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blackswaneuroparedux · 4 years ago

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Anonymous asked: I really enjoy your cultured posts and especially about wine. I never knew that Roger Scruton wrote about wine! You tantalisingly talked in bits and pieces in past posts about your chateau vineyard in France. I understand why you protect your privacy but can you say a bit more. I was also hoping as a wine connoisseur you can explain to me what wine sommeliers in restaurants mean about wine having ‘terroir’? Are they just making stuff up to look down on us poor saps or is there something to it?

Your experience with the sommelier reminded me of the classic British television comedy, ‘Fawlty Towers’, where John Cleese’s perpetually hard pressed hotel owner, Basil Fawlty, says with his usual sarcasm, “I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn’t know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret.”

I’m sorry that you had from what I can surmise bad experiences with sniffy sommeliers when it came to appreciating wine. I have had one or two depressing experiences myself but it’s important to call out such rudeness so that others don’t have their dining experience spoiled. In Paris at least I can honestly say the spectre of the rude sommelier is dying out - and I have eaten in many great restaurants where I’ve had very lovely experience chatting with sommeliers versed in their wines.

These days sommeliers are positively jumping for joy if you show any kind of wine literacy. Don’t forget these men (and women) have worked extremely hard to hone a refined sense of their craft and they just want to share that knowledge and wisdom with you - otherwise it goes to waste.

Everyone likes to be appreciated and so I go out of my way to listen and appreciate their recommendations based on what I like or if I am looking to pair something interesting with the food I have ordered. If I don’t know I just ask. Indeed often I do know but I still ask because I’m curious to know if there is a better choice of wine and also because I want to learn. There is no shame in asking. Remember they are there to guide you to have the best dining experience in their restaurant. So engage with them with kind civility and your palate will thank you. And tip generously (if applicable).

I do indeed have a chateau vineyard in southern France - south of Paris anyway. But it’s not just mine. I invested in a dream that belonged to my two cousins who are the real wine connoisseurs. Out of their request for discretion I don’t talk too much about it here on this blog (they follow my blog). I can say that I admire both my cousins hugely (I get brownie points for saying that) for their hard work, risk taking, passion, and their artisanal flair.

Both my cousins gave up lucrative corporate careers to follow their dream to owning and managing a small vineyard. In this case it was bought from the family of my cousin’s French wife; her very old traditional family had the vineyard for generations. They had fought off French revolutionaries who wanted to burn down their chateau because of their old roots but they managed to prevail and survive. They barely survived the Great French Wine Blight (the Phylloxera infestations) that was a severe blight of the mid-19th century that decimated many of the vineyards across France. But times change. It’s not a romantic business but an unforgiving one. So rather than sell up to rapacious Chinese investors and other outsiders they instead sold it to us.

I have my day job and that keeps me extremely busy. My two cousins (and their French wives) manage the whole vineyard with other hired staff. They make all the decisions and I do the drinking (for quality control purposes, naturally). I help out when I can. This could be from business marketing advice or attending a few wine merchant trade shows. I often go to Shanghai and Hong Kong for my corporate work and my Chinese is passable; and so I help out my cousins who might be out there when I am there too. In fact one of my cousins was out in Shanghai just before the Wuham Covid 19 outbreak in China; thankfully he got out fine and didn’t suffer any symptoms after his trip.

More fun for me is actually spending time on the vineyard. Call me weird but I really do look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting down in the dirt. It’s incredibly back breaking work - pruning or harvesting - but very rewarding because we’re all in it together. The camaraderie is immense.

I love escaping into the countryside and I just enjoy the easy bonhomie and companionship of my cousins and their French partners for whom wine is a passion and a way of life. Besides learning a lot more about wine, I also get to run, cycle, and hike in the surrounding hills, a world away from crazy city life.

Like many vineyards in France (and indeed vineyards around the world) the Coronavirus has made it an even more challenging environment to produce and sell wine. We did a lot of business in China and now, like many others, we’ve taken a hit. But we’re not down for the count. We’re fortunate that we are more robust with what we have in place. But like everyone else uncertainty of the future with an expected recession means we need to dig in deep and weather the oncoming storms. But we’ll be fine.

So what is this odd French word, ‘terroir’?

The French have this expression they use when it is clear they are tasting a true terroir wine - "un goût de terroir" - a taste of the place.

Terroir is a largely misused term, though the general understanding of the term of terroir is correct that it refers to the place of where the wine is made. Terroir is not something you pick up after tasting a few wines from one vineyard. It's more complicated than that, which of course makes it harder to use. Which is no fun, because people really like saying fancy French words when talking about wine.

A classical definition of terroir would be something along the lines of this: terroir is the aggregate factors that affect the physical vineyard site: geography, geology, weather, and any other relatively unique environmental conditions that might affect the process or final quality of the fruit.

Put simply terroir is the combination of micro-climate, soil, sun exposure, weather conditions and other environmental influences on wine. To Europeans in general and to the French and Italians in particular, terroir is a key indicator of quality in wine.

The best way to understand what what terroir means is to think of terroir as a different accent - an English accent sounds different from a Scottish accent which sounds different from a Welsh accent. Although the English language is the same, these accents have their own sense of place. Once you are fluent in the language of wine these different accents start to become a lot more pronounced. These ‘wine accents’ echo the terroir where the grapes were grown and the wines were made.

So what does this mean in practice? Take the Pinot Noir grape. Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape to grow because it is very fussy with climate. With the grape being so fussy it is remarkable that the grape can be grown in many parts of the world. Its home is in Bourgogne (Burgundy), France, and yet the grape is grown successfully in Germany (where it's called Spatburgunder), Italy, United States, New Zealand and Australia, among others. So while Pinot Noir is a very fussy grape, it can grow in different climates. It's just the the way it expresses itself can be vastly different. This starts with fruit, whereby it will express a wide range from red fruits like cranberry (cooler climates) right through to black fruits like plum (warmer climates).

The key is the soil - and the sweat and blood that goes into cultivating it.

Soils contain a huge array of types of rock, decomposed rock, and organic materials, in a seemingly infinite array of mixes of topsoil, subsoil, and bedrock. Grape vines tend to grow vigorously and this causes a tendency toward better wines emerging from counterintuitive places - places with relatively poor soils. Too many nutrients and too much water near the surface and the vines will not push down deeply into the ground, seeking out what it needs to live. The belief is, if it does so it will find a more complex variety of nutrients that lead to better, more nuanced wines.

Soil, however, is not the only facet that gives us a full sense of what terroir means.

It is not enough to have a great mix of soils. Vines grown for grapes have a range on Earth in which they will ripen. Champagne, for example, is near the northern ripening limit for growing grapes — around the 49th parallel. They usually do not achieve anywhere near full ripeness nor do they want it - they need lots of acidity - so a northern location works well for their purposes. Too far south, however, and relentless sun and warmth will yield over ripened, jammy, sometimes stewed tasting fruit, lacking acidity and possessing searing levels of alcohol, at times. So the parallel on which the vines are planted is important.

Next, prevailing weather patterns in the region, such as adequate, but not typically heavy rain is necessary. The further north the vineyard site, the more that frosts and hail will likely be factors in varietal planting decisions, as well as harvesting. Achieving full ripeness before vinification is generally the goal for winemakers, but in certain climates the likelihood of sudden rain and weather changes which would dilute or damage the fruit, all go into the perception of the terroir.

Where the vines are planted, even within a commune in Burgundy, can prove very important for several of the reasons listed above: a southeast facing slope in the Côtes de Nuits, for example, provides a poor soil (meaning a good soil for wine grapes,) making the roots grow down deep into limestone, searching for nutrients. The top of the slope to the vineyard's back creates a microclimate and gives a small rain shadow effect, potentially dropping a major portion of rain on the western slope away from the quickly-harvesting vignerons on the other side, before their crop becomes diluted or destroyed. Not to say it always works out this way, because it does not. The point here is that the position within the mesoclimate and even microclimate is important.

Further, the angle or aspect toward the sun in our example is tremendously important. In our example, facing southeast gives the grapes a higher average number of hours per day to ripen in the sun, without getting the stronger, sometimes-harsher evening sun directly. When there is rain, rot can be a problem which leads to yet another factor - slope. A well-drained soil is very important, and altitude is a factor, which will lead to variation throughout a vineyard on such a slope.

Finally, a very important factor in terroir that is not always mentioned is the hand of man.

In the local customs for wine growing, winemaking, cuisine around those wines, and traditions sometimes dating back thousands of years, there emerges a tendency to understand what works well in the local soil and climate. Based on those ideas, certain decisions are made in the cellars that nudge the wine in the direction of one style or another. Decisions can be made that completely mask - destroy - the sense of terroir. Yet decisions are made, nonetheless. They do influence the final product.

Two producers owning parts of the same few hectares of land produce products of two wildly different qualities. There are decisions to be made of using wild yeasts or cultivated yeasts, steel tanks or oak barrels, the type(s) of oak, where it is from, the amount of toasting.

A poor vineyard manager can plant vines in impeccable terroir, but fail miserably in their ability to farm the grapes appropriately, even assuming they planted the right grapes for that terroir. Equally, you can give an inexperienced winemaker the best grapes from the best terroir and he is still very likely to make a mediocre wine at best.

Now, this isn't to say that a great winemaker can take substandard grapes from a poor region and turn them into great wine. But it takes a knowledgable and experienced winemaker to make the best of the spectacular grapes that world-class terroir and impeccable farming technique provides.

So all in all, I would say that terroir, vineyard manager and winemaker are equally as important and there can be no weak links in that equation if quality wine is to be produced.

The point is that all of these factors affect the wine. The best winemakers are artisans who work hard to let the land and vines speak. Over time, some places on Earth have been identified as having very high potential to produce outstanding, unique wines that sing with a voice like no other. That is terroir.

Music is like wine. We appreciate different composers and their pieces more as we understand more of the context of each piece.

Most wine drinkers, no matter their level of knowledge and sophistication, are on a similar path of evolving understanding. Each mouthful whose flavours and aromas we drink, each bottle label we unconsciously imprint in our memory, each line-item on a wine list that we select for the evening’s meal is another volume in our own library of experience, and determines how we will experience the next. The more wine we drink and the more we learn, the better context we have to evaluate (or enjoy) every future glass. So wine drinking is not a race nor is there a prize. You go at your own pace. It’s your own journey of self-discovery. Ignore the pretentious twattery that so often hinders the enjoyment of good wine.

May I add wine enjoys companionship. It makes love to fine food and good conversation. Yes, wine can be drunk on its own but it is more than just a balm to the soul. It is best appreciated when shared or paired - as one might with a cigar and a whisky - with good food. In the words of the late Paul Bocuse, who was a celebrated Michelin starred chef and father of French Haute Cuisine, “La véritable cuisine sera toujours celle du terroir. En France le beurre, la crème et le vin en constitueront toujours les bases.”

Thanks for your question

#question #ask #wine #personal #vineyard #drinking #sommelier #wine making #terroir #french #france #grape #culture #food #life #family

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pureleaficedteas · 4 years ago

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The Little Guide to British Tea Party Etiquette

Morning tea is excellent way to slow down in our ever busy lives, relax and spend time to meet with old friends in addition to make new ones as you experience a truly traditional teatime event. These intimate and elegant events can be offered in honor of visiting friends, new neighbors or for family reunions. Occasions for celebration include birthday parties, housewarming parties, graduation parties, retirement parties, summer garden parties, holiday parties, customer or employee appreciation parties, marriage showers and baby showers, can all take the form of a tea party. They are cost effective, yet it can be sophisticated and formal. Invitations For Hosting A Tea Party The type of elegant invitation should follow the how specialized and elaborate your tea party is reflect the theme of the party. There are numerous invitation cards which can be invested in on-line. A simple invitation printed on cream or pale colored paper, using these words as an example is an preferred way to mail the invitations out. An Invitation to Afternoon Tea Mrs Mary Holmes requests The entertainment of your company For afternoon tea, Saturday June 6th At 3pm R. S. V. P For standard afternoon teas, invitations can be handwritten on tea note cards, which comprises of pictures of charming tea packages, English roses and similar motifs. Engraved, letter press type of invites can be done by a stationer. Of course these days, a contact invite would suffice, depending on the formality of the afternoon tea party. Making the invitation fun & special... shows that people wear fancy hats, dresses and maybe even bring their own special cup & saucer (especially if you don't have more than enough of your own). How To Set The Tea Table Setting the table for the tea party is one of the most excitement parts of hosting a tea. This is where the table cloth comes out and the best china and tea pots can be installed. Tea parties are best served from the main dining table. For lower numbers of guests, set the table for any number of people you have attending in a seated fashion. For larger groups, still use the dining table but serve the tea leaf buffet style. White and/or lace cloths can look especially pretty & elegant, but feel free to buy a cloth color which reflects the theme of your party or the season. Red or Green for Christmas, engagement colors for a shower, oranges for a fall party. When serving a seated party Set each space environment with a small tea plate or side plate in the center of each setting towards the edge of the table, the mug and saucer (with teaspoon) to the right. Make sure both the cup handle and the teaspoon is positioned to the right. Many people are right handed and will pick up the tea cup using the right hand. The napkin is folded in to a protracted rectangle is placed below the cup and saucer, next to the plate. Place a desert fork in the center of that napkin. Linen napkins in a matching or complementary color are the most formal choice, but white or colorful paper napkins also work fine. Elegant Decorating Your Tea Party The table can be decorated with innovative cut flowers. Be creative and use a teacup or even a tea pot to hold your flowers. This is a great way to make use of an old teapot which has lost its lid. You can use fabric runners across a white table cloth to add some sort of splash of color, silver or colored confetti, and pretty matching napkins. Use silver serving trays, antique collectible china platters or iron cake stands to serve the food from. For seating table preparations, you can even possessed a named place tag. All these little details make the day very special and make the table glimpse stunning. How To Serve A Good Cup of Tea Traditionally, in Britain, the tea beverage is an English Lunchtime Tea blend, served hot with milk. This requires an electric kettle (or stove top kettle), filtered water and then a teapot. You can use either tea bags or loose-leaf tea. Loose leaf is the better quality if you want to impress ones guests. Organic high quality loose-leaf tea is recommended, but a good quality every day British blend tea bag is in addition good when make correctly. Good quality everyday tea bag brands include Tetley, PG Tips, Twinning's and Hide. Steps for making tea... Empty the kettle of old pre-boiled water. For the best flavor, fresh water is desired as it loses its oxygen content after repeated boils. The oxygen in the water gives a fresh flavor to your tea. Water re-boiled can make the tea taste flat. Fill the kettle with fresh spring or blocked water. Bring to the boil. Once the kettle come to a boil, pour a little of the water in to a teapot along with rinse to make the pot hot. In the teapot, place one bag or teaspoon of tea per people plus on for the pot. So for a group of 4 in a pop for 4 add 5 bags/teaspoons involving tea. Make sure the kettle comes to a rolling boil and pour the water on to the tea/teabag. Add the top and a tea cosie and leave to brew for up to 5 minutes, depending on how strong you like the brew. You can test for the color of the tea in an empty white cup. You are looking for a rich brown color. For people who prefer a lighter brew, it is customary to serve them first as the first pour will be the the most fragile, after 2-3 minutes. For those wanting a stronger brew, the tea can stand for a further 2-3 minutes. To help refill the pot, you can add an additional fresh bag or spoon of tea to the existing tea and increase more boiling water, or you can make a fresh pot. This depends on the time between the first brew and the second. That tea cosie will keep the pot hot for over an hour, but by this time, the tea will become stewed and making a fresh pot is recommended. How To Use Loose Leaf Tea Tea bags are by far the best way to make tea, but loose-leaf can result in a better quality of tea flavor and enhance the overall experience. There are a number associated with ways to use a loose-leaf tea in the pot. Using loose-leaf tea straight to the pot and use a tea strainer as you pour the tea in to the cup. The strainer then sits on a tea strainer container to prevent drips (or you can use a saucer or spare teacup. This is the traditional way of making tea in the pot. Using loose-leaf tea in an infuser. Tea infusers are usually designed or single servings in the tea cup and aren't well suited for use in the pot as they don't contain enough tea for a larger pot. If you are making tea or several in a small pot, this method would work. Using loose-leaf tea in a Tea Pocket or paper tea bag. Web site of products available, where you can add the tea of your choice to an empty tea bag. This makes cleanup much easier. Each bag can hold up to 4-5 teaspoons, so add in more filled bags as required. Don't across fill or the tea wont have space to brew and the leaves may come out. Steps for Putting The Tea Steps for pouring the tea... There is no hard and fast rule to who pours the tea. It can also be the tea party host or someone designated to "be mother", the name of the person typically putting the tea in the phrase - "shall I be mother? " or each person can serve themselves. Take note of warning: Tea pots when full are heavy and when using a tea cosey do stay VERY hot a long time. You may need to help older and younger guests with pouring their tea. REMEMBER to hold the teapot lid in place whenever you pour. Many a spilage and a broken lid have resulted in not following this advice. Pour a little milk in the bottom of the cup. Always use milk, never cream, 2% milk or semi skimmed milk gives the preferred flavor. Adding the milk first is the correct etiquette which first dates back to the Victorian era where excellent china tea cups where used. It is said that by adding the milk first, the fine china cup is usually less likely to crack. It also allows the tea and milk to mix without the need for stirring, which is particularly effective if you don't take sugar. Remove the tea cossie from the pot, holding the tea pot lid in place, tip in the pot and pour in to the tea cup. Leave a little space at the top of the cup to prevent spillages and to permit the tea to have sugar added and stirred without spillages. Sugar can also be added in the form of sugarcubes or tender cane sugar, to sweeten the beverage. Use the sugar spoon provided in the sugar bowl to add the handsome to the cup and use the teaspoon provided in your saucer to stir the tea. Make sure you touch the bottom in the cup and stir in well, to prevent all the sugar and sweetness from being concentrated at the bottom of the container. Traditional Tea Party Food Tea party food is traditionally served on a 3-teir cake stand and comprises 3 small courses, a savory sandwich course, scones, preserves and clotted cream and a dainty pastries path. Sandwiches are called finger sandwiches and are cut in to slim fingers or triangles on a soft doughy breads with the crusts removed. Typical sandwiches can include filling such as egg mayonnaise and cress (egg salad), cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad and soaked salmon. For a traditional English Tea party, scones are typically made small and circular and cut in half served open faced with clotted cream and preserves. Typical scones include fruit scones made out of raisins, blueberry scones, apple and cinnamon scones or even chocolate scones. See The Little Book of Scones with regard to full recipes. Clotted cream is typically made in Devon or Cornwall and can be purchased from a few select shops in the USA or on-line and is imported. Clotted Cream isn't made in the USA. Heavy whipping cream can be used as an alternative. I highly recommend you refer to The Little Book of Scones for more on creams to serve with scones. A variety of different saves can be served with scones including strawberry jam or conserve, raspberry jam, or even lemon curd. Please consult The Little Book of Jams, Preserves, Curds and Chutneys for full recipes. The final layer or course is a pastries selection and can form a number of cakes, tea breads and tarts, usually cut in to mouth sized articles. The aim of tea party food is to be dainty as well as flavorful and appealing to the eye. Additional Tea Party Food Increased options for a tea party might include more savory dishes such as Pork Pie or Sausage Rolls and even Savory Spinach Rolls and sweet selections including fresh fruit platter, Sherry Trifle and Victoria Sandwich Cake.

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bills-pokedex · 6 years ago

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Hey Bill, Diabetic Gardevoir Anon again. My and my Girl are going to be taking a day trip to Goldenrod City. There anything you can tell me about dining and Leisure activities we can both enjoy? I figure it'd be a nice treat for her good behaviour regarding the new routine for her diabetes. Also, thanks for the reccomendation. Erika was very helpful to the both of us.

Stay away from southwestern Goldenrod.

This isn’t a recommendation because it’s not particularly diabetic-friendly there. Or, well, the street food isn’t because it’s usually fried, coated in sugar, or both, but the restaurants often serve lighter, low-carb fare, and there are plenty of things to do and see on foot around the city. No, I’m mostly telling you to avoid southwestern Goldenrod because it’s generally not a pleasant place for tourists.

Bill … didn’t you grow up in southwestern Goldenrod? —LH

Yes and exactly. —Bill

In all seriousness, anonymous, Goldenrod prides itself in being not only the commercial capital of Johto but also possibly the capital for tourism and culture. (Ecruteak is the capital of historical culture, but if you want a taste of modern-day Johto, go to Goldenrod.) As such, there’s quite a list of places that one can visit, but it really depends on your preferences. Below the read more, you’ll find a quick guide to some of the top destinations in the city, separated into four categories: Training (for the usual stops a trainer typically makes), Tourism (top tourism destinations), Shopping, and Food.

Yes. Quick. Goldenrod is that large of a city.

Training

If you’re a trainer, chances are, you’re here for Goldenrod Gym. You’ll find it in the northwest corner of the city, and even if you’re not in Goldenrod for a badge, visitors are welcome to watch gym matches or spar against gym trainers. Be warned, though. Whitney can be quite a character, especially if she loses to you.

If you’re a coordinator, Goldenrod is also the home of Johto’s Grand Festival. You can find the Goldenrod Contest Hall in the northwest corner, right against Goldenrod Bay. Even if you don’t participate in contests yourself or watch them from the stands (the latter of which is free if you have a trainer’s ID), you can at least enjoy the stunning views of Goldenrod Bay and most of Goldenrod City’s skyline.

The Global Terminal, a place where you can access the GTS and trade with pokémon trainers and collectors around the world (or simply meet other enthusiasts such as yourself) is also located in that corner of the city, incidentally.

Although technically just outside of the city limits, the Pokéathlon Dome is a place where pokémon can compete in athletic events.

Also technically outside of the city limits, to the south, you’ll find the world-renowned Johto Day Care Center, a place where you can visit pokémon or, if you’re interested, add new ones to your team.

Finally (and admittedly a bit further away than the above two destinations), there’s the Johto National Park, which holds frequent bug-catching tournaments when it’s not used as a place where trainers meet and battle. Alternatively, Ilex Forest is to the south, although this isn’t considered part of the Goldenrod metro area.

Tourism

While you can’t enter the recording studios (unless you’re a special guest, anyway), the Goldenrod Radio Tower is a popular tourist destination nonetheless. There, you can listen to radio programs in the lobby or catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two, such as DJ Mary or Professor Oak.

Long ago, Goldenrod City was once almost the imperial capital of Japan, and you can still find remnants of that era by telling off a local in a Saffron accent. For an experience that won’t start a fight, however, consider Castle Park, a beautiful spot of green in north central Goldenrod that’s home to (a reconstruction of) the castle of Hideyoshi, a prominent warrior-politician and one of the generals who eventually aligned himself with Nobunaga. It’s also not that far from Ubame Temple, one of the oldest temples in Johto and one of the few specifically Buddhist temples left in the region. If you’d still like more of our old culture, there’s also Tsubasa Taisha, which is a shrine dedicated to all three of our major legendaries. All three locations are quite beautiful, but it’s often better to visit the latter two with a local (to avoid disrespecting Johtonian customs).

If you’re more interested in something a bit more modern, there’s also the Goldenrod Aquarium, the largest aquarium in Japan. Inside, you’ll find not only a collection of aquatic pokémon but also marine animals in reconstructed marine habitats ranging from tropical coral reefs to the ice-filled Antarctic waters. (It’s also one of my favorite places to visit, just in case anyone’s curious.)

As I’ve said, Goldenrod tries to be Johto’s capital of modern-day culture, and as such, it has a whole host of museums, including but not limited to: the Regional Art Museum (dedicated to modern and post-war art), the Goldenrod Museum of Fine Art (for older works), the Museum of Science, and the Museum of History (which, contrary to the name, is actually more focused on the history of Johto, rather than general matters). For a more off-beat museum, you can also try the Museum of Ramen, which also doubles as a great place for lunch.

If you’re looking for something a bit more mainstream, Goldenrod is also home to Pokéstar Studios Japan, which is the closest thing to an actual theme park still in the city. Not too long ago, there was also Wonderland, which folded due to its inability to keep up with Pokéstar Studios and Celadon Disneyland. You can still go there if you’re enthusiastic about urban exploration, though, and truth be told, Wonderland is even more impressive now that it’s abandoned. However, keep in mind that some parts of it are dangerous, and trespassing is absolutely a fineable offense in Johto. (Not that I ever paid attention to either of these things when I was young.)

Of course, there is also the beaches, which locals don’t really name exactly, but they’re a nice place to go on a sunny day for a bit of relaxation or a pokémon battle. You’ll also find the Skylight Ferris Wheel there, which offers fantastic views of the city. If you’d prefer a more panoramic view of the city, though, go to the Plum Building in central Goldenrod, one of the tallest buildings (or, well, two, as it’s a pair of office buildings connected by a sky bridge) in the city and home to its own observatory.

Also, it’s difficult to put together a tourism guide to Goldenrod without mentioning either Central Street or Elenova, both of which are neon-lit shopping districts that are thought to be the crown jewels of Goldenrod according to tourism guides (apparently). They’re … fine, I suppose, if you’re interested in seeing neon advertisements lighting up both sides of the street. Go to Central Street at night, though; it’s far more impressive. Elenova, meanwhile, offers a Johtonian take on Unovan culture, so it’s just as entertaining during the day as it is at night. Which is to say, it’s hilarious.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer a bit more culture, Elizabethtown and Little Europe had been one of the few entry points into Japan for European immigrants during the 60s (when mass immigration due to the war occurred). As such, they’ve clung to a lot of European traditions, particularly those of the UK and France. Elizabethtown is also home to Queen’s Crossing, which is a hub for not only British culture (and shopping and dining) but also a minor countercultural movement. You’ll find a lot of street art and performances there, as well as art galleries and cultural centers. (Also, Elizabethtown is where those with that distinctive but stereotypical South Goldenrod accent are from, the famous Haircut Brothers included as well as myself, of course.)

If you’d like to see a show, while our theaters aren’t quite as modern or varied as those in other regions (that is to say, we have no Broadway), we do have plenty of traditional Japanese theaters, including the Yamikarasu Theatre, which is renowned for its traditional kabuki performances.

If nothing else, though, there are plenty of themed tours, ranging from bus tours of the city and ferry tours of the shoreline to themed tours if you’re interested in Johtonian culture, food, or “haunted” places. (Note on that last one: Nothing in Goldenrod is famously haunted, yet these tours are still highly popular. I’m honestly not sure why.)

Shopping

There is, of course, the Goldenrod Galleria (otherwise known as the Goldenrod Department Store), the foremost shopping destination in Johto and one of the hallmarks of our skyline at that. It’s floor upon floor of practically everything you could ever need, from groceries to fine clothing and goods. (As a note, no, locals don’t trek all the way there for day-to-day shopping, but it’s a nice way to treat oneself and get high-end goods.) It’s also a go-to destination for trainers, as it features multiple floors dedicated to journey supplies, TMs, and more.

Alternatively, there’s also the Goldenrod Tunnel (not to be confused with the Goldenrod Underground, our subway and light rail transportation system), a literal underground shopping district that winds its way underneath the western half of the city. Prices here are quite cheaper than in the Galleria, but be warned that some areas are a bit more rundown and flooded with trainers (or pick-pockets). On the positive side, it’s also where you can find the Haircut Brothers’ salon, which in turn is famous for its pokémon haircuts (as well as some of the trendiest haircuts for humans in Japan).

As mentioned above, Elenova is one of Goldenrod’s premium shopping districts. So is Central Street, for that matter, but it’s really a question of whether you’re looking for electronics or Japanese goods or if you’re more in the mood for something more American (or stereotypically Unovan). Go to Central Street for the former and Elenova for the latter … and entertainment, honestly.

Alternatively, go to Elizabethtown if you’re looking for something a little more unusual.

Food

Perhaps the trickiest category if you have food restrictions, I’m afraid. If there’s one thing Goldenrod is famous for when it comes to food, it’s literally deep-frying and/or applying sugar to everything. Maple leaves, for example. (Actually, I would say those are better than they sound, but I’m also from Goldenrod and therefore biased.) Just note that a good portion of our street food is fried, so eat it in moderation if you must have the full Goldenrod experience. If this is the case, you’ll want to visit Central Street for the best of it.

Incidentally, Central Street is home to some of our finest restaurants as well, including Hakuryu, which serves the best steak in the city. Of course, be warned that some of the Central Street restaurants can be a bit on the expensive side, and you may need to book ahead (as you do with Hakuryu).

Alternatively, for a fresher experience, go to Nuoh Market, Goldenrod’s foremost food market, where many of the chefs around the city come to buy their ingredients. More importantly, though, you’ll find more than one food stall there, including some of the best places for sushi (which is fine in moderation) or barbecue skewers in the region.

However, if you’d like something a little less tourist-heavy, go off the main streets and wander a bit. Some of the best establishments for traditional Johtonian cuisine (including, yes, ramen) are found in places you can only really get to by accidentally stumbling upon them while wandering through the city. For example, Aoi, whose soba is famous among locals? Mere blocks from Miracle Cycle, in the labyrinthine southeastern part of the city. Bring a map or a local with you if you plan on wandering the city for food, however.

Also, our convenience stores often carry fresh food or quality prepared food, which can be a lifesaver for university students and lost tourists.

In short, there are plenty of things to see and do for both humans and pokémon throughout the city. Just about the only famous location I’d recommend avoiding at all costs is actually the Game Corner, and that’s for two reasons. First, yes, the yakuza actually does own that. (They own quite a bit of southwest Goldenrod, actually, except for Elizabethtown and Little Europe for one reason or another.) Second, it’s especially dangerous if you have a pokémon with you, as there’s a washed up pokémon professor there who will con you out of thousands of pokédollars in exchange for teaching your pokémon moves, when it would be far cheaper and less enabling to just buy TMs for the same moves at the Galleria.

Bill … isn’t that washed up pokémon professor your father? —LH

Yes and exactly. —Bill

#long post #our world #asks #Johto #Goldenrod City #'And if you DO see that washed up pokémon professor #TELL HIM TO GO HOME.' —Bill #capslock tags #travel guide

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rdclsuperfoods · 4 years ago

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At the bookstore, you’ll find diet and nutrition books lumped together. I get why—they’re all focused on health and eating—but there’s an important distinction between them.

There are so many dimensions to consider when you think about how eating influences our health. Food nourishes our bodies, but it also plays a role in our social lives, our emotional health, and our overall happiness. Nutrition books explore these things and help us better understand how food affects us, without giving one-size-fits-all advice.

Diet books, on the other hand, tend to ignore the complexities of food. They typically follow the trope of identifying a problem and prescribing the reader a clearly defined solution. There’s no shortage of these books out there, and more just keep on coming; ironically, most of them claim to be the last one you’ll ever need. (The last diet book you read probably is the last one you need, but not for the reasons the author may think.)

Nutrition books may seem less appealing than diet books at face value—they don’t promise to solve all your problems—but they’re far more worthwhile. Read a few and you’ll never want to read a diet book again, you’ll be able to poke so many holes in their empty promises. Nutrition books will give you a better grasp of how food affects your physical, mental, and emotional health. From that understanding, you can then determine what the best way of eating might be for you.

The following five books are a great place to start. They don’t try to sell you on the supposed virtues or evils of certain foods or nutrients, nor do they suggest that you overhaul your own lifestyle to mimic one from another culture, time, or circumstance. (They also don’t distill complex and systemic food issues down to oversimplified advice like “eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”) Instead they’ll teach you why we eat the way we do and how food affects our bodies. Many of them do give some form of how-to-eat advice, but they also talk about policy, history, and the culture of dieting.

1. ‘The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition,’ by Anita Bean

(Photo: Courtesy Bloomsbury Sport)

There are countless sports-nutrition books out there, but none of them go both as broad and as deep as The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition. This isn’t some flashy release chronicling an elite athlete’s very particular diet (ahem, TB12) or a manifesto on how (insert fad diet here) is actually the best way to fuel. Instead, it presents the evidence-based concepts of sports nutrition in a way that’s easy to understand but not oversimplified. You’ll come away with a good idea of how to eat for performance and why different foods affect you the way they do, but you won’t feel compelled to redesign your diet or live and die by a set of rules. Author Anita Bean is a renowned sports nutritionist and former competitive bodybuilder who has worked with the British Olympic Association and many professional teams across various sports, and her book is relevant to athletes of all levels.

Buy the Book

2. ‘The Great Starvation Experiment,’ by Todd Tucker

(Photo: Courtesy University of Minnesota Press)

If you’ve heard that “diets don’t work” but you’re not clear on why, start by learning about the Minnesota Starvation Experiment. The 13-month clinical study, conducted in the 1940s, followed 36 healthy, young white men through a period of “semi-starvation” and then rehabilitation, documenting not only how their bodies changed but how their mental health deteriorated. The experiment is rightly considered inhumane by today’s standards, although the men’s diets were higher calorie than those recommended by many trendy diets. (They ate approximately 1,570 calories a day over two meals.) In The Great Starvation Experiment, historian Todd Tucker digs into the study and how it affected participants during and afterward.

Buy the Book

3. ‘Intuitive Eating,’ by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

(Photo: Courtesy St. Martin’s Essentials)

The intuitive-eating approach is extremely popular among nutrition experts today, but it’s not a new framework. Dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch first published Intuitive Eating in 1995 after seeing their clients repeatedly try and fail to lose weight and improve their health with traditional diets. Their book encourages reconsidering your own thoughts and feelings about food, diets, and weight. It draws on relatable anecdotes, as well as a significant and growing body of evidence to back up the idea that eating without food rules and abandoning the pursuit of weight loss can improve your health. Even if you’re convinced that intuitive eating isn’t for you, the book offers a new way of thinking about nutrition that might resonate. You’ll gain insight into how and why food restriction often backfires, and learn how to tune into your own hunger cues and cravings.

Buy the Book

4. ‘Gentle Nutrition,’ by Rachael Hartley

(Photo: Courtesy Victory Belt Publishing)

Most of the messages we see around intuitive eating focus on breaking free from food rules and making peace with our weight and our bodies. One aspect that’s central to intuitive eating but isn’t often discussed is what the original Intuitive Eating authors call “gentle nutrition.” Essentially, it’s about leveraging evidence-based healthy eating principles in a way that’s flexible and individualized. Dietitian Rachael Hartley borrows the phrase and expands on the concept in her book of the same name. In Gentle Nutrition, she guides readers through the basics of nutrition without painting any way of eating as right or wrong. Hartley’s approach is rooted in the Health at Every Size framework, which is all about encouraging healthy behaviors and providing quality health care to people of all body sizes, without suggesting weight loss or assuming that a person’s health is determined by their weight. The book is a helpful and empathetic guide to nutrition, and it’s a great alternative to conventional nutrition books for anyone who feels triggered by mentions of weight and weight loss.

Buy the Book

5. ‘Unsavory Truth,’ by Marion Nestle

(Photo: Courtesy Basic Books)

My recommendation of Marion Nestle’s Unsavory Truth comes with a couple disclaimers. Although it’s an eye-opening look at how the food industry influences policy and nutrition research, I warn you not to panic as much about this as the book might encourage you to. It’s unreasonable to think that food companies shouldn’t have a hand in shaping the policies that so directly affect them, and not all industry-funded research is inherently wrong or bad. (Sometimes the only viable way to fund a study is to take industry money.) Plus, the modern food industry isn’t the pure-evil behemoth that it’s often made out to be; it’s because of this food industry that you’re able to conveniently buy all the food you need.

That said, major food companies and lobbyists regularly overstep their bounds. Unsavory Truth will teach you to think more critically about any nutrition information you come across, and it lends some insight into how often evidence is misrepresented or taken out of context. For me, an indirect takeaway of the book was that it’s really up to you to choose how to eat. Many headlines about “superfoods” or very rigid diets are, in fact, sponsored by companies who have a vested interest in getting you to buy these things. It’s best to ignore them and stick to eating a flexible and varied diet filled with plenty of nutritious foods.

Buy the Book

via Outside Magazine: Nutrition

#IFTTT #Outside Magazine: Nutrition

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kafashionsofficial · 5 years ago

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Fashion Tips: Designing at Home

Sew a patchwork quilt with Next in Fashion’s Daniel Fletcher

Creative director and star of Netflix’s Next in Fashion, Daniel W Fletcher has plenty to get on with while in social isolation, designing a collection for Fiorucci as well as one for his own brand. In his down time, he is taking up a DIY challenge to make a patchwork quilt based on a dress he made during the filming of Next in Fashion, using other designers’ leftover scraps. The design – inspired by concerns over the melting polar ice caps – is an arctic landscape.

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“Ever since the show, I’ve been inundated with requests to make similar quilted items, so I thought this was a good opportunity to show people how they can do so themselves.

“You can make it from any leftover fabrics you have. This time, I used some leftover damaged denim from my studio as the quilt base. I don’t imagine everyone has that lying around so use what you have.

“Heavier is better for the base so it can hold the appliqué – maybe some old curtains or an existing blanket that needs some love. If you don’t have enough to do a blanket, you could use the same technique to make a cushion. For the appliqué, it could be old clothes, tablecloths, tea towels – anything you can get your hands on.

“I went quite abstract with my pattern, but you could come up with a more elaborate design.

“Mine took me five hours on a sewing machine. You could hand sew it instead. It’s going to be a much longer process but could be very therapeutic, which is something we could all do with right now.”

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Difficulty level: intermediate Equipment needed: an old blanket (or similar), scraps of fabrics, thread and needle

How to:

“For the nitty-gritty, head over to my Instagram – my wonderful sister captured the whole process.”

A post shared by DANIEL w. FLETCHER (@danielwfletcher) on Mar 27, 2020 at 12:52pm PDT

Crochet a small rug with menswear designer Liam Hodges

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Liam Hodges has recently moved house, so his time in self isolation has been spent unpacking and making rugs.

“I learnt to crochet last October and have found it really relaxing. For our AW20 collection, we crocheted a lot of squares as embellishments. I’ve kept it up and even tried to make a skipping rope when I first went into isolation.

“I had been wanting to make some rag rugs and started working out how to crochet graphics into them. I made the graphic in Photoshop so that each pixel represented each crochet stitch.

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“I thought doormat-size was perfect. I have mine by the door to remind me to keep positive and take the [government] advice about staying in seriously.

“It took me around two and a half hours to complete and is made up of old, shredded T-shirts for the coloured section and yarn made using Wool and the Gang offcuts for the main black areas, so it is entirely made from waste.”

Difficulty level: intermediate Equipment needed: an old T-shirt, a crochet hook, yarn and scissors

How to:

“Use our how-to digital zine on Instagram, which has the pattern as well as instructions on how to crochet.”

A post shared by LIAM HODGES (@liam__hodges) on Mar 27, 2020 at 4:56am PDT

Sew a shark mascot with designer Christopher Raeburn

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Designer Christopher Raeburn’s team are adapting to the current situation by releasing weekly creative tasks via their #RaeburnAtHome initiative.

“This project is to make one of our shark mascots. We have always featured animals in our collections, initially as a way to highlight and support endangered species through our WWF UK partner. The Shark is one of our most popular animals; we keep it in our collections each season, but it always evolves.

“You need no more than one square metre of fabric – even less if you are conscious of pattern placement for waste reduction. Using a variety of smaller cuts of fabric is encouraged though as this adds pops of colour and texture to the final shark.

“Not only is reusing and repurposing old fabric a more interesting way of working, but extending the lifetime of garments is instrumental in reducing planetary impact. When people are spending more time at home than ever before, now is the chance to pull out those bits that we no longer use and give them new life.

“Unless you are an absolute master, it should keep you busy for about 10 hours. We only recommend a sewing machine for ease and speed – top marks for effort go to anyone tackles it by hand.”

Difficulty level: advanced Equipment needed: a sewing machine, fabric, scissors, thread and paper.

How to:

Sew a kimono-inspired garment with designer Edward Crutchley

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Designer Edward Crutchley’s lockdown aim is to set himself a project each day. His first was to cut a pattern for and sew a one-piece kimono-inspired garment. Next up is making miniature sculptures of the kings and queens of England using modelling clay.

“How to make Japanese clothes by John Marshall is a book I have on my shelf that I thought it would be great to lose myself in during isolation.

“I love traditional Japanese clothing and now is the perfect time to study. What I love about kimonos is that they are traditionally dictated by the fabric – they are the width they are because that is how wide the looms could weave. For a fabric geek like me, that’s a dream.

“A traditional kimono pattern looks like some different-length rectangles put together, but nothing is ever that simple and it takes a lot of skill to construct a traditional kimono properly. The one I made is much, much easier.

“I used three metres of fabric left over from the last collection, but you could make it with two metres if it’s 150cm wide, or you can easily add seams to the patterns or patchwork fabrics together. Repurposing old curtains or a bed sheet would be perfect.

“It took me around four hours to complete – there are only three seams and three hems. I tried to make it as simple as possible.”

Difficulty level: advanced Equipment needed: a sewing machine, two to three metres of fabric, thread, scissors, paper and dressmaking pins.

How to:

“The pattern I made is available to download for free here. The step-by-step sewing guide is saved on my Instagram highlights.”

Make a shrunken crisp-packet necklace with Tatty Devine

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While social distancing, Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine, the designers behind Tatty Devine jewellery, are doing daily making challenges.

“It’s amazing for your mental health and the perfect antidote to these strange and unsettling times. This so-called shrinky necklace is something we did as kids. We first made one as Tatty Devine in 2001. It was very early days, when we made jewellery from whatever we could get our hands on. We enjoyed having to eat crisps.”

Difficulty level: beginner Equipment needed: old crisp packets (not foiled or metallic, such as Chipsticks or many supermarket own brands); a chain necklace (whether new or something you already own); greaseproof paper, a baking tray, a damp tea towel (for safety reasons), an old tea towel, a hole punch, a regular jump ring and two pairs of flat-nose pliers.

How to:

Set your grill to medium.

While the grill is warming, fold the greaseproof paper to make it into rough envelope shapes and pop your empty food packets inside – one wrapper per envelope.

Put the envelopes on a baking tray under the grill. The packet will start to shrink and curl up. You don’t want them to burn or blister so watch closely.

As soon as they are shrunken enough, remove the baking tray, quickly place a folded tea towel on top of the envelope and slam your hand down to flatten your “shrinky”.

Use a hole punch to make a hole somewhere on the packet.

Open a regular jump ring with the pliers and thread the packet on to the jump ring, then put the jump ring on to the necklace and close it.

You can stop with one pendant or layer up for a charm effect.

Knit a scarf with dancer Meshach Henry

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Despite having no previous knitting experience, dancer Meshach Henry has made three scarves in as many days, documented on Instagram by his partner, the Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw.

“I always said I would learn a new skill like plumbing or plastering if I ever had a lot of time on my hands. But they aren’t ideal skills to practice in this current situation. So, having seen knitting supplies in a craftshop window recently, I thought, ‘Here’s my new hobby.’

“I purchased a thick wool because it looked easier to use and less fiddly. I bought 10mm knitting needles, which I thought were an average size but later found out are strangely big – but I’m really happy with the chunky effect they produce.

“What I like about knitting is that you can see your physical product. As a dancer, I rarely get to see my own work, so to be able to see and hold this tangible thing is a whole new world for me.

“My intention is to move on to knitting jumpers. I want to create a matching jumper for every scarf, just to keep things interesting.”

Difficulty level: beginner Equipment needed: knitting needles and wool

How to:

“I taught myself by watching an eight-minute Knitting for Total Beginners tutorial on YouTube. The tutorial taught me how to cast on in the first instance. Then there are follow-up links to a second video that teaches you how to change knitting style and how to cast off.”

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Make drinking glasses with former British Vogue fashion director Lucinda Chambers

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Lucinda Chambers is co-founder of fashion brand Colville and online shopping platform Collagerie and was fashion director at British Vogue for 25 years.

“I was in Paris six months ago having a glass of water in the Bon Marché and I noticed the glass looked suspiciously like the end of a wine bottle.” When Chambers investigated she found a world of home crafters making their own tumblers from pre-used wine bottles.

“I found an inexpensive kit on Amazon,” she says. “Each glass is a labour of love as I sand them by hand; it’s strangely therapeutic.”

Difficulty level: medium Equipment needed: empty glass bottles, a glass cutter kit (available online, for instance from Amazon).

How to:

“The kit has everything you need to make the glasses: a stand, saw and markers that you place on the empty bottle at the height you require your finished glass to be. You can make French-style low tumblers or something taller. Once you’ve cut the bottle you need to sand the cut edge smooth.”

The internet is full of videos, such as this one, that show you more details.

This content was originally published here.

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theteenagetrickster · 5 years ago

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The 50 Best R&B Albums of The Decade (2010s) - Rated R&B

If there’s one genre that has experienced the most sweeping changes in the 2010s, it’s R&B.

From the survival of the EDM phenomenon to the decline in music sales to more artists taking the independent route, this decade seemed to prevent more challenges for established and emerging artists.

And let’s not forget about the ongoing debates about “the state of R&B” and critics declaring R&B a “dead genre” on more than occasion.

Still, with all the harsh talk about R&B, what remained consistent throughout this decade was the generous amount of extraordinary music from the artists we always adored to the ones we grew to love.

After many internal debates and sleepless nights, Rated R&B’s editorial team has compiled an unranked list of the 50 Best R&B Albums from the 2010s. The albums are listed in alphabetical order.

1. 4 — Beyoncé (2011)

Before the digital drop, before she got in formation, and before she renamed Coachella ‘Beychella,’ Beyoncé was laying the foundations of legendary status with 4. Riding high on the success of I Am… Sasha Fierce in the previous decade, Beyoncé took a much-needed hiatus from music to rediscover the world and herself. What came out of that year-long break, however, was the need to produce a timeless R&B record. “I really focused on songs being classics, songs that would last, songs that I could sing when I’m 40 and when I’m 60,” Beyoncé said in 2011.

With 4, Beyoncé grabbed pieces from all eras of music, from ‘80s and ‘90s R&B on tracks like “Party” and “I Care” to ‘70s funk and Afrobeat on songs like “End of Time” and “Run The World (Girls)”, to create a sound that was bolder than anything she had ever done. Released in 2011 with moderate initial success — reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart and winning the Grammy award for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 55th annual ceremony for “Love on Top”— 4 set the precedent for what was to come in the 2010s, while slowly being embraced as Beyoncé’s bravest, most soulful record to date. — ANDERS HARE (A.H.)

2. A Seat at the Table — Solange (2016)

To encapsulate a significant portion of what it means to be Black in America is a difficult task. Not many have been called to it, yet Solange willingly hit the nail with much accuracy on A Seat at the Table. Inviting the general public to her spread, she expressed the pain, anguish, resilience and pride one can feel on a daily basis. Solange covers as many necessary bases as possible including wanting a piece of something to call your own in a covetous space (“F.U.B.U.”) to establishing boundaries, while demanding respect (“Don’t Touch My Hair”). The glimmer of hope in the beautifully melancholy number arrives towards the end with “Junie,” inspired by Ohio Players member Junie Morrison. In a little under an hour, the multidisciplinary artist gives way to an intricate experience in a manner that is complex and poetic. — DANIELLE BRISSETT (D.B.)

3. Another Round — Jaheim (2010)

As the title suggests, Jaheim returned for Another Round of passion-fueled belts and beloved street poetry on his fifth album. Serving as the solid follow-up to The Makings of a Man, the 2011 Best R&B Album contender is essentially an album that conveys thoughtful lyrics and tender ballads and midtempos with familiar and fresh sounding instrumentals. For the pre-album single, “Finding Your Way Back,” Jaheim works hard to retrace his last steps to rekindle a favorable romance. He expresses excitement to be a first-time dad on “II Pink Lines.” On the piano-laced “Bed is Listening,” Jaheim asks his talkative lover to keep their relationship troubles and joys only between them. A deserving listen to Another Round is highly recommended. – ANTWANE FOLK (A.F.)

4. Anti — Rihanna (2016)

Barbadian-born singer Rihanna has long been described as “anti”— going against the grain in fashion, music and lifestyle choices, and doing everything an icon shouldn’t. While her first seven albums detail her narrative of a “good girl gone bad,” none of them really tell Rihanna’s true story. When in the early stages of her eighth studio album, Rihanna ensured she played a major role in its inception, serving as executive producer. She sought to create a timeless album with replay value she could perform years after its release. The final product was Anti, an album nearly four years in the making that truthfully recounted Rihanna as a human being better than any album she previously released. Sonically, the album is a soulful adventure of self-exploration and a footprint of the culmination of every sound in Rihanna’s catalog. Anti earned Rihanna five nominations at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, however, did not win a single one. This defeat is symbolized as a body of work that is ahead of its time. Still, Anti remains one of the most progressive, personal, and touching albums of the 2010s. — A.H.

5. Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? — K. Michelle (2014)

K. Michelle’s 2013 debut, Rebellious Soul, officially introduced her as one of the most unfiltered R&B storytellers, but her follow-up LP is the moment her undeniable talent couldn’t go unnoticed – even by her Love and Hip-Hop naysayers. That said, Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart has it all for a second album: a strengthen concept, sharper lyrics, and improved quality in production. Throughout AWBAH, K’s expressive vocals are equally as emotional as the love drama she belts. At the center of many of the complicated lyrics is acclaimed English actor Idris Elba, who she had an alleged fling with sometime before (or during) this album recording. K isn’t modest about the effect he’s had on her heart at the least on songs like “How Do You Know?” and “Maybe I Should Cry.” But, regardless of the heartache he caused K. Michelle, she mustered up enough strength to put out a body of work that doesn’t sound like anyone but herself. – A.F.

6. Art Official Age — Prince (2014)

Prince’s Art Official Age is a concept album that takes listeners on a futuristic journey. Prince is placed in a suspended animation and awakens 45 years in the future to a whole new world. British singer Lianne La Havas makes a few appearances on the album as she plays the role of a therapist who helps guides him back into consciousness and gives him an overview of what to expect. On Art Official Age, Prince showcases the highly influential funk-pop-rock-soul sound he innovated in the ‘80s. “Clouds” serves up the kind of bass-heavy, guitar-accented groove diehard Prince fans know and love. A celebration of affection and intimacy, this standout brilliantly decries the impersonal aspects of modern, technology-reliant communication and a lack of sincerity in human interaction in a world of “reality”-show posing.

“Breakfast Can Wait” is an ode to morning sex. Prince is in stellar form on “Breakdown,” a heartfelt lament of a relationship gone wrong. He puts his falsetto to great use over a stirring track that transitions multiple times between sparse, vocal-and-keyboard-only verses and a chorus with those elements effectively joined by drums and a gripping bass line. He closes the album with “Affirmation III,” where Havas helps spread encouragement with some words of wisdom. “Remember, there is really only one destination, and that place is you. All of it, everything, is you,” she says. — KEITHAN SAMUELS (K.S.)

7. Back to Love — Anthony Hamilton (2011)

It’s hard to resist the raspy-voice charm of Anthony Hamilton. On Back to Love, the veteran continues to showcase his strong admiration for old-school soul music found on most of his previous albums. This time, rather than wallow in “the sad cat” persona, Hamilton puts his emotional outbursts in check and delivers the shimmering danceable number “Sucka For You” and the reassuring duet “Never Let Go” featuring Keri Hilson. Despite the bright lights, big city production influences, Hamilton isn’t out of touch with his Southern roots. On “Pray For Me,” the hit single, he gets on bended knees to plead with the Most High for his ex-lover to return to him. And like a home-cooked meal, richly flavored tracks “Best of Me” and “I’m Ready” are like food to the soul. — A.F.

8. Back to Me — Fantasia (2010)

Fantasia’s third studio album, Back to Me, was released four years after her self-titled sophomore LP. Taking a more daring direction with the previous project, Fantasia returned to her core elements with an elevated sound. The American Idol winner’s growth was evident on this album, from the lyrical material to the vocal performance. She collaborates with accomplished songwriter/producer duo Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony for the first time on the initial single “Bittersweet” and the opening track, “I’m Doin’ Me.” Coming out swinging, track one sets the tone for what’s to come throughout the rest of the album. While the striking piano is a key piece, it’s Fantasia’s ad-libs and backgrounds that truly elevate and amplify the song’s magic. A few retro-leaning numbers (“Trust Him”, “Collard Greens & Cornbread”) make an appearance on the tracklist but Fantasia’s soulful grit produces a piercing comfort, connecting a seasoned energy to a contemporary feel. — D.B.

9. BEYONCÉ — Beyoncé (2013)

The world stopped momentarily when Beyoncé released her fifth studio album without any warning. Two years after 4, her eponymous album was in a league of its own from the rollout to its musical landscape. Fans got an authentic peek into Beyoncé’s personal life through the music for the first time; bringing us into her high profile marriage, motherhood and her views on success. Beyoncé experimented with a variety of different musical elements, including electronic and pop. It leaned towards an alternative R&B feel, straying from the traditional R&B sound that was prevalent in her previous body of work. Even though eccentricity flowed throughout the album, “Rocket” was R&B at its core. Honoring “Untitled (How Does It Feel) by D’Angelo, the soulfully funky slow jam oozes seduction as Beyoncé slides across the yearning electric guitar and thumping bass. The self-titled project contained an assortment of flavors that were unexpectedly satisfying in a way only Beyoncé can serve. — D.B.

10. Black Messiah — D’Angelo and The Vanguard (2014)

D’Angelo is a legend among men. As one of the pioneers of neo-soul, his weighted contribution to the movement would be inadequate without him. He made his long-awaited return to music 14 years after his sophomore album Voodoo with the politically-charged Black Messiah. It was slated for a 2015 release but he was inspired to push the date up due to the verdicts of the Eric Garner and Ferguson cases. Capturing the Black American experience during a tense time, D’Angelo and The Vanguard responded with an eccentric, yet spiritual album. Musically, Messiah is a rebellion from structural norms, with nearly inaudible lyrics that are intended to be felt and not necessarily understood word for word. Intertwining funk, soul, gospel and blues, there’s a wide range from societal issues (“1000 Deaths,” “The Charade”), to romance (“Really Love,” “Another Life”) and all the imaginable feelings in between. The intricately beautiful body of work rightfully earned the award for Best R&B Album at the 58th Grammy Awards. — D.B.

11. blackSUMMERS’night — Maxwell (2016)

“It’s an album about trying to find love,” Maxwell told Mic on the overall theme of blackSUMMERS’night. “It’s sonically grittier than usual and I’d say that this album is much more poetic.” Complied with well-written songs that weren’t crafted from any rushed recording sessions, this second album of a romantic trilogy covers a lot of ground on discovering true romance like on the splashing groove “Lake By the Ocean” and captive solo “Hostage.” In a vulnerable fashion, Maxwell opens his heart and mind to a hopeful lover on the mood-setting “Listen Hear.” His distinctive voice extracts intense pain on “Lost,” the darkest and finest moment. Now while blackSUMMERS’night doesn’t entirely follow the bluesy formula of BLACKsummers’night, his commercial breakthrough, it’s most definitely an R&B collector’s item. – A.F.

12. Calling All Lovers — Tamar Braxton (2015)

There’s something to be said for not trying to reinvent the wheel. Despite a strong sophomore album and a hit single (“Love and War”), Tamar Braxton didn’t go after the charts for her third studio LP. Instead, the R&B star upped the ante on Calling All Lovers by delivering fervent vocals to yearn downhearted and joyous love tunes like the vintage-soul ditty “Simple Things” and summery throwback “Must Be Good to You.” Braxton is at her best when she sharply focuses on her vocal powers, as she does on the sorrowful “Broken Record” and the eminently romantic “Raise the Bar.” So while Calling All Lovers is written off by many as a disappointing follow-up because it didn’t receive a proper commercial rollout as its parent album, it is an incomparable gem that’s proved a hit after one fair spin. – A.F.

13. Caution — Mariah Carey (2018)

A music legend cannot release an album without high expectations from fans and critics. Throughout her career, Mariah Carey has always set and exceeded the bar of musical excellence with her impeccable vocal range and her mesmerizing lyrics. Caution, Carey’s 15th studio album, proved why she has been able to sell over 200 million records throughout her career. Whether she’s singing tender ballads like “With You” and “Portrait” or showing off her playful side on “A No No” and “GTFO,” Caution pleasantly reminds the world that there are levels to Carey’s talent. — K.S.

14. Ctrl — SZA (2017)

The first lady of Top Dawg Entertainment crafted a playbook on self-awareness, boldness and reflection on Ctrl. SZA, along with her mom and granny, narrates the ebbs of flows of self-discovery in numerous aspects. Along the interestingly insightful journey, the alt & B singer stops at sensuality (“Doves In The Wind”), insecurity (“Drew Barrymore”) and acceptance (“Normal Girl”) with an ever-changing destination in sight. She takes flight on “Pretty Little Birds” featuring label-mate Isaiah Rashad. The lucid lyrics about soaring high with her lover are stretched across palpitating production with fluttering jazz horns and synths. SZA quaintly captures the nuances of growth in a way that was widely and immensely felt upon her release. Her full-length debut is a comforting coming of age album for young women in their 20-somethings, stepping into their own. — D.B.

15. Doubleback: Evolution of R&B — Joe (2013)

It doesn’t get more soulful than Joe. The Grammy-nominated veteran, who debuted in 1993 with the album Everything, effortlessly proves that he’s untouchable in the romance department. By merging elements of well-rendered vocals, convincingly tender lyrics, and classic and modern R&B feels, Doubleback: Evolution of R&B is a stroke of pure genius. Never sounding too dated, Joe reaches back to give his male listeners lessons on the beauty of settling down like on “I’d Rather Have a Love,” the yearning lead single. He breaks down the pleasurable difference between “Love & Sex” with Fantasia and indulges in the sweet company of “Mary Jane.” Doubleback is another reminder to bachelors that there’s nothing wrong with turning in your player cards, once and for all. – A.F.

16. Ego Death — The Internet (2015)

The Internet’s third studio album was a wake-up call to anyone who slept on the eclectically soulful band. While their sophomore effort floated in the lo-fi realm, Ego Death took the tempo up a notch. Building on their neo-soul adjacent sound, they pulled from alternative, jazz and lounge music elements to create a body of work that is expansive, yet focused. A common thread for Ego Death is the relaxing, easygoing tone, appropriately displayed in “For The World” featuring James Fauntleroy — a track that shares a similar groove to “Butterflies” by Michael Jackson. The Internet’s melodic palate transformed from a mystic vibe to a soul knocking sound on their third album; proof they’ve grown from being the adolescent band next door to a musically inclined group who’s pushing their sound further. — D.B.

17. ELDORADO — Ro James (2016)

Ro James summons an authentic essence of soul. With a husky and smoldering timbre, his ability to bridge the musicality of his forefathers and his personal influences enhance the listening experience. James pulls from rock, soul and gospel to create a rich and fortifying sound. His trilogy EP Coke, Jack and Cadillacs was released in 2013, simmering a carefully crafted energy that steadily lured fans in.

Three years later, his debut album ELDORADO solidified a lane solely reserved for James to cruise along. His Willie Hutch-sampled track “Permission” took over urban adult contemporary radio and promptly aided his growing success. ELDORADO would be incomplete without hazy and seductive tracks like “Burn Slow” and “GA$” but “Holy Water” contributes a contrasting but necessary element. Swelled with sonorous organs, James belts about becoming better and not losing himself with choir-adjacent backgrounds for full support. For his first major-label release, James leaves an undeniably lasting impression. — D.B.

18. Feel The Real — Musiq Soulchild (2017)

When it comes to love, Musiq Soulchild has a lot to say. Released as a double album, Feel The Real is a 100-minute expedition through the different stages of a relationship. “I kinda wanted to do the whole Feel the Real thing because this love thing, this romance thing, this relationship thing, this interpersonal intimate thing we deal with it’s all about how you feel,” he told HipHollywood. “You can’t think your way through it.” The title track, which features Marsha Ambrosius, hears Soulchild shooting his shot at a woman he is interested in pursuing.

On the same token, he isn’t looking to settle too quickly. He gets very candid on “Benefits,” where he only wants to be friends with benefits. He admits his wrongdoings on the Willie Hyn-assisted “My Bad” and asks his partner to do the same on “Humble Pie.” “Let Go” is about knowing when it is time for both partners to move on from a relationship. With everything he experienced in his previous relationship, Soulchild wants to make sure he is ready to make his heart open for the next person. “Test Drive” is about testing the waters before settling down. “We could both crash and burn or we could fly high / Couldn’t hurt to take a test drive,” he sings. Soulchild expresses his gratitude on the album’s closer “Simple Things.” Although the album is a lot longer than traditional releases, Soulchild makes the experience enjoyable with his velvety vocals laced over live instrumentation. — K.S.

19. Freudian — Daniel Caesar (2017)

The early 2010s consisted of R&B artists trying to keep up with what was contemporary, with many gravitating toward pop, alternative and EDM. On the contrary, Ontario-born singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar spent much of the early 2010s being recognized as a budding voice in classic R&B stylings with the release of several scattered EPs such as 2014’s Praise Break and 2015’s Pilgrim’s Paradise. However, Caesar’s debut album Freudian became a constant revisit for casual listeners of the genre after its release in 2017. The obvious nods to gospel music on tracks such as “Hold Me Down” and “We Find Love” adds a natural anointing to Caesar’s smooth sound. However, it is songs such as “Blessed” and the H.E.R.-assisted “Best Part” that elevate Caesar to timeless status, as both became radio and wedding mainstays, respectively. While everyone else was making moody, aesthetically-pleasing sounds, Caesar created a timeless record that offered a little something for everyone.— A.H.

20. Greater Than One — Dwele (2012)

Dwele is arguably one of the most underrated neo-soul singers. The Detroit native’s fifth studio album, Greater Than One, is proof in the pudding. Drawing inspiration from ‘80s R&B, Greater Than One highlights various topics surrounding a relationship. From missing out on love (“Going Leaving”) to knowing how to keep his woman happy (“What Profit”) to avoiding temptation (“Frankly My Dear”), the subject matter is relatable for anyone who has ever experienced a relationship. A standout moment on the album is the eargasmic “Obey,” an alluring tune where Dwele takes complete control in the bedroom as he instructs his woman to submit to his orders. Looking back, Dwele stepped outside of his traditional sound for Greater Than One, all while staying true to his artistry. — K.S.

21. Gumbo — PJ Morton (2017)

There is no place like home. PJ Morton returned to his New Orleans roots for his fourth studio album, Gumbo. With just nine tracks, the introspective LP is seasoned with intense topics that are most personal to him. On “Claustrophobic” featuring Pell, Morton vents about his frustrations in the music industry, making it clear that he is not interested in chasing trends. He offers hope to the marginalized on “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” featuring BJ the Chicago Kid and The HamilTones. “Religion” hears Morton calling out people who use religion to justify their bad behavior, singing, “But you blame your God when it’s your own fault / Where is the love that your God spoke of?” He celebrates lifelong love on “First Began,” which was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 2018 Grammy Awards. The album also received a nomination for Best R&B Album. — K.S.

22. H.E.R. — H.E.R. (2017)

Before she was the ominous, multitalented music virtuoso known as H.E.R., California native Gabi Wilson first appeared on a radio talent competition Next Big Thing in 2009, ultimately losing. However, it was not until she put on a pair of massive sunglasses to cover her face, changed her name to the acronym Having Everything Revealed, and released an eponymous debut EP that H.E.R. became a slow-burning sensation everyone wanted to know. A compilation of her first two EPs released in 2016 and 2017, respectively, H.E.R. is the diamond that emerged from the coal that came with the introduction of alternative R&B in the mid-2010s: a purely R&B album that is true to its roots, yet can easily compete with the fiercest competitors. H.E.R. received several nods from critics and contemporaries alike, including a co-sign of the album’s second single “Focus” from Rihanna.

With just one feature on the entire project, H.E.R. puts her messages of love, regret, pain, and pleasure at the forefront of the album on songs such as “Rather Be,” “2,” and “Losing.” Although not a radio-heavy project, the resonance of H.E.R. made it all the way to the Grammy stage, earning the singer-songwriter Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Performance for her duet “Best Part” with Daniel Caesar. While she still has yet to put out a proper debut LP, H.E.R. remains a staple of the 2010s as the world waits to see what she will do next. — A.H.

23. Honestly — Lalah Hathaway (2018)

Lalah Hathaway’s first studio album on her independent imprint followed her pair of Grammys won for her 2015 live album. All-around musician Tiffany Gouché is involved with each song on Honestly, pushing Hathaway into a more free-spirited and adventurous territory sonically than her previous albums. Fortunately, this bold play works to the polyphonic-voiced singer’s advantage. Everything from Honestly is a mood. “I Can’t Wait” beams with feel-good vibes to get any party started. The Lecrae-assisted anthem “Don’t Give Up” is a large dose of reassurance, while “Won’t Let Go” ducks and dodges an obsessed ex. And while her rich, warm overtones are attached to nostalgic video game noise, it doesn’t seem scattered or muddled. It’s actually a positive step in the next direction of Hathaway’s elevated artistry. – A.F.

24. In My Mind — BJ the Chicago Kid (2016)

With the many directions R&B has taken, only a few have been able to elevate the genre while staying true to its core elements. When BJ the Chicago Kid independently released his debut album Pineapple Now-Laters in 2012, he garnered attention with his soulfully robust voice, suggestive of prominent hometown soul singers like Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield. Six months later, he signed a deal with the famed Motown Records where he released his major-label debut, In My Mind.

By injecting the quintessence of his forefathers into his resonating sound, BJ evidently distinguished himself from his peers. He makes use of his storytelling skills on a tale of infidelity on “Wait Til the Morning” featuring Isa. On the sensual track “The Resume” featuring Big K.R.I.T., BJ channels the computerized ’90s energy by way of Jodeci. He closes the album with “Turnin’ Me Up,” a soothing and irresistible acoustic number with the impromptu spirit of a jam session. BJ presents a modern take on soul music with In My Mind, while keeping the spirit of the music form alive. — D.B.

25. Kaleidoscope Dream — Miguel (2012)

Miguel had a lot to prove with his sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Dream. His debut All I Want Is You was the spacey and rhythmic introduction to his genre-melding talents, yet it wasn’t well-received upon its release. Taking significant creative control this time, Miguel returned to the drawing board to create an imaginative fusion of psychedelic soul, rock and R&B. The album begins with “Adorn,” the feel-good throwback-adjacent single that matured into a classic over time. As the ear-bending journey continues, the title track is more than fitting of its name, navigating a chromatically rippling number that’ll take listeners to another plane. The daringly neoteric direction Miguel took resulted in him becoming a regarded voice among male R&B. — D.B.

26. Late Nights & Early Mornings — Marsha Ambrosius (2011)

As half of the neo-soul duo Floetry, Marsha Ambrosius is one of the pillars that fused rap, soul, and jazz to create the genre nearly 20 years ago. It was these elements and a sultry, operatic voice that are the driving force behind her debut solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings. However, pushing the envelope even further, Ambrosius brought her unique form of storytelling into a new era and rewrote the book of grown and sexy for a new decade. She included clever scenarios in songs like “I Hope She Cheats On You (With a Basketball Player)” and “Far Away,” a tearjerking narrative that you feel just as hard as the sensual slow jams. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, and “Far Away” earned two Grammy nominations at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012. Late Nights & Early Mornings became less of a single project for one moment in time, but a mood for the right time of night, anytime. Whether those listening were feeling kinky, sad or just lying awake thinking about life, Ambrosius’ pen was there to get them through it. — A.H.

27. Love Life — Tamia (2015)

It’s hard to believe Tamia recorded her very solid sixth studio album, Love Life, in just 10 days. Taking an edgier approach than her previous works, Love Life is grown and sexy at its finest. “It’s not as deep and dark as some of my past albums; it’s in a better place,” she said in a past interview. The Canadian singer worked with a diverse group of songwriters and producers including The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Pop & Oak, Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly, Polow Da Don and The Stereotypes. The romantic album highlights the best moments of being in love — and could even serve as a guide on how to add a little spice to a longterm relationship. Tamia describes the feeling of falling in love with the opener “Love Falls Over Me.” On the album’s lead single “Sandwich and a Soda,” she gets submissive as she sings about taking care of her man in and outside of the bedroom. Speaking of the bedroom, Tamia doesn’t hold back on songs about making love (“Chaise Lounge,” “Lipstick” and “No Lie”). The album’s standout track is definitely “Stuck With Me,” which peaked at No. 14 on Billboard’s US Adult R&B Songs chart. Love Life is another example of how an artist can be intimate while leaving something to the imagination. — K.S.

28. Love, Marriage & Divorce — Toni Braxton and Babyface (2014)

Toni Braxton and Babyface’s Grammy-winning joint album Love, Marriage & Divorce is a quite satisfying collection of gorgeous selections that profile the romantic confessions of their lives. Working closely alongside heavyweight musician Daryl Simmons and Antonio Dixon, the two R&B greats cover past, present, and future love stories and share important experiences to provide healing for one’s relationship and heart. Passionately-sung numbers like “Where Did We Go Wrong?” minister on the power of listening, while “Reunited” supports mutual reconciliation. Other standouts include the remorse hit “Hurt You,” the love-drenched makeup tune “Sweat” and “I’d Rather Be Broke,” the bittersweet solo by Braxton. Needless to say, Braxton and Edmonds are a fine duo, and it’s a serious crime when they’re apart for too long. – A.F.

Stream: Apple Music / Spotify

29. New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh — Erykah Badu (2010)

Two years after releasing New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (4th World War), Erykah Badu followed up with the album’s sequel, New Amerykah, Pt. 2 (Return of the Ankh). While part one centered around politically-charged topics, part two is more personal as Badu focused more on her love life. Sonically, the album pulls inspiration from Badu’s early works like Baduizm. “The album is more emotional and flowy and talks about feelings,” Badu explained at a listening party in 2010. The obvious standout is her liberating single “Window Seat.” The controversial video, which shows Badu walking around nude in Dealy Plaza, ultimately led to her getting charged for disorderly conduct. Other highlights on the album include the funk-infused “Turn Me Away (Get Munny),” the cautionary “Fall in Love (Your Funeral)” and the buttery “Umm Hmm.” — K.S.

30. No Boys Allowed — Keri Hilson (2011)

Some fans and critics had to learn not to judge an album by its title when Keri Hilson announced her sophomore effort, No Boys Allowed. She explained the meaning behind the album in a press release, “It’s not about excluding men. It’s more about women understanding that there comes a time in your life when you want a man. A real man. A grown up. Not a boy. And that’s not a bad thing.” While Hilson’s debut album In A Perfect World was more on the safe side, No Boys Allowed saw the singer-songwriter more confident and open. Kicking off the album with her J.Cole-assisted banger “Buyou,” Hilson made is clear that she wasn’t about the shits. “You want a ride or die chick, baby / But you ain’t got a whip, baby / It ain’t gon’ happen / You don’t got shit, you need a walk or die chick, baby,” she sings in the second verse. After setting the record straight, she showed love to the ladies with her empowering anthem “Pretty Girl Rock,” which was co-penned by Ne-Yo.

Some of the best moments on the album are Hilson’s most vulnerable tracks. “Breaking Point” is about being fed up with a lover’s shenanigans. The bittersweet “Beautiful Mistake” is about regretting a past relationship. The John Legend-penned “All the Boys” hears Hilson reminiscing about relationships from her teenage years. At the time, she thought she was in love but later realized what true love is. “After all the boys that I thought I loved before I didn’t know what love was / Til you knocked on my door,” she sings. Hilson balances the emotional feels with flirty numbers like “The Way You Love Me” featuring Rick Ross, “Gimmie What I Want,” and the reggae-tinged “Bahm Bahm.” No Boys Allowed is a nearly flawless genre-blending album that can be played from start to finish without skipping a track. The hidden interludes make the listening experience even more enjoyable — even during some of the darkest moments on the album. — K.S.

31. Now or Never — Tank (2010)

Three years after releasing his Grammy-nominated album Sex, Love & Pain, Tank returned with more bedroom vibes on Now or Never. It was his first album to release under Atlantic Records, following his departure from Blackground Records where he released his first three albums. Now or Never is a coherent body of work that is filled with tender R&B tunes. With enticing titles like “Sex Music,” “Scream” and the Chris Brown-assisted “Foreplay,” the R&B General was on a mission to please his listeners in every way. Sonically, Now or Never is a lot lighter than its predecessor, which was done intentionally. “It’s a happier album, I’m appreciating more, I’m celebrating more,” he told The Boombox. Speaking of “Celebration,” his Drake-assisted track is among the standout tunes on the LP. “Emergency” is probably the most recognized song on the album. Borrowing the same melody as Pleasure P’s “Under,” which he also co-wrote and co-produced, “Emergency” sees Tank coming to the rescue to satisfy a woman’s needs in the bedroom. “When I got there, put her on the floor / She leakin’ but she still breathin’,” he sings. While Tank ended up releasing six albums this decade, Now or Never remains a staple in his discography. — K.S.

32. Passion, Pain & Pleasure — Trey Songz (2010)

By the end of the 2000s, Virginia native Trey Songz was a full-fledged R&B sex symbol. On his fourth studio album, Passion, Pain, & Pleasure, Songz builds on the slow jam catalog he’s become notorious for. Moreover, he expands his seductive pallet to include more than just sex, but more mature emotions like lust on songs like “Can’t Be Friends,” a rarity in the genre at the time. Also, the album spawned hits such as the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Bottoms Up,” which is certified four times platinum in the United States and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his highest-charting song to date. Outside of being a great album, Passion, Pain, & Pleasure was one of the only albums that remain consistently R&B through and through. While his contemporaries were switching it up to keep up with the times, Songz carried the genre into the next decade by starting off strong. Not only that, he inspired several future baby-making hitmakers in the genre. Passion, Pain, & Pleasure earned Songz several nods, including Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist at the 39th Annual American Music Awards, and will forever be remembered as the album that paved the way for R&B in the 2010s. — A.H.

33. Perfectly Imperfect — Elle Varner (2012)

As the daughter of two published songwriters, it is no surprise why Elle Varner has a knack for storytelling. Her debut album Perfectly Imperfect via RCA Records is a compilation of relatable stories centered around love and self-acceptance. Varner worked closely with production duo Pop&Oak and her father Jimmy to craft one of the most noteworthy debut R&B albums this decade. Although her Grammy-nominated single “Refill” gets all the attention, there are quite a few gems on the album. With a sample from Kool & The Gang’s “Little Children,” “I Don’t Care” finds Varner going “into the deep end” with a guy and having no regrets about it. Over a funky bass, she tells her lover what she can bring to the table on “Leaf.” The closing track, “So Fly,” is probably one of the most important songs on the album. The uplifting tune is about accepting yourself — flaws and all. “So, I decided I’m the definition of fly / And if you want to know why / I know what money can’t buy,” she sings. — K.S.

34. Pieces of Me — Ledisi (2011)

First and foremost – Ledisi is one of the best R&B/soul vocalists of the last 20 years. The New Orleans native has made a name for herself as an artist who renders lovely, traditional R&B-styled compositions with thrilling jazz crescendos. For her third major-label outing and fifth overall, Ledisi doesn’t miss a chance to continue enticing R&B fans with more sensational vocal takes. Pieces of Me satisfies those deeply in love on joyous tunes like the tender “I Gotta Get to You” and everlasting ode “Stay Together” featuring Jaheim. Like the winning titular track, this remarkable set gives Ledisi a platform to be delightfully inspirational on empowering jams like the bluesy “BGTY” and the self-advocating anthem “Raise Up.” – A.F.

35. Raymond v. Raymond — Usher (2010)

Usher was undoubtedly a bonafide superstar in the 2000s. However, all of that changed with his marriage to Tameka Foster in 2007, and the Atlanta-native began to focus on themes of love and marriage. This caused a dip in sales for 2008’s Here I Stand, an album almost entirely inspired by his marriage to Foster. When the two unexpectedly divorced in 2009, it inspired Usher to create an album based on the situation as well as where he expected to go from there. Thus, Raymond v. Raymond was born. Seen as sort of a return to the sensual, yet pain-stricken Confessions of 2004, Raymond v. Raymond features some of Usher’s finest uptempo hits of the decade, including “OMG,” “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” and “Lil Freak.”

However, Usher’s sixth album saw him utilize the emerging sound of EDM for songs such as “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” and “Somebody to Love.” This new-found sound extended into Usher’s hit love song “There Goes By Baby,” a wedding song for the ages. Raymond v. Raymond won Usher two Grammy Awards in 2011, including Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. An album with features from Nicki Minaj, JAY-Z, will.i.am, and more, Raymond v. Raymond is Usher’s return to form for a new generation of R&B fans to discover. — A.H.

36. Reality Show — Jazmine Sullivan (2015)

When Jazmine Sullivan cleaned out her music industry cubicle in early 2011 to discover her true purpose in life, she left the world in complete shock. But, after nearly five years, the Philadelphia native had music admirers tuned into Reality Show, her third album. Ordering 12 songs, featuring studio input from the likes of SaLaAM ReMi, Key Wane, and Chuck Harmony, this phenomenal LP plays out overtly personal situations associated that are often a common narrative of many young Black women.

As a songsmith, with a knack for vivid imagery, Sullivan loads Reality Show with originals that seamlessly exalt her contemporary spirit like the trapsoul “Brand New” and down-chick anthem “#Hoodlove.” Some cuts sound like old favorites like the After 7-inspired hit “Let It Burn” and “Forever Don’t Last.” Other attention-holders stand in a league of their own like the introspective art “Masterpiece (Mona Lisa).” At the end of the day, Reality Show finds Sullivan singing with new conviction and versatility that makes her triumphant return to music more notable than other R&B comebacks. – A.F.

37. Souled Out — Jhené Aiko (2014)

Being off-brand isn’t Jhené Aiko’s motive. Resurfacing on the scene with her 2011 mixtape Sailing Soul(s), she introduced her newly-crafted sound that was more authentic to her artistry than her earlier work. Garnering recognition with her Sail Out EP in 2013, the debut album Souled Out concluded her motif. Aiko has remained steady on her music journey, refusing to let the industry steer her off course. Against an ambiently rhythmic background, her soothing voice lulls the sting of her realer-than-life lyrics. Aiko pulls from personal experiences and sets them in her songs, mirroring her reality with yours. With “Lyin King,” Aiko floats across the aquatic-like synths with a conviction that her lover will never know when a good thing is in his face. Souled Out is littered with philosophical gems, while providing a guide through the commensurating stages of heartbreak and enlightenment. — D.B.

38. Still Standing — Monica (2010)

The title says it all. Monica was Still Standing after a 15-year career of ups and downs. In the seasoned vocalist’s first album in four years, Monica capitalizes on the strength of her sincere duet with Keyshia Cole (“Trust”) and makes a triumphant return with age-appropriate uptempo and downtempo R&B tunes. The iron-solid hit “Everything to Me,” which marks her first-ever solo Grammy nod, takes its cue from Deniece Williams’ soulful single “Silly.” Monica keeps on the nostalgic path on “If You Were My Man,” while she lays her head on the chest of “Superman,” a soulful ode to her the man in the red cap. Other solid selections include the in-need banger “Here I Am” and the sappy ballad “Love All Over Me.” While Monica reflects mostly on love, she masterfully fuses songs about perseverance and self-importance on cuts like “Mirror,” “Believing in Me” and the survival title track. – A.F.

39. SweetSexySavage — Kehlani (2017)

There is a captivating nature about Kehlani. It could be her transparency, her charm or her confidence but all those aspects and more attribute to her debut LP SweetSexySavage. The Bay Area native signed a partnership with Atlantic Records, following the success of her 2015 mixtape, You Should Be Here. Her follow-up presented a refined body of work that remained honest to Kehlani’s discography. Tracks like “Too Much” and “Personal” lift melodies and song structures from the ‘90s and early 2000s without relying on obvious samples. She beams on “Piece of Mind”; her flawless harmonies perfectly compliment the consonantly layered production, reaching peak vocals by the 2:42 mark. Kehlani exhibits a vibrant synergy of her inspirations with her artistry on her debut, successfully providing songs for the sweet, sexy and savage sides in all of us. — D.B.

40. The Electric Lady — Janelle Monáe (2013)

Janelle Monae’s imagination is aptly cinematic. From her debut EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite, Monae showcased her well-rounded vision by introducing the story of her alter-ego, android Cindi Mayweather. As the prequel to The ArchAndroid, the afro-futuristic dystopian tale of The Electric Lady directs with a livelier soundtrack. Pulling inspiration from the early eras of soul music on tracks like “Dance Apocalyptic,” Monae shows she is a true student of those who came before her. She creates a sonic time chamber of sorts and lingers in the ‘70s on “It’s Code” and “Can’t Live Without You,” which takes a page out of Stevie Wonder’s book. Skillfully bridging the past, present and future of R&B, Monae brings Prince, Solange and Erykah Badu along as co-pilots for the electrifying ride to the world of Metropolis. — D.B.

41. The Lady Killer — CeeLo Green (2010)

CeeLo Green had the world shouting “Fuck You” at the start of the decade. The tell-off anthem was the lead single to his third solo album, The Lady Killer, and earned Green a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2012. Sure, we can talk about how a song about a failed relationship with a gold digger was one of the biggest records at the time, but there is much more to be said about The Lady Killer. Best known as a member of the hip hop group Goodie Mob, Green steered clear from rapping this time around on his soul-infused project. “I thought The Lady Killer sounded edgy and elegant at the same time. So I wanted something like James Bond, but like Barry White would do it,” he told Billboard in an interview. Green introduces his “Lady Killer” persona on the opening track, before living his best life on the catchy “Bright Lights Bigger City,” which has a looping bassline similar to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Green keeps his listeners engaged with his dynamic vocal performance throughout the rest of the album. Some of his best vocal moments can be heard on “Love Gun” featuring Lauren Bennett, “Fool for You” featuring Earth Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey and the classic Motown-tinged “Old Fashion.” — K.S.

42. The Light of the Sun — Jill Scott (2011)

After laying down the bricks of neo-soul with her epic The Real Thing: Words and Sounds trilogy in the 2000s, Philadelphia native Jill Scott ventured into acting, making her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? in 2007. Scott released The Light of the Sun, a dramatic sonic change from her previous work. As Scott’s first three albums dealt with self-discovery and maturation through mellow grooves and heavy jazz influence, The Light of the Sun had a brighter sound than anything Scott had ever released. Having given birth to her son Jett in 2009, the album reflected Scott’s happiness at the time as she celebrated life and love on songs such as “Blessed” and “So In Love” featuring Anthony Hamilton as well as her proudful womanhood on tracks such as “Womanmanifesto.” The Light of the Sun debuted atop the Billboard 200 and Top Hip-Hop/R&B Albums charts and earned Scott two Soul Train awards for Best Female Artist and Best R&B/Soul Album. Scott’s fourth album represents her transition from a young woman trying to find her way to a grown woman who knows exactly what she needs. — A.H.

43. The London Sessions — Mary J. Blige (2014)

As the only accomplished force in mainstream music to take home Grammys in four different genres, Mary J. Blige has earned the right to experiment with new sounds and depart from the musical style she’s responsible for pioneering. For her 12th studio effort, The London Sessions, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul left the states and jetted across the pond to draw recording inspiration from the UK’s brightest stars, including Sam Smith, Disclosure, and Emeli Sandé. The deep house tracks “Nobody But You” and “My Loving” thrive on blissful lyrical material. Meanwhile, The London Sessions features acoustic, therapeutic ballads (“Not Loving You,” “Therapy”) that speak for themselves. Overall, this noteworthy disc sends an important wake-up call to the music industry: Mary J. Blige isn’t afraid of change if it means she doesn’t have to be boxed in. – A.F.

44. The Love and War MasterPeace — Raheem DeVaughn (2010)

There comes a time when an artist wants to create a body of music to help heal the world. For Raheem DeVaughn, the time came for his third studio album, The Love and War MasterPeace. “I named the album The Love and War MasterPeace because I feel that where I am as a person and where we are as a people, we are all trying to master that internal peace and happiness in a very strange time,” DeVaughn said in a past press statement.

Pulling inspiration from fellow Washington, D.C. native Marvin Gaye’s critically-acclaimed album What’s Going On, The Love and War MasterPeace tackles issues affecting our society. Gaye’s influence can clearly be heard on the album’s lead single “Bulletproof” featuring Ludacris, which is a call to action for everyone to open their eyes on what’s really happening in the world around them. “You betta’ pray to the most high or whoever you praise / ‘Cause politicians can’t help you, they puppets to slaves,” warns DeVaughn. He empowers women on songs like “The Greatness” featuring Wale and reminds them of their worth on “Black & Blue,” which brings awareness to domestic violence. It wouldn’t be a Raheem DeVaughn album without his babymaking music. He brings the seductive vibes on velvety tunes like “Fragile” featuring Malik Yusef, “B.O.B,” “Microphone” and “Garden of Love.” — K.S.

45. The MF Life — Melanie Fiona (2012)

Melanie Fiona cemented herself as a retro-soul singer with her debut album, The Bridge. The sound of her Grammy-nominated single “It Kills Me” would serve as the blueprint for her next album, The MF Life. Released on Universal Records, The MF Life explored the highs and lows of love. With an emphasis on low moments, the 14-track offering is filled with punch-you-in-the-gut emotion and vivid storytelling. “I wanted it to be a collection of music and songs that make people think about the things that we actually go through and feel,” Fiona told NPR. Heartbreak and sorrow are reoccurring themes on The MF Life. “Wrong Side of a Love Song” is Fiona’s desperate attempt to get her man back after he broke up with her. “This is what it feels to be the one that’s standing left behind,” she sings.

Fiona also deals with loss on the album. “Gone (La Dada Di)” featuring Snoop Dogg is probably the most depressing song on the set. The Soundz-produced cut finds Fiona trying to process the death of her lover and regretting the argument they had. “Guess I’m thinking bout the last conversation we had / And the mean things that we’ve said / Wishing I could take the whole thing back / As I’m standing at his doorway, covered in red,” she sings. Fiona’s raspy vocals shine on records like “Bones” and “Running.” There are some lighter moments on the album such as the uplifting tunes “Change the Record” featuring B.o.B and “Watch Me Work.” The MF Life is a testament that our lives are not perfect and we will all go through some painful and traumatic experiences at some point. And when we do, we can always revisit Fiona’s stellar body of work. — K.S.

46. Three Kings — TGT (2013)

At a time where male singing groups were scarce, Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank filled a necessary void. Following in the steps of their predecessors LSG (Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill), the solo R&B singers who are actual friends formed their supergroup TGT and released their only album Three Kings in 2013. They include all of the quintessential R&B album checkpoints: a song with a rap feature (“No Fun”), a few ballads and slow jams (“I Need,” “Lessons In Love”) with a few interludes in between. Among the tracks, “Burn Out” is the standout sleeper from their debut. Each gentleman performs ostentatiously on the intricate production that consists of multiple sonic and vocal peaks. The finished product creates an aural rush that’ll drive listeners into melodic bliss. Their distinct voices combined created harmonies that offered a unique texture and technique that has been absent from current R&B music. The trio’s undeniable formula lead them to a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album in 2014. — D.B.

47. Two Eleven — Brandy (2012)

Four years in the making, Brandy’s sixth album is her blood, sweat and tears. Drawing ultrasonic magic from familiar names like Sean “The Pen” Garrett, Bangladesh, Frank Ocean, Rico Love, and Mike WiLL Made-It, Two Eleven is an almost hour-long masterpiece that is home to singular vocal runs, adventurous, high-quality production, and broad songwriting. Though Two Eleven lacked a true conceptual vision, at least it had strong songs with potential hit value. “Put It Down” featuring Chris Brown is rhythmic radio gold. Advanced-sounding tracks “So Sick” and “Slower” had what it took to be embraced by urban as prized singles. Elsewhere, Brandy flawlessly adds in gem-worthy solos like “Wish Your Love Away” and “Without You.” In a few words, Two Eleven is just that album – period. – A.F.

48. VII — Teyana Taylor (2014)

Before Teyana Taylor became a household name from her iconic performance in Kanye West’s “Fade” video, she released an album that many people slept on. Taylor has always been open about her musical influences. On VII, her debut album, the Harlem native takes a few pages from the ‘90s R&B playbook to create a timeless masterpiece. She draws inspiration from some of her idols like Aaliyah, Brandy, Janet Jackson and Lauryn Hill. Co-writing every track on the album, Taylor enlisted help from hitmakers like James Fauntleroy, Eric Bellinger, Harmony Samuels, Boi-1da and Stacy Barthe to create songs that will be played from decades to come. “I want that album you can clean up to, the album you can make love to, the album you can just relax to,” she told Fuse TV.

Taylor opens VII with “Outta My League,” which sounds like an outtake from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The calming production helps set the mood for the rest of the album. Most of the album sounds like it was made for the bedroom, especially on “Request,” “Do Not Disturb” featuring Chris Brown and the booming lead single “Maybe” featuring Pusha T and Yo Gotti. She looks for a no-strings-attached affair on the Fabolous-assisted “Broken Hearted Girl” (don’t let the title fool you.) The album isn’t completely sex-driven, though. She reflects on a failed relationship on the piano-driven ballad “Sorry,” before finally dismissing her no-good man on “In the Air.” With VII, Taylor successfully positioned herself as an R&B singer who cared more about making meaningful music than keeping up with trends. — K.S.

49. Woman to Woman — Keyshia Cole (2012)

Put some respect on Keyshia Cole’s name. For the most part, this Oakland native has a solid catalog, even though there was a disconnect with fans and critics on her fourth LP Calling All Hearts. Taking serious note, the R&B vocalist regained her early career glory on Woman to Woman. This essential comeback album perfectly mixes Cole’s trademark soul-baring touch to tuneful radio melodies and forward-minded arrangements. Album highlights include the whimsical duet “Wonderland” featuring Elijah Blake; the beans-spilling title track with Ashanti; the grand ballads “I Choose You” and “Trust and Believe;” and everything else in between. Woman to Woman is indeed a strong return for a promising R&B legend with more fire in her belly. – A.F.

50. X — Chris Brown (2014)

Like many artists in the early 2010s, Chris Brown merged his sound with that of contemporary genres such as Dubstep and EDM on 2012’s Fortune, and with innovation came criticism from critics and fans alike. However, in 2014, the Grammy-winning artist proved he was still all in for R&B with his sixth album, X. Combining old and new sounds, X is anchored by radio-ready singles Brown fans were accustomed to such as “Love More,” “New Flame,” and the massive summer hit “Loyal.” The latter went on to peak at number nine of the on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is now certified four times platinum in the United States. With this project, Brown also became one of the few artists to reconnect with the late songstress Aaliyah on “Don’t Think They Know.” An LP for the ages, X is stacked with features from some of the biggest stars of the time such as Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Trey Songz, Usher, Rick Ross, Brandy and more. Plus, it features production from some of the brightest talents including Diplo, DJ Mustard, and Jean Baptiste. X was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and ultimately is a representation of Brown’s hit-making ability in R&B and beyond. — A.H.

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adityatodi · 5 years ago

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

I sleep in till late this morning to catch-up on sleep. After hanging out with the large HBS crew during FGI and then with close friends after, it’s my first day of just being—being by myself, not looking to get anywhere. Just being. I shower, get ready and decide to hit the place my section mate from Vietnam, Mark Thai had recommended. First stop is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Here lies in state his body and a museum next to it. By the time I get there, I’m told that the mausoleum is just open for the morning so I won’t be able to go in and the museum will open at 2pm. I walk around the area. There is immense peace. Not too many tourists at this hour. It’s a large ground with a wide road going through it. The sight reminds me of the parade ground by India Gate where the Indian Republic Day celebration happens. As I stand in the middle of this wide street I think of that. It’s a long stretch of concrete road, absolutely clean and with zero humans or traffic. On one side of it is a large green ground. On the other side is the mausoleum and by the door stand two guards at attention. Like the British Royal Guards, they do not flinch or move. Motionless standing bodies which are a monument of discipline. It’s incredibly hot today and the sun seems to be getting the better of me. After seeing another popular landmark--one pillar pagoda-- I leave the mausoleum and do the 15-minute walk over to the Temple of Literature. The Temple of Literature is the oldest university in Vietnam and was established in 1070. It was initially dedicated to the learning of Confucianism and it’s scholars. The architecture of this place is beautiful and each part of it has some meaning. It was fun taking the guided audio tour and learning about the role that education and knowledge has played in this society. While walking around I was thinking of my visit to Oxford University and how it’s heralded as this old institution of learning, but we often don’t look at the history of Asian countries which have had their own share of such centers. This site dedicated to knowledge also made me feel gratitude for all the learning centers that I have had in my life starting from Montessori to Rato Bangala, Woodstock, Stanford and now Harvard. I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by great scholars and peers who have enriched me. A quote I really liked was in the first of five grounds and roughly translated to “Before seeking knowledge, learn respect”. Another quote was about education being about both “acquiring talent and virtue”. The place was a reminder to me to continue being a life long student and get better at reading more books outside the assigned school curriculum. Before leaving, I ask a woman there to take a photo for me. We ended up having almost twenty minutes of conversation post that. She was visiting from Czech Republic and was an architect (like you Ananya, if you’re reading this!) and was here for three months to learn from traditional Vietnamese architecture. We discussed some of her learnings, places she has traveled, my reasons for traveling, gender in Vietnam, etc. I was super hungry and wanted to get something to eat and bid adieu while she stayed there to do her sketch. What a chance meeting. We didn’t even tell each other our names, just randomly spoke. Ah! These moments.

I take a Grab Bike to Bun Cha Ho, the local Vietnamese restaurant that rose to fame after Obama visited it with Anthony Bourdain during their trip to Vietnam. With its steel table tops and the blue plastic chairs, the restaurant closely resembles the the pho place that our team had gone to for lunch in Saigon.The restaurant has pictures of Obama entering the restaurant and eating there in most parts of the wall. The restaurant has a mix of both locals and foreigners. I go upstairs and with the help of a couple who are on date and help me translate, order the only vegetarian item—spring rolls and Pepsi. While waiting for the food, I soak in the moment and look around. I watch the video of Obama and Bourdain at the restaurant—Ha, what a touristy thing to do! Afterwards I head back to the AirBnB to rest for a bit, before going out to Giang’s Coffee. The coffee house has a small storefront, but is multi-storeyed and can fit a lot more people than it would seem. The iconic low tables and stools adorn this upper floor. I find a corner table and sit down with my Kindle. I order an egg coffee, the most popular drink here, and start reading Chimamanda Adichie’s Americannah, a novel I had sitting on the Kindle for a while but never got around reading it. A friend on this trip had recommended the book as well further spurring my interest again. One can become so consumed in reading that you forget where you are and what’s happening around you. It is only once in a while when a break in a chapter happens and you regather your thoughts do you come back to this world. One finds the quietness of concentration go away and be replaced by the sound of a group of friends who are being extremely loud. It’s annoying. Why can’t they be quiet? Well because one does not come to a coffee shop with a group of friends to be quiet. Perhaps there companionship is a reminder of my loneliness. And instead of getting angry, I should thank them for it is often in crowded and loud places, one actually finds solitude. I go in and out of this zone and gulp another cup of egg coffee, this time the cold one. After about an hour, I decide to head out. The place is still buzzing with people as groups move in and out. The waiter stays though. In transient places like these, I have often found myself observing and thinking about the parts that are not transient. The waiters, and chefs at a restaurant or the janitors and cleaners at a hotel. For us, this is one another experience we have consumed, but for them this is their everyday life, at least for now. Who knows what’s going on in their life.

It’s become dark out now. I walk around the streets of Old Quarter to soak this last evening in. One always tries to make the most of the last and spends too much mental energy thinking of how to make the last moments the best ones. Perhaps it’s okay to just chill and not burden yourself with a “last”. In my travels, instead of the iconic and historic places, I have increasingly found myself being fascinated by the everyday. Lives of your everyday people which are not told in your history books. We focus too much on powerful and influential people. It’s not the iconic places that really make the city what it is. It’s the people who inherit it and the public spaces become a theater of this interplay. Groups of friends sitting by street vendors talking and eating, a mother putting her baby to sleep, shopkeepers sitting outside their shops waiting for at least a glance from a passerby, if entering and checking the shop out is too much of a commitment. I spontaneously decide to get a massage while I’m here—when else will a massage be so cheap and it will also give me an opportunity to just be and reflect.

After the massage, I take a Grab bike to an Italian restaurant called Nha Hang Mediterraneo. Even though it’s my last evening in Vietnam and all the voices in my head tell me to go to a place local, that is not what the palette wants. Bruschetta and ravioli is ordered and the dinner is delicious. The best part is the ravioli, which is not really a traditional ravioli. Instead this ravioli is boiled, but also put in an oven so it’s actually crunch on the top. The owner tells me that it is a specialty pasta from central Italy. I suggest him that perhaps adding a pink sauce variation may work well. This person is your stereotypical Italian—loves their food and believes there is only one right way to make it and that is their way. It’s his restaurant, why argue but our entire conversation reminds me of the scene from Queen where Kangana goes to the Italian restaurant and gets into an argument with the owner about the flavors. Nothing so dramatic happens here though. After dinner there is a bar called Polite and Co. which I go to for a last drink before saying goodbye to Vietnam. The place has a speakeasy vibe to it, I grab a chair by the bar and order a drink. It’s weird going to a bar alone, it seems like the kind of thing an alcoholic would do, or someone in their old age when they have run out of companions to hang out with. This feeling is reiterated by an elderly white gentleman sitting on my left. On my right is a young Asian woman, probably in her late 20s who is on her phone. Every now and then she will look up. I initially think there is someone she is waiting to see, but as time passes it becomes apparent this is not the case. She flicks her hair behind her just far behind so it touches parts of my hand. I’m almost certain she was there trying to solicit for the night. Hmm, I gulp my mojito and ask for the check. I leave the chair empty between the elderly white gentleman who looks lonely and this woman looking for company, perhaps they will hit it off! For me I do some packing and call it a night. Need to wake up in 5 hours.

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vikramsingh997 · 5 years ago

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Visitors guide to India; Few tips for the Western Tourist, from a native’s perspective

Passage to India

India has always fascinated western civilization, from ancient times; so much so, that many have even tried to rule the country. Alexander, the great was the first (2300 years back ) and the British Empire was the last; who after ruling the country for 200 years, left an independent nation, only 70 years back. India still gets lots of western visitors, who come to India at present, for much simpler reasons. If you are one of those, it would be worth your time, to go through the next few lines. Here we are not going to describe, which tourist places you should visit, but stick our discussion only to, the Do and Don during your visit; so that you have a safe and a joyous trip.

A Nation with Unity In Diversity

First a few facts about India. India is a huge nation (especially if you compare it with some countries of Europe) and has approximately 1.3 billion population (2nd only to China, in number), who live in 36 States and Union territories. With that kind of population, diversity would be expected, and it is indeed so. There are 22 major languages and 720 regional dialects. People profess almost nine different religions (Secularism at it’s best). The physical features or looks of people, also vary depending on which part of the country, you are in.

What You Need to Get Here

If you want to visit India, and are from Europe or Americas, the first thing you need is a valid passport of your country, with that, you can apply for a visa from Indian Embassy(Visa is usually given for a maximum period of 6 months). Once you get that, you may need to check if you need to take, vaccination shots for precaution. The CDC and WHO, does recommend Typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Polio, MMR vaccines. Although once you come to India, you will realize that there was no reason to get scared.

Finance, Because of Money Matters

Now that your health is taken care of, you can concentrate on the financial aspect. Well, for most tourist from the west, coming to India will be rather a cheap affair. As 1 US Dollar is equal to 64 Indian Rupees ( 1 Euro is equal to 77 Indian Rupees ). Once foreigners arrive in India, they can exchange currency at the exchange booth, inside the Airport. Always exchange foreign currency at authorized dealers like American Express or Thomas Cook. Always keep your currency exchange receipt, with you carefully. Buying foreign currency from unauthorized places are illegal and should always be avoided. Also, it is illegal for foreigners to take Indian currency out of the country. It is always a good idea to keep good debit cards and credit cards with you. The only exception being your travel in the countryside when you should remember to keep a good amount of cash (Indian currency) with you, as in the rural areas it would be difficult to exchange currency and credit or debit card may not be applicable everywhere.

Making your Entry

The airport from which you make your entry, to the country will depend a lot, on the place you want to visit. If you want to visit the Northern part of the country, New Delhi International airport will be the best choice. If you want to travel to the western part, Mumbai Airport would be the best for you; For the southern part of the country, Chennai / Hyderabad / Bangalore are options.

Where to Stay

Do not take recommendation from auto rickshaw or taxi drivers, regarding which hotels to stay; chances are that you may not get a fair deal. it is always better to plan, where to stay before you leave your home. There are lots of options, which are available in diverse cost range, suitable for all budget. Starting from $2 a night to $500 a night in 5-star Luxury hotels, there are wide options. In almost all big cities, you would find special localities, where numerous hotels and Guest houses are clustered together. Some of them would be also listed in Trip advisor and would give you a decent accommodation, in a fair budget. Most hotel authorities would check your valid documents before giving you a room. Tipping the staff after reaching your room, would certainly assure you, a better service, in form of frequent change of bedsheets /Towels/ Toilet paper and the food reaching you, as soon as possible (though it is neither mandatory nor required in many cases). Squat toilets are present only in cheap hotels, in the majority of places western type sitting lavatory would be available. Do not be surprised, to find a bucket and plastic mug, in the toilet, as the majority of Indians use them. Some kind of mosquito control are used in most hotels and it is unlikely that you will face the problem, in your rooms; but in case it happens(in the cheaper hotels), you can always ask for mosquito repellent, if it is already not installed in your room. Always carry a power adaptor with you, so that you can charge your laptops and mobile phones. If you are interested in smoking, be a bit careful; as in many public spaces, smoking is not allowed. The same goes for alcohol consumption too. In the small town or rural areas, it may be difficult for non married couples to get the room together(Always try to respect and adapt to the local culture).

What to Eat and What Not

with so many people with different religion, different language and different culture; it is no doubt that there will be a lot of food varieties to choose from. Although food differs from place to place, in general, foods in India are very spicy and a bit too much, for many. So if in doubt, always try a little amount first. Street food may not be always hygienic and should be best avoided(unless you have previous experience & know what to avoid). Eat food only from busy restaurants, where the foods would be freshly cooked. Asking for alcohol (Wine-Champagne/ Whiskey ), especially in the daytime, would not be a very bright thing to do; unless you are in a 5-star hotel or a relatively big restaurant. The two major religion in India is – Hinduism and Islam. The first does not eat beef & the second do not eat pork; so it is always better, not to ask for those; as unknowingly you may hurt people’s sentiment. India is heaven for people wanting to try vegetarian food, as a big chunk of the population is vegetarian, and there are multiple choices of cuisine, which will leave you, perplexed about what to choose. If you are thirsty, it is always advisable to drink bottled mineral water, as tap water may not always be reliable; although most restaurants offer free of cost, filtered & purified water along with the food ( a tradition which has almost disappeared in the western world).

Tips for Visiting Places

1. One for The Road

We are talking about advice here. India does have a serious problem, with pollution: Air and noise pollution can cause serious discomfort for foreigners (Most of the Indians are used to it). Delhi is one of the most polluted cities, in the world (Although there are many steps, which are being implemented by the government, to take care of the problem and things are gradually improving). Traffic problems are common in most Indian cities (When you are in the 2nd most populated country in the world, that shouldn’t surprise you). The best way to avoid these problems, is to ask your hotel staff, which would be the best route to take,? You would be surprised, that there would be some roads, which would be much less crowded and cleaner, than the ones you thought of (For those who are used to visiting European cities, a word of advice. In contrast to other western countries, where you have to struggle with guidebooks – as there is hardly anyone to assist you, in India, people are very friendly and you can get all information you need just by asking). If you can afford it, take an air-conditioned taxi, that would save you from much of the pollution and conundrum, but you would also miss the experience to know a billion people, from close quarters. One of the commonest problems, foreigners complain are about toilet facilities, while traveling. Pay and use toilets are present along the roadside, in all big cities but in the small town, they may be fewer in number (Although in recent times, the government has taken measures, to provide basic sanitation facilities, throughout India & has provided many portable toilets everywhere).So if you want to travel a long distance and are bothered about this problem, railways may be a viable alternative. You should at least try traveling by the Indian railways once. Traveling by train is a unique experience in itself. Indian railways carry 20 million people everyday & there are more than 7500 railway stations. So if you have plenty of time, and want to discover the country, Railways is for you. The only catch is, get your reservation first, because traveling in an unreserved compartment, would be an adventure, you should try to avoid.

2. Places of Worship

Remember the book of Exodus, where Moses was told to take off his sandals because the ground he was standing on was holy? Well, do that, when you go to any place of worship in India. Do not go to any place of worship, whether it is a Temple or Mosque in an inebriated state & smoking is also not allowed. Some places of worship also do not allow, any leather product inside their premises – so be careful, if you are carrying, a leather purse or belt. Taking pictures are not allowed in many places and always find out the rules, prior to any misadventure. In some places of worship like Gurudwaras, you may have to cover your head, by a piece of cloth, as a mark of respect. Contrary to popular misconception, it is not always compulsory to give donations, in places of worship. Some guidebooks tell you to use earplugs, to avoid all the noise, but they may be taken as a sign of disrespect, so better avoided; and not in all places are provisioning, to get special VIP entry, by paying extra money; faith is not for sale. If you are visiting some very big and old temples, you would certainly get a temple guide, who would show you around, for a small fee. Do not get a tattoo of gods or goddess, in your body without understanding local customs, as a lot of people have faced problems because they got a tattoo in their legs and feet (an act considered disrespectful).Very rarely ( once in a blue moon), you may come across places, where only people of certain religion and sex, can enter. Asking the local people, about any such restrictions, if any, would help you in avoiding awkward embarrassment.

3. Dress

Although the majority of the places are really hot in summers and cold in winters, it would be safer and more appropriate if you stick to conservative clothing, nothing too flashy, especially when in the roads. Although in an age of globalisation, where many Indians have traveled abroad and are more tolerant to others view, the chance of you facing any problem, for the before said factors are minimal, but It is still better for the ladies to dress in a conservative way, covering the torso and legs, to avoid any unwanted attention. In a beach also, choose carefully. Skimpy swimwear does also gets you a lot of awkward looks unless you are in certain reserved places, where no one would bother (Do your research beforehand).

4. Socializing

Indians are rather inquisitive people, but very hospitable in nature. So when you are on the roads, it would be natural that people may look at you and some street children may be following you. If you have known an Indian for five minutes, there is a good chance that he (chance of she is very less) will ask you what job you have ? if you are married and have a house of your own? Contrary to views in the west – where this may be interpreted as a breach of privacy; to most Indians, it would simply mean that he considers you a friend and is concerned about you. Of course, it would not be in the best interest of the ladies, to go to a stranger’s home, without really thinking. Besides, Public Display Of Affection, like kissing in public and hugging your partner, may get you unwelcome attention. Taking care of the elders is part of the cultural heritage, and little consideration of the same on your part will get you a lot of respect.

5. Tourist Attractions

These places are always overcrowded and it would not be surprising, if a few beggars, try to get your unwanted attention. Giving them alms may attract more beggars. Try to take help of a government authorized guide, to explore the place, finding them would not be too difficult. Beware of pickpockets, as you would, in almost any overcrowded city in the world. If any unfortunate incidents occur, the local authorities and police would do their best to help you.

For More Visit us at https://www.guidebooktolife.com

#visintg_in_India #visitors #Travelling #travel #travel_to_India #visiting_places

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vacationsoup · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/pet-friendly-places-in-york/

Pet Friendly Places in York

Pet Friendly places in York

If you can’t bear to leave your pet at home when you travel, you need to find some places where it’s possible for you to take them. York has plenty of pet-friendly options so your beloved animal doesn’t need to miss out on all the fun you’re having. Here’s a guide to the best pet-friendly places in York. Attractions City Cruises York Offering a number of cruises along the River Ouse, including dining, daytime and evening sightseeing cruises, City Cruises York allow you to bring your pet on board for the ride too. As you sail past the stunning scenery of this beautiful city, you will learn interesting facts about York’s history delivered by experienced skippers. You might even spot some of the local wildlife, such as kingfishers.

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The Original Ghost Walk York York has a long, varied and sometimes dark and bloody history, and there’s no better way to get to know it than joining one of the many ghost walks that take place in the evenings. One such experience - where you're able to take your pet along - is the Original Ghost Walk of York, where you will be told stories of the spirits who walk the streets after dark, such as that of the lost boy who haunts a number of sites in the city, and that of James Reid, a man executed for treason simply for playing his bagpipes. If your pet doesn’t get too spooked, animals are welcomed on the tour. York Maze Not only is York Maze Europe’s biggest maize maze, it’s also an award-winning attraction. With over 20 rides, attractions and shows, York Maze makes a great day out for all the family. The mazes include the giant maize maze, the maze of illusions, the mineshaft maze and the finger fortune maze. Other attractions include the volcorno, the cobstacle course and the corn snake tower slides. There’s even a shop, the Ivy Store, where you can buy all manner of unique, maze-related gifts. Dogs are allowed as long as they are kept on their leads at all times.

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Yorkshire Air Museum Located a short 20-minute drive out of York, the Yorkshire Air Museum is housed on the site of the former RAF Elvington base, a World War II airfield used by Allied bomber crews. As well as being an Allied Air Forces Memorial, it is the largest air museum in Britain featuring a number of exhibits on the history of aviation. The museum has around 50 aircraft, the oldest dating back to 1853. Dogs on leads are welcome so it's another good pet-friendly experience for you to enjoy. Yorkshire Museum of Farming Only a 15-minute drive from the centre of York, the Yorkshire Museum of Farming at Murton Park has fascinating exhibits on the history of farming, with items dating from the early 1800s to the 1960s. One of their most interesting displays is on the Women’s Land Army during World War I, a time when women took over the working of the land whilst the men were fighting in the trenches. Again, dogs are completely welcome on the condition they are on their leads. Cafes Fossgate Social Located on one of the most ancient streets in York, Fossgate Social is a licensed coffee bar hidden away in the city’s foodie quarter. They have a great menu of open sourdoughs, brunches, home-made cakes and pancakes; they are also well-known for their speciality coffee, craft beer and cocktails. Pets are welcome.

2 Oxford Place on Gillygate The only 100% gluten free cafe in York, 2 Oxford Place on Gillygate offer brunch and lunch Tuesdays to Saturdays, with Fridays and Saturdays also opening later for dinner. At weekends, they offer a bottomless brunch, which makes for a perfect weekend treat. As well as being completely gluten free, they also have many vegetarian, vegan and dairy free options. If you fancy taking some of the bread home with you, it is possible to buy it in their bread shop. Lucky Days Cafe One of the top rated cafes on Trip Advisor, Lucky Days Cafe is a great lunchtime venue, with a good selection of soups, sandwiches and other lunches. It also has the advantage of being very reasonably priced – no mean feat in a city like York. Their coffee and cakes also come highly recommended and dogs are welcome. Restaurants The Nook A cute little street food kitchen serving fare from all around the world, The Nook is a great place to relax with your pooch. They take great care over their food and drink, making every dish fresh to order and serving a selection of ethical soft drinks, craft beers, quality spirits and seasonal wines. The Nook also have a number of live events in order to engage with the local community. Ambiente Tapas Ambiente Tapas have two locations in York, one on Goodramgate and the other on Fossgate, and both are dog-friendly. Sourcing their produce from Spain as well as from local producers, they serve delicious tapas in a lively, relaxed atmosphere. Try one of the sharing platters for a quintessential Spanish experience. Filmore and Union If you like your food natural and wholesome, Filmore and Union makes a great choice. Located in one of the oldest buildings in York, they serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, all with the finest, freshest produce. They do a fantastic Sunday brunch menu; it’s highly recommended that you try their pancakes. Pubs The Cross Keys Conveniently close to York Minster and Jorvik Viking Centre, the Cross Keys is a snug, cosy, traditional pub in York’s historic centre. With a menu featuring all British pub grub favourites and more, and the very best of cask and craft ales, this pub makes a great stop for a meal and drinks after a hard day's sightseeing. Duke of York At the top of the historic street the Shambles, you will find the Duke of York, a pub packed with charm. They are part of the Leeds Brewery, which pride themselves on the quality and range of their selection of beer. They also serve hearty dishes made with locally sourced produce whenever possible. Ye Olde Starre Inne Believed to be the oldest licensed premises in the city, the Ye Olde Starre Inne dates back to 1644 and is a real part of York’s history. They always have eight real ales on tap, a great pie selection and some of the best fish and chips in all of York. In summer, your dog will find ice cubes in their water bowl to keep them extra cool. Shambles Tavern The Shambles Tavern has an impressive selection of ales – 120 to be exact, and all brewed in Yorkshire. They even have their own beers, including the Shambles Tavern Light, Dark, Bitter and Cider. Their outdoor seating area overlooks the market place, making it the ideal spot for people-spotting and just watching the world go by. The Ackhorne Inn It could be said that the Ackhorne Inn is the most dog-friendly pub in York. If you’re ordering food, it’s not uncommon for the staff to ask you what your dog is eating too. They have plenty of dog treats behind the bar, as well as water bowls to keep your pet refreshed. For the human clientele, there’s lots of Yorkshire ales to choose from. With a whole host of places to go, there’s no reason why your pet can’t join you on your trip to York.

Travel Tip created by Helen Thomas in association with Vacation Soup

#foodie #groupaccommodationyork #HolidayInYork #NorthYorkshire #VacationInYork #VacationSoup #whatson #whattodo #whattosee #York

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splashrollstumble · 6 years ago

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Africa Cycle Tour – Botswana Part 2: Maun to Kazangula

Day 19 – Meeting Roma and sleeping at the police station

I had heard last night from a guy name Roma, a member of the Cairo to Cape Town cycle WhatsApp group, that he was in Maun and leaving in the morning to head towards Nata. Unfortunately, I woke up a bit late and he was already on his way but told me to try to meet up with him in a small village called Motopi.

I did a final bit of work and after breakfast said goodbye to my cousins whom I’d been staying with in Maun for a week. It was 100km to Motopi and it was already 10am when I got going so I knew I would have to cycle pretty fast to make it before evening. The first 50kms were fairly uneventful, I just cycled at a steady 20km/h along the long, flat road out of Maun. There was a bit of a headwind but nothing I couldn’t handle.

At about 50km I reached a Veterinary checkpoint where they control the spread of foot and mouth disease. Any vehicle with tyres needs to drive through a small puddle of disinfectant chemicals, including bicycles. Everybody also has to wipe their shoes on a square of carpet that is also soaked in the disinfectant. I went through the process and then stopped by the nearby stall and had something to eat and drink. These little roadside stalls are very expensive and I spent $5 on some biscuits, chips, a can of beans and a cool drink. The stall owner told me had seen another cyclist who had told him to tell me to meet him in Motopi, so that must have been Romain.

At around 1pm I headed off and again had nothing but a straight flat road for the next few hours. I stopped at one point to test out the tripod invention I had made in Maun. Using the phone clip from a selfie-stick and an old traditional camera tripod that my cousin-in-law had kindly given me, I created a small phone tripod. I balanced it precariously on a road meter marker and then started filming and did two cycles by. The footage came out okay but I need to find more interesting backdrops to film on.

Eventually, just before 4pm I arrived at the turnoff to Motopi and after a few kilometers down a nice side road towards Orapa I arrived in the tiny village. Romain hadn’t replied to the WhatsApp message I sent him (turns out he didn’t have a simcard) so I just headed towards the Kgotla, which is like the town hall of any small village which also acts as a police station and sometimes the chiefs home. Fortunately, Romain was there waiting for me. We made our introductions and I met with the police who man the station and explained I would also be camping there with Romain. As usual, they were very welcoming and told me where I can get water.

Romain and I went to buy a coke and chatted for a bit about our trips so far. I decided we needed a beer so after setting up my tent I went and sourced us two. There wasn’t much else to do in town so made dinner quite early and then after getting constantly harassed by kids asking for sweets, we headed to bed.

Day 20 – Elephants and Baobabs

I awoke around 6am having not slept too well. It had rained a bit in the night so Romain and I hung up our tent covers and then I made some coffee for us. For breakfast, we shared some bread and boiled eggs Raomin had left over. We faffed around a bit getting packed up and only got on the road by 8am which usually wouldn’t be a problem but we had 138kms to cover if we wanted to make it to my proposed destination that night – Planet Baobab. It’s quite a famous stopping point for overlander trucks and other travellers and had been recommended to me by a few people.

We started off quite well, maintaining a solid 20km/h pace before the heat started setting in. By 11am we reached a small village and pulled off to go look for cold drinks. We found a small shop and had two ice cold cokes each – a life saver in this heat. We also decided we better eat some beans since we hadn’t had much breakfast. Food is really hard to come by in Botswana outside of the large cities and often small shops only have huge bags of corn meal, rice, beans, macaroni, tinned fish and if you’re really lucky, tomatoes and onions. Even bread is very rare and fresh fruit is non-existent. Local villagers seem to survive on mielie meal, beans and presumably the occasional unlucky goat. Romain, being a chef, was quite well prepared though with herbs and spices and managed to make some pretty decent meals out of the limited supplies. I, on the other hand, had been eating a lot of plain pasta and tomato sauce.

Back on the road, we bumped into some elephants at around 2pm. They were just crossing the road so we waited but one big one spotted us as we started cycling past and starting flapping its ears at us. As a precaution, we started cycling back the other way and eventually it moved on. The rest of the trip was uneventful but very hot so we couldn’t move to fast. We stopped again briefly for some juice and biscuits under the shade a tree and then eventually by around 6pm we made it to Gweta where Planet Baobab is. We had a much-deserved cold beer outside a small petrol station and then finished the final 3km to Planet Baobab. Tragically their wifi wasn’t working but I was too tired and bothered to try to find somewhere else in Gweta so I accepted I’ll have to miss a day of work and make up for it tomorrow.

They kindly phoned another lodge in town, Gweta Lodge, to check if their wifi was working and it was so we decided we would take a chill day there tomorrow and I’d catch up on work. We set up camp and then jumped in their awesome swimming pool. An overlander truck had stopped the night so there were a few other young British people swimming too but they went off for dinner soon after we arrived. Although it was a bit expenisve we decided to have a proper meal for one night at their restaurant. Before turning in we had a couple of beers at the bar and spoke to some of the overlander people about our trip.

Day 21 – The awesome Gweta Lodge

In the morning we grabbed some of the over-priced restaurant coffee which was admittedly very good and then packed up and cycled the few kilometres into town to find Gweta Lodge. On arrival, the receptionist offered to give us a room at discount ($25 for the room) so we decided to take it as Romain hadn’t slept in a real bed for a while. Then we chilled by the pool while I worked. Romain went and bought some food from the small shop nearby and made us an awesome pasta for a kind of late breakfast. I finished up work and we had a few beers and swam and had some late lunch.

Around about 5pm the owner came by the bar and offered us each a beer which we gladly accepted. We got chatting and had a few more beers and then he whipped out a bottle of brandy and coke and we got stuck in on that. After a few drinks, he offered to let us join the meerkat safari in the morning at a huge discount. Although the original plan was to leave early for Nata, we couldn’t say no. He said it would be back by 11am so possibly we could still make it to Nata if we wanted. After a few more brandy’s he took us to see all his 4×4 vehicles in his workshop and we chatted about the lodge and the tours he does. Eventually, by 11pm we stumbled drunkenly into bed and spent the night trying to ward off mosquitos.

Day 22 – Meerkat safari and sundowners

We groggily awoke at 6am and had a few cups of free coffee before crawling onto the safari vehicle and heading out into the Makgadikgadi salt pans to find some meerkats. The drive took an hour during which time we stopped to admire a huge baobab tree and I tried not to fall asleep. We picked up a local villager who was the guide said would help us find the meerkats. He came through and a few minutes later we stopped in the open plains and spent an hour or so watching a small family of meerkats popping in and out of their burrows.

We continued on to see the salt pans and the other guests attempted to do those forced perspective photos that everybody loves doing on saltpans. Romain and I were maybe a bit too hungover to join in. Although we got back to the lodge even earlier than 11am we decided to chill another night, much to James the owners delight. He told us he would take us out to the pans later for some beers because he needs to find a camping spot for an upcoming safari.

I spent the rest of the day getting work done, making lunch and swimming until around 3pm James came round and gave me a gin and tonic but said he was a bit busy to make it out to the salt pans today. Instead, he decided we would go to a nearby watering hole and watch the sunset with another bottle of brandy and coke, obviously. We chilled a bit longer, had a few more drinks and then headed off.

The sunset was amazing over the watering hole and although no elephants came there were a lot of cows and donkeys. James also introduced us to his favorite snack – corned beef on salty cracks with onion, tomato, Aromat and sweet chili sauce. Considering the limited supplies you get out here it was quite an inventive snack.

We finished off the evening with a few more drinks until it was dark and then headed back to the lodge and checked out an old 1918 Dodge that belonged to James’ grandfather. In my drunken state, I promised him I would return so we could work on rebuilding it and getting it running – a promise I hope to live up to, despite knowing nothing about car mechanics!

Day 23 – Sketchy elephants and Ruperts campsite

Up at 6am, Romain and I packed and had some coffee and breakfast before settling our bill and hitting the road by 7:30. We didn’t have a big day ahead of us but it was still 100kms and the heat would start setting in soon. The usual headwind that we had become accustomed to set in fairly early but we did a good job of fighting against it. We stopped in a small village for some lunch and spent a while relaxing and avoiding the heat before realising we would need to get moving if we wanted to make it to Nata before dark.

Since we were past the main part of the Mkagikagi game reserve I wasn’t expecting any elephants on the road but around 4pm we noticed three elephants hanging around on the right side. We stopped and waited for them to move but they didn’t look like they were going anywhere and after about 20 minutes I started to stress about the time. It was only about 20kms to Nata by now but the sun would be setting soon. Eventually, a truck passed going in the other direction and stopped to ask if we okay. We explained we were afraid of the elephants so they kindly offered to drive back with us in that direction and create a barrier to protect us. Fortunately, we got past safely and waved goodbye to our helpers as they turned to go back in their original direction.

We arrived in Nata just after 5pm and quickly grabbed some food from the Choppies supermarket before heading to Eselbe camp where we spend the night. The camp was deserted when we arrived but eventually, the owner, Rupert, showed up and welcomed us. He didn’t have a bar but kindly drove me back to the bottle store so we could grab a few beers and then we all had dinner together. The camp was fairly basic and we were the only guests, but it was nice and quiet and I slept well. At 100 pula a night though, its a bit overpriced and I was surprised when he asked us to pay for the wine too but I happily obliged as he clearly needed the business.

Day 24 – Sleeping in a cell phone tower

We had an early breakfast of coffee and biscuits, thanked Rupert for his hospitality and headed off north onto the Elephant Highway – a 300km route through Chobe National Park that’s famous for its many elephants.

Other than two giraffes we didn’t encounter anything dangerous the initial part of the route. By lunchtime, we reached the veterinary checkpoint that controls the spread of disease into Chobe park and marks the entrance to the more densely populated part of it. We had planned to camp at some secure cell phone towers we had read about on various blogs that offered cyclists on the road protection from animals at night. Since parks in Botswana are entirely unfenced, it’s too dangerous to wild camp just anywhere but these cell phone towers are famous for offering protection to cyclists on the route.

However, when asking the police about the existence of the towers, they pretended to not know anything about them. We were a bit confused and wondering what to do when a group of three cyclists came towards us from the other direction. It was great to see some other cyclists and we all took some time to chat about our respective journeys so far. They confirmed the existence of the cell phone towers and assured us we would be able to camp there safely so after having some lunch we set off more confidently.

After only about 20kms we reached the first tower and decided to see what the situation was. We found some workers there who were busy fixing an issue with one of the solar panels that had been damaged by an elephant which had breached the enclosure. They seemed happy to let us camp there the night but suggested we camp up on the roof of a building in case an elephant breaks in again. It seemed like a logical and safe plan, although a bit scary, so we decided to stay the night. Before heading off around 4pm, they kindly gave us some cold cokes and a few bottles of water which was a lifesaver since we were seriously running low.

We chilled the rest of the afternoon, climbed the cell phone tower to take photos and then around 6pm made a fire to cook some dinner. We had our usual tomato, onion and tuna pasta with a slightly unique twist being cooked on an open fire rather than the gas stove. After eating and watching a beautiful sunset we had a coffee and lay on the roof staring at the incredible star-filled sky and listening to the distant crack of elephants walking around. After heading to bed I heard an elephant walk very close to the compound but it moved on fairly quickly.

Day 25 – Long stretch to Pandamatenga

We awoke just as the sun was rising and I made some coffee and then we made instant noodles for breakfast. Just as we finished we heard loud cracking behind and turned to find an elephant right up against the gate surrounding the compound. The large, steel gate suddenly didn’t look very big or strong anymore. The elephant flapped its ears, trumpeted quite loudly and for a tense moment, I thought it might try break into the compound but eventually, it calmed down and moved off.

We packed up soon afterward, cleaned up the areas of the compound we had used and then head off to complete the rather long 112km cycle to Pandamatenga. After 40kms we stopped at the next cell phone tower where the occupants kindly gave us some water and let us relax in the shade for a while. After that cell tower, we had been told there would be nothing for the next 70kms to Pandamatenga and it was true. We cycled through fairly brutal heat, saw a few cars and stopped once for a quick and rather scary snack on the roadside but saw little else.

A short while after our break I noticed an elephant hidden in the shadows right by the roadside. Roma was ahead of me but hadn’t noticed the elephant and had headphones in so didn’t hear me when I called to warn him. The elephant seemed to head towards him but after I shouted it turned its attention on me. I quickly turned around and started cycling the other way, which was when Roma looked and got the fright of his life when he saw a huge elephant charging into the road. Luckily it was just a mock charge and after a few steps the elephant turned back and headed into the bushes but we both left a little shaken. Roma decided headphones in the Chobe park weren’t the best plan after all.

Eventually by around 5pm, after a long and hard final push, we reached an army base just before Pandamatenga and stopped for a beer with some of the local soldiers. After a brief chat, we completed the last few kilometers, stopped to pick up some supplied and then arrived at our campsite for the night – Touch of Africa.

It’s a fairly nice lodge and campsite run by an Austrian guy who had lived in the area for decades. He informed us there had been lions in the camp the night before and then showed us where we can camp, telling us to use a torch and be careful of the lions. Seems safe.

We met another cyclist who was also heading north and had come all the way from Cairo over the past year or so. I got some work done while he and Romain cooked boerewors spaghetti for dinner and then we had a few beers and headed to bed. During the night we could hear the lions roaring not too far off in the bush.

Day 26 – Last stretch to the border

After coffee and some farewells to our new friend, we headed off for the final stretch towards the Zambia border. We were hoping to get there early enough to cross into Zambia, clear immigration and still find somewhere to camp so I cycled pretty hard. Luckily it was flat and lacking the usual headwind so we managed to get into a good pace maintaining around 30km an hour for the most part. Other than a brief break around midday we pretty much cycled straight through and made it Kazangula by about 3pm. We grabbed some fried chicken and Pepsi for lunch from Choppies and then headed to the border. After checking out of Botswana quickly and easily we bordered the small ferry that crosses into Zambia. The crossing is at the only point in the world where four countries meet at one point and as such is the only place in the world where you can be on a ferry in four countries at once.

On the other side, we disembarked and had the usual guys trying to help us organize everything in the hope for a tip. They did promise some very cheap accommodation so I agreed and went along with it. Immigration for me was fairly quick although Romain had to draw money to pay for his visa. Then we stopped on the way to get sim cards and arrived a really rundown looking motel which was pretty crappy but they gave us a room for $10 so we took it.

We grabbed a few beers from the nearby bar, cheers our achievements so far and got ready for new adventures in Zambia.

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healthbolt-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on Health bolt

New Post has been published on http://www.healthbolt.net/cooking/must-have-kitchen-gadgets-for-healthy-cooking/

Must Have Kitchen Gadgets For Healthy Cooking

Contents

Ice cream sandwich makers

Healthy taco salad

Cabbage healthy refined olive

Accessing favourite cooking sites

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vidovicart · 7 years ago

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How to Visit Québec City on a Budget

I’ve visited Canada many times but have always missed is Québec City. I’ve only heard great things from everyone who has ever been there. Luckily, my friend Pamela is an expert on the city. She runs walking tours there and even recently published a guidebook to the city. Given that fall is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times to visit, I thought now was a perfect time to have her share her expertise!

I fell in love with Québec City the moment I stepped off the overnight train from Halifax. The cobblestone streets, outdoor patios, European architecture, and delicious poutine (and French men!) tugged at my heartstrings.

A French colony founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Québec City was then known as New France. Over the course of its over four hundred years, the city went from being French then British, and then French again, creating a delightful mix of architectural styles.

While most are initially drawn to Québec City by its history and European charm, the people, food, and culture are why they inevitably fall in love with the city. The locals are a community very passionate about all things Québec and wants visitors to experience that same passion, regardless of one’s travel budget. I can’t preach the gospel of this city enough. It’s like a big little village and one of my favorite places in the entire country.

Though Québec City can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to visit this city on a budget and still enjoy everything this place has to offer!

Things to See and Do

Québec City has things to see and do for pretty much every type of visitor; it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. There are, of course, a few things everyone should see and do:

Explore Vieux-Québec (Old Québec): While doing it on your own can be fun, make time to take a walking tour. If you’re on a tight budget, there is a free walking tour with Samuel Dubois, a funny local guide who lives off the tips he receives from travellers. His tour takes you through the Old City and is filled with humorous facts and stories. Samuel is also a craft beer connoisseur, so if you’re looking for recommendations, he is your man! If you have a little money to spend and want a historical walking tour with a costumed guide, Cicerone’s walking tours are highly recommended!

Visit La Citadelle & city fortifications: Québec City is one of the oldest fortified city in North America. Spend some time at the Citadelle (which is still operational and home to the Royal 22e Régiment). Admission is $16 CAD and includes entrance to the Citadelle, a museum tour, the changing of the guard (in summer), and the Beating of the Retreat.

Dufferin Terrace: The terrace is the oldest boardwalk in the city and runs along the front of Fairmont Château Frontenac. In summer, you can relax on the boardwalk, watch street performers, and buy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones from Au 1884. In winter, toboggan down the slope of the Dufferin Slide, one of the first tourists attractions in the city.

Climb to the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons: Capture a postcard-perfect shot of Château Frontenac and the Saint Lawrence River. There is a wooden staircase after the gazebo on Dufferin Terrace.

Ride the funiculaire: From Dufferin Terrace, take the funicular (inclined railway) down the cap (promontory) to Petit-Champlain (one of the oldest shopping streets) and Place Royale (site of the first colony). Rides are $3 CAD one-way. Tip: If you hate hills like I do, walk down the steep hill (Côte de la Montague) and take the funicular back up to the top of the cap.

Musée de la Civilization: Québec has many museums, but this is probably the best one for learning about the history of Québec. Regular admission is $16 CAD but if you are 18-30 years of age, it is only $10 (not including special exhibits).

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: This cathedral was the first Anglican church built outside Britain, and it houses a silver communion set given by King George III. Be sure to take the guided tour for $6 CAD; it is offered by one of the best English historians in Québec City.

The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature: Located across the street from each other, both of these buildings turned libraries are some of the funkiest attractions in town. The Morrin Centre started as an army barracks, then changed to a jail (where many public hangings occurred), then a college, and now a beautiful Victorian (English) library. La Maison de la Littérature is a French library housed in a converted church (which was once English). Both libraries are FREE.

Take a bus to Montmorency Falls: Skip the tours and take public transportation to Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls). While they are not as wide as Niagara Falls, they are 30m taller and are stunning, especially in fall when the surrounding leaves change color. From Place d’Youville, take bus #800 to the falls. A round-trip will cost $7 CAD.

Walk the stairs of Sous-le-Cap: Walk along rue Saint-Paul in Vieux-Port. When you get to the Savonnerie you’ll see a very small path between the buildings; follow it to rue Sous-le-Cap, one of the oldest streets in the city. The street is tiny, with layers of wooden stairs that stretch across the alley. This was once a busy shopping street back when the houses had a front-row view of the Saint-Lawrence River.

Amusement Park at Méga Parc: This is Québec’s version of Mall of America. Méga Parc has 19 attractions/rides, including a skating rink, an arcade with 60 or so games, mini-golf, and a rock-climbing wall. Unlimited access is $30 CAD per person. To get here, take buses #801 and #803.

The Plains of Abraham: Head into the neighborhood of Montcalm and walk around the Plains of Abraham, the site of the famous battle of 1759, which lasted 15 minutes and resulted in the British gaining control of the city. Today the Plains of Abraham is a large park with running and walking tracks, Martello Towers (small defensive forts built during the 19th century), busts of historic figures, gardens, and pretty views of the Saint Lawrence River.

Relax at Place des Canotiers: A new public space beside the Saint Lawrence River, this urban square has places to sit and relax, as well as fountains and mist you can walk through. A go-to spot on hot summer days, this is also where the cruise ships and tall ships dock.

Leave the tourists behind: In the middle of summer, when the Old City is bursting at the seams with tourists, you’ll find me in along rue Saint-Joseph Est in Saint-Roch, rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and 3e (Troisième) Avenue in Limoilou, where I can enjoy the quiet, local side of life. Prices are generally a little cheaper in these areas, and there are plenty of fabulous restaurants, microbreweries, cafés, and boutiques to keep me happy.

Where to Eat

If you’re a foodie, staying on budget in Québec City can be a bit hard. But to save money, it is always a good idea to venture away from the Old City; by doing so you will find more chef-run restaurants and usually cheaper prices. There are also plenty of options for cheap eats like poutine, burgers, shawarma, etc. Here are some of my favorite restaurants:

Chez Ashton (Vieux-Québec, Saint-Roch, or Montcalm): Delicious gluttony made of fries, squeaky cheese curds and piping hot gravy. Almost every restaurant sells poutine, but the best traditional poutine in the city starts with Chez Ashton. A Québec institution, it serves up poutine in large, round foil containers. In winter the price of poutine fluctuates depending on the weather. For example, if it is -25°C (-13°F) outside, then your poutine at Chez Ashton is 25% off!

La Pizz: Located in Place Royale, La Pizz serves up fairly good pizza, which starts at $9 CAD for a small. (Once you’ve finished, walk next door for some pints at Pub L’Oncle!)

Le Bureau de Poste: This little gem has a yummy $4.95 CAD (!) menu, $6.50 CAD cocktails, and $5.50 CAD pints! Go forth and have fun, and be sure to enjoy the patio in summer.

Fromagerie des Grondines et ses amis: Embrace your inner cheese addict and go here for gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. So good and not too expensive. Sandwiches start at $7.50 CAD.

Marché d’Emma: Located across the street from the hostel, this small épicerie has a nice selection of Québec craft beers, wine, frozen pizzas ($5), gourmet foods, and non-perishables. They also have fresh baguettes most days.

L’Inter Marché: Located on rue Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-Baptiste, this small grocery store has a small selection of produce, meats, dairy, non-perishables, frozen foods, and breads. Prices are often better than at the épiceries.

The food scene in Québec City is ever-growing, and we now have a few options for vegans and vegetarians as well. As in other major cities, almost every neighbourhood now also has shawarma or kebab. There is also a sushi craze happening right now. Tip: Avoid the Chinese food in the Old City — it is not that good.

Where to Party

There are a few bars and pubs in Old Québec that can be quite touristy depending on the time of year, but try these:

Bar St-Angèle: A night of cheap beer, live music, and quirky locals. It is a must before venturing into the more “civilised” pubs and bars in the city.

Maurice Nightclub: While Bistro Plus (1063, Rue Saint-Jean) can be fun, the best nightclub in the city is Maurice on Grande Allée. Dance, drink, sweat, and then go eat poutine or shawarma before heading back to the hostel.

Le Drague Cabaret Club: A gay bar/nightclub with drag shows and karaoke.

Pub Nelligan’s: A lively Irish pub popular with locals. Rustic ambiance, live Irish shows from time to time, and a mix of Québec and Irish beers (and liquor).

Le Cercle: A bar and live music venue, Le Cercle is a local favourite. Indie bands sometimes play in a funky room in the basement.

Le Projet: An eclectic gastropub, Le Projet has roughly 24 microbrews on tap. Buy food on-site or pick up a poke bowl from Bols et Poké on your way and eat it there.

La Barbarie: By far the most popular microbrewery in the city. Beer is brewed on-site, there is plenty of seating, and while they don’t have a license to serve food, you can have a pizza, Chinese food, or whatever else you’re craving delivered to the bar.

Where to Sleep

Auberge Internationale de Québec is the best hostel in the city. With a superb location in Vieux-Québec (Old Québec), this hostel is large with a bar, common rooms, and communal kitchen. In high season beds range from $27 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night. In low season, beds range from $22 CAD to $30.50 CAD per night.

Couchsurfing is quite popular in Québec City, which has a very large Couchsurfing community with over 10,000 hosts. Always look for hosts with good ratings and reviews, and bring a small thank you gift for your host (it could be a bottle of wine or craft beer) as you are being invited into their home, for free! (Matt says: Speaking of Couchsurfing, we are hosting a Q&A with Couchsurfing on September 28th, so mark your calendars!)

If you want to experience the local vibe of the city, I suggest mixing things up a little: stay a few nights at a hostel to explore the historic areas, then Couchsurf or rent a room on Airbnb in another neighbourhood to get a true feel for what everyday life is like in Québec City.

10 Ways to Save

Québec City is one of the more expensive cities in Canada but there ways to save money on your visit. Here are ten high impact ways to save money on your visit:

Take a FREE walking tour of the Old City.

Eat poutine (under $10 CAD) at Chez Ashton, one of the cheapest places in the city.

Buy food at a neighbourhood grocery store.

Eat croissants for breakfast, they are only $2.50 CAD! Paillard on rue Saint-Jean (to the right at the bottom of rue Sainte-Ursule) are the best.

Buy a bus pass. A 1-day bus pass costs $8.50 CAD, the equivalent of 2.5 rides. A day pass gives you unlimited travel for 24-hours.

Go to Méga Parc, an indoor amusement park and shopping mall, after 5pm and get in for half price ($15 CAD).

Walk along the city fortifications and atop the city gates. Its FREE!

Visit the churches and libraries as they are FREE and quite beautiful.

Visit Bar Sainte-Angèle for cheap beer!

Couchsurf for most of your visit and save money on accommodation (plus meet amazing and friendly locals).

Getting Around Québec City

Québec City is a walking city. It is very easy to explore the main neighbourhoods (Vieux-Québec, Petit-Champlain, Place-Royale, Vieux-Port, Grande Allée, Montcalm, and Saint-Jean-Baptiste) by foot. The outer neighbourhoods of Saint-Roch, Saint-Sauveur, and Limoilou can be reached by bus.

A single bus fare is $3.50 CAD, unless you go to an authorized seller and buy a ticket; then the cost is $3 CAD. You can also buy passes that cut the cost, especially if you want to venture out to places like Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls):

A day pass is $8.50 CAD

An unlimited weekend pass is $15.50 CAD

A 5-consecutive-days pass is $29 CAD ($24 CAD for students)

Download the RTC (Réseau de Transport de la Capitale) Nomade mobile app to check routes while you’re out exploring. The app gives you information on schedules, as well as the closest stop to your location and when the next bus will arrive.

*** Come explore this lovely city, sit on a patio, eat poutine, and drink with the locals, and marvel at the beauty of Château Frontenac as it looms over the lower city. Sit at the top of Terrasse Pierre-Dugua-de-Mons to watch the sunset and snap a picture-perfect shot of the château, Old City, and Saint Lawrence River.

I came to Québec City because I love the architecture, the culture, and the history. I stayed because of the food, people, and the big-village vibe. Québec City has a charm and magic about it that is infectious. It is a Northern paradise of food, culture, and architecture – and I hope you come and visit soon!

Pamela is a Canadian travel writer and blogger who left her job in 2010 to travel the world. While Southeast Asia and Scotland rank among her favourite destinations, she fell head-over-heels for Québec City and now calls it home. While travel is still a big part of her life, Pamela runs Urban Guide Québec City and has recently published a guidebook on the city that focuses on local artisans, producers, and businesses. If you’re going to the city, it’s a must buy!

Photo Credit: 2, 6

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