#Mt Cook view cafe

[way337]

Matheson Cafe 馬松森湖咖啡廳：Fox Glacier 行程必停湖景餐點懶人包

《Matheson Cafe 馬松森湖咖啡廳》��人去過嗎？位於 Lake Matheson 步道入口，Lake Matheson可以看到這裡可以看到Mt Cook & Mt Tasman 雪峰倒影視角，吸引不少旅人前往，而Matheson Cafe評價很高，google評論超過900則，保有4.5顆星！招牌Bacon Bagel Benedict、Honey Toasted Muesli及單品手沖 West Coast Roast不要錯過～ Continue reading Matheson Cafe 馬松森湖咖啡廳：Fox Glacier 行程必停湖景餐點懶人包

[harrysfolklore]

Can we get y/n as a total book worm and Harry just finding it so adorable, like no matter what she’s doing she always has a book in her hands. Cooking, has a book. Backstage, reading a book. At a cafe for breakfast, reading a book.

Ofc you don’t have tot do this idea, it’s just an idea

here it is !! one of my favorite tropes i’ve done coming to tumblr <3

MASTERLIST | MY PATREON

coffeeandbookss - yn’s bookstagram

yourinstagram- yn’s personal insta

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coffeeandbookss Now reading: My policeman by Bethan Roberts ! In 1957, we meet Marion, a young woman hopelessly in love with Tom, her best friend’s brother. Tom — training to become a policeman — returns her affections, but holds a secret of his own. Will let you know my full review once done ! 💙

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bookfan1 just added it to my list !

bookfan2 i love everything you recommend

bookfan3 started it this week !

liked by harryfan1, harryfan2 and 3,938 others

harryupdates Harry just followed this account on instagram !

view all 846 comments

harryfan1 harry on his bookstagram era

harryfan2 AHH ONE OF MY FAVE BOOK CREATORS

harryfan3 she’s so pretty also

harryfan4 IM SUBSCRIBED TO HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL shes soooo good

liked by yoursister, gemmastyles and 1,937 others

yourinstagram um harry styles follows mt bookstagram?? am i dreaming?

view all 527 comments

yoursister YOU LUCKY BITCH

gemmastyles I’d love to think I’m responsible for that, I kept talking about your account 🫣

↳ yourinstagram love you gem thanks for your constant support 💓

username1 you’re the best out there

liked by harryfan1, harryfan2 and 3,986 others

harryupdates Harry in London today ! He carried this book with himself

view all 985 comments

harryfan1 he’s really in his books era

harryfan2 i started that book the other week omg

harryfan3 omw to buy it

harryfan4 my favorite booktuber just recommended this omg

DMS BETWEEN HARRY AND YN

//

liked by harryfan1, harryfan2 and 4,937 others

harryupdates Harry having dinner tonight !

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harryfan1 OHHH

harryfan2 is that a DATE

harryfan3 boyfriendrry?

harryfan4 respect his privacy

liked by harrystyles, gemmastyles and 10,872 others

yourinstagram happy days :)

view all 3,983 comments

harryfan1 um why did harry like?

gemmastyles my babies 🥹

↳ harryfan2 hello are we missing something

harrystyles ❤️

↳ harryfan2 HELLO?

harryfan4 i’m so confused right now

liked by harryfan1, harryfan2 and 201,928 others

tmz_tv Seems like Harry Styles got a new girl. More of his beach outing at the link in our bio 👀

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harryfan1 wtffff

harryfan2 WHO IS THAT

harryfan3 man i hate tmz

harryfan4 FIND OUT WHO THE GIRL IS RIGHT NOW

↳ harryfan1 i think their privacy was disturbed enough already

↳ harryfan2 yeah we’re shouldn’t snoop around trying to dig personal information of whoever the girl with him is

harryfan6 sucks as hell that they took these without their consent but i can’t help but be all 🥲🥲 over the fact that they’re reading together

liked by harryfan1, harryfan2 and 4,029 others

theharrytea okay yall so i was watching yn’s latest video because of all the rumors going around her and harry (yk he followed her and commented on her posts and harry has been seen with someone we don’t know yet) AND i swear to god i heard his voice around min 7 😭 you could clearly hear that someone opens the door and a faint “sorry” I KNOW MY MAN’S VOICE AND THAT WAS HIS

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harryfan1 OH

harryfan2 omfg i can hear it now

harryfan3 y’all are tripping at this point

harryfan4 delulu

harryfan5 idk if any of this is true but they would make a cute couple like they would ready to each other and stuff :(

YN VIA INSTAGRAM STORIES

//

liked by harrystyles, annetwist and 107,837 others

coffeeandbookss This week’s recommendation is presented by my brand new reading partner ! Love is a Mixtape is a soulful book, written as a way of understanding not only love and loss, but also the way music is can get us through those happy or sad times ! Full review this weekend 🤍

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bookfan1 IS THAT HARRY STYLES ??

annetwist ❤️❤️

harryfan1 HARRYYYYY

harryfan2 THEY ARE SOOO DATING

harrystyles It is my pleasure to be featured x

↳ harryfan3 OMFG THEY FR ARE DATING

gemmastyles 🥹

harryfan4 I MEAN we kinda already knew it was her who has seen kissing harry BUT I LOVE THIS HARD LAUNCH

liked by yourinstagram, gemmastyles and 6,837,927 others

harrystyles She’s got a book for every situation x

view all 96,836 comments

harryfan1 AHHH IS THIS YN

jefezoff 🙌🏻🙌🏻

harryfan2 LOVE ME A HARD LAUNCH

gemmastyles ❤️

harryfan3 harry is not single anymore omfg

yourinstagram 🥹💓

harryfan4 COUPLE OF THE YEAR

liked by harryfan1, harryfan2 and 27,947 others

harryismysun Worth the shot

view all 3,097 comments

harryfan1 PLEASEEEEE

harryfan2 you're so funny

harryfan3 i love this fandom

yourinstagram 😂😂 I can confirm this is how it all went down

↳ harryfan1 I LOVE HER

↳ harryfan2 she's the best

taglist: @lightsoutstyles @willowpains @straightontilmornin n @sleutherclaw @gimsaysay @hazzassmirk @platinumbarbie143 @musicforcinemas @celesteblack08 @scntfrhs @eleanordaisy @lomlolivia @iceebabies @iloveshawn @be-with-me-so-happily @watermelonsugacry @rayisthehoe @drewrry

[ultimateaclrecovery]

Japan Day 6 Hakone!

Today we traveled to a mountain town called Hakone.

We got to see mt Fuji on the train and honestly the train ride of just having a full two hours to sit and not do anything was really nice

Then we saw an ad for the Hakone open air muesuem and it was really cool! Highlights including the foot bath, giant fried egg that you could stand on, a stained glass tower, a hilarious interactive display where they put your face on a digital artwork in the museum background and a Picasso room.

We then got to take a gondola up to the mountain top and down to the lake where we got to take a pirate ferry boat across!

And then after some brief chaos with the bus system (it just never came) and taking a taxi (that also went to the wrong place at first) we finally got to check in at the Ryoken and enjoy our private onsen. We also got to enjoy this many courses traditional dinner. There was a lot of sea food and my boyfriend kept trying to get me to keep trying it so I didn’t have the best time. But the non sea food parts were very good and everything was super pretty.

Overly long and tmi travel diary

We get up early to catch a two hour train to Hakone. My tummy is just a little a bit upset this morning. Between travel, stress, being on my period, and lots of new food it’s been through a lot. I also feel like I haven’t been pooping enough. But they could just be not eating enough for how much walking we’ve been doing.

The train is really nice and we get some lovely views of the sun rising over the mountains. I update my travel diary, take a nap and then we get to see a view mt Fuji through the window. It is impressively taller than everything else around it.

We transfer to a smaller train and then a another mountain train. And then it’s a cable car.

5000 yen for Hakone free pass for transit. I am down to 1000 yen in cash. (Really 3000 as I later find another 2000 yen note in my pocket that I didn’t see before)

5000 yen for Hakone free pass for transit. I am down to 1000 yen in cash. (Really 3000 as I later find another 2000 yen note in my pocket that I didn’t see before)

We see an ad for Hakone open air museum and decide to get off a stop early and go see it. (I think I paid by credit card, 1200 yen each including a 200 yen discount from our Hakone passes).

The museum has a couple galleries where you can’t take pictures (although my bf tried) but mostly it’s big outdoor sculptures. There’s a fun star maze and some garden areas, and the whole place is set up with a great view of the surrounding mountains. I love the Picasso room. I hadn’t realized he did so many ceramics. We stop at a foot bath where we get a towel out of a vending machine for 100 yen. It’s small but a surprisingly nice towel and is branded to make it a souvenir. There’s a big tower made of stained glass that’s really fun. And a fried egg sculpture that you can stand on! I deeply love getting to stand on or interact with art.

After the museum we go grab lunch at a little road side restaurant. Ignoring the delightful ninja cafe next door full of authentic delicacies such as spaghetti and ninja ice cream.

Foot bath and a vending machine towel for 100 yen from Anthony

I get pork ginger and rice for lunch in the card.

After lunch we take the ropeway (hanging cable car) to the top of the mountain. On the side of the mountain are a bunch of thermal vents venting steam. You can see the yellow sulfur deposits around it. Supposedly you can get a black egg cooked in the sulfur water that adds seven years to your life, but we don’t get it.

We spend a little time at the top looking at the mountain and then head down the other ropeway to the lake. And then we get to ride a pirate ship!

The pirate ship we get is called queen ashinoko and is gold and red. We take it across the lake. I love all the sights and being on a boat and my bf tolerates it and enjoys the view. It does get a little chilly but is otherwise a delight. I see a lady take a bunch of silly titantic esque photos on one of the interior balconies. Sometimes it’s such a delight to watch other people live their best lives.

After the ferry we try to get on a bus to go to our hotel but it’s super delayed and the lines are insane so we give up and hail a taxi. Anthony impresses the taxi drive with his handful of Japanese and good pronociation and they have a good chat. The taxi ride ends up being just shy of 5000 yen which is more than I thought it would be (and we get a little turned about by the directions. Anthony gave the hotel name but written in English and just said like Japanese so we go to a bit of the wrong place first and then have to give the actual address which gets us to the right place.

We head into the rykone and They take your shoes and give slippers. The ryokan has a very traditional feel. We are shown where our private onsen will be and then to our rooms. Our rooms have yakata (?)robes in them to wear around. Mine is pink and my bfs is blue. They both have blue overcoats. We head down to the onsen before dinner. The sun is starting to set and the view is really pretty. The leaves are mostly either green or fallen but it’s still so peaceful. We shower first in the attached shower and then step into the sulphuric mineral water. It’s so cloudy and so hot but also feels so good. It would be better if it were like five degrees cooler but it’s still lovely. We hang out for a bit stepping in and out to cool off as needed. They’ve also put a thermos jug of cold water which is perfect.

We rinse back off and head back to our room for dinner.

Dinner will be served in our room and is a traditional set meal.

It starts with appetizers and is mostly fish which makes me sad. I knew this was likely that I wouldn’t like a good portion of it but it still makes me sad. The plates and the way everything is presented is so lovely. I try to focus on how fun it is and not how gross all the fish is. I get talked into trying a piece of the raw tuna and it’s awful. I also try a piece of sushi, the first bite is okay but when I take the second bite I realize that the first bite had way less fish in it and I Gag a little and almost throw up. I also try one of the little fish eggs since my bf claims they are mostly salty and not fishy. False. Very false and very gross. Combined with new and questionable vegetables I’m way past my limit of new food. Luckily there are some things that I like too. There’s a beef dish that is so delicious and comes with the cutest little wedge of cheese.

There’s also a hot pot like thing with pork and milk that is so cool and delicious.

We get sweet pudding for dessert.

After dessert we go have more onsen time. It’s fun to be in it at night with it being all dark. Unfortunately it’s too hot to really cuddle in the onsen which bums we out.

We head back up to the room and watch Japanese tv before bed. We get to see some sumo wrestling, a cooking show and some weird childrens tv show. I get a little sad because I had such high expectations for this part of the trip and then I didn’t get to cuddle or do more than cuddle and didn’t like a lot of the food.

It’s a traditional style hotel room so it has two twin beds. We push them together(I push mine into his) but it’s not really what I wanted. I take a moment to cry a little in the bathroom and I feel a bit better. It’s hard when you feel disappointed in something you feel like you should really be enjoying.

[mambajumbastuff]

Top Things to Do in Japan

Japan's traditional traditions are with modern technology and futuristic fashion. There's plenty to do and see in Japan, from navigating the bustling streets of Tokyo and unique restaurants to exploring tranquil temples in Kyoto. It's not possible to travel to Japan without a visit to the traditional Japanese Garden. Find moss-covered rocks carp-filled lakes, and tea houses. 1. Shibuya Crossing

It is believed to be the busiest crossing around the globe, a visit to Shibuya Crossing is a must for all visitors. Take a trip through the chaos of hundreds, and as high as 3000 people during peak times. Take in the most stunning perspectives from Mag's Park rooftop bar (drink purchase is required). Also, take a different view of the contemporary Hikarie skyscraper with its eye-watering neon. 2. Teppanyaki If you want to experience a unique combination of dinner and a show go to the skilled teppanyaki chefs in Japan. They entice guests with their hot grills as well as their exact knifework to make delicious food. Enjoy grilled A5 Japanese Wagyu Beef and other premium ingredients cooked using an iron griddle. You can also test okonomiyaki, a delicious bubbling pancake made from pork and cabbage, as well as other ingredients. 3. Sagano Bamboo Forest Sagano Bamboo Forest, one of Kyoto's most well-known places to visit, is a natural cathedral that filters sunlight to create a serene ambiance. It is possible to walk through the forest on foot or by taking the Arashiyama Scenic Railway to enjoy an unforgettable ride through the traditional resort. Combining your visit to the bamboo grove with a tour at Tenryu-ji Temple. This temple has a lovely garden. is one of Japan's five major Zen temples and also has several other sites. Also, make sure you walk through the Togetsukyo Bridge, which is stunning during the autumn and cherry blossom season. 4. Itsukushima Shrines Itsukushima which is also known as Miyajima, is a treasured national landmark. Its floating torii gate is its most famous aspect. The shrine itself is an example Shinden-zukuri construction, and was constructed during the Heian period. On the island, there are plenty of things to do including hiking through the unspoiled forest of Mt. Misen, or taking the Miyajima ropeway. Rilakkuma Cafe is a great place to enjoy delicious beverages and snacks. 5. Ashikaga Flower Park The world's most dreamy 80m-long white wisteria tunnel captivates visitors at Ashikaga Flower Park. Additional floral delights are displayed in the park, as well as a variety different illuminations that are available throughout the both winter and autumn. The Gion district in Kyoto is renowned for its Geishas who strut around with their extravagant kimono and ornate makeup. Many visitors opt to wear a kimono or even join in an evening tea ceremony with a Geisha. 6. Senso-ji Discover the traditional Japanese culture at Senso-ji, located in Asakusa. In the area, smoke from incense floats through a pagoda with five stories and shops sell talisman amulets to help you get luck. Take a stroll along Nakamisedori, a shopping street that runs up to the main entrance of the temple and is lined with centuries-old store and stalls. Be sure to get your fortune read (omikuji) to get a glimpse into the future. The fortune-telling sheets are available in a variety of languages. 7. Tokyo Tower The tower's 333-meter height is a symbol of Tokyo and was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Guests can admire the view from atop its observation decks or eat at its eateries. On the base, Foot Town offers souvenir stores and eateries, while the Main Deck is a thrilling 150 meters up. The tower is most impressive at night, when it glows with a rainbow-like display of hues. 8. Tokyo Skytree The famous Tokyo Skytree combines tradition with modern technology. Its observation decks boast stunning urban vistas, while the lower deck is equipped with glass floors to give you stunning views of the streets below. Nearby, discover the traditional culture of ancient temples and shrines, then take a look into the universe in the Planetarium Tenku. Penguins can be spotted in the Sumida Aquarium, and you can also send a postcard through the post office. 9. Hida Folk Village An open-air museum that showcases mountain villages, Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato) features 30 buildings, including National Cultural Treasures. From cherry blossoms in spring to the stunning red leaves of autumn and winter snows, each season is an eye-pleasing experience. Take a look at the structures' steeply-angled thatched roofs called gassho-zukuri. Also, learn about traditional tools of the region. The bus ride lasts 10 minutes to get to Takayama Station and costs 100 yen. 10. Kyoto Kyoto has plenty to offer beyond temples and shrines. Kyoto is home to numerous museums and galleries as well as nature enthusiasts can delight in the peaceful villages and stunning scenery. Gion transforms into a stunning spectacle at night thanks to its machiya houses made of wood and lanterns. This is the second largest geisha district in Japan where you can see apprentice geisha or maiko rush between appointments. Watch the video here

[moretrains25]

Wednesday 5th March

The hotel, The Hermitage , we are staying at for 2 nights is to die for at every level. The hotel has been here in one iteration or another since the 1880’s ish. It has been rebuilt a number of times and this iteration is relatively new. It has different level of accommodation but where I am as are all those on the tour is the 5star end.stunning rooms in which even the bed and desk face Aoraki Mt Cook through a picture window. It you weren’t experiencing it you would think it was a painting you were looking at. In fact an artist apparently when asked to describe both the brown mountains and this view said it just reminded her of a painting or a photo and not real. An excellent description I reckon.

The rooms have all the components of 5 star. The food is likewise outstanding especially if you like salmon and seafood. They do meals buffet but this buffet choice and quality is something I have never seen. I am not going to cover every food option other than to say whatever your food preferences or dietary restrictions there is something for you. They also have a cafe which runs during the day for lunch etc. they also have a museum which is focussed on the pioneers of the area who opened it up , the hotels history and a big section on Sir Edmund Hillary. We got free entry to that and this evening we have a 45min talk from Sir Edmund’s son Peter which I supposed to be excellent.

The big excursion for today was the Glacier Explorer Cruise. As we didn’t have to meet for that until a bit later I didn’t set an alarm as getting to breakfast between 7&8 seemed no problem. I woke at 7am and levitated out of bed. Mountain air seems to improve sleep! Got to breakfast in 15mins! Had some time when I got back to sort my kit for the “cruise”. Given the title I assumed some cruise boat as this was to occur on a glacial lake created by the Tasman Glacier which looms over the lake with bits falling off at times into the lake. We had been told we had to walk for 1.5 km to the lake on loose stones etc with some slight inclines and we needed to do that walk in 25 mins or less. A bus ride of 10 mins took us to the starting point of said walk where we had to put our backpacks into big locked boxes as nothing other than what fits in your pocket allowed on boat. We were then issued and donned our life jackets.

Here I should point out that I had been warned it would be colder than anything we had experienced to date so I donned my new big brown pure wool jumper I had bought a few days earlier and managed to just zip up my water/wind proof jacket over it. By the time the life jacket was added I looked and felt like the Michelin man! It was in this outfit we did the 1.5 km walk in hot sun and no wind. I was boiling by the time we got to the lake😂.

The reason I opted for super warm was that just after breakfast in seeking some advice from one of our guides who had been on it I discovered that my interpretation of “cruise” being a boat was well off. It was much more adventurous! Turns out we went in groups of 13 in Zodiac type boats which go fast and manoeuvre well. Turns out that many of those going on this “cruise” were under the same misapprehension as me and didn’t find out until they saw the boats! A lady sitting with me on the boat told me afterwards that she hated speed boats although she hid her fear well,!. I loved it and it was an awesome experience. I did have my own mini adventure in that while we were sitting in the boat listening to the safety’s briefing I put my mobile for a second on the spare seat and at that moment she decided to demonstrate what a sudden change in speed or direction could do and my mobile disappeared. Talk about heart sinking. I thought it had slipped under the motor into the water but when I looked into the engine bay area there it was in an inch of icy water!! Good old I phone , I rescued it, dried it off and it hasn’t missed a beat😅. At least I have seen icebergs without going to Antarctica (albeit on a smaller scale). The weather was sunny and no real breeze so ideal conditions. 2 days ago they had about a metre of rain over 2 days! We have free time now until the 6pm talk from Peter Hilary followed by dinner. We then need to sort ourselves to leave early in the morning for our next destination and hotel. Tomorrow will be day 10 so 4 more days before tour ends in Wellington on Sunday 9/3 when we arrive at Wellington. Will as usual post photos to posts as able.

The talk from Peter Hilliary was very interesting and entertaining. He is an excellent speaker and he mixed his fathers, his and even some of his son’s exploits climbing. He has a unique insight into climbing at that level and into the drive behind Sir Ed(as he seems to have been called!). Climbing Everest seems to be a Hilliary right of passage as Peter and at least one of his sons has also done it. He is in fact a very experienced climber himself. He has climbed with his father and been encouraged by him. He has lived in his shadow but still carries on his father’s work in supporting the trust that provides schools etc in Nepal.

The top right of Mt Cook was the view through my room window! Glorious to lay and watch the sun set and rise in this view!

BTW I was told the room I had was $700\night without meals and we got breakfast and dinner x 2!

[cllnsllvn]

Fox Glacier - Lake Matheson

Today, I headed back down to Fox Glacier to do a few more walks that I didn't have the time (or energy!) to do yesterday. I had planned to do the Lake Matheson walk anyway, but the heli-hike guide yesterday suggested coming in the morning while the sky was blue and the lake was still. I didn't quite make it for the still lake (the best times are dawn and dusk and I was definitely not up before the sun rose), but I did make it for the blue skies! The weather has really been spoiling me on this trip.

You can see how sunny it is based on the glare on the photo! They had this cute little photo frame that you could stand in with Mt Tasman and Mt Cook framed nicely in the photo. The next several pictures will be all varying photos of the same view 😂 (don't come at me, they're all slightly different and equally beautiful) from different viewpoints along the loop around the lake.

When the lake is really clear and there's no wind, there's a perfect reflection of the mountain range in the background. As you can see, that is not quite the case here, but it is still beautiful! From this track, there is another track that shoots off called the Lake Gault Track. This claims to be a 3-hour return trek to another lake nearby with a different angle of the same view. Lake Matheson and Lake Gault were both formed when the Fox Glacier retreated and left a depression that later filled with water. Another such lake is Lake Mapourika, where I did my kayaking tour the other day. That lake is 80m deep, so I imagine these two could be something similar.

Luckily, it did not take me 3 hours - it only took two. Thank goodness for that because it was a bit of a brutal uphill that I wasn't quite expecting. And so returned Colleen soup. 🥵 It was surprisingly hot today - and the sun was at peak form.

After the walk, I went to get the beef jalapeno bagel from the Matheson Cafe (also a recommendation from our glacier guide) for a quick lunch. The energy replenishment was absolutely needed! A short drive away is Gillespie Beach, so I took a gander that way to check it out. I ended up sitting for a while and reading my book while watching the dolphins swim around! I have included a video down below - the dolphins are small and you might have to be patient, but there are a few in the video. Plus, I found a cool rock. And you can see how shattered I am from the hike 😂

Last up, I stopped at another glacier viewpoint with a giant waka. According to Māori legend, Aoraki and his brothers Rakirua, Rakiroa, and Rarakiroa descended from heaven to meet their half-brothers. While they explored the southern ocean, Tāwhirimātea sent a devastating storm, capsizing their waka. Aoraki, his brothers and crew, scrambled onto the side of their overturned canoe to avoid being flung into the maelstrom. The storm’s violence turned everything to stone - the waka, the crew, and their cargo - so creating the South Island, or Te Waka a Aoraki. The crew became the Southern Alps, with Aoraki petrified as the highest peak, Aoraki - Mount Cook, surrounded by his brothers as neighbouring peaks. (Yes, I did take that from a website - link here).

The brothers became Rakirua Mount Teichelmann, Rakiroa Mount Dampier, Rarakiroa Mount Tasman, and, the tallest of them all, Aoraki Mount Cook. I headed back to the hostel, ready to rest. I almost fell asleep playing my daily games on my phone at the table at 5 pm. I had to go have a snack to stay awake! All in all, a very successful trip to Glacier Country!

[undonehomework]

ok because this is my blog and i can do whatever i want im going to do a year in review of 2024 and all of the crazy and not so crazy things that happened january

january was pretty chill, was back home for j-term. friend stayed with me for the first three weeks; had a brutal obstructing kidney stone, my worst one in 5 years, i passed it a few hours before my flight to arizona! that was an amazing trip; my uncle kept it together and i got to see so many cool rocks, go skiing, and spend good quality time with the family. romantically stagnant, mild homoerotic friendship

february

this was a worse month for me. went back to college, seasonal (?) depression was hitting hard. homoerotic friendship turned platonic, had a brief fling with someone else. went to boston to see mistki and visit friends, got back into watercolor

march

still kinda depressed in the beginning of march but things were looking up. blarney!! and started becoming closer with new people. few days of warm weather lifted my spirits. and then france!! still hate skiing but had so much fun with family and friends eating good food and seeing amazing views of the alps. learned how to play pool, got lost on the mountain and ended up wasted at the club at 3pm. got wooed by some british boys. also got approved for study abroad! came back home and immediately got super sick. like 10 days of fever and such

april

april was a great month. once i stopped being sick, i got closer with my new friends thanks to my comp sci class. there was an earthquake!!!! that happened during my independent research meeting with my prof about earthquakes. i was the first one to see the signature on the seismometer. it was a great day to be a geologist on the east coast. then the eclipse!! what a wonderful event to witness with some dear friends. despite being together for 17 hours straight, 14 of which were in a car stuck in traffic, we had so much fun. this was also the month of four leaf clover hunting and snacks in the cafe after class. emo prom!!! probably the best month of the year

may

another amazing month! finals came and went, lots of sunbathing on the quad with friends. emotional goodbyes and lots of hugging. coming back home and spending more time with friends. fun dates around the city! julia jacklin concert! field trip to oregon was another amazing experience. sleeping in yurts, cooking dinner by campfire, hanging out with my friends and a service dog. my professor secretly being a huge lucy dacus fan. getting a cold with my friend but toughing it out!! caves, mountains, volcanoes. obsidian pile that we slid down! memorial day weekend: 2hr drive to mt st helens, hike around, 3.5 hr drive to portland, 5 hr flight home, 45min taxi home, 45minsubway to train, 3 hour train, 1hr car ride to cousins grad party, party for 8 hours, 5 hour car ride home.

june

june! my birthday! it was a mixed bag for me. lots of prepping for new zealand, and an unfortunate amount of friend drama. ended up keeping to myself a bit. left for new zealand (18hr flight!) and started field camp with a hip injury from overuse :(

july

oh boy. field camp was tough. lots of small good moments (seals in kaikoura, the hot tub, frost in the mornings, sam's chocolate pudding, sunrise over the southern alps, the view from bealy's spur, the entire view of the milky way) but lots of tough moments. not exactly clicking with the rest of the group, struggling to keep up physically. kept putting myself out there, trying to connect with people, no matter how unsuccessfully. went skiing again (even though i hate it! i know i hate! why do i torture myself) just to say i skiied on three continents this year. started work on my research project. the field experiences were very cool and im glad i got to have them

august

august was a very up-and-down month. fucked up my hair by accident and went back to dark red. went to a queer event and met cool people (including a couple who wanted me to be their third). ended up in that polycule for a hot second (hello sexual reawakening!!!!). things were looking up! the timaru/mt cook trip was beautiful and also emotionally devastating (why was i being bullied at the ripe age of 20). cried in bed for three days afterwards

september

westport!! this was a great field trip. befriended both some kiwis and other people in my program i hadn't jived with before. super hard work -- up at sunrise, work in field til sundown, then come home and work until bed, rinse and repeat. very rewarding (even if i almost failed my field sketch). m&m ham incident. new friend turns racist. couple ended up closing the relationship; i meet someone new which goes very well. still struggling overall with lack of substantial friends and fighting through homesickness and depression

october

pretty rough and pretty fun. was super ready to come home, didn't really care about anything anymore. had threesome with new person, bf turned out to be racist (why is this a pattern). saw the southern lights!!!!! cried a bit at southern lights. worked on and presented research (i am quite proud of this!). got a little bit closer with other kiwis, as well as program people. had a harder time saying goodbye than expected.

november

auckland!! solo travel! hobbiton tour and beautiful swiss man and touching my knee in the glowworm caves and having hot sex on the floor of a hostel shower. old israeli roommate who kept notifications on full volume in shared room. wine tour, art museum, volcano, fresh focaccia with red onions and olives and sundried tomatoes. the election, and the support from a random dutch woman. lesbian archive with lesbian belgian couple. hawaii with my mom! more volcanoes, relaxation and stress, pregnancy scare. destroy boys concert, cousins staying with us for a week with new baby, meeting dan and phil and friends, thanksgiving blowing up my extended family.

december

a solid month. visited friends at college (felt like a whole human again!), spent time with grandparents and learned how to do linoleum prints. new clothes, judging speech tournament, random assortment of health issues (strep, boob pain, brown bumps on ear). christmas eve at the met. nosferatu, exploring with family, excellent pizza and a perfect new years to end it all.

here's to 2025!

[balapann-blog]

Day 49 - 24 October - Tbilisi > Yerevan

Got slightly rudely awoken by the lady on the train demanding our bed linen with 30 mins to go. We got into the station and figured out where we needed to go and got on the very cool metro. I went outside the station to get cash and on my way back I caught a glimpse of snow capped Mt. Ararat which was pretty amazing for a morning. We then got into our apartment and then went for breakfast. We went to this place which served Armenian flatbreads called lavash, the place was also called lavash!

After that we went to this amazing brutalist steps called the cascades which once you get to the top of them give you an amazing view of the city and Ararat. A very sweet dog followed us for about 25 mins before lying down at the top of the cascades and not coming with us as we defended. To the side of the cascade was the Matenadaran, the library of Armenian manuscripts. This had a really interesting set of manuscripts, mostly Armenian but also from other places. Most of them were bibles, which is understandable considering that Armenia was the worlds first Christian nation, with them adopting it before pax Romani. You can see how much the language and script means to the people, considering how the nation has been attacked and its culture attempted to be destroyed. One exhibit had different documents which showed its engagement with the ottomans, such as decrees from the sultan thanking a doctor for their service. Seeing in Turkey how historical museums look to erase the history or Greeks, and Armenians from ottoman history it felt a necessary exhibit. After that we went to this very nice cafe in an old tobacconist which was very retro.

We then went and picked up our bags from bag storage and chilled at home for a bit as we were both (me especially) tired from the night train. We then walked down to this open air market to see if there were any antiques or thinks we might like (there were not), and we went to some antique shops which were interesting but with nothing we would buy. There was one miniature painting which I liked but was like 2 grand so not quite in the price range.

We went to this nice shop just beside us to buy food for dinner, which we then cooked. It was nice to eat in again! Nin put on this hacks programme which gave life hacks like cleaning tips or craft ideas. It was weirdly hypnotic but got a bit deranged in the medical hacks section. I went to sleep early was very tired and passed out at about 9.

Day 50 - 25 October - Yerevan (and south Armenia tour)

Got ready for our tour which left very close to our flat. Our first stop was the Khor Virap Monestry, which sat under Mt. Ararat, which meant that it was about 100m from the Turkish border since Mt. Ararat is in Turkey. It was very beautiful and was built on the dungeon that St. Gregory the Illuminator (which Nina and I misheard as the Eliminator!!) was imprisoned before being released and helping the Kingdom adopt Christianity. Our tour guide who consistently switched between English and Russian gave us a good overview of the Armenian Apostolic Church (he would do an English tour for half the place and then do a Russian one while we had free time to walk around, which was good because the English speaking tour was smaller.) the churches are very incense heavy which I think is definitely missing from the Church of Ireland!

On our was to the next stop we passed along the milatarised border with Azerbaijan, which was pretty intense! You could see trenches on a hill beyond the road, but there was defences built along the roadside with foxholes built into them. We also passed through some territory that on the map says Azerbaijan but is de facto Armenia (there are several of these enclaves on both sides of the border). It was pretty intense and the guide gave us a good explanation of the situation as it currently is, along with hopes that the border settlement will be agreed quickly. From my reading of the current state of these negotiations this seems quite unlikely, especially with the terms that Azerbaijan with its vastly better equipped army and its support from Turkey might force them to take. Seeing the border up close lays bare how exposed Armenia is and how dependant it is on Russia being an honest broker in the conflict.

Our second stop was a winery and lunch that I think would have been really interesting had we not just done a very detailed wine tour in Georgia, but it did allow us to be more discerning in our wine tasting! We got 3 wines to taste and then they gave us the opportunity to taste 3 more (reserva) wines for 7£. We shared one but were the only people to do it, meaning we were late for our lunch.

The third stop was the really beautiful Noravank monestry and archaeological cave excavation. The monastery is one of the most beautiful in Armenia and as we arrived there was a wedding just finishing. It is on a hill at the top of a steep valley/gorge and was really stunning. The caves are where they found the world’s oldest shoe! And evidence of wine making 6000 years ago which they said was the oldest ever (disputing Georgia’s 8000 claim, although I am backing Georgia in this) the site was a live dig site with string everywhere and the wine vessels still in the ground. This is in stark contrast to Turkey’s treatment of Ani where workmen were moving stones and dumping them in other parts of the complex which seemed like a really criminal way of doing it as you could then not know where the stones had come from. After that we got the bus home.

We had dinner in this place that was recommended, but it was in this hotel and not very busy for a Friday night which was slightly strange. We were not massively hungry so got a salad each and a soup each. The food was delicious though, I had this lovely salad of black wild rice, pomegranate seed, goats cheese, mint and walnuts with a really nice dressing. Nin had a very tarragony (I think that’s a word) salad with quail eggs, and our soups were yogurty with lentils and delicious caramelised onion. We went back and went to bed again tired from a long but fascinating day!

Day 51 - 26 October - Yerevan

Went for a run which included a run up the cascades, I went up as fast as I could and was goosed by the end (I had to stop a few times). We then went home and got ready to go out for the day. We had breakfast at this really nice coffee shop near us that does porridge which Nin was very happy about. I had a great toasted sandwich and a flat white which after lots of Turkish coffee over the last 2 months was really good.

We then went to the Armenian Genocide museum which was very bleak as expected but really good. It lasted out in detail the timeline of events and how it happened, along with the context. I had some context from the book I read on the Ottomans last year but it was no less powerful. As with the other places we have been like this on our trip, it was impossible not to see the parallels with what is happening now in Gaza and in other places in the world like Ukraine. The idea of needing to rid a country or empire of people who don’t fit your vision of who should like in that land is just so horrible. I think the amount of times we say never again and then watch as they do is heartbreaking.

Turkey does not recognise the genocide and even have a monument to the victims of genocide across the border from Yerevan in Igdir in a grotesque form of trolling. You also see the way they have looked to write Greeks and Armenians out of this history of Turkey since the Ottomans took over shows that genocide is not just the killing of people but the erasure of culture. It seems to me that Turkey cannot accept that these cultures survive or that they have these histories that don’t align with the idea of a Turkish state in Asia Minor. To me this is so weird and self defeating and that Ottoman culture was so great because of the different cultures that existed in it. After all its civil service and army was mainly taken from children of Balkan or Caucasian origin. the empire went from almost Vienna to Sudan and from North Africa to Persia and up into what is now southern Russia!

After the museum we started walking the quite long distance back to the city center. We went to a car boot sale that was on our way which was interesting but with nothing we could feasibly get even if we wanted to. We got stuck on the side of these massive roads that really are the bane of Yerevan and Tbilisi. Transcaucasia the land of 6 lane roads We were quite hungry by this point and got a cheeky KFC as we were walking past it.

We then went to the national history museum of Armenia which was great. It had amazing stone tools from Homo Erectus and early man, including the shoe from the cave! And some great obsidian tools. It then had amazing pottery and stone friezes from early Armenian culture and from Christian and medieval Armenia. It had some items that they had managed to save from Ani which were taken to eastern Armenia as the Genocide and Young Turks took Kars Province.

After that we went for dinner near the apartment in a place called Caucasian kitchen, Nin had her perfect dinner of effectively chicken porridge and I had a lovely soup and some meatballs nd we had home made wine for a quid a glass which was pretty good. At the apartment I finally finished her side of the story which was good but very long, I have my book on Central Asia to finish next and then I have the new Tessa Hadley on pre-order.

[nzetaonlinevisa]

Ready to be mesmerized by the stunning landscapes of the South Island? Plan your New Zealand getaway now.

Absolutely! The South Island of New Zealand is a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. With its breathtaking landscapes, from rugged mountains to pristine lakes and picturesque coastlines, it offers an unparalleled experience for travelers. Here's a suggested itinerary to make the most of your South Island getaway:

Christchurch

Start your journey in Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island. Explore the revitalized city center, take a punt ride on the Avon River, and visit the International Antarctic Center. Begin your journey in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island Explore the tranquil Botanic Gardens or take a punt ride along the Avon River. Visit the Canterbury Museum to learn about the region’s history and culture. Take a day trip to the nearby Banks Peninsula for stunning coastal views and charming seaside villages. https://www.nzetaonlinevisa.com/

Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook

Drive to Mt. Cook National Park, home to the highest mountains in New Zealand. Hike the famous Hooker Valley trail with views of Mt. Cook itself. Consider a scenic flight or ski experience if visiting in winter. Head to Lake Tekapo, famous for its turquoise waters and the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd. Visit the Mount John Observatory for panoramic views of the Southern Alps and stargazing opportunities. Drive to Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand’s highest peak. Embark on a scenic hike or helicopter tour to experience the majestic beauty of the alpine landscapes. https://www.nzetaonlinevisa.com/

Queenstown

Head to the adventure capital of Queenstown. Take a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Farm, go bungee jumping, jet boating or try your hand at winter sports at The Remarkables ski area. Journey to Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Take a thrilling jet boat ride on the Shotover River or bungee jump off the historic Kawarau Bridge. Explore the charming streets lined with boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. Cruise on Lake Wakatipu or ride the Skyline Gondola for breathtaking views of the Remarkables mountain range. https://www.nzetaonlinevisa.com/

Milford Sound

Make the stunning drive from Queenstown along Milford Road through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Take a nature cruise along the iconic fiord and hike to waterfalls like Stirling Falls. https://www.nzetaonlinevisa.com/

Franz Josef Glacier

Travel up the West Coast to Franz Josef, one of the world’s most accessible glaciers. Hike right up to the terminal face or take a helicopter tour over the ice flows. Visit the delightful lake at nearby Lake Matheson. https://www.nzetaonlinevisa.com/

🌟 Planning a trip to New Zealand eTA? Don’t forget to apply for your New Zealand eTA Tourist Visa! Visit our website today to start your hassle-free application process 🌏✈️ www.nzetaonlinevisa.com

[yourfrankiethings]

Western Cafe, Bozeman, 10/26/23

exterior – 443 E Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715 The Western Cafe specializes in American home cooking, serving breakfast and lunch.  It is in a building that dates to the 1870s and the place feels like it’s been there a while.  There’s most always a line to wait for seating when you enter.  A long counter with classic swivel stools is one side of the 2 rooms, with tables filling the rest of it and…

[lifenmaggie]

Japan- Tokyo - 30th March - 5th April 2023

Matt and I went to Japan for a short trip where we visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

We didn't plan to go to Tokyo for sakura season but it just happens we were there when the sakuras were in full bloom. We were very lucky we got to see the blooms for two days by the third day they were all gone. We arrived quite late afternoon on the first day so we didn't do much on the first day just recovering jet lag.

On day 2 we visited the Imperial palace and the the east gardens where we had a scroll Chidorigafuchi Moat where the sakuras were full bloom. We explored the area around there. It was very pretty. We had lunch at Tsukiji market which were surprisingly turned out to be a very expensive lunch. We thought food was cheap at the market so we didn't really work out the conversions when we ordered it was only after we had lunch we worked that we spend just over $200 for lunch between the two of us. It was well spent the food was very good. I enjoyed thee tuna belly, strawberry mochi and the wagyu skewers. We headed to Team Labs after lunch. This may be one of the most popular museums in Japan or even the world. It was heavily featured online. It was an interactive museum experience I really enjoyed that. We finished the day dinner in Ginza where we had Japanese bbq. It may be the most attentive dining experience I ever had in my life, the server was very serious cooking the meat for us and honestly he did an amazing job. It was fanciest bbq I have every been. It was a very memorable experience in particular it was so hard find and it had exceptial service.

Day 3 we visited yoyogi park and Meiji Jingu. We stopped over a cool coffee shop on the way. We visited Harajuku where Matt and I bought some cool vintage pieces , my favourite was my Micky mouse demin jacket. I also bought a colourful sports jacket and Chanel vintage earrings. We explored the night life of Shinjuku.

Day 4 we spent the whole day walking around Shibuya: Shibuya crossing, Pokemon centre, happy pancake, Golden Gai, Omoide Yokocho. We also caught up with Rico and his wife Gabby.

Day 5 we went to Puroland which is the world of Hello Kitty and her friends. We spent half the day there. It was not very big it was more a place to take a photos. I took photos with a few of the characters and went on one of the rides. The ride went on was like a boat ride where you see Hello Kitty and her friends dance and move. We also did an Omasake experience that was very memorable and authentic. We were served food we never had before, there was once dish where we had no idea how to eat it. It was a prawn head... I mean it's nothing something you normally eat.

Day 6 we went on a day tour to Mt Fuji and I think this was one of the highlights of the trip. It was very pretty to see Mt Fuji san at the temple against the sakuras. The tour took surround areas where we can view Fujisan in different angles. This tour took the whole day, highly recommend this tour.

Day 7 we visited Senso Ji which I really liked it was mixture of temple and street stalls. Near by we visited Kappabashi Street to buy some Japanese ceremics. I managed to buy 6 rice bowls which would kick start my mixed ceremic sets and had lunch in Akhabara at a maid cafe. The maid cafe was an interesting experience it was fun but more like one off experience.

[japanwithjoc]

Blog 03: Shizuoka, Mt Fuji, Tokyo | 3/29 thru 4/01

Blog 03: Shizuoka, Mt Fuji, Tokyo | 3/29 thru 4/01

In-Yo (Yin-Yang) & Feng-Shui (Wind Water)

In-Yo and Feng-Shui is a Chinese philosophy used in Japan that describes how balance is achieved through opposing forces being in constant flux. The forces may be entirely different, but they complement each other, creating harmony. The entire country widely represented this concept as there are many urban spaces, yet an equivalence of green. Although in this case, pink, since our group traveled during the Sakura season. 

Kawaii

Kawaii, meaning cute in Japanese, is a popular social concept in Japan, especially in Harajuku Tokyo. Kawaii is shown in many products and shows like Sanrio and Pokemon, the most universal. I’ve also noticed this concept's widespread back home; it is fascinating to see the country where it started.

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) 

Shinjuku Gyoen is located in the city's heart and is one of Tokyo's largest and most popular parks. It is one of the best places to see the cherry blossoms during the springtime and Sakura season. The park has a traditional Japanese garden and an English landscape garden. It is an excellent representation of forest bathing and an escape from the city. Seeing the large city buildings shine through the large pine trees is extraordinary. The contrast of the opposites creates a different type of harmony and picture within the city. 

Tokyo Sky Tree

To see the entire Sky Tree, you must move your head toward the sky; the tower is massive! Once we got into the elevator, my stomach was turning, but going up 350 floors was a breeze. It barely felt like we went up one foot. Exiting the elevator, we got a breathtaking view of all of Tokyo. You can see all the cars moving below and the entire infrastructure of Tokyo. It was a wonderful experience. 

Kaiseki Dinner 

We ended our trip with a formal Kaiseki dinner. Kaiseki is known around the world as the finest meal. The traditional multi-course Japanese dinner applies the Shun principle, which means preparing ingredients at the peak of their freshness and allowing each dish to be authentic to flavor with the proper eloquent display. There are several courses to kaiseki meals, and the exact number of courses depends on the chef and the availability of seasonal ingredients. However, the kaiseki dining experience typically goes in the order of appetizers, sashimi, cooked dishes, and a rice course, ending with dessert. It was a great way to end the time with our professor and classmates. 

Ikebukuro & Harajuku

We had to make our own itinerary on the final day in Japan. Using all the guidance we got from our professor the previous days, we took public transport from Shinagawa station to Ikebukuro. The intent was to find a place that sold anime products. While walking through the streets, we found a cat cafe, “Mocha Cafe,” and spent about an hour obsessing over the cuteness. After, we stopped at multiple second-hand anime stores and got great deals on anime items. We ended off the day at Harajuku, experiencing large crowds of people and tasty banana strawberry crepes.

[jesstiao]

Dear San Francisco, this is a breakup letter.

Fifteen years ago, when I met you, I wanted more than anything to live in the city.

You could get lost in any neighborhood, walk for hours, and come home happy.

Old Victorians lined the streets. The parks. The views. The alleys of Little Italy led you to the bookshelves of City Lights Bookstore. On cold nights, you could run into a laundromat for a moment and bask in its gold hue.

Strangers would say hello or give you a warm smile. If you eavesdropped on a conversation at a cafe, they talked about the social factors of inequality and ideas on how to solve them.

As our relationship felt the years go by, things changed between us. I didn't mind it.

I was ready for the new decade. I was ready for 2020. Mother Nature had other ideas.

Don't go outside, they said. You will catch a deadly disease. Don't breathe the air. But, we need you to work.

As the pandemic hit the city, the skies turned orange.

George Floyd could not breathe. He could not breathe.

Asian-Americans felt the loudness of hatred.

You brought the homeless, and the mentally ill to our doorstep. That's ok, I thought, they need a warm place to sleep. How are they meant to live in a city with sky-high rent and the sheer lack of livable wages?

As the days grew longer, I was consumed by work.

Our services support the COVID-19 Messaging Alert System. Lives depend on us. The world's communications depend on us, they said.

So we all worked.

Meetings all day, every day. Work at night. Work on the weekends.

My friends worked even longer hours.

We did what we could to bring joy to the house: we cooked food. We watched movies. We played board games.

Don't go outside, they said.

But, I needed space. I needed space to go outside. I needed space to rest.

I packed a bag, closed the door to Capp. I'll be back in a week.

But I didn't. I didn't want to come back.

I went home for a break in Los Angeles. My brother and I built a deck in the backyard. Then, Roger ordered chickens off the internet. He built a chicken coop. I painted the shed.

We tried to plant a roof garden -- it died. Don't grow a roof garden in Los Angeles.

We spent a small fortune at Anawalt & Co.

My mom watched as Roger and I built a sanctuary in the backyard. I tried my hand at gardening. Soil. Shovel. Gardening pots. Water. Packets of seeds. Plant cuttings.

Neighbors welcomed themselves to the backyard. It was coming to life with people, home-grown vegetables, and dogs tearing through the grass.

Meanwhile, I didn't think about you very much, San Francisco. But, I could feel the weight.

I outgrew you. I needed a quiet place with birds chirping. I needed tree-lined streets. I wanted to hear the wind rustle through the trees. I needed sunlight. I needed clean air. I wanted to walk home in peace.

You were exhausted, San Francisco; you were burnt out. You were tired. I was tired.

We grew apart.

I could not go back to you, San Francisco.

I flew back up to see you one last time. I packed up my room at Capp. I hired a moving company. I said goodbye to my roommates. I got on that plane.

It was great while it lasted: you helped me find a career I love. You introduced me to life-long friends. I could not be more grateful.

I miss bike rides at golden hour.

I miss Dolores and Golden Gate Park.

I miss camping in Mt. Tam. I miss biking through the redwoods at Samuel P. Taylor. I miss weekend mornings in Tahoe. I miss your cute cafes.

You are charming. You taught me how to thrive. You taught me how to think and critique society (maybe a bit too much ;) ). You showed me all the things. To you, I am grateful. Thank you.

Goodbye San Francisco,

Jessica Tiao

[clivemwilliams]

New Zealand 2022/23

28 December

Such a great day for photos I felt it deserved its own post.

We set off early from Christchurch on a long drive to Wanaka leaving Lydia and Andrew behind as they will fly down to Queenstown later in the week.

After a few hours driving and a good coffee stop we arrived at Lake Wanaka with temperatures already in the 30’s! Such a beautiful blue lake surrounded by mountains. We first of all stopped at the Church of the Good Shepherd which is famously situated at the lake side and instead of any fancy stained glass window it has a clear glass window behind the alter with the most beautiful of views.

The area is an official Dark Sky Reserve - there is another on Exmoor - with an observatory on the top of a mountain overlooking the lake. Unfortunately the road to the observatory (and cafe) was closed so Ellie persuaded us to walk up through a tree lined path. Must admit it was quite hard going and a long way up. But of course the views when we reached the summit were worth it. So good in fact that we each had a mince pie in celebration !

The climb down was a doddle in comparison and after a cool down at the lake side we set off on the final leg to Lake Wanaka where we are staying for 2 nights.

More amazing scenery on the way including views of Mt. Cook from Lakes Pukaki and Hawea (David, get your map out!)

[wonderingnorthwards]

1st April 2023 - Aprils fool and new shoes

Just like that, one month since I left Hamilton to begin this adventure! Crazy to think back on how much I have experienced and seen. 593kms of adventure to be precise. Waking up around 7:45 with all my batteries still dead, I got underway walking the final 14.5km into Tekapo. Honestly a pretty dull walk along the canal, however Mt Cook and the rest of the mountains had their morning glow on. Eager to get into town I was counting down each marker crossed before making town and heading straight to the greedy cow cafe to charge my phone and to indulge in a croque madam and a mocha for lunch, any excuse for extra calories! Perks of the job I guess. Booking into the YHA backpackers, it’s admin day. Picked up some new shoes from Outdoor Sports. Clocked up over a million steps in the Salomon speedcross 6s, Ive now gone for a fresh pair of Hoka one one challenger 6s alongside some new icebreaker gloves to hopefully keep my fingers from the bone chilling cold and a new gas canister. Groceries and a walk around Lake Tekapo to take in the sights followed. Personally rated Lake Pukaki as a better view but the blue of the water at both is otherworldly and not properly captured in the photos. You’ll have to come check it out for yourself and take on the Alps to Ocean bike ride. Hoping to check out Billy the Bard tonight and get a lesson in star gazing, other than that, washing all my clothes, setting up this blog and figuring out what I’ve got in front of me. Time to change my FarOut map. 700kms to go!

Day summary

Journey: Canals - Lake Tekapo

Kms walked: 15kms

Key events: New shoes! Changed FarOut map sections

Current Km: 607

[jalapeno-princess]

Better Together

Tutor Mark X Reader

Genre: Fluff with a hint of angst

Word count: 5.3k

Summary: You’ve been fooling around with your marine biology tutor for a few months. The two of you have more than friendly feelings for one another but you both are too afraid to confess your love in fear of things not working out. However, when one of Mark’s friends take an interest in you, that’s when the truth comes out.

“You know, for someone who claims to miss me, it’s pretty hard to get a hold of you nowadays.” The fake hurt tone in your best friend’s voice made you giggle, but he was right. It’s been over two weeks since you last saw BamBam and he’s been trying to plan something for the two of you to do for the last week but you’ve always been so busy. It wasn’t like you were avoiding him, you just had so much on your plate from both work and school that you didn’t really have time to be social as of right now. 

“Hey, I said I was sorry about that but you know how I get whenever it comes to my grades. I need at least a 3.8 to get in to the national honor society. Once we go on spring break, I’m all yours.” The two of you were currently drinking coffee at one of your favorite cafes in between class. When you found out your first class had been cancelled, you were quick with reaching out to the older boy and see what he was doing. A smile was quick to rise on your cheeks when he said he was willing to ditch class in order to spend time with you and although you were against skipping a class, you missed your best friend. 

“So, how’s your marine biology class by the way? The last time we talked about it, you had a borderline D. I know you took my advice and went to tutoring for it last semester, I still can’t believe you’re taking another marine biology class this semester after barely passing last semester. It’s like you love putting yourself through stress—or it’s because a certain marine science major just so happens to be tutoring you—don’t look at me like that. I know exactly why you retook that stupid class, it’s because Mark Tuan is the TA. I’m not stupid, there’s no way you went from a D to an A in less than two months by studying alone. You’re probably sucking his dick—Ow! What was that for? I’m totally supportive of you fucking your tutor. Not only do you get good grades, but you get your back blown out too—that’s it. I’m going back to class.” 

When he stood up and began to playfully gather his things, you reached over and took his notebook from his hand while motioning for him to sit back down. “Will you keep it down? The entire coffee shop doesn’t need to know of my business and besides—I’m not sleeping with anybody—well—it’s not what you think. I’m not hooking up with him just to get good grades.” 

BamBam looked at you in curiosity before leaning forward and placing his chin on top of his hands. One thing you both loved and hated about BamBam, was how nosy he could be. He was one of the biggest blabber mouths on campus. If there was a rumor going around campus, you could bet that he was one of the first people to hear about it and to spread it throughout school. Although you enjoyed being in the know with the juiciest drama there was going on at your university, you never wanted to be the next hot topic. Which is why you were afraid of the fact that he was completely aware of your little affair with Mark Tuan. 

“So what exactly are you doing with him then? Are the two of you dating? I feel insulted! We tell each other everything. As your best friend, I would have expected you to tell me that you got in to a relationship and with Mark out of all people. I can’t believe you’ve been blowing me off to waste your time with your boyfriend—“

“He’s not my boyfriend, we’re not dating. Okay? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but there’s nothing to tell. He’s been tutoring me since last semester, that part is true. But I didn’t sign up for marine 462 just so he could help me out again. I wouldn’t suffer through another science class just to have him tutor me again. I’m taking five classes this semester, remember? On top of working full-time so I’m sorry for being so MIA but I promise when my schedule clears up, we’ll do something.” 

A frustrated sigh fell from your lips before you took a sip of your caramel macchiato. You hated lying to your best friend, especially because like he said; the two of you told each other everything. BamBam informed you on every single thing that went on in his life and for the most part, you did the same. However, your love life was nobody’s business but you and the person you were involved with. As much as you wanted to update BamBam on your relationship status, you didn’t even know what to classify exactly what was going on between you and Mark anyway. 

You were more than just friends, but less than lovers and you couldn’t really consider yourselves friends with benefits either. Sure, the two of you casually hooked up in your free time, but it was more than just sex for you both. Mark was a very shy and soft spoken person to people he wasn’t all too familiar with, but you were one of the few lucky people to know what he was really like. Mark Tuan in more or less words was a very outgoing, patient, kind-hearted, hardworking and surprisingly hilarious individual. 

You loved being around him and you loved the effect he had on you. The older boy never failed to make you laugh and smile with his corny science pick up lines and when the two of you were alone, it seemed as if he always needed to be touching you. However, you had no problem with that. Intimacy was something you really enjoyed. You just didn’t know what to make of the lingering stares and the passionate kisses that happened even when the two of you weren’t having sex. 

There were a few occasions where you had caught Mark staring at you with so much adoration in his eyes; so you knew he had to have some sort of feelings for you. You had a hard time understanding why he had yet to act on it. Both you and the older boy have been at this for almost four months, if he wanted to be with you wouldn’t he have made things official by now? The vibration that came from your phone broke you out of your thoughts and you didn’t even try to stop the grin that grew on your face when you noticed who was trying to get in touch with you.

MT: Hey, are you busy right now? I really want to see you—and maybe kiss a little—okay maybe more than just a little. 3:15 p.m.

You: Never too busy for you. Wanna meet me at my place in fifteen? 3:16 p.m.

You: Just kissing? 3:16 p.m.

MT: Oh no, more. Definitely more. Sounds like a plan. See you soon. 3:17 p.m.

Since you were so deep in your excitement, you failed to witness that BamBam was analyzing your newly delighted expression and a smirk rose on his face when he came to realization of why your cheeks were pink. He was sure that if he were to reach over and place his palm against your face that it would be warm. Even if you told him that there was nothing on between you and Mark, he knew you like the back of his hand. You and BamBam have been friends long enough for him to know that you were interested in someone. 

“Let me guess, lover boy is texting you. He’s asking you to ditch me so that he can rearrange your guts. It’s fine, you can go. Honestly I’d do the same.” 

Your eyes widened at his words and you ripped off a piece of your scone and threw it at his chest. “Asshole. It’s nobody—really. I’m serious. But I do have to leave, I have class in twenty—“

“You and I both know you’re done for the day. There’s no point in lying to me y/n, I know your schedule by heart. Go get some dick, and tell Mark I said hi.” No matter how much of a pain in the ass BamBam could be sometimes, you’d be lying if you said he wasn’t your favorite person. Well, other than the boy who owned your heart. It took you two months to accept it, but you were in love with Mark. 

It wasn’t surprising, most of your time was spent with your charming science tutor. When he wasn’t teaching you or buried balls deep inside of you, the two of you would be doing a lot of domestic things together. You’d find yourself doing things with Mark that most couples would do; watching movies together, baking different desserts that you saw on the food network, allowing him to sit in between your legs as he played video games and there were a couple times he even went grocery shopping with you. He also had a habit of complementing you almost every single day on your looks, your personality, your outfit, your choice in music and your cooking. 

There were times you found yourself contemplating on telling him how you felt, but you were afraid of ruining things one the L word was thrown in there. You made a beeline towards your apartment with the intent of changing your clothes and making yourself a bit more presentable for Mark before he arrived. Although he made it aware that he didn’t really care what you wore only because it would end up on the floor anyway, you couldn’t help but want to look good for him. 

Once you made it inside, you placed your bag on top of the kitchen counter and headed in to your room. As you began looking through your closet, you heard a knock on the door and silently cursed yourself at the thought of Mark already being there. “Just a minute, I’ll be right there.” You threw a pair of shorts and one of Mark’s shirts that he left at your place the last time he slept over. That was another thing that confused you. You and Mark weren’t strangers to sleeping over at each other’s places. Sure, if the two of you hooked up, you’d end up staying the night and vice versa. But there were days he’d ask to hang out and he’d end up staying the night. 

He had quite a few of his things scattered throughout your apartment and from an outsider’s point of view, it would look as if you had a boyfriend. If only that was the case. You took a quick look through the peephole before opening the door and when you saw him, your heart rate increased. As soon as you opened the door, he gave you no time to prepare yourself before he practically threw his arms around you and pulled you in for a kiss. His hands cupped your cheeks gently as he licked and sucked on your bottom lip and playfully brought it in between his teeth. He maneuvered the two of you forward so that he could close the door, and quickly deepened the kiss. 

After a few moments of your tongues battling for dominance while his hands roamed around your body, you pulled away to catch your breath and tiptoed so that you could place your forward against his. 

“Hi.” 

He let out a soft giggle and stole a quick kiss from the corner of your mouth. “Hey. I missed you.” You rolled your eyes in disbelief. 

“You saw me last night.” Mark was the only person you have been seeing these days. You were grateful that he was tutoring you and that the two of you had an excuse to meet each other, even if most “tutoring sessions” ended up in sex. The older boy was like a breath of fresh air; your own little hideaway from adulting. Even if he was about to turn twenty-seven years old, he never failed to act like a little kid. 

“Yeah, but that was last night. As much as I really want to take this to the bedroom and find my way in between these pretty thighs of yours, you have a midterm coming up and there’s no way I’m letting you fail.” You released a frustrated sigh and gave him an adorable pout. Mark had the biggest soft spot for you and you knew just how much your cuteness had an effect on him. He would do anything you asked him to, unless it interfered with your education. That was the only time he put anything before getting to love on your body.

“But Mark—you said kissing.” He cupped your cheek and began to caress his thumb right above your Cupid’s bow. “Don’t worry, there will be plenty of kissing. Trust me, I’ve been thinking about these pretty lips all day today. However, you’ll only get a kiss whenever you get a question right.” 

Right as the complaint was about to fall from your lips, Mark smashed his mouth against yours and gave you a rough, sloppy kiss. “I know you’ll do just fine on this test y/n—“

“Then why do we have to study right now? I have a week until the midterm Mark. Making out for a couple of minutes won’t hurt my grade.” His laughter filled the room at your persistence and as much as you were upset with the idea of science, you found yourself laughing along with him. Mark had one of the most contagious, high pitched laughs and it had to be one of your favorite sounds. You did whatever you could to be the reason behind the beautiful noise. 

“I could’ve sworn I was the horny one between us. When did you get so sexually aroused? Not that I’m complaining, I am all for it, it’s extremely sexy—ow! I don’t understand why you’re not rough like this in bed—you’re going to have to study for the exam on your own if you keep this up my little sea urchin.” 

The older boy had a tendency to call you marine animals instead of an actual pet name and you couldn’t help but think that there was a reason behind it. Although there were times he called you baby, whether it was during sex or if it just happened to fall from his lips, he never really used the term with you. You felt that if he were to call you a term of endearment, then your relationship would only get more complicated. 

“Fine! Whatever. But we won’t study for long, I’ve already had a rough day. The last thing I need is to drive myself insane trying to instill information about sea-level rise and coral bleaching in to my brain. And you better be generous with these kisses. None of those pecks from last time.” He beamed at you before getting himself settled down at your dining table and taking out some flash cards he prepared for you. 

“A swell is pure energy. True or false?” You took a few seconds to think hard about the question before responding. 

“True.”

“Nope. It’s false. Come on y/n, that was so easy. I’ll give you a kiss for effort though.” He leaned over and gave you a quick peck before flipping over the next card. “What is the cause of erosion?”

“Soil compaction, low organic matter, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, salinisation and soil acidity problems.” He hummed softly before reaching over once against to place another kiss on your lips; a few seconds longer this time. 

“Good job, let’s keep going.” Throughout the entire study session, Mark rewarded you with quite a few kisses, whether or not you even got the answer right. There wasn’t much either of you had to worry about though. You got thirty out of thirty-three questions correct. As much as you hated science, marine biology to be exact, you were very grateful to have had sign up for the class in the first place since it was what led you to meeting the devastatingly handsome man sitting in front of you. 

Once Mark felt like you had enough studying for the day, the two of you moved over to the couch and turned on the television. He pulled you on to his lap before you could take a seat next to him and wrapped his arms protectively around your waist. Being in this position with Mark wasn’t unfamiliar to you. Mark loved cuddling. You were quick to learn of that just a few days after the first time you stumbled in to bed together. It felt as if it was just yesterday that you went to ask Mark for help after your professor returned your quiz about paleo climate and he was happy to help. You didn’t think that less than a month after he began tutoring you that you’d find yourself writhing underneath him, begging for him to do anything to soothe the burning sensation between your legs. You smiled softly to yourself at the memory and snuggled up closer to his chest while he left a soft kiss against your temple. 

When he began to scroll through Netflix, it was then that you remembered the question you were asked just a few hours ago in your literature class by one of your fellow classmates. 

“Hey Mark?” He hummed in curiosity against your neck and you couldn’t help but snicker at how ticklish it felt. “Are you free Saturday night? Jinyoung asked me to go watch Planet of The Apes with him and I remember you saying something about wanting to see it.” 

When you felt Mark tense up against your back, you couldn’t help but feel as if something was wrong. Jinyoung was a close friend of Mark’s, you actually met him a few times through the older boy and he was nothing short of a gentleman to you. It also so happened that you had him in your first period and the two of you never really talked to each-other other than asking each other how your days were going. Today was the first time he actually asked you something other than what you had for breakfast and you felt as if he was inviting you with the idea of going with the rest of their group of friends. 

“Jinyoung asked you to go see a movie with him? When was this? Why? You guys aren’t even friends.” You were quick to pick up on how his whole demeanor changed when you brought Jinyoung up but you didn’t understand why. 

“He asked me in AP today if I wanted to go watch Planet of the Apes with him—why do you look so upset?” Seeing his brows furrow and his jaw clench made you even more confused but you couldn’t help to think that there was a chance that Mark was jealous. But why would he be jealous of Jinyoung inviting you to see a movie with him. For all you knew, he asked you because he didn’t have anyone else to go with; but why wouldn’t he have asked Mark? You were sure the two of them probably talked about things like this. 

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. So what did you tell him?” You shrugged before tracing your fingers along his brows. 

“I told him I’d ask you first and then I’d let him know.” The sarcastic chuckle that came from the back of Mark’s throat sent chills down your spine. You hardly ever seen Mark mad. The only time you’ve seen him pissed off was when one of the students reported him to your professor for giving him a D on the final. Being a TA, sometimes the professor would allow Mark to correct essays and tests. That student wasn’t all too happy with the way Mark graded his paper and you remembered how furious Mark was when the professor called him in to his office and told him of the news. 

How could you forget? Mark took all his anger out on you in bed that night and you couldn’t walk for the rest of the week once he was finished with you. Luckily the professor went over the student’s exam himself and actually gave the student an F for it instead. Although it was hot seeing Mark getting all riled up, you hated the idea of something getting under his skin and bothering him for the rest of the day. You decided you were going to use this information to try and pry his feelings for you out of him. However, you were afraid of the outcome not being that of your favor but you didn’t care at this point anymore. 

“Good. You’re going to watch that movie with me—not stupid Park Jinyoung.” The last part came out as a murmur but you heard it nonetheless and butterflies began growing in your tummy when you came to terms with the idea of Mark being jealous. It was cute, he was cute and you were madly in love with him. 

“What’s wrong with Jinyoung? He’s a nice guy and I thought you guys were friends. I don’t see anything wrong with going to watch a movie with him—“

“You’re mine! Park Jinyoung knows exactly what you mean to me and just how much I love you yet here he is trying to ask my girl on a date—oh shit. Shit, shit, shit—y/n—“ it was too late. His angry rant turned in to a love confession and you couldn’t help but smile like an idiot at the entire thing. Mark finally admitted his love for you and he even referred to you as his girl. Was all of this really happening right now? It felt too good to be true. There was no way he was in love with you even if deep down something told you that the older boy had some kind of feelings for you but love? He couldn’t be in love with you? If he loved you, the two of you would’ve been together a long time ago but he had yet to make things official. 

He was quick to try and lift you off of his lap and you were sure he was going to make a run for it to prevent him from making an even bigger fool out of himself and to prevent you from asking him anymore questions. However, the warm feeling of your lips against his caught his attention and he found himself smiling against your mouth. God, did he love you. He would kiss you for the rest of his life if he could. 

“Y/n—“

“I love you too. I’m in love with you too. I have been for a while now. I just never thought there was a chance that you’d ever reciprocate my feelings so I kept them to myself. No matter how badly I wanted to be yours. I was content with being whatever it is that we are, but I couldn’t help but desire more. I wanted you. All of you. I wanted to make things official between us but you seemed okay to continue fooling around with me so I didn’t say anything—“

“For someone who has a 3.7 g.p.a right now, you’re not all that bright. You know words were never my forte baby—real quick, can I just say how much I love calling you that? Baby. MY baby. You’re MY baby! Understand that? My baby, not Jinyoung’s! Or anybody else’s! I can’t believe he had the audacity to ask you out to a movie knowing that you and I have something. Well, since the cat is out of the bag, I guess I’ll probably explain it all.” 

He brought his hand up to the crown of your head and began running his fingers through your hair. Your heart fluttered with the way he was looking at you; as if you were the most beautiful thing he’s ever laid his eyes on. You could get used to this. 

“When you came to me that day, with your hair thrown in to a messy bun wearing nothing but that three sizes too big of a clothing item you call a hoodie when really it was like a tent for you and asked me to help you out, I was over the moon. I’ve seen you walk in and out of class so many times and I found myself developing a little crush on you at the time. You—you don’t understand how beautiful you are do you? You are otherworldly y/n—such a beautiful being. My pretty girl. I can’t take my eyes off of you, it’s physically impossible. But it goes beyond your beauty; although I mean this when I say you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on and I’m sure your golden-hearted personality adds to it. You’re such a selfless and caring person. I’ve seen you help others while you yourself was struggling and I admire that about you. You’re also very hardworking and dedicated in all that you do. There were so many times I found myself wanting to confess my love for you, but just like you I was afraid of you not reciprocating my same feelings. But babe, even if I didn’t outright tell you how I feel, you should’ve known by my actions that I’m crazy for you.” 

He grabbed your hand and began playing with your fingers; a habit you noticed he did every now and then if he had a lot on his mind and needed a distraction. “I don’t let just anyone meet my family let’s just put that out there. Especially someone who I considered a casual fuck.” 

You playfully shoved his shoulder at the memory of meeting the Tuan family. Over two months ago, Mark had asked you if you wanted to go with him to a party and without hesitation, you agreed. You loved going anywhere Mark went; no matter where it was. That’s how you found yourself in arcades and pc rooms every now and then but it didn’t bother you. 

A part of you regretted not asking him about the type of party it was going to be and since you are both in college, you assumed it was going to be a college party. However, when you walked in to a house with Moana decorations scattered throughout the living room and the backyard, you knew you were in deep shit. But the Tuan family were very kind and friendly; his mom wouldn’t stop complementing you and his dad told you a few embarrassing stories from Mark’s childhood that made your insides hurt from all the laughing you did. His nieces also grew very fond of you and continuously asked you about your relationship with their favorite uncle Mark. All in all it was a great day and you couldn’t help but giggle every time one of Mark’s family members asked who you were. 

“I told them you were my girlfriend when you weren’t around. My parents really liked you. In fact my mom won’t stop asking me to bring you over. Oh and to continue the very long list of things that I do for you that I would never do for anyone else, I let you choose the movies; even if I don’t necessarily agree with some of your choices. Like, who in their right minds would sit through three hours watching a nun babysit a bunch of kids and sing songs every five minutes—“ you crossed your arms in disappointment and gave Mark an adorable frown. 

“Hey! I thought you said you like the sound of music—“

“Yeah, yeah it grew on me. Probably because we’ve watched it so many damn times, but that’s besides the point. Anyways, I share my food with you; I wouldn’t even share popcorn with my brother let alone half of a pizza with you. I would never miss out on any class unless I wasn’t feeling well enough to attend but I’ve found myself ditching a couple of my classes in order to spend time with you. I even let you sit in my video game chair y/n. That right there should’ve been proof on it’s own. You know how protective I am over my video games. They’re my babies, well—other than you now. But yeah. I’d do anything for you. I love seeing that breathtaking smile of yours and I love being the reason behind it.” 

You were sure your heart was about to combust the longer he went in to detail about the love he had for you. Although you knew Mark was never a man of words but of actions, it was nice hearing him explain his feelings for you that you weren’t able to pick up on. You couldn’t wait to finally tell BamBam about your newly found relationship with Mark. You knew your best friend would never let you live it down especially after he confronted you about it only for you to shut him down. 

“Were you always this cheesy?” He giggled at your question and shook his head in disagreement. 

“No. Definitely not. You make me soft—well I mean you make me very hard most of the time but yeah, I get all sappy when it comes to you. I think when I noticed myself caring about your happiness and well-being, that’s when I realized we were more than just your typical friends with benefits. I wanted to love you and make love to you. I wanted to fuck you then take you on a romantic picnic at the beach or some shit. You’re really special you know that? You make this pathetic heart of mine really happy. I love you y/n. More than I can fathom in to words.” 

You beamed up at him before placing a gentle kiss on his nose. “I love you too. So, so much. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and continue to do for me Mark. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” After a few minutes of relinquishing in your love for each other, Mark wrapped his arms around your thighs and stood up, abruptly taking you with him while heading towards your room. “What are you doing Mark—“

“Well the plan is to do you, for the rest of the day. I’d like to celebrate our relationship and eat your pretty little pussy out as a reward for finally telling you how I feel. Now, either you stop talking since you’re ruining the sensual atmosphere, or I’ll give you a reason not to talk with my cock down your throat—yup face fucking it is. On your knees baby, it’s going to be a long day.”