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rising-dawn · 2 years ago

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theultimatexin:

ʚɞ

the vocalist hummed and nodded, noting the way dawn trailed off when he spoke of his sister, things may not have been going as smoothly as he was attempting to make it seem. “no i’m not. i slept earlier a bit after dinner to….make sure i was awake to call you at a decent time.” xin said honestly, her usual bluntness transcending the shy nature she usually became around dawn when the moment was just right. normally when they were together, she was able to pretend, pretend like he wasn’t looking at her in that way, and be so in her own genius rattling things off to watch his face light up and things of that nature. but the night had become a different, more romantic ambiance since new years. the phoenix desert had begun to heat up the cool connection of their friendship, and she was trapped in its expanse, shuffling through the hot sand trying to maneuver her way through the terrifyingly familiar territory. she struggled with ‘are things different now?’ constantly, even now met with his handsome face.

“i’m down to worry about you drowning every day of my life dae-sungie. “ she answered in response, that blanket of softness returning. it made her feel slimy in her own skin when it did. as if she could feel it wrapping around her, and yet she’d live in that comfortability if it meant they’d be around each other for a long time. “now what happens later down the line when you have to split time, at some point it wont just be for a quick phone call.” xin teased. her smile brightened as he rattled off options. “i’ve never been to indonesia. i’ve never been to bali and i heard it was beautiful.” xin’s eyes softened a bit as she spoke, “we can go after this leg? and i’m serious.” turning over so that she was more comfortable on the foreign bed, she pulled the covers close and the phone closer, having to deal with the pseudo warmth from her phone, her mind remembering sleeping in his arms only once and yet the feeling just wouldn’t go away. “where do you want to live eventually? like settle? anywhere in the world no limits, where?”

♡ .

her words sent his insides abuzz, the implication that they could spend every day of their lives together a prospect that was equally scary as exciting. he was the kind of person that had a habit of being able to imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone he so much as had a tiny passing crush on, but with xin, it really seemed possible. he had spent an untrackable amount of time with her the past few months and he could never even imagine getting bored or tired of her presence. in fact, dawn figured it would be impossible to do so until he knew every piece of information there was to know about her and then subsequently the world. "don't worry about that," he waved off her teasing with a small toss of his hand. "at some point, i think i'll have the same priorities," he smiled. though leaning on facetious, her words sent his mind wandering to later down the road. introducing her to his family for the first time, eventually becoming a part of it. his sisters being bridesmaids, his mother now a grandmother-- woah. he caught his thoughts getting way too ahead of himself.

"bali sounds perfect. do you think they would have those houses where you stay directly above the water? where you can just get out of bed and walk straight into the ocean?" he had seen pictures of those sort of resorts, the wooden huts on stilts above the shallow water, almost seeming as if they were floating in the ocean. "let's go," he nodded, agreeing to these semi-spontaneous plans. he had a feeling that a life with xin would hold plenty of those, but he definitely didn't mind. watching her snuggled up in the covers of the bed brought a small, admiring smile to his lips, reminding him of the adorable way her cheek pressed against his shoulder, comforter pulled all the way up to under her chin. "y'know, i really miss brighton sometimes. i think you'd really love it there. it can be pretty gloomy sometimes, but its right on the beach and it never gets disgustingly hot like here," the thought had never occurred to him before, but he would really like to take her there. show her the pebbly shore and the boardwalk and all his old haunts. maybe take her to a brighton fc game. "what about you? if you had to pick just one place forever?"

#ੈ♡˳ thread #ੈ♡˳ xin #yuqi is so presh #im crying

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dweemeister · 4 years ago

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Blue Hawaii (1961)

Elvis Presley’s ascent to stardom struck the United States (and the world) like a lightning bolt. Hounded from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry due to the country music establishment taking offense to his genre-blending musicianship, Elvis grew from being a regional phenomenon to a national sensation as he helped innovate rockabilly, a form of rock and roll. Movie producers, sensing an opportunity to cash in on Elvis’ skyrocketing popularity, gave Elvis star vehicles such as Love Me Tender (1956) and Jailhouse Rock (1957). Critics shrugged at these films – low-budget affairs where most of the budget went to Elvis’ salary – but his fans made them critic-proof, turning out in droves to scream and swoon at their slick-looking dreamboat. Grappling with television’s advent and the dissolution of the Old Hollywood Studio System, Hollywood’s major studios shifted their efforts towards more bombastic, showman-like films. Such was the situation in the early 1960s that longtime Warner Bros. producer Hal B. Wallis (1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1942’s Casablanca), now at Paramount, joked that, “a Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood.”

To the horror of Elvis’ fans and movie studio executives but to the delight of those fans’ parental figures and teachers, the U.S. Army drafted him in March 1958. Elvis served twenty-four months before his discharge with the rank of Sergeant. During his service, Elvis nevertheless had plenty of singles in the can, many ranking high on the charts while he was at basic training and later his posting in West Germany. Looking forward to restarting his musical and acting careers, Elvis soon returned to the recording studio and shot G. I. Blues (1960) – he had discussed the film with Wallis months prior to his discharge – in short order. For the eighth film of his career and his fourth after his discharge, Elvis starred in Blue Hawaii, directed by Norman Taurog (1938’s Boys Town, nine Elvis films) and produced by Wallis. The film stars Elvis as an Army veteran recently discharged from the service, returning to his home state. I wonder where did they get that idea from? It also marks the unlikely beginning of Elvis’ association with the Aloha State – which shed its territorial status in 1959 and was ready for a Hollywood treatment that had nothing to do with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Chadwick “Chad” Gates (Presley) returns home to Hawai’i from his military service, greeted by girlfriend Maile Duval (Joan Blackman: “MY-lee”) and a flower seller named Waihila (Hilo Hattie in a cameo). Instead of immediately seeing his parents – mother Sarah Lee (Angela Lansbury, only ten years Elvis’ senior) and father Fred (Roland Winters) – he escapes to a secluded oceanside shack with Maile and his Hawaiian surf buddies. Chad is the son of pineapple plantation owners, and Sarah Lee wants him to succeed Fred when the time comes. But Chad is not interested in those plans, electing instead to work as a tour guide for Mr. Chapman’s (Howard McNear) travel agency – among other things, Maile works at the agency. The first tour he gives serves schoolteacher Abigail Prentice (Nancy Walters) and her four teenage students, all girls. One of those girls, Ellie Corbett (Jenny Maxwell), appears standoffish at first but then begins to flirt shamelessly with Chad.

If by that point in Blue Hawaii you are still concentrating on the plot, just note that your approach to watching Elvis movies is not advisable. Watching Elvis movies for a sensible plot is to invite frustration; accept the narrative drivel and enjoy.

Shot mostly on location on the Hawaiian Islands of O’ahu and Kaua’i, Hawai’i offers splendid backdrops to even the most mundane scenes of this film. Charles Lang’s (1947’s The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, 1959’s Some Like It Hot) camera allows characters to be dwarfed by the green mountains in the distance, the crystal blue waters extending to the horizon, and palm tree fronds wafting amid a gentle breeze. Scenes of breathtaking natural beauty abound in Blue Hawaii. In conjunction with the production (Hal Pereira and Walter H. Tyler) and set design (Sam Comer and Frank R. McKelvy), Blue Hawaii becomes, by default, the most colorful Elvis movie to date. The film, by design, partly becomes a tourism advertisement for the new state. Its white characters and filmmakers exotify and romanticize Native Hawaiian culture to fit their own expectations and perspectives – these sorts of depictions have endured across the last century, figuring heavily in cinema (1935’s Honolulu: The Paradise of the Pacific as part of [James A.] Fitzpatrick’s Traveltalks for MGM) and tourism advertising. This is the first live-action feature film from a major Hollywood studio to make even a minimal attempt to depict native Hawaiian culture since Waikiki Wedding (1937), another Paramount film.

Here are some more connections between Waikiki Wedding and Blue Hawaii: both share one song (“Blue Hawaii”) in both their soundtracks and both films are musicals. The Hawaiian musical sound is just as integral to popular conceptions of Hawai’i, and it is used liberally here in orchestrations, if not melodic structure. Blue Hawaii’s soundtrack contains the greatest amount of songs (fourteen) for an Elvis film. For those who enjoy their breathless musicals with a song at every turn, Blue Hawaii does just that. The musical numbers arrive in the most innocuous situations – from forming a melody from a tune heard on the radio, an impromptu jam session with a guitar conveniently within arm’s length of Elvis, or starting from nothing. The worst of the soundtrack avoids many of the novelty songs that plague Elvis films, especially the later entries. Given how nonsensical the plots to Elvis movies are, the lower-tier songs in Blue Hawaii are preferable compared to more stilted acting and fraternizing shenanigans. Thus, the bar is raised, and the inclusion of two non-original songs – “Blue Hawaii” (music by Ralph Rainger, lyrics by Leo Robin) and “Aloha ‘Oe” (Queen Lili’uokalani) – are arranged in such a way that beautifully complements Elvis’ velvety singing voice. Among the original songs, “Moonlight Swim” (music by Ben Weisman, lyrics by Sylvia Dee) is a sensuous, laid back song that perfectly serves Chad’s characterization: an unabashed Casanova, effortless in romance, a hint of masculine arrogance.

The runaway hit of the Blue Hawaii soundtrack is among Elvis’ most popular songs. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – music and lyrics by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss – appears approximately midway through the film as Chad says hello to Maile’s grandmother (Flora Kaai Hayes, a former Hawaiian Territorial Representative to the U.S. House of Representatives) for the first time since before his military service. It, like so many other musical entries in Blue Hawaii, arrives without much warning, backed by a constantly harmonizing music box and a steel guitar played in a Hawaiian style. One might take issue with the song’s use in context, but it is a crooners’ standard that has crossed linguistic barriers worldwide. Its simplicity is self-evident: a memorable melody, chorus, and a minor key bridge aching for resolution as it modulates to major key. Perhaps “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is not considered one of the greatest original songs in movie history because of the questionable quality of the film it appears in. More likely, Elvis’ gravitational pull as a crossover music and movie star writes its own legends that defy a critic’s or a historian’s corrections.

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Somehow, I have written all the above without remarking on the acting. Other than Elvis himself, everyone else is a passing interest at best. Joan Blackman’s chemistry with Elvis is apparent, but she does not distinguish herself from every other female lead in an Elvis movie. Angela Lansbury’s exaggerated Southern accent displays her considerable range, even if there are better examples in other films. As much as some may deride Elvis’ performances for being unchallenging, one could not imagine an Elvis movie without the star attraction. His persona is effervescent; his charisma incontestable. According to Weiss, Elvis’ comedic instincts manifested themselves in subtle ways. If Elvis requested a joke to be explained in discussions about the screenplay, it was his roundabout, maybe overly polite, way to warn Weiss, Taurog, and screenwriter Hal Kanter (1952’s Road to Bali, at least twenty-two Academy Award ceremonies) that the joke was not funny. During test screenings of Blue Hawaii, every joke kept in the film that Elvis questioned elicited nothing from the audience. On- and off-screen, an Elvis movie with Elvis removed would collapse from the void of hilarity and charm such an absence would create.

Blue Hawaii, like all other Elvis movies prior, succeeded at the box office in comparison to its budget. Adding to this bounty for Elvis, the film’s soundtrack album sold millions of copies, sitting atop of the Billboard charts for twenty weeks, and garnering a Grammy nomination. The soundtrack profits from Blue Hawaii and the preceding G.I. Blues led Presley’s obstinate manager, Colonel Tom Parker, to have his client concentrate on film soundtrack albums at the expense of non-soundtrack albums – setting the groundwork for the remainder of the 1960s (Elvis released 16 soundtrack albums versus six non-soundtrack albums during this decade), with diminishing returns. Parker reasoned to Elvis that his fans demanded to see him in these musical romantic comedies, rejecting any roles that did not fit this mold. Elvis, believing his manager, continued to make films until well past the point an Elvis Presley picture was a guaranteed hit in theaters.

In its visual splendor and Pacific appeal, Blue Hawaii sealed the fate of Elvis’ post-Army career. No other subsequent Elvis film would match the commercial heights of Blue Hawaii, although one could argue several of those movies surpass this one in terms of acting, aesthetics, and musical interest (like 1964’s Viva Las Vegas and two concert documentaries in 1970 and 1972). Elvis returned to Hawai’i several more times during his career for concerts and two films – Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) and Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966). As much as Elvis is associated with Tupelo, Mississippi (his birthplace) and Graceland in Memphis, there is also a special relationship between Elvis and Hawai’i. That relationship – one that touches Elvis’ personal life and the musical traditions of Native Hawaiians – begins with Blue Hawaii, an archetypal Elvis film and one of his best.

My rating: 6/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Half-points are always rounded down. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found in the “Ratings system” page on my blog (as of July 1, 2020, tumblr is not permitting certain posts with links to appear on tag pages, so I cannot provide the URL).

For more of my reviews tagged “My Movie Odyssey”, check out the tag of the same name on my blog.

#Blue Hawaii #Norman Taurog #Elvis #Elvis Presley #Joan Blackman #Angela Lansbury #Nancy Walters #Roland Winters #John Archer #Howard McNear #Jenny Maxwell #Lani Kai #Hal Wallis #George David Weiss #Hugo Peretti #Luigi Creatore #TCM #My Movie Odyssey

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architectnews · 3 years ago

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RAW Architecture uses bamboo to build Guha studio extension in Jakarta

Indonesian studio RAW Architecture used local materials and traditional building techniques including bamboo construction to create a new studio adjoining a multipurpose building designed by its founder in Jakarta.

The Guha project, which is shortlisted in the business building category of the Dezeen Awards 2021, involved the renovation of a building completed by RAW Architecture in 2016, as well as the addition of a larger office studio space for the practice.

The Guha Bambu building has a bamboo framework

The existing building known as The Guild contains the residence RAW Architecture founder Realrich Sjarief shares with his family, along with his wife's dental clinic and a library that helps the local community engage with architecture.

RAW Architecture's design addresses specific economic, social and environmental issues relating to sustainability, placing emphasis on the use of local building methods such as bamboo construction.

It is an extension to an existing building in Jakarta

"Economically, it refers to the use of local craftsmen and the potential of the local manufacturing industry," the architects explained, "as well as socially forming an ecosystem between architects, architecture, local craftsmen and the manufacturing industry."

"From an environmental perspective, it seeks to reduce emissions and the carbon footprint generated by construction activities through the implementation of local materials."

Daylight enters through openings in the concrete facade

The architecture of both the new and old parts of the building responds to Indonesia's tropical climate by orienting spaces to prevent overheating from direct exposure to the sun, while allowing breezes to naturally ventilate the interiors.

Openings in the concrete facades are carefully positioned to allow daylight to enter, and the building's western elevation is covered with plants that provide shade. The landscaping includes trees and water that help to create a comfortable microclimate.

Plants cover the building's western elevation

RAW Architecture’s studio is now housed in a three-storey structure with two basement levels that adjoins the eastern side of the existing building.

The new structure, called Guha Bambu, features a bamboo framework that supports the floor plates as well as a roof constructed with steel trusses.

The interior is intended to evoke a bamboo forest

Externally, the bamboo is painted to improve its resistance to sunlight and rain.

The curved forms and woven elements are influenced by the design of traditional Barong masks, which the architect encountered as a child in Bali.

Read:

Zigzag thatched bamboo roofs shade classrooms of school in Indonesia

Some of the spaces employ a traditional Javanese construction method known as Tumpang Sari, which involves creating a stack effect to help remove hot air through openings near the top of a chimney-like volume.

The building's interior showcases the bamboo construction in its raw form and is intended to evoke a bamboo forest. Splayed pillars support the floors and screens made from split bamboo pieces are used to separate the spaces.

Raw bamboo was used inside the building

The use of bamboo construction was based on RAW Architecture's experience working with the material to construct parts of a school in the city of Tangerang.

The Alfa Omega school building is raised above a swamp on stilts and features a zigzag roof made from thatched bamboo.

The existing building contains the architect's residence

Architect Realrich Sjarief established his studio in 2011 and focuses on combining locality and craftsmanship to create projects that are simple, humble and unique.

RAW Architecture, which stands for Realrich Architecture Workshop, was longlisted in the emerging architect of the year category of the Dezeen Awards 2020.

The post RAW Architecture uses bamboo to build Guha studio extension in Jakarta appeared first on Dezeen.

#Architecture – Dezeen

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cooldididesign · 4 years ago

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Tiny Tetra House is A Small Tranquility Made of Recycled Waste: Project by Stilt Studio

alexis dornier's stilt studios are launching a 64-square meter home, nestled in between gathering of trees paying tribute to sustainable tranquility in uluwatu, sunset farm, on the dewata island of bali.

the house might look small compared to typical houses in the middle of the forest, yet it packs quite the punch in aesthetics; elegant, spacious, and nature-inspired, with less environmental impact projected.

taking the lead in providing waste recycling problems through architecture, dornier, and the co-founder and ceo of stilt studios, florian holm, are very aware of how bali has as much waste as other places in the world. this requires a call of humanity that is not only for architects, designers but us together to tackle global problems and reaching out voices to brace the meaningful purposes of maintaining livable earth that has been degrading over the past decades.

hence, using recycled materials from building, alongside wood, the studios hope to contribute positively to promoting a local circular economy, as it was listed on kickstarter to increase community feedback for the prototype.

tiny tetra house: a closer look

by design, tiny tetra house blends in dornier's multifaceted practices incorporating sustainable materials and minimalistic prefabricated architecture. composing corrugated sheets made of recycled tetra pak beverage cartons by @ecobalirecycle, where the name of the house took its inspiration from.

here on the site, tetra pak developed poly roof panels made of 25% plastic and aluminum from their package cartons. featuring a single bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and a living room that have been furnished with sleek, modern furniture. the aluminum layer on top helps to ensure a 100% waterproof material. the poly roof sheets are proven as more promising than regular tin sheets according to their insulating effects in heat and noise reduction.

"at stilt studios, we believe we have the responsibility for both creating unique designs and reducing the environmental impact of our buildings. how about if we could not only reduce total material used and the footprint, but be a part of the circular economy by choice of material used", says alexis dornier, co-founder and chief designer at stilt studios.

the diagonally oriented floor plan creates exciting spaces that exude outward into the exterior. the contemporary design of the sloping roof channels rainwater through the designed structural system which is then stored for further use like watering the surrounding garden. nine point foundations lift the tiny tetra house 40cm above the ground, offering a perfect sitting height on the porch to serve a perfect sitting height on the porch. it creates a little reminiscent of traditional japanese terrace, engawa, which commonly connects the living room with a garden through a long-wooden corridor. where you would wander the openness with a cup of morning tea and a pair of books.

through openings that are closely put under the canopy, the building seeks to empower passive cooling. the large facade panels can be opened to provide a cross-ventilation, making the space completely open. layers of curtains make the house more private. it also introduces a customized furniture system for a cozy dining and living space.

“we decided to launch the project on kickstarter to get as much community feedback as possible and use it to further refine the prototype for the production version. supporters of the project can buy a voucher to later stay at the tiny tetra house in bali. any help is welcome!” added florian holm.

about stilt studios

stilt studios designs, founded in 2019 by alexis dornier (chief designer) and florian holm (ceo), builds and operates upscale prefab structures that blend in seamlessly with nature. by blurring the boundaries of modern art, architecture, and product design, stilt studios creates unique experiences for residents and developers while treating lightly on the earth. in the product development process, the team seeks to combine the highest standard of architectural design with the building innovation and a minimized footprint prefab can offer.

along with the launch of 5 buildings standing with the canggu garden, bali, indonesia, the first prototype of tiny tetra house is being built in august as its sales will commence in october this year with deliveries in asia but are open for worldwide sales.

support the project on kickstarter | read the full stories here | instagram @stiltstudios| @alexisdornier

#design #architecture #alexis dornier #stilt studios #green architecture bali

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aibd · 4 years ago

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Check out this tiny house made from recycled materials in Bali!

Tiny House Made from Recycled Materials Begins Construction in Bali

Stilt Studios has begun construction on a new prefabricated tiny house made out of recycled Tetra Pak cartons in Bali.

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delhi-architect2 · 4 years ago

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ArchDaily - Tiny House Made from Recycled Materials Begins Construction in Bali

Courtesy of Stilt Studios

Bali-based Stilt Studios has begun construction on a new prefabricated tiny house made out of recycled Tetra Pak cartons. The team has also launched a Kickstarter campaign to create awareness for the use of recycled materials. Designed to promote local, circular economies, the first prototype is now being built and sales of the tiny house will commence in October this year.

from ArchDaily https://www.archdaily.com/945035/tiny-house-made-from-recycled-materials-begins-construction-in-bali Originally published on ARCHDAILY RSS Feed: https://www.archdaily.com/

#ArchDaily #architect #architecture #architects #architectural #design #designer #designers #building #buildin

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keepingitneutral · 4 years ago

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Tiny Tetra House, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia,

In this project, Stilt Studios uses flat and corrugated sheets made of recycled Tetra Pak packages by @ecobalirecycle to establish the roof and walls.

Regular Tetra Pak packages usually consist of 75% paper, 20% plastic, and 5% aluminium. To lessen their waste problem, Tetra Pak developed poly roof panels that are made of 25% plastic and aluminium. By shredding and pressing it under heat into flat as well as corrugated sheets, a new building material for roof and walls is made.

The aluminium layer on top helps to ensure a 100% waterproof material. In material studies, the poly roof sheets are considered as more promising than regular tin sheets according to the insulating effects in heat and noise reduction.

Stilt Studios

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absolutescubaindia · 5 years ago

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Mecca for the experienced divers – Scuba diving in Komodo islands

kaleidoscope called Komodo Of shrinking planes, tiny airports and fantastic folk One makes the mistake, living in India that Indonesia is just another Asian tiger next door; like Thailand or Malaysia. Perhaps that’s true... if you are flying to Jakarta. But divers go to Bali. And the more adventurous ones go to Komodo. That gets you within spitting distance of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Indonesia is a surprisingly ‘poor’ country. But only in monetary terms. The people are surreally enchanting and gentle. Soft spoken and laughing. You hardly ever get to hear a voice raised in anger here. People don’t honk when standing in traffic queues. What a change.

Absolute “Komodo Cowboys” We landed at Komodo airport from Ngurah Rai airport, Bali in the scorching heat of the late morning sun. I love that the definition of an airport can be expanded from a multi terminal sophisticated behemoth to a tin shed with a single tarmac. Komodo is closer to the latter in description. The tiny planes which ferry us there allow only 10 kg check in baggage; so if you are a fully equipped diver, be prepared to shell out the Rufias. One gets used to being jostled at the single baggage carousel by islanders and surfers (it’s a top surfing destination). And then one will get into a minivan to travel across the hump of a verdant volcanic hill to reach Sumbawa, west Komodo, passing sleepy villages and paddy fields. You turn a corner and a serpentine road leads to that little Eden called Kalimaya.

Bamboo luxury. An invasive rooster. The ocean at last.

What makes the Kalimaya Beach resort unique is its complete isolation; it is practically the only dive resort in that area of Komodo. It has an incredible house reef, the exploration of which (if you are a macro person) can easily encompass an entire dive vacation, such is the plethora of life around the various bommies (submerged offshore reefs). I recall Alex, Kunal and I spending at least two dive hours around just five such bommies, looking for an elusive leafy scorpion fish! But more about underwater vistas later. The on stilt air conditioned huts are fabulous and their en suite, open-to-sky bathrooms are insane. Equally insane is a voyeuristic black rooster who would land in the open loo and ogle the family jewels with undisguised interest. What is it with roosters and divers? (Anyone who hasn’t heard of the Bastard of Bangaram is missing a legendary story).

Lush & healthy reefs abound at Komodo’s pristine dive sites

We sat every night in the open dining room, with one side sliding into an infinity pool which in turn fades into the bay. At Kalimaya, they talk of pods of whales crossing the bay in the clear moonlight, moaning and blowing not more than 500 meters away. Perhaps you can start to fathom now what I am desperately trying to describe. But then, language and words are limited compared to the magnificence nature can unfold.

Diving with Dragons

Wallacea. That magical zone of incredible biodiversity which includes Sumbawa and Komodo. Towards Sundaland, west of the Wallace line, fauna akin to East Asia. Towards Australia, east of the line, everything changing to Oceanic species. Imagine a wonder water world where you get to see both; yet with an invisible boundary line drawn so that species on each side of the line turn back at it into their respective zones! Essentially, a deep water channel which formed when the continental shelves separated, this line separates fauna into Asian or Oceanic dominance. Komodo lies smack dab in the mind boggling Coral triangle, also known as the Amazon of the oceans. Covering just 1.6% of the planet’s oceanic area, it has 76% of all known coral species in the world. As a habitat for 52% of Indo-Pacific reef fishes and 37% of the world's reef fishes, it encompasses the highest diversity of coral fauna in the world. So if you want to see life in the ocean, there is no place in the world as pristine as Komodo. There are a few caveats, however.

Macro delights: Nudi Branchs make Komodo an underwater photog’s paradise

The waters here are really not for novice divers. You have to have decent skills, especially good buoyancy control, experience in drift diving and a calm head in case of a crisis. For sure, the dragons here are not all quadruped. The waters can be rather capricious and unforgiving. Komodo is a place which typifies anything impossibly beautiful but dangerous. Diver casualties can and do happen. But safe diving practices, following the instructions of locally experienced dive leaders, and knowing your own limitations can make this a heady combination of adrenaline and serenity, nature at its savage and enchanting best, and safe enough. Not a rookie diver destination for sure, but my humble experience would suggest a minimum requirement of an Advanced Open Water Certification with 50 dives, some of which include strong current confrontations. Let me illustrate with a scenario. This is not to intimidate anyone, but my brief does not mandate pulling punches. Before the reader jumps to any conclusions, let me state that these dives I rank as some of the best in my limited diving career. Primordial S**t aka “Dude, where are my shorts?”

After sussing how everyone was diving, a few of us were considered fit enough to attempt the “Canyon” aka “Dude, where are my shorts?”, one of the most challenging dive sites in Komodo. Considering the difficulty level, we were honoured with the legendary Stuart, Aussie (of South African origins) manager and senior most dive leader of Kalimaya deigning to lead the dive. We stopped in the middle of the open choppy blue, and Stu simply said, “This is it.” I looked around for the dive site, but it was my close friend and awesome dive buddy Kunal Khaladkar aka KK who saw it first. Then he uttered those immortal words, “this is some primordial s**t, dude.” I turned and followed his line of sight and my blood ran cold.

In the middle of nowhere, with waves crashing over them, stood two jagged, rocky outcroppings. Like watery sentinels to Hade’s world. The gap between these two rocks was what we had to target. The truth was that it was all just one rocky sea mount, with a deep and narrow channel in the middle. The Canyon.Dive brief was simple. Negative entry to 25 meters. Grab one of the two large boulders guarding the entrance. Sink fast or the rip current will drag you into the blue. Time your entry into the canyon. One at a time. The brief I now abandon to describe the dive itself. We descended as planned; KK, Alex and I, the tail team. We spotted trouble straight away. An advanced diver, who hadn’t dived in a while, was panicking and Francois, one of the French dive leaders was trying to calm him down at the entrance. But this meant we had minimal access to the boulders. I could feel the tug of the fierce current. Fortunately, Francois got the diver sorted out and we followed the two into the canyon; KK, I and Alex, in that order. No scope for buddy business here. We entered straight into massive magic. And magical hell. Deep, dark blue. Walls (studded with sea urchins and scorpion fish) within painful scraping distance on both sides. Look up and you realise that you are practically in an overhead environment; the walls come closer and closer till they are almost meeting at the top, leaving just a sliver of light to slide through. The visibility gets murkier and I realise there is no heading up top if you get into trouble. No evidence of the end of the canyon so one has to be calm and breathe slowly and evenly, conserving air, with neutral buoyancy and trim being non-negotiable. And then there was the surge. The canyon

essentially acted as a funnel for the ocean on both sides of the sea mount. Thus the most vicious, Columbus like (remember the nausea inducing pendulum like amusement ride?) surge I have ever experienced. Incredible! Five meters forward, seven meters back. Sometimes you feel you are going nowhere. And you start wondering about your air supply. And all the time, the walls are getting narrower and narrower (until a diver with a pro camera rig had to twist sideways to scrape though).

“Doc” Bhaduri and his buddies “hooked” onto the reef

So here we were. Swimming in line. Swinging on our personal gigantic pendulum. Locked into our own personal space. Breathing our personal air in a stentorian manner. With as much modicum of control as our mind zen, technical ability & our experience would allow. As for me; how can one explain being s**t scared, supremely exalted and grimly determined at the same time?

Finally, end of the passage of intimidation. Come up to a huge boulder and ascend steeply to five meters, fighting the surge, madly deflating and trying not to get slammed at the same time. Enter a quasi-lagoon. Ascend too fast, and you are likely to be smashed to a pulp against the rocks. Don’t hit the bottom; it’s cluttered with scorpion fish and urchins. Perfect buoyancy is the key. The canyon hadn’t finished with us. As I looked into the open ocean, I saw Stuart and his buddy literally getting swept away as they left the lagoon. There is a perennially strong current at the mouth of this mini lagoon. And here we come to the legend behind the name, “dude, where are my shorts?”. Seems there is an Italian divemaster called Nico who was one of the pioneers of this site. As he ascended out of the canyon for the first time, the current caught him. The ocean liked his loose Bermudas, and claimed it for its own. It took Nico sometime to realise he was starkers and then he asked his now famous question. An experience unforgotten. A dive of a life time. I did not even mention the black tips resting on the bottom of the canyon. I won’t describe the de facto standards of 25-30 meter visibility, the frog fish, the sea snakes and other fantastic flora and fauna which are in abundance here; suffice it to say that they are unmatched.

The Dragons Emerge

Life stopped evolving here a million years ago. Or so it seems. And a throwback to prehistory stalks the barren wastes of the island of Komodo; relentless, merciless & exceedingly cunning. The Komodo Dragon.

The Komodo Dragon

It is true that the dragons have not evolved; perhaps they have had no reason to do so. The size of a squat horse, body armour just inferior to that of a rhinoceros. Weapons – pretty much the entire body. Razors sharp rows of powerful, long teeth; a venomous bite because of the innumerable pathogens it harbours in its maw, and a death grip which its jaws will not relinquish, unless it tears flesh and bones off or is killed itself. A tail which it wields like a weapon; beating and whipping its prey with stunning, even lethal blows. And claws. Grip and slash daggers in all its appendages. A fearsome killing machine indeed. Lazy during the day, but when on the hunt, especially at night, can move as fast as an equine. We were allowed to see the dragons only from off shore. On the island, only rangers are allowed to stay.

There are so many anecdotes I could narrate. Amazing food, tranquil evenings, great company, a jetty under the stars and over the reef. But one needs to discover this paradise on one’s own. Lest I forget, difficult destinations are made smooth and superb when you have a fantastic team to handhold you and keep you comfortable. Seemant and Siddharth and Scuba India are so professional that you never get to know the efficient engine which is working behind the scene. And all this with a smile…mostly.

Author: Dr. Debanshu “Doc” Bhaduri, PADI Master Scuba Diver (MSD –1805AE0715)

Reach us to claim your SCUBA certification or explore the underwater world with SCUBA diving in India or abroad. Follow us on Instagram | Like us on Facebook | Subscribe us on YouTube

About Absolute SCUBA

Absolute SCUBA is the brainchild of two seasoned Dive Industry professionals, Seemant Saxena, and Siddharth Pujari. Between them, they share a collective experience of over 15 years in the Dive Training, Scuba Certification and Dive Travel business.

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scrollinondubs · 5 years ago

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Koh Tao Week 4 update: ⁣ ⁣ This weekend I got my Advanced Open Water diver certification and overcame my fear of deep diving. ⁣ ⁣ I did a total of 5 dives including a night dive where we saw an octopus, a bunch of weird fish and bioluminescent plankton. We turned off our flashlights under water and in the pitch black waved our hands to agitate the water and 1000’s of these little shimmering creatures lit up in the wake of the disturbance- it was an unforgettable alien-like experience. ⁣ ⁣ This last month has been one of conquering multiple fears. My friend @rickculbertsonbkk taught me the basics of how to ride a scooter and I’ve been using it to get around all the past week gradually beating my fear of 2-wheeled vehicles. ⁣ ⁣ @helensimkins and I found a spot on the other side of the island where people live in these little houses on stilts right about the bluest water. ⁣ ⁣ We discovered @savagekohtao has a killer Sunday pool volleyball scene. ⁣ ⁣ I’ve eaten 90% of my meals at @coconut.monkey and can’t stop ordering their Buddha Bowl. If I had to eat this dish every day for the rest of my life I’d 100% be okay with that. ⁣ ⁣ I finally finished Gary Keller’s “The ONE Thing” book, implemented his methodology using a mind mapping tool and started applying his focusing question to my own goals. So far so good. Too early to testify to this but it’s a useful lens to guide what you work on next. Highly recommend his book (check his podcast interview with Tim Ferriss for a sample of what he’s about). ⁣ ⁣ In other news I’ve been steadily improving @iceman_hof retention times and can now hold my breath for over 4min. W00t. ⁣ ⁣ We’ve seen amazing sunset upon sunset…⁣ ⁣ ...upon epic sunset on this beautiful island. The coworking space has been legit with 200/300MB internet up/down and has provided a productive space to do my work for Pagely. Here for another two weeks then headed over to Bali to meet up with friends there. Hope your 2020 is off to a good start. 🥂 (at Koh Tao Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7h7mVmH-sa/?igshid=1583zo9h84fwj

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biteofnews · 5 years ago

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Couple Vacation: Top 10 Destinations For Your First Travel Goals Together

Do you agree that romance is in the air? If you’re searching for a romantic place to sip a good cup of hot cocoa and a warm fire to huddle up to your sweetheart this holiday season, then you came to the right place. Although many people choose to spend the holidays with family, plenty of couples opt to use their vacation time that they’ve waited for so long to step out into the world and go on an adventure for two.

Travelling in itself is a romantic idea; discovering exotic and far off places with their special someone is one of the most romantic things for couples to do together. To help look for romantic holiday destinations, this article has the top 10 romantic holiday destinations for couples.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Take your beloved to view the world’s most beautiful, natural light show, the Northern Lights, during this time of year in Iceland. This is the opportunity to do it since the holidays will make it more special. Also, the country became immensely popular and an affordable destination for worldly travellers, where everyone can appreciate and enjoy geothermal hot springs, and plenty of holiday markets and fine dining.

Paris, France

Of course, the list won’t be complete without a romantic holiday in Paris! It’s always a romantic anytime in Paris, do you agree? The City of Love has plenty to offer and sights needed to be explored during the holiday time. You and your partner can stroll through the city and stare at trees dripping with lights, ice-skate under the stars or view the city by riding on the Roue de Paris, the city’s huge Ferris wheel.

Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

If both of you are the type of couple that’s all about luxury, then it’s just perfect to visit the Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives. Many couples dream of experiencing the Maldives, so if you have the means, why not visit it? Stay in one of their private bungalows on stilts rested above the Indian Ocean’s turquoise waters, and enjoy a private butler, pool, yacht, and rooftop beds for stargazing.

Toowoon Bay, Sydney

If you can’t really afford the Maldives, then an alternative luxury vacation you can consider is Toowoon Bay. It’s a lovely destination for a quick break or relaxing beach holiday on the Central Coast of NSW. For romantic getaways, you may want to check out several beachside retreats that offer luxury escape in the Central Coast. You may enjoy a wonderful view of Toowoon Bay right from your own private villa.

Bali, Indonesia

Yes, Bali! Many people dream of visiting one of the most scenic destinations in Southeast Asia, but what makes it unique and keep travellers coming back year after year is the island’s culture and traditions. During the day, you need to see the 15th Century temples and wonderful waterfalls before relaxing together to enjoy breath-taking sunsets over clear blue waters.

Aspen, Colorado

Want to feel the Christmas spirit? You and your special someone can retreat to this Colorado mountain town for days filled with skiing, as well as snuggly accommodation, hot choco by hotel fireplaces and many aprés ski activities in the town around the holidays. Apart from the activities on the mountain, you and your significant other can enjoy holiday fireworks, everyday public Menorah lighting and a visit to the St. Regis Aspen’s huge gingerbread house.

New York City, New York

New York is mystical around the holidays, when businesses arrange tons of holidays displays all over the city, as well the huge Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza and the celebrated window displays down Fifth Avenue. To make it more romantic, take a wintry carriage ride around Central Park or go ice-skating at Bryant Park for a true New York holiday experience.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Like the idea of riding horses during the holidays? Then take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the French Quarter and you’ll instantly see the New Orleans does the holidays in style. The calm weather makes the city superb winter destinations for snowbirds, then you can take part in all the fun activities in the Big Easy, such as the one-of-a-kind historical cemetery tours, jazz music and partying on Bourbon Street.

Vienna, Austria

When it comes to romantic holidays, Europe should always be included in your list. You shouldn’t miss the Belvedere Palace Christmas Village to celebrate the season in lavish, Baroque style. You’ll find great shopping stalls, food, Austrian punch and enough mulled wine to make your cheeks blush. While you’re in the city, be sure to see the advent concert, view the lights on Kärntner Strasse and Graben streets and visit a roasted chestnut stand.

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges sort of mirrors of gingerbread town during winter, decorated with thousands of little lights, wreaths and other holiday decors, all filled by cobblestone streets. The city is the host of one of Europe’s biggest winter events such as the Ice Sculpture Festival, where you and your sweetie can view fizzy works carved in ice by the international artist at the city’s train station.

Author Bio: Ivandrea Ollero is a writer for Kims Romantic Getaways Sydney, one of Australia’s beach retreat places immersed in subtropical rainforest offering a cluster of lavish individual timber bungalows and spa villas on the beach. She is also a content crafter who researches and writes custom content about travel, fashion, finance, business, home improvements, health, and beauty in order to provide helpful information and tips for her readers. Ivandrea graduated from St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2016.