled with boyhood dreams. Over in the corner, my scarred desk sat on the floor, Peanuts comic books and Hardy Boys mysteries scattered on top of it. My dresser sat just inside the door and to the left, more bric-a-brac cluttered on its tarnished surface. Finally, I turned to face the closet. Would it still be there? I moved over and softly slid the door open.

When I was nine, I found a small hole at the back of the closet—a mouse had left it there. I widened it and fashioned a door to cover that space. It was my secret place, where I hid some of my more treasured items as a boy. When that awful summer  of 1970 ended and I was forced to go live with my Aunt, I completely forgot about my hiding  place. Over the years, I had many dreams of the house on Hamlin Street, and in one my most recent ones, I remembered the hole in the wall.

As I stood there in the semi-darkness, I hunkered to my knees and reached my hand down, searching along the back of the closet. When it ran across the little door, my breath caught in my throat. I found the latch and opened the tiny door. I reached inside and felt the valuable trinkets I buried there forty-five years ago.

I first pulled out an old tin box. A sheen of dust lay on it, thick and undisturbed. I opened the lid and my father’s voice suddenly spoke in my head, as if a radio had been turned on.

“Here, Roy. My dad gave me these when I was just about your age.” He handed me five silver-colored coins.  They dropped in my hand, clinking together with a dull sound. “Those are steel pennies,” my dad went on. “During World War II, they used steel instead of copper, which was needed for other things, you know, to supply the war effort. I guess they’re not worth much today, but when you get older, maybe time will bring them more value.”

I took the pennies out of the tin box and hefted them in my hand. Yes, dad was right. They were valuable now, but more than monetary worth. I reached back inside the mouse hole and brought out the remaining item. It was wrapped in a silk handkerchief. I unfolded the cloth. The Saint Christopher’s medallion that my mother used to wear lay inside. I remembered that I had taken it from her jewelry box the day after she died and squirreled it away in my secret place, as if it were a sacred token from beyond the grave. I knelt there in my old closet and began to cry. It was so good to be home. After a few minutes, I wiped my eyes and stood up, then turned and left my old room.

Keiko and Shiro were still waiting for me in the living room when I returned. I suddenly felt guilty in their presence, holding my plunder as if I had stolen something of theirs. But when I looked in their eyes, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

“Roy,” Shiro softly spoke. “We found your hiding place shortly after we moved in here. You should know that we are the only people who have lived here since you moved away. We did not disturb those things in your hand. We believe there is something honorable about a little boy’s secrets, don’t you think?”

I could only stand there and look at them as if they were part of that audience of angels I had imagined. Fresh tears rolled down my face. I went over to my new friends and hugged them, as if I finally had that one chance I missed to say goodbye to my parents.

They hugged me back.

**

It’s been three weeks since I got back from California. Sitting here in the quiet ambiance surrounding my desk, I close my eyes and think about what I’ve written. Shelia is taking a nap, having sensed that I wanted to be alone for a couple of hours. I can hear Troublesome Creek outside my window, speaking to me in its white water voice. Since I returned, I have brief moments when the tranquility of our house seems out of place, as if the noise and pollution of North Hollywood somehow feels more right to me.  Before I left, I gave Keiko and Shiro my address and asked them if they could write me once in a while, to keep me up to date on the old neighborhood. I really don’t expect them to. When I climbed into my Expedition and drove away, I knew I would probably never return to the house on Hamlin Street.

In a couple hours, my son Trevor will be home from school. I still haven’t mentioned to my family about the things I found in the back of my old closet. I think today I will finally share them with my boy, and perhaps together we will appreciated the wonderful time it is—being ten-years old.

REPLY: 

Hi Gene, so glad to know that FanStory was an interesting site for you. I keep promising myself I’m going to submit a story one of these days. They go heavy on the poetry as well, which is not my forte, but it did make me think of you and all of your lovely prose. 

Thank you for sending me this story. I’m honoured you’d think of me for giving some feedback. :) 

As always it’s beautifully written and easy to follow. As always you manage to sneak a gut punch in there as well with the death of the parents. I should start to see these things coming now in your writing but you get me every time. lol After the reveal of that information, it suddenly feels like the stakes are so much higher than just a walk down memory lane. It was clever to lull people into thinking they knew what was going on, and then hitting them with that well into the story. It kind of changes the lens through which you view the entire story after that reveal. 

The last paragraph was a neat tie in with ten year old Trevor and the passing on of a family tradition with what we assume will be the passing on of the steel coins. It also fills in a back story about the underlying prompt of going back home, with having a ten year old running around, reminding you of past days. 

I think it’s great, Gene, and you should definitely submit it. Now I’m off to have a crack at my story that I’ve been writing in my head for months now. Got to nail that first sentence. lol 

[novoplata]

Trust me, trust me, trust me.

It was almost 2am and I was still roaming on the street. A cold, wet, unfamiliar street. I had managed to follow my host’s direction to find my Airbnb rental up to this street, then everything went blank. The apartment was supposed to be around here somewhere, but there wasn’t any clear street address. Even if there were, they were written in Japanese characters, something that I can’t read.

I dashed into a 24-hour convenience store and showed the cash register guy the address I was looking for, which was written in Japanese. He went to the back of the store and returned with a thick book that looked like a phone book. I tried to catch my breath and watched him as he flipped through the pages of the book, which turned out to be a book of maps. 

He circled a place on the map and told that it was the location of the store, and circled another address on the map to show me the location of my rental. He made hand signals about going straight ahead on the same street. Exhausted, I didn’t ask more, I thanked him and dashed out of the store.

I spent another 15 to 20 minutes walking straight ahead and not finding the address I was looking for. Small shops which were still open in the area were closing down one by one and the street was getting increasingly dark. I panicked. Luckily, there were still people walking on the street. I searched for the friendliest-looking face and pounced on him with my desperate plea: “can you please help me find this address, I don’t have internet.”

The young man was kind enough to search my address on Google maps. Several minutes later, we found ourselves in front of the said address, but the place was dark and I wasn’t sure. I asked Mr. Good Samaritan again if he would walk me up to the apartment, in case it was the wrong address. He obliged, and after much tinkering, I found the key to my rental as per my host’s direction.

I thanked the Good Samaritan and bowed at him profusely, truly relieved that I had managed to find my rental so late. If I were to be in a shoddy neighbourhood in Afghanistan and not in Japan, I guess this would’ve been the part where I get robbed and hacked with a machete and be left to die in a pool of blood. Thank God I weren’t, and thank God He was with me every step of the way to keep me safe.

Last minute God

In my Christian journey, I’ve learned that God does have a sense of humour in how He likes to ‘tease’ us with panic-inducing situations, only to swoop in to save us in the last possible moment.

I was watching a sermon by Pastor Rick Warren the other day wherein he asked a question: is there anywhere in the Bible that Jesus is depicted as being in a hurry? He was only two miles away from Lazarus’s home when the man was sick, yet it took him four days to arrive. Likewise, there had been so many incidents wherein I was so sure that I wasn’t going to make it -- like almost missing that flight to Perth -- but in the end, He made it right and I made it.

And it’s not just that. I’ve experienced God putting someone helpful in my path and providing jobs for me just when I needed them. He is awesome! His message in all of these incidents would be, ‘Trust me! Believe in me! I will come through for you. Not five days before you need it or five minutes too late, but just in time!’ And I trust Him.

[marsymallows]

Yes, you read it right! I finally did it! I went on a solo trip for the first time and it’s for my 30th birthday!!

I’ve been thinking of doing this for the longest time as I love TRAVELING, and lately, I love being ON MY OWN. Put those together, and what do you get? Labo! Seriously, you can just do the math! Haha!

I booked this trip probably around April (when we got our bonus) and when PAL had one of their seat sales, which was very timely. I did not book any baggage allowance yet as I wanted to backpack around the island and I wanted to teach myself how to pack light this time. So total cost was around Php 1,100 round freaking trip!!!!!!

Weeks prior to the trip, I wasn’t sure if I was gonna push through as the weather didn’t look so good, plus I was a bit short on moolah as I am not doing well at my sales job, but since I was turning 30 naman na and I saved up pa rin naman, plus, I, really, really wanted to do something new, I did it!!! My adventurous self was poking me constantly that I got annoyed so sige na, push na this!

The week prior to the trip, I was still sooooo busy implementing activities. I even traveled to one of my remote territories the day before, so you can just imagine how tired I was from the long drive, but that didn’t stop me! In fact, I was sooooo excited, I packed my bag a few days prior. Usually, I’d pack my luggage the night before a trip, which brings me to ehem, the things I learned on my first ever solo trip!

  PACK YOUR BAG EARLY! – Ok so you guys probably already know this, but did I say that this post was about you? Charot! Nang-away? Anyhooooo, I normally pack my bags the night before, coz that’s the time that I don’t have to worry about my deodorant getting lost in my luggage when I haven’t put on any yet. Same with my slippers, undies etc. This time, I started packing my stuff at least 2 days prior, so I had time to sort through my beach OOTD’s, my swimwear, my scarves (always!). I had time to check my travel toiletries so I could buy whatever’s lacking. I was also able to organize my stuff in separate travel pouches especially my cords, chargers, batteries!

RESULT:I was able to eliminate excess stuff as I had time to really think about what I am going to wear based on my itinerary. Unfortunately, I still had to buy prepaid baggage allowance. I guess I really am no expert at PACKING SHYET, I mean, PACKING LIGHT. I guess this was still a FAIL, nevertheless, I still tried (so it’s a WIN too!) and that’s what matters. For my next beach trip though, I would really want to pack less than 7kg! Challenge accepted!

my backpack weighed 10kg at 50L! My shoulder bag weighed 6.5kg! LIGHT PACKER BA KAMO? Haha!

DO A LOT OF RESEARCH! NO ONE’S GONNA DO IT FOR YOU THIS TIME! Normally, my brother and sister would do all the research for our family trips, from the itinerary, to hotels and transport to restaurants to try and shopping districts to visit. Same with trips with my friends. I have a friend in Cebu who does all the financial stuff, so we would all just depend on her on how much we would all have to pay individually when the bills come. The only time I did really heavy research was for our first Japan trip coz I had all the time in the world (I was unemployed at the time haha). So It’s not like I am useless when traveling. See, I could do it if I want to, and this time, I HAD TO. Thanks to all the bloggers, vloggers, influencers, Biyahe ni Drew, and my bro for all the tips, the tricks and all the things they learned from their trips to Camiguin.

RESULT: I was able to browse through different options and finally book my accommodations the best way possible (Thanks Agoda and Booking.com). I was able to put together my own itinerary (without having to consider the preferences of another–yay for solo trips). Although 70% of my research was literally just spoon fed by my brother who went to Camiguin a few months earlier, I still am proud of myself for being able to juggle these last minute reservations with TONS of WORK!!

IF THERE’S AN OPTION TO PAY CHEAPER, GO FOR IT! – This is probably a result of doing number 2 too. No, it’s not the #2 you’re thinking about! I was referring to DOING YOUR RESEARCH.

If you happen to find out how much things really cost ahead of time, say for example, renting a scooter to go around the island on, you wouldn’t pay Php 500 for a 24 hour use!!!! And yes, I am speaking from experience. Sadly, I forgot how much my brother paid for his when he rented one. I didn’t have time to scroll through our looooooooooong IG conversation, so I paid Php 500 instead of just Php 250-300!

When commuting, try to find out how to go around like the locals do (thanks bro and our hotel receptionists for the tips!)! It would help you save big time! On my 3rd day, I commuted on Camiguin’s public transport, aka their relas/motorelas and paid around Php 11 the most!

Camiguin motorela and the Samuel by Vjandep restaurant in the background!

Also, when you’re alone in say some sort of public pool with tables for rent, you don’t have to rent a whole table for your stuff and pay Php 75. Sadly, I also did, when I could just have left my bag and slippers beside the pool itself.

For food, try walking around your hotel, look for restaurants where the locals eat, or again, do your research and check reviews of previews visitors to get the “bung for your buck!”. You don’t really have to go cheap for food, but it would be soooooo nice to have a sumptuous for an incredibly affordable seafood lunch or dinner!

Hayahay Cafe’s famous smoothie bowl!

For your accommodation: Since this was my birthday trip, I booked a night at a pricier place, Ysla Beach Camp and Eco Resort for the glamping experience and I must say that it was worth every penny! Then I transferred to a budget hotel, GV hotel which was equally worth my hard earned money coz it was in the middle of everything and I was really comfortable as well! My room was just Php 500 a night! I just added P25/night to transfer to an air-conditioned room. I will be making a separate post for my trip itinerary so I will be writing a more extensive review of the land arrangements!

Another tip for budget travelers going to Camiguin, I paid friggin Php 200 for my boat ride to White Island instead of Php 450-500, though the guilt trip afterwards still kills me to this day! LOL! Instead of finding and convincing a group of 3 or perhaps a couple to take you along with them on their boat (boat can only accommodate 4 tourists and 2-3 boatmen) before you go to the cashier, try going directly to the cashier at the port and wait for a group to approach her and pay her, before you tell them that you are on your own and you’re looking for a group to join. This way, they would have paid their 550 each and you’re just gonna have to pay a joiner fee of Php 200. You can talk to the group if they wish to split the payment equally and pay them after. That’s what I did, but the couple didn’t want my money! So I saved 300-350 bucks! Again, I don’t recommend this, but you can most definitely try!

RESULT: Need I say more?

MAKE SURE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW YOUR ITINERARY! – I was in constant communication with my brother and my family, just in case I get in any accident or into any serious situation. And you can also get in touch with friends through video call if you can! It will be less lonely! LOL!

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RENT A SCOOTER OR MOTORCYCLE! – I need not emphasize this!! This is the best way for you to go around the island, on your own time and terms. Of course, there are risks of you being flagged down by NPA’s (JK! there are NONE!), or crashing with no one to rescue you (there’s no cell service in some parts of the island) or getting robbed (not that I heard any) but it’s part of the adventure! TBH, it was my first time riding one and I was manhandled by it. JK! The first time I was ever on a scooter (which was manual transmission pa) was back in high school/college (about 10-15 years ago) and my tito was just letting us have a feel of it around an almost carless cemetery. So I have no experience of riding one on public roads ever, but like what they always say, long as you know how to ride a bike, you’re good to go! Funny coz when the owner was handing it to me, I asked him 3x how to lock the bike when getting off (to avoid it getting robbed), how to start the ignition etc that he started to worry too. He even offered to drive me around instead, but I was firm to say “hindi kuya, gusto ko ako lang!” Tapang-tapangan eh! Solo travel nga diba? Nagtataray na naman? Char! Kidding aside, I told him firmly but in a nice way that I wanted to go around on my own. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to write about it here as part of my personal milestones! Yun lang pala!

LESSONS LEARNED: Always bring your driver’s license with you when you travel. I left mine at home, in Cebu, so I drove to the airport and back without one too! So, on my 3rd day in Camiguin, I commuted on motorelas, which was equally fun as it got me to talk to the locals and foreign tourists alike!

BE SURE TO KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND THE ISLAND! – Download the map so you could still navigate offline! Know where the tourist spots are! Ask around! I relied on Google Maps the whole time and it’s a good thing that you can literally go around the island via their circumferential road!

SUPPORT LOCAL! – This one I’m proud to say I do in all my travels! Who doesn’t? Try the local cuisine all you want coz you are gonna miss them for sure! I always make it a point to buy cute artisan products coz I love ANYTHING HANDMADE and HANDCRAFTED and ANKLETS! The one I wore on this trip was from El Nido! Talk to the artists or restaurant owners and ask them about their passion, for inspiration in your own life! LESSON LEARNED: Talking to owners and artists is what I got to learn how to do in future solo travels! I need to be less awkward and less shy! LOL! 

BUY A TRIPOD WITH BLUETOOTH REMOTE CONTROLLER! – This was probably the first on my list of things to buy before I went on this trip! My friend, Dee recommended the Xiaomi selfie stick and tripod in one! It doesn’t extend that long, but it is sturdy and reliable as hell! Dayum these Mi products really are worth your money! You can easily slip it inside your beach bag as it isn’t bulky at all! You can also attached the bluetooth controller into the stick so you don’t have to worry about it getting lost! Got it for P799!

MAKE FRIENDS! – I traveled solo to have peace of mind and to not worry about wasting other people’s time, but it wouldn’t hurt to talk to a few strangers along the way. I may be an introvert, but that definitely doesn’t mean that I’m antisocial. There’s a thick line between those two coz I love talking to people. Ang defensive? I like getting to know people and hearing their stories, but in an intimate way. I don’t like big groups unless I’m comfortable with everyone. I get energy from having time for myself, but also from talking to people who inspire me, have a laugh with me and all that shizz.

In this particular trip, I got to know 2 other guests at Ysla Beach Camp. We only got to talk at breakfast before we all checked out and like everyone I met on this trip, they were surprised that I was on my own! I found out that one of them was from Cebu too, and they gladly shared tips on where to spend the sunset at.

The night before, it was one of the senior staff, ate Bing whom I talked to while waiting for my food. She shared stories about the whole Biyahe Ni Drew Crew including the main man himself **coughs so gwapo! **coughs and compared him to Atom Araullo who also visited their resort in the past.

At the Church ruins, I met this little boy named Christian, who took all of my amazing IG-worthy photos. He directed me and shot my photos in less than 5 minutes! Fastest photoshoot ever and I was surprised by how beautiful everything turned out. Walang tapon! 

Lastly, on my motorela ride back to the airport (which took less than 10 mins), I met this hilarious couple who pep-talked me about career women marrying late in life. Buti na lang kasabut na ko ug Bisaya (ngek mali pa rin pala!) and was laughing the whole time, I almost missed my stop! LESSON LEARNED: Travel solo and talk to strangers, one thing you won’t be able to do much when you’re traveling with someone! And one more thing, be courteous and grateful and give the locals your best smile always!

BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIPS! – I know that it sometimes feel unnecessary to do so, but find it in your heart to give back because people working in tourism even those kids who offered to take such good photos of you deserve it! I know most of you are probably so generous when traveling, so good for you!

BRING A BOOK OR TWO!  – This may be the right time for you to finally start the book you’ve been wanting to read for the longest time, so make the most of it! It will be perfect especially if your room has no TV and no WIFI!

BE ONE WITH NATURE and ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS! – Go camping! Wake up early and catch the sunrise by the beach! I never miss sunrises on vacation! It’s my most favorite thing to do! Usually while walking along the shore, I’d be accompanied by dogs and I would meet a couple of fishermen prepping their boat and nets! Go out and enjoy the view and the fresh air! Go for a swim! Take lots of photos and videos to reminisce memories with! Then get rid of your phones for a while or maybe just go offline for a bit and turn off your playlists and listen to the sound of nature instead! Reflect and contemplate. Paint!Pray! Walk around the city early in the morning before everyone wakes up! Walk around at night too especially if the area looks safe! Enjoy these little, big things! LESSON LEARNED: BEING ONE WITH NATURE IS ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS IN THE WORLD!

BE GRATEFUL! – Life is beautiful so be grateful for opportunities to travel, to try something new, to meet new people, learn about their culture, for the chance to unwind and rest from all the chaos, for the time and space to reflect on your life. Good things are always present in our lives and we just fail to recognize them! For this trip, I thank the Lord over and over again. I was anticipating some travel mishaps, but I almost had none! I’m grateful that I did not crash my scooter, nor did I encounter a police checkpoint. I’m grateful for all the people who assisted me.

awra awra thanks to my selfie stick/tripod!

I’m grateful for the people who shared their stories with me! I’m grateful for the beauty that is Camiguin! It is now my favorite trip by far because I did it NOT ON MY OWN, but with GOD and with EVERYONE who helped me out!

  Things I Learned from my First Ever Solo Trip / Camiguin Yes, you read it right! I finally did it! I went on a solo trip for the first time and it's for my 30th birthday!!

[justfollowmyhansel]

“Everybody now! Pop Music!” — July 7th

Before crawling into bed the night before, I had set two alarms; the first to notify me in time to hope on the train and get down to Bondi Beach for an hour or so before my next scheduled event and the second, a few hours later so that I could sleep in a little after the excitement of seeing John again.

I’d like to say I’m the type of person to self rise early—in any time zone—and go do yoga on the beach, but…I think we all know which option I chose.

I turned off the second alarm, put the electric kettle on and had the small box of Australian Kellogg’s cereal that had been left for me as I got myself together.

My plan for the day had been to go to the Sydney Olympic Centre and do two activities: archery, which I’ve always wanted to try and a massage. When I initially booked the trip, I had selected the massage as a last minute add on so that I didn’t feel like I was wasting all that time going down to the Centre for one thing. After carting around my luggage and having the tension of just getting to Australia go straight to my shoulders and back, I was looking forward to the massage as much as the archery.

There was only one piece left to potentially slot in—seeing Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The movie had long been a favourite of mine since discovering it in high school in the middle of a Hugo Weaving binge. It was one of my first experiences with drag since no one else in my household was particularly interested in watching Drag Race and my social life even then was that of a shut-in.

The world described in Priscilla the movie was one that I could relate to. I had kept my sexuality an open secret in school, those who were close to me knew and those who weren’t assumed what they liked about who I was interested in. Boys I rejected or refused to show an interest in assumed I was a lesbian and classmates who overheard my frequent minutes long monologues about David Tennant, David Bowie, or classic rock band Queen assumed that I was as boy crazy as any other high schooler. Baffling, more than one person in this same crowd had assumed I was English because of my interests despite a total lack of accent. Still, when I was younger than that even I had experienced a distinct sense of othering from my peers. Less because of sexuality and more because of not having much in common with my classmates when it came to interests. Going to high school for me was like the queens going to Sydney again: sure there were parts that could easily be slagged off, but on a whole, it was better than where they’d come from.

Besides, the fast paced script was funny, Hugo Weaving was very attractive as Mitzy Del Bra, and having met and experienced so much more to do with queer culture since that film, I found that the way the characters were written rang as true for 90s Australia as it did for 2010s America.

I looked up the performance times on my phone as well as transit times from my hotel to the Centre and from the Centre to the Hotel to the theatre, ultimately deciding the only way this would work would be if I took a taxi. And the only way I’d take a taxi would be if I had a ticket. The showing I could make wasn’t close to sold out, but who knows? Maybe in Sydney people rushed the box office last minute to go to shows on a whim.

After enlisting Risa’s help to calculate how much it would cost to get to the theatre, I decided it was worth a try. I’d tried stagedooring for the first time by myself and it had worked out. I’d tried flying to a foreign country by myself and that had worked out in spades.

I packed up the things I anticipated needing for the day, including a few things I’d need at the show, and headed out intending to book the show ticket between activities since there was over an hour between them and a less than five minute walk between stations.

The first train transfer went smoothly enough, but arriving at the station before the Sydney Olympic Park, I found myself lost. I walked down a corridor that seemingly was going increasingly nowhere and was marked for what seemed like a completely different stop than the Olympic Centre.

I missed what would have been the train I needed as I flagged down a janitor and asked him how to get to where I was going. He agreed that it was very poorly marked even if you did know where you were going and confirmed that I had been on the right path to begin with.

I set off again and arrived at the Olympic Centre with enough time to find where Aquatics was supposed to be and get checked in for my archery lesson. I pulled up the map in google and started out in the direction it pointed. I kept walking and walking….at no point was I seeing the turn I was supposed to have taken in a few meters and by then had easily gone a quarter mile.

I attempted to reorient myself with the posted signs. I had navigated Japan by myself, mostly successfully. I had navigated every street so far successfully. But there was something about the way that sign was marked after the train stop that messed me up each time.

Finally I ended up in the building that I assumed was where main events like gymnastics must have been held for the 2000 Olympics and took the opportunity to be out of the overcast day. I found a very empty front hall, a mostly open sports merchandise store, a set of Olympics worthy bathrooms that were in the middle of being cleaned…but no Aquatics Centre.

I sat down in a waiting area arranged with grey chairs and attempted to book the ticket. TicketMaster Australia wouldn’t accept my out of country mailing address and for a moment, it seemed like three activities would be wasted that afternoon instead of just the two I had already missed.

I called the number listed on the website and chatted with the ticket lady about booking the ticket, why I was in Australia…. She helped me select the seats I had seen online and mentioned that the theatre had a very strict curtain time. I thanked her for the tickets and the information and just sat there a moment, thinking about what to do next. I still had over two hours before the next event, but that also meant two hours to find the bloody Aquatics Centre since that was also where the massage was supposed to be.

I walked back to the train station, figuring that if all else failed, I could try the other direction from the one I had come. At this point, what did I have to lose?

Unfortunately that simple change of the fork in the road was what fixed the problem and I arrived at the Aquatics Centre soon enough. I booked into the massage early, received my ticket for the massage, and asked about the spa portion of it that I had seen online. I was super early, but I could still take advantage of the spa.

 The spa was downstairs past the pool and, in typical fashion for the day, after getting turned around and reclarifying directions, I found what had been talked about on the website wasn’t A spa like an American spa, but spas. As in hot tub. As in in the middle of the room with a giant amusement park pool and an Olympic standard lap pool.

Well…that just wasn’t going to do, was it? I decided to go to the massage room early.

Too early in fact. When I knocked on the door to avoid startling whomever was inside the small cubical of a room, I found the masseuse was already in the middle of another appointment. I was surprised that there was no secretary until I saw just how small of an operation this truly was on the inside.

I sat down and started to play with my phone quietly. After a couple of minutes, the masseuse came back and suggested that I go play in the pool until it was time for my massage. I took her suggestion, went and bought a suit at the upstairs store, and lounged in the hot tub for forty minutes and swam for an additional twenty. It still wasn’t time, but it was closer. Within fifteen minutes.

I changed out of the black and white design patterned swimsuit, thinking back on how I now had confirmation that John and I were the same dress size via the sizing for the suit and headed in.

I was still too early. This time, I chose to wait in the room until it was my turn, at which point the masseuse very patiently gave me instructions about exactly what I was supposed to do.

I apologized for barging in on her appointment and thanked her for holding on to my things while I went for a swim. She asked me how I had liked the water and I said that I liked it, that it helped relieve most of the tension in my back, but that I was still feeling considerable strain in my shoulders and legs.

She could tell that I was nervous and I had already admitted this was my first time doing this and I had no idea what I was supposed to do for it. She put me at ease by telling me what she was going to do and later when it came to massaging my glutes, forewarning me that she was about to touch me butt in case I had objections.

We chatted, again, about what I was doing in Australia, what had brought me there, how much I had enjoyed seeing John perform so far and how nice it was to find out he truly was as nice as everyone had been telling me for years. I asked about her, about the tension she had displayed before we started. She said her daughter was up to something she didn’t approve of and we chatted a little about her life, about how she was from New Zealand and that she had done a lot of things in her youth, including being a human sushi table at one of those go-go bars. The first and only time she did it, she had noticed one of the patrons looking at her with the look you have when you know someone but can’t quite place them until he finally realized, this was one of his best friend’s nieces. She had smiled up smartly at him brightly saying “hello!” and not acknowledging that they knew each other beyond him eating raw fish off of her naked body. It did make for an awkward meet up two weeks later when she was visiting her uncle as scheduled and the gentleman showed up. He very quietly left before she could engage him beyond another smile as he had gone to sit with a different girl after realizing he knew her.

I asked her some questions about the experience, about what sort of fish they had used, if she would do it again….

She mentioned being bisexual after I had casually mentioned it in relation to something else. At first, I wasn’t sure if she was having me on or saying she was bi to try and put me more at ease for the massage, but eventually I realized she was genuine.

We talked about dating, about interests, about travel. She mentioned that when she travelled, she usually stayed in hostels and that they were a nice way to get around places cheaply. I mentioned my discomfort with the concept, but largely shied away from disparaging a concept that clearly she had never run into issues with.

At the end of the session, I put my clothes back on and we walked out together. I asked if she thought the front desk would call a cab for me and she said that she thought they would.

We checked and that phone did not have call placing capabilities to places outside of the building. I checked the taxi website from earlier and it still wouldn’t load on my internet nor would the other taxi sites for the Sydney area. She suggested Uber, but when I tried to download the app, it was taking so long I thought it would never download. She started it on hers, but had the same technical difficulties that I did.

Her friend came over and he suggested both a taxi and an Uber before we explained that we had tried both of those already. He pointed out that taxis often stayed in front of the nearby hotels and that if I didn’t spot one, I could always have a hotel call one for me.

I walked to the hotel they pointed out to me and sure enough, there was a taxi waiting outside that was free from any fares or obligations.

He drove me to the show and as we drove up, it became immediately clear which building was set up with Priscilla as the entire exterior was bathed in a hot pink light. I laughed to myself as I got out of the taxi and went to collect my ticket. Inside, the venue was decked out in all manner of Priscilla merchandise from posters to postcards to CDs and one of the venue stage security calling out that they had programmes for the tour readily available. I decided to wait until after the show to decide on getting merchandise, thinking that I might add the programme or one of the other items to my collection or attempt to stagedoor this show as well.

The show did not start as billed directly on the dot, but about fifteen minutes late. Ah well, better to be early and wait around a little than to get to the theatre and have to wait until the start of the second act to be let in.

Before the show started an old friend, a Tommy rper, reached out looking for my Hedwig. I told him that he would have to wait a little bit as I was currently in Australia and about to see a show.

The show started and immediately the chances were evident. As opposed to starting with lead character Mitzy singing I’ve Never Been to Me, a form of a jukebox ‘I am’ statement, the live show started with the three women that formed the stage addition of a Greek chorus singing It’s Raining Men. Not one of my favourite songs, but there was no denying that it does have a certain amount of staying power as a gay anthem.

 The next immediate chance was to Mizty’s choice of act. Since drag is a more respected artform world wide than it was in 1994, they couldn’t have her get the same reception she did in the film for the same performance. Instead of having her be a very talented, but underappreciated lipsync queen, they made her an untalented and unloved drag queen that had Avenue Q style puppets sewn into her outfit. Immediate reaction: what the fuck is that?

Still, I knew there had to be changes to do this live. Not only because of differences in format, but because the runtime was significantly longer. (Another first song change I didn’t care for was revealing Mitzy’s son Benji way early.)

Act 1 changes that I thought were particularly cute or funny included a new entrance for my least favourite queen Felicia that saw her performing Kylie Minogue’s Better the Devil You Know, originally in a nun’s habit surrounded by alterboys and soon dressed much more salatiously surrounded by gogo boys in red leather hot pants with devil tails she used as a leash. Very Felicia. And gave an amazing sense of how while she can be an annoying person, she is indeed a ‘bloody good little performer.’ I also loved the change that saw Trumpet’s funeral change from a glum graveside event to a partial musical number set to Don’t Leave Me This Way. Outside of the Blackpool vibes, it was a nice way to work in both Bernadette’s dismay over Trumpet’s death and Mitzy trying to talk her into coming along for the ride.

The titular bus Priscilla was done with a prefab bus cut out with wheels that spun to show motion. On the “closed” and front sides of the bus were LED lights that the director could change to display the bus’s name on the marquee, to turn the whole affair pink, and to use a muted version of the homophobic ‘AIDS fuckers go home’ from the movie. Much like the still months off RENT Live, this had to be sanitised to a certain extent for the “family audience” demographic.

Those changes aside, the stage version of the show largely flattened the best lines and visual gags from the movie. How do you make Felicia riding the bus with an absolutely ridiculous white fabric train flowing out behind her while lipsyncing to opera? The absurdity alone is enough to make a person giggle and yet somehow the director fucked it up.

I considered leaving at the intermission, but ultimately figured it wasn’t so terrible that I had to leave. It wasn’t so offensive that I was sitting there fuming. And it wasn’t like I had anything better to be doing that night. I might as well see it through considering that I had paid for it.

The second half was no better than the first with the show doubling down on its biphobia towards Mitzy, its racism in having an Aboriginal character portrayed by one of the very white actors to play one of the Swedish Lars-es, its offensive portrayal of Asians with its singular Eastern character in Cynthia, and its general mediocrity.

The changes in the second half I liked were: Cynthia’s music changed from generic stripper music in the film to her dancing to Pop Music while she shot ping pong balls out of her vagina at the on stage audience, Bernadette’s backstory with Les Girls was shown for a split second while she’s talking with Bob about her past and him having seen them back in the day, and the McArthur Park reference getting underlined by Mitzy singing the song and dancing with green cupcakes as she elates that she has waited her entire life to say that someone has left their cake out in the rain, even if the sequence did go on for far too long. The new sequence of Felicia getting ready for her ill-advised night on the town in Coober PD to Hot Stuff by Donna Summer made for another missed opportunity where instead of heightening the character’s sense of invincibility and later fear when she realized she had fucked up, it strangled out any concern for the character. Of course she’s not gonna get hurt, this is a family musical.

At the end of the show, I left the theatre, pushing past the crowds lining up to purchase from one of the merchandise spots and those milling around after what they considered to be an enjoyable experience. While the film was focused on the hyperreality of gay life written and directed by a gay man, the stage musical came off as a well-meaning straight person’s—perhaps an ally, but a straight person none-the-less—attempt at doing gay “camp.” Everything was so over the top, there was no sense of danger, no sense of meaning, no sense of gut punching horror over what the small minded towns people in the small town or the fictional version of Coober PD had done to the characters. And because of this, there was no genuine sense of funny because the characters were so flat, any attempt at painting life into them rolled off like watercolours on slanted surface.

Clearly there was something that someone found appealing about this version of the show, but even putting down some of the things I disliked to poor directing or bad acting, the show itself had very little to justify its existence other than to make a shitton of money for the producers.

I walked around the Chinatown downtown thinking to myself how ironic that a musical that did Asian and Native characters so dirty was playing in a predominantly Asian area of the city.

Finally it was time to head back and I realized, I had no idea where in the fuck I was. And I was hungry.

I ducked into a hotel and asked to use their bathroom, taking the opportunity to refill my water bottle. While I had left my massage pleasantly sore, I was now about ready to collapse. I sat for a moment in a chair and cracked open a tin of peri peri flavoured Pringles learning both that Australian Pringles are smaller than American ones and what peri peri tasted like.

After a few minutes, I got back up, refilled my water bottle again, and headed out. When Google Maps failed me and the headphones I had brought with started to die on the one side, I ducked into a corner shop to ask for directions. The shopkeeper asked me where I was going and I told him the end station I needed. He said that there were no trains that would take me there at this time of night. Having already done this for the past two nights, I knew that I just needed to get to Central Station and from there could find my way back. I insisted that if he could please point me in the direction of any train station that would take me to Central, that would be what I needed.

His directions weren’t the best in the world, but they were clearer than Google as to where the entrance to the train station was with all the construction that was being done in the area. I found my way in and onto the train, back to my station, and finally back to Edgecliff.

At the station, I watched the banner ad for Younger thinking to myself that it was terribly funny to see an ad for original Yitzhak Miriam Shor’s new show when I was in Australia seeing John talking about their old one.

I got back to the hotel and set my alarm for the extremely early time I’d have to be up to get to the train station the next morning to get to Melbourne. After packing, I wouldn’t have much time to sleep, but after getting on the train, I more or less had seventeen continuous hours to make up for it before arriving at my destination. I’d be fine.

[numberoneproperty2018]

Project Review:

Ideo Mobi Rangnam Review

Is it a good buy or bad buy?

Market View

Confidence in Thailand property market is at an all-time high, especially in the residential housing market. Ideo Mobi Rangnam is one such project that has made waves in the property market. In this post, I will be giving my thoughts and perspectives about Ideo Mobi Rangnam shedding some light on some of the critical details about the property.

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Details about the development

Ideo Mobi Rangnam condo is a Freehold high-rise condominium developed by a joint venture between Ananda development company limited and Mitsui Fudosan. The apartment development is located right at the heart of Bangkok city center in the district of Ratchathewi.

According to the developer the property is designed with three main themes with a future-nature concept.

Smart location

Smart innovation (solar fresh air system)

Intelligent design.

The ecological approach is unique turning the whole condominium project that is wholly dependent on green energy.

Also read Ideo Mobi Rangnam developers details

Ideo Mobi has a site area of approximately 1-2-92 Rais (2,492 Sq.M.) that’s 31 storeys with a total of 366 apartment units comprising of a blend of a studio apartment and 1-2 bedroom units. The studio apartment will have 27.90- 30.20 square meters, the 1-bedroomed units will have 30.10- 40.50 square meters and finally the 2-bedroomed condo’s will be 48.75- 65.95 square meters.

The project development will also have 169 parking lots, two passenger lifts and 1 fireman lifts underlining the precautionary measures the developers have taken in case of an emergency. Ideo Mobi will have exciting and world-class facilities with state-of-the-art features that will complement the modern lifestyle of future residents. Some units will have a fully furnished package at an extra cost.

The apartment complex will the completed in September of 2019; its freehold feature allows foreigners to invest in the property either of homebuyers or investors.

You may also like: Ultimate Guide to Buying Thailand Property

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Tenure

Freehold

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Location

Rangnam Road, Thanon Phayathai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok

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TOP

Sep 2019

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Site Area

1-2-92 Rais (approximately)

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No. of Units

 366 residential units in 31 storeys

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Developer

Ananda Development Public Company Limited

Project Location

The property development is situated along Rangnam road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok. Its strategic location is highly convenient for everywhere. We will delve into the proximity of Ideo Mobi to various amenities.

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Ideo Mobi Rangnam Google Map Location

Ideo Mobi Rangnam Google Street View

If you are traveling to Victory Monument BTS Station by car via Ratchawithi Rd, it will take you an estimated 3 minutes to move over a distance of 1.6 kilometers according to Google maps. However, if you are walking on foot, it will take you approximately 9 minutes if it’s on a sunny day.

For those traveling to Suvarnabhumi International Airport via Victory Monument Station which links with Airport Rail Link. According to Google Maps, it will take you approximately 21 minutes for a motorist to cover a distance of 26.4 kilometers. Walking is nearly impossible as it will take you 7 hours. If you are using a motorcycle, it will take you an estimated 37 minutes.

If you are driving towards Siam Paragon one of the largest shopping centers in Bangkok, according to Google Maps it will be a 6-minute drive over a distance of 2.7 kilometers via Phayathai Rd. For those in the mood for a walk, it will take you roughly 30 minutes if the weather is conducive. The Shopping complex is just three stations away from Ari and BTS station. The surrounding neighborhood of Siam Paragon also has plenty of dining and shopping options.

The property is close to various hospital and wellness center; for those seeking medical treatment from Rajavithi Hospital, it will be a 3-minute drive over a distance of 1.3 kilometers.

For outdoor enthusiast Suntiphap park, it’s a one-minute walk over a distance of 190 meters from Ideo Mobi; driving will not make sense as the park is a stone throw away.

The new upcoming Orange MRT line that connects to Victory Monument BTS Station providing direct access to the CBD is just 150 meters away according to google maps.

Main selling points about the development

One of the impressive features, in my opinion, is the central location of the property. Located right at the center of the city center, the property is easily accessible and its close to a variety of amenities. Future residents will enjoy close access, and convenience and their needs will be entirely taken care of.

The property development incorporates the synthesis of future with nature concept. The property is powered with eco-friendly energy and smart solar fresh air system tackling the emerging of pollution within Bangkok; it will also have world-class facilities that are truly unique and stands out from the surrounding properties such as Sky Garden and Sky fitness.

Ideo Mobi is a freehold development project, in my opinion, that is a deal closer. Not paying rent in such an exclusive location is a no-brainer for anybody. Its freehold status will allow future owners to sell their property and be able to redecorate and customize according to their own needs and preference.

Rangnam area is a popular residential location due to its strategic locale with a good prospect for capital growth; investors are assured of 6% rental yield with higher occupancy rates boosting rental income making the property a wise investment decision.

Also check Ideo Mobi Rangnam within 1km of Reputable Schools

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My thought about the development

There are quite a number of freehold condominium within Ideo Mobi vicinity; price is significant. I will shift my focus to the median price of the property compared with the rate of Ratchathewi median.

The median price list of the condominium development is ฿ 6,099,523 translating to ฿ 186,035 median prices per square meter. Comparing that figure to the average median price of the district, it’s 17.6% higher which stands at ฿ 158,202 per square meter. Also, the Ideo Mobi median is 39.5% higher than the Bangkok median as of 2018 which was ฿ 133,365 per square meter.

Check the full pricing on Ideo Mobi Rangnam Price

Some may find it expensive and opt for other project developments, but in my opinion, due to its locality and convenience to almost everywhere, the price is entirely justified.

The residential development has adopted a green energy concept making the property a one of a kind in Thailand. This green technology will revolutionize the city’s property market with Ideo moby genuinely leading the way towards an environmentally friendly and clean energy residential property truly setting the pace for others to follow.

With condominium projects nearby there will be high competition regarding rents putting a lot of pressure on Ideo Mobi as future tenants have a large pool of housing developments to choose from. But, in my opinion, I feel that Ideo Mobi is the best choice for most tenants due to closeness to the CBD and surrounding hospitals making it convenient for doctors who make up a large portion of the occupancy rates. The property is an incredible choice for buyers looking for a home in this area.

You May also like Ideo Mobi Rangnam Floor Plan

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PROJECT RATINGS

Pricing – 50%

In my view, I find Ideo Mobi quite expensive with a price per square foot of ฿ 186,035 which is higher than most condominium located with the district and Bangkok; its smaller sized units may not adequately justify its price tag. The only advantage is its freehold status allowing future residents to become permanent owners of the apartment units. 

Location – 80%

The score is very high and its well justified, its ideal location at the heart of Bangkok city makes it closer to Victoria Monument BTS station which connects with other lines giving you full access to all parts within the city. It’s also well-connected with the hub of lifestyles centers in the city, everything is just a stone throw away.

Quality -95%

The property is indeed an architectural masterpiece; the developers have cleverly merged modern eco-friendly designs with the natural environment. Coupled with its efficient floor plan that maximizes the available space and with different unit mix catering to lifestyles of different individuals. The property also has cutting-edge features with fully furnished apartment units at an extra cost making it very beneficial for future residents.

Ideo Mobi is a joint venture development overseen by Ananda Development a well-respected industry leader in Thailand with a track record of developing high quality and environmentally friendly developments all over Thailand. Another partner in the project is Mitsui Fudosan one of the largest residential developers in Japan.

Future residents will only expect nothing but the best when it comes to Ideo Mobi Rangnam.

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The post Complete Review of Ideo Mobi Rangnam appeared first on Number One Property.

[runawaymusbus]

light of Zion

“Zion. What the heck is a Zion?”

I shrugged. I did not really know what a Zion was; as the tall one put it. Zion was Zion I mumbled in reply under my embarrassment. When he looked over at me sitting beside him in the car I had no clear explanation of what Zion was. What I did know was we were ‘those people’ now. Months after returning from Hawaii we were hikers. As hikers, we went outside on the weekends. As hikers, our bathtub was endlessly lined with sand and dirt these days. As hiker, I started reading blogs as I drooled over images of mountains kissing skies. I would type into Google Maps coordinations of street corners and we would wander up and down the road looking for that sliver of walkway plotted down with footprints. I smiled at him. Hiking was it. We were it. This was it. We were ‘those people’ now. And from what I had read on social media; ‘those people’ went to Zion.

We adopted Buckets from foster care at age two. This journey to parenthood was, and still, is one journey entrenched in pain and abuse and feelings of glass breaking at a moments notice. After we stood in front of the adoption judge in court to finally end the fear of losing her back to her biological family - as we had lost our other children; I looked to the tall one and saw a stranger. Do not get me wrong when I say that. Our marriage was not over by any means. We have maintained a commitment to each other that no matter what hardships we face that divorce is an option we will never pursue. In that moment of what should be utter happiness I looked at a man next to me with mixed emotions. The tall one felt so god damn far from me even though I could feel his breath upon my shoulder. We were married just four years at that time. I was still helplessly in love with him. But we had gone to hell and back the last couple years. Buckets was a sick and colic ridden baby. Buckets was also drug exposed. Buckets was battling attachment demons from being taken from her biological mother at three days old. Buckets was hard. Buckets captured my heart at first sight. But Buckets was hard. After the endless days and nights of crying distress, I have sworn off babies since. As we continued our foster care path I only take children older then 9 months. If I had absolute say I would extend the age to beyond that diaper stage as well. Buckets screaming threatened hernias and was only matched with my own tantrum meltdowns.

One fateful family vacation, when she was just three months, was a disaster of heat stroke fights over stupid things I can not recall now. These endless tantrums of both adult and baby resulted in a dramatic climax of bags being haphazardly packed in some seedy Las Vegas hotel as I attempted to walk away from marriage, from motherhood, from the foster world we decided to jump feet first in - I was done. Done. So fast forward to the adoption court date when the judge gave her congratulations freely to us, I looked at my newly minted adopted father of Buckets and cringed. I missed him. My love, my best friend, my life line - I missed him.

Shortly after that lovely date in history where our family was cemented officially we began our yearly ritual of what we now call ‘honeymoon trips’. The concept came from memories of pre-marriage counseling classes we took that taught about the importance of date nights with your spouse. You must keep your marriage relationship a priority in order to be successful parents - they advised. The recommendations of frequent date nights have always been challenging for us when trying to find secure certified caretakers for our high risk, special needs heart children seem impossible and too expensive. That was how the concept of a honeymoon each year was born. It made sense that we could muster up enough help to be able to leave the children for a week once a year and squeeze in as much one on one hours that we could. Our first year we explored Melbourne, Australia. The international flight still high ranks as our favorite as the stewardess gave us as many cookies as we could possible digest. After that Tokyo, Japan followed suit were we stood taller then the population and stood awestruck at the Sumo Wrestler competition we attended. Both honeymoon trips were city trips where we road the city metro and visited cultural museums. We would hold hands as we wandered the urban landscapes and people watched the foreign culture. The time had come again to begin the planning process of this year’s trip destination. Various cities floated into the air as we pondered foreign locations and foreign tongues. But this time I felt different and the pull away from a new concrete jungle. I wanted to see national parks. I wanted to see mountains. I wanted to chase waterfalls. We were not just city rats but hikers now. And hikers, according to my trail guides - hikers went to Zion.

Zion is located in southwestern Utah by the city of Springdale. According to the always reliable source of Wikipedia; the first human inhabitants of the area was 8,000 years ago by a small family groups of Native Americans. My internet research popped up named of tribes such as Basketmaker Anasazi, Virgin Anasazi and the Parowan Fremont. They all left and were replaced by the Parrusits tribes and Parrusits subtribes. As history meandered along the most infamous white settlers came in form of Mormons in 1858 and settled there in the early 1860s. In 1909, President William Howard Taft named the area Mukuntuweap National Monument in order to protect the canyon. In 1918, the National Park Service drafted a proposal to enlarge the existing monument and change the park's name to Zion National Monument. The Mormon influence was, and is still, very strong in the area and was the major force for the name change. It all came to fruitition on November 20, 1919, when the United States Congress established the monument as Zion National Park - signed by President Woodrow Wilson.

I was and am more interested in the anthropology behind the scenes in which we find ourselves immersed in then the tall one. He simply wanted to comprehend why I wanted us to to there. My mother once described the tall one as intelligent with a scientific mind. I find myself approaching him with ideas that are fully researched, backed up with a comprehensive list of pros and cons of the proposed; ready to negotiate him to see what I am seeing. I started with photographs. The pop of the surreal red rock canyon burst upon my computer screen. I read the captions of Angels Landing and the Emerald Pools and most myself in the scenery projected. I went through the secured baby sitters. Buckets god family was happy to watch the little kids. But beyond history, photographs and promises of alone time - when I presented the budget being so low it’s sinful; the tall one agreed with a approval raise of one eyebrow.