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lostinfic · 5 years

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Summary: She writes for magazines about luxurious resorts in exotic places and five-star hotels in glamorous cities. He’s photographed devastated war zones, refugee camps and child soldiers. For both of them travel is an escape, but he’s had enough of this grim reality, and she’s had enough of this disconnected fantasy. Perhaps together they can find something in between, something real, and stop running from themselves. Each season, a new destination and a chance to grow closer.

Pairing: Alec Hardy x Hannah Baxter Rating: Teen (for now) Word count: 2.3k

Ao3 | Gifset

Hardy woke up gasping for breath. The room spun above him. The pillow was damp under his cheek. He squeezed his eyes shut and held his breath until his heart rate slowed down.

The city shone through the curtain-less window. 3:16 blinked on his alarm clock.

He turned on every lamp in his tiny flat, filled the empty space with light. He scrubbed a hand down his face and prepared a cup of tea. As the computer whirred to life, a knot formed in his stomach.

Nightmares were nothing new for him, but they harassed him more frequently since he’d been tasked with selecting his favourite photos for a retrospective exhibition of his work. For twenty years he’d roamed the world with his camera, documenting the best and worst of humanity. Mostly the worst. From war zones to refugee camps, from barren deserts to overpopulated slums. Shining a light on those forgotten and left behind. Twenty years of anonymous faces. Twenty years of people he’d promised to help staring back at him on his computer screen.

Had his work really made a difference?

He clicked on a folder labelled “Syria 2014”. Thumbnail pictures popped up one by one. He’d never accustomed to this jarring feeling: looking at devastated places from the safety of his flat. His brain couldn’t reconcile the vivid memory of fear gripping his guts and chemicals burning his lungs with his quiet surroundings. Here, only the rattle of a too-close commuter train track and one nosey neighbour bothered him. But his brain sought hidden dangers, pushed warnings through his blood.

Tess would have helped him pick the photos, he thought. She’d once been his editor. She’d encouraged and admired his work until his commitment to it drove her into another man’s arms.

Just like this flat, the separation from Tess was meant to be a temporary situation. But three years had passed and now the divorce papers rested in their sealed envelope on the corner of his desk. He wasn’t sure which of the divorce papers or his old photos were the hardest to look at. The children and women he’d failed to help properly or the woman and child he’d failed to make happy.

He opened another folder of pictures, these ones from Tunisia in 2010, during the Arab Spring. An intense time, exhilarating. Still on his chair, he felt the protesters pushing against his body, carrying him like waves. He felt their thirst for freedom, the shift in the balance of power.

He selected a photo of a passionate young woman, shouting her heart out against the regime. Her eyes glistened with tears, her hands held high in peace signs. Red smoke surrounded her like a divine aura. In the next shot, a soldier punched her in the stomach. Hardy’s first instinct had been to take the photo. Thankfully, a young man came to her rescue. Hardy scrolled farther down the folder to another picture of the same young woman, a month later. In the crowd of protesters, she and the young man who helped her are exchanging wedding vows. He wondered what happened to them. He wondered what happened to their hopeful spirits.

Hardy slipped a hand under his grey t-shirt and touched the fresh scar on his chest.

Maybe this retrospective exhibition of his work was a second chance. An opportunity to atone for leaving these people behind.

The exhibition was still months away, in autumn, during a World Press Photo conference. Until then, he’d have to live with the nightmares.

His computer pinged with a new email notification. His eyebrows rose when he saw the sender: Ellie Miller.

I’m sorry to reach out to you like this, out of the blue. I know I haven’t been in touch, but we need your help.

Maybe you’ve heard, I’ve moved to Indonesia. There’s an island here, Pulau Kesuma, and there’s something really wrong going on. Foreign investors seized a huge part of the land to build a hotel, the Mahal Kita, and it’s been having a terrible effect on the local people and nature. I’m sure they must have done the same in other countries too.

I tried to reach out to my former colleagues at BBC World but it’s a small island and they’re all very busy. What we need is a photographer to show the destruction.

Give me a shout if you’re available and I’ll tell you more.

Hardy’s doctor had warned him against stressful work, but not helping people in need stressed him out more than throwing himself in the middle of a conflict. He replied to Ellie right away.

Hannah signed on the dotted line and returned the contract to her editor, Duncan. In exchange, he handed her a plane ticket to Pulau Kesuma and the necessary documents to complete her assignment for Elite Travelers magazine.

“The Mahal Kita Eco-resort & Spa,” Hannah read out loud. “Eco-resort? Didn’t you say ecotourism is a load of bullshit?”

“It is. That’s not the part I’m interested in: this island was closed to the tourism industry before now, at least not our kind of tourism. Smelly backpackers could go all they wanted and sleep in a goat pen.”

“How come it’s opened now?” she asked.

“There was no point in keeping it a nature reserve after the tsunami. So the Indonesian government lifted the restrictions. About two years ago. In exchange, the company helped restore the island.”

“That’s nice.”

“Anyway, just focus on the resort, the beaches, the night life… ”

“I’ve an angle to sell it, the ecotourism—” she spread her hands in a presenting gesture— “treat yourself to a guilt-free escapade.”

His reaction was something between a nod and a shrug. He didn’t believe it could interest their readers, but the comments on her blog told her otherwise.

“Stick to what you’re good at. Don’t fuck this up. If you get this right, you could become a senior writer.”

Hannah gasped and smiled. “Really?”

Senior writer meant less freelance work to make ends meet, business-class travel, press pass to fashion weeks, yachts and five-star restaurants. Not to mention she’d be the youngest and only female senior writer.

Duncan drummed his hands on his desk. “All right, fuck off, I’ve other writers to babysit.”

After the meeting, Hannah went straight to Stanford, an iconic travel bookshop in London. Even as a child she loved this place with its hundreds of globes and ceiling-high shelves of guidebooks. She’d pester her parents relentlessly until they agreed to take her here.

There was an enormous vinyl National Geographic map on the floor, and she trailed her feet from England to Indonesia. It elicited a lightness in her chest, and she nearly danced to the Asia section.

She would spend a week at the resort, then she intended to visit the rest of Indonesia for two weeks. She flipped through guidebooks, and compiled a mental list of ideas she could pitch to other magazines.

In the periodical section she checked out the trends and the competition. She scanned the racks and flipped through a few magazines. Three of them mentioned carbon-neutral travel, zero-emission hotels or sustainable tourism. She didn’t want to bore her readers with the science of climate change or to make them feel guilty about flying in a private jet, but being environmentally-conscious was trendy right now so she needed to get on that.

Hannah herself had become interested in the subject after a trip to St. Maarten in the Caribbeans. Not because of the trip itself but a documentary she saw after about a side of St. Maarten hidden to tourists: a vast and ever-growing landfill caused by the flow of cruise ships. Half the island’s population lived in that junkyard. Filled with good intentions, she had bought the filmmaker’s latest book. A year later, it was still on her nightstand, a bookmark halfway through chapter two. It had not been written for neophytes, that much was clear. She had returned to her usual travel ways, but a discomfort lingered.

Should she stick to what she was good at, as Duncan put it, or go all environmentally-friendly? She knew what her editor expected but, if done right, bypassing his instructions could work in her favour. Or ruin her chances at a promotion.

Back home, she dropped her magazines on the small kitchen table that doubled as a desk. For all intents and purposes, her two-room flat was a storage unit: a place to keep her things while she travelled the world. She had plans to make it cozy and pretty but had yet to do it. The few weeks a year she was here, she spent working, eating takeout and trying to catch up on whatever normal people did with their lives. Still, the flat held all her souvenirs and books. It was a place to rest her weary feet and head. A place to listen to the rain and traffic, and to dream of her next trip. When it came to travelling, having a home was just as important as having a passport, it was the difference between traveller and vagabond.

Ben was coming by later, meanwhile she fixed her make-up and curled her hair.

When he arrived, he entered without knocking first. He carried a plastic bag of thai takeout.

“Panang chicken for you,” he said as he placed the white oyster pails on the counter.

“Extra pineapple?”

“Extra pineapple.”

“Thanks, you’re the best,” Hannah kissed his cheek.

He blushed lightly and looked her up and down.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, but don’t get any ideas, it’s for my followers,” she replied with a humorous tone.

She handed him her camera and stood in front of the one nice wall in her flat. She posed in a calculated casual way with various travel accessories and her new book on Indonesia.

“How much are you getting paid to have that bottle of sunscreen lotion in the frame with you?” Ben asked.

“Don’t ask, it will only make you mad.”

“Do you even like that stuff?”

“It’s alright.”

She actually couldn’t afford a regular supply of it beside the one sponsored bottle, but the product was very on brand for her.

After Condé Nast named her in their top ten travel blogs, her follower count surged. Sponsored posts became a significant source of income which translated as two more trips a year. She liked thinking of herself as an entrepreneur. She sold herself and her lifestyle— well the brighter side of her lifestyle— and it allowed her followers to indulge in a little fantasy.

She looked over Ben’s shoulder as he swiped through photos on the camera screen.

“Are we done? I’m peckish,” he said.

“Just a couple more, I’m not sure about that shirt.”

After some consideration, she switched her top for one that wouldn’t make her look so pale.

“Thankfully I’ll have a nice tan soon,” she said.

The change in Ben’s mood was subtle, he blinked too fast and his shoulders stiffened. And she felt herself becoming defensive, her cheeks warmed up.

“Oh. You’re leaving again.”

“You realize that’s like me saying: ‘oh you’re going to the office again’?”

“Yeah, the office, a cubicle with annoying coworkers and a boss, not a five-star hotel in L.A.”

“Christ, Ben, you know I didn’t become a writer for Elite Travelers by lounging around the pool all day.”

“I don’t need your resume.”

“I wouldn’t need to give it to you if you stopped implying mine’s not a real job.”

Ben tried for levity: “I’m just saying, why go halfway around the globe when you’ve got the best right here? You said so yourself.”

Hannah went along with the joke even if she knew part of him was serious. She tried not to create false hopes in him. She’d said she wasn’t interested in a relationship, that he shouldn’t wait for her. But when she travelled alone and felt lonely, she called him and, in-between trips, he was her only friend left in London.

She offered him a beer from the fridge and neither of them mentioned the trip again.

As they ate, she chose the best picture out of thirty and posted it on her Instagram account. She was the first to use #pulaukesuma, but not the last if she did her job well.

Scrolling through her feed, she noticed a picture posted by her sister: her son’s birthday, with their whole family gathered for the occasion. It was today and they hadn’t invited her. “I didn’t think you were in the country,” Jackie replied when Hannah confronted her in a text message. She didn’t insist. What was the point? She was leaving soon anyway.

After the meal, she watched a movie with Ben, but her mind kept drifting off to her next assignment. She repeatedly stood up to get a glass of water or add something to her packing list. At the thought of Indonesia, her limbs buzzed with a sort of restlessness and her stomach swooped.

She often thought of visiting new countries as a fling. The way they occupy all your thoughts and that anticipation of seeing them. You want to know everything about them. There’s always more to discover and experience. You can’t get enough, but you know it can’t last. And in a way, that’s the best thing about it because you only have time to see the best of them. You must enjoy it while it lasts. When it ends, you’re sad and miss them, but, in all honesty, you wouldn’t settle there permanently.

She was only ever faithful to London. Or perhaps she had yet to find the one.

***

→Chapter 1: CGK

#Hardy x Hannah #teninch fic #travelers AU #see author's note on Ao3 #about Foxy kindly allowing me to write this #lostinfic writes stuff

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realityhelixcreates · 5 years

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Lasabrjotr Chapter 31: New Tastes

Chapters: 31/? Fandom: Thor (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Teen And Up Warnings: None Relationships: Loki x Reader (Someday) Characters: Loki (Marvel), Reader, Thor(Marvel) Additional Tags: Post-Endgame: Best Possible Ending (Canon-Divergent), Loki Is Still Up To His Tricks, Loki Just Wants To Help, It’s Not A Date, Only Two Beds, Loki Is Starting To Realize Summary: On the night before the proceedings, Loki tries to take your mind off your nervousness with a nice meal, alone together. It's not a date though. Really.

Akureyri was the second largest human settlement in Iceland, and even to a small-town American woman, it didn't seem very big. Bigger than your hometown, but smaller by far than the nearest 'large' city in Iowa; a state famous for its large cornfields, not its population.

The group of you crossed a long bridge over the beautiful fjord, only to find even more protesters on the other side. At the first hint of a waving sign, you found yourself surrounded by horses, Asgardians on all sides. These protesters stayed beside the road, and made no moves to approach, being watched by bored-looking police officers, who also did not move from their spots.

Despite the much more peaceful appearance of these protesters, the Asgardians remained on high alert all the way to the nice hotel, and sent both Valkyries to lead the horses to their own reservations at the nearest stables. The rest of you stowed yourselves away in the restaurant area to await their return.

You were hearing a surprising amount of American English being spoken by the people around you. Either tourism was booming, or they were here for the trial. You never thought that the sound of your homeland's speech would awaken suspicion in you, but you found the Asgardian accents around you to be a barrier to the dread.

“Loki and I will be in one room, Brunnhilde and Borgliot in another, and _____ and Saldis will be in the last.” Thor said, and the chatter around you diminished. You noticed a young woman staring at you, though she looked away when you met her gaze. “Apparently, these were the last rooms available, as a large wave of tourists have arrived for the summer. The receptionist rather helpfully told me that this happens every year, but not quite to this degree.”

“No more mouth.” You tried to say in Asgardian.

“Pardon?” Loki asked, astonished.

“No mouth. No more mouth.” You didn't know how to say it, but when Thor had mentioned their sleeping arrangements, too much of that background English had abruptly stopped. People were obviously listening in, either out of pure curiosity, or for more suspect purposes. You couldn't tell them in English, because everyone would understand, but you didn't have the words in Asgardian yet.

“Mouth? Dear, I don't think...”

You flapped your hand like a puppets mouth, and his expression became understanding. He turned to Thor, speaking swiftly in a language you had never heard. All of the Asgardians seemed to understand, but all you could tell was that it was not Asgardian. They all seemed to agree with what he was saying, Saldis grabbing your luggage and leading you to your shared room.

“We really need to work on your Asgardian, my Seidkona.” She said blandly, as you entered the very nice room.

“Yeah, sorry, I haven't picked up nearly as much as I oughta. Andsvarr tried to teach me some basic stuff, but I don't have nearly his gift for language.”

“It is something he is very good at. It's a shame his father wouldn't let him pursue a scholar's life, but nothing would do for him but that all his sons be in the royal guard.”

“His father is that Alarr guy? He seems, uh....”

“He is a donkey.” Saldis sniffed, hanging your dresses. “Always braying and stepping on other people's feet.”

“Woah. Are you supposed to talk like that?”

“Who is going to tell?”

You started laughing, because it certainly wasn't going to be you, but the laughter turned into a short scream, as Saldis disappeared in a cloud of smoke, to be replaced by a larger figure.

You fumbled for your knife, drawing it just as Loki cleared the smoke.

“Oh dear.” He slowly moved the point of your knife aside with one finger. “Have I startled you?”

“W-what's going on now?” You demanded. “Where's Saldis?”

“With Borgliot.” He said. “We saw fit to reassign our sleeping arrangements. There is simply too much potential for danger, for you to be left with a non-combatant.”

“You understood. Thank goodness.” You sheathed your knife. “Everyone was listening in.”

“Fortunately, no one in that room had the possibility of understanding Vanas. Unfortunately, that included you as well. I regret that we could not tell you what we were about to do, but we had no way to do it without also informing potentially dangerous eavesdroppers.”

“Yeah, well. Okay.” You put your knife away, laying the sheath on an end table.

“You should keep that with you.” Loki suggested.

“I'm in my own hotel room, and it's close by. Besides, I really shouldn't be carrying it here. I'm pretty sure it's super illegal. We came here to see justice done for a crime, so we shouldn't be committing another crime at the same time. So...are you sleeping here now?”

“There's two beds my dear. You needn't fear anything nefarious from me. Well, not much, anyway. Or, do you prefer your servant's company to mine?”

“Well she was putting my dresses away. Looks like now you have to finish that for her.” You quipped.

That might have been a mistake. Loki locked eyes with you, lifting a dress from the luggage, and reverently hanging it next to the others. The next one caught his eye, being green and soft, and sleeveless. You noticed that it had a surprisingly low neckline. Who had put that in there? It was nowhere near warm enough outside to warrant revealing that much skin.

Loki held the dress up to the light to examine, fondling the cloth, taking in all the little details. He then slowly approached you, holding the dress up against your form, as if trying to imagine what it would look like if it were actually being worn.

“Put this on.” He said, voice a soft whisper.

“Wha-now?” You exclaimed. He nodded. “Why? We're not going anywhere.”

“Exactly.”

You sighed and took the dress into the bathroom.

It fit. It fit really well. It also made you look like you belonged on the cover of an old fantasy novel, where everyone was wearing very impractical things to be fighting dragons, but sure looked good. You weren't sure you had seen anyone else in Asgard who showed this much skin.

“I...I don't know if I want to come out.” You called through the door. “I'm kinda embarrassed.”

“I'm sure you've nothing to be embarrassed about.” He called back. “Besides, twice this day you have commanded me as if I were a servant, and I have acquiesced. Come out, and show me the dress.”

You should have known that would come back to haunt you. At least he didn't sound angry. You steeled yourself, and stepped out into the room.

You'd expected a bit of ridicule. Teasing about your figure, or comparison to the graceful and powerful Asgardian women, or even outright dismissal. What you did not expect was for his breath to catch, or for him to fail to hide it. For his eyes to rake over you, or his lips to curl upwards with smug satisfaction.

“Uh...Do you like it?” You asked shyly. The last time you had dressed up privately for a man, he had ended as your emotionally abusive ex.

“Very much.” He said. “I knew I had good taste.”

“You put this in here?”

“No, no. I ordered it made for you, but I did not know it was done yet. We have galas and feasting holidays in the wintertime, and I wanted you to have something appropriate to wear.”

“You call this appropriate?” You asked, gesturing to the distressing neckline, and immediately regretting drawing his eyes back to your chest like that.

“It is not inappropriate, and that is the most important part.” He pointed out. “You would hardly be wearing the most risque thing I've seen at one of these galas.”

“Well, you're a legendary prince, you've probably seen all kinds of things during your fancy dances. Or after...” You halted that train of thought right there. That was none of your business.

The levity left his face as you spoke. “Have I caused offense? You look a vision, my dear, I thought you would see that when you put on the dress. I am not angry about your demands; I found the audacity amusing.”

“No, no, I'm just on edge right now, it's not your fault. I'm probably gonna be all wound up like this until the trial is over. I'm scared of all the people out there, I'm even scared of hearing my own language!”

There was a knock at the door. You jumped, crossing your arms over your chest.

“Well, in that case, it's probably a good thing I ordered dinner to be delivered to us.” Loki announced.

Green light flickered at his outlines, his appearance changing until the visage of Saldis stood before you. She wore Loki's expression, winked at you, then opened the door to accept the meal. Once that was done, he resumed his regular form.

“I didn't know you could do that!” You exclaimed. “Must come in handy!”

“You have no idea. Now, have a seat, let us have dinner.”

*****

Loki had known that dress was going to make you into a work of art when he had commissioned it, but he had not counted on just how exquisite the combination of cloth and bashfulness would be. He couldn't wait to show you off at the Buridag gala, but even deeper down than that, he wanted to hide you away so that no one else could see you like this.

He felt that was rather silly of him, considering that everything he had done so far had been specifically so that you would be seen. Seen, and known, and respected.

But he still didn't want anyone else to see this. To see you shy and squirming in a perfect dress of his own devising. Perhaps he was just feeling protective. You had been projecting distress all day, after all, and he wanted to lighten your mood just a little. Make you smile a few times before he had to allow you back into the presence of that murderous human slime.

How he wished you had let him kill the man!

Instead, he set the food down on a little table, and pulled out the chair for you. Producing a gilded candelabra with green candles, he lit them with a spell, and placed it in the center of the table. You mumbled something about the candles being green, but of course they were green, always green, like the verdant living lands, like farms full of food, like forests full of timber. It would always be green, green and gold, the twin colors of prosperity, success, and wealth.

He drew the heavy curtains closed, plunging the room into candlelit darkness. The sun wouldn't set for another month, but here, he could at least create for you a kind of faux night. He even poured the wine for the both of you, having chosen a unique and less powerful variety specifically for you. He still caught you eying it suspiciously.

“I'm told this is a very special wine. Locally made by the only winemaker on the entire island. They called it Kvöldsól, and it is apparently made without any grapes at all, but with wild berries, herbs, and rhubarb instead. I assure you, it is safe for human consumption. In fact, I am told that it is touted as a potent brew for the preservation of youth, driving away the ravages of age with something called anti-oxygen. Which sounds absurd; humans need great quantities of oxygen to live. But perhaps there is something to it?”

Yes, defending you from mortal aging was a worthy cause. It would be nice to keep you around for as long as possible.

“First of all.” You said, a gentle mirth in your voice. “I'm pretty sure it's 'anti-oxidants'. Second, are you implying that you don't?”

”Not as much as you, perhaps. Does it meet your approval?”

You took an experimental sip.

“Okay, yeah. It's good.”

It wasn't, not by Asgardian standards, but it also was at least a little different from the jumped up peasant fare that was nearly every other Midgardian wine. They were all either so sweet they might as well be desserts, or so dry they were tasteless. This, at least, had the excuse of being made with wild things, and if it was good for your health, he could make sure you had a supply.

Dinner was a charcuterie platter that also boasted a variety of fruits, nuts, crackers, spreads, and local cheeses, as well as what appeared to be one small smoked bird each, and one strip of cooked meat each.

Loki didn't suppose you could identify half of these things, except perhaps, the fruits, considering that most of them came from within Iceland, which you hadn't yet had the chance to see much of yet. He would have to arrange a royal road trip before the summer ended. What a great bonding opportunity that would be; on the road, alone together, learning more and more about what made each other work. He knew you would enjoy exploring, you had proven to be adventurous; even now you were choosing a little bit of everything for your plate, especially the things you were unfamiliar with. He wondered if he should tell you what everything was?

Most of this was finger food, and you ate with relish; it appeared lunch had not stayed with you. The journey through the mountains especially must have been grueling, he'd been able to tell by looking at you, but you had nobly refused help and just urged everyone to continue on.

“You've been so brave through all of this.” He said. “We will be here for a week, but this trial should not last that long. We can use the rest of the time to take a little vacation. There is a lovely botanical garden here in the city; we can get you some plants here, if you like. There are bookstores and museums. There are also shops, and a place to watch the whales swimming, and just across the fjord there is a waterfall to observe. We might be able to visit everything, if you like.”

“That might be nice. I've never seen whales before.” You regarded the little smoked bird and strip of meat with curiosity. They were different from the other fare before them, but you took several experimental bites anyway, and seemed to like them.

“Is this a quail?” You wondered. “It's so little. Tastes kinda weird. Not bad, but a little strange for a bird.”

“I believe this is a puffin. A type of seabird.” He elaborated at your blank expression.

“Like a seagull?” You asked. “You can eat seagulls?”

“Probably. I assume you can eat any kind of bird, they are all made of bird-flesh.”

“Eew, don't say bird-flesh.”

Loki held out his phone to you, having brought up a photo of a puffin.

“Ohhh, it's so cute!” You exclaimed. “Those live here? I think I'd rather see them than eat them.”

“I believe they used to be common fare, but now they only serve them to tourists. And visiting dignitaries, of course.”

“Okay, well I'll eat this one, because I don't like food to go to waste, but I think I'll stick with chicken from now on.”

“At least they understood our status when they sent us the sheep cheeks.” Loki said cheerfully, pointing at the strip of cooked meat. He had been rather impressed by the level of respect their hosts had shown by including it.

A bite stopped in midair, halfway to your mouth. “Uhhh...”

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

“I've just, uh, never eaten the cheeks off something before.”

Loki laughed quietly. “Of course not! That's kings fare. You would never have even seen such a delicacy. Meat from the head of the animal is always the best part, so it goes to the royal table. Unless, of course, you hunted the animal down yourself. So I suppose that's one way in which a peasant and a king might experience the same thing.”

“Don't like to waste food...” You muttered.

It was rather baffling to Loki, modern humans conceptions of what was good to eat. Granted, it seemed to change from region to region, but it seemed like, no matter where one went, there was some form of food that the locals turned their noses up at.

Perhaps he shouldn't judge too harshly. Some people simply couldn't digest certain things. Loki himself had some trouble with root vegetables. They sat like lead on his stomach, and made his bowels twist. Most people chalked it up to the pronounced pickiness of the nobility, but Loki could put forth his own guesses. Namely, that there was no such thing as a 'root vegetable' on Jotunheim.

He could change his face, but he couldn't change everything.

He still couldn't bring himself to tell you. Not yet. Certainly not now, when you had other things looming large in your mind. Later. When you returned home in triumph, and peace was restored.

Maybe.

It occurred to Loki that he had never actually told anyone of his true heritage himself. Odin and Frigga had always known. Odin had told Thor, and Thor had then told Brunnhilde and his Midgardian companions. And Loki had indirectly told all of Asgard, through the commission of his play, although that was after he had supposedly died a hero, and become beyond reproach.

But he'd never had to look someone else in the face and say to them with his own mouth 'I am a Jotun'.

It felt like admitting to a crime.

But it was not his crimes that were important here. The courthouse called, bright and early tomorrow morning. With any luck, this would all be over quickly and easily.

The time came to sleep, and Loki was as good as his word; he kept his back turned until you were changed and under your blankets, before turning out the lights and settling into his own bed.

As your breathing slowed, Loki allowed himself the tiny illicit thrill of imagining himself lying next to you, peacefully cuddling. Nothing inappropriate, nothing questionable, just gently holding you.

Loki knew that he liked touching you. He didn't put much thought into it; it was obviously because of the magical bond between you. His touch healed your body, your touch soothed his spirit. It seemed obvious.

He was not going to question a good thing right now.

Loki snuggled his other pillow, but it wasn't nearly as soft and warm as he imagined you to be.

#loki x reader #loki (marvel)#thor (marvel)#valkyrie (marvel)#brunnhilde (marvel)#marvel fanfiction #lasabrjotr

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alatismeni-theitsa · 5 years

Note

(part 1) Could go describe the greece thoughts on the war reparations that are asked of germany? I am stuck in a debate with my grandpa because of it. You see my town in germany is broke to the point where they have to cut public transport in order to have the money to repair and build other public transport that is more sustainable ( we have 3 types, only 1 that is cut is working ) and you can see a big hit to our economy coming as the biggest part of our tax payers are older people who want to

(part 2) go into early retirement, meaning cuts in the state retirement fonds and way higher taxes for the rest of us. (that is also why the elder genderation kinda looks down on south europe “they go so early in retirement, they don’t work as long as we do so ofc their economy is bad” ) that with the mentality of saving up for everything and the idea that we worked hard for our economic wonder after the war makes him think that greece is asking out of entitlement ? While in my age group it’s more like we want to help , one of my teachers even phrased it as helping out euopean neighbours helps us too , but at the same time have enough money left over so that the towns still can operate normally ( the city where the grandparents of my bff live didn’t have enough money immediantly to change faulty water pipes in a neighborhood ) and maybe it’s because we’re still in school so the number in the reparation seems really big. //

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Hello! :) To sum my big response up, I believe

reparations must be paid and that this is the most suitable situation for this

to happen. Germany has enough money to support its citizens and Greece. I believe with this is the majority opinion of Greeks on the matter. If any Greek wants to add soemthing, feel free to reblog and comment. For now, let’s analyze that a bit more.

To put a disclaimer here, I am not saying that Greece is the perfect state or that it handled its financial matters in the best way. Not all the blame falls on Germans. Greeks are to blame too, of course. We did some poor choices and we can be scumbugs from time to time. But enough blame falls on Germany (as well), enough to not give them the right to accuse Greece this way. At the same time I don’t support the “all Germans are bad” notion.

Point 1

As I said, reparations must be paid no matter what. And they should be paid especially in this situation because the German Nazi regime harmed Greece A LOT. (I am not implying that all Germans were Nazis, I am not implying that Germany wasn’t hurt by the regime and I am not implying you don’t know your own history. I will do the mention for the reason I just want to lay some numbers.)

The Great Famine was a period of mass forced starvation during the Axis occupation of Greece, during World War II (1941–44). Deaths estimated to 300,000 just from this. People who have survived this are our grandparents and their traumatic experiences bleed into our families. Also, imagine how many more died of sudden mass executions in villages and by opposing the regime. Let’s not mention the Greek Romani, Greek Jewish, Greek people with disabilities and Greek lgbt+ people were led to death camps. At least 80% of the country’s Jewish population, were murdered (that is tens of thousands). Bulgaria had taken the North with German blessings and there was more destruction on their part. So, what sort of “entitlement” is to get money after war crimes being commited onto your country?

Point 2

At the same time I recognize that simple people had to work very hard to bring Germany back to its feet after WW2. I am not denying that your grandfather and his generation are worthy of good pensions and rest. And, with the current economic state of Germany, I am sure they will take that money. See, Germany has become one of the most influential and powerful states in the EU, even the most powerful someone say. So much that countries like France and the UK are overshadowed and worried about “a German hegemony”. So we know that the government, at least, has the money. (I will elaborate more on that on Point 4).

Point 3

Now contrast this to Greece. Germans say Greeks are lazy. I say that Greeks have worked very hard to overcome the poverty their nation had. While Germanic kingdoms were thriving, Greece was under Ottoman occupation (which lasted for 200-500 years depending on the area). After 1825 Greeks slowly started getting freed and they had to gather money from level zero to build their new government and offices. Less than 100 years later the nation also suffered from a refugee crisis, as our Greek brothers in the Pontus region were going through a literal genocide so they run to Greece for safety. WW1 before that had brought nation to its knees. And then came WW1. And not to mention the Greek civil war afterwards. More poverty, more hunger for everyone. All we hear from our grandparents is poverty and hunger (unless you are descended from an old rich family, which, for the most of us its unlikely).

So, Greeks always worked to overcome this. We are not lazy but we had one “lazy” generation. It was in the early days of the Euro in the country when the government had money and chose to spend it immoderately on its citizens. The people who were in their prime in the in 80’s-00’s worked normal hours with an extravagant pay. And since they were paid well and the retirement funds were good, they went into retirement early. Other than that, Greeks never worked less, especially less than Germans. Even today, Greeks work the longest hours in Europe, while Germans clock the least hours, according to data by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reveal. (article from 2018: https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/01/24/greeks-work-longest-hours-in-europe/)

Greeks still work hard to overcome the crisis. Many households are bleeding and striving to keep the basic goods coming into the house. Most of our elderly don’t have enough to take basic medicine because of the extreme cuts in their pensions. And more cuts are on the way (https://www.politico.eu/pro/greek-mps-pass-further-austerity-measures-amidst-violent-protests/). People will retire after their sixties because if they go on retirement they won’t have enough money to even maintain a household. That is because the EU, with Germany as a leading force, put extreme meters of austerity for us and great taxes which grow every year even ten years after the crisis. To top that, Greece almost doesn’t have an industry at all because the EU has make us dependent on other countries (because of our debt). It’s not that we have a great amount of dept. There are countries with great industry that have a huge dept, see USA with its 20 trillion debt. It must be noted that the European countries were quick to put Greece into their debt since our revolution in the 19th century. Of course, I don’t expect anyone to just give Greece money. The problem is that we were put in debt for very small help. Sometimes it was almost like a scam.

Point 4

Moreover, Germany knows the situation in Greece and it’s profiting from it. For example, Fraport, which is majority-owned by state and local governments in Germany, bought 14 Greek airports in 2017. The European commission asked Greece to sell 40% of our state electrical production units. As you will see in this 2015 article, more sales were done. (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/germans-begin-the-looting-of-greece-2015-08-21). “the country must sequester 50 billion euros worth of public assets to sell off at distressed prices to mostly foreign bidders — with German companies first in line.” and “Other assets to be sold will include the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki and valuable waterfront properties for hotel and casino development. State-owned electricity and train operations are also targeted for privatization.”

Germany made billions from the crisis, as stated in this article. (https://www.thelocal.de/20180621/germany-made-billions-on-greeces-debt-crisis-berlin-confirms) Plus, the German newspaper “Handelsblatt” confirmed that Germany gained 368 billion euros, which is 10% of its Gross Domestic Product - GDP. And how could it not, since it’s buying everything Greece has and on top of it gives us loans with a very high interest rate. It’s obvious that Germany’s government is not here to see us thrive but to gain from our misfortune. If it wanted to see us thrive it would support Greece with investments, not robbery of its state assets. And I say robbery because, due to the crisis, they find the excuse to buy everything very cheap, as we depend on them.

Greeks feel like they are colonized by the Germans, since they just want to milk us and at the same time they treat the country as their vacation resort because our prices have gone down due to the bigger crisis they put us in. I am not ungrateful for tourism but you can see the messy social implications of that. See the 2017 article “Why Greece is Germany’s ‘de facto colony’” (https://www.politico.eu/article/why-greece-is-germanys-de-facto-colony/)

And I should comment on the irony of the situation, since, even with the way Germany treats Greece, Greece’s youth mainly migrates to Germany to work, as there are no jobs here. That means we give the country our knowledge and our labor and we work to advance the country for the benefit of all - while at the same time we are looked down upon because we are supposedly lazy. While having jobs in Germany. There is a chance I go to the country for work, and while with my degree I can help advance the technological companies of Germany, a lot of people will just name me “a lazy Greek” or they will name my parents “lazy Greeks” - my parents who almost pass out of exhaustion working multiple jobs to support the family. Or my grandparents, who opened four different shops (with great debt) because each one was failing and were always struggling to get by.

Seeing all the profit Germany made and will

make, it’s hard for me to believe that the country lacks money. It must be the

government officials that don’t want to give this money to the people. It seems so ridiculous that the state won’t give enough money to your grandparents’ community to do basic things. It’s exactly like the situation in Greece, but our government indeed doesn’t have the money :P In some places our buses are so ancient they barely hold themselves together and you can hear the sounds their metals do as it goes on the road. (And you can feel them, it’s like a Luna Park ride :P) Roads are not fixed, our state buildings (and university buildings among them) are literally collapsing… Like… not such a good situation.

Point 5

For the fake credentials fiasco: I don’t know how true is this but if it is indeed true, our politicians are scumbags. People who were not government officials at the time didn’t know about this and they didn’t support it. It was a previous government that did all this. Moreover, if Greece gave fake credentials, it was the job of EU officials to check them. It seems they didn’t do their job either, since they let us enter the EU. Or maybe they were as corrupt as our government at the time? And now they want to say they have the moral high ground? As I said, I am not well informed in this case but if it happened both parties are to blame, even in an unequal rate.

===================================================

Oook that’s it! If you want to add something, or ask me further my ask box is open! And thank you for supporting the Greek case! I think we should find a middle ground so neither German nor Greek citizens are harmed by political decisions.

#Greek politics #eu #germany #german politics #greece and germany #European Union #greek crisis #economical crisis

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Text

Radio Abel, Season Six

Part 6 of 6

Parts 5 and 6 take place after S6M24, "Mother's Little Helper"

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Hello, citizens. If you've just tuned in, we're getting ready for our first -

ZOE CRICK: Slightly delayed.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: - our first slightly delayed edition of Recipes on the Run, the cooking show for the post-apocalyptic world.

ZOE CRICK: We've been collecting recipes from our listeners and from our favorite Abel residents. Well, the ones who don't give everyone food poisoning when it's their turn to make the goulash. I'm looking at you, Maxine Myers.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: We won't be telling you to julienne the asparagus or add in a drop or two of truffle oil because we know you've got as much chance of finding a bottle of truffle oil these days as you've got of bumping into Britney Spears, and she went zom so long ago they think she might have been patient zero for the entire continental United States.

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] No, we'll be looking at the everyday, mundane ingredients every cook needs.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Well, not actually those, because you can't find them on the shelves anymore. All the normal stuff's been taken. Packets of nuts, Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. Those are as rare as hen's teeth these days.

ZOE CRICK: I heard the last tin of baked beans in the entire country got eaten last Wednesday somewhere in Warwickshire. Whoever you were, I hope you enjoyed them.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: So today we've got a recipe for you using an ingredient you can still find on the shelves, a lot.

ZOE CRICK: Yes. We'll be giving your our recipe for tinned swede with bacon-flavored instant baby formula sauce. Stay tuned!

ZOE CRICK: Okay, the first step is to take the package of bacon-flavored instant baby formula, and then wonder why the hell anyone would want bacon-flavored instant baby formula. Seriously! The apocalypse didn't happen a day too soon if you ask me.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Next, you need to get the swedes open. It's a little-known fact that tinned swedes are the national dish of -

[door opens]

AMELIA SPENS: Morning, everyone.

ZOE CRICK: Amelia? We're right in the middle of a broadcast.

AMELIA SPENS: Yes, yes, I do follow the schedule of Fort Canton broadcasts, thank you. And I could hardly fail to notice that you kicked me out of bed so early this morning.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Um...

AMELIA SPENS: You can lose that tone, Philip, unless you also want to lose your weekly ration of... whatever it is that you like. I'll find something.

ZOE CRICK: Amelia, what are you doing here?

AMELIA SPENS: Don't mind me. Just carry on with whatever you were doing.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Okay. Yeah. So tinned swedes and...

ZOE CRICK: Baby formula?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Yeah. I, um... [sighs] It's no good. I can't do it while she's staring at me like that.

AMELIA SPENS: If it helps, I'm staring at you, but I'm thinking about other things.

ZOE CRICK: What might help is if you explain exactly what you're doing in our radio shack. If it's not too much trouble.

AMELIA SPENS: Isn't it about time you played a song? No, no, don't worry. I'll just put one on for you. Here we go.

ZOE CRICK: Right. Listeners, apparently Amelia's here because she has an announcement to make. Apparently, Amelia doesn't believe in warning people first.

AMELIA SPENS: You generally seem to like it when I surprise you, darling.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Please stop.

ZOE CRICK: Yes, please do. You're upsetting Phil, and I like him more than I like you.

AMELIA SPENS: [laughs] Yes, imagine if you started to like me. Doesn't bear thinking about. Anyway, top tip for listeners: over the years, I've found it's much better not to announce your arrival, if possible. It's less likely people will try to stop you doing what you want.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: We still could.

AMELIA SPENS: People find it a lot harder to say no to someone's face. It's a terribly British thing. They find it embarrassing.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: [sighs] Fine. You can make your announcement.

AMELIA SPENS: There you are, you see? You know you shouldn't let me have my way, but you are because it would be too embarrassing to confront me with quite how brazen I've been. It's very interesting, anthropologically speaking. Perhaps we could have someone start a show on this sort of thing. I tell you what, let's add a moment of suspense. Play a song.

ZOE CRICK: Right. And now you're going to tell us why you're here, or I'm going to take you by the scruff of the neck and physically throw you out.

AMELIA SPENS: I thought you didn't want us to do this in front of Phil. Have it your way. The truth is, I'm on a bit of a recruitment drive.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: What for? Your crack team of... of... of really irritating... people?

AMELIA SPENS: No. For Fort Canton. I'm trying to sort out some of the problems I've inherited. Under the previous mismanagement – honestly, it really was quite egregious - the population rather fell away, so I'm looking to expand.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Right. [sighs] And I suppose coming on our show does actually make sense.

AMELIA SPENS: I'm certainly not doing it for my health.

ZOE CRICK: And who exactly are you hoping to recruit?

AMELIA SPENS: Oh, you know. A few good people from around the country. I say good. That may not be the right word. Ambitious? Hard-working?

ZOE CRICK: Conniving? Back-stabbing?

AMELIA SPENS: I don't like to pre-judge. I've always been a woman who takes people as they come. Luckily for you.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: And maybe after this next song, you can tell us why anyone would want to work with the most untrustworthy woman in the country.

ZOE CRICK: Funnily enough, that song always makes me think of you, Amelia.

AMELIA SPENS: I'm not entirely sure you mean that as a compliment.

ZOE CRICK: Good.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Do you two actually even like each other at all?

[speaking simultaneously]

ZOE CRICK: No.

AMELIA SPENS: Don't be ridiculous.

[speaking in turn]

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Right. Uh, so what are the selling points of the New Canton -

AMELIA SPENS: Fort Canton.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: It'll always be New Canton to me.

AMELIA SPENS: But that's precisely the problem. Too many people in Fort Canton and elsewhere have been living in the past. The old world is gone for good. People need to wave it goodbye and move on. And that's what I plan to be doing, and what I'm looking for people to help me achieve. To build a brighter tomorrow on the ruins of yesterday.

ZOE CRICK: You make it sound so noble, which is ironic since you're the most cynical woman in England.

AMELIA SPENS: Whereas you're always such an idealist, of course.

ZOE CRICK: I always forget how loathsome you are

AMELIA SPENS: I always forget how judgemental you are. You're a terrible hypocrite!

ZOE CRICK: And you're a monster.

AMELIA SPENS: I've got half an hour to spare right now.

ZOE CRICK: Me, too. Phil, can you mind the fort?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: What? You're not going to - you just called her a monster!

ZOE CRICK: Needs must. Back soon. Bye!

[door opens and shuts]

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Zo! [sighs] Right. Um. They've gone. They've gone to... mm. Right. Um, uh, here's a little number to get them in the mood! Not that they seem to need it. At all!

BERNARD PRIOR: This is Bernard Prior on Fort Canton Today, keeping it really, really real! Even more real than – oh, I can't get away with that. This is Bernard Prior on Fort Canton Today, with news, views, and how do you do's? Oh, maybe that's too silly? This is Bernie P. on Fort Canton Today, in your ears despite my years! No, that's too weird. This is Bernard Prior on Fort Canton Today with... oh, you know, the usual stuff.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Hello, citizens. This is Radio New Hope, bringing you all the news from all around the country.

ZOE CRICK: First up, there's been some exciting developments in Kidderminster.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Have there?

ZOE CRICK: No, not really. I just like saying Kidderminster. Although apparently, they have opened a zombie petting zoo there.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: They haven't.

ZOE CRICK: No, they have. The zombies are declawed and defanged, obviously. And chained up. I think they might also have had their salivary glands and voiceboxes removed.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: But why?

ZOE CRICK: So kids can see them up close and realize they aren't that frightening.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: But... they are frightening! Kids ought to be frightened of them! Teaching your kids that zombies are harmless is a terrible idea.

ZOE CRICK: Well, that's Kidderminster for you. We'll be back with the latest from London right after this.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: There's been an announcement on Rofflenet from the London council of boroughs. Uh, after weeks of bitter conflict, the Democratic Republic of the Isle of Dogs has agreed to become a London borough. However, it continues to refuse to sign up to the Camden Human Rights Accords and will continue using flogging and the stocks as its primary methods of social control. And in other national news, the Lake District has announced it's opening itself up to tourism again!

ZOE CRICK: Good luck with that one, guys. I hear you've got a thousand zombies per square mile up there.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Yeah, but there's a cure now. People actually could go. Tourism could be a thing again.

ZOE CRICK: Yeah. I suppose they could go without dying. On the other hand, is Scafell Pike quite as scenic when it's covered peak to foot in shambling decayed corpses?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Good point. In other news, Cornwall's barred all visitors whose names begin with W, and experts predict that Liverpool should stop burning sometime in the middle of next year.

ZOE CRICK: We'll be back with something a little more heartwarming right after this.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: This is a story about kittens, isn't it?

ZOE CRICK: It's not a story about kittens.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Is it a story about cats?

ZOE CRICK: Nope, definitely not.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: And by cats, I mean all cats. Lions. Tigers. Cheetahs. The works. Oh, and meerkats, as well.

ZOE CRICK: Meerkats aren't even cats.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: So this is a story about meerkats.

ZOE CRICK: It's not about meerkats, either.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: But it's definitely about animals, and not human beings, isn't it? Because you never describe a story about human beings as heartwarming.

ZOE CRICK: It may be a story about baby bats.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Baby bats?

ZOE CRICK: Yes.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Do bats even have babies?

ZOE CRICK: Yes, obviously. What do you think they do, reproduce by cloning themselves in little bat labs?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I thought they laid eggs.

ZOE CRICK: They're mammals.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Really? I thought they were lizards.

ZOE CRICK: Lizards? At least if you'd said birds, it would make some sort of sense. I've... [sighs] Forgotten what I was going to say now.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: You can't remember the heartwarming story about bats?

ZOE CRICK: You distracted me. Play a song, and maybe it'll come back to me.

ZOE CRICK: What's your least favorite word?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I thought you were going to tell us a story about bats.

ZOE CRICK: I've forgotten it. It was something to do with people feeding tiny bats from tiny bottles and then wrapping them up in tiny blankets.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I think that might just have been a dream you had.

ZOE CRICK: Anyway, what's your least favorite word?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Embourgeoisement.

ZOE CRICK: I've literally no idea what you just said.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Embourgeoisement. It's the process by which working class people join the middle class and assume its values. My sociology professor used to say it all the time.

ZOE CRICK: Of course she did. And of course you had a sociology professor.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I don't know why, but it used to really irritate me. She always used to say it in this incredibly smug way, like she personally invented it. And she used to do it in this stupid fake French accent. Got on my nerves so much, I had to stop going to the lectures eventually.

ZOE CRICK: Please tell me you failed the end of year exam because of how much the word embourgeoisement irritated you.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I did, actually. Had to retake it the next year when I had a different lecturer. He used to talk about the Thatcherite hegemonic project a lot, which was only about 29% as irritating. Anyway, what's your least favorite word?

ZOE CRICK: Oh, I was going to say gusset, but I can't say it now. It'll make me sound like a pleb.

BERNARD PRIOR: Welcome to Fort Canton Today! And now on the program, my occasional cohost and full-time glorious leader, Amelia Spens, is here to discuss issues of the day.

AMELIA SPENS: Hello Bernard, listeners. Lovely to be here. Thanks for having me on the airwaves.

BERNARD PRIOR: Oh, don't mention it. You did invite yourself, after all.

AMELIA SPENS: True. Now, I am delighted to let you know that we have a new trade pact with the Hugger-Muggers, The Wombles, and Archway 12, which means a new supply of tinned food, including spam, kidney beans, and dolphin-friendly tuna. All reasonably priced, but we do expect to sell out today, so run along, chop chop.

BERNARD PRIOR: Oh, that is jolly. It's nice to have some good news for once. And I do love a tuna sandwich. Fresh wholemeal, slice of cucumber, sprinkle of salt. The perfect teatime treat.

AMELIA SPENS: I'll have one sent over. Now -

BERNARD PRIOR: I was just wondering, though. Any news on a trade deal with Chalk Valley?

AMELIA SPENS: Oh, good grief. Every time. I promised you a tuna sandwich!

BERNARD PRIOR: It's hardly the same. One set of papers. One person. After all I've done? You promised you'd look into it.

AMELIA SPENS: And I have, but it's complicated! They don't issue travel papers without coercion. Word is they are just as worried about people leaving as they are about people getting in. [sighs] I can do it, but I'd need intel on Chalk Valley's leader, Big Nigel.

BERNARD PRIOR: Surely you have some. It's you.

AMELIA SPENS: Bernard -

BERNARD PRIOR: I know that face. You do!

AMELIA SPENS: Maybe I do, but I need to use it for the correct -

BERNARD PRIOR: Millie, I sheltered you from the jigsaw mob.

AMELIA SPENS: I don't think that was as serious as people made out.

BERNARD PRIOR: Oh, come on. What would Elle Woods do?

AMELIA SPENS: Play a tune. I need to think.

BERNARD PRIOR: Well? Don't keep old Bernard on tenterhooks. Have a heart, Miss Spens.

AMELIA SPENS: Okay, fine. I have a little information that Big Nigel was part of the Psychoanalysts Enclave's LARPing group.

BERNARD PRIOR: [sighs] Um... wait. What?

BERNARD PRIOR: LARPing, eh? Is that compromising?

AMELIA SPENS: Not on its own, but as you know, Chalk Valley has a strict isolationist policy.

BERNARD PRIOR: Oh, I do know.

AMELIA SPENS: The Psychoanalysts LARP takes place outside the Chalk Valley boundaries. If he's still playing -

BERNARD PRIOR: He's sneaking out! Just like all the citizens of Chalk Valley are banned from doing.

AMELIA SPENS: Quite.

BERNARD PRIOR: Ahoy-hoy to thee, fair listeners. How utterly magnificent it is to have you here. The weather is quite pleasing, isn't it? And I have a tuna sandwich, which is delicious. You would think, sweet listeners, would you not, that old Bernie would be in heaven. What with my sandwich, the perfect amount of fine sea salt, delicious Jaffa Cakes for afters, and of course, all the tea I could drink. But the fact is, as many a man before me has discovered, such riches are not but ash without someone delightful to share them with.

BERNARD PRIOR: One question, Millie. What on earth is LARPing?

AMELIA SPENS: It's essentially running around in a wood pretending to be an elf.

BERNARD PRIOR: Gosh, how rum. Do people do that on purpose?

AMELIA SPENS: Of course. It's not the kind of thing that happens accidentally. Full elf costumes, usually, too.

BERNARD PRIOR: Well really, I'm quite taken aback. Truly there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in my political philosophy radio show.

AMELIA SPENS: It's an entertainment show, but yes. Quite.

AMELIA SPENS: So here we have it, B. A draft agreement that states that in return for not dropping leaflets all over Chalk Valley telling residents about Big Nigel's breaking of state lines, Chalk Valley will begin the process of allowing some free movement between itself and the Common Alliance of Independent Territories. That's what we're calling it now.

BERNARD PRIOR: Not the Free State Coalition? I liked that. Rather punchy.

AMELIA SPENS: No, no. Too punchy. Sigrid didn't like us calling ourselves free states. Implies things about the other side of the wall she didn't appreciate.

BERNARD PRIOR: Like them not being free at all?

AMELIA SPENS: Quite.

BERNARD PRIOR: So what? What can she do about it?

AMELIA SPENS: Oh, Bernie. Sigrid has a lot of weapons. Do you want a drone whizzing in here and flying up your trouser leg?

BERNARD PRIOR: She's capable of that?

AMELIA SPENS: She's capable of anything, B. Anything.

ZOE CRICK: So it's a lovely bright sunny morning. The birds are singing, the clouds are as fluffy as cotton wool, and Phil bloody Cheeseman is nowhere to be seen. Yes, before you ask, I've tried his room. Either he's not there or he's not answering the door. You know what I think? I think he went on an unauthorized date last night. I had a special schedule all lined up for him, hand-picked by me.

I'd even warned them about his excessive love of prog rock. I put a lot of work into it, and admittedly, the first four didn't go brilliantly, but I was refining my parameters. Anyway, we'll see how well the date he picked himself went, won't we? Hopefully after this song when he drags his ass in here.

ZOE CRICK: Nope. Still no sign of him. [sighs] I'm beginning to think the date actually went well, which is good. I mean, it's definitely good. But also, who is this person? And where did he find her? I've literally made a list of every single eligible person of any relevant sexual or romantic orientation in Abel and the seven surrounding statelets. Okay, that's not true. But it's not not true.

How could Phil possibly have found someone to date without my input? He's barely capable of deciding which socks to wear in the morning without asking me. I'm not even joking! He comes in here barefoot with three or four pairs and asks me to choose. Anyway, Cheeseman, this one's for you! Wherever the hell you are.

ZOE CRICK: Well, this is getting ridiculous. I suppose I'll just have to do Recipes on the Run on my own. At least we've had a really good one sent in by a reader involving quail's eggs and - [door opens] Phil. And what kind of time do you call this?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Sorry, Zoe. Sorry, citizens. Sorry, world!

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] Date went well, then?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Oh my God! Zo! It's amazing!

ZOE CRICK: Oh, amazing, was it? This mystery date with this mystery woman?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Yeah. Um... I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it, only uh, I wasn't sure how it was going to go and I didn't want to jinx it.

ZOE CRICK: You thought telling me about it might jinx it? Hm, charming.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: No, not all that. Only you've got to admit, every date you've arranged for me so far has been a total disaster.

ZOE CRICK: Just because they didn't turn into long-term relationships doesn't mean they were a disaster.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: One of them walked out after five minutes because I told her I didn't think Pierce Brosnan was that bad as James Bond.

ZOE CRICK: Hmm. To be fair, that is one of your silliest opinions.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Anyway, I just thought I'd try branching out on my own for a bit. And Layla, this one's just for you.

ZOE CRICK: So I suppose you're going to refuse to tell me about it, and I'll have to go around asking everyone in Abel Township until I finally find someone who happened to see you while you were out to tell me all the gory details. Not that that's what I've done for your previous dates, obviously.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Sorry, Zo. Not this one.

ZOE CRICK: I suppose if this one went well, you want to avoid upsetting her by blabbing on air.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: No, that's not it. I asked Layla, and she said she didn't mind me telling you. She said she'd listened to the show, and she knows what you're like, and she knows you'll get it out of me anyway.

ZOE CRICK: Hm. She said that, did she?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Yeah. She also said she knows you're my best friend, so of course you're going to want to know.

ZOE CRICK: Oh.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I'm still not going to tell you, though. Sorry, but I'm not.

ZOE CRICK: Why?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Because it's... it was our first date and it was really special and I like that it was just us.

ZOE CRICK: First date. Implying there'd be more?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: We're seeing each other again on Thursday.

ZOE CRICK: That's... that's really good. I'm glad you met someone nice.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Yeah. Me, too.

ZOE CRICK: Although I'm going to take the mickey out of you about it relentlessly for the next month. Possibly three.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Yeah. I know.

BERNARD PRIOR: Listeners, this is quite an exciting moment for the show! I am patched live to the negotiations between Chalk Valley's Big Nigel and Ms. Amelia Spens of Fort Canton and the CAIT. Let's listen live.

AMELIA SPENS: Yes, but if you could just stop just for a moment. I mean, come down from the tree. And if I could speak to you, the real you, not Cowslip Blossom the elf. [foliage rustles] Well. That costume doesn't leave much to the imagination.

BERNARD PRIOR: It seems things are going slower than I imagined. Let's have some music.

BERNARD PRIOR: Really? No success?

AMELIA SPENS: Sadly, none. Of course, this program only reaches Chalk Valley through covert channels, but he'd intercepted the broadcasts that mentioned his LARPING. However, instead of suppressing them as I'd imagined, he told the people of Chalk Valley that LARPing was essential training and that his participation in such endeavors with the dastardly forces and powers outside the valley was, in fact, an act of extreme bravery. I will say, there is something brave about impersonating Cowslip Blossom the elf. Seriously, that costume was eye-watering.

BERNARD PRIOR: Whose eyes? [laughs] Yours or his?

AMELIA SPENS: Both.

BERNARD PRIOR: Oh. Listeners, some appropriate music for this solemn occasion.

BERNARD PRIOR: Margot, oh Margot. If only we could find a way to be together, rather than so cruelly adrift in the post-apocalypse. Zombie hordes have a lot to answer for. Dear sweet unattainable Margot.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Hello, citizens. We've got our regular guest back today, Jody Marsh, former Commander in Chief of Abel Township. Hello, Jody.

JODY MARSH: Hi.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Jody's back with us to discuss the current nationwide water crisis, and what you as individuals can do about it.

ZOE CRICK: Boring.

JODY MARSH: I know water's not exactly thrilling, but we do sorta need it to live.

ZOE CRICK: Yeah, blah blah. Basis of all life on earth, overconsumption, and draught, blah blah. But wouldn't you rather talk about Phil's new girlfriend?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: No, because she's an actual grown-up with grown-up responsibilities. So Jody, about this water shortage -

JODY MARSH: Hang on, you've got a girlfriend?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Do you have to sound that surprised about it? Anyway, water shortages -

JODY MARSH: Forget about the water! Tell me about this woman. Who is she? What's she like? What's her job? Where does she live? If you know her shoe size, you can tell me that, too.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Give me strength.

ZOE CRICK: I think that might be their song.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: No, it isn't.

ZOE CRICK: Really? You were humming it all day yesterday with a silly grin on your face.

JODY MARSH: Don't tell me you're in love! Oh, Phil!

PHIL CHEESEMAN: We've only been on five dates.

ZOE CRICK: That wasn't actually an answer. Also, the fact you're still calling them dates is adorable. Oh, and talking of... didn't I see you out on a date yesterday, Jody?

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Oh, thank God.

JODY MARSH: Maybe. But I think it's time we got back to the important water shortages currently affecting the country.

ZOE CRICK: Nope. What's sauce for the goose, etc. So you and Tom De Luca, eh?

JODY MARSH: Honestly, there's nothing to tell.

ZOE CRICK: No, of course. Nothing except all the gory details. That's a very handsome man you've got yourself. I want dates, frequency, and durations. Marks for artistic merit would also be appreciated.

JODY MARSH: There's none of that, Zo. I'm asexual.

ZOE CRICK: Really? How did I never know that?

JODY MARSH: It never came up. It's not like Abel has a regular Pride march where you'd see me up there waving the ace flag.

ZOE CRICK: I can see why someone might not be into sex.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Really? You wouldn't think so, from the amount you talk about it.

ZOE CRICK: Oi. To be fair, it is one of my favorite hobbies. But it's also faintly ridiculous and frequently squelchy. I can see why someone might not like it.

JODY MARSH: It's not that I don't like it. I used to do it and it was totally fine!

ZOE CRICK: If it's only fine, you're not doing it right.

JODY MARSH: Believe me, I tried all the variations. One-night stands, people I loved. Men, a couple of women. It was always perfectly okay. Kind of like eating lettuce. Nothing wrong with it, but no one sits there going, God, I'm really craving some lettuce right now. It's just the bit of the salad you eat because it always gets served along with the actual nice bits. That's how I felt about sex in a relationship. If they wanted sex and it made them happy, then it was no skin off my nose.

ZOE CRICK: That's... that's not how you should be feeling about it. You should never feel like you've got to do it because the other person wants it but you don't. Never. Ever.

JODY MARSH: Don't worry. No one put any pressure on me. I just thought that's what you did. But I worked it out eventually. Took me ages, because I used to assume everyone felt about sex the way I did.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Really? But people are always going on about how amazing it is.

JODY MARSH: Exactly. It was so over the top, I thought they must be lying. But now I've found someone who... likes me the way I am! And it's great. Tom, he's a... he's a great guy.

ZOE CRICK: This one's for you, Tom. For treating our Jody the way she deserves.

ZOE CRICK: Oh my God, that's given me an idea.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Oh, there we go.

ZOE CRICK: No, listen. It's sensible, for once. Abel Pride.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Blimey! That actually is a good idea!

ZOE CRICK: Right?

JODY MARSH: It's bloody brilliant! When we win, when we beat Sigrid, that's what we're going to do. We're going to hold a massive great Pride right here in Abel.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: You can march with Amelia, Zo.

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] Can you just imagine? Amelia waving a rainbow flag and chanting, "We're here, we're queer, get used to it."

PHIL CHEESEMAN: I'd pay good money to see that.

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] She'll probably pay someone else to march for her. Anyway, you and Layla can come to support us.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: Oh, that'd be good. It's definitely time you met. I think you two would get on like a house on fire.

JODY MARSH: Maxine and Paula and Sam can bring Sara. They can dress her up in a little rainbow dress!

ZOE CRICK: [laughs] And we'll raise a glass to Jack and Eugene.

PHIL CHEESEMAN: There you have it, citizens. Abel Pride, and everyone's invited. Keep listening to find out more.

#zombies run #zrs6 #s6 radio #s6 radio part 6 #zr transcript

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justsomeantifas · 7 years

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Here’s your dose of “What the Fuck Is Going On” news (Weekend Edition: April 14th 2017 - April 16th 2017)

The White House announced they will no longer release the records of its visitors raising concerns over transparency in the Trump administration. The administration is saying that it's to protect national security however, the National Security Archive said that that's a blatant lie and said that Obama shared the logs of nearly 6 million visitors and never faced national security ramifications. Eventually the Presidential Records act will force the information to be available but not until 5 years after Trump leaves office. (source)

Thanks to Trump's travel bans and increased vetting for foreign travelers, the US tourism industry expects 4.3 million fewer visitors and lose $7.4 billion in revenue. Demand for flights to the United States has fallen in nearly every country. Next year, the fallout is expected to be even larger, with 6.3 million fewer tourists and $10.8 billion in losses. (source)

Betsy DeVos has picked a woman named Candice Jackson to head the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Back while Jackson was in college she tried and failed to enter a program to help minority students with school problems and spoke out against the "discrimination" she received for being white. She's also denounced feminism and race-based preferences and worked with and praised an economist's book who has denounced the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (source)

After a two-month review, the administration has decided their strategy for North Korea will be "maximum pressure and engagement." They are currently weighing a range of ideas from military options to overthrowing Kim Jong-Un, or even just accepting North Korea as a nuclear state. (source) This weekend, Pence went to visit South Korea amid North Korea tensions. (source)

Attorney General Jeff Sessions was asked about the supposed pushback from Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump on certain issues in the White House. Sessions said that the couple has not expressed any pushback against him or Bannon and what they've advocated. Sessions also praised Bannon and said he was an "admirer" of him. (source)

Trump's EPA chief is calling for an "exit" from the Paris Climate Change Agreement. "Paris is something that we need to really look at closely. It's something we need to exit in my opinion," said Pruitt. Trump has repeatedly promised to "cancel" the Paris Climate Change Agreement during his campaign. (source)

Afghan officials are saying that at least 94 ISIS fighters were this week from the GBU-43/B aka the "mother of all bombs," the U.S. dropped this past week. The US military previously estimated ISIS had 600 to 800 active fighters in the area but it was unclear if they expected to hit this many people. As of now, there are no reports of non-ISIS affiliated people killed in the strike. (source)

Trump is planning on visiting the United Kingdom later this year and London is reporting that he has insisted on a ride in the Queen's gold-plated carriage. It's not completely unusual however some, like Obama, have chose to use their own vehicles during the visit. (source)

Trump's lawyers argued in a federal court filing that Trump cannot be sued for inciting his supporters to hurt protesters because, as the president, he is immune from civil lawsuits. “Mr. Trump is immune from suit because he is President of the United States,” the lawyers wrote in the filing. The lawyers previously tried to get the suit thrown out on grounds of First Amendment rights but the judge rejected the request. (source)

Trump's reelection campaign has already raised $13.2 million, and the Republican National Committee says they've already raised $41.3 million. Nearly 80 percent of the cash raised by the three committees, Donald J. Trump for President, Trump Victory, and Trump Make America Great Again Committee, came from small donors. (source)

According to campaign finance filings, Trump has already spent $500,000 of those re-election funds on his own businesses. (source)

Reports show that arrests of undocumented immigrants with no criminal records more than doubled since Trump took office. In areas like New York, Boston, Atlanta, and Philadelphia the numbers are even higher showing the number has tripled or worse, for example Philadelphia officers have arrested six times as many immigrants without criminal records as they did the previous year. (source)

Trump is continuing to populate the White House and federal agencies with former lobbyists, lawyers and consultants who are helping to craft new policies for the industries in which they recently earned a paycheck. This is causing a spike in conflicts of interest arising across the executive branch. There are already some appointments that may have led to violations but it's becoming harder to evaluate because the administration is secretly issuing waivers to the rules. (source)

On the morning of Easter Sunday, Trump tweeted about those who protested against him yesterday. He did this in a series of tweets that were riddled with lies. For one, he started by saying "I did what was an almost an impossible thing to do for a Republican-easily won the Electoral College!" a comment that is easily disproven and historically inaccurate. Then he said "Now Tax Returns are brought up again? Someone should look into who paid for the small organized rallies yesterday. The election is over!" Trump attempted to downplay the amount of protesters by calling them "small" and then put out the disproven claim that anti-Trump protesters are paid. (source)

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry is ordering a study of the U.S. electric grid. This will examine whether policies that favor wind and solar energy are accelerating the retirement of coal and nuclear plants. The review will last 60 days. (source)

If you would like to support “What the Fuck Is Going On” news and it’s almost-daily posts you can support my Patreon, donate, or follow on Twitter.

#Donald Trump #trump administration #ethics violations #travel ban #environmentalism #environmental issues #racism #nuclear weapons #ISIS mention #war #war crimes #immigration #conflicts of interest #Mod H #What the Fuck is Going On News

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grgop · 5 years

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Arrival on Dugi otok: The monastery and the locals in Zaglav

Zadar’s archipelago. The trip started in Zadar and ended up in Zaglav on the first day.

I took the bus **from Zagreb to Zadar **at 6am and planned to get on the first boat that goes for **Zaglav **afterwards. While almost missing the bus in the morning I managed to get there in time and bought the ticket for my catamaran. The ticket for the non-islanders was about 20 -25 HRK (around 3 Euros) for one direction. Soon enough I was aboard the catamaran whose trip to Zaglav took around an hour and 15 minutes. During the trip I had the pleasure to talk to one of the locals from Sali who shared some tips on the DOs and DON'Ts on the island.

On it’s way to Zaglav we went beneath the bridge that connects the islands Ugljan and Pašman passing by the town of **Kali **(another place on the list to visit). Then you find yourself surrounded with multiple islands I couldn’t remember the names yet the last one to the west had numerous hills, so long you couldn’t see its end. Of course it was Dugi otok (the Long island). I’ve never been so far to the west in this area and the inner Indiana Jones for exploring and adventures was waking up.

This was my printed map of the island. I removed the names of the wanted locals for the interview and where to find them in each place due to privacy.

Soon we reached Sali and headed then few minutes to the north to Zaglav. I took all the stuff I had and I had several bags and a luggage. Just before we reached Zaglav I had two phone calls from my local saviours. One was from friar Izak, the monk from the monastery, who was waiting for me and my stuff with his squad in his car. The other one was Goran, the guy responsible for delivering the bakery products across the island throughout the year in his van. He was the one who helped me with the vehicles by lending me his old car to use for four days. Just when I stepped on the island he was there at the gas station tanking it up fully. Yes, full till the end. I gave friar Izak and his fellas my stuff and met with Goran and his family to take me up to the monastery.

Here it was where I earned the name „The Baker“ in the next couple of days. It started with his wife asking me „So, are you a baker?“ and later on several locals who’d see me coming by car (as Goran does) would frequently ask me „Are you a baker?“. In the end I gave up and said „Yes, I am a baker“. The second name that followed me was “The Journalist guy”.

We went uphills. Now here is a thing with the most places on Dugi otok. The core of these villages is mostly on the hill, not next to the sea. People went down to the coast much later. The monastery was at the end of the road on the hill. Also, the roads are only for one vehicle at the time which was interesting as you had to be careful if someone from the opposite direction was coming from behind the corner and then one of you two would have to somehow the way to step aside. That was done either by going backwards or finding a quick spot to move aside. Not to say that many of these roads or streets were pretty narrow and at some points you were surrounded with the stone fence wall. All of this makes it easy to damage your car. In the beginning I was more careful with it but then grew confidence because simply the things like that are just normal there and you gotta accept it. Again, you can’t do this in Zagreb without bad consequences.

**The monastery of St Michael **

The entrance as seen from the center of the yard

Voila, there we are at the monastery. Somehow typical Dalmatian look or actually Mediterranean. Bell tower, local graveyard and the monastery with its yard and garden just at the end of the street. Soon arrived friar Izak and the other dudes. Passed through the gates in the middle of the wall and entered the yard. It was guarded by two cats.

The Franciscan monastery and the church of St Michael were built back in the mid-15th century by the Franciscan order of the Glagolitic monks. Glagolitic is one of the old Slavic scripts, somewhat similar to Cyrillic, that was preserved in Croatia mostly on the islands and some northern areas within the religious context and local or folk language. The monastery today is of course an expanded version of the original one.

The monastery and the church as seen from the bell tower

When seeing all these stuff inside the yard and this whole idea of being in the monastery I quickly returned in my head to Robin Hood games where you had to sneak and climb around monastery’s walls and hallways. It would have been awesome if I had visited it with my friends back in the childhood though even now it could serve as a cool film location. But the best impression of the monastery and its surroundings is surely early in the morning when it’s fresh and enjoyable to be outside, the shadows are soft, relatively quiet, you can hear the animals and prepare for the day with pleasure. I tried doing some exercise in the morning but failed.

The look from the entrance into the yard. My window is on the second floor in the middle.

When you say „a monastery“ you might think of the medieval buildings where they still use the candles but man, I got 5-stars room with my own bathroom. So there were now three of us residing in the building and each of us had our own room upstairs. Once you enter the monastery you are in the hallway where to your right is a small library. Straightforward you got one SOS restroom and then the stairs to our rooms. The hallway there was filled with some large paintings of religious content and Glagolitic engravings. Back downstairs, to the left, one enters the „living room“ where they can watch TV and turn on the oven when necessary. Few steps behind and you enter a modest kitchen with plenty of food. Oh yes, they said I just pick up whatever I want and they had lots of stuff. Even better, behind the kitchen in the basement they had a pantry. It felt like Goku being on King Kai’s small planet with whatever you want.

Some hallway paintings of…well… someone

The look from the windows on the other side towards the north. What you probably see are the islands of Krkata (the closest one), then Iž and maybe far away Ugljan or Sestrunj..or something else, who knows, so many islands…

One part of my room…the rest is in the mess but there’s a table behind me, the window and to the left is the small hallway with the wardrobe and separated bathroom

The view from my room taken in the evening

Soon enough I was welcomed with the lunch. They have a lady who cooks and cleans for them every day and this was also covered so that I don’t have to spend money aside. As you can see this all was really way more than I expected.

Friar Izak taking care of the stuff in the kitchen

This was probably the only lunch I had with them as I spent every next day somewhere else waddling around. We made some rules about breakfast around 7am and had dinner together in the evening. Even though they usually go to sleep by 10pm we used to talk about different topics until midnight.

The first photo is of the monastery’s yard. The second one from the Church’s interior

And what about friar Izak? He definitely is a guy with lots of energy and ideas. Born in Zaglav in 1936 but spent most of the time away from the island he is a a big church musician, conductor and a researcher of the Glagolitic heritage. He is also one of the founders of the mixed choir “Bašćina” (Heritage) and several years ago revived the real Renaissance Zaglav liturgical singing. He is fun to talk to and throws the jokes all the time. More about the conversations and his stories in the upcoming posts.

Zaglav: An afternoon in the bay of Triluke (Three ports). Meet the first locals.

After lunch I decided to go down to the village on the coast. Grabbing my camera and other stuff I took the path that goes to the bay. I had it in plan to meet with Zvonko – the young gas station owner whom I reached few days earlier. He knew I’d come and so he helped me to find the potential candidates for the interview. But what about Zaglav?

The road down to the bay of Triluke

It’s a village in the southern part of Dugi otok between Sali and Žman. The records say it was inhabited in 15th century and many of the locals are the descendants of people who flew before the Ottomans. The population of Zaglav is around 174 people though there used to be 300-500 people just few decades ago. I’d say today it’s even less than 170 but we will find out more in 2-3 years. People there mostly live from tourism, sailing and fishing with some small agriculture part. Some work in Sali or move to Zadar or other places on the mainland. Zaglav has a relatively good boat connection with other places and the mainland. Here used to be a ferry port before they moved it to Brbinj. I didn’t go around the whole village on the bay but down there you can find a few restaurants and the gas station also serves as a small store. **This gas station for the cars and the boats is the only one on the island. **

So while walking through this street downstairs I met Zvonko and his dog at the gas station and soon was introduced to the other local dudes who gathered nearby and enjoyed some drink. There I met my future companion and help for the upcoming days - Mirel. After receiving a welcoming drink and introducing myself Zvonko took me to our first star - his father who was repairing the fishermen’s net. Here comes the summary of the interview I had.

Mr Špralja the Sailor

As I approached hime while repairing the net he started explaining me the type of the net he uses and what kind of fish it can catch. He learned the skill from his father and grandfather. Being in pension for many years and not being able to move a lot his main hobbies are repairing and maintaining the nets plus doing some work with agriculture. Right now he had problems with the holes made by the dolphins but as he said - it’s gonna take him around a week to finishing repairing this net around 100 meters long.

His family came from Bakar to Zaglav and** Kornat island** which is the story many other locals shared.

He had spent over 30 years sailing around the world going twice around the equator and visiting all the continents and ports except for Australia and New Zealand. He told me the only experience he remembers most that scared him was during their trip aboard the Jordan Nikolov ship on the Atlantic ocean during the stormy weather where he had to go down inside the ship and make sure to have the gas ventilation closed. As he added “There are no good things on the sea, only the bad ones.”. Also, he believes the young sailors nowadays have it much easier as they don’t have to spend a whole year on the boat and vehicles (technology) is much faster and precise.

Speaking of the food and how it used to be back then he started with the meals they got on the ship. As there used to be 30-50 crew members they had two cooks and one assistant adding that the food was “solid”. On the island, back in his youth days, the main food was fish. The meat as we eat it today was not available and couldn’t be bought easily. You would use what you had of your livestock which included lamb, goats and mutton. In winter they used to fish for the smaller fish, 30-50 of them weighing around a kilogram. In spring there was more of the bluefish such as mackerel or chub. Cuttlefish or an octopus were also options. Dried octopus, he added. They didn’t have much of the potato and people mostly ate collard greens. Berries and beans were also popular. The problem was that the fields on the island were not as rich and potent for the agricultures as it is on the mainland and there has never been much of the freshwater. Those families who had some livestock such as goats or sheep would make milk and cheese. For breakfast you had milk and cheese, fish or some other meat for lunch and for dinner different types of greens.

Repairing the net where two bigger holes were made by the dolphins

What about games and how they used to play as children? The hide and seek obviously never gets out of fashion, no matter the generation. Among other games football was popular, played in the “Old village” upon the hill. However, there weren’t balls like today so they used the the ones made from rags. During the carnival and masquerade there is a custom of setting a fire etc.

And schools? He told me there was around 10 of them in the generation that went to school in Zaglav and Sali that had up to 7-8 grades. Those who wanted to learn a foreign language would have to go to Sali. There he learned a bit of German and his knowledge of English came through navigation around the world. In the end, he forgot almost everything since he returned to the island.

Finally, he believe young people will have an easier life as there are much more opportunities than in his days. Tourism is the number one industry. The problem with the agriculture he sees is that it’s not enough today to earn for a living and many fields were divided into plenty of smaller parcels and those who own them stopped carrying for the land. He concluded again that only with the tourism he can see the youth prosper.

Afterwards we visited three more people whom I asked similar questions. However, I will share the story of the last ones – an old couple living alone in their home. The story of Marjan and Vera Špralja is one of the sad ones you are going to hear.

Life story of Marjan and Vera Špralja

I met them upstairs on their terrace enjoying the snacks and soft sunlight. Though at first a bit reserved and silent soon they warmed and opened up. Quiet simple and modest people who had experienced a lot. Both over 80 years old.

We started with the family background. They came to Zaglav from Kornat island though their ancestors came to these areas from the mainland around Bakar town. Marjan was the eight out of ten siblings and probably the only one who stayed on the island whereas the other went to different places and countries looking for the better opportunities. One of his brothers is living in Australia. They stayed here on the island as the simple shepherds and fishermen. They spent 20-30 years living in the Old Zaglav upon the hill before moving to the bay. They also spent most of their lives on Kornat island. Further on, they explained me the name of the bay – Triluke (Three ports) and the division between the village „up there“ and „down here“. Up in the Old Zaglav (S_taro selo_) there are mostly seniors living, not many of them…while the bay is filled with younger members of the community, families with children.

Speaking of the past they reminded me that once there lived around 400 people in Zaglav while today there might be not more than 50-60, he guessed. The school that used to be open is now closed. This also comes from the fact that families in the past were much bigger with 5-8 siblings. The same case was with my grandmother.

I wondered how the two of them had met. They happen to meet each other back in the elementary school. They said they finished only 3-4 grades and have the essentials skills for living – writing, reading, driving the car and the boat…and some knowledge about the agriculture. There were no teachers, they said. The one teacher used to come twice per week to teach the locals.

We moved to the stories of being on the sea. Marjan is an experienced fisherman and we would have needed an extra day to listen to all of it. The biggest enemy he’s always encountered was the stormy weather at the sea and the wind. One time, during such occasion, he was forced to jump from the boat into the sea in order to push it to the shore otherwise the boat would have been lost.

However, the biggest tragedy they have encountered is with their children. Their son died at the age of 19 losing battle to illness and their daughter (50) is fighting the similar battle laying immobile in the hospital. “Misery and sorrow, that’s our story.” Vera told me.

She moved on saying “We had the sheep on Kornat island, we were fishing, we had a vineyard…and I had been working at Mardešić Fish Factory in Sali for 26 years. And ill children. Nowadays people complain they have no time for anything. They have one child and still busy all the time.” - “Yeah, they waste their whole day trying to put on the make-up”, added Marjan. “We also got up earlier than people today.”

The house they live in was built by Marjan himself. They sold one house to a cousin who took care of them since they won’t have any heirs - otherwise they would keep it for their children. Vera is today suffering from several pains and the similar goes with Marjan. Apart from the cousin who visits them sometimes they have no one else on the island who can help them. The hard life and problems took toll on their health.

We came back to childhood they also described as a misery and famine. Marjan explained there was no such luxury as today to have smoked ham and cheese on your table along with other food we throw away recklessly…but dried figs mostly. Vera carried on pointing me the oranges, olives and lemons they have in their garden. They are happy as they get the fruits from those trees three times in a year.

We ended up our conversation with them asking me about my background and how come I ended up on Dugi otok. They thanked me for visiting them and I was thankful them having shared their time with me.

We are done with the interviews in Zaglav. I came back to the gas station where I met Mirel leaving in his car. He gave me a book about Dugi otok and NP Kornati. As I found out Zvonko had told him to watch over me and help me getting around. Sounds like Sam and Frodo thing. We made a deal to visit Sali in the evening and go for some pizza.

I returned back to the monastery and spent some time talking to the monk-dudes.

Dinner with cheese, bread and wine with my fellas from da monastery

More about the upoming evening in Sali and visiting the cliffs of Telašćica near Fort Grpašćak in the next post!

Grgo

#dugi otok #dalmacija #dalmatia #zaglav #samostan na zaglavu #samostan sv mihovila #monastery dalmatia #long island croatia #interview #the locals #documentary #photography #video #tradition #customs

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alexsmitposts · 5 years

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Georgian Protests: Not Spontaneous and Not Ordinary—Part of Wider US Agenda?

Upwards of 10,000 protesters attempted to storm Georgia’s parliament building on June 20. The crowd swarmed the building during what at first glance appeared to an anti-government rally. They demanded the resignations of top officials, allegedly in response to a speech made by a member of the Russian Duma. It now continues on a daily basis, however, with less violence.

As reported by Georgian and Western news sources, “tensions flared up when Sergei Gavrilov, a Russian MP, addressed an assembly of lawmakers from Orthodox Christian countries from the physical seat of the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament.”

Gavrilov was taking part in the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), a meeting of a body set up by the Greek parliament in 1993 to foster relationships between Orthodox Christian lawmakers. From a political standpoint, it will never be a good idea to allow a Russian MP to sit in the Speaker’s chair, in Georgia or any other country which fought long and hard to escape Russian domination through the Soviet Union. However it would also be ridiculous for either Georgia or Russia not to be part of the IAO, given their credentials and shared values as Orthodox countries.

One thing is certain in any such mass protest – few, if any of them, are spontaneous protests by ordinary citizens. Careful planning goes into any attempted coup or regime change—and that usually comes from the West. This has especially been the case in Georgia, dating back to the so-called Rose Revolution of 2003, and even earlier, to the free fire zone days of the early 90s.

Now Georgia is again in the news, not only over how the weaponisation of gay pride is part of a larger programme of CIA destabilisation. Little of what is happening now in Georgia has anything to do with the country’s less than pristine record on human rights, or efforts to regain territorial integrity. Still less does it have to do with the present Georgian government, which is the most benign the country has seen, and unlike previous ones is genuinely attempting to introduce the Western values the population actually want, such as democratic pluralism, rule of law and transparency.

Keep in mind that what happens in Georgia doesn’t stay in Georgia, and is more often than not part of a larger regional agenda. The real news is not as the BBC reported on June 21, Thousands storm parliament over Russian MP’s speech, but what is REALLY transpiring in Georgia with outside assistance.

Not Spontaneous and Not Ordinary

One just needs to consider the statement of Giga Bokeria, now described as “an opposition MP for the European Georgia party”, who told AFP that the rally outside parliament was “a spontaneous protest by ordinary Georgians.”

Bokeria’s track record is well-documented, as are the names of his backers. He’s a teller of BIG lies—consider his activities in Georgia dating back to the days of the US-funded Liberty Institute, which is credited with topping former president Eduard Shevardnadze and bringing Mikheil Saakashvili to power, only for him to suffer the same fate.

The appearance of Russian MP Gavrilov in the Speaker’s chair in Tbilisi was considered an insult to Georgia, given the continued Russian influence in Georgia’s two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and indeed it was, even though not intended as such by the Georgian government to cause problems. These regions effectively gained their final independence as a result of the 2008 Georgian Russian conflict, as recognised by the Russian Federation in the wake of the Kosovo precedent.

But based on years of reporting on Georgia and the region, this appears a well-crafted effort to destabilise the current government, which did not decide to put Gavrilov in the chair. This decision was made by the Greek Embassy, which is trying to improve its political position within the EU to avoid further punishing bailout terms. It fits well with the Gay Pride rallies being forced on reluctant local gays, the continued EU refusal to discuss the UNM’s many crimes and the continued liberty of Saakashvili and his worst cronies despite all the arrest warrants out against them in all the countries they have been transplanted to.

The present Georgian government has done little but say “we are not the UNM criminals, so vote for us” during its six and a half years in power. But it is more balanced in its foreign policies between Russia and the West than the Saakashvili regime was. The various headlines on US funded websites, such as Furious Anti-Russia Protesters In Tbilisi Demand Speaker’s Resignation, Clash With Police speak for themselves as to the agenda which is being rolled out—and who apparently stands behind such provocations.

Sideshow with Front Seats

I asked one Georgian journalist who lives close to the Parliament, “do you have a front row seat for what is going on in Georgia as of yesterday?” He replied, “Not only a front row seat, as I live close to the parliament, but I happened to be passing by when teargas was finally used at about midnight … and the crowd scattered like leaves.”

We both think there will be a repeat performance soon, and that interesting days are upon us. I also suspect the provocation has something to do with the 250 million USD in weapons recently funded for Ukraine, and the agenda which has been set into motion for Iran.

Georgia likes to think it is the centre of the universe, though few have heard of it, because it is on the historic Silk Road. The revival of the Silk Road has become a major international project. However this project has been constructed to disguise the real importance of Georgia’s location: as the gateway to Iran, Ukraine, Syria and any other place now turned into a trouble spot. Without Georgia, we wouldn’t be witnessing half the death and destruction we see today, and these conflicts keep Embassy holdovers in jobs.

Tired Script for Crisis Actors

Having watched the early stages of yesterday’s protest, and seen the same familiar Saakashvili-era faces during the lunch break on live TV , I am further convinced that all what transpired was, and continues to be, carefully scripted.

Upwards of 80 people are reported to have been injured in the protests, including 30 protestors and 39 police officers. Police used water cannon, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. However the media reports vary, and it is becoming difficult to get accurate information.

Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze has told the press that “what we witnessed is absolutely unacceptable,” and that a demonstration that had “started in a peaceful manner,” turned “violent”.

He added that

“It is an attempt by an aggressive group, the National Movement (UNM), party of former President Saakashvili, to move Georgia out of the legal framework, but they will fail to do it… I would like to address the youth – I am beside you in your frank protest, but we have to deal with narrow political interests, which are beyond any limits… violence is unacceptable and an adequate response will be made.”

Nino Burjanadze, former presidential candidate and once acting Head of State, has described the events as being political in nature, and maintains that purported pro-Western political parties are now using the people’s anger for their own benefit. It is clear that the situation may well spin out of control if the government keeps making the same mistakes again and again. Burjanadze should know, as her peaceful protest with many protesters “beaten-to-death” was broken up by the former government back on May 26, 2011.

Many of the photos used in this referenced report by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association were contributed by Georgian Bureau Chief for US online journal Veterans Today, Jeffrey Silverman. GYLA expressed special gratitude to G. Abdaladze and Jeffrey K. Silverman as the source of an important part of the photos used in that 2011 report.

The dreadful events of that day helped bring down the Saakashvili regime. So it is ironic that the same political party, the United National Movement, is now screaming foul over its failed attempt to take over the Georgian Parliament and topple the government by violence.

What happened back in 2011 was a peaceful protest against the UNM. This time it was an attempted coup by the UNM. Most people won’t be fooled, but a significant number are always ready to be bought off, as always happens in Georgia.

What is now happening is the street is like wolves leading sheep, as this could result in the total destabilisation of the Georgian State. Georgians must be cleverer, or they could lose so much, with one part of the population turned against another because of the actions of a few. Both these protests, and further actions being planned, are part of a larger regional geopolitical plan of destabilisation, which will also harm Georgia even if it resolves its internal problems.

I asked in a recent article, who says that politics and religion don’t mix? They mix very well into the fatal cocktail almost ready to be served up on the Georgian people. As this is going to press, the protests continue, not only as a result of the initial provocation, as described but in response to the government using excessive force and rubber bullets at close range, blinding several protestors.

Russia’s reaction to the treatment of a Russian diplomat and the behavior of the protestors was to be expected, and swift, out of concern for its citizens and initial gut reaction. It will ban air flights starting in July, curtailing tourism, and have its citizens now in Georgia return as soon as possible. Most definitely those who planned these protests had this in mind.

It is hoped that those on all sides will understand who is benefiting from “bad relations” between countries, Russia and Georgia, and from division among the Georgian people. They need to carefully evaluate what has actually transpired and who stands behind such unfortunate incidents. One thing is sure, the current government has not delivered, however, the previous one is no better—change is needed and with new blood.

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poolenick-blog · 5 years

Photo

A northern beauty of the Philippines, Batanes is a group of islands filled with vast pasture lands, rolling hills, towering volcanoes, dramatic cliffs, and crystal-clear waters — its untouched beauty, as some would say, is proof of the local people’s (Ivatan’s) respect for the laws of nture.

However… its far distance from the mainland, the extravagant flights and sudden weather changes can all make the trip an impossible task. In fact, these have made the islands an elusive paradise in itself; but like a challenge, a lot of people would always aim to unravel it for themselves.

For those who were fortunate enough to visit Batanes, it’s a common thing to hear them say that the terrain is akin to that of New Zealand, Ireland, or the Scottish Highlands. I’ve only been to New Zealand and I do see the resemblance. As a matter of fact, I would often beam with pride whenever I hear or read these compliments — after all, Batanes is my beloved hometown. I am really proud to be a pure-blooded Ivatan, and I absolutely feel lucky that I was brought up in these magnificent islands right from when I was born and up until high school.

FACT = One “downside” of growing up in such an amazing place like this: I’m very hard to please when it comes to natural terrain. Example: When I visited Austria, Croatia and the northern part of New Zealand (as examples), most of the people around me were crying out praises when they saw the beaches, mountains, cliffs, and/or hills.

Me? I just stood there and thought to myself, “This is nice.” And that was it.

This is NOT to say that those places weren’t great — because they were! It just so happens that scenes like that were ‘normal’ to me; so in order to get a more exuberant reaction from me, it has to be far more incredible (Faroe Islands would be an example).

Naturally, as a local, a lot of you have been asking me for tips and top things to do in Batanes. When this was first asked of me, I was at a complete loss because I left the islands when it wasn’t popular yet as a tourist destination; hence, as an example, I didn’t know much about existing logistics and hotels because they didn’t exist as much before! (It was only recently that the islands became well-known nationwide).

Nevertheless, as of this year, that has changed because I had the chance to revisit my hometown after 10 long years! I learned more about the new infrastructures, tours, and so much more — it actually surprised me to see that my little hometown wasn’t exactly the same old simple home that I knew. Still and the same, I can assure you that no matter the changes, Batanes’ beauty will forever remain.

Now without further ado, let me give you an idea on the activities that you can do when you’re in these islands for, let’s say, 5 days! Rest assured, you can tweak it around depending on the length of your stay. Enjoy! .title-bar:after, .title-bar:before, .title-bar:after, .title-bar:before, h2{ border-color: }

Batanes Pre-Travel Guide

Some quick and basic facts of Batanes before we go on…

Small and nearer to Taiwan than the Philippines. It is comprised of 10 islands but with only 3 inhabited ones, namely: Batan, Sabtang, & Itbayat — with Batan being the main island and the most populated one given its 6 districts (one of which is Basco, the provincial ‘capital’ in which I grew up in.)

Locals are called as “Ivatan”. Our exact origins are still untraced up till now and we have a total population of only about 17,000~, making us the smallest province in the country. Our language is also called as “Ivatan” which is regarded as unique to that of Tagalog, the main language in the Philippines; hence, Ivatan is not just merely a dialect but it’s now regarded as a unique language in itself.

Very low crime rates. In fact, there’s almost no crime at all which can be attributed to the Ivatan’s good nature as well as the non-existent poverty in the islands. As a child, the only main ‘criminals’ that I ever saw in my hometown were Taiwanese fishermen who were often caught at sea when they cross the borders of the Philippines to do illegal fishing, etc. For sure, Ivatans might just be one of the nicest and most trustworthy people you’ll ever meet in your travels! To prove this point, we have a couple of ‘honesty shops’ in the islands wherein nobody is attending the store: as a customer, you get the things you want to buy and then handle the payment yourself.

Experiences 4 seasons. It’s not an official thing, but technically, Batanes has very cold and chilly days from November to February, with the hottest months from March to May (with April as the driest). The rest of the months are often rainy and August is the month where we mostly experience typhoons — speaking of typhoons, we’re NOT really constantly battered by ill weather. Given our northernmost location, we’re just often used as a reference point for weather reports. Sure, we have our fair share of typhoons but unlike popular belief, it’s not too common.

When would be the best time to travel to Batanes? Dry season which would be from December to May (with April being the driest). It’s the safest time to go if you don’t want to get stranded or have your flight cancelled/delayed because of bad weather (this is because the rest of the months are often rainy, with August being the month where we mostly experience typhoons).

Where to get the best flight deals? Batanes is primarily reached by air and travel time from Manila can take 1 to 2 hours depending on the airline. To date, given the size of Basco’s airport (which is small and can’t be extended because then the runway will either go inside the mountain or ruin some residential houses), there are only a few airlines that are in service:

Philippines Air (PAL Express): daily flights usually departing and arriving in the mornings

SkyJet Air: only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays usually departing and arriving in the mornings

Wakay Air: daily flights usually departing and arriving in the mornings

Ticket prices are known for being expensive — it can range from Php 4,000 up to Php 15,000 (on average, it costs Php 7,000+). If you’re on a budget, how then can you get cheaper flight deals?

Promos: There are regular seat sales that are being done by the above airlines and if you’re lucky, you can snag a roudntrip flight for just Php 500!

Tour Operators: You can also subscribe or regularly inquire with Batanes tour operator so you are notified when there are seat sales or promos.

From the airport, you can walk to the town proper to get to your hotel (it’s a really small town), otherwise you can hail tricycles there or arrange for a pick-up car beforehand. To book a private airport transfer, go here.

Where to stay? Top choices in Basco area would be… Budget: Troy’s Lodge, DDD Habitat Lodging House Mid-Range: Midtown Inn, Batanes Seaside Lounge, or AirBnB Luxury: Fundacion Pacita

*For more Batanes hotel choices and the best price or packaged deals, I suggest checking out Agoda and Booking.com. (If you’re rather interested in renting affordable yet comfortable houses or apartments, always check AirBnB).

How about money? There are NO money exchange facilities in Batanes, but there are a few ATMs (Landbank and PNB). It’s also best to bring Philippines peso cash in advance, and don’t bother whipping out your credit card because there are no establishments in the islands either who accept it.

How to get around? By jeepney. They journey around the island of Batan from 5:00AM to 5:00PM (you often just need to flag them down at certain areas). If in doubt, feel free to talk to a local.

By tricycle. You can arrange this with your hotel, a tour operatore or directly with a tricycle driver. We call them as “Batoda” and apart from taking you to and from near distances, they can also provide day rentals to help you explore the island. To go around the north of Batan, they customarily ask Php 1,000 and for the south, about Php 1,500. (In Sabtang, touring the whole island starts at a cost of Php 800). For details and contact numbers of tricycle operators, see here.

By motorcycle or bike. You can rent a motorcycle starting at Php 500 a day (it can go up if you want a guide/driver, if you want a bigger motorbike, etc. and if you want per hour, it can be about Php 150 per hour). A simple bike would cost about Php 300 a day (or Php 25 per hour). If in doubt where to rent, just ask a local and they will direct you to the right place.

By car. If you’re coming with a big group, it’s best to do a tour for a hassle-free experience.

By boat. To get to the other inhabited islands of Sabtang and Itbayat, you will need to go through an exciting boat ride with our local boats called as ‘faluwa’.

Sabtang boat trips (that spans for about an hour) depart from Ivana port from 6:00AM to 7:00AM — you can get to this port from Basco by renting a tricycle roundtrip transfer which costs about Php 440. The boat trip costs Php 100 per person each way, and once you arrive in Sabtang you will have to pay Php 200 environmental fee at the tourism office. Later on, you can take the boat ride back to Ivana starting from 8:00AM until 2:00 to 3:00PM (depending on the weather, there can still be boats at 5:00PM but it’s best to be at the Sabtang port before by 2:00PM — or better yet, just ask the locals what is the estimated time for the last trip back to Ivana).

There are 3 boat operators going to Sabtang and I went with M/B Aljolyner since I personally know the owners. You can contact them via this mobile number: +63 928-244-5475.

Otherwise, you can simply reserve a spot in this Sabtang Day tour.

Itbayat boat trips are available from Basco every day from 6:00AM to 9:00AM in the mornings, and from Itbayat to Basco, around 11:00AM to 2:00PM. Per person, you will have to pay Php 450 one way. If you fail to catch the boat, there are no hotels in the island but you can always arrange a homestay with the locals or with your tour guide.

There are also 3 boat operators going to Itbayat namely Itransa, Ocean Spirit and Veronica. For details, see here.

Helpful Ivatan phrases Almost all Ivatans can understand and speak fluent English; but of course, it doesn’t hurt to use our language. We’ll be very impressed with you!

Hello: Dius! (when you arrive at someone’s house) / Kapian ka pa nu Dius! How are you?: Ara ka mangu? I am fine: Taytu aku a mapya. Thank you: Dius mamahes! You’re welcome: As kanimu pa Yes: Owen No: Umba I don’t know: Katen I’m sorry: Maypasinsya ka / Paypasinsyan mu yaken How much?: Manyipira? Can I join you?: Maparin machivan? Goodbye: Avek dana / Mangay aku na

Now, before I begin with the itinerary guide, if in case you’re more of a visual person, you can already watch my video below to get a ‘peek’ into the adventures that you can do when in Batanes!

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5 Days Itinerary in Batanes

3-Day Tour (Covering Day 1 to 3 below: North Batan + South Batan + Sabtang) – 2-Day Tour (Covering Day 1 to 3 below: North Batan + South Batan + Sabtang — more fast-paced)

» Day 1

» Day 2

» Day 3

» Day 4

» Day 5

Do a Batan North Tour

Below is what’s commonly referred to as “Batan North Tour” — as the name implies, you will venture through the top spots in the northern part of the main island of Batan.

I gotta say though… I couldn’t help giggling as they took me around because it was all a bit surreal — imagine, I was a true-blue local being toured around (where else but) in my own hometown! Anyhow, it was quite an experience and I surely saw Batan in a new light.

NOTE: If you’re not fit for biking or motorcycling around the island to visit the following spots, you can rent a tricycle (at Php 1,000 for 2 pax Batan North Tour), a car (depending on the size of the car, the costs start at Php 2,000 for a whole day), or just go for a guided North Batan tour by reserving your spot online.

Mt. Carmel Chapel Located at Sitio Tukon in Barangay Chanarian in Basco, this chapel is the most recently built worship house in Batanes and the only chapel adopted the stone house style. Its prime position above the hills has made it a popular spot not only for weddings but also for tourists who are looking for Instagram-worthy shots.

Fundacion Pacita This is Batanes’ only luxury hotel and rightly so as it is nestled above a picturesque hill that has a grand view over the sea and the surrounding Batan terrain. Rest assured, you’re free to wander inside its premises even if you’re not a hotel guest. You can also visit its indoor museum where Pacita Abad’s works are found. Who is Pacita? She is an internationally known artist who was a full-blooded Ivatan and Fundacion Pacita was her former home when she was still alive.

PAG-ASA Radar Station This used to be a USA weather station and climbing to the top of it will offer you great panoramic views over the island.

Didawud Idjang (Fortress) There are a total of 4 Idjangs in Batanes and this is one of them. In the olden times, the Ivatan people used it as fortifications (likened to castles) to protect themselves during times of war. originally, these are elevations that were formed by molten volcanic magma which acted as a plug on an extinct crater.

Dipnaysuhuan Japanese Tunnel Located in the hills of Tukon, this five-door tunnel that’s complete with a series of chambers, was a bunker that served as a lookout spot and a water reservoir during the Japanese occupation.

Chanpan/Valugan Boulder Beach This popularly known for its long stretch of boulders due to Mt. Iraya’s eruption in 400 AD. The rock formation, smoothed over time by the strong Pacific waves, presents a panoramic view over the horizon and of Mt. Iraya.

Provincial Capitol area / Casa Real Built between the 16th to 18th century, it’s a government building and commonly regarded as the center of the town (nearby, you will find a vast sports plaza where most of the island’s celebrations are usually held).

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral / Sto. Domingo Church This is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Batanes and it is the first parish church to be built in the early 18th century in which it was originally made up of cogon grass roofing. It was also the first to have galvanized iron roofing in the 1890s. The feast of its patron saint, Sto. Domingo de Guzman, is celebrated by the Ivasays every August 8.

Vayang Rolling Hills These are seemingly endless waves of rolling hills that are perfectly backdropped by the seascape. It is best enjoyed from afar, but it is also best experienced when explored on foot; plus, this spot is the best vantage point for an unhampered view of the province’s three major islands.

Naidi Hills and Basco Lighthouse (One of my fave hang-out spots when I was young!) An old sitio derived from the Ivatan words “na” which means past, and “idi” which means settlement. Located here are old wireless telegraph facilities by the Americans which were bombed by Japan during World War II. One can also get a breathtaking view of the town atop the hilltop 66-feet lighthouse.

Kural Marine Sanctuary I remember visiting this place for picnics in the weekend with family, friends, and relatives! In 2005, it has been found that the marine life in this area is so rich and perfect for diving that it has been decided to properly protect it. After acquiring a pass, anyone can dive, swim, snorkel, and picnic here to enjoy its natural beauty. Other/Substitute Activities

If you’ve got the time, I highly recommend the following:

Climb Mt. Iraya Towering over Basco at approximately 1,009 meters above sea level, this dormant volcano is the first attraction you will see upon landing in the airport. To get a picture-perfect view, timing and patience are required since its peak is almost always covered by clouds. As for climbing this mountain, it can be quite challenging because of its abundant endemic flora and fauna, but it’s absolutely doable. NOTE: It supplies the water in all households in Basco — so yes, when you’re in Batanes, you can drink from the tap! It’s safe and fresh spring water!

Do a Batan South Tour

Given that Batan is a huge island, this day will be spent on the southern parts as you go through the top highlights of the remaining areas: Mahatao, Uyugan, Ivana, Itbud, and Imnajbu.

*If you’re ever pressed on time, this Batan South Tour can be combined with the North Tour and can be done in a day. But of course, it’s always best to take it easy so that you can have more time (and photo ops!) in each location. Remember: you should make the most of your trip here!

NOTE: If you’re not fit for biking or motorcycling around the island to visit the following spots, you can rent a tricycle (at Php 1,500 for 2 pax Batan South Tour), a car (depending on the size of the car, the costs start at Php 2,000 for a whole day), or just go for a guided South Batan tour by reserving your spot online.

Chawa Viewdeck A perfect spot to enjoy Batanes sunsets! Via a nearby staircase, you can also descend more than a hundred steps down to the adjacent cliff to fish, take pictures, or frolic in the waters.

Boat Shelter Port Located in Mahatao, this supports the goals of the fishing industry of the province namely: fish sufficiency and generation of employment. It was constructed in October 2005 and as a 130-million pesos project, it is the biggest infrastructure project by the Provincial Government at that time. The area was chosen because of its cove-like structure that gives good protection to the boats during inclement weather.

San Carlos Borromeo Church Its beauty and excellent state of preservation made it a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2001. Outside the church, you will also find a typical olden Spanish lamp post — two vertical structures about 30 meters apart that were used to be manually lighted with fire so that the local fishermen could identify how far the shore is.

Homoron Blue Lagoon (or Spanish Lagoon) Located between Ivana and Mahatao, it’s an interesting spot because back in the Spanish era only the Spanish were allowed to take a dip there.

Maydangeb White Beach A cove with multi-colored rocks and white-colored sand, this spot can easily rival the beauty of Boracay! It is located along the national highway about 9 kilometers from Basco and is being maintained by both Mahatao and Ivana Local Government Units (LGU’s).

Spanish Bridge This was constructed and formed as part of the main road of Ivana during the Spanish period as the road leads to the doorstep of the Church. It is still being used to date by people and trucks alike.

House of Dakay Probably the most photographed Ivatan house in the islands, this was built of lime and stone in 1887 and owned by Luisa Estrella who bequeathed it to her favorite nephew, Jose “Dakay” Estrella. A survivor of the destructive earthquake of September 13, 1918 which has destroyed much of the rest of the town, its shutters and floor have never changed and has retained much of its authentic look throughout the decades.

San Jose de Obrero Church Built in 1784 by Fr. Jose Fausto de Cuevas, it is the only church in Batan with a separate bell tower that was constructed 30 years later. Built by the coastal area, it is here where Katipunero revolutionaries that commanded by Captain Perea have landed on September 18, 1898 to liberate the province from the Spaniards.

Honesty Coffee Shop An unmanned refreshment store which has become famous worldwide. Showcasing the best of Ivatan’s honesty, in here you will find no standby seller because the owners rely on the honesty of its customers when they pay for goods taken from the store.

Song-song Ruins Remnants of an old settlement which were ravaged by tsunami in the 1950s. Residents were given homesteads in Mindanao under the Magsaysay resettlement program and today, it is a thriving coastal community again.

Itbud Town This is where the best-tasting local wine called palek comes from and where maytuab and sinadumparan (local Ivatan stone houses) still stand. It had the largest population on Batan’s south-eastern part in the 18th century due to stable water supply spring and a well-fortified idjang.

Itbud Idjang One of the 4 Idjangs in Batanes. In here, rock carvings are still evident (probably for water storage), as well as their gathering/meeting area and the rocks with bored holes for anchors are still intact.

Alapad Pass and Hills Offers a captivating view of several rolling hills and the vast expanse of the sea — a location made popular by the Filipino movie “Hihintayin Kita sa Langit”, starred by Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta.

LORAN Station “Long-Range Aid to Navigation” where the US Coast Guards were based. Its lawns and buildings that were once beautiful and well-kept have deteriorated and were ruined after the Americans left and abandoned it in the 1960s. Today, it is a National Museum Branch.

Rakuh a Payaman (Marlboro Country) Dubbed by foreign tourists as Malboro Country because of its similar contour, endless rolling hills, and wind-swept communal pasturelands for cows, carabaos and horses. For sure, this is a perfect spotfor nature-lovers and photographers.

Diura Fishing Village A sitio in Basco’s eastern part where an association of fishermen called mataw still practice the traditional fishing for arayu (dorado type of fish). They also still observe an old ritual called kapayvanuvanua which signifies the start of the fishing season in March.

Disvayangan Beach Front A row of private picnic house with basic facilities adjacent to a government-operated recreation building featuring two bowling lanes and a billiards room.

Tayid Lighthouse Erected in 2000, this colonial-looking beacon offers a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, as well as other parts of Batan Island and its rugged mountain cliffs that face the West Philippine Sea.

Ranum ni Kumalakal / Rakuh-a-idi (Spring of Youth) A man-made pool with spring water and a view of the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Iraya. This spot is truly ideal for picnics (and photo ops!). ~ TIP: You can book online and reserve your spot in a half day tour to this place, especially if you want some more time to relax here.

Make your way to Sabtang Island

Sabtang is one of the inhabited islands in Batanes and depending on the strength of the waves, it is an “exciting” 30 to 1 hour boat ride from Ivana in Batan Island.

TRIVIA: I may have been raised in Batanes but I have never — I repeat — never had the chance to visit Sabtang nor Itbayat. Yes, I know, shame on me! For years, I’ve heard of tales from my family and friends about the beauty of these islands and its “eventful” boat rides; so it was about time that I finally headed over to this place… and boy, I absolutely regretted not coming sooner!

NOTE: You can book a packaged Sabtang tour for a hassle-free experience and you can even do it in just a day!

Otherwise, you can DIY this trip. Sabtang boat trips (that spans for about an hour) depart from Ivana port from 6:00AM to 7:00AM — you can get to this port from Basco by renting a tricycle roundtrip transfer which costs about Php 440. The boat trip costs Php 100 per person each way, and once you arrive in Sabtang you will have to pay Php 200 environmental fee at the tourism office. Later on, you can take the boat ride back to Ivana starting from 8:00AM until 2:00 to 3:00PM (depending on the weather, there can still be boats at 5:00PM but it’s best to be at the Sabtang port before by 2:00PM — or better yet, just ask the locals what is the estimated time for the last trip back to Ivana). Savidug Community (Vernacular Houses) A village which is abound with traditional Ivatan houses. In fact, it is the area where the endangered black face spoonbill was sighted years ago. To this day, it continues to fly in the area.

Savidug Idjang (Fortress) Among the 4 Idjangs in Batanes, this is considered to be the most beautiful and perfectly shaped.

Chamantad–Tinyan Viewpoint Located between Savidug and Chavayan, this place offers spectacular view of nature and the Pacific Ocean. Take your sweet time lounging here since the sights are quite stunning!

Chavayan Community / Barrio This is arguably the cradle of Ivatan culture and heritage. Famous for its rows of old houses, narrow streets, and old sites, Chavayan is likely to leave lasting memories on your visit. Its Chapel, the only church in Batanes still roofed with cogon grass, is a stone’s throw away from a picturesque shore.

Nakabuang (Ahaw Stone Arch) in Morong Beach One of the iconic and most photographed spots in Batanes because of its natural rock arch formation in an ideal beach cove.

Explore Itbayat Island

If Sabtang island will leave you speechless, Itbayat island will make your mouth drop to the floor. Then again — traveling here is no joke! The waves can be harsher than the journey to Sabtang and it will take about 2 to 4 hours; yet without a doubt, it will all be worth it!

NOTE: If the 4-hour boat trip doesn’t sound ‘fun’ to you, you can also fly to Itbayat via NorthSky Airlines which is a small 8-seater plane that flies every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It takes about 15 minutes and the fare will be about Php 1,800 one way. However, please take note that it will only fly if ALL seats are full.

Now, since the waves can be quite volatile, it’s best to inquire about this trip beforehand with the Ivatan locals. Otherwise, it’s better that you have spare days on your trip just in case you can’t ride a boat back to Batan island because of bad weather.

NOTE: To do the whole Itbayat visit, you can book a packaged tour for a hassle-free experience (see the complete list of Batanes tour operators here.)

Otherwise, you can DIY this trip. Itbayat boat trips are available from Basco every day from 6:00AM to 9:00AM in the mornings; and from Itbayat to Basco, around 11:00AM to 2:00PM. Per person, you will have to pay Php 450 one way. If you fail to catch the boat, there are no hotels in the island but you can always arrange a homestay with the locals or with your tour guide/operator. here. As for touring the island by yourself, you can rent a motorbike (with a guide at Php 1,000 for a day) or a tricycle (at Php 2,000 for a whole day, good for 2 to 3 pax).

TIP: The boat ride can get a bit wet, so it’s best to bring a waterproof bag for your essentials.

Turungan Cave & Hills The most ancient dwelling place in Batanes. It is believed to be the first landing place of the Austronesians who came from Formosa, Taiwan in 4000 BC. Today, it is an area where stone boat-shaped burial markers are found, and it is is believed that this is the burial grounds of the cave’s ancient settlers.

Kumayasakas Cave River An underground stream which flows to the sea and is a newly-developed water source for the community.

Rapang Cliff Must-see! This is a natural park comprised of forest, cliffs and rocky hills where bonsai arius trees are abundant along a grazing area for goats. One unique formation that you’ll find here is a flat stone which lies naturally upon another stone and when you strike it with another stone, it produces a bell-like sound. Apparently, it served as an alarm for the ancients inhabitants against approaching enemies and a signal for community meetings and for gathering goats.

Manuyuk A sinkhole that serves as the town’s giant drainage. It was explored by a German doctor named Gechard Schmith in 1993 and was found to be around 45-meter deep and has two big chambers with a narrow passage in between. Apparently, it’s regarded as a ‘haunted’ sinkhole because it is where the ancient Ivatans threw witches as punishment according to the old justice system.

Vernacular Houses These are combinations of European and Itbayat architecture with thick walls of stone and lime and several layers of cogon for roofing. They are proven to withdstand strong typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities, and can withstand the harshest ‘local’ winter from December to February.

Other/Substitute Activities

If you’ve got the time, I highly recommend the following:

Climb Mt. Karububuan The town’s highest point at about 280 meters above sea level. The historical significance of this mountain is that is the other ‘pair’ of Mt. Riposed which is one of the island’s foundations and old settlement for the early settlers.

Climb Mt. Ripused As one of the two volcanoes considered to have been the foundation of Itbayat, it affords a breathtaking panorama of the different parts of the island.

Sail to nearby Siayan Island About a 4 to 5-hour boat ride from Itbayat, Siayan is acknowledged as one of the most beautiful spots in the area. This is basically an 87-63 hectare island surrounded by beautiful white beaches and rich coral reefs which is home to lush marine life. (The same goes for the nearby uninhabited island of Mavulis).

Other Activities and Options

At this point, you have basically explored the inhabited group of islands in Batanes! So either take your time exploring the town on foot as you mingle more with the locals — or do some other unique activities below:

Sail to the uninhabited islands As you can see from the Batanes map that I’ve posted at the beginning of this post, there are uninhabited islands in Batanes such as Y’ami, Ditarem, Dinem, Siayan, and Misanga. Depending on weather conditions, you can travel to these places and the boat rental cost can start from Php 6,000.

Experience fishing with local fishermen Usually done around the town of Basco, you’ll have an extraordinary fishing experience using nylon, and hook — one of the typical methods used by the Ivatans. (You can arrange this experience with Batanes tour operators.)

Bike around the island Instead of having the luxury of motor transportation to go around the island of Batan, you can opt to challenge yourself and get fit! After all, traveling from Basco to the southern parts and back is perfectly doable in a day (I did this a lot with my high school friends back when I was still living in Basco).

Join a local festivity One of the BEST things that you can ever do in Batanes to make the most of your stay is to join one of the local celebrations, fiestas, or festivals to best see the local custom and culture. So go and time your visit if you can! The main fiesta you should witness is Batanes Day (happens on June 26) and it’s usually a week-long celebration consisting of fairs, parades, sports festivals, and shows where you can watch Palo-Palo Dance, Fundanggo, Sagalas & Gozos, and more! Other festivities are as follows: – Savidug Sabtang Fiesta (Around January) – Ivana Fiesta (May 1) – Uyugan Fiesta (May 10) – Diptan Fiesta (June 13) – Valugan Fiesta (June 27) – Basco Fiesta (August 8) – Sinakan Sabtang Fiesta (October 1) – Itbayat Fiesta (October 7) – Mahatao Fiesta (November 4) – Itbud Fiesta (November 27)

NOTE: During fiestas, you can visit any house to celebrate, meet, and eat with them — yes, even if you don’t know them! Everyone’s welcome to do so. Back when my Ivatan friends and I were younger, we often jokingly comment that this house-hopping spree during fiestas was like a grand buffet experience because we can survey the houses and pick the best food spots. LOL.

Other than the fiestas above, do come visit during Christmas. We have a lot of events happening during the holidays while also enjoying a real chilly December (which is not so common throughout the Philippines).

Wondering what Batanes food or Ivatan dishes that you must absolutely try?

Check out this blog post to find out: What & Where to Eat for the Best Ivatan Cuisine . . .

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Booking Essentials

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Overall

It’s clear to see that Batanes has a LOT to offer — and more! In fact, it might just have something for just about anyone.

So what are you waiting for…? If you’re looking for a tranquil escape or an unforgettable vacation, make your way to this northernmost paradise of the Philippines and I guarantee you that it will be worth your while.

How about you?

What do you think of Batanes?

What spots in Batanes would you like to see the most? Why or why not?

Or have you visited here before? How was it?

Did you like this article? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube and be notified about my newest posts and updates!

The post Batanes Itinerary for 5 Days (More or Less): Travel Guide to Batan, Sabtang & Itbayat Islands appeared first on I am Aileen.

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enterdavao-blog · 5 years

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Sun, Samba and Sandy Beaches Make Rio de Janeiro the Best Place to Vacation In

Sun, Samba and Sandy Beaches Make Rio de Janeiro the Best Place to Vacation In – – A country significant popular for alcoholics, terrorists as well as a dropping provide – Northern Ireland in european countries, my home country, features a slightly frustrating past – It is a country I completely failed to appreciate or appreciate in time living there – It was not until a short trip back like a tourist when I observed how much my house country actually has to offer – A country set with life style simultaneously unreliable – Disappointing stuff aside Northern Ireland in countries in europe is often a truly awesome country; even more so from the tourist perspective – To me it can make the optimal fly and produce country with brief varies, easy roads and several best items unseen between locations – World-renowned scenery, scenery, local lifestyle and life-style – On my resume Northern Ireland in european countries with Fanfan by my side (April 2013) we eat my Top 10 Northern Ireland in european countries Destinations – I (now) love my wee country Kerala backwaters are the most renowned tourist attractions inside world as well as the vacationers to Kerala drink too much because they explore this charming beauty in the state. The best way to enjoy these tranquil backwaters here is by canoeing or board the houseboat and luxuriate in a peaceful ride of these shimmering backwaters where you can feel the beauty and tranquility from the atmosphere drenching you completely. Well almost all the cities of this state is blessed by peaceful backwaters but some with the most popular one are near Alleppey, Kuttanad, Kumarakom, Cochin, Thiruvallam and Kollam. – Numerous people visiting Chamoli, usually visit Badrinath – The Badrinath temple this is area of the Chota Char Dham circuit as well as Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri – It is the central attraction here and also the town Badrinath derives its name through the temple – Dedicated to God Vishnu, it is among the country’s holiest Hindu temples and something of the 108 Divya Desams or Vaishnavite holy shrines – The major deity here’s a one meter tall statue of Lord Badrinarayan or Vishnu and devotees widely believe that it is amongst the eight swayam vyakta kshetras or Vishnu’s self-manifested statues – In short, the Badrinath Temple may easily be known as the focus in the entire Chamoli travel tourism industry 2. Elephant trekking tours – that is among the trademark activities in Thailand. Explore the jungle and village by riding by using an elephant. This will entertain all your family, even young kids will cherish this tour. You can hand feed the elephants after your trekking sessions and will even bathe them inside the river. Get close to these lovely creatures, have pictures when you are riding them or bathing them and add those in your album of memories. The villages may also provide a budget thailand hotels to stay within the countryside if you’re keen about learning a nearby culture and tradition. Read Also – Andaman Travel Packages – A Trip to Andaman enterdavao.com – Florida may be the 4th most populous of the 50 United States, situated on the peninsula between Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean and also the Straits of Florida. Florida is really a place which you could see harmony between heritage and modernization. The place can also be known as the historic core district. It offers beautiful natural scenery which attracts the visitors coming here and once you do have a look, you may be spell bound for a couple of minutes. Tourism plays a crucial role in the economy with the state having so many tourist locations like Orlando, Downtown, Lake Buena Vista, Universal Orlando resort, Busch Gardens, Seaworld and a lot of recreational areas. Thus it seems to have many tourists visiting the place annually so because of this you’ll find lined up numerous hotels to deal with them.

#EnterDavao, #Destinations

#Destinations

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passionroamer · 5 years

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Eastern European Women

ABOUT THIS ARTICLE ON EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN

Eastern European women are considered some of the most beautiful women in the world. They’re sought after primarily because of their sharp features, a well-defined bone structure, and well-maintained figures. While meeting them may not be a huge problem – depending on where you live in the world – picking up Eastern European women is easier said than done. Don’t worry just yet! With the carefully put together information in this article, you’ll be able to make better decisions when approaching Eastern European women. Your chances of getting lucky just increased. You’re welcome!

This article will walk you through meeting, dating, and hooking up with Eastern European women. Once you have a fair idea of how they are like and what they look for in men, you’ll make better decisions when interacting with them.

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

WHERE TO FIND EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN

First things first, we have good news: in most of Eastern Europe, there is a gender imbalance. In this case, there are far more women in Eastern Europe than they are men. In fact, Eastern Europe has the highest ratio of women compared to anywhere else in the world. For example, there are 117 women for every 100 men in Ukraine, and 115 women for every 100 men in Russia. Another example is of Belarus, where there are 115 women for every 100 men. The list goes on and on, but we’re sure you get where we’re going with this.

This imbalance occurred because after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many men were pressured into finding gainful employment as unemployment rates were rising, and that led to increased alcoholism and increased suicide in men. Long story short, this means that there are far more single women in Eastern Europe than the rest of the world. And that should work in your favor. Opportunities, opportunities!

Since Eastern Europe consists of several countries, we made your life easier by making a list of the countries you should travel to when looking to meet Eastern European women. While this is not an exhaustive list of where to approach women, it is certainly handy. In order of population:

Russia

Ukraine

Romania

Czech Republic

Hungary

Russia, being one of the largest countries not just in Eastern Europe, but in the world, has the largest population of Eastern European women. Not only this, but it also has the most diverse spread of Eastern European women in terms of physical features. So it only makes sense to focus on Russia for the purpose of this article. While Moscow and St. Petersburg are both great cities for meeting women, we will be talking about Moscow as it is the largest and most accessible city in Russia.

TRAVELING IN MOSCOW

Moscow is one of the most spectacular cities in the world. It is full of history, culture, and architectural splendor. Moscow was once the hub of communism, and so the remains of the Soviet state are all over the city. But like any metropolitan city, it has far since evolved. It now boasts unbelievable music, nightlife, and dining experiences. A combination of these factors makes Moscow a prime location for meeting and hooking up with Eastern European women.

It is difficult to predict how the police in Moscow interact with members of the public on any given day. Police in Russia have been known to be corrupt and greedy, so there’s no telling where a simple encounter with them may lead. It is best to avoid suspicious activity so that you can avoid any inconvenience later. Why put yourself in a sticky situation?

Moscow boasts a plethora of fine dining options and casual restaurants. All the options are very diverse, so it can be hard to pick a single restaurant to visit. Russian cuisine, too, is interesting enough to warrant a culinary adventure. There are several options for street food and light snacks, so keeping your stomach and palate satisfied should be no problem. Think caviar, borsch, and European dumplings.

Shopping options are as you may expect in any large city, and the tourism sector is developed enough to ease even the most high-maintenance traveler. Couple that with spectacular cocktail bars which carry everything from vodka to the local Mors, and you have yourself a recipe for a great time.

Being alert will take you very far in Moscow. You need to take proper precautions to ensure that your valuables are secure to avoid any untoward incident. Moscow is known for its pickpockets, so you should be very careful when entering crowded areas. There are also a lot of beggars in the street; try and limit any interactions with them to avoid undesirable situations. Like with any large city, it always helps to be aware of your surroundings and take measures to protect yourself and your belongings.

MEETING EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN IN MOSCOW

Every straight man has fantasized about hooking up with an Eastern European woman at one point in his life. If you steer clear of the distractions and prepare yourself for any situation, your chances of making this fantasy a reality are very good. However, be wary of the rampant prostitution in Moscow, even though it is illegal in Russia. You could get into deep trouble and even get deported if you make poor decisions.

If you steer clear of illegal brothels, you’ll find that there are several better ways to approach and hook up with Eastern European women in Moscow. Moscow is a progressive and liberal city, and this is reflected in the hookup culture and nightlife. If you’re a good-looking man, chances are you’ll be getting laid in no time. After all, looks are everything these days. Eastern European girls are no exception to this rule.

So how do you go about meeting these Eastern European women? The answer may be simpler than you had thought – nightclubs. With an amazing nightlife scene, Moscow does half your work for you. Dressing well and knowing your dance moves will take you far when it comes to picking up women, and upscale clubs will spoil you for choice. When the alcohol is flowing and people are grooving, it’s easier to approach Eastern European women and have a conversation. Smoking cigarettes is also a way of life in Moscow, so if you’re looking to get away from the noise and have a private conversation, choose patio areas at clubs to get some alone time.

There are also parks. Yes, parks are a viable alternative to meeting women in bars or clubs. Depending on the time of the year, you can bask in the sun, engage in some outdoor activities, or simply take a walk – all are great options for striking up a conversation that could lead somewhere promising. The same applies to public monuments, museums, and restaurants. There’s really no bad option here. Finally, if nothing else works for you, there are many dating applications in Russia that you could try out.

Hotels in Moscow are very finicky when you take an Eastern European girl back to your room with you. Many assume that these girls are prostitutes, and that may be a problem. If you have your bases covered, don’t sweat it; no established hotel will bother you if you talk to them in a reasonable manner. If all else fails, a fat tip will do the trick nicely. Private rentals would solve this problem before it even arises.

In Moscow, if you dress like a million bucks, act like a million bucks, and maintain eye contact, you should have no problem meeting and interacting with Eastern European women. Oh, and speaking Russian will make your life infinitely better!

FINDING EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN ELSEWHERE

Can’t go to Russia? There’s hope for you yet! Several other countries and cities also have millions of Eastern European women, so don’t fret.

Ukraine

The next best country after Russia to pick up Eastern European women is Ukraine. It is the second most populated country in terms of Eastern European women, and Kyiv is a dream come true for most people looking for a good time. It may also be easier to get a visa for Ukraine as compared to Russia, depending on where you’re from.

Wondering what you’re missing out on? Check out this girl from Ukraine:

WHAT ARE EASTERN EUROPEAN WOMEN LIKE?

Eastern European women have some of the most varying physical features of any women in the world. Their hair color ranges from blonde to brunette, and everything in between. Their eye color, too, is a spectrum, ranging from dark to light to colored. They have very developed bone structures, often with high cheekbones, sleek jawlines and prim lips. Women in Eastern Europe also have above-average height, which explains why they make up a significant portion of fashion models and social media influencers. They’re all about that glamourous life!

Eastern European women dress well to accentuate their natural good looks and slim figures, and carry themselves elegantly in public. They have an astute sense of style that can best be described as chic, and are very aware of the image that the world has of them. This is why they keep a fine balance between sexy and classy when dressing, which is one of their most appealing qualities.

One of the most misleading stereotypes about Eastern European women is that they are high maintenance. While this may be true in certain circumstances, it is not entirely appropriate to deem all Eastern European women high maintenance. Many women from Eastern Europe are extremely approachable and do not require over-the-top displays of wealth and affection as a precursor to attraction, dating, and hooking up. As with most women, however, confidence on the part of the man goes a long way in sealing the deal.

An important point to note is that most women from Eastern Europe, and especially Russia, take dating very seriously unless explicitly told otherwise. This means you will be treated as a potential spouse unless you are direct about your intentions. There’s a reason for this familial approach: Eastern Europe is very family-oriented in terms of its culture. To them, marriage is the natural course of progression for any intimate relationship. This also means Eastern European women will put in the extra effort to look attractive and make a striking impression.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Let’s be real: Eastern European women are the real deal. With enough situational awareness and the right tools at your disposal, getting laid really shouldn’t be an issue. All you need is to get off the couch; remember that you miss all the shots you don’t take!

Use this article to step up your game and find the Eastern European woman you’ve been dreaming of.

The post Eastern European Women appeared first on Passion Roamer.

source https://passionroamer.com/eastern-european-women/

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yourchoicepage · 6 years

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Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Below is an update we sent this morning to all users of Horizon and our previous product, Oh Hey World (which failed). I know some of you are on that list.

Bottom line: Yes, startups are hard.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Hi again, Drew here, co-founder of Horizon…

Remember when you found Horizon App and discovered a way to connect members of communities around the globe? We, the Horizon team, envisioned a new way to travel—one that would facilitate homestays among friends, friends of friends, and communities, such as the Peace Corps and StartingBloc. We are on a mission to make travel accessible, make it more personal for you, and give you a way to form deeper connections in each destination you visit.

It’s been an incredible, challenging, and humbling journey. And yes, we’re still here. Horizon exists, but it needs you more than ever. Four years ago, we joined Start-up Chile with a private hospitality networks concept and a small team. We overcame many challenges in those early years, and now, many thousands of dollars poorer, I’m still here.

Years later, you might wonder: Why do I even think Horizon is still a good, viable idea? Does Horizon need to exist at all?

I wonder that, too. Every day bringing new hurdles and challenges, setbacks, and requiring more time and money, I ask myself that question.

Even as the challenges stack up, and the money runs dry. The answer is a resounding yes.

Yes, the world needs what Horizon provides. We need travels involving deep conversations, fascinating new friendships, challenging perspectives, and ways to not just see the world, but experience it through our own eyes. We need more community to counter growing divisiness and isolation.

The need for a platform like Horizon facilitating global communities coming together in person comes down to the importance of humans understanding the reality of the vast world in which we live. It comes down to the importance of traveling in a way that contextualizes our place on a wider scale—understanding that “necessities” such as shoes and electricity are extreme luxuries to much of the world’s population.

Chance is the only thing separating you from someone born into extreme poverty.

It’s this very fact of chance that I know we can address through conscious travel—travel that pairs connected, immersive local travels with a powerful mission to funnel tourism dollars into pressing local social issues. Connecting travelers to the realities on the ground opens entirely new avenues to become the type of engaged and informed citizens we need: Citizens committed to spending their tourism dollars in ways that make a real impact on local communities.

The Road Building to Horizon

After graduating college and backpacking Europe in 2005, I haven’t been able to kick my unabiding love for travel. After using all of my vacation days to travel as widely as possible, I left “startup” America in 2010 to travel full time.

As is the case with traveling, I would meet all sorts of amazing people around the globe in those years on the road and I would learn from them all, be they rich or poor, Russian, Alaskan, or Kiwi. When I returned home, friends and relatives asked me how I did it—the implied question being how they might do the same. After hundreds of conversations, I came to realize the reason why more people don’t travel. It wasn’t just time and wasn’t not just about the money. While those were certainly factors, the underlying thread in every conversation was fear.

We fear that which we don’t know, and that seemed to be the key to unlocking a more powerful way for people to travel. We would build a hospitality exchange network based on existing interests—existing connections and passions. But we wouldn’t stop there, we would help travelers truly connect to the social causes impacting the places they travel, and we would do it by baking our social mission into the very core of our platform.

Accomplishments

Acceptance in Startup Chile, and a demo day pitch (you can view it here).

We launched publicly in 2015, first on Product Hunt, and then publicly on the app store a couple months later.

Despite running the business in the red on a monthly basis for more months in a row than I can count, we’ve grown to over 13,000 members—our mission clearly resonates deeply with travelers.

The native Android app was well-received.

Our current Stay a Night, Give a Night Campaign launched in Seattle, with two completed stays in our pilot. Our campaign is bringing much-needed money and attention to Seattle’s serious homelessness situation.

Members of major communities such as Peace Corps, StartingBloc, and Product Hunt have joined Horizon, and several sponsors such as Avail, CityBldr, R6 Ventures, Susi Musi & Co Real Estate, Wikileaf, and WealthSimple have partnered on our latest campaign.

Challenges

We’ve lost money. A lot of money. I’m personally very far in debt as a result of Horizon.

We lost core team members who had to move on due to life and financial realities.

We failed at our fundraising effort in late 2014 and early 2015.

The need to scrap both our native iOS and Android apps (for the time being) when Facebook changed a few APIs and broke our login system.

Every passing day I increasingly believe Horizon’s platform is needed. I’m not interested in living in the world shaped by screen addiction spreading unopposed. That’s a soulless, lonely world. We needed Horizon back in 2014, but we could have never foreseen what four short years would bring—we need Horizon now more than ever. Screen addiction is at all time high. Empathy is at all time low.

The world needs community more than anything if we are to overcome our challenges. People need to live within other reality bubbles.

The Reality of the Current Home Sharing and Hospitality Exchange Landscape (Hint: It’s Not About Community)

You may point to Couchsurfing and Airbnb as platforms addressing this every issue, but they both fall well short. I’ve said it before, Couchsurfing was one of the coolest social movements created in my lifetime. It enabled millions of budget travelers to take trips they otherwise might have never taken. That said, the world is bigger than one community. We need to build community around shared ideals of not just budget travel, but of travel that changes the way we see the world and how we make an impact.

Airbnb’s early business was “paid couchsurfing,” but these days it’s not really that at all. More than 10 years later, the majority of Airbnb’s business comes from renting entire apartments, homes, yachts, etc., and travelers never even meet their host. With its recent support for boutique hotels and traditional bed and breakfasts, it’s moving farther away from its “community” roots , not closer. The Airbnb “business” is monetizing space, not building community. Which is fine, but it’s missing the chance to form real community connections on our travels.

When we remove connection and community from the equation, we lose a very real piece of what has always made travel so transformational. Horizon is the antidote, it’s the platform where community is not an afterthought: it’s the whole damn point.

Where Horizon is Heading

Horizon removes technology challenges from the world’s greatest communities: Harley riders, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, bicyclists, and more. These groups already share a strong sense of belonging, so we asked ourselves: What would it look like to build the world’s best global hospitality exchange platform? How could we facilitate existing communities rather than build a new one? Rather than building an entire technology platform (both extremely expensive and time consuming), what if these communities could simply click a button and pay a small monthly fee? What if creating a hospitality exchange network to connect your community was as easy as starting a Meetup group?

There doesn’t have to be a what-if, because Horizon is how we’re keeping you connected to the communities you care about, connected to the causes and people who have made your life better.

But we need your help. A member-funded route is the only way we can continue to build community in the physical world. That’s why we’re asking for your support on Patreon, a crowdfunding platform that allows you to support the creatives and creators you believe in.

Do you believe the world needs a community-funded (and ad-free) hospitality exchange platform focused on facilitating true community, empathy and not just “transactions”? A platform that believes in creating real change in local communities through socially responsible initiatives? We need your financial help to continue improving Horizon’s product and unlock travel opportunities to grow our community of global citizens.

I believe there are 15,000 people in the world willing to give up the equivalent of one cup of coffee per month to keep a community-funded and community-owned hospitality exchange platform alive. With Patreon, you choose your level of support, whether that is $10 per month or just $60 a year. Horizon is, quite simply, the best community building tool that’s ever been created. It’s a tool empowering distributed communities to come together in person, strengthen relationships through meaningful real-world interactions, to make a real difference in your life, as well as the lives of those in each place you travel.

Our community is already 13,000 strong. Now we need you to join us on the next step as we transform the way travelers experience cities and countries around the globe. Join us as we build empathy.

This is our big ask. Horizon needs its community’s support and no donation is too small. Make a monthly pledge now. And if you really love what we’re working on, but can’t contribute even $5 per month, we gratefully welcome your one-time contribution here.

I have never wavered in my belief that there is a better way for us to understand the world. Understanding comes through real-world experiences, not screens. Horizon will transform how we live and travel, and we need your help to continue making that mission a reality.

Thank you for your generous support, Drew Meyers

Co-founder, Horizon

The post Why Does Horizon Still Exist? appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist? published first on https://medium.com/@YourChoice

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cleancutpage · 6 years

Text

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Below is an update we sent this morning to all users of Horizon and our previous product, Oh Hey World (which failed). I know some of you are on that list.

Bottom line: Yes, startups are hard.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Hi again, Drew here, co-founder of Horizon…

Years later, you might wonder: Why do I even think Horizon is still a good, viable idea? Does Horizon need to exist at all?

I wonder that, too. Every day bringing new hurdles and challenges, setbacks, and requiring more time and money, I ask myself that question.

Even as the challenges stack up, and the money runs dry. The answer is a resounding yes.

Chance is the only thing separating you from someone born into extreme poverty.

The Road Building to Horizon

Accomplishments

Acceptance in Startup Chile, and a demo day pitch (you can view it here).

We launched publicly in 2015, first on Product Hunt, and then publicly on the app store a couple months later.

Despite running the business in the red on a monthly basis for more months in a row than I can count, we’ve grown to over 13,000 members—our mission clearly resonates deeply with travelers.

The native Android app was well-received.

Challenges

We’ve lost money. A lot of money. I’m personally very far in debt as a result of Horizon.

We lost core team members who had to move on due to life and financial realities.

We failed at our fundraising effort in late 2014 and early 2015.

The need to scrap both our native iOS and Android apps (for the time being) when Facebook changed a few APIs and broke our login system.

The world needs community more than anything if we are to overcome our challenges. People need to live within other reality bubbles.

The Reality of the Current Home Sharing and Hospitality Exchange Landscape (Hint: It’s Not About Community)

Where Horizon is Heading

There doesn’t have to be a what-if, because Horizon is how we’re keeping you connected to the communities you care about, connected to the causes and people who have made your life better.

Our community is already 13,000 strong. Now we need you to join us on the next step as we transform the way travelers experience cities and countries around the globe. Join us as we build empathy.

Thank you for your generous support, Drew Meyers

Co-founder, Horizon

The post Why Does Horizon Still Exist? appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist? published first on https://greatlivinghomespage.tumblr.com/

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brettseaton · 6 years

Text

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Below is an update we sent this morning to all users of Horizon and our previous product, Oh Hey World (which failed). I know some of you are on that list.

Bottom line: Yes, startups are hard.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Hi again, Drew here, co-founder of Horizon…

Years later, you might wonder: Why do I even think Horizon is still a good, viable idea? Does Horizon need to exist at all?

I wonder that, too. Every day bringing new hurdles and challenges, setbacks, and requiring more time and money, I ask myself that question.

Even as the challenges stack up, and the money runs dry. The answer is a resounding yes.

Chance is the only thing separating you from someone born into extreme poverty.

The Road Building to Horizon

Accomplishments

Acceptance in Startup Chile, and a demo day pitch (you can view it here).

We launched publicly in 2015, first on Product Hunt, and then publicly on the app store a couple months later.

Despite running the business in the red on a monthly basis for more months in a row than I can count, we’ve grown to over 13,000 members—our mission clearly resonates deeply with travelers.

The native Android app was well-received.

Challenges

We’ve lost money. A lot of money. I’m personally very far in debt as a result of Horizon.

We lost core team members who had to move on due to life and financial realities.

We failed at our fundraising effort in late 2014 and early 2015.

The need to scrap both our native iOS and Android apps (for the time being) when Facebook changed a few APIs and broke our login system.

The world needs community more than anything if we are to overcome our challenges. People need to live within other reality bubbles.

The Reality of the Current Home Sharing and Hospitality Exchange Landscape (Hint: It’s Not About Community)

Where Horizon is Heading

There doesn’t have to be a what-if, because Horizon is how we’re keeping you connected to the communities you care about, connected to the causes and people who have made your life better.

Our community is already 13,000 strong. Now we need you to join us on the next step as we transform the way travelers experience cities and countries around the globe. Join us as we build empathy.

Thank you for your generous support, Drew Meyers

Co-founder, Horizon

The post Why Does Horizon Still Exist? appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist? syndicated from https://oicrealestate.wordpress.com/

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theokbrowne · 6 years

Text

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Below is an update we sent this morning to all users of Horizon and our previous product, Oh Hey World (which failed). I know some of you are on that list.

Bottom line: Yes, startups are hard.

Why Does Horizon Still Exist?

Hi again, Drew here, co-founder of Horizon…

Years later, you might wonder: Why do I even think Horizon is still a good, viable idea? Does Horizon need to exist at all?

I wonder that, too. Every day bringing new hurdles and challenges, setbacks, and requiring more time and money, I ask myself that question.

Even as the challenges stack up, and the money runs dry. The answer is a resounding yes.

Chance is the only thing separating you from someone born into extreme poverty.

The Road Building to Horizon

Accomplishments

Acceptance in Startup Chile, and a demo day pitch (you can view it here).

We launched publicly in 2015, first on Product Hunt, and then publicly on the app store a couple months later.

Despite running the business in the red on a monthly basis for more months in a row than I can count, we’ve grown to over 13,000 members—our mission clearly resonates deeply with travelers.

The native Android app was well-received.

Challenges

We’ve lost money. A lot of money. I’m personally very far in debt as a result of Horizon.

We lost core team members who had to move on due to life and financial realities.

We failed at our fundraising effort in late 2014 and early 2015.

The need to scrap both our native iOS and Android apps (for the time being) when Facebook changed a few APIs and broke our login system.

The world needs community more than anything if we are to overcome our challenges. People need to live within other reality bubbles.

The Reality of the Current Home Sharing and Hospitality Exchange Landscape (Hint: It’s Not About Community)

Where Horizon is Heading

There doesn’t have to be a what-if, because Horizon is how we’re keeping you connected to the communities you care about, connected to the causes and people who have made your life better.

Our community is already 13,000 strong. Now we need you to join us on the next step as we transform the way travelers experience cities and countries around the globe. Join us as we build empathy.

Thank you for your generous support, Drew Meyers

Co-founder, Horizon

The post Why Does Horizon Still Exist? appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from theokbrowne digest http://geekestateblog.com/horizon-still-exist/

#theokbrowne digest

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