#like that boat that gets rebuilt it’s no longer the original boat

[cruelfeline]

So, this scene here. It's an interesting thing because it tells us a few things.

First, it tells us that, at least to an extent, the people of Athia are aware of Susurrus. He's not something the Tantas were able to keep completely secret from them, at least when he was free. They saw him; they know what he looks and sounds like, beyond just simple mythology.

Now, this was twenty-one years ago, and most Athians have died since then. It's possible that the current population is less familiar with him.

Either way, it still doesn't seem that the populace knew what happened to him once the Tantas bound him, so the weirdness of them keeping their eventual corruption a secret remains.

Now, second: this seems to show the first appearance of Susurrus in Athia during the year 3877; the way the Tantas and civilians speak during this scene, it's clear that they're just realizing that he's free. Which is interesting because it means that, even after the war ended, the Tantas didn't realize Suss had been removed from the Labyrinths. Apparently, they just never checked.

Which makes me wonder if the massive amount of damage the Rheddig did to Athia during the Purge had a partial objective of keeping the Tantas so occupied that they didn't realize their ancient enemy was being repaired and redeployed.

Also! This clearly happens in Visoria. And Olas states "you shall sully Visoria no longer" as the scene ends. This tells us that Susurrus' first attack in 3877 happened on Visorian soil. Which is interesting because the Rheddig originally invaded from the Praenostian shore. There's no mention of the Rheddig being present alongside him, which suggests that Suss (a) has come alone and (b) potentially flew/teleported over rather than being transported by boat.

Which is a minor bit of information by itself, but it does make me feel a certain way. This idea that he was sent alone. That he didn't have any comrades to battle alongside. That, should things go wrong, he also wouldn't have anyone to help him. He would have to shoulder the burden of this duty, and the danger of failure, alone. Mm.

During the scene, we also get this line, which... well, it's a simple thing, but the fact that Sila specifically tells Suss to report back to his "masters" makes me soooo uncomfortable.

Just. The idea that he has masters. That he's this thing on a leash, not acting under his own power but very clearly having orders to fulfill. That he's under someone else's control.

I wonder what that relationship is like. And I wonder why Cuff doesn't seem resentful of it. Why he doesn't seem keen on fighting it but is instead hellbent on obeying the orders his "masters" gave him. Why wouldn't he want to rebel? Why would he just... go along with this. With being someone's tool. With having a master.

The next scene involves his rebinding, and the main thing that stands out to me is this line, specifically because of his rage. He sounds so angry when he says this, and I just can't imagine... he's just gotten rebuilt. He's trying again, so hard, to fulfill the duty given to him by the masters he apparently feels he needs to obey, and he's being trapped again. He's fought what I'm sure was an arduous battle, and now he's going back in a different sort of cage.

That just... sucks, to be quite frank. His entire existence just seems to be one long train of battle and loss and hardship, over and over again. And the fact that he keeps subjecting himself to it rather than just saying "fuck it, I'm out"... I can't comprehend that. I can't comprehend why he won't just leave. What is it about the Rheddig and their imposed duty that he feels so compelled to adhere to, at his own painful personal expense? Why would he do this to himself, over and over again? It's insane to me.

It's insane that he won't just stop, because this all just seems a misery.

[vienna2023]

Day 9-Emma

Today was a more relaxing day as we went by train to Melk to see the Melk Abbey. Melk Abby was established in the Babenburg Era which occurred before the Habsburg Empire. However the Abby was demolished and then rebuilt during the 1700s in the Baroque style. The Abbey claims to have both a piece of the original crucifixion cross and John the Baptist's Finger.

We walked in a self guided tour through the Abby and were unfortunately not able to get any pictures inside. My favourite part was definitely the two story library. I walked into the cathedral and we found out we had just missed the prayer time by five minutes and that made me sad cause I wanted to hear the organ being played. The cathedral was probably my favourite one that I had seen so far. There were glass coffins too which did creep me out a bit. Some of the people in the coffins were so old they didn’t know the name of them so they gave them random names.

We went to a little place called Kasio that served delicious food. I had some very good spaghetti. Afterwards we hung around at Melk and then had a bit of a mix up because we were supposed to go by boat back travelling on the Danube River but the boat wasn’t running today even though the train station sold us tickets that you could use to go on the boat.

Luckily though, Dr. Carpenter found another boat company that we could use to go back to Vienna on. The new boat however didn’t leave until 4:00 and by this point it was 2:30. So we had an hour to kill at a cafe, where I had a lovely hot chocolate, while we waited till 3:30 to go on the walk down to the pier to wait for the boat.

It’s 4:00 and we are on the boat waiting to depart and despite being stuck next to Andrew on the train he’s sitting next to me while he is trying to teach me chess. I most definitely lost my first game however I did manage to be a prick and make some good moves out of pure luck. I honestly didn’t have much clue as to what I was doing the majority of the time. However I think I will keep practising as I did find it fun.

While that was going on, some of us had an apparently delicious Austrian Riesling that was made in the region that we were passing through by boat. The boat was a relaxing two and a half hour journey and then we took a train for an hour back into Vienna.

That evening a group of four of us decided that we would all do laundry. We waited in the laundry room the entire time and ended up singing out to country, pop, and musical theatre after we had finished our supper. What we were told would be an hour and a half time took more like two hours because the washing machines sucked. Unfortunately clothes turned different colours for a couple of us and the washing machines took a half an hour longer than they originally stated they would. But yet through all of that I was still able to make new memories with friends that will last me a lifetime.

#Wienersfor life

[cmoon-rabbit4-blog]

Disclaimer: All photos are screenshots from the official teaser trailer for Angry Birds 2

I’m not too sure if anybody else has done this yet, but here’s my official review of what I think’s going to go down in Angry Birds 2 when the movie comes out to theaters.

So, because we don’t know the name of the bird featured in AB2, I’ve taken the liberty to dub them “Ice Baby” due to the song that’s sung during the intro. I will be referring to “Ice Baby” as “they/them” for now as I literally can’t tell if it’s a guy or gal as Ice Baby is too androgynous looking to tell, and I’d like to point out that just because a character has a voice actor this or that gender doesn’t always mean that the character is the gender of their voice actor (an example being that Tara Strong, a woman, has voiced acted several many male characters of notable fame, such as both Timmy Turner and Poof from The Fairy Odd Parents, Ben 10 from Ben 10, as well as Dil Pickles from both Rugrats and All Grown Up!). Now, on with the analyzing and theorizing.

We’re first introduced to the island that is Ice Baby’s residency, an iced over island.

From this picture we are able to see some rather sparse flora buried under snow and ice, which immediately made me suspicious as while it isn’t unusual to find glaciers and other ice formations when in regions with such cold waters as the Arctic and Antarctic waters are, the ice formed around the island doesn’t look naturally made and I’ve seen Happy Feet 1 and 2 which showcase natural ice formations in animation style! Also Penguins of Madagascar the movie, too, so there’s also that …

Anyways.

But it wasn’t until the next scene where we actually meet Ice Baby that I got even more suspicious.

The background is reminiscent of a tropical resort, and especially the bird wearing the coconut bra and grass hula skirt makes me think that something happened here at this island for it to become the icy paradise that the coconut bra birdie isn’t used to as they slip onto the icy cover of what used to be a pool as we see, whereas Ice Baby looks as content as could be where they’re at.

This makes me think of something else. New characters aside from Ice Baby! Coconut bra birdie makes me think we’ll be hearing a tragic backstory for some reason, but I’m not too sure, but also …

Aside from that poor dog, we’ll be meeting other animals such as that seal that’s later on featured in the teaser trailer! So that’ll be interesting.

Now back to analyzing and theorizing.

As we follow Ice Baby through their day or what’s supposedly their usual day, we see their getting fed up with living on the island, and that’s where we see this:

“Fire another ice ball!” Ice Baby says.

And here it is. Theory 1: Ice Baby is a bird that does much better in colder climates than in warmer climates, yet because colder climates don’t turn out a good plentiful amount of resources such as fish and other luxuries as we see Ice Baby enjoying during their intro, Ice Baby had made a machine that allows for them to convert an island’s climate to fit their original environment’s climate, as so Ice Baby can enjoy the luxuries of a tropical island in cold weather up until they used up all the island’s resources or the environment is no longer satisfying for Ice Baby’s tastes, they making a cycle of this by moving onto the next island until it no longer satisfies them and then going onto the next and the next and so on.

Also.

I didn’t think Ice Baby was near the colder regions of water because the ice ball was shot at a high arc, that while going a good long distance, landed at a slant in the waters surrounding Bird Island. It makes me believe the island Ice Baby took over is only a bit of a boat ride to Bird Island, perhaps a couple hours or so, maybe more but we’ll find out more during the official full trailer or more likely with the movie.

Now, onto my second theory.

We saw that the Pigs had rebuilt their island anew, and that Leonard/Mudbeard had seen for himself the incoming ice ball as it landed in the waters surrounding Bird Island. It can be inferred that he might have been spying on the Birds when he saw this as we saw at the end of the first Angry Birds movie that he was plotting revenge on them, so it stands to reason he’s been looking out for an opportunity to strike. Something else.

I believe and this is theory 2 that the Pigs and Birds are going to join forces to fight Ice Baby as because rules for having enemies, it’s usually a “they’re my enemies first not yours, I called dibs first so they’re mine to do away with, go on, get” sort of thing, and two, the Pigs are egg-hungry fiends, so I think that will play in for the Pigs and Birds working together begrudgingly, too, as the Birds don’t want to lose their eggs and home whereas the Pigs don’t want the eggs to get iced over as they would lose any and all chance (as if they had one) to eat the eggs. Plus, what’s stopping Ice Baby from taking over Piggy Island just as they’d done to perhaps more islands than the one we saw and their trying to take over Bird Island?

“We’re going to need a bigger slingshot.” That was actually what made me think that the Birds and Pigs are going to work together against Ice Baby, as the Birds are the ones seen with the slingshot in the ending of the movie as well as with the animation shorts that people can find on Netflix (as that’s where I found them, though I’m not sure if it’s still up on Netflix anymore).

I also think that we’ll be seeing a bit more of the Blues in the movie as while they featured in many of the shorts, this is the only movie that they’d be capable of appearing in, ready to help fight as they do in the animated, 2D shorts.

Well, that’s my review for the teaser trailer! I can’t wait to see the full trailer and the sequel!

And lol, it’s just a funny thought of Leonard raising his eyebrow at Red and being a smug jerk as he offers a hoof in temporary truce to take down Ice Baby meanwhile Red is trying to keep from attacking Leonard after what he’d done to the Birds and I think Bomb and Chuck would be holding him back or trying to as that happened as Red has the most beef (or rather *snrk* pork) with this guy more than any other of the Birds!

[betweenandbeloved]

Jesus’ Ministry & The Sea of Galilee

What a day.  Each day is more amazing than the next. Today we spent wandering around the Sea of Galilee following the footsteps of Jesus.  Whether or not you believe Jesus is the Son of God, or how he was born, or the miracles he performed, there is no denying the fact that Jesus was a person who lived, walked and taught on the earth.  Each of the places we went today, were places Jesus visited.  At each of these places, we talked about what we know Jesus did or what we speculated he might have done... simple things... walking... talking... sitting... teaching.

The morning started at Capernaum, which is the second most mentioned town in the Bible, after Jerusalem.  This is the town Jesus moved to from Nazareth and performed many miracles.  The Via Maris trade route goes through the town and is a place where taxes are collected on goods traveling from one region to the other; essentially, a customs tax.  Between the locals and those traveling through, Capernaum was a good place to meet and interact with people.

(Recovered ruins of the city of Capernaum)

At the site, we got to see Peter’s house, where Jesus lived and performed the miracle of healing Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:38).  Archaeologists found graffiti with names and symbols confirming that this is, in fact, Peter’s house and that it was likely transitioned into a church once Jesus left.

(Peter’s House with extra walls added from the Byzantine Church)

A Byzantine church was built on top of the house which helped preserve it, but ultimately altered the structure of the house from what it was.  It appears that archaeologists are still digging in the area working to uncover more of the town.

(New Temple built on top of the Old Temple)

Also in the town, we were able to see the synagogue.  The original was much smaller and simpler, but after being destroyed, the new one was built on top.  In Jesus’ time, the synagogue was the only public building in a Jewish town. It was the school, the council place, the courthouse; everything they needed.  It was not a place of worship because that was done at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  It wasn’t until after the Temple was destroyed that the synagogue became a local place of worship. After walking around Capernaum, we got on the bus and headed to Bethsaida.  Now, there are two possible locations for the town, but no one really knows for sure where it is. I could (and might) write a much longer blog post about that debacle, but for the purpose of simplicity, we shall call this Bethsaida.  My professor, Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman actually worked at this archaeological dig site in 2012, so he played tour guide and explained everything to us (which is pretty awesome).

(Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman telling us about his experience on his archaeological dig through this area)

Originally, this place was the Hebrew Scriptures city of Geshur (Check out Joshua, Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, and more in the Hebrew Scriptures.).  What is still under exploration is whether or not the city was rebuilt into Bethsaida or something else.  We wandered around exploring the outer and inner walls of the city, as well as seeing the palace, offering/sacrifice rooms, and even a wine cellar! Geshur was in roughly 10-8th century BCE and then destroyed in 732 BCE, it was rebuilt in the 4th-2nd century BCE but archaeologists are still working on all that.

The coolest part about this specific archaeological site was, we were able to walk right through and explore the ruins for ourselves.  So naturally, without really realizing it... I made the ruins of a 10th-century city my playground for the afternoon as I went exploring the different rooms and climbing over the walls. That’s definitely not something you get to do every day! 

As with every site, I was sad to leave, but each site gets more and more beautiful.  From Bethsaida/Geshur we went on to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5).  We went to the very top where a monastery now resides.  It was beautiful, but more than likely, not the spot where Jesus gave the sermon.  No one knows for sure, but based on research using acoustics, it is more than likely that Jesus gave the sermon on the side of the mountain in an area that reminisces a natural amphitheater.  We hiked down the mountain just so we could stop for a minute in the spot that is more likely where Jesus gave the sermon.

(If Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount here this would have been his view + lots of people)

The mountainside was so beautiful. The grass was lush and green, the water sparkled in the sun, and the view was absolutely astounding. The whole thing was breathtaking and I just wanted to breathe it all in.  At the bottom of the trail just before the road, we came to a cave that is believed to be one of the caves where Jesus went to pray.  It was a calm and peaceful place and I managed to get in a quick prayer before the rest of the group made me laugh (though laughing is praying too!) and we moved on.

(A rare photo of me praying. I can see why Jesus went there to pray, I would too if I had more time!)

At the bottom of the Mountain, we entered into Tabgha with the Church of the Primacy of Peter.  This site was right on the Sea of Galilee and was where the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand happened.  It is also one of the places where Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection.  We were given some time to ourselves and I sat on a rock with my feet in the Sea of Galilee.  It was relaxing, refreshing, and rejuvenating to sit in marvel at the wonder of our amazing God.

(Above: Church of the Primacy of Peter, Below: My feet in the Sea of Galilee)

After a quick lunch, we continued on to the archaeological site of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene. This site was found by accident in 2009(ish) when the Roman Catholic Church bought the property to put up a hotel.  When they went to dig they found the city and had to alter their building design.  Now it is an active dig site where they found the oldest first-century synagogue in Galilee (one of eight in the entire country).  

(First Century Synagogue with original mosaics and frescos)

The city was much wealthier than others in the region because of its fishing industry. It was known for drying and processing fish and fish salt.  Magdala was strategically placed on the trade route making it a stop for anyone traveling on their way inland or towards the Mediterranean. The town had so much money they were able to afford extra beautiful adornments for their synagogue. Archaeologists recovered original mosaics on the floor and some fresco paintings on the walls.  It was really quite amazing to see a new dig site for such an old city.  Nothing was ever built on top of it so the ruins are preserved in pristine condition.

At Magdala, we were able to visit the Duc in Altum chapel built on top of some of the remains from the city.  The basement has a chapel with original stones found in excavations and is modeled after the synagogue plan from the city.  On the first floor, there is The Women’s Atrium dedicated to the many women around Jesus.  The Boat Chapel features a boat-shaped altar looking out over the Sea of Galilee with icons of the twelve disciples lining the walls. This was most definitiely my favorite chapel we have been in.  It was simple. It encorporated the original design of the city. It had beauty and honor in the mosaics and columns.  It honored women! It kept true to the sacredness of the site and did not dress it up.  It was simple, beautiful, and profound.

Our last stop of the day was a boat ride on Sea of Galilee watching the sun set behind Mount Arbel.  It was a beautiful ride and we talked about te biblical significance of the Sea of Galilee.  My two favorite stories are Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22-23) and Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 4: 35 - 41). It was relaxing and eye-opening to sail across the waters that Jesus spent so much time on. It didn’t feel a big as it was (roughly 13 miles by 7 miles and 150 feet deep), nor did it feel like it could have such rough storms as mentioned in the Bible. Our tour guide said that storms are normal and he’s had many boat tours canceled because of them; just like the storm, Jesus calmed.

Today was a full and exciting day. I have to say though, the sun really took a lot out of me today so I’m more exhausted than normal. I’m also starting to feel the sunburn set in so that’ll be fun to deal with.  It feels so good to be in the warmth and see the sunshine - we’ve been lacking that at home with all the rain we had lately! Tomorrow we will continue around the Sea of Galilee and I can’t wait to see what all is in store. 

[imagine-loki]

A Warrior’s Life

TITLE: A Warrior’s Life

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter Eighty-Six

AUTHOR: wolfpawn ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Viking Loki coming to your village, raiding, and pillaging, before deciding there is something about you that intrigues him and deciding to take you back to Asgard with him. There, you are forced to learn a new life and language, and though you hate what has happened to you, you learn that Loki is not as bad as you think.

RATING: Mature

NOTE: A month has passed since the last chapter

Life in Asgard went back to some form of normality, or what could be considered normality considering the recent events. A new younger maid was obtained for Loki and his family, her father had died as a result of the recent illness, leaving her to fend for her family, she thrived with minor instruction from Gertrude, who enjoyed still being around the family she knew so well, and Frigga. Loki aided Thor with everything that was required for the realm, getting everything sorted so that those who had lost everything were not left to starve as a result, land that no longer had owners was used to feed the many without and other lands were rearranged so that minors whose father’s had passed were able to hold their lands.

Loki and Heimdall’s agreement was met with approval and smiles from Thor, who thought it a great matching. It was ready to be formally agreed, but Loki had not done so thus far, he felt it wrong to do something so official without Maebh even knowing about it. Any time he spoke to her, it was as though she did not even hear a word. She simply stared into space and said nothing. The only grace Loki could find was that she was in the same bed as him, Liulf’s favourite pelt in her arms, curled tight against her. When he wrapped an arm around her at night, she did not move away from him, the only comfort Loki could give and get from her in her current state. She had to be force-fed oats a few times a day, pleas from Loki, Frigga, and even her children had yielded no results, she simply refused to do anything.

Frigga, thinking that it was best to explore all possibilities, had the healer come and assess Maebh further, but all the healer could find was that she was not eating well enough to safely continue carrying a child and to prepare for when she would lose it. She also made the comment to Frigga that such things could very easily have a terrible effect on Maebh since she had taken Liulf’s death so badly.

Maebh just sat wherever Loki carried her to wherever he thought to put her every day, her children at first tried to interact with her, but to their utter shock and dismay, she rarely even seemed to notice them. Vali was the first to just lean against her as she sat in the yard, Loki feeling she needed some sunlight and air. He stayed with his mother for an hour straight after training, after that, all three children just sat with her, touching her in some way as though to let her know that they were there, that she was not alone. They were mostly silent in their time with her, though on occasion, they told her of their day at training, or what they had done or seen when they were out and about, she rarely did anything in return, but when Kushtrim informed her that he had returned to his training, she had given a small grunt, he took it as a good sign.

For a month, little happened on Asgard, the realm rebuilt, Gertrude’s stomach grew, as too did Maebh’s, much to most people’s shock. ‘It is a resilient infant.’ Thor commented, looking at Maebh as she simply seemed to look at the horses across the yard from her, her hand on her stomach.

‘It wants to survive even when it should not.’ Loki agreed, looking at his wife sadly. ‘It is of her blood.’

‘And yours.’ Thor reminded his brother. ‘You looked the Valkyries in the eye and said “not today” also.’ Loki gave a noncommittal grunt in response. ‘How long more do you think the child can fight on though?’ Thor asked worriedly.

‘I have felt him move in her, he is strong, I fear it is she is weakening.’

‘You still think it another boy? Whatever I can do to help Loki, do not hesitate to ask.’

‘How is Sif? How does she deal with…’

‘She said her time in ill health is when she did her mourning, I only can speak to her if she speaks to me, I have asked her if she is faring okay, she has just said she is grateful the boys are alright.’

‘I thought that would be Maebh’s manner, it usually is.’ Loki sighed. ‘I need to go ahead with the pact with Heimdall concerning Kushtrim and Brienne,’ he looked at her. ‘Without Maebh’s input.’

‘Are you certain?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then it shall be done today.’ Thor declared.

‘Thank you.’

*

Loki, Thor, and Heimdall, as well as a few others, were sitting discussing different matters of importance in what was now the meeting area for such things, the house Thor had once called home before it was turned into a place of death. With people either healed or deceased and no new known cases of the illness, it had been emptied of such things and was now used as a council area once more. Thor and Sif refusing to call it their home as they had before.

‘What of Svartalfheim?’ Loki asked.

‘A boat came whilst you were in Vanaheim, Nafi is doing well, he has thrived there apparently, he is a better fighter than most fully grown men and seems to be very settled. Though he was somewhat upset for a short time after your leaving.’ Thor told Loki as he grabbed something to eat. ‘Ásvaldr and his family send their regards and are very happy regarding it all, especially Anna.’

Loki gave a small smile. ‘Good, I am glad to hear that. When are we sending our next boat?’

‘Next week.’ Heimdall informed him. ‘If you wish to have anything sent to your son, I will be one of those going, I will relay any message you may have.’

‘What of Brienne?’ Thor asked, realising the girl would be without her father, her last living relative

‘I have a handmaid for her, she will care for her needs in my absence.’ The brothers nodded.

‘Should she require anything, you can, of course, come to us for assistance.’ Loki gave a reassuring smile, earning a grateful in return from Heimdall.

‘With that sorted, I suggest we go home for the day, I grow weary of these issues.’ Thor growled as he stretched and rose from his seat, having been in it since early morn.

‘Very well.’ Loki rose from his seat. ‘Heimdall, if you are able to speak for a moment.’ The other man nodded. When the others left, Heimdall and Loki remained behind. ‘I will be honest, Vali overheard my talking with my mother regarding the match, he has informed his siblings of the matter.’

‘How did he…?’ Heimdall asked worriedly.

‘Fine, it does not seem like there is any issue regarding the matter.’ Loki grinned. ‘I am merely warning you, should Danu make mention to Brienne.’

‘And Maebh?’

‘My wife is not yet fully back to herself.’ Loki stated diplomatically.

‘I wonder, is it better to be alive but cease living, or is it better to simply die.’ Heimdall commented.

‘Before I would have dismissed you, but as it stands, I genuinely will never know, for so long as Maebh is as she is, I cannot answer that question.’ Loki replied honestly.

‘Loki!’ The two men turned to see a horrified Thor rushing into the dwelling. ‘An attack.’

‘Where? Who?’ Loki rushed toward him.

‘Midgardians, a small grouping, heavily armed, Sean believed them to be something called knights, he says they are very dangerous and highly trained.’

‘Where are they, in the fjord?’

‘They landed already, downstream at the sentry post and rode up.’ Thor stated as they rushed to get weaponry.

‘Where are they now?’ Loki barked.

‘They are coming due north.’

Loki froze and stared at Thor. ‘Brother, my homestead…’

‘I know brother, we must hurry.’

Loki grabbed his horse without tack and jumped on, turning it towards home, due south of the village, due north of the sentry post.

*

Vali had been fishing at a small river with his brother when he noted an odd sound carrying on the wind, he paused before jumping onto a rock and looked around. Not ten minutes ride away was a bunch of men wearing armour he had never seen before on horses, cantering towards them. Jumping down from the rock again, he grabbed Kushtrim by the sleeve. ‘Brother, we must run home, for our lives.’ He then pulled Kushtrim, who, though he looked more like his mother’s side, had been graced to have good stamina, helped by his grandmother’s obsession to get him to eat well after his illness, and both boys raced home, neither letting go of one another. There were no dwellings between their home and the men, they would be the first home they would reach, and Vali was certain they were no allies.

[chicagoindiecritics]

New Written Review from Mike Crowley on You’ll Probably Agree: What it was like returning to the theater to see “Inception” and what theaters will look like after the pandemic

SKIP TO THE FIFTH PARAGRAPH FOR MY THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE

I had my doubts if Christopher Nolan was the true authoritarian on demanding “Tenet’s” release. I know he has enormous power in Hollywood, but was he wielding it like a selfish dictator? A man of his intellect couldn’t be narrow-minded enough to refuse to delay his film until it’s safe to show in theaters, right? About 70 films have been pushed to the fall, next year, or placed on streaming. James Bond, Christopher Nolan’s childhood hero, was even forced back to a November release date. A November release date in which, like many, is viewed to be moved until things are safe. After seeing the promotional materials for the 10th anniversary 70mm print of “Inception,” there’s absolutely no doubt that Nolan is entirely hell-bent on releasing his film only in theaters. To see these promotional materials, I couldn’t access them online. At least not by any legal means. Much like his iMax previews to his last four films, it was mandatory to watch them in the cinema.

Attached were two reels. One was a 10-minute preview for “Tenet.” After that was a 2-3 minute look back on “Inception.” In both shows, Christopher Nolan makes it crystal clear that his films are intended to be seen on the biggest screen possible with the loudest speakers surrounding the audience. On the “Inception” reel, Nolan expressed his disappointment that there are those who couldn’t see his 2010 film in a theatre, so here was their chance to do so. The problem is from my understanding is that the 70mm print of “Inception” that I viewed is the only available one in the United States. I know that when they filmed the sizzle for these movies, Nolan couldn’t have predicted such a global catastrophe. I feel incredibly fortunate to have seen “Inception” on  70mm film when initially I saw it on a generic digital 35mm reprint in a theatre that wasn’t a lover of cinema like The Music Box Theatre in Chicago is.

But even before the Pandemic, how many people would get access to this print other than iMax cinemas? How long could iMax last? Most of the country has switched to digital. Celluloid has become a novelty that I will always prefer over digital, a uniqueness that appeals to a very niche audience. How would that be profitable in the long run? Now with the COVID-19 Pandemic, that novelty will probably die forever. It was probably going to die anyway, just not this fast. 

To make a movie on film is far more costly than to use digital. Not only do you shoot the movie, but you must also send it to a lab to develop the print afterward. The chemical emulsion process is an expensive mechanism. Shooting on digital only requires a memory card or hard drive that you can directly dump the data onto another hard drive to start editing immediately on a computer. It’s cost and time efficiency towers over film. The theatrical distribution model is a dying breed, only left alive through purists like Mr. Nolan. His purity may be going a bit too far, however. It was only a matter of time before iMax would once more be something that was only used for nature and space films to be seen in a museum. 

Walking into a theatre once more felt like going into a gallery. I can happily make it very clear that The Music Box Theatre is not taking this Pandemic lightly. Instructions weren’t given to me; they were borderline shouted.

-Theatre Attendant: Have you been here since we reopened?

-Me: Uh, I was here before.

-Theatre Attendant: NO! Have you been here on JULY 3rd SINCE WE REOPENED? 

-Me: No

The attendant proceeded to provide me with the social distance seating protocol. He ended the briefing with “that’s it.” I almost expected him to say, “dismissed.” Usually, I would have been taken back by such an aggressive custom. Considering the unprecedented circumstances we all are in, I respected the young man’s sternness. I was picturing all the morons he had to deal with that didn’t follow proper instructions. People who ignored the blue “do not sit here” taped signs, took their masks off when not using a concession—pulling their phones out during the movie. Let alone, coughing or sneezing without their face cover. With 745 available seats, only 50 were free to use. People were spread exponentially more than 6 feet apart. In the row next to me, there were two young ladies. One of them was politely holding in her cough. Her mask was still on before the lights dimmed. During my state of alarm, I knew it was only a matter of time before one cough might slip out. Trying to mean no offense, I quietly sneaked towards the nearest row of the screen.   

The woman’s coughing wasn’t the only reason I sat in the semi front row; I was also wearing glasses, whereas you may know, masks and glasses don’t make the best mix. If I was close enough to the screen, I can take my fogged up glasses off and still clearly see what was going on the screen. That mostly worked, but my natural eyesight couldn’t substitute for my assisted one. And boy did those glasses get foggy. I increasingly grew jealous of those that could tolerate contact lenses. Even worse were people with perfect vision. I had to limit my breathing during the film because every natural exhale felt like a steam pipe was being burst onto my eyes.

With me, I came equipped with two masks. The medical kind you see everyone wearing, and a cloth one. Both were on at the same time. In my pocket was a bottle of hand sanitizer for whenever I touched a surface. I heard that COVID doesn’t last on surfaces, but I’ve listened to the CDC change their minds before. My paranoia level varied. Once comfortably watching the film from a safe distance with my double-layered mask, I felt secure. The Music Box has been open for long enough since the Pandemic. I haven’t heard of any cases appearing within their establishment. They’re not like some local restaurants or bars I saw in Wisconsin during my vacation there who acted like everything was normal. With that said, you can’t control the actions of others. 

Let me be clear that I never removed my mask once during the entire three hours I was in that theatre. While the movie played, I turned around to see if my fellow patrons were applying the same amount of caution that I was. In the beginning, everyone was covered up during the pre-roll “Tenet” adds. The rule in the theatre was that once seated, you can only remove your mask when eating or drinking, then immediately put it back on. This rule was announced by the man I spoke to earlier, where he took the stage before the film began. There was no way you could claim you were unaware of the safety guidelines. Of course, Americans had to act like Americans. Once the film started after the promos, everyone’s masks were off. At one point during the movie, that lady who I moved away from that was coughing, yup, one cough slipped out. Luckily I was about 50 feet away from her while looking like Shredder with my extra protection. Throughout the rest of the film, I didn’t hear a single cough or sneeze. How did the movie look on its correct format though? Spectacular. 

Christoper Nolan may be a stubborn stick in the mud, but my God is he right when it comes to the beauty of the theatrical experience. The black levels in the colors are vibrant far beyond anything you’ll get on your 4K 60-inch television; the sound is bone shatteringly clear. Every nuanced detail in the phenomenal production design is visible to an otherwise naked eye; this is something special. “Inception” is a bombastic operatic picture in the very best sense of the meaning. My appreciation for the 2010 spy thriller was improved when seeing it on the big screen. Even with my fogged up glasses and short breaths, I felt like it was an experience worth having. To have that experience though you really, REALLY, have to love film. The common man would not go to the trouble I did to see a movie that they can easily watch at home. 

Seeing “Inception” in a nearly abandoned theatre that still classifies as sold out was a bit of a relic. I felt like the little kid in “The Last Action Hero” walking into the old man’s theatre. I’m experiencing something from a great past time that no longer exists. It was like going to the Omnimax Theatre in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Only this time, there was an inherent fear of disease, which luckily rapidly dissipated once there. I sympathize entirely with Christopher Nolan’s stone wall decision on maintaining a theatrical release for “Tenet.” He doesn’t have the power alone to release the film, whichever way he sees fit. Warner Bros is in the same boat as him. Nolan was the man who brought Batman back from the dead. He’s the one man in Hollywood who can sell an original big-budget picture on his name alone. Chris brought Warner Bros a lot of money.

The theatre is located upstairs

The termination of the Paramount decree’s 72-year law is the final nail in our current chain’s coffin. Movies won’t be evenly distributed. All of our existing theatrical establishments are running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to make their money back to the point of offering 15 cents per movie ticket upon initial reopening. When theaters do come back, they’ll be rebuilt, owned by the studios that distribute them. You’ll have your Disney theatre attached to your Disney store. Watch “Spider-Man Homecoming 3” on the second floor, then buy your Spider-Man toy on the first floor. Go to your Netflix theatre so you can see a film four months before it hits streaming. Finally, go to a Warner Bros theatre in Six Flags Great America, where you can watch Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.” Then buy your Robert Pattinson caped crusader doll when exiting the show. The funeral is in procession for theaters as we know it. Christopher Nolan may be able to make movies on film throughout the rest of his career, but to see them on celluloid; you’ll have to go to a museum or a specialty theatre like The Music Box. Such a realization is a heartbreaking reality. The sooner we can accept it, the better off we’ll be.

More of my thoughts on the future of movie theaters can be seen below.  

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[tamboradventure]

12 Things to See and Do in Bergen, Norway

Posted: 5/25/2020 | May 25th, 2020

Enveloped by steep mountains and sitting next to the country’s deepest and longest fjord, Bergen is a small city tucked away on the west coast of Norway.

Though home to only 220,000 people, there’s a surprising amount of things to see and do in this tiny city. You can easily spend days here hiking its natural surroundings, relaxing on a fjord cruise, eating fresh seafood, and learning about its long history. I stayed about three days during my visit and felt I could have stayed a little longer. It’s pretty, historic, and filled with a lot of good food options.

Bergen is a pretty big tourist destination in Norway so you sadly won’t have this city to yourself. To help you make the most of your trip, here are my top 12 things to see and do in Bergen:  

1. Take a Free Walking Tour

The first thing I do whenever I arrive in a new place is to do a free walking tour. They’re the best way to get the lay of the land, see the main sights, and meet a local expert of whom I can ask all my questions.

Nordic Freedom Tours organizes regular tours in English and Spanish. (Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!)  

2. See the Fish Market

The Bergen Fish Market dates back to the 13th century. For centuries, it’s been the hub for local fishermen to sell their fresh fish and seafood. The indoor section of the market began in 2012 and is open year-round (the outdoor market opens on May 1 for the summer).

If you’re looking to sample some local delicacies, there are also lots of restaurants and food stalls. Just make sure you budget yourself, as prices range from 130 NOK ($14 USD) for an appetizer to around 290 NOK ($30 USD) for a main dish.

Torget 5. Open Monday-Thursday from 10am-10pm, Friday-Saturday from 9am-10pm, and Sundays from 11am-10pm.  

3. Visit the Maritime Museum

Bergen has depended heavily on maritime trade since its inception in the 11th century. You can spend an afternoon at this museum learning about the city’s maritime history. The exhibitions include ships, paintings, films, artifacts, original maps, and some cannons from the 18th century.

The highlight here is the Kvalsund boat, an old Viking longship that dates to the eighth century. It was excavated in 1920. There’s also an original Halsnøy boat that dates back to somewhere between 390 and 535 CE.

Haakon Sheteligs plass 15, +47 55 54 96 00, museumvest.no. Open daily 11am–3pm. Admission is 100 NOK ($10.50 USD). You can take a guided tour of the museum in English during the months of June, July, and August.  

4. Wander Bryggen

Bryggen is the old wharf and is home to over 60 narrow, brightly colored wooden boathouses. From the 14th through the 16th centuries, Bryggen was the main hub for the Hanseatic League, a powerful merchant guild from central and northern Europe. Fun fact: its office is the only original building that’s still standing -the rest have been rebuilt in the same style.

Today, these buildings are used by various restaurants, tourist offices, and hotels. Though fires have ruined a lot of the original buildings, the area is still a beautiful place to wander around. You can take a 90-minute guided walking tour with Bryggen Walking Tour to learn about the history of the wharf. The tour also includes entry to the Bryggen Museum and the Hanseatic Museum.  

5. Explore the Botanical Garden

Bergen’s Botanical Garden was established in 1996 and covers 17 acres. It’s a nice place to grab some fresh air and relax with a book. With over 5,000 species of plants, it’s home to Norway’s largest collection of roses, as well as the largest collection of rhododendrons in Scandinavia. There are also different sections, like the Sunny Meadow (home to summer annuals), a traditional Japanese garden, and the Alpine Garden, with all kinds of alpine plants from around the world.

Mildevegen 240, +47 55 58 72 50, uib.no/arboretet. The garden is open 24 hours and admission is free.  

6. Hike Mount Ulriken

Located just a few kilometers outside the city, Mount Ulriken stands 643 meters (2,100 feet) high and is the tallest of the seven mountains near Bergen. If you’re not feeling up for a hike to the top, you can take the cable car, which takes about eight minutes and costs 285 NOK ($30 USD) round trip. At the top, you’ll get spectacular sweeping views of Bergen and the sea. There are some shorter hikes (2-3 hours long) up there as well.

If you enjoy an adrenaline rush, you can speed down the mountain on Norway’s fastest zipline. It opened in 2016 and is 300 meters long. You need to book tickets in advance though. Tickets cost 450 NOK ($47 USD).  

7. Explore Pepperkakebyen

The Gingerbread City, open in November and December, is the world’s biggest annual gingerbread festival. It started in 1991 and now includes over 2,000 volunteers, bakers, businesses, and schools. It is made up of hundreds of gingerbread houses and made to resemble a snowy wintry nighttime in Bergen. If you’re here during the holiday season, don’t miss it!

Teatergaten 30-2, +47 55 55 39 39, pepperkakebyen.org. Open from mid-November until December 31. Admission is 100 NOK ($10.50 USD) for adults and free for children under 12.  

8. Visit KODE

The KODE Museum is one of the largest in Scandinavia for music, contemporary art, furniture, videos, historical artifacts, and crafts. It showcases a wide variety of over 40,000 objects that date back to the 1800s. The museum is located in four buildings; visitors can also visit the homes of three famous Norwegian composers (Edvard Grieg, Harald Sæverud, and Ole Bull).

Head over to KODE 1 to see the Silver Treasure, a permanent exhibition of gold and silver objects, dating from 500 years in the past. For temporary exhibitions and Bergen’s largest art bookstore, check out KODE 2. KODE 3, which opened in 1924, is home to works from Edvard Munch, who painted The Scream.

Rasmus Meyers allé 9, +47 53 00 97 04, kodebergen.no. Open Tuesday–Sunday (hours vary per season). Admission is 140 NOK ($14.70 USD) in the winter and 160 NOK ($16.80 USD) in the summer.  

9. See Bergenhus Fortress

Next to the Bergen Harbor is an imposing stone fort called the Bergenhus Fortress. It dates back to the 1260s and is one of the oldest fortresses in Norway. It encompasses Rosenkrantz Tower, a fortified tower that dates to the 16th century, and Haakon’s Hall, a former royal residence from the 13th century.

Unfortunately, a fire destroyed Haakon’s Hall and all of the interior decorations in 1944, so it is now decorated with tapestries and is mainly used for concerts and banquets. The Rosenkrantz Tower was the residence of Eirik Magnusson, the last king to hold court in Bergen. Make sure you climb the narrow stairs to the top of the tower, where you’ll get an impressive view of the surrounding area.

5003 Bergen, +47 55 54 63 87. Admission is free, though guided tours in English are available June–August and cost 100 NOK ($10.50 USD).

10. Visit the Leprosy Museum

Leprosy ran rampant in Europe between 1850 and 1900. With three leprosy hospitals, the city had the greatest concentration on lepers in all of Europe. This eye-opening museum is located inside of St. George’s. Its archives belong to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. You can take an educational tour to learn about the history, symptoms, and treatment of leprosy, as well as what the conditions were like in the hospitals during the outbreak.

Kong Oscars gate 59, +47 481 62 678. Open May–August. Admission is 100 NOK ($10.50 USD); guided tours in English are 30 NOK ($3 USD) and occur at 11am.  

11. Go on a Food Tour

Bergen’s strong focus on local and sustainable food helped it earn its title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015. Bergen Food Tours is a local tour company that organizes tours to some of the tastiest restaurants in the city. The three-hour Bergen Classic tour costs 870 NOK ($91 USD) and will give you a taste of local dishes like fish soup, wild salmon, reindeer sausage, smoked seafood, and brown cheese, as well as local craft beer.

Nesttunkollen 9, +47 960 44 892, bergenfoodtours.com. Open Monday-Saturday from 11am-5pm. Check website for tour times. Tickets are 890 NOK ($80 USD) per person.  

12. Take a Fjord Cruise

This is a spectacular way to view the fjords up close and take a relaxing break from the city. There are several different fjords around Bergen, so you can choose a tour that suits your budget and timing.

The one to Mostraumen run year-round tour and takes you 27 kilometers in the Osterfjord along the Mostraumen strait. You’ll see towering mountains, sparkling waterfalls, and you might even spot seals and eagles!

You can also take a fjord cruise to Nærøyfjord and Sognefjord (Norway’s longest fjord) to get up close to the gorgeous valleys and gigantic peaks.

Expect to pay anywhere from 700 to 2,000 NOK ($73–209 USD) per person.

***

Even though Bergen can be an expensive destination to visit but there are plenty of free and budget-friendly activities here to keep you busy. It’s a popular destination but it lives up to its reputation. I loved my visit to Bergan. I suspect you will too.

Book Your Trip to Bergen: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe, so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive inventory. If you want to stay somewhere else, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. My favorite places to stay in Bergen are:

HI Bergen Hostel Montana – A fun social hostel with free breakfast and a communal kitchen. Feels like home!

Bergen Budget Hostel – A small, budget-friendly hostel for backpackers looking to save money!

Marken Gjesthus Hostel – The staff here are great and the hostel is clean and well organized.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those 70 and up)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all those I use to save money — and I think they will help you too!

Looking for more travel tips for Norway? Check out my in-depth Norway travel guide for more ways to save money, tips on what to see and do, suggested itineraries, informational reading, packing lists, and much, much more!

Photo credit: 4 – Paul Arps, 5 -Toniu, 6 – Sveter

The post 12 Things to See and Do in Bergen, Norway appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[ignis-scientia-estrogen-brigade]

At the risk of disheartening some of my followers, I opted to strike while the iron of my inspiration was hot and turn out the next chapter of my ongoing Blind!Ignis fic, rather than tackle the current contents of my inbox. I will absolutely resume writing headcanons in short order (and I haven’t forgotten about your request, @violet94!), so I hope it won’t be too much of a disappointment to ISEB fans if I continue following my muse for just a little while longer because honestly I just want to get to the naughty bits as fast as possible mama is thirsty for some smut.

As always, you can follow the link above or click below for the full text; SFW (for now, heh).

As it turns out, the strategist was slightly off in his original estimates; in actuality, Ophelia must have stood at five and a half feet or taller, which he discovered entirely by accident the time he went to reach for a sack of flour he kept stored in the highest cabinet of Mr. Tostwell’s kitchen, only to learn she had already retrieved it for him without even needing the help of a step stool.  

She also had dark features, evidently—“Boring brown eyes, same color as my hair,” she had confessed at one point, after he’d inquired about it in an effort to spark polite conversation while they rolled out a unit of pastry dough together—although it made next to no difference to him, considering he couldn’t make heads or tails out of what he was looking at to begin with.

She’d been working at the grill for a little over a month now, and had proven herself adept in both culinary skill and matters of hospitality; her father’s secret Baklava recipe alone had made a sizable impact on the establishment’s revenue—the fresh honey harvested from a hive of Killer Bees swarming just south of the city and baked directly into the crust had been quite the hit with the locals—but it was her ability to effortlessly charm the frowns off even the crankiest of customers that had made Mr. Tostwell’s newest hire such a valuable asset.

“Does your wife know you don’t wear your wedding ring while you’re at work?”

The strategist glances up from the mollusks he is shucking and widens his unparalyzed eye. “I beg your pardon?”

He can almost hear the sound of her lips peeling back into a wry grin from the other side of the preparation table. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to presume—husband, perhaps?”

She had turned the same charm she normally reserved for cantankerous patrons on him more than once since being hired; the reserved woman he’d interviewed had given way to a much more vibrant character now that she was truly in her element, dropping cheeky quips around him while her arms were buried to the elbows in pastry dough and making herself readily available whenever he needed her help. And while she’d offered to accompany him on his walks home on days when their schedules happened to coincide—“We’re both headed in the same direction,” was her reasoning, since she apparently lived not two blocks from his apartment complex—he hadn’t been sure whether her inquisitiveness was merely a facet of her affable personality, or a reconnaissance mission into his personal life.

But there was no mistaking her intentions now—one didn’t generally probe into the absence of marital tokens without expecting to elicit a certain response—and Ignis wasn’t particularly interested in encouraging flirtatious behavior. “I’m not married,” he says dryly.

“Really?” The audible squish squish of dough being kneaded squelches against the countertop. “I must admit, I find that rather surprising.”

The hairs on the back of the his neck tingle in mild annoyance, but he ignores them and returns his attention to the bowl of half-shucked mollusks in front of him. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Squish squish. “Something about perpetuating the species after an apocalypse comes to mind.” Squish squish. “We can’t very well expect to survive as a civilization with a flock of unmarried bachelors running around.”

“The flaw in your argument is neglecting to account for the female’s contribution to the equation. I’d go so far as to say it’s more crucial for women to secure robust partners, not men.”

“Rather self-important, aren’t we?”

He establishes his grip over a slick mollusk and shrugs. “Hardly. It’s all about ratio—a single man can father over a hundred offspring, circumstances permitting. The same can’t be said for the reverse.”

The squelching of Ophelia’s pastry dough reaches nearly a fever pitch. “Is that how you proposition most women? No wonder you aren’t married.”

But the feigned acrimony in her voice is cut off by the curse he mutters when the wet shellfish he is attempting to pry open escapes his fingertips and clatters onto the floor. “Drat.”

Several employees under Ignis’ supervision had been quick to overcompensate for his fallibilities in the past—eager to convey their empathy toward the blind strategist and stepping annoyingly on his toes in the process—but Ophelia had shown enough mindfulness not to get in his way thus far; in fact, she’d scarcely made any indication of acknowledging his ocular impairment, except only to ask what order he preferred to arrange his paring cutlery when she went to unload the dishwasher for the first time.

“It’s near your left foot,” she says simply.

The strategist drops to his knees and gropes at the floor, his pinky finger finally finding slimy purchase against the wayward arthropod. Before he can toss it into the garbage bin he knows is five paces to his right, however, he hears the sound of her footsteps circling around the preparation table and stopping beside him.

"I wouldn’t normally deign to do your work for you,” she whispers, reaching for his hand and withdrawing the soiled creature from his grasp, “but your favorite customer has just arrived. I can sense his surliness from a mile away.”

The strategist might’ve enjoyed the long-forgotten sensation of a woman’s gentle touch, had Ophelia’s implication not soured the moment. “Surely he’d prefer to be entertained by your charm, rather than stare at my grisly visage. You have the better way with people.”

“Perhaps, but there’s something wholly amusing about watching you squirm.”

His features crumple into a scowl, but he adjusts his visor before grudgingly stepping off down the path he had memorized that led to the grill’s outside seating area.

She isn’t wrong in her observations, exactly; although he couldn’t see worth a damn, it was impossible for the strategist to miss the usual miasma of crotchetiness that seemed to follow Cid Sophiar everywhere like a localized starscourge infection. Eighty years old and more stubborn than a feral Garulessa, Ignis continued to be perplexed as to why the former mechanic had chosen to remain in Lestallum after the daemons had been purged from Lucis, rather than returning to his beloved garage where he could rant at passing tourists from his customary spot in his favorite lawn chair.

“Evening, Cid,” he says, as he halts beside the cloud of wretchedness personified sitting at the table situated nearest the bazaar. “What brings you out on this warm summer night?”

“Same thing that gets me off my ass every night,” the old man replies. “I have a hankering for some shellfish, and you’re the only fella in this town who knows how to clean ‘em out properly. Nothing worse than having to pick sand out of my dentures.”

“I’m not sure I would recommend the Cleigne Darkshells this evening. They proved to be rather squirrelly back in the kitchen, so I’d watch out when taking a bite—lest they try and bite back.”

“I think I can handle a few measly clams by myself. Though Cindy probably wouldn’t mind it too much if they took a piece of my tongue with them, if it meant keeping my mouth shut for a change.”

The strategist hesitates for a brief moment, debating the wisdom of opening up a can of worms by furthering the conversation. “How is Cindy, by the way? It’s been a while since I’ve made the trip out to Leide, and I haven’t heard from her in some time.”

The chair before him squeaks under Cid’s weight, and he can almost envision the white haired mechanic slumping in his seat. “She’s all right, I guess. No doubt getting a little lonely by herself out there in the desert, although your boy Prompto always seems to find an excuse to drop by now and again.”

“Have you given any more though about returning to Hammerhead? Surely she could use the extra set of hands.”

“She don’t need my help. I’m about as worthless as a dead Gaiatoad, at this point. And just as ugly, too.”

His heart aches for the old man, who had once been so instrumental in the destiny of the Crownsguard and the king they served; the strategist had never forgotten the words of encouragement Cid Sophiar had bestowed upon them before their fateful boat ride to Altissia all those years ago—“Those ain’t your bodyguards, they’re you’re brothers” still rang clear as a bell in his mind—nor did he forget what it was like to feel utterly useless to the people around him.

“Come now, Cid,” he says quietly. “I imagine the garage is quite a bit duller without your colorful quips to brighten everyone’s day.”

To his credit, the former mechanic chuckles. “Maybe so. At any rate, I could ask you the same thing—thought you’d be itchin’ to race back to Insomnia the minute dawn broke over Longwythe’s Peak.”

A shiver runs up Ignis’ spine, and his eyebrows furrow behind his frosted visor. “I rather like having an undamaged roof over my head, as it so happens.”

“Crown City ain’t going to rebuilt itself, you know. Who better to lead the charge than one of the last men who lived there?”

Lestallum had remained largely unscathed during the long night, while the other regions of Lucis had commenced reconstruction fairly quickly due to the exodus of refugees eager to return to their former homes. Insomnia, on the other hand, had seen little repair since the rapture; with so few natives left alive after the city’s fall, the strategist estimated it would be several years yet before the province of his youth reached hospitable living conditions again.

“I think I’ll let Gladio and Iris survey the landscape in my stead,” he says, masking his displeasure with a small grin. “Wouldn’t want to risk stubbing my toe on a piece of rubble.”

“I don’t recall hearing anything about sprained ankles after you boys made it back from the Citadel. Or is there something here in Lestallum that’s tying you down?”

He can practically feel the old man’s red and rheumy eyes peering dubiously at him; Ignis’ reticence toward leaving Cleigne had less to do with wanting to remain close to his new life, and everything to do with preferring to stay away from his old one.

Because, to the strategist, Insomnia represented more than just a city of broken dreams; the miles of cracked pavement and collapsed infrastructure he had tread upon with his own two feet were tangible reminders of the people who had died there, and of the suffering that befell those who were unlucky enough to survive. Ignis himself had nearly succumbed to despair, buried under a mountain of grief when his best friend had fulfilled the Astral’s prophecy and perished alongside the starscourge, and the notion of returning home only to relive his nightmares day in and day out was almost as suffocating as the weight of the skull pendant he still wore pressing hard against his throat.

“I’ll consider my options,” he lies, and pivots back toward the direction of the kitchen. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear the sound of boiling mollusks begging for mercy. Care for an appetizer while you wait?”

[yoloincxxx]

I Promise I'm Not A Hater!!!

With the risk of sounding like an old bitter rapper hating on the new rappers in the industry when I speak of all these new porn producers and stars. I'll choose my words very carefully to educate and not offend. I'll start by saying first I love and hate the state that industry is currently in. I love it due to the fact that we no longer have to depend on a major company to get our work to the masses. Independent companies and performers can get their work to the masses on their own and no longer have to wait on a check to do so. We don't need Elegant Angels, Hustler, Evil Angels, Vivid and etc to survive anymore. I can shoot a scene today and make money off of that same scene the same day vs having to wait 30 plus days of replication of a DVD to be pressed up and box cover artwork to be done. Along with there's no one to interfere with my vision of who I want to shoot and what I want to shoot without gaining approval first. Now for what I hate. Lol The game is oversaturated with bullshit. Every nigga who can afford a camera feel like they be a director. SMH They feel like all they have to do is set their camera to auto and shoot. Then you have your camera phone directors and porn stars. Understand there's levels to this shit and most of y'all are still playing high school ball and won't make to college let alone the league. You have professional porn, that's the over produced pretty shit that most people know porn to be. I don't believe Pro-Am really exists anymore but been replaced by just amateur and then there's homegrown. I'm disgusted by amateur porn personally. Horrible lighting and unnecessary bad angles that should have one never been shot to begin with and two never made it through editing. This shit ain't rocket science but y'all make it seem like you need a PHD to get it right. Homegrown is along the same lines, but what can you really expect from someone shooting with a camera phone. I actually enjoy watching the ratchetness for some odd reason. I think it's more of the realism of the homegrown that attracts everyone to the genre. Before I got sick I discovered that I was able to make the perfect marriage of all three genres and honestly kill it. I'm back and I'm about to apply pressure to the industry like never seen before. So know Y.O.L.O talent line up has been destroyed and rebuilt. So in the next coming weeks be expecting new shit on a continuous and regular basis. Just think of the original line up as test subjects in an experiment. I've spent the last 16yrs of my life in this industry and the last 6 had me really hating everything about it. Either shit is going to go my way or it's back to standing over the stove with a pot working my wrist hoping some shit lock up and I'm able to pull some extras up out the pot. So I think I avoided sounding like Joe Buddens and many others, but I feel them niggas honestly. There's a lot of trash out here so I can't honestly see how that shit continues to make money. I more than understand that everything isn't for everybody and once again I don't want to sound like a hater but y'all muthafuckas need to put the cameras down and find something else to do with your time because porn isn't for you Lil Uzi Verts and Boats of the industry. I'm done now. Y.O.L.O

[laconservancy]

From Goose to Google Part 5: Google Takes the Baton

What space is big enough to hold the tech juggernaut Google?

How about the hangar where Howard Hughes built the largest aircraft ever flown?

In fall 2018, Google moved into the former Spruce Goose hangar, the centerpiece of the Hercules Campus in Playa Vista. The company became the latest in a series of visionaries who created, saved, and transformed one of L.A.’s most amazing buildings.

Photo by Connie Zhou.

First, the legendary Howard Hughes commissioned the hangar specifically for the construction of the Hughes Flying Boat, also called the Hercules and known widely as the Spruce Goose. One of the world’s largest wooden buildings miraculously survived decades of neglect to gain a new lease on life, thanks to another visionary, developer Wayne Ratkovich.

Enter Google, which leased the building in 2015, along with two adjacent smaller buildings. The company already had a presence on the property. Google was the first tenant at the Hercules Campus when it opened in 2012, creating a YouTube production facility in a space near the hangar.

Taking it up about ten notches, ZGF Architects designed a marvelous “building within a building” for the hangar itself. A new four-story structure includes offices, common areas, a fitness center, cafés, and event space—all connected by elevated walkways.

Photo by Connie Zhou.

To bring the hangar up to code while preserving its original character, the central spine at the top of the ceiling—spanning the full 750-foot length of the building—was removed, rebuilt, and re-clad with the very same (but refurbished) wood panels.

As impressive as the building is, there’s no ignoring its historic shell. The new structure is set back twenty feet from the hangar walls, preserving the vastness of the space. There’s wood everywhere—walls, ceilings, 75-foot double arches—all freed of lead paint and returned to a rich hue. It’s like being in the world’s largest upside-down boat.

Photo by Connie Zhou.

After being covered for years when the hangar was used as a soundstage, the massive clerestory windows once again flood the building with natural light. Three original stairways were repaired and “entombed” behind glass, no longer used but still visible.

You even get a sense of the Spruce Goose itself with “The Ghost of the Goose,” a “perception sculpture” hanging from the atrium ceiling. If you look at the 2,800 steel balls from a certain angle, they reveal the shape of the legendary Flying Boat. Other art and design elements throughout the building pay homage to the legend of Howard Hughes and the site’s important place in aviation history.

Photo by Connie Zhou.

The stunning transformation of the Spruce Goose hangar into Google, Playa Vista offers yet more proof that historic preservation and development are not mutually exclusive. Landmarks can, and should, continue to serve the community—educating and inspiring us while paving the way for visionaries to come.

See the Transformation of the Historic Hangar

Attend our fundraiser, From Goose to Google, on Saturday, May 4, 2019 and see how this incredible space has been stunningly transformed for tech giant Google. 

Learn more and attend the From Goose to Google benefit >

[chinatour1-blog]

The Trusted Name in China Travel Packages

As a great ancient city with more than 3,000 years of history, Xian was once the capital city of 13 dynasties, and is thus a principle root of Chinese civilization. With its impressive history, Xian houses numerous historical ruins, relics, and museums visitors can take advantage of on their trip to China.

Besides some famous attractions like the Terracotta Army which can charge a high admission fee, some free attractions can not only save your RMBs, but also reward you with unique historical and cultural traveling experience.

1. Shaanxi Historical Museum

The Shaanxi Historical Museum (陕西历史博物馆) is located northwest of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and about a 10-minute walk to the Pagoda. The museum houses more than 300,000 ancient articles including gold and silver objects, murals, paintings, coins, pottery, etc in 16 acres. inside are relics dating back to prehistoric times, all the way to the more recent Qing dynasty. The museum was built in the style of the Tang Dynasty, complete with a central palace hall with four worship houses around it emphasizing order and harmony.

Shaangxi Historical Museum is free of charge. But visitors have to take their valid ID card or passport to get a ticket at the ticket booth in front of the museum. There are always two long lines on weekends, so you should avoid weekend and national holidays and visit museum on  weekday instead or on a  weekend with bad weather.

The museum is closed on Mondays. Open Hours: winter: 9:00-17:30 (at 16:00 tickets are no longer sold) summer: 8:30 – 18:00 (at 16:30 tickets are no longer sold) Address: 91 Xiaozhai E Rd, XiaoZhai ShangYeJie, Yanta Qu, Xian Shi, Shaanxi Sheng, China, 710061 (西安小寨东路91号) Website: www.sxhm.com How to get there: Take either Bus number 5, 19, 24, 26, 27, 30, 34, 400, 401, 521, 527, 701, 710, 721, or 722, Tourist Bus You 6, or Bus 8 (610). Then get off at the Cuihua Lu (Cuihua Road) bus stop.

2. Exterior of Big Wild Goose Pagoda

The view of Big Wild Goose Pagoda is very beautiful. The North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda has a large musical fountain, the largest musical fountain in Asia. The music fountain show usually opens at 12:00 and 18:00 (in winter) or 20:00 (in summer). It has about 22 different styles with different shapes like lotus flowers and clouds.

In the east of Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a traditional Chinese-styled gardens with small pools, stone arch bridge, little paths and many flowers and trees. This gardens is also free of charge. In the South Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda stands a large statue of Jianzhen, a Chinese monk who helped to spread Buddhism in Japan.

The buildings around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda are very quaint, constructed with distinct Tang Dynasty elements.

3. Daxiangshan Temple

Daxingshan Temple was once the grandest Buddhist establishment during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and can be dated back to the third century. The original buildings of the temple were destroyed between 841 to 845. The present temple was rebuilt in 1955 and 1983.

It is now free for tourists to visit. There are many halls in the temple where different Buddhists are enshrined.

NB: Since this temple is not frequented as much by tourists, if you are not a Buddhist worshiper, don’t buy incense here. There are some soothsayers in the who may try to stop you and tell you something about your future.

Address: 55 Xingshansi W St, XiaoZhai ShangYeJie, Yanta Qu, Xian Shi, Shaanxi Sheng, China, 710065 How to get there: the temple can be easily found as it lies in the center of Xian, near the main bus and train stations.  Take the number 323, 701, or 716 bus to the Da Xing Shan Si station.  The 5, 12, 14, 19, 24, 26, 30, 34, 36, 215 and 400 buses stop at nearby Xiaozhai.

4. Xian Lianhu Park (莲湖公园)

This former royal garden is almost 45 acres of beautiful lotus flowers, which are quite a sight in the summer when they come into full bloom. The park dates from the time of the first Ming Emperor and is the largest park in Xian.

A water amusement park is just to the west of North Lake with water-slides and boats.

Location: 18 Lianhu park Road, Xian

5. Former Residence of Gen. Zhang Xueliang (张学良公馆)

General Zhang Xueliang (or Chang Hsueh-liang, 1901-2001) is remembered as a hero of China based on his desire to unite the Chinese Communist and Kuomintang (KMT) against the invading Japanese.  He was instrumental in the 1936 Xian incident which forced the leader of the nationalist KMT, Chiang Kai-shek, to sign a truce with the COmmunist Party in order to unite the Chinese against Japan.

The Xian Incident is mentioned on the front gate of Gen. Xueliang's residence which preserves the way it looked when he lived there before his forced exile to the island of Taiwan.

Several statues of figures closely tied to Zhang Xueliang's life in politics can be found on the second floor of the western building including Zhou Enlai, Yang Hucheng, Song Ziwen, and Song Meiling.

Address: 9 Jianguo Road, Xi'an How to get there: Take Bus 504, get off at the Jianguo Road Station

Book Your Trip to China with China Tour

Xian has a lot of incredible things to see and do, and China Tour has affordable guided tour packages that explore this great city in depth.  Take a look at some of our most popular tours of Xian and give us a call for more information--(888) 878-1777!

[marulikestea]

Corregidor

Last December of 2016, upon the invitation of Ian's friend Jophet, we went to Corregidor Island for a day tour. Going to this place has always been one of my bucketlist goals (local ruins, omg omg!), so when this opportunity was presented to me, I said yes in a heartbeart.

The schedule of our tour was just a day before my company’s Christmas celebration, so understandably, I didn’t have much rest and sleep prior to that day. But I was quite confident (or I prolly just gave up lol) I could wing it without much preparation so I slept soundly before dressing down to my sleeping gear.

 When Saturday came,  I should have known that the troll god would have other plans in store for me.

You know Murphy’s law right? That famous “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” kind of crap thing? Well, as it happened, I’ve become a wonderful target by that law during that morning. 

I'd like to delve on the details, but I thought a bulleted summary of my (and Ian's as collateral damage) misfortune would suffice:

I didn't woke to the sound of my alarm phone, but to Ian's text saying that he's already near to pick me up. And I just friggin woke up.

Since panic and lost of prep time wasn't enough, I couldn’t find my glasses; thus, I ended meeting up with Ian late; 

Despite our Initial-D-mode attempts to reach MOA seaside terminal to beat the time, we took a wrong turn and ended up lost in the process. Twice. 

Basically, we did a clutch move arrival (barely) and met up with the rest of the gang, LOL. Despite the close call, we managed to board the sun cruises boat without a hitch and spent an hour ride to the famous “rock” island.

While on transit, Ian and Lance saw their Chinese officemates, who were just seated at the back. It's a very small world, as they say, and Sun Cruises made it smaller when they gave out that Christmas tour promo, if you know what I mean, lol.

To kill time before our arrival, I watched the Corregidor-related videos on tv (made by Sun Cruises or NatGeo) , played Mystic Messenger on my phone and slept.

An hour later, we finally arrived at our destination.

It took awhile before the crew men managed to tie up the boat to the landing docks. After disembarking to the island, this was the sight that greeted us.

Sadly, so many floating trash could be seen at the docks (though not apparent in the image above because I cut it from view) .

From what I suspected, these wastes were taken in by the ocean waves from Manila bay. 

This idea was further affirmed when I saw an bulletin board nearby, with the following words written:  

“Please help in preventing garbage disposal into manila bay. Corregidor Island is suffering from this condition. Your cooperation in advocating policies to help our government in controlling sea-borne wastes is urgently needed. Thank you.”

It’s very unfortunate. I didn’t go to this place to see something like this. If I did, then I wouldn’t have left the city, since garbage such as these are always present there on a daily basis, be it objects or people.  

Sigh.

Luckily enough, we didn’t stay too much on the area since the tour guides urged us to ride the orange travel buses called tramvias so as not to waste the day away.

Lorcha Dock Our first stop in the tour, which was just a few meters away from the docking area. This was  MacArthur's Departure Point for Australia. Contrary to popular belief, his famous phrase “I shall return” were not uttered here, but in Australia.

A monument of MacArthur. This is also where we had our souvenir shots taken. 

But regardless of that, it didn’t changed the fact that he still went back to the Philippines, even if it meant disobeying orders from his superiors just to return. Of course that entailed insubordination, but having won the war, all's well that ends well I guess.

Middleside Barracks

Our second stop, not far from the Lorcha Dock.  This place is one of the signature sceneries you see when you search for Corregidor on the internet. Destroyed by Japanese bombs during the war, this is now but a husk of its former glory, with nothing but ghosts and goats to roam its vicinity.

“Nothing but goats and ghosts”, as our tour guide had mentioned.

Battery Way

Our next stop. Named after Lt. Henry Way of the 4th US Artillery, this was one of the areas were Corregidor’s heavy artillery were housed. According to the tour guide, this place was the last to surrender to the Japanese, only after firing all its rounds and exhausting the guns.  

Not all open doors are welcoming.

One of the four guns in the vicinity. Had to wait for everyone to leave before getting a decent solo shot of this.

View from inside the cannon.

Battery Grubbs

Unlike the artillery from the previous battery, battery Grubbs contains the two disappearing guns used for gunning down areal assault via stealth, as far as I remember.

A selfie of us together, lol.

A triangular island from a distance, whose name and importance I’ve already forgotten. 

Battery Hearn

Considered as the most powerful artillery in the island, this gun had the farthest range compared to the normal guns in the batteries recently visited.

Named after Brigadier General Clint C. Hearn.

Not far from the Hearn rests a crater site that shows how enormous a damage from an enemy strike was.

Mile-long Barracks 

A long stretch along the area, this establishment used to house many soldiers and their families during those times. Now, only its memories and ruins lie in its wake. 

Collapsed edges of the mile-long barracks. 

Pacific War Memorial & Museum

One of the longer stops of the tour, we were given an hour of free time to roam around the vicinity, which we used up to the best of our abilities, covering all grounds as much as time would let us. 

The front of the pacific war memorial.

This place is considered to be a sacred place of sorts. Light from the sun would enter from the opening above and then would shine straight at the altar, for which it was dedicated to the honorable fallen.

The musuem. There’s also a small souvenir shop at the back where I bought magnets for my mom.

This place holds some of the recovered and donated artifacts of the island during world war II. The following are images of some of the historical antiques that caught my eye:

Original American flag during world war 2: This only has 45 stars in it.

 To relieve pain or to relieve death... I guess there’s no way of knowing that now.

Cats! :3

I wonder what time this clock stopped during those days... 

A watch without hands of time. I guess it doesn’t need it anymore.

For some reason, I remember Captain America movie when I saw this.

Lol. I’d like to give a medal like this to some lying losers that I know but that would just tarnish the medal’s true meaning. Such a shame.

Cine Corregidor Ruins

Back in the day, the latest movies shown in the US would get released here in advance. People who lived in the island basically had a cozy and privileged lifestyle, until war came and bathe everything in flames of course.

A close up photo of moi, coz I’m too damn vain lol.

Brother in arms statue. Our tour guide made us guessed which one of the two was the Filipino and American. As so it happens, the wounded soldier was our countryman. A similar statue like this also exists in America too, apparently, but with the roles reversed.  

The Spanish Lighthouse

According to our tour guide, the Spanish Lighthouse was one of the oldest establishments here in Corregidor. Destroyed and rebuilt some time in the past, this place was a trading spot back in the galleon days. 

This was also the place for our lunch break and souvenir buying too.

At the top of the world. Zero fucks given, by Jophet and Lance, lol.

Them silly bois making heart shapes at us.

After scaling the lighthouse, we proceeded to the buffet area where lunch was being served. Upon stepping in the premises, we were welcomed with this earthy breezy place, together with a complimentary colorful-looking gulaman drink.

Our welcome gulaman drink. So colorful!

After securing ourselves some tables and letting Jophet, Lance and Charles get food while we kept an eye on their belongings, Ian and I went to get our grub.

Food haul from the buffet table.

The only decent pic of us, i think? And it’s with food, lol!

After one hour had past, with me rushing to gobble down all my food and suffering from indigestion in the process, we continued with the rest of the tour.

While on route to our next destination, our guide has been telling us about how the Japanese infiltrated the island, by using the caves they’ve either found or dug on their own.

One of the cave entrances where the Japanese hid themselves during invasion

Filipino Memorial Park

As the name entails, this place serves as a memorial to all the Filipino heroes of the past. 

Pres. Manuel Quezon, President, Philippine Commonwealth “ I am not the president of the rich, and I am not the president of the poor either! I am the president of the Philippines, of the Filipino people, rich and poor alike. The duty of the president of the Philippines is a duty which he owes to the whole Filipino people.”

Pres. Sergio Osmenia, Sr.

Filipino Woman “Who was involved in the many events in our history and as a symbol of peace and inspiration to our gallant men in their fight for the preservation of our honor and freedom.”

The Filipino flag, the very symbol of freedom that was hardly fought and won by our forefathers of many generations.

Here’s a chronology of the Philippine History, based from the murals that adorn the whole perimeter:

Battle of Mactan (1521)

Datu Sirongan And Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao (16th -7th Century)

Bankao's Apostasy in Leyte (1621)

Sumoroy Rebellion (1645-1650)

Andres Malong of Pangasinan (1660)

Dagohoy Revolt (1744-1829)

Diego and Gabriela Silang in Ilocos (1763)

Palaris Revolt in Pangasinan (1762)

Hermano Pule Revolt (1840-1841)

Philippine Revolution (1896)

Filipino-American War (1899)

World War II (1941-1945)

Guerilla Movement

EDSA Revolution (Feb 22-25, 1986)

And at the heart of it all, is this message.

Japanese Garden of Peace

Our second to the last stop was a memorial site for the fallen Japanese soldiers during the war. According to our tour guide, the Filipinos, who had suffered at the hands of the Japanese, refused to bury their dead in the island. But unattended dead bodies could lead to further complications such as diseases, so the Americans buried the bodies. 

Later on, when the war had already passed, a memorial was erected as a way appease the souls of the past and those they’ve left behind, as well as to move on from the tragedy the war had caused.

For the repose of souls

“This monument is dedicated to the souls of Filipino, American and Japanese, soldiers whose lives were given in a battle which occurred here on May 5, 1942 when our regiment of the 4th division landed on this island.

We ardently pray for the eternal repose of their souls and everlasting peace throughout the world.”

At first, I thought these were just ordinary stepping stones on the grass. Upon closer inspection, they were also headstones for the souls of Japanese soldiers.

A statue of perhaps a deity from a distance. 

Malinta Tunnel

Our last stop: The lights and sounds presentation inside the Malinta tunnel. For this leg of the tour, we had to purchase tickets in order to enter the premises. We had the option to skip this part, where in this case the tramvia would drive ahead and proceed to an alternate path to reach the other side of the tunnel; but we were told that we would be missing a certain chunk of the Corregidor experience if we didn’t push through inside. Lance, being the gallant friend that he is,  treated us with our tickets so we didn’t have to worry about anything else.

The ticket was worth P200 per head.

As the tunnel gates opened to admit us, we were embraced by this heavy darkness. It took awhile for our eyes to adjust, but when it did, it didn't decrease the feeling of dread and anticipation that was creeping inside. I wonder how the people of Corregidor felt when bombs kept shaking the earth beneath them.

I'm sure it was ten times worse. Even more.

Small lights located at the sides lit one by one then, beckoning us to walk further along the straight path. I held Ian's hand to make sure he was by my side when we moved.

As we reached the nearest chamber of the tunnel, sounds of past recordings played, accompanied by lights that illuminated these immortalized figures of men in gold that depicted certain events before the tunnel was overrun.

A representation of what happened inside the tunnel during the war.

Every chamber we walked passed, a page of this place's history was added. Ingrained. Again and again, this went on until we reached almost the end of the tunnel, where the Philippine flag stood still and proud. And as the presentation ended, the song of our national anthem played.

Wounded people inside the tunnel’s makeshift hospital 

As the hymn ended, the doors to the other side opened, and the light of the exit came rushing forth.

Ian the tourist. :P

Ian and I were the last people to get in the bus, due to the slow trio taking pictures at the Malinta tunnel entrance (which was where we exited, ironically enough). Because of this, we earned ourselves a slow troll clap from Jophet, Lance and Charles. (Lol)

We went back to the bay area in just a short time and spent another hour travelling back to the seaside terminal in Manila. Since there was still time before sundown, the boys went cart racing, while I took a rest and ate french fries beside the track.

Overall, this experience has been a very educating and fulfilling one. I guess, this is why I like visiting old ruins, because each of these old forgotten structures hold and impart a certain piece of history that was once important to those people who lived in that era.

I've always known myself to be an old soul, so I guess I tune in pretty well in places such as this. I feel a sense of peace and nostalgia, as well as a bit of hope that not everything is lost and forgotten by time, even if that memory is a good one or a bad one.

[terryblount]

Battlefield 5 Update 6.2 goes live on March 5th, full patch notes revealed

DICE has announced that a new major update for Battlefield 5 will go live on March 5th. Moreover, the team has revealed its full patch notes that you can find below.

According to the release notes, Update 6.2 will bring new weapon balancing, ensuring a higher damage output and improved damage dropoff. Moreover, it will add Tank Customization. Not only that, but this patch will return the base damage at range values on most weapons, back to their previous standards used in 5.0.

Alongside these changes, this patch also comes with a number of bug fixes. For instance, it fixes a crash that could occur if the player played the game for more than 5 hours in one go. It also fixes a bug that would cause players to get stuck on the deploy screen that could trigger if they changed squads while still being alive.

As always, Origin will download this patch once it becomes available. Below you can also find its complete changelog.

Battlefield 5 Update 6.2 Release Notes

General Changes

Tweaked the damage values of the Bazooka and Panzerfaust. The Bazooka now does slightly less damage, especially for poor angle hits, reflecting its role as a long range sniper weapon. The Panzerfaust now does slightly more damage, especially at poor angles, returning it to the solid all around reliable antitank weapon.

The Bazooka now one hit kills enemy airplanes.

The Lunge mine now deals the correct amount of damage and is more consistent.

The Lunge mine no longer causes an unexpected second explosion after it has been selected if the player had previously used it.

The Lunge Mine now properly destroys stationary weapons.

Improved the Panzerfaust third person reload animation while in a Dinghy boat.

When equipped with some upgrades the 2x scope on the M2 Carbine did not zoom in properly. This has now been fixed.

Flamethrowers can no longer be fired when the reload animation plays, if the player also uses a pouch at the same time.

Emblems no longer clip when applied to the M2 Carbine.

Anti-Tank grenade throwback functionality has been fixed.

Ensured that the ammo belt disappears correctly when using the drum mag on the MG34.

Reduced wind impact on smoke emitted by smoke grenades and other smoke screens.

Gadgets no longer float in the air when switched in the game world.

Fixed an issue with the bolt action animation for the BOYS AT Rifle.

Fixed a LOD issue with M1918A2 on it’s bipod leg.

Fixed an issue where certain smoke effects would not be properly blocking enemy spotted icons (smoke barrage for instance).

Fixed an issue with the KI-147 and V1 rocket sometimes not having any engine sound.

Fixed a bug that would sometimes allow the spotting scope to spot enemies behind walls.

Fixed an issue that would cause an unintended soldier scream to play throughout the explosion when using the Lunge Mine.

Fixed an issue that would cause reloads not to count if the player healed during the reload animation.

Fixed the spotting scope’s glint not being aligned with the scope itself.

Corrected the ammo crate to have a pickup glint effect when being held in the player’s hands.

Corrected the Bazooka’s in world pickup model to be the bazooka, and not another rocket launcher.

Vehicles

The Universal carrier can no longer be disabled, as it has no self repair functionality which used to make it a frustrating transport vehicle.

The towable stationary 40MM AA no longer explodes when hitched to the Churchill tanks.

The Sherman tank no longer gets the decals of the other team, should it get stolen by the enemy team.

The Corsair F4U-1C back wheel no longer clips into the tail rudder when it retracts after take-off.

The Dinghy boat seat UI now matches the physical location of the players in the boat when seated.

Improved syncing of tank turrets aiming position between zoomed and none zoomed mode, which could previously be inconsistent if players late joined a server.

The Archer’s “rear” engine compartment has been upgraded with more armor. While still easy to critically hit like the rear, it will take less damage from a critical hit.

Increased drag on the HE shells for tanks to reduce long range tank sniping vs infantry. AT dedicated shells, which have less blast, are not affected by this change.

Increased the damage of AT mines slightly.

Increased the ammo count of shotgun type rounds for tanks, except for AA tanks.

Adjusted the Calliope Rockets to fire from a more central set of rocket tubes, in order to make more accurate shots. Decreased the time between the 4 round rocket barrage of the Calliope to make it more competitive with the Hachi’s 6 round burst.

Improved the Kettenkrad handling to be a more fun vehicle to drive.

Airplanes 3P bombsight gets less accurate at higher altitudes, pilots need to align the rings to bomb accurately from higher altitude.

Fixed a bug that could cause visual bugs when players switched between seats in the LCVP.

Fixed a bug that would cause the LCVP to sometimes rotate and spin out of control at a very high speed.

Fixed the incorrect icon for the Sturmtiger with the smoke launcher.

Fixed an issue that would cause spotted enemies to not appear from an airplane.

Fixed a bug that would cause Transport vehicles on The Pacific to not drive backwards if the terrain was not flat.

Fixed a bug with the transport vehicles on The Pacific which would sometimes cause visual issues.

Fixed a bug with certain airplane propellers spinning slower than intended.

Fixed an issue with airplanes not taking damage when hit by shell projectiles.

Fixed a bug that could cause the gunner seat position to look broken after entering it.

Soldier

The death flow has been refactored, making it more robust and easier for us to debug should there be other issues. This solves multiple issues related to players getting stuck in a bleeding out state after getting killed.

Improved Norman Kingleys downstate which could previously result in invisible torsos in first person view.

Japanese soldier audio no longer requests a V1 instead of the KI-147.

Fixed another bug that could cause ragdolls to “hang from their hips” With this fix, hopefully this bug should get even rarer than it already is.

Fixed an exploit that would increase the height of the players camera.

Fixed an issue affecting soldiers throwing a Kunai knife, which could result in the Katana sword floating in third person perspective.

Fixed a bug that could cause the soldier to continuously play the throw pouch animation.

Maps and Modes

Solomon Island – Removed the supply station that was inside the mountain.

Solomon Island – Removed the invisible collision near the beach on Breakthrough.

Solomon Island – Fixed an issue located inside the crashed plane, that could cause players to get stuck.

Solomon Island – Fixed an exploit that would allow players to hide inside a mountain wall.

Solomon Island – Removed a duplicate static track that was placed on top of another truck.

Solomon Island – Fixed multiple issues that would allow players to reach unintended areas of the map.

Solomon Island – Once the AT cannons have been destroyed, they have to be rebuilt. Previously they would incorrectly respawn.

Solomon Island – Some water no longer squirts dirt effects when being fired upon.

Solomon Island – Rain effects no longer go through the crashed airplane and military barracks.

Solomon Island – Fixed a bug that would cause invisible fires to be spawned by destroyed US transport vehicles.

Solomon Island – Various smaller clipping and other graphical issues.

Solomon Island – Many improved spawns.

Solomon Island – Improved water transparency from some angles.

Solomon Island – Added missing rain particle effects.

Solomon Island – Conquest – Improved the capture area on C flag.

Iwo Jima – Various minor graphical improvements.

Pacific Storm – Decreased the intensity of the sun, when looking out of certain bunkers.

Wake Island – Breakthrough – Improved the locations of the AT turrets in Sector 2 to make them more useful.

Wake Island – Breakthrough – Moved the AA turret in Sector 4.

Wake Island – Fixed the debris to look better when players destroy the planes parked inside the hangar.

Wake Island – Improved placement of vehicle resupply stations.

Wake Island – Added a limit to the amount of active planes on the map at the same time, each team can now only have two active planes at the same time.

Wake Island – We ask everyone to be careful around the large fuel tanks.

Wake Island – Planes now get destroyed if they crash into the hangar.

Wake Island – Fixed the floating sandbags.

Aerodrome – Improved the smoke grenade effect in the hangar area, making it more difficult to see through it.

Devastation – Fixed a few spots where players could get stuck.

Fjell 652 – Squad Conquest – Moved around a few objects that could cause players to get stuck in the geometry.

Hamada – Craters on the runway no longer hinders planes from taking off as they are now only visual and not physical alterations of the terrain.

Hamada – The sandstorm has a smoother transition loop when it’s running at maximum effect.

Marita – Fixed an exploit that could be used by players for an unfair advantage.

Narvik – Frontlines – Fixed a floating supply station and improved the combat area a bit.

Twisted Steel – Conquest – Removed the duplicate medical supply station and replaced it with an ammo station.

Breakthrough – Fixed breakthrough retreat icons in vehicles.

Outpost – Players that die near constructed towers could not be revived, this is now fixed.

Spectator mode – Fixed 3P director camera not automatically moving back to its original position after colliding with objects.

Spectator mode – Fixed a few cameras that were placed outside of the playable area by default.

War stories – Fix for the missing throwing knife animation.

War stories – Fix for the missing grenade throw animation.

Firestorm – Fixed the missing propellers on the drop planes.

Firestorm – Minimum player count for solo has been decreased from 8 to 2.

Other

Implemented a new audio prioritization system in order to reduce occurrences of important sounds being culled due to performance limitations. This results in more controlled and stable behavior for sounds such as vehicles, footsteps and weapons.

Players can now join their friends that are playing on Community Servers through the social menu.

Added slightly more weight to most close range weapon firing sounds, excluding smgs and pistols. The difference is most prominent in stereo.

Added a new option in the audio menu to change the hit indicator sounds between current (default), original BFV release and off.

Added a potential fix for players ending up in the wrong region when matchmaking. Please let us know if the situation has improved with this update.

Added back the “Claim all” button in the armory that has vanished.

The ammo and seat UI no longer overlap when players are in Pacific vehicles passenger seats, and when playing in 4K resolution.

Improved the M2 Carbine icon to better represent the weapon visually.

If in an airplane, Spotted enemies that are not in line of sight of the player (behind a wall etc…) will now show with a different icon in the world (an outline instead of a full diamond).

Getting multiple headshot kills in a quick succession now stacks the headshot kill icons, instead of showing them one by one.

The progression of the Selbstlader 1906 has been fixed.

The game now automatically moves the selector to the previous vehicle that the player had selected in the vehicle deploy menu.

Map icons for supply stations are now shown if players can build/repair them.

The zoom settings for the mini-map are now saved between lives.

Fixed a bug that would cause players to get stuck on the deploy screen that could trigger if they changed squads while still being alive.

Fixes typos in the Sai description.

Fixed the description of the MAB38 Mastery VI assignment.

Stability and Performance

Fixed a crash that could occur when using the Russian language.

Fixed a crash that could occur if the player played the game for more than 5 hours in one go.

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21 Things To Do in Paros, Greece

Paros is an island in the heart of the Cyclades Islands in Greece with over 10,000 inhabitants and 120kms of coastline. Serene landscapes, fertile valleys and rolling hills are dotted with small churches and monasteries, complemented by endless sandy beaches with azure blue waters.

Not only is the natural landscape stunning, but there are numerous things to do in Paros to keep you entertained. This is one of the best places to visit in Greece.

You’ll find ancient, medieval ruins and monuments, picturesque white sugar-cube towns and villages, and no shortage of tavernas bars and cafes. You can expect all of this, plus reasonable prices, excellent tourist facilities and friendly people who know the true meaning of hospitality,

It’s easy to see why many regard Paros as the quintessential Island for any Greece travel itinerary.

They say Paros is like Mykonos was 20 years ago. It has all the charm and atmosphere but without the heaving crowds and steep prices which is one of the main reasons we fell in love with it. So much so we have been back 4 years running now and really consider ourselves to be amongst family when we visit.

There are so many things to do in Paros, and it’s just the right size. It really does tick all the boxes and there truly is something for everyone.

Here is some practical information for Paros. If you’d like to skip this and jump to the Things To Do in Paros section, click here.

When to Visit Paros Island

Ideally, the best time to visit Greece is between May and October, and the same is true for Paros. The weather is good and the ‘season’ is open – many places close for business during the other months.

The peak season is July and August when the Europeans take their holidays and it can be both hot and windy then too. Personally we love June or September when it is still lively enough but not so busy.

The ‘Meltemi’ is a strong wind that blows through the Cyclades down from Turkey usually between July and September. It can be very powerful and for this reason, Paros is very popular with avid windsurfing and wakeboarding fanatics but it’s also easy to find a protected bay, street or quiet corner so the wind can be manageable.

How to Get to Paros Island

You can get to Paros by either boat or plane. Due to its position and importance, Paros is connected not just to Piraeus (the port of Athens – the second busiest passenger port in the world!) but also to Rafina which is closer to the airport.

Paros is often the first stop in the Cyclades for many of the ferries and is the stopping off point on the way to Mykonos, Naxos, Ios, Santorini, and all the other Cyclades Islands, as well as linking with routes servicing the Dodecanese and Crete. It’s only 3 hours from Piraeus on the fast ferries and there is now a new train link direct to the port from the airport.

The airport on the island was completely rebuilt in late 2016 and there is now a new small terminal and a longer runway. There are countless possibilities both on the island and to destinations beyond. For information about the ferry routes and to book tickets we recommend Ferry Hopper. And, check out my website for more Greece travel advice.

Getting Around Paros Island

Paros has a great public bus system that can take you to most beaches and towns on the island. This is especially convenient for anyone on a budget as the bus ride is only 1.80 Euro ($2.09 USD). You can find a timetable here.

There are also plenty of rental places around the island where you can rent cars, quad bikes and scooters. Be warned they can book out quickly in the peak season so plan ahead if you are visiting in Summer. Click here to see the latest rates on rental cars with Expedia.com.

This year, they have started issuing fines if you are driving without an international driver’s license so it pays to travel with one. When it comes to quad bikes and scooters, make sure you check your insurance. Many people find out the hard way that they are not covered and accidents on the islands can be difficult to manage, not to mention, expensive.

Top 21 Things To Do in Paros

1. Visit Parikia

The capital and main port of the island, Parikia is also the commercial and business hub. There are many restaurants and cafes along the waterfront and through a maze of alleys in the old town. In true Cycladic style, it’s a labyrinth of narrow whitewashed streets and a great place to stay if you want to be close to everything.

All of the major banks and services are located here as are laundries, supermarkets, the hospital, and various tourist services.

There are also some very interesting historical monuments and points of interest including an ancient windmill and a fascinating Church (see next point).

2. See Panagia Ekatontapiliani

This is one of Greece’s most important Byzantine monuments. Built originally in the 4th century it’s also known as the Church of a Hundred Doors. Legend has it that 99 doors have been found in the Church and that the 100th will be discovered when Constantinople (Istanbul) is returned to Greece again.

Entrance here is free, and opening hours (at time of publication) are 7am‑10pm. In the low season: 7am‑2pm and 4pm‑8pm.

3. Explore the Fishing Village of Naousa

Located at the North of the island about 20 minutes drive from Parikia, this lively fishing village is where we prefer to stay. It’s a little quieter than Parikia during the day but really comes alive at night when it can be quite the party town.

It’s still a fishing village at heart and much of the nightlife revolves around the small compact harbour. This area is the most expensive, but it’s also possible to get a cheap and cheerful meal in one of the many winding back streets.

4. Visit the Town of Lefkes

A small medieval town nestled in the mountains behind Naousa with views over neighbouring Naxos. Lefkas has all the makings of the Cyclades — white houses, blue doors and dripping in vibrant pink Bougainvillea. A trip here is one of the best things to do in Paros.

It’s a lovely town to visit for a day and you can find some excellent handmade local pottery, jewelry, and other crafts, as well as things such as honey and figs sold by the road. Some people love to stay here every year and it’s possible to find some very inexpensive rooms on Airbnb, Booking.com, or just by wandering through the village.

5. Explore Piso Livadi

A small and picturesque fishing port on the southeast of the island, Piso Livadi has a number of charming tavernas famous for their local seafood dishes. Sampling the regional cuisine is one of the best things to do in Greece — make sure you don’t miss the mussels here! 

Once a very small and quiet bay, it has become more popular in recent years and is the main port to embark on sailing adventures over the Small Cyclades islands or to Antiparos.

6. Golden Beach (one of the top things to do in Paros if you’re feeling active!)

A little further south from Piso Livadi is Golden Beach, considered by many to be one of the best beaches in Greece for water sports, if not the world.

As well as some very good hotels and tavernas, you will also find a number of places to rent windsurfers, kayaks, stand up paddleboards and wakeboards. There are also some lovely and rather funky little beach-inspired shops and boutiques. It can be very windy when the Meltemi is blowing but for many people, that is part of its appeal.

If you’re into watersports, a trip to Golden Beach should be on your list of things to do in Paros.

Rental prices vary from place to place and year to year but are relatively inexpensive. For one hour windsurfing, expect to pay around 25 euros ($29), SUP is around $20 euros ($23) for an hour, while kayaks go for 15 euros per hour ($17). There are several rental places right on the beach. Click here for details.

7. Visit Drios

Another small fishing village, Drios was once the ancient port of the island and is one of the greenest villages in Paros.

Here you can enjoy typical Cycladic hospitality, delicious cuisine, and very tranquil surroundings. It’s possible to rent a little room right on the beach for the price of a nice meal and there are a number of quiet sandy beaches, including a nudist one close by. Be sure to check out Aspro Chorion, the small charming settlement above Drios.

8. Laze on Kolombithres Beach

The beach at Kolimbithres is one of the most famous in Paros and is located west of Naousa in Plastira Bay. It has huge boulders of granite positioned into the sea that have been worn away over the centuries into smooth sunbathing platforms.

The water here is shallow and crystal clear and there is an excellent taverna right next to the beach which has some of the best home cooking on the island. You can drive around or catch the small public ferry over from Naousa. While there are numerous things to do in Paros, don’t miss spending a day at this beach.

9. Relax on Santa Maria Beach

Another very popular beach that is well-known for its windsurfing, water skiing, and scuba diving facilities. Santa Maria is located about a 10 minute drive east of Naoussa and is surrounded by beach bars, tavernas, and restaurants which gives it a more cosmopolitan feel and has been a favourite of Scandinavian families for decades.

Planning a trip to other places in Greece? Don’t miss the awesome things to do in Ios, the fun things to do in Zante (Zakynthos), and the incredible things to do in Corfu! Kefalonia Island is filled with things to see and do, while Chios Island and Lesvos Island are more offtrack and offer travellers a plethora of sights and activities. Plus, if you’re visiting the mainland, don’t miss the top sights and things to do in Athens, and the awe-inspiring Meteora Monasteries.

10. Visit the Village of Ambelas

Ambelas is a small village and beach about 15 minutes drive from Naousa. There is a small man-made seawall that ensures calm water almost every day and a couple of very good tavernas on the beach, including the very popular Thalami and Chistianta.

There is also a good modern restaurant/beach club on the beach called Aspro that provides sun loungers and beachside service to diners. A great spot for a long, lazy lunch and swim — with hardly any other people around.

11. Check out The Small Village of Aliki

Aliki means ‘salt-marsh’ in Greek and this village got its name from the adjoining one at the southern end of the island.

Quite close to the airport in Aliki you will also find the Cycladic Folklore Museum. Many cultural events are held in Aliki, such as the feast of St. John of Klidonas in June, the feast of Christ the Savior on the 6th of August and the feast of the Holy Cross in September.

It’s a lovely village with a number of excellent seafood tavernas and small rooms and pensions to stay in.

12. Experience Butterfly Valley

Located 5km south of Parikia, near the Monastery of Jesus of Woods, this valley is referred to as Petaloudes, which means Butterfly in Greek. Every year during the summer months, the valley is verdant as the Jersey Tiger Moths seem to wrap the entire valley, creating a truly breathtaking natural phenomenon.

13. Take the Ferry to Antiparos

Antiparos is a very picturesque and laid back island located just off the coast of Paros. It’s a perfect day trip or if you have the time, stay a day or two. Ferries from Paros to Antiparos depart every 30 minutes from Parikia and the trip is about 10 minutes.

If you have a car, you can catch the car ferry from the township a little further south of Parikia in Punda, and then the trip is only 7 minutes.

Antiparos is home to a number of celebrities most notably Tom Hanks and his Greek wife Rita Wilson. They are much-loved (and protected) by the locals and participate in many local events when they visit each summer.

14. Day Trip to Mykonos or Santorini

You don’t need to stay on the two most expensive islands in Greece to enjoy them. There are ferries numerous times a day to Santorini and several will also stop at Naxos and Ios. A day trip to nearby islands is definitely one of the top things to do in Paros.

The Blue Star ferries are huge and more like small cruise ships with great restaurants, bars and cabins. It takes about 3 hours to get to Santorini but it can be a pleasant trip and worth it to see what all the fuss is about (trust me, it’s worth it!).

Mykonos is only an hour away and it’s quite possible to pop over for lunch, although you will unlikely be there when the hard-core partying starts around midnight. So, if you want to enjoy the party, you’ll have to spend the night if your budget allows it. If not, day trips from Paros to Mykonos are possible and still enjoyable.

15. Take a Day Trip to Naxos

Naxos is a fabulous island only 20 minutes away from Paros and is both fascinating and fun. There are some great beaches on this huge island but you will need a car to get to most of them especially if you are pressed for time.

St. George beach at the southern end of Naxos town is a lovely calm beach, great for families, and there are a number of excellent tavernas right on the sand.

16. Sail the Small Cyclades

Sailing around the Greek Islands can be a lot more difficult, and expensive than people realize. On Paros, however, it’s possible to join a boat, or privately charter one, from either Naousa or Piso Livadi.

Enjoy a stunning day trip around the Small Cyclades, a group of spectacular islands at the southern end of Naxos which include Koufanisi and Danousa.

The cost of this tour varies dramatically depending on the size and style of the boat, which islands you visit, the duration of the trip, and how many people are on board. Expect to pay anywhere from 20 euros ($23) per person to 150 euros ($165). Click here to learn more about boat trips around the Small Cyclades.

17. Go Shopping

There are some great little boutiques and stores in both Parikia and Naousa and even a few funky places in the smaller villages as well. There are small markets, high-end boutiques, local Greek designer wear and jewellery, much of it very affordable. If you’re looking to find something special to take home from your trip this would definitely be the place to do it.

18. Visit a Winery

There are a couple of excellent wineries on Paros. Established in 1910, Moraitis Winery is just at the back of the town of Naousa and has a very good cellar that also sells light meals and cheese platters.

The ideal climate conditions of the Cycladic landscape has led to the production of some great reds, whites and rose wines.

You may notice as you drive around the island that the vines are left to grow on the ground instead of on a trellis. This is so the wind doesn’t blow the grapes away during the Meltemi (strong winds that blow through the Cyclades from July – September). If you’re into wines, a trip to a winery is one of the top things to do in Paros.

19. Attend a Festival

The Greeks love a festival and there are more than 10 religious festivals on Paros between July and September alone!

The Pirates Festival is a colourful celebration representing the raids of the pirates in Paros that were usual in the Medieval times. Young boys dress in traditional pirate costumes and jump from the caciques (fishing boats) running through the crowd to snatch the young girls away. Fireworks, traditional music and dancing coincide with much feasting and frivolity.

Another very popular event is The Fish and Wine Festival which takes place in Marpissa during the first Sunday of July.

Small or larger festivals involving art exhibitions, dance and music events, concerts, theatrical performances or book fairs are scheduled towards the end of the summer. These festivals and events are among the top cultural things to do in Paros.

20. Indulge in Fine Dining

While traditional tavernas abound across the island, there are a number of excellent fine dining choices too.

Incredible sunsets and white table-cloth service is found at Siparos a few minutes drive past Naoussa — we enjoyed a very special group birthday celebration here recently. The recently opened Seven Senses Gastronomy in Drios is successfully filling a gap at the southern end of the island.

If you’re looking for a change from seafood and Greek cuisine, Le Sud in Naousa is worth a look.

21. Watch the Incredible Sunsets

All of the Cycladic islands offer incredible vistas of the famous Mediterranean sunsets and it’s easy to find many west-facing locations. On Paros, Parikia and west located villages like Punda have the best spots but there are restaurants such as the above mentioned Siparos that also have magnificent golden views in the evenings.

The beauty of a Greek sunset is the sun is so large and sets quite slowly. It’s a very hypnotic effect!

Ready for Paros Island?!

There are so many things to do in Paros (and eat!) that I could go on forever. The “island for everyone” really does live up to its reputation and for that reason, we will continue to visit each year. If you are lucky enough to be visiting Greece for the first time or even your 30th time, make sure Paros is on your itinerary.

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[biofunmy]

36 Hours in Kochi, India

Kerala, as they say, is “God’s Own Country,” a nod to its lush natural beauty, beguiling backwaters and wealth of spices that have been the Holy Grail for generations of seafarers. But the catchy tourism slogan could also be a tribute to the various religious traditions that have thrived there — especially in the port city of Kochi — for thousands of years. Kerala’s unique geography — hemmed in from the rest of India by the mountains to the east, but open to the world by the Arabian Sea to the west — meant the state in southwest India was a cosmopolitan melting pot for far-flung cultures. Hindus, Christians, Jews and Muslims lived side by side and traded with the Arabs and Chinese long before the Portuguese fumbled their way over (it was Kerala that Columbus was after in 1492 when he found himself in the Bahamas instead) and established the first European settlement in India at Cochin in 1500, kicking off successive waves of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch and British.

Today, Kochi, as Cochin has been renamed, is a popular cruise ship stop and layover for travelers en route to houseboats that cruise through the idyllic backwaters of nearby Alappuzha. But its complex history merits a longer stay. Spend a weekend exploring historic Fort Kochi, whose narrow lanes are lined with buildings that are a legacy of thousands of years of cultural intermingling. And if you’re in the area between December 2020 and March 2021, you won’t want to miss the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, one of the world’s most exciting contemporary art events.

(Like much of India, Kochi has seen protests in recent days against a new citizenship law that many view as discriminatory. While the protests and the police response have involved violence in some parts of the country, Kochi’s protests have not affected areas frequented by tourists.)

Friday

1) 2 p.m. Take a stroll

Fort Kochi is a bit of a misnomer — the original Portuguese fort no longer stands; the name now refers to Kochi’s historic section. A walk through the quarter helps uncover the layers of influences that have left their mark here. Start near the Chinese fishing nets strung across bamboo and teak poles: They have been there in some form since the 1400s. While they now mostly exist for tourist photo-ops, you can see how fishermen hauled their catch here for centuries. Then cross Vasco da Gama Square toward St. Francis Church, one of the oldest European churches in India. Erected as a Catholic church by the Portuguese in 1503, it was rebuilt as a Protestant church by the Dutch, before being consecrated as an Anglican Church by the English. This is where Vasco da Gama was buried, before his remains were sent back to Lisbon.

Pause for a chai at the charmingly cluttered Teapot Café, before carrying on to the whitewashed Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica. Then amble along streets lined with bright blue and yellow buildings, dressed with terra cotta roofs and stained-glass windows and fringed with bougainvillea, en route to the Indo-Portuguese Museum, which houses relics and remnants from Kochi churches: Bibles, statues of Mary, and even a 16th-century teak altar. Admission 40 rupees, or about 55 cents.

2) 5 p.m. Drama and dance

Kerala is synonymous with kathakali, a classical dance form known for its dramatic stories of gods and demons, and elaborate masks, headdresses and makeup. For those unfamiliar with the art, the Kerala Kathakali Centre offers a primer: The show begins with a demo at 5 p.m., during which performers explain how the makeup is applied, how the intricate movements are performed, and what the characters and the story lines are, followed by a captivating performance at 6 p.m. Tickets are 350 rupees.

3) 8 p.m. Fresh fish

Kerala’s setting on the Malabar Coast means seafood is a staple. You’ll dine on some of the best in Fort Kochi at the Fort House, a 16-room hotel with a restaurant at the water’s edge. Sop up the fish with green mango curry (420 rupees) or the ginger-garlic prawns (450 rupees) with appams (fermented-rice pancakes) or a parotta, a flaky flatbread. Dinner for two is around 1,500 rupees.

Saturday

4) 9:30 a.m. Artsy breakfast

Historic Kochi was once divided into two sections: Fort Kochi, where the Christians lived, and Mattancherry, which was primarily home to Jews, Hindus and Muslims. Get going bright and early to explore Mattancherry, once a vibrant center of the spice trade. Start with breakfast at Mocha Art Café, a 300-year-old spice warehouse. Try the appam with egg stew (230 rupees), banana, pineapple and nutella pancakes (200 to 250 rupees) or a keema cheese omelet (270 rupees), washed down with a mocha (190 rupees), of course. When you’re done, take a few minutes to check out the exhibits by local artists adorning the brick walls.

5) 10:30 a.m. Jewish history

Mocha Art Café is just steps away from the 16th-century Paradesi Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, with global influences in the form of blue hand-painted tiles from China, chandeliers from Belgium and an Oriental rug that was a gift from the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I. There are only a handful of practicing Jews remaining in Kochi, and tourists are needed for a full congregation. From there, head to Mattancherry Palace — also known as the Dutch Palace, though it was a gift from the Portuguese to the King of Cochin in 1555. It’s an intriguing fusion of European and Indian styles, and houses elaborate, 16th-century, temple-style murals of scenes from the Hindu Ramayana epic. Then explore the markets of Jew Town, lined with everything from perfume bottles to embroidered umbrellas to mounds of paint in brilliant shades of fuchsia and cobalt. Nearby are the antiques emporium Ethnic Passage, the contemporary design shop Via Kerala and the fashion designer Joe Ikareth’s boutique.

6) 2 p.m. Leisurely lunch

Back in Fort Kochi, the Indian Oven restaurant at the Cochin Club is a relaxing setting for a languid lunch. There’s a quiet garden, windows open to the water, whimsical murals on the wall, and colorful cushions scattered across cane chairs. Pull one up and tuck into Malabar Coast seafood dishes, like a Kerala-style squid roast and karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot fish prepared in a banana leaf). Lunch for two is around 1,000 rupees.

7) 3:30 p.m. Art afternoon

Though the Kochi-Muziris Biennale brings the art world’s focus on Kochi every other year for three months at a stretch, there are a clutch of galleries worth visiting no matter what time of year you’re in town. Stroll through the lanes of Fort Kochi with stops at David Hall Art Gallery, housed in an old Dutch house where you’ll find everything from exhibitions by global artists to book readings to Sufi devotional music, and Kashi Art Cafe, a gallery-cafe that supports emerging artists.

8) 7 p.m. Culinary innovations

You’ll find a modern fine-dining haven amid the history at East Indies, a restaurant overlooking a pool at the Dutch colonial-inspired Eighth Bastion Hotel. In a contemporary dining room, choose among interesting combinations and artful plating: tiger prawns with ginger, chili, cumin and coconut (900 rupees); coriander-laced chicken malli peralan (700 rupees); shrimp with ginger and garlic on a papadum crisp (550 rupees); and creme brulee French toast (400 rupees).

Sunday

9) 9:30 a.m. Open-air breakfast

Two historic warehouses by the sea were joined to make the delightful Pepper House, an open-air cafe, gallery and design shop that’s one of the main venues come Biennale time. The crowd is a mix of creative types and tourists, all converging at the handful of tables scattered around a grassy courtyard. It’s a great spot for breakfast: Fuel up for the day with the French toast with jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) and fresh fruit (250 rupees).

10) 11 a.m. Hop on board

Kochi has been nicknamed the Queen of the Arabian Sea, and the water is an intrinsic element of the city. You can book a tourist boat for a one-hour spin around the harbor, but for a more local experience, take the public ferry (tickets are just 4 rupees). Board at the jetty off Calvathy Road alongside commuters and local families, and whiz past some of the islands that make up the city of Kochi — Vypin, Willingdon, Vallarpadam and Bolgatty — before landing 20 minutes later at the bustling mainland part of the city known as Ernakulam. There, take a quick stroll through the neatly manicured, sea-facing Subhash Bose Park before heading back.

Lodging

Opened in 2016, the Ginger House Museum Hotel is a plush oasis in the heart of Mattancherry, situated above a sprawling antiques shop and restaurant. Each of the nine rooms is done up in rich, vintage embellishments, like 24-karat-gold Art Deco tiles and a ceiling bedecked in teakwood-framed mirrors. Doubles from 25,000 rupees.

The cheery yellow Forte Kochi has 27 rooms in a restored 18th-century heritage house, just steps from the Chinese fishing nets and many of Fort Kochi’s main attractions. Doubles from 14,000 rupees.

Many of Fort Kochi’s colonial-era houses have been converted to hotels and guesthouses, and there are plenty of charming places to stay within striking distance of all of the historic quarter’s key attractions. Private rooms on Airbnb range anywhere from $15 to $100 per night.

Sahred From Source link Travel

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[panamagreg]

Our friends Lyn and Ty Gilbert are always in favor of going on an adventure and we rarely refuse an opportunity to explore with them. The four of us have the greatest time heading into the unknown. You may recall our adventures previously that took us to the end of the road. A little over a week ago they asked if we would like to go to Shelter Bay to explore the area.

Shelter Bay is at the north end of the Panama Canal. Previously the only access to the bay and its magnificent marina was by boat or a ferry ride across the north end of the Panama Canal. Recently the Atlantic Bridge across the canal was completed which made access to this area a little easier. When we reached the bridge it was a great surprise to find almost no one using it. At first glace I thought that this must be the bridge to nowhere. It basically starts and ends in dense jungle. When we reached the west side of the bridge the roads leading away were all narrow and rough. Ty says eventually a nice road will take people from the bridge to the new copper mine where he works. Otherwise there is a long stretch of undeveloped ocean front from there to Bocas del Toro. The Caribbean coast is very pretty but not as accessible as the Pacific The dense jungle has a little bit to do with how populated this area is.

The new bridge across the Panama Canal

Our first stop after crossing the bridge was the gate at Fort Sherman. Fort Sherman was a U.S. army base tasked with protecting the north end of the canal. The gate is protected by a Panamanian Aero-Naval company. We told them that we were going to Shelter Bay and they let us pass. Once inside the base we were amazed to see how the Panamanians had allowed the unused base to fall apart and deteriorate after the American military was pulled out. Panama uses some of the former U.S. Military buildings in the canal zone, but has little use for a lot of it. By the way, since President Carter returned the Panama Canal to the people of Panama it has done very well and even expanded under the management of The Panama Canal Authority. The Panamanian Government does not technically run the canal. It is owned by all the people and decisions for its operations are made by directors who are elected to their positions.

The barracks at Fort Sherman Army base are deserted.

Shelter Bay lies on the west side of the north end of the canal. It is on the Caribbean and like all of Panama is virtually exempt from hurricane activity. Many people from North America sail south to safety here during hurricane season. We found the marina which is on the former Fort Sherman Army base to be very busy and almost at capacity.  The marina has a restaurant, pool, stores and just about anything people will need who typically live aboard their boat. They even have scheduled bus trips to Colon and Panama City for shopping and entertainment. We were there to pick up some paint for Ty and Lyn’s boat.

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Marina at Shelter Bay

Marina at Shelter Bay

Marina at Shelter Bay

After we picked up Ty’s paint, we headed south through the jungle. After driving a couple of Kilometers we reached a ranger station for Parque National. The park is part of the extensive National Park system of Panama, however I could not find a name for it. Several of these guys came to meet us as we entered the park. They are called Coate’, and they are a little bit like a racoon. We found them very friendly and nearly as welcoming as a dog. They probably thought we would feed them.

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Coate’

Coate’

Several kilometers of driving through the jungle in the park we found ourselves once again at the end of the road. The road ended where the Chagres River meets the Caribbean on a point where the early Panamanians protected the trade route. This place was called Fort San Lorenzo Castle. It is a protected historical site and it is a great place to explore. In the late 1400’s early settlers would take their wares by land from the Pacific to a place in the mountains near what is now Gamboa. From there they would travel down the Chagres River to the Caribbean. This trade route had to be protected from the pirates. The Chagres river is now the source of much of the water used for the operation of the Panama Canal.

We found Fort San Lorenzo very fascinating. As we traveled through the jungle we were doubtful that we would find other people at the end of the road. We did, however, find many people there exploring. The price of admission was $3.00. The fort lies on a point where the Chagres river meets the Caribbean Sea. We learned that the original fort was built in 1595. After the fort was built it was first attacked in 1596 by English pirate Sir Francis Drake. The fort was continuously attacked until the original wood fort was destroyed by Sir Henry Morgan in 1671. Morgan then went over land to attack Panama City. These pirates were very interested in this area because early settlers brought gold from South and Central America across land into the jungle high in the mountains near what is now Gamboa. There they took it in boats down the Chagres River to the Caribbean where it went by ship to America. This trade route had to be protected from these pirates. Fort San Lorenzo Palace was part of the triangle of protection which ran from Gamboa to here to the ruins near Portobelo called Fuerte San Jeronimo. We explored the ruins near Portobelo a few months back. Clicking on the Fuerte San Jeronimo link will take you back to that post. Fort San Lorenzo was rebuilt of stone in 1680, which lasted until an attack in 1740. In 1768 it was once again rebuilt and in 1779 it was fortified. It is the remains of this fort that we explored on our visit. In 1980 UNESCO declared this and Fuerte San Jeronimo both World Heritage Sites. As I stood on the point looking over to the Chagres River and out into the Caribbean it was easy to imagine how the soldiers protected this area from the pirates. We were able to explore the moat, barracks, ammunition’s storage, and even get up close and personal with the cannons.  Enjoy a few pictures from our adventure. A picture paints a thousand words, but there is no way to visually or verbally describe this place, and do justice. This is a must see if you are ever fortunate enough to visit this area.

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Walking in the moat

Cannon stronghold

The Fort

Fort San Lonenzo

Chagres River over the Cliff

Don’t shoot

Guard Position

The East Side of the Point

Fort San Lorenzo

The Moat

Storage space

Rooms carved from the rock

Fort San Lorenzo

Fort San Lorenzo

Main Entry Point. The drawbridge would have been on the other side.

In other news, Jen and I bought a dune buggy. It is great for getting around the complex and beach riding. We have been having a blast with it. 

The first day with our buggy

We just had a great visit from our friends Ray and Diane. They came to escape the already cold Michigan Winter. We took them to some of our favorite and best adventure spots. Their visit is material for our next blog post. Please continue to follow our retirement adventure. Many people have told me that they no longer see our blog. We try to post it to Facebook, but they want us to pay them. Facebook considers our blog to be a business. LOL; I think advertising on our site has brought in less than $5.00 in our almost 3 years of posting. WordPress publishes our blog to our 2RetireInPanama Facebook page free, but most of you do not follow us there. Please click on the link to like and follow us there. The best way to continue to see our blog is to subscribe below and it will come to your email mailbox. We will never spam you, and you can unsubscribe any time. 

Greg and Jen

 Shelter Bay, Fort San Lorenzo Castle, and Fort Sherman Our friends Lyn and Ty Gilbert are always in favor of going on an adventure and we rarely refuse an opportunity to explore with them.