#country music fans complain about cancel culture when

[bigassbowlingballhead]

Do country music fans every attack male country artists for speaking out about social issues or just... the women?

[erinptah]

Super Drags review (tl;dr Show Good)

The post where I do my best to spread the Good News, that there exists a saucy gay drag-queen magical-girl animated comedy and everyone should watch it.

Okay, not everyone -- I'll give some caveats at the end -- but definitely a heck of a lot more people than Netflix has bothered to advertise it to.

Look at this! Why did nobody tell me about this??

What is Super Drags?

Fast facts:

It's a 1-season, 5-episode adult animated comedy series, released in November 2018

Here's the official page, with a free-to-view trailer

It packs more explicit, unashamed queerness into those 5 episodes than any other cartoon I can think of

The only possible competitor would be if you took the whole 5000-episode run of Steven Universe and pared it down to a supercut of Just The Gay Parts

This in spite of being produced in Brazil, which (in my broad understanding, as a total non-authority on the subject) is more oppressively, dangerously homophobic than the US

The original is in Portuguese

There is an English dub, fabulously voiced by contestants from RuPaul's Drag Race

It's wrapped in "for adults only!" warnings, not because the content is any less child-friendly than (say) your Bojacks Horsemen or your Ricks and Mortys, but because Brazilian authorities tried to get it shut down on the grounds of this much gay being Harmful For Children

It was (heartbreakingly) not renewed for a second season

Here's a promo video, in which the main characters (Portuguese, with subtitles) play Drag Race judges for Shangela, who ends up voicing Scarlet in English.

And here's a beautiful flashy music video of the big musical number! (Also Portuguese, no subtitles, but the melody and the visuals stand on their own.)

Plot and worldbuilding stuff!

The elevator pitch is "What if Charlie's Angels, but also drag queens, with superpowers, because magical-girl transformations?"

In this universe, all LGBTQ people have magical energy. The Big Bad is an evil magical-drag-queen nemesis who tries to drain our energy for her own purposes. It's like if Ursula from The Little Mermaid was a first-season Sailor Moon villain.

...sidenote, in case you were worried, the representation isn't "cis gay men and nobody else." There's a butch lesbian in the recurring cast, a genderfluid person (in that specific word!) as a one-off love interest, and all the ensemble scenes are wonderful collages of different races, body types, and gender presentations.

Our heroes also fight non-magical everyday homophobes, who get written with scathing realism.

The moment I knew the show wasn't pulling any punches was in the first episode, where a newscaster complains about being Silenced by the Law of Political Correctness, then chirps "however, we have a special guest who is thankfully above the law!"

According to the reviews I've found from Brazilian viewers, it's also pitch-perfect when it comes to local queer culture, community dynamics, slang and speech patterns, even memes. All of which flies right over my head, so here's a post (with no-context spoilers) about one viewer's favorite details.

The handful of reaction posts on Tumblr have a dramatic split between "Brazilian viewers fiercely defending the show as culturally-accurate, uplifting, and brave in a terrifying political moment" and "American viewers complaining that the show is problematic because it's a comedy about drag queens with no perfect role models and lots of sex jokes."

As the Super Drags tell their nemesis (and this is also in the first episode): "How dare you try to turn the LGBTQXYZ community against each other? We do enough of that on our own!"

In between missions, our girls work sitcom retail jobs and deal with other everyday problems. All of which are written in amazingly nuanced and thoughtful ways for a show that also features "defeating an orgy monster with a lip-sync battle."

Detailed character stuff!

Our heroes are Color Coded For Your Convenience!

The Super Drags themselves go by "she" in-uniform, and a lot of the time when out of it. Like the Sailor Starlights, only more so. I'll roll with that.

In blue: Safira Cyan, or Ralph by day, an excitable college-age kid who's built like a football player and squees like a fangirl. (She's an anime fan in the original, and for some reason all the otaku references were replaced in the dub, but you can see them in the subtitles.)

Ralph lives with her younger sister (they play video games together!) and their dad, comes out to them mid-series, and is very shippable with another young guy who starts out reciting the homophobic beliefs he was raised with but whose heart clearly isn't in it.

Safira's weapon is a classic magical-girl wand that casts protective force-fields. Which are shaped like condoms. Because of course.

In yellow: Lemon Chiffon, aka Patrick, the oldest of the group and generally the smartest/most strategic. In most cases, the other two treat her as the de facto team leader -- unless she pushes it too far.

By day she's a single guy with thick thighs and thinning hair, who has some body-image insecurities on the dating scene. And this show has Things To Say about unrealistic beauty standards within the community...not to mention, about masc guys who look down on anyone too flaming or femme because straight people disapprove.

Lemon's weapon is a fluffy boa that can be used as a whip or a lasso, especially when there's a bondage joke to be made.

In red: Scarlet Carmesim, also Donizete, the loudest and most aggressive teammate with the most cutting insults, who refuses to suppress that attitude in an attempt to appease racists. (But will give it a shot when trying not to get fired.)

Donny still lives in her religious/homophobic mom's apartment, and I'm pretty sure it's because neither of them can afford to move out. Her rock-solid sense of fierce self-confidence is the reason it doesn't bring her down.

Scarlet's weapon is a fan that she uses to throw shade. Yeah, you knew that was coming.

The Charlie to these angels is Champagne, who runs operations from a cool magitech compound and breaks the fourth wall at the end to petition for viewers' support in getting a second season.

...we let her down, folks :(

So here's a thing. The show never draws a sharp line between "people who become drag queens because it's a way they're driven to express themselves as gay men" and "people who become drag queens because they were trans women all along." That's consistent with how South American LGBT+ culture works. (Again: best of my knowledge, not personally an authority on this, etc etc.)

Many of the characters, including Champagne, never describe themselves in ways that translate to one of our sharply-defined Anglo-USian identity categories. And I'm not going to try to impose any English labels on them here.

But I can say (in contrast to Safira, Lemon, and Scarlet), Champagne never switches out of her "drag" name/voice/presentation, not even in the most candid off-duty scenes, and still has the same bustline when naked in the tub. Make of that what you will.

You Should Watch This Show

If you have a Netflix subscription, watch Super Drags!

If you ever do a Netflix free trial month in the future, make a note to yourself to watch Super Drags!

It's one of their original productions, so there's no risk of missing your chance because the license expired. But it's absolutely not getting the promotion it deserves. Which means potentially interested viewers won't find it, which means Netflix will think there's no interest, which means they'll keep not promoting it...etc etc etc.

No idea if there's any chance of getting it un-canceled, but maybe we can at least convince them to release it on DVD.

And the sheer gutsiness it took for a group of Brazilian creators to produce this show in the first place -- that deserves to be rewarded with your attention.

In spite of various anti-discrimination laws that sound good on paper, the country has serious problems with homophobia, transphobia, and anti-LGBT violence (warning, article has a violent image which is only partly blurred).

Maybe the creators could've gotten a second season if they made this one softer, less sexually-explicit, more restrained...but honestly? I bet that wouldn't have helped.

Consider Danger & Eggs, an Amazon original cartoon. It was made in the US, thoroughly child-friendly, and restricts its LGBT+ representation to things like "characters go to a Pride celebration...where nobody ever names or describes the quality they're proud of."

And it didn't get renewed past the first season either.

(Note: it had a trans woman showrunner and a queer-heavy creative staff, so I blame all that restraint on executive meddling, not the creators themselves. The showrunner even liked the tweet of my review that complains about it.)

So there's something very satisfying about how Super Drags went all-out, balls-to-the-wall (sometimes literally), all the rep explicit and unapologetic, packing every 25-minute episode with all kinds of queer content that would be censored or muted elsewhere -- but here it's exaggerated and celebrated and just keeps coming.

(...as do jokes like that, and I'm not sorry.)

Okay, there are a few legitimate reasons to not watch this show

Some caveats.

None of these things are Objectively Bad Problems that the show itself should be shamed for...but maybe they're genuinely not your cup of tea.

It does have actual Adult Content beyond "the existence of gay people." This show loves to swing barely-clothed cartoon genitalia in your face. There is, as mentioned, an orgy monster. If that kind of humor is going to bother you too much to appreciate the rest of the show, give it a pass.

I wasn't kidding about how realistic the homophobes are. Opening of the first episode has a guy trying to murder a busload of people while shouting slurs at them. If that level of hatred on-screen is gonna crush your soul, even in a show about sparkly queens flying to the rescue with dick-shaped magical weapons, don't push yourself.

Any fiction with this much crossdressing and gender-transgressing is going to hit some trans viewers in a bad way. Because trans people are such a broad group, with so many different experiences, that Every Possible Trope Involved pushes somebody's buttons. (See also: "some trans readers complain about a storyline that turns out to be drawn from a trans writer's actual life experience".) If this show goes does gender things that turn out to be personally distressing for you...or even just distressing for this specific time in your life...don't feel obligated to keep watching.

It has aggressively-sassy queer characters making jokes and calling each other things that are affectionate in-context, but would not be okay coming from straight/cis people. If you can't wrap your head around that, go watch something else.

Other Than That, Go Watch This Show

For all its big heart, big ambitions, and big gay energy, Super Drags is tiny enough that I've binged the whole show 2 times in the past 2 weeks. Thankfully, it's highly re-watchable -- lots of fun background gags and subtle foreshadowing that you don't catch on the first round.

(Pausing one last time to appreciate that a show with elements like "the high-tech robot assistant is called D.I.L.D.O." can be subtle at all, let alone be this good at it.)

I've also paged through all the fanart on Tumblr and Deviantart, looked up the single fanfic on the AO3, and started brainstorming plans to request it in Yuletide next year. Someone, please, come join me in (the English-language side of) the itty-bitty fandom for this ridiculous, glittery, over-the-top, fabulous series.

[mariaclaragomez276]

Meet the SLH Marketing Team

A creative think tank of travel experts specialising in luxury brand positioning, we’re proud to be a small yet mighty team of independently minded individuals. Each with our own unique skill-set, from illustration, graphic design, content creation to copywriting, our marketing knowledge spans across three continents and the same number of decades. Here’s a little bit more about the people behind the brand…

Richard Hyde – Chief Operating Officer

Three fun facts about yourself…

On a work experience week at the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam a guest called to complain about the soap not soaping. He didn’t realise it had a thin plastic wrapping. That person was Bill Gates.

My first job was advertising microwave ovens. We put a massive billboard on the Cromwell Road with a 25 ft rubber chicken. Within 24 hours it had disappeared, never to be found again. But someone in Earls Court must have it.

I am a big reindeer fan. On a visit to Lapland to see Father Christmas (he does exist), I befriended a reindeer with one antler called Nobby. I paid for his upkeep for a year and got an ownership certificate. If you enjoyed the Chernobyl series on Sky, spare a thought for all the wildlife in Scandinavia, which caught the brunt of the radiation fall out. Another sad fact, there are no wild reindeer left in Scandinavia. Every single one is accounted for and tagged.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to cycle from New York to San Francisco, but apparently it is better the other way due to the prevailing wind, but it’s not same to end 6 weeks of pain in the East River rather than the Pacific Ocean.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

A hard question but I’ll say the new Kontiki Yacht experience around the Galapagos.

Where is your happy place?

In a large double bed with the family, watching an old Sophia Loren movie and Jennifer Lawrence whispering bed time stories in my ear.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Going on a moped tour of Lahore in Pakistan. Just the friendliest people and most exotic markets. Shame it’s ruined by internal strife.

Abi Tottenham-Smith – Head of Social Media

Three fun facts about yourself…

I am a big musical theatre fan and love nothing more than a cheesy musical. I have been dancing since I was a kid and still like to do classes and workshops every so often now to get my fix!

I have worked and lived in both Singapore and NYC for a few months each. Even though I have bought a flat in London and have a dog, I still have an urge to live somewhere else for a short period of time – anyone in NYC want to house swap?

I studied Fashion Marketing at university and always thought I wanted to get into the fashion industry – particularly mens fashion. After a short stint in the fashion industry and then the world of beauty, I moved into travel and couldn’t see myself anywhere else now!

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

I had a trip to South Africa booked to visit friends before lockdown which sadly got cancelled so I am desperate to re-arrange that as soon as possible! I am also craving a wilderness escape in Canada and it would be a dream to one day visit Bhutan – it sounds like a truly magical country and it still seems like it is relatively untouched by tourism.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

There are far too any and I had already mentioned in my previous interview that I was desperate to visit Sikelia, Trout Point Lodge and Petit St. Vincent but now on top of these I love the look of Hôtel Crillon le Brave in France, Villa La Madonna in Italy and Villa Geba in Montenegro.

Where is your happy place?

On Compton Beach in the Isle of Wight. I have been going there with my family since I was a child as my grandfather bought a small coastguard cottage on the island at an auction in the 1960s. My parents now rent it out during the summer but we try to go down as much as possible when its available. It’s the one place where you can truly relax, go on long beautiful walks, play board games by the fire and turn off from city life!

Your most memorable travel experience?

We arrived on a tiny island in the Philippines in the middle of the night and had to get to our accommodation on the opposite side of the island. We managed to find a lovely man who took us in his tuktuk – little did we know the roads meandered through thick woods and hovered over steep cliffs and our new pal was a maniac on the road… two hours later we arrived shaken but unscathed and hiked down to the little hut we had booked. We had no idea where we were or what the surroundings were like but woke up in the morning to the most incredible view over a river, in the middle of nowhere. We ended up staying there for three nights and enjoyed swimming in the river, hiking the cliffs and relaxing in the hammock (mostly psyching ourselves up to take the journey back again!)

Maddy Morgan – Director of PR Worldwide

Three fun facts about yourself…

I once went to circus school to learn how to be a trapeze artist.

In the 90s I was a clog dancing champion and went on tours of Europe and the US.

I have visited pretty much every corner of California – it’s my specialist subject.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

It’s not a destination so much as an experience – I would love to take an extended trip with my family and follow the sun and the surf around the world. No fixed agenda just pure freedom and the opportunity to take forest school to the next level for my kids!

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Brazil has been on my wish list for a long time so Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa and Resort near Maceio is top of the list. It describes itself as an eco-chic design hotel where luxury is defined by earth given beauty – I feel relaxed just thinking about it!

Where is your happy place?

For me it’s Portugal – I spent a lot of time there growing up and then studied at university in Coimbra. I go at least once a year and love the fact that when I’m there I feel completely at home and not a tourist. The smell of pine trees will always be one of the most evocative scents for me and takes me straight back to hot summer days in Algarve.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I worked at an orphanage in rural Sarawak for a year when I was 18. The locals were incredibly generous taking us on trips to visit their families in nearby longhouses and including us in special occasions like weddings – it’s a cliché but there really is nothing like a totally immersive travel experience. One of them who I hadn’t seen for 20 years just sent me a video message out of the blue for my birthday in June which was the most amazing present. If I’m allowed a second one it would be filming on Alcatraz and being left alone in the cell block while the crew went outside to shoot the sunset. I’m not sure many people get to experience that and it was terrifying!

Dana O’Malley – PR Director Americas

Three fun facts about yourself…

I used to live three blocks from the White House.

I was on the field for an AC Milan v Chelsea match.

I’m half Trinidadian, half American (by way of Eastern Europe).

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

Japan has been on the top of my bucket list for a few years now and I’m determined to get there soon! I’ve always been infatuated by the culture and food, and can’t wait to explore the cities and further afield.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

I would love to visit Dar Ahlam in Morocco. It’s a very special retreat situated near the Moroccan desert which caters to your every whim.

Where is your happy place?

Anywhere with my husband! We’re always ready for an adventure and experiencing new things, especially with our young daughter in tow.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Pimalai Resort & Spa in Koh Lanta, Thailand holds a special place in my heart. We spent our honeymoon at the resort basking in the sun, enjoying private dinners on the beach and taking a boat tour to visit nearby islands.

Juliana Tan – PR Director Asia Pacific

Three fun facts about yourself…

I take care of Public Relations in Asia Pacific, and live on the sunny shores of Singapore.

During my free time, I enjoy photography and jewellery making.

I have recently taken up gardening too, inspired by the farm-to-table concept that I see at many SLH hotels.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

North America! I have travelled to almost every part of Asia Pacific, but have not ventured to the Americas yet. I was supposed to visit this November, so that is definitely top of my list for 2021.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

I would like to go to Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Organic Farm Hotel in Spain. I love to eat, and just reading up about the hotel makes me hungry – for their fine Spanish cuisine and culinary adventures at their organic farm and vineyard. I am especially looking forward to meeting their special residents who live in the 30-hectare evergreen oak tree forest – the indigenous Churra sheep, near extinct Verata goats and endangered woolly Mangalica pigs. The hotel is committed to preserving indigenous, rare and endangered species in the Duero Valley. If the place is good enough for Christopher Columbus (who reputedly once visited, restored and modernised the 14th-century Dominican monastery), Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel & Organic Farm Hotel is definitely good enough for me to explore!

Where is your happy place?

Cliché as it sounds, the Kingdom of Bhutan warms the cockles of my heart. I was intrigued by a place which seems to have stood still in time, by their very colourful culture and historic architecture. Beyond The Tiger’s Nest and Dzongs, there’s so much more to explore in Bhutan, like staying in a farmhouse, making your own buckwheat noodles from scratch and ending the day with a hot stone bath (you can try a luxurious version at Gangtey Lodge and Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary). Most of all, the sincere and welcoming hearts of the people I met left the deepest impression, so much so I started to read up on the Kingdom after I returned home, and I am planning to go back again soon.

Your most memorable travel experience?

My first safari to Botswana was an eye-opener, literally. Being a city dweller, the concrete jungle with its gaudy lights, deafening noises and rushed footsteps were what I was used to. During the week I was on safari, I was greeted with glistening sunshine accented with the happy chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves as wildlife walked alongside. I learnt to stay still and just observe the animals, thoroughly enjoying the antics of the young. The entire experience enhanced my senses – by day three, I was able to clearly see the vast plains lit solely by the moonlight and interpret the calls and footsteps of wildlife; our safari guide (interestingly, his name was Fish) taught us well!

Jessica Sparkes – Head of Digital Performance

Three fun facts about yourself…

Recently, I reignited my love for musical theatre, completing a beginner course and singing ‘I dreamed a dream’ in the end show.

I have a little Maltipoo pup called Gus. We like to do tricks together, currently we are learning to dance.

I’ve tried every last minute holiday diet available.

Which destination is top of your bucket list?

Argentina Wine Trails, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

There are far too many to choose from! Finca Serena for the ultimate, European, countryside escape. Huvafen Fushi Maldives – you just need to view the hotel gallery to understand why! And Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa because I absolutely love the Caribbean and this is another beautiful location to tick off my list.

Where is your happy place?

The minute I buckle up my seat belt on a plane out of here! The happiest of places is when I have my toes in the sand, face in sunshine and reading a book.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I did a sunrise climb of Mount Batur in Bali a couple of years ago. I had absolutely no idea what to expect and probably for the best. A pick up time of 2am, three hour trek in the thick darkness of the night with head torches and then climbing towards the top on my hands and knees! Once you have made it to the top of the volcano, you see the most incredible views across Indonesia with the sun rising over the horizon. There was also a guitarist singing “Hotel California” – such an incredible experience.

Laura Bizayi – Senior Digital Campaign Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

I was born 11 weeks premature and weighed just the same as a bag of sugar.

I have a 6 month old Pomapoo called Luna, so we have the same initials (LB).

I once took part in the world’s biggest egg and spoon race at school.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

Maldives. Philippines. Mykonos. I’m more of a sun searcher, I admit.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort. New to SLH and looks completely lush. I haven’t travelled to South America yet and this is the perfect excuse!

Where is your happy place?

Honestly, anywhere (mostly) abroad where I can appreciate the beauty, locality, food and culture of a destination. I genuinely love travelling, so my happy place changes. Besides this, anywhere with my Pomapoo puppy Luna, she’s my forever happy place.

Your most memorable travel experience?

I loved South Africa. I visited Cape Town and Johannesburg. The thing that topped South Africa as potentially my favourite holiday is the beauty – the driving routes are absolutely incredible (but scary, the cliff-edges terrified me every single day!), while Cape Town as a place is eye-opening, particularly post-apartheid, and more so since I was travelling with my husband who is African. I’m particularly happy we now have some new hotels in this destination, and would certainly go back and drive the Garden Route to see more of the country and visit The Cellars-Hohenort, The Plettenberg, and The Marine.

Sorry, I also have to mention Bali. We visited for our honeymoon so it’s got to be top of the list. Balinese hospitality is just so lovely and not like anything I’ve experienced before. We stayed at Viceroy Bali and it’s a true gem!

Jemima O’Lone – Digital Content & Design Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

I used to be a chef and for the last six years I have made hand-painted cakes for weddings and events.

I adore skiing and winter tends to revolve around when and where I am going.

Like many others in my team, I love dogs and always have my eyes open for my own – I’ll know when the right one comes along.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

Bhutan for this once in a lifetime itinerary.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Halcyon House for interiors and Dar Ahlam for the experience – apparently it is life changing.

Where is your happy place?

Meribel, France – where I lived for three winters. I try to visit every year and this year I was lucky enough to visit Le Coucou, a super stylish ski-in ski-out hotel. Look out for the beautiful mural of owls on the ceiling of the reception.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Touring the local cafés and eateries of Mumbai – my favourite city because it is so vibrant and full of life.  A must visit is Café Leopold, which is still littered with gunshot holes from the famous scene in the book Shantaram, unsuspecting Café Olympia where you will eat the most incredible food for £1 and Chowpatty beach for Pav Bhajis.

Chloe Frost-Smith – Digital Image & Content Executive

Three fun facts about yourself…

I was born in Hong Kong and spent my early childhood in Tokyo, Japan – my first holiday was to Bali when I was six weeks old (wish I could remember it!)

I studied Classics at university, which means I can read as many ancient languages as I can speak modern languages (in fact, I am probably more fluent in the ancient ones – useful, I know.)

I am an Advanced PADI scuba-diver and qualified shark specialist with dives logged all over the world, including the Maldives, Turks & Caicos islands, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Egypt, and Greece.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

It’s impossible to choose just one, so here are my top three:

Iceland – to ride ponies across black beaches with volcanic views.

Morocco – to shop the souks of Marrakech, and explore Chefchaouen (the Blue City) or Ouarzazate in the High Atlas Mountains, the gateway to the Sahara Desert.

Egypt – I still haven’t seen the pyramids (despite writing my dissertation on Cleopatra) and would love to take a trip down the Nile.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

It would have to be Castello di Reschio – I dream of watching the weekly dressage performances in their Teatro Equestre, and would love to ride around the ancient Umbrian estate, followed by making my own pizza in an authentic alfresco class. I would also love to experience the Wild West at one of our American ranches, Rawah Ranch and Riverview Ranch both look incredibly rustic and rugged. In fact, any of our horse riding hotels would top my wish list.

Where is your happy place?

Underwater, on a horse, or on the slopes in a pair of skis (or one if you catch me after après hours…) When I’m on dry land, I am happiest on the beach in Southwold sharing fish and chips with my boyfriend and our new family puppy, Truffle.

Your most memorable travel experience?

Spotting a mother bear and her cub from a chairlift while skiing with my sister in Whistler, coming across dolphins on a cliff-walk off the coast of Ireland with my boyfriend, watching the sun rise over the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, taking part in the early morning alms-giving ceremony with the local monks in Luang Prabang, swimming with sea turtles in the Tobago Cays, milking a buffalo in Laos in an all-white outfit (this did not end well), a beachfront yoga session on Petit St. Vincent, and living out my Gertrude Bell fantasies horse riding across the desert in Morocco with my father – sorry, there are too many to choose from!

Becky Underwood – Senior Marketing Manager

Three fun facts about yourself…

At the age of 14, I completed a World Challenge expedition to Tanzania, which involved climbing to the summit of Mount Meru, roaming the safari plains of the Ngorongoro Crater, dancing with the Maasai whilst learning about their customs, and completing local community projects such as rebuilding a primary school. This was a transformative experience as we were totally immersed in the culture, living alongside the villagers.

I’ve always been fascinated by architecture and property design and hope to be able to build my own house one day, perhaps I’ll even make it on to Grand Designs. For the time being, I’m still on the hunt for the perfect plot of land!

Back in 2009, I was awarded by Nottingham University for a piece of research carried out on the tourism industry and turtle conservation. A whole eight years later I planned my first trip to Costa Rica and was able to experience turtle conversation in person in Tortuguero National Park. It was magical observing newly hatched turtles dig their way to the surface of the nests and scuttle across the beach to the surf of the sea.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

I love the thought of completely switching off and escaping to the rugged and captivating scenery of Norway with just a backpack. In summer I’d explore by rail, kayak or boat, taking in the colourful towns and waterfalls dotted along the Fjords. Come winter I’d cosy up in a boutique hotel in front of a log burner or fire, master a snowmobile and experience my first taste of reindeer!

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

It’s close to home, but The Fish Hotel in the Cotswolds has been on my to visit list for a long time. Perhaps it’s the child in me, but I am desperate to escape back-to-nature and relax in one of their quirky hill-side huts and treehouses. For me the perfect stay just wouldn’t be possible without a soak in the outdoor bath or hot tub. Plus, it’s impossible not to be intrigued by a hideaway hut named ‘Boaty McBoatface’, which comes with its own private lake and island.

Where is your happy place?

There’s something that soothes my soul when I’m by the British coast. The waterways, small inlets and little villages surrounding Chichester are close to my family home, so I often escape to Bosham and Emsworth. The Deck is a great little restaurant overlooking a working yacht harbour, where you can settle in for hours over fish and chips or a coffee and cake. Then swing by the fishmongers to pick up a catch of the day for dinner.

Your most memorable travel experience?

The views from Santorini will never leave my memory. Whether it was an early morning breakfast on our balcony, or a lazy afternoon dip in the infinity pool, I was never able to divert my gaze away from the view of the Aegean Sea. So much so we took the caldera-edge pathway walk to Oia, over rough trails, to admire the captivating sea view. A particular highlight was the sunset boat ride we took in a traditional sailing boat, a great way to enjoy nature’s spectacle and to escape the crowds.

Clive Ritchie – Design Consultant

Three fun facts about yourself…

I brew my own kombucha, play keys and can walk with my feet pointing backwards.

Which destination is top of your bucketlist?

The remote atolls of the Pacific.

The one SLH hotel you’d like to visit, and why?

Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands – I’m fascinated by remote islands and this ticks all the boxes.

Where is your happy place?

The lakes behind a town called Sedgefield on the Garden Route, near Cape Town where I spent my summer holidays as a kid.

Your most memorable travel experience?

A few days of bliss anchored at Tobago Cays in the Southern Caribbean on a catamaran – snorkelling around the reef and exploring nearby islands.

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Character Chart:

Character’s full name: Robin Henrik Stenmark Reason or meaning of name: If there was a reason for his parents naming him such, Robin will never be aware of it but Robin is variation of Robert and grew popular after the story of Robin Hood.  Character’s nickname: Robbie, Rob can sometimes even be called Robin Hood, his sister calls him Indiana Jones Reason for nickname: His career and his name Birth date: 15th June

Physical appearance:

Age: 29 How old does he/she appear: Robin holds a rough apperance and his eyes speak of experience so he comes off as to be around the age of 30, unless he shaves and cleans himself up, along with having that playful spark in his eyes he sometimes get -- then he looks closer to 27.  Weight: - (i never bother with this part sorry) Height: 6′0 Body build: Broad, muscular since he walks, runs and climbs a lot. But definitely not too buff, it’s mainly his legs.  Shape of face: Soft, oval/round Eye color: Blue Glasses or contacts: None Skin tone: Caucasian Distinguishing marks: Light freckles, tiny scars Predominant features: His eyes, he has a unqiue shape along with his eyebrows. Hair color: Dirty blond Type of hair: Flat Hairstyle: Short or down to his ears, messy most of the time.  Voice: Overall attractiveness: This would be biased to answer so I’ll let you rate him on your own. Physical disabilities: None, yet Usual fashion of dress: He dresses accordingly to the country he’s visiting.  Favorite outfit: None. Jewelry or accessories: Wears a necklace at times which was a gift from a fan of his. 

Personality:

Good personality traits: Open minded, friendly, supportive, lucky, flexible Bad personality traits: Gullible, careless, impulsive, untidy Mood character is most often in: Cheerful and peppy Sense of humor: Light-hearted and flirty, references  Character’s greatest joy in life: His job and his family Character’s greatest fear: Having to retire due to an accident, as this has almost happened before Why?: He just adores his job, that’s all. It’s the only thing he has a burning passion for and he doesn’t know what he would be or do without it.  What single event would most throw this character’s life into complete turmoil?: As said Character is most at ease when: He’s out exploring and sharing knowledge between himself and others.  Most ill at ease when: Stuck and unable to update his blog with new content for his readers.  Enraged when: in a situation in which people speak ill of the places and people he has visited and befriended, or only view it as a place to stereotype and take advantage of.  Depressed or sad when: Obvious  Priorities: Sharing as much cultural knowledge he can with the rest of the world.  Life philosophy: Don’t let a single bad experience hold you down from seeing the greater ones. If granted one wish, it would be: To turn his blog into a TV show, so that he can reach a wider audience  Why?: Because he believes spreaking facts could open people’s eyes to the world beyond the ones they’re familiar with, and perhaps show that you can travel around beyond a need to tourist your way across a country and take advantage of people and cultures just so that you can sun on their beaches.  Character’s soft spot: People who share his passions and beliefs Is this soft spot obvious to others?: Yes, yes it is.  Greatest strength: Being able to see people as people and not judge them based upon what they wear, how they act, what language they speak, what religion they stand on etc.  Greatest vulnerability or weakness: Also taking people for granted. He almost holds too much trust or believes they can turn for the better, no matter what they do to him or others.  Biggest regret: Not taking a stand when it comes to the matter of him. Minor regret: Not seeing his family more often Biggest accomplishment: His blog Minor accomplishment: Learning the most common languages among the countries he visits  Past failures he/she would be embarrassed to have people know about: Stereotyping when he first started to travel around Why?: Easy, because it’s one of many things he’s fighting to demolish these days. He does talk about it though, when necessary, but usually preferrs to focus on nowday achievements instead of linger on the past Character’s darkest secret: He is still meeting up with his ex boyfriend at times, a man he met on the road and whom he started off his blog with. The man turned against Robin when it became obvious people took to Robin opposed to him, jealous and with the idea he could pull in a bigger profit of his own they broke up as has since stolen destinations and plans through Robin’s blog and often benefits off them -- causing Robin to have to cancel his own and pick something else secondhand. Robin is still in love with his ex and he tend to wrap him around his finger whenever they land in the same spot.  Does anyone else know?: He doesn’t mention it to anyone thinking they’re all going to judge him for it and because of his feelings. A few of his readers know, however, as they were the ones to point it out to him in the first place. Robin has tried to hush them but it seems as the wave of hate towards his ex is growing and some can be found posting nasty messages on his ex’s comment section. 

Goals:

Drives and motivations: Making a change, enlighten Immediate goals: Post a new article one a week  Long term goals: Further his blog onto other medias How the character plans to accomplish these goals: Already on it, and waiting for the right time to reach out. He doesn’t want to offer his ideas to the wrong people or get stuck filming opposed to learning How other characters will be affected: Not at all, it’s all him.

Past:

Hometown: Linköping, Sweden Type of childhood: It was rocky up until the point of adoption, has since been stable and loving Pets: None First memory: His biological parents disagreeing Most important childhood memory: Why: Childhood hero: Steve Irwin Dream job: To be Steve Irwin Education: High school and gymnasium, in which he studied IT Religion: Nothing he dwelled on Finances: Middle

Present:

Current location: Everywhere Currently living with: No one Pets: None Religion: New age, open to others Occupation: Blogger/travel journalist Finances: Middle, near wealthy depending on the month

Family:

Mother: -- Relationship with her:  Father (s): Lars and Stefan Stenmark Relationship with him: Good, but has been a little rocky ever since Robin got shot and refused to listen to reason. Still holds a lot of care and protectivness over one another Siblings: Two, one older and one younger Relationship with them: Stable, but a little distant lately as Robin is barely at home Spouse: None Relationship with him/her:  Children:  Relationship with them:  Other important family members: TBD

Favorites:

Color: Bronze Least favorite color: Grey Music: Alternative, he listens to music and styles from all over the world.  Food: Asian Literature: Light-hearted fantasy and adventure Form of entertainment: Learning, exploring Expressions: “I see.” / “Really, now?” Mode of transportation: Feet Most prized possession: Gifts and memories

Habits:

Hobbies: writing, photography, learning language and history Plays a musical instrument?: Yes, a few he has picked up. Learned bongo drums at one point at can’t keep his hands off them if he sees some.  Plays a sport?: Not frequently How he/she would spend a rainy day: Depends on how much it rains, really.  Spending habits: Barely any. Mainly on flight tickets, food and necessary needs  Smokes: No Drinks: When the article is done being written he can spend the evening celebrate having a day off Other drugs: No, but has experimented with a few  What does he/she do too much of?: Talk What does he/she do too little of?: Relax Extremely skilled at: Intracting and making people feel at ease around him. Extremely unskilled at: Cooking Nervous tics: Plays with the strap of his camera, tips his head around and avoid eye contact Usual body posture: Upright, hand on his side, feels confident Mannerisms: Comes off as childish at times, way too energetic but fits his manners accordingly to whom he’s speaking to and what they may expect of him Peculiarities: None

Traits:

Optimist or pessimist?: Optimist Introvert or extrovert?: Extrovert Daredevil or cautious?: Daredevil Logical or emotional?: In the middle, depends on why or what Disorderly and messy or methodical and neat?: Depends on if it’s for work or not Prefers working or relaxing?: Work Confident or unsure of himself/herself?: Confident Animal lover?: Yes!

Self-perception:

How he/she feels about himself/herself: Robin feels pretty good about himself, as someone who travels and sees all kind of beauty and ugly in the world he knows he has no right to complain.  One word the character would use to describe self: Durable One paragraph description of how the character would describe self: Robin would describe himself as steadfast if not durable, as a person willing to change for the better whenever the world offers him a chance to try. He knows he has flaws just like anyone else, but he prefers to stick to them rather than brush away the pieces of him that makes him unique to his neighbor. He is loving and kind, one to live by the words that everyone deserves an opportunity to show what they’re made of and he finds it to be his calling to spread people’s messages across the globe.  What does the character consider his/her best personality trait?: Being open minded What does the character consider his/her worst personality trait?: Being gullible What does the character consider his/her best physical characteristic?: He doesn’t put too much attention to himself What does the character consider his/her worst physical characteristic?: As said How does the character think others perceive him/her: Friendly, someone who invites trust and seem open to hear you out before judging you.  What would the character most like to change about himself/herself: He sometimes wishes he could do more than he already does, finding his knowledge to be lacking to certain degrees. 

Relationships with others:

Opinion of other people in general: Adores them!  Does the character hide his/her true opinions and emotions from others?: Opinions depends on whom he’s talking to, really. Emotions he openly shows.  Person character most hates: His ex, conflict of emotions hah.  Best friend(s): Willow Holtz in one timeline, Undecided name in another Love interest(s): Depends on plot and timeline Person character goes to for advice: His older sister Sofia Person character feels responsible for or takes care of: His youngest sibling, people that end up in his hands during travels  Person character feels shy or awkward around: His ex, people he has crushes on (leaves it if said person turns into someone more) Person character openly admires: Those fighting for change and those who spread positive messages and tries to help those in need Person character secretly admires: None at the moment (wanted connection maybe?) Most important person in character’s life before story starts: His best friend’s parents who often allowed him to sleepover or stay longer when things seemed unstable at home.  After story starts: His siblings, his dads, people I end up plotting with -- it’s hard to state them ya know. 

[viralhottopics]

Hong Kong: Twenty years later – BBC News

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from the UK to China. The BBC’s Helier Cheung, who sang in the handover ceremony, shares her personal reflections on the last two decades.

As a child, you don’t always appreciate when you’re witnessing history.

On 1 July 1997, I was part of the choir singing in the handover, in front of China’s leaders and millions of viewers around the world.

It was a historic day. But I was nine at the time, so my most vivid memories were:

the sandwiches we ate backstage – they were disgusting

the heavy rain – although I glimpsed a rainbow too

singing some songs I could only half understand because they were in Mandarin.

All of us in the choir had grown up speaking Cantonese. So singing in Mandarin felt both familiar and unfamiliar – it signified a culture we recognised, but did not grow up with.

Image caption In 1997, I (second from left) got to sing in the handover ceremony

Image caption Nearly 20 years later, I was back in Hong Kong reporting for the BBC

There were lots of dancers with pink fans, and I remember China’s then-President Jiang Zemin holding up a piece of calligraphy that read “Hong Kong’s tomorrow will be better”.

But that night, I saw on TV that some had been protesting against the handover. It was one of my first lessons about Hong Kong’s divisions – some were happy to be part of China again, but others were afraid.

I didn’t always follow politics then, but politics still affected me. Some of my friends emigrated ahead of the handover, because their parents weren’t sure about life under China.

And 1997 was also the start of the Asian financial crisis, so I overheard adults talking about stock market crashes, and suicides.

As a child, it was more comforting to be oblivious about the news.

Even as my friends and I went to secondary school, we rarely thought about developments in mainland China – we were teenagers after all.

This all changed in 2003. Hong Kong was hit by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) which travelled over from southern China.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption People started wearing face masks to protect themselves from Sars

Suddenly whole buildings were being quarantined. School was cancelled – shortly before our exams – as well as our junior high ball.

To some, it almost seemed unfair – the virus had spread here after officials in mainland China covered up the outbreak.

Yet Hong Kong, which handled the outbreak more transparently, was the focus of a lot of international coverage, and was the city with the most deaths – nearly 300.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Temperature checks were a must

My friends and I became more pragmatic. We did everything we were told to – wearing face masks, disinfecting our hands and taking our temperatures before school each day.

But we kept meeting up in McDonald’s after class, as we always did. One friend told me: “If you die, you die, there’s nothing you can do. You just need to do the best you can.”

By summertime, Hong Kong was Sars-free. But another crisis, this time political, was rumbling.

The government wanted to introduce national security legislation, known as Article 23.

It would have outlawed treason, secession and sedition – words I had to look up – and allowed our government to outlaw groups banned in mainland China.

The bill struck a nerve. Although many countries outlaw treason and secession, to many Hong Kongers it reminded them too much of mainland China.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Activists feared Article 23 would threaten human rights

On 1 July 2003, half a million people, including some of my classmates, marched against the bill.

A few days later, the government was forced to shelve Article 23, after one of its political allies, a pro-business party, withdrew its support.

My friends were jubilant, telling me they had “made history”. Many felt that, although there was no democracy, it was possible to vote with their feet.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Many people wore black to show their opposition to Article 23

The Sars outbreak and Article 23 row made local and Chinese politics seem more relevant to our daily lives.

And by the late 2000s, mainland China felt more entwined with Hong Kong than ever.

When I was a child, some of my classmates, somewhat cruelly, mocked “mainlanders” as people who squatted and were poor. But now, more people were learning Mandarin, and Hong Kong’s economic future seemed to depend on China’s.

China loosened travel restrictions, making it easier for mainland tourists to visit Hong Kong.

It gave the economy a much-needed boost, but resentment was also growing.

I was studying abroad by then, but whenever I flew home I would hear people gripe about the sheer number of tourists, and how rude some appeared.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Mainlanders’ shopping trips to Hong Kong have been a source of irritation to people in the city

Some tourists bought up huge quantities of baby milk powder, leaving local parents without enough.

I could no longer recognise many of the shopping malls my school friends and I used to frequent. We grew up with cheap jewellery stalls and snack shops – but now shopping centres were dominated by designer brands that wealthy Chinese tourists preferred.

The other big change was in politics. When I was at school, expressing an interest in politics was more likely to get you teased than admired.

But by 2012, students were holding hunger strikes to oppose a government attempt to introduce “patriotic education” classes.

And in 2014, something surprising, almost unthinkable, happened. Tens of thousands of people, led by students, took over the streets, demanding full democracy.

Image copyright EPA

Image caption Protesters staged sit ins in Hong Kong’s financial district

Growing up, it was easy to avoid talking about politics.

But with protesters sleeping in the streets for weeks, the subject was suddenly unavoidable.

Families and friends started arguing – in person and on Facebook – and “unfriending” people they disagreed with.

Supporters felt it was worth sacrificing order and economic growth for true democracy, but critics accused the protesters of “destroying” Hong Kong.

One woman told me her relatives were angry she took part in the protests and now, two years later, they still didn’t want to meet her for dinner. “Hong Kong’s become so split,” she said.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Hong Kong was split between “yellow ribbons” who supported the protesters, and “blue ribbons” who supported the police

Recently, after years in the UK, I got to return to Hong Kong as a reporter.

A lot feels the same. The territory is still clean, efficient, and obsessed with good food.

But young people seem more pessimistic – with politics and soaring house prices their main bugbears.

Surveys suggest young people are the unhappiest they have been in a decade – and that up to 60% want to leave.

Recently, some have even started to call for independence from China, frustrated with Beijing’s influence and the lack of political reform.

Image copyright Getty Images

Their resentment stems from Hong Kong’s handover or even the Sino-British negotiations in the 1980s.

“We were never given a choice,” one activist said. “No-one ever asked Hong Kongers what they wanted.”

Protests have become angrier. Most demonstrations I witnessed growing up were peaceful – even festive.

Now, some rallies are more confrontational and prone to clashes, while the government seems less willing to make concessions.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Pro-Beijing and pro-democracy protesters sometimes end up clashing

It’s not surprising that, in an online poll run by a pro-government party, people chose “chaos” as the word to describe Hong Kong’s 2016.

From violent protests, to legislators swearing and scuffling in parliament, politics has definitely been chaotic at times.

But, chaotic or not, what really strikes me about Hong Kong is how alive and adaptable it is.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Hong Kong’s streets are busy late into the night

Whether in business or politics, Hong Kong is full of people fighting to be heard.

Local entrepreneurs are constantly devising controversial or creative ways to make money – such as renting out “capsule units” in their homes, or starting a rabbit cafe.

And, even as artists complain of pressure to self-censor, pop music has become more political and fresh news websites and satirical news channels have popped up.

Hong Kong may be a relatively small territory with a population of 7.3 million, but I love the fact it has never lost its ability to surprise me.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption The city is full of life

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from Hong Kong: Twenty years later – BBC News