#Flying Taxi Market Vendors

[tetsuro-wulf]

HANAFUBUKI FESTIVAL 🌸

Saturday, April 27th @ 8:00pm EST | Balmung Yanxia, Plum Springs

Spring has swept over the Far East in the form of the blossoming cherry trees! Join us this year to sit beneath the cherry blossoms with friends, loved ones, and companions and indulge in all spring has to offer. We open the festival with a ceremony that leads into the open market, and the evening closes with a themed play. 🍵

Join the discord to sign-up and get involved! Currently we're seeking; vendors, fortunetellers, geisha, and taxi volunteers: https://discord.gg/YmBHZWxTtf

If you're unable to fly in Yanxia, we will have volunteer taxi services present in Namai awaiting your arrival! 🍡

THE CARRD FOR THE FESTIVAL IS COMING SOON!

Tags for visibility: @mooglemeet @ffxivrp @mateus-rp @balmungrp

[taebeast]

HANAFUBUKI FESTIVAL [Balmung] Yanxia, Plum Springs April 15th 8:00pm EDT

~~~~~~~~~~

Come join us for the traditional flower viewing! A beautiful moment in spring where we join together with friends and sit beneath the lovely cherry blossom trees to enjoy the Hanafubuki. We open the festival with a tea ceremony that leads into open market, and the evening closes with a themed play.

Currently in search of vendors, game stalls, fortune tellers, and geisha! Come join our discord to get involved or to keep up to date with various Far Eastern festivals: https://discord.gg/YmBHZWxTtf

~~~~~~~~~~

INFO: https://hanafubukifest.carrd.co/

WHEN: April 15th 8:00pm EDT

WHERE: Balmung Yanxia, Plum Springs

Can't fly? We've got you covered, see our taxi service in Namai for a ride up to the festival.

[thebirdandthebee]

Easy As

A Carmen Berzatto Universe

A/N: Thanks for your patiences while I was out of town! This was another request - see below. My request box is still open :)

Vanessa Monaghan is the breath of fresh air that Carmen had been gasping for.

Page 13: Tostones

“You’ll be back before you know it,” Carmen reassured as the taxi driver loaded the suitcase and tote, hugging Vanessa tightly.

“M’gonna miss you,” she mumbled into his chest, her winter coat bundled in his arms.

“I’m gonna miss you, too, baby,” Carmen kissed her cheek, rubbing up and down her back. “I’ll come pick you up at the airport on Sunday,” he reminded. “If you don’t get in the car soon, you’re gonna be late.” Vanessa nodded, taking a step back. “Give me a kiss,” he demanded softly, to which she complied, pressing her lips to his.

“Text you before takeoff,” she promised.

Carmen saw her car off, sighing, before turning back into the building. Heading up the elevator, the apartment felt different with Vanessa gone. Sure, he’d been in there alone plenty of times in the last 10 months, but knowing she was on her way to another state for a whole week wasn’t quite the same.

Vanessa had been asked to speak at a marketing summit in Miami for the week, participating in a keynote tomorrow, Tuesday, and a panel on Friday afternoon. She’d fly back Saturday morning, leaving Carmen on his own the entire week.

They had really hit their stride with timing and at the point in their relationship, when all they wanted to do was be together, it was awful being apart.

The first day went by quickly.

Carmen was busy with work and Vanessa was doing a lot of networking and mingling with young professionals who were clamoring to get an internship in her office.

Every time she changed, she’d send picture of her outfit to Carmen. He looked forward to her updates every day, but especially her pajamas at night, which usually included his boxers or his old Cubs T-shirt.

The second day wasn’t so bad either, there was less texting between the two of them – Vanessa in the thick of keynotes and networking, and Carmen working on The Bear’s fiscal year-end paperwork.

On the morning of Day Three, Vanessa gave Carmen an early-morning FaceTime call.

“Hi Gorgeous,” he greeted, having just returned from the farmer’s market. He was meeting with a few vendors there and snagged a few healthy handfuls of kale to make wedding soup.

“Hi baby,” Vanessa sighed an exhale, her hair in rollers but her makeup all done. She propped her phone up on the bathroom vanity and he watched, enraptured, as she went about taking down her hair in a plush robe.

“How’s Miami?” He asked, leaning over the kitchen island.

“Not as warm as I’d like, but the conference has been good,” she replied. “There’s also this sweet little Cuban coffee shop across from the hotel, but the mom of the owner makes tostones and black beans and rice every morning, you’d just die,” she gushed. “Can you try and make them for me when I come home?” She asked, fluffing up her hair in a way that made her look like his personal 90’s wet dream.

“Yeah, I can try,” he laughed.

“There’s also a stray cat that like lives in the hotel, he’s so sweet,” she sighed. “Should we get a kitty?”

“Ness, you’re allergic,” Carmen reminded her.

“I know, but I could get medicine for it,” she said thoughtfully, carrying her phone over to the main room and propping it up in her closet. Dropping her robe, he eyed her with precision in her black bra and matching thong.

“Hi beautiful,” He murmured, feeling heat at his temples as she held up two dresses against her body.

“Blue or green?” She asked, checking out her options in her reflection of the phone. “Blue,” she decided.

“Blue,” he agreed, though she’d look beautiful in anything. The dressed slipped down the figure of her body like silk and she spent the next few moments adjusting.

“Okay baby, I’m going to take off, I’m meeting a group of college grads for coffee so they can grill me,” she sighed, picking up the phone again and stepping into her heels.

He watched her spritz her perfume across the line of her collarbone and felt a longing tugging at his belly button. Damn, he missed her a lot. He could smell the perfume from Chicago.

“Call me tonight?” He asked, leaning back against the sink and tucking his free hand across his chest into his underarm.

“Of course,” she smiled, pursing her lips in a kiss before ending the call. Looking down he could see he was half-hard in his joggers. At least he had plenty of Vanessa’s outfit photos to get him through the morning.

That night was a different story. The day had gotten away from both of them, and as Carmen was riding the train back toward the apartment, his phone dinged.

He was grateful there was no one sitting next to him when he opened his texts from Vanessa to see a handful of racy shots of her in her bra and panties – some with either one or the other. His favorite was the one of her in his old Cubs shirt – nipples visible through the fabric as she fisted it to cover between her legs, but her bare hips on display.

From: Vanessa

My fingers aren’t as good since I know what yours feel like.

One more jostle from the train and Carmen was going to pop a full boner.

Carmen didn’t want to remind her of the time left apart, so instead of messaging her fuck that conference, come home, he went another angle.

To: Vanessa

You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life and when you get home I’m going to fuck you absolutely dumb.

Across the country in Miami, Vanessa giggled wildly, feeling like she was back in high school with a crush on the quarterback. But with Carmy, it as more like a crush on the A/V Club President.

Vanessa got through Day Five slowly. The coffee wasn’t helping the way she needed it to and she’d had just enough of fluorescent lighting and young professionals handing her their resumes. She admired their gas, but now, on Thursday, knowing she wasn’t going home until Saturday, she was pretty miserable.

Skipping lunch at the conference, she grabbed a salad at her hotel before flopping on her bed. She knew Carm would be at The Bear in the thick of lunch prep, so she called her Dad and chatted with him for a while instead. The afternoon passed slowly and she flopped on her bed after arriving home after a happy hour that evening.

From: Vanessa

Can you send me some nudies, I miss you.

Carmen shook his head as he checked his phone in the office

To: Vanessa

At work, sorry, miss you too beautiful.

She laughed, knowing full well that he would never send her nudes regardless of whether or not he was at work.

From: Vanessa

Just a little selfie? I want to see your cute face.

Carmen cleared his throat, fixing just a curl or two before snapping a photo of himself at his desk before sending it off.

From: Vanessa

You have all day Saturday off, right?

Carmen didn’t get a chance to reply before another text pinged.

From: Vanessa

We’re gonna need a full day.

Carmen still wasn’t sure how he got so lucky with her.

Vanessa really did try to make the best of her last day in Miami. She went for a run in the morning, grabbed a coffee and tostones from her favorite little spot and took a painstaking amount of time on her hair and makeup. She moderated a panel on the last afternoon and turned down the conference-ending activities to go back to her room, pack and turn in early.

Vanessa’s flight left Miami at 7 a.m. and put her back at Midway by 9 a.m. Carmen was already waiting at baggage claim with a Cuban coffee in his hands when she appeared at carousel 4.

“Carmen,” she breathed, feeling the tightness across her shoulders lax.

“Hi baby,” he greeted, having just enough time to set the two cups down before hugging her tightly. He stroked his hand down her hair and kissed her cheek over and over as she squeezed him. “Kiss me, I missed you,” he commanded softly, to which Vanessa gladly obeyed.

“Missed you more,” she sighed against lips.

“Don’t leave again any time soon,” he advised, slanting his mouth over hers.

“Take me home,” she all but begged.

“I’ll grab your suitcase, you zip up this coat,” he tugged on the zipper of her cropped puffer. The ride back from the airport to the condo felt longer than ever, but just moments after arriving home, Carmen was pinned to the sofa, Vanessa in his lap as she kissed him fervently.

“Is it pathetic that every day I thought about how much I missed you?” She asked, holding the back of his neck in her laced fingers, her thumb running over his Adam’s apple.

“If it is, then I’m equally pathetic,” Carmen said, looking up at her with pure adoration in his eyes.

“I’ve never felt like this about another person,” Vanessa confessed, pressing her hips forward into him. “I wanna be with you all the time,” she leaned into Carmen’s touch as he ran his hand through her hair gently.

“I think for me – it’s you,” he said sincerely.

Vanessa didn’t care they hadn’t been together for a year yet – she agreed with a kiss.

[travelers-time]

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling on a Shoestring Budget

Traveling the world is a dream for many, but often, financial constraints can make it seem out of reach. However, with some savvy planning and smart choices, it's entirely possible to explore new destinations without breaking the bank. This ultimate guide will walk you through the best tips and tricks for traveling on a shoestring budget, from booking flights to choosing accommodations.

1. Planning and Research

Start with a Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on your trip. This will guide your choices for destinations, activities, and accommodations.

Flexible Travel Dates: If your schedule allows, be flexible with your travel dates. Flights and accommodations are often cheaper mid-week or during the off-season.

Destination Choice: Opt for budget-friendly destinations where your money will stretch further. Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of Central and South America are known for being affordable travel spots.

2. Booking Flights

Use Flight Comparison Websites: Websites like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights allow you to compare prices across different airlines and travel dates.

Set Fare Alerts: Set up fare alerts to get notified when prices drop for your desired destinations.

Consider Budget Airlines: Budget airlines can offer significant savings. Be aware of additional fees and restrictions, but if you pack light and read the fine print, you can score great deals.

Avoid Peak Travel Times: Traveling during off-peak seasons can drastically reduce your flight costs. Additionally, flying mid-week or during unsociable hours can also be cheaper.

3. Choosing Accommodations

Hostels and Guesthouses: These offer budget-friendly accommodations, often with communal spaces where you can meet other travelers.

Airbnb and Vacation Rentals: Renting a room or an apartment can be more cost-effective, especially for longer stays or if you're traveling with a group.

House Sitting or Couchsurfing: Websites like TrustedHousesitters or Couchsurfing connect you with locals who offer free accommodations in exchange for house sitting or simply for cultural exchange.

Budget Hotels: Websites like Booking.com or Agoda often have deals on budget hotels, especially if you book in advance or at the last minute.

4. Eating and Drinking

Eat Like a Local: Street food and local markets offer authentic cuisine at a fraction of the price of restaurants. Plus, it's a great way to experience the local culture.

Cook Your Own Meals: If you have access to a kitchen, shopping at local markets and cooking your own meals can save you a lot of money.

Lunch Specials: Many restaurants offer cheaper lunch specials compared to their dinner menu. Take advantage of these deals.

5. Transportation

Public Transport: Use buses, trains, and subways instead of taxis or ride-sharing services. In many cities, a public transportation pass can be very economical.

Walking or Biking: Explore your destination on foot or by bike. It's free, healthy, and gives you a unique perspective on the area.

Long-Distance Buses and Trains: For longer distances, consider overnight buses or trains. They are often cheaper than flights and save you the cost of a night’s accommodation.

6. Activities and Sightseeing

Free Attractions: Many cities offer free or donation-based museums, parks, and walking tours. Research in advance to find these opportunities.

City Passes: Some cities offer passes that provide free or discounted entry to multiple attractions, as well as free public transport.

Haggle: In markets or with street vendors, don't be afraid to negotiate prices. It’s expected in many cultures and can save you money.

7. Saving on Souvenirs

Buy Local: Purchase souvenirs from local artisans rather than tourist shops. They’re often cheaper and more unique.

Limit Your Purchases: Be mindful of what you buy. Opt for small, meaningful items that don’t take up much space or weight in your luggage.

8. Additional Tips

Travel Insurance: While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, travel insurance can save you a lot of money in case of emergencies.

Stay Connected: Use free Wi-Fi in cafes, libraries, and public places to avoid international roaming charges.

Use Your Phone Wisely: Download offline maps and travel guides, and use messaging apps to communicate instead of making international calls.

By following these tips, you can make your travel dreams a reality without a hefty price tag. Remember, the best experiences often come from the simplest pleasures, and traveling on a budget can lead to some of the most memorable adventures.

For more budget travel tips and affordable tour packages, visit Budget Holiday Tours. Happy travels!

[gokitetour]

Budget Travel Tips for China: How to Save Money on Your Trip

Exploring China, with its rich history, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes, is a dream for many travelers. However, navigating this vast country on a budget can be challenging without the right strategies. Whether you're drawn to the ancient wonders of the Great Wall, the bustling streets of Shanghai, or the serene landscapes of Guilin, there are numerous ways to stretch your budget and make the most of your journey. From affordable accommodation options to savvy transportation choices and tips for dining on a dime, this guide will equip you with practical advice to enjoy China without breaking the bank. Discover how to experience the best of China while keeping your expenses in check, allowing you to focus on creating unforgettable memories.

Here are some tips to help you save money while exploring this fascinating country:

Book Flights Early: Look for deals on flights well in advance, and consider flying into major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, which often have cheaper flights due to higher competition.

Use Public Transportation: China's public transport, like buses, subways, and trains, is extensive and affordable. Opt for these instead of taxis, which can be pricier, especially in larger cities.

Eat Local: Chinese street food and small local eateries (known as "dai pai dong" in Cantonese or "xiaochi" in Mandarin) offer delicious and budget-friendly meals. Avoid touristy restaurants as they tend to be more expensive.

Stay in Budget Accommodations: Hostels, guesthouses, and budget hotels are widely available in most cities. Websites like Hostelworld, Booking.com, or Ctrip can help you find affordable options.

Visit Free Attractions: Many of China's attractions have free admission or are very affordable. Research and prioritize visiting parks, temples, and local markets that don’t charge entrance fees.

Travel Off-Peak: Avoid traveling during Chinese national holidays like Golden Week (first week of October) when prices for accommodations and transport skyrocket. Shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) often have better rates.

Learn Basic Chinese Phrases: Knowing a few basic phrases can help you negotiate prices and communicate with locals more effectively, potentially saving you money in transactions.

Negotiate Prices: Especially in markets and with street vendors, bargaining is expected. Start with a lower price and be prepared to walk away if the price isn't right.

Use WeChat Pay or Alipay: These mobile payment apps are widely accepted in China and can often get you discounts or cashback at various vendors, including restaurants and shops.

Pack Accordingly: Bring essentials from home, such as over-the-counter medications and toiletries, as these can be more expensive in China, especially if you need specific brands.

Avoid International ATMs: Using ATMs that charge international transaction fees can add up. Instead, withdraw larger amounts of cash at local bank ATMs or use your bank’s partner ATMs to minimize fees.

Join Free Walking Tours: Many cities offer free walking tours led by locals or expats. These can provide you with valuable insights into the city’s culture and history without costing you anything.

Conclusion

In conclusion, traveling to China on a budget requires careful planning and consideration, especially concerning expenses like accommodation, transportation, and food. By leveraging strategies such as booking in advance, opting for local street food, and using public transport, travelers can significantly reduce their expenses without compromising on experience. Additionally, securing the necessary China visa ahead of time is crucial to avoid any last-minute complications or extra costs. With these tips in mind, exploring China affordably becomes not only feasible but also enriching, ensuring a memorable and budget-friendly journey through this fascinating country.

Read More: Turkey visa Uzbekistan visa

[omtaxizones]

Riding in Comfort: The Best Taxi Service in Jaipur

Welcome to the Pink City, where every corner whispers tales of royalty and heritage. As you embark on your journey through Jaipur, let Om Taxi Zone be your trusted companion, ensuring seamless travels across this vibrant city and beyond. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the myriad offerings of taxi services in Jaipur, highlighting the convenience, comfort, and reliability that our esteemed clientele enjoys.

Exploring Taxi Services in Jaipur: Navigating the bustling streets of Jaipur demands a reliable mode of transportation, and nothing beats the convenience of taxi services. At Om Taxi Zone, we take pride in offering top-notch cab services tailored to meet your every need. Whether you're a solo traveler or exploring with family and friends, our fleet of well-maintained vehicles ensures a comfortable and safe journey.

Taxi Service in Jaipur: Discover the charm of Jaipur without the hassle of navigating public transportation or haggling with local vendors. Our taxi service in Jaipur provides a hassle-free solution for exploring the city's iconic landmarks, including the majestic Amber Fort, the awe-inspiring Hawa Mahal, and the vibrant markets of Johari Bazaar. With experienced drivers at your service, you can sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Jaipur's culture and history.

Cab Service in Jaipur: Embark on a personalized journey through Jaipur with our cab service, offering flexibility and convenience at every turn. Whether you're planning a day-long excursion or a multi-day itinerary, our fleet of cabs caters to your specific requirements. From compact sedans to spacious SUVs, we have a diverse range of vehicles to accommodate your group size and preferences. Experience the freedom to explore Jaipur at your own pace, with our professional drivers guiding you every step of the way.

Taxi in Jaipur: Experience the epitome of convenience with our taxi in Jaipur, available at your beck and call. Whether you're heading to a business meeting, catching a flight, or simply enjoying a night out on the town, our prompt and reliable taxi services ensure you reach your destination with ease. With competitive rates and transparent pricing, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you're getting the best value for your money.

Jaipur to Udaipur Taxi: Embark on an unforgettable journey from Jaipur to Udaipur with our seamless taxi services. Situated amidst the picturesque Aravalli hills, Udaipur beckons with its romantic ambiance and majestic palaces. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a leisurely road trip, our Jaipur to Udaipur taxi service offers a comfortable and scenic ride across Rajasthan's breathtaking landscapes. Relax and enjoy the journey as our experienced drivers whisk you away to your destination, ensuring a memorable travel experience from start to finish.

Jaipur Airport Taxi: Arriving in Jaipur? Let us streamline your travel experience with our convenient airport taxi services. Whether you're flying in for business or pleasure, our dedicated team ensures a smooth transition from the airport to your desired destination. Skip the hassle of waiting in long queues or navigating unfamiliar streets – our Jaipur airport taxi service provides a hassle-free solution for travelers of all kinds. With punctual pickups and drop-offs, you can rest assured knowing that you'll never miss a flight or appointment.

As you embark on your journey through the enchanting streets of Jaipur, let Om Taxi Zone be your trusted companion. With our comprehensive range of taxi services, including cab service in Jaipur, Jaipur to Udaipur taxi, and Jaipur airport taxi, we ensure a seamless travel experience tailored to your every need. Discover the beauty of Rajasthan with confidence and convenience – choose Om Taxi Zone for all your transportation needs in Jaipur and beyond.

[yug-blogs]

Explore Jodhpur: A Guide to 11 Must-Experience Activities

Jodhpur, often referred to as the "Blue City" due to its iconic blue-painted buildings, is a vibrant destination that offers a myriad of activities for tourists. Among the various experiences, exploring the city through taxi services is a convenient and efficient way to soak in the cultural richness and historical charm.

Must-Experience Activities in Jodhpur

1. Mehrangarh Fort Tour: Begin your journey with a visit to Mehrangarh Fort, an imposing structure that offers breathtaking views of the cityscape. Engage a taxi service to reach this iconic landmark comfortably.

2. Clock Tower: Explore the iconic Clock Tower, a bustling market area surrounded by vibrant shops and local vendors. A taxi service allows you to navigate through the narrow lanes and experience the vibrant local culture.

3. Bishnoi Village Safari: Immerse yourself in the rural life of Jodhpur with a Bishnoi Village Safari. Taxi services provide a hassle-free way to reach the outskirts and enjoy this authentic experience.

4. Kaylana Lake Visit: Relax by Kaylana Lake, a serene spot offering tranquility amidst the arid landscapes. Taxi services are available for a comfortable commute to and from the lake.

5. Flying Fox Adventure: For the adventure enthusiasts, Flying Fox provides a thrilling zip-lining experience. Utilize taxi services for a quick and easy transfer to the adventure site.

6. Umaid Bhavan Palace Exploration: Discover the grandeur of Umaid Bhavan Palace, a magnificent architectural marvel. Taxi services offer a convenient mode of transportation to explore this regal residence.

7. Jaswant Thada Visit: Pay a visit to Jaswant Thada, a cenotaph built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Taxi services ensure a smooth journey to this peaceful monument.

8. Top Attractions in Jodhpur: In addition to the specific activities, Jodhpur boasts several top attractions like Mehrangarh Fort, Ganesh Handicrafts, and Umaid Bhawan Palace. Taxi services offer the flexibility to explore these attractions at your own pace.

Taxi Services in Jodhpur

While exploring the rich tapestry of Jodhpur, reliable taxi services play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless and enjoyable travel experience. Numerous providers offer a range of services catering to different preferences and needs.

1. Jodhpur Taxi Service Day Tour: This service provides a comprehensive day tour, covering key attractions in Jodhpur. Reviews highlight its reliability and knowledgeable guides.

2. Royal Taxi Cabs: Known for its sightseeing taxi packages, Royal Taxi Cabs offers flexibility in duration, from half-day to two-day tours. Travelers can customize their itineraries for a personalized experience.

3. Rajputana Cabs: For those seeking a licensed and experienced tour guide, Rajputana Cabs provides private guides for a more insightful exploration of Jodhpur.

4. Local Taxi Services: Jodhpur boasts a variety of local taxi services, such as JCR Cab & Car Rental and 365 Taxi Services in Jodhpur. These services offer convenience for local commuting within the city.

Taxi Services in Jaisalmer

While exploring Jodhpur, considering a side trip to Jaisalmer is a great idea. Known as the "Golden City," Jaisalmer offers its own set of enchanting experiences. Similar to Jodhpur, taxi services in Jaisalmer facilitate convenient and comfortable travel.

In conclusion, exploring Jodhpur is a delightful journey encompassing historical wonders, cultural gems, and thrilling adventures. Utilizing taxi services enhances the overall experience, providing the freedom to traverse the city's diverse landscape with ease.v

[wise-journey]

Karachi Adventure

Welcome, fellow wanderer, to the bustling metropolis of Karachi, the city will enthrall and captivate your senses like no other. Nestled on the shores of the Arabian Sea, Karachi is a melting pot of vibrant culture, breathtaking sights, delectable cuisine, and limitless adventure. Fasten your seatbelts, for we are about to embark on a journey of discovery through the cornucopia of experiences that Karachi has to offer.

1. When to Go:

Karachi's climate can be hot and humid, making winter (November to February) the best time to visit, with mild temperatures and soothing seaside breezes. Spring (March to May) is equally enchanting, with the city coming alive with vibrant festivals and events. The atmosphere is buzzing, the weather pleasant, and the city looks its best.

2. How to Get There:

To reach Karachi, international travelers can fly into Jinnah International Airport, which connects the city to major hubs around the world. Once you arrive, embrace the local spirit by taking a colorful rickshaw or utilizing the city's efficient public transport system.

3. Where to Stay:

Karachi offers a range of accommodations suitable for every budget and taste. Luxury seekers will be mesmerized by beachfront hotels and upscale resorts with magnificent views of the Arabian Sea. On the other hand, budget travelers can find comfortable guesthouses and hostels in the heart of the city.

4. Exploring Culture:

Karachi is a cultural kaleidoscope. Visiting the vibrant bazaars of Saddar will give you a taste of the city's bustling street life. Don't miss the Mohatta Palace, a stunning amalgamation of Islamic and British architecture, to get a glimpse of Karachi's enthralling history.

5. Gastronomic Delights:

Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure in Karachi. Savor delectable dishes at street food stalls or elegant restaurants. Indulge in the famous Biryani, an aromatic rice dish packed with flavors, or succulent kebabs and tikkas that will make you crave more.

6. Exhilarating Activities:

Adventurous souls can head to the serene Clifton Beach for horseback riding along the shore or plunge into the azure waters for scuba diving and snorkeling adventures. A sunset boat ride to the Manora and Bundal islands, where history and natural beauty meld, is not to be missed.

7. Must-See Sights:

Karachi is replete with iconic landmarks. The Quaid-e-Azam House Museum, the former residence of Pakistan's founder, offers insights into the nation's history. Stand in awe of the grandeur of Masjid-e-Tooba, Asia's largest single-dome mosque. Also, visit the architectural wonders of Frere Hall and Empress Market.

8. Nightlife in Karachi:

When the sun sets, the city's energy increases. Experience the lively nightlife at Boat Basin. For music lovers, Karachi's bustling music scene, with live performances at renowned venues like Port Grand and T2F, is a feast.

9. Transportation:

Getting around Karachi is an adventure in itself. Embrace the chaos, ride a colorful rickshaw, or hop on one of the city's iconic minibusses. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also available for convenience.

10. Shopping Extravaganza:

Karachi is a shopper's paradise, with bustling markets and shopping malls offering everything from traditional handicrafts to high-end fashion. Visit Tariq Road and Zamzama Boulevard for a mix of local and international brands or explore the Saddar Market for antiques and jewelry.

11. Tips and Etiquette:

In Karachi, dress modestly and respect local customs. Be cautious of your belongings, especially in crowded areas. Engage with the friendly locals, they will be more than happy to show you the city's hidden gems.

12. Money Matters:

The local currency in Karachi is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). ATMs are widespread, and most establishments accept major credit cards. However, carrying cash for smaller vendors and street stalls is advisable. Karachi, the city that never sleeps, beckons with its vibrant tapestry of culture, flavors, and adventure. Each moment spent in this city will leave an indelible mark on your heart. So, pack your bags, embrace the spirit of discovery and venture into the captivating world of Karachi. Read the full article

[tonyjaipur11]

5 Things to do while a Trip to Jaipur

Jaipur is a place of unmatched beauty and mystery. But it's not only the sights that make this state so compelling. There are also many things to do while you're in Jaipur with the best taxi services in Jaipur, from checking out the city's best bars and pubs to taking in some of India's most stunning natural wonders.

Whether you're looking for a quiet evening out with friends or an action-packed night on the town, these five things are sure to keep your time in Rajasthan fun and exciting with Cab Hire in jaipur !

1) Go on a tour of Amber Fort, which is one of India's most beautiful monuments. There are plenty of guides available, but if you prefer to go on your own, there are also many signs that point out where to find the fort. If you're looking for something more relaxing than a tour, though, consider hiring a horse-drawn carriage so that your driver can take you through the narrow streets around this iconic monument.

2) Go shopping! If you're in Jaipur during the day and want something unique, head straight for one of the local markets where vendors will sell anything from jewelry to spices. If shopping isn't your thing, but still want to get out into the city center and see what it has to offer (and maybe even get lost), try wandering around the Old City Hall area at night. It's got great restaurants and shops that stay open late.

3) Go for a Walk on Sunrise Highway: Sunrise Highway is another good place to go at night while in Rajasthan because it's lined with cafes and restaurants where people can sit down and relax.

4) Go to the lake: You can enjoy a walk around the lake. You will see the sunset and sunrise over the lake. It is a great place to spend time with your family or friends. You can also enjoy watching birds flying in the sky and seeing them land on the water surface of lakes.

5) Go for a ride on horseback

If you want to experience something new, then go horseback riding at night in Rajasthan. You can take your family members on horses to enjoy this ride as well as listen to stories from local people who live in Rajasthan.

Website- https://jaipurcarrentalsservice.com/

Email ID-jaipurcarrentalsservice@gmail.com

Mobile Number- +91-9828011274

Address- Jaipur Car Rentals Service, Jaipur Rajasthan 302003

[industryjournals]

Global Flying Taxi Market Size and Prediction by Leading Manufacturers According to Its Application and Types Till 2026

The latest industry intelligence report on the Flying Taxi market performs a cautious examination of the current business environment and competitive landscape of the Flying Taxi market for the forecast period, 2019 - 2026. For stakeholders, field marketing executives and product owners planning to maintain a competitive edge the market assessment report brings to light essential impression about the growth rate, share and size of the industry during the estimated period. Deep dive into an array of elements including but not limited to the value proposition, product positioning, and targeting and industry segmentation have been described through resources such as charts, tables, and info graphics.

Market Size – USD 1.3 Billion in 2018, Market Growth - CAGR of 28.59%, Market Trends – Rising number of investments in Research & Development are being carried out by the market players to increase the operational efficiency of flying taxi over the coming years.  

To look at the PDF Sample Report and get 30 minutes of a free consultation @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/2199

Key participants include Airbus (Netherlands), Beechcraft Corporation (U.S.), Boeing (U.S.), Dassault Aviation SA (France), EHANG (China), Volocopter GmbH (Germany), Uber (U.S.), Embraer (Brazil), Gulfstream (U.S.), and Cessna (U.S.).

Scope of the Report:

Based on the types, the Flying Taxi market has been further classified based on geography, application and consumption capability. On the basis of the product application, the industry is bifurcated taking into consideration those in demand and are an outcome of technology advancement. Region-wise, the performance of the industry along with the prominent vendors operating in the geography also illuminates stakeholders, business owners, and field marketing, executives.  The different facets of the business based on parameters including new launches, acquisition and mergers and new entrants are discussed extensively during the study.

Some key takeaways from the report

•    The Flying Taxi market study for the forecast period, 2019 to 2026 discusses the prominent vendors catering to the specific demands of the customers?

•    This research considers long-term factors that will impact the realized product sales?

•    Subject matter experts take an aggregate as well as a long-run view of all various products and services involved.

•    The valuable document captures the actual sales data?

•    Industry experts produce estimated for demand and supply worldwide including regional and national Flying Taxi market.

Determining the market size

An important part of this study of the Flying Taxi market for the forecast period, 2019 to 2026 is the assessment of the market size. Extensive coverage of market size will enable business owners to distinguish between the two major categories the opportunity for a product or service and the addressable market. Apart from this, the market sizing gives product owners a sense of upward and downward movement in the Flying Taxi industry.

This section of the report clues business owners in on the important driving forces of latent demand, as the business landscape continues to grow in a certain direction. There’s more to the study of market sizing. The analysis of trends further uncovers whether an alternate solution or a product is in the pipeline and available in the market.

Any Query or Discount? Ask our Expert @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/discount-enquiry-form/2199

This section covers other aspects:

•    Evaluation of static market sizing

•    A closer look at the competition

•    Result derived from the bottom –up assessment

•    Data on top-down Flying Taxi market sizing

•    Extensive coverage of segments and sub-segments of the industry

Segmentation: For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data have segmented the Flying Taxi Market on the basis of Component, Propulsion, Aircraft Type, Passenger capacity, Maximum distance, and Region:

Component (Revenue, USD Million; 2016–2026)

Hardware

Software

Services

Propulsion (Revenue, USD Million; 2016–2026)

Parallel Hybrid

Electric

Turboshaft

Turboelectric

Others

Aircraft type (Revenue, USD Million; 2016–2026)

Multicopter

Side-by-side aircraft

Tiltwing aircraft

Tiltrotor aircraft

Others

Passenger Capacity (Revenue, USD Million; 2016–2026)

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

 Maximum Distance (Revenue, USD Million; 2016–2026)

Less than 50kms

51 to 200kms

More than 200kms

Read More In Press Release Here:  https://www.reportsanddata.com/press-release/global-flying-taxi-market

Regional Outlook (Revenue in USD Million; 2016–2026)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Latin America

Understanding the competitive landscape

The researcher conducting the study has invested time and effort to collect intelligence on major industry players. The evaluation of competitive landscape also empowers entrepreneurs to gather intelligence on the business strategies adopted by these prominent vendors and understand how they position their products and services in the saturated marketplace.

Not only can a business owner learn some of the best practices but also to defend themselves against possible risks or avoid blunders the established brands make. The study helps field marketing executives to stay smart when promoting or selling the products to the target audience. Besides, comprehensive analysis of recent developments such as joint venture, collaboration, acquisitions and mergers, product launches and others will ensure entrepreneurs make practical decisions around brand positioning, product pricing, as well as research and development.  

The Flying Taxi market attempts to answer the questions below:

•    What type of product business owners operating in the Flying Taxi market build meet the latent demand for the forecast period, 2019 to 2026?

•    What are the gaps in the Flying Taxi industry? How are they driving new product ideas?

•    Which factors if ignored can put entrepreneurs on a fast track to failure or disaster?

•    Which communication tools should business owners select to influence their target audience?

•    What are the driving forces behind the performance of product owners manufacturing Flying Taxi market?

•    What are the motivating factors behind the attitudes, preferences and buying decisions of the heaviest customers?

•    How do needs and interest for Flying Taxi market differ according to their geography?

[arrghigiveup]

Putting the full text of the NYT article that the first tweet was responding to underneath the cut.

Link to the original tweet: https://twitter.com/speechleyish/status/1275990670663012352

Link to a couple of more serious threads about exactly why the biennial “Durian: the Freakshow Fruit” articles are so annoying:

https://twitter.com/amirulruslan/status/1276088736296472577

https://twitter.com/amirulruslan/status/1276313332492845056

Eating Thai Fruit Demands Serious Effort but Delivers Sublime Reward

Many delicious species in Thailand, “the Great Power nation of fruit,” require laborious peeling and careful chewing. Then there’s the sticky fingers and occasional disappointment.

By Hannah Beech June 22, 2020

BANGKOK — All across Bangkok, fruit juice is dripping off chins, dribbling down arms and splashing onto the city’s sidewalks.

This is peak fruit season in Thailand, when the rising mercury concentrates the sugars in the tropical bounty that is native to Southeast Asia.

The region’s fruits are like no other. There is a fruit encased in prickly armor that smells of a deep, dank rot. There is a fruit that emits a sticky sap when peeled and another that stains fingernails mauve for those craving its succulent flesh.

And there is the rambutan, which means “hairy thing” in Malay. With its crimson skin studded with green feelers, the egg-sized fruit bears more than a passing resemblance to a coronavirus. It is yummy.

With pandemic travel bans in place, Thailand’s economic mainstay, tourism, has been battered. The country of 70 million has had to rely even more on exports of its agricultural products, and a national fruit lobby group predicts that overseas fruit shipments will increase by at least 10 percent this year, despite the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has called Thailand “the Great Power nation of fruit.” Last year, the country ranked as the world’s sixth biggest fruit exporter.

But most of the fruit is exported to Thailand’s regional neighbors, with China its biggest customer. The prospects of expanding to large Western markets like the United States may be appealing, but face some daunting obstacles.

Less than 3 percent of Thailand’s fruit was exported to the United States. Distance is one problem, as are worries about fruit flies accompanying the imports. But the main reason for the low figure may be that Southeast Asia’s indigenous fruits have what Fuchsia Dunlop, a British author of Chinese cookbooks, calls a high “grapple factor.”

Many of the region’s fruits require serious commitment to eat: laborious peeling, careful chewing and the frequent spitting out of seeds to which meat stubbornly adheres.

To snack during office hours on a langsat, a demure cousin of a lychee with a peel that oozes a kind of natural super glue, is to submit to sticky fingers and sticky keyboards. Soap doesn’t help.

The meat is perfumed but each bite is fraught, lest teeth accidentally penetrate the bitter seeds. The langsat is worth it, but only just.

Unlike a banana’s easy extraction, dissecting a jackfruit is to hack through a jagged sheath, then painstakingly pluck out rubbery polyps that taste like overripe Juicy Fruit gum.

The process can consume an afternoon, and there are fruit vendors whose careers are dedicated to peeling jackfruit — a single specimen can weigh up to 120 pounds — and other complicated fruits.

At Talad Thai, Bangkok’s wholesale fruit market and the largest in Southeast Asia, there is an entire building dedicated to citrus and a gymnasium-sized section only for the mango, of which there are more than 200 varieties in Thailand.

The fruits at Talad Thai are often transported and peeled by migrants from neighboring Cambodia or Myanmar.

“I was so poor that I had to look for work in Thailand,” said Sing Dy, who was unloading a truck of fruit as sweat drenched her coronavirus face mask.

She hasn’t seen her children back in Cambodia for six months because of the pandemic travel ban, but she still sends most of her $20 a day salary back home.

Each year, regional newspapers relate various jackfruit-related deaths, mostly involving someone lingering under a tree with fruit looming above. In May, a man in southern India was injured by a falling jackfruit and required spinal surgery, only to discover at the hospital that he also had the coronavirus. (He recovered.)

In terms of showiness, the rambutan jousts with the dragon fruit, a neon pink mini-football covered in acid-green tendrils. To some, the experience of eating a dragon fruit, which grows on a cactus indigenous to South America, is a letdown after all that dazzling packaging: It’s a bland mush with tiny seeds that can require floss to dislodge.

Thais tend to approach milder fruit as a canvas for the fermented, spicy flavors that dominate the country’s cuisine. So guavas, rose apples and pomelos, the world’s largest citrus, are often served with a chili, salt and sugar dip to enliven the experience. Tart fruits, like green mangoes, are balanced with a sweet condiment that includes fish sauce, dried shrimp and shallots.

If someone’s fingernails are dyed purple at the tips, it likely betrays a preference for the mangosteen, a palm-sized orb that looks like an extra in a Super Mario Bros. video game. Beneath its woody rind are juicy segments that strike a Socratic equilibrium between sweet and sour.

Even a peach has nothing on a mangosteen when it is perfect, but the mangosteen is rarely perfect. Many are afflicted with a blight that tarnishes the white flesh an ugly mustard hue. Which fruit is blemished is unknowable before peeling, and so to eat a pile of mangosteens is an exercise in disappointment.

The salak is also called the snakeskin fruit because its casing is undeniably reptilian. Inside is a not-quite-crunchy flesh that, like so many of Southeast Asia’s native fruits, hovers between delectable and decayed. Some scientists have theorized the smell attracts rainforest primates, whose consumption and dispersal of the seeds helps the fruit take root for another generation.

The most infamous fruit, which stinks of death, is the durian. Buildings and taxis in Thailand have no-durian signs next to no-smoking signs.

The durian’s flavor elicits passionate, and polarizing, responses, with few indifferent about the fruit’s appeal or repulsiveness.

On the outside, the durian resembles a medieval torture device. Nestled inside the spiky shell are kidney-shaped lobes of custard. The flavor is somewhere between an off-peak Gorgonzola and a crème caramel, with a whiff of skunk.

Orangutans adore the durian. In Indonesia, where expanding palm oil plantations have destroyed the apes’ natural habitat, orangutans occasionally raid fruit orchards for sustenance. Farmers have responded by shooting them.

Even if the smell could be put aside — which is, frankly, impossible — the durian would still probably have the highest grapple factor among Southeast Asia’s endemic fruits. Thai exports of the fruit are mostly destined for China, where consumers tend to be more willing to work for their meals.

The durian’s greatest supporters hold out little hope that it will ever capture the United States market the way the kiwi charmed Americans in the 1970s, when marketers renamed the Chinese gooseberry after New Zealand’s national bird. It helps that the kiwi, with its fuzzy peel, is cute and easy to eat.

While some of Southeast Asia’s indigenous fruits are available in specialty markets in the United States, the flavors lack the vibrancy of those grown at home, aficionados insist.

Ubolwan Wongchotsathit is a second-generation fruit magnate, and she used to fly her durian as far away as Dubai and Melbourne before the pandemic forced her to use land and sea routes instead.

“Americans say they hate the smell of durian,” she said. “I don’t understand. It is sweet love.”

[holycatsandrabbits]

Part 15 of Giant Post of Completed Good Omens Human AU’s: June 2022

Thank you to all the creators who bring us so much joy AND to the readers who support the creators! <3

Also! A searchable list of all of my Good Omens human AU recs.

You can use it to find fics where Aziraphale is a librarian, or fics with Ineffable Wives, etc.

More of my Completed Good Omens Human AU Recs on Tumblr

More Good Omens recs from me here: Dannye's fic recs and

Dannye's artist recs

And here's me: Ao3 ~ DannyeChase.com ~ Linktree

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

Series: (not all of these series are complete)

angstember by @whisperingwainscot (Ao3 waxing_crescent) Rated G-T (Series contains 2 human AUs. Part 3: Groundskeeper C & Dr. A; Part 4: Slave C & pirate A)

Coffee Shops and Cocoa Rated G-T by Estrella3791 (Barista C & customer A)

Disaster Dads 2: American Boogaloo by @tawnyontumblr (Ao3 TawnyOwl95) Rated M (Single dads C & A are neighbors)

Ineffable Husbands AU Week 2020 by Estrella3791 Rated G-M (series contains several human AUs. Part 3: C & A are neighbors; Part 4: Ineffable wives: Mechanic C & customer A; Part 5: C & A meet online; Part 6: Prince A & caterer C)

make your own kind of music  by @tastymoves (Ao3 Sway) Rated E (Series contains several human AUs: Parts 4 & 12 are in the Devour series (sex worker A). Part 11 is in the Strawberry Shortcake series (Male market vendor C & female baker A). Part 13: C & A are in an established relationship. Part 16 goes with the fic i like my sugar sweet (Ineffable wives: sex worker/sugar baby Aziraphale) Part 19: Cam boy A & client C)

Single Fics:

A Gentleman's Agreement by @tawnyontumblr (Ao3 TawnyOwl95) 12,100 words, Rated E (Sugar daddy C & sex worker A in the Regency)

Always You by @theladydrgn  (Ao3 ladydragona) and @sylwritesstuff 117,835 words, Rated E (Alpha C and Omega A were childhood friends)

And Some Trouble Too by @ineffableomenshusbands (Ao3 Dashicra1) 499 words, Rated G (C & A are childhood friends reunited)

and when I am dead (come visit my bed) by @wick-de-la-vela (Ao3 wick_de_la_vela) 4396 words, Rated E (Ghost C & priest A)

a quiet afternoon by AgnesNutter22 514 words, Rated G (A has a stammer and stands up for himself)

A streetcar named desire by @elfontheshelves (Ao3 elf_on_the_shelf) 30,848 words, Rated E (Architect C & city planner A)

A Whole New Life by @just-an-angel-and-his-demon (Ao3 KaytheJay) 33,727 words, Rated E (A meets C on a bus while escaping an abusive relationship)

Bigger Than Us by @caedmonfaith (Ao3 Caedmon) 82,260 words, Rated E (Landscaper C & minister A)

Blueberry angel by @green-grin (Ao3 green_grin) 841 words, Rated G (High school students C & A meet while camping)

bluewater love by vol_ctrl 5419 words, Rated E (Pirate C & his husband Naval Commander A)

Coco by Nadzieja and @tawnyontumblr (Ao3 TawnyOwl95) 2157 words, Rated M (Taxi driver C & sex worker A)

Connection by AppleSeeds 37,070 words, Rated M (Nanny C & bookseller A)

Do Not Disturb by AppleSeeds 850 words, Rated M (Therapist A & client C)

flower funerals and poor assumptions by azira-yeet (Judeyjude) 4336 words, Rated G (C & A are neighbors)

Foregone Conclusion by @naromoreau 3217 words, Rated M (Sex worker C & priest A were childhood friends)

Heading Your Way by @bornonthesavage (Ao3 KiaraMGrey) 547 words, Rated G (C & A meet on a train)

Heads by azira-yeet (Judeyjude) 1219 words, Rated G (C & A are high school students)

He Who Sups with the Devil... by AngeliqueTombee 7461 words, Rated E (Waiter C & diner A)

Honey Sweet by @naromoreau 3661 words, Rated E (Sugar daddy A & sex worker C)

I'm All Yours by FeralTuxedo 11,479 words, Rated E (C & A are best friends)

It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine by @elfontheshelves (Ao3 elf_on_the_shelf) and @siskey (Ao3 Dervila) 63,948 words, Rated E (C is teacher to A's young nephew)

Like Bunnies Do by @candyqueenblog (Ao3 CandyQueenAO3) 4212 words, Rated E (Sugar daddy A & sugar baby C are married)

Like flying by @green-grin (Ao3 green_grin) 1367 words, Rated G (Climber C & fencer A are high school students)

Lilies & Chrysanthemums by KissMyAsthma 71,322 words, Rated M (Florist C & funeral director A)

More Than Meets The Eye by @mimsynims 23,218 words, Rated E (Sugar daddy Crowley & Sugar baby A are old friends)

Only if for a night by by @bebrave-andbekind (Ao3 Mikaeru) 4933 words, Rated M (C meets groom-to-be A at a gay bar in the 1920's)

Oral hygiene by @sani-86 (Ao3 Sani86) 13,381 words, Rated E (Dentist C & patient A)

Organically Sourced Serotonin by KissMyAsthma and leukozyna 5122 words, Rated T (C, A, & A's dog meet at the park)

Oversharing by AppleSeeds 2671 words, Rated T (Office workers C & A meet on zoom)

Pick Me Up by AppleSeeds 860 words, Rated M (C & A meet at the gym)

Safe In Your Arms by AppleSeeds 7173 words, Rated T (C & A are roommates)

Slipping, Tumbling by leukozyna 3518 words, Rated T (C & A are neighbors)

Slow to Start by @naromoreau and @summerofspock 4092 words, Rated E (C is expecting her partner A's baby)

Something Good by vol_ctrl 2328 words, Rated E (Criminal profiler Beelzebub and serial killer Gabriel)

Sweet December Song by @stormiepassions 1293 words, Rated G (C & A are in an established relationship)

The Baker and the Blacksmith by wife27 16,604 words, Rated T (Blacksmith C & baker A)

The Book Clerk and the Sugar Daddy by @holycatsandrabbits (Dannye Chase) and @wargoddess9 Self-rec! 4052 words, Rated E (Wealthy C plays sugar daddy to bookseller A)

The Haunted House by AppleSeeds 2321 words, Rated T (Scare actor C & haunted house patron A)

The Lawyer, the King and the Bookshelf by @melibemusca (Ao3 Melibe) 13,494 words, Rated T (C reunites with his childhood imaginary friend, Prince A)

The Milkman Cometh by @lookitsstevie and @summerofspock 5923 words, Rated M (Milkman A & female customer C)

The Shadows I Live With by @ineffablefool 1472 words, Rated T (C & A are in an established relationship)

The Sun And His Moon by @servantofmischief 63,584 words, Rated M (Lady A is sent to the court of Emperor C)

The Tie That Binds Us (Is An Unbreakable Rope) by @wick-de-la-vela (Ao3 wick_de_la_vela) 20,139 words, Rated T (engaged couple Lady Beatrice (Beelzebub), Mr. Gabriel, and their cousins A & C in the Regency period)

While The Gondola Goes by @flamingbentleyy (Ao3 crepesandoysters) 5387 words, Rated G (Gondoliere C & tourist A in Venice)

Working it Out by @tawnyontumblr (Ao3 TawnyOwl95) 8335 words, Rated E (Yoga teacher C & masseur A)

[mikrowrites]

tangled with you

Kim Namjoon (RM) x Reader

soulmate au | red string of fate au

summary: Y/N and Namjoon’s red strings were always loose and tangled, indicating their soulmates being far away. But one tour could change everything...

warnings: lil tiny angst, fluffy and wholesome, language

a/n: trying something new...

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Kim Namjoon was an optimist.

He grew to be one after years and years in the idol industry, he found out how to find the bright side of things. No situation was so dire that hope couldn’t be found.

Especially with his soulmate situation.

When Namjoon’s string unfurled at age 18, the slackness and looseness of it always made him frown. Knowing his soulmate was halfway across the world from him was sobering. But Namjoon learned to be positive about it. As a member of BTS, tours brought them all around the world.

He was bound to find his soulmate at some point, right?

Y/N, however, was pessimistic.

She never traveled outside her country, money didn’t grow on trees. Her loose string waving in the breeze was a constant reminder of the bitter odds of meeting her soulmate.

But Y/N coped. She went on a few dates with people with distant soulmates or cut strings, but no one resonated with her.

“Don’t be so over dramatic.” Sarah, Y/N’s roommate, sighed. “You’re soulmates. You would never have been connected if you’d never meet.”

Y/N would fake a smile for Sarah, but she knew that it was no use.

So here she sat on the floor of her bathroom, her pinky extended out before her and a pair of scissors laying on the tile. Y/N stared blankly at the red string, her eyes empty and tired.

If you’ll never meet your soulmate, why have one at all?

Y/N inhaled and exhaled deeply. She had contemplated this decision. Thought of all the outcomes. How her distant soulmate would feel with a frayed string. But whoever Y/N’s soulmate would’ve been, would be happier without her.

She reached out, her shaking fingers gripping the scissors, weighing them in her hand. They felt like the heaviest object in the world, Y/N gripping them so tightly she swore one of the blades were cutting into her palm.

Y/N opened the scissors, pulling them to the tight string.

Wait... the tight string?

Y/N let out a strangled gasp, dropping the scissors onto the floor with a clatter. She stretched her arm out, fingers splayed, as Y/N stared in shock at her once slack string now pulled tight. A tear slipped down her cheek as reality crashed down.

And Y/N was so glad to have been wrong.

Meanwhile Namjoon woke suddenly, his arm being pulled forwards. He looked at his hand in confusion until he saw the thin red string pulled tightly forward.

Namjoon felt a wide smile stretch across his face, reaching over and shaking Hoseok awake next to him. “Hoseok... Hoseok!”

“Namjoon?” Jung Hoseok groaned, blinking several times before sitting up. “Are we landing?”

“My string!” Namjoon cried out gleefully. “My string! It’s not loose! She’s in (your/city)!”

That for sure woke Hoseok up, grinning back at the boy before jumping out of his seat, shouting at the other members the good news.

Namjoon just collapsed back into his seat, the biggest smile on his face as he lifted his hand again. Namjoon thought for a moment before gathering a length of the string and yanking it towards him once.

Y/N fell forwards, feeling as though someone had pulled her. She pushed herself off the tile floor, shaking her head with an amused smirk. Y/N gave her string a big tug in her direction in retaliation.

Namjoon was now the one to fall forward, almost out of his seat, as he began to laugh. He stared down at the string again, before looking out the window at the city.

“Hello, soulmate...”

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Y/N couldn’t go to sleep that night, and neither could Namjoon. They both felt as though the string was constantly pulling them to each other, wanting them to meet.

Once Namjoon and his fellow BTS members checked into their hotel, he had a discussion with his management. The next day was meant for leisure and a bit of filming, so Namjoon was excused for the day to try and find his soulmate.

Y/N was up and at ‘em at 8 am, throwing on a floral Y/F/C dress and grabbing her backpack, tying on sneakers and racing down her apartment steps. She stepped out into the bustle of the city, placing her earbuds in her ears as she began to walk towards a local food market downtown, a smile stretching across Y/N’s face at the sight of her string being pulled tighter. She’d look for him tonight, she would.

Namjoon began to walk through the city that morning, a security guard with him. He wore a hat and sunglasses to try and hide from the public the globally famous RM, today he was just a man looking for his soulmate.

However, it was easier said than done.

(your/city) was a big place, intimidating and full of people, and Namjoon was anxious to know which of the thousands was his. He let his red string guide him through the city, past art sculptures Namjoon would’ve normally stopped to admire. Past cafes and businesses, past bustling taxis and buses.

Finally, Namjoon’s string yanked him to the side. He stumbled over, turning to see a small food market bustling with vendors in an open city square. He slowly walked towards it, his senses overloaded with the shouts and colors.

He saw foods he’d never seen before, some that were familiar, and things he grew accustomed to in the US. A smile slowly stretched across his face as his soulmate’s string immersed him into the culture. Namjoon made a point of buying a few things for the members, homebaked cookies for the maknaes, honey for Hoseok as an apology for his abruptness on the plane, strawberries for Yoongi and Seokjin.

Namjoon almost forgot about his soulmate until he felt a familiar tug.

Y/N’s backpack was full of treats and ingredients, by the time she had made her way through the market. She had exchanged friendly banter with many of the vendors, who considered her a usual customer, always by weekly.

Y/N had just finished pulling away from a sweet elderly lady who sold fresh cut flowers, a bouquet of beautifully vibrant tulips in Y/N grasp, when her string pulled her forwards.

She gasped, looking down at her hand as Y/N followed the string to a boy’s pinky several feet away. He was handsome, really handsome, with a stunning smile soft expression. His sunglasses hid his eyes, which had to have been gorgeous as well.

Y/N found herself in awe of him, a smile crossing her face as she wrapped her string around her wrist and gave it a sharp tug. The boy stumbled towards her, looking around anxiously until his eyes fixed upon her.

Namjoon found his breath caught in his throat. His red string led to a smiling girl, with deep (Y/E/C) eyes and (Y/H/C) hair. A floral dress covered her and a bouquet of tulips were grasped in her other hand. He grinned at her, walking forwards.

She jogged a bit to meet him halfway, looking up at him. “I thought I’d never meet you.”

“I did.” Namjoon breathlessly responded. “I did and I’m so glad.”

The girl extended her pinky and smiled wider. “I’m Y/N L/N.”

“My name is Namjoon. Kim Namjoon.” He greeted, linking his pinky finger with hers. Their string suddenly flowed, progressively until it resulted in a beautiful gold color.

Y/N stared at the string in wonder, Namjoon using his pinky latched around hers to pull her forward, the girl looking back up at him. “Can-can I kiss you?”

“Such a gentleman~.” Y/N sang, before pressing her lips to his, Namjoon relaxing into the kiss. It felt like sparks flying from between them, like fireworks lighting up the sky above them.

They pulled away, smiling like lovesick idiots (which they undoubtedly were now) and Y/N pulled off his sunglasses and hat, admiring his deep brown eyes and hazelnut hair. “So, Mr. Kim? What now?” she laughed.

Namjoon interlaced her fingers with his, pulling her away from the market with a smirk.

“We have each other.”

[weekleegeography]

What To Prepare to China?

China, the most populous country in the world at 1.436 billion people (approximately 44 times of Malaysia’s population of 32.15 million people) and also the third or fourth largest country in the world (approximately 29 times the size of Malaysia). We have definitely heard a thing or two about China, with most notable “Made in China” in majority of your items. Production cost is one of the lowest in the world, hence why it is known as the world’s factory.

You might be planning to go to China, and so happened to stumble upon this blog as you are finding for some information on what to prepare before heading there. Otherwise, you could be my friend who read this because you saw me posting, or you just happened to see this for whatever reason. Not to worry. For my first ever travel blog, I will be sharing based on my experience on what you should prepare before heading to China and some things to keep in mind. I will be writing this from a Malaysian’s perspective (I’m a proud Malaysian), but I will try my utmost best to be as international-friendly as possible. Ya know… need to reach out to more readers! Anyways, hope you enjoy!

1) Let’s talk Visa.

No, I’m not talking about the credit card Visa. I’m talking about your permission to travel into the country visa. As of 26 December 2019, all Malaysians are required to apply for a visa before entering into the People’s Republic of China. You may use Passport Index to check if your passport requires a visa before entering to China. The link is right here!  

https://www.passportindex.org/

However, the process of applying a visa is incredibly simple. All you need to do is to go to this website. shown below!

https://www.visaforchina.org/web/guidance/StepByStep_questions.action?visacenterCode=KUL&request_locale=en_US&site_alias=KUL_EN

Just follow the process. It’s a very quick process and shouldn’t take more than a week. However, it’s always good to apply at least one month before your trip.

2) Cashless Society Is Real

You might or might not heard about it, but China is currently in a transition to a cashless society. By “transition” I meant like it’s probably 95% complete. You can literally pay anything and everything with the two e-wallets in China, which is WeChat Pay and Alipay. Even small shops, roadside vendors, and markets have their own QR codes which you can scan and pay. There is a higher chance that you are not able to pay with cash than e-wallet.

WeChat Pay

As of 23 December 2019, a foreigner is still unable to use WeChat Pay in China as WeChat Pay in Mainland China requires you to have a local phone number and a Chinese bank account to be able to use. Well, no cashless society for foreigners then.

BUT WAIT.

Alipay

Alipay has just very recently launched a Tour Pass which enables foreigners to join in the cool Chinese gang and pay with your mobile phone. Just download the Alipay app, register yourself as an international user, follow the steps to register and you will be able to use Alipay e-wallet in China for 90 days. How it works is that you will receive a virtual prepaid card issued by the Bank of Shanghai. Don’t worry at all, any remaining balance in the wallet will be refunded back to your registered card once the 90 days has ended. Alexander Wong from Soya Cincau wrote a simple article on this. Tap this link below to read more about it.

https://www.soyacincau.com/2019/11/06/alipay-ewallet-tour-pass-for-tourists/

In a nutshell, as foreigners, just set up Alipay and you will be able to pay with your phone everywhere.

Malaysians, if you have not gotten BigPay, you are missing out big times. BigPay is basically a credit/debit card based on a Mastercard prepaid introduced by AirAsia. You can use it to make payments at over 30 million Mastercard merchants worldwide as it functions like a normal credit/debit card that is managed by the BigPay app. Just install the app, sign up, top up some cash into it and you are ready to use the card. While there are countless of benefits on using BigPay, I will highlight two big reasons to get this card.

i) BigPay offers the best exchange rate when you purchase an item with BigPay card when you travel overseas. In other words, by using BigPay and purchase items using the BigPay card in another country, BigPay offers the best rate and pays to the merchant at the current exchange rate. To elaborate further, the money that you change at your local money changer will have a higher rate due to many hidden fees, but BigPay does not have any hidden fees. 

ii) If you are a frequent AirAsia flyer, use BigPay and enjoy zero processing fee while buying any flight tickets from AirAsia. Not only that, spend with BigPay and you can collect BIG points which can be used to redeem flight tickets.

**I am not promoting BigPay but it’ll be good if they can pay me for writing about them. It’s a real life saver for travels.

***But if you are going to get BigPay, why not use my referral code to sign up? You get RM10, I get RM10. It’s a win-win. My referral code is ZW1PKS7ATN.

So what is the bottom line from this long segment? I’ve topped up the Alipay app using the BigPay card, which I get the best rates while able to use Alipay to make purchase in China conveniently.

3) The Great Firewall of China

Took a nice photo and wanted to post it on Instagram? How about posting a status about how you are having a good time so far on Facebook? Want to make a video call with your friend using WhatsApp? Sorry, you can’t do it in China.

Yes, if you still do not know about this, China bans many, many websites that we access on a daily basis. Some top notable sites are:

Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit

Messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Line

Anything from Google, including your Gmail, YouTube, and even Google Play Store

For a more complete list, I have attached a website here which you can take a look.

https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/the-complete-list-of-blocked-websites-in-china-how-to-access-them/

Unless you are fine with WeChat, which is the only messaging app I can think of that is able to use in China, you will need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass the firewall.

My own experience to get by this problem is by getting a portable WiFi from Klook to bring over to China. Be sure to read the reviews stating that it can access the firewall. I got it from this website below!

https://www.klook.com/en-MY/activity/18737-3g-4g-wifi-mainland-china/?krt=s20&krid=3c37b711-5b56-4331-6e62-5a33130b4b6a

I also downloaded at least 3 to 4 of free VPNs from Google Play Store before heading to China with hopes that some of them work. China has been actively cracking down these VPNs, so not all VPN works. If you are able to afford a proper VPN, you can subscribe to a legitimate VPN service which will be much better. I have not subscribed to a VPN service before this trip, but now I have.

I personally subscribed to Nord VPN about a week ago and it is working charms so far. I managed to get a great deal of only paying RM230 for a 3-year subscription! PM me to know how or wait a while as I will post a new blog on how I got such a good deal! 

Be sure to download and prepare the VPNs before heading to China as you won’t be able to access to the Google Play Store once you are using China’s internet.

So with so many apps unable to be used, what do you use? That brings me to my next point.

4) Baidu Maps, WeChat, and Didi as your replacement

If you are able to read Chinese, then Baidu Maps is your alternative to Google Maps. It is basically China version Google Maps. Baidu is basically China’s Google.

Baidu Maps helped me to determine if it was worth walking, taking the public transport or driving to a destination. For public transport, it showed me the exact route to take, the exact bus number or train line to take, and even the total fare of the trip. As there is no access to Google in China, it is quite unreliable to use Google Maps in China even with VPN access as it does not tell you as much as Baidu Maps does. However, do take note again that it is only in Chinese, so for my fellow friends who can’t read Chinese, you can still download and try to work your way around the app.

WeChat is your replacement for WhatsApp, and why I would suggest to get a WeChat account is so that you can communicate should you need to communicate urgently. There was once that I was separated from my group, and thankfully I was able to find a café with WiFi and used WeChat to communicate. Sometimes, VPN can fail you, so it’s always better to get an app that allows direct communication.

Didi is your replacement for Uber. Sometimes, you need a taxi ride but perhaps you are too used to the e-hailing lifestyle. Didi is the app for you. Works just like Uber, except it is China version.

5) Bicycle apps

Now this was one of the things that I regretted not doing on my previous trip to China. The city of Chengdu has an excellent bicycle rental service and it’s literally so easy to cycle around the city. Sometimes, cycling is the fastest way to get to one point to another, and the rental is cheap.

The most notable bike sharing application that I’ve observed in Chengdu are OFO and Mobike. I did not do this process, but my guess it that the steps are:

1) Set up your Alipay account and top in money as told in the previous point. Make sure you sign up under the tour pass.

2) Download OFO or Mobike or both and complete the set up. Use the Alipay account to link it together.

3) Fly to China and enjoy using the service.

Again, make sure to do any downloading and signing up BEFORE heading to China.

6) Bin your toilet papers

Malaysia is blessed with an awesome sewage system, at least awesome enough that we can flush our soiled toilet papers into the toilet bowl and flush everything away. However, not everywhere is like this, and China is one of the countries that bins their soiled toilet papers instead of flushing it down. As habits are hard to break so soon, we might sometimes throw into the toilet bowl by accident or intentionally because it might be too unacceptable to bin it as it might smell or it is just pure disgusting thinking about it.

I’ve learned this the hard way in my trip, as one of my travel mate forgotten to bin his used toilet paper, and the result was that the whole toilet was clogged. By the time we managed to clear the clog, half of our day was gone and we had to throw some of our plans away due to a lack of time.

It’s real guys, you just got to bin it. It’s much more disgusting to see a clogged toilet bowl than a soiled toilet paper.  Speaking about toilets.

7) Yeah, it’s paper.

China has no bidets. So for #TeamWater, you can either shower in your accommodation, or bring wet tissue out in case the production happens outside.

8) Plug outlet

It’s different. Malaysia uses the Type G as we were once under British influence.

[Type G plug used in Malaysia]

​China uses the Type A plug, so be sure to bring a universal adapter to the trip. My little hack is that I also bring an extension wire along to plug into the universal adapter so that I can have more plugs to charge more devices.

[Type A plug used in China]

Be sure to always check for the plug outlet before visiting any countries. It’s a good investment to get a universal adapter.

9) Mala (麻辣) everywhere

At least for Chongqing and Chengdu, they take their mala very seriously. It’s hard to run away from their distinct mala taste in most of the food there. They even placed the Sichuan pepper into their stir-fried vegetables.

So if you are not a fan of mala or the numbing sensation from the mala, try to

bring some local food

from your country to compensate. Hard for me to suggest, as I’m usually very curious about the cuisines of each countries and will just try no matter how weird it is.

In a nutshell: 

I hope that some of these tips can help you to prepare before heading to China. I hope that you enjoyed my blog, and do share it with those who might need it. It is a big country with too many things to offer, but some fundamental preparation will be great. I am sure after visiting ones, you will know better on some hacks. Do share it with me too! I would love to hear them!

Pack your bags, and let’s get travelling! 

Just kidding, not now. Stay at home now as we are in a middle of Covid-19 pandemic. 

[katebrownell]

101 Business Ideas To Get You Thinking

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are always coming up with ideas but never know what direction to head in? Maybe you have thought about starting up your own business but you’re just not sure what type? We have put together a list of 101 business ideas to get you thinking. Have a look to see what options are available and if something sparks a light bulb moment in you then reach out to us! We can help you turn that idea into a reality.

Dance Teacher

Have you grown up dancing and love the idea of sharing your passion for dance with others? Why not start up a business as a dance teacher or an even larger grande jete, (see what we did there) set up your own dance studio. The possibilities are endless.

Nanny Service

Are you a kid person? Do you know how many busy families are out there? You could build up your own Nanny/Babysitting service.

Interior Design

Do you have a good eye aesthetics? Do you have the ability to visualise how colours, textures and patterns work together in a harmonious space? If you love the idea of styling homes and starting a business that utilises your creativity, then why not consider being an interior stylist?

Aerial Photographer

Drones used to be considered as something just for hobbyists, not anymore. This type of photography is not only used for pretty imagery, but can be utilised in agriculture, industrial mapping, and much more. Now more than ever with the growing trend of aerial photography, starting up in this space is the perfect business opportunity.

Room Rental/Airbnb

Have you ever thought about potentially renting out the granny flat in your backyard? Or maybe turning your entire house into a rental? But not just any rental with week to week income, what about running it like a hotel? An Airbnb listing could be your way of securing an additional stream of income or to generate some serious profit.

Makeup Artist

Do you love the beauty industry, keep up with the latest trends, have a flair for creativity and are passionate about all things makeup? Perhaps you should investigate freelance makeup artistry? As a makeup artist you have the opportunity to work on a bunch of different jobs, whether it be theatre, film, music videos, editorial, advertorial, fashion runway, TV, retail, and many, many more.

Dog Walking

If spending time with four-legged friends daily is your idea of a good time, then why not start a dog walking business and offer your services to pet owners who have a busy schedule.

Singer/Songwriter

Do you love to sing? Are you in a band? Did you know that musicians are entrepreneurial? As a singer or songwriter, you will practice, compose, perform, teach, promote, network, and make things happen day after day. This is an incredible way to make money doing something you are truly passionate about.

Barber Shop

For many barbers, opening an independent barbershop is the ultimate goal. This is the time when you can express your creative talent as a completely independent artist and craftsperson. You can set your own prices and potentially earn like the pros, go to international barbering events, give out your own business card, and develop a list of clients who will fly in to see you.

Event Catering

While most of us simply enjoy the culinary delights dished up by catering companies, those with a flair for food and an entrepreneurial spirit will be keen to know what business opportunities lie beneath the silver serving trays. The catering business is considered one of the most lucrative and profitable home-based business ventures, with a high potential for expansion and growth.

Restaurant Owner

Are you a chef ready to share your unique culinary creations with the world or an aspiring entrepreneur with an interest in the food industry? Then maybe opening a restaurant may be your calling.

Accountant

Do you love numbers? Or making sure all your figures add up succinctly? If you are a qualified accountant wanting to branch out on your own, you could start your own accounting business and build up your own client base.

Rideshare

Ever considered turning your car into a taxi so you can make some extra money on the side? Being an Uber driver can be the perfect side gig, It’s well paid and extremely flexible. As your own boss, you can work as many or as few hours a s you like.

17. Industrial Cleaning

If it can get dirty, chances are someone will be willing to pay you to clean it. You can choose to focus on the two primary market niches of the cleaning industry: commercial and consumer areas.

Bakery

Have you thought about turning your baking addiction into a profitable business? There are generally four types of bakeries – counter service bakeries, specialty service bakeries, sit-down bakeries and online bakeries.

Food Van Vendor

A food truck business can be the ultimate form of independence: not only do you run your own workplace but that workplace is mobile. Food trucks have become very popular over the last few years, but each type of unit has its own advantages, with mobility clearly being the key selling point. It’s entirely up to you to decide which will best suit your business needs.

Personal Trainer

Do you like working out and being fit? Do you want to share your enthusiasm for fitness with others and get paid? Then a personal training business might be for you.

House Painter

Have you completed your apprenticeship and thought you may want to go out on your own? A house painting business is a great choice for those who enjoy home improvement projects and prefer a greater degree of physical activity than many jobs provide. Flexible hours, low overhead, and the opportunity to develop new skills while earning as much as your own energy level permits are all factors that make this a desirable business choice for many people.

Photographer

Do you have your camera with you where ever you go? Are the go-to photographer at family functions? You can turn your interest, talent and hobby into a home-based photography business.

Tutor

If you’re looking for an easy and affordable home business that you can start quickly, tutoring is one you should consider. Tutoring is an ideal home business for teachers and instructors; however, you don’t need a teaching degree or any specialized training to be a tutor. What you do need is knowledge of the subject matter and the ability to explain in a way that others can learn.

Yoga Instructor

Yoga-savvy individuals keen on owning a small business might want to consider opening a studio and become an instructor. The yoga industry brings in almost $30 billion per year, and as the community grows, so do the opportunities, for example you could expand to do yoga classes, festivals, brand sponsorship’s and merchandise.

Graphic Designer

Do you know how to brand or create a logo? Are you handy with programs like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign? If you enjoy drawing and creating aesthetically pleasing visual materials, then becoming a Freelance Graphic Designer might just be the business for you. Graphic artists design items such as magazine advertising, brochures, business cards, communications documents and business websites.

Podcaster

The podcasting business is perfect for those who enjoy public entertainment. Podcast creators can join a slew of commercial and public networks, connecting with listeners, celebrities, and industry specialists.

Craft Brewer

Why not turn your love of great beer into a profession and start your own brewery? Many successful craft breweries and craft beer brands in Australia are thriving in what is, essentially, a hostile business environment. If you are realistic about the market, educate yourself, and seek expert advice, you will have the best chance of success.

Apart from these vaping business are grooming one in Australia and there are several online and offline stores available here. But nicotine is banned in Australia so one can import nicotine-based vapes and e-liquids from the online vape store in New Zealand for personal use and not for sale.

Read More: https://www.hunterfuturepreneurs.com.au/101-business-ideas/#comment-3403

[sosthemortalcoil]

KoFi Request: Family Holiday

Another one for the amazing @lychee-days​! Family Holiday Trip! F!Gabriel (Rielle) and Daniel ready to leave for a holiday to Venice~ ft. Uncle Israfel, who is joining, and Lucifer, who uh...decided to tag along

Total wordcount is 2,271. Hope you enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It would have been far easier to simply slip between planes to get to Venice. Instead you’re stuck in this seemingly endless line, bouncing up and down on your toes. Daniel looks a tad pale, mumbling to himself. Heights had never bothered him, but apparently his first time on an airplane is causing anxiety.

It’s your first time too, and Israfel’s, but telling Daniel that hadn’t helped. All he had said in response is that flying when you can fly under your own power is entirely different from flying when you have no ability to fly.

Finally, the line moves, and you watch as Daniel takes stuff out of your bags. Israfel doesn’t have anything apart from his boarding pass and a fake id you had to beg Sabriel for. She had pointed out that he was perfectly capable of meeting you in Venice, but you had continued to plead until she caved. Not that you were nervous, but having Israfel around always made new experiences feel less frightening.

You bounce through the metal frame, following Daniel and collecting your bags. He had insisted on packing after watching you try the first time. In your defense, packing isn’t a skill angels are taught, and there are a great many rules to follow about what you can and cannot bring.

Your smile dims as you reach the gate and realize that you have yet more waiting to do. It would be so easy to slip planes, you think, narrowing your eyes. Sure, you aren’t supposed to while in your mortal shell, but sitting around and waiting is boring.

Someone calls your name, and you look around in confusion. “Rielle Santos, please report to the flight attendant at the gate.” You twist your hands in front of your chest, wondering what you had done now as you slink up to the attendant. She beams a smile and holds out three tickets.

“Ms. Santos, here are your upgraded tickets.” You blink. Upgraded? You hadn’t—

“We get to fly first-class?” Daniel’s wide-eyed enthusiasm as he pops up over the back of the seat to look at you make you decide that it’s not worth questioning this turn of good-fortune. Maybe Sabriel pulled some strings.

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not too much later, despite how much Daniel complained about the flight being long—even after a decade on earth, most human periods of time feel like little more than blinks of the eye—the plane touches down. It’s not nearly as smooth as your own landings, but you imagine how excited Da Vinci would be to hear that you had flown in a machine at all. He would have loved it, you know.

From the airport, you make your way onto a train that takes you directly into Venice. As you get closer you tune out more of Daniel and Israfel’s banter, lost in old memories. Venice couldn’t have possibly changed that much over the centuries. It should be easy to take Daniel to Leonardo’s old workshop, maybe even the villa where you two had attended a party courtesy of Mona Lisa, though that hadn’t been the name she’d used at the time.

The train station is busy, but with Israfel’s lanky frame leading the way, neither you nor Daniel have problems with the crowd, and with Stephanie’s traveling charms, you’re not worried about pick-pockets or the like.

The three of you emerge into the sunshine, a series of stairs down leading to a canal full of water-taxis and boats. It’s similar in some ways to what you remember—crowds of people crossing canals, boats moving their cargo through the city—and different. But now there’s the noise of electric motors, and the air smells fresher than your remember.

“We’ll go to the hotel and then I’m thinking walk around, tomorrow we’ll go out to Murano and Burano and Torcel—”

You stop mid-sentence, distracted by a spectacle you probably should have noticed first. Dead center of the crowd, perched on a ridiculous amount of luggage, is Lucifer, dressed in a frilled burgundy shirt and black slacks, legs crossed at the ankles, arms thrown wide in welcome, silver hair coiffed in a style that would have been more at home a few centuries ago.

“Welcome to Venice!” he proclaims.

People are congregating around him, taking pictures with their phones. It doesn’t help that all his luggage looks like it came from the same time-period as his hairstyle, heavy wooden trunks covered in delicate carving and paintings, leather straps helping hold them closed. It looks like he’s moving here with the mountain of baggage he’s enthroned on.

“You didn’t say Lucifer was coming along,” Israfel states mildly, arching an eyebrow at you.

“I didn’t know he was,” you reply. Lucifer hops to his feet, claps his hands, and a few burly porters step forward and collect his luggage. One of them approaches you and relieves Daniel and you of your luggage as well, all while you stare at your father.

“Close your mouth dear. Venice hasn’t changed that much and you’ll catch flies standing about gaping like that,” he tells you, drawing you in and kissing each of your cheeks. He repeats the process with Daniel and then Israfel.

“You could have told me!” you exclaim, coming to your senses and throwing your arms around him in a hug.

“It wouldn’t have been much of a surprise if I did,” he points out, sweeping around in a gesture that says he is accustomed to having capes that flair dramatically behind him while doing so. You can practically picture it now.

“Come on, I thought we’d start with a gondola ride.”

“What about our luggage?”

“It’s being taken care of.” Good enough for you. You step into the wooden gondola after Lucifer, turning and offering your hand to Daniel. Daniel stares down at it.

“You’ve been on boats before,” you coax.

“I know. I don’t want to tip it though,” he says, cautiously extending a foot. When he makes contact with the bottom of the boat he grabs your hand and uses it to hop into the boat, causing it to rock slightly.

“See? Not bad at all,” you tell him with a fond smile, mussing his dark curls. You turn to offer help to Israfel, but he’s already in the gondola and folding his long frame onto a wooden bench seat.

“You cheat, Uncle Israfel,” Daniel grumbles, his legs shaking as he attempts to follow suit. It’s more of a controlled collapse, but he makes it onto the seat and not over the side of the boat which you count as a victory. You’d ended up in a canal once; it isn’t an experience you want to repeat even if the water seems cleaner now.

“Hardly. I’ve had lots of practice. Now your grandfather? He cheats,” Israfel points out. You join them sitting down, not looking at your father.

“I use my God-given gifts,” Lucifer proclaims. “I fail to see how that qualifies as cheating.”

Daniel rolls his eyes. “So what are we doing, Grandpa?” he asks, his head turning to and fro, trying to take in everything there is to see, from the flowerpots handing in the windows over the canals to the shops and relics of days past. If he wasn’t as worried about the boat rocking, you’re certain he’d be rushing from side-to-side to get a better look at your surroundings.

“It’s not… cheating,” you say diplomatically. “But you do show-off a lot. Like the first-class tickets and whatever else you have planned.”

“I am an old man. It gives me great happiness to take my daughter and grandchild on vacation and spoil them rotten. And, of course, Israfel. Though I admit I’m surprised there’s no Michael.”

“You know how he is about human stuff,” you say with a small shrug, trying not to look guilty. You had offered, but were relieved when he declined. He’s been better since you started letting him sleep over, but better isn’t good, and this trip is about family, preferably without family squabbles.

“I do,” Lucifer agrees. “And to start with tonight, we can walk around Piazzo San Marco and admire the Basilica’s statues from outside. We can go in tomorrow if you like, or take a private water taxi out to the islands. Those are a must see. Burano is known for lace, and while I don’t use it much in my wardrobe any more, the process of making lace is incredible, as are the different designs. Not to mention the houses there are beautiful, painted a wide variety of vivid colors. It’s quite famous. Now, Murano is home to glass blowing, and the different studios have their own unique sands that they’ve been using for centuries. Now Torcello, that’s…”

You continue to listen with one ear as try to locate where you are. The Rialto bridge makes one landmark, crowded with tourists and vendors hawking their wares. “It’s a pity there’s not a carnival happening. I used to love attending those,” Lucifer continues in the background.

Daniel taps your knee. “What are you thinking about?” he asks softly.

“That it’s been a long time since I’ve walked these streets. Leonardo used to like to get up early, get to the market as people were setting up. He loved to sketch the different people. One time he even bought a bird in a cage to study. He was always doing that; studying. He always had hundreds of questions racing through his mind, and he would hop from one thing to another, trying to answer them all.”

“Are we going to visit where he lived?” he asks, leaning forward in his eagerness.

“If it’s still standing, and not submerged. I—oh, well, this brings back memories.” The gondola pulls into a gated entrance, a palatial estate that you had been to a few times back in the days. There had been guards, then, and banners of the noble family living there, not insignias of the hotel. Lucifer hops dramatically out of the boat, Israfel somehow already on the dock.

Daniel and you exchange a glance. “I fully believe in your capability to get up there without falling in the water,” you tell him with a solemn nod.

“And I believe that I can do better than you, mom,” he says and with a jaunty salute, scrambles up to the dock, sending the gondola rocking before the gondolier steadies it. You follow with more trepidation, but you don’t have any mishaps.

“Check-in and meet back here in twenty minutes?” Lucifer suggests, sweeping through the doors, anticipating their movement. He is a king, making his dramatic entry into his palace.

“Well, this is going to be entertaining,” Israfel comments at your shoulder. You wish he would make noise when he moves. Humans are fragile beings and you’re certain that every time he startles you it shortens the lifespan of your shell.

“It won’t be that bad.”

“True. It’s not like we’re taking the king of Hell into the Vatican or something,” he says, flashing a smile as you wait your turn at the counter.

“Would that be bad for me?”

Daniel’s voice is soft at your side.

Both you and Israfel startle, having thought he was still off peeking at the rich dressings of the lobby from the marble floors to the gold gilded ceiling, with murals and tapestries and statues aplenty between. Ostentatious seemed an inadequate description for the kind of casual display of art and wealth visible here.

“No, honey, oh no,” you rush to assure him. “You’re not evil, Daniel. And consecrated ground really only affects demons and not very well at the higher power levels to be honest. Not unless god or an angel has reinforced the blessings, and while yes, the Vatican is one of the strongest holy sites, it’s not going to affect you.”

“It’s a bit gauche anyways,” Israfel demurs. “And a tragedy to see the statues. I remember when they had color and now they’re bleached white like bones.”

“That’s a bit dark,” Daniel comments, side-eyeing Israfel.

“Such is life,” Israfel responds with a shrug. He stops at his room. “I’d get running shoes on. We are going out with Lucifer.”

“Good point,” you murmur, opening the door to Daniel and yours room. Your father can put small children to shame with his chaotic energy.

Daniel gasps when he sees the large canopy bed, racing ahead and throwing himself onto it with a giggle of pure joy.

“Your bed is in the other room!” You tell him. He gets to his feet, bouncing on them. “Come on, mom. You know you want to jump too!”           

Your resolve lasts a second before you join Daniel, the two of you bouncing around the bed until you collapse, breathless.

Daniel grimaces, and pulls out a scroll from behind him. He tosses it at you. “I guess they’re really into the whole over the top fancy schmancy stuff,” he says.

You cant your head. There’s something about the wax seal that seems familiar to you, but it’s not until you open it and find a familiar scrawl that you feel all the hairs on your body stand up.

Welcome back, Gabriel.

Sincerely,

A friend.  

“Wow!” Daniel takes it from you. “This is legit calligraphy! And it’s—backwards? Wasn’t that da Vinci’s thing?”

“Yes, it was. Backwards and forwards, both hands; he was special. This, however, would be Lisa’s. And yes, I mean the model for Mona Lisa. She says welcome back to Venice.”

“She wasn’t, er, isn’t human?”

“Not in the least.”

You know the look in his eyes, and you laugh. “Let’s go meet your grandfather, and I’ll tell you all about it. Some of the old haunts are probably still kicking around, though we’ll skip any of the water folk.”

Eyes sparkling, Daniel trails after you to the lobby while you start talking about your time as a muse. Israfel chimes in, and when you meet up with Lucifer, he’s quick to add his own tangential anecdotes.