#will fill them during commute and queue them I think

[yvernal]

[Saturday 30th & Sunday 1rst]

It's amusing how two days can be so different despite being a mere night apart.

Saturday I was working at the library, because I exchanged the previous saturday with this one to help a colleague out. I hadn't expected to get such a busy week so I arrived quite dead on my feet at the start of my morning shift.

Saturdays at the library where I work are always eventful and speedy. We're functioning with one third of the people usually working in the building, meaning that instead of having 3-4 hours of public shift, we all have 6-7 hours.

I started with two hours in the literary section and somewhat managed to secure a steady place for said two hours in the adult part of it. Meaning I was able to avoid losing my hearing when all the parents with their little kids came running at 10 o'clock on the dot to get books. Most of the patrons I had were seniors, frail old ladies walking slowly and polite old men, sprinkled with the rare sighting of a wandering student.

I was able to complete the pick list for the book put on hold, despite not finding quite a number of them. But as the saying goes in a library : a book wrongly shelved might as well be lost. So what I was searching for might reappear at some point, maybe. We'll see.

I had lunch that I bought on my way to work and had to pay with cash. I somehow managed to lose my credit card and had to get it blocked just in case... and ask for a new one. Luckily, I had withdrawn my first bills in literal months in order to browse the selection at the Christmas market more easily, so I was able to pay for my lunch without issues.

After lunch, I was back on the public floor for two long hours of shelving and pre-sorting books in the carts at the return station to send them to the correct floors and rooms. I was stopped at some point by patrons asking for help and with the sheet number of returns we soon had, keeping up became quite difficult.

After those two exhausting hours, I headed in the back for my one hour of "break" at my desk. I ended up having a real break for half an hour, then spending the rest of it unpacking and pointing the big ass order we received. I made it to two thirds of it and hopefully, I'll be able to finish it tomorrow.

Once done with that, one hour at the front desk turned into another hour of running around at the pre-sorting station due to the usual 4-5pm wave of patrons and then back to the literature floor, adult section once again when my colleague remembered my hyperacusis and spared me the kid's room full of crying kids. Thanks a lot for that.

But yeah, I ended the day at 6pm and wasn't at home before 7:30, dead on my feet and yet somewhat buzzing with energy. I sat a bit to write after dinner to expel most of it and went to sleep at 3am to wake up at 11am.

In comparison, this Sunday was... was. I took my medication at lunch (only half the dosage for the day since I skipped way past breakfast hour) and if it helped me not stare at the wall for the whole day, it doesn't mean I was productive in any way.

I mostly spent time filling the queue of my fandom account, found back my USB drive full of pictures and then filling the drafts for this blog with it. I also dabbled into gif making with some videos I had.

At the end of the afternoon, I started a washing machine cycle while I took a full shower (meaning I took the time to do a purple shampoo and a mask for my underlight). I did some dishes, scrolled a bit while Mom took her own shower and started cooking, then took over the cooking duty halfway until dinner time.

Now, it's almost midnight and I have work tomorrow too, which is going to be difficult if I don't go to sleep soon. Therefore, I took the decision to pop out the melatonin pills and take some to facilitate sleepiness.

[theflyingfeeling]

☀️ "it's always sunny in Stockholm" ☀️

aka a concert report from Fryshuset Klubben, Stockholm, 1.3.2023

Travelling to our final destination (Stockholm city centre) did not go without hassle (wrong gate at the airport, delays with the commuter train to the city centre, trouble figuring out the venue etc., BC would've been proud!) but everything did work out eventually and we were in good spirits! 🥰

Speaking of the venue, I think none of us would've foreseen that listening to that one song in 2021 would lead us to hang out in the backyard of some random school in Stockholm, but that's where we were, and had good laughs there too :') <3

The venue was small intimate and not full, which to us in the audience was great (it wasn't cramped nor too hot), although for BC's sake I would've hoped there would've been a little bigger turn-up (especially considering at least half of the audience were Finnish fans 😂). They didn't seem to mind though; the show was as 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 as their shows always are

But before I talk about the show, I must once more advertise the support act! Not gonna lie, I had a minor heart attack when hours before the gig, BC posted an IG story starting with the words "due to an illness...", because them cancelling the gig would've been just the cherry on the top of the day we had had already, but it thankfully was Eyes Wide Open that had had to cancel at last minute. A band called Those Without was asked to fill in and boy am I thankful for the universe for this!! 😭🙏 They were so damn good!! I remember listening to their first song and going "huh! this ain't that bad actually" and wondering if it's just that one song, but no, all the other ones they played were great as well, which made me so happy 💖 It was a little funny when the band came on though; they just walked to the stage very unceremoniously and we weren't quite sure whether they were still doing the preperations until they started playing 😂 The singer was cute af, the bassist sang a bit, they were so chill and SO GRATEFUL to be there and just kept thanking BC for this opportunity and us the audience for being so nice to them, and all I wanted to scream was "no, thank YOU!!" because they really made my little punk pop/rock heart burst with love 🥺 If you're into early Mayday Parade / The Maine / Yellowcard -esque stuff, definitely check them out!

Blind Channel was Blind Channel, meaning they were wonderful amazing brilliant and it was great seeing them again 💞 We were ~4th row, there were a few tall people directly in front of us but at least I ended up having a great view to the stage in the end. The stage was high enough and close enough to the audience for me to be able to see their tattoos in detail and I remember admiring Joel's heart tattoo and Olli's three swords (god bless the inventor of sleeveless shirts eh? 🥵)

Random moments I remember include Olli falling asleep/zoning out during Autopsy (he didn't look up at the "HEY!!" part, or maybe he just forgot 😂 (I have video proof lol)) and Joel doing the tiniest snake dance during Snake (it looked like he wasn't going to do it, but then he couldn't help himself, I hope someone captured this 🥺🙏) + the moments in the videos I've posted

They're all so gorgeous but Olli 😩😩😩😩😩 he's so fucking beautiful I have a scheduled meltdown about it on a normal day, but during the show it's just 💦💦💦💦💦💦 all the time 💀 he trousers he was wearing were so tight cool and the sleeveless shirt had me by the pussy swooning 🫠

Flatline is awesome live, including the silly dance, even if in the audience you can't do it as "big" as you're supposed to. No bruise on my left tiddy though, I guess it takes more than one concert for one to appear, so BC should maybe consider wearing some padding on their chests for that 😆👀

After the gig we had an "after party" in a rock bar somewhere in Stockholm (not sure which district). I think here it's relevant to mention that in the queue there was this nice Swedish metal dude standing behind us and probably unwillingly listening to us as we were speaking a merry mix of English and Finnish, and eventually he started chatting with us and ended up joining us inside the venue and even showing us the way to one of his favourite bars when we asked for recs and he also came in for a few drinks with us despite having work the next day (he had also been at the venue the day before to see Sleeping With Sirens and was still wearing the same makeup from that gig 😂👌)

At the same bar there was also Henrik from Amaranthe (who none of us would've recognized if the Swedish metal dude hadn't started fangirling about him 😂)

All in all I had such a fun time on this 24-hour trip and I'm so happy I decided to go. Some of you know how stressed out I was about it; I'm so thankful to anyone who had to listen to me rant my heart out about it. I'm happy to tell you that the experience I had was totally worth it <3

Thank you so incerdibly much to all you guys who were with me at any point of this trip, it wouldn't have been the same without you (you all know who you are <3). Sorry if I was obnoxious or laughed too loudly, but I had such a shit weekend behind me and I was just so happy to get to see my favourite band and to hang out with all of you lovely people that I couldn't contain my excitement. Being there really meant so much to me, because this band and the community we have built around it truly is one of the few lights at the end of the never-ending tunnel I often get lost in. I know this sounds silly and I'm probably being selfish but it made me so sad when BC said they won't be doing that many shows in Finland this summer. Yes, I completely understand that they're aiming for an international career and I'm fully supporting their plans to take over the world (I'm not one of those Finnish fans), and yes, I am aware that as a Finnish fan I'm immensely priviledged as it is and that I've had many more opportunities to see them than most fans living elsewhere have had. This may sound pathetic (or at least I feel pathetic about it), but I really don't have much else going on for me other than BC and everything related to it (nothing that gives me as much serotonin, that is), and if I don't get to see them next summer... I don't know what I'll do. Summers are a bit difficult for me for a variety of reasons, and last summer with all the BC shows was such a blessing, a wonderful distraction from my sad life and the fact that I'm nowhere near where I want to be, and I'm not sure if I can handle another lonely, grey summer and feeling like a failure every waking moment after having experienced all the fun last summer 💔

...so I guess I'm going on a road-trip around Europe next summer 🤔 Who's with me? 😌

[thessalian]

Thess vs User Interfaces

I honestly don’t know how the hell bureaucracy functions.

During my performance review back in December, one of the things I wanted to do was try to take some more hours at work. Not full-time, obviously - I could not do it, no way in hell - but add five hours to my current weekly schedule. So Tuesday and Wednesday I’d go for six hours, and on Thursdays and Fridays I’d go for six and a half. With a caveat of, “If you need me to be physically present in the office, I can only do a five-hour day but will make up the extra hour or hour and a half at home later”. Because there is no earthly way I can do a six or six and a half hour day when it’s sandwiched between an hour and a half of commuting each way. No. Nooooooo.

Scruffman is happy enough with this, except that apparently we do this via online systems now. The issue becomes that we don’t do this by filling out a form and sending it to the relevant people anymore. No, we do it through our intranet HR system. The problem is that it doesn’t exactly explain where the fucking form is. I mean, I poked through and there was nothing that pointed me at a relevant form, so Scruffman emailed HR, and HR sent a link to the employee handbook.

Guess what? The employee handbook just says, “Go check the intranet HR system” with no indication of where to start looking. So I emailed HR and basically said, “Yes, I understand this, but where do I click to find the thing?” (Somewhat more politely than that, obviously.) I guess my query was forwarded to someone who actually understands the limitations of the system because the reply came complete with detailed instructions and screenshots to indicate what I was supposed to click.

The user interface was not intuitive, put it that way.

Anyway, I got it done, and there should be more hours at work soon. This is good because more money. Unfortunately, it means yet more time with Temp doing everything possible to shunt as many of the long and complicated bits of typing on me as she can. First day back and there it was, right in my face - the typing cherry-picking. I don’t want to have to bring this up to Scruffman again but it really isn’t fair. And it’ll be even less fair when I’m doing more hours, thinking about it. I can partially tolerate it because Temp works more than me so obviously does the long ones when I’m not there. Avoiding them for most of the day is still pretty sucky, though, and when I’m working almost as many hours as she is when my request gets approved (and given the length of the typing queue and Scruffman’s reaction to my request for more hours, it is going to get approved) it’ll be even worse. But she’ll do it anyway, because that’s what she does. I talk to Scruffman, he talks to her, she stops for awhile, and then goes right back to shirking the longer bits of typing when she thinks she can get away with it. I should not have to rat on her on a regular basis to get her doing typing in order of date created but I clearly do.

So that’s the work bits - more hours aren’t great, but more money sure as hell is, especially with the way things are at the moment. We’ll have to see how I handle it but I should be fine. I’m just tired of Temp being annoying as hell about cherry-picking the easy stuff out of the typing queue. I know some of the techs are hard to understand, and some of them are needlessly verbose, and others leave out bits of information and end up stopping mid-dictation to add something to the beginning ... you know, some of them are not easy. That does not mean you type the dictations out of order to avoid them; it means you suck it up and cope. “Don’t stress about it”, she’s said the two or three times I brought it up with her ... and again, that’s easy for her to say. If I don’t stress about it, it means she gets away with it. I am tired of her getting away with it.

[5am-raining]

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 📖

Daily habits and routine is something I’m ~really~ into and passionate about. Tbh, I don’t have my schedule/routine very put together. I’m constantly struggling with time management, I don’t get enough sleep, I barely have a social life (and kind of prefer it that way, lol), and I wish I had more time for my hobbies. I will most likely cut back my schedule next quarter, bc this summer has been a bit too busy for me. That being said, I think about this kind of stuff a LOT and I’m always looking to improve my routine!

So here’s some very basic quick tips that came to mind after getting this ask. Hope it’s helpful!

𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙺

Do everything you can do have things laid out the night before (outfit, shoes, meals, bag, keys, coffee set up, etc.)

Even better, have some of your things laid out Sunday night before the work wk starts.

If you commute, try to make the most of your down-time (listen to podcasts for fun, or audiobooks for school, get social media scrolling out of your system before you get home).

Try to utilize the fact that you’re out & about & dressed to get errands done, or socializing in. That way you have a more free weekend.

Take your lunch break alone, or if you have breaks in the middle of your day utilize that time for something you really care about (drawing, writing, reading, something you've been meaning to do for yourself that you can do during this time). You're not obligated to small talk w/ co-workers every day.

𝚂𝙲𝙷𝙾𝙾𝙻

Keep a study routine & don't break it! It's tempting to blow off your hw to make tumblr posts (I'm talking to myself) but you'll regret it! It's best to keep a schedule & reward yourself w/ downtime after you've finished your work.

Use apps like Forest to keep a pomodoro. It's a useful way to avoid using your phone, connect w/ others on studying, reward yourself, & keep track of time spent on a given task!

Completely remove distractions from the room when you're working. Make them hard to reach so you don't reach for them.

Make your study space cozy & inspiring, passively pampering yourself w/ nice music, a blanket, & a candle burning makes a big diff.

Get accommodations if you need them!! Advocate for yourself. If you're studying w/ friends & you study better alone, make that happen! Don't make something hard even harder by not listening to your own needs.

𝙼𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙳 𝙻𝙸𝙵𝙴

Obv it's super important to have a strong relationship first & foremost. It's hard to build any kind of "good routine" around a relationship if you're already having issues. I'd recommend the Gottman books. They have a lot of great content!

Make the most of your time together. When my husband is really busy, I'll try to go on walks w/ him when he's already out walking the dog. We commute home together on school days if he can get off in time.

Do little things for each other. Even if you don't have much time, getting them a snack while you're out, or doing a chore for them is a nice way to boost your relationship.

Have a daily/wkly routine you do together. My husband & I always have dinner together. We watch TV while we eat, but we’re talking & making jokes during, before, and after. It's a comforting way to connect.

If your relationship is really struggling bc of your schedule, it might be time to reevaluate the things you're putting first.

𝚂𝙾𝙲𝙸𝙰𝙻 𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙰 / 𝙲𝚁𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙸𝚅𝙴

I hate to be a broken record, but schedule & routine! I admit that I am not good about this when it comes to social media/creativity. I tend to reach for my camera & spend a long time scrolling when I'm burnt out,  or when I'm creatively stifled & I just want to make something pretty. Unfortunately, it's hard to make time for creativity when you're busy, so I've been getting my fill by making it school/work-focused through this blog. I'd like to draw & take film photos more, but it's something I have yet to build into my life consistently. Here's a schedule for social media I've recently started implementing:

□ 1x daily posts to IG/Tumblr (themed based on the day)

□ Scheduled time to scroll/queue, don't spend too long on that it's a huge time-suck

□ 1x wkly vlogging (any more is too much to edit)

□ If it's not benefiting you in some way, stop doing it. I use social media as a creative outlet/coping mechanism. I have no intention of getting "famous" or making $, it's literally just for myself & to socialize.

Some other categories to consider:

𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎

𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 / (𝚙𝚎𝚝) 𝚖𝚘𝚖 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎

𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎

(If anyone wants me to cover those too, lemme know).

P.S. Please follow my Insta 5am.raining if you like my posts! :)) It needs some love. 😭

[littlemuffinblog]

Hello all!

It’s been a long while since I’ve written up a proper blog post on here. I’m most active on my instagram these days, but I’m going to make an effort to post more regularly on my actual page as sometimes I find I cut recipes short to fit them all into the Instagram/Facebook format etc.

I was recently in New York and pretty much centered the entire trip around finding all the good foodie spots, so I figured it deserved a lengthy post! We tended to eat a late brunch and dinner most days, skipping lunch as our hotel had a free snack bar which was very handy. They had fresh fruit, lovely coffee & granola bars in the morning which were great to grab n’go. The options changed from lunch time and included savoury snacks and sweet treats with limitless soft drinks, fizzy water etc. We stayed in the Club Quarter Hotel Midtown near Times Square. It was a brilliant location, lovely room, great value, nice staff and the unlimited snack bar with filtered water on tap was such a bonus. They even gave little bottles to take your water with you! Hotel website linked here.

So, without further ado, here are all of the foodie places in New York during my trip. Hope anyone travelling to NY finds it useful! Thanks to everyone who recommended food spots to me before I went – you all helped to make my trip deliciously good and my foodie self is eternally grateful!

BRUNCH 

Bubbys – Easily the single best brunch I have ever had and was the food highlight of the trip for me. We went to the one in Tribeca but they have a few locations. We got the Eggs Benedict and ‘Pancake Flight’. The Eggs benny was to die for, we opted for the version with bacon and added some avocado to it. The pancakes were also EPIC. Super fluffy & thick, they came with berries, nutella, blueberry compote, whipped cream, caramelised banana and toasted walnuts. They also came with maple syrup and butter on the side without even asking – it was a lovely touch. The total bill came to about $60 including a tip and we didn’t get coffees/drinks, only tap water. I honestly can’t wait to go back to NY to have Bubbys again, it was just that good. Bubbys is a definite must! Website here. 

@bubbys

Sarabeths – This is super near to Central Park. We had seen on their instagram that they are famous for their french toast so that’s what we went with. For $50 we also got a caraffe of Bellini’s – it’s about 5-6 glasses which were $15 each so it’s good value really ;). I ordered the Almond crusted French toast and my friend went for the ‘Fluffy Fat’ french toast. We also ordered a side of bacon (additional $12). I will say I was quite disappointed with my almond version as when I cut into it, it was actually bone dry in the middle. The whole point of French toast is that it should be eggy/custardy having been soaked in an egg mixture but this was essentially dry almond toast. They were very good and immediately replaced it with the plain version that my friend had ordered. This was absolutely delicious and came with a side of butter and maple syrup. The service was great here and I would definitely recommend the Fluffy Fat french toast and skip the almond version! All in all the bill came to about $115 excl tip. Pricey but it is in a great location and overall the food and drink was lovely. Website here. 

  @sarabethsnyc

Fresh & Co – We definitely couldn’t leave New York without trying a cream cheese bagel! I had lots of places recommended to me, but we happened to be passing by here and were stuck for time so we just popped in. It wasn’t on the menu and breakfast had just finished, but they made these specially up for us which was really nice. We asked for 2 wholemeal bagels, filled with cream cheese, avocado, crispy bacon and a runny fried egg. We got freshly squeezed orange juice to go with. It was honestly *so* good and hit the spot. Great place to call into if you just want something quick to eat & go. I think it was roughly $12 for the two bagels, with orange juice about $5 extra incl taxes. They have quite a few locations. Website here.

@freshandconyc

DINNER 

Ellens Stardust Diner – This place is pretty much as American as it gets. It’s a diner set in the heart of Times Square, waited by Broadway hopefuls who sing and perform throughout the entire meal. They are also famous for their brunch. We headed here our first night and ate dinner here. We went for the Mac n Cheese burger, served with waffle fries. We then shared a Brownie ‘Mudslide’ Sundae for dessert. It was typical American diner food, it was decent and hit the spot but you definitely more so go there for the surroundings than the food. Total bill was about $60 excl tips but be mindful, they send around a separate bucket for the tips for the singers too. Website here.

@ellensstardust

Ottos Tacos – We got these the night we went to Woodbury Common Shopping outlet. It was such a long day and we were absolutely shattered when we got back to our hotel, so we ordered Uber Eats. We opted for a ‘Beyond’ Vegan chorizo taco, chicken taco, chips & guac and rice and beans. The chorizo taco wasn’t great but all in all was a tasty meal and perfect for a late night nibble. Uber eats is super handy if you’re stuck on time/tired and they have no problem delivering to hotels, they had a huuuuge selection of foods available. Website here.

@ottostacos

Otto Pizzeria – We had a lovely dinner at otto pizzeria. We originally wanted to get to Joes pizza which I’d had lots of recommendations for or Scarrs… however otto was closer by and Joes had queues out the door! I opted for a delicious egg pizza washed down by blood orange cocktails. We actually arrived half an hour earlier than our booking and they were lovely about it and immediately seated us. We also got complimentary focaccia & olive oil to start! It did the trick but definitely still have Joes & Scarrs on the pizza list! Website here.

@ottopizzeria

BAKERIES 

Levain Bakery – I went to the one just off central park. I had heard a lot of hype about this place. They are famous for their super thick gooey cookies and sweet jesus, they did not disappoint. Some of the best cookies I’ve ever had. All made better by eating them while strolling on lovely sunny day in central park. You wouldn’t even know the bakery is there – it is tiny and down these little steps, I had to ask a local where it was as I couldn’t find it! There was no queue when I was there thankfully, but be mindful of this as apparently there is usually a big wait. The cookies were $4 each and worth every bit and more! Their hot chocolate looked epic too so will definitely be paying here a visit the next time I’m in New york to get it! Definitely put this place on your list. Website here. 

@levainbakery

Magnolia Bakery – If you are a fan of Sex in the City, you’ll be familiar with this place. It is just around the block from Carrie Bradshaw’s famous apartment and the bakery featured in the TV show a couple of times making it an instant hit. They are famous for their banana pudding – a creamy pudding filled with banana, sponge and graham crackers. I opted for the small pot (as I was stuffed but couldn’t not go to NY and not try it!). It was absolutely insanely good. I think it was about $5 incl tax and worth it for sure. Next time I’m going to try their cupcakes as I’ve heard they are amazing too. Website here.

@magnoliabakery

Carlos Bakery – If you’ve ever watched Cake Boss, here is a must visit! We went to the one near the Port Tunnel (where we got our bus from to Woodbury Common. We actually got a great deal for this on groupon, I’ve linked it here) The original one is in Hoboken and I believe is worth a visit too! The bakery itself was full of a mix of treats, a lot of artificially coloured american style cakes which wouldn’t be my thing, but their pastries, cookies etc all looked amazing. We were spoiled for choice. M\y friend got an M&M cookie which was really tasty and I got a chocolate hazelnut lobster tail pastry filled with delicious hazelnut creme patisserie and drizzled with nutella. So good. All in all they both came to about $11 dollars. The perfect breakfast to bring on board the 1 hour bus journey!  Bakery linked here. 

@carlosbakery

OTHER BITS…

Airport Lounge – 51st & Green in Dublin Airport terminal 2. We opted to pay into the lounge before our flight as we had a few hours to kill. It was definitely worth it in my opinion! It was located after pre clearance for the US so it was lovely to relax and unwind knowing you had that already done. It costed €39 to get in at the door, but you can book it online for €35. Our flight was in the morning, so they had a full buffet breakfast bar alongside a cocktail bar and coffee station. You can see the lounge by clicking here. 

The Plaza Hotel – We were initially going to book ourselves in for afternoon tea here as we’ve heard rave reviews. It was booked out in the end, but we went their for a drink after our brunch in Sarabeths. We opted for 2 x champagne cocktails each $26 excl tax/tips. They were served with a lovely little snack plate of chilli pumpkin seed chocolate and roasted chickpeas. The cocktails were amazing and the setting was just fabulous. It is pricey, but 100% worth it. We sat in a window seat and watched the world go by, just taking in the surroundings for the afternoon. It was such an activity fulled break, it was lovely to just relax for a while and unwind. Would highly recommend it and I think I would definitely try the afternoon tea the next time I visit! Website here. 

@theplazahotel

Tourist Attractions – I figured I may as well pop in the places we went while I’m at it. We pretty much ticked everything off the list except visiting the Brooklyn Bridge and the Highline… next time!

Statue of Liberty – We got a free ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island. You don’t need to pay for the tourist ones and they will try the hard sell to push it on you at the door of the terminal but stand your ground! You can get the commuter ferry for free from Whitehall which goes right past it and you get a very clear view. We just hopped off at the other side and got straight back on it. Took 20 mins – they go every half an hour. Would definitely recommend. Info link here.

Carrie Bradshaws Apartment – Quite near the Statue of Liberty area, about 20 mins in an Uber. It was so cool to see as a SATC fan. It was also just around the corner from Magnolia bakery. Be mindful people actually live in the Apt block when you’re taking photos. Location is here

Ground Zero – We went here en route to statue of liberty as it is quite close by. It was also quite close to Bubbys in Tribeca. We just went to see the memorial which is free but you can go into the museum too. There is a great shopping mall and discounted designer department store nearby called Century 21. Worth a visit too. There is also a target nearby if that’s something you wanted to browse!

Rockefeller Centre – Top of the Rock. We paid about $42 for the ticket to get up. We bought online but they have a ridiculous queue system where you need to validate your online ticket to get a physical one, so the queue was the same for those who didn’t buy online and it cost the exact same. Be prepared to queue, we waited almost an hour to get up but we were told it was unusually busy as it had been raining the 2 days previous. However, the views are absolutely spectacular when you get up, so it was well worth it in the end. You can go at sunset for an extra $10 per ticket which would also be pretty cool.

Woodbury Commons Shopping Outlet – This place is definitely well worth going to if you are in the market for discounted designer handbags / shoes. The clothes were good value too depending on what you’re looking for but the handbags we’re exceptionally cheap with 60%-80% some items depending on what coupons you had/how much you spent. As I mentioned above, we got the return bus from the port terminal near times square. It was $27 on groupon linked here or you can buy it there for $42 so it’s definitely worth getting it online. It took about an hour each way, with a pretty regular time table. It doesn’t open until 10am so we got the 8.30am coach which worked out great. You also get a free coupon book from the information desk when you arrive which is included in your bus ticket.The food was okay there, had a lot of fast food outlets and a Pret A Manger (they are everywhere in NY!) Definitely a must visit if you’re looking to do some shopping! Link for outlet is here.

Central Park – I was really taken with central park. It is so cool to stroll around (especially with some Levain cookies!). You can hire a horse drawn carriage for a pricy $100 per half an hour or a bike cart for $5 per minute. We were initially going to rent bikes but we didn’t bother in the end, instead walking around and taking it all in. Well worth a look. The plaza hotel and Sarabeths were super near here too.

So that’s a wrap! It’s pretty much all I can fit into this post. I hope it’s helpful for any trips you have planned to New York. Please tag me if you visit anywhere I’ve recommended so I can relive the memories… @littlemuffinblog

It was the most epic trip and I will definitely be back! Miss you already NYC.

New York – Foodie & Travel Guide Hello all! It's been a long while since I've written up a proper blog post on here.

[geeksperhour]

It’s finally here! An all-new Zoho Social for your mobile

Social media marketing is dynamic, engaging, and most importantly, happens all in real-time. Conversations continue to take place. Whether you’re at work, at home, or out buying your 20th cup of coffee.

There will be moments when you’d want to send out a quick response to a follower, or post pictures of your booth that you captured at a busy event. For times like these, a few simple taps on a pocket-sized gadget is all you need, to get the job done.

Today, I’m super thrilled to announce a new and improved version of the mobile app!

Having worked on it for months, we carefully redesigned and built the app from the ground-up so you can continue to manage your social media presence and engage your audience. With a sleek new makeover and a lighter interface, Zoho Social for mobile is centered around smarter scheduling, real-time monitoring, and better sharing, no matter where you are.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right into what’s new:

Create and publish, as and when you want

The thing about inspiration is that, it doesn’t wait to strike until you get behind a computer. Some of the most abstract and novel ideas come to you when you’re out taking a stroll in the park, or playing fetch with err… a cat?

The compose window on the app comes packed with a set of powerful publishing features to help you engage your audience. You’ll be able to craft posts, switch between multiple Brands easily, pin your favorite social channels to the top, and much more!

So, go ahead. Create your next best post.

Schedule posts to save time

Things tend to get busy when you’re at work. And, in the midst of all the chaos, you miss out on the things you planned your day around. Scheduling posts to fill up your content pipeline is often one of them. Well, lucky for you, you can now make up for lost time by scheduling your posts even during your commute. In just a few taps, you can set your posts up and schedule them at a date and time of your choice. You can also preview posts that you or your team members previously scheduled.

Oh, and it gets better.

To make sure that you have your content well spread out over time, you can create unique time slots, and add posts to your queue. And, just in case you have the slightest doubts about when to engage your followers, the SmartQ feature will predict and show you the best times to do so!

Picture-perfect posts that set you apart

You may have an amazing caption ready for your latest Instagram post, but it’s often the visuals that really captivate your audience. The Zoho Social mobile app comes loaded with a wide range of editing options for you to add a pinch of contrast, a dash of your favorite filter, and a whole lot of style to your pictures! And of course, you don’t have to worry about resizing your images. After you add them to a post, they get automatically compressed to suit the dimensions provided by different social channels.

Highlighting important aspects of images and bringing out the best in them for your audience is what we’d love for you to enjoy.

Keep that creativity flowing, even when you’re off the grid

No one’s really disconnected from the Internet, anymore. But, for times when you suddenly decide to go hiking into the woods, or are 30,000 feet up in the air on a long flight, and your mind decides to de clutter and bustle with new ideas… the mobile app has got your back!

You can now create drafts, offline. All your saved drafts will be automatically synced with the app when you’re back online, so you can pick up right from where you left off.

Stay tuned to social updates on the go

From potential customers asking for brand recommendations on social media, to users sharing feedback about your service across channels—there’s a lot that can happen in the time that you’ve stepped away from your desk. Every social conversation that’s relevant to your brand is an opportunity for you to tap into.

That’s where social media monitoring comes in. You can create and swipe through multiple monitoring cards, customize the screen the way you want, and track important keywords, hashtags, and users. The app also makes it easy for you to stay connected to your audience and engage with them directly, while you’re on the move.

Get insights about your published posts

Numbers and metrics do a great job of conveying what’s working and what’s not. It’s an integral part of social media marketing. You get a sense of excitement out of knowing that 150 people clicked on your article, or 60% of your followers are now talking about your post.

The stats on the new mobile app will help you understand how your brands are performing across social channels. You can take a closer look at who your story tellers are, how many people you’ve reached, and the amount of engagement your posts have received. All of this information about each post will be available to you at the tip of your fingers.

A pause button—at arm’s length

It’s all fun and games until an unexpected challenge comes knocking on your door. It could be a down time on your server, or a major social media mishap.

An appropriate move would be to pause all your scheduled posts. While this is something you can already do on the web app, it’s now available on the mobile app, too! With just a single tap, the Pause button lets you stop posts that you scheduled from being published, until you’re ready to get back into action.

In-built share extension for faster sharing

You could stumble upon a great article on your way to work. Or maybe spot a quirky phrase on an app. The thought of sharing it with your followers and engaging them, would probably cross your mind.

Cut, copy, and paste seems like a convenient thing to do, doesn’t it? …Nah! With the share menu available on your smartphone, you can choose to send any type of content directly to the Zoho Social mobile app. Once you’re on the app, you can add the final touches, before hitting the publish button!

These are just some of the major highlights of the new mobile app. There’s a lot more where that came from. We’ve also tweaked and fixed other tiny elements to give you a much smoother experience.

That’s all for now! We truly hope you enjoy our latest upgrade. We’re working on more exciting updates as I type this.

Do let us know what you think about this. You can send us a tweet @ZohoSocial, write to support@zohosocial.com, or just simply comment below, and we’ll get in touch with you right away.

The post It’s finally here! An all-new Zoho Social for your mobile appeared first on Zoho Blog.

from Zoho Blog https://ift.tt/2BJXM1D via IFTTT

[azvolrien]

Copenhagen - Day 5

~~~

Woke up before my alarm again - though only by a few minutes this time - and took the 6A bus from in front of the hotel up to see Rosenborg Palace. It was raining, but luckily most of my plans for today were indoors.

I’m not all that into palaces, and Rosenborg was mostly antique furniture and plates, so I had a bit of a whistlestop tour there. The Danish crown jewels, however, are kept in a basement treasury there, and they’re very impressive though perhaps a bit gaudy; I think gold works best when it’s used sparingly, maybe as trim or offset with silver, but whoever designed the Danish crown clearly decided to just use All The Gold.

After about an hour at Rosenborg (the guards outside looked pretty miserable in the rain) I crossed the road for a look around the Geological Museum. It had a splendid meteorite outside and a fascinating exhibition about the collection of an early Danish naturalist called Ole Worm. Each specimen was accompanied both by his notes and a more up-to-date label; some were accurate in both cases, but others were amusingly misrepresented. For example, he had labelled a hippo skull as - of all things - a walrus. Granted hippo skulls are incredibly weird-looking; perhaps he had only read descriptions of walrus, saw the tusks, and thought ‘Well, it’s not an elephant’.

Some of the gemstones on display were pretty nce and they had a fairly comprehensive (if untranslated) display on crystallography as well as a whole section (also untranslated) about the geology of Greenland, but once you’ve seen one amethyst crystal you’ve pretty much seen them all, so I took the 42 bus a little further afield to visit the Zoological Museum. Like the Geological Museum, it’s affiliated with the University of Copenhagen, so I bought a joint ticket for both of them. Peculiarly, only the top 2 floors of the building are display areas; the rest of the fairly sizeable building is closed to the public, and is presumably given over to research and admin.

The museum is split into a few different display areas within those two floors. The upper consists of Evolution, looking at the development of the idea of evolution (Darwin, Lyell, Lamarck etc.) as well as evolution itself, using models and speciments to illustrate change over time; and ‘From Pole to Pole’, a more straightforward taxidermy array starting in the Antarctic with penguins and elephant seals and moving north until we get to polar bears and gyrfalcons.

The lower floor consists of the Discovery Zone, with different skulls (replicas, i think) for guests to get hands-on with, the Ice Age, and ‘Precious Things’.

The Ice Age section has some cool exhibits (pun intended), including a life-size model of a woolly mammoth accompanied by some incomplete fossils, a reindeer skeleton with massive antlers, the skull of an Irish elk, and the skull of a huge but non-Irish elk. They also had another complete aurochs skeleton, not a copy of the one in the National Museum, though cause of death was the same (drowned while escaping from hunters). For a moment I was like ‘What the hell, Copenhagen needs to stop hogging the aurochs’ but it was still pretty cool. I think the aurochs is my favourite extinct megafauna. They also had the largest skull ever found, on show in the next case from the skeleton.

‘Precious Things’ was also very interesting. It was consciously set up in a sort of cabinet-of-curiosities way, focussing on certain individual specimens rather than as representations for the whole species. They had a Diplodocus skeleton nicknamed Misty (smaller than Dippy, I think, but still: dinosaur) with a funny story behind its discovery: a palaeontologist at a dig in Wyoming had sent his two sons off to explore a hill near the proper digsite, saying they could keep anything they found - expecting a few fossil fragments at best - only for them to find an entire dinosaur. There was also the skeleton of a sperm whale - which you were allowed to touch! - an inexpertly-stuffed maned wolf, a whale heart and a minke whale foetus preserved in fluid (probably alcohol, not the same jar), the skeleton of a rare two-tusked narwhal, and much more besides.

Fortunately the rain had stopped when I left the museum at about 4, so I took the bus as far as Nørreport Station and walked the rest of the way to the hotel, meandering through the Latin Quarter (Latin as in the language of scholars, not the people of Spain and Mexico) and past the Round Tower but could not be bother forking out to climb it.

I rested at the hotel for a while, reading a book and giving my feet a break, before I left again at about 6.30 to visit Tivoli Gardens.

Tivoli was magical, and that’s not an adjective I often use outside of fantasy. I decided to treat myself to an unlimited ride wristband, to save faffing around with different tickets, and I think it was a sound investment - I didn’t go on anything that turns you upside-down, but otherwise I went on almost everything at least once and a few rides twice.

The first stops were an intense twister called ‘The Spinning Top’ - like a waltzer on speed - and the Star Flyer, really tall chairoplanes like the one in Edinburgh at Christmas, but permanent. It was too windy for them to get it up to full speed, but you still got a great view from the top: I went on it again later on, after dark, and could see all the way to Malmö with the city lights to follow.

I was getting hungry after the Star Flyer, so I disembarked and went to investigate an Italian restaurant I’d spotted - Tivoli has many eateries - called ‘Italia - La Vecchia Signora’. I had already had pizza earlier in the week and wanted to try something different, so I ordered a delicious mushroom ravioli with butter and sage, followed up by one of those melt-in-the-middle chocolate puddings with vanilla ice cream and - for some reason - diced apple.

I thought it would be a bad idea to go on anything too shoogly so soon after tea, so I picked out a few more sedate rides to let my food go down: the dragon boats, sailing on a little pond; a traditional ferris wheel, and a frankly weird ride called ‘The Flying Trunk’ where you got into a car shaped like - yes - a trunk and rode past mechanical puppet displays of different Hans Christian Andersen fairytales, with all the classics and a few less-known ones. I left with the general impression that Hans Christian Andersen was a man with serious problems.

With dinner safely digested, I felt free to try some of the more high-speed rides, and went on:

- A surprisingly fast and bumpy carousel with a pirate theme

- Something called ‘Fata Morgana’, like the offspring of the twister and the Star Flyer - a twister, but 50+ feet in the air

- A small but fast roller coaster called ‘The Odin Express’ (twice)

- Another roller coaster, a traditional wooden one just called ‘The Roller Coaster’ with tunnels

- Dodgems - I think they were invented by a frustrated commuter.

- A carousel with little rocket-shaped cards which you could raise or lower on hydraulic arms as it spun, called ‘The Astronomer’

- Another carousel, this one with the usual animals. I rode on a giraffe (maybe not so high-speed)

- The Spinning Top and the Star Flyer again.

There was also an open-air rock concert going on at the stage. I gathered that the band was called ‘Bob Hund’ if the merchandise stall was anything to go by, but I’d never heard of them. Maybe they’re more famous in Denmark. I also watched a fantastic light show at the lake, with amazing interplay of lasers, spotlights, music and fountains, and a bit of a show at the mime theatre but left after a while. I’m not much of a one for commedia dell’arte; it fills an important and fascinating place in theatrical history, but I find it a bit to slapstick for my taste.

Tivoli is open late on Fridays, but things began to wind down a little before closing time. I was getting hungry again, so I bought some mini doughnuts from a stall for a snack and ate them before finally departing Tivoli at about 11.30. I’m glad I came in the evening - I don’t think it would have the same atmosphere during the day. The lights are beautiful reflected in the water. This must be a good time of year for it, too - it was hardly deserted, but I barely had to queue for anything.

[john-anthony]

October usually means so much to me and indicates the change in seasons. I think of the usual things such as horror movies, over abundant sweet treats to be shared/enjoyed, and dressing up as your favorite figure. Today will mark the second year of not being able to celebrate Halloween in its entirety. It was a bit odd to me not seeing children walk down the busy streets in their costumes, while accompanied by their proud parent. Although I didn’t actually see this in person, since my wife is a nursery teacher, her kids had all gone trick or treating. She did mention to me that she saw the results of their evening candy loot journey the next day due to their hyper active behavior to get the class in order…

What I’ve discovered in my venture in the world of social media, there have been trends of art related topics that a community would accomplish together of all skill levels just to take part in a movement. One of them is “Inktober“. I’ve seen this for a few years actually but never actually got around to finishing it. Why? Lazyness, plain and simple. Last year, I’ve only posted one because I was too focused on being “perfect”. It’s 2017, and reflecting over the years, my main issue was starting a project only to never finish it. As an artist, I would have great ideas, note them down, sketch about 20% of the idea, then frustrate myself because I would feel like something is off. The thought of “Well, I pictured it better in my imagination, but in actuality, it isn’t that great“. This mentality actually killed my progress to develop. It’s like going to the gym for the first day and expecting to see dramatic results, then giving up.

“Swift”

In the same way, creating a specific idea into life will take some work, and often times, I’m quite critical of myself. There are many projects that I wish to create that I still haven’t accomplished yet, but I made a conscious decision to go back to the basics first. I needed to fall in love with drawing again.  I had evaluate, even investigate and ask myself:

Did I reject my love for creating art?

Do I have time to do this anymore?

Do I have it in me to do this again?

“Divided”

Since coming to Dubai, I had to ask myself that many times. It was a passion that kept burning in me, sadly, I set it aside due to lack of confidence in myself. Since starting my job, its a 9 to 5 job and the commute going home is about 2 hours. By the time I get home, I’m tired and I want to shut my mind off with anything else other than challenging myself to be creative.

“Poison” Legends say that the king of Abotinia cared a great deal for his people, even if it meant giving up his own life to save them. The sword he wielded was called “TOMADOR De VIDA”, aka ‘LIFE Taker’. Whoever uses the sword will have emense power, at the expense of the user’s life. The sword has claimed the lives of several legions….

Come September, I wanted to prepare For this Inktober that I’ve been so fond of, but this year was going to be different. Getting back into the groove of drawing consistently was my gym for creativity. The beauty of it was that I can take my creative gym anywhere I wanted to. My lunch breaks are the times to put down lead and ink onto paper. Everyday, I started making efforts to practice and fill up my creative bank with inspirations from my childhood. Much like in real life, to get more out something, I had to be invested.

“Underwater”

  Sure, I watch cartoons, movies, and read comics, but what am I doing with all those creations? To me, they should be used to fuel my own creations. Realizing lunch time at work wasn’t enough to draw, I had to be proactive if I wanted to finish this project, but where can I find more time…? Well… I’ve always complained about how long my bus ride to work were, especially going home… (Queue lightbulb) That’s it! Since the ride is smooth on the highway, I can use those 3 hours (1 hour going to work, 2 hours coming back due to heavy traffic) everyday to draw something! Since its just a sketch, the lines do not have to be perfect, the refinement can come later during lunch time.

“Sword”

Although I haven’t finished Inktober completely, and its already November, I’m still determined to accomplish it. This has taught me to stop making excuses and to make more art instead. Much like my marriage, this is a passion I have to fight for everyday. It sure as heck won’t be perfect, but it’s awesome to be filling up my sketchbook again.

“Shy”. Eva when my parents first took in this amazing creature. I really miss her.

  “Crooked”

  “Screech”

  “Gigantic”

  Shout out to Apurv (Ah-pu-roov)! I created a sketch session on Reddit, and although several people said they were going, one showed up. Getting to know him is awesome. He’s from India, moved to Pasadena, California to pursue his Masters in computer science, graduated, then came back. Great guy all around and incredibly enthusiastic about getting back into his passion as well. Looking forward to our 3 week meeting!

Inktober 2017 October usually means so much to me and indicates the change in seasons. I think of the usual things such as horror movies, over abundant sweet treats to be shared/enjoyed, and dressing up as your favorite figure.

[bornomadic-blog]

Official Blog: www.bornomadic.com

Isn’t it true that everyone wants to travel? Yes, but money plays an important role in making this decision. Therefore, I’ll am sharing my journey how you can travel cheaper, longer and safer in Sri Lanka 🙂

How to travel Sri Lanka under 500$?

Trust me! You can travel even cheaper. I focused primarily on three things.

(a) Accommodation: If you chose the right accommodation. You would save a good money which can be used tor food or transport. So, I used websites like www.airbnb.com, www.booking.com, and www.agoda.com for places to spend the night. Keeping the expense as low as 10$ at most of the places. However, there were a few places where I had to pay 15$ but not beyond that. Also, I searched for homes that provide free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free laundry.

(b) Food: Make sure that your accommodation provides a free breakfast. Then, you would have to just focus on lunch and dinner. I chose inexpensive restaurants but decent ones. Being an Indian I thought that I would be able to get accustomed to Sri Lankan food. But it turned out to totally different. I was unable to develop the taste for the food. However, there were certain dishes that I did like. (i) Rotti – very similar to India chapatti (bread) but with filling. The stuffing could be chicken, banana, pineapple, egg and the list goes on and on. (ii)  Kuttu – it is a mix of chapatti with vegetables, chicken (iii) Hopper – is a bowl-shaped pancake-like dish. It’s made of rice.

Suggestion: 1 Litre Water bottle in Sri Lanka costs around 80-100 LRK (approx. 1$). So, what you can do is a carry a water bottle or two always so that you don’t have to buy one. I re-filled them from places where there were water purifiers installed. It saved good 50$ or so for me during my entire trip.

(c) Transport: The whole country is very well connected through its bus and train system. You may have to change a bus or two to reach your destination at times. But it would definitely save some cash. The Auto-Rickshaw’s (Tuk-Tuk) charge is pretty high. So, I avoided this medium. However, I did take an Auto-Rickshaw (Tuk-Tuk) once as I had to leave early to climb the Adam’s Peak and I had no other option. For trains, I would suggest taking a second class ticket as it is reasonable and the seats are fairly comfortable.

Note: Purchase a SIM from a local shop outside the airport. I made a mistake by purchasing it from the airport costing me 1300LRK (250 minutes international, 500 minutes local, 3GB of data). Later, I got to know you could get a similar deal for 300LRK (500 minutes local, 2GB of data. This is a better deal in case you don’t need international minutes. 

I travelled as an “unplanned traveller” without any itinerary. However, I was able to cover as much ground as I can in these 15 days.

Colombo | Kandy | Dambulla | Nuwara Eliya | Maskeliya | Ella | Mirissa | Galle | Anuradhapura | Jaffna | Colombo

My Journey

I carried a journal during my trip to keep the notes of the trip and also a count of my daily expenses. I would share my entire trip here including the expenses occurred. Hope this would provide you with a fair idea on how you can travel cheap, safe and long.

Day 1 (New Delhi – Bangalore – Colombo – Chennai)

My flight’s scheduled departure from New Delhi was 8.35PM but it got delayed by the half-hour. This delay caused another problem for me. It was a connecting flight. I had to board another plane from Bangalore to Colombo and go through the immigration and security checks. All this was time-consuming I felt I would miss the flight. The boarding time was 12.30AM and I reached the queue for immigration clearance at 12:20 AM. Thankfully, the JetAirways executive expedited the process, sorting the issues with airport authorities. And finally, I was in the place.

Took a moment to capture all the commotion in the plane after the drinks were served

I was all relaxed and wanted to take a nap. But my luck was not with me. I have never seen such a scene in an aeroplane. There were around 90 odd people travelling together for some kind of a meeting in Colombo. After the liquor was served the plane completely turned into a cheap club. I cannot describe the scene but reminded me of this movie ‘Soul Plane’, if you haven’t watched it – Please do!

Anyways, I looked forward to my amazing trip. I was eagerly waiting for the plane to land at Colombo. I was just an hour from the foreign land. Once the place flew over, my eyes experienced a mystical view from the aeroplane window. The whole city glittered by the deep blue sea, it seemed as thousand stars in the sky and our plane was flying upside down. All this anticipated my excitement. We were getting closer to the ground, preparing to land. When suddenly, the captain throttled the plane flying us back above the clouds. Everyone started looking at each other in amazement.

And, an announcement happened “There has been a technical problem at the Colombo Airport, so we are going back to Chennai”. Now, you can image how happy I was.

Day 2 (Chennai – Colombo – Kandy)

In an hour we were at the Chennai Airport, refuelled and flew again for Colombo. The plane landed around 5 AM and I was sure that no way I would be able to catch the train for Kandy for which I had made an advance payment. Yes, I did miss it. Immigration and baggage collection took another hour. Finally, I was out of the airport around 7 AM.

Suggestion: The best way to reach Colombo Fort Railway station is to take Bus No. 187. It takes an hour to get to the fort and charges only 120LRK. If you opt for a tuk-tuk it may charge a hefty sum like 1000LRK or more.

Bus E3-187 from Airport to Colombo Fort

It’s a decent AC Bus. But, it will not move until all passenger seats are full. So, one has to wait for a while. In my case, the bus left within 30 minutes. I reached Colombo Bus stand around 8.25 AM, from there the Colombo fort is just a 10 minutes walk.

I reached Fort a late as I had planned. Therefore, I could only get the ticket for the train which was scheduled for 10:30 AM (Kandy Rajdhani). It was a 2nd class ticket costing 190LRK. I had to wait 2 hours for this one. So, I roamed around the station appreciating the beautiful architecture laid by the British, still standing strong. Clicked few pictures of the trains passing by.

The 4-hour journey from Colombo to Kandy is breathtaking. The rides take you through the lush green foliage of the banana and the coconut trees, symmetrically step farmed paddy fields, petite settlements, and massive tunnels, providing the view of the hills that is too incredible to imagine.

Any traveller would love to experience this enormous exhibition of the countryside. I was tired and deprived of sleep but I deliberately kept myself awake so that I don’t miss this abundance of beauty. The only drawback is that the train stops every 30 minutes or so.

Finally, I reached Kandy, around 2.30 PM. I had booked a place to stay for 2 nights which was at a walking distance from the railway station.

After walking for around 15 minutes I was at the ‘Clock Inn, Kandy‘. I chose to stay in these capsules as this was something distinct that you don’t get to see every day.

Thinking, I have few hours in hand before the sunset. I thought of visiting places nearby. I could see this huge ‘White Buddha’ statue from my capsule. So, I took a shower. I picked a map from the reception and started walking towards this Buddha Temple.

Enter a caption

I reached the Big White Buddha temple after hiking for 45 minutes from the hotel. The temple is beautiful and one gets to see the whole city and the lake from this elevation. However, there is an entry fee to the temple (250LRK). You may also be asked to provide donation by different people within the premises ( I ignored those guys). However, I did pay 20LRK to this shop owner who took care of my shoes when I was in the temple.

I walked down the hill and sat on a bench by the Kandy Lake to see the day end. It was beautiful.

By now, I was starving so I hopped into this local restaurant and requested for an authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. The owner suggested me to try Hopper – Plain and Egg. And trust me “it was delicious”.

Day 2 Expenses – 4265LRK (28$)  (a) Local SIM – 1300LRK (b) Bus from airport to Fort Colombo – 120LRK (c) Train to Kandy – 190LRK (d) Snacks in the train – 140LRK (e) Water Bottle in the train – 50LRK (f) White Buddha Entry Fees – 270LRK (g) Water Bottle – 100LRK (h) Dinner – 350LRK (i) Accommodation – 1745LRK

Day 3 (Kandy – Sigiriya – Pidurangala – Dambulla)

Suggestion: To visit all these places in a day, you would have to leave around 7 AM. Second, if you leave early you would find the places less crowded.

My day started with a hefty breakfast. I was not sure when I’ll be having my next meal. Therefore, I stuffed myself as much as I could. I was sure that I would be commuting by buses or trains. Thus, I headed towards the Kandy Bus Station, which was not far from the hotel. I wanted to visit the Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala Temple first and then the Dambulla caves. I took a bus for Dambulla.

What lovely people we meet when we wander! During my commute to Dambulla. I met Julia, she was from Germany and was also travelling solo. Sitting by her made my journey more compelling as we talked all our way. We shared our experiences about the little big island. She has been travelling solo for some time now, covering a good number of countries. I told her that I would love to be her host cum guide when she comes to India.

Nice and beautiful people kept coming 🙂

To reach Sigiriya Rock, we’ve to change the bus from Dambulla and get on the one heading towards Pidurangala. The bus dropped me at this deserted place with a sign board stating Pidurangala leading to the woods. I followed my instincts and started walking towards the forest.

After walking for almost a kilometre I saw the Pidurangala Temple. Prayed to the Lord and starting walking the incline. The hike is brief but exhausting, however, once you reach the summit, the view is captivating. I could also see the Sigiriya Rock and I now wanted to visit the rock. Initially reluctant to visit it as the entry to it was 30$.

After reaching the Sigiriya Rock, I realised that it’s not a rock but a fort in the shape of a lion, whose head has dropped off somewhere. This massive piece of architecture makes you spellbound. One has to climb some 300 stairs to reach the top and again the view of the surrounding is astounding.

Now, I had to run to the Dambulla caves. Hence, I walked to the near Bus Stand. There was a bus there for Dambulla but no driver and passengers. Upon checking with some people around, I got to know that this bus was not going in my direction. I wanted to reach my destination before it gets dark, so I raised my thumb at a car coming to my direction. Thankfully, it stopped and offered me a ride till Dambulla. It was around 6 PM and I wanted to reach the cave temple as soon as possible as the entry closes after 6.30PM.

God Bless this gentleman for offering me a ride! 

After getting off the car, I boarded a bus to the Dambulla Cave Temple but I was late. It was already 6.30PM. Still, I ran towards the entrance considering that I would somehow slip-in but the authorities did not let me. I desperately wanted to get in, so I offered the authorities a donation, to which they agreed and they let me in.

Delighted was I to go around the temple with these little monks, who excitedly showed me the entire place. It was astounding to roam inside these caves at this hour.

I came out of the temple and walked towards the Bus Stand near the temple. Lucky was I, the bus to Kandy just arrived. I got a seat.

After 2 hours spending in the bus, I finally reached Kandy. And, slept like a baby as I was dead tired from all the walking I had done.

Day 3 Expenses – 6982LRK (46$) (a) Bus to Dambulla – 94LRK (b) Connecting Bus from Dambulla to Sigiriya – 60LRK (c) Entry to Pidurangala – 300LRK (d) Entry to Sigiriya – 1250LRK (e) Bus to Dambulla Cave Temple – 10LRK (f) Entry Donation at Dambulla – 1500LRK (g) Bus to Kandy – 98LRK (h) Dinner – 180LRK (i) Accommodation – 1745LRK

Note: Entry to Sigiriya Rock is for 30$, however, if your country is a member of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and you are carrying your passport then you are eligible for a 50% discount i.e. 15$.

Day 4 (Kandy – Nuwara Eliya)

I was suggested by a fellow traveller Logesh to visit Nuwara Eliya. So, I decided to change my plan, instead of going north I changed my direction to south. But before I could start my travel to Nuwara Eliya. I had to visit one more place in Kandy – The famous ‘Temple Of The Tooth’. I had a lot to do today. Thus, I woke up early had a heavy breakfast as always and headed towards the temple. I was told that the entry fee to the temple was 1500LRK for the foreign nationals. Thinking of the amount, I thought I would stroll around the place and will not enter the temple.

Asankya carrying the offerings

Fortunate was I that I bumped into Asankya. I local from Galle. After a chit chat about where I was from and where I am heading to. He told me that he can get me into the temple without paying a penny. It sounded like a plan and my mind I was happy that the amount that I paid as a donation at Dambulla Cave Temple would get compensated.

He asked me to stay mum till we pass the entry gates. And I did. Once I was in the temple a feeling of advantage came over me. I was happy. 

We offered the gifts to the Lord. Then, Ashankya showed me around the temple and the museum. I was grateful to him. He told me that he would try to meet me again at Galle when I go south and parted our paths. I returned to the hotel to pick my stuff. It was around 10.45 AM and the train to Nuwara Eliya was about to leave in the next 10 minutes. I was sure I would miss it and wait for the next.

Luck was on my side today. The train was running late and it arrived at around 12 PM, a few minutes later after I reached the railway station. I got the window seat and couldn’t be more thankful as I got to know that this route was the most beautiful one in the entire country.

Hakeem and I sharing the lens!

Next to me was this gentleman named ‘Hakeem‘. Once, he got to know that I was from India, he started narrating his experiences of his travel to India. I was good to hear good things about my country. I saw the ticket checker approaching so I put my hand into my pocket to get the ticket. I realised it was not there. Probably, I had dropped it somewhere. I ran to the ticket checker and told him that I’ve lost the ticket. He calmly responded suggesting me to buy one from the next station. Hakeem helped me get the ticket from the next station. Also, when he dropped off at his destination; he got me some snacks too so that I don’t have to get down at any station if I was hungry. I had no clue how to thank him. Before I could say anything he was gone.

Beautiful Nanu Oya Railway Station

Reached the beautiful town of Nanu Oya but this was not my destination. So, I boarded a bus to Nuwara Eliya. I liked the weather, it was raining and it was cooler here as compared to Kandy. After reaching the Nuwara Eliya bus station. I used Google Maps to locate the hostel I had booked online. Maps showed me that it was 10 minutes walk from the station. I started walking, making my way through the woods.

I booked a dorm bed at the hostel for 2 nights believing I would be able to cover as much as I could. It was around 5 PM and I wanted to see a couple of places before it gets dark. I decided to visit the ‘Ashok Vatika’; today’s ‘Seetha Amman Temple’ as everyone back in India had suggested me to visit the place.

There was no one in the temple. I was the only person at this hour. From my childhood, we’ve heard stories about Ravana’s Lanka and places associated with Ramayana like any other Indian. I sat near the Feet imprint of Lord Hanuman for a while. The place made me feel a deep connection and I got hysterical.

I wanted to stay longer but due to the brevity of time. I had to leave. The bus stand is opposite to the temple.

While I was waiting for the bus, I met these two gentlemen from India. We talked about the food, the people, the places. They were kind enough to give me company till I boarded the bus. I reached Nuwara Eliya bus station around 8 PM, went to this restaurant on the opposite side. I ordered Masala Dosai and a glass of milk. Once done, I walked back to the hostel. In less than 15 minutes I was in the hostel; good that I was carrying a flashlight because the path to the hostel turned dark.

Day 4 Expenses – 2060LRK (13.50$) (a) Snacks – 130LRK (b) Train Fare Kandy to Nanu-Oya – 160LRK + 150LRK (for the new ticket) = 310LRK (c) Hostel/ Dorm Charges – 1330LRK (d) Bus to Nuwara from Nanu-Oya – 25LRK (e) Bus to Hakgala (Seetha Amman Temple) – 30LRK (f) Bus to Nuwara Eliya from Seetha Amman Temple – 30LRK (g) Dinner – 205LRK

Day 5 (Nuwara Eliya)

I got up around 6 AM. Freshened up, had breakfast and left for Lover’s Leap Waterfall. I was told by the caretaker that the waterfall was just 3 Kms walk from the hostel. Within half an hour I was at this beautiful waterfall. I immensely enjoyed the walk as it provided me with a beautiful view of the town. You get to see trails of beautiful flowers along the route accompanying you.

There was no one here at this hour of the day. So, I sat near the waterfall listening to the harmonica of the water splashing on the rocks. I was a marvellous feeling – Mother Nature and her child.

Realising that there were other places too that I had to see. I scuttled down the slant and luckily met Mr Nazim Zubin who offered me a ride to the bus station. It did save some time.

I took bus No. 311/1 which dropped me off a location leading to the Single Tree Hill. It’s a 2 Kilometre hike and every bit of it worth it. Firstly, You tend to see the whole town from another level of elevation. Secondly, you get to meet the locals collecting tea leaves from the tea garden. Also, there is a beautiful stupa on the way up.

After reaching the summit I realised that there was no tree named ‘The Silent Tree’ instead the hill that I had just climbed was called the ‘Silent Tree’. I was not disappointed I sat there for a while and let the cool breeze lower down my body temperature.

After climbing down the hill. I boarded a bus heading towards the Ramboda Falls. Within 30 minutes or so I was at the Ramboda Waterfall. People were clicking pictures and leaving the spot. But I observed a narrow path leading to the up the source. So, I climbed all the way up and found the real fall. Water was falling from a height of 390 meters and the view was mesmerising.

The view was so compelling that it urged me to take a dip under the waterfall. But there was a problem, there was no defined path to reach the fall. Anyhow, I removed my shoes, tied them to my bag and made my way through. I did stumble in between due to the presence of algae on the rocks but somehow I reached the point of bliss. I removed my clothes and jumped into the pool, feeling the love of nature. Once done, I came back to the highway from where I started the climb for the Ramboda Waterfall and asked a local for the direction to the ‘Hanuman Temple’. He said that I need to walk 2 Kilometres straight and I would reach my destination. And so I started walking….

This walk was not exactly 2 Kilometres. It was far beyond that. Initially, I did not realise that but now it did not matter to me because the charm it offered me was priceless.

I walked through tunnels, saw beautiful waterfalls, lush green pine trees. The pure air filled my chest and I walked along the artistic road.

There were no cars on the road. Just a few locals selling vegetables and fruits besides the highway. They smiled when I walk passed them.

I walked for good 5-7 Kilometres until I reached a small restaurant. I was starving, so I asked the waiter to get me 2 glasses of Avocado Shake and noodles. After regaining my strength, I asked the restaurant owner how far the ‘Hanuman Temple’ was. He replied “it’s just 2 Kms from the restaurant” but he suggested that I take a bus, which I did. It took 5 minutes for the bus to drop me near the temple.

I bought offerings for the prayers from a shop near the entrance of the temple. And walked the 500 meters incline towards the temple.

It was at the entrance of this beautiful temple. Photography was prohibited inside the temple so I was unable to click more pictures. I was taken aback when I was told that I had to pay for the prayers. This was unusual, anyhow I did pray the priest.

This was my final destination for the day. It was getting dark so I decided to return back to the hostel. I boarded the Bus heading to Nuwara Eliya and reached the hostel around 7 PM. While I was lying on my bed, these two guys (a Chinese and a Korean) come to my room and asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner. I accepted their invite and we headed to a local restaurant. The Sri Lankan food we’d ordered was pathetic, we told the owner of the restaurant that the food was bad and left the place. Then, we headed to this Chinese restaurant where we were well fed.

Day 5 Expenses – 2252LRK (15$) (a) Bus to Silent Hill – 20LRK (b) Bus to Ramboda Waterfall – 50LRK (c) Lunch – 300LRK (d) Offerings for the temple – 100LRK (e) Prayers – 20LRK (f) Bus to Nuwara Eliya – 52LRK (g) Dinner – 380LRK (h) Hostel Charge – 1330LRK

Day 6 (Horton Plains National Park – Maskeliya – Ella)

I was suggested to leave early morning for Horton Plains and The World’s End as it gets really hot during the day. Therefore, I got up around 4.30AM and left in an hour. I pooled up for the taxi and entry to the park with 3 other travellers in the hostel – 2 Chinese girls and an English man.

We stopped at a small eating joint before entering the park for a quick bite. After entering the park, we realised that it was crowded though we reached the place quite early.

We started walking towards the Mini World’s End initially and reached the location in good 30 minutes or so. Others got to see the Sri Lankan Sambar, some wild birds, and monkeys but I was not that fortunate. However, I enjoyed the walk though.

Mark and I walked along the narrow path sharing our travel experiences, of people, places, and food. He had been travelling from the south of Sri Lanka towards the north and I was doing the opposite.

Mark helped me get some great pictures of the Mini World’s End, the World’s End and the Baker’s Fall. It feels marvellous to meet nice people and sharing cultural differences.

After returning from the Hortons Plain. I started packing to move to my next destination – Adam’s Peak. Initially, I was not planning to visit climb the Adam’s Peak but after learning from Mark and Julia about it I added it to my itinerary.

I took a bus from Nuwara Eliya to Nanu-Oya Railway Station. I was about to miss my train to Hatton but I ran like a horse towards the ticket counter, got a ticket and hopped on the train.

I reached Hatton around 1.30PM and it was pouring. But I was fortunate that a bus was waiting just outside the Railway Station. It was heading to Dalhousie. During my commute, I was searching for an accommodation in Dalhousie but all options were out of my budget.

I dropped off at Maskeliya for a cheaper accommodation. I found a place to spend the night but it was really far from the bus station and a good 5 Kms from the Adam’s Peak. Anyhow, I walked towards the “Madhusa Rest” house. Somewhere in between, I felt that I was lost but there some these school kids who helped me find the place.

I told the caretaker not to disturb me until the dinner was ready because I really wanted to rest before the excruciating hike. The caretaker also arranged a tuk-tuk for me who would take me to Adam’s Peak at midnight.

I had a typical Sri Lankan dinner. It looked great but I was not accustomed to the taste, so I left in between and slept. Around 1 AM I heard the sound of a tuk-tuk arriving, I freshened up and left to the climb.

Day 6 Expenses – 7004LRK (46$) (a) Taxi to Horton Plains – 1250LRK (b) Breakfast – 190LRK (c) Horton Plains Entrance Fee – 2900LRK (d) Bus to Nanu-Oya – 24LRK (e) Train to Hatton – 60LRK (f) Bus to Maskeliya – 70LRK (g) Snacks – 120LRK (h) Accomocdation and Dinner – 2390LRK

Day 7 (Adam’s Peak – Maskeliya – Ella)

I underestimated the climb. But soon realised that it would get tough as I go further. I wanted to grab a perfect point to view the sunrise from the summit so I walked as fast as I could without stopping anywhere in between.

Somewhere I between I looked at the sky. It looked beautiful, it seemed as if the stars looked at me guiding me through the deserted path. I wanted to stop and stare at the sky but due to the brevity of time, I kept walking.

By 4.30 AM I was at the summit. The hike was gruesome and it tested my endurance and agility at all levels. But every bit of it was worth it. I took a seat at a seating area near the temple and meditated till dawn.

The sunrise was too majestic to describe. I looked it until I had completely grasped the beauty of the moment. I roamed around the temple for few minutes and then started running down the stairs. I took 45 minutes to come down.

I took a bus from the Adam’s Peak bus station to Maskeliya. Within 20 minutes I was at the guest house. I took a shower, packed my stuff and headed towards the Bus Station to take a bus to Hatton.

Though I left early for Hatton, I missed the 11.30 AM train. So, I headed for lunch and returned to the railway station around at 1.45 PM to catch the 2 PM train.

During my commute to Ella, I met Vicky from China. We talked about the countries we’ve travelled. Shared our experiences. She wanted to know more about India like why certain people wear turbans and why the married women wear vermilion on their forehead. I explained her as much as I could and it was fun to talk. Around 6 PM, we reached Ella and bid farewell to each other.

I had booked a bed at the ‘Sleep Cheap – Ella‘ guesthouse, which was not far from the railway station. While I was walking towards the hostel it started to rain and I had to take out my poncho and hurried.

Once, it stopped raining I left for the Ella market. During the evening hours, Ella seems to become a different place altogether. You see people walking, hear music from the pubs and happy hour boards placed outside all bars. Without any delay, I stepped into a restaurant and offered ginger beer and pineapple roti. Once done, I went back to the hostel.

Day 7 Expenses – 3070 (20$) (a) Tuk-Tuk from Madusa Guest House to Adam’s Peak – 700LRK (b) Bus from Adam’s Peak to Maskeliya – 40LRK (c) Bus to Maskeliya to Hatton – 45LRK (d) Snacks – 110LRK (e) Lunch – 200LRK (f) Train to Ella – 160LRK (g) Dinner – 320LRK (h) Accommodation – 1500LRK

Day 8 (Ella – Little Adam’s Peak – Ravana Falls – Ella Rock)

Next morning during breakfast, I met Quan and Aines from China. They were in Sri Lanka for a week. I was planning to climb the little Adam’s Peak, so were they. So, they tagged along with me.

We walked through this path exhibiting us the beautiful landscapes, talking about the similarities of China & India. Our education system, people, government, etc. The places we want to travel and not get married soon enough.

Aines shared her story, how laboriously her parents worked for her education. At one point, she really got emotional. At that instance, I realised for similar people are though we are from different worlds.

Aines and Quan had to catch a bus so they left. I bid farewell to them and I moved to the next peak. Little Adam’s Peak is an easy trek. So, it did not take us long to reach the peak. The view was amazing and in front, I could see Ella Rock, which I had to climb before the end of the day.

The view was majesticI so I clicked few pictures and sat there for a while. Then, I walked down the hill for the Ravana Waterfall.

Google Maps showed me Ravana falls at a distance of 6 Kms from my location. To save some time, I thought of hitchhiking. So, I raised my thumb high. I could see a motorcycle approaching, it stopped and offered me a ride.

The rider’s name was Sumit and he came to know that I was from India. He told me how big a fan he was of the Indian Cricket Team. His favourites were Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.

While we were lost in our conversation, we saw a police barricade ahead and I guessed it that we were in trouble. I was not wearing a helmet. The policeman on duty stopped us. He asked me to leave. I tried to give an explanation but I was waved-off. Even Sumit asked me to leave the spot. Feeling guilty, I left. I walked a few hundred meters and could see Sumit coming towards me. He stopped and said that the police gave him a verbal warning and let him go. The policeman was a nice man, he made him think of a scenario where a foreigner meets with an accident then what would consequences he would have to face. It was thoughtful for me too. Anyhow, Sumit did leave me till Ravana Falls.

I didn’t find this place amusing. Just a waterfall by the road with few people getting pictures clicked.

My last attraction to cover in Ella was the “Ella Rock”. Therefore, I boarded a bus to Ella and started walking towards the rock.

One has to walk along this railway track for good 2-2.5 Kilometres first. Then, there is narrow passage along the forest leading to the Ella Rock. During my walk along this wonderful foliage by the track, I met a lot of hikers returning and they guided me through.

I was lost somewhere in the forest. But by God’s grace, I met Anil, a villager from Ella Village. He walked with me till I was back on the trail. I gave him 100LRK for helping me out.

In total it took good 2 hours for me to reach the rock. I sat on the edge of the rock enduring the cool breeze. The view of from the rock was thrilling. One can see the Little Adam’s Peak in front, the petite village at the bottom and enormous ranges all around.

While I was grasping the beauty around. I saw Priyantha and Pradeep approaching. They were curious to know where I was from and what I was doing here all by myself. I told them all and it clicked well. We talked about all kind of stuff from Cricket to Buddhism to how we are missing good things in our lives of hectic work schedule.

While I was returning back, I met Mark and Eleonora. I’ve been bumping into them for a while. First, I met them at the Nanu-Oya Railway station then the Little Adam’s Peak and now the Ella Rock.

On my way back, I lost my path. Thankfully, my phone had enough juice to guide me though. I finally reached the hostel before dark. For me, the most memorable part was walking along the track.

In the evening, the town turned hazy. Looking at that I went to this pub playing some great music and ended my day there.

Suggestion: When visiting Ella Rock, keep track of the path and continue asking the locals for the route. Don’t take a guide, it’s not required.

Day 8 Expenses – 2825LRK (18.50$) (a) Accommodation – 1500LRK (b) Bus to Ella from Ravana Falls – 25LRK (c) To Anil – 100LRK (d) Dinner – 1200LRK

Day 9 (Ella – Mirissa)

After breakfast, I left for the Ella Bus stand to catch a Bus to Mirissa. But, there is no direct Bus. So, I boarded a bus to Matara. It’s a four-hour journey from Ella to Matara. And, Mirissa is 30 minutes distance from Matara. I reached Mirissa in the afternoon. It’s a beautiful town, with a lot of restaurant and shacks by the beach.

I stayed at the ‘Sun Vivanta Resort’ which was is and managed by a cute couple. I was offered a king coconut, freshly cut, from the tree to quench my thirst, when I arrived at the resort.

Though I had booked a single-bed room, they offered me a comfortable double-bed room. Laundry was not a part of the amenities offered but they allowed me to use their washing machine.

The owner suggested me to go for ‘Whale Watching’ the next morning. I agreed to it. He made all the arrangements. Later in the evening, I thought of taking a walk by the beach. And I met this lovely couple from Czech – Mark and Eleonora again. I sat with them for a while and told them that, there was kind of power that was making us meet every now and then. For dinner, I had cheese roti which had a stuffing of eggs, cheese and vegetables; it was delicious.

Day 9 Expenses – 2590LRK (17$) (a) Accommodation @ Sun Vivanta Resort – 1500LRK (b) Bus to Matara from Ella – 400LRK (c) Bus to Mirissa from Matara – 40LRK (d) Lunch – 250LRK (e) Dinner – 400LRK

Day 10 – Mirissa

Early morning around 5 AM, the owner of the resort, woke me up. He had arranged a tuk-tuk for my pickup from the resort to the harbour. I got ready and reached the place by 6.30 AM. We left for the ocean at 7 AM.

Exhilarated was I, as the boat sailed on the sea in a harmonic pattern. I felt a profound connection to my soul with the deep blue water of the ocean. It took good one hour or so to reach the spot where the big mammal is spotted.

We had to wait for some time to see the big blue whale. Our boat stood still in the blue water, all of us waiting to see a glimpse of the creature. The captain said that the whale comes every 15-20 minutes to the surface. So, we were waiting patiently.

We did see a couple of whales. After which, we headed back to the port. I fell asleep and got up when we were about to reach the harbour. I was famished by then, I headed to this restaurant near the resort for lunch. As it got too hot during the day, I stayed at the resort and relaxed.

In the evening, I left for the beach. The blue water and the blue sky complemented each other. I got into the shallow water and while I was enjoying myself two mammoth size waves hit me. First, I tumbled into the water and as soon as I tried to get on my feet, the second wave pushed me to the ground. I felt an excruciating pain on my right knee. I sensed something bad has happened. Somehow, I came out of the water, changed and headed for the resort.

I knew deep down that I may not be able to continue my trip with an injured knee. So, I stopped that thought from getting into my head. Rather, I thought of enjoying the moment.

I went a little off my budget. I took a seat at a table by the beach and ordered few beers and barbequed chicken. There was no one around and even in pain, I was content.

Day 10 Expenses – 5510LRK (36$) (a) Accommodation @ Sun Vivanta Resort – 1500LRK (b) Whale Watching – 2000LRK (c) Lunch – 560LRK (d) Dinner – 1450LRK

Day 11 (Mirissa – Galle)

Next morning, I got up a bit late. I was unable to bend my knee, the pain had worsened. The owner of the resort gave me some kind of ointment but it didn’t provide any relief. I made my mind and thought of continuing my journey. I had breakfast which the owner’s wife had cooked, it was some authentic Sri Lankan food; it was exquisite.

I boarded a bus from Mirissa to Galle around 11 AM and reached Galle in an hour. It was getting really hard for me to travel. I met this English couple on the bus who gave my some painkillers by looking at my state. I wish I had clicked their picture but I was not in the right state.

It took me good one hour to walk 1.5 Kilometres to reach my hostel from the bus station. It was painful and the day felt really hot. This became the most memorable day of my trip for me. I stayed at the ‘Pilgrims Hostel’. Thankfully, it was not far from the Galle Fort, Lighthouse and the beach.

I was exhausted from walking in this state and wanted to rest. Moreover, it was too hot and humid during the day. So, I took a nap during the day after having the pain killers.

Around 3 PM, it rained and the weather got pleasant. I took a seat at the balcony and looked at the sky as it rained. By this time, my pain had reduced or I would say, I got accustomed to it. Once, it stopped raining, I thought of taking a stroll around the fort.

As I walked around the fort, I saw couples walk holding hands, school kids clicking pictures, pedlars selling toys and candies. People swimming at the beach, some girls collecting seashells. Everyone seemed gleeful. I took a seat at a corner and saw the sunset steadily.

Day 11 Expenses – 2654LRK (18$) (a) Accommodation Pilgrims Hostel – 1800LRK (b) Bus from Mirissa to Galle – 54LRK (c) Dinner – 800LRK

Day 12 (Galle – Anuradhapura)

I left for Galle Railway Station after having an awesome breakfast. My knee continued to hurt. I was thankful to this doctor in the hostel who gave me few painkillers. It helped me for a while. I planned to travel the north before I leave. So, I purchased a ticket for Anuradhapura.

It was a long tiring journey. To add more to this torment, the train took multiple stops. Though the journey was tiring, it was not monotonous as I got the company of Joshua and Michael; they were from Canada.

The train was crowded and we did not get seats. Thus, we stood by the door, talking all kind of stuff. They got off at Colombo and I got a window seat. I reached Anuradhapura at 7 PM. It got dark so I took a tuk-tuk to the hostel.

I stayed at this place called ‘Lion Rest’. An average place, with minimal amenities but it served the purpose. I went to a local restaurant, had noodles, returned and went off to bed.

Day 12 Expenses – 2490LRK (17$) (a) Accommodation Lion Rest – 1500LRK (b) Train to Anuradhapura – 310LRK (c) Snacks & Water – 200LRK (d) Tuk-Tuk from the Railway Station – 100LRK (e) Dinner – 380LRK

Day 13 (Anuradhapura)

My injury had made me weak and to some extent killed my enthusiasm. I woke up a bit late. I was running short of cash. So, I walked around few ATMs and finally found the right one. It was the Commerical Bank ATM that read international cards. Anuradhapura was different from all cities/towns I visited in Sri Lanka. Everything was pretty scattered here. So, I took a tuk-tuk and asked the driver to take me around the city.

First, I went to see the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. One has to remove their shoes/slippers before the entry. After which you have to walk into the temple from any of the four gates.

The Sri Maha Bodhi is said to the oldest and longest-surviving tree in the world. It was planted in 288 BC. It grew from a branch taken from the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became known as Buddha more than 2,500 years ago.

One gets to see a huge number of devotees coming to the place with offerings. Several of them tend to spend hours sittings by the tree and its whereabouts.

Suggestion:  Carry a pair of socks, you would be requested to remove your shoes. The floor gets really hot and it’s very hard to walk barefoot.

After the Bodhi Tree, I asked the driver to take me to Mahiyangana Stupa, is believed to be the site of Gautama Buddha’s first visit to the country.

Then, I went to a temple which had some 500 statues of monks meditating with Lord Buddha. There was no one there as it was too hot at this hour of the day.

I roamed around the place. It was very peaceful. Even the tuk-tuk driver clicked pictures of the place. And we sat there for a while.

We then headed to the Isurumuniya Temple. There is an entry fee to it. It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka. I was not wearing socks which made it really tough for me to roam around.

I was hopping around the place with an injured knee. Also, it was extremely hot. But, I did tour the complete temple.

I also climbed to the top from where one can see the whole city. It took me good 10-15 minutes to reach the top but I loved it there. I stood there for a while till my body regained its strength.

While I was getting down, there was a family climbing up. Looking at my agony, they asked me why I was limping. I narrated the whole incident. They asked if they can see my knee. I said yes. Later, I found that 3 people in that family were orthopaedics. What Luck! They checked my knee movement and the prescribed me some medicines. They believed that I had suffered a ligament tear. I thanked them and headed to my last destination of the day.

The tuk-tuk driver left me outside the Royal Park – Ranmasu Uyana. This place gave me shade from the scorching heat of the sun.

This place has a rich history of the Senegalese empire. The ruins were once an ancient play area for the kings who ruled the country. Depicting the luxurious facilities and technology used in that era.

If you are really keen in knowing the history of this place. I would suggest you take a guide.

After all the roaming around the ancient city. I asked the tuk-tuk driver to drop me at a pharmacy near the hostel. I purchased the prescribed medicines and returned to the hostel.

In the evening, I left for the Anuradhapura Railway station to purchase tickets for my travel to Jaffna and a return ticket to Colombo from Jaffna. The ticket counter operates from 4 AM till midnight.

While returning from the Railway Station, I went to this Chinese Restaurant for dinner. Had noodles and ginger beer. Returned to the hostel, did packing for the next day’s travel. Then, went off to sleep.

Day 13 Expenses – 2850LRK (19$) (a) Accommodation Lion Rest – 1500LRK (b) Tuk-Tuk for going around the city – 1000LRK (c) Entry Fee Isurumuniya Temple – 200LRK (d) Dinner – 150LRK

Day 14 (Anuradhapura – Jaffna)

I left the hostel around 9 AM. There was bus stand nearby, boarded a bus to the Railway Station. Sat at the station waiting for the train for a while.

Thankfully, it was an AC train. But there were hardly any people on the train. It seemed not many people were inclined to see this part of the country. Yet, it did not kill my zeal.

While I was on the train I booked a room at the R&B Guest House, they were providing accommodation at a moderate price and also it was pretty close to the Railway Station. After a 3-hour journey reached Jaffna around noon.

I was picked from the Railway Station by Subraj, the caretaker of the guest house. On our way to the guest house, he told me all the places I can visit. Also, showed a great place to eat.

When he got to know about my knee injury. He offered me to take around Jaffna. As the bus service and other mediums of transport is not as good as in other parts of Sri Lanka.

In the afternoon, first, we went to the Mantri Manai or Residence of the Ministers. I am sure this place had its relevance in the past but now it was in ruins. And none was done by the Archaeological Department for this monument. There was scribbling on the walls and the whole structure was wearing off.

Then, we went to the ‘Jaffna Public Library‘. It opens from 4 PM to 6 PM for visitors. Due to the brevity of time, I did not enter the library. From outside, I could see this beautiful building between the Jaffna Fort and the city centre.

Now, it was the turn of the famous Nallur ‘Kovil Temple’. It is considered as the most sacred temple for the Hindus in Sri Lanka. I was asked to remove my shirt before entering the temple and was not allowed to click any pictures inside the temple. One gets to see the impressive architecture, interesting history and significant devotion. I was on time, so I attended the puja.

It was almost evening and the sun was about to set. So, Subraj hurried to the Jaffna Fort before it got too dark. He had to leave me at the fort as another traveller had arrived at the guest house. In the meanwhile, I roamed around the deserted fort.

There was no entry fee fort. I roamed around the whole fort. It was sad to see this colonial masterpiece in such a miserable state.

Later, I sat at a corner near the fort waiting for Subraj and also to witness the setting of the sun.

Subraj returned in an hour or so. By this time, I was starving. I asked him to take me to some Indian Restaurant. Thankfully, there was one – Mangoes India Veg.

After all the tripping, we went to Mangoes. The food was delicious and inexpensive. Subraj then dropped me at the guesthouse and left for his home.

Day 14 Expenses – 4170LRK (27$) (a) Accommodation Lion Rest – 1750LRK (b) Train from Arunradhapura to Jaffna – 1000LRK (c) Lunch – 500LRK (d) Snacks in the train – 120LRK (e) Dinner – 800LRK

Day 15 Anuradhapura

Next morning, Subraj came with a plan. He wanted to take me to few places. I was dead asleep and woke up when he started banging my room’s door. He told me that he would be taking me to a beach and a U-shaped sacred pool. I got ready and we headed for the day trip.

We headed for the beach first, it took good an hour or so to reach the spot. During our ride, I saw Sri Lankan military keeping guard. One could sense the place still recovering from the civil war.

Finally, we reached the KSS or Kankesanthurai Beach. It was the most beautiful beach so far. The water was so clear that I could see the stones at the surface. Another good thing about the place was that there were no people. I was overwhelmed.

I swam at this clean salty water until I was exhausted. Even my knee pain was reduced due to the upthrust of the water. After a while, few school kids came and we started playing Volleyball with them. I couldn’t understand their language but I knew what they were saying.

We had spent almost half of the day at the beach. I was all tanned and I skin started to itch, I had suffered a bad sunburn but it did not concern me at all.

Then, we headed to the U-Shaped – Yamuna Eri. The U-Shaped pool is made of carved stones and it is also one of the neglected attractions of Jaffa. There are two similar pools, one of the men and other for the women.

I did swim at the pool but came out of it pretty soon. The place was not maintained that well. I was not comfortable staying in that water. There were huge rocks under the water with algae on it which made the water stink and it was hard to find ground to stand.

It was almost evening and we both were dead tired. Also, we were famished by now. So, I asked Subraj to take me to Mangoes again for dinner. After returning to hostel, I went off to bed and slept like a baby 🙂

Day 15 Expenses – 2550LRK (17$) (a) Accommodation Lion Rest – 1750LRK (b) Gasoline for Bike – 300LRK (c) Dinner – 500LRK

Day 16 Jaffna – Colombo – New Delhi

In the morning I left around 9 AM from the guest house to the Railway Station. Subraj came early to do his regular chores with that he wanted to drop me to the Railway Station.

It was a long tiring journey. And, there was no one in the train compartment in which I was travelling, therefore it turned monotonous too. It took good 8 hours or more to reach Colombo from Jaffna.

After reaching Colombo. I boarded the bus No.187 for the airport. I reached airport around 10 PM which was too early. My flight was scheduled for 4 AM, I had good 6-7 hours in hand. I wanted to sleep but there was no place to sit. So, I laid on the floor and slept till I was woken up by airlines officials.

And finally, I reached New Delhi at noon 🙂

Hope you guys enjoyed my journey. I have made a video of my travel. If it interests you please like, comment and subscribe to my channel. Would really appreciate it!

Soloed Sri Lanka in 15 days under 500$ Official Blog: www.bornomadic.com Isn't it true that everyone wants to travel? Yes, but money plays an important role in making this decision.

[arvyllena]

Unleashing the inner fangirl

ABOUT BIGBANG

BIG BANG is a k-pop group formed by YG Entertainment in South Korea with five members consisting of G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, Daesung and Seungri. The group officially debuted in August 19, 2006. They are well known at writing and producing their own songs that makes them truly remarkable and unique from the other groups.

All the members have had the chance to release solo songs that relied heavily on their own skills. I believe that this is proof that they’re not just all for show – no one was put into the group as a filler to compensate for any shortcomings. Individually, they are great. Together, they’re even greater. And this is what I love most about them. They are well deserved to be able to achieve the label of “King’s of K-Pop” in the industry.

ABOUT THE CONCERT

The first time that they held a concert in Manila was their “ALIVE TOUR” back in 2012 where their hit song, “FANTASTIC BABY” has originated. Unfortunately I was still residing in Saudi Arabia at that time, finishing my high school and the distance caused the complication. I was very eager to attend their first concert that I actually saved enough money to afford and purchase a VIP ticket and be able to see them up close. The main problem is that I don’t have the wealth to buy my own plane ticket. That was a devastating moment for me that I even begged my parents to allow me attend and just pay for the plane ticket and the rest of the expenses would be on me for the sake of the concert. But sadly, they didn’t allow me too as it seemed costly, insignificant and a waste of time. I didn’t have any choice and just sulked until the concert was over. From then, I vowed to myself that I will and must attend the next concert that they will have.

Finally, the time has come. BIGBANG MADE in Manila was held way back 30th of July year 2015 in the Mall of Asia Arena. The memories from that day were still crystal clear as I was very grateful and it was my very first time to attend and experience a concert by my long time cherished and admired k-pop group.

The selling of tickets started from May 30, 2015. However, I wasn’t able to save money this time around it is because I was already in college and it was very hard for me to save especially the cost of living in the Philippines was expensive. Luckily, my birth month was approaching and I segued to my dad if I could get my birthday present a little early. By June 1st, I cannot believe my eyes that I was holding an early bird VIP STANDING ticket and I was really excited and pumped up for the upcoming concert.

A few weeks before the concert, there was a countdown event held on SM Megamall called Happy Fiesta and a gathering of BigBang Philippines Fans Club that I am part of as a member. The event consists of contests such as dance battles and solo performances related to BigBang. There was even a games, raffle draws and ticket giveaways to be enjoyed and anticipated by the audiences. There were few lucky winners that was able to grab a VIP ticket for free.

As it was my very first concert, I realized that I didn’t have any companion by that time. It felt awkward just by imagining that I am alone during the concert. There was this event group created in Facebook by VIPs and I started to post there asking anyone to be my concert buddy in the VIP DANCE area. Fortunately, there were few who responded in my post, one is named Roslyn, a high school student from Ramon Magsaysay High School which is a block away from UST and we clicked right away. Next is Zhai, she’s already a working IT professional from Davao and exerting her utmost effort just to be able to see BIGBANG perform. Right after they commented on my post, we have exchanged numbers for us to contact one another on the day before the concert. Lastly, my good friend Allen was also attending the concert when he knew that I was going. We’ve met in one of our classes during summer and asked me about BigBang and that’s how we ended up being concert buddies.

JULY 30, 2015: D-DAY!

The night before the event, I started conditioning myself and prepared my things such as clothes and accessories to be worn on the special day. I decided to wear the black BIGBANG shirt that I bought online matching with a white shorts for the special occasion matching with the other accessories such as the crown headband that has light switch and it is turned on during performances. Apparently, I lost mine during the intensity of the concert.

A day full of excitement and remarkable memories that will forever be etched in my brain. From the moment that I opened my eyes, there’s nothing that I can’t ever think of but only the concert that I am attending to. The concert starts at 8PM but I was already up and preparing by 6AM. Because I was too far from the venue, I decided to leave home by 7AM and commuted by riding a UV Express from Novaliches to MRT North Avenue station heading to Taft Station and rode small jeepneys from there that are bound to Pasay then arrived at MOA Arena by past 9AM and met with Allen. The reason behind of me being early is not only because I was too excited but also there was a time for admission for VIP ticket holders that was scheduled to be opened by 10AM. Assuming that there would be a lot of people, it would be a great advantage for me to be ahead on the line and not crowding over afterwards. After we have admitted, I met up with Roslyn and had a lunch with her and Allen at Chowking. Because we were way too early for the event, we had to come up with a plan how to kill time. And to be able to do that, it is impossible to not spend some money. The best way that we could ever think of is to watch a movie that would last at least 2hrs. Minions was the movie that we picked and has the perfect time slot among the other movies at that time. When the movie has ended, we still had a few hours left before the show. We decided to buy coffee at Starbucks and just hang there for a while until it’s time for us to queue to get in the arena.

Just when I thought that I would be just walking in so easily inside the arena, there was a horde of people waiting in line regardless of being a VIP ticket holder. Until we reach the threshold of the arena, the place was jam packed with people who wants to get in the arena already. When we were able to enter the arena, the place is slowly filling up with VIPs. To my surprise, I saw my former block mate from Nursing named Saichie in one of the crowd and she decided to tag along and enjoy the concert with us.

The concert was delayed (because Filipino time) for about 15-20mins. The opening was a video clip prepared by BigBang as a trailer for the concert. After the film, the five of them are being introduce one by one from the intro of their new single. The audience had a blast of their opening performance when they started to perform “BANG BANG BANG” from their new album MADE. It was an exuberant atmosphere that made my heart race especially when I was able to gaze at them up close. And because we were in the VIP DANCE are, I got separated from Allen and Saichi for a while when the stage started to move. 

THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS

The performance consisted of their new songs such as “Bae Bae” which is a chic song that has the feels of one-sided love and it’s a timid yet innerly passionate character with a strong feeling of spirituality, masculinity and femininity. “Loser” on the other hand is a hip-hop/R&B track with a slow tempo and emotional melody that portrays the insecurities of the members and in spite of being famous, they want the public to know that they are still human beings who get their feelings hurt and smile sometimes. “We Like 2 Party” portrays the friendship and the 10-years bond of the five who had been through a lot together and they wanted to show their fans the casual side of them. “Sober” has a catchy beat and melody but it has a deep meaning into it. They wanted to illustrate that no matter how you dream big, if you don’t do anything, then there’s nothing bound to happen. Being sober is to wake up from a dream and live in the reality. “If You” is the latest single that they released at that time and it’s somewhat ballad that was different from their former songs which made them more unique from other groups that they can pull off different kinds of genre. Their new songs were followed by some solo performances and some of their old hit songs.

Those moments were hard to explain as it was just pure happiness that I felt all throughout the show and there are no words to explain how amazing it was.  For 3 hours, I was just looking up at them and my nape started to feel numb and it felt like I was going to have stiff neck but it didn’t held me back from admiring them even more. It was truly a night to remember and I couldn’t ask for more. We took a lot of pictures and videos during the show until it ended although most of them were blurred. The moments that I was able to capture were all clear in my mind and I will forever treasure and cherish them in my heart until the next concert that they will have.

[duo-log]

The Adda and The PNPC

I woke up this morning with a full heart. The colours on the leaves are transitioning all around me from the summer green to a bright amber and a vibrant red. Autumn is beautiful in Canada, and even though it is the messenger for the onset of winter, Autumn is still loved and cherished, especially so by Bengalis around the world. Growing up outside of Bengal, I never got a vacation during this time of the year-long enough to make the 36-hour long journey by train to Bengal and so, my family never got to celebrate the much awaited ‘Durga Puja’ in Kolkata. The city lovingly called ‘The city of joy’ is more joyful than usual during these festivities. The Memories I often read and heard are about visiting the various pandals all night long, spending time with family, catching up with friends, flirting and the beginnings of budding love, latest fashion trends and of course the delicious, mouthwatering, coma-inducing spread of food. Unfortunately, I never had these memories, and I never felt my heart flutter in anticipation of Pujo, until now.

Last night was offbeat. It reminded me off a few beautiful moments in my life. It reminded me of when as a little girl I sneaked out with my friends to a corner of the nearby park which we called our place and talked about our little troubles. Neither the scorching sun nor the intense rain bothered us. We had an oasis that we cherished and treasured. We shared silly stories and laughed at stupid jokes. It reminded me of my girlfriends from college. The night before the final chemistry exam, my best friend and I stayed up until 5 AM talking about god-knows-what and almost flunked the test. This incident happened seventeen years ago, and we still think of it fondly every time we meet. I believe our friendship was elevated to a whole new level that night.

Last night reminded me of the early days of my career when my monthly salary barely lasted five days and in those five days, away from home and lacking nutritious food; we hunted for places that offered to satiate our cravings without digging a hole through our wallets. There was a restaurant called Annapurna in Chennai which was on the other side of town and getting there took us a good hour or two, but it promised a Bengali fare, and so we went. The queue was long, and we waited impatiently but when that glorified plate of steaming hot white rice garnished with single green chilli with an accompaniment of medium-sized bowls filled with delicacies made of fish and meat was served in front of us, our worries for food for the rest of the month did not matter. That one meal and the commute to get to it, however, lightened our wallets incredibly and so for the better part of the month my roommates huddled around in a circle and ate steaming hot Maggi from a big bowl. This morning as I think about it I can’t recall which meal was more memorable, but where one offered delectable food, the other offered delightful memories.

Talking of memories, these past two months have been a whirlwind of rehearsals. I don’t think I ever heard as many Bengali songs or Bengali humour as I did during this time. The thing about rehearsals is that you make friends. You dance together, correcting each other’s flaws, learning from them and about them, you encounter hilarious moments which become anecdotes for a dinner party. You laugh together, get mad at each other, feel the pain and pleasure of dancing together and in the process, you make friends. The last time I rehearsed as much and had so much fun was in high school as we prepped and planned for the Ganapati celebrations. Days in school seemed never-ending as we awaited the end of the day bell so we could hurry back home and meet our friends for rehearsals. My mom mentioned this the other day as we were heading out to the rehearsals, “why do you need so much practice for a three-minute performance?” Where the audience watches a three-minute performance, the performers spend months perfecting it. And so as the day arrived closer, the activities became more and more frenzied, and in those moments, I finally started to feel the anticipation and flutter in my tummy.

Read the other part of this Duolog(ue).

Fake Guns, Potka Competition, Bird Watching

Durga Puja, Dassera or whatever we choose to call it, brings one thing above any other, and that is the feeling of togetherness among seemingly disparate sets of people. Sure, it has an insanely long mythological story that upholds the triumph of good over evil, but that is not important.

[mariemary1]

It’s Time to Reconsider ‘Best Time to Post on Social Media’ Studies. Here’s What to Do Instead.

If you are a social media manager, you’ve likely looked at ‘best time to post on social media’ studies to come up with several posting times for your brand.

I know I have.

But now, I believe it’s time to reconsider these studies.

In the last few years, more and more studies on the best times to post have been released. (At Buffer, we contributed to this too!) And while knowing your best time to post is still very relevant, I’m starting to feel that it’s no longer useful to refer to studies on this topic.

Bad insights can drive poor decision-making and simply going with the best time to post from a study could hinder your marketing efforts rather than help.

Read on to find out what you should do instead…

Why we should reconsider “best time to post on social media” studies

The concept of ‘best time to post on social media’ is still very much relevant.

Even with social media algorithms, it’s important to get engagement within the first few hours of posting so that the algorithms will show your posts to more of your audience. And finding the right times to post for your brand can help with that.

But I think it’s time we shift our focus away from studies on the best time to post on social media. While the studies are well-intended, they (including ours) are flawed in several ways.

Aggregated data vs unique audience

Many of these studies suggest best times to post based on aggregated data. The challenge with this is that the data includes businesses and individuals from different locations and different industries while your audience is unique to you. It’s hard to say that the average best time to post for a wide range of businesses would apply to your business.

Here are two good examples by Matt Rhodes from his article, The danger of bad insights and poor digital marketing decisions:

For a brand targeting mums, for example, it may make more sense to create engaging content at 2am when mums are awake and alone with their babies. For a brand targeting football fans, as another example, your research may find that your audience most wants to engage after football matches in the afternoon or evening.

Outdated studies

We are guilty of this at Buffer. Our best time to tweet study was done in 2016. Another guide on best times that we compiled was done in 2013!

As social media usage has likely changed over the last few years, the information in these posts might not be that useful now.

It’s also good to note that “newer” studies that were published recently could be referring to much older studies. So it’ll be great to check the primary source of the data before taking the recommendations.

Great starting point

Does this mean that those studies are not useful at all? Not entirely.

They can serve as a great starting point, especially if they suggest plausible explanations for those best times to post. For example, if you are working on an entirely new social media profile and do not have any data of your own to work with, some studies can come in handy. But they are not a copy-and-paste blueprint for success.

Try to go beyond just taking the “best times” from the studies and understand why those could be great times to post. Perhaps it’s because people are using Facebook while commuting to work. Or maybe it’s because teenagers are scrolling through Instagram late at night before they sleep.

And they are just that — a starting point.

What’s more important is to gain a better understanding of your brand’s unique audience such as their social media usage patterns. Let’s go through how to find your best time to post on social media while learning about your audience!

How to find your best time to post on social media

Social media is becoming increasingly personalized. From being a broadcasting channel, social media is becoming a one-to-one and one-to-few engagement channel.

To provide a personalized experience to your brand’s followers, you need to post according to your audience’s social media usage behavior. When done right, there’s a higher chance of them seeing and engaging with your social media posts — more reach and more engagement!

Here’s how to find your own best time to post on social media:

1. For a new social media profile, start with informed guesses

The approach that we’ll be going through below depends on your previous posts. Even if it’s your first social media manager job, the brand probably has some data for you to work with if they have posted before.

If you are taking on a brand new social media profile, don’t worry. You can start with a few informed guesses. Think logically about when your audience might be online and interacting with your social media posts. (Or some of the better studies could be useful.)

Here are some possibilities:

Mornings and evenings during commute time

Lunch and tea break

Weekdays for B2B brands and weekends for B2C brands

If you know your target audience and their rough location, you could use that information to strengthen your hypotheses. For example, if you are a local business in Singapore, you might want to focus on times when people in Singapore are awake.

2. Set up a posting schedule

Once you have a handful of informed guesses, it’s time to test them!

To effectively test your guesses, you would want to post at those particular times a few times. With Buffer’s custom posting schedule, you can easily experiment with the times over a period of a few weeks (or more).

Here’s how the posting schedule works: After you set up your posting schedule with several times, every social media post that you “Add to Queue” will fill up the next available time slot in your schedule (or “Buffer queue”).

To create or change your posting schedule, select your desired social account and click on “Settings”, then “Posting Schedule”.

Here are the quick steps to adding a new posting time:

Select if you want to add the new posting time to every day of the week, only the weekdays, only the weekends, or only a specific day of the week

Set the time

Click on “Add Posting Time”

If you want to edit a time in your schedule, simply click on it.

To delete a time in your schedule, hover over the time and click on the cross that would appear on its right.

Note: Your posting schedule is unique to each connected social account. Adding a new posting time to one social account’s schedule does not apply it to all your connected social accounts.

3. Schedule posts for several weeks

You could schedule a few weeks’ of social media posts all at a go or do it on a weekly basis. Up to you!

This is not truly scientific but three to four weeks of posting would usually give you enough data to work with and find your best times.

What you should be posting can be a blog post on its own (or several blog posts) so I’ll not cover this here. If you would like some reading resources, here are some of our blog posts on content creation:

How to Discover and Create Content That Your Audience Craves (and Grow Your Following)

We Studied Our Top Social Media Posts of 2017. Here’s What We Learned.

How to Create Engaging Short Videos for Social Media (Including 7 Excellent Examples)

To schedule your social media posts with Buffer, click on the composer (“What do you want to share?”) in your dashboard. In the composer, select the social media accounts you want to share to and add your text, link, or multimedia. When you hit “Add to Queue”, that post will fill up the next available slot in your posting schedule (or “Buffer queue”).

Pro tip: When you add a link to the composer, we’ll automatically detect images on the page and suggest them for your post.

4. Study your analytics

Once you have a few weeks worth of data, you can start to analyze your results.

In your Buffer dashboard, select your preferred social media account and click on “Analytics”. There are two ways you can analyze your social media posts and find your best time to post.

Posts Report

The first way is to use your Posts Report. When you click on “Analytics”, you should see it. Otherwise, click on “Posts”.

(This report is only available on our paid plans.)

To find out the best times to post for your social media account, click on “Most Popular” and see when the top posts were published or if any times keep coming up for your top posts. Note down the times. These are your current best times to post.

Pro tip: For a little more advanced exploration, you could filter by “Most Likes”, “Most Clicks”, etc. and/or by post types.

Overview Report

If you are on one of our Business plans and want a more advanced way of finding your best time to post, you could also use the Overview Report, which is available for your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

In the Analytics section, click on “Overview” and scroll down till “Engagements by the hour of the day”.

With the chart, you can quickly identify when you receive the most engagements on your social media posts. These are likely the times when your followers are active and interacting with you — possibly also your best times to post to maximize your engagement. Again, note them down.

Pro tip: You could also look at impressions, likes, clicks, etc. by the hour of the day by changing the setting in the upper-left corner.

5. Experiment further

By now, you should have a good sense of the good and bad times 

Go back to your posting schedule in your Buffer dashboard and update it. Keep the good posting times, delete the bad ones, and add a few more experimental times.

(And repeat all the steps!)

How many posting times should you keep and how many to delete? It depends. And this isn’t very scientific: for a start, you could keep half of the posting times and change the remaining half. Once you have run a few rounds of tests and are more certain about your best times to post, you could keep to an 80/20 ratio — 80 percent tested times / 20 percent experimental times.

Your best time to post could be always changing as your following grows. It might not change, too. If you’re comfortable, you could only re-run this timing experiment every quarter or half a year.

Pro tip: By now, you likely have some followers data in your native analytics such as Facebook Insights and Instagram Insights. Use the information (e.g. top follower locations, demographics, interests) to come up with more educated guesses (as per step 1 above).

Over to you: How do you find your best time to post?

While I still think posting times are important for reach and engagement, I personally feel that we marketers have unintentionally put more emphasis on “best times to post on social media” studies than doing our own experimentation. Instead of getting recommendations from the studies, we might be much better off running our own best time experiments.

That’s because every brand has a unique audience. Your audience is likely made up of mostly your customers and your fans while other brands’ audience is made of theirs. What works for other brands might not work for you so it’s important to do your own experimentations to find your best time to post on social media.

It’ll be great to hear from you. What do you think of “best times to post on social media” studies? How do you find your best time to post? (I’m sure what I’ve shared in this post is just one of the many ways of doing it.)

—

Image credit: Photo by Le Buzz on Unsplash

Thank It’s Time to Reconsider ‘Best Time to Post on Social Media’ Studies. Here’s What to Do Instead. for first publishing this post.

[alexismav-blog]

Merry Christmas

Author’s Note: Hello, this actually the first time I’ve posted my writing on Tumblr so please be kind. The characters in this short story are my own characters and this was just intended to be a short story to fill the prompt. I specifically chose cold night/no heater, “He’s not worth your tears”, and blankets for my prompt. This an entry for @justsomewritingprompts Writing Prompt Challenge so please enjoy! One final note italics are Emeric’s texts and bold represents Alec’s texts.

As Alec sat in the living room of an apartment he hasn’t been in for months drinking rum alone on Christmas Eve, he wondered what he had done to God to land himself in this position. My parents probably would have told me that when their son decided to sleep with men was the moment God condemned me, he thought after the first few glasses.

Alec heard his phone vibrate on the coffee table. He got up from where he was sitting on the couch taking the bottle of rum with him to see what was sent to him. He sees a few unread messages from his sister and uncle, and a couple from his friends wishing him a merry Christmas. At the top were a few messages from Emeric. The first few messages were a couple of pictures of Emeric and all their friends in their stupid Christmas sweaters with a tall man he presumed to be Alaric glaring in the background. A couple of the messages were videos of Wes’s drunken political rants. The messages looked to be from a couple of hours ago.

It’s only been two hours and Wes is completely wasted. I think that’s a record, the text under it read.

Are you honestly surprised? I’m guessing Josiah already tried to cut him off?

Yeah but he somehow managed to find more. I swear he’s a walking liquor store during the holidays.  

Alec laughed a bit at the reply.

As he started his rant about capitalism yet?

No he didn’t quite make it there, Josiah made sure to take him home before he got that far. How’s your Christmas going?

Alec looked over at the empty bottles of liquor lining the kitchen counter.

It’s alright.

You sure you can’t swing by tonight? The invitation is still open, no Christmas sweater required. You can even bring your fiancé if you want.

The thought of seeing all of them is so tempting. After all, Emeric is only next door but Alec took a good look at how terrible he looked and how much Emeric and all their friends were smiling in those pictures and he decided against it. He wouldn’t want to bother Emeric with his petty issues.

No, It’s ok. I’ll probably swing by after New Year’s.

You sure?

Yeah, Merry Christmas.

Happy Christmas. Just let me know if you change your mind.

He plugged his phone to charge in the kitchen. He then walked back over from the kitchen and flopped onto the couch to get in a comfortable position as the aging sofa groaned in protest. By this point, he probably looked like a proper mess, his normally neatly combed blonde hair was rumpled and knotted beyond repair, his caramel brown eyes were bloodshot from crying, and his suit was wrinkled and his tie went missing sometime during the evening. He leaned over to grab off the coffee table the ring his now ex-fiancé gave back to him at dinner that evening as he wondered what went wrong.

Was he gone too often?  Was he too cold and distant? Did Thomas think that he wasn’t serious enough about their relationship? Did he ever make Thomas feel trapped and overwhelmed? Alec couldn’t help but to be bitter about the sacrifices he had made for a one-sided relationship. He changed his friends. He moved out of his own apartment after graduating college so they would be closer without Thomas having a longer commute. Alec started working significantly less so he could be home more. He stopped going out without Thomas. Alec took care of the bills, the apartment, food, and anything else that happened to pop up. He did everything for a jealous ass who Alec came to find out had been cheating on him for most of their relationship.

He could no longer bear to look at the reminder of his failed relationship so he weakly tossed the ring out of sight and curled up into fetal position facing the cushions of the headrests. He attempted to fall asleep to the white noise of the heater whirring. As he resigned himself to yet another sleepless night, the whir of the heater stopped dead.

“Of course,” he grumbled.

He honestly shouldn’t have been surprised that the ancient heater broke down but it didn’t stop him from being a bit peeved. He refused to get up until it was so cold that he couldn’t stop shaking. He flipped over onto his stomach and placed his hands flat on the couch and pushed up in attempt to get up. Unfortunately, he got up a bit too fast causing him to become a bit dizzy and disoriented. He moved to steady himself of the armrest when his hands slipped causing him to lose his balance and tumble off the sofa nicking the coffee table before crashing onto the floor with a loud thud.

*******************************************************************************************

Emeric’s Christmas Eve was a fairly standard affair for the first time since he moved away from his friends in England. While his parents were unable to join him, his older brother and a couple of close friends were able to come. As per usual, by 10 in the evening Emeric’s friend Wes was already blackout drunk forcing Josiah to take him home before Wes hurt himself. Emeric, his older brother, and his sister-in-law were seated at the dining room table simply talking. To be more specific, grilling Emeric about his non-existent love life while Emeric checked his phone to see how his friend, Alec, was doing.

“Emeric, it’s been two years since you’ve even attempted a relationship. That’s completely unlike you,” Tsuna sighed.

“Tsuna, how many times have I told you that I’m fine. I just moved to America less than a year ago. I can’t even take time to adjust to a new country?”

“Little brother of mine, you and I both know that that is complete and utter bullshit. If I can remember correctly, it only took you about two months to find a serious boyfriend when mom and dad sent you to boarding school in England,” Alaric interjected

“So?”

Alaric raises his eyebrow, “You could only speak German.”

“I didn’t invite you here to be lectured about my life choices.”

“You make me wear a stupid sweater, I get to be nosy. It's a fair deal. Seriously though , I haven’t seen you single this long since you were pining for Grace - No,” Alaric smirked, “You like someone don’t you?”

“No, no I don’t.” Emeric’s phone went off.

“Emeric, who are you texting?” Alaric teased

“No one,” he sighed, “Excuse me for a second”

Emeric walked over to the kitchen alone to read the reply from Alec. He attempted to convince him to come over. When Alec declined, he left the invitation open but respectfully backed off. Emeric turned around after wishing him a Happy Christmas to see Alaric looking over his shoulder.

“Who’s Alec, Emeric? Judging by his contact photo, he looks awfully young for you. Pining for a student of yours are you?” Alaric quipped.

Emeric rolled his eyes, “Alec is a co-worker of mine, I met him when I was still a TA and he was a grad student, he’s not that young. Not that it matters because he is just a friend.”

“But you admit that you like him?” Alaric pales. “He isn’t straight, is he? ‘Cause if he is I’m really sorry about talking about it. ”

“That’s not the problem, He’s engaged ” Emeric glares, “He’s engaged to someone he cares for quite dearly and I’m not going to mess that up for him.”

“So you’re not going to try anything are you? Please don’t tell me you’re still hanging around him?”

“His wedding is next month,” Emeric sighed, “I’m going to be there to support him like I’ve always have.”

“Please tell me, you’re not going,” Alaric pleads.

“Kinda hard to skip the wedding, if you’re the best man.”

“Em-,” 

Emeric cuts him off, “It’s fine, no matter what he’s still my friend first. If he’s happy, that’s good enough. I’ll move on eventually,” his voice trembles, “Just please go. I’ll see you on New Years.”

Alaric and Tsuna both quickly left the awkward situation, leaving Emeric by himself in his apartment. Emeric left the kitchen to grab his laptop from his room to drown his sorrows in Netflix. Just as he was about to queue up the first movie, the sound of the heater stops.  

Emeric groaned but eventually raided his apartment for every blanket he could find and cuddled up on the couch. Just as Emeric was finally going to start the movie, he heard a loud crash coming from Alec’s apartment. As soon as Emeric realized where the sound was coming from, he bolted out of his apartment to rush to see if Alec was okay.

*******************************************************************************************

As Alec made an effort to get himself up, he felt a dull throbbing pain spread from where the left side of his body made contact with the coffee table. Just as he was able to get back on his feet and started walking towards his cell phone on the kitchen counter, there was a knock on the door.

He opened the door to see Emeric, ugly Christmas sweater and all, standing in the doorway with his black hair ruffled and green eyes filled with concern.

“Jesus it’s freezing,” Emeric shivered, “Are you alright? I heard a crash and I wanted to make sure you and your fiancé were ok?”

Only God knows what came over Alec but he just started sobbing. Emeric rushed him back into Alec’s apartment to sit down. They sat on the creaky sofa for what felt like hours as Alec sobbed into his shoulder while Emeric murmured assurances to Alec in attempt to get him to calm down. His tears eventually ebbed down to the point where Alec could actually meet Emeric’s worried green eyes without breaking down.

“I’m sorry,” Alec mumbled, “I’ve just been having a pretty crappy night.”

“It’s ok. Just threw me off that you started crying out of nowhere. Well not out of nowhere,” he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, “I’m guessing it has something to do with the fact that you’re drunk alone on Christmas instead of with your fiancé?”

Alec looked down as he started fidgeting with his hands, “Ex, he’s my ex-fiancé now.”

Emeric’s face turned paper-white, “I’m so sorry. I feel like a bit of an ass now.”

“It’s alright, you didn’t know. It’s just,” he started rambling, “My douche of an ex just wanted to have ‘a holiday to ourselves’ so I didn’t get to see my sister or uncle when I haven’t seen either of them in well over a year. A-a-and then guess what? He decides to call off our engagement a month, a month, before our wedding because, you guessed it, he’s been cheating on me with his best friend for three years of our four-year relationship and he just wants to ‘move on from this’.”

He could feel himself start to cry again, “I just feel so stupid because I sacrificed everything for him. I gave up my family, my friends, my financial independence because I was dumb enough to think, ‘Well he’s stuck by my side since we were kids surely he would continue to do so’. I did all this to be told sorry, I’ve never actually loved you. Now I’m going to have to explain to everyone that sorry, the wedding’s off because my fiancé is sleeping with his best friend. And of course, of course, when I get back to my apartment which I haven’t been in for months, the heater breaks down on the coldest night of the year and all my blankets and crap are back at his apartment.” He takes a deep breath,” I’m sorry. I know you were with your brother and I’m just wasting what little time you have with him and you don’t want to hear all this depressing stuff on Christmas-“

Emeric grabbed Alec’s hands and cut him off, “It’s not a problem Alec. Even if Alaric was still here, which he isn’t, I would still want you to tell me what’s upsetting you. I would be a terrible friend if I wouldn’t try to help you. Trust me when I say that you have every right to be upset and I’m happier knowing that you’re sharing these problems with me instead of drowning them with a bottle of whiskey. Okay?”

“Ok.”

Emeric let go of Alec’s hands and stood up, “I’ll be right back just give me a minute. He runs quickly out of the apartment.

After a few short minutes and a couple of thuds, Emeric walked in with a large pile of blankets and his laptop precariously balanced on top. Alec moved to stand up to help him.

“No, you just sit down. Give me a second to situate everything.”

Emeric laid out the mountain of blankets on the couch and sat down right beside him. He turned his laptop on and pulled up Netflix.

“Any preferences?” Emeric asked

“Home Alone?”

“I thought so.”

Two movies later and Alec found himself falling asleep curled up against Emeric’s longer build with Emeric’s arm wrapped around Alec.

“Alec,” Emeric whispered.

Alec murmured an acknowledgement as he turned to look up at Emeric.

“I’m really sorry that your Christmas was ruined. The way your ex treated you was absolutely unforgivable. I hope you realize that you didn’t deserve what he did to you. There is far more out there for someone as loyal and kind as you than sleazy, unfaithful men like him. Trust me when I say, he’s not worth your tears.”

Alec hugged him tightly,” Thank you, I don’t think you realize how much I needed that today. Merry Christmas.”

“Happy Christmas.”

The two of them drifted off to sleep cuddled together, the frigid winter night forgotten under the warm pile of blankets.

Final Author’s Note: This is a bit later than when I was planning on posting this but I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

[maggieminordesignssculpture-blog]

How to Get out of a Rut...and Start a Cycle of Positivity

Are you in a rut? Do you feel like you just keep repeating the same day over and over again? Well, I totally get it. I've been there!

But the good news is that you're reading this post so that means that on some level you're ready for change. So take a minute and congratulate yourself. Few people take this step.

Let's get started.....

The first thing to understand is that a rut is a cycle in itself. For example if you hate your job like I used to. You get up in the morning with a sense of dread. This dread grows as you get closer to work. I can remember having to literally stop outside of the door to my work and take a few deep breathes before I could even walk through the door. The only reason I didn't turn around and run for the hills is because I felt like I had no way out. I had become so beat down by the toxic environment of my job that my sense of self worth had eroded...to the point where I didn't even think that any healthy organization would want to hire me. So instead of looking for another job when I got home I would just go home fix a nice meal and zone out through television or projects around my house....and then get up the next morning and start all over again. I felt like zombie.

It took being betrayed by a co-worker for me to have a wake-up call....and for me to realize that the situation had nothing to do with me except that I was buying into it. I can clearly remember sitting in my boss's boss's office and listening to my co-worker just stab me in the back. I walked out of that office so angry and indignant that the Voice (you know the one that tells you the truth) said, "You're better than this...you're better than these people."

So How do you Stop Buying into the Rut? 

Well, you start by making small changes that change your cycle of thought from one of hopelessness to one of positive thinking and an expectation of positive outcomes...and I recommend starting with a fabulous test...

The Do I Give a Shit Test

One of the first things that I started doing after my break through was to regularly put things in my everyday life through the "Do I give a Shit?" test. For example, I remember a co-worker asking me if I wanted to participate in the annual company Christmas skit show...I remember pausing and asking myself, "Do I give a Shit about this Skit Show?" and the answer was ..."No, I don't give a Shit. In fact, I think its a drain on my energy and I'd rather do pretty much anything else." So I said aloud, "No. I have a deadline." In fact, I ended up having a cold the day of the show anyway....I think my body was telling me how much I really didn't want to be at the show. So next time you feel that knot in your chest before you're going to do something ask yourself, "Do I really give a Shit about this?" If the answer is no then don't do it...and if you can't get out of it visualize yourself doing something you love when you are at the event in those down moments. Those visualizations will start to work into your subconscious and give you sparks of hope. 

On the other hand, when the answer is yes...you have something positive to focus on...or to work on improving.

Start Using Basic Affirmations

If you've poked around in the personal growth arena even just a little bit I'm sure you've run into multiple posts about affirmations. Now I know from experience that when you're in the darkest places of a rut your reaction might very well be "F*^#% Affirmations! Those are for people whose lives like look like Disney Moments." How do I know this...well, because that was my reaction. The thought that my life could change from chanting a bunch of words in the morning sounded as far fetched as Tinkerbell coming into my room, sprinkling fairy dust on me, and magically making my life change. So if you're in this camp here's what I recommend. Start by telling yourself throughout the day that "my life can be different." Because you may be like I was....you're so far in the rut that you have no idea what you want...you just know that you want out. So tell yourself "my life can be different" and I swear little by little you'll start to come out of the fog.

For those of you a little further along in the process I recommend one of Michael Bernard Beckwith's favorite ones...and now one of my favorites..."I am open to more good than I have ever experienced before in my life."

Change the Music you Listen to

Music can have a huge effect on our mood. We might think of it as more of a cultural experience sometimes but its really very primal. So put away your Linkin Park or Nine Inch Nails...and find something more positive. Now, I'm not saying that you have to put on show tunes or cheesy pop music....don't put on something that feels fake. Just start being aware of how your music makes you feel and what the lyrics are saying. Do you feel moved after you listen to it? Do you feel hopeful? Does it allow you to picture yourself in a more positive place? Does it make me want to sing along...or even better yet smile?

Listen to Thoughtful Podcasts

I love podcasts. They're not for everyone, but I definitely recommend downloading some and listening to them on your commute or while you go about your day. They've certainly been a huge influence in my own transition from a huge life rut to a cycle of positivity. Here's some that I recommend:

Untamed Yourself

Tony Robbins

Super Soul Sunday

Marie Forleo

Lewis Howes

Chase Jarvis

 Change up your Surroundings

You may not be able to make major changes in your life right away...for example change jobs or fully disentangle yourself from a toxic relationship, but you can change what you look at everyday. What we look at has a huge impact on our subconscious and there are certain walls or views that are in our line of vision for the majority of the day. For most of us this is the area around our work station, our line of vision from our couch and the wall that we look at before we turn out the lights and go to sleep.

First, download my worksheet, Feed a Cycle of Positivity Worksheet.....even if the title seems a little peppy to you right now:). Work the steps. Start with closing your eyes and slowly breathing in and out three times. Make sure that your lungs fill up completely before you exhale. Once you feel calmer, open your eyes and think list five emotions that you want to feel when you are in each of the three above places. Then work through the steps doing one room at a time. 

I recommend scheduling about 3 hours every weekend for the rooms in your home and going into work about an hour when its quiet to make the changes to your office (unless you have a home office of course). If you need some ideas or recommendations during the process, check out my room designs.

For office spaces you may run into regulations that prevent you from putting up too many things in your space or you simply may not want your colleagues to see your changes and think something is up. I totally get it. If this is you, think about some crafty ways to bring some positivity to your space. For example, placing an affirming quote inside a draw on your desk so you see it every time you open it. I did this before I left my old job. It helped a lot and gave me some much needed strength as I went about my day. 

Once you are done. Give yourself a couple of weeks and let the changes soak in. 

Anytime that you feel yourself backsliding ground yourself in one of the above activities or a visual queue (aka positive anchor) in your home or office to get back into a cycle of positivity.

If you're looking for one on one support in the process of transforming your home or office I love working with people like you. So if you're ready to take the next step then contact me and set up a virtual or in-person appointment. Click here to learn more about the process.

For More Inspirational Artwork and Design Ideas

Visit my modern sculpture, modern wall sculptures, abstract canvas artwork, and abstract framed wall art pages. And click on more inspirational posts...

How to Feel more Connected to your Home

How to Declutter for Better Relationships

How to Use Artwork to Make Eating Even More Enjoyable

How the Right Office Decor can Focus your Mindset

How Waking up to Colorful Artwork can Improve your Day

How to Create a Sophisticated Loft Living Room with Oversized Artwork

How to Create a Colorful Loft Living Room with Vibrant Artwork

How to Create a Fabulous Modern Loft Living Room with Oversized Artwork

How to Create a Beautiful Modern Rustic Bedroom

How to Create a Glamorous and Cheerful Modern Bedroom

How to Create a Fabulous Blue Modern Living Room

How a Colorful Home can Make you Bolder

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

[thiswillbereportedtomanagement]

Turns out the Internet is useful for a lot more than toppling corrupt governments and/or looking at pictures of partially (or fully) nude celebrities. Particularly when it comes to matters concerning your wardrobe.Thanks to advances in technology and logistics (think drones), these days you can go from “I have nothing to wear” to “check out my new sneakers” in a matter of hours given a few clicks and finger swipes in the right direction.However, access doesn’t always correlate with quality; the vagaries of fit and cunning clothes photography make those over-generous store mirrors seem benign.Yes, buying clothes online may come with its potential pitfalls, but provided you bear these pointers in mind, you’ll be spared a life of filling out returns forms and long post office queues.What Not To BuyCertain things lend themselves to being bought online. Once you know your size (and we’d hope you do by now), staples like socks and underwear don’t pose the same issues of fit that, say, a £3,000 wool-cashmere blend overcoat does. Nor do you necessarily need to handle the goods before buying.Tailoring, though, is trickier. After all, buying a suit is all about fit. A cheaper suit that hugs your shoulders and chest will always look better than an expensive one that pools around your ankles or has sleeves that finish halfway up your forearm.(Related: Ways To Make A Budget Suit Look Expensive)Yes, certain things can be adjusted, but if you steer wrong in the shoulders or thighs then no Milanese needle wizard is going to be able to help you. When an inch makes all the difference, even the most comprehensive online size guide just won’t cut it.There are really only two occasions on which you should buy tailoring online:When you’re replacing a piece (from the same brand) you already own and know fits well.When you’ve already tried something on in store and have scouted out a better digital deal or got hold of an online discount code.Otherwise, even if you find that perfect double-breasted blazer you’ve been lusting after since seeing it at Pitti, save yourself some serious hassle and click elsewhere.Make Sure It FitsRemember that tailor who couldn’t fix your beyond-help baggy suit? Get back to him for some proper measurements: height, waist, inseam, chest, sleeve length and neck size are the minimum you’ll want to note down.Store them on your phone, tablet and laptop (as well as in your head) so they’re to hand whenever you’re browsing the sales on your commute or flicking through new the arrivals before bed.Measure Your Own ClothesAs well as your own measurements, you should also take the tape to your favourite pieces in your existing wardrobe too.Lay that perfect-fitting sweatshirt flat and measure it across the chest (between the bottom of each arm seam, then double it), shoulder (seam to seam straight across), back (base of the collar to the hem) and sleeves (cuff to shoulder seam plus seam to centre of the collar label).Compare this blueprint to online size guides to quickly work out if what you’re currently eyeing up is going to come up too snug in the shoulders, even if it fits everywhere else.Body ChangesYou also need to be aware that your body can change during the year. The January sales may scream offers at you, but post-Christmas you may be carrying an extra few pounds. Equally, kudos on hitting the gym, but those broader shoulders and that narrower waist are bound to alter the way clothes fit and hang.(Related: What To Wear When Your Workouts Start Working)In order to prevent these fluctuations from messing up your fit, treat your tailor like your doctor and go back every six months for a measurements check-up or use a flexible tape measure at home to make sure you don’t size up widely different to what you already have written down.Store Size GuidesEvery time you see something you like, locate the store’s size guide and compare with your crib sheet. It would make sense if every retailer and brand followed the same measurements for small, medium and large, but unfortunately the game doesn’t work like that.Use your Goldilocks guide to find out whether that T-shirt is going to come up tent-like, hot washed or just right.Several high-end stores like Mr Porter hand-measure every item and provide extra detail like back length for jackets, while others will give guidance on whether to buy a size up or down from your usual in the product description.Make Sure It Looks As Good On YouA denim jacket on a rail looks like, well, a jacket. Stick it on a slim, six-foot model and team it with the perfect pair of tailored trousers and a cashmere roll neck, and it becomes art. If you don’t have the same physique or wardrobe, then don’t expect to emulate that masterpiece at home.It doesn’t help that stylists have a weapon that you can’t realistically deploy: the bulldog clip. Using this handy device, excess fabric is pulled back and clipped tight, giving a sleeker silhouette – it’s how models you see in magazines can step into clothes that aren’t tailored and make them look like they’re bespoke.(Related: 10 Style Hacks From The UK’s Best Stylists)The lesson here is that you can’t always trust model shots or lookbooks. Treat them as guides to styling rather than fit. If you have a similar jacket and shoes to the guy in the picture, then you know that pair of houndstooth trousers will work with at least one look.On the other hand, if you’re tempted by a pair of leather trousers and your wardrobe is more button-downs and blazers than the mesh tops and longline shirts sported in the picture, then it’s probably best to pass.Top Tip: If the retailer offers a video of the item being worn, always view it – you will get a much better idea of how the garment fits, drapes and moves, as well as a truer indication of colour.Where To BuyWith space not an issue, online retailers don’t have to be as focused in their product ranges as brick and mortar stores. That’s not to say they don’t specialise or have stronger offerings in certain areas, though.Most also provide free returns and a flat postage fee, no matter how much you order. So if you can’t afford for your purchase not to be perfect and have no time to re-order another, an easy way around this is to stock up your basket with three sizes of each item: the one you think is right, then one up and one down.By bracketing in this way, you increase your chances of finding the perfect fit and can return the ones that don’t work. Just take care when un-boxing and trying on – removing certain tags or tearing packaging can void your right to return.Without wanting to sound too much like Martin Lewis, it’s important you brush up on your rights as a consumer, specifically when it comes to purchasing online.Store: End ClothingBest For: SneakerheadsWhat Is It?: Men have been beating a path to this Newcastle independent since 2005, and more recently its newly opened Glasgow flagship since late 2016. However, it’s End Clothing’s online offering that has made it a destination for sneakerheads from all over the globe.Alongside an achingly cool edit of clothing and accessories, End offers exclusive trainer styles and unique collaborations with the likes of Nike, Adidas, Reebok and New Balance.Price: Mid-rangeWeb: www.endclothing.comStore: Mr PorterBest For: Capsule collections and luxury brandsWhat Is It?: Net-a-Porter’s Y-chromosomed offshoot is big on tailoring (it has been selling its in house line, Kingsman, since 2015) but as we’ve warned you, that’s a risky game.Still, Mr Porter’s range of collaborations is unrivalled, with designers from Ami’s Alexandre Mattiussi to Paul Smith and even Thom Browne crafting one-off capsule collections you can’t buy anywhere else.Price: LuxuryWeb: www.mrporter.comStore: ASOSBest For: Basics and wardrobe staplesWhat Is It?: With over 850 brands onsite, and an Amazon-rivalling fulfilment centre staffed by thousands of employees, finding clothes on ASOS can be a touch intimidating.But it’s a sign of how influential the retailer has become that an entire subculture of young men wearing longline tops, ripped skinny jeans and snapbacks can be traced to its model shots.Avoid joining them by picking up classic wardrobe staples like white T-shirts, Oxford shirts and underwear, rather than whole looks – even if it is tempting when you can get an entire outfit for less than £50.Price: Affordable, with a smattering of designer brandsWeb: www.asos.comStore: HypebeastBest For: StreetwearWhat Is It?: Hypebeast has been keeping the streetwear savvy in the know with upcoming drops for several years now. However, not many realise the site also has its own online store, which boasts an almost unrivalled line-up of mainstream and underground labels.So while others cue round the blocks to get their hands on the latest must-cops, the smart shopper camps out in front of his computer. Though try to avoid anything labelled ‘marketplace’, which is basically code for astronomical mark-up.Price: Luxury, with some more affordable finds mixed inWeb: hbx.comStore: FarfetchBest For: One-offsWhat Is It?: Farfetch isn’t so much a store as a concierge. As the name hints, rather than stocking and dispatching clothes themselves, they tap up an array of international independent boutiques so that, sat at home in Bognor, you can shop the best that Milan, New York and even Tokyo have to offer.Prices are understandably high, but you’ve got a good chance of stumbling across something truly one of a kind – perfect for individualising your looks.Price: LuxuryWeb: www.farfetch.comStore: Vestiaire CollectiveBest For: Second-hand findsWhat Is It: If a hefty price tag puts you off buying designer pieces, it might be time to acquaint yourself with designer re-sale site Vestiaire Collective. The eBay of the luxury world has made it easier than ever to get your hands on that piece that eluded you (and your bank balance) last season.This is no car boot sale, mind. Expect more than 600,000 items, each of which has been manually checked for quality and authenticity, from the likes of Comme des Garçons, Acne Studios and Saint Laurent.Price: VariesWeb: http://ift.tt/16TtK4fStore: YooxBest For: Bargain huntingWhat Is It?: Navigating Yoox is like stepping into the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.A nightmare to navigate and rammed with brands you’ve never heard of, and some you will never want to hear of again, you’ll be just about to give up when you spot a Moncler parka at 80 per cent off. Which almost makes all the legwork worth it.Price: Every budgetWeb: www.yoox.com

http://www.fashionbeans.com/2017/complete-guide-buying-clothes-online/

[hairterminator]

http://blog.hair-terminator.com/charming-outlook/

A Complete Guide To Buying Clothes Online (Without Regretting It)

#England #http://blog.hair-terminator.com Turns out the Internet is useful for a lot more than toppling corrupt governments and/or looking at pictures of partially (or fully) nude celebrities. Particularly when it comes to matters concerning your wardrobe. Thanks to advances in technology and

#England #http://blog.hair-terminator.com Turns out the Internet is useful for a lot more than toppling corrupt governments and/or looking at pictures of partially (or fully) nude celebrities. Particularly when it comes to matters concerning your wardrobe. Thanks to advances in technology and logistics (think drones), these days you can go from “I have nothing to wear” to “check out my new sneakers” in a matter of hours given a few clicks and finger swipes in the right direction. However, access doesn’t always correlate with quality; the vagaries of fit and cunning clothes photography make those over-generous store mirrors seem benign. Yes, buying clothes online may come with its potential pitfalls, but provided you bear these pointers in mind, you’ll be spared a life of filling out returns forms and long post office queues.

What Not To Buy

Certain things lend themselves to being bought online. Once you know your size (and we’d hope you do by now), staples like socks and underwear don’t pose the same issues of fit that, say, a £3,000 wool-cashmere blend overcoat does. Nor do you necessarily need to handle the goods before buying. Tailoring, though, is trickier. After all, buying a suit is all about fit. A cheaper suit that hugs your shoulders and chest will always look better than an expensive one that pools around your ankles or has sleeves that finish halfway up your forearm. (Related: Ways To Make A Budget Suit Look Expensive) Yes, certain things can be adjusted, but if you steer wrong in the shoulders or thighs then no Milanese needle wizard is going to be able to help you. When an inch makes all the difference, even the most comprehensive online size guide just won’t cut it. There are really only two occasions on which you should buy tailoring online:

When you’re replacing a piece (from the same brand) you already own and know fits well.

When you’ve already tried something on in store and have scouted out a better digital deal or got hold of an online discount code.

Otherwise, even if you find that perfect double-breasted blazer you’ve been lusting after since seeing it at Pitti, save yourself some serious hassle and click elsewhere.

Make Sure It Fits

Remember that tailor who couldn’t fix your beyond-help baggy suit? Get back to him for some proper measurements: height, waist, inseam, chest, sleeve length and neck size are the minimum you’ll want to note down. Store them on your phone, tablet and laptop (as well as in your head) so they’re to hand whenever you’re browsing the sales on your commute or flicking through new the arrivals before bed.

Measure Your Own Clothes

As well as your own measurements, you should also take the tape to your favourite pieces in your existing wardrobe too. Lay that perfect-fitting sweatshirt flat and measure it across the chest (between the bottom of each arm seam, then double it), shoulder (seam to seam straight across), back (base of the collar to the hem) and sleeves (cuff to shoulder seam plus seam to centre of the collar label). Compare this blueprint to online size guides to quickly work out if what you’re currently eyeing up is going to come up too snug in the shoulders, even if it fits everywhere else.

Body Changes

You also need to be aware that your body can change during the year. The January sales may scream offers at you, but post-Christmas you may be carrying an extra few pounds. Equally, kudos on hitting the gym, but those broader shoulders and that narrower waist are bound to alter the way clothes fit and hang. (Related: What To Wear When Your Workouts Start Working) In order to prevent these fluctuations from messing up your fit, treat your tailor like your doctor and go back every six months for a measurements check-up or use a flexible tape measure at home to make sure you don’t size up widely different to what you already have written down.

Store Size Guides

Every time you see something you like, locate the store’s size guide and compare with your crib sheet. It would make sense if every retailer and brand followed the same measurements for small, medium and large, but unfortunately the game doesn’t work like that. Use your Goldilocks guide to find out whether that T-shirt is going to come up tent-like, hot washed or just right. Several high-end stores like Mr Porter hand-measure every item and provide extra detail like back length for jackets, while others will give guidance on whether to buy a size up or down from your usual in the product description.

Make Sure It Looks As Good On You

A denim jacket on a rail looks like, well, a jacket. Stick it on a slim, six-foot model and team it with the perfect pair of tailored trousers and a cashmere roll neck, and it becomes art. If you don’t have the same physique or wardrobe, then don’t expect to emulate that masterpiece at home. It doesn’t help that stylists have a weapon that you can’t realistically deploy: the bulldog clip. Using this handy device, excess fabric is pulled back and clipped tight, giving a sleeker silhouette – it’s how models you see in magazines can step into clothes that aren’t tailored and make them look like they’re bespoke. (Related: 10 Style Hacks From The UK’s Best Stylists)

The lesson here is that you can’t always trust model shots or lookbooks. Treat them as guides to styling rather than fit. If you have a similar jacket and shoes to the guy in the picture, then you know that pair of houndstooth trousers will work with at least one look. On the other hand, if you’re tempted by a pair of leather trousers and your wardrobe is more button-downs and blazers than the mesh tops and longline shirts sported in the picture, then it’s probably best to pass. Top Tip: If the retailer offers a video of the item being worn, always view it – you will get a much better idea of how the garment fits, drapes and moves, as well as a truer indication of colour.

Where To Buy

With space not an issue, online retailers don’t have to be as focused in their product ranges as brick and mortar stores. That’s not to say they don’t specialise or have stronger offerings in certain areas, though. Most also provide free returns and a flat postage fee, no matter how much you order. So if you can’t afford for your purchase not to be perfect and have no time to re-order another, an easy way around this is to stock up your basket with three sizes of each item: the one you think is right, then one up and one down. By bracketing in this way, you increase your chances of finding the perfect fit and can return the ones that don’t work. Just take care when un-boxing and trying on – removing certain tags or tearing packaging can void your right to return. Without wanting to sound too much like Martin Lewis, it’s important you brush up on your rights as a consumer, specifically when it comes to purchasing online.

Store: End Clothing

Best For: Sneakerheads What Is It?: Men have been beating a path to this Newcastle independent since 2005, and more recently its newly opened Glasgow flagship since late 2016. However, it’s End Clothing’s online offering that has made it a destination for sneakerheads from all over the globe. Alongside an achingly cool edit of clothing and accessories, End offers exclusive trainer styles and unique collaborations with the likes of Nike, Adidas, Reebok and New Balance. Price: Mid-range Web: www.endclothing.com

Store: Mr Porter

Best For: Capsule collections and luxury brands What Is It?: Net-a-Porter’s Y-chromosomed offshoot is big on tailoring (it has been selling its in house line, Kingsman, since 2015) but as we’ve warned you, that’s a risky game. Still, Mr Porter’s range of collaborations is unrivalled, with designers from Ami’s Alexandre Mattiussi to Paul Smith and even Thom Browne crafting one-off capsule collections you can’t buy anywhere else. Price: Luxury Web: www.mrporter.com

Store: ASOS

Best For: Basics and wardrobe staples What Is It?: With over 850 brands onsite, and an Amazon-rivalling fulfilment centre staffed by thousands of employees, finding clothes on ASOS can be a touch intimidating. But it’s a sign of how influential the retailer has become that an entire subculture of young men wearing longline tops, ripped skinny jeans and snapbacks can be traced to its model shots. Avoid joining them by picking up classic wardrobe staples like white T-shirts, Oxford shirts and underwear, rather than whole looks – even if it is tempting when you can get an entire outfit for less than £50. Price: Affordable, with a smattering of designer brands Web: www.asos.com

Store: Hypebeast

Best For: Streetwear What Is It?: Hypebeast has been keeping the streetwear savvy in the know with upcoming drops for several years now. However, not many realise the site also has its own online store, which boasts an almost unrivalled line-up of mainstream and underground labels. So while others cue round the blocks to get their hands on the latest must-cops, the smart shopper camps out in front of his computer. Though try to avoid anything labelled ‘marketplace’, which is basically code for astronomical mark-up. Price: Luxury, with some more affordable finds mixed in Web: hbx.com

Store: Farfetch

Best For: One-offs What Is It?: Farfetch isn’t so much a store as a concierge. As the name hints, rather than stocking and dispatching clothes themselves, they tap up an array of international independent boutiques so that, sat at home in Bognor, you can shop the best that Milan, New York and even Tokyo have to offer. Prices are understandably high, but you’ve got a good chance of stumbling across something truly one of a kind – perfect for individualising your looks. Price: Luxury Web: www.farfetch.com

Store: Vestiaire Collective

Best For: Second-hand finds What Is It: If a hefty price tag puts you off buying designer pieces, it might be time to acquaint yourself with designer re-sale site Vestiaire Collective. The eBay of the luxury world has made it easier than ever to get your hands on that piece that eluded you (and your bank balance) last season. This is no car boot sale, mind. Expect more than 600,000 items, each of which has been manually checked for quality and authenticity, from the likes of Comme des Garçons, Acne Studios and Saint Laurent. Price: Varies Web: www.vestiairecollective.com

Store: Yoox

Best For: Bargain hunting What Is It?: Navigating Yoox is like stepping into the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. A nightmare to navigate and rammed with brands you’ve never heard of, and some you will never want to hear of again, you’ll be just about to give up when you spot a Moncler parka at 80 per cent off. Which almost makes all the legwork worth it. Price: Every budget Web: www.yoox.com

Let"s block ads! (Why?)