besttowerever-blog

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*sigh*

“Your way begins on the other side. Become the sky. Take an axe to the prison wall. Escape.” -Rumi Shahi Qila. Lahore, Pakistan. (Instagram: aabbiidd)

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An Inspiring Tale

A few month-years ago, Nanny told me the story of an Imperial Gardener from Vienna - one Mr. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott. He was obsessed with odd flowers like the snake lily and the peace lily. Over the course of his many strolls through the countryside, he observed and grew interested in a plant that appeared to bear no flowers throughout its life. He gave it a strange name – dieffenbachia.

Stranger things have I noted about this plant. A cat who nibbled on it complained that its mouth burned for a whole day, and a few humans who ingested it have lost the ability to speak. Come to think of it, Nanny did mention that the plant is sometimes called ‘mother-in-laws tongue’ because of its ability to render some humans speechless. How thrilling! I have been growing relatives of this plant and should soon be able to grow the real thing myself.

Do not refrain from eating it, should you see one when come to pay me a visit. I would like to see if it has the same effect on you.

Nanny tells me human flesh tastes so much better when it isn’t screaming.

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A fascinating read with some provocative questions concerning how communities should grow and nurture the kinds of urban spaces they want to live in.

I have some pretty strong opinions about the pimples that keep erupting in Hauz Khas Village, only to pop and bleed a few months later. Maybe it’s time for me to have a robust conversation with my neighbours...

Towers in Communities: How High is Too High?

My Vancouver eastside neighbourhood of Commercial Drive was featured in the media recently for opposing another “high-rise” tower. 

Commercial Drive is well-loved, walkable, family-friendly neighbourhood that is an edgy mix of single-family homes, low-rise apartments, social housing that surrounds a funky retail street.

Previously, its residents came out united and vehemently opposed to a proposed 36-storey tower that was a drastic contrast from the current predominantly low-rise form in the neighbourhood. The massive proposed tower was surreptitiously added into a draft community plan, allegedly by senior staff at the City of Vancouver after an extensive public engagement process - where it had never been mentioned.

The result of this action caused a huge uproar and completely derailed the community planning process to the point that it had to be halted and revamped. Since then, there have been trust issues between the City of Vancouver and local residents when it comes to community planning.

Unfortunately this simmering resentment is threatening to boil over in opposition to a new, more modest 12 storey tower with social housing proposed by Boffo Properties at Venables and Commercial - an area of the community that is in desperate need of revitalization.

Keep reading

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Whoa, whoa, whoa! 

Fire your make-up artist NOW, Rapunzel’s Tower. That is a very heavy-handed paint job and does nothing for your natural contours.

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Yes. Yes, you did. The question is - can you pick yourself up?

The Magical I Fell Tower.

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Loser Tower of Pisa can’t even hold its drink...humph. Amateur.

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I love the feeling of rain on my exterior.

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The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

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SUPER SCRUMMY!

Until I realised it’s chocolate mousse, cookie crumble and a water cake...Myeh.

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The Bold and Beautiful

Whenever I think of the Tower of London, it makes me blush. That, in turn, makes everyone worry because my bricks glow an unearthly red. But how can I help it?

Behold...

It basks in the glory of having hosted 22 executions and of having lovingly held no less than Guy Fawkes and the Jesuit Priest John Gerard in its torture chambers. It’s so swagalicious it even has it’s own flock of resident ravens that could give my murder of crows a run for their money. Whaaa?!

Such a legacy is hard to compete with. Even UNESCO knows this, and has designated it a World Heritage Site.

But I am young, and I have years ahead of me. I know I will grow into the #besttowerever.

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I can’t stand this.

Pigeon with flower crown and very fluffy

I have just the thing:

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Want. To. Eat.

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Girl look at that body / Girl look at that body / Girl look at that body.

I work out.

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What Does Growth Really Mean?

The quest to be the #besttowerever sure isn’t easy, but somebody’s gotta do it.  

What exactly does this entail, you might ask. Well, the answer is quite obvious...though widely misunderstood, it would seem. To be the #besttowerever, I would have to grow. Grow up. Grow tall. Grow strong. Grow wise. But what does this ‘growth’ really mean?

I know humans are a loopy lot, and the stories about them that I’ve heard over the ages are somewhat strange and wholly amusing. I don’t get the craze over this ‘productivity’ – the constant building (ugh, how basic...) of banal structures and objects, which in turn spawns into an obsession, until this illusion of productivity takes over mortal lives and kills them. Now, I’m not opposed to a little bloodshed every now and then. Indeed, this is the amusing bit! 

The strange bit is how no one seems to be concerned with the meaning of their paltry existence, or how their actions could potentially help them fully manifest. 

Let’s get real here. Humans sprout out of an accident, and continue down that meaningless path of self-destruction under the illusion of directionless growth.

Towers like myself, on the other hand, have been lovingly planted. We are completely intentional.  We know exactly where we’re going. And we learn from tales. 

Nanny tells me that I must look at the development of my mind while I grow. To be the #besttowerever, it won’t suffice to simply grow tall – I have to outsmart the other towers, and trust me, there are some really smart towers out there.*

I will listen to all the stories everyone has to share. I will listen. Very, very carefully...

*You know who you are.  I’m coming for you.  Yes, be afraid.

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Now that’s a figure to envy.  Though I’ve gotta admit, the chrome is a little early-2000s.  Flashy much?

Burj Khalifa - Dubai - United Arab Emirates (by annajewelsphotography) 

Instagram: annajewels 

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I want to have experiences. I’m so tired of preparing for life: I want to live it now.

W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage (via books-n-quotes)

You tell it like it is, brother.