#and not having to switch between blogs just to get to a certain char

[the4thmagi]

hi to let ya’ll know this blog has kinda been archived? i’m not saying its gone for good bc I’m proud of the development it’s brought me but i’m mostly on my multimuse @kingofnonsense . aladdin is over there too, and retains all the relationships he had before so feel free to bug me there. 

[tripstations]

10 of Scandinavia’s top luxury hotels and experiences

By Dave Warne on Aug 18, 2019 in Accommodation, Arctic, Denmark, Europe, Finland, Hotels, Iceland, Norway, Polar Regions, Regions, Sweden, Western Europe

Scandinavia has had something of an awakening over recent years, with adventure-seeking travellers being opened up to its innovative hotels, gourmet food and spectacular landscapes. Whether it’s a log cabin or luxury glass igloo, this region offers some of the world’s best and most memorable hotels and experiences. Take a look below for our top picks.

Ion Adventure Hotel, Iceland

From the base of a (dormant) volcano protrudes Ion, an eco-conscious gem that provides the perfect base for exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle. From exposed concrete walls and a wholly Scandinavian-chic vibe, guests look out into the harsh landscape from floor-to-ceiling windows – the skies often decorated with those illustrious Northern Lights.

And, rightfully, it’s the outdoors that steals the show, with Thingvellir National Park just steps away for discovering Icelandic icons like Gullfoss waterfall and the Strokkur geyser, alongside ice climbing, glacier hiking and horse riding; it’s truly deserving of its ‘adventure’ moniker. You’ll return to four-course menus accompanied by a curated wine list as well as the onsite thermal hot springs, spa, sauna and outdoor heated pool.

ICEHOTEL, Swedish Lapland

Perhaps the most revered Arctic experience, the ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland has long been a rite of passage for winter travellers. And, whilst recent technological innovations in the ICEHOTEL 365 mean it’s a year-round destination, there’s something about the snow-silent surrounds that make it most magical during winter. In -5°C ice rooms, carved in all manner of intricacies from giant King Kongs to eerie ‘Queen of the North’ faces, guests snuggle down under thermal sleeping bags and reindeer skins, woken in the morning with a steaming glass of hot lingonberry. Sprawling Art Suites go one up still, with private saunas to warm up after snowy evenings.

Expect gourmet dining – alongside a schnapps or two at the ice bar, naturally – or indulge with the 12-course Chef’s Table menu for the likes of ice menus and wine-paired delights. It’s all done alongside, of course, the activities that make the Arctic so appealing, from snowmobiling under the auroras to gliding reindeer rides.

Funken Lodge, Svalbard

One of the world’s last wildernesses, a visit to Svalbard is spectacular enough – a place where polar bears outnumber people. Add Funken Lodge in to the mix and the experience goes one up, with cutting-edge design paired with Svalbard’s iconic history and tradition. Looking out over Spitsbergen’s Lars Glacier, stylish rooms are the base for exploring Svalbard’s ice-covered reaches, from snowmobiling under the polar night – when, for three months, the sun never rises above the horizon in an eerie blue haze – to spotting polar bears and walruses come summer.

There’s some surprising additions, too, among them an acclaimed champagne cellar and Longyearbyen’s best restaurant. The latter offers freshly-baked afternoon waffles and, come evening, alongside mountain views, French-inspired tasting menus and excellent wines.

Treehotel, Swedish Lapland

Since its inception, the Treehotel has set the bar when it comes to innovative accommodation. Perched high in the treetops of Harads in Sweden’s Arctic Circle, guests hark back to childhood days in all-grown-up treehouses in creations like a reflecting Mirrorcube, giant Bird’s Nest and futuristic UFO.

Inside is all wood-clad cosiness, though you’ll want to make time for adventures like snowshoeing under the Northern Lights and, come summer, spotting bears under the midnight sun. After a Swedish massage, a ‘tree sauna’ session or open-air hot tub soak, indulge in myriad dining experiences, from three-course dinners at a tree-top table to picnics in the snow in a lakeside tipi.

Levin Iglut Glass Igloo, Finnish Lapland

In Finnish Lapland comes one of the country’s most famed innovations – the iconic glass igloo. Here at Levin Iglut they perch on a hilltop for stunning views of the snow-dusted forests, with electrically-heated roofs meaning prime Northern Lights viewing from motorised beds.

Of course, there’s the likes of reindeer sleigh rides and cross-country skiing too, as well as six-course tasting menus in the fantastic Aurora Restaurant. Then, alongside all that adventure, a nightcap at the main lodge’s wrap-around terrace is the perfect prelude to that oh-so-Finnish pastime of a sauna and hot tub soak.

Deplar Farm, Iceland

Another Iceland gem, this turf-topped farm offers luxurious experiences in a truly remote setting. In the far north of Iceland in the fairytale-esque Troll Peninsula, experiences here are just as magical as their setting would suggest. There’s everything from classic Arctic adventures, like snowmobiling and snowshoeing, to salmon fishing, whale watching and, naturally, hot-spring soaks. Alongside a spa with all the expected delights, from a Jacuzzi to geothermally-heated infinity pool, there’s even total-sensory immersion salt water floatation tanks.

Then, from wood-burning fires and enormous glass panels looking onto the surrounding mountains, dining is expectedly fabulous, with farm-to-table delights paired with sommelier-chosen wines from the cellar. It’s all finished off wonderfully with a dip in the outdoor Jacuzzi under the star-spangled sky and – hopefully – the dancing auroras.

Fjellborg Arctic Lodge, Swedish Lapland

For a truly exclusive experience, it doesn’t get much better than Sweden’s Fjellborg Arctic Lodge. High above the Arctic Circle on the shores of a lake, guests have private use of the lodge’s Master Cabin where log-burning stoves, wood-clad walls and strewn furs create a truly authentic Scandi-chic ambience. Soaking in your private hot tub on the frozen lake’s edge, glass of bubbly in hand and – with luck – the aurora above, it all makes for truly memorable experience.

It’s all fuelled by ultra-fresh local fish and game and, if you’ve opted for ice fishing, you can even enjoy your own catch of the day. And, if you can tear yourself away from your log cabin cosiness, there’s a whole host of included Arctic activities on offer, from dog sledding to snowshoeing in remote forests.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Finnish Lapland

Can’t choose between a log cabin and a glass igloo? This gem provides the best of both worlds in the frozen wilderness that is Finnish Lapland. Right on the Arctic Circle, this is Scandi luxe at its best, with blonde timber-clad walls, fur-trimmed furnishings and enormous panoramic windows for epic Northern Lights views – and come morning, those silent, snow-dusted pine forests.

Then, the ultra-stylish Rakas restaurant, all fur-covered chairs and candlelight, offers classic Lappish fare like king crab, reindeer and foraged berries and mushrooms. There’s even the chance to enjoy al fresco dinners by a roaring campfire. Come daytime, relax at the lakeside forest spa and traditional Finnish sauna alongside meeting Sami reindeer herders and zoom on a snowmobile across the Arctic tundra, or perhaps visit the nearby Santa Park for the ultimate festive break.

Storfjord, Norway

Norway’s fjords are, rightfully so, the draw for many of the country’s visitors – and this fjord-side hotel is one of Norway’s best offerings. Burrowed away in the Sunnmore Alps with sprawling views – the hotel name literally means ‘big fjord’ – guests are perfectly placed to explore. And, interiors are just as impressive, with a certain storybook charm in their unique antiques and four-poster beds.

Expect everything from spotting seals and puffins on cruises to panoramic helicopter flights, with the must-visit Geirangerfjord just moments away for kayaking, swimming and even thrilling RIB boat rides. Finish it all off with summertime drinks on the gallery or by the open fire, the perfect prelude to gourmet dinners in the wood-clad candlelit hall.

Javri Lodge, Finnish Lapland

A stay in a log cabin is perhaps the quintessential Scandi experience. And, for the ultimate winter getaway, it’s hard to beat Javri Lodge. Tucked away in one of Finland’s most stunning national parks, this adults-only offering is the perfect chance to switch off, with daily adventures like reindeer rides, cross-country skiing and husky sledding all included. Back at base, log cabin-esque rooms are all timber-clad walls and scattered reindeer furs, with picture windows looking out onto snow-dusted, winter-wonderland scenes. Tear yourself away, though, to indulge in the sauna and two heated swimming pools.

Dining is a further highlight, with five-course dinners that include reindeer and Arctic char, sommelier-matched from a world-class wine and champagne list, with gourmet lunches enjoyed in the frozen-forest wilds by an open fire.

Dave Warne is Product Director at The Luxury Holiday Company. The Luxury Holiday Company offers completely bespoke holidays designed to deliver unrivalled luxury, arranged by specialists who have more than 200 years of collective travel experience.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post 10 of Scandinavia’s top luxury hotels and experiences appeared first on Tripstations.

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[thiskulifefall2018]

When Hunger Strikes Again...

Prologue

When we first walk into the Academic Forum we smell coffee from Starbucks. We then scan the area to find a Chick-Fil-A, mini Starbucks, Academic Grounds, Forum Food Court, and International Eatery.

Student are always waiting in line for the Chick-Fil-A and the line can be out the door sometimes. The mini Starbucks had lots of available options off their fixed menu. The wait isn’t very long and you can grab a snack and go.

The AF has classes on both floors, and a small food court style dining option. There are many large tables and seats, enough to eat with a group of friends, along with sofas lining the windows.

The AF is a very busy place when classes are going on, so being able to grab food in there is a quick fix to not have to run to other places in campus. In this blog we’re going to talk about different options for dining.

There are many places to eat on Kutztown University’s campus. Out of several choices, the McFarland Student Union, AKA the MSU, and South Dining Hall are the most popular. Students near the dorms can go to South for buffet style dining, while on the academic side of campus students can go to the MSU for a snack. Student have other choices rather than having to go to the MSU, but can also get something to eat in the Academic Forum which as a more “grab and go” feel for students.

In act 1, we will run through what South Dining Hall has to offer, act 2 will share what the McFarland Student Union holds, and act 3 will tell you what Kutztown University’s campus has to offer to commuter students food wise.

Act 1: Heaven on the South Side

I woke up delirious and panicked wondering what time it was, where I was, and where my roommate was. She walked in about a minute later telling me it was about 7 at night, and that she was hungry. I was told to get ready as we only had an hour left to eat at South.

Walking into the heavy doors of South and smelling all the greasy food, it felt like I was at a larger high school cafeteria. Honestly that’s what South is; a larger high school cafeteria.

South Dining Hall is where I go to eat most nights. It has many food options for students. South has buffet style dining, meaning I can eat all I want. The downstairs is open all hours of the day, all days of the week. This is a great place to get breakfast, a snack, or even a late night meal. The upstairs is open from 11AM to 8PM. This is where most people either get lunch or dinner.

There’s many different choices to eat between the two floors. Downstairs there is a kiosk, where I can order food, and SunnySide, where I can get breakfast foods, like cereal, bagels, fruit, and juice. Upstairs there is char, chop, greens, simmer and slice, sugar and spice, and wich. There is also a sushi, hibachi bar.

When I first walk upstairs, I see the char bar. Here I can get a variety of unhealthy, but typical American food. I will usually find hamburgers, grilled cheese, fries, and chicken nuggets, along with some other meals that rotate throughout the week.

Past the char bar, there is a self serve bar filled with food that I can help myself to. Right behind that is a drink and condiment station. There I find four soda machines, a coffee station, and a large drink dispenser with fruit infused water. I can also get condiments for my food, along with toppings for my burgers.

After the self serve bar, I will come to find wich. Here I can make a sandwich of my choosing. Right past where, I will find noodles, where I can order noodles to be made right in front of me.

Next to noodles, there is usually some sort of grilled, baked, or roasted type of meat, along with a starch and veggies to choose from; this is where I find chop. Right behind chop there is a salad bar. I can find a variety of greens along with toppings for my salad.

Past grill, in the back corner of South’s upstairs, I can find sugar and spice. Here is where I can get dessert. There are many choices of ice cream to choose from along with many other sweet treats, such as cupcakes, cookies, and a cake.

In the middle of South’s upstairs, I find the hibachi and sushi bar. Here on one side I can order hibachi and the otherside, I can order sushi. There are many different options that switch out on a daily basis, with a few options being there everyday. Behind the sushi and hibachi bar I will find simmer and slice, which is where I can get some bread, along with a choice of soups and crackers.

South is a spacious place to be. There are many tables and chairs to choose from and even sofas and couches. I always see tons of students there when I go. Downstairs there are tables and chairs, along with sofas and couches lining the windows. The downstairs area also has some booths to comfortably sit and watch the televisions set up.

Upstairs has more seating. There are booths lining the walls along with large tables set up almost like a high school cafeteria. The tables provide a nice place to sit with a group of friends. I usually sit and eat with just my roommate in one of the booths.

South is very spacious and provides a nice place to hang out. Pool and shuffleboard tables are set up downstairs for entertainment. Upstairs, there is a small gaming lounge along with a small space with public computers. This gives many options for me to keep myself occupied, especially during quiet hours in the dorms. The dorms have quiet hours from 9PM to 9AM, meaning I cannot make noise that could possibly keep one from sleeping.

My roommate Nadia often tells me how she loves South. “California rolls and ice cream is a must have” at dinner when she eats there. When she walks into South, the first thing she does is get in line for her sushi. Sometimes the line is long but she says that the way the lady serves the sushi is very effective. She says, “I never leave South at dinner time without an ice cream cone.”

-Sophia Duong

Act 2: Come Here For A Quick Bite

The time I event into McFarland Student Union was to eat at the Cub Cafe when I was looking for something quick before my next class. I was able to grab something from the deli. The line is always long, but it moves quickly. I can grab a sandwich or a wrap. It is a spot where I get to pick what I want for lunch. The food is made right then and there so I know that it is fresh. There is not just wraps or sandwiches, but away to get your sandwich toasted. I am not a person that gets things toasted, but while waiting in line I here students ordering that. The deli is a nice place to get something other than the fried food. There are other options to choose from when coming in here. I have also been able to get a salad from the salad bar. Sometimes when the line is too long at the deli, I will hit up the salad bar instead. There is fried food to the left and there are three other stations at the Cube Cafe which have something knew each day.

The McFarland Student Union is a place where I can grab food at the Cub Cafe or something to drink at the Starbucks. There are many different entrances when going into the MSU, so I know there are different things I see each time I go in there between seeing the KU Store, the Starbucks or even just going into the Cub Cafe. When I first walk into the MSU there is the smell of Starbucks. I am not a person that drinks coffee, but I know that my fellow students enjoy the smell when they first walk in. There are other times when I just walk right into the Cub Cafe. I normally walk round see what food they are serving today. I never know what I am going to get because it all depends on the day and how much time I have.

Since I spend most of my time of the academic side of campus I will need to eat at some point during the day. There is other places to eat on this side of campus, but sometimes this is the closest one to my next class. It makes it easy to go in and sit down to get food. I mostly just grab a snack because I do not have much time in between classes. When I talked with Madison she said, “I go there for something quick and easy before she has to go to class.” Madison does not allows have much time to stay and eat, so she is able to take her food with her. Most people do not have time to sit there very long but need to eat something before heading to class. It is the convenience of having food near the classes and making sure that we the students are eating.  

When walking into the Cub Cafe there are two different sides that students choose to sit at. I will see students working on homework in between classes. I also see students meeting with friends for lunch or getting to catch up with one another. I mostly just get something quick to eat to tide me over till I can get something later. I noticed when I go into the Cub Cafe that students are in a hurry to and from class, so they cannot really sit for too long. It is a place with some choices, but not everything I may want. There are multiply different choices I can choose from, but it is what is easiest and not a long line. The lines get long at certain times when classes let out, so sometimes I do not have time to wait in the line for what I want. I then have to find something else because I have to get to class on time.  

I also noticed that most of the students can be found at the Starbucks in the MSU. It is a place for students to sit and hang out with friends. I am not a person that likes Starbucks but have noticed that it is where the students go. College students like to get their coffee, so the Starbucks is in a place where most of the students hang out. I see students sitting at chairs and have their computers out on the tables. Students will be doing homework and will look to Starbucks for their needs. When I talked to Madison about Starbucks she said, “she goes there for her coffee before class or after depending on how long the line is.” There is always some kind of line at Starbucks, so students must decide if they want to wait in line or come back later. Even though students have a variety of choices they can go on campus the MSU is one most students go to. The MSU is not just a place for food but a place where students hang out.

-Kaitlin Fisher

Act 3: Commuter Offerings

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE food. There’s so many options to choose from. Whenever I can afford it I’ll try and treat my mother and I to a restaurant and have our food made by people who actually know what their doing. Instead of my brother in-law making the same bland food day in-and-out, or me getting in the mood to experiment with a recipe I found on Facebook.

It’s not often that I can treat my mom to something nice, it’s the least I could do for her dealing with me. I do wish I could win the lotto to treat my mom to whatever she wants, a trip to Edinburgh perhaps, although I’m pretty sure I’d fit in with the rest of society wishing for the lotto.

That brings me to write about commuting. It sucks. When people graduate from high school they get a small sense of freedom when moving on campus, should they pursue that path. But if you’re like me and you’re commuting because you can’t afford it and is using Financial Aid as a crutch to make it through college because you have no other means of paying for it, because even your parents (or parent, like me) aren’t getting approved for loans due to already having students loans still on their credit report because they themselves are struggling with it, it’s completely understandable. There are others struggling with that same problem.

Yes, there are commuters who live close to campus and can afford to move in, but just don’t want to due to convenience of location. It is awesome that they’re doing that they and won’t have as much of a loan as resident students. It’s great to save money. It also means you’re not required to get a meal plan which is also a minimum of $250 extra added to the charges. That’s the minimum for commuter students. For resident students it’s $1,825 minimum to pay for food on campus.

Don’t get frightened just yet. This school is great and has a good amount of options and aid for commuter students that likely aren’t offered in most other schools. There are rooms in the multiple buildings that you can hang out or study in in between classes. There’s a commuter lounge above the Cub Café that has its own microwave and fridge for you to store and heat food when you can’t afford to buy food on campus. I typically don’t buy food or bring food on campus with me, but that’s also because I don’t have a long day of classes on campus so I know I can typically last until I get home.

When you have a free hour on the first Tuesday of the month there will be an email sent out to commuter students, usually the day before, that the Office of Student Involvement will be hosting free lunch. It doesn’t happen very often, but it is much appreciated by students who can’t afford to get or bring lunch themselves. According to the Director, “Commuter Tuesdays are expensive and we don’t get much money to fund them often. They cost roughly between $500-$1000 for a single lunch.” It shows how much they try for each lunch. They want to make sure that there’s enough food for the students.

There is also a food drive and, sometimes, a clothing drive for students. It’s more targeted to commuter students, though I do believe resident students are allowed to go. If commuters aren’t able to attend the monthly lunch, the director says: “If students ever find themselves in need of food immediately the pantry in the McFarland Student Union building is open during the Office of Student Involvement hours and there are items inside that can be heated up in the microwave in the Commuter Lounge.” It really helps when there’s not much food at home, or when you need food for when you go to school. There are several locations that the OSI can direct you towards. Most locations they send you too are open at certain times, though there is a food pantry in the MSU building that if you go into the OSI they can open for you at any time so long as the office is open.

Kutztown University has a lot opportunities available to students of all backgrounds. It’s employees are great at trying their best to make accommodations for the students comfort and needs.

Kaitlin Munoz

-Kaitlin Munoz

[vapinskye-blog]

18 Difference between Vaping Dry Herbs and Smoking

https://agog5.com/blogs/news/difference-between-vaping-dry-herbs-and-smoking

There is already a wide variety of ways to enjoy your dry herbs. This can be smoking a joint, or firing up that trusty pipe. Unfortunately what all of these methods have in common is that they require combusting or burning.

What is Vaping?

It's 2018 now and smoking is so 2010. While dry herb vaporizers first hit the market way back in the mid-2000s, it was only after the 1st decade of the new millennium when they started to become more affordable. But the question still stands, what is vaping? To keep things simple, vaporizing is the process of slowly and carefully heating up your dry herbs, wax or oils. You need to heat it to a specific and low enough temperature where the main psychoactive ingredients of the herb is released. This needs to be done without actually burning the plant material. Instead of yielding smoke as a result of the plant's combustion, the gradual release of the active compounds are released as vapor. There is no combustion going on, therefore there's no smoke to inhale. Vaporizers are usually electrical devices but can be powered by butane sometimes.

Benefits of Vaping

Since it is not smoking, vaping your herbs has many benefits that smoking just doesn't.

Produces fewer toxins

Vaping your dry herb ensures that you are in no way burning or combusting the plant material. You get to avoid most of the harmful toxins that you would normally ingest when inhaling burnt up smoke.

Vaporizers are designed in a way where they're programmed to reach very specific temperature ranges. This is done to prevent actual burning or combustion. When you finish vaping, your herbs should not be charred but rather brown.

No fire hazard

Vaporizers work their magic through a gradual and careful heating up of herbs. Smoking a joint or pipe requires an open flame and combustion is a continuous process. This immediately removes the hazards of working with high temperatures that can potentially start a fire. Vaporizers do not use an open flame such as a lighter or match to heat up the plant material. Instead, all modern vaporizers are battery powered and work via an electrical current supplied to a heating element. Herbal vape pens are also designed to switch off after the vaporization process is done. There's no risk of accidentally burning your house or car down by accidentally leaving a vaporizer unattended.

Better taste and flavor

When's the last time you actually enjoyed the flavor of a completely burnt steak or sandwich? That's right: Never. Smoking your herb results in a much poorer flavor due to the fact that you're inhaling burnt plant material. Inhaling vaporized dry herbs, on the other hand, isn't much different from enjoying a properly roasted chicken that's been sitting in the oven for just the right amount of time and at just the right temperature. You get to actually taste the real flavor of the strain you're vaping which can be a mind-blowing experience for first-time vapers who've been smoking their bud ever since. The difference can be so great that you wouldnt even recognize that you're vapign the same bud that you used to be smoking.

Better on the throat and lungs

Inhaling smoke is bad for your lungs. Who would've thought? No smoke equals healthier and happier lungs. Add the fact that the vapor released from herbs is nowhere near the often scorching hot temperatures achieved by weed smoke, vaporizing is a lot easier on your throat as well. You'll never experience a coughing fit caused by taking too big a hit as inhaling vaporized bud is almost as easy as breathing air.

Pros of Vaping

More control of your dose

Smoking a joint is where the combustion or burning of your herb generally takes place within a really high temperature. Vaporizing your weed can be done in a variety of temperatures. What this lets you do is essentially control your doses by initially vaping a batch at much lower temperatures. This allows only a small portion of the active compounds become ingested. This can be really helpful for those who use marijuana for medicinal reasons. Micro-dosing allows you to experience just the medicinal effects of such as pain relief and mild relaxation. This can help make sure it doesn't potentially get in the way of work and responsibilities.

Less waste

Think of the last time you smoked from paper or a pipe. Recall all that herb burning up in between puffs? That's basically wasted dry herbs right there. One big advantage of vaping your weed over smoking it is the only way that precious vapor is going to enter the atmosphere is through your lungs. Vapor only leaves your vaporizer when you take a puff. Otherwise, it remains in your device. This is something you can't exactly replicate with a joint as it continues burning even when you aren't taking a hit

Discreet

Recreational and medicinal marijuana use has taken huge leaps and bounds in terms of acceptance. It still has some ways to go before it reaches the same level of acceptance as alcohol consumption. Thanks to the overlap between electronic cigarettes containing nicotine and dry herb vaporizers in overall appearance, you won't have to worry about stashing away whenever you're stuck up mother in law visits. Just remember the smell can still linger a bit. The good thing is herbal vape pens look exactly like a writing pen so they often times can't be told apart. Vaping your bud also produces significantly less odor compared to smoking it. The heating process of a vaporizer is highly controlled unlike the continuous high-temperature combustion process of smoking. This means that you won't have to worry about bothering your sensitive neighbors when vaping in your apartment.

Herbs last longer

Vaping is a lot gentler on your bud compared to smoking it in the sense that slow gradually rising temperatures are used to coax the active ingredients out of the weed. This means that each bowl you fill will be good for a much larger amount of hits when vaping it.

Less costly over the long run

Vaping is a great method of intake, especially if you tend to be economic in its consumption. You get more hits out of each bowl meaning you burn through less herbs overall.  Not to mention that the leftover vaped marijuana can be used to make tinctures, tea, or pretty much anything that your typical hemp-based products are made of.

Cons of Vaping

Upfront cost

No doubt that even the cheapest vaporizer available on the market right now costs more than your average pipe. The larger upfront cost tends to scare away a lot of would-be vapers, especially when the current selection of quality pipes are very affordable in comparison. Look on the bright side, it's not as expensive as a dab pen. They also last longer. On the bright side, your glass water pipe can hit something and easily break. Your vape pen is much more durable and rugged.

Maintenance

Every unit no matter how cheap or expensive it cost or whatever features or materials it uses will definitely require a minimum amount of maintenance to keep it in proper running condition. Aside from the fact that the batteries need frequent if not daily recharging depending on your usage, it's important to keep the chamber and airflow holes as clean as possible for clean and efficient vaping.

Smoking your herb

Before you truly decide on making that switch from smoking to vaping. It's important to let you know of some of the potential up and downsides that you'll be giving up by making the switch. So here's a short list smoking pros and cons Pros

Easy to use

It should go without saying that smoking your herb through a bong or pipe is definitely a lot easier than vaping it especially for those who’ve never vaped before. There is practically no learning curve you need to get over to smoke a pipe, while on the other hand, buying a new vaporizer will require you to get familiar with how the device operates and learn its dos and dont's.

Quick

Vaporizing your herb requires a certain amount of time to pre-heat the oven in order to get it to proper temperatures needed to vaporize the bud. Smoking it, in contrast, is pretty instant and doesn't require to you wait on your vape at all before it notifies you that your herb is ready to be vaped. It's pretty much fire up and forget which can be more ideal for the more impatient individuals amongst us.

No maintenance

Vaporizers at the very least require you to take a fine brush tool to meticulously clean out the innards of your vaporizers chamber. Sometimes even smaller improvised cleaning tools will be required to flush out any dirty airflow channels that might have gotten clogged up through use. Pipes and bongs, however, are just pretty much a good rinse or soak away from being squeaky clean so they're a lot easier and less time consuming to maintain.

Cons

Flavor

It doesn't matter what kind of fancy pipe or bong you use, at the end of the day, you're still smoking and burning that bud.  While those who've never touched a vaporizer before will have already gotten used to the flavor of burnt up marijuana smoke, it can be difficult for a long time vaper to try smoking his herb as the difference in flavor is just that large.

Burns your throat or lungs

While some might tell you otherwise, smoking your bud isn't much different from smoking a cigarette health-wise. Sure it might not have all the addictive properties that good old-fashioned nicotine has, but it can just be as harsh to your lungs as smoking a regular tobacco cigarette can be. You're inhaling smoke which is a result of burnt up plant material. This opens the possibility of introducing carcinogens into your lungs, something that can be avoided by vaporizing your herb instead.

Can be costly

While the cost of rolling papers or a pipe might not be much at the beginning, you're eventually going to be burning through a lot of herb just by smoking it. Burning the plant material at high temperatures doesn't give it enough time for it to decarb. This causes you to lose a lot of potential active ingredients in the process and wasting up a lot more herb.

Smell

While some may like the smell, many smokers and especially non-smokers of marijuana absolutely detest the stench of burnt up bud. It's not very discreet as well as the smell does have a tendency to stick to your clothes for short periods of time. Vaping your bud produces a much more pleasant aroma and taste. The difference is practically night and day, similar to how different a piece of meat smells and tastes like when it's perfectly cooked against when it's been burnt to a crisp in the oven.

Originally seen here:

https://agog5.com/blogs/news/difference-between-vaping-dry-herbs-and-smoking