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hellsitesonlybookclub · 25 days

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Tongues of the Moon, Philip Jose Farmer

America had fallen, prey more to its own softness and confusion than to the machinations of the Soviets. Then, in the turbulent bloody starving years that followed the fall with their purges, uprisings, savage repressions, mass transportations to Siberia and other areas, importation of other nationalities to create division, and bludgeoning propaganda and reeducation, only the strong and the intelligent survived.

Scone, Broward, and Nashdoi were of the second generation born after the fall of Canada and the United States. They had been born and had lived because their parents were flexible, hardy, and quick. And because they had inherited and improved these qualities.

The Americans had become a problem to the Russians. And to the Chinese. Those Americans transported to Siberia had, together with other nationalities brought to that area, performed miracles with the harsh climate and soil, had made a garden. But they had become Siberians, not too friendly with the Russians.

China, to the south, looking for an area in which to dump their excess population, had protested at the bringing in of other nationalities. Russia's refusal to permit Chinese entry had been one more added to the long list of grievances felt by China towards her elder brother in the Marx family.

And on the North American continent, the American Communists had become another trial to Moscow. Russia, rich with loot from the U.S., had become fat. The lean underfed hungry Americans, using the Party to work within, had alarmed the Russians with their increasing power and influence. Moreover, America had recovered, was again a great industrial empire. Ostensibly under Russian control, the Americans were pushing and pressuring subtly, and not so subtly, to get their own way. Moscow had to resist being Uncle Samified.

To complicate the world picture, thousands of North Americans had taken refuge during the fall of their country in Argentine. And there the energetic and tough-minded Yanks (the soft and foolish died on the way or after reaching Argentine) followed the paths of thousands of Italians and Germans who had fled there long ago. They became rich and powerful; Félipé Howards, El Macho, was part-Argentinean Spanish, part-German, part-American.

The South African (sub-Saharan) peoples had ousted their Communist and Fascist rulers because they were white or white-influenced. Pan-Africanism was their motto. Recently, the South African Confederation had formed an alliance with Argentine. And the Axis had warned the Soviets that they must cease all underground activity in Axis countries, cease at once the terrible economic pressures and discriminations against them, and treat them as full partners in the nations of the world.

If this were not done, and if a war started, and the Argentineans saw their country was about to-be crushed, they would explode cobalt bombs. Rather death than dishonor.

The Soviets knew the temper of the proud and arrogant Argentineans. They had seemed to capitulate. There was a conference among the heads of the leading Soviets and Axes. Peaceful coexistence was being talked about.

But, apparently, the Axis had not swallowed this phrase as others had once swallowed it. And they had decided on a desperate move.

Having cheap lithium bombs and photon compressors and the means to deliver them with gravitomagnetic drives, the Axis was as well armed as their foes. Perhaps, their thought must have been, if they delivered the first blow, their anti-missiles could intercept enough Soviet missiles so that the few that did get through would do a minimum of damage. Perhaps. No one really knew what caused the Axis to start the war.

Whatever the decision of the Axis, the Axis had put on a good show. One of its features was the visit by their Moon officers to the base at Eratosthenes, the first presumably, in a series of reciprocal visits and parties to toast the new amiable relations.

Result: a dying Earth and a torn Moon.

Broward belonged to that small underground which neither believed in the old Soviet nor the old capitalist system. It wanted a form of government based on the ancient Athenian method of democracy on the local level and a loose confederation on the world level. All national boundaries would be abolished.

Such considerations, thought Broward, must be put aside for the time being. Getting independence of the Russians, getting rid of the hellish bonephones, was the thing to do now. Or so it had seemed to him.

But would not that inevitably lead to war and the destruction of all of humanity? Would it not be better to work with the other Soviets and hope that eventually the Communist ideal could be subverted and the Athenian established? With communities so small, the modified Athenian form of government would be workable. Later, after the Moon colonies increased in size and population, means could be found for working out intercolonial problems.

Or perhaps, thought Broward, watching the monolithic Scone, Scone did not really intend to force the other Soviets to cooperate? Perhaps, he hoped they would fight to the death and the North American base alone would be left to repopulate the world.

"Broward," said Scone, "go sound out Nashdoi. Do it subtly."

"Wise as the serpent, subtle as the dove," said Broward. "Or is it the other way around?"

Scone lifted his eyebrows. "Never heard that before. From what book?"

Broward walked away without answering. It was significant that Scone did not know the source of the quotation. The Old and New Testaments were allowed reading only for select scholars. Broward had read an illegal copy, had put his freedom and life in jeopardy by reading it.

But that was not the point here. The thought that occurred to him was that, nationality and race aside, the people on the Moon were a rather homogeneous group. Three-fourths of them were engineers or scientists of high standing, therefore, had high I.Q.'s. They were descended from ancestors who had proved their toughness and good genes by surviving through the last hundred years. They were all either agnostics or atheists or supposed to be so. There would not be any religious differences to split them. They were all in superb health, otherwise they would not be here. No diseases among them, not even the common cold. They would all make good breeding stock. Moreover, with recent advances in genetic manipulation, defective genes could be eliminated electrochemically. Such a manipulation had not been possible on Earth with its vast population where babies were being born faster than defective genes could be wiped out. But here where there were so few....

Perhaps, it would be better to allow the Soviet system to exist for now. Later, use subtle means to bend it towards the desired goal.

No! The system was based on too many falsities, among which the greatest was dialectical materialism. As long as the corrupt base existed, the structure would be corrupt.

#hellsitesonlybookclub #bookblr #Tongues of the Moon #Philip Jose Farmer

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expertlocksmiths · 4 months

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Discovering History and Botanical Beauty at Shinn Historical Park, Fremont, CA

In Fremont, California, Shinn Historical Park is an impressive array of past and present and beauty of the plants. It is a beloved spot in the local community, where guests can take an informative walk through time and explore the Victorian-era Shinn family residence and the surrounding buildings that are historical.

It is more than an historical site, but it is also a botanical oasis with a wide array of stunning gardens as well as old trees. The feeling of belonging and community created by the park is apparent, since it serves as an ideal place to gather for people who are interested in natural beauty, history, and the opportunities the park offers.

Shinn Historical Park invites all to enjoy this special mix of both horticulture and historical.

Uncovering Shinn Park's Rich History

When we delve into Shinn Park's extensive past, we find fascinating blend of culture architecture and heritage that dates from the 19th century.

The 4.5-acre park located in Fremont, California, houses the historical Shinn House which was built in the year 1876, by James Shinn and Lucy Shinn, prominent patrons of education and the arts.

The Victorian architecture of the home, paired with the gorgeous botanical gardens provides a fascinating perspective on the design and style that were prevalent in the Victorian era.

There are more than 200 trees and an active bird sanctuary It is perfect for anyone who loves nature.

While we travel throughout Shinn Park, we not just get to experience a glimpse of Fremont's history, but be a part of the lively community. It creates feelings of belonging as well as the common history.

Exploring the Botanical Delights

All through the year Visitors to Shinn Historical Park can explore an amazing array of plant pleasures. It also has a wide collection of 200 or more trees. This includes rare and exotic species like those of the Chinese Pistache and the African Sumac and offer a lush area of shade. Likewise, the bright colors of Azaleas and Camellias provide a burst of brightness to the surroundings.

The well-maintained trails of the park will take you through the groves stunning trees, through tranquil lakes, and through fragrant flowers gardens. Every turn is a fresh scenery of natural beauty encouraging you to take a moment take a deep breath, relax, and take into the tranquility.

The treasures of nature are evidence of the park's devotion to preserve and showcase the beauty of nature, which makes it an ideal destination for people who love plants and for those looking for peace and tranquility.

#california #locksmith near me #san jose #united states #fremontcalifornia #Shinn Historical Park

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kratijain06 · 1 year

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Top 4 sightseeing spots in Udaipur

1. City Palace

In 1559, Maharana Udai Mirza Singh built the City Palace. The palace is situated on the banks of Pichola Lake. The architecture of the palace is a fusion of European, Medieval, and Chinese styles. The City Palace complex contains 11 magnificent palaces, each built at a different time and by a different ruler. The size of the palace is astounding, with courtyards, terraces, pavilions, hanging gardens, and much more. The architecture, antiques, and exclusive paintings on the walls of the palace are all magnificent.

2. Lake Garden Palace

When Shah Jahan sought refuge here in his youth, the Jagmandir or Lake Garden Palace is said to have served as inspiration for the Taj Mahal. This palace has a long history and is regarded as one of the Mughal and Rajput friendship symbols. This palace has a regal feel thanks to a series of impressive structures that would delight any visitor. For day tours you can hire the best taxi service in Udaipur.They will guide you in Udaipur local sightseeing tour.

3. Vintage Car Museum

The Royal Vintage Car Museum is a must-see destination for all motor enthusiasts. It was opened in February 2000 and has since become a popular tourist destination. The museum houses many famous vintage cars, including the 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom featured in the Bond film Octopussy, as well as many rare Rolls Royce models. The peaceful and quiet environment here is an added bonus. Cab service in Udaipur will provide you the best tour guide to explore vintage car Museum..

4. Bagore Ki Haveli

Pichola Lake is close to Bagore Ki Haveli. The 18th century structure was built by Amir Chand Badwa, Chief Minister of the Royal Court of Mewar. The Haveli became the residence of Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore in 1878, thus the name Bagore Ki Haveli. While retaining the royal touch, this was converted into a museum. The museum displays Mewar culture. Rajput items such as jewelry boxes, hand fans, copper vessels, and so on can be found in the antique collections. With its distinct architectural style, the massive structure has over 100 rooms and looks magnificent. When you're there, don't forget to check out the evening shows that are held here.

#Taxi in Udaipur #Car Rental Services in Udaipur #udaipur sightseeing taxi #taxi rental in udaipur

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llendrinall · 3 years

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Here's a prompt for you.

Draco and Harry are dating and taking it slow (no one is aware & they started dating after the both of them had begun to go to therapy and heal a bit) and while they've together for a year (now its not somethin that either of them hide but they also dont go out and pronounce anything) they find an orphanage in the muggle world and they hang out with the kids and end up falling inlove with between 1-4 of the kids over time and both the Weasley's and Malfoy's find out about their relationship when they show up with their newly adopted child/ren.

"I thought you knew we were together"

"We thought you were becoming friends Harry!"

Draco saw the kid first. Not that it matters, but Harry claims that it was all his idea when, in truth, Draco saw the kid first and immediately knew what was going to happen. This is Harry, after all. Draco could have distracted Harry, insist they took the other exit of the restaurant, anything. But he did none of that because (don’t tell anyone this) Draco Malfoy might have a heart of his own and he was curious about the kid sitting under a lamppost with a book.

His names is Liam and he was doing homework. There is a lounge in the orphanage where, theoretically, children can do their homework. But the place is very noisy and there are some older kids who pick on Liam. Unless it’s raining heavily, Liam prefers to be outside where he can have some peace. He could go to the library and he usually takes refuge there, but it closes early on Fridays.

They had just had dinner, but they go back to the restaurant so Liam can work at a table where is warm and well lighted. The waitress gets Liam extra bacon in his sandwich and doesn’t charge them for it.

Harry surprises Draco because he doesn’t immediately take Liam with him, even though it’s clear that’s what he wants to do. He does say he would like to visit Roberta Clark’s Children Home and looks softly pleased when Draco says he will go with him.

They have been together for almost a year now, soft and tentative and careful because they both want this and are afraid to ruin it with a false step. They have just started to talk about living arrangements, although in a very vague way. Tonight, however, Draco begins a ruthless campaign against Harry’s house which is well located in London, yes, but it doesn’t have a garden unlike Draco’s house in Virginia Water, and it has one less room than Draco’s (not accounting for the music room), and it’s very dark. Draco can’t imagine children growing up happy here. Poor Sirius. And poor Regulus.

Harry is pissed, which is further proof that he needs Draco in his life because, Morgana, is he easy to read and manipulate.

That Thursday the two of them visit Roberta Clark’s Children Home where they are welcomed by the rudest social worker to ever plague the Earth. The deputy Director isn’t much better. She doesn’t like it when Harry points they have mold on the walls, all twenty-three times.

(This is one of the many reasons Draco loves him. For a hero of the light, Harry is a terror).

Draco walked in there knowing fully well they were going to adopt Liam, hence his campaign for the Virginia Water’s house because no child of his will grow up in Grimmauld Place. Children who grow up in Grimmauld Place become unhappy adults who die before their time. Draco thought that maaaaybe Harry still believed he was only going to show an interest in the institution and hand them money to improve the living conditions; but Draco knew there was no way Harry would leave Liam in there. The kid is eleven! An orphan! Harry can lie to himself all he wants. He will be Liam’s legal father inside a month.

What Draco didn’t expect was to get a child of his own.

Her name is Jamie, JamieTheGirl. There is a boy named Jamie and simply Jamie, not JamieTheBoy, because Jamie is a boy’s name. This is explained to Draco in a rush, with a mixture of pain and bratty attitude that speaks to him directly. JamieTheGirl hates her name, her haircut, the horrible dress she is forced to wear and Mister Gladwell, who is the rude social worker. JamieTheGirl wanted to know if Liam is lying, because Liam said he knew them (them being Draco and Harry) but Liam is eleven and everybody knows that nobody wants kids older than ten. Seven is best. JamietheGirl is nine so she could still be adopted, but she has been informed by multiple sources that nobody will ever want her because a) she has a bad attitude, b) she has a boy’s name and c) she is not cute enough.

“My name is Draco,” is all Draco can say. He is already vowing to hunt down those multiple sources who told Jamie she was less than perfect. “It’s not a bad name but it’s not a good one either.”

JamieTheGirl agrees.

Now that they are going to adopt two children it’s all the more reason to live in the Virginia Water’s house, which has more room and a very nice garden. They can always apparate the kids to their school in London. If Harry refuses to apparate (sometimes Harry exhibits some very weird ideas about magic and luxury) Draco will get a car. Not even a magical car, and actual muggle car. He will buy one and take the kids to school. Actually, they should go tomorrow to check the house and start the arrangements.

Harry stares at Draco. He is sitting on the kitchen counter in his stupid house in Grimmauld Place, eating Chinese food from the box as if he weren’t a filthy rich man, hero of the wizarding world. Draco loves him so much.

“What do you mean adopt?” Harry says.

“Oh, like this was going to go any other way.” Draco says, rolling his eyes. If the place had merely been overcrowded and noisy Harry would have contented himself to play the benefactor role and pay for renovations. But there was mold in twenty-three spots, the social worker made Snape look charming and evidently none of the adults in charge had any idea of what the children were going through and, even worse, what they were getting up to.

Draco knows Harry. It is a mere question of how quickly they can get the paperwork ready.

“I’m still going to do something about the place.” Harry argues, of course he does. He won’t simply take a kid and forget about the rest. But he is already thinking of all the wonderful things he will teach Liam. Draco can see it in his eyes.

They get married two weeks later, for the paperwork, but in essence they got married that night when Draco laid the rest of their lives before them and Harry realized that Draco knew him better than himself and that he still wanted to be with him.

They move to the Virginia Water’s house in early January. Liam can’t believe that he has been adopted, so he takes the fact that they are both wizards in stride. The adoption is much harder to believe than the fact that people can do actual magic. Also, he has his own room. His. With a door that he can close. The fact that he doesn’t have to hide his books so they won’t be stolen takes enough of Liam’s attention that he can’t worry about such unimportant things as magic.

JamieTheGirl is both easier and harder. She is easier because she desperately wanted to be out of the Children’s Home, and harder because she is naturally distrustful and very intelligent. Not to say that Liam is not distrustful or smart, but he is old enough to be jaded. Liam expects something bad to happen and he is willing to take it. He, like Harry, is stupid enough to believe that he can take new abuse if he also gets some comfort in exchange.

(note: Draco is going to piss on Dumbledore’s grave).

The first month is difficult, but once both Liam and JamieTheGirl act out and see there are no bad consequences, that they are not beaten or returned to the Children’s Home, they settle happily. JamieTheGirl asks to have her name changed, please, she will take a constellation name if they want to, just let her have a different name. They are enrolled in a new school and Draco buys a car and hires a chauffeur who happens to be a squib and there is no need for Harry to look at him that way.

Things are good.

It’s cold outside, the garden is dry and ugly, it rains nonstop for two weeks… but everything is good and nice. If Sean were here he would have something interesting to say about it. Everything in Sean is ugly, but he knows how to take the painful things and make them sweet, and he would know how to put into words that the world outside the house is ugly right now, but it’s also nice.

Draco feels Harry go rigid at the same time as him. “Who?” Draco says calmly just as Harry asks “What?”.

Sean is an ugly case. He was adopted when he was eight but he was returned a few months later. Nobody knows why although there is a lot of speculation. He often got himself beaten in school and once by Mister Murphy (“Who?”, “It doesn’t matter, he doesn’t work there anymore”, “Give me a detailed description of Mister Murphy, please”.) He is fifteen now so nobody will adopt him and Mister Gladwell says he will amount to nothing. Despite what Mrs Oxley says (Mrs Oxley is the deputy Director) Sean is not a criminal. He goes with bad people, sure, but he never stole Liam’s books and he even showed him a couple of hiding places. He is not bad at all.

On Friday they welcome Sean home. Just at the same time Mr Gladwell, Mrs Oxley, Mr Murphy and a criminal gang from the South Bank all suffer completely coincidental and unrelated accidents.

Sean is a young criminal. He is tough and hard, actively cultivating a mean strike and horrifyingly traumatized.

He is also deeply protective of Liam and Jamie. It’s heartbreaking.

Fortunately, Harry was also deeply traumatized at his age. It’s a horrible thought to have, but for once Harry is grateful for all that pain because he knows how Sean feels, he understands, and he can help.

No, Sean can’t have a wand or try magic. Yes, he still has to go to school. No, he can’t take the car. No, no smoking and no drinking either. Come along, you are going to take fighting classes.

Which might seem counter-productive. Do not teach the young delinquent to fight, yadda, yadda. Harry spent all of his fifteen year wanting to punch someone and Sean has this freaked-out look in the eyes that says he doesn’t trust Harry or Draco and that he wants to protect Jamie and Liam. The fighting classes make him feel more in control and they mellow him. Also, by the third time Draco has a tiff and demands to talk to the headmaster about Liam’s class placement, his math grades, Jamie’s English grades, and just-what-did-that-woman-insinuate-I-swear; something visibly relaxes in Sean.

(Not even Liam knows what his Biology teacher said that upset Draco. The next week they have the lovely Miss Quintrell instead and the whole class is happy so Liam doesn’t question it).

And suddenly it’s March and Ron’s birthday and there is a celebration at the Burrow. Harry arrives with his family and a well-structured explanation of how he is now the legal father of Sean, Liam and Possibly-Berenice (they are still trying names). He is really good at it. He gives a simple step by step account of the process, with helpful asides and clarifying details, everything. There is just this one thing. A small detail, really. An assumption that is not supported by reality.

“Mate, I’m very happy for you,” Ron says. “We all are. But, you never mentioned you were dating Malfoy and I believe I speak for everyone when I say it’s a shock.”

And, to be fair, nobody can say they are actually surprised that Harry showed up with three orphans. But Malfoy, well… Malfoy is something else. They thought Harry was merely befriending him, or possibly adopting him like he tried to do with Neville. The dating thing is a big mental shift.

“We are married,” Draco says, and then, at their stares, more quietly, “it was more convenient? For the paperwork?”.

There is a lot of “Harry Potter you did not get married without telling us” and “Harry Potter how could you just get married without a ceremony” and “you know we have been developing these party fireworks how could you do this to us” and Molly red-faced, waving a finger, “did you tell your parents, young man?” and it takes everyone, everyone, thirty seconds to realize she is not addressing Harry, but Draco, and Merlin’s pants, he did not, he didn’t tell them. Draco married Harry, moved with him and adopted three kids and his father doesn’t know, which goes a long way to ingratiate Draco with everyone, because Lucius Malfoy has not heard of this.

It also has the unexpected but very welcome benefit of making Sean laugh. Liam says Sean hasn’t laughed in years.

(And of course less than a month later the three kids have a hand-knit sweater, of course they do. Possibly-Berenice’s has a pattern of stars, pending her choosing a permanent name).

#asks #harry potter #draco malfoy #verse: Harry adopting left and right #Anonymous #textpost

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vinnydesign · 3 years

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Courtyard :An Architectural Element of Design

The central courtyard is often referred to as an atrium and is a unique feature that can give your home an abundance of natural light. A central courtyard in your home can provide peaceful privacy for the family, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is also a perfect way to make the most of the beautiful Indian climate! Courtyards add warmth and a point of difference to a client’s home. Designing courtyards is in line with philosophy of providing a solid connectivity with nature while responding to client needs and their vision of beautiful, livable spaces. Courtyards can be the heart of a building where natural light and warmth permeate throughout the space.

Central courtyards are not only aesthetically beautiful but offer many benefits to the home such as better ventilation. The open space allows for air movement within the home and natural breezes can be substituted for expensive air conditioning in the warm Indian summers.The security of a central courtyard is also an added bonus as clients can open all of the windows and doors during the day and night without worrying about intruders.

Whilst central courtyards are not new to the building industry, they are a classic feature being the Traditional homes from across the globe have used designs with interior courtyards for thousands of years, but have fallen out of favour in recent generations. From the earliest example of a courtyard house in 6000BCE, to the ancient Roman Domus, to the Chinese Siheyuan and the Sahn of the typical middle eastern home, the courtyard house has a long history that crosses regional boundaries and spans many climactic zones. Recent research has focused in on the many benefits of these traditional designs; these homes not only have sustainability advantages, like passive cooling, but also create major benefits for their inhabitants health and social life. Can we capitalize on these traditional models by incorporating courtyards into our modern architecture?

In warmer climates, courtyard homes are particularly sustainable, allowing for greater ventilation in the home and cooler spaces of outdoor refuge than the neighbouring streets.

“Courtyards work with any style of home, from modern to classical, but the designs are particularly popular in warmer climates, where courtyards induce airflow. When designed properly, one end of the courtyard can be 15 degrees cooler than the other end because of cross-ventilation.”

Courtyards might not just make our lives greener- they may also make them happier. In multi-family housing, a courtyard can be a “central component to promote social and cultural health and happiness of residents.” In a research, one notices data both qualitative and quantitative data on courtyard garden house designs, and concluded that it is the combination of “a sense of privacy with a feeling of community” that is the reason for the social success of these spaces.

But How can we adapt traditional courtyard spaces into our contemporary design work? In what ways can we utilize the inherit powers of the courtyard to improve our housing designs? because Courtyards are an Architectural Design Element.When I teach my students of Interior Design I ask them to plan a residential space as per the bio-climatic requirements of Nature so as to increase the well-being of the family residing in that house .

Architecturally, courtyards add a design element that creates connectivity between interior and exterior space. The open air oasis, a rarity in dense cities, provides a multi-functional extension of living space ideal for entertaining, gardening, yoga and star gazing, right in the middle of a restless city. Unlike a yard, courtyards carved out in the center of a building provides a private tranquil space for homeowners, or buffered space for apartment dwellers in courtyard apartments.

Connecting with Nature

Living in a hyperconnected environment has been scientifically proven to induce stress, feelings of loneliness and people yearn to have more connectivity to the world we live in. Natural environments and having access to outdoor space can have a positive impact on physical and mental health and the benefits of connecting with nature can improve well being.We have to be in contact with our natural surroundings to acquire an intimate knowledge about them and in order to protect them. We will need a paradigm shift so that a building becomes a member of the landscape, collecting solar energy from the sun for its electrical needs while sequestering carbon and producing oxygen, harvesting rainwater for potable uses and maintaining an edible forest, and supplying waste water to on-site wetlands. Our bid for courtyards is a small step forward toward our vision of this harmonious future, which looks to a city teeming with life, not the sterile projection of Wall-E and other climate disaster movies.

Every house can benefit from blending with nature, and in the current urban environment, there’s no better way to achieve this than with internal gardens for modern Indian homes. Besides adding a stunning feature to the interiors of the house, an interior courtyard garden provides a relaxing retreat where one can refresh one’s energy amid the soothing greenery. In modern Indian homes, it’s easy to incorporate an internal garden seamlessly with the help of glass walls, sliding doors and retractable ceilings.

For houses, if one wants specific designs such as interior courtyard designs — Kerala style, with a traditional courtyard around which all the rooms of the house wrap, it’s essential to incorporate it into the model at the time of planning the house. Of course, it’s possible to install simple indoor gardens even in small apartments.

The most straightforward idea for an indoor garden design in India is to have a low-maintenance rock garden with hardy plants that don’t require much care. All you need is a small area, either off the living area or a bedroom, where rocks and plants can be artistically arranged to create a lovely green patch. Ideally, glass windows or a sliding door should allow you to view the garden from within the room to bring in the freshness of the garden into the home’s interiors.

Another idea is to have a Japanese indoor garden design with pebbles, a bamboo plant and a small fountain that not only don’t require much space but also are cost effective and easy to maintain. A Japanese garden is minimalist in nature, making it the perfect internal garden for a modern home.

Green walls or vertical gardens are a new trend in Indian homes as they only require a bit of wall space to bring greenery into any room. These gardens are also relatively maintenance-free if they come with automated-watering systems.

While many old bungalows in India have a traditional courtyard in the centre, often with a water feature or a tree, modern apartments have an insufficient area within to incorporate a large courtyard. A smart solution is to create small interior courtyard designs, with artificial grass, potted plants and even a customised water feature in a corner. Adding artwork and sculptures on the wall as well as seating can convert the area into a cosy space where your family will love to relax in the evenings or early mornings.

The design can be implemented even in a balcony or terrace adjoining the living room by u When thinking of internal gardens for modern Indian homes, one of the most common designs that come to mind is the traditional central courtyard, like the ones seen in old houses in Kerala. While it might seem like the design won’t suit a modern style home, one can adapt it by using the square or rectangular well in the centre with a glass roof overhead to protect it against the natural elements. In a modern house, using French doors or picture windows that frame the views of the courtyard from within the home can make it appear that the greenery is an extension of the room, adding a calming touch to the ambience.

One can carry through certain traditional elements in the interior courtyard garden by planting a large tree or installing a pond with floating flowers in the centre of the courtyard. Some pieces of traditional furniture such as a simple wooden swing can look just as good even in a modern house. To keep the area maintenance-free paving blocks of concrete or spread along the walls to add to the greenery.

Using sliding glass doors to separate the areas without blocking the views of the garden.

For homeowners who value sustainability when building a home, one of the best ideas is to retain the existing trees on the plot of land and design the house around it. Imagine having a tall tree with its branches running through several rooms in the house! You can extend the idea by enclosing the tree within glass walls to create an internal garden with pebbles and potted plants. This type of interior courtyard garden design not only adds a unique feature to the house but also allows nature to thrive amid the construction as the glass doesn’t block the sunlight, thereby allowing the tree to grow well.

Since space is limited in most modern Indian homes, it’s an excellent idea to identify dead spaces that can be converted into a lovely internal garden. Usually, the entrance corridor or the stairwell are common areas where space gets wasted. By designing the area to incorporate an interior courtyard garden one can enjoy the benefit of having a splash of green inside the home.

It doesn’t take much to build an internal garden under the atrium at the entrance or beneath the staircase. All you need is a few planters, pebble borders and niches or shelves on which more potted plants can be placed. Of course, you can take it a step further by creating layers such as a water feature with floating lotuses or koi fish and covering it with glass tiles to make a stunning entrance for the home.

While it isn’t impossible to create internal gardens for modern Indian homes, it’s essential to design the space so that you get the most out of it. It’s advisable to consult a landscape architect or professional who has the knowledge and experience to suggest the best elements that can be a part of the interior garden in your home.

Advantages of a Courtyard

Architecturally, courtyards make perfect sense. They give the residents of a home a private outdoor space, which is secure and usable throughout the day. With its natural ventilation, a courtyard helps the house stay appropriately warm or cool without the need for heaters and air conditioners.

In a warm climate, a courtyard can bring down the house’s temperature, saving on energy bills. Several courtyards also include natural cooling elements as a part of their design like a fountain, a basin, an artificial waterfall, thick external walls and double-glazed windows.

Interior courtyards are very much in vogue today for the above reasons. They provide an aesthetic means of spending time with nature in the midst of a busy schedule. And the best part is that courtyards work with any style of home — modern or traditional.

So from growing an indoor garden to creating a serene corner in a crash and burn busy lifestyle, interior courtyards can do so much to enrich your life. Here are some more advantages you can enjoy…

For overall mental and physical health, human beings need to see the night sky every so often. In a densely designed city, it’s truly a luxury to steal a quiet moment of private reflection in your own courtyard. There are many benefits of a courtyard that go beyond aesthetics. Some of the benefits include:

Light

An interior courtyard centrally sits under the open sky, flooding the space around it with daylight. Every room that opens into the courtyard gets its dose of sunlight during the day, helping you with energy savings.

The benefits of being exposed to this optimum quantity of sunlight are well known, and even during a daily workday, you’ll benefit by simply having your morning tea in a natural refreshing environment. For courtyards that are located in the front or back of the house, the adjacent room can be the kitchen or living room, which is most often used during the day.

Centrally located courtyards in urban setups may be surrounded by high walls restricting the entry of light. In such cases, you can use exterior reflectors on your windows and doors.

Ventilation

For centuries, interior courtyards have been created to aid the purpose of natural ventilation. Ventilation itself serves many purposes. It provides fresh air, improves oxygen supply and dilutes odours. When creating a courtyard, keep room for cross ventilation, which offers the maximum cooling effect.

Courtyard ventilation also has passive cooling effects during the night, which brings the overall temperature of the place down. In addition to this, a courtyard filled with plants and a garden area helps keep the house cool even in scorching and arid climates.

Separate Spaces

A courtyard acts as a space separator within the home. A courtyard between the living room and bedrooms, can work to increase the privacy between these areas, not letting casual visitors walk in unwittingly. It provides a break in the décor too, with each section gaining a new personality that goes only with the central flow.

A courtyard between the kitchen and living room is a perfect place for entertaining guests as well as unwinding after the day’s work.

Connects Spaces

A courtyard can also be a connector of spaces within the home, providing accessibility to different parts with ease. If you have a courtyard in the front or at the back of your house, it not only acts as an entrance or exit point, but can connect to more than one room depending on your courtyard architecture.

A centrally located courtyard, on the other hand, can provide access to multiple rooms in the house, making movement easier.

Privacy + Security: Instead of hauling in the grill every night, a courtyard allows you to truly go wild with your ultimate vision for a secret garden and teak Adirondack chairs or fully decked out outdoor kitchen. Likewise, plants and edible gardens will be out of reach from hungry critters or neighbors tempted to snack on your tomatoes.

Therapeutic Properties: As a society we suffer from nature deficit disorder. Studies have shown that spending mindful time outdoors can reduce stress levels and strengthen your immune system. Putting down the electronics and spending intentional time in the privacy of a courtyard and allowing yourself to get lost in your surroundings can help you reach a greater sense of calm.

Possibilities: Unlike a yard, open to lookie-loo neighbors, an enclosed courtyard becomes another room in your house offering a private respite space. Being open to the sky, there are no height limits, and it can be layered with trellises, plant life, hanging cocoon chairs, party lights, or whatever you please. Or, you can go big and create your own outdoor spa!

Recreation: Letting kids or pets play outdoors is a little less intimidating and can provide a greater sense of security with a courtyard. They get fresh air and you get piece of mind. Likewise, adults wanting to unwind in a private setting without missing out on a lovely summer night can get ahold of both! Depending on lot size, it’s entirely possible to install a pétanque court. How glorious would it be to spend warm summer evenings with friends, and playing a spirited game of pétanque more like playing with marbles in India ?

Courtyard Kitchen Extension

In India , we relish the short window of warm temperatures, and when the sun is shining you probably don’t want to be trapped inside, busy with meal preparation. Extending the kitchen to the outdoors can provide a fresh perspective that can boost culinary imagination and create a nature-inspired gathering space for family and guests.

There are a variety of outdoor cooking options to consider when you’re planning an outdoor kitchen design. Whether you’re an aspiring master chef or a true grill master, installing a grill, smoker, and wood burning oven trifecta can navigate your gastronomy quest throughout the year.

Landscaping

Imagine being able to walk out your back door and wander into a green cloaked paradise teaming with birds and butterflies. With little effort or expense, it’s possible to create a lush landscape reminiscent of local garden nurseries. A mix of edible, native and perennial plants can bring interest and layers of visually stunning plant life to your doorstep. Native plants are usually low-maintenance and drought tolerant and tend to attract beneficial insects, such as pollinators, and colorful butterflies. Depending on the health of the soil and sun orientation, edible plants can be planted directly into the ground and provide a healthy dose of vegetables throughout the summer. Having fresh herbs and summer vegetables available just a garden shear snip away can be so rewarding! If the soil situation is suboptimal, using a variety of containers, planter boxes or raised beds are great options and have the added benefit of being mobile so they can be placed along the sun’s path. A more extravagant landscape plan would include shrubs, trees and an irrigation system to lessen the amount of labour and time spent with maintenance. Although, there are times when I find solace in the simple task of watering plants. With a courtyard, you have the option to enjoy the refreshing joy of being amidst greenery without having to look for it in far flung jungle reserves and nature resorts. Simply head to your courtyard to rejuvenate your eyes with the sight of green — it’s beneficial for health.

The great part of having a courtyard is that you can enjoy what different seasons bring in. From blossoming flowers under the summer sun to the hundred hues of green during the rains, to the select blossoms of winter, you can enjoy it all without stepping out from your home.

Designing and Building a Courtyard

When thinking about utilizing a courtyard in your design you should take the following into consideration: budget, convenience and placement of a grill, shelter (is an overhang possible to protect and shade windows and doors?), rainwater collection and drainage, irrigation, hardscape, landscape, built-ins, running utility lines, and lighting hook ups.

In all a Courtyard is an exceptional microclimate Controller and can be a great Stress Reliever for the families .

#courtyard #interiordesign #dezyneecolecollege #education #students #therapeutic #residential #areas #connects spaces #important #space

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architectnews · 2 years

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The Ring Chongqing Retail, Yubei Landscape

The Ring Chongqing Retail by ASPECT Studios, Hongkong Land, Chinese Landscape Architecture Photos

The Ring Chongqing Retail, Yubei Landscape Design

8 December 2021

The Ring | An era of experienced based retail

Architects: ASPECT Studios

Location: Intersection of Hu Cai Road and Jin Zhou Avenue, Yubei District, Chongqing, China

The Ring – urban arrival park design:

Photos by Wenjie Wang, xf photography, Hongkong Land, ASPECT Studios

The Ring Chongqing Landscape Design

Nestled in Chongqing’s urban heart, ASPECT Studios has crafted a journey through fantasy and natural wonder at The Ring, a landmark community-oriented retail destination.

The Ring – urban arrival park:

The Ring pushes the boundaries of the traditional retail environment, which has been turned on its head in recent years by online shopping culture and the pandemic. As the first of Hongkong Land’s new experience-based retail destinations, the project shifts the emphasis from commercial exchange to social exchange and connection to nature. The provision of much-needed accessible public open space, a multitude of facilities, and unique indoor and outdoor experiences are tailored for the enjoyment of a diverse community.

Impression of light fading into the depths of the ocean represented in paving:

In a city as dense and as large as Chongqing, the reinsertion of nature back into urban life requires an imaginative solution. ASPECT’s design spins a narrative inspired by the natural environment, with visitors embarking on a multi-dimensional voyage from the moment they arrive.

Tonal transitions of steps:

This journey begins in the urban arrival park, which mimics the dreamy undulations of the sea current. Locally sourced materials have been incorporated to reflect oceanic characteristics and movements. A metaphorical school of “manta rays,” sketched out in groupings of facilities, spaces, lookouts, experiences and shaded seating planters, reflects the idea of community.

Shaded seated areas in the urban park:

The impression of light fading into the depths of the ocean is represented in the tonal transitions of terraces, steps and level changes, which also allow the urban park to mitigate the significant site levels. This also creates a series of usable and accessible community spaces, including areas for art, exhibitions, community gathering, shaded relaxation and active water play.

Visitors gathering near the playful water feature of the community plaza:

From the urban park visitors travel to the community plaza, an event and gathering space framed on either side by elevated lookouts and sculptural art works and enclosed by terrace seating. The interactive sculptural artwork mimics the form of a seashell, allowing visitors to explore as they traverse a cave-like space to reach the lower level and take in the delightful view of a 20-metre-high dancing fountain.

There are many opportunities to explore the various plantings throughout:

As a major gathering community events space, the urban arrival park serve for having local community of over 50,000 residents a place meet and celebrate holidays and festive events. The northern edge of the plaza contains a lookout space which floats out of the terrace, allowing people to explore the planting which acts as a refuge in the shade of the trees.

Active water play zones:

At the core of the project, reflecting the connection between ocean and land, visitors find themselves within an open-air dining street inspired by a forest valley. Here, surrounded by dense planting displays, visitors can experience and explore nature on multiple levels. Misting systems and a valley water feature provide a passively cooled environment and a unique setting for visitors to enjoy the many cafes and restaurants set among the planting, creating a place to relax, connect and explore.

20-metre high dancing fountain:

At the highest point of the development, the Sky Gardens provide a peaceful retreat from the busy levels below and an environment for people to meander and explore drifts of seasonal and flowering plants. These also offer a much-needed resource for pollinating insects and wildlife. More generally, most of the plants installed across the entirety of the project’s 50,000 square metres are local species, requiring lower maintenance and less water.

The interactive sculpture artwork mimics the form of a seashell:

The Ring is a demonstration of how ASPECT Studios recontextualizes city life with its urban projects.

Open air dining street inspired by a forest valley:

The grounds of the complex take visitors on a journey that elevates the retail experience, while at the same time expanding what that experience is, and reimagining what it could be.

Open air dining street inspired by a forest valley:

Stephen Buckle, ASPECT Studios’ Shanghai studio director, said, “The Ring reinvents the traditional principle of retail, addressing critical urban challenges and mapping out the future of this location. By focusing on people and community and providing meaningful publicly accessible open space over short-term gain and commercial dominance, not only have we provided the much- needed public realm facilities, we have also created an inspirational and unique destination for people of the city to explore.”

Sky gardens provide a peaceful retreat from the busy levels below:

The Ring Chongqing, China – Landscape Design Information

Client: Hongkong Land Location: Intersection of Hu Cai Road and Jin Zhou Avenue, Yubei District, Chongqing, PRC Landscape Architecture: ASPECT Studios Principle Landscape Architect: Stephen Buckle ASPECT Design Team: Sam Xu, Cherry Lei, Jenny Ren, Chase Qiu, Chiachi Chen, Eric Qian, Jay Yang Hongkong Land Team: Ashley Qian, Qiuqi Liu, Yu Zheng

Sky gardens provide a peaceful retreat from the busy levels below:

Video: xf photography Photography: Wenjie Wang, xf photography, Stephen Buckle, Hongkong Land Architect: PHA Site Area: 62,863 sqm Landscape Area: 50,000 sqm Commencement: 2017 Completion: 2021

Night time view of The Ring:

Photos: Wenjie Wang, xf photography, Hongkong Land, ASPECT Studios

The Ring Chongqing Retail, Yubei Landscape images / information received 081221 from ASPECT Studios

Location: Hu Cai Road / Jin Zhou Avenue, Yubei District, Chongqing City, south west China

Architecture in China

Chinese Architecture Designs – chronological list

Beijing Architecture Tours

Chinese Architect

Chongqing Retail Buildings

Raffles City Chongqing Raffles City Chongqing Development

Chongqing New World Shopping Center Chongqing Shopping Center

Shopping Mall Chongqing Shopping Mall Chongqing

Chongqing Buildings

Park Reception Hall of LUXERIVERS Design: Feng Weimo and Song Zhen photograph : AsYouSee (Wang Ting), HereSpace Park Reception Hall of LUXERIVERS

Yifang Art Center Design: YIHE Landscape Architecture image courtesy of architects practice Yifang Art Center

SASSEUR Eco-tourist Village in Chongqing City image © HEIM Design

Fuzhou Vanke City and Chongqing Dongyuan 1891 photo : David Lloyd

Zhongxun Times in Chongqing image courtesy of architects

Forte Nanshan Chongqing Building photo : Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Chinese Buildings

Comments / photos for the The Ring Chongqing Retail, Yubei Landscape design by ASPECT Studios page welcome

The post The Ring Chongqing Retail, Yubei Landscape appeared first on e-architect.

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amastaystrails · 3 years

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Book villas in Kerala | Homestays in Kerala | amã Stays & Trails

Kerala has long been a charmer, and one is immediately drawn to the panoramic vistas that include refreshing mountains, scented tea plantations, and the ever-charming backwaters. And, bringing each of us closer to these elements of nature, these stunning villas in Kerala welcome visitors from all over the world to sample the essence of this natural joy.

1. Ganesh House Homestay is one of the most gorgeous villas in Kerala for spending a peaceful holiday, promising a homely atmosphere and surroundings like no other location in God's own land. Surrounded by lush vegetation and the petrichor, a stay at this traditional villa will undoubtedly allow its visitors to enjoy the most of this paradise, particularly during Kerala's rainy season.

2. Sarayu Villa is the place to go if you want to spend some time away from the frantic crowds of Kovalam. Sarayu Villa is one of the greatest budget villas in Kerala, offering all the peace and quiet in the world. It improves one's holiday experience with the pleasures of a serene setting and all the contemporary conveniences.

3. Vembanad Lake Homes is one of the greatest holiday villas in Kerala for nature lovers, tucked away in a charming position within thick forests and surrounded by gorgeous backwaters on all sides. Escape into a nature's refuge at the evergreen Vembanad Lake Villas, which are brimming with a variety of flora, wildlife, trees, unique fruits, farms, and more.

4. Travelers who stay at the private property of GJ Vacation Homes, which is located in the centre of Kottayam, are always at an advantage. GJ Vacation Homes is nothing short than a home away from home, offering customised services such as fully-furnished lodging choices, vehicle rentals, revitalising Ayurveda therapies, and much more, making it simpler for visitors to explore the greatest locations to visit in Kerala.

5. Set in the heart of Edamattom, a tiny village in the Kottayam district, the ancestral house of Kuruvinakunnel Tharavadu is one of Kerala's most sought-after villas for a tranquil escape, ideal for a four-day visit. Generation after generation has dedicated their time and energy to providing world-class services mixed with genuine hospitality, making Kuruvinakunnel Tharavadu one of the greatest villas in Kerala.

6. Shamrock is one of Kerala's unique villas that caters to the demands of tourists from all over the globe, striking a perfect mix between nature and luxury. Munnar's quiet, calm, and elegant surroundings are wonderfully combined with outstanding amenities, pleasant lodging options, and hills on all sides. Its position among the refreshing tea plantations is also a cherry on top of the cake.

7. Staying at the Spice Villas is linked with basking in nature's splendour, thanks to its near vicinity to the Mathikettan Shola National Park. Spice Villas Holiday Resort exposes visitors to the most stunning views of tea plantations, hills, and a bright blue sky from its terrace and a well-manicured garden while serving the best of Chinese and Indian cuisine at its in-house restaurant.

8. Devadaru Holiday Villa, located just a few kilometres from Dreamland Spice Park, provides pleasant accommodation away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Devadaru is one of the greatest holiday homes in Kerala, boasting a beautiful green lawn and magnificent views of the mountains all around.

9. Violet Woods, which claims to be a nature lover's paradise, brings the finest of Munnar to the table together with personalised services. From the climate to the fresh air, from the mist-bound mountains to the refreshing tea plantations, from the unique animals to its deep forests, and from gushing rivers to cascading waterfalls, one couldn't ask for more during their time at Violet Woods, which is really one of Kerala's greatest villas. Book your vacation in Kerala during the off season to get the most out of it.

#homestays in kerala #villas in kerala #budget villas in Kerala

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oscarschineselitblog · 4 years

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Ten Interesting Chinese Novels

Please Dont Call Me Human By Wang Shuo ” Contemporary Chinese writer Wang Shuo, widely celebrated for revealing the "dark corners of new China" (Newsweek), applies his genius for cultural irreverence to one of the world's sacred rituals: the Olympic Games. In Please Don't Call Me Human, he imagines an Olympics where nations compete not on the basis of athletic prowess, but on their citizens' capacity for humiliation-and China is determined to win at any cost. The plot unfolds into an alternately bizarre and hilarious satire of nationalism, the Olympics, and the cult of celebrity. Banned in China for its "rudeness" and "vulgarity," this mercilessly brutal satire is filled with the kind of word play and outlandish antics that have earned Wang Shuo his own "genre by itself-call it China noir “ (Good Reads)

A Hero Born: The Definitive Edition By Jin Yong “After his father—a devoted Song patriot—is murdered by the Jin empire, Guo Jing and his mother flee to the plains of Ghengis Khan and his people for refuge. For one day he must face his mortal enemy in battle in the Garden of the Drunken Immortals. Under the tutelage of Genghis Khan and The Seven Heroes of the South, Guo Jing hones his kung fu skills. Humble, loyal and perhaps not always wise, Guo Jing faces a destiny both great and terrible.However, in a land divided—and a future largely unknown—Guo Jing must navigate love and war, honor and betrayal before he can face his own fate and become the hero he’s meant to be.“ (Barnes & Nobles)

The Fat Years By Chan Koonchung “ An entire month has gone missing from Chinese records. No one has any memory of it, and no one seems to care except for a small circle of friends who will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of the sinister cheerfulness and amnesia that have possessed the nation. When they kidnap a high-ranking official and force him to reveal all, what they learn—not only about their leaders, but also about their own people—stuns them to the core.” (Barnes & Nobles)

The Vagrants by Yiyun Li “ is based on a true story from 1970s China. In this tragic Chinese novel, a 28-year-old woman who has just survived ten years of a prison sentence has now been sentenced to death for her loss of faith in Chinese Communism. Following her death, we see the ripples it causes within her local community. “ (Books and Bao)

The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu “ The Three-Body Problem is a science fiction novel by the Chinese writer Liu Cixin. The title refers to the three-body problem in orbital mechanics. It is the first novel of the Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, but Chinese readers generally refer to the whole series as The Three-Body Problem. “ (wikipedia)

Dream of the Red Chamber by Xueqin Cao, Chi-chen Wang “ For more than a century and a half, Dream of the Red Chamber has been recognized in China as the greatest of its novels, a Chinese Romeo-and-Juliet love story and a portrait of one of the world's great civilizations. Chi-chen Wang's translation is skillful and accurate.” (Good Reads)

The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth's Past Series #2)by Cixin Liu, “ In The Dark Forest, Earth is reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion-in just four centuries' time. The aliens' human collaborators may have been defeated, but the presence of the sophons, the subatomic particles that allow Trisolaris instant access to all human information, means that Earth's defense plans are totally exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret. This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a daring plan that grants four men enormous resources to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from Earth and Trisolaris alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown. Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he's the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead.” (Barnes & Noble)

Wolf Totem by Jiang Rong “ An epic Chinese tale in the vein of The Last Emperor, Wolf Totem depicts the dying culture of the Mongols-the ancestors of the Mongol hordes who at one time terrorized the world-and the parallel extinction of the animal they believe to be sacred: the fierce and otherworldly Mongolian wolf” ( Good Reads)

Deaths End by LIu Cixin “ Half a century after the Doomsday Battle, the uneasy balance of Dark Forest Deterrence keeps the Trisolaran invaders at bay. Earth enjoys unprecedented prosperity due to the infusion of Trisolaran knowledge. With human science advancing daily and the Trisolarans adopting Earth culture, it seems that the two civilizations will soon be able to co-exist peacefully as equals without the terrible threat of mutually assured annihilation. But the peace has also made humanity complacent.

The Wandering Earth By Liu Cixin “ I’ve never seen the night, nor seen a star; I’ve seen neither spring, nor fall, nor winter. I was born at the end of the Reining Age, just as the Earth’s rotation was coming to a final halt. The Sun is about to unleash a helium flash, threatening to swallow all terrestrial planets in the solar system. On Earth, the Unity Government has erected Earth Engines. With them it plans to propel our planet out of the solar system, setting it on a journey into outer space in search of a new sun. The Earth begins its centuries-long, wandering travels through outer space. Just as we began our journey, my grandfather passed away, his burnt body ravaged by infection. In his final moments, he repeated over and over, “Oh, Earth, my wandering Earth...”

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nadiaamf · 6 years

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Le premiere voyage à Paris (2)

In this second post I am going to write about our experiences and the places we visited in details. I sum up a short practical info in each destination for you to be able to estimate your plan or maybe your budget. I bold the name of each destination so you can read them easily and it is linked to the official or informative web so you can read the full info there, just click it buddies! Please just bear with this long-read post :-)

Pre-Departure

Our train’s schedule was on Saturday morning 10.45 am. We took the bus at 8.30 am (just in case, better be early right?). If you are living in France, or maybe in other European countries, please remember that the bus schedule will be less often than the weekdays. Here in Toulouse, the bus schedule will be every 30 minutes (or can be more) in weekends. It took us about 20 minutes to arrive at Marengo SNCF station. When we arrived, the schedule screen showed the train was on time.

Here’s a little side story. After about 10 minutes waiting there was this small incident that all of the occupants needed to be about 50 meters away outside the station. I (well not only me) was a lil bit confused about what was happening because it seemed quite serious. The officers did not know either what was happening or how long did we have to wait. There were even an ambulance and fire trucks. In fact, there was this unaccompanied bag left inside the station therefore they had to clear the area in case of some unwanted accident :-/ You know, France has increased its security since there were some terrorist attacks in the country these past years. I forgot how long we actually waited but the train’s schedule was delayed for 50 minutes. Lesson learnt: do not ever left your belongings unaccompanied!

Tips for traveling by train:

Always check out the baggage rules, they usually have different maximum weight or quantity of luggage which we can bring into the carriages.Or sometimes they do not.

Always re-check the depart and return schedule. Even here, the train sometimes has a delayed departure.

Prepare you personal medication(s).

Bring some nourishment whether only a pack of candies/chocolate/chips or even your breakfast/lunch/dinner with you. They do provide some drinks or snacks but it is gonna be a long trip anyway.

DAY 01

Office de Tourisme de Paris

25 rue des Pyramides, 1e arrondissement

Opens every day, except 1 May

10:00 - 19:00 (01 Oct to 30 Apr) // 09:00 - 19:00 (02 May to 31 Sept)

First thing first, we need to pick up our Paris Museum Pass. Don’t forget to write your name and the date as well on the back of your card. Here you can also find brochures and several tourism guides book in French, English, and Mandarin (I believe?) This city really has so much to offer, you tell me! If you don’t have any plan in mind (this is nearly impossible lol), there will always be something that suits your preference. Or maybe, a romantic stroll around the park?

Musée de l'Orangerie

Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, 1e arrondissement

Opens every day, except Tuesdays

09 am to 6 pm // Last Admission: 05:15 pm

Full Rate: €9 // Concessions: €6,50

My first stop museum is this beautiful place which is well-known for its “Water Lilies” by Claude Monet, a legendary French painter with his impressionist style. These paintings were donated by him to France after the 1st World War.

“.....and for he would live in it, this room offer a refuge for peaceful meditation in the midst o flowering aquarium” – Claude Monet

I tell you, it was honestly the best part except the fact that there were too many people in the room until the keeper had to tell the visitors to keep silent. So guys, be wise enough to appreciate the art and respect other visitors as this is a kind of ‘contemplation room’ I may say. It was truly one of that rare moment for me where I could experience what the artist wanted to deliver through the space and his art itself.

After all, the visit was my favo just because I could literally have my time to really pay attention to what the museum offers. Besides, I was also mesmerized by how beautiful it is which successfully combines two different styles of architecture into one! Bravo!

Suggestion(s):

Wake up early! As early as possible since it opens at 9 am and you don’t want to miss the chance to enjoy the water lilies room peacefully.

This museum has an auditorium where you can watch some documentaries about the works or even the building itself. It has the schedule board hung on its door, be sure you check it out first.

Musée du Louvre

Rue de Rivoli, 1e arrondissement

Opens every day, except Tuesdays

Closed: January 1, May 1, May 8, December 25

9:00 am to 6:00 pm // Night opening until 9:45 pm on Wednesdays & Fridays

Online: €17 // On the spot: €15

After strolling around and having our packed sandwich as lunch in Jardin des Tulleries, we finally arrived in front of the Louvre. In fact, Louvre is the largest art museum in the world lol so no wonder it was really huge. It is located in the heart of Paris (1e arrondissement) as a central landmark of the city. The museum is actually housed inside the Louvre Palace with a steel-glass pyramid as the main entrance as well as its main icon. This iconic pyramid is standing in the center of the palace’s main courtyard. It’s designed by I.M.Pei, a Chinese American architect.

The line was long enough even if it was autumn to winter transition time. It was drizzling and cold but somehow romantic. Fortunately we had this Paris Museum Pass so it only took 5 minutes including security check for us to be able to enter this marvelous museum. Apparently, I heard from my friend that it actually has another entrance on the other side of the building where there will be less visitor.

This museum is divided into 4 big sections. It is up to you to take which one to begin with but me and my husband chose to see the Islamic Art first. They have wide range collections of painting, print, drawing, sculpture, decorative art, etc. One of the famous art to see inside is the Monalisa painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Yes you’ll meet her here! Truthfully my husband and I did see it but hmmm we couldn’t say much because we saw it from too far -- it was super crowdedddd. I am sure I really need more than a day to literally see all (single one) they got inside. It is like a play park for an art student if I may say. Incredible!

On the way to the exit doors, you will find a space which kinda look like a small scale mall to me. They are souvenir shops, as you may have guessed. It was around 5 pm when we decided to end the visit to take a photo in front of the main pyramid before it gets dark. It was a right decision because we got a beautiful tone of Paris’ sunset after rain in which was kind of violaceous. Perfect!

Side note(s):

Some museums, galleries, and châteaux (at least in Paris) have this security check with the x-ray machine just like in the airport, so don’t be surprised and be well prepared.

Inside, it has a modern locker room where you can even store your wet umbrella with self-service system. This is where I realized why a museum or even a gallery really needs a proper locker room; one, you really don’t want have an uncomfortable visit by bringing your huge handbag/backpack/coat etc around and two, your belongings might harm some of the collections.

DAY 02

Fondation Louis Vuitton

8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, 75116 Paris

Opens every day, except Tuesdays

Closed: January 1st, May 1st, May 8th and December 25th

12:00 AM to 07:00 PM (Monday to Friday) // 11:00 AM to 08:00 PM (Saturday & Sunday) -- hours might differ, depend on the season and exhibition

Full Rate: €15 // Concession: €10 (Under 26 y/o), €5 (under 18 y/o)

The name may be not a clear explanation for most of people. Fondation Louis Vouitton is basically an art museum and cultural center in Paris, sponsored by private company LVMH and designed by the one and only, Frank Gehry. The 1st time I knew about this building was when I read an article mentioning the criticism towards his work back in uni life.

Besides the contemporary exhibition space, it also has permanent exhibition and a mini performing space/auditorium that is surrounded by a pond which is linked to outer landscape of this building. You can also enjoy Paris cityscape (yes, included Eiffel tower) from the rooftop garden while sipping your coffee or just admiring the ‘naked’ structure of this building. For you who is into architecture will find this building a more interesting place to visit. Also, they have special section where there is a whole story about the architecture so once again a place to enrich our knowledge not just about its art content.

After taking the metro, the building is still 800 meters away, about 10-15 minutes walk from Les Sablons Metro Station. I asked my husband to include this one exceptional museum into our itinerary. Unfortunately since our schedule was already tight and it isn’t on the list of Paris Museum Pass, we only planed 1 hour just to take some photos in the morning and go to the next destination. BUT THEN there was this first MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) exhibition in France inside I couldn’t resist but buy the ticket!

Suggestion(s):

Take your time and walk instead (as long as possible), there you’ll find a lovely neighborhood on the way. They actually provide you a navette that cost €2 per person but walking sharpen our sense of place so why not -- besides it’s healthier.

If you have extra time, take a moment to enjoy the park right beside the building -- take a breath before continuing your trip.

Always check their schedule before you pay a visit in case you want to spend an extra to enjoy their selected temporary exhibition.

Arc de Triomphe

Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris

Opens every day

Closed: 1 January, 1 May, 8May (morning), 14 July, 11 November (morning) and 25 December

10 am to 10.30 pm 10 am to 11.00 pm // Last Admission: 45 min before closing time

Full Rate: €12 // Concession: €9

We literally only took some pictures and done. It was almost winter but it was crowded enough for me not to make more effort to get a decent self photo in front of it lol. I can’t imagine if it were summer holiday. People were crazy enough to stand as closest as they could to this monument while it is actually surrounded by big roads. Always make sure to keep your bag safe from pickpockets!

Champs Elysée

8th arrondissement

Length: 1.91 km

Width: 70 m (230 ft)

I still remember I decided to make a sketch of this legendary boulevard for Arsitektur Kota class. Having been told that some famous artists once lived inside the building’s rooftop amazed me back then. Although when I was there I wasn’t that impressed (oh what did I expect lol) maybe just because it was too crowded, both the road and the shopping stores filling this boulevard line. From HnM to Louis Vuitton, Brioche Dorée to Ladurée. Just like its french song, you can find all what you want in Champs Elysée.

Centre Georges Pompidou

Place Georges-Pompidou, 19 Rue Beaubourg 75004 Paris

Opens every day, except Tuesdays and 1 May

11 am to 10 pm (exhibition areas close at 9 p.m.) Thursdays until 11 p.m. (only exhibitions on level 6)

Last Admission: 1 hour before closing time Full Rate: €14 // Concession: €11

Another well known architecture in Paris designed by a team consisting Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano. Its iconic style distinguish itself from other building in Paris or at least around the area. “The Centre Pompidou houses the Musée National d'Art Moderne, which is Europe's largest museum for modern art. Also located in the vast open interior is the Bibliothèque publique d'information, a huge public library, and a center for music and acoustic research known as IRCAM.” as quoted from an @archdaily article.

It was almost sun set when we get there and was a bit shocked because the line is too long we did not sure if we would make it inside before its closing time -- ok it’s a bit exaggerated but I really need minimum 2 hours to enjoy museums/gallery to at least read a caption or two -- but thanks God apparently with our Paris Museum Pass we had different entrance which there were only a couple of people. The sad news is with Paris Museum Pass, you can only enter certain area but for us it was perfectly enough. Fyi, you can watch the sunset and Paris city from above on its 6th floor.

The interior was simple yet you can get lost in it. I mean there were soooo many sections and endless artworks which for me are all attractive. There was this one temporary exhibition that was catching my curiosity. I considered my self lucky as I had the chance to at least witness one of her work, i mean it was magical, hideous, and depressing at the same time can you imagine?

Euro Fried Chicken

60 Boulevard de Sébastopol, 75003 Paris

Opens every day from 11 to 1.30 am (except on public holiday the time might be varied)

First of all, I’ve been craving for food that I’m familiar with. Fried chicken never sounds so tempting when my mother told us that there is a fried chicken resto near the Centre Georges Pompidou and it is HALAL. No doubt we directly stopped by and ended up buying a big bucket before going home for a take away dinner. This is the best fried chicken of my version in the entire world, even better than K*C original recipe fried chicken lol. I mean, the seller is an Indian and of course he puts other indian spices (or whatever it is) into the batter. It is absolutely better to eat is right after being served while you can still hear the crisp from the batter and taste the juiciness and tenderness from the meat --- heaven! At least we didn’t only eat kebab for the entire trip hahahaha.

DAY 03

Villa Savoye

82, rue de Villiers 78300 Poissy

Opens every day, except Mondays

Closed: 1 May, 1 & 11 November and from December the 25th to January the 1st

Last Admission: 1 hour before closing time

10 am to 5 pm (2 Jan to 30 Apr & 1 Sept to 31 Dec) // 10 am to 6 pm (2 May to 31 Aug)

Full Rate: €8 // Concession: €6.5

Maybe this one is not a typical destination to all of you but it is a special one for me and for those who studied architecture or just love finding out more about architecture. Yes this building is one of the iconic building I studied back in Uni designed by Le Corbusier, a famous french architect built between 1928 and 1931. It is used to be a rich family private villa and now is officially one of French historical monument as it remarks the origins of modern architecture and is one of the most easily recognizable examples of International style.

First of all, you need to know that this monument is not located in Paris but in Poissy. You need to take the RER A in zone 1-5. My husband and I woke up earlier so that we could catch the first train, but unfortunately there was an accident in the subway so we had to wait until there was further announcement. I admit it was quite chaos and I was a bit worried if we could make it to Poissy just in time before the fog disappeared and it got crowded. We finally got on the train, we took a bus near the station as soon as we got off to get to the actual location.

It was Tuesday and apparently they have a routine guided tour in English every Wednesday 10 am, I guess we weren’t lucky that day but it’s fine! At least finally I could see this one of Le Corbusier's masterpiece in person, observe and experience it in real life is such a dream comes true. As I looked around I slowly understand why this specific project is such a breakthrough in its era. Even after more than eight decades, his way of thinking in delivering a space to live is still relatable to this day.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris

The Basilica: opens every day from 6 am to 10.30 pm // Free entry

The Dome: opens every day from 8.30 am to 8 pm (May to September) and 9 am to 5 pm (October to April)

Since it is an active church area, please keep in mind to always be respectful while you are inside or even outside. They have night visit, thematic visit, panoramic virtual tour, and other religious activities. It is located not far from the metro station and you will find many souvenir shops as soon as you are outside the station. Well I got my Paris souvenir from here, some magnets for my mom and post cards for my siblings & friends.

On this area of souvenir shops, I found a group of people played a kind of ‘magic trick’ which attract visitors to join and include their money. Some of you might meet a group of people offering a souvenir-like bracelet near the Basilica, but be careful because it is 90% a scam. Not that I was deceived, but I heard my friend’s stories and my husband experience in such type of scam while in Paris. So be careful guys!

I wasn’t that interested to go inside and decided to enjoy the sun from the front park instead. There are some security men who ride horses. You will also find some musicians plays their romantic songs. Don’t be surprise that there will be even if it’s not holiday season. I took several photos and tried the cable car to go down. You can see one side of Paris city from above, or even watch the sun set with your travel friends.

Philharmonie de Paris

221 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris

Opens every day except Mondays Closed on December 25th, January 1st and May 1st

Tuesday to Friday – 12pm to 6pm Saturday and Sunday – 10am to 6pm

Museum: Free (up to 26 y/o), €6 (under 28 y/o)

In fact, this building is standing on the east side of Parc de La Villette -- the third largest park in Paris -- with other music/art related facilities. You will find La Grande Halle de La Villette where Pitchfork Music Festival usually take place, close to Le Zénith Paris.

The building itself is designed by another famous french architect named Jean Nouvel, with some drama and critique behind its completion process and launching. All in all it is another mesmerizing work of art for me, one of those “monumental” architecture with its multi-tonal facade of interlocking bird-shaped tiles both on wall and ground surfaces.

I cannot provide you guys as many information about the building’s interior as we only strolled around Philharmonie’s exterior area. I intended to do the guided tour but unfortunately there wasn’t one since there was a temporary exhibition held that week. My husband was a bit unsure seeing the web, we decided to directly ask the information on the spot. So we were indeed not a well-prepared for this one. We definitely will revisit this destination next time we’re in Paris to look inside and share the experience. I hope we’ll have the chance to also watch a show inside :-)

DAY 04

Château de Versailles

Place d'Armes, 78000 Versailles

I recommend you to check directly into their official web (click the title above) to see the complete practical infos.

As you might have guessed by its name that this chateau is not located in Paris. It is located in Versailles, in South-West Paris. This chateau stands on a 8.2 km² area filled with fascinating landscape you won’t forget. We took the Transilien for less than 1 hour. They have varied ticket prices since there are several events and separated buildings to be visited. With the Paris Museum Pass you can have the standard visit to The Main Palace. Visiting the garden is free. I forget about the self audio guide if it is included or not, but you have to ask on the spot to get one. They won’t give it to each visitor unless you ask for it. I recommend you guys to take it, if you have to pay I think it’s gonna be 5 euro max.

My husband and I spent the whole day to visit this very famous Palace and of course its majestic hall of mirrors. Well, we planned it that way because we had anticipated the long line and estimated the time to explore this vast building and landscape. Besides the fact that it takes time to go back and forth from Paris to Versailles, we’re sure we would need sufficient time to at least comprehend the overwhelming beauty and history of this principal royal residence of France -- from 1682, under Louis XIV, until the last King, Louis XVI in early 1789. As one of UNESCO World Heritage site, they have absolutely preserved most of its original properties pretty well.

Well, I do not know much about history because I remember of not liking it back in school days -- I was not even a fan of this style of architecture, but I think I do now thanks to this eye-opening trip lol I guess I start to understand now why traveling is important. I tried to catch up by listening to the self audio guide. For me it is way more convenient to listen rather than reading from a book. And this is even better, listening while witnessing the real deal. These past days of visiting Paris has been too much to bear for my brain I need to catch a breath haha.

DAY 05

La Tour Eiffel

Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris

Height: 300 m, 324 m to tip

Construction started: January 28, 1887

Maybe this one is most of people’s number one destination. We can say that you have not gone to Paris if you didn’t visit this ‘Iron Lady’. Usually people will buy a ticket to go up inside the tower to be able to see the beautiful Paris from above. I honestly not that into this one just because it’s too mainstream people tend to brag it so much it’s annoying?? But then I just couldn’t let my friends and family down not taking the photos of them in front of it like this hahahaha. Love you guys!

Me and my husband chose to just strolling around the Jardin de Tulleries and Champ de Mars instead. Too bad it was nearly winter so we couldn’t enjoy that green grass carpet and do the picnic. Next time! We walked passing the Eiffel Tower until La Place du Trocadero. We took our time to eat our packed lunch there. This is the spot where most of the tourist take those typical shot because you can ‘fit’ the tower into your standard photo frame size so do not miss this spot if you intend to do the same.

Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine

1 Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75116 Paris, France

Opens 11 am - 7 pm Last entry and ticket counter closes at 6:15 pm Galleries close at 6:45 pm

Thursday evenings until 9 pm Last entry and ticket counter closes at 8:15 pm Galleries close at 8:45

Closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25

Full price : €12 // Reduced rate : €8 (Collections & temporary exhibitions combined)

This one is included in the museum pass. As an achitecture graduate I felt like having this one on my list. Inside, you will find almost every famous building built in France in shape of maquettes, posters, or films. Oh and there are not just a usual maquette because some of them are made in bigger scales than a regular maquette it is amazing! Considering its location and what it got inside, this museum is not as crowded as I thought it would be.

With its double-height ceiling the interior felt so spacious just perfect for its various collections from small to a man-sized room duplicate of Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation replique! Those large repeating windows giving the maximum view to the Eiffel Tower for us to peek. There was also a temporary exhibition of some university students’ projects. I underestimated it but I have to admit it was worth my time.

Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris The Cathedral opens everyday Mon - Fri 08.00 - 18.45 Sat & Sun 08.00 - 19.15 Free entrance

Next is this popular catholic cathedral in France, Notre Dame de Paris. Sometimes people are mistaken that notre dame only exists in Paris but in fact it’s not. This specific cathedral is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture style. Another destination to grasp art and history. They provide artistic guide visit for different languages each in different schedule so be sure to check their website first if you’re interested to join one. We only took some pictures and enjoyed Paris’ windy afternoon sitting right across the building, observing people around.

Shakespeare & Co

37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France

Main Shop -- Every day 10am to 10pm Antiquarian -- Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 7pm Café -- Mon to Fri 9:30am-7pm // Sat and Sun 9:30am-8pm

Not far from the cathedral, there is this English language bookshop founded in 1951. We crossed the Seine river and took some photos from the bridge. It was a lively neighborhood. Outside there were small stands for secondhand books and certainly cheaper price. Right next to its main entrance door there is a small intimate café. When you come in, you’ll be welcomed by book-packed walls, nice book paper smell, warm color lights, and friendly atmosphere. In the second floor, there is a small room where you can read books peacefully accompanied by some cute lazy cats. I mean, it is may be a paradise for you who love to spend the day indulging in your imagination. It is not allowed to take pictures inside, so I don’t have any but i can say that every corner in this building absolutely has its own beautiful story.

Musée d’Orsay

1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France

Full rate €14 // Concession €11 // Free on first Sundays of the month (and others eligibility on its official web)

Closed every Monday, 1 May and 25 December

Not much to say except stunning! Musée d’Orsay is one of the largest art museums in Europe. We could see that this museum was once a train station with an iconic big big watch on the front and sides facades. In my opinion, the main hall express the ultimate style of a great french museum. I feel like I was in a romantic classical drama lol. Another museum building that is a true art itself. It has not only painting but also sculpture, furniture, but also photography collections.

It has the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world by painters including Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Van Gogh and others. I felt like I fell in love all over again with --- paintings. I was fascinated by the decoration details in this museum at first but then I found myself in a room filled with works of masterpiece. The wall’s color really help building up the mood for every section. Oh it was crowded but it was perfect anyway -- an incredible atmosphere where the art was appreciated, not just a mere objects to take a selfie with. Another rare experience where I was drowned deep into my curiosity and imagination.

There I learned why an art of those can be called a masterpiece or even an artist can be called a legendary one. A flashback to why in the first place I love to draw when I was in my childhood --- I was left speechless. I guess I need to revisit this one next time I am in Paris to finish all the sections left untouched.

DAY 06

Institut du monde arabe

1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France

Closed on Mondays, Tue Wed Fri 10am - 6pm, Thu Sat Sun 10am - 7pm

Ticket desks close 45 minutes before the closing times

Full rate €8

Reduced rate €6: job seekers and groups of friends (6 people or more)

Reduced rate €4: under 26s and non-European Union citizens

It is another architectural work by Jean Nouvel, specifically for the exceptional facade. I watched a documentary about this building in uni talking about the technology applied on the facade to adjust the intensity of sun rays. Fyi, it is important to be able to manage how much light can access an exhibition room since it may affects some collections. At first thought, I guessed it was going to be all about Islam but well you know I was wrong haha because it’s not.

Inside, after buying or confirming your tickets in front desk, you will have to start your visit from the upper level down to the lower ground exhibition space where you’ll find the souvenir and book shop at the end. It was another new experience, enjoying an exhibition with a different sequence like that. From what I observed, it is a way for visitors to be “on track“ to the timeline of its history and to the story line which they want to offer you. They want us to experience the exhibition as a whole as we are directed to go on in one same plot: going down -- there is no alternative ending. Interesting, isn’t it?

La Grande Mosquée de Paris

Grande Mosquée de Paris, 2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite, 75005 Paris, France

Opens everyday for praying and visits, except Friday for visiting

Like you can guess it is a mosque where Moslems usually do their prayer. This is the first mosque built in Paris thus one of the oldest mosque in France. It’s opened in 1926. We chose the last day of our trip to visit this mosque just so my husband and I could do the Friday prayer. It has a moorish architecture style with ornaments you can also find similar in Al Hambra or Alcazar, I instantly fell in love with it. There is a main entrance where you can start your touristic visit welcomed by the beautiful inner court. There is also a Moroccan Resto just in the corner of the street that you can try.

Since it was Friday, the mosque was quite crowded. I saw many different faces and colors of skin, suddenly I felt a lil relieved. It was another kind of experience that we had, or at least for me. Living in a country where I am a minority made me realize how blessed I am growing up having all the privileges. Simple gestures -- like when a young woman smiled at me and helped me finding where to do this and that or when a woman praised my traveling mukena simply because maybe it was not easy finding one -- made me even more grateful.

After we finished, we went inside once again to really see this admirable building but also its history. In fact, we just knew that it is closed on Fridays for touristic visit but we were allowed to do a short sight seeing, alhamdulillah.

I honestly had not much expectation about my first ever trip abroad but I count my self as lucky as I had a chance to visit Paris in the first place with my beloved one. Let’s pray that I’ll have another chance to visit Paris with even more companies and memories to share :-)

#Paris #autumn #2017 #travel

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kansascityhappenings · 5 years

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Learn more about Kansas City’s sister cities and possible travel destinations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With a dozen sister city affiliations, Kansas City residents have the chance to learn more about other cultures, travel destinations, and to help build stronger connections globally. The City of Fountains recognizes at least 12 sister cities on four different continents.

A twin town program came into fruition under President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. He partnered with civic leaders, such as Kansas City’s own Joyce Hall, to create stronger bonds with people in the U.S. and abroad. He intended these connections to lay the groundwork for world peace. The twin town program is a citizen diplomacy initiative. Sister Cities International was originally part of the National League of Cities, but it became a separate entity in 1967 after the program’s numbers grew rapidly.

Twin town cultural events include the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., which honors the capital city’s twin relationship with Tokyo. Back in 1912, the mayor of Tokyo City gifted D.C. with Japanese cherry trees.

A sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two separate countries. A relationship is officially recognized after elected officials from both communities sign off on an agreement to be twin cities.

There is no limit to how many partnerships a city may accept. Volunteers help keep the connection between the sister cities alive. In addition to volunteers, sister city organizations include representatives from nonprofits, municipal governments, the private sector, and other civic groups.

Each sister city organization is independent. Each group pursues the activities and thematic areas that seem the most appropriate to helping build bridges for business, trade, education, cultural exchanges, research, or other projects.

Seville, Spain

The Spanish city was the first to establish a sister city relationship with Kansas City in 1967. Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region. It was home to the Expo ’92 World’s Fair. Seville only invited Kansas City to represent the U.S. for that expo. Kansas City and Seville celebrated its 50th anniversary of its sisterhood in 2017.

Plaza de España, panoramic view. | Wikipedia, Seville

Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain. Thousands of years ago, it was founded as the Roman city of Hispalis. The city changed names following Muslim and Christian takeovers of the city. Seville is about 2,200 years old. People from a wide range of beliefs and creeds have migrated to the city over the past thousand years, leaving the city as one of Europe’s historical heartbeats. It has a wide range of ancient sites including Gothic cathedrals, shrines of Greek gods and goddesses, battle sites, and sculptures. Around 2.5 million travelers stayed at a tourist accommodation in Seville in 2018. This placed it third in Spain’s tourism industry behind Madrid and Barcelona. Seville has several museums, parks, gardens, vineyards, and other trendy spots for tourists. The region has several hills, rivers, and farmlands for the nature-lover to explore.

Fun fact: in 1519, Ferdinand Magellan departed from Seville for the first circumnavigation of Earth.

Kurashiki, Japan

The coastal city extends along Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. It has centuries-old buildings and shops located in the Bikan Historical Quarter. Kurashiki donated a Japanese Tea Room to Kansas City’s Loose Park in 2006. The Tea Room is set in a traditional Japanese garden. The green space includes a fountain, boulders, brush, and a path leading to the Tea Room. The space gives Kansas Citians a place to rest and meditate quietly.

Great Seto Bridge (Seto-Ohashi Bridge) seen from Shimotsui, Kurashiki | Wikipedia

The cities celebrated their 45th anniversary of sisterhood in 2017. The partnership began in 1972.

Modern Kurashiki was founded on April 1, 1928. It was the site of clan clashes during the Heian period (794-1185). Over the centuries, it developed as a river port. During the Edo period (1603-1868), the shogunate took control of the city. Japan’s Industrial Revolution introduced Kurashiki to a wide range of factories, including the Ohara Spinning Mill, which now operates as a tourist attraction in Ivy Square. Kurashiki is the home of Japan’s first museum of Western art, the Ohara Museum. It also includes Asian and contemporary art. The city is home to a late 7th century castle, Buddhist temples, museums, an aquarium, beaches, and plenty of folklore.

Morelia, Mexico

The city is the capital of Michoacán State. The historic downtown is a UN World Heritage site. Morelia has sponsored language and culture training for KCPD officers. Kansas City established a sisterhood with Morelia in 1973.

Eastern facade | Wikipedia, Morelia Cathedral

Morelia is located in the Guayangareo Valley. The Spanish took control of the area in the 1520s. Following the Mexican War of Independence in September 1821, the city was officially named Morelia in honor of José María Morelos. He was a Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader who led the independence movement.

The city is rich with history dating back hundreds of years. The heart of the historic center is the Morelia Cathedral, a Catholic site made of pink stone. Tourists often explore the surrounding plazas near the church. Some of the highlights of the city include an orchid museum, a popular rose garden, a zoo with a train ride, and a history museum in a Baroque palace.

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Kansas City’s first sister city partnership with an African city was established in 1974. Freetown, Sierra Leone is the largest city in the nation with over one million residents calling it home.

A view of Freetown from the harbor | Wikipedia

The Western African nation is known for its white-sand beaches. Freetown is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s economy revolves around its harbor, which occupies part of the Sierra Leone River. Freetown was founded on March 11, 1792 by Lieutenant John Clarkson, by Black Britons, and with the help of the Nova Scotian Settlers. Freetown is the oldest capital to be founded by African Americans. It was founded thirty years before Monrovia, Liberia. The city stands out with its unique Creole architecture, which has hints of American and Caribbean influences.

The city has a chimpanzee sanctuary, spots for diving and exploring shipwrecks, plenty of recreational beaches, and historical museums and markers on the end of the Transatlantic slave trade. The Cotton Tree landmark and King’s Yard Gate were both known as refuge sites for returned slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Freetown is a diverse and religiously tolerant city. It is home to a large population of Muslims and Christians. Sierra Leone is also a hot-spot for soccer. Eight of the fifteen clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League are from Freetown; this includes two of Sierra Leone’s largest and highest-achieving football clubs.

Tainan, Taiwan

The ancient capital of Taiwan is home to centuries-old fortresses and temples. Several companies have moved operations to the city turning it into a business hub. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Chihkan Tower. It is an 18th-century Chinese complex with gardens, intricately carved towers, and a temple. It originally was a Dutch outpost in the mid 17th century. The sisterhood with Kansas City was established in 1978.

Jieguanting (接官亭) in Go-tiau-kang, Tainan gateway to the sea during Qing dynasty | Wikipedia

Tainan is famous for selling fireworks, particularly bottle rockets. At the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival, people hope to be bombarded by those rockets, expecting it will bring them good luck for the following year. The event is held 15 days into the Chinese lunar calendar year.

Many well-known Taiwanese food dishes originated in the city. Tainan city officials claim this is because of a sugar surplus. The food there tends to be sweeter than in other parts of Taiwan. Common foods include: danzai noodles, shrimp rolls, savory rice pudding, Taiwanese meatballs, milkfish, eel noodles, and coffin bread. Coffin bread was invented in the 1940s. It includes a thick piece of toast, seafood chowder with pork, mushrooms, pea, and carrots. It got its name because it looks like a coffin.

The city has more than 1,600 registered temples, which is more than any other municipality, city, or county in Taiwan.

Xi’an, China

Previously one of the Four Ancient Capitals of China, Xi’an now reigns as the capital of Shaanxi Province in central China. The Kansas City and Xi’an sisterhood was established in 1989. The Xi’an Sister City Committee helped create the annual dragon boat racing tradition on Brush Creek.

The Great Mosque of Xi’an | Wikipedia

Xi’an is one of China’s oldest cities. It is the starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Since the 1990s, the city has emerged as an industrial, educational, and cultural center. It has facilities for research, national security, and space exploration. More than 12 million people live in the city making it the most populous city in Northwest China. In 2012, it was named as one of the 13 emerging mega-cities of China.

Guadalajara, Mexico

Birthplace of mariachi bands and charreada rodeos, Guadalajara is a tropical wonderland with plenty of activities for the restless wanderer. The city is the capital of the State of Jalisco and the 2nd largest city in Mexico. The historic center is dotted with colonial plazas, landmarks, and gardens.

Puerta de Hierro business district | Wikipedia

Tequila, authentic Mexican food, clubs, beaches, and fire dancers make up the night life. Catholicism is alive and well in the city with a plethora of spots setup for worshipers. The city is also a hot spot for writers, painters, actors, film directors, and musicians.

One of the main local dishes is birria: a goat or lamb meat cooked in a spicy sauce seasoned with chili peppers, ginger, cumin, black pepper, oregano, and cloves.

There are several thousand indigenous language speakers in Guadalajara. Most of them also speak Spanish.

Kansas City and Guadalajara established a sisterhood in 1991.

Hannover, Germany

Founded in medieval times on the east bank of the river Leine, Hannover started as a small fishing village. Kansas City and Hannover both have a love for jazz and host annual festivals celebrating the music style. An exchange between engineering schools has also strengthened the global partnership. The sisterhood was established in 1993.

Market Church in Hanover | Wikipedia

Volunteers with the sisterhood help promote German themed events in Kansas City. The sisterhood Facebook page lists German themed film festivals and music shows.

Hannover has the largest fairground in the world for holding trade fairs, music festivals, and expos. The IAA Commercial Vehicles show takes place every two years. It is the world’s leading trade show for transport, logistics, and mobility.

The city has a wide range of activities for night life from theater, cabaret, musicals, clubs, bars, and galleries.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Port Harcourt is the chief oil refining city of Nigeria. Royal, Dutch, Shell, and Chevron all have oil firms in the city. Port Harcourt is the capital and largest city of Rivers State, Nigeria. The sisterhood with Kansas City has helped create partnerships with medical professionals and has aided in strengthening medical institutions. Port Harcourt is the leading hub for medical services in Rivers State. Several hospitals and research facilities are located there.

A street scene in Port Harcourt | Wikipedia

The city is predominately made up of Christians. Roman Catholics make up a significant portion of the population. On the other hand, party life is active in the city. Port Harcourt is home to a wide range of public houses, lounges, dance bars, clubs, and brothels.

The two cities entered a sisterhood in 1993.

Arusha, Tanzania

The East African city is home to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro — it’s 16,100 ft. above sea level. To the west of Arusha lies the Serengeti National Park, which is home to a wide range of wildlife.

Mount Meru in the background of the city of Arusha | Wikipedia

Kansas City and Arusha established a sisterhood in 1995.

The Tanzanian city is a major international diplomatic hub. The city hosted an international court from 1994-2015 to determine cases revolving around the Rwandan genocides. Arusha is a multicultural city home to mostly Tanzanians but also Arabs, Indians, and a smaller portion of Europeans and Americans. Religion is just as diverse with places of worship for Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus.

Cuisine is also varied with local favorites and foods from aboard. Ugali is a stiff maize meal polenta; it is popular in Eastern African countries. Tanzania is known for barbecue dishes and for its roasted meat cuts of cow, lamb, and goat. Cold beer is also a staple.

Ramla, Israel

The Ramala Committee helped create the “Let the Children Play” program. It encourages Jewish and Muslim Kansas Citians to collect toys to be distributed to children of all faiths in Ramla. The two cities established a sisterhood in 1998.

Ramla | Wikipedia

Ramla is located in central Israel. 80% of the residents are Jewish and 20% are Arab Muslims or Arab Christians. Ramla has a long history dating back to the 8th century. That history is dotted with crusades, the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire, and now the more recent time of Israel as its own nation.

The Ayalon Cave in Ramla has eluded scientists and archaeologists. Bacteria thrives there without any light or organic food coming in from the surface. The cave’s isolation led to the evolution of a whole separate food chain, including previously unknown invertebrates. Researchers came across eyeless scorpions, but all 10 of the specimen were dead. The scorpions likely died years ago from overpumping of groundwater leading to a shrinking of the underground lake. It is the third largest limestone cave in Israel.

Yan’an, China

The Long March military retreat, undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party, ended near Yan’an in 1935. The city saw the birth of the Chinese Community Party — Kansas City journalist Edgar Snow was the first western journalist to give an account of the developments happening there.

The Hukou Waterfall in 2008 | Wikipedia

Snow briefly studied at the University of Missouri before he decided to travel around the world in 1928. He intended to write about his overseas travels. He made it to Shanghai that summer, and stayed in China for thirteen years.

Shortly before the United States entered World War II, Snow toured Japanese-occupied areas of Asia and wrote his book, “Battle for Asia” in which he detailed his observations. Overtime he became concerned about growing fascism in China’s rural areas. He died before President Richard Nixon traveled to China to meet with Chinese leader Mao Zedong. Communists continue to celebrate Yan’an as the birthplace of its revolution.

The city is home to the second largest waterfall in China, Hukou Waterfall. Several burial sites of legendary figures rest in Yan’an.

Kansas City established a sisterhood with Yan’an in 2017.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/07/28/learn-more-about-kansas-citys-sister-cities-and-possible-travel-destinations/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/07/28/learn-more-about-kansas-citys-sister-cities-and-possible-travel-destinations/

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ntrending · 5 years

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Naturalistic design is thriving as actual nature dies

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Naturalistic design is thriving as actual nature dies

A human-sized bird nests situated in the Amazon Spheres. (Amazon/)

Earlier this month in Shanghai at CES Asia, representatives of tech companies large and small filed into a hotel ballroom for a session on designing technology with emotions in mind. Through a handheld radio, I listened to a translation of a presentation by Mianmian Zheng, trend director for WGSN, an international forecasting company. In painstaking detail, Zheng described exactly what consumers want their devices to look and feel like in the coming year. According to her PowerPoint, we are willing to pay for products that feel tactile, handmade, and imperfect—things that appear “pure.” We want earthy materials, like ceramic and marble, and warm colors, like chalk white, tangerine, and mint. Retro hints are welcome, but organic patterns, specifically those inspired by algae, are truly ascendant.

In other words, we want even the most artificial and advanced technology to feel like nature, even as the natural world is rapidly contracting.

This aesthetic, which elicits Pinterest-friendly terms like “urban earthy” and “modern organic,” has been slowly spreading for years—a metastatic peacefulness rocking the design world. It draws on chalk white’s other domain, minimalism, which evolved from a 1950s sculptural style to the spartan “religion of tech billionaires” like Apple’s fastidious founder Steve Jobs. While it’s traditionally been paired with simple sans serif fonts, the millennium garden vibe has recently incorporated some of the visual culture of the ’70s. There’s the sudden resurgence of puffy and playful typography like Great Jones, and the decorative dominance of “houseplant jungles,” popular among millennial “plant parents” whose obsession with fiddle leaf figs has restored the indoor garden industry to its former hippie-era glory (and profits).

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A post shared by Allbirds (@allbirds) on May 14, 2019 at 7:43am PDT

These design principles are set to blossom in the coming year, according to WGSN. But they’re already popular among many online lifestyle brands. Last I checked, the website for Allbirds, Silicon Valley’s favorite eco-sneaker, shows models walking along beached logs, poured concrete picnic tables, and lichen-covered boulders. Bamboo shoots with cartoon arms and GIFs of wood chips turning to pulp remind browsers of the sustainable supply chain behind their shoes. Over on Everlane dot com, the domain of another left-coast clothing company, customers can take a peek inside the international network of factories. In geo-tagged images stylized like underexposed film, Everlane shows off the smiling workers who stitch together its bestselling Japanese GoWeave Essential Jumpsuit. This ideological moodboard—of openness, inclusivity, and oneness with nature, even in the face of conflicting evidence—even appears in contemporary architecture, the most permanent of canvases. Amazon’s biospheric Seattle headquarters contains “bird nest” meeting rooms, wooden walking bridges suspended mid-air, and an artificial cloud forest environment housing 40,000 plants. For those who make the cut, the invitation-only space provides a reprieve from the ceaseless construction sounds and frenetic sidewalks created by Amazon’s own unchecked growth.

But the brand perhaps most representative of this woodland aura is Innisfree, a popular Korean beauty company . The first time I visited Shanghai, China, in the summer of 2015, my Weather Channel-based app registered 106 degrees. In a sweaty late-night quest for soup dumplings, I threatened to lay down on a Beaux Arts-encrusted street in the Bund, the city’s iconic waterfront district, and never get up. That day, the air quality was so poor you could hardly see across the river, where some of Asia’s tallest skyscrapers allegedly twinkled beneath the sedimentary sky.

Between sun-drenched walking tours and smoggy street food stops, I sought refuge in the Bund’s enormous three-story Innisfree. Like all its stores and products, the space is inspired by the temperate volcanic island Jeju, off Korea’s southern coast. (It’s name, meanwhile, comes from the W.B. Yeats poem “Lake Isle of Innisfree.”) The exterior projected Eden: the rounded storefront is wrapped in green foliage and dotted with twinkling lights. And the bespoke interior, which the designers envisioned as a “natural sanctuary,” delivered. The ground floor offered an air-conditioned quiet, with boxed cosmetics arranged in soothing blocks of color atop shelves of light or white-painted wood. Upstairs, in the cafe designed like a mid-century modern greenhouse, I sipped on an iced beverage and tried to filter out the bustle of the 21st century street below.

At the time, Innisfree seemed like an innocuous reprieve from an otherwise hectic trip. In hindsight, though, the store feels like a symbol for the way many of us live now: In dense urban spaces, removed from nature but surrounded by increasingly high-tech “wellness” products, all set against the dreadful backdrop of climate change. When the Great Barrier Reef is dying, Google Smart Home Minis in “coral” or “aqua” offer the small comfort of constancy. When wildfires regularly blot out the California sun, a milky white iPad really does feel pure. And when temperatures constantly break new records, the LED lightning and Bluetooth thunder from artist Richard Clarkson’s $4,000 “Smart Cloud,” a fixture in many Innisfree storefronts, lets the right amount of weather into an otherwise climate-controlled box.

In Shanghai, Huawei’s futuristic phone design followed me everywhere. (Huawei/)

There was one other trend in the WGSN presentation. At the same that nature-inspired design is dominating, Zheng predicts the “supernatural” will continue to gain market share. It’s not as contradictory as it seems: While a soft orange can project the earthly mysteries of marine life, a more vibrant hue easily alludes to the Martian desert. One is a cozy simulacrum of this world; the other promises us an escape to another planet entirely. Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, is emblematic of this futuristic shift. Riding up and down escalators in Shanghai’s subways after the conference, I saw the same ad over and over, of a woman with white-blonde hair stands in a powdery orange landscape. She’s promoting two phones, one an aggressive tangerine, the other a mercurial blue-purple gradient. It was the latter that transfixed me. Eventually, it looked less and less like a smartphone and more like an oblong mood ring. The verdict? Climate dread.

Written By Eleanor Cummins

#Space

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landscapeusa · 5 years

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Seven Outrageous Ideas For Your Landscape Pics Garden | landscape pics garden

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toursattractionsdeals · 6 years

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Top 10 things to do in Hong Kong With its enticing cocktail of Chinese and Western cultures, Hong Kong is unique. Crowded but exciting, the city's vibrant streetlife drives a culture of good food, good shopping, and good living! Here's just a taste of the city's great attractions. Top Tours & Activities in Hong Kong https://ift.tt/2MAvPNc 1. Victoria Peak https://goo.gl/3ZLVY7 Take the Victorian funicular to Hong Kong Island's highest point. The spectacular views are just a short journey from the city center! 2. Ocean Park Hong Kong https://goo.gl/csuxv1 Entertainment and education collide at Ocean Park! Rides include the Hair Raiser floorless rollercoaster and the Shark Mystique underwater safari. 3. Lamma Island https://goo.gl/BJ5bUu Hong Kong's third-largest island offers day-trippers scenic hiking trails and clean beaches, as well as traditional architecture, modern art, and sophisticated restaurants. 4. HSBC Building https://goo.gl/CLbhan Hong Kong's history is reflected in the changing face of its skyline stalwart. The building's nighttime light display provides the perfect conclusion to a long day of sightseeing! 5. International Finance Centre (IFC) https://goo.gl/cLTLoi If the views from Victoria Peak didn't knock you out, the ones from Hong Kong's tallest building will! Its observation deck offers a breathtaking panorama from the 100th floor. 6. Man Mo Temple As one of Hong Kong's oldest temples, Man Mo was at the center of the colonial city's spiritual life. The sightseeing favorite continues to offer refuge from the Hollywood Road. 7. Hong Kong Disneyland Disney brings its magic to Asia, with seven themed areas providing world-class family entertainment with an East Asian twist. Its grounds even adhere to feng shui! 8. Po Lin Monastery Visit the Po Lin Monastery to see the Tian Tan statue. Located on Lantau Island, it's 200 scenic steps to the top of the hill with the world's largest outdoor sitting buddha! 9. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery This monastery in Sha Tin is famous for its numerous miniature buddhas. Despite its name, there are actually closer to 13,000! 10. Nan Lian Garden Landscaped in the style of the Tang dynasty, this peaceful public garden lets visitors roam classic wooden architecture, buddhist relics, and tranquil lotus ponds. ---------------------------------------- Thanks for watching! ► Subscribe for more videos: https://goo.gl/cGRq5q ► Trip Tour Guide website https://ift.tt/2HvJB4R

#IFTTT #YouTube

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onbeingdivine-blog · 6 years

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Life Story - Written for a Course

I was born in a tiny place called Ardvary on the west coast of Ireland. My parents were total dreamers, and built a house with the ambition of living off the land. My earliest memories were quite idyllic. We were a vegetarian family (unheard of) whom lived within the company of animals, even chickens and goats. Both my parents were home in my early years, and I was incredibly close to them. My dad worked from a garden shed making children’s toys and I wouldn’t let him leave me in playgroup. I remember money being a constant issue though - dole queues, phone being constantly cut off etc. I also remember my mum crying, and suffering badly from asthma. The environment was isolated, damp, and sometimes the air was so thick with midges we couldn’t go out.

I remember talk of moving to England was in the most optimistic tone - I would have new school shoes in England, I would learn how to ride a horse in England etc. My mum was 6 months pregnant when we eventually moved over. My sister was two. We had two dogs and two puppies. My dad had to drown a litter our dog Tess had suddenly given birth to just before leaving.

We moved over when I was 5, and lived in a number of places over the course of a year; mostly my nan, two of my mum’s sisters, my dad’s best friend’s brother in law, and finally with my mum’s old work colleague. We weren’t wanted anywhere we stayed. I remember my aunt hostilely criticising my mum over how she organised our family’s stuff in the fridge just after my sister was born. My nan hated my dad, and wouldn’t allow him to nurse my baby sister. At my aunt’s I lived alongside a cousin, and at my mum’s old colleagues house a girl called Jane, both of whom were the same age as me. They hated our family staying in their home, and I took the flack through a rolling the tide of being befriended and ignored.

I started school while still living with Jane although she was in another class. In my class, I remember being instantly disliked. There were Irish, vegetarian references, the fact that I was poor etc. I think I was a kind of trampy looking kid. I was mortally ashamed of unpopularity, and felt Jane had been proved right. I managed to bribe my school bully into not harassing me, and we became a friendship in which bullying continued up until secondary school. I was terrified of everyone and everything at primary school, and couldn’t walk into a room without blushing.

In parallel with an unhappy school life, our family circumstances declined. We moved into a small flat locally. My sisters and I shared a room, and my parents slept on a sofa bed in the sitting room. My father became an incredibly angry man. Rows often involved us being cornered and screamed at. I would hear him harassing my mum at night for sex she was unwilling to give. My mum bottled everything up, but had routine outbursts that “once Ciara (my youngest) was 18”, she didn’t care if she was dead. They couldn’t communicate at all, and I would often run between them trying to make peace. There were routinely meetings in our sitting room with declarations that they were going to separate, but nothing ever came of it.

Secondary school was turbulent. I changed schools twice and never found that I fit in anywhere. I started in a bitchy all-girls school, then following an accident a rough catholic school where I was put in the lowest set. The kids were rough, and I was far from street wise. I befriended some girls in my class who insisted I could only hang around with them if I smoked. Following my parent’s intervention, I was moved up to a higher set. No one spoke to me in my new class, and the kids from the lower had disowned me for moving. I walked the playgrounds alone, and ate my lunch in toilet cubicles for about 6 months.

An old friend had started another secondary school in a ‘nice’ area surrounded by fields - it sounded like the refuge I needed. I begged my parents to let me move, believing that this was truly the new start I needed (again). Upon starting this new school, an exhausting commute of 8 miles away, I quickly found that I did not belong. Some girls in my year group took a massive disliking to me, and would hurl abuse at me across the corridor. My friend from before bailed on me completely, too scared to compromise herself I’m sure. I made a few friends in my class I clung onto for dear life, and endured cycles of being excluded.

I was solely responsible for looking after my sisters for the most part. We cooked (mostly alphabites - we were very sickly children) and mostly amused ourselves at home with board games and watching tele. Although I had this responsibility, I was fiercely overprotected. I was never allowed to meet friends outside, although later my sisters were granted much more freedom which I did greatly resented.

I also found in secondary school, kind of to my surprise, that I was extremely ugly. I had massive gums which invited comment wherever I went, by adults as well as children. I was greeted in class in the morning by lads who would gnash their teeth at me. I just tried to ignore them and pretend that nothing was happening. I was never defended by any of my ‘friends’. I remember the girls who hated me graffitiing on my leaving book to “go to hell you gummy bitch” etc. Intellectually, I was pretty disempowered. I was put in the lowest classes again (based on where I was from and my previous school I think), but was literally too exhausted by this point to ‘achieve’ anything. I just dragged myself through.

Following my GCSE’s, I went on my first holiday with my friends. We met a group of lads, and all hoped for romantic encounters. I had my first sexual grope, was ecstatic, and so excited for more when the ‘gummy’ chants came back to haunt me. My romance had been shamed into ever even talking to me again. I swallowed everything, and tried to pretend that nothing had happened. Upon returning home, for first time I really spelt things out. If I didn’t do something about this ‘gummy’ problem, I was going to die. I went to a dentist, and got a referral to a maxillofacial unit where I commenced a complex three year orthodontic process.

Determined to step out of my social anxiety, I went to a new college for A-levels hoping for a more mature environment. I made some friends, but again encountered people who just didn’t like me and ‘gummy’ taunts continued. I remember catching my main tormenter’s reflection in a window flashing her gums behind me when I was talking to a guy. I swallowed all of this humiliation, but felt hopeful that following my surgery, life would be fine.

My surgery was 4 weeks before I started university. I couldn’t wait to leave home and start my new life with a new face. The surgery was intense - it involved removing a 5mm layer of bone across my top teeth, and both jaws broken. Upon starting uni, I still looked like I had been knocked over by a bus, and had to wear rubber bands across my braces to keep my jaws together. I couldn’t eat, but still went out for freshers week to get wasted and attempted to make friends. Through the first term, I had to return to London regularly for appointments, and was ravaged with panic attacks.

In my second year at university, I went out and got wasted, and brought a boy home. I had to get the virginity thing over and done with as the pressure was becoming too much. His attempts at penetration were painful, and bloody. When I refused to carry on, I ran to the bathroom and had a massive panic attack. I returned to my room, and attempted to pretend that nothing had happened. He tried to force penetrating me anally, and I got off the bed and slept on the floor. I told everyone the next day how great the night was.

I studied Chinese as part of my degree in an attempt to be a more interesting person, a decision that impressed everyone I met. I daren’t have bailed on something so worthy of respect. I studied with some public-school types, one of whom was a girl known as ‘the hottest girl in Newcastle’. I found them all utterly terrifying. During my year in China, panic attacks returned. I moved into an apartment with two Chinese girls further adding to my alienation. During this period, many nights I went to sleep hoping that I would never wake up. I couldn’t bear the drama killing myself would create. I got through university by the skin of my teeth.

Following uni, I slept through a year in London in an office job, and going through the motions of after work drinking and drug fuelled weekends. My sister and I got a flat together as we both had nowhere to live. I had always been aware of being a dark cloud in my sister’s life. She enjoyed freedom, a healthy rebellion, solid friends and a strong sense of her sexuality. I resented her massively which culminated in a bust up that led us to not talking for over 6 months.

A lastminute.com holiday to India enlightened me that there was magic in the world, and I then saved up to go travelling. Although I found travelling alone a bit melancholic, I met interesting people and had some spiritual awakenings via vipassana meditation and a yoga ashram.

I found a vigour I had never experienced before upon completing my trip, and I decided to move to Beijing, a city I had really enjoyed as a tourist in an attempt to give China a second shot. The first six months were possibly the best of my life. I quickly made a lot of friends, partied a lot, and happened upon a number of fascinating jobs, one of which working on a film which I then went on to act in. It was so powerful a dream come true, I remember going back to my hotel one day and crying for hours. I met a boyfriend around this time. He was kind and gentle, but the vulnerability required to connect with him didn’t correspond in any way with the outgoing party girl persona I had newly adopted. He told me that sex with me was weird, and I found out shortly after that he has started seeing someone else. I felt relieved.

I got an ‘amazing’ job offer working for a film post production company in which inexperience was traded for training. I became quickly aware however that I was hired as a bit of a Chinese speaking gimmick which resulted in massive resentment among my Chinese colleagues and what I can only describe as work place harassment. One colleague whom I actually befriended and developed a very deep romantic attachment to manipulated my vulnerable position in the firm to elevate his status. Higher management took on ridiculous contracts that involved hiring large teams working crazy hours which I was responsible for. I felt like I was running a sweat shop. I finally quit after 2 years and felt somewhat shell shocked.

I returned to England a year later to do a masters I didn’t really want to do, and had the first encounter with what I can only describe as a breakdown. Whenever I cycled in front of an HGV, I thought about throwing myself under it. I remember my dad bringing me to the train station after Xmas, and crying as the train departed as I was sure I would never see him again. I commenced a course of psychotherapy with a pretty unqualified student psychotherapist. The organiser asked me why I hadn’t sought out support years before, like at university. I told him that the thought had never crossed my mind.

Over the past 5 years, I have really struggled to hold down a job, although am fairly resourceful and so always seem to keep my head above water. I don’t know anyone in my position - 35 and never had a relationship. I go to weddings, and am completely bewildered by how I got to this place. I just keep hoping that something is going to fall into place.

A year ago, I had my first pleasurable sexual experience. The guy wasn’t interested, but the experience did put me on the path to exploring my sexuality. I met a guy on the first night at a conscious sexuality festival (at Leela last November). He was handsome and gentle, and we closed the love lounge. The next morning, he really supported me when I freaked out upon seeing him - an experience I have never had with a man. I have just got back from visiting him, a massively intense experience. I felt cold and resistant the whole time, and still feel full of tears that I wasn’t able to bring down my fortress with him.

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