#sleepy chaotic climate

[enigmaticexplorer]

I Yearn, and so I Fear - Chapter II

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General Summary. Nearly a year since the Galactic Empire’s rise to power, Kazi Ennari is trying to survive. But her routine is interrupted—and life upended—when she’s forced to cohabitate with former Imperial soldiers. Clone soldiers. 

Pairing. Commander Wolffe x female!OC

General Warnings. Canon-typical violence and assault, familial struggles, terminal disease, bigotry, explicit sexual content, death. This story deals with heavy content. If you’re easily triggered, please do not read. For a more comprehensive list of tags, click here.

Fic Rating. E (explicit)/18+/Minors DNI.

Chapter Word Count. 4.7K

17 Telona

Kazi was a creature of routine.

She preferred tidiness and organization, as demonstrated by her clean house and minimalistic interior design. Everything had its place. And clutter was quickly alleviated. If it wasn’t useful, then it was donated.

After her father’s death, she became hyper-focused on intensive scheduling. The galaxy was chaotic and unpredictable. Routine guaranteed a sense of security and allowed her to feel in control. 

Early morning—the gray of nautical twilight just giving way to the pinks of sunrise—was her time. 

She preferred the quiet, the solitude. 

A swim in the lake down the hill, her strokes repetitive.

A brisk walk back to the house, the dewy climate of Eluca’s jungles and the chilled scent of an earthy breeze relaxing.

A quick shower to cleanse herself. 

A bowl of porridge decorated with chunks of lumina berries and a drizzle of honey. 

Breakfast completed, her solitude lasted an hour, soon interrupted by a sleepy Neyti and a busy Daria. The morning routine took a turn as Kazi focused on Neyti. Breakfast eaten, teeth brushed, school uniform donned. A short drive to the school and then onto work in Eluca’s capital city, Canopis. 

Daria, sometimes with the aid of Healer Natasha, retrieved Neyti from school in the afternoon. Kazi returned to the house in the late evening, ate dinner, and then started her analytical work for the rebel network, spending time with Neyti as the youngling completed her schoolwork or watched a film. Her day didn’t allow for unscheduled interruptions. 

So it had gone since their arrival on Eluca.

Hair still wet from her shower, Kazi stood at the kitchen counter slicing strips of a lumina berry. The berries—ovular shaped and larger than her hand—were a random buy at the marketplace, but when she realized Neyti enjoyed them, they became a staple in the household.

The dark purple fuzz of the shell tickled her palm. She placed the tip of her knife at the center of the berry, sliding it around until it fell into a nearly imperceptible crack. With a smug smile, she slid the knife down and—

The bookcase in the entryway swung open.

Kazi startled, her hand twitching and the knife jerking. It sliced open her palm. 

“Fuck,” she hissed. Setting aside both fruit and knife in favor of running her hand under the sink’s spout, she assessed the cut. 

Luckily, it was small and shallow, and it wouldn’t require stitches. And even if it did, Kazi knew herself well enough to admit she would ignore the problem indefinitely. She would have to be forced and drugged to get stitches. She shivered at the thought. 

It was her involuntary reaction that reminded her of the moving bookcase. Shoulders stiffening and stomach clenching, Kazi turned off the sink, pressed a cloth to her still-bleeding palm, and lifted her head. 

One of the clones, the one with the cybernetic eye—Commander Wolffe—stood on the opposite side of the bar. He was dressed in simple clothes: a white work shirt, brown trousers, and a dark belt. His hair—faded on the sides and longer on top—was slicked back with water. He must have taken a shower. At least the amenities in the basement still worked.

The commander scanned his surroundings, his eyes lingering on the dragon figurine on the bookcase. 

Scales polished a lightless black, as impenetrable as a black hole, the dragon was as long as Kazi’s hand. It was poised in the midst of flight, mirroring the flight pattern of the female dragon from her favorite constellation and legend: the Dancing Dragons. 

The sole difference between her carving and the female dragon was the color. Black versus silver-blue. Kazi’s dragon had been carved from a burnt tree in Ceaia’s most sacred land, the resting place of the last dragon. 

The figurine used to stand on her nightstand. Gifted by her father when she was five years old, per Traditionalist custom, the dragon was her guardian. Her protector. It was one of the few pieces of her old life she still kept. Symbolic of the little girl she used to be. The little girl she couldn’t entirely cut out. 

Kazi shook away the memory and refocused on the clone.

Silence expanded between them, tense and heavy. Tightly wrung with mutual observation and calculation both she and Commander Wolffe were partaking in as they eyed one another. 

In the spirit of cohabitation—forced cohabitation—Kazi cleared her throat. The man across the counter stilled. Except she didn’t have anything to say to him. Maybe a morning greeting would suffice.

But she didn’t think she owed him that. He was in her house interrupting her morning routine, after all. 

“My sister and Neyti will be down sometime soon to eat breakfast,” Kazi informed him. Setting aside the now bloodied rag, she returned to the lumina berry. The shell split open with ease. “Neyti and I leave at 07:30. Daria typically spends the day in town, so you’ll have the house to yourselves until 16:45, or 17:00.” And because her nerves were still rattled by his presence, and because she couldn’t help herself, she added, “Be sure to tidy up after yourselves up here. We prefer cleanliness.”

With that, she walked around the bar, keeping close to the cool metal to avoid nearing the commander, and approached the couch and the flatscreen. A flip of a switch and the flatscreen displayed the local news channel. 

“The problem of terrorists attacking our workplaces, our places of trade, our homes cannot be taken lightly,” a female voice relayed from the screen. Kazi pursed her lips as she returned to the kitchen. “I am dedicated to protecting the people in Veridian Sector, and by extension, the people of our Empire.”

The voice belonged to Moff Harpy of Veridian Sector. A kindly appearance hid the woman’s vindictive nature. Supporting Imperial nationalization of local businesses, Moff Harpy earned herself a negative reputation among Eluca’s locals. She was greedy and willing to funnel money from obsolete planets, like Eluca, into the industrial, money-making planets of Veridian Sector. 

Since the end of the war, Veridian Sector had grown into an important military stronghold. Its location along a prominent hyperspace route and its general submission to Imperial whims made it ideal for Imperial military and security operations. And, as such, most of its planets hosted new military bases. To aid the Empire in its conquest of the ��uncivilized and rebellious’ Outer Rim.

“Has terrorism been a problem here?”

The question caught her off guard and Kazi looked up from the porridge she was heating on the stove. The commander sat in a stool at the bar. He was reading through a file on his datapad and when he noticed her attention, he shut it off. 

“I wouldn’t call it terrorism,” she said, meeting his gaze. His expression was unreadable, hard and seemingly apathetic. Bored, yet hinting intrigue.

The expressionless mask shifted as he rolled his eyes. “Unlawful use of violence against civilians is terrorism.”

“That may be so”—she stirred her porridge—“but what about the unlawful use of violence by the government against civilians. Is that considered terrorism as well?” Her question was rhetorical so she pressed on. “There have been small pockets of rebellion in this sector, just as there have been in most Outer Rim sectors ever since the Empire arrived.”

They lapsed into silence. 

Kazi listened to the updates from the HoloNet, occasionally glancing over her shoulder to watch the screen whenever the news was appallingly glamoured in propaganda. The reporters shifted their attention back to the question of “terrorism” and the recent imprisonment of terrorists on the planet Geonosis.  

“These rebels”—Commander Wolffe said the word as if it offended him—“are idiots if they think they can take on the Empire.”

Kazi frowned at the condescension in his tone. She may have held similar cynical beliefs—rebellion against the omnipotent Empire was inevitably futile and would likely lead to mass deaths across the galaxy—but she didn’t care for the former commander’s ridicule. 

There were good people out there. People like Lore and Sparks, and even Fehr, who were dedicated to helping others: food relief, chain code provisions, displaced persons’ relocation. Kazi may have lacked the optimism in hoping for the Empire’s end. But she did believe in helping others.

“They’re people who believe in something bigger and better.” She noted the barely masked scorn in the commander’s gaze while he listened to her. “I don’t see why their personal decisions matter so much to you.”

“They don’t.” He tapped two fingers against the bar. 

Even sitting his stature and size were imposing. Intimidating. He could easily overpower her if he wanted, and that thought unnerved her. 

“They have to realize fighting against the Empire is a waste of resources,” Commander Wolffe interrupted the silence once more. Kazi gripped her spoon harder. “And for what? To restore the Republic? It’s an unattainable goal.”

“Maybe to you.”

“Don’t tell me you believe their agenda.” 

Her hesitation to answer earned her a smug look from the commander. It put her on the defensive.

“What about you?” she demanded. “You’re trying to rescue current soldiers of the Empire. That’s an incredibly futile mission.” The commander stiffened and she silently congratulated herself for hitting a nerve. “The rebels may be optimistic, but they’re actually doing something instead of hiding.”

“The rebels’ actions aren’t doing anything helpful. You can argue their actions are working to the contrary. Blowing up government buildings with innocent civilians in them will anger the Empire. It’ll react harsher. And crueler.”

“Those were guerrillas. The rebel network isn’t—”

“What has your network done? Anything of value?”

“The Empire has been in control for little more than a year.” Defensiveness coiled in her muscles and it took effort to keep her tone composed. “Rebellion takes time. Time to plan. To organize. To strategize. The network is gathering resources and intel in order to prepare for well-timed targets. I would expect a commander to know that.”

“Not everyone has time.” Commander Wolffe leaned forward. “My brothers and I are doing something. We’re rescuing soldiers. Getting them out and somewhere safe. Right now. The rebel groups—network, Partisan Front, whatever you want to call them—haven’t done anything beneficial.”

“I find it hypocritical that you’re scorning the rebels while working with them.”

He scoffed. “We’re not working together.”

Kazi frowned. It was her understanding that the three commanders were working with the network. Now that she thought about it, though, Fehr never mentioned a network-clone collaboration. The older woman merely stated she knew the men through a mutual contact. 

Suspicion spiked in her chest, like a blowfish the moment it sensed danger. Kazi knew nothing about these clones—their mission could be a lie, a façade for something else.  

“We have a similar dislike of the Empire,” Commander Wolffe said, his eyes narrowing at her blatant stare. “That’s it. I won’t waste my time on unrealistic ideologies and impractical strategies that will fail.”

“The rebels’ ideology may be flawed, but it’s hope that dictates their actions. Hope that the galaxy can be better.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “People need that hope—they need something to believe in—because without it, they won’t be invested in the movement.”

He cocked his head to the side, mistrust palpable in his quick assessment of her body. “What are you doing for the movement?” 

“I collect data and analyze it.”

“What type of data?”

“Data concerning Veridian Sector.”

Commander Wolffe sat back in his seat, a satisfied expression on his face. “Your data isn’t significant.”

Kazi gritted her teeth. The data she stole from her government job was minimal, and it wasn’t significant to the galaxy at large. However, it kept the network informed of Imperial movements within the Sector, as well as the occasional intelligence that helped precarious situations elsewhere. 

Her intel analyses served one purpose: to warn the network of alarming Imperial decisions. 

Kazi didn’t appreciate the smug look on the commander’s face, and she didn’t appreciate his blatant dismissal of the rebel network’s work—dismissal of her work—even if she agreed with him.

“It’s better to analyze insignificant data than to abet the Empire. Remind me, you were a soldier, right?” She smiled at the clench in his jaw. “We have people like you to thank for standing by and allowing the Empire to overthrow the Republic.”

The commander straightened in his seat, lips pressing in a firm line. Kazi maintained eye contact. But she could feel the tension emanating from him. Tension and rage. 

The silence lasted a full minute before Commander Wolffe tapped his fingers against the bar, rolling his shoulders back. 

“ ‘Course a natborn would assume I supported the rise of the Empire.” His voice carried an overtone of indifference. It was belied by the rigidity of his posture. “Arrogant and judgmental, huh.”

“Is it really judgmental if it’s based on fact?”

“And what evidence do you have to support your statement?”

“Did you or did you not serve the Empire as it came to power?”

The commander crossed his arms over his chest. “You said you already knew.”

Kazi regarded him for a few seconds. He had a point—she had made her judgment and thought herself correct without the evidence to support or prove it. It irked her that he was technically right. The taunting quirk of his mouth irked her even further. 

“I may have judged you, but I am right.” Kazi turned off the stove and removed her porridge, allowing it to cool. “The clones turned against the Republic and now serve the Empire. You served the Empire, so your criticism of the rebellion is moot.”

Commander Wolffe scoffed. “I’m not allowed to criticize ineffective strategy because of my past?”

“You’re not criticizing ineffective strategy. You’re criticizing the rebellion’s existence.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” He fisted a hand atop the counter. “The rebellion is another form of authority. Similar to the Empire. It’s exerting what it believes is the ideal way of governance.”

It was her turn to scoff. “The rebellion is fighting to free people from oppressive authority. They’re not exerting their own beliefs on others.”

“What happens if the rebellion defeats the Empire? What’s stopping them from abusing their power?”

“The rebellion’s leaders won’t abuse their power—”

“You don’t know that.”

“In that case, you shouldn’t trust any form of authority or governance.” At Commander Wolffe’s casual shrug, Kazi rolled her eyes. “Your cynicism is unreasonable—”

“I have every reason to not trust any form of governance.”

“I never said you didn’t—”

“You were saying my behavior was unreasonable.” 

Kazi straightened at the accusation in his tone. “You clearly have a problem with me—” 

“And you’ve been the picture of hospitality.”

“As I was saying”—her voice sharpened—“you have a problem with me, so tell me what it is.”

The commander lounged back in the stool. His features were tight with wariness, his gaze cold and harsh. “What does your network want from us?”

The question was so unexpected Kazi could only blink at him. 

“The network wants many things,” she said.

“That’s not an answer.”

“I don’t know what the network wants from you, or if they even want something.” She held his gaze. “What are you doing here?”

“Rescue-and-relocate.” The commander worked his jaw, his eyes never leaving hers. “Why was this house chosen?”

At his flippant tone, Kazi tensed. “Is it not up to your standards?”

“I’m trying to figure out why the network chose this location when you clearly don’t want us here.” He gave her a bored look. “Planning on turning us in to the Empire?”

“Why did you accept the location when you clearly don’t trust the network?” 

He refused to answer, his gaze unflinching. 

Deeming the conversation concluded, Kazi returned to her porridge. She spooned a lump but hesitated, sneaking a sidelong glance in the commander’s direction. Eating in front of a stranger—eating in front of people, in general—was something she avoided, so she turned her back to him. Her small bite was cold and bland. She forced herself to swallow. 

Uncertainty gnawed at her mind and apprehension knotted her muscles. The commander’s intrusion left her feeling off-kilter. Everything was outside her control.   

Her porridge was no longer warm. She lost precious minutes of solitude. Her palm ached from the coagulating blood. The floors were dirty.

Kazi bit her tongue. Crumbs dotted the hardwood and it was clear her sister hadn’t vacuumed, even though she said she would.

Gripping her spoon harder, she tried to steady her breathing. She would vacuum when she returned to the house tonight. It wasn’t a big deal.

But her sister’s lack of responsibility vexed her, and her environment was unclean, and now three more people would be using the kitchen. Excluding however many soldiers the clone commanders brought here. 

The reality of the situation struck her. Soldiers would be living here. Soldiers she didn’t know. Male soldiers who could be a danger to Neyti or Daria. 

Heart beating too fast, Kazi forced herself to take another bite of porridge. It was too cold. She struggled to swallow it. 

Panic mounted inside of her. She set aside the bowl and moved on to preparing Neyti’s lunch. 

Minutes later, with a well-balanced meal paired with a tasty slice of pie she baked earlier in the week, Kazi stacked the food containers into a portable lunch bag. Snagging a pen and flimsi pad from a drawer, she wrote a quick note. 

The moons will be full tonight. We can look at them.

The daily notes were simple. She didn’t know if Neyti read them, but she wanted the little girl to know she wasn’t alone. Even if she was distant and they didn’t talk—

A sharp intake of breath drew her attention and Kazi looked up. 

In hindsight, she reacted too slowly. 

The situation was unusual—players on a gameboard interacting in a dimension they weren’t supposed to—and so her reaction was delayed, allowing the situation to devolve. 

A sleepy Neyti stood at the bottom of the stairs, adorably rumpled in overlarge pajamas and bunny-shaped slippers. Black hair knotted, her mouth hung open. 

Kazi’s first thought concerned a morning greeting. She never knew how to interact with Neyti, and she always overthought what to say. 

Good morning felt too formal and insincere. 

How did you sleep? would go unanswered since Neyti refused to speak.

Today, the greeting debate didn’t matter. 

Neyti stared at Commander Wolffe with wide eyes, and the commander stared back, perturbed. 

The small child gulped. She mouthed a word, something that looked like “No.”

Confused, Kazi watched Neyti launch herself at the now-standing commander. Tiny fists pummeled the commander’s thighs and stomach, and it was so odd that Kazi still hesitated.

An annoyed grunt from the commander snapped her into action and Kazi lurched around the bar, yanking Neyti into her body. The little girl strained against her arms, gasping. 

“Neyti,” Kazi scolded gently, turning the girl around. “Stop—stop.”

Neyti was shaking, large gray eyes welling with tears, nose sniffling. She seemed to be fighting the tears—her tawny skin growing blotchy and shoulders curving inwards. Pitiful hiccups emanated from her chest and she kept gulping, as if she could swallow back the emotions.

The sight of the small child trying to control her emotions made Kazi tense. 

It was like looking through a window into her childhood. Witnessing the moments she hid in her room, breathing erratic and body shuddering as she dug her fingernails into her thighs and ordered herself not to cry. Pinching herself to feel real pain rather than the uncontrollable feelings pounding in her chest like fists trying to claw their way free.

“Neyti,” Kazi whispered hoarsely. 

Neyti burst into a stifled sob and pressed her hands to her face, trying to hide the tears wetting her cheeks. Small, muffled cries shook her shoulders. 

From the corner of Kazi’s eye, Commander Wolffe rubbed the back of his neck, his consternated gaze trained on the crying girl. He took a step forward, brows knitted together. 

Deciding it best to create space, Kazi scooped Neyti into her arms and moved upstairs to the safe confines of the little girl’s room. Once the door was closed, she set Neyti on the edge of the bed. 

The bed’s quilt was a mosaic depiction of blue and white waves. She thought it would be a pleasant reminder of Ceaia; a reminder of home for the child who lost everything. Small stuffed animals—a spotted jaguar, a blue bird of prey, and a pink dolphin (all natives to Eluca)—perched across Neyti’s stacked pillows. 

Sitting cross-legged, Neyti hid her face in her hands. Her sobs had quieted into wet hiccups; she still trembled. 

Kazi reached a hand forward—tentative, slow—but she hesitated. She worked hard to respect Neyti’s space, understanding how disorienting unwanted touch could be, and she didn’t want to force it. 

Instead, she grabbed the spotted jaguar and gently placed it in Neyti’s lap. A hope the stuffed animal could provide a comfort she couldn’t. Neyti hugged the animal to her chest.

Uncertain what to do now, Kazi scanned the girl’s bedroom.

A brown, wooden desk leaned against the left wall. Laid across its chair was Neyti’s school uniform, creaseless and clean.

Four of the desk’s six shelves were barren. One shelf carried extra school supplies and the second shelf housed a small succulent Daria gifted Neyti a few weeks ago. Bulbous, white dots splattered the red flower, like sheep grazing in a field of blood. Vibrant green oddly shaped leaves sloped the perimeter of the pot. The dirt looked freshly watered.

A quiet cough drew her attention. Wide eyes blinked at her. Abashed, Neyti ducked her chin to her chest, hastily wiping at her cheeks.

Kazi bit the inside of her cheek, hating herself for Neyti’s clear embarrassment. She needed to do better—be better—for the youngling. Shoving aside her self-deprecating thoughts, she grabbed a handful of tissues from a box on the nightstand and offered one to Neyti. The girl accepted it and rubbed away her tears. 

“Did the man downstairs scare you?” Kazi asked gently.

Neyti froze, her shoulders curving inwards.

“It’s okay if you were scared,” she said. Neyti’s lower lip trembled and Kazi mentally berated herself. Berated herself for putting Neyti in such an awful situation. “It’s scary to see people you don’t know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about him.” She paused. “Did he remind you of what happened to your mom?” 

The little girl sniffled and looked down at the bed. Her fingers played with the tissue, folding it into crisp lines.

Kazi massaged her temple. She should have known Neyti would react this way. She should have been prepared. She should have told Commander Wolffe to leave so that she could speak with Neyti.

It was her fault Neyti was scared and crying. She had failed. Failed spectacularly.

Defeat wrapped an unfriendly arm around her; she gritted her teeth.

“That man downstairs isn’t going to hurt you, okay?” She searched Neyti’s frowning face. “He’s a…good guy. And he and a few others like him are going to live with us for a while. Okay?”

Neyti tilted her head to the side, curiosity awakened.

Kazi nudged a bunny slipper with her foot. “You’re safe here. You’re safe with me and Daria. Okay?”

Still fiddling with the tissue, Neyti considered her. For a six-year-old, she practiced a shrewdness most adults lacked, her expression thoughtful, perceptive eyes wandering from the door to her face. Kazi kept her features open and kind, hoping Neyti could see the truth in her gaze. The promise. Finally, Neyti nodded. 

Loosing a quiet breath of relief, Kazi straightened. She hesitated for a moment and then extended her hand. “Are you ready for breakfast?”

Neyti appraised her hand. After a few seconds, she patted it.  

Slightly bemused, Kazi decided it was progress and made her way to the door. 

Correcting one of the lopsided ears on her bunny slipper so that both were proportionally angled, Neyti stumbled from her bed, tossed away her tissue, and followed Kazi back downstairs. 

Her hope to ease Neyti into a cohabitated space with the clones—starting small with just Commander Wolffe—was ruined by the presence of the other two clones. 

The three clones stood close together, countenances serious and voices low in discussion. 

Muscles stiffened along her back and Kazi pursed her lips. So much for an easy introduction.

Lifting her chin, she strode into the kitchen. The clones’ conversation faltered. Three sets of eyes assessed her and then lowered to Neyti who stood on the final step of the staircase, one hand curled around the banister while her gaze bounced from one clone to the next. Her cheeks started to darken; her mouth pressed into a thin line. 

Kazi cleared her throat—an attempt to distract the clones from Neyti—and grabbed her bloodied rag, stuffing it in her back pocket to hide it from Neyti.

“I want to apologize for what happened,” she said, meeting Commander Wolffe’s gaze. “I hadn’t told her about your arrival and you…” Scared her.

A muscle flexed in his jaw. 

“…startled her,” she finished.

Soft footsteps padded to the corner of the bar. Kazi gave Neyti an encouraging nod. Bunny ears bobbing, Neyti stepped close to her side, her eyes darting from Kazi to the clones. A vacillated movement waiting for someone to act.

Commander Cody moved first, patting one of the bar’s stools. A small smile lifted his lips, and in a kindly voice he asked, “Do you want to sit here?”

An adorable glare darkened Neyti’s features. With a suspicious glower aimed at the commander, she wandered farther into the kitchen, deliberately ignoring the three males. 

The clones shared dubious looks. 

While Neyti grabbed a fork from a squeaking drawer, Kazi opened a lopsided cabinet to retrieve a plate, wincing at the cabinet’s poor appearance. The house boasted a multitude of loose or broken oddities. She wanted to hire someone to fix the basic issues but she kept putting it off. 

Still glowering, Neyti edged around the bar, keeping ample distance between her and the males, and took a seat at the kitchen table. Scrambled eggs, buttered toast, and berry slices filled her plate. She took slow bites as she eyed the clones.  

Expecting more interrogation from the now-gathered commanders, Kazi faced them. Commander Wolffe was staring at her, arms folded across his chest. 

“You have a kid.”

“Yes.” She studied him, trying to decipher his inscrutable expression. It was futile. When the three clones didn’t question her further on Neyti’s existence, she changed topics. “I registered a flight plan for you. Your ship is now a food-export carrier.”

Registering the flight plan under her name left her annoyed and unsettled. But Fehr requested it, and she couldn’t refuse. She only hoped nothing would come of it. 

Commander Fox leaned against the bar. “Fehr mentioned you’re an analyst.”

It wasn’t a question so Kazi didn’t bother confirming. Instead, she observed the severe glare Commander Wolffe threw Commander Fox. A glare full of warning.

Either ignorant of Commander Wolffe’s baleful stare or electing to ignore him, Commander Fox continued. “We have intel that needs to be analyzed—”

“No.” The word was low and controlled, and though Commander Wolffe appeared apathetic, the rigid lines in his shoulders and jaw spoke otherwise.

The two commanders stared one another down. Their postures were stiff and eyes narrowed as they engaged in a silent argument Kazi couldn’t parse. Commander Cody looked between them. He released an aggrieved sigh, shaking his head. 

Deciding she had no interest in whatever the clones wanted, Kazi joined Neyti at the table. 

While Neyti finished her breakfast, Kazi considered her tasks for the day, making a mental note to pick up more lumina berries from the Marketplace. Her thoughts were jittery, though, and her attention returned to analyzing Commander Wolffe. He hadn’t moved, his stance defensive, face guarded.

Except, this time, his expression wasn’t so unreadable. 

He was scrutinizing her. Studying her in a way that made the hairs on the back of her neck curl. 

There was something in his gaze that left her discomfited. Like she was a ball of yarn, knotted and entangled, yet he was assured in his abilities to pick her apart. To untangle her and peer inside at all she kept carefully locked away and hidden. 

But she knew herself, and she knew he would never succeed. 

Masterlist | Chapter 1 | A Muse

A/N: I love the reluctant father trope. It's one of my favorites. But I’ve also come to the unremarkable realization that readers readily forgive male characters for their parenting mistakes, but when it comes to a woman, she’s expected to be a good parent. She’s expected to have a motherly “instinct”, and readers, and society in general, aren’t forgiving of these female characters when they mess up.

This is my take on the reluctant father trope. Kazi will make mistakes when it comes to Neyti’s care. She will majorly fuck up. She is human, she is not infallible, and she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Parenting is a learning experience, regardless of gender. Her struggles are a main part of this story. 

[its-a-hil]

k time for our regularly scheduled sleepy oversharing time (answering all the questions from this ask game)

(1) Do you have freckles? nope ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(2) Do you drink tea or coffee? How do you take it? sometimes i drink tea if im sick or chai socially but thats basically it. chocolate is the closest thing i have to a regular stimulant

(3) What was the last song you listened to? this lagtrain edit idk i really like just. semi-chaotic noise that sounds out of place and a bit incongruent. probably why i like pokeloid

(4) Do you sleep on your back, stomach or side? diagonalish but mostly on my side. i alternate sides though in fact i used to sleep on my stomach until i read a newspaper article that said a plurality of ppl sleep on their side and then i got scared and completely changed the way i sleep in like 6th grade in case you somehow needed more evidence im autistic

(5) Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? blåhaj!! !!! !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love her need to clean her though also i stream with my hello kitty velvet and i think that's kinda relevant

(6) Do you prefer drawing or writing? i like both but i am so so so much less bad at writing so that's more fulfilling i need to do both a lot more though ive been procrastinating a lot of tales of luminaria writing and art that i feel a compulsive need to make since the game was shuttered

(7) What’s your ideal number of blankets to sleep with? currently i sleep with blanket/comforter/blanket but i am still so so cold so i either need another blanket or one of them to be heated

(8) What’s your favorite band/artist? i mean there are a bunch that are all kinda at the same tier but i think inabakumori is at the top their vocaloids are just so. emotions

(9) When is your birthday? not gonna answer this but if you wanna check my bio every day for the next year until you see it flip to 23 i guess thats a thing you can do

(10) How tall are you? 178 cm (5'10") aka too tall please someone let me give you my height i dont fucking want it except in rock climbing it's useful for that but other than that the dysphoria is just not worth it hate hate hate

(11) What color are your eyes? brown, a bit darker than my skin but ive been complimented on my eyes by strangers more than like any part of my appearance combined so i am always confused like. theyre just my eyes! theyre pretty but only in the way that ppl eyes generally are idgi

(12) Who are five (or more) people you want to hug right now? i dont really want to hug anyone tbh like id be happy to hug a friend if they needed it but im just not feeling touch atm

(13) Fears? that samsara isnt real enough for me to defer all the experiences i dont want to miss out on to a different life also climate change also being at parties where im not super close with most of the people

(14) What’s your favorite color? the sky! i know everyone is probably tired of me saying it but i dont like the idea of picking one 'color' since that allows for so much variation, so i instead choose something that is constantly varying and always beautiful at every instant ive ever gazed upon it

(15) What’s your favorite season? summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer summer please it's so cold i want to be able to feel warm when i go outside and not feel like im killing the planet when i consider turning the thermostat up a degree

(16) Want any tattoos? What of? oh i absolutely want tattoos definitely one for outer wilds (the hourglass twins), and id be open to the berseria title card with velvet's hair flowing into the letters i just think that game is neat

(17) Want any piercings? Where? im happy with my recent earlobe piercings but it would be desi as fuck to get a nose ring so that also sounds pretty cool

(18) Who is the last person you texted? my parents telling them im coming home from work

(19) Do you have a best friend? How long have you been friends? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ closest thing is probably my college roommate for 3 years but he went to grad school in a different state so ive barely seen him since

(20) What/who do you miss? oh well that's a question and a half i miss my ability to just get a crush and imagine cute and unrealistic fantasy stories where i went out with them now a combination of adult™ realism and the couple years i spent beating myself up for ever feeling romantic attraction have made doing both of those things so much harder so i just stick to projecting myself in established plots i mean its better than it was near the end of high school but. not as good as middle school when i actively loved going to bed just so i could imagine whatever i wanted in the hourish before i fell asleep

(21) How was your day today? tired. slept too early last night and thus the day had no sense of urgency and my head felt very bleh the entire time

(22) How much sleep did you get last night? 8 hours which is kinda the problem i function best with having had 9-10 hours two nights ago and 4-6 hours the night of and whenever i try to get a regular person sleep schedule™ it just makes me feel bad

(23) Do you believe in aliens? not like conspiracy theories or anything like that but. the universe is so BIG and we're finding so many planets that it feels impossible for there to not be life elsewhere also $20 europa has whales in it

(24) When was the last time you cried? Why? idk crying is hard and has barely ever happened since i felt bad about crying at a book in 6th grade and hammered it out of my brain. clearly my masking behaviors have never once been self destructive and i am an extraordinarily well adjusted girlie more recently my parents probably said something that made me feel bad and i semi-succeeded at crying in the shower and forgot about it the day after

(25) What’s your favorite decade? is it really possible for me to answer anything but the present? theres only been one decade where ive been a girl for part of it theres only been one decade where i fell in love with the sound of my voice theres only been one decade where i lived for myself and not for who i expected myself to be

(26) What are some seemingly childish things you like? i mean. i watch cartoons and eat sweets and enjoy going outside and getting distracted by everything i see there not sure what it means for something to be 'childish' tbh

(27) What’s your favorite book? Or just one you’ve read a few times? favorite book is the raven tower by ann leckie it's just. such a wonderful story in such a beautiful world that i feel like i was made for book ive read the most is probably son of neptune though, i know i spent a few months just kinda picking it up at a random page and rereading a few chapters every couple of days

(28) How are you, really? not answering this it's cliche and boring

(29) Does it take you a long time to make decisions? yes and no if a decision is right in front of me i'll make it fairly quickly if a decision is far away then i will procrastinate it to the point of absurdity ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(30) What are you looking forward to in the near future? getting on injections! estrogen time :d

(31) What are you looking forward to in the distant future? 2024 eclipse!!!! !!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!! i know with how much im hyping it in my head it'll definitely be covered with clouds at the place i go to but i! do! not! care! the 2017 eclipse is the most beautiful thing i have ever seen in the entire world and i need to see it again

(32) If you could go anywhere right now, where would you go? i want to see the aurorae other than things like that im pretty comfortable sitting in my room, but the idea of viewing something so magical is just incredibly appealing

(33) Do you sleep with your door open or closed? closed otherwise my parents would see how messy my room is and the airflow would be wrong and its brighter in the hallway and just. no

(34) What’s your favorite flower? is it too cliche to say cherry blossom? i grew up near washington dc like going to see the cherry blossom festival is a part of my core identity

(35) Do you currently have a squish? not really but also my brain has a taboo against verbalizing any kind of attractive feelings so it's difficult to overcome that enough to process my thoughts without hating myself so i dont try

(36) Do you like your middle name? no it's just my dad's name, which already feels old-fashioned in indian terms let alone the fact that it sounds vaguely like a mildly off-putting (to me) phrase in english

(37) Do you prefer dogs or cats? i love seeing them both outside or in friends' homes and i am unlikely to ever adopt one so that's the extent of it

(38) Do you have any phobias? i dont think so

(39) Do you stay up late? not late enough

(40) Do you like the beach? Do you prefer it sunny or cloudy? a not-sunny beach is definitely cold so. yeah. the last beach ive been to was in gdynia though so i might be unfairly projecting how cold the baltic sea is onto other beaches that are reasonable temperatures

(41) What’s your favorite cartoon? if we're counting anime: bna if we're not: amphibia actually now that i think about it i need to rewatch kipo and the age of wonderbeasts that was good

(42) Tag 5 of your favorite blogs no

(43) Do you have siblings? How many? one older sister

(44) Who was the last person you said “I love you” to? probably my parents

(45) Is there anyone you would die for? oh absolutely. loads. the more interesting question would be 'is there anyone you would kill for' and that is far far more difficult to answer

(46) What do you need when you’re sad? patience

(47) Have you memorized your phone number? ofc i have it has interesting math properties associated with it that i sadly cant say here bc saying all the properties, even in a relatively cryptic form, would narrow it down to like 10 options if someone knew my area code

(48) Who’s someone you can trust with your life? this question is ridiculous when cars exist. i have to trust pretty much every driver near me with my life whether im in a car or walking near a road so i dont view it as a particularly meaningful level of trust nor do i view my life as something particularly worth guarding so like. whatever, yknow? (note: this isnt a mental health thing it's a samsara thing dw) if this body dies it dies and i wouldnt want anyone i care about to feel responsible no matter what

(49) What does your last text say? already said it

(50) Wild Card. Any question, ask away. my favorite font is alegreya sc

[2wrinkle]

睡沌氣候 (Suiton Kikou), Shinya Komatsu

[ccohanlon]

sur la charente

From a source in the small village of Chéronnac, in the foothills of the Haute Vienne, the Charente River flows for 381 kilometres through the departments of Vienne, Charente and Charente-Maritime, in south-west France. It empties into the Bay of Biscay and the mud-brown swells of the North Atlantic just beyond the Napoleonic garrison town and bagne (penal colony) of Rochefort, from which many of the first French settlers of North America sailed.

The Charente’s lower reaches are an informal geographic, climatic and cultural demarcation between northern and southern Europe. Its banks, fringed with stands of oak and weeping willow, are littered with fragments of a chaotic history.

The shallow, gently flowing river was once described by the 16th century French king, Henri IV, as “the nicest stream in all my kingdom” but many of the battles that shaped the boundaries and character of Western Europe were fought along it: ancient Pictavi tribes against Roman legions (commanded by Julius Caesar himself); Franks and Burgundians against Andalucian Moors; English Plantagenet kings against French Valois kings; Roman Catholics against Huguenot Protestants; Napoleonic French against a coalition of English, Prussians, Austrians and Russians; and local resistance fighters against German Wehrmacht occupiers.

The full flowering of the French Renaissance was ‘watered’ from the Charente. Francois, son of Charles, Count of Angouleme and Duke of Valois, was born on the river’s banks, in the grand chateau of Cognac, in 1494. Twenty one years later, he was crowned King Francois Ier and became France’s first great patron of the arts and education. He brought Leonardo da Vinci from Italy (to re-design the interior of the Chateau Cognac, as well as to undertake several other important commissions) and established the core collection of Renaissance works preserved in Le Louvre.

Today, the land on either side of the Charente is sleepy, rural and overlooked – even if its best-known product, cognac, is a $US4.7 billion global business. The Charente’s picturesque medieval villages, chateaux, fortified barns and Romanesque churches are rarely visited by the several million foreign tourists that, every year, make their way through the region to the more fashionable villages of the Dordogne or the grand city of Bordeaux. But like the sweet-smelling, benign mould the local’s call “angel’s breath”, the by-product of alcoholic vapours that seep from fermenting cognac casks, history clings to everything here.

(These uncaptioned black and white photos were shot on an iPhone 4S while wandering slowly downriver — along tow-paths and vineyard tracks and over old stone bridges — between Angouleme and Cognac, in 2012.)

First published in Mr & Mrs Amos, Australia, 2013.

[laldupattewali]

THE MLB LIVE LIKE JUST GOT OVER AND I WAS ALL LIKE “the anti climaticness of this???” like marinette just came and fucking beat the shit out of that robot with a pan okay but like the end ladynoir scene was worth it so anyways its 4:30 am here and im sleepy as fuck night everyone ill see this tomorrow with english subtitles and finally understand what dumbass chaotic energy talks these two were having

[knight-ingale]

Afterlight Masterlist

Created 6/29/20, Last Update: 10/22/20

Chapter 1 Leaving the Sun

Summary: Y/n Swan and her sister Bella are leaving their sun-scorched home of Arizona to the polarizing climate of a rain and slow little town called Forks. They’re welcomed warmly, and a bit awkwardly, by their father Charlie. With a surprise waiting at home, Bella and Y/n wait anxiously for their first day of school the next day.

Chapter 2 Seeing the Rain

Summary: The slow and sleepy towns High School is alight and buzzing with curiosity at the two new students, much to Bella’s chagrin. A day full of new people and possible friends is elevated further by five mysterious strangers to Y/n, but it seems the group of picture-perfect teens are just as peculiar to the rest of the student body.

Chapter 3 Angels

Summary: During lunch, Y/n and Bella spy a table full of gorgeous strangers. Jessica tells Y/n what might be a biased version of backstory, but the elder sister seems completely seized with curiosity anyway. Particularly with the boy Edward.

Chapter 4 Snow and Dread

Summary: Edward Cullen returns to school, and with him a feeling of mysterious dread for Y/n, though she cannot yet tell why. Despite this, she sees snow for the first time, and enjoys the weather, much to Bella’s chagrin. once the school day is over though, Y/n is curious to see what Edward had to say upon re-meeting her sister. 

Chapter 5 Near-Death Experience

Summary: The pair of Swan sisters have a very close brush with death, as well as a van. Luckily, or perhaps not, Edward Cullen appears to save the day. However, neither sister knows how he got there in time, despite his excuses.

Chapter 6 Hospital Visit

Summary: Due to the chaotic events of that morning, Bella and Y/n are rushed to the hospital. They meet the infamous Dr. Cullen, and Bella seems to have a confrontation with Edward.

[aion-rsa]

Shameless Series Finale Review: Father Frank, Full of Grace

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This Shameless review contains spoilers.

Shameless Season 11 Episode 12

“We’re still here. We’re surviving, right?” 

Most people would likely not argue that Shameless’s best years are behind it. Showtime, its cable network, even briefly had a reputation for bleeding series dry long after they should have ended. However, even the most egregious examples of this like Weeds, Californication, and Dexter still pale in comparison to Shameless‘s episode count and none of them ever lost their series’ lead. It’s fair to say that Shameless is not as good as when it started or even how it was a few seasons back, but it’s always remained true to itself. It hasn’t resorted to radical time jumps or a revolving door of new premises and locations as a way to inject steroids into a withering corpse. 

Shameless set out to depict the flawed lives of a lower-class family and it’s done that for 11 seasons and allowed a full generation of characters to grow up before the audience’s eyes. Shameless might not have always been a top tier television program, but it’s emblematic of Showtime’s early ideology and the growth that they’ve experienced over the past decade. Shameless is their longest running program and with it gone there’s a substantial piece of Showtime’s past that leaves with it. The final lingering brick from the old guard is finally dislodged. 

In a way, “Father Frank, Full of Grace” becomes an even more poetic finale because the Gallaghers’ loss of Frank also functions as a metaphor for Showtime’s loss of Shameless. “Father Frank, Full of Grace” is a celebratory finale that’s emotional, beautiful, crude, and chaotic more than it’s a metatextual conversation about Showtime’s legacy. However, it all contributes to an overwhelming sense of closure and fresh beginnings, which is exactly what Shameless’ series finale needed to deliver.

Frank’s nagging mortality is a major catalyst for this series finale, but it’s also remarkable to see how most of the Gallaghers have already moved on. Frank may not technically be dead at the start of the episode, but he’s metaphorically been a ghost for decades. Any love is lost at this point and Frank’s belabored transition to the other side is treated like a temporary nuisance, as if it’s a toilet that needs to be unclogged. 

Frank lets out a surprised, “Well, fuck,” upon the realization that he’s not dead and that was also pretty much my reaction to this news. Frank’s death feels like a foregone conclusion and the cyclical nature of his story in this finale steps on the toes of the past few episodes. It’s an emotional moment when Frank does pass on, but it also turns this finale into a prolonged waiting game whereas last week’s conclusion came as a legitimate shock.

Frank’s detached actions as his ailing body moves on autopilot are a frustrating component from this finale. The material feels sloppy and like it’s just another opportunity to get more of a morose, haunting performance from out of Macy. I’m still not convinced that it’s the best decision for this last episode, but Frank’s out of body experience and his flashbacks contain some of the finale’s most touching moments. 

Frank’s thoughts on his family and these glimpses of the cast back in season one aren’t overused and their impact is felt. Even the brief return to a shut down Patsy’s Pies connects as Frank takes in the South Side with fresh eyes for one last time. It’s a messy storyline, but thematically it’s sound. It’s no coincidence that Frank is there, but he isn’t, through most of this episode. It’s the perfect distillation of his involvement as a father for his kids. Frank’s spirit is ever present, but he spends this final episode in a cathartic form of isolation. 

Frank spends this installment lost in the past while everyone else braces for the future. There’s still residual Gallagher drama, but “Father Frank, Full of Grace” largely waves a magic wand to either fix all of these problems or at least provide a solid roadplan for what lies ahead. This finale makes a very conscious decision to be about celebration and unity rather than stress and conflict. All of the Gallaghers’ dilemmas aren’t solved, but they never will be, and the acceptance of this allows this finale to confidently conclude and not get lost in the weeds. A lot of ground gets covered, some of which doesn’t necessarily feel like the best use of time in a series finale, but”Father Frank, Full of Grace” never feels rushed and it allows each Gallagher–even an unconscious Frank–several opportunities to shine.

Lip enters this finale with the most stress and arguably exits with the most support and prospects for the future. It’s genuinely nice to see Tami and Lip reach a place where they’re able to healthily communicate, listen to each other, and work as a team. Tami is almost a little too understanding considering how much recent instability has entered their lives. It’s a little convenient that several of Lip’s delivery runs are also situations where technologically impaired people benefit from Lip’s knowledge in the area. It’s left unresolved if this is enough to kickstart Lip into some tech-based job where he heads down a different direction in his life, but it offers a sliver of hope in the area.

This finale offers teases, not answers, for what’s to come for Lip and this open-ended attitude carries over to the rest of the Gallaghers. Debbie’s accelerating relationship with Heidi sticks out the most here and it feels strange to spend so much time on a completely new character in the series finale. The red flags from Debbie’s relationship get balanced out with how enjoyable everything is with Mickey and Ian. They engage in several real, vulnerable conversations here that reflect how functional they’ve become. The baby talk is really pleasant, but the surprise wedding anniversary is even better and not made super obvious.

This season of Shameless, more than any other, has pulled from reality for a lot of its material regarding Chicago’s social climate. This is typically strong material for the series’ satirical perspective and it’s naturally integrated into the story.  However, the injection of current politics and conspiracy theories that Mickey and Ian are briefly exposed to feels less subtle and like the show just wants to fit in some “Sleepy Joe” commentary before it’s over. Similarly, it seems kind of unnecessarily loaded that after a lifetime of recklessness it’s ultimately COVID-19 complications that takes out Frank and not his rampant alcoholism or drug use. These moments are brushed past quickly and don’t derail the narrative, but they feel awkward in the moment.

“Father Frank, Full of Grace” is a rather safe finale that doesn’t have any major surprises. Those that were expecting a Fiona cameo may be irritated over the finale’s direction, but it should have been pretty obvious that Shameless wasn’t interested in this type of finish. Fiona wouldn’t have radically changed this finale, but I’m genuinely curious if John Wells reached out and did attempt a brief return or if they’ve both fully moved on by now.

I’m also a huge Spoon fan, but even I thought it was jarring that the Gallaghers and the Alibi patrons just happen to know all of the words to “The Way We Get By.” I understand that it’s meant to offer some connection with the pilot episode’s ending, but diegetically the Gallaghers have never had a connection to the song. It seems like there would be plenty of more appropriate songs, with Chicago origins, that would actually have significance to these people. It’s still a very sweet moment for Shameless to end on, even if the logistics are slightly flawed.

All of this is to say that “Father Frank, Full of Grace” is a convoluted episode, but its final ten minutes where the Gallaghers are deep in the throes of celebration is exactly how this series needed to go out. All of these characters bask in each other’s company, demonstrate their appreciation for each other, and reflect on how much they’ve matured. Lip and Ian’s brief heart-to-hearts have been a highlight from this season and their final chat here where the gratitude for Lip’s role as a surrogate father figure for the family is conveyed becomes even more powerful considering the nature of the episode.

This series finale features Frank’s death and significant life changes for characters, but “Father Frank, Full of Grace” still has a very lowkey energy that makes it feel like many of its other finales. This is the end, but it’s not difficult to picture another season of the show that picks up these loose threads and everything reverts back to “normal” after a few episodes. Sometimes finales that check every box and go out of their way for endless closure can feel manufactured and contrived. It’s appreciated that Shameless doesn’t take this route. 

Hopefully these new decisions will stick, but the problem with Shameless is that it’s conditioned its audience to frequent changes and a return to the status quo. “Father Frank, Full of Grace” works hard to buck that trend, and it’s largely successful, but it’s also easy to picture these characters consumed with stress and doubt on the day after the events of this finale. This final season builds new futures for all of the Gallaghers and they all still have a lot to learn, but “Father Frank, Full of Grace” leaves most of the characters in empowered positions where lasting change feels achievable and not just a pipe dream.

Shameless’s final season has functioned as a showcase for Frank and it’s always been “his” show, even though he hasn’t always been the series’ focal point. “Father Frank, Full of Grace” underscores this and becomes a lowkey tribute to Frank with how it paints a bright and happy future for his family. The opening minutes of Shameless begin with Frank Gallagher’s voice over as he dotes over his family, all of which have become wonderful despite Frank. Shameless’ series finale concludes in the same manner of reflection and the Gallaghers are even united around another communal fire this time around.

The major lesson that Frank pushes in his parting words are to appreciate the time that you have, even if it’s stupid, and to not waste your life. Shameless’ final season didn’t always use its time in the most effective manner, but they clearly had fun every step of the way. Shameless’ final season is a shell of the poignant and challenging family drama that emerged in season one, but they’ve always appreciated their time and the stories that they’ve gotten to tell. Shameless, much like the Gallaghers themselves, was messy, but never lacking in love. That sentiment has never been more true than with “Father Frank, Full of Grace,” which goes out on its own imperfect terms.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

See you later, Shameless. Love you too, asshole.

The post Shameless Series Finale Review: Father Frank, Full of Grace appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3tnieOg

[cjostrander]

Machine Head: The Blackening

Hey everyone! Today i will be doing another essential anniversary review on Machine Head’s The Blackening. This album actually marks the beginning of their highly successful era which continues on to this day. I haven’t done too many albums by them due to iTunes issue that i’ve been lazy to fix; but the one’s i have done are epic (minus The More Things Change since it was alright in comparison to Unto the Locust and Bloodstone and Diamonds). This one should prove to be an interesting one to follow up yesterday’s review of Blink 182′s Dude Ranch with. This is an hour long album but with only 8 tracks; so expect these songs to be lengthy. I’m hoping that the length does well to give me some extra stuff to write about since heavily instrumental centered albums are pretty direct to discuss. We shall see but either way; this is an important one to scratch off my anniversary list and mark it’s tenth anniversary for.

Clenching the Fists of Dissent: This opening track is almost 11 minutes long so stay tuned for a lengthy listen. It opens with a soothing vocal hum that kind of sounds like Scott Stapp from Creed in tone but doese well to give a sense of mystery. Acoustic guitars enter to softly infuse the spacey track with a nicely classical touch before the drums and electric guitars slowly seep their way in. Rob provides muttered vocals in the background to further the tone and after nearly two minutes the guitars begin to rev up. The guitars have a chaotic sense of speed and rawness that resonate well with the bashing drums and Robb Flynn’s trademark vocal grit. The vocals are a bit hard to make out during his more muffled moments but they are going to best serve the song as an emotion builder. It works well with the instrumentals to get the listener’s heartbeat racing and so far stands as a decent choice to open the album with. It doesn’t by any means ease you into the album but doesn’t excessively overwhelm you with complexity this early on in the album. Not saying that its simple because believe me this album is where the band really raised their skill level. Through the Ashes of Empires could be viewed as the actual starting point for this; but it is more focused on aggressive rhythm rather than the speed and technicality of this album. As far as a runtime goes; this one will go be nicely and there will be plenty of engaging solos to impress you before they are over. I also gotta give Robb props on his vocals because i’m surprised that he can deliver vocals as aggressively raw and exhausting as he does. I’m surprised he still has the energy at 50 (now) to keep writing music like this. Judging by the last two albums; he hasn’t shown a sign of slowing down yet. 9/10

Beautiful Mourning: Now this Guitar Hero: Metallica featured track is just under five minutes long; so expect this to be a little more direct than the last song was. The guitars and drums begin this one with a quick instrumental rev for the listener’s heartbeat to race to before Robb enters to begin shouting his vocals. The drums continue to do a very good job at giving this song a hard hitting edge and should be heavily noted on any Machine Head album you come across. Robb experiments with some of his soft harmonies in between instrumentals and they do well to bring a bit of emotional tension into the song. It’s definitely one positive singing trait that he’s taken from his nu-metal albums with this band otherwise i’m glad he stopped the rap metal verses. Listen to The Burning Red and you will see what i mean lol. I actually really want to review that one soon. I would say Supercharger but as much as people bashed that one; i actually like quite a bit of material on it; so i feel it wasn’t judged fairly at the time. Anyways; back to the song. The solo towards the end is very well done and infuses a high speed of melodic technicality before Robb’s insistent screams shift the song back to its prechours. Lyrically as you can guess; they won’t stick out much due to his muffled delivery; but the clean harmonies are rather nice to come across. Definitely another goodie! 10/10

Aesthetics of Hate (Single): Now this song is one that originally got me hooked on this band back in the freshmen year of High School (2008-2009). This one has a very personal sense of purpose to it and is written in response to an article by William Grim about the death of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Basically it is a low blow trash talk of a deceased guitarists abilities from a no name writer talking about how this (just murdered) guitarist was talent-less and better off gone. Because of such insensitive writing; you guys are going to be in store for an exceptionally aggressive response from this band! The guitars start off at a modest pace and quickly join with the drums to infuse it with a high dose of tension early on. Robb enters with a single roar and delivers some surprisingly coherent vocals. This should help to further resonate with how serious they got on this one; since they obviously wanted to make sure that the singer knew what he was saying. The guitars and drums continue to push things along quick and aggressive while Robb delivers his intense vocals with zero rest. The drums have a nice little interlude segment where they develop a nice little call and response relationship with the guitars. The guitars then gradually work their way up into one of the album’s most remarkable solo segments. With this solo you can really sense the emotion and passionate rage in the band and it does a fantastic job of further displaying the band’‘s growing skill base. The live videos are fantastic so i highly suggest checking it out because the live versions are just as intense as the album version. Long story short this is a highlight that you really have to pay attention to during your first listen. 10/10

Now I lay Thee Down (Single): Now this second single ends the first half of the album by beginning with some tense guitar riffs that display a sharp sense of melody; but with a light bite to your ears as well. The drums then join with them to shift into a more rhythm focused format before Robb arrives. He takes on a softer vocal harmony style and does a surprisingly decent job of delivering atmospheric and fittingly raw vocal melodies. It creates a decent atmosphere which enables his lyrics to retain a steady sense of focus from the listener.The guitars then begin to liven up slowly with a more tense melody structure and the bass is allowed to shine with some soft rumbles; which contain hidden jazz elements when picked out finely. The drums keep things going nicely with their quick patterns and steady focus. Robb quickens his vocal pacing with more raw shouting vocals and cleverly placed backing shouts from his band mates. This will be a decent one to showcase a more melody focused song from the band due to the format of the solos and Robb’s prominent  use of vocal harmonies. 9/10

Slanderous: The aggression grows a little further on this one with a quick and chaotic instrumental opening. The drums bash furiously while the guitars battle each other for rhythmic superiority. Robb enters with a simple yet powerful oomph and thats when the instrumentals really get moving. It actually has a catchy rhythm that would be very easy to dance along with while Robb sings along fluidly in pace. This fast yet aggressive rhythm is a very neat treat since it will provide the listener with a different sense of texture to get moving with. It will further enhance it as a stand out live piece; so if they are ever taking requests; then keep this one in mind. The vocals do very well at keeping the song moving and know just when to give the instrumentals a little room to play around. The solo at around the final two minute mark will be a great crowd pleaser with it’s mix of 80′s thrash and classic rock undertones flowing through it. It will further keep this album very entertaining and surprisingly keeps things from either feeling too long; predictable by any means; or simply bumpy to ride along with. 9.5/10

Halo (Single): This finale single begins its 9 minute run time with a strong bass rhythm and soft guitar melodies to warm it up. Its rhythm format will sound a little reminiscent of their previous album Through the Ashes of Empires in terms of structure. The drums expertly make this a smooth opening with their controlled patterns and perfect sense of tone. They are neither sleepy nor aggressive and set a climatic tone before Robb arrives to deliver his first verses. He takes a spaced out approach and brings a good dose of defiant tension before the chorus arrives. He takes on a powerful high note structure during this and works with his backing vocals to deliver a thematic sense of mood for the listener to fall in awe with. This one will move along a little slower than the previous songs; but this is meaningful since it allows for the song to present a more direct impact on the listener without having to rush things along to compensate.The middle section does bring forth a high sense of aggression without going full throttle and this should give heavy headbangers something extra to work with; if things feel a little too focused for them. Overall this one may feel a little bit bloated in comparison to the other tracks but it still makes a positive impression on this album.   8.5/10

Wolves: this next nine minute song begins with and abrupt vocal entry from Robb and he takes little time in getting the aggression started up before the guitars infuse their chaotic rhythm into the mix. The drums bash around furiously and Robb enters to a whirlwind of tension to deliver some rather engaging semi-coherent shouts verses. This helps the mix to flow rather nicely and make the most of its tense edge. The instrumentals do maintain a strong sense of formula due to their stronger rhythm structure but the quicker solo segments will help to diversify this better for the listener to enjoy. 8/10

A Farewell to Arms: Now this finale piece is just a hair over ten minutes long so don’t expect the album to get lazy on you during the final hurdle. The guitars begin with a soft and interesting beautiful melody before the guitars slowly begin to infuse a subtle hint of darkness into the atmosphere. Robb takes one a soft vocal harmony style; which does well to resonate decently with this song’s fitting feeling of farewell. After about three minutes the guitars and drums begin to liven up with a calm but semi-aggressively raw instrumental support for Robb to modestly roar with. The vocals then shift into an emotionally captivating series of high notes which do rather well to envelope the listener with a high sense of meaning and substance. At the six minute mark things pick up again with a nice dose of mid range instrumentals in terms of aggression. It serves as a decent bridge section and should do well to make sure that the,listener maintains a fair sense of engagement at this point in the song. The instrumentals carry along like this for a decent amount of time before finally fading off and ending this highly ambitious album on a rather smooth note. 8.5/10

Overall album rating: 9.1/10

Well this album beat their follow up Unto the Locust for the top spot on my Machine Head reviews by a margin of .3. This was surprisingly a rather entertaining album to sit through and review today. It did suffer a bit from lengthy bloating and the feeling of “I get it aleady” during the last three tracks but other than that; this album is a really good gem for modern thrash fans to sink our teeth into. If you like Metallica; check it out; if you like Slayer; then buy it! This is their swan song so to speak and is what will help them maintain staying power as the years roll on. This was a pretty good choice to scratch off of the review sheet today and will be a nicely aggressive album to keep you guys busy till next time. Hope you all enjoy reading and i will catch you next week.

*Reviewer’s Pick*

[wecocogg-blog]

George St, Sydney. (Source)

In this article, we’re going to look at six of the coolest cities to visit in Australia.

With so much to choose from in this colossal country that is on almost everyone’s bucket list, it can be useful to have a little direction to work out what suits you best.  Of course, there’s the obvious attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock, but this list focuses more on the cities that you’re likely to have offered up to you.

1. Cairns

Cairns itself isn’t the most attractive of places, yet the surrounding rainforest and incredible turquoise waters that are the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef make it a popular place to visit.  Indeed, Cairns is somewhat inundated with tourists and whilst there are many cool bars, hotels, and food outlets the city isn’t really comparable to Melbourne or Sydney in terms of things to do. It’s definitely worth a stop off though, especially if you’re heading to places such as Daintree National Park or the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Cairns, Queensland. (Source)

2. Adelaide

This is a laidback city with a much more peaceful vibe than most cities in the world.  It has quiet streets that are lined with bars and great music venues - making it a fun place to go out, despite it being a somewhat sleepy city.  It’s nicknamed the ‘city of churches’ due to how many churches it has dotted around and there are lots of green spaces to enjoy a picnic. Adelaide is more the place to go if you enjoy museums and a more slow paced style of tourism.

Adelaide, South Australia. (Source)

3. Perth

Perth is known as one of the most livable cities in the world due to its chilled out vibe, employment opportunities, and cultural sites where a particularly youthful crowd reside.  Perth has great beaches and is almost always sunny making it a great place to visit, but also live. The city of nearly two million offers a range of activities from wonderful shopping opportunities to more sedate cultural activities as well as plenty of active pursuits.

Perth, Western Australia. (Source)

4. Sydney

Sydney has to be one of the coolest cities on the planet, and is often considered to be up there with London, New York and Tokyo.  That said, it can be somewhat expensive and a little chaotic - not quite to the scale of Tokyo or New York, but it’s best to make sure you have a decent amount of time here to fully explore all that’s on offer. Sydney is defined by its scenic harbor and ferries take people on cruises under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and past the Sydney Opera House, which is a “must do” for most visits.  There are lots of museums, theatres and great things to do within Sydney, yet it’s not just about city life. You have Bondi Beach nearby, which is an incredible beach famed for its surfing culture (if you’re looking for somewhere great to stay that overlooks Bondi Beach visit www.bondi38.com.au).  There’s a relaxed yet vibrant vibe to Bondi Beach and it epitomises the Australian culture of working to live rather than living to work… as it’s not just tourists you’ll find at this beach, many people that work nearby and live nearby, that are wanting to get in their daily surf session.

Sydney, New South Wales. (Source)

5. Brisbane

Brisbane is a lively city that is a popular tourist destination that enjoys sunshine all year round.  It’s Australia’s third largest city, after Sydney and Melbourne, so it’s a serious city yet it’s also a friendly city.  It’s the biggest city in the Sunshine State with the Brisbane River cutting through its centre, and beautiful beaches not too far away, it’s a great place to visit if you like to be near the water and the amazing climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities such as cycling, climbing and hiking. ​ It’s a fun and friendly city that has a vibrant foodie scene, music scene and bar scene making it one of the best all-round cities in Australia.

Brisbane, Queensland. (Source)

6. Melbourne

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and offers a cosmopolitan vibe that makes it feel like Australia's cultural capital.  There are tons of art galleries, museums, a great music scene and plenty of food trucks - at times it feels akin to San Francisco, yet due to its high quality of life people from around the world have made Melbourne their home, and it has a unique vibe that is hard to find elsewhere in the world. ​ It remains Australian but has an almost European feel about it due in large part to the architecture, green spaces, and tree lined streets.

Melbourne, Victoria. (Source)

If you would like further information regarding the best time of year to visit the land of Oz, check out Bookmundi's post on the Best Time To Visit Australia. ​

[peakwealth]

A TRILLION HERE, A TRILLION THERE...

China's colonial ambitions are not as recent as some people might think, certainly not in Africa. They did not start with Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, the increasingly controversial remake of the ancient silk road (more prosaic: the global extension of Chinese trade routes and influence). The People's Republic has been pushing its geopolitical interests in Africa for decades. It used to be about undercutting Taiwan's attempt to gain diplomatic recognition from impoverished countries. But that was old-style politics, Third-World thinking. Today it hardly matters what happens at the United Nations General Assembly. It’s all about big business now, about economic clout. (*)

As early as the 1970s, when China itself was still piss poor, it funded a railway between Dar es Salaam and Zambia's copper mines. Those were the days when Mao Zedong supported the anti-apartheid politics of Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere. I know this because I remember taking a passenger train on that route many years ago, in 1989. What made it memorable was that the train broke down in the middle of a field and we walked to the road to continue the trip by bus. It was all predictably chaotic and on arrival in the town of Mbeya my luggage was stolen, including recording gear and notebooks. I wasn't amused.

The same Tazara railway is still in use and might even gain in importance if a Chinese megaport-cum-trade-zone-cum-highrise-city is built on the coast in Bagamoyo. As the Chinese see the future, Bagamoyo would become a gateway to eastern and central Africa. Back then, in 1989, it was a sleepy fishing village, something of a ghost town where ruins of the German colonial occupation still stood. It was a slow bus ride two hundred kilometers north of Dar. The seafood was wonderful.

In a later notebook I re-drew from (approximate) memory an old swahili house I had noticed in the town and which still served as a Government office. Although my drawing skills were no greater then than now, I include it here as a personal curiosity. So much for Bagamoyo.

Swahili house (with octagonal front columns and decorative latticework). Notebook. Bagamoyo, Tanzania 1989.

Earlier this year I mentioned in passing that Uganda's debt burden was weighing on the country's economic progress. A chunk of the growing national debt is made up of Chinese construction loans, a situation that is typical across much of Africa. (**)

Chinese banks have lent vast amounts of money for basic infrastructure projects in Africa and elsewhere, as far west as eastern Europe: roads, railways, harbours, bridges, airports, power plants (yes, coal powered), the sort of things that China has become expert in as it built up its own economic miracle. Since infrastructure was badly needed all over Africa, it was, at first, welcomed with open arms. Chinese investment filled a vacuum, particularly where western or multilateral funding was lacking. The fact that the projects also served Chinese interests was to be expected. You didn't have to be a genius to figure out that China was spreading its wings, doing a bit of empire building and trying to secure its future. Neglected by their former colonial masters, African leaders were willing to play ball with the Chinese, all the more so since Beijing was notoriously relaxed about accountability. One eye open, one eye closed.

When China started to run into resistance, the headwind came not immediately from Africa, but from Asia, specifically from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan, countries saddled with grandiose Chinese projects which, on closer inspection, they could not afford or did not need.

Thus Sri Lanka got a deep-sea port in the distant south-east of he country, in Hambantota, plus a nearby international airport built in the middle of nowhere (actually in a wildlife area where elephants roamed). China ended up repossessing the harbour. As for the airport, it is operational but unused, hemorrhaging cash. The latest news is that Sri Lanka was trying to unload it to Indian interests.

Beijing has had to deal with second thoughts from other countries as well. Following a historic regime change in Malaysia last year, the government in Kuala Lumpur managed to renegotiate a major railway project. India looks on warily, reluctant to have anything to do with China's expansionist push to make the world that much more Sinocentric.

African countries such as Kenya, which got a lovely new railway between Nairobi and Mombassa, have found themselves in debt distress, the so-called Chinese debt trap. The roads are fantastic, the rail and airport terminals are grandiose, but the revenue and growth they generate are not enough to pay back the Chinese loans.

The question then arises how visionary the Belt and Road master plan really is, how many of the gargantuan projects were properly thought through, how much due diligence was actually performed.

The New York based Rhodium Group, a commercial provider of economic research, has reviewed forty cases of Chinese debt renegotiations, many of them in Africa. Their study suggests that China has not been very smart with its lending. It also turns out that China has had limited leverage in dealing with some of its shaggy-dog debtor states. Large amounts of money have in fact been forgiven, written off, deferred or renegotiated. Other loans appear to be in limbo.(***)

In other words, China's revival of the old silk road is not a walk-over. It is costing a lot of money while failing to yield the kind of economic and political servitude the strategists is Beijing may have been looking for.

It also takes for granted unimpeded global growth on an indefinite time horizon, backed and guaranteed by authoritarian rule, which is to say the Chinese model of state capitalism. Not only does it seem blind to the serious security problems across Africa and the Muslim world, it essentially ignores climate change and dramatically contradicts the awareness that our planet is in deep environmental trouble. Such awareness may now be growing in the West but apparently is still taboo in Beijing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (*) As of last year, only a single African nation, Swaziland, grants formal diplomatic recognition to the Republic of China (ROC = Taiwan). Several Central-American, Caribbean and South-Pacific countries still do, as does the Holy See. Over the years, both the ROC and the People's Republic of China have used dollar diplomacy to try and win over recalcitrant states. Predictably, the PRC has won this unequal contest. It may not matter much any more now that has China become a global superpower no one seriously wants to mess with. (**) https://peakwealth.tumblr.com/post/184705262502 (***) https://rhg.com/research/new-data-on-the-debt-trap-question/

See also for Belt and Road Initiative's environmental impact: https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-chinas-big-overseas-initiative-threatens-climate-progress

[eat-travel-live-repeat]

The Best of Nairobi in One Week – A Travel Itinerary

This 7 Day Nairobi and Surrounding travel itinerary is designed keeping the following factors in mind:

Fly in and Fly Out from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport

Hire a car or book a car and driver (Nairobi roads can be hazardous)

Have 8 days in your hand

  Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. It is a buzzing, hustling, vibrant, gritty and chaotic place. It sits in the Kenyan highlands on top of the Great Rift Valley. Populated by colonists in the 18th for its cooler climate, the rains and fertile highlands made it a prime spot for European settlers who suffered under the scorching African sun.

  Nowadays Nairobi is no longer a sleepy village, it is the third-largest economy in Africa and the city is expanding at a huge rate. Everywhere you will see tower blocks emerging, restaurants and bars being opened, and swarms of tourists heading to world-famous sights. But Nairobi isn’t a city of ancient architecture and pristine plazas. Nairobi is famous for its animals. And it is the only city in the world with a National Park in the city bounds. Nairobi is also one of the destinations that is perfect for a family vacation as there are lots of things to do with kids in Nairobi, most of which are mentioned in this Nairobi Travel Guide as well.

  Nairobi National Park is 100 sq km right in the city where wild animals are free to roam and to come and go as they please. 4 of the big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo) are in the park, elephants had to be relocated due to human-wildlife conflict. In Nairobi , animals aren’t just confined to the park, you see giraffes on the way to work, warthogs on the school playing fields and monkeys in your garden. 

  Animals and humans coexist in a way that is special and unique to this vibrant African city.

Pin Me !

  [toc]

  Day 1 – Nairobi 

Land at Jomo Kenyatta International airport, make your way to your accommodation in the leafy suburb of Karen. Karen is on the outskirts of Nairobi, close to the wildlife points and filled with many fabulous shops and restaurants. 

Relax by the pool, take a walk in Ololua Forest and have dinner at the unbeatable Talisman restaurants. If it’s a Friday you’ll find locals dancing to the local DJ until the early hours of the morning. The best way to kick off your epic trip to Kenya and Nairobi.

  Day 2 – David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Manor

Start the Day 2 of your epic 7 day trip to Nairobi, by visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This charitable organisation rescues orphaned elephants from all over Kenya and Tanzania and rehabilitates them before returning them to the wild. Visit DSWT to meet the most adorable baby elephants, spend time getting to know them and meet their keepers and trust owners who will happily share information on the work that the trust does.

Stop for lunch at craft centre Utamaduni.

Visit the Giraffe Centre and Sanctuary. This charity rescues the endangered Rothschild Giraffe and provides them with a place of safety in the sanctuary. Visit the Giraffe Centre, meet the giraffe and feed them by hand. Get up close and personal to these gentle giants on raised platforms. Although these are wild giraffes they are used to visitors.

  Day 3 – Safari at Nairobi National Park 

The third day of this 7 day Nairobi Travel Itinerary is reserved for a full day safari at Nairobi National Park. 

The park may be small but it packs a punch; lion, leopard, hyena, cheetah, rhino, hippo, crocodiles, jackals and many more live in the park. As traditional corridors are open and animals are free to come and go, you have the opportunity to see most Kenyan wildlife here, except for elephants. There are various habitats across the park, from savannah to marsh, rivers and lakes to dense woodland. Stop for lunch at the KWS clubhouse and stay in the park for the full day.

  Day 4 – Drive to Naivasha & visit Crescent Island 

Naivasha is a thrilling 90-minute drive from Nairobi. The view as you drive down the Great Rift Valley is awe-inspiring; volcanoes rise from the bottom of the rift and eagles soar across its expanse. 

Spend the afternoon on a walking safari at Crescent Island. This crescent-shaped peninsula sticks out into Lake Naivasha. The lake hosts vast numbers of hippos, which frequently come onshore at Crescent Island. The sanctuary allows animals free access and you will get the opportunity to walk alongside giraffe, zebra, oryx, kudu, eland, Thompson gazelle, wildebeest, impala as well as buffalo and possibly hyena. Be wary of the hippos, hyena and buffalo.

  Day 5 – Naivasha – Hells Gate

Hells Gate National Park | Flickr | Ninara

Hells Gate National Park is the park on which the Lion King movie was based. A dramatic volcanic landscape of peaks and valleys, caves, rivers and its infamous gorge. Essentially a wildlife sanctuary – the park is largely filled with Kenya’s more friendly animals; Zebra, Hartebeest Thomson’s Gazelle, Klipspringer, Antelope and Reedbuck, although there are buffalo too and the odd Leopard and Lion may haunt the mountains. Hell’s Gate is named for its geothermal activity; hot springs and plumes of scalding steam are a common site and huffing, puffing, belching park that is an experience not to be missed. 

  Day 6 – Naivasha – take a boat tour and visit Crater Lake 

Spend the day on the lake. Take a boat tour and get up close and personal with the hippos. You can tour the entire lake where experienced guides will navigate your stomach clenchingly close to huge hippo families. The lake has amazing birdlife, eagles and herons in huge numbers as well as the fiercely ugly marabou stork. 

In the afternoon visit the dormant crater lake volcano. A jade-green lake fills the pit on the extinct volcano. Visit the sanctuary with its many trails up and around the volcano, the park is filled with game and has views all over the rift and Naivasha surrounds.

  Day 7 – Return to Nairobi & visit Spinners Web

Return to the top of the rift and back to Nairobi. 

Spend your last afternoon shopping for souvenirs at the wonderful Spinners Web. A huge house filled with treasures from all over Africa. Pick up Maasai beads, wooden carvings, woven rugs, reed bowls and vibrant clothing and jewellery. Enjoy lunch in the greenhouse before returning to your hotel.

  Where to Stay in Nairobi?

Tourists may prefer to stay in the outer suburbs of Karen and Langata where the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre are situated and there is easy access to Nairobi National Park.

  Karen Gables

This Cape Dutch-inspired boutique hotel is situated down a quiet lane at one of the most prestigious addresses in Nairobi. Once inside you are spirited away from city life into a world of tinkling streams and nature-filled gardens. 

  Hemmingways Nairobi

Part of a collection of elite hotels it’s hard to imagine that this grand plantation hotel has only 45 rooms. Its elegance and serenity are unmatched in Nairobi. It houses an excellent restaurant, a sundowner bar with views over the Ngong Hills and an onsite spa and pool. 

  When to visit Nairobi ?

Nairobi is in the highlands and the weather is considerably cooler than the rest of Kenya. In the long rains – April to June it can become quite cold and the rains can be long and frequent. In the short rains- October to November the rains are more sporadic, often sunny days with rainy evenings and nights. For the rest of the year, the weather is mostly hot and sunny. It can get very warm during the summer months of Dec-March. 

  Things to Shop in Nairobi to remind you of your trip to Kenya

  # Maasai beaded products- animals, bags and jewellery

 # Maasai Shukas

 # Kanga clothing 

 # Kikoy wraps

 # Aberdares tea

 # Carved wooden animals 

  Summary of the 7 Day Nairobi Travel Itinerary

Day 1 – Land in Nairobi 

Day 2 – Explore David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Giraffe Centre

Day 3 – Safari at Nairobi National park 

Day 4 – Naivasha and Crescent Island 

Day 5 – Visit Hell’s Gate Park, Gorge and Hot springs

Day 6 – Boat tour on Lake Naivasha and trip to Crater Lake 

Day 7 – Return to Nairobi +  Visit Spinners Web 

Day 8 – Departure from Nairobi

  We hope you found this 7 Day Nairobi and surrounding Travel Itinerary, to be of help to you, as a reliable Travel Resource for planning your Trip to Nairobi and Kenya. Don’t forget to Pin these images, and save this One Week Nairobi Travel Itinerary, for future travel planning.

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The 7 Day Nairobi Travel Itinerary and Guide The Best of Nairobi in One Week - A Travel Itinerary This 7 Day Nairobi and Surrounding travel itinerary is designed keeping the following factors in mind:

[eurotickets20]

Euro Cup Hospitality - Top Tips for Where to Stay in Rome

Take a tour to Rome to know-how history, art, and architecture, as well as the culture and tasty Italian cuisine. You will also love the mild climate of the city, and the views while you are there are simply unforgettable. Football fans can book Euro Cup Hospitality Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.

The Trastevere area exudes a sleepy village-like vibe and is home to outdoor cafes, tattoo parlours, microbreweries, and markets. Monti is a charming district with winding cobbled streets, antique shops and artisans selling handcrafted wares.

You will love the quirky bars and fine dining while you are here, and the relaxed vibe will make you want to extend your stay. The architectural features you will find in the Prati neighbourhood effortlessly draws visitors in. It is also in close proximity to the Vatican City where you will find many hotels and attractions such as St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel.

The Tridente neighbourhood is home to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, as well as some of the best high-end shopping streets in Rome. Testaccio is an area in Rome with old-school trattorias and hip street food joints, along with a thriving music and arts scene.

History in this district also runs deep with sites such as Pyramid of Cestius providing evidence of this claim. Visit the Parioli neighbourhood for a less chaotic pace and some of the best restaurants and hotels in Rome. There are also beautiful public parks and cultural museums in the area.

The Ostiense district is the place to be for art lovers, with many delights such as contemporary galleries and ancient marble statues. There are many cocktail bars and restaurants here as well, and for a fun night out, you will love the clubs and music venues in the area.

Another area you might not want to miss out on is San Giovanni, a neighbourhood that is brimming with churches, statues, museums, towers, and historical buildings. You can explore Rome on foot, but you will quickly discover the city is quite hilly. Public transport is more convenient, with readily available taxis and buses.

Cheap Rome hotels can be found all around the city, but hotels near Termini train station are more budget-friendly, as is accommodation outside the city centre.

Football fans can get Euro Cup Tickets through our trusted online ticketing market place. EuroTickets2020.com is the most reliable source to book Euro Cup 2020 tickets.

[wesimm17-blog]

Cambodia & Vietnam Tours

When to Go

 Vietnam and Cambodia span numerous climatic zones making the weather extremely difficult to predict. Nevertheless, if you are looking to avoid the rainy seasons and the worst of the heat then when embarking on Vietnam Cambodia tours from France you should consider between October and March.

 Vietnam

 Only in the past few years has Vietnam opened its doors to the world after thousands of years of Chinese, Mongols, and Japanese rule: all of which have left a lasting legacy in the supreme temples, and innumerable unique buildings. A country relatively unscathed by tourism, Vietnam is a country just waiting to be explored. Whether you want to explore Vietnam's ancient, traditional capital Hanoi, captivated with old artisan quarters, puppet theatres and pagoda's along the lakeside or the fabled imperial capital of Hue charmed with golden pavilions, terraced gardens and lily ponds Vietnam and Cambodia tours will allow you to witness it all. The regal and enigmatic, yet moving and imperious Ha Long Bay is a natural beauty to which words cannot do justice. Envisage thousands of limestone karsts and islands rising from the emerald waters and you have an image of awe-inspiring beauty. In addition to these wonderful cities and landscapes is the watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages of Mekong Delta. Rich in rice-paddies and fish farms, this delta yields enough produce to nourish a country with a significant surplus. The Vietnamese themselves are wonderfully energetic, always smiling and courteous who all proudly show off their beautiful country.

 Cambodia

 Just west of Vietnam lies the equally-exquisite Kingdom of Cambodia. The chaotic yet fascinating capital of Phnom Penh offers radiant spires of the royal palace and in the setting of a stunning river-side locality it truly is one of the hidden gems of Asia. A short flight away lays Siem Reap which proposes the life and vibrancy for the temples of Angkor the city is on route to once again becoming the epicentre new Cambodia. At its peak in the 13th century Siem Reap had almost a million inhabitants and was home of the monumental Khmer empire which ruled much of modern Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, which has left a lasting legacy of artistry and sculptures which truly makes Angkor one of the great wonders of the world. So whether it's a peaceful break, a bit of sight-seeing or just a hands-on history lesson your after Vietnam and Cambodia tours offers something for everyone of all ages. Know more at www.lazany.com

Resource

[swero17th-blog]

Cambodia & Vietnam Tours

When to Go

 Vietnam and Cambodia span numerous climatic zones making the weather extremely difficult to predict. Nevertheless, if you are looking to avoid the rainy seasons and the worst of the heat then when embarking on Vietnam and Cambodia Tours you should consider between October and March.

 Vietnam

 Only in the past few years has Vietnam opened its doors to the world after thousands of years of Chinese, Mongols, and Japanese rule: all of which have left a lasting legacy in the supreme temples, and innumerable unique buildings. A country relatively unscathed by tourism, Vietnam is a country just waiting to be explored. Whether you want to explore Vietnam's ancient, traditional capital Hanoi, captivated with old artisan quarters, puppet theatres and pagoda's along the lakeside or the fabled imperial capital of Hue charmed with golden pavilions, terraced gardens and lily ponds Vietnam and Cambodia tours will allow you to witness it all. The regal and enigmatic, yet moving and imperious Ha Long Bay is a natural beauty to which words cannot do justice. Envisage thousands of limestone karsts and islands rising from the emerald waters and you have an image of awe-inspiring beauty. In addition to these wonderful cities and landscapes is the watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages of Mekong Delta. Rich in rice-paddies and fish farms, this delta yields enough produce to nourish a country with a significant surplus. The Vietnamese themselves are wonderfully energetic, always smiling and courteous who all proudly show off their beautiful country.

 Cambodia

 Just west of Vietnam lies the equally-exquisite Kingdom of Cambodia. The chaotic yet fascinating capital of Phnom Penh offers radiant spires of the royal palace and in the setting of a stunning river-side locality it truly is one of the hidden gems of Asia. A short flight away lays Siem Reap which proposes the life and vibrancy for the temples of Angkor the city is on route to once again becoming the epicentre new Cambodia. At its peak in the 13th century Siem Reap had almost a million inhabitants and was home of the monumental Khmer empire which ruled much of modern Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, which has left a lasting legacy of artistry and sculptures which truly makes Angkor one of the great wonders of the world. So whether it's a peaceful break, a bit of sight-seeing or just a hands-on history lesson your after Vietnam and Cambodia tours offers something for everyone of all ages. Know more at www.lazany.com

Resource

Vietnam Cambodia tours from Sweden

|

Cambodia tour packages from Sweden

[shphillip-blog]

Vietnam and Cambodia Tours

When to Go

 Vietnam and Cambodia span numerous climatic zones making the weather extremely difficult to predict. Nevertheless, if you are looking to avoid the rainy seasons and the worst of the heat then when embarking on Vietnam and Cambodia Tours you should consider between October and March.

 Vietnam

 Only in the past few years has Vietnam opened its doors to the world after thousands of years of Chinese, Mongols, and Japanese rule: all of which have left a lasting legacy in the supreme temples, and innumerable unique buildings. A country relatively unscathed by tourism, Vietnam is a country just waiting to be explored. Whether you want to explore Vietnam’s ancient, traditional capital Hanoi, captivated with old artisan quarters, puppet theatres and pagoda’s along the lakeside or the fabled imperial capital of Hue charmed with golden pavilions, terraced gardens and lily ponds Vietnam and Cambodia tours will allow you to witness it all. The regal and enigmatic, yet moving and imperious Ha Long Bay is a natural beauty to which words cannot do justice. Envisage thousands of limestone karsts and islands rising from the emerald waters and you have an image of awe-inspiring beauty. In addition to these wonderful cities and landscapes is the watery landscape of green fields and sleepy villages of Mekong Delta. Rich in rice-paddies and fish farms, this delta yields enough produce to nourish a country with a significant surplus. The Vietnamese themselves are wonderfully energetic, always smiling and courteous who all proudly show off their beautiful country.

 Cambodia

 Just west of Vietnam lies the equally-exquisite Kingdom of Cambodia. The chaotic yet fascinating capital of Phnom Penh offers radiant spires of the royal palace and in the setting of a stunning river-side locality it truly is one of the hidden gems of Asia. A short flight away lays Siem Reap which proposes the life and vibrancy for the temples of Angkor the city is on route to once again becoming the epicentre new Cambodia. At its peak in the 13th century Siem Reap had almost a million inhabitants and was home of the monumental Khmer empire which ruled much of modern Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, which has left a lasting legacy of artistry and sculptures which truly makes Angkor one of the great wonders of the world. So whether it’s a peaceful break, a bit of sight-seeing or just a hands-on history lesson your after Vietnam and Cambodia tours offers something for everyone of all ages.

Resource

Vietnam Cambodia tours from Australia | Cambodia tour packages from Australia