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demigod-of-the-agni · 7 months

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#LongPost: A Few Hyper-Specific Things About India for India-Based Stories and Art

No this isn't a cry for more Indian-rep in Spider-Verse stories. (It is.)

Anyway. I recently went to India, and after returning to my hometown in Tamil Nadu, I reintegrated a whole slew of memories and collated new facts.. And considering I've been wanting to do one of these for quite some time (and because I need a new variety of Pavitr Prabhakar content), I thought it'd be cool if I shared some of my experiences and ideas with you.

It's best to take this with caution, though: the only places I've been to are Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, and a few towns located close to the Eastern Ghats, so my knowledge is heavily South India-based. I know for a fact that there are various similarities and differences between other geo-cultural areas of India, which is I why I've linked the other cool India Resources here as well.

In Which I Ramble About Pavitr's Character Design and the Indian Cultural Stuff Related to It by @chaos-and-sparkles (+ my addition + @neptune432's addition)

A culture post for the girlie pops (and non-girlie pops) looking to write Pavitr Prabhakar accurately by @summer-blues-stuff (+ my addition + @fandomsfeminismandme addition)

Also a timely reminder of @writingwithcolor's wonderful resources on writing about South Asian characters respectfully and sincerely

Now, for the things I've noticed in South India..

ANIMALS

There are a lot of street dogs. Like... a lot of them. And honestly it's so hard not to go up to one and give them a snack or two. The most notable dog breed is the Indian pariah and they can be found all over India. Mixed dog breeds are also common and results in a variety of features like differences in build and coat colours.

There are also other types of animals are pretty common to see alongside the roads.

Cattle are seen a lot (cows and bulls are easy to distinguish; cows (left) have udders and a small hump on their back, while bulls (right) are generally stockier and have a super-defined hump on their back). I'm pretty sure the specific cow breed is the sahiwal cow. They are either herded into paddocks for grazing or can be found wandering city streets on their own.

Goats are often herded by farmers into large masses of wool and horns and are guided to paddocks to graze. Sometimes, like cattle, they'll be found wandering city streets on their own.

Chickens are usually kept close to stalls and homes. These chickens are not plump and fluffy like most Western chickens, but are quite skinny. Mottled feather colours are usually a result of mixed chicken breeds. In Tamil Nadu, the most common chicken breed is the asil chicken.

Various birds are often seen flying around traffic if they’re not disappearing into the sky, the most common being crows, pigeons and mynahs. (The chart below on the right is not an inexhaustive list of birds; you best search them up yourself.)

TRANSPORT

There is obviously a huge amount of trucks and lorries and buses. They all have beautiful designs or crazy LEDs or large detailed fluorescent / iridescent stickers that are impossible to ignore, whether it be at high noon or midnight.

Expanding on that, the most common method of transport are motorcyclse or scooties, cars, and autos.

Also, as expected: traffic is insane. It’s horrible. It’s exhilarating. Western honking is akin to swearing, but here? Honk whenever you want. Honk if you’re happy or if you’re sad. You get a million dollars if you honk. You need to honk. It’s more important than breathing

Similarly, road rules don’t exist. Well, they do, and the Indian government does everything it can to make sure people do follow the rules, but based on the aforementioned honking, most people don't. Everyone just drives. Most bikers and motorcyclists don’t wear helmets. Only a few people wear seatbelts. Cars and motorcycles drive on the wrong side of the road and right into oncoming traffic. The chance of someone dying is 99% but it’s countered by desi stubbornness.

ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

Houses and buildings are painted different colours!!! Pastel pinks and purples and deep teal hues, either plain colours or decorated with elaborate murals. This also applies to interiors. I reckon it was surprising to a lot of people when they were confronted with Mumbattan's vibrant colours, but honestly: coloured buildings slap, and it's based on the real thing. They are a sight to behold. Couple that with the architecture and oh boy- you've got such a beautiful environment.

From @jettpack's concept art for Mumbattan buildings

jettpack's concept art of the Mumbattan collider

From @chenfelicia's concept and colour keys of Mumbattan

Don't be shy to really immerse in crazy descriptors - that's how you capture the liveliness of cities like Madurai and Mumbai and ultimately, their physical manifestations like Mumbattan.

Funny enough, movie posters and political banners and flyers are EVERYWHERE. They’re huge and take up entire billboards, or congregate along walls so it becomes practically a collage. It's impossible to ignore the image of "Makkal Selvan" Vijay Sethupathi about to beat some poor loser into a pulp with a stick, or the political parties roasting each other on paper with impressive photoshopped graphics.

To tie in to the point about transport: there are hundreds of coffee stalls and snack shops and one-of-a-kind food stands. You can’t go 200 metres without running into one, either on the highway or in the city. I remember having jaggery coffee on my first night in India, and guys- it tasted so fucking good. I only wish I can transfer the taste to you. Absolutely splendid.

The climate in India is generally very humid and warm, but that doesn't mean we don't get cooler days; it is obviously cooler on winter nights. Also I've heard from many conflicting sources on India's seasonal weather (probably due to India's geograpghy), so you will have to talk to someone who is from India to really confirm. I've somewhat boiled it down to five seasons:

Summer - May-Jun; very hot (35-45ºC/95-113ºF), characterised by shrinking water bodies and droughts if there aren't any rainfalls; this time is good for plant growth/harvest if you've successfully managed water supplies

Monsoon - Jul-Aug; (34ºC/93ºF) very variable in terms of timing, characterised by torrential rains and floodings; the raining itself probably lodges somewhere in Jun-Sept but the aftereffects are felt long after the rains have stopped

Autumn - Sept-Nov; cooler but humid (25-35ºC/77-95ºF), and generally much drier since it transitions from autumn to winter

Winter - Dec-Feb; much colder, but the extent is dependent on geographic regions (20-25ºC/68-77ºF)

Spring - Mar-Apr; humid (33ºC/91ºF), sudden downpours, only occasionally do you get pleasant weather in this time

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

For some reason, there are still loud speakers blaring out music across the roads and as far as a few city blocks. I honestly thought that that had died out by the time my parents had graduated university, but it still seems like people like hearing music played at 120 decibels.

This is a complicated issue but people are not piss poor. Yes, India is a developing country, and yes there are slums and there are homeless and there are those who are stuck in a horrific sociocultural cycle, but people are rapidly getting into high-paying jobs at much higher rates than before. Overall, India is getting better; do us a favour and not have us be represented by the same poor struggle-riddled Indian stories that Hollywood and Western media is are fond of portraying.

@neptune432: One thing I think it's important to acknowledge though is how your experience in India changes depending on your caste. I feel like most of the indian voices talking online are savarna (I'm not an exception) so this doesn't get brought up as much. It's a complicated issue and one that I don't think non-indians (or savarna indians) should worry about tackling in their work, but it's worth saying because what's assumed to be everyday aspects of indian culture are actually specific to things like caste, class, and what region you're in. ex: in kerala, there are also examples of people eating on banana leaf with lots of vegan food for special occasions (namely during onam). but veganism is heavily tied to brahmanism so most of these people will be savarna. even if they eat meat otherwise, the specific interest in eating vegan for special occassions has clear implications. Though many people of different castes eat meat, it's a practice that gets discriminated against, being treated as barbaric and unclean. this is because of brahmanism and is usually only strictly followed by brahmins. dalits/bahujan usually face the worse treatment for their eating traditions. there's also the fact that hinduism is more of a recent term and a broad umbrella where many different gods and cultures have been put under (and usually done forcefully). a lot of local dieties and specific cultural practices come from outside the vedic traditions of aryans (upper caste north india), but now are treated almost as one thing. ex: kali is a south indian (dravidian) goddess who's still heavily worshipped there and who later got adapted to brahminical traditions. that's also why south indian practices of worship are different from the north and are discriminated against ex: north indians getting angry at the idea of worshipping kali by drinking alcohol and smoking even though it's an older tradition than theirs. these traditions are often connected to dalit/tribal cultures as well, which adds to why these traditions are attacked. Now, I don't feel comfortable with non-indians writing about india in general but I feel it's important to mention these things cos most people don't even realize they're only getting shown certain perspectives. How many people don't even know they're a north/south divide, for example? People are fed narrow viewpoints on India and assume that's everything to know. it's a problem cos that's what the brahminical forces in india want. This is all very general info too and I'm no expert so it's worth more research (like reading what dalits have said on their experiences). I'm not trying to criticize you btw, I just wanted to add some things cos this has been on my mind for a long time now. Couldn't have said it better myself, neptune!! (I barely mentioned it at all lmao) The caste system despite it being "abolished" still defines many traditions within India, and almost always in harmful ways. Like @summer-blues-stuff and I have mentioned in their post A culture post for the girlie pops under the Religion and caste section, it's best to leave the caste and social hierarchy alone even if you've done your research. That doesn't mean you shouldn't talk about it, it's just that people, especially those of non-South Asian decent, have to be extremely careful about it. Introductory resources on the caste system can be found on ABC, Pew Research and The Conversation.

Furthermore, the automatic assumption is that people living in shacks or remote villages have no access to greater populations and resources, which I'm happy to completely disprove. Guys: majority of the people living in my village, a rather remote village, have phones on them. Ranges from iPhones to Androids to good ol' Nokias.

(And, side note: as an Indian, I get amazingly pissed off when people's ringtones are set to maximum volume and play the same famous part of a famous song every time they get a call. Like shut the fuck up. At least quieten down? Please??)

(Also this might be a South Indian thing but Man some people are so entitled. Dudes you do not need to rub your ego into my face. Dudes you can, you know, keep all the cool things you think will get other people jealous out of the public eye. At this point I'm not jealous of what you Have, I'm pissed off at the Audacity To Think You Can Make Me Feel Bad About Myself With The Things That You Have).

Alright. Moving on.

Tiny temples and shrines are everywhere, dedicated to broad-Hinduism deities like Ganesh, Shakthi, or Vishnu; other times, they are shrines built for local deities that protect a particular village. For example, my village dedicated a little plot of water-logged land to a benevolent spirit called Subbamma, where people would leave offerings or place their sick/injured animals at the water's edge so that Subbamma could heal them. These tiny temples are almost always super colourful and amazingly detailed despite their small size

It could be a whole month before a celebration like Diwali but it’s the perfect time to set off hundreds of fireworks and firecrackers. People are just inconsiderate in many ways, it seems.

Some women wear strings of jasmine flowers in their hair. This might be completely regional-based, but most if not all women, ranging from little kids to old ladies, will wear these strings of jasmine in their hair. It's supposed to represent good fortune and beauty, and it smells wonderful.

@esrev-redips: #i usually only visit the north side of india (went to banglore and or chennai once) but im pretty sure most women in mumbai wouldnt wear #flowers in their hair unless they were of an older generation #they dont in new delhi at least and i t h i n k you can compare them but im not sure since i dont live in india either Thank you esrev!!!!! glad to see an old hunch be confirmed!!!

Normally you can wear any type of jasmine, but the common subtypes in Tamil Nadu are ஜாதிமல்லி (jathimalli; "Spanish jasmine"; left) and மல்லிப்பூ (mallipoo; right).

Eating food from a plate made from a banana leaf is more than just an aesthetic, and is often reserved for certain occasions; other times we eat from metal or ceramic plates. I can't vouch for other areas of India but I've been told the reason why banana leaves are predominantly used for large gatherings is because they can signal to diners if the food is rotten or has been poisoned; supposedly the leaf itself starts rotting and releases liquid, but I personally have never seen this happen. But of course, there are also other reasons as to why banana leaves are used (all of which are valid) ranging from being an eco-friendly disposable plate, offloading nutrients into food, or even to make the food taste better. Pick whichever reason you like.

I'm literally so hungry looking at this. (Realises this is a Pavitr thing to say.) Anyway.

FOOD RECS!!!!!!

Reblog with your favourite foods >:) The list will be routinely updated...

JAGGERY COFFEE (from me) - GOOD FUCKING STUFF. ACTUALLY. if you see it.. GET IT IMMEDIATELY

PANI PURI (from @esrev-redips) - #also you forgot to mention the PANI PURI STANDS AHHHHHH YUMYUMYUM | RRRR YOU'RE SO RIGHT. PANI PURI FOR LIFE ACTUALLY.

JASUBEN PIZZA (from @the-witch-forever-lives) - okay this is specific to Ahmedabad | okay but as specific as it may be that sounds and looks delicious??? hello??????

DABELI (from @the-witch-forever-lives) - this too???? also it LOOKS wonderful i need it right now actually

VADA PAV (from @the-witch-forever-lives) - Also Vada pav from Mumbai is so one of a kind | you are absolutely correct. vada pav is truly something magnificent

I think that's about all I can give you right now. This took me a while to type out. Feel free to ask any questions, or if you have anything you would like to add on, like anything I might have glossed over or your favourite desi foods, please do!!! I'll be sure to reblog your addition and update the original post.

The point is that this post can become one of those few other reference posts that artists and writers and other creatives can use if they ever want to make anything related to India, because it's genuinely so cool to see your culture represented so well in popular modern media.

(And in fanfic and fandom. Especially in fanfic and fandom. you have no idea how many times I've gone insane reading a Pavitr-centric fic or reading comments on Pavitr-related posts and it's just outdated ideas and harmful stereotypes and all sorts of sick bullshit, and it's always to the point where I physically have to go outside and bite into a fresh rhizome in order to ground myself. Like damn, people, you need to know things before you start creating)

So uh, I hope this was helpful if not interesting! Happy early Diwali everyone! Knowledge-over-ignorance and all that; hopefully this post does that notion justice!

#pavitr prabhakar #wrote this solely because i wanted more atsv pavitr-centric fics and i need to get that specific immersed-in-india itch scratched #and also because the india i remembered decades ago is definitely not the india i visited last week #wow time flies doesn't it #spider man india #india #writing tips #o wise writer stuff #indian culture #south asian culture #spider man across the spider verse #atsv #across the spider verse #chaipunk #goldenpunk #cultural references #atsv pavitr #agnirambles

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na-bird-of-the-day · 6 months

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BOTD: Rock Pigeon

Photo: Razvan Socol

"Few birds have been associated with humans so closely as the Rock Pigeon, better known as the common city pigeon. It has been domesticated and taken around the world, raised for food, trained for homing, racing, and carrying messages, and used in research. Originally native from Europe to North Africa and India, it now lives in a wild or semi-wild condition in cities all over the world, including most of North America. In places it has reverted to wild habits, nesting on cliffs far from cities."

- Audubon Field Guide

#birds #rock pigeon #birds of north america #north american birds #pigeons #doves #birds of the us #birds of canada #birds of mexico #birds of central america #birds of the caribbean #birding #birdblr #birblr #bird of the day #bird watching #Columba livia

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willtheweaver · 4 months

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A writer’s guide to forests: from the poles to the tropics, part 7

Is it no.7 already? Wow. A big shout out to everyone who has had the patients to stick with this. Now onto this week’s forest…

Dry forest

Water is life. That’s a fact. And especially where it doesn’t rain for more than half the year.

Location: Dry forests are scattered throughout the Yucatán peninsula ,South America, various Pacific islands,Australia, Madagascar, and India. Areas have been cleared by human activity, and the SA dry forests are classified as the most threatened tropical forests.

Climate: Temperate to tropical, with just enough rain to sustain trees. Many are monsoonal, with rain coming in one or two brief periods separated by a long dry season.

Plant life- Hardy trees, such as Baobab and Eucalyptus are able to last with little rain by tapping into groundwater with extensive root systems. Many trees are evergreen, but in India, many species are deciduous. Trees are often more spaced out, and shrubs and grasses grow extensively. Cacti are common plants in the Americas, with some growing tall enough to be considered trees. In order to survive the heat and lack of water, many small plants are annuals, or store water in tubers. Palms can make up a large percentage of the trees, as was the case in the now vanished forests of Easter Island.

Animal life- As they can come and go when they please, birds are common species. Larger animals are active year round, with smaller species of mammals, amphibians, and certain insects only coming out during the rainy season. Isolation means that islands become home to many endemic species; think about Madagascar and the lemurs, or Darwin’s finches, iguanas, and tortoises in the Galapagos. Isolation has also led to the marsupials of Australia developing to fill the niches that would normally be occupied by placental mammals .The introduction of invasive species has brought about the extinction of island fauna.

How the forest affects the story- Water, or the lack of will be the biggest challenge your characters will face. Rivers and lakes may be seasonal, so other sources will have to be utilized. Drinkable fluids can be obtained from various plants and animals, or maybe the bedrock is porous and water accumulates in cenotes. Your characters could come from a culture that builds artificial reservoirs to collect the rain and store it for the dry season. With careful water management, cities can thrive in dry areas. But your characters will have to be careful. Prolonged drought will see societies go the way of the Maya. Deforestation leaves the topsoil vulnerable to the wind, and forests, farms, and grassland will inevitably turn to desert. Whether nomadic or sedentary, your characters and their society will have to find a way to interact with the forest without destroying it or themselves. Can they do it? Can a damaged biosphere be restored before it’s too late? The success or failure of your characters and/or their predecessors can be a driving focus of the plot. Of course ,when the rains do come, it could be in the form of a cyclone. Dry ground does not readily absorb water, and flash floods are a danger. Water can grant life, but it can take it as well.

#writing #creative writing #writing guide #writing inspiration #writing prompts #writer #writers #writing community #writer on tumblr #writeblr

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cincinnatusvirtue · 9 months

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Countries that are no more: Achaemenid Empire (550BC-330BC)

It was not the first empire of Iranian peoples, but it arose as probably the greatest in terms of influence and became the measure by which all subsequent Iranian empires tended to compare themselves and its influence on culture, government & civil infrastructure would influence others beyond the span of its territory and the span of time. This is the Achaemenid Empire.

Name: In Old Persian it was known as Xšāça or the "The Kingdom or the Empire", it was named the Achaemenid Empire by later historians. Named after the ruling dynasty established by its founder Cyrus the Great who cited the name of his ancestor Haxāmaniš or Achaemenes in Greek as progenitor of the dynasty. It is sometimes also referred to as the First Persian Empire. The Greeks simply referred to it as Persia, the name which stuck for the geographic area of the Iranian plateau well into the modern era.

Language: Old Persian & Aramaic were the official languages. With Old Persian being an Iranian language that was the dynastic language of the Achaemenid ruling dynasty and the language of the Persians, an Iranian people who settled in what is now the southwestern Iranian plateau or southwest Iran circa 1,000 BC. Aramaic was a Semitic language that was the common and administrative language of the prior Neo-Assyrian & Neo-Babylonian Empires which centered in Mesopotamia or modern Iraq, Syria & Anatolian Turkey. After the Persian conquest of Babylon, the use of Aramaic remained the common tongue within the Mesopotamian regions of the empire, eventually becoming a lingua franca across the land. As the empire spread over a vast area and became increasingly multiethnic & multicultural, it absorbed many other languages among its subject peoples. These included the Semitic languages Akkadian, Phoenician & Hebrew. The Iranian language of Median among other regional Iranian languages (Sogdian, Bactrian etc). Various Anatolian languages, Elamite, Thracian & Greek among others.

Territory: 5.5 million kilometers squared or 2.1 million square miles at its peak circa 500BC. The Achaemenid Empire spanned from southern Europe in the Balkans (Greece, Bulgaria, European Turkey) & northwest Africa (Egypt, Libya & Sudan) in the west to its eastern stretches in the Indus Valley (Pakistan) to parts of Central Asia in the northeast. It was centered firstly in the Iranian Plateau (Iran) but also held capitals in Mesopotamia (Iraq). Territory was also found in parts of the Arabian Peninsula & the Caucausus Mountains.

Symbols & Mottos: The Shahbaz or Derafsh Shahbaz was used as the standard of Cyrus the Great, founder of the empire. It depicts a bird of prey, typically believed to be a falcon or hawk (occasionally an eagle) sometimes rendered gold against a red backdrop and depicts the bird holding two orbs in its talons and adorned with an orb likewise above its head. The symbolism was meant to depict the bird guiding the Iranian peoples to conquest and to showcase aggression & strength coupled with dignity. The imperial family often kept falcons for the pastime of falconry.

Religion: The ancient Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism served as the official religion of the empire. It was adopted among the Persian elite & and had its unique beliefs but also helped introduce the concept of free-will among its believers, an idea to influence Judaism, Christianity & Islam in later centuries. Despite this official religion, there was a tolerance for local practices within the subject regions of the empire. The ancient Mesopotamian religion in Babylon & Assyria, Judaism, the Ancient Greek & Egyptian religions & Vedic Hinduism in India was likewise tolerated as well. The tolerance of the Achaemenids was considered a relative hallmark of their dynasty from the start. Famously, in the Old Testament of the Bible it was said that it was Cyrus the Great who freed the Jews from their Babylonian captivity and allowed them to return to their homeland of Judea in modern Israel.

Currency: Gold & silver or bimetallic use of coins became standard within the empire. The gold coins were later referred to as daric and silver as siglos. The main monetary production changes came during the rule of Darius I (522BC-486BC). Originally, they had followed the Lydian practice out of Anatolia of producing coins with gold, but the practice was simplified & refined under the Achaemenids.

Population: The estimates vary ranging from a low end of 17 million to 35 million people on the upper end circa 500BC. The official numbers are hard to determine with certainty but are generally accepted in the tens of millions with the aforementioned 17-35 million being the most reasonable range based on available sources.

Government: The government of the Achaemenid Empire was a hereditary monarchy ruled by a king or shah or later referred to as the ShahanShah or King of Kings, this is roughly equivalent to later use of the term Emperor. Achaemenid rulers due the unprecedented size of their empire held a host of titles which varied overtime but included: King of Kings, Great King, King of Persia, King of Babylon, Pharaoh of Egypt, King of the World, King of the Universe or King of Countries. Cyrus the Great founded the dynasty with his conquest first of the Median Empire and subsequently the Neo-Babylonians and Lydians. He established four different capitals from which to rule: Pasargadae as his first in Persia (southwest central Iran), Ecbatana taken from the Medians in western Iran's Zagros Mountains. The other two capitals being Susa in southwest Iran near and Babylon in modern Iraq which was taken from the Neo-Babylonians. Later Persepolis was made a ceremonial capital too. The ShahanShah or King of Kings was also coupled with the concept of divine rule or the divinity of kings, a concept that was to prove influential in other territories for centuries to come.

While ultimate authority resided with the King of Kings and their bureaucracy could be at times fairly centralized. There was an expansive regional bureaucracy that had a degree of autonomy under the satrapy system. The satraps were the regional governors in service to the King of Kings. The Median Empire had satraps before the Persians but used local kings they conquered as client kings. The Persians did not allow this because of the divine reverence for their ShahanShah. Cyrus the Great established governors as non-royal viceroys on his behalf, though in practice they could rule like kings in all but name for their respective regions. Their administration was over their respective region which varied overtime from 26 to 36 under Darius I. Satraps collected taxes, acted as head over local leaders and bureaucracy, served as supreme judge in their region to settle disputes and criminal cases. They also had to protect the road & postal system established by the King of Kings from bandits and rebels. A council of Persians were sent to assist the satrap with administration, but locals (non-Persian) could likewise be admitted these councils. To ensure loyalty to the ShahanShah, royal secretaries & emissaries were sent as well to support & report back the condition of each satrapy. The so called "eye of the king" made annual inspections of the satrapy to ensure its good condition met the King of Kings' expectations.

Generals in chief were originally made separate to the satrap to divide the civil and military spheres of government & were responsible for military recruitment but in time if central authority from the ShahanShah waned, these could be fused into one with the satrap and general in chiefs becoming hereditary positions.

To convey messages across the widespread road system built within the empire, including the impressive 2,700 km Royal Road which spanned from Susa in Iran to Sardis in Western Anatolia, the angarium (Greek word) were an institution of royal messengers mounted on horseback to ride to the reaches of the empire conveying postage. They were exclusively loyal to the King of Kings. It is said a message could be reached to anywhere within the empire within 15 days to the empire's vast system of relay stations, passing message from rider to rider along its main roads.

Military: The military of the Achaemenids consisted of mostly land based forces: infantry & cavalry but did also eventually include a navy.

Its most famous unit was the 10,000-man strong Immortals. The Immortals were used as elite heavy infantry were ornately dressed. They were said to be constantly as 10,000 men because for any man killed, he was immediately replaced. Armed with shields, scale armor and with a variety of weapons from short spears to swords, daggers, slings, bows & arrows.

The sparabara were the first line of infantry armed with shields and spears. These served as the backbone of the army. Forming shield walls to defend the Persian archers. They were said to ably handle most opponents and could stop enemy arrows though their shields were vulnerable to enemy spears.

There was also the takabara light infantry and though is little known of them it seems they served as garrison troops and skirmishers akin to the Greek peltast of the age.

The cavalry consisted of four distinct groups: chariot driven archers used to shoot down and break up enemy formations, ideally on flat grounds. There was also the traditional horse mounted cavalry and also camel mounted cavalry, both served the traditional cavalry functions and fielded a mix of armor and weapons. Finally, there was the use of war elephants which were brought in from India on the empire's eastern reaches. These provided archers and a massive way to physically & psychologically break opposing forces.

The navy was utilized upon the empire's reaching the Mediterranean and engaged in both battles at sea and for troop transport to areas where troops needing deploying overseas, namely in Greece.

The ethnic composition of Achaemenid military was quite varied ranging from a Persian core with other Iranian peoples such as the Medians, Sogdian, Bactrians and Scythians joining at various times. Others including Anatolians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Anatolians, Indians, Arabs, Jews, Phoenicians, Thracians, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Libyans & Greeks among others.

Their opponents ranged from the various peoples they conquered starting with the Persian conquest of the Medians to the Neo-Babylonians, Lydians, Thracians, Greeks, Egyptians, Arabs & Indians and various others. A hallmark of the empire was to allow the local traditions of subjugated areas to persist so long as garrisons were maintained, taxes were collected, local forces provided levies to the military in times of war, and they did not rebel against the central authority.

Economy: Because of the efficient and extensive road system within the vast empire, trade flourished in a way not yet seen in the varied regions it encompassed. Tax districts were established with the satrapies and could be collected with relative efficiency. Commodities such as gold & jewels from India to the grains of the Nile River valley in Egypt & the dyes of the Phoenicians passed throughout the realm's reaches. Tariffs on trade & agricultural produce provided revenue for the state.

Lifespan: The empire was founded by Cyrus the Great circa 550BC with his eventual conquest of the Median & Lydian Empires. He started out as Cyrus II, King of Persia a client kingdom of the Median Empire. His reign starting in 559BC. Having overthrown and overtaken the Medians, he turned his attention Lydia and the rest of Anatolia (Asia Minor). He later attacked the Eastern Iranian peoples in Bactria, Sogdia and others. He also crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and attacked the Indus Valley getting tribute from various cities.

Cyrus then turned his attention to the west by dealing with the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Following his victory in 539BC at the Battle of Opis, the Persians conquered the Babylonia with relative quickness.

By the time of Cyrus's death his empire had the largest recorded in world history up to that point spanning from Anatolia to the Indus.

Cyrus was succeeded by his sons Cambyses II and Bardiya. Bardiya was replaced by his distant cousin Darius I also known as Darius the Great, whose lineage would constitute a number of the subsequent King of Kings.

Darius faced many rebellions which he put down in succession. His reign is marked by changes to the currency and the largest territorial expansion of the empire. An empire at its absolute zenith. He conquered large swaths of Egypt, the Indus Valley, European Scythia, Thrace & Greece. He also had exploration of the Indian Ocean from the Indus River to Suez Egypt undertaken.

The Greek kingdom of Macedon in the north reaches of the Hellenic world voluntarily became a vassal of Persia in order to avoid destruction. This would prove to be a fateful first contact with this polity that would in time unite the Greek-speaking world in the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire. However, at the time of Darius I's the reign, there were no early indications of this course of events as Macedon was considered even by other Greek states a relative backwater.

Nevertheless, the Battle of Marathon in 490BC halted the conquest of mainland Greece for a decade and showed a check on Persia's power in ways not yet seen. It is also regarded as preserving Classical Greek civilization and is celebrated to this day as an important in the annals of Western civilization more broadly given Classical Greece & in particular Athens's influence on western culture and values.

Xerxes I, son of Darius I vowed to conquer Greece and lead a subsequent invasion in 480BC-479BC. Xerxes originally saw the submission of northern Greece including Macedon but was delayed by the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae, most famously by Spartan King Leonidas and his small troop (the famed 300). Though the Persians won the battle it was regarded as a costly victory and one that inspired the Greeks to further resistance. Though Athens was sacked & burnt by the Persians, the subsequent victories on sea & land at Salamis & Plataea drove the Persians back from control over Greece. Though war would rage on until 449BC with the expulsion of the Persians from Europe by the Greeks.

However, the Greeks found themselves in a civil war between Athens & Sparta and Persia having resented the Athenian led coalition against their rule which had expelled them from Europe sought to indirectly weaken the Greeks by supporting Greek factions opposed to Athens through political & financial support.

Following this reversal of fortune abroad, the Achaemenid Empire not able to regain its foothold in Europe, turned inward and focused more on its cultural development. Zoroastrianism became the de-facto official religion of the empire. Additionally, architectural achievements and improvements in its many capitals were undertaken which displayed the empire's wealth. Artaxerxes II who reigned from 405BC-358BC had the longest reign of any Achaemenid ruler and it was characterized by relative peace and stability, though he contended with a number of rebellions including the Great Satraps Revolt of 366BC-360BC which took place in Anatolia and Armenia. Though he was successful in putting down the revolt. He also found himself at war with the Spartans and began to sponsor the Athenians and others against them, showcasing the ever dynamic and changing Greco-Persian relations of the time.

Partially for safety reasons, Persepolis was once again made the capital under Artaxerxes II. He helped expand the city and create many of its monuments.

Artaxerxes III feared the satraps could no longer be trusted in western Asia and ordered their armies disbanded. He faced a campaign against them which suffered some initial defeats before overcoming these rebellions, some leaders of which sought asylum in the Kingom of Macedon under its ruler Philip II (father of Alexander the Great).

Meanwhile, Egypt had effectively become independent from central Achaemenid rule and Artaxerxes III reinvaded in around 340BC-339BC. He faced stiff resistance at times but overcame the Egyptians and the last native Egyptian Pharaoh Nectanebo II was driven from power. From that time on ancient Egypt would be ruled by foreigners who held the title Pharaoh.

Artaxerxes III also faced rebellion from the Phoenicians and originally was ejected from the area of modern coastal Lebanon, Syria & Israel but came back with a large army subsequently reconquered the area including burning the Phoenician city of Sidon down which killed thousands.

Following Artaxerxes III's death his son succeeded him but a case of political intrigue & dynastic murder followed. Eventually Darius III a distant relation within the dynasty took the throne in 336BC hoping to give his reign an element of stability.

Meanwhile in Greece, due to the military reforms and innovations of Philip II, King of Macedon, the Greek speaking world was now unified under Macedon's hegemony. With Philip II holding the title of Hegemon of the Hellenic League, a relatively unified coalition of Greek kingdoms and city-states under Macedon premiership that formed to eventually invade Persia. However, Philip was murdered before his planned invasion of Asia Minor (the Achaemenid's westernmost territory) could commence. His son Alexander III (Alexander the Great) took his father's reforms and consolidated his hold over Greece before crossing over to Anatolia himself.

Darius III had just finished reconquering some rebelling vestiges of Egypt when Alexander army crossed over into Asia Minor circa 334BC. Over the course of 10 years Alexander's major project unfolded, the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire. He famously defeated Persians at Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela. The latter two battles against Darius III in person. He took the King of Kings family hostage but treated them well while Darius evacuated to the far eastern reaches of his empire to evade capture. He was subsequently killed by one of his relatives & satraps Bessus, whom Alexander eventually had killed. Bessus had declared himself King of Kings though this wasn't widely recognized and most historians regard Darius III, the last legitimate ShahanShah of Achaemenids.

Alexander had taken Babylon, Susa & Persepolis by 330BC and effectively himself was now ruler of the Persian Empire or at least its western half. In addition to being King of Macedon & Hegemon of the Hellenic League, he gained the titles King of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt & Lord of Asia. Alexander would in time eventually subdue the eastern portions of the Achaemenid realm including parts of the Indus Valley before turning back to Persia and Babylon where he subsequently became ill and died in June 323BC at age 32. Alexander's intentions it appears were never to replace the Achaemenid government & cultural structure, in fact he planned to maintain and hybridize it with his native Greek culture. He was in fact an admirer of Cyrus the Great (even restoring his tomb after looting) & adopted many Persian customs and dress. He even allowed the Persians to practice their religion and had Persian and Greeks start to serve together in his army. Following his death and with no established successor meant the empire he established which essentially was the whole Achaemenid Empire's territory in addition to the Hellenic world fragmented into different areas run by his most trusted generals who established their own dynasties. The Asian territories from Anatolia to the Indus (including Iran and Mesopotamia) gave way to the Hellenic ruled Seleucid Empire while Egypt became the Hellenic ruled Ptolemaic Kingdom. The synthesis of Persian and Greek cultures continued in the Seleucid and Greco-Bactrian kingdoms of antiquity.

The Achaemenid Empire lasted for a little over two centuries (550BC-330BC) but it casted a long shadow over history. Its influence on Iran alone has persisted into the modern age with every subsequent Persian Empire claiming to be its rightful successor from the Parthian & Sasanian Empires of pre-Islamic Iran to the Safavids of the 16th-18th century and the usage of the title Shah until the last Shah's ejection from power in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Even the modern Islamic Republic of Iran uses Achaemenid imagery in some military regiments and plays up its importance in tourism and museums as a source of pride to Persian (Farsi) & indeed Iranian heritage. Likewise, its form of governance and the pushing of the concept of divine rights of kings would transplant from its Greek conquerors into the rest of Europe along with various other institutions such as its road & mail system, tax collection & flourishing trade. Its mix of centralized & decentralized governance. Its religious & cultural tolerance of local regions even after their conquest would likewise serve as a template for other empires throughout history too. The Achaemenid Empire served as a template for vast international & transcontinental empires that would follow in its wake & surpass its size & scope of influence. However, it is worth studying for in its time, it was unprecedented, and its innovations so admired by the likes of Alexander the Great and others echo into the modern era.

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thynisia-pac-readings · 9 months

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PAC - What brings joy to you? How to bring joy to yourself?

[please do not copy or reproduce any part of this reading, thank you]

This reading is meant to assist you in connecting with the vibration and experience of joy. While this is for guidance, it is also meant to be fun. These groups are collectives, so take what resonates only!

I'm happy you chose to read this pick-a-pile, and may it bring you closer to the light within you. 🌻

Now slowly take 3 deep breaths. Ask your guardian angel to help you find the relevant pile for you and let your intuition guide you throughout this reading. Enjoy!

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Pile 1

Signs: pay attention to yourself. apple. justice served. I love you. India, US.

Pile 1!!!! Pile 1, pile 1, pile 1. As I shuffled the cards, I found myself singing. I can bet most of you find joy in singing freely, and even a card fell, backing this up.

I'm also getting that to find joy is to find bliss, and to find bliss is to find joy. That is what joy means to you, pile 1. For you, bliss can be found in your peace and quiet, it can be felt through the divine and experienced during meditations. Being by yourself and not talking, is healing for you. It also helps you to get in touch with yourself as well as your divine team. Again very healing, centering, and therefore it's easier for you to feel that bliss and joy.

Someone here could have a bird or parrot, I think your bird is funny AF and makes you laugh a lot.

Some of you may be close to a grandparent, and so the advice here is to spend time with them as it is a very good way for you to bring joy to yourself (and them!).

We've got the romance card so some of you may feel most joyful when you're in a relationship. But mostly, what I'm getting is that being there for people and supporting them is what brings you joy, always - whatever kind of relationship that is! I feel like you bring out the light within people, the angelic aspect they didn't know they had. That tells a lot about you too, pile 1.

Back to the singing, I also feel like it helps you release a ton of heavy stuff (feelings, painful memories...) that you don't want trapped in you or that you don't want to carry anymore. It also helps you to unleash your true self. There's definitely an element of transformational healing there with singing or songwriting, and the divine is strongly encouraging you to keep doing that.

Some of you could be singing with your own family members. For some, singing is a key characteristic of a side of your family since many generations! How cool is that!!

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

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Pile 2

signs: having fun adventures, taking joy in learning, living freely and passionately (see moon & mars in Aries and Sagittarius). Brazil, India, NZ, South Pacific, UK. 44.

I saw deep blue as I was shuffling the cards (in my mind's eye), and sure enough most of the cards had a deep blue in them. I also sensed some sadness from this collective. This deep blue could mean something to you, or it could just represent this sadness of yours.

For this Pile, the divine is asking to bring forth your patience in things, as joy will definitely find you. It seems like you really struggle with it at the moment, so this reading is a welcome guidance for you and I am happy that you chose to read it. :)

For your collective, the divine seems to highlight the importance of patience and growth. They are asking you to cultivate yourself, cultivate discipline/persistence and cultivate patience as good things are headed your way while you practice this cultivation. You could find it useful to listen to monks' wisdom and how they cultivate themselves on patience, discipline, persistence, as well as how they face challenging experiences. Preferably, find books written by them on the subject, as they can freely explain everything. YouTube videos cut many parts out and are nowhere as comprehensive/rich as the monks' own books.

Finally, you are asked to trust yourself as you navigate through the difficult path you are walking on. It is not easy and sometimes you may feel like you are losing balance, but listen; even the whole universe is in a constant fight for balance. Complete balance between the light and the shadow does not exist and that's what makes the universe alive! You are the universe too, you are a spark of God/Creator, and hence it is perfectly normal for you, like all of us, to continually try to find a balance. It's all part of the experience, you beautiful wise soul. And what can be more amazing than knowing that we are alive, that we are all experiencing joys and pains, just like the universe is both made of light and dark..!!

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

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Pile 3

signs: someone is named Grace and it's for a reason - maybe your mother named like this on purpose, Pile 3 you could have a very gentle voice that soothes people, there's a lot of kindness in your voice as I have myself talking this way throughout your reading (yes I talk out loud during my readings). traveling could be a source of joy. US, Australia, UK.

A lot to unpack here (in a good way) but it's also pretty clear to me. It feels like you are Earth angels or Starseeds, I mean to everyone you're literally like a light sent on Earth. You yourself feel like you have a lot of love and care to give to people, so much so that you want to make of it your career. So take it as a sign if that's what you've been thinking about.

The divine are really highlighting that you have a strong connection to your intuition and that a major purpose of it is to be used in service to others. You are divinely guided, and you definitely have your own mission or purpose in this life on Earth, which is to assist and guide others towards their inner light, their inner spark of Creator/Source.

You may be hesitating at the moment but trust your intuition, you will find joy on the path that the divine accompanies you on. Worry not, whatever path you chooses, the divine will always support you. However this reading is about what brings you joy and how you can bring joy to you. ;)

Now that's out of the way, let me indulge in the feeling I got from you Pile 3! It's a secret shh, but you're my favourite pile of the 3! xD

I got this really sweet, caring and loving energy from your collective, it's beautiful! Your spark is really focused on assisting others, which makes me think you're more likely an angelic aspect than a starseed. You love others but you also let others love you - and by letting them love you, you are helping them to nurture and express these energies more! In other words, people feel safe to express these caring energies towards you as well.

In terms of vibration, love and joy are not so far off from each other and they are actually interconnected, aren't they? :)

So there you go Pile 3, keep true to yourself and your values, keep shining your light (love) inside out, keep hugging others within your angel wings ~

If you want to purchase a reading from me check my masterlist or go straight to my Etsy listings here. discount code: TUMBLR

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Obviously, this type of reading is amazing to do because you're bathing in the energy you're reading about! Amazing. Again I hope you enjoyed. Let me know what piles you got and what your thoughts are~

Thynisia <3

This reading was done partly through cartomancy, divine channeling and my personally made paper note signs. I thank Source, Gaia, and all of our higher selves and guardian angels for supporting and blessing this reading. 🙏🏼

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santoschristos · 3 months

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"All religious forms are manifestations of the great cosmic, universal, infinite religion latent in every atom of the cosmos." --Samael Aun Weor - The Perfect Matrimony

Any genuine religion, mystical tradition, or type of spirituality is an attempt to communicate something of value and importance, which is that there is a purpose to life that one can experience for oneself.

The main traditions that we study here are Hinduism, Judaism, and the reform of those religions which came later, which are Buddhism and Christianity. We study all religions, but these are the four main ones we are interested in.

There are people all over the world that study the religion that they grew up with, or the religion that they became attracted to during their life. All of those traditions are very beautiful and have a great deal of knowledge that they express to humanity.

But unfortunately, people do not see religions for what they truly are. Over many centuries, religions have become a mere belief, something that people follow, respect, study and believe in, but rarely experience. It is very rare, sadly, to find anyone who has true experience of what the religions are teaching. Yet, that is their purpose: to guide us to experience what they teach.

In this tradition, the experience of religion is our primary goal. Our primary interest is learning the practical value of each religion.

Now in the case of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity, all of them in their essence teach exactly the same thing. On the surface they can appear different, but in their heart they are exactly the same.

They are attempting to convey the experience of a higher way of living, something that cannot be communicated in words. Each religion is like the expression of direct mystical experience with the divine.

Jesus was a vessel for that spirit which came in order to teach the same thing, the same religion, the same truth in different places. As an example: in India we find the Lord Krishna, who taught the same truth, in different levels of course, according to its own vessel. The vessel of Krishna who is one with that Spirit and is that same Spirit itself is the Bodhisattva; the Bodhisattva of Krishna is of course Arjuna, who we find in the Bhagadvad Gita.

Arjuna is the one who is talking to the Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, but you have to understand that Arjuna is the bodhisattva of Krishna. So, Krishna is the master of Arjuna. Krishna is the master and Arjuna is the Bodhisattva, who is learning from him and is at the same time teaching to others through the same.

The thing is that when we talk about this spiritual prophecy, or this intelligence that is able to incarnate in many places in order to establish the religion or the way to union with God of that time and place, this concept is understood in the western world, through the Bible, but in a very incomplete way.

Indeed, in the West there is a lot of ignorance related with this spirit, because in many different places this spirit has received many names. Among the Tibetans, for instance, Christ is known as Avalokiteshvara; you find that name in the Buddhist Pantheon.

Among the Taoists you find Kwan Yin. Kwan Yin is of course, according to the Tao, the “subtle voice,” or the “sweet voice,” in other words, the verb, the word, Logos.

Among the Mayans, they call this spirit, Kukulkan. The word “Kukul” means bird and “Kan” means serpent. So, when you say Kukulkan, this means the “bird-serpent.” That spirit, the “bird-serpent” in Aztec language or Nahua, is Quetzalcoatl.

There among the Peruvians, the Incas of Peru they call him Viracocha. Viracocha is the same Vishnu, the Lord. Of course, Chokmah חכמה, in the Kabbalah as you know means “Wisdom” and this is related with this spirit of wisdom.

All religions are precious stones strung on the golden thread of Divinity.

All religions conserve the eternal values. False religions do not exist.

All religions are necessary; all religions fulfill their mission in life.

It is absurd to state that our neighbor’s religion is useless and that only ours is authentic. If the neighbor’s religion is not good then my religion is not good either because the values are always the same.

It is stupid to state that the religion of the indigenous tribes of America is idolatry because they too have the right to say that our religion is idolatry. If we laugh at them, they can also laugh at us. If we say that they adore or that they adored idols, then they too can say that we adore idols.

We cannot discredit the religion of others without discrediting ours as well because the principles are always the same. All religions have the same principles.

Under the sun, every religion is born, grows, develops, multiplies into many sects, and dies. This is how it has always been and will always be.

Religious principles never die. The religious forms can die, but the religious principles, in other words, the eternal values, can never die. They continue; they are re-dressed with new forms.

Religion is inherent to life in the same manner that humidity is to water.

It is worthwhile to study all religions. The comparative study of religions leads one to comprehend that all religions conserve the eternal values, that no religion is false, that all are true.

The word religion comes from the Latin word religare, which implies “to link or bind or union of the Soul to God."

"As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes; similarly, the fire of Self-knowledge reduces all bonds of karma to ashes..." --Krishna - Bhagavad-gita 4:36-37

The eternal values embodied in the world's religions express the essential requirements for the consciousness to enter into the light and fully realize the purpose of living.

In other words, the heart message of every religion seeks to awaken the consciousness and eliminate suffering, so that the eternal light may be known through our own direct experience.

"Truth is one; sages call it by various names." -- Rig Veda

Original Post by Mac Fion

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sugarwithtea · 1 year

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namaste bangtan | ot7 collab

Namaste, The tannies are on a tour. Where you ask? India. A country they have never visited, but when we dive deep in the world of fiction, they are exploring the country with a sweet tooth for love and history. It's not a concert tour, if you were skeptical. It's one which will lead them to know the colors of diversity, colors of spicy street food and colors of a country with millions of adventures.

➳ A desi BTS fanfic collaboration hosted by @sugarwithtea , @btsstan12 (ao3) and @apotatomashedbybts

Title : Obbanti Author : @btsstan12 (ao3) Pairing : Author!Seokjin x Photographer!Reader (f) Summary : Broken. That is what Jin felt when he decided to travel to India. His only reason to travel was to mend his broken heart, and that he did, when he met you. With tender gaze and pretty smile you mended his heart, but only later did he realize that his mended heart hurt more than his broken one. He had travelled to forget the memories of one but returned with the memories of another and just like that he had another incomplete story. Rating/Genre : pg-15, strangers to lovers, fluff, angst Location : Karnataka

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Title : Dui Pakhi (Two Birds) Author : @apotatomashedbybts Pairing : Idol!Yoongi x Reader (f) Summary : Since the beginning of time there has been two different energies - finite and infinite, masculine and feminine, inner world and outer world - existing in duality but unified by love. In Rabindranath Thakur's words - "Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict." Just as the unpredictable spring rolled in, love brought another two opposite energies together - freed and caged, Yoongi and you. Mutual attraction stemming from admiration for each other's craft pulled you two closer and Yoongi found himself in India, walking with you, matching his steps with yours and soaking himself in colours of the outside as well as inside. But what if that particular gravity is not enough against the unrestrained love you both have for your own worlds? What if your wings are too weak to hold each other? Rating/Genre : 18+, strangers to lovers, fluff, angst, eventual smut, travel au, idol au Location : Shantiniketan, Bolpur / West Bengal

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Title : Teri Hasee Ka Noor Author : @moonleeai Pairing : Hoseok x Reader (f) Summary : Hoseok takes best friend duties seriously and makes it his mission to cure your winter blues. He intends well by surprising you with a tropical vacation but it starts off colder than anticipated. Hoseok fixes his mistake in time for the hot weather to stir something in both of you. Rating/Genre : 18+, friends to lovers, fluff, angst, smut, travel au Location : Kashmir and Goa

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Title : The Pink City Author : @sugarwithtea Pairing : Author!Namjoon x Guide!Reader (f) Summary : The colour of love? There's a lot of debate on it. But when I ask you what love is, do you see hues of red? A splash of colours, golden, red and white — ones which represent love, peace and happiness? What happens when you mix the colour of love, red, and the colour of peace, white? You get pink. Namjoon is in the pink city of India, and even though he doesn't search for love, he stumbles upon it when he meets you, his guide for his months long stay. Will he be painted pink? Or will he go back colourless? Rating/Genre : 18+, strangers to lovers, fluff, angst, smut, travel au Location : Jaipur / Rajasthan

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Title : The Homeliest Home Author : @tangy-tangerine Pairing : Idol!Jimin x Reader (f) Summary : You have never been good at building, so establishing a home far from home was weighing down heavily on your impulsive dream of moving away. Just when the air of the new city begins throttling the joys of your life, you choose to give in for a week; a week of the luxury life that brings that glow on the elites of Pune. What you would have never expected was bumping into a group of bulky men and from in between them, a soft, gorgeous smile and dreamy eyes meeting yours. What better time to meet your favourite idol than when you need him the most Rating/Genre : 16+, strangers to lovers, fluff, angst, slice of life, travel au, idol au Location : Pune / Maharashtra

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Title : Family Ties Author : @blog-name-idk Pairing : Artist!Taehyung x American-born Indian!Reader Summary : Your boyfriend Taehyung is everything you've ever wanted in a partner. Kind, sweet, funny, attentive – the two of you fit together like puzzle pieces. Except, well, he's not Indian, and your very traditional grandmother does not approve. Rating/Genre : 18+, fluff, angst, established relationship Location : -

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Title : The World Is A Garden Author : @madbutgloriouspond Pairing : Student!Jungkook x Florist!Reader Summary : Tired of working to live, you embark on that over seas that younger you was always day dreaming of. With a new attitude in a new country, you meet a boy bright like sunshine. Will something blossom between you? Rating/Genre : 18+, fluff, mild angst, strangers to lovers Location : Gangtok / Sikkim

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floresmarique · 1 year

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Dragon & Bird (Last Boss x OFC!)

Hello! This is the first time i write about Alice In Borderland, but i got soo obsessed with the series that writing about one of my favorite characters was the only way that could help me release this obsession lmao.

Let me know if you'd like a part two!

WARNINGS: smut, mention of death, blood, use of spitting, use of dirty nicknames, loss of virginity, rough sex, unprotected sex.

Enjoy!

Anya didn't know how she ended up in Borderland.

All she remembered from the day everyone suddenly disappeared and life started becoming a survival game, was that she was normally doing what she always did; taking photographs. Anya was in Japan for two years to study, her goal was to become a polyglot and a turistic guide since she loved to travel and explore the world, it was the job of her dreams. Her passion, however, was photography and cinematography. She had short films and photographs of every place she visited and of the people that lived there. That material along with her curiosity of exploring, was everything that made her feel alive in a world were she almost felt invisible.

Anya ran away from her home as soon as she turned eighteen. Her relationship with her parents in her hometown wasn't exactly ideal and it was, in fact, abusive. She felt like they wanted to cut her wings off to let her stay on the ground with them, while Anya was a colourful bird full of life that wanted to know every single thing about the world that surrounded her. But they kept her in a cage, and a bird in a cage isn't natural and will always find a way to escape before dying of desperation and pain. Her parents liked to project the life they were forced to chose on Anya, the one of a doctor and of a secretary. But when she turned eighteen, they knew they couldn't keep her in that cage anymore and that it was her right to open her wings and fly away.

And that's exactly what she did.

At the age of 23, she had visited many places; India, France, Italy, Holland, Brazil.

And now Japan, which was her biggest aspiration since she started to travel the world. She was fascinated by the culture, their cinematography, their artists. The money she used for her travels were the money she saved during her teenage years, the money she never spent to go to parties and to shopping. She worked as a waitress after school hours and, somehow, she still managed to balance studying and working. Then, as she moved from city to city, she always found some little part time jobs to save other money. It wasn't simple, but she made it look easy with her nonchalant and carefree attitude. The people she met were always admired by her when she told them her story, but she was too humble for admiration. With all the money she saved, she could finally afford to study in Japan. She could already speak four languages fluently and was now learning Japanese. Anya never liked to stay in a place for too long, and didn't even like to get too affectionate to the people she met because there was always something that made her want to move away. She in fact struggled with relationships with boys, because they always seemed to bore her out or not understand her at all. Same thing with friends. She was a lonely bird that liked to fly in the big blue sky alone without a destination. While she was in France, she met a middle aged man that was an astrologer and told her that her way of wanting to escape and her need to travel to live to the fullest was all because of her Sun sign being a Sagittarius. It made her laugh everytime she thought about that since she had always been sceptical about astrology but she considered that little encounter part of her experience.

But Anya was having trouble leaving Japan, and not only for her studying but because she found herself to be perfectly comfortable there, it was like she could picture her whole life in Tokyo. Of course even Japan had flaws like every country in the world, but there was something about those city lights at night, about the many photographs she took of the people passing. Each told a different story. She couldn't really explain it, but everytime she went out of her apartment for a quick smoke, she couldn't help but to feel a warmth spread in her chest, a sense of joy that she never felt. But also a sense of emptiness in the depths of her sould.

Everything changed on that day.

Anya was taking photographs after a lesson of Japanese. The sun was high and shining on the population that was busy with their lives. Anya was taking photographs with one of her many cameras, which that time was an old Polaroid. She clearly remembered of taking a photograph of a man with messy black hair that didn't look well groomed and a beard, he had empty droopy eyelids and made eye contact with Anya after she snapped a photograph of the man walking infront of her with plastic bags that probably contained groceries. The man walked as if he didn't own his own height, it almost looked awkward and it made Anya wonder about his story. Then, as she was about to move the camera out of her sight to concentrate on the rest of the streets, she noticed that everyone mysteriously disappeared.

That's how Anya ended up in the Borderlands and found herself fighting to stay alive between mortal games and people you couldn't easily trust. During her stay in Borderland she ended up at the infamous place called The Beach, where the main purpose was to collect every single card from the games and live the moments outside the games freely using methods like partying all night, drugs and sexual intercourse. Anya preferred to live her days there only because it had doctors that could help people with injuries after games, bedrooms to rest well and food. All she had to do was follow the rules and stay away from the militants. However, since she was the only non - japanese person in there, she unconsciously had many eyes set on her, the militants ones included. Some people rationally thought that she was probably a tourist and she ended up there just like them, but Anya also had to physically confront people that thought she was the brain behind all of that blood and death only because she was a foreign. She often found funny how quickly people change when their life is at a risk. But she couldn't judge; they were all humans that didn't know what the heck was happening and tried to find comfort in everything. She still had her Polaroid with her, taking photographs at that point was her way of calming down. Death didn't scare her, but dying without knowing what real love and life felt like surely did.

Even the fact that she had a mane of dark blond curly locks was the object of many stares. Usually some people asked her nicely if they could touch it, and she always said yes because she loved to see that kind of curiosity in humanity, especially in the Borderlands.

As she played more and more games, Anya realised that not knowing for how long she would be alive made adrenaline pump in her veins like it never happened before. It was even better than travelling, the thrill of putting yourself out there to survive. But she didn't like to kill and, when and if she had to, she always preferred to let the person die in a peaceful and non painful way. Why was she still fighting to stay alive to the point of killing? Because she asked herself: "Would i be happy to see the memories i created till now to pass me by while i'm dying, do i still have things to do?" and the answer was yes.

She was fighting for the love she never experienced, for the carnal desire she never had, for the emptiness she wanted to fulfil. And every night before sleeping, she would observe the photographs she took on the last day in the normal world and she would always get a lump in her stomach whenever she spot a person in the photos that she saw die before her eyes. One night, she concentrated more on the photo of that man with the droopy eyelids and she swore to herself that he reminded her of someone that lived at the Beach. Then one day, as she found herself staring at the militants transport someone new inside the mansion, her eyes fixed on the tall tattooed man with a katana on his back. She recognised the walk and those same droopy eyelids that were now surrounded by black ink. Anya decided to take a photograph of him with her Polaroid and, as soon as she snapped the photo, the tattooed man met her eyes. He sent her an intimidating gaze, but then walked beside Niragi and left.

That night in her room, Anya confronted the two pictures; the same lip shape, same cheekbones, same shoulders and eyes. Everything matched.

It was him.

She wondered what made him change so drastically on the outside, but she could still see the same sadness in those beautiful droopy eyes. Anya put the photographs away, hiding them in a notebook she always kept as a diary to document her days in the Borderlands. She then decided to head out of the mansion to smoke a cigarette by the pool, surrounded by drunk and high people that tried to suffocate their sufferance in partying all night.

As she drowned her feet in the warm water of the pool, she lit up a cigarette and looked around, meeting the gaze of the tattooed man that stood beside Niragi and other militants. She heard that people called him 'Last Boss' because he looked like a character out of a videogame, but of course that couldn't be his real name. Anya noticed how Last Boss couldn't keep eye contact with her, in fact he quickly looked away and adjusted his posture. She then caught a glimpse of Niragi winking at her with his pierced tongue out and she furrowed her eyebrows, taking another puff of smoke from her cigarette.

"The fact that you caught their attention is bad." She heard a male voice say behind her and, when she turned her head around to see who the person was, she noticed it was the blonde haired guy named Chishiya. She partecipated in some games with him, his intelligence and nonchalant attitude kinda intrigued her. But they never spoke before that night. Anya scoffed, smoke escaping her nostrils.

"I'm not scared of them. We're all fighting to stay alive here, them included."

Chishiya smirked at her english accent. His eyes reminded Anya of a cat, a sultry one. During the rest of the night, Anya drank two or three cocktails and decided to dance a little since it had been a long time since she last joined a party. Plus, everyday needed to be lived as if it was her last one. And it could really be her last.

When she got tired of dancing, it was already 2:00 AM. She wasn't fully drunk, but a little tipsy for sure as she walked towards her room with half closed eyelids. As she almost reached the door to her room, she heard footsteps behind her and she quickly turned her head around, trying to maintain her guard high.

Last Boss was behind her, katana in hand but Anya didn't back away not even a bit. He got closer to her, his movements almost looked like the ones of a tiger ready to attack a gazelle. When he finally got enough close to her to look at her hazel eyes, Last Boss aimed his katana to her throat but she didn't flinch.

She gulped, her fastened heartbeat betrayed her cold appearance.

"Why do you take photos of me?" It was the first time she heard him talk. His voice was deep and monotonous.

"I'm a photographer. It's what i always did even before ending up here..." Anya affirmed, his dark eyes looking her up and down. He slightly blushed when his eyes landed on her messy bikini top. "...and i think you are an interesting subject."

Anya had always been straightforward, but the alcohol made that characteristic of her more accentuated.

"How so?" Last boss asked, katana still under Anya's chin.

"I saw you on the day of the fireworks." She gulped before speaking again. "The day everyone disappeared, i saw you minutes before ending here."

He looked down in confusion, trying to remember that day. Last Boss tried to remove all of his memories from the real world, being Last Boss was his new identity. But much to his disgrace he remembered her, even before she mentioned it. How could he forget? She was a foreign that easily drawn attention. He slowly removed his katana from her body and she sighed in relaxation.

Looking at him up close, Anya was starting to feel a certain sensation growing up in her stomach, something she never felt before; desire. It was his eyes and the shape of his lips that looked so soft to the touch, she remembered thinking he was beautiful even when he had that beard and those unkept hair. And she also noticed the way he was looking at her, with flushed cheeks and eyes that tried to look at anything but her body.

"Last Boss." She called him, her accent sending him off guard. He didn't respond, but she caught his attention. "Can i ask you something?"

Again, he didn't say anything but he softly nodded, knuckles turning white as he held his katana.

"Would you have sex with me?"

Last boss didn't expect that kind of question. All his life he never knew what it felt like to have a woman touch him, he only knew the touch from his own mother when he was still a kid. Usually it was Niragi that got the most girls and not only forcefully, some literally threw themselves in his arms just to have a wild night. But him? It never happened. He would lie though if he said he didn't feel attracted to her, to her bambi eyes and doll like lips. Her body was petite, but still had curves that made him tremble at the mere thought of touching her. He stood still for a minute, looking at her with parted lips and eyes open wide. Anya found his reaction to be cute. Since he still didn't say a thing, Anya slowly walked backwards towards her room and opened the door, a playful smirk painted her face. Last Boss nervously followed her inside the room and, as soon as she locked the door, she stood at the center of the room directly looking at him that was still in disbelief.

Anya removed her shorts and the cardigan she wore over her shoulders, letting them fall to her feet. Last Boss was in complete awe when she also removed her bikini top, his gaze burning on the skin of her breasts. It was the first time for Anya too, to be naked infront of a man. But she felt strangely confident and already excited. Maybe it was the fact that he was a militant, maybe it was his tattoos or the fact that it was the first time for him too, but she wanted him with her whole body. Last Boss dropped his katana and removed the gilet with the hoodie, his eyes remaining on her the whole time. She slowly walked towards him, holding her hand up to caress his face. At first he seemed hesitant, but as soon as he felt the warmth of her hand on his skin he took a deep breath while closing his black inked eyes. Actions started to become natural at that point, and Last Boss started to caress her hair and the back of her neck before attaching his lips to her own. Fire was burning inside Anya's body and as the kiss deepened, it also started to become a lot messier since both didn't have much experience. But they were loving it. Their tongues were exploring each other's mouth, saliva was sliding down their chins and they couldn't keep their hands off each other; he started to touch her soft breasts and moaned when he felt her nipples getting hard between his fingers, while her fingertips traced the ink of the tattoos on his arms.

"I don't want you to make love to me. I still don't know what love is." Anya breathed, a soft moan escaping her mouth when he started to kiss her neck with passion. "I want you to take me with all the desperation you feel, as this was another kind of survival game. I want you to fuck everything away."

Last Boss nearly growled at those words and, not knowing where he found the confidence, he harshly pushed her on the mattress. He quickly got on top of her body kissing and biting all over her soft skin. She impatiently caressed his head, her bikini bottoms getting wetter by every passing second. When he reached the center of her pleasure, he started kissing her thighs as he harshly tore apart her bikini bottoms. The action gained him a loud moan from Anya, that felt more alive than ever when she felt his warm tongue slide across her aching pussy. Last Boss was pressing his still restrained hard cock against the mattress to get a bit of satisfaction, fearing of reaching his climax just by staring at her moan for him.

Eager for him, Anya took his face between her hands and hungrily kissed him, helping him remove his shirt. She admired his naked torso, tattoos covering his biceps too and she couldn't help but to kiss the black ink traced on his skin, earning a low groan from him. As Last Boss was too overwhelmed and distracted by her warm kisses, Anya took the lead and pushed him against the mattress to position herself on top of him. He held her neck while she passionately kissed his neck, the sensation feeling unreal to him but incredibly heavenly. When Anya lowered her body and he saw that her head was now between his long legs, Last Boss knew what it was about to happen; she was gonna suck him off. Even though he was a virgin, it didn't mean that he knew nothing about sex. After all, he still needed to masturbate during all those years spent in his bedroom.

Anya started to unbutton his pants, keeping eye contact with him the whole time. Last Boss tried so hard to not seem so inexperienced, but the way he was gripping the sheets for the excitment betrayed him. It was the first time for Anya too to see a dick in person and she was just as nervous as him, but the flame burning in both of them was stronger than their embarrassment. When she freed him from both his pants and boxers, her curious hands immediately gripped his hard cock. She admired it, observing every vein and the tip leaking with pre cum. Anya looked at him for consent and, when he furiously nodded, she slightly smirked before giving an experimental lick to the tip.

Last Boss closed his eyes, one of his hands drowned in her curly hair and he was careful not to grip it too hard. Anya started licking his cock from the bottom to the top, one of her hands were massaging his balls as she did so. His guttural moans were only keeping her going. When she started to finally bob her head and down on his cock, Last Boss opened his eyes to look at her with his mouth slightly agape and the sight nearly made him cum; her cheeks were flushed, hair all messy, lips wet and devoured by his previous kisses. He didn't expect it to feel this good and he started to understand why Niragi liked sex so much. But somehow, for Last Boss, the fact that she offered herself to him was even more exciting.

"Fuck." He impulsively cursed, both of his hands resting on her cheeks as he watched her go down on him with half lidded eyes staring at him. "I need- I need to be inside of you."

Anya gave his cock a last suck before returning to his lips to kiss him, making him taste himself on her lips. Last Boss took the lead again and gently pushed her under his slim body. Now he started to feel nervous, hoping to not mess everything up with his awkwardness and with the paranoia of not finding the hole. Anya must have noticed his change of expression and quickly caressed his cheeks, his eyes now concentrating on her face again.

"It's my first time too." She whispered. "I'll help you, but as soon as you are inside of me i want you to fuck me like an animal. Raw."

Last Boss gulped, the sparkle of excitement glinting in his eyes again. Anya took his dick in her hand and guided it towards her entrance and when she sent him a slight nod, Last Boss took the hint that he could give the first thrust. The first one was slow since both of them were exploring an unknown territory. Anya gritted her teeth for the pain of feeling her pussy being stretched out by his cock and Last Boss took a deep breath when he was fully inside, the warmth of her walls hugging him. For her it was hurting even more since she didn't even think about foreplay before, but it was too late now and she didn't want to waste anymore time.

"Fuck me." Anya moaned, eyes still watery from the pain.

"D-Doesn't it hurt?" He sounded worried, which made Anya smile. But she didn't want him to be worried, she didn't want those feelings, all she wanted was to have sex.

"It doesn't matter, it shouldn't matter. I want you to fuck me."

When Last Boss pushed half of his dick out of her to give an hard thrust, he saw blood covering his lenght and somehow that motivated him even more. With a snap of his hips, he was balls deep inside of her. Anya's legs wrapped around his torso and he started to thrust in and out of her at a furious speed. The whole bed moved and hit the walls, one of his hands was gripping the headboard as he fucked her raw just like she asked him. The mixture of pain and pleasure made Anya scream like she never did before, her nails running on the skin of his back. The wetness of the blood coming out of her and her liquids made a dirty noise that was making Last Boss go crazy.

"Oh my god!" She moaned, receiving a groan from him in response. With his other hand, Last Boss was firmly grabbing her hips, leaving a mark on her skin that she would later notice in the morning. Looking at her under him made him feel in control, the control he never had over his life. With this thought in mind, he started fucking her even harder.

"You love it don't you?" He chuckled, more to himself than directly to her. Her desperate moans were all he needed to slip out of her aching pussy, earning a muffled cry of complain from her.

"Beg." He firmly said, hand stroking his blood covered cock.

"Please, Please - keep fucking me!"

Last Boss smirked, little drops of sweat falling across the black ink on his face. With an harsh slap on her ass from him, Anya took the signal of getting on her hands and knees. Last Boss caressed her back with possessiveness, noticing a little tattoo at the bottom of her back; a pair of wings. He licked her backbone and, when he arrived to her neck, he bit her ear before whispering something.

"I'm gonna fuck you just like the little whore you are, because that's what you want. Mh?"

Anya nodded her head, panting hard.

Last Boss spit on her hole before entering her again, gripping both of her butt cheeks to steady himself. He didn't give her any time, he immediately started to thrust his cock in and out of her with an animalistic speed. The more she moaned and screamed, the more he fucked her. He growled as he watched her ass bounce against his pelvis and her breasts move with every thrust, then he reached his hand towards her mouth and pushed two fingers against her lips.

"Suck."

Anya immediately obliged and he loved how passive she looked in that moment, all desperate and wet for him. For him and no one else. Just that thought made him see stars.

When his thrusts started to become more erratic, Anya knew that he was about to cum.

"C- Come outside, please."

Now, if he didn't give a shit about her he would have decided to not listen to her or to not let her come. But Last Boss wasn't an asshole and the last thing he wanted was to make a woman carry his child in her womb. He didn't respond but instead started to use the fingers that were previously in her mouth to play with her clitoris, stimulating her orgasm. The harsh thrusts along with him pushing his fingers against her clit, sent Anya over the edge and she exploded into an intense orgasm that made her eyes roll back. She saw white, a choked out moan escaping her rosy lips as she came around his cock. Last Boss then slipped out of her pussy and stroked himself, keeping her ass in place with his other hand, emptying himself on the skin of her buttcheeks with a guttural moan. Anya felt some drops of sperm slide towards her back, it was warm and it also felt kinda ticklish.

They remained in that position till their breathing became steady again. After they calmed down from the rush of the orgasm, Anya turned her head around to look at him.

"Could you please bring me a towel to clean myself?"

Last Boss only nodded, standing up from the bed. He returned after some seconds, handing her a white towel that she used to clean both his liquid on her back and the blood between her legs. Last Boss started dressing, still startled by what happened.

"Wait, come here before putting your boxers!" Anya exclaimed and he reached to the end of the bed in confusion. Anya used the towel to clean his now soft cock from the blood, a slight blush forming on his cheeks as she did so.

"Thank you for tonight." She simply said before standing up to head to the bathroom. Last Boss heard the sound of water being opened as he kept dressing himself. When he was fully dressed he picked up his katana from the floor and gave one last look towards the door of the bathroom, where he could still hear water running.

After Anya got out of the bathtub with a long towel wrapped around her tired body, she noticed that Last Boss had already left.

#takatora samura #last boss #alice in borderland #alice in borderland smut #chishiya shuntaro #shuntaro yanagi #niragi aib #last boss smut #angst

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giveamadeuschohisownmovie · 1 year

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TV shows I’ve been watching recently, crudely summarized

The Mandalorian: Space Moses and Aaron must guide their people back to their home world, but get into whacky side missions with a giant bird, Jack Black, and Lizzo.

Reacher: Sexy, buff homeless man with Einstein’s IQ must stop crime before he can enjoy his peach pie.

House of the Dragon: Royal family tries to fuck each other in more ways than one.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo: A brilliant attorney, with the help of her handsome paralegal, solves cases through whale metaphors.

Andor: The hero is a cop killer/known criminal who joined forces with terrorists that held a family hostage.

Crash Landing on You: Romeo and Juliet, but the Montagues are North Korea and the Capulets are South Korea.

Succession: Keeping Up with the Murdochs (or the Trumps).

The Last of Us: Pedro Pascal must protect another child figure from evil mushrooms, Karens, Christians, and bootleg CDC.

This Is Going to Hurt: Burnout, The Series

Physical 100: Squid Game, buff people edition.

Perfect Match: The crossover event of the NRSCU (Netflix Reality Show Cinematic Universe), featuring some of the most dysfunctional people you’ll ever see getting into messy drama.

The Final Table: International cooking show that accidentally reminds you about colonialism (a little too convenient that Teams India and Australia won the United Kingdom-themed episode)

#tv shows #the mandalorian #reacher #house of the dragon #extraordinary attorney woo #Andor #crash landing on you #succession #the last of us #this is going to hurt #physical 100 #perfect match #the final table #tv series #television #television show #disclaimer: i’m joking

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na-bird-of-the-day · 11 months

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BOTD: Red-whiskered Bulbul

Photo: Tom Mills

"When a few Red-whiskered Bulbuls escaped from an aviary in the Miami area in 1960, they found an environment perfectly suited to their needs. The climate was not too different from that of eastern India, where they had originated; and the suburb of Kendall, Florida, was heavily planted with exotic trees and shrubs, providing the bulbuls with abundant berries throughout the year. The birds quickly became established, but they have not spread much beyond Kendall. Another introduced population is common around Honolulu, Hawaii."

- Audubon Field Guide

#birds #red whiskered bulbul #birds of north america #birds of the us #north american birds #birds of america #american birds #passerines #bulbuls #bulbul #bird #birding #birdblr #birblr #birdwatching #bird of the day #Pycnonotus jocosus

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bookquest2024 · 8 months

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100 Books to Read Before I Die: Quest Order

The Lord Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford

Under The Net by Iris Murdoch

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Crime And Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Grapes Of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

A Passage to India by EM Forster

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

1984 by George Orwell

White Noise by Don DeLillo

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Oscar And Lucinda by Peter Carey

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carré

Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Ulysses by James Joyce

Scoop by Evelyn Waugh

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Are You There, God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Clarissa by Samuel Richardson

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Herzog by Saul Bellow

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes

A Bend in the River by V. S. Naipaul

A Dance to The Music of Time by Anthony Powell

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

I, Claudius by Robert Graves

Nostromo by Joseph Conrad

The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Little Women by Louisa M Alcott

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth

Watchmen by Alan Moore

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen

The Trial by Franz Kafka

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Money by Martin Amis

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

#quest #book list

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sundarbantourwb · 13 days

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Exploring the Enchanting Wilderness: Sundarban Tour Package

Sundarbans, a name that conjures images of lush mangrove forests, elusive Bengal tigers, and tranquil waterways, is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Nestled in the delta region of West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh, Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Embarking on a Sundarban tour package is not just a journey; it's an immersive experience into the heart of nature's beauty and wilderness.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Sundarbans

Mangrove Majesty: The Sundarbans is renowned for its intricate network of mangrove forests, where the roots of trees intertwine to create a labyrinthine ecosystem. Exploring these mangroves by boat is a surreal experience, where every turn reveals a new vista of natural splendor.

Wildlife Encounters: One of the main highlights of a Sundarban tour package is the chance to spot the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger in its natural habitat. Along with tigers, the Sundarbans is home to diverse wildlife, including spotted deer, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Birdwatchers will be delighted by the opportunity to see rare avian species like the masked finfoot and the Mangrove Pitta.

Rivers and Rivulets: The Sundarbans is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and rivulets, making boat safaris the primary mode of transportation. Navigating through these waterways offers a unique perspective of the landscape, as well as the chance to witness daily life in the Sundarbans, with local fishermen casting their nets and villagers going about their routines.

The Allure of Sundarban Tour Packages

Embarking on a Sundarban tour package ensures a hassle-free and enriching experience for travelers. These packages typically include:

Accommodation: From cozy forest lodges to rustic eco-resorts, Sundarban tour packages offer a range of accommodation options that cater to different preferences and budgets.

Guided Excursions: Knowledgeable guides accompany travelers on excursions into the Sundarbans, providing valuable insights into the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage of the region.

Meals and Transportation: Sundarban tour packages often include meals and transportation, allowing travelers to focus on enjoying their experience without worrying about logistics.

Safety and Convenience: Traveling with a tour package ensures safety and convenience, with trained staff equipped to handle any emergencies that may arise during the journey.

Tips for a Memorable Sundarban Adventure

Pack Light: As the Sundarbans is a remote and ecologically sensitive area, it's essential to pack light and only bring the essentials to minimize your environmental impact.

Stay Hydrated: The humid climate of the Sundarbans can be taxing, so remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout your journey.

Respect Nature: While exploring the Sundarbans, it's crucial to respect the natural environment and wildlife. Avoid littering and follow the instructions of your guides to minimize disturbances to the ecosystem.

In conclusion, a Sundarban tour package offers a gateway to a world of natural wonders and adventure. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a unique travel experience, exploring the Sundarbans is sure to leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

#Sundarbantourpackage

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duckbang · 6 months

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Its one of those days i couldn't sleep because the world is beautiful and pretty and,,, i mean. We went to ranthambore and ran into a tiger at the gate. It stood to the left and watched our jeep pass by. We saw it again a dew hours later. We went to thar and traveller quite far, first on normal jeeps, then ones designed specifically for sand (my hair whipped all over my face from the wind from how fast it was going, and i looked kinda freaky) , then on long trains of camels and finally we played for hours on a sand dune and watched the sun set and ive never experienced anything like that again, because there isnt anything like that i don't think. We saw a fox at bharatpur - we saw plenty of birds, too, but i only remember the fox for some reason, it was years ago - and once we were returning from rishikesh and my father called a pair of foxes that we simply ran into as "unfed dogs" and i think aboutthat to this day. We'vebeen to sikkim, and a bridge collapsed so on the third or fourth day of our trip we crossed a river by foot on a very unstable mountain and thats not an experience i will ever forget, it was dangerous but so fun. I slipped and fell into a riverlet a dew days after that and it was cold. In a different trip we ate maggi at the last restaurant of india in the Himalayas... i forget where it is, but it had been a surreal experience. Waking up to the sounds of sparrows and crows and mainas in munsiyari. Following a group of dogs to a temple, as if they were our tour guides for the day. We met a lady with a goat called Kaju (cashew) and she said it was named by someone from the same city as me, another tourist who passed by months ago. She let me hold the goat and it was so soft and precious. A vulture landed near our house the other day. Thats not normal. That was the first time i had ever seen one. Vultures are big. That thing was easily twice or thrice the size of the kites we get. One of those kites tried to bother it but its attempts failed and it went away. The vulture stayed in the same spot for at least 20 hours before it left. A friend told me that i should have called animal services, because that's not normal.

I've fed cows and dogs and crows by hand. It's a precious feeling. The crow looked right in my eyes and that was the first time i understood how smart they are. You can see it in their eyes. You can see it in a cow and a dog and a fox and in tigers and lions and squirrels and birds. We went to the east coast of the US and the squirrels there are so much bigger than ours. We've been to europe and this guy just... picked a pigeon off the street and put it on my arms before i processed whats going on. We rode a ship from britain to somewhere, i didnt understand much of the trip i had no clue what i was doinf, and theres nothing really like that. And theres nothing like seeing the clouds from a plane or talking to people as the scenery passes by on a train or,,,

Its just one of those days that i think about how pretty and beautiful the world is

#duckbang posts #desiblr #Im not sure how totag this so I'll leave it untagged for now #Feel free to rb

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realmeganamram · 1 year

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GOOP GIFT GUIDE

HELLO, all! Gwynnie here! Welcome to another issue of Goop, my newsletter for people who enjoy the finer things in life. I’m proud to present our annual gift guide. Just because I’m Gwyneth Paltrow, it doesn’t mean I can’t kick back and enjoy the holidays. I put my winter-capris on one cashmere leg at a time, just like you!

Here, I’ve compiled my favorite buys for every type of person. Whether you want to spend $7,900,000 or $8,000,000, we’ve got the right gift for you!

FOR THE CENTERED SOUL

Trinket vessel ($339)

If you’re like me, your trinkets end up all over the place: hidden inside your artisanal peony terrarium, strewn on your wicker birthing chairs, veiled behind a piping hot cup of acai-and-clamshell tea. Keep your trinkets neat and tidy with this minimalist, torus-shaped vessel. So stunning.

Candle masseuse ($197 per hour)

This moderately priced candle masseuse will massage your candles (votive or taper!) for a clearer, more intense burn. Why not treat your candles to a little holiday cheer?

Free-range dream catcher ($418-$523)

Did you know that the human body is 70 percent dreams? Most dream catchers sequester a dream until it’s cramped and broken, like a calf for veal. This dream catcher, made from organic, non-G.M.O. wheats and berries, allows the dream to roam free until the moment of humane confinement. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Dreams (PETD) gave it three “Zzz’s” up!

Very tiny tarot cards ($196)

This adorable gold-leafed tarot set is perfect for a tiny bird, or even a small mouse!

FOR THE FEELER

Geranium eye mist ($515)

If you happen to have lost the ability to cry through a combination of Botox and cocktail of personality disorders, this floral-scented eye irritant will produce extremely realistic tears immediately upon contact! Perfect for funerals, Oscar speeches and haggling with your local fishmonger.

Porcelain-and-crystal bisque ($3,400)

This soup looks better than the real thing! A sculpture of a bowl of soup made entirely of solid porcelain and healing crystals. Can be used as decoration or a meal replacement. I lost 64 pounds by replacing three meals a day with thinking about crystals!

Leather divorce papers ($279 for pack of four)

He can’t not sign these! Made from the tanned hides of Wagyu show-steers, these gorgeous, legally binding divorce papers will make consciously uncoupling a pleasure. After the divorce is finalized, treat yourself to thinking about a crystal bowl of ice cream. Your body will love you for it.

FOR THE WANDERER

‘We Are the 1 Percent’ Globe ($2,914)

Ever think to yourself, “there are just too many countries”? Well, then, this beautifully enameled, reclaimed, no-kill ivory globe is just for you. We removed any countries with a G.D.P. of less than $2 trillion, according to the World Bank, leaving the United States, China, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Brazil, Italy and India. These countries have been arranged according to celebrity child consultant North West in a cute, minimalist neo-Pangaea land mass.

Human picture frame ($670-$1,890 plus annual food and water stipend)

A picture frame for people who don’t do picture frames. Hire this human adult man to hold your photos silently in front of his face. Comes in three practical sizes: tween, medium and Swedish.

PETD membership ($530,700 for one year)

Give the gift of a one-year membership to this up-and-coming association created to protect and advance the art of dreams. It’s very exclusive. There are very few members. There is only one member. I am the only member.

FOR THE FUN-LOVER

Real-Life Monopoly set (about $42,420,595)

Why still play old-fashioned board games with rinky-dink pieces and flimsy dollars? It’s 2015, for my-close-friend-Pete-Sampras’s sake! We’ve found an incredible option for the serious gamer: a real-life Monopoly set using real U.S. currency, houses and hotels. Each kit comes with thirty-two (32) actual, livable houses strewn across the Eastern Seaboard, each worth $200,000, and twelve (12) fully-functional hotels each worth $3,000,000. Price includes a beautiful locally sourced burlap sack with actual bills worth $20,580.

Floor-length jean shorts ($4,415)

As if jorts couldn’t get more stylish! A bit pricey, but you’re paying for the detail: The seamstresses who make these fashion essentials have painstakingly pulled out the seams of jorts to create an entirely new kind of pant, one that stretches down to the floor.

Twister With Gwyneth ($4,600)

I’ve put my own spin (pun intended!) on the classic contortion-based child’s game. Instead of a bunch of colored dots on a mat, my Twister is just one ecru dot in the middle of the tarp. It’s sleeker and has a gorgeous minimalist aesthetic. To play, you just stand in the middle of the mat and have your human picture frame read you a Basho haiku. So fun.

FOR THE SPLURGER

D.I.Y. novel set ($13,000)

These inspirational books will have you writing in no time. We’ve found a whole set of first-edition Jane Austen novels, ripped out all the pages, and replaced them with blank pages. You’ll feel her spirit in every line that you write.

One hundred dollar bill ($1,000)

What says “holidays” more than cold hard cash? Plus, Ben Franklin looks adorable here. Hang it on the wall as cute art for a nursery or fringe the edges and use as garnish for a summer salad.

Yoga mat (market price, around $106,500,500)

This yoga mat is made out of a Picasso.

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