#linked is our full kandi collection ^^

[fruix-gifs]

kandi pile

[artificialqueens]

Til Forever Falls Apart, 1/2 (Gottrosenali) - Pinkgrapefruit

Denali frowns, eyebrows crinkling with confusion. “Baby, that was yesterday,” he tells her, conviction clear in his voice.

“Nuh-uh,” she replies, shaking her head as she shovels a forkful of eggs into her mouth.

“I swear it was.”

Kahmora looks at him, a little concern in her eyes as she shakes her head again, softer this time. “Unless you’ve suddenly found a soulmate or something, you probably dreamt it,” she tells him, and he concedes, pushing his bacon around his plate, suddenly not hungry.

A/N: hi!!!! i really hope you enjoy this because i’m a little in love with it! I’m not going to explain the premise too much because I’m pretty sure you’ll pick it up! thanks to emerald for proofreading and frey for betaing and thank you so much to ella my love for helping my vague ideas all come together!!!

please let me know if you like it!!!

*

Out on our own

Dreaming in a world that we both know

Is out of our control

But if shit hits the fan we’re not alone

*

He feels like he’s living in a dream - coming off the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and he won? After the week he’s had, all the twists and turns of the Porkchop Loading Dock, the runways, and ‘Phenomenon’, it’s like a breath of fresh air to be able to relax. Even if it’s just for a little while.

He slips off his heels, padding through the lot without care that he might rip his tights because, god, it feels good to be able to move his toes. Taking them in one hand - heel hooked over his finger, he takes Rosé’s hand in his other - swinging it between them with a contented sigh.

“Good job, Baby,” he whispers, head tilting so the plastic hairs of his wig graze Denali’s face.

“God, I’m so glad you’re here,” he replies, blinking a couple of times because the early evening sun is threatening to make his eyeliner trail down his cheeks. “Bestie vibes.” It’s a high pitched coo that makes Rosé snort, leaning forward to rock on his toes. He tightens his grip on Denali’s hand to make sure he doesn’t fall over, and Denali feels a warmth in his chest.

“Fuck, that voice,” Rosé coughs out, smiling from ear to ear. “Such a muscley little man making such a white girl noise.”

Denali rolls his eyes, but can’t stop the smirk playing on his lips, dropping Rosé’s hand to flip of Kahmora, who’s turned back from chatting to Joey just to raise an eyebrow at the two of them.

He turns back to Rosé and then gestures towards the sound stage. “What do you think we’re walking into?”

“Fuck if I know,” he responds, rustling his plastic sleeves for added effect, sending them both back into peals of laughter that make the PAs scowl at them as they enter the soundstage.

“HARD ICE,” they all scream, forcing Denali to stifle his laughter with the back of his hand before remembering how dark his lipstick is. He turns to Rosé and pouts, letting Rosé fix up the outline of his lips with the pad of his thumb - squinting in the dim lighting.

“All good,” he whispers, and Denali swallows hard at the feeling of his fingers on his face. He shakes his head slightly and switches his focus, putting his white pumps on so he has something to do.

They wait for around half an hour, rotating in their little circle so they each get time under the aircon. When they’re eventually called to move towards the werkroom, he sighs and hauls himself up from the crouch he’s been sat in (tugging on Joey’s arm), feeling his knees pop as they decompress.

When they enter it, faking smiles to cover their apprehension as if they don’t know what’s about to happen, Denali’s eyes scan the room. She takes them all in, red hair, tiny cowboy hat, pigtails, white face - all the usual, staring down at them like they’re less than.

“Ohhh, that’s what’s up,” he hears himself say - chuckling at Rosé’s button to his comment. He feels his shoulders relax when Joey’s scream crosses the room, a collective sigh of relief blanketing the room as they all ease their intimidations. They crowd around the table as if half of them aren’t in wigs bigger than their heads, and Denali feels a stabilising palm on his lower back.

He breathes in through the nose and out through the mouth before turning back into the conversation. He’s exhausted, the adrenaline high from winning long worn off, and he’s grateful Rosé noticed.

They manage to move through the rest of the pleasantries quickly enough, and he’s out of drag, into the van and into his bed quicker than you can say ‘B squad’.

When his head hits the pillow, he lets his weary mind wander to tomorrow. He can’t wait to see what happens.

*

‘Cause you’ve got me and you know

That I’ve got you and I know

If the tide takes California

I’m so glad I got to hold ya

*

Denali’s jolted awake by the tinny tones of the hotel alarm clock, pushing his fists into his eyes and rubbing them a little too hard to try and get himself in the mood for people before ducking into the shower. He does his cursory shaving, his armpits, chest, and chin before starting to brush his teeth, only remembering afterwards that the hotel is doing squeeze your own orange juice this morning. He scowls in the mirror but shrugs, throwing on his clothes (and hoping no one notices they’re the same as yesterday). He’s just in time, and he slips out of the door as the PA calls his name.

He spends the walk down to breakfast trying to remember what he knows about the other queens. He’s heard about Tina from Rosé, and so far she seems to be just as much of a shit-stirrer. Kandy is a well-known name among RuGirl hopefuls, so he’s not shocked to see her, and Symone is linked to Gigi from last season so she’s not a surprise either. He’s surprised Elliott is still here, but it makes sense…

His train of thought is cut off as Kahmora taps his shoulder with a beaming smile, a glass of apple juice in hand. “You excited for Phenomenon today?” She asks, wiping a droplet of the juice off her chin before picking up a plate full of scrambled eggs and following Denali over to their table.

Denali frowns, eyebrows crinkling with confusion. “Baby, that was yesterday,” he tells her, conviction clear in his voice.

“Nuh-uh,” she replies, shaking her head as she shovels a forkful of eggs into her mouth.

“I swear it was.”

Kahmora looks at him, a little concern in her eyes as she shakes her head again, softer this time. “Unless you’ve suddenly found a soulmate or something, you probably dreamt it,” she tells him, and he concedes, pushing his bacon around his plate, suddenly not hungry.

“Okay,” he admits and he tries to forget about it. Admittedly, he does a very poor job - there’s no way in hell he dreamt it - all of the memories feel too tangible. And that doesn’t even account for the way his legs seem to know the choreography before they come up with it. And he’s not the only one because he notices how Rosé keeps getting this dazed look in his eyes and how he marks his entire solo without hesitation. That didn’t happen last time.

Then again, everything seems a little different from last time. He and Rosé don’t bicker over the choreography, instead, working together smoothly which seems to confuse them both.

He realised very quickly that he could ignore the situation or lean into it, so he delights in doing little things that seem to quirk Rosé’s eyebrows until the brunette pulls him aside after rehearsal. He places a firm hand on his hip and holds him in place, using the other to scratch at his scalp in frustration until Denali bats at it.

“Stop it,” he scolds before twisting his body to lean his head on the cold concrete wall. He sighs. “You feel it too, huh?” he asks, trying to be vague in case the hunch he’s got is wrong.

Rosé falls back against the wall next to him before sinking to a squat. “What?” he asks, a little sardonic. “Feel like I’ve already lived this day, but no one else seems to have noticed?”

He sounds exhausted, and Denali realises that he probably hasn’t even asked someone, he’s just going through the motions and hoping he’s not insane.

“You’re not going crazy,” he tries to console - thinking it’s probably what he would want to hear. At Rosé’s small exhale of relief, he reckons he was correct. “I feel it too.”

“Then we’re both crazy, great.”

Denali sits down next to him, letting his legs fall out in front of him and smiles to himself when Rosé’s head falls onto his shoulder.

“Kam told me it was either a dream or I’d met my soulmate,” he chuckles, meaning it as a joke, but trailing off when Rosé tenses next to him.

“What’s the chance we shared the same dream?” Rosé asks, voice barely above a whisper.

“I’d like to find out.”

*

And if the sky falls from heaven above

Oh, I know I had the best time falling into love

We’ve been living on a fault line

And for a while, you were all mine

*

Mik brushes sleep out of his eyes with an absent-minded motion, calling out to the PA banging on his door that he’ll just order room service for breakfast. He hears their call time is four o’clock, but brushes it off in his hazy state until he sits bolt upright. The covers fall onto his lap, pooling on his thighs like fluffy clouds, and he’s half-convinced he needs to fall back into them and just go to sleep. He pulls on a pair of basketball shorts and a beanie, and pads to the door, poking his head around it with a furrowed brow.

“I missed the call time, remind me Mel?” he asks his PA who’s sat in an armchair with an amused expression.

“It’s four,” she tells him, “but please try to stick to the sequester.”

He chuckles, waving a hand in apology before shutting his door and falling onto his bed with a shaky breath.

Something’s not quite right.

He stands up again, anxiety seeping into his limbs and he walks over to the wardrobe - opening it to find a wig head with a long turquoise wig.

“Fuck.”

Next to it is his makeup, set out on the shelf under the mirror in a meticulous fashion - one he can’t remember doing before he went to bed.

He pulls out his small journal and tries to play detective, feeling like a little kid again, scrounging for clues.

There’s his wig - the one he’s pretty sure he wore yesterday and left in the werkroom. There’s his call time - a good nine hours later than he thought it was going to be - and then there’s the weird feeling of deja vu.

It’s crackling through him - blazing up like a wildfire, and he can’t seem to shake the feeling that something is going on.

Yesterday feels so vivid and real. He remembers how Symone smelt when she hugged him, and the timbre of Denali’s voice even though he’d never met him before.

Deciding he’ll figure it out once he’s had some food, he flicks the TV on and pulls the room service menu out of the drawer next to his bed. He’s ordering when he hears the news.

June seventh.

Again.

*

I’ve spent a lifetime giving you my heart

I swear that I’ll be yours forever

'Til forever falls apart

'Til forever falls apart

*

Rosé rolls out of bed and hits the floor with a sigh. It’s the third time this has happened and while he’s pretty sure the universe could have chosen a better way to wake him up - it’s a pretty good indicator of what day he’s living. He winces as he scrunches up his nose, but knows there’s no lasting damage, so he stands back up with a frown and flicks on the TV for some background noise. Hotels are always a little too silent for him, and he can’t trust his inner monologue not to uncover something he doesn’t want to think about right now.

“June seventh,” he mutters under his breath, “perfect.”

He goes through the motions of getting ready without really thinking about it, pulling on his heather grey sweatshirt and joggers before sliding out of the door. He and Joey share a PA, and so he asks a perfunctory question about Joey’s dance school before tuning out the other man on their way down to breakfast.

He grabs his apple juice quickly and pulls Denali down to sit at a table.

“Ugh, apple juice again?” Denali moans with a pout, placing down a plate of watermelon slices and toast in front of him.

Rosé frowns, looking down at his eggs. “Didn’t you have bacon yesterday?” he asks, and Denali catches on quick enough with a knowing smile.

“Yeah, but I think it’s going to get dull pretty quick if I don’t switch some things up here and there.” He tilts his head in thought before placing an entire wedge of watermelon in his mouth - the rind covering his teeth, so he ends up with a green smile.

Rosé chuckles, wiping a droplet of apple juice from his chin that threatens to dampen his toast.

“I can’t argue there,” he responds, switching his usual ketchup for sriracha on impulse. He takes a bite of eggs and mimes fanning himself, sticking his tongue out to the sound of Denali’s giggles.

“God, you’re so white,” he teases, and Rosé flicks his middle finger up, unable to hide his own smile.

When they finish, they wait quietly for the van to take them to the set, and Denali stretches his arms above his head, twisting from side to side in a way that makes his shirt rise just above the band of his joggers. The trail of hair peeking out in the gap makes Rosé want to run his finger down it, and he has to turn away to keep himself from doing just that.

“Guess this isn’t a dream then,” Denali says, and he hopes his blush is gone when he turns back around to respond.

“I guess not,” he replies lamely and then watches as the brunette chews on his tongue for a second before he seems to remember what he was looking for.

“I spoke to Kam,” he says, and Rosé goes to speak until Denali places a firm hand over his mouth. He makes a face when Rosé licks a stripe up his palm but doesn’t remove it. “I spoke to Kam,” he repeats, rolling his eyes, “and apparently the soulmate thing happens when two soulmates meet for the first time and get stuck in some sort of time loop until they make a connection.” He removes his hand, wiping Rosé’s saliva across his own stubble, making the Scot wince.

“Didn’t want a face covered in my own saliva, but werk, I guess,” he starts, and Denali shrugs as if to say ‘shouldn’t have licked me’, gesturing for him to go on. He lowers his voice but the worry increases. “You did not just walk up to Kam, though, and tell her what’s happening?” He sounds almost frantic, eyes wide, and Denali has to place a cool hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down.

“Chill,” he says as if the whole situation is completely normal. “It was totally natural. I just mentioned I was reading a book.”

“You, reading?” Rosé jokes, seeming to have regained some of his cool. He brushes his hoodie as if trying to remove some stray crumbs and stands up a little straighter.

“Oh, shove off it,” Denali retorts. “You’re allowed to be scared,” he adds, voice softening slightly, “but we do need to actually talk about it.”

He steps a little closer, tilting his head curiously.

“We are talking about it?”

“Sure, love.”

They’re called to the van and the conversation is left alone.

Rosé’s not sure if that’s for the best.

*

So this is it, that’s how it ends

I guess there’s nothing more romantic than dying with your friends

And I’m not sorry for myself

I wouldn’t wanna spend a minute loving anybody else

*

He’s about ready to jump off the balcony, he decides, as he falls flat on his face for the fourth time. He rolls onto his back with a huff and looks up at the wood-chipped ceiling. He wonders if there’s a god up there - if his Nan had been right and the lord really was going to punish him for being gay. Maybe this is it.

He inhaled slowly and lets it out through gritted teeth before rolling back onto his front. Placing his hands on either side of him, he pushes up into a plank before dropping into some push-ups just to prove to himself he can.

And maybe because he’s going to see Denali in twenty minutes or so.

Maybe that’s why he pulls on a teal shirt that clings a little tighter than usual. Or maybe not.

He might as well look nice if God is deciding to smite him - that’s his reasoning, and he says as much to Denali who splutters on his apple juice, spraying it across the table in a way that makes the rest of the cast look at them funny. They’re quite a sight.

“Nice to know you think I’m a punishment,” Denali jokes, mirth in his tone, but just a tiny bit of hurt glittering in his eyes. It’s something Rosé wishes he didn’t see because it sends a slice of guilt through him wider than the San Andreas faultline.

“Baby,” he says, reaching across the table so he can take Denali’s hand, and not even wincing when his arm falls into a puddle of sticky apple juice, “Fuck, you know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Denali’s eyes flick down at the table before meeting Rosé’s, too hesitant for his liking. “We need to have that talk,” he says. “I need you to acknowledge what this means.”

Rosé nods, resigned. “Okay,” he agrees, “after the lipsync.”

They fall into their positions backstage, sunk against the wall, a little ways from the others with the air-con providing just enough noise for their conversation to be muffled from others.

Rosé takes Denali’s hand again, rubbing his thumb slowly against the back of it.

“You’re my soulmate,” he says slowly, feeling the words form in his mouth. “Soulmate,” he repeats again - its shape feeling a little too round and a little too rough on his tongue.

“Soulmates,” Denali agrees, and somehow it sounds perfect coming from him.

They sit in silence, listening to the rumble of the air con and the bustle of the crew.

“Surely this is a connection though?” Denali points out after a few moments, and Rosé has to shake his head to allow his thoughts to catch up. He’d gotten stuck on soulmates, and his brain had just stopped. “Like, surely this is something.”

Rosé shrugs, squeezing their intertwined fingers and letting his head fall onto Denali’s shoulder - reminiscent of the first conversation they had like this. “Maybe you need to kiss me,” he suggests, half joking, but Denali places two fingers under his chin.

A sly smile crosses his face, and he presses their lips together before Rosé can blink.

It’s over in seconds, and yet it lasted long enough for Rosé to remember that Denali’s lipstick tastes of vanilla.

He’s not sure he’ll ever forget it.

Denali looks at him in the backstage lights, using the fingers under his chin to manoeuvre his face, and then the pad of his thumb to gently blend any purple into the nude of his lipstick.

“Six out of ten,” he quips, unable to do anything much, except relish in the electricity that seems to be flowing through him from where their lips touched.

“Shut up,” Denali replies with a small smile, standing up and reaching out a hand to tug Rosé up next to him. “I’ll kiss you properly when I know these bitches will remember it,” he points to Kahmora, who’s watching them both with a raised eyebrow - the rest of them seem oblivious.

Rosé smirks.

“Deal.”

[plurthlings]

🎵 Official release date announcement for our next full-length album, Karmalien! Pre-order begins next Friday, April 3, 2020. Weʻre very stoked to share this collection of new tunes with you. Hint hint, ʻFaded Cityʻ and ʻAlone in the ʻDarkʻ were the singles ... do you want a link to preview the album next week early? Then comment and let us know! ——— #ravegirls #ravers #ravestyle #raves #raveculture #ravefashion #ravenation #plurbunnies #plurbabes #plurlife #plurvibes #plurnation #plurfamily #plurwarriors #kandi #kandiraver #kandikid #sustainability #wooks #coloradomusic #colorado #denvermusic #festiebestie #djlife #edc #ravelife #iheartraves #edmfamily #edmlifestyle (at Planet Earth) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ShLQ3gWN4/?igshid=5jdl2gic1gm0

[subboxy]

GlossyBox January 2020 Review + 25% Off Coupon

It's time to review the GlossyBox's January 2020 Box! I am a huge fan of GlossyBox because I use so many of the beauty products that are sent each month. GlossyBox helps you discover new skincare and makeup products from around the world. You'll also get insider tips and tricks from beauty industry pros and exclusive offers and rewards. What you get: 5-6 luxury-sized beauty products Price: $21/month Shipping: FREE Ships to: 48 states (excluding Hawaii, Alaska and any U.S. territories) within the USA, as well as all territories and provinces in Canada. When it ships: Third week of the month DEAL: Get 25% off your first GlossyBox with this link and coupon code LOVE25 We received this box for review purposes.

GlossyBox January 2020 Review

GlossyBox sends their beauty collection in their signature pink box.

Each box is always nicely wrapped in pink tissue paper and a black bow.

Here's our first peek into the box!

Kandi Cosmetics Pre-Glow Up Mist This Pre-Glow Up Mist from Kandi Cosmetics gets your skin glow ready. You'll spray the mist on before or after applying make up, or on its own for refreshed and glowing skin.

BYBI Strawberry Booster 100% Cold Pressed Strawberry Seed Oil This strawberry seed oil has omega fatty acids that create a powerful skin softener to regenerate and improve your skins moisture levels. It is made in the UK with 100% natural ingredients and is also essential oil free, certified vegan, and cruelty free. This oil has a really fresh strawberry scent which I love!

Tree Hut Sugar Lips Brown Sugar Lip Scrub This brown sugar lip scrub from tree hut is both polishing and hydrating. It also smells super sweet!

Avant-Hydra Bright Collagen Eye Restoring Pads These eye restoring pads can be used weekly. They contain collagen, aloe vera, hyaluronic lavender oil well, glycerin, vitamin C, and Allantoin.

Mudmasky Sleep Repair Renewal Nourishing Mask This mud mask from MudMasky helps to repair, hydrate, rejuvenate, smooth, and protect your skin. All you do is apply a thin layer after washing your face and then leave the mask on overnight, or for at least five hours with a maximum of 10 hours. You'll remove the mask in the morning with warm water and then finish with cold water. You can use this mask every night before going to bed. This mud mask was made in the Netherlands.

PURELEI Black Velvet Scrunchie It is rare to see a non-make up or skin care product in glossy box, but I was excited to see this velvet black scrunchy from PURELEI. It's super soft and can be used on days when you either just want to throw your hair up or if you want to give your pony tail some extra pizzaz. The scrunchy is super soft to the touch.

Final Thoughts The January 2020 GlossyBox had a nice assortment of items that will help me take care of my dry skin in these dry winter months. My favorite items were the Strawberry Booster Strawberry Seed Oil, the MudMasky Sleep Repair Nourishing Mask, and the Brown Sugar Lip Scrub from Tree Hut. GlossyBox continues to remain one of my favorite boxes because I love skin care products! DEAL: Get 25% off your first GlossyBox with this link and coupon code LOVE25 Read the full article

[buddhasutras-blog]

The Dhammapada. Preface by Acharya Buddharakkhita.

The Dhammapada is the best known and most widely esteemed text in the Pali Tipitaka, the sacred scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. The work is included in the Khuddaka Nikaya ("Minor Collection") of the Sutta Pitaka, but its popularity has raised it far above the single niche it occupies in the scriptures to the ranks of a world religious classic. Composed in the ancient Pali language, this slim anthology of verses constitutes a perfect compendium of the Buddha's teaching, comprising between its covers all the essential principles elaborated at length in the forty-odd volumes of the Pali canon.

According to the Theravada Buddhist tradition, each verse in the Dhammapada was originally spoken by the Buddha in response to a particular episode. Accounts of these, along with exegesis of the verses, are preserved in the classic commentary to the work, compiled by the great scholiast Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa in the fifth century C.E. on the basis or material going back to very ancient times. The contents of the verses, however, transcend the limited and particular circumstances of their origin, reaching out through the ages to various types of people in all the diverse situations of life. For the simple and unsophisticated the Dhammapada is a sympathetic counselor; for the intellectually overburdened its clear and direct teachings inspire humility and reflection; for the earnest seeker it is a perennial source of inspiration and practical instruction. Insights that flashed into the heart of the Buddha have crystallized into these luminous verses of pure wisdom. As profound expressions of practical spirituality, each verse is a guideline to right living. The Buddha unambiguously pointed out that whoever earnestly practices the teachings found in the Dhammapada will taste the bliss of emancipation.

Due to its immense importance, the Dhammapada has been translated into numerous languages. In English alone several translations are available, including editions by such noted scholars as Max Muller and Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. However, when presented from a non-Buddhist frame of reference, the teachings of the Buddha inevitably suffer some distortion. This, in fact, has already happened with our anthology: an unfortunate selection of renderings has sometimes suggested erroneous interpretations, while footnotes have tended to be judgmental.

The present translation was originally written in the late 1950's. Some years earlier, while consulting a number of English-language editions of the Dhammapada, it was observed that the renderings were either too free and inaccurate or too pedantic, and it was therefore felt that a new translation avoiding these two extremes would serve a valuable purpose. The finished result of that project, presented here, is a humble attempt by a practicing follower of the Buddha to transmit the spirit and content, as well as the language and style, of the original teachings.

In preparing this volume I have had access to numerous editions and translations of the Dhammapada into various languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Sinhala, Burmese and Nepali. I particularly benefited from the excellent translations of the work by the late Venerable Narada Mahathera of Vajirarama, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Professor Bhagwat of Poona, India; To them I acknowledge my debt. A few verses contain riddles, references or analogies that may not be evident to the reader. The meanings of these are provided either in parentheses or notes, and for their interpretation I have relied on the explanations given in Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa's commentary. Verses discussed in the notes are indicated in the text by an asterisk at the end of the verse.

A first edition of this translation was published in 1959 and a second in 1966, both by the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore, India. For this third edition, the translation has undergone considerable revision. The newly added subtitle, "The Buddha's Path of Wisdom," is not literal, but is fully applicable on the ground that the verses of the Dhammapada all originate from the Buddha's wisdom and lead the one who follows them to a life guided by that same wisdom.

I am grateful to the editors of the Buddhist Publication Society for their helpful suggestions, and to the Society itself for so generously undertaking the publication of this work.

I make this offering of Dhamma in grateful memory of my teachers, parents and relatives, departed and living. May they find access in the Buddha's Dispensation and attain Nibbana!

May all beings be happy!

— Acharya Buddharakkhita

Source: 

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.intro.budd.html#preface

You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge and, in the case of reprinting, only in quantities of no more than 50 copies; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions. From The Dhammapada: The Buddha's Path of Wisdom, translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita, with an Introduction by Bhikkhu Bodhi (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1985). Transcribed from the print edition in 1996 by a volunteer under the auspices of the DharmaNet Transcription Project, with the kind permission of the BPS. Last revised for Access to Insight on 30 November 2013.

[atravellersfootsteps]

Planning a trip to a new country can be overwhelming. That is why I put together this guide on everything you need to know when planning a trip to Sri Lanka. In just one place, all your questions will be answered.

Visa

You will need a tourist visa to visit Sri Lanka. You must apply for this in advance –you can apply here. This is a quick and easy process, it will take 5 minutes and will cost approximately $35 USD.

These Visas are valid for 30 days so take this into consideration when booking flights.

Flights

Sri Lanka’s main airport is in Colombo. I used Sky Scanner to book my flights, paying $350 AUD from Australia’s Gold Coast (without bags). I always opt to take carry on where I can.

Weather

The weather in Sri Lanka is dictated by two monsoon seasons which bring rain to the west and south-west coasts from May to September; and the east coast and northern region between October and February. The rest of the year is sunny and dry. Temperatures are fairly constant year round, with coastal regions enjoying average temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands 15-18°C on average.

During our visit in April, we experienced perfect sunny days and thunderstorms in the afternoon. These never lasted long.

Phone and internet

I recommend getting a Sri Lankan sim card from Colombo Airport. As you exit you will see several service providers offering sim cards.

Dialog has the best coverage and is the provider I recommend. The retail assistant at Dialog will be able to set the sim up for you. Ensure it is working properly before you leave.

A sim with 10GB will cost you around 1500 rupees (Approx 10USD)

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a necessity. I recommend World Nomads.

Recently, however, I arranged a new credit card that covers all my travel insurance. If you travel a lot, this is something I recommend looking into. I can save up to $1,000 a year on travel insurance.

Currency exchange

You can use the Money Converter website to find out current exchange rates.

I found the best option in Sri Lanka was to withdraw cash from an ATM with a travel money card or bank card.

If you do carry cash, I recommend exchanging it in the airport. Alternatively, you can exchange cash in any bank.

Sri Lankan Rupees are a closed currency so you won’t be able to get Sri Lankan rupees until you arrive. There are plenty of places to exchange cash at the airport.

Accommodation

There are ample options for accommodation in Sri Lanka, ranging from guest houses, bed and breakfasts, Airbnb, hotels and resorts. As per usual, I recommend using booking.com to search for accommodation.

In comparison to other Asian countries, accommodation options are slightly more expensive / offer less value for money.

The photo above was taken at Turtle Bay Resort Sri Lanka.

Transport in Sri Lanka

The cheapest way to get around Sri Lanka is using public transport, the quickest way to get around is by hiring a driver.

Train travel is popular in Sri Lanka as it is cheap and reliable(ish).  Seats can be reserved in person at a train station up to 45 days before the trip. Scenic routes, such as Ella to Nuwara Eliya fill up fast, so make sure you book these tickets in advance.

Bus – Bus travel is another cheap way to get around Sri Lanka, but be careful, the buses drive like crazy.

Tuk-tuk – If you are travelling short distances (less than an hour), the best option will be to get a tuk-tuk. Always agree on a price before you get in.

Hire a driver – As I only had 2 weeks in Sri Lanka and wanted to see a lot, I opted to hire a driver. We used the Facebook group – Sri Lanka Taxi Driver Offers to find our drivers. Expect to pay between 5000 rupees(30USD) to 10000 rupees(65USD) per day/trip.

Example of what I paid:

Airport to Midigama – 7000 rupees (Approx 45USD)

Tangalle to Udawalawe – 5000 rupees (Approx 30USD)

Udawalawe to Ella – 5000 rupees (Approx 30USD)

Kandy to Sigiriya (return)- 6000 rupees (Approx 40USD)

Kandy to Hikkaduwa – 10000 rupees (Approx 65USD)

Your hotel will also be able to arrange a driver for you, but it will cost more than the above prices we paid when using the Facebook Group.

Sri Lanka Taxi Share is another Facebook Group that allows you to share rides with other travellers to save money.

If you plan on staying in one destination for a few days, hiring a moped (scooter) is a great option for getting around with ease. On the Southern beaches we paid 800 rupees (5USD) per day and in Ella, we paid 2000 (12USD) rupees per day. When hiring a moped or motorbike, always make sure you have the required documents, and confirm if the hire is for 24 hours or day to day. Meaning, some people will expect you to pay for a full day even if you collect the bike at 4 pm.

If you plan on hiring a bike, you will need an International drivers license. After you arrive in Sri Lanka you must apply for a Driving Permit at AAA Ceylon as driving on your international license without registering it in Sri Lanka is Ilegal and you could get in “trouble”. If you do get pulled over, you will most likely have to pay a fee to the police officer, a situation you are better off avoiding.

When planning your transport. take into account, it is time-consuming to get around Sri Lanka, so if you try to see and do too much, you will feel like you are spending most of your time on a bus, train or in a car.

Planning your route

Sri Lanka has something for everyone: stunning mountain ranges, tea plantations, breathtaking waterfalls, wildlife safari in one of Sri Lanka’s national parks like Yala or Udawalawe, world-class beaches, surf breaks, UNESCO world heritage sites like Sigiriya, temples and more.

When planning your route, you must take into account how long it will take to travel between places. You may be best trying to cover less but doing more in the destinations you do visit.

I would recommend a week by the beach (Southern Provence), a week in the highlands (Central Provence) and a week in the North.

In my opinion, Ella is a destination in Sri Lanka that is not to be missed. I live for hiking so a trip to Ella was always on the agenda and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I also wanted to see the tropical surfing beaches, Midigama was my favourite beach destination.

If your visiting for culture, Kandy would be a great place to add to the itinerary and if you want to get off the beaten track you may want to explore more of the islands northern region.

Tourist most commonly travel to the Southern Beaches, Arugum Bay, Ella, Kandy and Negombo.

Cost of travelling around Sri Lanka

When planning a trip to Sri Lanka, it is important to consider the cost of travelling. While Sri Lanka is affordable, it is not as cheap as other destinations in Asia.

Transport – If you take public transport you can get around the country extremely cheaply. You can get from A to B for a couple of dollars. If you take a driver, that will be significantly more expensive.

Food – if you eat local food, your food expense will be much cheaper than if you eat western food. On average you will pay around 450 Rupees (3USD) for a Sri Lankan curry, 450 rupees (3USD) for Kottu and 250 Rupees (2USD) for Rotti.  If you eat western food you will pay more, around 1000 rupees (7USD) for pizza, burgers, pasta etc.

Safety

I recommend exercising all usual precautions when travelling Sri Lanka. These are my tips for keeping safe. 

Sri Lankan Phrases

Sinhalese and Tamil are the two primary languages spoken in Sri Lanka

Here are some useful phrases you should know before you go:

Ayubowan = may you live long, a formal way of greeting someone. You can also just say “hello” or “hi”

Istuti = thank you

Kohomadha = how are you?

Hari = okay, got it, fine (you often say this twice – “hari hari”)

Lassanai = beautiful

Hondayi = very good

Overseas Travel Checklist

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Disclosure: This post on planning a trip to Sri Lanka contains affiliate links.

Planning a trip to Sri Lanka? This is everything you need to know Planning a trip to a new country can be overwhelming. That is why I put together this guide on everything you need to know when planning a trip to Sri Lanka.

[thebiggaylion]

Kaskade @ EDC Orlando 2017

It’s March, ya’ll.  MARCH.  And we JUST got an announcement for EDC Orlando 2018 earlier today!  We normally don’t get these until JUNE!  I’m blown away with excitement!  I just had to tag that previous sentence with #EDCOrlando2018... already!  Amazing!

But therein lies another problem:  this event is EIGHT. MONTHS. AWAY.  How am I supposed to survive with eight months of anticipation?  Eight months of staving off a heart attack?  Haha, this is crazy!  I thought last year’s announcement of EDC Orlando 2017 during Red Bull TV’s live stream of EDC Las Vegas 2017 was early... this year, EDC Las Vegas 2018 is still MONTHS away, and we already know about EDC Orlando 2018?!  I wonder if this has anything to do with Ultra Music Festival and Miami Music Week happening this weekend...  maybe Insomniac is just trying to keep some of the narrative on their own events?  Either way, would you look at that design?  A rainbow heart... inside appears to be some sort of moon or other celestial body, with light emitting from it’s interior.  And... eyeballs... for some reason haha.  I really like it!  The EDC Orlando 2017 logo was cool, but it didn’t really feel Electric Daisy Carnival to me, ya know?  Sure, it put focus on kineticGAIA, which I totally loved, but it wasn’t much of a sensory explosion like I love from years past.  Of course, this could have just been them getting used to the new branding.  I think they’ve found a good path to follow with this look.  Bravo, Insomniac.

Since this is such a huge announcement, I might as well take the time to post one of the hugest artists to grace EDC Orlando from 2017.  I was thinking about when the “right” time would be to drop this particular show, and I think this #ThrowbackThursday--with the surprise announcement of EDC Orlando 2018--is about as good a time as any!  You probably knew this was coming after my Bonnie x Clyde post from the other week, but here it is:  Kaskade’s “sunset” set!  But before we get into that, you'd better believe this is a long post, so make sure you check out both parts when you're done with this original post!

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram Parts One, Two As you know from the previous post in this timeline, I was already in position for this soon-to-be great set (and from the following post in this timeline, that I stayed for the whole thing!).  This here is a good part of the intro, which includes the typical collection of lyrics or instruments without percussion that artists seem to love heh.  But let’s be real... this dude could pass gas into a microphone, throw it a little auto-tune, and we’d have tears in our eyes anyway!  It was PACKED, and the totems and flagpoles were in full effect.  There’s lots to see ahead, I’m just warning you, lots of stuff gets in the way haha!  But let’s just take a moment to collectively laugh out loud at the bug-eyed totem featuring the girls from Broad City, Ilana and Abbi, held by the Headliner directly in front of me.  Put that thing in the MoMA, because it is ART!  They were mounting their phone between the cut-outs, I suppose to get some aerial shots... not a bad idea, actually!  Also, we know Pasqualle absolutely loves Kaskade, so they wasted NO time firing off special effects during this set... and there are many more to come!  Final prep thought:  Kaskade’s visuals were SPECTACULAR, so feel free to give the videos a few play-throughs so you don’t miss anything! contains deadmau5 & Kaskade - I Remember https://soundcloud.com/deadmau5/i-remember-strobelite-mix contains Kaskade feat. Mindy Gledhill - Eyes https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/eyes contains Kaskade - Be Still https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/be-still-3 Kaskade feat. Ilsey - Disarm You https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/kaskade-disarm-you-ft-ilsey Kaskade - Atmosphere https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/atmosphere-2

Download High Res (23.3 MB) | Download Low Res (2.4 MB) See?  Amazing visuals.  Sure it’s just pictures of nebulas and such, but I love all that space stuff.  EDC is truly like no other place on earth, so why limit yourself to visuals of just earth?  Haha

Find this photo on Instagram | Find this photo on Facebook Bless this dude.  There is absolutely nothing on his sign except for some real sentiment.  He deserves to be GIF’ed!  Also, feel free to appreciate and lol at that Abbi totem once more!

Download High Res (30 MB) | Download Low Res (3.1 MB) Not only does he deserve to be GIF’ed, but I caught a great moment where he’s getting a high-five from another Headliner as he (I presume) exits circuitGROUNDS.  Consent is real, and rave booty ain’t yours to grab!

Download High Res (47.2 MB) | Download Low Res (4.5 MB) I’m a complete, and I mean COMPLETE sucker for rainbow visuals and lots of colors... if you know what’s coming (because you were at this show, too), then you know this was absolutely my version of heaven.

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram These aura-inspired visuals kinda reminded me of the Insomniac promo imagery for EDC Las Vegas / Orlando 2017 and EDC Mexico / China 2018, don’t they?  So cool.  Oh, also, retro-inspired text and pyro make for quite an awesome moment!  Sensory overload!  I took a pan of the circuitGROUNDS because of the vibe.  I think I’m seeing six rainbow-inspired flags and totems on this pan?  Gorgeous! Axwell /\ Ingrosso - How Do You Feel Right Now https://soundcloud.com/axwellingrosso/how-do-you-feel-right-now Kaskade vs. Patric la Funk & DBN - Please Say Quick Quack https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/please-say-quick-quack

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram The sun’s going down, and the set’s heating up, but okay... for real though:  what is THIS SONG RIGHT HERE?  This was the only song that really surprised me (in a good way) in his set, and apparently it surprised me because it’s unreleased!  I did some digging, and apparently it’s remaining an “unknown” on purpose by Kaskade himself:

If I told you I would have to kill you… https://t.co/bPF0AU5UIR

— Kaskade (@kaskade)

November 15, 2017

Well there goes the idea of finding the title and artist(s)!  This needs an official release ASAP, mister!  Talk about catchy!  I typically try not to do this, but this fire is so hot, I have to do it.  You can catch a bootleg of the track below.  Also, of course, amazing visuals on this track.  There are so many pop culture styles and references! Unknown ID possibly Kaskade, Brohug, and Mr. Tape - Fun Fun Fun https://soundcloud.com/user-789177496/kaskade-brohug-mr-tape-fun-fun-fun-kaskade-arkade-office-los-angeles-2018

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram "Get those phones up, here we go!”  Yeah, yeah, you don’t gotta tell me twice... mine was already up!  Couldn’t turn on the flashlight once I started recording, but it would mess up my white balances anyway.  The guy behind The Big Gay Lion played this song to DEATH around 2007-2008... he was very excited to see this video and get a chance to share in this moment! deadmau5 & Kaskade - I Remember https://soundcloud.com/deadmau5/i-remember-strobelite-mix Felon - Isla https://soundcloud.com/felon/isla

Download High Res (28.6 MB) | Download Low Res (2.8 MB) I expected the ear candy, but not all this eye candy!  With a repertoire as good as his (and a budget like I can only imagine), I suppose I SHOULD have expected this level of visuals from him.  He didn’t have that great of visuals in 2015, though... just the standard Insomniac ones I saw in various other sets as well as his, if I’m remembering correctly... anyway, just wow.  He totally stepped it up.  Great stuff!

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram Parts One, Two Yes, yes, do give me THAT song followed immediately by THAT OTHER song/mix.  What a great moment.  I’m so pleased I caught both in one take like this!  Plus, I’m a sucker for a great sing-along, so why not throw up the lyrics and make it a big ol’ karaoke moment for tens of thousands of Headliners!  This man brought EV-ERY-THING to this sunset performance.  I’m blown away. Kaskade & Adam K feat. Sunsun - Raining https://soundcloud.com/adamk/kaskade-adam-k-feat-sunsun-raining-extended-mix-ultra-preview Kaskade & ZZTTN vs. Moguai - Something Something Champs (Kaskade's Atmosphere Mash Up) https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/kaskade-zzttn-vs-moguai

Download High Res (33 MB) | Download Low Res (3.6 MB) Stunning visuals.  I wasn’t even trying to capture the running man on fire, I was trying to get what was playing before it (view the download links to see that part at the start), but this bit was so good, I had to make it the thumbnail!  Plus, you can see the bits before it at the end of the previous video, so she done already had hers’s!

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram Gorgeous.  Such a phenomenal ending.  All I really hoped to do is capture the Tempest (the video game) graphics Kaskade was using for the best friend of the guy behind The Big Gay Lion... little did I know that I was primed and ready to capture the finale!  So here’s a bit of the second to last track and the entirety of the final track of his show! Kaskade & Thomas Sagstad vs. Morning Parade - Under The Stars https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/kaskade-thomas-sagstad-vs Kaskade feat. Mindy Gledhill - Eyes https://soundcloud.com/kaskade/eyes

Ya’ll... after finishing up this post, it’s starting to hit me... EDC Orlando 2018 is happening, announced, and REAL.  I just can’t stay this hype for this long... I’ll have all sorts of heart problems by the time November rolls around!  I need to get started on my new head dress!  I need to make more kandi!  If you want this post in two parts, we'll you're in luck!  This original post exists in two easily-viewable yet completely separate parts, just for you.  Love ya’ll, see ya next time! 🏳️‍🌈🦁❤

Did you remember to follow me?  Well, here’s your chance! Facebook | Tumblr (Index) | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Web

[stampington]

Glimpse Inside New January Issues + Enter to Win Your Favorite!

 Receive $5 off on new January issues, $14.99 and up. Copy and paste coupon code BLOG0117 when prompted at checkout. (Discount code can only be used once per customer.)

Somerset Studio

The start of the New Year is the perfect time for reflection, self-improvement, and goal setting, and with this issue of Somerset Studio, we’re excited to unveil a fresh new design of our own! The inspiration inside this 144-page magazine will offer you a number of reasons to make a resolution to nurture your artistic self.

Inside Somerset Studio January/February 2017:

Read an Artist Profile on Janet Eskridge and learn how she tackles time management while living with ADHD.

Our new department, Down to the Details, allows artists to take a closer look at the details that make or break a piece of art.

How to make paper look like old, rusty metal

The basics of working with black gesso

The results of our All About Olive Challenge

Clever ways to use the artists papers that appear in each issue of Somerset Studio

  Art Journaling

Dive headfirst into the wonderful world of Art Journaling, and find new ways to express your artistry in 2017!

Inside Art Journaling Winter 2017:

Ana Campos transforms an old book with paint, hand stitching, and collage

The pretty and petite stitched scrap journal of Mary Walden

Ideas abound on the eclectic journal pages of Linda Meza

  Belle Armoire

Whether you’re an art stamper, embroidery artist, custom jewelry designer, fabric painter or knitting and crocheting enthusiast, Belle Armoire® provides 144 pages of inspiration for creating fashions that are uniquely you.

Inside Belle Armoire Winter 2017:

Meet designer Sandra Hagen and examine her work that is full of old-world style beauty from a bygone era of glamour and elegance in this issue’s Designer Collection.

Learn how designer Katherine Soucie incorporates material normally destined for the waste bin into her clothing masterpieces.

Take a peek at artist Vilte Kazlauskaite’s stunning seasonal fairy costumes.

Discover the beautiful embroidered necklaces by artisan Pera Podrug Kraljić.

Witness the drama and splendor of Myriam Rohrer’s full-length gowns with intricate details.

  Jewelry Affaire

Sometimes it is the simplest things that are the most elegant. Come join us in celebrating the beauty that can be found in easy-to-make jewelry in this 144-page issue of Jewelry Affaire Magazine.

Inside Jewelry Affaire Winter 2017:

Melissa Jackson transforms wool scraps into hearts to assemble hopelessly romantic pieces just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Toni Pullen gathers inspiration from the ways in which jewelry design is interpreted around the world to create rustic pieces formed with polymer clay, leather, sari ribbon, and waxed linen cord.

Vintage book pages are captured in resin to create Brooke Bock’s unique book bezels inspired by the vintage treasures she’s collected over the years.

Leftover denim scraps served as the starting point for Michelle Lichter’s unexpectedly elegant rose pendants formed with a metal infrastructure that allows each petal to be shaped.

Christie Schneider manipulated and played with hand-painted wool roving to create her eclectic yarn pieces as seen in this issue’s Feature Artist profile.

Old-fashioned Broadway singers and silent movie stars alike make their debut on Kandi Underwood’s multi-colored and bead-embroidered silk necklaces.

  Mingle

Grab a cup of coffee and a cozy blanket to snuggle up by the fire with the newest issue of Mingle. With page after page (144 to be precise!) of party tips and tricks, you’re bound to be inspired. You’ll be brainstorming your next gathering before you know it!

Inside Mingle Winter 2017:

Kathy Colby invites us to her garden party.

Tara Berger raises a glass at her wine tasting party.

Melanie Beilner throws an intimate Valentine’s winter picnic.

Tracy Carpenter hosts a Golden Books themed baby shower complete with swoon-worthy details.

Don’t miss Jamie Forsythe’s sweet berry farms, Andressa Hara’s under the stars celebration, and Harmony Goodson’s adorable date nights.

  Prims

As we welcome the New Year, we also welcome a new issue of Prims! Many of the creations in this 144-page edition are made especially for the season, encompassing pieces to decorate for Valentine’s Day, Easter, and the coming of spring, but many of the primitive pieces are perfect to display year-round!

Inside Prims Winter 2017:

Full of wonderful and whimsical primitive dolls, you will find some of the sweetest little cinnamon-dusted and dyed creations you have ever seen.

Aiga Blowick shares a tutorial on how to make her adorable flying pygmy pigs.

Carrie Hawkins shows off her lovely pet primitives.

Char Hosea presents her Valentine’s Day heart pins.

  Somerset Life

Each 144-page issue of Somerset Life provides an abundance of inspiring ideas to infuse our daily lives with simple pleasures, art, romance, creativity, and beauty. This issue shines a spotlight on how to get artfully organized (perfect for a great start to the 2017 year!) by paying special attention to maintaining a creative planner that will motivate you to tackle life’s to-do lists and achieve some of your newly set goals.

Inside Somerset Life Winter 2017:

Hop on board the artful planning train and learn how different planners are used.

3 different artists alter the same calendar

Easy ideas for updating your calendars using supplies you already have on hand.

Our readers share what they would pack in a suitcase for their perfect day.

Learn creative ways to store your planner supplies.

Create unique 3-D valentines in nontraditional colors

Striking tags to adorn your Valentine’s Day gifts with

Simple ways to show you care

  The Stampers’ Sampler

Kick off the New Year with the Winter 2017 Issue of The Stampers’ Sampler! As with every issue, there is a special Tempting Template pattern and free artist paper tucked inside to inspire your upcoming card making projects.

Inside this Issue:

Hop on our card-making merry-go-round with our Carousel Horse Template results.

This issue’s Guest Artist, Tammy Wilson, shares her charmingly coordinated collection full of special details, mixed styles, and layers of dimension.

Dive into more than 20 pages of challenge results featuring one of Stampington & Company’s most beloved themes: Shabby-Chic Romance.

Don’t miss our vast sampling of cards, providing pages upon pages of creative inspiration for every level of stamper!

  Where Women Create BUSINESS

Where Women Create BUSINESS is an invaluable, 144-page guide for every woman business owner – from those just starting out to experienced artisans. Through advice columns and in-depth feature articles, this magazine offers a multitude of knowledge and inspiration to women with a passion for success.

Inside the Winter 2017 Issue:

Lena Skvagerson, crochet artist and lead designer of Annie’s Signature Designs

Julie Cove, creator of The Alkaline Sisters website and author of “Eat Better, Live Better, Feel Better: Alkalize Your Life … One Delicious Recipe at a Time”

Alle Fister, founder of the fashion PR firm Bollare Communications

Lynn Konrad of French at Heart offers French-inspired antiques, decor, and handmade jewelry

Lisa Thomas, owner of Ooh! Events, a full-service event and wedding production company

  Enter to Win Our Glimpse Inside Giveaway!

We’re giving away brand-new January issues to THREE lucky winners! Simply follow these steps to enter for your chance to win:

1) Click on your favorite spread above.

2) Pin or “Like” that particular issue.

3) If you pinned to Pinterest, share the link in the comments section below. If you “liked” on Facebook, tag us so we can see.

4) If you don’t have Facebook or Pinterest, please comment below and tell us which issue you find most appealing and why.

Winners will be randomly selected for our magazine giveaway and contacted via email. Contest is open to U.S. residents only, and ends 01/31/17 at 11:59pm PST.

*$5 off coupon code applies to purchases of any of the following (Winter ’17) issues only: Art Journaling, Jewelry Affaire, Belle Armoire, Somerset Life, Where Women Create BUSINESS, Mingle, and Prims. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer. Discount code can be used only one time per customer and expires 01/31/17.

  The post Glimpse Inside New January Issues + Enter to Win Your Favorite! appeared first on Somerset Place: The Official Blog of Stampington & Company.

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