#I am going to the beach this year and will at least snorkel like that’s a resolution and i’m determined | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

umichenginabroad · 2 months

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Week 9: Sands, Sips, and Scuba

Monday - Annnnnnd We’re off

We packed early in the morning after landing in Sydney. We loaded our stuff into the campervan parked across the street and made the cabin “sea-worthy”. After turning the first block, however, there was a thundering crash... We had underestimated just how violently the car could shake, nothing but good omens here.

Our first stop was the Australian Reptile Park. We booked the encounters tour which allowed us to pet koalas and echidnas, and even hold a juvenile wombat. We also got a backroom tour of some of the world’s deadliest snakes and spiders. They keep them to harvest their venom which gets sent around the world to develop antivenom medicine.

Tuesday - Sand Boarding

The next day we drove up the coast to Nelson’s Bay. We toured the nearby beach around Port Stevens. We got a fascinating history lesson on how the Australians braced this beach for a Japanese invasion in 1942 and how the beach grows yearly by 4 meters. The large deposits are actually coming from the blue mountains eroding and getting washed out into the sea. And then we sandboarded, more like sled but yeah:

That evening we decided to go backwards and stay at a nearby park to make our 10 am wine tour in Hunter Valley.

Wednesday - Wine and Turkish Delight

It was 23 fleets of wine and cheese pairings and it floored everyone.

It was delicious but way more alcohol than any of us were expecting. The day of drinking took us out for the next four hours of the day. We made it to Port Macquarie and took a stumbling but refreshing stroll on the beach.

That night we had the best food I’ve had during my time in Australia. We dined at Reyhana, a Turkish restaurant, and ate heaps of homemade pita and hummus as well as lamb shish and buttered rice.

I hastily booked a nearby campsite for the night as all the places I did find were unavailable. It turned out to be an unpowered campsite… Oops. No AC plus tons of bugs meant a humid, irritated night of sleep for everyone.

Thursday - Byron Baes

The next morning we booked it to Byron Bay for a promising day of adventure.

First up was a guided snorkeling excursion through the EAC(East Australian Current) duuuude (the same one Crush and his son Squirt rode in Finding Nemo).

Some highlights were the eagle ray and leopard shark that were hitching a ride on the EAC to loop the island we were snorkeling around. The boat ride was another highlight, the swell coming in made for perfect hills to accelerate over and catch air, at least that’s how the driver felt.

That night we ventured into the town of Byron Bay. We had only known the town from the cheesy reality TV show called Byron Baes so we were pleasantly surprised by how similar it was. It’s a town of linens and “inspirers” (rather than influencers). All that aside, we got a beautiful dinner in a bar that looked over the beach and then made our way to the local nightlife. Props to our Uber driver who convinced us to check out our first stop: someone’s backyard turned into a psychedelic bar with a trippy dancefloor.

It was unlike anything I had been to. The DJ was mixing vaguely familiar music over a wash of synths, there were artists actively painting their psychedelic pieces in the corners, and, when they felt it was getting a bit dull, fire-dancing people would inexplicably take over the dance floor and perform.

Friday - Koala Cuddling to Cairns Crazes

We finally got to hold koalas! The state of New South Wales forbids the practice and so as soon as we crossed the border into Queensland we signed up for the experience. It was a brief encounter and the zoo keeper told us that it was a practice they and the rest of Australia would be phasing out over the next year.

We then parted ways with our roommates who drove up in their sleeper van and would now make the 13-hour drive back down the coast to Sydney.

We quickly packed up and made our way to the Brisbane airport to catch our flight to Cairns. Our time in Cairns was brief. We got in late and spent most of our time running between loads of laundry at the local laundromat and finishing the procrastinated scuba diving e-learning course.

Saturday - Live A Board, Dive A Board

*5:45 am*

I’m up, I’m up.

We started our day early getting our gear and luggage stowed on the diving boat we’d be living on for the next three days. The boat takes customers out to the offshore parts of the Great Barrier Reef and guides them through certifications and general scuba diving skills. Joe, my Dad and I signed up for the Advanced Scuba Diving and Nitrox courses. Over this day and the next, we took our e-learning skills and applied them out at sea. The technical dives focused on navigation with and without a compass, buoyancy and control, night diving (how to communicate and navigate), a deep dive down to 100 feet, and a fish identification dive.

*phew*

By the end of the second day, we were officially advanced scuba divers! We dove, ate, and drank with people from all around the world. Almost everyone, regardless of age, had a similar story of feeling that too much of their life had gone by or that they had missed out on traveling earlier and so quit their jobs to see the world. For many of them, it was a decision that took several years of careful planning and saving and none of them regret diving out of their comfort zone and into the wider world.

Quick side note: I was told by my instructor that he knew I was an aerospace student as soon as he saw me take off from the ocean floor, the plume of sand that followed my vertical, sound barrier-breaking push was "rocket-like".

Between dives, I tried to catch up on the alarming amount of recorded lectures I’ve missed.

And now I write this on the boat ride back to shore with nine new dives and two new certifications under my belt. I’m looking forward to the last few days with my Dad and dreading the reality check from the mounting days of missed school.

Take care, everyone!

Grant Touchette

Aerospace Engineering

University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia

#umichenginabroad #ipewinter24 #ipeunsw #australia #GrantTouchette

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2022-maui-adventure · 2 years

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July 4th: So we set sail on the Pride of Maui. On the agenda, snorkeling and snuba diving. We had perfect weather and made it to Molikini Island, where they hadn’t been able to go to for the past three days, due to high winds. Apparently in Maui, you rise with the sun, hit the beach, go home by 11, because that’s when the winds pick-up, nap, then go out in the evening. Snorkeling by Molokini island was very nice. I had a much smaller mouth piece than they made 17 years ago, and had no problems. They put a nice little life belt around you and give you a noodle to help you feel even more secure. We saw some beautiful fish. I’ll have to post those photos later, because I used my underwater camera.

They welcomed everyone with Aloha and a breakfast plate. To me, food and swimming do not go together, so I passed.

Now for the Snuba Dive:

After snorkeling they took us to another place called the gardens (odd because in Maui the gardens also refers to graveyards). I thought they were crazy to grill us hamburgers and hot dogs on the way to the 2nd location. I said I was afraid to eat for fear of barfing in the water, and they were kind enough to wrap up my burger until I came back in. You are given a regulator attached to an air tank that is floating inside a floatation raft in the water. You still use a scuba mask. When you exhale, you can see the bubbles around your mask. I COULD NOT SNUBA DIVE! I actually thought I was going to SNUBA DIE.

You have a weight belt which helps you sink below the water. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to swim back up. So I kind of snubaed on the surface. I also didn’t like the taste of the air. So it made me gag. (Glad I didn’t eat!) I had to keep picking my head up from the water and taking the regulator out of my mouth just so I could breathe “real air!” Our instructor Taylor was patient and kept trying to get me to dive, but no luck. I just couldn’t get over my fear of going deeper and not being able to come up for “real air.” Self-preservation is obviously winning at this point.

Bill kept pencil floating, (floating vertically) about 4’ below the surface. I kept thinking he was dying, so that was freaking me out. Hope struggled tool. JW tried really hard to go down, and had more weight added to him, I guess he did pretty good.

We were out there maybe about 30 minutes, and it seemed like hours to me. I never gave up trying, but I was so drained by the time we got back on the boat. I laughed. My birth sign is Pisces, which means I should be a natural swimmer! I AM NOT!

Never again, it was horrible, but at least we know how it is. JW said he would go again. Bill’s ears hurt, and so did Hope’s. That’s because on the way back, the water was slapping the side of the boat and the wind was hurling tiny little drops of water at us that felt like nails hitting the sides of your cheeks! It was not fun on the ride back! It was like we were in a hurricane!

Money well spent: yes

Memories made: yes

Laughing moments: yes

Can’t wait to doit again: HELL NO!

#cat: maui #snubadive #snorkeling #molokini #localbusiness

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 years

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Hey Raven how are you doing? I hope well. Mind if I request some headcanons for going to the beach with the scarabia boys and the octatrio (I just wanna call them the chapter 4 quintett). Where I am from it's super cold at this time of the year, so people usually do vacation abroad, preferably somewhere tropical.

I’m well, but busy! ^^ I personally prefer the cold to tropical weather, so I’d rather go to a ski resort than the beach~

I also wrote headcanons for the first years on a beach trip a while back, so if you’re interested, you can read those here!

Curiouser and Curiouser...

Knowing the wealth of the Asims, they probably own a private beach (or several)—perfect for you and Kalim to frolic in! There’ll be plenty of space for you to pick the ideal spot to lay down your towel and pitch your umbrella, and lots of staff employed by the Asims to watch after your belongings in your absence.

Kalim tries his hand at sand sculptures, but they turn out looking like indiscernible lumps (though he proudly introduces each of them to you as a different structure). Halfway through the construction, Kalim thought it would help make them look more colorful if he added decorations (which explains why there are tons of fat, REAL gemstones embedded in each sand sculpture). You need to slap Azul’s hand away when you see him staring at all the jewels--

Any pool toys or watersports equipment that you can think of, Kalim can provide! Surfing, water skiing, snorkeling--he’ll drag you along with him to experience them! Unfortunately, he’s a bit reckless with his ventures, so it’s up to you and Jamil to make sure that Kalim has the proper safety measures in place before he’s let loose.

His dad sends a whole yacht for “you kids to play with”, complete with an experienced crew to guide them along the coast. Kalim’s more than happy to give you a tour of the entire boat, including each luxurious suite, concluding with chilling on the topmost deck. You can lean against the railing and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze, and the lick of saltwater against your face.

When Kalim has tired of splashing in the water and playing in the sand, he’ll recline on his beach towel to wind down. When he looks at the sky, he calls out the shapes of the clouds until his lids grow heavy, and he finally drifts off to sleep with a smile on his lips.

You barely recognize Jamil at first because of his outrageous anti-bug outfit. He strolls up in a full body wetsuit, covering as much of his skin as possible, along with a hat that comes with a veil of mosquito netting and several cans of bug spray. Jamil took all the necessary precautions to minimize the chance of bug bites!

Rather than cooking on the beach, he has prepared a picnic the night prior to the trip. As a dutiful planner, Jamil makes sure that there are options for everyone, and that each dish is as fresh as it can be. He makes it a point to slide eel and octopus dishes in front of the Octatrio-- Not only that, but there’s also a selection of drinks--coconut water for Kalim, lemonades, iced teas and coffees, etc.

He barely has any time to enjoy the beach for himself; he’s mainly preoccupied with following Kalim around with a sun umbrella or nagging him to reapply sunblock every few hours. Jamil even has an emergency first aid kit on hand in case anyone cuts themselves on sea glass! An attendant’s job is never done (at least until Kalim tells him to “relax for today”).

Before stepping into the sea, Jamil pins his hair up and secures it with a swimming cap. He works far too hard maintaining the perfect condition of his locks to let salt water damage it (though when Floyd yanks it off, Jamil spends the better part of an afternoon chasing after him to exact revenge).

Jamil radiates “tired mom” energy the entire trip. He’s always fussing after someone (if not Kalim, then Floyd) or concerned about something—but at the end of the day, when the stars peek out and fireworks begin to light up the sky, he finds himself staring up in wonder, basking in this single moment of solace.

Azul is somewhat self-conscious on the beach. Yes, it’s close to the sea (his home turf), but he’s still wary of showing off his body and putting himself in a vulnerable position (no thanks to his childhood trauma). For this reason, he wears a zipped up swimming parka over his trunks and makes what excuses he can to avoid wandering out into the sea.

Physically strenuous activities aren’t Azul’s thing! He prefers to spend his time relaxing in a fold-up chair and with a tropical drink in hand, or leisurely strolling along the shoreline, allowing the incoming tides to tickle his ankles. If anyone shouts for him to join them in something dangerous, Azul slips on his sunglasses and pretends like he didn’t hear it.

Azul has some simple games on hand to amuse himself, from skipping stones to pretend bartering using sand dollars and other debris that washed up onto the beach. While he fiddles with fragmented shells, he laments that he wasn’t able to find something of more value (loudly sighing and putting a hand to his forehead, in hopes of getting Kalim and his wallet’s attention).

He tries to cozy up to Jamil during the trip, offering to help with various tasks and excessively complimenting his odd outfit. As many times as Jamil rebukes him, Azul remains persistent. It makes the twins giggle, and only Kalim (that sweet summer child) seems to be under the impression that Jamil and Azul are “being friendly”.

He’s enthralled by the sight of fireworks—so much so that he looks like a child rather than a shrewd businessman. Azul’s gaze fixes to the sky from the moment the first fiery flowers launch up and explode in a dazzling array of heat and light. Memories of his youth—of sneaking up to the surface to spy on humans—resurface from within him, and, for just that night, he allows the nostalgia to embrace him.

Jade dutifully helps you and Jamil with pitching up an umbrella and laying out towels before excusing himself somewhere private to change out of his attire and into his eel form. He can still swim perfectly fine as a human, but he prefers the freedom and speed that his true form provides.

Contrary to Floyd, Jade prefers more discreet methods of scaring others. He’ll peak out of the waters just long enough for someone to catch him for a split second, but not long enough for them to be sure. Jade will leave them with a lingering sense that someone is watching them, leaving their paranoia to eat away at them while he chuckles from beneath the waves.

After a good swim, Jade will have to restore all the calories he just burned off. He’s doing a good job of decimating the local marine wildlife population before Jamil has to call for him to get out of the water and eat “some real food”, which Jade happily obliges. (Between him and Floyd, they end up packing away most of the feast that Jamil prepared, starting with the octopus.)

He takes every chance he can to provoke Azul—and what’s more, he takes great delight in it. Jade “begs” Azul to join him and Floyd in the waters “just like the days of our youth”, but he doesn’t take the bait. Jade wipes at imaginary tears and remarks that it’s such a shame... that he and Floyd can’t “playfully” tussle with Azul in the sea. Oh well, he’ll make do with you and Kalim—

All kinds of things wash up along the shore, from shells and shards of sea glass to pieces of driftwood and seaweed strands. Jade keeps a careful eye on the shoreline, plucking up any items that catch his eye—he plans to make up a whole new terrarium to capture the beach, all with materials right from it. The memory of this day will be forever encapsulated, carefully crafted again and retold by his masterful hands.

Floyd feels right at home at the beach! He kicks his sandals off and immediately dives headfirst into the salty waves. Floyd doesn’t even bother to change out of his clothes, he just strips as soon as he’s deep underwater and reverts to his merform. (His clothes, meanwhile, float to the surface and disturb other beachgoers.)

He delves deep, coming back up at regular intervals to chuck whatever poor sea creatures he has managed to capture at you, shouting to “grill them up” for a snack. Floyd specifically fishes up a lot of crabs (watch out for those pincers), claiming that they’re in honor of Kani-chan, who couldn’t join the others of the Basketball Club today.

Floyd challenges Jade to a series of races, which his twin gladly accepts. Their lithe bodies and tails weave in and out of the water like ribbons, darting from landmark to landmark in their bid for victory. While Azul scoffs that they’re “showing off”, you can’t help but find beauty in their deadly display.

He spends the rest of his beach time terrorizing others. Floyd will slowly rise from the water like a shark and speed after any unsuspecting fools that wander into his space, teeth gnashing for a bite. He’ll also tug at people’s legs, threatening to drag them below... and don’t think you’ll be spared from Floyd, because you definitely won’t be!

You end up having to work with the others to drag a thrashing eel Floyd out from the sea (otherwise, he’d refuse to come on his own)! Luckily for you, he does eventually relent and let you towel dry him (before you’re shooed away so he can return to his human form and dress). He’ll emerge from behind a large rock, the sunset behind him, whining that he didn’t nearly get enough time to play—so you’ll make it up to him by promising to play with him the rest of the day, right?

#twst #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland headcanons #Floyd Leech #Azul Ashengrotto #Jade Leech #disney twisted wonderland #Kalim Al-Asim #Jamil Viper #Reader #self insert #curiouser and curiouser

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nnightskiess · 3 years

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‧₊° 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐞 𝐱 𝐟𝐞𝐦!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

‧₊° 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐲/𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Toni grabbed another handful of pebbles from the beach and played with them in her hands before throwing one out into the ocean every few steps. The sun was on full blast and started to hurt her forehead and thus she was on her way to the little cave that would shield her from the sun — the one she’d found on another stroll. She hadn’t run off this time, Dot had actually told everyone to wait until the sun was less vicious before continuing their work. Toni hadn’t felt like joining the others and apparently neither had Y/N, who had disappeared the moment Dot told them to take a break.

God knows what Y/N was up to now that she had some free time. What would anyone even do on an abandoned island? No matter how hard Toni had tried, Y/N was a hard one to read. She wasn’t as open as the others and kept to herself most of the time, but never disrespected anyone, or treated anyone badly, for that matter. She helped out whenever needed and seemed particularly interested in staying close to Toni, no matter the situation. She hadn’t shied away or looked at her differently when Toni had had one of her anger outbursts and that, in combination with her silent glances and soft smiles, had somehow reeled Toni in. The next opportunity that would arise, Toni would for sure try and start a real conversation with the girl. So far, they had only exchanged ‘thank you’s and ‘can you help me with this’s.

Toni threw the last pebble as far away as she could, watching until the ripple had disappeared. If only their problems on the island, and in the real world, would fade away just as smoothly. She sighed and threw her head back, trying to tame the curly baby hairs on her head and simultaneously hold a hand to her blistering forehead. This heat was no joke.

She wrinkled her nose and squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to look at where the sun stood right now. Probably three more hours before it would take away some of its heat.

Toni reached the small beach and sat down on one of the rocks after splashing some seawater in her face and neck. She took off her damp shoes and socks and buried her feet in the sand. Now that she was finally alone, her thoughts caught up with her and she suddenly realised how Marty had slowly started to slip away. Their friendship had never faltered before, so why would a stupid island suddenly be able to break them apart? If she didn’t have Marty, she would have no one. Sure, the others were nice, but if it weren’t for the need to work together to survive, she would be able to do without them. If she had Marty by her side, she’d be fine with whatever challenge the world would throw at her. Then there was Y/N, who seemed to be someone Toni needed around at all times, too. But if it hadn’t been for Y/N sticking around, would Toni have ever found that out? Probably, yes. Because even though Y/N was quiet most of the times, Toni always caught her eyes slipping and landing on the girl. She always looked at Y/N first when she made a joke, a suggestion or when she did something wrong— ready to see the judgement or disappointment, only for it to never show on Y/N’s face. It brought her a certain form of calmness she needed. Y/N’s smile would not only tell Toni that whatever had happened with the situation at hand would work itself out, but it would also soothe the many burns and scars Toni had gathered over the years.

Toni sat down on the damp sand and started to make random shapes in the sand with her hands, feeling more relaxed as she let her mind go blank. Moments like these were a necessity for her, moments where she could just walk away for a while and be by herself to not get riled up by anything or anyone else. But her mind couldn’t completely shut down this time, as it thought of Y/N. Toni was thinking of what to ask her. She’d been so quiet all this time, how was she supposed to know what topic to bring up? Y/N had never mentioned a favourite band or what she liked to do in her free time. Though Toni would never admit it out loud, this made her terrified to talk to the girl. What if she asked exactly that what would upset Y/N? Something that would spark up a bad memory, especially now that they all needed some more positivity and hope? She couldn’t mess up her first shot of a real conversation with the girl, she was too careful to scare away the only other person who seemed unfazed by her anger issues.

She let out a deep sigh, put on her shoes again after dusting off the sand and decided to walk a bit further— she needed a change of scenery to get it out of her head. However, Toni didn’t get far when her breath hitched at seeing the sight in front of her. She saw Y/N, at least she thought it was Y/N, seeing as she was wearing the same clothes, floating in the ocean a few meters off the coast, face down. Toni’s heart sank to her stomach and she was sure her sunburned face was as white as a ghost right now.

“Y/N!”

She sprinted into the ocean as fast as she could, though her shoes sunk into the sand with every step. The girl still face down, floating around. Toni swam the last part and closed their distance, immediately grabbing the girl’s upper body to try and turn her around— to let her breathe. She had expected Y/N to stay unconscious, having to carry her out the water, but the girl gasped loudly and moved her arms and legs around frantically, frightened by the surprise. Toni’s eyes widened as she let go immediately, unsure of what the hell was happening.

Y/N removed the pink goggles on her face and looked at Toni with the same wide eyes,

“Toni?!”

“Are you okay?!”

The two had now drifted more to shore, where they could stand just on their tippy toes.

“What’s wrong?”

Toni furrowed her eyebrows, “What’s wrong? I thought you had fucking died!” Her voice cracked as she raised it.

“O-Oh...” Y/N looked down for a split second, enough to make Toni panic she had scared her off, too. “I was just trying to stay still to look at the fish...”

Toni’s frown disappeared and she smiled softly at the girl, realising there was nothing to be worried about, “You scared the living hell out of me, fuck you.” She let out a breathy chuckle.

Y/N presented her with an apologetic smile and offered Toni her hand to help her out of the water.

“Sorry... Thanks for trying to save me...”

“Nah, it’s fine. I’m glad you had fun, though.” She tilted her head to get a better look at the girl.

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully, “Well, up until you scared me, I did. I thought you were some sea creature or something.”

“Yeah, for good reason.” Toni smiled, “I could’ve been. Please be careful next time, yeah?”

“Okay.”

“So...” Toni chuckled softly, readjusting her wet shirt, partly also because she suddenly became too nervous to say something else and decided to let Y/N take the lead, hoping she could get away with messing with her shirt a tad longer. She crossed her fingers the girl would say something that Toni knew a thing or two about.

Y/N gave Toni a sheepish smile when they locked eyes and looked back at the sea for a split second, “You know, I used to go snorkeling with my parents when we went to Egypt once. In the Red Sea, have you heard of it?”

Toni hesitantly shook her head, cursing at herself for not paying enough attention in class or she might’ve been able to talk along.

“Should I tell you a story about it?”

The girl nodded softly as she followed Y/N’s lead and sat down next to her in the sand.

“Well, I used to be really scared of the sea— in ways I still am, especially in deep waters, but this depth is just fine— so my mom signed me up for a snorkeling tour with a few other tourists.” Y/N snorted and shook her head at the memory, “It was a nightmare.”

Toni listened closely, surprised by the new, more open Y/N that was unfolding right in front of her eyes. She had already said more than the past few days combined.

“I was too scared to go any further when the water reached my waist and I just waddled around through the water a bit, looking ridiculous with my goggles on. Mind you, I was nine... or something...”

Toni laughed softly at the visualisation she made in her head of a little Y/N pouting in the water.

“When my mom found out I had spent the hour doing nothing while she’d paid a good amount of money for it, I got scolded so badly.” Y/N let out a soft giggle but Toni furrowed her eyebrows. Why would anyone scold a girl who was just scared? Even worse, why would her mom even sign her up if she knew she was afraid— it seemed like pure torture.

“She made me do it again a few years later and I must say, if it hadn’t been for the gorgeous instructor I was trying to impress, I’m sure I wouldn’t have gone any further than my waist either.” Toni smiled when Y/N tried to see her reaction. “And in the end, it wasn’t that bad at all.”

Toni cleared her throat, wanting to listen to her talk longer, “What did it look like? Underwater, I mean. With the... fish?”

“The water was so clear. There were a ton of different fish, tiny ones and larger ones, though I still tried to stay away from those.” She laughed. “Some had plain colours and others were a bright yellow or red. And so many different type of corals.”

Y/N’s voice died down, and she looked at her lap, thinking of the distant memory that seemed so far away now, and not only because of the years that had passed. Toni noticed the change in character immediately and bumped the girl’s shoulder in a playful manner, “Did you find that here too before I tried to save you?”

“No.” Y/N looked at her, “Not even close.” She suddenly seemed to realise how close the two of them were sitting and refused to look into Toni’s eyes, growing very conscious and nervous. “But I just wanted to clear my head and feel like I was in Egypt for a moment, not in this terrible nightmare.”

“Yeah, I get that...” Toni mumbled in response. “I was actually... trying to do the same thing, you know? Take a walk...”

“Did it work?”

“Not really.”

Y/N hummed in reply and stared out at the horizon, hoping to see a lifeboat sail their way. But the horizon was empty and dull. The sound of the birds, trees and waves replaced their words as both girls sat in each other’s company. Toni looked at Y/N’s side profile for a few seconds, debating what to do or say next.

“You know, I like that we talked.” She decided on saying.

“Really?”

Toni nodded sincerely.

“I talked way too much, you barely said anything.”

“Didn’t even notice.” She shrugged, “I liked listening to you.”

“To my pathetic, poetic story about Egyptian fish?” Y/N rose an eyebrow and challenged the girl. Toni smiled slightly but remained honest, “Yeah. It distracted me from all the other shit for a while. So, thanks.”

Y/N smiled shyly, “Anytime.”

A few seconds passed before Toni opened her mouth again, “You’re always so quiet. Why’s that?”

Toni’s blunt question took Y/N off guard, though she did her best to quickly form an honest reply.

“I just... I don’t... I never had a great experience with friends. Better to not have them than get left out or hurt, right? Especially when we’re already in this... weird environment.” She decided to not brush things under the carpet.

“I suppose...” Toni shrugged nonchalantly, she decided against asking further. Besides, she was kind of biased, seeing as she often tended to choose to be alone, too. Then again, why did she stick with Toni when she didn’t want to have any friends? The thoughts made her head hurt and thus she started to absentmindedly play with the sand.

“I’ve been on my own for years, I reckon I’ll survive another few days. Don’t you think?”

“You don’t have to be, you know.” Toni looked up and squinted her eyes when the sun blinded her. Y/N smiled genuinely, realising what she meant.

“Thanks, Toni.”

They lingered for a moment in a comfortable silence.

“So, um...” Toni started, bringing her hands up to comb through her hair, “Should we head back?”

Y/N accepted Toni’s help to stand up and smiled softy, nodding in return. The two talked and laughed softly as they walked back to camp, both girls happy that they probably had just gotten a new shoulder to lean on.

#toni shalifoe #toni shalifoe imagine #toni shalifoe x reader #toni shalifoe one shot #the wilds #the wilds imagine #the wilds imagines #toni shalifoe imagines

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introverted-sugar · 3 years

Text

Ugh 😑

Heads up, this is a minor rant! Proceed with caution.

I feel like such a shit friend for what I’m about to express but I have to get this off of my chest because I have no one else to complain to. Also, I know I’m a great friend but I’m very particular about how I do things and I need to be at peace when I’m somewhere

So, my birthday is in a few days and I’m going to Miami/islamorada/key west for 10 days. I’ll be in Miami for 4 days with my girl best friend, and then “Travel daddy” the remainder of the trip.

So me and my best friend are similar in the sense of us being laid back and chill, we don’t do too much, when we go out we’re not twerking on table tops or fighting or any of that ratchet bullshit (now don’t get me wrong, you put the right song on and I’ll shake these cheeks but i just don’t like that type of attention, I sucked as a stripper 😂) But we are also VERY different. I like to try new things, eat at kind of fancy restaurants (if I’m paying, VERY fancy on a “mans” dime 💁🏽‍♀️) , I don’t like to go to clubs and if I do I’m definitely leaving early, lounge by the beach/pool, swim, snorkel, bike ride etc. So I’ve been trying to plan stuff for us to do but it’s hard because I have to take her into consideration (I’m used to traveling alone or with some man that’s trying to please me so I’m usually able to just do what I want )

Here is a list of grievances & concerns I have thus far:

1: She doesn’t really like sushi. Yes, that’s petty but I have dinner reservations the night of my birthday at a sushi place with a tasting menu. She said she was okay with going but eh idk, and then is she going to be cool with the price tag of the tasting menu? Any tasting I’ve ever done all the people at the table had to do the tasting menu

2: Piggy backing off of the first point, her sister is flying in the same day we are to help her friend that’s getting a BBL down there (😑, I’ll explain why I’m not a fan of her sister later) but we arrive at like 12, she’ll be arriving around 8 pm..the time I made reservations at the sushi spot. So earlier we were on the phone and she said “oh yeah such and such gets there around 8 I told her WE would come pick her up from the airport” Pause! WHO? Not I! I said “that’s the time our reservations are for” she was like “oh well she can just meet us there” 🤦🏽‍♀️ now remember I said I don’t do too much, I’m quiet and reserved. Her sister, not so much. She’s not about to embarrass me and she’s DEF not chilling at the hotel with her loud ass. My thing is, how tf you inviting people to MY birthday dinner. I honestly don’t wanna see her sister at all while we’re there, but I’m willing to meet her somewhere for an hour or so and then leave ✌🏽

(I don’t like her sister because the very first time I met her a couple years ago on NYE she basically got us involved in a literal BRAWL at a HOUSE PARTY in the heart of west philly of all places 😑 long story short the whole party beat her sisters ass for walking in and tAlking shit, and then Her sister stole someones whole car at the party, I guess when they were jumping her someone’s keys fell out of their pocket so she took the keys and figures out which car it belonged to and stole it, like it was just a ghetto ass mess)

3: She keeps asking me the same questions over and over. We have had this trip booked for MONTHS, literally, I like to be organized and plan shit out, but every week or so it’s “so where are we staying again” “how much is it” “do you think my hair will last if I get a frontal” to which I replied BITCH NEVER, just get braids or locs, of course she just got a sewin/frontal earlier…okay but I warned you sis😖. now mind you this will be her first time in Miami so she wasn’t really trying to pay the price (half) for the hotel I booked. I’ve been to Miami plenty of times on top of actually living there and there’s no better deal we’re going to get on south beach, with all the amenities that the hotel offers, I’m very good at planning and booking trips and finding the best deals so I was highly irritated when just a week before our trip shes tryna find cheaper places. I told her she can look but it needs to at least •be in south beach •be on collins/ocean drive and •have a pool (unless she could find an Airbnb). Y’all she sent me all these bullshit ass links to places in HOLLYWOOD (which I actually love but I said south beach…), Miami Gardens 🤮, and ft. Lauderdale and they didn’t have any amenities and were MORE money. In my head I was like “bruh nevermind we’re staying where we’re staying, you don’t need to do ANYMORE looking” 🙅🏽‍♀️

4: she doesn’t like the water or swimming. That’s the main reason I even go to Florida so often for the water, like literally. I’m not a fan of most beaches up north (Giants neck beach In CT Is awesome though, Maine has some nice ones too but it’s just so cold even on a very hot summer day, jersey has a few as well but mainly I like clear waters) So anyway, I wanted to book this snorkel/boat tour/key west tour but she doesn’t want to do it because 1: she doesn’t wanna snorkel but 2: we would have to leave at 6:30 am and she doesn’t get up until like 12 🙄 I feel like I’m limited as to what I can do

5: She still hasn’t sent me her half of the hotel fee and we leave Tuesday…it’s Saturday. She’s been saying “imma send it tomorrow” for like 2 weeks now and telling me about her car troubles

6: As I mentioned she wakes up late, which means she goes to bed late. The latest I go to bed is like 12 but when I’m on “vacation” I tend to drink more than I normally would so I go to sleep early. Shit when me and travel daddy went to all those vineyards I legit took naps mid day to keep up 😂 I’m worried she’s gonna keep me up like she did last month when I spent the night at her house, I was HIGHLY irritated and it was only one night

I’m seriously pondering why tf I thought this was a good idea. Lowkey I didn’t think it was a good idea but we’ve never traveled together and she’s never been to Miami (she’s the reason we’re even going to Miami because I’ve BEEN over Miami, it’s packed and overrated but I thought it would be a cute thing for us to do)

It doesn’t matter how cool you are with someone you have to have the right travel buddy and just because you get along doesn’t mean you should travel together. Sadly, I can already tell you this is our last trip together

The irony is I was sooo hesitant and complaining about going on the WPB trip but ended up having a blast, but we also had a huge villa and everyone had privacy, and I only personally knew one person so at first I didn’t feel super obligated to be all chummy with his friends, but I loved all of them they were so much fun and liked to do the stuff I like to do, it really was such a bomb trip I wish I could show you guys all the cute pics and videos we took, REALLY great vibes

I love my best friend to death but I’m so apprehensive about this trip. We don’t even chill that often on the regular, mainly because we’re both just busy or live kind of far from eachother but I’m that friend that loves you…from afar, every now and then she’ll drag me out to some lounge and I’m always ready to go early it’s just not my scene, I wanna be in bed damnit! 😩

Am I just being a brat? What do you guys think?

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forlornmelody · 3 years

Text

The Fantabulous Vacation of One Harley Quinn and Her Girlfriend Poison Ivy

Rating: T (suggestive themes, cartoon violence)

Fandom(s): DC Comics

Ship: Poison Ivy/Harley Quinn

Linkage: Ao3

Summary: Harley's been burning the wick at both ends and Ivy knows just the thing to help. But it takes more than just a change of scenery to get Harley to let go.

Note: Commission for @rookie009

~*~*~*

“You’re probably wondering Mr---Watchman--”

“Tockman.” Mr. Watchman spits. “William Tockman.”

“Why I’ve brought you here today.”

Mr. Watchman rolls his eyes. “I imagine you’re going to tell me.”

“Ah! Good. You’ve stopped struggling. Progress, Mister!” Harley boops him on the nose. Maybe she made the binding too tight? “I’m not cutting off your circulation, am I?” She leans in close. “Are you comfortable? I need you comfortable.”

“I’m tied up in ropes, wench!”

“Ah, see! This is what I’m talking about!” Harley sits across from him and his fainting couch, pulling her pen from her bun and making a heading on her notepad. “You have a whore madonna complex.” Chewing her pen, she murmurs, “perhaps from the trauma of your wife’s death? Cystic Fibrosis, was it?”

Her new patient says nothing. “Mister?” Harley glances up. “Willy?”

“Help!” William Tockman dangles from his left ankle, suspended in air by a beefy vine. “She’s gonna kill me!”

“Oh please. You’re hardly worth the trouble.” Ivy steps around him and the vine, brushing the dust off her hands. “Hi Harls!” How she got the vines up this far on this abandoned apartment building, Harley has no idea. But it sure has a lot of brick to climb.

“Ivy!” Harley doesn’t so much as hug her as ram her at full speed.

Her target, used to such behavior by now, braces for impact and manages to hug back. Harley takes a big whiff. “Mm. Jasmine?”

“Lilacs.” Ivy peers over at Clock King. “You...uh, busy?”

“Mm yeah. A little tied up at the moment. Or he is, at least.”

“So I see.” Ivy chews her lip, staring out the window as if she had left a reminder there. She makes a face as the draft stirs some of the painting tarp discarded on the floor. “I was thinking maybe we could get out of town for a bit.”

“HELP.”

“Are you asking for help, Billy? Or do you prefer Willy?”

“HELP ME! THESE WOMEN ARE CRAZY.”

“Great!” Harley says brightly. “Admitting you need help is the first step towards healing!”

“Harls? Are you even listening?”

“You need help dismantling another CEO along with his company?”

“No.”

“Fundraiser for conservation efforts?”

“Harley--”

“Pride pre-game with Kitty?”

“Harleen.” That stops Harley short. Ivy never calls her that. Mostly cause she hates getting called Pamela with an undying passion. Probably childhood trauma. But Harley digresses.

Ivy sighs. “Sorry. Look. I need a vacation. We need a vacation.”

“I need help!”

“SHUT UP ALREADY.” Ivy and Harley say it together, and Ivy waves a hand, muffling Harley’s captive, er, patient with a particularly broad leaf.

“Mm... I’m a little busy--”

Ivy glances at Tockman, finally. “I can see that.”

“Lemme look at my calendar. Mmm.. maybe...next year? Definitely the one after that.”

“Harls.”

“I know, I know. But there’s my derby team, missions with Task Force X, the Birds of Prey, my day job--”

“I know.” Ivy takes her hands, gently, and squeezes them. It’s the softness that stops Harley in her tracks. “It’s why you need some time off.”

“But--”

“Shh. I already have plane tickets and a hotel booked. You don’t have to plan a thing.”

Harley can’t help the blush creeping up on her cheeks. “Aww, shucks, Ives. When are we leaving?”

“Now. The plane’s departing in--shit. We gotta go.”

“MMRPH.”

“Oh, right.” Ivy releases Clock King with a patented thud as she shoves Harley out the door. “Bye!”

-----

“So, we’re we goin’?” Harley pushes the arm rest out of the way and rests her chin on Ivy’s shoulder. She glances at Ivy’s phone as if it’ll give her some clues. She spots a sudoku puzzle. “Japan?”

“No.”

“The Amazon?”

“Nope.”

“Themyscyra?”

Ivy gives her a look. “Really?”

“Er….my mom’s? Please say it’s not my mom’s.”

“It’s not your mom’s.”

“Thank God.”

“Also, why would we fly to your mom’s house when we could easily drive? Or take a commuter bus?”

“Good point. Mm.”

Ivy smooths Harley’s hair out of her eyes. “It’s a surprise.” She snatches a quick kiss before the flight attendant rolls by. “You’ll love it.”

In this moment, Harley’s pretty sure she’d love anywhere as long Ivy’s there with her. She’s lit up by the light of the tiny window behind her, and her crimson locks glow like an angel’s. But Harley knows well enough that neither of them are anywhere close to innocent. “Say, how’d you get us past security?”

Ivy winks at her.

“No casualties?”

Her lover mockingly brushes her own chest like a scandalized church mouse. “I would never!” she snorts. “They’ll be fine. Just a little dazed and confused.”

Harley leans her head on Ivy’s shoulder. “I know the feelin’.” And really! Harley’s proud of her. Ivy’s never been one to follow rules or care for humans. But she tries for Harley. Why she bothers when Mistah J never seemed to care, Harley has no idea. But it means the world to her.

-----

The taxi drops them off in front of a large revolving door. But it’s not the gold handles that capture Harley’s attention.

It’s the lush plants growing from every nook and cranny on the place. Harley bets Ivy could spend an hour naming all of them (scientific names and personal names.) Butterflies and hummingbirds in every color of the rainbow--and the faint buzzing of bees. A solitary stream crosses their path, and a wooden bridge stretches over it. Garden terrace after garden terrace rise up from the ground to an open-air cafe at the top.

And behind the walls and the hotel proper? A waterpark.

Harley’s eyes go as big as saucers. “Ivy! You shouldn’t have!” She squeezes her into a hug.

“Thanks, sweet pea, but I can’t breathe.” Ivy manages to get out.

“Oof, sorry. Here ya go.” Harley releases her, and Ivy pecks her on the cheek.

“Best part is, they’ve a zero-carbon footprint and they’re waste free.” Harley rarely sees her grin so wide.”

“Whoa.”

“They call it The Greenhouse.”

-----

Their first day at the resort passes in a blur. Harley shows Ivy a good time in and out of their bedroom. They go snorkeling in the ocean, ride the rides so many times Harley ends up upchucking their picnic at the beach, then make love at sunset in their honeymoon suite. Harley wonders if the management thinks they’re--well, they’re as good as, aren’t they? They don’t need rings or a wedding or a place of their own or--

“Harley?”

She blinks. Ivy only calls her that when she’s worried. Harley realizes she’s been staring at the chocolates on their pillows for God knows how long. “Yeah?”

“You okay?”

“Of course!” she says automatically, pulling Ivy into another kiss.

Ivy kisses back, then runs a finger down her cheek. “You’d tell me if you weren’t, right?” The setting sun makes her hair even redder, which Harley didn’t think possible, and Harley finds herself toying with her curls.

“Hey, I’ve been wonderin’.”

If Ivy notices the change in subject, she doesn’t mention it. “Yeah?”

“How come we haven’t seen any other guests? And how come we haven’t been arrested?”

“Oh! That.” Ivy waves a hand dismissively. “I rented out the whole resort.”

“With what money??”

Ivy shoots her a wicked look that sends shivers down Harley’s spine. “Ace Chemical’s investment fund.”

“Ooooh, you’re naughty.”

Harley dives in for another kiss but Ivy puts a finger to her lips. And doesn’t let her suck on it. Rude. “So, are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“Since we’ve got all this extra cash, wanna make a run at the casino? I hear they donate the proceeds to rainforest restoration.”

“Alright.” Ivy sighs and reaches for her dress. Harley has a sinking feeling that she’s going to bring this up later. Maybe if Harley’s lucky she’ll forget about it? Yeah. Ivy forgets things all the time.

“Last one there buys the first round!”

-----

Ivy and Harley sit across from each other, an immaculate brunch setting between them and two mimosas. Her lover’s plate sits almost empty, and while Harley’s lies largely untouched. She keeps playing with her veggie egg white omelet, but the next bite never seems to make it to her mouth. “And then we can go for a walk on the beach later! Have you seen those beds? Right there on the water? Mm. Do you think anyone would hear us if we--”

“Harley, wait.”

“Like, the sound of the waves would cover it up, right? Mm. Maybe not. I’m loud. Not as loud as--”

“Harley, no. Stop. Stop.” Ivy presses her hands on either side of Harley’s face, drawing her to a standstill and inches away from her. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to!”

Ivy gives her a sad smile, shaking her head gently. “You don’t have to impress me, Harls. I love you.”

Harley, in typical Harley fashion, vibrates with energy. “But…I want this to be special. As special as y--”

“This vacation already is special. Cause you’re here with me.”

“But--” I’m not that special, Harley wants to say. But she knows Ivy won’t let her get away with saying that out loud. She wants to crawl underneath the tablecloth and hide until Ivy leaves. They always leave in the end. Once they get what they want. Mistah J--

“I love you, Harley Quinn.” Ivy takes her hand, gently, rubbing her thumb over her knuckles. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And maybe. Maybe it’s that she doesn’t know what to do if Ivy stays. It’s easier to love someone who doesn’t love her back. It’s safe. Ahem. Emotionally safe, Dr. Quinzel says inside her head. For once, Harley has nothing to say. She’s too busy trying to keep the tears from falling.

“You don’t have to do anything. I already love you.” Ivy bites her lip--the way she always does when she’s thinking hard. Like how best to resurrect a drooping petunia or a rose bush that has a pest. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself. “And if it’s not too much--too early--to say this: I always will.”

“You proposin’ or somethin’?” The words tumble out of Harley’s mouth before she can stop them. Her cheeks feel like they’re blushing as bright as Ivy’s hair.

“I…” Ivy’s eyes widen. “I-I don’t have a ring on me.”

Shit. Fuck. ShitshitshitFuuuuuuuuuck. “I’msorryIdidn’tmeanit.” “It’s way too soon.” Harley puts on her best brave face--the same one she always put on when Bats showed up and Mistah J magically was nowhere to be found. “Marriage is so outda--”

“Harley.” Ivy puts her entire hand over her face. “Quinn.” “I never said I didn’t want to marry you.”

“Mmphwr?”

“Who wouldn’t want to marry Harley Quinn? You’re amazing.” She traces her eyebrows. “You’re the smartest person I know.” Boops her nose. “You’re impossible to kill. Holy fuck.” Runs her fingertip across her bottom lip. “You…” Ivy presses her lips together, looking down at the table. “You helped me love again when I hated everyone.”

“Pam.” Fuck, she’s getting misty eyed.

“I mean it. I was ready to wipe humanity off the map and start over.” She laughs a little, her voice rough as she wipes her cheek with the back of her hand. “But then you came along and nominated yourself my new shrink.”

“Don’t give me all the credit.” Wow, okay. Maybe she’s more than just misty-eyed. “You saved me too. From Mistah Jay. From Bats. From what woulda been a really boring life.”

Ivy’s smile slips slightly. “You’re not gonna die on me, are you Harls?”

Harley squeezes her hand. “Nah. You’re stuck with me.” Her words come out a little thick. “For richer or poorer.”

Her lover leans in close, capturing her lips in a warm kiss. “That’s usually pretty literal for you.”

“HEY.”

“It’s true! Guess I’ll have to see if Ace or maybe Lexcorp has any funds they won’t miss. I need to get that ring soon. Garnet? Spinel maybe?”

“Aww, shucks. How am I gonna be surprised now?”

Ivy scoffs. “If it’s a real surprise, it’s not a good time for a proposal.”

“But what if I want to be like those girls in those Tik Toks? Like where you propose to me but like I got my own box in my pocket?”

“Harley. A ring box wouldn’t fit in your tiny ass pockets, and you know it.”

“You know what would fit in my shorts?”

“Harleen Francis Quinzel.” Her laughter dissolves in a kiss and Harley pulls her back to their suite. They got a lot of planning to do. Though Harley has a pretty good feeling they’re not gonna get a whole lot of planning done today. But Harley’s okay with that. Pam’s always been the top of her to-do list anyway.

#harlivy #DC comics #poisonquinn #harley quinn #poison ivy #clock king #fluff isn't my usual so PLEASE tell me what you think #so sugary sweet you're gonna need to brush your teeth #melody writes #fluff

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leaveherwildliketheflowers · 3 years

Note

How often do you go to the beach? What are your favorite beaches?

We try to get to the beach at least once a year. This will be our third beach trip since last October. I could get used to going to the beach once a quarter! But honestly the trip last year wasn't happy by any means so I really don't count it as a vacation.

We like to visit new places, and very rarely go to the same spot twice. I can only think of 2 beaches we have repeat visited. My favorite beaches are all in the Caribbean. Who doesn't love the beautiful, clear blue water?! I also love snorkeling and that is much better where the water is clear. Lately all our trips have been to thw Atlantic Ocean because I'm not really willing to fly or travel internationally quite yet. Not at luxurious but I still get the sun, sand, and salty air and I will never complain about that.

I am really looking forward to this trip next week. I love vacations with my inlaws 🥰

#ask #vacation #beach

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constantvigilante · 3 years

Text

I realized I haven't posted about my recent trip. My roommates and I planned to go to Hawaii in 2020. It got pushed back for obvious reasons, and once the quarantine started it honestly felt like it was never gonna happen. My brain couldn't latch on to it as an actual thing even when we rebooked our flights, even when we got our Airbnb. I checked out of research and planning because I couldn't bring myself to believe in it, and the week before our flight I was really stressed. I hadn't gone home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, so this was my first flight in over a year, my first significant travel during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, I've been working from home. My activities have been restricted: I'm trying to be responsible. It took me a long time to be okay with going to restaurants again. So this trip was really weighing on me. It's not a short flight. Would I be able to keep my mask on the whole time? Would I get claustrophobic on the plane? I had a lot of anxiety about getting anxious.

I was fine. It wasn't my fave, but I could breathe. Hawaii itself was beautiful. It was really nice to be away. My hair loved the extra volume. My skin was delighted not to need lotion. I was reminded that I am not meant for desert lands. We got a pet sitter so I didn't even have to worry about the dogs, and best of all, I called back seat in the rental car so I didn't even have to navigate. (Apparently R2 loves doing that nonsense, so she's welcome to it. I think that helped her feel more a part of things too.)

There were still moments. We didn't always get along perfectly. There were things I Would Not Do, like go all the way through the lava tube tunnel, climb down to the blowhole, and I had no energy left when we got to the black sand beach (I actually forgot to wear my mask in the bathroom, I don't do that). R1 cut up her foot on the beach. But we also did a four hour kayak/whale watching/snorkeling tour, and took the Road to Hana, and saw the banyan tree, and ate a LOT of good pork (and there are few foods I love more).

I'm really glad we went. I feel better about traveling now, and the possiblity of doing it safely. And I really want to fly home for at least a weekend before my manager's maternity leave. I've missed my mom a lot.

#been back for a week now yo #work is straight up exhausting #but I think I'm getting better at that too

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andy-the-8th · 3 years

Text

Summer Research

Part 7 of Creatures That Defy Logic

Read on AO3

Jess is mapping and navigating the reefs on the coasts. John is navigating how to be a better father.

Contains a direct homage one of the most intense scenes in Moonlight (2016)

cw: homophobia, homophobic slurs, bullying, minor violence

Salty spray kicked up against the rocks, splashing with the breaking waves in the warm June sunlight. It was only late morning, but Jess had already been out at the coast for several hours.

Ever since getting past his fear of swimming (mostly), he'd realized his exploration and study of the local reefs and waters had entirely new unlocked potential. He couldn't properly dive yet - scuba was expensive and dangerous, nevermind he was probably too young - but there was plenty you could see with a snorkel in the clear shallow waters around Mahone Bay.

Jess had spent much of the last few weeks working on one stretch of coastline, on the opposite end of the harbor from where the Griffins lived. It was only a half hour bike ride from the marina, but far enough that there was rarely any significant boat activity.

From his searches at the library, Jess knew that there were very generalized maps of the offshore waters nearby - mostly just marking depths for the benefit of fishing and boating, the better to not get run aground.

However, no one had ever mapped the different micro-ecosystems, the biological landscape of the waters. Jess had decided to make this his ongoing personal research project for the summer.

Days started early, just after sunrise - temperature checks of the water and air, confirming locations with latitude and longitude. Surveys of the tide pools, updated with proper location data: tracking all species identified, recording numbers.

Once the sun was up, he'd swim out to the shallows. There were plenty of rock reefs, kelp forests, and flats within comfortable swimming range of the beach - California didn't have a lot in the ways of coral, on account of the cold open ocean currents, but what species it did have were in the southern part of the state, right where Mahone was situated on the coast. Jess had marked out 50 ft lengths of beach into specific zones, then gridded out 50 ft from the shore, 100, 150, 200 - he didn't swim out much past 200. Every day he'd pick a zone, head out with waterproof clipboard, spend the morning swimming down and resurfacing, noting everything he saw.

The rest of the afternoon he'd spend going over field guides from the library, trying to match up his observations with species he could name and identify. He'd fill it in on his data grid, another little patch of ocean, a little bit more closely explored.

This was not a terribly efficient system of research.

Still, it certainly was good practice field work, good exercise, and a good way for Jess to throw himself at his passions and not think too hard about people for a while.

That was the best part of the work - Jess didn't get lonely doing it. Marine biology had always been his main interest, but he'd spent 13 years unable to go past the tide pools for any in-person field observations. There was SO much lost time to make up.

Jess was dutiful with keeping records of his research, carefully sorted in folders in his room, labeled spiral notebooks, Xeroxed maps from the library, hand-drawn data tables and grids. His dad had asked after the first week or so if he was doing some kind of summer extra credit project, a bit surprised at how much literature Jess seemed to be producing.

Of course, he wasn't - Jess did all this on his own, like any responsible aspiring scientist. The work was its own reward.

John had kept his distance the first few weeks of the summer - Jess could tell how sorry he was for what happened. In his own way, Jess had tried to show that he'd forgiven him the last day or two - they'd never been particularly talkative, but at least Jess stopped purposefully not talking to him. He wasn't sure if his dad had picked up on that yet.

Jess thought of that as he was putting his charts and books into his bag. It was still the early in the day, but he'd decided to cut field work short today in favor of heading to the library. He had stayed out on the shore a bit to dry in the air before pedaling home. Jess usually swam with a long sleeve swim shirt, mostly to prevent sunburn and maintain body heat in the early morning water, but it meant not drying out quite as quickly. He'd have to change before going to the library.

The ride back to the marina felt a little longer than usual from the sun and heat beating down - Jess didn't normally make the trip in the middle of the day. Veering off the smooth road onto the crushed gravel of the marina, he quickly rolled to a stop under the overhang just outside the shed door next to the workshop, into the shade, before hurrying up the metal steps along the side of the building to the apartment.

The space wasn't large - really just one area for a living room/kitchen, two bedrooms, and one small bathroom at the end of the hall. The walls of the living room were mostly for maps, fishing photographs, an odd nautical salvaged antique here or there. There was a little mantle, more of a shelf (given that there was no fireplace) along the wall, with a small row of photos in frames.

Jess's school photos from the last few years. A picture of John's parents in front of the marina when it just was one workshop and shack. A photo of Jess's mother and father on their wedding day at the far end.

Jess hadn't ever known his mom - Evy, as his dad would refer to her when reminiscing. She had passed away before he was 2 year years old. In a way, it also meant he didn't really miss her either - like it or not, he'd only ever known life with just John.

He walked quickly down the hall to his room, changed into dry clothes, hung his swim shirt and towel out the sill of the small window overlooking the boat yard to dry in the sun. Carefully took the books out of his bag, swapped out the ones from his desk due back at the library, catalogued his notes. The whole process took only 15 minutes or so, and he was headed back down the outside steps to his bike.

"Where you headed, Jess?"

Even growing up with him had never quite gotten rid of the surprise when John would speak unexpectedly from his small dark study in the shed, surrounded by all his nets, salvaging gear, mermaid memorabilia. Jess jumped a bit at the sound.

"Oh uh, just going to the library, switch out some books."

"Do you, uh, want a ride? I was going to drive into town this afternoo-"

"No Dad, it's OK. I'll just go on my own."

Jess strapped on his helmet, grabbed the handlebars, starting walking his bike toward the road, out into the sun, leaving his father in the shade.

"Jess, can we tal-"

"I don't really want to talk about it. I know. I know you didn't mean any harm. I forgive you for that, or whatever. I don't want to have to go over it again."

Jess never really spoke back to his father like that. He paused, nervous, realizing how gruff he might have sounded.

John didn't really move or say anything for a second. Jess wondered if he might actually get mad at him right then.

He didn't. John breathed in and out heavily, eyes fixed on the floor, then looked up at his son.

"Thank you Jess. Thank you for forgiving me."

Immediately awkward but not wanting to ruin the moment, Jess shakily nodded and half-smiled. "You're welcome."

"You sure you don't want a ride into town?"

"No Dad, I'm fine."

He pushed himself onto the bike, kicked off the gravel, and pedaled out of the marina.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Back again Mr. Wheatley?"

The lady behind the front desk at Mahone Bay's small library had a pretty good memory for faces as it was, and Jess had been coming by at least once a week for the last couple years.

"Yes Ms. Mullins, just returning some books." Jess put the small stack on the counter, helpfully handing her each one to sign it back in, then stamping his library card. The library had just gotten a computer last year, but most of the checkout systems were done on paper, especially for reference texts and maps.

"So what are you studying these days? Still mapping the reefs on the south shore?"

"Yup! Plenty more beach still to go, and that's just documenting what I can see this time of year!"

By now Ms. Mullins looked forward to Jess's visits; he was always so polite, so eager to talk about what he was studying. It was a nice break from most of the teen boys one might encounter as a front desk library lady.

The door slid open behind them, another patron coming into the cool lobby out of the hot sun. A gust of the summer heat followed whoever it was through the door.

"Jess?"

Well, that wasn't a voice he normally heard this time of year.

"Mrs. Nelson?" There was a special weirdness in running into a teacher outside of school, and doubly so in the summer - almost like they were regular humans or something.

"How's your summer going? Did I hear you're doing research again?"

"I am! Continuing some of the topography studies Cody and I started on our project, but now I'm documenting up to 200 ft away from the coast, and moving it to the south side of the harbor! I've been charting all the coral and plants on the reefs, the temperatures, composition of the rocks, any animal species I can find....."

Mrs. Nelson smiled as he continued, impressed but not surprised at how much work Jess had taken on. Sure, his methods were....perhaps imprecise....but his heart was really in it. And his observations could actually be quite useful for studying the shallows around the bay, effectively building a map of all the biomes.

Always a great moment as a teacher to see one of your students applying your subject in the real world - even if they're a 13 year old amateur oceanographer.

"That's really great Jess!"

Jess had finished, a bit breathless after giving what he'd thought was a concise and quick review of his work. He was a tinge self-conscious at how much he'd spoken in such a quick burst - Sam had advised him to tone it down a bit. Then again, Mrs. Nelson was a biology teacher, and she clearly didn't show any signs of being bored or annoyed.

"Would you be interested in bringing in your research at the end of the summer? Not as homework of course, just to share your findings. You could maybe even present it for my next year's biology class if you want?"

Jess lit up like a lighthouse at that.

"Oh I'd love to! That'd be great!"

Mrs. Nelson smiled again. "Well, I won't keep you from your work any longer. Good luck! Always a great day for science." She often ended class with that little adage.

"Always a great day for science" Jess agreed, as she walked past him into the library.

"Will that be everything today dear?" Ms. Mullins was looking over the desk at him, the last book checked in and moved to the cart for re-shelving.

Jess had gotten distracted, dizzingly pre-planning how he might present his research to next year's class. "Oh, yeah. Thank you ma'am, I'll see you next week." He turned back to the automatic doors, the warm air hitting again as he stepped outside, walked down the sidewalk to the bike rack.

The library was right on the main strip in town - Mahone Bay wasn't big, so most of the usual staples were all on one or two main streets. The library sat across from the post office and a coffee shop adjoining it next door; on one side was the town hall, on the other another line of shops - tourist traps, small bookstores and craft places, small restaurants and cafes. Apartments over top of them.

Jess was just about done unchaining his bike and putting on his helmet when he caught a shadow of someone walking toward him on the sidewalk - too late.

"Ugh, watch it!" Jess started to get up to apologize to whoever it was who half-tripped over him. He looked up to see three unfortunately familiar faces.

"Oh great. How's it going Josh, summer OK?" Of course luck would have it that Sean Marshall would almost trip over him in front of the library. His voice hadn't lost any of the disdain from the last time they'd spoken - when Sean had been pretty unambiguously about to beat Jess up pretty bad.

"I-I'm sorry Sean. I didn't see you, I...." Jess stammered, surprised and more than a little shaken to see Sean again. He didn't know the other two other than that they were other swim team guys - also familiar from the last day of school as part of Sean's hangers-on crowd.

"Yeah, you should be."

"OK, I'm sorry, I am," Jess just wanted to leave now. He wanted to be away from these guys and away from whatever this might lead to.

Sean got quiet again as Jess started to get on his bike up the hill to head off. "Learned not to talk back to me, huh smartass?"

Jess knew this was an attempt to bait him. He knew he shouldn't say anything, but then again, not saying anything was equally giving Sean what he wanted.

Annoying how these bullying asshole types always created these Catch-22 situations.

"I guess I just don't really have anything to say to you right now."

If it wasn't for the proximity it brought him to physical harm, Jess would find that look of insulted surprise in Sean's eyes incredibly funny. At least he didn't give him the last word.

"Oh you'll be sorry now, no one speaks to me like that, you little fucking fag," Sean growled, starting toward Jess - it would only be seconds for him to cover the couple meters between where the three had been standing and where Jess was on his bike a bit up the sidewalk.

The library doors slid open again right as the words left his lips - Mrs. Nelson had apparently finished whatever she needed to do at the library and serendipity had her emerge right at that second.

She may only technically only hold authority in school, but a teacher being directly in sight was enough to defuse most bullies away from outright violence.

"Mr. Marshall, good to see you." Mrs. Nelson definitely didn't sound happy to see him. She was definitely using The Teacher Voice here. "Was there some problem?"

Just like before, Sean wiped away his more dangerous side effortlessly, unnervingly cool and charming in an instant. "No Mrs. Nelson, no problem. Just getting a chance to catch up with Josh."

In the back of his mind Jess wondered if all these swim team people called him Josh on purpose, or if it was a genuine mistake - not the most pressing matter at hand though.

Mrs. Nelson was looking at him pointedly now, then back at Sean. "OK then. Stay out of trouble boys. Jess, I'll see you later then?"

That was a confusing statement: she hadn't said anything about reviewing his research today.

Unless she was making it clear to Sean and the others that he would be missed, should he not get home safe today. That made Jess shudder to think about.

"Uh, OK, definitely! Thanks Mrs. Nelson!"

She sent another tough glare at the other three, and stood by the outside of the building til they moved along. Sean turned back and sneered at Jess, a dangerous glint in his eyes - he wasn't going to forget this.

Mrs. Nelson quickly walked up the sidewalk once the other three boys were out of sight down the hill, stopping right in front of where Jess was still poised on his bike.

"Jess, is there anything you need help with? Anything you want me to know here?" He'd heard that same line from teachers before - teachers knowing something was going on, but knowing they lacked proof unless a student actually told them something. He knew she did genuinely want to help.

Unfortunately, he also knew how it usually went when you tried to report bullying.

"Kids will be kids." "Boys will be boys." "They'll sort it out."

"No Mrs. Nelson, I'm fine." Jess started to get on moving, pointing his bike up the road to head home. Jess saw in her face that she knew he wasn't telling her everything.

"OK. If you're ever not, please don't be afraid to tell someone." Jess knew she really did care. But he also knew teachers could only do so much.

"Really, I'm OK. It was nice to see you, have a good rest of your summer" Jess tried to smile and sound confident as he turned and pedaled off.

Mrs. Nelson straightened up as Jess went over the hill and out of sight. Another one scared to ask for help. God, if she ever caught that Sean Marshall red handed. Fullest extent of suspension possible, swim champion or not. If only they weren't going to be in the high school next year, away from where she'd be around.

Still, she could tell Jess was tougher than most people would give him credit for. She hoped that would always be enough.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whether it was smart to do so or not, Jess took the long way home. Much of the afternoon heat had dissipated by the time he saw the marina coming up on the road - of course it would be light past 8 at night this time of year, but the sun was past its zenith for the day. He sped through the shadows of the boat masts and antennae crisscrossing along the gravel, turned and rolled to a stop under the overhang, put his bike just inside the shed door and hung his helmet on the handlebar. He was half-wondering if his dad would still be in his study from earlier today.

He wasn't, and from what Jess could tell once he got upstairs, he wasn't home at all. Jess wasn't surprised - it was still early in the day all things considered, and he often worked late out at the docks. Even if it was just outside the walls of the apartment, he was still at work, busy fixing up whatever boat pieces or engines the fishermen had brought in, sorting through whatever salvage he'd trawled up earlier that week.

Jess went in his room and closed the door, leaving the lights off, window open to try to get some cool sea air inside. He picked up the shirt and towel off the sill, hung them over the chair in front of his small desk. He laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, took off his glasses, let the world go blurry.

He really wasn't a stranger to bullies, but there was something more cutting about his last two run-ins with Sean Marshall. Most prominently, he knew at least something about Cody - in more ways than one, that could be used to hurt Jess in a way other bullies never could. What if Sean ever worked out what really happened? What if he told anyone else? What if what he'd said about Cody not caring about Jess had any truth in it?

There was something else though. Jess hadn't let himself look it up, even though he definitely wanted to. He wanted to know what it was that Sean had been calling him. Why it stung so strangely, even without knowing the definition.

Just from context though, he knew that it wasn't something he could ask a teacher, or a librarian. And definitely not something to type into a computer's search engine.

A shuffle and the sound of the door closing outside his room let Jess know his dad had come in. Jess sat up, rubbed his eyes, and put his glasses back on. The sun had gone down while he'd been lying there, thoughts writhing around his mind. He got up and opened the door to his room, softly padded down the hall to the small living room.

"Oh hey Jess." John was taking his boots off, putting them under where he'd already hung up his work overshirt on the little wall hooks next to the door. "How was the library?"

Words caught in Jess's throat, worse than he'd expected. "It was fine Dad. Dropped off my books. I ran into Mrs. Nelson too."

John mentally chided himself for not remembering who that was. After a second, it was clear Jess hadn't really expected him to either.

"She said I can bring her my research from mapping the south shore reefs at the start of next school year. Maybe even present it to the next year's biology class."

John smiled at that, moving past the pause a line ago. "Oh that's great! That's real good, gettin' to show off all the hard work you've been doin'."

"Yeah Dad, it'll be great." Jess finished quietly, like he was closing the door on talking any more right now. It was a familiar enough cadence to their discussions. Not exactly uncomfortable most of the time. John still got the sense there was something else Jess wanted to say, or didn't want to say, or....something. He couldn't pin it but he knew that Jess wasn't closing the conversation because he didn't have more to say.

"So I uh, smoked some sea bass for dinner." They didn't always eat together at the table, but when John had a particularly good catch he tried to make the time for it. Jess brightened a bit at that - sea bass was one of his favorites, with a mildly sweet flavor and less of a fishy aftertaste.

"Oh great! I'll, um, I'll get some plates out?" Jess said this quickly walking to the small cabinet over the stove, putting two old porcelain plates on the table. Smiling for a second at the dramatic mermaid designs etched into the old china.

John got the fish out of the fridge and heated it on the gas stove while Jess cut up potatoes to fry on the side. They worked mostly silently, only a word here or there - could you pass the seasoning, can I use that dishtowel - that sort of thing.

Still not whatever John could tell that his son was avoiding.

They didn't say grace or anything, but did take a moment of pause after both sitting down, fish and fries laid out on each plate, opposite ends of the short table.

John could see Jess making small looks up at him between bites, like he was trying to hide it. He knew not to push him. His mind could come up with a dozen things Jess could want to say to him, especially after the brief outburst earlier that day. A dozen things John had already known he'd done wrong, a dozen things he wanted to make better or make up for if he knew how. He felt like he was prepared for anything Jess could be about to say -

"Dad," Jess started hesitantly. His voice was soft. Almost scared.

John let a full beat pass, swallowing his own anxiety, ready to talk about whatever Jess was about to bring up.

Jess looked down at his plate, his voice only hair above a whisper. "What does 'faggot' mean?"

John could feel his own eyes widen, his own face freeze in shock. Of all the things he was ready for Jess to say, that was definitely not one of them. What was he even supposed to say to this?"

"Jess, uh, um...." he stammered to find words, trying to sound more confident than he really was. He hoped Jess wouldn't notice, or would forgive him that too if he did. Controlling his tone, he tried to sound caring and firm, but not accusatory. It still came out rougher than he'd wanted it to. "Jess, where did you hear that word?"

He could hear Jess breathe and shudder nervously at the other end of the table. Only a few feet apart in their small kitchen, he still felt both miles away and uncomfortably, vulnerably close.

"I don't know, uh...nowhere....just, um....someone at school."

"Did someone call you that Jess?" He couldn't keep the roughness out of that line.

"No." He said it too quickly, but John wasn't going to call him on the lie. He knew Jess kept things from him, especially when it came to his social problems. There were only so many times any kid could realistically "fall off a bike." There were only so many ways to "accidentally" break one's glasses.

"Well then." John breathed heavily again. Whatever he said now, he knew it might well be one of the most critical moments in his relationship with his son.

"Faggot, uh. Well, in British, it just means a pile of sticks." He tried to make it sound humorous, to push back against the stifling unease between them. Jess gave a compulsory half smile that vanished almost before John could see it.

"But um. It means, well.....it's something people say to hurt someone. To make them feel awful about themselves."

"OK, but what does it mean." Frustrated, Jess could tell he was talking around something. It hurt to see that his son clearly already knew that the word was meant to be hurtful.

John paused again, making every effort to even and soften his voice, to bury the rage he felt at whoever had brought his Jess to this point. To the cusp of crying out of frustration at his own kitchen table.

"It's a way to negatively call a man a homosexual." That was about as even and measured as he could have put that. Jess didn't look up from his lap, but he could see that his son's shoulders relaxed just a little bit.

"Oh."

Jess felt himself breathe out at that. Well, at least there was the answer.

"Jess, do you know what that -"

"Yeah, Dad, I know....I know what that means." Jess couldn't keep the lie out of his voice on that last part though. Sure, he could reason through the word's meaning - he knew enough Latin for that.

"Is that....even possible?" he asked in a hushed uptalk, looking up at John from behind his glasses.

"Is what possible Jess?"

"Homosexual, that means, um....." Jess wasn't exactly sure what meaning to go with. Having the same sets of sex chromosomes? Having offspring from two organisms of the same sex?

John paused, realizing Jess actually didn't know this one. On one hand, in the back of his mind John was at least a little glad his son hadn't had to learn this from someone else too - that there was a bit of innocence to grownup things left in him. On the other hand, he had to answer this truthfully. Some parenting conversations are never easy.

"Jess, you know how boys like to date and get married to girls?"

"Of course" Jess's cheeks flushed, surprised and embarrassed by wherever this was going. The space between them twisted taut, made the kitchen feel almost suffocating, but he had to get this right.

"Well, sometimes, um. Boys like other boys that way. Or girls like other girls too, I guess." John was trying to keep it as age-appropriate and neutral as he could. He watched Jess carefully, watched as he had turned his eyes nervously back to his plate.

The silence hung in the air. No change to the crushing, nervous energy in the room.

His voice still quiet, but almost thick with anxiety - hopefully not tears, John prayed - Jess spoke still looking down.

"Is that bad?"

In the split second after he said it, John's brain again whirred through possible explanations, outcomes, everything, knowing he had to get this right -to not think about politics, or society, or Jesus, or AIDS - not think about what Jess might be about to tell him, or might be about to realize. Just to be the best father he could to the small scared boy in front of him.

"No Jess. That's not bad."

They both exhaled - the air in the room felt just a bit more breathable. "It's different. It's not that common. But it's not bad."

Jess looked up then, breathed in and out, in and out, calming down. "OK. Thanks for explaining Dad." He closed in the same way he'd done other conversations - times when John had asked about a black eye, a broken glasses lens, a missing shoe. Times Jess thought he had gotten as much support from his father as he was going to.

"Jess." John said it gently but emphatically. His son looked up at him, surprised.

"No matter what you might hear, I want you to always remember: no one has the right to make anyone feel bad about themselves for being different. In any way."

John let the silence hang after that. He had to make sure Jess knew that.

Jess's eyes were a bit shiny behind his glasses as he looked back across the table, and nodded once again, a bit more confident. "Thanks Dad. I won't forget."

"Alright then."

They both finished the rest of dinner without speaking - not an uncomfortable silence. Both of them had to take time to process things when it came to people and emotions rather than mythology and marine biology. They were alike in that way.

Jess was finishing drying off the last dish John had handed to him. John looked at him carefully open the cabinet, carefully put it back, carefully fold the dish towel. So gentle and harmless.

God damn, he couldn't stand to imagine anyone hurting this kid.

Jess turned away from the stove, back toward the hall, toward his room. "Goodnight Dad. Thanks for the sea bass."

"Don't mention it, bud. Goodnight." John watched his son down the hall, start to open his door.

"Jess?"

"Yeah Dad?"

"I love you."

A quiet pause. John didn't move from where he was in the kitchen, hand still on the sponge at the sink. He didn't hear Jess moving at the far end of the apartment - he was still standing with the door to his room half open.

"I love you too, Dad."

John heard the door to Jess's room click closed. He felt his whole body relax as he turned, rinsing off the sponge, wringing it out over the sink.

He heard Jess's door click open. Worry caught in his throat again.

"You alright bud?"

"Yeah Dad, I forgot to brush my teeth." John felt the tension leave again. His Jess. Always so responsible.

END NOTES:

Definitely the heaviest entry in the series so far.

I know it might seem a bit far-fetched that Jess might not know what some things mean at this age, but I can attest that I based that on my own experience - everyone learns about things in their own time and being socially out-of-the-loop, especially pre-Internet, meant kids might not learn about things until later than they might nowadays

I think Mahone Bay is an actual place in Nova Scotia and that that may be where the movie was supposed to be set, but we're going to ignore that - the sealife in the movie much better lines up with California, so that's where this fictional Mahone Bay's going to be - it also might make future crossovers that may or may not be planned a little bit easier to work with.

On a lighter note I think I've also decided that Al Gore's going to win the 2000 election in this universe, and 9/11 and the Iraq invasion are not going to happen. I doubt those will impact the story as it's currently planned but y'know, never hurts to be prepared for such questions.

#the thirteenth year #long post #dcom #disney channel original movies #disney #mermaid #mermen #homophobic slurs #ocean life #marine biology #fanfic

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tortugannastudies · 4 years

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☀️ Summer studying challenge ☀️ - Giant catchup post

Well, I thought I would give myself a week after the quarantine challenge, but that didn’t happen. I’ve been super busy with work, also had a nice week of kind of screen free time, so yeah, lots going on. Not sure how interesting this is going to be... Lots of love to whoever is reading this though 😘!

Week 1

13th July - What are your plans for this summer?

Lots of work! More than I’ve had since before the pandemic. Also some relaxing in nice places. I also want to do some sewing and drawing and other crafts! 🎨

14th July - Have your plans changed at all because of the pandemic?

Unfortunately, yes, a lot...

15th July - Do you have a specific goal for this summer?

Reorganize my life in a way that allows me to grow as a person, prepare for changes ahead, accomplish goals (even at a slow pace) while not being overly stressful and constraining.

16th July - Do you have a lot of work to do for school or university or your job this summer?

Yep, I’m teaching two 6 day weeks in August, and am also working on training some newer teachers at one of my company’s schools. It’s exciting and fun, but it’s a bit much compared to how lax my pace has been for the past months.

17th July - What is the most important task that you need to complete this summer?

Renew my visa and complete the series of textbooks I’m making.📚

18th July - What do you usually do during the summer?

For the past 5 years, my summer break has only been ten days long, so work most of summer and then have a long week of visiting someplace cool.⛩

19th July - What did you do during the summer when you were a young child?

Summer was when we’d go back to France and spend time at the sea with my grandparents.

Week 2

Kamigamo shrine - Kyoto

20th July - Do you usually go on vacation during the summer?

Yes! Though it isn’t necessarily super long.

21st July - What is the best vacation you have ever been on? (note: does not have to have been during summer)

Oof, I can’t pick a favourite! When my closest friends have come to visit here it’s been magical every time! Also the first time I came to Japan, before moving here, and had the chance to visit so many different places and meet so many people!

22nd July - What is your dream vacation?

Very long, in a country I haven’t been to yet, with time to relax, explore, and experience the country’s culture. Also going to a well known place that feels like a home away from home! (did this one two weeks ago :) )

23rd July - What is the worst vacation you have ever been on?

Probably the time I was a leader at a scouting camp during which my grandma passed away :/

24th July - What is your favourite vacation memory?

Again, the list is too long and picking one is impossible! Just a random one that came to mind instead: Making tents and houses for playmobil toys out of grass, also making nests for birds and feeding goats.🐐

25th July - What was is your favourite event or day in the summer? Are you a ‘summer person’ or do you prefer it when it is colder?

Maybe fireworks!🎇 I love summer... but I also really like autumn. Autumn that great back to school, crunch leaves vibe, also my birthday...

26th July - What is your typical daily routine in the summer?

Not having one right now is a problem I need to work on!

Week 3

27th July - Do you stay indoors or outdoors more in the summer?

Depends where I am. Where I live it’s too hot and humid, so mostly inside, but I usually go somewhere a little cooler for the holidays, then go for lots of walks. In France I’d be outdoors quite a bit.🏞

28th July - How do you stay motivated to study during the summer?

Ahahaha... Honestly though, hoping getting a little more involved with people in the studyblr community will help me out with this.

29th July - Have you done or are you planning to do any activities (such as work experience, summer schools or watching lectures) other than normal work during the summer?

Teaching a couple weeks of summer school, might have to job hunt too.

30th July - Beach or Swimming pool?

Beach ! 🏖

31st July - What do you like most about the beach?

Seashells, waves, bodyboarding over waves, diving under waves, snorkeling, fishies, walking in the sand, making sandcastles or giant sand sculptures, picnics, reading... 🌊🐚⛱

1st August - What is your least favourite thing about the beach?

Salt, burning your feet, when there are too many people.

2nd August - What is your song of the summer this year?

The bardcore version of “Somebody that I used to know” by Hildegard von blingin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch1aVmjvYTI

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also prism by ampm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvdL0XQrlzk

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Week 4

3rd August - What is your ultimate summertime song?

No idea, but “Hey soul sister” came to mind so *shrugs*

4th August - What is your favourite summertime movie?

Not too sure, but the one that came to mind when reading this question was Spirited away.

5th August - Do you read a lot in the summer?

I try to/ want to.

6th August - What book are you currently reading?

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson !

7th August - What is your favourite summer ‘beach read’ book?

Haven’t read on the beach in what feels like a bout ten years, but probably Harry Potter !

8th August - What TV show are you currently watching?

Re:Zero Kara, Decadence, Fruits Basket, Fugou Keiji - Balance Unlimited, The Great Pretender, Card captor Sakura, Rent-a-Girlfriend, King of highschool... Might be dropping some of them, but they’re still all on my watch list now.

9th August - What was the last movie you watched?

Promare and some Re: Zero Kara movies. I really enjoyed Promare and the Zero Kara movies gave some really nice backstory info and better understanding of some characters.

Week 5

10th August - What is your favourite summertime snack?

I don’t think I have any summer specific snacks... Maybe eating boiled eggs at the beach... Ooh! And Ice cream! 🥚🍦

#studyblr #summer studying challenge #challenge #mine

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lovemesomesurveys · 4 years

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Do you know anyone with two different colored eyes? No, I don’t think so.

What was the last thing you bought for someone else? Food.

Do you want to see Band Slam? Hm. That doesn’t sound familiar.

What month is your birthday in? July. My birthday is next week.

When was the last time you got a new cell phone? Christmas 2018.

Do you like hot fudge sundaes? Sure. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had one, though.

What did you do today? So far I’ve just had ramen, watched YouTube videos and listened to ASMR, scrolled through Tumblr, and did some surveys.

Do you like to sleep a lot? Yes.

Is there a garbage can in the room you're currently in? Yeah, a little one.

Have you ever been in a class that you thought you were too smart for? Some of my english classes.

Can you type without looking at the keyboard? Yeah. I’ve been on the computer and typing since I was a kid, so I have a lot of experience.

Have you ever been snorkeling? Nooo. I would never.

Who was the last person you apologized to? My mom.

Is there someone who you can tell anything to? Ya’ll. ha.

Do you throw things when you're frustrated? No.

Do you prefer sharks or dolphins? Dolphins out of the two.

Are your friends mostly older than you or younger than you? I don’t have any friends.

How tall are you? I’d be like 5′4.

Have you changed a lot in the past two years? Not in a good way and also not much at all, which also isn’t good. I need to make a lot of changes.

Would you ever get a pet tarantula? HELLLLLLLLLLLL NO have you lost your mind??!?!? I don’t want to ever be anywhere near one!

Do you want to dye your hair? My hair is quite overdo. I haven’t been able to get it done since February.

Do you charge your cell phone every day? Well, yeah.

Do you use livejournal, tumblr, or anything else of the sort? Tumblr, obviously. I sometimes get surveys from LiveJournal.

Are you old enough to legally smoke cigarettes? Yes. I have no desire to, though.

Have you ever gotten drunk in a foreign country? No.

Have you ever even been to a foreign country? I’ve been to Mexico once.

What is your favorite TV show? I have several.

What's your favorite zoo animal? Giraffes.

Does your family vacation a lot? We generally try to take at least one a year. Some years we’re able to go on a few. Some day trips, too, like to the beach. This year my mom, brother, and I were able to go to Disneyland back in February, which was awesome. Crazy how fast and how much things changed in the US not long after that. Who knows we’ll be able to vacation again. :(

How often do you use curse words? Not that often.

Is there anything in your room you'd be ashamed to show to your parents? I wouldn’t want them to see my diaries from middle school and high school.

Have you ever accused someone of cheating when they weren't? No.

Is there a lot of drama in your life? No. I have other issues I’m dealing with, but drama isn’t one of them. Ha, “I got 99 problems but drama ain’t one.” When was the last time you played hide and seek? I play with doggo sometimes. She loves finding my brother and I.

Don't you hate when people stare at you? Yes. I’ve had to deal with that a lot throughout my life, mostly from kids, as being someone in a wheelchair.

Do you have a secret you've never told anyone? Maybe.

Have you ever accidentally caught yourself on fire? The tips of my hair caught fire while I was blowing out the candles one year on my birthday cake. :X It was quickly put out, but still super scary nonetheless.

Can you go on the internet with your cell phone? lol wow this just aged this survey. Man, I remember back in the day the mini heart attack from accidentally going online cause it’d rack up your bill.

Are you Jewish? No.

Does anyone copy the things you do? They copy surveys from me, ha.

Is your dad still alive? Yes, thankfully.

Do you know what year your mother was born in? I do.

Have you seen the movie Orphan? Yeah. “I’m not your fucking mommy!” Omg that scene with the orphan girl and the dad, though.... it was still very uncomfortable cause the actress was an actual child even though the character ****spoiler alert***** was an adult.

What time is it? 6:53 AM. <<< Close, it’s 6:59AM for me.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

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loggedtravel · 4 years

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Here's Why You Must Travel to Vietnam at Least Once!

When we were planning our trip to Vietnam last December, we did our fair share of research and chalked out an itinerary, aiming to cover a couple of places but the main reason behind planning this trip was to kick-start the new year in a foreign land, greeting strangers and joining their madness! Little did we know that this country would make us fall in love and keep tickling our nerves to head back again!

With its 3,000 kilometres of a tropical coastline, superb food, mind-blowing history, and a fascinating culture, Vietnam is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations in the world. No matter whether you are a beach lover or an art buff, a die-hard foodie, or an adventure seeker- Vietnam definitely has it all in store for you!

1. Vietnam Is One of the Most Affordable Destinations in Southeast Asia

Of course, when you think of travelling abroad, one of the first and foremost things to consider is the budget. As it is widely known, Southeast Asia is a backpacker's hub because of its affordability, and Vietnam, surely, is one of the most budget-friendly destinations you can ever come across. With increasing dependence on the tourism industry for their economy, the Vietnamese have set up their country to be as travel-friendly as possible.

You will get several hostels in the big cities and the local transport will save you from getting doomed! Hostels can cost you under $5 a night and beer will only run you a couple of cents! (Yeah you heard us right!) You can afford a meal under $2 while you can enjoy a nice meal for two in just $10.

Go for homestays while exploring the countryside and you will get a sneak peek into the authentic Vietnamese lifestyle.

2. Learn about Vietnam’s Rich and Spellbinding Past

Visit Us At:

https://luxury-tours.in/tour/6-nights-and-7-days-in-vietnam/

Vietnam's history dates back to nearly 2000 years. The culture shows Chinese, Khmer, and Indian influences, as well as effects from the French colonialism. The Vietnam War of the 1970s immensely affected the nationals. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels to get an inside look at what the war was like for many soldiers.

We took a day trip from Saigon and it was indeed an inspiring journey as we listened to all those stories told by our guide. There are many war museums as well, where you can get to know more about the dark days that the nation has seen. Whether you are a history buff or not, the stories of their past will surely touch your soul.

Many NGOs and international organizations provide support to the underprivileged families affected and are still suffering because of the war. We visited a couple of artisan’s villages on our way to Cu Chi Tunnels and saw how people with special needs are engaging in various kinds of handicrafts, with the help of volunteers. If you have some time, then you can also choose to be a volunteer and contribute towards making their lives better.

3. Vietnam’s Natural Beauty Is Breathtaking

Be it the towering mountain ranges in north (Sapa), lined with lush forests, footed with lakes, rivers, and terraced rice fields, or the turquoise waters surrounding the island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam is nothing less than a paradise! The country is home to a few of the biggest natural caves in the world (in Dong Hoi), and stunning national parks such as Cuc Phuong (around the town of Ninh Binh). Then there are limestone towers and cliffs in the immense Ha Long Bay that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

The beauty of nature will keep you mesmerized throughout, and you probably will not be able to get enough of it. In addition, if you thought that is it, then let me tell you about the sand dunes in red and white hues covering Central Vietnam and attracting curious travellers to the town of Mui Ne. There is a lot more than that, which you can discover during your gap year adventures in Vietnam.

4. The Vietnamese Cuisine Is Too Good to Resist

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https://luxury-tours.in/tours/

From Pho, (transparent) spring rolls, banh mi, sticky rice, to the epic seafood – the Vietnamese cuisine is always tasty, fresh, and healthy! No matter whether you are eating at a street-side stall or a fancy restaurant - you will always get to treat yourself with a delicious meal! Our personal favorites were giant seafood filled pancakes, grilled corn on the cob, and warm banana cake in a coconut milk sauce.

If you are keen on learning how to make a perfect bowl of Pho, then you can attend one of the many cooking classes in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. You cannot skip those street food stalls & eateries at the night market - because they serve the best food in the world!

When you are writing out your things to do in Ho Chi Minh City, make sure to stop for lunch at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa - they have the best banh mi in store for you!

5. Vietnam Offers Endless Opportunities for Adventure Seekers

There is no end to adventures in this country! You can choose to go for treks or hikes in Northern Vietnam, and explore the gorgeous countryside in Sapa or Ha Giang. Otherwise, rent a motorbike to explore like a local!

Thrill-seekers can trek deep into the cave system at Dong Hoi. Head off to Ha Long Bay, kayak through the emerald waters, passing the limestone karsts, and soak in the freshness of nature. Visit the beach towns of Nha Trang and Phu Quoc if you want to surf or snorkel, or go for scuba diving!

6. The Location of Vietnam Is Just Too Perfect

Visit Us At: https://luxury-tours.in/continents//

https://luxury-tours.in/tour-destination/asia/

Yeah - you heard it right! The location of Vietnam is too good to be true - and the connectivity with the neighboring countries absolutely makes it better. You can actually hop on a bus from Hanoi to travel to Luang Prabang in Laos or Siem Reap in Cambodia. The 'Reunification Express' connects to China's own rail system, which will help you to take the train from Hanoi to the Chinese city of Nanning. You can also get buses that connect Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok!

All said there, you could also opt to take a short flight to countries like Malaysia or Singapore, which will not cost much.

I am sure all these factors brought some wanderlust in you!

Well, as we told you before, there is no reason to say 'No' to Vietnam! Contemplating travelling abroad post the pandemic scare and wondering where to go? You can surely consider visiting this beautiful Southeast Asian nation with enough of cultural richness, impeccable natural beauty, bustling cities with friendly people and lots more. In addition, Vietnam has dealt with the COVID crisis in the most outstanding manner - so you need not worry much while planning the trip!

Visit Us At: https://luxury-tours.in/

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purplesurveys · 4 years

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655

Can you name a uniquely named crayon in the Crayola 64 pack? The one color name I have never ever EVER forgotten in the last 15 or so years I’ve been aware of Crayola 64, is macaroni and cheese. I used it a lot solely because of its name. Carnation pink was also pretty unique to me, and I remember being bothered as a kid as to why they didn’t just name it pink lmao. What kind of car did your parents have while you were growing up? We used to have a sky blue Mitsubishi Lancer that was around for a little over a decade. Do you tie your socks together or roll them up? I roll them up and put it in a ball. I am not aware that tying up socks is a thing. When's the last time you had peanut butter? Ooh, safe to say it was many months ago. I don’t really like peanut butter as a filling; I like peanut-butter flavored food more, but I haven’t had those in a while, either. What was your last bad date? It’s been a while. My girlfriend and I barely see each other, so we try not to fight in the 1-2 times a week that we get to hang out.

Do you ever wish your birthday was on a different day? In 2019 I certainly wished it was on a different day, because my birthday then was on the same day as Easter and none of my friends were available to celebrate with me – save for Angela who went great lengths to make sure she at least had dinner with me and made me feel less sucky. What holiday would you want to have your birthday on? I’d never want to have my birthday on a holiday again, if that last answer wasn’t clear enough. Have you ever gone snorkeling or scuba diving? I’ve gone snorkeling in Boracay and Palawan, and that one time we went on a beach trip for biology class in high school. I’ve never tried scuba diving, and I’m a little anxious to give it a shot if ever because I feel like it’s a little more complicated to follow than just snorkeling.

If yes, what's the coolest thing you've seen? Allow me to be a kid in answering this, because the genuinely coolest creatures I have ever seen are the Nemo and Dory kinds of fish :)))))) Do you sunburn easily? As a kid yes. They used to hurt a lot too. I don’t sunburn at all now but I do get very tan. What's your favorite filling in chocolates? Peanut butter. When's the last time you had a smore? Sometime in senior year of high school. I had a brief phase of liking smores, but then I ordered it too much and I got tired of it quickly. Have you read the Twilight series? More times than I could count. Does your best friend have any phobias? Not really a phobia but Gabie doesn’t like being in malls as they are closing because she gets scared of the sound of the roll-up doors getting pulled down. She says she feels like she’ll get trapped inside the mall hahaha. What's the last thing you said to your mom? I asked her if she wanted a kind of snack I know she likes, since I’ll be passing by the store that has them. Why couldn't you go to sleep the last time you were up all night? This doesn’t happen to me, fortunately. If I can’t sleep, watching YouTube videos while in bed would do the trick. What breed of dog do you find the most annoying? Fucking chihuahuas. I care for them whenever it’s necessary e.g. if I hear a story about an abused chihuahua, but in the grand scheme of things I do not like them at all. Do you prefer the taste of lemon or limes? Lemon. What do you think about Sarah Palin running for president in 2012? I don’t have much knowledge or opinion of politics of other countries. What would you name your firstborn son? I’d definitely insert a tribute to my significant other’s dad as a second name, but I’m still not 100% sure on a first name. Do you cook anything you don't like eating? I can’t even cook food that I do like, lmao. What's the last picture you colored? It’s a photo of a group of houses, which is a page in an adult coloring book that I own. Do you make out sentences out of the little Vday candy hearts? No. What is the cheesiest way a guy could propose marriage? Idk, anything can be cheesy/sweet as long as you pull it off.

Do you watch any reality shows on MTV or VH1? I never did. Would you have a better chance of surviving in the Sahara or Alaska? Sahara. I’m in a tropical climate, so I feel like I’d have some survival hacks somewhere hot. I don’t know how winter works at all, and what to prepare for it. When's the last time you pet a cat? Last night, when I played with the only kind cat in my college. Were you missing your front teeth as a child? My front teeth were the first ones to fall out, so for a time I was missing them, yes. They grew back after a few months though, as did my other teeth. Do you remember Eureka's Castle on Nick JR? I always encounter the title but I don’t think I’ve actually seen it or if it aired here at all. What's the last song you hummed to cuz you didn't know the lyrics? The new songs Hayley Williams put out AS A SOLO ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!! that I have yet to memorize – Sudden Desire, Creepin’, and Cinnamon. What would you say is Paris Hilton's occupation? She’s a businesswoman. And a successful one at that, lmao. If you could have a body like any celebrity's, who would it be? Idk I don’t find myself wanting anyone’s figure. If you could have any celebrity's baby, who would it be? Now this is just creepy. Do you know anyone whose name starts with Sh? Yeah, I have an orgmate named Shealea, a co-member in the graduating batch committee named Shaira, and a high school batchmate named Shela. I’m sure there are more but they’re the first ones I remembered. What's the worst Christmas present you've ever received? I don’t rate my gifts from best to worst. I’ve loved all my gifts. Are you wearing a necklace? Nopes. Do you have any noticeable moles or birthmarks? I have a birthmark behind my left shoulder that’s visible when I’m wearing a sleeveless top, and a mole on my right arm. Is there a salon you religously go to for beauty care? No. Quite the opposite situation actually - I haven’t been to a salon since 2018 :/ Count to ten in another language. I know two other languages (Filipino and Korean), so I’ll just give both of theirs haha. Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima, anim, pito, walo, siyam, sampu; and hana, dul, set, net, daseot, yeoseot, ilgop, yeodeol, ahop, yeol. Do you feel uncomfortable telling friends they have boogers in their nose? Yeah, but I don’t encounter this situation a lot. What do you remember from sex ed class when you were younger? We weren’t given sex ed, we were just taught the female and male reproductive systems in Grade 5 and that was it. I didn’t know how babies were made until I was in Grade 6, and before that I just thought all women who got married got pregnant automatically, as if the body knows.

What's the first instrument you ever played? That I don’t necessarily know how to play? My best guess is the piano. My mom took photos of me when I was a year old playing the grand piano at my aunt’s house, so that was probably the first. Are you a mommy's child or daddy's child? Daddy’s girl, for sure. What's the last thing you wore around your neck? A lanyard holding my car keys. My ID used to be attached to the lanyard but I’ve since lost it, so now it’s my keys that hang from it. Would you ever eat rhino meat? Like once, just to try it out and because I’m more of an adventurous eater. Who do you think deserves an award? Me, after finishing the shitstorm that was last week lol. Have you ever had a friend break up with a bf/gf for you? No. Do you own any books with a red cover? Yeah. Chris Jericho’s second autobiography Undisputed is predominantly red.

#survey #surveys

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ericahitshawaii · 4 years

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Mantas and dolphins and whales, oh my!

Today I start my adventure on the big island! The Big Island is probably most known for its active volcanoes and the recent eruption of Mount Kiluaea in 2018. Because of the tectonic plates on earth, the Hawaiian island are actually moving Northwest over over a “hot spot” of volcanic activity. Over 5 million years ago this hot spot formed the oldest of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai (at the north of the chain). As the islands shift north, the volcanic activity slows and eventually stops and the surface begins to erode, which is why Kauai is smaller than the southern most island. The Big Island, which is the most “southernly” island, is the youngest (One million years old) and the most volcanically active, due to its proximity to the hot spot. Currently, another Hawaiian island is formed under the Pacific called Loini and if any of us live to be 10,000, we might be able to visit it.

I flew into Kona on Wednesday evening. I am in love with the Kona airport. If I thought the Kahului airport was “open air” then this airport is basically outside. It is completely open air, with some roofage. So amazing.

Kona Airport (KOA)

I very excitingly went to pick up my rental car, so no more bus adventures for me. I forgot how luxurioius and freeing it is have a car. I never did it in Australia because I was scared t drive on the wrong side, but not a problem here. It’s also such a life upgrade to have a car that DOES NOT have a tape player. Modern technology is awesome. Thanks Kia Rio!

Ok, anyway, I checked into my hostel, aptly names “My Hawaii Hostel.” If I thought the last one was halfway decent, then I will need to severely downgrade it compared to this one. This hostel had furniture other than a bed, decorations on the walls, a rug and multiple pillows and blankets. I know that sounds like a given in a hotel room, but not in a hostel. Absolutely dreamy! The hostel itself is absolutely charming with a little garden and an open aiir living room and lots of outdoor seating, just a few minutes walk from the beach. I am living my best Hawaiian life, for real this time!

My Hawaii Hostel, Ali’i Road, Kona

Patio area outside my room.

My room.

Thursday morning I headed off for the next phase of the ocean part of my trip. I signed up for a morning “Ocean encounters” tour and a Night “Manta Ray Swim” trip.

Note: You are going to be disappointed again by the lack of photos, because I bought an underwater disposable camera for the trip, but some of you may remember, that you have to get those photos developed. (I actually am unsure of how I’m going to do that in this modern age, but that is a future me problem. Anyway, the tour company promises to post some photos in the next few days, so there will be another update post once I have those. But keep reading, it still is exciting and there is a sweet video I took that you should see!)

The morning snorkeling tour started out with swimming with spinner dolphins!! So, wild dolphins are the best. They are nocturnal, so we were visitng them during their daytime nap time. Hilariously, while they are sleeping they still swim on the bottom in a big pack. I have no idea how they do this. How fascinating. Anyway a few of them woke up and swam up ot the surface to say hi. When we got into the water they headed down towards the bottom again. It was amazing to snorkel right above big pods of dolphins. There must have been at least 20 in some of the bigger pods and there were several pods around us. Just as a few more of them were waking up and coming to the surface, our captain said we had to go. I’ll be honest, I was pissed. I had dreams of high-fiving a dolphin and Captain Taylor was ruining my dream. But I’m glad he did,because what happened next was SOOO worth it!

Next we headed out to a site where whales had recently been spotted. When we arrived, we discovered there were several large whales around and a BABY WHALE. This whale was only about a month old and still absolutely gigantic. The baby whale was splashing around in the water very close to us. Just like a human toddler, it seemed to be having a blast splashing aorund, trying to breach (jump out of the water) and stick its head up. It was still really floppy and uncoordinated in the water, which was absolutely adorable. It was so funny to see a whale just playing around. I don’t know how it had so much energy to do all that.

Eventually we saw the mam whale pop up around the whale, apparently keeping her eye on it and maybe helping from below with its practice breaches. While we were distracted by the baby whale someone yelled out that there was another whale further off that was breaching. (Whales often will breach several time in a row, because they are communicating with other whales and trying to get their attention.) I looked over just in time to see a huge whale breach completely out of the water. It was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. It was like it was happening in slow motion. It’s entire body was up in the air and it seemed like it just hung there until it crashed back into the ocean with a huge splash. Just like on Animal Planet! I thought I had really seen it all until we looked back over at the playing baby whale and realized Mama had surfaced on our side.

All of s sudden I see her huge humpback surface like it is facing us. It is coming right for our boat. Right in fron of us, she lifts her tail and dives right under the boat. I was both incredible and a little scary! Seeing her SO CLOSE to us, it is astonishing how huge they are. Just her back was probably as tall as the deck of the boat and she was easily twice as long. It was shocking to see her giant tail come out of the water right in front of us. Despite my fear that she miht capsize the boat, the crew said that they are insanely spatially aware and can get within inches of a boat and not hit it. They have sonar like bats. When I say this was a bucket list activity, I would almost say this was better than what I imagined being on my bucket list. Even the crew was freaking out and taking video and photos. They said that never happens. I will remember that moment for as long as I live. I do have a video of the encounter. Honestly, it doesn’t do it justice, but you can kind of see what I’m talking about. Watch here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QTA9JieqQdEWPfag6

Now as if that wasn’t enough, we went to a third spot to find Manta Rays. We made a quick pit stop at an amazing place along the coast known as the Grotto. It’s the outlet to the sea for a large series of lava tubes that run miles underneath the island. The waters were the most incredible aqua color and crystal clear.

The Grotto

To add to the incredible day, we ran into two huge manta rays (In case you are worried they are not sting rays...who killed the crocodile hunter. They are harmless plankton eaters. One of our guides said we found his favorite manta named Amanda Ray. She is the friendliest and has one bent fin. Both mantas were about 10 feet long. They can actually grow to have a to 15 foot wingspan. They are beautiful to watch. We hoppped in the water and snorkeled with them. They looked like they were flying on the bottom of the ocean, completely gracefully. This was preview for that evening.

After the snorkel adventure I decided to head to the beach. I’m not really a beach person, but figured I should do it once. I went to what they call a dark gray sand beach, which is half white sand and half black volcanic sand. How do gray and black sand beaches form? Well, when the hot lava hits the cool water it basically explodes and shatters like glass, spewing small particles of lava rock, which eventually breakdown into small pebbles and sand like particles. The beach was very rough, but beautiful. Its incredible to see the lava rock solidify in the form it was when it flowed into the ocean. Very surreal.

Lava rocks at Kahalu’u Beach

After lunch and beach chill, I headed back to the marina for the night manta swim. For this one, they take you out onto big boogie board looking things with lights. Here’s a photo I did not take, that demonstrates this:

The lights on the bottom of the board attract plankton, which then attracts other fish and manta rays. This was both an awesome and miserable experience. The weather up to this point had been absolutely perfect. *0m degrees and sunny everyday. However, storms had come in that night and it was cold and raining. The water was freezing, but the experience was still pretty great. One of the coolest things that I didn't expect was that the lights also drew in tones of fish. There were a bunch of fish that looked kind of like big sardines that swarmed around us in big schools, it was really interesting to be that close to so many fish. The highlight of the trip was that a big manta swam right next to me and did a backflip to eat the plankton right under the board. They have awesome white bellies and gills and huge gaping mouths. Its really otherworldly.

After the manta show we headed back to the boat for the long and extremely rocky trip back to the marina. I generally have a pretty good stomach for boat rides, but this was a rough one. I had taken Dramamine earlier, just in case, and still feeling like I might lose my lunch. It was close to a repeat of the Great Barrier Reef puke episode but disaster was avoided, thank goodness!

All in all, a dream of a day. I am officially hooked on snorkeling and boating, in general. Who knew I’d be such a water baby. I spent most of my life avoiding getting my hair wet.

Next stop: Farm tour day in Southern Kona.

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