#I was tempted to go blue this time for a more beachy feel | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

heavensdog · 3 years

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Could you describe the character’s facial features in detail? I’m tempted to make fan art

Hmm. . I can do my best, but before I do I wanna say that when I started this project, I was heavily influenced by how much creative freedom people had in the fandoms for Samurai of Hyuga, Wayhaven Chronicles and Fallen Hero and the like -- so I really do want people to feel like they have a certain amount of free reign in terms of character design.

So when it comes to the visuals for each of the characters, I have some “key elements” and touchstones that I come back to, but in terms of specific details (like narrow eyes or broad noses or the like) I don’t really have anything pinned down.

But this is what I’m working based off of!

Iriel Lovelace: Iri is supposed to be kind of bulky -- they take up waaaay more space than they used to as a rabbit, and this shows in their height (they are the second tallest -- only Emi is taller than them!) and also in their body posture -- they tend to hunch over and try to minimize themselves physically. They give off a kind of “I used to be a delinquent but now I’m reformed” vibe in their dress -- lots of casual clothing paired with comfier pieces like sweaters and the like, and they wear too many layers for the circumstances. They’ve got rose gold hair and used to have silvery gray eyes but I might change them to pink for the Rabbit Vibes; extra piercings on their ears, possible facial piercings, and they always seem really sad. With all that in mind, I imagine broader facial features would suit them, as well as wider set eyes -- things that make them seem more like “prey” than like “predator”.

Aconite Rosewood: They’re meant to feel kind of like a fish out of water, and this shows in how they dress like they’re making themselves into performance art. They give off a very Innocent Demeanor, so rounder facial features in general fit them, but they also have a very hard-to-pin-down aura. My major themes for them, design wise, are a very on/off aesthetic (they’re either Vintage Magician or Grundgy Occult Graphic Tees) and their body language tends to be very awkward and anxious. They gangle, but not as much as Emi. Dyed pink hair (it’s naturally dark brown, so they bleach it like crazy too) and brown eyes that sometimes seem red in the right light. They wear a necklace with a jeweled ring on it at all times.

Emi Nymbostratus: They’re tallest and they gangle the most. They’ve got more angular features, probably, and they tan really fast, so combined with the fact that they used to bleach their hair, they give off very beachy/surfer vibes. They’ve stopped bleaching their hair since becoming an Agent of Heaven, so their roots are growing out, and they favor a lot of blue clothing. Kind of posh vibes -- Emilio, as mentioned, has an undercut, while Emilia favors more demure partial up-dos.

Abaddon is a shrimp and is to be treated accordingly. I think heavier features would be a nice contrast with their build and coloring -- they’re tiny, favor incredibly frilly clothing (masc!Abaddon still wears a lot of piratey blouses) and have long silver hair with red eyes. Perpetual angry face. Touchstones for them are just the juxtaposition of their constant grouchiness with the ridiculously frilly styles.

Lapis rocks quarantine fashion, let’s be honest. Back in school, they dressed very poshly because that’s what du Mirage wanted, but they’re more of a free spirit, so if they have the opportunity to go around in boxer shorts and a too big t-shirt, they will, and they tend to really like things that bare their midriff especially around the mc which has nothing to do with them being proud of their abs. They have dark hair and reeeeeaaaaally dark lashes, and their skin is tawny -- they’re whole vibe is supposed to bring to mind lost treasures, so gold and blue crystals and obsidian and onyx all suit them.

#iriel lovelace #abaddon knight #lapis du obsidienne #e. nymbostratus #aconite rosewood #i'm sorry this is probably not helpful aaaaaahhhhhh #but thank you for your interest and i wish you good luck with your arts!!!#Anonymous

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catchingfeels · 4 years

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A BROKEN BOY // part 2

summary: after fixing jj up in the middle of the night, he wakes up and you comfort him.

it’s still dark when he wakes up. he jolts awake, opening his eyes and flinging his head side to side.

i jump up from my chair “jj, it’s ok. i’m here” i say. he lays back down and closes his eyes, his breath steadying again.

“right.” he says, still breathing heavy. i wonder if he had a nightmare.

a few moments later he sits up, stretching and grimacing in pain.

“do you want something for the pain? or a shirt?” i ask. his shirt is too bloody to be worn.

“mmm” he winces, squeezing his eyes shut again. i click on the light and he opens them, replying in a gravely voice, “yeah, that’d be great. thanks”

i go to the kitchen to find ibuprofen and water before going to my room to grab a shirt and a joint (one jj left at my house— i don’t smoke), just in case the ibuprofen isn’t enough. when i get back he’s sitting up, inspecting his torso.

“really did a number on me this time,” he says, reaching for the joint before anything else. i let him take it. if it’ll help him escape his pain, i’m not gonna stop him.

“you should try the ibuprofen too. it helps with swelling” i say.

“ok, doc” he jokes. that puts a smile on my face. i try to hand him the shirt but he waves it away.

“it’s hot as hell in here. i don’t know how you’re wearing a sweatshirt.” he’s right, the room is warm and humid, but i have chills from all that’s happened. i set the shirt on the table and lean back into my chair, facing him. he lights to joint and takes a drag, coughing and holding his chest as he does. “fuck that hurts” he smirks before taking another hit. he holds the joint out to me, raising his eyebrows, but i wave it away.

“all yours” i say. we sit like that for a while. he doesn’t take anymore hits, just watches the joint burn out. weird.

“the last thing i want to do is get high right now” he says. again, weird. i look at the clock flashing in the kitchen. 3am. jj moves closer to one end of the couch, shrinking the distance between us. he looks at me with a questioning stare. i know that look.

“hungry?” i ask. he nods, attempting a smile. i notice dried blood lining his teeth. “i’ll go get some pizza rolls”

i stand up to go into the kitchen, and he follows, taking slow, shaky steps. he might be more hurt than he looks. damn.

he leans against the counter as i put them in the microwave, watching me with those blue eyes. he isn’t stoned but i think hes numbed some of his pain with the weed. i throw the bag away and lean against the opposite side of the counter, meeting his gaze.

“you really are special” he laughs. the way he says it seems sarcastic, but i know he’s saying thank you again. i’m tempted to playfully push him, but decide against it. not the best time for a play fight. the microwave dings and i pull the rolls out. he pops two into his mouth and i gasp

“jj they’re hot!”

“so?” he says, mouth full, chewing obnoxiously so his mouth doesn’t get burned.

we take the food into the living room and sit on the ground. within minutes the entire plate is gone. i think i ate three. jj pats his stomach and leans his head back against the couch.

“that hit the spot”

“i’m glad” i chuckle. jj can always make me laugh. his expression darkens and he sweeps his eyes to meet me gaze.

“aren’t you gonna,” he starts “i mean, don’t you want to know what happened?”

i look at him. at his brokenness and his vulnerability. at what he hides every day when we’re out catching waves, crashing parties, playing games.

“no. not my business. i just want to be here for you. if you want to talk, i’m down to listen. but you don’t need to tell me what happened” i say and he looks relieved.

“it’s not as bad as it was when i was younger.” he states and i shiver at the thought. “it’s just because he’s wasted. he doesn’t mean it.” he tells me, rather, tells himself. a tear slips down his cheek. i put my hand on his leg. hell, even his legs are bloodied and bruised. he pulls me closer and i slide across the wood floor until i’m sitting between his legs, my back to his chest. he rests his head on my shoulder, breathing in the beachy scent of my hair. i feel drops sliding down my arm. he wraps his arms around my torso and holds me, running his fingers up and down my sides. i reach out to his battered legs, making small circles with my fingers. at one point he turns and presses a soft kiss to my temple. soon, we’re both asleep, holding each other together

#rudy pankow imagine #jj outer banks #outer banks #jj fanfiction #jj slow burn #jj maybank #jj mayback x reader #jj obx #obx jj #outerbanksedit #obx x reader #obxstuff

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lahuertaflower · 6 years

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The Shard: Part One

((Authors Note: I just wanted to start by saying hi and welcome to my fan fiction. I honestly had no idea anyone would want to read it so to see any notes on it I was surprised. Like I said, this is an Endless Summer/Hero crossover and all rights of the characters are reserved to Pixelberry. I am simply borrowing them.

Book: Endless Summer/Hero

Tagging: @princesstopgun as requested 😊. If any of you would like to be tagged in Part Two please let me know! Yes, this is going to seem like a slow start to this but it is because I want to make sure I have everything lined out. The beginning is also going to seem more ES focused, but you will see where it is going!))

“Happy reunion everyone! Here’s to five years.”

Voices called out and through the clear air of the beach while the chatter and faint music filled the calm night sky as the stars twinkled down, sparkling brightly without the city lights fighting to drown them out. The fire crackled, orange ambers wafting into the air and dissipating into the darkness. This tradition was always bittersweet, knowing that although everyone had such beautiful lives, filled with love, happiness and success, that one person was missing. That someone who had been incredibly important to each and every one of the collection of people who stood in the sand this evening, clinking beers as they toasted.

It stung to know the sacrifice that had been made so each of the eleven would have the life they so yearned for. Even after all this time it didn’t seem real. In the back of all their minds they hoped that one day they would all be reunited to continue their journey together; but this wasn’t to mourn the loss, it was to reminisce and be thankful for the sacrifice made. Well, at least to most of those who joined in the festivity each year…

“Dammit Kaity...don’t you know I’d come after you? I’d find a way! Cross every mile of space to get you back!”

One of the last sentences Jake McKenzie said to his wife replayed over and over again, drowning out the conversation and the waves crashing against the beachfront. It was like a broken record, each time cutting deeper and ripping his heart apart. All the former soldier had wanted was to have the joy that all the others gained. Sadly, it didn’t work out that way. There was no new love in Jake’s life, no kids or relationship prospects. Even though he was able to return home to US soil and reunite with his mother and sister, it didn’t take away that burn for her love. The silver lining metaphor wasn’t all everyone cracked it up to be.

“What about you Jake?” A soft voice rang through the train of thoughts. Coming to, he realized it had been from Quinn Kelly. The ginger haired female had her head quirked to the side, beachy curls swaying with the motion as everyone’s else’s eyes focused on him to progress the conversation.

“I…uh...sorry Ariel, what was the question?” Blinking back the sadness a few times, Jake’s bright cerulean blue eyes flashed to each of his friends faces, a forced smirk tugging on his lips to keep up the facade.

“What have you been up to? Everyone else has already talked about how things are going, so naturally it’s your turn to share!” There was a hint of reassurance in the tone of her voice, being able to see through the mask he was putting on.

“Right, right. Sorry, I -uh started to zone out listening to Bottomless go on about his fancy cooking show.” The remark got a few laughs as Jake continued on. “Life hasn’t changed much since last time we were all here. Mike and I have been working hard on restoring Arachnid to its former glory and using it to actually help people. We have teamed up with the Navy to give more specialized training with the new equipment they will be implementing to make deployment missions easier. That and the fact that Lundgren is still rotting away in his tiny prison cell makes each day that much better. That’s it though.”

“And you got a haircut! You don’t look like a shaggy,stray dog anymore!” Craig chimed in, a goofy grin lighting up his face, elbowing Zahra lightly in attempts to get her to encourage his joke. Their eyes met, a slight tinge of blush tickling up on their cheeks. While they were officially together, the two of them still had that air of hesitation to displaying feelings due to hiding it away for so long.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up while ya can. I gotta look presentable during meetings and all that crap.” On instinct, Jake ran a hand through the light brown hair tufts, down stroking his maintained hair growth on his face afterwards. “I know you’re just jealous that I can rock the long and the short hair. My good looks aren’t for everyone Drax.”

“Pft, I don’t need to be jealous. I have great genes that make me irresistible.” Craig retorts instantly, brushing off his shoulder to try and downplay that he isn’t the best at taking jabs. It isn’t long after that Craig gets smacked in the stomach by Zahra in attempts to keep his ego in check though. “Oouf Z, don’t worry, Jake can handle my comments better than he can a plane.”

Another round of laughter pushed its way through the circle as the flames illuminated each of their faces. Jake started to give a hearty laugh, but his mind began to flash back to the painful memories of first meeting Katie, on that fateful day, heading into supposed trip of a lifetime that turned their world upside down. A lump formed in his throat, causing him to choke as her face came into view each time his eyelids shut. No one seemed to notice the change in demeanor and Jake took the switch of conversation to excuse himself silently and trek further down the beach to enjoy some time alone.

Legs carrying him further than expected, he peered over his shoulder to ensure that no one else had picked up on his disappearing act and trailed along to make sure he was okay. Bounding around a curve in the beach, Jake knew that there wasn’t a chance he could be seen from the gathering, trees shading over where he had decided to plop down. Leaning back onto his calloused hands, his eyes darted up to the twinkling sky, taking in the constellations that adorned the navy sheet that stretched as far as eyes could see.

“I sure wish you could be here Kaity. I know I say that every year but it only gets harder. I feel stupid y’know? I keep thinking that one of these days you are just gonna be sitting across the way from where I am, grinning at me like nothing ever happened.” Jake started, exhaling in frustration as the tears began to build up in his eye ducts, tempting to break through.

“Why’d you have to go and be everyone's hero? I know your heart was in a good place but...dammit, I just miss you so much.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cosmic swirled, overseeing all that was and all that is. The transparent body drifted across purple hazed skies while coming to a graceful halt amounge the rocky surface of its own planet. Drifting over the plains of the world, it reached its destination. Glimmering pink shards of all sizes protruded out from the dirt, shooting in every which way, almost creating a casing. Hand outstretched, it gently laid itself on one, feeling the energy flow through it.

“I can feel the change...we must brace ourselves for intrusion from another.”

A few more presences began to form near the biggest cluster on the prism planet, nodding in agreeance as they too could notice the shift in dynamic and power. There was a drawn out silence as they all took in the situation at hand. This was never supposed to happen. The powers of their planet were far too strong to fall into mortal hands. That mistake had already happened once and caused a group of young adults to will to life someone to fill the void in their lives.

“Vaanu, are you sure this isn’t just another lashing out of The Shard? The slumber should keep the powers at bay, but it has been proven over the years how this day of significance causes a disturbance.” One of the ethereal beings mentioned as they all formed a circle.

A red and black energy began to dramatically swirl around inside the being known as Vaanu, clearly not impressed by the fact that the others blamed the sudden spike of unknown and drastic energy on it.

“If you are all concerned with the safety of The Shard, shall we go and ensure it is not indeed the cause?” One of the others voices filled the surrounding area, to which the group of six nodded and began to make their way further into the overgrown forest of gleaming pink gems. Coming to a halt, Vaanu reached upwards again to one particular stone, it emanating a blinding light before softening to a dull gleam.

Encased in the magnificent gem was a young woman, eyes closed as if in a peaceful, deep sleep. Due to the contact of Vaanu though, it appeared like the gem cocoon had thinned out in order for them all to view her with little to no obstruction. The girls locks cascaded down her shoulders, an ombre effect having taken place from the time of being in containment, the ends a lighter brown than the roots that had extended over the years. Her features were soft with a quirk of a smile dangling on her lips.

“As you can see, The Shards slumber ensues. Still right where it was left when the agreeance of becoming one was made. Now, we must drop this and discover who is causing the trouble with the prisms.” Vaanu had subsided its anger, the red being replaced by sparkling blue, taking itself back while the entities observed the girl as if she was a museum exhibit.

“Vaanu, allow me to stay back and ensure the prism restructures its hold around The Shard while you gather all to search the planet for obstructions.”

With a swift nod, Vaanu took off without another word, the others following suit. This left the volunteer entity in silence, arms placed on either side of the makeshift prison. Time was not a concept that they abided by here on the prism planet, as they had pure control over it, so there was no construct to declare how long it would have. Instead of using it’s force to reseal The Shard into place, it just stood and took in the sight, a tinge of sadness seeming to form in its transparent body.

“If these forces are as strong as we presume them to be, then any ally is a good one.”

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topfygad · 4 years

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Catching up in Queensland | Nat Geo Traveller India

A two week street journey alongside Australia’s seatowns churns out untouched pure magnificence, and the time to bond with household.

Byron Bay is a well-liked day journey vacation spot. Picture by: Chandni Doulatramani

My father known as me early this yr once I was in Banaras with a suggestion: A household street journey to Australia. I used to be caught off guard. Lower than three years in the past, my household, mates and I had pushed throughout New Zealand for 2 weeks. Now right here he was once more, at 73, expectantly asking me, “No cities, simply the countryside, like final time?” It sounded tempting and I stated sure.

Within the final week of Could, on the onset of winter within the southern hemisphere, I used to be off to Australia with my mother and father and youthful sister for 2 weeks. Our itinerary largely included a protracted and winding discovery of the Queensland coast by street. We have been heading to Australia to attend the housewarming occasion of my father’s finest good friend Ajit, who had bought a brand new dwelling in Townsville.

All my father’s mates determined to make a merry vacation out of it. Seven of us travelled (not collectively) from India, three together with Uncle Ajit, his spouse Auntie Helen, and their good friend Anthony from Hong Kong. Uncle Michael, who additionally lives in Townsville, travelled to Cairns to fulfill us. The eleven of us, of which my sister Chahna and I have been youngest, travelled in two vehicles: a white Ford Ranger pushed by Uncle Michael and the opposite a gray Toyota Kluger. We began north in Cairns and travelled down south, hugging our woolies a little bit tighter because it acquired colder.

The Nice Barrier Reef

At Muddy’s in Townsville, the avocado eggs Benedict is a spotlight (high proper); The author’s household adopted a one-night-one-town itinerary (left); Magnetic Islandis a seashore lover’s prayer come alive (backside proper). Pictures by: Chandni Doulatramani

Cairns was among the many extra city locations alongside our route. The climate was nonetheless summery once we checked into our motel. Winter was alleged to be a couple of weeks away. Later that night, we gathered at Cock & Bull, a spacious pub with excessive wood ceilings, yellow lights, and enormous fish sculptures hanging from the ceiling. Between loud rock music and speedily downed beer pitchers, I felt emboldened to choose one thing adventurous from the menu and settled for the Roo& Croc Combo. The dish comprised a portion every of kangaroo and crocodile meat together with some fries and tartar dip. Kangaroo meat, harder than rooster, was a smidge chewy for my style. The croc slice, melt-in-my-mouth, was extra up my alley. Nonetheless, there was sufficient booze and cheer to clean away any nitpicking.

Subsequent morning, the gang launched into a uneven wind-beaten and wet catamaran experience for 40 minutes to Inexperienced Island, the gateway to the Nice Barrier Reef. The shimmering blue-green expanse of the reef, a pure mass of singular reef techniques embedded with attractive islands, is breathtaking. The older of us in our occasion weren’t going to snorkel or swim, so we took a glass backside boat tour the place the translucent flooring afforded a better view of the Reef’s various aquatic life. However its transcendent secrets and techniques solely reveal themselves if you snorkel, like my sister and I did, agape as kaleidoscopic shoals of fish swam previous us and over the inexperienced and orange-hued coral gardens.

Come morning, we made our manner in direction of Townsville, 4 hours from Cairns, making two pit stops in between: the primary at Murdering Level Vineyard on Mission Seaside, a family-run boutique set-up the place we tasted an assortment of tropical fruit wines, and the second at Vivia Cafe in Cardwell, the place we wolfed down crab sandwiches. Crab sandwiches are ubiquitous in Cardwell and there a plethora of cafés hawking them alongside the shoreline. As soon as we had scarfed down lunch although, the remainder of the journey remained uninterrupted, with my mother and father often dozing off like youngsters behind the automobile, as classic R.D. Burman songs filtered out of the stereo.

Townsville & Magnetic Island

The lighthouse in Byron Bay is an efficient vantage level to identify dolphins swimming within the ocean (high left). Gold Coast presents each beachy enjoyable and a frenetic nightlife (high proper). The author snorkels alongside child sharks (backside proper). Byron Bay is backpacker central with surfers and busking musicians (backside left). Pictures by: Mel Longhurst/age fotostock/Dinodia Picture Library (lighthouse); David Wall/Alamy/indiapicture (nightlife); Chandni Doulatramani (sea); Pierre Olivier Signe/Panther Media/ Dinodia Picture Library (backpacker)

Uncle Ajit’s housewarming ceremonial dinner in Townsville was a rambunctious household shindig. Between chomping on pickled salmon and pork sausages, and consuming wine, we mapped our plans for the subsequent day. Within the morning, Chahna and I made for Magnetic (Maggie in native lingo) Island, whereas the remainder of the crew went croc-and-koala recognizing at Billabong Sanctuary. A 20-minute ferry experience from Townsville, Maggie Island is in a secluded portion of the Nice Barrier Reef. By the point we took the bus and hitched rides from locals to the island, we solely had time sufficient to discover three of its seven comparatively untouched seashores. In Florence Bay, we snorkeled alongside a child shark; in remoted Alma Bay, we sunbathed as if that slice of paradise have been our personal; and in Arthur Bay we noticed glowing corals within the calm, blue—and generally deceptively purple—waters. Though I didn’t realise it then, Maggie Island, an ethereal idyll of shapely boulders and cuddly marsupials, wouldn’t erase itself from my thoughts lengthy after the journey.

The following morning, we hit the street once more for Airlie Seaside, three hours south of Townsville. Within the serene seashore city with a busy marina, most guests frolicked by The Lagoon, which was a big neighborhood pool within the coronary heart of the city. By now, my sister and I have been charting our personal path, very like willful soloists in an orchestral symphony. So whereas the older members walked concerning the city window-shopping or café-hopping, we have been content material to laze round on a grassy patch close to the ocean. I snuggled up with a duplicate of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Canine within the Evening-Time and shortly snoozed off.

When the gang moved on from Airlie Seaside to Mackay, our subsequent cease, we had accomplished almost per week on the street. I used to be experiencing the stirrings of monotony. The Queensland surroundings had begun to really feel predictable; there was no getting away from the sugarcane fields—in spite of everything, 95 per cent of Australia’s sugarcane is produced within the state. Instagramming by means of the countryside had additionally misplaced its attraction. At first the little tin-and-wooden homes appeared charming. Nonetheless, painted in forlorn lifeless colors, the containers not held my curiosity.

Mackay & Bundaberg

At Mackay, our group was feeling the fatigue on account of our hectic one-night-one-town itinerary. As soon as once more, we have been utilizing Mackay and Bundaberg, a city seven hours from Mackay, to sleep in a single day. We determined to decelerate our tempo, making extra halts alongside the way in which.

A type of occurred to be at Lambert’s Seaside—15 minutes away from Mackay (coastal Queensland is strewn with virgin seashores)—for whale watching. Someplace alongside on the way in which, we bought a large dwell mud crab from an outdated girl who reared crabs by a pond subsequent to her home. On reaching Gold Coast, we dined at Jimmy’s Kitchen, a Chinese language restaurant run by a good friend of Uncle Ajit’s. Oh, and did I point out that the crustacean accompanied us to Gold Coast in an ice field?

The following night in Bundaberg was purposefully eventless. Dwelling to Australia’s standard darkish rum (the liquor and the town is also known as Bundy), it presents walks and rum-tasting experiences at its huge distillery, however our explorer personas had been worn out and we wanted to unwind. So we did simply that.

The morning after, we drove for 3 hours to achieve Noosa, a 900-square-kilometre resort city alongside the Sunshine Coast that resembles the French Riviera. With high-end shops on both aspect of the road, extravagant eating places and bars, white sandy seashores, and other people wearing excessive vogue, Noosa was not like our earlier stops. We spied a seashore marriage ceremony that appeared straight out the films, a teenage fire-juggler busking on Laguna Bay, and canoodling {couples}.

Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise

Clockwise from high left: Queensland’s smaller cities have a laid-back, creative vibe to them, with tattoo parlours, flea markets and hip cafés; Cairns, one of many gateways to the Nice Barrier Reef, qualifies as a extra touristy location than the remainder of the stops; Condom Kingdom is a singular intercourse store on Surfers Paradise in Gold Coast; On the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville, crocodiles and koalas are standard sightings. Pictures by: Norbert Probst/imageBROKER/dinodia photograph library (tattoo); Hemis/India Image (Cairns); Chandni Doulatramani (intercourse store); Ulla Lohmann/look/ Dinodia Picture Library (koala)

Leaving Noosa behind, we headed into our ultimate stretch. After driving for 3 hours, we reached Gold Coast for our final three days in Queensland. All this time spent gazing at pastoral panorama had whetted my urge for food for the town’s extra acquainted city beats. Our 11th-floor rented service house on Primary Seaside had a pleasant view of the blue-green ocean with white frothy waves gently rolling in and the glittering skyline. The winter chill had now set in, however we went swimming however. At this level, Chahna and I grew to become a separate occasion from the others, joined in our “younger individuals” adventures by an excellent good friend of mine from Sydney.

I used to be so able to play the vacationer, being offbeat be damned. So we took lengthy walks alongside the seashore and thru the market in Surfers Paradise, ate a burrito at Guzman y Gomez, a well-known eatery that serves Mexican delicacies, tasted bubble tea at Gong Cha and tried a martini with sweet floss on high at Home of Brews. On the morning of Day 2, we headed to Springbrook Nationwide Park, about 45 minutes from Gold Coast, and hiked alongside two trails for 4 hours. The primary path by means of the beautiful Gondwana Rainforests is full of canopies of myrtle beech and big eucalyptus bushes. We stood there like tiny blemishes on nature’s time-worn face, staring on the gushing waterfall with an unmistakable rainbow slicing proper throughout its centre. The water was roaring, drowning our voices. The second path, which is smaller however alluring, was within the Pure Bridge part of Springbrook the place the drive of water had lower by means of part of a cave to kind a bridge. Daylight streaming in by means of the water fashioned a turquoise blue rock pool. Every little thing was so nonetheless but throbbing with a cosmic connection that my good friend and I spent 30 minutes right here, meditating.

Byron Bay

On our final day, we visited the hippy city of Byron Bay, about an hour from Gold Coast. Byron is a backpacker’s dream with musicians busking in alleys splashed with graffiti and younger youngsters browsing. Hipster cafés and yoga centres abound, as do handmade garment shops promoting shawls and crochet tops in delight colors, and artists portray out of caravans.

We meandered fortunately alongside the Cape Byron strolling observe that took us to the native lighthouse, the easterly level of mainland Australia, the place dolphins are sometimes noticed within the early hours of the morning. A drizzle had ruined any probabilities of us recognizing them however Byron’s easygoing buzz was sufficient. After the euphoria and adrenaline of fixed journeying, Byron was the candy bookend we wanted. I bid my good friend goodbye, promising to return quickly.

Concord in Cacophony

Markets close to Byron Bay hawk every little thing from crop tops in delight colors and hula hoops to kitschy knick-knacks (high). The Springbrook Nationwide Park has two main trails, each of which take you deep right into a forested wonderland (center). Airlie Seaside, which has a marina, is a quiet seaside city excellent for ambling about (backside). Pictures by: davidhancock/Alamy/India Image (hula hoops); Auscape/UIG/Common Photos Group/ Dinodia Picture Library (forest); AdrianoK/shutterstock (metropolis)

Whereas our vacation had begun with the thrill of the unknown, we hadn’t thought of that some issues wouldn’t work in our favour. Half-way by means of this journey, I had begun to skip the meat pies that I relished each morning. I’m pleased with being the gourmand, however consuming Australian delicacies—barramundi, crabs, crocs and kangaroos—for days on finish throughout lunch, breakfast and dinner had develop into tiresome.

My mom, true to a Sindhi mother, had loaded her suitcase with Indian meals and I had taken to pilfering from that stash as a substitute. Solely firstly of our journey, we had quarreled like youngsters over whether or not there was any have to pack a lot Sindhi lola and papad when new flavours awaited us all through Queensland. However right here I used to be shamelessly embracing my internal desi.

Planning dinners had additionally develop into a raucous routine, the place totally different members couldn’t agree on the place to eat. I understood later, some issues will go my manner and a few gained’t. In my mother and father’ firm, I learnt to decelerate and never have a guidelines of issues to be finished. They might not maintain tempo with Chahna and I, maybe preferring to skip swimming round an island for one thing much less demanding.

The older of us in our gang have been cooler than I gave them credit score for. “Completely satisfied Hours” had develop into an on a regular basis affair with my of us, typically on the expense of sightseeing. In between fleeting sips of vodka and mawkish bites of papad, I realise that it wasn’t as a lot concerning the spots we’d lined or missed because it was about one another’s firm.

Queensland had gone previous me in a flash and I used to be fortunate that my mother and father had requested me to tag together with them. And regardless of my preliminary protests, the trove of Sindhi meals in our additional suitcase was over. My mom knew what she was doing all alongside.

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source http://cheaprtravels.com/catching-up-in-queensland-nat-geo-traveller-india/

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we-rolling-stones · 6 years

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Sand in the Cracks

Leaving the sandy tracks of Ponta d'Ouro, we head north, making our way bit by bit up the Mozambican coast.

Matt expertly inflates our tires for the tarred road.

The coast is the treasure of Mozambique: the country has some 3,000 km of land shared with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, much of it constituting long stretches of empty white beaches. We hop and skip from campsite to campsite:

One night at Jay's Beach Lodge.

We wake up early and drink coffee from our flask on the beach, where we watch fisherman at work against the sunrise.

vimeo

Two nights in Quissico, a lake province of Mozambique with vast lagoons separated from the sea by a thin strip of land.

We camp at Lagoa Eco Lodge, a small eco-village run by solar power on the edge of the lake.

vimeo

We spend a lot of time reading and cuddling Lagoa, the village's resident puppy. It's quiet - we are the only visitors at every campsite we stay at.

On our drive to Quissico we get our first speeding ticket - and our first veiled bribe request. The fine, a police officer kindly informs Matthew, is MZN 2000 (almost 500 rand) for going 75 km/hr in a 60 km/hr zone. Never mind that the signs marking speed limits are haphazardly placed and generally absent, but that's another story.

Normally you get a receipt showing the amount of the fine and the identity of the officer who gave it to you. However, the cop says, we'll get half off if we pay without getting our receipt (tempting us to save a not insubstantial amount of money, but with the knowledge that the MZN 1000 we do pay is absolutely not going to the Mozambican government and absolutely going into that cop's pocket). After a brief debate, we politely insist on a receipt - only to find out that the official fine is only MZN 1000 after all. He's just taking chances to collect cash without a paper trail.

From Quissico we drive to Tofo. It's a beach and party town: a lot of young international backpackers and students flock to Tofo for surfing, scuba, and marine life. It is famous for its megafauna, being home to manta rays and whale sharks year-round, and scuba divers the world over come here for its colourful reefs and warm waters. The problem for us, though, is that most of Tofo's dive sites are deep - between 25 and 30 metres down, where many of the manta ray cleaning stations (where the rays come to be groomed of particles by hundreds of little fish) are located. As freshly-qualified open water divers we're only qualified to dive to 18 metres.

In for a penny, in for a pound! We take a one-day course qualifying us to dive to 30 metres and complete three more dives in Tofo. That far down, pressure is greater - four times the pressure your body feels on the surface, to be exact. The air in your tank is denser, and accordingly every breath you take depletes your air supply four times faster than it would at the surface, leaving you less time to explore the bottom before you run out of air. Less sunlight trickles down, and a greater spectrum of colour is absorbed by the water around you. Red, orange, and yellow are the first to go, leaving your surroundings various shades of blue, green, and violet.

I'm not sure I can say that marine life gets exponentially more awesome the deeper you go, but by the end of our seventh dive we've had some some remarkable underwater experiences. We've snorkeled with two manta rays - giants as wide as long as we are tall, rising and diving with ripples of their wings in dappled rays of sub-surface light. We've swum through schools of fish 6 metres high, pointing our hands in front of us like spears to part the proverbial seas of them as we approach. We've hung below the surface and watched towers of bubbles from the deep as another group of divers moves below us, to the edge of the reef we've just risen from. Above us, their translucence illuminated against the sunlight at the surface of the water, are hundreds of gently suspended jellyfish.

We also manage to squeeze in a viewing of the first game of the World Cup - Russia v. Saudi Arabia - at one of Tofo’s beach hotels.

(realising how much he misses Russia)

After two days in Tofo, we realise we are amongst the oldest travellers there. We are roofcamping in the back driveway of a beach hostel filled with young American women who spend a lot of time putting on makeup in the bathroom mirrors and shouting things like "GIRL, you go live your life!" to each other across the dorm hallways.

The revelation that we are old tempts us to stay one more night (it's Friday, party night in Tofo) to go bar-hopping and recapture our youth. But instead, like the ageing fogies we are, we retreat back into the beachy wilderness to spend three nights at Island Rock, an isolated campsite 50 kms south of Inhambane that sits on the coast at the end of a 45-minute drive through deep sand tracks.

But WELL WORTH the view.

It is quiet. We are the first guests the lodge has had in a week. We spend our days on the empty beach and our nights around the campfire, marveling at the carpet of stars above us.

From Inhambane province we head north again. Average speed, contrary to Google Maps' estimations, hovers around 60 kms an hour and depends entirely on the number of goats/cows/dogs/chickens in the road, times the number of potholes, plus the number of times we stop to buy giant avocados.

The offerings of roadside stands change to reflect local produce as you pass between regions. Between Ponta and Maputo it's all about decorative plants. From Maputo to Bilene there's mostly...chickens in cages, waiting to be killed . From Bilene to Zavala there are stacks upon stacks of oranges. Jangamo to Massinga features mountains of coconuts. Before and after Inhassoro there are piles of rocks (in combination with the abundant potholes, Inhassoro is a grim region). South of Inchope offers pineapples, stacked in neat pyramids along the road. From Inchope to Chimoio, it's bananas.

Two long days of driving and pothole-dodging see us spending our last night in Mozambique in Inhassoro, a small fishing village opposite the island of Bazaruto. From here, we regretfully say goodbye to beach life as we drive inland. Next up: Zimbabwe!

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topfygad · 4 years

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Catching up in Queensland | Nat Geo Traveller India

A two week street journey alongside Australia’s seatowns churns out untouched pure magnificence, and the time to bond with household.

Byron Bay is a well-liked day journey vacation spot. Picture by: Chandni Doulatramani

The Nice Barrier Reef

Townsville & Magnetic Island

Mackay & Bundaberg

Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise

Byron Bay

Concord in Cacophony

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/3ae8Rr0 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Cheapr Travels

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topfygad · 4 years

Text

Catching up in Queensland | Nat Geo Traveller India

A two week street journey alongside Australia’s seatowns churns out untouched pure magnificence, and the time to bond with household.

Byron Bay is a well-liked day journey vacation spot. Picture by: Chandni Doulatramani

The Nice Barrier Reef

Townsville & Magnetic Island

Mackay & Bundaberg

Gold Coast & Surfers Paradise

Byron Bay

Concord in Cacophony

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/3ae8Rr0 via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

0 notes