#this is a cloud empire appreciation blog

[brunhielda]

Because this is becoming THAT blog-

The one where I review old movies we all have already seen, but I personally, have not seen for years until recently.

I just watched “An American Tale.”

If you were a child of the 90s, you just thought- “There are No Cats in America 🎶? THAT American Tale?”

Yes.

If you had that thought, you likely already know. If you have not had the absolute joy- buckle up. I am going to rant about a classic.

First of all- This is Don Bluth.

His movies do not get worse with age.

They get BETTER.

And American Tale is example number ONE.

No, it is not fond memories or nostalgia glasses, you can breath, and then go treat yourself to a viewing.

Secondly- the man did not dumb down or sanitize his history.

He said “I’m going to tell the immigrant story” and then opened with a fucking ethnic cleansing.

I said what I said.

The movie is set in the early Russian Empire, a time full of anti-Semitic sentiment and enforced laws, also seen in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Fiddler on the roof might actually be tamer on the subject.

Every other historical note in this movie is on point and easy enough to look up in a history book, if you have the common sense to realize that names have been altered.

The Statue of Liberty was not built by a pigeon, for example. It was built by a Frenchman. (Frederic Auguste Bartholdi).

I don’t know of an “honest John,” but I did guffaw out loud when he started taking names of the dead at funerals to add to his vote count. Ghost votes were very real, one of the reasons people are still so twitchy about voter fraud today.

I do not recall a moment in 1886 when the minorities of New York managed to run off prominate members of authority… but with how on point everything else is? It would not shock me.

Thirdly- Bluth DID NOT FLINCH

I don’t remember who said it first, but both Bluth and Spielberg had a belief that you could put very sad and scary things in children’s films, as long as the ending was happy.

This movie has multiple nightmare moments. Cats, monster waves, more cats, bugs and fish, and of course, the horrifying “Mouse of Minsk” (iykyk).

The thing is, it’s not even how they are drawn. Like, yes, the image is scary, but it’s the storytelling around it. It’s the lighting change. The soundtrack. The horrific sound effects. Seriously- whoever did foley on this film deserves all the awards- you make me scared of the kitty kats, and I LOVE cats. 🐈

Some people will question whether or not it is appropriate for small children. I would say maybe wait until they are six, and watch it with them, but they should watch scary things if they can. Being scared in appropriately safe space teaches you how to react to fear and handle moments when you are scared in real life. It is my major argument for Halloween. But each parent has to do as they think is best for each individual child. In any case, watch this one first before showing it to your kids- definitely more scary than you remember.

Finally- the animation on this film is a national treasure. I honestly hope this film is in the Library of Congress collection.

There are animation techniques here that don’t exist anymore.

Sparks. Sparkles. Glimmers. Stars in the Night Sky. Smoke billows.

Actually, I almost paused the film on a smoke billow. Sony is doing some things in the recent “Spiderverse” trilogy that are insane- and part of it is their mixed animation.

All the smoke billows? Hand drawn.

They look the same as Bluth’s smoke in this film, which is making me wonder if one of their artists studied under him. Maybe not- maybe they just did their homework on good hand drawn cloud formations. Either way, realizing how close they got to the master work in this film made me appreciate them even more.

Speaking of insane animation-

I don’t know WHO Bluth felt he had to show off to, but this man could DRAW WATER and he fucking knew it.

Like water is hard to do, ok? Like hands, Da Vinci had notebooks full of sketches of the substance, proving it to be the bane of the artistic existence.

Most water in hand drawn animation comes in two forms-

Flat water color with pretty things floating in it to distract you-

Or drawn over a live video of water that they spliced into the image.

Even that was hard to do, and they used a technology no longer available to us. It looks pretty cool honestly.

But no, not DON fucking BLUTH.

Not only can this man hand draw water without the underlying video, but he draws it moving in multiple different ways. He shows it from the top, side, and sinking underneath (with moving bubbles and shifting light, no flat blue for him).

He turns it into a NIGHTMARE FUEL WAVE MONSTER.

He ADDS it to SCENES it DIDNT HAVE TO BE IN!

The more I watched this film, the more I realized that if Milt Kahl had the head swaggle, Don Bluth had water, and by God was he going to use it.

He wrote plots AROUND the idea of water, so he could showcase it in every scene. “Rock-a-doodle,” and “Pebble and the Penguin” come to mind. “Anastasia,” “Thumbelina” and “All Dogs Go to Heaven” all feature action scenes in water. Heck- the one in “All Dogs Go To Heaven” came out of no where, and makes so much more sense if it was just Bluth wanting to show off.

“An American Tale” had the travel by boat sequence and our main hero being thrown over board. He could have left it there. NOPE. There were puddles and sewers and fire hoses and action scenes at the docks.

And the few scenes without water? Let’s throw some scary sparks in there. Maybe some smoke billowing. For funzies.

Also- we’re going to have a Love Song with the most incredible Night Sky you have ever seen and a Comedic song featuring fun house mirror distorted reflections because WHY NOT???

I think he was trying to make sure Disney regretted him leaving, the way you dress up when you know your toxic ex will be there, and I love that for him. 🩷

Also- the backgrounds are all beautiful water color. I love a good water color.

Also- yeah, the sound track holds up. The songs are just as catchy as they ever were- if you have ever seen this movie you WILL find yourself singing along.

As previously mentioned, when it comes to the scary parts, the composer UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT and the music easily fits into a good horror film.

And finally- the music at the finale when everything is made right, and the happy ending is finally here, is the most heart breaking thing you will ever hear. You will cry. Watch the movie, but bring the tissues. 🤧

This movie is definitely worth a watch.

This movie is more than worth a watch, it should be mandatory for elementary history and college animation classes alike.

But also it’s just fun. 🤩

[vertical-dreams]

5.31.23

It is nice to vent. I appreciate this space. 

My little blog.

: )

Works of self love through doubt, insecurity, the quickening and the lull (every empire must fall!) ... (except for THE one true love, lest we stumble upon him in our adventures!)

I will be with me always, and I am the ultimate true love. 

I love my sweet old dogs, I love my mother and grandfather and sisters and everything under the sun and moon and stars. Life is beautiful. May perspectives be altered to see the goodness and kindness in everything. 

*insert a trillion heart emojis here!!* 

I am feeling this poem right now, one I found when I was a teenager (and loved immediately!):

Afternoon on a Hill

I will be the gladdest thing Under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds With quiet eyes, Watch the wind bow down the grass, And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show Up from the town, I will mark which must be mine, And then start down.

– Edna St. Vincent Millay

[mimik-u]

“Homeworld Bound” Thoughts:

I wasn’t going to watch this one today, but then I realized that I really missed the Diamonds and wanted to consume novel content, so!

OOH, good on the show for taking us directly to the aftermath of “Fragments” instead of putting space between the episodes. That’s just... a really good choice narrative wise.

Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl’s expressions are so distressing here. He’s been gone for three days; they must’ve been so worried.

Jasper steps aside to reveal an absolutely ruined Steven.

He just technically killed a gem and then resurrected her. How intensely will that forever lie on his psyche? Oh my g od

NO, NOT JASPER PASSIVELY MAKING THE DIAMOND SIGN IN THE BACKGROUND AUGH

“You can’t just disappear for days without telling us!”

Steven silent walking up to the Observatory as the Gems continue to freak the fuck out is harrowing. And Dee Dee Magno Hall is killing it with her voice acting here. The simultaneous fear and anger and horror in her voice. Oh my g d

“You guys... I love you, but you can’t help me anymore. I’ve been avoiding the only people in the entire universe who can.” 🥺 This is sad, but I’m also, like, problematic grandmas time!!!!!

“Find something better to do with your life.” God, Jasper’s look of disbelief and sadness here. I didn’t really delve into this during my “Fragments” watch because I was just roridoodwrjfkrkeke reeling, but her reaction to being accidentally shattered is psychologically devastating???? I’d wager that she simultaneously respects the fact that she’s been subjugated by a being more powerful than her, that she’s grateful to Steven for being both subjugator and savior, and likely, she’s conflating this new loyalty with her former loyalty for Pink. This is a really complex psyche (a tragic one most of all).

Garnet: “Steven, remember, we’ll always be your family.” I’m so fucki n emo

AWHWHWH, HOMEWORLD IS SO BRIGHT AND COLORFUL NOW!!!

YO!! Homeworld has a democracy now!! The Zircons!!!!!!!

THE WALL GEM IS MOVING??????? KWOEOEIDJDKSJS

Can u imagine being a wall cursed with sentience. that is so funny on so many levels

But it’s also really interesting, too. If the Wall Gem is a gem in the way say Topazes are gems, which, judging by her mobility, she is—then her explicit purpose in Era 1-2, as molded by presumably Yellow, was to b a wall omg. (Or, arguably, I think it can be argued that the inanimate object Gems, like Comby, were probably accidental sentient creations, made in relationship to their proximity to the Diamonds during their various secretion rituals!!)

Anyway, I love thinking about Homeworld worldbuilding. It’s fascinating.

SQUARE PERIDOT

SPIIIIIINELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Her heart eyes!! She looks so happy!

Steven, angry af: “Spinel, what is wrong with you?” / Spinel: Oh, you know—the usual.” KEKDSKDK

Also, Steven really wanted to say fuck there. NEKDDKKSSKKS

“I was such a wreck then, but I am so much better now.” We stan character growth 😭😭

One thing I have loved the Crewniverse so much for doing is never taking away the physical signs of gems’ mental distress, even after they’ve gotten better: Blue’s eye bags, Volleyball’s eye, Spinel’s running mascara. That is so important.

YELLOW SITTING AT HER LIL VANITY!!

IT’S LIGHT INSIDE HER ROOM! THERE R FLOWERS! THRIVE, QUEEN, THRIVE.

YELLOW REVERSING HER GEM EXPERIMENTS OH MY G D

FUCKING QUEEN!!!!!!

(I’m sorry in advance. The rest of the live blog is just going to be screaming about the Diamonds.)

“I can permanently alter any physical form!” She’s so proud of herself. 😭😭😭 I fuckin’ love her.

Yellow laying down on the ground like that is SENDING ME SKSKSJSJ.

Ugh, and her being such a good mom to Spinel. I’m cry in f

“If anything’s out of proportion, it’s your temper. You can be big if you want to, or you can be small if you want to, but if you’re going to be upset no matter what, then this problem isn’t physical—it’s emotional. Go see Blue.”

I really like her advice here because it’s advice that comments so clearly on her own character arc. At her lowest, she was quick to anger, aggressive, and temperamental, which she diagnoses in Steven here. Additionally, she was the Diamond who was concerned largely with physical actions. She coped by maintaining the Empire through conquering planets and maintaining the minutiae of leadership; she thought the only way to receive justice for Pink was through the physical act of destruction. And in doing so, she pushed her own emotions deep, deep down until they manifested in anger, aggressiveness, and temperamental outbursts. This hurt the people she cared about, and it hurt herself most of all.

Also, “Go see Blue. That is her department.” Ejdoiddjdjjsjdjdks, “go see ur other grandma.”

BLUE FLOATING ON A CLOUD!!!!!

“Your powers have been causing you dramatic mood swings? That seems awfully troubling Steven.” God I love her

“You don’t seem troubled.” This is a really interesting line because it comments on how Blue’s emotions, especially her negatively charged ones, used to be so visible all over her; indeed, she both wittingly and actively used to project them on other Gems, forcing them to feel her suffering, too.

OH, SHE GOES ON TO SAY THE EXACT SAME THING EOEODODISSJJS. LISTEN, I REALLY VIBE WITH BLUE.

“Back before you came into my life, Steven, I wanted every one to feel the pain I felt. I realized I must make up for my awful behavior by bringing joy to others.”

Another thing I’ve appreciated about the writing in this episode: So far, both Blue and Yellow have used the adjective awful to describe their former actions. It’s the self-awareness and the refusal to try to excuse themselves that powerfully shows how much they’ve grown. And it’s their continuous endeavors to keep moving forward, to help the Gems that they’ve hurt, that indicates that they’re willing to constantly keep growing and atoning.

NFOFOFDKSSKSKSK, THESE CLOUDS ARE JUST HER VAPORIZED TEARS HELP.

Sick vape clouds, Blue

I’VE HEARD THE SONG BEFORE, BUT EVERY TIME SHE SINGS, I LOSE MY SHI T

LISA HANNNNIGAAAAAAAN

This is such a pretty line: “Cold palace walls, and endless empty halls, haunted by echoes of laughter.”

BLUE ASCENDING THROUGH THE CLOUDS AUSHAHHSHD

BLUE MAKING HEART CLOUDS FOR SPINEL!!

BLUE CALLING SPINEL N STEVEN HER LITTLE REASONS WHY.

“I’LL NEVER MAKE YOU CRY.” This line is particularly lovely because I think it plays well with Steven’s line to her in “CYM:” “How many times did you make her cry?”

BDJDJDJSJDJ, BLUE LAYING ON HER CLOUD LIKE YELLOW LAID ON THE FLOOR.

The way she sings the last “loving you.” 😭😭😭😭 I’m gonna weep. I love her so fucking much.

“I found happiness. If that's not something you think you deserve, then I suspect this is an issue of self worth. I suggest you go to White for assistance with such matters.” 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 And like Yellow did, Blue gets to the heart of her arc cleanly.

Before Steven and before her own emotional reckoning, she didn’t think it was her place to be happy: “I know my purpose isn’t to be happy.” But in learning to love others, Blue has found true, inner happiness, which she literally shares with others. Wow.

And I think there’s something powerful in her distinction between true happiness and self-worth. You can’t find one without espousing the other.

White’s room is so pretty. 🥺

THE FLASHING STROBE LIGJTS DDNJDFJDJDNF.

SPINEL WHITE DIAMOND?!/!:$;8;83&:&:

SHE FUCKING LETS OTHER GEMS CONTROL HE R HELP.

SPINEL MAKING WHITE TAP DANCE FICODODOFODJDNDJSJDJDJJDDJDJ

Steven’s horrified expression omg

“I’m scared I’m gonna hurt people; I guess I already have.” God.

And that’s another thing that this episode has called to mind. Blue, Yellow, and White alike once used their insane powers to hurt other Gems and to hurt themselves, and here, throughout this series, we see Steven discovering that same capacity for destruction and self-destruction. Along with the systematic oppressions they facilitated, a big part of the Diamonds’ modus operandi was that their powers were directly correlated to their mental states and their various inabilities to confront their own selves and effect inner change. The corrective wasn’t necessarily Steven; the corrective was him helping them to do that initial act of introspection and looking inwards. And so, too, will Steven have to do the same by the end of this series. But I presume that his family, all the people and gems who have loved and cared for him, will in effect be his Steven, just as he has always been for them.

“Half a Diamond, half a creature of Earth—in all the universe there's no one else that could know what you’re going through, so maybe it's time you talked to yourself.” This is so viscerally sad. White hits the nail on the head here. Steven’s human friends/family and his gem family and even the Diamonds, who come the closest to matching his own strength, can never fully understand him. It’s the tension that underscores a lot, if not the entire show.

White briefly touches Steven with her nail, and you can viscerally see the trauma on his face; he hasn’t forgotten her act above all, wrenching his gem out, nearly killing him.

“I’m... I’m a Diamond.” Steven, in looking at White Diamond, realizes that she’s a mirror of himself. Holy fucking shit

“I don’t want to be you! I don’t want to be anything like you!” HOLY FUCKING SHIT

“Don’t hurt me! She can’t hurt me! I’m controlling her...” And here, Steven doesn’t light upon the essential thing... in making White punch the wall, nearly knocking a huge rock into him, he’s the one hurting himself.

This show, oh my g o d

“She’s the one who should be afraid.” STEVEN?!!!!????!??!

“No, stop it! I don’t like this!” / “Please, you’re scaring me.” OH MY GO D

HE FUCKING MADE HER SLAM HER GEM AGAINST A PILLAR HOLY HE LL

“What... what was that?” Christine’s delivery here. Holy shit. 😭😭 And both of them are surrounded in the carnage of Steven’s wrath. Holy fucking shit.

This act is fundamentally different than him accidentally shattering Jasper in “Fragments”; this was an intentional attempt to hurt White, to crack her, to break her. Holy fucking shit

Spinel, Blue, and Yellow waiting for Steven outside of White’s door has my heart a little and a lot tender 🥺🥺🥺🥺

SPINEL SINGING I CAN MAKE A CHANGE SO DRAMATICALLY DJDIDJDJDJDJD. (But yeah, lmao, this will absolutely be the conclusion of Steven’s arc at the end of Future.)

“Steven! Let us help you, Steven!” The Diamonds are so concerned (mirroring the Gems back at home, too). 😭😭

He leaves a flip flop behind like Cinderella lmao

“Steven, let us help you!” / “We’re your family!” 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

And just as he implored the CGs, he tells the Diamonds not to follow him either.

Steven is completely and utterly alone.

Not by necessity.

But God, by choice.

Okay, this is my new favorite Future episode.

[tearlessrain]

30 questions tag game

Tagged by: @mercurypilgrim (thanks!)

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 5 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better.

Name/nickname: I’ve been going by tearless/tearlessrain for so long that a friend once called me that in person and I did not notice that it wasn’t my name until they said something. but I also have a lot of other names, only two of which have legal relevance.

Gender: male

Star sign: virgo, but I’ve been told by the local astrology gays that I’m also an aquarius moon and that it “explains a lot”

Height: 5′2

Birthday: a secret. I do not like being the center of attention.

Time: it’s like 3:40am. I will experience deep regret tomorrow, and I will learn nothing from this.

Favorite bands: queen feels like a cop out but like I’m never really not in the mood to listen to queen. linkin park, unironically. and all the different permutations of the crosby/stills/nash/young/simon/garfunkle cloud.

A few I am currently listening to, though: I can’t really call out specific bands/artists because I’m mostly listening to my oc playlists lately (I literally can’t stay in a bad mood listening to riska’s playlist and that’s just the energy I need in my life right now).

Favorite solo artists: (all together now) david bowie. also hozier and joni mitchell.

Song stuck in my head: O Come All Ye Faithful, in latin, for some fucking reason. it’s been there for days. send help.

Last movie: Kung Fu Panda, discord server was having a movie night.

Last show: WandaVision but I’m behind on it (loved the first two episodes but now I can feel the Marvel-ness looming again and I dread it)

When did I create this blog: god I don’t even remember, I’ve been here since the first age and never changed accounts/urls so like. around ten years now I think.

What do I post: whatever the hell passes through my brain from moment to moment, I can’t believe anyone follows me. lately a lot of rambling about my swtor ocs, sometimes it’s tolkien/silmarillion content, sometimes I liveblog terrible movies on purpose, sometimes it’s isaac asimov hours, sometimes just shitposting or unsolicited opinions about completely random things I’m not qualified to talk about. the only thing I can be relied on to provide is reblogs of ocean and horse photos, but not on any kind of consistent schedule.

Last thing googled: celtic invasion of portugal. I got slightly sidetracked from something else I was doing.

Other blogs: I’ve got art over at @tearlessrainart, horny art over at @a-world-of-osha-violations, and a little pile of extremely specific sideblogs I rarely use.

Do I get asks: not often, but those I do get are appreciated. except you, ray bans bot. I don’t appreciate you.

Why I chose my url: I originally used it as a deviantart handle (still there) because it wasn’t taken and I liked the overall way it sounded, and kept it because it’s rarely taken anywhere. and now it’s been ten years so like it’s stuck at this point.

Following: 305

Followers: 1392 which is far more than I deserve given my wildly inaccessible blogging style

Average hours of sleep: 7-8 hours usually but my actual sleep schedule skews late. I’ve never been one of those people who can skate by on 5 hours and be functional, if I get less than 6 hours I am absolutely useless and was that way even in high school/college when everyone else was pulling all nighters and shit.

Lucky number: I honestly have never understood lucky numbers, and how much I like any given number is solely dependent on how appealing its colors are according to my synesthesia. if anyone’s wondering, 420 is a hideously tacky blue/orange clusterfuck, but 69 is pleasantly greyscale.

Instruments: I play the flute, in that I own a flute that I was pretty good at playing in high school and can, if I choose, still play notes on it. I also own a melodica but I cannot play it, which to be clear does not stop me from playing it.

What am I wearing: pajama pants and a sith cloak. which sounds like a joke but I do actually own a set of sith robes and the cloak happens to be warm and very comfortable so I just kinda. wear it around the house sometimes in the winter.

Dream job: ornamental lighthouse hermit who may or may not be a wizard.

more realistically though I’m hoping to go into sfx makeup and cosmetology (I was like a week away from getting my license when the apocalypse hit)

Dream trip: I’d love to visit australia and new zealand, would also very much like to go back to scotland and possibly just not leave scotland.

Favorite food: sushi, specifically good salmon nigiri. god it’s so good. smeagol was right.

Nationality: regrettably, american.

Favorite song: god I have no idea. uh. I really like the boy in the bubble by paul simon. something about the visuals in that song speak to me.

Last book read: rereading The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov, which is a terrible book that I nonetheless subject myself to periodically because I like all the books around it a lot. I need to start on Robots and Empire but shit’s been going down recently so I haven’t been reading much.

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in:  

okay LIVE IN is a very different question from “universes I think are neat” because like. I love the whole thing firefly has going on but I wouldn’t survive it for more than five minutes. so with that in mind:

1. middle earth but like, the shire during the third age specifically.

2. I think I would enjoy being a legend of zelda npc. I could just be a weird little potion seller who lives in a tree or something. or maybe an inexplicably sexy fish man. or better yet, the inexplicably sexy fish man’s husband, who sells potions. yeah I’ve got my fictional life here completely figured out now, this is good. I would also own an extremely chonky horse.

3. one of the ones I made up, specifically the one that involves a lot of gryphons and interdimensional bullshit. more specifically the origin universe of said gryphons, which exists at the heart of an extremely complicated multiverse that includes both earth and at least one fantasy world but is part of neither. anyway it’s a nice place.

Tagging: @raemanzu @sith-nb @vampiraptor @nyriad @crypticspren

(only if you want to of course)

[kanene-yaaay]

What is it?

Kanene’s note: Heyioooo!!! How are you all, my dear lollipop? Gooooosh! I really missed to post something dfghjukioljuhghgf. Well, I was talking with the incredible @cefsticklestoo and she said one of her favorite Tickle-Tropes was Alien/Robot discovering about tickles, and then I got really inspired asdfgyhujuhgfghj. xDD.

Hope you all appreciate the story as much as I loved to write it!!! Thank you for your time! Have a wonderful day and a wonderful life! Never forget how much special you are, lollipop! <3

Warnings, fun facts, random things and stuff:

* Lee!Logan and Ler!Roman (It can be seen as Romantic or Platonic if you want. There is some kind of flirt but only if you squint).

* Hmmm… This is a Tickle-Fanfic! If you don’t like this kind of stuff, please look for another blog, there are plenty of amazing art in this site!! ‘u’).

* Something around 1500 words. -w-)b.

* Sorry for any spelling, pontuation and grammar mistakes! Any advice is very very welcome!

* I wrote a big part of it during my class. I could feel the adrenaline in my veins and almost had a heart attack when my friend asked me ‘what are you writing’ dfghjhgfdfghjhg.  D a n g e r. 

* Vou tentar escrever a versão em português! Thankys for reading, my lollipops! Watch a fun video, take a good rest, talk with the one that you love, drink water and be careful with your creations, they can easly get very curious, ya know! Byeioo!~

                                [~*~]

Logan smiled, for the first time in a really long period, as he watched his creation finally became alive. Their metallic, shiny eyes blinked and the android focused them in his form, their face, even if mirrored his, opened in one of the most perfect and bright smiles Logan had even seen.

- It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear subject! - Roman (What he could do? Logan always kept a secret love for the Roman Empire) spin in the same place as if testing out his movements. The mechanic and scientist opened his mouth, ready to answer his question until all the exhaustion and tiredness took over the entirety of his mind, suppressing the adrenaline of, after all this time, presence his creation finally works.

 And then he passed out.

 …

 He blinked a few times. His head didn’t hurt, which probably meant that the android managed to catch him before his expected encounter with the floor. Thank to Newton that Logan didn’t spared efforts to apprimorete his reflexives responses. He sat, appreciating the feeling the cozy fabric of his bed’s comforts (how much time was since he actually slept in it?), before being tossed in his initial position, again.

 - WHAT IS IT?? - In Roman’s hands diverses paint cans struggled to not fall from their firm grip. The strength of their arms, which one day were known as white, was completely colored in a mix of various colors and shades.

 - P-paint cans. - Logan cleared his throat while the colored let themself fell, sitting on the scientist’s legs, their vision unfocused, probably accessing on his internet the meaning of his words, their smile increasing more and more. - How much time I was unconscious?

 - It’s beautiful. - Their glare returned to stare only the painting and cans, their nose wrinkling in a disgruntled expression. Logan didn’t remembered doing their features so adorably. - It’s awful. I'm going to need to redo it. - Their face then gleamed, as if Roman had the most brilliant idea in the whole world. - Can I practice on you?

 - Pardon me?

 - ‘Practice makes perfect’ it’s a pretty common saying, you know?

 - I didn’t mean...- The one with glasses sighed under the expecting, excited and slightly confused look of the other. It was against his principles to deny knowledge in any and every form to anyone. - Yes. However, I plead you use a paint brush.

 - Paint brush?

 - Small object used in order to applying paint.

 Roman took the said out of a small compartment in his shoulder.

 - I thought it was a kind of ornament. - Wet the object first in the red can and started to work, their ability of improvement was almost mesmerizing, the shapes gained more complexity and precision as the drawing danced across his forearm, so much that Logan didn’t even noticed it inevitable destiny as its bristles lightly touched the base of his neck.

 The mechanic nearly jumped, a yelp escaping from his lips while his body jerked, but not much, from the sensation, a wobbly smile taking over his features without his permission.

 - Hey!!! You made me blur it!!! - Angry pout. Their eyes met. - Wait. You did it again.

 - What? - Logan was too much occupied controlling his impulse to rub the tingling sensation in his neck to acknowledge the shine, which spread in Roman’s eyes, joyfully mesmerizing his smile one more time. 

 - That. You made that thing when I woke up. - Then they stared their brush. - What did I do?

 - T-this was o-only an involuntary response of my nervous system. - ‘It’s not a big deal, Logan. It’s NOT a big deal. Stop blushing and smiling in that EXACT moment!!’ - It’s called - Come on, Logan. You are a responsible, serious, rational, respected, mature male human. You made an android, you definitely can say this only one word without stuttering. - T-t-tickles. - …. I gave up.

 - Tickles? - Unfocused eyes and suddenly the one with glasses notice how much their creation in his legs could incapacity him from runni- I mean, strategically move away. - Your search history has plenty of results to that word. You are addicted.

 -I-I'm not 'addicted'! I'm just… a little fond for the subject. - His face clouded itself in a frown. 

 -Wait, no! Do that thing again! - Roman scribbled again the brush on his neck, making Logan close firmly his lips and eyes, trying to stop the freedom of all the tons and tons of bubbling giggles that spin and accumulated themselves in his chest, his body shook with the struggling. - Why aren't you doing that sound anymore?

 Their hand let go of the object and the scientist breathed again, ignoring the heating that only increased further in his cheeks. The android's fingers dig in his armpits, releasing a high pitched squeal from the other.

 -Ouch! Whahahait! That hurt! - Roman retreated, a confused expression in his face. 

 -But… I did exactly as the human in that video…

 Logan tried to ignore equally the fact that the Android really was interested in that human activity and this look of slight sadness and curiosity as Roman stared their hands. The one with glasses signed, defeated.

 It was against his principles to deny knowledge in any and every form to anyone. 

 -You need to do it like that. - He raised his hands, wriggling his fingers and not realizing the wobbly smiling showing in his face when the other started to mirroring his movements, tingles and shivers running all through his body and waking up the excited butterflies in his stomach. - And you can't put all your strength in this, the nerves are sensitive to the most light touch.

 -Like that? - Roman deflected from his hands, finding way to his neck, their fingertips barely touching under his chin as they tickled and tracing shapes as the went from a side to another, Logan muffling his fast giggles behind his hands and trying to not move (just because of the lesson, sure. It wasn't like he was liking this or anything like that.) away from the unbearable feeling that made his smile spread more and more.

 -ExhahahahahaHA - Roman found a particularly ticklish spot right behind his ear, Logan almost could see an evil grin in the android's features, even if he haven't programmed that expression on them. A malign thought hit him as well. - E-e-hehehehexactly! But, thahahahahat… - He fought the urge to squeak as Roman tried again the paint brush, each bristle slowly scratching his sensitive spot and leading the giggly-flow to fall quickly. The good was that the, as it seemed, artist was too much distracted to notice Logan's hands getting dangerously close. - … can also works as well! 

 The scientist, just for the sake of the lesson of course, suddenly attacked their ribs, his fingers quickly spidering up and down, sometimes poking, multiples of times even when the Android jumped, exploding in a loud, melodious laughter that, for a moment, stopped everything else. 

 Their eyes met, a smirk beginning to form in his face-

 But then Roman's fingers decided to tickle his tummy, and Logan automatically lost it, his hands clapping firmer in his mouth as real laughter, together with some snorts, started to float from his lips. Roman unfairly skilled squeezes spread across every single inch of his so, so much ticklish spot, kneading and scribbling his right, his left, up, down, just to repeat all of this again and again and again… 

 -It's working!!! - Their fast, unbearable tickles found that exactly spot right under his navel that leaded to the current flow of squeals and snorts that fell from his mouth, his giggles getting higher as his ticklish, softly scratches almost made him want to jump from his skin, squirming more profusely. - I didn't even knew that humans could make these sounds!!

 -SHUHUHUHUHUHUHUHUT UP! - His whole face was boiling, his smile so big that it was possible to see even behind his hands. - NahahahaHAHAHAHA!

 -Hey!! Stop it right now! It's not fair, I'm working hard here!! Show me your smile! - An only one damn finger poked curiously his belly button, making his hands really get of his mouth, flying to hold the others wrists. Roman couldn't stop smiling, even more when they fixed their eyes in Logan's face, his glasses askew, wrinkled nose, wobbly smile and infinite giggles. Each little poke resulting in a shriek. - Cool! This is your squeaky button!

 His blush spread to his ears.

 -Thihihihis is NOHOHOHOT how th -sTOP- ihihihis called!!!

 Roman began to scribble the most ticklish spot, their index finger dancing inside his navel and Logan fell in an explosion of laughter, crackling, snorting and squeaking, legs bouncing and head shaking, as if he could deny the sensation.

 -Sure it is! I'm poking and you're squeaking!

 -Thihihihihis is nOHOHOT HOW THIHIHIHihihihis wORK! - Roman leaned down their head, a suborn look of determination in their eyes. -  Nohohohohoho!! DohohOHOHOHON'T!

 -IT. IS. - And then they blew a raspberry directly in his tummy button. A scream escaped from Logan's lips before he fell in a silent laughter. The Android stopped, eyes widen open as they stared him. 

 -I'm sorry. I thought I…

 -N-nohohoho. - The scientist took off his glasses, wiping the tears from his eyes. - It's ohohokahahay, you stohohopped in the rihihight moment. - He let his gigantic smile remained in his face, his giggles floating in the air, showing he was truly okay.  As soon as Roman realized, they let a proud smile took over his features. 

 -See? I told you it was a squeaky button!  

[captain-azoren]

Inverted Castle Pt. 1

(Hey, so if you've been paying attention tot his blog, you may have noticed me posting some stuff related to my original project, "Kingdoms of Gaia." I've decided that, instead of languishing as I try to come up with a good, meaty plot to write, I would write out these quick little scenes. Not much prose, more like transcripts, just to show what I have in mind.

I know this is primarily an Avatar/Dragon Prince blog, but I'd also really appreciate checking these too. They're a taste of what I want to do. Hopefully I can make a separate blog for Kingdoms of Gaia if I can get it enough attention here.)

Summary: In their journey towards the Dragon Empire, Lygron and Ibunet find themselves pinned down by a snowstorm only to encounter an ominous castle that has been turned upside down. With few options for survival, the pair enter the castle seeking shelter, and they encounter its mysterious lord...

Cast of Characters:

Lygron, Pantheran Pugilist

Ibunet, Reptilian Sorceress

The Inverted Castle, Part 1.

*Lygron and Ibunet are trekking up a rocky mountain trail through ankle deep snow. They are dressed in thick furs. Ibunet is shivering, her tail coiled around her waist as she uses her staff as a walking stick*

Ibunet: Uhg, it’s freezing… why do we have to go this way?

Lygron: Because it’s a shortcut and we’re in a hurry. We have to get ahead of the storm. Besides, it’s not that cold.

Ibunet: You’re warm-blooded and hairy. My body was made for much hotter climates than this.

Lygron: Really? You look like you’d be pretty cozy under all that blub-Ow!

Ibunet: *tail whips his ass* Watch your mouth. My plumpness is what makes me so pleasant.

Lygron: Whatever. Just keep yourself bundled.

Ibunet: *latches onto his arm* Hnmm, you should share that precious body heat. Stop hogging it all, be my personal heater!

Lygron: *frowns with exhaustion* Seriously? Uhg…

*more snow begins to fall harder as the sun sets between mountain peaks and the wind picks up*

Ibunet: It’s getting dark… and this snow is getting heavy…

Lygron: Yeah, maybe this was a bad idea. I don’t think we can outrun the storm at this rate…

*Ibunet squints ahead of them through the snow. Embedded the side of a nearby cliff face is a gothic castle, standing upside down as its black stonework contrasts with the white mountains. A small light can be seen through a window*

Ibunet: Hey, what’s that? Is that a… castle?

Lygron: Yeah, and it’s upside down? How...? *the wind whistles and he looks up at the dark clouds above* Come on, let’s take shelter in there.

Ibunet: What about whoever lives in there?

Lygron: Let’s just hope they’re a generous host. Besides, we don’t have much choice, unless you’d rather set up camp out here.

Ibunet: I’d prefer not, my tail is gonna snap off if I don’t get some heat soon…

To be continued...

Part 2.

[vinodiriso]

ON HANZO’S MENTAL HEALTH AND THE WAY HE IS PORTRAYED ON THIS BLOG.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a psychologist, nor I deal with neurodivergence at any rate. Medical terminology is used only as a reference to describe the mental state of the character, to give a general idea: in the following in-depth study I prefer to analyse the causes and the symptoms rather than the “terminology”. I tried to use the most fitting for my vision and my interpretation for how limited my knowledge of this subject is, no matter my research. Also, when referring to “Hanzo” I am speaking of my personal interpretation of Hanzo, which is my own personal muse; those are by no degrees standards of canon, just what I see most fitting for my own understanding of the muse. If you are a Hanzo roleplayer and disagree with my interpretation, you are totally entitled to follow your own.

Tl;dr: Hanzo is not a neurotypical subject. He struggles with undiagnosed DPDR, ADHD and PTSD.

Since infancy, Hanzo never had an easy time befriend people of his age. Hanzo has never been in an adequate mental state that allowed him to grow close to people he didn’t share a blood connection with, for he spent most of his time reviewing his life rather than living it. This behaviour forced him out of the carefreeness appropriate for young people and into a stoic approach to life that was, yes, praised by the adults, but was never healthy for a teenager. By the age of eleven, the only person Hanzo felt a connection with was his brother Genji, who managed to understand and adapt to the elder Shimada’s slow rhythms in developing friendship and trust.

Hanzo’s will was to follow his father’s and to prove to be a good heir for the Shimada empire. He held no other interests, aside for an undying love for martial arts and swordsmanship. Most of the times, Hanzo held a passive attitude towards his own life, acting rather based on what was expected from him, what was appropriate for him to like or enjoy, not what he truly wanted or wished. I cannot outstretch enough how Hanzo’s life was spent serving and never developing his own self. Hanzo does not know who he is, he doesn’t know the man he is, his personality is confused, which drives him to hold a more aggressive attitude towards life or, in some cases, a completely passive one. The flaunting of his abilities as an archer or the superiority of his craft are merely a coping mechanism, little strokes of self-appreciation from a man that struggles with heavy self-deprecation issues. The traumas of his father’s sudden death and Genji’s attempted murder have shaken his ego to a much darker place. His mind is plagued by terrible images of Hitsounayoru, the Blackwatch attack, the fear, but he fails in remembering consciously the moment he turned against his brother, his mind blocks it and deems it as something so alien to him it must be a fantasy; his mind keeps switching from the idea that everything can be restored to the idea that everything is lost and unacquirable. In simpler words: “This is the home of the Shimada clan, my home” vs “This was once my home. No longer”. Maybe the journey he has embarked in won’t give him redemption, maybe it is not an atonement for his sins... maybe it is retribution for his faults.

To return to the previous topic, one could say that Hanzo has a selective memory in the sense that he only remembers specific parts of his past, namely the best ones or the most impressive. While this is true, Hanzo’s memory, from the point of Genji’s assassination, has become incredibly blurry, both for his past and his present. Hanzo struggles a lot to remember faces, to recall events, even something as little as remembering what he had for dinner the day before, and this is even truer for when he is dissociating. Mirin, what do you mean by dissociating? Hanzo’s dissociation means an impossibility for Hanzo to rationalize his thoughts and his actions. He may sit, but he can’t really say why. He may say something, but he can’t really recall the reason why. He may eat, but he doesn’t really feel hungry. For him, dissociation is living his life sitting in the back of the theatre. He is not in control, his senses are clouded, he is not the protagonist, he is the spectator. During dissociative events, Hanzo’s memory is incredibly foggy and faulted. “Did I really say this?” “I am sorry, I forgot.” “I didn’t remember we had an appointment.” “We… went there? When?”

During a particularly intense dissociative event, Hanzo might become paranoic. The inability to regain control, to do what he needs and wants to do might lead him to fright: someone may take advantage of his weakness, someone may understand that he is not normal, he can’t trust the people around, it doesn’t matter what they say, they can’t understand him, they will harm him. More often than not, it causes him general anxiety and panic attacks. The inability to meet expectations is what haunts him the most and what will lead him into a dead end of nerves; generally, when he can at least pretend to behave normally, dissociative events tend to be not as crippling.

This is, however, a problem that started far back in the time. Since he was a kid Hanzo had those ‘blackouts’, as he usually calls them, where he couldn’t totally be in control. It has only worsened over time: now dissociative events are longer, more invalidating and exhausting than in the past.

One thing that affected him the most in school age was the impossibility for Hanzo to focus on a text for more than 30 minutes. He couldn’t bring himself to pay attention, in the back of his mind he was searching for a distraction, not just something more enjoyable, he wanted something different. This, paired with dyslexia and dysgraphia, led Hanzo to become a terrible student, no matter how actually talented and gifted he is (a proof of his normal, if not bright, intelligence is the ease with which Hanzo makes logic connections between several subjects and reaches often very clever conclusion).

(in constant development...)

[bbcantlie]

tag game

Sideblogs: Pff, organizing my posts in separated and specialized blogs? How about throwing everything together in a mayhem I call main blog? Srsly tho, I may create one in the future to post my drafts and sketches.

Tagged by: @roderich-edelfine

Rules: Tag 20 as-many-as-I-can-because-my-tumblr-is-an-empty-wasteland followers you'd like to get to know better.

Nicknames: Isa, because it's a shorten form of my name, and Potato (or Batata, in Portuguese), because I really like potatoes. I love them so much I made a music about those marvelous tubers.

Gender: Female.

Astrological sign: Leo. Funny enough, it's my weakest astrological force - Virgo is the strongest.

Height: 1,72m (oh please don't ask me to use the imperial system, it's so confusing >.< But I'm like, average height)

Sexuality: quoiromantic gray-asexual (although I'm quoi - a.k.a. I have no inane idea of what romantic attraction is like and couldn't identify it if my life depended on it -, I'm aromantic strict - a.k.a. I'm not in the gray area and never feel infatuated). I'm living proof that an aro/quoiromantic person can still be a heavy shipper xD

Hogwarts house: Slytherin. Even when I try faking the test to end in another house IT STILL SHOVES ME RIGHT BACK AT SLYTHERIN c:

Favourite animais: Cats, I'm the crazy cat lady. I also love seals and sea lions! They are so cute! Other animals I really like are foxes and corvids - smart smol cuties. And at last, but not least, there are elephants. They are such majestic and pure creatures! They are altruistic, artistic, delicate giants, I wish humans were more like them.

Number of blankets: The more the merrier.

Where I'm from: Minas Gerais, Brazil. Yeah, you probably never heard about it, so let me pitch my homestate because I REALLY LOVE MINAS GERAIS. It's beautiful. Like, really, really beautiful! We have mounts everywhere, and sometimes the clouds look like a giant wave breaking against them. It's one of the most beautiful sights I ever had. The vegetation is also awesome! It' a very green state, even our capital city is filled with trees. Our main biome is called Cerrado - that means the trees are small and kinda spaced, with a lot of cactus and smaller plants around. It looks like a green savannah, but picture it in mountainous terrain. We also have really cool waterfalls, lakes and rivers, it's common to people to go swimming in them (it's a really nice experience, btw). You can see the architecture of Imperial Brazil even outside the famous historical cities - my father's hometown, Diogo De Vasconcelos, was like a relic frozen in time, with all the buildings, streets and even some of the culture remaining the same of the empire times. It's a really small town and not at all a touristic destination, but hey, Minas Gerais has the biggest heritage of art and architecture of Imperial Brazil - the stuff is everywhere! Oh, and talking about art, here is the homeland of several artists. Our churches are full of baroque treasures (it's different from the European style, btw). We also have lots of museums and galleries, specially at Belo Horizonte, our capital city. I kid you not when I say I would usually wander through the streets and just stumble on museums/art galleries I've never heard about, sometimes two in the same block! And there is the food... Oh, I could talk forever about comida mineira (Minas Gerais' cousine). Let it suffice to say that every single person I know who left Minas Gerais complained sorely about how the food wouldn't compare to ours. It's really good (especially our cheese) and we are really proud of it. We also make a marvelous cachaça (an alcoholic beverage made of sugar cane)! Minas Gerais is also the most LGBTQ+ friendly state in the Country (the research I'm basing this on was from 2017, so it may be outdated), but honestly this doesn't mean much in Brazil... But anyway, we're really friendly people.

I'll stop rambling because this thing is already enormous xD I would go on forever if I could. Sometimes I think about creating a Minas Gerais OC just to have an excuse to do so.

Dream trip:

Santa Catarina, Brazil, so I could visit my best friend. And I once had a weird, vivid dream about going to Florianopoles (SC's capital) when I was a child - I'd like to go there and see if anything is similar. Also... It was a literal dream trip? xD It felt so real my parents took years to convince me I never really went there.

Germany, because I have a weird obsession with the Country ever since I was a child and knew next to nothing about it. Also we share an admiration for kartoffel.

Every-freakin-where. I like to meet new cultures, to visit museums, to appreciate the architecture of the most simple buildings... Every travel is a worthy travel for me! I wish I could go everywhere! This is also why I love Hetalia so much: it exposes me to bits and pieces of different cultures, and the fandom has a lot of people with this same passion.

When I created this account: It's a mystery lost in time xD But it was a long, loooong time ago, back when tumblr was a wild(er) jungle and you could edit other people's posts.

Why I created this account: Another mystery lost in time... I have no freakin' idea. But I can tell you why I stayed: I need my fandom and shitposting juice.

Tagging @pansexuowl @aysha-kitana @ladiestarks @oakskull

(Only if you want to do it, of course! I thought it was a fun game)

[signourneybooks]

Intro

You know sometimes I like to challenge myself.

How to Play

This reading challenge consists of 3 sections. Fantasy, Sci-Fi and General for a total of 52 prompts which comes down to about 1 book a week.

 You can do 1, 2 or all 3 sections.

With each section you are allowed 1 Double-Up. Double-Up means you can use 1 book for 2 prompts. Preferred is not to at all but if for some reason you are struggling with time or a prompt you can.

In the general sections you can use both fantasy and sci-fi books but not other genres.

Graphic novels, comics, audiobooks and novella’s are allowed. It is all reading in my book.

Rereads count.

You can move the books around throughout the year if things fit better elsewhere and all.

You can step into this reading challenge at any point. I’m starting it in January 2019 but in reality this is a reading challenge you can fit for yourself in anyway you like. If you want to start in May and end April the year after, that is totally fine.

Graphic

Sign-Up

I don’t know if people want to join me but I would love to interact with each other if you do. You can participate anyway you like, with goodreads, twitter, instagram or your blog. I don’t require a sign-up post but I would appreciate if you boosted this.

If there are a nice group of people we can see if we can do a twitter dm group or an fb group or something to chat with each other on how to fill the prompts. 🙂

The widget won’t go into the post because wp sucks so here is the direct link.

If You Need Inspiration: Find Some Fitting Books Per Prompt Here

I figured some of you might like to have a list of options for each prompt so here we are. I’ve read a portion of these, others are on my own TBR and others I just know fit with the prompt. These are in no way meant as real recommendations, just those that fit the prompt. No links because do you see how many books I mention haha.

Fantasy

Classic Fantasy The Dragon Bone Chair by Tad Williams / Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin / The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien / Narnia by C.S Lewis /

Magic School Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling / Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce / A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. le Guin / The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss / Carry On by Rainbow Rowell / Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones / The Magicians by Lev Grossman / The Novice by Taran Matharu

Necromancers Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong / Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride / Sabriel by Garth Nix / The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco / Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews / Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard / Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh / Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landry / Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis

PTSD Witchmark C.L. Polk / The First Law by Joe Abercrombie /

Dragons The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli / Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb / The Copper Promise by Jen Williams / Talon by Julie Kagawa / Seraphina by Rachel Hartman / A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin / Eragon by Christopher Paolini / Eon by Alison Goodman / Temeraire by Naomi Novik / A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan / How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell / Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland / Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aron

Fairytale Retelling Uprooted by Naomi Novik / A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas / Ash by Melinda Lo / Forests of a Thousand Lanters by Julie C. Dao / The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh / The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden / Thorn by Intisar Khanani / To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Grimdark Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence / Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson / Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin / A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall / Skullsworn by Brian Stavely / Red Sister by Mark Lawrence / The Black Prism by Brent Weeks

Ghosts Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud / The Graveyard Queen by Amanda Stevens / City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab / The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman / The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater / Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Uncommon Fantasy Creatures So not the usual werewolf, dragons, vampires and the like Bones and Bourbon by Dorian Graves (Huldra) / The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker (Golem) / Steel & Stone by Annette Marie (Incubus) / Troll Fell by Katherine Langrish (Trolls) / The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (Goblins)

Shapeshifters Moon Called by Patricia Briggs / Written in Red by Anne Bishop / Stray by Rachel Vincent / Soulless by Gail Carragher / The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong /

Gods Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan / Magnus Chase by Rick Riordan / Aru Shah at the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi / American Gods by Neil Gaiman / The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin / The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter / The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White / Furyborn by Claire LeGrand / Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor / Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman / Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova / The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris

Animal (or in Animal Form) Companion(s) Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb / The Dragon Bone Chair by Tad Williams / Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh / Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell / The Summoner by Taran Matharu

Matriarchy Seven Realms by Cinda Williams Chima / Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake / Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop / Dragonflight by Anne McAffrey / The Cloud Roads by Martha Wells / The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley

Set in Our World The Others by Anne Bishop / Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling / Shadowhunters by Cassandra Clare / American Gods by Neil Gaiman / Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning / Psy-Changeling by Nalini Singh / Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Witches Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt / The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco / A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness / Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett / The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy / Uprooted by Naomi Novik / Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Magical Law Enforcement Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling / Rivers of London by Ben Aaronvitch / The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher / The Golem’s Eye by Jonathan Stroud / Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud

Thief The Legend of Eli Monpress by Rachel Aaron / The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch / Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo / The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima / The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells

Pirates Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo / Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke / Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch / The Nature of a Pirate by A.M. Dellamonica

Portal Fantasy Child of a Hidden Sea by A.M. Dellamonica / The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis / Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll / Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire / The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Warrior Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin / Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien / Night Angel by Brent Weeks / Half a King by Joe Abercrombie /

Sci-Fi

On a Different Planet A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers / Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray / The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin / The Martian by Andy Weir / Dune by Frank Herbert / Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Space Ship The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers / The Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers / An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon / Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Addams

Artificial Intelligence Point of View A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers / I, Robot by Isaac Asimov / 2001: A Space Odessey by Arthur C. Clarke / Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Kick

Proto Sci-Fi As Frankenstein is seen as the first sci-fi novel all books prior to that that seem to be sci-fi are called proto sci-fi but anything before H.G. Wells will count here as it seems to cause some discussions.  New Atlantis by Francis Bacon / Frankenstein by Mary Shelley / The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson / From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne /

Alien The Fifth Wave by Rick Riordan / The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Addams / The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells / Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Time Travel The Time Machine by H.G. Wells / Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier / Passenger by Alexandra Bracken / The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig / The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma / Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Utopia The Dispossed by Ursula K. le Guin / Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel / Andromeda by Ivan Efremov / The Giver by Lois Lowry

Games/Gaming/Virtual Reality Warcross by Marie Lu / Armada by Ernest Cline / Otherland by Tad Williams / In Real Life by Cory Doctorow / Unplugged by Donna Freitas

Hive (Mind) The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft / Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie / City of Broken Magic by Mirah Bolender

Steampunk Soulless by Gail Carrigher / Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve / Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld / Boneshaker by Cherie Priest / Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina

Super Powers The Reckoners by Brandon Sanderson / Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore / Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee / Nimona by Noelle Stevenson / The Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan

Science Better known as heavy sci-fi if you go searching for books Foundation by Isaac Asimov / World War Z by Max Brooks / The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson / Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Replicate/Replica Accelerando by Charles Stross / Replica by Lauren Oliver / Evolution by Stephen Baxter / The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

Space Colonization The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Briggs / Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie / The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradburry

Mecha Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel / Gundam Wing by Haijme Hatate / Dreadnought by Cherie Priest

Space Creatures/Beasts Mistworld by Simon Green / Dune by Frank Herbert /  Alien by Alan Dean Foster /

Teleportation Jumper by Stephen Gould / Timeline by Michael Crighton / The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter / The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Space Western The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury / Six-Gun Planet by John Yakes / Trigun by Yasuhiro Nightow / Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon / Cowboy Bebop by Yutaka Nanten

The Moon The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer / Moonseed by Stephen Baxter / Artemis by Andy Weir / Red Rising by Pierce Brown / The First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells

Invasion Alien or Human The Andromedia Strain by Michael Crighton / Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout / The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore / The Alien Years by Robert Silverberg / Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card / First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells / Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein

General

For this you can use sci-fi and fantasy where you can make them fit.

Satire Discworld by Terry Pratchett / Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams / The Portable Door by Tom Holt / Red Shirts by John Scalzi /

Novella Binty by Nnedi Okorafor / Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire / The Ghost Line by Andrew Neil Gray / The Girl Who Rules Fairyland – For a Little While by Catheryne M. Valente

Finish a Series For this you can read the other books for other prompts throughout this challenge and read the last one here or finish a series you previously started. Or you could just read a whole series for this prompt alone. Whatever you want haha.

Mental Health Stormlight Archives by Branden Sanderson (depression) / The Magicians by Lev Grossman (depression) / Witchmark by C.L Polk (PTSD) / Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (PTSD)

Disability * On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis (autism) / October Daye by Seanan McGuire (weelchair) *Kristen from Metaphors and Moonlight created a masterlist.

Set in Africa Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor  / Zoo City by Lauren Beukes / The Famished Road by Ben Okri / Changa’s Safari by Milton J. Davis

Library Library is semi-important in the book Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor / Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine / The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman / The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins /

By a Woman of Color Nnedi Okorafor / N.K. Jemisin / Tomi Adeyemi / Julie Kagawa / Malinda Lo / Heidi Helig / to name only a few…

One Word Title / Under 500 Pages / Over 800 Pages / Published Before 1990 I don’t think I need to make a list for these, right?

If you have any recs for any of these categories (especially Disability, Mental Health, Set in Africa and PTSD) than please leave them down below.

Printables

Let me know if these don’t work to save.

Dancing with Fantasy and Sci-Fi – A (2019) Reading Challenge + Bingo Cards Intro You know sometimes I like to challenge myself. How to Play This reading challenge consists of 3 sections.

[jojodancingaroundtheworld]

Cultural Dances: The Dragon dance, China

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my series of blog posts that explores, compares, and appreciates dance through different cultures. There are many ways in which we express ourselves culturally and dance happens to be my favorite. We tend to generalize by regions or continents and often forget how the same culture could have different practices just a city away. China for example has more than 50 ethnic groups with and with those, thousands of folk dances such as the lion dance, rattle stick dance, and even the peace drum dance. Out of the many folk dances in China, today we will be covering the one most of us have probably heard of: The dragon dance.

The Dragon Dance : The lion dance originated from the Han Dynasty in 20C BC-24 AD and was originally performed to please the ancestors and prevent sickness and hunger by pleading for enough rain for crops. They have since become a cultural activity. 

Colors of Dragons and Patterns of the Dance

Rules for Dragon Dance include: 

Green for spring season and good harvest

 Red for summer and excitement,

 White for autumn and

Black for winter and

 Yellow symbolizing the sole empire. (All the colors symbolizing the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water).

Golden or silver colors symbolize prosperity.

The patterns of the dragon dance are choreographed according to the skills and experiences acquired by the performers. Some of the patterns of the dragon dance are "Cloud Cave", "Whirlpool", Tai-Chi pattern, "Threading The Money", "Looking For Pearl", and "Dragon Encircling The Pillar". The movement "Dragon Chasing The Pearl" shows that the dragon is continually in the pursuit of wisdom.

The dragon moves in a wave-like pattern achieved by the coordinated swinging of each section in succession. 

Because it is such an elaborate dance I will not be able to demonstrate but here’s a really cool videos that does. 

https://youtu.be/vi95ZTEHoL8?t=36

similarities 

The Chinese dragon dance is similar to some African dances as it is performed during special occasions and involves intricate dancing and props. They are both dances to the beat of the drum and are used to bring people together and have been a huge part of their culture for a very long time. 

Because China has an interdependent culture I'm sure this part or their culture and tradition will be here to stay for many generations to come.

sources 

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/dragon_dance.htm#:~:text=The%20Dragon%20Dance%20originated%20from,gradually%20become%20a%20cultural%20activity.

https://www.starquestdance.com/%E2%80%A8ten-dance-around-the-world/

[bforbookslut]

Emily R. King’s The Rogue Queen Returns With a Fiery Blaze of Dark Forces, Broken Hearts and New Revelations – An ARC Review

I have given The Rogue Queen by Emily R. King a ☆☆☆☆ rating. It is Book 3 of The Hundredth Queen series. It belongs to the Young Adult Fantasy genre with some Romance. Skyscape publishes it. It was published February 13, 2018.

The blurb reads:

Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon.

That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles.

In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void.

To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

Add to Your Shelf  | Amazon | Author

Follow Me On: Goodreads | Instagram | Other Reviews 

Hi, kings and queens! Phew, after three blog tours, I’m pooped and that’s why this review is a little later than normal. Oh, who am I kidding? My schedule is more like guidelines anyway (if you get this reference, I love you). As always, my reviews may contain spoilers. I say may because what’s a spoiler to you may not be a spoiler for me.

If you’re not caught up on my reviews with The Hundredth Queen series, here are my reviews for:

Book 1: The Hundredth Queen

Book 2: The Fire Queen

Now that we’re all caught up, I just want to say that it’s been an incredibly long love-hate relationship between me and this series. Briefly, there is a lot of cultural appropriation and misappropriation that I’ve grown uncomfortable with over the course of the three books and which I have very vocally and viciously called out. But, I still come back to it over and over again because, just judging by my increasingly generous ratings, The Hundredth Queen series is kinda awesome. And I’ve learnt to just put aside whatever negative feelings I have for this series and just appreciate it for what it is: an epic tale of how one woman can change the world. Of course, there’s magic and stuff but Kalinda is an amazing spirit and reminds me of Aelin, sans whining.

And, for the first time, I don’t have a negative word to say. Like absolutely nothing. I’d give it five stars but we started on a bad foot and the appropriation still bothers me. More under the cut!

The plot picks up immediately where we left off in The Fire Queen: Kalinda fleeing her home with Ashwin and Deven. And the love triangle between Kalinda, Ashwin and Deven continues and lordy, you guys know how much I detest love triangles. We also get loads of amazing battles, revelations and alliances. But, I won’t say anymore. I don’t want to spoil anything so I really can’t discuss plot because we’re at the point where everything is important and everything is a spoiler. And while I did find it moved a little slowly at times, it was well-paced.

Kalinda, has grown so much, in my opinion. From a scared temple ward, to sister warrior, kindred, queen and fire bhuta, I’ve grown to really love her. I wasn’t a big fan of her at the beginning but she’s grown confident and sure of herself. And her unfailing love and loyalty to her friends and Deven is inspiring, something we definitely see often in fantasy heroines. But, we rarely see one who sticks with the same lover for the entire series. While Kalinda isn’t the first heroine that comes to mind when someone asks me for my faves (because my judgement is clouded by the appropriation), she’s definitely made the list now.

Deven, as well has come a long way since the first book. I always thought he was incredibly whiny, always very judgemental of Kalinda’s decisions and always looking to tie her down to him and their dream of having a quiet life in the countryside. But, he is the real star of The Rogue Queen and the author really stepped up her game when it came to his character arc. In The Rogue Queen, he learns to let Kalinda make the decisions and trust her when she does. He doesn’t hold her back, he lets her fly free and return to him. It’s definitely a change in him and I was super happy for that. He also accepted that his place is with the army, protecting Kalinda and ugh, my heart. He doesn’t top my list of book boyfriends but he’s not bad.

The Rogue Queen is once again told from both Kalinda and Deven’s perspectives, allowing their party to be split up and have their own adventures but ultimately meeting up for the final showdown. But at this point, I keep feeling like The Hundredth Queen series, or at least, The Rogue Queen is just a bunch of filler episodes. It’s like these events are important but they’re all just fluff building up to the main event and we don’t know what that is. This was also my concern with The Fire Queen: it’s not a full story but rather episodic and it kind of bothers me because it takes you along for a ride and then leaves you hanging, unsatisfied.

I absolutely loved The Rogue Queen and it has taken me three books to be able to accept the series as it is. I’d say you definitely have to read it but you will have to get through the first book which to me, is full of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. This review edition may differ from the final edition.

[wallpaperpainting]

One Checklist That You Should Keep In Mind Before Attending Water Sunset Painting | Water Sunset Painting

It is dark and I am continuing on the top of one of the Towers of Silence — a mive bedrock bastion area the Zoroastrians already laid out their asleep for the vultures, to abstain communicable the air with cremation, or the apple with burial.

I attending bottomward on the arid burghal of Yazd, in the affection of the Iranian plateau. The adobe-walled adjustment glows at dusk, awash with life. There are hidden cafés bottomward the ambagious streets, area university acceptance appear out at night to allotment ice-cream sundaes, coffees and mocktails. I’m not the aboriginal traveller to abatement in adulation with this place. Some seven centuries ago, Marco Polo absolved through the colonnades of its brick-vaulted bazaar, autograph admiringly of this “good and blue-ed city”.

From the tower, I can see the mural of axial Iran addition for afar in every direction. And it hits me — the realisation that the bodies of this acreage accept been formed for centuries by invasion, the ability that adverse armies could appear at any time from any direction. As they did. Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Mongols.

For about six weeks, amid March and June aftermost year, I travelled beyond Iran to appointment a dozen of its 22 Unesco-listed cultural ancestry sites, authoritative a three-part alternation for BBC Arts. We went from the age-old Elamite ziggurat burghal of Chogha Zanbil in the southwestern desert, to Mashhad in the north-east, area the catacomb of the 18th-century emperor Nader Shah — the alleged “Napoleon” of Iran — draws Iranians from all over the apple to reflect on the acme of the aftermost Persian empire.

There are abounding indigenous groups beside Persians in

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[heathyearnings101]

Blog About Travel

Blog About Travel

Blog About Travel as traveling is our way to seek beauty, understand culture and feast our soul on the richness of diverse landscapes. Each travel destination in the world is a journey through these enriching factors that gives true meaning to our wandering. Sometimes we can even monetize this travels. When it comes to the must-visit places in the world, there are a few places that are known as the best destinations in the world.

note this article may contain affiliate offers if you purchase any of the offers I may have a commission. *(affiliate link)*

Are you someone Blog About Travel and who wants to experience the best of culture, food and scenic beauty? Then there is a list of 50 must-visit places in the world you should add to your travel bucket list.

1. Rome, Italy

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Travelers from all around the world agree that there’s something dreamy and enigmatic about this city. Be it the art, the culture, or the ruins of The Forum and the Colosseum that evoke the power of the ancient Roman Empire. This city top the list, when we talk about the, must visit places in the world, for obvious reasons. Rome stands as a city with the perfect blend of modern with ancient. When you walk down its streets, you will find yourself swiftly time traveling. Blog About Travel the food culture of Rome has given Pasta and Gelato to the world so when you get tired of walking and traveling you can indulge your senses in some amazing culinary treats.

Type of vacation: Historic, Romantic, Luxury

2. Vatican City, Among must visit places in the world

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The centerpiece of Christianity is unlike what you imagine it to be. Vatican City’s environment is nothing that one can call religiously dull and gloomy. The vibrant atmosphere of the smallest country in the world is full of surprises for travelers. From beautiful museums to glorious churches, the Vatican is a paradise for the lovers of history and architecture. It is said that the Vatican Museums span over 9 miles of exotic art, sculptures and precious artifacts. Each and every building of the Vatican has beautiful ceilings that look like heaven. The cafes of the Vatican are popular for its delicious pizza, salads, and sandwiches.

Type of vacation: Historic, Cultural

3. Sydney, Australia

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The glorious Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are not the only charms of this Australian city. Blessed with a mild and warm climate, it is one of the must-visit places for travelers throughout the year. Blog About Travel about the magnificent beaches will ensure that your eyes never get bored. The art gallery of New South Wales and The Museum of Contemporary arts are two of the popular destinations for the art lovers while the music aficionados can spend time at Opera house or one of the free concerts. Doesn’t matter what part of the world you are from, and your interests are, Sydney will never disappoint you.

Type of vacation: Luxury

4. Singapore

Exploring the cleanest place in Asia is a grand experience that one should not miss visiting. This modern island has every comfort and luxury that a traveler would wish for. Singapore has an amazing skyline and you could best enjoy that from the Giant Ferris Wheel. The amazing view of the city makes it one of the must-visit places in the world. Singapore offers some wonderful tourist experiences like SuperTree Grove Light Show, Cloud Forest, Wander Light and Water Show, Singapore Botanical Gardens and much more to choose from.

Blog About Travel

5. London, England — One of the must visit places

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The city of London effortlessly mingles the antique and the contemporary, through a dizzying array of sights, smells, and sounds. This timeless city has something for everyone, from the Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. It captures the interests of the people who are fascinated by the grandiose of the royal family, to the West End Theatre District and the Portobello Road Market which attract the art and culture appreciators. Take a river cruise on the River Thames, enjoy the sights of the city from the top of the Eye of London or just hop around from a pub to another around Soho and London Bridge.

Type of Vacation: Luxury, Historical

6. Porto, Portugal

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The coastal city of Porto has all the ingredients that make up for a perfect travel destination, a remarkable shoreline, charismatic architecture, and the greatest delight — port wine. Also Known as the City of Bridges. Porto is home to numerous iron bridges, including one designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed the Eiffel Tower. Francescinha, a local Porto specialty, is a large sandwich with an ample amount of fillings of meat and vegetables is a must try. Exploring Porto is a treat for music lovers. One can enjoy live music at street corners and even attend a concert a Casa De Musica. Also, watching a football match in Portugal for a fan is like taking part in a religious activity.

Blog About Travel

7. New York City, United States of America — One of the must visit places

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Countless artists have tried to capture the spirit of New York City through music, paintings, and photographs, but to realize the true enormity of this concrete jungle, you have to visit it yourself. From looking at the Empire State Building, people-watching, to shopping in Fifth Avenue, this city offers you an exhilarating array of activities to take part in.

Type of Vacation: Luxury

8. Bagan, Myanmar

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Bagan is popular for its more than 2000 Buddhist temples. While most of them are under restoration by UNESCO, it should not stop you from exploring this culturally rich region of Asia. Buledi, Thebeik Hmauk, Oak-Kyaung-Gyi, Shwe-Leik-Too are few of the famous temples of Bagan. These ancient monuments are also popular for their spectacular views during the sunrise and sunset. Bagan is a paradise for the foodies who can try the most exotic dishes from the Burmese culinary culture. These popular delicacies range from Nepalese Thali, amazing curries, Fish with Green Chili Curry and Tibetan MoMo. Make sure you add this city to your list of must visit places in the world.

Type of Vacation: Cultural, History, Budget

9. Paris, France — Among the must-visit places

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Well, any list of must visit places in the world is incomplete with this place not being on the list. Paris is the city of love, of romance, of art. Almost everyone has Paris on their travel bucket list.

Even though the city is filled with historical sites. Places like Arc de Triomphe, Château de Versailles and, of course, the Eiffel Tower, and has a delightful cuisine, the best part about Paris is its magical and unforgettable atmosphere. Paris has something to offer to everyone. To a honeymoon lover, it offers romantic walks down the beautiful lanes of the city. For the art and history lovers, it offers a never-ending tour of the Louvre. Those who wish to relish the amazing French cuisine can simply spend their time at the classic cafes of the city.

Type of Vacation: Romantic, Luxury

10. New Zealand

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Fans of the epic, ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ will rejoice on their trip to New Zeeland as the movie was entirely in this country. New Zeeland boasts of a landscape unlike nowhere else. Open sightings of Whales, pristine waterfalls and lush green meadows are some of the wonders you’ll encounter during your trip in this country.

Type of Vacation: Adventure

11. Amsterdam, Holland — Among the must-visit places

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This Dutch party city is famous because of its amazing bars, museums and art galleries. The city is interconnected with hundreds of canals which popularly gives it the name of The Floating City. Amsterdam can be best explored on bikes, scooters, or by a canal cruise. For the art lovers, The Van Gogh Museum is an amazing way to take a peek into the life and times of this renowned artist, while the Anne Frank house will tell you about the horrors of The World Wars on Europe. An amazing which gives you freedom and one of the must-visit places in the world.

Type of Vacation: Cultural

12. Muscat, The Sultanate of Oman

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No other tourist destination rose to fame the way Oman did. This exotic paradise has a setting that seems to have come out from the stories of 1001 nights. With beautiful architecture, vintage markets, wildlife, Canyon, beaches, Muscat has everything that a tourist wants. The beaches of Oman are an important turtle nesting location and thus attract a lot of scientists and researchers. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a breathtaking piece of Islamic architecture. You can also visit the Old Muscat and take a lesson or two about the history of Oman. This city is also a paradise for the food lovers who for sure will fall in love with the amazing culinary culture of Oman. One can try goat and lamb dishes like Shuwa and Makbous local desserts like Harees and Thareed. The cuisine of Oman is so amazing that you’ll keep asking for more.

Type of Vacation: Food, Culture

13. Lucerne, Switzerland

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It is a charming quaint town of Switzerland known for its colorful vistas and gondola rides on the snow filled mountains. The beautiful Lucerne Lake, Chapel Bridge, Old Medieval Town, The Fountain of Fritschi are some of the iconic places that one should simply not miss during their trip. Lucerne is the home of winter sports with gorgeous ski resorts hidden in the lap of the mountains. The ski resorts in the Canton of Lucerne go up to the height of 2350 m.

Type of Vacation: Romantic, Adventure

14. Prague, Czech Republic

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When you visit the city of Prague, you take a step back in time, in a good way. The city has an abundance of Gothic structures, stretching from the Old Town Square to the Prague Castle. You could walk across the Charles Bridge, rub one of the 30 saint statues for luck, and marvel at the power of time looking at the Prague Astronomical Clock.

Type of Vacation: Romantic

15. Kandy, Sri Lanka

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Kandy is probably the most scenic and atmospheric places in Sri Lanka. It is known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka as this quaint town is the home to many festivals and religious processions. The Temple of a tooth in Kandy has one of the Buddha’s teeth that was brought here after his cremation.

Type of Vacation: History, Budget

16. Florence, Italy

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The ancient city of Florence has roots dating back to 59 BC. You will find yourself looking at buildings that have been standing since time immemorial. This historic city is deemed a world a heritage site by UNESCO. A trip to Florence is like taking a walk down the pages of a history book, enticing and marvelous.

This city is filled with romantic alleyways and picturesque corners just waiting to be discovered. You can also take day trips to local vineyards for wine tasting and to explore the Tuscan countryside.

Type of Vacation: Cultural

17. Goa, India

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Goa is an exotic beach destination that attracts travelers and backpackers from all around the world because of its tropical charm. Known for lovely beach shacks, scrumptious seafood, lush green backwaters and cheap booze, the vacationing experience in Goa is unlike any other destination. The adventure sports lovers can enjoy scuba diving, paragliding, parasailing, jet ski, trekking and hiking in different corners of this state. Goa holiday packages are a hit among locals and the foreign tourist, it’s one of the must-visit places in the world.

Type of Vacation: Leisure, Adventure

18. Xi’an, China

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When it comes to traveling in China, there is hardly any destination as exotic and rugged the way Xi’an is. The home to 11 dynasties who ruled China, the city of Xi’an survives as a destination that history enthusiasts find very intriguing. This city has still kept its ancient walls intact. A walk around these walls offers great views of the town and often presents a wonder like Guangren Temple right in front of you. The most amazing part of exploring Xi’an is the Terracotta Army. These warriors have stood guard at the location for more than 2000 years. Walking through the series of ever-vigilant guards is bound to send goosebumps inside you.

Type of Vacation: History

19. Istanbul, Turkey

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Istanbul takes you to the Ottoman Era with the many heritage buildings and palaces lying in every corner of the city. Walking about Topkapı or Dolmabahçe Palaces takes you through the time when Istanbul used to be a powerful country ruled by mighty emperors. The Sufi Culture thrived and flourished in Istanbul, even today you’ll see Sufi artists, philosophers, and musicians wandering around for inspiration. Who knows, a visit to this beautiful town may send the inspiration down your soul that you are looking for.

Type of Vacation: History, Cultural

20. Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Among must visit places before you die

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Dubai is one of the seven Emirates that make the United Arab Emirates. Known for its grandeur, exotic desert safaris, and elegant shopping malls, Dubai is one of the most hospitable and welcoming cities of the world. When in Dubai, you can go on a shopping spree, ride a bumpy 4×4 in the dunes, camp in the desert under the stars or take a view of the city while standing on the top of the Burj Khalifa.

There is so much to do that you’ll keep visiting again and again. Legoland Dubai is one of the finest entertainment parks in the world perfect for those who are traveling with kids. You see, Dubai is one stop destination for travelers of all ages and makes sure that everyone has a memorable time of their life during their visit.

Type of Vacation: Luxury

21. Copenhagen, Denmark

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Copenhagen is a quaint and charming destination known for its cobbled streets, colorful buildings and tiny glowing cafes. The tiny colorful town is known for its beautiful palaces and the activities associated with them. Go for a tower climb session at Christiansburg Palace, explore the knight’s hall at Rosenberg, and take a tour of the island where Frederiksborg Palace is situated. Copenhagen’s food culture also makes it one of the best in the world. The stalls of Torvehallerne Markets offer delicious local cuisines varying from seafood, gourmet chocolates, delicious pastries, cheese, meats, salads, coffee, and juices. Copenhagen is a paradise for the architecture lovers and those who love taking walks on the pretty cobbled streets.

Type of Vacation: History, Food

22. Kyoto, Japan — Among must visit places

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The cultural capital of Japan is known for its quaint surroundings, beautiful gardens and the slow pace at which life moves here. Kyoto’s free gardens are the most romantic spot in the town and become more scenic during the Cherry Blossom season. Unlike Tokyo, you won’t find any tall buildings in Kyoto, this is the town of everything artistic and beautiful. Surrounded by the mountains on three sides, Kyoto has some amazing hiking trails. Those who wish to give climbing a miss can instead explore the magical bamboo groves. Still wondering why it’s one of the must-visit places in the world? Buy Japan tour packages and experience it yourself.

Type of Vacation: Cultural, Romantic

23. Salzburg, Austria

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Mozart’s birthplace is the home to musical geniuses who come here to find inspiration. Located on the border of Austria and Germany, Salzburg is famous for its buildings from Medieval and Baroque eras. Due to the influence of music on this city, you would find many jazz and contemporary-music clubs. There are bars in every corner of the town that showcase new and upcoming talents. During Christmas, Salzburg comes to life with its lovely Christmas markets where they offer homemade chocolates and trinkets.

Type of Vacation: Cultural

24. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Among must visit places

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Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia is popular as an exotic shopping destination between many. Kuala Lumpur is one of the cities known for its multicultural lifestyle and you can find the influence of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai cultures in the lifestyle of its residents. When in KL, a visit to Petronas Towers is a recommended activity.

You can explore the food street of Jalan Alor, have some fun at Sunway Lagoon Adventure Park or indulge in some street shopping at Chinatown. Apart from local experiences, you can also visit the oldest mosque of Kuala Lumpur Masjid Jamek Mosque, and explore the historical Merdeka Square. Climbing the 272 steps of Batu Caves is not a bad idea either.

Type of Vacation: Luxury, Cultural

25. Ladakh, India

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Ladakh is the perfect vacation spot for those who have a strong affinity for gorgeous landscapes. As one of the few cold deserts in the world, Ladakh is known for its pristine views of The Himalayas. Ladakh offers excellent trekking points, hides some of the most glorious monasteries in the world and gives you a first-hand account of the Tibetan culture through the local festivals and food.

Credits : Mohit Vandra

[aliesteem]

The Wonderful World of Focaccia

Great original photos were lost in the making of this writing piece. I’ve googled the best photos I could in replacement!

In the world of baking and pastry, there are thousands and thousands of unique foods rooted as cultural staples. Focaccia is one of them. A flavorful and traditional Italian bread. There is, surprisingly rich history behind the cloud-textured bread. I’m exploring it as well as a review of the focaccia I’ve eaten at bakeries La Focaccia of Eataly and Amy’s Bakery from taste, texture, composition to appearance. 

First off, we must know what focaccia is exactly.  As we know focaccia is a flat Italian bread but also known as the Roman words “panis focacius” literally meaning bread. It is a truly easy bread to create. All Recipes Magazines tells its readers “This may be the fastest yeast bread you make; it takes only one hour from conception to completion” It only consists of the simple ingredients of flour, water, dry yeast, salt, and olive oil. Historians believe that this basic recipe originated either in Northern Italy, ancient Greece or Rome before the growth of its empire. In the early years of focaccia, its dough was dimpled lightly with oil and baked on a piping hot tile on the face of a fire. These dimples can also be called dotting. The History of Focaccia Bread by Abigail’s Bakery describes dotting, “this creates multiple wells in the bready by using a finger or the handle of the utensils to poke the unbaked dough.” Within the process of baking the bread would be punctured to release steam from the bubbles that would accumulate on the surface of the bread. After, moisture is preserved by wetting the bread with more generous amounts of olive oil in these wells. According to The History of Things, focaccia wasn’t always meant to have risen during cooking. Their article states “Historically focaccia was unleavened, the recipe rises naturally in the right climate” over time yeast was added to give height to the bread in quicker time.  

There are other changes of focaccia that altered over time. The focaccia was once associated with Christmas Eve and Epiphany and only be eaten at that specific time of year. Since then Italian cuisine has branched out. Focaccia is now eaten all year round. New flavors have been incorporated “They can contain olive oil, rosemary, sage, garlic, cheeses, and onion. There are also sweet recipes of focaccia containing eggs, honey, raisins, anise, sugar, and lemon or orange peel.” Cultures in around the world such as Burgundy, Argentina, and Spain have their own versions of focaccia called fouaisse, fugazza and hogaza.  

There is also the continuous misconception that focaccia is merely pizza. “Focaccia is not pizza; it is not even a Sicilian deep dish pizza. Focaccia doesn’t have cheese on it; it’s actually flatbread … it is generally not as fluffy as focaccia” says It’s Not Pizza … its Focaccia article by 2gourmaniacs. In Italy pizza and focaccia are seen as two widely different foods. It is often foreigners or those unfamiliar to the cultures that confuse the two. Pizza is its own full meal whereas focaccia is considered a light snack or accompanying a dish such as soups, cooked meats, and salads or as sandwiches.  

I made a phone call to Amy’s Bakery of Chelsea Market on Manhattan’s 9th Ave and W. 16th street. I told them I was doing my own research of focaccia for a blog. The lady over the phone was thrilled and agreed to give me free focaccia to taste and assess. When I arrived there the next day with my friend. I love Chelsea Market. I’ve been there in the past, the colorful, unique shops is stimulating and exciting every time I go there. As I walked into Amy’s Breads I went to the cashier and gave my name. They were incredibly friendly and immediately knew who I was. An employee went in the back room and came back with cute, small paper folded neatly at the top with a note with my name and a smiling face stapled to the top. It was so adorable and kind. The employee asked me to go to the side of the store where she gave the paper bag and explained the flavored focaccia. I was given fragrant rosemary focaccia that also smelled of sweet vinegar.  I gave a piece to my friend and then took a big bite. I was immediately disappointed.  The focaccia was crusty but not in a good way. It tasted super dry, stale as if it was left out for a long period of time. Looking past the texture, the flavor wasn’t redeeming. The tangy, overbearing, vinegar taste took over the entire bread leaving my mouth sour. I felt as if I was forcing myself to chomp it down. I put the remaining bread back in the paper bag, rolled it up and stuffed it in my purse to give to my family members later on if they wanted it. I appreciated the great hospitality of Amy’s Breads but I didn’t enjoy their actual food. I went to go buy a bottle of juice to wash out the tang from my mouth. My friend did like it a bit more, however; consuming the entire big piece she had in her hand. She told me it could be the delight of free food that altered her perception of the focaccia and honestly I think that’s exactly what it was.  

The same day I arrived at my second bakery, La Focaccia. La Focaccia is a bakery specializing in breads in the famous Eataly market located on 5th Ave and 23 street in Manhattan, New York City.  I didn’t call beforehand plus I was in a rush this time around so I had to hurry up and buy. The atmosphere of Eataly was just as fast-paced as I was and La Focaccia itself was packed with a long line. The employees were quick to serve customers but did not have any hospitality as in connecting with the customers. There was barely any eye contact but I’m sure it was because of how congested the area was.   Luckily, I was tended in a matter of minutes and purchased a thick slice of focaccia bread topped with ham, basil, and mozzarella cheese for about $5. At very first taste I was impressed. The focaccia bread had a nice golden, brown color. It had a soft texture to the tongue  and the flavor was simplistic, the ham added the perfect touch of saltiness. The mozzarella added pleasant moisture and the strong kick of the basil herb came in and brought it all together. I liked this focaccia so much I gobbled it down. I thoroughly enjoyed La Focaccia’s bread and would definitely go back again. Amy’s Breads and La Focaccia are both bakeries that focus on breads specifically.  Experiencing the hospitality of their stores and the focaccia product itself I grasp just how dissimilar they are from each other. Amy’s Bread’s for one has inviting employees. They smiled, laughed and remembered customer’s names automatically. Whereas in La Focaccia, workers seemed much disassociated with no time to engage with customers other than to sell. When it comes to pure hospitality and quality of communication between buyer and seller Amy’s Bread wins with no argument at all.  

On the reverse, La Focaccia’s focaccia was delicious and well-made. The focaccia was so tender with a soft chew. The flavors were powerful but did not overwhelm me like the rosemary and vinegar at Amy’s Breads. I could tell that La Focaccia makes their breads fresh often where I sense that Amy’s Bread bakes focaccia themselves but may store batches for the following days and it’s easy to detect in the dry cardboard feel.   When I look into what these bakeries advertise I have a better understanding on why the results of their focaccia bread are the way they are. Amy’s Bread’s website elaborates what they provide in-store, “We offer a full selection of morning pastries, sandwiches, and salads, cookies, bars, cupcakes, layer cakes, coffee and espresso beverages”  From this I see Amy’s Breads has a wide focus on what they serve and what I found out from the manager the focaccia there is only made seasonally.  Focaccia is not Amy’s Bread’s specialty where it is at La Focaccia. On  La Focaccia’s website, they immediately state on their main page, “Eataly's bakery (La Focaccia) offers an abundant selection of focaccia, an Italian flatbread topped with high-quality ingredients.”  Visitor’s come mainly to La Focaccia for the Italian flatbread. It would make sense that this bakery would have perfected their focaccia recipes and procedures more so than Amy’s Breads. Evaluating texture, taste, and appearance La Focaccia has the better bread product easily. If a bakery had the hospitality of Amy’s Breads paired with La Focaccia’s quality of product it would create an all-round excellent experience.  

[papersandkeyboards]

5/9-15: Went Chicagoan Jewish for a Day (or not really) (aka ‘antek-antek Yahudi!’ as some jerk would say)

33rd WEEK, MAY 9-15, 2016.

Many exciting things happened this week.

But I have the right to prioritize which one deserves to be mentioned first.

This Thursday, I finally (finally) watched Captain America: Civil War.

And if you’re reading this blog for quite some time, it can be seen that I am sort of a hardcore MCU fangirl. At least compared to my friends.

I just died watching the movie. Imagine my heart is an egg and the movie screenwriters and actors were some extremely good scrambled egg makers.

I just can’t.

I cussed and swore so much during the movie, even though I was there by myself (actually—it’s because I was there by myself), and just being emotional in my own little world. By the time the movie was over entirely, I didn’t even have the mood for anything. I was either about to explode or just melt and let myself washed away to the drain and to the Puget Sound. And never come back again.

Huh. I wish my fangirl fellow Darin or Ica was here. They have been the only ones qualified enough to talk the shit out of any marvel movies with me. We can handle each other, and other people, apparently, just can’t handle or understand me being emotionally overwhelmed over some fictional stuff.

Anyway.

Summer is approaching, and on Wednesday the 11th the day hit the thermostat a good 26 Celcius, so after school I went to Capitol Hill and bought myself an unapologetic cup of frozen yogurt across the street from Seattle Central.

However, the highlight of the week, like with almost all cases, came on the weekend.

Karen’s nephew, Gabe, was having his bar mitzvah that weekend. Good news: his family, of course, invited Karen and her family over for it. Good news #2: Karen’s sister and her family lived in Chicago, IL.

Hell yeah! It’s not everyday you can go to big cities like Chicago (unless, well, you live in or nearby Chicago) AND go to a bar mitzvah (unless, well, you happen to have a lot of Jewish relative or friends).

For those who haven’t known, bar mitzvah (or bat mitzvah, for female) is a coming-of-age ritual, meaning a ritual that marks a young person’s transition from being a child to being an adult, that is practised by the Jews—

“Jews?!”

—is probably what your response would be if you’re a typical, religiously conservative Indonesian Muslim who credit most of your knowledge to controversial-titled articles on Facebook that are shared by friends from exclusively your own circle.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, and I’m not supposed to talk about my tolerant/intolerant country in this entry, so let’s get back to my main point.

Gabe here was 13 years old, so, in order to mark his coming to adulthood, a bar mitzvah was held. Let’s say... uhm, a bar mitzvah is an equivalent to Indonesian ‘khitanan’, a ritual after a boy’s circumcision to celebrate his first steps to adulthood.

Karen and Eric and I left Seattle in the afternoon, which means I had to leave school a couple hours earlier to catch the plane. After we arrived, we rented a car and drove to the hotel. Later at night, I finally met Ayesha, Karen’s mother, and us four spent some time talking.

Saturday morning, we went to Downtown Chicago to have breakfast and walk around. We crossed the Chicago River and passed by the Trump Tower. But our main destination was Millenium Park.

You see, when I thought of Chicago, I thought about this particular piece of art I wanted to see for myself. It was this sculpture, sitting right in the middle of the park. The sculpture has a power to amaze everyone who sees it, and at the same time providing a new perspective to see the Chicago skyline and the buildings surrounding it. Designed by an Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor in 2004, the stainless-steel sculpture was initially and officially named “Cloud Gate”. Thanks to public’s creativity and appreciation of its shape, the sculpture is more widely known as... The Bean.

To be fair, it DOES look like a bean. However, I felt somewhat sorry for the artist that had surely thought about the philosophy behind the name Cloud Gate and how the name will inspire people and all that. But I guess the first time people saw the sculpture, they went “oh, it looks like a giant bean!” hence the name.

Think about nicknames that you give to your friends or that have been given to you by your friends. It’s like how a person is named Richard, but everyone just end up calling him Dick. Or a name as pretty as Zahra but everyone end up calling her Ijah. Or something like that. There are indeed some people in my school who are so widely known by their nicknames, anyone hardly know what their real, birth names are.

However, in any way, The Bean (or Cloud Gate, whatever) is so pretty, no matter the weather. It can be sunny or cloudy and it still manages to reflect the whole scenery around it perfectly.

And right under the bean structure was ever crazier. The structure was bent and shaped in such a way that it provided multiple reflections of you in different forms, like a kaleidoscope. Looking at it was hypnotizing, and making me dizzy if I stared at it for too long.

Oh, and it’s cool that I could see the photographer in the picture because he was reflected by the bean behind me. Ehe.

Then we moved to the next block, the next cool thing about the city, the Art Institute of Chicago. (which is what we could cram in a day of Chicago) More than a place where people study—like the sound ‘Institute’ gives—it was more like a museum, like the Met. It had everything in there, for real.

I would say that the Met has more complete collection than Art Institute of Chicago just because the Met is more famous and the whole building is probably as vast as my neighborhood back home, but AIC contained a lot of artefacts and other kinds of old stuff from different times and places, like Ancient Greece and Roman Empire. There were also extensive collections from the Middle East during the rise of Islam, from India, Africa, China, and Europe, with artefacts related to their respective culture and certain religion the region was dominated by.

I’m a statue person, and most likely not a painting person. Seriously, though, my art senses are probably dull enough that I don’t enjoy paintings as much as people do in general (especially those of abstract paintings). Thus, what I did when Eric and Karen and pretty much everyone in the room were philosophically and emotionally connected to an acrylic representation of grass, I took pictures of them.

Alright. Time to bail as evening was approaching and we needed to be at Karen’s sister’s house for dinner before the ceremony. Karen told me to dress real formal—because maybe last time they took me to a formal event—that was a wedding—I wore a cardigan over a long-sleeved shirt and—wait for it—a pair of sneakers. Karen made sure I did NOT wear sneakers (or shirts) for the bar mitzvah, and thus, left me with the only acceptable shoes I had: a painful pair of high high heels. It was black and fancy and I looked good in it, but it was for sure after the event I decided to throw those elegant representation of hell.

When we got to the venue, it became clearer that it was indeed a black tie event. Good thing about having a dinner party with the Jews: kosher food! Kosher is like food guidelines for Jews, the same way us Muslims categorize food and beverages into halal or not halal. Now, I don’t know the full scope of what makes a food or beverage kosher, but I do know that both kosher and halal guidelines strictly and entirely prohibit swine (or any kind of pig product), and that is good enough for me in this kind of situation.

Quick tip: when you’re in the US and is really self-conscious about your belief in halal diet, if you can’t find a proven halal food, look for kosher ones. (especially for products in packaging like salt or biscuits and such kinds, finding a kosher mark in the packaging is good enough if you can’t find products with halal mark on it)

After dinner we moved with our respective vehicles to the synagogue for the ceremony. Synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. Before we entered the main room, the men were given this small head covering—that was so small it didn’t really cover the whole head—that I’d later figured is called a kippah. Gabe, the man of the hour, besides wearing a kippah himself, also wore a kind of prayer shawl called tallit.

(illustration--photography was not allowed during the ceremony--at least the one i attended)

During the ceremony, there were chants and songs—in Hebrew—but the main event was the reading of the Torah—big rolls of Jewish scriptures. Presumably just about everyone in the room paid attention to the reading but me, but to be honest it’s not even easy for me to concentrate when an imaam—the leader of a Muslim prayer, when done collectively—recites long verses of the Quran during prayers (being able to read and write Arabic doesn’t help when you can’t understand the language itself), let alone a set of long verses in Hebrew. So what does a girl with zero understanding of the Torah and a quite short attention span do during this time?

She decided to open the holy book in front of her seat and tried to decipher the Hebrew alphabet.

Prepare for a quick elaboration on her observation regarding Hebrew and its comparison to Arabic. (<--calon judul skripsi S1 Sastra Arab/Ibrani)

I guess now I understood why people who don’t understand Arabic see nothing but unreadable wiggly lines—even I’ve heard people said to me that all the scribbles look the same. It took a while for me to figure out that Hebrew and Arabic have pretty much the same system. (uhhh I don’t know how to explain this. But like in Arabic a letter needs to have an accent that serves as a vowel, in order for the letter to be readable. So, for instance, if there is a certain accent above the Arabic letter ‘s’, that accent’ll give an ‘aah’ sound so the letter will be read as ‘saa’. Another accent gives the ‘ooh’ sound, hence ‘soo’, and another gives the ‘eeh’ sound, hence ‘see’) (why am I suddenly giving Arabic lessons)

Anyway, it’s not exactly the same, but some letters in Hebrew, if accompanied by certain accents or additional wiggly line, will be read differently than without accents.

(I can’t give you an example) (because by the time we all got home in Seattle I already forgot the whole thing) (not that you asked for one anyway right)

(well, I guess it would be kind of cool if I preserved on deciphering Hebrew. Albeit the language itself I can’t understand, at least I can write things I don’t want people around me to know in Hebrew letters)

After the whole ceremony ended, we moved to another room, which was a vast hall, where we had dinner (again) and heard speeches and overall celebrated Gabe’s first step into adulthood. Pictures would’ve been cool, but photography weren’t allowed during such ceremony.

The next day, on a nice Chicago Sunday morning, all the family members gathered in a cafe for brunch. Got into some more talking with Karen’s extended family members, since I didn’t do so much talking during dinner the previous day.

It was quite a small place for such a big family and it wasn’t as easy to move around, but I got to one point where I met one of Karen’s family members (I forgot who, sorry) who happened to be the heart surgeon for Indonesia’s back-in-the-day famous General A.H. Nasution. (General Nasution was a member of the military who was lucky to escape the terror attack from rogue members of Indonesian Communist Party in 1965) (it took a while for me to figure out when he was telling me he did a surgery for Nasution, because apparently if you pronounced the name ‘Nasution’ the English way it sounds waaaaaay different than the Indonesian way)

As if it weren’t enough, I met Karen’s brother-in-law and he told me he’d met Indonesian former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Give me a break. I technically live closer to President SBY and I’ve never seen the guy live, or even General Nasution.

(well, probably NOT General Nasution, as the guy had died long ago)

We went back to the hotel and took off to the airport right after, Karen’s mom Ayesha came with us to the airport so she could tell me about my personality and prospect for the future through my birth date and place and chakra flow. Accompanied by good thick Chicago pizza. Mmm.

It wasn’t exactly a trip to Chicago a tacky tourist like me would expect because we barely got around Chicago, because it really isn’t a tacky tourist kind of trip, but a family event. Nonetheless, if I think wide and positive enough, chances of me visiting Chicago as a tacky tourist is bigger than chances of me attending a bar mitzvah. Therefore, one shall not remorse on being unable to explore Chicago, because one can always come back.

(aamiin)

(brb melamar jadi buruh cuci tetangga)

And I shit you not, the experience of attending a bar mitzvah is one of the most impressive point in my exchange year I will always remember. Thinking about the time where I could casually walk into a synagogue without being questioned (maybe Karen gave a heads-up to the family, I assume?), and imagining how a Jew—or anyone else, for that matter—should always be treated the same way if the situation were to be reversed.

Peace out.

Salam dari yang baru pakai high heels dua kali langsung dibuang,

Nabila Safitri.

[lindsay-erin1996]

I know what you are thinking – LINDSAY DID YOU DIE?

Do not be dramatic, I did NOT die. I decided to take a break (again – lol) to focus on graduating and my post-grad life; which is exactly what I did!

Hello everyone – I graduated COLLEGE!!!! I graduated from Ohio University this past December and I accepted an internship with STEVE MADDEN in NEW YORK (!!!!!). So, here I am chilling in New York; missing you all dearly.

I posted a poll on my personal Instagram asking whether people would read if I started blogging again and basically everyone said YES (wow I love my fans). The answer I got was overwhelming and thank you all for supporting me and encouraging me to continue to do what I enjoy and love. I also posted a suggestion box on posts you all wanted to see; and, again, received an overwhelming amount of responses (heart eyes)!! I plan on highlighting all of these suggestions – don’t worry! However, I thought maybe I would begin my comeback with a New York Life blog post – starting in three…two…one…

The rumors are true, I AM LIVING IN NEW YORK!!!!! I [momentarily] moved to New York to pursue a sales internship with Steve Madden. I plan on writing more about this experience in a later blog – so stick around!

I am here with my friend Heather who also happens to be working this internship with me – so we are basically BFFs. I will add her Instagram handle below if any of you are curious about her – WHICH YOU SHOULD BE.

So, I have experienced a lot since coming here and I want to share it with you! Don’t worry, not in full detail; but I have some fun stories to say the least. So, here is a list of a few things I have done since I have arrived in the big city.

Shopping, walking, and exploring!

Of course I did a little shopping when I got here – sue me. Perhaps you will see these new items in future blogs???? So, yes I did some shopping, but I also have done a lot of window shopping when coming across small and unique boutiques. Boutiques can be expensive, but they all have their own unique vibes. I also live on the same street as the one of the biggest Macy’s. It was considered as the biggest department store up until 2009. I did not buy anything there; but I highly recommend running around because not only does it have everything you could think of, but it is super fun to explore! If you have ever heard of Mango, which may be unlikely since it is based in Europe, then you may get excited to hear that they have one here in New York! While I was in Paris, Mango was my favorite store to shop in and adventure around. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the New York location. Since experiencing the stores in Europe, I was quite disappointed with the store here. It was smaller and did not carry nearly as much stuff as the one I have been in. Don’t get me wrong, it was still fun to shop around in, but it was not living up to the full Mango potential. However, if you are ever in that area, I recommend stopping it because you never know what you might find!

  Another cool place to explore is Chelsea Market. It has shops, restaurants, and a fun market vibe brought on by different types of vendors selling their art and other creations. Even if you don’t plan on buying something, it is still a fun place to walk around and look at. For me, this was a good place to add to my business card collection. When I came to New York, I decided to start collecting different fashion and art cards I can keep to either remember the places I shopped at or potentially shop again. It is a small thing to collect that does not take up much space, but still means a lot; at least to me.  

Check out this really cute art piece I found at Chelsea Market!

Drag Shows and Bars

I finally got to experience my very first drag show and it was an interesting night to say the least. I went to a place called Lips and experienced a show and an incredibly funny waitress named Delilah. The drinks were in fun spirit and so was everyone that was there! Heather and I even met a bride-to-be that kept photobombing us! So, overall it was a 10/10 experience and I HIGHLY recommend going to one, especially in New York. As for bars? New York has so many options with so many different themes. My favorite bar so far has been the Crocodile Lounge which in my opinion gave me the feeling like I was in college again. The unique part about this bar is that every drink you buy, you get a small ticket that you can trade in for your own miniature pizza. I bet you can see why it is my favorite so far! I have gone to some other bars around New York, but none worth mentioning at the moment. Hopefully I can find some unique ones with the warm weather coming soon!

    My Tourist Adventures

When you come to New York City, especially for the first time like me, you have to visit some of the areas that contain the most history. I have gone to the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island, The Empire State Building, Carlo’s Bake Shop (Cake Boss ring a bell?), and the Statue of Liberty. I actually had the opportunity to climb to the top and stand in her crown. Unfortunately, I may have experienced an anxiety attack going up and down due to the tight space the stairs had to be. It was a good experience; but because of that little hiccup, it is not something I would do again. However, I am super glad I got to do it! You may have heard, but a new mall opened up called Hudson Yards in New York. This mall is HUGE and I am not exaggerating for once. It has tons of shops, restaurants, and even a really fun and vibrant candy store – which I was more excited to explore than my 12 year old cousin. Outside of the mall is this tall 3-D interactive sculpture that is free to go in and climb. However, when we visited, the wind was incredibly intense that day so we were only allowed to up to the third level. So, if you do visit this vessel – please do – make sure it is on a day that is not as windy so you can experience the whole thing! Something else I recommend is experiencing Little Italy and China Town. The pizza in Little Italy is unbelievable – cough Lombardi’s cough – and the culture in those two areas is something you don’t want to miss! You may even be able to find a way to buy a “designer” bag on the cheap while you are there! 😉

  Broadway and Shows

I have gone to a total of three show since I have been here and I have yet to be disappointed. Have you heard of Drunk Shakespeare? Well, if you have not then I recommend looking it up and seeing it if you ever come to New York. Not only was it hilarious, but it also had modernized twists to the show which made it easy to follow. There was never a dull moment and the actors and actresses were simply amazing! Another great show was Kinky Boots. The vibrant colors and personalities within the show were extremely entertaining and the storyline was emotionally relevant. The last show I saw was called The Puffs which is related to Harry Potter. However, the storyline takes place surrounding the Hufflepuffs during the time Harry Potter was in school. The show was refreshing and had a humor I personally appreciated. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a show of some kind in New York…and I don’t tend on proving myself wrong!

    FASHION WEEK 201 (Last one – I swear)

I am here to pursue my career in fashion so of course I was psyched knowing we would be here during all of the hype of New York Fashion Week. Although we did not get to volunteer or participate in the shows (we asked around), we actually got to go to one! Don’t get too excited, it was not one of the super big and popular shows but it was still fantastic. Our friend Sanne, who is from the Netherlands (COOL RIGHT?), took us to the Small Boutique Fashion Week show. This show is probably one of my favorite things I have done here in New York so far. I was literally (and I mean literally) on Cloud 9 during the whole show. Even though I felt completely out of place due to my clothing, it was an incredible experience. When I say I felt out of place by my clothing, I mean everyone else was dressed to the 10s while I still have my in-between college wardrobe. 

Remember when I said people were dressed to the 10s? Well these guys were dressed to the teens.

  Me, Sanne, and Heather

I have a lot of exciting posts planned and my goal is to post every 2 weeks, so let’s see if I can stick to it! 😉 Another goal I want to keep working on is regularly posting on my Instagram so not only can you sign up for email reminders on when I post here but you can also follow my Instagram which I will add at the bottom!

Also – if you have any suggestions on some cool things to do during my last month – LEAVE A COMMENT! I already plan on making trips to the Color Factory, Coney Island, a comedy show, a bike ride around central park, and the Central Park Zoo; but I am certainly open to more suggestions! OR you can leave a comment if you’re curious about something I did not mention above because I have definitely have done more than I wrote about! OR just leave a comment for fun! Talk to me!

Thanks for reading!

Lindsay

P.S. Sorry for my bad phone quality! My next posts will be about trends and fashion so I will use my Canon camera! 🙂

My Instagram: @fashiondemonblog

https://www.instagram.com/fashiondemonblog/?hl=en

Heather’s Instagram: @heathergail14

https://www.instagram.com/heathergail14/?hl=en

New York Adventures I know what you are thinking – LINDSAY DID YOU DIE? Do not be dramatic, I did NOT die.