#more photogenic than a coconut tho

[pride-of-storm]

cats are So Little

no wonder she doesn't know how far is too far to leave her taco

my casual reach is as long as her absolute stretch

and if i lean i double it

no wonder she drops her taco, less than a stretch away from my center of self, and Waits

my reach is not infinite, she knows, but it is longer than hers

[lovelytable]

every 10th question for the ask game :P

10: What is something you find romantic?

HOLDING HANDS. that’s cute as /shit/ if you have ever held my hand once just know we’re already married in my mind.

20: Are you holding on to something you need to let go of? If so then what?

... yes. will not be letting go tho.

30: What is something that makes you sad when you think about it?

ok this is kinda tricky but like,,, high school senior activities? like don’t get me wrong i’m hype as FUCK for prom and graduation and going to college. but also my stomach gets all twisted up in knots because i know i’m never going to see my friends ever again and i would literally not be here without them so hahahahahahahahahahah good times. 

40: Have you ever been cheated on?

not technically. we weren’t/aren’t officially dating. but like,,, hurt my feelings anyway.

50: Favorite fruits?

PINEAPPLE CHERRY COCONUT BANANAS CUTIES (not oranges or tangerines but that specific brand) GRAPEFRUIT

60: You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late one more time you get fired. What do you do?

trick question: i am my own boss bc im a successful immigration lawyer running for senate. but my hypothetical imaginary boss can suck my left tit bc im goin after that dog. in all honesty i would probably fuck up and also drown. but at least we’d be together :’)

70: What is your ideal partner like?

funny. if i’m not laughing then that Summertime Sadness is too much. pls also be cute. im rly shallow but we’re gonna have to take approximately one billion pictures together so we gotta be at least equally photogenic. also u gotta be loyal. oof.

80: Does anyone regularly (other than family) tell you they love you?

yea but i don’t think they mean it.

90: How was your day today?it’s almost noon but i’ve yet to brush my teeth so my day hasn’t even really started lmao. yesterday was alright tho. kinda felt like me against the world sometimes bc i would do a Thing for the express purpose of makin myself happier and then people would come and rain on my parade. no thanks.

100: Would you ever go sky diving, bungee jumping , cliff diving, wing suit gliding, parasailing, snorkeling, or other extreme activities?

yea. if i’m not on the brink of death i’m not having a good time.

(thank u so much for the asks i love you with my whole heart

[k8eatsphl]

k8eatsla pt 2 & 3: namhau & luu’s, tito’s tacos, wedding food, james beach

damn the second and third day of my l.a. stay was such a blur! also sorry i took like NOOOO PIX lol so this is a boring post for pure documentation. but here’s a map (thx u for inspiration patrick): 

day 2

saturday morning i woke up at 4am cuz was still on east coast time. chilled in bed til 6 then headed out for a run/hike around the baldwin hills park and the ballona creek bike path.

the bed and breakfast i stayed at serves breakfast from 7-9am, so got back to my room at around 8:30 to shower.

breakfast was served in the kitchen on the island. namhau, the wife of the couple that runs the b&b, served fruit salad with strawberries, blueberries, fuji apples, plums, and apricot. to go with the fruit there was yogurt and some granola she made (pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, coconut). also she made all of the dishes that she served in--rly nice little cups and tiny little bowls, and these plates that looked like lily pads. she also gave me some rly dark coffee she made in an aeropress.  really nice!

while i was eating my fruit and yogurt namhau toasted a poppyseed bagel and used one half to make me an avocado toast with pesto, avocado, feta, and walnuts in honey. it was sooo fuckin good! i told her i’d pay like $15 for it in a restaurant lol. the other half of the bagel i got plain and tried each of her three homemade jams: orange marmalade, blackberry jam, and raspberry jam. def the orange marmalade was my favorite.

i stayed at bfast way too long talking to namhau, luu (the husband), and another guest james (production engineer at CAVA GRILL going through a divorce living in arlington va...learned a lot about him). headed out at 11am to walk to my noon massage appointment in west culver city.

after my massage i grabbed tito’s tacos, which is a popular but contentious taco place in culver city. contentious cuz the tacos are like school cafeteria tacos: yellow hard shelled tacos with beef and yellow cheddar and iceberg lettuce. 

i got one beef taco and one beef and bean burrito. every order also comes with a side of chips and salsa. got my box of taco/burrito/chips and a mountain dew (lol dk why i got that, it just slipped out when she asked what i wanted to drink) and sat at a picnic table in the sun. i thought i took a covert pic of my food but turns out i just took a pic of my lap! it’s okay though, the box was not photogenic...just a pile of tortilla chips.

the beef in the taco and the burrito was way diff than i expected it. i did actually like the taco. the beef in the taco was more like the beef in a tamale...like pulled, seasoned beef. almost fluffy. there was a lil too much cheese tho and it kept falling out, but i just let it fall on top of my chips and melt in the sun so i got fake nachos.

bean burrito was insane! it was like...a volcano of hot beans and beef chili. so dangerous and messy to eat! it was not my favorite burrito...i thought i would love it, cuz i love refried beans. but it was just too much.

the chips were a’ight, a bit stale. the salsa was more like gazpacho...felt like the tomatoes they used weren’t ripe so it was kind of a grainy, light, but refreshing, dip.

after titos walked back to the b&b to get ready for the wedding. stopped at copenhagen bakery on the way to pick up some apple strudel because namhau talked about liking it. they didn’t have strudel tho! so just got a couple of danishes.

i got to the wedding too early to be seated (!) so went to the mandrake bar across the street from the venue (smogshoppe) and had an aperol spritz, which was nice.

at the wedding i was still full from tacos! they were handing out hors d’oeuvres from gina’s dad’s restaurant/catering company? looked mostly like flatbreads. i tried one speck one and it was good. u kno, a flatbread. for my dinner i chose the branzino with salsa verde. at the table they also served family-style sides: white asparagus, israeli couscous salad, roasted potatoes, and spaetzle. everything was good! i really enjoyed the fish. 

for dessert they had a dessert buffet with tiny little cannelles, almond tortes, crostatas...very german lookin desserts.

day 3

slept in a bit (til 6!) and showered and packed up my stuff, cuz was gonna be checking out of the b&b at 11. was first to arrive at breakfast and all the food was much the same as the day before. the main diff was instead of avocado toast namhau made sourdough toast with tahini, cucumber, and mint. we also had the pastries i bought from copenhagen bakery.

alex and gina threw a brunch buffet from 11-1:30 so i headed out after breakfast. decided to WALK to santa monica from culver city (mistake) and james (the divorcee) wanted to walk with me cuz he wanted exercise and company. didn’t have the heart to tell him i’m a lone ranger, so was like ‘sure but u kno this is a 7 mile walk’ n he was like ‘sounds good’. we walked and talked for 2 hrs. mostly we talked about how he’s excited to live by himself for the first time, how he picked out his new mattress and furniture, and how he wishes his son (19) wanted to travel around the world. i told him about wwoof and workaway.

at 12:30 we were still walkin and i was like ‘shit if i want to get to alex’s buffet i better call an uber’. so we got a car that dropped james off at venice beach and me off at the restaurant. by the time i got to the restaurant (lunetta all day) most of the food was picked through, but i still got a plate of bacon, potatoes, and some lemon ricotta pancakes.

after brunch we went to alex and gina’s house and hung out and drank sparkling water lol. and a bunch of ppl like chain smoked weed in the backyard. i’ve never seen so much pot consumption. it all felt very l.a. 

at 6 folks were starting to disband to find dinner and i really wanted to see santa monica/venice beach still. so peaced out and took an uber to the boardwalk at venice. at this point was hungry, but none of the restaurants looked good.  i walked back and forth for like an hour or so and was starting to get really hangry. after sunset decided i’d just go to the airport and find something to eat there (which in a none hanger state i know is not a good idea).

at the airport went to james beach, which funnily enough, is a restaurant in venice beach i decided not to go to. i’m sure the food at the venice restaurant would have been better. i got a $21 salmon club sandwich and they were fuckin out of fries!!! so got a side salad and also a ballast point ipa. rly liked the ipa.

when the sandwich came out i was severely disappointed cuz it looked tiny and wimpy. but actually it was really good. the bread was toasted rye and it was super buttery. the salmon was overcooked (hey ho) but the bacon and avocado was rly nice. and the salad was surprisingly good...with grape tomatoes, bleu cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette. tab was $45 :< :< :< 

at midnight my plane boarded and i landed in philly at 8am this morning. very exhausted from talking to so many ppl and walking ~12 miles a day! glad to be back in philly.

[mypham0711]

Top attractions you definitely visit in Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is a destination like no other. Innumerable rivers, canals, tributaries, and rivulets overflow with fish, and the rich alluvial soil helps produce an abundance of rice, fruit, and vegetables. Lush tropical orchards, floating markets, quaint towns, delicious food,emerald-green rice paddies, and lazy brown rivers and canals add to the photogenic wonder of the place. It’s a land touched by ancient and modern cultures, from the Funanese to the Khmer, Cham and Vietnamese.The northern delta, with its fruit farms and rice fields, is the most accessible from Ho Chi Minh City, with day trips possible to My Tho and Vinh Long. The south-central delta encompasses the Ca Mau Peninsula, with just into the sea from Soc Trang. Can Tho is a major center, a pleasant town with just enough tourist infrastructure for a comfortable stay.In the Mekong’s southern section, steamy mangrove swamps and thick palm forests thrive on the flat, flooded delta creating a heaven for water birds including some rare species.Here is the list of top places worth visiting in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.1. Cai Rang Floating Market It is the dense network of the Mekong River and its tributaries that developed the waterway transport system and formed the special customs of the locals here. Thehabit of trading goods in the floating markets stands out and has become an image representing the area’s tourism. Cai Rang Floating Market is the most famous of all names. You will be interesting in its extremely lively and crowded trading atmosphere, especially the smooth performances of traders and juggling fruits boat to boat. The market is open in the early morning around 3:00 am but the liveliest at around 5:00 am. Basically, there are two feasible options you can consider when visiting Cai Rang Floating Market: go by yourself and buy a tour. 2. Ninh Kieu WharfNinh Kieu Wharf is one of the most famous Can Tho attractions because of the beautiful landscapes and exciting atmosphere in Ninh Kieu Night Market. It is situated close to the center of the city on the bank of the Hau River which is known as a tributary of the Mekong River. On the wharf, there are always many boats which carry a lot of goods and products of the Mekong Delta. Coming to Ninh Kieu,visitors also have a chance to visit many high-quality restaurants and enjoy delicious dishes. 3. Cai Be Floating Market Playing as one of the main trading centers in Mekong Delta, Cai Be in Tien Giang Province is a place where the locals sell and buy a wide variety of products catering to their lives. Besides staple commodities, this is a famous location to find local products priced quite reasonably. They may be freshest fruit harvested from the farm like durian, milk fruit, rambutan, mangosteen… Come here and worry no moreabout what to bring home. Every day, lots of boats and rafts in the delta gather here to trade and do business. Although the market is open all day, the liveliest time is at sunrise.There are a lot of tour operators that organizing Cai Be Floating Market Tour fornature lovers and adventurous visitors. All you must do is simply to book a package tour as well as have yourself ready to get up early in the morning, give it a try with our Mekong Delta Tour (Cai Be- Vinh Long full-day tour) 4. Fruit OrchardsCai Be Fruit Orchard (Tien Giang). Surrounded by canals, around the year immersing in fertility alluvial of the Tien River Delta, Cai Be is a specialized cultivation areas providing fruits for domestic needs and for export as well. It is not only a large basket pf fruit of Mekong Delta, Cai Be is also a stop for most tourists.Cai Mon Fruit Orchard (Ben Tre). Known as the coconut land with the moderate climate all seasons of the year, Ben Tre is also a large fruit basket of the Southwest with variety of delicious fruits such as famous durian, rambutan, pomelo, mango, longan, plum… Vinh Long Fruit Orchard. Vinh Long has been famous for green fruit orchards during four season in which there are specially popular Nam Roi grapefruit. Tourists can relax while enjoy hands-on experience in harvesting fresh fruit in the orchard. 5. Private Sampan Tour in Ben Tre or Can ThoAfter paying a visit to the floating market, you can continue your journey on the water. Exit the large river and head towards the tiny canals that make up the maze that is the Delta. Undoubtedly, it is the best way to stop over at anything you see interesting – stilt houses, boat houses, orchards farms, cottage industries. Riversiderestaurants… 6. Tan Lap Floating VillageIf provinces of Mekong Delta is often one of the first destinations of foreign tourists,there is an eco-tourism site, not far from Ho Chi Minh City. That’s Tan Lap floating village, located in the heart of Dong Thap Muoi Area, Long An Province. This is home to Cajuput forest, lotus flower, rice paddies and many wild animals…The entrance into the Tan Lap Village is through the Cajuput forest, named Rung Canal. This 5-km long path and 10-floor observation tower are considered as the highlights of the eco-tourism site. Besides, there are many other functional areassuch as environmental education, natural reserve, wild animal, floating houses on stiltsm park, pier… Tourists can go along cement paths or go along the river by boat.During October and December, this is a great location for you to admire the blooming of lotus flower. Among an immense of the forest, the combination of trees, flowers and many species of birds, all creates a simple and picturesque scenery. 7. Tra Su Mangrove ForestThis sanctuary is located about 20 km form Chau Doc and covers an area of approximately 850 hectares. A wide variety of colorful birds and other animals can be found here: storks, bats, snakes, turtles… If you want to visit the protected area, you plan in at least 3 hours. The tour through the habitats can be done by motor boat, rowing boat by foot. From the high observation deck you will have a beautiful view over the mountains in the area, the expanses of mangrove forests and numerous birds. 8. Tram Chim National ParkTram Chim National Park is around 40 km due north of Cao Lanh and notable for its rare red-headed cranes, though more than 220 species of birds live within the reserve. The cranes nest here from about December to May; from June to November they migrate to northwest Cambodia. Seeing them requires a considerable commitment (time, effort and money), you can take some trips with tourist agencies by car and small boats, or it is cheaper to go if you make friends with locals. Enjoyed this article and share your first-hand experience when visiting the Mekong Delta,Vietnam.