I really appreciate the food content warnings in Taskmaster: Minnesota haha

Really not sure what could be added here. But ok will try.

I kind hate when people say "Shig is the protagonist" bc...he really isnt. I would argue he is not really a character anymore. But a plot device.

Bk is the real mc in Hori's eyes.

But I want to talk about smth: ofa transfering vs afo tranfering.

(It may be dumb but is not dumber than canon)

Not sure if is true thanks to the pacing of the story, but assuming Shig was in the tank for 10 months to get a quirk he...frankly never needed. (What was the selling point here? "Shig going get more power" as if decay wasnt enough) while Izu trained for 10 months.

Shig was in a tube like a dead fish for 10 months.

Izu exercise himself for 10 months to be able to use the quirk.

How afo was transfer to Shig? Via soul?

Afo was shared by 8 people (before Izu enters) and had no real "parasite" effect. But afo does bc...????

We know nothing about afo the quirk or the person.

We know nothing about ofa the quirk and the person.

When afo wanted to steal Shig's body? Bc look I may be wrong but ...since the movies are canon, many others villains, had a small afo quirk and didnt endure "will steal your body" why Shig?

(Bc otherwise how Izu would saved him)

Not sure if I'm making sense. Its just those 2 quirks are so different and so similar...but at the same time we know nothing about it.

Also the inage I shared has the "completation in 70%" so...is afo being injected into his body? In his veins? FOR 10 MONTHS?

Again what was the selling point here? Yes, it does feel like Shig cheat (well he got his comeuppance here) but sorry nothing of this makes sense.

I guess I just want to vent a little bc those quirks are so central to the plot but at the same time we know nothing about. We know shit about yoichi and afo. It's all made up on the spot.

Thanks for the patience (I do like the contrast, in theory. Izu worked hard to gain his quirk as a good hero. Shig as a villain cheated but its Hori so...is all about bk)

Indeed, this whole thing was all over the place.

My assumption was that Garaki wasn't merely transferring AFO into Shigaraki's body, he was also physically and genetically modifying his body to be able to handle not only AFO (the quirk), but also host AFO (the potato). You're right to question how he's transferring the potato, however, because that really isn't explained. I assume that it's the ability of one of the potato's quirks, maybe a combination of a few, that allow them to do this. Or maybe it's because AFO is so connected and attached to his quirk (he's had it for like 200 years) that him and his quirk are one in the same at this point.

(The dreamscape thing is odd. Izuku only has access to it because it's part of his quirk. The potato having access to it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Unless he counts as a pass holder since it was his stockpiling quirk that was given to Yoichi and helped form OFA, but then whoever he stole it from would have been there too. Maybe this is the only way he can access the quirk since it's so unique? But that shouldn't be possible since OFA can't be stolen. And why was he only able to access it when he was inhabiting Shigaraki?)

I do think that the difference between OFA and AFO is that OFA at its course is the ability to be bestowed and inherited. Both the predecessor and successor are given a choice (presumably, if the user's DNA can't pass it down without their intention, then I reckon it can't be inherited unless the inheritor wants to inherit it). The potato can take any quirk form anyone and force it onto someone else. I think that's why it's more parasitic, a lack of consent.

I completely agree that Shigaraki didn't need AFO. He had just come into his own power and took control of an extremist organization with a ton of powerful quirk users at his disposal. Him wanting AFO when he had just done all that was counterintuitive.

I loved what him (and the entire LOV) were doing in Deika. They made season 5 for me (because the Endeavor Agency arc was shit), but you're right that he's just a plot device now. AFO taking him in and raising him to be independent as his own villain with his own allies was completely undermined by him trying to hijack Shigaraki's body

Those of you who have been to my main blog in the past year or so might recognize these familiar faces. The little girl is Karin Fjellvik, a character from the game “My Child Lebensborn” (I call it “MCL” for short), and the woman is Karita Omdahl, my MCL fan character/self-insert and Karin’s adoptive mother. I’ve made a few posts about them both on my main blog as well as my sideblog which specifically focuses on my OC x canon relationships, so take a gander if you’d like to read more about them! 

I’ll probably mention a bit of the game as I talk about them in this post, so minor spoilers ahead!! Also, fair warning if you do decide to check out the actual game for yourself: it’s based on real historical events (specifically having to do with the end of World War 2) and involves prejudice/racism and violence towards a child (among other things). Needless to say, it’s quite emotional, and let’s just say that by the end of my play-through, I wanted to punt quite a few people into the shadow realm because of what they did to my poor daughter. 😭

While MCL was originally set during the aftermath of World War 2, I imagine my sims counterparts live in the modern day. Funnily enough, the developers of MCL are currently working on a sequel which will take place in a more modern setting! I would think the sims versions of Karin and Karita moved to this new place in Willow Creek after they’d gone through similar events that happened in the original game. All they wanted to do was to just... get away from their old town, from Karin’s old school, from everything their cruel neighbors had done to them.

Karin and Karita would start their new lives in this modest but pretty one-story home with a small outdoor area for the two to sit and for Karin to play. In the game, you happen to make contact with Karin (or her male counterpart Klaus)’s biological father, who wires you money to help you move out of town. I imagine Karita used much of that money to pay off this new house. They started with only $200 in simoleons, which was a nod to how you would start off with 200 coins (? - dollars? Or whatever they used in Norway during that time? I don’t think the game actually specified what that actual currency was lmao) in the original game.

As money is tight in their household, Karita knows they’ll need it only for the most important items, and she’s made sure Karin knows that. There are times where Karin wishes she had the newest toys or clothes like the other kids have, and she’ll get upset when she can’t have them. Karita promises she’ll buy them one day for her, just not today. After all, it’s better to be selfless than selfish. Karin recently received a whole mini art studio set for her birthday, and she LOVES it! She plans to create lots of artwork to display in her room, and she even uses it occasionally in the middle of the night when she can’t sleep. She even says she hopes to help her mother earn money by selling her best artwork. 🥰

On certain days of the week, Karita works as a manual laborer as a way to bring in some stable income (I thought this was the closest to some kind of factory work, which is your/the parent’s job in MCL). The catch to this, though, is that she currently works during the weekend, which means Karin is left at home alone in the morning. :( Karita knows how much her daughter hates being by herself, so once she returns home from work, she makes sure they spend plenty of quality of time together. Their favorite activities include fishing (they can catch something to eat or Karin asks to keep one as a little pet), reading books, drawing pictures, cooking, and watching television.

See the little fish next to the television? Karin caught it and wanted to save it from being eaten!

Other than Karin’s idea to sell some of her artwork in the future, the two also already have creative ways to earn extra money on the side (or when they really need money fast). For one, Karita happens to enjoy gardening and has made a habit of exploring her neighborhood and harvesting wild plants to grow around their home. She may keep some to use as fresh ingredients/food, but most of the time, she’ll sell them when they’re fully grown.

Being experienced in manual labor, Karita isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty by digging for things as well. She’ll sell the majority of her finds along with things she catches through fishing.

Karin is also a keen explorer and likes to look for frogs. She’ll keep them as pets, too, but once she catches a new one, she knows she’ll have to sell the old one since multiple frogs is... kind of a lot to deal with in such a small home, lol.

This is her latest find, a spotted leaf frog!

So that’s basically how a typical day would go for Karin and Karita! Karin goes to school during the week, of course, and since Karita doesn’t work on weekdays, she’ll usually spend those days building her skills and doing the many things she’s already come up with to earn extra money.

Currently, Karita is hoping to save up for some renovations, including expanding the interior of their home so she will able to build a little writing studio! She wishes to write about her and Karin’s experiences and to send a message to the world to be kind to each other - something among those lines.

I like playing wholesome families like this, and I think the added challenge of reduced funds not only ties into the original game where the characters came from, but it also makes playing this household a lot more fun and interesting.

Oh, I forgot to mention, guess who came by their household while I was taking screenshots of them for this post?

a wild rose appears lmao

also i just realized you can spy one of dina caliente’s sons in the background

Big Plans

“You know shit’s never gonna fucking change, right?” Jason makes to grab for his Zippo. Remembering Dick will happily remove his nuts from his waxed sack for even contemplating smoking inside Dick’s apartment, he stops. His fingers twitch with irritation, nothing like a little nicotine deprivation to start the day. “Gotham’s a gothic nightmare where corruption runs thicker than blood and Blüdhaven’s worse, somehow. Like looking in a funhouse mirror. Uglier. More warped.”

“I really do enjoy our little morning pep talks,” Dick replies, closing the last two buttons on his dress shirt before tucking the fabric into the waistline of his pants. In general, Jason would say he prefers the Kevlar-enhanced, ass-hugging suit Dick prowls the night in—but there’s something to be said for a crisp, white button-down with the sleeves rolled up, forearm veins on display. He doesn’t know how the Blüdhaven criminals are faring but, personally, he wouldn’t mind letting Detective Richard Grayson slap some cuffs on him. Let Dick work him over hard in a surveilled box until Jason cracks, raw and bloody under the harsh fluorescent lights. 

“These fucking places,” Jason grumbles, tired and cranky from watching Dick getting ready to leave, all that warm, gold skin about to slip right out the door. “It’s not something anyone can fix. Nothing short of dropping a bomb on the damn place and razing it to the ground.” 

Dick sighs, running a hand through his hair. It’s getting longer, strands brushing the bone of his jaw. He’s no stranger to this; Jason and the trash he talks. Words pouring out of him sharp as knives, the blades full of blood. Just endlessly spewing shit.

“No point to it all, huh?” Dick leans a hip against the dresser, arms folded, eyebrow raised. There’s an ease to him that’s inherent; the way he owns his body, his space, every room he’s in. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to lure me back to bed.”

 Jason thinks it over. Admits, “not originally,” and lets his legs fall apart slowly. Nude body lounging against cheap, synthetic pillows, he’s got Dick’s low-rent sheets strategically draped across his crotch, all tasteful and shit. Just like the Renaissance paintings cluttering the hallways of the Wayne Manor. None of the shameless, naked peacocking Dick gets up to after sex. No, Jason’s classy. Artful. The signature Jason Todd brand. “But are you feelin’ down to fuck?” he asks. 

Dick throws his head back and laughs. Really fucking laughs. Eyes scrunched up and shoulders shaking, all charisma and beauty and warmth. Laughing like that, it’s suddenly easy to see how a group of metahumans chose Dick as their leader despite his lack of superpowers or how the Blüdhaven Police Corps would accept him as their own despite him being the ward of Gotham’s favourite billionaire asshole. There’s something about Dick like there’s something about Bruce. Something captivating and inescapable that would make you launch a thousand ships for them. Burn down entire worlds for them. Jason’s not sure Dick’s aware of that. And in a way, Jason thinks he understands the Joker better than Bruce ever could. 

Dick’s laughter fades too slowly, and Jason would be annoyed but there’s a tightness to Dick’s pants that wasn’t there two minutes ago, and Dick’s always laughing. Joyful and happy. Like those are easy feelings to conjure and easy feelings to have. As if getting out of bed isn’t like crawling out of a dark pit every morning and as if life isn't like taking a suckerpunch to the gut, over and over.

“Wish I could,” Dicks says, and Jason swears he sounds like he means it. “But I got big plans today. Gotta save a city.”

“‘Save a city.’ Jesus Christ. More like go get shanked in the gut.”

Dick shrugs and slips on a watch. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

The other bats all have their day jobs. The Police Detective, the Socialite, the rising Tech Wunderkind, and Jason’s personal favourite: the Student. Jason derives no small amount of pleasure from knowing that Bruce and the Demon Spawn get to suffer through the worst of it. Like an ill-fitted suit, Jason hopes it pulls and itches every time they’ve got to slip their disguises on. It shows how removed they are from the rot and the grit and the filth of what is Gotham. The gore at the core of it all. 

That’s where Jason lives, at its epicentre. 

He’d fallen into it naturally, being a crime lord. It had been a logical first step when he’d come home, head full of green fumes and rage. He’s proud to say, he puts the organized in organized crime. Outshines even the worst of them in calculated vicious violence. The crime part of the job, Jason can admit he’s gotten more discerning about. There’s no peddling drugs to kids or bleeding junkies dry, no people traded like cattle, and he doesn’t like selling guns to the lowlifes clogging Gotham’s streets. So, he’s become a parasite instead. Infiltrates a crime organisation and eats it from the inside out till it finally collapses. Scraps the dead beast for parts and money.

It’s not something Jason talks about with this version of Dick. His shady deals, his underground moonlighting. Never with a cop like the one making his way to the bed right now, uniform tight over thick thighs and a sway in his hips that’s nothing less than sexual warfare. 

“Try smoking in my bed again, Todd,” Dick warns, looming over him. He stops whatever threat he was going to utter, disrupted by Jason grousing at him to fucking let that go already. Perfectly pleasant, Dick does exactly that. Just stares at Jason with a face far too naked and utterly too fond. Something’s creeping under Jason’s skin at the sight of it—an itch he doesn’t know how to scratch, unable to decide whether he wants to kiss the prick or break his perfect face instead.

A little lower, there’s a bruise peeking out of Dick’s collar that looks like a handprint. Jason had put that there last night. Violently. Not even the fun kind of violent but the messy kind. The kind where something hunts Jason through nightmares and his body acts before his sleeping brain has had the chance to catch up—that kind of violence. Maybe a better person would wallow in the guilt and remove themselves from the situation. Not Dick and Jason. They just get better at hiding the batarangs and guns. The 200 pounds of well-trained muscle and murderous reflexes are a little harder to counteract but Dick’s no babe in the woods. Besides, Jason’s not exactly the first lethal bitch between Dick’s bedsheets.

Dick smiles. A teasing thing full of soft edges. “Mornings are hard. Aren’t they, Sugarplum?”

“Fuck you to hell.” Jason groans with feeling, hating the hard lumps of Dick’s mattress when he sinks back into them. “Just get lost already, Birdbrain. There’s no fucking point to you with your clothes on.”

“Nice to know I’m not completely useless.”

Jason wants to fight that far too favourable self-assessment. Would fight it, were he not half a pack of Lucky Strikes and three cups of coffee short of mustering the energy. Which is also the only reason he’s letting Dick press an off-centre kiss to his forehead. A shitty place for a shitty kiss from a shitty person, if you ask Jason. Very much Dick Grayson’s style.

“Try and behave, Little Wing.” Dick’s already moving away from the bed and shrugging on a jacket. “I really like this place. Got three South facing windows and none of the neighbours run a meth lab.”

“Prime Blüdhaven real estate,” Jason mutters darkly.

“Glad we’re on the same page.” Dick takes one last look at himself at the mirror, shoots Jason a tacky wink because his existence is a curse, and promises under his breath something that sounds suspiciously like I’ll be back or I’ll miss you. Another twenty seconds later and Jason hears the front door lock click back into place.

His day is wide open now. 

There are things to do but there are always things to do. At any time, Jason’s got about forty things in various stages of motion. Always working on something. Someone. Bigger games than the one he’s running on Dick right now, lighting one up in his bed.

Blowing smoke up into the air, Jason decides that today he’s going to crack the safe Dick keeps behind the panel in his closet. Perfectly harmless, really. Just him fishing through some of Dick’s case files—maybe even solving a few, if he’s feeling charitable. And for tonight, there’s that Malaysian place three blocks over that does a better Rendang than anything he’s found in Gotham. Dick never shuts up about it. Like he’s never going to shut up about the cigarette smell seeping into the wallpaper.

Jason smirks. Solid options. He still has last night’s terrors painted on the back of his eyelids and the feeling of Dick’s neck under his hand but they’re slowly fading. And Dick’s got him covered, said he’d take care of the big plans, so Jason doesn’t have to. And next time, when Jason’s Dick and Dick’s Jason, he’ll have Dick covered too. Jason will tackle the big plans while Dick raids Jason’s fridge and leaves wet towels all over his apartment. Jason knows it’ll happen. It has happened. Just not today.

Maybe tomorrow.

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

@wethatake thanks for being the beta and basically a co-writer. You suck but I love you. <3 Here’s to hoping that your sad little sack of a co-worker doesn’t kill you. XD

Now that it's almost over, was this season the worst season of Fortnite Chapter 2? What do you think of it now vs when it first started?

This season was absolutely the worst. Like, we've had weird Fortnite seasons before, like the Marvel season, where Epic made minor tweaks to the balance when it proved to be trending in a nasty direction.

But this season, like... from my perspective, it feels like Epic has been in full-on panic damage control mode since week 3 or 4. The crafting system they launched with this season has been MASSIVELY neutered.

Like the whole thing was that you had these base guns, right? Makeshift Pistol, Makeshift Shotgun, etc. and they were some of the worst, weakest guns Fortnite has ever had. The idea was that you had to harvest crafting materials in order to make them "real" guns. So you had to kill wildlife to get bones in order to make Primal weapons, and you had to destroy technological stuff to get gears in order to craft Mechanical weapons (aka the standard suite of Fortnite guns). 

Two things happened. One, it made getting a non-crap weapon take way too long -- you’d land and it could take multiple minutes before you had anything worth using. Scavenging resources just so you could properly arm yourself could be half of your entire match. It felt like an eternity, on top of the added stress of being defenseless for way longer.

The other thing that happened is that it completely wrecked the loot distribution. Instead of having a spread of different kinds of guns, where you might end up with multiple types of shotguns or assault rifles or whatever, everyone started out with the base level junk stuff and you were supposed to make whatever you wanted. Which universally meant people would find a Makeshift Shotgun, find a place to harvest gears, and craft a pump shotgun, aka the gun that is a one hit kill in most scenarios. A clean hit with the pump deals something ridiculous, like 185 damage when your fully-armored health is 200.

It turned every match of Fortnite in to a race for who crafts a pump shotgun first. Every encounter after that was a coin flip for who could pull the trigger before the other guy. Infuriating.

Epic eventually nerfed the crafting system in a series of rebalancing patches -- now players aren’t being funneled towards NEEDING to craft a pump shotgun in order to survive, because everything else is more common and more plentiful. Post-rebalance, you find pre-crafted weapons way more often (which have also been buffed to be stronger so they compete with the pump), which means players are settling in with a much greater variety of weapons. Crafting is still there, you can still find makeshift guns and scavenge for resources, but you can totally ignore it if that’s not your thing. 

But it didn't stop there, because they also sent out player survey emails that more or less asked "Hey, how bad did we screw this up, and what can we do to fix it?"

Since then Fortnite has sort of become a revolving door of them bringing back fan-favorite guns like the Infantry Rifle, Flare Gun or the Tactical Shotgun. They also suddenly invented this "Wild Weeks" thing where they massively tip the balance scales in the direction of a certain mechanic, like making fire stronger and spread faster, or making it so fishing gives you better items and more fish.

To me, it all feels like they are going HARD on trying to reconfigure how they think about Fortnite's balance so that something like this never happens again. This is them gathering data on what went wrong with the start of this season and what players ACTUALLY like.

I follow some datamining accounts and something that seemed really enlightening to me was when one of them revealed that most of what was planned for this season wasn't done yet when the season launched, something that is apparently a little uncommon. Fortnite has been increasingly buggy over the last year, and it’s starting to feel like Epic is running out of road on being ready by the time a new season launches.

And you can feel it in other ways, too. There used to be a time where a Fortnite season was only 9 weeks long, and since the launch of Chapter 2, seasons have been getting longer, and longer, and longer. The start of Chapter 2 was full of Epic repeatedly delaying new seasons, until they just settled on the fact that a Fortnite season would be 14+ weeks long.

Despite the extended season length, the bugs just keep getting worse. Every single patch this season, there's a new quest that doesn't work right. Just check the status account and look at how many tweets there are about "we're seeing reports of players not being able to complete [xyz quest]." Fortnite is a much bigger, more complex game now, but I don't understand how it keeps launching with broken quests over and over again, every week.

And they can't slow down development any more than they already have, because seasons are three months long now. I imagine they aren’t selling quite as many battle passes as they used to simply because they’re more spread out now. Probably explains why they introduced a whole second subscription service that’s monthly instead of quarterly.

This game is starting to crack under its own weight and this season has been the biggest identifier of that, to me. What a mess.

Delhi Agra Jaipur - Golden Triangle Of India And Moments Of Happiness

Is a project of the most complex urban area in Saigon exclusively for the Vietnamese elite. Vinhomes Golden River is a pioneer project to implement the model "a city within a city" - a modern and classy miniature city located in the heart of the city. HCM. More than Vinhomes Tan Cang, Ba Son is the second largest port in the central area that Vingroup has its hands on. The golden location with outstanding facilities and services has attracted a large number of expat communities and business people living here. TMT Land will explore with you what this project has to offer! VINHOMES GOLDEN RIVER SAI GON PROJECT OVERVIEW Located in Ba Son right in the heart of District 1 Vinhomes Golden River project is located in the heart of "golden land" at No. 2 Ton Duc Thang, Ben Nghe, District 1. + Located on the corner of Ton Duc Thang - Nguyen Huu Canh street - this is a strategic location in the landscape development for the inner city. + In addition, the project is located near stop number 4 of the Metro Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien line, which goes underground and runs along the ecological urban complex of Vinhomes Ba Son. + From here, you can easily move to places such as: Ben Thanh market, Nha Rong Wharf, Thu Thiem tunnel. Therefore, This is definitely the "goose that lays golden eggs" whose value will increase exponentially over time. Located on the Saigon River and Thi Nghe canal Ba Son Port is one of the three largest ports in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City, right in front of the Saigon River. Therefore, it is not only convenient for roads and railways, but also for developing waterway traffic. At the same time, Thanks to adjacent to the Saigon River, the project will easily build a 5-star marina to meet the needs of the upper class to experience beautiful scenery on the river. Near major constructions in the city The project being located near the prominent places of the city is a great thing. With a short, convenient travel time, flexible transportation, you can visit, play and entertain in the central areas that are considered the "heart" of the city such as: Zoo and Botanical Gardens, parks. Vinhomes Central Park, Him Lam golf course, Independence Palace, Landmark 81, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Nha Rong Wharf, Notre Dame Cathedral. According to the master plan, Vinhomes Ba Son high-class complex urban area includes the following functions: - Multi-function commercial and service area - Modern office area (Officetel) - Luxury apartments - Recreation area, community culture - Luxury Villas next to Saigon River + Single villa type 1B has 4 apartments area: 437.5 m2 (20x 22,5) SAMPLE HOUSE AND TYPICAL FACILITY OF VINHOMES BA SON APARTMENT The Aqua is the first handover area in the overall project. Other buildings are in the process of being completed and handed over on schedule. With the design of the world's leading engineers, the apartments at Vinhomes Golden River bring a delicate and harmonious beauty. + Kitchen design brand Bosch (Germany) + Sanitary ware branded Duravit (Germany) + Smarthomes smart home device, helping homeowners easily control the apartment remotely via smartphone. + European standard filtered water system. Vinhomes Golden River Villas with 63 super luxury Single and Song Lap villas. A most modern ecological urban complex along the river in the heart of the city. So, This is the only luxury villa area that inherits an expensive diamond position that no other villa can match. The Victoria's Villa Plan + Duplex villa type 1A has 23 apartments with area: 225m2 (10?22,5) + Duplex villa type 1 B has 22 apartments area: 225m2 (10?22,5) + Duplex villa type 2A has 4 apartments with area: 325m2 (15?22,5) + Duplex villa type 2B has 5 apartments with area: 325 m2 (15?22,5) + Single villa type 1A with 5 apartments area: 437.5 m2 (20?22,5) In terms of architectural space, the Vinhomes Golden River project (Vinhomes Ba Son) will be developed high-rise with low construction density to create spaciousness for space. In addition, a green park along the river is also built, as the criteria for building a green space, upmarket class according to 5-star standard for project residents of the investor. VINHOMES GOLDEN RIVER - CITY CITY IN THE CENTER OF SAI GON Belonging to the high-end real estate segment, the selling price reaches from 70 million / m2, this place is mainly for the elite with high income. At Vinhomes Golden River, intellectuals, leaders, foreigners and overseas Vietnamese live, forming a community of knowledge and class. As a city for the elite, Vinhomes Golden River brings the best value to residents. It can be said that this is the first project located in the center of District 1 that owns a perfect utility infrastructure, because the total scale is up to 25.3 hectares. But, Construction density only accounts for 18.6%, the rest spends the entire area to develop utility infrastructure and green systems for the whole area. In Northern California, the very center Fork with the San Joaquin River provides some great fly fishing for some excellent trout. This river 1 of the of the few places designated as wild trout waters through state. This receives plenty of of fishing, so it is a good idea to travel there early inside of morning to stake from the spot. Besides the normal kind of trout, this river also boasts several consumers variety of rainbow and golden trout with bright orange aspects. The train leaves Borjomi at six in the evening and arrives in Tbilisi at 10 come night time. You can get towards Mineral water springs Vinhomes Golden River out from the Borjomi train depot by leg. It is about a five minute walk. Often times there are springs in Borjomi. In this museum, you can observe every aspect of Stalin's life, from his boyhood to when he was the Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Soviet Partnership. There are many historic artifacts on the museum. Furthermore, on the museum grounds you can click on the house where Stalin was born and spent my youth as well as the railway wagon that carried Stalin and also his apparachiks for the Vinhomes Potsdam conference that decided how to divide Germany another thing of the war. THE BOB NEWHART SHOW was to discover situation comedy show of the 1970s. Dr .. Bob Hartley and his wife Emily lived in apartment 523. Their building was in line with the facade for this Thorndale Beach North Condominiums located at 5901 North. Sheridan Road in the upscale Chicago neighborhood of Edgewater. Georgia is often a great country to visit, however, those are very traditionalist, so there could be a few anyone should love. Georgia is predominantly Orthodox Christian and many of the churches mentioned in this article are functioning lots of of the historic sites have functioning churches also. Keep this in judgement. The local people come to the telltale places to pray. As far as the eastern elements the Kakheti region are concerned, are actually many bed-and-breakfasts available in both Dedoplistsqaro and Lagodekhi. In Dedoplistsqaro, you will contact the Vashlovani Nature Reserve Ranger's office to get ready a tour of the Vashlovani Nature Reserve along with the people at the Vashlovani Ranger's office could find you bed-and-breakfasts in Dedoplistsqaro and arrange tours to the Tamar Fortress, Eagle Canyon and Elias Mountain. Most that visit Costa rica head for that rural locations where tall trees, beautiful birds and magnificent waterfalls remain every wardrobe. Of course, don't forget the rain forest where the brilliant blue butterflies flitter about the lush house plants. Accommodations in these areas are less elegant but you will find several who'll welcome you and your pet. Let's now move towards Agra and situated far away of 200 kms from Delhi. World knows Agra for Taj Mahal that is amongst the Seven Wonders of entire world. It is also any Heritage internet sites. It is situated on banking institutions of the river Yamuna and the scenic view in the river mesmerizes everybody. Agra is also famous ready for its monuments like Sikandra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri fort, Jahangir Mahal, Jama Masjid, Panch Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Octagonal Tower as there are still a subscriber list to help to increase it. Metropolis has also got famous garden like Ram Bagh and Dayal Bagh. Metropolis is also known for its Mughlai food and handwork.

Rewriting the Entirety of SGE: The School Years

All of this is solely up to my own preference. Yes, some parts may be messy because I am inexperienced. I don’t even know what a plot is. Here we go.

I didn’t have any major problem with Book 1 until Agatha’s Glow Up, so we’re starting there.

Canon: Agatha realizes she was beautiful all along and literally two minutes later Tedros falls in love with her.

However, I think it would’ve been so much more impactful if she simply changed her perspective on her “ugliness” from a negative light to an objective standpoint.

We already know that Agatha is badass, so I think she should view herself that way. Insecurity is nothing if she amounts her features to the raw human ability that they possess. Her frame is tall and skinny because she’s athletic, her big eyes serve her the purpose of seeing. Agatha may not be pretty, but every bone in her body was made so that she could eat, breathe, laugh, fight, do parkour around School for Evil.

It’s obvious that Ever Girls only care about their appearance because they want to impress boys (in School for Girls, they are shown as letting themselves go). Agatha is characterized as having no interest in boys, and therefore she doesn’t need to be pretty in the first place. Now, I know that princesses need a prince in order to have their fairytale, but Agatha already thinks that’s bullshit -- why not go against it?

Also, this is extremely minor, but I'd rather have Agatha have some kind of deformity, like a cleft lip or crooked spine. It would really sell the idea that she was different. As a kid, even if Soman screamed in my face that Agatha was canonically ugly, I couldn’t imagine how she could be if the features she was described with were SO normal. Of course, her deformity remains throughout the book, because that is Not Cool if it’s magically removed.  

I’ve said this before in my I Don’t Really Like Agatha post, and I’ll say it again. She is ungrateful for the opportunity she could have at School for Good. I’d literally kill to be there, I’d sit through every mind-numbing, subtly sexist class about smiling and posture just so I could practice magic, and I’m sure a lot of people think the same.

[edited: didn’t mean to sound so callous, it’s only an opinion]

Agatha isn’t even using this to expand her power. She uses her wish a total of 2 times in this book, and it’s not like she didn’t have time to use it. It’s disappointing.

So, imagine that Agatha just GRINDS in her school-work. Sure, she fails the challenges related to Strategic Blushing and Matching Outfits, but everything else she excels. At first she just didn’t want to be turned into a plant, she was only studying to survive. Now, it’s more than that.

Agatha is introduced as having a fondness for villains, and it’s apparent that beauty is irrelevant in their success stories. Although she is hurt when Sophie alludes to how she’d “fit in” with the immature, trigger-happy Nevers, she can apply those values of dismissing outer appearances while still being Good. It’s not as if Agatha is greedy or deceitful. She saves the Wish Fish, forgives Sophie countless times, and doesn’t do anything outright vicious. There’s no reason to question that she’s NOT a Never. She can be ugly and an Ever at the same time, wasn’t that the original message?

Hypothetically, she gains more knowledge and strength in spells and potions and such, and just like Sophie, even if everyone doubted her, she could rise through the ranks. There’s no point in worrying about your looks when you’re the most powerful girl in school. (Did I make Agatha too close to Evil? Maybe. But she doesn’t need to push people down to bring herself up, she’s just a natural like that.)

Also, if she needs a boy to ask her out to the Snow Ball, she 100% hates that. She could just talk to Dovey, are they really gonna fail the baddest bitch there?

No. They’re not.

Okay, here’s the biggest part that everyone will hate me for. No Tagatha. At least, not until TLEA.

When Agatha comes out of the Groom Room having just kickstarted her self-esteem and everyone’s drooling, Tedros is attracted to her instantly. I guess that’s fine. Reasonable. But consider this:

Agatha doesn’t love Tedros back.

When Tedros asks her out at the Circus of Talents, she declines. Because if she really knew her own worth, she wouldn’t say yes before making friends with him first. That’s only fair. Actually, I’d say a part of insecurity is settling for any guy who gives you attention (aka Tedros). Y'all are gonna hit me with the damning “We accept the love we think we deserve”.

EVEN IF SHE BELIEVES SHE DESERVES HIM NOW, IT DOESN’T MEAN SHE’LL JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO DATE HIM. THAT’S MESSED UP.

Okay, I know Sophie threw her bitch fit because Agatha was being a hypocrite and dating Tedros. So, tweak that and have Sophie throw a bitch fit simply because Tedros asked Agatha out in the first place. That still makes sense with her entitled selfish personality.

In the stupid war of Evers and Nevers, (which was like, strange considering they’re kids but they’ll have a similar conflict for the next two years), Tedros and Agatha are not together. You could throw in a bit of “Tedros wants to prove to Agatha he’s a hero” but for god’s sakes we are NOT putting in that little chauvinistic “how dare a princess question me”. That one line gave me a bad feeling about Tedros — foreshadowing for AWWP? And it’s crazy that Soman wrote that, along with his lack of brain cells. Are you trying to make readers bully him in memes and instagram group chats? Not from personal experience.

Oh, and this is more of a complaint. But, why did Soman make Sophie bald, pockmarked, and toothless in her transformation of embracing Evil? I thought this was about breaking stereotypes.

The Evil stigma that’s drilled in their heads about being pretty and in general taking care of yourself, is completely inane to me. I can’t believe that Sophie’s “trickery” of Tedros was so revolutionary. None of the Nevers, in 200 years, thought of that?

Instead of her beauty regressing, I’d actually want it to be heightened. It’s what set her apart from the Nevers the moment she walked in. It should be the icing on top of the cake. When Sophie is at her peak of power, she’s a princess. Who could kill you.

If you’re worried about reducing women to be pretty objects or seductresses, stop. It’s okay. Sophie has other powers like summoning ravens, wasps, locusts, bats, using her singing voice for torture, and she is skilled in curses and death traps. In short, the Hot Evil Lady trope works for her. (I think. Someone correct me.)

At the end of SGE, Agatha chooses Sophie over Tedros. Needless to say, Tedros feels betrayed. If you wanted to make him an idiot, with anger issues, daddy issues, and an inferiority complex, this is the easiest way out. He’s under the misguided impression that Agatha belongs with him simply because 1. He loves her. 2. He’s the prince of Camelot, damnit. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?

Not to mention that his father pressured him not to make the same mistake. And Tedros thinks that School for Good is his pool of suitors since Arthur married his classmate Guinevere? There is no line of logic in this man at all, did you miss the part where Guinevere cheats and runs away? Maybe Ever Girls isn’t the only place you should look! There are thousands of other girls in the Woods and you intend to find your soulmate at 14?? Goddamn. 

In conclusion, Tedros’ hurt feelings continue to AWWP. Easy.

And if y’all gonna come for me about how Tedros is easily swayed by looks (he’s convinced that Sophie and Agatha are in the wrong schools for half the book) I’d want to make him a bit smarter. I know that’s impossible.

In canon, Tedros turns on Sophie because her true colors showed, and her witchy phase gives him that confirmation bias. He goes feral with testosterone and heroism, as we know.

I’d like him to understand that just because his solely physical attraction to Sophie grew when she’s evil and pretty, it doesn’t mean that she’s not any less dangerous. If Tedros, of all people, learns the difference between appearances vs reality, it would really drive the point home.

All right. You’re still here?

Here’s some extra headcanons you could add in here and here.

In the meantime I’ll think of more.

If there were any hard-hitting themes I was supposed to include, please tell me, I usually gloss over them while reading. 

But anyway, thanks for reading this far.

Reader’s Corner: Silver Spoon, Solo Leveling, and the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

Solo Leveling, Vol. 1 (novel)

The immensely popular webtoon, Solo Leveling, features a basic premise about a young man rising from the lowest of ranks of “hunting” to become incredibly strong. It’s most appreciated for its art, so the question is, if the story is mundane, does it’s forerunner, which lacks any illustrations, hold up? It does—surprisingly well. Volume one of Chugong’s novel series, originally published on the web and now being released by Yen Press, traces the story of Level-E ranked hunter, Jin-Woo, in mesmerizing detail as he “levels up” following an experience that should have lead to his demise. That opening is only one of a number of violent but engaging episodes in the novel, which also relies heavily on descriptions of game-like mechanics. As the rare anime fan that isn’t a gamer, my eyes usually glaze over such details, but Chugong’s vivid but spare descriptions kept me engaged, as the protagonist moves quickly along his journey, which still, is well structured, even if his characterization if less developed. That’s both a flaw of the series and a point of question: Is Jin-woo’s desire for “Money, honor, and power” meant to be admired, glossed over, or criticized? I’m not yet sure, and I wonder if Jin-Woo’s moral development will become a significant part of the story beneath the well-crafted verneer of fighting and powering up, which as imaginative as it is, can’t very well carry an entire series—can it? ~ Twwk

Solo Leveling is published by Yen Press, which provided a review copy.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Vol. 18

I did it (insert GIF of everyone applauding Shinji here). I finally finished reading Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project. And let me tell you something about it: While there are science fiction undertones and references to the original series throughout that give you genuine laughs, by the end, the series is primarily just an ecchi teen romantic comedy with Evangelion characters as window dressing. Every chapter is an opportunity for Shinji to mistakenly trip, fall, and accidentally grope a girl. Every other chapter, by the end, sees a character with exposed breasts—sometimes because of said clusiness, sometimes because the mangaka just decides to draw an extended group bathing scene. This volume gives the final actual reference to an Evangelion, but once again, there’s no actual use of it. This alternate Eva-verse is, in the end, a school harem romance and not a science fiction epic that discusses about real issues like depression. For some, that’s fine. For others, the blatant fanservice will be too much. For me, I am still so very struck by how out of character both Shinji and Gendo act in this series when compared to the original . I guess Yui Ikari being alive really made a huge difference! ~ MDMRN

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, Vol. 18 is published by Dark Horse Comics.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

First released in the U.S. eleven years ago, and originally published in 2004, Yen Press has rereleased The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (along with all the others) to coincide with the new Haruhi Suzumiya light novel. After all this time, it holds up surprisingly well, and in fact perhaps takes on more meaning now in the booming light novel industry as a series that—as with the anime—inspired so many of today’s writers. A quick read—it tells just one longer tale instead of several shorter one, coming in at under 200 pages—every sentence is meaningful, every chapter tightly structured, and every emotion hits with precision and sharpness as the series at once returns to an older act, takes the story to new places (and new heights), and brings in questions from the future as Kyon wakes to discover that the SOS Brigade has disbanded, no one has ever hear of a Haruhi Suzumiya, and Asahina and Nagato no longer have their peculiar powers. The volume works so well because it depends on those preceding it, not only for it’s “return to the past” plot but also as it ramps up the nostalgia and emotions in both Kyon and the reader. Everything is predicated on how the reader feels about these characters, leading to a tale that’s simultaneously a love fest for the series and one that is satisfying in its own right. Disappearance proves to be, much like its characters, a light novel that surely is timeless. ~ Twwk

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is published by Yen Press, which provided a review copy.

The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?), Vol. 1

What we have with this mouthful of a title is a more comedic (and non-isekai) take on the kingdom-running light novel. Prince Wein is appointed regent to run the country of Natra in place of his ailing father, but given how terrible the state of his nation is in financially, he would much rather just sell the country off and run away. Yeah, he’s lazy and a coward. The problem is, he’s also a bit too smart for his own good, and plans that he intend to go towards relieving his workload and avoiding confrontation only make people believe he can totally win wars and bring the country back to greatness. (It helps that the countries trying to deal with Natra have issues of their own…) The result is an amusing read as I had fun seeing Wein pull out plans that work a bit too well and have him suffering from success. I also liked how his relationship with Ninym, his childhood friend and primary aide, is framed in the story both as a teammate that Wein relies on to help run the country, and also a close companion (and love interest) whom he banters with but also trusts deeply and does not tolerate any insults toward her from others. Overall I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this series and how Wein will continue to help his country more than he might want to. ~ stardf29

The Genius Prince’s Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt (Hey, How About Treason?), Vol. 1 is available from Yen Press.

Dragon Head

Dragon Head was a horror manga series I picked up last year from a Kodansha Halloween Humble Bundle. Let me tell you—it is dark, earning its way into that genre heading. The first volume begins with three teenagers trying to survive in an underground subway tunnel after an earthquake event caused its collapse. As the story progresses, and effects on the surface world around them are revealed, the characters discover that the earthquake was no isolated incident but something that struck all of Japan. It is gritty and violent at times. Yet, the overall story and a desire to see how these characters survive kept me reading page after page. I finished the entire 10 volume series in about three days time as I had a hard time putting it down. The ending is is a hard one, and perhaps very fitting for this work, leading readers to consider how widespread the problems that struck and set the events of the series really are. Psychological horror indeed. ~ MDMRN

Dragon Head is published by Kodansha.

Silver Spoon, Vol. 1

With Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood continuing its tear through our annual AniMarch Madness tournament, I turn my attention to the other now-classic work from mangaka Hiromu Arakawa. Silver Spoon, which ended its run in 2019, is a fish out of water tale featuring high school freshman Hachiken, an academic-focused city boy who decides to attend an agricultural high school in Hokkaido. Volume one has fun with his inability to get used to farm life, though it also sensitively looks at his reasons for choosing this high school while showing that even early on, Hachiken is growing, such as when he condescends horses only to be taught how the majestic animals can show the rider a different perspective on life. It doesn’t take long for readers to grow attached to the series characters, like Aikawa, who is the determined to overcome his sensitivity to blood and death to become a veterinarian, and Nishikawa, who loves tractors and mecha. But most of all, Hachiken makes for a compelling character. Like Edward from FMA, Hachiken is easily frustrated but kind and open; it’s lovely to see him already developing among friends so different from what he’s used to, even while seeing him frequently fall (and slowly get back up)—a source of laughter page after page in this wonderful introductory volume. ~ Twwk

Silver Spoon, Vol. 1 is published by Yen Press, which provided a review copy.

9 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Roanoke, VA

Roanoke is a popular tourist destination, whether you're a culture vulture seeking out unique museums and attractions or an active vacationer seeking out outdoor adventures. The city is a four-season destination for avid hikers, rock climbers, recreational boaters, and sportfishing enthusiasts, and is located in the picturesque Roanoke Valley in southwestern Virginia. In-town greenways, cultural diversions, diverse dining, and unique shopping discoveries await urban explorers. Whatever your vacation style, keep our list of Roanoke's top attractions and things to do handy.

1. Mill Mountain Park & the Roanoke Star

Mill Mountain Park, which is home to the famous Roanoke Star (also known as the Mill Mountain Star), has more than 10 miles of multi-use trails (hiking, walking, and biking) where visitors can experience the region's all-season natural beauty.

Take the Mill Mountain Star Trail, a 3.5-mile round-trip from the base trail, to the summit of Mill Mountain, the city's highest point at 1,703 feet, for a moderately challenging hike. Hikers are rewarded with two scenic overlooks atop the mountain after climbing 838 feet in elevation. The Star Trail parking lot, located just off Riverland Road SE at the Star/Wood Thrush Connector, has plenty of free parking and clear signage.

Connect with the short Watchtower Trail for the best panoramic views and photos right at the base of the Roanoke Star, one of Virginia's most famous landmarks. The National Register of Historic Landmarks has listed this unusual landmark, which was built in 1949 as a temporary Christmas decoration by the local merchants association. The giant star, at 89 feet in height, is America's largest star. It is visible from up to 60 miles away and is lit every evening until midnight.

Hikers are welcome to bring their leashed dogs, and there are picnic tables, restrooms, and water along the Mill Mountain Spur Trail en route to the Discovery Center, a naturalist centre with exhibits on the park, local wildlife, and trail maps. Mill Mountain Zoo, a small but lively enclave with local critters such as the Indian crested porcupine, red wolf, and yellow-spotted side-necked turtle, will appeal to children of all ages.

2. Carvins Cove Natural Reserve

Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, with more than 60 miles of trails surrounding an 800-acre reservoir, is known among locals as a haven for off-road mountain biking. The reserve, which is the second largest municipal park in the United States, spans nearly 13,000 acres, the majority of which is protected by the state of Virginia's largest conservation easement.

Trail maps are available for purchase, and bikers can get local advice on which trails are best suited for their experience level at Just The Right Gear, a cycling shop near the Bennett Springs parking lot (one of three reserve entrances — the others are Marina and Timber View). There are also rentals of high-end bikes and gear.

On the Easy Street, Kit & Kaboodle, The Skillet, and Enchanted Forest trails, beginners will find a gentler rise and more flats. On the Comet, Gauntlet, Hoe Trail, and Clownshead, riders seeking more difficult challenges will get exactly what they want. On the most difficult trails, expect to gain up to 2,400 feet in elevation.

Along these well-kept trails, riders will encounter packed dirt, loose gravel, and tamped soil. Canoeing (equipment rentals and instruction are available) and fishing are also popular activities at Carvins Cove.

3. Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake, one of Virginia's most popular — and the state's largest — has nearly 500 miles of shoreline, earning it the title of "Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains." Because state fisheries keep the lake well stocked, SML, as it's known by locals, has an especially impressive striped bass population. Anglers can book half- or full-day charters with a number of licenced guides who have plenty of experience traversing the 21,000-acre lake. They'll provide bait, equipment, and all of the necessary expertise to ensure that those fishing have a safe and enjoyable time on the water.

Crappies, bluegills, largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as stripers, are among the tasty fish that make freshwater fishing at SML a popular tourist destination.

Waterskiing and wakeboarding, boating and sailing, and jet skiing are all fun activities to do on the lake. Swimming is also available at a family-friendly beach, and there are several golf courses nearby.

4. Roanoke Valley Greenways

The interconnected Roanoke Valley Greenway allows visitors to walk or bike along miles of trails in the area, which are safe, well-populated, and well-maintained. A popular trail in and around Roanoke is right along the Roanoke River, where deer, herons, geese, and other wildlife can be seen even in the city. Vic Thomas Park, just off Memorial Drive south of the river, is a great place to start your exploration. From there, you can easily join the Roanoke River Greenway.

A short distance away is the well-known Black Dog Salvage. Every visit to this nationally recognised purveyor of reclaimed architectural, commercial, and industrial fixtures and elements yields a fascinating, one-of-a-kind inventory. Visitors come from all 50 states to see Black Dog, which specialises in doors, windows, wrought iron, period lighting, garden statuary, and other specialty home components.

Head southeast on the Roanoke River Greenway towards Wasena Park after visiting Black Dog. At the Wasena Skate Park, kids can be seen hanging ten on their longboards. The park is always bustling with activity, and the locals' fancy footwork on their skateboards and blades is entertaining to watch.

On your way to the Tinker Creek Greenway, continue on the greenway and cross the Mill Mountain Greenway. Follow that road north for less than a mile and reward yourself with a picnic at Fallon Park's picnic area.

5. Taubman Museum of Art

The Taubman Museum of Art, one of the city's newest attractions (it opened in 2008), is a must-see for art lovers and casual culture consumers alike. The museum's permanent collection of 2,000 unique pieces is spread across 11 different galleries, including works by Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, Purvis Young, and John Cage, and is housed in a stunning modern design by renowned architect Randall Stout.

Visiting exhibits featuring work by some of America's best artists, including John James Audubon and Norman Rockwell, to name a few, are common. Photographic, folk art, and design-related exhibits are among the other highlights.

If you're travelling with children, look into children's programmes, such as hands-on workshops and interactive displays. On-site amenities include a café.

6. McAfee Knob

McAfee Knob is one of the most photographed places on the Appalachian Trail, thanks to its incredible vistas and spectacular rock overhang perch. The 3.5 miles of intermediate-to-difficult trails that lead up to the knob from the Virginia 311 parking lot are popular with hikers.

Climbers know it for the more than 70 gnarly sandstone and slick quartzite boulders that make for days of mini-summits. The majority of boulders are between 10 and 20 feet tall, with many crimps, jugs, pockets, and edges. Bring pads, lunch, and a buddy; it's never a good idea to go rock climbing alone, and McAfee is often deserted.

Another popular recreational area in Roanoke is the recently re-opened Explore Park, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The park features 1,100 acres of breathtaking scenery, numerous walking and hiking trails, as well as thrilling ziplines and a treetop adventure course that is appropriate for families with younger children. It also has a visitor centre and a gift shop, as well as camping and rustic cabins.

7. Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve

Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve is a popular destination for birders, nature lovers, and photographers. Bottom Creek, located less than 20 miles south of Roanoke, is one of the most important headwaters for the Roanoke River, and it offers visitors several well-marked trails to enjoy the vast hardwood forest, unspoiled landscape, and Virginia's second highest waterfall.

For the best vantage point to photograph the 200-foot cascading waterfall, the second tallest in Virginia, photographers should take the Red Trail (the longest trail here, at five miles round-trip). Bring a long/telephoto lens because the overlook at the end of the trail offers a clear, open shot, but the falls are a long way away. A side path off the Yellow Trail leads to other viewpoints of the falls.

8. Roanoke City Market

The historic City Market, also known as the Farmers' Market by locals, is open all year and offers boutique shopping, local produce, flowers, meat and cheese, local dining favourites, and some of Virginia's best people-watching. Pay close attention to the market's four mosaic tiled entrances, each of which contains over 2,000 pounds of porcelain tiles that reveal a little bit of the history of this storied public space.

9. Roanoke Pinball Museum

We’ve recently started a new family hobby – vintage record collecting! In keeping with this new found connection over the beloved old, we were delighted to take our girls to the Roanoke Pinball Museum and show them how we entertained ourselves long before the internet.

From the 1932 styles to the slightly more modern Munster’s machine which had a baby pinball inside the bigger one to play, you could get lost in here playing over 65 machines for hours.

Prime Home Buyers is a real estate brokerage firm based in Roanoke, United States. We are known for offering an easy and quick house-selling experience to our clients.

We offer upfront selling solutions to our clients, satisfying their requirements. We have been serving as real estate investors for over a decade and know all the tricks of this trade. Prime Home Buyers can provide you with the best real estate offerings and prices. We are the experts you are looking for if you want to sell your house fast and at the best price. Besides our expertise in buying houses, we also provide commercial property investment.

Business Location

Girls here usually get married dressed in special outfits, which are inherited from their ancestors!%^^(~ white wedding dress origin

At the centre of Kokusai-dori's bustling shopping arcade at Heiwa-dori floral dresses for women, one of the many roofed malls with stalls selling everything under the sun, sits sygdljdress20112 the Makishi Public Market. In this indoor market, half of the stalls are dedicated to pork and beef found locally and regionally. Prepare for sightings of vacuum packed pig's trotters and skins of whole pig heads. On the other side, you will find ice chests of different kinds of fish and crustaceans caught from the local waters, much like the wet markets in Singapore. Locals buy the parrotfish, groupers, slipper lobsters and tiger prawns home for their own consumption dress styles for wedding, while tourists have their selections sent to the food stalls on the second floor food court to have them prepared immediately. If you're really adventurous with food, try the sea snake soup from here. ChinaTraditional wedding dresses in China are red. In this country, the color white symbolizes the time of mourning and funerals. After the marriage, the groom removes the red veil from the bride's head.HawaiiIn traditional Hawaiian weddings, the groom wears all white. Almost everyone who gets married here includes the flower garlands as a part of the wedding ceremony. And the brides often adorn their hair with fresh flowers.MalaysiaIn Malaysia, most wedding ceremonies are held in the Muslim tradition. The brides often choose a wedding dress with shades of purple, violet, or cream. Yemenite JewsMost Jewish communities have no special wedding garments. But Yemenite Jews are the exception to this rule. Girls here usually get married dressed in special outfits, which are inherited from their ancestors white wedding dress origin.

WHO: My relationship with Whitney is a lot like my relationship with Felicia from yesterday's post. I first reached out to Whitney because of our many shared characteristics: She loves vintage, she's a young 20-something like me, and we both majored in communications at our respective universities. With every message we send one another, Whitney and I often begin with, 'So sorry for the delay '' although it will only have been 1 to 2 days since the message initially received! We're YouTube 'pen pals' for lack of better words, and I've enjoyed getting to know someone so similar ' but with many differences! ' who is inspiring and passionate about her own interests in sewing and clothing design. Winson: Driving around at three in the morning alone looking for oranges in Sentosa. Jokes aside, it was during the exchanging of the vows when I was caught off-guard by how emotional one could get when delivering vows. Previously, when we discussed this segment, I was rather adamant that I wouldn't be able to portray much emotion. But of course, that was not how things turned out to be. I was barely holding myself together. So that is definitely the most memorable moment ?C saying my vows to my life partner. It didn't matter what had taken place leading up to that very moment, because the vow should be the standard moving forward. DON'T BUY THEM BECAUSE: First, unless you find an electrical outlet in the thrift store you're not going to know if that blender actually works red prom dresses 2020. Speaking from personal experience, I've blown way too many blenders in my college years intensely crushing ice for margaritas! Basic blenders are so dime-a-dozen that the chances one found for sale in a thrift store actually works is pretty slim beaded prom dresses. Second, the chances that the blender is completely 'clean' also isn't likely. If you're someone sensitive to crusty food remnants, I warn you now: DON'T PEEK INTO THAT BLENDER! You'll probably see bits of fruit, protein powder and other frequently blended bits. Double ick! You May Also Like: Chiffon Asymmetrical Scoop Neck Sheath Bridesmaid Dresses 标签： burgundy formal dresses - sexylongeveninggowns Cheap Lace Wedding Dresses Under 200 Dollars for sale — I ... Ball-Gown Tulle Prom Dresses Floor-Length Off-the-Shoulder Sleeveless it can piddle settling on a seem steady statesman knotty knee ...

Siquijor and its Exquisite Charm

It was a cold, rainy, and cloudy kind of morning when we arrived at Dumaguete Airport. After a peal of thunder, we decided to take a tricycle going to Dumaguete Port. We touched down Siquijor after an hour of ferry ride and rode a tricycle again to reach our hotel.

Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, fresh air filled my lungs and my eyes felt refreshed with the lush of greens around me. Siquijor might be notorious for black magic, mystic, and sorcery, but I got a sense of serenity in this place.

For an island known for witchcrafts and folklores, Siquijor boasts its exquisite charm with its unspoiled palm-fringed beaches, scenic water wonders, and laid-back setting.

HOW TO GET THERE 

We booked our flight to Dumaguete because this is the closest airport with frequent flights from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

From Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, charter a tricycle or a cab to get you to the port. Several ferries like Oceanjet, Montenegro Lines run as early as 7:00 am until 4:30 pm going to Siquijor which fare ranges from P130 to P240.

From Siquijor Port, there are a lot of tricycle drivers you can rent to bring you to where your accommodation is. Tricycle is the usual mode of transportation in the area so tourists normally prefer to hire tricycles for the island tour.

WHERE WE STAYED

Located in San Juan area, Eastern Garan Seaview Resort offers an amazing cliff top views and not to mention a super chill vibes with its outdoor swimming pool and beach front view (and incredible sunset!!!).

PLACES TO VISIT

Siquijor, located in the Central Visayas, is the third smallest province in the Philippines, thus can be toured in one day only. It is locally known as “Esla del Fuego” because of its mystical fireflies.

We rented a tricycle for the whole day tour around the island.

CENTURY-OLD BALETE TREE

Believed to be enchanted up to this day, the 400-year-old Balete Tree lies in Lazi which is considered to be the oldest and biggest in the province of Siquijor. Apart from being said that mythical creatures live in Balete Trees, what makes it really mystical is that a natural spring flows right underneath the tree. If you’re up for a quick foot spa, just dip your feet and let the fish doctors nibble around your feet!

There are stalls that sell some souvenirs, voodoo dolls, and love potions!

CAMBUGAHAY FALLS

Less than 200 steps going down, you will be mesmerized by Cambugahay Falls’ clear and turquoise warm water originating from natural spring. Lots of locals and tourists go here and enjoy making their sway to the falls.

This falls has a three-tiered level, the top and middle which usually serve as swimming areas and the bottom and the largest as the jumping site. It usually gets crowded in the afternoon but just a tip, the top tier is the least crowded area where you can do unlimited swings for only 20 pesos.

SALAGDOONG BEACH

Ahhh, I have to say that this is my favorite place in Siquijor! You will be lured with its magnificent stretch of translucent blue waters and fine white sand. Salagdoong Beach is also famous for its cliff diving area with almost 35 feet high, waiting for adrenaline junkies and daredevils to take the plunge straight into the water.

GUIWANON SPRING PARK

Guiwanon Spring Park is a mangrove preservation and protection area which is managed by the fishermen and environment organization in this community. 

A minute of walk on wood and bamboo bridges, you will be led to an open area or seminar hall which offers a magnificent view of the sea with a crisp, fresh air, surrounded by a lush mangrove forest. This sanctuary is a refreshing stop with an entrance fee of 10 pesos and in fact, there are small cottages you can rent if you want to stay overnight.

PALITON BEACH

The giant palm trees lined up at the shoreline, the powdery white sand, and the sparkling blue waters make Paliton Beach a nice spot for basking under the sun. 

It was 3 in the afternoon and the sun shone brilliantly, making the water in the ocean glitter invitingly. Definitely a perfect tour-ender – we just unwind and chill by the beach until it’s time to go back to our hotel.

Other tourist spots in Siquijor:

Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church

Hapitanan Cafe Restaurant

Lazi Church and Convent

Lagaan Falls

Capilay Hot Spring

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Saturday, 1 March 1840

8

2 40/’’

Long in washing &c. Reaumur 12 1/2º on my table at 10 a.m. breakfast over at 11 – Reading Schnitzler vol.[volume] 2 p.[page] 684 et seq. Government of Saratof – Had our landlord up – No steppe on this side the Volga – No Eaux Minérales here – They are at the Caucasus – To go to Orenburg, must return to Simbirsk – 

500 v.[versts] from here to Uralsk the Eboulement – There was one in 1827 – One 3 years ago 2 v.[versts] from here – A brandy distillery slipped away – Only a brewery left there – The village is removed – Belongs to Government – The slip last summer was at Féodorofka 250 v.[versts] from here on the great road to Astrakhan no lives lost – 50 or 60 cottages slipped away – 

Mr. Stalepine has no verrerie here - No Tatar mosques or schools here – The Botanic Garden on the hill that we passed yesterday at 1st supposing it a vineyard – Mulberry trees there – These were what we took for vines in the distance but on nearing them (never very near) they looked like orchard trees – about 30,000 inhabitants – Trade in fish and caviar – Had just written so far at 12 55/’’ – 

Out at 1 1/2 A-[Ann] and I in a Traineau and pair (good horses as at Kazan) along our Street Rue de Moscou, some distance – Then turned right, along the street where the post office is, and then into the Great Astrakhan road for some way, and then left this and drove another road by which one goes to A-[Astrakhan] in summer, and then to the Botanic Garden! – A quiz upon Botanic Gardens if this be one – The serres that Schnitzler mentions are a small wooden erection heated certainly but only for a few hydrangeas oleanders geraniums and 1 or 2 species of huddled together on the floor there was also viburnum a few bulbs or onions – And in the lower part lettuces just come up – There must be some other Botanic Garden but the German colonist living there and inspector of the Silk Thread Manufactory a little building near, declared there was no other garden belonging to la ville – He shewed us a specimen of the silk thread – Yellow and white – Pretty good? 

The cheerful sleigh-ride by Pjotr C. Stojanow (Image Source)

Good road here a day or 2 ago – Now snowed up – Our horses lunged sank deep (several times) and we had to get as we could up to the house – Returned past the prison a large building full of people for Siberia – Our barrier that we entered by close by – We kept outside and drove along the Old Town – The Rue des Tatars down upon the Volga close to the great ravine which parts the town in 2 and in the bottom of which several brick-ovens and sheds – But saw nothing of the old rampart that Geography Dictionary speaks of – 

On getting upon the river drove Northwards to see the mountain slip of the last summer – It is a little beyond (North) of the 4 lines of Magazins à Sel – The Sokolof Mountains aboutissent, and a bit of the end of this sandy range slipped off its marly clayey bed in the great heat of August last (said our driver) – And just beyond this (North) was the larger slip in 1827 – A mere Isle of Wight landslip – No lives lost – Then at 3 1/2 drove across, 5 v.[versts], to the Pokrofsky Slobode in 1/2 hour – 

Drove to the Salt Warehouses (near one one of the 3 good churches in this village of peasants belonging to Government) – A crowd of Drovnis – Busy loading with the salt – Sells here at 1/40 per pood and at the lake itself the people gather the salt themselves and pay -/80 per pood for it – All broken pretty small – In very coarse grains – Looked like a coarse dusky gravel – But good salt (tasted it) and in this state the peasants use it; but if they want fine salt each can easily refine for himself by means of alum – 

Then drove about the village – Went in to one of the little Isbas – Apparently one of the worst – Very small – Always 2 rooms however small or they could not keep their living place warm enough the entrance room or vestibule is a sort of receptacle for everything – The inner room entered by a little low door that we had to creep in at, has the oven stove and shelf over it, the bench and a table – A white calf lay by the stove – The man of the house on the bench in his dark coloured shirt, and a young girl or 2 on the stove – Just room for all these people to turn themselves and not much more – The wife was not at home – The man put on his Shube, and came out with wondering why we should trouble ourselves to peep into such a place – He looked pale – How could he do otherwise – The heat and smell of the little hot place were intolerable – But this man at his ease – 3 cows – A horse – Some sheep, geese, pigs and poultry and a couple of Telegas, and a willow wattled round farmyard like all the rest of the people – Not a cottage without the like appurtenances – 

Interior of a Russian Peasant Izba by Karl Kolman (Image source)

The village has a striking appearance thus full of wattled enclosures a great out-buildings for the cattle and many of the huts of this sort of wicker work mud-plastered over – Passed near to each of the 3 good churches and went into one of them – Vespers – Full of Shubed people – The service well chauntered – Beautiful singing – I could have staid longer but A-[Ann] was cold and anxious to be off – We had put Reaumur on the snow a few minutes before, at 4 1/2, and it stood at only -7 1/2º - but there was a cold wind – The church all painted in fresco was even handsome seemed spacious for a Greek church the nave from the belfry and the great dome being all church – The prestole in the Apsis behind the dome – Square tower clocher, nave, dome, apsis – Such is the style of church here and all along since Kazan – The 5 dome-churches are rare hereabouts, and the little domes when they exist  are mere reminiscences – Little things like 4 chimneys – 

Very cold wind in our faces as we returned, and the snow blown up and driven about us – Returned up our street (the main street – Rue de Moscou), but turned left to see the large cathedral planted round at a little distance with trees (young) along a nice walk here is the Senate House – The large handsome house of Ivanof the Seigneur chez qui the Emperor stays when he comes – The clocher, at a little distance, is only about 1/2 built – The church is finished and has been finished did the man say 12 years – A largeish square finished in an inscribed circle of 2 grades from the highest of which springs the large handsome dome – Towards the clocher (West?) there is a hexastyle? and pediment – Opposite (East?) is one Apsis – The other 2 sides have each a hexastyle with architrave and cornice without pediment – This church standing on high ground is seen from far the most massive building in the town – As strikingly huge and massive here, as the new Town Hall is at Birmingham – 

Came in at 5 1/2 M.[Monsieur] and Madame Stalepine had called – Disappointed not to find us at home – Had invited us to dinner tomorrow at 12 – At noon! The Courier and Gross declared it was so – And they would send their carriage but had promised it yesterday to some friends – A great ball of the Noblesse tomorrow night – 

Ordered 2 horses to be put to our own Kibitka – Had the Courier and George – From here to Astrakhan the posting sans pour boire = 280/- - to give the Courier 400/- tomorrow – He is to inquire if there is a road from here to Uralsk – The distance – Road from thence to Orenburg and distance – From where to turn off to the Calmuck Encampment &c. &c. – 

Dinner at 6 1/2 – A bottle of red Donskoi 1/- sweetish and pleasant and a bottle of white Champagne-like Donskoi 3/- as yesterday – We finished the bottle as yesterday and sat over it till 8 – Then lay down for a few minutes – 

Could not be more than 8 1/2 when Madame Stalepine called and staid till 10 – Talked very agreeably – There is a better Inn than this – The Hotel de Petersburg – I said the Courier managed all these things – To dine at 4 p.m. tomorrow and the carriage to be sent for us – Mr. S-[Stalepine] has 4000 peasants – One village = 1000 – Connoisseur in sheep – Has made a contract for 10 years with a Mr. Cowley fermier from not far from London who pays 1/2 expense and ∴[therefore] takes 1/2 profits – M.[Monsieur] S-Stalepine finding, I conclude, the pasturage – Has 60,000 arpens of land – Mr. Cowley has sent over an English shepherd who brought his young wife with him – Arrived at St. P-[Petersburg] in June last and here in September – The sheep by water to St. P-[Petersburg] and ditto from there here – Mr. and Mrs. Cowley were here 2 or 3 months last summer he delighted with the place and would have been glad to remain here – 

The terre where the sheep are is 10 v.[versts] from the next Station from here on the Simbirsk road – Not far ∴[therefore] from Volsk – We at our last Station were 10 v.[versts] from our compatriot shepherd and our English long fine wool sheep – One ram cost 600/- and one Ewe 200/- Mr. S-[Stalepine] had 400 from England and several others of the Russian nobility of St. P-[Petersburg] and elsewhere had sheep of the same kind so that a large flock must have come – Madame S-Stalepine has 3 children the oldest Æt[aetatis] 5 – 2 girls and a boy – Looks young – And prettyish – Very civil – 

Tea after she went away – Then reading Dictionary Geography till 1 and then till 2 10/’’ wrote all but the first 13 lines of today – fine day but cold wind and cold this afternoon after between 2 and 3 p.m. 

[in the margin of the page:]            Pokrofsky

[in the margin of the page:]             Reaumur -7 1/2º at 4 1/2 p.m. dehors

Page References:  SH:7/ML/E/24/0028 and SH:7/ML/E/24/0029

What are the top things to do in Mallorca?

Mallorca is a Spanish island which is situated in the Mediterranean. This place has turquoise blue waters, golden dunes, green foliage, rugged mountains, villages, and a beautiful capital city named Palma. It's capital city Palma is known for its beaches all over the globe and is one of the most famous summer destinations. This place has many luxury hotels and villas. Mallorca has become one of the sailing hotspots. It is also famous for its local food and wines, and traditional cuisine. On this island, there are plenty of historical sites to visit and explore the culture of Mallorca. Currently, this place in Spain has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world.

If relaxing is what you want, then you can grab a sun lounger at this beach, there are many supermarkets to shop in Palma. You can explore the theme and water parks with your whole family, as well as adventurous water-sports. There are thousands of other things to do in Mallorca. If you are a party person there are many incredible bars in Mallorca.

What are the things to see in Mallorca?

Mallorca is one of a popular tourist island destination of Spain. If you want to explore Mallorca, then do add these things to your list.

Palma de Mallorca town 

 Palma de Mallorca is famous as a medieval town and there are plenty of things to see and do in Mallorca. This place was founded by the Romans, and after some time it was reconquered by the Byzantines. Palma for long has been a port town and is famous among tourists. The center of the town is home to many small churches, like the Gothic Cathedral of Mallorca. In Palma, there are many luxury hotels to stay, good restaurants to eat, and amazing bars and cafes.

Palacio Real de La Almudaina

The Palacio Real de La Almudaina is also famous as the Alcazar. It is a Moorish fortified palace. Muslims built this palace after the Arab conquest in the 11th century. After some time it was rebuilt in 1309 by James II of Mallorca. It is also the royal palace of the Kingdom of Mallorca. But after some years it was passed to the Crown of Aragon. It has a well-designed courtyard which was built in the 14th century. It also has a garden that was renovated in the 1960s.

What are the unique things to do in Mallorca?

Mallorca offers many unique experiences and exciting activities to participate in. Here are some of them.

Hit the roads on a motorbike in Mallorca. There you can get rental bikes easily, there are some places on the island where you can also hire a vintage or classic motorbike to explore the beautiful island. Mostly they allow their bikes for a maximum of five hours for the tourists. You can explore its themed villages, beautiful beaches, and cafes. 

Walk with donkeys in Tramuntana Sierra

Tramuntana Sierra is located on the north-western side of the village of Deia. This is the most amazing spot for the drink lovers and even for dinner on the terraces, which is surrounded by aromatic roses and with the green landscape. You can do many activities there like ceramic classes in the onsite studio, or you can go for a group walk with your family or friends into the mountains accompanied by the donkeys. This could be a luxurious picnic for your family or friends.

What is the most popular food to eat in Mallorca?

In the Mediterranean, this place offers different varieties of finger-food. These are some of the famous food of Mallorca.

Trampo

Trampo is a very well-balanced dish of Mallorca. It consists of tomato, some green peppers and their special onion, and olive oil. This is healthy as well as delicious food to eat in Mallorca. It is also famous for its coca de trampo that is trampo placed on pizza dough and it tastes amazing.

Tumbet 

 It is a traditional vegetable dish in Mallorca. You can eat this dish at every local restaurant on the island. It is served with fish or meat, and with the top covered with the vegetables. It also contains sliced potatoes, red bell peppers, and are fried in olive oil.  You can also ask to add some zucchini to the mixture as it will enhance the flavour of your dish.

Frito Mallorquin

This dish is very famous among the local people and tourists of Mallorca.  It is a fried meat and vegetable dish. Its preparation is done with the use of lamb, onions, mashed potatoes, red pepper, garlic, some fresh peas, onion, olive oil, and their famous baby leaf.

Top Wellness retreats in Mallorca 2020

Wellness retreats in Mallorca allow you to take full advantage of the island’s natural beauty. If you wish, you can also stay in some beautifully restored Fincas as they provide a touch of luxury with their wellness programs. Here are some of the best wellness retreat in Mallorca.

Ananda Mallorca

It offers retreats to its visitors in a truly magical way. It is located in the Sollar’s lush valley. It also offers an incredible view of the UNESCO-protected surroundings of the Tramuntana Sierra. They offer many programs which you can choose according to your needs. Workshops are also held, and they mainly focus on diet and is designed to rejuvenate body and mind. There is a separate place given for the kids' section, where they can play and practice tennis, and fruit-gardening or yoga as well. The main purpose of all the retreats is to focus on nutrition balanced, healthy, and good meals, and freshly prepared on-site by the best chefs.

Ashtanga Mallorca Retreats

This is situated on the northwestern part of the island. It is a traditional stone farmhouse that is surrounded by a huge swath of approx. 200,000 square meters of forest. These retreats are yoga-focused. They organise two sessions of yoga practices daily, a more physical and difficult one in the morning, and in the afternoon they practice one which is more centered on philosophy and alignment. This retreat is suitable for the vegans. There are plenty of other activities to do like cycling, hiking, and water-sports.

Escapada Health

They have chosen a beautiful place which is 500-year-old Finca for organizing their retreats. It is located outside the Capdepera on the easternmost area of the island. It has a farmstead with a total of seven adjoining houses set among the olive and almond orchards with beautiful views of the hills. Their summer retreats are combined with yoga and fitness, nutritious food, and a perfect blend of Ayurvedic traditions. This retreat is alcohol-free and is vegetarian. You can also hire professional guides for hiking in the mountains.

Visit the best beaches in Mallorca 

Plan your vacation to Mallorca with our list of the best beaches to visit in Mallorca.

Cala Mesquida

Cala Mesquida is one of the long and wide beaches in Mallorca. It is very popular among people who like to play in the water. The sea of Cala Mesquida is shallow. This makes it good for water sports. There are many resorts on one side of the beach, one of the popular ones is Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa. They have many casual cafes on the white sand where you can spend some time and refresh yourself. You will also get the opportunity to see nature reserve, full of pine trees and dunes. 

Es Calo del Moro

It is situated on the island's southern coast. Calo del Moro is a beautiful beach which is located near to the town of S'Almunia. This is also famous as the Blue Flag Beach. The water of this beach is turquoise in color, and with a sandy beach surrounded by high mountains. There is a walk of 5 mins to access the beach, so it will be better if you wear sneakers. During the summer weekends, you can find the beach crowded and busy.

What are the unusual things to see in Mallorca?

Mallorca is also famous as Majorca. It is the largest island of the east coast of Spain in the Mediterranean region. It is mostly known for its beaches and nightlife but, there are many unusual things to see in Mallorca.

Necropolis of Son Real

It is a graveyard and the local belief is that it was used by the Son Real Necropolis from the Iron Age until the Roman period. It has an area over 8,600 square feet and is one of the oldest tombs. The tombs contain weapons and many potteries, they also contain many jewels, shells, and many musical instruments. By this, you can guess that it has been used by several cultures, each one of them following their funeral traditions. This place was rediscovered in 1957. The government bought this place in 2002 and began its preservation program.

Cova de Coloms

If you want to try something unusual, then plan a trip to Cova de Coloms. It’s one of the best islands of sea caves. You can access this cave only by swimming and is best for the water lovers. Everything will be provided by the safety guards, you don’t need to carry things by yourself. They only check if you are healthy and can swim for at least 200 m.

You can also explore the maze of lakes and chambers. It’s an incredible place to visit on the island.

Do some shopping in Mallorca

The capital city, that is Palma, is the major hot spot for shopping on the island. There are many shops to buy things of every kind. Here are some of the best shopping markets in Mallorca.

Palma

For shopping seekers, the size of Palma is a big advantage. The main areas for shopping that you must visit in the city are Avinguda Jaume III, Passeig des Born, and the cobbled streets. There are many ancient passageways around the Placa Major and also in Placa Cort.

There are many weekly supermarkets. It is famous for its beachwear clothes. But the other shops sell every sort of fruit, antiques, wooden stuff and other essentials. There are many cafes and food counters around this market, you can grab some food there and explore the beauty of the local cafes.

El Corte Ingles 

 There are two stores, which are located in Palma. If you want to spend more, then this is the best market to do that. There is a range of known international designers in each store. One of the markets is situated in the Avinguda Jaume III. The other market is big and is located near Palma’s main transport hub.

Try the adventure sports in Mallorca 2020

There is a collection of adventure activities to do in Mallorca. It is suitable for all levels and ages. Here are some of the best ones.

Windsurfing

Here you will get the opportunity to feel the breeze of the Mediterranean. This is one of the challenging sports activities, but this will surely give you a good adrenaline rush. If you get tired you can stop near to the island's beach and have some food there.

Coasteering

It involves many kinds of activities like swimming, climbing, diving, and scrambling. This is a great way to explore the crannies of Mallorca's beautiful coastal cliffs. It is mostly offered by the local activity which companies on the island and it can also be practiced by the whole family.

Visit the most famous historical monuments in Mallorca 

Enjoy the culture of Mallorca by visiting the most famous historical monuments in Mallorca.

Cathedral de Mallorca

Cathedral de Mallorca is also famous as the La Seu. It is a Gothic cathedral built in the 14th-16th century and later rebuilt with additions of different styles. The incredible rose window and works from Gaudi and Barcelo is truly a worth visit. You can also explore the Cathedral museum. 

The Roman City of Pollentia in Alcudia

The Ciutat Romana de Pollentiais is located on the southern part of the historical quarter of the Alcudia. Here you can find different excavation sites, which will allow you to discover aspects of life in this beautiful city. It also hosts the houses of the forum, La Portella, and the Roman theatre.

Where are the best museums in Mallorca?

This place has so many things to offer to those who enjoy visiting the art galleries and museums. Here is the best selection of the museums on the Mallorca island.

Sculpture Park, Yannick & Ben Jakober Foundation in Alcudia

This is a new addition to the Sculpture Park, it delights both the adults and children’s. It is home to many artists. There are many monumental sculptures of animals, including a dog, rams, horse, hippo, horse, and elephant. This is one of the striking sights in Mallorcan island. It’s worth visiting and exploring the beauty of the rose garden. You can visit this place on Tuesdays, and it is free of charge.

CCA Andratx in Andratx

This is located in Andratx and is dedicated to the exhibition and creation of modern art. It is famous for its paintings which are made by local and international artists. You can buy paintings if they are on sale. It also offers a unique artist programme. It is closed on Mondays and on other days the entrance fee is 8 euros.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and leave for the most exciting destination pf Mallorca and come back with a bag full of memories. Do not forget to consider this guide so that you don’t miss any tourist destinations in Mallorca.

Organizing the trip

If the events you'll be going to are in the same city as the one you're travelling to, it'll probably be very easy to organize everything, but if you have to move around or go to more than one live, you'll have to look for transport, acommodation, food, etc., so I've made this guide sharing a bit of my experience in case it is useful for someone when they are organizing their own trip.

Transport

Even though it's possible to buy a JR pass, which enables us to take any JR trains, some metro lines and some buses for the period we get it for, we thought it was a bit too expensive. Also, once activated, you have to use it in a certain period of time (that is to say, if you have a 7-day pass, you can't use it on 7 random different days, it will last exactly for a week since you first used it). However, it's true that travelling on train is really comfortable and fast, so if you don't mind spending a little bit more, maybe this option is worth it for you. Thinking that the tickets had been already quite expensive, we tried to look for other alternatives and we found a bus company, Willer, that offers passes for more affordable prices. There is a 3-day pass, a 5-day pass and a 7-day pass, but they don't have to be consecutive days, you have a few months when you can use them any time. Depending on the dates you'll be travelling, you can also get a discount: if you travel only from Monday to Thursday, passes are cheaper. Each day you use the pass, you can take up to 3 day buses and one night bus. After checking our live plan, we chose the 5-day pass including weekends. Also, we always took night buses, so we could sleep on the bus and save some money from the hotel. Night buses usually leave between 10 pm and 12 pm from Tokyo's city center and arrive at the destination around 7 am, so it's possible to use the rest of the day to go sightseeing. Plus, busses are adapted, so seats are more comfortable, they have a thing to cover your head in case you want more privacy, they have lockets to charge your electronic devices, etc. They'll also make a few stops and you can get off the bus to buy something or use the bathroom at the service area.

However, we didn't go to every live by bus, so I'll briefly explain our travel plan:

Bus to Sendai (July 5th) - Day 1 of the bus pass // Live at Sendai // Night at Sendai (July 6th) and train to Utsunomiya (July 7th) // Live at Utsunomiya // Train to Tokyo (July 7th)

Train to Saitama (July 9th) // Live at Saitama // Train to Tokyo (July 9th)

Bus to Kanazawa (July 11th) - Day 2 of the bus pass // Live at Kanazawa // Bus to Tokyo (July 12th) - Day 3 of the bus pass

Bus to Nagoya (July 14th) - Day 4 of the bus pass // Live at Nagoya // Bus to Tokyo (July 15th) - Day 5 of the bus pass

Bus to Osaka (July 17th) // Live at Osaka // Bus to Tokyo (July 18th)

As you can see, the last two trips Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo weren’t included in the bus pass and I had to buy them separately, but doing that by train can be around 15000 yen, while it was only 5000 yen by bus. For Saitama, since it's only half an hour from Tokyo, you can easily get there by train for around 500 yen. On the other side, since the lives at Sendai and Utsunomiya took place one after the other, we decided to spend the night at Sendai and go directly from there to Utsunomiya (it's half-way between Sendai and Tokyo). In any case, Willer doesn't have buses from Sendai to Utsunomiya, so going by bus wasn't even an option. At first, we thought that it was possible to take local trains, which are slower and, therefore, cheaper, but when we arrived to the train station we were told that there were only shinkansen (bullet train). When you buy your tickets, it's possible to choose a carriage with reserved or unreserved seats. We chose the latter because it was a bit cheaper and, since the train had such a high frequency (maybe it's just that it wasn't rush hour, I don't know), there were a lot of empty seats, so we could sit down. If you look for information about the tickets and timetables online on Hyperdia (you can only check, you can't buy tickets), it might be understood that the price of the tickets will be the one that pops up when you select your seat type.

However, it isn't like that, to that amount on that menu, you have to add the base price that is written in the "fare" column (then, if we choose an unreserved seat, it won't be 3530 yen, but 8040). You can probably picture our faces when the lady selling the tickets told us the actual price. In order to go back to Tokyo from Utsunomiya, there are local trains, so you can choose between going on a bullet train (40 minutes more or less) or take one of those local trains (an hour and a half), which are also a lot cheaper (1500 yen one-way).

Acommodation

As I mentioned before, we were travelling on night buses so we didn't have to pay for a night at a hotel. However, we did have to stay for one night at Sendai. The original plan was to not spend a cent on acommodation and just find any way to spend the night there, but when we arrived to Sendai we saw that it wasn't that simple. At first, we thought that, being summer, since it's hot in Japan, we could just stay at a park or something. But rainy season was a bit longer that year and, once there, it was raining and cold. Since we couldn't stay in the open, we tried to find a place to stay. We thought that, since konbini are open 24 hours and some have an area with sofas or seats to eat, we could just stay there. This might sound like a good idea, but in fact that area will be closed by 11 pm, probably to avoid people doing what we were planning to do. Therefore, now out of options, we finally faced the fact that we would have to look for a real acommodation. Being only one night, we didn't mind sharing the bathroom or bedroom, so we ended up choosing a hostel that was 2000 yen per person. In case someone goes to Sendai and wants to stay there, it was the Sendai Guesthouse Umebachi. It is a traditional house, rooms are for four people and the bathroom was shared (there were two showers, but they are closed so no one will see you). In the mornings they offer coffee, milk and toasts, so we could grab some food before leaving. Plus the staff speaks English. The only problem we encountered was the bed, since it was a futon. It was okay at first, but not being used to sleeping on a hard surface and given that the sun rises early and there are no window blinds, we were already awake at 5:30 am.

Food

Depending on your budget, you can either go to restaurants or find cheaper options. Among those, konbini food is okay. For 300-400 yen there are premade dishes (and they are surprisingly yummy), but for 100-200 yen there are sandwiches, small bento boxes (with omelette, chicken, sushi, etc.) and onigiri (the tuna and mayo one is a hard drug). If you buy cup ramen, you can ask them to prepare it for you, and you can also ask them to heat the premade dish you've picked. If you go to restaurants, there are some Japanese fast food chains, like Yoshinoya, CoCoIchi or Tenya, but I admit we just went in whatever place we found, be it a konbini, restaurant or fast food chain. If it helps, we found out about some traditional food from different cities and I can link to some restaurants we went to, in case someone wants to go to the same place.

Tokyo: Our criteria to pick restaurants was completely random, but we went to some that we liked. In Asakusa, at Kaminarimon Maruka we had some cold noodles. In Shibuya, we ate at a sushi restaurant, Uobei. It is not the best sushi ever, but it's okay and cheap (it will arrive to your seat on a conveyor belt), and in Shinjuku we went to a yakiniku restaurant, Rokkasen. In Ikebukuro, even though it's a chain, we went to Tonkatsu Wako. I love tonkatsu, and the rice, cabbage and miso soup are "refillable", so you could ask for more, it was awesome.

Sendai: There was a restaurant near the hostel that they recommended to us. It is quite small, but the owners were nice and they were fascinated about us being there. The staff doesn't speak English, but they asked if yakitori and sashimi were okay (I loved the sashimi), and we ate that. Some salarymen found us entertaining and ordered typical dishes from Sendai for us to try. I don't remember what the first two were, although one was some kind of oyster and the other one was fish, but the third one was fried tofu (I remember because it was super dry and I didn't like it, but the other two were good).

Utsunomiya: The typical food from this city are gyoza. There are a lot of restaurants in the area near Heaven's Rock, so it'll be easy to find one. There was also a mall (and even though we couldn't find the source, it smelled like there was a pastry shop) and there is also a cafeteria called Barisai Cafe where they sell pancakes, cakes, etc.

Nagoya: Eel is typical from this city, but we were a bit disgusted by the thought of it, so we ended up having lunch at a Okinawan-style meat restaurant.

Travel insurance

Even though it might seem useless, we hired a travel insurance with IATI because we had read that health service in Japan is expensive. After all, it was worth it, because my friend got sick and they wouldn't even sell paracetamol at the pharmacy without a prescription, so we had to go to the doctor just for that and we weren't charged anything, even the insurance company helped us get an appointment for that same evening. Also, the doctor who helped us spoke perfect English and she was really caring.

Internet access

Being two people, we decided to rent a pocket wifi. It is a portable router that works anywhere you go. The battery lasts around 10 hours, but it had an extra battery to recharge it, so it could last a whole day. The good thing about pocket wifi is that there is no data limit and you can connect more than one device. We rented it here. It is also possible to buy a data SIM card. You have different options and prices, depending on the period you want it for, the number of GB, etc. You can order them online, before starting your trip, or just get them already in Japan, since there are shops at the airport where they'll install it for you.

Places to visit

Since we arrived early at each city, we could seize the morning to go sightseeing. I'm writing below the names of the places we visited in case you'll be going to any of these cities and want to check this out.

Sendai: Aoba castle, Zuihoden

Utsunomiya: Oya-ji (you can take a bus directly from the train station), Utsunomiya castle

Kanazawa: Kanazawa castle, Kenroku-en, geisha district (there is also a temple district here, it's signaled)

Nagoya: Nagoya castle, Atsuta-jingu

Osaka: Osaka castle, Dotonbori, Amerikamura

about good omens, bc im seeing it so much i cant NOT make a post about it sorry. this is about the book not the netflix show i havent watched that 

also wow this ended up being long im sorry in advance 

so i read good omens back in like junior year of high school and i thought it was really good and it saved me from many a depressive episode. so thank you good omens for that. unfortunately ive grown at least one braincell since then and i realized good omens is super racist and it uses people of color as jokes throughout the entire book. like not just once or twice. the whole thing. levi lost his ENTIRE squad. 

its like. let me give you an example. first of all the entire main cast is white in that jkr way where its like well i didnt say they WERENT white (explicitly points out and stereotypes all poc characters). so mr newt, a white man, he goes to the us army base (this takes place in england). he sees a black man. he’s like wow! a black person! thats wild!!! then there’s a line that reads “newt always felt guilty in the presence of black americans in case they blamed him for 200 years of slave trade.”and thats about it for the black guy’s role. the scene changes 2 paragraphs later and he’s never seen again. like he was just there so they could crack this funny joke. and thats pretty much the role of every single poc who appears in the book. 

some more examples: there’s a scene on a japanese fishing boat and a joke about sushi and the shipmates call the captain “honorable sir” and then they all get eaten by the kracken. there’s a bunch of guys from tibet who are bald and wear saffron robes and come out of “tibetan tunnels.” there’s some random guy in haiti who’s practicing voodoo and roasting meat over a fire. there’s a south asian man who works at a convenience store and sells porn and one (white) character accuses him of worshipping the devil bc he practices hinduism. another (white) character uses a fake native american persona called “geronimo” that says like, “how. step into my teepee sqaw marie” for her seance scam. 

these are all very short scenes or bits of dialogue that are worked in purely for comic relief. theyre obviously making fun of stereotypes about poc in that kind of white liberal way like oh haha stereotypes are so STUPID... i, the white liberal, am beyond that kind of racism... but they put them into the book as jokes anyway, therefore making jokes out of characters of color. which is like, okay, good omens was written in the late 80s by two white guys. i get it. but do i support it? no. when i was in high school i was like sure yeah whatever but its 2019 and honestly that shit is not readable anymore. 

im gonna skim on the misogyny bc im tired of typing but like making the personification of war into a sexy redhead woman with no personality except sexy and violent was like oh wow... havent seen that one before!

but anyway i know people are mostly watching this show for that good queerbaiting between aziraphale and crowley. but let me tell you something. ITS QUEERBAITING. theyre never gonna confirm it bc mr neil gaiman has that go-to excuse like “oh theyre not human... they dont have human concepts of relationships... they arent gay bc thats a human thing.” actually in the book they explicitly tell you aziraphale isnt gay because “angels are sexless unless they really make an effort” (i have no idea what this means tbh). 

like it doesnt matter how much the old white man who plays aziraphale is like “im playing aziraphale as in love with crowley!!!” theyre never actually gonna put it in the show. so what is there to support i ask you. there are no gay rights.

i mean im not the fun police go enjoy yourself but this whole thing just gives me a very... how do you say... superwholock feeling to it. and i do not like it. i guess its just like “oh wow white gay men! *ignores the racism in the source material* i love gays!” when theres nothing in the show other than a lot of queerbaiting. but you know. tumblr is just like that.

also the guys playing aziraphale and crowley are obscenely ugly and its fucking hilarious but if i see those crusty white men on my dash one more time i WILL snap. but like i said go have fun. lick the white mans boots for all i care.

so that’s my opinion on good omens. im not watching the show because i think i’d go into a rage-induced coma. maybe it’s good. i don’t know. mr neil gaiman i hope youre less racist now than in 1990. maybe the netflix show is like woke and i’ll be assassinated for writing this post. anything could happen i guess

New Aquarium Checklist

Today I’m going to be explaining the things you need and why you need them when you want to get into the hobby! This is a very long post so get ready for lots of words!

Money

Before you do anything, the first thing you need to make sure you have enough of is money. You can get an aquarium fully set up for as little or as much money as you are willing to spend, but that doesn’t mean your set up will be successful or more importantly, good for the fish. Spending money on the right supplies will save you from spending the money on something cheap that will stop working and cost you, even more, having to replace it or ideally, update with something less likely to fail you.

Expect to pay at least 100$ for a small aquarium, after buying all you need to set things up and stock the tank. If that’s too rich for your blood, I’d suggest a nano tank and a marimo ball. Betta fish should never be in nano tanks. The smallest you should keep them in is 2.5 gallons, 5 is vastly better.

A Place for the Aquarium to Live

For nano aquariums, it should be easy enough to locate a spot to place them and they’re light enough that you don’t have to worry about them destroying whatever you’ve placed it on.

However the larger the aquarium, the harder to find a spot for it and the harder it is to find something that can support its weight. A 20-gallon tank (which is considered small in the hobby) can weigh up to and over 200 pounds once you add in the water, substrate, fish, and decorations. Things only get heavier from here on out.

Once you hit 10 gallons I suggest getting specially made aquarium stands, which can cost you as much as the tank! You can sometimes get them as a packaged deal for a great price. I suggest checking Facebook, Craigslist, Letgo and other kinds of services for used aquarium stands, often, people are trying to sell the tank along with it too, be wary of used aquariums though as you can’t know what has been put in them. The risk of dangerous chemicals being used on them isn’t worth the money saved on getting a used one unless you trust the previous owner.

Do NOT just assume whatever surface you are putting a 10+ gallon aquarium on will support its weight. Trying to clean up the mess of a broken aquarium is an absolute nightmare. Not just for all the debris but chances are your fish won't survive the experience, even if you’re standing there when it happens.

Time

Aquariums aren’t something you can just set and forget, even if you’re doing a nano aquarium that just has a marimo ball, it will still require your time. Aquariums usually require weekly water changes (about 25%+ of the water), monthly filter maintenance, daily feeding, gravel vacuuming, etc. When you’ve got the aquarium set up it’s really not that much work, but you can’t just neglect it, or your fish will die.

Also, take into consideration the lifespan of the fish. Some fish can live for years... even decades. Make certain you’re on board with this before getting a longer-lived species, if you want to see how you take to the hobby start with a shorter-lived species, such as livebearers (Guppies, platies, swordtails, mollies).

Aquarium

This one seems obvious, no aquarium, not fish! But it’s not as easy as you might think. There are 3 kinds of materials used for aquariums, plastic, glass, and acrylic, each with their benefits and drawbacks (or in the case of plastic, mostly negatives). For those new to the aquarium hobby, I suggest glass aquariums. Acrylic is both very expensive and not as easy to come by (the big box stores rarely have these at all). I’ll go into more detail in another post about the choices and which is best depending on your commitment and desires.

Filter

No filter? No aquarium. You can not do a setup without a filter, even in my plant only tank I still have a nano filter. The only thing you can get away with not having a filter is a marimo nano tank, even then you need to agitate the water often to move the moss ball around.

Filters are tied at the top for one of the most important things you need to keep livestock. It isn’t something you should cut corners on and it’s always better to over filter than under filter (with consideration to water flow... you don’t want to put a fast-moving current in a small betta tank).

There are a variety of filters you can use, sponge, internal, canister, HOB (hang on the back), etc. Each one has its uses depending on your set up. Do your research into the kind of filter you’ll need based on the size of your aquarium, as that’s the most important thing to consider. I’ll be writing an in-depth post about the different kinds of filters and the setups they work for.

Heater

Growing up I never once heard about an aquarium heater but they are a vital part of keeping your fish healthy and happy. Freshwater fish are almost exclusively tropical and require water that is warmer than the typical house’s ambient temperature. Depending on the area you live in and the seasons the fluctuation in water temperature can straight up kill fish. Even here in Phoenix, Arizona the change in daytime temp to nighttime temp can be drastic, especially if the tank is near a window. This is non-negotiable, if you have livestock in your tank, you have to have a heater.

Substrate

While you can have a bare-floor tank (quarantine tanks usually work best with bare tanks) there are a variety of reasons why you should have substrate. The biggest one is they are great at housing beneficial bacteria! If you do a bare-floor aquarium and do a big water change and change the filter at the same time you’ve basically just killed all your beneficial bacteria. Why do you need bacteria? It helps break down bad chemicals, without them, your ammonia levels will spike and kill your fish. You’ll notice that’s a common theme of this list, when we bring dogs and cats into our home our environment is already tailored to their basic needs, but with fish, you need to create an entire ecosystem for them to live in.

There are different kinds of substrates, sand, gravel of different sizes and substrate designed specifically for plants. If you want to do a live plant aquarium you’ll need to spring for a lot pricer special substrate, but it’ll help keep your plants happy and healthy. This kind of substrate is also great for shrimp! I’ll make a substrate post to explain the different kinds and the benefits of them!

Live Bacteria/Starter Bacteria

When you first set up a tank you need to cycle it. Dumping water in a tank, even if you have everything else set up fine, even if you dechlorinate water... without beneficial bacteria your tank isn’t ready for fish yet. Some (not good sources) say you only need to cycle for ‘24 hours’ this is a complete NO. You should cycle for at least a week, and to do that you’ll be adding a liquid starter bacteria to your tank daily (smaller tanks it’s usually just one cap of the stuff). You’ll also want to get a large bottle of it (Unless you have a nano tank) as you’ll be using it even after your tank is cycled and set up. 

Water Test Kit

This one is ‘technically’ optional. Many places will offer free water checks (Petco and Petsmart offer them for free, local aquarium specialty stores will usually do the first one free then a small fee for each subsequent test). You could just take advantage of these free water checks but I suggest if you’re really interested in taking the best care of your fish you should get a water test kit and test the water regularly. You can also get test strips! They are not as accurate as the test kits are so shouldn’t be the only thing you are relying on. In my experience, Petsmart uses the test strips and local stores use the kits, the local stores can also give you better advice for what the water test results mean and how to adjust your parameters.

Decorations

Another ‘technically optional’. While you could keep a tank naked save for the bare essentials (filter, heater, tank, hood, and light)... that... isn’t what I would call an ideal set up. Decorations not only are visually appealing to use they are important to your fish as well! Many fish are shy and prefer to have hiding spots, they can grow bored without an environment to navigate. Territorial fish need something to demarcate their territory or they’ll become very stressed and aggressive.

Fish don’t really care about what color the decorations are or if they’re plastic, so don’t feel the pressure to get the really pricey decorations. While live plants have a lot of benefits they require their own focus and parameters and can get really complicated. Just make sure your decorations are fish safe. Never add wood to your tank without boiling and soaking it, fresh wood is never something you should put in your tank, even wood sold specifically for aquariums needs to be soaked to leech the tannins out. Tannins will turn your water brown/amber and make it murky which can work for a brackish aquarium but will likely not be appealing to a freshwater set up. Wood can also change the PH of your water. Like I said, plastic decorations don’t require any extra work other than a quick rinse off before adding them to the tank (never use soaps!), the natural materials take extra effort and thought.

Fish

This is so far down the list because you need to focus so much on everything above long before you get the fish. The most important thing to consider is the fish you want. A lot of fish sold at pets stores can grow to truly monstrous sizes (I have seen juvenile Silver Arowana sold at Petsmart! They grow to 3 feet long, sometimes more!) so you can’t just walk into the store and buy whatever strikes your fancy. The majority of the fish for sale are juveniles and the true sizes of them are rarely accurately listed, (the Silver Arowana sign at Petsmart claimed they only got 12 inches long) if they’re listed at all.

First consider the size of the tank you’re comfortable buying, as stated above getting a small setup (10-20 gallon tank) you’re looking at about 100$, if not more just for the base setup (My 20-gallon setup cost about 200$ because I use live plants and natural materials, it could have been half as much if I had taken it in another direction). Once you’ve picked out a tank size only then can you consider the kinds of fish you can put in it. The smaller the tank, the fewer the fish you can add to it and the smaller the fish must be. So turn your eyes away from the bigger fish unless you’re willing to invest in a tank that will fit them at their adult sizes. It’s about 1 inch of fish per gallon, and any other livestock you add count as well. Shrimp would be about .5 gallon per shrimp (as they have a lower load), snails also could towards the bio-load of the tank which is why getting an infestation can be dangerous for your tank.

Fish Food

Another obvious one but this is more complicated than you think! There is a lot of cheap and poorly made fish food available on the market. I don’t suggest ever buying it from the grocery store unless its an emergency and you plan on replacing it with something better very very soon. Different fish have different requirements, some are strictly carnivores, others omnivores, some herbivores. Feeding them the wrong thing can lead to starvation, malnutrition, constipation and general failure to thrive.

Always read the ingredient list, some foods contain copper sulfate which is a very dangerous chemical to any invertebrates (snails/shrimp). I once lost a beloved rabbit snail because I failed to read the full ingredient list of the algae wafers I got for the tank. It can also be toxic to fish in high doses. I’d suggest just avoiding any foods that list copper sulfate at all to be on the safe side.

Hood/Lid

You can go without a hood or a lid... however, there are very good reasons to make sure you have a good tank cover. Water evaporates and you’ll have to add water between water changes, which is tedious and can mess with the parameters of your water. Higher on the list of importance is the fact that some fish are jumpers. They will leap right out of the water! Betta fish are well known for this, the Silver Arowana I mentioned above is so notorious for this that even very experienced keepers have lost full grown ones to a hard leap, even with a secured lid.

If you have pets (cats especially) you may end up finding them pawing at the water, falling in or just trying to catch the fish. I say: better safe than sorry!

If you’re willing to keep on top of the water levels, have no pets that can get into the tank, a rimless acrylic tank without a lid does look amazing.

Lights

This is another one that can be as complicated or easy as you want it to be. If you have a very well lit area for the tank you could potentially get away without a dedicated light. You could even just have a hanging pendant light that is bright enough to illuminate the tank and that’s fine!

It gets more complicated if you want to do a planted tank, as I said in decorations, live plants require extra work and this is one of those things that will add to their time and cost. Live plants require a specific spectrum to grow properly. Some can survive with basic lights but if you want to really get a planted tank going you need to get full spectrum lights and full spectrum LED lights can be very expensive (for my 20 gallons I was looking at 60+ dollars).

LED lights take less energy to run, which is great in the long run and they last a very long time. Fluorescent bulbs are cheaper and readily available (hardware stores may even have the size you need!) but will need to be changed more often and it’s vital that you don’t let any of the moisture hits them.

And that’s all the things you need to consider when buying an aquarium and setting it up! There are other things you’ll need but aren’t as vital as what’s listed above. A small tank you could just use a soft toothbrush to clean algae off and you could just siphon the water out with a cup for water changes. Bigger tanks though will require gravel vacs and dedicated algae scrubbers (you could use a soft sponge like the ones sold at the grocery store but don’t use the scrubbing side!).

Here is a link to a PDF you can print out to check off what you have and still need!