#gotta ride a thing for 8 stops then stop at a cafe for like 20-30 min then i go see The Person just 9 min of walking

[augustmoon259]

For I shall already have forgotten you CHAPTER 7: TRICK, OR TREAT?

Madeline wakes up and reaches for her phone laying on the nightstand. It’s 8 am. As her awareness returns to her, she sees Bucky and Kumarie playing together. Madeline’s lips quirk up as she gives both of them a quick pet on the head before going to start her day.

After brushing her teeth, Madeline heads to the kitchen. She expected to see Alfred there, as he had told her that he was an early riser. Contrary to Madeline’s expectations, Alfred was nowhere to be found. It had only been 20 minutes since she woke up, so Madeline decided to cook breakfast for her and Alfred.

Madeline wiped sweat off her forehead as she observed the results of her labor: fluffy pancakes topped with butter and maple syrup, crispy strips of bacon, wholesome fruit parfaits,  and freshly made coffee. Madeline’s stomach growled, but it would have to wait until she found Alfred.

It was almost 9:30 now but still there was no sign of the house’s owner. Madeline surmised that Alfred was still sleeping in his room. She felt a pang of guilt at the thought that he had gone to sleep late because of her. Madeline made her way to Alfred’s room. She was just about to knock on his door when it opened from inside.

“Hey Maddie…” Alfred yawned as he greeted Madeline. “What’s up...? Is it morning time already....?”

“Oh! Yes! I was just about to wake you up actually. I made breakfast.”

Alfred seemed to be more alert after he heard her statement.

“Woah! You made breakfast?! Now I gotta hurry up and eat it!”

He rushes off, leaving Madeline feeling bemused. Alfred is already sitting at the dining table when she returns to the kitchen, making her wonder if he even took the time to brush his teeth.

As if he read her mind, Alfred beams as he remarks, “Don’t worry! I brushed my teeth! Now let’s dig in!”

Alfred grabs his fork and chews on a large bite of his pancakes. His eyes widen as he prepares to eat another.

“Wow, this tastes amazing! You’re a great cook Maddie!”

Madeline blushes as she plays with her food.

“No problem Al...Consider this thanks for helping me after my nightmare yesterday..."

There’s a gasp from Alfred as he momentarily stops eating.

“No way! You called me Al! You’ve been calling me Alfred up until now!”

“Well, yeah...You already call me Maddie, so I might as well call you by a nickname too, right?”

“Yay! Mission: Become Friends with Maddie has officially been completed!” Alfred stands up and does a short victory dance before sitting back down. “And you don’t have to worry about yesterday. That’s what friends do!”

Madeline’s heart felt light as she and Alfred continued to talk and enjoy breakfast together.

When they finished, Alfred was ready to start the day.

“Okay Maddie! You know the costume I asked you to get? You can go put it on now! We’re gonna be in costume all day!”

So Madeline went to do exactly that. Half an hour later, as she finished dressing herself, she examined her reflection in the mirror. Madeline had braided her hair into a pair of 3-strand braids, one on each side of her head. She wore an open-fronted gown which laced closed across a kirtle. The outer fabric matched the red of her bodice, while the rest was white. Madeline’s skirt went down to her mid-calf, underneath which she wore white leggings and black old-fashioned buckle shoes. To complete her look, she wore a long red hooded cloak and carried an empty wicker basket.

Satisfied with her appearance, Madeline made her way to Alfred’s room for the second time that day. As before, when she was prepared to knock, he startled her by opening the door first.

“Maddie! Can you guess what I am?”

Alfred wore pants that were tattered at the edges; his shirt was in a similar condition, frayed at the bottom. Alfred’s bright blonde hair was covered by a brown wig and his face obscured by a wolf mask. The upper half of his face could no longer be seen; Alfred’s cerulean eyes stared at her through his mask. A wolf pelt was thrown around his shoulders. Madeline spotted wolf ears on top of his head and a fluffy tail behind him.

“Hm...Are you...the Big Bad Wolf?”

“That’s right! I am! Isn’t it just great we ended up in matching costumes?”

“But Al, don’t you like heroes? The Big Bad Wolf isn’t exactly a hero..."

Alfred gives her a sly wink in return. “You’ll just have to find out why I chose this costume then, huh?”

He checks the time on his phone.

“Let’s see...It’s about eleven, so we have some time before our first stop of the day.” Alfred looks up and grins at her. “Do you want to visit my favorite cafe?”

The two of them had a great time visiting museums, going on scavenger hunts, taking pictures with others in costume, and more.

The highlight of Madeline’s day so far was the National Air and Space Museum. Alfred loved space, so it was unsurprising that he would take her there. Some of the Star Wars costumes impressed her, almost as much as the actual museum exhibitions themselves. They had taken a break afterwards to eat the food they had bought at the cafe: Halloween themed foods like bat tortilla chips with mango salsa, spider pizzas, pumpkin deviled eggs, etc.

Finally, it was time for the last event of the day, the Night of the Living Zoo at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

The zoo was decked out in Halloween decorations: lights, skeletons, witches, and cobwebs. There were a range of spectacular performances, from fire eaters to jugglers. Alfred and Madeline met dancing dinosaurs, Jessie and James from Team Rocket, and even had the chance to spectate a wedding (it wasn’t real of course).

Alfred was incredibly enthusiastic when they visited the animal exhibits.

“Maddie! Look! Caiman lizards! Sleeping on that rock! They’re super chilling, together! Buddies!”

“Oh hey, look at those turtles! It’s a turtle party! Turtle party, turtle party, who’s got the pizza for a turtle party?!”

“Look at this one! Hm, what’re they called? ...Rock hyrax? Nah, I’m calling him Mr. Cheeks...Oh no! Mr. Cheeks doesn’t look very happy with me!”

If the night had ended there, Madeline would have been satisfied. She didn’t know what could possibly top Alfred’s amusing commentary.

She and Alfred ended up in the crowd that was gathered around a stage. The stage, previously used for band performances and live karaoke, was now the platform for the last event of the night, the Halloween costume contest. The announcer explained that there were several categories, ranging from the “most unique” costume to “best duo”.

Unlike the other categories, wherein contestants would line up on stage and the audience could cast their vote for best costume, the duo category required a story. In other words, the duos have to create a short narrative and perform it in front of the audience. The “best duo” were judged not only on the originality of their costumes, but how well they performed together.

Madeline was extremely nervous. She knew that she and Alfred would be competing together, but not like this!

“Alfred, what do we do? We don’t have a story!”

“Maddie, it’s okay! I got a plan. All you have to do is act like your usual self.”

“But-”

“Trust me!”

Without his mask, Alfred’s puppy dog eyes, combined with his ears and tail, made Madeline capitulate.

“Okay. I trust you.”

Alfred smiled one of his enigmatic smiles and disappeared somewhere alone. Madeline wrung her hands together as other duos performed. She and Alfred were the last to go, and soon it would be their turn.

The announcement that it was now time for them to perform startled Madeline out of her trance. She was surprised to see the appearance of the stage. Projection technology had transformed it from a normal outdoor stage to a tranquil forest...and did she hear the sound of chirping birds? Buzzing insects, croaking frogs, and bubbling brooks?

Puzzled, but mustering up her courage, Madeline stepped out onto the stage. Reminding herself of the fairytales she grew up on, she pretended that she was Red Riding Hood herself. Madeline twirled her skirt and hummed. She pretended to walk and pick up flowers to place in her basket. She sat down and closed her eyes, as if resting underneath a tree.

With her eyes shut and the ambient noises of nature, Madeline could believe she was actually in a forest. There was no crowd watching her, just her and the trees.

Moments passed before she felt like something was...poking her face? Could it be Alfred? She jerked her eyes open and stared at what was disturbing her rest.

It was Alfred, but he was on all fours as he scrambled away from her. He put as much distance as he could between the two of them.

Madeline reached her hands out to stop him from escaping altogether.

“Wait! I didn’t mean to scare you! I’m sorry!”

Alfred paused. He was growling softly and looked like he would run away again. Madeline approached him slowly, until she was close enough to touch him. She rested her hand on his head, and Alfred stopped growling.

Madeline lowered herself to give Alfred a hug. She felt the moment when Alfred hugged her back. She removed her arms to look at Alfred. He was no longer on all fours, but kneeling like her.

“Do you have a name?”

Alfred shook his head.

“Well, my name is Madeline. Do you mind if I call you Wolf?”

He nodded.

“Wolf, do you want to be friends?”

Alfred nods again.

“Alright Wolf. Since we’re friends, let’s not be afraid of each other, okay? Here, let me hug you again.”

So Madeline did. This time, Alfred accepted her hug readily.

“Friends care about each other. They show that they care about each other by doing things like that.”

As she was preparing to stand up, Alfred grabbed the hem of her skirt. Madeline watched as he dug his hands into one of his pants pockets to search for something. From Alfred’s pocket emerged a single yellow dandelion.

He offered the dandelion to her unsurely. She stared at it before clasping her hands around his to take it. Madeline placed it behind her right ear.

“Thank you Wolf. Now come on! Let’s explore the forest together.”

She held his hand as they left the stage.

They won the contest.

Madeline was happy they did, but after their performance, she had not stopped rambling and questioning Alfred. Did he plan all of this? How’d he know she’d react that way? Alfred would laugh and tell her that he “knew she could do it!”. She’d be mad at him for putting her on the spot like that, but they did get a free pair of tickets for admission to Six Flags...

When all was said and done, it had been a memorable night for Madeline. People had even asked for autographs from her! Madeline was thankful Alfred had made this the best Halloween she’d ever had.

[thewanderingkru]

TEMPLE RUN in Bangkok for less than 15 USD? Yes? Yes!

Have you made plans about your trip to Bangkok? Well, if you’re more on adventure about visiting temples in Bangkok (for a day), and nope, this is not the kind of temple run that you played games in your smart phones, or your heart (kidding aside) than the typical, or perhaps, the usual, touristy kind of adventure, may this blog post help you go through to your temple visits in the city of angels. 

Grateful as I am, I have lived in Bangkok as an expat for quite some time, and for some reason, I got to know the tourist attractions around Bangkok, thus some of them are the temples, however I’ve never really had the chance to try the local kind of style transportation around Bangkok when it comes to touristy thing, as I normally go on tour trips whenever my friends or my family visiting me, for it’s comfortable and convenient.

(Temple guard at Wat Arun)

Few days ago, my best friend from the Philippines visited me in Bangkok, thus, I’ve decided to tour him around and gave it a shot on trying to travel a local style as possible and not go on touristy kind of trip.

In this blog episode, I’m sharing my thoughts, insights, and wisdom about how I spent less than 15 USD on visiting (for a day) popular temples here in Bangkok.

Bangkok, or the city of Angels, the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand, is a popular tourist destination for its exotic and unique South East Asian culture. Thus, known for its Buddhism religion culture, so as its beautiful Buddhist temples, less expensive shopping, hence, and perhaps, the best street food, on personal note, yet.

Fast forward, I booked a hotel near the sky train station, CHONG NONSI STATION to be exact, as it is convenient and easy wherever or whenever I plan to go around Bangkok. For me, I think, Chong Nonsi station is the most convenient station as it is just few rides away from malls, bars or clubs, hippie cafes, to night or flee markets, thus the street food shops, perhaps among the few tourist spots in the city. So, if you are planning to book for a hotel in Bangkok, it is better to book near the sky train stations or subway stations. 

We started our journey at around 11 in the morning after we had our brunch from a nearby hippie cafe named Chu. From Chong Nonsi station, we stopped at Saphan Taksin station (Fare: 25 Thai Baht), as it is the station for river boat taxis in getting to the popular temples in the city. From Saphan Taksin station, go to Exit 2. Then, go down to the station, and from there, you can see the river boat taxi station (Sathorn Station).

(BIG BREAKFAST at Chu!)

From the river boat taxi station (Chao Phraya Express Boat), go to the lane which is not a Chaophraya Tourist Boat (blue flag) and pay from 10 Thai Baht - 32 Thai Baht (no flag, orange, red and yellow flags), depending on the distance. You will see the differences on the river boat taxis, as there are no flags, orange flags, yellow flags, green flags, and blue flags. It was convenient of course, as there’s a different lane for blue flags only. We went for the orange flag river boat then. 

First temple… Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)

(Feeling hot at the temple of the dawn)

Since Thailand is a tropical country, expect for a tropical weather. Although it’s rainy season now (August), still, in most times here in Bangkok, it is always sunny. So, might as well bring umbrellas or fans, if you think it is convenient. At least, during our trip then, it was a bit cloudy, but it’s still hot. So, bring lots of bottled water. Hydrate yourself!

Entrance fee in Wat Arun for tourist: 50 Thai Baht/person

(The reclining Buddha at Wat Pho)

Second temple… Wat Pho (Temple of the reclining Buddha)

From Sathorn Station (river boat taxi station) to Wat Arun, I paid only 15 Thai Baht. From Wat Arun, our next stop… Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Still, in orange flag river boat taxi, paid for only 15 Thai Baht.

(Taking my moments to think about life and rest at Wat Pho)

This is probably my fourth or fifth time visit in Wat Pho since I started living here in the city of Angels, however, this temple always amazes me thus gives me so much excitement whenever I tour my family or friends. Every time I visit this place, it always remind me so much of good memories with my family and friends.

Entrance fee in Wat Pho for tourist: 100 Thai Baht/person

(Hand-crafted Khon masks for sale at Wat Pho)

After spending hours at the temples, we’ve decided to take a break for a bit at a nearby cafe to have iced cold drinks as the weather was really hot. And yes, I had to change shirt since I was sweating all over. It’s better to bring at least a shirt or you can buy at shops just outside the temples. For about an hour at the cafe chilling, we went to the third, and perhaps, the last temple visit then, Wat Saket (Golden Mount) by a tuk tuk since our feet, somehow, got tired.

Third temple… Wat Saket (Golden Mount)

(Hot afternoon on the way to the top of Golden Mount)

Although I’ve heard of this temple before, but this was my first time to visit in this temple. A new adventure, I’d say. Wat Saket is actually not far from Wat Pho by walk, however, during that time then, was the peak when the sun was really shining. So, we didn’t really bother much walking. Thus, tuk tuk ride to the rescue!

Entrance fee in Wat Saket: 20 Thai Baht

Also, the thing about tuk tuk ride, is that there is no specific price for every ride. So, all you gotta do is haggle. As I have always said in my previous blog post, the lower the price, the better. And of course, start from low-balls. The initial payment was supposedly 60 Thai Baht since it’s not really far from Wat Pho to Wat Saket. Perhaps, 20-30 minutes, including the traffic, but since the driver was really nice to us then, we gave him a hundred. Tuk tuk rides are normally 200 to 300 Thai Baht, depending on the distance of your trip, but since I was able to speak a little Thai language, I was able to haggle, but it also depends on how you deal with the driver. It all comes to wits, maybe?

(A bit blur, but still breathing, while on our way to the Golden Mount with my iced cold thai tea and best friend Jason)

I think, on a personal note, Wat Saket is still a hidden gem for temples at the heart of the city, although it’s touristy for locals, or perhaps, worshipers, but during the time that we went there, were mostly locals worshiping and praying. And so, I did my own personal prayers, too.

From Wat Saket, we tried the Khlong boat, another river boat taxi, but it’s more like going through on canals. Phan Fa Lilat station (this is the station in Wat Saket) to Pratunam (city center) station (Khlong boat stations) costs 11 Thai Baht. From Pratunam then, there are Sky Train station, you can go either in Siam Station or Chidlom Station, going back to the hotel.

(Khlong boat ride to Pratunam from Wat Saket)

For better understanding on the express boat route, you can visit the website: chaophrayaexpressboat.com

As for the fare rides on sky trains, it starts at 10 Thai Baht to 57 Thai Baht (0.3 USD - 1.7 USD) depending on each station. The further the more expensive, of course.

Overall expenses:

River boat taxis: 30 Thai Baht

Wat Arun: 50 Thai Baht

Wat Pho: 100 Thai Baht

Wat Saket: 20 Thai Baht

Khlong boat taxi: 11 Thai Baht

Tuk tuk ride: 100 Thai Baht

Sky Train: 25 Thai Baht

TOTAL: 361 Thai Baht/10.47 USD

To wrap up this blog post episode, I hope it will help you with your itinerary to your temple visits in Bangkok, the city of Angels. I think, on a personal note, it’s about a personal choice. Then again, if you want to be an extravagant tourist, go for it, as long as you are able and capable. However, if you want something for an adventure, exciting yet less expensive, still, it’s all up to you. Above all, the purpose of this traveling journey is not just about selfies, right? I believe, it’s all about learning about life itself.

(Tuk Tuk ride with my best friend all the way from the Philippines, Jason!)

Special mention to my best friend Jason for visiting me in Bangkok during my birthday. Thank you, bes! You can search him on instagram: ohhhohhhjason

8/28/2017

Updated: 10/8/2017

[vielramona]

What's the first lyrics? FOR BORED PPL

Put any music player on shuffle.

Answer these questions with the first lyric of the song. If the song has no lyrics, skip over to the next one.

1. What do you say when you wake up?

I got my ticket for the long way round (Cup Song)

2. You're late to an appointment. You say:

Hey, you, get of my cloud (Lifted - CL)

3. While you're getting ready, you stub your toe:

I've been here all night, I've been here all day (Side to Side)

4. You just barely make it. You shout:

Baby you don't have to rush, you could leave a toothbrush at my place, at my place

5. The person next to you looks at you awkwardly and says:

Love is amazing~ (Starlight - Taeyeon)

6. You respond:

Crashin', hit a wall, right now I need a miracle (Don't let me down)

7. After the appointment, you leave to go to a cafe. You bump into your ex. What do you say?

Everybody loves to tell me I was born an old soul (Eyes Wide Open)

8. He/She responds:

Waiting for Fortuner at the wrong time (Sober - Selena Gomez)

9. You go to order something. What do you say to the cashier?

Here I am (With You - LYn)

10. They get your order wrong. How do you respond?

All my friends are heathens take it slow

11. They apologize by saying:

I just broke up with my ex, now I am single and I don't really know what's next (Let Me Love You - Ariana Grande)

12. A random man/woman starts flirting with you by saying:

Anytime I'm alone, I can't help thinking about you (Everyday-Ariana Grande)

13. You respond:

I wonder lie to you, I know he's just not right for you (Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes)

14. He/She wants to take you out for dinner. You respond:

Weeks on end I'm on the road, start to lose my sense of home (Running Low)

15. You leave the cafe and bump into an old friend. You greet them with:

What we gotta right here and go back? (The Way)

16. You talk with him/her for a little while and leave them by saying:

Seems like everybody here speak in different languages (Hell No's and Headphones)

17. As you're walking away, you accidentally hit someone. They growl:

I found myself dreaming in silver and gold (Like I'm Gonna Lose You)

18. You say back:

I met you in the dark, you lit me up (Say You Won't Let Go)

19. You come across a fortune teller. She tells you:

Tignan mo nga naman bigla-bigla na lang may kusang darating (Seryoso na 'to)

20. You ignore her. Later to find out her fortune came true. What do you say?

Yeah you really try boy I was blind to all the lies you told me (Jason's song)

21. Someone comes over and asks if you're okay. You respond:

I'm hurtin', babe I'm broken down (Sugar)

22. You run off to catch the bus. You barely make it. The bus driver looks at you and says:

Alam mo bang may gusto akong sabihin sayo (Simpleng Tulad Mo)

23. While you sit down, you get a call. First thing you hear is:

Oh you, waited so long sometimes it's hard to stand out (I don't even know your name)

24. You respond with:

Tale as old as time, true as it can be (Beauty and the Beast)

25. You were so busy talking on the phone you missed your stop. You shout:

I should have told you how I really feel a little in advance (Kiss me Before I fcking lose my mind)

26. The people around you say:

Nakilala kita sa di ko inaasahang pagkakataon (Hanap-hanap)

27. You scurry off the bus and call a friend for a ride. He/She tells you:

When I look into your eyes, it's like I'm watching the night sky (I won't give up)

28. Your friend manages to get you a ride home. You thank them by saying:

Don't need permission, made my decision to test my limits (Dangerous Woman)

29. You realize you lost your house key. You groan:

I know you care for me, there's no question at all (Love me the same)

30. Lucky for you, there's a spare hidden. What do you say out of relief?

I lo-lo-lo-ve it (Just Girly Things)

31. It's been a long day, huh? What are your thoughts?

To unexplain the unforgivable, drain all the blood and give the kids a show. (Shit.)

32. You turn the TV on and hear:

You took a trip and climbed a tree at Robert Sledge's party.

33. You get sick of the TV and check your email. You read:

Look who's digging their own grave, that is what they all say, you'll drink yourself to death. (Sounds like an actual intervention hahah.)

34. Hey, it's dinner time. You realize there's nothing to eat in your house:

When the winter winds little London with lonely hearts, oh the warmth in your eyes swept me into your arms.

35. Remember that person who asked you out to dinner? You call them up and say:

Alone on a train, aimless in wonder. (...)

36. So now you're eating dinner. Your date says:

Jumping up and down the floor, my head is an animal.

37. You respond:

I wish I could cross my arms and cross your mind.

38. After dinner, you realize you don't know who's paying. What do you think when they don't offer to pick the check up?

BLOW MY WHISTLE BITCH. (HAHAHAHA)

39. You end up paying. You grumble:

Baby, it's been a long day, baby, things ain't been going my way and I need you here.

40. So the date is over. You tell him/her:

I turn the music up, I got my records on, I shut the world outside until the lights come on.

41. You go home, full and exhausted. Final thoughts before bed?

Come on, skinny love, just last the year.

[easytravelpw-blog]

Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/what-i-spent-four-days-in-guadeloupe/magazine/

What I Spent: Four Days in Guadeloupe

01 of 07

Upfront Costs

SOBERKA Richard/hemis.fr/Getty Images

The upfront costs of vacations are predictable. It’s the little things—airport snacks, cocktails before dinner, tipping a tour guide—that can throw even the most well-planned vacation budget off track. In this new series, we’ll look at the spending patterns of real travelers in popular destinations, so you can estimate what you’ll actually spend. (Thanks for the inspiration, Refinery29!)

For this installment, a couple heads to Guadeloupe for creole food, stunning beaches and a lot of hiking in the rainforest.

Flight: JFK – PTP, $499 for two flights on Norwegian. I originally had no intention of going to Guadeloupe, a Caribbean island in the French Antilles, but a great deal popped up during a stressful week and I decided to take the plunge!

Accommodation: $791 through HomeAway.com

Car Rental: $320, a premium we had to pay for an automatic. Note to self: Learn how to drive manual.

Size of Group: 2 

*Note: Prices have been converted from Euro to USD

Continue to 2 of 7 below.

02 of 07

Wednesday

Ashley Knierim

11 a.m. We worked from home so we could head out early for our 3 pm flight. Traffic to JFK is nonexistent, so we get to our parking lot in record time. Score!

11:30 a.m. We pre-booked (but did not pre-pay for) a space with a local lot that we’d used before. Charles, the owner, doesn't have a website, but his Yelp reviews were stellar enough that we didn’t care. We drop the car off, pay and hitch a ride to Terminal One. Cost: $76 for the entire 5 nights

1 p.m. Since we get to the airport embarrassingly early, we check in and make it through security with two hours to spare. Unfortunately, JFK doesn’t have free WiFi (boo!) and I’m a little too cheap to pay for just a couple of hours. Instead, I whip out my book and grab a coffee and pastry at Starbucks (since Norwegian Air is notorious about making customers pay for food onboard). Cost: $7.75

2:45 p.m. Boarding goes smoothly, and we’re pleasantly surprised by the plane. It’s clean, spacious—and best of all, we have a whole row to ourselves. Score again!

7:00 p.m. We land in Guadeloupe at 7 p.m. AST, an hour behind New York. The warm, thick Caribbean air is a welcome reprieve from the chilly Brooklyn wind. We had primo seats, so we’re among the first ones off the plane and able to speed through customs. We still hustle over to our car rental booth because they close up shop at 8 p.m.

7:45 p.m. Our car rental is already paid for, so we grab the keys, check for dents (a must!) and off we go.

10 p.m. We finally arrive at our cottage. We’re staying in a town called Mare Gaillard, very close to the popular resort town of Le Gosier on Grande-Terre, one of the two main islands that make up Guadeloupe. The cottage, Villa Carpe Diem, is beautiful. And with a private pool and a hammock, I decide I’d be happy dying here.

10:30 p.m. We’re famished, so we head out to search for food. The only thing we can find open is a pizza restaurant called L’Americano Cafe, and despite its cringe-worthy name, it’s actually quite good. We both order simple sausage-and-cheese pizzas and a beer. Before coming, we’d heard Guadeloupe is pricey, so we’re pleasantly surprised to find that dinner doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg. Cost: $37.76   

11:45 p.m. Exhaustion is creeping over us, and I pass out as soon as I tuck in beneath our bed’s gauzy mosquito net.

Continue to 3 of 7 below.

03 of 07

Thursday

Ashley Knierim

8:30 a.m. We wake up to our incredibly kind host delivering us a tray of baked goods. The house was already supplied with coffee, juice, water and a lovely assortment of island fruits, but who can say no to croissants? Cost: Free!

10 a.m. After a morning lounging in the hammock and eating French baguettes, we decide to check out the neighboring town of Sainte-Anne, known for its beaches and streets flooded with stalls offering spices and fruits. We have a kayak tour tonight, so we figure a day of eating and lounging on the beach is best.

11:25 a.m. The streets of Sainte-Anne are bustling with vendors, and we decide to grab some fresh melon juice to take to the beach. Cost: $2.25

1:45 p.m. After a few hours of lounging on the beach, my skin is begging for shelter (gotta love that Caribbean sun!) and we decide to head back to the cottage for a nap. We didn’t sleep well the night before, and figure a rest before going ocean kayaking is probably a good idea.

3:30 p.m. Kayaking is about 40 minutes north, also on the Grande-Terre side of Guadeloupe. We napped a little too long and find ourselves hustling out the door to make it to the docking location.

4 p.m. Here’s hoping Guadeloupe doesn’t have speed cameras, because we make it to the address in record time. We park and rush over to the small group already forming. The owner of Yalode Kayak Company hails from a town near Bordeaux, France and found his home here on the water in Guadeloupe. We pay the fee for two, toss our phones and keys in a sealed bucket and climb in. Cost: $74.45

7 p.m. Paddling through mangrove trees is a lot more difficult than I ever imagined. I narrowly avoid a few whacks in the head and we get stuck in the brambles a few too many times, but we make it out alive! The wind is stronger than usual, so kayaking on the open water tosses us around a bit too much, and our bucket filled with our belongings falls into the water. No worries, though—the instructor told us it was waterproof, so we just pull it back into the kayak and watch the sun go down while we sit in the middle of the ocean.

8 p.m. A couple of very strong rums later (courtesy of our guide), we kayak back to the dock. Unfortunately, when we open the buckets we get an unpleasant surprise: Both of our iPhones are floating in a pool of ocean water. Looks like those buckets weren’t waterproof after all, and we can immediately tell that we’ve sacrificed our phones to the Atlantic. Getting home without directions is going to be fun. Cost: $1,500 or the cost of two new iPhones  

9 p.m. Back at the cottage we’re preoccupied with Googling “how to dry out an iPhone,” so we just eat some cheese and meat from a local grocery store. A rum-based cocktail and a glass of wine (thankfully supplied by our host) is much-needed. Cost: $25.70

11 p.m. While our waterlogged phones rest silently in a bowl of rice, we head to bed and hope tomorrow is a little better. 

Continue to 4 of 7 below.

04 of 07

Friday

Ashley Knierim

9 a.m. It’s a new day, and while we’re still reeling from the loss of our phones, I find that I actually have a work phone with me, which saves the day. We decide to lounge in our private pool for a few hours before we head out.

12 p.m. Guadeloupe is shaped like a butterfly, with each “wing” offering a much different experience. We decide to drive over to Basse-Terre, the western island of Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre is home to Guadeloupe National Park, a beautiful rainforest featuring waterfalls, hikes, a zoo and hot springs.

1 p.m. Before we hit the rainforest, we check out some of the beaches in the northern part of Basse-Terre.We’d read that the town of Deshaies offered beautiful beaches and a quaint setting, so we head there first. We grab lunch at an outdoor restaurant called Le Madras. I get a stuffed crab salad and my boyfriend orders a salad with Creole sausage. Full disclosure: Neither of us speak French, which makes ordering food difficult, but both dishes are great. Cost: $32.65

3 p.m. We drive to a few beaches in the area, including Plage de Grande-Anse. It’s great for Instagrams, but not so great to swim in due to the extreme tide.  

3:30 p.m. Cascade aux Ecrevisses, a popular waterfall, is just a short hike from a parking lot right off the main road. Given the stressful night we had Thursday, we decide that this is about as much hiking as we’re willing to do today. My boyfriend climbs into the pool of water, but since it’s incredibly cold I decide to stick to my role of photographer. Cost: Free

5 p.m. One important fact about Guadeloupe is that the traffic can be pretty terrible at times. We take a sluggish drive back to Grande-Terre and decide to stop at a night market that’s going on in Le Gosier.

6 p.m. After we find parking, a short rainstorm forces us under the awning of a local food truck in the night market. We order some accras, a type of Caribbean fritter, and decide right then and there that fried bread plus shrimp equals heaven. Cost: $4.15 for 8 pieces

7 p.m. Before we head back, we grab a drink on the beach at a small outdoor bar called Casa Datcha. I order a mojito, my boyfriend orders a beer. The mojito wins. Cost: $12.00

8:30 p.m. Tonight we have reservations at a top-rated restaurant near our cottage, Koté Sud. I order a shrimp ravioli dish and my boyfriend orders the lobster prix fixe so we can share the appetizer and dessert (pro saving tip!). Add a bottle of rosé, and the bill comes out to $75.00. Not bad for an entire lobster and a wine buzz. Cost: $75.00

10 p.m. That half-bottle is catching up with me, so I pass out after downing a few tablets of Advil. 

Continue to 5 of 7 below.

05 of 07

Saturday

Ashley Knierim

8 a.m. I wake up early to enjoy the hammock before we head out for the day. Note to self: I really need to buy a hammock one day.

9 a.m. We wake up early to drive 20 minutes to Pointe-à-Pitre. Pointe-à-Pitre is the capital of Guadeloupe and boasts the country’s largest outdoor market. We browse the shops and pick up some creole spices to take home. I also splurge on a couple of bracelets.  Cost: $4 for the spices, $26 for two brass bracelets

11 a.m. We decide to drive back out to Basse-Terre, since we didn’t really get our rainforest fix yesterday. Our first stop is Phare du Vieux-Fort, a lighthouse that offers great views of the ocean and nearby cliffs. We spot a family diving into the water far below, and my boyfriend decides that now is a great time to test out our new GoPro by jumping off the cliff after them.

12:30 p.m. Before we head into the rainforest, we decide to grab some bokit sandwiches from a nearby food truck. Bokit is a Guadeloupe staple involving massive quantities of meat or seafood stuffed between two pieces of fried bread. Needless to say, it’s incredibly bad for you—and, not surprisingly, incredibly delicious. Cost: $4.50 for two bokits

2 p.m. Having calmed our hunger pangs, we finally drive into the rainforest. Without cell phone data, getting around is not easy—but that also means that we end up driving through roads we otherwise wouldn’t have seen! They’re windy and often narrow, and spiral to such incredible heights that looking over your shoulder could give you vertigo. But the views are amazing.

3:30 p.m. A few (okay, many) wrong turns later, we end up at a hot spring called Les Bains Jaunes (yellow baths), at the base of La Soufrière, a massive active volcano. The hike up the volcano summit takes a few hours and is fairly difficult, so we decide that a dip in the springs and a truncated hike through the rainforest is enough for us. The water is naturally warm and, although the sides are covered with algae, it’s very spa-like (save for a few loud children). Cost: Free! Can’t get that in NYC

5 p.m. I always wish I could be someone who can “just enjoy the moment,” but in reality I’m always chasing down a great photo. During our drive home I make it a mission to get a killer shot of the banana trees scattered across the hills. The scenery is amazing — a mix of gray storm clouds and bright banana leaves. We sneak into a private banana farm (sorry!) and I snap some photos before anyone catches me.

7 p.m. Dinner tonight is at Le Te Maki, a Creole restaurant in Le Gosier with a casual hipster vibe. I order a guava daiquiri to start. My boyfriend gets Ti’ Punch, another Guadeloupean staple involving cane syrup, lime juice, and rum—mostly just rum, it turns out. We both order spicy, meat-based stews for our mains. They’re excellent. Cost: $61.85

10 p.m. It’s time to crash, so we head back to the apartment and hit the mosquito net (no bites so far—thanks, Deet) after a quick dip in the pool. 

Continue to 6 of 7 below.

06 of 07

Sunday

Ashley Knierim

10:30 a.m. We’ve gotten our fill of rainforests, so today we decide to explore more of Grande-Terre, which is beachier than Basse-Terre and slightly more developed. To start, we head to Pointe des Châteaux, an incredible scenic overlook on the eastern coast. My Instagram is happy.

11:45 a.m. It’s a little early for lunch, but there’s a ​bokit stand at the base of the cliff that smells delicious, and the short (but steep) hike has my stomach growling. One is enough for us to split—it’s even more gigantic than yesterday’s, with perfect crispy-soft fried bread. Cost: $3.50

12:15 p.m. We explore the area a little more and stumble upon another beach, Anse a la Gourde. It’s nearly private, with a few beachgoers scattered here and there. Unfortunately, the tide is too rough to swim, so we head out.

2 p.m. While sipping cocktails on the beach in Le Gosier a couple days ago, we noticed a small island about a mile out. TripAdvisor informs us that it’s called Ilet du Gosier and it’s open to the public, so we decide to take a small boat out to explore. Cost: $10.82 for two tickets, round trip

2:15 p.m. Ilet du Gosier is not quite what we expected. It’s basically a small party island surrounded by docked boats blasting music and young couples dancing in the ocean. We manage to find a quiet spot away from the main beach and go for a swim before heading back to the mainland.

4 p.m. We’re not quite ready to go back to the cottage, so we return to Sainte-Anne to check out the street market we saw the first day. We stumble upon a man making fresh coconut sorbet, which turns out to be the best sorbet on the entire planet. Incredibly creamy and fresh, it’s so good that right after we finish it I go back and buy another. Cost: $4.50 (for both)

5 p.m. Since it’s our last night, we head back to the cottage to get in some quality hammock and pool time.  

7 p.m. Dinner tonight is at a restaurant called Le Lucullus in Sainte-Anne. We read that it has some of the best creole food on the island, but it can get busy during peak hours. We score a table with only an hour wait. To kill time, we walk around the nearby beach.

8:10 p.m. Back at Le Lucullus, we order piña coladas to start and decide to split a creole platter for dinner. The platter includes basically every Guadeloupe staple, from fresh lobster to accras to stuffed conch. It’s a great way to sample all of the creole food we hadn’t had a chance to try yet. Delicious (and cheap!).  Cost: $45

10 p.m. Our flight leaves early in the morning, so we head to bed even if it means our trip is over.

Continue to 7 of 7 below.

07 of 07

Monday

Ashley Knierim

5 a.m. We swing by a gas station to fill up before dropping the car off. Cost: $57.50

5:40 a.m. We drop our car off at Jumbo Car near the airport and head to the gate. Despite losing our phones to the Atlantic, we leave Guadeloupe with a heavy hearts and the hope to come back one day.

Totals

Food & Drinks: $316.61

Entertainment: $74.45

Miscellaneous: $106 (+$1,500 for lost iPhones!)

Transportation: $68.32 (+$320 pre-paid car rental)

#travel #airlinetickets #airtickets #cheapairfare #planetickets #travelinsurance #travelquotes #travelblogger #traveller #travelling #travelocity #travelodge #vacation

[s3venpounds]

1-44

neato im annoyed by life so im gonna be passive aggressive

0: Height: 5 foot 6 last time i checked although i think i could be touching 5 foot 71: Virgin? nope2: Shoe size, depends. usually an 8 if its tight fitting shoes like puma but a 10 if its comfy nikes3: Do you smoke? used to kinda wanna now4: Do you drink? not as much as i used to but i’d never say no to a tall stiff drink5: Do you take drugs? medical uses? no. recreational? would be fun6: Age you get mistaken for. too old lmao7: Have tattoos? i fucking wish buddu8: Want any tattoos? yeyeyeyeye9: Got any piercings? i fucvking wiiiisshhhh 10: Want any piercings? i’d love to have spider bites  or that one under the lip but above the chin, and earlobes at max 12: Relationship status single and not feeling it13: Biggest turn ons physical gestures. if youre really physically intimate with me or let me be physically intimate im instantly thinking of you when im not touchin ya14: Biggest turn offs annoying voice, stubborn, smells bad, elitest or princess attitude15: Favorite movie treasure planet16: I’ll love you if: you let me be physically intimate with you, take me out to eat with you ( it doesn’t even have to be a date it could just be like “ hey this restaurant looks tasty come try it with me and if its shit we’ll go to mcdonalds or something)17: Someone you miss Azley.18: Most traumatic experience. Blacking out from pain after being basically curb stomped by my dad when the only thing i did wrong was get a bad mark on a minor quiz

19: A fact about your personality: im kinda a piece of shit but not enough to be intolerable i have SOME redeeming qualities lolol20: What I hate most about myself. stubborness, my face shape, skin, hair, lack of independance, indecisiveness, and negative attitude to most things/skeptical attitude21: What I love most about myself. idk???? how much i like to play volleyball?22: What I want to be when I get older. im old af right now so like?? i guess a power ranger actor either the stunt devil or cheesy actor is fine with me23: My relationship with my sibling(s) shit24: My relationship with my parent(s) even shittier25: My idea of a perfect date. well first assuming i did this my way from the get go : i would use details of when we first met and talked, use every detail. hobbies you mention, stories youve told etc. and incorporate it into the date. “theres this really delicious burger place in downtown “ blah blah blah i’d take them there in the morning, have it to go and go to a local park and people watch , talk more details and if its easy to bring into the plan then i’ll do so. I’d love to go to stuff that interactive, movies seem like such a waste for a date. i mean you literally pay to sit down in the dark for an hour with someone i dont see how that could be romantic? i mean yeah conversation topics but like what happens if both people one likes the movie and one doesn’t? stuff like karaoke or mini golf! maybe carnival rides or cat cafes! something you can talk and have fun at the same time! then at night ish less casual stuff and more formal stuff. Museums, art galleries, fine dining restaurants, reckless choices maybe even gambling at a casino. doing illegal things under the cover of night like trespassing or even going to sentimental places like an old school they used to go to. cap the night off with maybe a movie to fall asleep to.26: My biggest pet peeves. closed minded, stubborn people. elitest and under handed/ ill intentions. bad body odor guh SHOWER. AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 2ND DAY ITS NOT HARD. dishonesty and “i didn’t lie i just didn’t tell the truth”27: A description of the girl/boy I like. I said some bad shit and now they dont talk to me so its my fault but like i still like em lol i’ll probably not get over it but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 28: A description of the person I dislike the most. he comes home every other weekend to look disappointed at me and have a big speech that pretty much just says “hey youre a giant piece of useless shit” well hes right but like dramatic af dude just say fuck you and move on lmao29: A reason I’ve lied to a friend. for their own good in my own mind. i dont do that as much nowadays because i just dont even think about it anymore it just happens ¯\_(ツ)_/¯30: What I hate the most about work/school. it costs money to make money. like????? has anyone even thought about this???? in the end we just break even????31: What your last text message says “ah well, every family’s got something”32: What words upset me the most. i texted the bus transit so its just bus times for the stop near my house lol33: What words make me feel the best about myself. probably lyrics to a song i like. OH OH “ You got the makings of greatness in you, but you gotta take the helm and chart your own course! Stick to it, no matter the squalls! And when the time comes, you’ll get the chance to really test the cut of your sails and show what you’re made of! And… well, I hope I’m there, catching some of the light coming off you that day“

34: What I find attractive in women. face, boobs,body shape, short/pixie cut hair, tomboy taste in clothes?35: What I find attractive in men. jaw line/face shape, haircut, formal clothing, deep voice, brightly colored eyes that contrasts darker color hair, washboard abs and hollywood pecs, oh and shoes/accessories.36: Where I would like to live. venice, italy. or santorini Greece

37: One of my insecurities. my hair and breath38: My childhood career choice. psychologist was the earliest i can think of39: My favorite ice cream flavor. vanilla specifically french vanilla40: Who wish I could be. Zack Effron or Tom Holland(best friends with zendaya? hell yes) OH OH or gal gadots husband or something thats be pretty sweet

41: Where I want to be right now. 6 feet under or in a parallel universe where i got my shit together already?42: The last thing I ate. tea with a shit ton of brown sugar43: Sexiest person that comes to my mind immediately. gal gadot.44: A random fact about anything. the mitochondria is the power house of the cell