#and an Asian bamboo floor. sun room
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New York Sun Room Medium
#Idea for a medium-sized sunroom with a standard ceiling#a beige floor#and an Asian bamboo floor. sun room#double swing entry door#asian inspired#yoga room#meditation space#yoga studio
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An Instant’s Beauty: A Moment’s Eternity
I cannot sleep deep in the night;
I rise and sit to play my lute.
Thin curtains mirror the moon bright;
Clear breezes tug my lapels mute.
A lonely swan shrieks over the plain;
Hovering birds cry in north wood.
What do I see pacing in vain?
My heart is grieved in solitude. [1]
Warm morning sunlight streamed in through the lightwell, painting the dimly lit room in a dreamy pastel gold, quite like that of a faded photograph. The balmy Penang air was steeped in the fresh, earthy petrichor of a recent shower, blanketed with a sense of Saturday languidness. A gentle breeze, pleasantly cool against my skin fleeted through the wide-open windows, carrying with it the alluringly sweet scent of frangipanis.
I flipped the century-old poetry book, its yellowed leaves a beautiful contrast against the teal-blue covers. White silk cords stitched together the pages in a butterfly binding whilst faded black ink encased in vermillion frames marked each leaf, punctuated only occasionally by an ink wash painting of landscapes or plants and animals. Reflexion. I placed the book back down on the table and picked up the brush. Dipping the tip in freshly grounded black ink, I started copying the text.
I remember a sense of meditative calm seeping into the room against the backdrop of gently rustling palm leaves and running water. The way my hands traced the familiar characters with controlled ease and precision. The movements of the brush long since deeply ingrained into muscle memory from years of practice. Stroke after flowing stroke danced gracefully across the beige xuan paper, each carefully crafted character a painting of woven words. It strikes me now, as I pen my memory onto paper in Bute Park, how similar writing is to calligraphy. Even though it bears a certain form, each writer brings with them their own flair as they string together the words and weave them into a tapestry of thoughts.
A ripple in the tranquil air.
The soft fluttering of paper-thin wings. A shimmer of blue at the corner of my eye.
Propping my brush against the holder, I looked up to see a beautiful blue butterfly flitting in through the window bars. It hovered by the inkstone momentarily before finally coming to a rest on the wooden brush rack next to it, the erratic beating of its wings slowing to a stop. Brilliant hues of cobalt and azure scales glistened as it sat there peacefully basking in the warm tropical sun. Watching the butterfly, I couldn’t help but wonder if the old folklore A-Poh[2] told me was true – that butterflies were the souls of deceased ancestors visiting the living. Wouldn’t that be nice if it was real. Then I’d be able to tell A-Gong[3] all about getting into university; about how part of me was glad that I got accepted but also about how another part of me didn’t want to go since I’d be leaving home for three years straight. What if everything changed whilst I was away? The places I’ve known since childhood…the familiar faces I’ve grown up with…If only the butterfly really was A-Gong. He’d be able to give me some advice.
A tantalising aroma of freshly steamed glutinous rice dumplings wafted through the air, successfully drawing me out of my musings just as the clock struck noon.
“Jia-bui-lo!” [4]
Scurrying feet on creaking floorboards could be heard all over the house as my siblings and parents made a beeline for the dining hall. I looked away from the butterfly and smiled at A-Poh who was standing in the kitchen doorway. She beckoned me over with a toothless grin, her eyes crinkling into two half-moons as she motioned at the large bowl full of steaming glutinous rice dumplings in her hand. Getting up from the Luohan bed[5] where I sat cross-legged, I joined them at the dining table where Di-Di[6] and Mei-Mei[7] were already sat with their chopsticks at the ready, excited grins plastered across their hungry, eager faces.
I take a seat next to A-Poh, and, picking up my chopsticks, took a bite out of the dumpling in my bowl, its familiar flavours instantly crashing over my taste buds like waves washing up against its shores. A groan escaped my lips as I relished each mouth-watering bite. The savoury note of succulent pork belly marinated in soy sauce and five spice; umami-rich dried shitake mushrooms with its juicy and chewy quality; firm-textured salted duck egg yolk that gives the dumpling a briny aroma whilst its bright orange-red hue creates a pleasant splash of colour against its otherwise brown and black counterparts; the refreshing sweetness of the water chestnuts, a crunchy nuttiness amidst the softness; soft, sticky golden brown glutinous rice encompassing it all, delectably infused with the subtle fragrance of its bamboo leaf wrappings and rich flavours of its fillings from the hours of steaming…ah…these tenderly wrapped packages of love though plain in appearance were worth more to me than gold.
I was still half way through my first dumpling when another newly unwrapped one plopped into my bowl. Quickly swallowing my food, I tried protesting only to be shushed with another mouthful of rice being forced into my open mouth and a fond pat on the cheek. I shook my head in resignation whilst my siblings sent me cheeky looks before sneakily scooting closer to our parents. There was no stopping A-Poh now that she was on the rampage and those little troublemakers were smart enough to know to stay out of arms reach of her stuffing chopsticks. The rascals. Di-Di even has the audacity to stick his tongue out at me which was obviously returned with an eye roll.
Little did I know then that these habitual banter, familiar aromas, and accustomed faces would be what I would miss most after leaving. Everything was as it should be; and everyone was where they belonged. In that instance, surrounded by dust particles glimmering in the golden tropical sunlight, it was as if a spell had been cast that would make today go on eternally. For a moment, I let myself believe in the enchantment; that tomorrow will never come and the flight ticket to London was nothing but a forgotten fantasy…
Bzzz.
Bzz. Bzzzzzz.
Bzzz.
I instinctively reach for my phone to turn off the alarm that pierces the heavy veils of sleep. However, when I open my eyes, I’m met with an unfamiliar white ceiling instead of the usual worn wooden beams. For a moment, I lie there, disorientated before realization sinks in. Cardiff. I am in my flat in Cardiff and the weight I felt on my stomach wasn’t Hua-Hua[8] but rather, my laptop which was still perched on its spot from yesterday’s all-nighter. I must’ve dozed off at some point.
Slowly sitting up, I gaze around the silent room. Its bleak white walls; books and worksheets sprawled messily across the covers; steely early morning sunlight filtering through the narrow window into the dingy room; folders organized in a nice pile on the desk...My wandering gaze comes to a grinding stop when it lands on the calendar next to the neat stack of folders.
February 7th.
I sigh. Looks like I’ll be celebrating both my birthday and Chinese New Year alone this year…
The frigid February air is still bitterly cold despite being swaddled from head to toe in layers upon layers of coats and scarves. Miserably, I trudge onwards along the banks of the River Taff. Razor sharp winds slice at my cheeks leaving behind searing scars. As the last remaining trickle of warmth leave my body, my mind shuts down and I plod along the cobblestone streets mechanically, limbs and face numb from the biting cold.
A lukewarm breeze flutters by, stirring my slumbering senses. Bit by bit, warmth seeps back into my frozen limbs and my foggy mind clears as if waking up from a trance. Glancing around, I spot the words Marchnad Caerdydd [9] and realise I’ve arrived at the market. I shake off the remaining frost induced spell and venture into the quiet maze of stalls, trolley in hand.
The smell of freshly baked bread and pastries wafts through the crisp air, tinged with a breath of floral sweetness. A range of raw meat laid out in clear glass cases bathed in neon pink lights line the murky grey brick walls. Whiffs of coffee beans tickle my nose whenever a dull-eyed person shuffles soullessly pass me in the near vacant market. Stall owners sit spiritlessly at their stalls staring lazily into space. It was almost like walking into a ghost town.
�� A splash of colour.
Turning around, I see a stall filled to the brim with a rainbow array of fruits and vegetables. A refreshing sight in the seemingly deserted marketplace. The sudden craving for something sweet results in me buying a bag of strawberries before wandering on.
As I nibble away happily on the strawberries browsing through the stalls up in the gallery, I was suddenly struck by a sense of déjà vu. Bit by bit, the scene before me starts to change. The glaring daylight fades away into the tranquil darkness of night and the dusty marketplace roof is now a sky full of twinkling stars. A magnificent full moon shines softly against the vast velvety void, casting a gentle glow on everything below. Towering, lush palm trees replace murky grey brick walls and the cobblestone floor is transformed into a well-travelled dirt road. A lively buzz fills the now soothingly warm tropical air as a familiar sight begins to emerge in the distance. For there, at the very end of the road, stood Penang’s bustling night market, glowing and glittering like a chest of magical gems in the blanket of darkness.
Brightly lit stalls sheltered by rainbow umbrellas formed a colourful labyrinth, drawing people young and old towards those warm lights like moths to a flame. The sound of street vendors hollering out their wares permeated the air, mingling with the cheerful haggling. Weaving in and out of the throng, I hurried over to the food stalls section. Bellowing clouds of smoke imbued with the irresistible aroma of Asian street food rose into the night air and my mouth began to salivate.
As memories melt into ink and reconstruct themselves as words on the page, I am suddenly reminded of Lauren Elkin’s essay on being a flaneur.[10] Wandering through the streets of a city, uncovering its secrets and crafting it into a tale for the shelves. Having read Virginia Woolf’s Street Hunting, it’s fascinating to see not only the difference between Penang and London but also her contrasting writing style.[11]
A familiar smell wafted down the street. I snapped out of my trance and made a beeline towards a stall tucked away in the corner. An old couple stood amongst bamboo steamer baskets selling staple dim-sum[12] delicacies. Noticing my arrival, the old woman hurried up to me and enveloped me into a bone-shattering hug.
“Nai-Nai![13] Can’t – breathe –”
She lets go of me with a laugh, grabbed my hand and quickly led me inside. As she busied herself fawning over me, Ye-Ye[14] quietly filled up a bowl and placed it in front of me with a kindly smile. I looked into the bowl to find it full of crystal shrimp dumplings[15], my favourite dim-sum dish.
I picked up a piece of dumpling with my chopsticks and take a tentative bite, my mouth immediately exploding with flavour. The saltiness of grounded shrimp marinated with soy sauce and sesame oil contrasting exquisitely against the unique juicy sweetness of fresh prawn; a thin yet sturdy glass-like wrapper encapsulates it all with delicate pleats, creating a tasteful balance between the plainness of the dough and the richness of its fillings. Ah…heaven in a bite-size bundle.
Ye-Ye and Nai-Nai smiled fondly as they watched me wolf down the shrimp dumplings with the same unrestrained gusto I’ve had for the past nineteen years. We reminisced about the past, laughing at funny memories whilst savouring the simple dim-sum dishes, and I couldn’t help but noticed how time had flown. Just yesterday I was barely tall enough to reach their knees; today, I stood half a head taller.
“How long?”
“Three years.”
Minutes pass, neither of us uttered a word. Then, Ye-Ye gently ruffled my hair, the same way he’s been doing since I was two, only this time, the smile on his face seemed tinged with a hint of melancholy.
“Silly child.”
My nose soured at the affectionate nickname and I quickly tilted my head back to stop tears from falling. The stars seemed strangely lonely that night.
“Still such a cry-baby.”
“Am not!”
Hastily blinking away the tears, I got up and enveloped Nai-Nai in a tight hug.
“Take care.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. After a few pats, we broke apart and I turned to head home.
“We’ll save some shrimp dumplings for when you come home!”
I dared not look back so I raised my hand and waved farewell instead. Until next time.
Strolling down the five-foot way, I paused in front of a pair of ventilated timber doors. Mythical creatures of Chinese folklore embellished each panel. The dragon floating reverently amongst wispy clouds, each delicately carved scale shimmering with contained power. Opposite it, perched nobly on golden branches, was its gentler feathered counterpart – the phoenix, its wings spread wide, ready to take flight. Under the moonshine, it was as if those gilded bodies were suddenly brought to life. Their once dull sheen now aglow in brilliant shades of scarlet, orange and gold, almost as if they would burst into flames at any moment, just like in the myths of old, and be reborn from the ashes.
As I gazed at the exquisite carvings, entranced, an old memory resurfaces. Same door, same carvings, but a very different time. I was a lot shorter for one, and I wasn’t alone. The large calloused hand that held mine was wrinkled and dry like the pages of an old book. Where a finger was supposed to be was stump, the only remains of a work accident in his youth.
I tugged at the hand and A-Gong glanced down, a gentle smile on his weather-beaten face. Seeing the question in my doe-like eyes, he laughed. “These?” he asked as he lifted me up with one arm whilst running his other hand over the carvings which glittered under the setting sun. “These are spirit guardians sent by the Jade Emperor to watch over our household.”
“Howshowld?”
“Family,” he chuckled and tweaked my nose. I giggled, playfully reaching out my stubby fingers to grab his beard. Still laughing, he pushed open the heavy, half-a-century-old doors and we entered the house.
Standing in the living room, the sounds of mirth slowly faded into silence and evening sunlight was replaced with the darkness of night. Without bothering to turn on the light, I walked over to the Luohan-bed and struck a match, lighting the wooden lantern. A pool of golden light was casted around the table where a flight ticket to London sat, my passport placed neatly beside it.
I sighed.
Sinking down into the cushions, I glanced at the clock. Five hours. Then it’s goodbye for a very, very long time. I gazed absentmindedly around the familiar room as my mind takes a trip down memory lane: mornings sprawled across the brightly coloured majolica tile floor trying to trace its intricate patterns; Evenings spent watching A-Poh wielding her embroidery needle with decades of practiced ease; A-Gong playing the erhu[16] on peaceful nights…ah yes, the erhu. Closing my eyes, I could almost hear it. The bamboo bow strung with horsetail hair traversing between two silk strings as A-Gong’s fingers dance deftly along its slender neck producing a vast array of tunes: one moment tender and sombre, the next sonorous and joyful.
“Mmmreeoow?”
I opened my eyes and found myself gazing into the forest-green orbs of a young calico sat patiently on my lap. Snuffing out the lantern, I laid down and wrapped my arms around Hua-Hua as she snuggled against my chest.
An intoxicating sweetness tickled my nose.
I glanced over at the potted plants to find the tan-huas[17] blossoming. Head propped against the pillow; I watched as the tightly rolled petals bloom in slow motion. Its fiery red tendrils unfurling elegantly to reveal a profusion of feathery white petals, much like a swan ruffling its wings, about to take flight. In the darkness of night, its snowy petals seemed to glow from within, as if made of moonbeams. With moonlight streaming in from the lightwell above, even the floating dust particles were transformed into shimmering stardust dancing in the quiet night air.
Yet, as enchanting as it was, I couldn’t help but remember that it would all come to an end very soon. By dawn, before the sun’s first kiss, its lustrous petals would be shrivelled up and a withered carmine carcass would be all that remains of its snowy beauty from the night before; its lingering exotic fragrance a ghost of its twilight arrival. There’s an old saying A-Gong used to describe the tan-huas blooming: an instant of beauty but a moment of eternity. Even though beautiful things don’t last forever, they live on eternally, etched into our deepest memories. Just like the tan-huas, my time left on this quaint little island was coming to an end. By dawn tomorrow, I too would be gone; and though I’d be leaving this cozy old house I called home, I’d take with me its memories, just as the scent and beauty of the tan-hua lingers on forever in the memory of all who witnessed it.
Listening to the rustling palm leaves and soothing gurgle of running water, tension oozed out of my body as my muscles relaxed. The tranquillity of night imbued with the intoxicating sweetness of tan-huas calmed my racing thoughts and my eyelids started to droop. Just before being lulled to sleep by Hua-Hua’s soft purring, I caught sight of a glimmer of azure amongst the radiant white blooms. The fluttering of delicate wings; quiet footsteps; something warm being tucked around me; and the familiar scent of incense from eleven years ago accompanied me as I drifted off to sleep.
NOTES:
[1] Ji Ruan, ‘Reflexions’ in 300 Gems of Classical Chinese Poetry, trans. by Yuanchong Xu (China: Peking University Press) pp. 88-89
[2] ‘A-Poh’ means ‘grandmother’ in Hainanese
[3] ‘A-Gong’ means ‘grandfather’ in Hainanese
[4] ‘Jia bui lo!’ means ‘time to eat’ in Hainanese (one of the Chinese dialects).
[5] ‘Luohan bed’ is a traditional Chinese furniture equivalent to the modern sofa-bed. It is made of wood, often containing a low wooden tea table set in the center.
[6] ‘Di-Di’ means ‘younger brother’ in Chinese
[7] ‘Mei-Mei’ means ‘younger sister’ in Chinese
[8] ‘Hua-Hua’ means ‘flower’ or ‘patterned’ in Mandarin which is a reference to the calico cat’s tri-coloured coat as well as the fact that calicos are called ‘Yin-Hua-Bu-Mao’. The naming is also a pun and an allusion the association it has with the memories her grandfather and his favourite flowers – the tan-huas.
[9] ‘Marchnad Caerdydd’ means ‘Cardiff Market’ in Welsh.
[10] Lauren Elkin, ‘A tribute to female flaneurs: the women who reclaimed our city streets’, in Flaneuse: Woman Walk the City, (London: Chatto & Windus, 2016)
[11] Virginia Woolf, 'Street Haunting', in Selected Essays (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), pp. 177 - 187
[12] ‘Dim-sum’ is a style of Chinese cuisine that’s prepared in small bite-sized portions served in small steamer baskets or on a small plate. It is also a metaphor in this story for a Chinese saying: 麻雀虽小，五脏俱全 meaning ‘small as it is, the sparrow has all the vital organs’. Just like dim-sum, the narrator’s happiness comes from a seemingly insignificant object such as a bowl of shrimp dumplings.
[13] ‘Nai-Nai’ means ‘paternal grandmother’ but can also be used as a general reference to or a friendlier and more affectionate way of addressing an old woman which is often used to show the closeness of the relationship.
[14] ‘Ye-Ye’ means ‘paternal grandfather but can also be used as a general reference to or a friendlier and more affectionate way of addressing an old man which is often used to show the closeness of the relationship.
[15] ‘Crystal shrimp dumplings’ also known as ‘Har-gao’ are a staple dim-sum dish made of prawn semi-translucent wraps kneaded from flour. In Chinese culture, dumplings are normally associated with togetherness and reunions since the wrapping of dumplings is a group activity that is usually done with family which helps emphasizes on the sense of belonging within the narrative.
[16] ‘Erhu’ is a traditional Chinese two-stringed fiddle.
[17] ‘Tan-hua’ also known as Epiphyllum Oxypetalum is a species of cactus found in South America and Southeast Asia that blooms rarely and only at night. In the Chinese culture’s language of flowers, the tan-hua means ‘an instant of beauty, a moment of eternity’, meaning beautiful things don’t last forever but they last forever in our memories.
Author's Notes:
Back with Part 3 of the short story slash prose pieces from uni series (this part was also written in second year lol) The story is back to the present, picking up a year after that rocky start in Part 1 and A-Yun is now in her second year of uni reminiscing about the time leading up to her departure for the UK. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading Part 3~
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4
Since exams are over and graded and I've officially graduated, I can finally post my work online without having to worry about Turnitin picking it up as plagiarism because apparently you aren't allowed to plagiarise yourself according to university which is absolutely ridiculous but I'm not the one making the rules here so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Also, please don't reupload my works without permission.
#ninbayphua 墨彦#prose#short story#constructive critisms are always welcomed#please don't repost without permission
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25 Inviting Tropical Bathroom Design Ideas
If we speak about toilets, so much people would like to have a modern toilet as a result of apart from being a pattern, it is also neat and arranged because it use swish traces and focuses more on serve as. But aside from up to date and latest toilets, there are also different types of toilets that come with tropical ones. A tropical subject matter for a house usually characteristic crops and some elements that are infrequently just about Asian or beach-y in style. Tropical decor is colourful but no longer loud. It doesn’t make use of colors which can be daring and too bright. Details of a tropical home might vary between countries and continents, but frequently it will have a laid-back method with an emphasis to nature and the outside. Fibers of the tropics like bamboo, rattan and others are one commonplace function as well tropical wood like rosewood, mahogany and teak. Sure, we can use these picket and fibers within the toilet. Every Other amazing characteristic of a tropical area is its being light and airy with quite a few crops. Puzzling Over the way you can do that on your rest room? listed below are some images for idea:
Coastal Style Structures This Is Able To appear to be an effortless toilet but with the use of wood for the shallowness to boot because the introduced vegetation on it, it were given the tropical glance that you may want.
ZAK Structure In Comparison To the primary symbol, this one looks even more tropical as a result of the picket used not just for the shallowness however even for the ceiling. And it has a stone tub bath too!
Willman Interiors / Gina Willman, ASID This Toilet combines artisan touches and classy contemporary element. Whilst prepare, it appears to be like contemporary and pleasant just the way the owners need it to be! it will be nice to have a garden out of doors the toilet.
Saint Dizier Layout With the glass partitions of this unique bath, it brings the lush gardens in to the soaking bathtub space. it would really be nice to dip in the water while getting a view of the garden.
ZAK Architecture Picket is a big subject material used in the toilet. Capiz shell lightings are introduced within the area that seems to complement with the tiles on the wall. the bathroom is extended outdoors too.
Maraya Inside Design What I Noticed this is the use of bamboo for the partitions in addition as stones. And take a glance at that water coming from the ceiling!
James Patrick Walters The fashion designer stated that this bathroom options “tiny tree frogs and colorful lizards frolic along a lava rock wall; lush tropical foliage reaches toward the sun.”
Peti Lau Inc. This Loo additionally has a subtle Asian touch to it on account of the lightings and decors.
Iwan Sastrawiguna Interior Design Now this one is indeed an Asian toilet that may be set outside the home. Might you're taking a bathtub here?
Eduarda Correa Arquitetura & Interiores A spacious toilet with wooden options and modern furniture. In among the bathroom and bath tub is a shower house.
Ethan Tweedie Photography When You need more drama for a tropical bathroom, now this one has all of it! Just take a look at the waters with concrete steps. With the layout and materials of the roof, it sure is tropical indeed.
Norelco Cupboards Ltd You'll also upload a seating area within the rest room too. This one has a wooden vanity and delivered modern lightings for a extra dramatic feel. It additionally has a shower space within the heart of the bathroom.
Dean Usher In-Rolling Stone Landscapes Excluding a bathtub bathtub inside the toilet, there is also an outdoor bathe area that is an alternative choice for you to bathtub.
Lisa Petrole Photography Wooden Flooring is used for this one and that i like the look of it particularly that there are crops across the path that leads to the bath bath. Very romantic!
Designhouse Kitchen and Bathtub, LLC For this toilet, it has blue partitions and wooden options observed at the cabinet and self-esteem. Sure, you'll play with colours for a tropical rest room too.
Skale Construction Layout Wooden vanity and sand-like texture of the tiles are featured here. in fact, allow us to not overlook the plants to boot.
Eric Cohler Layout the bathroom has a lot of area around it and it connects to an out of doors garden so as to make you're feeling much more refreshed whilst bathing.
FINNE Architects Although we cannot see the other portions of this bathroom, it is obvious that it maximized the use of wooden. Meanwhile, the garden may also be mirrored from the mirrors.
Teri Fotheringham Images Any Other rest room with blue colors in addition as gray accents. a bath bath is inserted on an increased house simply near the window. It has an arrogance with grey color too.
James Rixner, Inc. Maximize a garage not just thru the shallowness but also with hooks and rods. For this bathroom, it added a plant inside of it and a few candles for more drama.
Beauparlant Layout inc This Will be a small toilet however with the contact of nature, it looks extremely lovely and surprising!
Christopher Layout An Overly excellent idea for a bathroom that has a tropical feel. it is subtle with the use of lighting and that i like the concept of adding stones at the a part of the bathtub.
Chief Design Studio An Easy graceful bathroom that used wooden, white and glass. after all, there are added plants and flora too.
Eduarda Correa Arquitetura & Interiores This Toilet seems to look like an out of doors area but it is in fact interior with skylights on the ceiling.
Rock Forged Renovations A tropical toilet that may be spacious featuring a bath bath on the wall of an enclosed bathe house. What are you able to say in regards to the tropical bathrooms above? they all look nice on account of the natural touches introduced to them. i can say that it's a fair aggregate of contemporary glance and Zen glance. And in fact, the bathroom’s function is all there at the same time as bearing in mind taste and design. There also are wood elements as well as stones within the bathrooms inside too. You'll additionally notice decorations not only on the partitions but even on counter tops. For Those Who are making plans to have a tropical rest room, this list would certainly be a fair source of ideas and concept! Which of the above bogs do you just like the so much?
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“Dollar Sign Trees”
I should have noticed the first red flag
When you started comparing my salary to yours
You had asked about how much I was making
And it didn’t occur to me that you were asking
For reasons other than simple curiosity
I remember responding as I watched your reaction
Thinking it strange that you should begin to fidget with your ear
You sunk back in your chair when I uttered the dollar amount
Perhaps it was the air of the restaurant’s patio
That made you cross your arms to ward off the cold
The whole time I was telling you how much I had been enjoying
My new job
From the periphery of my vision, the cars passed by
Stopping at red, slowing at amber, going at green
And if I had paid just close enough attention
I’d have seen the twinkle in your eyes
Gradually dull to gray
Still, we went on dates in the city
We walked past fountains where couples were making wishes
We took trains to fancy restaurants, ferries to nearby islands
We strolled along the downtown epicenter, my hand in yours
Your focus drifted from us
And up towards the sky-touching finance buildings
Eyes closed in reverence
You looked as if at any moment, you could reach out and touch them –
I remember hearing the conviction in your voice as you told me
That one day, you’ll be working underneath one of those glass ceilings
We must have sat in every eatery, looked out from every window
Walked every pathway and lay our picnic blanket down on every meadow
In Toronto
We must have tasted dishes from every continent, like a world tour
And every moment I spent with you, was a moment that enriched me more
As I welcomed this feeling of abundance, I gripped your hand tighter
Feeling the wealth rush into our lives, blessing us both like a flight of swallows
So behind us was the glare of poverty, as we were transfixed on the riches of tomorrow
I thought we could break that bamboo ceiling together, as a duo
But you chose to sleep on glass floors
Bending a little too low to impress those White people
Sitting in the same rooms at which one day you hoped to be present
Copying them, all the way from their speech and down to each mannerism
You said that as high as you were climbing, deep down you’re still Asian
But I said that you’re climbing so high because you are Asian
Whereas I believed in self-acknowledgement, you wanted erasure
Whereas I gave you a pen so you could write your story, you asked for an eraser
As we walked in the urban jungle, you reassured me that you’d remain down-to-earth
The sun touched the horizon
Behind the skyscrapers and million-dollar condominiums
My eyes were fixed on you; your eyes were fixed on your millions
I saw the shimmer return to your expression as you admired the buildings
And I wondered why it disappeared whenever I’d speak about my work
I could hear the excitement returning to your voice
As you talked over my aspirations, leaving mine unheard
I noticed that the less I expressed about what made me happy
You took up more space in your chair, your voice growing louder like a siren’s blare
Suddenly you grew bigger and more confident
As much as I enjoyed my new job, you made me feel like I should’ve
Never said a word about it
You fed off hungrily for my attentiveness as you went on about your career
It then dawned on me that it’s only when I talk about my goals
That you fidget with your ear
As if to signal that you’ve heard more than you can bear
It took me a while to realize that you only ask about my career
Because you’re keeping tabs on me and not at all because you actually care
They say love is blind
Because when you fall for someone, all the colors mix
What is clearly a warning, I mistaken to mean keep going
And when I choose to keep going, instinct urges an abrupt stopping
And when I stop completely, I’m caught in between
Do I speed through the traffic or stay behind the line
I might be able to make it if I press down on the pedal and ignore the stop signs
If I can see these red flags I might be able to dodge them
Turn a blind eye to your jealousy and convince myself that it’s a me problem
Diminish my accomplishments and downplay my ambition
Tell you I didn’t get the job but I’m happy you got your internship
Tell you I’d rather stay in the country than accept my overseas position
Tell you I’m thinking of switching careers so I can avoid talking about
My new promotion
Tell you I haven’t been making moves so you can feel comforted
For not changing your life’s direction
Lie to you about my success so I can keep intact
Your White-washed, white-collared visions
Funny how you once scorned my minimum wage
But how come when I started to earn more, you started to distance yourself
Present for my poverty but absent for my riches
Now earning the same as you, you grew bitter as I racked up my thousands
If you felt threatened that I was going to catch up to you
Your fears were valid because in truth I did surpass you
Never did I think that my own partner would be my competition
How ugly our relationship turned, from love and support
To lessening myself to temper your envious disposition
When I chose to be with you, I saw you as my equal
But when you chose to be with me, you saw in me a rival
In the corner of your eye, I saw my own reflection –
Small and overtaken
By the bustling city and new horizons
The cars passed us by
Stopping at red, slowing at amber, going at green
I had driven past too many red flags by now
To see
Which was more important to you
Your dreams over mine
Shiny suits and dollar sign trees
My spotlight dimmer than yours -
Your money
Over me.
- dg
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HANG THAI
I’m yearning for a relaxing holiday where the healthy attitude extends beyond the spa, but isn’t too punishing – a break that swaps dirty martinis for green juices, dance clubs for barrecore exercise classes and late-night meals for early-morning meditation. And I know just where I’d like to go. Six Senses has added to its extensive spa and wellness offering (which already includes visiting yogis, nutritionists and exercise gurus) at four resorts with a new integrated programme – bespoke nutrition, treatment and exercise agenda – that has been in the planning for two years. The Italian and I book for the Thai island resort of Yao Noi.
Day 1
It’s an 80-minute plane trip to Phuket from Bangkok, a 30-minute car drive to the marina and a 45-minute private boat to Phang Nga Bay and Koh Yao Noi – one of the quieter and least developed of Thailand’s islands. The long journey is worth it for the spectacular arrival: limestone cliffs jut out of the water all around us, and between them is an island of former rubber plantations, with gently undulating, jungle-carpeted slopes scattered with rustic chic, elevated wooden bungalows. Ours is the one-bedroom Hideaway Pool Villa; I kick myself for not having specified a sea view, but it’s gorgeous nonetheless, with large beds, a bath with a view out over the trees, outdoor shower, yoga deck and private pool that connects the bedrooms to the open-sided living room.
There’s time for a quick dip in the ocean before heading to the spa – a beautifully articulated complex of wooden cabins in the forest, furnished in rattans and sisal and enveloped in the smell of lemongrass. Dorelal, the yoga instructor, books me appointments with the resident Ayurvedic doctor at the start and end of my stay, morning personal-fitness or yoga sessions and evening spa treatments. Supper is a leisurely affair: Asian tapas as the sun drops into the lambent Andaman Sea.
Day 2
Breakfast in our villa is a plate of fruit and a green juice (kale, celery, spinach, lime and ginger) that I ask to be protein-enriched. The resort’s kitchen is stocked howtospendit.com with super-healthy supplies, from chia seeds to matcha, ready to pimp my smoothie however I like.
9am – Dorelal radiates calm as he leads us to the large open-air yoga pavilion, a second-floor platform above the sizeable fitness centre, overlooking the jungle. There are six swathes of fabric hanging from the ceiling for aerial yoga (also known as flying yoga or antigravity yoga). I begin with a combination of floor and flying yoga as Dorelal gauges my fitness level. He explains that flying yoga works the core muscles, is amazing for spinal decompression and focuses the attention on balance. We launch into a rather fast Vinyasa flow. Once I’ve worked up a bit of a sweat, we move onto the aerial ropes. We begin with basics, such as lunges (which involve supporting one foot behind me in the “seat” of the material, and the other on the ground, lunging forwards), plank poses (where one leg is supported by the material while I pull the other knee up towards my nose), and leg lifts (where I sit in the bottom loop of material and lift both my legs). After a few planks I collapse on the ground and manage only a couple of leg lifts before yelping.
11:30am – The doctor explains that he’ll base my programme on a wellness test using a bespoke screening machine that analyses key physiological biomarkers, including oxygen levels, metabolism, heart function, circulation and stress. Dorelal joins us. I step onto two metal plates, wires are stuck on my forehead and my middle fingers are placed into a gauge. Within a few minutes the results are in: “Khun Inge, it appears you have high levels of toxins, your liver is overworked and your lymph and digestive systems are sluggish.”
I score just 18 out of 30 for lifestyle – calculated from my circulation, inflammation and cholesterol results. Even worse is the stress test: 16 out of 30 – my gaba (the amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system to calm nerves) is in overdrive. My environment test (which looks at metabolism, pH levels, oxygen and oxidative stress) is 18, but I fare better on the body-composition and fitness test – 27 out of 30. So in a nutshell, I look fit and well but I’m an acidic, stressed-out mess inside.
12pm – We lunch on tom yum soup and coconut water at the infinity pool overlooking the bay. I refuse even a sip of the Italian’s Piña Colada. We agree that my nightly half bottle of red wine – a reward for getting through the day juggling a stressful job and a baby – should probably stop.
We look over my programme. It includes a daily aerial or mat-based yoga class plus one detox yoga session – a series of “cleansing” postures accompanied by lightly salted water drinks to loosen the bowels and springclean the intestine, liver and lymphatic channels. There’s also meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) to help reduce muscle and neural stress, while suggested spa treatments include a detox massage, Thai massage to help circulation and blocked energies, and a dreamcatcher massage to improve sleep quality. My diet will be mainly fish and vegetables – but it sounds delicious rather than a hardship.
4pm – We go for a gentle guided 90-minute bike ride around the main perimeter of the sleepy island, through a rubber plantation, stop at a coconut farm to buy fresh coconut water, and past the village market.
6pm – The Italian has a tennis lesson while I have a private pranayama session with Dorelal. We do breathing exercises lying down and standing up, but the most intense is done cross-legged – I’m told to take my thumb and block my left nostril, then take a deep breath, pinch my right nostril closed, slowly release my thumb from the left nostril and breathe out of that side. We repeat it deeper and faster. I feel heady and elated.
7pm – I head to the spa for a 60-minute customised massage. The masseuse kneads me from head to toe using poultices of fresh herbs – the stress melts like butter on a hot knife. My legs especially feel reinvigorated.
9pm – We finish the day with dinner and a movie, Pretty Woman, under the stars. There’s a table filled with hot popcorn and snacks, and about 10 of us lie on sun loungers under blankets while the film is projected onto a white sail held aloft between bamboo poles. The waves lap behind us. Magical.
Day 3
7am – The day starts with a visit to the hen pen, to collect eggs for a breakfast of goat’s cheese and spinach egg-white omelette (accompanied by a green juice). Happy hens lay healthy eggs, says our guide, who explains the resort’s sustainable “Waste to Wealth” programme, where as much waste as possible is composted or recycled. We eat at one of the resort’s beautiful restaurants, overlooking the 14 limestone islands stretching out before us.
I go for a 40-minute run around the resort before my flying-yoga class. The paths are pretty steep, so it’s an intense workout, but the views are amazing. Flying yoga begins with basic moves, then steps up a notch. Standing with both feet in the “seat” of the fabric, we hold onto the sides and slide our legs as far apart as we can. We then sit down in the fabric, leaning back so we are parallel with the floor, engaging our stomach muscles, lifting our legs and separating them. I have to hold on tight to maintain control. Next I hang upside down. Dorelal encourages us to lift our hands up off the floor so that we are totally suspended. By the end my arms and abs are burning; we finish with stretches on solid ground.
11am – We are taken in a longtail boat to a beach spot 20 minutes away where kayaks are kept. We break away from the group with two guides on a mini water safari. Eagles soar above us and monkeys come to say hello. Sadly the spell is broken when very loud tourists come up stream, heading for Koh Phi Phi Leh, aka “The Beach” – made famous by the film of the same name with Leonardo DiCaprio. We reverse paddle and decide to snorkel in a secluded coral reef, after which we have a picnic lunch of grilled salmon and bok choy, with coconut water.
4pm – While the Italian has a Muay Thai lesson on the beach, where there is a boxing ring, I have a detox yoga session on the platform outside my room. I sip the slightly salty water while doing simple poses like sun salutations. Several times I have to rush to the bathroom as the saltwater takes effect. We follow up with calming pranayama and meditation. Then to the village for a traditional Thai massage with our clothes on, lying on a thin mattress on a wooden floor in a simple cabana on the beach. The masseuse walks on my back and pulls and pushes my limbs with her feet and hands. It’s fairly punishing, but leaves me exhilarated.
Day 4
9am – To the amazing new open-air, sea-facing pavilion for aerial yoga. I build on my skills, hanging upside down and using my core to lift my torso. I feel muscles working in places I didn’t know there were muscles. We move on to do a downward dog, keeping our hips in the rope. Dorelal shows us how to shift into a handstand – but we burst out laughing at the seeming impossibility of the move. He comes to help, lifting both my feet up and wrapping them in the material to keep me supported.
12pm – We hire a traditional longtail boat to go island hopping and snorkelling – pulling up at a beach for a picnic of Thai-style baked salmon and a plate of dragon fruit.
4pm – After an energetic game of tennis, the Italian heads back to the Muay Thai boxing ring while I return to the yoga studio for another hybrid aerial and mat-based yoga session. I try and finesse the headstands and inversions – with some success.
6pm – Back to the spa, where a dreamcatcher massage uses hot oils on my head and body. The head and foot rubs are a little too gentle, but the body massage is fabulously firm. The Italian has a silk cocoon facial, known for its amino acids, which are great for skin elasticity. He gives it the thumbs up and, indeed, he does look very fresh.
8pm – Our last dinner is in the resort’s more formal European restaurant in a booth looking over the jungle – it feels like eating in a treehouse. We throw out the detox rule book and crack open an amazing bordeaux and order a three-course feast.
Day 5
Time for my exit test. I step on the screening machine and the results are quick to calculate.
My tests reveal my stress score has improved from 16 to 25, and my cardiovascular is a cracking 28, while my environment score is up from 18 to 22. After three days of aerial and detox yoga I feel – and look – more toned and less bloated. I might not have lost any weight, but that wasn’t my ambition; I needed to detox and de-stress, and the pranayama breathing, yoga and vegetable-and-fish diet did the trick. My skin also looks plumper, full of colour (and not just a suntan). This may not be a hardcore medispa, but the tests gave me an insight into what is happening in my body and help focus my mind. I’ll use the knowledge to make small changes, such as reinstating my thrice-weekly yoga and meditation sessions, and paying more attention to my diet – including reducing my alcohol intake.
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Covid Lockdown
March 2020 to May 2021
The COVID quarantine is slowly lifting. Here is a quick review of our last year in limbo.
The first COVID death in Seattle was in a nursing home on February 29th, 2020. We discussed the serious threat at Ultimate that day. Then Julia and I went to a Umphrey’s McGee concert at Showbox SODO that evening. I remember questioning if we should be taking this virus seriously, but brushing off the idea.
March 2nd our life was turned around in another way - the rental apartment we lived in for the past 8 years was being sold. Time to decide if buying a house is a smart decision…
March 11th the CDC officially declared COVID a pandemic. Things get serious fast. We begin watching the news constantly.
March 14th was our last day skiing for the 2019/2020 season. There was still significant snow on the mountain - but state restrictions closed down the resort. Then we jumped into a backcountry ski/camp trip. Shortly after that - even backcountry skiing was forbidden. That’s when the lockdown got serious.
The rest of March and April were uneventful. I thought I had COVID at 1 point, but tests were hard to get. The at-home test I did get returned a negative result. Julia had a small accident that took the Subaru out of commission for a little bit. No big deal.
Sadly the white cat, Lucy, had to be put down. The process with COVID restrictions at the vet made the experience extra hard. Sad to see my favorite cat gone after 12 years together.
May 27th we got the keys to our new house in Beacon Hill, Seattle! Huge day for us. One I didn’t think would ever come. Home prices in Seattle are pure insanity. Buying at the beginning of the pandemic gave us a little advantage - no bidding war at all. In retrospect it was an amazing decision.
We ate momo’s (Himalayan dumplings) the first night on cardboard boxes. Then got to work on improvements right away. I made the terrible decision to do ‘exploratory drilling’ in our walls at 2am that night to route some ethernet cables for the cable company coming the next day. Luckily it worked out - but I don’t recommend putting holes in your new home on day #1.
A train of professionals came out for the big jobs:
* Plumbers - pressure reducer and expansion tank
* Electricians - new panel and service
* Insulation - replace attic insulation
* Flooring - LVP in the mud room
Julia and I got our hands dirty a bunch too:
* Closet shelving/rods
* Toilet replacement
* TV mount install
* Hanging blinds (after 1 month with none!)
* Siding repair
* Install dog door
* Light/Fan upgrades
* Fence repair
* Bench and table builds
* Chicken coop converted to raised beds
* Yard work of all kinds
* More yard work of different kinds
* Plus a bunch of small stuff that continually keep us busy
Bamboo and Blackberries were the big task. Our house is directly next to a city ‘right of way’. Basically a big plot of land the city owns where no one can build. Kinda like a park or play field directly to our south. We call it the “side yard”. Opposite our fence that separates us from the side yard was a 6 foot tall 6 foot wide 60 foot long thicket of blackberries. Then it turned into 30 foot tall bamboo beyond that.
Julia and I took 1 weekend to clear the bamboo from inside our backyard. Then another 2 weekends to clear the bamboo from the side yard. Luckily a city mower came and tore down most of the blackberries with a tractor after I reported it as a nuisance. It was a beast of a job - but the neighbors came out to help (at least to take away the bamboo poles for their gardens). Then we sheet mulched the entire area to prevent regrowth. Huge project - which we are still fighting currently - but a massive improvement the whole neighborhood enjoys.
Discovering new local restaurants was hard during COVID. Many places still offered delivery or take-out, but no inside dining. Bahn Mi sandwiches and Bubble Tea has been a staple for us. Too many cheesesteaks and taco truck burritos also. Plus a bunch of other Viatemese, Chinese, and Asian restaurants that are popular here in south Beacon Hill.
Throwing the frisbee with my teammate, Patrick, was my only activity with someone other than Julia or the Grubhub driver. We got together about once a week with masks at Judkins Park to toss. A fun way to get some sun, exercise, and social interaction.
July 11th my grandmother died in upstate NY with my mother and family close by. Not COVID related, just her time to go. The best grandma anyone could have asked for. Always an open house and supportive of all my life adventures.
September 3-6 we got permits to hike in the Cascades, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Enchantments. It’s a protected area with very limited daily permits for backcountry camping. I tried for 8 years to get these permits - so no chance we were gonna miss the opportunity. Unfortunately I got a small hernia on our birthday in July - but again - not gonna stop me! The prep-hikes in July/August went great. Another fun way to get outdoors safely.
The trip ended up amazing all around. A true life-list adventure filled with lakes, goats, vistas, and leg burning trails.
October, November, and December were totally uneventful.
January 2021 we began a bathroom remodel with Premier Contractors. Toby and his family/team worked with us to design a totally custom dream bathroom. Ferguson supplied the materials, the discount I’ve been waiting to use for 16 years of employment. Jackpot!
End of January came with great bathroom progress. They ended up replacing the majority of the house plumbing - as our old galvanized pipes were badly corroded. The electricians also came back to install new circuits for the heated flooring, jetted tub, mirror, and heater/fan/lights. We also got new circuits in the garage and my office to expand the power downstairs.
Because we are crazy - we decided to begin a 2nd project at the same time - a deck rebuild. The construction crew we got to design our back deck randomly had availability earlier than expected, which we jumped on. Why not knock out both at once?!? Demo began February 16th.
End of February the bathroom was tiled and the deck had cedar floorboards installed. Floyd, Hank, Jeff, Brian, Robert, and the whole Blue Oak Builders crew were amazing. Unfortunately the bathroom project stalled for a variety of supply/time reasons. They slowly made progress through March.
March 31st Julia and I got our first COVID vaccine shot. We jumped at the first opportunity, one of the first in our age group to get an appointment. We drove down south to the minor league hockey rink where they had the process down solid after a month of giving shots to more vulnerable people. Relief that the end was in sight! We celebrated by buying strawberry plants on the way home. :)
Then our 2nd Pfizer shot on April 20th. May 5th we were considered fully vaccinated. I celebrated with a game of pickup the first chance possible. I ended up going 441 days without ultimate - my longest streak in 24 years. Before this I had never gone 14 days without some sort of pickup, practice, league, or tournament game of ultimate. It felt amazing to be back in action - even if I’m fatter + slower than ever.
That brings us to today - May 23, 2021. Ski season is nearly over, flowers are blooming, concerts are announcing, Sounders are playing, friends are calling, and mask mandates are lifting. My schedule is already starting to fill up with fun. There really does feel like a light at the end of this tunnel. Finally!
Overall - I consider us lucky. Julia and I were able to work from home without interruption. Our companies had hiccups, but are more profitable than ever. Julia has been extremely busy with work - but that’s the life in a startup I guess.
We had no clue what buying a home at the start of a pandemic would mean. It ended up being ideal for us. Canceled vacations gave us extra time and money to invest in this 62 year old raised ranch style house. Room for Skye to enjoy, as she is getting old fast, is a treat. Not to mention offices on separate floors might have saved our relationship (seriously - who talks that loud on conference calls? just kidding my lover). We even got lucky with great neighbors who really look out for each other.
I realize that so many other people in Seattle / WA / USA / World were not so lucky during this pandemic. It sucks. I hope as these restrictions are lifted that everyone can begin to prosper again - both socially and financially. 2020 will go down as a monumental time in our lives. I look forward to post-pandemic-2021!
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The Little Things
Summary: Castiel gets bored while the Winchesters are sleeping, and finds himself in an interesting place while he kills time.
Characters: Castiel, Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester
Word Count: 2642
Warnings: So much sweet Cas fluff that it will give you a cavity.
A/N: This is going to be a double fanfic interpretation between me and @queen-of-deans-booty (who is also my beta).
Castiel slowly drummed his fingers on the wooden table in the motel room, staring out the window and marveling at the gentle rain falling from the sky. Ever since he came down to Earth, he found that simplest things would draw his attention. Whether it was the wordless conversations that Dean and Sam could have, or the way a honey bee fluttered around a flower garden as if it knew exactly which flower would have the most pollen, Castiel was continuously surprised by his time on Earth.
Cas stood up from his chair and quietly walked over to the foot of Dean’s bed. Dean was sprawled out diagonally on the bed on his stomach, his hand under the pillow that was jammed under his head, snoring quietly. Cas then moved to the foot of Sam’s bed, making sure the younger Winchester was also asleep. Sam was on his side facing away from Dean, bundled up in blankets with small snores escaping from his mouth as well. A small grin tugged at the corner of Cas’ mouth and he was gone from the room in a flutter of wings.
For Castiel, not having to sleep was both a blessing and a curse. He could work all day, every day when his brothers and sisters needed assistance, but when he was working with the Winchesters, he found that he was extremely bored while they slept. He found himself flying to different places every night, but made sure he returned to the motel room before Sam awoke for his morning run.
However, this night, something changed. Castiel found himself in a beautiful park that was only a short distance from the motel room where the Winchesters were staying. It had stopped raining, but the grass and various foliage was still covered in small droplets of water that reflected the moonlight. Cas stopped walking near a large tree and marveled at the beauty of how each droplet sparkled like it was its own star against the darkness of the night.
He resumed his walk, but paused in front of a bulletin board that was nailed to a building that housed the restrooms. One of the advertisements caught his eye, making him smile. It was an ad for a local zoo that was offering to host birthday parties. While he preferred to view his Father’s creations in their natural habitat, he couldn’t resist the convenience of how close this zoo was. Castiel smiled and disappeared from the park in a rustle of wings.
Straightening his coat, Cas swiveled his head around, taking in his surroundings. He was inside the zoo in the middle of what looked like an aquatic section. There were various illuminated glass tanks surrounding him with dozens of types of fish swimming about. He smiled, recognizing some of the species as very similar to the ones that he remembered his Father had put on Earth in the beginning.
Cas left the aquatic section through a set of double doors and made his way down a path to another enclosed exhibit. The sign over the glass door said “Tropical Birds” and Cas pulled on one of the doors to walk inside. The door rattled under his touch, but would not open. He sighed and disappeared from outside the door only to reappear on the inside of the door a moment later.
This building was very warm, and Cas would have found himself uncomfortable if he was able to perceive changes in ambient temperatures. He walked down a wooden walkway and into the main room of the exhibit. It was full of lush green trees, dense bushes, and several waterfalls. There were dozens of colorful birds scattered throughout the exhibit, and Cas couldn’t help but stare at the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges of the various birds’ feathers.
Cas looked around before he straightened his back and allowed his wings to unfurl. His wings stretched out across part of the room, draping some of the walkway in his beautiful charcoal black and shiny blue feathers. He frowned and found himself feeling out of place in a room full of such colorful birds, right as a small yellow and orange bird landed on the top middle of his right wing.
Cas was ready to shoo it off his wing, when the bird chirped at him and began preening its feathers. A small yellow feather fell from the wing of the tiny bird and floated gracefully to the floor, with Cas’ eyes following it until it landed right next to his foot. He looked up again right as the bird flew back to its perch on a tree branch and continued chirping. Cas bent down and picked up the small feather, twirling it in his fingers for a moment before he gently slipped it between two of his black feathers on his right wing.
For the next thirty minutes, Cas walked around the tropical bird enclosure and found various feathers, gently sticking them in his wings as he went along. By the time he had finished, his black and blue wings were now an explosion of color, dotted with yellow, orange, blue, red, and several other vibrant colors from every bird that called this exhibit home. Cas smiled and folded his wings back down before he unlocked the glass door and walked back outside.
Cas followed the path again, which led him to a large enclosure with water in front of a platform covered in several small mounds of snow and ice. He looked around for a moment before his eyes found a large polar bear lounging on his back in a gap between two mounds of ice. Cas walked along the railing before he got to a sign that explained what polar bears were, what they eat, and what their habitat was like. He nodded and disappeared.
Cas reappeared with three large salmon in his hands, standing in the middle of the polar bear’s enclosure. The bear stirred for a moment and lethargically rolled over; it’s nose greedily sniffing the air. Cas laid the fish on the ground of the enclosure and watched the polar bear shift up on its feet and saunter over to where the fish were. The bear scarfed down the treat while Cas carefully stroked the fur on its back. He ran his fingers through the fur and found himself amazed at how something so dangerous could be that soft. The polar bear finished chewing on the last salmon, and Cas disappeared from the enclosure.
Castiel found himself on the opposite side of the zoo in the section full of various Asian mammals. He made his way through the clutter of bamboo to see a small black and white panda resting in the crook of a tree. Her eyes were closed, but her ears twitched attentively every few seconds. Cas looked down and saw a smaller panda resting in front of her nestled in the crook of the tree as well. He slowly opened his eyes at Cas and blinked a few times before yawning…causing his mother to instinctively pull him closer to her so he would return to slumber.
The sky was just beginning to show signs of the sun, and Cas hurried to the last enclosure he wanted to visit before he had to return to Sam and Dean. He made his way back out to the main path in the Asian mammal section and walked down to the tiger exhibit. As an angel, predators did not have the same reaction to his presence. He could play with any animal without fear of his vessel being attacked or mauled.
Cas appeared in the tiger enclosure and sat down on the grass in front to the wooden shack that the tiger was sleeping in. He tilted his head and just watched the tiger as it lounged; its chest rising and falling with each breath. Cas crawled into the shack and sat on the left side with his back against the wooden paneling of the shack.
The tiger stirred and lifted its head, blinking a few times as Cas came into focus. He jumped backward slightly at the intruder before he shifted forward and sniffed Cas’ leg. Cas reached out and gently stroked the side of his face with his hand, causing the tiger to nuzzle into his palm. Cas smiled at the gesture, knowing that it was a sign of affection.
Cas was stroking the tigers fur as he glanced outside and realized that it was very light outside and he would have to return to the motel room. The tiger had crawled closer to him and was now laying against his left side and fast asleep. He gave the tiger one last ruffle of his fur before he disappeared from the enclosure.
Castiel reappeared in the motel room and silently cursed under his breath when he realized that Sam was no longer in his bed and one of the motel room keys was missing from the table. It was a little after six in the morning and Sam was already out on his run.
Dean stirred in his bed and rubbed his eyes with the back of his right hand. He turned over on his side, blinking at Cas who was standing at the foot of his bed.
“Cas, I’ve told you before…it’s weird when you watch people sleep,” Dean grumbled before he yawned and stretched his arms up above his head.
“I was not watching you sleep, Dean. I just returned from an errand and, uhhh, was wondering where Sam was,” Cas fibbed, hoping that he had spent enough time around the Winchesters that his lying was believable.
“Uh huh,” Dean shot him a knowing look. “Sam is probably out for his run. I’m sure he’ll stop at a grassy area in the park and have some breakfast, too.”
“I don’t follow,” Cas said, tilting his head to the side.
“Sam is on his health kick still; I’m saying he’ll probably eat some of the grass for breakfast,” Dean sighed. “You’ve been on Earth for how long? You still don’t get humor?”
“I understand humor perfectly fine, Dean. You alluded to something about Sam that I had no knowledge of. How was I to understand your joke?”
“Whatever. I’m gonna take a shower. Let me know when the Brontosaurus comes back,” Dean stood up from his bed and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
Cas furrowed his brow for a solid thirty seconds before his expression relaxed. “Ohhh, I get it. Brontosauruses eat vegetation.”
Dean sighed heavily from inside the bathroom right as Sam unlocked the motel room and walked in, covered in sweat from his morning run.
“Morning, Cas. Where did you disappear to this morning? You’re usually here when I wake up,” Sam shut the motel room door and trudged to the mini-fridge, removing a bottle of water and gulping it down.
“I had an errand I needed to run. Are you and Dean going to be going to the diner again for breakfast?” Cas asked, sitting down at the table.
“Yeah, probably,” Sam walked over and banged loudly on the door. “I’m back Dean! Don’t use all the hot water!”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m done anyways,” Dean yelled back as the water shut off in the bathroom. A few minutes later he emerged in a black t-shirt and jeans, rubbing the excess water from his hair with a towel.
Sam traded places with Dean in the bathroom as Cas impatiently drummed his fingers on the table again.
“You know, Cas. We’re not keeping you here all the time. Sorry us humans have to shower and change clothes,” Dean said as he sat on the end of his bed and pulled on his socks.
“I find ways to occupy myself while you and Sam sleep, Dean. I remember having to shower and change clothes when I was human. It was extremely inconvenient,” Cas muttered, staring out the window again.
“Right,” Dean stretched out the word, “once Sammy gets out of the shower and dressed, we’re going to head to breakfast and talk about the case. You coming?”
“Of course. I did acquire a taste for coffee and I’m eager to see what’s been killing elderly women over the age of seventy in this town,” Cas turned toward Dean in his chair and smiled.
Dean raised an eyebrow at the angel and chuckled softly. “You feeling okay?”
“I am in perfect health, Dean. Why?” Cas asked.
“You just seem…different. Happier, I guess. It’s weird,” Dean said as he put on his work boots.
“I had an interesting interaction overnight and I found it quite pleasurable,” Cas said, still smiling.
“Dude, please tell me you didn’t pick up some random chick,” Dean groaned. “I mean, I’d be really proud if you got laid, but you gotta be careful. Last thing we need is a Nephilim baby Cas running around.”
Cas rolled his eyes. “I did not have intercourse Dean. Not everything pleasurable in life comes from sexual relations.”
“Not everything, yeah…but it sure is fun,” Dean smiled and raised his eyebrows right as Sam emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, fully dressed minus his shoes and socks.
“What’s fun?” Sam asked, sitting on the end of his bed and pulling on his socks.
“Intercourse,” Cas interjected.
Sam chuckled. “Yeah it is…just not when you call it ‘intercourse’, Cas.”
Both Winchesters stood up from their beds and grabbed their flannels. Dean pulled the keys to the Impala out of his jacket pocket and opened the door to the motel room. Sam and Cas followed behind him as they piled into the Impala to go have breakfast.
All three of them arrived at the diner about ten minutes later and slid into a booth. Cas, Sam and Dean ordered their food and the waitress shot a wink at Dean before spinning around and walking back toward the kitchen. The diner only had a few people in it, so it was relatively quiet for a one-stoplight town’s local diner. Sam pulled out his tablet and tapped on the article about the most recent missing victims.
“Alright, so the first vic was killed last week. All of her bones were completely gone. She…uhhh…” Sam stopped talking and furrowed his brow, tapping on his screen again.
“What, Sammy?” Dean inquired.
“A local news story just popped up,” Sam laughed, “and I guess we know what Cas got up to last night.”
Dean looked confused before Sam turned his tablet around and showed him the news story he clicked on: “Man in Trenchcoat Breaks into Mayfield Zoo Overnight, Plays with Animals”. Right after Dean finished reading the title of the article, he and Sam both looked at Cas in unison.
“How did they know I was there? It was dark outside,” Cas says after he read the title.
“Cas. It’s 2017. Any and every place that’s got something valuable has security cameras,” Dean shook his head and handed the tablet back to Sam, who kept reading the article.
“Wait, Cas. You were in the tiger enclosure? How are you not clawed up?” Sam asked, raising his eyes from the tablet to look at Cas.
“Angels do not provoke hostility from any of God’s creations. They are completely docile,” Cas explained. “Tigers become akin to the temperament of the common house cat.”
“Awesome. Time for a pet tiger?” Dean smiled hopefully.
“No Dean,” Cas said, causing Dean’s smile to fade. “A tiger would most certainly maul a human, given the chance. I just find enjoyment in my Father’s creations. We all could use some time to appreciate their beauty.”
Dean smiled and nodded along with his brother as Cas stared out the window of the diner and followed a droplet of water as it slid down the glass.
Tagging some friends & Cas lovers! @katymacsupernatural @just-another-busy-fangirl @sofreddie @revwinchester @casbabydontgoineedyou @castielspahdehrah @ibelieveinthelittletreetopper @kittenofdoomage
#castiel#fanfic#spnfanfic#cas#fluff#zoo#dean winchester#sam winchester#so fluffy#adorable#spnfamily#supernaturalfanfic
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Why You Should Choose Maldives?
Looking for a place to relax and escape for awhile from the stress world? Would like to have a perfect spot to propose to your girlfriend? Or wanted to witness a paradise you have never seen with the love of your life? Well, the place you are yearning so is no other than Maldives. They have beaches you cannot resist. Corals you never thought that exist. And sunset you do not want to miss.
Malé, Maldives is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Its tropical weather suits the desire of your body. There currency is Maldivian rufiyaa and also belong to Asian continent. This place is made up of 1,190 coral islands but only 200 are inhabited, and atolls that stretch over 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi). Ocean water covered ninety-nine percent of its nation. Aside of its year-round hot climate, Maldives also has 2 monsoons, the southwest from May to October and the northeast from November to April. Usually on June and July bring more wind and rain at the southwest. Because of its lower ground of average 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) and its highest point, a certain spot in Villingili Island that stands at 2.3 meters (7 feet 7 inches), they are concern about this being sink due to climate change. For this reason, President Mohamed Nasheed made an underwater cabinet meeting last 2009 to raise awareness towards climate change and have been the first country to do so.
Still not amazed? Then here are 5 reasons for you to choose Maldives:
1) Due to its Islamic religion, alcohols are only allowed within the hotels and resorts but prohibited outside. So do nudity, topless and sunbathing is strictly avoidable in the country hence liquors are banned for Muslim nation. For instance, men should less worry for their girlfriends to be disrespected by some pervert people.
2) Hotels and rooms are designed differently attractive. There are hotels intended to make the visitors feel the ambiance of the beach even inside the hotel itself. Floor of white sand, table and chair huts, and walls made of bamboo like. Some are for refreshing and calmness for guests’ purposes. Rooms are painted of light colors and bed facing the sliding window with a white curtain.
3) When you dip into the lukewarm waters you will see stunning coral reefs, caves and colored tropical fish. Dive a little deeper and will find manta rays, moray eels, turtles, whales and sharks. Different species of dolphins and whales can be seen in the reefs of Maldives, including striped and spotted dolphins, dwarf sperm whales, and killer whales. You can also catch a glimpse of the whale shark, the world’s largest fish.
4) Maldives is known for its superb seas but out of hundreds of beaches it has, sun kissed island is the most visited one. It has sparkling blue water, powdery white sand; beach hammocks and luxurious over-water villas that everyone wished to swim and wet their selves with. This place is actually perfect to bring your loved one and witness together the sunset then look each other’s eyes and see how blessed you are to have each other in your life; and
5) Out of 1,190 islands only 200 are inhabited so this means there are still 990 islands that are not yet introduced and you could explore it with someone that is special to you.
Those are the 5 reasons for you to choose Maldives over hundreds of places out there. But always remember, places are just places. It will only be special when you are with someone you shared your life and experiences with.
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Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh and Cu Chi Tunnels
Hello one and all!
So after our very wet stay in Hoi An it was time for us to move up the coast slightly to Da Nang. We put aside two nights for the city which was ample time to explore, and given the weather conditions we didn’t want to end up being stuck there for too long. Our first day was, unsurprisingly, pretty wet; although our journey was smooth and we had the first night in our pokey hostel room on our own. A good re-introduction to dorm life after nine days in our own place! Much of the afternoon was spent scoping out what was nearby, and catching up with people at home in local coffee shops, and we finished the day with eating local Quang My noodles with a selection of proteins: frog, eel, chicken and pork - delicious!
Thankfully the weather picked up the next day and it was gloriously sunny, so we explored as much of the city as we could. It definitely felt like the 5th biggest city in the country, but we had no idea that it was one of the main landing points for the American forces during the war until after we had left the city. We felt that Da Nang had a good amount of variation: plenty of city centre space with shops, bars and cafes but we also managed to get a bit lost in the local housing which towered three or four storeys with tiny alleys between them creating a huge warren of paths, but to the east a quieter ‘holiday’ area with hotels and resorts dotted along the coastline. The only criticism we have is that the eastern beaches have so much potential, but they were quite dirty mainly with plastic rubbish - a bit of TLC is required for sure. One of the main highlights of the city was how it lit up at night, all along the river front there is plenty to look at and in particular the dragon bridge which changes colour is quite a spectacle! In total we covered about 14km (about 8.5 miles) in our flip flops that day, which to be honest we are quite impressed with. Clearly our feet have got used to Asian living!
After a very rough night, we were happy to be flying south to Ho Chi Minh. To summarise our suffering, we both drank about three cups of green tea alongside a strong coffee at about 5pm, completely forgetting that we were caffeinating ourselves to high heaven. In addition to not being able to sleep that night, a girl in our dorm came down with D&V so she was up and down like a yo-yo,. To top it all off, unlike very few of the dorms we had previously stayed in, the bathroom was part of the dorm, not in the hallway. Now, I’ve already mentioned that the room was pokey and as a result the bathroom was very close to Spud’s bed. We shall leave the rest of our terrible experience to your imaginations.
Moving on, our flight went well and we were transferred to our accommodation in District 1 by a very efficient shuttle bus in about half an hour. Our hopes for better weather didn’t pay off so well and the heavens opened that afternoon, so we holed up in one of the many local bars for a beer or two before eating a fantastic dinner in the Secret Garden restaurant. To get to the restaurant you have to walk up an unassuming alley and then up through an old residential building that is still lived in, before you reach the rooftop where the restaurant is situated. It was quite an experience but once you came out on to the terrace of the restaurant, the atmosphere was wonderful - beautifully lit up with traditional lanterns and candle light looking out over the city, it set the scene for an incredible meal of: baby squid with fish sauce, minced pork stuffed lotus flower, fried mackerel in tomato sauce, baby bamboo salad and steamed jasmine rice - we were in our element!
That night we realised that choosing District 1 to stay in was perhaps quite bold. The whole area felt a little like pub street in Siem Reap, with huge clubs, strip bars, and people trying to sell you drugs all over the place. We felt like we were on the edge of a red light district as on our side of the street scantily clad Vietnamese women hung around in the bars, whilst on the other side of the street (mainly Western) men sat outside the cafes and small restaurants eyeing up the potential catch for the night. It was pretty seedy, but as now hardened hostellers we took it on the chin and slept pretty well that night (ear plugs are the best!)
The next day was a walking day and we covered a fair amount of the city centre. It is a great place to explore with a good atmosphere all round. We visited the the National War Museum which was a fascinating, if not graphic and extremely biased view on the American War. The day ended in the Bitexco building sky bar to watch the sun set. For the same price as a ticket to be taken to a sky deck two floors lower, we had our own table, two beers and live music to keep us entertained. Bargain! The sunset was quite spectacular and we stayed long enough to watch the city light up after dark. What a way to end our month in Vietnam.
All back in the same city for one day...Bry, Kyson, and a Frenchman called Laurent met us at our hostel early the next morning where we were picked up and taken to the Benh Duoc tunnels which are part of the Cu Chi complex. We had decided to avoid the Benh Dinh tunnels as we read that they were a bit of a tourist trap, and funnily enough full of tourists as a result! Benh Duoc was a great experience for us, however in our travels we haven’t ever come across such a biased view of previous conflict or political unrest as we did here. The tour started off what was essentially a propaganda video from the 60’s against the US army. We quickly realised that in this area, the Vietnamese were proud of the Viet Cong’s achievements, and they weren’t afraid to show it. We were then guided to the entrance of the tunnels and had our first taste of the confinement, however this was the biggest tunnel of the lot. In total there are over 250km of tunnels built over 40 years, on average the tunnels are only big enough to crawl through and dug in up to three levels deep. At the third level you would only be able to stay for 1 hour due to lack of oxygen! Emily showed no fear and was one of the first to climb down into a gun emplacement, the entrance to which you would never know was there unless the guide showed you. The ingenuity of the Viet Cong was amazing: they thought of every conceivable way of trapping and maiming the enemy with a variety of different traps (mostly punji sticks) and rigged entrance hatches. They even trapped their own tunnels but jumped over where they knew the trap doors were!
Our tour carried on through a hospital with an operating room, mess area that used an extensive chimney system to slow the release of smoke from the fires used to cook food, and a reinforced tunnel/cave for the upper echelons. Kyson and Spud went into one of the ‘resting’ rooms for commanders and quickly came out as there were at least 50 bats that were disturbed and started to fly into their faces. It was hilarious as Kyson got stuck in the room and Spud in the entrance tunnel as someone else tried to come down at the same time!
The day finished with a brief visit to the local shooting range (the boys couldn’t help themselves). Laurent fired an M14 rifle, and Spud and Kyson opted for the M1 Garand mainly because it was used during both WW2 and the Vietnam conflict. We couldn’t get over how loud they were, and equally couldn’t begin to comprehend just how loud the conflict zones must have been. That night we had our first Indian meal since leaving the UK. The food was great and we ended up having a few beers with the guys before saying our goodbyes as we were heading out to Indonesia the next day.
Next stop, Gill Trawangan, Nusa Lembongan and Lombok!
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Day 63, Langkawi to Koh Lipe
After my third night on the worst bed in the world, I went out to do some errands but all the shops were shut at 10am. I got some breakfast from a street food stall which was more of a dinner since it was mainly rice and chicken but it had a fried egg too so that was kind of breakfasty. I saw Dj and his friend and we high fived goodbye.
Maria and I went back into town on her bike to look for the things we needed again. I managed to get speakers and toothpaste but no stamps. The procession of bikes from yesterday came roaring past again. It went on for so long, dozens of bikes growling past. I love women in hijabs on motor bikes. You go girl!!!
I hugged Shane goodbye and gave him a peck under the ear. Maria said she liked my music! I’ve been playing it out loud and I don’t usually like the pressure of choosing something for everyone to listen to but it seems to have been received very well!
We got a cab to the pier and sorted out our tickets. In the food court in had something from the Arabic stand. I didn’t realise how much I like middle eastern food.
I hugged Maria goodbye now and told her it was lovely to have met her, that I don’t spend much time with other girls. (Especially strong girls) I think spending time with her was really good for me.
I ventured off alone, with that ‘I’m on my own now’ feeling and got the ferry. I slept most of the way without meaning to, listening to Sampha’s album. When I woke up, the boat was extremely choppy, rocking side to side and I felt queazy. I’d expected it to be freezing like the other ferry but it was really hot.
I stepped off onto the little boat to take us to shore. Koh Lipe looked very pleasant. We went to shore and had to climb out into the water and carry our bags to land. I felt like I was arriving on a castaway show, except that I knew my stay would be very nice and not awful or publicly broadcast.
A young Asian man from the ferry started speaking to me. I thought he was cute. He said his name was Tri and he was from Laos but he was working on Koh Lipe at the dive school and at some bungalows on the beach. He also said he’d grown up in France. I thought that was interesting 😌😏 you know my affinity with anything French. He said he’d lived in England as well and his English was very good. I told him what India was like.
After I went through the quick and relaxed immigration procedure, he took me to the dive school to drop my big backpack off because I said I’d look at the bungalows down the other end of the beach. The beach is lovely and the sand is white. There were lots of dogs around as well. The bungalows were basic and made of bamboo with mosquito nets making canopies over the thick mattresses. There was a hammock on the porch. He was staying in one of them. I said I was interested.
He walked me back to check into my hostel. Koh Lipe is very small and there are no cars. The main road is a strip of blue concrete about two metres wide. He pointed good restaurants out to me as we went along.
I checked into my room and they told me I had to keep both the nights I’d booked or I’d be charged for them so maybe I’ll spend another night or two in the bungalows afterwards. The ferries between the islands seem quite expensive and, well, I want to spend some time with Tri. The 10 bed female dorm I’m in has a narrow walkway past the beds, which do look comfy, and lockers on the other side but it’s a pain to lug my backpack up and down into mine. I’m looking forward to a bungalow.
I met Tri again in 7eleven and then we went to get some smoothies. I liked this boy and I didn’t want to lie to him. After the confidence I got from telling the others in Langkawi my personal info, and seeing how much I liked being able to speak about it, I wanted to tell him as well.
First, we guessed each other’s ages. I thought he was in his late 20s because he looked very youthful but seemed to have had a lot of experience in the world. He said he was 33. (That’s okay with me) He said he thought I was old enough to be travelling alone. He guessed 22 or 23. He looked really surprised when I told him I was 19. I’m smiling as I’m writing this remembering his face during this conversation.
I told him my truth and he looked even more surprised. I didn’t detect any hints of rejection or disgust but he was definitely shocked. I don’t think his eyebrows came down till we parted. His face was so cute. He asked me some questions and I answered them and made sure to emphasise my reasons and how much I love it. I think people respect it for how I love it.
It’s just crazy for me to be telling people this, especially when I first meet them, when so recently it was something I was deeply ashamed of and thought no one must ever know. It feels wonderful to be authentic and to be accepted.
He said he had to get to work and perhaps I could come and find him if I wanted to get some dinner.
I went and got some bits from my room and headed to the beach although the sun was nearly set so it was getting cooler. I released I’d left my towel in Langkawi which is annoying because it was a good towel.
I read on the beach in a quiet bit and some dogs came over and I stroked them and I went in the water. The sky was nice and blue and lilac and I think there was a bride and groom on the beach having a photo shoot.
Afterwards, I bought some bug spray. I get so many bites, it’s not okay. I think I have about 60 right now. Why doesn’t anyone else get loads? I hope I don’t have a skin infection from those crusty cats at the rescue centre.
I hung out at the hostel in my pod for a bit. I decided I’d get dinner alone because I was sure I’d see Tri some time tomorrow. I wandered down and bought a pad thai from a local restaurant. I put the crushed peanuts on it and lime and chilli flakes and it was really really good.
There was a chubby little toddler with pig tails, belonging to the restaurant’s family, being mischievous and she was adorable.
I had an idea to check out this pool party that was going on. I was doubtful that I would actually go but I entertained the idea nonetheless. It did look pretty shit so I didn’t go. I walked along the beach instead towards Tree’s bungalows, hoping that he might see me and come and talk to me.
I walked along and I nearly got to where he was staying but I got too shy to go further so I turned around.
As I was walking back, a thai man with messy, long, curly hair, green silk trousers and a rainbow shawl tied around him introduced himself to me. He had two friends. They invited me to a bar on the beach and I agreed. Joey, Tak and Bang.
The bar had fake tissue jellyfish hanging outside and bean bags on the sand. Inside was a man, with one of those big rasta hats on with all his hair inside, playing guitar and another man on trombone. The floor was sand and most of the bar was made of wood or bamboo and there was a mural of Jimi Hendrix behind the stage and a tapestry of a weed leaf. I decided I would have a drink. Just one! We sat down and listened to the music; I’m weak for brass. Before long, I was being handed zoots by the dreadlocked bohemian characters of the bar. The guy in the hat finished his set and came over with a hella fat doob hanging out his mouth to greet his friends.
I said, “isn’t it really serious to have this in Thailand?” to Tak next to me. He said there weren’t any police on the island and the owner of the bar blazed as well.
Almost everyone there was Thai and they spoke in Thai a lot of the time, although one man did a lot of actions to his words. There was one white guy sat at the bar and I swear he was just staring at me for ages. I said this to my rainbow friend, Joey, and he said it was just because I was beautiful and I was like 🤔🤔 but dude cmon stop. I thought maybe he was just looking out for me, being a young female tourist in a bar full of foreign men.
I ended up having two beers and a third one was bought for me but I hadn’t seen where it had come from so I thought I’d better not drink it because I was wary of being spiked. Tak had been stroking my arm a bit but I was like, “dude no,” and I think that communicated my point effectively. As soon as I finished my second drink I announced that I was going to go home now. They said “why?” I said, “well, it’s my bed time you see.”
Joey offered to walk me back. I said, “no, you’re gonna stay here and I’m gonna go home.” But he came with me to the front of the bar still and I said maybe we might see each other again (probably not) but he’s leaving the island for two days tomorrow.
I started walking back. I felt that I had been relatively assertive there and I was pleased. I had a good time and now I’m going home, without any trouble. I noticed there was someone walking behind me about 30 ft away. I looked around and wondered if it was someone following me. “Probably not” i told myself. I looked around again. They were closer so I sped up. “Is that that white guy?” I thought. “Shit, maybe he was following me.” He’d caught up now (there were much more people around in this area, fortunately) and I stopped to look out at the sea to see if he’d walk past.
“Hello,” i heard. Oh great, I’ve been followed.
“Hi,” i said, turning around to him.
“I saw you in the bar,” oh did you? I didn’t notice you staring at me for the whole night. He asked me if I was going to the beach party. I said no. He said he wanted to hang out tomorrow. I said I was just going to read on the beach on my own. I quickly brought the conversation to an end and didn’t say goodbye when I walked off. I don’t like him. He has creepy vibes and I hope to spend as little time with him as I’m able to. (Wish me luck)
The walking street on the island is bright and friendly in the day time although it’s quite dark at night, with most shops shut and no street lights. I kept an eye out for anyone following me. I really like it here. I feel content but I also think you definitely need to watch yourself.
“Wuhay!! We’re in bed and we’re still alive!! Again! Well done” I congratulated myself, climbing into my pod.
I like how small this place is except it’s really going to make avoiding people problematic. I thought about how I’d probably have to go to the beach in some sort of disguise tomorrow so that I wouldn’t be disturbed. I decided to go to a different beach on the island tomorrow.
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KaramelFic: A Favor Among Friends (3/4)
Author’s Note:
Word of warning: Whatever you do, DO NOT think about Charlie Puth’s “See You Again” while reading this fic. It came on the radio when I was writing the back half of the Morgon-Ral scene and I’m still working my way through the bottle of wine I used to cope with the emotional breakdown.
@anaveragegirl15: hold on tight to your feels.
Also, things get a little more hot and heavy in this chapter. I’d rate it an M, but not fully Explicit. I talk about body parts so this is your last chance to back out!
Constructive comments and pure love are always appreciated – flames are destroyed with my freeze breath.
Many, many thanks to the following for the comments on Chapter 2:
@pwettypwita, @coolalmostincident, @highwaytothe7hells, @debnamskara, @anaveragegirl15
To all the rest: Thanks for reading/liking. On with the show.
A Favor Among Friends
Chapter: 3/4
Rating: M/NC-17/Explicit (for chapters 3&4)
A blowout always makes her feel pretty, leaving her hair flowing about her shoulders, silky and smooth to the touch. And after the day Supergirl had, Kara desperately needed it. Flying from crime scene to crime scene wreaks havoc on her golden locks, leaving them tough to run a brush through (tough on the brush) if she isn’t careful to groom throughout the day. Yet another reason her hair goes immediately into an up-do or a ponytail as soon as she returns to being a reporter.
Back in her apartment, Kara paces in front of her closet, debating what to wear. In her fantasies she’s always imagined herself wearing lingerie, something that would knock her partner’s socks off, but questions whether that’s appropriate when the whole exercise is just a means to an end. She finally decides on something somewhere in the middle of the work clothes she’s currently wearing and the deep purple corset with matching string bikini she has buried in the back of her closet. She’d purchased the ensemble last year at a friend’s lingerie party, but it remains in the pretty black box, still encased in the protective plastic.
Filled with a sense of satisfaction, she chooses a pajama set Eliza gifted her with last Christmas. Muted aqua, it’s a simple spaghetti strap satin tunic that drapes to just above her knees, paired with a matching robe that ties at the waist. The front of the robe is embroidered with designs resembling bamboo shoots, evoking the simple beauty of the Asian sensibility. She considers footwear and discards the idea because her slippers make her look dowdy. Barefoot is better, she decides, like she’s projecting a confidence and comfort in her own home that she really isn’t feeling. Plus, Alex worked so hard to get her toes just right.
Though it has no physiological effect on her body, she uncorks a bottle of wine and pours a glass. Kara learned a few years ago that, if she allowed it, she could find the act of imbibing alcoholic beverages relaxing. Alex calls it a psychosomatic reaction. She worries that she doesn’t feel sexy or aroused at all. She should feel aroused, right? A handsome man with a ridiculously affecting smile is on his way over to her place right this minute to relieve her of her virginity. There should be some twinge of arousal, one would think.
Kara pours herself a second generous glass of Peach Moscato (What? She likes the way it tastes!!), then tips her glass back, enjoying the way the sweetly flavored bubbles dance on her tongue.
Mon-El. She sighs when she remembers the first time she saw him. Tearing off the hatch of his (stolen) Kryptonian pod and looking down at his serenely sleeping, preposterously handsome face (and that was before she’d seen him smile!), she’d been terrified and overjoyed at the same time. Another Kryptonian? Perhaps there were others floating amongst the stars!
It had taken days for the Earth’s yellow sun to work its magic on him. And work its magic it did. Awakening from his stasis in the DEO infirmary to find her sitting at his bedside, he had grabbed her throat and thrown her across the room. After tearing through the DEO, he’d jumped from the top floor and disappeared into the night. It was only after finally tracking him down to find him sending a distress call to his home world that they discovered he wasn’t Kryptonian after all, but rather from Daxam. Krypton and Daxam, two planets in the same solar system, had a long bloody history of cultural and moral differences. Kara freely admits this information did much to color her view of him from that point on; it had very nearly ended their friendship before it had begun.
But is it a friendship, really? She wonders, perhaps not quite idly. Sometimes she catches him looking at her with a certain look in his eyes, and an expression that turns her insides to molten lava. Even before the delirious kiss, Kara had caught herself looking at him too, when she knew his thoughts were otherwise occupied. She’d seen the reticence that comes from losing your whole world and finding yourself on a new one, but also the hope that springs when you realize you might be able to get a piece of it back. And though he denies the desire to be a hero, she recalls the way he begged her not to solar flare when they were being held hostage by Cadmus. The raw fear in his voice still rings in her ears. He cares for her, but only because in some ways, she’s his last connection to Daxam.
He doesn’t even remember kissing her, and she tries to tell herself that it doesn’t hurt just a little to be so easily forgotten, even if he had been running a temperature of 114 degrees at the time. Just as she had tried to convince herself that she hadn’t felt a spark of red hot fire when his lips touched hers; hadn’t felt a timid hope kindle within her breast like a baby bird poking its beak through its shell for the first time.
She’d meant to keep an ear out, but the wine and her thoughts do an admirable job of distracting her, so she startles a bit when there’s a knock on the door. She listens for a moment before setting down her glass on the kitchen counter. His heart is racing, she realizes with a smile.
He’s just as nervous as she is, muttering under his breath, and she wonders if she should be nervous about that.
****
It takes everything within him not to speed to her apartment. After signing out of the DEO, with instructions to return no later than 6 AM, he heads uptown to Kara’s home. He could be there in less than a minute, but thinks that perhaps a nice long stroll would be in order. He needs some time to think things through.
“So you know what you’re going to say?” Ral interrupts his thoughts.
“I think I can handle this, thanks,” Mon-El snaps.
“No need to get testy, I’m only trying to help. Stick to the plan.”
“It’s not much of a plan,” Mon-El taunts.
“What can I say? You’re not giving me much to work with here. If you were willing to tell her you love her, I could come up with something to really knock her pants off.”
“Socks,” he corrects, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. “I think it’s socks.”
“Not tonight, it’s not,” Ral leers a little, in a manner much more consistent with Mon-El’s behavior back in the day. He is not amused. “So, earlier…you did what I told you to do, right?”
“Yes,” Mon-El growls unhappily.
“You’ll thank me later. Remember ‘control’ is the watchword.”
“’Control’ is the watchword,” he echoes the catchphrase drilled into them during their training. Masturbation was frowned upon on Daxam, unless part of a fantasy or wish fulfillment scenario. Why pleasure oneself when there were so many partners, both male and female, willing and eager to seek pleasure with you? It was long ago deemed a selfish act in their culture. But just an hour ago Mon-El had been in the shower, jerking at his cock like he was twelve years old again, trying to figure out how to make the damn thing obey his commands. But he isn’t about to admit to Ral that he does feel better, more relaxed, as a result. He is still embarrassed that he’d done it in the first place. How badly he’d needed to.
“I’m not sure you understand how different it’s going to be,” Ral frets. “It could catch you off guard and you could spin out of control and that would be bad.”
Mon-El chuckles. “Now you’re starting to sound like her. Don’t be such a worrier. I think I know my way around a woman. A few hundred women, if memory serves. I’m not spinning anywhere.”
“But this will be different,” Ral warns. “When you’re with someone you genuinely care about, it’s not just about giving and receiving pleasure. Something much deeper is exchanged.
“Like what?”
“It’s…impossible to explain.”
“You’re no help.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you never wanted to talk about this when I was alive.”
“I know,” Mon-El says with a wince. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, look!” Ral shouts, pointing Mon-El in a direction across the street. “We should bring her flowers.”
On the corner of the street up ahead is a bodega with a buckets of flowers placed outside. Mon-El recalls from the many ‘rom-coms’ he’s viewed that flowers are a common theme in the courting of Earth women and decides that Ral is probably right on this one too. He crosses the street and approaches the bodega, a man out front replenishing the supply of fruit behind the flowers. Mon-El studies the buckets, searching for flowers that seem most like Kara. He finds them in multi-colored pastel petals that are delicate to the touch and dark yellow centers that remind him of Kara’s golden curls.
“Excuse me?” he asks the man a few feet away. He’s heavy set and wears a dirty white apron, but greets him with a friendly smile. “What are these called?”
“Forget-me-nots,” the man replies in a thick accent Mon-El can’t hope to place. “Would you like a bundle? $5.99,” he says. “End of the day price.”
“Forget-me-nots!” Ral rejoices. “Perfect. I think it sends just the right message.”
Mon-El ignores Ral and reaches into his back pocket for his wallet, withdrawing a ten-dollar bill and handing it to the shop owner. It’s the last of his currency, so he waits as the man disappears into the bodega to retrieve his change. Mon-El sighs; he doesn’t receive his next stipend from the DEO for another week. He needs to find a job – for real this time.
“What about the bar?” Ral asks.
“What about it?” The bar that started all of this. The bar where he was exposed to the Kryptonian virus that made him so sick he lost his mind and kissed Kara.
“It’s opening back up in a few weeks and I hear they’re looking for employees. It could be great, brother. You can learn an important skill, and keep your eyes open and ears to the ground for information to give to Supergirl. You can help keep her safe.”
“It’s not a bad idea actually,” he replies, just as the man steps through the door to bring him his change. He looks around in order to ascertain to whom Mon-El is speaking, confused to see no one. “Just…talking to myself,” Mon-El covers, badly. “It’s a habit I’m trying to break.”
“For your lady?” the man asks, nodding his head towards the bundle of pink and blue flowers as he hands Mon-El the change.
“Yes,” Mon-El replies. “I mean…I hope so…someday.”
“There is a story,” the man says, “about how they got their name.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“A knight courting his lady, took her on a stroll along a beautiful stream, with flowers all along its banks. Wishing to see her smile, he bent over to pick the flowers for her, but his suit of armor was so heavy, he tipped over into the water. Before the current and the weight of his armor could pull him under, he threw his lady the flowers and bid her to ‘forget me not’. So…forget-me-nots.”
Mon-El’s heart sinks. Another tragic romance? He thinks about asking for another bouquet to replace the heartbreaking flower bundle of death, but the shop owner is so enamored by the story, he doesn’t have the heart. Kara always seems to place a high premium on people’s feelings, so instead he swallows and says, “That’s…great. Have a good night.” He waves before turning and walking away.
“Good luck with your lady,” the man calls after him. “Here’s to ‘someday’!”
“Word of advice,” Ral interjects. “Do not tell her that story.”
“Way ahead of you, brother.”
“Besides, it’s not really romantic unless the lady throws herself in after him.”
Mon-El stops in his tracks, struck by a sudden and horrible thought. He gasps, forced to swallow the pit that’s formed behind the back of his tongue. “You went back for someone!” he understands, at last. It’s as if the knowledge has been there all along, but he’s only just now allowing himself to see it. Mon-El’s revelation is answered only with notable silence from Ral. “That’s why you put me in pod and left. You went back for someone.”
“I knew I was going to be okay,” Ral answers softly. “But first I needed to make sure you were going to be too.”
“You stupid bastard.” His fist clamps around the stems of the forget-me-not, his whole body surging with anger and grief. “I wasn’t worth it.”
“Well, we’re never going to agree with each other on that topic, so I’m going to just say this. I found what I was looking for; to ask for more would have been greedy.”
“You tried to tell me and I didn’t listen. You must have.”
“We decided to keep it a secret for a while.”
“Because of me?”
Ral shrugs. “Latching was going to change everything, and I guess…I wanted a little more time. That’s on me. I made that choice, and I never regretted it, not for a moment. In the end it made no difference anyway.”
“You should have told me. I thought we had no secrets from each other.”
Ral laughs, tilting his head back the way he always did and letting the sound rip with abandon. “We didn’t, don’t you see?” he says, at last. “You saw the signs…knew something was different. You knew me so well. I couldn’t have asked for a better brother-in-arms.” Mon-El can almost—almost—feel Ral’s hand on his shoulder. “Would we be having this conversation if you hadn’t known? Somewhere…deep down?”
“I guess not.”
“You listened with your heart, brother, and that’s what mattered. You should do more of that. Something tells me…it won’t steer you wrong.”
‘What if I can’t?” Mon-El wonders. He feels as though he’s stepping off a ledge into a void without solid ground. Shaping a new self for this new life that’s been thrust upon him, unwanted and unexpected – which somehow makes it seem all the more preordained. “What if I don’t know how?”
“That’s what you have me for, my friend. I found my perfect match; now let me help you find yours.”
When he looks up, Mon-El is standing in front of Kara’s building. It’s an old stone warehouse converted into loft and apartment space, but it stands before him like a stalwart sentry. He paces in front of the stoop and checks his watch. Despite the long walk he’s a little early and worries about appearing too eager. Just as he’s about to ring the buzzer for entry, a woman steps out of the door dragging her yappy dog on a leash behind her.
Mon-El holds the door for her and slips inside the building when she’s gone, using his super-speed to reach the secondary security door just before it clicks shut. He foregoes the elevator and takes the stairs to the top floor at normal speed, each flight ratcheting his heart rate until it feels though it’s going to beat right out of his chest.
“Just relax, my friend. Remember…‘Control is the—“
“’Control is the watchword’. I remember.” Mon-El reaches the landing on her floor and approaches the door. Bright light spills out from underneath, illuminating his stylish wingtips. His clenched fist hovers over the door as he wills himself to knock, but his hand refuses to cooperate.
“Remember the plan.”
“Okay, now you’re just being annoying.”
“Would you like me to go?”
“That’d be great. I’ve got this.”
“Well, if you need me…you know where I am.”
“That I do.”
Ral looks at Mon-El and then at his fist hovering over the door, and then back at Mon-El, one eyebrow comically skewed upwards. “Here let me help you with that.” He takes control of Mon-El’s fist, knocking it twice against the wooden surface. “You’re welcome,” he says, a sly, mischievous smile on his face.
“Take a hike, Ral.”
“Just being a good wing-man“
“Get out!”
“Copy that.”
“Hey, Ral?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
Ral shrugs, using deceptively blasé body language. “Hey…Bonds of Val-Or, right?”
Mon-El exhales a shaky breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and drops his head to his chest as if in prayer. “Always.”
“Now go get her.”
There’s a subtle sensation of withdrawal and Mon-El stands all alone in the Kara’s corridor. A shadow moves through the light beneath the door and he can hear the unlatching of multiple locks, before the door swings slowly open.
His mouth goes dry when he sees her, back lit and beautiful, and he wishes that he hadn’t been quite so hasty about sending Ral away. Taking in the sight of her, in a state of undress he’s never before witnessed, Mon-El is momentarily struck dumb, his mouth opening and closing before words of greeting can issue forth.
****
She tightens the belt of her satin robe almost to the point of breaking it before padding across the hardwood floor to the door. With one last steadying breath, she turns the knob to find him standing in her corridor holding a bouquet of flowers while running his fingers through his hair, as though making a last minute effort to groom his already tidy appearance.
“Were you talking to someone?” she asks. “I thought I heard talking.”
Mon-El blanches, chagrined. “Must have been the neighbor across the hall.” He points his thumb at the neighbor’s door.
“That must be it.” She dons her most pleasant and pacifying smile; the one she uses with hostage-takers. “He’s always talking to football games, like that makes a difference.” She plays it off to spare him the embarrassment, but she’s convinced he was talking to himself.
“Yeah,” he scoffs, nervously. “Stupid.”
“You brought flowers,” Kara points out, hoping for a conversation starter. Her voice rasps, her mouth gone abruptly dry at the sight of him. Looking like he just stepped out of an Ivy League men’s clothing catalogue, he’s wearing a surprisingly red pair of neatly pressed chinos paired with a white Oxford button up with a blue and red plaid tie. Over the shirt and tie is a thick button up sweater made of fine dark blue wool; only the middle two buttons are buttoned.
“Yeah,” he snaps to, as though waking from a good dream and hands her the flowers. “According to the courting rituals of this country, it’s customary to offer a transitory gift of some kind when beginning a courtship. As best as I’m able to glean, the flowers will be dead in a few days and therefore symbolize a less than permanent arrangement. Unlike diamonds,” he informs her confidently. “Which are apparently forever.”
“Come in. The flowers are…lovely,” she compliments. The stems have seen better days, she notes, as though they’ve been tightly gripped in his hands. “I’ll just put them in a vase.”
“They’re called Forget-Me-Nots, I’m told. They made me think of you.” He starts to say something about how unforgettable she is, but stops himself, cringing at his own cheesiness.
‘It’s okay to be cheesy,’ Ral pops in.
Not accustomed to wooing women, Mon-El finds himself a little out of his depth. Back home, women were the ones usually trying to woo him. Kara’s already halfway to the kitchen and filling up a vase, while Mon-El closes the door behind him, and latches the locks.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” she offers, nodding her head toward the bottle.
“Alcoholic beverages from Earth don’t affect us,” he points out. Mon-El lifts the bottle, tilting it toward the light and finding it more than half gone.
“I’ve had two glasses already,” she confesses, sheepishly.
“But why?”
“I like the way it tastes. Sweet and tangy.”
“Sounds delicious.”
“Would you like to try it?” she offers again, reaching for the empty glass she pulled out for him earlier
He reaches for the goblet on the counter, but stops when Ral interrupts him. “Don’t you dare take that glass,” his friend hisses. “You don’t need it.”
Mon-El pulls back his hand and takes a deep breath, clearing his throat. “I think I will have a taste,” he replies, his voice dropping in register as his eyes zero in on her lips. He steps toward her, placing a hand on her jaw before slipping it under her ear until he’s cupping her head, his thumb stroking her cheek.
Her lungs hitch in her chest and his lips descend upon hers before she has a chance to recover. It’s like the kiss in the infirmary all over again. Her insides melt as though her bones have lost all of their considerable tensile strength and she’s afraid if the kiss goes further, her legs will be unable to hold her. Of their own accord, her hands find his shoulders and hold on tight. As though reading her mind, Mon-El’s other arm snakes around her waist to offer support, and even though she knows her feet are firmly on the ground, she feels like she’s floating.
The tip of his tongue on her lower lip tenderly demands entrance and she obliges without a hint of resistance, opening her mouth to his gentle invasion. It is a masterful seduction by mouth, his tongue promising more and more, but never more than she wants, and not one bit less than what she needs. He tastes her, and finding her to his liking, feasts upon her mouth, lips and tongue as though seated at the finest court banquet.
By the time he pulls away, her mouth, of its own free will, chases after him for one last fleeting kiss. So intent on what she was feeling, she had forgotten to catalogue the flavor of him. The taste on her tongue now begs for more. She sighs, her eyes closed, clearly affected by this technique.
“You’re right,” he whispers, his breath shallow and fast, his forehead resting against hers. He is no less affected by their kiss than she appears. At one point during the kiss, her hand had made its way to the center of his chest, where she can now feel his heart racing beneath her fingertips. “Sweet and tangy. Mostly sweet. Even better than I remember.”
“What?” she asks, leaning away from him. Mon-El’s arm tightens its grip to keep her body against his, so she can’t go too far. She capitulates easily, relaxing in his arms.
“I lied before,” he confesses looking straight into her cornflower blue eyes. “About not remembering the kiss. I remember. There’s no way I could forget.” He keeps his eyes on her face, searching for some signs of anger or betrayal.
“Then why—“ Her forehead crinkles, like it always does when she’s disappointed in him.
“You were embarrassed,” he admits, reluctantly releasing her from his embrace to give her some distance. He shrugs his shoulders as he continues to explain. “I didn’t want you to be embarrassed. What’s more, I didn’t want to be the source of your embarrassment. You had that look on your face like you were going to let me down easy. And you wanted to ‘talk’ about it. You shouldn’t have to talk after a kiss, Kara. The kiss should say everything that needs saying.”
“And did your kiss…say everything?”
“Yes,” he confesses. “But I was willing to let it go, if that was all it was ever going to be, Kara.”
“But…I don’t understand.”
“But…then you asked me to do this favor for you and I didn’t want to enter into this agreement without there being honesty between us. I think you deserve that much.”
“You do?”
“And more, Kara, so much more. Maybe more than I can ever give you.” He wonders if he can ever be a man worthy of her. Wonders if just being near him will taint everything that’s good and pure about her – everything for which he’s already fallen so deeply.
His lips turn down into a frown, as though disappointed by something. “Wait,” she breathes. “Are you…backing out?”
“No.” He chuckles, the laugh bearing a distinct melancholic ring to it and adds, “I’m not sure I’m man enough to do that.”
Something in his voice grabs her attention. There’s been something about him lately, since the Cadmus released the Medusa virus, maybe even before then, that has her wondering just how wrong she was about him in the beginning. She takes a harder look at him, seeing beyond the flashy fashion style meant to draw her in, to perceive something deeper in him. The slight downwards turn to his normally smiling mouth and the haunted look in his eyes.
“Mon-El? Are you okay? You seem….” She trails off before she can say the word ‘sad’ out loud. Because in her mind, Mon-El is supposed to be thoroughly unserious until it matters. ‘Sad’ is not a word she associates with him.
“Fine,” he replies. He smiles a second later, but the display of mirth doesn’t extend to his eyes. “Just…missing old friends.”
“Oh,” she deflates. It’s so easy to forget that he’s lost everything he ever knew and has every right to still be curled in the fetal position in a cell at the DEO. But he chooses to get up every day, to breath in and out, to learn the ways of this world, and to keep moving forward. It’s a feat that brings a burst of admiration to her chest as she gazes at him. This beautiful, strong man, whose strength has nothing to do with lifting cars or leaping from the tops of buildings.
Kara takes him in her arms and tucks her face into his warm and welcoming neck, curved as though her head was always meant to rest there. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
He breathes her in, as though tasting air for the first time after being buried underground for an eternity. Mon-El’s arms hang motionless from his shoulders as he allows her to just hold him. He didn’t know until this moment, how much he just needed to be held. She is sunlight and all that is good and he will never be worthy of her. But all he can do is keep trying and vow to never stop.
After a long moment, her hand glides down and slips into his, palms together, their fingers intertwining. He could stand like this all night and ask nothing more from her. But he made her a promise, and he couldn’t bear to disappoint her again. Loath to release her hand, Mon-El wraps his other arm around her waist and pulls her so close, until there’s no space between them.
“Like I said,” he begins, softly, disinclined to break the spell between them. “I think you deserve honesty, so before we go any further tonight, I think it’s best if I tell you that…I’m throwing my hat into the ring.”
“You are?”
“That’s the correct phrase, right? Throwing the hat?”
“Yes,” she chuckles into his neck, sending a shiver racing down his spine. “I’m familiar with the phrase.”
“So you’ve heard it a lot?”
“It’s a common enough idiom. But you’re the first guy who’s actually said those words to me.”
“I am?” he asks, hopefully.
Kara nods. “There are no other hats in the ring. I’m not sure there’s even a ring.”
“Are you sure you don’t need those glasses of yours?”
“What do you mean?” Habitually, she reaches up to press the glasses she isn’t wearing against the bridge of her nose, forgetting that she left them on her bathroom counter. Already, he misses the feel of her fingers tangled with his, so instead he sinks his now empty hand into her silky hair, gently massaging her scalp. Her knees wobble like cheap cardboard and she locks them to keep them from folding beneath her.
“They all want you, Kara. James, Winn, that guy from Earth-Prime – I read the after-action report.”
“Heatwave?”
“Yes!”
“Eww. He just liked calling me ‘Skirt’. He’s like a Mangovian, only slightly less evolved.”
Mon-El laughs at her joke, picturing the yellow-skinned Mangovian, with its prickly spine, three eyes and paws made for crushing rock. “Probably Barry, too,” he adds, for good measure.
“He has a girlfriend.”
“Good.”
“You’re…jealous?” She’s struck by how thrilled she is by the possibility of his jealousy. That he wants her – wants to be with her – wants to fight for her.
Mon-El wonders how it might have gone if only he’d answered to the affirmative when she’d questioned him that day back in quarantine. Might it have been easier if he had simply said ‘yes’ when she asked if he wanted to mate with her? Would that have planted a seed, or would she have run from him?
“Yes. Are you happy?” he replies, pulling her tighter to him to punctuate his assertion. Finally, he gives her the honesty he couldn’t give her before, the honesty that he has promised her. “So, I’m also going to say this. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win your heart, Kara. I’m going to find a way to be the man you want me to be starting tonight, by being the man you need me to be. I’m going to be the first man you take to your bed, and then, when you’re satisfied, I hope…you’re going to know you want me to be the last.”
Deep inside she knows that her heart is already halfway his, and if the feel of his mouth on hers or the way she fits against his body are any indications, then she is destined for a fight if she wants to keep any part of it for herself. No one had ever been this candid or honest with her before, and she finds it undeniably disarming. Kara is pretty certain that no amount of ‘Into the Fire’ is going to keep her heart invincible from the man who stands before her.
“Mon-El?”
“Yes?’
“Maybe the next thing you say…you should say with a kiss.”
Answering her invitation with superhuman speed, Mon-El cups her face with both hands as their lips meet, his thumbs brushing over her ears. He sips on her lower lip before moving on to take the upper lip between his. He pulls back and then takes her mouth again and again, each time attacking with a new weapon or tactic. First with lips, then with tongue and finally, with teeth. His kisses tell her that he dreams of this, lying alone in his cot at night he’s imagined a thousand ways to kiss her and these are but a few.
With each kiss the temperature rises within her. The satin robe and nightgown, which earlier had felt silky and ephemeral against her skin, now feels as an unwanted burden upon her. Millions of nerve endings in her flesh awaken and they seem angry to have been kept sleeping for so very long. Nothing, no other kiss or touch, has ever made her feel like this. Her breasts are heavy with want, her nipples singing out for a soothing balm. Kara attempts to alleviate the ache by pressing her chest harder against his, but her breasts are less than appeased.
Her arms wrap around his neck, knees buckling slightly until her hips cant into his. Were he a human man, the strength of her grip would have bones bending beneath the pressure, but he merely gasps at the electric contact of her hips against his, her chest against his. He splays a hand along her middle back and presses her entire body flush against his, encouraging her own grip to tighten.
“Too hard?” she tears her lips away from his to ask. Almost immediately she wants to own his mouth again, but must wait for him to answer.
He shakes his head at her inquiry, unable to look at anything but her kiss-swollen lips. “Not hard enough. Don’t be afraid of hurting me,” he counsels. “I don’t mind a little pain, especially when it’s paired with pleasure.” Smirking suggestively for good measure, Mon-El is thoroughly charmed when Kara giggles and then blushes like the virgin she is. “But we can explore that another time. If you want.”
Kara brushes aside his implication that there will more of this, whatever this is, and chooses to devote thought to it at another time. Because all she can process reliably right now is her sense of touch. She is wearing too many clothes, and if that is true for her than it is surely true for him. Her fingers yearn to touch his skin, but she’s hampered by the thick cardigan he wears. Of their own volition it seems, her fingers reach for the two leather-encased buttons and manages to free them without destroying the sweater. His lips and tongue still exploring her mouth, he shakes off the sweater without a thought, dropping it on the floor at their feet.
Next, a single finger is sliding under the Windsor knot of his plaid tie and tugging it loose incrementally until at last it unravels, leaving two long ends hanging around either side of his neck. A second later the tie joins his sweater on the floor. Mon-El’s mouth releases hers, and she doesn’t want him to stop kissing her, not for a second, but at the same time she wants more and she doesn’t know how to reconcile the two concepts.
“Why are you stopping?” she queries, her eyes frantically search for his, but find them otherwise focused. Glancing down, Kara finds Mon-El’s fingers toying with the tie of her robe and she wonders why he’s hesitating. Her lungs, it seems, have expanded this night, feeling like a bottomless well of capacity, yet only able to accept fuel in small, shallow increments.
“I once told you that I was placing myself in your hands, Kara. Will you now place yourself in mine?” he asks, lifting his slate-gray eyes to meet hers. For the first time in his life, he is unsure of his next step and what it might mean, and perhaps more importantly where it might lead. Mon-El knows that he has never felt about anyone the way he feels about the breathtaking woman before him.
“Yes,” she answers, without a blink, her gaze holding his. Kara is struck by the uncertainty she sees in the depths of his gray eyes. When he tugs the end of the bow, the satin tie of her robe puts up little argument against his assault, and the feel of silky material gliding across her skin as it drifts to the floor inflames her skin even further.
Her nipples jut proudly beneath the fine satin, a visible sign of the state of her arousal, through the thin material of her nightgown she blushes in response to his appreciative gaze. Noticing her embarrassment, Mon-El goes back to what works, capturing her lips with his for a moment before shifting his attention to the pulse point on the slender column of her neck.
And…oh…she never knew her neck was so sensitive. She gasps for air, her hands seizing the powerful grouping of muscles at his shoulder blades as his hot breath bathes the delicate skin of her neck. He places gentle kisses down the long column of flesh, the tip of his tongue just grazing the skin. Her head drops back to allow easier access and she’s surprised to find his hand cupping the base of her skull to provide support.
Blood rushes ruthlessly to the organ between his legs, awakening a hungry beast that’s been delayed far too long already from seeking its fundamental objective. “Tell me what you want,” he says between kisses, his own breath shallow. “Tell me what your body wants, Kara. Don’t be afraid.” He is desperate to hear the words come from her mouth. Not because he needs such guidance, but because a woman willing to verbalize her desires is far easier to tease and to please.
“I don’t…ahhh…Mon-El,” she breathes, unable to articulate what she wants. Unsure about saying these things out loud. His lips and tongue ravishing her neck, and the tingling, unfurling warmth they cause make it nearly impossible to think in terms of words and speaking.
Mon-El cups her face in both hands and angles her dreamy gaze to meet his. Kara’s vision is blurred by arousal and it takes a moment for her vision to clear. “Kara,” he sighs her name like making a wish. “You mustn’t be afraid,” he instructs her. As though to demonstrate, his hands travel down her side to her hips before sliding around to her ass. Mon-El squeezes the ample cheeks and presses her into his noticeable arousal. She squeaks delightfully in response. “You must never be afraid to demand that your desires be met. Pleasure is your right.”
“Daxamite hedonist,” she teases softly, though her accusation bears no bite. Her words remind him of the first few weeks of their acquaintance, when their cultural prejudices built a wall between them. They’ve come so far since then, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Kryptonian prude,” he answers back with a slow, sweet smile that has her stomach flipping over. She licks her lips, completely unaware of the enticement that provides him.
His eyes are nearly black with arousal now, and when Kara shifts her hips, she can feel his erection surge back in response. Mon-El groans and tightens his grips on her backside until her heels lift off the floor and she’s standing on the balls of her feet, held up only by his hands. He dips his mouth to her collarbone, sucking lightly on a patch of skin there.
“I want…I want,” she licks her lips again, finding her mouth suddenly devoid of lubrication.
“You want…?” he urges.
“I want you to be wearing fewer clothes,” she admits.
“Good,” he nods. He smiles, a smug announcement of victory for getting her to vocalize what she wants. “Perhaps we should take this someplace more comfortable,” he suggests, releasing his hold on her and allowing her to drop down to floor.
Kara slips her hand into his and leads him into the bedroom.
TBC
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10 of the world’s best luxury hotels
By Dave Warne on Jun 15, 2019 in Accommodation, Africa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Europe, Featured, Finland, Hotels, Indonesia, Japan, North America, Oceania, Peru, Regions, Resorts, South Africa, South America, Tanzania, Western Europe, Worldwide
From luxury lodges in the middle of the Serengeti to private-pool beachfront villas, the world is jam-packed full of truly remarkable hotels. And, whether you’re after an exotic Asian getaway or adventurous Latin America retreat, here we’ve rounded up some of the world’s best luxury hotels for truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences, matched only by their just-as spectacular locations.
1. &Beyond Tengile River Lodge, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa
Whether taking in the river views from your private pool or spotting the Big Five on expert-led game drives, this brand-new lodge – opened in December 2018 – is a new word in sustainable luxury. With solar power and environmentally-friendly materials throughout, just nine ‘floating’ suites perch on the bend of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve’s river, with stunning forest views, personal lap pools, timber decks and al fresco showers – there’s even in-suite WiFi.
Birdwatching tours, interpretive bush walks and twice-daily game drives under the guidance of the resident rangers are all included, on which you’ll spot everything from lion and leopard to rhino and elephant in the world-famous Kruger Park that shares its unfenced border with Sabi Sands. Then, each day is culminated with an array of indulgent spa treatments before gourmet dining and expertly-mixed cocktails, enjoyed at the fireside outdoor boma.
2. Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Dramatic, modern, chic – this truly exquisite fusion of 50m cliff-top infinity pools, spectacular panoramic views and ultra-contemporary suites is one of Indonesia’s best. Why not start it all off in style with a helicopter arrival? Then, 24-hour personal butler service is enjoyed alongside complimentary yoga classes on a cliff-edge cabana, a private beach for surfing and creative spa treatments.
‘Journeys by Alila’ also offers chances to visit local fish markets and leading Balinese artists, take cooking classes with the hotel chef and enjoy sunset kecak dances at the nearby temple. Perhaps go beach-hopping from a local fishing boat for snorkelling, sunbathing and picnics before sunset dining back at the hotel with the likes of grilled octopus and roasted king prawns on offer, washed down by world-class wines and the Alila signature – gin mojito cocktails. For an extra-special occasion, opt for the cliff-hanging, open-air cabana for gorgeous ocean views as you dine.
3. Awasi Patagonia, Chile
A true South American gem, this design-led, Relais & Châteaux offering lies in the heart of Patagonia’s dramatic landscapes and world-beating glaciers. With snow-dusted mountains, remote forests and deep-blue lakes, it all feels stunningly isolated, and is a gorgeous backdrop to the luxury timber villas – of which there are just 14, all privately located with ultra-clear views of the granite spires of Torres del Paine or Lake Sarmiento.
Back inside, modernist and timber designs are reminiscent of Scandi luxury, with personal hot tubs, wood-burning stoves and cosy living rooms. Dining is, as expected, world-class, with local, ultra-fresh and seasonal ingredients served up to your exacting taste in what is truly some of Chile’s best gourmet dining. It’s made all the better with your own personal guide and vehicle to explore at your own pace – head on Torres del Paine hikes, wildlife walks, 4WD park trips and steppe horse rides with the gauchos of the local estancia, and even track pumas with the conservation team of South America’s first puma foundation.
4. L7 Luxury Lodge, Finnish Lapland, Finland
Luxury and the northern remotes of Lapland may not sound synonymous, but this lodge evades all expectations in its Scandi-luxe, rustic and utterly stylish interiors. Just seven rooms ensure a sense of romantic seclusion, with plush furnishings, timber-clad walls and polished wooden floors looking out onto snow-laden forests. And, those views are made to be explored.
Hire skis and snowshoes for free or hop on a snowmobile for thrilling experiences in the next-door national park – or come summer, hikes through the boreal forests are just as serene. Return to log-cabin cosiness for seasonal gastronomy that’s a true trip highlight, with all-inclusive, multi-course dining based on local ingredients, from open sandwiches to Lappish soups and ultra-fresh smoked salmon, in between indulgent afternoon teas. Just don’t forget to spend some time in the bubbling Jacuzzi and traditional Finnish saunas before whiling evenings by the roaring fire – before stepping out to witness, with the luck, those dazzling Northern Lights.
5. Longitude 131°, Red Centre, Australia
Burrowed amid the dunes of the Simpson Desert in Australia’s arid Red Centre, this boutique gem is the ultimate in remote luxury, with mighty Uluru a spectacular view from luxury tented cabins adorned with organic linens, bespoke furnishings and complimentary binoculars and maps. For something more rustic, bespoke ‘swag’ roll sleeping mats are offered for slumbering under the stars on your private balcony.
All adventures are included, from camel rides and Harley hires to expertly-guided walks around the base of Uluru; be sure to get up early one day to catch the sun rise before a fresh pastry breakfast at the base of the monolith. Our favourite, though, has to be a helicopter flight, for truly exceptional views. Back at base, relax with a spa treatment, take a dip in the plunge pool or enjoy an aboriginal painting workshop with a local artist. It’s all culminated with champagne sundowners and al fresco dining at private locations for indulgent four-course meals – or go one up and enjoy a private dinner atop a dune or in one of the outdoor dining pods.
6. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, British Columbia, Canada
A collection of luxury, safari-style tents among a protected old-growth rainforest, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort lies on the shores of the eponymous Sound and can only be reached via a boat or sea plane ride – a rather charming constraint. Guest cabins perch in the rainforest or by the lake with indoor-outdoor showers, wood stoves and underfloor heating, while indulgences continue at the lakeside spa’s cedar-wood hot tubs and two saunas.
Then, local, gourmet and all-inclusive meals, from seared Clayoquot Salmon to freshly-caught Dungeness crab, are served among log fires and gleaming silver. Guests even toast their final evening with a multi-course, wine-paired tasting menu. It’s all done alongside an array of included adventures, from salmon fishing and kayaking trips to rainforest horse rides and lakeside hikes. That’s not forgetting paddle-boarding and surfing on deserted beaches, trail walks with a First Nations guide and watching for whales, eagles, black bears and even cougar.
7. Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, Cusco, Peru
A luxe spa, 24-hour butler service and original Inca artwork are just some of the delights that await in one of Peru’s most outstanding and historic properties. Amid Cusco’s colonial splendour, Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, once a convent and palace, is laced with colonial frescoes and gold-framed artwork alongside glass floors, which give a fascinating insight into the Incan foundations on which it was built. Reminders of your location continue in rooms, too, with opulent suites enriched with oxygen to help with the altitude alongside in-room bars where your discrete butlers can even mix pisco sours in a private cocktail class.
If that wasn’t enough, the world’s only fully oxygenated spa and Cusco’s first outdoor swimming pool are a wonderful antidote to chilly evenings – though you’ll want to have spent the day exploring. After Sacred Valley hikes, horse riding and mountain biking among the Incan history, look forward to fuelling up each night at the restaurant, where celebrity chef Virgilio Martinez creates delicacies like grilled alpaca and crackling pork. There’s even chances to head on guided tours of the market or enjoy cooking classes – all washed down with the hotel bar’s extensive pisco tasting menu.
8. Gora Kadan, Hakone, Japan
Once the hotel choice of Japan’s Imperial family, this ryokan hot-springs inn in the heart of Hakone National Park makes for an unforgettable luxury stay, with ultra-fragrant flowers and the bubbling of the nearby hot springs exuding a feeling of peace you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere but Japan.
Spend days sinking into an onsen hot tub among the bamboo forest, indulging in a traditional Sitatsu massage – your yukata robe to hand – and wandering the perfectly-manicured gardens. The delights continue in the sleek suites, with tatami mats, private gardens and personal soaking tubs with epic views of snow-capped Mount Fuji. Dining is impressive, too, with chef-curated classic kaiseiki cuisine served in a myriad of indulgent fish and meat courses that can be taken in the serene Kaiseiki Flower Garden.
9. &Beyond Grumeti Serengeti, Tanzania
In keeping with &Beyond’s luxe reputation, this spectacular offering doesn’t disappoint in what is truly a Serengeti experience with a difference. Sprawling decks and rim-flow swimming pools form a wonderful base from which to watch hippos in the river below as well as many other game who come to drink at the watering hole. On the banks of the famous Grumeti river, you’re also perfectly positioned to experience the annual Great Wildebeest Migration and their heart-racing river crossings.
It continues beyond the camp, too, with twice-daily expert-led game drives in specially adapted 4WD vehicles on which you’ll spot the Big Five alongside cheetah, hyena and more. There’s even the chance to head on a Serengeti balloon flight for an unforgettable view of the sweeping plains dotted with baobab trees and herds of slowly-moving elephant. Back at base, after sundowners on the deck, enjoy fireside dining in the boma with barbecue meats cooked over a traditional jiko, accompanied by the nighttime howls of the African wildlife.
10. Amansara Angkor, Cambodia
The world-famous Angkor Wat is spectacular enough, and this hotel perfectly matches its splendour as a luxury base from which to explore. With a chic and exclusive vibe, this was once the resident of King Sihanouk, and offers myriad boutique experiences, from sunrise photography over Angkor to spa treatments.
Days are spent pool lounging and enjoying private lunches in a tranquil hideaway alongside complimentary private tours of the Angkor temple complex by remorque – Cambodia’s version of the tuk tuk, as well as traditional wooden house dinners and local chef-led cooking classes. You can even get a blessing at the 12th-century Wat Athvea or head on a helicopter ride to see the lost jungle temples from above. Then, sunset cocktails aboard Amansara’s lake boat on the nearby Tonle Sap are a wonderful prelude to a roof terrace barbecue – or even a private dinner inside one of the temples, accompanied by live musicians and dance performances.
Dave Warne is Product Director at The Luxury Holiday Company. The Luxury Holiday Company offers completely bespoke holidays designed to deliver unrivalled luxury, arranged by specialists who have more than 200 years of collective travel experience.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
The post 10 of the world’s best luxury hotels appeared first on Tripstations.
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Did you know this about Bamboo Furniture?
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Use Bamboo Furniture for Your Outdoor patio or Sun parlorHere is something brand-new and interesting to think about! Step away from the ordinary as well as normal, and also take a look at this choice.Are you looking for a loosened up set of patio area furnishings? Have you just recently developed a sunroom and also desire to add an attractive yet comfy touch to it? Are you sick of seeing the same difference old wicker furniture all the time? You ought to consider acquiring some bamboo furnishings.Bamboo furnishings is tough, simple to preserve, and also will provide a beautiful feeling to any kind of patio or sun parlor. If it obtains messy, just take a wet towel and dirt it down, and it's just as good as new. Include a few puffy paddings and pillows; and also you have yourself a place to rest and also take a nap or settle back as well as review that book you've been intending to check out for the last 6 months, all in comfort and design.Bamboo furnishings can additionally be utilised in your space, your den or perhaps your workplace. Put it in any kind of location in the home or out on the patio area and also you are certain to get praises from any individual that visits your home. For around the same expense as the old wicker stuff, you could have an unique holiday right there in your living-room.Many house equipping shops stock bamboo items. Pier One Imports has a lovely array of bamboo furniture, consisting of full room or living room matches. You do not have to limit yourself to mereley exterior furnishings with bamboo You can uncover wine closets, end tables, chairs, sofas and also nearly anything else you can ever before want.To obtain the beauty of bamboo furniture to your home, look in on your closest residence embellishing store. If they don't have a great deal of pieces?and if you do not object to waiting?you could also purchase your furniture online from Seacrest Trading Co. (www.seacresttradingco.com) or Bamboo Manufacturing facility (originalbamboofactory.com), both which import top-grade pieces from international manufacturers. League City houses Every one of this could naturally be complemented with the proper bamboo drapes, flooring and even bamboowind chimes.For an asian and also various feeling, seriously consider interior enhancing with bamboo.
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3 Light and Bright Apartments Celebrating White Space
“Don’t be afraid of the white page” is an adage that speaks to creatives across the world. White pages represent the beginning of the thinking process, of spaces full of possibility. Don’t be afraid – white walls in interior design sing a song of their own. These three interiors lean heavily on white space to create a feeling of calm and understated style. Use white walls to make high black glass look prominent, reflecting it back in mirrors. Use white as a natural canvas for mid-wooden shelving. Use white to look modern, clean and classic – in your own personal style.
Designer: Emil Dervish and Lera Brumina
Measuring 72sqm, our first apartment in Moscow, Russia, uses block-colours on white to create a simple yet eye-catching aesthetic. The living and dining spaces evidence this white-space thinking, as a navy block couch lies its short back against the wall. Met on either side by a white-and-wooden dining table, Michael Anastassiades’ IC S Pendant Light and space-enhancing mirror, the lounge carves its own centre using concentric circles in the bronzed coffee table, pale red rug and lines in the art piece above. Grey linen offers a seat to take it in, while a glossy black TV cabinet, stark black lighting panel and unique floor lamps sketch a frame.
Drawing in to the dining table, green dots the space in unique plant stands in stencil. Lit by a chiffon-curtained window and IC S Pendant Light, a plain white table surrounded by smooth wooden chairs make the space serene, leaving enough white for the shape-heavy lounge. The forms follow through to a hallway in white, re-shaping into a pink and navy circle painting. The framed white-and-black door and relaxed grey bench complete the reference to the living room.
Surrounded by white, the apartment’s walk-in wardrobe has room to shine. Darkened glass doors and drawers line one wall, where shirts and jackets hang as display pieces under LED strips inside. Met by a full wall of mirrors on its opposing side, darker features in a mahogany booth seat, forest green ottoman and monochrome artwork balance out the contrast. A special place to view the outside world and the owner’s visage is provided in a rectangular mirror on a bench-style marble table. A white corridor cheekily mirrors the lounge on the way out.
Echoing the wardrobe’s sentiments, the bedroom sets the scene with dark, French level skirting winding round to a desk. Bedroom pendant lights in the same forest green and another mahogany chair replicate the colour scheme, while a dusky pink throw creates a place for sleeping. Marked by the same white floor and ceiling throughout, a mini potted cactus and greyscale print add further thoughts.
In another section of the apartment, the boldest of black and white kitchens greet the eye. Taking on the theme of the walk-in wardrobe, a solid black wall takes dominance, holding kitchen cabinets, a fridge and sleek feature oven. A black stove-top, thick kitchen tap and marble extractor help bridge the colour gap, while a lamp and potted succulent eference the soon-to-be-served dining room.
Another dominant black and white space, the bathroom highlights its utilities in the boldest of blacks. A thick towel rail hangs beside the bath, while black-framed opaque doors close off the world outside. Tying into the walk-in wardrobe, a mirrored wall with a focused circle makes a picture frame beside a marble sink reminiscent of the kitchen. Punctuated by a stark black toilet and golden stand, a fern adds the final touch to a bathroom elegant in its simplicity.
Faded back to black and white, the final view shows the apartment’s focal point. See the plan for its wider segmentation.
Designer: Joanna Kubieniec Photographer: Janina Tyńska
Decorated in white with elements of light wood and grey, our next apartment in Katowice, Poland, creates space by removing it’s 60’s partition walls. Set on light-grey floors, key kitchen, dining and lounge areas are headed by light wooden planks and pendant lights, while monochrome prints and standing ferns mark the corners and walls. The rest of the apartment appears dreamily open, twisting and turning amidst grey seating and the occasional black door.
Functionally and aesthetically simple, the kitchen uses unpolished plywood to furnish the basics. Winding wooden cabinetry supplies the cabinets and bench, while a thick black sink, stovetop and stools offer modernism. A chrome fridge works in well in the corner, as a range of artificial tropical leaves stretch towards the sun.
The bedroom, continuing the theme, finds a mast in a tall wooden wardrobe and high window. As a Swiss cheese plant drapes over the bed, the bed clothes itself in muted grey. A grey stencil design in kitchen-fridge chrome links the bed and side table.
The bathroom lets itself be known in another cabinet doubling as a feature wall. A small space is made large with a simple sheet of glass and all-white tiling. Block porcelain amenities offer functionality, while a cavity in the shower wall provides a stylish way to store the basics.
The office offers 2 person workstations ruthlessly pared back. White walls and a high window scale to black-leg wooden benches beside school chairs. A thick black bookcase reflects the scene, as indoor house plants drape off windowsills or stand quietly. A grayscale print and metal lamp finish off the look.
Designer: Didoné Comacchio
Our last white space uses Eastern minimalism to create a cool, collected calm. Based in Italy’s historic Castelfranco Veneto, its 80sqm became spacious by eliminating corridors and using custom-made furniture. The lounge shows this focus by lying a few centimetres below the rest of the room. Using white walls, high cupboards and ceilings upon a mid-wooden floor, the sofa and coffee table lie low under rafters of colourful books. Framed by wooden ledgers, a soft grey couch and rug sit beside a subtle study space and Eames Elephant stool.
An Eames Bird replica guides us towards the kitchen, a glossy white affair backed by a wall of cork. Framed by acrylic blocks above and below the working space, its only marker is a leaning cartoon print fit for a superhero home décor home. Menu bottle grinders, a squat kettle and enclave sink punctuate this minimalist style.
Running along the cork wall, the dining area presents us with Scandinavian-style chairs and unique dining room pendants in the interior’s characteristic white. Woven chair seats hark back to the resident’s past in South East Asia; the black frames around them the modern world they are used to. A row of printed photographs amidst the greenery provide softer memories.
A step inside the bedroom reveals another white space for display – or for hiding. Rows of Scandinavian-style shelving hold shoes, accessories, and a minimalist sliding door with hole-drilled handles. Asian influences appear in a pair of Japanese slippers, bamboo towel rail and wide-set wooden chair. A shiny teal rocking chair and bedroom sink frame the other corner, an space ideal for nursing.
A peek behind another cork wall reveals a bathroom advantaged by wood. A shower drenched in white features a South-East Asian showering chair, this one in the form of an IKEA Frosta Stool. Minimalist plumbing in the shower leads to a simple and classic sink area, complete with circular mirror, standing sink and golden tap. A cork separating wall mirrors back the shower.
Related Posts:
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from Interior Design Ideas http://www.home-designing.com/3-light-and-bright-apartments-celebrating-white-space
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Kuala Lumpur nightlife: A guide to the city’s best bars
(CNN)It's when hot days give way to balmy nights that Kuala Lumpur really comes alive.
Following global trends, a new crop of dedicated cocktail bars -- many conceived in the modern speakeasy style -- are especially popular right now, offering up twists on classics and new inventions with Southeast Asian flavors.
There are also sky bars with city views, dance clubs, craft beer bars and live music bars.
Whether you're looking for a laid-back lounge or a party, here are some of the best places to spend your nights in Kuala Lumpur.
FOR COCKTAILS
PS150
This Chinatown cocktail bar sits in a colonial shophouse that was once a brothel.
It's all very "In the Mood for Love" with a tinge of "Mad Men" -- swanky, illicit and whimsical all at once.
A vintage toyshop facade obscures the entrance.
Walk down a corridor lined with lovers' booths and an earthy courtyard outfitted in wood and leather before entering PS150's beating heart: the neon-lit bar.
The sign reads "Chee Cheong Kai," the Cantonese name for Petaling Street, referring to the tapioca mills that once occupied the area.
PS150 co-founder Angel Ng spent some soul-searching months living in Chinatown in her mid-20s, so it's a place close to her heart.
The cocktail menu is cheekily inscribed in composition books customarily used by Malaysian school kids.
Try the vodka-based Salty Chinaman, the Lychee No. 3 Martini or the Assamboi (preserved plum) Margarita.
On weekends, entry is restricted when it gets crowded, so make reservations.
PS150, 150 Petaling Street, Chinatown, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2022 2888
Omakase + Appreciate
O+A recently celebrated its fourth year in operation. The only bar from Malaysia on Drinks International's list of Asia's 50 Best Bars of 2016, it's in the basement of an office building behind a door stamped with a "No Admittance" sign that looks like it might lead to the utility room.
It fits just 20-25 people comfortably, but there's no limit on entry and no dress code.
The bartenders each have their own cocktail menu to encourage a loyal following.
The menu changes every few weeks, but the Jungle Bird remains.
A concoction of rum, Campari, pineapple juice, lime juice and sugar syrup, it was originally created in Malaysia in the mid-1970s at the old Hilton's Aviary Bar.
"Everyone knows Singapore Sling. Now we want to promote the Jungle Bird," O+A co-founder Shawn Chong says.
The bar is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Omakase + Appreciate, Lower Ground, Ming Annexe, 9 Jalan Ampang, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2022 2238
JungleBird
At first, you might be tempted to call this a tiki bar, but there's nothing tiki-tacky about it.
There are no drinks with pink umbrellas, no hula girls, no one taking liberties with a ukelele.
There are bamboo and rattan furnishings, wallpapers of green palms, and bartenders sporting Hawaiian shirts -- but all tasteful and understated, balanced by sleek lines and contemporary elements.
Joshua Ivanovic, an English transplant who's lived in Malaysia for years, co-founded JungleBird and describes it as "a tropical house of rum inspired by Old Malaya".
But there is one standout drink not made with rum, and it's called Closed on Mondays.
It's made of tequila, coconut milk, salted egg yolk, red chili and curry leaf syrup, and is inspired by the salted-egg squid -- legendary among both locals and tourists -- at Jalan Alor's Wong Ah Wah restaurant.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, DJs play live sets of funk, soul, rockabilly, Motown, disco, or hip hop.
JungleBird, 15 Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2011 7715
Coley
Nestled in the back of DR.Inc cafe in Bangsar, this sliver of a cocktail bar is a neighborhood gem.
It also seems to be a bartenders' favorite.
CK Kho, Coley's unassuming founder, is a stalwart of the local bar scene with more than 15 years of experience.
He named the bar after Ada Coleman, the legendary creator of the Hanky Panky cocktail who made her name at the London Savoy's American Bar in the early 20th century.
Coley has a retro-modern vibe and sits somewhere between a bar and a cafe -- airy but intimate, buzzy but laid-back.
There's no pretense or fantasy here.
"I wanted to set up a bar where people could feel free to hang out at anytime," CK says.
Try the Saffron Sour, Kopi Old Fashioned, gin with coconut water, or whiskey with bubble tea.
Coley is closed on Sundays.
Coley, 8 Jalan Kemuja, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +6019 270 9719
FOR THE VIEW
Heli Lounge Bar
The working helipad on the rooftop of Menara KH moonlights as a bar from 6 p.m. every evening -- unless it rains.
You can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city as the sun sets, unfettered by even safety barriers.
Access the helipad via the companion bar on the tower's 34th floor, where you must buy at least a drink before heading the two floors up.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays after 9 p.m., bottle service -- or a minimum spend of 100 ringgit per person (around $23) -- applies to access the helipad.
During this time, there is also a strict dress code: no shorts or tank tops for men, and no flip flops.
Heli Lounge Bar, Level 34, Menara KH, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2110 5034
Coppersmith
Coppersmith inhabits the shadowed walkways between a wine bar and a restaurant in the imposing Troika towers.
It's small but stately, with high ceilings and full-length windows with a view of the Petronas twin towers.
Uniquely, the copper bar is built facing the wall -- accessible to the odd patron who may fancy making his own drink, with the guidance of a bartender.
The cocktails here look less like cocktails than works of art, each one topped with an edible decorative complement.
Copper Fairies, a mixture of tequila, blueberry and black pepper syrup and sparkling wine, is crowned with an intricate salted bancaramel structure.
The Banana Rama is banana beer mixed with Ron Zacapa rum, topped with dried banana dipped in dark chocolate.
Coppersmith also serves small bites, such as foie gras curry puff and smoked-eel doughnut with caviar cream.
Coppersmith, 23rd floor, Tower B, The Troika, 19 Persiaran KLCC, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2162 0886
FOR CLUBBING
TREC
TREC (Taste, Relish, Experience, Celebrate) is the largest entertainment hub in Kuala Lumpur, with clubs, bars, restaurants, and live music and comedy venues.
Its most famous resident is Zouk -- which, according to several locals, is still one of the best places to go clubbing in the city.
The superclub has lasted 13 years by constantly revamping itself, and now has a whopping 11 rooms.
TREC is also home to Como, a Spanish restobar which hosts live music and DJ sets.
IKKI, a speakeasy-style bar with the look of an English gentleman's club, serves Japanese-influenced cocktails and food.
There's also iPong KL, a beer pong bar, and Friendscino, a darts bar.
TREC, 436 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2110 5095
Ky KL
For a more low-key clubbing experience, there's the basement of the Mandarin Oriental.
Originally founded in Singapore, Ky means "vibration" in Japanese and was conceived as a place for underground music aficionados.
It sports a minimalist luxe-industrial vibe and plays house, techno, hip hop, R&B, afro funk or disco, depending on the day.
It hosts both international and local talent, and has seen the likes of the UK's Nick Warren and Detroit's Octave One perform.
Ky, the main room, is open on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 p.m.
Ren, a smaller room that also doubles as a cocktail bar in the early evenings, is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 6 p.m.
Club Ky KL, Basement, Mandarin Oriental, off Jalan Pinang, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +6012 921 1730
FOR CRAFT BEER
Taps Beer Bar
The craft beer scene here is still a nascent one, but Taps leads the way with the largest range of craft beers in the country.
Its selection spans America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Southeast Asia.
It also has 15 beers on tap at any one time.
"We'd been wanting to open a bar because we drank a lot as a family," Alvin Lim says.
He's one of five cousins who founded the place in 2011, and their uncle and his friends make up the resident live band that plays Thursday to Saturday evenings.
Those new to craft beer can order a beer paddle for a taster of three tap varieties.
Taps also organizes the annual Better Beer Festival in October.
Taps Beer Bar, A-0-3 One Residency, 1 Jalan Nagasari, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2110 1560
FOR LIVE MUSIC
The Bee
The Bee has long been committed to hosting an eclectic mix of live music acts, both local and international.
"We want good music, period," says Lim Kok Kean, a.k.a. Bunga, of music collectives Indiego and Twilight Actiongirl.
He's one of a group of creatives behind The Bee and the annual Urbanscapes music and arts festival, which takes place May 5 to 21 this year.
Recent guests at The Bee include The Temper Trap and Japanese psychedelic punk band Bo Ningen.
A recent makeover gave it a bigger stage, a better sound system and a new DJ console.
It also gave it a more rock 'n' roll edge, with neon lyrics emblazoned on walls and a line-up of vintage pinball machines.
The Bee also hosts quiz nights, pun competitions, swing dancing and sneaker-swap meets.
When there are no events, The Bee operates as usual as a restaurant and bar.
The Bee, 36B Block C, Level G2, Publika, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 6201 8577
Bobo KL
No Black Tie and Alexis Bistro Ampang are the big names synonymous with live jazz in the city, but more intimate venues have popped up recently.
Bobo KL's upstairs piano lounge is an exercise in minimalist elegance, with earthy hues of gray concrete and warm wood balanced by sleek marble tops and plush drapery.
It feels like a private living room, with the small stage hardly removed from the audience.
Guest musicians perform on Friday and Saturday nights.
On other nights except Mondays, the resident pianist and singer David Gomez takes over.
Bobo KL serves Modern European food and dessert and a decent selection of wines.
Bobo KL, 65-1 Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +603 2092 5002
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