#its so busy and all paths are incredibly congested | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hvwks · 11 months

Text

𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 : an skk college au. ( part 1 | part 2 )

content warning: alcohol mentions, toxic relationships

The thing is, Chuuya Nakahara tried his damndest to mind his fucking business. His grades were decent enough to land him on the Dean’s List, he showed up to class, and he maintained a healthy enough social life to scrape by with what he could genuinely deem to be your average, run-of-the-mill college experience. In fact, he was such a normal, well-adjusted college student that he even accepted an invitation to the fall semester’s first official non-campus mixer at the excited demands of his underclassmen friends. There was not a damn thing that could ruin his incredibly average, entirely uneventful, terribly unenviable junior year. And, you see, the thing is… Dazai Osamu would never let a day go by without doing his damndest to ruin his ex-boyfriend’s day.

It’s a startling fact that struck discomfort through Chuuya’s very core, an uneasy twist in the pit of his stomach leaving him painfully nauseous as the reality of his evening began to slowly settle in.

It had started innocuously enough for the most part, really. After all, the start of the fall term was an awfully congested few weeks. Itineraries crammed with welcome events printed onto tackily-colored fliers that often went forgotten, catching in the curated branches lining the campus sidewalks like an afterthought, were only the start to the tireless advertisements to encourage student engagement within Yokohama University.

If the overzealous orientation leaders weren’t forward enough, the students, themselves, whispered and giggled with delight to swap details for non-university sanctioned welcome events–and if anyone wanted to make an impression within their respective circles, then they had no choice but to participate in the rudimentary politics of university social hierarchy.

Akutagawa wasn’t the kind of peer that often relented to the frivolities of booze and bitches–so when his phone had lit up with a text from the demure, otherwise-reserved art history major asking what his plans were for that particular night, Chuuya couldn’t help the confusion that clouded his groggy bliss. He had texted back a simple nm, why? before tossing the device aside, half expecting the other to block off an hour or two to help him organize his dorm. When his phone vibrated against the dark navy cotton of his bedsheets only moments later, Chuuya started to feel the first inkling of reluctance bloom in his chest.

Head turned ever so slightly against the pillow, a mess of ginger locks fanned out against it–and when he fixed his phone a mute glare, he can’t help but hope that whatever it was that was waiting for him, it wouldn’t immediately derail into utter chaos at a moment’s notice. Mentally, Chuuya knew his fear was painfully irrational.

His move into the dorms had been seamless and his roommate–Tachihara, a classmate of his from a shared Introduction to Life Sciences class the previous semester–proved to be amicable enough. In fact, even his class schedule was something that could be considered desirable. There was not a hair out of place in his life thus far.

Save for the fact that the night before, he and Dazai had crossed paths for the first time in over a year.

It had left Chuuya shell-shocked, blood draining from his cheeks and blue hues stretched wide with something between fear and pure rage. The moment those familiar, dark, and endless depths had locked onto him from across the sidewalk, Chuuya felt as if the gravity keeping him locked into place had doubled in its weight, crushing his lungs from the inside out until each inhale left a pinprick of needles piercing through his ribcage.

He had been making his way back to his dorm from the bookstore, two large textbooks toted under his arm. The sun had long since begun its descent beneath the horizon, staining the sky in a watercolor palette of deep indigos and rusted amber–and though the sunset’s splendor captured a beauty unlike any other, the shadows cast out from behind Dazai’s tall figure felt sinister.

Chuuya stopped dead in his tracks, muscles going limp for only a moment before he hissed out in an attempt at catching his books before they fell to the pavement. Standing only six feet before him was the man who had all but left him for dead, the man who had somehow found a way to break the heart of a boy who had already lost so much, been hurt too many times. His dark locks were ruffled by the subtle fall breeze, an expression somewhere between pleased amusement and pity lingering in the depths of his eyes. For a moment, Chuuya felt as if he was being looked at like a helpless animal, a bird with a broken wing that his newfound captor felt sorry for.

His stomach clenched.

When Chuuya closed his eyes, he wasn’t there anymore. He was back in the quiet, cramped space of his old bedroom in his previous apartment, a cold blue glow bathing him in an unearthly hue. His shoulders were shaking–and though his cheeks were wet, the tears clinging to his lashes weren’t from sadness–it was from pure, unadulterated fury. He was perched at the edge of his lofted bed, feet barely skimming the carpeted floor underneath. “You fucked him, didn’t you?” Words were blurted out through clenched teeth, impulsive and raw.

Dazai looked just as blank back then as he did now, expression unmoving.

It only made Chuuya angrier.

“At least say something, dammit! At least fucking pretend like you care!”

“Even if I did, would it matter? Looks like you’re already convinced of what you want to know.” Dazai spoke so passively, his tone so low and disinterested, that Chuuya couldn’t help the snarl that ripped from his chest. He kicked his foot back hard enough to bang his heel into the wooden frame of his bed–but the sound did little to ruffle the other. Dazai remained unphased, watching with a bored look as Chuuya gritted his teeth once more.

“Get out.” Chuuya spat the words out like it was poison.

Silence.

“I said get out!”

Chuuya refused to look up after that; his vision had blurred, cheeks hot with anger–and as he forced himself to study the uneven plaid design of his comforter, the sound of his door latching back into place was the only goodbye he’d ever get out of Dazai Osamu. Chuuya hadn’t texted him that night out of spite–but when morning came and there wasn’t a practiced apology text laying in wait in his notifications, he couldn’t help the way his brows furrowed and unease settled in his chest.

He hadn’t realized that after that night, Dazai wouldn’t resurface until this moment, over a year later, when all Chuuya wanted to do was take his fucking textbooks home.

They had stared at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity–and only when Chuuya’s lungs protested for oxygen did the young man pull himself back with a strained noise caught in the back of his throat. He tore his gaze away in favor of turning pointedly on his heel, leaving his back to the other as he trudged off in the very direction he had been coming from. Chuuya resigned himself to taking the long way back to the student residences–and though the fury radiating off of him in waves was all but palpable, he could still somehow feel careful eyes burning into the back of his head.

It was an interaction that had haunted Chuuya well into the night, leaving him tossing and turning in his narrow, twin-sized mattress. At some point, he had resigned himself to staring blankly up at the ceiling, counting as many of the textured patches he could discern from the popcorn-plaster. It was the only thing that seemed to deter him, for every time his eyelids felt heavy and the quiet, subtle waves of slumber threatened to take hold, Chuuya found his thoughts plagued by dark eyes, a devilish smile, and the cunning whisper of the devil murmuring against his ear.

Perhaps that’s why his body felt as heavy as lead, weighing down into his rumpled sheets with a flicker of apprehension tugging weakly at his chest. He chewed his lower lip in contemplation–and after counting five beats out, he gritted out a sigh of exasperation through his teeth and reached for his phone in defeat. His thumb skimmed over the button on the side of the thin device–and as the screen’s backlight glowed to life, Chuuya’s teeth worried into the tender flesh of his cheek.

3m ago - Akutagawa

I have an invitation to an alpha delta alpha party.

4m ago - Akutagawa

i need you to be my escort this evening.

Fucking Alpha Delta Alpha. Yokohama University’s kumbaya version of a Greek Life rip-off, ADA had a reputation on campus for being a gang of notorious do-gooders who earned a sizable chunk of university funding for their various activities. Volunteering, activism, fundraising, and a stamp of approval from the University President himself–membership into Alpha Delta Alpha was a notorious and rigorous process that allowed recruitment of only the cream of the crop within the student body.

With the school’s administration little more than a puppet to maintain their political standing with the student body, Alpha Delta had too much time and even more resources to waste on events. Those with lofty goals post-grad were often far too eager to rub shoulders with those blessed with the ADA’s letters and even those who wished to make a name for themselves within the university’s thrumming social geopolitical sphere wasted no time in making good with the alpha deltas in hopes of getting a recommendation from future alumni.

With that said… getting into an Alpha Delta party at the start of the school year was an emblem of honor and Chuuya would have to be both dumb and ready to commit social suicide if he turned down such a coveted invitation.

Well, shit.

“Damn brat,” he mumbled under his breath, swiping over the notification to unlock his phone. He held the camera up, expression going still long enough for his Face ID to scan open–and once the familiar blue bubbles of his text thread floated into his field of vision, Chuuya tapped out a message that he hoped read as both nonchalant and decidedly cool.

Sent Now - Delivered

alright. we pre-gaming?

God knows he’s going to need a few fucking drinks to survive the night. He dropped his phone against his chest, heaving out a sigh of defeat. The party down at the Alpha Delta house would be, no doubt, huge. The house itself was a rather spacious brownstone–three floors, complete with a basement–and though a large number of drunken students would no doubt be throwing up their liquor over the railings, Chuuya deduced that the odds of bumping into anyone particular unseemly (namely, any particular persons with a name that started with a D and ended with a -zai) were slim to none.

He swiped his phone back up as it buzzed to life once more, narrowing his eyes against the glare.

Now - Akutagawa

mine and gin’s place at 9. bring your roommate.

His text message was followed soon after by a dropped pin, a bubble containing the address to his new apartment popping up along with it. Chuuya tapped out a thumbs up reaction to the other’s message before flopping an arm listlessly over his eyes. A low sigh pushed past his lips as he considered his options. Surely, his first part of junior year couldn’t end in disaster. What were the odds, anyway? His sophomore year had been full of suffering and, goddammit, Chuuya was determined to let this year go by under the radar. If his friends wanted to take his ass to a party, then so be it. Haunting thoughts of his ex-boyfriend would have to be something reserved for his pillow and sleepless nights.

“Fuck it,” he mumbled under his breath. Chuuya shifted his weight with a tired groan, legs swinging over the edge of his bed before hopping himself down onto the floor properly. He rubbed at his eyes with one hand absently, the other tucking under the fabric of his oversized t-shirt to scratch at his chest. “It ain’t gonna be that bad.”

Maybe, just maybe, saying it out loud enough times would make it true.

—

Chuuya spent the better part of his day with a knot of discomfort settled in the pit of his stomach. The sensation twisted every time eyes passed over the time, numbers glaring back at him from his phone screen tauntingly. Mechanical pencil tapped with apprehension against the edge of his laptop throughout the majority of his classes, garnering irritated looks and snide whispers behind lifted hands.

He had been able to mostly ignore it, really, but as the second half of his evening lab started to drag into what felt like an eternity, Chuuya couldn’t help the way he upped the tempo of his rattling pencil. The student sitting to his left–an initially naive-looking young man with a shock of white hair and hand-cut bangs that, admittedly, could do with a bit of trimming and wide golden eyes rapt with attention as they remained glued to the slew of chemical reactions inked into the whiteboard–had finally snapped.

“Hey, some of us really want to learn here.” His voice, Chuuya noted with a certain level of surprise, was meek–and yet, the lack of sarcasm behind his remark somehow made it far more uncomfortable. The boy propped his elbow on the surface of their lab bench, chin resting in the tender dip of his palm. “I get that you might be stressed–or something–but would you mind? You know…” his words tapered off as he spared an almost sheepish half-smile in Chuuya’s direction. The boy gestured with his free hand to the pen resting idly against the edge of the table.

“Oh–” Chuuya gave a quiet sniff, instinctively pulling his hand away to tuck the utensil away into his notebook without further protest. “Sure. Sorry.” Words were grunted out with little interest–but as the boy gave him a grateful smile and turned his attention back to the board, Chuuya couldn’t help the slight pang of guilt that twisted in his chest.

Yeah, okay, fine. Maybe, just maybe, Dazai’s been on his mind all fucking day. And, yeah–it was driving him fucking nuts.

He felt fucking pathetic, really. After spending the entirety of his sophomore year rebuilding himself from the unseemly mess that Dazai had left behind in his wake, all it took was one fucking chance meeting to unravel all the months of laborious progress he had made? Yeah, bullshit.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Chuuya hissed out through his teeth, the humiliation of it all only serving to pump a fresh wave of anger through him. A hand moved to grip a fistful of ginger hair, fingers curling until his knuckles ran white–and as Chuuya groaned out in frustration, he dropped his head into the crook of his elbow in defeat. He buried away into the darkness, fighting for something, anything to grant him reprieve from the neverending anxiety that thoughts of Dazai seemed to bring him. Chuuya wasn’t sure exactly how long he had stayed that way–but at some point, the teaching assistant’s disinterred drone had tapered off until the sound of papers shuffling, bags zipping shut, and lab-safe, closed-toed shoes shuffling against the tile floors filled the air.

“Um–excuse me?”

Chuuya jolted. His head shot up with a half-choked yelp and his ears growing red from being caught at being slumped over his desk like some fucking loser. “Ah, shit–sorry, what?” Chuuya mentally kicked himself for the level of inelegance that seemed to chase his jumble of excuses, but as his eyes lifted to meet an apologetic amber gaze, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved to see a lack of outright annoyance reflected back at him.

“I’m not sure if you caught what the professor said,” the white-haired boy began tentatively, “but we’ll be partnering up for the semester for all of our experiments. So… I thought we could swap numbers? It would make working on things a lot easier.” He almost sounded like he was reciting a personal monologue he had rehearsed mentally for the better part of their lecture–but as his brows came together in concern, Chuuya couldn’t help the subtle pull of sympathy threading through his chest.

“Yeah, sure. Name’s Chuuya,” he volunteered after clearing his throat, straightening in his seat.

The boy grinned at him, lighting up his expression for a brief moment. “Nakajima Atsushi.” He happily offered his phone to the other, a hopeful lilt coloring his words. “Nice to meet you. I’m a freshman, technically, but my boarding school credits got me up to an intermediate science lab, so… it’s just.” He had been rambling again–but this time, he had caught himself the moment Chuuya quirked a brow with reserved curiosity. The boy–Atsushi–drew in a steadying breath before bobbing his head in a short nod. (Chuuya glanced over his shoulder briefly, wondering if someone behind him had given Atsushi a signal to move forward…. or something.) “It’s nice to meet you, Chuuya.” Atsushi finally concluded, flashing a bright but somewhat more demure smile.

Chuuya leaned back in his seat, brows still lifted as he studied the other. “Nice to meet ya, too, Atsushi.” He kicked one foot up onto the leg of the bench, using it as leverage to lift his chair up onto its own back legs. Chuuya hovered that way for a moment, watching as Atsushi flashed another warm smile. He dropped his hand after a moment, allowing the chair to make contact with the hard tile with a loud clack.

Taking Atsushi’s phone from his hand, Chuuya punches in his number before hovering over the contact name. He hesitates briefly, head tilting to the side ever so slightly before tapping out: Chuuya Lab Partner.

“Here,” he offered his newfound lab partner, gaze lifting to fix him with a quizzical look. “Text me whenever, we can make plans. Or whatever.” Shoulders lift in a noncommittal shrug–and though Chuuya doesn’t feel like the conversation warrants further attention, the other continues to chirp away.

“Thanks! I’ll be sure to do that. I already wrote down all the assignment that are due throughout the semester, so I’ll text it over to you! That way, we can plan in advance and–”

“Hey, man, listen,” Chuuya cut the other off abruptly, his teeth clicking together with mild irritation, “I appreciate all your effort and shit, but I got things I gotta do. So… maybe just text me later?” He shot the boy a sideways glance, lips twitching as he noted the slightly embarrassed expression dancing its way across Atsushi’s features.

“Right!” Atsushi asserted automatically, his back straightening and his brows pinching together in a show of concentration–as if coming to the attention of his drill sergeant rather than conceding to his rather unamused lab partner. Chuuya’s lips twitched downwards, unsure of what to make of his strange, albeit overly genuine, lab partner.

As Atsushi reached for his bag, his hand hovered over the arm strap before he glanced back at the red-head over his shoulder, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “It was really nice meeting you, though! I’ll text you later, okay?” He lifted a hand to card it through his mop of unruly white hair, offering a sheepish smile of consolation.

Could be worse, Chuuya considered, he could be a major dick instead. In fact, he couldn’t help but bob his nod in an understanding nod. “Yeah, for sure, man.” He placed a hand at the edge of the lab bench, pushing against it enough to hoist himself up to his feet. As he rested his weight at the balls of his feet and finally came to a stand at Atsushi’s side (much to Chuuya’s chagrin, he stood squarely at Atsushi’s shoulder even as he strained to hold his spine completely straight; his teeth clicked together in mild irritation, but ATsushi didn’t seem to notice his flare of annoyance,) he adjusted the strap of his bag against his shoulder and cleared his throat.

“See you around?” Chuuya offered, head tilting to the side ever so slightly.

The smile that pulled its way across Atsushi’s face was kind and warm. He had already folded his lab-coat away, having tucked it into the back pocket of his bookbag, and as he turned to give Chuuya his full attention, a fingerless glove-clad hand hovered over the jacket that had remained draped over the back of his chair throughout the course of their lecture. “Yeah! You, too!”

His sharp blue gaze shifted momentarily, lingering on the burnt orange sleeves and the deep, crimson felt of the body of Atsushi’s jacket. The other lifted it–and though his motions bordered on careless with how he pulled it over his shoulders and adjusted the way it draped over his lithe frame, Chuuya couldn’t help the way his brows shot up in muted surprise the moment he caught sight of the letters stitched into the fabric in glittering gold thread–AΔA.

Shit.

Chuuya grimaced, unable to quell the way the knife buried between the crevices of his ribcage twisted in protest at the reminder of where the majority of his evening would be spent–in the lion’s den, chaperoning the underclassmen he swore he didn’t particularly care for… all while nursing a freshly-bruised heart after the resurgence of the one man Chuuya had hoped to never see again.

He watched as Atsushi’s figure retreated, the label glittering at the back of his letterman taunting Chuuya all the while.

“God dammit,” the red-head hissed under his breath, one hand balling into a fist at his side. He stood that way for a long while in the empty classroom, the harsh overhead lights flickering ever so slightly, before giving his head a brisk shake.

If after all this time he still couldn’t shake the way his insides twisted at even the most fleeting reminders of his ex-boyfriend, then there really was only one solution.

Get drunk enough to forget… or die trying.

—--

“Dude, I can’t believe it’s only day one and you already got us an invite to, like, the biggest fuckin’ party on campus this week!” Tachihara’s gleeful whoops felt faraway despite the other’s relative proximity.

Chuuya had flopped back onto his narrow, dorm-issued mattress within moments of crossing the threshold of his room–and in the hours following, the red-head had done little more than bury himself under the covers and stare blankly at the glowing, mind-numbing screen of his phone when he felt the need to disassociate from the waking world.

At some point, the door had creaked it open and an unruly shock of russet locks, sicking up in every which direction, popped his head in. Tachihara, for what it was worth, had proven to be a decent enough roommate. He wasn’t particularly abrasive, minded his business (mostly), and had a friendly disposition–and though the other could be quite the chatterbox as Chuuya had learned on move-in day, he had taken a liking to Tachihara. So when the other raised a brow in mock concern and piped up with a steady “you good, man? You been laid up like that for, like, four hours,” Chuuya had heaved a sigh and confessed that he didn’t have the energy needed to make good on the plans he had committed to that morning.

It was then that Chuuya showed Tachihara the texts Akutagawa had sent him upon waking up. The other’s jaw dropped in awe, amber eyes stretched wide with disbelief before whooping automatically–”no fuckin’ way we’re gonna skip!”

Not an hour later, Chuuya had been dragged into the throes of getting ready for a night he certainly didn’t want to have. Ever since lab, the nauseating sensation that something terrible was going to happen left the hair on the back of his neck standing on end–and anytime he tried to swallow the unease back, the vision of knowing dark eyes studying him from far away left his skin prickling and his chest tight.

He stood before the full length mirror propped haphazardly against the cramped corner of his and Tachihara’s shared dorm, a scowl tugging at the corners of his lips as he allowed his scrutinizing gaze to sweep over his form. Granted, the thin, sheer material of the black, long-sleeved top hugging the toned muscles of his biceps and chest caught the light in all the right ways. It left little to the imagination, Chuuya noted absently, as the material exposed the two metallic piercings through his nipples. He initially felt as if it was doing too much, as his peers would often say–but with Tachihara’s brazen encouragement (“Nah, you look good. I mean, you’ll pull bitches for sure! Why hide the goods, you feel me?”) he found himself lacking the energy to argue.

The entire ordeal still grated on his nerves–and the only thing pushing him forward save for the handful of passive aggressive texts from Akutagawa asking if he even started getting dressed yet was the promise of unlimited and–best of all–free booze.

Chuuya’s grimace, however, didn’t seem to falter despite the way deft hands shifted to adjust the waistband of the fitted black jeans hanging from his hips. The studded belt cinched at his waist was simple, but accented by the sheer quality of his top–even Chuuya had to admit that if a few heads turned in his general direction, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising.

And yet, as he gazed forlornly at his own reflection, Tachihara couldn’t help but cease his endless chattering. Chuuya had tuned him out a while ago, offering non-committal hums at regular intervals before throwing in the occasional that’s crazy, man–and while the other had taken it in stride thus far, he fell quiet to cast Chuuya a curious look from the other side of the room.

“So, you wanna talk about why you look like you smelled dog shit, or what?”

Chuuya shot Tachihara a sideways look through narrowed eyes–but as their gazes met, he couldn’t help the way he drew in a sharp breath through his teeth. His roommate, despite his boisterous attitude, had his brows knitted together with concern. Tachihara’s expression was one of concern, a knowing look glinting in the depths of his amber gaze–and before Chuuya could find it in him to tell the other off with a snide, well-timed quip, he found himself heaving a tired sigh.

His shoulders sagged–and before Tachihara could read the troubled confusion tugging at the corners of his lips, he turned his back to the other in favor of fixing a steadfast gaze at his own reflection. “It’s not a big deal,” Chuuya assured with as casual a shrug as he could manage. He pressed his lips together into a thin line, looking vaguely pensive for a brief moment before occupying his hands with adjusting a few loose strands of his hair.

“Just saw someone I didn’t expect to see on campus the other night and it’s just been buggin’ me.” He knew it wasn’t the most detailed explanation–in fact, he could all but feel Tachihara’s pointed gaze burning into his back, but frankly, he couldn’t be fucked to care.

The recurring thought of Dazai alone was enough to force him to clench his jaw, muscle jumping visibly as his reflection’s shoulders squared and his hand twitched–as if his fingers itched to curl into a fist that would find purchase against his asshole of an ex-boyfriend’s jaw.

“What? Your ex or something?”

He flinched.

“... Yeah. My ex… or something.” The words felt bitter against his tongue, like he was confessing to a crime he didn’t commit–but as Chuuya gave a haughty sniff, Tachihara found enough sense left in him to read the room and keep the questioning burning his tongue to himself. The room fell into silence for a moment, only the sound of clothing ruffling together filling the air between them.

Chuuya swallowed back a tired sounding sigh, gaze dropping from his reflection in favor of staring down at the stacks of thick silver rings wrapped around his fingers. The thin coat of layer polish against his nails had long since began to chip–and as he idly considered whether he still had enough time to swipe on a fresh coat, the subtle rumble of his phone vibrating to life within his rumpled sheets.

His gaze snapped over to it with a low sigh, reaching to rummage around until he was able to pluck it out between his fingers. As the screen glowed to life, Akutagawa’s name dutifully peered back at him. Great, Chuuya groaned to himself. He’s probably pacing a damn burn into his carpet waiting for us by now.

Akutagawa - Now

we agreed to meet for the pre-game at my apartment at 9 pm

Akutagawa - Now

It’s already 9:03

Akutagawa - 1 minute ago

Chuuya. where are you guys?

“God, of course,” Chuuya groaned, head hanging in defeat. “We gotta go, man.” He paused long enough to tap out a brief response back to Akutagawa–on our way.

Tachihara’s laugh filled his ears–and as Chuuya turned on his heel to meet his roommate’s gaze, he’s relieved to see that the other had already reached to pluck his jacket from the hook anchored against the back of their door. “Yeah, yeah. Akutagawa already got his panties in a twist?”

Chuuya snorted, unable to conceal the ghost of a smirk that tugged at his lips–the first genuine show of amusement since he’d opened his eyes that godforsaken morning. “Damn right. C’mon, if we don’t get there soon I’m worried he might go bald from the stress.” He shouldered past Tachihara, the smug smirk settling across his features comfortably as his roommate mirrored the expression.

“His sister’s gonna be there right?”

“Gin? Yeah, I think she’s the one who wanted to invite you.”

“Oh, sweet. Look, I’m trying to get her number so if you could wingman for me…”

“Dude, seriously. Shut the hell up.”

—

Two shots of blue raspberry Svedka and a half-filled solo cup of the cheapest pink moscato from the liquor store later, Chuuya was pleasantly buzzed. His skin felt warm and the rose-tinted blush staining his cheeks were a welcome reprieve against the biting September breeze. The thin, comfortable haze clouding his mind left his skin buzzing to life, the first hint of what he could only hope was excitement flickering in his chest.

On one side, Akutagawa flanked him with a stony expression–and though he had nursed a mysterious mixed drink for the better part of their pre-game, the pink flush running from the bridge of his nose and down the planes of his cheeks betrayed that he, too, was fairly pliant. His forehead was creased and thin hands were tucked into the pockets of his pants–and though the leather material squeaked with each passing step, he paid no mind and focused on keeping pace with the red-head’s newfound vigor.

On Chuuya’s opposite arm was Akutagawa’s twin sister–Gin. Chuuya had grown so used to seeing the younger of the Akutagawa siblings with her hair piled up and a surgical mask obscuring her features in an attempt at keeping hay fever at bay that seeing her earlier that evening threw him for a loop. Her dark locks swept down to her waist, the tresses framing her face braided with silver threads to accentuate their silkiness. Her make-up was light, dainty–only a kiss of blush to her cheeks, sheer glossed lips, and full lashes to bring attention to her startling blue-gray eyes.

In fact, her beauty was so startling that Tachihara had needed to shotgun three cans of beer consecutively outside before he could even muster the nerve to acknowledge Gin at all. As they made their way from the Akutagawas’ apartment to the ADA house, the russet-haired boy couldn’t help the way he rambled nervously in a desperate attempt at winning Gin’s intrigue. To her credit, Gin listened with a polite smile and even offered a quiet laugh here and there–but even in his semi-inebriated state, Chuuya could tell that Tachihara was really lacking any sense of game altogether.

Chuuya came to Tachihara’s mercy soon enough, cutting his roommate off with a loud caw the moment the ADA’s house came into view. The house itself was a beautiful sight to behold; as Yokohama University’s crowned jewel of the best of the best, Alpha Delta Alpha was afforded with what Chuuya could only assume was an endless funnel of money. Their living amenities were nothing short of luxurious. The house stood tall, the brick facade decorated artfully by twisting ivy vines.

There were large, french-style windows, white wood accents contrasting neatly with the rustic atmosphere of aged brick. But most noticeable of all were the large, glittering Greek letters nestled neatly over the entryway. A wide array of steps overlooking the grassy slope atop which the house sat lead to the entrance–and as Chuuya squinted to strain against the darkness, he could already make out the shimmering outline of AΔA’s hanging above the gaggle of students attempting to wiggle their way in past the unfortunate pair of freshman tasked with gatekeeping the party.

“Aw, shit! Can’t believe there’s already a fuckin’ line out here!”

Chuuya’s voice boomed down the block despite his size. He puffed his chest, hands resting at his hips and a newfound sense of alcohol-induced confidence surging through him. Most of the other kids congregating in the misshapen line were already too drunk to care–but that did little to quell Akutagawa’s disciplined annoyance.

“This is exactly why I had suggested that we keep to my schedule.” His tone is low and clipped–and though Chuuya scoffed with an eye-roll, he opted to ignore him in favor of adjusting the collar of his silken black dress-shirt.

“Yeah, yeah,” Chuuya snorted, digging an elbow into Akutagawa’s side. “We heard you the first three times earlier. C’mon, didn’t you say you got an invite? We should be able to skip this damn line!” Perhaps he was being overly brazen, the liquor twined through his veins spurring him on. After all, with his friends close by, an ample amount of booze to peruse, and more than half the campus packed into each and every room, there was certainly no way in hell he’d bump into fucking–

“Dazai-san said he’d let us in if we could find him.”

Akutagawa’s voice was smooth, unruffled, and painfully plain. The silence that immediately settled over the group was suffocating–and though the distant sound of students vomiting into the bushes mingled with the muffled bass radiating off of the ADA house filled the air, Chuuya was certain he’d just gone deaf. The confidence he had felt only moments ago turned to ice in his veins–and as he turned slowly on his heel, he fixed Akutagawa with a glare that could only be called murderous.

“What the fuck did you just say?”

The look of mild surprise that colored Akutagawa’s expression was immediate–but as he turned to peer down at Chuuya, it was clear that he had (belatedly) realized that he had made a rather grave mistake. “Ah, the invitation in question was actually extended to me by Dazai-san last night. He told me to bring my friends and I was aware that had I mentioned it was he who asked us to come, you might have said–”

“No! Absolutely fucking not!” Heat rose to Chuuya’s cheeks, deepening the rosy blush into a deep, furious red. “Fuck you! You know what happened and you still did that shit? Fuck off!” Without thinking, the alcohol addling his mind forced him to ball a hand into a fist before driving it angrily into the center of Akutagawa’s chest.

The dark-haired boy coughed, choking out a noise of protest before stumbling back.

“Ryu!” Gin gasped, taking an immediate step forward to catch her brother’s arm with a hand. In the same instant, Tachihara let out a muted tch under his breath and lunged to Chuuya’s side.

“Oy, dude, relax!” He quipped, looping one arm around Chuuya’s middle and the other moving to pull his fist back. “Come on, it’s not that serious! There’s a ton of fucking people here, let’s just go and get drunk…” His anxious attempt at quelling Chuuya’s anger, however, proved only semi-effective.

The red-head didn’t deflate entirely, but as his burning anger simmered ever so slightly, he clenched his jaw and shot Akutagawa another knowing glare. He bit down on his tongue, forcing himself to stay silent as the other slowly straightened back up, swaying only slightly. Chuuya licked his teeth, sucking in a breath before going limp in Tachihara’s grasp. His roommate furrowed his brows, wary for a few more moments before pulling back with a certain level of reluctance.

“Sorry,” Chuuya ground out through clenched teeth. “Just caught me off-guard.”

Akutagawa swallowed back a quiet noise–but as Chuuya’s half-hearted apology settled between them, he gave a curt nod. “Understood. I apologize for keeping that bit of information for you.” He hesitated for a brief moment before lifting a thin hand to cover his mouth, coughing quietly. “After all. I did believe that you weren’t so… sensitive about him.”

“Okay, now you’re askin’ for it…”

“Chuuya! C’mon, man!” Tachihara cut them both off, this time taking his time to shove Chuuya back entirely and wedge himself with between the red-head and Akutagawa. “Both of you apologize. Chuuya already did so it’s your turn,” he continued, arms crossing pointedly over his chest. “And a real one, this time. Not some back-handed one.”

Chuuya gave Tachihara a grateful look despite the defeated sigh that escaped him. His gaze slid over to Akutagawa who now looked properly reprimanded. The anger in his chest dissipated a fraction further as the underclassman looked away before finally lifting dark gray hues to meet Chuuya’s gaze. “I’m sorry.” His words were quiet and pensive, but Chuuya knew him well enough to know that that was as genuine as it would get. “I did intend for you to enjoy yourself tonight.” Another beat of hesitation passed–and the reluctance returned to Akutagawa’s voice. “... Together. All of us. Since we’re… friends.”

In spite of himself, Chuuya found a wide grin pulling at his mouth as he watched the other struggle with the idea of intimacy. Without thinking, he laughs. It’s a deep, amused sound, a hand of his clutching at his stomach. “God, you’re so fucking pathetic, Akutagawa. C’mon. Let’s go. We’ll find a way in without that dipshit.”

#skk #skk fanfic #skk fanfiction #bungo stray dogs #bsd #bsd fanficion #dazai x chuuya #chuuya x dazai #* my writing #* fic: i know there's a blade where your heart is.

4 notes · View notes

smallnetbusiness · 7 months

Link

0 notes

graff1980 · 6 years

Text

Mother Mercy

A small pale faced figure stands, enshrouded in darkness, while a hauntingly sweet song softly echoes through the cave.

“There’ll be days precious moments see them sunning by the bay till, the sea sees the star light, blinking angels dissipate.”

Somewhere in this sightless void a larger form slumbers. Moans of agony pass this man’s parched parted lips. Tears moisten his painfully swollen face. The stench of sweat, urine, feces, and fetid breath fill the air around him. An alarm sounds as the last battery from the compact heater finally dies. Sloan shivers as the temperature within the cave begins to drop.

Mother mercy watches with a well-practiced stare of concern. She slides a thin, torn, and brown stained sheet over Sloan’s shuddering body. It does little to comfort the sick man. His ragged breaths slowly shift to slightly less raggedy breaths. Mother Mercy watches for a few more moments to make sure that he will not die, then settles down in a corner for the night.

Electric dreams of long ago float in the forefront of her mind. A bone thin boy of barely teenage years stumbles into a broken-down building that was once the Canadian Gazette. Stray rays of light from an overhead window brighten the small room, illuminating gun black filing cabinets, and dark wooden cubbies, colored with well-worn grey paint, which hold crumbled bits of old newspapers; One of the papers read, “Mass Methane Leak Poisons Ground Water and Air”. Each step stirs up dust causing him to cough. Mother mercy can hear the congestion in his cough and see the fever in his scarlet flushed face. His eyes are a rabid red flitting left to right, searching for any sign of danger. A loud noise causes him to flinch. Mother Mercy moves forward, trying to speak to the boy, but like a doe sensing danger he prepares to dart.

She finds her voice. “Please. Do not leave. I can help you.” She pleads mechanically.

He moves forward, tentatively attempting to touch her. She can see a sharp scar that runs from under his right eye down to his thick dry cracked lips. He tries to speak, exposing his yellow and browning teeth and the many gaps therein.

Suddenly, daggers of light push past and through his young body. He does not cry out, but merely succumbs to disintegration. Then……

Then Mother Mercy awakens to a new morning. Waves of light bring the cavern to life.

Sunshine moves in and across the cave to expose uneven earth, and a dirt encrusted cave wall, which is oddly void of any insect life. Her hazel eyes quickly adjust to the oncoming onslaught of daylight. Once again, she checks the man to make sure he is alive. Sloan’s chest rises and falls in an unsteady rhythm, which is all she can really hope for.

She slides dark brown locks of long hair out of her eerily symmetrical face. She brushes the dust off her tattered tan coat, and her holey faded jeans. With a couple of rapid sweeping motions, she removes almost all the dirt, and pebbles from the breast of her inner shirt.

Off to the left of the cave, and still covered by shadows a small machine awaits her inspection. She examines each tube, cord, and gauge with a military proficiency. Then using the jury-rigged straps, she places the machine on her back. Heading out of the cave, Mother Mercy stops, picks up the batteries from the small heating device, and checks Sloan one more time. Finally, with her bare feet fully outside she sets off for the day’s labor.

The sky burns a bright orange interrupted by barely perceptible vapors of methane, and bluish grey cotton clouds. Despite the splendor of the morning there is nothing but silence; No dogs barking, or bees buzzing about their honey making business. There is no life to be found except for minor patches of multi-colored fauna that are randomly situated along her route. So, Mother Mercy breaks the silence with a song.

“There’ll be years yarn unspinning as we stumble towards our graves, but the seconds in-between breaths are what make this life so great,”

A few miles along the way, she stops singing, and begins to check the tiny traps she has planted along her daily path. Each carefully constructed device is sadly empty. Three or four more hours after that the silence evaporates and she can hear a small stream of water running. She stops and stares down at her bare feet.

“There is something I forgot to put on my feet.” She queries to herself while continuing to walk.

A few moments pass as she puzzles out the minor mystery. Once she makes it to the edge of the stream, an awkward smile fills her tiny round face. Mother Mercy removes the machine from her back, letting it fall to the ground. It makes a loud thud and sinks several inches into the slightly softened earth. In a movement so swift human eyes could barely perceive it, she jumps up, rising several feet in the air while crossing a considerable distance, and finally lands in the stream. Soft sizzles sound from her bare feet, as she slowly grinds them into the mud. Then Mother Mercy sloshes sloppily out of the water wearing a thick layer of dark brown mud on her feet.

“Of course, how could I forget. I need mud to cool my feet.”

She walks back to the machine, pulls it out of the ground with ease, and returns to the stream. Next, she submerges the device. Waiting till it is completely full of water, she pulls it out, and begins fiddling with knobs and switches. She waits as the water boils, completely evaporates, filters, cools, and finally condensates back into liquid. Deftly, she removes one of the filters and shakes out all the unknown particulates. Then she opens a tiny compartment, and places a small sensor device within in the water to check its quality. After a satisfactory reading she places the water filtration system back on her back and heads down a different path.

The mud on Mother Mercy’s feet dries; Dark brown shades lighten, crust up and chip off in little flakes. Irritated, she begins to slide her feet through the almost nonexistent foliage to scrape off the remainder of the drying mud. With each small patch of grass Mother Mercy moves her feet faster and faster. Her left foot flows back and forth with incredible speed and strength. There is a loud clink and a chipped piece of rock soars across the air.

In puzzlement, Mercy stares down at her foot and finds that it has split open. Red and black fluid streams from the seam of torn skin, which expands and exposes metallic bone. As she moves, the wire insulation from within her foot ruptures, revealing cheap copper conductor. The hot metal sparks, lighting up the methane in the air. A scorching white, orange, and bluish outlined fireball expands with enough force to launch Mother Mercy up and back off her feet.

She hits the ground hard, and curses,” Fucking methane!”

White synthetic skin begins to melt, shifting and swirling into grotesque shapes, and darker shades of red. Mother Mercy rises, unsteadily. Wincing in pain, she unloads her heavy water filter burden. Again, she checks all the tubes, cords, and gauges. What was once a thing of ease now becomes quite burdensome. She places the filter system on her back again, and resumes her journey. The red and black liquid continues to leak. Each steps becomes slower than the last. Until, she reaches her destination. Mother Mercy collapses next to a series of solar panels. With what little strength she has left, she detaches one of the charged batteries. A look of distress crosses her already agonized face.

“I’m sorry.” She softly sobs to herself. “I need this one.”

Mercy pulls a flap of skin from the right side of her waist. An intricate maze of wires, metal, and fake flesh pulsates. Her hand plunges deep within the slimy cavity, twists, and removes a damaged battery. It is bent, and cracked leaking a thick acid liquid which viciously burns her hand. She tosses it aside then slips the unbroken battery inside the cavity, twists it, waits for the click, then removes her acid, and viscous liquid covered hand.

The synthetic skin slowly starts to unburn, shifting in reverse till it returns to its previously pristine quality. Her foot begins to pop and all the parts snap back into their original place as the split skin slowly stiches itself back together.

Mercy harvests the rest of the charged batteries and places the used ones in their charging slots. Finally, with the days labors done she heads back to the cave.

Once she is at the cave she washes a stray rag. Then cleans her hands. Cradling Sloan, she slowly serves him some water. Once he has had his fill. She gently rolls him on his side moves his shirt up searching for any sores, then proceeds to softly scrub them. She rolls him in the opposite direction and repeats the process. Then she checks his inner thighs, and butt cheeks. Sloan winces in pain but remains quiet. She gently lays him back, and rolls up his pant legs, washing the bare skin which is littered with more nasty sores. She finishes by washing his face, hands, and his feet. Finally, she sends him to sleep with a sweet song

“and the children that we leave littles daughters full grown sons are like blooms that lose their trees as our roots wither and flee.”

Mother Mercy is consumed by an unnatural fatigue. She resists slumber for a few minutes, but inevitably succumbs. Everything becomes nothingness, then changes to nothingness with dizzy brown spots. Yellow sparks split from the tip of her consciousness. The darkness dissolves and becomes the cave again. Small streams of water worm their way in from the cracks on the wall, which seems to breath unevenly. Suddenly she realizes the cave stinks like sewage. Fresh wind works its way in then blows out a stark stench of rot. Each exhale sounds like a human moaning in pain. The last flickers of light die a long-protracted death.

A wheezing breath stirs Mother Mercy from her dreams. She awakens quickly to see Sloan gasping violently. She rushes to his side, and sees a thick yellow and greenish gooey fluid mixed with blood sliding down the side of his jaw. With her left arm she flips him over holds his upper body inches off the ground, wipes away the disgusting fluid, and checks the abscess with her free hand.

“Spit it out.” She pleads.

Sloan continues to gasp. Tears swell but refuse to fall.

“Pleebees, helpep, me.” He struggles, coughing violently.

Mother Mercy cradles him in her arms, singing,

“Till, the song that I am singing becomes the song that they passed on and the love that I was bringing are the wheels that just roll on.”

Sloan, gasps and wheezes for several minutes more. Tears and sweat fill his face.

“Mob where’s my mob?” He cries between gasping breaths.

Two hours later slumber finally reclaims Sloan. An hour after that Mercy gently places his pained body back into its original position. After another half an hour she to surrenders to sleep. She sees nothing.

A stern voice commands,” Kill the enemy.”

Mercy cries in response, “There are no more enemies.”

Mother Mercy awakens to a new morning. Once again, she checks the man to make sure he is alive. Sloan’s chest rises and falls. She wipes off a spot of pus and blood left over from last night’s abscess leakage. The swelling has slightly receded, but his face is still feverishly warm to the touch. She switches out one drained battery from the heater for a fully charged one then grabs the water filter, and heads off to start the day’s labor, singing.

“So, goodnight little planet precious place that I lived on. I know you won’t miss me one bit but I was grateful to call you home.”

#short story #prose #fiction #fantasy #scifi

8 notes · View notes

droneseco · 3 years

Text

The Tribit Stormbox Pro Speaker Brings the Thunder to Your Portable Party

Tribit StormBox Pro

9.00 / 10

Read Reviews

Read More Reviews

See on amazon

The Tribit Stormbox Pro speaker offers everything you need from a portable soundbox, from water resistance, through to long battery life and, of course, big sound (which can be made even bigger with the bass boost function). At such a comparatively low price point, the Stormbox Pro should be in everyone's party bag.

Key Features

Stereo Mode

Battery Life

Water Resistant

Portable

Bass Boost

Specifications

Brand: Tribit

Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0

Battery: ~24 hours

Water Resistance: IP67

Pros

Stereo mode is great

24-hour battery life

Bass boost feature is excellent

Easily portable even packing two speakers

Can reverse charge other devices via USB Type-A output

Cons

On occasion stereo mode can drop out briefly

Buy This Product

Tribit StormBox Pro amazon

Shop

// Bottom var galleryThumbs1 = new Swiper('.gallery-thumbs-1', { spaceBetween: 10, slidesPerView: 10, freeMode: true, watchSlidesVisibility: true, watchSlidesProgress: true, centerInsufficientSlides: true, allowTouchMove: false, preventClicks: false, breakpoints: { 1024: { slidesPerView: 6, } }, }); // Top var galleryTop1 = new Swiper('.gallery-top-1', { spaceBetween: 10, allowTouchMove: false, loop: true, preventClicks: false, breakpoints: { 1024: { allowTouchMove: true, } }, navigation: { nextEl: '.swiper-button-next', prevEl: '.swiper-button-prev', }, thumbs: { swiper: galleryThumbs1 } });

Let's be honest, Bluetooth speakers are ten-a-penny. But excellent quality Bluetooth speakers, with a low price tag and a big battery life, are harder to come by.

Fortunately, Tribit is on hand with the latest portable Bluetooth speaker to add to its Stormbox family; the Stormbox Pro. As I already own a Tribit Stormbox, I was excited to give the Pro version a try, and it hasn't disappointed me.

So, what makes the Tribit Stormbox Pro such an impressive device? Let's take a look.

A Familiar Form

In terms of form factor, the Tribit Stormbox Pro doesn't look drastically different from a lot of other portable Bluetooth speakers available on the market today.

First off, it is predominantly black, so not a great deal to report color-wise. Tribit crafts the chassis from rubber at the top and bottom, with the top of the speaker housing the controls in contrasting white and the bottom a non-slip grip.

A convenient carry handle made from a sturdy, thick, rubber strap also sits up top, fastened to the sides of the speaker. This allows the handle to pivot so you know you won't damage it just by carrying it.

The main body of the device features a familiar black mesh fabric wraparound, which hides the 360 degree speaker array beneath.

The front features the Tribit logo, and around the back we have the Type-C charging input and a handy Type-A charging output, meaning you can actually charge devices from the speaker, in a pinch. These are both covered by a rubber cap, which seals them off from moisture.

In terms of footprint, the base is only 3.7 inches square. The height of the speaker peaks at a lofty seven inches. It only tips the scales at 980 grams (34 oz), so it won't break your back carrying one or two of these to the beach with you.

And that is it! A nice, straightforward device, aesthetically.

Super-Simple Operation

To operate the speaker, Tribit has followed a similarly simple path to that of the Stormbox Pro's appearance. There is really nothing difficult here, nor is there anything that doesn't work properly.

As mentioned, the controls are up top. In the center of the upper face, you have a multi-function button (MFB). You can use this to control functions in the Stormbox's Music Mode and also in Conversation Mode.

In Music Mode, a quick press of the button will control play and pause. Double pressing skips the track forward, while a triple press skips back a track. Pressing and holding the MFB for one second will launch the voice assistant on your phone or connected playback device (if it has one).

Related: Gravastar Mars Is a Portable Speaker From Our Apocalyptic Future

In Conversation Mode (i.e. when you are taking a call from your phone via the speaker), you can control the call. So a short press will answer or hang up a call. Press and hold for one second and you can reject the call. Then, while a call is underway, a short press will answer a second call, with another short press allowing you to switch conversations.

To either side of the MFB is a plus and minus symbol. These allow you to increase or reduce the volume of the Stormbox Pro (which is independent of your phone's volume unless you mute the sound from your handset).

Below, you have three buttons. To the left is the Bluetooth pairing button with a blue backlight. This is also used to put two Stormbox Pro speakers into stereo mode or, as Tribit calls it, "Party Mode", by pressing and holding for five seconds. This means you can listen to music in stereo. We'll come to that when we discuss the device's performance.

The center of the three buttons is the power button, which is obviously to switch the Stormbox on and off. To the right, you have the button to toggle the X-Bass mode, which is also present on Tribit's other portable speakers and is designed to boost bass frequencies.

Again, very simple in terms of operation. This makes the Tribit Stormbox Pro an excellent first portable Bluetooth speaker; it is simple to operate with no dedicated app getting in the way and complicating matters.

So, How Well Do the Stormbox Speakers Work?

Looking familiar and operating simply are two things, but does the Stormbox Pro deliver in terms of sound and functionality? I'm pleased to report it does. In fact, it exceeds expectations for what most people would refer to as a budget option.

It may not break the bank, but turn the Stormbox Pro up loud enough and you may well break a few windows. Just one of these little monsters can pump out up to 40 W of sound, which is plenty loud.

I could hear the music I was playing perfectly during a recent day spent at my local park, which is always busy with people and families, so is generally quite noisy. Even at 40-50% volume, the Stormbox Pro coped well with loud conversation close to me and shouting children not much further away.

Said park trip lasted for around six hours and the battery hardly wavered. During testing, I have only had to charge the Stormbox Pro once, after multiple extended uses and with X-Bass active. Therefore, the 24-hour battery claim rings true.

Stereo mode works pretty well, although the Stormbox can occasionally drop in and out of stereo mode. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing why this has happened, as multiple factors may cause it.

Maybe other devices are interfering with the stereo connection. It is a Bluetooth stereo connection after all, so is subject to interference in a way that a wired stereo connection wouldn't be.

To be honest, the dropping in and out was infrequent, and I only noticed it happen a handful of times (three-four) during testing over several weeks and under different conditions. Any dropout is brief, so isn't a major issue. Pairing two of the devices for stereo mode is incredibly easy and presents no issues.

In terms of range, the Bluetooth extends for miles. Well, perhaps not miles, but you get 100 feet out of the range providing that is a clear run. This reduces slightly if the Bluetooth signal needs to pass through walls or people.

As for the water resistance, IP67 works perfectly. I left both Stormbox Pro speakers outside for several days and through several weather conditions, and neither showed any signs of deterioration. This included two days of fairly consistent drizzle (the UK's default weather) and there was no sign of water damage.

With that in mind, the Stormbox Pro is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. You can even take them in the shower with you, if you really must!

Bringing the Thunder With the Stormbox Pro's Sound

In terms of sound quality, the Stormbox Pro performs well. Bass is obviously the focus, given that the unit houses a 25 Watt, 3.5 inch neodymium bass driver and two 7.5 Watt passive radiators. Two transducers take care of the mids and trebles.

In this case, the bass is clear and heavy. Even more so when you activate the X-Bass feature. There is no muddiness to speak of, so a very pleasant dub soundtrack accompanied my trip to the park, as deep bass reverberated around my ankles in stereo.

The mids and trebles are also very present and, despite the bass focus, bottom-end sounds don't overpower the mids and top end, so there is no sound congestion. Both are crisp and bright, with the treble free of those harsh, sibilant tones that can make listening to other lower-quality speakers an unpleasant listen.

In all, the Stormbox Pro provides a well-rounded sonic experience, particularly for a portable Bluetooth device in this price range. With a bass-oriented signature, this is a perfect portable party speaker, particularly in stereo mode.

Take the Party Everywhere, With Tribit's Stormbox Pro

So, there we have it. The Tribit Stormbox Pro is a refreshingly simple device. Despite this, it knocks spots off some of its similarly priced competition, with stereo mode and that tremendous 24-hour battery life being real boons for portable party-goers.

In the Stormbox's price range, you'd be hard-pushed to find a device that has this kind of stamina, can pair up for stereo mode, has an IP67 rating, and can function as a power bank. All while sounding great. If you're in the market for an inexpensive, portable, Bluetooth speaker, then the Tribit Stormbox Pro should be at the top of your list.

The Tribit Stormbox Pro Speaker Brings the Thunder to Your Portable Party published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/

0 notes

snowydreamposts · 4 years

Link

Endeavor normally alludes to a long excursion or journey attempted for a particular reason, frequently exploratory, logical, geographic, in high mountains. Endeavor in Nepal submits to move high Himalayas as Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Lhotse, Mt Makalu, Mt. Cho oyu, Mr. Manaslu, Mt. Dhamlagiri Mt Annapurna, Mt. Amadablam, Mt Pumori, Mt Nhutse, and numerous pinnacles others.

Nepal is viewed as outstanding amongst other experience goal on the planet. Nepal’s geology packs a very changed scene into a little region. The tremendous differences in elevation and atmospheres discovered here help an awesome blend of ways of life, vegetation and untamed life. Nepal is presumably the main nation on the planet where you can ascend the most noteworthy mountains on the planet. The center of the mountain complex known as the Himalayas ‘ residence day off’ the most youthful and most elevated mountain arrangement of the world. The name depends on the Sanskrit words, “Him” signifies day off “Alaya” signifies dwelling place. The 800 km stretch of the Nepal Himalayas in the best on the planet with eight pinnacles that ascent over 8,000 meters, incorporating the most noteworthy on the planet, “Mt. Everest”. Since the time the nation opened its tops to climbers in 1949, the Nepal Himalayas has become an extraordinary venue of mountaineering action and the dramatization of progress and disappointment have given stimulus to a great many people to address a definitive difficulty. In Nepal, there has been 423 Himalayan pinnacles are opened extending from tops over 6,000 meters to the Mount Everest 8848 meters for outsiders. Nepal’s Himalayas have been a fascination in many climbing aficionados, logicians, experiences or scientist darlings.

All mountaineering endeavors planning to ascend a 8,000 or some other mountain need to get consent from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. When a license has been gotten, the endeavor needs to carefully follow the course and the guideline as recommended in the grant gave by the Government of Nepal. A mountaineering endeavor group which has acquired a license for mountaineering will need to incorporate a Liaison Officer selected by the Government of Nepal. A campaign group needs to store trash expense before acquiring a grant. The sum fluctuates as per mountains going from US$ 500 to US$ 4,000, which is refundable after the campaign group shows the away from of the trash amassed.

In the endeavor stage, we will utilize littler, lightweight domed mountain tents. It is conceivable to be truly agreeable in these on the off chance that you are composed and maintain your pack in control. We eat in the chaos tent at a plastic table with stools or seats to sit on. Asian Hiking Team staffs are aces at cooking enormous volumes of delicious nourishment in even the most fundamental of situations. Be that as it may, we may request that you help with the procedures of planning and clearing up the dinners on the camp. Once more, this can be an incredible chance to increase firsthand understanding of another basic piece of any culture. You will likewise learn abilities and rules that are transferable to preparing any nourishment any anyplace whenever. Sanitation is constantly a major concern and we pay attention to it very.

Support in Asian Hiking Team campaigns necessitates that you are by and large healthy, mental and physical wellness. Pinnacle ascending or endeavor have required broad mountaineering experience, for example, mountaineering preparing of essential and propelled course, high and outrageous trekking encounters, liable for poise and wellbeing.

Reports which need to give climbing or campaign grant,; Passport photocopy (ought to be clear with shading output) and legitimacy least a half year, photographs – visa size, Bio-date, Health testament, protection duplicate and so forth.

The Asian Hiking Team is sorting out 423 mountains campaign, giving vital arrangements to our esteemed customers, particularly the individuals who are intrigued to accomplish progressively audacious and take testing in the mountains. Asian Hiking Team runs by proficient, experience, qualified and well-prepared master climbing guides/pioneers, good country Sherpas and offer quality assistance for excursions to make your campaign agreeable, simpler, paramount and effective once in your lifetime.

Everest Expedition

Mount Everest, the best test, is more than the well known mountain on earth. It has an exceptional delight, secret and state of mind. Fruitful authentic Everest Expeditions leaves one with the feeling of generally glad and bold individual on Earth. Mt. Everest’s nearby names give you a feeling of how the mountain directions regard from all who see her. Standing amazingly tall outlined against the common sky of Nepal and Tibet, this mountain has numerous names: Chomolungma, Sagarmatha, Qomolungma or Mt. Everest. Whichever name one picks, its unclearness despite everything lives on. The vast majority of the mountain dwellers have their fantasy to arrive at the summit of Everest in their life time. For some, who are for the most part trekkers become battled having the best perspective on it from Kala Pattar, Gokyo RI or visiting Everest base camp.

The South Col courses on the Nepalese side of Mt. Everest is the path taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa originally climbed it in 1953. Potentially the most bright anecdote about the early endeavors on Everest is the one including Captain J. Noel and his local allies. He camouflaged himself as a Mohammaden and made an excursion from Darjeeling through Northwest Sikkim and round the north of Kanchenjunga trying to arrive at Everest. Tragically, not in any case the mask could oversee him. His crucial been out short only sixty-five km from Everest when a gang of Tibetan officers constrained them to turn around. Despite the fact that there are twelve or so courses on Mt. Everest, we follow the old style course, customarily the most dependable path to the summit. Climbing Everest undertaking has been effectively sorted out and climbed ordinarily from that point forward, yet this ought not calm planned Everest climbers into lack of concern. Everest is a savage mountain. Taking note of this, one can’t move toward the mountain with anything other than a genuine assurance and centered mountaineering disposition. Everest is still as baffling, flabbergasting and brilliant as ever.

In sorting out Everest climbing undertaking while we will likely get whatever number individuals to the summit as could be allowed and significantly more critically return securely home. Nonetheless, in light of the idea of Everest Expedition, the most elevated and one of the most troublesome mountains on the planet, we can’t ensure everything. Asian Hiking Team endeavors to lead a sheltered, fruitful and pleasant experience, and will do everything conceivable to accomplish every one of these objectives.

After definite arrangements for the noteworthy Everest Expedition in Kathmandu, Fly to Lukla and start our tea-house trek up the Khumbu Valley to Everest base camp. We will set up our base camp at 5300m at the foot of the infamous Khumbu Icefall before advancing toward Camp 1 at 6200m. We will move to Camp 2 at 6,600m smacks in the Western Camp up to the Lhotse face to Camp 3 at 7200m. At long last, we’ll head up the South Col or Camp 4 at 8000m before making our Everest summit push.

Time to summit Everest from Base Camp:

Base Camp across Icefalls: 6 hours. On the off chance that everything else works out, you don’t need to segue on account of a shaky divider or something terrible occurring, you ought to be in Camp 1 after around six hours.

From Camp 1 to Camp 2: About four to five hours. On the off chance that every single fixed rope are set and you’re not in a congested driving conditions up you’ll be across rapidly.

Camp 2 to Camp 3, Lhotse Wall: About 6 hours get you from Camp 2 there. Once more, this is accepting you’ll have the option to simply do your thing, and it is anything but an enjoyment spot to be.

Camp 3 to Camp 4 Death Zone: Your last stop before the summit. It typically takes in any event six hours, regularly more, since now you’re battling reducing oxygen, the pressure and depletion from the past legs, and an absence of rest.

Summit day, in the event that you figure out how to get out before 12 PM, you’re in karma. On the off chance that Hillary Step isn’t sponsored up, you’ll be done and one summit pin more extravagant in around 10 to 14 hours. On the off chance that you can’t make it to summit before 1pm you won’t make it, so almost no can broaden this leg except if awful stuff occurs.

Makalu Expedition

Makalu is one of the harder 8,000 meter Mountains. It is estimated one of the most troublesome mountains on the planet to ascend. This Mt. Makalu is somewhat hazardous too. The last rising of the summit pyramid includes specialized stone climbing. Makalu is the main Nepalese 8,000m pinnacle which still can’t seem to be move in obvious winter conditions. Mount Makalu was first move by a French group in 1955. The West Face of Mt. Makalu was effectively scaled in 1997.

Makalu has many intriguing courses prompting the summit through west edge, west face, south face, southwest face and northwest brace. The ordinary business course is past the Southeast Peak and along the Southeast edge. The trip is direct however respectably specialized with presentation on the SE Ridge; it requires some repaired rope set.

Customarily there are 3 camps, C1 (6,500m), C2 (7,300m) at the base of the Southeast Peak edge and C3 (7,900 m) toward the start of the SE edge. With extremely low Base Camp the BC is set-up at 5500m. The territory experienced on the risings shifts from icy mass intersections to soak snow fields and requires a decent comprehension of fundamental high climbing strategies. Makalu has been climbed Alpine style yet customarily all business administrators practice endeavor style to improve the odds of summit accomplishment for the customers. The base part begins from the base of the West Face at 5,800 meters and moves to the hanging ice-fall at 6,100 meters to the correct piece of the ice-fall. The subsequent part reaches out from the level over the ice-fall along 35 to 45 degree height’s stone up to the 6,500 meters high. The following segment is an ice-rock divider, 50 to 55 degrees soak and that stretches out to 7,400 meters tallness. The last area starts 70 to 75 degree rise’s stone column, which prompts the west edge at 8,000 meters stature till to the highest point of the summit. Ropes are normally fixed from 5800m to 6100m and from 6500 m to 7500m. Camps set up by the Russian Team were at the accompanying areas. The French Route on the West Pillar is a stylishly staggering line that has been only from time to time endeavored. It is an exceedingly troublesome, a precarious column that was first effectively climbed in 1971. The core of the line comes at roughly 7,600m in the region of the Seignior Wall.

Dhaulagiri Expedition

Dhaulagiri massif is limited on the north and southwest by tributaries of the Bheri River and on the southeast by Myagdi Khola. Dhaulagiri is the seventh most noteworthy mountain on the planet at 8,167 meters (26,795 ft) above ocean level. It was first gotten on May 13, 1960 by a Swiss/Austrian/Nepali undertaking. Most risings have followed the upper east edge course of the principal rising, however climbs have been produced using most headings. Starting at 2007 there had been 358 fruitful risings and 58 fatalities.

At the point when French got authorization to climb either Annapurna or Dhaulagiri, they pick Annapurna subsequent to making a surveillance of Dhaulagiri in 1950. In 1953, a Swiss gathering fizzled, at that point an Argentine gathering attempted, yet bombed one year later. Lastly, the Swiss undertaking arrived at the summit in 1960, pursuing a meandering course around the mountain from Tukuche, over the Dhampus pass.

French neglected to climb the summit from the North-East Col so their campaign was upheld by a Swiss Pilatus Porter airplane, the “Sasquatch” which arrived on the North-East Col at 5977m. Be that as it may, the plane smashed just before the finish of the endeavor close Dhampus pass. The pilots, including the renowned Emil Wick, strolled down the mountain to Tukuche.

Dhaulagiri Trekking start from Beni bank of Kali Gandaki and Myagdi Khola occasional street making a beeline for Darbang, follow the Myagdi Khola westwards to Darbang and turn north on a minor path that leads through woods into the high nation. Trekking trail prompts Italian Base Camp than going to Dhaulagiri Base Camp.

Annapurna IV Expedition

Annapurna IV lying at a height of 7525m is viewed as relatively a difficulty free top to move among the Annapurna go, a staggering Marsyangdi valley with the amazing perspectives on Annapurna II, III, Manaslu, Gangapurna. Annapurna IV was first smoothed in 1955 by a German gathering drove by Heinz Steinmetz through the North Face and Northwest edge.

The typical courses is drawn nearer from the Manang side. It requires two hours strolling from the base camp to arrive at the base of the mountain. It requires around 65 – 70 degrees of soak moving with fixed ropes roughly 500 meters arrive at camp I. To arrive at Camp II, around 1000 meters of fixed ropes will be required along the edge and a few stretches of soak climbing. From camp II to camp III it is generally simple with crisscross intersection and bit by bit moving up. Be that as it may, it will require roughly 1300 – 1500 meters fixed rope. From camp III to the summit, for the most part fixed rope isn’t required and the primary rope is utilized. There are potential outcomes of torrential slides between Camp I and Camp II.

#trekking in nepal

0 notes

we-nick-posts · 5 years

Text

15 Big Ideas to Fix Health Care update in 2019

Everybody concurs that we need less expensive, better, simpler consideration for everybody.

The person going to the White House knows it.

However, knowing and doing aren't really neighbors in Washington, D.C.

Regardless, we don't need to trust that the wonks will fix health care.

Our group talked with many specialists from research organizations, businesses, the scholarly community, not-for-profits, government, medical clinics, and private practice — the absolute most splendid personalities devoted to making

They shared their best instances of what has worked and what may work to spare a portion of the $2 trillion we go through consistently.

Spare huge enough and we could cover the huge number of individuals who abandon inclusion.

1. Fight the Big Five

Regular constant conditions (counting coronary vein infection, diabetes, congestive cardiovascular breakdown, asthma, and sadness) are in charge of 75 percent of our health care spending.

George Halvorson, executive and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and creator of Health Care Reform Now!

A Prescription for Change contends that we ought to pursue the cash—and battle these sicknesses with all we have, including early mediation and predictable follow-up consideration.

2. Reduce Medical Errors by Thinking Like an Airline

Therapeutic mix-ups execute almost 100,000 individuals consistently, as per the Institute of Medicine.

"That is identical to a 747 slamming each other day," says Denis Cortese, MD, president, and CEO of the Mayo Clinic.

These mistakes, the greater part of them preventable, cost the United States as much as $29 billion every year.

Dr. Cortese thinks the health care framework can gain from its slip-ups the manner in which the carrier business does.

On the off chance that a 747 slammed here, he says, the FAA would swoop in and examine the mishap, check planes across the nation, and do everything conceivable

"All workers of the carrier business are relied upon to report close to misses and mix-ups inside 24 hours," he says.

"There is an examination, individuals are said thanks to for making the report, and endeavors are made to attempt to improve the administrations.

In our health care framework, when missteps happen, we attempt to keep it as peaceful as could be allowed." Dr.

Cortese recommends a government health care security announcing organization utilizing a frameworks building approach so therapeutic mistakes can be logged, examined, and tended to — unafraid of discipline.

The activity plan: Find out increasingly about the Mayo Clinic's health care change endeavors at mayoclinic.org/healthpolicycenter.

3. Get It Right the First Time

What a waste: As much as $312 billion is misused every year when patients are misdiagnosed or given inappropriate treatment.

Best Doctors, a health advantage offered through many guarantors, health plans, and organizations, is one approach to help.

Established by doctors subsidiary with Harvard University School of Medicine, the Boston-based organization offers its individuals in 30 nations redid second sentiments from its system of top authorities and subspecialists

For instance, outputs of a 12-year-old young lady in Maine demonstrated tumors in her liver and one lung, an evident backslide from the uncommon type of malignant growth she

Be that as it may, when the biopsy returned negative for threatening malignant growth, nobody realized what to do.

The young lady's dad chose to attempt Best Doctors, an advantage offered and paid for by his boss.

After top specialists inspected the young lady's outputs and records, they finished up the majority in her liver was a symptom from a medication she had taken years back,

while a spot on the lung was harmed tissue from her past medical procedures.

The survey helped the young lady keep away from further biopsies and expensive intrusive medical procedures.

The result: EMC Corporation, an enormous innovation firm in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, counseled Best Doctors on 60 cases in its first year utilizing the program.

Determinations were changed in 15 percent of those and medicines were altered in 85 percent, coming about in $500,000 in investment funds.

"In the event that everybody got the correct analysis and treatment the first run-through," says Evan Falchuk, leader of Best Doctors, "we could spare several billions of dollars and an

an untold measure of superfluous affliction and give a great many individuals the most obvious opportunity to recover."

The activity plan: For more data, go to bestdoctors.com or get some information about a second-supposition program.

5. E-Prescribe

position paper solutions are obsolete and lead to 1.5 million wounds and 7,000 passings every year from blunders.

In any case, if each specialist jumped aboard with an electronic Rx framework, it would improve wellbeing by making solutions simpler to peruse and giving moment keeps an eye

on medication cooperations, measurements, and a patient's prescription history.

Specialists have been delayed to make the costly switchover, however now they can get free e-recommending programming through an activity (nationalerx.com) propelled by programming organization Allscripts.

Additionally, doctors can now safely exchange understanding health and drug history through SureScripts-RxHub, the principal across the country organize for e-medicines.

Congress is giving motivating forces to expand Medicare installments to specialists who e-endorse.

The result: This could cut medication-related wounds by a third and spare $4 billion every year.rogram.

6. Use Retail Clinics for Routine Care

Minute" facilities in significant drugstore chains can help rearrange health care, says Harvard business educator Clayton Christensen, by "offloading a portion of the work to nurture specialists, doctor associates, and even patients." The AMA isn't enthusiastic about the thought: It needs specialists to at any rate administer these centers. In any case, they're alright for minor things like sore throats, pulled muscles, pinkeye, mole evacuation, and immunizations.

The result: They're quicker and increasingly helpful. Also, in case you're uninsured, you'll pay 30 to 80 percent not as much as what you'd shell out for a specialist (and considerably less than you'd pay by heading off to the ER). For the individuals who do have inclusion, significant protection is normally acknowledged.

The activity plan: Visit the Convenient Care Association at ccaclinics.org to discover a center in your general vicinity.

7.Share Information to Fight Cancer

Get the FDA and the pharmaceutical business to talk all the more transparently so patients can get more secure medications all the more rapidly and reasonably.

The charitable Critical Path Institute (C-Path) accepts we can set aside cash and lives by accelerating our country's lazy and exorbitant medication endorsement procedure.

One anticipates in progress: C-Path brought 18 medication, biotech, and demonstrative organizations together (a considerable lot of them furious contenders) to work together on a significant lung disease preliminary.

The 18 organizations are planning to grow commonly settled upon tests that would enable the FDA to get results in as meager as seven days as opposed to years,

The result: Speeding up the preliminary procedure could diminish the quantity of expensive bombed medications and lower the cost of doctor-prescribed medications when all is said in done.

8. Measure Results and Make Them Public

Whenever specialists and patients cooperate to meet substantial health objectives that yield demonstrated outcomes, incredible things can occur.

That is the thought behind the not-for-profit Minnesota Community Measurement.

The gathering sets norms of consideration for 14 conditions, and the onus is on specialists to direct, persuade, and even push their patients to keep up.

The association assembles result information and posts the level of patients at every center who fulfill every one of the guidelines for a specific condition on mnhealthcare.org.

The result: While it is difficult to get individuals to change their ways of life, consistence in diabetes patients has ascended from 4 percent in 2004 to 11 percent in 2007.

Jim Chase, the official executive, gauges that if these upgrades were embraced broadly, we could spare more than $1.6 billion per year.

The activity plan: If you have a ceaseless condition, work with your primary care physician to set objectives recorded as a hard copy.

9. Stop Unnecessary Treatments

We spend more than some other nation on health care, yet we're not healthier for it, somewhat in light of the fact that such an extensive amount the consideration conveyed

here is superfluous, says Shannon Brownlee, creator of Overtreated: Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer.

"The best approach to battle squander," she says, "is by redesigning the manner in which specialists and medical caretakers and clinics give care.

There are models out there of excellent, ease care, and they incorporate the absolute most confided in names in medication: the Mayo Clinic, Kaiser, and Intermountain Healthcare.

These projects have an essential supplier to arrange all the considerations.

They comprehend that 21st-century prescription is a group activity.

They likewise put a premium on breaking down the best accessible proof and after that guaranteeing that their primary care physicians tail it."

The result: "Removing even 50% of the pointless health care in this nation," Brownlee says, "would be sufficient to cover each native who is currently uninsured."

The activity plan: Go to overtreated.com to realize which

10.Reduce Infant Mortality

excess of 2,000 newborn children bite the dust in the United States each month, numerous in light of the fact that they're untimely.

"The pace of untimely births has been expanding consistently for quite a long time," clarifies Joann Petrini, Ph.D., executive of the perinatal server farm for the March of Dimes.

More smokers, more mothers more than 35, and progressively numerous births (due to a limited extent to more ladies having richness medications) are only a portion of the reasons.

"You could do everything right and still wind up having a preterm child," says Petrini.

"We need more examination of how and why it occurs."

The result: Preterm births cost us more than $26 billion every year, so averting them would spare billions of dollars and a large number of lives.

11. Make Schools Healthier

Individuals from Congress get the opportunity to shop among 250 moderate health protection intends to locate the one that is best for them. Inside each arrangement, premiums are the equivalent for everybody paying little mind to age or other hazard factors. They can even bring it into retirement. Imagine a scenario where we could all do that. The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) has kept up stable costs for quite a long time, frequently rising not exactly private plans and Medicare. Some portion of the explanation is that it doesn't pay suppliers a "charge for administration" but instead arranges one cost to get to a heap of advantages, for example, specialist's visits, inpatient care, medical procedure, and that's just the beginning.

The result: A bipartisan health care bill before Congress would offer comparative advantages to all Americans with assessed reserve funds of $1.5 trillion more than ten years.

12.Team Up in Hospitals

The Cleveland Clinic is tearing down conventional storehouses for a more group-based methodology intended to distinguish issues early, give the best treatment, and set aside cash and lives, says CEO

The facility's Neurological Institute was the first to receive the benefits.

Patients who experience the ill effects of seizures, for instance, are screened by a neurosurgeon, a therapist, a neuropsychologist, and a nervous system specialist to decide if an assault

was activated by a neurological lopsidedness or a mental issue.

The result: Epilepsy patients' medical clinic stays have declined 10 to 20 percent.

The activity plan: Read the book that roused the arrangement: Redefining Health Care: Creating Value-Based Competition on Results by Michael E

0 notes

c00lmint8123-blog · 5 years

Text

Hiking in Spain

David Brodosi

If you’re looking for a top choice for a hiking and trekking holiday, you can’t do better than Spain, with its varied landscapes, many mountain ranges, coastal routes, and well-marked trails. From the famous Camino de Santiago to the Picos de Europa National Park and the Vías Verdes, covering old disused railway lines across the country, there’s something for everyone.

Ruta del Cares, Picos de Europa

One of the most popular and most beautiful routes in the Picos de Europa National Park, the Ruta del Cares runs for approximately 12 kilometers, from Poncebos in Asturias to Caín in León. Known as ‘The Divine Gorge’, the trail is carved out of the side of the rocks and traverses bridges and streams.

David Brodosi

Ruta del Cares©GabrielGonzález https://www.flickr.com/photos/gaby1/27417146834

Peñalara

One of the best places for hiking near the capital of Madrid, the Peñalaralies in the Sierra de Guadarrama, near to the province of Guadalajara. The hike takes around 3 1/2 hours for a roundtrip, and the route takes you through the Parque Natural de Peñalara, where you can spot many different types of reptiles.

Camino de Santiago

The most famous Spanish walking route is of Course the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of St. James. A series of ancient pilgrim routes, the trail starts in few different places along the French border and ends up at Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. One of the oldest routes starts at the town of Ovideo in Asturias, but the most popular trail starts at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, just across into France. There is also another path, the Cami Catala, which starts at Montserrat monastery, or in Barcelona, and joins up with the Camino de Santiago to finish up at the in the same place.

Cumbre Vieja, La Palma

The Cumbre Vieja is a volcanic ridge located on the island of La Palma, part of the Canary Islands. Running from north to south, it is approximately 150 kilometers and would take around eight to ten days to complete. If you don’t want to walk the whole thing however, you could opt between two shorter walks – the Ruta de la Cresteria, around the rim of the Caldeira de Taburiente – a collapsed volcano, or the Route of the Volcanoes in the south of island, snaking its way around ancient craters and Martian-like volcanic landscapes.

Caminito del Rey, Malaga

Once named one of the most dangerous hikes in the world, because of its missing sections of pathway and sheer cliffside drops, the Caminito del Rey is located in the region of Malaga. The route was closed for many years due to safety issues, however extensive renovations took place and it reopened again at the start of 2015. Today, the path has been repaired, handrails have been added, as well as bridges and stairs, to create a spectacular, but safe experience. The trail is approximately 7.7 kilometers long and takes around four hours to complete.

David Brodosi

Spain provides some of the best hiking trails in the world with its varied landscapes, mountain ranges and well-maintained trails.

Whether you are a highly skilled hiker or just looking for a new experience, there is definitely a beautiful trail to be experienced in Spain.

For the best hikes in Europe, including France, Germany, Swiss Alps and Italy see our detailed article.

Here is a list of the best hiking trails in Spain.

David Brodosi

5 Epic Hiking Trails In Spain

Camino de Santiago Trail

Camino de Santiago is arguably the most famous Spanish walking route, it is about 500 miles long. It is a series of ancient pilgrim routes that have been in use for a thousand years or more.

It starts in a few different places along the French border and all the routes end at Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The most popular trail starts at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

The trails are flat and easy with many of the tracks being paved and well-maintained. The main routes require very little technical walking so you do not need a lot of hiking experience.

David Brodosi

The routes are also well-marked, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.

Popular Articles

Hiking In Austria – The Complete Guide (With Videos)

Hiking In Switzerland – Complete Guide For Your Adventures (With Videos)

Hiking In Romania – Your Guide To The Best Trails (With Videos)

Caucasus Mountains – Explore The Unexplored (With Videos)

Hiking In Norway – Your Guide To The Best Trails (With Videos)

David Brodosi

Barcelona on a Backpacking Budget

Barcelona, The City of Gaudi. Deeply steeped in history, seemingly every nook and cranny of this city has a story to tell. Barcelona is busy, beautiful and expensive. And yet, you can still visit Barcelona on a backpacking budget.

From its Gothic Quarter to the sparkling structures of the modern waterfront, from the works of the genius architect Antoni Guadi to the boisterous atmosphere of Las Ramblas, Barcelona offers days, weeks, and months of adventure and exploration. We have never visited a city quite like it, and Barcelona ranks among out favorite European cities.

Not everything is all sunshine and roses, however. Barcelona is suffering from being TOO popular, and that has led to soaring prices, congested tourist areas, and some ill will from locals to visitors (read more about Barcelona’s problems with tourism here).

So, to get the most out of your backpacking budget, we recommend that you visit Barcelona during its off-peak season. We recommend April through early May, or the middle of September till the end of October. The weather should be good during these months, and the crowds greatly reduced. Visiting during these time periods, or even in the unattractive (weather wise) winter months will greatly reduce your costs, and allow you to experience Barcelona on a backpacking budget.

David Brodosi

Conversely, if you decide to go to Barcelona in the summer be prepared to pay premium prices on just about everything related to tourism. Your costs will spike in the summer as opposed to off season, and you’ll have a hard time visiting Barcelona on a budget.

Either way, off-season or peak season, make sure you get out of the city itself for a few days to explore the beauty of Catalonia. Here are a few great day trips from Barcelona that everyone visiting should really consider taking. Not only will these trips allow you to explore some of the incredible country-side, but by taking one or a few of them you will be helping to alleviate some of the tourist congestion in BCN.

Also, be sure to check out our article on the Top Ten Things to Do on a Budget in Barcelona, Spain.

David Brodosi

Bear attacks and falling rocks? Here's what to know to stay safe while hiking

Nature is beautiful, and also not be trifled with. Just take it from the man who took a wrong turn and got lost for nearly a week or, in a more extreme case, the ...

INSIDERYesterday

New parents join a real movement for their babies and themselves: Hiking

Six-year-old Mason Hodges can rattle off any number of plant and animal species when out in the woods, his knowledge deeper than many adults. He's also ...

The Know28 minutes ago

Adult Fall Hiking Program Begins on Tuesday, September 17th

GILFORD — The Gilford Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring hikes for adults on Tuesdays this fall. The first scheduled hike will be Sept. 17 at the ...

The Laconia Daily SunYesterday

Three Things to Consider Before Buying Shoes for Hiking

Today's high-tech fabrics and advanced designs provide a wide range of hiking shoes that are better than ever. How you find a pair that's just right for your ...

Field and Stream5 hours ago

5 places to go hiking in the beautiful Oregon Dunes

There's nothing like hiking in the Oregon Dunes, a challenging but rewarding adventure on the central Oregon coast.

OregonLive.com2 days ago

Search continues for 2 hikers in Hawaii missing in separate incidents

The search for a 27-year-old experienced hiker who disappeared 10 days ago after taking off on a solo hike for the first time in Hawaii has intensified as the ...

ABC NewsYesterday

Best Hiking in Fall in New Jersey [LIST]

Autumn is a great time to get outdoors here at the Jersey Shore. The weather is cooler, the bugs are leaving and the colors are popping .... it's a great time to hike ...

wobm.comYesterday

Hike the Living Desert in Ironwood National Monument, Arizona

The uncharted territory of the Ironwood Forest drew Gary Borax from mile one. A decade ago, he started exploring the monument and hasn't stopped.

BackpackerYesterday

Taboose Fire map: Hikers stranded, cars burn at Eastern Sierra trailhead

A California wildfire burning just east of Kings Canyon National Park has closed several recreational trails and required the helicopter evacuation of stranded ...

The Mercury NewsYesterday

Hiking Lions Head Ridge in Idaho Is Crazy

On a 1200-mile thru-hike from Glacier National Park to the Olympic Peninsula, known as the Pacific Northwest Trail, filmmakers Peter Hochhauser and Andy ...

Outside5 days ago

Follow the witch through the forest: five days hiking Germany's Harz

As I was nearing the end of the fourth day on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg — the five-day hiking route known in English as 'The Witches' Trail' — my brain kept ...

Deutsche Welle3 hours ago

Woman Dies After Falling 500 Feet Hiking Dangerous Dome at Yosemite

The climber was hiking the treacherous Half Dome, which is described by the National Park *Service* as a "great challenge."

Inside Edition3 days ago

#spain #david brodosi #brodosi #camping #hiking #outdoors #alaska #backpacking #travel #nature

0 notes

emilysn2019-blog · 5 years

Photo

Hyatt is months away from opening its third flagship hotel in Japan with Park Hyatt Kyoto, which is slated to debut on December 1, 2019. We have the latest construction photos of this nearly-completed resort and commentary about Park Hyatt Kyoto, which promises to be a great use of points.

As regular visitors to Japan and Hyatt enthusiasts, we’re incredibly excited about Park Hyatt Kyoto. As you can read in our Park Hyatt Tokyo Review, our experience there was superlative–one of our best hotel stays ever. This newer property promises a more interesting ‘traditional meets modern’ style and likely will have even better omotenashi, Japan’s renowned hospitality philosophy. Suffice to say, Park Hyatt Kyoto has the realistic potential to be one of the best hotels in the world.

However, Park Hyatt Kyoto is not for everyone. We want to get this out of the way right off the bat. If it’s your first visit to the historic city, staying in a traditional ryokan or restored machiya is arguably a must-do experience. (We cover this in our Where to Stay in Kyoto, Japan guide.) With that said, if you’re using Kyoto as a Kansai home base for 4 or more days, doing a split stay with a couple of nights at Park Hyatt Kyoto could be a very appealing option…

Next, let’s talk location.

Park Hyatt Kyoto has a great location near Kodaiji Temple (below), which is a short and lovely walk from Kiyomizudera Temple in the historic Higashiyama district. We spend more time in this area of Kyoto than anywhere else, and walked past Park Hyatt Kyoto a half-dozen times on our most recent trip to Japan.

This is far and away the most interesting location of any luxury hotel in Kyoto. How Hyatt managed to score this prime piece of real estate is beyond me, but the views of Yasaka Pagoda (below) and the rest of Higashiyama are incredible.

Stepping out of the resort and right up the steps of Ninenzaka will be an incredible experience, immersed in the heart of Kyoto’s historic side.

That’s the upside. The downside is that Park Hyatt Kyoto is not conveniently located to any subway or rail lines, and the buses that service this area are notoriously crowded (to the point that we actively avoid them).

You’re looking at about a 15 minute walk to Gion-Shijo or Higashiyama Stations. It’s a nice walk, but still far from ideal.

In fairness, the target audience for Park Hyatt Kyoto may be more inclined to take a taxi or private car everywhere (we think that’s a mistake if you want to experience the real Kyoto, but that’s another topic for another day).

In any event, it’s a pleasant walk through a nice area and offers access to both the Keihan Line (our favorite rail line in Kyoto) and the Tozai Subway, so at least there’s that.

The last few years have seen a boom in Kyoto hotel properties, with several noteworthy foreign luxury properties opening hotels. The Ritz Carlton Kyoto opened about 5 years ago (and is one of the nicest Ritz Carltons in the world), Starwood’s Suiran Luxury Collection Hotel opened a year later, and Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto followed that another year later.

One month before Park Hyatt Kyoto opens, Aman Kyoto will open on the exact other side of the city, just north of Golden Pavilion. These new high end properties join the likes of older (yet reliable) favorites such as Westin Miyako Kyoto Hotel and Hyatt Regency Kyoto.

Park Hyatt Kyoto will be a boutique hotel, with 70 guest rooms, including nine suites. Standard rooms at Park Hyatt Kyoto are 485 square feet and standard suites are 732 square feet.

Interiors are being designed by renowned hospitality designer Tony Chi. For such a small hotel, the property looks incredibly large–it’ll be interesting to see how the finished product makes use of its space.

Current rates for Park Hyatt Kyoto are over $700/night, with rates during cherry blossom and fall colors seasons, plus other holidays like Golden Week, expected to go for far more. While Kyoto tends to be cheaper than Tokyo on the low end, this is about par for the course with the city’s higher tier hotels.

Park Hyatt Kyoto is a Category 7 World of Hyatt property, which puts a free night at 30,000 points. Accordingly, this will be an excellent use of points. Between this, the limited number of rooms, and high demand during peak seasons, we’d recommend booking Park Hyatt Kyoto early.

Another interesting thing Hyatt is doing that we haven’t seen from other luxury Western brands is partnering with an established, traditional name in the city.

Park Hyatt Kyoto will be located within the grounds of Higashiyama’s famed Kyo-Yamato Restaurant, which used to be part of a sub-temple.

We’ve yet to dine at Kyo-Yamato (京大和), but the family-run location is hundreds of years old and is renowned in Japan for its kyo-ryori kaiseki cuisine.

This gives Park Hyatt Kyoto instant credibility and gravitas, and should help to make it feel less like a modern luxury chain jarringly plopped into this historic area. The seamless look of the hotel’s exterior design should also help with that.

As we’ve noted elsewhere, tourism to Kyoto has surged in the last 5-plus years, and this trend should only continue with the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics expected to provide another boost in numbers.

While it’s great to see more people enjoying Kyoto, which is our favorite city in the world, the downside of this is that it’s caused prices to surge and overcrowding to occur at popular temples.

Of course, with such a low room count, the Park Hyatt Kyoto is going to be an expensive property regardless of tourism trends. The greater tourism trends are a double-edged sword here.

Park Hyatt Kyoto is a stone’s throw from one of the most congested areas of the city, but it’s sufficiently isolated so that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Moreover, the streets of the Higashiyama District totally clear out at night and the place becomes a veritable ghost town, even on busy days. One of our favorite things to do in Kyoto is walk this area at sunrise or late in the evenings, it’s absolutely beautiful and serene. This is difficult to do if you’re staying in other areas of the city, but will be perfect for guests staying at Park Hyatt Kyoto.

Additionally, walking north of Park Hyatt Kyoto leads to Philosopher’s Path and a number of hidden gem temples that are perpetually devoid of crowds, even during peak seasons. In case you can’t tell, we’re pretty excited to stay here, and plan to book something for later this year or early next. We’ll report back with a full review once we do!

If you’re planning a trip to Japan that includes Kyoto, we recommend that you start by consulting our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan to plan all aspects of our vacation. You should also check out our other posts about Japan for ideas on other places to visit!

Your Thoughts

Does staying at Park Hyatt Kyoto appeal to you, or would you prefer to book more traditional accommodations in the city? If you’re a Kyoto veteran, would you recommend Park Hyatt Kyoto to a first-timer visiting Japan? Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Any questions about what we’ve covered here? Does visiting this spot in Kyoto interest you? Hearing about your experiences—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

The post Park Hyatt Kyoto Photos & Preview appeared first on Travel Caffeine.

0 notes

cosimaballettithomas-blog · 5 years

Text

Practicum Essay

When Henry Hudson arrived on September 12, 1609 at what at the time was called Mannahatta, he and his crew were confronted by vast uncultivated forest land consisting of Pine and Hickory trees, streams, and diverse wildlife, especially black bears and beavers (Wildlife Conservation Society 2009). The land itself was incredibly fertile and “ecologically complete,” as Eric Sanderson words it in “The Mannahatta Project” (Wildlife Conservation Society 2009). With the interactive 1609 map website, I searched my apartment on West 70th Street to find that my neighborhood was largely home to field mice and beavers, and was very hilly (The Welikia Project). Uptown, the history of the Bronx River likely dates back to the Pleistocene Period several hundred thousand years ago when a glacier blocked a portion of the original path giving it its current shape today (Bronx River Alliance). It was originally referred to as Aquehung or, River of High Bluffs by the Mohegan Native Americans and later as the Bronck’s River by European settlers who constructed mills along it for water power to produce commodities such as flour and pottery beginning in the mid 17th century (Bronx River Alliance).

Fordham University has been a steward of the river since its founding in 1841 on the Rose Hill Farm located on the river bank (Fordham University). A portion of the river ran adjacent to the farm emptying into a pond in and from which wildlife lived and drank such as muskrats and cattle. Up until the portion, known as Mill Brook, was diverted to the city’s storm drain system, it provided an array of ecosystem services for the University and surrounding farms and communities. The portion of the campus located along the river once consisted of agricultural fields, hiking trails, and swimming holes (pictured below) until 1889 when the land along the River was bought by the city to create the “Bronx Park,” presently known as the “New York Botanical Garden.” This closeness to the river provided a well established and important connection to nature for the Fordham community. It also made for a peaceful antidote from the ills of the metropolis hub downtown that one could access by taking the New York or Harlem steam train (Gilbert and Wines 1998). For example, the Faculty parking lot was once low-lying marsh that would be flooded right before winter to create a skating rink. This land proved essential especially during the early 20th century when funding for the school was dismal and the campus farmland provided food, specifically where Cunniffe House currently stands. The site of the Rose Hill Gym was once an apple, pear, and cherry orchard and potatoes, corn, and other crops were grown elsewhere on campus (Gosier 2016).

(Bronx River Alliance)

(Gilbert and Wines 1998)

Today, the university has many green initiatives such as bolstering its energy efficiency to minimize waste by installing LED lighting effectively conserving 712 kWh of energy per year (Sustainability at Fordham). It is also aligned with the city’s mission to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030. The school also built new green buildings that are LEED certified, such as Conley Hall and the Lincoln Center Law building. It also has two student-led community gardens at both campuses (St. Rose’s Garden CSA). Despite these efforts, in 2011, Fordham received a C+ rating on its “Green Report Card”; however, it did score an A with respect to “Green Building” and “Energy,” so its low score is largely due to administrative matters (The College Sustainability Report Card 2011). Fordham’s environmental history is particularly relevant to my practicum in that my task is to essentially get students more involved in climate action and by working with groups such as the LC Environmental Club, we can better improve the school’s green initiatives through projects such as the community garden as an attempt to re-greenify and beautify the campus in honor of what it used to look like not too long ago.

I chose the “External Internship” practicum option and have had the pleasure of interning as a “Field Representative” with an environmental organization called Our Climate which is essentially geared towards promoting climate action in students and on college campuses. On average I work 3-5 hours a week, depending on the project to which I am assigned. One of my favorite assignments was partnering with the LC Environmental Club in hosting a tile painting night for my organization’s Blue Bird mosaic, which is the New York State bird. I also wrote an environmental commentary piece for actress Nikki Reed to post on her social media as well as other Op-Ed pieces on various environmental matters such as the Paris Agreement and Trump’s roll back efforts of climate action under the Obama Administration. I also got to be a part of the “State Carbon Pricing Network” Coalition’s weekly phone call where I had the opportunity to listen to representatives from all over the country describe and provide updates on their own state’s environmental issues and endeavors, as well as act as the New York representative. My internship gave me the opportunity to act both passively and actively in the endeavor against climate change. I got to attend hearings for bills and acts such as the “Climate and Community Protection Act” and also voice my opinion through writing, which I really enjoyed because it allowed me to see my work published and read the reactions and comments from readers. I really gained a lot from this internship in that I wasn’t simply sitting at a desk but rather actively participating in efforts that I am passionate about and getting to see those efforts publicized, which was very rewarding as I often feel as if I don’t have a voice precisely because I am just a student, whereas the very organization I worked for is literally centered around student engagement.

I found myself referring to Miller over and over again while writing environmental Op Ed pieces for my practicum, especially when it came to current issues concerning topics such as environmental politics and worldviews, sustainability and sustainable design, carbon emissions, ozone standards, the partisanization of environmental issues, etc. Chapter 5 of Miller discusses Environmental Worldviews, Ethics, and Sustainability, and the lessons I learned from this chapter sprung up a lot during my practicum, especially concerning matters of environmental education and injustice. I thought a lot about how our policy makers, especially under the current administration, are not adequately representing the public in that many of them simply do not prioritize climate change or outright deny its existence. In other words, many of the people charged with the task of protecting and meeting the needs of people hold the skewed worldview that we can exploit nature and use resources all we want because we’ve never run out of them before. Miller would call this a “Planetary Management” worldview (Miller 2012, 663). I really don’t think that we live in a democracy anymore but rather a corporate oligarchy where powerful industries call the shots, which is something my internship attempts to address by supporting methods such as carbon pricing of these very corporations.

Another topic that has honestly kept me up at night is this recent aforesaid partisanization of environmental issues, which Miller touches on with respect to the Environmentalism Era that emerged in the early 70’s under the Nixon Administration along with the creation of the EPA (Miller 2012, S8). This recent trend has largely designated and dismissed climate change as a liberal issue and explains why so many conservatives reject the very science that proves its existence. In contrast to the Nixon Era, the Trump Administration is actually attempting to reduce and reverse environmental agency power and regulations, especially the EPA (Miller 2012, S8). In fact, Trump just appointed Andrew Wheeler, a former coal-industry lobbyist as the new head of the EPA. Miller suggests that it was the inauguration of Reagan that marked the beginning of this shift promulgated by an administration that valued economic growth and other “American” values over environmental protection (S8). This pertains to my practicum as a case study that attempts to bolster government climate action by working with like-minded politicians in getting ideas and bills placed at the forefront of local government agendas.

The environmental policy recommendations I would propose for solving the problems I worked on in my practicum include (1) Congestion pricing for all vehicles entering big cities through a separate tax or charge on a toll so that drivers know exactly what they are being charged for because cities “produce about 75% of the world’s climate changing CO2 emissions (Miller 2012, 593), (2) Greater tax incentives and breaks for implementing renewable energy and sustainable design in businesses and homes, (3) Environmental education to be integrated in curriculum beginning in kindergarten as a attempt to shift the collective attitude towards nature and wildlife and strengthen environmental literacy, (4) 30% carbon emissions reduction by 2030 which is already integrated into the New York climate agenda, (5) A percentage of all tax revenue to be invested in conservation biology as well as low-income communities to improve transportation and education systems, as well as access to fresh produce through community garden and local grocery store subsidies, (6) A ban on all stratospheric ozone depleting pollutants and all ground-level ozone producing substances (Miller 2012, 458). All of these relate to my practicum as a case study for bolstering community and youth engagement in climate action by encouraging students to attend hearings and events centered around potential environmental policies and acts. For example, the Trump Administration has been attempting to loosen ground-level ozone pollution standards established by the EPA which simply cannot happen in light of everything we know about ozone. In other words, my practicum aims to involve young people more in demanding that their local government and university take action against climate change and gaining access to the right people who can help immensely in facilitating effective dialogue and action.

Miller explains that every cultural and economic facet of our society relies on natural capital. Human capital relies on natural capital for the preservation of workers by providing life’s basic necessities whereas manufacture capital “refers to machinery, equipment, and factories made from natural resources with the help of human resources” (Miller 2012, 614). That said, a government that does not prioritize the environment will ultimately cause harm to its economy and people in perpetuity. We have a lot of great politicians who are working hard to realize change, but it's simply not enough, which is why organizations such as Our Climate exist, to give voice and power to young people like myself who, to be completely frank, will live to see some of the total environmental devastation in the near future. My practicum has been an incredible learning experience, especially regarding local government processes. It has given me a seat in the first row of New York City climate action and countless opportunities to learn not just about environmental issues specific to New York but the broader, more widely impacting issues as discussed in Miller that are occurring on a national and global scale as well. I have always known that I wanted to do something regarding nature and the environment, but after high school I felt like I had an inadequate knowledge about the specific science of climate change. Together the Miller textbook and my practicum have given me a profound and well-rounded education about the climate crisis and the ways in which I as an individual and community member can facilitate action.

Word Count: 1919

Work Cited

Wildlife Conservation Society. “The Mannahatta Project.” June 05, 2009. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKNEu_8t65s.

"The Welikia Project » Welikia Map." The Welikia ("way-LEE-kee-uh") Project. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://welikia.org/explore/mannahatta-map/.

"Natural and Social History." Bronx River Alliance. Accessed April 23, 2019. http://bronxriver.org/?pg=content p=abouttheriver m1=9.

"Renewing Fordham's Environmental History." Fordham University, Environmental Studies. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://legacy.fordham.edu/academics/programs_at_fordham_/environmental_studie/internships_bronx_ri_75801.asp.

Fordham. "Renewing Fordham's Environmental History." Bronx River Stewardship and Internship Program. October 06, 2014. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://www.fordham.edu/info/20924/internship_and_job_opportunities/1748/bronx_river_stewardship_and_internship_program.

Gilbert, Allan, and Roger Wines. "From Earliest to Latest Fordham: Background History and Ongoing Archaeology." Rose Hill Farm, Google Drive. 1998. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzKbjVLpnX0RSHlWM2tKbjRmcmM/view.

Gosier, Chris. "On-Campus Farm Nourished Fordham in Its Early Years." Fordham Newsroom. October 28, 2016. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://news.fordham.edu/fordham-magazine/on-campus-farm-nourished-fordham-in-its-early-years/.

Fordham. "Fordham Online Information | About | Sustainability at Fordham." Fordham University. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://www.fordham.edu/info/23673/sustainability_at_fordham.

"Fordham University College Sustainability Report Card 2011." Fordham University - Green Report Card 2011. 2011. Accessed April 23, 2019. http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2011/schools/fordham-university.html.

"St. Rose's Garden." St. Rose's Garden CSA. March 26, 2014. Accessed April 23, 2019. https://fordhamsustainability.wordpress.com/st-roses-garden/.

Miller, Tyler G., and Scott Spoolman. Edited by Scott Spoolman. In Living in the Environment. 17th ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2012.

0 notes

exotericenvironmentalism · 7 years

Photo

During a visit to Iceland in March, I hired a bike for a day to see some of its capital, Reykjavik, away from the centre- and wrote about it at the time. This was my experience...

Cycling in Reykjavik- see more of the city, escape some of the crowds, travel more sustainably

After spending a few days walking around Reykjavik by foot, I was keen to explore and discover some more of the city. Having been in and about Reykjavik from the end of February, a day after the city had experienced record breaking overnight snowfall, I gradually noted a number of cycle lanes ‘emerging’ out of the snow as it began to melt (to some extent).

I love to cycle in my home city of Glasgow in Scotland. It’s an enjoyable way to get around, keeps me fit, is affordable, and is a sustainable method of travel. It allows me to easily see places and do things in the city centre, but also access nature and cultural attractions on the city’s perimeter as well as further afield in Scotland. I also like to cycle in other countries and cities that I visit, as I find it a fantastic way to explore and find new places that I might not otherwise get to- and I’d identified a few areas of Reykjavik that I was keen to experience away from the centre. It was time to hire a bike...

My cycle: 30km of lighthouses, coffee, a thermal pool and a stop for a sandwich by the river

Having secured a hired bike for the day (see ‘Tips, tricks and resources’ for more on this) I started my route from the HI City Hostel at Laugardalur Valley, where I was staying, by cycling towards the bay to the ferry crossing to the little island of Viðey (1st row image). With the ferry only operating at weekends during winter (but throughout the week in summer) I wasn’t able to travel to the island- but it seems well worth incorporating a visit for its cultural and built heritage.

Instead I cycled on towards the city (2nd row- left), following the dedicated walking and cycle path along the seafront- enjoying moving towards the Reykjavik skyline. There is, along this route, a little ‘secret beach’ (2nd row- right)- perhaps the only accessible sand on the north side of the Reykjavik peninsula. About 3 kilometres of easy pedalling took me past the Harpa concert hall (3rd row), and then on towards the harbour area (4th row- left image). When visiting Reykjavik just now it is notable that there is quite a bit of construction work going on around this area - and it’s necessary to be particularly aware of traffic, and considerate to pedestrians if cycling. (See ‘Tips, tricks and resources’ below on negotiating areas without dedicated cycle paths.)

Soon I was past the extent of the city I had explored by foot as I made my way west to Seltjarnarnes, at the tip of the peninsula that Reykjavik is situated on. Cycling on a high quality segregated path separated from the road traffic (note that while some parts are dedicated for bikes, others are shared with pedestrians- keep an eye on the signs and markings on the path) I quickly felt I was moving away from the bustle of the city.

Following the route all the way along the coast to the beach at Grótta Island, and its lighthouse and birdlife, I then turned towards what are some of my favourite views in Reykjavik - over the water towards the mountains to the south. Passing the serene Bakkatjörn lake and nature reserve (4th row- right) image), I turned eastwards at the golf course (which looks a spectacular place for a round!) back towards the city.

Having cycled approximately 10 kilometres, I felt it was perfect timing for some swimming (which had become a daily routine for me while in Iceland…), and I stopped at the Sundlaug Seltjarnarnes pool. There are numerous public thermal pools around Reykjavik- I’d already visited the 2 most central pools, as well as Laugardalsaug next to the City hostel. Having access to a bike provided a great opportunity to spend some time in a pool a little further away from the centre, and the Seltjarnarnes pool turned out to be one of my favourites in the city - quieter that some of the other pools, and with fantastic views over the sea to the mountains to the south.

After my swim I was ready for coffee and some cake - and just a minute away from the pool I found the lovely ‘Innovation House Café’ where I thoroughly enjoyed a cappuccino and a big slice of cake (another benefit of cycling is that you feel justified to have as much coffee and cake as you want. It is pedalling fuel…).

From there I found my way back to the coast, and headed south-east towards the city airport. I’d been told that the Icelandic cultural icon Bjork’s house was somewhere around here… (5th row- left) A few more kilometres along some great segregated paths (5th row- right) took me to the Geothermal Beach at Nauthólsvík. Unfortunately I passed on one of the days during the week that the facilities are closed- but I made sure I jogged there the next day. Visiting the Geothermal Beach on a sunny Friday afternoon was, for me, one of my favourite experiences in Reykjavik- and I highly recommend making the effort to get there. But ensure to check for the changing facilities and hot bath opening times.

Beyond the Geothermal Beach I followed the cycle path eastwards through a quiet residential area. A pedestrian/cycle bridge carried me across one of the busy highways that cut through the city- and on towards the edge of the Elliðaár River and Elliðaárdalur Valley area.

After a stopping here for a sandwich I’d packed in my bag, I came across a quite unexpected scene right underneath one of the major roads, close to the city centre. Here the river hit a small waterfall, and the view of white-water, trees, countryside and snow-capped mountains felt so different to the majority of other European capital cities I’d been in - and so close to the city centre (6th row). It is scenes like this that make Reykjavik particularly special - and what draws me back to it. However, as it becomes increasingly busy with more visitors, it is maybe now necessary to try a bit harder to seek out different parts of the city to get such experiences. In this instance, a bike was the perfect mode to find this little place of sanctuary.

I cycled north, and then west back to the City Hostel at Laugersfield from where I had started (and, of course, in time for a swim at the thermal pool next to the hostel). I had thoroughly enjoyed my day on the bike, seeing new and hidden parts to the city. However, aside from the personal benefits and experiences from my cycle, there is a wider issue that this links to - and really important for the long term sustainability of tourism in Reykjavik (and Iceland more generally)…

Trying to make tourism more sustainable

Reykjavik, and Iceland, is experiencing a bit of a tourism boom in the last couple of years. It is being more widely recognised for its incredible natural beauty- and, furthermore, potentially because of its increasing number of cultural links (from musicians such as ‘Of Monsters and Men’ through to being used as filming locations for smash TV series ‘Game of Thrones’). With airlines now offering cheap flights from all around Europe, and also North America, Iceland’s infrastructure is feeling the strain of extra visitors. It is an issue that I’m sure many of the people who live and work in Reykjavik recognise. There are significant economic benefits to tourism, but there are also clear potential social and environmental trade-offs too- from increased pressure on services that locals also want to use, and depend on; to potential damage to the very nature that makes Iceland so attractive. It’s a dilemma that the increasingly popular ‘I Heart Reykjavik’ travel blog addressed in a post while I was there.

One of the primary problems associated with tourism in a place, with both negative social and environmental impacts, is increased levels of traffic on the roads. Tour buses, service vehicles, hire cars all put additional pressure on the road infrastructure of a place- leading to of negative issues such as congestion, accidents, noise, air pollution and carbon emissions. It can also just undermine how a place ‘feels’. Many visitors come to Reykjavik and Iceland to escape cities that are clogged with traffic and noise, and the city could lose one of the very qualities that attracts people in the first instance if it doesn’t effectively manage such challenges. As responsible tourists, as well as those involved in the tourism industry in Reykjavik, being aware of these issues is really important.

This is where cycling, if even just around the city, can potentially have a significant positive impacts. By taking some of the load off the road network, visitors can avoid contributing a number of the negative issues that are associated with using motorised vehicles. Clearly it is necessary for the majority of visitors to Iceland to use a form of motorised transport while in the country, and with many hiring a private car. But, and particularly when in the city, the option of using a bicycle could be a great way to reduce their social and environmental impact to some extent. What is more, by exploring parts of Reykjavik they might not otherwise visit, help spread the economic benefits of tourism more widely around the city. Notably, the HI City Hostel from where I started my cycle, as well as associated hostels in the city centre and around the country, have a strong sustainability policy.

Also, as I’ve already stated- when you cycle about you are justified to have as much coffee and cake as you want…

Tips, tricks and resources

- Make sure you pick up the #Reykjavikloves ‘cycling’ fold out map- available from the tourist office, and many other locations. It details a number of recommended routes linking some of the dedicated cycling infrastructure around the city, and indicates interesting places to visit along the way. Combine the cycling map with the others in the #Reykjavikloves series- which include maps focused on culture, festivals and thermal pools. For me, in particular, linking cycling and the city’s numerous swimming pools was a perfect combination…

- There are increasing numbers of people who bring their own bikes to Iceland to do some cycle touring (much more an option for summer- and something I’m really hoping to do later this year). But most people are likely to consider hiring a bike for just some time while in the city- as I did on this occasion. The added benefit of this is that you can look to hire a bike that best suits your needs, and the weather conditions, for the time you are in Reykjavik. Depending on the time of year this could be just a normal city bike, or a mountain bike with winter tyres.

- Bike hiring options in the city include: The ‘bike company’ next to the Harpa concert hall (www.bikecompany.is); ‘Borgarhjól’ on Hverfisgata, right in the centre of town (www.borgarhjol.is); while the HI City hostel rents out bikes direct from its reception- including high quality mountain bikes with suspension and winter tyres if the conditions merit these. The HI Loft hostel hires more conventional city bikes.

- Unlike many other places and cities (and certainly in the UK), Reykjavik seems happy to allow cyclists to use pavements/sidewalks where there isn’t a dedicated cycle path available. The major roads in the city can be quite busy, and with some large vehicles (tour coaches, to all-terrain vehicles)- and it is notable that local cyclists seemed to avoid the roads. I would advise to do the same.

#cycling #iceland #reykjavik #cities #sustainable travel #mobility #transport #travel #sustainability #placemaking #hostelling #biking #cycle touring #i heart reykjavik

6 notes · View notes

future-computing · 4 years

Text

HW 10

Question No. 1

An autonomous car is also known as a driverless car, i.e. a car without the driver or in engineering terms we can call it a robotic car. An autonomous car is a vehicle that is capable enough of sensing its environment and navigating without any human input. Numerous such frameworks are developing yet starting at 2017 no autos allowed on open streets were completely self-ruling. They all require a human in the driver’s seat who must be prepared to take control whenever.

Independent autos utilize an assortment of procedures to recognize their environment, for example, radar, laser light, GPS, odometry and PC vision. Propelled control frameworks translate tactile data to recognize fitting route ways, and also deterrents and applicable signage. Autonomous autos must have control frameworks that are fit for breaking down tangible information to recognize distinctive autos out and about.

The potential advantages of self-sufficient autos incorporate lessened versatility and framework costs, expanded wellbeing, expanded portability, expanded consumer loyalty and diminished wrongdoing. Particularly a huge decrease in activity collisions; the coming about wounds; and related costs, including less requirement for protection. Independent autos are anticipated to build movement stream; gave improved versatility to youngsters, the elderly, crippled and poor people; alleviate voyagers from driving and route tasks; bring down fuel utilization; altogether diminish requirements for parking spot; decrease wrongdoing; and encourage plans of action for portability as an administration, particularly through the sharing economy.

“The contribution of self-driving cars to society is, arguably, incredible,” said Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO and co-founder, during his keynote address at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.

Regardless of the possibility that only 10-20 percent of autos worldwide have some self-driving ability by 2025, the innovation could dispose of driver blunder — and spare 30,000 to 140,000 lives per year, as per a report the counselling firm McKinsey and Company. It gauges that self-ruling vehicles could cut fuel use by 15-20 percent and diminish carbon discharges by as much as 300 million tons, comparable to approximately a fourth of all carbon outflows from oil.

Question No. 2

The five present day impacts are

1. Thousands of lives will be saved each year. So many people lose their lives daily in road accidents and I personally believe that autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce the figure of accidents happening.

2. Carbon emission will be reduced significantly. Since self-sufficient vehicles are worked to advance productivity in quickening, braking, and speed variety, they enable increment to fuel effectiveness and diminish carbon emanations.

3. People will stop owning cars. Truth be told, by taking a common, driverless armada vehicle, your cost per mile could be diminished as much as 80% versus a by and by possessed vehicles when driven 10,000 miles for each year, as indicated by Casualty Actuarial Society.

4. Traffic will disappear. Self-sufficient autos won't just help decrease auto collisions, they will likewise likely significantly lessen activity clog.

5. Everybody will have more free time in their lives. Time invested in movement is squandered energy. Be that as it may, Autonomous autos would empower drivers to invest that energy accomplishing something unique.

The second point relates to my career path as I am planning to do my Masters and PhD in the field of automotive. I intend to work on autonomous Hybrid Electric Vehicles and we all know that one objective of such vehicles is the greenhouse gas reduction.

Question No. 3

1. In the past, so many accidents have been happening due to human carelessness. Future aspect of autonomous vehicles would be reduction in the figure of accidents.

2. If we move back in the past, I have personally seen 2-stroke vehicles generating smoke and polluting the air to its maximum potential. Future aspect of autonomous vehicles in this regard can be a significant reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions which would not only just reduce the air pollution but also noise pollution.

3. In the past, it was, and it is still hard for people to own cars in different parts of the world. Future impact can be cost minimization.

4. In the past and even today we can see a lot of traffic congestion on roads. A future impact of autonomous vehicles would be reduction in traffic on roads because of a highly sensitive and controlled systematic architecture.

5. In the past, domestic complaints like working people hardly manage time for their family. They are so much busy in their routine life that it becomes hard for them to spare some moments for their family or loved ones. Future impact of autonomous vehicles would be that people could save time that used to be wasted in traffic.

Question No. 4

1. The self-driving auto will probably change society more than any innovation has over the previous century. Streets will be more secure, we'll have all the sparer time, urban areas will be reshaped, and movement may turn into a relic of times gone by.

2. Increase in productivity. On the off chance that individuals spend the majority of their new available time working, efficiency will take off.

3. Mobility for all people will dramatically improve. Self-driving autos will empower the elderly to be versatile, as well as enable those with handicaps, the unlicensed, and the individuals who don't claim an auto to go also.

4. Parking spaces will also begin to disappear. The reception of driverless armadas will mean you never need to look for a parking spot again on the grounds that you will dependably get dropped off at your coveted area. Furthermore, regardless of the possibility that you do select to possess your own particular self-governing vehicle, there will even now be no requirement for you to stop it since it will find a space and stop itself.

5. Individuals won't claim their own autos. Transport will have conveyed as an administration from organizations who possess armadas of self-driving vehicles. There are such a significant number of specialized, financial, wellbeing favourable circumstances to the transportation-as-a-benefit that this change may come substantially quicker than the vast majority anticipate.

Question No. 5

The US Trucking Industry

The trucking business is gigantic, and the United States economy is gigantically reliant upon it. Truck driving is the most famous occupation in 29 of the 50 states, with 3,500,000 truck drivers in the U.S. This implies in the vast majority of the nation; one will probably meet a truck driver than some other occupation.

70% of aggregate U.S. cargo tonnage, likeness 10.5 billion tons of cargo for each year, is transported by means of trucking. Each item you buy, devour, or find in a store is reliant on trucking.

Incredibly, 38,000,000,000 gallons of diesel fuel are expended every year to keep products moving in the United States. The business creates $750,000,000,000 in income every year and is required to develop quickly. The sheer size of this market gives a motivation to advancement, and it is normal that self-ruling trucking will expel huge cost from the production network.

My Opinion

In spite of the significance of the trucking business, there are major issues. It is normal that just about 100,000 new truck drivers will be required each year for the following 10 years in light of industry development projections, and trucking organizations have just been whining about a driver lack for a considerable length of time. Industry development will just aggravate this lack.

This has driven organizations to concentrate on selecting and maintenance, however it has been hard to pull in new members to the business. The business is a similarly "old" industry. One test is that to acquire an interstate CDL permit, one must be 21 years of age. At the point when most youngsters graduate secondary school at 18 or 19, this power a very long time of sit without moving time before one is even qualified to drive a truck. Accordingly, the industry isn't a possibility for new graduates, and new graduates begin down different ways.

The driver deficiency is expanding work rates in the business, and work as of now constitutes 33% of the expenses of transport. Self-governing trucking would help expel some of these expenses from the inventory network.

Question No. 6

1. Programming/innovation organizations will possess a greater amount of the world's economy as organizations like Uber, Google and Amazon transform transportation into a compensation as-you-go benefit. Without government intercession (or some kind of composed development), there will be a colossal exchange of riches to few individuals who possess the product, battery/influence fabricating, vehicle overhauling and charging/influence age/support framework. There will be enormous solidification of organizations serving these business sectors as scale and proficiency will turn out to be significantly more profitable.

2. Reduced man power can lead to unemployment and can put a tremendous unemployment pressure on the government of the country.

3. New era is considered to be an era of technology so definitely automotive industries would definitely boost up.

4. The auto financing industry will leave, as will the recently gigantic subsidiary market for bundled sub-prime vehicle credits which will probably cause a smaller than expected rendition of the 2008– 2009 money related emergency as it explodes.

5. Supply chains will be upset as transportation changes. Calculations will enable trucks to be full. Overabundance (inactive) limit will be estimated less expensive. New mediators and warehousing models will develop.

Question No. 7

1. In the past, we have been looking that the trucking business has been gigantic and has been a big source of income for the people of US. If the autonomous vehicles take over, surely there is going to be a significant decrease in the need for drivers.

2. Programming/innovation organizations will possess a greater amount of the world's economy as organizations like Uber, Google and Amazon transform transportation into a compensation as-you-go benefit. There will be enormous solidification of organizations serving these business sectors as scale and proficiency will turn out to be significantly more profitable.

3. In the past, man power used to be the source. Reduced man power can lead to unemployment and can put a tremendous unemployment pressure on the government of the country.

4. In the past, conventional automobiles had been running on roads. Autonomous vehicle technology is a modern technology. New era is considered to be an era of technology so definitely automotive industries would definitely boost up.

5. The auto financing industry will leave, as will the recently gigantic subsidiary market for bundled sub-prime vehicle credits which will probably cause a smaller than expected rendition of the 2008– 2009 money related emergency as it explodes.

6. Supply chains will be upset as transportation changes. Calculations will enable trucks to be full. Overabundance (inactive) limit will be estimated less expensive. New mediators and warehousing models will develop.

Question No. 8

1. Streets will be substantially emptier and littler (after some time) as self-driving autos require significantly less space between them (a noteworthy reason for movement today), individuals will share vehicles more than today (carpooling), activity stream will be better directed and algorithmic planning (i.e. leave at 10 versus 9:30) will upgrade framework usage.

2. Urban areas will turn out to be considerably thicker as less streets and vehicles will be required, and transport will be less expensive and more accessible. The "walkable city" will keep on being more alluring as strolling and biking wind up noticeably less demanding and more ordinary.

3. We'll have less security as inside cameras and utilization logs will track when and where we go and have gone. Outside cameras will likewise most likely record environment, including individuals. This may positively affect wrongdoing yet will open up numerous mind-boggling security issues and likely numerous claims.

4. Urban areas, towns and police powers will lose income from movement tickets, tolls (likely supplanted, if not disposed of) and fuel impose incomes drop sharply. These will likely be supplanted by new duties (presumably on vehicle miles). These may turn into a noteworthy political hot-catch issue separating parties as there will most likely be a scope of backward versus dynamic assessment models.

5. Air terminals will permit vehicles directly into the terminals, perhaps onto the landing area, as expanded controls and security wind up plainly conceivable. Terminal plan may change significantly as transportation to and from progresses toward becoming standardized and incorporated.

6. Airplane terminals will permit vehicles directly into the terminals, perhaps onto the landing area, as expanded controls and security end up noticeably conceivable. Terminal plan may change significantly as transportation to and from moves toward becoming standardized and coordinated.

Question No. 9

Independent vehicles (AVs) speak to a noteworthy development for the car business, however their potential contact regarding timing, take-up, and entrance stays foggy. While abnormal amounts of vulnerability right now encompass the issue, a definitive part that AVs could play in regard to the economy, versatility, and society overall could be significant. With an end goal to look past the present quickly changing forecasts on AV infiltration, we talked with more than 30 specialists crosswise over Europe, the United States, and Asia and joined these discoveries with our bits of knowledge to touch base at ten provocative potential ramifications of self-driving autos.

The across the board utilization of AVs could significantly influence an assortment of industry parts. To investigate these suggestions top to bottom, we concentrated on three-time skylines of AV dispersion: before such vehicles are financially accessible to singular purchasers, when they are in the beginning period of appropriation, and when they turn into the essential methods for transport (show).

In my opinion, the autonomous vehicles would have a positive impact on the society.

Question No. 10

1. Employment Distribution

2. Road Safety

3. Efficient multi-purpose vehicle use

4. The transportation liberation for the disabled and elderly

5. Automation will make for more secure driving, with investment funds of up to $190 billion a year, for the most part from lessened social insurance costs.

Question No. 11

1. In the past, we have been looking that the trucking business has been enormous and has been a major wellspring of pay for the general population of US. On the off chance that the self-ruling vehicles assume control, clearly there will be a noteworthy decline in the requirement for drivers.

2. Programming/advancement associations will have a more noteworthy measure of the world's economy as associations like Uber, Google and Amazon change transportation into a remuneration as-you-go advantage. There will be tremendous hardening of associations serving these business areas as scale and capability will end up being essentially more gainful.

3. In the past, labour used to be the source. Diminished labour can prompt joblessness and can put a huge joblessness weight on the legislature of the nation.

4. In the past, regular autos had been running on streets. Self-ruling vehicle innovation is a cutting-edge innovation. New period is thought to be a time of innovation so certainly car businesses would help up.

5. The automobile financing industry will leave, as will the as of late tremendous auxiliary market for packaged sub-prime vehicle credits which will presumably cause a littler than anticipated version of the 2008– 2009 cash related crisis as it detonates.

6. Supply chains will be disturbed as transportation changes. Computations will empower trucks to be full. Excess (inert) breaking point will be assessed more affordable. New go between and warehousing models will create.

Question No. 12

1. Streets will be considerably emptier and humbler (after some time) as self-driving automobiles require altogether less space between them (an essential purpose behind development today), people will share vehicles more than today (carpooling), action stream will be better coordinated and algorithmic arranging (i.e. leave at 10 versus 9:30) will overhaul structure utilization.

2. Urban ranges will end up being impressively thicker as less boulevards and vehicles will be required and transport will be more affordable and more available. The "walkable city" will continue being all the more charming as walking and biking wind up perceptibly not so much requesting but rather more standard.

3. We'll have less security as inside cameras and usage logs will track when and where we go and have gone. Outside cameras will in like manner no doubt record condition, including people. This may emphatically influence wrongdoing yet will open up various personality boggling security issues and likely various cases.

4. Urban regions, towns and police forces will lose wage from development tickets, tolls (likely supplanted, if not discarded) and fuel force livelihoods drop forcefully. These will probably be supplanted by new obligations (apparently on vehicle miles). These may transform into an imperative political hot-get issue isolating gathering as there will no doubt be an extent of in reverse versus dynamic evaluation models.

5. Air terminals will allow vehicles specifically into the terminals, maybe onto the arrival region, as extended controls and security twist up clearly possible. Terminal arrangement may change essentially as transportation to and from advances toward getting to be noticeably institutionalized and joined.

6. Airplane terminals will allow vehicles straightforwardly into the terminals, maybe onto the arrival zone, as extended controls and security wind up discernibly possible. Terminal arrangement may change altogether as transportation to and from advances toward getting to be plainly institutionalized and composed.

0 notes