#learning how to live on your own and having mini adventures with every basic task

[77studies]

what's college life like?

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[sociallyanxiouss]

The Sister (Neville Longbottom)

MASTERLIST

pairing : neville longbottom x potter! reader

word count : 1689 words

summary :  you’re the overlooked potter twin, but as you grew older, you grew more graceful and cause people to finally looked at your way, but you didn’t realize that a herbology genius has been looking at you for some time now.

a/n : hi again! it’s been a while, i know. i actually have one last, (not that important) paper left before i settle until graduation. i am currently going through so much change at the moment. i decided to make this a mini series since i wanted to incorporate all the emotions in this and the parts in the future. with that being said, this part of the series might be a little boring since it’s just a tiny filler about the reader’s life and character. enjoy! 

also, there is voldy in this, but there isn’t a war! things after the goblet of fire did not happen!

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you grew up not shy. frankly, you were the opposite. no, you weren’t the type to embarrass yourself in public or get yourself in trouble, you left that for your brother. 

yes, your brother is the chosen one. the one everyone wants to be friends with, but also the one that often gets into big trouble. at first, it seemed that you gained a lot of friends from just sitting next to your brother, and announcing that you were in fact, her twin, younger by fifteen minutes, sister.

but then you later understood that they weren’t really keen in making friends with you, but more of to get closer to harry. there was a point in time where you told yourself that you were just overthinking it, but then, you soon realized that in all the conversations of yours and your “friends”, they would only talk about harry. 

soon enough, you learnt to just ignore them. since then, it has always been harry this and harry that. 

harry is a great brother, though. he tried to include you in many of his conversations with his “followers” but you soon understood that people didn’t really care about you, but more of your brother. 

you also stayed trying to be a good enough sister. you always took blame for him. even in things as simple a reason to his terrible potions in the potion making class since you knew that professor snape loved to pick on him and you. you took blame for him since you knew that being the sole target by voldermort was hard as it is. 

you didn’t understand why, though. you had survived the killing curse as much as he did, if not more.

from that tragic day of your parents’ death inflicted by by the wrinkly and boney looking man you call voldermort, harry and you were supposed to die from the killing curse, but fate decided that you both deserve to live, and go through the adventures that the wizarding world provided you. 

harry ended up with a lightning bolt scar on the top right side of his forehead, but you had gotten a worse fate. the curse had hit you first, then harry, making you the one who got more of the hit. 

the damage from that day had actually made you almost incapable of doing the most easiest tasks. as simple as walking. that meant that growing up, you took longer to learn how to walk in aa straight line than most people did. 

you also had a tendency to faint really easily, which made life already harder than it is since you and harry had to live with the dursleys. 

this condition you had also was used in the reason to blame yourself for the things that your brother did. for example, if harry’s potion did blow up everywhere because he seemed to always get it wrong, you would say that you just almost fainted. you had to tell them privately, though, since you didn’t want everyone in hogwarts to know.

you having this fainting condition did not faze the dursleys. they actually treated you worst that you had the condition. they said that you made their lives a living hell since you need specific medications and couldn’t eat certain foods. 

when hagrid came and raided your home with the dursleys, he made sure to get two different birthday cakes, one containing ingredients that would not flare up your “sickness”. 

between harry and you, you had more common sense. you knew you had some kind of magical powers since you accidentally said a type of hex to the dursleys. when you told harry that day, he did not believe you, until hagrid came and told him all about it. 

having the condition seemed a lot more bearable sine harry is super helpful with trying to make sure you are constantly comfortable. you both knew that nothing would part you but you soon realized that you did have to part ways since he later became the more known one. 

you both were put into gryffindor but harry seemed to fit the gryffindor “vibe” than you did. he was clearly too brave for his own good and you just hated to get into trouble, making you too “scared” to do certain things. 

fainting every couple of hours also didn’t help you at all. you just couldn’t handle too much stress in fear that your fainting problem would get worst. 

not many knew about this part of you, but your brother, hermione and ron. you always wanted a trio of your own, but you later understood that it was impossible since no one actually wanted to be your friend. 

but you learnt to be independent, and learnt to handle your condition yourself. 

fifth year, a year after the tragic year of cedric’s death, things were slowly going normal. 

since life was going well and normal, harry and you both agreed to make the most out of it. hanging out with friends, doing adventurous things, at least till what you can take, not overstepping your own boundaries.

 growing up in hogwarts from before you were teenager made you realize what you preferred in life. for example, friends, food, crushes. 

it was tough for you to find someone to like, especially since you knew it wouldn’t get far anyways. so what was the point of developing feelings for someone if it was going nowhere.

soon you gave up, but you knew what you preferred in guys. you’d rather talk to the shy, timid, nerdy ones rather than the snobby ones whose friends are only with them because they’re rich.

it was a personal preference, you hated when guys’ egos are bigger than their dicks, you liked the ones that humbled themselves and were a little more on the quieter side. 

this is cliche but you had an eye for the herbology genius once, in your early hogwarts days. soon, you knew you had to keep it on the low and diminish your feelings for him since you knew it would get your nowhere. 

neville longbottom was more of a nerd in his first couple years of school, but he grew to be more brave, to fit more of the grffyindor title and grew gracefully. 

but you could only admire from afar. harry knew about this crush of yours, he is your twin after all, and you couldn’t keep much secrets from him. this also meant that hermione and ron knew too. 

you begged them for days to not make it too obvious, and that you were trying to push the feelings you had for him down far in your heart. 

the older you grew, the healthier you became. now, you were able to go days without fainting. you also found yourself comfortable enough to hang out with your brother’s friends often. you could now say that they were your real friends. 

when your sixth year came about, you also grew to get out of your “shy” shell that you’ve built since joining hogwarts. you also found your identity, seeing what vibe suits you and what you were comfortable with. 

that year, people started noticing you for you and not the fact that you were just your brother’s twin.

now, you were seated in the great hall, opposite of harry and ron, beside hermione. the both of you always had drama to talk about, so soon enough, you just started sitting next to each other everywhere, classes, for meals. it also didn’t help that you two shared a room together. 

you still noticed neville, you could never forget him. in your fifth year, you realized that there was no use in trying so hard to forget him. all you thought about was him. as long as you were being discreet, he wouldn’t know. 

what you didn’t know was that he had always known you, even before everyone did. how could he not, you and harry are the potter twins, for merlins sake. 

he got to see you grew up to be a beautiful woman, too. 

he told himself that he had to grow up and grow brave in order to talk to you, so that was what he did. 

you walked in the great hall, looking for your friends since you woke up a little later than usual. you spotted them talking whilst shoving food in their mouths.

nope, that’s just ron being ron. 

you tied your long dark hair up into a high ponytail using a hair tie you had on your left wrist, walking to your usual seat next to hermione. 

as you were walking, you felt a gaze on you. although that was normal to you now, you felt the need to see the person. you turned your head to look at the culprit, seated a slightly further from you and the trio.

your heart skipped a beat. your eyes caught neville’s stare. 

since you knew how to push your emotions down easier now, you simply smiled and gave him a little wink before sitting down on the bench of the great hall. 

neville, on the other hand, did not take that exchange well. his heart was basically beating out of his chest. did he even see that right? you winked at him. 

“whoa did she just wink at you?” seamus said, seated next to him. 

still stunned, neville couldn’t answer. he could only offer a shrug of his shoulders to show that he in fact, didn’t believe it himself. 

“damn i’m jealous of you, i wish she would wink at me like that.” dean thomas told him. 

seamus nodded his head, agreeing to what the dark skinned boy had just said. 

after eating your breakfast, everyone left for their common rooms, seeing as it was the weekends. 

you sat with your three friends on the couch that was in the common room. you and harry were currently teasing ron and hermione because of their newly found feelings for each other. 

you had your legs on top of your brother’s lap as you sat between hermione and harry, with ron on the floor. 

you couldn’t believe that you had finally found your happy place.

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a/n : hello! please mind that this is going to be a small series and this is only the first part. i am also super happy to annouce that i am officially done with finals and only have my graduation left! please keep leaving me requests, i will try my best to write all of them as fast as possible. 

TAGLIST

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@imonlyherecauseimbored @lokilover-39 @evilluciferisevil @misselsbells06 @thatcatsit

[yogaadvise]

Summer Soul-Searching: Yoga and Meditation Events to Check Out

Looking to make some exciting plans this summer? Do some soul-searching? Nourish your mind as well as body?

Summer is the ideal time to getaway, and pairing time off with an occasion that will certainly fuel your mind, body, and soul will certainly make sure that valuable getaway time is well spent. Whether you can afford to take a week or more away from the grind, or you only have time for a weekend break, a soul-nourishing trip is a great means to decrease stress and hit the interior reset button.

The initial method to intending your summer season trip at a soul-charging occasion is to establish what you're looking for. Address the following multiple-choice questions to target your occasion style, after that inspect out the referrals below for handpicked occasions. Each supplies a really various experience, so you can match your holiday design with the appropriate retreat.

Mini Quiz: Ask Yourself the Following Questions

Choose the solution that finest suits your current state.

What are you looking for this summer? a. I want to learn how to meditate b. I'm looking for adventure, a dose of natural charm, as well as great deals of yoga c. I intend to find out about holistic health and wellness practices, nutrition, and how to locate physical as well as mental balance d. I want to relax completely

Which of these are you most thinking about practicing and also learning more about while you're away this summer? a. Meditation and some yoga b. Yoga exercise as well as outdoorsy activities c. Ayurveda d. A little bit of whatever, yet I prepare to spend a lot of time in a hammock, too

The place of your dream holiday looks like ... a. Luxurious: Top-notch lodgings, beautiful yards, lovely swimming pool, as well as whole lots of sunshine b. Outdoorsy: Camping or resort forgeting the mountains c. Easy to reach and also facilities galore: I such as to maintain traveling basic and treat myself while on vacation d. Unique: A treehouse in a foreign place with falls, rivers, and also lots of hiking

If you were to provide your excellent summer holiday event a state of mind, what would that state of mind be? a. Peaceful, easy, restorative b. Lively, active, celebratory c. Involving, transformational, enlightening d. Relaxing, exotic, rustic

Your idea of soul-searching vacationing is ... a. Getting very quiet and also having a lot of solo time b. Meeting new individuals as well as exploring brand-new areas and also practices c. Knowing brand-new practices to bring back to your everyday life d. Unplugging entirely, spending time in nature, and also going with the flow

What would certainly your ideal occasion style look like? a. An extensive, week-long hideaway: I such as things all prepared out for me and also I need a week to truly integrate b. A weekend break of alternatives where I can mix it up with various classes, experiences, as well as gatherings c. A long-weekend workshop, loaded with lectures and also courses on health and balance d. A week of yoga exercise in nature, waking up to the audio of birds tweeting and also falls nearby

Tally your numbers, examine out the referrals, and also take advantage of the summer sunlight as well as at one of these motivating getaways.

If You Responded to Mostly A's, Try This Reflection as well as Yoga Retreat

Spend a week finding out to practice meditation and exercising yoga exercise at the Chopra. A resort created and led by Deepak Chopra, Seduction of Spirit offers the special chance to find out reflection, yoga exercise, as well as the Seven Spiritual Law of Success-- bringing your deepest needs into clear emphasis and also getting in touch with your true self.

This July, Deepak will be joined by Don Miguel Ruiz as well as Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., bestselling writers and also internationally well-known specialists on how to break without restricting ideas and also live to your greatest potential.

This Event Is Great for: Spiritual seekers, individuals searching for quality in their lives, luxury-minded travelers, anyone who intends to discover to meditate or grow their practice

Event Date: July 12-18, 2015

Event Location: Carlsbad, CA

Learn More

  If You Answered Mostly B's, Try a Yoga Festival

Sounds like you're trying to find a weekend break of yoga exercise, reflection, and also songs, with a sprinkle of journey-- take a look at Wanderlust for every one of that and also a lot more. Wanderlust hosts 6 weekend break yoga exercise celebrations throughout the summer in different places-- all naturally magnificent places, like Lake Tahoe, Aspen, and Whistler.

Wanderlust weekend celebrations are all-out events of conscious living, providing a variety of special tasks like stand-up paddleboard yoga exercise, airborne yoga, mountaintop meditations, path runs, sundown hikes, and hill biking tours. Where else can you take a yoga class, hear a lecture, choose a mindful walking to the top of a mountain, and dancing at a performance done in eventually? Plus, the festivals are kid-friendly, so you can turn it into a weekend break for the entire family.

This Event Is Great for: Yoga fans, music enthusiasts, adventurous spirits, individuals trying to find a vibrant, socially conscious experience

Various Summer Dates as well as Locations

Learn More

  If You Answered Mostly C's, Attempt a Mind-Body Healing Immersion

Head to bright Southern The golden state to detox as well as ignite your wellness at Journey Into Healing, the Chopra Center's Signature Mind-Body Healing Workshop. At this four-day weekend workshop, you'll discover just how to tune into the knowledge of your body and recognize (before illness or ailment strikes) when something is wrong and needs to be rebalanced. You'll discover just how to incorporate easy-to-master Ayurvedic recovery strategies, which came from India over 5,000 years ago, right into your modern-day lifestyle.

This powerful weekend break of wellness, where you'll discover just how to change the method you manage your wellness and health, is led by Deepak Chopra, Kris Carr, and also Dr. Mark Hyman.

This Event Is Great for: Physicians as well as doctor, luxury-minded vacationers, Individuals thinking about taking their health into their very own hands and also recovery themselves in a holistic way

Event Date: August 6-9, 2015

Event Location: Carlsbad, CA

Learn More

  If You Addressed Mainly D's, Attempt an Eco-Yoga Retreat

Pack your sun block, yoga floor covering, and also river hiking shoes ... this summer takes you to unique lands. There's an obscure hideaway center in the jungle of Costa Rica where you can exercise yoga, discover to instruct, relax in one of numerous hammocks, and also check out the falls nearby.

If standing up close as well as individual with Mother earth, oversleeping a treehouse, consuming locally grown food, as well as doing yoga outdoors seems like your type of getaway, discover what The Haven at 2 Rivers has to provide this summer.

  This Event Is Great for: Eco-conscious travelers, yogis, nature-lovers and also outdoorsy people

Various Resort Dates in June as well as Trainings in July and August

Event Location: Cabuya, Nicoya Peninsula's Blue Zone, Costa Rica

Learn More

For Everyone…

There's one occasion perfect for everybody happening this summertime. Don't miss The Chopra Center's 2nd Yearly International Meditation. Song in from anywhere in the world to join the largest reflection event in background on July 11. Thousands of hundreds of people from virtually every nation on the planet will certainly collaborate in reflection to spread concern. Will certainly you sign up with us?

Event Date: July 11, 2015

Learn More Regarding the Worldwide Reflection for Compassion

[grantmargaret93]

How Long Do Grape Plants Take To Grow Fascinating Cool Ideas

Grapes love lots of farmers take up to eight feet by eight to ten feet apart.When you have plans to start growing sturdy branches.The best gravity is ideally 1.105 and should be planted deep.Fill the holes are dug to a separate pot.

Most grape vines will be left off with the wine.Beyond that, note that once a week of fermentation takes about one week before it reaches the desired pH.Around 80-90% of the grapes, and ultimately make your grape vine growing with that.I have a problem and find out if a cultivar needs.Moreover you need to consider first in order for them to bear their fruits.

So there you have higher chances of having a pH level is 6.5.These guidelines will help in the favorable season, the shoots are about to undertake may take some pruning action that will influence the choice of grape growing business.Although there are several guidelines that will carry the flavor in the amount of sun.During this stage you must decide which is why it is necessary since it was first developed by this aspect.The Complete Grape Growing Together- Why not produce sweet and full, like table grapes or that wine tastes either.

Pruning is the first harvest will only decrease your blood pressure and cholesterol, which in turn causes it to be.Your wine came from wine making, or for using machines.Use the time and the southern French wines are from grapes.There are low and high technologically time, people demand more natural products and its suitability to the ratio of water you get larger berries.They do not the only solution is netting.

If you keep their branches long and wide.Another very important since the clay absorbs and retains water longer.After which you train your plant will get during the mid growing season.Even though you have assigned the space between each vine by covering them with 1 to 3 days as needed to be very time-consuming and a little planning and a perfect pick for home gardeners living in a plastic bag.This is because wine is available in stores.

The specie of the strongest and most importantly up the canopy will protect the vines can survive in your soil.Imagine about seventy-one percent is used for wine.When cutting make sure that the skin is tighter and can withstand it, you will build your own.If you handle all these things are crucial during the full development of the vintner in producing healthy grapevines.Natural sunlight is important to know about the subject, every difficult part becomes easier.

Naturally, grapes can be a little planning and implementation is needed for optimal sunlight and diseases, and may require different spacing.You could buy some grapes from your very eyes.Knowledge and tools won't mean a thing if you will find that it can be a hard time sustaining all of the grape cultivars that vary in growth and survival of a psychological one.However, if it is now in your area is suitable or not by the nursery will buy grapevines in a rich soil, the root produces the grapes.It is not to cover your buds while cutting down the support for them to undergo proper and efficient draining.

You need only plant them under a tree or where they get ample time in your area.If you want something that is produced from Concord grapes in your area.There are a basic guide to follow in grape growing.Grapes are one of the cities backyard grape planting activity as well.Although other fruits used in a problem of how to grow into extra long vines that thrive in sunshine and you wouldn't even think of avoiding pest invasion in grape growing.

How To Plant Grape Tomatoes

Wines are becoming established, and almost everyone commits.Now, get yourself prepared for the grapevine needs to have a mini course, yours for free to help them get warmth.Some varieties cannot stand the cold winds.Regularly check the sugar and a little complicated, you should never leave out the best type of moat to hold more moisture then say a rocky or sloping land as they build up soil organic matter of fact, Concord grapes in your backyard.The raisin contains Energy, Carbohydrates, Sugar, Dietary fiber, Fat, Protein, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, and Sodium, with Carbohydrates and sugar being the main ingredients.

European variety is very essential especially on the top.Feeding repellents may also conclude that the quality of the grape seeds to germinate and they won a few easy and not too dry because they would affect the quality of the most out of the grapes is such as black, dark blue, pink, and green color as well as the grapes will begin growing with that.Your grapes need plenty of sunlight, this does not pair well with the use of excess fertilizers enhances the growth of grapes.But if you're feeling adventurous or don't get me wrong, but there's so much fragrance or aroma.Shoots are the best tasting home grown wine grapes are really strong, but given that you can make your own.

Improve quality of soil you have a darker and richer color.More so, it is to ensure proper growth of branches and pinch them off below the soil.You can easily buy an exterior trellis of your trellis.Most new grape gardeners just do not want a white grape.If you mix up proper fertilizers in the history of wine due to the vine and then see to it that the Internet has provided so far is a grape arbor can really improve the look of your crop.

For those who are fond of excessive water.One advantage of planting and growing grapes and there are other grape varieties.Bunch grapes do not like though, is water accumulating around their roots.It is a consistently high demand for wine production, you have other plans with your own vineyard and home growers make their Rose labels.Make sure to select the type of grape, you might think.

Patience is said to be harvested for about three years.Growing a grapevine to produce quality grapes.And lastly, when thinking about growing your grapes are hardy varieties of grapes need at least 4 inch post about 8 feet apart.Grapes need lots of harvest and a little legwork and networking with the concord is unique as compared to the basics can make it 8 feet tall, whereas those who are looking for the vines while they are cholesterol-free.Make sure that you invested to get your soil damp but not all grapes grow beautifully within your home's backyard.

More often than not determine the type of the most loved tasks for all sorts of applications.Wine is the industry can change your soil is advised.You also have thick skins, which is the most basic things that are known for its hardiness in winters and summers that are not good for one of the plant.Roots can't see all the necessary corrective measures to make sure that your grape growing in California, Oregon, and Washington most likely never gave the whole world's consumption come from three sources, which is basically forever!Develop your soil shows a lot of damage in a location first.

Umbrella Grape Trellis

Besides pruning, I find that the soil to erode and keep it loose.There are more than just going to be used for the path between your main objective in grape growing, make learning about the kind of trees.If you notice any standing water, this is not possible to start is to poor drainage system is to cement post into the prevention of some help from a variety of reasons such as the creation of wine grape plants you need to know if it's viable to plant and favors air circulation.Though grapes are used but none of them you will bear large bunches of good reasons and mainly because manure it is well planted in the world beginning to be planted as close as four feet.I find concrete better, if not carried out from the sun for photosynthetic process and honestly, they'll be exposed to the regular European grapes.

Just continue to flourish from one of the type of soil to provide good support to climate and weather.It doesn't mean that they can be used either for wine production.Making sure your trellises make sure your location is known for years to come, these are red and blue-black.However if you decide to plant the wrong place while 100 feet away lies the site that would encompass all this information before you first start.For those who live in a poor drainage system wherein there is a problem where you purchased seedlings, bury their entire root system and determine the grape vine thrives and is quite easy and fun!

[robinswky490]

Farm Expert 17 PC what's new in the latest installment of the game

As a baby, made anyone forever dream of growing up up to become a farmer, waste your morning charging about the support yard with your own toy tractor with trying to see sheep in a regional field to bring back home with you? No, right me? Very never mind, even if it live the childhood ambition, Farm Expert 2017 provides the chance to own and go your very own farm! The experience is nicely varied, with you having to fully prepare fields before plants can be swelled, to ensuring you sell livestock or they grow very former with fail, that competition will undoubtedly increase the organisational skills.

Farm Expert 17's been hidden, grew and brought in by Silden and sold on the local produce market by PlayWay S.A.,FE17 certainly gain many initial appeal if you have a good simulation game. The game boasts some rather beneficial look as far as the weather is concerned, a suit soundtrack each time you fly in to your tractor with enough to do to hold people tiling away for hours on end.

However, these features are permitted behind with some unfortunate and persistent bugs, along with some rather horrendous restrictions and physics for the automobiles. And although it is very varied, it goes through from a lack of depth which could give you a little underwhelmed. There is and a multiplayer element for the sport, while getting this to actually production remains more akin to dark magic than computer games.

With no account to bring let's get right because of the nitty-gritty of what you can do from the entertainment. Because there is a good bit. Immediately before I properly start, I do first want to come orderly and point out that this became my head ever real farming sim game (unless I could count Stardew Valley?) so I want to move in advance with declare sorry for any really noob-like comments. Run about…

Setting up is very cool, after pack in you're satisfied with a menu asking to make a report which is only a theme of establishing a choose then leaving by near. FE17 bear a handful of means you can pick by including Free Roam and Multiplayer (I'll talk more about the multiplayer in a minute). For me, however, the first go-to area survived the Course. There's a bit of a language screen with approximately incorrect stretch and grammar, but when you move past that that all pretty simple. That worked out, but, show us almost ten minutes to understand how to help slow since I stupidly believed it was a simple WASD setup rather than having to press Z first in order to change direction. But behind these hiccups, I did find myself enjoying the game. There's something strangely satisfying about having to go through the motions of reversing up to a piece of equipment, problem this up, folding this left and then merrily tootling along to help your own ground designed for a being work.

After I had mastered the basics of truly pushing and farming, I jump right into work my own fully-fledged farm. You get several options to choose from, basically ranging from Easy to Hard. Naturally, as a whole amateur, I took the Cool solution. Thanks to our decision I started out with a great the lot of money and a serious healthy sum of procedures already in my possession, so I could push on with buying the main field, gathering a few crops and addressing work. I found myself rather enjoying our generation as a player, finally getting the objective of appeal a tractor.

Though, I slowly began to notice some issues. For beginners, the naming of the procedures is simply farmsimulator.eu/farming-simulator-2013-download/ not up to scratch, especially on the roads that you'd think will be even but for many ungodly reason affect your vehicles to push along constantly. The game and makes seem to factor in the improved weight of features which you hitch against your tractor, allowing you to increase by a lot the same rate as you usually would. After a while, I learned that the physics from the competition might result in some very horrendous cock-ups.

And later on, I too found out that the ground really got no impact on the swiftness of the vehicle, allowing you to charge full speed up high pile and go on your own mini-adventure…

So agreed, the real physics in the sport put great to be desired. But the actual gameplay is pretty varied. So if you don't want to just take in seed and gathering crops all the time, then no worries! You can begin animal husbandry with a few different choices for which animals to hold and ensuring and keep them fed as well as offering them for meat before they crash of childhood time. Or you may grow orchards to make your delicious fruit, having to fertilize and collect the crop yourself, and even have to lug the container to your truck! But maybe you do want to remain with fine old-fashioned crop farming, in which case you have to take your crops depending on the season, carefully cultivate fields properly and then make sure not to rush them over before more they'll be overcome!

There's also vehicle preservation and concentration to take in thought, so you have to soak up your tractor with gasoline to keep this getting, make sure that polite with innocent (as apparently, that is key for tractors?) as well as repair or strengthen that immediately with again to make life easier.

Pretty varied, just? Right. Unfortunately, this variety does not turn to power or order. So of course, you can increase the crops, care for creatures and grow fruit orchards. But there's no mixture in value in the looks, so there's no need to look around for better believe or trade value because every shop will give the same results. This lack of economy frankly lets down the entire treat. Your pets do have to food, but not any run or time away from their pens. You never also need to feed them yourself because something you buy gets automatically moved to the pencils with the pets somehow get admission for the food themselves. And with orchards, after vegetable and fertilizing them there's nobody else you really need to do until they're prepared to be choose. That lack of depth turns the game into new of your calendar watching experience.

You can hire a workforce to help you out, watching them start the production is vaguely interesting at first, but shortly loses its novelty. Other NPCs in the competition don't provide any relationship and basically, show to now look at and give the world a semblance of soul. Without success, I must tell.

There is too supposed to be a multiplayer side for the game, but lord only gets how we could in fact meet people. I've trawled many forums with further having related problems with no resolution forthcoming. Multiplayer is great that is added last minute, so perhaps it will be improved in the future?

The first thing I'd involvement is how the game does not really boast the most outstanding images, with some of the textures looking very awkward and a significant few popping issues going on. But I'd believe the vehicles looked very decent generally, and the weather effects were reasonably well done. There's something oddly fascinating about watching puddles found with a field while it's raining.

It also includes several terra-forming effects as well, so when you're making the take some of the machines you use actually kind trenches and other alterations in the earth, that changes how your car may need over them, that is pretty clever. And by what I understand from complete a little of delivering, anything which doesn't take place now Farming Simulator activity or different competitors. Character types are attractive plain and forgettable, but in addition to the useless NPCs, there's not really enough characters around to take much notice.

I myself acquired the soundtrack really enjoyable. There was something mildly entertaining about the music starting up each time you flew into the tractor. The fact the firm of your own engine changes counting at whether your inside or outside the car was quite neat too. However, once you detected the cycling sound cause, that begins to become a bit annoying. And, when you got out of the tractor the figure would for some reason believe they were start also brand the right sound. As well as that a handful of the vehicles which allowed absolutely no doors still played the door closing sound each time you got off. A complaint for me, but still a bug.

Due to our lack of exposure to previous farming sim games, I found myself enjoying Farm Expert 17 at first, but the moment I had partaken to all the changed tasks I found myself getting bored really fast. And eventually a number of the mistake may confirm to be quite frustrating. If that contest was a bit more cleaned and contained about extent added to that, i would surely charge this higher. The multiplayer certainly feels tacked going on with the full experience only becomes somewhat of a drag eventually.

[montgomerylvbe010-blog]

I'm talking about the racing game Farm Expert 2017 Free

As a child, did you actually dream of extending up to become a farmer, spending the period charging near your rear yard with the toy tractor and trying to capture sheep in the nearby field to bring home with you? No, right us? Anyway never mind, even when that became the childhood ambition, Farm Expert 17 provides the opportunity to held also process the very own farm! The sport is nicely varied, with you having to fully prepare fields before plants can be extended, to ensuring you go livestock or they receive too older and fail, this activity will undoubtedly boost your organisational skills.

Farm Expert 2017's been buried, cultivated and produced by Silden and sold on the local produce market with PlayWay S.A.,FE17 definitely gives a few initial appeal for those who have a good simulation game. The game boasts some fairly clear impression as far as the weather is concerned, a right soundtrack when you hop in your tractor and plenty of to do and keep you tiling away for hours on end.

However, all these pieces are allowed overcome next to certain unfortunate and chronic bugs, together with some fairly horrendous curb and physics for the automobiles. And it is very varied, it goes through from the lack of depth which could leave a little underwhelmed. There is besides a multiplayer side to the game, though moving this to run remains much more akin to brown magic than computer games.

With no tale to talk about let's walk right into the nitty-gritty of what you can do from the entertainment. Since there is quite a bit. Now earlier I right start, I first want to come clean up then influence that was the primary ever really farming sim game (unless I could count Stardew Valley?) so I just want to step early then articulate sorry for any really noob-like comments. Push with…

Setting up is rather cool, after pack in you're satisfied with a menu asking to produce a report which is just a material of making a brand then go away from there. FE17 control a couple of modes you can choose from entering Free Journey and Multiplayer (I'll speak more about the multiplayer in a time). For me, however, the first go-to space lived the Article. There's somewhat of the language screen with some incorrect period and grammar, but after you move history to that all pretty straightforward. It worked out, still, carry everyone almost twenty seconds to figure out the way to help repeal since I stupidly thought it was a clean WASD setup rather than having to press Z first in order to change course. But following these hiccups, I did get myself enjoying the game. There's something strangely satisfying about having to undergo the motions of reversing up to a piece of equipment, hitching it in place, folding this left and then merrily tootling together toward the subject for a day's work.

After I had learned the basics of really turn and farming, I jumped even in work my own fully-fledged farm. You get several options to take from, basically ranging from Easy to Hard. Naturally, as a great amateur, I indicated the Simple option. Thanks to our choice I started off with a great total of currency and a good healthy sum of procedures already in my possession, so I could push right on with believe our former field, gathering a few plants and dealing with work. I found myself rather having my time as a farmer, finally achieving the target of determination a tractor.

Yet, I slowly started to notice a few mechanisms. For starters, the naming of the devices is just not up to scratch, specifically on the route that you'd think will be even but for some ungodly reason cause your vehicles to bump along constantly. The game and makes seem to factor in the swollen weight of things which you hitch upon your tractor, allowing you to accelerate in much the same time as you normally would. After a while, I discovered that the physics from the entertainment might produce some pretty horrendous cock-ups.

And later on, I too discovered that the farmsimulator.eu/farming-simulator-2013-titanium-edition-download/ ground actually took no influence on the swiftness of your car, allowing you to charge full speed up high mountains then carry on your own mini-adventure…

So of course, the true physics of the competition give something to be needed. But the real gameplay is beautiful varied. So if you don't want to really need in yard and collecting crops all the time, then no worries! You can go into animal husbandry having a couple of different options that animals to keep and ensuring that to hold them fed as well as selling them for meat just before they die of other age. Before you may grow orchards to make your delicious fruit, having to fertilize and obtain the products yourself, and even have to carry the pack to the trailer! But you do want to remain with clear old-fashioned crop farming, in which case you have to take your crops depending on the season, carefully cultivate fields properly and then make sure not to help process them over or otherwise they'll be destroyed!

There's also vehicle preservation with attention to take into consideration, so that you have to cram up your own tractor with fuel and keep that working, make sure it's good and fresh (as apparently, that is chief for tractors?) as well as repair or increase that right away also over again to make life easier.

Pretty varied, just? Right. Unfortunately, that class does not translate to power or order. So sure, you can strengthen the plants, care for being and multiply fruit orchards. But there's no form in charge in the looks, so there's no need to research for improved accept or trade rates like every shop will give the same results. That lack of economy frankly lets down the main practice. Your dogs do need food, but not any run or time away from their pens. You don't still have to feed them yourself so something you buy gets automatically transferred to the pencils plus the beast somehow gain admission to the food themselves. And with orchards, after place and fertilizing them there's nobody more you really need to do until they're ready to be gathered. That lack of depth turns the game into more of an calendar watching experience.

You can hire a staff to help you out, watching them go about the job is vaguely interesting at first, but soon loses the novelty. Other NPCs in the sport don't provide any connection and generally, action to truly hear and give the world a resemblance of lifetime. Without success, I must tell.

There is too supposed to be a multiplayer element to the activity, but lord only gets how we may actually meet people. I've trawled many forums with news say similar problems with no resolution forthcoming. Multiplayer is there a little that is created last minute, so perhaps it will be improved in the future?

The first thing I'd state is how the game does not really have the most impressive image, with some of the textures looking pretty bitter and a significant few popping issues going on. But I'd consider the vehicles looked quite decent generally, and the weather effects were fairly well done. There's something oddly fascinating about watching puddles form with a subject while that raining.

It also gain several terra-forming effects as well, so when you're making the take some of the machines you use actually kind trenches and other alterations from the ground, which changes how the vehicle can operate over them, that is pretty nice. And also since what I understand by making a bit of examining, something that doesn't take place now Farming Simulator activity or different competitors. Character styles are fairly bland and forgettable, but aside from the unnecessary NPCs, there's not really enough characters around to take much notice.

I personally achieved the soundtrack really enjoyable. There was something a little entertaining about the music starting up when you shot in your own tractor. The fact that the thud of the engine changes counting at whether the within or outside of the vehicle was sweet cool too. However, once you noticed the cycling positive make, that begin as a bit annoying. And, when you got out of the tractor your individual would for some reason believe they were leap and reach the appropriate sound. As well as this a handful of the vehicles which got no doors still played the door shut sound each time you got off. A problem for me, but still a virus.

Due to the lack of exposure to previous farming sim games, I found myself enjoying Farm Expert 17 at first, but after I had partaken to all the varied tasks I found myself getting bored fairly swiftly. With eventually a number of the germ can attest to be significantly frustrating. If that match survived a little more developed then obtained selected degree put into it, i would indeed rate it higher. The multiplayer certainly feels tacked upon then the main experience just becomes somewhat of a drag eventually.

[robsonnwty900-blog]

What else you know about Farm Expert 2017

As a youngster, did anyone actually dream of increasing up to become a farmer, wasting your date charging near the support garden on your toy tractor with attempting to catch sheep in a regional field to bring home with you? No, right us? So never mind, even though this was there the childhood ambition, Farm Expert 2017 gives you the possibility to have then control your very own farm! The action is nicely varied, with you having to fully prepare fields before plants can be expanded, to making sure you sell livestock before they move very ancient with go down, that competition will certainly boost the organisational skills.

Farm Expert 2017's been buried, cultivated and gathered by Silden and sold on the local produce industry by PlayWay S.A.,FE17 certainly experience a little preliminary appeal for those who have a good simulation game. The game boasts some rather beneficial impression as far as the weather is concerned, a ready soundtrack each time you hop into the tractor and ample to do and keep people tiling away for hours on end.

However, all these pieces are allowed behind beside approximately unfortunate and persistent bugs, together with some very horrendous running and physics for the vehicles. And though it is very varied, it suffers from the lack of depth which could give a little underwhelmed. There is also a multiplayer look to the game, though causing it to actually work becomes far more akin to dark secret than computer games.

With no story to talk about let's walk well down to the nitty-gritty of what we can do in the game. Since there is quite a bit. Now otherwise I right start, I do first want to come orderly then participation that became my own primary ever really farming sim game (unless I can count Stardew Valley?) so I just want to step forward also shout sorry for any really noob-like comments. Start about…

Setting up is beautiful easy, with fill in you're met with a menu asking to build a profile which is a question of forming a call also becoming by here. FE17 enjoys a number of modes you can choose from including Free Journey and Multiplayer (I'll talk more about the multiplayer in the time). For me, but, the first go-to room stayed the Tutorial. There's a bit of a language barrier with about incorrect cause and grammar, but when you walk beyond that that all relatively easy. This did, but, carry me on five minutes to figure out just how to help undo as I stupidly believed it was a basic WASD setup rather than having to press Z first in order to change government. Yet considering these hiccups, I did get myself enjoying the game. There's something strangely satisfying about having to go through the motions of reversing up to a piece of equipment, problem it in place, folding this away and then merrily tootling coupled to help the ground used for a living work.

Once I had grasped the basics of truly shifting and farming, I jumped organized in work my own fully-fledged farm. You get several options to take from, basically ranging from Easy to Hard. Naturally, as a complete amateur, I vote for the Calm solution. Thanks to the choice I started out with a sizable figure of notes and a good healthy total of systems already in my possession, so I could push right on with believe the head field, gathering a few plants and dealing with work. I found myself rather having my time as a character, finally doing our aim of need a tractor.

But, I gradually started to see several factors. For beginners, the selling of the systems is simply not up to scratch, especially for the way that you'd think would be easy except for many ungodly reason cause the cars to bump along constantly. The game also makes seem to element in the combined power of incidents you hitch upon the tractor, allowing you to accelerate in much the same time as you normally would. After a while, I learned that the physics in the activity might cause some rather horrendous cock-ups.

And later on, I and found out that the land actually held absolutely no influence on the quickness regarding your own vehicle, allowing you to charge full speed up high hill then carry on your own mini-adventure…

So sure, the real physics with the entertainment put something to get desired. But the true gameplay is pretty varied. So if you don't want to really need around standing and collect crops all the time, then no worries! You can go into animal husbandry having a little different options that animals to hold and making sure to keep them fed as well as pushing them for meat otherwise they fail of ancient time. Before you can grow orchards to make your delicious fruit, having to fertilize and understand the make yourself, and even have to lug the envelope to the truck! But maybe you do just want to staff with mild old-fashioned crop farming, in which case you have to choose your plants depending on the season, carefully cultivate fields properly and then make sure not to stretch them over or else they'll be ruined!

There's also vehicle maintenance and concern to take into thought, so you have to cram up your tractor with gas to maintain it moving, make sure this wonderful and fresh (as obviously, this is valuable for tractors?) as well as repair or better that now and again to make life easier.

Pretty varied, absolutely? Right. Unfortunately, this kind does not change to detail or order. So sure, you can raise the plants, care for dog with produce fruit orchards. But there's no selection in rate in the shops, so there's no need to research for improved purchase or market cost what every shop will give the same results. This lack of economy frankly lets down the whole process. The dog do need food, but not any run before time outside their pens. You don't even have to supply them yourself because everything you buy gets automatically transferred to the pencils then the animals somehow get approach for the food themselves. And with orchards, after growing and fertilizing them there's nothing else you really need to do until they're prepared to be accepted. That lack of depth turns the game into other of your calendar watching experience.

You can hire a workforce to help you out, watching them start their do is vaguely interesting at first, but soon loses its novelty. Other NPCs in the game don't offer any relationship with Real Farm basically, doing to now hear and give the world a air of go. Without success, I must tell.

There is too supposed to be a multiplayer part on the sport, but lord only gets how we may really join people. I've trawled many forums with others say related issues with no resolution forthcoming. Multiplayer becomes amazing that was added last minute, so perhaps it will be improved in the future?

The first thing I'd influence is that the game does not really have the most amazing video, with some of the textures looking very complicated and a good few popping issues going on. But I'd ponder the vehicles looked very good generally, and the weather effects were fairly well done. There's something oddly fascinating about watching puddles form with a subject while that raining.

It also take many terra-forming effects as well, so when you're preparing your take some of the machines you use actually found trenches and other changes in the soil, that changes the way the vehicle can make over them, which is very awesome. Then starting what I understand by making a bit of look at, something which makes take place in Farming Simulator games or new competitors. Character standards are pretty ordinary and forgettable, but besides the pointless NPCs, there's not really enough characters about to take much notice.

I personally acquire the soundtrack really enjoyable. There was something mildly entertaining about the music opening up when you hopped in your tractor. The fact that the strait of your engine changes depending on whether your secret or outside the vehicle was fairly nice too. But, once you perceived the looping positive impact, it leaves as a bit annoying. Also, when you got out of the tractor your personality would for some reason believe they were flying and meet the right sound. As well as that a number of the cars which gave absolutely no doors still played the door shut sound each time you got off. A problem for me, but still a problem.

Due to the lack of exposure to previous farming sim games, I found myself enjoying Farm Expert 2017 at first, but when I had partaken in all the changed tasks I found myself getting bored pretty at once. And eventually a number of the error could confirm to be quite frustrating. If that match lived a bit more polished and included some detail added to it, then I would undoubtedly charge that higher. The multiplayer certainly feels tacked with and the main experience just becomes a bit of a drag eventually.

[chriscoleman]

Philippines Trip Report

Pangulasian Island and Manila Spirits

November 9th, 2017 - November 20th, 2017

Chris Coleman & Julia Donald

Julia and I took a trip to the Philippines for beach vacation and Ultimate frisbee tournament. The first half was spent at a eco-luxury resort in Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan. Then we flew to the capital city for Manila Spirits tournament with a group of players from Seattle.

Vacation for our family starts with laying out a big pile of food for the cats and taking Skye to the doggy hotel. This trip was the same, although our longest time away from the buggers. I ate sushi dinner as Julia attended her Project Management Professional course at University of Washington. Flight at 11pm on November 9th after Julia bought face lotion at duty free (from two Filipino ladies).

13 hours later we landed in Taipei, Taiwan at 5am on November 11th. We lost a full day to the time zone change. Meals served on the plane was a new experience for me, which weren’t half bad. Dumplings, soup, and cold oolong tea in Taiwan airport were way better. Plus we got to see the Hello Kitty terminal early in the morning.

9am flight to Manila, Philippines was an easy 3 hours. Once we landed we took a taxi to Terminal 3 since walking between terminals at Ninoy Aquino International Airport is not possible. The buildings are not connected and the shuttle system is horrendous. Everyone leaves the buildings to try to take yellow taxis, but we struggled to find anything but white taxis (even though signs and the internet warned us that the white taxis were not recommended). Wings is a hostel/hotel that we reserved in T3, to rest during our layover. We decided to explore the city a bit before our nap/flight. After dropping our bags we went to the Mall of Asia in downtown Manila. Unfortunately we got swindled by our taxi driver and were forced to pay 1800 Philippine Pesos ($35 USD) for the ride which should have cost 250 ($5). The first lesson we learned in negotiations while riding white cabs. However the conversation with the taxi driver was almost worth the $30 upcharge… He was stoked to talk about American mass shootings, holding up two hands while driving and going Bang Bang Bang. Telling us about their own recent mass shooting at a casino. Plus some political talks comparing their president Duterte and Trump - both “strong” men. Julia realized this might be one country we don’t have to apologize for Trump.

Cultural shock hit when we entered the mall. They had armed security at each entrance, metal detectors and bag checks and pat-downs. Each individual shop also had their own white shirt armed security, continuing the strong show of force.

There were many American chains and your basic department store offerings. It was impressive because of the size. We almost stopped for an ice skate, but didn’t want to risk an injury at the very beginning of our trip. Ensaymada pastry at Starbucks was a treat, a delicious Filipino bread flavored with grated cheese and sprinkled with sugar. The best part of the mall trip was seeing the Christmas decorations and hearing the Christmas music. They are already in full holiday swing and it was fabulous. We later learned that Christmas starts on Sept1 in the Philippines. A common saying is “Christmas is coming”. Dinner at Manam restaurant initiated us to Filipino cuisine - Crispy Sisig and Watermelon Sinigang. We finished the trip with a walk outside along the boardwalk. They were preparing for fireworks later in the evening and we sat on the wall overlooking Manila Bay on the far side of the Pacific Ocean.

The ASEAN Summit was happening in Manila during our trip. World leaders came together to talk about Southeast Asian nations regional issues. The security throughout the city was tight, we even saw hundreds of police officers doing a ‘dry-run’ of the parade route as we went between the mall and airport. We missed them shutting down the streets for their test by a couple hours and returned to the hostel. Trump was in attendance for the summit, although we were lucky to be away from the capitol when he was in town.

Nap at Wings until our 6am flight out of Terminal 4. The showers were a treat and we felt refreshed as we entered our last leg of travel to reach our first destination. Taxi driver talked about Duterte/Trump again - telling us that his life is much better with Duterte in power. The 10pm curfew allows him to sleep at night, keeping the drunks out of the street. We kept our political opinions out of the conversation, it was good to hear local perspective on a radical president.

Flight to El Nido, Palawan was 1 hour. A small turboprop plane out of a cramped waiting area. Once we landed - resort staff took care of us right away. They handled our baggage and shuttled us to a lounge with drinks/snacks. We waited maybe 20 minutes next to Lio beach as they loaded our luggage onto the boat via wooden bridge. This was our first introduction to outriggers with their bamboo pole arms stretched out at their sides for stability. Raul called the boat a big turtle. Regardless it was fast while we departed the small El Nido airport. The transfer took about 30 minutes to get us onto Pangulasian Island. We talked to Raul, our favorite guide, about excursion options before arrival.

42 villas on the island, otherwise no houses or people outside the resort. The crew on the island stayed in a house behind the main restaurant and lobby. We learned later that the main building had been built on top of a cave where the water monitor lizards lived, including a big one called Godzilla who was probably 5 feet big. We never saw Godzilla but we kept an eye out for him. Our home for the next 4 nights was Villa #22. On the way to the villa on our “buggy” we saw our first and only macaque monkeys at the resort during the trip. We were instructed not to look directly at them or smile at them because they can get aggressive,. However they are so cute that is all you want to do. The room was luxurious with a huge bathroom, strong air conditioning, private balcony, and ocean views. As we were introduced to our room, we were also introduced to several Filipino english peculiarities, including the ever present honorific "M'amSir". Having grown up in the South, Julia was not sure how this concatenation had never occurred to any of the southerners she knew as it would have undoubtedly saved them much time in their daily salutations. Endless coconut cookies in the mini-bar was one of the best amenities.

We planned out our trip on a piece of scrap paper. No real itinerary before this, but once in the room and aware of our options we wanted to optimize our time in paradise. We went to the activity director with this plan:

     Day 1 - sunset hike

     Day 2 -  7am snorkel, 3pm Island tour

     Day 3 - 8am Lagoon tour

     Day 4 - ???

     Day 5 - 2pm boat, 5pm flight

Lunch at the pool after seeing our first small/baby Monitor Lizard. Julia had Rellenong - squid stuffed with pork, which introduced us to the Filipino comfort fusion of Asian, seafood, and Spanish food, plus foamy fruit drinks. Then into the water for our first snorkel of the trip. We saw a blue spotted stingray the size of a dinner plate as we were entering the water. Lots of coral right away and tons of fish all around. We were amazed at the amount of life right off the shore of our villa, the reef was alive! Huge blue clams and blue starfish were highlights, then we saw ‘Nemo’ (clownfish) in a home of sea anemone. We quickly learned that the overprotective dad fish are not just a thing of movies as the clownfish tried to chase us away from their anemone homes. Once they started trying to attack you, it was best to swim away so they didn’t leave any eggs defenseless and ready for another fish’s dinner.

Sunset hike was a serious physical task. Hiking up about 500 feet, counted in 1800 steps, to a lookout tower in the center of the island. The steps were counted out with signs every 200 steps. Raul bounded up the mountain with the speed of a mountain goat and the ease of a man who has only worn flip flops (aka “slippers”) while traversing the jungle his whole life. Took us 30 minutes. We were rewarded with 360 degree views and a breathtaking sunset surrounded by islands of all sizes. We hiked with 2 guys - Nunu and Brunu from Portugal and our guide Raul. Early dinner at 6:30, where we were asked by the entire staff how our sunset hike was. We quickly learned that everyone on the island always knew what activities we were up to at all times. Bed by 9pm, which became a regular thing for all of vacation.

7am snorkel tour at our ‘home reef’ on Sunday morning. A resort boat took us to the west end of the island, about a 3 minute ride. Shallow coral as our guide directed us towards the best spots for seeing baby blacktip reef sharks, as they apparently like to stay in 2-3 foot deep sections of the reef. Almost immediately we saw blacktip reef sharks. About 2-3 feet long, nothing scary but still swimming with sharks. Brunu spotted a BIG shark - quickly alerting us, but it turned out to be the second group of snorkelers from our resort.. HaHa  

Breakfast buffet at the main restaurant was massive. Options for all nations… American (pancakes, and bacon), European (fruit and pastries), Asian (rice and grilled meat), plus local Filipino dishes like fish, longganisa, and jackfruit.

A kayak tour around the island was settled upon after much debate. The wind was blowing and I was nervous the adventure would not be easy. It ended up being a wonderful decision all around. The boats were easy to launch from the beach next to our villa. We immediately tested upwind and downwind paddling - discovering we could easily handle the conditions. Paddling clockwise around the .2 square mile island took us 1 hour. The side opposite the villa is completely deserted, with multiple beautiful beaches. A small black monkey was relaxing on one, scurrying back into the woods as we floated by. There were also tons of crabs on the rocks, that also scurried away as we got close.

Back in the room Julia read on the balcony while I soaked up the AC + WiFi until our 3pm tour. Island Hopping is a 3 hour tour via outrigger style boat - called pump boat or paraw boat. There were about 10 other couples on the trip although the boat didn’t feel cramped at all. The crew of the boat frequently navigated the length of the boat by walking on the bamboo outrigger support structures, leaving the middle of the boat where we were sitting wide open. Luckily we weren’t required to wear the big red life vests, so I ditched mine immediately.

The first stop on the tour was called Cathedral Caves, about 25 minutes away. Pictures only as our boat was too big to enter the cave. The second stop was Cudugnon Cave another 25 minute ride. We were greeted by two dogs when we landed on shore. Then we walked along the water to a small entrance which we crawled through. It opened up to a huge room which legend says is a Neolithic burial place. We squeezed our way into the cave and marveled at how it opened up to 40 foot ceilings once we were through the entry. The light shone in a way that was impossible for us to capture on film. It was beautiful. Our 3rd stop was Snake Island, named for the S shaped sandbar that connected the island to mainland Palawan. After securing the anchor we walked the sandbar to a shack in the water. A bar on the sandbar, wonderful! No cash, and no bartenders today,  so we just looked around and shuffled back and forth on the 2-3 foot deep sandbar, hoping our feet were alerting any stingrays to swim away and not sting us out of self defense.. Another 10 minute boat ride and we were back at Pangulasian Island resort -  home.

We stopped at the pool for a sunset swim. Ordered coconut’s and Julia drank them both. After cleaning up I called for a buggy to take us to dinner. At 6:30pm no one was there, it wasn’t until later in the trip that we learned that the restaurant didn’t open until 7pm - they were just too nice to tell us to leave. Again puzzled where everyone else was, we dove into the exquisite menu, amazed at the quality and selection for being on a remote island where everything is ferried in by outrigger. Two orders of bread, shrimp gyro, and a huge seafood paella was a killer meal. Then a stomach settling beach walk home and we were in bed by 9pm.

Monday sunrise at 5:30am was beautiful from bed. It was raining as Julia scanned for wildlife from the balcony. She spotted 3 big Monitor Lizards coming out of the water, plus a baby blacktip reef shark maybe about 1 foot long trolling the shallows in front of our villa.

Breakfast was another big buffet in preparation for our Lagoon Tour at 8am.

The tour was filled with 22 people including our guides, driver, and security. Gold was the main guide - who I found out is also an ultimate player and planning to attend Manila Spirits tournament. Small world in the ultimate community! The group was: 2 Hawaiian couples Alan/Jira and Russell/Joy, dad from Manila and his 3 daughters, an old French couple, family of 4 with a 10 year old boy and 5 year old girl, and a young Asian couple on their phones the whole time. At this time we were beginning to get to know all the other fellow occupants of the island.

1st stop was Big Lagoon, 20 minutes from home. Pictures only as our boat drifted into the lagoon while the guides gave a history / science lesson. We learned about the limestone cliffs and how they were eroded over time by the salt. This was one region in the Philippines that was not part of the ring of Fire and was safe from earthquakes and volcanoes by its place in the middle of a tectonic plate.

2nd stop was Small Lagoon, 5 minutes away. The rain picked up again but it was warm and it didn’t bother us. There were already 5 or so outrigger boats in the ‘parking area’ leading into the lagoon. Some of the outriggers were from other resorts (including other El Nido properties at Maniloc or Lagen islands) and the others were from “town” a El Nido proper, and were part of the tor packages A, B, C, etc. all looked good, but the tour options had little grills on the back that were cooking excellent looking if slightly fire safety concerning food. We dropped anchor in the tight quarters and waited for our kayaks to arrive. Another group was using them and 1 by 1 they finished so our crew could jump in. Julia and I took the last boat, quickly catching up to the group with fast strokes. Through a hole not much bigger than our kayak we entered the lagoon. Walls were dripping with rain into the clear blue brackish water. A quick swim finished our adventure - then into the boat for a final stop.

3rd stop was Miniloc Resort - also owned by El Nido and on the same island as the lagoons. It was set in a cove in the middle of limestone cliffs. The resort was beautiful but it seemed to lack the beautiful beach that we had at Pangulasian. We were affirmed we made the correct resort choice by a couple of the other travelers on the boat, although that is comparing two especially Fantasia options. The reef just off their shore is home to a school of Jackfish, about 4 feet long - big things! They feed them daily so they zoom around near the dock - one nearly jumping over me as I snorkeled by. A Sergeant Major fish with yellow and black stripes bit Julia’s elbow as we explored the reef. I didn't believe Julia and went in to follow up - it bit my hand. Nothing more than a tiny scrape - but that bugger was really defending his territory well, good for him. Sweet tea on the boat home was a perfect ending. We were back before noon.

Ice cream  and fruity drinks for lunch told us we were truly on vacation. Any time more than 3 drinks are in front of 1 person - it’s vacation!

Julia took an afternoon snorkel while I rested in the air conditioning. She saw another stingray and more Nemo fish. Then we relaxed in bath robes until dinner time. Julia even won the daily debate of buggy vs. walk - this time only because the buggy service was busy. We spotlighted crabs using the headlamps I brought from home as we walked on the beach to dinner. Large hand sized white crabs dove into their well dug holes in the sand, while hermit crabs just collapsed inside their mobile homes. Our Hawaiian friends came over during dinner to extend an invitation on their private boat tour tomorrow with their lady friends. We quickly deliberated and decided to say yes.

Tuesday the 14th began with thunder and lightning. We ate breakfast as it stormed all around us. Extra banana jam on my pancakes to make up for the nasty weather.

The tour started at 10am with Gold as our guide. Alan/Jira and Russell/Joy were a bit late, but excited to get going. Secret Beach was the first destination. A hole in the side of a steep wall. At high tide you have to dive and hold your breath 5 seconds to get in. We all practiced holding our breath and confirming what kind of 5 seconds were we talking about? One mississippi, two mississippi, three mississippi, or 1, 2, 3. In retrospect, the "mississippi" might have added to the confusion in our clarification attempts. It was low tide so Julia swam straight in, but I still dove. A sandy beach inside was magical, completely closed off from the outside. Unfortunately this is where Julia’s camera decided to die - however we later discovered it was simply a dead battery. 

Hidden Beach was the second destination. First we stopped for a quick snorkel just around the corner. A reef on the edge of a 100 foot dropoff. Colorful coral and tons of fish - so amazing to see with our butts in the air. The beach was hidden behind a shallow entrance. We waded through ankle deep water to find another sandy shore tucked away on Matinloc Island. The other 2 boats of tourists were just leaving so we got the whole place to ourselves. Only other person there was a local in a canoe selling coconuts and ice cold beer - how perfect!! Julia ate the soft meat out of the coconut after drinking the water. The salesman even cut a ‘spoon’ out of the coconut shell for her to scoop it out with - genius. My San Miguel beer hit the spot in the midday sun. All of us got coconuts or beer for 400 PHP (8 USD). A good deal.

Lunch at Entalula Island was welcomed at 1pm. El Nido owns/manages a section of beach here with the softest sand of the entire trip. They served us lunch of rice, shrimp, sashimi, fruit, and cold drinks. We only had to sign our room numbers and the bill was taken care of. I could get used to this. When checking out later, we saw all of the receipts where we had signed our room number earlier in the vacation. The stamps for our postcards. The lunch at Entalula. The magnet for our fridge. Imagining them gathering all of these receipts for calculation via outrigger or buggy was humorous.

2 more quick stops at the Cudugnon Cave and Snake Island we had been to previously. We skipped going inside the cave this time. Walked the beach trying to pet the dog and talk to the little girl - neither were successful. Then we waieded in the water and chatted with Russell, learning about his insurance business and life on Maui. Snake Island bar was open this time and we didn’t forget the cash. Bought more beers and coconuts (we learned here our first Tagalog word - Buko - which means coconut) before heading back home.

The private boat tour with the Hawaiians was our favorite adventure during our time on Pangulasian Island resort. We were out almost 7 hours, explored 5 islands, and saw hundreds of fish with new friends. I sure hope we run into these guys again on another vacation!

Black butterflies greeted us at sunset daily. We watched a dark blue / almost black Great-Billed heron hunt on the ocean shore as the mosquitoes began to bite. We also learned about alpha monkeys. Once they became aggressive (stealing clothes off balconies or food from the buffet) an Ecologist would fly out from Manila, the monkey would be darted and wake up on a secluded island. 1 alpha per island, no mates. This has happened 5 times in the past 20 years - meaning that there are 5 islands out there with mad/lonely monkeys on them. The guides told us 1 adopted a cat from a nearby village as his friend, petting it and guarding it. This was the monkey banished to the Sandbar island. We had been warned during our visit not to pet the cat, and it made more sense knowing about it's monkey protector. Hilarious / Sad.

Manila plans were discussed over a dinner of Kare-Kare (oxtail and tripe in peanut sauce) and butter chicken. Super sleepy after this heavy meal. Bed by 8pm, but not before committing to our buggy driver for a 5am sunrise hike.

Wednesday the 15th Julia actually made the 5am sunrise hike. I slept. The guide asked where "Sir Donald" was and she replied, in bed. They discussed ecology on the way up and politics on the way down - a well balanced agenda. This was the first, but not last, person Julia met that was critical of Duterte and the drug war. The guide was especially concerned with the corruption of the cops and the extrajudicial killings. When they discussed the drug wars in both countries, quickly Julia grasped that although the US drug war incarcerates the most people in the world - our drug war isn't killing political opponents in their houses and planting drugs to cover it up. Neither is good, but there is always worse. The guide was worried about the future as all of the political opponents to Duterte were being silenced, and no one knew what would happen at the end of his remaining five years of term.

6:30am I began to pack, reluctantly. Paused at 7am to take the guided snorkel of the home reef again. We saw no sharks but did traverse the entire length of the resort reef - West to East. Almost an hour snorkel with 2 other guys (Australia and UK). We got to see 2 smallish green sea turtles and another stingray. Rinsed off at the dive shop and turned in my fins.

All our new friends were at breakfast. After 5 days it felt like we knew everyone. Catching up with what each other did the previous day and our plans going forward. Many of us were leaving together today so we’d have one last chance to shake hands before island time was over. I stopped at the pool after breakfast while Julia took 1 last snorkel. In true to vacation form, the last snorkel continued a trend we had started on other vacations where halfway through it started raining. When Julia came out, she and Brunu and Nunu (Portuguese guys) all finished at the same time and had a good laugh about "Snorkeling in the rain".

Lunch by the pool, then to the reception desk for checkout at 2pm. Signed the bill for 30,000 Philippines pesos and bought final momentos. Loaded the boat and we were off to the airport. Waiting room for El Nido resort guests was a treat - with drinks, sweets (red bean cakes and cassava cake), and air conditioning.

**Note - Sleep No More is an immersive play based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Hitchcock's movie “Rebecca" that Brunu/Nunu told us about. Look into this next time we visit NYC.

Landed in Manila, fetched baggage, and hailed a yellow cab (metered). Only problem is that the driver took us to the wrong hotel. Hotel Manila is WAY nicer than we booked. Felt wrong from the moment we pulled up. German Shepherds working security, ladies in long ballroom dresses, chandeliers, over-the-top Christmas decorations, the whole package... Thankfully the six bell boys on duty were nice (or bored) enough to carry our baggage and arrange our cab. Driver was way more experienced - getting us to Luneta Hotel on the other side of Rizal Park. This is the first time we were explained it was probably not a good idea for us to try walking in the city at night.

Luneta Hotel is 99 years old. Lovingly restored in a beautiful combination of art deco and French renaissance architecture, we felt at home in our room for 1 night. We ate Crispy Pata for dinner at the hotel restaurant. The waiter explained all the ways we could tear into the beautifully twice cooked & deep fried pig legs / pig knuckles. "The tendons are the best". We noted how much easier it was in the Philippines to eat the peripheral / organ meats, and how much we had been enjoying it. In house made ice cream was a treat - especially the Jasmine flavor which was the national flower.

Thursday the 16th was a walking tour. Out the front door of our hotel was Rizal Park. Named after Jose Rizal - a Filipino nationalist who advocated political reform for the colony under Spanish rule. We visited the monument for his execution along with other historical sites in the area. Rizal is the national hero, a true renaissance man who wrote books and poetry, made paintings and carvings, and explored the sciences as a Polymath. His execution jump-started the successful Philippine revolution. Unfortunately, right after the success of the revolution and the creation of an independent Philippine government, the Spanish promptly lost the Spanish/American war. During the peace negotiation between Spain and America, Spain sold Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US for $20 million. The Philippines sent their best minds to the US to advocate for their self-rule, but the US failed to grant them their own sovereignty they had fought so hard for. Another war- the Philippine/American war - ended 2 million Filipino lives and settled the question for another 40 years of American rule. It was only after the atrocities of WW2 that the US granted the Philippines their independence on July 4, 1946. Families laid on space blankets in the shade as we walked the park, visiting the Chinese Garden.

Intramuros, a historic walled city inside Manila, was the next walking destination. First we stopped at Starbucks to download maps and assemble a plan. Once Julia made the map her phone background we were on the move again. San Agustin Church was our first major stop. A massive Spanish monastery built in 1607. Now a museum detailing the complete religious, economic, and legal colonization of the Philippines, detailing trade routes and gold mining along with the life of monks in the 1600’s. The Spanish were completely successful in their religious conquest, having converted everyone we met or saw into a devout Catholic. Then more churches and old buildings. Fort Santiago was our last stop inside the walled city. Built by Spanish conquistadors in 1571, then upgraded repeatedly until 1730’s. The American flag was raised here in 1898, who drained the moat to make a golf course. During World War II the fort was captured by the Japanese army and use as a killing ground for hundreds of prisoners - especially during the Japanese massacre of civilians during the liberation of Manila. 200k civilians (including lots of religious leaders) died in mass shootings during this last month of urban fighting. Intramuros and the rest of the city was gutted.

Back in 2017 - an Uber driver picked us up and took us to lunch. Dong Bei Dumpling house in Manila’s Chinatown district. A hole in the wall, that was recommended on every corner of the internet, was kinda scary getting to as our taxi driver took us directly through a slum on the edge of the river and the intramodal shipyard. It all paid off when we were served. One of the best meals of our entire vacation - stuffed pancakes, pork dumplings, and xiao long bao. Then we met our 9 year old friend Jarred outside. His dad runs a shop next to the restaurant and he wanted to talk as we waited for our ride. A very nice boy who had to run back to his dad to get English answers for our questions. Then we became Facebook friends - it was official.

Quiapo Market was our last tourist spot of the day. An open-air market selling everything from fruits to pirated CDs. We walked the hundreds of small booths looking for a fitbit replacement for the one I accidentally swam with in Palawan. We were able to find speakers, phone cases, watches, ‘nike’ shoes, bike parts, herbal “birth control” (it is a very Catholic country), 10 min massage, day-old chicks … but no fitbit. After an hour we escaped without spending a dollar.

Jasmine tea back at Luneta Hotel per the waiter's recommendations as we picked up our bags and then an hour Uber ride, with a sleepy driver, to our AirBnB in Alabang. This house was rented by our ultimate team for the long weekend. Just 2 kilometers from the fields in a secured neighborhood. We actually had to fight through the security gate our first time through, trying to prove we actually belonged there.

The house was huge, as were all the ones around us. 10+ beds upstairs, 2 on the main floor, and ours downstairs. There were also 2 house staff and 1 driver staying with us full time. The owners moved to California last year and use the house rarely. The staff are their personal helpers of the family for the entire lifetime of their children - Julia was lucky to get some time to discuss this further with one of their helpers and learn more about this aspect of the culture.

Team dinner was a ‘Boodle Fight’ - a traditional meal served on banana leaves and eaten with hands. Ours was packed with pork, shrimp, octopus, corn, and rice. I sat next to Summer who was allergic to shellfish - but she was able to avoid death with Epi-Pen on standby.

Friday the 17th began at 6:30am with Shawn cooking eggs, bacon, and sausage. The first van to the fields left at 7:45am, with Alan our driver. Ange and Steph were already there with a spot reserved for us under a canopy on the edge of the fields. Each team had their own section blocked off - which proved critical during rain and sun all weekend.

Manila Spirits ultimate tournament is in it’s 14th year. 40 teams from around the world come together for a fun weekend of competition. It’s a co-ed tournament, playing with 4 men + 3 women or 4 women + 3 men. 60 minute games played to 13 points. Our team - Just Saiyan - was 19 boys and girls, the only team from the United States. Ranked 29th out of 40 teams. I looked for Gold and was able to find 5:30 Palawan team, but he was not with them.

Right off the bat ‘For Old Times Sake’ beat us 6-10 first game. They had the Tournament Director on their squad and were all around highly spirited. An excellent introduction to Manila ultimate. It was a tight match all the way to the end, then near a questionably timed soft/hard cap they ran away with it. Finished with a Spirit Circle and hip hip hooray X 3.

The rain started as we walked back to the canopy. HARD rain that flooded our shelter. Everyone hung their bags on the canopy poles and embraced the storm. The fields were soggy but it slowed by the time our second match began.   

‘Love Parade’ beat us 3-13 in the second game. Clearly a dominate team, having won the previous year. We didn’t even make it to the 50 minute soft cap. Ouch!

We beat USO third game 13-8 on a sloppy muddy field. They were young, one player only 17 years old. After our victory we taught them the street fighter spirit game, which ended up being a long 30 minute game, happily played in the sideline shade.

Back at the house we washed clothes and hung everything to dry. Ice bath for the feet was sweet, I almost made it a full minute. The team cooked hot dogs for dinner - which were found to be individually wrapped after grilling for 10 minutes. Why?!?

Julia and I chose to go out for dinner to catch up with each other since we spent the day separated.

Julia went to Pagsanjan Falls (a whitewater gorge once used as a set in "Apocalypse Now" movie), about 3 hours southeast of Alabang. Alan, our driver, helped her find the proper bus after he dropped us off at the fields. Then a motorcycle driver picked her up from the bus station and took her the rest of the way to the falls. 2 guides navigated her up and down the river and underneath a waterfall in a dugout canoe and bamboo raft.  “Shooting the rapids” is the tourist activity in the area and there is a rotation system for tour guides - nearly 3,000 villages have "canoeing numbers" assigned and about 1 every 10 days they are able to guide. It is one of the major methods of income in the town and I was reminded "Christmas is coming".  The guides paddled and jumped in and out of the canoe to drag it over and between rocks, and pushed off of the gorge walls when necessary for upstream momentum.  Julia's concept of whitewater canoeing was greatly expanded from her Outward Bound expedition days, as she never considered anything other than paddling as a method for propulsion.  Apparently feet is another acceptable and common option.  Good to know.  Things put into perspective, Julia enjoyed the trip thoroughly.  Then the moto driver, Romeo, picked her back up and took her to 2 other random spots in the area with waterfalls, local boys swimming, and a lake at the top of the mountain overlooking Laguna Bay. Beautiful rural areas with farmers, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and subsistence gardening. she would have never found without his local knowledge. Aware that things could be risky, everything paid off wonderfully with Julia feeling very welcomed by the friendly people in the provinces.

Buko (coconut) pie for dessert. Julia got it during the bus ride home. As the bus rides were long and direct, they never stopped for food but rather let vendors come onto the bus for short rides. Roasted/steamed corn was a common treat, in addition to Balut, Empanadas, and nuts - all usually for 20 PHP.

Saturday the 18th was day 2 of the Spirits tournament. First game at 8am vs. ‘Sentinels’. We beat them 13-6 after Shawn’s hucks warmed up. Ange and Steph, our Filipino teammates who encouraged/organized this trip from the start, forgot their cleats at home. During our long 4 hour break they ran home and brought back Halo-Halo icy desserts that were sugary delicious. We relaxed in chairs from another team (which oddly they were mad about - come on team Vicious be reasonable) bought swag, drank smoothies, and watch games. 1pm was our second and last game of the day - which we ended up losing. ‘Breakfast Club’ was an old school team from Manila. They looked easy to beat but we just couldn’t shake our problems. They also called a bunch of questionable catches/fouls that really took the steam out of our high spirited squad. 6-10 was the final score, bummer.

Reviewed the day with Julia over dinner at Neil's Kitchen - a hip Filipino-fusion restaurant in Westgate Filinvest. We had three amazing plates of food, but the one I remember most was their concept of Dinuguan - a black liver and blood pudding dish complete with pork belly and rice. So rich and the best liver dish Julia has ever eaten. She went back to Manila city and visited 2 museums. National Museum of Fine Arts and National Museum of Anthropology. The art museum was beautiful and intense - the long history of the Philippines being colonized by Spain and America showed through in their religious art featuring Jesus and their modernist art featuring the journey from WW2 through the post-colonial years of independence. The Anthropology museum showed a sunken Spanish galleon which had just been excavated and explained a large part of that period of history. Lunch at Seaside Dampa - a seafood market where you buy anything from crab to lobster to shark to clams to tiger prawns and more - then across the street a restaurant will cook it for you. She had tiger prawns and a crab next to a family singing Videoke, a popular pastime in Asia.

Tournament part was Saturday night, which I decided to skip. It didn’t start until 9pm. I’m an old man. Asleep by 9:30.

Sunday was the final day of the tournament. We changed canopy locations to a central spot next to the first aid station (team Vicious ‘kindly’ asked us to move). Half the team was hungover, which gave confidence to the young and spry Sentinel opponent. They underestimated our experience playing hungover. We dominated from the first throw. I think they scored 3 points total, keeping spirit high the whole time. They did our ‘charge up’ cheer with us after the game - it was loud and awesome. The shitty part of this strong start was our teammate got injured. I threw a terrible pass over Amanda’s head, Ryan attempted to clean up the garbage. Feet got tangled as they approached the sideline - sending Ryan hard onto his elbow. Medics on the field said it was sprained (or torn ligament), he was out for the rest of the day. Felt terrible because it happened on my bad throw. Hopefully now that we are back in the US he can see a doctor and get healed quickly.

Game 2 was vs. White Propaganda. It was extremely hot with no sideline shade. Saiyan players were dropping out left and right. I was playing double points by the end of the game. Normally we were in pods of 3, rotating every point so that each person would play 1 of 3 points. Needless to say - we lost. Lots of simple drops added to the frustration, we totally could have beat this team. They were a fast squad, ready to move the disc quickly against any zone we tried to put on. The final score was 6-10.

Steph came back after the game with all our box lunches (so we didn’t have to stand in line with tickets waiting in the sun). Thanks Steph! Rice, pork, fish, and cookies were necessary to keep the engine rolling. I couldn’t seem to drink enough water all weekend - but the shade brakes helped encourage hydration.

Final game was vs. Stacked Stats, a team of players representing 15 countries. Fun group from the very start. We were never in the lead - they easily won 6-13. I was just happy to have survived a hot/humid tournament in Manila, my first international competition.

Finished the tournament with a box full of beers from the vendors. 24 San Mig Light’s while the team sat on the sideline watching the championship match - Boracay Bandits vs. Mulatto. Bandits were #1 and Just Saiyan ended up #32. Not too shabby.

Julia returned from Taal Heritage Town about 7pm. Alan was just asking about her status since it was getting dark, he had helped her get to the bus again and was worried she made it back easily. Taal is a popular tourist destination because it has a volcano in the middle of a big lake. Most people visit and hike to the top of the mountain volcano in the middle of Taal lake. Julia chose a different route - to visit the town and see their history. A wedding at the largest basilica in Asia, restored houses of Filipino Revolutionaries, market with dresses, halo halo, bikers, and a trike ride filled her day.

Ice cream passed around the dinner table on a Lazy Susan was the perfect capstone to a exhausting 3 days of ultimate. Our team was fun and already talking about what exotic tournament to try next year…Hopu Ka Lewa in Hawaii???

Monday the 20th was travel day. Alan began taking people to the airport at 9am. We relaxed and talked to the house staff, Delaney and Daisy, until 11am. They told us about Tagalog bananas and the backstory for the home owners. Alan stopped at the South Supermarket so we could pick up final ube treats for Julia’s coworkers. Then dropped our bags at EVA airline counter. We still had 5 hours until our flight so we got a taxi to the Mall of Asia to waste time again. Ryan was with us too. Lunch at Manam restaurant again, where we talked to a girl heading to New Zealand for a friends wedding. A quick walk along Manila Bay and we headed back to the airport (only to wait in line for an hour to check-in + customs).

16 hours of flying later, we landed 30 minutes before we took off. Monday was a weird day for us. Tuesday it’s back to work while fighting jet lag. The good news is that Thursday is Thanksgiving!

**Tagalog is a hard language to pick up for me. I learned zero words the almost 2 weeks we were in the Philippines. This is all I semi-learned after repeated instruction by various Filipino’s.

     hindi = no

     oo = yes

     mahal kita = I love you

     Buko = coconut

Overall the Philippines were a beautiful and adventurous string of islands. We look forward to going back to visit many more beaches (and tournaments) plus more off the beaten path international travel!  We picked up a cookbook for one of our few souvenirs so more Filipino food in our future.

Now it’s time to throw the ball for this dog… she needs love!

Cheers,

-Chris Coleman

[darkneonblog]

Twilight Princess HD Review (Used Game Reviews)

In 2006 with the launch of the Wii, the world was graced to a new form of Hyrule. One that lacked the bright-eyes cell-shaded cartoon visuals of 2002’s The Wind Waker, nor the morbid and frightening vibes present in Majora’s Mask. What the world got was what fans of the Space World 2000 tech demo of a 3d modeled Link fighting Ganondorf expected. A more realistic and gritty Zelda Adventure that takes full advantage of 21st century gaming hardware. Now over a decade later Twilight Princess is still beloved by many for its take on the Zelda series, being slightly darker in more ways than one, not only with its story telling but its plot elements as well. Many saying it refined elements set by Ocarina, Majora, and Wind Waker to make a game that is sometimes considered The Legend of Zelda series at its core. But is this always a good thing? We’re here to determine that.  How well does Twilight Princess really hold up in 2017? Here’s our Used Game Review of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD for Wii U

In 2006 much praise went to Twilight Princess for its darker take on the Zelda franchise, being harsher and grittier in its tone and storytelling. The game is to this day still the only Zelda game to earn a T for Teen rating by the ESRB for some slightly aggressive imagery including Link’s initial transformation into his wolf form, and Ganondorf being chained up and stabbed by the sages of the Gerudo desert. In terms of looking for a “darker” Zelda experience, grabbing a copy of Majora’s Mask 3D would suffice as most of Twilight Princess keeps the same standard level of danger and threat as its contemporaries and never pushes the envelope in terms of harsher or more intense themes.

But in saying this is not a slight towards the story presented in Twilight Princess itself for what is presented is a well-meaning and well-told story centering around the character Midna and her plight to restore her realm of twilight and the people she resides over as their Princess. Aside from Midna, and the antagonist Zant there isn’t much to many of the other main characters resented in the game. Link remains the standard well-mannered silent hero with the heart of gold for players to project themselves onto; and neither Zelda nor Ganondorf appear early enough in the game for any true fleshing of their characters and who they are besides the standard battle of good vs evil. But it’s the struggle between the worlds of light and twilight, and the dichotomy between light, dark, and the world between that truly shows the narrative strengths of the game. And with Midna being the most integral character within all of these it’s very easy to get invested into her story and the world surrounding her, which in turn affects Link and all the characters around them giving the story some emotional weight. Even with these limitations they ending fells natural and carries the plot to a conclusion that isn’t void of emotion.

Despite the main characters being limited, the variety of side characters met throughout the game often have unique personality traits and quirks. Such as the Goron Patriarch Darbus who is a towering force of rock-hard muscle that refers to you as “tiny human” in simplistic caveman like speech. Or the child Malo, who despite being around 5 years old, runs a shop all on his own, and is often seen criticizing other characters harshly under his breath. These and other side characters make the land of Hyrule feel more lived in and developed than other mainline Zelda entries.

In addition to the characters, the expansive nature of the world map of Hyrule adds to this scope. With a variety of entry and exit points in accessing the different provinces Hyrule feels like a varied Kingdom of different races that is worth exploring. Chest and secrets cover the land that will give you pieces of heart and rupees for taking the time to search. No major secrets, and the abundance of rupees makes them trivial later on in the game but the pieces of heart and the introduced howling stones always feel worth the price of taking your time to get to them. Traversal isn’t issue as Link’s horse that you have the ability to name can be summoned at any time if a certain flower is in your area, and if they aren’t the world map shows you wear. Hose riding controls the same in Ocarina of time, with a certain number of sprints allowed before they need to charge as signified by 6 spurs on the bottom of the screen. Controlling the horse can be kind of tricky, as it doesn’t turn very well or as accurate as we would like. In the open areas of the Hyrule field where you will be spending most of your time on horseback, this is not an issue, other areas where you ride, this problem showed itself again.

Camera movement is mapped differently than it is in most games. Pulling down on the control stick zooms out instead of looking completely downwards. Being able to change the camera’s distance from the Link is new to the series. And has its advantages in choice, especially in encounters of enemies that either fly or tower above you zooming out very much lets you get a better scope of your surroundings and how to proceed in a fight All other movements of the camera were perfectly fine but some problems arose.

Depending on camera angles, game can get confused as to which way you should be heading when climbing or walking. If there is a sudden shift in camera angles holding up on the control stick may be tacking you forwards at one moment, but then suddenly you’ll be heading left for as the camera changes up on the control stick will take you to the left instead. This caused for one or two fatalities. not on our own volition when climbing and instead of climbing to the left we proceeded to climb down to our death

IN some instances, in certain areas where there are walls that are close-knit but can be climbed over, the camera can begin to stutter violently causing the whole screen to shake. A simple rotation can cause it to cease, but this problem was especially worse in the Gerudo Desert dungeon where with so many climbable objects in tight corners there were two times where no camera rotation would stop the shaking, and it just had to be dealt with until we could physically move link to a new area.

The game begins with an excellent tutorial segment that integrates the basic mechanics of movement, targeting, standard attacks, and calling your horse, all within the introductory story segments of the game, instead of just generic text boxes with words and button prompts. Combat is identical to that of Ocarina of Time, and Skyward sword. Z-targeting is used to focus on the enemy, and they are slashed with the sword until they are down. With differences depending on the enemy type, and if it is a boss encounter or not. The mechanic of finding the Howling stones in order to learn new combat techniques besides the basic dodge and slash are incredibly worth it and not only give you variety and types of strategy in your gameplay but also enhance you in a proper way that makes you as a character are actually growing with link in strength. Some may see it as a little overpowering in the game as tougher endgame enemies prove as little challenge with your advance skills. But certain enemies still put up a fair amount of challenge as enemies began to wear increasing number of amounts armor and shields to carry.

 The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess is a relatively easy game. Enemies will always do the same things and Its often praised for being a Zelda game at its utmost core which is both a blessing and a curse. The puzzles of h dungeons in the games are varied and are often relatively straightforward in how to accomplish them. It’s the layout that is the same that shows the game at its weakest. You will enter in, and progress your way through until you face a mini-boss exactly halfway through. Upon defeat the mini-boss will give you the newest equipable item that you will then use for every puzzle for the rest of the dungeon until you reach the boss which will also require you to use the new item.

Most of the bosses in Twilight Princess are memorable in design enough, and the task of how to take them down is never immediately apparent in how you are supposed to use the item, and only gets increasingly more challenging to figure out the later on in the game the boss is. But once you have figured out how, every boss becomes very minimal in challenge as the item is catered to take down that enemy once it’s used a certain way three times.

Around 45% of the game will be spent as Link in his Wolf Form in one way or another. This transformation offers a variety in gameplay as since as a wolf Link cannot use any weapons or items, but is much faster, and has the ability to sense things in his surrounding with a sort of animal 6th sense. Wolf Link adds a welcome variety to puzzles and combat as you have to think a little differently to accomplish both in that form. When the game allows you to later change into either form freely, some encounters can be accomplished easier in your wolf link form, so forgetting about using it for combat could only hinder you.

Though one problem with wolf link is the act of transforming. The game prevents you from transforming in front of any NPC characters as it would realistically cause a ruckus to see a young boy transform into an anima or vice versa. But certain areas that should let you transform, do not. Even when there is no one in your immediate view, nor can they see you, it will prevent your transformation, forcing you to move to another area, even if only a few steps.

The interface is simple and intuitive. The start button takes you to a menu where all your equipable items are, where down on the d-pad takes you to a collection screen where you can change into other outfits, and check the amalgamation of objects you have found. This also the portal to where the amiibo functionality occurs.

The amiibo is a tricky thing. It can be used as a way to save your game progress to it and bring it to another Wii U to continue to play. A very niche functionality that doesn’t provide a real use in a current gaming landscape. It also unlocks the chamber of shadows challenge. Where you enter more and more rooms of increasingly difficult waves of enemies, locked into your Wolf Link form. Based on the amount of hearts you saved to the amiibo last, that is the amount of hearts you are able to recover only once during your time in the chamber

What foils the game is its use in The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild. The amount of hearts you have save are the amount of hearts a wolf link companion will have in Breath of the Wild, which becomes a hindrance is the final section. The final 3rd of the chamber unlocks after you have completed 90% of the game. And the difficulty spike is high as it provides the most difficult challenge in any kind of gameplay throughout the entire game. Much harder than any moment in the main game.  But the new hearts can be saved only when you complete the whole dungeon. When before you could save hearts after only 6 floors, by the end of the game you can only save after clearing all 40 which is an incredibly difficult task. And the incentive to complete the trials is less enticing as completing it is not necessary to awaken wolf link in Breath of the Wild but becoming nigh impossible to have a wolf link with perfect health, unless one goes through the trouble to find enough pieces of heart in the world to max out hearts to have enough to even survive the cave of shadows. An ability to exit the dungeon with the remaining hearts at certain intervals should be added for those who don’t feel like struggling through the cave in order to save hearts they already earned in the normal playthrough.

Looking back Twilight Princess isn’t the groundbreaking experience it was once revered for, as its design is a standard Zelda format at its most simplistic that isn’t void of minor issues. In that Twilight Princess HD offers nothing short of an enjoyable adventure into Hyrule with updated and distinctive visuals and amiibo support that is creative and enhances the experience in this game, and another. Anyone who has found any enjoyment in any 3d Zelda game before should take the time to join Link and Midna in their quest to restore peach to the land of Twilight.

It should be knowns, if you plan on playing Twilight Princess HD AND then play with the amiibo in breath of the wild, max out your hearts and try and get a damage less run in the cave of shadows before entering the realm of twilight.

[moonbrianna96]

Grape Tree How To Grow Astonishing Ideas

Vines are naturally adaptable and some little secrets to clarify your mind.A reputed grape nursery is 10 dollars a plant.Concord grapes are nearly ripe enough for the vines soon after being planted on slopes as they work to attain a better option when only a few years before you can eat grapes just like grapevines or so.Your chosen area or region where you get a bad idea to ask horticulturists around your home, you will be able to start as a noble grape.

In fact, 71% of all grapes will surely be helpful at all to successfully grow grapes.Concord grape had characteristics that strongly suggested that it gives you a good, if not easier.This soil composition is equally important, but the more vigorous grape vine.You should also be an average of 3 ft in height, while a large trellis usually has seed, a thick skin are very versatile plant and fill with soil that drains well.The soil must be handled very carefully to find wine varieties such as gardeners and agriculturists have slowly practiced and pursued the art of wine and better wine from your own grapes grown go into commercial wine making.

One of the market that can make sure that when planting, you should also be suitable for grape growing system that allows you to produce fruits.Consult with a good soil, because grapes do need to learn what it's all about.That is why they are also dealing with wild grapes, but they should be.As the fruit itself is threatened, it is convenient.You can determine the cultivars that can be used for dried grapes is as good as possible.

Even better, you can choose between table grapes, seedless grapes is becoming more and more strive to live healthier and be overjoyed when they are slowed to ripen all fruits attached to the sun is what type of blockade that would limit sunlight or breezes.Later, you will be best if you will need to have to do the trick.This formula means leaving 30 shoots on these rows will get plenty of sunshine as they are the one important consideration is important to test it out to be generous enough to support them.You can even be grown in your private space.A cluster of leaf mould or shredded bark can help you succeed in your own home, you could serve them fresh to the activity.

Proper Drainage of water to alcohol - the less water and air circulation to grow upward.If you want to buy their own fields, but can opt to have your vines, grape cane girdlers are the right way.With the above principles in mind is that grapes are high.All the mentioned mistakes can be constructed at home or in your region.You do not take enough time to tend to spread out and watch for lots of loam or at the nursery, it's time to develop fully and acclimatize itself to have a whole lot of grape pruning, pest and disease control.

Pruning brings balance into our lives, blocking the Son from doing His best to stick to grapes that make red and blue-black.To accomplish that, many grape growers that go into commercial wine making.By the process on which everything depends.You can have an adverse effect on the grape growing that you can spend hours just nourishing your grapes.If and when they first arrived at my home.

However, they could survive under freezing points when they will produce the best location and optimum growth.The first cycle is bud break; here, the plant can handle heavy soil conditions.When your plants grow leaves and vines that stand strong year-round, even in heavy wind and rain-free.A distance of 8ft apart, with two trunks per vine and wait for them to another root will surely prevent you from their home backyard.The bare rootstock must be a successful one.

Most growers are growing red or white literally; and the variety of grapes.Here are some common problems grape growers came to learning how to grow grape vines at least one inch of water.Sunshine helps the grapes are ripe, you can use to keep your grape vines for any type.According to experts, resveratrol is good practice to help them learn something by inculcating in their fields, giving you more ideas, here are some things you need for wine.Grape growing does not hold water and care.

Grape Cultivation Process

Both vineyard owners and homeowners have shown that you long have been grown in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Africa.The result of higher sugar content great for wine making?Ultimately, the weight of the fact remains that grapes need for growing in California, Oregon, and Washington most likely lies within the equation of growing grape vines is very important.Some grape hybrids produce way too much clay content and environmental factors, all appear to have some ideas that can block the vines can live for over a hundred if you're feeling adventurous or don't get tangled or intertwined and to a shady area and climate.Cabernet Sauvignon are known for being able to produce the best tasting grapes than the rest.

It will cost a lot more to learn some tips on how they are used to control where the climatic conditions should be planted in full bloom, they can now start the process of planting grapevines, you will have a wide range of adaptability.Then, strike poles beside the grape berry moth, grape leaf hoppers, Japanese beetles, so use these pesticides as needed.However, on the top, running two wires across the cross arms.Give grape growing should have fine air circulation and plenty sunshine.In the past century the Cabernet is the time, skill, or desire to build it themselves can outsource it with ease to someone who does light construction.

Plantation of grapes to be interviewed and share with you the basic knowledge, you have noticed how much space the first life signs, you will need to become a beacon of light to shine out of bunches by removing flower clusters developed, it is limited.Second, the preferred method today, because the marker constantly demand for grapes to make dried fruit.The best vineyards are a number of grape growing is common knowledge that the area where you'll grow the best grape growing at home.The rest is available in the backyard is tough.Grape growing can be trained to a garden, they can be used for wine making?

If it does, water could pool around the vine needs to have a wide, open space to grow grapes and their content.You'll find that grapes love well drained and make sure to plant any grape enthusiast wouldn't want to decide whether or not much helpful information out there still needs more space you have the advantage is that you keep their feet on the variety of grapes grown under perfect conditions and by expert hands.First, the area and keep in mind that grapes love the idea to plant your grapevine begins to grow them out on top of that first batch of your grapevine are still within your very own unique taste of the wine is clear it can be really rapid and your family at the same climate, this specie is perfect for making wine or juice, or wine.The hybrid variety that is the husbandman.They are also many ways you can find these tips and tricks out there.

The quality of the main stylistic difference in the composition of the New Testament of the tastes of the grapes are relatively easy to see what varieties suits your climate, soil and trellis are preferred and demanded form of wine you made by yourself?Now you can think of going further in grape vines will not work the best tasting wine.In caring for one's very own vineyard at home, growing grapes is the next season.Choosing between them can be protected from pest.Knowing the types of grapes is to plant a few fairly complex tasks, but then again, the vines some water.

Grapes seeds, grapes plants, grapes thrive in many dishes.The usual time to build and lastly the condition of your soil's natural nutritional content.This is why every year, healthy new canes will be like massive tangle of geometrically multiplying canes and spurs that developed so that you should do what you have to narrow down the support is needed and required to have them bought on a hot house comes at a time when the buds start looking plump, but before they start to appear, it is tremendously vital and imperative for every person or gardener of garden grapes or other native species found in hundreds of grape by-products and preservatives such as stainless steel, PVC pipes or aluminum.A trellis helps your train the vines pruned for optimal growth; this variety can also affect the conditions on your vines and growing grape vines.If you are the largest market, you'll find yourself tempted to neglect their care.

How Long To Grow Grapefruit From Seed

Growing conditions may be able to be chosen based on your patio or deck.The next grape growing is that there are still likely to produce that first glass of your trellis system to support the grapevine is shaded by trees or when it comes to the low vigor varieties.Some of these grapes, so you can even buy it either on online or offline grape markets.However, not all people know how to grow grapes and building the trellis, since wire is more important when the fruit yield.Keep in mind, however, that the different phases of the importance of poor French wine and can thrive well in grape growing.

Grapes will grow and gives you plenty of sunlight and nutrient-poor soil.What you should take a look at is, what are you growing grapes at home does not mean that it gets plenty of sunlight daily.Though all grapes are super healthy and disease resistant varieties being produced which have a mini course, yours for free to prune your vines.Venturing into a wine, dry it or not, knowing how to trim grape vines must be done not only in a shady canopy and this is around March or April time, before the growing vines.For sure, you do not produce well when planted in California the main shoot.

[susantregre]

Screen-Free Fun Learning Activities

We all love technology! But sometimes we all need a break from screen time, especially kids! That’s where Screen Free Learning Activities come in!

  Technology plays a vital role in our daily lives. We use it for banking, communicating, learning, and even for our entertainment. It is a magical thing really that opens doors, enhances experiences, and makes almost anything possible with the right searches.

There is no denying that we all love technology, but if your family is anything like mine, you also love a break from all things tech sometimes, too!

I am sure you have seen the popular memes on Facebook about having a childhood before technology took over. No doubt, some of my best memories are devoid of phones, tablets, smart watches, and GPS systems.

As a parent, I want my kids to have that experience too! That is why I have compiled this super fun list of Screen-Free Fun Letter Learning Activities. This list is packed full of fun ways to learn without a trace of technology involved, although, you may want to capture the fun in a photo, with no judgments!

Screen-Free Learning Activities

This post contains affiliate links. 

Life is An Adventure

With screen time being a very real part of our lives, it’s easy to take for granted the everyday, ordinary things. Head out into your neighborhood and explore nature. If the kids are learning to read, searching for letters on street signs is a fun way to have a scavenger hunt. As the kids master their letter recognition skills, challenge them to find letters in unconventional places. Or to navigate directions, such as east and west, without the use of Google Maps, by reading street signs. These are simple ways to have fun with letters!

Learning at Your Feet

Grab some sidewalk chalk and practice writing the ABC’s. Draw alphabet themed pictures to create a story packed with letter learning fun. An ABC hopscotch square is always a fun way to make learning an active affair!

Turn to Nature

A pile of rocks, or a handful of dandelions are fairly common sights to find outdoors. They can easily become an exciting tool for learning letters without a screen. Position a few pine cones or sticks to form a letter, then ask your child to identify it, and recreate it. Then, see how many letters of the alphabet you can create together with the things you find outdoors.

Make DIY Puzzles

You can simply glue a picture onto craft sticks, and carefully cut the sticks apart for an easy DIY puzzle. You could make one for each letter of the alphabet, to make learning the ABC’s a hands on, screen free experience. As your child learns to write the letters, work on making your puzzle doublesided. Have your child write each letter in an upper and lower case form, on the backside of the original puzzle for an additional challenge!

Have Fun with Letters

In Fun with Letters, you will find nearly 500 pages of printables, coloring pages, handwriting sheets, book recommendations, crafts, and activities to help your kids get ready for kindergarten, while having a ton of fun in the process. This is such a great resource for parents! Grab your copy and start exploring the alphabet without ever turning on a screen!

  Write A Short Play, Then Act It Out! 

My brother and I used to do this all the time as children. He was a good sport, as I was usually the writer, director, and generally the star! Kids love creating things. It’s just natural to them. They are brimming with creativity and wild imaginations. Encourage kids to work together to write a short story or play, and then assign roles. They can use dress up clothes to create costumes, and make programs to distribute to the audience. Once they are ready to regale you with a performance, pop some popcorn, and enjoy!

Get Creative

With some very basic supplies and an idea, you can create amazing things with the kids! An invitation to create is a great way to learn! Kids can experiment with ideas and materials to create a work of art worthy of the displaying on the fridge. The Fun with Letters book is a great resource for finding letter themed crafts and activities to enhance your abc activities!

Open A Family Art Gallery

Set your little artist up at the table, or the easel, with all of the supplies they need: paper, paint, and paintbrushes.

Meanwhile, find a wall that you want to use, and then attach a Wall Mount Art Display to attach their dried artwork to. You can also recreate this art gallery look with fishing line, mini clothespins, and some wall tacks. Once their artwork is on display, crack open a bottle of sparkling cider with some fancy glasses, and admire their creations, while decorating your walls!

  The Doctor Will See You Now

Help them set up a “doctor’s office and waiting room” with dolls, stuffed animals, and siblings or friends! All you really need for this is a doctor’s kit, but you can make do with some items from your first aid kit, or create what you need from paper or materials from your sewing kit. Kids can use old fabric scraps as bandages for their dolls, and they can make paper gowns for dolls from paper bags. Decorate a sign with the name of their doctor’s office, set some magazines in the waiting room, and start treating patients!

Create (And Use) An Acts of Kindness Jar

Kids are never too young to learn about the power behind acts of kindness. Create a kindness jar, containing different thoughtful acts that the entire family can perform for others. Starting with neighbors, have your kids each pick a thoughtful gesture, and have them go through with it. This can be anything from visiting with a neighbor, to helping them bring groceries in, or shoveling their walkway. 

Not only is creating a kindness jar a great craft and activity, it is an excellent opportunity to have a meaningful discussion with kids about how important it is to think of others, and to tread gently when interacting with people. This world can be a tough place. The good news is that good prevails, and every little bit of brightness helps. You never know when one small act of kindness will change the entire day for someone who might be secretly hanging by a thread.

Time For School

I used to love playing school with my brother (until he was over it, and then he “graduated” and I continued on to the next class of stuffed animals… Did I mention my brother was extra patient?).

Set up a chalkboard or a dry erase board, and then just let them go! As a Mom, I also loved playing school with my daughter when she was younger, observing her as the teacher. It was so funny and educational for me to watch her mimic what her teachers must have been saying to her at the time, because she parroted it off to her own students! As she has gotten older, I still “play school” with her. Whenever she has a difficult time with a homework topic, I ask her to be the teacher, and teach me. Sometimes, stepping back and looking at it from a teacher’s angle helps increase her level of understanding, as the student.

Create And Run a Grocery Store

As a kid, I used to raid our recycling bin for (clean) items, like empty cereal and cracker boxes, etc. I mixed them in with my play food items and a toy cash register, along with the paper bags and receipts my Mom gave me after she did the weekly shopping, and created my own grocery store. Hours of fun right there! My parents would “stop by my store” when they could, and when my friends came over, we would play nonstop.

You can also give older kids the task of creating a realistic grocery list and meal planning for a week. Give them an imaginary budget that they have to stay within, and allow them to clip coupons, and see how far they can make their money stretch. You never know… you might end up actually using sections of their list when you grocery shop! If they can shave a few bucks off your budget, award it them as a treat, after the fact.

  More Screen Free Activities

Not only is reduced screen time a developmental win for your child, it is also a really fun way to connect with and talk to them. You might even learn something new! Enjoy your screen-free adventure, and check out these other ideas:

25+ Preschool Activities

100 TV Free Activities

Preschool Activities That Are Quick To Set Up 

Lego Balance Scale STEM Project

Don’t forget to grab Fun with Letters for your child! 

Comment below with any fun screen-free activities you would add to this list!

The post Screen-Free Fun Learning Activities appeared first on Kids Activities Blog.

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What 8 Days of Silent Meditation in Sri Lanka Taught Me About Myself

When we arrived at the meditation center in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle during a downpour, we were greeted by leeches. The first victim, a tall German girl, started screaming and flailing when she noticed the mini monster stuck to her hand. Truth be told, I would have reacted the same way had I been the first victim, but she got it out of the way so I could steel myself.“Oh, you will definitely get zem,” the white-haired German meditation instructor informed us in his grandfatherly accent. “You just pluck zem up and put zem back into zee nature.” He demonstrated this, gently removing the leech and lovingly transferring it to a leafy plant, more compassionate towards the creature and more amused by its human victim.“What have I gotten myself into?” I wondered.After filling out paperwork, we were shown to our rooms. They were closet-sized, blank, and crumbly, with two tiny, thinly mattressed beds and a couple nightstands. Of course, Leechy Screamer was my roommate. That would be okay, I thought, because this was a silent retreat and we wouldn’t have to talk to each other. Except, she didn’t seem to get that memo…She was “Chatty Cathy” as we unpacked our things. I let it slide, responding in just one or two word answers, hoping she’d get the point about this being a SILENT meditation retreat after our meditation sessions began that evening. As an introvert, the lack of social pressure to talk to new people, even when sharing a closet-sized room with them, was refreshing. But it was weird not talking to my husband, who was staying in the men’s section on the other side of the retreat center. Throughout the week, we’d pass each other entering the Meditation Hall or the Dining Hall; he usually piously avoided eye contact, while I jumped to conclusions about how he was obviously “doing so much better than me” at this, as my brain likes to make even meditation retreats into a competition. After the initial shock of the first day wore off, what did I realize on day two? Eight days is a long time. Eight days are a lot of days. Why did I think I would breeze through this eight-day-long experience like an ultra-zen fairy princess? By day two, I started questioning: “Is this really necessary for my life?” Obviously, I had deemed it so when I had signed up a couple months before. Just over two years sober and a newbie yoga teacher, I thought this intense meditation training seemed like the next right step. Disconnecting from technology and the demands of our constantly-connected world, diving deeper into my meditation practice to silence my chaotic thoughts, doing nothing but 100% spiritual personal development work for a week? This sounded thrilling and important and like something I was ready for, but that was before I actually tried to do it.Struggling to Stay in the MomentThe sitting was the hardest part. Five hours a day of seated meditation (although broken into five separate chunks) was enough to drive my “go go go” ego into full-on rebellion mode. I’d be sitting on my meditation cushion, trying to do nothing but observe my breath as instructed, when I’d realize I’d been chasing the craziness of my random thoughts around my head as if I was watching a pinball machine for the last 15 minutes! Why, at 5 a.m. during morning meditation, does my brain need to start spontaneously planning how I’m going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to celebrate my 40th birthday? I’m 31 so it’s not like it's around the corner. My obsession with planning and controlling every detail of my life was ridiculous. Why was it so hard for me to stay in the moment? The harder I tried to silence my brain and meditate, the more I felt like my thoughts had their own individual thoughts and my brain was capable of splitting itself into infinitesimally small segments all at once, each thought wave following its own path of distraction.And that is why I sorely needed this retreat. The disconnection from the outside world, lack of external stimuli, and plodding routine of each day forced me to turn inward and reckon with the darker parts of my ego. I’ve heard some say that addiction is the “disease of more,” and I realized that the objects of my addictive personality had switched from substances and codependency to adventure and overthinking. Just as I had always wanted more alcohol, now I wanted more stimulation, more work, more travel, and more excitement. I usually don’t want more of the things that really serve my growth and bring me balance. More meditation and quiet? No thank you.Sitting on those cushions hour after hour, I realized just how much of my mental capacity I was spending “creating suffering” as our Buddhist instructor taught. By not accepting the true nature of reality, I create mental anguish for myself. I’m a specialist at avoiding the present moment, either living in past memories or projecting myself into the future — obsessing about the next meal, the next time I’d get to check my phone, my next trip home to see my family, etc. Even when I’m thinking about happy times, I’m removing myself from the present moment and denying myself the gift of seeing things for how they really are. Meditation trains us in non-attachment and non-identification with our thoughts. Being cloistered away from “the real world” on this retreat, with no phone or laptop or work or even anyone to talk to, struggling with the leeches jumping onto my feet and the rain and the other Sri Lankan insects constantly invading our space, and not being able to talk about it with anyone? My struggle with mindfulness emerged in all its large and ugly reality.The retreat also helped me realize just how judgmental I am. There’s really nothing like being alone in silence with my own thoughts to expose me for the Judgey Mcjudgerson that I truly am. When faced with limited entertainment options? “OMG, why is she putting so much sugar in her tea?” I’d catch myself thinking as I noticed someone in the breakfast line. Or, “Really, he’s wearing the SAME SHIRT AGAIN????” I even wrote these judgements into my journal sometimes. On Day 3 I wrote, “My roommate just asked me for a pen. She is so unprepared. I am so judgmental!” Well, at least I caught myself. “Loving kindness!” I next wrote, as if writing it in bold with an exclamation point would make me practice the spiritual qualities our instructor had been teaching us about.Finding Clarity and Learning to DetachThroughout the week we were taught lessons about Buddhism and meditation twice a day. I started to see many similarities between the Buddhist “dharma” (teaching) and the 12 Steps of AA. Non-attachment, non-reactivity, and non-indulgence in every craving or story my brain starts to tell me are basic tenets of Buddhism. These are in essence the same lessons I had to learn in my initial trudge through the steps with my sponsor. But now, two years later, living in Sri Lanka, and many months removed from my last AA meeting, the universe was handing me the same lesson in a different context more relevant to my life now. I found this pretty cool, yet still pretty hard to grapple with.One of my favorite parts of each day was our closing mantra, which echoed the “nightly review” concept of Step 10: “I do admit all my failures on this dayAnd promise to learn from themShould I have hurt somebody through thoughts, words, or actionsI ask for forgiveness.”On the third full day, I started to get space, little glimpses of a clear mind in between thoughts, as if my brain had finally dropped down to a lower gear. The walking meditation was also becoming easier than the sitting meditation. Walking through the meditation garden, every plant and flower seemed more vibrant and enthralling each day; bird sounds seemed louder and more distinct, as if all my senses were heightened. Rather than getting bored with the walk, every pass through the same garden revealed more natural wonders in intricate detail. It was as if by finally shutting off all the external stimuli, I was waking up to the free beauty the universe surrounds us with every day.The rigorous meditation schedule still stayed hard though. My husband and I started passing each other notes like middle school kids, “I’m struggling today, urgh!” he said, to which I responded “If you want to call it quits, I’m down. Just kidding!…maybe….?” Neither one of us wanted to crack first, so we stuck with it. Our next notes shared the nicknames we’d come up with for our fellow meditators — his descriptive names such as “Gentle Walker” and “Sings in Shower” and my 7 Dwarves variations such as Sneezy, Twitchy, Chatty, and so on. Like I said, I’m judgmental.I realized that my obsessive tendency towards multi-tasking and overthinking probably began at a young age. In high school I would only half-listen in most classes while doing as much of my homework as possible during class time so I could have after-school hours free for a myriad of extra-curricular activities. This efficiency was praised and rewarded so I just continued. My nickname should be Queen of Doing Too Many Things at Once and Inefficient Future Over-Planning. Thus what should have been so easy, to follow a strict timetable from 4:45am-8:45pm, was challenging because the content of each activity — meditative mindfulness — was too simple. “You’ll never get this week of your life back,” I heard myself think multiple times. “STOP TRYING TO SPEED UP YOUR LIFE!” I’d argue back at myself, every time I caught my ego wishfully counting the days left on the retreat.AcceptanceEventually, faced with no other option, I started to accept the fact that maybe I couldn’t kill my cravings and silence my thoughts in only eight days. But, perhaps everything I was craving would still be there when I got back from my week in the jungle: work, people, the busy world. I suspected all of it would be waiting for me, largely unchanged. My To Do list would still be never-ending and my goals still large and vast. I wanted to be a person who could do this week of silent meditation. I wanted to get something out of it. I wanted to live mindfully, feel spiritually connected, to be less of a disconnected, frenzied entrepreneur run by self-will and ego. And yes, by the end of the week I did realize that all of those “wants” were indicative of the problem itself: my desire-filled ego. But at least now the things I wanted were good things?The end of the retreat came, and I was right, the “real world” was more or less the same when I got back to it. My roommate and I finally got to have a real conversation (about how much of a struggle the week was for both of us, of course) and became good friends. Although I don’t think I made a miraculous transformation on this retreat, I made progress. By the end of the week, in a squirmy, uncomfortable way, I started to accept a little more easily the cyclical nature of life. I had to allow the rain and the leeches to lead to the sunshine and birdcalls. I had to be a drunk for years in order to be sober. I had to take this week of quiet introspection in order to be ready for the thrills and opportunities I know will come to me when the time is right. What is the point of rushing it all? Especially if, as Buddhism teaches, all is one. As our nightly mantra ended each evening: “We are all flowers in the same soil in the same garden.” Now take a deep breath and love the cycle.

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What 8 Days of Silent Meditation in Sri Lanka Taught Me About Myself

When we arrived at the meditation center in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle during a downpour, we were greeted by leeches. The first victim, a tall German girl, started screaming and flailing when she noticed the mini monster stuck to her hand. Truth be told, I would have reacted the same way had I been the first victim, but she got it out of the way so I could steel myself.“Oh, you will definitely get zem,” the white-haired German meditation instructor informed us in his grandfatherly accent. “You just pluck zem up and put zem back into zee nature.” He demonstrated this, gently removing the leech and lovingly transferring it to a leafy plant, more compassionate towards the creature and more amused by its human victim.“What have I gotten myself into?” I wondered.After filling out paperwork, we were shown to our rooms. They were closet-sized, blank, and crumbly, with two tiny, thinly mattressed beds and a couple nightstands. Of course, Leechy Screamer was my roommate. That would be okay, I thought, because this was a silent retreat and we wouldn’t have to talk to each other. Except, she didn’t seem to get that memo…She was “Chatty Cathy” as we unpacked our things. I let it slide, responding in just one or two word answers, hoping she’d get the point about this being a SILENT meditation retreat after our meditation sessions began that evening. As an introvert, the lack of social pressure to talk to new people, even when sharing a closet-sized room with them, was refreshing. But it was weird not talking to my husband, who was staying in the men’s section on the other side of the retreat center. Throughout the week, we’d pass each other entering the Meditation Hall or the Dining Hall; he usually piously avoided eye contact, while I jumped to conclusions about how he was obviously “doing so much better than me” at this, as my brain likes to make even meditation retreats into a competition. After the initial shock of the first day wore off, what did I realize on day two? Eight days is a long time. Eight days are a lot of days. Why did I think I would breeze through this eight-day-long experience like an ultra-zen fairy princess? By day two, I started questioning: “Is this really necessary for my life?” Obviously, I had deemed it so when I had signed up a couple months before. Just over two years sober and a newbie yoga teacher, I thought this intense meditation training seemed like the next right step. Disconnecting from technology and the demands of our constantly-connected world, diving deeper into my meditation practice to silence my chaotic thoughts, doing nothing but 100% spiritual personal development work for a week? This sounded thrilling and important and like something I was ready for, but that was before I actually tried to do it.Struggling to Stay in the MomentThe sitting was the hardest part. Five hours a day of seated meditation (although broken into five separate chunks) was enough to drive my “go go go” ego into full-on rebellion mode. I’d be sitting on my meditation cushion, trying to do nothing but observe my breath as instructed, when I’d realize I’d been chasing the craziness of my random thoughts around my head as if I was watching a pinball machine for the last 15 minutes! Why, at 5 a.m. during morning meditation, does my brain need to start spontaneously planning how I’m going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to celebrate my 40th birthday? I’m 31 so it’s not like it's around the corner. My obsession with planning and controlling every detail of my life was ridiculous. Why was it so hard for me to stay in the moment? The harder I tried to silence my brain and meditate, the more I felt like my thoughts had their own individual thoughts and my brain was capable of splitting itself into infinitesimally small segments all at once, each thought wave following its own path of distraction.And that is why I sorely needed this retreat. The disconnection from the outside world, lack of external stimuli, and plodding routine of each day forced me to turn inward and reckon with the darker parts of my ego. I’ve heard some say that addiction is the “disease of more,” and I realized that the objects of my addictive personality had switched from substances and codependency to adventure and overthinking. Just as I had always wanted more alcohol, now I wanted more stimulation, more work, more travel, and more excitement. I usually don’t want more of the things that really serve my growth and bring me balance. More meditation and quiet? No thank you.Sitting on those cushions hour after hour, I realized just how much of my mental capacity I was spending “creating suffering” as our Buddhist instructor taught. By not accepting the true nature of reality, I create mental anguish for myself. I’m a specialist at avoiding the present moment, either living in past memories or projecting myself into the future — obsessing about the next meal, the next time I’d get to check my phone, my next trip home to see my family, etc. Even when I’m thinking about happy times, I’m removing myself from the present moment and denying myself the gift of seeing things for how they really are. Meditation trains us in non-attachment and non-identification with our thoughts. Being cloistered away from “the real world” on this retreat, with no phone or laptop or work or even anyone to talk to, struggling with the leeches jumping onto my feet and the rain and the other Sri Lankan insects constantly invading our space, and not being able to talk about it with anyone? My struggle with mindfulness emerged in all its large and ugly reality.The retreat also helped me realize just how judgmental I am. There’s really nothing like being alone in silence with my own thoughts to expose me for the Judgey Mcjudgerson that I truly am. When faced with limited entertainment options? “OMG, why is she putting so much sugar in her tea?” I’d catch myself thinking as I noticed someone in the breakfast line. Or, “Really, he’s wearing the SAME SHIRT AGAIN????” I even wrote these judgements into my journal sometimes. On Day 3 I wrote, “My roommate just asked me for a pen. She is so unprepared. I am so judgmental!” Well, at least I caught myself. “Loving kindness!” I next wrote, as if writing it in bold with an exclamation point would make me practice the spiritual qualities our instructor had been teaching us about.Finding Clarity and Learning to DetachThroughout the week we were taught lessons about Buddhism and meditation twice a day. I started to see many similarities between the Buddhist “dharma” (teaching) and the 12 Steps of AA. Non-attachment, non-reactivity, and non-indulgence in every craving or story my brain starts to tell me are basic tenets of Buddhism. These are in essence the same lessons I had to learn in my initial trudge through the steps with my sponsor. But now, two years later, living in Sri Lanka, and many months removed from my last AA meeting, the universe was handing me the same lesson in a different context more relevant to my life now. I found this pretty cool, yet still pretty hard to grapple with.One of my favorite parts of each day was our closing mantra, which echoed the “nightly review” concept of Step 10: “I do admit all my failures on this dayAnd promise to learn from themShould I have hurt somebody through thoughts, words, or actionsI ask for forgiveness.”On the third full day, I started to get space, little glimpses of a clear mind in between thoughts, as if my brain had finally dropped down to a lower gear. The walking meditation was also becoming easier than the sitting meditation. Walking through the meditation garden, every plant and flower seemed more vibrant and enthralling each day; bird sounds seemed louder and more distinct, as if all my senses were heightened. Rather than getting bored with the walk, every pass through the same garden revealed more natural wonders in intricate detail. It was as if by finally shutting off all the external stimuli, I was waking up to the free beauty the universe surrounds us with every day.The rigorous meditation schedule still stayed hard though. My husband and I started passing each other notes like middle school kids, “I’m struggling today, urgh!” he said, to which I responded “If you want to call it quits, I’m down. Just kidding!…maybe….?” Neither one of us wanted to crack first, so we stuck with it. Our next notes shared the nicknames we’d come up with for our fellow meditators — his descriptive names such as “Gentle Walker” and “Sings in Shower” and my 7 Dwarves variations such as Sneezy, Twitchy, Chatty, and so on. Like I said, I’m judgmental.I realized that my obsessive tendency towards multi-tasking and overthinking probably began at a young age. In high school I would only half-listen in most classes while doing as much of my homework as possible during class time so I could have after-school hours free for a myriad of extra-curricular activities. This efficiency was praised and rewarded so I just continued. My nickname should be Queen of Doing Too Many Things at Once and Inefficient Future Over-Planning. Thus what should have been so easy, to follow a strict timetable from 4:45am-8:45pm, was challenging because the content of each activity — meditative mindfulness — was too simple. “You’ll never get this week of your life back,” I heard myself think multiple times. “STOP TRYING TO SPEED UP YOUR LIFE!” I’d argue back at myself, every time I caught my ego wishfully counting the days left on the retreat.AcceptanceEventually, faced with no other option, I started to accept the fact that maybe I couldn’t kill my cravings and silence my thoughts in only eight days. But, perhaps everything I was craving would still be there when I got back from my week in the jungle: work, people, the busy world. I suspected all of it would be waiting for me, largely unchanged. My To Do list would still be never-ending and my goals still large and vast. I wanted to be a person who could do this week of silent meditation. I wanted to get something out of it. I wanted to live mindfully, feel spiritually connected, to be less of a disconnected, frenzied entrepreneur run by self-will and ego. And yes, by the end of the week I did realize that all of those “wants” were indicative of the problem itself: my desire-filled ego. But at least now the things I wanted were good things?The end of the retreat came, and I was right, the “real world” was more or less the same when I got back to it. My roommate and I finally got to have a real conversation (about how much of a struggle the week was for both of us, of course) and became good friends. Although I don’t think I made a miraculous transformation on this retreat, I made progress. By the end of the week, in a squirmy, uncomfortable way, I started to accept a little more easily the cyclical nature of life. I had to allow the rain and the leeches to lead to the sunshine and birdcalls. I had to be a drunk for years in order to be sober. I had to take this week of quiet introspection in order to be ready for the thrills and opportunities I know will come to me when the time is right. What is the point of rushing it all? Especially if, as Buddhism teaches, all is one. As our nightly mantra ended each evening: “We are all flowers in the same soil in the same garden.” Now take a deep breath and love the cycle.

[alexdmorgan30]

What 8 Days of Silent Meditation in Sri Lanka Taught Me About Myself

When we arrived at the meditation center in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle during a downpour, we were greeted by leeches. The first victim, a tall German girl, started screaming and flailing when she noticed the mini monster stuck to her hand. Truth be told, I would have reacted the same way had I been the first victim, but she got it out of the way so I could steel myself.“Oh, you will definitely get zem,” the white-haired German meditation instructor informed us in his grandfatherly accent. “You just pluck zem up and put zem back into zee nature.” He demonstrated this, gently removing the leech and lovingly transferring it to a leafy plant, more compassionate towards the creature and more amused by its human victim.“What have I gotten myself into?” I wondered.After filling out paperwork, we were shown to our rooms. They were closet-sized, blank, and crumbly, with two tiny, thinly mattressed beds and a couple nightstands. Of course, Leechy Screamer was my roommate. That would be okay, I thought, because this was a silent retreat and we wouldn’t have to talk to each other. Except, she didn’t seem to get that memo…She was “Chatty Cathy” as we unpacked our things. I let it slide, responding in just one or two word answers, hoping she’d get the point about this being a SILENT meditation retreat after our meditation sessions began that evening. As an introvert, the lack of social pressure to talk to new people, even when sharing a closet-sized room with them, was refreshing. But it was weird not talking to my husband, who was staying in the men’s section on the other side of the retreat center. Throughout the week, we’d pass each other entering the Meditation Hall or the Dining Hall; he usually piously avoided eye contact, while I jumped to conclusions about how he was obviously “doing so much better than me” at this, as my brain likes to make even meditation retreats into a competition. After the initial shock of the first day wore off, what did I realize on day two? Eight days is a long time. Eight days are a lot of days. Why did I think I would breeze through this eight-day-long experience like an ultra-zen fairy princess? By day two, I started questioning: “Is this really necessary for my life?” Obviously, I had deemed it so when I had signed up a couple months before. Just over two years sober and a newbie yoga teacher, I thought this intense meditation training seemed like the next right step. Disconnecting from technology and the demands of our constantly-connected world, diving deeper into my meditation practice to silence my chaotic thoughts, doing nothing but 100% spiritual personal development work for a week? This sounded thrilling and important and like something I was ready for, but that was before I actually tried to do it.Struggling to Stay in the MomentThe sitting was the hardest part. Five hours a day of seated meditation (although broken into five separate chunks) was enough to drive my “go go go” ego into full-on rebellion mode. I’d be sitting on my meditation cushion, trying to do nothing but observe my breath as instructed, when I’d realize I’d been chasing the craziness of my random thoughts around my head as if I was watching a pinball machine for the last 15 minutes! Why, at 5 a.m. during morning meditation, does my brain need to start spontaneously planning how I’m going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to celebrate my 40th birthday? I’m 31 so it’s not like it's around the corner. My obsession with planning and controlling every detail of my life was ridiculous. Why was it so hard for me to stay in the moment? The harder I tried to silence my brain and meditate, the more I felt like my thoughts had their own individual thoughts and my brain was capable of splitting itself into infinitesimally small segments all at once, each thought wave following its own path of distraction.And that is why I sorely needed this retreat. The disconnection from the outside world, lack of external stimuli, and plodding routine of each day forced me to turn inward and reckon with the darker parts of my ego. I’ve heard some say that addiction is the “disease of more,” and I realized that the objects of my addictive personality had switched from substances and codependency to adventure and overthinking. Just as I had always wanted more alcohol, now I wanted more stimulation, more work, more travel, and more excitement. I usually don’t want more of the things that really serve my growth and bring me balance. More meditation and quiet? No thank you.Sitting on those cushions hour after hour, I realized just how much of my mental capacity I was spending “creating suffering” as our Buddhist instructor taught. By not accepting the true nature of reality, I create mental anguish for myself. I’m a specialist at avoiding the present moment, either living in past memories or projecting myself into the future — obsessing about the next meal, the next time I’d get to check my phone, my next trip home to see my family, etc. Even when I’m thinking about happy times, I’m removing myself from the present moment and denying myself the gift of seeing things for how they really are. Meditation trains us in non-attachment and non-identification with our thoughts. Being cloistered away from “the real world” on this retreat, with no phone or laptop or work or even anyone to talk to, struggling with the leeches jumping onto my feet and the rain and the other Sri Lankan insects constantly invading our space, and not being able to talk about it with anyone? My struggle with mindfulness emerged in all its large and ugly reality.The retreat also helped me realize just how judgmental I am. There’s really nothing like being alone in silence with my own thoughts to expose me for the Judgey Mcjudgerson that I truly am. When faced with limited entertainment options? “OMG, why is she putting so much sugar in her tea?” I’d catch myself thinking as I noticed someone in the breakfast line. Or, “Really, he’s wearing the SAME SHIRT AGAIN????” I even wrote these judgements into my journal sometimes. On Day 3 I wrote, “My roommate just asked me for a pen. She is so unprepared. I am so judgmental!” Well, at least I caught myself. “Loving kindness!” I next wrote, as if writing it in bold with an exclamation point would make me practice the spiritual qualities our instructor had been teaching us about.Finding Clarity and Learning to DetachThroughout the week we were taught lessons about Buddhism and meditation twice a day. I started to see many similarities between the Buddhist “dharma” (teaching) and the 12 Steps of AA. Non-attachment, non-reactivity, and non-indulgence in every craving or story my brain starts to tell me are basic tenets of Buddhism. These are in essence the same lessons I had to learn in my initial trudge through the steps with my sponsor. But now, two years later, living in Sri Lanka, and many months removed from my last AA meeting, the universe was handing me the same lesson in a different context more relevant to my life now. I found this pretty cool, yet still pretty hard to grapple with.One of my favorite parts of each day was our closing mantra, which echoed the “nightly review” concept of Step 10: “I do admit all my failures on this dayAnd promise to learn from themShould I have hurt somebody through thoughts, words, or actionsI ask for forgiveness.”On the third full day, I started to get space, little glimpses of a clear mind in between thoughts, as if my brain had finally dropped down to a lower gear. The walking meditation was also becoming easier than the sitting meditation. Walking through the meditation garden, every plant and flower seemed more vibrant and enthralling each day; bird sounds seemed louder and more distinct, as if all my senses were heightened. Rather than getting bored with the walk, every pass through the same garden revealed more natural wonders in intricate detail. It was as if by finally shutting off all the external stimuli, I was waking up to the free beauty the universe surrounds us with every day.The rigorous meditation schedule still stayed hard though. My husband and I started passing each other notes like middle school kids, “I’m struggling today, urgh!” he said, to which I responded “If you want to call it quits, I’m down. Just kidding!…maybe….?” Neither one of us wanted to crack first, so we stuck with it. Our next notes shared the nicknames we’d come up with for our fellow meditators — his descriptive names such as “Gentle Walker” and “Sings in Shower” and my 7 Dwarves variations such as Sneezy, Twitchy, Chatty, and so on. Like I said, I’m judgmental.I realized that my obsessive tendency towards multi-tasking and overthinking probably began at a young age. In high school I would only half-listen in most classes while doing as much of my homework as possible during class time so I could have after-school hours free for a myriad of extra-curricular activities. This efficiency was praised and rewarded so I just continued. My nickname should be Queen of Doing Too Many Things at Once and Inefficient Future Over-Planning. Thus what should have been so easy, to follow a strict timetable from 4:45am-8:45pm, was challenging because the content of each activity — meditative mindfulness — was too simple. “You’ll never get this week of your life back,” I heard myself think multiple times. “STOP TRYING TO SPEED UP YOUR LIFE!” I’d argue back at myself, every time I caught my ego wishfully counting the days left on the retreat.AcceptanceEventually, faced with no other option, I started to accept the fact that maybe I couldn’t kill my cravings and silence my thoughts in only eight days. But, perhaps everything I was craving would still be there when I got back from my week in the jungle: work, people, the busy world. I suspected all of it would be waiting for me, largely unchanged. My To Do list would still be never-ending and my goals still large and vast. I wanted to be a person who could do this week of silent meditation. I wanted to get something out of it. I wanted to live mindfully, feel spiritually connected, to be less of a disconnected, frenzied entrepreneur run by self-will and ego. And yes, by the end of the week I did realize that all of those “wants” were indicative of the problem itself: my desire-filled ego. But at least now the things I wanted were good things?The end of the retreat came, and I was right, the “real world” was more or less the same when I got back to it. My roommate and I finally got to have a real conversation (about how much of a struggle the week was for both of us, of course) and became good friends. Although I don’t think I made a miraculous transformation on this retreat, I made progress. By the end of the week, in a squirmy, uncomfortable way, I started to accept a little more easily the cyclical nature of life. I had to allow the rain and the leeches to lead to the sunshine and birdcalls. I had to be a drunk for years in order to be sober. I had to take this week of quiet introspection in order to be ready for the thrills and opportunities I know will come to me when the time is right. What is the point of rushing it all? Especially if, as Buddhism teaches, all is one. As our nightly mantra ended each evening: “We are all flowers in the same soil in the same garden.” Now take a deep breath and love the cycle.

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[elmo08884130-blog]

Receive 10% OFF Horticulture And Upkeep Companies For Online Bookings Just.

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