#robinson crusoe-esque

[andromeda-ab]

The Hand That Needs You - Chapter Seven (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1513926064-the-hand-that-needs-you-chapter-seven?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=andromeda24602 

“Really, this forest was just another kind of star destroyer, a different kind of mechanism. And Rey knew machines. Knew them literally inside and out. She could learn this new system as she learned every other: take it apart, and put it back together.“

[where-the-flash]

"The Henpecked Duck": A Morbidly Intensive Reflection (Part 1)

(image: vcrfromheck.tumblr.com)

What you see before you is a facsimile of a VHS tape my grandmother mysteriously owned in the early nineties. The tape was specifically for my older sister and myself in the hopes that it would pacify us if we got too rowdy. My grandmother eventually donated it once we were older....without asking my permission. We're not on speaking terms at the present moment.

The videotape was entitled "Cartoons R Fun", which is embossed on a rainbow you might see arched over Mount Ararat post-Deluge. Indeed, cartoons "r" fun, if you forgive the juvenile usage of a homophonic letter as a plural present tense of the verb "to be".

Daffy Duck, proudly standing on a tan blob with thin pencil lines to signify a nest (one that's peacefully floating on a violet overcast sky), is holding a freshly-hatched, over-sized duckling in his hand, as a quaint HOME SWEET HOME knick-knack looks on lovingly. Not an accurate depiction of the advertised short, but we'll cross that poorly-drawn bridge when we get to it. However, the tilted Dr. Caligari-esque shadow of a window in the background is indicative of the mood of the short in question.

(image: vcrfromheck.tumblr.com)

The tape was top-loaded with four chortle-filled public domain follies produced between 1937 and 1941. Those amusements being, The Henpecked Duck, I Wanna Be a Sailor (see?), Robinson Crusoe Jr., and A Coy Decoy, as the tape advertises in a tacky brush font, on a showbiz marquee being lugged about by two (presumably) unpaid simian laborers, "Henpecked Duck and MANY MORE..." ("Henpecked Duck", as you might have noted, is missing a definite article, adding to the lackadaisical charm of the proceedings).

These tapes were not the best quality. I know this because the last ten seconds of A Coy Decoy are cut out, missing the all-important punchline of Daffy procreating with a toy duck. (it took me fifteen years to discover this, thanks to the miracle of www.youtube). The tape was too short so it ended on a blue screen of death. The shorts were not in black-and-white, nor are they in color, as the box cover deceptively advertises with its omnipresent "all color" rainbow. Rather, it's presented in a dusty sepia-tone (the shorts fell into public domain so I can incorrectly presume that the sepia is an after-effect of neglected film preservation). This in itself is not a bad thing. I like my cartoons to look like the first act of The Wizard of Oz. They look pristine and well-preserved, like something perfectly bronzed to a fine sheen. If I were to flick my finger, the film would make an audible 'ding'.

Anyway, the cartoon that sticks out the most (obviously, it's the main feature) is The Henpecked Duck. Released on August 30th, 1941 (about three months before the United States entered World War II....this was back when the epidemic of housewives battering their husbands with frying pans was of more pressing concern than Hitler), it was directed by Bob Clampett (the insane bad boy of the Warner Bros. animation department) and written by Warren Foster. It concerns a married Daffy Duck getting into some hot water after accidentally misplacing their unborn child. It is an intense piece of marital melodrama framed through the irreverent filter of Looney Tunes.

I've always been drawn to it. Not in any sort of substantive way (I'm not a child of divorce or anything of the sort), but in the sense that it's a piece of media that I've consumed to such a inordinate degree that it gains a kind of vague meaningfulness. It's also an overlooked short that I feel should have a little light drawn towards it, as a way of saving it from the gaping maw of obscurity. And since every piece of media has been discussed to death on the internet, I thought I could annoy you and place my minuscule stakes on this 7-minute short from 1941. Hopefully, this will be the final, definitive word on the subject. My legacy depends on it.

Let's examine this short in embarrassing, navel-gazing detail, shall we?. Not just gazing, mind you, I mean gripping my hairy belly between my two mitts and, depending on how much bendable flexibility I still have stored in my rapidly fading youthful figure, blow into my umbilicus scar, until you hear an audible plop-plop-plop.

(note: I put a sepia filter on these black & white screencaps to simulate how I experienced The Henpecked Duck as a child.)

WAH WAH WAH WAH WAHHHHHHHHHH. Doodly-doo, doodly-doo, scattily woo woo woo woo doo, doodly-doo, doodly-doo, doo doo. (That was obviously Mendelssohn playing over those overlapping rolling pins.)

The short opens on darkness, a cacophony of plaintive whinging blooms on the soundtrack. People are demanding divorces left and right. The camera suddenly springs back from the darkness to reveal the shadowy entrance of what appears to be a ramshackle barn or chicken coop. It's hard to tell considering the entrance takes up the entire frame. The lack of a proper wide establishing shot and the numerous disembodied voices only adds to the feeling of anxious dislocation. A wooden plank leads forbiddingly into the darkness. A crudely written sign hangs over the entrance, "Court of Inhuman Relations."

(A small reservation I have is the sound mixing on the voices being too loud. You can almost hear Carl Stalling's score which, from the few strains that I'm able to eke out, carry an foreboding menace).

Transition to a close-up of Porky's gavel (Porky is presiding over this raucous kangaroo court) rapping on the judge's stand with an aggressiveness too intense for the viewer to even process in these first few seconds. The camera rapidly pulls back from the gavel, to a wider shot of Porky, to an extreme low-angle long shot of the aisle as the crowd quiets down. Already, we have two instances of the camera springing back rapidly from close-ups to establishing shots, as if the cameraman was suddenly dropped out of the sky and is quickly trying to adjust to the foreign scenario he has just encountered. Needless to say, it has a startling effect.

Porky Pig announces the first case of the day: Duck vs. Duck. He orders Mr. Daffy Duck to approach the stand. There is a shot from Porky's perspective where we can see the entire courtroom with Porky's gavel and water jug hugely prominent in the foreground (they take up almost half of the frame, symbolizing the firm grip that the rural judicial system has even over the lowliest waterfowl). The courtroom is a surreal scene indeed. It consists of barnyard animals, from a duck with an abnormally long neck, to a dopey-looking black mutt, to a fat hog sitting uncomfortably on one of the benches, and a snoring elderly hen (who provide a few visual gags near the end of the short).

Daffy Duck slowly shuffles up the aisle. His overbearingly grim disposition are not unlike a POW during the Bataan Death March, with his slouched posture and hangdog eyes. Stalling's score is just as slow and methodical; a prominent trombone emitting a onomatopoeic 'wah-wah'. He walks past the onlooking crowd, eerily still and blurred in the background. The few figures he walks past in the foreground are featureless and emit a dull glow like bronze statues. The stillness of the crowd make Daffy's isolation unbearable.

Daffy approaches the stand as Porky calls up Mrs. Daffy Duck. Before I move on, I must point out a glancing detail and a naggingly under discussed trope of old 30's-40's cartoons: glassy eyelids. Daffy blinks a few times as he looks up at Porky on the stand. His eyelids have a glassy, polished tint, as if run through a shoe buffer. It is an unsettling detail, adding to the surreality of the mise-en-scène.

Mrs. Duck, unlike Daffy, charges up the aisle with a straw boater cocked at an angle, in the manner of old-time gangsters, and a ridiculous poofy ball bouncing from it (what else could one call it but a 'poofy ball'?), giving off a unexpectedly violent energy. Unlike the pathetic trombone used on Daffy, Stalling utilizes blaring trumpets, giving her entrance a martial air. I must amusingly point out that Mrs. Duck is essentially Daffy with a hat and skirt (no pronounced Minnie Mouse eyelashes either).

Shot from an intense low angle close-up, Mrs. Duck, the perennial battle-ax stereotype, chants the four most iconic words of my salad years: "I WANT A DIVORCE! I WANT A DIVORCE!" It's amazing how a single moment can be so easily etched into such an impressionable young mind. The immediacy of it (no one in real life can shout banal declarations with such dramatic relish) and its startling bluntness struck me as unusual in a Looney Tunes short. It's so dramatically heightened when compared to the more relatively light-hearted tone of other Warner Bros shorts. Though as I've grown older, I can't help but see a bit of the parodic in it; melodrama bursting to the brink of burlesque. Not to mention the almost shrill string section that accompany these outbursts.

Mrs. Duck rains a flurry of invective on Daffy (with a couple of thwacks on the head from her vanity parasol). We get a closeup of Daffy, where we get some fine acting on his end. As she twaddles on, he winces and grimaces, being verbally battered into submission. At one point, she commands him to respond. In a subtle bit of comic acting, Daffy opens his beak in an air of sarcasm (noted by the over-exaggerated intake of breath), and just as he's about to speak, he automatically snaps his beak closed just as she tells him to shut up. Henpecked, indeed, if you are unironically tickled by the avian-adjacent pun of its title.

The Honorable Porky Pig orders Mrs. Duck to calm herself and explain the origins of this particular domestic strife. I must point out that as Porky speaks, we get a two-shot of Mr. and Mrs. Duck. It's almost a still shot, except for the poofy ball on her hat, which slowly bounces until it comes to a stop, like a toy soldier winding down. It's a minute detail that adds to her energetic characterization. Even when she's still, she's moving.

At this point we are launched into the dramatic thrust of the short. We are spirited backward into the past by way of flashback. This is where the real fun begins.

We arrive at the abode of the Ducks (we get no exterior establishing shot) where silhouettes (projected on a wall of two by fours, adding to the rural decrepitude) of the couple hover over a nest with a plump half-oval of an egg nestled on top. A framed embroidered artwork of the words "Home Sweet Home" adds a touch of ironic bonhomie (the music of "Home Sweet Home" is gently playing in the background). Mrs. Duck is lovingly instructing Daffy to manually incubate the egg while she goes to visit her mother. She walks past the camera and out of frame. She then violently (and comically) juts her face back into frame (her beak thrusting like a dagger) with an idle threat of strangulation (the music suddenly turns menacing).

Daffy sits obediently on the nest, replying to every matrimonial trumpet blast with the soft-spoken yet seethingly sarcastic, "Yes, m'love." Daffy's comic acting is brilliant here. The frozen smile, the disingenuously coy eye-blinking, the listless, non-committal head nodding. Not to mention Carl Stalling's expressive soundtrack, with Mrs. Duck's dialogue highlighted by stormy percussion and Daffy's highlighted by softer staccato variations on the "Home Sweet Home" theme. When Mrs. Duck leaves, Daffy gets up off the nest and vents out his frustration, mocking her with multiple "Yes, m'love's" (we also get a sense of the wide space of their sparsely furnished house, giving it the feeling of a stage). The omniscient Mrs. Duck suddenly bursts through the door screaming, "What's that?!" Daffy springs back to the nest (the music oddly spring-like itself), a eerie moment of silence before Daffy quietly, obediently says, "Yes, m'love." Mrs. Duck leaves.

After an indeterminate passage of time, Daffy is still sitting on the egg (his arms uselessly crossed as opposed to the demure limpness he expressed when the missus was about), looking bored and restless. Carl Stalling's score here is particularly striking, giving this little interlude a weird note of foreboding. Daffy decides to examine the egg, shake it, and balance it precariously on his digit. How I relate to Daffy's fascination! There is something miraculous about that ovoid vessel. Its perfect shape and dimensions. Its firm yet fragile shell, its smell reminiscent of sticking your hand out of a speeding car window, then smelling the palm once retracted. When you put a knife to a boiled egg, you see its uniform circularity with its white outer layer and its yellow yolk (sans zygote, of course).

Daffy, in a fit of pure sponteneum, lays to rest the age-old chicken-or-the-egg conundrum by rendering it moot. We get an extreme close-up of his hand fondling the egg then pressing the egg between his palms until it is squeezed out of existence. Even Harry Handcuffs couldn't pull off a feat of such trickery. Daffy, standing confidently on his nest like a master sleight-of-hand, chants some magical hoodoo ("Hocus pocus, flippety flam, razzmatazz, and alacazam!") and the egg reappears between his two fingers (with an amusing "boing", clearly a human's voice).

He is amazed by his newfound abilities and addresses the audience with cross-eyed relish. Notice that the borders of the frame move inward so there there is a thick black outline underneath and to the sides. We cut to a wide shot of Daffy stepping off his nest (making a hearty reference to Major Bowes, an old "Gong Show"-esque radio program) and then stepping forward and out of the frame, his feet planted on the black. It's meant to be a fourth-wall gag but it's awkwardly executed because you notice the frame retracting in preparation for the gag. Frankly, I'm not quite sure why they had to break the fourth wall at that particular moment.

Daffy makes the egg disappear again. I must point out Stalling's lovely rendition of Juventino Rosas' waltz, "Sobre las Olas" (Over the Waves), a calming Wurlitzer standard, but like its title, suggests that Daffy is heading into choppy waters. He repeats the magic words and, lo and behold, the egg does not reappear. Daffy's eyes bulge out of his head and looks at the audience, shrugging with uneasy reassurance. He tries again. Same result. The tempo of the scene steadily grows faster (along with the score) as Daffy desperately tries to make the egg reappear. Daffy is now hysterically banging the floor, imploring an indifferent deity to make his unborn child whole again. Of course, it wouldn't be Looney Tunes if they didn't make Daffy break the fourth wall ("Say, is there a magician in the house?"), then immediately falling back into character (now that felt like a more appropriate fourth-wall gag than the previous one). A clock ticks on unrepentantly.

(continued in Part 2...I hoped to fool you and claim it's Part 1 as a dramatic cliffhanger for this intense marital thriller...it's only because Tumblr allows 30 images per post so I had to break it up into two parts....I apologize if I have completely demystified this [allegedly] mature and thoughtful examination)

[theharpermovieblog]

#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2025 MOVIE LIST

www.tumblr.com/theharpermovieblog

1960's SCI-FI SPECTACULAR WEEK

I watched Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964)

I've been wanting to see this for years now. Finally broke down and payed for it, rather than waiting for it to pop up on Tubi.

An astronaut gets stranded on Mars with his small monkey companion. While there, he must learn to survive the harsh conditions while waiting for rescue.

Director Byron Haskin has made several great Sci-Fi and adventure films including "War Of The Worlds" "Disney's Treasure Island" and "The Naked Jungle".

Here, he takes a classic adventure story and gives it a sci-fi twist.

"Robinson Crusoe On Mars" is sort of the first version of Andy Weir's "The Martian", which itself is very Robinson Crusoe-esque. A man is trapped on Mars and must struggle against the odds to survive. Shelter, heat, food, water, oxygen...all of them are problems to be solved. Of course, unlike "The Martian", this film involves aliens and a monkey...but the basic idea is the same.

If you don't know, "Robinson Crusoe" the novel by Daniel Defoe, is the story of a man's resilience in the face of being shipwrecked upon an island. It's a classic adventure story, and it's only natural to take that story into the realm of science fiction during the atomic age of sci-fi films.

That's exactly what the filmmakers were thinking when they made this back in 1964, expecting this great idea for a film to be a huge hit. However, the film was a flop in it's time, and has only built up it's well deserved cult status over the years

"Robinson Crusoe On Mars" Looks and feels big in scope, with special effects that are both charmingly dated and expertly crafted, in a way which feels like a vivid classic comic. Much like the special effects and colorful nature of Byron Haskin's other sci-fi classic "War Of The Worlds".

Overall, this film is well acted, engaging and absolutely worth your time if you like 1960's science fiction. As a fan of the original "Star Trek" series I quite liked this film. It's corny in all the right ways, cool in others, funny at times and exciting enough to keep you hanging on.

The one downside is it's extremely abrupt ending. It's a big blemish on an otherwise well made film.

1960's film science fiction is wonderful. It's full of exploration, both beyond the stars and within ourselves. It can also be a rather large bright spot, bridging the fear based Sci-fi of the 1950's with the doomed and oppressed dystopias of the 1970's.

It's a genre of films which I like so much, I'm going to be recommending you watch all three of the movies on this week's list, starting here with "Robinson Crusoe On Mars".

[thesunlounge]

Reviews 364: X.Y.R.

X.Y.R. is among my absolute favorite purveyors of transportive balearica, soothing synth ambient, and mysterious fourth world, and ahead of writing about his epic, mystical, and deeply zoned out Pilgrimage LP on Not Not Fun, I’d like to take some time to write about the artist’s Tourist, which saw a cassette repress by Ingrown Records a few months ago, after originally being released by the label on vinyl back in 2017. X.Y.R.–real name Vladimir Karpov–has explored a range of fantastical and otherworldly textures across his discography, whether through his increasingly psychedelic collaborations with Not Not Fun, or through releases such Robinson Crusoe (Lost Soundtrack), El Dorado, and Artika, all of which explore sonic narratives both mythical and imagined. But amongst all the shades and styles he has worked with, I am perhaps most fascinated by his journeys into tropical dreamworlds and horizontal paradises, such as those found on the Big Calm cassette. And in many ways, Tourist was a spiritual successor to that album, as both releases perfectly soundtrack lazy days spent at seaside, with music that is seemingly meant to evoke the feeling of swaying in a hammock strung between two palm trees, as warm salt-air, rhythmic waves, and perfumes from exotic flowers lull the mind into a meditative state of bliss. As always, X.Y.R. colors over his beloved Formanta-Mini and Alisa1387 analog synthesizers with pedal fx, an RC-20 loop station, and field recordings, while also giving space to the guitar of Dmitriy Borodin on album opener “Celler Florida Fiesta.” And just as on the vinyl release, Alexandr Dimov’s evocative artwork graces the cover, with his visage of a fisherman gazing at some glorious sunset perfectly encapsulating the album’s paradisiacal evocations of a relaxing island escape.

X.Y.R. - Tourist (Ingrown Records, 2017 / 2020) In opener “Celler Florida Fiesta”, percolating synthesizers shimmer like Carribean crystals, only as if seen through a mirage of seafoam. Vocalized bass textures fade in and mechanical loops click, pulse, and breath while bird whistles flutter at the edge of the mix. Reverb-soaked field recordings move around the periphery as the synths occasionally lock into playful tropicalisms that pull my mind the work of Hosono…these bleary and blurry themes of child-like wonderment and equatorial ecstasy. Everything is held together by hushed rhythms of reverberating click and clack, while fourth world hooks whoosh back and forth between pan-pipes and whistles. And by the end, the abstracted tropical loops and drunken themes of seaside mirth begin to suggest an android’s approximation of an island lullaby. The swirling warmth of “Bon Voyage” follows, with organic bass thumps and hissing cymbals flowing through dub delay chains. New age synthetics smear and smoldering subsonic waves work through melodies of equatorial splendor, with looping phrases bathing the mind in a summer sunshine glow. Reggae-hued textures spread outwards amongst echoing chord bursts, hazy heatwave pads diffuse in from distant horizons, and as the basslines recede, white noise whispers and sighing seed shakers add polyrhythmic movement. Soviet-era synths cycle through mermaid melodies that dance across the stereo field, and bass notes swim dreamily in one ear, only to have starscape leads resume their phrase on the other side of the spectrum. 

Pads hover amidst bubbling liquids at the outset of “Bathyscape Journey,” and dreamspace synth circulations merge with white noise shaker patterns. ASMR clicks and electroacoustic whispers flutter as those hovering pads reach towards an impossibly beautiful horizon, and faded whistles emerge to lead a relaxing island sway. The mix overflows with texture and movement as underwater gemstones generate sparkles that trail off to the far reaches of the stereo field, and lush layers of reverb create an otherworldly effervescence…as if the entire mix is bathed in softened layers of pearlescent fizz. Deep chords evoke a choir of masculine sea sprites, and something in the melodies recalls the folk music of the southeastern Pacific. Tapped cymbals evoke drumsticks splashing into metalloid pools of static and further folksy whistles melt over the mix, which increasingly evokes a psychedelic paradise of tropical wonderment, wherein colorful creatures of the seafloor play strange woodwinds of shell and coral while analog cloudforms swirl all around. Next comes “Mountain Drift” and the sounds of breath, children, and bubbling synth pulsations that increasingly grow in magnitude. Insectoid rattles are heard far away and blurring layers of squarewave synthesizer intermingle, as dazzling phrases and interlocking echo patterns flow in from all directions. Mystical temple melodies evoke an ancient forest shrouded in fog, but the sounds of humanity are never far from reach, as snippets of childlike chatter coalesce with birdsong and industrial factory detritus. I’m reminded at times of the distinctive new age and environmental ambient of Inoyama Land, as well as of minimalism, due to the increasing presence of bouncing curlicues. kinetic echo cycles, and psychoactive sound loops.

In “Captain’s Pipe,” avian conversations surround soft focus synth melodies that move through longform ascents and descents. Harmonious wavefronts of organ-esque tonality bath the body in ecclesiastical light and sequencers constructed from ocean crystals dazzle the mind, with time signatures not quite aligning, and thus creating a vibe of daydream intoxication. Keys buzz in the left ear and voices speak in the distance, and though I know not the title’s origin, I like to imagine it as the name of some café deep in the jungle…a sort of harmonious glow of life and culture in the heart of a rainforest, with people basking in tropical melodics and conversing about nothing at all while birds paradise flit from tree to tree. Flowing seamlessly into “Euphoria,” heavenly tones quiver like Spacemen 3, only as if heard underwater and surrounded by bubble clouds that erupt from seafloor vents. Space age whistles and meditative pads whisper together until suddenly, the track develops into a fully formed island groove, one that sees equatorial basslines thumping, shakers sketching out rhythms of seaside mesmerism, and synthesizers harmonizing together, with tones ghostly, otherworldly, and again recalling the worlds of City Pop (think Wonder City Orchestra and Jun Fukamachi’s ambient work). Wavering leads dance around the spectrum while being tracked by percussive sparkles and elsewhere, bubbling currents flow upwards before dispersing into shards of light. Eventually, those groovy basslines recede as seasick synth work diffuses into the mix, but it’s a false ending into whirlpool of angelic shimmers and metallic wisps, for soon enough, the thumping bass jam returns, bringing with it atmospheres of a thrilling seaside sashay.

Reverberating voices sit above a drunken bass gallop in “Cocktail Party,” as if meant to suggest a futuristic saloon town by the sea. Thudding percussions underly the bass motions while tropical hazes flutter in and out of focus…all while vibrato atmospheres cycle through strange patterns. Percussive pads mimic steel drums, smears of feedback arc in the distance, and the beats cut momentarily before dropping back in, with the body falling ever further into the loping sway. There’s a touch of Ethiopian music intermingling with spaghetti western soundtrack work, and at times the vibe presages the more blissful and balearic moments from SiP’s Leos Naturals. And later, further melodic layers descend to create harmonizing polyrhythms as the titular cocktail party precedes somewhere deep in the mix. The glimmering synthesizer wavefronts of “Coconut Haze” emerge from crowd chatter, while slow motion loops whirl around bass pulses that are felt more than heard. Strings synths diffuse into clouds of gas and heatwave leads flutter upwards while lullaby arpeggiations sit deep in the background ether…their subdued rhythms eventually enhanced by ceremonial drums and tambourine jangles. Electronics evoke the feeling of being surrounded by a summer storm, with gentle layers of resonance joining together and generating soft spiritual howls. The body sways back and forth on the paradise rhythms, and hissing textures of pink noise and serene static surround the spirit, again evoking a cleansing bath of rainfall. Closer “Vanishing Point” begins with garbled electronics and reversing streaks of angelic radiance–the vibe gentle at first–but growing increasingly strange was the track progresses. Tapped cymbals and tambourines flow in as arps made of glowing glass fire across the spectrum, generating dazzling light patterns that seem to emanate from some unseen center. Berlin school textures are filtered into vaporwave crystals before ascending on currents of rainbow energy, and the melodies are enhanced with a sense of wistful nostalgia akin to 50s pop…like a paradise remembered, or perhaps only dreamed.

(images from my personal copy)

[ofbeautsandbeasts]

So you want to know what I’ve been up to these past few days..

Here are some branches from my maple tree that fell down in the past couple months that I fashioned into “mini rafts”

Then I connected the first raft to the long sticks...and it was a very wobbly process.

Next, I secured the bottom raft only to realize I’d placed it the wrong way ~_~;;

I fixed it and made a third raft since the middle looked so empty.

Then I placed some random objects onto my piece-of-crap, extra rickety stand.

Voila!

And so, that concludes my foray into crude Robinson Crusoe-esque furniture!

[tamarindhills22]

Best Beaches in Antigua

When planning for Antigua accommodation, expect a greater variety of beaches than any other island in the area. It is also small enough that it is difficult to get more than a few hundred yards from a stunning stretch of golden-colored shoreline. No matter if you are looking for full-scale resort beaches with all the amenities or quiet desert island coves, Antigua has the beach that is right for you.

Ffryes Beach

The tranquil, white-sanded Ffryes' Beach is cut off from the rest. This quiet spot attracts families but isn't overcrowded. Dennis Cocktail Bar & Restaurant provides great Antiguan food.

This beach is most famous on the west side. It is also popular for snorkeling. 

Fort James Beach

This beach is ideal for Caribbean cruisers who have visited the island. It is located only 3.5km (2.2 mile) away from the St John cruise terminal. Or, if you have the time and desire, you can walk or drive there. However, the beach is much less popular than Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay to the north, despite its beautiful white-blonde fringe and the mysteriously moody remains of 18th-century Fort James.

Locals make it a popular spot, but they add some color with their lively games of beach cricket and volleyball. There are also a few low-key, but excellent, restaurants near the fort.

Rendezvous Bay Beach

If you want Robinson Crusoe-esque remoteness it is the south. The thrill is in arriving with the flaxen-arc of Rendezvous Bay. This is Antigua’s most remote beach. It is located along a charmingly undeveloped stretch of coast. Access is by foot, on a rough trail or private yacht.

Antigua's Ocean View Suites offer relaxation and fun. These suites provide stunning views of the sea and beaches along the headland.

You can contact +1 268 562 7380 or +1 646 394 9823 or email us at reservations@tamarindhills.com.

[camtumbls]

[6/12] Concrete Island by J.G. Ballard From the writer of Crash - I saw this book in the library and it caught my eye because of its description. A description that I took as metaphorical...a man trapped on a traffic island trying to survive and escape a modern prison. Unfortunately, it was quite literal and one of the least satisfying reads of my life. Rather than exploring modern life more deeply, or providing an interesting character study of a man trapped in an adverse circumstance, or providing an interesting Robinson Crusoe-esque creative survival story...the book was simply about an uninteresting man slowly recovering from his injuries with the help of some local misfits. Bad Bad Bad Bad

[goodtravelmaker]

Tropical islands available for private hire in Belize, Australia, Madagascar and more

Tropical islands available for private hire in Belize, Australia, Madagascar and more

If you’re looking to truly get away from it all when travel reopens, one of these dreamy private islands might fit the bill.  Drenched in sunshine and surrounded by azure waters, these Robinson Crusoe-esque tropical retreats, from Belize to Australia, are an ideal base to let your cares slip away.  Scroll down and allow that dampened wanderlust to reignite…  Little Harvest Caye, Belize – from…

[oneluckyrun-blog]

23 Questions for booklovers

1. Do you look at the end of the book when you start it? 

Never.  I don’t even like to watch previews for a movie. 2. Do you read reviews before buying a book? 

Maybe comments on amazon. 3. Do you establish reading goals or do you just go with the flow? 

No goals, other than to read as often as I can. 4. Do you force yourself to finish a book even if you don’t like it?

50/50.  If I don’t consider it at least a “C” I won’t finish it. 5. Which book are you currently reading? 

Crucial Conversations.  And some kind of legal fiction by Steve Martini that is barely a “C”. 6. What is trash literature to you?

Some of the mass-market stuff.  James Patterson-esque. 7. What’s your favorite reading position?

69.  Oh, wait, wrong set of questions. 8. Which character impressed you the most? (Can be an evil character)

Augustus Rose (A Day and a Night and a Day).  “Most” is a little strong, I liked the book. 9. Do you remember the first book you ever read? 

The first book I remember reading was one of the illustrated children’s classics.  Maybe Robinson Crusoe. 10. What are some classics you hated?

Little Women 11. Do you enjoy reading “vapid” books for entertainment? If so, which ones?

Slightly ashamed to admit I read all the  Jack Reacher books from Lee Child. 12. If you could have a cup of coffee with an author, which one would you choose and why. 

Stephen King 13. Open the book you’re currently reading in page 23 and write the sentence on line number 23.

It’s upstairs.  I’m gonna make this up:

He gave her pussy a slap and he asked “How do you spell pudenda?” 14. Do you write?

Yes 15. What makes you fall in love with a book?

It is a portal.  Why be me if I can slip into another world, another skin? 16. Hard cover or paperback?

No preference.  I read a lot of ebooks on my kindle for the sake of convenience, but I prefer actual paper. 17. Most beautiful book cover? (Yes, judge ). 

Don’t really notice. 18. Favorite reading place?

Bed.  Although reading is one of my favorite respites for an airplane or an airport. 19. What is one of the books you disliked the most? 

“Start With Why” 20. Unpopular book opinion? (A book that you loved that everyone hated or a book that you hated that everyone loved) 

“Body” by Harry Crews.  Why isn’t this heralded as phenomenal? 21. Which book related sites do you enjoy the most?

Amazon and goodreads are the only ones I seem to touch. 22. Are you in a bookclub?

nope 23. Do you think everyone should read books?

Yep

[dallasmorningnews]

RIP Adam West: ‘Batman’ dies at 88

Adam West, the actor who returned Batman to its iconic status in the 1960s, died Friday night in Los Angeles, according to reports.

West died from complications of leukemia, a family spokesperson told Variety and the Hollywood Reporter on Saturday morning. He was 88.

"Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight, and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans' lives. He was and always will be our hero," West's family said in a statement.

West's career didn't start as the Caped Crusader. He debuted in Paul Newman's The Young Philadelphians (1959) and later Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). He provided a voice to the animated Redux Riding Hood (1997), which received an Oscar nomination for best short film. 

Batman producer William Dozier took notice when West played Captain Quik, a James Bond-esque character with a sailor's cap in commercials for Nestle's Quik.

At the time, he was filming a spaghetti western in Europe, but returned to the U.S. to meet with Dozier. Thirty pages into the script, he knew "it was the kind of comedy I wanted to do," he said in a 2006 interview with the Archive of American Television.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, West signed the contract and asked that he be given the opportunity to approve who would play his sidekick, Robin the Boy Wonder. He approved the casting of Burt Word, who had no acting experience.

[howtofindthemoney]

Looking at Indonesia on the map, the sprawling archipelago splatters like paint across the eastern hemisphere. The transcontinental country is the largest island nation in the world, thought to stretch across over 740,000 square miles with roughly 17,000 islands in its domain—though the final tally is still being verified by the United Nations. Naturally, the collection includes a few private island retreats, some of which are kitted out with bamboo architecture, tented camps, and even fantastical tree houses. At these Robinson Crusoe-esque getaways clear water and white sands are a given. Meanwhile, welcome surprises come in the form of spa safaris, private beach picnics, Technicolor scuba diving, and spontaneous wildlife encounters.

[explorewithlee]

108 Palms Beach Resort

108 Palms Beach Resort

ROBINSON CRUSOE-ESQUE

⇷☓⇸

108 Palms Beach Resort is a unique place to stay, situated on a secluded virgin beach in the middle of a tropical exotic garden surrounded by beautiful palm trees and wildlife. During your stay here it will honestly feel like you are on a Robinson Crusoe adventure but with more luxuries and less of the ship wrecked situations.

Most of the rooms look out on to the…

[jonathannunezg-blog]

Explore 5 Lesser-known Greek Islands!

Avoid thr crowded and Greek's mos mobbed island and enjoy your vacations at more chiller and equally beautiful island with less crowd. Rarely mentioned in travel guides, ignored by package tour operators, and skipped by typical tourists, lie Greece’s hidden treasures - its pristine, unspoiled islands. With over 227 inhabited islands to choose from, why not begin with these five lesser-known endearing isles off the beaten track.

Folegandros

Steeped on the edge of a steep cliff flanked by the Sea of Crete, Folegandros is bewitchingly beautiful. Surprisingly, this Greek beauty has managed to stay hidden from tourism. In fact, the island got its first ATM only a couple of years ago! Besides its pristine beaches, Folegandros’ highlight is the clifftop village of Hora and its zigzagging steps leading to the Church of Pangia.

Alonnisos At Alonnisos you can experience the delights of the unpretentious, laidback Greek life. Wake up early and head to the National Marine Park of Northern Sporades to spot some rare seabirds, dolphins, and Mediterranean monk seals. Stroll through olive groves and orchards. Sip on chilled ouzo while relaxing on the beach. Relish fresh grilled fish. And when the sun sets, join in the locals and dance to old bouzouki classics. If that’s not a perfect escapade, we don’t know what is!

Koufonisia Koufonisia is Greece’s best kept secret. A set of two islands, the inhabited Pano Koufonissi and the uninhabited Kato Koufonissi, they are separated only by a 200-meter sea channel. Pano Koudonissi is stuck in its own time period. It is perfectly unkempt with a cluster of white Cycladic homes. Fishing continues to remain the main source of livelihood. There are no real roads. People still move around on foot or on bicycles. This is where you come to unplug and unwind, in the true sense of the words.

Amorgos

Amorgos is an island far, far away from the touristy traps of mainland Greece. A long bumpy boat ride from Athens brings you to this postcard-like Cyclades island. Wandering through the island’s tiny villages garnished with white-washed houses with colorful doors, is like taking a walk back in Greece of the yesteryears. Think Santorini minus the glamour and crowds. When you’re not busy doing nothing, visit the spectacular 10th century Hozoviotissa Monastery that distinctly stands out like a giant white blob on a rugged brown cliff overlooking the azure sea.

Gavdos A tiny dot in the Sea of Crete, the unadulterated island of Gavdos is for intrepid travelers looking for a Robinson Crusoe-esque experience. Inhabited by a tiny community of 100 odd souls, this surreal island is Greece at its isolated best. Gavdos seems to be trapped in a 60’s time loop with travelers camping on beaches, campfire under the stars, and rock-n-roll music lilting in the background. Hundreds of years ago Homer described Gavdos as the ancient Ogygia, home of the nymph Calypso, where the ship of Odysseus crashed. And it’s easy to believe Homer. As you idly sit on the beach, it’s not difficult to imagine the seductive Calypso luring Odysseus. Gavdos, is where time seems to stand still.

Resource- https://medium.com/mihuru-direct/explore-5-lesser-known-greek-islands-a45aef38ebe1

[melbynews-blog]

Inseln der Überlieferung | 10 (fast) verlassene Inseln | MNN

Neuer Beitrag veröffentlicht bei https://melby.de/inseln-der-ueberlieferung-10-fast-verlassene-inseln-mnn/

Inseln der Überlieferung | 10 (fast) verlassene Inseln | MNN

Inseln der Überlieferung

Die Menschen sind seit langem von verlassenen Inseln fasziniert. Berühmte literarische Klassiker wie "Robinson Crusoe" haben die Phantasie von Generationen von Lesern inspiriert – lange nachdem die Weltkarte ausgefüllt wurde. Während es keine noch unbekannten Inseln mehr gibt, die darauf warten, entdeckt zu werden, gibt es noch viele unbewohnte Orte in den entfernten Ecken der Weltmeere. Viele dieser unbewohnten Orte sind sehr Crusoe-esque – nichts wie die entspannenden und isolierten tropischen Paradiese, über die wir phantasieren. Ohne Resorts oder Wohnort dominiert die Natur. Dies sind die Ziele, die den verlassenen Inselgeschichten entsprechen.

Diese Galerie wurde ursprünglich im Mai 2014 veröffentlicht und wurde mit neuen Informationen aktualisiert.

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Achtung! Dieser Artikel wurde automatisch von Englisch in Deutsch übersetzt. Den Original Artikel finden Sie hier: Quelle

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[fadingfartconnoisseur]

25 Awesome Things to Do in Thailand

There are so many things to do in Thailand, you could spend a lifetime there and just barely scratch the surface. It is a dream destination for many travelers, and for good reason. The Kingdom of Smiles checks so many boxes that make it an excellent destination for all types of travelers.

You’ll find bustling cities, sandy beaches, lush jungles, and ruins of ancient kingdoms. The cuisine is some of the best in the world, and the nightlife is the stuff of legends. Your money goes far here, ensuring a great trip without breaking the bank.

The only problem with planning a trip to Thailand is that there are so many things to do. To make your life a bit easier and to show you just how awesome a country it is, here are 25 things to do in Thailand.

1. Temple Hopping in Bangkok

Let’s start out with the most sacred site in the entire country. Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the grandest and most important temple in Thailand. It’s believed that the Emerald Buddha was found after lightning struck a temple in Chiang Rai way back in 1434.

The sacred figurine had quite the journey over the centuries, eventually ending up in the newly constructed temple in Bangkok in 1784. Only the King of Thailand can touch the image, and he does so three times a year during important ceremonies.

The stunning Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

In addition to Wat Phra Kaew, you should also be sure to check out Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn). It’s easy to visit all three in one busy day if you’re motivated. Take a lunch break down by the Chao Phraya River to break it up in the middle, and then relax in the large Sanam Luang park when you’re all finished.

2. Ride the 1,864 Curves of the Mae Hong Son Loop

If it’s an adventure that you seek, head to the north and rent some wheels to tackle this famed loop. It’s said that there are 1,864 curves in the road that takes you from Chiang Mai through a few other towns and back, but you’ll probably lose track trying to count them. Along the way, you can stop off in a national park and scenic small towns for hiking, hot springs, caves, and so much more.

It’s possible to travel the MHS loop by public transport, but just be ready for locals who can’t handle the many curves to be constantly losing their lunch. You’re much better off riding your own bike, as intimidating as the roads may be. Bikes and maps are readily available in Chiang Mai. This is definitely one of the coolest things to do in Thailand!

3. Party on Ko Pha-Ngan

You’ve probably heard of the Full Moon Party that goes down every month, but that’s not the only shindig on this Thai island. In addition to the monthly lunacy of Full Moon, there’s also the Jungle Experience. It’s a much smaller, chilled out affair, but it’s tons of fun. Where else will you watch a DJ spin out of a neon-lit cheetah head?

The island also hosts half and new moon gatherings and a waterfall party, so if you stay for a few days you’ll probably catch one. Of course, you’ll also find a wide range of bars around the island for those nights when a party isn’t going on.

4. Jungle Trekking

While traveling in the north, you’ve got plenty of options for great multi-day treks into the jungle. On a 3-day trip out of Chiang Mai, you can swim in waterfalls, hike to epic temples, sleep in remote villages, and do a bit of cliff diving.

Home for the night on a 3-day trek.

You’ll also learn a lot about the Thai jungle and the plants and animals that call it home. It’s a great break from the busy tourist centers and a chance to disconnect from the modern world for a short while.

5. Chatuchak Weekend Market

Shopping is one of the top things to do in Thailand. This Bangkok market is the largest in the country and one of the biggest in the world. It’s like being inside the Internet, as you can literally find everything here. There are thousands upon thousands of stalls that are supposedly organized into 27 categories. It’s also quite popular, attracting over 200,000 visitors a day.

Wandering around the maze-like structure, you’re sure to get lost. That’s half the fun, though! Bring your camera and your best bargaining skills and you’ll have an awesome time. I personally hate shopping and absolutely love visiting Chatuchak.

6. Fall in Love With Pai

Whether or not you ride the Mae Hong Son loop, you should definitely pay a visit to the town of Pai. This little hippie town is in a beautiful corner of Thailand with lots to do. You can play in waterfalls, hike in a canyon, and soak in hot springs all within a half-hour motorbike ride.

Back in town, there’s an awesome night market, several art galleries, great cafes, and plenty of bars for some fun after dark. Check to see if the monthly art & music party is going on when you visit, it’s tons of fun.

7. Eat All the Foods

One of the best things to do in Thailand is sample the local cuisine. There’s a reason why Thai food is famous all around the world, and there’s nothing like the real thing. Whether it’s khao soi from a street vendor or a fancy Bangkok restaurant, it’s all mouth-wateringly delicious.

A yummy bowl of khao soi.

8. Scuba Dive on Ko Tao

If you’re not already scuba certified, the island of Ko Tao is one of the best places in the world to get certified. There are tons of dive centers here offering a wide range of courses, and the competition ensures good quality and low prices.

Unlike other places where you’ll train in a pool, you can actually get out in the ocean to practice the basics here. After a few days, you’ll have your certificate in hand and be ready to explore the other 70% of the planet.

9. Watch a Ladyboy Cabaret Show

There are a lot of shows you can see in Thailand. Some of them are classy, while some are anything but. A ladyboy cabaret show falls somewhere in the middle. At the very least, it’s a good time and one of the more unique things to do in Thailand. Plus, it makes for a good story when you get back home.

10. Get Wet and Wild During Songkran

Thai people like to have a good time, plain and simple. If something is not sanuk (fun), then it’s not worth doing. This attitude really shines through during Songkran, the Thai New Year. Joining in the party is hands down one of the best things to do in Thailand.

Songkran is a massive party.

While the first two days are about visiting family, going to temples, and making merit, the third day is a massive water fight and a raging party. It happens every year from April 13-15, with the biggest celebrations taking place in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

11. Participate in a Buddhist Holiday

In Thailand, around 95% of the population is Buddhist. To understand the importance of Buddhism in Thai culture, try to be in the country during one of the major Buddhist holidays. There are several throughout the year, so be sure to check the calendar.

Join the crowds and head to the biggest temple wherever you are. Thai people are very welcoming and are happy to have you there. Just be sure to dress and act appropriately. No flip-flops and singlets in the temple, folks.

12. Go Rock Climbing in Railay

The province of Krabi is home to tons of majestic karst mountains. The beach towns of Railay and Tonsai are somewhat of a climbing Mecca, with hundreds of routes to choose from. If you’re a beginner, there are schools where you can train using a wall first.

When it comes to choosing where to stay over here, Railay is a bit more upscale and touristy. Tonsai is a backpacker hotspot with plenty of budget accommodation so you can spend more money on enjoying the climbing.

13. Visit the Heaven and Hell of Architecture

Near the northern city of Chiang Rai, you can visit heaven and hell in a single day. First up is the White Temple, which is the brainchild of a famous Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. There are thousands of temples in Thailand, but none quite like this one. Come here to see how Neo from “The Matrix,” Hello Kitty, and George W. Bush fit into a Buddhist temple.

The dreamlike White Temple.

On the other side of town, you’ll find the Black House. Built by another artist (the late Thawan Duchanee), this complex is now a museum of his various collections. We’re not talking about Persian rugs and fine China here. Instead, you’ll see plenty of animal fur, skins, bones, and teeth. It’s creepy, but awesome.

14. Try a Fish Spa

Ever wondered what it feels like to have hundreds of tiny fish eat all the dead skin off your feet? You’re in luck, because so-called “fish spas” are plentiful in Thailand. Grab an ice cold Chang beer and enjoy the silly experience. On the one occasion where I tried it, I couldn’t stop laughing the entire time.

15. See or Train in Muay Thai

Martial arts are a big deal in Asia. China has kung-fu, Japan has karate, and Thailand has Muay Thai. This style of kickboxing is Thailand’s national sport, and it has been around for thousands of years. It’s often called the “Science of Eight Limbs” because of the many ways you can attack.

There are plenty of places to catch an evening of Muay Thai bouts around the country. You can even join a program to train in Muay Thai if you’re looking to get in the ring. It’s one way to work off all that pad Thai and mango with sticky rice you’ve eaten.

16. Explore Ko Tarutao National Park

Thailand is such a popular destination that it’s hard to imagine there are still places where you can find a totally empty beach. Welcome to Ko Tarutao National Park! This island in the far south was once a prison (crocodiles and sharks ensured prisoners didn’t try to escape), but it’s now a hotspot for adventure.

An empty beach… in Thailand?!

Spend a few days here cycling, hiking, and spotting wildlife. You can also take a boat ride through the mangroves to explore a cave. It’s the best place to have a Robinson Crusoe-esque trip in Thailand.

17. Cycle Around an Ancient Kingdom

History and culture buffs should be sure to include a visit to one of Thailand’s two ancient kingdoms on their itinerary. You can choose between Ayutthaya or Sukhothai, or just check out both! Rent a bicycle and spend a day cycling around the ruins of once grand palaces and temples.

It’s possible to do Ayutthaya on a day trip from Bangkok, but you’ll probably want to spend at least a night in the area if you choose to visit Sukhothai. Whichever you choose, this is one of the best things to do in Thailand.

18. Take a Cooking Class

After eating nothing but delicious, authentic Thai food, it will be hard to go back to your bland old comfort food. Why not take a cooking class and learn how to make classic Thai dishes yourself?

In tourist hubs like Phuket and Chiang Mai, you’ve got tons of options for a culinary course. Learn to whip up some papaya salad or Massaman curry and throw a Thai dinner party when you get home.

19. Stay in a Luxury Villa

Hostels are great and all, but sometimes you just need to feel like you’re on vacation. Thanks to sites like Airbnb and VRBO, it’s possible to rent your very own luxury villa on the Thai islands for about the same price as a night in a major hotel chain.

Grab a bottle of Sangsom rum and a coconut to fix up my personal favorite vacation beverage, a coco-rum-onut. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your own private pool with a good book. Save the dorm rooms for the cities.

20. Volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary

Elephants are an important part of Thai culture. They even named their most famous beer after them! Enjoy a great day out while helping to protect these magnificent creatures by volunteering at an elephant sanctuary for the day.

Kisses from a pachyderm.

Unfortunately, many of the tourist focussed elephant camps in Thailand have extremely poor records of animal welfare, and elephant rides and shows are still relatively common. However, by visiting an elephant sanctuary you’ll get to see these beautiful beasts up close while bathing and feeding them, and be lending a helping hand to the preservation efforts at the same time.

21. Poi Show + Buckets

If you’re traveling on a Thai island, chances are you’ll end up at a bar that serves drinks in beach buckets and has a fire-spinning poi show. Sure, it’s a bit cliched at this point, but when in Rome, right? You never know when you’ll catch a poi spinner who absolutely blows your mind, and it’s a fun night out either way.

22. Fly Through the Jungle

For an action-packed, adrenaline-fueled day, try one of the zipline courses outside of Chiang Mai. You’ll spend a few hours flying through the jungle on various ziplines, walking across sky bridges or abseiling between them. Chances are you’ll also get hilarious guides who show off their fearlessness on the course.

23. Ride in a Tuk-Tuk

No trip to Thailand would be complete without a tuk-tuk ride. These colorful three-wheeled taxis are ubiquitous in Bangkok, and they make for quite the thrill ride. Be sure to bargain on the fare, and then hold on for dear life as you zip through the city’s intense traffic.

Speed across Bangkok in one of these bad boys.

It’s also possible to arrange for a tuk-tuk driver to take you on a tour. Hiring one driver for a day or a few hours is a great way to pack a lot of sightseeing into a short time period, and it’s the most uniquely Thai way to travel around.

24. Experience Bangkok’s Nightlife

For night owls, there’s no place quite like BKK. Pound cheap drinks with other backpackers on the infamous Khao San Road. Sip craft cocktails on a fancy rooftop. Hang out with expats at the popular Cheap Charlie’s before taking in some live music at Bangkok Beat. Order a beer from an old VW microbus that’s been converted into a bar. The world is your oyster come nightfall in Bangkok.

25. Take the Slow Boat to Laos

When your Thailand trip comes to a close, why not keep the journey rolling into neighboring Laos? The 2-day slow boat ride along the mighty Mekong River is incredibly scenic and sure beats cramming onto a budget airline. Cruise into Luang Prabang and start a whole new adventure.

We’re just getting started with all the incredible things to do in Thailand. There’s so much going on here that you’ll definitely want to maximize your stay. Many nationalities are granted 30 days on arrival, so why not just go ahead and spend an awesome month in Thailand? Chances are you’ll be left wanting more even if you do that, as Thailand is the travel gift that keeps on giving.

The post 25 Awesome Things to Do in Thailand appeared first on Goats On The Road.

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[irhinoltd-blog]

Soneva Fushi: The Robinson Crusoe-Esque Resort of Your Dreams — TRAVELLING THE WORLD SOLO After a few lovely days spent at Kandolhu Resort in the North Ari Atoll, it was time to head a little farther north to the Baa Atoll.