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slapshot-to-the-heart · 4 years ago

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mistletoe & california snow - t. meier

Here’s the first of the things I’ll be putting out for the Christmas and holiday season! I’ve been working on this for the past few weeks, it’s pretty long - bear with me - but I am proud of it and how it’s turned out. As always, I read all the tags and love seeing and hearing people’s thoughts, so please let me know what you think!

word count: 7.6k+

warning: sexual content (light & brief, but no one under 18 please!)

Timo came into Noemi Silva’s life when she least expected it. It’s a cliché saying, one that had been around since time immemorial, but it was true. He wasn’t looking for anything serious, and she had just gotten out of a relationship a few months prior. But then she had gotten an internship with the Sharks social media team in winter of her senior year of college, and the more time she started spending around the players, the more he realized he wasn’t able to stay away from her. Not in a bad way, but in the kind of way where he simply noticed how radiant she was and wanted to do whatever he could to get to know her, to be around her, in whatever way she’d let him. So colleagues turned into friends, turned into him asking her out two weeks before playoffs started. She didn’t say yes right away, but it wasn’t because she didn’t know, and it wasn’t because she wanted to make him sweat it. She was worried about what people would think; an intern dating one of the team’s star forwards, worried that the office gossip would turn into arguments that she didn’t earn her job, or that she was trying to get people to go easier on her. After a long conversation with Alise, one of her best friends, then her older sister, then Timo, she finally agreed. Them being together wasn’t as big of an issue as she had thought, a few meetings with HR and some paperwork and they had the green light, as long as they kept things professional at work. And then she was offered a full-time job after her graduation, and now, almost three years after they had first met, she was days away from marrying the love of her life.

He had proposed at the very beginning of the year, on a weeklong trip to Switzerland courtesy of the Sharks’ bye week and a very well-timed nonstop flight to Zürich. Noemi wasn’t an overly sentimental person, she thought as she curled next to her fiancé on their living room couch, watching an episode of Gossip Girl. She never had been, but even she would admit without hesitation that there wasn’t a single thing she would have changed about their engagement.

---

Noemi’s parents were out of town on a weekend getaway to wine country, so they weren’t able to drive her and Timo to the airport for their bye week vacation to Switzerland. Everything had lined up perfectly that year, and Noemi almost couldn’t believe their luck. She had accompanied the Sharks’ delegation to the past two All-Star Weekends, one the year prior and the other only the weekend before. So they both had a full week off for the first time since the offseason. The Christmas break was great, but it wasn’t nearly enough time to travel anywhere, let alone somewhere outside of the country. They had both been worried about the flight time — for a while, the only option was nearly twenty hours with a seven-hour layover in London — but thankfully, a nonstop flight from San Francisco to Zürich had opened up that they had booked just before the holidays.

All leading to the current moment, with Noemi, Timo, and their bags in the backseat of Kevin Labanc’s SUV as he pulled up to the curb of Terminal G. “Hope you guys have fun in the Alps, getting snowed on and freezing your asses off while I relax on the beach, getting—”

Noemi cut him off, arching an eyebrow. “Freezing your ass off, Kevin. It may be California, but I think you’re vastly overestimating how warm Santa Cruz beaches get. Have fun, though,” she quipped.

The corner of his eyes crinkled as he laughed. “Meier, did you know that your girl can chirp better than half the team?”

“One of her many talents,” Timo said, shrugging as he hefted their bags out of the trunk. Noemi was the first one to hug his teammate goodbye, and then Kevin pulled Timo into an embrace.

“But seriously, guys. Have fun. Good luck,” he said, looking back at Timo.

“What did he say good luck for?” Noemi asked, her brows furrowed as they walked through the sliding doors to the check-in counter.

Timo made a noncommittal noise. “Not sure. Maybe he meant to say good flight?” And it was a good flight, they were both able to get a few hours of sleep in before breakfast was served just as they were flying over Scotland.

Noemi wrested her back from under the seat before slinging it onto her shoulder and flashing a grateful smile at the flight attendants as they disembarked. She shivered as the cold air hit her on the jet bridge — as soon as they made it out to the gate, she made Timo stop so she could grab a jacket out of her bag, zipping it up all the way to under her chin. Timo snorted; she glared at him. “We weren’t all born with snow in our veins, Timo.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t say anything.”

She had been through the airport once before, but once was nothing compared to the she-didn’t-even-know-how-many flights Timo had taken. He gave her a kiss on the cheek as they reached passport control, moving towards the automated gates as Noemi stood in the line for non-Schengen nationals. “See you on the other side.”

Timo had already been waiting for ten minutes by the time Noemi got through. Though, all things considered — especially when compared to the hour-plus lines they were both used to trying to get back into the United States — it wasn’t bad at all. “You get through okay?” he asked, kissing Noemi as she came up to where he had settled by a coffee shop.

She nodded. “Yep, no issues. Asked me why I was here, I said I was visiting family with my Swiss citizen boyfriend, asked how long I’d be here for, I said a week. She told me welcome to Switzerland, stamped my passport, and said to have a good trip.” She tucked her passport into her purse, zipping it closed.

Timo bent down to kiss the top of her head as she leaned into him, her hands wrapping around his waist. “Let’s get going, then.”

---

The day before they were due to fly out of Zürich, they decided to go into the city. By they, it was really Timo’s decision; before they left San Jose, he had shown her pictures of Zürich in the winter and mentioned the zoo. It was an easy sell, she loved getting to see the lemurs. They had done the zoo in the morning and the national museum in the afternoon, before the sun set just after 5 PM.

The beer garden he took her to for dinner didn’t have any more indoor seating — something Noemi didn’t have a preference on, but Timo seemed concerned about — so the couple settled outside, warmed by a heating lamp and a well-placed fire pit off to the side of their table. “I feel like a lizard,” Noemi remarked, glancing up at the lamp. Timo laughed, holding her hand and absentmindedly rubbing his thumb over the top as he scanned the menu. “Now, it may come as a shock to you, but I happen to be less-than-fluent in Swiss German, so you’re going to have to help me out here,” she said as she read the menu. “Pictures are only getting me so far.”

He chuckled, leaning over the table “Do you want the raclette or the fondue?”

Noemi’s brow furrowed. “Raclette?”

Timo pulled out his phone, quickly navigating to Google. “The best way to describe it is like warmed, bubbly cheese that’s like scraped onto the food. Potatoes, meat, that kind of stuff. As opposed to fondue, which is obviously just fondue.”

She looked at him, bewildered. “How many ways do the Swiss have to eat cheese?”

“We’ve been perfecting it for 700 years, No.”

The raclette was incredible, as expected, and the saison their waitress had suggested paired perfectly. It was nearing eight by the time they had paid the check, and they had an hour long drive back to his hometown, but the night wasn’t over yet. Some of the Christmas lights were still up, and a short walk around downtown led them to a little art gallery that was still open, Timo purchasing a gorgeous oil painting of the city, the clock tower of St. Peter in the background.

“Belated Christmas present?” he asked, grinning at Noemi, as he arranged for it to be shipped back to California.

She rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

“Merci vielmal,” Timo said to the curator. “Come on, there’s one more thing I want to show you before we leave.”

Noemi blew on her hands before she stuffed them back in the pockets of her down jacket, following him out the door. She had gotten it a few months after she had been hired by the team full-time; there were a few different people on the social media team, so she didn’t go on every road trip, but it had become an invaluable addition to her wardrobe. She had made the foolish assumption that a November in Calgary couldn’t be too cold, and had only brought a fleece and a raincoat on one of her first trips with the team. It had been one of the worst mistakes of her life, and she had ended up having to run out to a Canada Goose outlet during her lunch break just so she wouldn’t freeze to death.

Noemi wasn’t sure where they were going, but supposed that she wasn’t in a place to be very skeptical. It was only her second time in Switzerland — she had flown out the summer prior to visit with him and his family — and she certainly wasn’t an expert, so she followed her boyfriend down the street and around the corners of tiny stone-faced apartments and old churches, a light sprinkling of snow dusting itself on her beanie. They walked for a few minutes before coming to the banks of Lake Zürich, where icy water would normally be lapping at their toes, even in January. Noemi hadn’t taken much of a look at the lake on the drive in; if she had, she would have noticed that it was completely frozen over, with couples walking and children playing tag even at the comparatively late hour.

He squeezed her hand as he stepped onto the ice. “Come on, babe.”

Noemi bit her lip. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

Timo nodded. “I called and asked a friend of mine the day before we left, it’s been frozen for almost a week and the weather hasn’t gotten any warmer. It should be at least nine, ten inches thick. Plenty safe.” So she let him take her hand, pulling her out to step gingerly on the ice, one foot in front of the other.

“Does it freeze often?”

Timo shook his head. “First time since ‘65. You’re getting something special here, No.” The snow gave their feet some purchase on the ice, and it was only a few minutes before they were standing where the middle of the lake should be, looking up at the jet-black night sky. “Can you see Cassiopeia?” Timo asked, looking up to the sky, his hands jamming in his jacket pocket, playing with what Noemi could only assume were his keys.

After their first date, dinner and a comedy show, they had driven to a stunning viewpoint on the outskirts of the city, bringing a blanket and laying outside stargazing and lazily kissing until they had to go to sleep sometime after midnight. “I could stay here for hours,” he had murmured as she lay against his chest. “Don’t think Boughner would take too kindly to you being late for morning skate,” Noemi had said. But she wasn’t arguing; she would have stayed there the rest of the night if they could. And Cassiopeia had always been her favorite constellation, the first one she pointed out to Timo that night, and one she loved just as much almost two years later.

It took her less than ten seconds to find it, the familiar “W” beckoning her just like it had a hundred times before. She looked back to where Timo had been just a moment before, mouth half-open, ready to show him the stars.

But he wasn’t there. Well, not standing, at least. He was kneeling on the ice, a blue jewelry box with a ring inside it balanced in his hand as the other reached out gently for hers. She gave it to him, of course she did. “Noemi Francisca Silva, you came into my life when I least expected it. I didn’t think I wanted a relationship, you weren’t sure either, but somehow after a few months of trying to be ‘just friends,’ we realized that just friends wasn’t going to work. And God, am I glad we figured that out. You’ve somehow fit in my life so perfectly that I have no clue how it ever worked before you were there. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, but even more than that, you’re so full of joy, you’ve always got a kind word to say about anyone, and you’re the best person anyone could ever ask for to have in their corner. I’m so glad you’re in mine.” He paused for a moment, looking back up at her with a half-smile on his face. “You asked what Kevin wished us good luck for back at the airport. Well,” he shrugged, “this is it. Noemi, it’s been the honor of my life to get to love you, and I can only hope you’ll let me do it for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”

For as worried as she had been about the ice not twenty minutes before, Noemi barely paid any mind as she crashed down next to him, their foreheads touching as his shaking hands slid the ring onto her wedding finger. It was the easiest answer she’d ever given in her life. “Yes.”

As Noemi straddled Timo in the driver’s seat of his SUV two days before their wedding, the bags of falafel having long since been abandoned in the back seat, she thought that she had never been so grateful for tinted windows and early sunsets. “The milkshakes are going to melt,” she gasped out as his fingers started to trail up her shirt, playing with the line of her bra.

“We’ll throw them in the freezer when we get home,” he said. Well, there’s not really any way I can argue against that, Noemi considered. So she let him pull her shirt off, undo the buttons on her shorts, and grab a condom from the center console — he had made damn sure to clean it out before filming a “what’s in my car” bit with the video team earlier that week — and slid into her as she tried desperately to keep her moans in check. “It’s okay, baby, let it out. I want to hear,” he said.

And she was in no place to argue. So she gasped and whimpered while he moaned underneath her, the seat tilted back just enough for him to hit her just right. And Timo knew almost everything about Noemi. You don’t get to be together with someone for over two and a half years without learning about them. He knew she liked waffles over pancakes and hated having to get up early and how she almost cried the first time she got sent to the principal’s office in third grade. He knew her body better than she did, how to send her crashing into an orgasm that left them both breathless with tired, goofy grins on their faces after.

But as Noemi steadied her breathing, looking out the window — the parking lot was still mercifully empty — she thought that maybe she’d leave out the fact that they had just fucked right across the street from her childhood church. At least we’re not trying to get married there, Noemi thought. I’d take up the whole damn time for Confession just for the past month.

---

Noemi stuck her head out of the door of her seventh-floor hotel room. The coast was clear. It was the end of February, ten months after they had gotten together, and the team was in the middle of their last big Midwest sweep of the season. Going through the Central Division — plus a stop in Toronto — was incredible and Noemi was shaking herself awake every morning, realizing that this really was her job, but it was also exhausting, and as much as it may have seemed counterintuitive, lonely at times. Well, lonely in a particular way. She had the rest of the social media team, and she was friendly with most of the athletic training staff, and she saw the players pretty much every day, and she was friends with most of them. But the team was a little more than halfway through the trip, and she’d barely gotten to spend any time with Timo. Sure, there were meals, and the few off hours they got had been amazing — when they played the Preds, it was her first time in Nashville, and walking around Music Row had been the highlight of her weekend — but it wasn’t the same as if they were back in San Jose.

Okay, if she was being totally honest, she missed the sex. It obviously wasn’t like she was finding it impossible to go without, she had dealt with it just fine when he was on a roadie and she was back home, but knowing that they were so close but couldn’t quite get there was a special kind of torture. Until now, when Timo had texted her just five minutes before. Kevin’s just gone out for a run, says he’s getting food after, some baked potato place or whatever. Idk. He’s weird. Anyways, coast should be clear for an hour or so 👀

Noemi had initially rolled her eyes at the message, not even sure if she’d text him back, but the more she thought about it, the more she was tempted. Fuck it, she thought, texting him that she’d be right over. Which is how she found herself trying to sneak the 50 feet over to Timo’s room without being seen. Everyone knew they were together — they had for months — but the last thing she wanted was to have to explain to Erik Karlsson that the reason she was out pushing curfew was that she just really, really wanted dick. The poor man didn’t need to know.

So she barely had to tap her fingers on Timo’s door before he swung it open, walking her back towards the bed while holding her around the waist. His knees hit the edge of the bed. Thank God there were two; she wanted him, sure, but even she wasn’t about to cross the line that was having sex in her friend’s bed an hour before he was set to sleep in it. She fell on top of him, sighing as his hands wandered under the hem of her oversized Santa Clara t-shirt, a mainstay from her college years. “Gotta get this off of you,” he mumbled.

Noemi let out a breathy laugh. “Good things come to those who wait.” She barely had time to let out a gasp before he flipped her over. “It’s only been, what, a week?” Noemi asked, giggling.

“Too long,” Timo replied, his lips trailing down the column of her neck. Her shirt was quickly forgotten on the floor, his following after a few minutes. She had gotten so worked up over the past week that he barely had to spend two minutes between her legs before she was pulling his mouth back up to hers, her hands fumbling with his belt buckle before finally getting it undone. “Fuck, one second,” he breathed, half-falling off the bed as he stumbled over towards his suitcase, zipping open the inner pocket before pulling out a condom. “You ready, babe?” he asked as he rolled it on.

She nodded quickly. “Get over here.” He had just pressed into her when the door opened.

“Brought back some fries to share, thought it would be nice since you didn’t get a chance to—” Kevin hollered as he walked into the room, while Noemi tried frantically to grab anything she could to cover herself. “Oh God. Jesus. Were you two just fucking?”

“In a manner of speaking?” Noemi said, pulling Timo’s dress shirt tightly around her.

“God, why would you two? I’m not even going to ask. I don’t want to know. You two are gross,” he said, though he had the tiniest of smiles on his face when he finally brought his hand away from his eyes. “I’m going to, I don’t know. Go down to the lobby, and...Watch CNN or something. Be done when I get back.”

He was gone just as quickly as he had walked in, and Noemi fell back on the bed, her face buried into the nearest pillow. “We’re never going to be able to live that one down, will we?” she asked hopelessly, already knowing the answer.

“Nope.”

---

A month or so after he proposed, when the post-engagement glow had begun to fade and the equal parts excitement and apprehension about planning a wedding began to set in, they had to figure out how they actually wanted everything to work. Where and when and how and how many, things neither Timo nor Noemi had ever even considered went into planning a wedding. Things like figuring out if their vendor provided linens or if they had to rent their own, things like what to do with the flowers after the reception was over and how to reserve a block of hotel rooms. Enter Mohana. Noemi had been an art minor in college, focusing on watercolor and digital design, so she sent over bits and pieces, links to Pinterest boards and concept art, and then handed off the responsibility.

It was important to Timo that the wedding be during a time of year where the team would be able to make it; sure, summers were free, but everyone had vacations to go on and family to visit and he really didn’t want them to have to go to the expense of flying back to California just for a weekend. Even though he knew without a doubt that they would. And neither he nor Noemi thought it was a good idea to do it in spring — spring meant the playoff push and their schedules being filled even more than usual, and they didn’t want it to turn into just one more thing to worry about. Which meant fall or winter, but fall could be hectic with the season starting and most of the weekend dates for their venue had already been booked up. Which took them to December. Her own parents hadn’t really cared, but Noemi’s grandparents hadn’t been exactly thrilled when she told them she wasn’t having a church wedding. They got over it pretty quickly, though a lengthy call from her mom might have had something to do with that.

Noemi wasn’t initially a huge fan of having a Christmas wedding. Though, really, it wasn’t even a Christmas wedding — it was on the 22nd — she was worried that people would have already settled in with their families, that she’d be disrupting plans and dynamics and traditions, that everyone’s toes would freeze off during the ceremony and suddenly their plans would be waylaid by having to take half the bridal party to the hospital to be treated for frostbite. She might have been exaggerating on the last one a little bit; even Bay Area Decembers rarely dipped much below 50º in the afternoon. But the winery they had chosen as their venue was available, and Mohana loved planning winter weddings, and Timo’s family had already been planning to fly over to spend the holidays with them. And red was her favorite color. So, all things considered, it was an easy sell.

Planning the wedding itself turned out to me more difficult than either of them had anticipated. The Sharks’ season ended abruptly in the Cup finals that year, so they both got what planning they could out of the way before leaving for Switzerland. Cake tasting was done two days before leaving, and she had ordered her dress in March. Facetime meetings with Mohana were usually done in the California morning, which meant that more than once, she had been explaining vendor costs and asking if they preferred peonies or poppies as they were cooking dinner in his parents’ house. Noemi headed back to California in late August — she would have stayed longer, but was limited to a ninety day stay in a six month period without a visa and didn’t feel the need to go through the trouble when Timo was following a few weeks after. It wasn’t ideal, and she missed him more than she wanted to let on at times, but a month came and went and they were reunited.

---

A soft knock came on the door of the bridal suite. “Everyone decent?” the voice asked.

“We’re good!” Emily called back. It was a no-brainer for Noemi to pick her sister as her maid of honor, who had nearly cried when she asked her early in the summer.

Patrick stepped into the room, closing the door gently behind him. “Can’t have him see you before,” he said jokingly.

“Wouldn’t want that,” Noemi said, smiling softly. Patrick had stuck around after his retirement, working with the player development staff during the season. Everyone was the better for it, and they were all so grateful to have him still be a part of the family. Even apart from his consistency and dedication on the ice, he had always been a natural leader of any locker room he was in, mentoring younger players without being asked and always being there for anyone who needed him. “It’s what the team dad does,” he always said.

So it was only natural that Timo and Noemi had wanted to find a place for him in their wedding. He had been all too happy to step up and help them with last-minute preparations the morning of, checking in with their wedding planner Mohana and helping to get all of the organizational details squared away — he had even driven back to the hotel the guests were staying at to pick up one of the groomsmen’s shoes when he had realized he had brought the wrong pair. “You feeling good, kid?”

Noemi looked at the clock on the wall: half an hour until the ceremony started. She gave him a nervous smile. “Definitely got some butterflies, but they’re good ones. I’m excited.”

The corner of his eyes crinkled. “Good, I’m glad. I remember when Christina and I got married, I was nervous, sure, but I knew. Knew she was the one, knew she was it for me. I’m glad you and Timo found each other, Noemi. A piece of advice?” She nodded. “Don’t get so caught up in the nerves and feeling like you need everything to be perfect that you forget what the day’s about. It’s about celebrating you, and him, and this marriage that you’re going to be building together. The photos will turn out great, nobody’s going to get food poisoning, and you won’t trip walking down the aisle. So don’t overthink it.”

“Patrick, I just put my makeup on,” Noemi said, dabbing under her eyes with a napkin. “You can’t just say things like that and not expect me to cry.”

He bent down, kissing her on the cheek. “You look beautiful, Noemi. This is your day. Enjoy it.”

Patrick opened the door to the guy’s room just as Timo finished fastening his cufflinks. He looked up. “Were you just with No?”

Patrick nodded. “She looks amazing, Timo.”

“Course she did,” he said, like it was the easiest answer in the world. ”How was she?”

“Good. Nervous, but good. She’s with the girls, they were all drinking mimosas or something while they did their makeup,” Patrick said, sitting on the arm of the couch.

Timo’s eyebrows lifted. “Was she in her dress?”

“No,” Patrick said, rolling his eyes. Well-meaning though he was, he knew that Timo had been pestering Noemi to show him at least a glimpse of her dress, to no avail. She had ended up keeping it at her parents’ house when his bothering got to be too much. She loved it though. “You’ll see her soon.” Not soon enough, Timo thought.

“You here to impart some sage wisdom, Patty?” Kevin asked, poking his head out of the bathroom as he straightened his tie. Red for the groomsmen, a subtle plaid for Timo.

“As a matter of fact,” Patrick said, “I did have some things I thought about if you’d like to hear them.”

Timo nodded quickly. “Of course.” It wasn’t just that he respected him for his role on the team and his former place in the locker room, it was his dedication to his family and healthy marriage that made him immediately tune in to whatever he had to say.

“I know you’ve probably already figured this out already, having been together for as long as you have and living together now, but in case you haven’t. When you’re in a relationship, a marriage especially, you’re on the same team. You’re going after the same goal. Happiness and comfort and strength. Remember that. You’ll have disagreements, you might fight, but don’t let that overshadow the fact that whatever issue you two are facing, you’re meant to go at it together. Two,” he ticked off on his finger, “you’re going to have to compromise, probably more than you realize. Whether it’s what kind of take-out you’re going to get or where you’re going for vacation or what you’re going to do when you hang up the skates, listen to what she says, think about your priorities as a couple, and talk it out. And sometimes you’re going to have to learn when to let it go and let her win, regardless of if you think you’re right or not.”

“I’m learning that one,” Timo said as he finished tying his dress shoes.

Patrick smiled. “Good. Last, and probably the most important one, this is your priority now. Your marriage is your priority, she’s your priority. You said you guys talked about kids, yeah?” Timo nodded. “When you have kids, then, your family comes first. Your kids come first. I know it’s sometimes hard for people in our positions to wrap their brains around, when your whole life has been nothing but going to the rink and going to the gym, but there’s things that you’re going to need to prioritize over that, and that’s okay. The team understands it, everyone understands it. If you miss an optional skate to drop your kids off at school, or take off the gym for a week in the summer to go on vacation. If you’ve got to miss a game because your wife’s having a baby, or you take a call in a meeting when you shouldn’t because it’s Noemi and she needs you, that’s okay. Balance doesn’t come naturally to hockey players, hardly ever, but it’s something you’re going to need to learn, even better than you might think you know now. You do that, and you’ll be alright.”

There were less than ten minutes until Noemi had to leave, and Emily had just finished fastening the last button on her dress. Noemi took a deep breath, smoothing over the lace at her hips and straightening the edges of the three-quarter sleeves. “God, it’s really about to happen, isn’t it?” she asked in awe.

Her mom squeezed her shoulder. “It is.”

“You need me to drive the getaway car?” Alise, her best friend from college asked, eyebrows raised, one hand playing with the skirt of her crimson bridesmaid’s dress. “I like Timo, I really do, but I love you more.”

Noemi let out a snort. “Thanks, Alise, but I think I’m going to have to pass on this one. We put down a fat deposit on this place and I wouldn’t want to lose it.”

“Pity, I just got the tank filled.”

One of her other bridesmaids brought over the veil, gently tucking the comb in right above Noemi’s low bun. Noemi brushed her fingers over the comb’s pearls and clay flowers, remembering when Timo presented it to her as an early wedding present. “I was thinking it could be your something new.” Her late grandma’s pearl earrings were her something old, a ribbon from her mother’s wedding dress was wrapped around her bouquet, and a blue-edged handkerchief was pinned on the inside of her dress. Needless to say, it was gorgeous, and as Noemi slipped on her heels, she couldn’t help but think that it had all worked out better than she could have imagined.

Mohana poked her head in, pushing back her dark hair as she smiled at the room. “Everyone ready?”

“Bridesmaids are good,” Emily said, looking around. “No?”

Noemi nodded, taking yet another deep breath. “Good to go.”

“Bouquets are outside, I was just with the guys and everything’s perfect, ties are all tied, boutonnières are all in. The second shooter got a few really sweet pictures of Timo’s mom putting his in.”

“God, I almost forgot about the pictures,” Noemi said, even though the photographer had been in the room while everyone was getting ready.

“Alright, let’s go get my bride married!” Mohana beamed. She handed everyone’s bouquets to them as they exited, ending with Noemi. She had designed the bouquets herself, white poppies and red roses and eucalyptus branches all tied together with her mother’s ribbon, but the florist had really outdone herself. A perk of working with the business end of the team was that it took her almost no time at all to get the vendor contacts that the team used for all of their formal events, and a perk of being a WAG was that it took her one text in a group chat to get the number of one of the South Bay’s best wedding planners. And Mohana Kaur had been nothing short of a lifesaver. She had taken Noemi’s vague sketches and fabric samples that she had picked up at Michael’s and turned it into what could only be described as a winter paradise.

The flower girl, Noemi’s niece Elle, grabbed her basket of petals, looking back at her with delight. “Flowers, Auntie No!”

Noemi nodded, beaming back at the little girl. “Very pretty flowers, El-bear. You remember what to do with them?”

“I go after Tobias,” Tomas’ son was their ring bearer, and had honestly occupied most of the attention at the rehearsal, not like she minded, “who goes after Mommy, who goes after Auntie Emily. And then I throw the flowers while I’m walking.”

“Perfect, sweet girl,” Noemi said, bending down — as much as she could in her heels — and gathering up the youngest Silva in a hug. She loved her four-year-old niece more than just about anyone, and it was moments like this that made her that much more excited to have children of her own someday. Mohana had silently gotten all of the bridesmaids in order, looking at Noemi as soon as she stood up. “Showtime?” Noemi asked.

Mohana gave her a wide smile. “You know it.” After giving her attendants one last cursory look, she laid a gentle hand on the space between Noemi’s shoulders, left bare from her open-backed dress. “You look gorgeous, Noemi, and the wedding’s going to be incredible.” With a nod of her head, she led the wedding party down the halls of the winery, stopping at the oaken set of double doors that stood as the only barrier between Noemi and the rest of her life. She could hear noise behind the doors, the chattering of the people most important to her in her life.

Emily turned back towards her sister, squeezing Noemi’s hand. “I love you, No. You picked a good one.” She stepped off to the side as the doors opened, and one by one her bridesmaids walked out, then Tobias, then Elle, until it was only Mohana left. She gave Noemi’s veil a final adjustment, and then the music changed. A gorgeous acoustic version of Coldplay’s Yellow, one of Noemi’s favorite songs and one that had become something of a theme in her and Timo’s relationship. It was playing in his car the night of their first date, she was wearing a yellow dress when he told her he loved her for the first time, they had gone to a Coldplay concert at Levi’s Stadium the summer before the wedding, just after he had flown back from Switzerland.

Noemi took a deep breath, looked down at her ring, and stepped out the door. Some of her friends had been surprised when she told them she’d be walking down alone. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her dad, or wasn’t close to him — the opposite was true. She just felt that there wasn’t a need to feel like someone was “giving her away.” Nobody but herself had the power to do that, so nobody but herself needed to be a part of that element of the ceremony. It was the same reason she had chosen to hyphenate her name instead of just taking Timo’s. She had always loved the idea of a family having the same name, of everyone being easily identifiable as being connected to one another in that sort of way, and she didn’t like the seeming disjointeness that would happen when they had kids, even if if wouldn’t matter to anyone but her. But she also loved her name, loved how it sounded and what it meant and the connection it gave to her ancestors. So Silva-Meier it was.

Her veil trailed behind her as she made her way down the aisle, past the rows filled with 200 of their friends and family who had proven invaluable resources and support over the nearly-three years of their relationship. She risked a look at the end of the aisle, just off to the side of the eucalyptus-and-rose edged wedding arch. Where her fiancé was, the last time she could really call him her fiancé. Timo wasn’t necessarily more stoic than most of the other men she knew, and he was actually a fantastic communicator, but he wasn’t always one to show his heart on his sleeve. No such uncertainty today. The corners of his eyes were glassy with unshed tears, a few of which threatened to escape down his cheek. Kevin tapped him on the shoulder, handing him a handkerchief. I hope the photographer got that, Noemi thought distractedly.

It sometimes was hard for Timo to outwardly show his feelings, especially at the beginning of their relationship; Noemi loved Timo wildly, and there was no doubt in her mind that he felt the same, but Switzerland was never known as a particularly warm-and-fuzzy country, he was still an NHL player with all of the expectations and influences of hypermasculinity that came along with that. There were three times in their relationship where Noemi could remember seeing him cry. Eight months into their relationship, when her mom, Katherine, had had a stroke, he sat with her in the chapel of O’Connor Hospital as she sobbed harder than she ever had in her entire life, and he cried with her. The second time was when he proposed, and when she said yes. The third time was the May before, when the Sharks had gotten within one game of finally hoisting the Stanley Cup but fell to the Capitals in Game 6. At home. She had seen him lose games, seen him lose playoff series’, but that had been a whole new kind of hurt that she had never seen from him, and one that she never wanted to see again.

This was the fourth, and as she reached the end of the aisle, Noemi couldn’t help but think that if she reached up to her eyes, they’d be wet too. Noemi handed her bouquet off to Emily, and reached over for Timo. “Your hands are shaking, No,” he murmured as the crowd settled back down, their officiant extending a welcome to the crowd that the two barely paid attention to. The introduction, the invocation, all went by in the blink of an eye. “Timo, would you like to go first?” the officiant asked. Noemi had been so caught up in the surrealism of the day that she barely realized it was time for the vows.

“Of course,” he said, giving Noemi’s hands one last squeeze before beginning. “I always thought it was cliché when people say that love comes into your life when you least expect it, or when you’re not looking for it. A 23-year-old in the NHL usually isn’t looking to settle down and get married anytime soon.” Noemi gave a watery laugh. “But with you, I quickly discovered how right that was. Noemi Francisca Silva, you’re everything I’ve ever wanted and, somehow, you fill parts of myself I didn’t even realize were missing until you came along. I could go on for hours about how much I love you, everything about you. I love how whenever Hozier comes on the radio, you turn the volume in the car up so loud I can’t hear anything else, even when you’re singing along. I love how you never wrap a present without curling the ribbons yourself, no matter how many times I tell you we can buy bows. I love how you don’t even have to ask me what kind of pizza I want when we order anymore, because you already know. But most of all, I love how you’re my partner, my best friend, the person I love the most in this world. And in a few minutes, you’ll be my wife. I love you, No.”

“You had an unfair advantage,” Noemi said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I’m calling a foul.” She took a deep breath. “When I look back on our relationship, from the first time we met, to our vacations, to our anniversaries, to the day you proposed, there’s one theme that I keep coming back to. It’s the first thing I thought of when I sat down to write these weeks ago. It’s how you never fail to make me feel so unbelievably loved. It doesn’t matter where we are, or who we’re with. We could be at one of the fundraisers, where you’re meant to be schmoozing with Silicon Valley tech execs, or at a party with our friends. You hear me, you see me, and when I’m with you, I feel like we’re the only two people in the room. The biggest piece of relationship I ever got, from my vovó, was to marry someone who makes you want to be a better person. I’ve never met anyone who does that as well as you do, Timo, and you don’t even have to do anything. I’m a better version of myself, the best version of myself, just from being around you.” She paused, going over the words that she had been rehearsing in her head for two weeks straight whenever her fiancé was out of earshot one last time. “Du bosch mine Schatz, und Ich lieb di Bis dass de Tod eus scheidet.”

Timo’s breath caught in his throat at her words. He knew that Noemi had been trying to pick up bits and pieces of Swiss German, but he wasn’t always there to help and it was a notoriously tricky language to pick up. That she had done it on her own made it all the more meaningful. “Timo, do you take Noemi to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, for so long as you both shall live?” He spoke without hesitation. “I do.”

“And do you, Noemi, take Timo to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others for so long as you both shall live?” Giving her answer was as easy as breathing. “I do.”

Her nervous hands slid Timo’s wedding band onto his left ring finger, and he moved hers into place above her engagement ring. “Now that Timo and Noemi have given themselves to each other with vows, the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Noemi had had a lot of kisses in her life, more than she could count. There was her first boyfriend, and senior prom, and college parties, and everything in between. But when Timo’s lips met hers, underneath the sprig of mistletoe that hung from their wedding arch, as he became her husband, she knew without a doubt that this was her favorite one.

#hockey imagines #timo meier #hockey smut #hockey writing #hockey imagine #hockey #nhl imagines #nhl imagine #nhl smut #nhl writing #nhl

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bentwood-chairs · 4 years ago

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Things to do in Sydney this long weekend

The much-awaited long weekend is here, Sydneysiders. You've got a whole other day tacked on to the end of your week for more eating, drinking and debauchery – how will you spend it? Sydney's theatre scene has well and truly come alive again, the Archibald is showing at the AGNSW, and we've given you a how-to guide on cheap hacks for fancy places.

Itchy feet? Head out on your next road trip, or explore of these incredible national parks right near home. When you're all tired out and ready for a drink, pick a spot from this list of our favourite bars with elegant bentwood chairs and settle in for a nightcap.

PS Make sure to stick to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing measures when you go out, as laid out by the WHO and the Australian Department of Health.

1. Celebrate in style at Sydney's annual Oyster Festival Things to do Food and drink The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, The Rocks Until Oct 31 2020

It's the eigth year of the Morrison Oyster Festival and Sydney still can't seem to get enough of those tasty little bivalves. During the month of October, the inner-city restaurant and bar will boast oysters from 50 regions around Australia. Oyster Hour is back with $1.50 oysters from 6-7pm daily, and the weekend holds two-hour sessions of unlimited sparkling wine to accompany a dozen freshly shucked sea babies for $55 per person.

2. Check out the Archibald Prize finalists for 2020 Art Galleries Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Until Jan 10 2021

The finalists for this year have been announced, giving a glimpse into a colourful cross-section of contemporary Australian culture. Yoshio Honjo has depicted celebrity chef Adam Liaw wrestling with a bream in a traditional Japanese art style. Street artist Scott Marsh has depicted his mate and the many-hat-wearing rapper, comedian and Indigenous activist Adam Briggs in his signature style. And previous Archibald winner Wendy Sharpe has turned out a striking portrait of Magda Szubanski as a forlorn version of her netball-playing alter-ego Sharon Strzelecki, set against red flames. The doors will open on the exhibitions from Saturday, September 26, and will show until January 10, 2021.

3. Take this British-Italian pop-up restaurant for a spin Restaurants La Rosa Bar and Pizza, Sydney Until Dec 31 2020

A culinary fusion of British and Italian cuisine isn't the most obvious – but given how much Brits love a holiday on the Med, perhaps it was inevitable. La Rosa is decidedly Italian – and so, makes the perfect setting for the Milan Cricket Club, overseen by Nicholas Hill, who has most recently been charming regulars of the Old Fitzroy Hotel in Woolloomooloo with his stylish take on British pub classics incorporating with classic bentwood furniture supplied by B Seated Global is a Commercial Furniture Manufacturer for the Hospitality Industry .

4. See Dendy's Studio Ghibli retrospective Film Animation Dendy Newtown, Newtown Until Oct 14 2020

Get spirited away by this whirlwind celebration of all things Studio Ghibli over at the Dendy Newtown. The cinema is working through all 22 of the beloved Japanese animation house’s finest, including the Oscar-winning wonder that features a young girl named Chihiro, whose trip away with her parents gets very trippy indeed when shape-shifting dragons and mysterious witches appear.

5. Build your own terrarium at this pop-up studio Things to do Around Surry Hills, Surry Hills Dec 12 2020-Dec 13 2020

For those born without the gift of a green thumb, Little Succers' range of cute, deliverable DIY terrariums featuring hardy succulents were a godsend. While in-person classes were halted for much of the year due to restrictions, you can now book in to the build-your-own-terrarium bar at Little Succers' Surry Hills studio again.

6. See Wonnangatta, a chilling new STC play Theatre Drama Roslyn Packer Theatre, Millers Point Until Oct 21 2020

After being postponed by you-know-what, Wonnangatta will now get the joyous fanfare it deserves. The Australian gothic mystery play explores the 1917 Wonnangatta murders from the perspective of two friends of the victim. Played by Hugo Weaving and Wayne Blair, the men arrive on a farm to visit their friend, Jim Barclay. When he's nowhere to be seen, they set out for answers, and for justice.

7. Spot cherry blossoms at Daniel San Restaurants Daniel San, Manly Until Oct 31 2020

While we may not be lining up to see flowering cherry blossom trees in the Auburn Botanic Gardens this year – the park is currently closed to visitors – the team behind Manly's modern Japanese eatery Daniel San has decided to mock up its own version of a pink-hued sakura paradise. From late September and for the whole month of October, the airy beachside venue will transform into a blushing floral bower, decked out with thousands of cherry blossom stems to emulate the two weeks in spring when the streets of Japan are filled with blooming cherry trees.

8. Nibble on naughty snacks at the Imperial Things to do The Imperial Hotel, Erskineville Until Nov 21 2020

After shantaying back from lockdown with a bang with The Priscilla’s Experience, the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville is back with its X-rated drag 'n’ dine experience, Rood Food. This multi-course dinner paired with an adults-only drag revue in the Impy’s Priscilla’s Restaurant is not for the faint of heart (BYO pearls to clutch). Get the foreplay started with a ‘pussy pâté’ (a gaping valley of vegan cashew pâté with black moss) or ‘bring back to the bush’ with a salmon ceviche served with coconut vinaigrette and ‘shuck-you-lents’.

9. Try a round of Disney-themed mini golf Things to do Games and hobbies Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta Until Oct 25 2020

Having made its debut in Darling Harbour in 2019, a Disney Pixar-themed mini-golf course is now landing at the Bank West Stadium on Saturday, September 25, supplying reams of nostalgic putt putt fun for those of us who grew up wishing our toys would come to life like in Toy Story, or imagining what it would be like to face Hopper and his gang in A Bug’s Life. You’ll face challenges featuring these beloved films alongside others starring familiar animated friends from The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc., Wall-E and more.

10. Check out Van Gogh Alive Art Digital and interactive Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park Until Nov 22 2020

Blockbuster exhibition Van Gogh Alive has so far graced Rome, Berlin, Singapore and more. It finally touches down in Australia, just a little off course. Originally intended for Melbourne, their unfortunate lock lockdown loss is our gain. The vast space of the Royal Hall of Industries, next door to the Entertainment Quarter, will bring van Gogh's work alive in a way that’s never been seen before. Housing screens and projections with a combined surface area of more than 30 IMAX screens, the paintings will ripple across them like light dappled on the surface of water.

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heritageofafricanjungles · 4 years ago

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8 DAYS AFRICA VACATION/HOLIDAY

his is the classic Kenyan safari offering you 2 nights at samburu national park with game viewing opportunities, a chance to experience the fabulous flamingos of the lovely Rift Valley Lake Nakuru, the world famous Masai Mara reserve, Lake Naivasha which is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus and crown your safari with Amboseli national park with its majestic backdrop of Mt Kilimanjaro promising postcard perfect photos.

You'll be collected from the airport (or hotel).

Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1: Nairobi / Samburu Game Reserve

Drive north to Samburu on the south bank of the Uaso Nyiro River, downriver from Archer’s Post to arrive at the Lodge for lunch and afternoon game drive. North of the Equator some of the animals and vegetation are a little different from those commonly found south. Elephant, black rhino, lion, buffalo and cheetah and the usual buck and antelopes are common to both north and south of the equator. However unfamiliar animals are the Gravy’s zebra, the reticulated giraffe and the Somali ostrich. There is also the long neck gerenuk, Beisa Oryx, and hunting dog. Crocodiles in the river can be seen from the lodge/tented camp. The vegetation is usually dry grass with a few swampy patches. There is some forest cover along the Uaso Nyiro River and an abundance of doum palms. All meals, Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at the Lodge.

Main Destination: Samburu Game Reserve Accommodation: Samburu Sopa Lodge Standard Lodge located Just Outside Samburu NR Meals & Drinks: Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2: Samburu game reserve

After breakfast, another day in this harshly beautiful terrain where wildlife abounds especially nears the river which is their only source of drinking water. The Uaso Nyiro River flows gently through the dry landscape sustaining life in this harsh land. Shaba National Reserve is where the famous conservationist George Adamson did his research on lions. In the Afternoon you will set out on another game drive and return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Samburu Game Reserve Accommodation: Samburu Sopa Lodge Standard Lodge located Just Outside Samburu NR Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner (Drinks not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3: Samburu / Lake Nakuru

After breakfast the tour leaves for Nyahururu (Thompsons Falls) at an altitude of 7,738 feet. The falls are named after the Scots explorer Joseph Thompson who was the first European to discover the falls in 1884. Then comes the descent into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National park for lunch at one of the hotels. An afternoon drive in the park to enjoy the sight of pelicans bathing in the fresh water streams which terminate in Lake Nakuru. Since there is no existing drainage, Lake Nakuru is alkaline, the perfect place for flamingos to feed on the blue-green algae. The greater flamingo attains a height of about 4.26 feet its plumage is almost white with a pale pink, black tipped beak. It is the lesser flamingo that has the more exotic color. This Park has a great variety of bird life which includes the Egyptian goose and a variety of ducks that come from Europe to winter, its truly a bird watchers paradise. The park is also a sanctuary for the white rhino and other wild game. Return to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight.

Main Destination: Lake Nakuru national park Accommodation: Lake Nakuru Lodge Standard Lodge located Inside Lake Nakuru n.p Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner (Drinks not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4: Lake Nakuru / Masai mara

After breakfast, drive to Masai mara game reserve to arrive in time for lunch at the lodge. Masai mara is “Kenya’s finest game reserve. Pass through the lower scenic mau escarpment road into the Rift Valley to the 1792 square, a distance of 275-320kms via Narok town climbing the Hemingway's wall “The Serengeti plains"this park actually forms the northern part of the Serengeti national park in Tanzania. Masai Mara National Reserve to arrive in time for lunch. The afternoon is spent on a game drive in search of the black manned lions which the park is famous, Lion making a kill can be witnessed in the late afternoon or a leopard in a tree enjoying the meal he has dragged up to avoid disturbance and detection. This reserve has hilly savanna, rolling grasslands, gallery forest on the Mara River and its tributaries. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Masai Mara Game Reserve Accommodation: Masai Mara Sopa Lodge Standard Lodge located just outside Masai Mara Game Reserve Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner (Drinks not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5: Masai mara game reserve

After breakfast, full day of game viewing. Exploration this part of the Northern Serengeti Ecosystem where the great wildebeest migration takes place at the beginning of August. Months before the actual migration the herds ‘assemble’ in Serengeti in readiness for the crossing into Masai Mara. The plain is literally covered with these animals. Grunts and other animal sounds are heard, and territorial fights are commonplace. Africa has a long history of capturing the imagination of travelers, a continent of dramatic contrasts that gives you an unforgettable and remarkable experience whether it’s in an amazement of watching thousands of wild beasts struggling across a rushing river that is littered with crocodiles waiting for their prey, makes the world’s premier wildlife spectacle. Lion making a kill can be witnessed in the late afternoon or a leopard in a tree enjoying the meal he has dragged up to avoid disturbance and detection. All meals and Overnight at the Lodge.

Day 6: Masai mara / Lake Naivasha

After breakfast, drive to Lake Naivasha, along the floor of the Rift valley, now with more familiar memories of the landscape; arrive for lunch at the lodge, afternoon proceed on your adventure to various attractive features and places in Lake Naivasha. Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree. These forests abound with bird life, and Naivasha is known as a world class birding. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo population sleeps the day out in the shallows. The region surrounding the Lake is well worth exploring. Optional activities and excursions in Lake Naivasha 1 hour boat ride : USD 20. - Per person 2 hours walking safari on Crescent Island Sanctuary : USD 45.-per person Walking /biking safari at Hells gate national park : USD 45.- per person.

Main Destination: Lake Naivasha Accommodation: Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort Standard Lodge located along the Shores of Lake Naivasha Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner (Drinks not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7: Lake Naivasha / Amboseli

After breakfast, check out and drive to Amboseli national park; the journey continuous south, passing through the Athi Plains where formerly the Burchell's zebra, the Masai giraffe and smaller herbivores roamed about freely. With human encroachment the wildlife is confined to game parks. There is an advantage to this because one has to drive inside a park to be rewarded with the sight of many different species of animals. Amboseli National Park is reached late in the afternoon, for lunch; embark on an afternoon game viewing in the park at the foot of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft). In the late afternoon one is likely to see a lion or cheetah make a kill. Ideal photography opportunities with Mount Kilimanjaro highest mountain in Africa providing a beautiful back drop. Return to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Amboseli national park Accommodation: Amboseli Sopa Resort Standard Lodge located Just outside Amboseli national park Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner (Drinks not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8: Amboseli / Nairobi

Early morning game drive can be taken in Amboseli when Mt. Kilimanjaro appears from its mantle of clouds. Proceed to the area of Lake Amboseli, which is a wide salt pan, consisting of permanent swamps. This area has much game, large and small, high concentration of Elephant, rhino, buffalo, Burchell's zebra, eland, Masai giraffe and small species of the antelope family the common water buck, klipspringer, Grant’s gazelle, impala, topi, and the diminutive duiker among others. Amboseli offers some of the best opportunities to see African animals because its vegetation is sparse due to the long dry months. Amboseli national park is home to wild animals, which include the African elephant, buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, hyena, giraffes, zebra, and wildebeest among other African animals. There is also a host of Kenya birds, both large and small, to see if you keep your eyes open and stop at every sighting. Drive to Nairobi arriving at the airport in the late afternoon.

Main Destination: Nairobi Accommodation: No Accomodation Provided ( End of Tour) Standard Lodge located Just outside Amboseli national park Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch, Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.

You'll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel).

Lodge / camp name Cost Per Person Sharing

Luxury5 star Rated Lodges/ Camps 2 pax 4 pax 6 pax

Jan - March $1,970 $1,685 $1,590

April- June $1,660 $1,370 $1,270

July-October $2,480 $2,190 $1,940

November- 20.December $1,970 $1,685 $1,590

Standard 4 Star Lodges/ camps 2 Pax 4 Pax 6 Pax

January - March $1,810 $1,520 $1,425

April- June $1,640 $1,370 $1,285

July - October $2,180 $1,800 $1,710

November - 20. December $1,810 $1,520 $1,425

Mid-range 3 star Lodge/camps 2 Pax 4 Pax 6 Pax

January - March $1,640 $1,390 $1,285

April- June $1,480 $1,260 $1,160

July-October $1,970 $1,670 $1,550

November- 20.December $1,640 $1,390 $1,285

( Low Budget / Basic camps) 2 Pax 4 Pax 6 Pax

January - March $1,360 $1,130 $975

April- June $1,330 $1,100 $945

July-October $1,430 $1,190 $995

November- 20.December $1,360 $1,130 $975

Included

Park fees (For non-residents)

All activities (Unless labeled as optional)

All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)

A professional driver/guide

All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)

All Taxes/VAT

Round-trip airport transfer

Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Drinking water (On all days)

Excluded

International flights (From/to home)

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour

Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)

Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees

Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

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michellemccarthy · 5 years ago

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My London Bucket List

I moved to London in April when the company I worked for in Ireland offered me the opportunity to work for their UK office for 2 years. When I moved, I created a bucket list for my London Life, to make the most of my time here. London is such a vibrant, buzzing city with so much to do and explore and so many exciting experiences to be had. I have been gradually making my way through it, ticking stuff off, as well as adding to it as I get new ideas. This is my current list, with more details to come on my actual experiences...

1. Eat curry on Brick Lane

2. See a West End musical

3. Go to platform 9 and 3/4 to visit Warner Bros and enroll in Hogwarts

4. Pig out in Borough Market

5. Have a drink in the Shard, looking out over London

6. Watch the tennis live at Wimbledon (queuing up a ghastly hour to get tickets)

7. Visit the V&A to see the Dior exhibition

8. Walk across the Tower Bridge and see it lift up

9. Step back in time at the Tower of London

10. Visit Stonehenge

11. Hike the Isle of Skye and stay in a Wigwam

12. Camp out (and rock out) at Glastonbury

13. Visit Camden Market and buy a trinket to bring home

14. Explore the Imperial War Museum

15. See the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian Mummies in the British Museum

16. Visit the colourful houses of Notting Hill

17. Buy something for my apartment at Portobello Road Market

18. Go to the Graham Norton Show live (no red chair for me please)

19. Visit the Chelsea Flower Show and admire the amazing shop fronts

20. Visit the beautiful Lake District and hike Skafell Pike

21. Watch the Cambridge and Oxford boat race

22. Go to a cricket match (with a picnic and bottle of wine)

23. Dance in the streets at Notting Hill Carnival

24. Visit Hyde Park Wonderland at Christmas

25. See the lights of Kew Gardens at Christmas

26. Go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and laugh until my face hurts

27. Picnic in Hyde Park

28. Fly over London in a Helicopter (bit OTT I know - unlikely)

29. Eat in the dark at Dans le Noir

30. Go on a London Ghost Bus Tour and spook myself out

31. See the Book of Mormon live (and laugh when you feel you shouldn’t)

32. Eat Michelin star food in Mayfair

33. See Buckingham Palace and wave to the queen

34. Run along South Bank as the sun rises

35. Watch an outdoor film at an open-air cinema

36. Have afternoon tea in a posh London hotel

37. Walk across the top of the O2 Arena

38. Go salsa dancing

39. Visit the Ritz (even if it’s just walking into reception)

40. Go to a speakeasy bar

41. Roller disco in Vauxhall

42. Take an exotic cookery class

43. See a Shakespeare Play for £5 at the Globe Theatre

44. Row a boat on the Serpentine

45. Ice skate at Somerset House

46. Vintage shopping in Shoreditch

47. Snap that iconic Beatles photo at Abbey Road Studios

48. Attend at yoga class at the Sky Garden

49. Eat at Shoreditch Boxpark

50. Live it up at the Royal Ascot

51. Stand under the Oxford Street Christmas lights

52. Go to the Summer’s Underbelly festival

53. Stand on either side of the Greenwich meantime line

54. Snap the Shoreditch Street Art on a walking tour

55. Sip a cocktail at Sushi Samba

56. Cruise the River Thames

57. Experience the Chinese New Year in Chinatown

58. Go to a London music festival

59. See the battle of San Romano at the National Gallery

60. See both parts of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in one day

61. Hike Snowdon

62. Ride the World’s fastest zip line Velocity 2

63. See the deer in Richmond Park

64. Ride on the Eurostar to Paris

65. Attend a new creative class each month

66. Look out at London from Primrose Hill

67. See a match live in Twickenham (and Wembley too)

68. Take that classic tourist photo in a red phone booth

69. Eat an ice-cream and play vintage arcade games in Brighton

70. Eat Fish & Chips (yummy)

71. See an Andy Warhol at the Tate Modern, appreciating modern art

72. Enroll in Oxford (for a day)

73. Pretend to be in the movie the Holiday in the Cotswolds

74. Visit the fairytale town of York

#bucketlist #londonlife #mylondonbucketlist #london #travel #explorebritain

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peckhampeculiar · 5 years ago

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Painter man

TOM PHILLIPS IS A HIGHLY ACCLAIMED, PECKHAM-BASED ARTIST WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

Here, he talks about his fascinating and varied career and calling up his friend Brian Eno on the phone

WORDS: SEAMUS HASSON; PHOTO: LIMA CHARLIE

Tom Phillips is a local artist who has led a rather extraordinary life. A painter and sculptor of considerable renown, he is also a composer, set designer and writer. He has received commissions to produce artworks for the likes of Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey and has held high-profile positions at some of the country’s most prestigious cultural institutions.

While Tom is an artist of international acclaim, he is also known locally as the bloke who designed the mosaics and iconic curved lamp posts on Bellenden Road.

I arrange to meet him at the Peckham Pelican on the August bank holiday, but on arrival we discover it is closed for the day. After a brief discussion about how to proceed, we hop on the 345 towards Camberwell and settle for a greasy spoon a few stops down. Perhaps not the most distinguished setting to interview one of the country’s most esteemed artists and a trustee of the British Museum, but Tom is without pretension.

“I’m a south London boy,” he says. “I’ve lived all of my life in south London and most of it in Peckham.”

Tom was born in Clapham in 1937, where he spent his early years and attended Henry Thornton Grammar School. From there he achieved his ambition of going to Oxford. “I wanted to go there because I wanted to act in plays and things like that,” he explains. “So, I went and studied – as they call it – English, for about half an hour a day.

“[While there] I was drawing all the time and looking at art and reading about art and wanted to go to art school. Luckily enough the one I chose was about 100 yards from where my mother had bought a house.”

Tom went to the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, where he was taught by German-British painter Frank Auerbach. Fortuitously for him, his mother had bought a house on Talfourd Road some years earlier.

“We were going bankrupt I think as a family and she bought the house in Peckham because they didn’t cost anything, about £500, and let it out to art students ironically enough. I was the last art student to occupy it and took it over bit by bit.”

The property is the studio where Tom continues to work, producing pieces that have been shown across the world. “My art school life was here in Peckham,” he says. “When I left Oxford, I had to get a job like people do, so I did teaching. I taught in a school in Brixton and went to evening classes here at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts as they called it then.

“The only artist I knew about who was teaching was Frank Auerbach so I joined his class and that was the deal done as far as my life was concerned. I think you always need someone who passes the baton on, you know, it’s a race that we’re all running one after the other.

“So, I followed lots of his advice and learnt a lot from him as well as other people who were there who were interesting.”

It wasn’t long before the art world was taking notice of Tom’s work. His first solo show was in 1965 at the Artists’ International Association Gallery in London, followed by an exhibition at the Angela Flowers Gallery in 1970.

“Right away I was doing my own work, I won a prize or two and got noticed a bit,” he says. “Eventually it seemed possible to do it as a living, which I managed to do in the end. I’m still managing.”

In 1966 he began a project that is still occupying him today. “A Humument” came about when he set himself the task of finding a book for threepence and altering every page with painting, collage and cut-up techniques to create an entirely new version.

The book he chose (at random) was an 1892 novel called A Human Document by WH Mallock. “It was an old Victorian novel. I picked it up by chance actually on Peckham Rye, on the exact spot where Blake saw his first angels,” he says. “I got it in a big shop called Austin’s, which is gone now.”

Although the final edition of A Humument was published in 2016, Tom has found it difficult to leave it behind. “I thought I’d work on that for a bit and I ended up working on it for 50 years,” he says.

“And I’m still working on it actually; although I’ve published a final edition. I can’t stop, it’s too interesting. It leaves a black hole in your life when you’ve been doing something for 50 years and then suddenly you say stop.

“I certainly was lucky in the book that I chose. It’s got an undertext and a sort of darkness and is full of interesting things you can find. Even the other day I was thinking how there are things in modern life that don’t crop up, when I suddenly saw in the middle of a page I was going to work on the words, ‘me too’.

“I thought, ‘Well, me too didn’t mean anything in the 1890s but now it’s got a relevance to it’, so I moved around that idea.”

A Humument was shown in an exhibition at the Royal Academy, where Tom has been chairman of the exhibitions committee since 1995.

It was also exhibited in a museum in Massachusetts and the book illustrating the work is available on Amazon.

A renowned portrait artist, Tom’s subjects have included the likes of the cast of Monty Python as well as personal friends such as Iris Murdoch and Salman Rushdie.

In 1989, he became only the second artist to have a retrospective of his portraits shown at the National Portrait Gallery (his portrait of Iris Murdoch is still on display there).

Another of his subjects was Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. “I spent a couple of weeks painting his portrait when he was rehearsing a play here,” says Tom.

“He was interested in A TV Dante [a television series that Tom directed for Channel 4] and I was showing him what I was doing. I was doing a translation of Dante with pictures and he was rather kind about it. He was just a nice, lovely man.”

Locally, Tom is involved in a photographic project called 20 Sites n Years, where he takes photographs in and around Peckham of the same site, on or around the same day, at the same time each year.

It has been going since 1973 and has been made into a film by Jake Auerbach, Frank Auerbach’s son.

Another area of the arts that has played a big role in Tom’s life is music. As a young man he sang in the Philharmonia Chorus, which he describes as being “rather grand”.

“I did singing at school of course and played instruments very badly, which I continue to do. But I could sing without having the skill of playing an instrument, so I then joined the leading choir in the country it seemed to me.”

In the late 1960s, he gained recognition for his experimental opera, Irma, and during his teaching career, he taught and befriended the avant-garde musician and producer, Brian Eno.

“He was a student. I can’t name many students who have done anything because I’m not a very good teacher,” he laughs. “But with someone like Brian it was difficult not to get things going.

“We worked together a little here and there. He made versions of things that I had done, and we were both associated with something called the Scratch Orchestra. He’s a person who always has the same phone number, which rather impresses me. I mean I don’t belong to a glamorous world like he does, but still the same old phone number gets Brian. Perhaps I’m the only person left who has that number.”

Talking to Tom, all sorts of brilliant anecdotes pop up. A keen ping pong player, he once played a tournament with the author Howard Jacobson and Salman Rushdie round at Charles Saatchi’s house. Then there was the time he got on the wrong side of the authorities in South Africa.

“I did the curation at the big African art exhibition at the Royal Academy,” he says. “It all came through travelling in Africa and originally in South Africa. But then I sort of wondered how I could get involved as an artist. So, I joined a group called Artists Against Apartheid and we showed all over the world.

“I got into trouble slightly in South Africa itself because I overprinted banknotes with a slogan. In South Africa there were notices all over benches and things saying ‘slegs vir blankes’, which means reserved for whites.

“So, I made up this rubber stamp that said ‘slegs vir almal’, which means reserved for everybody and I put a rubber stamp upon every note that came through my hands. After that I was told that I wasn’t very welcome here in South Africa. It then became a little known as a slogan.”

With his days of political activism in the past and A Humument beginning to wind down, what does a typical day now look like for Tom Phillips, the artist?

“I’m doing everything I always did,” he says. “I was very lucky in the things that I did. They interested me. I can’t think of anything that I want to do that I could do that I haven’t done. Not really. It filled the time – I’m 82.”

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chocolateheal · 6 years ago

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Ten Reliable Sources To Learn About National Gallery Holiday Hours | national gallery holiday hours

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story-the-world · 5 years ago

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Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is an amazing city. One of my favorites. The architecture of Paris, the nightlife of Barcelona, the culture of Latin America and the food.. the food of the best steak houses in New York City. I spent 20 days in BA, and loved every minute of it. Below are my 3 must do’s and 1 skip for the city of Buenos Aires. See my other posts on Patagonia, Mendoza and the Iguazu falls for more on Argentina!

Must do’s:

1. Tango show & steak dinner (but not together!).

I think all the popular shows listed on other websites (https://www.solsalute.com/blog/best-tango-shows-in-buenos-aires or https://www.buenosairestogo.com/things-to-do/which-is-the-best-tango-show-in-buenos-aires) are generally good… they vary by production value, size and skill level - similar to ranking Broadway shows. We went to 2 shows (Madero Tango and Tango La Ventana). Madero Tango had really impressive dancing and was a bigger venue. The views of the water are great. After the show they do a little tango lesson for anyone that wants to stick around. They also push the Casino on you – which we went to after our lesson. Overall good experience. Tango La Ventana was in a smaller setting and had the band right on stage. The production value wasn’t as good, but watching the band interact with the performers made the show more enjoyable for me. Either way – do not get the dinner. There are so many good places to eat in BA that you should not settle for the ‘wedding style’ food at the performances. Get dinner and drinks before, then enjoy the show and a bottle of wine.

As far as steak dinners go, there are too many good places to name. I went to Don Julio (twice). They do a really good steak. Don’t worry about reservations, go a bit early (around 8pm) put your name in, and enjoy the free Champaign on the sidewalk while you wait. There is also a cool wine bar Vinosfera Wine Gallery down the street if your wait is longer than an hour. El Nuevo Castel's is a more local spot where the steak is good and cheap. You won’t get many tourists here – which is refreshing. Parrilla Cero5 is a good spot – in the center of town – and more of a traditional steak house. Finally, Café San Juan is a ‘contemporary’ steak house, with a cool open kitchen and good atmosphere. Again, these are the places I went, but in Argentina, you can’t go wrong with steak and red wine.

2. Afternoon in San Telmo/La Boca (especially on a Sunday)

Something that I really enjoyed doing – and you don’t need an agenda. San Telmo market is a great spot to grab some lunch and look at the shops. It is open every day – however – on Sunday the streets around the market turn into a sort of ‘sidewalk sale.’ The Market Burger, La Fabrica del Taco and Hoboken Beer Point are all good spots in the market for food. Plaza Dorrego is cool to check out – and will also have the ‘sidewalk sale’ going on.

After San Telmo, you can continue to walk down towards Parque Lezama – we made a stop at Napoles for a drink which has a pretty unique inside. Eventually, if you keep walking you will get down to the La Boca neighborhood. Cool graffiti, and local atmosphere. We were able to get dinner from a few people grilling on the street. There are also some good bars in the area to grab a beer. Area is safe and fun. While we were there a parade was going on (which seemed pretty typical for the area).

3. Night out bar hopping in Palarmo

Palarmo is the ‘hipster’ area of BA. The ‘Brooklyn’ if you will. This is where most of the new bars/restaurants are, and where a lot of the younger crowd hangs out. Here you will find no shortage of ‘craft beer and burger’ bars and ‘speakeasy’ style cocktail lounges. That said, it is worth checking out a few places and spending a night hopping between bars and restaurants. Some of my favorites were: Post Street Bar - Graffiti Bar - I liked this place a lot - cool art and an upstairs. Rey de Copas/ Boticario/ Parque Bar Botanico – cocktail lounges. I like Rey de Copas because of its upstairs rooftop. Temple Palarmo / DIGGS Armenia – expat bars with a good vibe (and more outdoor seating). Uptown – New York inspired bar with a real NYC subway car.

Can skip:

1. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Café Tortoni, and the Plaza de Mayo and La Casa Rosada

I am not a big museum guy, and the thought of walking through the ‘national museum’ – especially on a beautiful day does not appeal to me. There are plenty of other parts of the city that have much cooler exhibits and are a bit off the grid. Instead of going to these ‘tourist’ destinations, I would skip and plan activities at some of the other – lesser known – but still super fun attractions: Palarmo race track/polo grounds; Ricoletta cemetery; Ricoletta cultural center - this was actually one of my favorite places - it has art exhibits, a terrace, a bar, classes and movies - really cool space and good place to hang out for an afternoon; Microteatro – mini theater/bar; Bars in the old railway tunnels (Avant Garten); Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur - for a relaxing walk and views of the water (pro tip - bring a picnic!); Cooking class - cookly is a good website, you can also try AirBnB experiences.

Other places that are worth checking out:

Coffee: Viva Cafe/La Noire Cafe/Full City Coffee house - good spots to sit, get breakfast, have a cold brew and catch up on admin

Healthy Lunch: Cafe Registrado - get the Limonada here (or anywhere). It is like a fresh mojito without alcohol

Bars: Doppelganger Bar - best martini in BA - hands down

Other notes:

-No one in our group spoke good Spanish and we were able to get by. It helps to know the basics - some verbs/vocab words ('where is' 'do you have'...), but nothing beyond that. A lot of people will have a very basic knowledge of English - and if all else fails, use google translate.

- I was there in the fall (spring in the US) and it was 75 and sunny most days in BA. Highly recommend this time of year. Based on what people said there (and the Bourdain episode) things are a bit calmer in the city in January (think less things open, less nightlife) - as lots of locals take holiday. It is also VERY HOT in January.

- Uber stinks there. It works, but for some reason drivers do not like picking people up (especially foreigners). From the airport always use Taxi as your Uber will cancel on you. I would use Taxi as much as possible - only downside is you need cash.

- Cash is a nightmare. Most ATM's will only allow you to take out the equivalent of $100 USD and they charge either a $5 (Link ATMs) or $10 (Banco ATMs) fee. Also, lots of ATMs will have long lines and run out of money. We brought USD to exchange, but the line at the bank was so long we all just used our Schwab cards and took out money each day. Most newer establishments take credit (and things that are expensive like fancy restaurants definitely do) but lots of local spots and taxis are only cash. If you read about a black market - those sites are out of date - Argentina is now on a global exchange rate and the banks are just as good as 'black market' rates.

- SUBE is the subway and its super easy to use. Only thing is you need to first buy a card outside the station (at the equivalent of a 7-11 store) - look for the SUBE sign. Once you have the card, you can top up in any station, and the rides are around 30 cents. Traffic is really bad - especially around 5-8pm so highly recommend taking the subway during that time vs. cabs.

- One last thing, BA is a LATE city. Embrace the siesta culture. Get up and do some activities in the morning - take a nap - grab dinner around 10 and head to the bars around midnight. It sounds late but after a few days there, you get used to it. And its not just 20 somethings out to party, its whole families that get dinner at 1am, have wine, and dance well into the night.

#buenosaires #ba #travel #storytheworld #travelblogger

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nepalholidayexperiencetour-blog · 6 years ago

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Nepal Holiday Experience Tour

Holiday in Nepal with a complete Nepal experience in less than two weeks, now it is possible with our specially designed trip - ‘Nepal Holiday Experience Tour’. It will be a life time Nepal holiday experiences for all kinds of travelers. No strong athletic fitness required. Nepal all experience tour is for all from family with young children to old people. Amazing experiences you will enjoy are – road drive to a beautiful mountain village to view majestic Mt. Everest (8848m) with bare eyes + more Himalayan big mountains, meet and mingle with locals, join them in their family house, closely observe Buddhist and Hindu rituals, visit historical heritage sites, relax and enjoy the well preserved pristine nature in the national park. Real Nepal experience tour at comfort is the main theme. At the end of the trip, you will be rejuvenated with unique cultural experience and refreshed with nature retreat, fully content emotionally and philosophically.

Tour Program

Day - 01. Arrival: Pick-up at Kathmandu airport and transfer to your hotel. Trip briefing at the hotel. There will be a short walking tour if arrival is early afternoon.Duration: ~ 0.5 hours.Overnight in Bhaktapur

Day - 02. Cultural Sight-seeing; Bhaktapur, Changunarayan & Patan: Ancient traditional town Bhaktapur treasured with Durbar Square is an amazing living museum in itself. The square consists of stone temple of Batsala Devi full of carvings, Palace of 55 windows, temples and architectural showpieces like the Lion Gate, the statue of king Bhupatindra Malla, the picture gallery and the Batsala temple. They are master pieces of Nepali traditional art and architecture preserved for hundreds of years. Perched on a hill and visible from miles around, the Changu Narayan temple stands majestically above the rice fields of Bhaktapur. Dedicated to Vishnu, the Preserver the temple’s origins go back to the 4th century. The temple is a showcase for Newari art and architecture of the early century. The stone, wood, and metal craft found here are exemplary. Patan Durbar Square is a unique piece of art and architecture well preserved and hundreds of Buddhist Stupas and Bahals dating back to over 2000 years old. One unique temple among many temples here is Krishna Mandir a 16th century temple dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Krishna, built entirely of stone in Shikhara style architecture. All these stupas and temples are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. Duration: ~ 7 hours.Overnight in Bhaktapur

Day - 03. Everest View Tour by road, The morning starts with scenic drive via popular hill town Dhulikhel, Kavre Bhanjyang enjoying panoramic view of central Himalayan range, terraced hill farm land and scenic nature. After Bhakunde town, the road runs along Roshi river, then follows Sunkoshi river valley on BP highway. The drive turns left to new mid hill highway and crosses Sunkoshi river at Gurmi. A short lunch stop will be at river bank before Ghurmi. The road to Patale crosses Sunkoshi river and turns Northwards on Harkapur Okhaldhunga road. The drive climbs up higher Northwards via hill villages past Hilepani, Thakle, Mani Bhanjyang and continues past Chitre, Todke and Dap (2932m) villages. After Dap, you start viewing the Himalayan range including Mt. Everest. Duration: Total 235 Km and about 7.5 hoursOvernight Patale (2840m)

Day - 04. Hiking and Village Tour: Tour begins with a short hiking to higher view point, Thale Danda for more wider view of river valley, high hills, mid mountains and the Himalaya. If you like, continue longer hiking to Ranivan, Timburbote cave and Gauritap temple. Afternoon visit of Patale village meeting local people for observing their simple way of life. The Himalayan mountain view can be enjoyed all day long. At the day end, join a Nepali family for traditional dinner in their house. Enjoy the sunrise and clear view of majestic Mt. Everest and other big mountains - Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Makalu, Kanchanjunga and Gaurishanker ranges. Duration: ~ 7 hours. Overnight Patale Day - 05. I. Drive or II. Fly back:

Day - 05. I. Drive back: Option - I. Drive to hill town Dhulikhel, the same way back; down to Sunkoshi river via Okhaldunga and along the river up stream on BP highway. Dhulikhel is a scenic old town situated 30 kilometers east of Kathmandu on the Araniko Highway that goes to Tibet boarder, Kodari. From here one has a panoramic view of the Himalayan range. Duration: about 6.5 hours.Overnight Dhulikhel

Day - 06. Tour of Buddhist and Hindu holy sites. Stunning sun rise view over the Himalayan mountains is a popular attraction here. After breakfast, drive to Namobuddha, the Buddhist pilgrimage holy site where sight of rituals by monks, nuns and other pilgrims is common. There are new and old stupas and Buddhist Monasteries. Afternoon sight-seeing in Panauti situated at confluence of two small Rivers. The old traditional town noted for its numerous temples and shrines with magnificent woodcarvings. You can meet Hindu Sadhus here. The confluence is also cremation site for the Hindu people. Duration: ~ 7 hours. Overnight Dhulikhel

* OR

Day - 05. II. Fly back: Option- II. Fly from Phaplu to Kathmandu and transfer to hill town, Nagarkot Getting from Patale to Phaplu airport is about an hour drive. Again, it is about an hour drive from Kathmandu airport to Nagarkot. Duration: ~ 4 hours. Overnight Nagarkot

Day - 06. Nagarkot at an elevation of 2,195 m. is one of the best spots to view the central and eastern Nepal Himalayan panoramic range. It also offers an excellent view of the Indrawati river valley, hill villages, terraced farmlands and beautiful mid hills. Stunning sun rise view over the Himalayan mountains is a popular attraction here. After the breakfast, you can do hiking around the nature and do village tour near by. Or simply relax and enjoy the magnificent Himalayan panoramic view and scenic valley below . Duration: ~ 4 hours. Overnight Nagarkot *Note; Flight back option depends on number of pax in the group and booking days. Because, there are no regular flights to/fro Phaplu.

Day - 07. Transfer to Sundarijal, drive or hike to Haibung, Shivapuri National Park, HIKING:Morning drive ~ 40 km. to Sundarijal (1350m) in Kathmandu countryside and about half an hour walk up hill on stone paved steps through national park jungle take you to a small hydro electricity reservoir. The trail still climbs up about an hour through Mulkharka Tamang village then levels towards Nagmati river bank. After about 1.5 hours further walking through well preserved jungle along pristine small riverside, view opens up with magnificent Himalayan mountains to the North upon reaching Hile Bhanjyang (2050m) ridge. Panoramic Himalayan range can be viewed as far as Annapurna, Manaslu to Ganesh Himal, Langtang Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Gaurishankar and further East. Beautifully laid out Prakriti Resort & Organic Farm 20 minutes away stands fascinatingly inviting where you will enjoy nature retreat for next two nights. Duration: Drive ~ 1.5 hours + Walking (9 km) ~ 3.5 hours

DRIVING:Morning drive ~ 40 km. to Sundarijal (1350m) leaves behind hustle and bustle of vibrant culturally rich Kathmandu valley and the road enters into national park area. From Sundarijal, about 1 Km. short drive through the jungle and across Nagmati pristine river over a small bridge, the road climbs up to lower part of Mulkharka Tamang village then gradually goes further through the jungle. While driving further towards Jhule danda (2175m) through the national park jungle, sprawling Kathmandu valley can be viewed to your right below and also the Himalayan peaks to the North East. The road still continues through the well preserved jungle and drops to Hile Bhanjyang (2050m) ridge before turning right to beautifully laid out Prakriti Resort & Organic Farm. The Prakriti with an impression of a small farming village looks fascinatingly inviting where you will enjoy nature retreat for next two nights. Sundarijal to Prakriti is about 19 Km. drive. Duration: 1.5 + 1.5 = ~ 3 hours.Overnight Haibung From here; panoramic Himalayan range can be viewed as far as Annapurna, Manaslu to Ganesh Himal, Langtang Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Gaurishankar and further East.

Day - 08. Nature Tour; Lake side walk, jungle walk, trout fish farm and tea garden visit. Sunrise view even from your bed rooms is memorably fascinating.After breakfast, you will take a short walk to Dhap Pokhari (lake) for lake side nature walk. Those, with more interested to longer hiking, can go higher to Chisapani (2215m.). Afternoon program is visits to; village agro farm, Everest tea garden, Trout fish farm, Gurung village etc. Or more jungle walk with alternate options. Duration: ~ 6 hours. Overnight Haibung Day - 09. Drive or hike back to Kathmandu A) DRIVING:There are two route options; 09.A.I; On the same road driven before via Jhule danda and Sundarijal and back to Jorpati, Kathmandu, 26 Km.

09.A.II; Different route via trout fish farm, Everest tea garden, Bhotechaur, Jarsingpawa villages overlooking Melamchi valley below to right side and towering Himalayan peaks to the North East. After about 21 Km drive, you reach Sankhu old Newari historic town. An hour cultural sight-seeing here including Salinadi Narayan temple is recommended. Total drive back to Jorpati, Kathmandu is 31 Km. Duration: ~ 1.5 hours. Overnight Kathmandu B) HIKING:There are two options; 09.B.I; - On the same route hiked up before along Nagmati river side to Mulkharka village and down to Sundarijal, 9 Km. Duration: ~ 2.5 hours walking. Overnight Kathmandu

09. B.I; A short walk up to Hile Bhanjyang (2050m) junction where the road branches out rightwards to Chispani and leftwards to Sundarijal. Taking left turn, it is about 1.5 hours walk up hill along the dirt road through the national park jungle to Jhule Danda (2175m). From Jhule, walking trail drops down to the army camp and Jhule village then further down to main road, small Chauki Bhanjyang. Total walking is about 3.5 hours. There is also an alternate route hiking trail to famous Bjrayogini Buddhist temple and direct to Sankhu town. This route is longer by about half an hour more. Transfer from here to Jorpati, Kathmandu by road about is 12 Km. An hour cultural sight-seeing of the old town including Salinadi Narayan temple is recommended. Duration: ~ 3.5 hours hiking + ~ 1 hour driving. Overnight Kathmandu

Day - 10. Cultural Sight-seeing; Pashupatinath, Boudha, Swyamabu & Kathmandu Durbar Square. Mt. Everest Flight in the morning, OptionalPashupatinath, the principal temple of Lord Shiva with its two-tiered golden roof and silver doors is considered one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world. Pashupati area is small village with numerous temples and shrines. Bagmati river bank by the side of the temple is also a busy cremation place for Hindus. Boudha, the ancient colossal Buddhist stupa is one of the biggest in the world and an important pilgrimage center for Buddhists. Further proceed to Swayambhu, about 2000 years old, one of the world's most glorious Buddhist chaityas painted with the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. Next sight-seeing site is Kathmandu Durbar Square and temples like; Taleju, Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction; Nautale Durbar; Nasal Chowk; Gaddi Baithak; Kumari temple etc. are not only hundreds of years old but also very historic and rich in art and architecture. All the above sites are again UNESCO world heritage sites. Duration: ~ 7 hours. Overnight Kathmandu

Day - 11. Free day, activity of personal choice. Overnight Kathmandu

Day - 12. Departure; transfer to the airport for onward/homeward flights Duration: 0.5 hours.

#Nepali Holiday #kathmandu tour #Nepal Experience Tour #nepal tour

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affordablecheapvacationaust-blog · 6 years ago

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Prior to going to Australia You Must Read An Australia Travel Manual

Australia is a unique country with a mixture of diversity within the culture, population, climate, geography, and history. It is depending on a multicultural and multiracial concept which is shown in the nation's lifestyle, food, and culture. The population of this city is energetic, stimulated, innovative and outbound looking. In context to be able to land area, it is the sixth largest nation but fairly its population is small. Australia travel guide enables you to aware of all the attractions and facts of Australia that you should visit and know in your trip. This location is perfect and the best option of vacation for all whether you are together with your friends, family members or spouse.

Australia is full of beautiful points of interest that drive you crazy about eagerly coming to Australia in your following trip. Travel guide offers you facts and brief information about this city for your trip. It includes beautiful mountains, reefs, flora and fauna, artistic architectures, calm and cool beaches together with an extremely wonderful atmosphere. Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, the actual Gold Coast of Queensland and many more places are stunning and wonderful attractions of Australia which you should check out in your trip.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Miracles of the World. It is a wonderful natural beauty and the world's largest coral formations reef. It contains a teeming of marine life and you may see a large variety of colorful fishes and other organisms of the diving life. You can enjoy this beautiful place by going under drinking water for one week or more and for this purpose, many companies can perform arrangements for you.

Sydney has large varieties of activities and things to do and enjoy. It includes wildlife, art galleries, Sydney Ie House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, Chinatown and many parks just like Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney Aquarium, Chinese Garden and several museums like Australian Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Garrison Historic, and Military Museum and many more. These beauties and actions are must see in your tour and these make your journey better.

Apart from these activities, Australia has beautiful as well as exotic beaches, nightlife and large shopping places for the visitors The Byron Bay, Manly Beach, Coogee Beach and more are the prime wonderful beaches of Australia. The internet casinos, bars, and clubs are opened for the whole night for you personally all too just enjoy with wines, dance and songs making your trip wonderful.

Sydney, Australia Travel

Sydney is Australia's oldest city and is located along the coastline in the southeastern part of Australia. It is a very lovely city with a lot of attractions and activities.

Sydney will be comfortable to visit at any time of year. Autumns are quite fine with warm days and mild nights. In springtime (September to November) there are chances of rain, but it generally clears quickly. Summers in Sydney are not ideal holiday weather due to frequent heavy rains. The temperature may also rise to over 104°F.

Amongst the main attractions in Questionnaire, the Harbor Bridge is a very popular place. The link is quite huge and is an imposing structure. It hyperlinks the southern and northern shores and joining main Sydney with the business district of North Sydney.

Quarterly report Opera House is Australia's most recognizable icon and it has been built over the sea. The Opera House hosting companies theatre, classical music, ballet, and film, as well as the periodic opera performances. There is also a venue called The Studio, which phases contemporary art events.

Bondi Beach is one of the best-known seashores in the world and is synonymous with Australian beach culture. It does not take closest ocean beach to the city center. It is large and action-packed so it may not be the best place for a silent sunbathe and swim. Surfing is also very common here. Outside is carefully delineated, with surfers using the southern finish of the beach. The beachfront Campbell Parade is each cosmopolitan and highly commercialized, lined with cafés and also shops. Many events take place along in this beach similar to rollerblading and skateboarding. In September, the Festival from the Winds, Australia's largest kite festival, takes place here in outside.

Australia Travel Guides

Australia's chief draw is a natural beauty. The landscape varies from sunny beaches for you to tropical rainforests to the rugged outback of Northern Place. Its cities combine a European gusto for art along with fine dining with a blithe love of sport in addition to nightlife. Visitors expecting to see an opera in Paris one evening and go gold prospecting the next day ought to study topography. It is its sheer enormity that provides Australia -- and its diverse population --a distinct character.

Sydney may resemble a British colonial town at the first impression, but since you approach the harbor, the region boasts a vibrant nightlife, beaches, parklands, skyscrapers, restaurants, and malls. The durable cliffs and stunning Bondi beach are popular haunts. Interestingly, gay venues make up a sizeable chunk associated with Sydney's nightlife. While the Opera House is a key appeal, exploring the hidden coves is a good option, too. The harbor features a myriad of aqua sports including snorkeling, parasailing, aircraft jaunts, water skiing, and motorized paddle boating.

Tourists head to cosmopolitan Melbourne on the banks of the Yarra Water for its discount shopping, fine restaurants, and sporting work schedule. An hour's drive out of Melbourne, Yarra Valley is usually Australia's finest wine-growing region. It is the country's foremost maker of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Merlot. Picnics and jazz shows, fuelled by wines tasting, are key tourist attractions here.

Brisbane, too, is really a progressive city at the center of the South-East Queensland détroit, which runs from the Sunshine Coast to the New South Wales limitations. Known as Bris Vegas (coined when a dilapidated building had been transformed into a glitzy casino), the region is also the arts funds of Queensland, characterized by a myriad of theatres, concert halls, museums and galleries, and museums.

Perth, Western Australia's capital, is well-liked for its sunny climate and immaculate coastline. Sadly, sterile and clean skyscrapers lord over the quaint riverside locality. Note: a trip to Perth is incomplete without a trip to The Berndt Museum of Anthropology, which features contemporary Aboriginal artwork and artifacts.

In Hobart, Australia's second largest town, shopping, nightlife, art galleries, and fine dining are famous, yet rainforests and secluded beaches are within reach. Hundreds of stallholders gather on Saturdays in the Sullivans Cove precinct for the celebrated Salamanca Market, which hawks assorted goodies, including sushi trays, organic vegetables, and statues, and salmon! The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, that displays a Tasmanian Aboriginal display and relics through the state's colonial heritage and Tasmanian colonial art, types an important part of the riverside precinct.

Amongst other tourist choices, Adelaide is a tranquil city characterized by magnificent churches, botanic gardens, cycling paths and fabulous markets; while Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, is a multicultural community having an exotic mix of Asian, European, and Aboriginal cultures, having a distinctly Australian feel.

#mostaffordablecheapvacationaustralia

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brentemersonarizona · 3 years ago

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Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is the most delightful place on the East Coast. This 70 mile stretched place is packed with recreational activities. There is more to this national seashore than its untouched and splendid beaches emphasis Brent Emerson North Carolina. Rich in wildlife and antiquity, this park also pleas to other types of voyagers. There are also outdoor chases accessible here, comprising kayaking. Here is a list of a few things to do during your Hatteras vacation to make most of your holidays. Let’s find out:

Lose track of time at the beach

If you make a trip to Hatteras Island, you have to allocate at least a few hours of your tour to take rest on the place’s esteemed beaches. Scrutinize the shore in search of lost and elapsed wealth; grasp a panel and try your hand at holding a wave, or chill out below an umbrella with a cold drink. The beach is just a few minutes away from anywhere you are on Hatteras Isle, and best of all, it’s completely free to relish says Brent Emerson North Carolina.

Explore uncharted waters in a Kayak

Hatteras Isle is surrounded by water and is a shelter for kayak fanatics of all talent levels and age braces. Discover the lesser-known, corners and crevices of the islet employing either a solo or tandem kayak. Or, take a Hobie fishing kayak out on the aquatic and stab your luck at mooring the big one.

Take a Glance at the Pea Island Art Arcade

Over 100 native and regional entertainers are epitomized within this momentous imitation of the 1874 Chicama comico Life-Saving Place. Travelers can browse the Pea Island Art Galleries’ extensive contribution of watercolors, statuette, oils and acrylics, jewels, and untold other charmingly stimulating and alluring works of native art.

Click a picture in front of the Oregon Intel lifesaving station

It is one of the most distinguishing buildings on the Outside Banks. A predictable $700,000 was expended reinstating the external and internal of the edifice not so many years ago and during the restoration, the construction was elevated about ten feet off the crushed and located on supports, permitting sand to blow easily beneath. Consider clicking your pictures about an hour before sundown to relish the best illumination of the day emphasis Brent Emerson North Carolina.

Visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

The museum is located near the ferryboat harbors to Ocracoke Isle, tells the story of the parts of rich nautical antiquity. About 600 shipwrecks have happened off the shoreline of Hatteras Islet as a consequence of Diamond Shoals, a zone of repeatedly unstable sandbars that spread 14 miles from the North Carolina coastline. Inside the museum, visitors can see old Coast Guard memorabilia, relics from the numerous hulks that have happened over the years.

Wrapping up

These are a few reasons to visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore shared by Brent Emerson North Carolina. You can also climb to the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for a unique and memorable experience. Moreover, if you want to enjoy a relaxing stroll along the beach, travel to the seashore at low tide.

Originally Posted:

#Travel #AtlanticMuseum

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livingcorner · 3 years ago

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Visit Us

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please click here to read all COVID-19 measures in place for the Gardens.

Please comply with instructions from our officers on the ground.

Located in central Singapore and just five minutes away from Orchard Road (Singapore’s main shopping street), getting to the Gardens is easy. Visitors can access the Gardens via its various major entrances. Knowing where to alight will help ensure that your visit is an enjoyable experience.

You're reading: Visit Us

Download a 2MB version of the map

Opening Hours (Daily 5am – 12mn)

The general outdoor gardens is opened daily from 5am to 12midnight and admission is free.

Specific opening hours, admission charges and more information on the attractions listed below.

Nearest Entrance Attractions & Opening Hours More Information Tanglin Gate Entrance

SBG Heritage Museum

Closed from 22 July till further notice

9am – 6pm daily (Closed every last Monday of the Month)

No dogs allowed

CDL Green Gallery

9am – 6pm daily (Closed every last Tuesday of the Month)

Closed from 22 July till further notice

No dogs allowed

Library of Botany and Horticulture Closed from 22 July till further notice

Monday – Thursday 9am – 5pm

Friday 9am – 3pm

(Closed on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays)

No dogs allowed

Bonsai Garden

5am – 6pm daily

Tyersall Gate Entrance

National Orchid Garden

8.30am – 7pm daily (Last Entry at 6pm)

Admission Charges Local* Standard Seniors (60 years of age and above $1 $3 Adults $5 $15

Student (Valid student identification by local public

and private education institutes)

$1 $3 Child below 12 years of age Free

Notice:

During this period, the garden is operating with limited capacity and we seek your understanding on the following when the capacity has been reached:

You may be required to wait till there is availability. Please expect a waiting time of about 1 to 2 hours.

The last entry time may be as early as 4pm instead of the regular 6pm as we are unable to accept more visitors

No dogs allowed

Ginger Garden

5am – 12mn

Learning Forest

SPH Walk of Giants, Keppel Discovery Wetlands, Botanist Boardwalk & Pulai Marsh Trail are closed 7pm – 7am daily.

*No dogs allowed for Learning Forest elevated walkways and boardwalks.

No dogs allowed*

Gallop Gate Entrance

Botanical Art Gallery

9am – 6pm (Closed every last Thursday of the Month)

Closed from 22 July till further notice

No dogs allowed

COMO Adventure Grove

7am – 7pm daily

No dogs allowed

Forest Discovery Centre @ OCBC Arboretum

9am – 6pm (Closed every last Monday of the Month)

Closed from 22 July till further notice

No dogs allowed

OCBC Arboretum

5am – 12mn daily

No dogs allowed

Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge

7am – 7pm daily

No dogs allowed Nassim Gate Entrance

Rain Forest

7am – 7pm daily

No dogs allowed

Evolution Garden

No dogs allowed

Healing Garden

7am -7pm daily

Closed every Tuesday unless it falls on a Public Holiday

Read more: Style Guide: What To Wear To A Garden Party

No dogs allowed Bukit Timah Gate Entrance

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden*

Pre-book your visit here (Trial period between 9 July to 8 September 2021)

8am – 7pm (Last entry 6.30pm)

Closed every Monday unless it falls on a Public Holiday

Open to children up to 14 yrs old. All children have to be accompanied by an adult.

Notice:

The Photosynthesis Play area and Flying Fox are closed till further notice.

During this period, the garden is operating with limited capacity and we seek your understanding on the following when the capacity has been reached:

You may be required to wait till there is availability. Please expect a waiting time of about 1 to 2 hours.

No dogs allowed

Foliage Garden

Ethnobotany Garden

No dogs allowed

Centre for Ethnobotany

9am – 6pm (Closed every last Wednesday of the Month)

Closed from 22 July till further notice

No dogs allowed

Seed Bank

9am – 6pm (Closed every last Friday of the Month. Should this fall on a Public Holiday, the Seed Bank will be closed the following Monday)

Closed from 22 July till further notice

No dogs allowed

Getting Here / Various Entrances

As the Gardens is 82-hectares, it is ideal to access different entrances for different zones you may wish to visit. Parking facilities are available in each zone.

Please note that different zones are served by different bus services and train stations, with walking times averaging between 30-50 minutes (North to South).

Attractions & Facilities Food & Beverage Transportation Tanglin Entrance

Bandstand

Bonsai Garden

Botany Centre

CDL Green Gallery

Herbarium

Heritage Garden

Library of Botany & Horticulture

Plant House

SBG Heritage Museum

Swan Lake

Tanglin Gate

Fusion Spoon

By Bus

SBS Transit

7, 105, 123, 174, 174E

SMRT

75, 77, NR8

Tower Transit

106

By Train

Orchard MRT Station, North-South Line (Red)

By Taxi

Taxi Pick-Up and Drop-Off point available at Botany Centre

By Car

Basement car park at Botany Centre (5am – 12am daily)

224 car lots

Tyersall-Gallop Entrance

Tyersall Entrance

National Orchid Garden

Ginger Garden

Learning Forest

Gallop Entrance

Botanical Art Gallery

COMO Adventure Grove

Forest Discovery Centre @ OCBC Arboretum

Mingxin Foundation Rambler’s Ridge

OCBC Arboretum

Tyersall Entrance

Forest Pavilion

Halia Restaurant

Provisions

The Villa

Gallop Entrance

Bees’ Knees Petite

By Bus

Nearest bus stop at Holland Road with a 10 minute walk

Hop-On-Hop-Off

SIA Hop-On Bus

By Taxi

Taxi Pick-Up and Drop-Off points available at Learning Forest (via Tyersall Gate entrance) and Gallop Extension (via Gallop Gate entrance)

By Car

Open-air car parks at Tyersall Gate and Gallop Gate

Driving directions: Please only enter via Holland Road and Tyersall Avenue.

From Holland Road (Towards City): • Turn left into Tyersall Avenue • Turn left into Gallop Gate entrance OR Turn right into Tyersall Gate entrance

From Holland Road (Towards Ulu Pandan Road): • Turn right into Tyersall Avenue • Turn left into Gallop Gate entrance OR Turn right into Tyersall Gate entrance

(Note: No access via Cluny Park Road/Tyersall Road/Bukit Timah Road)

Tyersall Gate car park – 36 car lots

Gallop Gate car park – 29 car lots

Nassim Entrance

Car Park A, B, C

Read more: This Is the Best Way to Freeze Green Beans So They Stay Fresh All Year

Institute of Policy Studies (1C)

National Parks Headquarters

National Biodiversity Centre (1A)

Palm Valley

Rain Forest

Raffles Building (Office)

Raffles Building Car Park

Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage

Symphony Lake

Visitor Centre

Corner House

Casa Verde (dog friendly)

By Bus / MRT

No MRT & bus stops available.

By Taxi

Taxi Pick-Up and Drop-Off point available at Visitor Centre (via Nassim Gate entrance)

By Car

Basement and open-air car parks at Nassim Gate

NParks HQ car parks A, B & C – 141 car lots

Raffles Building car parks (RB1 & RB+61404532026 car lots

Bukit Timah Entrance

Bukit Timah Gate

Centre for Education & Outreach (1F)

Centre for Urban Greenery & Ecology, CUGE (1E)

Car Park, Cluny Park (along Cluny Park Road)

Eco-Lake and Eco-Garden

Ethnobotany Garden and Centre for Ethnobotany (1G)

Foliage Garden

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

NUS Law Faculty

Seed Bank (1D)

Bee’s Knees

The Botanico

Little Spot

JUJU

By Bus

(Bus services via Bukit Timah & Dunearn Road)

SBS Transit

48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170

SMRT

Please click here for updates by SMRT

By MRT

Botanic Gardens MRT Station

Circle Line & Downtown Line, (Yellow & Blue)

By Taxi

Taxi Pick-Up and Drop-Off points available at Downtown Line and Cluny Park Road

By Car

Open-air car parks at Cluny Park Road and Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Cluny Park Road car park – 50 car lots

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden car park – 39 car lots

Nearby Train Stations

Nearby Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations are available. They are:

Orchard Road MRT Station

North-South Line [Red]Transfer to bus services and alight at Napier Road required

Botanic Gardens MRT Station

Circle Line [Yellow] & Downtown Line [Blue]Bukit Timah Entrance

Outlaying MRT stations are available as options, and all require transfers to bus services. They are:

Farrer MRT Station Circle Line [Yellow]

Commonwealth MRT Station East-West Line [Green]

Doby Ghaut MRT Station North-South Line [Red]

Somerset MRT Station North-South Line [Red]

City Hall MRT Station East-West Line [Green]

Please click here for more information of on Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system.

Download the “MyTransportSG” application to help plan your routes using bus services in Singapore.

Parking Charges

Hours* Charges 7.00 am to 10.30 pm $0.02 per minute 7.00 pm to 10.30 pm $2 maximum 8.00 am to 9.00 am $1 ** No overnight parking is allowed

**Peak hour charge on all passing vehicles that enter from Kheam Hock Road and exit at Evans/Cluny Road

For further information, please contact Wilson Parking at +61404532026.

Visitor Services Counters

Our Visitor Services staff are on duty from 8.00am – 5.30pm daily at our various service desks to handle queries you may have on the Gardens.

We have 6 Service Desks located throughout the Gardens.

Visitor Services @ Tanglin (Drop-Off Point, Level 1, Botany Centre)

Visitor Services @ Tyersall (Drop-Off Point, Tyersall Entrance)

Visitor Services @ Nassim (Drop-Off Point, Nassim Entrance)

Visitor Services @ Bukit Timah

Visitor Services @ Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Visitor Services @ Gallop Entrance

At the Visitor Services Desk, you may seek assistance for:

Information on the Gardens

Maps

Feedback

Lost & Found

First Aid

Handling of Emergencies

Wheelchair loan

Coin-operated lockers

Pay-per-use personal lockers are available at these locations. (Price range $1 – $3 depending on size are currently available at these locations:

Tanglin Entrance

Nassim Entrance

Melati Gate ($2-$3 sizes only)

Bicycle Parking

Bicycle parking (4-6 lots each) is available at our entrances as we do not allow cycling in the Gardens.

Tanglin Service Desk

Ridley Hall (side gate along Cluny Road)

Tyersall Coach Park

Gallop Service Desk

Palm Valley Gate

Car Park C, Nassim Entrance

Car Park B, Nassim Entrance

Raffles Building Car Park

Cluny Park Gate

Melati Gate

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden Car Park

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/visit-us/

#livingcornernews

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deeeelightfuldee · 3 years ago

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surveyss 013.

Are you mad at your best friend right now? I guess it depends who that is. I’m not mad at em. I have to get out of the habit of calling Kile my best friend, but he has been my other half for so long. I’m not mad at him.. I just.. I guess I am just so sad wishing he wanted me the way I thought he did.

Do you know anybody with a pet snake? Ugh. Gross yes. I am not close with these kinds of people.

Do you buy your underwear in a pack or seperately? Either way. In a pack is convenient and cheaper, but seldom allows for cute undies. Buying individually is proving to be great for style, but expensive.

Have you ever made fun of anybody and later became their friend? I never really made fun of Nathan, I just would smack him with a plastic baseball bat.

Is the lamp on in the room you're in? Right now only this new little egg shaped lamp that is trying to die.

Do you have a pair of shoes that you can only wear with one or two outfits? Uhhh, maybe like ... no. Actually no, I think most of my shoes are interchangeable.

Is there any drink that you absolutely MUST drink cold? I genuinely prefer my drinks cold. I think the only warm drinks I like are hot chocolate or tea.

Did you sleep in past noon today? Woof, no.

Did your grandma ever tell you about her love life? I have never had a personal conversation with my paternal grandmother, and no longer have an opportunity since she was killed. My maternal grandmother has shared very little because she seems to think being private is like a badge of honor. She was in love once in college, but her parents ruined it and he let go and moved on. She never did. She ended up “settling” for my grandpa -- who was an awesome guy. She just wasn’t really in love, she did it because that’s who her parents wanted.

Have you ever painted anybody's nails aside from your own? Yes.

Anything exciting happening in the month of September? It’s my mom’s birthday which should be a national holiday. I can’t afford to spoil her, but hopefully I’ll be able to make it fun somehow.

Who is your last missed call from? I think my sister. I wish I had calls from Kile. It’s good I don’t, cus I would be tempted to answer. But it would be so good to hear his voice on voicemail. Sigh.

When was the last time you ate Frosted Flakes? Oh boy, it’s been a hot minute.

Did you ever NOT want a substitute in a certain class? I was homeschooled. There were no substitutes.

Do you ever donate to the less fortunate? Yes

Did you buy an American flag after 9/11 to put on your car/house/ whatever? Did I personally? No, I had no money. But my family did buy a lot.

Do you know any songs that are older than you are? Heck yeah.

Are there framed pictures of you anywhere in your house? Yes. We have like a large gallery wall with a photo of myself. We also framed some graduation photos.

Compared to other people of your age would you be considered 'NORMAL'? What is normal.

Honestly, do you have any Hilary Duff on your MP3 player? I don’t use an MP3 player anymore. I have plenty of Duff on my spotify lol

Who is worst in your family about calling people back? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Do you like peanut M&M's? I do, but now I’m madly in love with regular m&m’s. Kile used to send me peanut ones I had so many I could have filled a bathtub with them hahaha.

When was the last time you had an ice cream sandwich? It’s been a very, very long time.

When was the last time you ate jelly beans? Yuck. Not that long ago we had some for David. I’m not a fan.

When was the last time you had hot chocolate? Around Christmas time.

Have you ever caught a friend cheating on their bf/gf? In a way. Not someone I’m close to.

What was the last song stuck in your head? I almost always have My Country Tis Of Thee stuck in my head. It literally happens all the time and I have no idea why. Mom thinks it is hilarious and also semi concerning.

Do you enjoy doing math? Not even a little.

Do you think your mom has secrets she’s never told you? Yeah probably. Not many, but I would imagine some.

Do you own anything you don’t want your parents to know about? Probably.

Do you pose in your pictures or just smile? Both. Just depends what strikes my fancy.

Are there any colors you will NOT wear? Pale creamy colors do not do justice to me.

Do you use scented soap in the shower? Always scented something.

Did you ever want to be a fashion designer? Nooooope

Who was the last person you danced with? Enjoyable? Hahaha. I mean I danced last night with the kids. the last time I danced with a male, it was enjoyable.

Do you like convertibles? I do, my sister once rented one for a weekend when I came into town just so we could drive around and be spoiled. It was so awesome.

Have you ever yelled at the television? Definitely. I just did for this murder story I’m watching.

How many songs on your MP3 player are about sex? On spotify I have plenty, not gonna lie.

Do you like water parks? I love them in theory, but I am repulsed by them in all honesty.

Dark or light colored jeans? Depends on the fit.

Can you take apart a computer and name all the parts? Heckie no.

Can you take apart a car and name all the parts? I’d probably have more luck with this than the computer, but still no.

Would your friends describe you as nerdy? Yes, yes they would.

How many different colors are you wearing right now? four. White/blue, blue, black, mauve.

Have you ever purchased a lotto ticket? I sure have

Are you double-jointed anywhere? Nooope.

What is the longest amount of time you've spent playing Monopoly? Probably like 4 hours. Though, it should be stated that I don’t think I’ve ever played with anyone who genuinely wanted to play the correct way. I would love to try.

Have you ever witnessed a tornado first-hand? Yes but it didn’t look like the stereotypical tornado. I want to see one. It’s wild how things change... back in the day tornadoes were my greatest fear. Crippling fear. No longer that way.

Did you play in the sand box as a kid? I didn’t dislike it. I just didn’t do it all that often. There weren’t any at the parks near me as a child, and my dad would have lost his mind at the mess.

How about on the monkey bars? I always tried and was often OK at it. I just disliked how hot the bar could get or when my hands would slip.

Have you ever made an alarm go off? Oh I sure have.

Have you ever colored your eyebrows? Yup. Naturally, my eyebrows are MEGA white blonde.

Did you ever own a pop-up book? Uhhh Probably one or two as a kid.

Have you ever honked at a biker? I don’t think so?

Have you ever taken another person's prescribed medication? A muscle relaxer once that my mom gave me that she didn’t need.

Have you ever played golf (not miniature golf)? I’ve gone one time to a like.. driving range type thing? Never gone official golfing. I’d like to.

Do you use gel in your hair? Maybe 1-5x a year.

Do you own a garden gnome? Definitely not.

Are any of the rooms in your house painted blue? Yes

Do you kick off your shoes as soon as you walk in the door? Typically yes I do, but sometimes we leave them on. Gram has to wear them for stability, mom wears them to protect her feet from cuts, and so I will sometimes.

Have you ever judged a book by its cover? Yes

What is the most effective device at the gym? I couldn’t tell ya. I’m intimidated by the gym.

Can you drive a stick shift? At one point yes I could! I am positive I wouldn’t remember how to now.

Have you ever picked on a substitute teacher? Never had a sub and I would never

How good are you at giving directions? OOOOOOOOOOOOOooo I’m terrible at it. I’m great at doing it in the car, but don’t call me and expect me to be able to tell you directions like “go northeast for 1.2 miles” heck no.

When was the last time you looked out the window nearest you? Probably a half hour ago or so. I checked on the water filling the pool.

Have you ever got dressed with the windows open? Yes. Often I will. Not in the summer though, because I try to keep my room as dark and cool as possible.

Have you ever given a foot massage? yes

Do public restrooms freak you out? It depends on where the bathroom is. Some of them are cleaner than others. I don’t like FREAK out about it, but I don’t enjoy it. I often can wait til I’m home.

Have you ever taken a shower outside? yeah, but I don’t love that.

Have you ever been to a junkyard? I have.

What do you think of Brad Pitt? I don’t really have a big opinion on him.

Have you ever watched the History Channel willingly? Yes, if it interests me.

Have you ever used pennies to pay for something that cost over 50 cents? Hahahaha for my siblings, yes.

If a place makes you pay for delivery - do you still tip the driver? Yes.

Without the aid of a cell phone - do you know your parents numbers by heart? Yeah.

Can you name 10 former presidents? Trump, obama, bush, bush, reagan, clinton, nixon, roosevelt, jefferson, washington.

Have you ever bought a gift for a teacher? Yes

Is your bedroom carpeted? Not since I was a child. I do have a rug down.

Right now, what color is your tongue? Pink.

When was the last time you had a Tootsie Pop? Last year probably.

If you could get the cell phone of your choice - what would it be? I have the phone I love. I have to give it up soon, but I’m dreading that.

Who is your favorite super hero? Uhhhhhhhhhh, I’m not sure. Either batman or superman I guess. I would probably have a clear idea if I watched all the superhero movies.

How about your favorite villain? I dunno, still would need to see the videos.

Do you know anybody who works at a bank? I doooooo.

What do you usually order from your favorite fast food place? Right now my favorite fast food place is Buona Beef. I love their char-grilled avocado pepper jack chicken sandwich on gluten free pita with extra jalapeno. OMG. so good.

Do you hand out candy to kids on Halloween? Yup. I dooooooooo.

What perfume/cologne do you wear the most? My favorite is refuge by charlotte russe.

Can you name all 7 dwarfs? uhhhh, sleepy, dopey, grumpy, ... no. lolol

Does the early bird really catch the worm? In my world, I totally believe this.

0 notes

livefuntravelposts · 4 years ago

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Top Places to Visit in Finland

The last time Kati and I were in Finland, we were standing in 5 feet of snow looking for the Northern Lights. It was a cold, bitter winter night and the only thing that got us through was eating reindeer stew along the road. It warmed us up and kept us going. But Finland is a lot more than just the Northern Lights. Finland is a land of incredible lush green sights, long lakes, and vast seas. The country is home to a record 179,584 Islands and 188,000 lakes. The four main archipelagos in Finland are; Helsinki, Kotka, the Archipelago Sea, and the Kvarken archipelago - a UNESCO Heritage site. Finland is also famed for its robust health care system and highly efficient education system. But that's not all that this beautiful Nordic country has to offer. The country is a favourite destination with most folks living in Europe . Fondly known as "The home of a thousand lakes" Finland is a magical treasure box filled with stunning and fascinating attractions! From the Northern lights to the magical winter and irresistible summers, it is undoubtedly a hidden gem waiting to be explored by both the young and old alike. Why Visit Finland? Snuggled perfectly between Sweden to the west and Russia to the east, Finland shares certain traits with its Scandinavian neighbors. The breathtaking scenery, magnificent rugged coastline, snow-packed ski fields, and the winter Northern Lights. You can enjoy exhilarating activities such as dog sledding, chasing the Northern Lights, and swimming across the Arctic when you visit Lapland during winter. In addition to the outdoor adventures, this Nordic country also has other enjoyable experiences in store for you! Think steamy and relaxing saunas, delicious cuisines, and trendy, stylish Nordic cafes. We have compiled a list of some of the most irresistible places you must see on your Finland tour.

Finland is incredible during the winter, but this country has so much to offer year round.

11 Must-See Attractions In Finland

1. Meet the Real Santa Claus in Rovaniemi

Do you have any idea where Santa Claus lives? Don't let anybody fool you that Santa Claus doesn't exist – yes, he does, in Rovaniemi, Finland! Doubling as Lapland's official capital and the secret entry point to the Arctic, Rovaniemi is undoubtedly one of the most iconic tourist destinations. It's without a doubt the best place to launch and end your Christmas visit to Lapland. A must-visit attraction site is Santa Claus Village. This charming theme park encased in the snowy mountains of Lapland is Finland's alternative to Disneyland. You will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and most importantly, you will have the opportunity to meet the jolly man himself – Santa Claus! After chatting with Father Christmas, you can stop by Santa's post office and post a postcard to your loved ones back home. Then visit Santa Park, a magical place where kids can discover Father Christmas's Cave. Experience the Ice Gallery, admire a series of incredible ice sculptures, and even take a tour inside Santa's toy factory. Other outdoor adventures include enjoying a reindeer sleigh ride, ice fishing, making snow sculptures, and exploring the surrounding nature riding a snowmobile. As evening approaches, spend your night at the Arctic Snow Hotel. While there, don't forget to sample out the Lap cuisines, and conclude your night relaxing in one of the incredible ice spas!

2. Visit the Polar Bears at the Ranua Wildlife Park

Nestled between the magical mires and wild but quaint forest lies Rauna Wildlife Park, an enclave of unruffled experiences mixed with the Arctic wilderness. The Ranua Wildlife Park offers enchanting experiences with Arctic wildlife, and the surrounding nature will take you to the fairytale world Of Snow-White And The Seven Dwarfs. From Rovaniemi, you can start your day driving down to Ranua Wildlife Park, about an hour's drive away. While here, check out the Ranua Zoo; this northernmost zoo pays homage to nearly 50 endangered Arctic animal species. However, the real draw is its polar bears. Be sure to say hi and take photos with Venus and Manse, the two beautiful polar bears living as a couple. Once done with polar bears, experience a magical excursion in a coach drawn by horses through the whistling forest or a giggly reindeer sleigh ride. While enjoying the tour, stop by the ecological wolfdog rescue center for a campfire lunch. Other notable activities include a snowmobile ride through the deep crystalline woodlands, or hike through a frozen and barren bog wearing your snowshoes.

3. Chase down the Northern Lights

Regarded as one of the world's natural wonders, visitors from all over the world flock to Finland every year in the hopes of snapping a photo of these awe-inspiring Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The best area to witness the Northern Lights is near Kilpisjarvi. When the sky is bright at that latitude, the chances of seeing an Aurora are 80% percent. So three nights out of four! Those odds must be encouraging. During the winter seasons, the sun appears for a few hours, and the nights are usually very long. The Finns typically call this season "Kaamos." With these conditions, particularly in places like Kilpisjarvi, you can enjoy yourself joining the cross-country skying. Picture yourself skiing during the night while chasing after the Northern lights. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a fantastic way to witness this magnificent phenomenon. If you are not a fan of skiing, don't worry, you can enjoy watching this magnificent wonder at the comfort of your bed inside a glass igloo. Nothing is thrilling, like relaxing under the stars and staying up all night watching as the Northern Lights dance in the sky above you!

Seeing the Northern Lights is always a highlight. There are many websites which will tell you the best places and nights to go out chasing them.

4. Lighthouse Island

Finland's coastline has the largest archipelago globally. Naturally, you expect to see lighthouses by the hundreds all over the country's shoreline. The lighthouses have become a magnet for tourists, some with unique features to accommodate visitors willing to spend nights in them. The Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest in the entire Nord region. It is a pretty magnificent sight to behold. Located on a spectacular Island, you can get to the island by boat, with the best possible season to visit between June - August. Make your bookings early in advance to secure your night stay. Bengtskär lighthouse has six rooms to stay in. Söderskär lighthouse in Helsinki is a must-see. The journey to Söderskär is more accessible by boat, and it takes an hour to get there and about two hours touring the lighthouse. Activities include; climbing the lighthouse; you get to see the entire landscape from an aerial view. It's quite spectacular. While there, you can have a cup of coffee at the keeper's cottage adjacent to it.

5. Finnish Saunas and Lakes

Kati and I love to take a sauna. We actually have two saunas. One at home and we built one in the woods in western North Carolina. There is nothing better and we actually give the sauna credit for keeping us healthy. If you think thousands of Finland Islands are enough for one tiny country, there are over 3 million saunas and nearly 190 000 lakes in Finland. Locals enjoy saunas and have made it a favorite pastime. Finns go to enjoy saunas at least once a week. So when you visit, indulge as excessively as time allows you to have a relaxing dip in one of the great saunas. Finnish Lakeland has the most summer cottages and saunas too. Experience swimming in winter and rolling in the snow around your holiday cottage.

6. Suomenlinna UNESCO Site

Finland has a record six cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites and one natural UNESCO World Heritage site. The Suomenlinna Fortress Island in Helsinki is a favorite tour destination in Finland. Added to the UNESCO Heritage List in 1991, Suomenlinna is an exceptional military architecture monument. The seven islands of Suomenlinna are comprised of old dungeons and fortresses in an inhabited district in Helsinki. To get to Suomenlinna, take a fifteen minutes ferry ride from the Kauppatori central market square.

7. Archipelago National Park

Archipelago National Park - a seascape filled with hundreds of islands! It is only 59kilometers away from Turku city. A convenient route to get to the park is through Kimito and Pargas. Positioned directly south of the city, The Archipelago National Park has a lot to give, from Viking settlements to fortified islands. Using Turku as your launching base, you can explore the park by either canoeing or cycling between the quaint towns, with breathtaking landscapes around every corner. You can cycle along the Archipelago trail to Pargas and Nagu islands, which offer an authentic archipelago life experience and a wide range of accommodation. While in Pargas, don't forget to pass by Art Bank for some fine art, then hop onto a boat and head out to Berghain, a fantastic comping site. If you don’t enjoy cycling, go for the Riverine route. You can opt for a kayaking adventure, or if you feel it's too much work, hop into one of the ferries available for a peaceful sightseeing day around the Archipelago Park. Notable areas not to miss include the Rosala Viking Village, the Military island of Oro, The isle of Bengtskar, and finally, the peaceful island community of Uto.

8. Bear Watching in Suomussalmi

For those who love bears, the best place to watch them is in Suomussalmi, a small region in Finland near the Russian border. There are approximately 1000 brown bears in Finland, but you are unlikely to meet with one while leisurely strolling through the forest. These brown beasts can smell you from afar, and they usually flee before your paths cross. For the best bear-watching experience, hire a local guide. The guides are familiar with the forest and know where to find these beasts.

9. Try Out Finnish Cuisine

Whether it's in the summer or winter, it doesn't matter which season; sampling out the authentic Finnish delicacy is a must-do activity for anybody visiting Finland. Finnish delicacies combine traditional and chic cuisine, with beef, pork, seafood, and reindeer as the primary ingredients. While strolling through Helsinki Old Market Area, you can start with quick bites, like Finnish Squeaky Cheese, Karelian Pie, and Rye Bread. Try lip-licking typical Finnish sauces with pancakes, Lapland bread cheese, or Riispurro (Rice Porridge) for a more severe breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you are full of choices. You can try out authentic Finnish meals like Pastry Macaroni With Beef Meatballs Smeared with Jam mixed with Mash Potatoes, Roasted Herring, and many other dishes. Lastly, beer lovers can try out local favorites such as Glogg Akvavit, Finnish beers, Finnish Vodka and Sima.

Helsinki is worth exploring and checking out some world class restaurants.

10. Oulanaka National Park

Oulanka National Park is widely regarded as one of the best national parks in Finland, and with good reason. There are a series of spectacular creeks that run through the Kiutakongas Falls canyon. It's a quick one kilometer stroll from the parking lot, so you can have a swell time hiking with your spouse or your loved ones. Just below the waterfalls, several beautiful rope swing bridges spanning over the canyon. Outdoor adventures are the thing here, and even if you are not athletic, you will have a good time.

11. Finnish Glass Igloo

Finland is a land of extremes in terms of season contrasts. During summer, the sun stays up all day, and all night, in Northern Finland . This phenomenon is known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun." During winter, the opposite happens: darkness fills the land, giving way to beautiful moonlighting, bright stars and a romantic setting for a cozy night under warm fires. This time is known as "kaamos." During kaamos, it is not entirely dark, the skies glow from the brisk the moon, and the stars, reflecting an amazing view from the backdrop of the bright snow across the landscapes. The Northern Lights project enchanting backdrops from the seashores. An exciting approach to experience the Midnight sun and Kaamos is to sleep in a a glass igloo, out in the open skies. It’s a magical experience! Our Final Word Finland is more than just a stunning European destination; it is mystical heaven on Earth that brings the human imagination to life. From the breathtaking sightseeing sites to the enchanted wonderland of snow and fascinating natural phenomena. Finland appeals to a wide range of tourists, including history lovers, nature-buffs, food lovers, and thrill-seekers. There really isn't a best time to see Finland. Both summer and winter offers travelers an incredible amount of activities. Head to Finland and discover why it is rated as the happiest country on earth.

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