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nutriyumaddict · 7 years

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Fic prompt AU: Ben is a professor who has come to Pawnee to research some strange phenomenon. Maybe history-related or whatever you want it to be. The only person in town who gives him any help - lots more than he even thinks to ask for - is the Deputy Director of Parks and Rec.

Okay, first of all, this is one of my most favorite prompts that I’ve ever gotten! So much so, that I’ve kind of been hoarding it for…um…six months or so?

I’m so sorry about the delay, anon, but I wanted to wait until I had a really great idea (this was almost a fic about a Pawnee were-raccoon). I think we can all appreciate that I kept waiting for a better idea.

I’ve wanted to do a Splash AU for the longest time and I just realized last week that this prompt kind of works for that!

And, I’m already 11k in, so this is definitely happening and new chapters should be coming pretty quickly.

Also posted on ao3

A Mermaid Tale (Leslie/Ben) (1/6)

Look, he knows his obsession is kind of weird.

Well, wait, no. It’s not really an obsession. It’s more like an interest. A very strong professional interest. In mermaids.

Alright, fine, it’s kind of weird.

But Ben Wyatt isn’t some Weekly World News-reading crackpot–nope. He’s a Professor of Maritime History & Folklore at Indiana University and everything. He even minored in Marine Biology way back when he was an undergrad, so he knows that the ocean (as well as rivers and lakes and even ponds) are pretty amazing places, ecosystem-wise.

If there are giant squid and gray whales and rainbow trout, why is it so hard to imagine that people throughout the ages have almost always claimed to have seen beautiful half-fish women in the murky depths as well?

And if you fall in the water and they swim over to you and hold your hand, deep down, how can you not want to believe it?

* * * * *

Duluth, Minnesota 1982

Seven-year-old Ben’s parents are fighting. Again.

The whole family is on a boat, a sightseeing cruise with some relatives up in Duluth and of course Steve and Julia Wyatt are glaring and heatedly whispering at each other right by the fancy display of shrimp cocktails lined up along the buffet table. It’s not as loud as they usually get, but it’s still fairly clear that they’re arguing.

Ben is hiding from everyone and his ten-year-old brother Henry is off doing who knows what. The last Ben saw him, he was dropping his Star Wars action figures on the ground and laughing while getting down low by all the adults’ feet to scoop them back up. And Stephanie is crying and carrying on in his mother’s arms, all while his parents fight away.

Everyone is ignoring little Benji.

He’s under a table out on the deck when something out in the water catches his eye. It’s a shimmer and then a definite sparkle in the calm water and then…a little blonde head pops up. He smiles at the girl around his age and she smiles back.

She has a big shell necklace around her neck and her eyes are bright blue. Her hair is golden like the sun.

Without even realizing what he’s doing, Ben walks over to the railing to get a closer look. He just wants to see her better and he’s also very curious as to why there’s a girl out in the water. Maybe he should get an adult for help but then she grins at him again and her tail flips up out of the water and Ben finds that he can just fit through the gap in the bars of the railing.

He’s still smiling when he hits the cold Lake Superior water below.

* * * * *

Pawnee, Indiana 2010

It’s a sunny day, so he’s wearing his Ray-Bans as he pulls his Saturn into an empty spot in front of City Hall.

Ben is in Pawnee because he has a google alert set for mermaids and the great lakes. It doesn’t come up with anything all that often, but there have been a handful of mentions about Lake Pawnee of all places over the last few years.

He’s also in Pawnee because last month his girlfriend Victoria moved out of their shared two-bedroom, two-bath condo overlooking Lake Monroe on the outskirts of Bloomington. She left him because he didn’t love her, which still seems massively unfair to Ben. He really wanted to love her. He really tried to love her. Ben just…didn’t. Couldn’t.

Victoria moved out while he was at work and when he got home it was just him and his fish tanks and about half of the furniture. She’d even taken the fancy blender that they had bought together.

So, now seemed like the perfect time to gather up and organize his email folder full of google alerts, bang out a proposal, and try to get approved for a sabbatical from his Assistant Professor position at IU.

At first, he was thinking scholarly article, maybe something he could submit to The Journal of American Folklore but then he figured–no. Think bigger. Think book. That would almost assure his tenure.

And of course, the first step in any book is fieldwork and research. It was the closest location from Bloomington, so he’s here in Pawnee on this sunny Monday in May day to collect data and all the details on possible mermaid sightings in this corner of the Hoosier State. He also plans to visit Kewaunee, Wisconsin, Mackinac Island, Michigan, and Duluth, Minnesota later in the month.

But for convenience sake, southwestern Indiana is his first stop. Pawnee is definitely unique in that it’s not even on one of the Great Lakes. No, any reported sightings here over the years have happened on Lake Pawnee–a deep freshwater 10,750-acre body of water in Wamapoke County, with inflow and outflow sources at Deer Creek.

Once inside the building, after a somewhat scary and confusing trip up to the fourth floor, he eventually gets sent back downstairs to the first floor and to the Parks and Recreation Department.

A sightly imposing and unsmiling man with a full mustache ignores him when he tries to ask questions but then Ben is introduced to a pretty and petite blonde–the Deputy Director of the department. She stares at him intently as she reaches forward to shake his hand. Her skin is warm and soft and for some reason, Ben finds himself wanting to not let go of her hand at all.

But, he does and they end up in a conference room and even though a strange girl with dark hair keeps staring at him menacingly through the glass, Ben turns all of his focus to Leslie Knope.

“I’m really just looking for some preliminary information on Lake Pawnee,” he explains.

“Lake Pawnee? And mermaids?”

Ben nods, opening his laptop.

“Oh,” she scoffs, making a face. “You aren’t interested in Lake Pawnee!”

He looks up, slightly puzzled. “I’m not?”

“No. There are no mermaids there–”

“Okay, I feel like I need to mention again that I know that there are no actual mermaids. I’m not looking for mermaids. I’m looking for talk of mermaids. I’m documenting the occurrences of mermaid folklore. Legends. Oral history. That sort of thing.”

“Right. But still. Lake Pawnee is a complete dead-end. You want to see, uh, the Eagleton Reservoir. Yeah. The Eagleton Reservoir. That’s where everyone in town always talks about when they talk about mermaids. We have the best waffles at JJ’s Diner here in Pawnee and over there, they have all the weirdo mermaid sightings. Ask anyone! Ron? Ron!” She cranes her neck to look out into the work area. “Well, Ron doesn’t care. But if he did, he’d say the same thing.”

Despite the odd start to his project, Ben smiles. And when Leslie smiles back at him, Ben feels himself instinctively scooting closer to the table in his chair.

“How about this?” she suggests. “I can stop working early at five-thirty today. Why don’t you come back here then and I can give you the tour.”

“Of Lake Pawnee?”

“No, Ben,” she chides him lightly. “The Eagleton Reservoir! Oh, well, we can start here at City Hall because that’s where all official tours should begin but then we can go look at the reservoir and finish up with waffles at JJ’s back here in Pawnee, a much better town. For everything,” Leslie pauses. “Except mermaid sightings.”

“Alright.” He agrees with a laugh because, well, he finds himself wanting to spend more time with her for some reason. He’s always had a thing for blondes with blue eyes, plus she does seem to know an awful lot about the area.

She’ll no doubt be a great resource for his research.

#parks and rec drabble #ask box prompts #benslie fic #Splash AU

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territorymob-blog · 6 years

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5 perfect daytrips for first time Bali visitors.

A simple itinerary for first time visitors to Bali with 5 perfect daytrips featuring fun filled activities taking you off the beaten track to explore places least traveled in Bali.

Bali’s natural attractions are many. The mountainous north-central part of the island, with Mount Batur and Mount Agung can be explored taking visitors past fast rivers, crater lakes and deep rain forests.

Beaches perfect for doing nothing, or active water sports … whatever you choose. Diving is popular on the coral reefs off the northeast coast of Bali, while surfers head to the south western coast seeking good surfing waves.

Here are my suggested itineraries for 5 great daytrips when visiting Bali.

Daytrip 1: Southern Bali – Pandawa, Dreamland and Uluwatu

If you’re in the mood for a lazy beach day, and a visit to some beautiful beaches and Uluwatu to take in a magical sunset and to spot a monkey or two … this is the itinerary for you!

Pandawa Beach: Once known as Secret Beach, this beautiful white sand beach is laden with beach chairs & umbrellas which are offered for rent and serviced by nearby stall holders offering the obligatory Bintang beer for sale. It’s also a great place to test your kayaking skills, but be careful of waves and ocean rips in the area!

Dreamland Beach: A unique private beach tucked away at the northern end of Uluwatu near the New Kuta Golf Course. Recently famous as the beach where Julia Roberts filmed the movie Eat, Pray, Love. This beach was pumping great surf shore-breaks on the day of our visit which we watched from the bar cut into the side of the cliff above with an ice cold Mojito.

Our lunch stop was at a traditional Balinese restaurant called Warung Cikgo. A quaint traditional Balinese open plan dining area with antique furnishings and a wall of carved Indonesian doors. We were served one of the best Massaman beef curries ever and a perfect Nasi Goreng! Put this place on your ‘must visit’ list.

Uluwatu Temple: Uluwatu, is one of the best places to go to for sunset whilst you’re in Bali, with endless views overlooking the beautiful Indian Ocean and daily Kecak dance performances. A small forest lies at the front which is home to hundreds of monkeys who are notorious for snatching visitors’ belongings. They can usually be persuaded into trading the items for fruit, although this only encourages them to steal more.

As we were staying in Tanjung Benoa, we decided to try one of our favourite local restaurants for dinner. Meads offers a convenient pick up and drop off service in their multi-seat golf buggy.

Meads Bali: Meads has a great menu with steak and seafood options. We chose a whole fish with a Balinese flavoured sauce and a perfectly cooked lobster – both spectacular. We’ve been to Meads a number of times previously when visiting Bali and it remains one of our favourite restaurants!

Daytrip 2: Bali Safari Park & Sanur Beach

I wanted to take some photos of native wildlife whilst in Bali and where better to capture all species in one stop!

Bali Safari & Marine Park: Great near natural environments for the animals, rare and endangered species such as the Javanese Leopard, Sumatran Tigers and the White Tigers. We enjoyed the Safari experience however would have liked that to have been a longer experience. There were plenty of exhibits to fill the day including a mythical dance extravaganza and an elephant pantomime featuring the Sumatran elephants.

Lunch overlooking the lions .. or were the lions overlooking us? Lions perched on rocky citadels high above the restaurant separated by plate glass windows from diners. A unique place to lunch! See our earlier post Zoos are for Big Kids Too.

Sanur: Enjoy sunset at Sanur where fisherman run their nets in the shallows of an outgoing tide. Chic boutique shopping and trendy restaurants are in abundance in this relaxed part of Bali. We’ve decided to spend more time in this region next time we visit.

Kampung Bule: A restaurant suggested by our driver Irun, which was a mix of traditional Balinese and Western style menu serving their popular Balinese Herb & Spice BBQ, great Seafood selections and for those who want western style – some old favourites as well.

Moscow Mule: Mix Vodka with Lime Juice, muddle some fresh mint leaves and add a splash of Ginger Ale and dress with a slice of lime. You must try it!

We were impressed by the seafood choices and started with a shared serving of Prawn Spring Rolls followed with Lobster Thermidor for our mains … just because!

The seafood was delicious although the lobster was a little expensive, however for a special night it was well worth the expense!

Daytrip 3: Garuda Cultural Centre, Bali Bird Park & Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Garuda Cultural Centre: Touted to be the tallest statue in the world once complete, this statue has been under construction for about 20 years but is now under instruction from the President to complete by the end of 2018 in time for the world conference in Bali. Extraordinary views right across Bali, including smoking Mt Agung in the distance. Magnificent statues and vantage points throughout and I look forward to seeing the completed project.

Bali Bird Park: A unique and educational attraction for the whole family. With nearly a thousand exotic birds from the Indonesian archipelago and around the world, the Bali Bird Park is a fun park for bird lovers. Hundreds of different bird species can be found throughout the park grounds in aviaries and individual enclosures. We just loved this Plain-pouched Hornbill from Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago in the Malay Peninsula.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces: Ubud is famous for its beautiful scenes of rice paddies involving the subak which is the traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system, which according to history, was passed down by a revered holy man named Rsi Markandeya in the eighth century. The Tegallalang rice terraces are a spectacular sight on the slopes across the valley.

Treat yourself to a great lunch or afternoon tea overlooking the spectacular views of these rice terraces.

Daytrip 4: Walking tour of Ubud

Ubud has a good selection of boutiques, jewelry manufacturing shops, woodcarvers and artists as well as local markets where you will find a range of clothing and exquisite jewelry and unique artifacts.

Don’t forget to use your bargaining skills!

Life in Bali rolls along at a slow pace most of the time and nothing will change that. Ubud is a peaceful place where you will find yoga and relaxation classes, art and craft workshops and other creative opportunities.

Take the time to explore the shops in the lanes and alley ways that are tucked away out of the main traffic zones. You may find some unique bargains!

We found a great selection of restaurants and cafes to try along our walk so watch for our next post featuring our favourite food haunts in Ubud … coming soon.

Monsieur Spoon: Start your morning off with a visit to Monsieur Spoon, a family-run French Bakery-Cafe started by two Parisian cousins based in Ubud. This cafe was one of our most favourite holiday finds during our last visit to Ubud. Monsieur Spoon serves handmade French pastries, cakes, artisan bread and savouries – to die for!

Sacred Monkey Forest: One of my favourite places to visit in Ubud is the Sacred Monkey Forest. The monkey’s fascinate me. They are curious, cheeky, sneaky and always playful. Make sure your glasses and hats are secured, and backpacks and purses zipped up – they will attempt to steal anything they think may be food!

Ubud’s Royal Palace: Ubud Royal Palace (Puri Saren Agung Ubud), is one of Bali’s most interesting attractions located right in the centre of Ubud. The royal family is in residence most of the time and most nights during the week the Royal Palace hosts authentic Balinese dance performances, such as the Barong Ubud dance.

Stop in for lunch at Oops Bar and Cafe … What a great find. Just an ordinary pub on the outside, but a delicious lunch with icy cold mojitos on the inside!

Check out all the antiques, wood carvings and shops full of unusual nic-nacks.

Daytrip 5: Inner Bali – Temples and Terraces

An early 9 am pickup by our driver Irun who took us into the hinterland beyond Ubud to view some of the most significant temples in Bali and world heritage listed rice terraces.

Taman Ayun Temple: Pura Taman Ayun as a beautifully appointed temple with it’s own surrounding moat, located in the village of Mengwi Bandung. Historically the temple is associated with the King of Mengwi. This temple is where people come to worship the ancestors of the royal family of Mengwi.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan: On the shores of Lake Bratan this temple is the primary temple of the many temples and shrines which are vital to the subak irrigation system popular in Bali. Built in 1633, this temple is used for offerings ceremony to the Balinese water, lake and river goddess Dewi Danu. Lake Bratan is the main source of irrigation in central Bali. Lake Bratan is known as the Lake of Holy Mountain due to the fertility of this area.

Lunch at Gong Jatiluwih in the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Central Bali was a perfect Balinese lunch experience. The restaurant has been around for many years and is a popular lunch stop for tourists visiting the inland regions of Bali with spectacular views over the rice terraces.

Goa Gajah: Located just 10 minutes from Ubud, Goa Gajah is a significant Hindu archaeological site. Known as the Elephant Cave because of its close proximity to the Elephant River, this mysterious cave is surrounded by a courtyard of rock-wall carvings, a central meditation cave, bathing pools and fountains.

Its a peaceful setting with Hindu guides who provide details of the history of this serene place. A visit to Goa Gajah is definitely a ‘must see’ and well worth including on your itinerary.

These suggestions are totally flexible so you can pace yourself to be as busy or as slow-going as you want. Pace out your holiday, enjoy your adventures and make sure you leave plenty of down time for relaxing … after all you are on holidays!!

Have you been to any of these places when you’ve visited Bali ? Is there somewhere that made such an impact on you that you’d consider going back to? Perhaps I’ve left out somewhere that you think should be included .. I’d love to know .. let me know in the comments below.

If you like it, put a pin on it …

Reference: Wikipedia

Bali Itinerary – 5 perfect daytrips for first time Bali visitors 5 perfect daytrips for first time Bali visitors. A simple itinerary for first time visitors to Bali with 5 perfect daytrips featuring fun filled activities taking you off the beaten track to explore places least traveled in Bali.

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