#but was like. if I have a big central light in my roo

[manhattan-gamestop]

Hate how I’ve been getting migraines almost every day since I went back home for the summer and it turns out my solution is just. Hats

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Sweet Refrain

A/N: Continuing to count the smooches down with 17. Again, stand alone with no connection to Passing Through. Took a liiiiiiittle creative liberty and changed the campfire to a bonfire...hope you can forgive me. Gosh darn it I love writing this angelic man. Also- “totally random reader” Okay, V. lol  <3 

Word Count: 2,332

Prompt: from @agent-bossypants

Every time the train came through town, you could hear his music when the whistle blew. Even when you knew he wasn’t on it because he’d just written you from Oregon or called from Oklahoma, you could feel his presence whenever those rails rattled. The tracks cut through a field that you could see from your backyard, a narrow creek separating them from your property, with the soft purple silhouette of the mountains for a backdrop. They were freight tracks, and you were close enough to the unloading station that oncoming trains would start slowing down in view of your property. Even when you knew for a fact that Ryan wasn’t crouching in a car, readying himself to jump, you watched intently, reading the graffiti on the rusted steel walls, as though it could tell you where he was; as if it could tell you that he was okay. 

Occasionally you caught a glimpse of another train hopper as their boots touched down or left the rocky ground, running as they took off or landed to try to even out their momentum with that of the train. Once you’d seen a young man tumble over the side of a car, and you’d raced to the edge of your property, heart in your throat fearing it had been him, fearing that the person was hurt. It wasn’t Ryan, you could tell by the shock of red curls, and he hadn’t been seriously hurt, just sustaining a few bumps and a small but deep cut on the forehead. You’d offered as much help as the stranger who called himself Dakota would take, which unsurprisingly wasn’t much. He’d let you guide him across the creek to your back porch, but he balked when you’d invited him inside. Instead he’d waited on the step as you went in for a wet towel and some bandages to clean and cover the cuts with, making him a peanut butter sandwich and grabbing a few bottled waters from your fridge. 

When you came back out, you were again unsurprised to see your dog’s furry head resting on Dakota’s knee, her big brown eyes on the man as though she were full of concern. He reminds Roo of Ryan, too. He was a few years younger than the man who you’d grown up being neighbors with, but his quiet, unassuming nature and gracious smile were of the same ilk. You smiled as Roo lifted her head to look at you, as though giving you the all clear that the patient would be okay. “Good girl,” you’d patted her head as she stood and moved to curl up next to Dakota while you helped him with the bandages. He’d thanked you for your help, ruffled Roo’s ears, resulting in the dog giving a big lick to his hand, before he turned down your offer to give him a ride, and left through your front gate. 

Three weeks later you’d gotten his postcard in the mail from Maine, again thanking you for your kindness. On that same day, you’d gotten a call from Ryan in Minnesota, sharing the story with him and hearing the way his voice warmed when he told you you’d “done a real nice thing.” You’d chewed your bottom lip, voice all but breaking as you told him how it felt for that split second that you thought it might have been him, that he might have fallen under the train or hurt himself badly. There was a pause on his end before he’d cleared his throat and assured you that he was always careful, always safe. You’d seen him jump plenty of times, coming and going, and you knew this was true. He moved smoothly, taking sure footed steps and making well practiced grips. You’d seen him hoist himself up from the ground, taking a little piece of you with him as the sole of his second shoe left the gravel, and you’d watched him gracefully dismount, that stolen piece flying back to your chest as his smile walked towards you, one arm waving and the other clutching his beloved guitar. Stolen’s not the right word, you’d thought, knowing that you willingly gave that bit of yourself to him every time he left again. Regardless, it always felt like relief when he came back, even though you knew you had no real right to feel that way about him. After all, you were just friends.    

Watching the train from across your yard, you pulled your sweater around your shoulders and reminded yourself that he’d be back again in a few days’ time. You sat on your back step smiling as your dog galloped around expelling some energy after being cooped up all day, and the first few leaves of the season fluttered down from the branches. It was the end of September, and you could smell the change in the season as much as you could see it in the colors of the trees and the sky. But even if you couldn’t feel the slight chill in the air as the sun sank behind the mountains, even if you couldn’t see the way the clouds hung at a different angle, pewter colored and thick, you’d know what time of year it was from the rumble of the rails and that feeling in your chest that grew stronger everyday- Ryan’s coming home.  

The train crept away until it had pulled entirely into the unloading station and you could no longer see it, the whistle only a distant wisp on the wind. It took the last few rays of sunlight with it, the sky slowly turning inky black. It wouldn’t be long before countless stars blinked into being, so you called for Roo, waiting for her to run back up the steps before you headed back inside. Making yourself a cup of tea, you headed up to your room to read and wind down before bed, feeling like a kid counting down until Christmas. Only two more nights until he’s back. 

You’d known Ryan since high school, when your family had moved in next to his. His aunt still owned the house, and you’d never left yours, even when your parents had retired down to Florida. So when he came home- once a year, sometimes twice if you were lucky- you’d always made it a point to go to the homecoming bonfire, reminiscing about your teenage years and catching up on the things that didn’t fit in phone calls or letters. There were more than a few times when the warmth you felt from his eyes eclipsed the heat coming off of the giant central flame and the dozens of smaller fires that surrounded it, more than a few times that you wondered what else was behind that smile or what he wasn’t saying in the line of a song, his guitar propped on one knee as frosty air puffed from his lips. Don’t, you’d always cautioned yourself. Don’t change the way things are, don’t push things past what he’s willing to give you. You knew you already got more from Ryan than anyone else; knew that he made room for a few souls in his inner circle, and that somehow despite your lack of musical ability, you’d managed to gain a spot there along with Cowboy, Georgie and Virgina. It’s enough. As long as he’s in my life it’s enough. And it truly was. But that didn’t mean you’d say no to more. 

..  .. ..  .. .. ..  .. ..  

The next two days had passed like molasses in December, but finally you heard the sound that you’d been waiting for- that almost mournful howl of the train that announced it’s arrival, followed by the sweet refrain that always touched your heart as your mind filled with his voice and the voice of the nylon strings that he plucked with hardened fingertips. Throwing your sweater around you and shoving your feet into your boots, you swung the back door open, Roo racing out ahead of you. You can feel him, too, can’t you girl? Your smile grew wide and a laugh fell from your lips as the engine came into view followed by a string of green, orange and deep red cars. As the brakes started to hiss and the train began to slow, you stopped running, holding your breath as you saw him climb atop the edge of the car, swinging his long legs out and expertly choosing his landing spot. One boot, then two crunched into the rocks, his pack on his back and his case handle wrapped tightly in his fingers. You picked up speed again, noting the moment that he saw you, and the way that his posture changed. Normally he’d raise one canvas sleeved arm, swinging it over his head in greeting, but this time was different. You watched as he paused for a moment, completely still, as though he were seeing the view of your yard for the first time when in fact it had been far from it. But as quickly as he’d frozen, he’d regained motion, long strides closing the distance until all he had to do was leap the few feet over the creek. He’s here. He’s home. 

“Hey, stranger,” you said, Roo already waiting to greet him as he landed on your side of the small ravine. She whined excitedly until he reached down to pet her big fluffy head, scratching between her ears as her curved tail wagged to signal her happiness. 

“Hey yourself,” he said, setting the case down and spreading his arms wide for his welcome home hug. There it is, there’s that piece, you thought, as you felt them close around you, yours slipping around his waist, hands flat on his back. He held you for just a fraction longer than normal, breathing you in through his nose. “Missed you,” he said quietly, setting your heart drumming. “I miss you” was something he said on the phone or in letters. He’d never said it aloud to you before. Something’s different. 

But you didn’t have time to figure out what it was, simply returning the sentiment because, as always, it was true. You picked up his case for him and handed it back to him as was your routine, and you walked him to the gate that connected his aunt’s yard to yours. He’d go inside, visit with her for a while, shower, eat, stretch out his limbs and make a thermos of coffee before he’s be knocking on your door to walk with you down to the bonfire. It was routine, like the repetitious chorus of a favorite song. 

By the time you were seated around the dancing orange flames, the light flickering and casting shadows on the undersides of crunchy brown leaves, your heart was fluttering and your mind was buzzing. There was an extra layer of light in his eyes, an added note of tenderness in his voice as he played a few songs, one of them a new one he’d written since the last time you’d seen him. Roo was lying curled up by your feet with her head resting on Ryan’s boot, and you were struck by how right that seemed. Before you could think about it though, he’d said your name, and you’d turned, mouth falling open at the emotion in those cocoa colored irises. He rested his guitar flat on his knees so he could take your hand- something he never did- in his, bringing it atop the hollow instrument. Oh…

“I really did miss you. I…” he dropped his head, a nervous grin played with the corners of his mouth. “I been thinkin’ and I think I’ve been... fightin’ this for too long now. I don’t wanna just… I…” He raised his eyes back to yours and you couldn’t breathe, cheeks hot as his thumb rubbed back and forth over your knuckles. “I like you…” another half laugh. “God that sounds...feel like we’re back in high school, but… I have feelings for you and-” 

“Ryan…” you exhaled his name, leaning closer. “Ryan, I...feel the same way…” You couldn’t believe what was happening, the world falling away until it was just the two of you, his guitar, your dog and the small flame you sat in front of. “I missed you, too, Ryan Brenner. I always miss you.” 

He dropped your hand then, reaching with both for your face, fingers slipping into your hair as he brought you into the last first kiss you’d ever have. It was sweet and slow, his lips brushing tentatively against yours as one of your hands came up to the side of his neck, fingertips finally learning what his jaw felt like beneath the coarse swath of facial hair. Neither of you wanted it to end now that it had began, so you let it continue, deepening cautiously but intentionally until you felt his tongue trace the inside of your bottom lip. Though your eyes were closed you felt your lashes shaking as something happened in your chest- that piece that he’d always taken with him, cemented itself more firmly than it ever had before. He’s back. He’s home...He’s...I’m his. 

When he reluctantly pulled away you were both breathing raggedly, but his smile was enough to overpower the fires all around you, enough to conceal the moon and hide all the stars. It was everything, and everything was different now. Before you could speak, not that you knew what you’d say, you were pushed aside by Roo’s 90 lb body as she excitedly jumped to lick Ryan’s face, as though she’d been waiting for this moment for you both, too. You laughed, your heart never feeling so warm, and Ryan did, too, wiping his face on the elbow of his sleeve before leaning back over to place another small kiss on your cheek. “Best homecomin’ yet,” he whispered against your skin as you leaned into his shoulder and his arm came around you. 

You had to agree.

@something-tofightfor @its-my-little-dumpster-fire @suchatinyinfinity @agent-bossypants @lexxierave @thesumofmychoices @songtoyou @ymariejp @breanime @gollyderek @traeumerinwitzhelden

[artificialqueens]

now there's green light in my eyes ch. 1

author ladyalix

cw / alcohol

ship: trixya

1920s/Great Gatsby AU for Trixya! Trixie is a Milwaukee girl visiting her cousin Pearl in New York, Katya is a Russian refugee in the bootlegging business, murder and lovers and speakeasies and general 1920s New York fun ensue! Trixie, Katya, Kennedy, and Pearl are cis girls, Max is a cis man, and Violet is a gay/genderfluid Italian gangster who does drag!

more on ao3 @ladyalix

I know what the gangsters think of me. I can converse with them as easily in their native Italian as in English, I smoke and drink like one of them. My clothing is cut low to lead them into business deals, coerce them into thinking I actually give a damn about them personally. They like to believe it, and so they do.

But these men, I do not find them attractive. No, the one who makes my heart race is someone entirely different.

___

Trixie Mattel’s summer in New York was hard to run by her mother. It was safer in Wisconsin, Mamma had argued. The city wasn’t proper for a nice girl like Trixie, only nineteen, chaste and well-mannered - she belonged in a small town, helping Mamma run her dress shop, biding the days until she married whatever good-natured man came along first. Ever since Papa had died when she was eleven, Trixie had spent her summers working. It wasn’t easy without a man in the house, but they made do with what they had. Trixie had stopped asking for new clothing long ago, learned to pretend not to be hungry on the days when there wasn’t money for food. When Mamma took in sewing and laundry and cleaned rich ladies’ houses Trixie came along and helped; the most important thing, though, Mamma always said, was that she did not lose her dignity and class. Mamma grew up in New York; her sister’s daughter Pearl, who was five years older than Trixie, lived there now. Mamma had left it all behind to marry Trixie’s father, a love story she told with wistful eyes and sighs whenever Trixie could coax it out of her.

“They didn’t want me marrying him,” she said. “He was an Indian from Wisconsin and I was a socialite from New York. It was quite the scandal back in the day - in all the papers, you know. It was unthinkable. But when you love someone, sometimes boundaries that stark cease to exist. When you love someone everything falls into place.”

And so Trixie and her mother, cut off from any inheritance, still acted like socialites even when there was nothing to eat, when there was no coal in the fireplace, when Trixie had to drop out of school for a year and take in mending. She held onto that secret knowledge, that she came from New York and had the manners and poise and dignity to show for it, like it was a treasure. A pearl, like her cousin’s name. She’d never met Pearl, but the two had corresponded for many years of Trixie’s childhood. Trixie could tell she was a pretty girl even in black and white -  lithe and elfin with big eyes. Pearl often wrote of lavish parties and beach holidays and trips abroad; she married an Englishman named Max Malanaphy last year. Trixie idolized her. And this year, the summer she would be turning nineteen, Pearl had finally sent her the letter Trixie had been waiting for as long as she could remember.

My Dear Trixie,

I hope Wisconsin is doing you well! You must be DREADFULLY bored! Would you like to spend your summer staying with us in New York? I’ll pay for train fare.  I’m sure you are old enough now that Aunt Eleanor won’t mind. Do write back!  

Love, your Pearl. xxxx

Trixie’s mother had been reluctant - Trixie was too naive, too trusting, too young, she had fretted.

“But Mamma,” Trixie had argued, “It’s Pearl . You know her. She’s a very responsible girl. I won’t get into trouble with her and Max - Mr. Malanaphy - looking after me. And she said she’ll pay for train fare!”

Her mother had sighed.

“Tell Pearl we shall pay her back,” she finally said. “But… perhaps. You have been very helpful lately, very mature. It might do you good to get out of Wisconsin for a summer.”

So here she was, in New York City. Max and Pearl had a flat overlooking Central Park which was one of the nicest places Trixie had ever seen, more beautifully decorated even than the mayor’s house back home where she used to clean the floors.

“Please, make yourself at home,” Max said warmly, his accent betraying his British roots and making him seem very sophisticated. Though he wasn’t too much older than Pearl, his hair was already a steely grey. He was handsome, Trixie guessed, tall and lanky with a long straight nose and fair skin. He’d been an officer in the war, with medals to prove it, but now worked somehow in trade. Trixie was rather confused about the exact nature of his job, but he did do well for himself, it seemed. Pearl was just as pretty as Trixie had pictured her, even more so maybe. Her hair was pale blonde, her eyes blue and shaded by long dark lashes. She dressed well, too; pale, floaty dresses that showed off her slim, attractive figure in a way Trixie’s mother would have considered vulgar. Trixie considered it wonderful.

“Tonight we’re going to see the most wonderful jazz singer,” Pearl gushed as she bustled about the flat, tidying up what was to be Trixie’s new roo,. “Kennedy Davenport herself. They say she’s the Josephine Baker of New York.”

Trixie had no idea who Josephine Baker was, but she nodded.

“Am I coming with you?”

“Of course,” said Pearl. “If you want to. And you must promise not to write home about where it is.”

“What do you mean?”

Pearl smirked. “I guess you know drinking alcohol is illegal now,” she said. Trixie nodded again, suspicious.

“Well, Max and I just happen to know a little place that gets around that pesky Eighteenth,” she grinned. “It also happens to be an absolute hotspot of talent in every colour, shape, and size. None of which you’d find on the outside, either. But it’s all very hush-hush. Can you keep it a secret?”

Trixie frowned, considering. She couldn’t help thinking of her mother’s warnings, her promises to stay out of trouble, but eventually she squared her shoulders. “Yes. I can.”

“Oh, isn’t that the bee’s knees !” chirped Pearl, clasping her hands together in excitement. “I hope you have something nice to wear!”

Max beckoned for Trixie to follow him and Pearl down a flight of steps to the basement of an old unassuming brownstone - something so well hidden, so inconspicuous, that by day it would have had no hint of its true nature.

“This definitely doesn’t seem legal,” muttered Trixie. Max nodded understandingly, his grey hair illuminated by the gas lamps, his pale face almost haunting in the dim shadow.

“I was worried too, my first time. But don’t worry. The cops tend to overlook this place. Mostly because of Madame Zamolodchikova’s bribery.”

“And her sex appeal,” snorted Pearl. “You know she’d be in prison for alcohol possession right now if she didn’t look like she did.”

Trixie gulped.

“Madame what ?”

Pearl laughed.

“Katya Zamolodchikova. Max, we know her well enough, you can stop putting on airs.” Max huffed.

“First-name bases are overrated, darling.”

The speakeasy was dark, clouded with smoke and pervasive with the scent of alcohol. A black girl with large light eyes and an elaborate feathered costume sang jazz on a small raised stage.

“Kennedy Davenport,” whispered Max, “an absolute genius. I can’t believe she’s performing at Madame Zamo’s. She’s been signed with all the big labels uptown already.”

The band picked up and began to play a peppier jazz tune.

“Oh, let’s dance,” exclaimed Pearl, grasping onto her lover’s wrist. She looked vibrant and lovely even in the dim light, her pale blonde hair coiffed into finger-waves and her thin, flat-chested body draped in a short pale pink dress.

Trixie hung back, feeling inadequate and dumpy in the pale blue gingham she’d brought from home. It was too modest and too hokey and too Wisconsin for a place like this.

“Don’t you want to dance?” called Pearl, expertly twisting her body into the Charleston with Max.

“Um…” Trixie froze. “I think I’ll watch. For now.” She sat on a plush red couch, folding her legs the way her mother had always taught her. This - the dress that looked nunlike next to Pearl’s - was still the shortest dress she’d ever worn. As she sat, it hiked above her knees and made her feel very daring and very, very bad.

“It’s quite all right, darling,” came a gravelly, foreign voice from startlingly close behind her. Trixie turned around to face an elegant blonde woman, all red lips and picture star hair and sharp cheekbones and bony limbs, dressed in furs and diamonds and reeking of smoke. “Not everyone is a dancer. Some of us prefer to sit back and watch, yes?”

“Leave her alone, Katya,” said Pearl, rolling her eyes as she walked towards Trixie and the mysterious woman. “Trixie’s terrified, the poor dear.”

Katya , thought Trixie as the realization dawned in her brain, this is the owner of the speakeasy, the bootlegger,  herself.

“Terrified? Trixie, dear, you have no reason to be terrified,” cooed the blonde woman, the “r”s in her speech trilled and drawn out. “You are not hiding in ditch from Red Army.”

Trixie blinked.

“ What ?”

“I am only teasing,” affirmed this Katya. “Can I get you something to drink? What do you like?”

“I’ve, um, actually never drank alcohol before,” confessed Trixie.

“Have you not?” Katya’s eyes, which were a startling blue, filled with mischief. “Well, today we have a little bit of everything. Scotch from Scotland, gin from England, vodka from Russia, champagne from France, rum from the West Indies.”

Trixie had no idea what any of those things tasted like, but she knew what champagne was; she decided on ordering that.

“A good choice, Trixie,” commented Katya as she bustled about, pouring a glass.

“How is business on the North Shore, Miss Zamolodchikova?” murmured Max, pronouncing the foreign surname perfectly. He’d obviously practiced.

“Oh, excellent, excellent. You have spoken with Dardo about the latest shipment?”

“Of course.” Pearl glanced nervously at Trixie, who had been pretending not to pay attention.

“This doesn’t concern you, Trixie,” she whispered, giving her hand a squeeze - amiable, yet firm in its message to make herself scarce.

“Oh. All right. Sorry.”

Trixie left the couch, casting glances the others’ way and kicking herself inwardly for not realizing that Pearl herself - and Max, too, then, were bootleggers, gangsters. It certainly explained Max’s wealth and his frequent trips to London.

As the night dragged on, Trixie tried hard not to trail after Pearl, but it proved difficult. Katya seemed to take Trixie under her wing, providing her with drinks and making small talk. Trixie learnt the older woman was originally from Russia, and had spent time living with artists and ingenues in Paris before settling comfortably in Long Island, nestled on the funds from her speakeasy.

“It is, of course, ridiculous what you must do to have a little fun in this country,” she explained, taking a drag on a cigarette. Trixie always thought of cigarettes as being in the realm of men, but Katya managed to make it feminine and even sensual. It was no wonder, she thought, that all the gangster men went after her.

“Why don’t you go back to your country, then?” asked Trixie. She realized how rude she must have sounded only when the Russian woman’s blue eyes misted with tears.

“Oh, my dear, I have no country to go back to. Ever since damn Communists killed the tsar. I came to Paris as refugee when I was not much older than you, you see. All alone - my parents were killed in the fighting.” Katya swallowed hard. “Everything you see, I make myself. My entire life here in America, I make myself.”

“‘Golly,” whispered Trixie.  Her childhood had been far from ideal; she knew what it was to be hungry, to wear clothes that never fit right. But poor as she had been, Katya’s story made her background seem near idyllic.

“It is all right. We all have our crosses to bear,” said Katya quietly. “I do not dwell too much in the past. And besides, in Russia I could not do this ,” she said, grasping Trixie’s bare thigh with her pale hand. Trixie tensed.

“What is wrong with you?” she exclaimed. The Russian’s hand felt good, exciting even, but it was all wrong. Men weren’t supposed to do this to ladies, let alone other ladies. Trixie’s mother would probably have a heart attack if she could see her daughter right now.

Katya retracted her hand, a look of shame spreading across her face.

“I am sorry, Trixie, I thought you knew. Here in my bar, we are very open about our… sexual differences, you see. In Paris it was all the rage. Every woman I knew was intimate with other women. But New York, even, is not Paris. This I know now.” Trixie’s anger faded as she saw Katya’s face etched with worry. Katya was no predator - she was just a woman, a woman like Trixie, who fell in love with other women. Maybe, just maybe, Trixie even felt the same way. The Russian woman was so unlike anyone back home, she couldn’t be sure; the way she smoked like a man, the way her accent made Trixie’s name a rolling wave, the way she showed so much kindness and openness and understanding. The way this place seemed to be safe for people like Kennedy to sing and Katya to love, it couldn’t be a bad thing. When you love someone everything falls into place…

“I hope we can still be friends, Trixie,” Katya was saying now. “Nothing really happened.”

“Yeah. Nothing happened,” confirmed Trixie. “But if something were to happen, I don’t think I would mind.”

[renegadesepiida]

This weekend I snapped back into the realization that, hey, I like to cook. I haven’t been cooking or eating healthy food for a while just cause I’ve been lazy, which is, of course, not good neither for me nor my wallet. So yesterday I went back to the grocery store and only bought food that I need to make into a meal. There, now, I can’t be as lazy anymore.

This train of thought about food makes me reminisce about meals that I have had in other countries, where people can be a bit more adventurous, or where the diets have evolved differently than ours. While some people will find this a bit shocking and maybe even disgusting I would recommend at least trying any of these tasty “meat” treats. *List in order of least to most odd, according to responses from people when I tell them. And I am not taking fish/sushi or shellfish because, one I’d be here all day [a lot of people don’t really like any seafood :( ] and two, because that’s been a staple of the American diet for a while and I only want to count the meat dishes that I thought were strange when I first tried them.

Escargot

Snails – of course, this dish isn’t uncommon here in the states, in fact, Northern California is where I first sampled it around the age of, maybe, 16(?). Escargot is much more common in France when I was visiting Paris for a week in 2014 with my friend Catherine we would always split the appetizer of 6 snails. The only reason that this makes the list is because a lot of people still look at me funny when I say that I’ve had the dish. While the squishier texture may turn some people off (I enjoy it), c’mon, guys it just tastes like garlic butter.

Goose Liver Pâté

This is another common dish for those rich folks, and while I was in France I wanted to try it, just once. I am not personally in favor of stuffing the life out of the geese or duck or any other bird people choose to do this too, and I even now I don’t know if it makes any of it taste better since I’ve still never had a normal goose or duck liver. Or, really, liver of any kind.

Reindeer/Venison

While deer or venison can be pretty normal with people who hunt, it wasn’t something that I grew up with, so when I tried a piece of deer sausage around the age of 12, without releasing what it was, I enjoyed it. After I found out I was a bit sad, but soon after I didn’t really care. Now, though you can get venison at certain burger places, and it’s good don’t get me wrong, but it’s not quite the same. Reindeer on the other side of the world, Norway is where I had it as a delicious lean steak in a traditional restaurant in Bergen. Reindeer tend to be smaller that other deer, and is less gamey, probably because they have been more or less domesticated.

Moose

Yummy Norwegian moose is the only kind of moose I’ve had. It is tougher and a bit gamier than venison, but still good. I got the purest taste, but I enjoyed it most when it was a meat option on the top of a breakfast “sandwich”. Even wanted to bring some home, but customs doesn’t allow any meat to be brought from Norway, even when it’s store bought and still package sealed.

  Emu

If anyone has ever had ostrich I assume it tastes like that, but I couldn’t say because I haven’t had ostrich. I just know that emu is good; it tasted like beef to me but was stringier. In the Australia of 2010, I had it on a pizza (and picked it off for the single flavor) at a restaurant called The Australian Heritage Hotel.

http://www.gourmantic.com/2011/03/01/australian-heritage-hotel-kangaroo-crocodile-the-rocks/

Never did try crocodile.

Pinnkjøtt

            The traditional Christmas dish, sheep ribs, which my uncle and aunt’s dad once got in the newspaper for is one of the best dishes in the world. While sheep or lamb ribs are common in the US, they aren’t prepared this way. After the main meat has been taken off the leftovers are frozen and then unfrozen and cooked in a big pot for the Christmas dinner feast. While each rib does not have an enormous quantity of meat on each, each bite is well worth it. Melt in your mouth delicious. Pair with mashed turnips (and/or potatoes) and sauerkraut (red and/or white pickled cabbage) or whatever else you want.

http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/12/pinnekjott/

    Armadillo and Coatimundi

Most people know armadillos from the southwestern US and Mexico, but they also are so common in Guatemala that they are eaten there, unlike the countries further north. The white-nosed coati is another mammal species from Guatemala. Every day we would see dozens of these animals sniffing around the forest ground searching for bugs to eat. With their tails in the air, they looked like backward brachiosauruses, adorable. One night when we stayed overnight in the city of Flores, on the island in Lake Petén Itza, during the Guatemalan independence celebration. While celebrations were happening all over the island our group of five went out for dinner. The plan was to follow our professor and guide because they told us that they were going to their favorite restaurant, which has exciting food we should try. After some wandering and hoping we found the right place, we walked through a closed door at the opening of an alley and found that we were in the restaurant the professor mentioned, due to the fact that we could see them sitting and drinking at a table. They informed us which of the dishes we should get. And the five of us ended up splitting a few orders of both. I tasted the armadillo first, and while it wasn’t bad, especially with the sauce, there were so many tiny bones, like a fish and it was gamier than I’d like. That was annoying to me, plus the meat didn’t taste good enough to put up with the bone issue. Moving to the coatis’ meat, wow, that meat was good. Light and tender, with a great sauce and no bones. Perfection.

I can’t say where the restaurant was or what it was even called. So for one of the best meals you may ever have, I wish you and myself (when I can get back) all the luck in the world.

http://www.enjoyguatemala.com/guatemala-lakes/

  Hamam Mahshi

When I mention that I ate pigeon in Egypt, people in the US tend to tilt their head and ask me if that was such a good idea. Of course, it was a great idea, the culture, including around food is different, but the ideas are the same. Unlike in the US pigeons in Egypt are not ‘rats with wings’ as we see them here, in many countries just like in Egypt, pigeons are raised like any other free-range farm animal. The one to two-year-old birds are killed for their meat, while the older ones continue mating, just like we raise cattle or poultry in the US. Except better because they are not fed hormones and such and have large cages outside where they can fly around on the roofs of buildings in the city. The main way to enjoy pigeon is to have it in a soup or get the full bird that has been stuffed with rice after the inside had been cleaned out. I say, at any time you could, try this meal. Not only is it nice to eat, but tearing it apart the correct way is also a fun challenge.

http://www.internationalcuisine.com/egypt-squab/

Kangaroo

Another delicious meat, which I first had at the Australian Heritage Hotel in 2010 on a pizza. Seriously, this was the best meat I have EVER had. It didn’t taste like anything I’ve tried before and then I get asked, “Oh, then, does it taste like chicken?” NO! It’s WAY BETTER than chicken. And I miss it a lot… Most people probably stare at me because of my over the top reaction, but I also get some people trying to guilt me, cause “kangaroos are so cute”. No friends, well yes, but no. In Australia, they are hunted regularly by “Roo Shooters” because of serious overpopulation issues with a few, if any, natural predators that are not extinct. So don’t feel too bad, plus the used the entire animal for other materials (for example a leather hat).

https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/publications/kangaroo-shooting-code-compliance/kangaroos#poi

http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2013/04/03/a-necessary-evil-the-kangaroo-cull/

  Lutefisk

Literally translated, ‘lye fish’ is a fermented fish dish from Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden. It is typically made from cod or another plain white fish that is easy to fish up in the North. When I say the name, listeners usually ask, “What is that?” And then when I respond with “fermented fish” I get ewwwws and grosses. It is a very good meal if made properly (like pretty much everything). If the fish isn’t unfrozen properly the meat will turn gelatinous, which is what most people find disgusting. I have found that with food, texture is seriously everything. Even though my aunt and younger cousin both hate lutefisk, even when my aunt’s dad prepares it. My older Norwegian cousin, uncle (mom’s brother), mom, sister, and I all love it but only get to have it up at the hytta (cabin). It is so good, especially with the bacon sauce to put on top (and I don’t even like bacon!) and I eat it with turnips, but potatoes are also an option.

https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/LutefiskHistory.htm

Grasshoppers, Ant larva, and Grubs

While traveling around the various states of Mexico we tasted maybe different kinds of food. The most apprehensive I ever was, was the second year, in central Mexico eating bugs. Yes, when I was a little kid I accidently ate an ant, but these were on purpose, all of them prepared by the cooks in the kitchen especially for us. The grubs were the introduction. Lightly fried and tossed in a bowl. They were the appetizers; both Kat (another girl on the trip) and I were the first to try them. And surprisingly, but unsurprisingly, the grubs seemed to taste good, but actually, they didn’t really taste like much of anything. A little vegetable oil and some salt made each one a savory cloud with a slight crunch. The ant larva was the next dish I tried; in the dish, mixed with a white sauce and probably different vegetables, the tiny balls of larva looked like couscous or quinoa. Because I was not apprehensive about trying this one I took between a quarter and a half of a teaspoon, it was not good. In fact, I wanted to spit it out it was so bad. Don’t let this discourage you, though, when I took the ant larva off the plate alone and ate it, it was much better. So whatever the ant larva was mixed with was what I disliked and not the bugs themselves. The last dish of insects, on a different day, in a different restaurant, in a different state, was little bowls of baby grasshoppers served to us with chips, salsa, and lime. The combination of chips, bug, and lime tasted just like salted lime and vinegar chips. Nothing wrong with that at all, and I definitely ate quite a few before my main dish arrived.

  Hvalbiff

Whale – specifically Minke whale from Norway. A highly controversial topic, which I would direct anyone to read a few articles for more information. I am in no sense of the word, an expert on the subject, but I do know a bit about whaling. And while I can never defend overfishing, like what Japan hunters do illegally with any whale they see, I can see the merits of Norway for greatly reducing the intake over the past several years and only hunting species that are not at risk of being endangered. In fact, these whales are of least concern, and just like their ancestors: Norwegians, Icelanders, etc. all use the entire animal. And let me just say, it also tastes similar to a lean steak, with less fat. My cousin and I bought one box from the grocery store and cooked it up for dinner; one box was more than enough for the both of us.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minke_whale

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/

http://us.whales.org/issues/whaling-in-norway

  Around the world, you’ll find food that you may not have considered ever trying. But I always like to immerse myself in any culture I visit, not only is it respectful, but you’ll get a whole new experience and widen all horizons. Where ever you go the people living there have been there much longer, years, generations, centuries, and they know what they’re doing. I trust that they want to share the best of their lives with me as I would with them.

GO FORTH AND EAT FOOD!

Meet Some New Meat This weekend I snapped back into the realization that, hey, I like to cook. I haven’t been cooking or eating healthy food for a while just cause I’ve been lazy, which is, of course, not good neither for me nor my wallet.

[topfygad]

Catching up in Queensland | Nat Geo Traveller India

A two week street journey alongside Australia’s seatowns churns out untouched pure magnificence, and the time to bond with household.

  Byron Bay is a well-liked day journey vacation spot. Picture by: Chandni Doulatramani

My father known as me early this yr once I was in Banaras with a suggestion: A household street journey to Australia. I used to be caught off guard. Lower than three years in the past, my household, mates and I had pushed throughout New Zealand for 2 weeks. Now right here he was once more, at 73, expectantly asking me, “No cities, simply the countryside, like final time?” It sounded tempting and I stated sure.

Within the final week of Could, on the onset of winter within the southern hemisphere, I used to be off to Australia with my mother and father and youthful sister for 2 weeks. Our itinerary largely included a protracted and winding discovery of the Queensland coast by street. We have been heading to Australia to attend the housewarming occasion of my father’s finest good friend Ajit, who had bought a brand new dwelling in Townsville.

All my father’s mates determined to make a merry vacation out of it. Seven of us travelled (not collectively) from India, three together with Uncle Ajit, his spouse Auntie Helen, and their good friend Anthony from Hong Kong. Uncle Michael, who additionally lives in Townsville, travelled to Cairns to fulfill us. The eleven of us, of which my sister Chahna and I have been youngest, travelled in two vehicles: a white Ford Ranger pushed by Uncle Michael and the opposite a gray Toyota Kluger. We began north in Cairns and travelled down south, hugging our woolies a little bit tighter because it acquired colder.

  The Nice Barrier Reef

At Muddy’s in Townsville, the avocado eggs Benedict is a spotlight (high proper); The author’s household adopted a one-night-one-town itinerary (left); Magnetic Islandis a seashore lover’s prayer come alive (backside proper). Pictures by: Chandni Doulatramani

Cairns was among the many extra city locations alongside our route. The climate was nonetheless summery once we checked into our motel. Winter was alleged to be a couple of weeks away. Later that night, we gathered at Cock & Bull, a spacious pub with excessive wood ceilings, yellow lights, and enormous fish sculptures hanging from the ceiling. Between loud rock music and speedily downed beer pitchers, I felt emboldened to choose one thing adventurous from the menu and settled for the Roo& Croc Combo. The dish comprised a portion every of kangaroo and crocodile meat together with some fries and tartar dip. Kangaroo meat, harder than rooster, was a smidge chewy for my style. The croc slice, melt-in-my-mouth, was extra up my alley. Nonetheless, there was sufficient booze and cheer to clean away any nitpicking.

Subsequent morning, the gang launched into a uneven wind-beaten and wet catamaran experience for 40 minutes to Inexperienced Island, the gateway to the Nice Barrier Reef. The shimmering blue-green expanse of the reef, a pure mass of singular reef techniques embedded with attractive islands, is breathtaking. The older of us in our occasion weren’t going to snorkel or swim, so we took a glass backside boat tour the place the translucent flooring afforded a better view of the Reef’s various aquatic life. However its transcendent secrets and techniques solely reveal themselves if you snorkel, like my sister and I did, agape as kaleidoscopic shoals of fish swam previous us and over the inexperienced and orange-hued coral gardens.

Come morning, we made our manner in direction of Townsville, 4 hours from Cairns, making two pit stops in between: the primary at Murdering Level Vineyard on Mission Seaside, a family-run boutique set-up the place we tasted an assortment of tropical fruit wines, and the second at Vivia Cafe in Cardwell, the place we wolfed down crab sandwiches. Crab sandwiches are ubiquitous in Cardwell and there a plethora of cafés hawking them alongside the shoreline. As soon as we had scarfed down lunch although, the remainder of the journey remained uninterrupted, with my mother and father often dozing off like youngsters behind the automobile, as classic R.D. Burman songs filtered out of the stereo.

  Townsville & Magnetic Island

The lighthouse in Byron Bay is an efficient vantage level to identify dolphins swimming within the ocean (high left). Gold Coast presents each beachy enjoyable and a frenetic nightlife (high proper). The author snorkels alongside child sharks (backside proper). Byron Bay is backpacker central with surfers and busking musicians (backside left). Pictures by: Mel Longhurst/age fotostock/Dinodia Picture Library (lighthouse); David Wall/Alamy/indiapicture (nightlife); Chandni Doulatramani (sea); Pierre Olivier Signe/Panther Media/ Dinodia Picture Library (backpacker)

Uncle Ajit’s housewarming ceremonial dinner in Townsville was a rambunctious household shindig. Between chomping on pickled salmon and pork sausages, and consuming wine, we mapped our plans for the subsequent day. Within the morning, Chahna and I made for Magnetic (Maggie in native lingo) Island, whereas the remainder of the crew went croc-and-koala recognizing at Billabong Sanctuary. A 20-minute ferry experience from Townsville, Maggie Island is in a secluded portion of the Nice Barrier Reef. By the point we took the bus and hitched rides from locals to the island, we solely had time sufficient to discover three of its seven comparatively untouched seashores. In Florence Bay, we snorkeled alongside a child shark; in remoted Alma Bay, we sunbathed as if that slice of paradise have been our personal; and in Arthur Bay we noticed glowing corals within the calm, blue—and generally deceptively purple—waters. Though I didn’t realise it then, Maggie Island, an ethereal idyll of shapely boulders and cuddly marsupials, wouldn’t erase itself from my thoughts lengthy after the journey.

The following morning, we hit the street once more for Airlie Seaside, three hours south of Townsville. Within the serene seashore city with a busy marina, most guests frolicked by The Lagoon, which was a big neighborhood pool within the coronary heart of the city. By now, my sister and I have been charting our personal path, very like willful soloists in an orchestral symphony. So whereas the older members walked concerning the city window-shopping or café-hopping, we have been content material to laze round on a grassy patch close to the ocean. I snuggled up with a duplicate of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Canine within the Evening-Time and shortly snoozed off.

When the gang moved on from Airlie Seaside to Mackay, our subsequent cease, we had accomplished almost per week on the street. I used to be experiencing the stirrings of monotony. The Queensland surroundings had begun to really feel predictable; there was no getting away from the sugarcane fields—in spite of everything, 95 per cent of Australia’s sugarcane is produced within the state. Instagramming by means of the countryside had additionally misplaced its attraction. At first the little tin-and-wooden homes appeared charming. Nonetheless, painted in forlorn lifeless colors, the containers not held my curiosity.

  Mackay & Bundaberg

At Mackay, our group was feeling the fatigue on account of our hectic one-night-one-town itinerary. As soon as once more, we have been utilizing Mackay and Bundaberg, a city seven hours from Mackay, to sleep in a single day. We determined to decelerate our tempo, making extra halts alongside the way in which.

A type of occurred to be at Lambert’s Seaside—15 minutes away from Mackay (coastal Queensland is strewn with virgin seashores)—for whale watching. Someplace alongside on the way in which, we bought a large dwell mud crab from an outdated girl who reared crabs by a pond subsequent to her home. On reaching Gold Coast, we dined at Jimmy’s Kitchen, a Chinese language restaurant run by a good friend of Uncle Ajit’s. Oh, and did I point out that the crustacean accompanied us to Gold Coast in an ice field?

The following night in Bundaberg was purposefully eventless. Dwelling to Australia’s standard darkish rum (the liquor and the town is also known as Bundy), it presents walks and rum-tasting experiences at its huge distillery, however our explorer personas had been worn out and we wanted to unwind. So we did simply that.

The morning after, we drove for 3 hours to achieve Noosa, a 900-square-kilometre resort city alongside the Sunshine Coast that resembles the French Riviera. With high-end shops on both aspect of the road, extravagant eating places and bars, white sandy seashores, and other people wearing excessive vogue, Noosa was not like our earlier stops. We spied a seashore marriage ceremony that appeared straight out the films, a teenage fire-juggler busking on Laguna Bay, and canoodling {couples}.

  Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise

Clockwise from high left: Queensland’s smaller cities have a laid-back, creative vibe to them, with tattoo parlours, flea markets and hip cafés; Cairns, one of many gateways to the Nice Barrier Reef, qualifies as a extra touristy location than the remainder of the stops; Condom Kingdom is a singular intercourse store on Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast; On the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville, crocodiles and koalas are standard sightings. Pictures by: Norbert Probst/imageBROKER/dinodia photograph library (tattoo); Hemis/India Image (Cairns); Chandni Doulatramani (intercourse store); Ulla Lohmann/look/ Dinodia Picture Library (koala)

Leaving Noosa behind, we headed into our ultimate stretch. After driving for 3 hours, we reached Gold Coast for our final three days in Queensland. All this time spent gazing at pastoral panorama had whetted my urge for food for the town’s extra acquainted city beats. Our 11th-floor rented service house on Primary Seaside had a pleasant view of the blue-green ocean with white frothy waves gently rolling in and the glittering skyline. The winter chill had now set in, however we went swimming however. At this level, Chahna and I grew to become a separate occasion from the others, joined in our “younger individuals” adventures by an excellent good friend of mine from Sydney.

I used to be so able to play the vacationer, being offbeat be damned. So we took lengthy walks alongside the seashore and thru the market in Surfers Paradise, ate a burrito at Guzman y Gomez, a well-known eatery that serves Mexican delicacies, tasted bubble tea at Gong Cha and tried a martini with sweet floss on high at Home of Brews. On the morning of Day 2, we headed to Springbrook Nationwide Park, about 45 minutes from Gold Coast, and hiked alongside two trails for 4 hours. The primary path by means of the beautiful Gondwana Rainforests is full of canopies of myrtle beech and big eucalyptus bushes. We stood there like tiny blemishes on nature’s time-worn face, staring on the gushing waterfall with an unmistakable rainbow slicing proper throughout its centre. The water was roaring, drowning our voices. The second path, which is smaller however alluring, was within the Pure Bridge part of Springbrook the place the drive of water had lower by means of part of a cave to kind a bridge. Daylight streaming in by means of the water fashioned a turquoise blue rock pool. Every little thing was so nonetheless but throbbing with a cosmic connection that my good friend and I spent 30 minutes right here, meditating.

  Byron Bay

On our final day, we visited the hippy city of Byron Bay, about an hour from Gold Coast. Byron is a backpacker’s dream with musicians busking in alleys splashed with graffiti and younger youngsters browsing. Hipster cafés and yoga centres abound, as do handmade garment shops promoting shawls and crochet tops in delight colors, and artists portray out of caravans.

We meandered fortunately alongside the Cape Byron strolling observe that took us to the native lighthouse, the easterly level of mainland Australia, the place dolphins are sometimes noticed within the early hours of the morning. A drizzle had ruined any probabilities of us recognizing them however Byron’s easygoing buzz was sufficient. After the euphoria and adrenaline of fixed journeying, Byron was the candy bookend we wanted. I bid my good friend goodbye, promising to return quickly.

  Concord in Cacophony

Markets close to Byron Bay hawk every little thing from crop tops in delight colors and hula hoops to kitschy knick-knacks (high). The Springbrook Nationwide Park has two main trails, each of which take you deep right into a forested wonderland (center). Airlie Seaside, which has a marina, is a quiet seaside city excellent for ambling about (backside). Pictures by: davidhancock/Alamy/India Image (hula hoops); Auscape/UIG/Common Photos Group/ Dinodia Picture Library (forest); AdrianoK/shutterstock (metropolis)

Whereas our vacation had begun with the thrill of the unknown, we hadn’t thought of that some issues wouldn’t work in our favour. Half-way by means of this journey, I had begun to skip the meat pies that I relished each morning. I’m pleased with being the gourmand, however consuming Australian delicacies—barramundi, crabs, crocs and kangaroos—for days on finish throughout lunch, breakfast and dinner had develop into tiresome.

My mom, true to a Sindhi mother, had loaded her suitcase with Indian meals and I had taken to pilfering from that stash as a substitute. Solely firstly of our journey, we had quarreled like youngsters over whether or not there was any have to pack a lot Sindhi lola and papad when new flavours awaited us all through Queensland. However right here I used to be shamelessly embracing my internal desi.

Planning dinners had additionally develop into a raucous routine, the place totally different members couldn’t agree on the place to eat. I understood later, some issues will go my manner and a few gained’t. In my mother and father’ firm, I learnt to decelerate and never have a guidelines of issues to be finished. They might not maintain tempo with Chahna and I, maybe preferring to skip swimming round an island for one thing much less demanding.

The older of us in our gang have been cooler than I gave them credit score for. “Completely satisfied Hours” had develop into an on a regular basis affair with my of us, typically on the expense of sightseeing. In between fleeting sips of vodka and mawkish bites of papad, I realise that it wasn’t as a lot concerning the spots we’d lined or missed because it was about one another’s firm.

Queensland had gone previous me in a flash and I used to be fortunate that my mother and father had requested me to tag together with them. And regardless of my preliminary protests, the trove of Sindhi meals in our additional suitcase was over. My mom knew what she was doing all alongside.

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source http://cheaprtravels.com/catching-up-in-queensland-nat-geo-traveller-india/

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Kangaroos Quotes

Official Website: Kangaroos Quotes

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• Are there any mythical beasts which aren’t simple pastiches of nature? Centaurs, minotaurs, unicorns, griffons, chimeras, sphinxes, manticores, and the like don’t speak well for the human imagination. None is as novel as a kangaroo or starfish. – William Poundstone • Avoid restaurants with names that are improbable descriptions, such as the Purple Goose, the Blue Kangaroo or the Quilted Orangutan. – Calvin Trillin

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Kangaroo', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_kangaroo').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_kangaroo img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Besides my professional goals, I have a couple of private ones, my man. One of those is to pet a kangaroo before I leave Australia. I understand there’s lots of Eastern Grays around this area. What do you say? Are you in?’ Bergman looked at him like he’d just made the worst financial investment of his life. ‘Kangaroos are wild animals. I’ve heard they claw like girl fighters and kick like jackhammers. You’re going to get your skull crushed.’ Cole held up a finger. ‘Or I’m going to pet a kangaroo. How cool would that be? – Jennifer Rardin • Children’s books are looked on as a sideline of literature. A special smile. They are usually thought to be associated with women. I was determined not to have this label of sentimentality put on me so I signed by my intials, hoping people wouldn’t bother to wonder if the books were written by a man, woman or kangaroo. – P. L. Travers • Creative new health strategies like micro-insurance for poor people or Kangaroo care for pre-term babies are transforming health outcomes in even the most low-resource settings. Dedication and innovation are transforming health care worldwide. – Liya Kebede • Don’t know what 2 say about Dunk-a-roos. They’re just good! Sometimes you want a food that is comfortable and takes you back. For me, it’s those crazy little kangaroo crackers. – Prince • Envy the kangaroo. That pouch setup is extraordinary; the baby crawls out of the womb when it is about two inches long, gets into the pouch, and proceeds to mature. I’d have a baby if it would develop in my handbag. – Rita Rudner • Even to this day, no native Australian animal species and only one plant species-the macadamia nut-have proved suitable for domestication. There still are no domestic kangaroos. – Jared Diamond • Evolution is a snail, but Revolution is a kangaroo; one crawls, other jumps! – Mehmet Murat Ildan • Go to the Black Sea, meet new people, see beautiful places, get killed by a mutant carnivorous kangaroo goat. One item off my bucket list. – Ilona Andrews • He (Ozzie Smith) plays like he’s on a mini-trampoline or wearing helium kangaroo shorts. – Andy Van Slyke • Hopefully New Zealand let me stay, and they don’t kick me out and ban me. And I hope I don’t get killed by a kangaroo, ‘cuz I heard that happens out there. – Vince Staples • Horton, the kangaroo has sent Vlad!’ Vlad? I know two Vlads. One is a cute little bunny that brings me cookies. The other is bad Vlad. Which Vlad?’ Which one do you think?’ Bad Vlad?’ Good call. – Dr. Seuss • How small the cosmos (a kangaroo’s pouch would hold it), how paltry and puny in comparison to human consciousness, to a single individual recollection, and its expression in words! – Vladimir Nabokov • How true, how true” said the Sour Kangaroo, “And from now on, you know what I’m gonna do? I’m going to protect them with you!” And the Young Kangaroo in her pouch said “Me too! – Dr. Seuss • I actually had a small kangaroo – and I’m not kidding this time. I was holding a small kangaroo, baby kangaroo … it was very nice to me this time. Do you know what it did afterward? I gave it some milk, and it just spit it all over me. I was like, Is this a thank-you for just being nice and petting the kangaroo? I got milk all over myself. I guess I deserved that from the story last year. – Caroline Wozniacki • I had longed to be a butterfly, and I was one at last. I attended private parties in sumptuous evening dress, simpered and aired my graces like a born beau, and polkaed and schoisched with a step peculiar to myself – and the kangaroo. – Mark Twain • I have no fear of losing my life – if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it. – Steve Irwin • I liked the koala, wallaby, and I chilled with a kangaroo a bit. There was a wombat that I quite enjoyed also – Todd Barry • I wanted to be Stan Laurel, then I wanted to be Fred Astaire and then Captain Kangaroo. I actually started out as a radio announcer when I was 17 and never left the business so that’s literally 70 years. – Dick Van Dyke • I was taught to read by my grandmother. Central to her method was a tale of unnatural love called ‘The Duck and the Kangaroo’. Then, because my grandfather, Senator Gore, was blind, I was required early on to read grown-up books to him, mostly constitutional law and, of course, the Congressional Record. The later continence of my style is a miracle, considering those years of piping the additional remarks of Mr. Borah of Idaho. – Gore Vidal • If there’s any guy crazy enough to attack me, I’m going to show him the end of the world — close up. I’m going to let him see the kingdom come with his own eyes. I’m going to send him straight to the southern hemisphere and let the ashes of death rain all over him and the kangaroos and the wallabies. – Haruki Murakami • If you hit a kangaroo in the street and you have to pull out on the side of the road, it can get back up and murder you. – Vince Staples • If you were a kangaroo you’d forget you’ve got a joey in your pouch. – Steve Fowler • I’m so glad you’re back. We need you here. I mean…Burnett’s okay, but…he’s not you.” Holiday arched a brow. “I hear he wasn’t even himself for a while there.” Miranda frowned. “He told you about the whole kangaroo thing, didn’t he.” “Yeah,” Holiday said, and her brows tightened. “And I must say, I’m very disappointed with you, Miranda” she reached out and gripped Miranda’s hand. “The next time you turn him into anything, do it when I’m here to enjoy it.” -Taken at Dusk – C.C. Hunter • It is hard eating a little kangaroo knob. – Karl Pilkington • It is in the national interest to have the Flying Kangaroo. It’s in the interests of our tourism industry. It’s in the interests of jobs here in Australia. – Anthony Albanese • It’s like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline. – Sid Waddell • Kofi Annan’s kangaroo court [is] a clear and present danger to the war on terror and to Americans fighting it all over the world. – Tom DeLay • Let me introduce myself. My name is, uh, Kangaroo… Kangaroo – Captain Kangaroo … I’m the keeper here of the Treasure House. – Bob Keeshan • Listen, Frank Zhang has moves. He’s probably gonna turn into a kangaroo and do some marsupial jujitsu on their ugly faces. – Rick Riordan • Look, in particular, at the people who, like you, are making average incomes for doing average jobs- bank vice presidents, insurance salesmen, auditors, secretaries of defense- and you’ll realie they all dress the same way, essentially the way the mannequins in the Sears menswear department dress. Now look at the real successes, the people who make a lot more money than you- Elton John, Captain Kangaroo, anybody from Saudi Arabia, Big Bird, and so on. They all dress funny- and they all succeed. – Dave Barry • My mother on her death bed told me, ‘Where the hell did that kangaroo come from!?’ – it just popped out of nowhere and punched her in the head and caused a cerebral hemorrhage, so I thought I’d move to a country where there were no kangaroos! – Colin Mochrie • Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas! / You really are beautiful! Pearls, / harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! – Frank O’Hara • The chimpanzees in the zoos do it, Some courageous kangaroos do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love. I’m sure giraffes on the sly do it, Even eagles as they fly do it, Let’s do it, let’s fall in love. – Cole Porter • There is nothing more delightful than to scoop up a wild joey in your arms and smell the wind and eucalyptus in the coats of the gentle kangaroo or the deep-earth smell of tiny wallabies. It is wonderful to see the trust in their eyes and the gradual realization that you mean them no harm. – Stella Reid • This is your court and you possess the force to celebrate the trial and convict me on the basis of your lists of accusations, the public one and the secret one, and you can dictate a sentence prepared by the political and security apparatuses that are behind this trial. But I too possess a will obtained from the justice of our cause and the determination of our people to reject any decision from this ‘kangaroo court’. – Ahmad Sa’adat • Two kangaroos were talking to each other, and one said, ‘I hope it doesn’t rain today. I hate it when the children play inside. – Henny Youngman • Until we do something about wild dogs, kangaroos competing for pasture, your fortunes in life aren’t gonna turn around. – Barry O’Sullivan • What will happen to the spirit of this ancient dreaming land without the great mobs of kangaroos bounding across the song lines, energizing the land? Will the sunset and dawn mourn the passing of the creatures who danced in their light? – Sue Arnold • When I went to Australia, I went shark diving. It was crazy. It was called ‘extreme’ shark diving because even though we were in cages, we literally could touch the sharks swimming by. They were huge and I’m terrified of sharks. Then I went to a wildlife park and held kangaroos. That was nice. – Taylor Lautner • When you come across with a problem in your life, do not always try to solve it; make a long jump like a kangaroo and continue your way! Sometimes problems must be leaped over without touching them! – Mehmet Murat Ildan • Who will mourn the passing of our magnificent kangaroos? Who will remember how the bush once danced in rhythm with the thumping, jumping kangaroos who flew over fences their great tails drumming on the earth? Who will remember the big red male kangaroo lying in the desert sun, his coat almost indistinguishable from the red earth from which he came? – Sue Arnold • With kangaroos, you say ‘Sit!’ and they start boxing with you. They’re nuts! – Jerry O’Connell • Yeah, I think it’s an absolute disaster that Australia, the government, allowed kangaroo culling. – Steve Irwin • Your heart keeps jumping like a kangaroo, floating like an onion in a bowl of stew. – Fabian [clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

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[equitiesstocks]

Kangaroos Quotes

Official Website: Kangaroos Quotes

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• Are there any mythical beasts which aren’t simple pastiches of nature? Centaurs, minotaurs, unicorns, griffons, chimeras, sphinxes, manticores, and the like don’t speak well for the human imagination. None is as novel as a kangaroo or starfish. – William Poundstone • Avoid restaurants with names that are improbable descriptions, such as the Purple Goose, the Blue Kangaroo or the Quilted Orangutan. – Calvin Trillin

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Kangaroo', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_kangaroo').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_kangaroo img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Besides my professional goals, I have a couple of private ones, my man. One of those is to pet a kangaroo before I leave Australia. I understand there’s lots of Eastern Grays around this area. What do you say? Are you in?’ Bergman looked at him like he’d just made the worst financial investment of his life. ‘Kangaroos are wild animals. I’ve heard they claw like girl fighters and kick like jackhammers. You’re going to get your skull crushed.’ Cole held up a finger. ‘Or I’m going to pet a kangaroo. How cool would that be? – Jennifer Rardin • Children’s books are looked on as a sideline of literature. A special smile. They are usually thought to be associated with women. I was determined not to have this label of sentimentality put on me so I signed by my intials, hoping people wouldn’t bother to wonder if the books were written by a man, woman or kangaroo. – P. L. Travers • Creative new health strategies like micro-insurance for poor people or Kangaroo care for pre-term babies are transforming health outcomes in even the most low-resource settings. Dedication and innovation are transforming health care worldwide. – Liya Kebede • Don’t know what 2 say about Dunk-a-roos. They’re just good! Sometimes you want a food that is comfortable and takes you back. For me, it’s those crazy little kangaroo crackers. – Prince • Envy the kangaroo. That pouch setup is extraordinary; the baby crawls out of the womb when it is about two inches long, gets into the pouch, and proceeds to mature. I’d have a baby if it would develop in my handbag. – Rita Rudner • Even to this day, no native Australian animal species and only one plant species-the macadamia nut-have proved suitable for domestication. There still are no domestic kangaroos. – Jared Diamond • Evolution is a snail, but Revolution is a kangaroo; one crawls, other jumps! – Mehmet Murat Ildan • Go to the Black Sea, meet new people, see beautiful places, get killed by a mutant carnivorous kangaroo goat. One item off my bucket list. – Ilona Andrews • He (Ozzie Smith) plays like he’s on a mini-trampoline or wearing helium kangaroo shorts. – Andy Van Slyke • Hopefully New Zealand let me stay, and they don’t kick me out and ban me. And I hope I don’t get killed by a kangaroo, ‘cuz I heard that happens out there. – Vince Staples • Horton, the kangaroo has sent Vlad!’ Vlad? I know two Vlads. One is a cute little bunny that brings me cookies. The other is bad Vlad. Which Vlad?’ Which one do you think?’ Bad Vlad?’ Good call. – Dr. Seuss • How small the cosmos (a kangaroo’s pouch would hold it), how paltry and puny in comparison to human consciousness, to a single individual recollection, and its expression in words! – Vladimir Nabokov • How true, how true” said the Sour Kangaroo, “And from now on, you know what I’m gonna do? I’m going to protect them with you!” And the Young Kangaroo in her pouch said “Me too! – Dr. Seuss • I actually had a small kangaroo – and I’m not kidding this time. I was holding a small kangaroo, baby kangaroo … it was very nice to me this time. Do you know what it did afterward? I gave it some milk, and it just spit it all over me. I was like, Is this a thank-you for just being nice and petting the kangaroo? I got milk all over myself. I guess I deserved that from the story last year. – Caroline Wozniacki • I had longed to be a butterfly, and I was one at last. I attended private parties in sumptuous evening dress, simpered and aired my graces like a born beau, and polkaed and schoisched with a step peculiar to myself – and the kangaroo. – Mark Twain • I have no fear of losing my life – if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it. – Steve Irwin • I liked the koala, wallaby, and I chilled with a kangaroo a bit. There was a wombat that I quite enjoyed also – Todd Barry • I wanted to be Stan Laurel, then I wanted to be Fred Astaire and then Captain Kangaroo. I actually started out as a radio announcer when I was 17 and never left the business so that’s literally 70 years. – Dick Van Dyke • I was taught to read by my grandmother. Central to her method was a tale of unnatural love called ‘The Duck and the Kangaroo’. Then, because my grandfather, Senator Gore, was blind, I was required early on to read grown-up books to him, mostly constitutional law and, of course, the Congressional Record. The later continence of my style is a miracle, considering those years of piping the additional remarks of Mr. Borah of Idaho. – Gore Vidal • If there’s any guy crazy enough to attack me, I’m going to show him the end of the world — close up. I’m going to let him see the kingdom come with his own eyes. I’m going to send him straight to the southern hemisphere and let the ashes of death rain all over him and the kangaroos and the wallabies. – Haruki Murakami • If you hit a kangaroo in the street and you have to pull out on the side of the road, it can get back up and murder you. – Vince Staples • If you were a kangaroo you’d forget you’ve got a joey in your pouch. – Steve Fowler • I’m so glad you’re back. We need you here. I mean…Burnett’s okay, but…he’s not you.” Holiday arched a brow. “I hear he wasn’t even himself for a while there.” Miranda frowned. “He told you about the whole kangaroo thing, didn’t he.” “Yeah,” Holiday said, and her brows tightened. “And I must say, I’m very disappointed with you, Miranda” she reached out and gripped Miranda’s hand. “The next time you turn him into anything, do it when I’m here to enjoy it.” -Taken at Dusk – C.C. Hunter • It is hard eating a little kangaroo knob. – Karl Pilkington • It is in the national interest to have the Flying Kangaroo. It’s in the interests of our tourism industry. It’s in the interests of jobs here in Australia. – Anthony Albanese • It’s like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline. – Sid Waddell • Kofi Annan’s kangaroo court [is] a clear and present danger to the war on terror and to Americans fighting it all over the world. – Tom DeLay • Let me introduce myself. My name is, uh, Kangaroo… Kangaroo – Captain Kangaroo … I’m the keeper here of the Treasure House. – Bob Keeshan • Listen, Frank Zhang has moves. He’s probably gonna turn into a kangaroo and do some marsupial jujitsu on their ugly faces. – Rick Riordan • Look, in particular, at the people who, like you, are making average incomes for doing average jobs- bank vice presidents, insurance salesmen, auditors, secretaries of defense- and you’ll realie they all dress the same way, essentially the way the mannequins in the Sears menswear department dress. Now look at the real successes, the people who make a lot more money than you- Elton John, Captain Kangaroo, anybody from Saudi Arabia, Big Bird, and so on. They all dress funny- and they all succeed. – Dave Barry • My mother on her death bed told me, ‘Where the hell did that kangaroo come from!?’ – it just popped out of nowhere and punched her in the head and caused a cerebral hemorrhage, so I thought I’d move to a country where there were no kangaroos! – Colin Mochrie • Oh! kangaroos, sequins, chocolate sodas! / You really are beautiful! Pearls, / harmonicas, jujubes, aspirins! – Frank O’Hara • The chimpanzees in the zoos do it, Some courageous kangaroos do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love. I’m sure giraffes on the sly do it, Even eagles as they fly do it, Let’s do it, let’s fall in love. – Cole Porter • There is nothing more delightful than to scoop up a wild joey in your arms and smell the wind and eucalyptus in the coats of the gentle kangaroo or the deep-earth smell of tiny wallabies. It is wonderful to see the trust in their eyes and the gradual realization that you mean them no harm. ��� Stella Reid • This is your court and you possess the force to celebrate the trial and convict me on the basis of your lists of accusations, the public one and the secret one, and you can dictate a sentence prepared by the political and security apparatuses that are behind this trial. But I too possess a will obtained from the justice of our cause and the determination of our people to reject any decision from this ‘kangaroo court’. – Ahmad Sa’adat • Two kangaroos were talking to each other, and one said, ‘I hope it doesn’t rain today. I hate it when the children play inside. – Henny Youngman • Until we do something about wild dogs, kangaroos competing for pasture, your fortunes in life aren’t gonna turn around. – Barry O’Sullivan • What will happen to the spirit of this ancient dreaming land without the great mobs of kangaroos bounding across the song lines, energizing the land? Will the sunset and dawn mourn the passing of the creatures who danced in their light? – Sue Arnold • When I went to Australia, I went shark diving. It was crazy. It was called ‘extreme’ shark diving because even though we were in cages, we literally could touch the sharks swimming by. They were huge and I’m terrified of sharks. Then I went to a wildlife park and held kangaroos. That was nice. – Taylor Lautner • When you come across with a problem in your life, do not always try to solve it; make a long jump like a kangaroo and continue your way! Sometimes problems must be leaped over without touching them! – Mehmet Murat Ildan • Who will mourn the passing of our magnificent kangaroos? Who will remember how the bush once danced in rhythm with the thumping, jumping kangaroos who flew over fences their great tails drumming on the earth? Who will remember the big red male kangaroo lying in the desert sun, his coat almost indistinguishable from the red earth from which he came? – Sue Arnold • With kangaroos, you say ‘Sit!’ and they start boxing with you. They’re nuts! – Jerry O’Connell • Yeah, I think it’s an absolute disaster that Australia, the government, allowed kangaroo culling. – Steve Irwin • Your heart keeps jumping like a kangaroo, floating like an onion in a bowl of stew. – Fabian [clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

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[theantibridezilla]

TABHoneyMoonsMX: Fun in the Sun at The Reef 28

So, last week I had the chance to escape the cold of NYC and trade it in for warm weather and the blue-green oceans of Mexico’s Riviera Maya. I headed out to Playa del Carmen located in the state of Quintana Roo within Mexico. Although I was only away for a very short trip, I had a fantastic time and would definitely go back. Of the popular travel spots in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Playa del Carmen is like a hidden gem that—although a popular tourist spot—doesn’t feel like it’s overrun with tourists. Anywho, for this trip, I got to stay at The Reef 28, an all-inclusive adults only resort that’s just steps from the beach and a quick walk from a very chic shopping center and very vibrant nightlife. 

Getting to The Reef 28

First, Playa del Carmen doesn’t have its own airport. So you’ll need to fly into Cancun and arrange ground transportation. It’s a 45min to one hour drive from Cancun to The Reef 28.

Arriving at The Reef 28

When you arrive, you’re greeted with a mimosa. Now, this is a place after my own heart! What you instantly notice is that the lobby offers a very laid back vibe with swinging chairs—and more importantly there’s a lobby bar! So, whether you’ve arrived early and might have to wait for a room to become available, or you’re checking out and have a bit of time on your hands, you can kick back and relax with a drink or two...or three. ~_^

Dining & Cocktails @ The Reef 28

The Reef 28 offers three main dining options plus room service:

Venti8cho (the top pic in the collage) is their buffet style dining space for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, you can also opt for an a la carte menu if you’re not a buffet fan.

Cachito (middle pic) is a Mexican restaurant that offers a lux re-imagining of popular Mexican dishes like chicharrón, churros and molcajete de arrachera. Personally, this was my favorite restaurant!

El Asiático (bottom pic) is an Asian fusion restaurant where you can sample Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine.

Additionally, the rooftop bar offers a light plates menu and of course, room service has a full menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight snacking needs.

And just like there are options when it comes to dining, you also have three bars that all offer yummy cocktails. As I previously mentioned, there’s a lobby bar, a rooftop bar and a bar in the ante-room for Cachito and El Asiático which stays open the latest until 2AM.

Sleek Pools on the Roof

It wouldn’t be an all-inclusive if you didn’t have a pool. The Reef 28 has a gorgeous rooftop infinity pool with views of the beach and the surrounding city center. Thanks to the warm weather, the water is always the perfect temperature. But if you want to unwind even more, there are two whirlpools nearby. When you’re not in the water, relax on the lounge chairs, in a cabana or head over to the shade covered rooftop bar I mentioned earlier. Although I didn’t get the chance to experience this, The Reef 28 does offer rooftop parties (usually Thursday thru Saturday) complete with a DJ. So, if you can, try to come in the latter half of the week.

Get into Your Zen

If lounging by the pool or heading to the beach aren’t enough for you, The Reef 28 offers a great spa off of the lobby—Okom Spa. In addition to massage services, you can also enjoy their beauty salon and hydrotherapy which includes a sauna and steam room. But if you’re more of an “I’ve gotta sweat to relax” person, their fitness center on the rooftop level will be perfect for you.

Access to Everything

While The Reef 28 is a smaller venue for an all-inclusive resort, it’s really very centrally located if you’re someone who likes to venture out and doesn’t want to spend your entire trip inside the resort. You can head over towards Fifth Avenue which is a vibrant shopping strip with an open air mall (yes I saw H&M, Sephora and other international stores there), walk over towards the nightclub district or just enjoy locals offering their wares. If you coordinate with the concierge at the resort, you can also organize tours to ancient ruins in Tulum or take the ferry to Cozumel island, which you can clearly see from Playa del Carmen’s beaches.

Most importantly, when you stay at The Reef 28, you’re given a wristband. This band not only allows for you to freely eat and drink around the resort, but also gives you complete comped access to their sister resorts, Coco Beach and Playacar, which are their child friendly venues. Both of these resorts are a quick 10 to 15 minute ride away. 

Stay tuned for more details from my trip to The Reef 28, where I’ll also talk about their event options for brides or honeymooning couples! To book your trip to The Reef 28 or their sister Playa del Carmen resorts, visit www.thereefresorts.com

***A big thank you to The Reef 28 for hosting my trip to Playa del Carmen!***

[topfygad]

Catching up in Queensland | Nat Geo Traveller India

A two week street journey alongside Australia’s seatowns churns out untouched pure magnificence, and the time to bond with household.

  Byron Bay is a well-liked day journey vacation spot. Picture by: Chandni Doulatramani

My father known as me early this yr once I was in Banaras with a suggestion: A household street journey to Australia. I used to be caught off guard. Lower than three years in the past, my household, mates and I had pushed throughout New Zealand for 2 weeks. Now right here he was once more, at 73, expectantly asking me, “No cities, simply the countryside, like final time?” It sounded tempting and I stated sure.

Within the final week of Could, on the onset of winter within the southern hemisphere, I used to be off to Australia with my mother and father and youthful sister for 2 weeks. Our itinerary largely included a protracted and winding discovery of the Queensland coast by street. We have been heading to Australia to attend the housewarming occasion of my father’s finest good friend Ajit, who had bought a brand new dwelling in Townsville.

All my father’s mates determined to make a merry vacation out of it. Seven of us travelled (not collectively) from India, three together with Uncle Ajit, his spouse Auntie Helen, and their good friend Anthony from Hong Kong. Uncle Michael, who additionally lives in Townsville, travelled to Cairns to fulfill us. The eleven of us, of which my sister Chahna and I have been youngest, travelled in two vehicles: a white Ford Ranger pushed by Uncle Michael and the opposite a gray Toyota Kluger. We began north in Cairns and travelled down south, hugging our woolies a little bit tighter because it acquired colder.

  The Nice Barrier Reef

At Muddy’s in Townsville, the avocado eggs Benedict is a spotlight (high proper); The author’s household adopted a one-night-one-town itinerary (left); Magnetic Islandis a seashore lover’s prayer come alive (backside proper). Pictures by: Chandni Doulatramani

Cairns was among the many extra city locations alongside our route. The climate was nonetheless summery once we checked into our motel. Winter was alleged to be a couple of weeks away. Later that night, we gathered at Cock & Bull, a spacious pub with excessive wood ceilings, yellow lights, and enormous fish sculptures hanging from the ceiling. Between loud rock music and speedily downed beer pitchers, I felt emboldened to choose one thing adventurous from the menu and settled for the Roo& Croc Combo. The dish comprised a portion every of kangaroo and crocodile meat together with some fries and tartar dip. Kangaroo meat, harder than rooster, was a smidge chewy for my style. The croc slice, melt-in-my-mouth, was extra up my alley. Nonetheless, there was sufficient booze and cheer to clean away any nitpicking.

Subsequent morning, the gang launched into a uneven wind-beaten and wet catamaran experience for 40 minutes to Inexperienced Island, the gateway to the Nice Barrier Reef. The shimmering blue-green expanse of the reef, a pure mass of singular reef techniques embedded with attractive islands, is breathtaking. The older of us in our occasion weren’t going to snorkel or swim, so we took a glass backside boat tour the place the translucent flooring afforded a better view of the Reef’s various aquatic life. However its transcendent secrets and techniques solely reveal themselves if you snorkel, like my sister and I did, agape as kaleidoscopic shoals of fish swam previous us and over the inexperienced and orange-hued coral gardens.

Come morning, we made our manner in direction of Townsville, 4 hours from Cairns, making two pit stops in between: the primary at Murdering Level Vineyard on Mission Seaside, a family-run boutique set-up the place we tasted an assortment of tropical fruit wines, and the second at Vivia Cafe in Cardwell, the place we wolfed down crab sandwiches. Crab sandwiches are ubiquitous in Cardwell and there a plethora of cafés hawking them alongside the shoreline. As soon as we had scarfed down lunch although, the remainder of the journey remained uninterrupted, with my mother and father often dozing off like youngsters behind the automobile, as classic R.D. Burman songs filtered out of the stereo.

  Townsville & Magnetic Island

The lighthouse in Byron Bay is an efficient vantage level to identify dolphins swimming within the ocean (high left). Gold Coast presents each beachy enjoyable and a frenetic nightlife (high proper). The author snorkels alongside child sharks (backside proper). Byron Bay is backpacker central with surfers and busking musicians (backside left). Pictures by: Mel Longhurst/age fotostock/Dinodia Picture Library (lighthouse); David Wall/Alamy/indiapicture (nightlife); Chandni Doulatramani (sea); Pierre Olivier Signe/Panther Media/ Dinodia Picture Library (backpacker)

Uncle Ajit’s housewarming ceremonial dinner in Townsville was a rambunctious household shindig. Between chomping on pickled salmon and pork sausages, and consuming wine, we mapped our plans for the subsequent day. Within the morning, Chahna and I made for Magnetic (Maggie in native lingo) Island, whereas the remainder of the crew went croc-and-koala recognizing at Billabong Sanctuary. A 20-minute ferry experience from Townsville, Maggie Island is in a secluded portion of the Nice Barrier Reef. By the point we took the bus and hitched rides from locals to the island, we solely had time sufficient to discover three of its seven comparatively untouched seashores. In Florence Bay, we snorkeled alongside a child shark; in remoted Alma Bay, we sunbathed as if that slice of paradise have been our personal; and in Arthur Bay we noticed glowing corals within the calm, blue—and generally deceptively purple—waters. Though I didn’t realise it then, Maggie Island, an ethereal idyll of shapely boulders and cuddly marsupials, wouldn’t erase itself from my thoughts lengthy after the journey.

The following morning, we hit the street once more for Airlie Seaside, three hours south of Townsville. Within the serene seashore city with a busy marina, most guests frolicked by The Lagoon, which was a big neighborhood pool within the coronary heart of the city. By now, my sister and I have been charting our personal path, very like willful soloists in an orchestral symphony. So whereas the older members walked concerning the city window-shopping or café-hopping, we have been content material to laze round on a grassy patch close to the ocean. I snuggled up with a duplicate of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Canine within the Evening-Time and shortly snoozed off.

When the gang moved on from Airlie Seaside to Mackay, our subsequent cease, we had accomplished almost per week on the street. I used to be experiencing the stirrings of monotony. The Queensland surroundings had begun to really feel predictable; there was no getting away from the sugarcane fields—in spite of everything, 95 per cent of Australia’s sugarcane is produced within the state. Instagramming by means of the countryside had additionally misplaced its attraction. At first the little tin-and-wooden homes appeared charming. Nonetheless, painted in forlorn lifeless colors, the containers not held my curiosity.

  Mackay & Bundaberg

At Mackay, our group was feeling the fatigue on account of our hectic one-night-one-town itinerary. As soon as once more, we have been utilizing Mackay and Bundaberg, a city seven hours from Mackay, to sleep in a single day. We determined to decelerate our tempo, making extra halts alongside the way in which.

A type of occurred to be at Lambert’s Seaside—15 minutes away from Mackay (coastal Queensland is strewn with virgin seashores)—for whale watching. Someplace alongside on the way in which, we bought a large dwell mud crab from an outdated girl who reared crabs by a pond subsequent to her home. On reaching Gold Coast, we dined at Jimmy’s Kitchen, a Chinese language restaurant run by a good friend of Uncle Ajit’s. Oh, and did I point out that the crustacean accompanied us to Gold Coast in an ice field?

The following night in Bundaberg was purposefully eventless. Dwelling to Australia’s standard darkish rum (the liquor and the town is also known as Bundy), it presents walks and rum-tasting experiences at its huge distillery, however our explorer personas had been worn out and we wanted to unwind. So we did simply that.

The morning after, we drove for 3 hours to achieve Noosa, a 900-square-kilometre resort city alongside the Sunshine Coast that resembles the French Riviera. With high-end shops on both aspect of the road, extravagant eating places and bars, white sandy seashores, and other people wearing excessive vogue, Noosa was not like our earlier stops. We spied a seashore marriage ceremony that appeared straight out the films, a teenage fire-juggler busking on Laguna Bay, and canoodling {couples}.

  Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise

Clockwise from high left: Queensland’s smaller cities have a laid-back, creative vibe to them, with tattoo parlours, flea markets and hip cafés; Cairns, one of many gateways to the Nice Barrier Reef, qualifies as a extra touristy location than the remainder of the stops; Condom Kingdom is a singular intercourse store on Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast; On the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville, crocodiles and koalas are standard sightings. Pictures by: Norbert Probst/imageBROKER/dinodia photograph library (tattoo); Hemis/India Image (Cairns); Chandni Doulatramani (intercourse store); Ulla Lohmann/look/ Dinodia Picture Library (koala)

Leaving Noosa behind, we headed into our ultimate stretch. After driving for 3 hours, we reached Gold Coast for our final three days in Queensland. All this time spent gazing at pastoral panorama had whetted my urge for food for the town’s extra acquainted city beats. Our 11th-floor rented service house on Primary Seaside had a pleasant view of the blue-green ocean with white frothy waves gently rolling in and the glittering skyline. The winter chill had now set in, however we went swimming however. At this level, Chahna and I grew to become a separate occasion from the others, joined in our “younger individuals” adventures by an excellent good friend of mine from Sydney.

I used to be so able to play the vacationer, being offbeat be damned. So we took lengthy walks alongside the seashore and thru the market in Surfers Paradise, ate a burrito at Guzman y Gomez, a well-known eatery that serves Mexican delicacies, tasted bubble tea at Gong Cha and tried a martini with sweet floss on high at Home of Brews. On the morning of Day 2, we headed to Springbrook Nationwide Park, about 45 minutes from Gold Coast, and hiked alongside two trails for 4 hours. The primary path by means of the beautiful Gondwana Rainforests is full of canopies of myrtle beech and big eucalyptus bushes. We stood there like tiny blemishes on nature’s time-worn face, staring on the gushing waterfall with an unmistakable rainbow slicing proper throughout its centre. The water was roaring, drowning our voices. The second path, which is smaller however alluring, was within the Pure Bridge part of Springbrook the place the drive of water had lower by means of part of a cave to kind a bridge. Daylight streaming in by means of the water fashioned a turquoise blue rock pool. Every little thing was so nonetheless but throbbing with a cosmic connection that my good friend and I spent 30 minutes right here, meditating.

  Byron Bay

On our final day, we visited the hippy city of Byron Bay, about an hour from Gold Coast. Byron is a backpacker’s dream with musicians busking in alleys splashed with graffiti and younger youngsters browsing. Hipster cafés and yoga centres abound, as do handmade garment shops promoting shawls and crochet tops in delight colors, and artists portray out of caravans.

We meandered fortunately alongside the Cape Byron strolling observe that took us to the native lighthouse, the easterly level of mainland Australia, the place dolphins are sometimes noticed within the early hours of the morning. A drizzle had ruined any probabilities of us recognizing them however Byron’s easygoing buzz was sufficient. After the euphoria and adrenaline of fixed journeying, Byron was the candy bookend we wanted. I bid my good friend goodbye, promising to return quickly.

  Concord in Cacophony

Markets close to Byron Bay hawk every little thing from crop tops in delight colors and hula hoops to kitschy knick-knacks (high). The Springbrook Nationwide Park has two main trails, each of which take you deep right into a forested wonderland (center). Airlie Seaside, which has a marina, is a quiet seaside city excellent for ambling about (backside). Pictures by: davidhancock/Alamy/India Image (hula hoops); Auscape/UIG/Common Photos Group/ Dinodia Picture Library (forest); AdrianoK/shutterstock (metropolis)

Whereas our vacation had begun with the thrill of the unknown, we hadn’t thought of that some issues wouldn’t work in our favour. Half-way by means of this journey, I had begun to skip the meat pies that I relished each morning. I’m pleased with being the gourmand, however consuming Australian delicacies—barramundi, crabs, crocs and kangaroos—for days on finish throughout lunch, breakfast and dinner had develop into tiresome.

My mom, true to a Sindhi mother, had loaded her suitcase with Indian meals and I had taken to pilfering from that stash as a substitute. Solely firstly of our journey, we had quarreled like youngsters over whether or not there was any have to pack a lot Sindhi lola and papad when new flavours awaited us all through Queensland. However right here I used to be shamelessly embracing my internal desi.

Planning dinners had additionally develop into a raucous routine, the place totally different members couldn’t agree on the place to eat. I understood later, some issues will go my manner and a few gained’t. In my mother and father’ firm, I learnt to decelerate and never have a guidelines of issues to be finished. They might not maintain tempo with Chahna and I, maybe preferring to skip swimming round an island for one thing much less demanding.

The older of us in our gang have been cooler than I gave them credit score for. “Completely satisfied Hours” had develop into an on a regular basis affair with my of us, typically on the expense of sightseeing. In between fleeting sips of vodka and mawkish bites of papad, I realise that it wasn’t as a lot concerning the spots we’d lined or missed because it was about one another’s firm.

Queensland had gone previous me in a flash and I used to be fortunate that my mother and father had requested me to tag together with them. And regardless of my preliminary protests, the trove of Sindhi meals in our additional suitcase was over. My mom knew what she was doing all alongside.

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Catching up in Queensland | Nat Geo Traveller India

A two week street journey alongside Australia’s seatowns churns out untouched pure magnificence, and the time to bond with household.

  Byron Bay is a well-liked day journey vacation spot. Picture by: Chandni Doulatramani

My father known as me early this yr once I was in Banaras with a suggestion: A household street journey to Australia. I used to be caught off guard. Lower than three years in the past, my household, mates and I had pushed throughout New Zealand for 2 weeks. Now right here he was once more, at 73, expectantly asking me, “No cities, simply the countryside, like final time?” It sounded tempting and I stated sure.

Within the final week of Could, on the onset of winter within the southern hemisphere, I used to be off to Australia with my mother and father and youthful sister for 2 weeks. Our itinerary largely included a protracted and winding discovery of the Queensland coast by street. We have been heading to Australia to attend the housewarming occasion of my father’s finest good friend Ajit, who had bought a brand new dwelling in Townsville.

All my father’s mates determined to make a merry vacation out of it. Seven of us travelled (not collectively) from India, three together with Uncle Ajit, his spouse Auntie Helen, and their good friend Anthony from Hong Kong. Uncle Michael, who additionally lives in Townsville, travelled to Cairns to fulfill us. The eleven of us, of which my sister Chahna and I have been youngest, travelled in two vehicles: a white Ford Ranger pushed by Uncle Michael and the opposite a gray Toyota Kluger. We began north in Cairns and travelled down south, hugging our woolies a little bit tighter because it acquired colder.

  The Nice Barrier Reef

At Muddy’s in Townsville, the avocado eggs Benedict is a spotlight (high proper); The author’s household adopted a one-night-one-town itinerary (left); Magnetic Islandis a seashore lover’s prayer come alive (backside proper). Pictures by: Chandni Doulatramani

Cairns was among the many extra city locations alongside our route. The climate was nonetheless summery once we checked into our motel. Winter was alleged to be a couple of weeks away. Later that night, we gathered at Cock & Bull, a spacious pub with excessive wood ceilings, yellow lights, and enormous fish sculptures hanging from the ceiling. Between loud rock music and speedily downed beer pitchers, I felt emboldened to choose one thing adventurous from the menu and settled for the Roo& Croc Combo. The dish comprised a portion every of kangaroo and crocodile meat together with some fries and tartar dip. Kangaroo meat, harder than rooster, was a smidge chewy for my style. The croc slice, melt-in-my-mouth, was extra up my alley. Nonetheless, there was sufficient booze and cheer to clean away any nitpicking.

Subsequent morning, the gang launched into a uneven wind-beaten and wet catamaran experience for 40 minutes to Inexperienced Island, the gateway to the Nice Barrier Reef. The shimmering blue-green expanse of the reef, a pure mass of singular reef techniques embedded with attractive islands, is breathtaking. The older of us in our occasion weren’t going to snorkel or swim, so we took a glass backside boat tour the place the translucent flooring afforded a better view of the Reef’s various aquatic life. However its transcendent secrets and techniques solely reveal themselves if you snorkel, like my sister and I did, agape as kaleidoscopic shoals of fish swam previous us and over the inexperienced and orange-hued coral gardens.

Come morning, we made our manner in direction of Townsville, 4 hours from Cairns, making two pit stops in between: the primary at Murdering Level Vineyard on Mission Seaside, a family-run boutique set-up the place we tasted an assortment of tropical fruit wines, and the second at Vivia Cafe in Cardwell, the place we wolfed down crab sandwiches. Crab sandwiches are ubiquitous in Cardwell and there a plethora of cafés hawking them alongside the shoreline. As soon as we had scarfed down lunch although, the remainder of the journey remained uninterrupted, with my mother and father often dozing off like youngsters behind the automobile, as classic R.D. Burman songs filtered out of the stereo.

  Townsville & Magnetic Island

The lighthouse in Byron Bay is an efficient vantage level to identify dolphins swimming within the ocean (high left). Gold Coast presents each beachy enjoyable and a frenetic nightlife (high proper). The author snorkels alongside child sharks (backside proper). Byron Bay is backpacker central with surfers and busking musicians (backside left). Pictures by: Mel Longhurst/age fotostock/Dinodia Picture Library (lighthouse); David Wall/Alamy/indiapicture (nightlife); Chandni Doulatramani (sea); Pierre Olivier Signe/Panther Media/ Dinodia Picture Library (backpacker)

Uncle Ajit’s housewarming ceremonial dinner in Townsville was a rambunctious household shindig. Between chomping on pickled salmon and pork sausages, and consuming wine, we mapped our plans for the subsequent day. Within the morning, Chahna and I made for Magnetic (Maggie in native lingo) Island, whereas the remainder of the crew went croc-and-koala recognizing at Billabong Sanctuary. A 20-minute ferry experience from Townsville, Maggie Island is in a secluded portion of the Nice Barrier Reef. By the point we took the bus and hitched rides from locals to the island, we solely had time sufficient to discover three of its seven comparatively untouched seashores. In Florence Bay, we snorkeled alongside a child shark; in remoted Alma Bay, we sunbathed as if that slice of paradise have been our personal; and in Arthur Bay we noticed glowing corals within the calm, blue—and generally deceptively purple—waters. Though I didn’t realise it then, Maggie Island, an ethereal idyll of shapely boulders and cuddly marsupials, wouldn’t erase itself from my thoughts lengthy after the journey.

The following morning, we hit the street once more for Airlie Seaside, three hours south of Townsville. Within the serene seashore city with a busy marina, most guests frolicked by The Lagoon, which was a big neighborhood pool within the coronary heart of the city. By now, my sister and I have been charting our personal path, very like willful soloists in an orchestral symphony. So whereas the older members walked concerning the city window-shopping or café-hopping, we have been content material to laze round on a grassy patch close to the ocean. I snuggled up with a duplicate of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Canine within the Evening-Time and shortly snoozed off.

When the gang moved on from Airlie Seaside to Mackay, our subsequent cease, we had accomplished almost per week on the street. I used to be experiencing the stirrings of monotony. The Queensland surroundings had begun to really feel predictable; there was no getting away from the sugarcane fields—in spite of everything, 95 per cent of Australia’s sugarcane is produced within the state. Instagramming by means of the countryside had additionally misplaced its attraction. At first the little tin-and-wooden homes appeared charming. Nonetheless, painted in forlorn lifeless colors, the containers not held my curiosity.

  Mackay & Bundaberg

At Mackay, our group was feeling the fatigue on account of our hectic one-night-one-town itinerary. As soon as once more, we have been utilizing Mackay and Bundaberg, a city seven hours from Mackay, to sleep in a single day. We determined to decelerate our tempo, making extra halts alongside the way in which.

A type of occurred to be at Lambert’s Seaside—15 minutes away from Mackay (coastal Queensland is strewn with virgin seashores)—for whale watching. Someplace alongside on the way in which, we bought a large dwell mud crab from an outdated girl who reared crabs by a pond subsequent to her home. On reaching Gold Coast, we dined at Jimmy’s Kitchen, a Chinese language restaurant run by a good friend of Uncle Ajit’s. Oh, and did I point out that the crustacean accompanied us to Gold Coast in an ice field?

The following night in Bundaberg was purposefully eventless. Dwelling to Australia’s standard darkish rum (the liquor and the town is also known as Bundy), it presents walks and rum-tasting experiences at its huge distillery, however our explorer personas had been worn out and we wanted to unwind. So we did simply that.

The morning after, we drove for 3 hours to achieve Noosa, a 900-square-kilometre resort city alongside the Sunshine Coast that resembles the French Riviera. With high-end shops on both aspect of the road, extravagant eating places and bars, white sandy seashores, and other people wearing excessive vogue, Noosa was not like our earlier stops. We spied a seashore marriage ceremony that appeared straight out the films, a teenage fire-juggler busking on Laguna Bay, and canoodling {couples}.

  Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise

Clockwise from high left: Queensland’s smaller cities have a laid-back, creative vibe to them, with tattoo parlours, flea markets and hip cafés; Cairns, one of many gateways to the Nice Barrier Reef, qualifies as a extra touristy location than the remainder of the stops; Condom Kingdom is a singular intercourse store on Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast; On the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville, crocodiles and koalas are standard sightings. Pictures by: Norbert Probst/imageBROKER/dinodia photograph library (tattoo); Hemis/India Image (Cairns); Chandni Doulatramani (intercourse store); Ulla Lohmann/look/ Dinodia Picture Library (koala)

Leaving Noosa behind, we headed into our ultimate stretch. After driving for 3 hours, we reached Gold Coast for our final three days in Queensland. All this time spent gazing at pastoral panorama had whetted my urge for food for the town’s extra acquainted city beats. Our 11th-floor rented service house on Primary Seaside had a pleasant view of the blue-green ocean with white frothy waves gently rolling in and the glittering skyline. The winter chill had now set in, however we went swimming however. At this level, Chahna and I grew to become a separate occasion from the others, joined in our “younger individuals” adventures by an excellent good friend of mine from Sydney.

I used to be so able to play the vacationer, being offbeat be damned. So we took lengthy walks alongside the seashore and thru the market in Surfers Paradise, ate a burrito at Guzman y Gomez, a well-known eatery that serves Mexican delicacies, tasted bubble tea at Gong Cha and tried a martini with sweet floss on high at Home of Brews. On the morning of Day 2, we headed to Springbrook Nationwide Park, about 45 minutes from Gold Coast, and hiked alongside two trails for 4 hours. The primary path by means of the beautiful Gondwana Rainforests is full of canopies of myrtle beech and big eucalyptus bushes. We stood there like tiny blemishes on nature’s time-worn face, staring on the gushing waterfall with an unmistakable rainbow slicing proper throughout its centre. The water was roaring, drowning our voices. The second path, which is smaller however alluring, was within the Pure Bridge part of Springbrook the place the drive of water had lower by means of part of a cave to kind a bridge. Daylight streaming in by means of the water fashioned a turquoise blue rock pool. Every little thing was so nonetheless but throbbing with a cosmic connection that my good friend and I spent 30 minutes right here, meditating.

  Byron Bay

On our final day, we visited the hippy city of Byron Bay, about an hour from Gold Coast. Byron is a backpacker’s dream with musicians busking in alleys splashed with graffiti and younger youngsters browsing. Hipster cafés and yoga centres abound, as do handmade garment shops promoting shawls and crochet tops in delight colors, and artists portray out of caravans.

We meandered fortunately alongside the Cape Byron strolling observe that took us to the native lighthouse, the easterly level of mainland Australia, the place dolphins are sometimes noticed within the early hours of the morning. A drizzle had ruined any probabilities of us recognizing them however Byron’s easygoing buzz was sufficient. After the euphoria and adrenaline of fixed journeying, Byron was the candy bookend we wanted. I bid my good friend goodbye, promising to return quickly.

  Concord in Cacophony

Markets close to Byron Bay hawk every little thing from crop tops in delight colors and hula hoops to kitschy knick-knacks (high). The Springbrook Nationwide Park has two main trails, each of which take you deep right into a forested wonderland (center). Airlie Seaside, which has a marina, is a quiet seaside city excellent for ambling about (backside). Pictures by: davidhancock/Alamy/India Image (hula hoops); Auscape/UIG/Common Photos Group/ Dinodia Picture Library (forest); AdrianoK/shutterstock (metropolis)

Whereas our vacation had begun with the thrill of the unknown, we hadn’t thought of that some issues wouldn’t work in our favour. Half-way by means of this journey, I had begun to skip the meat pies that I relished each morning. I’m pleased with being the gourmand, however consuming Australian delicacies—barramundi, crabs, crocs and kangaroos—for days on finish throughout lunch, breakfast and dinner had develop into tiresome.

My mom, true to a Sindhi mother, had loaded her suitcase with Indian meals and I had taken to pilfering from that stash as a substitute. Solely firstly of our journey, we had quarreled like youngsters over whether or not there was any have to pack a lot Sindhi lola and papad when new flavours awaited us all through Queensland. However right here I used to be shamelessly embracing my internal desi.

Planning dinners had additionally develop into a raucous routine, the place totally different members couldn’t agree on the place to eat. I understood later, some issues will go my manner and a few gained’t. In my mother and father’ firm, I learnt to decelerate and never have a guidelines of issues to be finished. They might not maintain tempo with Chahna and I, maybe preferring to skip swimming round an island for one thing much less demanding.

The older of us in our gang have been cooler than I gave them credit score for. “Completely satisfied Hours” had develop into an on a regular basis affair with my of us, typically on the expense of sightseeing. In between fleeting sips of vodka and mawkish bites of papad, I realise that it wasn’t as a lot concerning the spots we’d lined or missed because it was about one another’s firm.

Queensland had gone previous me in a flash and I used to be fortunate that my mother and father had requested me to tag together with them. And regardless of my preliminary protests, the trove of Sindhi meals in our additional suitcase was over. My mom knew what she was doing all alongside.

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