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sweetly-cider · 7 years ago

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Ale-Peri-Quil RP (Karma comes Knocking)

((This was an RP on discord between me, @juliets-oc-isle and @peripendulum, which is most definitely canon here! It's a long one, but feel free to give it a read.))

The normally bustling, dim room was quiet, with only a few customers here and there idly chatting and enjoying their drinks. Ale always had hated working weeknights -- nothing exciting ever happened during weeknights -- but for once, he figured he'd actually show up when he was supposed to. The look on Applin's face made him chuckle, but now he wasn't so sure he'd made that choice. The counter had been wiped, the glasses cleaned, and now all that he had to do was to sit against the bar flipping one of the mugs in his hand.

-outside-

"This is the place. " Peri twirled around and stopped at the bar. He tapped his umbrella against the wall. "I need the owner of the bar. The boss wants more land it seems. I have heard from a lot of people that a group of idiots seem to like gambling at the casino and then brag here when they are done. I believe few of them have contacts already. However, if we get the bar, it would make my life easier."

"You ready? You always do an amazing job, so I know you will be fine. I'm here just in case some glasses need to be broken," Peri explained to Quill and gave her a grin.

Quil’s expression was somber as she listened. This was all beginning to take a toll on her consciousness the more she worked for Peri. She knew though that she had to comply. Anything to keep Max safe. She quickly shook herself of her guilt and crossed her arms across her chest. “You’re also the one who makes the deals. I don’t have that ability. I just cloud their judgment.” She said offhandedly. She wasn’t planning on being rebellious, so she quickly looked up at Peri, her expression more relaxed. “So as long as I bring the owner to you, you don’t care what I gotta do, right?” She asked as she glanced at the building. Looked like there weren’t very many people there.

"Of course. That's all. Unless you aren't up for it," Peri questioned softly, noticing she wasn't being as sassy about it. "I will wait here until you tell me when to come in. I promise this will be the last one for a long time."

Quil shook her head softly, her feathers swaying in a slow rippling response. “No, I can do it.” She smiled and shrugged. “I just wanted to make sure you wouldn’t get mad if my technique worked too well.” She quickly shifted her mood, pulling the facade she normally wore when flirting and tempting the people Peri wanted. She smiled and softly kissed his cheek. “This isn’t exactly an unlimited ability I have like you. A bit of rest after this time would be nice. Thank you.” She quickly left before Peri could have said anything. She knew better than to play her role around him, but she also knew if she were to be herself when she was about to take on a task, she wouldn’t be able to act her part well. She quietly walked through the doors to the bar, walking in and scanning the room. Hm, well, depending on how long it took to enchant the owner with her dust, maybe she could get herself a drink.

When the little bell jingled, Ale didn't look all too enthused as he rolled his head around. Probably some other person looking for something to do on an otherwise uneventful night. However, the moment he laid eyes upon the beauty that had just walked through the door, his eyes went wide as dinner plates and his jaw dropped. It didn't take long for the bartender to shift into his easy grin, leaning on the counter. "Well, well, well. Can't say I've seen you in here before, lady. C'mon in. Take a seat. Have a drink. I don't care. Gimme somethin' to do."

Quil smiled and complied, taking a seat at the bar. “My my, looks as though I made it before you closed. If you are looking for something to do, how about mixing me one of your popular drinks and giving me some company for a while.” She said, sweetly. She shrugged her hair aside as she leaned forward slightly, resting her arms on the bar. It probably made her look less serious, but it probably would have given him a better view of her face, and other areas as well. “I’ve had a rough day and just need something to help me relax.” To her, she could see the small specks of dust from her feathers floating around her already, just a light amount though. She could see them, but hardly anyone ever noticed.

"Huh. Somethin' popular, eh?" Though he may usually at least try to ignore feminine wiles at first, this time he simply couldn't stop his eyes from travelling from feature to feature, and taking special attention to those she accentuated. "Uh... Yeah, right. The drunk. I mean drink." Spinning on his heel, Ale somehow managed to pull himself away and quickly pull out what he needed to fix one of the fruity drinks most girls tended to order. He was a little sloppier than normal, but, he didn't care. "So -- ya need company and relaxation, eh?" Grinning, he plopped the drink down in front of her. "Well, then, ya found the right place. And let's say this is on the house -- I don't like makin' pretty ladies pay for gifts."

Quil smiled sweetly. “Oh, a charmer, I’m sure you have quite the few lady friends here then.” She reached over and grabbed hold of the drink, bringing it close to her. “I do appreciate a man who knows just how to charm a lady.” She took a sip of her drink before licking her lips dry and looking up at him. “Are you certain that your boss would appreciate you handing out free drinks?” She asked softly. She rested her chin on the back of her gloves hand as she looked over at him. “Surely they would want some kind of payment for a drink, even part of one.”

"Heh. Guess that's one 'a the perks of being the boss, eh?" With a cocky grin, Ale jerked a thumb towards himself. "Ale Jr, at your service, missy. Besides -- gettin' to see your lovely face is all the payment I need." Again, he leaned forward, closer to her height as his arms crossed on the tall counter. "Don't see too many ladies like you on nights like this. Someone might think you're here lookin' for somethin'... extra, eh...?"

Quil smiled. “Well, now. Sounds like you’re familiar with the late night visitors,” she chuckled softly. She rubbed her finger around the rim of her glass, smiling at him all the while. “Of course, that’s on a need to know basis. Other wise, it’s a look but don’t touch policy.” She smiled then picked up her drink, taking another sip. She looked at him curiously, a soft smile on her face. “Are you saying you know someone who would want a little something extra from a pretty lady like me?” She asked curiously.

"Let's just say I know a guy that can appreciate what a lady can do," he said, raising a brow. "Besides -- rules are always meant to be bent a little, eh?" Though, rather than walk off and work with other patrons like he might usually, Ale found himself settling in place. Not like there was anything else to do, right? The thought flew from his mind quickly. "So, I don't think I caught your name. Give me a pretty name 'ta put with a pretty face."

She smiled at his compliment. “Mmm, sounds like my kind of guy.” She purred softly. She smiled and leaned towards him, her shoulders curling in as she licked her lips. “Especially one who likes a bit of rule breaking. It only makes things a little more exciting, don’t you think?” She smiled as she held onto her drink. “I go by Quil.” Her voice was smooth, warm. She could literally see her dust hovering around them, making her relax since she knew she was having some effect on him. “Of course, there are other ways to remember a pretty face like mine, don’t you think?” Her eyes were half lidded, her chin resting on her other hand. “Other, more exciting and fun ways?”

As she leaned forward, so, too, did he, taken by the magic head over heels. "Oh, I'm thinkin' I might have a few ideas," he drawled, his mind seemingly floating on the sound of her voice. It was soothing, and made it easy to just stop thinking entirely. His eyes darted around the bar, noticing finally that it had grown empty during his little visit with Quil. He didn't have to clean. Applin would do it in the morning if he didn't -- he always did. "Though I'm thinkin' it might be a little more exciting... elsewhere, don't you think? I'm done here. Why not see what a bar guy does at home...?"

Peri walked into the bar and scanned around to see where she was. He noticed she was with someone. A tad bit of protectiveness kick in as he walked over to bar. He knew he'd probably get ignored but waited to see if she needed his help.

Quil smiled then leaned back, gripping onto the rim of her drink. “What a tempting invitation.” She said softly, reaching over and brushing her hand along his cheek. “How about a kiss so I know what I’m getting myself into?” She purred softly. “I’m sure there’s no harm in just one little kiss.” She wasn’t aware that Peri had walked in, She was concentrating so much on Ale that everything else around her seemed to just blur into the background.

Ale was finding it impossible to focus on much else, the gentle touch making him melt as she guided him ever closer. "Yeah... A kiss can't hurt," he muttered, taking a deep breath. There was something sweet in the air, but he couldn't care less as he leaned forward and did precisely as she asked, the glass lips cool against hers.

Peri looked over and grumbled to himself. He shouldn't be getting huffy over this however his mood soured more. The bar man. He was sure he knew the bar man. How was he familiar? "Quill sweetheart. You have done well. Let me take over." Peri let out a low growl. If it was the man he thought he was then he was going have a hard time controling his powers due to rage. Peri moved to the both of them and lightly tapped Ale shoulder with his umbrella. "Bar man. I think it's time to close."

Quil jumped when Peri spoke to her, her feathers ruffling slightly from the start. “P-Peri?!” She yelped in surprise. She could see a sort of anger in his expression. “R-right. Okay. I’ll get out of your way” She glanced back at Ale curiously before grabbing her drink and moving to the end of the bar.

The sudden intrusion made Ale look up with a scowl. "Look, buddy, we're a little busy here, so--" Then he fell silent, his face twisting for a moment in slight confusion. The face looked familiar, though the memory was fuzzy of where he'd seen it before. Surely he'd remember those crazy eyes, though, right? Honestly, he couldn't help but stare. "Look-- do you want somethin', or are you just gonna ruin my evenin' a little more. Ya already interrupted somethin'."

"I want your name." Peri hissed loudly. "You gambled up a debt in the casino and signed over your soul. However that means this business belongs to him due to you debts. So tell me cockroach. Why wasn't this part of your contact? Did you sign someone else's name?"

Quil watched the two of them nonchalantly, her finger sliding around the rim of her glass. This had to be the first that she’d actually seen Peri angry, and though it did frighten her just a tad, she was curious as to what he would do in this state. She took a sip of her drink.

His reaction simply made Ale smirk, seemingly unafraid of this stranger. Now he remembered where he knew this guy. "Heh... Oh, I settled my debt. Ale Simon, at your service. A. Simon, alright. Lucky for you, the name that got put on the contract doesn't own this place. I do. So what'cha gonna do, then, buddy?"

"Oh is that how you want to play. A.Simon." Peri chuckled darkly. "That's fine. I will take who you signed away then. Where is your family member actually? It would need to be family. A brother? Sister? I do hope it it's a sibling. Means I can torture them a little" Peri aimed his the sharp point of his umbrella to Ale's eye. "What do you think Ale? sound like fun?"

Quil widened her eyes as she listened. Torture? She looked down at her drink uneasily, trying to not let the idea get to her. She never wanted to be a part of something like that. She had to remind herself that this was between the two of them. She closed her eyes and cupped her cheek under her feathers.

Ale's reaction was not unlike her own, a sudden sharp pang of nervousness making his mug bubble ever so slightly, though whether it was from the weapon in his face or the threat no one could be certain. "Ah... heh, come on, you don't expect me to believe anyone actually cashes those things in," he said with a nervous laugh, his eyes never leaving the point of the umbrella in his face as his foam expanded. "Besides -- he ain't here, anyways. If this is 'cause that lady's your girl, I swear I wasn't gonna do anything. Just a little teasin'. W-why don't ya just... come back tomorrow, eh, buddy?"

"It is a sibling. Isn't it?" Peri grinned happily, he was enjoying too much for someone who was just angry. It seemed like this was bothering more that it should of been. He kept the umbrella point up and gave a snap with the other. "I wont make yourself do it this time. I would have much greater pleasure for you to fix what you just did. I wont take the bar. I will take you and make sure you work your arse off at the casino until you have paid off this shack. Or even better... I could whore you out."

Quil’s feathers fuzzed up when Ale mentioned her being Peri’s girl. She looked over at the two of them in disbelief. Did she really look like she was his?

"W-what?!" Ale's eyes nearly bugged out of his mug as he looked up at the pendulum in a combination of shock, disbelief, and a true fear he hadn't felt in a very, very long time. "You've got to be kidding me! There's no way in hell I'm just gonna hand over my brother or this old place to some clown, and I'm not gonna be some idiot's slave either." Seems his own irritation was starting to overcome the fear the more he spoke, the hot-headed bartender slowly shifting to glare at Peri. "If you think you can just boss me around 'cause you've got a scary boss, bub, you've got another thing comin'."

"You don't have a choice or I will get your brother at some point and I will break him." Peri darkly said. "You don't remember that night. Probably had too much to drink? No it wasn't that, sunshine. You lost a lot of money because I wound those ideas into your head. I put those thoughts in, but you didn't HAVE to follow them. You were so damn cocky. You want me to do that again, A.Simon? That's the easy way for me."

Quil’s feathers frizzed even more. She wasn’t very familiar with this side of Peri, it somewhat frightened her, made her nervous. She tried to distract her thoughts so she didn’t have to hear what happened.

"You know what A.Simon." Peri made the contract disappear. "I will let you go tonight. I'm taking this way to fast. This needs to be a slow case. I will come back but it wont for you." Peri lowered his umbrella and laughed loudly. This wasn't the path he wanted, he wanted his work done. However this man had angried him that much. " Come on, Quill. You did well tonight. I'm sorry for the change in plans." Peri offered his arm to her.

After seeing his angry side, Quil wasn’t willing to push his buttons any more than Ale had already. After smoothing our her feathers she quietly stood and walked to his side, but not before blowing a kiss to Ale. “Thank you for the drink, it was lovely,” she purred. She had to keep her appearance up if they were to come back, or if she saw him any place else. She quietly held onto his arm then, following him as he were to lead them out.

The kiss didn't even seem to faze Ale. His expression was a blank stare of shock as his mind reeled at what just happened. What was he even going to do? There's no way he could tell Applin what just happened, and definitely no way he could tell Swirly. With a frustrated scowl, he suddenly slammed his fist against the counter, making the glasses resting on it jump and rattle as they fell back into place.

"Damn it!"

#long post #chrono #text post #rp #ale jr

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luckysketch · 5 years ago

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Coming to Cambodia was never part of my travel goals. It never also came across my mind that I’ll be able to traverse this land as I’m done thinking about just visiting Pinoy-famous tourist spots in Asia which is Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

I have less expectations for Cambodia as I only know that this country has deep history as it has one of the oldest civilization in the world which is the Siem Reap.

I traveled to Phnom Pehn on July 11, 2019 by bus from Ho Chi Mihn city, Vietnam which took almost 7 hours of travel that includes border pass – immigration and short stops in between travel for quick breaks. The border between Vietnam and Cambodia was one of my most memorable moment because I am a fan of Vox’s border episode. I became more interested on what every country’s border looked like that I was looking forward for my first ever border crossing experience which is the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

This is the Cambodia (left) and Vietnam (right) border. The Vietnam border is located in Bình Hiệp, Kampong Rou, Long An Province just an hour and a half bus ride from Ho Chi Mihn City. Passing through the immigration was easy as long as there aren’t many people waiting in line. Normally, you can walk from Vietnam Immigration and cross this border to Cambodia Immigration on foot but during my visit I had to hop on to the bus as there were numbers of Trucks probably trying to settle for customs. I posted a blog about this border. See if you find it interested here: The Cambodia-Vietnam Border.

First look of Cambodia.

It was probably 5:00PM when I reached Cambodia and from my first impression the country is full of dust and looked like the government is trying to build a good impression for visitors coming from the East as there are casinos, hotels and buildings here but the road still looked like a mess. It was foggy from the dust being created from vehicles. I started imaging what it will look like when it rains. Muddy?

It took me 4 hours of travel by bus to Phnom Pehn. During the travel hours I’ve noticed so many Wedding celebrations along the road and it was made up with somewhat paper folding, linen, cloth and other flower arrangements to decorate a tent. They just filled the celebration with LED lights and people were dancing, singing. I had the impression that Cambodians know how to party actually.

09:00PM

I actually lost track of time but based on my travel itinerary, which by the way, I made it myself, I have arrived in Phnom Pehn very late. Thanks to my instinct, I have saved money and time trying to reach my AirBnB. It is a nice thing to do to read your map and understand your location.

I reached AirBnB from the main city road by foot. Not too far if you are used to walking.

This is how my AirBnB looked like:

Envoy Hostel

I stayed here at Envoy Hostel in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. If you are a backpacker, you can consider to stay here as it gives you that comfort that you commonly need. They offer free coffee, FREE POP CORN, wi-fi and drinking water. They’ve got friendly staff also which speaks adequate English. During my stay here, there were a couple of other foreigners who stayed here. If you want to check them out, just search for ENVOY in AirBnB and I tell you it’s so easy to located this hostel.

Talk about location, getting around in Phnom Pehn is also very easy as the streets were named as numbers. Take my AirBnb for Example, the street is 322. The blocks also has a number named street to it. If you look into your map, locating it would be very easy. Minus those Street names that you couldn’t read and probably pronounce.

July 12, 2019.

Did I mentioned that I traveled with 6 other friends? No I didn’t. We arrived in Phnom Pehn without Cambodian money of the Riel on a late evening. So my Ren (my male office mate friend) decided to get up early and search for the Money Exchange shop. We took the courage to walk early around street 322 of Phnom Pehn, without any information where is the nearest Money Exchange shop. It took us about an hour until we found ourselves in an Old Market. I was absolutely scared getting inside the Public Market as it was very Dark and wet! We found a lady, she was nice enough to deal with and just having a calculator as our means of communication. She was so honest that she gave us our change that we (Ren and I) totally forgot about. Yes! We got confused for minutes about what she was trying to explain because Ren was giving her USD and the lady refused to accept it. UNTIL we finally understood that she was just trying to give us the excess money from our trade. We couldn’t thank her enough.

We left the market and headed back to AirBnB and we found this street vendor cooking a Cambodian Dish called Mi Chao. It tastes like the Philippines’ Pancit Canton with vegetables but with a different kick of spice in it.

A little trivia.

You need not to worry running out of KHR in Phnom Pehn since one of their medium of trade is USD. I finally got that idea when I noticed that all of the shops that I saw had price tags with the dollar ($$$$) sign on it. They actually prefer to receive USD than of their own KHR.

I also have developed this one cool skill during this travel. I’m good with other currencies and all it takes is just keeping in mind one currency in mind to budget. But seriously, it’s so easy to be frugal on a cheap country like Cambodia. You can grab a meal with just a dollar.

My cousin once mentioned that there’s nothing you can do in Phnom Pehn. I started believing him the moment I saw Phnom Pehn in daylight. It somewhat looked like the same as the Philippines. Cambodians actually looked similar with the Filipinos. Our host, the front desk staff said “Oh! Filipinos! We look the same!” and I think I replied to him “Almost.” What I mean with the almost is that we differ only with the language, the way we open our mouths to talk.

In the end, I realized my cousin was wrong. Phnom Pehn has its own gem that the rest of the world doesn’t have. It’s their people. Their history and their culture.

It is more than just your travel destination. I have so much respect with Phnom Pehn.

So, in order for you to appreciate Phon Pehn, you must visit these places which I am going to list down below:

Travel Destinations

So, below are the things that we did during a whole day in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. To get into places around Phnom Pehn, you can hire Tuk-tuks which will cost you around 25USD for the whole day. Depending on your Tuk-tuk driver, they will suggest places that you can visit. Normally Cambodians are friendly and easy to talk to. Just look for the English speaking ones so you won’t have problem bargaining.

The travel spots I am about to enlist below are in order. So, if you are planning to go around Phnom Pehn, feel free to follow our route.

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The place where they chronicled the Cambodian Genocide. Entrance fee for the museum is around 15USD and you will have the choice to go on tour with an audio guide. If you are into history, I suggest you pay for an entrance fee with an audio guide. I wasn’t able to pick the tour with the audio because we only have a limited time. So, instead, I grabbed one of the pamphlets at the entrance so I’ll have something to read on my free time. Visiting this place first means you’ll experience a sad beginning of the Cambodian History. I’ll be posting a different blog about this since I am so moved with its history.

Cambodia Travel Blog Coming to Cambodia was never part of my travel goals. It never also came across my mind that I'll be able to traverse this land as I'm done thinking about just visiting Pinoy-famous tourist spots in Asia which is Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

#backpacker #cambodia #cambodia royal palace #genocide museum #indochina #Lifestyle #phnom pehn #Travel #wat ounalum #wat phnom

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kaitoujokerscans · 7 years ago

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Reminiscence Diamond Memory CH3

<3> Prism Island

Prism Island is a theme park that takes up the entirety of an uninhabited ocean isle. In the past, a man who drifted to this island after being stranded discovered a beautiful rainbow that formed at the spring in the middle of the isle. He was taken by its splendor and visited the island on occasion even after having been rescued, eventually moving there permanently with his family. In time, the island was developed, then bought by a certain affluent individual who turned it into a theme park, with the rainbow over the island serving as its main attraction. The theme park was dubbed "Prism Island", and for a time it was a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. However, there was no route to Prism Island other than the exclusive ferry from a nearby wharf, which could only carry so many guests. The number of visitors thus decreased due to the inconvenience, and it eventually joined the ranks of other discredited amusement parks. Even when the park changed hands to the present owner some years ago, there was still only a thin stream. In the daytime, that is...

About one week after the party at Nabakov's manor, Queen stood on the deck of the "Rainbow #3" ferry to Prism Island disguised in a pale green dress. "Now which ride should I start from?" She cheerily examined the spread-open pamphlet. Beside her was Roko, who was for some reason bedecked in frilly clothes.

"We're not here for fun. Our target is 'Beyond Twilight'."

"I know. But can't I play around just a little?"

The ship's speaker relayed details about Prism Island. The ferry now only operated for two round trips twice per day, morning and night. The running information that played during transit was intended to promote the park's attractions. However, the guests were as few as usual, with barely any groups beside Queen and Roko on board. Queen hummed as she gazed out over the calm ocean.

"This costume really is embarrassing, though..." Roko tugged at his clothes with his ears. The cutesy clothes made it hard to believe that he was a super dog.

"Ho ho, they look great. Our current facade is the daughter of a rich man going on her first thrilling adventure with just herself and her dog, after all." Queen suddenly adopted a polite manner of speech and feigned a chuckle. The wind blew, swaying Queen's blond hair under her straw hat. Her trademark twintails were loose. In this costume, Queen appeared to be a normal girl.

"I don't think a well-off girl would drop by a deserted theme park."

"Whatever."

Roko sighed just as an announcement came over the speakers. "Land ho, folks!"

Looking over the railing, Queen and Roko could see a small island in the boat's path. In the center of the island was a rocky mountain surrounded by a forest. That alone would have marked it as an ordinary island, but what made it notable was the medieval castle-like building beside it. "There are three main draws at Prism Island. The Attraction area includes numerous rides, including a merry-go-round, ferris wheel, coffee cups, and roller coasters. The Show Stage area puts on American westerns, space operas, and even Japanese period dramas to entertain visitors. The very centerpiece is the Prism Cableway that covers the circumference of the island. If you go around the park via the clear glass cable cars, you'll feel like you're walking on air! Please live it up and enjoy youself! The ship will reach shore soon. See you later, and have a blast!" The announcement said as the boat gently glided to the pier. A old yet still prominent violet-colored gate with "Prism Island" written on it stood at the end of the port. Beside the gate were people in hippo costumes waving towards the dock. These seemed to be the Island's original mascot characters.

Approaching the island, even Roko began to get excited. "It would have been nice if Master could have come with us."

"Grandpa really would enjoy this even more than us." Just imagining Silver Heart boisterously acting much younger than his age amused Queen.

"Where is Master right now?"

"He's at a reunion of his old thief friends. He's probably drinking alcohol and telling tales of his exploits." Heiress-styled Queen strained a smile and hung her head. The ship docked and the guests on the deck poured out toward the entrance. "Well then, let's get to the Underground Casino's entrance... or so I'd like to say. Word is that the mechanism to enter the Underground Casino is by one of the attractions, right?"

"Yes, but it seems very dodgy. It could be in any area."

"So that means we have to go around the entire place! Ah, what a predicament~ I wonder if we can ride every single ride in all the areas in just one day~♪" Queen skipped jauntily, not even hiding her enthusiasm.

"For goodness' sake..." Roko followed after Queen, his frilly clothes rustling as they headed toward the wharf.

§ § §

Around the same time, a boy was being berated by a burly man backstage at the Show Stage area. "C'mon, kid! What are you dallying around for! Get that moved quickly before the show starts already!"

"I-I'm sorry..." The boy apologized and picked up the show props that had fallen off the pushcart. The burly man went away clicking his tongue, and the boy bit his lip as he pushed the cart. "For crying out loud... why do I have to do this grunt work..." came Spade's voice as he talked to himself. Clad in plain overalled work clothes and his trademark crest of hair hidden with a hat, no traces of his usual intrepid self could be seen.

Why was Spade doing this? Of course, it was all for "Beyond Twilight". Spade's plan was to enter Prism Island's inner workings and sneak into the Underground Casino from there. To that end, he and Dark Eye had tried to enter Prism Island as workers, but Spade had gotten a fever during the critical interview process. Frail though he was, he was assigned to transport various items from storage. He had planned to make full use of his handsome features to investigate the park as a guide, but had instead landed a position where he would have no contact with visitors. On the other hand, Dark Eye's disguise was well-received, and they were now playing a stage part as a mysterious masked performer.

Cheers came from the stage. The hero show must have started.

"Kyokyokyo! I have arrived! This Prism Island place is quite the wonderful amusement park~!" Dark Eye's apparently well-practiced lines came from the stage.

"Well, I guess I'll look for things on my own..." Spade cautiously perused the backstage as he pushed the cart. He had memorized the park map on his first day of work as well as the emergency exits and staff passages. He already knew the shortest routes for transporting props. Thanks to that, he had time to look for the entrance to the Underground Casino. "I haven't investigated this building yet..." Spade approached a backstage shed. It was built to not stand out and wasn't on the map. Unless someone was extremely vigilant, they wouldn't even notice it. He tried to turn the knob on its only door, but his hand was stopped by a firm sensation. What's behind here...? Spade pressed his ear against the door to listen.

"Just what are you doing there~?" came a voice from his back.

Spade turned around to see a slim, pretty-looking woman atop an electric scooter. She was attractive enough to be mistaken for a model or actress. She wore a light pink suit fitted to her body with a park employee badge on her collar. The electric scooter was one specially provided for upper management to roam the park with.

"If it isn't Ms. Flamingo. I seem to have mistaken where the storeroom was." Spade answered coolly.

The beautiful woman called Flamingo said with a smile, "New boy, you've got quite the poker face... just what I like♪ But you'd be better off not being in this area." Miss Flamingo was the head of security at the park. She was also rumored to be a direct subordinate of the owner. In other words, she would know about the Underground Casino. Spade had made it one of his objectives to get close to Flamingo.

"Huh? Why would that be?" Spade played dumb, tilting his head.

"Ho ho ho. The owner's told me to strengthen security. He says notices have come from phantom thieves," Flamingo said as she glanced around.

"I see. That sounds problematic." Spade feigned ignorance, his confidence growing. There really is something inside this shed...

"Boy. I've been watching you work, and you have some promise. How about it -- would you like to work under me?" Flamingo gently smiled at Spade.

This was the chance he had waited for. If he worked under Flamingo, he would have more opportunities to approach the Underground Casino. The moment Spade was about to accept, Dark Eye's voice came from the stage. "Kyokyokyo! What are you doing!" The audience was screaming.

"...!?" Spade's eyes instantly contracted. Dark Eye's words were no act. That was the voice of someone in real trouble. Spade ran to the stage without a moment's hesitation. Flamingo shouted something behind him, but he didn't hear her words.

§ § §

"Okay, let's go in here next!"

Around the same time, Queen was at "Psycho Apartment" in the Attractions area. Located slightly further from the extravagant central plaza, it looked like an archetypal haunted house. Whether or not it was unpopular was impossible to tell, but nonetheless there was nobody around it. Passing through the eerie, decrepit, rusting indigo entrance, they found a round coaster car screeching on the rails at the end of a dim passage. The car was meant for them to ride in as they looked around. As Queen jumped into the car, a safety bar suddenly came down over her head, confining her body. Queen let out a small shriek.

"What's the matter?" came Roko's voice from inside the rectangular basket set beside her. As pets were forbidden inside the park, Roko had entered in hiding.

"Nothing."

"Queen, are you scared?"

"Wha- No! I was just a little surprised. Now let's have some fun!"

"Hey, should we really be doing this? We'd better hurry up and find the entrance to the Underground Casino..."

"Just a little is fine. The casino won't open until night anyway."

They heard a clanking sound, and the car began to move. The ride course exhibited several different settings, including a graveyard and a haunted mansion. However, possibly due to patchy maintenance, there were exposed mechanisms all over and the lighting didn't hit the right places; it was hardly a good ride.

"No wonder they have so few visitors..." Queen mused. The next moment, the car rocked with a clanking sound. The rails ahead split into two paths, and Queen's car alone slid down a separate route. "What's happening!?"

"Something's off. Be careful!" Roko jumped out of the basket and surveyed their surroundings. Queen placed her hand over the handle of her sword hidden under her skirt. The car continued down the tunneling path, when suddenly the light of the torches on either side were silently extinguished. "...!" The place went completely dark, making it impossible to tell left from right. The safety bar stiffened and the car sped up. Queen was held down in her seat, trapped. "W-What is this!"

"Ho ho ho..." came a voice from the car's speakers. It was an eerie muttering voice, indistinguishable as male or female. "Phantom Thief Queen, so good of you to come. I am Owl. I welcome you." The moment Owl spoke, the car stopped with a thud.

"Aaaaah!" Right after, Roko yelled out, his cry becoming more and more distant.

"Roko!?" Queen shouted, her hair brushing against her mouth. How...? Could it be... I'm stopped upside-down?

"Ho ho ho... how does it feel to be alone in the darkness, unable to tell up from down?" The voice issued from the speaker yet again.

"..." Queen silenced herself and concentrated on the voice. Nobody seemed to be nearby. "Where are you? Show yourself!" Queen strained her eyes desperately looking about, but her surroundings were so pitch black that she couldn't even tell what direction she was facing.

"I'm already right in front of you."

"!" The voice had come not from the speaker, but in person, close by. "Grr...!" Queen tried to take out her sword, but she was confined by the safety bar and couldn't move.

The voice came even closer. "Phantom Thief Queen, in the darkness, you quite literally cannot move..."

Right after Owl spoke, a sharp pain ran through Queen's body. In the darkness, her consciousness drifted away.

§ § §

Still in his work clothes, Spade arrived at the Show Stage and jumped onto the stage proper. "What's wrong, Dark Eye!?" he shouted.

"Master Spade...!"

At the bottom of the open-air, semicircle-shaped amphitheater was a blue concrete platform. It was a simple stage with an overhanging ceiling and speakers on either side. Several dozen scattered visitors watched from the seats.

He could tell that they had been in the middle of a hero show, but the heroes had all been defeated. Dark Eye, who had been playing the villain, was wrapped up in the middle of the stage. Standing beside Dark Eye was Shadow.

"Shadow Joker...!" Spade exclaimed in surprise.

The tip of his umbrella trained on Dark Eye, Shadow began to speak. "Heh, I knew you'd be close by if this bandage fiend was here, but... I don't need a flunky like you. Isn't Joker here yet?"

"..." Hard eyes fixed on Shadow, Spade cast off his hat and work clothes. Spade in his white coat appeared from within. A pattering of applause came from the sparse crowd. They still seemed to think that this was part of the show. Spade spoke quietly. "I do have a name. It's Spade. Can you at least remember that?"

"I don't need to. I only think of you as the pretentious guy hanging at Joker's heels."

"Aren't you the one scampering at Joker's feet?"

"What'd you say...?" Shadow raised his umbrella.

"Do you want to fight me?"

"You sure about this? This bandage fiend can't move."

"Let Dark Eye go right now!" Spade drew his gun from the holder at his hip and pointed it at Shadow.

"Ice Shot!"

"Bloody Rain!"

The two beams met, then reflected off each other. Loud cheers came from the audience. The next moment, Spade and Shadow jumped in the same direction. Spade's trademark Ice Shot was capable of condensing cold air to the max, then firing it into a beam that could chemically react with the surrounding air to instantly freeze anything. By limiting the intensity, the amount

of cold air could be changed to just enough to cool down a heat source. Ice Shot kept freezing Shadow's grounding and the walls behind him. On the other hand, Shadow's Bloody Rain kept crumbling Spade's footing, meticulously limiting where he could attack from. As the two of them dodged each other's attacks, the distance between them shortened. However, not only did both of them have precise aim, they could both predict the other's movements and kept barely evading attacks. The two of them surged with more drive than usual -- possibly because each saw the silhouette of Joker in the other. Spade and Shadow maintained their distance as they leapt, keeping eye contact between them.

"Not bad..."

"You too..."

At that moment, something rushed above their heads. "...!" They simultaneously looked up. One of the giant cages kept above the set meant to be used for the hero show was falling towards the stage. The pair scrambled out of the way.

A high-pitched voice rang out. "So you were Phantom Thief Spade, boy! Give it up!" Above the cage was Flamingo riding her electric scooter. The scooter had been customized to hover in the air with jet propulsion. Her dramatic, hero-like arrival had the audience in an uproar once again. Fitting her position as security boss, Flamingo brandished a long whip and snapped it against the ground. An electric current ran through the whip and sent a shock into the floor.

"Blast, this is obnoxious!" Shadow hissed, right before countless cages began to descend from above. "Hmph, I'm pulling out for now!" Shadow jumped to the side and ascended into the skies with his spinning umbrella. Spade was about to escape as well... before catching sight of Dark Eye, still bound and unable to move.

At this rate, Dark Eye's going to be caught in a cage... In no time at all, Spade ran up to Dark Eye.

"Kyo kyo! You can't, Spade-sama!" A cage hurtled towards them from above. Judging that both of them would be caught if nothing was done, Spade attached Balloon Gum to Dark Eye's body and pushed them away. "Spade-sama!"

"Get away, Dark Eye!" The cage sped past Dark Eye and fell over Spade. He was trapped with nowhere to go. "Ghh..."

"Ho ho ho, I've caught myself a darling boy!" Flamingo smirked on her scooter above the cage with Spade inside.

Dark Eye was rising high into the sky thanks to the Balloon Gum. "Kyo kyo, Spade-samaaaa!" Dark Eye's cry rang through the air.

"Now then, the show's over. I've captured the phantom thief!" Flamingo announced, eliciting a loud round of applause from the audience. The clapping persisted, drowning out Dark Eye's desperate yell.

§ § §

A piercing steam whistle blew as the night ferry departed the shore. Its visitors gone, Prism Island ceased to operate as a theme park, the little gaiety left soon turning to silence. Yet once the ferry went back with the evening guests aboard, a new side of Prism Island was revealed. The castle in the middle of the island was illuminated with red lights, and like a metropolis after dark, the attractions lit up with the same colors of neon lights as they were during the day. However, the phenomenal sight was only displayed to the Underground Casino's guests. Of course, as the casino shifted big money around, it was also outfitted with flawless security.

In a large room at the top floor of the castle, a roulette spun steadily. A small white ball skid around the roulette wheel, its rattle echoing off the walls.

"Owner. Both Queen and Spade have been caught," came Owl's voice from beyond a dark curtain.

"Just so..." the man referred to as 'Owner' responded as he watched the spinning roulette. He set fire to two notices with a lighter. Spade and Queen's advance notices slowly turned to ash. "Owl, has a notice arrived from Joker?"

"No."

"I see how it is... I suppose he really has no intention of coming..."

"What shall we do with the captured two?"

"Let's use them for a wager sometime. Well then... if he won't come, I'll have to make the first move..." The roulette's ball clattered into the spot marked with a 0. "Dealer takes all." The man's eyes glinted from beneath his mask.

#kaitou joker #light novel

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travelcafemt-blog · 5 years ago

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Melissa's Review of The Beaches Turks and Caicos

New Post has been published on https://www.montanastravelagency.com/melissas-review-of-the-beaches-turks-and-caicos/

Melissa's Review of The Beaches Turks and Caicos

Beaches Resort Turks and Caicos

The airport was nice, small and really close to the resort, about 15 minutes’ drive. The shuttle to the Beaches resort was seamless and easy. However, on the return, Beaches scheduled a departure that was, in my opinion, way too early — they say you have to be at the airport 3 hours prior to departure. We had to put our bags out by 8 am and then be on a shuttle at 9:30 am for a 12:30 pm flight. I would suggest travelers check to see if they can schedule a later shuttle if it is to their benefit. In our case, this was way too early to be at the airport — it took us less than 10 minutes to get through security so we had a long wait for our flight. And if your flight is delayed, as was the case for us, you have an even longer wait.

Italian Village

Italian Village, Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort

I was given a room in the Italian Village. This property is centrally located and close to the Pirates Island Water Park and the largest pool on property. It’s also very close to the beach.

The Family suite was spacious with a separate children’s bedroom furnished with two bunk beds, a trundle bed, a sink and mirror, and lots of closet space.

The adult bedroom was large and airy, with a great king bed and sliding door opening onto either a balcony or patio. There was also a sizeable, fully-stocked refrigerator, and you can call the concierge to ask for your special selections, such as diet pop, sauvignon Blanc, milk for children, etc. More closet space in here made it inviting to unpack and stay awhile.

I loved having a room on the ground floor because we could just walk out and be at the pool. It was also nice at night if you were at the bar/pub and just could return through the sliding glass door — super convenient. The patio was a nice, shaded spot to get out of the sun, but still be able to enjoy being outside.

The room was clean and spacious; however, I think a little more attention needs to be given to sliding glass doors, and shutters as far as cleanliness.

Caribbean village

Caribbean Village, Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort

This is the most popular village by far, it is also the closest to the beach. The décor is gorgeous and really goes great with the blue sky and blue waters. However, I felt it was noticeably more crowded. This area does have the perfect setting on the boardwalk for pictures. I also thought the public areas we visited weren’t as clean.

I asked for a window seat indoors at a restaurant and it had handprint smudges all over it. Same with a bar that I went in, I right away noticed the entry door was very greasy like it needed to be cleaned badly.

Seaside Village

Seaside Village Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort

This village is great for larger families that want a villa setting that’s very close to the beach. A beautiful property.

French Village

French Village Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort

This village is furthest away from the beach but close to the main stage for acts/entertainment and also closest to the spa/gym. The pool is large but quieter because there aren’t as many kids. I think all rooms may only have French balconies, at least as far as I could tell.

Key West Village

Key West Village, Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort

Love the pretty décor with the blue waters. One of my favorite outdoor restaurants, the Bayside Restaurant and Bar, is in this area. It has great views of the sunset! Seemed to have a more laid-back vibe going on with hammocks outside of the accommodation section.

Restaurants

There is definitely something for everyone at this resort — 89 choices! — including swim-up pool bars. Most of them serve breakfast and lunch buffet-style, but you can find an option of ordering off the menu. My favorite for breakfast was a small outdoor venue on the sand by the beach called barefoot by the beach. You could order off the menu, but they gave you HOT croissants to start and the waffles were amazing. The chef even came to our table to check on us, so to me, that is always a great sign of a good place to eat.

There are options galore for food choices, and lots of seafood, of course. My favorite, however, was the Mr. Mac Food Truck parked outside of the lazy river pool at the waterpark. The best fried Mac n/cheese balls ever! He served them every day (so when they say you will gain at least 20 pounds, they mean it!).

There is only ONE restaurant that you need reservations for – the Hibachi Grill called Kimonos. This restaurant is a must! I loved all of the variety — if you want fancy, you can find fancy, if you want pub food, you can find it, if you want ice cream you can find it, if you want seafood you could find it. Oh, and of course PIZZA! You can even order it take out and enjoy it back in your suite. Excellent hours so made for a great late-night snack.

We put a lot of thought into our restaurant choices at the very beginning of the trip (the first night) they do give you a nice restaurant guide and map of the property when you check in to the resort.

Activities/Entertainment

Beaches does a great job on this! Every night, at turn-down, you get a pamphlet of the events for the next day. There is always something going on. Lots of games like corn hole tournaments, dance-off, swim-off tournaments, scavenger hunts, tie-dye workshops, water polo, beach volleyball, and so on.

Evening entertainment was great as well – Reggae Night, Casino Night (super fun!), a Jungle Book Show, Fire Show, and more. These appear on the main stage or in various spots around the resort. Karaoke or a singer was usually at the pub later on. They even had a disco place that opened after 9:30 pm (didn’t seem to make it there) but I think you had to be 18 and over.

The entertainment TEAM at this resort did an amazing job every day and night. Very talented and funny. Then, there were the beach activities that were included – snorkeling trips, glass-bottom boat rides, sailing, aqua bikes, paddle boarding, kayaks, catamaran rides. These are super fun, but you need to book at least a day prior for some activities.

Beaches Resort Sea Life Tours

Beach

These beaches definitely do not disappoint — white lapped by turquoise waters — they’re beautiful! Turks and Caicos is home to one of the largest reefs in the world — an amazing place for snorkelers and divers.

For beachgoers, the turquoise water stretches for miles until it breaks from the reef. Beaches resort is on Grace Bay, one of the prettiest beaches in the world. They provide plenty of beach chairs, umbrellas, and canopies on a first-come, first-serve basis.

And a fun thing they had as well, were mesh rings tied down not too far from shore that you could swim to, and enjoy.

Turks and Caicos Island

Turks and Caicos Islands

We were lucky enough to go on a tour of the island — highly recommended! I don’t think anyone would be doing themselves justice if they did not go and explore this most beautiful island! Be sure to check out the visitor’s center, which provides a history of the area.

Islanders drive on the left side of the road, and you can see the watercolor change depending on where you go on the island. There’s a tourist area, with shops and bars (drinks were expensive – they add on a pretty hefty tax)

The south shore had the prettiest beach I have ever seen in my Life! We went to the highest point on the island and could see the color changes in the water. There were also some amazing houses.

Our tour guide — from Paradise Scooters, https://paradisescooters.tc/ — was the best tour guide. We originally signed up for scooter rentals with a guide, but after we had a lesson, it was obvious that we were not going to make it on scooters (they’re a lot harder than they look!). Also, you have to drive on the left side of the road and figure out the turnabouts. Not for the faint at heart!

The scooters would have been fantastic if we had felt comfortable with them, but the company was very accommodating and scheduled a van tour for us. In the long run, this was the way to go. We learned so much from Ayanna — a local with a large family! She waved to so many people on our tour who are related to her. She is also the only female on the island who has the paperwork to ride a scooter. She was awesome and she is voted the best tour guide on the island.

We learned so much on this day – about the politics, the struggles, the locals, and got to try out the best beachfront restaurant called the Conch Shack and even got a demonstration of the conch being removed from its shell. Ayanna also let us have a shell and stopped at a local store for us to get bleach to clean the shell. It was awesome!

This island is a great choice for a wide variety of people. You do have to like the water, heat, and humidity because that is a given. You have to like meeting others from different parts of the world – Jamaica, Haiti, and the locals of course.

If you have a young family, I highly recommend Beaches, however, there is the rumor that they will be closing indefinably in January 2021. No one seemed to want to talk about this or really believe it will happen however and so I didn’t push the subject.

Hopefully, it won’t happen and something will take place as Beaches is a great choice for families that want to experience a tropical island but also have the many things to do and see while at a resort, and have the all-inclusive experience.

During our (long) wait at the airport, I overheard a few families talking about Beaches and both had the best things to say and loved their experience. They both brought large families with them and felt the accommodations couldn’t have been more perfect. It was nice to hear. However, I feel this island has much more to offer as I got the sense there are a lot of condos and villas. Also, the beach on the south shore, Long Bay, seems to be the upcoming spot. The Shore Club would be my choice of accommodation for a luxury resort experience if it were an adults-only vacation.

All in all, I really enjoyed my stay at the Beaches. The staff was nice and the grounds were immaculate. My only complaint would be the cleaning of walls, windows, things that go unnoticed until they are noticed. Hopefully, this resort will remain open otherwise they will be selling a lot of prime beachfront property to someone.

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barefootblogger-france · 7 years ago

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I’ve been asking Nancy McGee of Absolutely Southern France Tours to tell me all about her Mediterranean cruise shore excursions. There are several of you who have contacted the Barefoot Blogger for information.

Read on and learn about going ashore along the French Riviera. Even if you’re an armchair traveler, you’ll enjoy the visit. As I’ve learned, when you travel with an expert like Nancy, you’re going to explore and experience the best spots for food, scenery and lifestyle along the Côte d’Azur. Let’s see what she has up her sleeves for us to do.

I love every inch of the French Riviera – from the narrow medieval streets of St Paul de Vence to glitzy Nice and Cannes to the adrenaline surge of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Nancy McGee

When people ask me what they absolutely must see during their shore excursion, the answer is ‘everything’. Of course this is not always practical and so my Riviera tours offers what I consider the major highlights. The Riviera is addictive – once hooked visitors invariably return to see what they missed the first time.

For your Mediterranean cruise shore excursion … Food First

France conjures up images of gourmet restaurants, boulangeries and local markets offering a breathtaking array of fresh, local produce, cheeses and regional specialties – and that’s exactly right. Since the weather’s good why not make the first stop at the market and shop for a picnic? (Always a hit if with children.) And let’s not forget a bottle of rosé wine from Provence -‘de rigeur’ for a French picnic.

Wines of the Camargue

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: Grasse

Wake up and Smell the Roses

With appetites appeased – for now at least – the olfactory senses are in for a treat and they’ll get just that in Grasse, the Riviera’s flower capital.A tour of a perfume factory is an absolute must – and an excellent place to buy gifts. This is a really charming historic town with an 11th century cathedral, perfume museum, sandy beaches and fine dining.

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: Gourdon

Dreaming of Chocolate Heaven?

Visit Gourdon and those dreams will come true with a sampling at the famous chocolate factory.But leave room for artisan ice cream in floral flavors, violet, rose, jasmine….sublime. And there’s no need to worry too much about the waistline because this beautiful old fortress town is built on a high promontory with stunning views – a good way to work off the day’s excesses.

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: Tourrettes-sur-Loup

The ‘City of Violets’

The tiny medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup perches on a rocky spur and is an all-time favourite visitors. It boasts impressive historic buildings including a 15th century church, arts and crafts boutiques, an annual violet festival and museum. Just a stone’s throw from Nice and Cannes it is definitely worth a detour.

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: St. Paul de Vence

In Chagall’s Footsteps

St Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns on the Riviera and also known as the artist’s village – it was home to Chagall to name but one. It’s a joy to simply stroll the colourful streets full of art galleries and boutiques. Olive oil and wine tastings, and a visit to an olive oil mill can be arranged, as well as lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: Monaco

Jetsetting to Monaco

The tiny principality of Monaco fits comfortably into a day trip with time to view the exquisite Palace of the Prince and the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly were married, followed by the Changing of the Guards.

And now fasten your seatbelts for a lap of the world famous Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit to reach Monte-Carlo with its famous Casino, Golden Square and the luxurious Hotel de Paris and Hotel Hermitage. Fancy your luck? Armed with valid ID and appropriately dressed you can join the high rollers at the famous Casino

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: Éze

A Change of Pace Visitors always fall in love with this typical medieval cliff top village of narrow lanes, stone buildings and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Éze is in the heart of perfume country and a tour of the perfume factory can be arranged as well as a visit to its impressive botanical garden.

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: Nice

Putting on the Glitz

The city of Nice needs no introduction! Aside from a reputation for glamour, it is steeped in history, with evidence of a settlement as far back as 350bc, and its historical centre dates back to the 13th century. Highlights of the tour include a walk along the “Promenade des Anglais” – former haunt of the British aristocracy, an unsurpassed, flower market and Michelin star restaurants.

Place Massena

Finding shade along the boardwalk in Nice

The beach in Nice

Shore excursions by Absolutely Southern France are fully private 7 or 8 hour customized experiences with English speaking local and professional driver/guides with a van or sedan.

Riviera Ports of Call : Monaco, Monte Carlo, Villefranche, Antibes, Nice, Cannes, St Tropez, Provence ports of call : Toulon, La Seyne, Marseille,

Languedoc/Occitanie Ports of Call : Sète, Port Vendres.

Contact: [email protected]

Website : http://absolutelysouthernfrance.com/

Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions: The Riviera I've been asking Nancy McGee of Absolutely Southern France Tours to tell me all about her Mediterranean cruise shore excursions.

#barefoot blogger #expat over 60 #female expat living in Uzes #Female traveling alone #Holiday in France #living in south of france #Mediterranean cruise shore excursion #over 60 solo travel #rivera cruise

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manaboutworldmag · 7 years ago

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The Vegas Hater’s Guide to Las Vegas

Millions of people love Vegas, with its over-the-top “what happens here, stays here” spectacle. If you’re not one of them, you might still find yourself visiting, reluctantly and repeatedly. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rocket scientist or an Avon Lady — If you attend any kind of meeting or convention, you’re bound to end up in Sin City. If Vegas isn’t your thing, and you’re dreading your next visit, This guide is for you.

At least once — sometimes twice a year, I’m off to Vegas for a conference. When I choose a travel destination, I’m drawn to places rich in natural beauty, indigenous culture, and local food. Could someone like me find something to love in Las Vegas? Determined to make Vegas more tolerable – even enjoyable, I put my travel skills to the test, enlisted the help of my local friends, and discovered a Vegas I’m now looking forward to revisiting.

Here are ten ways to change Vegas haters into lovers:

1. BECOME A VIP

Big gamblers get big perks in Vegas, while the rest of us stand in long lines for check-in, buffets and nightlife. Without placing a single casino bet, I scored VIP status with both MGM and Caesars Resorts. Now I skip every line, get free cocktails — I even get my resort fees waived at every Caesars property. The Strip is much more pleasurable when you’re treated like I am now. And you might be able to buy your way in like I did: Total Rewards Diamond status is yours with a Founders Card membership, available on referral to entrepreneurs and innovators. If that’s you, use our referral link to join. For MGM Resorts, Mlife Pearl status isn’t nearly as rewarding as Total Rewards Diamond, but it is available to Hyatt Gold Passport Discoverist members, and Gold Passport Discoverist is automatic when you have the Hyatt credit card from Chase

2. STAY WHERE THEY DON’T PLAY

There are an increasing number of non-casino hotels on the strip. And while staying too far from your convention or meeting can be a pain, being able to come and go from your room without walking through a casino can help restore sanity to your stay. There are 20 non-gaming hotels in Vegas now; my favorites: Vdara, The Mandarin Oriental, and Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace.

3. GO DOWNTOWN

If you’ve done this and ended up at the Fremont Street Experience and the Heart Attack Grill, you’ve made a wrong turn. Just one block across Las Vegas Boulevard in the opposite direction you’ll find “East Freemont” a still-gritty-but-up-and-coming downtown neighborhood, with street art, a container park of popup businesses, and small chef-driven restaurants catering more to locals than tourists. Congratulate your discovery of this counter-culture with a proper cocktail at Downtown Cocktail Lounge, serving a speakeasy vibe and a seasonal cocktail menu, or the by-reservation/membership-only 365 Tokyo, or the (you’ll need the secret password) Laundry Room.

4. SHARE FOR ECONOMY

Taxi monopolies raise my blood pressure, and the price of stepping into a taxi in Vegas used to drive me crazy. Fortunately, Vegas made peace with shared ride services, Not only are Uber and Lyft allowed, but they have dedicated pickup zones at the airport and the casino resorts, making it easy to find your driver. Those zones may be a little less convenient than the taxi line, but the savings are big.

5. PULL BACK THE CURTAIN

Spending a half-day with a local is a great way to connect with Vegas in a new way, and I’ll connect you with some great ones: Babs and Richard at Pop Culture Tours offer scheduled and custom tours, filled with knowledge of the city’s history from arcane to salacious. Whether you want to discover the strip, or escape it, they’ll enhance the experience 1000%. Babs is a legend in the gay/lesbian travel industry, after having been Frank Sinatra’s social secretary and Mia Farrow’s personal assistant. You’ll come away with a much broader perspective on the city.

6. MAKE FRIENDS WITH A FOODIE

With more than 300 restaurants, dining on the strip is a minefield. It’s easy to wait too long and pay too much for a disappointing meal in search of the transcendent meal you know Anthony Bourdain would find. It’s kind of like casino odds. Here’s how you beat them: Lip Smacking Foodie Tours offers tasting-based tours of downtown and the strip. Donald Contursi and his restaurant-industry-veteran team members share their access to some of the city’s best dishes. Their tours include A-list celebrity haunts, small downtown restaurants helmed by the chef alumni of those celebrities, and hidden local gems. Over the course of the tour, they share their insider knowledge of the city’s dining scene, and help you make a culinary game plan for the rest of your visit.

7. BE ENLIGHTENED

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Neon Museum is some kitschy tourist trap. But you’d be so wrong. The Neon Museum is a revelation. Home to an extensive collection of illuminated signs from the very beginnings of Las Vegas through the recent past, the museum tells a story of the city history. Tours are led by museum docents – in my case, a university art professor – who illuminate the technical and artistic mastery of lighted signs, and explain their roles in the growth of the city and the culture of its people.

8. SEE A WONDER OF THE WORLD

Take a day before or after your conference and experience the Grand Canyon. For about the same price as a VIP ticket to J.Lo, you can enjoy the ultimate Grand Canyon day trip. Papillon, which pioneered aerial sightseeing 50 years ago, offers many tour options and combinations. My friends and I flew from Boulder to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, enjoying bird’s eye views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Powell, and the canyon. And those were nothing compared to the views of the canyon from our 30 minute helicopter ride: Truly breathtaking. Literally. I’ve been on a few helicopter rides, but none compared to swooping around the Grand Canyon. There was time to walk the edge of the canyon at sunset, take lots of selfies, and get back to Vegas in time for dinner or a night flight home.

Even closer to Vegas is the engineering marvel that is the Hoover Dam. Most visitors tour the dam itself, but I recommend a boat ride on the Colorado River below the dam with Black Canyon Adventure. You’ll learn about the river, the history of and motivation for building the dam, and you’ll get the perfect postcard selfie with the dam. You can easily combine the river adventure with a tour of the Dam, and with a little private transportation, you can do both the river and the Grand Canyon in the same day.

9. CHANGE THE PACE

10. TAKE A HIKE

Las Vegas was built in a desert, and it’s surrounded by natural desert beauty. Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is just 17 miles from the Strip, and boasts 30 miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, and a 13-mile scenic loop with views of the rocks and the city. Please share

The post The Vegas Hater’s Guide to Las Vegas appeared first on ManAboutWorld.com.

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manaboutworldmag · 8 years ago

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The Vegas Hater’s Guide to Las Vegas

Here are ten ways to change Vegas haters into lovers:

1. BECOME A VIP

2. STAY WHERE THEY DON’T PLAY

GO DOWNTOWN

SHARE FOR ECONOMY

PULL BACK THE CURTAIN

MAKE FRIENDS WITH A FOODIE

BE ENLIGHTENED

SEE A WONDER OF THE WORLD

CHANGE THE PACE

Boulder City is just 20 miles from the Vegas, one of only two cities in Nevada where gambling is illegal, and as quaint and charming as the Strip is bold and flashy. It’s a popular stop on the way to Hoover Dam (the city was built to house dam construction workers), and a worthy excursion for breakfast. The Coffee Cup was a local phenomenon until the Food Network featured it on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” Now you’ll have to get there before ten to avoid a long wait on the weekends. Work off the calories with a stroll down historic Main Street and marvel at the different pace. 10. TAKE A HIKE Las Vegas was built in a desert, and it’s surrounded by natural desert beauty. Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area is just 17 miles from the Strip, and boasts 30 miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, and a 13-mile scenic loop with views of the rocks and the city. Please share

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